WHOO-HOO!!!!!!!

Sigh...

Do you remember back in 2001 when "President" Bush vowed to get Osama Bin Laden "dead or alive"?

Well, turns out he was bloviating;

President George W. Bush said he was unaware if, during his eight-year tenure, Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was ever close to being captured. [...] Asked if the September 11 mastermind ever came close to being captured since US forces went into Afghanistan looking for him in 2002, Bush said: "I don't know. I can't answer that." [...] Pressed by King, Bush replied candidly: "I really don't know. I'm not trying to hide anything."

Only six days left... only six days left... only six days left...

Holiday Break

We at TBWA will be taking some time off in the next 2 weeks to not only wind-down from a spectacular and at times odd political year, but to spend time with family & friends over the Christmas and New Year's Holidays.

We'll be back on January 1st with our annual Year End Rewind, a look back at the things that happened in the last 12 months.

Until then, continue reading past posts of our fine blog, and we'll be back in 2009 ready to sum up the Bush presidency while keeping tabs on an Obama Administration.

Thank you...

The Thursday ‘BushWhack’ing

Waiting for the ice…

• And the President-elect cabinet picks keep on coming…
• Rick Warren, seriously?
• Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has joined other Bush(whacked) Administration officials in granting legacy-saving, end-of-days interviews, covering a wide array of matters including her acknowledgement about “erroneous” assumptions about Iraq and labeling the inability to prevent the September 11 attacks as a “systemic failure.” (the interview revealed nothing new… she maintains the administration’s talking points about Iraq and the invasion while blaming faulty intel – rather than a faulty president – on the invasion of Iraq. Rice has had her reputation tarnished by being a member of this administration – as have others – but one has the feeling that she will bounce back more resiliently then say, Alberto Gonzales)
• “President” Bush is convening a plethora of ex-Presidents next month to discuss the transition. Expected to attend are former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George H. W. Bush along with President-elect Obama. White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said; “the gathering will be a chance for them to discuss life in the White House, politics, and domestic and world affairs.” (and that the toilet in the West Wing runs unless you jiggle the handle…)
• And have we mentioned? That Vice President Dick Cheney is going senile? At least that’s the only thing I can think of after reading that Cheney said in an interview with the Washington Times that Bush’s “place in history likely would grow during the next 20 to 30 years.” (Um… okay. Granted, no one can tell what the future holds or what history will say, but this sounds like forced. Bush’s failures are massive, and his successes minimal, so how his place in history can improve is anyone’s guess… so stay tuned)

The Wednesday ‘BushWhack’ing

Hump day is upon us, so let’s get a-humpin…

• Not surprisingly, Time magazine has named President-elect Obama as its “Person of the Year.”
• The Blagojevich saga continues… and will continue and continue and continue until we’re all so sick of the damned thing we tune it out. Much like we have the ridiculousness in New York to replace Sen. Clinton.
• Another day, another PE Obama cabinet pick…
• “President” Bush sat down with CNN’s Candy Crowley yesterday and spoke about the auto industry bailout, Iraq and so on. During the interview, Bush said about the auto bailout that it's important to make sure he doesn’t waste taxpayers' money… (Sure, NOW he starts saying that…)
• Yesterday NASA released a statement saying that the year 2008 was the ninth warmest year since 1880 and that “all of the nine warmest years have occurred in the past 11 years.” (Take from that what you will…)
• And have we mentioned? That Vice President Dick Cheney is living up to his name? In an interview with ABC News, Cheney said the administration “made the right decision” in invading Iraq maintaining that the “world is better off with Saddam [Hussein] gone” while also admitting that he shared “frustration” over faulty intelligence regarding WMD’s. (All fine and good… but we were sold on the invasion of Iraq based on them having WMD’s… NOT Hussein being in power. Yes, he was a tyrant and the world probably is better off with him gone, but that doesn’t change the fact that the electorate was lied to… 1/20/09 can not come soon enough)

What will The Fed do next for the economy?

The Department of Labor announced this morning that consumer prices fell in November by the largest percentage, 1.7%, in the 61 years that records have been kept, much of the decline being attributed to energy prices that have plunged drastically.

With inflation being rather minimal at this point (according to an AP story, the 1.7% decline in consumer prices was larger than economist’s forecast of a 1.2% drop) there is some good news on the financial horizon because, with inflation being rather low, the Federal Reserve has a lot of leverage and can pump money into the economy because they don’t have to worry (yet?) about fueling inflation. And that’s exactly what they’re doing; having the central bank print more money and then pumping it back into the economy, much like Japan did years ago successfully.

All of this is a more complex way to say that the Fed will probably reduce federal funds rate 50 basis points to 1/2% in the next few days.

Um... what?

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin spoke to Fox “News” yesterday about Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich; “Now is the time, not just for governors, but, for all elected officials to try and start shoring up some trust with the electorate. […] You cannot be in this business to get rich...can't be in this business with anything but a servant's heart. I'm wondering how long the guy thought he was gonna get away with it.”

There’s something I should be saying here… something regarding a pot, a kettle and the color black… but I'm laughing so hard I can’t think of it at this moment.

The Tuesday ‘BushWhack’ing

We at TBWA are waiting for the other shoe to drop…

• The 538 members of the Electoral College gathered in all 50 states and the District of Columbia yesterday and exercised their constitutional prerogative and cast their votes for president and vice president… officially electing President-elect Obama and Vice-president Obama.
• The Secret Service is getting flak for allowing two shoes to be thrown at “President” Bush…
• President-elect Obama is poised to announce more cabinet posts today, including Chicago Schools CEO Arne Duncan as Education Secretary.
• JFK’s daughter Caroline has made it public to anyone that will listen that she wants Sen. Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat. According to Sen. Chuck Schumer, there are twelve other people also interested in the post, though no other names have been publicly announced. (I am torn about this… while I appreciate the historical aspect of it, putting someone who has little political experience other than being around politics is a tad disheartening. New York Governor David Paterson has the power to appoint the replacement that will face a special election in 2010.
• PE Obama and VP-elect Biden will be taking a train to the inauguration…
• 70% of Americans say President-elect Obama should “fulfill his campaign promise to withdraw U.S. forces from the country within 16 months.” (All fine and good, but I have a radical idea. Let’s allow Mr. Obama to actually, you know, take office before demanding he fulfill campaign promises…)
• And have we mentioned? That someone took a poll asking if Obama should get a new dog from a breeder or a shelter? That’s a good use of money and resources…

The Monday ‘BushWhack’ing

Another week begins…

• “President” Bush made a visit to Iraq over the weekend and his appearance prompted one Iraqi reporter to throw his shoes at Bush and call him a “dog”... I guess he wanted Bush to… ‘heal’…
• The Blagojevich saga continues… and it’s obvious that he’s living in his own world as he continues to go about his business despite calls for his resignation or impeachment.
• President-elect Obama is poised to name his energy team today or tomorrow… may I suggest “The Obama PowerUps”?
• And have we mentioned? That Sen. McCain is unsure about backing a possible Palin presidential run? Speaking on ABC’s “This Week” yesterday, McCain said that he would not necessarily support Palin if she decided to run for president, saying; “I can’t say something like that. We’ve got some great other young governors. I think you’re going to see the governors assume a greater leadership role in our Republican Party.” (This is probably the largest sign that McCain and Palin did not get along well, and his refusal to support her, even four years early, is a slap in the face to Palin. Tee-hee.)

I'm gonna say 'ow' for Mr. Vitter

Louisiana UAW Local 2166 official Morgan Johnson responds to republican Louisiana Sen. David Vitter's vote against the auto bailout; “I don't know what Sen. Vitter has against GM or the United Auto Workers or the entire domestic auto industry; whatever it is, whatever he thinks we've done, it's time for him to forgive us, just like Sen. Vitter has asked the citizens of Louisiana to forgive him. [..] He'd rather pay a prostitute than pay auto workers.” Pwnd!

The craptastic McPalin campaign mistakes continue

One wouldn’t think it possible, but weeks after ending one of the most poorly-strategized and poorly-ran presidential campaigns in recent memory, the McCain-Palin campaign is STILL making mistakes;

Private information at bargain prices. It was a high-tech flub at the McCain-Palin campaign headquarters in Arlington when Fox 5's Investigative Reporter Tisha Thompson bought a Blackberry device containing confidential campaign information.

The hottest item? Blackberry phones at $20 a piece. There were only 10 left. All of the batteries had died. There were no chargers for sale. But people were snatching them up. So, we bought a couple.

And ended up with a lot more than we bargained for.

When we charged them up in the newsroom, we found one of the $20 Blackberry phones contained more than 50 phone numbers for people connected with the McCain-Palin campaign, as well as hundreds of emails from early September until a few days after election night.

Smoooooooooth…

An Autobailout Theory

I am not, as a rule, a cynic. I’m a realist, evened out with a healthy dose of cynicism and optimism that gives me a nice balance… but something about the way the auto bailout is unrolling is giving me pause.

Was this whole scenario designed to give “President” Bush an opportunity to ride in on his white horse and save the day – thus helping his ‘legacy’ and numbers?

Part of me thinks not, as the gop – evidenced in how they ran some of their campaigns this season – is NOT that calculated and coordinated…

But then I think, perhaps it was.

Consider that Senate republicans assured UAW President Ron Gettelfinger that the Senate would pass the auto loan bill, only to renege on their agreement to the UAW and kill the bill.

Then during this morning’s UAW press conference on the failed Senate bill, an announcement from the Treasury Department is released that says it will open TARP funds because Bush will not let the auto industry fail.

More indicative is that during Gettelfinger’s presser, he spoke about the manner in which he was mislead by the gop, saying the gop had lied to him and killed the loan guarantees bill. It was then that a reporter informed him that the Treasury Department, on Bush’s urging, had just pledged support from the TARP funds for the auto industry because the Senate had failed to reach an agreement.

Hmmmmm… interesting.

Granted, no one that has a brain and uses it is going to think better of Bush for “saving” the auto industry, they’re rightfully going to place the blame at the feet of the gop for sinking the rescue package, and the rust belt knows that.

Having said all that, if in fact there is collusion between Senate republicans and the White House, I think it still scores very few points for Bush.

But still… it’s ‘interesting’ to say the least.

The Friday ‘BushWhack’ing

TGIFF…

• Despite ‘threats’ by the White House that they would tap into the bank bailout funds to help the auto industry, the auto bailout died in the Senate yesterday as republicans resisted an attempt to help the workers.
• Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, the Swedish government is preparing a $3.5 billion bailout for Saab and Volvo that consists of credit guarantees and rescue loans. The plan now goes to parliament for approval… and I bet ya they get it right.
• Outgoing republican Senator, and current felon, Ted Stevens of Alaska is acting like a spoiled brat, refusing to speak to the man who knocked him out of his seat in November. Incoming Senator Mark Begich called Stevens a “couple days after the race was final, left a message and there was never a call back.” (Classy as always Ted…)
• CNN is reporting that officials in DC are planning for a ‘massive’ inaugural turnout… Um, guys; two weeks ago called, they want their headline back.
• The Bush(whacked) Administration’s war against animals and the environment continues as Lame-duck President Bush cleared the way yesterday for federal agencies to skip consultations with government scientists when starting on projects that could impact endangered wildlife…(This administration’s disdain for the environment is staggering, and it’s going to take a LONG time to clear it up…)
• The Blagojevich fiasco continues… and has now ensnarled his wife.
• Former Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke with CNN this week (the full interview will air Sunday) and said the republican party’s attempt to “to use polarization for political advantage” backfired last month and rather than “shouting at the world” the party should listen to minority groups if they want to win elections in this century. (that’s all fine and good Mr. Powell, but we know they can’t…at least the conservative base can’t, and they’re the ones that run the show. Attitudes need to be changed in your party Sir, otherwise the gop has seen their last majority rule)
• And have we mentioned? That Vice President Dick “DICK” Cheney has experienced a scratch in his rose-colored glasses? Speaking at a closed-door gop lunch yesterday, Cheney supposedly said that it will be “Herbert Hoover” time in the US if an auto bailout failed to pass. (Granted, we’re already there… but each time a member of this administration admits it, a bailout gets its wings…)

The Thursday ‘BushWhack’ing: Blago-centric Edition

Weekend is approaching, but not nearly fast enough…

• The House passed a vote yesterday (237 to 170) that approves a $14 billion government rescue of the American automobile industry.” The deal would provide emergency loans to General Motors and Chrysler but the deal is in peril due to republican opposition in the Senate. Stay tuned…
• The stocking of the cabinet continues as President-elect Obama has chosen former Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota to lead the Department of Health and Human Services… and physicist Steven Chu as Energy Secretary.
• 76% of Americans don’t think the financial banks receiving federal bailout funds should dole out bonuses this year… show of hands who believe that will actually happen… anyone? Anyone? Helloooo????
• Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is ready to pounce and “take action” against Illinois Governor Rod “Dumb as a box of rocks” Blagojevich if he doesn’t resign. (I think we all know the chances of Blago resigning are slim to none. He maintains he hasn’t done anything wrong, and that – coupled with his staggering stupidity in talking freely when he knew he was being recorded – shows that he could very well be nuttier than a squirrel’s cheeks in October. While this is an embarrassment for the state of Illinois, it is making for some interesting theater. Stay tuned)
• Speaking of which, Illinois lawmakers are moving quickly to take the decision of who will take the Senate seat of President-elect Obama away from Blagojevich. Announcement of who will be replacing Obama by the governor’s office in five, four, three…
• The misery of the gop continues as one of their favorites to run for president in 2012 is saying on the record he’s not interested in being president and is running for a second gubernatorial term in 2011. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal – you thought I was gonna say she-who-must-not-be-named, didn’t ya? – told a group of Bob McDonnel supporters (he’s running for Gov of Virginia) that he’s not interested in the presidency but did stop short of saying he wouldn’t or couldn’t change his mind.
• And have we mentioned? That Blago’s actions have untied Senate Democrats like never before? According to Sam Stein of Huffington Post, all 50 members of the Democratic Senate caucus have signed Majority Leader Harry Reid’s letter calling on Blagojevich to “step down from his post and refrain from appointing anyone to the vacated Illinois Senate seat.” Impressive… getting all the Senators to agree to something is akin to trying to get cats to march in a parade, but an incredible lapse of ethics gets them all aligned and agreeing to the same thing… we may have something here.

The Wednesday ‘BushWhack’ing

After being sick and looking like death on a triscit, I am back…

• Is an auto bailout nigh?
• By now everyone knows that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested yesterday for, among MANY other things, trying to sell President-elect Obama’s senate seat. Being an Illinoisan all my life, I can honestly say I have never been more ashamed of my state than I am now… more so than with former Gov. George Ryan.
• Joe the non-licensed, non-working Plumber says he was “appalled” with Sen. McCain but says that Gov. TurkeyKill is the “real deal.” And so his evolution into lemming-ness is now complete.
• PE Obama and former Vice-President Al Gore say it’s time to deal with climate change. While it seems unlikely that Gore will have an official position within the Obama Administration, it does seem like he will be working closely with it to battle climate change. Stay tuned.
• Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told “CBS Today” that the US is “is very well regarded” in terms of popularity. (Um… yeah… maybe in Bush’s little world, but certainly not in reality)
• The House Ethics Committee has voted to expand its investigation into Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), which means they will also be examining Rangel’s role in preserving a tax loophole for an oil drilling company whose chief executive pledged $1 million to a City College of New York project that will bear Rangel’s name. Despite this, Rangel maintains he will not step down… maybe he and Blago can get a group rate on a jail cell?
• And have we mentioned? That Sen. Larry “Wide-stance” Craig can NOT withdraw his guilty plea? After being arrested, and pleading guilty, for soliciting sex in a Minneapolis-St. Paul airport restroom, Craig tried to withdraw his plea saying the cop that arrested him misunderstood his ‘wide stance’ in the stall and that he had plead guilty in order to quickly resolve the issue. The Appeals court didn’t buy it (hard to imagine why he wrote as he rolled his eyes) and issued their decision yesterday. Naturally Craig is already thinking about appealing the ruling…