The Weekly Rewind

What’s that? It’s Friday? No it isn’t... it is?? Really?? It’s… holy hell, it is Friday… where did the week go?

If it’s Friday that can mean only one thing… it’s time for TBWA’s The Weekly Rewind, our irrevelent…sorry, I mean irreverantt… review of what’s happened in the world of politics this past week.

Applaud: to numbers that tell the whole story. 71% of Americans disapprove of how “President” Bush is handling the Iraq war. The number, according to an AP-Ipsos poll is an “alltime high” (Color me not surprised. And now, with the release of the Iraq Study Group’s report, I’m sure that number will get higher and higher… and Dubya’s approval ratings will get lower and lower…)

Applaud: Heckle: can’t yet decide, other than a big-ol, ‘meh’. The Iraq Study Group presented their findings to the Bush(whacked) Administration and the public this past week. While they suggest the Xxing of US troops by 2008 (Presidential year – big surprise), they didn’t offer up an actual timetable.You can read excerpts of the ISG report HERE.

Heckle: to employers who are as dense as our “President.” The amount of National Guard members and reservists that are losing their jobs, their benefits or getting reassigned from their civilian jobs after they return from duty has skyrocketed by 30% since 2002. (Nice…)

Applaud: to letting the door hit your ass on the way out. Retiring Senator Bill “Doctor” Frist gave his farewell address to his senate colleagues this past week. I tried to watch and listen to what he said but all I heard was a constant droning sound….

Heckle: to bad photo-ops and meetings. British Prime Minsiter Tony Blair visited the White House this week… jokes just kind of write themselves when these two get together, don’t they?

Applaud: to former U.S. U.N. Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick, who passed away this week. Once a Democrat, she switched to the dark side later in life and embraced the emperor President Regan, but she was always one tough broad who spoke her mind, and for that I respected her. Her policies on the other hand, not so much.

Heckle: to the 2008 presidential process getting a WAY too early start. It’s not even 2007 yet people… cool your jets… I’m talking to you McCain (R-AZ), and to you too Vilsack (D-IA)…

Applaud: to trying to get the job started even before the new Congress convenes. Incoming House Speaker Nancy “I’m scaring the hell out of republicans” Pelosi (D-CA) wants to “fast-track” an effort to boost the federal minimum wage by pushing for a “stand alone” bill that would go “straight to the floor for consideration.” (Hmmmm, maybe the incoming congress can actually get something done… though I wouldn’t hold my breath…)

Heckle: to the Bush(whacked) administration for “considering” doing away with standards that cut lead from gasoline, which is widely regarded as one of the country’s biggest clean-air accomplishments. According to the Associated Press, “Battery makers, lead smelters, refiners all have lobbied the administration to do away with the Clean Air Act limits.” (Nice… if republicans believed in global warming, we’d be in trouble. But since they don’t, I guess we’re fine… yes, that was sarcasm.), This is bad news, especially upon the news that NASA satellite data reveals that warmer ocean waters are shrinking the vital base of the ocean’s food cycle.

Applaud: to incoming House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), (FYI, it’s the majority leader who sets the schedule for Congress) for telling members that they will “work five days a week starting in January.” (Nice way to set the tone. Let me say this: crack that whip Mr. Hoyer; crack it!)

Heckle: to the most do-nothingness congress ever. Upon leaving Friday, this congress would have been in session for only 241 days over a two-year span, yes, a two year span… which would be 13 days less than the “Do-Nothing Congress” of 1948. (Nice job everyone… way to go) Better gird-up though guys, because:

Applaud: to calling a spade a dirt-redistricting device. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated this past week that the Iraq situation is ‘much worse” than a civil war. (Well shoot, that’s what the administration must have been meaning when they’ve refused to call it a civil war in the past. It’s not… it’s much worse…()

Heckle: to slow-ass working. The second phae of the levee replacement work in New Orleans has slowed to a crawl. Why? In their genius, the Army Corps plans to “save money,” and has put their focus onto longer-term plans… long-term plans that critics say will leave New Orleans at risk “until 2010 at least.” (Nice… let’s continue kicking the entire city while they’re down, and while we’re at it, let’s screw ‘em with their pants on…)

Heckle: to this comment from a Bush spokesman “Jim Baker can go back to his day job.” Nice way to have your people talk about one of your father’s confidants there junior… ya dumbass. This is a perfect example of how Bush and his people ignore everything and everyone that are looking to help him… 2008 can not come fast enough…

That's all we have, take 'em as you will...