Image Credit: BNA
UNITED STATES CONDUCTING AMNESIAC DIPLOMACY IN BAHRAIN.
(Stars & Stripes)
Not long after peaceful protesters calling for democratic reforms in a country ruled by the same family since 1783 were gunned down in Pearl Square, a top envoy from the United States was sent to the country as a means of “reassurance” to the Bahraini ruling dynasty that they have the “full backing” of America. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited with King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah last week as Bahrain tries desperately to avoid the fate of Egypt and, possibly, Libya; autocratic regimes with a history of repression falling at the hands of pro-democracy mass protests. For the United States, this scenario is a foreign policy nightmare; besides the bogeyman of Iran gaining influence in the majority Shiite archipelago nation, Bahrain is the home base of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet. With those very important dominoes in mind, Adm. Mullen “thanked” the king for “the very measured way in which they’ve been handling the popular crisis here.” One wonders what the United States would consider “extreme” handling of protests if they believe gunning down unarmed democracy demonstrators is “measured.”
`
IN TEXAS, “THE KIDS ARE NOT ALL RIGHT.“
(New York Times)
Paul Krugman writes that the bastion of conservative ideology and legislative policy has managed to create a massive budget deficit and destroy its system of public education…and it’s about to get worse. Texas ranks among the worst states in the country on just about every important level of student achievement, child poverty and children’s health. Spending on social programs has been virtually non-existent and not targeted to the kids that need it most. Now, thanks to a budget crisis fomented by unsustainably low taxes, the Republican state legislature and GOP Gov. Rick Perry (talked about as a VP pick for the 2012 Republican presidential nominee) are prepared to take an even bigger – and possibly deadlier – whack at vital programs and education in the state; a 29 percent cut to Medicaid and up to 100,000 teacher lay-offs.
`
CLARENCE THOMAS: “THERE’S GOING TO BE A DAY WHEN YOU NEED THESE INSTITUTIONS TO BE CREDIBLE…TO PROTECT YOUR LIBERTIES.”
(Politico)
Unfortunately for the people of the United States, the conservative Supreme Court justice is greatly exacerbating the erosion of such “credibility” and “liberties” with his questionable political activities on and off the bench. Speaking at a conservative legal event, Thomas aggressively defended himself against mounting charges of possibly unethical behavior relating to political causes represented by his wife. Ginny Thomas. is deeply involved in “Tea Party” political organizing and has received financial support for her efforts from the Koch brothers, billionaire conservative financiers that have numerous business interests that have and will arrive before the Supreme Court. Most serious of all, Thomas’s wife helped launch the legal challenge to President Obama’s health care overhaul, a challenge that is steadily working it’s way to end up before the not-so-”credible” body of which Justice Thomas is a member. Not backing down from the controversy, Thomas told the crowd of conservative legal minds that he supports his wife’s political activities because they ““believe in the same things” and “are focused on defending liberty.”
`
FLORIDA TEACHERS: AMONG THE LOWEST PAID IN THE NATION…AND ABOUT TO GO LOWER
(Naples Daily News)
A new National Education Association report shows that teachers in the state of Florida were already among the lowest paid in the country last year, at 37th. This year, that ranking falls to 47th as Florida educators are the target of aggressive legislation from new Republican Gog. Rick Scott and the GOP-dominated Florida legislature that want to cut teacher salaries as well as enact radical “reforms” to how teachers are hired, fired and evaluated.
………………………………………………………………….
Do you receive the daily headlines in the form of an early-morning e-mail? If you don’t and you would like to receive them, just send a note to sunstateactivist2@yahoo.com and you’ll be enrolled in the “Progressive breakfast club.”
Recent Comments