Bush's Bloody Report Card Comes from Mike McConnell

President Bush's Director of National Intelligence offered his candid assessment of eight years of George W. Bush. A Washington Post piece reported on his speech.

The next U.S. president will govern in an era of increasing international instability, including a heightened risk of terrorist attacks in the near future, long-term prospects of regional conflicts and diminished U.S. dominance across the globe, the nation's top intelligence officer said Thursday.

World stability F
Economy F
Consumer Safety F
Health Care F
Funneling taxpayer money to his corporate friends A+
Spying on Americans A+
Lying to the people A+
Playing the permanent political campaign to the detriment of the country A+

Bush made the world in his image, greedy, heavy handed, and violent. McConnell's assessment is a direct reflection of eight years of George W. The world is a much bloodier place.

Gates Opens Door for More Attacks, Petraeus the Man to Deliver

Days after Pentagon Chief Robert Gates lowered the bar for America to use international force, General David Petraeus takes over the U.S. Central Command. CentCom covers Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan. What's the General been up to since he stepped down as head of the Iraq command? It's been six weeks.

In between the two events, the IAEA unofficially revealed Iranian experiments to enrich spent nuclear fuel. The Jerusalem Post noted Saddam Hussein achieved this level before Israel preemptively wiped out Iraq's nuclear facilities. Deja vu?

Iran Parallels Saddam's Nuclear Program

The Jerusalem Post reported "Iran has recently tested ways of recovering highly enriched uranium from waste reactor fuel in a covert bid to expand its nuclear program, according to an intelligence assessment."

When Saddam Hussein achieved similar capabilities in the 1980's, Israel responded by bombing Iraq's nuclear facilities.

IAEA officials would not comment on the leaked report. That's odd. Such information could be the linchpin for an attack. Or is that lynchpin?

Combine this story with Pentagon Chief Bob Gates lessening the standard for an American attack, and it could soon be "bombs over Tehran."

What if Wall Street & Big Oil Want McCain?

Write the script for a McCain win in light of people's financial concerns. The stock market would soar a week before election, stabilize and even grow a bit. This would occur despite dire news on the state of the economy.

Tuesday-- 889 point rise in the Dow Industrials
Wednesday-- 74 point fall (stability in current environment)
Thursday-- 190 point rise

While people won't have time to receive their IRA or 401(k) statements, a temporary relaxation of the financial vise could help John McCain.

Hurting Republican chances is ExxonMobil's record, record, record 3rd quarter profit of $14 billion. But not many citizens follow the financial papers. A deep drop in the price of gas could divert the public's attention.

A bribe of $1.50 a gallon can go a long way. It's not due to supply and demand, unless it takes seven months for that relationship to actualize. Consumers significantly cut back driving since March, yet gas prices soared through July. They eased slightly in August and September, helping BP and ExxonMobil achieve record profits.

Gas prices cratered through the floor in October, nearing $2 a gallon for regular unleaded. Big oil clearly wants John McCain. The question remains as to Wall Street's desire.

Pentagon Chief Gates Says U.S. Can Attack Whoever, Whenever

Just what the world wanted to hear, a lame duck President extends the situations under which he can conduct preemptive war. The irony is Defense Department Secretary Bob Gates made his remarks to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Gates said:

“Today we also make clear that the United States will hold any state, terrorist group or other nonstate actor or individual fully accountable for supporting or enabling terrorist efforts to obtain or use weapons of mass destruction — whether by facilitating, financing or providing expertise or safe haven for such efforts.”

In other words, President Bush can attack anyone, anywhere, anytime with complete impunity.

Two Vastly Unpopular, Nuclear Armed Lame Ducks

Elections in Israel and America will select new chief executives for those nuclear armed countries. Pariahs George W. Bush and Ehud Olmert have months left to serve in their lame duck status.

The Bush administration conducted a raid in Syrian territory. Such an expansion is historic. What other measures might the pair take in their few remaining months as commander in chief? What do they say about cornered wounded animals? Maybe, we should come up with a new term, one other than lame duck...

Economy Tanks, but Gun Sales Rise

If Americans are going to stuff what little remains of their investment cash in a mattress, it helps to protect it. The Washington Post reported the combination of political and economic factors prompted an increase in firearm sales, a rise of 10%. Ammunition sales are up as well.

The tanking economy raises the prospect of crime. Others are concerned that gun purchases could be restricted in the future. If tribal Pakistanis can have Chinese made AK-47's, why not Americans? Aren't we all worried about al Qaeda? Why not arm 299,990,000 to protect them from the dangerous 10,000? If we're all armed, who needs police? We can do without courts as well in the new world of tribal justice.

Oh, that's not what our founding father's wanted with that right of habeas corpus? Why didn't they grant citizen's the right to own cannons? Tupperware parties have been replace by personal, pink taser events. What's next, your home nuclear device to enforce the Sampson option? If I can't have my house, no one will...