Facts are an interesting thing. Especially when presented in entertainment form. Yes, I'm talking about the news again. Specifically the 24 hour news networks.
Even though there are easily 24 hours of news to cover around the world, that's expensive. It is far cheaper to focus on a few stories, and then have hours of programming of commentary disguised as hard reporting.
The problem then becomes, all your "facts" are mashed in with commentary. Which, especially when key other facts are ommitted, completely changes the interpretation.
An example. In a discussion on the No Child Left Behind act it was stated that it was because of the Democrats. While it is a "fact" that Ted Kennedy was one of the original sponors of the bill, it was a bi-partisan initiative brought about at Bush's behest. He wanted this bill. He didn't sign it grudgingly, he made a special trip out to a school to sign it because he was so excited about it.
As recently as last year a Washington Post article quoted a Republican Rep. Peter Hoekstra saying, "President Bush and I just see education fundamentally differently. The president believes in empowering bureaucrats in Washington, and I believe in local and parental control."
See, the "fact" that Democrats helped sponsor the bill was made to obscure the fact it was Bush's idea from the start.
This is the danger of news channels spending too much time in studio "analyzing" and not enough time out actually gathering information. Its far, far cheaper to stay in studio then it is to pay teams of reporters to travel all over getting the hard facts. This is only going to contribute to the polarization and dividing of our country. And it does no one a service.
Showing posts with label President Bush. Show all posts
Showing posts with label President Bush. Show all posts
Friday, December 26, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
America's Place in the World
Bush is finishing up his begging, er traveling, in the Middle East today. What a sad place America is in today. Bush, while visiting the Saudis, begged (at least as far as diplomacy is concerned) with the Saudis to work with OPEC to lower oil prices. "The oil prices are crushing our economy." "We're you're biggest customer." On, and on. This is sad. After the Saudi oil minister said no, OPEC is happy with the situation, Bush went over his head to talk to King Abdullah himself and beg. Wow. What a wonderful place America is at today.
Now, I'm not going to blame all our problems on Bush or this administration. The oil crisis has been looming for years and NOONE did anything to prepare for it. Many of the lax financial policies were in place before Bush's presidency. Though, again, nothing was done to put any oversight over the financial sector. The flight of manufacturing jobs has been going on for years and remember, NAFTA was signed on Clinton's watch as was renewing China's "Most Favored Nation" status. But Bush has done nothing to solve the problems caused by these agreements and has allowed plenty that exacerbates them.
What I am angry about is that Bush and his administration has done so much to bring the US down in the world's eyes. The rest of the world has always had a love/hate relationship with America. I understand this. But starting wars, bullying allies, ignoring any advice from outside countries time and again, and now that our economy is poised on the brink of a recession, is begging for lower oil prices. Hmm, why on earth would OPEC listen?
The US has had YEARS to implement plans to start weaning ourselves off foreign oil and we've done next to nothing about it. Congress has consistently ignored the problem not passing tougher standards and not investing money is alternative fuel research until relatively recently. Sorry folks, ethanol is not the long term solution. At least not from corn. Possibly from switchgrass, but not corn.
I guess I don't like to see my country begging for a handout, which is what I feel Bush is doing. We've made our bed, we're going to have to sleep in it. I just hope and pray that the next administration will make some wiser choices than the previous 2 or 3 have. I don't expect immediate changes. It will take a number of years for smart policies to actually start to work. But first, we need some smart policies.
Now, I'm not going to blame all our problems on Bush or this administration. The oil crisis has been looming for years and NOONE did anything to prepare for it. Many of the lax financial policies were in place before Bush's presidency. Though, again, nothing was done to put any oversight over the financial sector. The flight of manufacturing jobs has been going on for years and remember, NAFTA was signed on Clinton's watch as was renewing China's "Most Favored Nation" status. But Bush has done nothing to solve the problems caused by these agreements and has allowed plenty that exacerbates them.
What I am angry about is that Bush and his administration has done so much to bring the US down in the world's eyes. The rest of the world has always had a love/hate relationship with America. I understand this. But starting wars, bullying allies, ignoring any advice from outside countries time and again, and now that our economy is poised on the brink of a recession, is begging for lower oil prices. Hmm, why on earth would OPEC listen?
The US has had YEARS to implement plans to start weaning ourselves off foreign oil and we've done next to nothing about it. Congress has consistently ignored the problem not passing tougher standards and not investing money is alternative fuel research until relatively recently. Sorry folks, ethanol is not the long term solution. At least not from corn. Possibly from switchgrass, but not corn.
I guess I don't like to see my country begging for a handout, which is what I feel Bush is doing. We've made our bed, we're going to have to sleep in it. I just hope and pray that the next administration will make some wiser choices than the previous 2 or 3 have. I don't expect immediate changes. It will take a number of years for smart policies to actually start to work. But first, we need some smart policies.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Government Logic
Bush, on his tour of the Middle East, was speaking today in Saudi Arabia about his intention to sell JDAM laser-guided bomb kits to them, among other weapons. The Saudis already have lots of top of the line military equipment we've sold them, first to contain Saddam, now to wave a big stick at Iran, who Bush said today is "the world's leading state sponsor of terror." That is quoting from a Reuters report.
Now, I agree, to an extent, that Iran is a big sponsor of terrorism, especially in Iraq. What I find ironic is that Saudi Arabia is the biggest civilian sponsor of terrorism in the world. Remember Osama Bin Landen? He's Saudi. Most of the 9/11 hijackers? Saudis. Tons of terrorist money comes from the oil rich Saudis. (Not nearly all, but plenty.) Don't believe the lie that terrorism, at least of the Islamist variety, is because of the poor and oppressed. The rich and opulent manipulate the poor and oppressed to blow themselves up for Allah. Is this a defense of how the US and the West tends to treat poorer countries? No, look at the rest of my statements. I've just gotten tired of people attempting to use that excuse for terrorism.
Now, I just love the Bush government's logic. We invade Iraq, who had nothing at all to do with 9/11 or Islamist terrorism in general. But we're selling hi-tech weapons to the Saudis who have been VERY slow to crack down on support for terrorism from their own citizens. This is a country with some of the most repressive laws on earth. Their treatment of women and minority religious groups is atrocious. And, we're stopping terrorism by selling them weapons.
I'm sorry, but this makes me sick. It really does. If you look at the history of the 20th century American foreign policy of attempting to play countries off each other, it hasn't worked well for us. Usually, it turns around to bite us in the rear. Just remember folks, we were selling Saddam weapons in the 80s to keep Iran at bay. That worked well for us.
I'm sick of our foreign policy hypocrisy. We claim to be for democracy around the world, and then ally ourselves closely with repressive governments, who quite frankly don't like us. This is not a good thing. I understand that we need to be on speaking terms with countries. I'd prefer Iran was one of them as well (not that diplomacy would do anything, but merely to show we're the white hats). But being on speaking terms is far different from selling them billions of dollars of hi-tech weaponry. I just hope whoever is next in the White House realizes this. Oh wait, we still have an oil based economy, that's right.
Now, I agree, to an extent, that Iran is a big sponsor of terrorism, especially in Iraq. What I find ironic is that Saudi Arabia is the biggest civilian sponsor of terrorism in the world. Remember Osama Bin Landen? He's Saudi. Most of the 9/11 hijackers? Saudis. Tons of terrorist money comes from the oil rich Saudis. (Not nearly all, but plenty.) Don't believe the lie that terrorism, at least of the Islamist variety, is because of the poor and oppressed. The rich and opulent manipulate the poor and oppressed to blow themselves up for Allah. Is this a defense of how the US and the West tends to treat poorer countries? No, look at the rest of my statements. I've just gotten tired of people attempting to use that excuse for terrorism.
Now, I just love the Bush government's logic. We invade Iraq, who had nothing at all to do with 9/11 or Islamist terrorism in general. But we're selling hi-tech weapons to the Saudis who have been VERY slow to crack down on support for terrorism from their own citizens. This is a country with some of the most repressive laws on earth. Their treatment of women and minority religious groups is atrocious. And, we're stopping terrorism by selling them weapons.
I'm sorry, but this makes me sick. It really does. If you look at the history of the 20th century American foreign policy of attempting to play countries off each other, it hasn't worked well for us. Usually, it turns around to bite us in the rear. Just remember folks, we were selling Saddam weapons in the 80s to keep Iran at bay. That worked well for us.
I'm sick of our foreign policy hypocrisy. We claim to be for democracy around the world, and then ally ourselves closely with repressive governments, who quite frankly don't like us. This is not a good thing. I understand that we need to be on speaking terms with countries. I'd prefer Iran was one of them as well (not that diplomacy would do anything, but merely to show we're the white hats). But being on speaking terms is far different from selling them billions of dollars of hi-tech weaponry. I just hope whoever is next in the White House realizes this. Oh wait, we still have an oil based economy, that's right.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Presidential Legacies
Bush is starting his tour of the Middle East with a stop in Israel and Palestine before heading to other nations in the area. Hmm...a president in the last year of his term, trying to make peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. Don't I remember Clinton doing something like this?
Trust me, I'd love peace in the Middle East as much as anyone, but I'm realistic. These hatreds go back THOUSANDS of years, they aren't just going to make nice overnight. Especially with the tit-for-tat of mortar attacks, rocket attacks, helicopter attacks, settlers in captured territory, going ON and ON and ON. So, please, feel free to try Mr. Bush, but don't expect too much.
I find it odd with the way the economic outlook is in the US that Bush is taking the time to do this now. Is he worried about his "legacy" as President? He shouldn't be. He'll rank up there with the best of the bad ones. That is assured. Not even peace in the Middle East will overcome that.
On Bush and the economy, I realize the President gets too much credit for good times and too much blame for the bad, but...how often does he really address where the country is headed economically? He's pretty laissez-faire when it comes to business, which has done great things for the home market. Yes, the companies screwed themselves, but that's why we need a watchdog with TEETH to say, "Hey, they make $50,000 a year and already are heavily in debt, they can't really afford a $300,000 home!"
Or the disaster he's made of the public education system with NCLB. Sure, Congress passed it (foolishly) but it's been Bush's baby since day one. In an assembly plant, where you control the product coming in, you will never, ever reach 100% quality. So why, in a school system, where you have NO control over the "product" (child) coming in, are they expected to have 100% quality (achievement) by 2014. That's so ridiculous you just have to cry!
Instead of punishing struggling schools by taking away money, why not spend more money on real school counselors? Not schedulers, but people who actually counsel students. Emotional issues (frequently brought on by home problems) are a HUGE reason why kids aren't learning. Sure, some of its the teachers, some of its the curriculum, but the best teacher on earth can't reach a kid that just doesn't care or who is so traumatized by their home situation.
Yes, I deviated from my initial point (big surprise), but not really. Bush is in the Middle East attempting to patch things up after really really making a mess of things, even by the standards of the region. But, his legacy will always be tarnished not just by the damage he has done abroad, which is plenty, but the damage done on his watch at home. Is it all his fault? Of course not. I helped vote in a Democratic Congress that has done NOTHING. I blame them too. And no, it hasn't just been because of Republican stonewalling. (How many hours were wasted nailing Alberto Gonzalez? I didn't like the guy, but come on, you have a country to run people!) I guess I would just say to Bush, enjoy your trip, come home, and maybe attempt to do some good in your last year as President.
Trust me, I'd love peace in the Middle East as much as anyone, but I'm realistic. These hatreds go back THOUSANDS of years, they aren't just going to make nice overnight. Especially with the tit-for-tat of mortar attacks, rocket attacks, helicopter attacks, settlers in captured territory, going ON and ON and ON. So, please, feel free to try Mr. Bush, but don't expect too much.
I find it odd with the way the economic outlook is in the US that Bush is taking the time to do this now. Is he worried about his "legacy" as President? He shouldn't be. He'll rank up there with the best of the bad ones. That is assured. Not even peace in the Middle East will overcome that.
On Bush and the economy, I realize the President gets too much credit for good times and too much blame for the bad, but...how often does he really address where the country is headed economically? He's pretty laissez-faire when it comes to business, which has done great things for the home market. Yes, the companies screwed themselves, but that's why we need a watchdog with TEETH to say, "Hey, they make $50,000 a year and already are heavily in debt, they can't really afford a $300,000 home!"
Or the disaster he's made of the public education system with NCLB. Sure, Congress passed it (foolishly) but it's been Bush's baby since day one. In an assembly plant, where you control the product coming in, you will never, ever reach 100% quality. So why, in a school system, where you have NO control over the "product" (child) coming in, are they expected to have 100% quality (achievement) by 2014. That's so ridiculous you just have to cry!
Instead of punishing struggling schools by taking away money, why not spend more money on real school counselors? Not schedulers, but people who actually counsel students. Emotional issues (frequently brought on by home problems) are a HUGE reason why kids aren't learning. Sure, some of its the teachers, some of its the curriculum, but the best teacher on earth can't reach a kid that just doesn't care or who is so traumatized by their home situation.
Yes, I deviated from my initial point (big surprise), but not really. Bush is in the Middle East attempting to patch things up after really really making a mess of things, even by the standards of the region. But, his legacy will always be tarnished not just by the damage he has done abroad, which is plenty, but the damage done on his watch at home. Is it all his fault? Of course not. I helped vote in a Democratic Congress that has done NOTHING. I blame them too. And no, it hasn't just been because of Republican stonewalling. (How many hours were wasted nailing Alberto Gonzalez? I didn't like the guy, but come on, you have a country to run people!) I guess I would just say to Bush, enjoy your trip, come home, and maybe attempt to do some good in your last year as President.
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