Bu$h & GOP ~ There's profits in them there roads

Ginny MacDonald of the B'ham News reports U.S. Transportation Secretary supports Alabama toll roads. I'm shocked, shocked! Bu$hCo has continued the right's efforts to privatize everything from making war to educating our children to Social Security to ... so taking road building and the like that way fits. Friedmanites gone wild!

Governor Riley and Secretary Mary Peters plus her PR professional Brian Brian Turmail are quoted extensively. Did Ms. MacDonald go beyond simple stenography here?

For an alternative view on the options for the state, not to mention the possible reasons for Bu$hCo and the other Corporatists to want to go the privatization route, Daniel Schulman's Highway Privatization: "This Is All About Money" in Mother Jones is a good place to begin. Secretary Peters, drawing fire for her bike bashing and other bullheaded responses to the I-35 bridge collapse up in Minnesota early in her tenure, has settled down as she continues following the right-wing agenda of cutting taxes on (but also providing profit making opportunities for!) the wealthy.

Less than a year left for Dubyah but with Governor Riley in place and other Unreconstructed Reaganites down here in Alabama I do fear what damage they can do. Even more privatizing of roads and the like will impact our state and region for generations. Furthermore, locking down our future options in corporate contracts seems rather scary to this Progressive. Truly this story needed some additional perspectives that Ms. MacDonald failed to supply. Perhaps she was unable to simply as to space restriction and then again it could be from the culture of her employer. The Newhouse family would be pleased with her work I'm betting but I'm not sure Alabama is being well-served with reading only the right wing approach to the issue.

Here's what I'll try to do in thirty or so minutes ... Reckon why Reason Foundation is nearly orgasmic about the appointment of Mary Peters to DOT? Could it be that they are bought and paid for by the privatization profiteers? SourceWatch, Media Transparency, and finally Political Friendster helps connect the dots, or more accurately, the dollars. The Anniston Star allowed Billy Norrell of the Alabama Road Builders Association space to point out his groups concerns over privatization taking dollars away from other projects just a few days ago. Yet, the Road Builders Association is hardly without their own agenda. He in fact writes that his members will "eagerly partner" up to get those projects done.

As an aside, I'd like to have seen some coverage on why exactly Ms. Peters is down here in Alabama to fight against an increase in the federal highway tax. I'm not buying that she was here for anything beyond cheerleading for Governor Riley's roll out but perhaps so. To ask how a clear need for more funding is twisted into an opportunity to rail against the inefficiencies of government seems reasonable. To follow the right wing line on taxes is par for the course yet to deliver profits to the markets as they do this is always something to behold. They are always looking for opportunities to advance movement conservatism aren't they?

To be fair to Ms. MacDonald, the coverage around the state hasn't exactly provided much better than what she delivered. The Montgomery Advertiser has Secretary Peters saying, "Taking even more money out of Alabama will not save commuters even one minute. ... We can give commuters the power to pursue new projects, and we can do that without taking money out of this region and sending it to Washington." Won't the profits realized leave the region in most cases, especially if out of state and/or foreign entities are involved? And what of foreign or even multi-national firms owning critical infrastructure being fraught with risks?

Also, "Peters said toll roads in other states have not led to economic segregation, where affluent people use the new toll roads and poor people stay on the old, free routes." appears in Phillip Rawls reporting. Are they really free routes Mary? Aren't they an investment in infrastructure that our government makes? If they are built with taxpayer money then shouldn't every taxpayer get to use them? Why should anyone be able to make a profit on such an essential? Getting from point A to point B in a relatively quick and effective way is critical, even and perhaps especially so for poor people. This is especially true when in an area where public transportation is lacking.

Perhaps this road building is indeed a "critical" need but can't we go with another less radical route? I sense tactics used by Disaster Capitalists all too often. Stir up some fear and then offer a way to soothe the pain. The Korean cars will not roll off the lines and into the stream of commerce quickly enough! Wealthy trophy wives in Montgomery and Birmingham suburbs will be bothered as they are delayed in traveling from the prime shopping locations to the private schools! And you'll never get back from the condo on the beach on time Alabama swells! But I've got a bridge I'd like to sell you.

How long has Bob Riley been Governor? Could he have not gotten started on this earlier? Nice touch Governor blaming the "federal government". He's your President Bob. Your party has had control for decades. (No, Progressives don't count Bill Clinton!) Bu$hCo cut taxes and spent what looked like even a surplus on the neo-conservatives adventurism in Iraq. Of course Naomi Klein makes a very persuasive argument that profiteering drove that effort as well. So because your political party starves governments, not yet to the level for movement conservative Grover Norquist to drown in the bathtub perhaps, the solution is to deliver profit making opportunities for privatization providers? Isn't that really what you are saying?

What about urban planning? Public transportation? Less sprawl? HOV lanes? Carpooling? Silly Progressive, where's the profit in that? WSFA even has a primer on how to get a piece of the action from Kiplinger.com up on their site. They suggest, "Businesses that want a piece of the action should be proactive. Get close to local governments so you're ready when projects are put out for local bid. But you don't need to wait. If you see a need, make your pitch to a city manager, a city council or a state representative."

I've searched for negative coverage of the privatization push. No luck so far, from any journalist at least. This past fall Guy Thompson, apparently just a regular guy concerned about his world, asked Alabama newspapers to do some digging on the issue so that a full policy debate could more easily occur. Who was he kidding! P/W

UPDATE - Evening of January 29, 2008 - A tip of the tam to The Anniston Star for thoughtful commentary on this issue. I've yet to hear from Ms. MacDonald even though I emailed her the post. Nothing yet from any other media sources that I've been able to find. I'd have expected The Star, an consistently Progressive paper, to have voiced much stronger concerns over "privatization" plus that the poor will perhaps have to get by with second class or worse options but at least they pointed out multiple views, contrary to Ms. MacDonald's "reporting".

Outlander of the Day ~ "Pastor" Rod Parsley

This morning I heard Sarah Posner on Bob Edwards talking of her new work God's Profits: Faith, Fraud, and the Republican Crusade for Values Voters. As she explained the many outrages of "prosperity gospel" preachers getting the "first fruits" of often poor and/or ignorant folks so that these hucksters can live high on the hog, she mentioned Paul Crouch and his Trinity Broadcasting Network. A portion of Ms. Posner's book may be read here. Also, Max Blumenthal can bring you up to speed on Mr. Crouch rather quickly. Despite allegation of homosexual sex and fleecing the flock, Ms. Posner indicated Paul and Jan Crouch are still living large.

Sarah might have mentioned Rod Parsley of World Covenant Church up in Columbus, Ohio yet I knew of this outlander already. A mega-church indeed yet Parsley also has his Breakthrough effort broadcast across the globe via TBN and other outlets. Jews on First can tell us plenty about Parsley and other "ministers" up in Ohio. "Pastor" Russell Johnson's Ohio Reformation Project for instance is noted for his support of Bu$hCo and general radicalism. But for Ohio, where Ohio's Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell helped seal the deal, we'd have long ago returned Dubyah to the "ranch".

Perhaps we sgould just ignore operators like Parsley and others on the right yet I feel joining issue with them is defensible. If Progressives hope to restore balance and hope to this nation and beyond they've got to go after false prophets I'd argue. Thoughts? P/W

Captain Plaid ~ Politicking back in the day

Who is this old man with the gray beard? I pretty much looked like hell in the second clip. I worked 75-80 hours each and every week from Labor Day to the election in the McNerney campaign and was totally trashed once back in Milwaukee for a brief period. P/W

Davos Men ~ Let the blames begin!

As to the recent meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Davos Men were likely feeling rather shaken given the economic picture in the U.S. and beyond. Julian Glover's piece in The Guardian seemed to sum up much about Davos. Iraq and Iran and ... likely also cast a pale over over the events. Homo Balcanicus is still out there after all. I'm sure however that the swells soldiered on in many respects.

Bill Gates wants to make capitalism creative. Declan McCullagh of CNet doesn't approve. Larry Elliot of The Guardian labels George Soros the "Poacher turned Gameskeeper" for his work and thoughts. Bono and Al Gore made the scene. The UK's PM Gordon Brown laments that there has not been enough globalization.

This intersection of politics and capital which represents pure unadulterated power is representative of the modern world. Davos Man might be needing to lay low or at least go on the down low by pretending to give a damn. As for when or if he'll be back, I'd not bet against the house. P/W

Outlander of the Day ~ HUD's Alphonso Jackson

Heck of a job Alphonso? Mike Stuckey of MSNBC reports Feds OK Mississippi's Katrina grant diversion: $600 million from housing program approved for huge port expansion.

Lewis Wallace via In These Times has written on the way HUD has treated poor NOLA residents. Jackson has proven to be perfect for this very worst administration. He actually admitted punishing those that disliked Dubyah, then claimed this merely anecdotal, and finally was nailed by an internal probe. He's under investigation even now. Several HUD officials have packed their bags during this investigation. Why Secretary Jackson hasn't resigned or been forced out is beyond me.

Actually, I guess the reason for this post explains why. Jackson must support or at least be willing to do as told on the Friedmanite philosophy that makes up" Disaster Capitalism" (A clean slate with taxpayers often paying for private profits for the privileged few.) that often seems to be the Bu$hCo bottom line. P/W

Highlanders of the Day - The Sierra Club and ...

A very clever effort from the Sierra Club and League of Conservations Voters over the medias failure to pose questions on global warming to those seeking the White House. P/W

Dennis Kucinich to drop out of Presidential race

Dennis Kucinich, pictured with his lovely bride, will apparently drop out of the 2008 Presidential race as he's facing a challenge in his own Congressional District in Ohio. Suzanne Goldenberg of The Guardian supplies the news. I hate to see him leave as his message was one that surely needed telling. Of course at times times they didn't let him do the telling. Representative Kucinich suggests those that are funding his opponents are corporate funded. Reckon why they don't like Dennis? At least Elizabeth does. P/W

Outlanders of the Day ~ Paul Wolfowitz and ...

Old neo-conservatives never die, they just ... After spreading disaster (Disaster Capitalism?) in Iraq, then leading the World Bank while obtaining some sweet terms for his sweetie Shaha Riza, Paul Wolfowitz did some rehab with (surprise, surprise)American Enterprise Institute. In the tank no more however as Wolfie's back in the saddle with Bu$hCo.

Wolfowitz will lead State's International Security Advisory Board, which is "charged with supplying independent advice on arms control, disarmament, nonproliferation and related subjects" according to AP/MSNBC. Info on Paul Wolfowitz may be found here, here, here and ... Naturally they want him back!

Perhaps his appointment will at least provide yet another opportunity to educate the masses on what is really going on in DC and the world with the huge multi-national and other predatory profiteers running the show. Appointing this operator certainly sends a signal to the world that Washington doesn't give one damn about peace and progress as they really want profits for the privileged. P/W

Highlander of the Day ~ Mark Pera of Illinois 3rd CD

Mark Pera is posed to knock off Dan Lipinski in the Illinois 3rd Congressional District race. Dan and Dubyah are apparently BFF and Mark is making sure the primary voters know it. Act Blue and others from Progressive organizations are helping Mark out. Details on the many differences of these candidates appear from Robert Naiman on HuffPo. Coverage of the race comes from Abdon M. Pallasch of the Chicago Sun-Times. Show Mark some love if you can spare some dollars and/or time. P/W

Former Alabama JuCo Chancellor to Name Names!

Although I worry whenever the Bu$hCo Justice Department swings into action, I 'fess up that I'm pleased to learn Roy Johnson, formerly President of Southern Union Community College and later Chancellor of the whole Junior College system in the state, is poised to plead to various and sundy crimes. And he's going to talk. Liquor sales in Montgomery soar. The criminal bar's phones are jammed. Oh the schadenfreude!

Johnson's tale is perhaps representative of how Alabama works and I've been on his case for some time. Brett Blackledge's work is however an equally fine example of how journalism ought to afflict the powerful. He'll likely have plenty more to write on. And apparently he has at least one and likely more well-placed sources in the U.S. Attorney's office. P/W

Highlander of the Day ~ Glenn Greenwald

Glenn Greenwald, possibly behind Salon's subscription wall yet all you need to do is watch the damn ad, delivers up another solid examination of the FISA fight with his Your Harry Reid-led Senate in action piece from today. Glenn is right to condemn Dirty Harry for much yet the idea that Senators need to get to Davos is especially bothersome given my recent time with the amazing Naomi Klein.

Also, Elana Schor appears in The Guardian with another examination of this mess. Dead Eye Dick appeared before his/their Heritage Foundation just today "speaking to a room filled with folks who mostly agree with him rather than venturing forth to talk to those who don't" on the FISA legislation. TPMCafe lets Steve Clemons explain.

Cowboy up Harry! Grow some! Chris Dodd and Russ Feingold and ... will always be welcomed in the Highlands for their courage and leadership on FISA and other issues. P/W

Damn Editors

I'd taken the time (I gain respect for those limited by space whenever I try the format!) to craft a Letter to the Editor to my hometown paper just recently in a response to a Column from Gary Palmer of the Alabama Policy Institute. This was in addition to a previous post on Palmer's Alabama Policy Institute effort to discredit public education.

The Leader chose a title for the LTE, namely "Conservatism seeks to end public education", that I think goes too far. Surely plenty of opportunists do. Profiteers for privatization added to movement conservatives to libertarians working with bible thumpers wanting vouchers who then find like cause with ... makes that at least partially true. however, some conservatives don't want to end public education.

The Leader leave off the following from what I sent them:

Palmer is on “Wingnut Welfare”. API gets ink into papers across Alabama rather often. API is “dedicated to the preservation of free markets, limited government and strong families.” They symbolize the right’s "think tank" or "policy shop" efforts to create seemingly legitimate information and then get the message to the masses. To gather a tax deduction while promoting their glorious cause of movement conservatism is doubly useful for wealthy true believers.

API is funded by some of the usual suspects like Bradley Foundation money. The Jaquelin Hume Foundation also helps pays the bills.. The Humes are so "free" market oriented that their “Foundation for Teaching Economics” will twist the Civil Rights Movement so that “economic incentives” become celebrated. The Hume family took Reagan from a b-list actor and paid GE shill to Sacramento and DC.

I was under five hundred words. Why'd they need to drop these words? I think people reading The Leader ought to know what is being passed off from a partisan outfit as legitimate is actually bought and paid for. That The Leader runs Palmer's words of wisdom as a "Column" is bad enough yet to now silence me on a LTE bothers me greatly. Any suggestions? P/W

Outlander of the Day ~ Chauncey Sparks

I'll continue speaking, or more accurately keyboarding, ill of the dead. I called out Uncle Milton Friedman recently and then I put a clip of The Gipper up talking to us from his just reward. Chauncey Sparks, who died in 1968, remarkably drops by Doc's to offer his thoughts on the Democratic Primary in Alabama. I head to the Political Parlor first thing on most days and yet I must take exception to Mr. Sparks on this occasion.

Since I lived in Barbour County for a brief period as a teen I know some of Governor Sparks yet I don't have Dr. Flynt's books handy enough to be certain of his politics. As the "Barbour County Bourbon", with some other information in the state archives being considered, I'm guessing Sparks was the "business progressive" type that we elect so often in Alabama. Maybe that explains his position? And much of what he offers might be true, at least as applies to this election.

However, I must scold the Governor for not considering the long view in the restoration of balance to not only Alabama but beyond. As Chauncey admits there's not much difference between Hillary and Obama. Hillary might be a bit more hawkish on Iraq and beyond. They are certainly centrists. Both are very sympathetic to Wall Street and others in the business community. Neither offers a Progressive or Liberal orientation for our nation. Governor Sparks is wanting us to play the game on the GOP's turf I fear. We fear how they'll be unified over Hillary Clinton yet I see an opportunity to teach Joe and Jill Sixpack how they've been used and abused by the GOP these last thirty or so years.

Governor Sparks mentions how the GOP was divided before electing Reagan. I'd argue that going back to Goldwater in 1964, and perhaps even earlier, certain powers on the right were always planning ahead of how to redeem the radical views of Barry and his backers that scared the hell out of many Americans. The Southern Strategy of Nixon, borrowing liberally (pardon the pun) from another Barbour County Governor's "Politics of Rage", plus the effective use of "White Backlash" and "Law and Order", set up the GOP for success for three decades. I become more and more certain that the right's ability to take a strategic view is one of their foundational strengths. "Movement Conservatism", if nothing else, is always looking beyond the immediate horizon.

I've blogged on the willingness of Alabama Democratic party "leaders" to default to Republican Lite and/or accept the right's framing before (here, here, here, and here for instance) yet I don't understand why Alabama Democrats need to seek "distance" from those on the national stage. I get frustrated with Harry Reid or Rham Emanuel or ... for acting like centrist weenies as they engage in Chaunceyesque calculations yet I digress. Quit letting the right define us! And if Chauncey thinks Hillary or Obama will lose the state then why not use this 2008 race as a way to define our party for a change? With things as bad as they are with Iraq and the economy and ..., especially if the GOP goes with a second tier candidate to true believer social and/or fiscal conservatives, I can't imagine getting a better opportunity to engage in some jujitsu politics. Let them come after us and then beat the BS out of them! P/W

UPDATE - Early (I literally had trouble sleeping last night due to a combination of Chauncey and Naomi Klein.) on January 23, 2008 - I've tweaked this post and now taken the opportunity to read some comments from Doc's. I was heartened to see some support for John Edwards as I think he could do very well in Alabama as populism works here. Absent some strong juju this fall, Alabama will vote for the GOP candidate of choice. Perhaps the bible thumpers and other variants of those "values voters" on the right would be more likely to participate if Hillary were on the ticket for the Democratic Party. Add in some sexism and others will turn out to vote against a woman. Then again, I expect some racists will turn out to vote against Obama. I could analyze the possibilities to death but will close. I know what Progressivism and Liberalism means to me. I can explain that better than try to fit my beliefs to the views of potential voters. I surely don't change many minds by trying to cobble my thinking into a variant of a right wing world view. My hope is that Alabama Democratic Party "leaders" will finally take the long view in rebuilding viability for the party and use this perfect opportunity to break from their usual Republican Lite model.

Highlander of the Day ~ Timothy Masters

Yet another prisoner, this one not facing the death penalty, was released today due to DNA evidence. Timothy Masters was merely fifteen when the murder of Peggy Hettrick, 37, occurred. Twelve years passed before he was charged and convicted. The "evidence" against him was circumstantial plus it appears certain Colorado prosecutors and police didn't play fair at his trial. Timothy spent nine years behind bars.

CNN's reporting is as good as I've found on this event. They have a video that shocked me of Timothy being questioned when he was a kid. However, the Denver Post has a video summary of the case that was so very impressive.

Congrats Timothy. Sue the bastards! P/W

Heck of a job Bu$hie with that diplomacy thing

Even third century cults like the Manicheans can apparently be insulted with their alleged role in the Bu$h brain. Professor Daniel W. Drezner, a libertarian Republican according to his own blog, appears in Newsweek with Projecting Power: The competitive race for president may help repair the damage to America's image abroad, even before George Bush leaves office. I'm not sure I'll accept all he suggests about the race but I like the following:

It's a truism among foreign policy wonks that during the Bush administration America has seen an erosion of its ability to persuade other countries to do what it wants them to do. The unilateralism, the blunders in the Middle East, and the Manichean view of the rest of the world have been so off-putting that, as poll after poll shows, the attitudes of people in other countries toward the United States have declined precipitously.

I suppose that sums up much as to this very worst administration. Also, I couldn't help but note the recent resignation of one of Bu$hCo's top diplomats involved in Iran. I found the following comment in a Pakistan source regarding the resignation of Bu$hCo's #3 State Department official Nicholas Burns:

With 26 years of experience with both Republican and Democratic administrations, Mr Burns will be an asset for a private firm. Staying out of the Bush administration for an entire year will also make him more acceptable to the new administration.

Looks like the Pakistanis have figured it out that it is all about the Benjamins. Is Disaster Capitalism at work here given Mr. Burns' bio? P/W

Jon Stewart Interviews Jonah Goldberg

Jonah Golberg is a gigantic tool. He has apparently written a book he simply can't explain. Can anyone? David Neiwert comes as close to anyone I'd bet. P/W

Outlanders of the Day ~ Media Merchants of Trivia

Matt Taibbi of Rolling Stone serves up Merchants of Trivia: Why do the media insist on reducing one of the most exciting presidential primary seasons in American history to a simple horse race? and I give it a big thumbs up. Why indeed? It is complex but involves a combination of corporate ownership, stupid citizens, profits in the face of tight margins, manipulation of message, herd mentality, laziness of the public and press, ... yet even all that can't explain why media coverage of this primary race, the most wide open in years, has been so devoid of policy discussions and comparisons. If not in 2008, will this ever occur? P/W

NYT's Michael Gordon & Dr. Andrew Bacevich weigh in on Iraq Quagmire

Generally supporting Bu$hCo, even nearing Judith Miller levels of "journalism", The Gray Lady's Chief Military Correspondent Michael Gordon has a new piece, namely War, Meet the 2008 Campaign, that troubles me. In the WaPo you'll find Andrew J. Bacevich, an academic, conservative, and the parent of a soldier killed in Iraq. Professor Bacevich's Surge to Nowhere is solid on its own yet to have it to compare to Gordon's is fortunate. I'm not sure any soldier would like to be placed or kept in harms way by politicians being graded between a D-minus and an F-plus. P/W

Highlander of the Day ~ Dr. Martin Luther King

Could it be anyone else today? Don't forget his legacy goes way beyond race. The full measure of his work also involved poverty, peace, class, ... AP via MSNBC reports Tributes to MLK tend to ignore his complexity: Historians say King was far from revered as he pushed activism beyond race. Professor Harvard Sitkoff, one of the academics cited by the AP, has a new work on Dr. King which seems like a solid addition to the scholarship. P/W

John Edwards Very Worst Weekend

Nevada let John Edwards down this weekend. He'd been out front for Labor long before this caucus period and I expected him to gather more support. John better hope what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Thinking is that South Carolina will be his last stand and it will be a shame if he drops out this early. Also, Senator Fiengold is correct in pointing out that John is running on the voting record that Russ has demonstrated but that when John was in the Senate he didn't vote that way.

If only we had RDF as a candidate. Backbone and then some! I worry that he, like John Edwards, might not get a fair shake from the media in their fixation on HRC vs BHO yet Russ and his staff would be savvy enough to run a smart and assertive campaign. Russ would have had some serious grassroots support and by jingoes we'd have made a full out effort. He'll get his shot I hope one day and in the meanwhile our nation is lucky to have him in DC.

I'll lean to Hillary I suppose if John Edwards folds but perhaps Dennis Kucinich could actually earn my support. His bride is a Brit yet she's lovely and a class act with her work in peace and justice. The campaign website has a "take the test" tool that is clever. Obama will certainly do yet both he and Hillary are far too centrist for my taste. Either should be able to beat St. John or Multiple Choice Mitt or the Huckster or ... yet I know the GOP is far better at running a campaign than a country. P/W