I watched in horror today as the Cuban men tread water for hours in a desperate attempt to reach Ameriica, and it seems to me our Dry Land policy simply has to go. I understand that these men are committing a crime- but I don’t recall ever throwing anyone over the Berlin Wall into the hands of the totalitarian Soviet Bloc. Either we end the policy so there is less incentive for them to reach shore, or we simply open up our borders to Cuban refugees. I understand the costs and the trouble this will cause Florida, but I am in favor of the latter- we are a big and prosperous country, and we have room for those fleeing tyranny. That is why we are here, isn’t it?
Interesting
Jason Kidd beats his wife, and nothing really happens.
Bob Ryan- one of the best sports reporters ever, IMHO- states that he would like to smack Joumana Kidd for being obnoxious, and he is in danger of losing his career.
I wonder which one of the two will hurt Joumana- Jason’s fists or Ryan’s words.
I wonder what the Dixie Chicks, Tim Robbins, and all the other censorship victims will have to say about the plight of Bob Ryan.
Mortified
I was flipping through the channels and was absolutely mortified when I saw the Laci Peterson music video memorial being shown live on one of the cable networks, as if this was somehow newsworthy. Just a couple of quick notes:
1.) This was a publicity stunt to convict Scott Peterson- nothing more. This was poisoning the well- and they damn well know it. I am not going to tell people how to mourn, but privately might be a start.
2.) Is there anyone who thinks Scott Peterson can get a fair trial? Anyone?
3.) The new American lynch mobs have French manicures instead of leather work gloves, wear white tennis shoes instead of boots, drive mini-vans rather than a horse or a pick-up, and go to church instead of the saloon. Talk Left and Josh Marshall can tell you more about one of the lynch mob leaders.
Getting Off Easy
Why do people sometimes distrust big business? Try this on for size:
Citigroup’s Salomon Smith Barney unit was first among the worst, according to Monday’s settlement between regulators and 10 investment banks. To settle charges stemming from allegations that it slanted research to support a voracious appetite for investment banking fees, Citigroup agreed to pay $400 million, the largest fine among those involved.
All together now: FOUR HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS. When the fine is that high, it means they can’t even begin to estimate how often they screwed you and me and for how much. Here is how they did it:
Hundreds of documents obtained by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer paint a picture of a firm that perverted the stock analyst role from researcher to booster for its investment bankers. Regulators allege that Jack Grubman, who helped his firm win about $790 million in banking fees, issued “fraudulent” reports on two clients, Focal and Metromedia Fiber Networks. On Feb. 1, 2001, Grubman issued a buy recommendation on Focal, but in an e-mail to an institutional investor he admitted Focal was overpriced. Regulators also alleged that Grubman upgraded his opinion of AT&T without disclosing a conflict: In return for the positive opinion, Citigroup CEO Sandy Weill made a $1 million contribution to an exclusive preschool in Manhattan, ensuring that Grubman’s two children could go there.
Why aren’t these bastards in jail? What exactly does the SEC do when it takes a grandstanding NY Attorney General to make this shake out? Is this Grubman related to the punk who rank over all those people at a trendy vacation spot?
And don’t forget this little tidbit:
Three weeks ago, Citigroup renamed the tainted Smith Barney unit Citigroup Global Markets.
File this under things we need to remember:
Citigroup Global Markets is the corrupt Saloman Smith Barney.
Someone should make a banner.
Boycott Pep Boys
I can’t believe this happened:
Automotive supply chain Pep Boys fired a Tucson store manager because his military Reserve duties took him away from work, according to a federal lawsuit filed here.
It may not be an isolated case. Several other reservists fired from Pep Boys in Tucson and Pennsylvania have contacted a military advocacy group with similar complaints.
Ted Rall, Village Idiot
Asshole. Does this over-the-top raving qualify as having invoked Godwin’s Law?
We find ourselves facing the paradox of the “good German” of the ’30s. We’re ruled by an evil, non-elected warlord who ignores both domestic opposition and international condemnation. We don’t want the soldiers fighting his unjustified wars of expansion to win–but we don’t want them to lose either.
Our dilemma is rendered slightly less painful by the all-volunteer nature of our armed forces: at least we aren’t being asked to cheer on reluctant draftees. Presumably everybody in uniform knew what they might be in for when they signed up.
Go read all about why we shouldn’t support our troops, from Bill Maher’s favorite guest.