We already know Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger loves his cowboy boots, but we didn’t know his wife Maria Shriver calls him “Imelda” after former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos, who famously owned 3,000 pairs of shoes. According to the UK newspaper The Times, Arnie also has armed security that guard his gold-plated cowboy boots at the Sacramento Hyatt Regency hotel. The Governator doesn’t mess around when it comes to his s*!#kickers!
This ad was developed through a contest at Moveon.org to see who could come up with the best catch phrase for the so-called Rove Plame Leak scandal. They rejected the entry by Pensito Review co-editor Jon: “It’s about President Bush, stupid.” Can’t imagine why.
The Political Economy Research Institute has released its Toxic 100 list of the United States’ worst corporate air polluters. Using statistics compiled by the oxymoronically named Environmental Protection Agency, PERI ranks polluters based on both volume and toxicity of the pollution. Few surprises here.
A survey of young Chinese consumers – dubbed “Chuppies” – commissioned by shipping giant UPS revealed more interest in American goods than we on this side of the pond imagine. Toiletries and consumer electronics were most desired, while cigarettes and American liquor were least.
American Toiletries: 53 percent of all respondents would like to see a broader selection of U.S. products, such as shampoo, shower gel and dental care products.
American Consumer Electronics: 53 percent of those polled want a broader selection of American electronics. The most likely purchases this year are digital cameras, laptop computers and video/digital recording devices.
Apparel/Fashion Accessories: 52 percent said they want more American fashion, especially athletic shoes, sandals, t-shirts with American logos, sportswear and blue jeans.
American Books, Music and Videos: 50 percent would like to see a broader product selection of American entertainment. This year’s most likely purchases are American videos/DVDs and music compact discs.
Home Appliances: 45 percent would like to see more U.S. durable products including refrigerators, washers/dryers and microwaves.
UPS is big in China, recognizing the vast opportunity for serious bucks there.
“According to the State Department, U.S. exports to China have grown 80 percent since 2001, but this survey shows the Chinese would like even more quality American items,” said Kurt Kuehn, UPS senior vice president, worldwide sales and marketing. “The spending power of this middle class is exploding. Many American companies view China as a threat rather than an opportunity; they run the risk of missing the China potential and being left behind.”
The Bush administration seems poised to end a 10-year moratorium on the manufacture and deployment of landmines or, in military parlance, antipersonnel devices. George H.W. signed the original moratorium, Bill Clinton extended it through his two terms, but G.W. plans to get the maiming devices back into the field by 2007.
According to the Interpress News Service, the Pentagon will decide whether or not to begin producing a new type of antipersonnel land mine called a ”Spider” in December — just in time for Christmas. The first of those mines would to roll out in early 2007 — 10 years after 145 nations signed the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, which the U.S. has continued to refuse to sign.
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the funds for Spider’s production are already earmarked, as the Pentagon has requested 1.3 billion dollars for the mine system, as well as for another mine called the Intelligent Munitions System, which is expected to be fully running by 2008.
A new report by the HRW issued Wednesday notes these weapons that kill and maim an estimated 500 people, mostly civilians, each week. The group called on the Bush administration to halt all research and development on all types of these widely-banned weapons.
David Swanson at DailyKos:
Cindy Sheehan phoned me from Texas a few minutes ago to say that she’s been informed that beginning Thursday, she and her companions will be considered a threat to national security and will be arrested. Coincidentally, Thursday is the day that Rice and Rumsfeld visit the ranch, and Friday is a fundraiser event for the haves and the have mores. Cindy said that she and others plan to be arrested.
More info: http://www.meetwithcindy.org
Tomorrow’s the big day for Katherine Harris. She’ll announce her candidacy for United States Senate at the Sarasota Boys and Girls Club, then embark on a whirlwind, 10-city “listening” tour. And in true Republican style, Harris plans to listen to only the right folks.
“Our tour will be a very special time for me and my family [Harris said] as we look forward to sharing these moments with friends and supporters throughout our state.”
It’s not just a Repug love-in, however. Oh no, Harris is about so much more.
“I look forward to spending time in every county listening to Floridians’ concerns, as well as their dreams for a better tomorrow. So much more can be accomplished for our great state. This race is about our citizens and their needs and what we can achieve together for a stronger state.”
Call me picky, but there are 67 counties in Florida, not 10. And a person can only hold citizenship from a country, not a state. Maybe she meant to say, “residents of Florida.” And probably she meant to say, “what we can achieve together that makes me richer.”
Painting a picture of a Florida that needs Harris to rescue it is revolting. Bill Nelson has worked hard and well for Florida and Harris is far from his equal. Maybe that’s why the Republicans tried so hard to get Speaker of the Florida House Allan Bense to run instead. Even they know Harris is a joke.
According to All Headline News, a city council candidate in New York has the newest fundraising idea since Howard Dean started accepting dollars via PayPal.
Democrat Victor Bernace is planning a “Havana Night” campaign party next month at a Manhattan nightclub, complete with bikini-clad dancers and men wearing nothing but briefs.
He will charge twenty dollars per person for the event, which he claims, will be “a very erotic show.”
Bernace says, “I’m throwing a fun event. Most politicians — I’ve been to their fundraisers, and they are boring. People can go with a standard politician who will disappear into the woodwork. I’m trying to be part of the next generation.”
Bernace is a Harvard-educated attorney who represents taxi drivers. He’s making his third bid for city council in northern Manhattan.
He isn’t too worried about offending potential voters. He even says it might help get younger men interested in politics, saying, “I’m not running for mayor in a small, old-time religious town in Utah. I’m running in New York City. I might as well try to energize a different base.”
NZCity reports that Outdoor Advertising New Zealand is reviewing billboard advertisements for Hell Pizza and deciding whether the Advertising Standards Authority should take action.
The Hell Pizza billboards have been erected around Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand. Half of the poster is a photo of George Bush and the other half has the phrase “Hell: Too Good For Some Evil Bastards.”
Matthew Blomfield, Hell’s media manager, said the billboard is meant to be edgy instead of boring advertising.
Don’t know about the appropriateness of it, but I sure agree with the sentiment.
From the Lousy Excuses Department, an apparently unreconstructed racist in Charlotte (my hometown) was forced to shutter his campaign for city council race because it was discovered that he’d posted to a racist website over 4,000 times. He says he did it for research:
Doug Hanks said the postings on the site stormfront.org were fictional and designed to win white supremacists’ trust as he researched a novel he was writing.
“I needed information for the book and some other writings I was doing,” Hanks said. “I did what I thought I needed to do to establish myself as a credible white nationalist.”
Good one, Doug. Yes, “research.” I think the research must have paid off . When you posted on June 1 that black people were “rabid beasts,” man, that really sounded authentic.
From Trump’s “stolen election” lies, we can’t get no relief,
He carps on about stolen votes, but he never names the thief.
Somebody needs to tell this guy
Americans aren’t buying his lies,
And that he’s turned us into the United States of Disbelief.
