As Dr. Kervorkian is released from prison it seems worthy of revisiting the question "Who has the right to end the life of a terminally ill patient?" The suicide assisting pathologist served eight years in jail for his role in the death of a patient with ALS or Lou Gerhig's disease. In all he helped over 130 end their terminal illnesses from 1990 to 1998.
So who can end the life of an already dying person? In Texas it's no one other than the state and it's based in part on financial reasons. Then Governor and now President Bush signed it into law in 1999.
Contrasting the two situations a patient of sound mind cannot purposefully end their suffering but the state can pull the plug on people wanting to live. Which sounds more inhumane? Yet while one perpetrator lingered in jail, the other got elected to the White House.
In our free country the state can end your life with no recourse, but you cannot choose to do so on your own.
Showing posts with label Bush. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bush. Show all posts
Friday, June 01, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Bush & Bin Laden 2005
The Bush Administration released a previously classified report indicating Osama bin Laden's efforts to organize attacks on the U.S. through his associates in Iraq.
President Bush, trying to defend his war strategy, declassified intelligence Tuesday asserting that Osama bin Laden ordered a top lieutenant in early 2005 to form a terrorist cell that would conduct attacks outside Iraq - and that the United States should be the top target.
The information mirrored a classified bulletin from the Homeland Security Department in March 2005, reporting that bin Laden had enlisted Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, his senior operative in Iraq, to plan potential strikes in the U.S. The warning was described at the time as credible but not specific and did not prompt the administration to raise its national terror alert level.
What else did President Bush do in 2005? He shut down the CIA task force hunting for bin Laden, rolling staff into its Counter-Terrorist Center. One retired CIA official with many years heading the specialized unit stated the move reflected a view within the agency that Mr. bin Laden was no longer the threat he once was. He disagreed with such an assessment, still considering Osama a potent threat.
Why would the President raise the specter of an uncaptured Osama bin Laden?
The declassification of the 2005 intelligence came a day before Bush was scheduled to speak about terrorism at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
I bet Bush drives home the extinguishing of al-Zarqawi but glosses over his failure to find the perpetrator of his favorite mantra.
President Bush, trying to defend his war strategy, declassified intelligence Tuesday asserting that Osama bin Laden ordered a top lieutenant in early 2005 to form a terrorist cell that would conduct attacks outside Iraq - and that the United States should be the top target.
The information mirrored a classified bulletin from the Homeland Security Department in March 2005, reporting that bin Laden had enlisted Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, his senior operative in Iraq, to plan potential strikes in the U.S. The warning was described at the time as credible but not specific and did not prompt the administration to raise its national terror alert level.
What else did President Bush do in 2005? He shut down the CIA task force hunting for bin Laden, rolling staff into its Counter-Terrorist Center. One retired CIA official with many years heading the specialized unit stated the move reflected a view within the agency that Mr. bin Laden was no longer the threat he once was. He disagreed with such an assessment, still considering Osama a potent threat.
Why would the President raise the specter of an uncaptured Osama bin Laden?
The declassification of the 2005 intelligence came a day before Bush was scheduled to speak about terrorism at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
I bet Bush drives home the extinguishing of al-Zarqawi but glosses over his failure to find the perpetrator of his favorite mantra.
Bush Doesn't Care about Competence
As President Bush continues to prop up his ragdoll Attorney General, he might wish to consider the advice of management guru, Dr. W. Edwards Deming:
"It is management's job to know."
"It is management's job to know."
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Battle of Irrelevant Presidents!
Ladies and Gentleman, let's get ready to rumble! Welcome to the "Rumble of the Fumblers"! The President who botched the Iranian hostage rescue will battle the current Commander in Chief known for bumbling almost everything in his White House tenure. In the white trunks, weighing 220 pounds is the "Southern Sunday School teacher", Jimmy Carter. Wearing black, weighing a lean and mean 210 pounds is the "Texas Super Ranger", George Bush. Let's consider their records:
Jimmy Carter brokered the Camp David Accords and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. That same year President Bush canceled the anti-ballistic missile treaty with Russia paving the way for U.S. development of space weapons. In 2007 President Bush selected the design winner for the new nuclear warhead. Given their records, age, and health differences, George Bush is the prohibitive favorite to win in a technical knockout.
The fight went as predicted with Carter going down in the third round after a Bush haymaker. Bush's cornerman, Tony Fratto cheered wildly until he heard Michael Buffer's closing.
"The champion of irrelevant Presidents, ladies and gentlemen a big round of applause for George W. Bush!"
Jimmy Carter brokered the Camp David Accords and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. That same year President Bush canceled the anti-ballistic missile treaty with Russia paving the way for U.S. development of space weapons. In 2007 President Bush selected the design winner for the new nuclear warhead. Given their records, age, and health differences, George Bush is the prohibitive favorite to win in a technical knockout.
The fight went as predicted with Carter going down in the third round after a Bush haymaker. Bush's cornerman, Tony Fratto cheered wildly until he heard Michael Buffer's closing.
"The champion of irrelevant Presidents, ladies and gentlemen a big round of applause for George W. Bush!"
Friday, May 18, 2007
Bush, Blair's Uncivil War of the Worlds Back on Track
President Bush and Prime Minister Blair spoke of the suffering Palestinian people who are poorer than a church mouse, can't move freely, and fear rockets coming through their roofs. Yet in 2004 the same pair spoke of the promise of democracy, yet to be delivered.
We'll mobilise the international community to help revive the Palestinian economy, to build up the Palestinian security institutions to fight terror, to help the Palestinian government fight corruption, and to reform the Palestinian political system and build democratic institutions. We'll also work with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to complete the disengagement plan from Gaza and part of the West Bank. George W. Bush November 12, 2004
After speaking those words the Palestinian people voted for change, for an end to corruption. They punched the ticket for the group that delivered on health clinics and public infrastructure improvements. They voted against the party that promised much but repeatedly failed to deliver. The Bush team was surprised by the Hamas election win and promptly cut off funds for the long suffering Palestinian people.
The United States did its best over the next few years to create the conditions for civil war in the Palestinian Territories. Just months ago the President bragged of $65 million in security aid for President Abbas. Then a regional group intervened to broker Palestinian peace, something Sec. Rice and Pres. Bush wouldn't do. Saudi leaders brokered a unity government in Palestine that the U.S. summarily rejected. Israel withdrew its promise of releasing tax funds and turned a cold shoulder to rapidly warming peace talks.
Despite the Saudi's best intervention, the Palestinian Territories are again aflame with internal strife. Only this time Israel is fighting Hamas at the same time as Palestinian Fatah. The unity government brokered by King Faisal appears to have disintegrated.
Add the deteriorating situation in Lebanon and the looming move from War of the Words with Iran to the real deal, and the world appears to be rather uncivil. Of course the cursing, buttered roll chewing Bush has nothing to do with it. We aren't to worry that the President mobilized a dozen or so conservative religious leaders to talk about the dire threat of Iran with its modern day "Hitler". Nevermind the factual inaccuracies of the "threat" highlighted by Dr. James Dobson who attended the meeting. Fear must be generated for the dogs of war to be unleashed. The modern day Hitler must be stopped!
But for a different analogy, who's tanks are rolling in lands not their own? And who is oppressing who?
We'll mobilise the international community to help revive the Palestinian economy, to build up the Palestinian security institutions to fight terror, to help the Palestinian government fight corruption, and to reform the Palestinian political system and build democratic institutions. We'll also work with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to complete the disengagement plan from Gaza and part of the West Bank. George W. Bush November 12, 2004
After speaking those words the Palestinian people voted for change, for an end to corruption. They punched the ticket for the group that delivered on health clinics and public infrastructure improvements. They voted against the party that promised much but repeatedly failed to deliver. The Bush team was surprised by the Hamas election win and promptly cut off funds for the long suffering Palestinian people.
The United States did its best over the next few years to create the conditions for civil war in the Palestinian Territories. Just months ago the President bragged of $65 million in security aid for President Abbas. Then a regional group intervened to broker Palestinian peace, something Sec. Rice and Pres. Bush wouldn't do. Saudi leaders brokered a unity government in Palestine that the U.S. summarily rejected. Israel withdrew its promise of releasing tax funds and turned a cold shoulder to rapidly warming peace talks.
Despite the Saudi's best intervention, the Palestinian Territories are again aflame with internal strife. Only this time Israel is fighting Hamas at the same time as Palestinian Fatah. The unity government brokered by King Faisal appears to have disintegrated.
Add the deteriorating situation in Lebanon and the looming move from War of the Words with Iran to the real deal, and the world appears to be rather uncivil. Of course the cursing, buttered roll chewing Bush has nothing to do with it. We aren't to worry that the President mobilized a dozen or so conservative religious leaders to talk about the dire threat of Iran with its modern day "Hitler". Nevermind the factual inaccuracies of the "threat" highlighted by Dr. James Dobson who attended the meeting. Fear must be generated for the dogs of war to be unleashed. The modern day Hitler must be stopped!
But for a different analogy, who's tanks are rolling in lands not their own? And who is oppressing who?
Monday, April 16, 2007
Who Benefits from Privatization: The Case of Sallie Mae
The Student Loan Marketing Association commonly referred to as Sallie Mae got its start in 1972 as a government sponsored enterprise. It began privatizing in 1997 and completed the process in 2004 when Congress terminated its federal Charter. Republicans held a majority in our nation’s legislature this whole time. President Bush appointed 6 members to the Board when he took office in 2001.
News reports indicate a number of private equity firms are interested in purchasing Sallie Mae. The stock is up over $8 today to $55 per share. Should the deal go through Board members stand to make out like bandits. The board beneficially owns some 17.7 million shares. Board members alone stand to gross nearly $1 billion from the deal.
Assuming the $973 million to be capital gains, how much does the Sallie Mae board save in taxes under the President's lesser taxing of investment profits? The super rich get to pocket nearly $50 million more than they did when they paid 20% capital gains tax.
Does this make you excited about government sloughing off key programs to the private sector for them to be turned around in 3 years and sold to someone else at a huge profit? Oh, and those student loan guarantees given to private lenders by the U.S. government? They don’t go away!
Does it bother you that board members will walk away with millions (in addition to their already substantial annual compensation)? The smallest number of beneficially held shares is 141,000 worth $7.7 million. The largest is over 8 million shares grossing that board member over $440 million.
Sallie Mae along with Citibank just agreed to pay a $2 million fine for corrupt student lending practices. CIT owner of Education Lending Group remains under investigation for its illegal practices while Education Finance Partners just settled for a $2.5 million fine. Seven student loan companies have been under the New York Attorney General’s microscope.
Private equity firms don’t have the same public accountability in reporting investment information to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Does it bother anyone else that a recently fined company will soon enter the shadows of the private equity world?
Yes, another case of Republican privatization where the costs are higher than competing government programs and business goes to politically connected friends who donate huge amounts to election campaigns. The American public should be concerned as education is well on its way, health care is in the Bush administration’s sights and public infrastructure isn’t far behind.
News reports indicate a number of private equity firms are interested in purchasing Sallie Mae. The stock is up over $8 today to $55 per share. Should the deal go through Board members stand to make out like bandits. The board beneficially owns some 17.7 million shares. Board members alone stand to gross nearly $1 billion from the deal.
Assuming the $973 million to be capital gains, how much does the Sallie Mae board save in taxes under the President's lesser taxing of investment profits? The super rich get to pocket nearly $50 million more than they did when they paid 20% capital gains tax.
Does this make you excited about government sloughing off key programs to the private sector for them to be turned around in 3 years and sold to someone else at a huge profit? Oh, and those student loan guarantees given to private lenders by the U.S. government? They don’t go away!
Does it bother you that board members will walk away with millions (in addition to their already substantial annual compensation)? The smallest number of beneficially held shares is 141,000 worth $7.7 million. The largest is over 8 million shares grossing that board member over $440 million.
Sallie Mae along with Citibank just agreed to pay a $2 million fine for corrupt student lending practices. CIT owner of Education Lending Group remains under investigation for its illegal practices while Education Finance Partners just settled for a $2.5 million fine. Seven student loan companies have been under the New York Attorney General’s microscope.
Private equity firms don’t have the same public accountability in reporting investment information to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Does it bother anyone else that a recently fined company will soon enter the shadows of the private equity world?
Yes, another case of Republican privatization where the costs are higher than competing government programs and business goes to politically connected friends who donate huge amounts to election campaigns. The American public should be concerned as education is well on its way, health care is in the Bush administration’s sights and public infrastructure isn’t far behind.
Friday, April 06, 2007
NASA IG Applying Bush Management Principles Ordered "Back to School"
NASA's Inspector General Robert Cobb committed a series of cardinal sins in his role as an "impartial investigator". Mr. Cobb frequently golfed with the head of NASA, traveled together on department aircraft, and even tipped off officials to his internal investigations. The Integrity Committee which reviews IG's said Robert created "the appearance of a a lack of independence".
Cobb also held up a Texas Rangers investigation into the final disposition of missing jewelry from fallen Columbia astronaut, Laurel Clark. Her husband wanted to use all means to recover the keepsakes, including the television program CrimeStoppers. The NASA IG nixed that idea to save his department's and the Bush administration's face.
Corrective action for the wayward IG is "management training". Does that ring any bells? Karl and company got a round of "ethics training" after the White House leak of a CIA agents name. That and an internal White House investigation, the President assurred us would solve the problem. Yet, that promised follow up investigation never occurred according to Bush's security chief.
Robert Cobb's background included serving as ethics adviser to Alberto Gonzales, then White House Counsel. With nine years experience in the U.S. Office of Government Ethics one might expect more from Mr. Cobb. But this isn't his first brush with the Integrity Committee.
Previously, the committee found Cobb guilty of creating "an abusive work environment". People inside the IG's office described him as abusive, dismissive and a bully. Does that sound familiar? Did he learn how to blow his top and unleash a series of four letter words while working in the White House? Did George, Dick, Karl, Alberto or even Fran Townsend (known for her four letter tirades according to Time magazine) teach Mr. Cobb?
One case shared with the Intergrity Committee is mind boggling. IG auditor Carroll Tom Hassell described how "a person in a South American country" over three days in late 2002 logged into the Marshall Space Flight Center's supposedly secure computer system, stole space shuttle data valued at $1.9 billion and shipped it to a third country. The complaint said Cobb's office refused to report the theft to the Commerce Department as an illegal transfer of intellectual property. The IG's rationale for not reporting was the data still existed on NASA computers.
Robert Cobb is a fractal in the Bush administration. He's simply a reflection of the sorry managment beliefs and practices residing in the White House. The great losses are here and sending a flunkie to "management training" will accomplish little, that is if it even happens...
Cobb also held up a Texas Rangers investigation into the final disposition of missing jewelry from fallen Columbia astronaut, Laurel Clark. Her husband wanted to use all means to recover the keepsakes, including the television program CrimeStoppers. The NASA IG nixed that idea to save his department's and the Bush administration's face.
Corrective action for the wayward IG is "management training". Does that ring any bells? Karl and company got a round of "ethics training" after the White House leak of a CIA agents name. That and an internal White House investigation, the President assurred us would solve the problem. Yet, that promised follow up investigation never occurred according to Bush's security chief.
Robert Cobb's background included serving as ethics adviser to Alberto Gonzales, then White House Counsel. With nine years experience in the U.S. Office of Government Ethics one might expect more from Mr. Cobb. But this isn't his first brush with the Integrity Committee.
Previously, the committee found Cobb guilty of creating "an abusive work environment". People inside the IG's office described him as abusive, dismissive and a bully. Does that sound familiar? Did he learn how to blow his top and unleash a series of four letter words while working in the White House? Did George, Dick, Karl, Alberto or even Fran Townsend (known for her four letter tirades according to Time magazine) teach Mr. Cobb?
One case shared with the Intergrity Committee is mind boggling. IG auditor Carroll Tom Hassell described how "a person in a South American country" over three days in late 2002 logged into the Marshall Space Flight Center's supposedly secure computer system, stole space shuttle data valued at $1.9 billion and shipped it to a third country. The complaint said Cobb's office refused to report the theft to the Commerce Department as an illegal transfer of intellectual property. The IG's rationale for not reporting was the data still existed on NASA computers.
Robert Cobb is a fractal in the Bush administration. He's simply a reflection of the sorry managment beliefs and practices residing in the White House. The great losses are here and sending a flunkie to "management training" will accomplish little, that is if it even happens...
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Bush to Create More Osama bin Landens & Enrons
The Bush administration took active steps in the last 6 months to support Sunni extremist jihadist groups like al Qaeda in both Lebanon and Iran. After threatening to reduce financial regulations imposed in response to the ethics debacle of Enron, the Bush team gathered last week to put their nefarious plans into motion. The Washington Post reported in a piece on class action suit denial against Enron’s investment banks:
In a series of conferences last week, industry titans and even Treasury Department officials pressed the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission to rewrite costly regulations and make it more difficult for investors to sue gatekeepers such as banks and accounting firms.
A Georgetown University law professor called it a “very big victory for business.” Shareholders or the owners of the company have limited legal recourse for the criminal behavior of executives and investment banks complicit in their schemes.
How long will it take for new Enron’s to be created given the widespread executive cheating under stock option plans? A study indicated almost 30% of publicly traded firms manipulated stock option grants to top executives at some point between 1996 and 2005. Yet, given the widespread practice of backdating only 100 to 200 firms are under investigation by the SEC.
Between the Enron implosion and widespread corporate stock option cheating, why does the Treasury Department wants the SEC to do even less to keep corporations’ activities above board and in the public eye? How do Treasury Chief Hank Paulson’s friends at Goldman Sachs feel about all this? Likely, they are tickled pink or should I say giggling green? Is Hank helping keep his old company’s record earnings streak going?
This regulatory relaxation should disabuse anyone of the notion that the Bush administration wants to hold big businesses accountable. Chiquita Banana just paid a $25 million dollar fine for funding at least two Colombian terrorist groups. Despite the war on terror, Chiquita executives were not spirited off to Guantanamo Bay nor locked up next to domestic terrorist Jose Padilla. However, the Colombian government might want the executives extradited to their country for trial. They have a much better idea of how those Chiquita millions cost the lives of innocent civilians.
Funding the wrong people is a familiar refrain, especially those familiar with the President’s heavy handed international policy. Sleeping with the wrong party got us Osama bin Laden. It appears we have strange bed fellows once again in the Middle East, more Sunni extremists. I hope some news organization is keeping track of their names so 15 years from now we can track it back to President Bush. His legacy should be quite clear by then. Will we be paying $50 a barrel for Paraguayan water by then?
P.S. On April 3rd, 2007 Brian Williams reported of one such CIA assisted Sunni jihadist operating from Pakistan. His target is Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
In a series of conferences last week, industry titans and even Treasury Department officials pressed the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission to rewrite costly regulations and make it more difficult for investors to sue gatekeepers such as banks and accounting firms.
A Georgetown University law professor called it a “very big victory for business.” Shareholders or the owners of the company have limited legal recourse for the criminal behavior of executives and investment banks complicit in their schemes.
How long will it take for new Enron’s to be created given the widespread executive cheating under stock option plans? A study indicated almost 30% of publicly traded firms manipulated stock option grants to top executives at some point between 1996 and 2005. Yet, given the widespread practice of backdating only 100 to 200 firms are under investigation by the SEC.
Between the Enron implosion and widespread corporate stock option cheating, why does the Treasury Department wants the SEC to do even less to keep corporations’ activities above board and in the public eye? How do Treasury Chief Hank Paulson’s friends at Goldman Sachs feel about all this? Likely, they are tickled pink or should I say giggling green? Is Hank helping keep his old company’s record earnings streak going?
This regulatory relaxation should disabuse anyone of the notion that the Bush administration wants to hold big businesses accountable. Chiquita Banana just paid a $25 million dollar fine for funding at least two Colombian terrorist groups. Despite the war on terror, Chiquita executives were not spirited off to Guantanamo Bay nor locked up next to domestic terrorist Jose Padilla. However, the Colombian government might want the executives extradited to their country for trial. They have a much better idea of how those Chiquita millions cost the lives of innocent civilians.
Funding the wrong people is a familiar refrain, especially those familiar with the President’s heavy handed international policy. Sleeping with the wrong party got us Osama bin Laden. It appears we have strange bed fellows once again in the Middle East, more Sunni extremists. I hope some news organization is keeping track of their names so 15 years from now we can track it back to President Bush. His legacy should be quite clear by then. Will we be paying $50 a barrel for Paraguayan water by then?
P.S. On April 3rd, 2007 Brian Williams reported of one such CIA assisted Sunni jihadist operating from Pakistan. His target is Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
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