The Senate passed the House version of a bill
to protect about a third of our southern border.
Mexico and Democrats are mad. Bush is sad.
But they should all relax. It’s not likely to be built.
Forget about the merits, or if a wall will work at all,
they haven’t voted any money, and it will take a ton.
That’s […]

Congress redefines
U. S. justice: innocent
until suspected.

Some businesses oppose
New York City limiting the
amount of trans fats in food,
though it would be healthier.
The same folks thought
the extra cost of seat belts,
was a fair price for individuals
to pay for being a little safer.
But forcing restaurants
to reduce the level of poison
in their food tramples corporate
freedom – might reduce profits.
They need not be […]

Bush, Musharraf and Karzai
will break bread this evening
to demonstrate our President’s
dedication to the war on terror,
and we all agree that is his
strength ― though some think
he’s more causer than fighter.
The dinner will also distract
us from Iraq, and help GOP
prospects in November, if he
can get them to stop arguing
about where Osama bin Laden
is hiding, and agree […]

The senators and
Bush agree: He can’t torture
unless he wants to.
No kangaroo courts.
Bush must hold trials, but he can
edit evidence.

The administration found a way
to finance increased airport security.
They’re harassing air traffic controllers
by enforcing a dress code, reducing
rest periods, cancelling holiday pay and
vacations until they quit. Some will be
replaced with new hires at lower pay.
There’s apparently no risk to travelers
because security rules encourage more
and more of them to stay home or drive.

The President told people
in the Middle East we do not
hold them responsible
for their governments’ actions.
If they will do the same for us,
there may be a chance for peace.

The Geneva Conventions didn’t
cause confusion until Bush told
interrogators to break the law,
and the Supreme Court objected.
He claims his way worked, but
offers no proof. All we have is
prisoners who can’t be convicted
unless Congress changes the rules.
The President says he wants
clarification so he can continue
to protect us. He really wants
indemnification to protect himself

We have a leader that lies
and then denies
wants to torture prisoners
and use evidence
kept secret from the defense
Now we’re voting on devices
equipped with vices
a kid can override
to turn a political sinner
into an dubious winner
We’re supposed to believe
corporations did achieve
a perfect product
just this once
sure they did and I’m a dunce

Our representatives agree to make FEMA
stronger. They increase budgets, tell the
agency head he is free to call the president
directly when he needs to. It all sounds good,
especially just before the mid-term election.
Unfortunately they didn’t fund the spending,
and the director still reports to Chertoff, who
may feel differently about being passed over
by a subordinate. It’s obvious, Congress […]

Bush says victory
in the war on terror
requires legalized torture
and kangaroo courts.
That sounds more like
joining than winning.

UN inspectors call a House report
“outrageous and dishonest,� because
it overstates Iran’s nuclear capability.
Peter Hoekstra, intelligence committee
chairman, released it “to help increase
the American public’s understanding
of Iran as a threat.” The full committee
never discussed or voted, so it must be
considered urgent ― or indefensible.
Republicans seem busy contriving facts
to support another war, but this time they
must also […]

Chertoff says we can’t protect everything,
and Democrats object. They miss the point.
The Secretary is poking holes in Republican
armor, undermining the current line of Bushit:
Democrats are weak, so you should vote for
the invincible protectors. Mike says they’re
sort-of-vincible, a nuance President Bush
won’t grasp, but Democrats could exploit.

Bush carried hyperbole to a new high, and his effort
to link Iraq to terrorism to a new low last night. He said
if we pull out of Iraq the terrorists won’t leave us alone,
“they will follow us. The safety of America depends
on the outcome of the battle in the streets of Baghdad.�
We’re battling Iraqis who […]

Governor Ryan is only the most recent
head of the State of Illinois to be charged
with a crime. There have been several
so Illinoisans understand politicians,
can draw fine distinctions between them.
In a recent poll Bush had a 32% approval
and 69% disapproval. In the same survey
Ryan had 35% approval, 56% disapproval.
Experienced voters prefer competence.

Bush delivered a speech today
worthy of Colin Powell at the UN ―
scary specifics, surrounded by weasel
words ― to be accepted on faith.
The difference is Powell could be
proven wrong by events. Any deceit
in Bush’s tortured tirade will be cloaked
in national security. He admitted acting
as a tyrant, and now wants Congress
to make everything he did legal so […]

The man who managed the introduction
of the Medicare drug program is quitting.
Maybe he dreaded election complaints, or
making more cuts in payments to doctors.
The administration must have been happy.
A critic said, “He was always on message.
He said the new program was running fine
when the roof was caving in.� Bush lite!

Bush says terrorism presents a major threat
requiring thousands of warrantless wiretaps,
secret searches of financial records, and
heightened alerts, especially near elections.
In spite of all that effort, the Justice Department
prosecutes fewer suspected terrorists each year,
and convicts less than half of those. They say the
tabulations are full of errors, and they’re right.
Many of the 216 convictions of people […]

Bush talked us into
war, now wants perpetuation.
A much harder sell.

Republicans want to keep security
atop the agenda with a series of empty,
embarrassing resolutions that force
Democrats to take painful positions.
Rather than waste time on equally foolish
votes, like “no confidence in Rumsfeld,�
Democrats should save “precious� time
by blocking anything but real legislation.
Instead of trying to keep a 9/11 resolution
“pure,� they should debate a warrantless
wiretap bill, lose, and […]