omg – the ISG made 79 recommendations?

GWB won’t get through the reading of 7, let alone 79.

Dubya reads???

Although, now that I think about it, there is one major difference.

One of our fallen, who died bravely over in Iraq, has his or her casket adorned with an American flag to honor their service, their sacrifice and their courage.

On the other hand, to do the same with the Rubber Stamp Republican Congress stamp would actually demean our American flag, our troops and our nation, especially since the outgoing Republican members of Congress completely trashed their oath to uphold and defend our U.S. Constitution, our Bill of Rights and our democracy.

Therefore, I suggest that incoming Democrats burn this stamp on the steps of the U.S. Capitol and have a huge wienie roast.

As you suggest, hope the 30 somethins are gonna be rockin.

ISG: US underreports violence

The panel pointed to one day last July when U.S. officials reported 93 attacks or significant acts of violence. “Yet a careful review of the reports for that single day brought to light 1,100 acts of violence,” it said.

“The standard for recording attacks acts as a filter to keep events out of reports and databases.” It said, for example, that a murder of an Iraqi is not necessarily counted as an attack, and a roadside bomb or a rocket or mortar attack that doesn’t hurt U.S. personnel doesn’t count, either. Also, if the source of a sectarian attack is not determined, that assault is not added to the database of violence incidents.

“Good policy is difficult to make when information is systematically collected in a way that minimizes its discrepancy with policy goals,” the report said.

Bending data around policy? I am shocked…

And of course that leads us back to the Lancet study. How is it that this Baker rpt is actually reality-based? Me, grateful for small favors.

I’m late as usual! I was just gonna jump in and report that Tweety was in hospital last week for diabetes complications. You are quick on the draw, and I’m slow as molasses these days.

But I can add this — I read in an article (where?!?) that Tweety is now home, discharged from the hospital, but that he won’t be returning to work until next week.

It’s unclear from what I read whether he’s home for a week on account of serious doctor’s orders, or if he’s taking some time off just to relax.

Maybe he has to learn a new regimen to handle his worsening diabetes…