Bush, Business Week, and the end of the world

Bush Watch

As MWO put it, 'Bush "Upbeat," "Chatty," "Cocky," "In High Spirits" over Prospect of Finally Having Chance to Unnecessarily End Lives of Thousands of Innocents'

Oil Prophets (Profits?) Watch

Here's one which should not be a surprise for anybody. Cheney's company, (which continued to pay him well into his vice-presidency, and which for all we know may be paying him still) has been awarded a lucrative contract to rebuild Iraq's oil fields after the coming "conflict". I guess we should ignore the appearance of a conflict of interest and just let our God-appointed rulers do what is right. Nothing to see here, move along.

Religious Crazies Watch

Thanks to Gary for this article. Imagine an America where Business Week (Business Week!) has to write an article which seriously contemplates whether our president is guided by trying to bring about the "end times". That is how bad things have gotten. This whole "rapture" thing is such a steaming pile of dung I can't get over it. Most people probably don't know that this particular end-of-the-world scheme was formulated by some kook in the 1800s. The Business Week article, is surprisingly accurate on this point. I saw some Discovery Channel or AandE special on this at some point, and was so angry that a lot of these "dispensational" theories, though based on the book of Revelation, weren't even around 200 years ago. The thought that some nearly-modern Jim Jones just made the whole thing up - well, it's just a pet peeve with me.

And the thought that President Legacy is (possibly) basing policy on it - well, let's just say that's another pet peeve.

Speaking of religious crazies, check out this site for a laugh. Despite the name, which implies that it is against celebrities speaking out against the war, it is actually the _opposite_ of that view which they espouse, as well as an un-arrogant Christian stance. Check out the list of the ways they have "changed their minds" on things, and then take small comfort in the idea that idiots are probably going there based on the domain name alone, and get a dose of thoughtfulness instead. Small comfort, I know, but we'll take it where we can get it.

Plato the Prophet Watch

Some apropos quotes from Socrates' student:

"The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."

(Have we really been _that_ apathetic?)

"Democracy passes into despotism."

"When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest or treaty, and there is nothing to fear from them, then he is always stirring up some war or other, in order that the people my require a leader."

(I'd say we still require a leader).

"Oligarchy: A government resting on a valuation of property, in which the rich have power and the poor man is deprived of it."

(see also Republican Paradise).

Operation Deserter Storm Watch

See Jason Leopold's interesting column "When Poppy Bush Said It How It Is", in which Bush 41 explains (in 1996) why doing what Junior is proposing to do now is such a mistake. Maybe Poppy should sit him down and explain this again very slowly.

In the same vein is the ending to "Losses, before Bullets Fly" by Nicholas Kristof (be sure you read to the end), who describes all of the horrible things which have already been born of Bush's actions. Kristof is usually an apologist for Bush, funnily enough.

Conservative Idiots Watch

The top 10 conservative idiots of the week.

Humor Watch

The French have been busy.