It's almost funny, reading story like http://www.bayoubuzz.com/News/US/Politics/President_Race_2008/Mitt_Romney_Would_Quit_Presidential_Salary__3852.asp where Mitt Romney pledges to donate his salary to charity, should he become president.
It's almost laughable, for a Bain Capital founder to make such "generous" offer, serving nothing much other than grandstanding. Should I really care of his true character on where he stands, in terms of charitable donations, I would rather see how much he has donated, as a percentage of his personal net wealth, to any existing charities (not the ones he might have created himself for tax purposes or in any way related to him or his establishments), over the course of the past 10 years.
He really would serve himself better by keeping his mouth shut on a topic like this, than to think it's a big deal, which would be exactly how anyone in their right mind would think of it, which is "yeah, big deal, Romney."
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
On Rosie departing The View early, and the fight with Hasselbeck...
The commentary at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18871660/ captures most of what I feel about Rosie and The View and this Hasselbeck personality quite accurately. I really can't stand the stupidity of Hasselbeck, thinking that she's smart in regurgitating the official lines of "defense" of the Bush administration, the Iraq war, etc.
Bravo to Rosie for speaking out, however bluntly, of what the Bush administration rightly deserves. If I need civility and political correctness, I would not be watching a group of women talking. This might sound sexist, but that's the way it is, in 80% of the time. If I am to watch a talk show, I want sharp angles and straight-talks that I would not have otherwise got from elsewhere. And, indeed, I find the Rosie quite funny too - like her impersonation of The Donald.
So, yes, I would not be watching The View after Rosie's departure. Hasselbeck can go on, as no doubt the network would keep a pretty face on the show, as if it means anything to audience like me.
I hope Rosie will come back in another incarnation.
Bravo to Rosie for speaking out, however bluntly, of what the Bush administration rightly deserves. If I need civility and political correctness, I would not be watching a group of women talking. This might sound sexist, but that's the way it is, in 80% of the time. If I am to watch a talk show, I want sharp angles and straight-talks that I would not have otherwise got from elsewhere. And, indeed, I find the Rosie quite funny too - like her impersonation of The Donald.
So, yes, I would not be watching The View after Rosie's departure. Hasselbeck can go on, as no doubt the network would keep a pretty face on the show, as if it means anything to audience like me.
I hope Rosie will come back in another incarnation.
Monday, May 21, 2007
On Bush attempt to mend the bridge with old Europe...
Now that most of the neocons (save Cheney, the last man standing) are gone, Bush is finally doing his first attempt to mend the bridges with old Europe and NATO. For a world leader to wake up, 6 years too late, who has burnt through all credibility of US in the eyes of the world, and with the remaining 2 years as a lame duck, does Bush really believe he can change the history book as the administration with the worst foreign policy? I very much doubt it.
While Jimmy Carter might be blunt in his assessment of the Bush administration, it is largely true. It would certainly sound harsh, for a past president to criticize a current president, but Carter is speaking out on what has been on most everyone's mind, in crisp terms.
The system in this country protects incompetency of a government. If we have had a parliamentary system, he would have been voted out with a no-confidence vote long time ago, going the same way Blair goes. Basically, American people have to sit it out for the next 2 years. At least Bush has no hope of an re-election, thank God.
I just wish that Bush Jr. would have heed some advice from his father who is a much wiser man.
While Jimmy Carter might be blunt in his assessment of the Bush administration, it is largely true. It would certainly sound harsh, for a past president to criticize a current president, but Carter is speaking out on what has been on most everyone's mind, in crisp terms.
The system in this country protects incompetency of a government. If we have had a parliamentary system, he would have been voted out with a no-confidence vote long time ago, going the same way Blair goes. Basically, American people have to sit it out for the next 2 years. At least Bush has no hope of an re-election, thank God.
I just wish that Bush Jr. would have heed some advice from his father who is a much wiser man.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
On growing White House thread on neutrality of Justice Department...
It's very worrisome to read reports and testimony like http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/16/washington/16nsa.html?_r=1&hp&oref=login on the great length the White House would go into, in order to bend the will of agencies like the Justice Department to suit its needs. It's frightening to realize that neo-cons like Cheney and Rove can strongarm their way through numerous issues.
But I believe in ultimate justice, and I believe that what-goes-around-comes-around. Like the ethics mess that Wolfowitz brought himself into at the World Bank, no doubt if he had not been one of the high-profile chief architects of the Iraq war, there would not be as much animosity toward him. The same goes to foot soldiers like Gonzales who carry on orders from on high at the White House. Sooner or later, the truth will come out, and their ousters will be their ultimate legacy.
And it's comforting to learn of those honorable few who would stand up for the neutrality of the agencies. At least there is someone out there who would do the right thing, even though it's not popular. It takes a lot of courage.
But I believe in ultimate justice, and I believe that what-goes-around-comes-around. Like the ethics mess that Wolfowitz brought himself into at the World Bank, no doubt if he had not been one of the high-profile chief architects of the Iraq war, there would not be as much animosity toward him. The same goes to foot soldiers like Gonzales who carry on orders from on high at the White House. Sooner or later, the truth will come out, and their ousters will be their ultimate legacy.
And it's comforting to learn of those honorable few who would stand up for the neutrality of the agencies. At least there is someone out there who would do the right thing, even though it's not popular. It takes a lot of courage.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
A potential Darwinian Award candidate...
This news story is funny: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/15/whacking.bullets.ap/index.html
If this guy had died, he would certainly be one of the Darwinian Award winners. :)
A young man shot himself without using a gun.Damion M. Mosher, who put bullets in a vise and whacked them with a hammer to empty the brass shell casings, was hit in the abdomen by one of the shots, authorities said.
Warren County deputies said they were called to Mosher's home in Lake Luzerne on Saturday afternoon after one bullet went about a half-inch into his abdomen. He was treated at Glens Falls Hospital and was released. No charges were filed.
Mosher, 18, told authorities he was trying to empty the .223-caliber rounds to collect the brass casings for scrap.
If this guy had died, he would certainly be one of the Darwinian Award winners. :)
On Bush and cutting CO2 emission...
It's hypocritical to see Bush pushing for curbing CO2 emission in http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-05-14-voa61.cfm and his fight to get US out of Kyoto Protocol.
Naturally we'll never know if he just suddenly gets religion on environment protection, or whether his hands are forced on him by the Supreme Court. But one thing for sure is, this President would never ever get the moral highground that he always hopes to achieve. He might think that he can always have his way, given his war push into Iraq, or his wriggling out of Kyoto Protocol, or his pushing Wolfowitz as World Bank chief, or some many other initiatives that his Prez introduced which are so flawed. One way of the others, things are going to come back and bite him. If he thinks that by reversing course now, he can save his legacy in the last 2 years of his 2 terms, he must be smoking. The damage he made to this country is done, and there will be no doubt what the history book will stay about Bush. And I do not speculate much said very kindly.
Naturally we'll never know if he just suddenly gets religion on environment protection, or whether his hands are forced on him by the Supreme Court. But one thing for sure is, this President would never ever get the moral highground that he always hopes to achieve. He might think that he can always have his way, given his war push into Iraq, or his wriggling out of Kyoto Protocol, or his pushing Wolfowitz as World Bank chief, or some many other initiatives that his Prez introduced which are so flawed. One way of the others, things are going to come back and bite him. If he thinks that by reversing course now, he can save his legacy in the last 2 years of his 2 terms, he must be smoking. The damage he made to this country is done, and there will be no doubt what the history book will stay about Bush. And I do not speculate much said very kindly.
Monday, May 7, 2007
On the newly elected French leader kissing up...
Re http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/05/06/france.election/index.html I can't believe the newly elected French leader Sarkozy is already kissing up the arse of Bush.
How I wish one of the Dems will win in 2008, and to see how these coattail hangers like John Howard (Australia) or Sarkozy (France) shift their bottom to try to find a niche to put their toes in.
How I wish one of the Dems will win in 2008, and to see how these coattail hangers like John Howard (Australia) or Sarkozy (France) shift their bottom to try to find a niche to put their toes in.
On Chinese counterfeit glycerin that kills many...
It's disgusting to read about http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/world/americas/06poison.html?pagewanted=all in which some Chinese can engage in such immoral act of using industrial chemical as glycerin that they all know too well that it'll be used in drugs. And all for boosting the profit some.
Some say, the Cultural Revolution that Chairman Mao delivered China had achieved one of the many effects of destroying the morality in ordinary Chinese. There is some truth in it; else, how could one explain such immoral acts, like this, and others like adding chemicals that you wouldn't even dream of in all sorts of products, like baby formula and even salt.
There are countries poorer than China, and there are countries that do manufacturing. But nowhere do I see counterfeiting being achieved in such grand, all-encompassing, and immoral fashion.
And to hear that the Chinese government agencies passing the buck, it's just completely beyond me. In the ancient days in China, rural denizens who were wronged greatly would have to brave the thousands of impossible and impassable miles to the capital to petition to the emperor for some justice, any justice. Does the modern China which is supposed to be the powerhouse of the 21st century, have to go through the same ancient way to seek justice and to prevent future mishap awaiting to happen?
It's totally disgusting...
Some say, the Cultural Revolution that Chairman Mao delivered China had achieved one of the many effects of destroying the morality in ordinary Chinese. There is some truth in it; else, how could one explain such immoral acts, like this, and others like adding chemicals that you wouldn't even dream of in all sorts of products, like baby formula and even salt.
There are countries poorer than China, and there are countries that do manufacturing. But nowhere do I see counterfeiting being achieved in such grand, all-encompassing, and immoral fashion.
And to hear that the Chinese government agencies passing the buck, it's just completely beyond me. In the ancient days in China, rural denizens who were wronged greatly would have to brave the thousands of impossible and impassable miles to the capital to petition to the emperor for some justice, any justice. Does the modern China which is supposed to be the powerhouse of the 21st century, have to go through the same ancient way to seek justice and to prevent future mishap awaiting to happen?
It's totally disgusting...
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
On Britney Spears and her comeback show...
http://www.hecklerspray.com/britney-spears-the-anticlimactic-secret-comeback-gig/20078171.php is so mean.
To be sure, I'm no fan of Britney Spears' art. But to discredit an artist, solely on her other personal life's happening is just not on for me. If the songs are good, if the performance is cool, should it have mattered that she has had 2 babies in 3 years, and she ditched her no-gooder ex-husband, and so on? To find and throw dirt on someone, without giving merits on what s/he should have been judged on, is just such a cheap shot.
To be sure, I'm no fan of Britney Spears' art. But to discredit an artist, solely on her other personal life's happening is just not on for me. If the songs are good, if the performance is cool, should it have mattered that she has had 2 babies in 3 years, and she ditched her no-gooder ex-husband, and so on? To find and throw dirt on someone, without giving merits on what s/he should have been judged on, is just such a cheap shot.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
On Wolfowitz going on the attack against World Bank...
Take a look at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/01/world/01wolfowitz.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all on Wolfowitz going on the offensive against World Bank on a cronyism charge that he's given a rich deal to his girlfriend when he's in the capacity of president of the World Bank.
It would come as no surprise, of the mad-dog-attack behavior of Wolfowitz, on any issue that goes against him, and how much it parallels the behavior of GOP and the neocon in the Bush Administration like the infamous Cheney. I'm sure, to them, it's the my-way-or-the-highway.
It's just disgusting.
It would come as no surprise, of the mad-dog-attack behavior of Wolfowitz, on any issue that goes against him, and how much it parallels the behavior of GOP and the neocon in the Bush Administration like the infamous Cheney. I'm sure, to them, it's the my-way-or-the-highway.
It's just disgusting.
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