Vox’s posts tagged bush

I swore I wouldn't waste a lot of time dealing with Michael Savage, the radio talk show scold, who recently made the ridiculous claim that the autism epidemic is caused by bad parenting. But perhaps there is one more thing that needs to be said: Mr. Savage, if only you were right. If only it was true that the kids are mere brats and all we need is a visit from The Nanny.

If you were right, then life would be monumentally easier for most of us.

We could dump the special education classes -- and the legal battles over them. We could pay our last uninsured medical bills to the brave doctors who are bucking the system to find a cure. We could flush the last costly round of food supplements down the toilet. We could go to a restaurant without whispering "hands in pockets" to our kids to remind them not to touch anyone else's plate. We could hear some of them who can't speak, or haven't spoken in years say "Mom." Just "Mom." Or "Dad"

We could go to bed at night without worrying what will happen to our kids when we die.

And all it would take would be to brush up our parenting skills.

Like "brushing up your Shakespeare?" As easy as that?
Oh, if only it was true, "Doc" Savage, you of the Ph.D. in epidemiology and nutritional science.
Did your coursework happen to include a class in common sense?
Seventeen years ago our son Daniel -- yes, like many autism families we have a strong father figure -- stopped talking at the age of three and a half after being able to converse at varying levels in four languages. He lost all of his toilet training, ate glass from the playground and didn't care a whit for any of his beloved toys. In researching what the hell could have happened to him, I read about an old and discredited theory that blamed cold mothers for autism -- thank you Bruno Bettelheim -- and discarded it quickly, myself. Mommy nursed -- for almost a year. Mommy hugged. Mommy took Danny all over the world holding him in a cuddly and then in a kid-carrier type backpack so he could see the sights while feeling safe and close. When he began to walk -- early -- I held his hand and, together we explored Latin America and Asia.
Not long after the diagnosis, I caught my mother in-law flipping through an article about Bettelheim. "You know," she said. "It would be easier if he was right." Her wry, dark humor was something I always appreciated, even when the times were equally dark. "At least then you would know how to fix the kid."

Michael Savage, my mother-in-law had as many degrees as you do and hers were in special education, a coincidence that, as sad and ironic as it was, turned out to be a blessing for us as well. Often over the years with Daniel -- many of our struggles have been chronicled here on the Huffington Post -- I have fantasized that all it would take to make Daniel "normal" again would be the right therapist -- or nanny -- for me. I am smart. I am determined. I am goal-oriented. I, too, have published books and I have taught at universities. If such a human being existed, I would have found him, or her, by now.
Michael Savage, there is a new discussion in the autism community regarding whether we should revile you, or pity you? I have a third suggestion. Perhaps we should ask you if you'd like to see one of our best autism professionals yourself? By your own admission you sound like you, too, are on our kids' spectrum. You have noted that as a little boy you demonstrated "ritualistic" behaviors, ones that are very much like the kind that keep our kids out of sync with the real world.
And then, there is the issue of "inappropriate outbursts."

Sadly, our kids have them.

Sadly it sounds like you do too.

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Endangered Species Act Changes Give Agencies More Say

nobody@vox.com(TruthTeller998) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:14:13 +0000

Endangered Species Act Changes Give Agencies More Say
By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 12, 2008

The Bush administration yesterday proposed a regulatory overhaul of the Endangered Species Act to allow federal agencies to decide whether protected species would be imperiled by agency projects, eliminating the independent scientific reviews that have been required for more than three decades.

The new rules, which will be subject to a 30-day per comment period, would use administrative powers to make broad changes in the law that Congress has resisted for years. Under current law, agencies must subject any plans that potentially affect endangered animals and plants to an independent review by the Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service. Under the proposed new rules, dam and highway construction and other federal projects could proceed without delay if the agency in charge decides they would not harm vulnerable species.

In a telephone call with reporters yesterday, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne described the new rules as a "narrow regulatory change" that "will provide clarity and certainty to the consultation process under the Endangered Species Act."

But environmentalists and congressional Democrats blasted the proposal as a last-minute attempt by the administration to bring about dramatic changes in the law. For more than a decade, congressional Republicans have been trying unsuccessfully to rewrite the act, which property owners and developers say imposes unreasonable economic costs.

"I am deeply troubled by this proposed rule, which gives federal agencies an unacceptable degree of discretion to decide whether or not to comply with the Endangered Species Act," said Rep. Nick J. Rahall II (D-W.Va.), chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, who asked for a staff briefing before the proposal was announced but did not receive one. "Eleventh-hour rulemakings rarely, if ever, lead to good government -- this is not the type of legacy this Interior Department should be leaving for future generations."

Bob Irvin, senior vice president of conservation programs at the advocacy group Defenders of Wildlife, questioned how some federal agencies could make the assessments, since most do not have wildlife biologists on staff...

Full Story Here

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Cedar Tree and bark 'stripped' off

nobody@vox.com(canadian) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:56:47 +0000

Area - Lindeman Lake area, BC
Cedar Tree with bark 'stripped' off; not to be confused with bear scratch on trunk. No diagonal slash/pulling marks visible at all. Dense and steep terrain on steep valley side.

Four images of tree and immediate surroundings.
- shot at frikkin' high ISO for light and without tripod; not tack sharp.

A camp/tent area is located approx. 3-400 meters below and well out of sight and ear
shot of area in image.

Ground conditions (bone dry, dense needle and wood debris cover) did not allow for print search or I'm not experienced enough to discern subtle sign in those conditions.

The bark is stripped down to approx. just over a meter from the base of the tree and extends upward to and estimate of 2-3 meters above that.

After taking these images, I moved upslope towards the green. Not far from the pictured tree I noticed an odd smell. Nothing strong or overpowering but something 'off'. I was alone and not about to go looking (even though I wanted to) in case it was a bear kill/cache.

I am going to go back there again, find the tree, compare condition to what I saw on first visit, check for 'smell' and if smell it again detected, then a further careful look-see might be warranted ...

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Caption Contest

nobody@vox.com(Potty Mouth) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:55:20 +0000

Ok, I would like to see how you guys would caption this pic:

Cm-capture-16

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Phrases I Hear Poem I worte about our journey with vaccine injury awareness

nobody@vox.com(angela utley) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:24:01 +0000

Phrases I Hear

My child is different from the rest
I Look around and remember
Life was so different before the vaccine reaction
She laughed , smiled (sometimes it was gas )
and looked into my hazel green eyes
Then the 4 vaccinations shots in one day happened

Lifechanging event

We were at the hospital- she was being admitted
4 shots- 6 hours
I had never seen my child have a seizure,
gasping for breath
and then still - lifeless
all the while with blood in her diaper.

I had never seen my child,
my baby fight for her life.

Powerless I could only watch while so many surrounded her
Blood in her diaper Her intestines had bled
Where did my daughter go?

Where was the healthy child I had that morning?
What would you do?

I prayed as if I had a knife to my throat
I doubt that it would have felt any different |
than how I did at that moment
My child was suffering

Time

Its almost four years later now- She looks perfect to all
Her behavior has changed
but she is still my angel

She spins, tiptoe walks,
yells the same word over and over
and has sustained odd play

The Other Mothers look- then smile

You know the smile

As I so often do I explain

"She has Autism"

The Other Mothers inhale
Responding
                                       "Oh I am so sorry
                                        You Poor thing!
                                        But she doesn't look autistic"

As if this changes everything

Can I shake you?

Can I scream at you?

Can I change your view just a little?

This rightous anger explodes in me.

My skin must contain it

Head Bent I whisper, Thats my child

MY CHILD

MY CHILD

I lift my head

Quietly I smile-I am told it relaxes people

I exhale out the anger

and then explain the danger

of Vaccine Reaction

and maybe- just maybe

One more child

will have a fighting chance.

Angela 2007

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QotD: If I Could Turn Back Time

nobody@vox.com(goobers18) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:42:41 +0000

If you could change a moment in history, which one would you alter and why?

Florida would've decided for Al Gore and we wouldn't have endured Bush for 8 miserable years.

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Bush is a dirty old man

nobody@vox.com(Butt Rock Ken) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 18:17:05 +0000

Bush_olympics

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I Can't Be The Only Crazy One, Can I???

nobody@vox.com(Fairey Fantom) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 12:37:36 +0000

Finally, my mother forwards me a link that validates everything I have been saying about George Bush since he stole the presidency.

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/08/prosecuting-george-w-bush-for-murder/

I, for one, feel that as an American citizen, I have the right to bring charges against King George. I believe the sane subjects of this tyrant should speak up and start making some noise. It is really creepy to me that the media never talks about this perspective unless it is to give a gratuitous yawn to the fact that those of us who are passionate about this topic exist. God forbid you are the Dixie Chicks saying something about George Bush half way around the world. They were prosecuted and persecuted I bet still to this day before they made it back to U.S. soil. I have listened to a lot of country music since I started working at the shop and I have never, ever, ever heard a Dixie Chicks song. Ever. Sometimes on the pop stations you hear a Dixie Chicks song, but never on the good ole boy stations. They exercised their right to free speech and look how we burned them and George Bush who is responsible for all the lives lost in Iraq is impervious behind that smirk of his. Why can't he be tried as a war criminal for American lives lost and those abroad? Furthermore, as I have stated since the first utterance about weapons of mass destruction, I think we should explore whether George Bush is at least partially responsible for 9/11.

I have a torch and pitchfork ready to storm the Bastille, but I might settle for signing some sort of petition to bring charges against Bush. Something needs to be done about that arrogant ass.

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American cred takes another nosedive

nobody@vox.com(petermcc) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:26:46 +0000

Guantanamo

Standby for more Bush inspired bull dust now that Osama's driver has been found guilty of some of the charges.

The farcical show trials have finally offered up a guilty result to further damage America's reputation for Truth and Justice.

I simply can't think of any other event that has done more damage to the US. It's an insult to the victims of 911.

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What was that Bush lie again?

nobody@vox.com(Sarge) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 04:53:06 +0000

Based on this story, I guess the lie is now that President Bush failed to tell us the whole truth that the lie wasn't a lie after all. I guess rather than absorbing all that flack for the good of GLOBAL security, he should have shown the terrorists of the world where everything was buried. I was skeptical at first about an internet story, but it tracks back to this AP story. Funny, the story is from a month ago. Has it ever been on the CBS nightly news?

Secret U.S. mission hauls uranium from Iraq

Last major stockpile from Saddam's nuclear efforts arrives in Canada

Associated Press
updated 5:57 p.m. CT, Sat., July. 5, 2008

The story mentions "a huge stockpile of concentrated natural uranium" which is later defined as "550 metric tons of "yellowcake" — the seed material for higher-grade nuclear enrichment". This is a significant amount, wouldn't you agree?

"Yellowcake also can be enriched for use in reactors and, at higher levels, nuclear weapons using sophisticated equipment." I guess we have some new reactor fuel now. And they said we were just there for the oil.

"The Iraqi government sold the yellowcake to a Canadian uranium producer, Cameco Corp., in a transaction the official described as worth "tens of millions of dollars."" Hopefully, Iraq can now rebuild using some of their own cash.

"kept hushed in fear of ambushes or attacks once the convoys were under way". Do you think Iran may have been interested in this shipment?

"forces have guarded the 23,000-acre site — surrounded by huge sand berms". Remember all the boo-hoo about not guarding the art work during the looting after the invasion? I guess the guys were a bit busy.

"the military withdrew four devices for controlled radiation exposure from the former nuclear complex". Used for energy?

"years of final cleanup is ahead for Tuwaitha and other smaller sites"? Where were those U.N. inspectors going?

Remember Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson? Who has lied to whom?

I encourage you to go read the article, not so much as a vindication of President Bush, but for eyes to be opened to the world we live in.

On a lighter note, check out this "fly over" piece by NFL FIlms.

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Well that explains it then!

nobody@vox.com(Artzy Carmen) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:01:16 +0000

"I've been to war.

I've raised twins.

If I had a choice I'd rather go to war."

-George W. Bush

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Over 70% of the US GDP is consumer spending

nobody@vox.com(TruthTeller998) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:32:20 +0000

Take a look at this list of businesses / retail outlets that are closing or have already closed. Just another reason to vote for Senator Obama for President of the United States. Senator McCain will only continue the FAILED Bush economic policies and this list will grow.

Ann Taylor closing 117 stores nationwide.

Eddie Bauer to close more stores after closing 27 stores in the first quarter.

Cache, a women’s retailer is closing 20 to 23 stores this year.

Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Catherines closing 150 stores nationwide

Talbots & J. Jill closing stores. Talbots will close all 78 of its kids and men's stores plus another 22 underperforming stores. The 22 stores will be a mix of Talbots women's and J. Jill.

Gap Inc. closing 85 stores

Foot Locker to close 140 stores

Wickes Furniture is going out of business and closing all of its stores. The 37-year-old retailer that targets middle-income customers, filed for bankruptcy protection last month.

Levitz - the furniture retailer, announced it was going out of business and closing all 76 of its stores in December. The retailer dates back to 1910.

Zales, Piercing Pagoda plans to close 82 stores by July 31 followed by closing another 23 underperforming stores.

Disney Store owner has the right to close 98 stores.

Home Depot store closings 15 of them amid a slumping US economy and housing market. The move will affect 1,300 employees. It is the first time the world's largest home improvement store chain has ever closed a flagship store.

CompUSA (CLOSED).

Macy's - 9 stores closed

Movie Gallery / Hollywood Video – video rental company plans to close 400 of 3,500 Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video stores in addition to the 520 locations the video rental chain closed last fall as part of bankruptcy.

Pacific Sunwear - 153 Demo stores closing

Pep Boys - 33 stores of auto parts supplier closing

Sprint Nextel - 125 retail locations to close with 4,000 employees following 5,000 layoffs last year.

J. C. Penney, Lowe's and Office Depot are all scaling back

Ethan Allen Interiors: plans to close 12 of 300 stores to cut costs.

Wilsons the Leather Experts – closing 158 stores

Bombay Company: to close all 384 U.S.-based Bombay Company stores.

Dillard's Inc. will close another six stores this year.

Full Story Here

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Want to Understand Current Energy Policies?

nobody@vox.com(BUTCHYPIE) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:43:09 +0000

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Toe Knee Flip-Flops on the FISA Issue

nobody@vox.com(Toe-Knee) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:33:41 +0000

I've talked a bunch about the FISA amendments these past few months and my words haven't been complimentary, I've said that it's a huge blow for civil liberties and it compromises the rule of law. I've shouted from the rooftop of my blog that it is bad bad bad bad bad. An evil tool created by and for an evil administration that has spikes and barbs and stuff and will inevitably be inserted up whichever orifice the American people would still like to save for that special someone.

So today I stand not on the roof, but in more of a back-room office of my blog to mumble away that I might have been a bit overzealous in my condemnation of the FISA amendments...

I know what you're thinking, but the world is not ending. The final prophecy of Nostradamus has not come to pass and dogs and cats are not sleeping together. Don't panic yet. I will explain the reasons for my change of heart.

Late in the evening two nights ago I came across a FISA post by a very bright Voxer who calls himself Brons. He did an admirable job of interpreting the bill and what it means and is supposed to do. He also did it from a staunchly Libertarian standpoint, which is the only stance at all that I would have accepted as valid on this issue. He like me was opposed to the bill on the principle that it violated American liberties, however unlike me he had the ability to interpret the text of the bill and construct a far-more informed opinion based upon the facts he uncovered.

It's a long read and it's a very very complicated issue that attempting to summarize honestly sounds like feeble minded bullshit spouted from the mouths of one of America's chief propaganda artists, but I will do my very best.

What the bill attempts to do is bring the surveillance laws up to the technology level that we now live in.

Yes, again I know what you're thinking... that's pretty much what Bush said, and we all know Bush is a big fat liar so why am I quoting him? Well... enough monkeys on enough typewriters... let's just say that Bush says a lot of things and chaos theory dictates that at some point, something he says might be correct when interpreted in a certain way. If it makes you feel any better I think he might have meant to say something else.

But back to FISA. FISA is essentially a bill that creates a group of judges who sign warrants to spy. Now Americans are protected from unlawful spying by their constitution, warrants are issued to make that spying lawful, just like a cop has to obtain a warrant before he can search your home. This is no different.

Non-americans aren't protected by the American constitution, and therefore they can be spied on without the same legal issues and are only limited by the policies their boss sets down, certain international laws and treaties and what sort of a budget the accountants allot. Thus spying on non-American citizens outside the USA doesn't need a warrant unless it violates some sort of treaty.

Where it gets fuzzy is when you're talking about non-Americans on US soil, or a non-American talking to an American etc...

Here's the technological bit. Digital communication isn't just one bunch of data sliding along a wire until it reaches it's destination, it travels through a multitude of servers, and routers to get where it's going. Sometimes data between two foreign persons communicating in a foreign country will make pitt stops in routers and servers on United States soil. This previously meant that even though the data was clearly outside of the jurisdiction of Constitutional protection, because it was being obtained from a server owned by a company that was US based that a FISA warrant still had to be obtained. That as you can imagine likely bogged down the process some.

What the new amendments are meant to do are to consider the sources that information is originating from to determine the need for a FISA warrant, rather than the source it is obtained from to determine whether or not a warrant is needed. If a US citizen is involved, then constitution protects them and warrant is needed, if one of the points where the communication originated from is on US soil, then get a warrant... however if two people are talking on their cell-phones in Afghanistan and their cell phone conversation is routed through servers belonging to AT&T in Seattle, then if those people are for whatever reason persons that the US needs to spy upon, then the data can be grabbed from the Seattle server with the same legal ease that a field agent would have had in installing a wire-tap between their point-to-point communications back in the 60's.

That's the jist of it. Now, the bill does specifically state that when issuing warrants to surveil US citizens that the 4th Amendment rights must be obeyed, and that the information gained must have certain safeguards to protect American's rights... however these statements have yet to be tested in the courts.

THAT boys and girls, means that our interpretations are just interpretations and will only be proven wrong or right once the courts start making legal rulings and setting precedents based on what the judges' interpretation of this law are. It is then we will see how much weight these protections have.

So after that attempt at explaining things better, what really matters most of course is my opinion. What FISA looks like to me is just a tool, a hammer with a new nob on it that will hopefully work a bit better in some situations. That hammer is not necessarily evil, and parts of the constitution have not been melted down to be used in it's construction. However the way that hammer will be used still remains to be seen. If the administration is corrupt - and for the last while it has been - then we can expect this tool to be used in many unsavory ways. However it doesn't necessarily compromise the rule of law by it's very existence.

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Vox’s posts tagged bush

NEW! Rachel Maddow Show! To follow Keith Olbermann!!!

Writing On The Wall

Oh, this was so interesting...

Excellent Obama Ad

Approval Ratings: The Public v. McCain

Seriously!

Why a older mother wishes life was as simple as Mike Savage-Barabara FIschkin

Endangered Species Act Changes Give Agencies More Say

Cedar Tree and bark 'stripped' off

Caption Contest

Phrases I Hear Poem I worte about our journey with vaccine injury awareness

Phrases I Hear

My child is different from the restI Look around and rememberLife was so different before the vaccine reactionShe laughed , smiled (sometimes it was gas )and looked into my hazel green eyesThen the 4 vaccinations shots in one day happened

Lifechanging event

We were at the hospital- she was being admitted4 shots- 6 hoursI had never seen my child have a seizure, gasping for breath and then still - lifelessall the while with blood in her diaper.

I had never seen my child, my baby fight for her life.

Powerless I could only watch while so many surrounded herBlood in her diaper Her intestines had bledWhere did my daughter go?

Where was the healthy child I had that morning?What would you do?

I prayed as if I had a knife to my throatI doubt that it would have felt any different |than how I did at that momentMy child was sufferingTime

Its almost four years later now- She looks perfect to allHer behavior has changed but she is still my angel

She spins, tiptoe walks, yells the same word over and over and has sustained odd play

The Other Mothers look- then smile

You know the smile

As I so often do I explain

"She has Autism"

The Other Mothers inhaleResponding "Oh I am so sorry You Poor thing! But she doesn't look autistic"

As if this changes everything

Can I shake you?

Can I scream at you?

Can I change your view just a little?

This rightous anger explodes in me.

My skin must contain it

Head Bent I whisper, Thats my child

MY CHILD

MY CHILDI lift my head

Quietly I smile-I am told it relaxes people

I exhale out the anger

and then explain the danger

of Vaccine Reaction

and maybe- just maybe

One more child

will have a fighting chance.

Angela 2007

QotD: If I Could Turn Back Time

Bush is a dirty old man

I Can't Be The Only Crazy One, Can I???

American cred takes another nosedive

What was that Bush lie again?

Secret U.S. mission hauls uranium from Iraq

Last major stockpile from Saddam's nuclear efforts arrives in Canada

Well that explains it then!

Over 70% of the US GDP is consumer spending

Want to Understand Current Energy Policies?

Toe Knee Flip-Flops on the FISA Issue

My child is different from the rest
I Look around and remember
Life was so different before the vaccine reaction
She laughed , smiled (sometimes it was gas )
and looked into my hazel green eyes
Then the 4 vaccinations shots in one day happened

We were at the hospital- she was being admitted
4 shots- 6 hours
I had never seen my child have a seizure,
gasping for breath
and then still - lifeless
all the while with blood in her diaper.

I had never seen my child,
my baby fight for her life.

Powerless I could only watch while so many surrounded her
Blood in her diaper Her intestines had bled
Where did my daughter go?

Where was the healthy child I had that morning?
What would you do?

I prayed as if I had a knife to my throat
I doubt that it would have felt any different |
than how I did at that moment
My child was suffering

Time

Its almost four years later now- She looks perfect to all
Her behavior has changed
but she is still my angel

She spins, tiptoe walks,
yells the same word over and over
and has sustained odd play

The Other Mothers inhale
Responding
"Oh I am so sorry
You Poor thing!
But she doesn't look autistic"

MY CHILD

I lift my head