Pardon the clunk of this independent voter's jaw hitting the floor. After perusing the white tie invitee list for dinner with the Queen, I detected the malodorous smell of dirty money. The percent of high dollar political attendees rivaled the number of corporations cheating on their stock option plans, nearly 30%. I posted a piece that evening which got no play from the Huffington Post.
The day after the event, ABC and Fox news ran stories. ABC only counted one part of the usual couple in arriving at its attendance figures. In many cases huge political donations are run through family members. Fox actually bragged about the high dollar donor connection in their piece, calling them Republican royalty.
Yet when I search Fox's site for Clinton Lincoln bedroom references, they showed up en masse. Here's a recent comment from the Republican Presidential frontrunner:
"Romney joked about his big haul, referring to the fact that President Clinton often had donors sleep at the White House. How many Lincoln Bedroom sleepovers did his donors earn? "There are not enough Lincoln Bedrooms, I'm afraid, for the _ what did we calculate? _ 32,000 or 33,000 people" who donated to his campaign, Romney quipped."
OK, cutesy Republicans, how many Dover Sole dinners with the Queen did Mitt earn from his supporters? Both houses smell of rotten fish and as the axiom states "the fish rots from the head down". The Bush team proves this yet again...
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
The State of Reporting
Last night I learned several interesting things from the editor of our local paper, Tim Archuleta. One, don't expect the major news outlets to report on the long list of heavy hitter Bush donors sharing Dover Sole with the Queen. A few years back a night in the Clinton Lincoln bedroom splashed the news for days, Today, such a story might not see the even the briefest light of day.
Why? Is it because the public no longer has an expectation of anything else? Do both parties disgustingly pander to their high dollar benefactors? Have they lowered the bar of public standards, thus the Bush invitee "suck up" list is no longer "news", but Paris Hilton and Anna Nicole Smith are?
Maybe, but Tim offered another explanation. Did you see the invitation list? It's chalk full of media people, David Gregory-NBC News, Elizabeth Hasselbeck-The View, Steve Holland-Reuters, Jim Nantz-CBS Sports, Robin Roberts-ABC, and Richard Wolffe-Newsweek. They are no longer impartial. They've been co-opted.
I learned more from Mr. Archuleta. There is virtually no chance an enterprising individual can discover something newsworthy on a national level outside the established media and have it get picked up. Local papers no longer break stories with national implications that get rolled up into the wire services.
So where does this leave us with a co-opted national media and impenetrable local news outlets? Consider the media a sense organ for the people. It now has limited capabilities.
Tim spoke highly of the Fourth Estate. He spoke of its role in finding and exposing corruption. Yet, how likely will corruption be exposed with the media's self blinded eye? Some enterprising individual or whistleblower will have to jump many hurdles to be heard in today's environment.
I connected with Tim's painting the media as the guardian of truth. I'm just puzzled how it can be executed given the system in place today. Nevertheless, I appreciate The Standard Times for doing its part the best it can.
Why? Is it because the public no longer has an expectation of anything else? Do both parties disgustingly pander to their high dollar benefactors? Have they lowered the bar of public standards, thus the Bush invitee "suck up" list is no longer "news", but Paris Hilton and Anna Nicole Smith are?
Maybe, but Tim offered another explanation. Did you see the invitation list? It's chalk full of media people, David Gregory-NBC News, Elizabeth Hasselbeck-The View, Steve Holland-Reuters, Jim Nantz-CBS Sports, Robin Roberts-ABC, and Richard Wolffe-Newsweek. They are no longer impartial. They've been co-opted.
I learned more from Mr. Archuleta. There is virtually no chance an enterprising individual can discover something newsworthy on a national level outside the established media and have it get picked up. Local papers no longer break stories with national implications that get rolled up into the wire services.
So where does this leave us with a co-opted national media and impenetrable local news outlets? Consider the media a sense organ for the people. It now has limited capabilities.
Tim spoke highly of the Fourth Estate. He spoke of its role in finding and exposing corruption. Yet, how likely will corruption be exposed with the media's self blinded eye? Some enterprising individual or whistleblower will have to jump many hurdles to be heard in today's environment.
I connected with Tim's painting the media as the guardian of truth. I'm just puzzled how it can be executed given the system in place today. Nevertheless, I appreciate The Standard Times for doing its part the best it can.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Bush’s White Tie Pioneers
Just as the British provided us with pioneering American stock, President Bush ensured a few modern day Pioneers dined with royalty. How does a white tie evening with Queen Elizabeth compare to a night in the Lincoln bedroom? I’m sure a few of these folks can tell us as many Bush campaign heavy hitters donned white tails to dine with the Queen of England. The Guest List includes a number of Bush Pioneers (raised over $100,000 in donations) and their immediate relations:
Mr and Mrs. Lee Bass (2)
Mr. and Mrs. Sid Bass, older brother of Lee Bass (2)
Anne Armstrong, the mother of Katherine Armstrong (2)
Katherine Boyd (2)
James Click (2)
Donald Evans (2)
William Farish (2) (cited as major donor by Brian Ross ABC News)
Brad Freeman (1)
Ray Hunt (2)
Nancy Kinder (2) (Husband Richard formerly of Enron donated nearly $750,000 to Republican candidates)
Herb Kohler (2) (cited as a major donor by Fox News)
Charles Moncrief (2)
Joseph O’Donnell (2)
Hank Paulson (2)
Jerry Perenchio (2)
Gerry Shaheen (2) (cited as a major donor by Fox News)
Robert Tuttle (2)
While not a Pioneer, Harold C. Simmons (2) and Boone Pickens (2) are heavy hitters in the financial arena. Harold donated $370,000 and Boone $322,851 to Republican candidates.
Harold and his wife Annette funneled $20,000 to mainly Republican candidates in 2006 through Contran Corporation’s Political Action Committee, a virtual repeat of their 2004 contributions. In the last two election cycles Harold donated $43,000 to Republican office seekers while his wife Annette forked over nearly $185,000. They shattered the Bush Pioneer level of $100,000 from their contributions alone, averaging $114,000 for the 2004 and 2006 elections!
Boone Pickens dropped $136,700 on a Republican dominated slate the last two election cycles.
Other guests are hard working federal servants, part of the Queen’s entourage, or American news/sports icons. How do they total out?
Out of some 133 guests, 37 came from good Pioneering or heavy Republican fundraising stock. That’s nearly 28% of the crowd. Who says large political donations don’t buy much anymore? Fox News even bragged about it.
What happened to our national head hanging over the selling of overnight stays in the Lincoln Bedroom? The news brags about high dollar donors rubbing elbows with royalty over Dover Sole. It appears American politics may have just sold its national soul...
Mr and Mrs. Lee Bass (2)
Mr. and Mrs. Sid Bass, older brother of Lee Bass (2)
Anne Armstrong, the mother of Katherine Armstrong (2)
Katherine Boyd (2)
James Click (2)
Donald Evans (2)
William Farish (2) (cited as major donor by Brian Ross ABC News)
Brad Freeman (1)
Ray Hunt (2)
Nancy Kinder (2) (Husband Richard formerly of Enron donated nearly $750,000 to Republican candidates)
Herb Kohler (2) (cited as a major donor by Fox News)
Charles Moncrief (2)
Joseph O’Donnell (2)
Hank Paulson (2)
Jerry Perenchio (2)
Gerry Shaheen (2) (cited as a major donor by Fox News)
Robert Tuttle (2)
While not a Pioneer, Harold C. Simmons (2) and Boone Pickens (2) are heavy hitters in the financial arena. Harold donated $370,000 and Boone $322,851 to Republican candidates.
Harold and his wife Annette funneled $20,000 to mainly Republican candidates in 2006 through Contran Corporation’s Political Action Committee, a virtual repeat of their 2004 contributions. In the last two election cycles Harold donated $43,000 to Republican office seekers while his wife Annette forked over nearly $185,000. They shattered the Bush Pioneer level of $100,000 from their contributions alone, averaging $114,000 for the 2004 and 2006 elections!
Boone Pickens dropped $136,700 on a Republican dominated slate the last two election cycles.
Other guests are hard working federal servants, part of the Queen’s entourage, or American news/sports icons. How do they total out?
Out of some 133 guests, 37 came from good Pioneering or heavy Republican fundraising stock. That’s nearly 28% of the crowd. Who says large political donations don’t buy much anymore? Fox News even bragged about it.
What happened to our national head hanging over the selling of overnight stays in the Lincoln Bedroom? The news brags about high dollar donors rubbing elbows with royalty over Dover Sole. It appears American politics may have just sold its national soul...
Causes of America's Loss of Prominence
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison rang the alarm bells over India’s and China’s threat to the American economy, only she left out a major player in this deteriorating situation, U.S. companies serving global markets.
The Senator cited a 2005 study on the number of engineers being trained in India and China as evidence of the loss of our pre-eminence. She failed to mention a 2006 Duke University Study showing the problem to be less severe. However, the study raised the same concern as Sen. Hutchison, the growing number of engineers trained in both Asian countries. It shared a statistic Kay Bailey didn’t mention in her column, 11 Indian engineers can be hired for the cost of one American.
Part of India and China’s high growth comes from American companies and even our government’s outsourcing work to Asia. She cites a reduction in the growth rate of patents as evidence of the problem. Historically, many patents come from private corporations vs. government agencies. From 1995 to 2000, 77.5% of internet related business method patents were filed by corporations, none by a government agency.
So why are American businesses not growing their innovations at the same rate as the 1990’s. My guess is the managerial climate of the 90’s fostered creativity and innovation. Leadership guru Dr. W. Edwards Deming’s influence rose through the mid 90’s until his unfortunate death. He cited management practices that stifle innovation. Unfortunately those became widespread in this decade. They include pay for performance, buying goods solely based on the lowest cost, and seeing employees as just another input, as disposable
Regarding innovation, he said “You cannot plan how to make a discovery” & “You do not plan innovation.” However, you can create the conditions for it to occur. On this the guru said “For Quality: Stamp out fires, automate, computerize, management by objective, install merit pay, rank people, best efforts, zero defects. WRONG! Missing ingredient: profound knowledge.” I believe he would add “outsourcing” and “pay for performance” to his list of faulty management strategies. His wisdom is missing from most American corporations and A.W.O.L from the halls of government.
A friend works in the corporate office of America’s largest small appliance maker. In 2006 they closed down their last plant in North Carolina. All products sold in the U.S. are now made in China. Who served on their board when this decision was made? It was none other than ex-Texas A & M University President Robert Gates, now our Defense Department Chief.
Senator Hutchison should know about Goodyear Tire’s outsourcing production to China as it will result in the death of a Tyler, Texas plant the end of 2007. The company saved $35 million by buying Chinese tires. A Goodyear spokesman stressed it continues to search for ways to eliminate “high cost production”. How many other American companies are sending their formerly high cost production to low cost India and China?
Do I believe Senator Hutchison’s bill will do anything other than provide low cost R & D to energy and space related companies? No. Even her education solution of competitive grants is piecemeal and insufficient to address the problem. Grants for teachers to earn masters and doctoral degrees sound nice until one considers they may be grading Genesis cited papers on God’s creating the earth in their physics class (if a bill in the Texas legislature passes).
The causes of America’s declining innovative role in the world are tied to our sorry state of leadership, intent on optimizing the country for business interests and a subsection of Christians. While not explicitly stated, Senator Hutchison’s column drives the first part home in spades.
The Senator cited a 2005 study on the number of engineers being trained in India and China as evidence of the loss of our pre-eminence. She failed to mention a 2006 Duke University Study showing the problem to be less severe. However, the study raised the same concern as Sen. Hutchison, the growing number of engineers trained in both Asian countries. It shared a statistic Kay Bailey didn’t mention in her column, 11 Indian engineers can be hired for the cost of one American.
Part of India and China’s high growth comes from American companies and even our government’s outsourcing work to Asia. She cites a reduction in the growth rate of patents as evidence of the problem. Historically, many patents come from private corporations vs. government agencies. From 1995 to 2000, 77.5% of internet related business method patents were filed by corporations, none by a government agency.
So why are American businesses not growing their innovations at the same rate as the 1990’s. My guess is the managerial climate of the 90’s fostered creativity and innovation. Leadership guru Dr. W. Edwards Deming’s influence rose through the mid 90’s until his unfortunate death. He cited management practices that stifle innovation. Unfortunately those became widespread in this decade. They include pay for performance, buying goods solely based on the lowest cost, and seeing employees as just another input, as disposable
Regarding innovation, he said “You cannot plan how to make a discovery” & “You do not plan innovation.” However, you can create the conditions for it to occur. On this the guru said “For Quality: Stamp out fires, automate, computerize, management by objective, install merit pay, rank people, best efforts, zero defects. WRONG! Missing ingredient: profound knowledge.” I believe he would add “outsourcing” and “pay for performance” to his list of faulty management strategies. His wisdom is missing from most American corporations and A.W.O.L from the halls of government.
A friend works in the corporate office of America’s largest small appliance maker. In 2006 they closed down their last plant in North Carolina. All products sold in the U.S. are now made in China. Who served on their board when this decision was made? It was none other than ex-Texas A & M University President Robert Gates, now our Defense Department Chief.
Senator Hutchison should know about Goodyear Tire’s outsourcing production to China as it will result in the death of a Tyler, Texas plant the end of 2007. The company saved $35 million by buying Chinese tires. A Goodyear spokesman stressed it continues to search for ways to eliminate “high cost production”. How many other American companies are sending their formerly high cost production to low cost India and China?
Do I believe Senator Hutchison’s bill will do anything other than provide low cost R & D to energy and space related companies? No. Even her education solution of competitive grants is piecemeal and insufficient to address the problem. Grants for teachers to earn masters and doctoral degrees sound nice until one considers they may be grading Genesis cited papers on God’s creating the earth in their physics class (if a bill in the Texas legislature passes).
The causes of America’s declining innovative role in the world are tied to our sorry state of leadership, intent on optimizing the country for business interests and a subsection of Christians. While not explicitly stated, Senator Hutchison’s column drives the first part home in spades.
God's Role in Weather Disasters?
The terrible tornado that destroyed Greensburg, Kansas is on the nation's mind. In an apparent miracle, a person was found alive in the wreckage days after the twister hit. The state's Senator Sam Brownback, a man of deep faith visited the area. For a man who believes God is behind everything and needs to be more central in American's lives, what had Greensburg done to invoke the wrath of God?
After 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina, television ministers Rev. Falwell and Robertson claimed homosexuals the cause of both events. They suggested an angry God sent terrorists and a powerful hurricane to teach sinners a lesson.
But what was destroyed in Greensburg? Many lives and virtually the whole town, churches, businesses and homes. The two things left included concrete grain silos and the Bar H Tavern, Greensburgs' only drinking establishment. Why would God destroy churches and leave a bar?
No Republicans or men of faith claimed the Virginia Tech shooter had been sent by God. President Bush even gave the deity a free pass when he said students who faced the vengeful mentally ill man were "unlucky". How does this fit with a God in control of all things, purposefully rewarding the obedient and punishing the faithless?
If God sent terrorists on 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina, why isn't he behind the Greensburg tornado or the Virginia Tech shootings? Is God's hand in all things? If so why did he mow down churches and leave a bar? The mystery continues...
After 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina, television ministers Rev. Falwell and Robertson claimed homosexuals the cause of both events. They suggested an angry God sent terrorists and a powerful hurricane to teach sinners a lesson.
But what was destroyed in Greensburg? Many lives and virtually the whole town, churches, businesses and homes. The two things left included concrete grain silos and the Bar H Tavern, Greensburgs' only drinking establishment. Why would God destroy churches and leave a bar?
No Republicans or men of faith claimed the Virginia Tech shooter had been sent by God. President Bush even gave the deity a free pass when he said students who faced the vengeful mentally ill man were "unlucky". How does this fit with a God in control of all things, purposefully rewarding the obedient and punishing the faithless?
If God sent terrorists on 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina, why isn't he behind the Greensburg tornado or the Virginia Tech shootings? Is God's hand in all things? If so why did he mow down churches and leave a bar? The mystery continues...
Friday, May 04, 2007
Bush's Noble Cause?
War is incapable of bringing peace and a study on battlefield ethics casts doubts as to whether it can deliver the President's promised freedom and democracy. It appears many of America's over 150,ooo ambassadors may behave less than civilized.
Using the statistics below over 75,000 soldiers in Iraq believe noncombatants don't deserve respect or dignity, 50,000 have insulted or cursed Iraqi citizens, and 15,000 mistreated civilians or damaged property when it wasn't necessary. It appears our soldiers have the freedom to mistreat the people who would be free.
In a survey of U.S. troops in combat in Iraq, less than half of Marines and a little more than half of Army soldiers said they would report a member of their unit for killing or wounding an innocent civilian.
More than 40 percent support the idea of torture in some cases, and 10 percent reported personally abusing Iraqi civilians, the Pentagon said Friday in what it called its first ethics study of troops at the war front. Units exposed to the most combat were chosen for the study, officials said.
Findings included:
_Sixty-two percent of soldiers and 66 percent of Marines said that they knew someone seriously injured or killed, or that a member of their team had become a casualty.
_The 2006 adjusted rate of suicides per 100,000 soldiers was 17.3 soldiers, lower than the 19.9 rate reported in 2005.
_Only 47 percent of the soldiers and 38 percent of Marines said noncombatants should be treated with dignity and respect.
_About a third of troops said they had insulted or cursed at civilians in their presence.
_About 10 percent of soldiers and Marines reported mistreating civilians or damaging property when it was not necessary. Mistreatment includes hitting or kicking a civilian.
_Forty-four percent of Marines and 41 percent of soldiers said torture should be allowed to save the life of a soldier or Marine.
_Thirty-nine percent of Marines and 36 percent of soldiers said torture should be allowed to gather important information from insurgents.
The study team also found that long and repeated deployments were increasing troop mental health problems.
Welcome to President Bush's International Stanford Prison Experiment.
Using the statistics below over 75,000 soldiers in Iraq believe noncombatants don't deserve respect or dignity, 50,000 have insulted or cursed Iraqi citizens, and 15,000 mistreated civilians or damaged property when it wasn't necessary. It appears our soldiers have the freedom to mistreat the people who would be free.
In a survey of U.S. troops in combat in Iraq, less than half of Marines and a little more than half of Army soldiers said they would report a member of their unit for killing or wounding an innocent civilian.
More than 40 percent support the idea of torture in some cases, and 10 percent reported personally abusing Iraqi civilians, the Pentagon said Friday in what it called its first ethics study of troops at the war front. Units exposed to the most combat were chosen for the study, officials said.
Findings included:
_Sixty-two percent of soldiers and 66 percent of Marines said that they knew someone seriously injured or killed, or that a member of their team had become a casualty.
_The 2006 adjusted rate of suicides per 100,000 soldiers was 17.3 soldiers, lower than the 19.9 rate reported in 2005.
_Only 47 percent of the soldiers and 38 percent of Marines said noncombatants should be treated with dignity and respect.
_About a third of troops said they had insulted or cursed at civilians in their presence.
_About 10 percent of soldiers and Marines reported mistreating civilians or damaging property when it was not necessary. Mistreatment includes hitting or kicking a civilian.
_Forty-four percent of Marines and 41 percent of soldiers said torture should be allowed to save the life of a soldier or Marine.
_Thirty-nine percent of Marines and 36 percent of soldiers said torture should be allowed to gather important information from insurgents.
The study team also found that long and repeated deployments were increasing troop mental health problems.
Welcome to President Bush's International Stanford Prison Experiment.
HCA Buyout Adds Nearly $1.5 Billion in Interest Expenses?
The private equity purchase of the huge for-profit hospital company sickened the firm's latest financial results. In a surprising move, HCA's net income dropped by 50% from last year. What amputated the company's previously healthy bottom line? Why it was the cost of taking on the debt required to go private in the first place!
Interest expense rose from $186 million to $557 million. The $371 million increase represents a 200% rise, courtesy of free market dealings. This is the tonic President Bush has applied to America's health care non-system. Should this refect HCA's new quarterly interest expense, by year end it will be just shy of $1.5 billion.
How long do you think the boys and girls at KKR will be happy with a 50% drop in net income? I feel some major hospital rate hikes coming. My guess is this press release is intended to grease the skids for such a thing.
Who could be happy about this report? It would have to be the debt holders. That wouldn't include KKR, would it? And how many patients won't be treated to pay the bag holders under the President's hands off health care market blanket party?
Interest expense rose from $186 million to $557 million. The $371 million increase represents a 200% rise, courtesy of free market dealings. This is the tonic President Bush has applied to America's health care non-system. Should this refect HCA's new quarterly interest expense, by year end it will be just shy of $1.5 billion.
How long do you think the boys and girls at KKR will be happy with a 50% drop in net income? I feel some major hospital rate hikes coming. My guess is this press release is intended to grease the skids for such a thing.
Who could be happy about this report? It would have to be the debt holders. That wouldn't include KKR, would it? And how many patients won't be treated to pay the bag holders under the President's hands off health care market blanket party?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)