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Is This Man Bush, Actually Murdering America ?
So we're starting this Sunday's blog with an excuse, again. And sad to say, it's the same old, same old - as I've previously pled - on occasions aplenty.
Me back aches. Me hips hurt. And I'm constantly craving more tea-breaks.
Not to mention all the extra time taken up by so many extra toilet trips.
And it's all the fault of flippin' old age. Believe me. Trust me - I'm an OAP.
Y'see - though the mind may remain razor sharp and [as we invariably insist to all who'll listen] the intellect, insight, inborn instinct and analytical abilities all remain remorselessly [and thankfully] intact.
For while freely admitting that current concentration spans are somewhat shorter than they should be - the comprehension element's actually improving -- in direct proportion to the growing number of birthdays being tucked under the belt.
In other words, although we're growing older - we're also growing wiser.
Cor blimey, Charlie.
Wrap it up, Richard.
Cut to the chase, Old Brit.
Move on, Mate.
This preamble's now resembling a ramble.
Okay, okay! Alright, already.
Over one whole day ago, this story should have showed up here - so I'm sorry. But, better late than never. Eh?
Here's the header.
IS THIS THE DEATH OF AMERICA?This Purgavie piece actually made it to the UK's Mirror, on Saturday 8th.
America's sense of itself - its pride in its power - has been profoundly damaged.
By Dermot Purgavie, Veteran US Correspondent
Here's a paragraph plucked at random, to be used as a taster.
With TV providing a ceaseless backdrop of the country's failings - a crippled and tone-deaf president, a negligent government, corruption, military atrocities, soaring debt, racial conflict, poverty, bloated bodies in floodwater, people dying on camera for want of food, water and medicine - it seemed things were falling apart in the land where happiness is promoted in the constitution.
Sound about right, so far?
So see some more.
Americans feel ashamed by the violent, predatory behaviour Katrina triggered - nothing similar happened in the tsunami-hit Third World countries - and by the deep racial and class divisions it revealed.
The press has since been giving the country a crash course on poverty and race, informing the flag wavers that an uncaring America may be No.1 on the world inequities index.
IT has 37 million living under the poverty line, largely unnoticed by the richest in a country with more than three million millionaires.
Not nice - is it? But please don't shoot the pianist.
Next, examine this excerpt.
The US, we learn, is 43rd in the world infant mortality rankings. A baby born in Beijing has nearly three times the chance of reaching its first birthday than a baby born in Washington.
Those who survive face rotten schools. On reading and maths tests for 15-year-olds, America is 24th out of 29 nations.
On the other side of the tracks, 18 corporate executives have so far been jailed for cooking the books and looting billions. The prosecution of Mr Bush's pals at Enron - the showcase trial of the greed-is-good culture - will be soon.
But the backroom deal lives on and, in an orgy of cronyism, billions of dollars are being carved up in no-bid contracts awarded to politically-connected firms for work in the hurricane-hit states and in Iraq.
Then there's this too.
The war, seen as unwinnable, is becoming a bleak burden, with nearly 2,000 American dead.Stomach still strong enough for a final cut & paste peek?
Two-thirds think the invasion was a mistake.
Americans have been angered by a reports that US troops have routinely tortured Iraqi prisoners. Some 230 low-rankers have been convicted - but not one general or Pentagon overseer. Disgruntled young officers are leaving in increasing numbers.Please peruse, via the link provided, Purgavie's complete piece, personally.
Meanwhile, further damaging Americans' self image, there's Afghanistan. The White House says its operations there were a success, yet last year Afghanistan supplied 90 per cent of the world's heroin.
America's sense of itself - its pride in its power and authority, its faith in its institutions and its belief in its leaders - has been profoundly damaged.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16223364&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=is-this-the-death-of-america--name_page.html
posted by Richard at Sunday, October 09, 2005
12 Comments:
Elaine,
Since I first set up that piece from the Mirror, I've found a few others using it too. Heh - Seems I'm getting to slow for super-scoops.
As for the aches & pains - they're nothing seriously life threatening or anything - but they all add up ----- to one big pain in the arse - heh.
Winter [dry] cold, doesn't bother me much - I just wrap up well in the right gear. But right now, it's [thanks to this Maritime climate of ours] that awful DAMP stuff. Clothes don't seem to stop that kind of cold, getting right into the skin & bones.
But like the song says - I will survive! :^)
Btw, is your f-i-l still doing ok, now?
assholes
shits
scumbags
MurderING?
He already has. He screwed us to death.
What's next? Necrophilia?
Is This Man Bush, Actually Murdering America ?
yes, the bastard.
Say, Richard, I am a tea drinker - - Keemun or Assam. There's a great tea purveyor in New York, Grace Tea, and they have a lovely connoisseur's blend - also Russian Caravan and a real good Formosa Oolong - - - they're all too expensive for me at the moment, so I'm drinking Twining's.
Tea is so much more pleasant a subject than the out-of-control frat boy president.
anonymous,
Don't you ever talk about anything other than yourself and your ilk?
Hello & welcome, us-pat,
As sick as it may sound - I think that's if that's actually possible - it's also highly likely.
d.f.f,
One light that may be appearing at the end of this long dark tunnel, is that it seems increasingly. even the traditional conservatives [not the neo-cons]have had enough of it all, now.
As for tea - Twinings, Tetley & PG all go down well with me. But as for flavours/blends, you must try 'English Breafast' - I think Twinings do that one.
Now & again as special treats I don't mind the odd cuppa Earl Grey or Dahjeeling {s?] - but they DO cost extra.
Elaine,
Heh, the Mad Hatter & Co - as pictured at the top of Tapa's forum/page, eh? :^)
As for the traditional conservatives having had enough, I think it's more to do with the the growing odor of torches carried by angry villagers armed with pitchforks rather than any any sort of moral line in the sand being crossed. They were all perfectly willing to go along with Bushco as long the public outcry was within 'tolerable' limits. Now that the public outcry is becoming more of a roar, they turn and point their fingers at the neocon core and try to deflect any criticism off of themselves. "It was all those bad neocons. We didn't know what they were up to. Now that we do, we're all outraged just like all you little people."
st!ff,
That's true of course, but bugger them, I say. It's no secret that the bulk of them are self serving hypocrits, but don't you think the sheer irony of the coup de grace being delivered by their own kind, will make Bushco's downfall seem even 'sweeter'?
Well, the comedic aspects of Bushco being hoisted on their own petard, so to speak, is certainly not lost on me. But, the Republicans have been trying for decades to swing the whole country more to the right and have succeeded in many ways. In my dreams, I wish for a broader catastrophe for the right wing. One that would swing the country back to the left even further. I'm no commie but, dammit, my teeth hurt and I can't afford the dental work. Dream on, I guess.
st!ff,
Boy, do I relate to teeth 'hurtin' - you have my sympathy & empathy. I hope they're sorted soon - one way or another. :^[
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