'Twas The Night Before Fitzmas...

...and through Hootervill-age,
A hope was held out for an end to the pillage.
An end to the theft of American dollars,
An end to the demonization of scholars.

The people of Hooterville wished and they prayed
For justice and peace to be no more DeLayed.
They longed for the day that their country would be
No longer a captive of venality.

For many a year now, the Hooterville people
Have cried, "What's the matter with all of you sheeple?
How can you just sit there and let this go on?"
But, sadly, their outrage was met by a yawn.

And those who were stealing from those who have least,
Rampaging like some kind of greed-maddened beast,
Were holding us up, shouting, "This is a heist!
So put up your hands in the name of our Christ!"

Then, what to our wondering eyes should appear
But a man speaking words that we so longed to hear:
"It's time for the Piper at last to be paid"
And Hooterville happily hip-hip-hoorayed.

Indictments all round for the scum who would claim
That they'd never known Wilson or Valerie Plame
And all along, vengeance had been the sole reason
To 'out' our own agent, and so commit treason.

For war must be waged, and their coffers be filled -
Who cares about mothers whose sons have been killed?
Who cares for the dying, the crying, the hurtin' -
Just look at those profits for ol' Halliburton!

It's time for the hammer of justice to fall;
Time we put a stop to it once and for all.
A stop to corruption, and cronies, and lies.
Let's stop before one more American dies.

And what do I want 'neath my own Fitzmas tree?
A Scooter, a Rover, maybe a Cheney!


(I wrote this before I read Catherine's masterpiece at Povertybarn...please check it out!)

Haloscan comments down...

I've tried to comment with Haloscan, but it's not working for some reason. Until it's fixed, we'll have to use the Blogger comments, next to the e-mail envelope. (...she said, bringing comfort to the distraught, teary thousands denied the chance to comment)

Ahh, Yer Red-Hot, Doc!

Well, sorry to repost this, but since it has fallen off the page, I wanted to keep it current. It's just so apt at this time.

Idea

Blue Gal, a new reader, suggested on her blog that someone put together all of the Photoshopped Tom DeLay pix on one site.

Well, let me suggest this. I am the proud owner of the domain name ilovetomdelay.com.

Would anyone like to help me put it together? Now is as good a time as any, I'd say!

Marie Antoinette Was A Piker

Wondering...

Does anyone else besides me really, really, really want to know what Jimmy/Jeff was doing during his hundred visits to the White House?

Jam Tomorrow

P.S. - anyone interested in who Scotty is?
The bare facts - Wikipedia
Satire

Coming Attractions!

Listening to Johnny Wendell on our local Progressive Talk station KTLK, I heard Jane Hamsher of firedoglake holding forth on the imminent indictments coming 'round the mountain. This is a great blog that I have heretofore missed since I don't have the time to check out every cool blog out there, but you can bet I'll be making it a regular read.

She's been paying very close attention to the Judith "Gee, I Forgot" Miller debacle, and her guess is that several big-ass indictments will be handed out, starring Scooter Libby, Karl Rove and Stephen Hadley...and featuring special guest star Dick Cheney as an unindicted co-conspirator!

And the mystery 'second source' who corroborated Libby for Judy Blue Eyes? That suave, debonair, smooth-talking silver-tongued ladies' man John Bolton!

It will be interesting to see this play out.

Fabulous Picture

David at Yogakorunta sent me this link - what a great pic! Visit this guy's site!


Art of Mark Bryan

Do You Visit Here And I Haven't Met You Yet?

Stop on by and introduce yourself! Folks are pretty friendly here in Hooterville!

Shameless Band Self-Promotion

Hi all -

I'm taking time out of my ceaseless whinging to band-whore for a moment. My band "Some Like It Hot" played last Thursday night at a blues club called Cozy's in Sherman Oaks. Our bass player Lynne and I used to play there on a regular basis with our old band the Scarletts but our new band had never played there before and we were anxious to do well. We had a great night with a lot more people than I expected, and it was a very generous and friendly crowd. It really felt like 'Old Home Week'.

We're booked back there a week from next Thursday on the 20th, and we would like to invite anyone in the L.A. vicinity to come out and hang with us. If you can't come but would like to show some support, you can go to our website and click on the 'Cozy's' link on the front page. Apparently the owner, who has now learned to look at his stats, noticed that our website had sent the most traffic to his site, and was suitably impressed. I'd really like to make a splash on his site, as this is a great club for us (and located a convenient block-and-a-half from my house!) and we'd like to be back regularly.

Thanks!

And now, back to our regularly-scheduled bitch-fest!

I Nominate For SCOTUS - Me!

Yes, that's right. I have decided to begin a search for a qualified Supreme Court candidate. Like Harriet Miers and Dick Cheney before me, after an exhaustive and extensive search, I realized that the perfect candidate has been right in front of my nose all along...me!

In all humility, I would be great. Look as hard as they might, no one will ever find any of my legal decisions to be unacceptable. I have not made any rulings that would be questionable. I, like Harriet, have never been a judge. But I can top her - I've never been a lawyer, either! Heck, I haven't even been to college! Talk about your blank slate! I've got it all over Harriet. And in the anti-intellectual, elitist-education-hating climate of this Administration, that makes me the perfect pick. I am, perhaps, the most qualificationally-challenged candidate in the field.

Plus, I look hot in a black muu-muu.

Free-Falling...

(kind of like his approval ratings!)
Go here for bubblicious fun with Dubya.

Scarfed this up at the Povertybarn. Enjoy!

(I like making him 'drop and give me fifty')

So, Whaddya Think?

Is it going to be Condi in '08?

Confession

I know that I can get pretty snarky on this blog. But I am so very angry about what these people have done and continue to do to our country, and laughing keeps me from screaming or crying.

Tommi in particular just makes me furious. Besides Karl Rove, I don't think there is any one person more dangerous to our democracy than he is. Using every dirty trick in the book, he constructs a one-party state with no limitations on his power and greed. Illegaly redistricting - gerrymandering - Texas so as to shut out Democrats and grab a majority in Congress. And he gets away with it! Everybody goes, "Tsk-tsk - that wicked Tom DeLay!", but he gets away with it anyway. He takes over K Street and shuts out lobbyists who donate to the Democratic Party, and he gets away with it. He shuts out corporations who hire a Democrat to lobby for them. And he gets away with it. He shuts down any bill that threatens his corporate thievery - and he gets away with it! And then adds insult to injury by babbling on about his 'Christian' values. Sweatshops, forced prostitution, forced abortions (isn't that one a hoot!) are fine with Tommi in the Marianas, that shining example of free-market American business at its best. Everyone is shocked - shocked, but nobody stops it.

I for one am sick to death of it. I am so hungry for some justice, some honesty, some accountability. I'm so afraid for our soldiers, for the innocent people who are dying every day because of this administration's apocalyptic and venal worldview. The media is cowed into submission, so the average American, who deserves to know the truth, is left in the dark.

What do you think those First Amendment protections are for, anyway? Why does a 'journalist' like Judith Miller get to cloak herself in it? Because the press is supposed to challenge the powers that be, not suck up to them. That's what the First Amendment is for. And it is as much a protection for the people as it is for the journalists who are supposed to be exposing the workings of the government. The only people who have the time and the access to get at the facts are journalists. That is their job, not mine. The public has a right to know the truth, and that is why journalists and free speech in general are protected. That is the the privilege and the duty of the press. They are given these protections because their first duty is to the American people, not the government. But lately, it's been the other way around. The press operates at the behest of the government for fear of losing their jobs, their reputations, their access. But ordinary Americans are being asked to do a journalist's job as well as their own because the journalists won't do it. I can't go to Washington. I can't go to Iraq. I don't have the access to anyone in power. I can't find this stuff out first-hand; I am supposed to be able to rely on the press for that. It makes me sick. It seems as if we 'unpaid pundits' of the blogosphere have to take up the slack until the press can grow a set. The papers and the news networks need to support their writers and journalists and allow them the latitude to write and speak the truth without being smeared, discredited or ignored.

So, yes, I snark. And I rant. And I read. And I talk. And I listen. Because despair is not an option.

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!

Tommi, Can You Hear Me? You're Out!

Just heard the good news! Tommi has been indicted and will step down!!!

ABC News.

Jam Tomorrow

Does he have a quota to meet with the phrase 'moving forward'? Does his pay get docked if he doesn't squeeze it in somewhere?

John Kerry Bitch-Slaps Bush at Brown U.

John Kerry tells it like it is in a speech at Brown University:

"Katrina is a symbol of all this administration does and doesn't do. Michael Brown -- or Brownie as the President so famously thanked him for doing a heck of a job - Brownie is to Katrina what Paul Bremer is to peace in Iraq; what George Tenet is to slam dunk intelligence; what Paul Wolfowitz is to parades paved with flowers in Baghdad; what Dick Cheney is to visionary energy policy; what Donald Rumsfeld is to basic war planning; what Tom Delay is to ethics; and what George Bush is to “Mission Accomplished” and "Wanted Dead or Alive." The bottom line is simple: The "we'll do whatever it takes" administration doesn't have what it takes to get the job done.

This is the Katrina administration.

It has consistently squandered time, tax dollars, political capital, and even risked American lives on sideshow adventures: A war of choice in Iraq against someone who had nothing to do with 9/11; a full scale presidential assault on Social Security when everyone knows the real crisis is in health care - Medicare and Medicaid. And that's before you get to willful denial on global warming; avoidance on competitiveness; complicity in the loss and refusal of health care to millions."

Read the whole speech here -

Bush's Compassionate Conservatism - Alive and Well!

This is just hilarious - at first I thought it was from the Onion. I got this juicy tidbit from Cernig over at NewsHog.

According to the U.K. Observer, the warm-hearted and philanthropic George Bush appealed to Americans to give money to help with the reconstruction of Iraq. The response was overwhelming, raising over six hundred dollars!

"The public's reluctance to contribute much more than the cost of two iPods to the administration's attempt to offer citizens 'a further stake in building a free and prosperous Iraq' has been seized on by critics as evidence of growing ambivalence over that country.

This coincides with concern over the increasing cost of the war. More than $30 billion has been appropriated for the reconstruction. Initially, America's overseas aid agency, USaid, expected it to cost taxpayers no more than $1.7bn, but it is now asking the public if they want to contribute even more."

Gee, where do I sign?

I Feel Safer, Don't You?

This from Catherine at PovertyBarn. Brilliant!

No, We Are Not Either At War.

I wish like hell you'd quit saying that over and over again. Saying it does not make it so.

Honestly, what do you think - some guy is going to come out waving a white flag and say, "I'm the King of All Terrorists, and on behalf of all the terrorists in the world, I surrender to you, President Bush! Please don't unleash any more American might upon us! We are helpless against your superior strength and moral righteousness. You've beaten us fair and square, President Bush, and I promise you, no terrorist will ever interfere with your oil interests again, O mighty Caliph of Carnage! We bow to your awesome American power!"

But you throw away American lives and dollars like they were so much Charmin on this invasion you insist on calling a war. Gleefully calling yourself a 'war president' as you've been dying to do for many years - except of course, you're not doing the dying, are you? Course, you can't very well be a War President without a war, now can you? And you can't have a real keen war without a lot of kids dying, now can you? So why don't you just explain that to Mrs. Sheehan? She's a mom; I'm sure she'll understand. Your mom sure does.

You are a total disaster as a President - may I say the Worst. President. Ever. - and a waste of skin as a human being. "We're at war! We're at war!", you keep bleating, the Kowboy Koward of Krawford, bicycling merrily along, git-tar playing, cake-eating and celebrating while your people die horribly.

No, we're not at war; you are - with the American people.

Drink up, George! Cheers! Mazel Tov! (I would say L'Chaim, but that would be very wrong.)

Dear George W. - Please Get Your Ass To A Meeting. Now.

...before you destroy the world! Dry drunks are bad enough. Active drunks are dangerous. Active drunks in charge of the free world are genocidal.

And I'd rather be a friend of Bill's than a friend of George's.

From Capitol Hill Blue...

Update - here it is from one of my fave ragazines the National Enquirer...love 'em or hate 'em, they get it right a lot on things like that.

I Accept The Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Challenge!

Karena at Karena's Blog has thrown down the Photoshop gauntlet, and I am not one to shrink from a challenge...

Want A Good Job? Join Blackwater!

An exciting career in Diplomatic Security awaits!

Power Out In L.A.

This is odd. I was in the middle of a rehearsal (in a studio with no windows) when the power went out. leaving us in pitch darkness. We thought we were such bad-asses that we blew out the power in the room, but we soon found out it was the whole building, and then the whole city. Apparently the Department of Water and Power had a severed line. Terrorism has been ruled out.

Apparently my iPowerWeb server where I host my sites is down, because I can't access my sites or my e-mail from there either, which means my comics page is down too.

Hope things change soon.

Bush Family Picnic

I usually post my own pix, but this one came from a friend and I thought it was worth passing on...

Meme

Okay, okay - I've been tagged several times with this, so I had better get on the stick...


The Rules

Remove the blog at #1 from the following list and bump every one up one place; add your blog's name in the #5 spot; link to each of the other blogs for the desired cross pollenation effect.

--Last Left Turn Before Hooterville
--Fun Central
--Left of Centrist
--Truespeak
--Words on A Page

Next: Select four new friends to add to the pollen count. (No one is obligated to participate and anyone can play if they want to). (I'm glad about that caveat - I'm not the best at always getting to it when I'm tagged, although it's always nice!)


'The Meme':


1.) What were you doing 10 years ago?

I was playing rock and roll in Finland with my husband and 2 (at the time)sons


2.) What were you doing 5 years ago?

Raising my family, having added 2 kids in the meantime, playing in my soul band the Scarletts

3.) What were you doing one year ago?

Working to get BushCo out of office

4.) What were you doing yesterday?

At the music school where I work, getting ready for finals next week

5.) Five snacks you enjoy

Krispy Kremes
banana popsicles
Corn Nuts (only while driving)
Krispy Kremes
(did I mention Krispy Kremes?)

6.) Five songs I know all the words to.

(I'm a singer so that's not a fair challenge...)
Ode To Billy Joe
Change Gonna Come
La Marseillaise
Brick House
Down Home Blues

7.) Five things you would do if you had a million dollars

Add a room to my house for my daughter
Repair my studio and garage
Hire a personal trainer for 6 months
Get a massage
Like Wanda said, rent the biggest UHaul available, fill it with food, water, grills, charcoal, soap, towels, shoes, clothes, ect and head out for the Gulf Coast. Then spread it around.

8.)Five things you like doing

Spending time with my family
Making music
Blogging
Reading
Travel


9.) Five bad habits

Stress-eating
Being messy
Cussing
Being uncomfortable around strangers
Forgetting to call people back


10.) Five things I would never wear again
platforms
a uniform
a padded bra
panty hose
bell-bottoms


11.) Five favorite toys
my computer
my piano
my guitar
a sketchbook
a book


Okay, lets see whom should I tap to pass this along to?
How about
1.) MudHoler
2.) Crabletta
3.) Cookie Christine
4.) OldWhiteLady

Jam Tomorrow

The lettering is small because there was so much Scotty goodness; you can read the whole thing in all its pig-headed glory...

FYI - No Money For Hurricane Protection

This is from the Hurricane Protection Projects report for the New Orleans District, updated last May.

They asked for money. The President said no.

Just read.

All Over It Like A Cheap Suit

How To Get A Job In The Bush Administration

Good morning, sir - what can I do for you today?

Well, I'm here to apply for the FEMA management post - I heard there's an opening.

Very good, Mr. - uh, I didn't catch your name...

-- Doe, sir - John Doe.

Yes, well, uh, Mr. Doe, how did you hear about this position?

Word gets around, you know...(wink, wink)

Oh yes; that it does! Well, I see here on your resume that you and our president are old friends -

-- Oh yes, we are! --

and the two of you have had some good times together...

You've got that right! Wooh! Some of those late nights down in the French Quarter...you know how young men are...

Yes, sir, indeed I do. And it seems you've helped him out of a jam or two...

Boy, have I! And he told me, "I owe you big time, fella! Anything I can ever do for you, John..."

Yes, I'm very sure he did. And I see here that you've contributed quite a bit to his various campaigns over the years...quite a bit!

Well, my daddy always told me if I support my friends now, they'll support me later...

Very good advice, I'm sure. Well, I have to say that your qualifications so far look excellent.

Thank you, sir.

You seem like exactly the sort of guy the President wants on his team.

I'd like to think so, sir.

So let me just breeze through the rest of your resume - merely a formality, you understand...

Of course, sir.

Oh, wait a minute..what's this about you working for an Emergency Management Agency?

Well, yes, sir...I have quite a bit of experience in Emergency Management; I spent ten years in the field and received great job reviews. That's why I applied for the position, and naturally, I thought...

I'm sorry, son, but I'm afraid we can't use you here.

But, I...

Do you have any experience in international banking?

No sir, I'm afraid I don't - actually, I've been bankrupt several times, and I'm up to my eyeballs in debt again. I don't have the least clue how to handle money, but...

Excellent! Why don't you go and see Bob in International Banking - I'm sure the top position there would be just right for you!

Thank you, sir...

BuzzFlash Editorial

...saved me the trouble of writing it all down.

Mission - Incompetence!

G over at Library Bitch has a fabulous post that I just have to share with you. Sometimes, somebody just nails it.

The Chickens Have Come Home To Roost

Well, we see now the tangible results of what we've been hollering about for the last 5 years.

This is what happens when you undertax, underfund, undermine and under-support the American public. What has been theoretical is now, all too tragically, real. When the rubber meets the road, we don't have the resources or organization or anything to care for our own people.

I hold George W. Bush and his Administration personally responsible for the deaths of the victims of Katrina, and the destruction of a priceless American city, an irreplaceable heritage. When he's strumming his guitar, I hope he realizes that he has demolished the culture from which his guitar-playing sprung.

If this makes me sound like a nut-job liberal wacko, I really don't give a good goddamn.

Update: I bring joy to others.

TheStonerPundit:

You are laughable. You hold GW personally responsible for the deaths of the Katrina victims? Even the ones that died during the storm? Come on you've got to be smarter than that.

Me:

Yes I do. Laugh if you like. I hold him responsible because as president, he is responsible for the direction of the policy of this nation. And the direction of the policy has been one of tax cuts that have gutted this nation's needs and diverted our resources to his war of choice, and while cutting taxes during wartime slashed budgets for infrastructure.

If the money had been there for the shoring up of the levees like the state of Louisiana and the Corps of Engineers begged for, if FEMA was not managed by incompetents who were owed political favors, (like so many appointments in this Administration - not that he shouldn't appoint people who have done things for him, but that the people he chooses are as unbelievably incompetent as he is - failures at every other job they had, and completely unqualified for the job they're appointed to) if there were any kind of importance attached to planning for disaster at home instead of creating disaster in Iraq, I believe that this kind of catastrophe could have been mitigated.

Of course there would have been a terrible storm, but not the entire loss of a city; the loss of life would have numbered in the dozens, not the hundreds or thousands.

This pathetic, disorganized response represents the culture in place from the White House on down - the really callous disregard for those who can't do anything for him. If he cared one single fig, he would have had his ass down there in the shit-water as soon as he heard about it. He could have been offering moral support, which would have been better than nothing. That's one of his jobs as President. It's called a bully pulpit. I think people would have forgiven him a lot if he was down there in the wreckage for real, not some stupid-ass staged photo op that a blind person could tell was phony. If he showed one speck of real emotion or real empathy, people would not be feeling abandoned by this government. But he has abandoned the people of Louisiana not only by his policies, but emotionally as well. If nothing else, his caretakers should have made him go down there instead of partying and fund-raising. What a slap in the face to those suffering people.

But apart from that, the sad truth is that his lack of caring is evidenced in his priorities, in where he chose to spend money, in what he chose to cut. And his apathetic, lackadaisical response just reflects the reality of his attitude.

This did not have to happen the way it did. And for that, I hold him responsible.

He wanted this job - badly enough to steal it, in my opinion (but what do I know; I'm a liberal crackpot). However, he doesn't want the responsibility that goes along with it. For someone who's always lecturing other people about 'personal responsibility', he doesn't have a clue in hell about what that means.

So, if he won't hold himself responsible, I will.

I Heart Kanye West

Kanye, you have a new fan. The look on Mike Myers' face when Kanye West departed from the official script and spoke the truth straight from his heart was classic. Check out the video on Crooks and Liars.

What's Really Important Right Now

Yes, you guessed it - the 'Paris Hilton Tax' must be repealed immediately! At least according to Bill Frist.

Leadership (or the lack thereof)

Will somebody tell me why George Bush is not down there in New Orleans up to his tits in shit-water? That's where he belongs, him and his whole gaggle of royalist boot-lickers.

Hey - I've got an idea! Let's tell him there are some stem-cells in danger down there!

P.S. Condi - I hear the shoes are dirt-cheap down there - practically free for the taking!

Neo-Math

Let Them Eat Yellowcake - Part 2

FEMA now, FEMA then

Just a side note -

When the 1994 Northridge earthquake struck, we were in one of the worst-hit areas. We got so much help from FEMA and the SBA. The response was immediate and helpful.

Last winter, Los Angeles had record rainstorms that destroyed my little 8X16'studio building in my back yard where I do my work. We were declared a disaster area and eligible for assistance. What a difference. It took me a month to get all the different documents and tax returns, etc. together; I made four 40-mile round trips to the FEMA office. They send a guy over who gives it a cursory once-over, and sniffs, "I don't think it was the rain that did that", and I was turned down. Now, I can guarantee you that it was the rain - that structure even made it through the earthquake - but the effort it would take to challenge the decision is too much for me at this point. It wasn't so much the turning down that is the issue, but the whole FEMA thing was completely different than it was in 1994 - the 'guilty until proven innocent' vibe that was not there in '94.

Just my experience, that's all I'm saying.

Help For Katrina Victims

Marie from Right Left Story asked me to post this, and I'll do anything Marie asks...

The VeteransForPeace Tour Bus is Heading in to Louisiana to render aid, provide medics, cook food, provide shelter. They will have 3 camps set up. And they need 3 of everything below. We need to get these items to a rest stop on the South Side of I-10 anywhere from the Louisiana border east to New Orleans. THIS IS A CODE BLUE FOR BLOGGERS WE NEED THIS INFO AND OR IMAGE POSTED FAR AND WIDE.

If you can drive supplies to this area, please contact Brendan at human_generic@yahoo.com or 518 279-3912 I'll relay your location and time of arrival to the Bus/Caravan. Donations can be made at http://DennisKyne.com on the PayPal button.

As soon as we hear from a supporter willing to meet them with supplies on 1-10 Brendan will connect everyone.

For now they are on their way to the Bridge Casino in Lake Charles.

Then onto Lafeyette where folks can meet them on the Evangeline Freeway.

Then Baton Rouge.

List:
Work Gloves
t-shirts
underwear
bottled water
cooking units with propane cartridges
tarps
shovels
rakes
saws
canned goods
dried goods
baby formula
first aid kits
gatorade
cups
plates
papertowels
handwipes
toilet paper
lights
generators
battery cables
batteries
flashlights
phone cards
and pretty much anything else you can think of.
They have a huge Uhaul Truck Begging to be filled by Liberal Donations. Hey we're not picky we'll take some conservative and moderate donations too!

Thank you, Marie. I just want to jump in my car right now and drive to Louisiana with some supplies, but I've sent money to the Red Cross and I'm going to get some clothes and toilet supplies together to donate. Right now it feels like words are just stupid. Action is all that counts, in whatever way available.

The time for talking has come and gone. We need to take our country back now.

"Shoot To Kill", Says Louisiana Gov.

Words fail.
The Worst. President. Ever. has zero tolerance for looters.

He's way more concerned with oil than the sick, hungry, thirsty, dying people in New Orleans. At least from the way his speeches have been so far.

A Song For Our Time, By My Husband

My husband, David Morgan, is an incredible singer/songwriter/piano player, and last year he wrote a song with a unique and touching perspective on the 'War On Terror'. I'd really like to share it with you all.

This is the link to the song itself - on the website we are selling it as a 99¢ download, but we don't want to ask you to pay; we'd like to invite you to listen. You can go to the website for information about the song, lyrics, etc.

I hope it speaks to you like it speaks to me.

Wednesday Night Vigil

Just got back from the vigil - today we had some fine guitar players/singers, and a lot of supportive people for peace.

Here's a photo page...

Dare To Discipline! (apologies to James Dobson)

The last post got me thinking about the parallels between being a parent and being a patriot.

As I've mentioned, I'm a mom, raising four kids. I know a lot of you out there are parents or pet owners (yes, it applies there too!). Now, which is the better parent - the one who says, "My little darling is just perfect! He can do whatever he wants!" as Little Darling pulls the wings off flies, bullies other kids on the playground, steals their toys, lies, and disrespects others, or the one who corrects Little Darling's behavior?

Most people would not dream of allowing their children to grow up cruel and selfish. Children are born selfish by nature as a survival instinct, but it's a parent's job to teach the child to get along with others, to share, to wait their turn, to put themselves in other people's shoes, to respect others. That makes for a happy, well-adjusted child who has friends, who does well in school, and later on does well in life. To not give a child limits is to neglect and abuse them. We even treat our animals with more kindness by training them.

If a kid eats too much candy he gets sick. If he isn't given nutritious food, he becomes weak and sickly. If he isn't given chores and responsibilities, he doesn't understand how to take care of himself. If he's given every toy or thing he demands, he will not understand the meaning of money. He'll be spoiled, greedy and what's more, unhappy and dissatisfied without knowing why.

I see our relationship with our country that way. To say "America's perfect and if you criticize it you're unpatriotic" does our great country a huge disservice. Nobody wants America to be a spoiled bully, but if we do not discipline her, that's what happens. I love my country too much to do that.

Word Verification on...

I'm implementing word verification on this blog because I've seen comment spam starting to rear its ugly head on other blogs. I left WordPress because of it. Hope you don't mind...

Thanks, Dubya. Thanks. A Lot. Love, N.O.

Well, my goodness gracious. What have we here? It seems as if the Worst. President. Ever. couldn't be bothered to fund the Army Corps of Engineers in the New Orleans district. According to this article,

In fiscal year 2006, the New Orleans district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is bracing for a record $71.2 million reduction in federal funding.

It would be the largest single-year funding loss ever for the New Orleans district, Corps officials said.

I've been here over 30 years and I've never seen this level of reduction, said Al Naomi, project manager for the New Orleans district. I think part of the problem is it's not so much the reduction, it's the drastic reduction in one fiscal year. It's the immediacy of the reduction that I think is the hardest thing to adapt to.

There is an economic ripple effect, too. The cuts mean major hurricane and flood protection projects will not be awarded to local engineering firms. Also, a study to determine ways to protect the region from a Category 5 hurricane has been shelved for now.

Read it and weep. I mean, for reals. Read it. And weep.

There could be no better example of the idiocy, the avarice and callousness of the cumulative effects of all of the Worst. President. Ever.'s policies - insane tax cuts, coupled with the stinking black hole of Iraq that's taken away the National Guard (who would have been on hand to help with the disaster) and sucking out the money (six billion dollars a month) that hasn't been given away in tax breaks for zillionaires and corporations; the elimination of the estate tax, and not least, the Bankruptcy Bill, which (among other travesties) will take away the ability of a bankruptcy judge to use his or her own discretion to give a person declaring bankruptcy any kind of a break on repayment depending on individual circumstance, even though corporations get those breaks. And thanks to stubbornly ignoring the reality of global warming, we only have more of the same in store ahead.

I just look at the TV and cry. New Orleans may gone forever. But Dubya spent one minute and twenty five seconds of a forty-minute advertisement - uh, I mean speech - making an offhand reference to the disaster and telling people to call the Red Cross, and the rest of that time he was promoting the Iraq sinkhole and comparing himself to FDR.

The only way you can make a comparison between the Worst. President. Ever. and FDR is that they were both afflicted with paralysis - FDR had paralyzed legs and Bush has paralyzed decency, morals and intelligence.

And here's an article from 2001 in Popular Mechanics predicting this.

Food For Thought

J. James gave me some food for thought. I am always interested when someone gives me something to consider.

Here's J. James:

I know you're not a big fan of numbers, but on the topic of Germany, there unemployment is right about 10.5 percent.

Just food for thought.

Here's me:

J.J. - I don't dislike numbers per se, and I always appreciate food for thought. I am not saying that we should be like Germany - I am saying that we can do better with the system we have than showering the wealthy and the corporations with tax breaks in the hopes that jobs will result.

As we have seen, it hasn't happened that way. We've had outsourcings, giant mergers with resulting layoffs, and the job growth that we have seen is mostly in the area of service jobs - jobs that do not pay a living wage. Meanwhile, CEO wages continue to increase, prices increase, corporate profits rise, and regular wages stagnate or retreat.

A number like 10.5 just out of the blue does not take a lot of things into consideration. For instance, there is the difference between East Germany and West Germany numbers. There are also a lot of other factors that are not comparable between our business model and theirs. If you count people with service jobs that don't pay a living wage, how is that better? If people who work at Wal-Mart have to get food stamps, what kind of employment is that?

If I have a business, and hire 2 guys at $15 an hour, and you have a business and hire 10 guys at $3 an hour, are you creating more jobs than I am?

I am not advocating socialism and reviling capitalism. I think the socialist countries could do with some capitalism, and I think without some regulation and constraints, unbridled capitalism leads to where we are headed right now - a huge gulf between the haves and have-nots, which eventually leads to revolt and the swing of the pendulum the other way, which certainly doesn't work either. Communism is a fairy-tale and so is Ayn-Rand-every-man-for-himself-the free-market-is-king capitalism.

We need to rein in the excesses or we're going to be even sorrier than we are now.

And if you're interested in numbers, here are some...

I Love Taxes!

I love taxes!

You heard me right.

I'm sick and tired of people bitching about having to pay taxes.

I may not always be happy about how taxes are spent and managed, but taxes are what make it possible to live the 'American Dream'. I have conservative friends who say, "I have to pay the first 3 months' salary of the year to the government," as though that were some kind of definitive argument against taxes. And any politician who wants to be popular vows to 'cut taxes'.

So it's an outrage to have to pay taxes. So, we expect to have roads, firemen, policemen, infrastructure in general, a prosperous business environment, a military, education for all, protection and promotion of our way of life - for nothing!

Now, this is not the sort of rant that is filled with 'statistics', because as we all know, as Mark Twain said, there are "lies, damned lies, and statistics". Statistics are easy to manipulate and it's a convenient way to get away from a point by wrangling over them. I'm talking about a philosophical point of view.

The impetus for our nationhood was rebellion against unjust taxation. There is a deep-seated distrust of taxes built into the American psyche for this reason. And acquisitiveness is a primal survival mechanism. Babies are born selfish out of necessity. But we are not babies. We learn that sharing is not only kind, it's necessary to our way of life. We have to give if we want to get. If we want something, we have to pay for it.

Americans believe in hard work, and making your own way. But Warren Buffet acknowledges that "There's no way I would enjoy what I enjoy if I had been born in West Africa." Part of being successful in America is the resources that America has to offer, and these don't just come out of thin air. If we want the benefit of all these resources, we need to pay for it. No matter how hard a person works, no matter what sort of entrepreneurial spirit and determination you have, it doesn't matter if the infrastructure and resources are not there to work with. Babies expect to be given everything without having to pay for it. Adults should know better.

I'll say another dirty word - tax the rich!

That's right. When our present system of taxation came into being, the idea of the progressive income tax was based on the notion that all Americans should bear the same amount of financial burden in contributing to the well-being and prosperity of this country. We all have basic needs - food, shelter, medical care. But obviously that takes up a larger share of the income of the less-well-off. The people who are well-off are well-off because they (or their parents) were in a place with the resources to reap benefits from the work they do. If you have 2 farmers, one with a rich, fertile piece of land, and another with an infertile pile of dirt, and they both try to grow something on their piece of land, is the farmer with the fertile land harder-working or more industrious or deserving of wealth than the farmer with the dry dirt pile? But somehow, people have this notion that people are rich all on their own merit and that poor people are poor because they're lazy and deserve poverty. And the evangelical right echoes that, saying in effect that God rewards His faithful with earthly riches and if you're poor, you're obviously out of God's favor. Never mind that Jesus said the exact opposite! But I digress...

Call for taxing the rich, and the howls of 'class warfare' are heard from the right. But it is a privilege to be able to do business in the United States, and poor people pay a much larger proportion of their income in taxes that benefit the rich when you figure in the taxes that are paid on everything they consume. There is already class warfare, and it's the war of the rich against the poor, and of the corporation against the individual.

For all the reminiscing about how great life was in the 50's, and how family life was so fantastic because moms stayed home, one big reason was the high tax rate of the well-off, and of corporations. The overall economy was prosperous enough that a shoe salesman could own a home, a car, and support a wife and large family - on one job! And a not-especially high-paying or prestigious one at that! Never mind that much of the idealization of the 50s conveniently forgets about racism and sexism, and the fact that many dads missed out on their kids' entire childhoods and moms were often tied up in a pink ruffled straitjacket, but speaking in economic terms, the dollar went a whole lot farther than it does today. Plus, decent-paying blue-collar jobs have gone the way of the 45 record, college tuition is through the roof, and social mobility is more stratified and frozen than ever. The good-paying jobs for those without a college degree (and those with one!) have been replaced by service jobs - McJobs, if you will, without benefits, where you can work full-time and not be able to support yourself. Think about that - you work as hard as you can for 40 hours or more a week, and not make enough money to supply even the basic necessities of life. That's not work - that's indentured servitude.

Folks, the trickle-down theory does not work. It's just a race to the bottom for the poor, and the formerly-middle-class that is rapidly becoming poor. More money might be made for those at the top - Wall Street shows that - but it's staying there, siphoned to offshore accounts and tax shelters. We've seen the results, and we're living with it now. And with the elimination of the estate tax, money that would have gone to charitable giving as a tax shelter is now unnecessary.

The object of the progressive tax is to ask the rich to bear the same burden as the poor. Not the same amount; not even the same percentage - the same burden. That is obviously impossible, since no one would ask the rich to pay everything that they make except for the bare essentials - like a crowded apartment, food stamps, second-hand clothing, free-clinic medical care - in taxes. But that's what the poor are asked for. There is a price we all have to pay for life in America, and if everyone assumed the same burden, the overall quality of life for all Americans - including the rich - would improve immeasurably.

So shut up, rich people, and pay your goddamn fair share.

(Gee, I feel so O'Reilly-esque! Pass the falafel!)

Good Parenting

I read a great post today on The Young Liberals blog - as a mom, and as a stepmom of a draft-age young man, this really got my attention.

Read here.

"Name That Cartoon" Contest Winner - Crabletta!

I've decided to go with 'Capitol Punishment', and since Crabby suggested 'Political Capital', that makes her the winner, being the closest and all. Thanks to all who participated. Since she turned down the Amana Radar-Range, she will receive the Undying Gratitude - at least you don't have to pay sales tax on it!

Do I Feel Lucky?

'Go, Pat, Go' Redux

I'm taking the lazy way out and reposting my earlier Pat Robertson stuff from last May...it's still relevant, and bears remembering in light of the most recent 'Pat'-astrophe!

(I just love me some Pat Robertson. He's always good for a hoot. He never lets you down in the crazy-ass department. If only he'd take another run at the Presidency.)


The streets are paved with gold in Heaven, but it seems that televangelist Pat Robertson is trying to get a head start here on Earth.

While bitterly decrying "the tyranny of an oligarchy", he was busily laying up treasures in cahoots with one of the most despotic and savage tyrants in the world - Charles Taylor, former 'President' of Liberia. Now in exile in Nigeria, Taylor has been indicted by the Special Court of Sierra Leone on 17 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in contributing to the death, rape, abduction, and mutilation of thousands of civilians during Sierra Leone’s civil war from 1991 to 2002.

Bad guy? Not according to Pat. In fact, according to Demopedia

Robertson and Taylor are good friends, so much so that in 1998 Robertson negotiated a business partnership with the Taylor regime giving him the rights to gold mining interests in Liberia in exchange for a 10% kick back to the Taylor government. To move on this opportunity Robertson created a for-profit company -- Freedom Gold -- in which he was listed as President as well as Chairman of Board; Robertson being the Board's only member. The company was chartered within the tax evading borders of the Cayman Islands.

Robertson also defended Taylor in his time of need. The strongest critic of the President (When it came to Charles Taylor stepping down) is televangelist Pat Roberston, who has been lecturing his national television audience regularly about how wrong headed it would be for the US to intervene in Liberia. Indeed, Robertson has been critical of US policy toward Liberia for several years. "We're undermining a Christian, Baptist president to bring in Muslim rebels to take over the country," Robertson told his 700 Club audience recently. "And how dare the president of the United States say to the duly elected president of another country, 'You've got to step down."

Strong words for the President, huh, Pat?

But, interestingly enough, there seemed to be a bit of a sticky wicket, legally, according to a 2001 article in The Perspective, a Liberian newsmagazine, which stated that

Under Liberian law, specifically Chapter V: Article 34 section (f) of the Liberian constitution states "The Legislature shall have the power: to approve treaties, conventions and such international agreements negotiated or signed on behalf of the Republic."

The Liberian Legislature refused to ratify the Freedom Gold agreement signed by President Taylor and Pat Robertson. So on Oct. 30,2000, a second contract, which is virtually identical to the first, except for one significant passage, was drawn up. Section 2 of the document was modified, according to GQ and Liberian legal experts familiar with the deal, to read that the contract will go in effect "when approved by the president of Republic of Liberia." Gone is the language that reads that the contract is to become valid only "in accordance with the constitution and laws of the Republic."

Clearly Mr. Robertson, a graduate of Yale Law School who was represented by Gerald Padmore, a Liberian-born Harvard Law School graduate, must know that his agreement with Taylor is unconstitutional.

Amazing. Just amazing. So last Sunday we find Pat holding forth with George Stephanopoulos on "This Week" (here's the transcript, thanks to the Randi Rhodes Show) and opining (in all seriousness) that the worst problem facing the nation is the "out-of-control judiciary". When Stephanopoulos asks him, "How can you say that these judges are a more serious threat than Islamic terrorists who slammed into the World Trade Center?", he answers (I kid you not):

"It depends on how you look at culture. If you look over the course of a hundred years, I think the gradual erosion of the consensus that's held our country together is probably more serious than a few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings. I think we're going to control al Qaeda. I think we're going to get Osama bin Laden. We won in Afghanistan. We won in Iraq, and we can contain that. But if there's an erosion at home, you know, Thomas Jefferson warned about a tyranny of an oligarchy and if we surrender our democracy to the tyranny of an oligarchy, we've made a terrible mistake."

A few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings. No big deal.

I can understand why it's no big deal to Pat. It's obvious that he's not squeamish about a li'l bit o' terrorism where his financial interests are concerned. After all, another interesting but little-discussed factoid about his "Christian buddy" Charles Taylor is that the Washington Post reported that Taylor received at least $1 million for providing safe harbor to agents of Osama bin Laden in the weeks following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. According to the American Atheist Newsletter in 2003,

The operatives were there to supervise "a $20 million diamond-buying spree that effectively cornered the market on the region's precious stones." Indeed, diamonds are part of a culture where deals are struck on a handshake and often leave no trace or records, including electronic "footprints" that are monitored by international police and intelligence services. Diamonds are more convenient to use than gold or other precious metals. They can be easily transported, re-cut, and serve as the ultimate black market currency.

Taylor's wealth and political power stem from his ties to the Revolution United Front (RUF) of neighboring Sierra Leon. The RUF controls extensive diamond mining operations which ship the stones to Liberia where they often sold for hard currency at discount to willing buyers, including al Qaeda agents. For providing safe harbor and anonymity, Taylor receives a commission on each transaction.

But it's OK, cause he's a "fellow Baptist".

I get it.

How Patriotic Are You?

Do You Love America Or What?

The Department of Homeland Security today issued a directive that the Administration claims will aid in making a distinction between 'Patriots' and 'Terrorists and their Sympathizers'. An addendum to the Patriot Act, it's known as the Patriot Suit Act, and it states that

"All Patriotic Americans will wear the 'Patriot Suit' to distinguish them from 'Non-Patriots', meaning 'Terrorists and their Sympathizers'. This will eliminate the need for airport screenings, racial profiling, and other heretofore-ineffective and expensive methods of securing our Homeland, and simplify and streamline the identification of subversive elements in our society."

Starting September 11, 2005, in honor of the Twin Tower attacks, all Patriotic Americans will be required to wear the Patriot Suit to identify themselves as Red-Blooded All-American Patriots. The suits will be issued (for a nominal fee) to all Americans following a complete FBI background check, a cavity search and the swearing of a Loyalty Oath. There are 2 suits, one for men and one for women, and smaller versions of both for boys and girls. (Note: Men may only wear the Man Suit, and women may only wear the Woman Suit. Any deviation from this will result in the loss of your suit, and subsequent identification as a Non-Patriot.)

The Administration is confident that the Patriot Suit Act is the answer to our Homeland Security needs, and suggests that you sign up for yours today, while supplies still last. Don't be labeled a 'Non-Patriot'!

(thanks to Agi T. Prop at Agitprop, via the incredibly Patriotic Helen Wheels at Just Ain't Right for the photo!)

Also, it goes without saying that all items and accessories belonging to the Patriot Suit must be worn at all times. Woe betide you if you are caught out without your Patriot Suit Butt-Pack...

If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em...

This priceless gem comes by way of mud at MudHoler. Are you as tired as I am of being an America-Hating Traitor? 'Flip-flopping' wearing you out? Isn't it time to finally see the light and get in line for all those All-American goodies we've been missing out on?

I'm ready.

Back From Camp Casey West - Sherman Oaks, CA

I just got back from our local 'Candles For Casey' vigil, and it was fantastic. We stood on the four corners of Ventura and Van Nuys with candles and signs. The spirit there was overwhelming - people bringing pizza to share, signs to share, hope and heart to share. Horns were constantly honking as people who drove by showed their support. Jim Ward, the 'voice guy extraordinaire' from the Stephanie Miller Show (a never-miss for me!) was there. I took a lot of pictures - come and visit the slide show...

Extra Crispy Bucket O' Bad

(hat tip to Stephanie Miller for the title)

My Son, the International Terrorist

Our trip to Florida, while fabulous, was not without its harrowing moments. Unbeknownst to us, we were harboring an international terrorist in our midst - our 8-year-old son James. As we attempted to check in like we normally do, at the kiosk, we were told that we could not use the kiosk, but must go to the ticket counter. At the counter, we were asked for our IDs over and over, then the attendant would get on the phone, then go into a back room for five minutes, at which time she would check our IDs again and then disappear once more. This went on several times. Then she asked who 'James' was. I told her it was my 8-year-old son. After several more phone calls and disappearances, she reluctantly allowed us to get tickets and proceed toward the plane.

Look at that face. Doesn't it strike fear into your heart?

I thought so.

Let Them Eat Yellowcake

Too bad Casey doesn't have that option...

New Hampshire Gazette

Great little paper. Check it out - there's a cool section on Chickenhawks.

Cindy Sheehan's Sacrifice

So far I have not commented on Cindy Sheehan, as there has been so much excellent coverage, and I don't know what I can add to the discussion that hasn't already been said better.

But I can't help but be disgusted by the right-wing's smear campaign against her, accusing her of being "in bed with the radical left" as if she were some kind of puppet mouthpiece.

I remember a real 'puppet mouthpiece'. Her name was Paula Jones. Carefully orchestrated and handled by the people responsible for the American Spectator "Troopergate" debacle, which was subsequently found to be a complete fabrication. But by the time it was debunked for the partisan nonsense that it was, it didn't matter anymore. The Big Red Machine was going full-throttle, and little ol' Paula Jones (and her handler Susan Carpenter-McMillan) got her 15 minutes in the limelight and some plastic surgery (apparently de rigueur for axe-grinding right wing puppets à la Linda Tripp) and our democracy as we knew it began to crumble.

It seems that anyone who takes a position that George Bush finds unpalatable is smeared right into the ground - the "Karl Rove Strategy". And it doesn't have to be a Democrat or a liberal, either; John McCain got served a big ol' helping when he was running against Bush in the primaries. Max Cleland, John Kerry, Valerie Plame, Joe Wilson, Michael Schiavo, Scott Ritter, Richard Clarke, Paul O'Neill, Hans Blix - the list goes on and on. Cross His Majesty the Baby, and you will be the target of the Smearmeisters. And the worst of it is, many of these people are genuine, if not heroes, at least patriots who have put their lives and limbs on the line for our country. These are all people who have sacrificed in one way or another. And the people who level these smears are, almost to a man or woman (or both as in Ann "The Man" Coulter), chicken-hawks who have not sacrificed what their targets have.

Cindy Sheehan has made the hardest sacrifice I can imagine. As a mom, I know I would much rather lose my own life than one of my children's lives. Easy. No question about it. And to lose your beloved child for someone else's personal agenda and lies would be unbearable.

Have you noticed that, as a nation, we have not been asked up-front to sacrifice the way our parents and grandparents were during World War II? No rationing, no volunteering at the Red Cross. No gas cards, no sugar rations, no oleo instead of butter, no nylon stocking shortage. Even in the world of fashion, hemlines were shorter to save material. Victory Gardens, War Ration Books, War Bonds, scrap metal drives, auto companies diverted to make airplanes and other war materiel.

This has not happened because, deep down, everyone knows that this is not a cause worth fighting for. If we were truly on the side of the right (the correct, that is), as a nation we would be banding together and doing whatever we could to help the war effort. As much as the Bush Administration has been honking and grunting about how we need to be there, they know that there is really no defense of their position, just spin and propaganda.

To answer Cindy Sheehan would be to admit the truth - that her son died for reasons of greed and power, not righteousness. So instead, they fall back on their tried-and-true tactics - smears, threats and diversions.

I guess you could call it an honor to be attacked by the Bush Administration - you're certainly in good company. God bless Cindy Sheehan for the courage to take her pain and use it for the good of others. In this way, her sacrifice and her son's sacrifice will mean something more than another notch on the Cowboy Coward of Crawford's gun-belt.

Go to Crawford Peace House to support Cindy, and Marie from The Right Left Story, kicking ass as usual, has set up a list of resources and affiliated sites and blogs here.

Great Joke at Crabletta's

This is one of the best jokes I've heard in some time. Thanks to Crabletta at The Curmudgeonly Crab for this one!

Science Is Kool! And Noodly!

In the interest of giving our youngsters all the information available to choose from, and not just one 'theory', I urge you to check out this site for an important school of thought.I guarantee you will agree with me that our schoolchildren need to learn about this intriguing view of our origins. Why not expose kids to all ideas, instead of just one narrow view?

'Name That Cartoon' Contest

As an Unpaid Punditry Corps cartoonist, I have been asked to come up with a name for my comic, like "The Far Side" or "Nancy". I thought "the Far Side" would do just fine, especially since no one else was using it anymore, but apparently that's not going to fly.

So I thought I would ask you all, as the hilarious Hootervillians that you are, to help me out here and suggest a good name for my comic. The winner will get an Amana Radar-Range and my undying gratitude. Well, my undying gratitude, anyway...

Fire at will!

Just In Case You Were Wondering

My Contest Entry

Here's my entry in The First Annual Katherine Harris Colorized Photo Contest, hosted by The Tattered Coat.

I'm going for subtle elegance.

Pretty Is As Pretty Does

Tanned, Rested and Ready!

Whoo! Back from Tampa and Indian Rocks Beach, Florida, where the weather actually held up for most of the time we were there. We all had a fantastic time lolling by the beach at my sister's lovely beachfront condo. Fortunately, there was a pool there as well, because Red Tide struck the Gulf Coast, resulting in a cavalcade of dead puffer fish and horseshoe crabs decorating the shoreline. My best friend from high school Janet rented a place a block (or 217 dead fish) away from us, so we had a great time hanging out, as our little daughters are almost the same age (5 and 6) and big pals as well. I also got her started on blogging; we've started a blog for the two of us, Old Shoes, and I'm expecting that once she gets her feet wet, she'll start her own. She's a great writer with a unique perspective, and I can't wait to see what she'll come up with.

I went through computer withdrawal - my sister's place did not have a phone line (everyone uses cell phones) and there was not an internet café anywhere in the vicinity, so I just went cold turkey - no news, no e-mail, no blogs. Plus, I misplaced my digital camera, so no vacation pix, except cell-phone ones, which aren't the best. I will have a lot of catching-up to do before I can post about anything topical!

Another highlight of my trip was having lunch with Cookie Christine of It's Recess-Time Somewhere, one of my favorite blogs. It was great to meet up with one of our fellow bloggers, and we had a nice lunch at a fun Mexican place. I ordered the 'Soft Naked Guy' (I think that's what it was called). Cookie updated me on the Robert Novak hissy fit. I really enjoyed meeting her.

Well, that's about it for now. Thanks for all the good wishes - they all came true!

Vacation Time!

My family and I will be headed out to Florida to visit my folks in Tampa for a week - see everyone on the 9th!

Sunday Morning Sermon

I have oldwhitelady at It's Morning Somewhere to thank for this deliciously inpirational link. Head on over to Landover Baptist Church, "Where the Worthwhile Worship", to get your pray on, and don't miss getting acquainted with Mrs. Betty Bowers, America's Best Christian™. I feel more holier-than-thou already, praise God!

Nyah-Nyah-Nyah...You Can't Stop Me

Geez. Why does everybody try and thwart me all the time? I'll show them. I'm gonna appoint my good buddy John Bolton to the U.N. anyhow. He's my kinda guy. And I shoould get what I want - I'm the President, ain't I, for cryin' out loud? What good is it to be President if you don't get your way? Makes me just mad as a hornet. And John's my real good friend - one of my bestest friends ever, next to Karl. He helped me so much in 2000.

And he's a tough guy. That's what the U.N. needs - a tough guy to kick a little foreign ass. He's tough all right. I sure wouldn't like to have him get mad at me. Did ya ever see him when he gets mad? Man, the veins pop out on his forehead, and he gets all red and starts shouting and throwing things...nossir, I sure don't want him mad at me. No telling what might happen.

All these wussies keep telling me not to appoint him, but, by God, nobody tells ME what to do. Except Karl. And Dick. Oh yeah, and Rummy. And Mom. But nobody else, unnerstand? And Karl said I can do what I want to. And no little piss-ant Congress is gonna tell Mr. George Bush President what to do, or my name's not - uh, my name...uh, well, my...gee, I'm tired. Sure am glad it's vacation time!

The Meaning of CAFTA

Giant Sucking Sound

Incredible. Just incredible.

Let me see if I have this straight.

Under CAFTA, following on the heels of that stunning success NAFTA, US corporations get to go to Central America, taking those jobs out of the United States, set up shop in Central America and pay sweatshop wages to the workers there. Then they put all of the local businesses out of business and destroy the economy there.

After they've destroyed the economy, then they can proceed to destroy the ecology and pollute to their black, shriveled hearts' content, with no pesky regulations to get in the way of profits. Then, if their adopted land dares to question their right to pillage, they can sue their new home for 'potential loss of profit'. And don't even think about getting medicine they can afford with the pittance they're paid; the 'intellectual property rights' of the pharmaceutical companies will prevent the locals from making generics that are affordable.

What happens next? Why, the Central Americans, with their countries taken hostage, will come to the U.S. legally or illegally, in search of work.

Let's review, shall we?

United States: big job loss

Central America: destroyed economy and ecology

U.S. corporations: unlimited profit

Sounds like Bush Heaven to me.

And do you think for a minute that they'll pass any of these incredible savings on labor and regulations on to their customers in the form of lower prices?

Sure.

And I'm Ann Coulter.

New! Cartoons for the Unpaid Punditry Corps!

I have been invited by the Unpaid Punditry Corps, a very fine blog-a-zine, to be one of their political cartoonists! The UPC, for those of you who are unfamiliar with it, is a collective of writers with viewpoints all over the political spectrum, who come togther to have, not an 'echo chamber', but serious debate between right and left, without namecalling, ad hominem attacks or circular rhetoric - what a concept. They all 'agree to disagree', and disagree they most certainly do, but in an intelligent and reasonably respectful way.

Now I'll be the first to admit that Hooterville is definitely one-sided; I started it to find a way to express the frustration I've felt ever since 2000, although the 2004 'selection' was the impetus. But I also feel that the only way we can all win is to have honest, respectful dialogue between both sides - what's the point of our side prevailing if we neutralize the other half of the country like we've been neutralized? We're all Americans and we have to find a way to do this together, and I believe the UPC has a great approach to this.

The managing editor of the UPC is Mr. M, whose own blog Left of Center inspired me to start a political blog, so I am very honored to be asked to contribute. I hope you all will check out the UPC - if it's not the future of our discourse, it should be!

Jam Session

A Report of Child Torture in Iraq

I can't even talk about it.

Please read this and this for yourself. Then redouble your efforts to get these monsters out of here.

Entrepreneurship

Wanda Asks, Alicia Answers

(a cheap way to get another post up, but since it ties in with the theme, I thought I'd repost Wanda's comment and my answer, with a sentence or two added...)

Wanda:

One thing I wonder about is why if conservatives strongly believe what they proclaim to, then why are they not more upset with BushCo's clear intent to involve the government in the most private aspects of our lives. If they really are people with strong morals and ethics why are they not more upset about the behavior of those in the White House?
The only conclusion I can come up with is either they aren't paying attention,or else they really don't have such high values after all.

Alicia:

You know, Wanda, the only reason I can come up with is in the post between these two - that finding out that what you put all your faith and trust in is completely wrong is too much for a lot of people to handle, especially those of the farmer mindset whose wiring tells them not to change; to stick with what they are doing, as would be necessary to ensure that their crops continue to grow. Because if you challenge that, everything that you believed about yourself and the world comes into question. The question is, "If I was wrong about this, what else am I wrong about? Am I right about anything?" It is a shattering of self, and most people are not prepared to go there. It's the only rationale I can think of for the curious pride that conservatives take in not seeing the other guy's point of view, and hold intolerance to be a virtue and tolerance to be a moral failing, unlike liberals, who often do try to see things from both sides.

The more I think about this, the more I see that it was a stroke of genius on Rove's - I mean, Bush's part to feed into the farmer mindset by emphasizing that he never changes - that no matter what, he 'stays the course' and all the rest of that rot. I can see now the subliminal brilliance of that message - all the crap about being a 'strong leader' and positioning himself as someone who never backs down, etc., etc.

There are some people able to make a 180 and change their complete worldview based upon the evidence in front of them. The ones that do, like Robert and Marie, impress me very much. I remember when Arianna Huffington was a conservative and starting to write columns, and I remember thinking, "God, you're so smart and thoughtful - can't you see that this is a load of crap?" And the next thing I knew, she was a liberal! Now, I don't always agree with her about everything, but I will never fail to be impressed with how she took an analytical look at the facts and changed her position accordingly. That takes cojones.

The people who are hanging on to this contradictory and illogical view of Bush and Co are like people after a shipwreck clinging to a shard of wood, trying to stay afloat. What they are trying to do is to avoid drowning their concept of themselves.

I think the only way people like that will turn around is for enough conservative leaders to condemn the actions of the White House so they will feel like they have permission. Once it is the 'official' position of enough high-profile conservatives, I believe they will jump on board, but that's what it's going to take.

Rove Rage

...I would have done this in Photoshop but I couldn't find the right photos.

Liberal or Conservative, Part 2 - The Nature of Authority, or Nature as Authority

To carry this analogy a little further, there is the question of where religion fits into the paradigm. The authority of Nature for a farmer is absolute, with specific rules that do not change, and must be scrupulously observed by the farmer for his survival. To question or attempt to circumvent these rules may mean the loss of his crop, and subsequent starvation. Therefore the trait that enables a farmer to prosper is unquestioning obedience to a higher authority, in this case Nature. Doing the same thing in the same order every year ensures his continued survival. So it might follow that a person who leans to the farmer side of the spectrum is more comfortable with an organized religion, with a specific doctrine and rules, and a leadership hierarchy.

The authority of Nature for a hunter is a little different. Hunters cannot take the same action over and over again, or they will starve. A hunter has broad guidelines to follow for catching his food, but he is mostly left to his own devices. He can say that usually the caribou are around here at this time of year, but he can't stand in this certain place and know that the caribou will show up. And he may have to fight someone else for that caribou. So he may have quite a different conception of authority than a farmer. He can't say, "If I follow the rules, I will be fed." He has to be ready to change course at any time, and he may not see accepting authority as the key to survival.

This may account in part for the differences in a liberal and conservative approach to faith.

Never Can Say 'Goodbye'

As the situation just gets worse and worse for our country and the world, it seems odd that so many people are putting their hands over their eyes and ears and are continuing to support George Bush despite the sinkhole we are falling into.

Something for all of us to think about:

Imagine how it must feel to have supported a person or a party who you truly believed to embody your most deeply-held beliefs and ideals, only to find that it was not true? To be betrayed by someone you put your full trust in is a harsh cut. But what makes it difficult to change your belief even in the face of overwhelming evidence is this:

"If I believed in this guy and I was mistaken, what does that mean about me? My judgment? Can I trust myself to know who is good or bad?"

This is a very fundamental (pardon the word) threat to the core of who you are, your ability to survive in the world. I can see that changing your mind is more than a matter of unwillingness to admit you were wrong. It is the crumbling of your worldview, the structure which supports your selfhood.

Liberal or Conservative? My Theory (so far)

I am really, really trying to figure out why people divide along right/left lines. What follows is an idea of mine (still taking shape)...

I think it may be linked, in a way, to ADD. There is a theory of Thom Hartmann's (which makes sense to me, having been diagnosed with ADD at 40) that people with so-called ADD are hard-wired with 'hunter' characteristics, meaning they are flexible and easily distracted, so that if an animal comes by, they can drop everything and chase it. They constantly scan their environment and are always active, alert and ready with a pump of adrenaline so that they can go after their prey (read:hyperactive). They have to be risk-takers to catch animals. They are loners, adventurous and easily bored. The other, non-ADD types are hardwired with 'farmer' characteristics, which requires a completely different type of mentality. A farmer has to be always conscious of time, schedule and routine; if they are not aware of the proper times for planting, for instance, their crops will not grow and therefore they will not survive. Steadiness, patience and concentration are key for farmers. But if they had to live in a hunter's world, the characteristics that help them survive as farmers would doom them in the hunter's world. Their animal does not come at a specific time.

The theory is that Americans are more ADD than Europe because the kind of people who would leave the only world they knew to go someplace completely unknown for a chance of something better would be the ADD or 'hunter' types; therefore we as a nation have a larger percentage of people who exhibit those traits which are labeled ADD. However, our society is structured for 'farmers'. So you have the right-wing, or conservatives (this is a very broad generalization, with plenty of gradations) who are 'farmers'; they value teamwork, organization, conservation, hierarchy, authority, dependability and structure - all necessary traits for farmer survival. Then you have the left-wing, or liberals, who often fall into the 'hunter' category; they value independence, autonomy, individualism, exploration, innovation, creativity, alternate solutions instead of the 'status quo', hyperactivity and hyper-focus when locked in on something. These are necessary traits for hunter survival.

Now, obviously very few people are completely one way or the other; most people are a mixture of the two, but people do tend to preponderate towards one or the other. That's why really ADD people have a hard time functioning in this farmer society, starting with school and going on from there.

But I think that this is one of the roots of prejudice, and the reason we tend to divide up among party lines. For instance, I was talking to a conservative friend, a very intelligent guy, the other day, hoping to get some insight into his mental processes - why he and I, who have the same access to the same basic set of facts, see things so differently. We're both in agreement about basic values - personal responsibility, family, honesty and so forth. But what was interesting was when we began to dance around the subject of welfare. I mentioned that a friend of my husband's was disabled and on Social Security. He was immediately disparaging about her being 'on the dole'. Now, we both have valid points on this issue. There are people who take advantage of welfare. There are also people for whom there is no other option. Somewhere in between is the truth, but I go to the place of the people who are needy and deserving of help, and he goes to the place of the lazy free-loader. Both are true. But statistics (or as Mark Twain put it, 'lies, damned lies, and statistics') can be so easily manipulated that finding the real ratio of free-loaders to needy recipients is next to impossible.

I think we make these judgments based on our hard-wiring, and assemble the available data to fit our worldview. The right values financial and business freedom and sees it as paramount to society, as a farmer would need to in order to survive. And the left values individual and personal freedom and does not care for authority - these are traits a hunter needs in order to survive in his environment.

When it really comes down to it, it's all a 'belief system'. Every bit of 'news' and 'information' we get is something we have to take on faith, unless we can be everywhere at once, see everything first-hand, and correlate it all. So we have to make decisions about whose pronouncements we have faith in. It's not about believing in God at all, but believing what people say, and which people are saying it, and why they are saying it. And there is such a barrage of 'information' out there that one can take one's pick of anything that suits one's own particular mindset. Even science is taken on faith; that the work of the scientists that precede us is accurate. There is simply too much information floating around for an individual to process it all.

Now, I'm not saying that all liberals have ADD, or that all conservatives are plodding farmers. But I am positing that how we interpret the world may depend on the set of filters and wiring that are a part of our innate personality types. Liberals will say that Bill Clinton was responsible for the relative peace and prosperity of his presidency. A conservative will say that it was because of the Republican Congress in place at the time. It might be neither, or both, or have nothing to do with anything political at all. But our individual filters will skew it one way or the other.

So I think prejudice itself stems from our reactions one way or the other based upon whether we are comfortable with hierarchy and structure, or find it oppressive and confining, and that just may be a result of two very different evolutionary survival mechanisms.

Of course, that's just my opinion.

Weekend Cat Blogging

Venus and Mercury clean up in preparation for the Weekend Cat Blog.
They cordially invite you to visit.

Black Bush - from Karena

I am the hugest fan of Dave Chappelle, but I haven't seen this video clip until Karena, the Queen of All Hilarity, posted this:

Thanks, Karena!

Smoke 'Em Out

The Karl Rove situation seems to be catching the attention of the hitherto-comatose press corps, but is it really all over for Rover? This ol' dog may have a few tricks left. He didn't get to where he is by being 'Mr. Nice Guy' or even 'Mr. Halfways-Decent Human Being'...

He's a wily, oily, slippery cuss; a master at operating in the shadows and behind the scenes, where, like a snake or a cockroach, he is the most comfortable. He may not be so easy to pin down as some might think.

If we are to get to the bottom of this once and for all, we need an investigator equal to the task. One with a relentless thirst for truth. One who will go to the ends of the earth to see that justice is done. An impartial, non-partisan sleuth, whose only goal is the triumph of the law, and who will not balk at spending millions of taxpayer dollars in pursuit of his prey. A dogged detective who fears no man, not even the highest power in the land.

We need...

Ken Starr!

Birds of a Feather

I Hate Our Freedom

That's right - I said it. I hate our freedom.

Every time I hear that word 'freedom', it is sure to be followed by something reprehensible. Just like the word 'free', which, whenever you hear it or see it on an advertisement, definitely means 'you're going to pay too much for something'. In Hooter-speak, it takes on a meaning completely opposite from what it used to be. Double-plus ungood. I've been trying to think of what 'freedoms' we have these days, and this is what I've come up with:

Freedom to agree with a pre-emptive, unnecessary war, killing not only our 'enemies' (innocent Iraqis who did not and could not threaten us) but almost 2000 of our own sons and daughters.

Freedom to accept whatever pack of lies this disgusting Administration feels like dishing out - how they must be laughing at us!

Freedom to live by a double standard so egregious that the mind boggles - no matter how damning the evidence against those in power, it simply slides off, while made-up allegations against those they wish to dispose of (Bill Clinton, Iraq, John Kerry, Max Cleland) hit home like a falling safe.

Freedom to sit on our hands while the corporatocracy robs us blind, poisons our planet, and rapes and pillages the people and resources of third-world nations with impunity.

Oh, I know we have many more fine 'freedoms', but, you know something? I'm sick and tired of 'freedom'.

In fact, I hate 'freedom' almost as much as I hate 'God'.

Another Point of View

For you, Wanda.

Hurry! This Baby Won't Last Long!

Happy Independence Day!

This year, Independence Day has a new meaning and importance for me. Over the course of the last eight months of this blog's existence, I have thought about my country, my government, and my society in a way that I never had before, at least to this degree. Being able to put into words what I feel and think clarifies them for me. As I've mentioned before, I didn't go to college, and therefore did not spend the requisite hours in writing that most people do. Although I'm a voracious reader and an autodidact, I didn't realize how powerful it was to write.

As much as I enjoy writing on this blog, the best part of it for me has been the people that I have come in contact with through blogging. I have learned so much from what you all have to say, and new ways of looking at things, and support when I get discouraged. A lot of laughter, a lot of insight, and a lot of inspiration.

So I would like to dedicate my Independence Day post to my friends who come here, and who I visit regularly, and who share their wisdom and information and humor and strength and common sense and hope with me.

Happy Independence Day -

Mr M. at Left of Center and UPC
Wanda at Words On a Page
OldWhiteLady at It's Morning Somewhere
Crabletta at The Curmudgeonly Crab
Helen Wheels at Just Ain't Right
Robert at A Little Left of Centrist
Cookie Christine at It's Recess-Time Somewhere
Marie at The Right Left Story
Karena at Karena's Blog
Mud at MudHoler
kissfan at TrueSpeak
Lab Kat at Lab Kat
ae at arse poetica
Catherine at Povertybarn
Karlo at Swerve Left
G at Library Bitch
Every Seven at Every Seven

...and also to all the bloggers who are keeping the "Spirit of '76" alive and well in spite of the dearth of independent journalism we are faced with...thank you!

God Bless America!