GOODBYE TO GEORGE W. BUSH

Today is the end of 8 long years... Tomorrow is the beginning of a new 4 years. May they be different, progressive, fair, and of course, in the best interest of the people. Welcome President Obama! Change is good.

President Bush Gets Shoes Thrown At Him In Iraq

This is all over the Internet and we are all loving it! President Bush was the target of the shoes of an angry Iraqi reporter. The culture in Iraq says that throwing shoes at someone shows contempt for that person. Despite the insult, Bush went on to tout the good he has brought and Iraq. He claimed only a small minority are angry or want attention. Hmmmm...

Bloggers United For Human Rights Day

Well, that is what I usually do but today it's extra important. May 15 is Bloggers Unite For Human Rights day!!! This event has spread like wildfire thanks to Amnesty International and Facebook. Check it out here.

Some the issues the group is hoping to see blogs promote are:

1. Human Rights in China. This is especially on our minds after their tragic 7.9 magnitude earthquake that struck over the weekend. Amnesty hopes you will sign a petition to Yahoo! to protect Internet free speech in China.

2. Check out tearitdown.org to find how to campaign for an end to the Guantanamo Bay detaining center.

3. The crisis in Darfur, Sudan, which includes civil war, genocide, poverty, rampant AIDS, and a serious lack in education and military stability. Amnesty has a petition you can sign to protect Darfur.

President Bush To Meet With Sudan!

President Bush will meet in Washington with Sudan's Vice-President Salva Kiir. The President will discuss with Sudan's leader how to reenact peace in the suffering African country. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed in 2005, but peace has rarely and minimally existed there since. Reports BBC, "Mr Kiir has said the CPA is 'staggering like a drunk person' but had not yet collapsed."
Sudan has been in the news for past decade for many struggles, including an oil struggle, displacement and child solider trafficking.

Health Care Shut Down

President Bush has vetoed a bill sensitively called "kid's health bill". The President had previously warned Congress he would veto that type of bill. The President has previously used his veto powers on other bills, such as ending the war in Iraq and stem cell research.

Hillary Clinton, a big supporter of universal health care, was disappointed. She was quick to critize Bush quite harshly, calling the move a war on science.

The Chicago Tribune suggests that American taxpayers would rather pay for children's health insurance than the war in Iraq.

Convincing Bush!

President Bush held a secret meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. He is wanting the Chinese government to put presure on Myanmar because of the killing against Buddist monk protesters. He asked Beijing "to help bring a peaceful transition to democracy in Burma". Way to know your audience, Bush!

Myanmar has agreed to accept a UN envoy.

Ahmadinejad Has A Mouthful Too!

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is in town! Yes, his plans include NYC, the site of the Twin Towers (nevermind), the UN, and Columbia University. The famous Holocaust denier will be given a platform to speak. While he should be able to speak it is important to not call him an honored guest. He should not be allowed to spread hate and malice. The forum at Columbia should be a place where historical perspectives are shared, especially countering Ahmadinejad's stance on genocide!

At least real news is on the news this week! No word about Brittany Spears or Lindsay Lohan? Wow! Did I just hear the United Nations mentioned on a news program?

It's a sarcastic day.

This weekend and week should be interesting for those who care less about sluts and more about foreign policy. While President Bush will attend the U.N summit he will not be speaking. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will speak as the American rep. About 80 world leaders will join together in New York for a much-too-short one day conference on Monday. Topics will include the environment and Kyoto.

Albright Speaks Hyperbole?

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had a mouthful to say about President Bush and foreign policy. She made these remarks on Thursday night:

"President Bush's Plan B is to leave this for the next president," "Iraq will go down as the greatest disaster in American foreign policy, bigger than Vietnam -- which is quite a statement... Everybody has talked about the problem of a unilateral foreign policy," she told about 150 attendees, "but we have a unidimensional foreign policy (in) using only one tool, military force... President Bush's Plan B is to leave this for the next president."

Albright, while campaigning for Hillary, has certainly gone overboard with the hyperbole. The greatest disaster in American foreign policy? Yikes... but I doubt it.

Iraq surge

Iraq will be the center of political discussion this week, and in the months to come, as General David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, and President Bush begin to report progress and plans in the War on Iraq.

Many groups are hoping to see wide-ranging discussion among policy-makers. One group, Sojourners, is sending a petition of 20,000 prayers for peace to Congress (see here).

This is a critical time for Bush as he rallies for support for his unpopular war. I hope that it will be a time of critical thinking and scholarly analysis by both sides.

Sanctions on Sudan!

Sanctions this week on the Sudanese government mark a much-needed victory for the Bush administration. The on-going violent situation in Sudan's Darfur has been declared a genocide. The world and popular media has paid little attention, except when "pop" stars like Angelina Jolie make a comment about it in Hollywood. President Bush announced the sanctions last Tuesday from the White House.

For too long the people of Darfur have suffered at the hands of a government that is complicit in the bombing, murder and rape of innocent civilians. My administration has called these actions by their rightful name: genocide. The world has a responsibility to help put an end to it.

...First the Department of Treasury is tightening U.S. economic sanctions on Sudan. With this new effort, the United States will more aggressively enforce existing sanctions against Sudan's government.

...Second, we're targeting sanctions against individuals responsible for violence. These sanctions will isolate these persons by cutting them off from the U.S. financial system, barring them from doing business with any American citizen or company, and calling the world's attention to their crimes.

Third, I'm directing the secretary of state to consult with the United Kingdom and other allies on a new United Nations Security Council resolution.

...At the same time, we will continue to push for U.N. support, including funding for the African Union peacekeepers who remain the only force in Darfur that is protecting the people. We will continue to work for the deployment of a larger hybrid force of A.U. and U.N. peacekeeping troops. (full transcript)

While media and citizen alike harp on President Bush over each killing and violent act in Iraq, few eyes ever read consistent headlines about Darfur. Bush ought to be congratulated and celebrated by his people this week. He is the leading the country in human rights and social justice. This is President Bush's presidential goal, and this week he's in the right direction.