Author: Trish

More Journalists Have Been Killed in Iraq Than In Vietnam

Trish

More journalists have been killed in Iraq since Operation Iraqi Freedom began less than three years ago than were killed in 20 years in Vietnam, according to Reporters Without Borders.

The 2005 roundup shows that you young folks considering a career in journalism might want to brush up on your math and science skills instead

For the third year running, Iraq was the world’s most dangerous country for the media, with 24 journalists and 5 media assistants killed. 76 journalists and media assistants have been killed there since the start of fighting in March 2003, more than in the 1955-75 Vietnam War. Terrorist strikes and Iraqi guerrilla attacks were the main cause but the US army killed three of them. Iraqi TV producer Wael al-Bakri, 30, was shot dead by US troops on 28 June. A US Third Infantry Division spokesman admitted the next day in Baghdad that a US unit was involved in his death and said an enquiry had been opened. No result has been announced, nor in the other investigated killings.

The publication of this milestone came before that of the latest kidnapping, of American journalist Jill Carroll. Reuters:

Carroll, 28, working for The Christian Science Monitor, was abducted earlier this month by unknown kidnappers who killed her Iraqi interpreter…

In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said: “We will make every effort to work with the Iraqis to bring her back safe and sound as soon as possible.”

I know that makes me feel better.

Does anyone remember the flap over Bush “joking” to Tony Blair about bombing the headquarters of al Jazeera? It was a whole three months ago, so it might have slipped everyone’s minds. Not to mention that the MSM doesn’t mention it.

Meanwhile, the 2005 roundup shows that you young folks considering a career in journalism might want to brush up on your math and science skills instead. Last year:

– 63 journalists and 5 media assistants were killed
– at least 807 journalists were arrested
– 1,308 were physically attacked or threatened
– 1,006 media outlets were censored

I hope Jill Carroll is rescued or released immediately because her loss would be senseless and tragic. It would also be further evidence, if anyone needs it, that we are losing this war on terror.

Bush to Blame for Miners’ Deaths

Trish

Molly Ivins is asking some important questions about the recent fatal mining disaster.

“I had never seen something so corrupt and lawless in my entire career.”

Some of the press is starting to get the drill. Give us something like the West Virginia coal mine disaster, and instead of standing around emoting like Geraldo Rivera, a few reporters have enough sense to ask the obvious question: What is this mine’s safety record? And when it turns out to be abysmal, a few more reporters have enough sense to ask: Who’s in charge of doing something after a mine gets 205 safety violations in one year? Where’s the Mine Safety and Health Administration? Who runs it? What’s their background — are they professionals or mining industry stooges? Who’s the Michael “Heckuvajob” Brown in this outfit? Why are so many jobs at MSHA just left completely unfilled? How much has MSHA’s budget been cut since 2001 to pay for tax cuts for the rich?

The Sierra Club has the answers to some of those questions.

Among the earliest signs of danger, however, was when the Bush administration’s first head of MSHA, Jack Spadaro, was forced out of his job when he tried to investigate another mining disaster, this one a 300-million gallon coal slurry spill in Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. “The Bush administration came in and the scope of our investigation was considerably shortened,” Spadaro told 60 Minutes in April 2004. “I had never seen something so corrupt and lawless in my entire career.” He was replaced by Dave Lauriski, a former mining executive. It is also worth noting here that President George W. Bush raised $376,000 in campaign contributions from coal mining interests in 2000 and 2004…

Thomas Frank at USA Today also reports that MSHA has issued $9.1 million in fines since 1999 to companies for safety violations. Less than a third of that money has been collected, a trend which is getting significantly worse with each passing year. Recouping that money would more than make up for the deep budget cuts in the safety agency, which has lost more than 170 positions over the past five years.

Team Bush set up the scenario by which the 12 miners were killed. But along with flying planes into buildings, this is likely another case where – if asked to take responsibilty – they would simply say, “Who could have ever imagined such a thing could happen?” We need a president with a little better imagination. And a lot less profit motive.

‘Dishonest’ – Oh Look, There’s a Picture of Florida Republicans in the Dictionary

Trish

Worried Florida Republicans are behind a proposed state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, according to the St. Petersburg Times. Of the $193,000 raised by Florida4marriage.org, $150,000 was given in a lump sum on Nov. 25 by the Florida GOP.

“It certainly was helpful,” Florida4Marriage chairman John Stemberger said of the donation, which he said was unsolicited. “I’m not at liberty to discuss the details, but they came to us and gave us the money.”

The big contribution was something of a surprise because the effective head of the state party, Gov. Jeb Bush, has been decidedly tepid about the proposed constitutional amendment. He has characterized it as well-meaning (sic) but unnecessary because state law already bars same-sex marriage.

That’s right. It’s already illegal to marry just anybody in Florida. The point of this sham movement is to get out the frenzied GOoPer vote. Cynical leaders are betting their high moral principals will ensure these wingers vote to force gays to continue living in sin. And while they’re there, they will vote to keep corrupt Republican lawmakers in office.

Still, it’s turning out to be a little harder sell than anticipated. Their side needs 600,000 signatures by Feb. 1 to get the phony amendment on the primary ballot. So far, they only have 250,000 but

volunteers are working feverishly at 10 makeshift processing centers at churches and offices in Central Florida.

“It is clear we are not where we want to be,” [Florida4Marriage chairman John Stemberger] said, “but we are seeing tens of thousands (of signatures) a day and if the pace continues we could easily do this.”

For Now, Anyway

Trish

In April 2004, while discussing the Patriot Act, Bush remarked that the administration does not conduct wiretaps on Americans without court approval. When that “fibbing” was exposed, Bush complained about the “shameful” leak to the Times, adding that “the fact that we’re discussing this program is helping the enemy.” Actually, the fact that we’re discussing it means we live in a democracy.

– The Week, Jan. 11, 2006

Florida Supreme Court Kills Jeb’s Voucher Scheme

Trish

The sweet smell of defeat: Gov. Jeb Bush’s devious plan to privatize Florida schools took a major hit yesterday. His cornerstone voucher system — the nation’s first to be used statewide — was ruled unconstitutional by Florida’s Supreme Court.

“What we must do to is to stop hair-brained schemes of funding (private) schools and focus on adequately funding the public schools”

The elaborate scheme involved first grading schools according to Jeb’s Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test (FCAT), and then punishing “failing” schools by cutting their funding and offering their students vouchers for tuition at private schools.

Chief Justice Barbara Pariente, writing for the majority, said the program “diverts public dollars into separate private systems parallel to and in competition with the free public schools,” which are the sole means set out in the state constitution for educating Florida children.

Private schools also are not uniform when compared with each other or the public system and they are exempt from many standards imposed by law on public schools, such as mandatory testing, she added.

The system has been marked by fraud, including recipients taking kickbacks to funnel the vouchers to schools which are actually post office boxes or strip center offices. The vast majority of real private schools receiving money are religious in nature, and had the court ruled other than it did, the ACLU, League of Women Votes, NAACP, and others were prepared to challenge it for violating separation of church and state.

Only two justices dissented from the majority opinion, and — surprise –” they were both appointed by Jeb.

State Sen. Rod Smith, a Democratic candidate for governor, said he was certain from the beginning that the voucher program eventually would be struck down.

“What we must do to is to stop hair-brained schemes of funding (private) schools and focus on adequately funding the public schools,” Smith said. “That’s what our constitution requires of us and our taxpayers expect of us.”

But Jeb is nothing if not a sore loser and this time is no exception . “I’m disappointed,” Bush said. “Let’s leave it at that.”

If only.

Jeb is already plotting a way around the legal decision, with a new plan that would make Tom DeLay proud — laundering the money for private schools through corporations. Jeb wants to provide voucher money to big business through tax breaks which will, in turn, pass it on to private schools.

Can Abramoff Cop a Plea for Murder?

Trish

With possible jail time for Jack Abramoff dwindling with each passing admission, it’s beginning to look like he might walk away from fraud and money laundering charges a free man. Now he’s made a deal in Florida.

Abramoff pleaded guilty to conspiracy and fraud charges and acknowledged he faked documents used to get a $60 million loan to buy a fleet of gambling ships in 2000.

Four other charges were dropped under a plea agreement that calls for him to serve six or seven years in prison, rather than the maximum of 30 he had initially faced if convicted.

Abramoff pleaded guilty to other fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion charges in Washington on Tuesday. His sentence in both sets of charges will be based in part on his cooperation with prosecutors in the corruption case.

The question is, will they let him plea bargain on murder charges? Abramoff admitted today he never intended to pay the owner of Sun Cruz Casinos for his product. But back when Gus Boulis complained, he ended up shot. To death. A lot.

For the full background, see these earlier Pensito Review stories:

A Life, Wasted

Trish

Do yourself a favor and read the whole article. It’s amazing. Excerpts:

In our last conversation, Augie complained that the cost in lives to clear insurgents was “less and less worth it,” because Marines have to keep coming back to clear the same places. Marine commanders in the field say the same thing. Without sufficient troops, they can’t hold the towns. Augie was killed on his fifth mission to clear Haditha…

Two painful questions remain for all of us. Are the lives of Americans being killed in Iraq wasted? Are they dying in vain? President Bush says those who criticize staying the course are not honoring the dead. That is twisted logic: honor the fallen by killing another 2,000 troops in a broken policy?

…Though it hurts, I believe that his death — and that of the other Americans who have died in Iraq — was a waste. They were wasted in a belief that democracy would grow simply by removing a dictator — a careless misunderstanding of what democracy requires. They were wasted by not sending enough troops to do the job needed in the resulting occupation — a careless disregard for professional military counsel.

But their deaths will not be in vain if Americans stop hiding behind flag-draped hero masks and stop whispering their opposition to this war. Until then, the lives of other sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers and mothers may be wasted as well.

Growing Trend Among Florida Latinas: Conversion to Islam

Trish

South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

Scholars say [one convert] is part of a growing number of Latin women converting to Islam for its emphasis on family, piety and clearly defined women’s roles, values converts say were once integral to Hispanic culture but have waned after years of assimilation.

“It’s a kind of empowerment they don’t experience in a culture that is constantly sexualizing them, and Latinas are particularly sexualized.”

The women are among 40,000 Hispanic converts to Islam in the United States, according to the Islamic Society of North America. About a decade ago, Latino converts began forming Internet groups such as the Latino American Dawah Organization and the women’s group Piedad that trace Hispanics’ ties to Islam back to the Spanish Moors…

Sofian Abelaziz, president of the Miami-based American Muslim Association of North America, said one indication of the conversions is the demand for Spanish-language copies of the Koran, which spiked after Sept. 11. In the past two years, the group has filled orders for 5,500 Spanish-language Korans for schools, cultural institutes and prisons around the country, out of 12,000 orders total… […]

American Economy Turning Into Bush Dream

Trish

And they wonder why we’re not feeling it. I keep hearing pundits talk about how great the economy is, then lament that us little people aren’t smart enough to realize it.

Bush’s policies are transforming this country into his idea of paradise: one where he and his buddies get theirs, and everyone else gets…what were we saying?

There is no doubt that Bush’s economic policies have done just what he intended: shifted more wealth into the top income demographics, while exhausting the middle and working classes.

Reuters reports today’s cheery economic findings:

Factories across the U.S. cranked out goods at a much slower pace than expected in December, while spending in the construction sector edged up to a new record in November…

Yes, the housing market is red-hot, especially where your Pensito Review editors live – Florida and California. But since fewer people each day can afford those McMansions sprouting up like weeds in the sprawl that is America, where is this going?

The Palm Beach Post on the experience of one firefighter, who can’t afford to buy one of those homes she protects, and so lives with her parents.

The starting salary for a probationary firefighter in Boynton Beach…is $36,771.

…her salary doesn’t come close to the $71,000 annual income needed to qualify to buy a $225,000 home based on a down payment of 10 percent. Adding to her dilemma: the median price of an existing single-family home in Palm Beach County was $421,500 in November, according to a report from the Florida Association of Realtors. That was up 23 percent from a year ago and up 1 percent from October.

A recent study found that the median price of a home in the United States rose 20 percent in just 18 months, to $225,000. During the same period, wages for firefighters, teachers and nurses in most cities remained flat or increased slightly, but still fell far short of the salary needed to buy a home…

[…]

Breaking News: Up or Down Vote on Hunkering Down

Trish

Lake Superior State University has released its 2006 List of Banished Words , as it has every Jan. 1 since 1976. Words and phrases are nominated by people the world over for their “mis-use, over-use and general uselessness.” Previous winners have included “user friendly,” “at this point in time,” and “have a nice day.” A selection from the new list includes:

HUNKER DOWN – To brace oneself, in anticipation of media onslaught. Trotted out in reports about everything from politics to hurricanes. “I have a hankering to ban all of this hunkering.” – Kate Rabe Forgach, Fort Collins, Colo.

PERSON OF INTEREST – Found within the context of legal commentary, but seldom encountered at cocktail parties. “People with guns want to talk with you.” – Melissa Carroll from Greensboro, NC. “Does this mean the rest of us are too boring to deal with?” – Patricia Johnson from Mechanicsville, Va.

COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS – A five-dollar phrase on a nickel-errand. Value-added into many higher education mission statements. “Not to be confused with ‘school.'” – Jim Howard from Mishawa, Ind.

UP OR DOWN VOTE – A casualty of today’s partisanship. No discussion on this one; the committee just tossed a coin. “I see a bright future for ex-senators as elevator operators.” — Allan Dregseth, Fargo, ND.

BREAKING NEWS – Once it stopped presses. Now it’s a lower-intestinal condition brought about by eating dinner during newscasts. “Now they have to interrupt my supper to tell me that Katie Holmes is pregnant.” — Michael Raczko, Swanton, Ohio.

FEMA – Dedicated to the memory of a great federal agency consigned to the ash heap of parody. “If they don’t do anything, we don’t need their acronym.” – Josh Hamilton, Tucson, Ariz.

Nominations for the list can be made anytime throughout the year. To submit a word for the 2007 list, go to www.lssu.edu/banished.