Remembering John O'Neill

A few people have asked me what I'll be doing on September 11. I've heard suggestions that we all say the pledge. I won't say the pledge again until Bush is out of office. And even then, I never say "under God" anyway, which just pisses people off. Hey, I do love to piss off Republicans. So, on September 11, I've decided I'm going to remember John O'Neill.

"No longer is it just the fear of being attacked by international terrorist organizations -- attacks against Americans and American interests overseas. A lot of these groups now have the capability and the support infrastructure in the United States to attack us here if they choose to do so."—John P. O'Neill, 1996

I'm going to start reading the book about September 11 that actually tells the Forbidden Truth. I'm going to hug my family. Oh, and I'm going to work.

What Bush Really Thinks of Our Union Firefighters

I've been taking a bit of a break out of pure disgust for the Brunch Bushians (from an Arianna Huffington essay in the LA Times that my wife pointed out to me this morning) who just had their own little pep rally with their wacko friends down in Waco. But a New York Daily News story my brother-in-law brought to my attention really pissed me off. In fact, I immediately printed out a copy and distributed it to my co-workers, starting with the NRA members who swore Gore would take away their guns. Yeah. Right. Well, the price of voting based on this misinformation is coming due.

The International Association of Firefighters caused a furor yesterday by voting unanimously to consider boycotting President Bush's October speech honoring the 343 FDNY personnel who died in New York.

The umbrella group for the nation's firefighter unions is furious that Bush cut $340 million in funding last week, some of which would have improved outdated radio equipment - a key reason so many firefighters didn't hear warnings to get out of the twin towers Sept. 11.

I guess Bush doesn't have any buddies who make high tech radio gear for firefighters. If, for example, the Carlyle Group made these radios, I guarantee there'd be plenty of "your money," as W likes to put it, to go around. Be sure to read the whole story about Bush cutting funding for firefighters. The last little bit of hypocrisy is typical Republican BS.

Just hours after signing it, Bush waters down the new Corporate Fraud law

Bush spokeswoman Claire Buchan said the White House views the provision as shielding whistle-blowers from company retaliation only if they talk to a congressional committee “in the course of an investigation.” The protections would not apply when evidence is provided to individual lawmakers or aides, she said.

Even Republicans were dismayed by this blatant effort to water down the new law, which will, of course, slip under the national radar, like all the other sneaky back-room deals from the Bushies.

Our intention is to protect any whistle-blower who exposes wrongdoing to an individual member of Congress, a congressional committee, a media outlet or any other public entity. Whistle-blowers need full protection. Otherwise they won’t come forward. Problems won’t see the light of day.”—Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa

If anybody actually thought this President would do anything to hurt his CEO buddies, read the last entry directly below, from the only socialist member of congress.