Writing Life

Right now, the House Foreign Affairs Committee is holding an oversight hearing entitled “PEPFAR: An Assessment of Progress and Challenges.” PEPFAR is the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. It was proposed by Bush in his 2003 State of the Union address and sounded like a good idea. However, over time, bureaucracy and ideology have hindered its ability to provide real relief and hope among the world’s population infected by HIV/AIDS.

PEPFAR is focused only on fifteen countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and Vietnam. It’s main thrust, under the right-wing religious ideology governing the current Administration is abstinence only, even requiring a set amount of funding to go to abstinence programs only. It often cites a model developed in Uganda called ABC, which meant Abstinence, Be faithful and use Condoms. The C part of the program is almost always sidelined in order to push an abstinence and so-called “be faithful” program that encourages heterosexual marriage. Being faithful is often insufficient as married men often have extramarital relations and their wives are more likely to be exposed to HIV/AIDS. A strong condom and sexual education program would be more effective but it goes against the current Administration’s religious policy. Additionally, in the last two or three years, the Ugandan model hasn’t been as effective as it was when it originally was touted as the best model to use in fighting HIV/AIDS. However, Administration ideologues continue to cite out-of-date statistics in order to justify their polemics.

Putting aside religious and conservative ideology, PEPFAR is a bureaucratic waste. It duplicates efforts of multilateral organizations and public-private initiatives like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS Malaria and Tuberculosis. By targeting only 15 countries and focusing primarily on abstinence, PEPFAR wastes the force multiplier effect that US funding and leadership could supply to global HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.

Testimony today came from U.S. Global AIDS Coordinate Mark R. Dybul, who works at the State Department. You might remember him from his swearing-in ceremony that was officiated by Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice and attended by Laura Bush. In addition to the three of them, Dybul’s domestic partner / husband Jason Claire was present, even holding the bible on which Dybul placed his hand to get sworn-in. Very unusual in an Administration that has been horrendous on gay and lesbian issues due to its right-wing religious ideology.

For more information, see Wikipedia’s PEPFAR page and the Official PEPFAR website. The Global AIDS Alliance has a great resource called the PEPFAR Monitor, which includes a useful Fact Sheet on PEPFAR.

I had to post an item from Eric Massa’s (D) latest campaign newsletter. He ran in 2006 against incumbent Randy Kuhl (R) in the district that runs south from Rochester to Corning in western New York. I really liked Eric back then and now like him even more. I have rarely heard individuals, and frankly can’t ever recall hearing a candidate, cite Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s 1944 State of the Union speech that called for a Second Bill of Rights that focused on jobs, poverty, health care and other social and economic rights. Massa said that he was an FDR type of Democrat and then enumerated why. Some excerpts are:

… FDR placed before the American people a new vision for the role of government. It was a role that foresaw the immense inequality that was growing between the haves and the have-nots in America and sought to level the playing field so that all Americans could realize their dreams.

President Roosevelt looked beyond the failures of the then global Economy and the failed Hoover response to the crash of the international markets, the failed farm economy and declared that his Government was to guarantee certain rights for All Americans. Among them:

• the right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries, or shops or farms or mines of the Nation;
• the right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
• the right of every farmer to raise and sell his produce at return which will give him and his family a decent living;
• the right of every businessman, large or small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair completion and domination by monopolies at home and abroad;
• the right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
• the right to adequate protection form the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;
• the right to a good education.

This is the road map for the modern Democratic Party. This is the call to arms to combat the forces of un-American corporate greed that have seen companies like Halliburton steal from the American treasury and desert the very people who funded their greed. In the words of FDR are the guidelines to action for all Democrats because the Republicans simply have demonstrated that they do not care.

Here’s hoping I’ll be able to live blog this, or at least have pre, during, and post commentary. This thread will be in reverse order, so newer stuff on top. N.B. I pulled pre-SOTU commentary into a previous thread.

• It’s over. I really expected more on Iran!
• Turning to balcony, and ridiculously tall Congo-born NBA star and others. Baby Einstein creator Julie Aigner-Clark. Wesley Autrey, the NY Subway Hero. (I don’t know who the woman in white is on Barbara Bush’s left but seems like she’s never seen an African American man before (Mr. Autrey is black). Sgt Tommy Rieman, Silver Star awardee. Doesn’t it seem like Bush, and other presidents, are politicizing the military by dragging in-uniform people into the spotlight during these speeches. Seems like it could imply some sort of military support for the speech.
• Fight HIV/AIDS, especially in Africa. Now he’s talking about PEPFAR. Grow from 50k to 800k (need to check out those numbers, since I think they’re inflated. Check out PEPFAR Monitorand other sources.
• Oh boy, here comes Iran… Actually notes UN involvement and the Quartet. Tosses in Palestinian state alongside Israel. Now on to Afghanistan and then onto North Korea. Cuba, Belarus, and Burma. Save the people of Darfur…that got people to their feet. (Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) sighting).
• Increase size of Army and Marines. Create volunteer civilian reserve corps (to pull civilians when needed in the war on terror). Bush said “in the fight against extremism” I thought that talking point went away last year?
• Pelosi is pissed! In reaction to Bush saying “[we must fight, otherwise we ignore 9/11], nothing more important in US history to succeed in the middle east and succeed in Iraq and spare America from this danger”. Wow, she’s about to go ballistic! She didn’t stand or clap in response while Cheney got up. It’s a new strategy, he claims, and you need to support our troops, which got everyone on their feet. Damn, that’s just evil to mix that in right after his Iraq comments. (Sighting of Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Russ Feingold (D-WI))
• Bush: turn events toward victory [in Iraq]. It’s not too late. Broken record anyone? Send more troops to allow us to complete our mission. I thought “mission accomplished”? Urban warfare for new troops: clearing streets, chasing down terrorists. Commitment is not open-ended, but no timeline. Bush says he and his military commanders have discussed all the options. This covers his butt when he seemed to be going back on his word a few weeks ago saying he made the choices, not his commanders. (Oh yeah! Sen. Joe Lieberman (SOMETHING-CT) sighting! He’s wearing a red tie! He must have read my blog post about me pulling a Lieberman!) (Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) sighting)
• Normal terror speech, kill us, hate us, hate democracy. (Sen. John Warner (R-VA), who is considering retiring in 2008, sighting). Secretary Rice looks disgusted. I wonder if she thinks she’ll be the next Colin Powell, suckered and blemished by associating with Duh-bya. (McCain sighting again. I hope he was sleeping an dnot dead. You know he’s getting up there.) I see Dems and Republicans giving applause, sometimes heartily sometimes without any passion. I’d love to see a golf clap (from that stellar movie, Summer School).
• interesting note: picture of Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), Clinton, Obama and Kennedy. The New York delegation is looking straight at Bush and into the camera while Obama and Kennedy have their heads down.
• Calls for up or down vote on his judicial nominations…oh boy, here comes Sept. 11th references.
• My god, he actually said that these efforts will help us address the “serious problem of global climate change”. Oh my god, did you see that too? Cheney & Bush drank water at the same time. It’s like a ventriloquist trick!
• Energy: alternative energies, protect America from the terrorists, ethanol (wood chips, grasses, agro-wastes). Thanks market forces, not grassroots demands for changes. Call to reduce gas usage by 20% in next 10 years. Calls for increasing domestic oil production, but in environmental safe ways. Calls to double strategic petrol reserve. Now, what will that do? Will it provide a market for oil companies since it is so infrequently that this reserve is ever opened up when prices skyrocket or demand is high from civilians.
• Temporary worker program, which will free up border patrol to deal with drugs and (drum roll please) terrorists. (Homeland Secretary Michael Chertoff sighting). Comprehensive immigration reform.
• Health care: care for elderly, disabled and children. Private insurance is best for America (no socialist welfare here). Two proposals. First, standard tax deduction for health insurance (no tax on $15,000 for married, 1/2 for unmarried). Second, asked Secretary of Health & Human Services to create affordable choices plans for poor and low-income students. Wants medical liability reform, which would be tort reform for th medical sector. [Cheney looks like he wants to go back to his undisclosed location.] (Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) sighting)
• Wants to save social security. Hmmm, is that privatization talk again? Also see about school change. Oh boy, here comes vouchers. Why oh why do the Republicans HATE public schools. Don’t you wish Bush was left behind.
• Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) sighting, with Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) sitting in the row right in front of her. He was looking down, she straight at the camera. Can’t wait to see what they say about that picture tomorrow! Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) sighting
• Bush: Economy on the move, but government isn’t the answer. (Charlie Rangel sighting). Balance the budget without raising taxes. Cut deficit in half three years ahead of schedule. But, he doesn’t note that he took a surplus and made the worst deficit ever. He wants to remove the deficit within five years, convenient that he’ll be gone by then. Calls for getting rid of earmarks (a good thing, IMHO).
• Sen John McCain (R-AZ) sighting, then Rahm Emanuel (D-IL 05) who made Dem House majority happen
• Congratulates Democratic Majority
• Bush calls for safe return of Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Charlie Norwood (R-GA 09)
• Bush sucks up a bit and tries to steal thunder by noting that he’s the first president to start his remarks with “Madame Speaker.” It was cool, but still, can’t stand Bush.
• Nancy almost takes out Cheney’s hand while gaveling the House to silence.
• Bush shakes Nancy’s hand. I hope she washes it after the speech!
• Random spotting: Rep. Keith Ellison (DFL-MN 05), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), minority leader John Boehner (R-OH 08).
• [9:09] Bush at the door, and he’s announced. Cat calls, applause, and more hand grabbing. I wonder if Joe Lieberman will get another kiss!

I edited out the pre-State of the Union comments to keep the posts a little smaller.

• [9:08] Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN) sighting
• [9:06] No Bush yet, but you know that Cheney just wants to reach out and push over Pelosi. She’s glowing and he’s glowering. I guess Cheney could use a face transplant, like they did in France on Sunday.
• [9:02] Here comes the Supreme Court: Roberts, Kennedy, Bryer and Alito. And now the Cabinet. Rice up front, leading the crooks, i.e. mean Cabinet, in. Fun to see their names on chairs, assigned seating! Grope here, shake there, head bow in another location.
• [9:01] Not started yet, but it’s awesome to see Nancy Pelosi up on the dais as Speaker of the House! Laura Bush just came in.
• [8:10 PM] We’re about 50 minutes out from the SOTU. Wonkette put together a drinking game. Much scarier is the fact that Alberto Gonzales, the Shredder General of the Constitution, aka Attorney General Gonzales, is the cabinet member who will skip the SOTU in order to preserve the presidential line of succession.
• Hilarious! MSNBC on TV has a countdown clock that’s ticking off, second by second, the time until the SOTU happens!
• MyDD scoops pre-recorded speech. Too funny!
• White House Office of Comms issued a fact sheet earlier today re: content for speech (thanks to Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire for the link).
• I, along with many I bet, are awaiting the arrival of Darth Cheney, who will arise from his undisclosed location to take his undesired seat (now that Democrats control the Senate) next to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA 08). Raise the roof Nancy!
• From CQ’s midday update, a quote given on the House floor from first-term Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY 11), who replaced retired Rep. Major Owens (D): “The state of the union is that we are on edge.”
• The Democrats will provide a rebuttal, given by newly-minted Senator Jim Webb (D-VA). As you may remember, Webb was a Republican Navy Secretary under President Reagan, then turned to the Democratic side and defeated then-rising-star Senator George Felix Allen. If it wasn’t for Allen’s constant miscues and poor communication strategy, he’d probably have won re-election and already announced his run for the Republican nomination for President. Happily, George is now at home and Jim will provide rebuttal tonight after the SOTU.
• Early leaks suggest health care; reducing use of gas, by looking at alternatives such as ethanol; and of course Iraq will be in the speech. I’d expect to hear more about Iran too.
• Duh-bya, excuse me, President Duh-bya starts his 7th State of the Union (SOTU) address to a joint session of Congress at 9 PM