The invisible hand of the market....

...meets the invisible hand of the regulator and all is well. The US government's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), charged as its name suggests with monitoring and ensuring employee safety, is more or less shutting itself down and allowing industry to "self-regulate" except in extraordinary cases. Of course the health and safety of workers has not been affected favourably by this unannounced shift but profits and share prices probably are.

Swiss guns

One of the places that the US National Rifle Association likes to point to attempt to prove their "guns don't kill people - gun control kills people" argument is Switzerland where all adult men are issued an army weapon that they keep at home after going through their training. Well it is possible they won't be able to do so for much longer; not because the Swiss have started killing each other en masse but because the Swiss don't seem to think that it is a good idea any longer.

Dumb like a fox

I hear yet another chorus of criticism from those damned, treasonous lefties about the fact that Scott Bloch, head of the White House’s Office of Special Council, who is set to launch an investigation into Karl Rove’s political activities out of the White House, has some ethics problems of his own. Mr. Bloch is under investigation himself after a number of complaints from his own staff. (See what happens when you don’t value loyalty über alles?) Mr. Bloch is accused of politicising his own office.

I don’t see why those damn hard left liberals (I think I stole that phrase from Bill O’Reilly) don’t think this is such a good idea. If you are going to go looking for corruption and ethical violations you wouldn’t want some choirboy doing the looking would you? How the hell would he know where to look? You need someone just a sleazy. I say that Mr. Bloch is exactly the man for the job. It's just like hiring hackers to be in charge of internet security!

A bold green initiative from the Bushies

The US Environmental Protection Agency (who says Americans have no sense of irony) has finally agreed to rule on California's request to regulate tailpipe emissions of cars and trucks. However the head of the EPA refused to be drawn as to exactly how long this might take. I reckon it will take just over 634 days.

At least it's not a hooker this time

Hugh Grant has had a previous brush with the law, back in 1995 he was arrested in LA for lewd conduct as a result of his encounter with the less-than-Divine Brown, a local prostitute.

This time he's been arrested for attacking a photographer with baked beans.

Wolfowitz asked to resign?

UPI is reporting that the agency that oversees the World Bank has asked the Bank's president, Paul Wolfowitz, to resign citing the "irreparable harm" he is doing to the Bank.

And take your bloody socks with you!

Calling all editors

Didn't anyone send McClatchy Newspapers the Luis Posada Carriles script? If so, why are they referring to the newly freed man as a "alleged terrorist" rather than the mandated "anti-Castro militant"?

By the way is it just me or is there more than a passing resemblance between Sr. Posada and Andy Griffith during his Matlock period?

The Decider(TM) tries his hand at healing

I'm sure the Decider(TM) truly and honestly decided to decide that it was a good idea for him to call up injured NJ Governor Jon Corzine and wish him well but would it make you feel any better?

Don't the Chinese follow the American press?

If they did they would probably realise that they were seriously wasting their time by inviting the US Food and Drug Administration to share their food inspection expertise with the Chinese are roughly the same time that the FDA is more or less admitting that their expertise is flawed and the US food chain is largely unprotected.

Where have all the constructionists gone?

It used to be that most conservative judges were what are known as "constructionists" in that their judicial philosophy as regards the Constitution and its amendments tries to put themselves into the heads of the framers, or those responsible for the writing of later amendments, to try and determine what their "original intent" was as regards the meaning and to make decisions that do not stray from that irrespective of how much the world has moved on. They were also firm believers in state decisis.

That no longer seems to be the case; at least with the conservative, or perhaps one should say, right-wing, justices on the US Supreme Court. They recently overturned precedent in the decision to allow bans on certain late term abortions to stand and it would now appear that they are seriously considering overturning the McCain-Feingold Reform Act which regulates political campaigns. If they do it will be on the basis that they equate the unlimited spending of money as free speech. I defy anyone to go into the Federalist Papers and related documents and show me something to prove that framers clearly had that intent.

Go on. I dare ya!

Can you blame them?

A poll of citizens of four Muslim nations finds that, in general, they are distrustful of America and its motives and believe that "the United States has an intention to harm Islam [and] undermine Islam". Disturbingly a surprising percentage do not believe that al Qaeda was responsible for the 11 September attacks.

Since Karen Hughes is so capable and she also works for a man who values competence above all else we can only assume that things were much, much worse 18 months ago before she took on the task of improving America's image amongst the world's Muslim people.

I am beyond words

Sometimes I have to tell people, whether here or abroad, that on certain occasions I have been ashamed to be an American. Telling that to the wrong person in the States usually brings forth a seemingly unending stream of vitriol usually followed by instructions to "fuck off back to England". Nonetheless I continue to persist in making the statement when conditions warrant it. After watching this I found it necessary once again. This made me ashamed to be American and I hope that there are others who share my remorse and if there are I hope that they also share the desire see to it that this sort of unforgivable abuse of American citizens and soldiers does not happen again. We should start with demanding the resignation, preferably with a dishonourable discharge, of Lt. Col. Ralph Kauzlarich who so ineloquently described Pat Tillman as "worm dirt" because he and his family didn't have religious beliefs that lived up to the Colonel's high standards.

Is there something about the Decider(TM) that they're not telling us?

I only ask because this headline, "Osborne 'intimate' with Bush... and 150 others", piqued my curiosity. Ostensibly it is about the British Tory Party attempting to rebuild their relationship with the Bushite wing of the American Republican Party but I'm suspicious that there could be a coded meaning of some sort.

"We’re not fighting terrorism...we’re sitting here in an air conditioned place"

It is unlikely that anyone will ever accuse US Congressman Jack Murtha (D - PA) of being a great orator. Whilst he is a Democrat, he is a very conservative Democrat and there are any number of issues on which he and I will disagree and disagree strongly. However if anyone, anywhere, anytime has the unmitigated gall to question his true, real and profound devotion to the men and women in the US Armed Forces they must be called out on it. In the clip below he address the House on the Iraq financing bill. In addition to the quote in the title he also calls out McCain on his lame attempt at an IED joke on the Daily Show.

1001 reasons to be a (British Republican) - number 138

Because some people are more equal than others. Now I have nothing against young Prince Harry personally and I do not wish him, or any other member of the British Armed Forces, harm but he has signed up for a career in the Army and should not, indeed must not, receive special treatment simply because of his German - Greek bloodlines!

Why is it I wonder...

...that Andrew Cockburn's forthcoming book about the ex-US Defense Secretary is entitled Rumsfeld: An American Disaster in the UK whereas in the States it is to be called Rumsfeld: His Rise, Fall, and Catastrophic Legacy? Are my countrymen really that sensitive?

Isn't gambling illegal in America?

As I am not a rich person I am probably not considered possessed of sufficient expertise to comment on new record achieved by the Dow Jones Industrial Average yesterday but I will nonetheless. Please excuse me for shouting.

DOESN'T ANYONE BOTHER TO EVEN LOOK AT THE UNDERLYING ECONOMIC DATA ANYMORE??!!

The global "War on Truth"

Why, one is compelled to ask, would the Iraqi government withold statistics on civilian deaths from the United Nations unless they are under pressure from the Decider(TM) and his minions who are desperate to make the "Surge" appear as if it is working?

In related news the United Kingdom government refused a transit visa to Dr. Riyadh Lafta, co-author of the study published in the Lancet to allow him to pass through London on his way to present a paper in British Columbia. The United States had already denied him a visa that would have allowed him to speak at the University of Washington. What is it that an epidemiologist has to say that is so dangerous?

Gordon and Paddy in a tree

In a move to appear more serious about affairs outside of the Exchequer British Prime Minister-in-waiting (and waiting and waiting and waiting) Gordon Brown is to enlist the aid of former Liberal Democrat Party leader and the "Baron of Bosnia" Paddy Ashdown to help him rethink the Iraq strategy and hopefully find a way out of this mess.

Will they bring the Stonehenge set along?

Great news for all of those who believe that an amplifier is not really an amplifier unless it goes up to eleven; Spinal Tap is to "reform" and perform live at Wembley Stadium in the Live Earth concert promoting the fight against global warming.

The nature of secrets

Sir Nigel Sheinwald, a senior Blair adviser, has told a court that the leak of the minutes of a meeting between the British PM and the Decider(TM) in which the two allegedly discussed, with some seriousness, bombing al-Jazeera damaged "Britain's international standing" and put lives at risk. If fact he went further and suggested that these discussions must remain secret irrespective of the "illegal or morally abhorrent the nature of their discussions".

I find this argument specious and dangerous. In reality what suffers the most damage here is not Britain's but the standing, reputations and future legacy of Blair and the Decider(TM).

There's only one Alan Ball...

...but alas no more.

How long before England again, if ever, has another World Cup hero like him?

Gone-zo watch (day 38)

I never thought when I began these daily reviews of the status of US Attorney General and Bush succubus Antonio "Gone-zo" Gonzales's career I certainly didn't suspect I would still be at it after 38 days. Clearly I underestimated the sleazy little amnesiac's desire and ability to hang on to a job that is well beyond his abilities. The Salt Lake Tribune, from out there in the left wing heartland, reports that Senators are asking Gone-zo to emulate the Gropenator and submit himself to a Total Recall experience.

Steve "I've never really coached a winning team and it doesn't look like I'm going to start now" McClaren front is also still hanging onto the England football manager spot.

(To be continued...)

In the spirit of "no one like's me I don't care"...

...I present beleaguered World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz. The only one who seems to like is, once again, the Decider(TM).

I should say so!

According to a gay Tory MP former British Prime Minister Ted Heath had to be warned off cruising for gay sex or it might "harm his future political career".

Gone too far

Most of Pennsylvania, my home state (I was actually born in Delaware but only spent a fortnight there), is home territory for the National Rifle Association but have pro-gun lunatics finally gone too far by hanging up a banner at the state Capitol that called for the lynching, murder or execution, take your pick, of State Rep. Angel Cruz (D - Philly) who has had to audacity to introduce a serious gun control bill?

I think so. I believe in free speech as much, and generally much more, than the next guy but once you cross the line of endorsing or encouraging violence it is a crime as far as I am concerned. Lock 'em up I say!

Strange but true?

Given the current (lack of) value of the US dollar I find it hard to believe that the US turned out to be the most expensive country in which to buy ten tourist essentials, one of which is beer.

Like ships that pass in the night

As the United States forges back into the past its southern neighbour, Mexico, heads the other way.

I thought you should know

The Guardian's "Diary" column reports today that David Crosby is quoted in the current issue of Classic Rock magazine as saying about the Decider(TM)

"Don't you think there should be a law that you cannot have control of nuclear weapons unless you can pronounce the word 'nuclear'?"

I'm not going to actually purchase this magazine to confirm it.

Corrections and clarifications

I fear I may have misreported yesterday when I said that doctors had failed in their attempts to reattach the penis of the man who had cut it off in a restaurant on the Strand. It seems now that they have managed to sew it back on but aren't sure it will take. In the words of an unnamed urologist:

"Attaching the penis is a very long, complex and painstaking operation"

Should the surgery prove to be a failure they will have to cut the man's member off again.