Jenna Pleads Innocent??

(6/11/01)  This is an older story and I apologize for not commenting on it sooner, but I just have to put in my two cents.

I DON'T GET IT... she went to the bar, ordered a marguarita, was asked for an ID, and gave the bartender someone else's ID.  The owner knew it was a fake ID and called the police. SO WHERE'S THE INNOCENCE?

An interesting sidelight to this story is that the Secret Service interfered with the police officer's investigation by removing the girls from the scene.  That's why the police didn't issue the citations until 2 days later.  I believe the charge on that act would be obstruction of justice.

Sorry, Had to Lose the News Crawler

It was causing very slow loads... I don't want you to have to wait any longer than necessary to get to my homepage! Also, I found the news items to be of little interest.  If anyone misses the news crawler, please let me know and I'll put it up again on its own page.

Senate Power Transition Begins Today

(6/5/01)GOPERS promise obstructionism and delay as they try to protect their judicial nominations

The Senate will be in a state of chaos for the next week or so while the power shifts from the GOPERS to the Dems.  This is a negotiated process, and the GOPERS, embittered by their misfortune, are not likely to give up their power without a fight.

Look for things to settle down in one to two weeks.  Then expect to see the tone and subject matter of political discussion in this country to take a new course.  The people's agenda will replace the corporate agenda.

While it is a bit early to begin celebrating, today marks the beginning of a profound change in our nation's political climate.  We are stopping the Bush Presidency, clearly, from ramming his non-mandated right wing policies down the throats of the American people and the rest of the world's citizens.

First Brats Cited in Austin: Story Takes Bizarre Twist

(6/1/01) Jenna and Barbara Bush were cited by Austin police Thursday on separate alcohol offenses which occured in a popular Mexican restaurant.  Barbara Bush was charged with being a minor in possession of alcohol and Jenna was charged with misrepresenting her age by using a false ID to buy alcohol.  Jenna's second offense occurred just 2 weeks after pleading no contest to being a minor in possession of alcohol on April 27th in an Austin night club.  She was ordered to take alcohol counseling and perform community service.

On Wednesday, before the Bush twins were cited, prosecutor John Wall said that if Jenna were cited on the second charge, the earlier punishment could be revoked and authorities might seek a conviction on the second charge.

White House mouthpiece Ari Fleischer attempted to stifle news coverage by claiming that this was a private matter. He claimed that the "American people respect that."  Don't put words in our mouths, Ari.  The question might be raised as to the whereabouts of Mr. Fleischer and his "private matter theory" when Bill Clinton was being hounded over the Monica Lewinsky incident.

Bizarre twist as videotape alledged

Meanwhile, Matt Drudge is reporting that classmates of Jenna's have a home video of Jenna bombed to the gills at a frat party and are threatening to release the videotape to the public.  Should this tape become available, I will attempt to obtain a Mpeg for publication on this website.

A Bush family spokesman said that the Secret Service men were driving the car that night so no drinking and driving was involved.  I guess they must think that makes everything all right.

Under Texas' "Three Strikes You're Out" law, Jenna faces 6 months in prison if she has another conviction.  The law was signed by G. Dubya Bush.

It's Bad Genes - Jenna Has 2nd Booze Bust in a Month

(5/30/01)  The Washington Post reported today that Jenna Bush, 19 year old daughter of G. Dubya Bush, was busted Tuesday night while attempting to buy drinks in a Mexican restaurant with a fake ID. Jenna was arrested late last April for possesion of beer in an Austin bar. The article didn't mention what the Secret Service was doing this time; as you may remember, during her last bust they were standing outside the bar.  Who knows... maybe they were chompin' frahitas in the kitchen.

When Dubya was caught in his lie of omission right before the election concerning his DUI, he said that he didn't want to admit having been a drunk because it would be a bad example for his fragile children.  What a crock of crap.  Jenna is only 19 and she's already learned that  being a Bush means you can get away with anything.  NOTHING we learn about her in the future will surprise me... her role model is  a lying, discompassionate, spoiled rich brat with a history of run-ins with the law and alcohol and drug abuse.  Just let Poppy fix it.

Speaking of Poppy, I wonder why Jenna wasn't able to get her hands on a better fake ID, seeing as Grampy used to be Head Spook of the CIA.  Maybe the old goat is slipping a bit; watching his son take us down the path to the end of the world as we know it would knock the starch out of anyone's BVDs.

Dubya to California: Ya'll On Your Own

(5/30/01)  Dubya took 40 minutes out of his schedule to discuss the California energy crisis with Governor Gray Davis. Davis should be thankful; he got twice as much time as Dubya's handlers had previously announced. Californians are paying 10 times more for electricity than they were 2 years ago, thanks to the GOPER deregulation plan.  Dubya's suggestion: use your tax cut to pay your electricity bill.

The private meeting between Davis and Bush was described as confrontational.  Davis told Bush that he will sue the Federal Government for price caps.  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has already found the prices being charged to be unreasonable.

My crystal ball is telling me that this may be the first issue tackled by the Democrat Senate.  Relief could come in the form of a bill to provide emergency price caps to keep one fifth of our nation's economy from going down the tubes.  Such a measure will face strong opposition from Dubya's minions, and he probably wouldn't sign it, but that course of action would be extremely risky from a political standpoint.   

Dubya's Incompetence Pushes Democrat Strategy Forward

(5/26/01)  Democrats were planning on regaining control of the legislature in 2002.  Dubya handed the Senate over 18 months early.  What effect will that have on the political landscape and the mid-term elections?

At some point, the furor over Jefford's defection will subside and the task of governing the nation will be back in the spotlight.  Pre-Jeffords, the Democrat strategy was one of resistance.  Dubya seemed to be on a course of ramrodding his ultra-conservative agenda, including appointments, through congress and the best the Dems could hope for was to hold together and condemn the legislation in news conferences.

Some whiney GOPER pundits are trying to paint a happy face over this catastrophic blunder by contending that the GOPERS still have 49 seats and so they can block the Democrats from doing anything (assuming they get help from a few "Democrats" like John Breaux now and then.)  In actuality, if they attempt this strategy it will cost them dearly in the 2002 mid-terms.

The Democrats are now in the cat-bird's seat.  They control the agenda of the Senate and have the opportunity to introduce legislation that is backed by the American people rather than a few of Dubya's campaign contributors.  It's true that some of these bills will not make it through the Senate and certainly won't be approved in the House.  Some will make it through both chambers and be vetoed by Dubya.  However, this scorched-earth strategy will blow up in the GOPER'S faces in 2002.  We are already seeing signs of trouble ahead for GOPERS due to the budget, the tax cut, underfunding of the education policy, and the do-nothing GOPER energy plan.

Dubya campaigned relentlessly on his "uniter not a divider" spiel.  Any thnking person could tell that he was blowing smoke up the collective wazoo with that crap.  In practice, we have evidence that the appointed resident has polarized this country more than any president in recent history.  He can't even unite his own party.

CORRECTION...

In a recent mailing to StopDubya mailing list members, I incorrectly reported that Democrats were going to take control of the Senate the day Jim Jeffords announced his switch in party affiliation.

As you probably know, he has said that he will stay with the GOPER party until the tax bill is signed or June 5th, whichever is later.

Sorry for the mistake.

JEFFORDS BOLTS: GOPERS IN TOTAL DISARRAY

(5/24/01)  HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS...

*** Dubya loses control of the Senate.  The position of Majority Leader determines the scheduling of bills, a crucial part of political strategy.  All committee chairmanships go to Democrats; they are influential in setting committee rules and cast the deciding vote.  This is a MAJOR DEFEAT FOR DUBYA.

*** GOPERS engage in finger-pointing festival.  The White House is blaming Trent Lott, Lott is blaming the GOPER moderates, the GOPER moderates are sympathetic with Jeffords and blame the conservative right wingnuts, Trent Lott, AND Dubya's hare-brained agenda.

*** Conservative media (Rush & Faux News) are demonizing Jeffords.  Someone said they heard Linda Chavez on Faux News tearing Jeffords a new one.  (Remember when Chavez got dumped by Dubya for cabinet consideration when it was discovered that she lied to the FBI 3 times about her illegal alien housekeeper?  I always wondered where lying GOPERS go after they're caught; now I know it's Faux News.)  Someone else told me that Rush was so worked up that he sounded like he was about to have a coronary.  That would have made the whole thing perfect!

*** Jefford's stated reason for leaving the party is to put the Democrats back in control.  He said there is no room in the GOP for moderate positions on the environment, energy policy, education, Star Wars, women's rights, gun control, and a host of other issues.  THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN CONTENDING FOR YEARS.  THE GOPERS ARE BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY THE EXTREMIST RIGHT WING OF THEIR PARTY.

*** Dubya's agenda is DEAD.  His judicial appointments are DEAD.  He is now a lame duck until 2002, when he will become a lamer duck.  But never fear... even though he is STOPPED, www.StopDubya.com will live on!!!!

My suggestion is that we all write Senator Jim Jeffords a note thanking him for his decision to put reason back into our political process.

Cheney Reneges On Dubya's Campaign Promise To Pressure OPEC To Drop Oil Prices

During the election campaign, Dubya was adamant that the US should pressure OPEC to drop oil prices.  He said, "What I think the president ought to do is get on the phone with the OPEC Cartel and say 'We expect you to open your spigots.  The president of the United Sates mus jawbone OPEC to lower the price." The Chief Fossil changed all that yesterday on "Meet The Press".

(5/21/01)  In the world of Dick Cheney, oil prices are just fine and domestic gasoline prices should be blamed on strict air quality standards that hinder production.  I personally don't consider $2.00/gallon a fair price, but when was the last time Cheney had to pump gas and pay the bill? This is really not a change in policy; it is simply another assault on environmentalists who are putting up stiff resistance to the notion that we should compromise our air quality for the convenience of the Bush/Cheney oil cartel.

It became widely publicized that Houston became the US city with the worst air during Governor Dubya's term. This is directly due to the large number of oil refineries.

Meanwhile in California....

Governor Gray Davis is pushing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to impose temporary limits on electricy prices.  The average cost of a megawatt of electricity has jumped from $30 to $2000 (that's right, two thousand dollars) in the last year.  Support for price caps is growing in Congress on both sides of the aisle as the GOPERS up for re-election in 2002 realize that the Dubya/Cheney do-nothing free market approach is indefensible in an election campaign.