The Range of Corruption in Texas

As the conclusion of the 2011 baseball season approaches and the defending American League Champion Texas Rangers appear to be returning to the playoffs, it is time to reflect on the politics and corruption that aids them in this pursuit. In his 2009 tome, “Family of Secrets: the Bush dynasty, the powerful forces that put it in the White House, and what their influence means for America,” Russ Baker details President George W. Bush's involvement with the Rangers and his efforts to effect the construction of Rangers Ballpark.
Bush and his cronies think that the working people of America owe them a financial killing, so he leads the manipulations that build the stadium. The group floats a false story that team may move to Dallas and bullies the citizens of Arlington, Texas into adding a half cent to the local sales tax to raise construction funds. The ballpark and underlying land are turned over to the team, to the enormous benefit of George W. Bush and his co-owners.
The acquisition of the land is on the cheap as part of the liquidation of the Saving and Loan scandal which President George H. W. Bush oversees. They also obtain land via eminent domain with the help of some local movers and shakers, who receive Federal appointments and/or the turning of a blind eye towards criminal activity vis-a-vis the S&L scandal.
These sordid wheelings and dealings help set up Nolan Ryan and the Rangers to make their current run. As the Oakland Athletics maneuver to build a new stadium, the citizens of Oakland and San Jose must be vigilant to the machinations of A's owner, Lew “Boob” Wolff. He is cut from the same cloth as the past ownership of the Texas Rangers.

Obama's Approval Drops and America Goes to Hell

President Obama's approval ratings are below 50 percent for the first time amongst Californians. His ratings dip around the country and now this phenomenon reaches the last bastion. This does not portend well for the country. Not that Obama is doing a bang up job, he is not. Of course he is the victim of circumstances beyond his control, but that goes with the territory and he lets the Tea Party wing of the Republican party define the debate. Most Americans do not like the direction in which our country is moving. One would be a fool to think otherwise. However, real danger lurks in the future for the vast majority in this land. Americans are accustomed to the two party system and when they righteously feel the need to, “Throw the bums out,” they only have the option of lurching towards the Democratic sort of left or the Republican extreme right. The populace is set up for a lurch towards the tea partying fascists who are making the rounds of the debates. The current group of Republicans are not of the Dewey or Eisenhower ilk, they are not even of the Nixon ilk. They are to the right of Hitler! And voting for their nominee will be like Germans voting for old Adolf in 1933. At least Hitler won at least one legitimate election which is more than the right can say for George W. Bush! The United States is in bad shape now, but voting for Republicans for executive or legislative positions will drive this nation to hell and there will be no return and an end to the United States of America.

Osama bin Laden's Trial

There has been much jubilation over the death of Osama bin Laden. Although he is no loss, I would prefer to have seen him captured and then tried for his crimes. However, I always thought that he may be killed but never caught, which was the end result. On one level bin Laden is now an Islamic martyr enjoying his 72 virgins in heaven, instead of being the virgin in some Federal super max prison. I am not certain who would want him as a prison bitch, though. If he had been captured and I were the prosecutor I would plea bargain with him to provide us with information about whom in this county he was helping. I know that some in the United States have benefited from his actions and I suspect that was the plan. The bombings of the African embassies and the U.S.S. Cole were a blow to President Clinton and therefore weakened Al Gore in the next election. President George W. Bush took office under the cloud that about half the nation did not think his election was legitimate. The attacks on September 11, 2001 were a Pearl Harbor moment and the U.S. population united behind the president in the face of foreign attack. Also, there have been well documented business connections between George W. Bush and the bin Laden family.

Even though they are members of different political parties, Presidents Bush and Obama are part of the American power structure and to that extent Obama will protect Bush and see that there is no trial. For his part Obama has been Lincolnesq in this matter. President Lincoln needed a significant military victory to insure his reelection in 1864. He got together with his generals and came up with a multiple pronged attack on the Confederacy. The result was Sherman's triumph in Atlanta and Lincoln's electoral victory. The killing of Osama bin Laden protects Bush, Cheney et al and it gives Obama a needed military success.

One Per Centers and Social Security

Recently, I viewed an AARP commercial touting the generational continuity of the Social Security system. I then thought of how President George W. “Stinky” Bush wanted to invest Social Security capital into the stock market in order to maximize gains. At the time I thought this a terrible idea and time has proved me right. I felt then that the one per centers were trying to get their hands on our money and then grab it during the next stock market crash. The crash happened and many lost a great deal and it must be assumed that a few on the top profited greatly.

Americans should never allow Social Security funds to be invested in the market, as it is too vulnerable to manipulation and thievery.