A reminder

Bush Tours America To Survey Damage Caused By His Disastrous Presidency

Bush team motto?

"a perfect storm of ignorance and enthusiasm."

Classy Move

From Raw Story we get a sense of Bush's post-presidential life and yet another peek at his sensitivity and his understanding of the role he has taken on as president by examining his choice of rezzzidunce:

"When the Bushes are here full time, I imagine we'll be here full time," said Officer Michael Bratcher of the Dallas Police Department, who was directing traffic.

But the exclusive Dallas community the Bush family will soon join has a troubled history of its own.

Until 2000, the neighborhood association's covenant said only white people were allowed to live there, though an exception was made for servants. [my own bolding because I love it so much]

Enacted in 1956, part of the original document reads: "Said property shall be used and occupied by white persons except those shall not prevent occupancy by domestic servants of different race or nationality in the employ of a tenant."

Christian cronyism (cont'd)

Justice Officials Repeatedly Broke Law on Hiring, Report Says (Irony Not Intended)

Former Justice Department counselor Monica M. Goodling and former chief of staff D. Kyle Sampson routinely broke the law by conducting political litmus tests on candidates for jobs as immigration judges and line prosecutors, according to an inspector general's report released today.

Goodling passed over hundreds of qualified applicants and squashed the promotions of others after deeming candidates insufficiently loyal to the Republican party, said investigators, who interviewed 85 people and received information from 300 other job seekers at Justice. Sampson developed a system to screen immigration judge candidates based on improper political considerations and routinely took recommendations from the White House Office of Political Affairs and Presidential Personnel, the report said.

Goodling regularly asked candidates for career jobs, "What is it about George W. Bush that makes you want to serve him?" the report said. (Great rezziDUNCE? Or, the greatest rezziDUNCE? Where do you see George Bush in five years? If you could be any kind of sycophant, which kind would you be? Ed.) One former Justice Department official told investigators she had complained that Goodling was asking interviewees for their views on abortion, according to the report.

Here's annudder shocker: Goodling is part of the Regent University army in the Bush White House.

According to Regent University, more than 150 of its graduates have been hired by the federal government since George W. Bush came to office in 2001.

-- The Wikipedia

Motto: "Christian Leadership to Change the World." Yes.

improbable developments in plutocracy (cont'd)

News item: Auditors at an oversight agency of the Pentagon were pressured by supervisors to skew their reports on a major defense contractor's work, hiding wrongdoing and charges of overbilling, according to an 80-page report from the Government Accountability Office.

A little tidbit that says a lot...

That we already know, but in a depressing way.

From McClatchy's Washington Bureau:

_ Retail sales were up a scant 0.1 percent in June, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. Gas prices accounted for all the increase, Vitner said. "You take out gasoline prices and sales were down," he added.

Nevertheless, Bush boasted that tax-rebate checks were prodding spending.

I don't know how to say this, but I'll just say it: wouldn't Bush be a much better president if he would just acknowledge something of what's happening? He could acknowledge any truth and I would be happy. I seriously think that if his ideology told him the sky was full of chickens, he would call clouds feathers. And that would be that. It's just so depressing. And annoying.

because we're the world's authority on human rights

Death toll from Myanmar cyclone soars to 22,500

The United States, which has led a drive for economic sanctions against Myanmar's repressive regime, said it would also provide aid, but only if an American disaster team was invited into the country.

The policy was presented by Laura Bush, along with a lecture to the junta about human rights and disaster relief.

"This is a cheap shot," said Aung Nain Oo, a Burmese political analyst who is based in Thailand. "The people are dying. This is no time for a political message to be aired. This is a time for relief. No one is asking for anything like this except the United States."

a celebration of specialness

President Bush Participates in Joint Press Availability with Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom

(Question: when did a press conference become press availability, and when can we have press conferences back? Ed.)

Bush: I'm -- been a pleasure to welcome a good friend to the Oval Office, and had a good discussion. Appreciate our special relationship with Britain, and I believe that the actions we've taken are making it stronger.

All in all, we had a fabulous conversation. I'm looking forward to dinner tonight. The Prime Minister is bringing his wife Sarah up here to the White House. And I'm -- Laura and I are going to cook you up a meal. (Laughter.) Well, we'll eat one with you. (Laughter.) (He's here for eight years -- try the veal. Ed.)

Brownie: It's my profound belief that over many decades, no international partnership has served the world better than the special relationship between our two countries, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Bush: Look, I'm interested in succeeding in Iraq. I mean, it's -- this is a mission that is succeeding on the security front, it's getting better on the economic front, and it's improving on the political front... And so, so long as I'm the President, my measure of success is victory and success.

We got a great relationship. And it's -- we're working on a variety of issues... So it's -- our relationship is very special and it's -- I'm confident future Presidents will keep it that way. There's just such a uniqueness in the relationship. That's not to say you can't have other friends, and we do. But this is a unique relationship, truly is. And I value -- I value my personal friendship, as well as our -- the relationship between our countries.

Look, if there wasn't a personal relationship I wouldn't be inviting the man to a nice hamburger. (Laughter.) Well done, I might add.

Brownie: I'm very proud to be here today to celebrate a special relationship. In 1941, Winston Churchill met Franklin Roosevelt and inaugurated what is the modern phase of that special relationship... And what I think is fascinating is that over the next few months we will be developing that special relationship in new ways... So this is a special relationship not just of governments, but of peoples. And I look forward to its enhancement at all levels in the years to come...

supporting the troops, Cheney style (cont'd)

"Our military is low on parts, pay and morale. If called on by the commander-in-chief today, two entire divisions of the army would have to report 'not ready for duty, sir.'"
RezzziDUNCE George W. Bush, as candiDUNCE for RezzziDUNCE in 2000

"What the Clinton/Gore administration has done is to shortchange the military, continue to impose significant burdens on them and not made the kind of investments that need to be made... The military is in trouble today."
VP candidate Dick "Dick" (Dick) DICK Cheney, 2000

True to their word, they fixed things right up:

MILITARY UPRISING: Bush's decision to cut tour lengths comes after months and months of warnings from his top military advisers. "The current demand for our forces exceeds the sustainable supply," Army Chief of Staff George Casey said back in September. This week, Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen noted he was "very public for many months that we need to get off 15 month deployments as fast as we can." In a recent meeting in the Pentagon, top military leaders "told President Bush they are worried about the Iraq war's mounting strain on troops and their families." While a step forward in the right direction, Bush's announcement today is more likely forced due to necessity, Ilan Goldenberg of the National Security Network observed. "The military is so strained, the president really didn't have a choice," he said. As Colin Powell presciently observed in July 2007, "[T]hey probably can't keep this up at this level past the middle of next year, I would guess. This is a tremendous burden on our troops."

the shockingness continues (cont'd)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The gap between rich and poor in many states has broadened at a quickening pace since the last U.S. recession, which could make it difficult for low-income families to weather the current economic downturn, according to a report issued Wednesday.

fool us three times...

Bush Thinks McCain Can Defend President's Legacy

Hard to pick a favorite line here.

The rezzz-i-dunce has become convinced that McCain will be an effective and strong defender of the Bush legacy in the general election campaign this fall, White House advisers tell U.S. News...

Bush believes that over the past seven years, his politics have strengthened the country, especially his moves to cut taxes, fight tarrrrism, and insist on victory in the Iraq war. Bush believes McCain is loyal to those goals and will strongly defend Bush if McCain proceeds to lock up the Republican presidential nomination, as expected.

"I know him well," Bush said. (Has he looked within his soul? ed.) "I know his convictions..."

It may not be Rezko...

...but Fung has been spotted with Dumbya. Click on da link:

A Republican HUD scandal for a new generation

I would say it might be Kirby Pucket instead, but he's dead.

eternal vigilance, Bush style

News item: ...an unnamed CIA briefer flew to Bush's Texas ranch to call the president's attention personally to the now-famous Aug. 6, 2001, memo titled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S." According to Suskind, Bush heard the briefer out and replied: "All right. You've covered your ass, now."

Well, I'm starting a "My S#i+ Don't Stink" campaign...

Bush aiming to establish positive legacy

I'm putting one thing in the positive column for now: did not start war with Iran. Of course, this could change by tomorrow. Can't think of anything else. Anyone?

they still don't get it... you're a puppet, ok?

News item: With its international mandate in Iraq set to expire, the Bush administration will insist that the government in Baghdad give the United States broad authority to conduct combat operations and hold battlefield detainees, as well as guarantee American troops and civilian contractors immunity from Iraqi law, according to administration and military officials.

This negotiating position faces a potential buzz saw of opposition from Iraq, with its fragmented Parliament, weak central government and deep sensitivities about being seen as a dependent state, these officials said.

Somebody Counted...

Study: Bush team used 935 falsehoods to justify war

annudder bushian sucksess story

Pakistan: Nexus of Failure

Pakistan has enough material for over 60 nuclear weapons, an unstable government, strong Islamic fundamentalist influences in its military and intelligence services, and armed Islamic fundamentalist groups operating on its territory — including Osama bin Laden.

how idiots go to war

By listening to dimwit phokks like Curveball and believing them (or pretending to).

Culture of Bulls#i+

Media outlets uncritically reported White House claim that it does not "employ" fake reporting

Perino said of the conference, "It is not a practice that we would employ here at the White House and we certainly don't condone it."

supporting the troops (rezzziDUNCE mix)

Study: Rising number of veterans are uninsured, many ineligible for VA care