Rugo's Ramblings

Swing a dead cat in my direction

2007-03-05T11:15:00.000-06:00

Kevin Drum on socialists:
But today? Outside of Berkeley, you'd have to swing several hundred dead cats before you'd be likely to come across an actual socialist.

2 Things that have been irrating me of late

2007-02-07T11:34:00.000-06:00

Just a list:
1. Going into treatment for being an asshole. Ever since the world semi-forgave Mel Gibson for his racist, drunken rage because he went into treatment; it has become all the rage. I think it lessens the importance of treatment for people who really need it, when people go into it as an attempt to improve their public image. The fellow on Grey's Anatomy has gone into treatment for being homophobic; the mayor who cheated with his secretary has gone into treatment as well, saying his life would be better without alcohol in it. No, he didn't say he was an alcoholic, just that this is a means of improving his life. NEWSFLASH people don't get cured of Assholism by running and hiding for thirty days in the Betty Ford Center. Jeez, Bill cheated on Hillary and took the heat for being a jerk, and what heat it was. Grow some balls people.

2. Chris Matthew’s hard on for Rudy. Rudy is a control freak. He is also slightly misogynistic when you look at his track record with women. This is not a Man's Man...this is a jerk. One thing going for Rudy though, he has embraced his inner asshole and doesn't feel the need to go into drug/alcohol treatment for it.

Blessed Be Molly

2007-02-01T09:19:00.000-06:00

Molly Ivins passed away yesterday; it is a huge loss for her fans and for the state of Texas. I have always said that I wanted to grow up and be just like Molly, but there could ever only be one Molly. She made us laugh through our outrage at Texas politics, and through all of the Bush administrations. She fought cancer bravely, never losing her wit, sarcasim, or bite. I found this quote on the Texas Observer website; it just seems to sum up her take on life, fame and fortune, take nothing too seriously, especially yourself....

Molly, being practical, used many of her most prestigious awards as trivets while serving exquisite French dishes at her dinner parties. Her awards include the William Allen White Award from the University of Kansas, the Eugene V. Debs award in the field of journalism, many awards for advocacy of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the David Nyhan Prize from the Shorenstein Center at the Kennedy School at Harvard.

Godspeed Molly, you will be missed.

oh yes that is me!

2006-12-04T13:33:00.000-06:00

Your 'Do You Want the Terrorists to Win' Score: 100%

You are a terrorist-loving, Bush-bashing, "blame America first"-crowd traitor. You are in league with evil-doers who hate our freedoms. By all counts you are a liberal, and as such cleary desire the terrorists to succeed and impose their harsh theocratic restrictions on us all. You are fit to be hung for treason! Luckily George Bush is tapping your internet connection and is now aware of your thought-crime. Have a nice day.... in Guantanamo!

Do You Want the Terrorists to Win?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Vatican=Secular Progressives

2006-11-16T15:46:00.000-06:00

Yep that is right folks in the Catholic Church's zeal for peace and justice, they are now being equated to secular progressive by none other than Bill O'Reilly. Now as I know and am related to people who would be classified in each of these distinct groups, I suspect he insulted them both. So will someone tell my sister, the devout Catholic and ardent Republican, that Bill O said she is a secular progressive? Maybe that will get her to stop watching Faux news.

These groups are so dissimilar, at least viewing secular progressives as Billy Boy does, that it is hard to see how he intended the comparison as anything other than an insult to Catholics. I am sure he didn't see where secular progressives might take offense, but then most of them are not in his loyal following of viewers. Admittedly Peace and Justice Catholics, do share some of the same goals and view points of Secular Progressives, but they have these goals for wildly different reasons and reach their philosophies through highly divergent thought processes.

Paging Orwell

2006-11-16T11:14:00.000-06:00

Hunger, it seems the federal government is now referring to the inability to put food on your family and the accompanying stomach pains, growls and weakness as Food Insecurity. Low Food Insecurity is when you manage to find something to eat, and High Food Insecurity is when you don't for unknown periods of time. This is insulting. When one of my clients comes in and says her children are hungry because their dad is in jail, or she is hungry because she is feeding her children and not herself, she isn't thinking about food security, she is thinking about empty stomachs and how to fill them. She is asking for assistance in finding ways to feed the family. I can just see myself sitting here minimizing her pain, emotional and physical by referring to it as Food Insecurity. NOT.

What a wanker!

2006-11-13T10:09:00.000-06:00

Joe Liberman wants to stick it to the Democratic Party. He lost the primary and instead of exiting right stage like one should, he ran as an independent. While he was running he continually stated that if he won he would cacus with the Democrats. Now, that he has won? He starts dropping hints that he could still switch parties. See what happens when a self-absorbed, brown nosing little nimrod is elected? He is mad at the party for saying no more to him, he is most likely angry with those whom he thought were his friends for supporting the Democratic Nominee, Ned Lamont, in the general election; and now he intends to make the party pay. Play my way or I am gonna take my ball and go to the other party. What a shit.

A non political post

2006-11-10T11:53:00.000-06:00

This post is about my cat. First some background, for those of you who were around when we got Lola, she was brutally murdered by two neighborhood dogs in August. It was a traumatic and horrible loss. The two dogs now have insurance and a proper fence since I pressed vicious dog charges on them. (These are the same dogs that bit Em in April). The next week we adopted a shelter cat and got to bring her home. She was around 5 months old, so not a kitten. Her name is Misstache, as she has a lovely little hitler like mustache. She has been a handful from day one. First, she chewed through her spaying stiches require emergency surgery to put her belly back in, my 36 dollar cat from the shelter ended up costing about 10x that. In addition, if she finds her way into a bedroom, then the bed will be pee'd on. It matters not if someone is sleeping in the bed either. *sigh* if all clothing isn't pick up (and remember I have children) it is at her bladder's mercy as well. She will use the cat box if she can't find somewhere else she would rather void her waste. It is a constant battle to keep her only in the living, dining room and kitchen. She is, unlike Lola the psychotic one, the sweetest cat ever. She is a noodle. She loves to be held, petted and she PURRS. But, I need some suggestions on how to stop her bedwetting behavior. I am tired of laundry and lysol.

It is a bluetiful day!

2006-11-08T14:11:00.000-06:00

ouch bad pun. No matter it is a wonderful day. We won the house. We won the Senate! Rummy is leaving effective NOW! Jeez a blue girl in a red state couldn't ask for much more. I havea case of We Won nah nah nah, of course in the interest of retaining gainful(or somewhat gainful) employment I have completely resisted my nah nah urge and have not talked about the election.

Election Day

2006-11-07T11:21:00.000-06:00

Fingers and toes crossed! Please go vote.

Today is our oppurtunity to begin to take back our government from those who have worked so hard in the last six years to destroy it. Here in Texas, I don't expect much change. I fear that the crowded ballot will ruin Chris Bell's chances at the top of the ballot and so many of our choices in other races are limited to Republican or Libertarian, without a Democrat in the race, sad really. In addition out here in the Wild West, we have a good many unopposed Republicans running.
But go vote and go vote for change wherever you live.

UPDATE:
I was going to vote early, but I really love voting on election day, so I went to my polling place on my lunch hour. First, I had to wait in line. Second, a good number of people were actually balking when they were asked if they wanted to vote electronically. I actually heard a few people ask if it was safe and were the election workers sure that their vote wouldn't be lost. Third, one of the workers told me that they had been busy all day, which I hope is good news for Bell.(People out here might not vote for him, but they sure might refuse to vote for Perry). Finally, there was a line when I left.

Voting makes me giddy. Can you tell?

A friend's blog

2006-11-07T11:14:00.000-06:00

A friend of mine has started a new blog" . It is about addiction, namely addiction to online games. How do I know him? Well I play online games with him, this keeps me from obsessing about politics too much and allows me to keep my sanity. If you wander by and see this give him some support.
He is a good democrat too! Whoot!

A quote that made me smile

2006-11-02T18:26:00.000-06:00

Well I went and read the story about the busdriver that was fired for giving Bush the bird,over at CBS, and I scrolled down to this comment.

Our society has become rude and crude, it's true. We have rudely and crudely killed tens of thousands of Iraqis and three thousand of our own. Fifteen thousand or so of ours wounded. I'd flip off the President in front of the Savior himself if I had the chance

.

I guess our society has become that rude and that crude, because that made me grin from ear to ear. I don't think I would go that far, but when my children play what if with me and it turns to what if the President showed up at the door would you invite him in? Not a chance, I tell them.

I thought of Ann Richards yesterday

2006-11-01T16:33:00.000-06:00

As I listened to CNN and heard about John Kerry's comment, which I do believe he was directing directly at Shrub. I couldn't help but think...Poor John Kerry, he has a silver foot in his mouth. Yes, I know that isn't the exact quote.

Predictions for next week?

2006-11-01T16:31:00.000-06:00

Anyone?

I think we win the house by 15, and the senate by 2. I am optomistic. I have to be.

Bad taste

2006-10-24T15:20:00.000-05:00

This morning Atrios couldn't help himself, he posted the words Clinton/Obama "08.
*shudder* I want to win in '08. I do not want to hand whoever the Repugs nominate the election on a silver platter. She is not electable, not because she is a women; but because she is too liberal for conservatives, too conservative for liberals and inspires feelings of vitriol for too many people. A good part of her life was opened like a book for public consumption during the Clinton Presidency and people did not like what they saw. She is seen by some as a power hungry person, because she decided to stay married to man who repeatedly cheated on her. She is seen as weak-willed by others for the same reason. Her active role in her husbands presidency turned off a good many people, because they did not elect her to serve. Do people want to meet her? Yes. Therefore, she can have fundraising events and build up a hefty warchest; but this does not eqate to wanting her to be president. I see no worse choice for the democratic ticket than Hillary '08.

Why I love my Paper Ballot

2006-03-21T16:23:00.000-06:00

The Office of the Texas Secretary of State has order ourLocal recount shut down because of problems with the electronic vote hijackers and everyone around here laughed at me for insisting on a paper ballot. Now, during this recount my vote is one of the easiest to find, and they know it was cast and for whom it was cast.

*Sigh* Yes, I voted in that primary and I don't want to hear one word out of anyone if you lived in this county you would have voted in it too. We had some skunks in the henhouse that needed shooting and the only and I mean only way to do so is to vote in the unnamed primary.

This ones for Steve

2006-03-20T15:23:00.000-06:00

Now this may not be an original idea. I really don't know as I haven't been hanging out at law blogs; so if it isn't don't the two of you who find this post yell at me. Here it is: My itty bitty light bulb...
All these wing nuts that are so willing to suspend our 4th Amendment rights during wartime should be asked to look at the surrendering of constitutional freedoms from the perspective of losing a different right: The Right to Bear Arms. Now, if their beloved Bushwacker told them that for their own protection he needed them to unload their guns, and deliver them to the nearest federal law enforcement agency. What do you think their answer would be? How would they react?

I am betting that we just might have a revolution on our hands, because their President, be he the beloved Bushwacked or not, was messing with their Constitutionally Guaranteed Freedom to shoot at things. That is how I have begun to fight the: We must give up freedoms argument, and the President is just trying to protect us argument. Put it that context the next time someone says that we are at war and the President is just trying to protect us. I just point out that he could just as well try to protect us by restricting private gun ownership too. Where do you draw the line? Which Amendment is more important to you?

I hate getting this stuff in my email...

2006-03-16T10:41:00.000-06:00

A father wanted to read a magazine but was being bothered by his little girl, Shelby. She wanted to know what the United States looked like.

Finally, he tore a sheet out of his new magazine on which was printed the map of the country. Tearing it into small pieces, he gave it to Shelby, and said, "Go into the other room and see if you can put this together. This will show you our whole country today."

After a few minutes, Shelby returned and handed him the map correctly fitted together. The father was surprised and asked how she had finished so quickly. "Oh," she said, "on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got all of Jesus back where He belonged, then our country just came together."

I get alot of these at work and I can't scream all I can do is swallow hard. Now see I think the story is cute, but I fear far too many people take that stuff way too seriously. Now if we put Jesus back where he belongs...IN CHURCH...not in school, not in government, not in everyone's bedroom then maybe the country would be better off. But do you really think the author, or the person who forwarded me this email thought of it this way?

The Commander in Chief

2006-02-07T10:19:00.000-06:00

Well I have read and re-read Article II of the Constitution, and nowhere does it say the President shall have the power to do what he pleases, as he pleases, when he pleases, and where he pleases during times of self-declared war. What it does say is that he will swear to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States". Funny it doesn't say "only the parts he deems important" or "only the parts that don't get in his way. It says the Constitution of the United States. One would assume that would include a couple of little pesky amendments like:

Amendment 1: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Cindy Sheehan anyone?

Or how about:

Amendment IV: The right of the people to be secure in there persons, houses, papers and effects, agaisnt unreasonable searches and seizures, SHALL NOT be violated, and NO Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Wonder if your phone has been tapped lately?

And the infractions go on... I listened in on the NSA hearing some yesterday and began to wonder how much are we going to lose, how much more are the American people willing to give up? Sure, many of us in the blogosphere are upset by this, as are many in Congress, but the Press is not loudly shouting to the people: LOOK AT WHAT YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS DONE!

Not one press report has brought the message home that your phone calls could have been listened into, and you wouldn't know it. Just because the government says it is just listening in to overseas calls, means less than the words that are spoken because the law already says they cannot do that and they are, they continue to and they will continue to without guilt. We have an executive that has no respect for the document they swore to protect, it up to us as citizens to call our representatives and tell them to put a halt to the President's power grab.

Christopher Dickey

2006-01-05T12:44:00.000-06:00

Go readhim this week. I might not agree with everything he has to say, because I do believe that impeachment is more than a purely political process; he is dead on about the need for Truth and Reconciliation in America.

Parental Pride

2005-12-22T19:25:00.000-06:00

The 12 year old, not a blog reader, has learned the word wanker and used it correctly, and in reference to W. What more could a parent ask for? At least this parent...her father might be less than pleased. *shhhs don't tell him*

This is way democracy ends...

2005-12-18T16:47:00.000-06:00

not with a bang, but a whimper. (apologies to Mr. Eliot). Digby says this democracy is dying a death of a thousand cuts, after 4 years of domestic spying, lying to the people and telling them it is the truth, a war without end Amen Amen, and both elected branches of government filled to the brim with not only dishonest criminals, but incompetent ones at that. It is time for us, and the press as the 4th branch, to hold them accountable. If we don't do it now, it might not be possible later. Bit by bit they take away rights until the right to redress wrongs is gone.

How cool is this?

2005-09-30T15:00:00.000-05:00

Here he comes to save the day Mighty Mouse is on his way. My 12 year old is going to be so psyched over this little fellow. Thank heavens they aren't for sale!

God Bless TEXAS

2005-09-28T11:41:00.000-05:00

Tom Delay has been indicted on one count! Yes, he was indicted in Travis County, but Travis County is still in Texas! Now where is that cattle whip?

The wisdom of my five year old

2005-09-27T15:47:00.000-05:00

I will share a story about my child; my beautiful, brilliant child; comments encouraged! We were watching the interview of President Clinton Saturday morning on CNN, and I asked her to be quiet until it was over because I wanted to hear what he had to say. She then asked me if President Clinton had been a good President, and I responded that yes he had been. My beautiful, brilliant and sleepy (she had just woken up) five year old said "Not like President Bush, He is a bad President." At five she gets it, and can explain the difference in five year old words. He lies. He starts wars. He lies. He doesn’t listen and he doesn’t care.
Bless her, she gives me hope.

Family in Houston

2005-09-27T15:37:00.000-05:00

Mom and Grandma in law are just fine, they suffered one night loss of sleep and that is about all. I think that the Mr., Pasquin and my family worried a great deal more than the family in and around Houston did for the most part.

As for adjusting the Christmas card list, the current plan is to as soon as possible move Mom in Law and Grandma out here where we know they will be well taken care of. We are also the only ones sending money each month so they might as well be closer and in a less expensive area. The family members who have really fought this move are the ones who left them in Houston, so as far as I am concerned their voices no longer rise above the level of a dim whisper.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and words and I hope to return to normal blogging in the not too far future; that is if I can ever get past calling the Idiot in Chief names.

Hurricane Rita

2005-09-22T11:16:00.000-05:00

Well as disgusted and dismayed as I have been over Hurricane Katrina, to the point of not blogging, Hurricane Rita has drawn me out if for nothing else to rant a bit and to ask for good thoughts for my mother in law and grandmother in law. They live in Houston. The Mr's cousin had promised to evacuate them, they don't have a car and grandma is very ill. They also live on a fixed income. She was to get them yesterday and take them to her house out in the country, where she has three generators and plenty of emergency supplies.
She didn't do it. She decided the drive time was too long. Yep, that is what she said when I asked her why she didn't go get them. Her mom is out. Her sister is out. They both live in the same apartment complex, but they all say the H's mom and their grandmother will be just fine riding out the hurricane there. I started offering to go get them when I saw the Hurricane in the Gulf.
Think good thoughts.
Thanks.

Morality vs. Immorality

2005-09-09T10:04:00.000-05:00

Lately when I have been talking with people about Katrina and the failure of the federal government to protect the citizens of New Orleans eventually they will bring up President Bush; I won’t, having lived out here long enough I now know better. The one thing that they universally say about him is that they believe him to be a good, upright, moral man. He may not be the brightest bulb in the pack but he always tries to do the right thing is the point they attempt to get across. As a point of comparison many of these well-meaning people like to point to President Clinton as President Bush’s polar opposite; a brilliant man and president, who has grave moral failings.

Yesterday, I had heard this one too many times, from one too many people. I asked the woman I was talking with “Because of the blowjob?” She responded “Yes, he misused his power over that girl and he was unfaithful to his wife. He is a moral failure” I agreed that yes this was absolutely correct, but by that standard 50 percent of married men and 40 percent of married women are equally flawed, someone who she knows and cares about is probably in that percentage. Are they moral failures? She could not answer. I then suggested that we as a country were forced to watch over a very private matter, when Ken Starr spoon fed us President Clinton’s infidelity, which has very, very little to do with big picture morality. President Clinton’s blowjob did not change foreign or domestic policy. It didn’t cause a war. It did not change my life or yours for the better or worse. It matters not in the big picture.

Yet, when it comes to big picture morality this is where President Bush has grave failings. I asked her how many American soldiers have died in Iraq, over 1800. Why did we go to Iraq? Weapons of Mass Destruction, weapons that have never been found; this is a big picture lie, a lie that has cost over 1800 lives. So what about Saddam’s ties to terrorists? What ties to terrorists? There isn’t a tie to the WTC bombings or Osama, another big picture lie. And now New Orleans, and the death toll there; the vacation that continued and the lies in an attempt to deflect blame. As President he has slashed the levee budget and dismantled FEMA. He has put nothing more than figureheads in charge of FEMA with no thought to the lives it could and would eventually cost. The information was there, but like most unpleasant things in his life, the President decided to ignore it. This is the epitome of immorality, of unadulterated evil. It may put on a kind and caring face and speak kind if mangled words but the blood on its hands is the blood of thousands, both from lies and indifference.

My kind of idiot!

2005-09-07T15:21:00.000-05:00

"Bureaucracy has murdered people in the greater New Orleans area," Aaron Broussard, president of Jefferson Parish, said on CBS's "Early Show." "So I'm asking Congress, please investigate this now. Take whatever idiot they have at the top of whatever agency and give me a better idiot. Give me a caring idiot. Give me a sensitive idiot. Just don't give me the same idiot."

Now those are some pretty high expectations, might I suggest that the President of Jefferson Parish might just be on to something though. An idiot that has the EQ of my 5 year old. You know..."People are dying...we must save them!" "That child is walking around without her Mommy, find her Mommy!".

Yes, that is it, he wants someone who functions as well as my 5 year old. That is an awfully high expectation for the idiot in chief though.

How to change the political landscape in Texas

2005-09-06T11:43:00.000-05:00

Take 250,000 displaced peoples from New Orleans (you know the ones that the Bush Government ignored for 5 days) and send them to our metropolitian areas. Yes, I know it is tacky, but might I suggest in a few months we give these folk voter registration cards? They have to vote somewhere you know.

Tough Words

2005-09-03T07:27:00.000-05:00

Steve Gilliard

Questions being asked

2005-09-02T09:24:00.000-05:00

Texas is said to be taking in 75,000 refugees. Texans are waking up this morning glad to help, but wanting answers; answers to the same questions I am sure are being asked everywhere today: What is taking so long? It is 2005 don't we have the capabilities to get our citizens out of New Orleans? Why couldn't we get food and water to them? If we could spend billions and get aid over to the Tsunami victims in two days, why are the people of New Orleans dying?

In answer to those questions, I want to just scream because you voted for it! Instead, I try to calmly explain the cost of war, FEMA budget cuts, turned down aid from Canada and Russia, and then watch the shock roll over their faces. They realize this is what they voted for, that their government has left those people to die and it could and should have been avoided. The long term consequences of leaving people to die and rot in New Orleans are sinking in as well: death and decay equal disease. We are going to be facing a long term crisis in this country and people are waking up this morning going to work knowing it.

There has been some talk about how the left is turning this disaster into politics, it seems to me that normal everyday Americans are waking up to the policies that were "politics as usual" for this administration and finding out that there were no policies at all. This isn't playing politics it is stating facts. The cure is going to cost so much more that the prevention would have, isn’t that always the case though.

My God

2005-09-01T15:18:00.000-05:00

There stood the Emperor of Lilliput talking about talking while literally hundreds of people are dying today in New Orleans. He was flanked by former Presidents Clinton and Bush. He stood and stumbled through his drivel, left the podium, and did not invite either distinguished gentleman to speak. No doubt he retreated to that hovel that is his mind and continued to contemplate his glorious war with the Blefescudians. I hope someday he gets to hear the King of Brobdingnag.

Atrios

2005-09-01T13:16:00.000-05:00

Read him and weep, just shut the door and cry a bit. Where are we? What are we doing? What is taking us so long, and why on God's Green Earth is the Idiot in Chief waiting another day to go to the Gulf of Mexico.

I haven't written about the horror that is New Orleans, it is too much to take in, to comprehend. I spoke with Pasquin at lunch briefly and we agreed that everyone has a New Orleans story; if you've been there you have a story to tell about it, New Orleans is that kind of place. It makes the tragedy seem more tangible to us or so it appears.

What is happening there right now could be alleviated, somewhat at least. If we can save others from themselves certainly we can help the poorest among us. The people stranded are the sick, the old, the poor and the very young; the most helpless and the neediest. They are living in conditions that we cannot comprehend.

My Sissy survived the Hurricane that hit Galveston in 1900; she was tied to a pole on the top of a bakery having been handed off to strangers at the tender age of 2. Women are handing their 2 year olds off to strangers now. My Sissy, though, was able to leave Galveston before the death and decay hit, these poor souls are sitting in it, beside it and watching it rise up around them. Sissy made us tapes; telling us the stories of her life, the Hurricane of 1900 is the one I have heard replayed in my mind in this last week: Men walking along the beach looking at rows of dead bodies trying to find lost wives and children, massive bonfires to prevent disease and women and children being evacuated from the ravaged city, not much has changed in 100 years I keep thinking, not much at all really.

Muscular Dystrophy Association

2005-09-01T05:59:00.000-05:00

Everyone has a pet charity, MDA is mine. I have been donating to the MDA since I was 5 years old. As a child it was going door to door and collecting change in my neighboorhood and then taking it down to the local fishbowl, as I got older I just donated. At one point I had a job where I could donate a percentage of each paycheck to particular charities. I picked MDA. I still donate each year, though it isn't as easy because there isn't a box to check for a paycheck donation, our television station out here doesn't even carry the entire telethon. We just remember each Labor Day to donate.

As a kid, I remember seeing the tapes of the other kids who unlike me couldn't run and play. I felt so very lucky, as a mother of two healthy daughters I feel the same way each year. Every child should run, play, and laugh; children stricken with Muscular Dystrophy aren't so lucky.

I also have always held Jerry Lewis in great affection, it was as though a little piece of my 5 year old heart decided he was this selfless, amazing man. That 5 year old idealism was proud today when I read:

Jerry Lewis’ annual Labor Day fundraiser will join in as well.

Lewis said Wednesday his telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association would include celebrity appeals for hurricane relief. MDA also will donate $1 million to help victims in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, he said.

“While the needs of ‘my kids’ are with us all year-round, Hurricane Katrina is a national disaster on a scale that’s difficult to comprehend,” the actor-comedian said in a statement. “We simply couldn’t ignore the need to help.”

Celebrities will appeal for donations for hurricane victims during the first four hours of the telethon and its concluding four hours. The broadcast begins at 9 p.m. EDT Sunday and ends at 5:30 p.m. ET Monday (check local listings for stations).

A special 800 phone number will be used for the Katrina donations, with proceeds going to the Salvation Army in the hard-hit states.

Hurricane relief efforts will be seen across a number of TV channels, which have been filled with images of tragedy and destruction caused by Katrina.

It nice to have your childhood idols live up what that little kid inside expects of them.

According to this theory(link)

2005-08-30T16:29:00.000-05:00

When I had my tits cut off my IQ went up because it is a trade off you see. Who knew? Exactly how do I get to equate my new found, surgically enhanced IQ? How much smarter did I get? Is it one 1 point per pound, 5 points per pound, someone let me know; there are a few lawyers I want to let know that I am now definitely much brighter than they will ever be. Just so we are clear, the equation is 4 pounds of breast tissue removed = +x IQ points. The question is what is x. Also, if you have your breasts surgically enhanced do you lose IQ points?

Update:
The link is to Digby who links to Fair where I found the quote which I am now sharing:

"More Brain Or More Penis"

Rushton (who's gotten more than $770,000 from Pioneer) has transformed the Victorian science of cranial measurement into a sexual fetish--measuring not only head and brain size, but also the size of breasts, buttocks and genitals. "It's a trade-off: More brain or more penis. You can't have everything," he told Rolling Stone's Adam Miller (10/20/94), explaining his philosophy of evolution.

Happy Birthday

2005-08-30T14:25:00.001-05:00

to Rugo, who still can't spell, from Pasquin, her mother, and her little sis.

Ohhh too many years ago

2005-08-30T10:27:00.000-05:00

I made Pasquin a first time father. August is comming to an end, which means the birthday month will come to an end soon. There are no less than 6 August Birthdays in our family. 4 of which belong to my small family unit out here in the Wild West. Tommorrow is a birthday too.

My friend in Iraq

2005-08-28T06:53:00.000-05:00

I have a friend from college, with whom I agree about very little politically, who is in Iraq. He is too old for military service and is over there as a independent contractor. He works in warehousing of one sort or another. It is now the beginning of his second year there. He is a foolish romantic, I kid you not. He is there because he honestly believes in this foolhardy notion of saving the middle east from themselves. While I don't agree with him, at least he put his body where his mouth is, you can't say that for many warmongers these days. They don't want to go, certainly don't want their kids to go and appear to think that this war, like Vietnam, should only be fought by those less privileged. My friend, who couldn't sign up for military service for a multitude of reasons(age being one), found a way to go anyway. So my friend is an idiot, don't think I haven't told him that on more than one occasion, in more than one context for oh so many years. I just wish that more conservatives had what I do require in my friends, not my politics, but ethics, integrity and honesty. It is clear my friend has those in spades.

Overheard in my West Texas Office

2005-08-24T08:33:00.000-05:00

How bad is it for Bush? Bad. In my office, where for a goodly number of folk he might as well walk on water. The price of gasoline is a hot topic.

"My word Bill O' Vilely* on Fox News (the only news anyone in West Texas watches) spoke out against him last night about Oil Prices! What is the President thinking? He is thinking about how to butter his bread when he leaves office. That is what he is thinking.
The President has 3 major problems according to Bill: Oil, Iraq, and the Border. Let's hope he takes care of Oil prices first."

There you have it folks. When folk out here are upset with Bush there really is trouble abrewing. So, it might not really be because of the war, but dammit when it costs us $2.67 a gallon to fill up our Suburbans and Pick up trucks we get might durn irratated. Now you know and I know that the war just might have something to do with the cost of oil. But out here we just don't see it that way.

* Liberties taken with names all mine.

Inane Logic

2005-08-22T18:25:00.000-05:00

So I go to buy a new minivan today. It has everything, everything. I don't buy it. Because get this, they will finance it, with nothing down, low enough payments ect..., but not if I want to get out from under my other car. Now, that will cost me a frickin fortune. Life sucks. I can have two car payments sure, but get rid of a car I really don't want anymore and get one I do, nope can't do that too damn logical.

Republicans own the car dealerships and well as the banks. I know, I know.

My computer

2005-08-20T16:13:00.000-05:00

is misbehaving. Explorer won't act nice, so we installed Firefox and have decided for the timebeing to ignore the poorly behaved program. Unfortunately, I can't put up pictures right now. I am sending her to a therapist next week to be exorcized, but until then I am photoless.

Elizabeth Edward's letter

2005-08-18T08:26:00.000-05:00

Elizabeth Edwards has written a letter in support of Cindy Sheehan it can be found here It is a moving and powerful tribute to not only the spirit of American, but a mother's love. Nothing I say can add to it.

I have no talent

2005-08-18T05:59:00.000-05:00

at creating poetry; but Steve does. Go read his new Doggerel. It is worth a momment or three of your day.

What a solider wants

2005-08-17T17:43:00.000-05:00

A great many people have been trying to play necromancer of late and determine how Casey Sheehan felt about the war in Iraq and how he might feel about his mother's protest in Crawford. There seems to be this idea on the right out there that just because someone is a solider he/she believes in rightness of this war. That they support every reason we have been given by this administration for going to war; this is just not the case.

My friend, a solider who served in Iraq, did not support this war, he didn't believe in the reasons for going to war but he went and he served and he put his life on the line. He would go back if asked. His wife is also a solider and she feels the same way; but, if asked she will go. It is their duty. They believe in service, in our country and our ideals even if they don't believe in WMD and imperialism. They are not alone in their beliefs, when visiting them in their home and other servicemen and women are there it is far from uncommon to hear them speak of their disagreement. Do they serve, yes and honorably. Do they agree, not always. It would be foolish of me to assume that because my friend doesn't agree with the war that Casey Sheehan must not have. It is just as foolish to assume that because someone we know agrees with the war, or the wingnut himself does, that Casey Sheehan did. What is even more foolish is attempting to read the mind of a dead man. I know some unusual people, much to those who care for me chagrin at times, and I have yet to meet a real necromancer.

The outcome

2005-08-16T22:48:00.000-05:00

We lost, the wife thumper walked out of court. It took the jury just over 6.5 hours to find him not guilty. This was with his wife testifying for him. AHHH!!!! Of course he has thumped on her 3 times since we indicted him, so we just pulled a law and order on him and had a warrarnt waiting. What is so sad is that the victim doesn't understand that we are trying to save her life, even if she doesn't want us to.

In this case it was so hard to determine what would happen, uncooperative victims make cases difficult, especially domestic violence cases. I am gratified that it took the jury as long as it did to find the jerk not guilty. If you ever all called to jury duty on a family violence case, remember frequently the victim is living with the defendant and is minimizing and covering for him, either out of love, fear, self-loathing, or some deep ingrained sense of deserving the animosity of the abuser. This is not a reason for aquital. You aren't doing her a favor.

Back to School Shopping

2005-08-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

Last night I took the girls back to school shopping. It was the first trip for the little one who starts Kindergarden next week, and she was thrilled to be in Old Navy getting new clothes for school. The older one was pleased with new jeans from there but wanted more dramatic shirts from "Hot Topic". We walked down the mall and into the store, and to my surprise was a shop that reminded me a great deal of the record stores of my youth. They even had albums! They also had lots of angst ridden t-shirts for the angst ridden teen/pre-teen. We found a couple of t-shirts that we could agree on and off we went. What was so amusing was the clerk look tickled to see a mom and daughters in there shopping without a fuss. All I kept thinking was, what this child is picking out is so tame compared to what I DID! When did my rebellion become a store in the mall?

In Trial

2005-08-15T18:41:00.000-05:00

Again. Sssh, I can't talk about it of course.

So does anyone know what a Crawford objection is besides me?

Hint: Crawford vs. Washington

And we'll know your a Christian by your

2005-08-14T15:14:00.000-05:00

Self-centered, egotistical, twisted, backassward fuckwit comments. Ask me why I question the existence of God and I will point to one man who claims to speak regularly with the high holy mojo himself. What an ass.

Bush said he is aware of the anti-war sentiments of Cindy Sheehan and others who have joined her protest near the Bush ranch.

"But whether it be here or in Washington or anywhere else, there's somebody who has got something to say to the president, that's part of the job," Bush said on the ranch. "And I think it's important for me to be thoughtful and sensitive to those who have got something to say."

"But," he added, "I think it's also important for me to go on with my life, to keep a balanced life."

The Mother-in-Law Principle

2005-08-14T09:27:00.000-05:00

One the lasting lessons about politics that Pasquin taught me is what we refer to in my family as The Mother-in-Law Principle. It is simply this: when you fall in love and get married you don't do so for your Mother-in-Law, but she comes right along with your spouse, so do her quirks, habits, and anything else that may or may not make your life wonderful or an absolute living hell. Now you may luck out, or you may get straddled with a caricature for the next 40 plus years, it is a crapshoot.

In politics on the other hand, you know who your Mother-in-Law is, you know her quirks, her bad habits, and her good ones. It is the candidate’s party affiliation. It is the strongest and best reason I know of to vote for the party and not for the person. John McCain is a living, breathing example of this; he has gone from a man some of us on the left could respect for his stance on Campaign Finance Reform to a complete tool of the Republican Party in the last five years. His Mother took over. Within both parties you can find people on both end of the liberal/conservative spectrum, but is foolish of us to not realize that Mom is there all the time pushing, pulling and manipulating. Parties are very much like interfering Mom's. Mom's with overwhelming needs, desires and demands and they depend on their children to see that those needs get met. Our representative are beholden to those parties, are part of them and will respond at least on occasion and for us to think otherwise makes us foolish Son's and Daughter's in Law indeed.

Young love

2005-08-14T08:18:00.000-05:00

My 5-year has a boyfriend! I took her to a party last night, kids, adults, food, sodas, margaritas (my head), volleyball, swimming and sand! A great time was had by all, especially Em and THE BOY (5 as well) they built sandcastles, they played, they held hands, they announced they were boyfriend and girlfriend (sweet), and then the little Romeo KISSED her! When I told her no kissing boys, the BOY walks up and says to me but mam she WANTED me to kiss her! She nods her head. They say goodbye, and I explain why they can't have a sleepover. My older daughter got to have mixed sleepovers (but she never wandered around kissing boys at 5!).

A Nunnery is in this one's future I see it clearly.

The Right to Privacy

2005-08-13T07:13:00.000-05:00

Roberts and the Right to Privacy is a hot topic these days, as well it should be. It is one issue where we on the left have the hardest time with those on the right, because and I hate to say. They have the easier argument. They look at the world in simplistic terms, in black and white and for them this is one issue: abortion, and there is no right to privacy spelled out in the Constitution. There isn't a privacy amendment. Is privacy there, of course it is; privacy from government interference is the lifeblood of freedom. It is a fundamental cornerstone in the foundation of liberty. Liberty cannot exist if we are not allowed privacy in our own homes, from unreasonable search and seizure, of assembly with friends and other like-minded people (religious organizations), and the list goes on. The Right to Privacy isn't spelled out in black and white in our Bill of Rights, but it pervades it, it is fundamental to the spirit of freedom, of liberty and to who were are as a collective people. It isn't about an issue as simple as abortion, as being Pro-Choice or Anti-Choice (no one is against life). Privacy is about liberty, freedom, and our Bill of Rights not so much in what it explicitly says, but in what it explicitly means.

Not one of us can imagine the government quartering a solider in our home; the Third Amendment prohibits this, because we have a right to expect privacy from a government agent in our home. We used to feel secure in our clubs and associations because of the First Amendment that guarantees our freedom to assemble without government interference. We used to know that our records,our phone conversations, library checkouts, and book buying habits, were safe from government seizure without a warrant signed by a Judge, the Fourth Amendment promised that as well. We were assured that our liberty, our freedom our privacy from government was protected. It is no real surprise that this government is attacking the amendments that protect individual privacy, liberty and freedom.

These are the fundamentals that allow a woman the right to go to her doctor without the government's knowledge or approval decide to get pregnant or stay pregnant, yes; but even more so they are they are our rights as a people. We cannot walk away from them because abortion is unpleasant, and it is. We as liberals shouldn't be dishonest and say that it isn't. No matter which way you look at it, the fact that women still have to face this kind of choice is sad. The fact that our government makes it harder and harder for women who find out that their child is going to be born with fatal birth defects, and die within hours of its birth to decide to end their pregnancy sooner rather than later is wrong. The fact that women are forced to deliver stillborns in some states because of outlawed procedures is wrong. That is government interference, in the worst kind of way. Imagine a world where the government decided who got to have bypass surgery and who didn't, or modern day China where they have forced abortion. Freedom is only freedom when privacy is included in a person’s medical decision. It doesn't make it easy, it doesn't make it pretty or nice or neat; but then life rarely is.

See how much easier it is when you can just say there isn't a Privacy Amendment, than when you have to explain to someone who wants to look at the world in black and white, that it really isn't and there are tremendous consequences if we do.

Pictures!

2005-08-12T18:26:00.000-05:00

Those vacation pictures I have been getting so many emails for are posted below, okay so no one emailed me, but I spent a fortune at Disney World so oh and ah over them anyway, and look at that strange cat.

2005-08-12T18:25:00.000-05:00

A friend emailed me a picture of her dog, who believes she is 1/2 cat so in honor of her 1/2 cat status. Chacha is substituting for Lola and Cookie tonight

2005-08-12T18:18:00.000-05:00

How to walk a 5 year old, Rafki gives her big sister lessons.

2005-08-12T18:14:00.000-05:00

M.I.C.K.E.Y....at Epcot, with the girls.

Migraines

2005-08-11T17:44:00.000-05:00

I take a preventative migraine medicine which has kept the headache monster at bay for one year, until today. I have my first migraine in a year. It hurts, I called the doctor and he called in Imitrex, which I know will help, BUT, it will also make me feel my blood run through every inch of my body..ich. Why oh why couldn't have he given me a nice narcotic? I would have happily crawled into bed then. This is a work induced migraine too (sorry Bryan I can't blame Florida) I can and will blame LAWYERS! GRRR. Leaving me to clean up their messes, what a day, what a headache!

Update Damn Doctor's office didn't call in the Imitrex like they said they were going to. Now I can blame Doctors and Lawyers!

Update II My headache is better now and just a dull roar. I am back at work and have called the doctor's office to make sure they knew about the mix up. The doctor's office assures me they called in the Rx, but it isn't there. Oh well thank heavens for benadryl(It will at least eventually knock you out).

Proof that W really doesn't stand for Women

2005-08-10T18:04:00.000-05:00

You all know who she is, her name is Cindy Sheehan and she has been all over the blogosphere of late. She is the mother of a solider who died last year in Iraq and she simply wants to ask the President for what? Now think hard what would Bill Clinton the notorious womanizer have done? The man would have felt her pain. First he wouldn't have been on VACATION; second he would have spoken with her, possibly more than once. He loves women, maybe a bit too much on occasion, but he would get it. Bush he not only goes on VACATION, he believes INCORRECTLY that he is above having to answer a mother's grief. Does he not think that mothers are watching Cindy and thinking about their own children? It doesn't matter if you are liberal or conservative when you are a parent, that is your child and you want to know why they died. You want to be answered and when the President of the United States has ordered a war that has cost the life of your child the least the man can do is take 15 minutes out of his PRECIOUS VACATION, to say I DON'T KNOW mam, but it is HARD WORK NOT KNOWING. Truth is she is a mere mother and a mere woman she isn't WORTHY of his time.

Someone gave into what I call my "now where is the brake pedal"

2005-08-10T10:41:00.000-05:00

Via Surburban Guerrilla it seems an air force officer has been vandilizing vehicles in the Denver Airport sporting Bush 2004 bumperstickers. You can click through to the article where he states he started around election time and law enforcement caught him using a decoy vehicle. I guess he really didn't like Bush.

Vacation over

2005-08-09T22:20:00.000-05:00

I am home, my vacation was wonderful; the girls loved Disney World and spending every dime I had. Florida is a real treat, it rains there everyday and you can smell the mold growing. That is until your allergies kick in and you can no longer smell anything, in my case about 12 hours. We have all returned to the Wild West with nice cases of allergitis. I am blaming Florida. I also noticed that it is much easier to leave the state than to get into it, blame that on the hurricanes and a Bush brother, the best highway we drove on was built by Walt Disney..go figure. And finally I have determined in the panhandle region of the state (near the Alabama border) the average age of motherhood must be about 15. Without giving my age completely away and saying I don't look older than I am, maybe a few years younger even, I was called my 5 year old's grandmother twice. I figured if it happened a third time I was going to have to hurt someone. But then when we did the math IF I had a child at 15 and she had a child at 15 I could be my 5 year old's grandmother. I could spit. The scenery in Florida is beautiful though, if Ntodd or OWL were there I am sure they would post some beautiful pictures. I on the other hand I some great pictures of the girls with Pooh Bear and Mickey Mouse! If you ask nicely I might show you. I am glad to be home though and my greatest souvenir? Bob Novak threw a pissy fit the one day I turned on CNN while on vacation.

Politics tomorrow with laundry, think any of that Florida mold came back in the suitcase?

2005-07-28T18:59:00.000-05:00

Silly rabbit, zen is for kids!

2005-07-28T18:58:00.000-05:00

Lola's favorite chew toy? My hands and feet!

2005-07-28T18:54:00.000-05:00

Still friendly!

2005-07-28T18:53:00.000-05:00

Lola practices for the sleeping olympics.

Activism is in the eye of the beholder

2005-07-28T06:21:00.000-05:00

Stolen in whole from Salon this morning:

On Bush's bench?
Supporters argue John Roberts will be committed to judicial restraint. But in his Guantanamo ruling, he gave Bush virtually unlimited powers in the war on terror. This is restraint?

- - - - - - - - - - - -
By David Cole

July 28, 2005 | "The cardinal principle of judicial restraint -- if it is not necessary to decide more, it is necessary not to decide more." So said John Roberts, President Bush's nominee to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, in an opinion for the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit last year. Many of Roberts' supporters, including former Bush Justice Department official John Yoo on the Op-Ed pages of the Washington Post and George Washington University law professor Jeffrey Rosen in the New York Times, have argued that Roberts will be a cautious conservative committed to judicial restraint -- in the mold of former justices John Marshall Harlan or Felix Frankfurter, rather than a radical conservative in the mold of justices Antonin Scalia or Clarence Thomas.

Yet earlier this month, coincidentally on the very day the president was interviewing Roberts at the White House for the Supreme Court post, Roberts joined an opinion issued by the D.C. Circuit that violated that cardinal principle. He did so, moreover, in a case raising fundamental questions about Roberts' views on presidential power and checks and balances in the war on terror. Few of Roberts' actions deserve more scrutiny by members of the Senate than his vote in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld.

The decision upheld the legality of President Bush's controversial military tribunals for enemy combatants held at the U.S. base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. In doing so, Roberts and his colleagues reached out to decide a number of issues "not necessary to decide." And they decided every one in President Bush's favor, essentially granting him unchecked power to try, and to execute, enemy combatants.

The military tribunals created by President Bush permit individuals to be convicted -- and sentenced to death -- on the basis of secret evidence that neither the defendant nor his chosen civilian lawyer has any right to see or confront. They permit no appeal outside the military chain of command; President Bush authorizes the indictment, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is the final arbiter of appeals.

One of the first Guantánamo detainees to be selected for trial in the tribunals, Salim Hamdan, allegedly Osama bin Laden's driver and bodyguard, challenged the legality of the tribunal procedures in federal court, before he was actually tried. In November 2004, Judge James Robertson of the U.S. District Court in Washington declared the tribunals unlawful, finding them inconsistent with U.S. military law and the Geneva Conventions, the treaty establishing the laws of war.

In an opinion joined in full by Judge Roberts, the D.C. Circuit decided on July 15 that it did not have the power to rule on much of the case, first, because many of Hamdan's claims could be raised on appeal after he is convicted -- if he is in fact convicted -- and second, because in the court's view the Geneva Conventions do not create rights enforceable in federal courts by individuals. The court also expressed doubt about whether "someone in Hamdan's position" -- that is, a foreign national outside the United States -- could properly raise a separation of powers claim. That should have been the end of the matter. If the claims were not properly presented, the court should have said so and dismissed the case.

But the court -- and Judge Roberts -- did not stop there. Instead, it went on to decide the very legal questions that it had said were not properly before it -- questions that were, in Roberts' earlier words, "not necessary to decide," and therefore "necessary not to decide." Most significantly, after ruling that the Geneva Conventions claims could not be heard, it gratuitously went on to opine that the Geneva Conventions do not apply to Mr. Hamdan or any member of al-Qaida. On this view, much disputed by international law experts, the president is simply not bound by the laws of war in his treatment of detainees in the war on terrorism.

In addition, instead of first deciding the threshold question of whether Hamdan in fact had standing to raise a separation of powers objection to President Bush's unilateral creation of the tribunals, the court simply leapt over the threshold and decided, on the merits, that President Bush had not violated the separation of powers in doing so -- again deciding an issue that was "not necessary to decide," and doing so in a way that eliminated any check on the president's authority.

In Hamdan, in other words, Judge Roberts disregarded his own "cardinal principle" in the name of giving the president broad unfettered powers in the war on terror.

This departure is telling not only for what it reveals about Roberts' fealty to judicial restraint. As the Supreme Court's enemy combatant cases from last summer showed, the court may be the last (and sometimes only) check on the president in the war on terror. Congress took no action whatsoever to check the president's assertion that he could lock up any human being anywhere in the world, citizen or foreign national, without charges, without trial and without access to a lawyer or the outside world.

It took the court to stand up to the president. In the case decided in June 2004 involving Yaser Hamdi, the U.S. citizen captured in Afghanistan, Justice O'Connor famously wrote that "a state of war is not a blank check for the president." Congress should ensure that her replacement does not feel otherwise.

Everything we hear is intended to make us feel at more and more at ease with the nomination of Judge Roberts, but this one decision should be enough to give us pause; the powers of the president must be checked by the other branches of government. When we live in a time that Congress is unwilling to stand up to a president that walks the line of despotism, our Courts must be willing to be that branch.

The lack of blogging of late

2005-07-27T13:49:00.000-05:00

For all 5 of my faithful readers, and Pasquin too; you have my apologies for not blogging for most of the month. My only excuse is that work intruded into my life in such a manner that I could not seem to not draw parallels between the horrendous things going on at my job and the horrible things happening in this administration. Life can do that to you. So my solution was to not write, to pull a Thumper and say nothing at all; because I had nothing nice to say about anything at all. I am better now, the work situation is what it is, and I am about to take a much needed vacation! So I will blog today and tomorrow, post a few pictures of Cookie, Lola and maybe even one of Em and then I shall run away to the land of hurricanes, alligators and Mickey Mouse. If Pasquin is nice he might post while I am gone, but this is doubtful. I will attempt to post while I am vacationing, when I can.

Patriotism vs. Nationalism

2005-07-26T11:00:00.000-05:00

Digby wrote about patriotism on Monday; he said that it wasn’t about fighting wars it was about love of country. I wanted to take this a step further because I believe that our current war in Iraq has been sold to the American people, by the Bush government, using the antithesis of patriotism: nationalism.

Patriotism is based more than on love of country, not that I think Digby was limiting himself to this; it is what we base our love of country on. It is a love of freedom, of equality, of fair play, and of who we are striving to be as a collective people. It is our willingness to speak out against injustice that makes us patriots. It is our willingness to sacrifice that makes us patriots. It is our willingness to fight for another’s chance to strive for a life free from a concentration camp, and other such grave injustices that makes us patriots.

It is not the flag waving, yellow magnetic ribbons stuck on the bumpers on our cars that make us patriots; in fact many find those symbols offensive in their very overtness. Yet, when the WMD did not materialize in Iraq, it is this very cord that the Bush government played to in the American public. It is not justice, or there would not be torture and indefinite holding of prisoners. It is not sacrifice or there would not be tax cuts. It is not willingness to fight or our military would not be facing such a shortage, and we would be making life better and safer for the Iraqi people, not more uncertain and giving them a state of civil unrest and constant war.

Yet, if we do not agree with the Bush government then we are with the terrorists. We are traitors, even those that serve and have served honorably in the past. There are plenty of flags waving and plenty of yellow magnetic ribbons, but if you ask someone why they support the war the logic of patriotism breaks down to nationalism, and nationalism is a dangerous ism indeed. It truly is as I said above the antithesis of patriotism; where one serves to promote growth and good in a country the other usually leads to its downfall. The war in Iraq, is unjust, was based on half truths and lies, and now continues not based on patriotism but nationalism, no good comes from such wars and never has.

2005-07-08T18:06:00.000-05:00

Nap time for two sleepy girls.

It's just like riding a bike UNLESS

2005-07-06T16:47:00.000-05:00

you're President Bush II.

GLENEAGLES, Scotland - President Bush collided with a local police officer and fell during a bike ride on the grounds of the Gleneagles golf resort while attending a meeting of world leaders Wednesday.

Bush suffered "mild to moderate" scrapes on his hands and arms that required bandages by the White House physician, said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. The accident occurred on asphalt, McClellan said, and Bush was wearing a helmet.

How many times is it now that the monkey in chief has fallen off his bike?
Any bets on if he was attempting to chew gum at the same time?

2005-07-06T14:04:00.000-05:00

A CIGARETTE!!!!! I have had the misfortune today of speaking to what seems like nothing but smokers on the phone all day long. I could hear them inhaling and exhaling each drag of nicotine. I have eaten ice. I have chewed gum. I have walked around the office looking like a lost puppy. No one in my office smokes, thank goodness.
I just spoke to the Mr. he was smoking. Somedays are sooo much harder than others, even months after you have quit.

The guessing game

2005-07-05T18:02:00.000-05:00

Portions of our population are currently engaged in playing guess the Supreme Court nominee, others are playing guess what kind of nominee and yet others are playing suggest what the nominee ought to be. What we can be assured of as liberals, we aren't going to like the nominee. He/She isn't going to be what we think a Supreme Court nominee ought to be. It is that simple, it really matters not who it is Bush nominates, we as liberals will not agree with the nomination more than likely for one reason or another. (Unless Bush finds a deeply hidden, decent, intelligent streak, which means most of us, would be dumb founded and his own party would call for his impeachment).

He may nominate someone we can live with, but I would suggest we seriously consider if we can live with a war criminal as a Supreme Court Justice. I have considered being “reasonable” about Alberto Gonzales, but if he wasn't qualified to be AG why the hell would he be remotely qualified to sit on the highest court in the land? Look at what corner we are backing ourselves into before we willing walk into it. It would/will be an international embarrassment if one of our Supreme Court Justices cannot travel outside of the United States because he is a war criminal. That being said and off my chest the rest of the world may now go back to debating who and what a Justice should be, it isn't like the Idiot in Chief is going to listen to us anyway.

I wonder.....

2005-07-04T09:48:00.000-05:00

"Several thousand students, veterans, civic leaders and members of the military were expected to pack West Virginia University's downtown campus for the ticket-only event. Demonstrators were kept some distance away and could barely be heard."

If this is what the founding father's had in mind for some reason I seriously doubt it. What a fucking wuss as if seeing or hearing someone who disagrees with him might condemn him to the fate of the Wicked Witch of the West when she gets wet. If life were only so simple.

Well crap

2005-07-01T10:50:00.000-05:00

I fear I will have to throw a liberal hissy fit when you know who names his nomination to replace O'Connor. I don't like a moderate seat being replaced with a conservative, not one bit, not one wee little bit.

Updated You can read about Luttig here; he is rumored to be on the short list.

Ethics

2005-06-30T20:11:00.000-05:00

Billmon spent the afternoon demonstrating what has become journalistic ethics, very effectively of course. Read, giggle and become a bit outraged.

Cop out

2005-06-30T11:15:00.000-05:00

Time Magazine is going to reveal the name of the source so their reporter won't go to jail.
Either something is a principle or it isn't; obviously protecting sources isn't when push comes to shove for Time/Warner. I guess most folk didn't grow up watching people live their principles. I did, and this annoys the daylights out of me. I could just spit, and I am glad I don't even have a subscription to cancel.

A post

2005-06-29T09:50:00.000-05:00

A real post! I know I have been lax, but then there are a hundreds of other blogs to read out there and they have all been saying it very well of late so there really has been no need to add my voice to cacophony of outrage. Yet, today I have something to say. I have waited this week, along with most of the blogosphere, to see if Mr. Chief Justice Rehnquist would announce his retirement; I don't think it is coming. I suspect that the Chief Justice has decided that he can sit through another term, or allow the American Public to participate in the spectacle of a funeral for a sitting Chief Justice. I know that is a bit morbid, so be it. He is an old man, who is I doubt retiring. Why? The reasons are his alone and maybe one day his memoirs will tell us the whys and wherefores. I personally hope to find out that for the Chief Justice and for Ms. Justice O'Connor, as well, that they have chosen not to retire during the Bush years, so far, out of some sense of shame and fear of what that retirement might bring.

I haven't had a great deal to say of late...but go play at MIT!

2005-06-26T09:52:00.000-05:00

2005-06-24T20:49:00.000-05:00

Sleeping kitten...

Wimbledon blogging

2005-06-23T17:43:00.000-05:00

Tim exits early! Andy Murray, a young Scottsman(kinda sorta an Englishman but not really if you ask the Irish)survives to carry on the hope of an entire country on his shoulders, and if he continues to do well then I would guess the English will claim him whole heartedly. Rafael Nadal was upset as well, sorry folks don't have a clue as to who the number 4 seed is(umm American politics have been a bit of an obsession of late).

In the women's game which is really where the American's have some talent under the age of 35 these days, the Williams sisters continue to win and Maria Sharapova won easily as well. Sharapova is the lastest in lovely eastern european blonds to play tennis, this one living up to the hype. She currently is playing with gold plate on her swoshes, Nike swoshes that is.

Wimbledon blogging

2005-06-22T18:31:00.000-05:00

Well today on the grass, Greg Rusedski lost in 4 sets, Lindsey Davenport survived the graveyard of Champions and Roger Federer won his match in a straight set sleeper. A sleeper is about how Wimbledon feels to me so far this year, but then I haven't been able to watch a minute of tennis. It just isn't as exciting reading about these matches as it was to watch them when HBO carried Wimbledon. So I had to pay all year for HBO to watch 2 weeks of tennis. I cancelled HBO when they canned Wimbledon; I also had to tape hours of tennis and then watch it after work. It was worth it, I really do like to watch tennis and to watch it played well on grass is to watch an amazing feat. Tennis has changed a great deal since I first "fell" for the sport discovered I was best suited for watching.

Trials are a trial

2005-06-22T18:21:00.000-05:00

I am punny and tired. It is a busy week in the courthouse; crime is not flourishing out West because the criminals are in court ALOT. We have had some real success this week though and for that I am grateful to a jury (yes I remember a few months back hating a jury). I do see the world keeps turning and news keeps happening but for me this week it was trials and tennis. I do so love tennis.

Wimbledon blogging

2005-06-21T19:27:00.000-05:00

The Williams sisters won their first round matches, no real surprise there. Andy Roddick waltzed through as well, James Blake (oh but he would play better so I could drool longer)lost in the first round, and Tim Henman barely squeezed through the first round in a 5 set nail bitter.

I still get to root for Tim! Sorry James if you had lasted longer than 4 sets I would have rooted for your sexy American bald head!

Tomorrow remember to wish on a star for Lindsey Davenport and Great Britian's Greg Rusedski. The Aussies have a dog in this hunt too, some cute fellow named Hewitt. He is pretty talented too.

Any questions? Any favorites?

Rules

2005-06-20T14:07:00.000-05:00

Liberals as a rule are bad at rules. Admit it we take pride in knowing when to break rules, which rules should be broken and that sometimes rules are bad things. But via OWL and her kitties I found a list of rules that I actually kinda like over at An Angry Old Broad. They could almost be followed. Please note rules are different than laws, because it all depends on the meaning of the word is. ;)

Grandparents

2005-06-20T12:57:00.000-05:00

My children have marvelous grandparents. Pasquin and my mother are amazing, wonderful people who have been around the girls since they were born. The H's parents live in Houston and out of state. They too are very nice people. H's dad and step-mom spoil the girls something awful, in part I suspect because they don't get to see them often. They have asked for the girls every summer; this summer I relented and sent the oldest off for a visit, a long visit. I reminded her to behave. I told her they are Republicans. I told her not to talk about politics. I told her to believe nothing they told her about politics. She has been there less than 24 hours. She calls at lunch very excited Granny is taking her to Wal-Mart! Mommy never takes to there, because we are boycotting Wal-Mart. She can't wait to go to Wal-Mart!

*Sigh* I go to Wal-Mart when I have no other choice, like when I am visiting Pasquin and the kids need something. I just don't take them with me.

A quick post before the end of the day

2005-06-17T16:29:00.000-05:00

Over at Dohiyi Mir NTodd is talking about why Americans don't go to the movies as we once did. I posted my thoughts as to why I think we don't in the comments: money. This brings me to my post. The other night we watched 30 days on Minimum Wage on the FX network. It is an hour long documentary, made by the film maker who made Supersize Me. He is producing and hosting a weekly series called 30 days. In the first one though he is the guinea pig again, and he lives for 30 days on a minimum wage job along with his girlfriend. If you can find it in a rerun, watch it. See how expensive it is to be poor. Just amazing, and then sit back and if you were ever poor remember it, tell your kids about it. I did, it was pretty powerful for my almost 12 year old who finally "got" poverty for about 30 minutes.

2005-06-17T06:17:00.000-05:00

Natural companions.

Pasquin the Old Replies

2005-06-15T15:20:00.000-05:00

I have paid social security taxes for two years more than John Tierney has been alive, starting to work in 1951 when I was 12 years old. In those years, I have managed to earn a high-school diploma, a B. A. in history, an M. A. and Ph.D. in English, serve three years in the United States Army, and become a Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League. In those years, I also paid social security taxes each year. I am almost sixty-seven and am still working and paying social security taxes. On a good day, I can drive a golf ball the length of two and one-half football fields. I didn’t go to Yale, but from what I have seen lately, I suspect the quality of its educational prowess. My grade average was substantially better than 76 or 77. I also draw social security. In addition, I also have a modest “private” retirement account (IRA). For my life, however, I cannot understand why any of these things are pertinent to whether I should work until I am seventy or seventy five.

I know a good many people in my generation who are in good to excellent health. I know a good many who aren’t. And, unfortunately, I know a good many who are dead, and most of the dead never got to retire. President Bush the Dumber wants to save social security with the same fervor that I want to see more Republicans elected to Congress. Ah! the insane logic: Old people can race bicycles for 40 kilometers; Pasquin is an old person; Pasquin should work forever so that John Tierney can support Bush’s inanity.

Meanwhile, I think I’ll plan my vacation.

Hey Pasquin!

2005-06-14T20:40:00.000-05:00

Don't think about full-time retirement just yet young man! No mother isn't trading in her gas guzzler for the deluxe edition, at least that I know of. But it seems you are living well long enough to put in a full 8 hours.

Floor is all your's, you spring chicken you!

Andre say it ain't so!

2005-06-14T13:34:00.000-05:00

Agassi pulls out of Wimbledon. Pretty soon I am going to have to find someone young to enjoy watching, the agony. First John leaves me, then Jimmy, then, and I cried about this one, Boris (and don't think I will ever forgive you Pete), and pretty soon Andre too will leave. I will have to start watching Andy or some kid from Australia; there is a talented kid from there these days right?

No wait I can still root for Tim this year, thank goodness he is relatively old, and a Brit too!

My pro-lynching senators!

2005-06-14T09:40:00.000-05:00

Last night there was a vote in the senate to condemn the lynching of blacks in the south, yep in 2005. 78 Senators co sponsored the bill along with Senator Mary Landrieu from LA, check the list you won't find Senator Hutchinson or Senator Cornyn as sponsors. What a couple of tools.

Kay Bailey intends to run for Governor, just what Texas needs a pro-lynching Governor. Pay attention democrats.

The obligatory Michael Jackson post

2005-06-13T18:35:00.000-05:00

My entire office came to a standstill to watch the verdicts, the hidden TV came out and there we all stood. Playing will the jury or won't the jury? We were all pretty sure the jury wouldn't, except for maybe the misdemeanor alcohol charges. See what an office full of prosecutors, cops and VWCs knows. Tomorrow I will be busy with victim's trying to assure them that not all juries behave the way California juries do. There is something to be said for 3 day trials, where jurors aren't overwhelmed with too many side issues.

The Court

2005-06-13T10:46:00.000-05:00

So when will the Court finally just tell Texas to go back to the drawing board? Supremes Overturn Yet another Texas Death Penalty Case.

This time it was because the prosecution stacked the jury with whites, when there was a black defendant. They were able to show evidence that prospective black jurors were questioned more harshly regarding their feelings toward the death penalty, and that the prosecution shuffled the jury pool twice in ordered to get more whites in the prospective pool.

The usual suspects dissented in a 6-3 decision.

Bits of Truth More Questions

2005-06-13T08:41:00.000-05:00

Digby asks why we invaded Iraq?

For those of us who feel vindicated by the Downing Street Memo, and there are some of us who do. I remember saying prior to the war there weren't any WMD, and we were being lied to. Stating that we wouldn't find any WMD. Because it just didn't make sense to me that we would find them there; too much evidence pointed to the contrary. So now the question really does become why? We know from Paul O'Neill that the desire to invade Iraq was there from the start of this administration. But why?

Publius has done it again!

2005-06-12T13:25:00.000-05:00

Job A must read!

Frank Rich

2005-06-12T07:56:00.000-05:00

Why did the press covered Deep Throat the way they did without looking at Watergate? When it turns out most of Americans don't really understand what Watergate was really about. Most Americans believe it really was something... "all politicians do and Nixon just got caught and a 3rd rate burglary" and our press corps left these Americans blissfully in the dark. Why? Read the ever eloquent Rich....

Not without reason. Had the scandal been vividly resuscitated as the long national nightmare it actually was, it would dampen all the Felt fun by casting harsh light on our own present nightmare. "The fundamental right of Americans, through our free press, to penetrate and criticize the workings of our government is under attack as never before" was how the former Nixon speech writer William Safire put it on this page almost nine months ago. The current administration, a second-term imperial presidency that outstrips Nixon's in hubris by the day, leads the attack, trying to intimidate and snuff out any Woodwards or Bernsteins that might challenge it, any media proprietor like Katharine Graham or editor like Ben Bradlee who might support them and any anonymous source like Deep Throat who might enable them to find what Carl Bernstein calls "the best obtainable version of the truth."

2005-06-11T20:43:00.000-05:00

Here I am! Take my picture.

2005-06-11T20:41:00.000-05:00

That is one big fish.

Someone tell me why we don't just quit?

2005-06-11T09:17:00.000-05:00

As I posted the other day maybe we get the government we deserve. 51% of us voted for this, our press chooses not to cover the Downing Street Memo honestly, and they give the administration hacks more than adequate time to blow smoke regarding the nature of the memo, without calling them on their blatant and obvious lies. In addition, Tex Sensenbrenner calls a halt to hearings on the Patriot Act and there isn't an uproar, there isn't a peep. If there is a Martin Luther King of this generation he is hiding behind a keyboard blogging, not calling us to our feet. Money is wonderful and giving money to our candidates is great, but look at what is going on in Washington today and what are we doing? We are sitting around in our living rooms, studies, dining rooms and elsewhere blogging our hearts out calling for hearings and investigations into the Downing Street Memo. So they can shut down the hearings and turn off the microphones and the modern media will continue to cover the latest missing person and the latest verdict and ignore the uncomfortable truth of Washington, because Chris Matthews wants Condi Rice on his Hard8all anniversary special. No one cares as long as they continue to get their paychecks and their children are not being drafted. As long as this war is against those who do not look like them and do not worship like them and does not affect their daily lives who gives a fuck if the government lied to get us there? It was for the better good. Until it is not for the better good and that isn't until it directly affects them. As for us? We will continue to speak into our echo chamber until our MLK leaves his keyboard, and we hear his voice, and he or she calls us to leave the comfort of homes to take to our feet. Because in the end do any of you really think that the folk in Washington, who ignored the law give a shit about what we do on our blogs? Do you think the press who ignore the truth will listen to our words? It will take our feet. Otherwise we will continue to get the government we deserve.

In Defense of Daily Kos

2005-06-08T14:17:00.000-05:00

So I wandered over to Daily Kos, I admit it I was looking for something to blog about, not much has caught my attention of late. I know the Medical Marijuana case should have had me blogging away, but it didn't surprise me, no not even Mr. Justice Scalia. Anyway over at the Daily Kos it seems there has been a mass defection of the female diarists, because of an ad. The ad is sexist, but isn't anything worse than what you would see for a wet T-Shirt contest. First things first, I am from Texas where we are decades behind the rest of the world when it comes to darlins', sweethearts, and honeys BUT you have to pay the bills, and Kos has to pay the bills. We as liberal democrats claim to support the free-market and free speech this will include offensive speech and offensive sexist ads. If you don't like it, don't click through, and don’t watch the show. Treat it the same way we say conservatives should treat television shows they find offensive. What is supremely foolish is to walk away from a highly effective gathering place where democrats exchanges ideas because your sensibilities are offended. We should be beyond that. I am a woman. I am paid less than men. I am called honey by so many West Texas attorneys I have quit counting. None of that matters, what matters is that I do my job well and effectively serve my victims. What should matter in the blogosphere is that we effectively exchange ideas not get upset over a silly little ad that shows too much T & A, for a show that in the end most likely won't be on the air in 2008.

2005-06-07T18:33:00.000-05:00

One happy cat loving 4 year old, yes she is being gentle I promise.