Notariety for O-Town

One of my biggest gripes about living in the USA (spare me the "so move somewhere else" quips - you're boring me!) is the f**ked up health care, or rather health insurance situation. I was really happy to see that Michael Moore had tackled this issue with his new movie "Sicko", even happier that unlike Fahrenheit 911 it is getting universal, bi-partisan acclaim, and ecstatic that my home town Oakand (aka "O-Town") is getting previews of the movie projected on the head quarters of Kaiser. Like all HMOs Kaiser gets some "special" attention in Sicko.

I'm event more pleased to point out that Moore makes a point of telling us that Kaiser, as a corporation is legally obliged to maximize profit for its shareholders, yes there is a supreme court ruling to that effect, Kaiser could get sued if they didn't put the dollar before your health. Not the kind of behavior you want from an company that is supposedly trying to give you health care. As Moore tells us frequently - profit is not something that has any business being considered in conjunction with health care.

George Hypocrite Bush

Said George Bush today "Destroying human life in the hopes of saving human life is not ethical — and it is not the only option before us"

Well that's a very convenient attitude to take when you talking about embryos which at the time of harvesting are no more "alive" than a hunk of flesh from your nose that any plastic surgeon would willingly lop off - for the right fee.

So George, how come in Iraq you have no problems causing the death of hundreds of thousands in the hope of saving some human lives? Even at his worst Saddam didn't have that kind of effect on the people of Iraq. Could it be that Mr Bush you are a hypocrite pandering to a special interest in the hopes of keeping your friends in power?

Cliff Notes

A sweet story from the UK about someone who discovered the real power of music - using Cliff Richard tunes to disperse evil hoddies.

Tim Griffin resigns - the real story is missed by US "press"

US Attorney for Arkansas Tim Griffin has resigned but a search of Google news is showing that there has been little coverage of the story so far in the main stream. The longest story from CNN details his involvement in the ongoing Gonzales attorney firings scandal. However every seems to be missing the connection between Griffin and an ongoing investigation into voter caging that may eventually implicate none other than Bush's "Prince of Darkness" Karl Rove. To quote from Greg Palast's announcement of June 1st:

Conyers, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee investigating the firing of US Attorneys, met Thursday evening in New York with Palast. After reviewing key documents, Conyers stated that, despite Griffin's resignation, "We're not through with him by any means."

Conyers indicated to the BBC that he thought it unlikely that Griffin could carry out this massive 'caging' operation without the knowledge of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Rove.

Griffin has not responded to requests by BBC to explain this 'caging' operation. However, in emails subpoenaed by Conyers' committee, Griffin complains to Monica Goodling, an assistant to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, about the BBC reporter's reproduction of caging lists in Palast's book, "Armed Madhouse."

Last Wednesday, Goodling testified under a grant of immunity before the House Judiciary Committee that Gonzales' Deputy Paul McNulty, "failed to disclose that he had some knowledge of allegations that Tim Griffin had been involved in vote 'caging' during his work on the President's 2004 campaign."

Goodling's testimony prompted Conyers' request to the BBC for the Griffin emails.

Last night Palast showed Conyers a Griffin email from August 2004 indicating that Griffin not only knew of 'caging,' but directed the operation.

Hmmm, and the next day Griffin resigns, coincidence? Just how long before the real story breaks? You can help Palast's story get some coverage by digging it over at Digg.com