Odds and Ends

A lot of stuff to catch up on, and here's my best attempt at a roundup...

President Bush and John McCain rang in the Memorial Day weekend with a one-two punch... the former by expressing opposition to a military pay raise, and the latter by opposing-- and not even showing up to vote on-- the just-passed, but veto-threatened GI Bill. But they wear flag pins!

Speaking of vetoes, one was slammed down onto the heavily-criticized $300 billion farm bill, insisting it was "fiscally irresponsible and ... gives away too much money to wealthy farmers." Congress, however, is well on their way to overriding the veto.

On an apolitical note, NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has sent back images.

And the teaching of creationism as science in U.S. schools remains at disturbingly levels.

More happy economic news from our friends in the Bush administration: "The Federal Reserve on Wednesday sharply lowered its projection for U.S. economic growth this year, citing blows from the housing and credit debacles along with zooming energy prices. It also expects higher unemployment and inflation." But you got that extra $600, so you're covered.

And the Senate moves forward on a bill to deal with the foreclosure crisis.

Meanwhile, more details emerge on the Bush administration's radical executive power-grabs.

This would seem to be good news... "The House Judiciary Committee on Thursday subpoenaed President Bush's former chief political adviser, Karl Rove, to testify about whether the White House improperly meddled with the Justice Department."... Except for the fact that Karl Rove believes himself above the law and won't comply and Congress doesn't have the balls to make him.

Finally, Gen. Petraeus... propaganda flack for Pres Bush? Why do people keep saying that?