THE BLANK GENERATION

News today is Bush wants another $80B for the war, and that the new estimate is that the U.S.ofA. will rack up $855B in debt over the next decade, excluding the overhaul to the social security plan and the expense of the war(s).

The sad fact is that all this debt might not be the most disgusting, lasting effect of the Bush administration. That honor might be reserved for the decisions Bush has made concerning who to put in power, and the negative impact they have on our society.

Ole Judge Rehnquist is about ready to kick the bucket, and experts say that Ole Judge Scalia is the shoo-in to replace Rehnquist as high roller. Of course, it's never too soon to brace for our forthcoming violent smack across the face due to arrive when Bush puts forth his recommendation for a newbie to the Almighty Court.

Meanwhile, Salon posted the following nugget yesterday. I really shouldn't be surprised anymore by what I read concerning Bush and his ability to pat those on the back who have served him well in the past. I don't find that, in and of itself, to be despicable. (After all, in politics the practice is all too common.) But, in Bush's case, he keeps poor company in the first place. Read up, with thanks to Mark Follman for posting this originally.

Newsweek's Michael Isikoff reports that the nominee for attorney general may have helped President Bush escape jury duty in a drunken-driving case involving a dancer at an Austin strip club in 1996, in order to protect Bush from disclosing his own 1976 conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol.

The Newsweek report is based on Gonzales' recent testimony during Senate confirmation hearings, and follow-up interviews with Travis County Judge David Crain and lawyers involved in the case.

"In separate interviews, Crain -- along with [defense attorney] Wahlberg and prosecutor John Lastovica -- told NEWSWEEK that, before the case began, Gonzales asked to have an off-the-record conference in the judge's chambers. Gonzales then asked Crain to 'consider' striking Bush from the jury, making the novel 'conflict of interest' argument that the Texas governor might one day be asked to pardon the defendant (who worked at an Austin nightclub called Sugar's), the judge said. 'He [Gonzales] raised the issue,' Crain said. Crain said he found Gonzales's argument surprising, since it was 'extremely unlikely' that a drunken-driving conviction would ever lead to a pardon petition to Bush. But 'out of deference' to the governor, Crain said, the other lawyers went along. Wahlberg said he agreed to make the motion striking Bush because he didn't want the hard-line governor on his jury anyway. But there was little doubt among the participants as to what was going on.

"'In public, they were making a big show of how he was prepared to serve,' said Crain. 'In the back room, they were trying to get him off.'"

You scratch my hairy back, and I'll scratch yours.


N/P—Samples from the new Bright Eyes albums (I'ma gonna be gettin' me one of 'em.)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 25 at 9:30 AM.

2 Comments:

I highly suggest picking I'm Wide Awake over the other. My wonderful girlfriend pre-ordered both of these for me for Christmas and Saddle Creek sent them out a week early, so I've had time to listen to them both. The problem is, since you are buying one disk a month, that Archer Prewitt just released a great album. I've never bought any of his or The Sea and Cake, but I thought I'd pick this up since nothing else was out. I've been nothing but happy with it, but again, I can't compare it to any previous work.

By  Anonymous, at 11:34 PM  

Thanks for the tips. I am buying "Wide Awake," or rather I did buy it. I'm not passing up an album with a cameo from Emmylou Harris. I'll post on the record later this week.

As for the Prewitt, I don't feel like I need anymore, even though it probably is good (he's consistent like that). I have several Sea and Cake/Coctails albums, and one only needs so much. I hope he comes to town so I can see him again, though. He's good live.

By  thenoiseboy, at 8:50 AM  

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