Jeff Parker, Florida today
Drew Sheneman, The Newark Star Ledger
Bob Englehart / The Hartford Courant
John Darkow / The Columbia, Missouori Daily Tribune
08/18/10
Foregone Conclusion:
A jury has found former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich guilty of only one of 24 counts lodged against him. The verdict? He lied to federal agents.
For a politician, prevarication is a job description. Tom DeLay was caught lying about where the money came from for Texas-wide gerrymandering. Bill Clinton’s offense in Monicagate was lying. George W. Bush lied about everything.
So just how, exactly, is finding a politician guilty of a presumption an application of justice?
John Wydra, WydeWorld.com
R.J. Matson / The St. Louis (MO) Post Dispatch
Jeff Parker, Florida Today
08/09/10
How’s The Job Hunt Going?
There’s a guy that lives down the street from me who’s been out of work for nearly a year. Like so many millions of Americans, he’s been looking for a job he can’t seem to find, a job that probably does not exist anymore. Like so many others, he’s just about given up trying to find one in his profession. He’s also reached the realization he probably never will be able to find work that pays anywhere near what he had been making before he was furloughed. He’s getting desperate. His desperation is compounded by similar desperate situations of people all over the country. A jobless recovery is no recovery for them.
Every day my neighbor scans the pages of the newspapers, looking for something to do. The paper on which the nearly empty “Help Wanted” section is printed was imported from Canada. He also sits down in front of his computer, assembled in China with parts made in Japan and South Korea to scan job sites on the Web. When he finds a possible lead, he prints it out on a printer manufactured in Mexico using ink cartridges made in Singapore and Ireland. Every so often, he has a DSL connectivity problem, so he calls Verizon’s 24-hour help line to get assistance from a tech in Delhi, India. Last week, he had problems with his PC, so he called the help desk number, which was answered by a tech in Manila.
While surfing the Web, my neighbor enjoys sipping some coffee from a cup made in Guatemala. The coffee came from Costa Rica, brewed in a coffee machine made in the Philippines. In fact, nearly everything he owns; his car, his computer, his cell phone, his watch, his clothing, his eyeglasses, much of his food, even the chemicals in the several medicines he takes, came from some other country. Even the American flag he proudly flies on the front of his house was made in China.
Today is a good day for my neighbor. He has an interview for a part-time job at Ikea, the Swedish home furnishings supplier. He takes a shower, using soap made in China, dries himself with a towel made in Indonesia. He brushes his teeth with a toothbrush made in the Philippines. His underwear was made in Honduras and he puts on his best business suit, made in Hong Kong. His shirt was made in Vietnam, his silk tie in Italy and his shoes were manufactured in Portugal. He combs his hair in front of a mirror made in Mexico with a comb made in Thailand.
He has some time to kill before the interview, so he grabs the remote and flips on his plasma TV, made in South Korea to watch CNBC. It was probably a bad choice, since the top story is about the growing numbers of Americans looking for work, just like him. The second story is about Republican senators shouting down a jobs bill that could help people just like him. The third story is about the trade deficit that is always out of control. The newscast is sponsored by Mercedes Benz.
Time to go, so my neighbor jumps in his old Honda, made in Japan, filled with gasoline made from oil imported from Saudi Arabia and drives to the interview. It didn’t go well. It’s not just hard to live on $12.29 an hour, it’s impossible. Even so, over 200 people showed up for four jobs and they were gone by the time he got there. He gets back in his Honda and heads for home, a home he may soon lose if he can’t find work.
My neighbor thought about paying good money to get a real estate license, but when he talked to some fellow ex-employees who had, they complained they spend hours and hours sitting in other people’s homes waiting for open-house visitors who never come. Others say they’ve been working part-time in a McDonald’s or standing in the aisle of a Lowe’s wearing a red vest asking customers if they found what they are looking for. There doesn’t seem to be much else in a country where 85% of the economy is now service-based. We long ago lost the ability to make just about anything. We now run a nation waiting on one another.
Where are the jobs? They were shipped out of the country long ago by grossly over-paid CEO’s indulging their favorite way to do business, searching for “synergies” for their investors, not jobs for Americans. They proudly refer to outsourcing those jobs to other countries as “free trade opportunities” and cynically explain that “downsizing” is “rightsizing.”
As for my neighbor, I’m sure he realizes by now that there is one thing in his life that was made in America. It’s the nation’s deepening economic crisis. To the consternation of the rest of the world, which has come to depend on American consumerism, it’s also our biggest export.
John Wydra, WydeWorld.com
David Fitzsimmons / Arizona Daily Star
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com
John Cole / The Scranton (PA) Times
John Darkow, The Columbia (MO) Daily Tribune
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big polluter
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Mike Keefe, the Denver Post
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05/07/10
So That Explains It!
Senator John McCain and others are furious that the Times Square bombing suspect was given his Miranda rights. Defying reason and law, they would prefer summary trials where the suspect is not innocent until proven guilty, as the Constitution demands.
The Mad Hatters who belong to the Tea Party racial movement (come on, you know you hate Obama more because he’s black than because he’s a Democrat) have developed an updated form of “channeling” where their anger about the awful state of the nation’s affairs began instantly on January 20, 2009.
A new public opinion poll has established that fully 14% of all Americans believe President Barack Obama is not a U.S. citizen. These “birthers” also believe he is not Christian because his middle name is “Hussein.”
The rational majority of Americans have dismissed these and many other rightwing radical fanaticisms as merely either a familiar form of anti-intellectualism or standard political gamesmanship at its most extreme. Not so. We now have a new scientific report that has finally provided the explanation for all the rightwing absurdities that have been escalating since Ronald Reagan.
The new study, just released, has revealed that Homo sapiens and Neanderthals inter-bred just before the latter died out. As a result, a small percentage of present day human beings carry Neanderthal DNA.
The study of these persons who defy common sense and more often than not, common decency, would therefore seem to be subjects of a new scientific discipline. Of course, this new pusuit of study ought to be given its own name. May we suggest: Palin-tology.
John Wydra, WydeWorld.com
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05/02/10
Police State, Step One:
Arizona now has the toughest immigration law in the country, requiring Latinos to carry identification papers, an effort to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into America. Taking racial profiling to an unprecedented level, police need no probable cause to stop anyone for any reason. What’s next? White armbands? ID number tattoos?
John Wydra, WydeWorld.com
04/21/10
Updated 04/29/10
Coincidental? Or a dire warning?
On Tuesday night, April 20, there was a huge explosion and resulting fire on what is known as an ultra-deep water oil drilling rig, which was floating in the Gulf of Mexico some 50 miles southwest of Louisiana’s coast line. Owned by Transoceanic Ltd. and leased to BP Oil Company, the rig burned for 36 hours before it sank in very deep water. Of 126 personnel on board the rig, seven were injured, 11 are missing and the rest were rescued. Since the rig sank, it may never be known what set off the conflagration.
What is known now is that there is a possible environmental catastrophe developing at the site. Even before the rig sank, a major oil leak had broken out. The aerial photo at the right shows the spread of the oil on the water, the lighter color to the right. The black plume is the smoke rising from the rig just before it went under April 22.
Apparently, there was no functioning shut-off valve apparatus that would have sealed off the still-pumping pipeline anchored to the ocean floor 3.4 miles below the surface. This accident now has the potential of making the 1989 Exxon Valdez accident in Alaskan waters, which to this day still fouls a wide pristine area of Prince William Sound, look like a minor incident. The Coast Guard originally confirmed that there was a major oil leak at the blast site, and judging from a photo taken of the broken pipepine by a submersible about a mile down, experts originally believed the leak amounted to about 42,000 gallons of crude per day. On Thursday, April 29, the Coast Guard announced it could be five times as much.
There are two ironies about the oilrig sinking and resulting oil leak. One is that it would certainly seem that President Barack Obama’s recent decision to open Atlantic coastal waters to deep drilling needs some serious re-thinking. The second is beyond ironic. The rig began leaking oil and sank on April 22, 2010, the 40th Annual Earth Day, set aside to observe environmental concerns and challenges. Even the most jaded environmental cynic would have to admit, ironic or not, coincidental or not, there is a message here, and that message is a pretty damning and dramatic wake-up call. Drilling will only buy a little time at huge expense. The future lies in alternative energy sources and technologies.
Is anyone listening?
John Wydra, WydeWorld.com
04/03/10
Doctor to Patient: Go Away.
A Florida urologist has posted a sign on his office door, urging patients to seek care elsewhere if they voted for President Obama. Dr. Jack Cassell, who objects to “socialized medicine,” won’t treat patients who supported health care reform. 
Perhaps Dr. Cassell should take his practice elsewhere. There are plenty of other Western democracies where he could set up shop…until one realizes that every other Western Democracy has some workable form of “socialized medicine.” Geez, what’s an ideological bigot supposed to do?
Oh, and the Hippocratic Oath he took in medical school? “Do no harm?” It would seem any patient under the care of such a person would be taking chances with his health. How can anyone expect the doctor to perform his craft with requisite diligence when he confuses his right to free speech with a blatantly discriminatory practice?
We strongly suggest that Dr. Cassell be made the subject of a medical ethics review board investigation.
John Wydra, WydeWorld.com
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John Cole / The Scranton Times
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03/22/10:
You've Got What They Paid For:
Following months and months of caving in to the desires of their campaign contribution managers, namely the insurance and pharmaceutical locusts that have overrun “K” street, members of Congress finally approved a far-from-perfect health care reform proposal. On Tuesday, March 23, in an elaborate White House ceremony, with flair and pride, President Barack Obama signed it into law. It has more flaws than fixes.
Still, it is a beginning and should only be considered as such. It is already being challenged in lawsuits filed by officials in 14 states. The Republicans will continue their single-minded, or should I say simple-minded campaign against it. It will be vilified by a vicious right wing media that is interested, not in the aims and purity of democracy, but in the fear-based goals of pure profit. Rush Limbaugh himself has admitted he is in the game for the money, not the ideology of conservative extremism which he exploits, certainly not the ideals of a democratic society. The bobbleheads who drink in his daily routine have no idea that he laughs at them...all the way to the bank. They get riled up and he gets rich. It's all an act, an entertainment.
Since the new health care law still does not cover everyone, since it still costs too much, since it still has too many loopholes for both big Pharma and big Insurance to exploit for the sake of greed, since much of it will take up to four years to implement, and since it certainly is not even close to achieving the only really workable solution that every other Western nation relies upon, i.e. a single-payer system, the final bill that President Obama has signed should more properly be known as:
The Comprehensive Health Care Reform Prevention Act of 2010.
John Wydra, WydeWorld.com
From the Hip:
03/17/10
Reassuring? Hell no!
A U.S. General reassures Americans that the hunt for Osama bin Laden goes on. It isn’t the continuing search that interests us anymore. It’s all the unanswered questions as to why bin Laden was allowed to get away in the first place in late 2001.
Why did the U.S. send in very limited resources to search for him in the weeks and months after 9/11? Why did the Bush Administration give up so quickly? Six months after 9/11, President Bush declared that he “didn’t care” where bin Laden was anymore. Why? Why did the CIA disband its special bin Laden search unit, “Alec Station” in 2005? Why has Congress not ordered a complete investigation into the most bungled manhunt in history?
Finding answers to those questions and holding those responsible for the bungling, whether it was on purpose or not, would be far more reassuring at this point.
As always, where is the outrage?
John Wydra, WydeWorld.com
03/01/10
Toyota Troubles Don't Stop:
First, it was the floor mats. Then the gas pedals. Then the brakes. Now comes news that up to one million Toyotas are being recalled to replace faulty oil hoses. If you own a Toyota or one of its upscale Lexus models, a suggestion. Invest in some duct tape, a crash helmet, and more comprehensive car insurance. And do us all a favor. Don't follow so close in traffic.
John Wydra, WydeWorld.com
01/24/10
TV'S Vast Wasteland:
I miss the days when there were only three TV networks to choose from. You spent a lot less time deciding there was nothing good to watch.
John Wydra, WydeWorld.com
01/20/10
The Phony Family Man:
Dr. James Dobson, founder of the ultra-conservative political interest group, “Focus on the Family” is leaving his post at the age of 73. No, he’s not retiring. He’s going to start up a new radio program with his 39-year-old son, Ryan, himself a Christian fundamentalist preacher.
Apparently, Dr. Dobson has little choice in the matter. It turns out that son Ryan was not focusing on his family. He’s divorced.
Note to Dr. Dobson: You’ve still got time to stop being such a hypocrite. Why not put your Ph.d. in psychology to some good use for a change? Why not call your new venture “Focus on the Fractured Family,” or maybe “Focus on the Extended Family”?
Of course, he won’t. There are still big bucks to be made in the discriminatory ideological-peddling business.
John Wydra, WydeWorld.com
01/17/10
Mr. Awareness:
President Barack Obama asked former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush to head up a national effort to assist the people of earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Bush said his job was to “raise awareness.” Too bad his “awareness” wasn’t aroused before, during or after Hurricane Katrina. Haitians should give thanks that Mr. Awareness is not in the White House anymore. If he were, they would now be feeling first hand the effects of a key policy of his Administration—abandonment.
John Wydra, WydeWorld.com
01/10/10
Resolutions:
(The following was forwarded to us by a friend)
“As part of my New Year resolutions, I sat my kids down for a frank chat about my living will. I made it very clear to them that I did not want to spend my final days in a vegetative state, totally dependent on a machine and fluids from a bottle to keep me alive. I told them that when the time comes, to pull the plug.
They said they fully understood. So they got up, disconnected my computer, and poured all of my wine down the drain.”
John Wydra, WydeWorld.com
01/08/10:
Self-destructing Democrats:
If there is any way that Democrats can make the Republicans in Congress feel better about the 2010 elections in November, rest assured, they will find it.
Just when the Democrats were getting their act together, reaching a certain comfort level with their barely filibuster-proof power in the Senate, comes news of a crack in their armor—well, two of them actually. Senators Byron Dorgan and Chris Dodd, both Democrats, have announced they will not run for reelection. They both made known their intentions to throw in the towel on the same day that a Democratic Governor, Bill Ritter Jr. of Colorado, announced that he is not re-upping either. And, demonstrating that party unity has always been hard to come by, the Democrats have lost a House seat to a flipper. Parker Griffith of Alabama announced December 22 that he would rather be associated with the party of elephants than with the one of donkeys, which is not that big a leap for a Blue Dog anyway. Personally speaking, I think he’s a jackass. His entire staff thought so too, quitting en masse. Of course, Griffith is not the only one. Another party defector, Repubindecrat, Joe Lieberman, one of the most unctuous and insipid politicians of all time, qualifies as a jackass too.
The point is, Democrats just love shooting themselves in the foot, which is just fine with Republicans who love to shoot them in the foot as well.
John Wydra, WydeWorld.com
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Conservative? Socialist? Fundamentalist? Liberal?
No matter. This book is guaranteed to piss you off!!
What Hath Bush Wrought?
To sample the book by reading the first page from each chapter,
click on "Excerpts from New Book"
For Back Cover quotes, see below
AVAILABLE FROM WEBSITE BOOKSELLERS,
INCLUDING AMAZON.COM AND BORDERS.COM
(For hyperlinks, see below)
Can anyone from the Bush Administration face war crimes charges for torturing “enemy combatants?” Was the Iraq invasion planned as far back as 1992? How did the radical Religious Right infiltrate a key federal agency and dictate U.S. policy? Were there insidious reasons when the government of the United States of America turned its back on its own citizens after Hurricane Katrina? Was 9/11 allowed to happen?
These questions and much more are addressed in John Wydra’s new book: What Hath Bush Wrought? Using Bush’s own words and naming names in a neoconservative/Religious Right conspiracy that hijacked the U.S. government, Wydra meticulously recounts the numerous “crimes and misdemeanors” of the “Unitary Presidency” of George W. Bush.
If Attorney General Eric Holder is looking for reasons why he should initiate proceedings against a number of former Bush Administration officials, he can find them in this book. Leavened with sarcasm and humor, Wydra documents the legacy of the most disastrous presidency in U.S. history.
There was more to it than just the approval of the illegal and immoral use of torture, a war crime. There was more to it than launching an unjust war against Iraq, also a war crime. There was more to it than just the mishandling of the aftermath of Katrina, a crime against humanity. Chillingly, it was worse, much worse than anyone thought.
The ultimate question remains: Why has no one been held responsible?
ISBN: 0-7414-5269-3 ©2009
Price: $34.95
Book Size: 5.5'' x 8.5'' , 653 pages
Category/Subject: POLITICAL SCIENCE / History & Theory
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QUOTES FROM BACK COVER:
“There is no longer any doubt as to whether the (Bush) Administration (has) committed war crimes. The only question that remains to be answered is whether or not those who ordered the use of torture will be held to account.”
Antonio Taguba, Major General, U.S. Army, retired
"Who would have thought that in the United States of America, in the 21st Century, the top officials in the (Bush) Executive Branch would routinely gather in the White House to approve torture?"
Senator Edward Kennedy
"The invasion of Iraq in 2003 was a tragedy...for Iraq, for the U.S., for the U.N., for truth and human dignity."
Hans Blix, former Chief U.N. Weapons Inspector
"The invasion of Iraq was...an illegal act that contravened the U.N. Charter."
Kofi Annan, former U.N. Secretary General
"History will not judge us kindly."
John Ashcroft, former U.S. Attorney General
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