Change For A Nickel

There just aren’t enough hours in the day to bash Bush and this administration’s failed policies. On this Anniversary of one of the worst disasters in American history (I’m talking about the failed response of the government, not the natural disaster that was Katrina) we should reflect on this disaster and work toward putting leaders in office who actually care about people and not big companies and far right religious elements. Granted, the failures in New Orleans cross political parties and all levels of government But being former military the responsibility starts at the top. Click on the below links to listen or watch an excerpt from of a report by Greg Palast which was featured on Democracy Now.

Listen

Watch 128k stream (You will need Real Player)

<p>I believe I missed a meeting somewhere between 1979 and today.  Did someone have a news announcement stating it’s OK to litter again?  I am amazed when I see people littering with blatant disregard for community, let alone the environment.  Some would argue that it mostly happens in poor areas because those people lack a sense of ownership.  I’m from the West Side of Chicago and I can almost agree with that.  Until I see some asshole in a suite driving an Audi as he dumps his garbage on the street.  What’s up with that shit?!</p>
<p>My mother and father raised me right (I think..).  My brother and I were constantly picking up crap that people tossed onto our property as they walked by.  These days, I’ve noticed homeowners will put plastic grocery bags on their fences so people can place trash in the bag instead of on the ground.  There are also garbage cans at every entrance to the park across from my apartment and I have seen people toss trash on the ground within 50 feet of the garbage can.  Does anybody care anymore?  The Native American on those old 70’s commercials about littering would be balling like a baby.</p>

Here is a post from my friend Kathy. You go Girl!

I NEED TO VENT
ABOUT THAT ASSHOLE THAT AMERICA VOTERS
WERE STUPID ENUF TO RE-ELECT FOR
FOUR MORE YEARS

Monday morning, 9: am he chose to bless us with a “surprise” us with a press conference. That should have given me my first clue it was time to grab the remote and turn to Sesame Street . But I thought, nope let’s stay with this, maybe he is tendering his resignation, come on, don’t laugh, one must remain optimistic. No such luck.
Now my first thought that pops into head is…why hold a press conference at 9:00 a.m. on a week day?
Your main audience is (a) stay-at-home moms who are probably doing laundry, playing in the sandbox with the kids, or cleaning the litter box. (b) senile senior citizens who are at this time of the morning are either counting out their medication for the day or finishing their oatmeal and soaking their dentures.
How do I surmise this? Have you ever watched the advertisements during daytime T.V. Yup that is how I know.

What better time to have a press conference; this is the audience that will hang on your every word…and believe EVERY word that tumbles from your lips.

Just want to confirm a few things that somewhere that senility must finally be setting in for me.

At the point Iraq had a new government in place I thought Bush said he would start bringing the troops home?
Mon…”As long as I am President, we will remain in Iraq . ” ????????
Guess that means the troops won’t be coming home. Grandmas are even joining up and going to Iraq . Maybe it is time I send them my resume. I should qualify. I’m unemployed and I am a Grandma.
Bush went on to state: “Anyone who wants the U.S. out of Iraq and our troops home is a traitor to America .
If we pull out now, the “TERRORISTS” will follow us home.” God, I am so SICK of his rhetoric about the terrorists. Could he please change the record?
One journalist stood up and asked Bush what Iraq had to do with 9/11? Bush, with a dumb look on his face, paused for a moment, took a breath, and said….”NOTHING”!
WHAT??????????? Again, did I turn left and he did a 180??? Somewhere in my cloudy memory, I have a vague recollection, I thought our “fearless leader” went into Iraq because of Iraq ’s possession of “Weapons of Mass Destruction” and the attack of 9/11. Guess I must have misunderstood. I don’t really don’t understand politics anyway. Oh by the way, that is another thing that came out during the press conference, Bush stated Iraq really didn’t have any “Weapons of Mass Destructions”. Oops.

Any way this bullshit went on for an hour, by the time it was over I almost had to add a shot of vodka to my prune juice.
HOW MUCH LONGER ‘TIL WE GET A NEW PRESIDENT?????????

KATHY

Gang, the verdict is in. The results of a double blind taste test have concluded that Diet Pepsi beat out Diet Coke!! And that my little Jada is not as bourgeois as she portents. She laps up cold tap water with the same voracity as filtered or bottled water. I placed a bowl of cold tap water next to a bowl of Evian bottled water. (I spared no expense on research!) I watched her drink both about the same. Thanks to Mrs. K. Ferley for giving me the suggestion of using cold tap water. Now everyone is happy. Well, poor Casper is still trying to figure out what all the hub-bub is about!

OK, remember the whole Jada and the filtered water thing about a week ago? Well, I was a little bored today and had a big ‘ol bottle of Evian and got to wondering. Is it the filtered water or is it the fact that it’s just cold water. So I did it. I just gave her a bowl of Evian!!!! I know, I know. It’s an aweful thing to do. But it beats putting her in a clothes basket and spinning her around like she was on a ride at the amusement park! That’s what I used to do to my cats when I was a kid. Now that’s some funny shit!… Hmm… Now that I think of it… Anyway, I’m going to put regular tap water in the fridge along with the bottled water and see if she prefers one over the other. This is the kind of stuff you think about when you are date-less on a Saturday evening, drinking your Stoli and cranberry in front of the computer! I will let you all know the outcome!

As you are aware, strong emotions stir up within me when I speak about the current administration. A question was recently posed to me regarding what my family and other Black friends thought of one member of the cabinet. Condoleezza Rice. I think I have been quite clear on my opinion of this woman. I want to hear from you. My people. Take a minute to give your opinion about the first African-American woman to become the Secretary of State. Depending on how you entered the site, there should be a form below this post. If not there is a link labeled Comments. Let me know your opinion. Don’t be shy!

Finally a UN resolution that actually brought results. The cease fire between Israel and Hezbollah is in effect and holding…sort of. What I find odd is that both sides have declared victory! What?!

Israel (and the U.S.), here is why you didn’t win. Hezbollah is still in power. They still have all their weapons. They are more popular than ever. And those two soldiers they kidnapped remain kidnapped.

Hezbollah, here is why you didn’t win. Lebanon is in shambles. Israel is still a nation state. They are still in Lebanon and now more foreigners will be setting up camp in the South!

Did anyone win. NO!!! This is merely a temporary compromise until you all find another reason to start fighting again. The real loosers are the Lebanese and Israeli people.