Two Fun Pics for Tonight's Speech

Watching that Idiot President has its rewards. A couple of images from the open thread at dkos.com:

Maureen Dowd: Free for Now

If you haven't heard, the New York Times will soon begin to charge for access to their columnists. To mark the occasion, we feature today's Maureen Dowd column - another zinger for the Chimp.

I would give a lot to be able to write like this woman, by the way.

Here's a bit:

"The aides were scared to tell the isolated president that he should cut short his vacation by a couple of days, Newsweek said, because he can be "cold and snappish in private." Mike Allen wrote in Time about one "youngish aide" who was so terrified about telling Mr. Bush he was wrong about something during the first term, he "had dry heaves" afterward.

The president had to be truly zoned out not to jump at the word "hurricane," given that he has always used his father's term as a reverse playbook and his father almost lost Florida in 1992 because of his slow-footed response to Hurricane Andrew. And W.'s chief of staff, Andy Card, was the White House transportation secretary the senior President Bush sent to the rescue after FEMA bungled that one.

W. has said he prefers to get his information straight up from aides, rather than filtered through newspapers or newscasts. But he surrounds himself with weak sisters who don't have the nerve to break bad news to him, or ideologues with agendas that require warping reality or chuckleheaded cronies like Brownie.

The president should stop haunting New Orleans, looking for that bullhorn moment. It's too late."

No Independent Katrina Commission (Yet)

Dopes.

"WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans on Wednesday scuttled an attempt by Sen. Hillary Clinton to establish an independent, bipartisan panel patterned after the 9/11 Commission to investigate what went wrong with federal, state and local governments' response to Hurricane Katrina."

New Rule

From Bill Maher (one of the FAVORITES at our house);

..."New Rule: America must recall the president. That's what this country needs. A good, old-fashioned, California-style recall election! Complete with Gary Coleman, porno actresses and action film stars. And just like Schwarzenegger's predecessor here in California, George Bush is now so unpopular, he must defend his jog against...Russell Crowe. Because at this point, I want a leader who will throw a phone at somebody. In fact, let's have only phone throwers. Naomi Campbell can be the vice-president!

Now, I kid, but seriously, Mr. President, this job can't be fun for you anymore. There's no more money to spend. You used up all of that. You can't start another war because you also used up the army. And now, darn the luck, the rest of your term has become the Bush family nightmare: helping poor people.

Yeah, listen to your mom. The cupboard's bare, the credit card's maxed out, and no one is speaking to you: mission accomplished! Now it's time to do what you've always done best: lose interest and walk away. Like you did with your military service. And the oil company. And the baseball team. It's time. Time to move on and try the next fantasy job. How about cowboy or spaceman?!

Now, I know what you're saying. You're saying that there's so many other things that you, as president, could involve yourself in...Please don't. I know, I know, there's a lot left to do. There's a war with Venezuela, and eliminating the sales tax on yachts. Turning the space program over to the church. And Social Security to Fannie Mae. Giving embryos the vote. But, sir, none of that is going to happen now. Why? Because you govern like Billy Joel drives. You've performed so poorly I'm surprised you haven't given yourself a medal. You're a catastrophe that walks like a man.

Herbert Hoover was a shitty president, but even he never conceded an entire metropolis to rising water and snakes.

On your watch, we've lost almost all of our allies, the surplus, four airliners, two Trade Centers, a piece of the Pentagon and the City of New Orleans...Maybe you're just not lucky!

I'm not saying you don't love this country. I'm just wondering how much worse it could be if you were on the other side. So, yes, God does speak to you, and what he's saying is, "Take a hint."

The Bush Era Is Over

There's so much being said about the Bush administration problems, and of course regarding the hurricane situation, that I find it hard to say anything new. So I continue to link to others who have very interesting things to say - and say it better than I ever could. Today, here's one from EJ Dionne (Washington Post) that is just incredible.

"The Bush Era is over. The sooner politicians in both parties realize that, the better for them -- and the country.

Recent months, and especially the past two weeks, have brought home to a steadily growing majority of Americans the truth that President Bush's government doesn't work. His policies are failing, his approach to leadership is detached and self-indulgent, his way of politics has produced a divided, angry and dysfunctional public square. We dare not go on like this.

The Bush Era did not begin when he took office, or even with the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It began on Sept. 14, 2001, when Bush declared at the World Trade Center site: "I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon." Bush was, indeed, skilled in identifying enemies and rallying a nation already disposed to action. He failed to realize after Sept. 11 that it was not we who were lucky to have him as a leader, but he who was lucky to be president of a great country that understood the importance of standing together in the face of a grave foreign threat. Very nearly all of us rallied behind him."

Gotta read the whole thing.

Today's Boondocks...

Charmaine Neville's Story

Just when you think that things are improving in New Orleans and there are rays of hope (and there actually are), you come across stories like Charmaine Neville's (yes, of the famous NOLA clan).

Here's a bit:

"Barely surviving the storm, she found shelter at the school across the street from her home. In a flat-bottom boat she helped rescue nearby residents, including stranded policemen. With a crowbar, she smashed a hole in the roof so people could climb to safety. For the next day or two, she waded back and forth in waist-deep water to bring food and drinking water to the growing number of people in the school, but conditions worsened and desperation grew by the hour.

Neville and others tried to get the attention of helicopters from the school's roof. Time after time they signaled for helicopters to help them but there weren’t nearly enough in the air. And they dropped no food or water, either. "We couldn't understand why they couldn’t help us,” she says on the video. The National Guard, she recalls bitterly, was absent."

The Emperor Truly Has No Clothes

This from Newsweek:

"Sept. 19, 2005 issue - It's a standing joke among the president's top aides: who gets to deliver the bad news? Warm and hearty in public, Bush can be cold and snappish in private, and aides sometimes cringe before the displeasure of the president of the United States, or, as he is known in West Wing jargon, POTUS. The bad news on this early morning, Tuesday, Aug. 30, some 24 hours after Hurricane Katrina had ripped through New Orleans, was that the president would have to cut short his five-week vacation by a couple of days and return to Washington. The president's chief of staff, Andrew Card; his deputy chief of staff, Joe Hagin; his counselor, Dan Bartlett, and his spokesman, Scott McClellan, held a conference call to discuss the question of the president's early return and the delicate task of telling him. Hagin, it was decided, as senior aide on the ground, would do the deed."

and it continues:

"The reality, say several aides who did not wish to be quoted because it might displease the president, did not really sink in until Thursday night. Some White House staffers were watching the evening news and thought the president needed to see the horrific reports coming out of New Orleans. Counselor Bartlett made up a DVD of the newscasts so Bush could see them in their entirety as he flew down to the Gulf Coast the next morning on Air Force One.

How this could be—how the president of the United States could have even less "situational awareness," as they say in the military, than the average American about the worst natural disaster in a century—is one of the more perplexing and troubling chapters in a story that, despite moments of heroism and acts of great generosity, ranks as a national disgrace."

Chimp Approval at 38%

It's amazing how many people one has to kill before the country wakes up. But waking up is exactly what our fellow country-people are doing.

Newsweek: "President Bush could become Katrina’s next casualty."

When God Made Neil

Neil Young, another treasure of a human being, just sang this song on the "Shelter From the Storm" hurricane relief telethon tonight. Amazing!

WHEN GOD MADE ME

When God made me
Was he thinking about my country,
or the colour of my skin?
Was he thinking about my religion,
and the way I worshipped him?
Did he create just me in his image,
or every living thing?

When God made me.
When God made me.

Was he planning only for believers,
or for those who just had faith?
Did he envision all wars
that were fought in his name?
Did he say there was only one way
to be close to him?

When God made me.
When God made me.

Did he give me the gift of love
to say who I could choose?

When God made me.
When God made me.
When God made me.

Did he give me the gift of voice
so some could silence me?
Did he give me the gift of vision
not knowing what I might see?
Did he give me the gift of compassion
to help my fellow man?

When God made me.
When God made me.
When God made me

Sure Wish I Had Been There

A bystander in Mississippi (of all places) told Dick to go fuck himself today. Here's the video, from Crooks and Liars.

From Daily Kos's Hunter today. He says "Enough. It's Over"...from his keyboard to God's ear. You must read the whole post, but here's a key passage:

"When Joe Scarborough and ultraconservative Family Research Council head Tony Perkins are on television discussing the government's failed response to the Katrina disaster...when Tucker Carlson is wading through storm waters with a dazed expression but an odd, new fire in his eyes...when Michelle Malkin takes time out from thoroughly out-frothing has-been Ann Coulter in order to call for FEMA head Michael Brown to be fired... I'm sorry, but the administration spin is spun. It's over. I'm not saying well-funded hacks won't be back with another angle tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, but when even partisans like that are calling you out, your spin isn't so much "tough" as just pathetic and an embarrassment to your country. For once in Bush's sheltered, spoonfed existence, he needs to put Karl Rove and the political machine of his government in a corner for a few days, and get around to doing some actual governing."

Read the rest, it's worth it.

If You Look Long Enough...

...you'll see why this is posted.









Did you see it? They're obviously more honest overseas. This is from Ireland, by the way. (Courtesy Daily Kos)

The Corpse On Union Street

From today's New York Times:

"NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 7 - In the downtown business district here, on a dry stretch of Union Street, past the Omni Bank automated teller machine, across from a parking garage offering "early bird" rates: a corpse. Its feet jut from a damp blue tarp. Its knees rise in rigor mortis.

The sight of corpses has become almost common on the mostly abandoned streets of New Orleans, as rescue and evacuation operations have taken priority over removing the dead. Six National Guardsmen walked up to it on Tuesday afternoon and two blessed themselves with the sign of the cross. One soldier took a parting snapshot like some visiting conventioneer, and they walked away. New Orleans, September 2005."

Well written (By Dan Barry) and dreadful, all at once. You should read the entire story.

Keith Rides Again

You can see some of the key statements of the Administration during the lead-up and immediate aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina, using Keith Olbermann's video timeline. (Courtesy Crooks and Liars)

C'mon, Keith! Keep it up - the country needs you.

Hurricane Editorial Cartoon: Flash Animated

Check this out. (courtesy Daily Kos)

Wanna Hear A Joke?

This is probably going to become a VERY popular link.

Lest We Forget

Here's the damning report of the Administration's cluelessness in dealing with Katrina. Now that the evacuees have moved to better shelter, the finger-pointing and blame-gaming (to quote Scottie McStupid) can really begin. Let's not just go back to our lives as if nothing has changed. Folks, there is a change 20,000 people could be dead. How's that sound?

And from the Senate Democrats...the Security Index. Here's a sampling of how safe we are and how we are being 'protected' from a forthcoming potential security problem:

Homeland Security

Factor by which passengers on mass transit systems exceed passengers on airlines: 16

Funding per passenger the Bush Administration has spent to secure mass transit systems since September 11, 2001: $0.01

Cost of security upgrades needed to protect rail and transit systems as estimated by U.S. transit authorities: $6 billion

Amount of funding designated specifically for rail and transit security in President Bush's budget: $0

Total amount of funding added to the Fiscal Year 2006 Homeland Security Appropriations bill for rail security in the wake of the July 7 London Bombings: $0

Number of provisions in federal law requiring chemical facilities to establish safeguards against a terrorist attack: 0

Number of chemical facilities at which a terrorist strike could threaten the lives of over 1 million people: 123

Percent of cargo arriving at U.S. ports inspected for WMD: <1

Percent of "high-risk" cargo inspected: 17.5

Estimated economic impact of a terrorist attack to a U.S. port: $1 trillion

Percent of Transportation Security Administration Fiscal Year 2005 budget allocated for port security grants: 2.8

Deadline for meeting port security standards set by the Maritime Transportation Security Act: 2004

Year in which MTSA port security standards will be met if port security funding levels remain constant: 2050

Ratio of federal air security screeners to federal surface transportation (rail and public transit) security screeners: 450:1

Arrested Development

Here's another indictment of the Chimp who would be President...who has NEVER grown up. (This is from a newly discovered site that I'm growing to like.)

Broussard in 2008

Here's a man who speaks some sense. Think he's interested in expanding his administration to Washington? Thanks to Billmon's Whiskey Bar.

Kanye West Was Wrong

I learned today that the Chimp actually does care about black people. (turn your sound on)

Trying to Stem Another Tide

The Washington Post speculates on the damage control going on at the White House. I would be ecstatic, if it wasn't so damn sad.

"WASHINGTON -- The Bush White House is known for its ability to remain in control of its message and image, sliding out of crises with barely a scratch. Not this time.

Despite day after day of appearances by President Bush aimed at undoing the political damage from a poor response to Hurricane Katrina, the White House has not been able to regain its footing, already shaken by the war in Iraq and a death toll exceeding 1,880."

Howard Dean's Statement Re Katrina

"Based on today’s reports, it seems clear that President Bush’s visit today is just another callous political move crafted by Karl Rove. It’s just appalling to see how quickly President Bush and Karl Rove have mobilized a political strategy in their own defense, but simply failed to mobilize a swift response to either keep the people in the Gulf Coast region safe in the first place or aid the victims in the aftermath of the storm.

"Thousands of people have lost their lives. Our nation faces difficult times as we address the painful aftermath of Katrina, yet President Bush is worried about shifting blame and passing the buck? Shouldn’t he be worried about restoring stability, plans to evacuate survivors, and ensuring that our communities have the resources they need to help the victims of this tragedy rebuild their lives? Now is a time for leadership not partisanship. This is one failure we will not allow Rove and the GOP attack machine to spin away with their usual barrage of photo-ops, misinformation, smear campaigns and press conferences."

The rest of the story.

Scottie Gets Attacked

It appears that the White House press corps is getting a backbone. From today's Press Secretary meeting with reporters:

"Q Well, let's talk about it. Are you saying the President is -- are you saying that the President is confident that his administration is prepared to adequately, confidently secure the American people in the event of a terrorist attack of a level that we have not seen? And based on what does he have that confidence?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, and that's what he made clear earlier today, that obviously we want to look and learn lessons from a major catastrophe of this nature.

Q Yes, but you're telling us today there will be time for that somewhere down the road. Well, what if it happens tomorrow?

MR. McCLELLAN: We can engage in this blame-gaming going on and I think that's what you're getting --

Q No, no. That's a talking point, Scott, and I think most people who are watching this --

MR. McCLELLAN: No, that's a fact. I mean, some are wanting to engage in that, and we're going to remain focused --

Q I'm asking a direct question. Is he confident --

MR. McCLELLAN: We're going to remain focused on the people.

Q -- that he can secure the American people in the event of a major terrorist attack?

MR. McCLELLAN: We are securing the American people by staying on the offensive abroad and working to spread freedom and democracy in the Middle East.

Q That's a talking point. That's a talking point.

MR. McCLELLAN: No, that's a fact.

Go ahead.

Q No, it's not."

Barbara Bush Just Sucks

According to The Nation:

"Finally, we have discovered the roots of George W. Bush's "compassionate conservatism."

On the heels of the president's "What, me worry?" response to the death, destruction and dislocation that followed upon Hurricane Katrina comes the news of his mother's Labor Day visit with hurricane evacuees at the Astrodome in Houston.

Commenting on the facilities that have been set up for the evacuees -- cots crammed side-by-side in a huge stadium where the lights never go out and the sound of sobbing children never completely ceases -- former First Lady Barbara Bush concluded that the poor people of New Orleans had lucked out."

Read the rest, if you dare.

Olbermann Rocks! Again

Check out Keith's response to Katrina and the incompetence that is our government.

Here it is...

Blessed Are The Children

You must read this story about some lost children, and how they were finally found:

From the LA Times:

"BATON ROUGE, La. — In the chaos that was Causeway Boulevard, this group of refugees stood out: a 6-year-old boy walking down the road, holding a 5-month-old, surrounded by five toddlers who followed him around as if he were their leader.

They were holding hands. Three of the children were about 2 years old, and one was wearing only diapers. A 3-year-old girl, who wore colorful barrettes on the ends of her braids, had her 14-month-old brother in tow. The 6-year-old spoke for all of them, and he told rescuers his name was Deamonte Love."

and it continues:

"At the rescue headquarters, a cool tile-floored building swarming with firefighters and paramedics, the children ate cafeteria food and fell into a deep sleep. Deamonte volunteered his vital statistics. He said his father was tall and his mother was short. He gave his address, his phone number and the name of his elementary school.

He said that the 5-month-old was his brother, Darynael, and that two others were his cousins, Tyreek and Zoria. The other three lived in his apartment building.

The children were clean and healthy — downright plump in the case of the infant, said Joyce Miller, a nurse who examined them. It was clear, she said, that "time had been taken with those kids." The baby was "fat and happy."

Well, this now makes two stories about the Hurricane in which I have quoted scripture. Maybe it is a life-changing experience?

We'll see.

Political Fallout

It's good to know that grief over the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe has not stopped the Chimp's team from managing the politics. But, of course, this isn't about politics, now is it?

Love Note to New Orleans

By Andrei Codrescu
www.codrescu.com
www.corpse.org

It’s heart-breaking watching my beautiful city sink, but I’m at a safe distance 90 miles away and my heartbreak is nothing compared to the suffering of people still in the city. New Orleans will be rebuilt, but it will never again be the city I knew and loved. I often compared it to Venice because of its beauty and tenuousness, its love of music, art, and carnival. The problem of engineering the survival of Venice has preoccupied the world for centuries, but very little thought has gone into saving New Orleans in the same way. New Orleans was, and it may be yet, a thriving commercial city crucial to controlling the mouth of the Mississippi River, vital to American industry and access to the Gulf of Mexico. Jean de Bienville founded the city here in 1718, ignoring his engineers’ warning about settling a patch of swampland between the Mississippi River, the Gulf of Mexico and a massive lake to the North. The needs of the American republic continued to compound Bienville’s original sin, requiring more and more engineering to correct nature at one of its grandest meeting points. The wetlands that once served to tame the savagery of the winds are gone, victims of big oil and global warming. The seas are hotter, people, and this is the result! Pay attention, global-warming deniers, this is the real thing! The saving grace of New Orleans was its music, its food, its festivals and its poor. This was the most brutal slave market in America and the northernemost point of the Caribbean trade in guns, rum, and human beings. The slaves and subsequent refugees, immigrants, pirates, and quick-buck artists brought culture with them from Africa and places they ran from. New Orleans music traveled upriver and became America’s music. We’ve been a generator of human and cultural energy for centuries, but all this bounty brought the city no careful engineering, no thought for its future, no world-wide cry of help for its inevitable demise. The Army Corps of Engineers saved the city heroically at least once during the floods of 1927, but it was then as now a response to crisis, no forethought, no concern for the future. So here we are, sinking into the water around us, drowning in our own waste, poverty, incompetence, and the greed of those who came before us. This is the time for straight reporting, of heartbreaking stories, of heroic rescues and superhuman efforts by good-hearted individuals and the weary but always-ready charities. It’s not a time for anger, but I can’t help wondering: what is going to survive of our culture? We already know who’s going to pay for all this: the poor. They always do. The whole country’s garbage flows down the Mississippi to them. Until now, they turned all that waste into song, they took the sins of America unto themselves. But this blues now is just too big.

My Pet Goat, The Sequel

From Editor and Publisher:

"This time, during a catastrophe, the president did not merely dither for seven minutes, but for three days, and his top advisors followed suit. While the media has done a good job in portraying the overall failure of leadership in this weeks hurricane's disaster, it has not focused enough on this deadly dereliction of duty."

Rehnquist

Hey, stop me if you've heard this one already...

People tell me Chief Justice Rehnquist has been dead for 4 days, but FEMA just found him.

*The man hasn't been gone for 24 hours and the jokes begin. I guess the country will survive.*

We Told You So

For all the conservative pundits and true believers out there (and for anyone who is beyond angry at the aftermath of Katrina), I give you this incredible rant.

Read it if you dare, here's an excerpt:

"You say this isn't about politics? Fuck you, this IS politics, real time, real life politics, where the insanity of all your ideas are exposed to the world for the fraud that they are. Tax cuts kill. Ask the relatives of the dead of the Gulf Coast.

Well, motherfuckers, the alligators are feasting on dead nigger and there isn't an Iraqi in sight. And Bush is trying to gladhand his way through a mess which has stunned FOX reporters. I mean, Shepard Smith is calling Fox's talking heads liars ON THE AIR.

CNN rips Bush in print and online after nearly five years of sleep.

Instead of hearing what we had to say about Bush, you called John Kerry a coward, mocked Max Cleland, blamed everything but herpes on Bill Clinton. You enabled Bush into this mess and now you're shocked?

Now, Fox can be outraged, now, Wash Times and Union Leader call Bush weak? Well, his coward ass disappeared in 2001. But you rather blame Michael Moore for that.

He can't even explain the Iraq war to a grieving mother.

So what did you do?

Write the most vile things about her and her dead son. Attacked her patriotism and her honesty."

There's more on this sad story at the link.

The Failure of Supply Side Economics

All week, as we watch the economics of Hurricane Katrina's aftermath, I keep harkening back to the GOP's philosophy that we have small government and that each of us is "on our own" when it comes to taking care of our civic, educational, social and economic life.

This article from MyDD.com does a much better job than I ever could of explaining why Supply Side Economics (the ol' trickle down theory) has failed us all, but especially those on the lowest economic rungs of our society. Here's a quote:

"And as Kos has pointed out repeatedly, the supply-siders' agenda has been to shrink the size of government until "we can be drown it in the bathtub". We're seeing the true cost of these policies in New Orleans right now. Spending on priorities like fixing the city's levees was ignored while supply-side tax cuts were pushed to the fore. From large scale economic data to the horrific impact of federal budget cuts on one city, these are the costs of supply-side economics writ large."

This article in today's New York Times also provides a good status report on the effects of Supply Side economics. Here's another quote:

"For liberal economists, the data prove that supply-side economics has failed to deliver under Mr. Bush, just as it did when President Ronald Reagan applied it in the 1980's. Rising corporate profits and dividend payments clearly haven't trickled down into gains for people who don't own companies or stock, says Dean Baker, co-director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, in Washington. "The wage gains," Mr. Baker said, "are concentrated in the upper-income level, just as they were in the 1980's."

A good question to me is: what will the Democrats do in response to the Hurricane's aftermath? Not that everything is political, but it appears that there is a vacuum of leadership that the Democrats should take advantage of, especially while these images are fresh in our minds. (Cue Senator Edwards!) If they don't, then they have no value whatsoever to anyone.

Hillary Slams Oil Companies

Go get 'em, Hillary! While we're all somewhat distracted with the news from the Gulf, gas prices continue to rise, and there's a good chance the oil companies will continue to record profits (*sarcasm*). Hillary's got the story right...here.

I paid $3.31/gallon yesterday...how 'bout you?

Two Americas ... Again

Throughout the 2004 campaign I maintained that John Edwards's "Two Americas" stump speech resonated more than nearly anything I heard from anyone else (including, at the time, Howard Dean's anti-war rhetoric). In the aftermath of the craziness on the Gulf Coast, John continues to talk about it (his email to supporters is below). I would say that everything he says here beats all of the politicians who have appeared on camera during the past several days.

If there was any doubt about it, we are clearly seeing the Two Americas writ large this week. I agree with John that most Americas are surprised to see the desperation and poverty inside America. In my daily life I experience this disconnect all the time. I work in a large American city for a large company. Many of the people I see every day of the week are millionaires whose biggest worry is whether to buy the Volvo, the BMW or the Lexus. Another large decision is what high falutin' college to send their children to, or on which Carribbean island they will spend their winter vacation. Often, these people are heard complaining about how high their taxes are.

Will they realize this week how ridiculous they sound? My hope is that we've reached a tipping point, when people begin to see that we are judged by how we treat the LEAST of us. Anywone who knows me, knows I am not a religious person, but I heard a black congressman quote scripture yesterday, and I want to repeat it here (this is from Matthew 25, verse 35-40):

"'For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."

I include John Edwards's email message in its entirety because I think it's vital that we all connect to it. Your comments are welcome and appreciated.

Dear *Beckperson*,

During the campaign of 2004, I spoke often of the two Americas: the America of the privileged and the wealthy, and the America of those who lived from paycheck to paycheck. I spoke of the difference in the schools, the difference in the loan rates, the difference in opportunity. All of that pales today. Today - and for many days and weeks and months to follow - we see a harsher example of two Americas. We see the poor and working class of New Orleans who don't own a car and couldn't evacuate to hotels or families far from the target of Katrina. We see the suffering of families who lived from paycheck to paycheck and who followed the advice of officials and went to shelters at the Civic Center or the Superdome or stayed home to protect their possessions.

Now every single resident of New Orleans, regardless of their wealth or status, will have terrible losses and life-altering experiences. Every single resident will know and care about someone who was lost to this hurricane. But some, ranging from the very poorest to the working class unable to accumulate a cushion of assets to rely upon on a very, very rainy day, will suffer the most because they simply didn't have the means to evacuate. They suffered the most from Katrina because they always suffer the most.

These are Americans some of whom who left everything they possessed behind in order to save those they loved. These are Americans huddled with their children or pushing a wheelchair between rows of those too beaten or weak to stand. In this moment, we have to remember they are part of us, Americans who love their country and are part of our national community. In this moment, it is hard because our hair is clean and our clothes are washed and our eyes are not glazed with hopelessness. But these are our brothers and sisters, and we have to remember this not just for them, but for us. We must finally recognize that when any of us suffer, we are all weaker; it affects us all.

Commentators on television have expressed surprise, saying they think that most people didn't know there was such poverty in America. Thirty-seven million Americans live in poverty, most of them are the working poor, but it is clear that they have been invisible. But if these commentators are right, this tragedy can have a great influence, if we listen to its message.

The people most devastated have always lived on a razor blade, afraid of any setback, any illness, any job loss that could disrupt the fragile balance they achieved paycheck to paycheck. They didn't leave New Orleans because they couldn't leave. Some didn't leave their homes because they wanted to protect the hard-won possessions that made their lives a little easier.

The government released new poverty statistics this week. The number of Americans living in poverty rose again last year. Thirteen million children -- nearly one in every five -- lives in poverty. Close to 25 percent of all African Americans live in poverty. Twenty-three percent of the population in New Orleans lives in poverty. Those are chilling numbers. Because of Katrina, we have now seen many of the faces behind those numbers.

Poverty exists everywhere in America. It is in Detroit and El Paso. It is in Omaha, Nebraska and Stockton, California. It is in rural towns like Chillicothe, Ohio and Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Nearly half of the children in Detroit, Atlanta and Long Beach, California live in poverty. It doesn't have to be this way. We can begin embracing policies that offer opportunity, reward responsibility, and assume the dignity of each American.

There are immediate needs in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, and the first priority is meeting those, but after that, we need to think about the American community, about the one America we think we are, the one we talk about. We need people to feel more than sympathy with the victims, we need them to feel empathy with our national community that includes the poor. We have missed opportunities to make certain that all Americans would be more than huddled masses. We have been too slow to act in the face in the misery of our brothers and sisters. This is an ugly and horrifying wake-up call to America. Let us pray we answer this call. Now is the time to act.

- John

Thanks, John and Elizabeth Edwards. I only hope the two of you are able someday to be in positions of power. We need people like you in this country today.

In actuality, if we had to go through this Hurricane at all, I wish to God it had been last summer, when voters may have realized the inhumanity of the Chimp and his cohorts. By the way, we're hearing from the VP candidate who lost. Where the hell is Cheney? Hmmm?

The fallout continues and it will be interesting to see whether Americans actually demand some accountability - at long last.

Oh, And By The Way...

...the Chimp says "don't buy gas if you don't need it." I'll try not to. In the past, I've often bought gas when I didn't need it - just to look at it. Just to smell it. Just because I could.

Man, he gets even MORE stupid every day.

This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is My Land

Adding something profound to the zillions of words about Katrina on the web is an impossibility. We sat and watched the news tonight and I ended up sobbing at what I was seeing in New Orleans. Apparently, Americans all over this great land are beginning to understand the enormity of what is happening to the most vulnerable among us.

And yet, it appears that no one in a position of authority has a meaningful response. In fact, in some cases it appears that the refugees are being blamed for not leaving the city when they were told to do so before the hurricane hit. Can you imagine?

I am distraught for my country. I am beyond frustration at not being able to do anything.

As someone said to me recently: "If we can't handle a natural disaster, how the hell will we handle a major terrorist attack?" And this: "What does it tell those who would harm us about our preparedness?" Now that's a scary proposition, isn't it?

The Chimp says he's sending money. But right now, it doesn't appear that money is actually the answer. The refugees need transportation - where are the airlines or even small private planes (dare I even say "corporate" planes?), where is the shipping industry with barges, where are the cruise ships? People need food and water.

Looting?
If one more fucking person says anything about "looters" I might rip their lips off. What would you do after being scared shitless by the initial hurricane, knowing your home is gone, your job is gone, and that you have no money or resources? What would you do if you knew there was food and water or medical supplies in a drug store and you were desperate? This is commonly known as "nothing left to lose." Yet, the Chimp says we should show so-called looters "zero tolerance." Well, I say let's show zero tolerance to the incompetence that passes for crisis management.

Read My Lips...

Driving to work this morning, I was in a bit of stop-and-go traffic on the Mass. Pike. At one point, I looked in my rearview mirror and watched a woman read my bumper sticker with her lips moving. Yes, she was alone in the car. Yes, she pursed her lips afterwords. Yes, I laughed out loud.

Here's my bumper sticker.

Roll Your Own

Want your own Bullshit Protector? Here ya go.

Joe Trippi: Will You Give Me a Job?

A few months ago, I read Joe Trippi's book "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." It's must reading for anyone wanting to know more about a bunch of things: how to have a career in campaign management, how to use the internet to advance a cause, the inner workings of the Dean 2004 campaign, and why citizen journalism is the future.

Joe's one of the reasons I started this blog.

Today's post on his site is another reason. Read it.

I watched Joe try to make his way as an MSNBC analyst after the Dean campaign closed up shop, and he did a fine job, especially considering the nutjobs he was up against...like that lightweight Joe Scarborough and Andrea Mitchell, another reporter supposedly complicit in the Plame case.

But overall, I like the way Joe thinks, his humanity and his credibility. He's the kind of guy I would love to work for. Any chance you're hiring, Joe?

Take the Democratic Loyalty Quiz

Time for some fun!

I ended up scoring (drumroll......) 10 out of a possible 10. Surprise!

Here's my description: You are a pure, unabashed, die-hard Democratic loyalist. You are appalled by the way Republicans are turning America into a theocratic, corpo-fascist police state, and you'd gladly walk through a furnace in a gasoline suit to elect a Democratic president. In your view, there is no higher form of patriotism than defending America against the Republican Party and every intolerant, puritanical, imperialistic, greed-mongering, Constitution-shredding ideal for which it stands.

From TalkLeft.

This One's For Tony

As has been previously documented in this blog, my late father was a rabid Bush hater - from GHWB to his sons who were governors of Texas and Florida when my Dad passed away. As a veteran and member of the American Legion, I suspect Dad would have had exactly the same reaction as this guy to listening to the Chimp speak. Isn't this a fabulous picture?



Bill Moyer, 73, wears a "Bullshit Protector" flap over his ear while President George W. Bush addresses the Veterans of Foreign Wars. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)

Courtesy of kos and atrios.

Worse than Nixon?

Well, the Chimp's approval rating has now dipped below Nixon's during Watergate. More here on a survey done between August 18 and 21, 2005.

"George W. Bush's overall job approval ratings have dropped from a month ago even as Americans who approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president are turning more optimistic about their personal financial situations according to the latest survey from the American Research Group. Among all Americans, 36% approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president and 58% disapprove. When it comes to Bush's handling of the economy, 33% approve and 62% disapprove.

Among Americans registered to vote, 38% approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president and 56% disapprove, and 36% approve of the way Bush is handling the economy and 60% disapprove."

Think Progress tell us Nixon's rating during the 1973 was 39%, by the way.

And, here's this interesting point:

"The increases in the personal financial ratings, however, are coming mainly from those approving of the way Bush is handling his job. A total of 54% of those approving the way Bush is handling his job say their personal financial situations are getting better, compared to 5% of those saying they disapprove of the way Bush is handling his job, and 61% of those saying they approve of the way Bush is handling his job say they expect to be better off a year from now, compared to 6% of those saying they disapprove of the way Bush is handling his job."

Lonely Boy

Things are lonely in Crawford, but the Chimp's answering machine has been busy. (Courtesy of the Randi Rhodes Show.)

Anti-War Vigil: Wednesday, August 17

Almost forgot to record for posterity the pro-Cindy Sheehan candlelight vigil I attended. There were about 60 people who gathered on the rotary in the center of Westboro, Mass. My friend, Rita, and I attended, along with people of various ages and sizes. Not much to report other than people came, lit candles, stood on the perimeter of the rotary facing traffic (which was mostly unaware or reacted positively).

I was shocked to hear that more than 400 people showed up on Fountain Square in Cincinnati. Is that true?

Here's a picture of our vigil:

Learning from the Past

From the Illustrated Daily Scribble.

Bush Vacations for a YEAR

Did you know that the Chimp has spent more than an ENTIRE YEAR of his presidency at his fake ranch in Texas? Amazing. Here's a funny post on that topic from The Huffington Post site:

"Since he's been in office, Bush Jr. has had almost 400 days at his play ranch in Crawford. I make silly comedies for a living and I haven't had 400 days off total in my whole life. This guy is the president, and he is riding his bike like a seven year old who just figured out it makes a cool sound when you put baseball cards in your wheel spokes.

And George Jr. isn't just vacationing. He's vacationing mad. You know, like when people drive mad? "Well then fine! Let's just go to the store!" And then the person goes 110 in a 25 zone while insisting everything’s all right. Well George W is vacationing mad. "You think my war is a mess? Well I'm going to Crawford to ride bikes and I don't care what you say!" "You think I made a terrible appointment in sending Bolton to the U.N.? I don’t care... I'm going to Texas and I'm not even wearing a tie! So screw you all!"

and this:

"But George's vacation isn't all idyllic little league games and bicycle rides against sun-rimmed Texan horizon lines. All vacations have their spoilers. Occasionally there are mosquitoes or rain showers or the mother of a dead Army soldier living on your lawn. What a drag that must be. Imagine you're the leader of the most powerful nation in the world. You start a war based on manipulated intelligence -- or, as some people call them, lies. Now thousands are dying because of your hubris and deceit. Rather than face up to the problem you go for an extended vacation to Texas to ride your bicycle. But then the mother of one of the boys you basically sent to their death comes and lives on your lawn! Talk about your Shakespearian hijinks! Only instead of "out damn spot" it's "away damn brush!" or "ride damn bicycle!"

Why I Booed Barbara Bush

At a recent Red Sox game, the first pitch was thrown by former First Lady and Chimp-mother Barbara Bush. I booed her loudly from the cheap seats at Fenway, and many people cheered her and her goofball husband, aka 41. Someone I mentioned this to said "What did she ever do to you?" Here's what. This quote from the Today show (prior to the opening of the Iraqi war):

"Why should we hear about body bags, and deaths, and how many, what day it's gonna happen, and how many this or what do you suppose? Oh, I mean, it's not relevant. So why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that?"

Perhaps this is a question Cindy Sheehan could answer for her.

Anarchy in a Bookstore

For years, I've performed my own small anarchy when I visit bookstores, particularly the large chains (Barnes & Noble and Borders). When I see a particularly disagreeable book on display, I cover it with a more agreeable book. For instance, a few years ago there was a nauseating book extolling the loving relationship of Ronnie and Nancy Reagan. That usually got covered with something by an author like Hunter S. Thompson (or someone of his ilk).

In recent years, books about the Bush Family have been particular targets. For every happy little Barbara Bush book I find one in praise of Hillary Clinton, which I place on top of it. For the past few years, the Clinton biographies have been excellent ammunition for my own little propaganda war.

This morning in the Boston Globe, I found the perfect add-on to my anarchy in the form of "reshelving." In this particular performance art, bookstore customers re-invent the categories in which books are found.

Here's the story (which I include below in its entirety) and I encourage all like-minded individuals to become a Minister of Reshelving. I plan to do it at my next visit.

The Ministry of Reshelving
By Joshua Glenn | August 21, 2005

"EARLIER THIS SUMMER, Jane McGonigal and three dinner companions were chatting about doublespeak, censorship, and surveillance when someone idly commented that George Orwell's dystopian novel ''1984" should be reclassified as Non-Fiction, or even filed under Current Events. ''Five seconds later, I said, 'Wait--we could actually do that,"' recounts McGonigal. So last Monday she took the lead in launching the Ministry of Reshelving project, an ambitious, opt-in performance piece whose goal it is to secretly reshelve 1,984 copies of Orwell's book in bookstores in all 50 states.

Though such an undertaking sounds daunting, it's child's play for McGonigal, a doctoral candidate in performance studies at UC-Berkeley who earns a living working as a designer and ''puppetmaster" for 42 Entertainment, an Emeryville, Calif.-based outfit that creates elaborate ''alternate reality games"--played by thousands via chatroom, cell phone, e-mail, even billboards and want ads--in order to drum up excitement for various new products. But McGonigal's true passion, she said via e-mail from San Francisco, is ''making games that give people a platform for changing social norms and public policy." As of this writing, she reports, some 55 ''ministers"--from California, New York, Idaho, Kentucky, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and a half dozen other states--have relocated over 100 copies of ''1984." Evidence of these hijinks is being posted around the clock to the photo-sharing website Flickr (flickr.com/groups/reshelving).

Is Boston behind the curve? By no means! On Thursday morning, McGonigal said, a Bostonian ''minister" informed her that a copy of ''1984" had just been moved from the Fiction section of the Borders in Downtown Crossing to the Political Science section, where it was reshelved next to a book titled ''Inside the Mind of Bush."

This was too good not to pass along. I hope someone reading this will join the fun!

Ashes to Ashes

Here's how Hunter S. Thompson is going into the afterlife this weekend. I ab-so-lute-ly LOVE this idea. Do you think Johnny Depp will pay for my funeral?

A Marvelous Piece of Writing from Today's NY Times

Left Behind (an excerpt):

"LIKE President Bush, I enjoy clearing brush in August. We both like quittance of the suit and tie, freedom from duty and detail and to breathe deeply the insouciant air of summer.

He makes for his ranch in Crawford, Tex., a town with no bars and five churches. I come to my holdings near Carrigaholt, here in County Clare, where there are six bars and one church and the house my great-grandfather left more than a century ago for a better life in America.

Of course, we have our differences - the president and I. He flies on Air Force One with an entourage. I fly steerage with hopes for an aisle seat. His ranch runs to 1,600 acres. My cottage sits on something less than two. He fishes for bass stocked in his private lake. I fish for mackerel in the North Atlantic. He keeps cattle and horses. I have a pair of piebald asses - Charles and Camilla I call them, after the sweethearts on the neighboring island.

I suppose we're just trying to reconnect with our roots and home places - Mr. Bush and I. He identifies as a Texan in the John Wayne sense as I do with the Irish in the Barry Fitzgerald sense. And we're both in our 50's, white, male, Christian and American with all the perks. We both went into our fathers' businesses: he does leadership of the free world; I do mostly local funerals. Neither of us went to Vietnam, and we both quit drink for all of the usual reasons. I imagine we both pray for our children to outlive us and that we have the usual performance anxieties.

The president works out a couple of hours a day. I go for long walks by the sea. We occupy that fraction of a fraction of the planet's inhabitants for whom keeping body and soul together - shelter, safety, food and drink - is not the immediate, everyday concern. We count ourselves among the blessed and elect who struggle with the troubles of surfeit rather than shortfall. "

Read the whole story - it's worth it! Most interesting, the article's author is Thomas Lynch, a funeral director/poet from Michigan. He's also written two other books: "The Undertaking" and "Booking Passage: We Irish and Americans." Both books look quite intriguing to me. Hmmmmmmm...perhaps I'll spend my birthday money this way?

One Mother to Another

If you've read this blog for a while, you know that I have a fairly strong affinity for John and Elizabeth Edwards (you remember...the former VP candidate? Ha ha). I'm on their mailing list and yesterday I got an email from Elizabeth, which I thought was touching.

Here's an excerpt:

"Casey Sheehan was born May 29, 1979, the first born child of Cindy and Pat Sheehan. It was a long labor. Fifty-one days after Casey was born, our first child, Wade was born, also after a long labor. They started school the same year, played the same games, watched the same television shows, loved the same country. On April 4, 1996, three weeks after going to Washington as a winner in a national contest about what America meant to him, Wade died in an automobile accident. On April 4, 2004, eight years later to the day, Casey, who loved his country enough to wear its uniform, died in Iraq. Cindy and Pat's hearts broke, as had ours.
We teach our children right from wrong. We teach them compassion and honor. We teach them the dignity of each life. And then, sometimes, the lessons we taught are turned on their heads. Cindy Sheehan is asking a very simple thing of her government, and she and her family, and most particularly Casey, have paid a very dear price for the right to ask this.

Cindy wants Casey's death to have meant as much as his life - lived fully - might have meant. I know this, as does every mother who has ever stood where we stand. And the President says he knows enough, doesn't need to hear from Casey's mother, doesn't need to assure her that Casey's is not one small death in a long and seemingly never-ending drip of deaths, that there is a plan here that will bring our sons and daughters home. He doesn't need to hear from her, he says. He claims he understands how some people feel about the deaths in Iraq."

I can't imagine what it's like to lose a child. Although I continue to support Cindy Sheehan's vigil (in fact, I'm attending a local event tonight in support), you get kind of blase after seeing it on the news and on every progressive blog. But reading Elizabeth's words reminded me again of the genuine loss of Casey Sheehan and his breathren (and sister-en?) in Iraq. What a waste. No wonder people are pissed off.

I know I am.

The King...and Us

For reasons that even I don't recall, one of my nieces and I developed a "thing" for Elvis Presley when she was a kid. I truly have no idea exactly what started our mutual fetish, but for anyone who knows our family's wacky sense of humor, I think it might be kinda clear. So, to demonstrate our devotion to the King, Molly and I would give each other the tackiest, most off-beat Elvis memorabilia we could find - for birthdays or Christmas, or as souveniers from vacations we took over the years.

We even had our own Elvis sighting when she was about 9 or 10 years old at, of all places, a chili parlor (only Cincinnatians will know what that is). We spied, through the kitchen door, a dishwasher with very black sideburns, but never could get a good look at his face...which prompted my crazy girl to leave a note for him on our table, written in shredded cheese: "Are You Elvis?" We'll never know for certain, but for a bit of time (and over the years), we enjoyed the idea of meeting our hero.

But, should you be one of the "dis-believers" who think The King actually left us in 1977, I remind you that it has been 28 years since Elvis keeled over while supposedly taking a dump. So, let's take that as a reminder to be careful out there, folks!

Wish I'd Said That

Love this post about our Bipolar President. Har!

A Guest Posting

Someone near and dear to me recently shared his outrage about recruiting. Thought I would share it with you all, too.

"I think this latest news story is just disgusting. What's even more disgusting is the Pentagon's public statement, and our willingness to accept it! Are they [the Pentagon, the press and the public] SO oblivious as to provide and accept this explanation?!

An excerpt: 'The Pentagon has blamed recent recruiting shortfalls in part on an economy that's providing other opportunities to high school and college graduates.'

In other words...we no longer can get enough POOR PEOPLE to fight our wars? What, THE MINIMUM WAGE ISN'T LOW ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN OUR 'NATIONAL SECURITY' or any other excuse for troop deployment?

The Pentagon has to admit now that poor people and disadvantaged might actually be smart enough to know 'shit from Shinola'-- that given the chance between risking death for uncertain causes or finding jobs with a even a slightly better longevity quotient attached to their meager paycheck is a better choice.

What is our country coming to when it admits the ALL VOLUNTEER ARMY is based on the lousy economic opportunities afforded our most disadvantaged citizens?! And what does it say about our population and our press when we accept such statements from the department that puts these troops, our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors, in mortal danger?

Like other such Pentagon/White House dogma such as 'We're fighting them in Iraq so we don't have to fight them here' it shows the blatant disregard our 'leaders' have for the value of any lives other than the privileged and entitled.

Perhaps someday we'll just offer land mines with our Happy Meals or let our garbage collectors round up the terrorists in a brilliant lower-class economies of scale labor coup, but till then just buy another magnet for your car and 'Support the Troops.'

Wanna really support the troops? RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE or else reinstate the draft to provide some equity in our public share of the 'defense' burden!!"

Phew, couldn't have said it better myself!

Sox Vs. Yanks? Sox Win Again!

In the battle of Web sites, Sox hammer Yanks (again!)

You Couldn't Make This Up

Believe it or not, the Chimp actually said he can't meet with Cindy Sheehan because he has to "get on with his life." Too bad Casey Sheehan didn't have that choice, eh?

Here's the story from which this quote comes:

"I think the people want the president to be in a position to make good, crisp decisions and to stay healthy," he said when asked about bike riding while a grieving mom wanted to speak with him. "And part of my being is to be outside exercising."

Do you believe this shit? I think we've truly entered the Twilight Zone.

Pictures of the Fallen

I've stumbled across a link to a series of pictures of the caskets coming home from Iraq. It says it's from the National Security Archive, which is is an independent non-governmental research institute and library located at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

From their website: "The Archive collects and publishes declassified documents acquired through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). A tax-exempt public charity, the Archive receives no U.S. government funding; its budget is supported by publication royalties and donations from foundations and individuals. On March 17, 2000, Long Island University named the National Security Archive as winner of a Special George Polk Award for 1999 for "piercing self-serving veils of government secrecy" and "serving as an essential journalistic resource."

Please, if you have a blog, publish a link to these pictures. Americans need to see the results of the war in Iraq. It's NOT just a TV show, you know. More than 1800 Americans have died (as of this writing) and untold thousands of Iraqi's, many of whom are totally innocent.

The war has got to stop.

Remember the 'Plame' Leak?

Here's the list of 21 Bush officials who are part of the treason regarding the outing of the CIA agent - from "Think Progress." You get a full description of each individual, their so-called responsibilities and how they're involved in the case. A remarkable compilation! Thanks to the folks at Think Progress for this remarkable compilation! Important to keep the heat on this!

Hey, How 'Bout Swift Boat Mothers for Peace?

Cindy Sheehan's got some good stuff happening down there in be-YOU-ti-ful Crawford, Texas. In fact, she's now running an ad to appear on the local cable tv stations there. But, like the Swift Boat Veterans during the election, the news channels are picking up the appropriate segments of the ad, that says things like: "Why did you lie to us about WMD?" Ha! Can we beat them at their own game. We're giving it a good try, so it seems.

Check this out.

Hang in there, Cindy! If you'd like to keep up with the doings at "Camp Casey," Cindy's keeping a diary on Daily Kos. Does anybody know of local events being organized in support of Cindy Sheehan's demonstration? I've heard of it happening in other parts of the country. If there is anything going on in Massachusetts, I'd love to hear about it and participate. In fact, I'd love to hear about anything happening in New England, southern Ohio, Portland (Oregon), or southwestern New Mexico as I have friends and family in those locations.

Go Cindy!

Breaking News: Jesus Blogs LIVE on Intelligent Design

Yes, kids, you heard it here first! Jesus is commenting about the latest scientific breakthrough "intelligent design." An excerpt:

"Anyway. Can I tell you something about Intelligent Design? Like, real insider stuff? I know, it's like passing out a cheat sheet for a final exam, but my dad is so pissed with all the crap going on down here that he's threatening to put his fist through the time-space continuum. Try living with that. You have no idea."

Actually, as you'll find out, this post is the work of a very talented-and snarky-writer who writes regularly on Daily Kos. This poster, "Bill in Portland, Maine" writes a daily "Cheers & Jeers" column that makes me wonder why I ever even try to blog. Bill is compassionate, silly, childish, smart, clever and friendly. Plus, he's got a great handle on the issues of the day, and a huge cult following. If you're interested, check out Daily Kos around mid-morning Monday through Friday. Although during the summer he takes Monday off, like any sensible person who lives near the beach.

Enjoy! It is highly recommended to improve your workday. Cheers to BinPM!

Oh. My. Fucking. God. He's a MADMAN!

Today's ridiculousness from the Crawford Chimpanzee: He doesn't rule out using force in IRAN.

When will he be stopped? When he kills all our children? When he spends ALL our tax dollars?

This is depressing. (I was only kidding in the post from a few days ago, but this shit is getting ridiculous.)

Winning...by a landslide

Celebrating my birthday at Fenway Park was a delight! The Sox cooperated by beating the tar out of the Texas Rangers 16-5 (scoring 9 runs in the eighth inning alone)! The evening was toasty warm, we had a wonderful pre-game dinner at a place called "The Summer Shack," and got home at the ungodly hour of 12:30 a.m. And, we got to witness one of Manny's incredibly long home runs.

The only fly in the ointment, were the two dopes who threw out the ceremonial first pitch. None other than the Chimp's parents! I am in agreement with this blogger, who thinks that the Chimp's mom isn't necessarily the sweet little white-haired grandmotherly type. Ever since she dissed Geraldine Ferraro back in the '80s, I haven't had much good to say about her.

However, despite the minor interruption from Grandma and Grandpa Wingnut, a good time was had by all. (And, I must admit, I booed the shit out of them...not that they could hear me from the cheap seats. Oh well...I did my part. Kinda wanted to ask them to put a good word in with the Chimp to sit down with Cindy Sheehan, or ask them why Barbara and Jenna weren't signing up for the Marine Corps.)

Anyway, another birthday come and gone. Do I have any profound things to say? Nah..just enjoy 'em as it's better than the alternative!

Here's a pic from the ending of last night's game, for your enjoyment (we're 5.5 games ahead of the MFYs!)

Uh Oh, Playing the Iran Card Now

As if we didn't have enough to worry about, the idiot Secretary of Defense, had this to say about Iran:

"WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Tuesday that weapons recently confiscated in Iraq were "clearly, unambiguously from Iran" and admonished Tehran for allowing the explosives to cross the border."

Perhaps we're trying to change the subject again, eh? Like magicians, you can expect the administration to continue the politics of distraction. They want us to stop thinking about Rove, stop thinking about the dead soldiers in Iraq, stop thinking about rising health care costs, stop thinking about rising gas prices. Just think about the next possibility of "shock and awe" coming to a TV near you. Are we that stupid. I sure hope not.

Somebody Help Me With This

I'm sorry, but I'm stumped.

I know I live in a very BLUE state, but I don't understand this phenomenon:

"Dissatisfaction over the war in Iraq, the economy and rising health care costs might spell trouble for Republicans, but a study by Democratic strategists warns that their party's failure to connect with voters on cultural issues could prevent Democratic candidates from reaping gains in upcoming national elections.

Democrats have expressed bewilderment over Republican gains among lower-income, less-educated voters, saying they are voting against their economic self-interest by supporting Republican candidates. But the new Democracy Corps study concludes that cultural issues trump economic issues by a wide margin for many of these voters -- giving the GOP a significant electoral advantage."

Clearly, I'm one of those who don't get it. Maybe I have to read my copy of "What's the Matter with Kansas?" to really get a handle on this. Maybe I'm just too old and remember the days when people weren't scared of one another's differences (like gay people, non-Christians, non-traditional families). Maybe I live in a place where people aren't freaked out by differences. But I don't necessarily agree that we should (in the immortal words of Howard Dean) become "Republican Lite." So I guess I should get accustomed to losing federal elections in the near future because I would rather lose 'em than turn into hypocritical, win-at-any-cost Democrats.

I agree with those who say that "privacy" issues might bring some centrists over to our side. In other words, having a government that values privacy means that it won't have a say in who you marry, what you do with your reproductive organs, whether you attend a church regularly or not at all, etc. In fact, in some ways, this sounds like the kind of party the Republicans used to be, doesn't it? (It's strange to live long enough to see such changes; if you had asked me in 1973 if I would ever think like this, I would have been shocked.)

Having said that, I think there is room in this "privacy" discussion for political privacy, which means the ability to talk how you'd like, read the books or web sites that interest you, take public stands on issues that might go against the so-called mainstream, and not worry about repurcussions. This also means speaking up, or acting up, when you disagree with the government. With this type of public privacy allowed (if not enouraged), I hope lefties would be able to to live with the centrists in harmony.

But in the meantime, can anyone explain how liberal policies (gay marriage, abortion rights, etc) have adverse impacts on individual families? In my view, if you don't want a gay marriage or abortion, don't get one. Also, if someone could help me understand how these cultural differences affect voting, I'm all ears. At the risk of sounding like an old fart, there was a time when people voted to improve their financial or social situation (Social Security, voting rights, health care). Apparently, today people are willing to part with those things in order to have a "safe" society where life is orderly and everybody is the same.

Yes, I'm one of the bewildered.

Birthday Sox

Going to see the boys at Fenway tonight...happy birthday to me!

Maureen's Back From Vacation

NY Times columnist Maureen Dowd appears to be rested and ready to continue the textual assault on the Chimp. Here's today's offering on the state of the Iraq war and Cindy Sheehan's efforts in Crawford. (And our buddy Paul Hackett makes a cameo appearance, too.)

Here's a bit of it:

"It's amazing that the White House does not have the elementary shrewdness to have Mr. Bush simply walk down the driveway and hear the woman out, or invite her in for a cup of tea. But W., who has spent nearly 20 percent of his presidency at his ranch, is burrowed into his five-week vacation and two-hour daily workouts. He may be in great shape, but Iraq sure isn't.

It's hard to think of another president who lived in such meta-insulation. His rigidly controlled environment allows no chance encounters with anyone who disagrees. He never has to defend himself to anyone, and that is cognitively injurious. He's a populist who never meets people - an ordinary guy who clears brush, and brush is the only thing he talks to. Mr. Bush hails Texas as a place where he can return to his roots. But is he mixing it up there with anyone besides Vulcans, Pioneers and Rangers?"

For Cindy and her mates in Crawford:

Masters of War (Dylan)

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand o'er your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead



Copyright © 1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music

9/11 Commission Looking for More Info

As if the Chimp hasn't pissed us off enough, we're reminded of his reluctance (or perhaps fear) of the 9/11 Commission. They want to do some follow-up work and the administration won't release some of the information they are seeking. Can you believe it? Wouldn't it make sense to get AS MUCH information into the public space as possible? I guess that's just too damn much to ask for from a President who was too scared to meet with them without his Darth Vader of a VP holding his hand. Good God.

This from a Republican:

"Thomas H. Kean, the former Republican governor of New Jersey who led the bipartisan Sept. 11 commission, said he was surprised and disappointed that the White House, the Pentagon, the State Department, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and several other executive branch agencies had failed to respond to requests made two months ago for updated information on the government's antiterrorism programs."

You'd Gag Too, If It Happened To You

Here's something completely gross. A 99-pound woman ate 35 bratwursts in 10 minutes. In case you're curious (and have eaten a brat or two recently), here's the nutrition information:



But, having said all that, I love brats, but have recently decided to remove them from my diet...after a close study of the nutrition information. Don't you hate being a grown-up?

Support Our Troops' Moms

...especially when she has lost her son and is pissed off. When you think of it, is there anyone more horribly wronged than a parent of a son or daughter killed in Iraq? Having your child die because of lies, deceit, hubris and downright incompetence must make it impossible to focus on anything else...and now Cindy Sheehan is taking that pain to the right place - Crawford, Texas - where the Chimp is supposed to be vacationing. And now, rumor has it she's going to be arrested on Thursday if she doesn't give up her vigil because she's a security threat? Just when you think the story from these assholes can't get any more heartless, they threaten to throw a soldiers' mom in jail just because she's standing on a street in a backwater like Crawford. Unbelievable.

Read more about Cindy's quest here. Talk about heroes...count Cindy Sheehan among 'em.

This picture from over the past weekend when Cindy and her posse marched in Crawford:

Support Our Troops

The Freeway Blogger

Five Games Up!

Don't look now, but the Red Sox have a 5 game lead over the MF Yankees! We've now won eight in a row and Captain Jason hit his first grand slam today. Wahooooo! We're on a roll!

Books That Change Your Life

Last night, Bob and I were having one of our typical scintillating conversations over dinner rehashing the day and he mentioned an NPR segment he heard, called "Books That Changed My Life." Naturally, this segued to books that changed ours. Here's mine...and I invite you to share yours.

Ever try to figure out how your political philosophy was formed? To some degree, I trace mine back to reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" when I was around 12 years old. My older sister had been assigned to read it for school and, because I devoured books at the time, I jumped right on it.

Not being a very "girly girl" type, I totally related to Scout and her desire to wear overalls, go barefoot, ask inappropriate questions, and chase after an older sibling. And because I related so much to her, I was in awe of Atticus Finch and the important lessons he taught his children regarding tolerance of those who were different from the Finches: from the Ewell family, to Calpernia, to Tom Robinson...and of course Boo Radley. I think this had a tremendous influence on me.

Honorable mentions (for different reasons) include: Little Women (what girl didn't want to be Jo?); The Women's Room (one of the first novels about the women's movement); Small Changes (the first time I read a book that was about becoming gay - not that there's anything wrong with that); M*A*S*H (before the movie or the TV series, there was the book - a total hoot and my first anti-war novel); and "A Prayer for Owen Meaney," my favorite John Irving novel (though I love all his books).

And you?

Are You a Luddite?

Tom Friedman from today's NYTimes column: Calling All Luddites

"I've been thinking of running for high office on a one-issue platform: I promise, if elected, that within four years America will have cellphone service as good as Ghana's. If re-elected, I promise that in eight years America will have cellphone service as good as Japan's, provided Japan agrees not to forge ahead on wireless technology. My campaign bumper sticker: "Can You Hear Me Now?"

I began thinking about this after watching the Japanese use cellphones and laptops to get on the Internet from speeding bullet trains and subways deep underground. But the last straw was when I couldn't get cellphone service while visiting I.B.M.'s headquarters in Armonk, N.Y.

But don't worry - Congress is on the case. It dropped everything last week to pass a bill to protect gun makers from shooting victims' lawsuits. The fact that the U.S. has fallen to 16th in the world in broadband connectivity aroused no interest. Look, I don't even like cellphones, but this is not about gadgets. The world is moving to an Internet-based platform for commerce, education, innovation and entertainment. Wealth and productivity will go to those countries or companies that get more of their innovators, educators, students, workers and suppliers connected to this platform via computers, phones and P.D.A.'s...."

Tom, I agree whole-heartedly. Getting politicians and the media off ridiculous issues and onto things like this that matter (and perhaps even provide jobs or preparation for a meaningful job?) will be a freakin' miracle.

Not Quite There...For Now

Yesterday Paul Hackett didn't actually manage to pull off a miracle, but he only lost by 3.5% in the end. As I posted yesterday, this is my hometown district and I do know there are Democrats there (I'm even related to a few). There is HOPE that we can pick up this and other districts in the 2006 election.

As a small contributor to Major Hackett's campaign, I received this email today:

"Yesterday, one of the reddest regions in America turned a whole lot bluer.

I ran in a special election to serve in the United States House of Representatives from the 2nd District of Ohio. I am a Marine recently returned from Iraq, a husband, a father, an attorney, and a Democrat.

When I won the Democratic primary for this contest, few people believed we had a shot at victory. But DFA put its faith in me -- and went to work organizing on the ground and online. Your support helped build the greatest Democratic get-out-the-vote effort this district has ever known.

While we didn't pull out a victory yesterday -- we came incredibly close. We got 48 percent of the vote. And in those results rests hope for the future.

It had been 15 years since a Democratic candidate for Congress received more than 30 percent of the vote in Ohio's 2nd District and decades since a Democrat held the seat. Your support helped me improve Democratic performance by nearly 20 percent. This is a victory for democracy. And if we can do this in Ohio -- we can do it anywhere."

Paul, you have my admiration for making the attempt -- let's get 'em next time, ok?

He's Falling and Hopefully Can't Get Up

Here's a little fun for your down time -- watch "Chimpy McFlightsuit" fall.

Sending Good Vibes

Well, it's an hour and a half till the polls close in my hometown Congressional district (OH-02). As any good Democrat knows, there is a special election there today to replace the Republican who had been appointed to a Bush Administration post. Right now, it will be a very long shot, but Democrat Paul Hackett is doing a great job of at least energizing our party. Whether Hackett wins is still to be seen...I made my small monetary contribution and am sending him all good thoughts (if not prayers) that he will actually pull it out. Who the hell knows? But people are saying it could be close enough to scare the Repugs at least. (Just re-reading that statement, it's really sad that all we're doing now is hoping to scare Republicans, not actually beat them. Arghhhh!)

Anyway, here's a scary picture to keep you awake tonight. Which of these people would you like representing you in Congress?

Oh, Happy Day!

Although I'm disappointed the Sox didn't pick up more pitching help, I'm very excited that they kept Manny, in spite of his clearly immature behavior. Yesterday's game was, in turns, silly and heart-poundingly suspenseful. Either way...as they say...Manny was Manny.

It's Hot and My Eyes are Blurry

Well, you know you spend too much time on the computer when your eyes literally start to blur...and that's exactly what's been happening to me of late. I think it has to do with the many hours of scouring the web looking for further signs of deceit from the idiots in Washington.

Sad to say, summer's heatwave has melted all the scandals (I hope temporarily). So, I'll take this opportunity for a little rest -- of eyes and spirit. So imagine the blog with its own digital "gone fishin'" sign up for a bit while we take an overnight jaunt to the beach.

I leave you with this final parting shot, just for the fuck of it:

Eat this!

Emmylou....and Elvis

Last night's fun included seeing Elvis Costello, with Emmylou Harris, in concert. I've never been a big Elvis fan, and paid my money primarily to see Emmylou - one of my all-time favorites.

The best part? The concert started on time, with Elvis and his band coming right on stage to kick things off. Rather than have Emmylou do her own set, she simply joined the band a few songs in and left several songs before the concert was over. Really nice, seamless way to handle a concert...you really feel like you get your money's worth...since they continued without intermission until 11 pm.

While the music had many highlights (including a lot of songs from his new cd) it ended with his Oscar-nominated song, "Scarlet Tide," which has special resonance with the current "action" in Iraq.

When I recall his parting words
Must I accept his fate
Or take myself far from this place
I thought I heard a black bell toll
A little bird did sing
Man has no choice
When he wants every thing

We'll rise above the scarlet tide
That trickles down through the mountain
And separates the widow from the bride

Man goes beyond his own decision
Gets caught up in the mechanism
Of swindlers who act like kings
And brokers who break everything
The dark of night was swiftly fading
Close to the dawn of day
Why would I want him just to lose him again

We'll rise above the scarlet tide
That trickles down through the mountain
And separates the widow from the bride

The Latest from Rove-gate (Is this sweet, or what?)

New York Times today! Can you say conspiracy?

"WASHINGTON, July 21 - At the same time in July 2003 that a C.I.A. operative's identity was exposed, two key White House officials who talked to journalists about the officer were also working closely together on a related underlying issue: whether President Bush was correct in suggesting earlier that year that Iraq had been trying to acquire nuclear materials from Africa...."

And, of course, yesterday's Bloomberg news outlines perjury.

Hunter at Daily Kos says the floodgates are open.

And then there's today's WaPo:

"A classified State Department memorandum central to a federal leak investigation contained information about CIA officer Valerie Plame in a paragraph marked "(S)" for secret, a clear indication that any Bush administration official who read it should have been aware the information was classified, according to current and former government officials..."

Stay tuned!

Karen/Roberta?...Karen/Roberta?

Who does Karen Hughes, counselor to the Chimp, remind you of? Here's the answer. Kudos to TBogg...

This Just In!!! OH BOY!

Courtesy of Raw Story:

"Bloomberg News has slotted a story alleging that senior Bush advisor Karl Rove and Vice President Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff 'Scooter' Libby provided false testimony to the special prosecutor to a Washington-based grand jury, RAW STORY has learned.

The story is expected to hit after midnight, when Bloomberg typically moves stories.

Patrick Fitzgerald, the Chicago special prosecutor appointed to investigate the outing of former covert agent Valerie Plame Wilson, may also be looking at whether other crimes -- such as perjury, obstruction of justice or leaking classified information -- were committed..."

Kharma is a beautiful thing!

Update: Think Progress has the Bloomberg story. THE SHIT IS GOING TO HIT THE FAN!!!

If Liberals Were a Corleone, Which One Should They Be?

This conversation is going on over at the Whiskey Bar. Check it out. I, too, vote for Michael. And it's time we went to the mattresses, don't you think? Here's a sample:

"The Dems need to try to be more like Michael -- cool, analytical and totally pragmatic. "It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business."

Sometimes that means ordering a hit, sometimes it means biding your time. Sometimes it means striking with everything you've got -- e.g. the "confirmation" scene (which, given today's big topic, has certain ironic connotations.) Sometimes it means offering to talk peace, while secretly preparing to w[h]ack the guy. Sometimes it means just plain talking peace.

But it has nothing to do with fairness or open-mindedness or listening to opposing points of view. It has to do with what's best for the "family" -- which in this case we can define broadly as those groups and constituencies in American society who oppose the GOP machine and want to see it destroyed (or at least kicked out of power.)"