The Guild 8-23-2003 Hamas Calls Bush 'Islam's Biggest Enemy'

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - A leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday called President Bush an enemy of Islam because the U.S. government froze the assets of Hamas leaders in response to a suicide bombing of a bus in Jerusalem.

Speaking to Dubai-based Al-Arabiya TV, Abdel Aziz Rantisi called the action "a theft of Muslim money by the Americans" and said the frozen money doesn't belong to Hamas.

"Hamas does not have any money in the U.S., Europe or even in the Arab states. President Bush has become Islam's biggest enemy," Rantisi said in the interview.

On Friday, the United States froze the assets of six Hamas leaders, including Rantisi, an aide to Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the group's spiritual leader. The United States also froze the assets of five European-based organizations that it said raise money for the radical Palestinian group.

The goings-on at the MTV awards show just serve as evidence of this nation's rapid decline. The other day, I was listening to an Artie Shaw CD (I love big band music, Benny Goodman, etc.), and it struck me how music exemplifies the decline of American culture. Compare and contrast the words of the WWII-era songs (Till then, my darling please wait for me; till then, when all the world will be free...) and today's MTV audible excrement (Christina Aguilera, Madonna, the various rappers with their "kill cops, rape women" mentality, etc.). I really don't know whether or how this slide into debauchery can be stopped.

Speaking of the debauched and disgusting:

BILL Clinton had not one, but two 57th birthday bashes during his recent jaunt to Martha's Vineyard. First the ex-prez was feted by longtime crony Vernon Jordan at his Allen Sheep Farm in Chilmark with an intimate candlelight dinner, the Boston Herald reports. Then he was treated to a surprise party/barbecue at old pal Ted Danson's spread, where Bill and Hillary were staying. Chelsea missed out. She was sunning herself in St. Tropez and Marbella, Spain, with beau Ian Klaus. Page Six

The Euro press is all aflutter with the prospect of Hillary running for president in 2004:

Hillary 'to join White House race'
29/08/2003 - 15:00:43

Former US first lady Hillary Clinton is planning to enter the race for the White House, despite earlier ruling herself out of the 2004 campaign, it was reported today.

The New York Senator is expected to meet her advisers – who include her husband and ex-President Bill Clinton – next week to discuss the decision. Mrs Clinton announced at the start of the summer she would not compete for the Democratic nomination even though she enjoyed huge support within the party. She was instead expected to run for the White House in 2008.

Her rethink was prompted by the sudden drop in support for President George Bush, whose problems in Iraq and with the economy have made him look vulnerable, according to veteran US political commentator Richard Reeves.

If another Democrat defeats Mr Bush next November and then runs for re-election in 2008, Mrs Clinton’s next chance to challenge for the Presidency would not be until 2012, when she will be 65 years old.

But if she does run this time she faces an already crowded field of nine Democratic hopefuls who all have a head start on her. Surprise front-runner Howard Dean is on course to raise £6.5 million in campaign donations during the current financial quarter, matching a Democratic record set by Mr Clinton when he was standing for re-election. Former Nato Supreme Commander Wesley Clark is also expected to announce his candidacy in the next few weeks.

However, polls indicate that Mrs Clinton would get between 37% and 48% support from the Democratic party nationally, compared to highs of between 15% and 20% for her rivals, who also include Senator John Kerry and former Vice-presidential candidate Joe Lieberman. Ireland OnLine

While Clinton was cavorting in the Vineyard, W was having a blast in Texas...Here is an account of his barbeque for the Press Corps...link

EXCERPTS:

In the time-honored political tradition of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer, President Bush invited the White House press corps out to his ranch Wednesday night for a poolside barbecue.

....... the words uttered by the president and Laura Bush cannot be conveyed to the public -- the White House required that the conversations be off the record. It was the first such gathering of the full press corps at Bush's ranch and the second of its kind in Bush's presidency.

.....(Reporters were not allowed in the main house but connived their way into the guest house by saying they needed to use the toilets.)

.... the teetotaling president arranged for them to be served beer from coolers and Australian (read: not French) red wine. Barney, the Scottish terrier, elected to drink water from the pool. Spot, the other presidential dog, took a brief dip in the pool.

....Back at the Whining Pool, the press corps did what it does best: load up on fried chicken, potato salad, coleslaw, jalapeno biscuits and peach cobbler.

....The sun had set, the cobbler was gone and Barney, tired of the whole thing, began barking ferociously at the guests. The president retreated to his compound, the press to the crickets in their hotel rooms.

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