Not In My Name? I Am An American; I am Culpable
copyright © 2007 Betsy L. Angert. BeThink.org
I hear the claims and the clamor. "This is George Bush's war!" This Administration instituted a "war on science." Federal funding for research was reduced in recent years. Laws meant to protect the environment were repealed. I would love to say that much of what occurs in America today is not done in my name. It is not my fault or folly. However, I cannot make this assertion. I am an American; I am culpable.
Granted, I do not support the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. The possibility of a mêlée in Iran, Korea, Lebanon, Israel, here, or aboard I think abhorrent. For me, armed combat is not an option. It never was or will be in my mind. Congress does not represent me when they continue to fund brutal battles. Nevertheless, I believe this war is mine. I cannot blame it on George W. Bush, the House, or the Senate. I am an American. My country is directly responsible for the havoc we see in Iraq and Afghanistan. By extension, I believe we, as a nation, are answerable for the attacks we initiated and the aftermath.
My own certainty that I could do nothing more than I do allows those in office to act in my name. The sense of futility I feel gives credence to the concept that I cannot control the Commander-In-Chief, his counsel, or the Congress. Yet I am liable for my lack of initiative, for the lax I let be me.
I do not understand why this nation went into debt to fund a futile war. Had the battle been a breeze and America retreated triumphant, I would feel no different. Financial obligations, purchases made on credit are not as I crave. Conservatives may declare fiscal responsibility; however, it seems, if profits can be made from combat, then in debt we go. I believe this construct is foolish.
I have no ability to comprehend the love of victory. For me, wars are never won.
Perchance, that is why I struggle with the Presidential campaign. Political lines are drawn. Party's part ways. People cannot see the similarities within their stances. The differences, the depth of their division drives competitive combative persons on. The supposed need to succeed separates us. From the President to the people, the phrase "You are either with me or against me" dominates.
Democrats smell a Republican defeat and are happy to embrace any of three candidates that will not commit to exit Iraq. Fifty three percent of Progressives prefer the candidate that proudly proclaims, we need more troops in Afghanistan. It is craziness to me. I would love to say, this election is not being held in my name. Yet, I am a citizen of the United States. What happens in my homeland is, in part, my doing.
As an American, I am culpable for all that occurs in my country and for all that my nation does.
I do not grasp the logic that led members of the House and Senate to compromise on the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Why would anyone advocate to increase funds for Abstinence Only Sex Education classes, that have proven to be ineffective, is beyond me. I heard the excuses. Democrats declare Republicans will support the measure if .
The obsession to cut taxes makes no sense to me. We watch the infrastructure crumble around us and still we say, "No new taxes."
As I observe millions of people enter Wal-Mart, I wonder. Why might they complain of imports and then purchase these wares with glee.
I read the statistics. Forty-nine percent of immigrants are hired to do work in American homes. Businesses only bear a portion of the "burden" or benefit from a "cheap" labor force. Yet, wherever I travel Americans speak of the need to close borders.
Bigotry is in bloom in this nation. I would like to say xenophobia is not wrought in my name. Yet, I am an American. This is my country; I am culpable.
I recognize that I feel as though I do not have the power to change what is; however, I know to my core that change begins with me. As long as I blame, the President, the Bush Dynasty, the Clinton Clan, Congress, Vice President Cheney, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi or you, I cannot, and will not do, as I must. Only when I accept that I am an American; I am culpable will I commit to change what causes my fellow man and me great harm.
I invite you do dream, to embrace the unattainable, and the ridiculous. Walk the streets in support of peace. Write letters to the editors, your Congressmen, and women. If a General Strike appeals to you, engage. November 6, 2007 offers an opportunity for protest. Whatever action you choose please be the serenity you wish to see. March in harmony. When someone shrilly speaks to you, do not respond in kind. If you believe in peace, let that path be your eternal guide.
With thanks to Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Don Quixote, and Miguel de Unamuno . . .
~ Miguel de Unamuno [Spanish Philosopher and Writer]
Not In My Name . . .
October 7, 2001
Posted by Betsy L. Angert on October 23, 2007 at 11:58 PM in Activism, Afghanistan, Boycotts, Bush 43 Administration, Bush Dynasty, Congress, Congress and Bush, Hillary Clinton, Immigration, Iran, Iraq War, Israel and Lebanon, Racial Discrimination, Richard [Dick] Cheney, Vice President , Wal-Mart | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Father and Son Bush Union; Only a Motion Away
copyright © 2007 Betsy L. Angert. BeThink.org
The father son relationship is an interesting one. Tales of Oedipal and other oppositions flourish when we speak of Dad and his male offspring. This last June, after Father's Day, a male friend mentioned to me, his children, now parents of their own brood are not as "warm and fuzzy as I might wish them to be." George Herbert Walker Bush, father of the current President George W. Bush may state the same. Indeed, perhaps he implied this at a recent ship launch.
The rivalry theory flared up again last year, at the christening of the Navy’s newest Nimitz aircraft carrier, the George H. W. Bush. The president joked that given the ship’s qualities — “she is unrelenting, she is unshakeable, she is unyielding” — it should have been named for his mother. The line brought a laugh, but some close to the elder Mr. Bush winced at what seemed a subtle dig.
However, the elder Bush works with great fervor not to speak poorly of his lad. Each day this becomes more difficult. Wherever the former President goes he is met with woeful comments pertaining to his progeny. It seems although 41 left the White House years ago the weight of the world still hangs on his shoulders.
First Father: Tough Times on Sidelinesyears ago, there was talk that the people would be better served if there were two Presidents of the United States of America. One would guide foreign policy, another would facilitate domestic affairs. Today, we may have a dual-presidency. Unfortunately, they do not function as a dynamic duo.
By Sheryl Gay StolbergWashington, Aug. 8 — There are times in the life of George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st president of the United States and father of the 43rd, that people, perfect strangers, come up to him and say the harshest things — words intended to comfort but words that wind up only causing pain.
“I love you, sir, but your son’s way off base here,” they might say, according to Ron Kaufman, a longtime adviser to Mr. Bush, who has witnessed any number of such encounters — perhaps at a political fund-raiser, or a restaurant dinner, a chance meeting on the streets of Houston or Kennebunkport, Me. They are, he says, just one way the presidency of the son has taken a toll on the father.
“It wears on his heart,” Mr. Kaufman said, “and his soul.”
These are distressing days for the Bush family patriarch, only the second former president in American history, after John Adams, to see his son take the White House. At 83, he finds it tough to watch his son get criticized from the sidelines; often, he likens himself to a Little League father whose kid is having a rough game. And like the proud and angry Little League dad who cannot help but yell at the umpire, sometimes he just cannot help getting involved.
The official line from the White House is that 41, as he is known in Bush circles, gives advice to 43 only when asked. But interviews with a broad range of people close to both presidents — including family members like the elder Mr. Bush’s daughter, Doro Bush Koch, and aides who have worked for both men, like Andrew H. Card Jr. — suggest a far more complicated father-son dynamic, in which the former president is not nearly so distant as the White House would have people believe.Pride can be an unbearable emotion. When a parent wishes to present himself as supportive; however, he is torn to shreds when the actions of his son are questioned he may feel haughty with hatred. George Herbert Walker Bush may have found a way to supplant the authority of his prodigal son.They talk almost every morning by phone, and Mr. Bush studiously avoids saying anything critical of his son, close associates say. But he has privately expressed irritation with some of his son’s aides. At times, he has urged White House officials to seek outside advice, and he has passed on his own foreign policy wisdom to the president, even as he makes a point of saying his son’s administration is not his.
He views himself, in Mrs. Koch’s words, as “a loving father, first and foremost,” but as he himself suggested to a group of insurance agents at a recent dinner in Minneapolis, loving fathers find it tough to stay away.
“Any parent in this audience knows exactly how I feel,” Mr. Bush said in response to a question about what it was like to have a son as president. “It’s no different. You’ve got to look at it strictly as family — not that anyone is a big shot, even though he’s president of the United States. It’s family. It’s the pride of a father in his son.”
Mostly, said Mr. Card, who was transportation secretary to the elder Mr. Bush and views himself as “a bridge” between the generations, the father was simply checking on his son. But sometimes the ex-president would raise a foreign policy question, or suggest the White House reach out to those “in his circle,” like James A. Baker, the former secretary of state, or Brent Scowcroft, the former national security adviser, who has been openly critical of the war in Iraq.As New York Times Journalist Stolberg states, "the elder Mr. Bush is traversing uncharted territory." Indeed he is. Perhaps, this too is a pattern in the Bush Family. The younger Bush, our current President seems to have crossed over the edge of history. Titles abound. As historians, journalists, and the people reflect on the George W. Bush presidency they say; What Will History Say? He's The Worst Ever. Others inquire; is the junior Bush The Worst President in History? The talk alone is enough to make a father cry. Sadly, the tears are not those of joy. The tender heart of the 41st Commander-In-Chief are not touched with exuberance when he ponders the Presidency of his errant child.“He made sure that I knew there were experts around that we should be reaching out to or listening to,” Mr. Card said, adding: “I never felt that the former president was trying to meddle in the responsibilities that the president had. But he cares deeply about his son.”
Recently, the White House has cast the elder Mr. Bush in a new role as foreign policy facilitator. In addition to the coming Sarkozy visit, the former president was host to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia at Kennebunkport for a White House summit meeting in June. It was the current president’s idea, but the father was happy to return Mr. Putin’s hospitality; a few years ago, when he and his wife, Barbara, were traveling in Russia, the Putins met them at the airport and invited them to their country retreat.
Before a crowd that included political luminaries from both administrations, as well as dozens of family members and friends, the father made a point of saying he supports his son “in every single way with every fiber of my body.”The children of the elder George Bush express deep concern when they speak of their father. You may recall, last December, at an event honoring his son Jeb, former Florida governor, the senior Bush broke down. He cried as he recalled the memory of Jeb’s bitter defeat in 1994. George bush the father feels deeply. His young mean everything to their Dad. Daughter of the former President, Missus Koch says . . .The words were intentional, said his longtime speechwriter, Jim McGrath, who wrote them.
[H]er father is growing more emotional as he ages — “he has a tender heart that is getting tenderer” — which makes criticism of his eldest son that much harder to take.In truth, much about the current George W. Bush and his reign is challenging to us all. I too reflect on 43 and his reactive policies. The tears flow and my heart is filled. I feel no pride, only profound sadness. George Herbert Walker Bush, I feel your pain.
Building a Bush Presidency . . .
Posted by Betsy L. Angert on August 9, 2007 at 04:34 PM in Bush Dynasty, Presidential Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Bush Aide Blocks Global Health Report
copyright © 2007 Betsy L. Angert. BeThink.org
A Bush Aide, William R. Steiger, blocked a report. The Global Health Draft 2006 was rejected. It was not released because the research was deemed politically incorrect. This study detailed a correlation between poverty and poor health worldwide. Steiger realized this information might hurt the Administration, or hinder the Bush Cheney cause. Thus, this man helped to hide what might harm the "right" agenda.
Steiger, an interesting chap, is well connected. For generations, he and his family have mixed and mingled with American 'dignitaries.' They are closely connected to the Bush Dynasty. Now, William Steiger works as an Aide. He is prominent, powerful, and perhaps responsible for keeping Americans in the dark.
American citizens understand, or might know by now, truth, when it does not serve this Administration well, is blocked. Citizens cannot read what might reveal America is in a state of crisis. Nor are we given an opportunity to assess how the global state of affairs affect us.
In recent months, it is increasingly evident, "executive privilege" rules in this 'The Bush - Cheney Era.' Any report that might jeopardize this reign is rebuked. Persons that place the White House in peril are removed. However, on occasion, evidence of what is real is exposed. Today, the people are privy to a report the Administration hoped to conceal.
A surgeon general's report in 2006 that called on Americans to help tackle global health problems has been kept from the public by a Bush political appointee without any background or expertise in medicine or public health, chiefly because the report did not promote the administration's policy accomplishments, according to current and former public health officials.However, the appointee that blocked the release of this report was not threatened. Let us meet and greet William R. Steiger, the man responsible for withholding this report. Realize once more, nepotism and neglect take precedence in the Bush White House. As we review the resume of this official and then, assess the vital details we learn much.The report described the link between poverty and poor health, urged the U.S. government to help combat widespread diseases as a key aim of its foreign policy, and called on corporations to help improve health conditions in the countries where they operate. A copy of the report was obtained by The Washington Post.
Three people directly involved in its preparation said its publication was blocked by William R. Steiger, a specialist in education and a scholar of Latin American history whose family has long ties to President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Since 2001, Steiger has run the Office of Global Health Affairs in the Department of Health and Human Services.
Richard H. Carmona, who commissioned the "Call to Action on Global Health" while serving as surgeon general from 2002 to 2006, recently cited its suppression as an example of the Bush administration's frequent efforts during his tenure to give scientific documents a political twist. At a July 10 House committee hearing, Carmona did not cite Steiger by name or detail the report's contents and its implications for American public health.
Carmona told lawmakers that, as he fought to release the document, he was "called in and again admonished . . . via a senior official who said, 'You don't get it.' " He said a senior official told him that "this will be a political document, or it will not be released."
After a long struggle that pitted top scientific and medical experts inside and outside the government against Steiger and his political bosses, Carmona refused to make the requested changes, according to the officials. Carmona engaged in similar fights over other public health reports, including an unpublished report on prison health. A few days before the end of his term as the nation's senior medical officer, he was abruptly told he would not be reappointed.
The 'honorable' William Steiger is 37 years of age. He is a godson of former president George Herbert Walker Bush. Steiger is also the son of a moderate Republican who represented Wisconsin in the House. The senior Steiger hired a young Dick Cheney to serve as his intern.
In 1989, President Bush 41 appointed Steiger's mother to the Federal Trade Commission. Apparently, according to biographical sketch of William's mother located at the American Bar Association's Web site, we can see that the Steiger family was well acquainted with the Rumsfelds and the Bushes. They were "lifelong friends" all "representing" our nation together.
In the résumé, Steiger submitted to Congress, we learn this Bush appointee is not only well connected, he is also well educated. However, health is not his area of expertise.
[Steiger] he obtained a doctorate in Latin American history from the University of California at Los Angeles before teaching at a university in the Philippines and consulting in Angola for the International Republican Institute -- a nonprofit group that is associated with the party and promotes democracy around the world. He was an education adviser to then-Gov. Tommy G. Thompson (R) of Wisconsin and came to Washington when Thompson became HHS secretary. He is now awaiting a Senate vote on his nomination as Bush's ambassador to Mozambique.This is obviously not the first time this "gentleman" chose to obstruct the release of information. It seems Steiger works at the pleasure of the President, much to the detriment of the people. The question is will we, the people, allow such subversion to continue. Will Congress ever consider the impact such cronyism has on our nation, not only now, but in the future. As long as we allow such actions to flourish with little more than acknowledgement or a verbal reprimand, life in this White House, in this country will be as it is.Bill Hall, an HHS spokesman, said Steiger promoted interest in global health at the department while more than doubling the number of expert staff members overseas and participating in international negotiations on issues such as avian influenza. "You have to look at his skills as an executive leader in spite of the fact that he doesn't have a medical degree or a public health degree," Hall said.
Public health advocates have accused Steiger of political meddling before. He briefly attained notoriety in 2004 by demanding changes in the language of an international report on obesity. The report was opposed by some U.S. food manufacturers and the sugar industry.
The words crooked and criminal come to mind when I contemplate this and other Administrative undertakings. My wish, my plea; Congress please stop the madness. Impeach and bring integrity back to America.
I offer a link to the draft of this suppressed report.
Please note: This copy of the unpublished Surgeon General's Call to Action on Global Health is a draft document that its authors expected to update and revise before making public. It is not a final version.The Surgeon General’s Call to Action on Global Health 2006 Office of the Surgeon General. United States Department of Health and Human Services.
The Secret and Sources . . .
Posted by Betsy L. Angert on July 30, 2007 at 02:20 AM in Bush Dynasty, Effects of Poverty , Health, Politics, Poverty , Presidential Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Libby Convicted. Scooter Violates the Law; George Bush Takes Care of Him
“If the person has violated law, the person will be taken care of.” TPMTV.
copyright © 2007 Betsy L. Angert. BeThink.org
The video speaks volumes. The presentation is fun; yet, not funny. Indeed, as you say Mister Bush, this is a serious matter. Today we have a White House that cannot be trusted too keep their word, or in fact, they can be. After an extensive investigation, years of probing, the courts convicted I. [Scooter] Lewis Libby of a crime against the State. It was determined that this Former White House Aide is guilty of one count of obstruction justice, two counts of perjury, and one count of making false statements to Federal investigators. Libby lied to a Grand Jury and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation examiners.
Scooter stated he did not know who in the White House might have disclosed the identity of Central Intelligence Agent Valerie Plame. Mister Libby declared he was aware that the name of this spy was published in a periodical; however, he had no information relevant to the inquiry. Libby had no knowledge of who, when, how, or why the leak occurred. Throughout the official inquest into this crime, President George W. Bush assured an anxious public, that if anyone in his Administration was responsible for “the leak” they would be “taken care of” and indeed this particular person has been.
While the individual that did the dastardly deed confessed, Former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage has yet to be indicted. In truth, he will not be. Others said to be directly involved in the scheme were also not taken to task. [Shhhh, the name Karl Rove is not to be spoken aloud or used in vain.] Nevertheless, I. Lewis Libby was. One might wonder why this former Aide felt a need to lie if he had no connection to this well-calculated plot; nonetheless, we can only assume.
We are certain however, I. Lewis Libby, a person within the Bush Administration, “violated the law” and will be [well] taken care of. Millions of dollars were raised in defense of felon, former White House Aide Scooter Libby. Were they not, it may not have mattered. Libby had the funds on-hand.
The payment, of $250,400, which included a “special assessment” of costs, was paid by a cashier’s check dated July 2. A spokeswoman for Mr. Libby, Barbara Comstock, said he paid the fine out of his own pocket.President Bush commuted Libby’s sentence, and continues to consider a full pardon. This criminal will not serve time in prison. Although, he may lose his license to practice law, money will not be a problem for I. Lewis Libby. Funds are secure, as is his future.
You may recall the sequence of events. In 2003, the public was up in arms; the name of a covert Central Intelligence Agent, Valerie Plame, was released. The media was on the story. The word spread rapidly. The revelation was heard far and wide. This woman could no longer function effectively in her chosen career. Working undercover would not be possible for Valerie Plame. Her name, clandestine behavior, and the beautiful face were now famous.
Essentially, revealing the identity of an infiltrator strikes at the core of our national security. Not only was Valerie Plame and her family threatened, every citizen in the United Sates was. People wondered how might we ensure our safety if protective measures that maintain the confidentiality of Intelligence officials were violated. As time went on, the public and Prosecutors realized there was reason to believe, the moniker was released by someone in the White House. It was obvious revenge was the motive.
The husband of Valerie Plame, Joseph Wilson, former Ambassador, and American Diplomat, officially exposed the Administration false claims. There were no Weapons of Mass destruction in Iraq and Niger was not supplying the materials needed to manufacture the arsenal. Mister Wilson wrote, What I Didn't Find in Africa. The New York Times published this Op-Ed commentary on July 6, 2003.
Shortly after the article appeared, the name Valerie Plame was made public. Those on the “right” claimed Plame had a role in recommending Mister Wilson for a Central Intelligence-sponsored trip to Niger. It was during this travel, American Diplomat Wilson investigated reports that Iraq had sought to purchase uranium. The Op-Ed was written subsequent to this inspection.
The disclosure was said to be a vengeful undoing. Valerie Plame’s anonymity was no more. She could not continue to operate as an Intelligence Agent must. Although many thought the Administration was behind this action, the President assured the public, no one in his charge was responsible. Were that someone was, Mister Bush would take care of him or her.
On September 30, 2003 our esteemed leader, the President of the United States expressed his concern. Mister Bush stated, “If the person has violated law, the person will be taken care of.” Thank you Mister President. On this occasion, you did tell the truth. Libby and his family are cared for, of that we are certain.
Perhaps, the rational for your decision is that we as a nation have yet to reach the bottom of this debacle. The public has not discovered the truth. We do not know the actual source of the leak. Some say the informant was Vice President Cheney. Perhaps they are correct. However, I believe as I always have. Richard Cheney is not the puppet-master. He does not tell the defiant George W. Bush what to do.
You Mister President are undeniably the “decider.” The bottom of the barrel, the person on the inside is you. Mister Bush, you have ensured that the leak is sealed. Your mouth is closed. Those that serve in the White House do so at your pleasure. Your Cabinet and their Aides work for you; they endeavor to ensure that your agenda is carried out.
Executive privilege and a glorious pension will take care of you. Daddy and the Dynasty that preceded him will also guarantee that you are dealt with. Dollars will drip in and nothing more will get out. Good job George. The person has violated law, that individual “will be taken care of.”
Charges and Care . . .
Posted by Betsy L. Angert on July 6, 2007 at 07:44 PM in Bush Dynasty, I. Lewis Libby Jr., Judiciary, Lies, National Security, Politics, Valerie Plame | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Reality or Rumor, Jeb In White House! ©
Jeb reluctantly says he will not run for President in 2008. However, we all recall, initially, he was his Mama’s and Papa’s first choice for the job. He was groomed for the position. Brother George had long been seen as the black sheep, a failure.
Then he was re-born; he could relate to the Christian Coalition, the common-man, his party’s base. With the help of an architect, Karl Rove, the eldest of the babies Bush found his way to the White House. Mom and Dad were proud, but patterns from the past seem to be haunting this Bush. George Walker Bush is no longer a popular President. Polls place his approval at about 36 percent.
Brother Jeb might fare better. Though the younger Bush professes he has no intention of running, his family encourages him. This Wednesday, Big-Bro Georgie, in an interview with Florida reporters, declared "I would like to see Jeb run at some point in time, but I have no idea if that's his intention or not."
Jeb Bush, 53, will end his second term as governor of Florida in January 2007. King George II will end his term in January 2009. Neither can seek re-election to the offices they now hold. However, they can campaign for other positions. A two-year period is considered perfect for priming a Presidential pump and Jeb knows how to do this.
The man born into a powerful political family, and oil dynasty, could prepare and present his campaign well. Jeb Bush has savvy and name recognition. He is slick and has lots of black gold. Jeb says he is not interested, [for now]; he is busy doing his job. At a conference in Fort Lauderdale, Governor Jeb explained, "I'm not running for president. I'm not running for United States Senate.” He continued, "I'm trying to be a good governor." His smile might have said more than his words.
His own father, George Herbert Walker Bush, forty-first President of the United States says no one believes Jeb when he says he's not interested in the prominent post. A year ago, when interviewed on CNN's Larry King Live, Former President Bush posed ‘he would like Jeb to run one day’ and that the son would be "awfully good" as president.
Before May 10, 2006, it was a thought often expressed. As of today, it seems the stage is set. Polls have been taken. Presidents from the past, and the present endorse the younger Bush Boy Wonder. Now, America waits. Will Jeb walk down that runway? Will our next President possibly be another Bush? Please, say it ain’t so! Is it a rumor or a reality; could Bush after Bush be America’s fate?
References for your review . . .
• Jeb Would Make a 'Great President,' Bush Says, By Bill Brubaker. Washington Post Thursday, May 11, 2006
• A 3rd President Bush? First 2 All for It ABC News
• Pollster Suggests Bush Moves Might Be Too Little, Too Late By Eric Pianin and Chris Cillizza. Washington Post. Sunday, May 7, 2006
• Poll: Bush Ratings At All-Time Low CBS News February 27, 2006
• Another Bush in the White House? By Nedra Pickler
• New documents obtained by CNN suggest coordination between religious group, Bush campaign By Brooks Jackson. CNN
• Bush's Brain: How Karl