Random Political Thoughts for a Wednesday Afternoon

We’re halfway through the week, still celebrating our 1-year anniversary, and still doling out our spin on the political news of the day…

Since it’s Wednesday, we all know what that means…

No, not Ladies Day at the Quick Lube…

No, not Seniors Day at the carwash…

It’s time for TBWA’s Random Political Thought…

Not a surprise. Since 2000 health insurance premiums have risen 84% . Wages have 20% and inflation has risen 18%… (Hmmm, something’s amiss… oh, right… the average American worker is getting screwed with their pants on…)

Well, duh. A new report by the Citizens Health Care Working Group concludes that Americans (surprise, surprise) clearly want a system in place that guarantees health care for everyone”. The group was created by Congress and is composed of 15 members congressmen… (Did we really need a committee and a report to tell us this??)

Not a surprise, Part II. The journal Nature reports in the most-recent issue that Bush administration officials blocked the release of a report that suggests global warming is contributing to the frequency and strength of hurricanes… wait a minute, didn’t I put something in last week’s random about this?? What’s that? This is the third such cover-up accusation in the last two weeks?? Color me… not surprised…

This is progress? A coin flip decided the primary race for Alaska House of Representatives yesterday. Deadlocked in a 767-767 tie, incumbent Rep. Carl Moses and challenger Bryce Edgmon watched nervously as a “gold-and-silver commemorative coin spun through the air” and “landed on a sea otter pelt - tails up - giving” Edgmon the spot on the ballot.

We have comprehension! A recent Gallup Panel survey shows that the American public puts the primary blame on “President” Bush and NOT Bill Clinton for the fact that Osama bin Laden has not been captured with 53% blaming Bush and 36% blaming Clinton.

Speaking of Osama... Osama bin Laden is dead alive dead alive dead alive… screw it, let’s just say he’s something and leave it at that. Seriouosly, this is going to get more out of hand than the “Paul is dead” rumors…

Generally speaking, it’s a smackdown. Earlier this week the Democratic Policy Committee heard from retired Maj. Gen. John Batiste (the former commander of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division in Iraq) who stated that the Bush administration’s Iraq war planning “allowed the insurgency to take root and metastasize” to its present strength. As if that wasn’t damming enough, retired Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, along with Batiste, declared that Rumsfeld must go; with Batiste saying “He (Rumsfeld) knows everything, except ‘how to win.” (Ouch… I love it…)

Today’s Gratuitous Op-Ed Plug. Washington Post columnist Harold Meyerson’s “The Moderate Republican Scam.” Also, Garrison Keillor asks a very pertinent question: “Are photo ops ruining America?”

Not a surprise to anyone who isn’t a Republican. A big shocker came to light this week (PDF link)… and by big shocker I mean to anyone who can’t use their own brain, that the war in Iraq has created a new breeding ground for terrorists (well, duhhhhhh…) according to a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE). Naturally “President” Bush' is only allowing for a partial declassification of the NIE report… lest anyone learn the truth.

Not a surprise, Part III. It seems that “President” Bush's new torture bill “eviscerates the promise of Nuremberg.” See the title of this entry for my reaction…

First water wasn’t allowed, now words. THIS STORY is just sad and pathetic… but unfortunately, not at all surprising given who’s in charge in DC.

An army of (Brit)ons. British soldiers killed a high-ranking Al-Qaeda member in Iraq earlier this week… this is the al-qaeda member that previously escaped from an American prison in Afghanistan. (Well, at least we weren’t bailed-out by French soldiers)

Take ‘em as you will…