PARADE Magazine | The World's 10 Worst Dictators

And coming in at #6. You think Bush's America is bad?

PARADE Magazine | The World's 10 Worst Dictators: "6) Hu Jintao, China. Age 63. In power since 2002. Last year’s rank: 4

Although some Chinese have taken advantage of economic liberalization to become rich, up to 150 million Chinese live on $1 a day or less in this nation with no minimum wage. Between 250,000 and 300,000 political dissidents are held in “reeducation-through-labor” camps without trial. Less than 5% of criminal trials include witnesses, and the conviction rate is 99.7%. There are no privately owned TV or radio stations. The government opens and censors mail and monitors phone calls, faxes, e-mails and text messages. In preparation for the 2008 Olympics, at least 400,000 residents of Beijing have been forcibly evicted from their homes."

The Ultimate in Self-loathing

The Inquirer called this a one-stop-shop for all your self-loathing needs.

Phillysucks.com - Philly Sucks - Where suckage is a way of life....

It's them lawyers, that's the problem

Today Bush said that he consulted "all sorts of lawyers" before circumventing existing laws in order to obtain wiretaps without warrants. Methinks I'm smelling a defense here. You know, it wasn't Bush's fault, it was the fault of the lawyers - he just did what they recommended. See, lawyers told him it is ok to torture prisoners. And I'll bet that some of those in the intelligence community that told him that Sadam had WMD were lawyers also. See, it's all the fault of lawyers. Lawyers told him it was ok to break the law, torture people, and lie to the American public.

Look who's talking impeachment

I'm not sayin I'm just sayin.

Think Progress � Specter: If Bush Broke The Law With Warrantless Spying, Impeachment Is A Remedy

What to say to the President

I've been thinking about things to say to the President if I got the chance to shake his hand, not that this would ever happen. But just in case, I want to be prepared. I'll only have a few seconds, so how about this:

Hi, I'm on to your bullshit.

Outrage of the Day: The Signing Statement

Did anyone see this editorial on Bush's "signing statement?" This guy is unbelievable. Worse, Alito thought this up.

The Imperial Presidency at Work - New York Times: "Mr. Bush, however, seems to see no limit to his imperial presidency. First, he issued a constitutionally ludicrous 'signing statement' on the McCain bill. The message: Whatever Congress intended the law to say, he intended to ignore it on the pretext the commander in chief is above the law. That twisted reasoning is what led to the legalized torture policies, not to mention the domestic spying program."

Reframing taxes

I'm not sure if I buy everything Lakoff is selling. But he makes a point about how Republicans have framed taxes as a burden by focusing on "tax relief". So here's a way to reframe taxation as your dues to live in a decent society.

I'm sure your familiar with the slogan "Freedom isn't free." The implication is that you should be willing to give your life for the freedoms you enjoy and if you don't you need to honor those that do. This is the perfect frame for taxes.

Imagine, people are willing to give their lives for America, but balk at giving 25% of their income. What the fuck?

So here are two variations on this slogan:

Freedom isn't free--pay your taxes
Some gave all, you can give some

Feel free to use these when talking to "minimal government" types.

"Living Wage Is Our Gay Marriage"

What Is a Living Wage? - New York Times: "'This is what moves people to the polls now,' Kern insists. 'This is our gay marriage.' Already, during the past few months, a coalition of grass-roots and labor organizations have begun gathering hundreds of thousands of signatures to ensure that proposed laws to increase wages are voted on in November. The first targets, Kern told me, will be Arizona, Colorado, Michigan and Ohio. Next in line, either this year or soon after, are Montana, Oklahoma and Arkansas, the home of Wal-Mart."

The Impeachment of George W. Bush

The Impeachment of George W. Bush: "Finally, it has started. People have begun to speak of impeaching President George W. Bush--not in hushed whispers but openly, in newspapers, on the Internet, in ordinary conversations and even in Congress. As a former member of Congress who sat on the House Judiciary Committee during the impeachment proceedings against President Richard Nixon, I believe they are right to do so."

U.S. opening some private mail in terror fight - Jan 9, 2006

First torture, then eavesdropping , now opening our mail.

CNN.com - U.S. opening some private mail in terror fight - Jan 9, 2006: "'One of our areas of responsibility is to inspect international mail coming into our country,' she said. 'We respect privacy and always keep that at the forefront, but at the same time we need to make sure we do our job in keeping U.S. citizens safe.'

Customs and Border Protection's Web site notes that 'all mail originating outside United States Customs territory that is to be delivered inside U.S. Customs territory is subject to Customs examination.'

Grant Goodman, an 81-year-old retired history professor, drew attention to the policy after a letter he received from a colleague in the Philippines was opened and resealed by Customs and Border Protection, and only then sent on to him."

Trenches full of poets

Driving home today, my iPod—on shuffle—played Billy Bragg’s All You Fascists followed by The Clash’s Spanish Bombs. I took it as a sign that 2006 will be a good one, politically. So I’m helping start off the year with a local politics post.

The New Jersey legislature has a great website, where you can keep up on your legislators and any bills going through the assembly or senate. I’m digging it.

On January 13, 2004 John Rooney, proposed a bill to make English the official language of the state.  I’m not sure what status that would provide English. I’ll have to keep an eye on this one. Although it looks like it’s not particularly popular. He introduced the same bill in 1998, 2000, and 2002 and it never went anywhere.

There are also some odd ones in there. For example, in the same session, Connie Myers introduced a bill allowing parents to request the library record of their minor children:

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
    Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
 
An Act concerning access to certain library records and amending P.L.1985, c.172.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
 
    1. Section 1 of P.L.1985, c.172 (C.18A:73-43.1) is amended to read as follows:
    1. For the purposes of this act:
    a. "Library" means a library maintained by any State or local governmental agency, school, college, or industrial, commercial or other special group, association or agency, whether public or private.
    b. "Library record" means any document or record, however maintained, the primary purpose of which is to provide for control of the circulation or other public use of library materials.
    c. "Minor" means a person 16 years of age or less.
(cf: P.L.1985, c.172, s.1)
 
    2. Section 2 of P.L.1985, c.172 (C.18A:73-43.2) is amended to read as follows:
    2. Library records which contain the names or other personally identifying details regarding the users of libraries are confidential and shall not be disclosed except in the following circumstances:
    a. The records are necessary for the proper operation of the library;
    b. Disclosure is requested by the user; [or]
    c. Disclosure is required pursuant to a subpena issued by a court or court order; or
    d. Disclosure of the library record of a minor is requested by a parent or guardian upon presentation by a parent or guardian of a valid form of identification which identifies the parent or guardian as so named on the library record of a minor.
(cf: P.L.1985, c.172, s.2)
 
    3. This act shall take effect on the first weekday of the fourth month following enactment.
 
I’m not sure why Ms. Myers felt New Jersey needed this bill. I sent her an email asking her about it, but I don’t think she’ll respond. She is retiring from the legislature, so I doubt this law will get through.

There is, of course, a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. And one supporting the “fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children” sponsored by Gerald Cardinale and Anthony Bucco. Those two seem like a winning team.

On the plus side, New Jersey is getting a new slogan. Too bad my wife’s entry, “New Jersey, Love It or Leave It,” didn’t make the cut.