Progressive Minds

Must-reads for today:

1.  According to an article in the Washington Post, equipment is lacking for the additional troops that Bush plans to send to Iraq for his "surge." 

From the Washington Post:

Boosting U.S. troop levels in Iraq by 21,500 would create major logistical hurdles for the Army and Marine Corps, which are short thousands of vehicles, armor kits and other equipment needed to supply the extra forces, U.S. officials said.

The increase would also further degrade the readiness of U.S.-based ground forces, hampering their ability to respond quickly, fully trained and well equipped in the case of other military contingencies around the world and increasing the risk of U.S. casualties, according to Army and Marine Corps leaders.

In other words, George W. Bush has destroyed the military.

Equipment For Added Troops Is Lacking

2.  MSNBC breaks down the latest happenings at Scooter Libby's trial, including what former White House Press Secretary Arie Fleisher had to say when he was called to the witness stand.  And it's not pretty.

From MSNBC:

Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer testified Monday that then-colleague I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby told him over lunch that the wife of a prominent war critic worked at the CIA.

Fleischer said the conversation happened on Monday, July 7, 2003, the day after former Ambassador Joseph Wilson's op-ed article appeared in the New York Times, and he was a guest on "Meet the Press," accusing the administration of "twisting" intelligence on Iraq's weapons programs.  Libby -- according to prosecutors -- told Fleischer at lunch at the White House that the information that Wilson's wife worked at the CIA was "hush-hush."

That is the same day that the White House issued a statement saying that the "16 words" in the State of the Union address about Iraq seeking nuclear materials from Africa, should not have been included in the speech.

Fleischer: Libby discussed CIA officer at lunch

After the Supreme Court coronated him as President, George W. Bush said "If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, so long as I'm the dictator."

Well, it looks like Bushie's moving a lot closer to that dream of his.

According to the New York Times, Bush has signed an excecutive order which will give him more control over every government agency.  Bush wants every agency to have a regulatory office run by a political appointee to do his bidding for him.

From the New York Times:

President Bush has signed a directive that gives the White House much greater control over the rules and policy statements that the government develops to protect public health, safety, the environment, civil rights and privacy.

In an executive order published last week in the Federal Register, Mr. Bush said that each agency must have a regulatory policy office run by a political appointee, to supervise the development of rules and documents providing guidance to regulated industries. The White House will thus have a gatekeeper in each agency to analyze the costs and the benefits of new rules and to make sure the agencies carry out the president’s priorities.

Rep. Henry Waxman hit the nail on the head about what this executive order will accomplish: “The executive order allows the political staff at the White House to dictate decisions on health and safety issues, even if the government’s own impartial experts disagree. This is a terrible way to govern, but great news for special interests.”

Bush Raises His Sway at U.S. Agencies

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0012/18/nd.01.html (Bush's "if this were a dictatorship" comment)

This one is priceless! George W. Bush finally says something that I think we can all agree with him on 100%----he's lacking in the ability to communicate orally, shall we say. (Anyone who has responded to KSAs when applying for jobs will know what that's about!)

Anyway, when explaining his use of the term "Democrat majority" (as opposed to "DemocratIC majority") during the State of the Union speech, Bush said "That was an oversight. I mean, I'm not trying to needle." He then went on to say "I'm not that good at pronouncing words anyway."

Here's the thing, Mr. President. (And I do use that term loosely in your case). When you have to give speeches frequently, and you know you're going to come across words that you have no clue on how to pronounce, you look up those words in advance, to see the explanation of how they are pronounced. That's why we have these things called dictionaries. They really come in handy. Try it sometimes.

Bush clarifies 'Democrat majority' gaffe

Will someone please tell the "grown-ups" in the Bush White House to, well, GROW UP!

When George W. Bush and Dick Cheney were seeking the White House in 2000, there was a lot of talk from the folks doing their bidding that if the Bush/Cheney ticket one, the "grown-ups" would be in charge again (as if they weren't during the Clinton years).

But in a new interview with Newsweek magazine, Dick Cheney seems like anything BUT a grown-up.

He was asked how he felt about the criticism of him, coming from some of the very same Republicans that he was worked closely with in the past, such as Brent Scrowcroft.  Cheney's response?  "Well, I'm vice president and they're not."

Cheney sounds like some 5 year old kid having a 'I can tie my shoes better than you' moment. 

From Newsweek:

And other comments—criticism from [Brent] Scowcroft about not knowing you anymore. People have gotten quite personal, people you worked with before. You wouldn't be human if you didn't have some reaction.
Well, I'm vice president and they're not. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16841358/site/newsweek/page/4/