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Hunting lame ducks.
Topic Started: Dec 1 2008, 05:00 PM (561 Views)
dumblonde
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Don't think just because he's on his way out of town that Bush is spending his time packing. He's been a busy little nest-featherer and making sure that the next administrations hands are tied on many issues.

http://globalcomment.com/2008/george-w-bush-lame-duck-watch/
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It’s been tradition for a while among presidents to save their shadiest business for their lame duck period, since our celebrity-worship culture will be enamored of its shiny new plaything, the president-elect.

One of those shady business practices is burrowing, or transferring political appointees into career positions in civil service—where they can continue to share their ideological wealth with the rest of the country for years on end. The gift that keeps on giving, so to speak. This isn’t a practice that Dubya has invented, but it’s definitely one he’s taking advantage of, seeding the bureaucracies with conservatives who will continue to push a Bush agenda for years to come.

In an even nastier move, Bush is rushing to relax endangered species regulations, allowing the federal agencies in charge of building projects to decide for themselves if an endangered species would be harmed by their building projects. Kind of like letting factories police themselves on air pollution, eh?

The New York Times reported another story under the innocuous headline “Protests Over a Rule to Protect Health Providers”. But what this rule would actually do is allow doctors and health professionals who have religious objections to abortion and birth control not to perform or prescribe anything that offends their religious beliefs.

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Still scarier is a proposal to expand still further the government’s domestic surveillance powers—in layman’s terms, our government’s ability to keep tabs on us.

The administration has also approved developing new oil shale deposits without first considering environmental impacts, a rule that would require HIV/AIDS prevention organizations to denounce prostitution, and would deny funding to any organization that advocates for the legalization of prostitution. Kind of like the global gag rule, but with HIV/AIDS. The administration also wants to deny funding to organizations that help victims of sex trafficking if they also advocate legalized consensual prostitution. These and others can be found on ProPublica.org’s list of midnight regulations.

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Finally, there’s a new status of forces agreement with Iraq, negotiated quickly because the administration seems to not have wanted Obama getting his hands on the deal. According to a McClatchy article, Pentagon officials claim the agreement made unprecedented concessions to the Iraqi government. In the Arabic version, the agreement was called a “withdrawal accord.”

So if it’s an agreement to withdraw troops, why was Bush in such a rush to get his name on it, when he’s been opposed to withdrawal for, well, ever?

I don’t know, but I don’t trust this White House as far as I could throw it. The text of the agreement is here. Among other things, it gives the Iraqi government the right to exercise jurisdiction over U.S. troops and contractors who may commit crimes when they are off duty.

It also states that “All U.S. forces are to withdraw from all Iraqi territory, water and airspace no later than the 31st of December of 2011.”


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/washington/30labor.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

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WASHINGTON — The Labor Department is racing to complete a new rule, strenuously opposed by President-elect Barack Obama, that would make it much harder for the government to regulate toxic substances and hazardous chemicals to which workers are exposed on the job.

The rule, which has strong support from business groups, says that in assessing the risk from a particular substance, federal agencies should gather and analyze “industry-by-industry evidence” of employees’ exposure to it during their working lives. The proposal would, in many cases, add a step to the lengthy process of developing standards to protect workers’ health.

Public health officials and labor unions said the rule would delay needed protections for workers, resulting in additional deaths and illnesses.

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One rule would allow coal companies to dump rock and dirt from mountaintop mining operations into nearby streams and valleys. Another, issued last week by the Health and Human Services Department, gives states sweeping authority to charge higher co-payments for doctor’s visits, hospital care and prescription drugs provided to low-income people under Medicaid.


Yup, like a dead mouse in a heating duct the stench of this administration will be with us for some time to come.
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The Punisher
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You think the last 8 was bad, that was NOTHING, Sweetheart, compaired to what ya' all voted for the next 4....
Edited by The Punisher, Dec 1 2008, 05:17 PM.
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dumblonde
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Why do you say that? Any specific fears or is it all partisan based?
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Gringa
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God, it is just BS and the typical responses from TPP is sickening. If Bush did it, he will sniff it, lick it and swallow it.... TPP, you look like a fool. I have tried to be your friend and tell you, but you won't listen. I can't do any more for you. You are on your own.

I read today the Bush is "sorry" for the economic situation we are in and the invasion of Iraq.... oh really.... trying to get a better place in heaven or what?

I can't remember when it was he got on TV and said the economy is JUST FINE. But, I can guarantee you it was AFTER Dec. of 07.... he lied from the beginning and he will lie to his end. He is despicable. And many CONS buy it/bought it hook, line and sinker.
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dumblonde
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If it can't be done on the up and up it shouldn't be done at all. We can joke about stripping the copper pipes out of the White House- but at this point that would hardly raise an eyebrow. Talk about carpetbaggers.
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Gringa
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I am waiting for him to pardon everyone that has ever worked, known or passed by him for anything they may have done in the past, present OR future.

When he does that - don't be surprized when we see all the filthy dirt that has been worn into the floors of the White House....
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towermonkey
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It's interesting that these came from Pro-publica. The banned SNL skit was edited to remove the spoof on the financiers of that site.
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Bigtoe
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Did anyone really expect a graceful exit?
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Gringa
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Well, there come a point in a some people's life when their image is important. Since I thought Bush thought he was a demi-god and wanted worshiped and I think he thought he was pretty damn sneaky and nobody would see what he was doing and since I really do think he was hurt to find out that McCain didn't want him within 1000 miles of his campaign, I was hoping, yes, that he wouldn't create a bigger mess on his way out.

But, see, I am always looking for the best in people.
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Yhitzak
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:laugh: That's pretty honorable of you, G: looking for the best in Dumbya! I think his best comes out of his rear end every morning before he hits the press floor... just my opinion, though.

I think what's scariest of all is that we have how many groups playing Lame Duck Watch, the public is pretty well aware of the slimy things Bush is doing right now (pardons, passing of legislation, etc.), and there seems to be nothing that anyone can do. That whole 'executive privilege' thing really screwed this country. My faith that Obama *can* change it is dwindling, and not because I think he doesn't have the conviction; I think it's going to be way too hard to work through the mire. I keep hoping that Sarcozy will make a little visit to the White House in January... or maybe now.
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