Tom, take off that teflon suit...
"Ding Dong, DeLay stepped down, he's so sad, he's got a frown, Ding Dong Tom DeLay stepped down....!"
Yes
Tom DeLay had to step down as House Majority Leader today as a Texas grand jury has indicted him on a corruption charge, which of course Tom says is merely "poltical retribution", a thing about which the Texas Innocent DeLay knows nothing about *cough-remapping the constituency-cough*
And other good news coming out of Congress...when it comes to Mike Brown at least, the GOP are eating their own. Nancy Pelosi and other Dems decided to boycott Mike Brown's hearing yesterday in from of a
Congressional Committee looking into Katrina response, but man did she and the others miss some fun.
From Rep. Christopher Shays: Brown's testimony was "feeble," "clueless," "shocking" and "beyond belief." Said Shays: "I'm happy you left, because that kind of . . . look in the lights like a deer tells me that you weren't capable to do the job."
From Brown when asked about the lack of ice delivery: "I think it's wrong for the federal government to be in the ice business, providing ice so I can keep my beer and Diet Coke cool." winning him the Pompous Ass AND Truly Incompetent Ass awards...take a bow, Mike...
And continuing in the "things driving George to drink" category...after hearing of the weekend of new allegations about the treatment of detainees at Abu Ghraib prison, there is a
call to get this further looked into...Which may actually happen after Lyndie England got sentenced yesterday...
They're making me do my job here, so I gotta head off, but I figured y'all might like to hear about Tom...if you already hadn't...send a bottle of champagen to that Grand Jury eh?
Peace --Alex
The Rally
Okay...would have written yesterday but I found out last minute I had to recast a (cursed) role in the show I'm directing (never been so happy that it is a 20 minute piece that could be learned quickly...I hope) BUT ANYWAY...despite the lack of coverage on the news and in the papers, I can honestly say that I was there and it actually did happen, there were indeed
thousands of people and it was frickin'
amazing :) Look
Cindy Sheehan even got arrested yesterday! See?!
And, of course, George was out of town, Dick "he's so fat he's having heart attacks in his knees!" Cheney was in surgery and Laura was at the White House looking like she had a bad smell under her nose which was fouling up her
book festival. (My cousins were at the
book fest and were very surprised at the amount of people at the rally...Eric-formerly Republican-has become an Independent after Bush got reelected, his wife appears also to be an Independent, but the son, we fear...is indeed Republican as he made a statement at dinner later about how he didn't care for Ted Kennedy going against Ashcroft way back when...He's still young...we can help him...) Oh and Karl Rove was, of course most likely doing something
devious...
I can't tell you how heartwarming it was to see the waves of people flowing in from all directions. My mom and I hit a mini Code Pink rally before the march at which Congresswoman Lynne Wolsey, Cindy Sheehan, Joan Baez and Margot Kidder spoke among the Code Pink founders. We then marched over to Constitution Avenue where we ran into other groups gathering for the rally at the Elipse, and they came from all directions...and just kept coming. Truly amazing. I think my favorite signs were:
*"If Bush is a Christian, then I'm the Virgin Mary"
*"Sex is back in the White House. George Bush is screwing us all!"
*[a photo of George looking like he's trying to think under a thought balloon] "What I did on my summer vacation..." and it listed things like "went to fundraising parties for my friends, killed some American soldiers, rode my bicycle, killed some Iraqis..." let a city flood, etc..it was excellent
*photo taken off the TV from Sky News report. It shows Bush speaking about Hurricane Katrina...somewhere...and has the headline underneath reading "Bush: Worst Distaster Ever"
And one guy, dressed as George-rubber mask and all-riding a tricycle, definitely wins a prize.
We did not stay for the concert as mom was pretty much done after the rally (but she was so glad that she was there), so I missed the fab music and hosting by Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedy's (!), but it sounds like quite the soiree and there were apparently still "thousands" there into the late night (at least that's what the local 11p news said that night). Hopefully a recording was made :)
IN THE MEANTIME...
Things leading George to drink:
*Bill Frist apparently took some bad advice from Martha Stewart and sold off some HCA (a group his family founded) stock juuust before the price dropped...but of course, he
denies knowing anything as it was a blind trust...that he somehow had details on...and was selling "solely to avoid a possible conflict of interest in case he seeks higher office"...
*
Mike Brown got to sweat it out as the "sole witness" in a Congressional hearing about Katrina response...basically saying he made a couple of mistakes, but otherwise it was all Lousiana's fault (and George's for hiring the guy...)
*You know it's bad when the GOP has to do this...three words: public relations
offensive...
*people are talking about the no-bid extravagant
contracts to aid in Katrina clean-up...
*and last but not least...a compnay may have sold faulty
bulletproof vests to the Bushes (but was it on purpose...?)
so much going on and so little time...but when you get a breath KEEP E-MAILING!!! E-mail, call, fax, write your friends and family, the press and your Congressfolk and let them know that you are PAYING ATTENTION (like with the rally)! And as always, pass it on pass it on pass it on!
Peace --Alex
P.S. If you find yourself in NYC, head on over to Manhattan Theatre Source for the Estrogenius Festival. It is a short play festival of plays by women and each week has a fab line-up. The show I am directing - AWAKE - is part of Week 4: October 12-15. For more info, go
here...
GEORGE BACK ON THE BOTTLE!
Okay, it's in the Enquirer, but as there has been more than one article about George's instability of late, why not top it off an Enquirer article about his doing shots on the sly...leaving Laura to shout
"Stop, George!" Oh, I admit it, it gave me a chuckle...as did this bit on
wonkette featuring Terry Moran making Scott McClellan wonder if he can take a vacation in Texas... and lord could we use one...
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted
13-5 to approve John Roberts nomination and now leave it up to the Senate to let this guy become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court...and take away various of our civil rights based on semantics.
AND some of the more conservative GOPers who behind the
"Operation Offset" bill being introduced to help fund Katrina (and potentially Rita) relief have decided that, while raising taxes would be horrifying, cutting retirement and pension funds is okay...it's for the
people, man...(yeah could you tell that to the rich dudes who are keeping their tax cut?)
And let's not forget Rita...it has not yet made landfall but it is predicted that Galveston will be wiped off the map. Or just as John Stewart said last night "It has been upgraded to a category 12 storm...the weatherman are saying it something just short of a black hole..." I do hope that if any of you have friends or family along the Gulf Coast of Texas, that they have been able to
evacuate and do not get sucked into the abyss. Just horrifying...
IN THE MEANTIME...I will be off to DC tomorrow!! Woo Hoo! As previously mentioned, my mom and I are hitting the big anti-war/Bush rally and plan on making plenty of noise :) If you're heading down, and you find us among the masses, come on over and say hey!
That's all I got for you from my sleep deprived head right now, except you to remind you to KEEP E-MAILING!!! and to say a prayer/ send out positive energy for the folks in the Gulf Coast, the folks in Iraq, and the folks stepping out tomorow.
Peace --Alex
Hurrican Galloway
George Galloway-our favorite Scotsman-has been loud and about lately speaking against not only Iraq, but now the response to Hurricane Katrina. Over the top he may occasionally be, it would be nice to see more of our own
politicians getting this angry...
like Bill Clinton, breaking with the unspoken rule of presidential politeness toward your
successor and speaking out against George's policies...
But at least the
media are continuing to pounce a bit, reminding us-and the administration-that we have a record
deficit already and somehow we're going to cut back funding on things we actually need to take care of Katrina folk, borrow more money from China, and keep a tax cut that, if repealed, could probably fund a good share of the necessary funds on it's own...and there are people like Bill
willing to give up that tax cut...
willing, George...
But I guess George has enough on his plate with the arrest of one of his officials who apparently is accused of "lying and obstructing a criminal investigation into Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff's dealings with the federal government." yeah, not a good way to start the day...along with hearing that the FEC is suing the Republican 527 group "
Club For Growth" for defying campaign finace laws...
And even better, besides the big rally that will be outside his house this weekend, United For Peace and Justice will be hosting
Operation Ceasefire-a concert that will start at 2p right after the march and continue through til 1:30am (well past George and Laura's bedtime). The artists performing include: Le Tigre, Sweet Honey and The Rock, Steve Earl, Bouncing Souls, The Evens, Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, Theivery Corporation and that pesky Joan Baez who just refuses to give up her activist guitar...rock on all! I hope to catch as much of that as possible...
In the meantime, Mayor Ray Nagin of New Orleans is now suspending the return of evacuees as Hurricane Rita, just elevated to a category 2 hurricane, could hit the coast, again...say all the prayers, hum karma, send out positive energy and cross fingers...and send a little more to the
Salvation Army or your group of choice for the folks in Florida as well as those affected by Katrina..and potentially again by Rita.
Or just head out to these events happening here in the city:
*The Big Apple for The Big Easy at Radio City Music Hall
*ACT NOW at
CB's Gallery tomorrow night 10pm (a woman I did the Oxygen shoot with is hosting this event) $10
*No Name and a Bag O' Chips Open Mic at The Common Basis Theatre October 1st It starts at 11:30pm and will go until they run out of open micers. $3 a pop to perform (my friend Eric is hosting this)
*Turntables on The Hudson Benefit at Cielo 18 Little West 12th Street this Thursday night 9pm-4am $10 before 11pm/$15 after (and they have a FAB line-up of DJ's including a fav of mine, DJ Scribe and his Love Revolution)
There is also a concert at Madison Square Garden tonight, BBKings will have one next week, and all I can think of is how come our government can't be as together as all these people setting up events? (...why the hell can't they happen when I have money and/or can go?!?!?)
In the meantime while you check your calendars and your funds, KEEP E-MAILING!!! E-mail, call, fax, write your friends and family, the press and your Congressfolk-particularly about Katrina response AND
Arlen Specter saying he'll recommend John Roberts though Harry Reid says he'll vote no. Apparently he has enough support from the Republicans that he might get through without any Dem votes at all...get in touch with your Senator
NOW about saying NO to that potentially harmfully vague man. And pass it on, pass it on, pass it on...
Peace --Alex
"Katrinaholics!"
This was actually a headline on the CNBC ticker this morning, according to my friend Doug who called to tell me about it. We could not help but-besides feel that that was horribly tacky-be left with images such as the potential informercial and t-shirts (black with hot pink lettering of course...or the reverse). We also got to how Bush has so screwed everything up that "he just can't get a break...he could save a drowning grandmother and people would just shout 'oh what a photo op!'" And I replied with "well, you see, you just can't doubt that Karl Rove put that old lady in the water. George may not exactly know that Karl put the old lady in the water, but most likely, that's the only way that would happen...*An old lady, struggling in a wheelchair appears in Karl Rove's view during George's "tour" of New Orleans. He checks to make sure the camera people and national guard escorts are not looking, and then whispers to an intern to grab the old lady and throw her into the water. When the intern refuses, he is promptly fired and then Karl grabs the old lady, grumbling 'have to do everything myself, Jesus!' and throws her into the water 'don't worry the President is going to save you!...mr. President! Mr. President! Look!-' - 'oh I am so tired of seeing bodies in the water...i thought that'd be cleaned up before I got here...' - 'She's alive and you're closest!...{pushes her out with a branch)' - 'Karl, do you know what's in that water?' - 'Get her!' Karl responds through gritted teeth. George takes a hint, but still looks around for Dick Cheney and then anxiously at a secret service agent before taking a deep breath, and goes in for the grandmother...*
And speaking of tacky things on TV, Bush made his "speech" last night...in a practically untouched part of
New Orleans, by himself, with the usual vague look in his eyes, looking uncomfortable, and somehow managing to connect Weapons of Mass Destruction to Katrina. Apparently on Stephanie Miller this morning, they played a clip of Pat Buchanan exclaiming "He looked terrible!". If George was thinking he had another "pile of rubble" moment last night, he's sorely mistaken. Particularly as ABC News did a special
Primetime with Ted Koppel going through the whole hurricane nightmare chronologically, with interviews and comments such as "further proof of how out of touch the federal government was with the actual situation..." before showing such moments such as Michael Chertoff discussing how the levees broke on Tuesday...when they had broken on
Monday...
Bill Clinton was on the Today show this morning and proved he has more Presidential presence OUT of office than George has in the tip of his pinkie. He was mainly there to speak about the Global Initiative he is working on with other world leaders to try to make strides toward ending poverty and such (and did I mention he's
out of office?), when asked he did mention that there are people within the administration "who do not know how to deal with poor people..." and that a lot of funding issues could be handled simply by repealing the tax cut for the wealthy: "there are people suffering...and I'm on my 4th tax cut. It's not right!" Rock on, Bill.
And speaking of folks who don't know how to deal with poor people, anyone else notice that Barbara Bush had been sent back to Kennybunkport faster than Michael Brown got shipped back to Washington? It appears mom's not allowed to talk in public anymore and I am sure they much have locked the doors on the compound and are just saying "have another cocktail, Bar..."
Though favorite moment that truly says it all for me, a Reuters
photographer caught this precious moment at the UN with his zoom lens. Apparently, George, before making his speech at the UN, was caught writing a note to his Secretary of State (aka girlfriend Condi Rice), saying that he needed a "bathroom break" ["is this possible?"] That's the leader of the free world, asking his Secretary of State, while sitting at the UN about to make an important speech, if he's got time to pee...Back off, UN nations! That's MY President! I know y'all want him, but nuh-uh, he's MINE!
So before you run off to the loo, remember to KEEP E-MAILING!!! E-mail, call, write, fax your friends and family, the press and your Congressfolk and let them know that you are paying attention and that despite the fact that we could end up with Dick Cheney as president, impeachment looks like more of an option everyday...coup anyone? And as always, pass it on, pass it on, pass it on...
Peace --Alex
this close...
I am wondering how many times George's people rewrote his statement claiming that "to the extent the federal government didn't fully do it's job right, I take
responsibility..." to make sure that, while he takes responsibility, he doesn't have to admit to a mistake...and I want to know who actually suggested this to Bush, and how they got him to listen to it...
I have to admit that when I heard the statement on NPR yesterday afternoon, I was like "I beg your pardon?"
Then again, before George had his press conference with the Iraqi PM, he actually
did touch ground in New Orleans (waited til it dried out a bit first) and perhaps some of the
horror actually kicked in...
Speaking of horror, imagine being a doctor in a hospital, during a hurricane, with water rising, the power going out, and critically ill patients on the line. Such
decisions should never have to be made, hence, say a prayer for, send positive energy, give a virtual hug to these brave doctors, nurses and other medical staff who had to prioritize their patients and, in some cases, help those in the worst condition die with
dignity...
and as there must be a yin and yang to everything, there are unfortunately people like the
Manganos out there...and FEMA (surprise) has not been helping the situation..
And as Bush claimed yesterday that "[He wants] to know how to better cooperate with state and local government, to be able to answer that very question that you asked: Are we capable of dealing with a severe attack or another severe storm? And that's a very important question." when asked about how the Katrina reponse might be an indicator of how the government would react in future, Al Quaeda was getting themselves together for an massive attack in
Baghdad today...151 people have been killed through suicide bombings and shootings... oh and the 9/11 commission found out that the
FAA had been warned in '98 about the potential for an Al Quaeda hijacking...
And of course, what is the first thing that Bush wants to talk about at the
UN?...not Katrina, not poverty, but
terror (heard that on NPR) He wants help for Iraq, and won't set up an exit plan for Iraq, but he's considering pullout from
Afghanistan...you know, where Osama Bin Laden-the guy who actually attacked us-and friends actually
are/were...
It's moments like these that remind me why I am indeed going to Washington the weekend of September 23rd...and why my mom is going as well. Yes, my 70-year-old mother called and told me that she was that mad-and has been for since 2000-that she wanted to head down, so I will be protesting with my mom in DC. My sister unfortunately cannot make it down as she won't be able to get out of work, but I know she'll be cursing Bush out in spirit.
And speaking of Washington, while Bush and his people are dealing with the backlash against the Katrina response, Iraq, causing traffic here in NYC as they hang out at the
UN, and high gas prices (that George could honestly control if he actually went to his oil buddies and said "hey, could you do me a favor...?"), there is a nomination hearing going on for
Judge John Roberts. If ever there was a judge who could split hairs, it is this one. He is sufficiently vague about some answers, though apparently has been
specific with others, but when it comes to
Roe V. Wade, to use his preferred sports references, this man can bob and weave with the best of 'em...
After the events of the last several weeks, who's got money on whether or not Bush decides to take a vacation when things "die down"?
And while you ponder this, KEEP E-MAILING!!! I know I've been bad of late as I am directing the short play AWAKE by Meryl Cohn for the Estrogenius Festival at
Manhattan Theatre Source and just went through some casting drama, but tonight we will indeed have our first readthrough and it should be a good time :)...hence I can get back to e-mailing, calling, writing, or faxing my friends and family, my Congressfolk and the press and let them know, like you will, that I am PAYING ATTENTION! Pass it on, pass it on, pass it on :):):)
Peace --Alex
okay...back to cranky...
I have been appalled from the get-go about the federal response to Hurricane Katrina, and I know full well that I am not alone in this...but last night, despite hearing about further outpourings of help and compassion from around the country, I was talking to my mom and she told me how she saw a story on the news about a how a plane full of evacuees, destined for a set-up in Charleston, SC, was flown to Charleston, West Virginia...communication is still lax, obviously.
And just now, while looking for any articles referring to that story, I read about Dennis Hastert-who'd been delayed to the vote on Katrina relief funding because he was at a fundraiser-and Tom DeLay have decided to
cancel Congressional hearings about the response, saying essentially it's not the fed's fault, it's the locals, dammit!...yes, the
partisanship holds tight, even-or perhaps particularly-in the face of embarrassingly bad press (which Tom DeLay knows best...)
Also, yesterday, Otis Airforce Base in
Bourne, MA was waiting for evacuees...scores of volunteers...beds made, hospital ready, clothes and supplies organized...*blink blink*...where is everybody. One family of three showed up...there was no plane full of people...and all such flights to Massachusetts and other states offering to take evacuees have been put on hold. Apparently there are two reasons. 1) There are families who fear that if they leave the region, they will not only lose contact with family members trying to find them, they will be lost in the FEMA system. 2) Apparently the White House called the governor of Texas the day the flight to Bourne was to take place and said that the states were to "take no immediate action and hand over the operation to FEMA." Well, we all know how well
that's been working...
I really think
Bob Schieffer put it best on Sunday in his "Face The Nation" final thought Sunday (so glad they save these on line)...the initial response really was geared to "the survival of the richest"...
And Matt Cooper, no matter what you may think of him over "PlameGate", did have his strong opinion piece in
Time...
Though I do love this reponse that is in the New York Daily News today apparently-though I stole the quote from
wonkette. Paul Begala had this to say about Dick Cheney (who'd been on vacation til last Thursday in Wyoming): "You're not going to send him to be comforter-in-chief. He's the type of guy who would look at them and growl, 'Life's tough. Get back to work.'"
Nor should he be the guy to head up a
White House investigation into, as Bush put it "What went right [?!?!] and what went wrong..." And really, should Bush be looking into this? I think
not...
And just to make George twitch a little more, Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton and other Democrats are looking for an independent investigation of what went wrong, the Dems really want more info on John Roberts, AND not only did the
California Legislature vote for gay marriage, but the
Europeans still hate him...
Keep e-mailing your
Congressfolk, people!!! Make sure they know that you are paying attention and want George and his people to face the consequences!! As has been brought by numerous foldk over the past week and days...if they can't handle a hurricane, they certainly can't handle a terrorist attack...
Peace --Alex
hurricanes, t-shirts and mom, oh my!
As the
President and his FEMA director
Michael Brown couldn't get things together in time, private citizens have been taking up the slack over the last week since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. One of those private citizens is named Hector Hoyos and he has gotten a bunch of trucks together as of this weekend, and they are sitting on 65th and Broadway here in NYC waiting to take your stuff. They will leave with whatever you bring them and head down as of 9am tomorrow morning to a major refugee site in Baton Rouge. I brought over baby wipes and
water myself today on my lunch break and was witness to numerous New Yorkers doing the same thing-dropping off clothes, baby supplies, feminine supplies, water, and food: makes me proud to be a New York resident.
And speaking of some
positive things...
*as just heard on NPR here, Hillary Clinton is looking to introduce legislation to place FEMA back under cabinet status as "no was in charge in the federal government..."
*also heard on NPR, Ted Kennedy has asked for the firing of FEMA "I couldn't control horse judges let alone a major catastrophe!" director Michael Brown. As Bush thinks he's doing a "fine job", this may not happen without distinct pressure, so you might want to send your senators a little
note.
*Yes, this time you can really blame the mother...you wonder how George came out this way and then
Barbara Bush says things like this...with the cameras and tape recorders running:
"What I'm hearing, which is sort of scary, is they all want to stay in Texas. Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality," she said during a radio interview with the American Public Media program "Marketplace." "And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them."
*You been wondering where
Karl Rove is? He's been found! and The Times is talking about him! Karl Rove (evil genius) and his sidekick "devilboy" Dan Bartlett have been strategizing...what else is new? They are "enact[ing] a plan to ease political damage". As in turning on the serious spin, though I would like to believe that everyone who's been watching the rescue farce, has figured out that all of George's visits are
photo-ops, not check-ins with the victims.
*
moewampum tees have come out with a
t-shirt from the heart: George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People.
*The Governor of Louisiana, you may notice in TV reports, pretty much won't go near the President, and has called in James Lee Witt (remember him, he actually knew how to run FEMA) to take care of things down there 'cause obviously George and friends haven't been able to do anything
*Bill Frist went down there to see the horror for himself this past weekend and has since stayed, offering his medical services...and to say "this is an utter failure..." about the rescue effort. Ya hearing that, George?
*MoveOn.com has gotten offers of over 150,000 beds, couches, etc for refugees and if you have one to spare, click
here.
*Red Sox Pitcher Curt Schilling and his family are putting up a family of nine from the Gulf Coast. Apparently they are flying them up here and putting them up in a hotel for a year while they try to get resettled... (and they were trying to do this quietly, but then it got out and people like me gotta pass it around).
Good things are indeed happening...and perhaps impeachment could be next :p
Peace --Alex
maybe it's cause I'm sleep deprived...
but I'm back to cranky all over again. While there are many positive things happening down south-Texas offering up the Astrodome for the Superdome refugees, www.hurricanehousing.org, people flooding the Red Cross, Salvation Army and other groups with funds and people offering up their services and heading down there (like a friend of mine's friend who will be going down as bereavement couselor), there are the still the horrible negatives, such as FEMA not having the funds right now to handle anything past a few weeks, armed looting gangs shooting at Red Cross copters and buses that are trying to get people out of the Superdome, and our own President...yep here are the latest reasons he's is just annoying the bejeezus out of me:
1) It took 3 days for this man to talk to the public about the hurricane...and his main thing is to tell the public that gas prices are going up, and he will not tolerate the looters...
2) It took him 3 days to say "yes, we'll release some oil from the reserve..."
3) Was a photo op on an aircraft carrier in LA really more important than jumping on Airforce 1 to start assessing this situation?
4) National Guardsmen from the damaged states (as my friend Maryanne pointed out "who are here to guard our
nation...") are not being allowed to leave Iraq to check on their families and homes "unless it's a hardship..." Um, wouldn't you call this a HARDSHIP?!?!?!
5) Not to say that this would not have happened anyway, but funding was cut and diverted to Iraq from an Army Corps of Engineers project that was
reinforcing the levees outside New Orleans...
6) The US even this summer denied funding to Louisiana when they asked for a portion of oil profits in the energy bill in order to use the money to reinforce natural flood protection.
7) Bush can't seem to deal with Hurricane Katrina, but he has found time to set up a "recess appointment" of Alice Fisher: "President Bush has used a constitutional provision to bypass the Senate and fill a top Justice Department slot with an official whose nomination stalled over tactics at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, naval facility." (source The Boston Globe)
I think this
editorial says a lot for me...
as well as this
cartoon...
might be a good time to send George a
note...
Peace --Alex
