Buck Naked Politics News Round-Up: March 29-April 4

Mar. 29

Why don't all the Americans who gripe about paying taxes care about this sort of flagrant waste and abuse of the system? D Cupples reports on yet another arms dealer who has allegedly ripped off taxpayers to the tune of hundreds of millions.   I'm not even talking about the cost of the war in Iraq generally; I'm talking specifically about wasted tax dollars that are spent without getting anything close to equivalent value.  What if we could get all those tax dollars back?  That would be one hell of an 'economic stimulus package.'  PS.  Where's mine?

D Cupples, having had the chance to hear former Secretary of State Madeline Albright alive and in person, reports on MA's wit, charm and insight. 

Mar. 30

I was puzzled by the al-Maliki/al-Sadr dance in Basra.  And I still am.  But give me this:  at least I don't pretend to understand the nuances (unlike certain right-wing bloggers)

In other news, an elephant painted his own self-portrait.  Though I cross-posted at The Moderate Voice, you saw it here first!  It was and is an important story---maybe THE story.

Mar. 31
As D Cupples neatly put it, Bush's disapproval ratings have a voice of their own.  Poor old W---who I remember reading way back last year once said plaintively that he wanted as much as anyone else to be loved---got booed.  At a baseball game.  While throwing the ceremonial pitch.  Come on, that's just mean.

Although....I say that, and then I read how the Bush Administration, and with its trademark callousness toward the poor,  continues to bungle the Katrina relief effort.  (Isn't it tiresome how they insist on continuing to play the victim card after all this time?!)   About the booing?  Never mind.

After regaling D Cupples and other with her humor and insight, Madeline Albright did the same for viewers of The Daily Show.  See her interview with Jon Stewart here.

Apr. 2
D Cupples reports that the  Government Accountability Office slammed the Pentagon for all the billions paid to defense contractors who then proceeded to piss all those tax dollars down the latrine.  Damn, can't somebody make the hemorrhaging stop?

Speaking of pissing away money, gas prices are up again.  I know; you hadn't noticed, right?

Apr. 3
Hillary discussed her economic plan on Mad Money.  Damn, she's just so impressive.  Why, why, why, why, why, why----?

Apr. 3
Gonzo's successor sticks his foot in his mouth, unwittingly impaling the Bush Administration on a two-pronged Fork Of Unfavorable Inferences.  Oopsie.

The Chinese want the Olympics to be a pleasant and harmonious experience for all.  To that end, they're jailing dissidents.

In the UK, the trial of eight terror suspects has begun.  They're the ones who had the idea of using soft drinks as weapons to blow a very large number of jets right out of the sky.

The new National Intelligence Estimate says that security in Iraq has improved.  They have their own definition of 'success,' you know.