Cleveland Pulls Back From the Edge - New York Times

Unfortunately it looks like Cleveland is still going to return to some of its previous missteps. It doesn't look like they ahve a good regional transport plan and without that, the over reliance on cars will mean that Cleveland will continue to fade. Not to say that in the short term that profits are not to be made, but with out a long term look at infrastructure their is no future.

Bull Moose

Good look at "conservatives" and what W. means in all that. Looks to me that everything is upside down. Dems are for fiscal responsibility, Conservatives want to the government to dictate decisions to people. Good work!

Hughes Reaches Out Warily in Cairo:

"Hurricane Katrina, he said, was God's revenge for President Bush's actions."

That and 9/11, Iraq, and Rita appear to be some sort of retribution against the Prez :0

Why Baton Rouge Is Still Bush Country:

"What Becky sees when she sees George Bush is a man who may not be a genius but who at least talks the talk, drawing a clear line between right and wrong. She looks at his face and sees her own staring back."

The stuff about plain speaking is critical. I was at a BBQ this summer with a Kerry worker and he said something about how the Campaign had seperated Iraq from bin Laden. I was fuming. They never made the clear distinction. I'm sure there are better wordsmiths out there, but Kerry never made that clear to me and I was a Kerry supporter! Say to Bush at the debates, no connection between Iraq and bin Laden. Kerry let the campaign become about him instead of the incumbent. He needed to stick to one theme. Nothing about the economy; just "Where's bin Laden?"

Like Clinton and Bush II before, you have got to run on one theme. It's the economy stupid or Compassionate Conservatism sound cliche and boring, but they clearly define what they want for the Presidency and the country. Sure bin Laden could have been wrapped up in some prison and brought out for the media a week before, but then again, the country would have been better off. Instead we have horse association presidents running FEMA and U.S. Soldiers on trial for torture. Country before party?

Fiscal Policy: Why 'Stupid' Fits

Another brilliant elegant disection of the GOP fiscal "policy." Moronic is all of its glory. Dems should change the definition of "conservative" to spendthrift or profligate. I mean that in labelling themselves one way and doing the opposite the definition should change too. Make the "C" word equal fiscal irresponsibility with a moralistic tone. People that we don't want running the country.

Whoops! There Goes Another Pension Plan - New York Times

Probably should learn some lessons and come up with a good way to having tax-payers foot the bill for failure. That's part of what makes America great, the ability to fail and then come back.

Paul McCartney? Is That You? - What he's doing in that Fidelity ad. By Seth Stevenson

Selling out? I'm not sure that it's important either way; just a price (be it money, reputation, time, etc.). Would Sonic Youth "sell out" to corporate America? Probably not, but then again, corporate America doesn't really need Sonic Youth either. I guess that's why many of America's top start do commercials in Japan, because the $$$'s good and it keeps their reps up.

Everything has a price, right?

How much for your daughter?

Bush Official Arrested in Corruption Probe

Not only Dems in the Windy City, but Reps in DC.

Breaking the Bank for the Big Guy

Does the goevernment have a responsibility to make sure that the "little guy" gets a seat at the table? Of is it survival of the fittest?

Questionable Naming Rights

As a long time Washington fan, I have always been amazed at the apathy too. I'm not sure what Snyder's thinking is, but it doesn't seem right. I applaud Wise's column (although they may lose even more tickets) and hopefully it will start a discussion that needs to happen.

WSJ.com - After Katrina, Republicans Back a Sea of Conservative Ideas

Gingrich is beating the Dems idea-wise yet again. What is the problem with this picture? I'm surprised people haven't blamed the trial lawyers for Katrina ....

Rupert Murdoch, Bending With the Wind

A good look at the agility of the Murdoch. This and the New York mag article about Lachlan and Pop make for some interesting thinking on the future of Fox.

Bombs away on television news - Los Angeles Times

Terribly depressing news about broadcast. Amazes me that TV makes even more than newpapers ....

End of the Bush Era

The legacy of the Bush Administration ending so ignominiously has been a sad day for the country. Since we are an optimistic place, we want our presidents to do well because that means the country is doing well. Too bad that this President has put cronies in front of citizens and take the country down a notch.

Casualty of Firestorm: Outrage, Bush and FEMA Chief - New York Times

They are so pissed that they sent him home! Those Bushies are so tough on black folks, but at never let them go after some incompetent oaf that a "friend" of the family. This cronyism is terrible for the country and only making things worse. Shocking to think that Chertoff and the Prez were getting their info from this guy. Loyalty is an admirable trait, but this is not good for anyone, including "Brownie."

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan:

DENIAL

"Q Scott, does the President retain confidence in his FEMA Director and Secretary of Homeland Security?

MR. McCLELLAN: And again, David, see, this is where some people want to look at the blame game issue, and finger-point. We're focused on solving problems, and we're doing everything we can --

Q What about the question?

MR. McCLELLAN: We're doing everything we can in support --

Q We know all that.

MR. McCLELLAN: -- of the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA.

Q Does he retain complete confidence --

MR. McCLELLAN: We're going to continue. We appreciate the great effort that all of those at FEMA, including the head of FEMA, are doing to help the people in the region. And I'm just not going to engage in the blame game or finger-pointing that you're trying to get me to engage.

Q Okay, but that's not at all what I was asking.

MR. McCLELLAN: Sure it is. It's exactly what you're trying to play.

Q You have your same point you want to make about the blame game, which you've said enough now. I'm asking you a direct question, which you're dodging.

MR. McCLELLAN: No --

Q Does the President retain complete confidence in his Director of FEMA and Secretary of Homeland Security, yes or no?

MR. McCLELLAN: I just answered the question.

Q Is the answer 'yes' on both?

MR. McCLELLAN: And what you're doing is trying to engage in a game of finger-pointing.

Q There's a lot of criticism. I'm just wondering if he still has confidence.

MR. McCLELLAN: -- and blame-gaming. What we're trying to do is solve problems, David. And that's where we're going to keep our focus.

Q So you're not -- you won't answer that question directly?

MR. McCLELLAN: I did. I just did.

Q No, you didn't. Yes or no? Does he have complete confidence or doesn't he?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, if you want to continue to engage in finger-pointing and blame-gaming, that's fine --

Q Scott, that's ridiculous. I'm not engaging in any of that.

MR. McCLELLAN: It's not ridiculous.

Q Don't try to accuse me of that. I'm asking you a direct question and you should answer it. Does he retain complete confidence in his FEMA Director and Secretary of Homeland Security, yes or no?

MR. McCLELLAN: Like I said -- that's exactly what you're engaging in.

Q I'm not engaging in anything. I'm asking you a question about what the President's views are --

MR. McCLELLAN: Absolutely -- absolutely --

Q -- under pretty substantial criticism of members of his administration. Okay? And you know that, and everybody watching knows that, as well.

MR. McCLELLAN: No, everybody watching this knows, David, that you're trying to engage in a blame game.

Q I'm trying to engage?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes.

Q I am trying to engage?

MR. McCLELLAN: That's correct.

Q That's a dodge. I have a follow-up question since you dodged that one. Does the White House feel like it missed opportunities to alleviate or head off some of the damage in the New Orleans area, flood damage? Did it miss an opportunity to head any of that off?"

Dems Assail White House on Katrina Effort - Yahoo! News:

"At a news conference, Pelosi, D-Calif., said Bush's choice for head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency had 'absolutely no credentials.'

She related that she had urged Bush at the White House on Tuesday to fire Michael Brown.

'He said 'Why would I do that?'' Pelosi said.

''I said because of all that went wrong, of all that didn't go right last week.' And he said 'What didn't go right?''" (emphasis added)

This is the most ridiculous statement I've heard in a long time. So bad for the country, these turkeys are destroying America and getting rich doing it. What's next? Which crony is going to win the rebuilding contracts? I'm sure somebody at the Deke house needs a gig, why not make him head of NASA?

White House: Mrs. Bush Comment 'Personal'

This only adds fuel to the fire. I Kanye West was right, Bush doesn't like balck people. He learned it from mommy ....

Leaders Lacking Disaster Experience

The best part about this whole disaster is that yet again the Bush Administration will do nothing and hold no one accountable. Only personal loyalty matter. The new American version of crony capitalism. My buddy can't do anything else, so I'll bring him along and have him lead FEMA? Good work ....