The Weekly Rewind

Hi folks! We have come to the end of another week, which brings us through the first 5 months of the year. Wow is the year flying by or is it just us here at TBWA? Ok enough small talk, you are here for one thing and one thing only…The Weekly Rewind…so let’s get to it!

Heckle: to a sad reality. 93.5. Is the percentage of Americans who “think U.S. troops would still be in Iraq when U.S. president George W. Bush leaves office.”

Heckle: to opening a blind eye. After announcing new economic sanctions against Sudan’s government, President Bush earlier this week called the bloodshed in Darfur a “genocide.” Last month, Bush’s Sudan ambassador Andrew Natsios resisted that label. The administration’s measures are considered too weak and too unilateral to significantly alter the calculations of the government of Sudan. Gee, we have all heard about this for a few years from the world press and the administration is just now grasping this? You have to wonder who tells George what day of the week it is when he wakes up every morning.

Applaud: to calling out the administration. Activists say President Bush’s Darfur sanctions announced yesterday are “too little, too late.” The sanctions “target three people with suspected links to the violence as well as about 30 companies” in Sudan. “Three people? After four years? And not one of them the real ringleader of the policy to divide and destroy Darfur?” asked John Prendergast of the Enough Project. Hey, isn’t that par for the course with this White House? All talk and little action.

Applaud: to cutting the cultural cord and finally seeing the big picture. Even though major Hispanic groups broke with other civil rights organizations and supported Alberto R. Gonzales’s nomination for attorney general two years ago, those same groups are now calling for his resignation. Janet Murguia, head of the National Council of La Raza, called Gonzales “a follower, not a leader.” Just to clarify, is anyone in this administration really a leader? More like followers and reactionists.

Heckle: to more of the same no matter who it is. After former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist had withdrawn his name from consideration for World Bank president. Former Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick was nominated to replace Paul Wolfowitz. Ok, but we all realize no matter who it is, it’s cronyism and more of the same.

Applaud: to feeling the heat. The New York Times finds that some conservatives in Congress are “struggl[ing] to appease increasingly restless constituents” over Iraq. “I think this is the most expensive, stupidest thing ever done,” one Republican and former “staunch backer” of President Bush now says. Wow, maybe they are actually starting to listen to the people in their home districts as opposed to the corporate lobbyists. I mean hey come on this is only supposed to be a government "for the people”…

Heckle: to an evil M&A. The Taliban has merged its propaganda and field operations with those of the global al Qaeda network led by Osama bin Laden, enabling the Taliban to develop from a xenophobic, home-grown Islamist movement into a more outward looking force that is helping to advance al Qaeda’s global interests. As if either of these organizations needed help in their recruiting efforts. Am I the only one thinking Axis of Terror? Kind of like Germany and Japan during WWII…..

Heckle: to I see your lips moving but I don’t hear anything. More than a month after the Office of Special Counsel announced it will establish a task force to mount a government-wide investigation of alleged violations of the law that limits political activity in federal agencies, the group’s formation remains in the preliminary stages. Once again, is anyone really surprised?

Heckle: to being clueless. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) blames U.S. troop deaths on Congress’ Iraq debate. “Al-Qaida knows that we’ve got a lot of wimps in Congress,” DeMint said at a luncheon Tuesday. “I believe a lot of the casualties can be laid at the feet of all the talk in Congress about how we’ve got to get out, we’ve got to cut and run.” He later added that while Iraq has “gone badly and it’s a mess, it would have been worse if we hadn’t gone in.” Yes, Senator, it is a mess! And please explain to the vast majority of the nation how it would have been worse had we not gone in? Yet another person in Congress without a clue as to how we were all lied to and manipulated in order for Bush to seek some type of personal vendetta.

Heckle: to making a stupid statement that will hopefully backfire. Conservative columnist Peggy Noonan declares today that President Bush “has torn the conservative coalition asunder,” with consequences “for the American future.” This White House “thinks its base is stupid,” she writes, while “conservative Bush supporters have felt like sufferers of battered wife syndrome.” Ok, I understand all the comments with the exception of comparing party supporters to ‘battered wives’. I can’t believe how ignorant and insensitive she is to women who are victims of this unforgiveable crime…..what a tool.

Well there it is...kind of mixed with Applauds and Heckles. Which if you are a long time reader, for me is unusual.

Be good, stay informed....later.