The priorities of this administration never cease to amaze (NYT)

[nostamj]

<snip>

We had hoped, when Mr. Bush was re-elected, that he'd rethink his goals once the next campaign was no longer an issue. There are so many critical problems facing the nation. But the president seems determined to ignore the biggest challenges and to home in on politically charged side issues. Medicare faces a perilous future, given growing health costs and the aging of the baby boomer population, and anything approaching a resolution would require hard bipartisan work. But the White House instead decided to make privatizing Social Security its chief priority. Social Security's long-term problems are relatively minor compared with Medicare's, and the fixes are pretty obvious.

The list goes on and on. When we look at problems that cry out for White House involvement, one that leaps out is our dependency on foreign oil. That not only leaves us hostage to some of the shakiest and most unappetizing oil-producing nations around the globe, but also threatens the entire economy over the long term, given that rising oil prices make the trade deficit even bigger and the dollar even weaker. Another huge economic threat, at least for some agricultural regions, is the growing international pressure to end our irrational subsidy program for crops like cotton. Both of these are tricky political issues that require steady and firm presidential intervention.

We haven't heard Mr. Bush make a big deal about either, except for his fixation with drilling in the Arctic wildlife preserve. Meanwhile in Congress, all the political capital is being directed toward putting an anti-environmental former lobbyist for mining interests on the federal bench, and passing a new law that will make it difficult for middle-class credit card users who suffer a life catastrophe - like sudden illness or divorce - to get back on their feet after they have to declare bankruptcy.

The priorities of this administration never cease to amaze.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/10/opinion/10thu1.html

[hatrack]

1. The NYT, a day late and a dollar short

Where were you six months ago? Oh, that's right, covering up for your hack "reporters" and their toil in the WH typing pool.

[atommom]

2. The funny thing about his passion for drilling in the Arctic reserve

is that the oil companies aren't even interested in doing that! There's not enough oil to make it worth their while. He just can't stand to think that the public might try to keep Big Business from doing its thing.

He and his minions really aren't connected with our reality here on Earth. :shrug:

[Orsino]

3. The priorities of the NYT never cease to amaze...

The only hints of serious news analysis are relegated to the opinion page, while the usual corporate BS is waved before us, lulling us into the deep slumber the Bush administration wants.

Journalists are the last line of defense between the robber barons and We the People, and the NYT no longer employs journalists. RIP.

[nostamj]

4. no argument from me...

I rarely read more than the Op/Ed page, Frank Rich, Book Reviews and that's about it....

[gratuitous]

5. Wakey, wakey, New York Times!

I know that there has been no shortage of folks hollering at you for four years now about this. Nice to see your baby blues finally blinking away the somnambulence. Think you can see your way clear to actually reporting the news, rather than serving as court stenographers to whatever craziness is being peddled out of the Oval Office?