Friday, January 07, 2005
Krugman revives Christmas eve BwB memories
Paul Krugman's column in The New York Times today, Jan 7, makes the point that neither Kerik nor Rudy Giuliani was a hero of 9/11 but each played one on TV and was quick to cash in afterwards. I'm posting the piece I wrote on December 24, making the same point, my way.
Bwana
January 7, 2005
Breakfast with Bwana
DECEMBER 24, 2004
MERRY TURBULENCE:
It has been quite a while since Prezzy told us of his first encounter with Putin, some four years ago: "I looked into Vlad -ee--mer's eyes and saw Dioxin." Two days ago, Vlad-ee-mer gave himself quite a Christmas present via Rosneft which, via Baikal Finans took over, Yuganskneftegaz, which will, eventually, all be wrapped up into Gazprom. After all is said and done, in a bid to continue its headlong tilt toward free market reform and to gain name brand recognition in the West, Gazprom will be known as Dioxin International.
Vlad-ee-mer is sort of reminiscent of T. Boone Pickens and his corporate raider stunts, isn't he? Oh, by the way, T. B. is not quite done; he's still spreading his infectious little self. Why, just this morning, The New York Times reports that he has given $250,000 to Prezzy's Inaugural Committee and that he gave about $5.5 million to the Progress for America Voter Fund and Swift Boat Vets and P.O.W.'s for Truth. T. B. is only one of many "donors" who have, so far, put up $8 million to ensure that Prezzy and Laura have a real nice dance party, y'hear. I am most impressed with his charitable spirit and willingness to put up so much money for the pursuit of truth.
On the subject of charitable spirit, I have no brief for Bernard Kerik, but Rudy Giuliani's desert-the-sinking-(friend)ship-like-a-scared-rat act is despicable. I know, I know, Rudy-the-Red-Nosed-Patriot conducted himself with poise and aplomb after 9/11. But, so did Mike Dukakis, after the great blizzard of 1978. I mean, it's not hard to stand up and tell everybody to be strong, keep their chins up, dig up the rubble and find the dead bodies without tears, and remember that we are all strong Americans and will not buckle, especially when you are the Mayor and don't have to do the digging or cleaning, and really have no responsibility about deciding what the nation will do to respond. Even Prezzy gave a speech that warmed the cockles of our stars and stripes after 9/11 about how we were going to kick derriers even if, after we did, we left our own exposed.
Rudy-the-Red-Nosed-Moneygrubber didn't hesitate to cash in on the 9/11 bonanza with his consulting firm. I don't begrudge Giuliani his success -- after all, if corporate America is willing to pay for his services, they must know what they are getting. They've put up $8 million so far for the Inaugural Committee and the total is targeted at $40 million -- yes, these folks know where to shop with their hard earned money. However, what gets me is that he pushed Kerik out and the way in which he did it. There was the obligatory save-face speech by Kerik in which he allowed as how the turmoil around him was affecting the company and Giuliani and how Kerik saw that as unfair to them. There was the obligatory corporate statement that Giuliani accepted-with-regret-the-resignation. However, it was also announced immediately, that the name of the firm will be changed from Giuliani-Kerick Bloodsuckers Group, to Giuliani-Solo-Pig, Inc. Giuliani, not one to abjure a kick-the-dirty-dog-while-he-is-down swipe that would make Pele or Beckham proud, said that he thought Kerik had made the "right" decision. Sure, "right" for Giuliani. But, why the hypocrisy of saying you accepted the resignation with regret, if you are going to say it was the right decision?
I know that Rudolph-the-Red-Nosed-Blue-Stater is said to have hopes of being President. It will be well for Americans to keep in mind that this is an exploiter, not a loyal guy, not a guy who stands up for his friends, and, well, quite frankly, not a charitable guy, given what I see here. It sure would have been a good friend to have let Kerik take a 3-6 month leave of absence to see what shook out. After all, we Americans have short memories and have forgiven larger transgressions. And I say all this, not really caring about Kerik, one way or the other. I just hope that Americans don't fall for yet another creep questing for the White House.
But it's Christmas, and I want to be charitable. I was thinking about Iraq and Iran when I heard of the release of the French news 'ostages. It struck me as funny, that Chirac was there welcoming them back almost as war heroes from a war he didn't join. But I was glad that their Christmas will be cheerful. Then, I thought about Jimmy Carter's botched attempt to rescue the hostages in Iran back in 1979.
And speaking of forgiving smaller transgressions, wouldn't it be nice if we could fire up a Black Hawk and see if T. B. or H. Ross Perot would finance a rescue attempt to free Martha Stewart who is being held hostage in West Virginia. I mean Christmas is not the same without her wonderful hints like "How to prepare your Christmas fruitcake batter while taking a Jacuzzi" or "how to make Christmas tree ornaments from Llegs panty hose packages." I say this because the other day, Prezzy didn't include Martha in his list of those pardoned this Christmas. Most of the people he pardoned seemed to have been bank embezzlers.
And I think we should be charitable to Dick (why would a grown man call himself that?) Cheney. Let's chip in and get him a defribillator. Let's get Rumpy a flak jacket. Let's get Condi one of those home hair cutting and trim kits so she get that wedge of hair out of her face. And let's get Prezzy a subscription to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The L.A. Times, and The Guardian. After all, don't you think it's time he started reading the newspapers to find out what is going on?
Most of all, let's be charitable to ourselves and to each other. Merry Turbulence to all.
Cheerz.... Bwana Claus
Bwana
January 7, 2005
Breakfast with Bwana
DECEMBER 24, 2004
MERRY TURBULENCE:
It has been quite a while since Prezzy told us of his first encounter with Putin, some four years ago: "I looked into Vlad -ee--mer's eyes and saw Dioxin." Two days ago, Vlad-ee-mer gave himself quite a Christmas present via Rosneft which, via Baikal Finans took over, Yuganskneftegaz, which will, eventually, all be wrapped up into Gazprom. After all is said and done, in a bid to continue its headlong tilt toward free market reform and to gain name brand recognition in the West, Gazprom will be known as Dioxin International.
Vlad-ee-mer is sort of reminiscent of T. Boone Pickens and his corporate raider stunts, isn't he? Oh, by the way, T. B. is not quite done; he's still spreading his infectious little self. Why, just this morning, The New York Times reports that he has given $250,000 to Prezzy's Inaugural Committee and that he gave about $5.5 million to the Progress for America Voter Fund and Swift Boat Vets and P.O.W.'s for Truth. T. B. is only one of many "donors" who have, so far, put up $8 million to ensure that Prezzy and Laura have a real nice dance party, y'hear. I am most impressed with his charitable spirit and willingness to put up so much money for the pursuit of truth.
On the subject of charitable spirit, I have no brief for Bernard Kerik, but Rudy Giuliani's desert-the-sinking-(friend)ship-like-a-scared-rat act is despicable. I know, I know, Rudy-the-Red-Nosed-Patriot conducted himself with poise and aplomb after 9/11. But, so did Mike Dukakis, after the great blizzard of 1978. I mean, it's not hard to stand up and tell everybody to be strong, keep their chins up, dig up the rubble and find the dead bodies without tears, and remember that we are all strong Americans and will not buckle, especially when you are the Mayor and don't have to do the digging or cleaning, and really have no responsibility about deciding what the nation will do to respond. Even Prezzy gave a speech that warmed the cockles of our stars and stripes after 9/11 about how we were going to kick derriers even if, after we did, we left our own exposed.
Rudy-the-Red-Nosed-Moneygrubber didn't hesitate to cash in on the 9/11 bonanza with his consulting firm. I don't begrudge Giuliani his success -- after all, if corporate America is willing to pay for his services, they must know what they are getting. They've put up $8 million so far for the Inaugural Committee and the total is targeted at $40 million -- yes, these folks know where to shop with their hard earned money. However, what gets me is that he pushed Kerik out and the way in which he did it. There was the obligatory save-face speech by Kerik in which he allowed as how the turmoil around him was affecting the company and Giuliani and how Kerik saw that as unfair to them. There was the obligatory corporate statement that Giuliani accepted-with-regret-the-resignation. However, it was also announced immediately, that the name of the firm will be changed from Giuliani-Kerick Bloodsuckers Group, to Giuliani-Solo-Pig, Inc. Giuliani, not one to abjure a kick-the-dirty-dog-while-he-is-down swipe that would make Pele or Beckham proud, said that he thought Kerik had made the "right" decision. Sure, "right" for Giuliani. But, why the hypocrisy of saying you accepted the resignation with regret, if you are going to say it was the right decision?
I know that Rudolph-the-Red-Nosed-Blue-Stater is said to have hopes of being President. It will be well for Americans to keep in mind that this is an exploiter, not a loyal guy, not a guy who stands up for his friends, and, well, quite frankly, not a charitable guy, given what I see here. It sure would have been a good friend to have let Kerik take a 3-6 month leave of absence to see what shook out. After all, we Americans have short memories and have forgiven larger transgressions. And I say all this, not really caring about Kerik, one way or the other. I just hope that Americans don't fall for yet another creep questing for the White House.
But it's Christmas, and I want to be charitable. I was thinking about Iraq and Iran when I heard of the release of the French news 'ostages. It struck me as funny, that Chirac was there welcoming them back almost as war heroes from a war he didn't join. But I was glad that their Christmas will be cheerful. Then, I thought about Jimmy Carter's botched attempt to rescue the hostages in Iran back in 1979.
And speaking of forgiving smaller transgressions, wouldn't it be nice if we could fire up a Black Hawk and see if T. B. or H. Ross Perot would finance a rescue attempt to free Martha Stewart who is being held hostage in West Virginia. I mean Christmas is not the same without her wonderful hints like "How to prepare your Christmas fruitcake batter while taking a Jacuzzi" or "how to make Christmas tree ornaments from Llegs panty hose packages." I say this because the other day, Prezzy didn't include Martha in his list of those pardoned this Christmas. Most of the people he pardoned seemed to have been bank embezzlers.
And I think we should be charitable to Dick (why would a grown man call himself that?) Cheney. Let's chip in and get him a defribillator. Let's get Rumpy a flak jacket. Let's get Condi one of those home hair cutting and trim kits so she get that wedge of hair out of her face. And let's get Prezzy a subscription to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The L.A. Times, and The Guardian. After all, don't you think it's time he started reading the newspapers to find out what is going on?
Most of all, let's be charitable to ourselves and to each other. Merry Turbulence to all.
Cheerz.... Bwana Claus
