Monday, August 22, 2005
Lonely Boy
Things are lonely in Crawford, but the Chimp's answering machine has been busy. (Courtesy of the Randi Rhodes Show.)
Sunday, August 21, 2005
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:
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:
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.
"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!
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!
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
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?
"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.
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.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
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!
Monday, August 15, 2005
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!
"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!
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.
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.
Friday, August 12, 2005
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!
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!
"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.)
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.)
Thursday, August 11, 2005
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!)
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!)
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
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.
"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.
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.
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?"
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
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
Monday, August 08, 2005
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."
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:
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:
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Thursday, August 04, 2005
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?
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
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.
"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?
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?
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
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?
Anyway, here's a scary picture to keep you awake tonight. Which of these people would you like representing you in Congress?
Monday, August 01, 2005
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.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
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!
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:
Sunday, July 24, 2005
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 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
Friday, July 22, 2005
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!
"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!
Thursday, July 21, 2005
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!!!
"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!!!
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
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.)"
"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.)"
Is Bill a Blogger?
If blogging was meant to be a way to widely communicate your innermost thoughts and/or comment on the state of the world's affairs...then we can now welcome Bill Clinton to our midst. No, it's not a full-fledged blog with lots of navel gazing and descriptions of life with Hillary, but it's a start -- it's a diary he's keeping during his current trip to Africa. Clearly, the continent plays a very big part in his life since the White House (and in between medical problems). You can follow his intinerary and check out his diary entries.
Clearly he's got an editor for this, based on his recent biography's length and his amazingly long speeches, so be sure to stop by and check it out. But...wouldn't you love it if he kept a real blog, with real thoughts? That would be a helluva read.
Bill in Africa
Clearly he's got an editor for this, based on his recent biography's length and his amazingly long speeches, so be sure to stop by and check it out. But...wouldn't you love it if he kept a real blog, with real thoughts? That would be a helluva read.
Bill in Africa
Good Ideas...Keep 'Em Coming!
The best thing to do when the Repugs control every branch of government and you have nothin' left to lose? Create your own shadow government. Why not? At my house, we've had countless dinnertime conversations thinking up various rationales, most of which border on the absurdist (shades of Abbie Hoffman and trying to elevate the Pentagon). But, now it appears that this idea is appealing (in a much more serious tone) to Congressional Democrats who are picking up on this idea to more closely examine Treason-gate.
Along these same lines -- and in a very serious and thoughtful vein -- another group of very serious folks known as the National Security Advisory Group (NSAG), is issuing their own report on WMD proliferation. Who says Democrats don't have ideas? Who says we can't govern? Who says we are weak on defense/national security issues Bah! Gimme a break.
Posted today on the Senate's website, is
"Worst Weapons in Worst Hands: US Inaction on the Nuclear terror Threat Since 9/11, and a Path of Action." NSAG consists of government and military luminaries including former Defense Secretary William J. Perry (Chair), Former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, Graham T. Allison, Samuel R. Berger, Ashton B. Carter, Wesley K. Clark, Thomas E. Donilon, Michele A. Flournoy, John D. Podesta, Susan E. Rice, John M. Shalikashvili, Wendy R. Sherman,Elizabeth D. Sherwood-Randall, James B. Steinberg.
It begins:
"The gravest threat facing Americans today is a terrorist detonating a nuclear bomb in one of our cities. The National Security Advisory Group (NSAG) judges that the Bush administration is taking insufficient actions to counter this threat.
If this catastrophe were to occur, what would we wish we had done to prevent
it? Why are those actions not being taken today?"
Great questions for America to ponder as we wait for the inevitable attack. (Everyone have their duct tape?)
Meanwhile, we spend billions on a war that seemingly has no end, cut veteran's benefits, give tax cuts to people who don't need 'em, and have treasonous sycophants in the White House using the CIA for political purposes.
Damn them. Damn them to hell.
Along these same lines -- and in a very serious and thoughtful vein -- another group of very serious folks known as the National Security Advisory Group (NSAG), is issuing their own report on WMD proliferation. Who says Democrats don't have ideas? Who says we can't govern? Who says we are weak on defense/national security issues Bah! Gimme a break.
Posted today on the Senate's website, is
"Worst Weapons in Worst Hands: US Inaction on the Nuclear terror Threat Since 9/11, and a Path of Action." NSAG consists of government and military luminaries including former Defense Secretary William J. Perry (Chair), Former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, Graham T. Allison, Samuel R. Berger, Ashton B. Carter, Wesley K. Clark, Thomas E. Donilon, Michele A. Flournoy, John D. Podesta, Susan E. Rice, John M. Shalikashvili, Wendy R. Sherman,Elizabeth D. Sherwood-Randall, James B. Steinberg.
It begins:
"The gravest threat facing Americans today is a terrorist detonating a nuclear bomb in one of our cities. The National Security Advisory Group (NSAG) judges that the Bush administration is taking insufficient actions to counter this threat.
If this catastrophe were to occur, what would we wish we had done to prevent
it? Why are those actions not being taken today?"
Great questions for America to ponder as we wait for the inevitable attack. (Everyone have their duct tape?)
Meanwhile, we spend billions on a war that seemingly has no end, cut veteran's benefits, give tax cuts to people who don't need 'em, and have treasonous sycophants in the White House using the CIA for political purposes.
Damn them. Damn them to hell.
Monday, July 18, 2005
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Shades of Watergate? Hmmmmm?
Today, Frank Rich of the New York Times takes a wider view of the Rove problem at the White House. He begins with familiar words from the infamous spokesperson of the Nixon era, Ron Ziegler, and takes it further from there.
Everyone's blogging about this story and it's hard to say anything new or profound, but if you're interested in the story, you should stick with a few important blogs: Daily Kos, TPM Cafe, Talkleft and perhaps even The Huffington Post. Just when I thought that the story was going to perhaps take a lesser place in the news cycles this week, Matt Cooper comes out with a report of his grand jury testimony (but you have to pay to read about it or buy this week's Time Magazine).
Things are getting curiouser and curiouser. Stay tuned and keep your fingers crossed that the bad karma being espoused by the Chimp's cohort in crime is finally coming back to haunt them.
Everyone's blogging about this story and it's hard to say anything new or profound, but if you're interested in the story, you should stick with a few important blogs: Daily Kos, TPM Cafe, Talkleft and perhaps even The Huffington Post. Just when I thought that the story was going to perhaps take a lesser place in the news cycles this week, Matt Cooper comes out with a report of his grand jury testimony (but you have to pay to read about it or buy this week's Time Magazine).
Things are getting curiouser and curiouser. Stay tuned and keep your fingers crossed that the bad karma being espoused by the Chimp's cohort in crime is finally coming back to haunt them.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Friday, July 15, 2005
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Chimpy Falling Flat: No One Trusts Him....Imagine!
Latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll shows that Chimpy is losing the Midas touch. Or perhaps, people are recognizing that the Emperor really has no clothes. Keep it coming, folks!
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Spider vs. Bee: A Mid-Summer Tale
A week or so ago, we noticed a mini-war of sorts right in the front porch window boxes. As you can see from the picture below, a very unusual albino spider has captured a regular 'ole bumblebee and has it in a lockdown. When we notice such natural warriors in action, it makes one realize that we homo sapiens (am I allowed to call us that?) are not the only aggressors on any day of the week.
A few hours after taking the picture, there was no sign of either insect. Where did they go? My poetic other half had this more thoughtful photo caption, combining recent human wars with the Bug War of Shrewsbury:
"In my dreams of summer John Kerry [the spider], combat tested
and tough on terrorist attackers, takes the sting out of the weaker and
ill-witted opponent George Bush [the bee]. Maybe it's just the heat - or
the humidity, but the bloom will soon leave the Rove my friends."
From his pc to God's ear.
A few hours after taking the picture, there was no sign of either insect. Where did they go? My poetic other half had this more thoughtful photo caption, combining recent human wars with the Bug War of Shrewsbury:
"In my dreams of summer John Kerry [the spider], combat tested
and tough on terrorist attackers, takes the sting out of the weaker and
ill-witted opponent George Bush [the bee]. Maybe it's just the heat - or
the humidity, but the bloom will soon leave the Rove my friends."
From his pc to God's ear.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Oh, Lordy, It's Getting Hot in D.C.!
Here's a transcript of today's press update from the White House Press Secretary. Hold on to your hats, folks! The MSM is finally awake, and here's the relevant portion:
Q: Does the president stand by his pledge to fire anyone involved in a leak of the name of a CIA operative?
MCCLELLAN: I appreciate your question. I think your question is being asked related to some reports that are in reference to an ongoing criminal investigation. The criminal investigation that you reference is something that continues at this point.
And as I’ve previously stated, while that investigation is ongoing, the White House is not going to comment on it.
The president directed the White House to cooperate fully with the investigation. And as part of cooperating fully with the investigation, we made a decision that we weren’t going to comment on it while it is ongoing.
Q: I actually wasn’t talking about any investigation. But in June of 2004, the president said that he would fire anybody who was involved in this leak to the press about information. I just wanted to know: Is that still his position?
MCCLELLAN: Yes, but this question is coming up in the context of this ongoing investigation, and that’s why I said that our policy continues to be that we’re not going to get into commenting on an ongoing criminal investigation from this podium.
The prosecutors overseeing the investigation had expressed a preference to us that one way to help the investigation is not to be commenting on it from this podium....
Q: Scott, if I could point out: Contradictory to that statement, on September 29th of 2003, while the investigation was ongoing, you clearly commented on it. You were the first one to have said that if anybody from the White House was involved, they would be fired. And then, on June 10th of 2004, at Sea Island Plantation, in the midst of this investigation, when the president made his comments that, yes, he would fire anybody from the White House who was involved. So why have you commented on this during the process of the investigation in the past, but now you’ve suddenly drawn a curtain around it under the statement of, 'We’re not going to comment on an ongoing investigation'?
MCCLELLAN: Again, John, I appreciate the question. I know you want to get to the bottom of this. No one wants to get to the bottom of it more than the president of the United States. And I think the way to be most helpful is to not get into commenting on it while it is an ongoing investigation. And that’s something that the people overseeing the investigation have expressed a preference that we follow.
And that’s why we’re continuing to follow that approach and that policy. Now, I remember very well what was previously said. And, at some point, I will be glad to talk about it, but not until after the investigation is complete.
Q: So could I just ask: When did you change your mind to say that it was OK to comment during the course of an investigation before, but now it’s not?
MCCLELLAN: Well, I think maybe you missed what I was saying in reference to Terry’s question at the beginning. There came a point, when the investigation got under way, when those overseeing the investigation asked that it would be — or said that it would be their preference that we not get into discussing it while it is ongoing.
I think that’s the way to be most helpful to help them advance the investigation and get to the bottom of it.
Q: Does the president stand by his pledge to fire anyone involved in a leak of the name of a CIA operative?
MCCLELLAN: I appreciate your question. I think your question is being asked related to some reports that are in reference to an ongoing criminal investigation. The criminal investigation that you reference is something that continues at this point.
And as I’ve previously stated, while that investigation is ongoing, the White House is not going to comment on it.
The president directed the White House to cooperate fully with the investigation. And as part of cooperating fully with the investigation, we made a decision that we weren’t going to comment on it while it is ongoing.
Q: I actually wasn’t talking about any investigation. But in June of 2004, the president said that he would fire anybody who was involved in this leak to the press about information. I just wanted to know: Is that still his position?
MCCLELLAN: Yes, but this question is coming up in the context of this ongoing investigation, and that’s why I said that our policy continues to be that we’re not going to get into commenting on an ongoing criminal investigation from this podium.
The prosecutors overseeing the investigation had expressed a preference to us that one way to help the investigation is not to be commenting on it from this podium....
Q: Scott, if I could point out: Contradictory to that statement, on September 29th of 2003, while the investigation was ongoing, you clearly commented on it. You were the first one to have said that if anybody from the White House was involved, they would be fired. And then, on June 10th of 2004, at Sea Island Plantation, in the midst of this investigation, when the president made his comments that, yes, he would fire anybody from the White House who was involved. So why have you commented on this during the process of the investigation in the past, but now you’ve suddenly drawn a curtain around it under the statement of, 'We’re not going to comment on an ongoing investigation'?
MCCLELLAN: Again, John, I appreciate the question. I know you want to get to the bottom of this. No one wants to get to the bottom of it more than the president of the United States. And I think the way to be most helpful is to not get into commenting on it while it is an ongoing investigation. And that’s something that the people overseeing the investigation have expressed a preference that we follow.
And that’s why we’re continuing to follow that approach and that policy. Now, I remember very well what was previously said. And, at some point, I will be glad to talk about it, but not until after the investigation is complete.
Q: So could I just ask: When did you change your mind to say that it was OK to comment during the course of an investigation before, but now it’s not?
MCCLELLAN: Well, I think maybe you missed what I was saying in reference to Terry’s question at the beginning. There came a point, when the investigation got under way, when those overseeing the investigation asked that it would be — or said that it would be their preference that we not get into discussing it while it is ongoing.
I think that’s the way to be most helpful to help them advance the investigation and get to the bottom of it.
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Friday, July 08, 2005
I Love My Congressman
We're lucky to live in a Congressional district with a representative whose priorities are very often exactly what I would choose. Came across this link tonight, which discusses a letter sent to the White House by members of Congress requesting that Karl Rove explain his role in the Valerie Plame outing(see his picture below...a dream sequence if there ever was one). I was pleased to see that one of the 17 signers was our guy. Thanks, Jim!
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Waiting for the Other Shoe to Fall
As we all await the outcome of the investigation into the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame...let us all be reminded of what White House Spokes-Blowhard Scott McClellan had to say back in 2003.
Most important comment: "And the White House is committed -- at the direction of the President, the White House is committed to cooperating fully and doing everything we can to assist the career officials get to the bottom of this. It is a very serious matter."
And this editorial from "Editor and Publisher" from a former colleague of Rove's, entitled: Save the First Amendment--from Karl Rove.
Most important comment: "And the White House is committed -- at the direction of the President, the White House is committed to cooperating fully and doing everything we can to assist the career officials get to the bottom of this. It is a very serious matter."
And this editorial from "Editor and Publisher" from a former colleague of Rove's, entitled: Save the First Amendment--from Karl Rove.
Halfway Through: A Positive Spin
Here's a comparison of Red Sox 2005 vs. Red Sox 2004, remembering, of course, that the Sox won the World Series (all together now!) for the first time in 86 years. For those of us who are sweating through the recent pitching woes, this will put this season in perspective:
Mid-term grades are in.
Clearly, pitching is the big need, but the rest of the grades ain't bad. Keep the faith, folks.
Mid-term grades are in.
Clearly, pitching is the big need, but the rest of the grades ain't bad. Keep the faith, folks.
Rick Santorum's "It Takes a Family"
Speaking of abominations, ladies, take a gander at Rick Santorum's new book. Here are some excerpts:
"In far too many families with young children, both parents are working, when, if they really took an honest look at the budget, they might confess that both of them really don’t need to, or at least may not need to work as much as they do… And for some parents, the purported need to provide things for their children simply provides a convenient rationalization for pursuing a gratifying career outside the home." (It Takes a Family, 94)
"Many women have told me, and surveys have shown, that they find it easier, more “professionally” gratifying, and certainly more socially affirming, to work outside the home than to give up their careers to take care of their children. Think about that for a moment…Here, we can thank the influence of radical feminism, one of the core philosophies of the village elders." (It Takes a Family, 95)
"The notion that college education is a cost-effective way to help poor, low-skill, unmarried mothers with high school diplomas or GEDs move up the economic ladder is just wrong." (It Takes a Family, 138)
What a dope.
"In far too many families with young children, both parents are working, when, if they really took an honest look at the budget, they might confess that both of them really don’t need to, or at least may not need to work as much as they do… And for some parents, the purported need to provide things for their children simply provides a convenient rationalization for pursuing a gratifying career outside the home." (It Takes a Family, 94)
"Many women have told me, and surveys have shown, that they find it easier, more “professionally” gratifying, and certainly more socially affirming, to work outside the home than to give up their careers to take care of their children. Think about that for a moment…Here, we can thank the influence of radical feminism, one of the core philosophies of the village elders." (It Takes a Family, 95)
"The notion that college education is a cost-effective way to help poor, low-skill, unmarried mothers with high school diplomas or GEDs move up the economic ladder is just wrong." (It Takes a Family, 138)
What a dope.
Putting Experience To Work for A Good Cause
Former campaign workers for Dean and Clarke are using their experience to help Americans understand what an abomination Wal-Mart is. Good way to spend some time in between elections, no?
Read all about it here.
Read all about it here.
5 Star Music
Interesting list...Rolling Stone's list of the albums they've rated 5-stars. The list is organized with the most recent at the top:
2004; ALBUM: The Very Best of Jackson Browne; ARTIST: Jackson Browne
2004; ALBUM: Goodbye, Babylon; ARTIST: Various Artists
2003; ALBUM: Elephant; ARTIST: The White Stripes
2002; ALBUM: The Rising; ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen
2002; ALBUM: Sea Change; ARTIST: Beck
2002; ALBUM: Forty Licks; ARTIST: Rolling Stones
2002; ALBUM: Essential Leonard Cohen; ARTIST: Leonard Cohen
2001; ALBUM: Love and Theft; ARTIST: Bob Dylan
2001; ALBUM: Goddess in the Doorway; ARTIST: Mick Jagger
1992; ALBUM: Slanted & Enchanted; ARTIST: Pavement
1992; ALBUM: Automatic for the People; ARTIST: R.E.M.
1991; ALBUM: Metallica; ARTIST: Metallica
1989; ALBUM: Freedom; ARTIST: Neil Young
1989; ALBUM: Doolittle; ARTIST: Pixies
1988; ALBUM: Straight Outta Compton; ARTIST: N.W.A.
1988; ALBUM: Daydream Nation; ARTIST: Sonic Youth
1987; ALBUM: Tunnel of Love; ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen
1987; ALBUM: The Joshua Tree; ARTIST: U2
1987; ALBUM: Sign 'O' the Times; ARTIST: Prince
1987; ALBUM: Document; ARTIST: R.E.M.
1987; ALBUM: Appetite for Destruction; ARTIST: Guns N' Roses
1986; ALBUM: The Queen is Dead; ARTIST: The Smiths
1986; ALBUM: Raising Hell; ARTIST: Run-D.M.C.
1986; ALBUM: Master of Puppets; ARTIST: Metallica
1986; ALBUM: Graceland; ARTIST: Paul Simon
1985; ALBUM: Rain Dogs; ARTIST: Tom Waits
1985; ALBUM: Essential Clash; ARTIST: The Clash
1984; ALBUM: Diamond Life; ARTIST: Sade
1984; ALBUM: Born in the U.S.A.; ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen
1983; ALBUM: The Final Cut; ARTIST: Pink Floyd
1982; ALBUM: Tug Of War; ARTIST: Paul McCartney
1982; ALBUM: The Message; ARTIST: Grandmaster Flash
1982; ALBUM: The Blue Mask; ARTIST: Lou Reed
1982; ALBUM: Original Musiquarium I; ARTIST: Stevie Wonder
1982; ALBUM: It's Hard; ARTIST: The Who
1981; ALBUM: Tattoo You; ARTIST: The Rolling Stones
1981; ALBUM: Pirates; ARTIST: Rickie Lee Jones
1980; ALBUM: Zenyatta Mondatta; ARTIST: The Police
1980; ALBUM: Sandinista!; ARTIST: The Clash
1980; ALBUM: Remain in Light; ARTIST: Talking Heads
1979; ALBUM: The B-52's; ARTIST: The B-52's
1979; ALBUM: Off the Wall; ARTIST: Michael Jackson
1979; ALBUM: Look Sharp!; ARTIST: Joe Jackson
1979; ALBUM: London Calling; ARTIST: The Clash
1979; ALBUM: Damn the Torpedoes; ARTIST: Tom Petty & the Heartbeakers
1978; ALBUM: More Songs About Buildings and Food; ARTIST: Talking Heads
1978; ALBUM: Darkness on the Edge of Town; ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen
1978; ALBUM: Comes a Time; ARTIST: Neil Young
1977; ALBUM: Trans-Europe Express; ARTIST: Kraftwerk
1977; ALBUM: The Clash; ARTIST: Clash
1977; ALBUM: Slowhand; ARTIST: Eric Clapton
1977; ALBUM: Running on Empty; ARTIST: Jackson Browne
1977; ALBUM: Rumours; ARTIST: Fleetwood Mac
1977; ALBUM: Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols; ARTIST: The Sex Pistols
1977; ALBUM: My Aim Is True; ARTIST: Elvis Costello
1977; ALBUM: Marquee Moon; ARTIST: Television
1977; ALBUM: Low; ARTIST: David Bowie
1977; ALBUM: Aja; ARTIST: Steely Dan
1976; ALBUM: Songs in the Key of Life; ARTIST: Stevie Wonder
1975; ALBUM: Wish You Were Here; ARTIST: Pink Floyd
1975; ALBUM: The Essential Sly & the Family Stone; ARTIST: Sly & the Family Stone
1975; ALBUM: The Basement Tapes; ARTIST: Bob Dylan & the Band
1975; ALBUM: Siren; ARTIST: Roxy Music
1975; ALBUM: Red Headed Stranger; ARTIST: Willie Nelson
1975; ALBUM: Horses; ARTIST: Patti Smith
1975; ALBUM: Chocolate City; ARTIST: Parliament
1975; ALBUM: Born to Run; ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen
1975; ALBUM: Blood on the Tracks; ARTIST: Bob Dylan
1974; ALBUM: I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight; ARTIST: Richard & Linda Thompson
1974; ALBUM: Good Old Boys; ARTIST: Randy Newman
1974; ALBUM: Court & Spark; ARTIST: Joni Mitchell
1974; ALBUM: 461 Ocean Boulevard; ARTIST: Eric Clapton
1973; ALBUM: Houses Of The Holy; ARTIST: Led Zeppelin
1973; ALBUM: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road; ARTIST: Elton John
1973; ALBUM: Funky Kingston/In the Dark; ARTIST: Toots & the Maytals
1973; ALBUM: Dark Side of the Moon; ARTIST: Pink Floyd
1973; ALBUM: Countdown To Ecstasy; ARTIST: Steely Dan
1973; ALBUM: Catch A Fire; ARTIST: Bob Marley & The Wailers
1972; ALBUM: Talking Book; ARTIST: Stevie Wonder
1972; ALBUM: I'm Still in Love With You; ARTIST: Al Green
1972; ALBUM: Exile on Main Street; ARTIST: Rolling Stones
1972-1979; ALBUM: The Very Best of the Eagles; ARTIST: The Eagles
1971; ALBUM: Who's Next; ARTIST: Who
1971; ALBUM: The Allman Brothers at Fillmore East; ARTIST: Allman Brothers
1971; ALBUM: Let's Stay Together; ARTIST: Al Green
1971; ALBUM: Hunky Dory; ARTIST: David Bowie
1971; ALBUM: Every Picture Tells a Story; ARTIST: Rod Stewart
1971; ALBUM: Blue; ARTIST: Joni Mitchell
1971-1979; ALBUM: Anthology; ARTIST: Al Green
1970; ALBUM: Workingman's Dead; ARTIST: The Grateful Dead
1970; ALBUM: Sweet Baby James; ARTIST: James Taylor
1970; ALBUM: Plastic Ono Band; ARTIST: John Lennon
1970; ALBUM: Live at Leeds; ARTIST: Who
1970; ALBUM: Gets Next to You; ARTIST: Al Green
1970; ALBUM: Bridge Over Troubled Water; ARTIST: Simon & Garfunkel
1970; ALBUM: American Beauty; ARTIST: The Grateful Dead
1970; ALBUM: After The Gold Rush; ARTIST: Neil Young
1969; ALBUM: VU; ARTIST: The Velvet Underground
1969; ALBUM: Tommy; ARTIST: The Who
1969; ALBUM: The Band; ARTIST: The Band
1969; ALBUM: Let It Bleed; ARTIST: Rolling Stones
1969; ALBUM: Led Zeppelin 1st; ARTIST: Led Zeppelin
1969; ALBUM: Green River; ARTIST: Creedence Clearwater Revival
1969; ALBUM: From Elvis in Memphis; ARTIST: Elvis Presley
1969; ALBUM: Abbey Road; ARTIST: The Beatles
1968; ALBUM: Music from Big Pink; ARTIST: The Band
1968; ALBUM: Beggars Banquet; ARTIST: Rolling Stones
1968; ALBUM: Astral Weeks; ARTIST: Van Morrison
1967; ALBUM: The Velvet Underground & Nico; ARTIST: The Velvet Underground
1967; ALBUM: The Doors; ARTIST: The Doors
1967; ALBUM: Something Else by the Kinks; ARTIST: The Kinks
1967; ALBUM: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band; ARTIST: The Beatles
1967; ALBUM: Moby Grape; ARTIST: Moby Grape
1967; ALBUM: John Wesley Harding; ARTIST: Bob Dylan
1967; ALBUM: Axis; ARTIST: Jimi Hendrix
1967; ALBUM: Are You Experienced?; ARTIST: Jimi Hendrix Experience
1967-1970; ALBUM: Sly & the Family Stone - Greatest Hits; ARTIST: Sly & Family Stone
1966; ALBUM: Pet Sounds; ARTIST: The Beach Boys
1966; ALBUM: Otis Blue; ARTIST: Otis Redding
1965; ALBUM: A Love Supreme; ARTIST: John Coltrane
1965-1994; ALBUM: 30 Years of Maximum R & B; ARTIST: Who
1965-1970; ALBUM: Peel Slowly and See; ARTIST: The Velvet Underground
1965-1968; ALBUM: Nuggets; ARTIST: Various Artists
1964; ALBUM: Live at the Star Club, Hamburg; ARTIST: Jerry Lee Lewis
1964-1966; ALBUM: The Best of the Animals; ARTIST: Animals
1963; ALBUM: With the Beatles; ARTIST: The Beatles
1963; ALBUM: Please Please Me; ARTIST: The Beatles
1963; ALBUM: Live at the Apollo; ARTIST: James Brown
1963; ALBUM: Chuck Berry/More Chuck Berry; ARTIST: Chuck Berry
1963-1988; ALBUM: Crossroads; ARTIST: Eric Clapton
1962-1988; ALBUM: Best of Broadside 1962-1988; ARTIST: Various Artists
1962-1966; ALBUM: The Best of the Ronettes; ARTIST: The Ronettes
1961; ALBUM: Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy/Art Forms of Dimensions Tomorrow; ARTIST: Sun Ra
1961-1985; ALBUM: Good Vibrations; ARTIST: The Beach Boys
1961-1985; ALBUM: Biograph; ARTIST: Bob Dylan
1961-1971; ALBUM: Deliver; ARTIST: The Marvelettes
1960s; ALBUM: Rare Live & Classic; ARTIST: Joan Baez
1960-1969; ALBUM: From Nashville To Memphis; ARTIST: Elvis Presley
1960-1967; ALBUM: Otis! The Definitive Otis Redding; ARTIST: Otis Redding
1957-1959; ALBUM: Cadence Classics; ARTIST: The Everly Brothers
1956; ALBUM: We Travel the Spaceways/Bad and Beautiful; ARTIST: Sun Ra
1956; ALBUM: Super-Sonic Jazz; ARTIST: Sun Ra
1956-1984; ALBUM: Star Time; ARTIST: James Brown
1956-1977; ALBUM: ELV1S 30 #1 Hits; ARTIST: Elvis Presley
1955-1973; ALBUM: 3-CD Chess Boxed Set; ARTIST: Chuck Berry
1948-1958; ALBUM: 20th Century Masters; ARTIST: Muddy Waters
1933-1958; ALBUM: Billie Holiday; ARTIST: Billie Holiday
1925-1928; ALBUM: The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings; ARTIST: Louis Armstrong
2004; ALBUM: The Very Best of Jackson Browne; ARTIST: Jackson Browne
2004; ALBUM: Goodbye, Babylon; ARTIST: Various Artists
2003; ALBUM: Elephant; ARTIST: The White Stripes
2002; ALBUM: The Rising; ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen
2002; ALBUM: Sea Change; ARTIST: Beck
2002; ALBUM: Forty Licks; ARTIST: Rolling Stones
2002; ALBUM: Essential Leonard Cohen; ARTIST: Leonard Cohen
2001; ALBUM: Love and Theft; ARTIST: Bob Dylan
2001; ALBUM: Goddess in the Doorway; ARTIST: Mick Jagger
1992; ALBUM: Slanted & Enchanted; ARTIST: Pavement
1992; ALBUM: Automatic for the People; ARTIST: R.E.M.
1991; ALBUM: Metallica; ARTIST: Metallica
1989; ALBUM: Freedom; ARTIST: Neil Young
1989; ALBUM: Doolittle; ARTIST: Pixies
1988; ALBUM: Straight Outta Compton; ARTIST: N.W.A.
1988; ALBUM: Daydream Nation; ARTIST: Sonic Youth
1987; ALBUM: Tunnel of Love; ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen
1987; ALBUM: The Joshua Tree; ARTIST: U2
1987; ALBUM: Sign 'O' the Times; ARTIST: Prince
1987; ALBUM: Document; ARTIST: R.E.M.
1987; ALBUM: Appetite for Destruction; ARTIST: Guns N' Roses
1986; ALBUM: The Queen is Dead; ARTIST: The Smiths
1986; ALBUM: Raising Hell; ARTIST: Run-D.M.C.
1986; ALBUM: Master of Puppets; ARTIST: Metallica
1986; ALBUM: Graceland; ARTIST: Paul Simon
1985; ALBUM: Rain Dogs; ARTIST: Tom Waits
1985; ALBUM: Essential Clash; ARTIST: The Clash
1984; ALBUM: Diamond Life; ARTIST: Sade
1984; ALBUM: Born in the U.S.A.; ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen
1983; ALBUM: The Final Cut; ARTIST: Pink Floyd
1982; ALBUM: Tug Of War; ARTIST: Paul McCartney
1982; ALBUM: The Message; ARTIST: Grandmaster Flash
1982; ALBUM: The Blue Mask; ARTIST: Lou Reed
1982; ALBUM: Original Musiquarium I; ARTIST: Stevie Wonder
1982; ALBUM: It's Hard; ARTIST: The Who
1981; ALBUM: Tattoo You; ARTIST: The Rolling Stones
1981; ALBUM: Pirates; ARTIST: Rickie Lee Jones
1980; ALBUM: Zenyatta Mondatta; ARTIST: The Police
1980; ALBUM: Sandinista!; ARTIST: The Clash
1980; ALBUM: Remain in Light; ARTIST: Talking Heads
1979; ALBUM: The B-52's; ARTIST: The B-52's
1979; ALBUM: Off the Wall; ARTIST: Michael Jackson
1979; ALBUM: Look Sharp!; ARTIST: Joe Jackson
1979; ALBUM: London Calling; ARTIST: The Clash
1979; ALBUM: Damn the Torpedoes; ARTIST: Tom Petty & the Heartbeakers
1978; ALBUM: More Songs About Buildings and Food; ARTIST: Talking Heads
1978; ALBUM: Darkness on the Edge of Town; ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen
1978; ALBUM: Comes a Time; ARTIST: Neil Young
1977; ALBUM: Trans-Europe Express; ARTIST: Kraftwerk
1977; ALBUM: The Clash; ARTIST: Clash
1977; ALBUM: Slowhand; ARTIST: Eric Clapton
1977; ALBUM: Running on Empty; ARTIST: Jackson Browne
1977; ALBUM: Rumours; ARTIST: Fleetwood Mac
1977; ALBUM: Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols; ARTIST: The Sex Pistols
1977; ALBUM: My Aim Is True; ARTIST: Elvis Costello
1977; ALBUM: Marquee Moon; ARTIST: Television
1977; ALBUM: Low; ARTIST: David Bowie
1977; ALBUM: Aja; ARTIST: Steely Dan
1976; ALBUM: Songs in the Key of Life; ARTIST: Stevie Wonder
1975; ALBUM: Wish You Were Here; ARTIST: Pink Floyd
1975; ALBUM: The Essential Sly & the Family Stone; ARTIST: Sly & the Family Stone
1975; ALBUM: The Basement Tapes; ARTIST: Bob Dylan & the Band
1975; ALBUM: Siren; ARTIST: Roxy Music
1975; ALBUM: Red Headed Stranger; ARTIST: Willie Nelson
1975; ALBUM: Horses; ARTIST: Patti Smith
1975; ALBUM: Chocolate City; ARTIST: Parliament
1975; ALBUM: Born to Run; ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen
1975; ALBUM: Blood on the Tracks; ARTIST: Bob Dylan
1974; ALBUM: I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight; ARTIST: Richard & Linda Thompson
1974; ALBUM: Good Old Boys; ARTIST: Randy Newman
1974; ALBUM: Court & Spark; ARTIST: Joni Mitchell
1974; ALBUM: 461 Ocean Boulevard; ARTIST: Eric Clapton
1973; ALBUM: Houses Of The Holy; ARTIST: Led Zeppelin
1973; ALBUM: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road; ARTIST: Elton John
1973; ALBUM: Funky Kingston/In the Dark; ARTIST: Toots & the Maytals
1973; ALBUM: Dark Side of the Moon; ARTIST: Pink Floyd
1973; ALBUM: Countdown To Ecstasy; ARTIST: Steely Dan
1973; ALBUM: Catch A Fire; ARTIST: Bob Marley & The Wailers
1972; ALBUM: Talking Book; ARTIST: Stevie Wonder
1972; ALBUM: I'm Still in Love With You; ARTIST: Al Green
1972; ALBUM: Exile on Main Street; ARTIST: Rolling Stones
1972-1979; ALBUM: The Very Best of the Eagles; ARTIST: The Eagles
1971; ALBUM: Who's Next; ARTIST: Who
1971; ALBUM: The Allman Brothers at Fillmore East; ARTIST: Allman Brothers
1971; ALBUM: Let's Stay Together; ARTIST: Al Green
1971; ALBUM: Hunky Dory; ARTIST: David Bowie
1971; ALBUM: Every Picture Tells a Story; ARTIST: Rod Stewart
1971; ALBUM: Blue; ARTIST: Joni Mitchell
1971-1979; ALBUM: Anthology; ARTIST: Al Green
1970; ALBUM: Workingman's Dead; ARTIST: The Grateful Dead
1970; ALBUM: Sweet Baby James; ARTIST: James Taylor
1970; ALBUM: Plastic Ono Band; ARTIST: John Lennon
1970; ALBUM: Live at Leeds; ARTIST: Who
1970; ALBUM: Gets Next to You; ARTIST: Al Green
1970; ALBUM: Bridge Over Troubled Water; ARTIST: Simon & Garfunkel
1970; ALBUM: American Beauty; ARTIST: The Grateful Dead
1970; ALBUM: After The Gold Rush; ARTIST: Neil Young
1969; ALBUM: VU; ARTIST: The Velvet Underground
1969; ALBUM: Tommy; ARTIST: The Who
1969; ALBUM: The Band; ARTIST: The Band
1969; ALBUM: Let It Bleed; ARTIST: Rolling Stones
1969; ALBUM: Led Zeppelin 1st; ARTIST: Led Zeppelin
1969; ALBUM: Green River; ARTIST: Creedence Clearwater Revival
1969; ALBUM: From Elvis in Memphis; ARTIST: Elvis Presley
1969; ALBUM: Abbey Road; ARTIST: The Beatles
1968; ALBUM: Music from Big Pink; ARTIST: The Band
1968; ALBUM: Beggars Banquet; ARTIST: Rolling Stones
1968; ALBUM: Astral Weeks; ARTIST: Van Morrison
1967; ALBUM: The Velvet Underground & Nico; ARTIST: The Velvet Underground
1967; ALBUM: The Doors; ARTIST: The Doors
1967; ALBUM: Something Else by the Kinks; ARTIST: The Kinks
1967; ALBUM: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band; ARTIST: The Beatles
1967; ALBUM: Moby Grape; ARTIST: Moby Grape
1967; ALBUM: John Wesley Harding; ARTIST: Bob Dylan
1967; ALBUM: Axis; ARTIST: Jimi Hendrix
1967; ALBUM: Are You Experienced?; ARTIST: Jimi Hendrix Experience
1967-1970; ALBUM: Sly & the Family Stone - Greatest Hits; ARTIST: Sly & Family Stone
1966; ALBUM: Pet Sounds; ARTIST: The Beach Boys
1966; ALBUM: Otis Blue; ARTIST: Otis Redding
1965; ALBUM: A Love Supreme; ARTIST: John Coltrane
1965-1994; ALBUM: 30 Years of Maximum R & B; ARTIST: Who
1965-1970; ALBUM: Peel Slowly and See; ARTIST: The Velvet Underground
1965-1968; ALBUM: Nuggets; ARTIST: Various Artists
1964; ALBUM: Live at the Star Club, Hamburg; ARTIST: Jerry Lee Lewis
1964-1966; ALBUM: The Best of the Animals; ARTIST: Animals
1963; ALBUM: With the Beatles; ARTIST: The Beatles
1963; ALBUM: Please Please Me; ARTIST: The Beatles
1963; ALBUM: Live at the Apollo; ARTIST: James Brown
1963; ALBUM: Chuck Berry/More Chuck Berry; ARTIST: Chuck Berry
1963-1988; ALBUM: Crossroads; ARTIST: Eric Clapton
1962-1988; ALBUM: Best of Broadside 1962-1988; ARTIST: Various Artists
1962-1966; ALBUM: The Best of the Ronettes; ARTIST: The Ronettes
1961; ALBUM: Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy/Art Forms of Dimensions Tomorrow; ARTIST: Sun Ra
1961-1985; ALBUM: Good Vibrations; ARTIST: The Beach Boys
1961-1985; ALBUM: Biograph; ARTIST: Bob Dylan
1961-1971; ALBUM: Deliver; ARTIST: The Marvelettes
1960s; ALBUM: Rare Live & Classic; ARTIST: Joan Baez
1960-1969; ALBUM: From Nashville To Memphis; ARTIST: Elvis Presley
1960-1967; ALBUM: Otis! The Definitive Otis Redding; ARTIST: Otis Redding
1957-1959; ALBUM: Cadence Classics; ARTIST: The Everly Brothers
1956; ALBUM: We Travel the Spaceways/Bad and Beautiful; ARTIST: Sun Ra
1956; ALBUM: Super-Sonic Jazz; ARTIST: Sun Ra
1956-1984; ALBUM: Star Time; ARTIST: James Brown
1956-1977; ALBUM: ELV1S 30 #1 Hits; ARTIST: Elvis Presley
1955-1973; ALBUM: 3-CD Chess Boxed Set; ARTIST: Chuck Berry
1948-1958; ALBUM: 20th Century Masters; ARTIST: Muddy Waters
1933-1958; ALBUM: Billie Holiday; ARTIST: Billie Holiday
1925-1928; ALBUM: The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings; ARTIST: Louis Armstrong
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Friday, July 01, 2005
Joke Time (And We Do Need It)
An Israeli doctor said, "Medicine in my country is so advanced, we can take a kidney out of one person, put it in another and have him looking for work in six weeks."
A German doctor said "That's nothing! In Germany, we can take a lung out of one person, put it in another and have him looking for work in four weeks."
A Russian doctor said, "In my country, medicine is so advanced, we can take half a heart from one person, put it in another and have them both looking for work in two weeks."
The American doctor, not to be outdone, said "Hah! We can take an asshole out of Texas, put him in the White House and half the country will be looking for work the next day."
A German doctor said "That's nothing! In Germany, we can take a lung out of one person, put it in another and have him looking for work in four weeks."
A Russian doctor said, "In my country, medicine is so advanced, we can take half a heart from one person, put it in another and have them both looking for work in two weeks."
The American doctor, not to be outdone, said "Hah! We can take an asshole out of Texas, put him in the White House and half the country will be looking for work the next day."
Here we go, SCOTUS, Here we go
For those of you who feel the need to take action...This from DailyKos today:
Whatever happens with the Supreme Court nomination battle that is about to ensue, it's going to happen fast. Here are some things you can do right now:
Honest to God, I don't know if I can stand the shitstorm this is going to kick up. I hope the ignorant people who voted for Bush are happy now.
Whatever happens with the Supreme Court nomination battle that is about to ensue, it's going to happen fast. Here are some things you can do right now:
- If you have a cell phone, sign up for People at the American Way's Mass Immediate Response site. This way, you'll be able to receive text message action items instantly as events break. (If you signed up during the nuclear option fight, you'll need to re-sign up.)
- Also sign up with the Save the Court, another PFAW website devoted specifically to this issue.
- Recruit friends and family members to the cause.
- Write to the President, telling him he should choose a consensus candidate to replace O'Connor.
- Contact your Senators to tell them the same thing.
Honest to God, I don't know if I can stand the shitstorm this is going to kick up. I hope the ignorant people who voted for Bush are happy now.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Top 10 Rejected Titles for Saddam's New Novel
10. The Da Vinci Goat.
9. Of Lice and Men.
8. I'm Okay, You're Uday.
7. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sand.
6. Inspectors Turn up no Evidence that Herbie was Ever Fully Loaded.
5. Mahmoud Potter and the Goblet of Hummus.
4. Kuwaiting for Godot.
3. Along Came a Spider Hole.
2. Sunnis are from Mars, Shiites are from Venus, Americans are Infidel Pig Dogs.
1. The Brotherhood of the Traveling Underpants
"Late Show With David Letterman," 6/27/05
9. Of Lice and Men.
8. I'm Okay, You're Uday.
7. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sand.
6. Inspectors Turn up no Evidence that Herbie was Ever Fully Loaded.
5. Mahmoud Potter and the Goblet of Hummus.
4. Kuwaiting for Godot.
3. Along Came a Spider Hole.
2. Sunnis are from Mars, Shiites are from Venus, Americans are Infidel Pig Dogs.
1. The Brotherhood of the Traveling Underpants
"Late Show With David Letterman," 6/27/05
Who Says This Ain't No Vietnam?
Read Lyndon Johnson's own words from 1965. They are eerily familiar.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Heard this Song Today
I was on the treadmill tonight, listening to my zen jukebox, and these lyrics came floating through the earbuds:
They say that patriotism is the last refuge
To which a scoundrel clings.
Steal a little and they throw you in jail,
Steal a lot and they make you king.
How true, how true.
Infidels, 1983.
They say that patriotism is the last refuge
To which a scoundrel clings.
Steal a little and they throw you in jail,
Steal a lot and they make you king.
How true, how true.
Infidels, 1983.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
A Liberal Soldier's Response to Krazy Karl
It's one thing for me to be pissed off about Karl Rove's statement about liberals. It's quite another when the response comes from a liberal soldier who VOLUNTEERED to serve, unlike most of the Chickenhawks in the Administration. Here's the link to the whole blog post, but here's the most important paragraph:
"Also, and I'm not going to harp on this. Who does Karl Rove think he is? Where does he get of saying that liberals wanted to be soft on terrorists. I'm a liberal, and I joined the army. I'd like him to fly into Mosul, come find me, and tell me that to my face. I want him to say "liberals didn't want to fight bin Laden" to my face. Then I want him to sit on shift with me. After that he can clean the bathroom for me. Then he can go out on mission with some of my friends and possibly get shot at. Then he can tell me again how much I want to give terrorists therapy."
Good God.
"Also, and I'm not going to harp on this. Who does Karl Rove think he is? Where does he get of saying that liberals wanted to be soft on terrorists. I'm a liberal, and I joined the army. I'd like him to fly into Mosul, come find me, and tell me that to my face. I want him to say "liberals didn't want to fight bin Laden" to my face. Then I want him to sit on shift with me. After that he can clean the bathroom for me. Then he can go out on mission with some of my friends and possibly get shot at. Then he can tell me again how much I want to give terrorists therapy."
Good God.
The New McCarthyism
Tom Oliphant in today's WaPo, with the most important paragraph here:
"Rove's instantly famous speech last week to the New York State Conservative Party should be read in light of this history [of McCarthyism] and not be written off as a cheap, one-time partisan attack. On the contrary, the address by Rove, President Bush's most important adviser, provides the outlines of a sophisticated strategy aimed at making liberals and Democrats all look soft on terrorism.
You said it, Tom.
"Rove's instantly famous speech last week to the New York State Conservative Party should be read in light of this history [of McCarthyism] and not be written off as a cheap, one-time partisan attack. On the contrary, the address by Rove, President Bush's most important adviser, provides the outlines of a sophisticated strategy aimed at making liberals and Democrats all look soft on terrorism.
You said it, Tom.
Larry David Cracks Me Up
If you read nothing else on this (or any other) blog, please check this out. It's rather scary and hysterically funny. Being inside the subconscious of Larry David, or as he says "The Roving Thoughts of a Liberal Insomniac" is a trip worth taking.
Favorite lines: "...The problem is fruit is so inconsistent. When you get a good one, it’s all luck. Fruit is like blackjack. The casino wins most of the time. But at least the casino’s not fixed. I trust the slot machines in Vegas more than the voting machines in Ohio. Even sleazy casino owners in Vegas have more credibility than this bunch…I have to stop killing insects in front of the kids. Am I setting a bad example?..."
Enjoy.
Larry David=George Costanza
Favorite lines: "...The problem is fruit is so inconsistent. When you get a good one, it’s all luck. Fruit is like blackjack. The casino wins most of the time. But at least the casino’s not fixed. I trust the slot machines in Vegas more than the voting machines in Ohio. Even sleazy casino owners in Vegas have more credibility than this bunch…I have to stop killing insects in front of the kids. Am I setting a bad example?..."
Enjoy.
Larry David=George Costanza
Monday, June 27, 2005
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Responding to Krazy Karl
Over the past several days, there has been considerable uproar over Rove's comments about the liberal response to 9/11. While I wonder whether these remarks were carefully calculated to trap us liberals somehow (paranoia strikes deep!), I believe one of the only people who is qualified to respond is Kristen Breitweiser, one of the widows of 9/11 who helped spearhead the forming of the 9/11 Commission. Here's her take on the matter.
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Sox in First Place
Last night was the perfect night for Sox fans. Sox beat the Phillies 8-0 on superior pitching (Wakefield throws a 2-hitter, Embree has scoreless 9th); old friend Pedro Martinez beats the Yankees! and the Atlanta Braves beat the Orioles. As of 10 pm Eastern time yesterday, Sox ahead by .5 games in the American League East. Wahooo, baby!
Young GOoPers Support War; Refuse to Fight In It
Congratulations to Knight-Ridder news service for writing this story...Apparently Young Republicans are more than willing to send other people to a war, but do not want to sign up themselves. Ahhh, the hypocrisy is mind-boggling.
Friday, June 24, 2005
You Need to Vote...Again
Help ensure that the goobers of the world at AOL don't name Ronald Reagan the greatest American (rather than Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington or Benjamin Franklin). My vote? Lincoln's the one. Go here and vote. I thank you.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Ortizzle and Friends Heat Up
Here we go, Red Sox, here we go (clap, clap)! Only 1 game out of first!
Two Americas (continued)
So, when's the last time you heard someone talk about a need for an increase in the minimum wage? If it's been a while, check out the work John Edwards is doing. IMHO, it's one of the most important issues of our day. Increasingly, social safety nets are becoming more and more strained and we need to be vigilent in protecting those in society who aren't as lucky as ourselves.
John Edwards during the campaign
John Edwards during the campaign
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
OK, It's Just Too Damn Easy
Easy, that is, to find abysmal stories about the wackos in the White House. I've said for a while that I am convinced that the Christo-Fascist Zombie Brigade (as they say on Morning Sedition) is over-reaching in their unending arrogance. Here's another story for you to enjoy.
No Comment
But thought you might be interested in the way Bush treats members of his Cabinet.
Yeah, I would pretend like I didn't know him, too.
Yeah, I would pretend like I didn't know him, too.
I Took it as a Challenge!
Tonight, my sister asked me why I hadn't written more lately about the Chimp. To rectify that seeming omission, I give you the latest polls from USA Today. Ha. Note that the disapproval rating is more than 50% now. Couldn't happen to a nicer mammal.
His Chimpiness.
His Chimpiness.
Monday, June 20, 2005
Want a Funny Read?
Check out this blog, by a Canadian woman known as "Creampuff," and her blog is "Creampuff Revolution." Enjoy!
There's a New Blog in Town
Called "TPM Cafe," this new blog is an offshoot of Josh Marshall's "Talking Points Memo." Each week there's a guest blogger -- this week it's Bernie Sanders, Vemont's Independent Representative. His first post ends like this (and it's a doozie):
"The Administration's demand that we unnecessarily sacrifice our liberty in the name of security is fundamentally anti-democratic and, frankly speaking, un-American. Other examples (and I'll list just a few because I know this post is getting long) of Bush's efforts to transform American institutions include attempts to consolidate the media into the hands of fewer and fewer large corporations, the erosion of Congressional checks over the President's ability to wage war unilaterally, the vicious and seemingly unrelenting assault on the independence of the American judiciary, and the elimination of any Senate power over the choice of either executive or judicial nominees.
The fights over all these issues are too often portrayed merely as partisan brinksmanship. But the truth is that these are fights over the very essence of our Constitutional democracy. Any other portrayal trivializes the importance of these values and institutions that are the underpinnings of our society.
The political stakes in America have never been higher. If we lose, if the grass roots of America don't speak out, if we do not turn back the radical Bush Administration, we will for the first time in our nation's history see the next generation both less free and less economical prosperous than we are. What an incredible challenge we face. That is why I think it is so important for all of us to be involved in the political process and why I'm so glad to be communicating with you through TPMCafe today. I know I've touched on a lot of topics in a short space but my hope is to spark some interesting and informative exchanges. So pull up a chair to the Table for One and let's get started."
Read the rest here.
"The Administration's demand that we unnecessarily sacrifice our liberty in the name of security is fundamentally anti-democratic and, frankly speaking, un-American. Other examples (and I'll list just a few because I know this post is getting long) of Bush's efforts to transform American institutions include attempts to consolidate the media into the hands of fewer and fewer large corporations, the erosion of Congressional checks over the President's ability to wage war unilaterally, the vicious and seemingly unrelenting assault on the independence of the American judiciary, and the elimination of any Senate power over the choice of either executive or judicial nominees.
The fights over all these issues are too often portrayed merely as partisan brinksmanship. But the truth is that these are fights over the very essence of our Constitutional democracy. Any other portrayal trivializes the importance of these values and institutions that are the underpinnings of our society.
The political stakes in America have never been higher. If we lose, if the grass roots of America don't speak out, if we do not turn back the radical Bush Administration, we will for the first time in our nation's history see the next generation both less free and less economical prosperous than we are. What an incredible challenge we face. That is why I think it is so important for all of us to be involved in the political process and why I'm so glad to be communicating with you through TPMCafe today. I know I've touched on a lot of topics in a short space but my hope is to spark some interesting and informative exchanges. So pull up a chair to the Table for One and let's get started."
Read the rest here.
In the Good Ole' Summertime
I could be succumbing to my natural optimism (which some people could call unrealistic), but I'm starting to see some chinks in the armor in the Chimp's administration (even from fellow GOoPers).
He's increasingly becoming a lame duck as people are already gearing up for the 2006 Congressional races...and, of course, there's the Downing Street Memo, which is actually starting to get coverage in the MSM. And, last but not least, the Senate has again rejected Bolton as UN Ambassador.
It's too bad that the weather's so good because there's a lot going on in the political world, but it will have to wait.
He's increasingly becoming a lame duck as people are already gearing up for the 2006 Congressional races...and, of course, there's the Downing Street Memo, which is actually starting to get coverage in the MSM. And, last but not least, the Senate has again rejected Bolton as UN Ambassador.
It's too bad that the weather's so good because there's a lot going on in the political world, but it will have to wait.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Hard Time?
Well, the CEO of Tyco is found guilty. Hard to believe that Mr. $6000-shower-curtain Man will be showering with a crowd soon. As they say, don't bend over to pick up the soap, dude.
"Kozlowski, 58, was found guilty of conspiracy, fraud and falsifying business records.
The jury found Swartz, 44, guilty of grand larceny, securities fraud and eight of nine counts of falsifying business records."
I hope this gives some of the Tyco employees a level of satisfaction.
"Kozlowski, 58, was found guilty of conspiracy, fraud and falsifying business records.
The jury found Swartz, 44, guilty of grand larceny, securities fraud and eight of nine counts of falsifying business records."
I hope this gives some of the Tyco employees a level of satisfaction.
Monday, June 13, 2005
Sox-Reds Playing Tonight
Growing up in Cincinnati, I came of age watching the Big Red Machine (Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, and my personal favorite Tony Perez). I was one of the only people in New England in 1975 who was rooting for the Reds when they played the Sox in the World Series (another 30 year milestone, yikes!). Had I known then what I know now about Red Sox Nation's long-suffering need for a World Series win, I would have changed my tune...after all the Reds had won several championships (can't resist the tweak).
However, tonight, I'm enjoying watching the game at Fenway Park, which pairs these two classic teams in interleague play, but I'm definitely an American League fan these days! Regardless, there's an interesting story about a former Reds player and announcer Joe Nuxhall, who began pitching in the big leagues at the age of 15+ years old. Thought you baseball fans might be interested in checking it out. (Oh God, Don Gullett, of the Big Red Machine, is the pitching coach for the Reds. Could he really be that old?)
Big Red Machine, circa 1976
However, tonight, I'm enjoying watching the game at Fenway Park, which pairs these two classic teams in interleague play, but I'm definitely an American League fan these days! Regardless, there's an interesting story about a former Reds player and announcer Joe Nuxhall, who began pitching in the big leagues at the age of 15+ years old. Thought you baseball fans might be interested in checking it out. (Oh God, Don Gullett, of the Big Red Machine, is the pitching coach for the Reds. Could he really be that old?)
Big Red Machine, circa 1976
Happy Birthday, Dad
Always miss Pop at this time of year...he would have been 79 today. (Oh, and happy father's day, too!)
Monday, June 06, 2005
Friday, June 03, 2005
Ted Turner & Perverts
CNN should cover international news and the environment, not the "pervert of the day," network founder Ted Turner said Wednesday as the first 24-hour news network turned 25.
Read the rest of the story.
Read the rest of the story.
Nomination Watch Begins
The National Women's Law Center has launched a blog to keep an eye on all the potential upcoming judicial nominations. Here's a bit of today's post:
"As we told you last week, the deal that averted the nuclear option encourages the President to consult with Senators of both parties before naming judicial nominees:
We believe that, under Article II, Section 2, of the United States Constitution, the word "advice" speaks to consultation between the Senate and the president with regard to the use of the president's power to make nominations. We encourage the executive branch of government to consult with members of the Senate, both Democratic and Republican, prior to submitting a judicial nomination to the Senate for consideration.
Such a return to the early practices of our government may well serve to reduce the rancor that unfortunately accompanies the advice and consent process in the Senate."
Nice start.
"As we told you last week, the deal that averted the nuclear option encourages the President to consult with Senators of both parties before naming judicial nominees:
We believe that, under Article II, Section 2, of the United States Constitution, the word "advice" speaks to consultation between the Senate and the president with regard to the use of the president's power to make nominations. We encourage the executive branch of government to consult with members of the Senate, both Democratic and Republican, prior to submitting a judicial nomination to the Senate for consideration.
Such a return to the early practices of our government may well serve to reduce the rancor that unfortunately accompanies the advice and consent process in the Senate."
Nice start.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
