More Rovian Irregularities. WAHHH Time For Top FEMA Official. Knuckledrag Radio Mexican Relief Effort Insults. Red Sox Update.

After having put up with spotty connection issues, and the start of my wage slavery organization's bowling league, I find myself in the position of having to play catch-up. The connection stuff seems to be solved, and the inaugural week of the 2005-6 bowling season got off to a good start Wednesday night with a 533 series (193, 147 and 193). The rust having been scraped off, I bowled as a sub the following night for Ken Kanniff's league and managed only a 456 (148, 137 and 171). Now that that is out of the way, on to the news:


More Rovian Irregularities

The Rove shit machine continues to heap stinking piles of excrement on anyone unfortunate enough to get close enough to the stench. The following Yahoo News AP wire excerpt gives us the gory details of Rove's latest victim:

AUSTIN, Texas - A lawyer with the Texas secretary of state was fired after she spoke to a reporter about presidential adviser Karl Rove's eligibility to vote in the state.

Elizabeth Reyes, 30, said she was dismissed last week for violating the agency's media policy after she was quoted in a Sept. 3 story by The Washington Post about tax deductions on Rove's homes in Washington and Texas.

Scott Haywood, a spokesman for Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams, confirmed Reyes' firing but wouldn't discuss specifics. He had earlier told the Post that Reyes "was not authorized to speak on behalf of the agency."
Reyes told the Post on Friday a superior told her that her bosses were upset about the article. Williams has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Republicans, including President Bush, who relies heavily on Rove for political strategy.

While Reyes said she didn't know she was talking to a reporter, she said the press policy doesn't bar her from speaking with the media. "The policy allows us to talk to members of the media," she told the Post. "The policy says if it's a controversial issue or a special issue, it needs to be forwarded on to someone else. Just talking to the media doesn't violate it, as I read it. ... Karl Rove didn't come up. It wasn't something you could classify as controversial."

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I guess I can see how Reyes would think that such a matter would not be controversial. After all, if the Valerie Plame leak story isn't controversial, then this little ripple should barely raise an eyebrow. Seriously though, does anyone remember when Dubya, as part of his 2000 campaign, promised to install "the most ethical administration ever"? Note to President Blatant Conflict Of Interest--we're still waiting!!!


WAHHH Time For Top FEMA Official

FEMA Director Michael Brown is now playing the victim in the wake of his dismissal as point man on the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort, as the following Yahoo News AP wire excerpt shows:

DENVER - Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown sent a candid e-mail to family and friends this week as he was becoming the center of criticism of the handling of the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

"I don't mind the negative press (well, actually, I do, but I try to ignore it) but it is really wearing out the family," Brown wrote. "No wonder people don't go into public service. This country is devouring itself, the 24-hour news cycle is numbing our ability to think for ourselves," the Rocky Mountain News reported Saturday.

Brown was relieved of his command of the onsite relief efforts Friday amid increasing criticism over the sluggishness of the agency's response and questions over his background.

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Can this guy really be that fucking clueless? That "No wonder people don't go into public service" crap shows just what an inept fool Brown is. Unfortunately, his attitude reflects the values of the Bush administration as a whole in that they don't want to ever be held accountable for things that go wrong. It is especially galling to hear such whining when this man played a direct part in the agonizingly slow FEMA response to this tragedy. Of course, this troll is simply a reflection of his boss, President "The Buck Stops Anywhere But With Me". Does anyone remember the "liberal media" falling all over themselves during Campaign 2000 saying things like: "So what if Bush isn't that smart? The President doesn't need to be the smartest man in the room." Well, look at the price we've paid with this dunce in charge. Bush supporters, I hope you are happy...


Knuckledrag Radio Mexican Relief Effort Insults

Yesterday afternoon, on my way home from my wage slavery containment facility, I made the mistake of listening to Jay Severin's right wing nutjob program. As part of his effort to absolve President "Now Watch This Drive" of any culpability in the shameful response to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Severin began hurling insults at the Mexican military and their efforts to aid in the recovery by supplying water purification equipment and mobile food dispensaries.

Among his insults were statements that the Mexican culture is inferior to ours and that they weren't really serious about helping. Unfortunately, I have no link to provide as his local station (96.9 FM) does not provide show transcripts. However, Jay had a surprise waiting for him when several callers expressed shock and dismay at his callous dismissal. One caller even referred to his words as hateful and spiteful. Jay, unaffected by his listeners and their pitiful sensitivity, continued to maintain a stooped posture to even more egregiously drag his knuckles. I wonder how much longer Severin's audience, which he refers to as "the best and brightest" will continue to put up with this crap. As terrible events bring out the best in some people, it is also true that they magnify the ugliness of others, and Mr. Severin's bad manners, for those who care about such matters, tells you all you need to know about this Rush Limbuagh wannabee.


Red Sox Update

After last night's hideous 8-4 loss in the opening game of a three game series against the second place Yankees at Yankee Stadium, the Sox evened things up this afternoon 9-2 behind the solid pitching of Curt Schilling, and the bats of Manny Ramirez and John Olerud.

Schilling threw eight strong innings to give the Sox staff a much needed shot of confidence as the stretch run heats up. After a David Ortiz walk, Manny Ramirez gave the Sox an early 2-0 lead in the first inning with the 34th homer of the season. John Olerud blasted his seventh homer in the fourth inning, an inning that saw the Yankees make some key defensive mistakes that were similar to the ones the Sox made last night. Yankee starting pitcher Shawn Chacon, though not particularly sharp, was hurt when Hideki Matsui dropped a fly in left field, and Robinson Cano threw a potential double play ball into the stands to help keep the Sox bats alive. Chacon was relieved by Felix Rodriguez and Al Leiter. With a big lead, Schilling cruised for most of the afternoon, allowing a homer to Jason Giambi (his 28th of the season), and a single run in the 8th inning (when he should have been in the dugout). Rookie John Papelbon hurled a scoreless ninth inning to seal the victory. The Sox lead in the AL East is now back to four games. The two teams play again tomorrow afternoon.