Wednesday, May 14, 2003

MK also passed along this email letter, which looks well worth subscribing to: Dear Friends: Representative Henry Waxman is keeping an eye on the Top Gun. In response to Bush's dramatic tail hook landing upon an aircraft carrier, Waxman, the top Democrat on the House Government Reform Committee, and Mark Souder, R-Ind., chairman of a Government Reform subcommittee, have requested that the General Accounting Office look into the costs of making such a theatrical grand entrance. Some Democrats, like Waxman, called the trip political rather than presidential. "To me, it is an affront to the Americans killed or injured in Iraq for the president to exploit the trappings of war for the momentary spectacle of a speech,'' said the Senate's most senior member, Robert Byrd, D-W.Va. __________________________________ GAO Won't Investigate Bush Carrier Flight By Jonathan D. Salant WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress' investigative agency won't look at the costs of President Bush's Top Gun flight to an aircraft carrier to declare an end to major fighting in Iraq. Comptroller General David Walker, head of the General Accounting Office, said Tuesday it would cost too much and take too long to do the study. He also would have to look at similar actions by other presidents and possibly federal lawmakers "in order to do this kind of work in a professional, objective, nonpartisan, fair and balanced manner,'' Walker said. "In my view, it does not pass a cost-benefit test,'' he said. The requests were submitted by Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the House Government Reform Committee, and Mark Souder, R-Ind., chairman of a Government Reform subcommittee. Waxman said the trip had clear political overtones. Bush, who was an officer with the Texas National Guard during the Vietnam War, landed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, at sea off San Diego, in an S-3B jet piloted by a Navy flier. Wearing a flight suit, with his flight helmet under his arm, Bush hopped onto the flight deck and walked among the gathered sailors, welcoming them home from the Iraq war. Some Democrats, like Waxman, called the trip political rather than presidential. "To me, it is an affront to the Americans killed or injured in Iraq for the president to exploit the trappings of war for the momentary spectacle of a speech,'' said the Senate's most senior member, Robert Byrd, D-W.Va. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer initially said Bush had to use a plane rather than his helicopter because the aircraft carrier was going to be hundreds of miles offshore. It turned out the ship was just 39 miles from shore at the time of Bush's visit, an easy flight for a helicopter. Fleischer then said Bush wanted "to see an aircraft landing the same way that the pilots saw an aircraft landing. He wanted to see it as realistically as possible." A day after Bush's visit, Fleischer dismissed any suggestion the trip was designed to boost Bush's re-election. "This is not about the president,'' he said. "This is about thanking the men and women who won a war.'' On the Net: General Accounting Office: http://www.gao.gov Rep. Henry Waxman: http://www.house.gov/waxman White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov 05/14/03 © Copyright All rights reserved. ______________________________ In peace, Otoño ________________________________ Read all about it and get the news that matters by receiving the War and Peace Watch. Thank you for your support, The War and Peace publisher. To subscribe send an email to: Reikiworks@compuserve.com contact: Otoño Johnston ============================================================ (In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment for research and educational purposes only.) 1:51:10 PM

MK passed this along to me today - funny! Ciao amici! U.S. meets Whoville...just thought I'd pass this on... -MK The Whos down in Whoville liked this country a lot, But the Grinch in the White House most certainly did not. He didn't arrive there by the will of the Whos, But stole the election that he really did lose. Vowed to "rule from the middle," then installed his regime. Did this really happen or is it just a bad dream?) He didn't listen to voters, just his friends he was pleasin' Now, please don't ask why, no one quite knows the reason. It could be his heart wasn't working just right. It could be, perhaps, that he wasn't too bright. But I think that the most likely reason of all, Is that both brain and heart were two sizes too small. In times of great turmoil, this was bad news, To have a government that ignores its Whos. But the Whos shrugged their shoulders, went on with their work, Their duties as citizens so casually did shirk. They shopped at the mall and watched their T.V. They drove their gas guzzling big S.U.V. Oblivious to what was going on in D.C. Ignoring the threats to democracy. They read the same papers that ran the same leads, Reporting what only served corporate needs. (For the policies affecting the lives of all nations Were made by the giant U.S. Corporations.) Big business grew fatter, fed by its own greed, And by people who shopped for the things they didn't need. But amidst all the apathy came signs of unrest, The Whos came to see we were fouling our nest. And the people who cared for the ideals of this nation Began to discuss and exchange information. The things they couldn't read in the corporate-owned news Of FTAA meetings and CIA coups. Of drilling for oil and restricting rights. They published some books, created Websites Began to write letters and use their e-mail (Though Homeland Security might send them to jail!) What began as a whisper soon grew to a roar, These things going on they could no longer ignore. They started to rise up and fight City Hall Let their voices be heard, they rose to the call, To vote, to petition, to gather, dissent, To question the policies of the "President." As greed gained in power and power knew no shame The Whos came together, sang "Not in our name!" One by one from their sleep and their slumber they woke The old and the young, all kinds of folk, The black, brown and white, the gay, bi- and straight, All united to sing, "Feed our hope, not our hate! Stop stockpiling weapons and aiming for war! Stop feeding the rich, start feeding the poor! Stop storming the deserts to fuel SUV's! Stop telling us lies on the mainstream T.V.'s! Stop treating our children as a market to sack! Stop feeding them Barney, Barbie and Big Mac! Stop trying to addict them to lifelong consuming, In a time when severe global warming is looming! Stop sanctions that are killing the kids in Iraq! Start dealing with ours that are strung out on crack!" A mighty sound started to rise and to grow, "The old way of thinking simply must go! Enough of God versus Allah, Muslim vs. Jew With what lies ahead, it simply won't do. No American dream that cares only for wealth Ignoring the need for community health. The rivers and forests are demanding their pay, If we're to survive, we must walk a new way. No more excessive and mindless consumption Let's sharpen our minds and garner our gumption. For the ideas are simple, but the practice is hard, And not to be won by a poem on a card. It needs the ideas and the acts of each Who, So let's get together and plan what to do!" And so they all gathered from all 'round the Earth And from it all came a miraculous birth. The hearts and the minds of the Whos they did grow, Three sizes to fit what they felt and they know. While the Grinches they shrank from their hate and their greed, Wearing the weight of their every foul deed. From that day onward the standard of wealth, Was whatever fed the Whos spiritual health. They gathered together to revel and feast, And thanked all who worked to conquer their beast. For although our story pits Grinches 'gainst Whos, The true battle lies in what we daily choose. For inside each Grinch is a tiny small Who, And inside each Who is a tiny Grinch too. One thrives on love and one thrives on greed. Who will win out? It depends who you feed! Peace, lightness & wisdom to all Who read this. 1:43:15 PM