Look! Victory in Iraq! And Little Pink Fairies!

Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post points out that a bubble of unreality has descended upon the White House. As he says, we can only hope Bush and Cheney don't actually believe what they say. Cynical liars running the country would be preferable to delusional whack jobs. Cheney insists his boast oh-so-long-ago that the insurgency was in its last throes (oh, that my own final moments should be so vigorous and long-lasting) was "basically accurate". Um- that would be "basically" in the sense of "not even a little bit"? Bush still blathers sincerely about a "strategy" for "victory" in Iraq.

Bush: "National Security? What National Security?"

Okay, I know everyone's chiming in on the Dubai Ports deal. And maybe it wouldn't jeopardize our national security. Maybe. But just listen how it sounds:

• Dubai is owned by the UAE.



• Osama Bin Laden (remember him?) masterminded 9/11 from the UAE.



• Two of the men involved in 9/11 were from the UAE.



• It was tacked on to a measure for funding the war in Iraq and funding for Katrina relief. And these are related to our ports management how? Nothing shady there... The White house is worried the Congressional mutiny of the ports deal could "slow down passage of vital funds and resources". 'Cause they're all about the warm fuzzies in the White House.



• The person pulling so hard for this is the same person who is responsible for holding some innocent Arabs in prison and even torturing them without charges, without defense, without due process- and why? Because they have the wrong names? Because they were wearing the wrong watch? Or, dare I say, because they were Arab?



• This same person is telling us their is no difference between an Arab and a British company controlling our ports. Talk about buttering your bread on both sides!

When you really look at it, the whole thing seems to stink to high heaven. So even if brilliant and dispassionate experts say there is no security risk in this, I still say- then, what's that smell?

Red Cross not allowed into New Orleans

From the Red Cross website:
"Access to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders. The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. We...cannot get relief aid into any location until the local authorities say it is safe and provide us with security and access."

Meanwhile, Homeland Security workers were given two days to arrive in the area, and were given the directive to "convey a positive image" about the government's response to the tragedy. Because that's what it's all about, right?

Washington has belatedly accepted Canada's offer of help (more than a week after it was offered), and has turned down Venezuela's offer. Obviously the lives of those trapped in New Orleans aren't anywhere near the top priority for BushCo.

OJ sought murderer on golf course; Bush fights terrorism from bicycle seat

I love Don Assmussen. His "Bad Reporter" can be found at sfgate.com. Today's strip includes: "As we now enter the third harrowing week of Bush's sojourn, critics question his use of biking and napping to fight terrorism." As Dr. Phil would say, "How's that working for you?"

CA Insurance Commissioner announces "death spiral" of health insurance.

Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi issued a devastating report yesterday that tells us the health insurance system is even bleaker than we thought. In his own words, "It is being choked by rising costs that have little relation to the ability of employers and patients to pay. This system is well on its way to collapse, and we are all bearing the brunt of its failure."

Apparently, one-third of all health care costs go to administration, sapping money that could otherwise go to save lives. His prognosis? "Unless we right this ship we will see a future in which insurers offer inadequate policies that cover fewer services to an ever-shrinking pool of people who can afford them."

Domestic abusers largely get off scott-free

SFGate reports that batterers are "slipping through cracks". And what large cracks they seem to be! A task force appointed by Attorney General Bill Lockyer found that

• restraining orders are not issued, even when the law requires it
  
• district attorneys don't prosecute restraining order violations effectively, or sometimes even at all
  
• emergency protective orders are discouraged by some police agencies
  
• abusers are legally banned from owning guns, but this is rarely enforced
  
• prosecutors and judges let abusers plead guilty without ordering counseling, which is against the law
  

This is outrageous! Women are dying! Tell Bill Lockyer that we're not going to let this issue "slip through the cracks". Write to

Attorney General's Office
California Department of Justice
Attn: Public Inquiry Unit
P.O. Box 944255
Sacramento, CA 94244-2550

or fill out their contact form and tell him what you think.

How's this for a spin...

Schwarzenegger is turning his conflict-of-interest employment with Muscle & Fitness and Flex magazines (to the tune of $8 million) into an earnest, righteous calling: he's fighting obesity!! That's right, obesity will cease to be a problem in America because every diabetic chomping down on Big Macs is going to be riffling the pages of Flex magazine, right? "I see the error of my ways," they'll say, "Honey, get me some wheat juice and a bucket of steroids!"

Arnold Schwarzenegger gives up his untenable stance.

• Arnold Schwarzenegger is executive director of a fitness magazine.


• The fitness magazine makes money from performance-enhancing drugs.


• Arnold, as governor, vetoed a bill to regulate performance-enhancing drugs.


• Arnold insists there is no conflict of interest.

Well, he finally gave up that ghost. I'm sure he's crying on Maria's shoulder over the lost millions. And I'm sure his change of heart was due to his political advisors begging him not to commit political suicide. Although maybe it may have been better if he hadn't had the change of heart, and his political career could have been over that much quicker...