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   Issue #21 - December 2001 - A Time for Reflection 8:55 PM 12/31/01
Happy New Year!!! 8:18 PM 12/31/01 Editorial from: As I look upon the state of our nation, how we got into this nightmare and where it might lead, my thoughts actually go back beyond the year that will draw to a close today at the strike of midnight. While we measure time in seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, and years, every one of those measures are connected to something that went before and will impact on something yet to come. Nothing happens in a vacuum. Yet, many of our fellow Americans treat events as though they do happen in vacuums. How else to explain their shrugging at a vibrant economy that now lays in ruins and their unquestioning acceptance of the cycle theories spouted by the economist darlings of the corporate media? A nation's economy is not an animate object with a mind of its own. People run it and it is the decisions of those people that bring about economically good times, recession or depression. How else to explain many of our fellow Americans and the occupant of the White House asking in the wake of the criminal events of Sept. 11, "Why do they hate us?". Surely it must be because we are the greatest people and country on earth - the land of the free and home of the brave. How arrogant. But if you live in a vacuum, you are unaware of what "your" government has been doing to other peoples in your name. So, George W. Bush's explanation of why they hate us seems perfectly reasonable. In truth, it isn't reasonable. It's a damn lie. It's also downright hypocritical for George W. to even mention our freedoms that, to hear him tell it, are the envy of the whole world, while he is plotting to take them away. 6:13 PM 12/31/01 Hard to be worse than 2001, but it might manage. By: Bryan Zepp Jamieson First off, let's hope that the top story of 2002 won't be as easy to pick as the top story of 2001 was. In an ideal world, the top story for the 2002 retrospectives will be that the Democrats, in fair and democratic elections in the United States, regained control of both houses of Congress, and impeachment proceedings will begin against Rehnquist, Thomas, O'Connor and Scalia to get them off the Supreme Court. That would be nice. 1:28 PM 12/31/01 By: James M. Jeffords In the months since my decision to leave the Republican Party and become an independent, I have been both hailed and admonished. This is not surprising, given the impact of my decision. Yet, I find that many of the journalists, legislators and ordinary citizens who offer their thoughts still don't understand the reasons behind my decision. During my 26 years in Congress, I have been labeled many things - a moderate, a liberal, a maverick, an independent - but always, at least until last May 24, with the party affiliation Republican. As we began 2001, I was hopeful. With a 50-50 U.S. Senate, I expected that moderates would be a strong force and that bipartisanship would prevail. At first, this seemed true. Moderate senators from both parties worked together to make significant changes to the President's budget when it was considered in early April. We were able to reduce the size of the tax cut from $1.6 trillion to $1.25 trillion and to add $450 billion for education. But when we sent that bill to the House-Senate conference committee, all our work, including the $450 billion for education, was stripped out of the final compromise. There were no moderates on the conference committee; it was totally controlled by the Republican leadership and the White House. 10:19 AM 12/31/01  Alarming Quotes"Everyone is raring to go. In fact, something that actually bothers them [India's military] is that things might now reach a point where one says there is no war." And what is AWOL Georgie the 'Prentender-in-Thief' doing while two nuclear powers are threatening each other with all-out war? 'On holiday' in Midland, Texas! His plan? We'll do something early next year! Be afraid... Be VERY AFRAID! 10:08 AM 12/31/01 By: David Jenkins Well, as the song goes, "What a long strange trip it's been". This time of year seems to cause many people to reflect upon the recent past. We look at where we've been and where we might be heading. Many people wonder what they might do in order to effect positive change in their corner of the world while others roll their eyes and think, "I can't believe this is happening". I tend to identify with the latter group as much as I would prefer to be a member of the former. This last year has been indescribable. Chaos is the closest word I can use in reference to the nightmare that was 2001. From the Supreme Court's selection of George W. to the events of September, the country has become a place few of us recognize. The folks who promised to "restore honor and dignity to the White House" have failed miserably. Problem is, not enough people know about it. And, of course, the "liberal media" - sure as Trent Lott's fake hair - isn't going to say anything about it. Besides, they have their hands full just keeping everybody paranoid about Tom Ridge's latest "alert" and convincing the lemmings that Dubya really HAS grown into a leader! Well, with all due respect, I don't see it. The media has a better chance of selling me beachfront property in Kansas than convincing me that 'Sheriff Bunnypants' is presidential. 7:29 AM 12/31/01 President Clinton was the guiding light ("I will focus like a laser beam...") behind the longest economic expansion in U.S. history. In 1992, the deficit was $290 billion - a record dollar high. In 2000, we had a budget surplus of $167 billion - the largest dollar surplus on record (even after adjusting for inflation), the largest as a share of our economy since 1951, and the first time we had three surpluses in a row in more than a half century. In 1998 and 1999, the U.S. paid down $140 billion in debt. In 2000, we paid down an additional $157 billion of debt - bringing the three-year total to $297 billion. Public debt was $2.4 trillion lower in 2000 than was projected in 1993. Twenty-one million new jobs were created during Clinton's two terms, the most jobs ever created under a single administration - and more new jobs than Presidents Reagan and Bush I created during their combined three terms. A record 92% (19.4 million) of those new jobs were created in the private sector. Under President Clinton, the economy added an average of 248,000 jobs per month - the highest under any President - compared to 52,000 per month under Bush I and 167,000 per month under Reagan. In 2000, average hourly earnings increased 3.7% - faster than the rate of inflation and capping five consecutive years of real wage growth - the longest consecutive increase since the 1960's. From 1993 to 2000, real wages increased 6.8%, after declining 4.3% during the Reagan and Bush I administrations. Unemployment went down from 7.5% in 1992 to 4.1% in March 2000 - nearly the lowest unemployment rate in thirty years. The unemployment rate fell for seven years in a row, and remained below 5% for 33 months in a row. African-American unemployment fell from 14.2% in 1992 to 7.3% in March 2000 - the lowest rate on record. The unemployment rate for Hispanics fell from 11.6% in 1992 to 6.3% in March 2000 - the lowest rate on record. In 1999, the homeownership rate was 66.8% - the highest ever recorded. Minority homeownership rates were also the highest ever recorded. The overall poverty rate fell from 15.1% in 1993 to 12.7% in 1998 - the lowest poverty rate since 1979 and the largest five-year drop in poverty in nearly 30 years (1965-1970). The African-American poverty rate dropped from 33.1% in 1993 to 26.1% in 1998 - the lowest level ever recorded and the largest five-year drop in African-American poverty in more than a quarter century (1967-1972). The poverty rate for Hispanics is at the lowest level since 1979, and dropped to 25.6% in 1998. The child poverty rate declined from 22.7% in 1993 to 18.9% in 1998 - the biggest five-year drop in nearly 30 years. The poverty rate for African-American children fell from 46.1% in 1993 to 36.7% in 1998 - the lowest level in 20 years and the biggest five-year drop on record. The rate also fell for Hispanic children, from 36.8% to 34.4% - and in 2000, was 6.5% lower than it was in 1993. Where will we be by the end of Bush II's first (and hopefully ONLY) term? Don't ask... and I won't tell! 10:26 PM 12/30/01 Editorial from: Perhaps the best that can be said of a year of terrorist attacks, anthrax-laced letters, war profiteering and assaults on the Constitution is that there are just a few hours left in 2001. But we reflect back on the year that is passing with at least a measure of good feeling. 10:11 PM 12/30/01
They'll also claim that the 'slowdown' started during Clinton's administration (just like they claimed the economy was coming out of recession while George I was still in office back in '92). Of course they fail to mention that Wall Street acts on predictions of future events (like who will be the NEXT president and what will he do once he's in office "...focus like a laser beam..." or 'trickle down' tax cuts?). It was George I's recession in '91, Clinton's recovery in '92, and George II's recession in '01. Don't let'em bullshit ya'! 8:53 PM 12/30/01  8:39 PM 12/30/01 Blame This Bad Reporting on 'The Fog of War' By: Carl Hiaasen Slowly but surely, America is learning to laugh again. Thank you, Geraldo. And thank you, Fox News for sending him to Afghanistan. Let's admit it. Ever since the Taliban crumbled and the bombing slacked off, television coverage of the war on terrorism has been grindingly monotonous. Lucky for us, Geraldo Rivera is on the scene. Fox lured the mustached dandy away from CNBC with the irresistible promise of a pay cut and a chance to be shot at during a live broadcast. Upon arriving in the war zone, Geraldo breathlessly announced that he'd be carrying a gun at all times and that he personally would plug Osama bin Laden if the opportunity presented itself. 7:20 PM 12/30/01 By: Dave Zweifel "For the first time in my life, I can see how something like the Japanese internment camps could happen in our country." That comment was made by the faculty president at Cal State-Sacramento after watching a graduation speaker get booed and heckled off the stage for raising questions about the government's response to terrorism. 6:34 PM 12/30/01 Even Our Friends Don't Share America's Image of Itself By: R.C. Longworth A big question since Sept. 11 has been: Why do they hate us? That is, of course, the wrong question. It's more important to know why so much of the world doesn't like us very much, or agree with us, or think we know what we're doing. And these are our friends. 4:21 PM 12/30/01
10:00 AM 12/30/01 From: Yesterday the White House changed its mind... again. After cutting the FY '02 funding for cooperative nuclear security programs with Russia and the other independent states of the former Soviet Union by 32%, the Bush Administration suddenly decided that allowing bad guys acquire nuclear material might not be a good thing after all. Of course, the move was overshadowed in the popular press by a defiant Bush vowing to capture Osama bin Laden again. So between that shocker of a headline and the funding change announcement coming smack in the middle of the holiday season, about four Americans will actually hear about the policy change. It's interesting. Upon entering office, Bush announced a host of Clinton-era policies were to be scrapped. The pattern here is clear. Bush, who clearly has no grasp of science, takes office with his ignorant conservative six-guns 'a blazin', and kicks ass on those pointy-headed scientists who used to make fun of him back at Harvard. Then, as the scientific community gradually rewrites its position papers using words small enough for Dubya to understand, he catches on and changes his mind. If the conservative community okays the policy change, he then sneaks the announcement into the middle of a holiday. This occurred last October 31 with the EPA's reinstatement of the Clinton Administration-mandated reduction of levels of arsenic in drinking water. Trick-or-treat. 9:29 AM 12/30/01 "The normal condition of man is hard work, self-denial, acquisition and accumulation; as soon as his descendants are freed from the necessity of such exertion they begin to degenerate sooner or later in both body and mind." 8:09 AM 12/30/01 By: Lisa Kadonaga A friend in the States commented that when she watches the Chief Executive addressing the nation on TV, she gets the eerie feeling that she's watching a Bush impersonator - and not a very convincing one, at that - doing his "evildoer", "make no mistake", and "smoke them out of their caves" shtick. (Apparently a good impersonator can rate four or five times the presidential salary, calculated on an hourly basis.) Dismayed, my friend added: "But it's REAL LIFE... Bush league real life anyhow. We're living in a parody world." 10:01 PM 12/29/01 By: Donna Ladd In the months since I vacated the blue fringes of the electoral map, I sometimes check in to see what the elite media celebs up North are picking out of their navels. Who can resist the occasional bit of literary porn: Is irony dead or alive this week? Have Christopher Hitchens and Noam Chomsky kissed and made up? Is Susan Sontag the token female intellectual of the moment? Has another novelist declared himself above Oprah's Book Club? What media insider is waging war on his former employers? This week, Bernard Goldberg's new book Bias is all the rage. Goldberg supposedly exposes a "liberal elite" slant at former employer CBS, as well as NBC and ABC, where I'd think John Stossel might balance out Peter Jennings. And I do mean rage. You don't call Dan Rather a left-wing mafioso without raising all sorts of neck hairs inside the Fourth Estate... 7:44 PM 12/29/01 Observations on the President Addressing the Nation By: John Chuckman The excessive use of flags and patriotic slogans has always been suggestive of the tyrant's temperament, even when soft words are used (after all, Hitler, who never went anywhere without scores of monster flags, made one of the most effective speeches about peace ever heard). But this man could not possibly be confused with a tyrant. First off, he's just too gawky and ordinary. Yes, there is an underlying sense of meanness that pokes through his words, here or there, like elbows protruding from the frayed fabric of a comfortable jacket, especially when he talks about death-row inmates or terrorists dying. His harsh, almost adolescent sense of humor, displayed on a number of occasions during the campaign, betrays something fairly mean in his make-up. Maybe Mama Bush wasn't all that warm and loving after all. But for the most part, the look and sound are what Americans like to call family: it's a kind of a code word for a set of qualities that might be summed as three-car-garage Christian. 10:30 AM 12/29/01 How a Report on Terrorism Flew Under the Radar By: Harold Evans ...There is a keen sense of frustration among the fourteen commissioners that the marriage of two inertias - one in the serious press, the other in the administration - delayed the taking of action. "We lost momentum" says Rudman. Actually, Hart-Rudman did gain impressive backing in Congress from the top Republican members of the national security set, at a time when they controlled the Senate, and vigorous support from Donald Rumsfeld at Defense. Hearings were scheduled for the week of May 7. But the White House stymied the move. It did not want Congress out front on the issue, not least with a report originated by a Democratic president and an ousted Republican speaker. On May 5, the administration announced that, rather than adopting Hart-Rudman, it was forming its own committee headed by Vice President Dick Cheney, who was expected to report in October. "The administration actually slowed down response to Hart-Rudman when momentum was building in the spring", says Gingrich. Senator Hart visited the White House in an effort to get the administration to move faster. He met National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice on September 6, just five days before the terrorist attacks. She would, she said, "pass on" his concerns... And what did Georgie do with this information? (The final report had been in the administration's possession since the end of January.) He sat on it! It wouldn't do to give the previous administration any credit - they were DemocRATS. His plan: create another committee to re-investigate. That way he could take credit for the idea (like he did so many times as Governer of Texas). After all, he is the 'selected one', destined (by 'Gawd') to be a great president (in his own feeble mind). 'King' Georgie cares about one thing and one thing only... HIMSELF! One hopes history will record this accurately, inspite of the right's attempt to make Clinton the fall guy for the Bushit administration's failure to act responsibly! 8:19 AM 12/29/01  ...and that's the truth!     - except wherein noted.All rights reserved. |
A year from now the Repugnacans will be insisting that the recession was caused by the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon (Osama's Recession).
