Bush at Fault

The 9/11 Commission has released its first comprehensive report on the September 11th attacks in the United States. It's unclear whether they will produce another report assessing whether the US has since taken positive or negative steps to combat terrorism. Such a discussion might include looking at whether invading Iraq was justified or a good idea--a political hot potato that Bush certainly wouldn't want discussed by an independent commission just before presidential elections.

Let's not forget that the Bush administration was against the 9/11 Commission from even being created. Journalist Alison Mitchell of the New York Times (5/20/2002) wrote, "Vice President Dick Cheney said today that he would advise President Bush not to turn over to Congress the August intelligence briefing that warned that terrorists were interested in hijacking airplanes, and he insisted that the investigation into Sept. 11 should be handled by the Congressional intelligence committees, not an independent commission."

Some said--and say--that Bush is not at fault for 9/11. He wasn't in office long enough to have done anything, the argument goes.

I suggest you read the independent commission report for yourself. Not all 500 pages if you don't have the time, but Chapter 8, in particular, which talks about how Bush had 40 references to Bin Laden in his Presidential Daily Briefings over several months (the media generally reported on just one).

Still don't think Bush could have done anything? Read the chapter, then decide.

The Military Draft

Donald Rumsfeld says if you ask him personally what he thinks about any forthcoming draft, he rules it out. But what about professionally--in his capacity as Secretary of Defense? Does he rule it out then?

What I like about Donald Rumsfeld is he is a politician's politician. In other words, he says a lot about obvious things, gives away little, and for the most part says few offensive things prima facie. When asked about the status of Osama bin Laden over a year ago (I think the hunt is basically over given our military is focused in Iraq--not Afghanistan or Pakistan--where most intelligence officials think he is), Rumsfeld replied he's either alive or he's dead. Duh.

There are many signs that the draft is just around the corner. I have been saying this for over a year now and it hasn't happened. But I never expected it to happen unless we had a George W. Bush 2nd term as President. That is the least of our worries, of course. To be more precise, the least of MY worries since I'm ineligible for the draft. My genes are finally coming in handy!

The next President of the United States (POTUS) will have 3--maybe 4--Supreme Court justice appointments. That will have an incredible affect on our society for the next two generations. The choice for the next POTUS is obvious. But if you need help deciding, I'll make it easy. Just click here and give a few dollars. Then do something fun and poltical.

Amazing

AMAZING RACE 5 continues its domination of the airwaves on Tuesday nights among young adults. AR5 had 4.7 million viewers--destroying all competition.

Sandy Berger is in the news most likely due to a well-timed and orchestrated leak by Republican leadership. It's no coincidence that this leak happened just before the Sept. 11 commission report which will probably make Bush look like a putz.

Despite the timing, Berger's claim of accidental removal of classified documents is insulting at best. Berger is a smart man, and one does not unintentionally remove inventoried papers from the National Archives. In the end, I think swing voters won't care either way. It all wreaks of partisanship and politicking which turns off voters in a big way.

In that spirit, check this out.