Keeping up with all the lies, deceit, cronyism, incompetence, and conflicts of interest in our present administration would be a full-time job. But this has been a good week or so to take snapshot of why I don't trust, and actively oppose, the president and our current Republican leadership.

It shouldn't even need saying, but I'll say it anyway: I'm not saying there's no such thing as a good Republican, or that I hate Bush. I respect Republican principles, which are being violated wholesale in a systematic way by the current Republican leadership. And Bush is simply incompetent and not fit to hold any government office. Admit it, just admit it already.

So on to the review of recent news:

Hastert, Frist rig bill for drug firms: Republican House & Senate leaders secretly slip drug-company protections into a defense appropriations bill at the last minute, without anyone's awareness or review. This is not democracy.

Bush administration moves to sell national forest land: Demonstrating Bush's ongoing disregard for public resources, this land grab would generate far less revenue than simply rolling back his tax breaks for the wealthy. For a guy who boasts about making "tough choices", he doesn't seem to make many.

U.S. Royalty Plan to Give Windfall to Oil Companies: The federal government is on the verge of one of the biggest giveaways of oil and gas in American history, when energy companies are already reporting record-breaking profits.

Bush PR Costs Taxpayers $1.6 Billion: The Bush administration has spent at least $1.6 billion on PR and advertising efforts over the last 30 months. Do I have to speculate how much body armor that would buy, how many hungry people that could feed?

Billions wasted in Iraq through mismanagement, fraud, and profiteering: Further evidence that this administration cannot manage what they've started.

Horse Slaughter Continues in US, Despite Recent Law: Bush's USDA circumvents U.S law to allow three foreign-owned horse meat plants to remain open. Dodging our own laws and public sentiment to help foreign corporations. If that doesn't reveal priorities, I don't know what does.

"No Child Left Behind" leaves behind poor minorities: Study indicates that flaws in this signature Bush plan have resulted in preferential treatment for white, middle-class schools.

EPA Cuts Deal with Factory Farms: The EPA, one of the most corrupted agencies in government since Bush took office, is selling out its own mission by letting large factory farms off the hook for polluting air and water. In exchange for what? The privilege of studying how they pollute, and a promise that they'll stop polluting after the study. That makes no sense.

Bush’s Budget Proposal: Is This Who We Really Are? The president's latest budget demonstrates his ongoing contempt for the greater good in favor of feeding more wealth to the wealthy and pouring more money into Iraq. Why is welfare okay to Republicans when it goes to the rich?

And this is just what I've heard about recently. This has been going on for five years, folks--it's time for everyone to start waking the hell up. And acting--if these things bother you, please contact your senators and representatives and let your voice be heard.

Labels: Politics