The great suede back split vein shiny headed fiend that is Scott McClellan left the White House the other day and strode off into the private sector as the U.S. press core gathered to cover him in spit and to urinate on the tires of his four door tan sedan as it wheeled through the traffic of Washington. A few blocks down the street away from the barricades he had enjoyed for so long and into the crime riddled streets that even the press core shies away from and he was instantly recognized as the man who had crouched in the alley behind a YMCA basement window six weeks before.
My partner and I Jack Random scuttled towards the gates of hell known as Camp David and awaited the roar of the presidential helicopter to thrush at the bending trees that scatter the garbage cans of the locals into the streets. We interviewed the locals until we were escorted to a narrow passageway through the governmental hedgerow and were exposed to the latest installments of hi-tech weaponry being used to combat the unwanted advances of the president’s cabinet upon those senate and congressional pages who could not find more honest work in the Washington subways.
- Chris Mansel
Saturday, April 22, 2006
EMMA
In meetings the audience is distracted by a thousand non-essentials. The speaker, though ever so eloquent, cannot escape the restlessness of the crowd, with the inevitable result that he will fail to strike root. In all probability he will not even do justice to himself.
- Emma Goldman
- Emma Goldman
Friday, April 21, 2006
Opinion Dynamics
As I stated the opinion poll will be called by another name, and that name according to Fox is opinion dynamics. Two definitions of the word dynamic from the American Heritage Dictionary are:
1. Characterized by continuous change, activity, or progress: a dynamic market.
2. Marked by intensity and vigor; forceful.
Neither one accurately describes the plummeting account of this administration. There is continuous change however, the change is negative, there is no progress and the activity is again, negative. There is no intensity or vigor but the negative spiral is forceful. But whenever did you expect the Fox Network to understand what they were talking about?
- Chris Mansel
Thursday, April 20, 2006
The Filth That Produced Skin
For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
- First Samuel Chapter1, verse 13
As the rats have left the rotted and sinking ship of the Bush administration so therefore goes the wrath of the true believers upon those who would seek to undo the work laid out by the evildoers. The shouts of four more years silent now, faced with an approval rating that may soon be known by another name, the legacy of Rumsfeld, the gray area of the vice president, the donning of masks by Delay, Card, and Powell.
Looking toward the campaign season, past the midterms. There are names on the horizon but those names were placed there by the media and have no validity outside of the bitter rivalries between print and media.
In the news today 500 students are to be trained and shipped to Iraq. The only problem is that these 500 students are from the war-ravaged nation of Uganda. This poor nation who needs every able bodied citizen for work in their own country are to be trained to go fight in Mr. Bush’s War. The Bush machine has deviled the world, their iniquity congratulated by the electorate. George Bush is the filth that produced a cancerous skin so pocked it will level the immune system of our now fabled democracy for years, decades to come.
- Chris Mansel
- First Samuel Chapter1, verse 13
As the rats have left the rotted and sinking ship of the Bush administration so therefore goes the wrath of the true believers upon those who would seek to undo the work laid out by the evildoers. The shouts of four more years silent now, faced with an approval rating that may soon be known by another name, the legacy of Rumsfeld, the gray area of the vice president, the donning of masks by Delay, Card, and Powell.
Looking toward the campaign season, past the midterms. There are names on the horizon but those names were placed there by the media and have no validity outside of the bitter rivalries between print and media.
In the news today 500 students are to be trained and shipped to Iraq. The only problem is that these 500 students are from the war-ravaged nation of Uganda. This poor nation who needs every able bodied citizen for work in their own country are to be trained to go fight in Mr. Bush’s War. The Bush machine has deviled the world, their iniquity congratulated by the electorate. George Bush is the filth that produced a cancerous skin so pocked it will level the immune system of our now fabled democracy for years, decades to come.
- Chris Mansel
A Day In The Life
(Based on Lennon/McCartney’s A Day In The Life)
I was the news today oh boy
I was tortured at Abu Ghraid
and even though I was a west point grad
and I was left to laugh
You saw the photographs
they blew my leg off in the war
even though the armor I arranged
a group of pundits sat and stared
they’d seen faces like mine before
they we’re all quite sure
That my death was an administration score
my death was in a film today oh boy
the president had just won the war
a nation voted and turned away
but I hadn’t even looked
I was hung on the hook
I’d love to tell you why
woke up got out of bed
twin towers fell on my head
found my way outside to a cloud of smoke
And looking up I felt the earth quake
saw my wife jump and hit the ground flat
made the news just like that
ran into cameras and cops and mayors
Somebody spoke and somebody screamed
I read the news today oh boy
ten churches burned in the old new south
although the churches were small
the media had to film them all
now they know how it looked not to long ago
I’d love to tell you why
- Chris Mansel
I was the news today oh boy
I was tortured at Abu Ghraid
and even though I was a west point grad
and I was left to laugh
You saw the photographs
they blew my leg off in the war
even though the armor I arranged
a group of pundits sat and stared
they’d seen faces like mine before
they we’re all quite sure
That my death was an administration score
my death was in a film today oh boy
the president had just won the war
a nation voted and turned away
but I hadn’t even looked
I was hung on the hook
I’d love to tell you why
woke up got out of bed
twin towers fell on my head
found my way outside to a cloud of smoke
And looking up I felt the earth quake
saw my wife jump and hit the ground flat
made the news just like that
ran into cameras and cops and mayors
Somebody spoke and somebody screamed
I read the news today oh boy
ten churches burned in the old new south
although the churches were small
the media had to film them all
now they know how it looked not to long ago
I’d love to tell you why
- Chris Mansel
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
The Perjury of Dissent
If you follow the current pattern of dissent you’ll see a tinge of red muddying the carpet of right and wrong. Activists will explain to you that the Bush administration has lied and is acting criminally. Very few will admit that the greatest threat to the Democratic Party is the Democratic Party. It has been labeled the party with no ideas because no one in the leadership can agree on a strategy. This is common knowledge, but where to begin?
First, you cannot govern by arguing who gets face time on television. You cannot govern while there are more divisions in the party than one. You will never overcome the disability of chaos unless the rule of chaos actually achieves its intent and several random acts actually converge and act as one. Finally, you cannot hope to achieve the office of the presidency without a dynamic candidate.
An extreme deterrent in the success of the Democratic Party is the lack of action in the voters, the so-called true believers. One strong believer can achieve quite a bit but one who recruits many to do as he or she does wins an election. Howard Dean mobilized the Internet and made history with a digital grassroots movement never seen before. His campaign had incredible momentum until a sound byte sent his campaign spiraling, but that isn’t the whole truth. His campaign fell apart because his campaign allowed it to. If Howard Dean would have appeared on television, on every major network and said, “I am not ashamed of that scream. In fact I plan on screaming all across this country until Election Day” the situation might have been different. The fault? Allowing the media to tell you that your message doesn’t matter, what matters is one scream.
- Chris Mansel
First, you cannot govern by arguing who gets face time on television. You cannot govern while there are more divisions in the party than one. You will never overcome the disability of chaos unless the rule of chaos actually achieves its intent and several random acts actually converge and act as one. Finally, you cannot hope to achieve the office of the presidency without a dynamic candidate.
An extreme deterrent in the success of the Democratic Party is the lack of action in the voters, the so-called true believers. One strong believer can achieve quite a bit but one who recruits many to do as he or she does wins an election. Howard Dean mobilized the Internet and made history with a digital grassroots movement never seen before. His campaign had incredible momentum until a sound byte sent his campaign spiraling, but that isn’t the whole truth. His campaign fell apart because his campaign allowed it to. If Howard Dean would have appeared on television, on every major network and said, “I am not ashamed of that scream. In fact I plan on screaming all across this country until Election Day” the situation might have been different. The fault? Allowing the media to tell you that your message doesn’t matter, what matters is one scream.
- Chris Mansel
Witnessing The Burning of the Last Refuge (for Bob Kincaid aka “The Voice of Reason”)
Disturbing incursions, wars over ghosts in the administration, immigration all of these things combine to install a national irrationality that has spewed over its edges, spilling across an already open border we find ourselves as a nation squealing about the smallest of events and discussing television when faced with the realities of our time.
Backgrounds becoming public, war supplies going public, entourages touring bases in war zones. This is a time in which the enemy has custody of the situation room. A time when prisons across the world, conditions in a prison run by a government that enacted the death penalty as a rule of law, when conditions in American prisons grow like dangerous chemicals under the lens, when AIDS almost guarantees a twenty-year sentence in a maximum security institution a life sentence. After the events of Sept. 11, 2001 sales of American flags soared to new heights while attacks on Arab civilians by flag owners became rampant.
Elections have now become suspect; campaigns have begun endorsing religion over law, religion over policy, and religion against the first amendment. Lobbyists have finally been targets of scrutiny while any real change will come about slowly by politicians who vote themselves raises on a regular basis while cutting spending for education. The Patriot Act ensures the now defunct act of censorship, when speaking your mind becomes the airing of the charges against you, and the nine hundred pound elephant in the room has had his benefits cut while serving in a war zone.
- Chris Mansel
Backgrounds becoming public, war supplies going public, entourages touring bases in war zones. This is a time in which the enemy has custody of the situation room. A time when prisons across the world, conditions in a prison run by a government that enacted the death penalty as a rule of law, when conditions in American prisons grow like dangerous chemicals under the lens, when AIDS almost guarantees a twenty-year sentence in a maximum security institution a life sentence. After the events of Sept. 11, 2001 sales of American flags soared to new heights while attacks on Arab civilians by flag owners became rampant.
Elections have now become suspect; campaigns have begun endorsing religion over law, religion over policy, and religion against the first amendment. Lobbyists have finally been targets of scrutiny while any real change will come about slowly by politicians who vote themselves raises on a regular basis while cutting spending for education. The Patriot Act ensures the now defunct act of censorship, when speaking your mind becomes the airing of the charges against you, and the nine hundred pound elephant in the room has had his benefits cut while serving in a war zone.
- Chris Mansel
Thursday, April 06, 2006
World Bank Cuts Grant To Uganda
The East African (Nairobi) NEWS
March 28, 2006 Posted to the web March 28, 2006 By David Kaiza, Special CorrespondentNairobi
The World Bank has cut Uganda's fifth Poverty Reduction Support Operation fund by 10 per cent.
The World Bank Country Manager for Uganda Grace Yabrudy, told Finance Minister Ezra Suruma that the bank directors decided to reduce the $150 million grant to $135 million because of its concerns over increased public sector expenditure.
Out of the $135 million, $22.5 million is not a grant, but as credit, thereby reducing the substantial grant to $113.5 million.
The World Bank's concern is that Uganda is putting more money into public administration expenditure at the expense of poverty eradication.
Despite the reduction in the grant, it looks unlikely that government will act on the caution, following the creation of nearly 16 new districts, 13 of which are already operational with an additional 14 new Members of Parliament. Equally, the government has promised to pay the salaries of local government councillors, whose numbers run into the thousands.
For five years now, the Bank has, under the Poverty Reduction Support Programme automatically been unequivocally extending grants to the Uganda government. This grant is therefore the first indication that the Bank was becoming uncomfortable with the government's reluctance to act on matters affecting how money is used in the country. In her remarks to the minister, Ms Yabrudy said, the Bank wanted to see reduced annual budget allocation for public administration. "Once again, we request the government to pay close attention to this critical issue and to ensure that this trend is reversed in the coming fiscal year," she said.
A semi-annual budget performance report for 2005/06 shows that State House spent an additional 14.6 per cent on its wage budget and overshot its non-wage recurrent budget by 52.4 per cent.
The Public Service spent an additional 18.7 per cent of its budget, coming mostly from non-wage recurrent and development expenditures, which spent additional 39.8 per cent and 60.3 per cent respectively. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs overspent on wages by 12.7 per cent.
The Bank also said it wanted Uganda to show seriousness in fighting corruption - the most recent prominent case being that of the theft of funds from the Global Fund Against Malaria, Aids and Tuberculosis which led to a suspension of the grant to Uganda.
The Bank also wants the government to be stringent in public finance management to reduce corruption. It also asked the government to work towards reducing development disparities between northern Uganda and the rest of the country by bringing the Kony war to an end.
The Bank sounded an alarm on the runaway population growth in the country. It urged the country to, "adopt measures to address its exceptionally high population growth rate which impedes progress toward the Millennium Development Goals."
The Bank chose the occasion of the grant agreement, which for the first time was signed in Kampala as opposed to the traditional Washington DC, site to issue an uncharacteristically strong worded advice to Uganda.
Copyright © 2006 The East African. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
March 28, 2006 Posted to the web March 28, 2006 By David Kaiza, Special CorrespondentNairobi
The World Bank has cut Uganda's fifth Poverty Reduction Support Operation fund by 10 per cent.
The World Bank Country Manager for Uganda Grace Yabrudy, told Finance Minister Ezra Suruma that the bank directors decided to reduce the $150 million grant to $135 million because of its concerns over increased public sector expenditure.
Out of the $135 million, $22.5 million is not a grant, but as credit, thereby reducing the substantial grant to $113.5 million.
The World Bank's concern is that Uganda is putting more money into public administration expenditure at the expense of poverty eradication.
Despite the reduction in the grant, it looks unlikely that government will act on the caution, following the creation of nearly 16 new districts, 13 of which are already operational with an additional 14 new Members of Parliament. Equally, the government has promised to pay the salaries of local government councillors, whose numbers run into the thousands.
For five years now, the Bank has, under the Poverty Reduction Support Programme automatically been unequivocally extending grants to the Uganda government. This grant is therefore the first indication that the Bank was becoming uncomfortable with the government's reluctance to act on matters affecting how money is used in the country. In her remarks to the minister, Ms Yabrudy said, the Bank wanted to see reduced annual budget allocation for public administration. "Once again, we request the government to pay close attention to this critical issue and to ensure that this trend is reversed in the coming fiscal year," she said.
A semi-annual budget performance report for 2005/06 shows that State House spent an additional 14.6 per cent on its wage budget and overshot its non-wage recurrent budget by 52.4 per cent.
The Public Service spent an additional 18.7 per cent of its budget, coming mostly from non-wage recurrent and development expenditures, which spent additional 39.8 per cent and 60.3 per cent respectively. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs overspent on wages by 12.7 per cent.
The Bank also said it wanted Uganda to show seriousness in fighting corruption - the most recent prominent case being that of the theft of funds from the Global Fund Against Malaria, Aids and Tuberculosis which led to a suspension of the grant to Uganda.
The Bank also wants the government to be stringent in public finance management to reduce corruption. It also asked the government to work towards reducing development disparities between northern Uganda and the rest of the country by bringing the Kony war to an end.
The Bank sounded an alarm on the runaway population growth in the country. It urged the country to, "adopt measures to address its exceptionally high population growth rate which impedes progress toward the Millennium Development Goals."
The Bank chose the occasion of the grant agreement, which for the first time was signed in Kampala as opposed to the traditional Washington DC, site to issue an uncharacteristically strong worded advice to Uganda.
Copyright © 2006 The East African. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Tuesday Follies for April 4, 2006
Katherine Harris’ campaign staff having been fired has gathered in a nearby motel to be debriefed by an experienced group of trauma specialists. One heart attack was reported and three of the former staffers returned to the fray by reporting to work for John McCain.
Harris was recently lunching with soon to be anchor for CBS Katie Couric. Couric tilted her head to one side in her mock serious look accompanied by the requisite black horn rimmed glasses while Harris thrust her chest into the face of every waiter or porter that got anywhere near their table. Two waiters quit in protest.
It will be announced that Joe Pesci may play Tom Delay in the movie version of his life. Tom Delay announced through a press spokesperson that he appreciated Pesci’s performance in Casino and hoped to have a few dream sequences where Pesci could kick and stab several of his former opponents on the hill.
- Chris Mansel
Harris was recently lunching with soon to be anchor for CBS Katie Couric. Couric tilted her head to one side in her mock serious look accompanied by the requisite black horn rimmed glasses while Harris thrust her chest into the face of every waiter or porter that got anywhere near their table. Two waiters quit in protest.
It will be announced that Joe Pesci may play Tom Delay in the movie version of his life. Tom Delay announced through a press spokesperson that he appreciated Pesci’s performance in Casino and hoped to have a few dream sequences where Pesci could kick and stab several of his former opponents on the hill.
- Chris Mansel
Monday, April 03, 2006
Next Century (for Woody)
The boss man comes to tell the man
You’ve got to plow the field
I’ll feed you on dirt and grime
And day old onion peels
The worker raised his hatchet
He raised up his scared hand
He tied that the boss to the plow
And headed for the promise land
You can call me clever
You can call me rain
But when I pull down that lever
I pull a union name
- Chris Mansel
You’ve got to plow the field
I’ll feed you on dirt and grime
And day old onion peels
The worker raised his hatchet
He raised up his scared hand
He tied that the boss to the plow
And headed for the promise land
You can call me clever
You can call me rain
But when I pull down that lever
I pull a union name
- Chris Mansel
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Beltway Hostels
As Tucker Carlson loosens his tie, as Bill O’Reilly in his dressing room hovers over the hot plate cooking up a new batch of falafel’s, as Paula Zahn spreads her make-up across the mirror in her car while performing an unnatural act and television crews the world over open the first of what will be several cold beers the President of the United States curses loudly and stumbles over to the television to change the channel having lost the remote for the third time that day.
Earlier in the day the President remarked to a crowd of onlookers who were touring the White House, the president having wandered into their group, the president remarked, “Why in the hell are there so many Mexicans protesting in France?” The White House tour guide attempts some apologies to the group as aides pull the president back into a narrow hallway and the day continues as before.
- Chris Mansel
Earlier in the day the President remarked to a crowd of onlookers who were touring the White House, the president having wandered into their group, the president remarked, “Why in the hell are there so many Mexicans protesting in France?” The White House tour guide attempts some apologies to the group as aides pull the president back into a narrow hallway and the day continues as before.
- Chris Mansel
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Warlord Charles Taylor Arrested
At 3:59 am the Associated Press International is reporting that Charles Taylor has been found and arrested in Nigeria. It was reported today that President Bush would not meet with the Nigerian President unless Taylor was found so you can surmise that the meeting will take place and that oil will be discussed and that the violence and death will be brushed aside at least in private.
- Chris Mansel
- Chris Mansel
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Andrew Card's resignation
The real reason for Andrew Card’s resignation is a complicated story. It involves a paternity lawsuit between Ken Mehlman and Ann Coulter, the fact that Andrew Card was having an affair with Ken Mehlman according to phone records. The ever controversial Ann Coulter’s sexuality can be tied to the 27th anniversary today of the incident at Three Mile Island. Karl Rove upon learning the truth headed back up to the situation room to watch online several webcams of the devastation in New Orleans while swilling a beer.
- Chris Mansel
- Chris Mansel
Tuesday Follies, March 28, 2006
In a week that saw Supreme Court justice made an obscene gesture in Boston, a week that saw Lou Dobbs condemning protestors for protesting on Caesar Chavez day. Pat Robertson may soon announce that he has tried to hire snipers to take random shots at protestors in Los Angeles.
It is released that the parents of former Iraqi hostage hid that their Christian son was gay. This item hit the wires from Planetout Network and is not being discussed in the mainstream media. Parents ashamed of their son by not discussing his sexual preference while boasting of his religious beliefs.
On a day, which saw, protests around the country and even in Boston, Massachusetts it is interesting to note that the U.S. Immigration office in Boston was closed today to be re-painted, it is interesting to note also that while you are protesting if you change your mind to enter the country legally or to request to apply for citizenship you must wait until the paint dries.
- Chris Mansel
It is released that the parents of former Iraqi hostage hid that their Christian son was gay. This item hit the wires from Planetout Network and is not being discussed in the mainstream media. Parents ashamed of their son by not discussing his sexual preference while boasting of his religious beliefs.
On a day, which saw, protests around the country and even in Boston, Massachusetts it is interesting to note that the U.S. Immigration office in Boston was closed today to be re-painted, it is interesting to note also that while you are protesting if you change your mind to enter the country legally or to request to apply for citizenship you must wait until the paint dries.
- Chris Mansel
Monday, March 27, 2006
The Tracks Are To The Train as The Hole Is To The Shovel
“Most maggots will bury themselves in the soil.”
- Jessica Snyder Sachs
“We all fat creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots. Your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service- two dishes, but to one table. That’s the end.”
- Hamlet (Act 4, Scene 3)
An unspoken about facet in the putrefaction process is the ability of the republican candidate to speak to a crowd of onlookers and to shrivel the truth down to its most incessant form of decay. Take a photograph of a victim in Kabul and hold it up to the mirror and what do you see? The candidate may see peace on the upswing, but I see a father or a son, a soldier or an activist.
I would like to think that the republican candidate truly believes he sees peace in the photograph but deep down I think he knows the honesty in the image. Politics is a game of one up man’s ship to a degree of causalities, hearings, photo ops and the kind of hatred that will level a village on the other side of the earth to prove an individuals place at the fictional table.
A supposed conversation:
Citizen/Aide: Congressman you must not elevate the level of discourse that now exists in the House.
Congressman: You think I shouldn’t comment on the item in the news that says that bodies won’t be stacked up in the streets of Iraq if we stay in Iraq, but if we pull out anarchy will break out?
Citizen/Aide: Yes sir.
Congressman: You don’t think anarchy has already broken out in Baghdad?
Citizen/Aide: With all due respect sir of course it has.
Congressman: I know it has. We captured a ruthless dictator that was hand delivered to us by his own troops and since then we have managed to drain an entire oil rich country of its natural resources, we have fueled and or created a need for terrorists in a country that hate the very existence of suicide bombers.
Citizen/Aide: But sir…
Congressman: This democracy of ours is set up to fail, without our failure the rest of the world cannot remind us constantly of our worth.”
And so the business of a country, an economy, a judicial system and the contents of a congressman’s heart are due to the fact that the glass is not half empty or half full, the glass is not a glass. Who is the formidable adversary in the room? Greed.
- Chris Mansel
- Jessica Snyder Sachs
“We all fat creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots. Your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service- two dishes, but to one table. That’s the end.”
- Hamlet (Act 4, Scene 3)
An unspoken about facet in the putrefaction process is the ability of the republican candidate to speak to a crowd of onlookers and to shrivel the truth down to its most incessant form of decay. Take a photograph of a victim in Kabul and hold it up to the mirror and what do you see? The candidate may see peace on the upswing, but I see a father or a son, a soldier or an activist.
I would like to think that the republican candidate truly believes he sees peace in the photograph but deep down I think he knows the honesty in the image. Politics is a game of one up man’s ship to a degree of causalities, hearings, photo ops and the kind of hatred that will level a village on the other side of the earth to prove an individuals place at the fictional table.
A supposed conversation:
Citizen/Aide: Congressman you must not elevate the level of discourse that now exists in the House.
Congressman: You think I shouldn’t comment on the item in the news that says that bodies won’t be stacked up in the streets of Iraq if we stay in Iraq, but if we pull out anarchy will break out?
Citizen/Aide: Yes sir.
Congressman: You don’t think anarchy has already broken out in Baghdad?
Citizen/Aide: With all due respect sir of course it has.
Congressman: I know it has. We captured a ruthless dictator that was hand delivered to us by his own troops and since then we have managed to drain an entire oil rich country of its natural resources, we have fueled and or created a need for terrorists in a country that hate the very existence of suicide bombers.
Citizen/Aide: But sir…
Congressman: This democracy of ours is set up to fail, without our failure the rest of the world cannot remind us constantly of our worth.”
And so the business of a country, an economy, a judicial system and the contents of a congressman’s heart are due to the fact that the glass is not half empty or half full, the glass is not a glass. Who is the formidable adversary in the room? Greed.
- Chris Mansel
Saturday, March 25, 2006
The Medici Having Strung the Bow With the Intestines of the Weak...
If you stretch humor to its very end you will find sorrow staring back at you with an unnerving glare that will find you ashamed and alone in the room. To take the affairs of the government with a nudge and a grin is to take your life and the lives of those around you with neglect and scorn. Take Hurricane Katrina for example. The water has receded but the tragedy continues.
Our government has found it prudent to extend reimbursement and waivers and guidance on where to stay. Here is the link. But before you go to the link keep in mind that the victims of Hurricane Katrina had to wait, wait for what seemed an eternity for any help at all. But let’s celebrate that those who work for the government can be reimbursed. God bless America, let’s all sing.
http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?programId=9704&channelId=-15943&ooid=16365&contentId=17943&pageTypeId=8203&contentType=GSA_BASIC&programPage=%252Fep%252Fprogram%252FgsaBasic.jsp&P=MTT
A quote to look for:
“As a result of the catastrophic destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, agencies should consider delaying all non-essential TDY and relocation to the affected locations for a period of 90 days. This is especially important with relocation travel because the 120-day maximum for TQSE cannot be extended due to statutory restrictions.”
I wonder how the victims of Hurricane Katrina would feel to know that the government employees who visit the area could spend how they wish because they will be reimbursed. Meanwhile the victims having depleted the meager funds allowed to them are scraping together whatever they can to survive. We are going to tear down your house so please fill in the right forms and get them into us by the end of business Friday? The teeth of the nation are embroiled in the regurgitation of an uncaring and unfeeling seat of power.
- Chris Mansel
Our government has found it prudent to extend reimbursement and waivers and guidance on where to stay. Here is the link. But before you go to the link keep in mind that the victims of Hurricane Katrina had to wait, wait for what seemed an eternity for any help at all. But let’s celebrate that those who work for the government can be reimbursed. God bless America, let’s all sing.
http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?programId=9704&channelId=-15943&ooid=16365&contentId=17943&pageTypeId=8203&contentType=GSA_BASIC&programPage=%252Fep%252Fprogram%252FgsaBasic.jsp&P=MTT
A quote to look for:
“As a result of the catastrophic destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, agencies should consider delaying all non-essential TDY and relocation to the affected locations for a period of 90 days. This is especially important with relocation travel because the 120-day maximum for TQSE cannot be extended due to statutory restrictions.”
I wonder how the victims of Hurricane Katrina would feel to know that the government employees who visit the area could spend how they wish because they will be reimbursed. Meanwhile the victims having depleted the meager funds allowed to them are scraping together whatever they can to survive. We are going to tear down your house so please fill in the right forms and get them into us by the end of business Friday? The teeth of the nation are embroiled in the regurgitation of an uncaring and unfeeling seat of power.
- Chris Mansel
Thursday, March 23, 2006
A Tribute To The Late Comic Mitch Hedberg
I went to a press conference the other day. At least I think it was a press conference cause there were a lot of people standing around. I was in the White House after all so I figured what the hell…ask some questions.
Here are some of the questions I asked.
Why do they call it a pressroom when everybody sits in different chairs?
Does it bother anyone that you all went to college to ask questions of people with the name Bush and Dick?
If the President choked on a pretzel does that mean he could deep throat a Scooby snack? Everybody knows that Scooby snacks are smaller. Bush has had us all in the mystery machine for years…now it makes sense.
Why are all of you in the press reporting that Bush’s approval ratings are low? Why don’t you look on the bright side? His disapproval ratings are going through the roof. Be positive.
- Chris Mansel
Here are some of the questions I asked.
Why do they call it a pressroom when everybody sits in different chairs?
Does it bother anyone that you all went to college to ask questions of people with the name Bush and Dick?
If the President choked on a pretzel does that mean he could deep throat a Scooby snack? Everybody knows that Scooby snacks are smaller. Bush has had us all in the mystery machine for years…now it makes sense.
Why are all of you in the press reporting that Bush’s approval ratings are low? Why don’t you look on the bright side? His disapproval ratings are going through the roof. Be positive.
- Chris Mansel
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
A Historic Win In Florence, Alabama
A Historic Win In Florence, Alabama
www.TammyIrons.com
An historic win in District One in Florence, Alabama for the Democratic Party, Tammy Irons unofficially carried sixty-one percent of the vote. A message from Tammy Irons from her site, www.TammyIrons.com,
"Twice now Republicans outside of our area have come into Florence for the purpose of attempting to influence the outcome of the special election to be held this Tuesday for State Representative, District 1. Several months ago, the Montgomery Republicans attempted to get other Republicans to run against my opponent, William Smith, and ultimately against me in the general election. This attempt failed. Now, this week, at the 11th hour, the Republican Party of Birmingham (as authorized by my opponent) bankrolled a negative mass mail out to voters in District 1 falsely stating my position on certain issues. The truth is that the Republicans of Birmingham have no clue as to my position on the issues."
Appearing on WHNT tonight, a local news channel, Irons responded, "I am proud of the positive campaign I ran. I am glad I won this election on my merits and not someone else's demerit." Visiting the political headquarters of Tammy Irons with my daughter I was glad to see the smiling faces of many I grew up knowing. I saw Tammy's parents smiling and hopeful, I saw Mayor Bobby Irons and his wife arrive. Tammy who was very busy welcoming and thanking those present for their support to take a few minutes to greet my young daughter and to encourage her to think politically about the world around her.
It's a great day for the Democratic Party and for Alabama women in politics.
Irons is the first woman to win the position of State Representative in District One.
- Chris Mansel
www.TammyIrons.com
An historic win in District One in Florence, Alabama for the Democratic Party, Tammy Irons unofficially carried sixty-one percent of the vote. A message from Tammy Irons from her site, www.TammyIrons.com,
"Twice now Republicans outside of our area have come into Florence for the purpose of attempting to influence the outcome of the special election to be held this Tuesday for State Representative, District 1. Several months ago, the Montgomery Republicans attempted to get other Republicans to run against my opponent, William Smith, and ultimately against me in the general election. This attempt failed. Now, this week, at the 11th hour, the Republican Party of Birmingham (as authorized by my opponent) bankrolled a negative mass mail out to voters in District 1 falsely stating my position on certain issues. The truth is that the Republicans of Birmingham have no clue as to my position on the issues."
Appearing on WHNT tonight, a local news channel, Irons responded, "I am proud of the positive campaign I ran. I am glad I won this election on my merits and not someone else's demerit." Visiting the political headquarters of Tammy Irons with my daughter I was glad to see the smiling faces of many I grew up knowing. I saw Tammy's parents smiling and hopeful, I saw Mayor Bobby Irons and his wife arrive. Tammy who was very busy welcoming and thanking those present for their support to take a few minutes to greet my young daughter and to encourage her to think politically about the world around her.
It's a great day for the Democratic Party and for Alabama women in politics.
Irons is the first woman to win the position of State Representative in District One.
- Chris Mansel
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