15

Here is the honor roll of Senators who voted against confirmation of Gen. Hayden to run the CIA. If your Senator ain't on this list, s/he voted for this man who spys on all of us, or abstained (hello, Boxer!).

Bayh (D-IN)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dayton (D-MN)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin (D-IA)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Obama (D-IL)
Specter (R-PA)
Wyden (D-OR)

Ahoy! The Coast Guard has been Bushified!

The latest example of corrupt, inept Bush-style security (a.k.a., putting corporate profit over Americans’ safety): the U.S. Coast Guard has been giving ships bound for the United States advance notice of up to a day before mounting supposedly “surprise” inspections… “Hide your nukes, drugs and al Qeada operatives, matey, we’re raiding you tomorrow!”

Under intense pressure from shipping companies concerned about costly delays, the Coast Guard is tipping off some large commercial ships about security searches that had been a surprise, according to high-ranking Coast Guard officials.

The searches began after the Sept. 11 attacks as part of a major revamping of the Coast Guard and its new antiterrorism mission. But shipping companies say the surprise boardings at sea cause unnecessary delays, costing up to $40,000 an hour.

It would be interesting to follow the lobbying, campaign contribution cash flow on this one. I cut my right hand and recently had surgery on it, so this will be a short diary. But Dems’ plan for ”Real Security” should encompass a Coast Guard that works to protect the lives of American citizens, not just the bottom line of international shipping conglomerates whose cargo represents one of the major tactical threats to our country.

The HUMMER is Dead: Sunset on the SUV! Yay!

Someone at GM must have read my last entry. They’ve just announced a discontinuation of the most reprehensible, selfish, ugly and symbolic vehicle ever produced: the evil, massive HUMMER H-1.

General Motors Corp. announced plans Friday for the H1, which is the foundation for the automaker’s Hummer brand. Based on the military’s Humvee, the about 12,000 put on the road since 1992 defined the Hummer name.

To anyone who ever bought this gas sucking behemoth, I declare that your bad taste rivals your stupidity. Now, you can only get a used one – if you enjoy the thought of copping 10 m.p.h. on your way from Exxon station to Exxon station.

To anyone who has never heard of the “Sunset Effect” theory, it goes like this: things on our culture grow more and more garish, coming to the point of ridiculous overkill, and then utterly disappear. Think how Afro haircuts, or those trucker wallets with big chains, or sideburns, or bell bottoms, all grew larger and larger and then, poof, you never saw ‘em again.

Thus, the death of the HUMMER H-1 surely heralds the beginning of the end of the SUV. Friends, this is good news indeed. For our selves, our planet, our kids and our country. Yay!

The S.U.V. Song

I've been around this great big world
And there's one thing I can see
U.R.N.F.N.A.-HOLE
If you drive an S.U.V.!
I don't care if you've got one kid
Or you've got thirty-three
Yes, U.R.N.F.N.A.-HOLE
If you drive an S.U.V.!

Some say, "don't criticize
`Till through others' eyes you see"
With people everywhere driving in tanks
Baby, I don't agree!
Always in front and so high up
Kareem Abdul-Jabar can't see
It's just another sad sucker
Who drives an S.U.V.!

Does love of gasoline and spewing smog
Make you better than me?
Oh, you're just N.F.N.A-Hole
Dying for his S.U.V.!
You must hate Mother Earth and your kids too
To harm them with such glee
Yes, you`re rolling in the devil's ride
When you drive your S.U.V.!

A tattered Old Glory doesn't belong
On top of your bright red Humvee
Just send yer cash straight to Usama
So he can lay waste to our city
Really we're only killing ourselves
Our planet and fine coun-t-ry
Yes, U.R.N.F.N.A-Hole
If you drive an S.U.V.!