Prescription Drug Rings, Reaction to Biden in Israel, Next Big Scandal

California's State Attorney General Jerry Brown made an announcement that the recent death of actor Cory Haim maybe linked to a Southern California prescription drug ring. The LA Times reports that the drug ring: "... operates by using stolen doctor identities to order prescription drug pads from authorized sellers. The prescription forms are then sold on the street to addicts or drug dealers who have them filled at pharmacies. Doctors whose names are used on the prescriptions are usually unaware that their identities have been stolen." Mr Haim may have been addicted to prescription drugs and an overdose may have caused his death. Investigators have found over 5000 cases so far of the fraudulent use of doctor's script pads so far.

I remember growing up in Southern California in the late 1960's, the news traveled quickly by word of mouth which quack doctors you could go to to get a prescription. Quaaludes were popular for downers, and black beauties were the best for speed. Pills were more popular among women, though guys enjoyed mixing downers with alcohol, too. Kept you out of fights... I really don't want to know what is popular these days, although I know that even kids in the sixth and seventh grades can score drugs at school if they want to. I assume that if it can happen here, in the middle of evangelical country, it occurs more often throughout the rest of the country. Since we legitimately give prescription drugs to kids anyway, it must seem a natural extension to keep on using them throughout their adult life. Unfortunately, this is one aspect that the health care reform does not address, along with how to get rid of quack doctors in our midst.

I will be so glad once Congress votes on the damned health reform bill. It looks like it will pass if Nancy Pelosi brings it to a vote. She has been the most effective Speaker of the House ever, and has never lost a vote. That explains all of the vitriolic attacks on her that seemed to go way beyond fairness and her being a Democrat. Her opponents wanted her gone because she is so effective, which shows the weird logic of politics. If she were bumbling and ineffective, let's keep her as the Speaker... which would then be an extension of the Bush policies... it might also explain why Newt Gingrich disparages her. Each of her successes grinds home what an utter failure he was when he was Speaker and dismissed by his own Party for being corrupt, ineffective, immoral, and a liar. And yet, people still come to him for political strategy and advice, go figure. Yeah, people also venerated Richard Nixon at the end of his life, he became the grand old man of the GOP, but still, nobody came to him and asked for his advice...

reaction's to biden's israeli visit...
Joe Biden left Israel with a bunch of fingers pointing at each other in the wind. The Arab press seemed bothered by his expressed love and binding ties to Israel. But that was his sole purpose for going there, to try and ease Israeli concerns that the US was drawing away from them. It was meant as a massage to their paranoid egos so they would feel better about entering negotiations. Of course, the Palestinians felt left out because they wanted a massage, too. Work those magic fingers, Joe...

Then, the damned Israeli government had to go and spoil everything by making the announcement of plans to build over 1,600 more housing units in East Jerusalem. Despite the Prime Minister's statements to the contrary, Mr Netanyahu planned on this indirect slap to the face, just like he ok'd the assassination of a Hamas official in Dubai, because he is a right winger and has a mean streak. And Joe had to take the hit and let it roll by, then point out the rude behavior to his unruly hosts.

Of course, Hillary couldn't let this incident go by, and called Netanyahu on the phone and reamed him a new one, in the blunt, diplomatic way that only she seems to get away with. She had to stand up for her proxy, especially when his effectiveness was ruined with that cheap shot.

And now, stupidly, because they are old school, getting awfully old and senile, the Anti-Defamation League threw itself into the fray, issuing a rebuttal to Hillary, saying that they never have heard such harsh criticism being waged towards a US ally. That's because where they have retired to there is never a discouraging word, and the skies are not cloudy all day...

Our current mess began over a year ago when talks were halted because Israel invaded the Gaza Strip tp stop some missiles from being fired towards them. Then, Israel said it would resume talks, and Abbas said not until you stop building more housing in the West Bank. Israel said no, we won't. Then, Israel said it would issue a 10 month moratorium of building. The US finally got the Palestinians to agree to third-party negotiations, where George Mitchell gets to pass notes back and forth, and now the Israeli announcement of more houses in Jerusalem, protesting by Palestinians in the West Bank, and Israel shutting down the Bank's barrier crossings.

The next prong trying to influence these two groups to sit down and negotiate in good faith, is the European Union using their economic ties to the region to influence Israel to stop playing mean tricks and and get serious about this process. Because in reality, Israel has the power right now. They could have already drawn up an equitable agreement and handed it over to the Palestinians, with only small details to quibble about. If that plan were based on the Saudi peace template, all of the Arabian nations would be in agreement with them. Damned thing would be done by next Christmas, if you'll pardon the Christian reference being inserted into the argument... If that doesn't work, the UN will pile on...

I certainly can understand why all of our diplomats burn out at such a high rate. It seems as if our current crop are traveling constantly around the globe, next week Hillary will be in Russia, and has Bill left Haiti yet?

next scandal...
It looks like the next big scandal to emerge will be over the ripping off of billions of dollars by Americans engaged in the reconstruction of Iraq. Yes, military officers were just as guilty. More will be written in the news next week, but here's the blurb from The Daily Beast: "Follow the money. That’s what federal investigators did in the case of the $150 billion spent on Iraq’s reconstruction. In the past six months alone, they’ve uncovered more than 50 instances of fraud or bribery on the part of Americans, resulting in fresh indictments. Many of the cases appear to be shameless, with some suspects simply mailing thousands of dollars home or smuggling money out of the country in duffel bags. Others sent millions via wire transfers. Officials found the cash was used to buy BMWs, plastic surgery, or pay down casino debts. “I’ve had a continuing sense that there is ongoing fraud that we have not been able to nail down,” the head of the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction told The New York Times. “This spate of new cases is evidence that that sense was reasonably well placed.” So far, there have been 58 fraud cases put forth by the government involving reconstruction funds that have led to successful convictions." Hopefully, we'll be able to bring back Paul Bremer and waterboard him on public television. It's pay-per-view that I'd watch...