The Katrina Memo

Moving on...

2009-02-02T13:31:00.003-05:00

I started publishing this blog in the fall of 2005 after Hurricane Katrina drowned the City of New Orleans. Believing that the tragedy of New Orleans would quickly be forgotten by the mainstream media I hoped in a small way to keep the focus on the consequences of Katrina and other social issues. I continued to publish until last summer. A number of personal factors, including an operation for an aortic aneurysm, absorbed my energies.
With the election of Barack Obama and my relocation to Dublin, Ireland, I've decided to discontinue publication. I thank all who visited and contributed comments.
My focus now is on a memoir of my American odyssey. I've also launched a new blog with a particularly Irish focus. The URL is as follows:
www.SurvivingIrishRecession.blogspot.com

FYI: The number of posts published at this site between 2005 and 2008: 681.

Celebrating the 4th in Dublin...

2008-07-07T11:56:00.002-05:00

A friend sent an email asking if it felt different celebrating July 4th outside the United States. The answer is a very definite "yes." I missed the Boston and DC concerts and the fireworks. Did get together with the "Democrats Abroad" group in Dublin for a barbeque. It may have been the rain that dampened our spirits!

The good news is that there was great tennis at Wimpledon for tennis fans. First there was the women's final on Saturday with Serena and Venus Williams. And the men's final on Sunday may have been the best game played a Wimpledon for many years. A most memorable weekend of tennis on television.

I managed to switch off on politics this weekend. I expect as the Democratic Convention approaches I'll start to become engaged again.

Last week I had a visitor from Massachusetts and she is a die-hard Hillary Clinton fan. For the first time I got a genuine sense of how Hillary supporters feel.

Congratulations to the Boston Celtics!!

2008-06-18T02:11:00.002-05:00

I'm guessing there was lots of celebrating in Beantown last night. Didn't get to see the game because of the five-hour time difference between Boston and Dublin. Delighted to see that Paul Pierce got the MVP award. He is a class guy with a great attitude.

A small world...

2008-06-12T02:24:00.006-05:00

On Tuesday night I attended a meeting of "Democrats Abroad" in a pub in the City Centre of Dublin. The first person I met was a woman I had advised 24 years ago when I served on the faculty of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. A very pleasant supprise!

There was a lot of energy at the meeting around the challenge of getting as many ex-pats registered to be able to vote in the November Presidential election. Several at the meeting indicated they had not voted in a U.S. election for many years. George W. Bush has greatly contributed to motivating Democratic voters.

Out next meeting is a 4th of July picnic.

Very Sad News...

2008-05-20T13:54:00.002-05:00

I have just heard the news about Ted Kennedy. A terrible prognosis. My thoughts and prayers are with Vicki and all the Kennedy family.

As far a I am concerned the poor had no greater champion in the United States Senate than Senator Kennedy. During the more than four decades I spent in the United States I considered Teddy to one of the select few I most admired.

This past weekend I finished moving into my new home in Dublin. One of the items I hung on the wall was a framed picture with Kennedy taken in 1980. I had worked with a group of friends in organizating a fundraiser for the Senator during his campaign for the Democratic Presidential nomination. A favorite picture.

May Day Holiday

2008-05-05T10:27:00.002-05:00

I'm finally settled in Kilnamanagh, Dublin! The move from Haverhill, Massachusetts to Dublin, Ireland is now accomplished. It has been a somewhat exhausting experience and I'm glad I'm settled in a new home.

Today is a beautiful sunny day and a national holiday (May Day) here in Ireland.

One of the things I've noticed since arriving on Thursday it that everyone asks for my predictions about the American Presidential race. Generally the question is just a setup so they can tell me who is going to win! Most believe it will be McCain or Clinton. They watch a lot of Fox Cable News and CNN Cable News over here. Anyway, most seem surprised when I express the view that it will be Obama who will be the next President.

Now that I'm settled I hope to start posting commentary on a regulare basis. Comments are always welcome.

Not a good travel day...

2008-04-10T10:53:00.002-05:00

Yesterday my return trip from Dublin to Boston was a less than enjoyable experience. To use up Frequent Flier miles I traveled with American Airlines which called for a trip by way of Chicago.

When I arrived in Chicago after an 8-hour flight I discovered my flight to Boston was one of the 1000 flights cancelled by American. After endless hours of delay and a detour to Pittsburg I arrived in Boston late at night to discover my luggage was lost.

I have no issue with American grounding planes for inspections. Like many passengers I was upset that I was not informed of the cancellation. When the agent issued me a boarding pass in Dublin I had no idea that the flight was already cancelled. I suspect the agent was not informed of the cancellations. Not a pleasant experience.

An update from Dublin...

2008-03-28T13:07:00.003-05:00

Arrived here in Dublin early Wednesday morning. Already my house in the Kilnamanagh section of the City is beginning to feel like home.

A few quick observations. There continues to be great interest over here in the American Presidential election. In the last couple of days most media reports have been suggesting that Hillary drop out of the race. My guess is that she will hang in for at least another month.

This afternoon, courtesy of Skype, I was able to talk to a colleague in Massachusetts face-to-face. And our 30 minute transatlantic conversation was free!! I'm hoping this technology will help me stay in contact with friends and professional colleagues in the United States.

I'll be back in Massachusetts in a couple of weeks to arrange for the shipping of personal stuff. After May 1st I will be publishing regular posts from Dublin.

The Obama Speech...

2008-03-19T04:52:00.003-05:00

It is not often that Maureen Dowd is full of praise for any politician...but this morning on the Op Ed page of the NYT she is full of praise for Barack Obama for the speech he delivered in Philadelphia yesterday. I agree with Dowd. It was an extraordinary speech.

The question is will the hate-mongers on cable tv let go of the race issue and move on. Not likely. Expect to see those comments by the preacher from Chicago played more than a thousand times between now and November if Obama is the Democratic candidate. One speech may not be enough to stop the media from exploiting the race issue.

2008-03-10T05:03:00.002-05:00

Sen. Barack Obama rebounded from loses in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island on March 4 with a decisive win in a small but very excited Wyoming caucus.

I've been a little out-of-touch with American politics for the past month because of a trip to Dublin, Ireland. I understand that Obama will have a MAJORITY of pledged delegates by May 20th...and that he almost certainly will go into the convention with a three-digit lead in delegates. What I don't understand is why all these mainstream media pundits are insisting that Hillary is going to win. I know the Clintons have a sense of entitlement...but this would seem to be taking it too far. What do you think?

(Photo: Andy Carpenean / AP /
Laramie Boomerang)

No! I have not disappeared...

2008-03-08T07:08:00.004-05:00

Some regular visitors to this site may be wondering why the Katrina Memo has mostly gone silent for the past few months. Part of the explanation has to do with the fact that I've been going through a major transition in my personal and professional life.

I decided the easiest way to explain was simply to post a copy of the announcement that I'm sending to friends and colleagues. My plan is to resume posting commentary after May 1st.

Haverhill, Massachusetts, March, 2008

Greetings:

This may come as a surprise to some friends and colleagues. On May 1st I will be relocating in Dublin, Ireland.

As many of you know, I’ve had a close relationship with my native Ireland for a long time. The good news is that I’ll continue to visit the United States on a regular basis. At the professional level I plan to be available for clients and former clients. And in Ireland I’ll collaborate with my friend and colleague Jean Roberts of Sligo. I also hope to revisit that memoir that I’ve been working on for a few years.

My address in Ireland is in the Kilnamanagh section of Dublin…about 25 minutes by commuter rail from the City Center. Of particular note for friends on this side of the pond is the fact that my house has two guest rooms!!

This is an opportune time to thank all of my friends – personal and professional – who have provided support during all the years I’ve been based in Massachusetts. I hope I can continue to enjoy the wonderful relationships established.

As some of you will have noticed, I’ve mostly suspended posting commentary on my news blog (www.katrinamemo.blogspot.com). My hope is to re-launch this blog after I’m settled in Ireland…and I’ll publish commentary from an Irish/European perspective.

Let’s stay in touch! I’ve posted contact information below. Between now and May 1st I can be reached on my (U.S.) mobile phone at 857-389 2113 or by email at eddeevy@cs.com.

Best wishes and kind regards.

Sincerely,

Ed Deevy.

Contact Information:

Ireland: 6 Birchview Close, Kilnamanagh, Tallagh, Dublin 24
USA: P.O. Box 961786, Boston, MA 02196
Phone: 01/4420223
353/1/4420223 (USA)
085 1529535 (Mobile)
Email: eddeevy@cs.com

The view from Dublin...

2008-02-25T16:08:00.003-05:00

Apologies for the long "silence." I've been busy taking care of family business since arriving here in Dublin.

I continue to be amazed at the level of interest over here in the American presidential election. There is extensive news coverage...and most citizens are very informed. I have the impression that the race for the Democratic nomination will be over next Tuesday. Hillary will likely bow out.

The view from Dublin..

2008-02-15T07:33:00.002-05:00

What amazes me on this visit to Dublin is the level of interest in the American Presidential Election. And everyone seems familar with all the details of the contest.

Last time I visited Dublin (December '07) there was lots of pro-Clinton sentiment. I attributed this to the fact that President Bill Clinton has played a most constructive role in helping resolve the Northern Ireland conflict. This time the sentiment seems to be pro-Obama. Some of this has to do with the belief that he'll usher in a new foreign policy.

As I indicated above, people on this island are following the American election very closely. Many watch the latest updates on American cable television networks. We are really becoming a global village!

Obama has momentum...

2008-02-11T06:26:00.000-05:00

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama won all weekend Democratic nominating contests going away. In Louisiana, Nebraska, Washington state, Maine and the US Virgin Islands it was Obama with decisive wins, giving him momentum going into the Chesapeake Primaries on Tuesday.

This should be an interesting race for the next few weeks. I'll be observing developments from the other side of the pond...as I'm planning on spending four weeks in Dublin. I hope to post my comments on an occasional basis.

(Photo: Scott Galindez / t r u t h o u t

From Superbowl to Super Tuesday...

2008-02-04T08:30:00.000-05:00

A lot of Patriot fans are wearing long faces this morning. All the hype about "perfection" on TV and radio these past two weeks didn't help. Fortunately, I'm one of those fans that doesn't loose any sleep when the Patriots are defeated. It's just a game!

I must confess that I'm much more interested in the outcome on Super Tuesday. Tonight I'll be heading into Boston for the rally in support of Barack Obama at the World Trade Center. (200 Seaport Blvd.) For those interested: doors open at 8:00 pm. Ted Kennedy, John Kerry and Deval Patrick will join Obama for this rally. I plan to post some comments late tonight or tomorrow morning.

No surprise...

2008-02-02T15:30:00.000-05:00

New Orleans's Canal Street is one of many streets that was inundated by water pouring through breaches in the levees surrounding the city. A class-action suit, filed by hundreds of thousands of people against the Army Corps of Engineers, was issued a judgment this week absolving the Corps of liability in the flooding of New Orleans after the levees broke during Hurricane Katrina.

My understanding is that the judge was critical of the Corps...but still absolved them of responsibility. I guess I would have been surprised if he held them liable.

(Photo: National Geographic

The war continues to take a heavy toll...

2008-01-31T15:56:00.000-05:00

In Baghdad, relatives comfort the father of Alaa Abdul-Karim al-Fartoosi, a 29-year-old Iraqi television cameraman who was killed in a roadside bomb explosion in Balad. Reporters Without Borders say at least 207 journalists and media workers have been killed in Iraq since the US-led invasion in March 2003.

This is another story that gets little coverage in our mainstream media. So many of the media casualties have been Iraqis themselves. As I noted recently, the presidential candidates scarcely mention the war...except for the Republicans who seem determined to keep it going.

(Photo: Karim Kadim / AP)

The war goes on unnoticed...

2008-01-24T05:40:00.000-05:00

Iraqis attend a funeral ceremony in a suburb of Tikrit. Eighteen people were killed and 22 were wounded when a suicide bomber detonated himself inside a funeral tent.

The war goes on almost unnoticed by the mainstream media. And the issue is pretty much ignored in the Democratic primaries...which is good news for Hillary Clinton. With the economy tanking maybe people will start to talk about the cost of the war.

(Photo: Bassem Daham / AP)

The Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King...

2008-01-21T07:35:00.000-05:00

This morning I found myself thinking about the first time I came to know of Dr. Martin Luther King. I had arrived in the early Sixties as a young Irishman in Bible Belt country (North Louisiana). One of the first things I noticed was the large roadside billboards claiming to show King attending a meeting of the Communist Party.

It would be difficult for people who are not familiar with what was happening at that time in the Deep South to fully understand the hatred and bigotry directed towards Dr. King. I was not one bit surprised when I heard that he had been shot in Memphis, Tennessee.

I can well understand why the African American community would be defensive about any statement that seemed to diminish the contribution of Dr.King...even if that statement came from someone who is considered a friend of the African American community. Put simply, Dr. King put his life on the line.

Who Won Democratic Debate?

2008-01-16T14:07:00.000-05:00

Judging by comments on various progressive blogs it would appear that most thought that both Obama and Hillary did very well last night. I game it to Obama on points...but a lot of others saw it as a Hillary win. What did you think?

What happened in New Hampshire?

2008-01-09T06:42:00.000-05:00

The polls predicted a double-digit Obama win. During the last few days the crowds at the Obama events were twice as large as Clinton events. A friend who worked as a volunteer for Obama told me the excitement leading up to the the election was extraordinary. She compared it to the energy that surrounded the RFK campaign during the final days of his campaign. What happened?

Some are already saying that Hillary's emotional breakdown may have contributed. But would her tears be viewed favorably since she is running for the position of Commander-in-Chief?

I notice in reading comments in the progressive blogs that some are questioning the validity of the results. Suspicions regarding the voting machines.

I believe that the most likely explanation between the poll predictions and the outcome has to do with latent racism. I have done some work as a consultant in the North Country and many of the folks there are as conservative as you'll find anywhere in the Deep South.

Anyway, Barack Obama has his work cut out for himself. The Clinton Machine is only getting started. I hope he is wearing his flak jacket.

Update:

I have a feeling this election is going to get nasty. Check out this Op Ed in todday's New York Times.

Happy New Year!!

2007-12-31T08:49:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted much for the past couple of weeks because of holiday and travel commitments.

May I take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year. One of my resolutions will be to restart publishing on a regular basis. With the upcoming Presidential Election, 2008 should be most interesting!

Christmas Season for the Homeless in New Orleans...

2007-12-19T11:16:00.000-05:00

Jack Halterman stands beneath Interstate 10 where he and over 100 other homeless people sleep each night in New Orleans, Louisiana. Since Hurricane Katrina, the number of homeless in New Orleans has more than doubled to almost 12,000 people.

(Photo: Mario Tama / Getty Images

The view from the other side of the pond...

2007-12-10T08:42:00.000-05:00

I've been spending a few days in Ireland on family business. Not much news on the American elections on this side. Most friends support Hillary. The Clintons are considered big friends of Ireland because of Bill's support of the peace process in Northern Ireland.

The big news here is the death a few days ago of a well-known model. It appears the 24-year old died as a result of cocaine. Lots of talk about the problem of drugs in Dublin. I guess it is partly a by-product of new found affluence.

Will Bush bomb Iran?

2007-12-04T20:13:00.000-05:00

Stephen J. Hadley, the national security adviser, discussed Iran's nuclear program at the White House. A new assessment by American intelligence agencies concludes Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 and that the program remains frozen.

I had the impression at the Bush press conference this morning that our President was disappointed that the intelligence agencies had discovered that Iran was not working on a bomb. My guess is that he'll just say "screw the intelligence agencies" and go ahead and bomb the Iranians anyway. He's got to do something to secure his legacy.

(Photo: Stephen Crowley / The New York Times)

Two hours of hate-mongering...

2007-11-29T08:42:00.000-05:00

Fighting "Islamofacism" and deporting brown people were the two issues that produced the most energy at the GOP debate last night. These candidates are truly scary. Romney seems to have transformed himself into a genuine bona fide hate-monger. Interestingly, there was no talk of the crashing economy or the health care crisis in this two-hour debate.

The good news is that none of these guys are likely to end up in the White House. News that New York taxpayers helped finance Rudy's adultery is not likely to go over big with conservative voters.

The GOP debate tonight...

2007-11-27T14:24:00.000-05:00

For the past few days CNN has been hyping the fact that the public will be heard in tonight's You Tube GOP debate. They have been encouraging viewers to send in their videos. What CNN is not telling viewers is that THEY DECIDE what questions will be asked. It's just a matter of using You Tube to create the impression that the public has some kind of input into the election process.

The corporations who control the MSM are not about to loose any kind of control over what issues will be discussed in the debate. Just like the presidential debates next fall will be controlled by the corporate interests who pick up the tab on expenses.

Update:

I just realized the debate in not tonight (Tuesday) but tomorrow night (Wednesday). I've obviously been spending too much time on the beaches of Sarasota.

Obama leads Clinton...

2007-11-20T14:03:00.000-05:00

On a flight down from Boston to Tampa this morning I had the opportunity to leisurely read the New York Times. I was surprised to find that Obama leads Clinton by four points in the latest Iowa poll.

The pundits keep insisting that the election of inevitable...that she could only be stopped by "an act of God." What if Clinton comes in third in Iowa...a real possibility. The best argument of Team Clinton would loose its power to influence the outcome of the election.

It seems like we have a real horse race at this time. Stay tuned.

Katrina money goes to affluent residents...

2007-11-16T15:35:00.000-05:00

The Edgewood Manor housing project (above) has not had any repairs since it was damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Mississippi was required by Congress to spend half of its federal grant money to help low-income citizens trying to recover from the storm. But so far, the state has spent its money on programs that have mostly benefited affluent residents and big businesses.

(Photo: Lee Celano / The New York Times)

Norman Mailer dies at 84..

2007-11-10T12:46:00.000-05:00

Here is the link for the story in today's Guardian (UK). A larger-than-life personality. What an extraordinary career.

Obama is keeping good company!!

2007-11-09T14:35:00.000-05:00

My cousin Bernie Walsh who lives in Long Boat Key in Florida sent me this photo. It shows his daughter Christine photographed with Barach Obama.

As I indicated recently on this blog, the more I see of Obama the more I like him. I also like John Edwards because of his pro-labor views.

Who is your favorite candidate at this time?

Helping out our friends...

2007-11-05T07:45:00.000-05:00

Neocon Michael O'Hanlon was on TV this morning insisting that we have to continue to provide billions in aid to Pakistan. I guess we've reached a point where we can be open about our support of dictators. So much for all that talk about promoting democracy.

Obama versus Hillary...

2007-11-02T09:31:00.000-05:00

Barack Obama was interviewed by Matt Lauer on the Today show this morning. I was struck by his eloquence and spontaneity. His style contrasts with Hillary Clinton who always seems programed. With Hillary you get the impression that every statement has been tested in focus groups. Hopefully, she will be pressured into stating where she really stands on important issues.

Huge anti-war rally on Boston Common...

2007-10-27T18:44:00.000-05:00

I've just returned from a huge anti-war rally on the Boston Common. The energy was unbelievable! It seemed as if the whole progressive movement was represented. I was particularly impressed with the labor union representation. And of course there was a tremendous number of students participating. Nobody seemed to notice the occasional shower.

A word of congratulations to the organizers. I attended a number of anti-war demonstrations in the late 1960's and early 1970's and today's rally on the Boston Common matched the energy of any of those rallies.

Condi's idea of "diplomacy"....

2007-10-26T07:16:00.000-05:00

Listening to Condi on NBC this morning was a scary experience. She was talking about "diplomacy" with Iran when it's clear that she and Cheney and Bush are hell-bent on starting a war. This is just a replay of what we went through in 2002. And to think that Hillary voted for a resolution in the Senate that gives these warmongers the green light to turn loose the bombers.

Glenn Beck is a hatemonger...

2007-10-23T07:47:00.000-05:00

Glenn Beck on his radio show described the victims of the fires in California a "people who hate America." I'm guessing he assumes the people losing their homes are Democrats. If he had done a little research he would have found out that San Diego Country is predominately Republican.

Beck is the same individual who demonized the victims of Hurricane Katrina referring to them as "scumbags." I keep wondering why CNN has this hatemonger out there every night pontificating to the American people. Is this their idea of "balanced" news?

Red Sox fever...

2007-10-21T06:27:00.000-05:00

Here is New England we still have summer-like weather...and the foliage is spectacular!! There is great excitement in Red Sox Nation as we look forward to a Game Seven. Makes one want to ignore all the stressful news coming out of Washington.

Niki Tsongas wins House race...

2007-10-17T12:31:00.001-05:00

Last evening I rushed back from a visit to Cape Cod to cast my vote for Niki Tsongas. Ms. Tsongas is the wife of the late Senator Paul Tsongas. Actually I got to the polling place about 5 minutes before the polls closed!

The good news is that Niki won...but the race was much closer than I thought it would be.

Frank Rich speaks out...

2007-10-14T10:01:00.000-05:00

I hope all the Democratic Presidential candidates will read this Op Ed by Frank Rich in this morning's New York Times. This piece would help them understand why many of us want to get all our troops out of Iraq.

Incidentally, Hillary Clinton supporter Michael O'Hanlon has tried to discredit the critical comments by General Sanchez. I wonder where Hillary really stands on the Iraq issue.

The sliming of Graeme Frost...

2007-10-12T04:16:00.000-05:00

Paul Krugman has this Op Ed in today's New York Times that is well worth reading. He describes the Right Wing efforts to slime Graeme Frost, the 12-year old boy that delivered the Democratic response to President Bush two weeks ago. The young boy spoke about how his family had benefited from S-chip, the Federal insurance program for children.

I should note that Op Ed's in the NYT are again available to all readers at no cost.

Update:

Over at the Guardian (UK)they have just reported that Al Gore and the Climate Change Panel have won the Nobel Peace Prize. I expect this will increase the pressure on him to join the Presidential race. At this stage he would be the choice of many progressive Democrats for President.

We're still bombing in Iraq...

2007-10-09T09:27:00.000-05:00

Iraqi relatives cry near a truck carrying bodies of the victims of a US air raid on the village of al-Jayzani, near Baquba, northeast of Baghdad.

(Photo: Ali Yussef / AFP)

Bush vetoes children's health insurance..

2007-10-03T10:44:00.000-05:00

Quietly and without fanfare President Bush vetoed children's health insurance this morning.No surprises here. Bush needs the money for the war in Iraq. Besides, he does not want to turn America into a "welfare state."

A Great Night at the Old Ballpark!

2007-09-30T06:54:00.000-05:00

On Friday night I had the opportunity to see the Red Sox beat the Twins at Fenway Park. On hour after the game was over the Red Sox became division champions with a little help from Baltimore who beat the Yanks. Hadn't been to Fenway Park for a couple of years. It was a great experience.

Congratulations to Cubs fans on clinching their division! A Cubs-Red Sox World Series would be a real treat.

We have a visitor from Iran!

2007-09-24T14:53:00.000-05:00

The folks in New York are sure getting worked up about the arrival of Ahmadinejad in town. Looks like he has replaced Saddam Hussein as the reincarnation of Adolph Hitler.

The visit provides a golden opportunity for the NeoCons to whip up support for a bombing campaign against Iran. Then we will have a real disaster on our hands...considering that all the American bases in Iraq and Afganistan are within striking distance for the Iranians. Too scary to think about.

Panic in Red Sox Nation...

2007-09-21T06:47:00.000-05:00

With the Red Sox just one game ahead of the dreaded Yankees...and slumping badly ...there is fear and loathing in Red Sox Nation. Things are so bad that we are not able to enjoy the beatiful fall weather. Maybe we didn't get rid of "the curse" after all!!

Politicians debate and the war goes on...

2007-09-19T06:17:00.000-05:00

Terri Gurrola, returning from a seven-month tour in Iraq, greets her daughter at the Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta, Georgia. Sixty-one women in the US military have been killed by hostile fire in Iraq, indicating women are playing new roles in combat zones.

While the politicians in Washington debate the merits of the "surge" real American families are carrying the burden of this illegal and immoral war.

(Photo: Louie Favorite / AP)

Saturation Coverage of the "Surge"...

2007-09-11T09:50:00.000-05:00

I've already heard more than enough of the pro and con arguments regarding the troop surge in Iraq. My response has been to turn off the television. Can't take it any more!

The Great Debate is going on in Washington while lots of people are getting killed and wounded in Iraq. Many seem to forget that this occupation was originally based on a pack of NeoCon lies...and that we are not welcome in that part of the world as occupiers.

It is really unfortunate that Bush and Company is framing the Iraq War as part of the "war on terror" and as a consequence of 9/11.

Owners of St.Rita's Nursing Home found not guilty...

2007-09-08T05:09:00.000-05:00

Flanked by their defense attorneys Jim Cobb,left, and John Reed, far right in red tie, Mabel Mangano and husband Sal walk out into the rain following the not guilty verdict at the West Feliciana Parish Courthouse in St. Francisville,Louisiana Friday. (Times-Picyune Staff Photo)
_____________________________

The jury found the owners of a St. Bernard Parish nursing home not guilty Friday night in the deaths of 35 residents who drowned during Hurricane Katrina.

The jury's decision capped a three-week trial that brought the state's highest official to the witness stand as attorneys tried to assign blame for the deaths of the elderly people at St. Rita's nursing home.

Sal and Mabel Mangano, who owned the nursing home near Poydras, faced 35 counts of negligent homicide for the residents who died and 24 counts of cruelty to the infirm for the residents who survived the flood but had to be floated out of the building on mattresses and taken by boat to a makeshift shelter.

The jury deliberated around four hours. The couple was found not guilty on all counts.

Like many of the stories associated with Hurricane Katrina this is a very sad story in which there are no winners. Hopefully, all the families who lost loved ones in this tragedy can put this story behind them.

Celebrating worker's rights...

2007-09-04T16:20:00.000-05:00

After almost three weeks visiting family and friends in Ireland I'm back and ejoying the beautiful fall weather we are having in New England.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the Bread and Roses Festival in Lawrence, Massachusetts. It's a wonderful event that honors the memory of those mill workers who organized themselves almost one hundred years ago in defense of their rights.

Beginning this week I'll be posting on a regular basis. On the visit to Ireland I was pretty much "out of touch" with what was happening politically in the United States. It will take a while to catch up with what is happening.

Rain...and more Rain!

2007-08-15T04:39:00.001-05:00

The big concern here is Ireland is the weather. I'm told that it has rained every days for the past 60 days. I know it has rained every day since I arrived last Saturday.

The Celtic Tiger seems to be alive and well. Everything is pretty expensive here in Dublin. A regular cup of coffee costs at least 3 dollars.

I've been pretty much out of touch with news from the U.S.. Did hear that things are not going well in Iraq. I still believe we should declare victory and bring our troops home.

Light Blogging...

2007-08-08T09:53:00.000-05:00

Except for an occasional visit to an Internet Cafe I will have few opportunities to post over the next three weeks. No broadband on my brother's farm in Ireland. As usual it will be interesting to view the political landscape in America from the other side of the pond.

Write a caption for this photo...

2007-08-06T09:37:00.000-05:00

Looks like Laura is holding on for dear life!

2007-08-06T05:37:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I satisfied my appetite as a political junkie by watching two presidential debates.

On Saturday I saw the Democratic debate that was held in Chicago at the YearlyKos convention. Easily the most spontaneous of the debates held so far. All the candidates had their good moments. The consensus seems to be that John Edwards was the most impressive. Hillary Clinton's defense of taking money from lobbyists did not go over well with the YearlyKos audience.

On Sunday morning I watched the Republican debate that was held at Drake University in Iowa. What a contrast with the Democratic debate! One candidate claiming that he would bomb the holy sites in Saudi Arabia. It was clear that all of them except Ron Paul have moved beyond advocacy for the "War on Terror" to advocacy for a "War on Islam." Scary stuff. It was depressing to see Romney, a member of a religion that was once persecuted, using every opportunity to demonize members of the Islamic religion.

The Republicans must have some focus group evidence that there is a considerable number of people out there that will buy into hate and fear-mongering.

Bad news from U.K....

2007-08-04T09:04:00.000-05:00

The nightmare of foot-and-mouth disease returned to Britain last night, forcing Gordon Brown to cut short his holiday after only a few hours in Devon to chair a crisis meeting of Cobra, the emergency planning unit in Downing Street today.

The outbreak among cattle on a farm in Guildford has caused an immediate ban in all transport of cattle and pigs in Britain and raised the spectre of the 2001 outbreak that disfigured Britain with pyres of burning of cattle carcasses and cost the nation £8bn in compensation.

This outbreak is a matter of very serious concern. I'm sure the concern extends throughout the U.K. and to neighbouring Ireland. My brother who had a small farm in the Midlands (Ireland) will be following developments closely.

Are we winning in Iraq?

2007-08-01T09:16:00.000-05:00

A few days ago Michael O'Hanlon and Ken Pollock published an Op Ed in the New York Times claiming that we are winning in Iraq. This was based on a brief visit to that godforsaken country.

Today Juan Cole is reporting that July was the deadliest July for US troops since the war began. He also noted that with the largest group of Sunnis pulling out of the government the Maliki government is on the verge of collapse.

I don't think the facts on the ground support what O'Hanlon and Pollock are saying.

The Presidential Campaign...

2007-07-30T08:42:00.000-05:00

I have not written anything about the campaign but I have been following developments with considerable interest.

The Republican candidates are running to the right of Atilla the Hun...except for Ron Paul. The Democrats have a diverse and interesting field of candidates. I have no personal preference at this time though I am leading towards John Edwards. Would love to see Al Gore get in the race but that seems unlikely.

Bush's missile system suffers setback...

2007-07-27T06:25:00.000-05:00

George Bush's plans to establish a European missile defence system suffered a big setback yesterday when a Congressional committee slashed the funding.

The House appropriations committee cut $139m from the $310m the Bush administration wants for preparatory work on the missile project in Europe. It approved funds for a radar system in the Czech Republic but cut the $139m Mr Bush requested to establish a missile interception system in Poland, the most controversial part of the defence system.

I'm guessing that this missile system will be deep-sixed if a Democrat becomes the next President. Bush claims he wants to protect the Europeans from Iranian missiles. I don't think the Europeans are that concerned about the Iranians. Or maybe Bush just wants to send a message to Putin.

No charges filed against doctor in New Orleans...

2007-07-24T19:18:00.000-05:00

An Orleans Parish grand jury Tuesday refused to indict Dr. Anna Pou, the New Orleans surgeon who rode out Hurricane Katrina at an Uptown hospital only to later be accused of murder by Attorney General Charles Foti.

The decision ends the year-long criminal investigation into Pou's performance during the catastrophe at Memorial Medical Center, which the levee failures turned into an island on Aug. 29, 2005, leaving the hospital a sweltering, powerless disaster zone, filled with 2,000 patients, families and employees. Pou, along with two staffers the district attorney recently declined to prosecute, had been accused of giving patients a lethal injection of painkillers and sedatives shortly before the hospital was finally evacuated, several days after the storm.

On Tuesday at Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, Judge Calvin Johnson read a ten-count bill of indictment into the record, the first count a second-degree murder charge for patient Emmett Everett, 61, a 380-pound paralyzed man, and nine additional conspiracy to commit murder charges, accusing Pou of helping kill nine frail patients on the seventh floor at Memorial.

Many people in New Orleans believed that the charges against Dr. Pou were politically motivated. In a poll today in NOLA, the Times-Picayune on-line publication, 95% of respondents said that the Grand Jury had made the right decision.

Can you imagine how much this woman has suffered over the past year. And what about the damage to her reputation.

What question would you ask the Democratic Candidates?

2007-07-23T08:50:00.000-05:00

The You Tube/CNN debate led me to think about what question I would ask. Here's my nomination for a question:
Have you seen Michael Moore's documentary ("SiCKO") and what do you think of his critique of the American health care industry?
Here's my nomination for a foreign policy question:
How many troops would you plan to leave in Iraq and how would you plan to protect them?
Any suggestions????

Padraig Harrington wins British Open...

2007-07-22T16:39:00.001-05:00

What an exciting finish! I watched the final holes of the British Open at an Irish Pub in downtown Boston. I was delighted to see a fellow-Irishman win...though I would also have been happy to see Sergio Garcia win. A pity one of them had to loose.

I hope readers will not see these comments as a form of gloating! It's just extra special when we win on British turf.

Update:

Just talked to a niece in Dublin and she tells me that more than a few pints of Guinness were downed tonight in celebration of Padraig Harrington's victory. The Irish get very patriotic about their sports heroes.

The British Open - Live...

2007-07-20T10:18:00.000-05:00

If you are a golf fan (as I am) you can get live updates here at the Guardian (UK). Garcia is still holding on to the lead. Two Irishmen are in contention. A lot can happen tomorrow and Sunday!

Murdoch, the war-monger...

2007-07-19T07:32:00.001-05:00

Both the Independent (UK) and the Guardian (UK) are reporting this morning on Rupert Murdoch' role in urging Tony Blair to go to war in Iraq. This may have been payback for the critical role played by Murdoch's media outlets in Britain in supporting the election of Blair. According to the reports in today's newspapers in the days leading up to the invasion of Iraq Murdoch was treated as if he were a senior member of the cabinet.

I find it interesting that Murdoch has held a couple of fundraisers for Hillary Clinton. Will he be dictating American foreign policy if she gets elected? Since he's a big advocate for bombing Iran we may have another war on the horizen....

Another deadly attack on civilians...

2007-07-17T09:55:00.000-05:00

At least 85 people were killed yesterday when a suicide bomber struck in Kirkuk. It was the deadliest attack in the city since the war began.

We are so removed from the battlefield that it would be easy to forget the numbers of civilians that are getting killed every day in Iraq. Even those of us who opposed the invasion of Iraq had no idea that it would end up becoming this kind of humanitarian disaster. And the same NeoCons who "sold" this war to the American people are now agitating for an attack on Iran. Lunatics.

(Photo: Yahya Ahmed / AP

Senator's Sex Scandal...

2007-07-12T07:57:00.000-05:00

Senatore David Vitter of Louisiana has a PR problem. He has built his political career as a champion of Christian values. Back in the days when Clinton had his problems Vitter wrote an Op Ed in the Times-Picayune (New Orleans) asserting that Clinton was "morally unfit" to hold the office of President.

With the news at Vitter made visits to prostitutes in DC and New Orleans it will be interesting to see how the voters of Louisiana react. Historically, the people of Louisiana have had a lot of tolerance for the sins of their politicians. Edwin Edwards boasted about his gambling and womanizing and he still got reelected.

My bet us that Senator Vitter will survive this scandal. Maybe he'll focus on helping New Orleans recover from Hurricane Katrina...and spend less energy on telling other people how to live their private lives.

Update:

Looks like Senator Vitter is in some trouble with the voters of Louisiana. The Times-Picayune has this commentary in today's edition (Friday).

SiCKO is a powerful documentary...

2007-07-09T05:21:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I saw Michael Moore's SiCKO. I can see why representatives of the Health Insurance industry are trying to discredit Moore.

Moore won an Academy Award for 2002's gun-control documentary, "Bowling for Columbine," and made 2004's President Bush-bashing "Fahrenheit 9/11."

"Sicko," his dissection of U.S. health-care infirmities, opened June 29 and is being distributed by the Weinstein Co.

Moore, 53, presents horror stories of Americans who have gone bankrupt and lost loved ones after health insurers denied coverage. He contrasts public health-care coverage in Canada, Great Britain and France with the private U.S. system. He visits Cuba for treatment of ailing Sept. 11 rescue workers, a trip that has prompted the U.S. Treasury Department to investigate Moore for potential violations of the trade embargo.

I highly recommend this documentary. You will laugh but it will bring a tear to your eye. It should be required viewing for every politician in this country.

Update:

Digby has this excellent review of SiCKO.

Update #2

C & L has this video clip of Michael Moore interviewed by Wolf Blitzer on CNN. What a smackdown!

A sobering thought for this Independence Day Holiday...

2007-07-04T08:37:00.000-05:00

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. An opportunity to reflect on what America is all about.

This year there are some reasons for concern. A war in Iraq with no end in sight. The image of America around the world at an all-time low. Now we read in the NYT that our President feels "liberated" despite his very low poll ratings. The suggestion is that he doesn't care what the public thinks any more. This is not a major problem if it just leads him to commute the jail sentence of a convicted felon. But what if he decides, in harmony with his messianic beliefs, to bomb Iran. A sobering thought for this Independence Day Holiday.

Bush commutes jail sentence of Libby...

2007-07-02T17:37:00.000-05:00

Count me as one person who was not surprised to hear that Bush has decided that Libby should not go to jail. Bush takes his orders from Cheney...and Cheney was not about to let the man who protected him go to jail.

We have more than two million Americans in jail....many are African Americans doing time for various drug crimes. These people can rot in jail as far as Bush is concerned. But he'll use his Presidential power to take care of his friends. Makes me sick.

There will be a lot of talk over the next few days about freedom and justice...and all those other great American values. It is helpful to remember that there are two types of justice in this country.

Democratic debate on PBS...

2007-06-29T09:31:00.000-05:00

I saw the Democratic Debate broadcast on PBS from Howard University last night. In my view Travis Smiley did a better job as moderator than either Matthews or Blitzer in the previous debates. All candidates had an opportunity to make a contribution.

Unfortunately, because of the format most candidates were limited to sound-bite answers. There was almost no exchange between candidates. However the contributions had more substance than in previous debates. Maybe the fact that the discussion focused primarily on domestic issues made this possible.

There were no real winners or loosers. I was impressed by the performance of Edwards. He seemed more confident and relaxed than in previous debates. I thought Hillary's performance in New Hampshire was better than last night...because she interjected some humor and levity. Obama seemed to hesitate on some answers but that may simply be his style. Richardson has not yet hit his stride. Anyway, we are going to see a lot more of these candidates. I could vote for any of them over any Republican candidate!!

Blair new Middle East envoy...

2007-06-27T08:23:00.000-05:00

When the Israeli government was bombing Lebanon back into the stone age last Summer Tony Blair kept his mouth shut out of respect for his friend George Bush. After all, Bush was rushing cluster bombs to the Israeli's in support of their efforts. Is it any wonder that many in the Arab street have a deep suspicion of Tony Blair and his motives.

In my view the appointment of Blair as special envoy to help the Palestinians makes little sense. His reputation is tarnished because of his advocacy of the war in Iraq and his silence in the face of the Israeli bombing of Lebanon. His chances of success are slim.

It doesn't take a PhD in political science to understand that what is needed to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is someone who is viewed as even-handed. Tony Blair does not fit the bill.

Update:

It looks like the mandate given to Blair is very limited. His primary focus will be helping the Palestinians deal with pressing humanitarian problems. He will not be negotiating a resolution of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

A very sad story...

2007-06-24T16:02:00.000-05:00

I th0ught twice about posting this link to this story in the International Herald Tribune. It is the saddest story that I've ever read about the casualties of the Iraq War. As I read it I was full of both pity for a family who are suffering more than any family should have to suffer. And it adds to my anger at Bush and his NeoCon friends for getting us into this f**ckin war.

Moore takes his message to DC...

2007-06-23T06:27:00.000-05:00

Democratic Rep. John Conyers Jr. of Michigan was among lawmakers who joined filmmaker Michael Moore for a rally on Capitol Hill.

Moore's new film "SiCKO" is an indictment of the health insurance system in America. Moore, along with a movement of nurses and doctors, have been rallying around the film and are using it to pressure politicians and citizens to take a stance.

The effort to smear Moore by the insurance companies has already begun. I expect the filmmaker will fight back. Maybe we'll have an interesting debate on health care in the United States.

(Photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

Another fallen hero...

2007-06-22T06:04:00.000-05:00

Members of the US Army Old Guard Caisson Platoon transport the remains of a US military veteran before a funeral service at Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

14 US soldiers have died in scattered attacks in Iraq over the last two days.

In the meantime, the leading Democratic candidates (Clinton, Obama, Edwards) continue to advocate leaving a "residual force" in Iraq indefinitely. They talk of leaving 20,000 to 30,000 troops. Who is going to provide protection for these troops? How are we going to be able to keep the supply lines open? I think that at that point we'll be told to get out.

(Photo: Mark Wilson / Getty Images)

Husband missing in Iraq; Wife facing potential deportation at home...

2007-06-21T09:04:00.000-05:00

This is a story that comes close to home. The Latino community in my neighboring city of Lawrence have been trying to cope with the news that one of their own, Alex Mimenez, is one of the two missing soldiers in Iraq. Now comes the news that his wife is facing deportation.

Yaderlin Jimenez's husband, Army Spc. Alex R. Jimenez, a Purple Heart recipient, disappeared when his unit was ambushed by insurgents May 12. Mrs. Jimenez status hangs in limbo.

At a dramatic hearing in immigrant court April 29, 2006, where Jimenez appeared in full-dress uniform alongside his wife, Judge Philip J. Montante granted the couple a temporary reprieve — putting a stop to the proceedings until Jimenez returned from what would be his second tour of duty.

Why wouldn't our government want to treat this woman in a decent manner since it seems most likely that her husband gave his life fighting for the United States government?

Update:
A local television station is reporting this morning that Homeland Security has backed off on the effort to deport Yaderlin Jimenez. Both Senator Kerry and Senator Kennedy had intervened on her behalf.

No endgame in sight...

2007-06-19T20:57:00.000-05:00

I just watched Frontline on PBS. The program traced the successive failed strategies in the Iraq war from 2003 up to the present time. What was most surprising to me was to learn that most of the political leaders and the generals thought that we would be out of Iraq in about six months.

In the months leading up to the invasion many predicted exactly what would happen. I remember Nelson Mandela predicting that the invasion would have a total destabilizing effect. At the time he was ridiculed for making what the war-mongers perceived as an anti-American statement.

The problem with Iraq is not the failed strategies followed after the invasion. The real problem was the decision by the NeoCons and Bushco to try to change the face of the Middle East through the use of force. The program on PBS tonight confirmed my belief that it's time to cut our losses and bring our troops home. What do you think?

More chaos in the Middle East...

2007-06-16T08:58:00.000-05:00

When Hammas won a democratic election the United States and Israel decided to institute a financial boycott of Palestine. This resulted in a humanitarian disaster...incredible hardship in Gaza and the West Bank. The theory was that we don't deal with "terrorists." Now we see the results in Gaza.

I know very little about the ins and outs of foreign policy but I knew our response to the Hammas victory would have serious consequences. At this stage the U.S. government has almost zero credibility when it comes to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Unfortunately, I don't see any of the front runners for President in either party having a more enlightened policy towards the Middle East.

Libby going to jail...

2007-06-14T12:46:00.000-05:00

Looks like Schooter Libby will not stay free pending his appeal. I'm guessing his appeal was not helped by the fact that some of Schooters friends wrote nasty threatening letters to Judge Walton. Not a good idea.

I think there is a very good possibility that Bush will give Libby a pardon before he sets foot in the slammer. What do you think?

Breaking News: Remants of Famous Shiite Shrine Destroyed...

2007-06-13T07:23:00.001-05:00

This is very bad news. Early morning blasts today destroyed two minarets at the same Shiite shrine in Samarra where an attack last year demolished the mosque's gilded dome and plunged the country into a wave of deadly sectarian violence.

The 9 a.m. explosions at the revered Askariya shrine in Samarra, about 65 miles north of Baghdad, is the sort of event that could spark a spiral of retaliatory bloodshed.

This latest development is likely to make it more difficult to draw down U.S. troops. Not a good situation. Maybe we should just pick up and leave. What do you think?

A crazy idea...

2007-06-11T09:10:00.000-05:00

This weekend I was down in New Jersey celebrating the 95th birthday of my aunt with members of her extended family. Was out of contact with the blogosphere and developing news. When I got back last night I found out that the big story over the weekend was the recommendation on CBS by Joe Lieberman that we bomb Iran. What's up with this guy? Has he really sold his soul to the Israeli lobby in Washington. Doesn't he know that his advocacy of regime change in Iraq has resulted in the deaths of almost 600,000 people.

The twins...

2007-06-08T13:25:00.000-05:00

These guys look pretty happy. Not thinking about the mess they created in Iraq I'm sure. They must have celebrated a lot last night since Bush had a sick stomach this morning.

Scary stuff...

2007-06-07T10:53:00.000-05:00

Almost all the Republican candidates in the debate on Tuesday night indicated they would be willing to bomb Iran. Some seemed eager to get the opportunity. And Fred Thompson, appearing on a Fox Cable News interview said he would also bomb Iran. Do these guys have any idea of the catastrophic consequences of such action? Over half a million people have been killed in Iraq and they want to extend the war to another country.

Update: I noticed also that most of the Republican candidates in the Tuesday debate indicated their support for the idea of giving Libby a pardon. Not much respect for the judge or the jury that were involved in his trial.

Should Libby be pardoned?

2007-06-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

Christy Hardin Smith has this excellent post up at Firedoglake this morning on the possibility of a pardon for Schooter Libby. Well worth a read. There will be a lot of pressure on Bush to keep this guy out of jail.

Our Next First Lady?

2007-06-06T15:29:00.000-05:00

Photo shows social-christian conservative Fred Thompson, who believes in traditional marriage (he's "pro-traditional-marriage"), pictured with his current wife -- 25 years younger than he, 4 years younger than his own daughter -- after the 2006 White House Correspondent's Dinner.

"Hollywood Fred" is expected to officially become a Republican candidate for President in the near future. Will his trophy wife be an asset or a liability?

Update: I need to make a clarification/correction. According to a person who posted a comment the eldest daughter of Thompson died in 2002...and his youngest daughter is only four years old.

Update 11: The photo was not intended to be sexist. It was an attempt to say something about right-wing politicians who do a lot of moralizing for others. Newt Gingrich would have been a better example.

The Democratic Debate....

2007-06-04T11:54:00.000-05:00

Watched the two-hour Democratic Debate last night. Left me hoping that Al Gore might get in the race. I'm reading his best-selling book, Assault on Reason, and I am most impressed with his understanding of what is going on in America today.

Maybe the sponsors of these debates should consider devoting all the time to one topic such as the Iraq War or health care. The candidates last night were limited to brief sound-bites on multiple subjects and the result was almost a total lack of substance.

Search continues for missing girl...

2007-06-02T07:06:00.000-05:00

This photo of Madeleine McCann was taken during the family's current holiday at Praia da Luz in Portugal before the three-year-old disappeared. The search continues for this girl who was taken from her room one month ago. (Photo courtesy of the Guardian).

Thank you, Cindy

2007-05-30T08:59:00.000-05:00

Photo shows Cindy Sheehan, peace activist and mother of a soldier killed in Iraq, speaking on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Sheehan, who galvanized the anti-war movement with her month-long protest outside President Bush's ranch, says she is quitting as the public face of the movement.

She is obviously suffering from burnout from the battle she has waged over the past couple of years. We owe her a debt of gratitude. She deserves time to rest and recuperate.

(Photo: Lauren Victoria Burke /

Memorial Weekend....

2007-05-27T06:39:00.000-05:00

More than one thousand Americans have died in the battlefield since we last celebrated Memorial Day. The month of May may turn out to be the deadliest month since the Iraq War started. Nevertheless most of us go on living our lives almost unaware of the sacrifices of so many American families.

I'm tired of hearing Bush and Cheney say that we are fighting them over there so they won't come and fight us over here. What these guys will never admit is that the 9/11 terrorists were motivated by their hatred of American foreign policy in the Middle East...not by a hatred of American values. Our occupation of Iraq only gives the extremists an additional reason to attack Americans.

And the war goes on...

2007-05-23T08:34:00.000-05:00

US Marine Corps Sgt. Steve Shephard lowers his head during the dedication of the Corporal Jordan C. Pierson Memorial Park in Milford, Connecticut. Pierson, who played in the park as a child, was killed last August in Iraq.

In the meantime Democratic leaders have decided to drop the timeline for withdrawing US forces from Iraq from the war funding bill. Looks like they didn't have the votes in the Senate to pass a bill with timelines. Last time they were able to pass a bill with a couple of Republican votes. One can only hope that Bush got the message.

(Photo: Whitney Kidder-Alvarez / AP)

Al Gore speaks out....

2007-05-21T07:24:00.000-05:00

Al Gore was interviewed on ABC this morning and he was eloquent in speaking about the mistakes by the Bush Administration, in particular the invasion of Iraq. His comments on Iraq were timely given that 71 American soldiers have already died this month, including 15 this past weekend.

Gore sounded very much like a man who might decide to run for President later this year. I make no secret of the fact that he would be my first choice. What do you think?

War strikes close to home...

2007-05-17T12:35:00.000-05:00

One of the three soldiers captured in Iraq is Army Specialist Alex R. Jimenez of Lawrence, Massachusetts. This brings the war close to home as Lawrence is just a ten-minute drive from my home in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

Local people had planned a candlelight vigil last night outside the home of the Jimenez family but decided to cancel when they realized the media coverage might jeopardize the life of the missing soldier.

It has been reported that the father of Army Specialist Jimenez was a vocal critic of the Iraq war but a strong supporter of his sons decision to serve in the army.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Jimenez family.

Wolfie on the way out...

2007-05-16T16:25:00.000-05:00

Looks like Paul Wolfowitz is finally on the way out. The leadership crisis at the World Bank has dragged on for too long. It has hurt both the reputation of Wolfowitz and the Bank.

I thought that Bob Bennetts strategy of accusing the Board of "smear tactics" was a big mistake. These people have big egos and to not like the idea of public criticism. Anyway, the net result was that Board members dug in and were determined to remove Wolfowitz.

The passing of Jerry Falwell...

2007-05-15T13:27:00.000-05:00

Jerry Falwell was one of the pioneers in building right-wing "Christian" hate-mongering into a really profitable multi-million dollar business. I for one will not be shedding any tears for this bigot.

I've always been amazed at how preachers like Falwell could reconcile their racist and homophobic views with the teachings of Jesus Christ.

It would be difficult at this time to estimate the damage he did to our American society. His legacy of hate has been a cancer on our society.

Mothers Day...

2007-05-13T07:24:00.000-05:00

It has been over four decades since I lost my mother...and she still is the woman I have most admired in my life. She lived a life of selfless dedication while raising a family of seven children and working as a country midwife.

I've always liked the idea that we set aside a day each year to honor mothers. It provides an opportunity to reflect on all that we owe them.

To all the mothers out there...Happy Mothers Day! And thank you.

Another fallen hero...

2007-05-11T16:25:00.000-05:00

Following the hearse after a funeral mass for Pfc. Katie Soenksen are her husband, Army Spec. Benjamin Rowella (left), and brother, Matt Soenksen.

Katie Soenksen was the seventy-first female soldier to die in the war in Iraq.

House Democrats advanced legislation on Thursday to pay for military operations in Iraq on an installment plan, ignoring President Bush's veto threat.

In the meantime VP Cheney is in the Middle East issuing threats against Iran. These guys may want to do some more damage before they leave office.

(Photo: Dan Videtich / AP

Paisley and McGuinness sworn in a power-sharing arangement...

2007-05-08T09:44:00.000-05:00

Photo shows Martin McGuinness, the Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Tony Blair, Peter Hain and Ian Paisley talking in the first minister's office of the Northern Ireland assembly. Photograph courtesy of the Guardian. More details below.

Former enemies sworn in as Northern Ireland's premiers...

2007-05-08T09:20:00.000-05:00

Photo shows Ian Paisley, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, arriving at Stormont Parliamentary Building in Belfast Northern Ireland earlier today. (Photo:Peter Morrison/Associated Press)

This was a truly historic event. Ian Paisley, 81, leader of the Pretestant Democratic Party, and Martin McGuinness, 56. deputy leader of Sinn Fein, were sworn in lead a 12-member cabinet to govern Northern Ireland in Peace.

With British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Ireland's Prime Minister Bertie Ahern to watch, Paisley was elected first minister, followed by McGuinness as deputy minister.

I remember the first time I visited Belfast in 1972. At that time it was a dangerous battle zone in the middle what was effectively a civil war. Northern Ireland has come a long way in the intervening years. Unfortunately more than 3000 individuals died in the conflict.

Time for Wolfowitz to go...

2007-05-08T09:04:00.000-05:00

It seems pretty obvious that the situation at the World Bank is beyond repair. Wolfowitz has lost the confidence of most stakeholders...except George Bush. In the meantime this crisis is hurting the bank's ability to fulfill its important mission.

I predicted Wolfowitz would have been gone by this time. Maybe he'll try to tough it out until June when he will become entitled to a large bonus.

The bloody war continues...

2007-05-07T09:38:00.000-05:00

Injured children receive medical treatment at a hospital after a car bomb blast in Kirkuk, Iraq. In a wave of violence, at least 95 Iraqis were killed or found dead nationwide on Sunday.

The news continues to be very depressing from Iraq. This photo is a reminder that many of the victims are innocent citizens...including women and children. The people responsible for selling this war to the American people should be held accountable.

(Photo: Emad Matti / AP)

Immigration Rally attacked by Police...

2007-05-03T05:55:00.000-05:00

A day of peaceful immigration rallies in major US cities Tuesday was marred when Los Angeles police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

Witnesses said police wearing riot gear and wielding batons gave no warning before firing at rally participants gathered at MacArthur Park. Some members of the media were also victims of police brutality.

There is an investigation underway to determine whether police used excessive force. Same old story. Fortunately, nobody was killed.

(Photo: Rick Loomis /The Los Angeles Times)

Wolfowitz: His days are numbered at World Bank...

2007-05-01T12:02:00.000-05:00

I have been following the drama unfolding at the World Bank with more than a passing interest. My day job involves advising organizations on a variety of issues including leadership and employee morale.

It seems to me that Paul Wolfowitz has lost the trust of most of the key stakeholders. And there is no way he can regain this trust. The longer he stays the more he will damage his own reputation and the reputation of the World Bank.

The World Bank has a very important mission. I hope Wolfowitz will resign sooner rather than later.

Condi responds to Tenet...

2007-04-29T08:13:00.000-05:00

Condi is making the rounds of the Sunday Talk circuit this morning to refute Tenets allegation that Bush did not have a serious discussion about the various options available before invading Iraq.

What Tenet has to say is backed-up by numerous reports from various sources. From Day One Bush was hell-bent on regime change in Iraq. We know that this was a top priority at his very first cabinet meeting.

Condi's response to the Tenet on ABC this morning was a feeble effort to rewrite history. Of course she can never admit that the war was based on a pack of lies...since she was one of Bush's main enablers. I don't believe anything that woman has to say any more.

Update:

Joe Biden was just on Meet the Press (NBC) offering his rewrite of history. I consider Biden to be what I call a bullshit artist.