Beginning of a bad month...

BushCo installs Bolton at UN as recess appointment, since he could not get his man appointed the fair way. This is not a surprising move by this Administration, who cares less about peace and world relationships. As most of us know, Bolton is a case study in anger management. His discontent for the UN and people in general is palpable.

Prior to this below the belt move by BushCo, George first snubs the Boy Scouts at their Jamboree last week, then after some 300 scouts collapse in what James Wolcott portends as an indicator to Global Warming (Wait, more tests are needed!!), he decides to show up to "give his support." The Jamboree was plagued with problems and tragedy - 4 dead scout leaders and a general malaise that makes the Washington Press Corps seem like Mardi Graz. A sad week, nonetheless, and makes one feel bad that these kids, who look to others for leadership role models end up learning a valuable lessen in life - you cannot rely on current leaders to actually stand up and lead. We live in an individualistic society - a myth perpetuated by the far Right. So suck it up and move on...

And to top it off, seven Marines Killed in Western Iraq bringing the count up past 1800. The Iraqi estimates are the hundreds of thousands, with no end in sight.

There is a little hope though - Ohioans in Congressional District 02 go to the polls today to get Paul Hackett, an Iraqi War veteran in office in that beleaguered state. He would be the first, if elected. Ohio is getting it with one scandal after another. As the coin/golf ethics GOP scandal escalates, Governor Taft stonewalls. He must have received the GOP talking points - Repeat, repeat, or say nothing at all. Things are getting worse with the wife of Ohio GOP fundraiser apparently doing what The Raw Story calls "some election reform of her own." In Lucas County, Bernadette Noe, wife of Tom Noe - currently involved in the Ohio GOP campaign money laundering schemes, was former chairman of the Republican Party in that county that seems to be in Diebold's payroll. Diebold, of course, is the voting machine company that can't make a secure machine with a paper trail, even though nearly all of the other products they design provide receipts. The Noe's are playing very bad politics and costing Ohioans a lot of money, not to mention a possible election. Maybe the Purple state will wise up and put Hackett in play to provide accountability and balance? It is high time that some folks at BushCo actually take responsibility for their selfish and destructive ways. Government is in the business of fairness, oversight, protection, and democracy. And, knowing Ohioans, they will make it right and stop this mess...