Re Loss of the Olympics Was Not the Most Important Setback Today
I see that Ari Noonan, like most of the un-sophisticated Americans, is living in a state of denial.
You are placing the blame on everyone but yourself.
America, take a look in the mirror.
You may not be aware of this, Mr. Ari, but the world does not get its information only from the machine-controlled outlets like yours anymore.
Thank God for the worldwide web (now you know what the “www” means).
Before the web, America was no saint either, had its covert operations and things. But basically it set the stage for higher morality, even though it did not necessarily practice morality at home.
Hey, nobody’s perfect.
American meant quality. Anything American was in demand. Made best cars, had best schools and military.
Americans were prosperous, innovative, industrious, and generous to a fault. Americans cared about other people’s welfare, except their own. If another country had a disaster, Americans were one of the first on the scene with food and supplies.
Americans followed Geneva Convention Rules of War. They were big on human rights, if they only knew. Americans believed in the Constitution. That’s what separated them from all others.
America and Americans were respected throughout the world. You’re American? Welcome.
In early 1980s, under Reagan/Bush Sr., regulatory changes took place that gave S&L industry new powers.
For first time in history, measures were taken to increase profitability of S & L at expense of promoting homeownership.
The Old Days Weren’t Good
Denver-based Silverado S&L Assn.’s 1988 collapse attracted attention for its $1 billion cost to taxpayers and makeup of board of directors, which included Neil Bush, son of then-Vice President George H.W. Bush.
What is important to note about S & L scandal is that it was largest theft in history of world and U.S. taxpayers who was robbed over $1.4 trillion. That was the practice run.
What a difference eight years make. 2000-
Supreme Court steals American election.
Selects C-Yale graduate as the most powerful man in the “Free World.”
Here is how Americans are seen throughout out the world now:
2003 — Never-been-to-war American President is egged on by draft evaders and war-profit hawks to invade a sovereign nation for oil under pretext of WMD, against advice of U.N. “We have resources, so we can go at it alone — two wars at once — bring it on.” “Mission accomplished.”
2004 — Fifty-nine million can’t be wrong. Bush elected again? Papers report from around the world.
2004 — President declares “illegal combatants” can be held indefinitely, without charges or trial, because he says so. America spying on its citizens. Wiretapping and torture – legal according to White House Harvard-educated council.
Yoo Hoo, We Are Watching
No name is more associated with the worst abuses of the Bush Administration — its callous disregard for human rights, its treatment of the Constitution as opinion, its belief that Presidents, or at least conservative Presidents, are really kings — than former Bush OLC deputy John Yoo.
Yet while Yoo is most famous for his at-best professionally incompetent claims that it's legal for the United States to torture, Yoo's first love was always limitless Presidential power.
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the costliest hurricane, as well as one of the five deadliest, in the history of the United States.
U.S. President suffers with stage fright.
Paralyzed and in coma for couple days. V.P. calls for a natural disaster, federal aid is on the way.
Despite repeated warnings to evacuate, many residents remained (mainly elderly and poor). Louisiana Superdome was used as a designated “refuge of last resort” for those who remained in city. City flooded, due primarily to failure of federally built levee system. Many who remained in their homes had to swim for their lives, wade through deep water, or remain trapped in their attics or on their rooftops.
There was also an investigation of the responses from federal, state and local governments, resulting in the resignation of FEMA director.
Huddle Masses Are Expanding
Fatalities 1,836 confirmed, 705 missing Damage $81.2 billion (2005USD), $90.9 billion (2009 USD)
Four years later, thousands of displaced residents in Mississippi and Louisiana were still living in trailers
Foreclosures are spreading by epidemic proportions, expanding beyond a handful of problem states and now affecting almost 1 in every 8 American homeowners
Twice as many needed shelter this winter. Number of individuals seeking beds was up from last year as aid to families doubled.
Increase appears to be occurring all over County, including a more than tenfold jump of families at a city shelter. More families in shelters, an 87 percent increase according to Homeless Services Authority.
Hospital to pay in-patient dumping case.
Facility accused of dropping 150 homeless patients off on Skid Row. Over last four years, authorities, along with many service providers in skid row area, have cracked down on practice of dumping people onto streets of Skid Row by hospitals and some law enforcement agencies…
Lehman, once fourth-largest U.S. investment bank, collapsed into biggest bankruptcy in U.S. history after reeling from $60 billion in soured (toxic) assets, after attempts failed to rescue 158-year-old firm …
Iraq war’s cost to pass Vietnam’s. By year’s end, will rise to $694 billion, making conflict most expensive in U.S History.
End of Bush administration, which launched war, may give fresh impetus to investigation into frauds in which tens of billions of dollars were spent on reconstruction with little being built that could be used.
Temptation of easy cash too much for some troops. Several are accused of helping themselves to reconstruction funds. Three dozen bribery-related convictions and at least 25 theft probes. $3 million.
Senior U.S. soldiers investigated over misuse of $125 billion Iraq reconstruction funds. Exact sum may never be clear, but a report by U.S. Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) suggests it may exceed $50 billion.
U.S. civilian contractors wounded in war, battle to get care.
Insurance companies, responsible for treatment under taxpayer-funded policies, have routinely denied most serious medical claims. Those insurers, primarily American International Group (AIG), recorded hundreds millions of dollars in profits on this business.
More than 1,400 civilian contractors have died and 31,000 wounded or injured in two war zones. Have to battle a federally supervised insurance system marked by high costs and excessive delays.
Insurers collected more than $1.5 billion in premiums paid by U.S. taxpayers and have earned nearly $600 million in profit, according to congressional investigators.
Over 4,000 U.S. soldier deaths and over 50,000 injured. What a waste of youth. Any congressional kids?
Government bailed out to tune of $182.5 billion (unrestricted) largely out of fear that huge financial firms worldwide would collapse if it didn’t stand behind credit default swaps.
AIG paid $165 million in executive bonuses with bailout money.
U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Senate Banking Committee chairman, introduced (sponsored) bill that ultimately protected bonuses for executives at insurance giant AIG.
First round of federal bailout money, $15 billion for B of A and $10 billion for Merrill.
When it became clear Merrill’s losses would be far greater than expected, CEO Ken Lewis threatened to back away from takeover. Ultimately, he let it go through, but only after government invested $20 billion more in B of A and guaranteed $118 billion in troubled assets.
The $45 billion B of A received in total bailout funds is exceeded only by federal payouts to American International Group and Citigroup, which have replaced their top brass.
In proposing sweeping changes, President Obama’s administration officials say financial crisis would have been avoided or tempered had a federal agency been given power to root out and halt such systemic threats as funny-money loans, slipshod underwriting and Wall Street abuses that distorted market from 2002 through 2006.
The $50 billion American auto industry bailout. Additional $4 billion stimulus program to move American car inventory. In Cash for Clunkers campaign, foreign cars profited mostly. Forgot to specify buy American only.
Jobs in California go to those with connections. California lawmakers can hire anyone they choose. That means work for friends and relatives. Unemployment in California may be at its highest since 1983, but there are jobs with Legislature for well connected…
State’s school seek $5 billion. About 26,000 teachers were handed pink slips this spring…
California educational funds are raided by correspondent graduates. Incompetent elected officials stand by and do nothing. Only solution is self-tax. Parcel taxes.
And on and on.
How Americans, Un-sophisticated Americans, See Themselves
The crowd came for a party, an estimated 10,000 people. Then the announcement stunned them into silence.
Chicago, which expected to compete mightily for the 2016 Olympic Games,had been knocked out in the first round of voting last Friday. “I am dumbfounded, utterly speeches,” said advisor David Axelrod, who, moments before, had predicted victory. “I have no clue what just happened.”
It’s one thing to be the Second City. It’s something altogether different to be fourth.
“This hurts so much more. I thought the city had done such a fabulous job.”
Some people cried. Others closed their eyes and shook their heads. Many stood with their mouths open, staring at those around them in disbelief. The announcement dashed the hopes of U.S. boosters, President Obama chief among them, who had put their reputations on the line.
Obama and his wife, Michelle, took part in Chicago’s formal presentation to the International Olympic Committee. The President spent about 20 minutes shmoozing with delegates during a recess, to no avail.
The President is disappointed, “but he continues to believe, and we heard from a number of people, that Chicago had a very strong, if not the best, bid,” Mr. Axelrod said.
The assessment was of little consolation to a city that once was confident of its Olympic chances.
The disappointed masses searched for an explanation.
They chastised the media for stories critical of the bid, and some lashed out at Michael Jordan for not traveling to Copenhagen to show his support. Others blamed anti-American sentiment, local opposition groups, and the videotaped beating death of a Chicago public schools student last week.
“We weren’t unified as a city,” said Rob F.. We didn’t get behind this enough.”
In a scene that played out at deflated fetes across the city and suburbs, spectators grappled with Olympic-sized disappointment and a stinging rejection from the international community.
What a difference 8 years make, 2000 Supreme Court hands Presidency to Bush.
In 2003, Bush starts unjustified war to avenge daddy Bush (disrespect my daddy, I’ll show ya).
America Morally and Financially Bankrupt
Mr. Noonan, you are asking an apology from the wrong person. I hope I jogged your memory and you remember the uphill battle that President Obama has to restore America’s image.
You should be encouraging him. If you believe in God like so many of you people do (hypocrites), then pray for him. He is going to need them.
Reality Orientation
Like President Obama and officials of other finalist countries, President Luiz I. Lula da Silva Brazil made a personal appeal to the Olympic Committee.
Back home on the famed Copacabana Beach, an estimated 1 million people had gathered to await the decision. Many were prepared for disappointment, expecting another instance of a less-developed country getting the short end of the stick.
Teacher Lucio S. said he was worried when he found out that Obama was going to Copenhagen. “The mood now is of vindication,” he said, “as if Brazil had proven a point to the world.”
Brazilians regard the Olympics as an event that will raise the status of their country, an increasingly important economic power, on the global stage.
Unlike much of the world, which is still extricating itself from recession, Brazil’s economy is expected to grow by between 4 percent and 6 percent next year. The country is helping propel Latin America out of recession, according to a forecast released by the International Monetary Fund.
Brazil’s economy has benefited from strong demand for natural resources. And under Lula, the government seems to have broken a cycle of hyperinflation, currency devaluation, bank failure and credit crises.
Rio’s selection is also a testament to Lula’s influence at home and growing prestige abroad. Nearing the end of his second term, the former union official, who once was jailed by military rulers, still enjoys approval ratings around 80 percent.
Rising cocaine use and trafficking are at the root of much of the crime.
Jorge Barbosa, who heads an advocacy group for slum residents, said that nothing in the Olympic bid addressed residents’ need for education, better housing and security.
“I just hope it brings benefit to the city,” said Vitor B, a Rio-based historian. “But I confess, I’m skeptical. I am happy for the city, but I doubt the good intentions of politicians.”
Mr. Abrams is a candidate for the School Board, and he may be contacted at gabrams@ca.rr.com
Note from Mr. Abrams to the editor: I thought about what you said last week, about apologizing. I will apologize for any thing that I said was not true, if you can demonstrate that fact and not just your weak opinions. And if you have the courage to print my rebuttals to your accusations and not just the ones you select.
Ari Noonan’s comment: If School Board candidate Gary Abrams is one of three to win election on Nov. 3, we can be assured meetings will not be dominated by boring School District business. Instead, the Board probably will plunge regularly into truly meaningful community debate, about Mr. Bush, Mr. Yoo and the eminent leadership of Brazil.
