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Polly Sigh
Hello, dear reader... thank you for visiting me again, and sharing in the glow that only I can provide. I must confess that recent letters from the lumpen masses have taken a somewhat disturbing turn. There seems to be a growing fear sweeping our great land, and these fears manifest in some very bizarre writings. I have removed the truly offensive material, particulary from a gentleman in Missouri whose remarks were utterly inappropriate. For the rest, I have attempted to bring comfort to an increasingly terrified public. I have included brief snippets of some letters, as many were too voluminous to reprint here.
Dear Polly:
I saw a brief news article about Karen Hughes being the new “Undersecretary of State.” She is supposed to team up with Condi Rice to improve the U.S. image abroad. Do you think this will work? And also, has anyone else noticed the similarity between Karen Hughes and Cerberus, the legendary three-headed snarling dog of Roman mythology that guards the gates to the underworld?
Professor of Obscure Roman Mythology and Numerology
Dear POORMAN,
Actually, I have received hundreds of letters raising the Karen Hughes/Cerberus question. Being not overly versed in Roman lore, I shall decline an opinion. While Ms. Hughes does not have any foreign policy experience, she will undoubtedly carry on the fashion revolution begun by Ms. Rice on her recent European tour. In fact, the jack boot and leather look is particularly well-suited to the personality of Ms. Hughes, who is extremely loyal to George Bush, and has been known to go to great lengths to enhance our great leader’s image. I think she and Condi Rice could move fashion-related diplomacy to the top of the global policy chart. I see hemp, for instance, being the next big fashion statement in foreign policy. God bless them. Not since the landmark partnership of Laverne and Shirley has our nation reaped the benefits of two great women working with one mind.
Brilliantly yours,
Polly
Dear Polly:
Is it true that Republicans in Congress want to cut the food stamps and nutrition programs? I’m a single mother trying to get my degree, and working two part time jobs... I need food stamps, and my kids get reduced price lunch. Will these both be gone soon?
Freaking Out in Louisiana
Dear FOIL:
It is true that some Republican congressional leaders want to cut these programs. But you have to look at the larger picture, Foil. In this case, Republicans don’t want to reduce farm subsidies for large farming operations, which they might have to do under current budget circumstances. So, something’s gotta give. And it’s really not fair to ask a corporate farmer to reduce his government subsidy from $360,000 a year down to $250,000 a year so your kids can over-eat and become one of those sad stories that Stone Phillips is always talking about. You know the ones. Low-income people whose kids get fat and become diabetic or develop some awful disease... that sort of thing. Anyway, this move is in keeping with a big-picture goal for the Bush administration: Cutting waste from the bottom of the porkbarrel. For instance, the proposed bankruptcy law changes will affect mostly moderate income Americans. But, in a brilliant move to keep the economy strong, the law contains loopholes for very wealthy individuals. These loopholes enable the wealthy to retain a large percentage of their assets, which in turn benefits you, Foil. It may not seem like it now, but you probably need to do a little work on the Personal Reponsibility front, Foil. You’ll feel better about yourself if you do. You’ll feel more like an American.
[Note to disgusting man from Missouri]
Dear Sir:
Your comments were appalling, and in extremely poor taste. Please do not write to me again. I am a happily divorced woman, and because of my role as a sought after political healer, I cannot make any personal commitments at this time.
Sincerely,
Polly
P.S. My favorite color is red, and my favorite food is anything Italian.
P.S. My favorite color is red, and my favorite food is anything Italian.
Posted by Polly Sigh at March 12, 2005 05:15 PM
Now THAT is a straight line just BEGGING for a punchline!
Go Blue!
One more day of nonsensical news- all day long coverage of the Atlanta courthouse shootout, even after the suspect was arrested and rejailed. Now we get to hear from his family and friends about what a wonderful role model he was for the neighborhood kids- an athlete of course, and what a fine young man. What a surprise that he shot all those people- after all, he was only charged with rape in the first place.
YECH- where is the real news of the day? Where's the news from Iraq, what's going on in Congress, and, for God's sake, what color of pajamas was Michael Jackson wearing this morning? CNN is no better than the National Enquirer in it's news coverage. They cover small events all day long, and the important news isn't covered at all. No wonder Americans are so stupid. And this is the reliable news network.
I miss Dan Rather already.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/politics/13covert.html?ei=5094&en=13c49ccf73932e2e&hp=&ex=1110690000&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print&position=
Under Bush, a New Age of Prepackaged News
It is the kind of TV news coverage every president covets.
"Thank you, Bush. Thank you, U.S.A.," a jubilant Iraqi-American told a camera crew in Kansas City for a segment about reaction to the fall of Baghdad. A second report told of "another success" in the Bush administration's "drive to strengthen aviation security"; the reporter called it "one of the most remarkable campaigns in aviation history." A third segment, broadcast in January, described the administration's determination to open markets for American farmers.
To a viewer, each report looked like any other 90-second segment on the local news. In fact, the federal government produced all three. The report from Kansas City was made by the State Department. The "reporter" covering airport safety was actually a public relations professional working under a false name for the Transportation Security Administration. The farming segment was done by the Agriculture Department's office of communications.
much much more at the website
Here is some news they didn't cover:
Foreign Ministers of India, China, Russia to meet in June:
Foreign Ministers of India, Russia and China will hold their first "stand-alone" trilateral meeting in this country's Pacific port of Vladivostok in June, to be preceded by a business meet of the three countries in New Delhi next month, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said.
The trilateral meeting in Vladivostok is being hosted by the Russian Foreign Minister.
"This would be for the first time a stand-alone
trilateral meeting and this adds certain significance to it. Earlier three such meetings were held on the sidelines of UN General Assembly and CICA in Almaty," Saran told reporters yesterday at the end of his Moscow leg of 3-day Russia visit.
Saran said that none of the three wanted to forge an alliance, but they have a convergence of views on a large number of issues of present day life, including multi-polar world order and multi-laterality in resolving key international problems.
He did not rule out that as part of their economic and commercial cooperation India, China and Russia could jointly work in the development of Central Asian energy resources, with which all the three nations have traditional ties and historic linkages.
The Vladivostok ministerial meet would be preceded by trilateral India, China, Russia business meeting in New Delhi in April at India's suggestion to add new dimension to the interaction among the three countries.
Before leaving for St Petersburg last night, Saran had a wide-ranging discussions on bilateral, regional and key international issues here with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and First Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Loschinin. PTI
http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=84372
I'll bet this ominous story wasn't discussed.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-1522978,00...
ISRAEL has drawn up secret plans for a combined air and ground attack on targets in Iran if diplomacy fails to halt the Iranian nuclear programme.
The inner cabinet of Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, gave „initial authorisation‰ for an attack at a private meeting last month on his ranch in the Negev desert.
Israeli forces have used a mock-up of Iran‚s Natanz uranium enrichment plant in the desert to practise destroying it. Their tactics include raids by Israel‚s elite Shaldag (Kingfisher) commando unit and airstrikes by F-15 jets from 69 Squadron, using bunker-busting bombs to penetrate underground facilities.
The plans have been discussed with American officials who are said to have indicated provisionally that they would not stand in Israel‚s way if all international efforts to halt Iranian nuclear projects failed.
So the new Newsweek has a shiny cheery Easter egg looking cover - I thought it was a children's magazine. It says "PEOPLE POWER" in capital letters and shows the smiling face of a young woman. Then one of the story titles looked like it said "Bush Was Partly Right" (which I assumed meant about the neocon philosophy of imposing "democracy" in the middle east).
DiAnne...
For the record, I miss Dan Rather too.
He TOTALLY got screwed, and is someone who I deem another casualty of this carnivore of an administration.
Chili Con Carne
Tomorrow i get on the plane and leave Texas for Boston for a whole week! yeeehaw!
For the record, I miss Dan Rather too.
He TOTALLY got screwed, and is someone who I deem another casualty of this carnivore of an administration.
Posted by: Marc Trager at March 12, 2005 10:07 PM
Dan Rather's team got sucker punched by Rove.
The discovery channel has a special on volcanoes and Mt.St.Helens on now. The earth is very angry at this ADM. It's going to be very interesting come this Weds. as the energy bill gets to the forefront. Jk will fight tooth and nail for this one!!
So, something’s gotta give. And it’s really not fair to ask a corporate farmer to reduce his government subsidy from $360,000 a year down to $250,000 a year so your kids can over-eat and become one of those sad stories that Stone Phillips is always talking about.
Posted by Polly Sigh at March 12, 2005 05:15 PM
Polly, the proposed cut in food stamps will affect seniors who desperately need them. The proposal is that people who receive other government assistance will be cut from the food stamp program. There are many seniors who fall way below the poverty level, even while receiving Social Security benefits. And, granted, some seniors are on other government programs as well. They need be because they are receiving critical life sustaining assistance in many cases. Such as these are, in addition, already relying on their children to provide necessary money to purchase basic essential necessities of life. To take away their food stamps is kicking away their remaining crutch. But, as you say, we don't need any obese seniors, either, and those corporate farmers shouldn't be asked to sacrifice.
More news we aren't hearing about:
Converging U.S. Navy aircraft carrier groups in Middle East send strong message to Iran and
Syria.
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore
Roosevelt is on the move in Atlantic Ocean and is
possibly headed towards the Mediterranean Sea. The convergence of three carrier groups in the corridor of the Middle East will send very strong message to the Syrians and Iranians. There are indications that soon US is moving two more aircraft carrier battle groups to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf. This will spell a formidable strike force for Iran and
Syria who are in defiance on issues of Lebanon and Nuclear weapons development....
http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/1877.asp
Also just heard there was a small earthquake and some kind of "fireball" in the sky over Portland.
Under Bush, a New Age of Prepackaged News
. . . .
much much more at the website
Posted by: DiAnne at March 12, 2005 09:53 PM
It looks great in hard copy too: Prominently placed on this morning's front page,with color photos, and an additional 2-page spread inside. .
Thanks, Dianne, for the postings of the not-covered newsstories. Even more dangerous than the warped news and pseudonews is the stuff they don't report at all. Your nuggets from foreign newspapers would be a good daily feature for the blog: the non-covered news story of the day?
MBK
Some I find but many are sent to me. We have a little "cell" who are interested in foreign policy and specifically, the route and likelihood of increasing and prolonged war. We are in WA OR MN NC and FLA.
Then my son is taking his final class at UW - it's called International Organizations - so is learning all about the WTO, IMF, World Bank etc. I've been hoping he'd do this for a long time, as he has been interested in domestic politics since age 4 (when he knew so much it was scary!) His professor is from Turkey and sounds very good. They learn things like how little we did to prevent the genocide of over a million people in Rwanda. & all about East Timor. & who is more qualified for the IMF: Paul Wolfowitz or Bono?
Oh and I must not leave out Andree in Paris!!
Last Updated 2:49 pm PST Monday, March 14, 2005
WASHINGTON (AP) - A moderate Republican is trying to strip all $14 billion in Medicaid cuts from the Senate's $2.56 trillion budget, testing the GOP-run Congress' appetite for trimming spending as President Bush has proposed.
"As the Senate began debating the budget Monday, Republicans struggled behind the scenes to head off the amendment by Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore. Should Smith prevail later this week, it would mark an embarrassing rejection of one of the pillars of Bush's budget and raise questions about how much deficit reduction the GOP can achieve, even at a time of record shortfalls."
Saving Medicaid from the Bush ax is important. I suspect Republicans will try and force us to choose between saving Medicaid and saving Anwar on Wednesday. But this Commission proposal by Smith appears to be reasonable and worthy of our support.
What do others of you think?