Time Machine

Today's headlines are about what I'd have expected when Bush became President in 2001.

Here are a few from Yahoo's Top Rated Stories:

• Study: War on Poverty Sees More Hungry, Homeless

  Despite a war on poverty that began more than four decades ago, the ranks of the hungry and homeless in the United States are increasing even as government funding declines, a study released on Tuesday found.

• U.S. Interceptor Missile Fails to Launch in Test

  President Bush's planned ballistic missile shield suffered another setback on Monday when an interceptor missile again failed to launch during a test of the U.S. missile defense system.

• War budget request loaded with extras

  The Bush administration asked Congress on Monday to provide $82 billion to cover unbudgeted costs in the global war on terrorism, but the request includes funds for a long-planned military reorganization and for activities such as tsunami aid that are seemingly unrelated to terrorism.

• Study: Homeless Shelters, Food in Demand

  Many homeless shelters and soup kitchens faced with more requests for emergency services are turning people away because they lack the beds, food and money to meet the demand, says a survey from an advocacy group for low-income Americans.

• AP: Donor Was Promised Ambassadorship

  A big Republican donor goes to his governor and senator, saying he was told by President Bush's chief fund-raiser he'd be getting a plum ambassadorial appointment but it wasn't delivered. The senator takes his case right to the top of the White House.

Of course in early 2001, I'd have been, like, "Dude--global war on terrorism? Tsunami aid? WTF!?" But poor people getting shafted while Republican cronies and pet, half-baked military boondoggles are well-funded--I mean, no surprise.

Well, I'm not here to Bush bash. I have nothing against him as a fellow human being, and as Howard Dean pointed out recently, we aren't going to win back the hearts and minds of our countymen if we're only against Bush and not for anything of our own.

So what are we for?

Personally, I'm for social justice, for preserving and improving the environment, and for shrinking the gap between haves and have-nots.

Can we build a big tent with that?