BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

Talk about a week of ups and downs.  We’ve had another one.  So, what happened this week?

The FDA has warned us about eating certain types of tomatoes.  And, we took heed.  The tomato farmers have plowed under fields of tomatoes, acre after acre.  Now the FDA isn’t sure that the salmonella poisoning is a result of eating tomatoes.  This week they added a few other items to beware of.  So far, over 1000 people have become sick from eating something and the truth of the matter is that no one knows exactly what.

Again, the FDA has not been up to the job.  Oh, for sure, the FDA can’t catch everything, but it does seem as if they could catch something.  The first cases of salmonella appeared in April and here it is mid-July.  We are no closer to having a clue today than we were in April.  But, if there is one thing for certain, the FDA’s inefficiency has cost farmers millions and millions of dollars… this season.  If as with the spinach scare a few years ago, the tomato farmers can look forward to a few more bad years, as people will probably continue to be reluctant to purchase tomatoes in years to come.  The spinach farmers have not fully recovered.  That’s an indication that it will be more than a season before the tomato farmers see the usual profits again.

While claiming they don’t have the resources to follow the salmonella trail, it would have been more cost effective to have thrown more dollars to them than to watch our farmers plow under millions and millions of dollars of tomato worth, knowing that next year’s crop will also take a hit. 

And, we still don’t know the cause of the problem.

The Senate passed the Bush FISA bill and on Thursday it was signed into law.  As one Republican senator said, “unless you have Al Qaeda on speed dial” you have nothing to worry about.  Well, that’s not the case and he should know that.  The FISA law isn’t just about Al Qaeda and those of us who were against the law know that.  So, let’s stop the mental masturbation and admit that now the government has the telecoms ready, willing and able to spy on any of us.  And, we have no recourse. 

It was said that if we are “accidentally” spied on, we can request that our names be removed from the list.  Ah, is someone going to call and say, “We are wiretapping you?”  Of course not.  The removal process will take longer than necessary and probably with little satisfaction.  The original FISA law was in place for a reason, to protect American citizens from being spied upon.  While we may want to trust our government to do the right thing, many of us remember the Nixon paranoia and more are becoming aware of the Bush paranoia.  We need protection from those whose job it is to protect us.

Dennis Kucinich presented his Articles of Impeachment.  While he had been downplayed as a bit of a kook, it seems that Nancy Pelosi may be reconsidering her position, indicating this morning that there may be hearings on the matter.  That is not the same as an impeachment proceeding, but it is something… too little, too late.

Senator Edward Kennedy, for the first time since his surgery for brain cancer, appeared in the Senate to cast his vote on healthcare.  It was a wonderful day for the Senate.

Economy has been the campaign topic of the week.  Both John McCain and Barack Obama have traveled the country offering their plans for economic stimulus.  But, the real highlights of the week as far as the election goes, has come from Phil Gramm, John McCain’s top economic adviser who said that we are in a “mental recession” and that we are a “nation of whiners.”  Of course McCain has tried to distance himself but, Gramm is still McCain’s top economic adviser.

 While Gramm and McCain “don’t want to hear it” when it comes to real economic woes, Jesse Jackson said he would like to cut Barack Obama’s nuts out and suggested that Obama talks down to black people.  I feel certain that the black voters do not share that opinion.  But, amid all the apologies I really believe that Jackson’s “hot mic” gaffe probably did more to solidify white voters behind Obama than if Jackson had remained quiet.

So, the real highlights of the week can be summed up as follows.  We are afraid to eat raw fruits and vegetables.  We are afraid to talk on the phone or send email.  We are delighted to see Senator Kennedy in the Capitol if only for a few minutes.  We are disappointed that McCain still has Phil Gramm as his economic adviser.  We are delighted that Barack Obama still has his body parts.  And, oh, yeah!  Wall Street is taking a hit so Main Street better brace for more “mental recession.”