Monthly Archive for June, 2004
Reagan’s Legacy? FUCK REAGAN!
Along with all of the praise that former president Ronald Reagan has received we must not forget all the turmoil and instability that he created in the world, especially in Latin America, with his interventionist foreign policy. The Reagan presidency supported brutal dictatorships in Argentina; destabilized Nicaragua by supporting terrorist groups (contras); and training death squads in El Salvador (The events at El Mozote is a well documented massacre where close to a thousand men women and children were killed). I am sure the people of Latin America will always remember Ronald Reagan, especially those that knew the hundreds of thousands of people that died due to his foreign policy. Instead of dwelling on Reagan’s personality why don’t we critically analyze his true contributions to the world and we will see that the negative far outweighs the positive.
66 (Unflattering) Things About Ronald Reagan
By David Corn, The Nation
June 6, 2004
The firing of the air traffic controllers, winnable nuclear war, recallable nuclear missiles, trees that cause pollution, Elliott Abrams lying to Congress, ketchup as a vegetable, colluding with Guatemalan thugs, pardons for F.B.I. lawbreakers, voodoo economics, budget deficits, toasts to Ferdinand Marcos, public housing cutbacks, redbaiting the nuclear freeze movement, James Watt.
Getting cozy with Argentine fascist generals, tax credits for segregated schools, disinformation campaigns, “homeless by choice,” Manuel Noriega, falling wages, the HUD scandal, air raids on Libya, “constructive engagement” with apartheid South Africa, United States Information Agency blacklists of liberal speakers, attacks on OSHA and workplace safety, the invasion of Grenada, assassination manuals, Nancy’s astrologer.
Drug tests, lie detector tests, Fawn Hall, female appointees (8 percent), mining harbors, the S&L scandal, 239 dead U.S. troops in Beirut, Al Haig “in control,” silence on AIDS, food-stamp reductions, Debategate, White House shredding, Jonas Savimbi, tax cuts for the rich, “mistakes were made.”
Michael Deaver’s conviction for influence peddling, Lyn Nofziger’s conviction for influence peddling, Caspar Weinberger’s five-count indictment, Ed Meese (”You don’t have many suspects who are innocent of a crime”), Donald Regan (women don’t “understand throw-weights”), education cuts, massacres in El Salvador.
“The bombing begins in five minutes,” $640 Pentagon toilet seats, African-American judicial appointees (1.9 percent), Reader’s Digest, C.I.A.-sponsored car-bombing in Lebanon (more than eighty civilians killed), 200 officials accused of wrongdoing, William Casey, Iran/contra. “Facts are stupid things,” three-by-five cards, the MX missile, Bitburg, S.D.I., Robert Bork, naps, Teflon.
David Corn, Washington editor of the Nation, is author of ‘The Lies of George W. Bush: Mastering the Politics of Deception.’
La Cucaracha, the first nationally syndicated daily political comic strip by a Latino, and the first to deeply explore Latino themes of politics, culture and humor has been dropped by the Fresno Bee. Lalo’s strip is a platform for farmworkers, teachers, Latino kids, immigrants and people of color from coast to coast, and it is a shame that a voice of this magnitude is being silenced. If there is enough response to this removal, the Fresno Bee may be convinced to bring back the strip. Previously, the paper has said it received most complaints from Hispanics, so please help tip the balance from a few conservative Latinos who called in to complain about the strip. (For more info on the strip, go to www.cartoonista.com/) .
Lalo just received proclamations from Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, the 2004 Latino Spirit Award from the California Latino Legislative Caucus and additional proclamations from the City of Los Angeles and Congresswoman Hilda Solis, which was entered into the permanent US Congressional Record.
Please call the Features Editor, Rich Marshall, and ask politely that the comic strip La Cucaracha by Lalo Alcaraz please be added back to the Fresno Bee comics page. Senior Editor, Fresno Bee Rich Marshall (559) 441-6443 You may also email Mr. Marshall at rmarshall@fresnobee.com
Here are other numbers that may be helpful:
Executive Editor Charlie Waters (559) 441-6410 cwaters@fresnobee.com
Managing Editor Betsy Lumbye (559) 441-6207
Managing Editor Jim Kelly (559) 441-6318
The Detroit Pistons spanked the Lakers in Game 3! The Pistons led by Rip Hamiltons 31 points are 2 games from winning the NBA championship! Lets go Pistons!!