Random Political Thoughts

Aaaahhhh… Wednesday… middle of the week… humpday… the week is more than halfway done… and most important, it’s time for Random Political Thoughts…

All In The Family. Reverend Al Sharpton is descended from a slave owned by relatives of Strom Thurmond… the “former” segregationist. Sharpton said the news was “probably the most shocking thing of my life.”

In The Market. While everyone and their brother announces their presidential bid, the Christian Right is finding it difficult to find a Presidential candidate that fits their ideal profile… (in other words, they can’t find someone who hates the things they hate)

The Last Smoke-Filled-Room Hero. It’s not often that we at TBWA hail Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), but he gave what could be one of the best political quotes about bipartisanship ever when he said: “You can’t catch a socially transmitted disease by sitting down with people who hold ideas that are different than yours.” (Well said Governor… very well said…)

Jack Bauer Was Here. Usually shrouded in secrecy, there’s some new information coming out on the CIA’s ‘Black Site’ prison system. While reading the linked WaPo article, keep in mind that what you are reading about is real and not something lifted from the pages of a Tom Clancy novel…

Call It As You See It. Mike McConnell, the new director of national intelligence, said yesterday that “Osama bin laden is in Pakistan actively re-establishing al Qaeda training camps.” In the same speech, McConnel also admitted to the Senate that the term “civil war” is an accurate description of the Iraqi conflict.” (Ok… besides being the most “definitive statement” about the conflict given by anyone in the Bush(whacked) Administration, this is definitely notable… my question is; where’s the mainstream media’s reporting of it?? Oh right… Anna Nicole…)

When Chairmen Attack. Former Defense Policy Board chairman Richard Perle has begun to criticize a few of Bush’s key aides for having failed him. Of Condoleezza Rice, Perle said that she was “in way over her head from the beginning,” and that Colin Powell was a “disaster.” (Had to be said…I’m just surprised it took someone this long… I wonder who’ll be next??)

Talk The Talk. You can file this in the ‘I’ll-believe-it-when-I-see-it’ files… The US has agreed to join “high-level talks” on the future of Iraq… at which Syria and Iran will also be present. Analyst Steve Clemons noted, “Time will tell whether this is meaningless flirtation” or more… (If this actually happens, it could go a long way in getting something done in regards to Iran… let’s hope…)

NGA. A lot of state’s governors are in Washington this week at the National Governors Association meeting… and they’ve been busy. Quite a few have warned “President” Bush that his Iraq escalation is gonna put a heavy burden on an already overstretched Guard and Reserve – with Gov. Mike Easley (D-NC) saying; “Currently, we don’t have the manpower or the equipment to perform that dual role” of responding to both state and federal needs. A few other Governors also pushed Bush to “provide more money” for the Children’s Health Insurance Program as a lot of states are running out of program funding. The White House’s response? That states should make better use of the money they already had… (Hmmmmm… I wonder what would happen if Congress told Bush that about his policies…)

Shift… Then Blame. “President” Bush is using one of his most important allies to place pre-emptive blame on Congressional Democrats. He told Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf that the “newly Democratic Congress could cut aid to his country” unless Pakistani forces become far more aggressive in hunting down Al Qaeda operatives. (One would have to hope that Musharraf is not as dumb as Bush and wouldn’t fall for this crap… but one never knows…)

Sad. There are approximately 200,000 homeless U.S. veterans in this country, and approximately 500-1,000 of those have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. (What more can be said? If you want to help, contact the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans)

2008 Presidential Race Update. African-Americans are starting to swing to Obama… Romney’s campaign tries to cover-up a leaked strategy memo… Clinton forgot to include a family-charity on Senate disclosure forms… Edwards is learning that you don’t always speak the truth on the stump… Huckabee is being oddly quiet… ditto for Giuliani… McCain is still pandering to anyone who will listen… and John Kerry is enjoying some sweet, sweet revenge… (I’m kidding; Kerry isn’t running. How many people threw-up a little in their mouths when they saw his name under this title… )…

Take ‘em as you will…