THE AWFUL TRUTH

A report this morning from the Associated Press: Enron traders gleeful at ripping off grandmas. "Enron traders openly discussed manipulating California's power market during profanity-laced telephone conversations in which they gloated about ripping off 'those poor grandmothers' during the state's energy crunch in 2000-01, according to transcripts of the calls."

An editorial this morning from The New York Times: Fiscal Shenanigans. "President Bush appears to be planning to run for re-election as a tax cutter without discussing what federal programs will be sacrificed to make up for the lost revenue. That can't be allowed to happen. Voters have the right to see the whole picture, including the downside. Chances are they won't like the view."

Can you stand more? Check this report in The Washington Post: Soldiers Facing Extended Tours / Critics of Army Policy Liken It to a Draft. "Army officials announced yesterday that thousands of active-duty and reserve soldiers who are nearing the end of their volunteer service commitments could be forced to serve an entire tour overseas if their units are chosen for deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan."

And this: Energy [Dept.] Finds No Misconduct at Hanford. "An investigation of contractors accused of altering medical records and covering up worker exposure to toxic vapors at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation has found no evidence of criminal misconduct, the Energy Department's inspector general said Wednesday." And by the way, "It will take three more decades to finish the cleanup there, at a cost of about $2 billion a year."

And this: Administration Freed Terror Suspect. "Nabil al-Marabh, once imprisoned as the No. 27 man on the FBI's list of must-capture terror suspects, is free again. He's free despite telling a Jordanian informant he planned to die a martyr by driving a gasoline truck into a New York City tunnel, turning it sideways, opening its fuel valves and having an al-Qaida operative shoot a flare to ignite a massive explosion." How come? "[I]n the name of protecting intelligence."

FROM A READER: "I was saddened by the prices you quoted for John Kerry's benefit concert at Radio City. It reminded me of the 2000 election. I can't remember if it was just a speech or during the debates, but at one point Al Gore was talking about trying to help out the "regular" people who only make $60,000 a year.

My parents, together, never made $60,000 a year in their entire lives. Me and my wife, together, are getting there. We'll probably be up to $60,000 between the two of us in about 5 years. I can't wait to become "regular," instead of sub-regular. :P

It is no wonder that Al Gore didn't even win his own freakin' state. I hope John Kerry doesn't have the same thing happen. He tries to be a good Democrat, but deep inside he's just a moderate Republican. He definitely wasn't in my top 3 choices of the candidates for Democrat this year. Too bad. He's still SIGNIFICANTLY the lesser of two evils!"