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The Scorpion and the Turtle
You knew this story was coming:
A turtle was happily swimming along a river when a scorpion hailed it from the shore.
"Dear friend turtle!" called the scorpion. "Please let me climb upon your back and swim me to the other side of the river!"
"No," replied the turtle, "for if I do, you shall sting me, and I shall die."
"Nonsense!" replied the scorpion. "If I kill you in the middle of the river, you shall sink, and I shall drown and die with you."
The turtle thought this over, and saw the truth of the scorpion's statement. He let it upon his back and began swimming towards the other side of the river. Halfway across, he felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck.
"Why have you stung me?!" cried the turtle as his body began to stiffen. "Now you shall die as well!"
"Because it is in my nature," replied the scorpion as the turtle sank beneath the waters.
****
Well, it is a cloudy and overly warm morning in America. The Republicans are behaving as the scorpions they are and the Democrats are trying to be wily turtles, as usual.
But let us deconstruct the tale:
To begin with, we have a scorpion. In this case, were the Republicans always like the scorpion? No, this is the party of Lincoln, remember. Like the scorpion however, they are under the illusion that wars must be fought, and the best defense is a good offense.
They have been consistent in that belief for decades, and we can count on it.
The Democrats have not always been consistent turtles either. In the tale, the turtle wants to be trusting and helpful. That is not always the case; in fact, I would argue that the Democrats are not of one mind at all on any matter, and there are many layers of trust and mistrust.
A more reminiscent tale would have one scorpion and many turtles, with the turtles arguing endlessly about whether or not to trust the scorpion. Some would say, "we have no choice." Others would say "Well, it's worth a try." Another might suggest a trial run; "Let's send Joey and see what happens." etc.
Meanwhile, all the other turtles in the turtle village sit around and blo...err, complain that the turtles are blowing it again.
WHAT IF...
ALL THE TURTLES got together and agreed that the entire mindset of the scorpion was outmoded and unnecessary and that every single turtle was going to act in its own interests and make the scorpion leave town?
And then they could set up a ferry system based on recyclable materials, and it would all work out.
WHAT THEN??? Discuss among yourselves...
Hey, I am a scorpion.
Are you trying to say I am a republican...?
Now that is just hurtful and wrong.
I am sorry,... thinking deeper about it I have to say the scorpion is still easier to understand than the turtle.
One key left out. You may have some discontented scorpions who would prefer to get across the stream safely like the turtles if you could only convince them to not sting their own rescuers.
So instead of just focusing on all the turtle fights, maybe we should invest more time in taming scorpions.
Otters like turtles better than scorpions anyway. It's a water thing, they wouldn't understand.
I'm dead tired. But I'm making myself go to the four corners and sit with my newest sign.
At this point, the scorpion may sting me...
This allegory brings new meaning to the concept of "Congresscritters."
Turtle is my favorite animal and totem.
I have collected turtles since I was a child.
Not sure what it means but I always liked all the variations on a simple theme.
Kayakbiker's wife just stepped on a scorpion and killed it two days ago, in the Philipines where they are visiting, from Minneapolis. Maybe it was an agent.
I went to Google, hit News and top story is "Bush Butt Probed, Cheney in Charge" -
http://www.axcessnews.com/index.php/articles/show/id/11684
which doesn't sound very dignified.
Now it's changed to "Bush to Undergo Colon Exam on Saturday"
Why is antibacterial lotion not ok on a plane but lighter fluid is?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6794166,00.html
Feeling safer yet?
As I see it....
The turtles could carry the scorpions on their backs halfway across the water, take a deep breath... and dive, leaving the scorpions to drown en masse.... On land, the turtles only need to pull the vulnerable bits of their bodies inside their shells to protect them, unless the scorpions go for the sensitive flesh.
The turtles have been trying to be nice and save the scorpions from themselves for years. Time to let the scorpions sink or swim on their own.
BILL MOYERS TAKES SWIPES AT CONGRESS AND THE DEMOCRATS:
Bill Moyers: A fighting constitution -
Bruce Fein: It's a fighting constitution that enables us-
Bill Moyers: What do you mean?
Bruce Fein: That with the - with the consent of Congress and the president working hand in glove with consistent with due process of law, we have the authority to suspend habeas corpus in times of invasion or rebellion. It has enabled us to defeat all of our enemies consistent with the law.
############################
Bill Moyers: Congress did not stand up to George Bush for five years when it was controlled by Republicans. And I don't see any strong evidence that the Democrats are playing the role that you think the Congress should be playing.
##################
Bruce Fein: That is correct. But it doesn't exculpate the president that Congress has not sought immediately to sanctions his excesses.
Bruce Fein: - exactly right. And Bill, this could not happen if we had a Congress that was aggressive, if we had a Congress the likes of Watergate when Nixon was president and he tried to - obstruct justice and defeat the course of law. We have a Congress that basically is an invertebrate.
Bill Moyers: But why is Congress supine?
John Nichols: They are supine for two reasons. One, they are politicians who do not - quite know how to handle the moment. And they know that something very bad happened on September 11th, 2001, now five years ago, six years ago. And they don't know how to respond to it. Whereas Bush and Karl Rove have responded in a supremely political manner to it and, frankly, jumped around them. That's one part of the problem.
THey're having fun with this one:
Bush to Go Under, Cheney to Take Over
Bush Proclaims Unlimited Executive Privilege Powers
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/072007B.shtml
"Bush administration officials unveiled a bold new assertion of
executive authority yesterday in the dispute over the firing of nine
US attorneys, saying that the Justice Department will never be
allowed to pursue contempt charges initiated by Congress against
White House officials once the president has invoked executive
privilege," write Dan Eggen and Amy Goldstein of The Washington Post.
Judith in CA who sent this says: will the unmoveable force of public opinion confront the unmoveable rock of these idiots in the WH?
Prospects Dim For Kids' Health Bill
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/07/20/health/main3081650.shtml
There goes my job. This is something Kerry has been working for. I would think children's health would be a family value, but I know better by now.
A Canadian perspective - news looks slightly different from the outside. Love to read British, Canadian, Australian - they report the same things but there seems to be a little more distance or objectivity or a different slant.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/07/20/politics/main3079855.shtml?source=mostpop_story
This reporter seems to think the Executive Privilege matter could end up in the Supreme Court but I hadn't gotten that impression otherwise.
It's curious to think that even in Pakistan, public pressure was able to get the military dictator to put a judge he'd fired back into his position. Why is it that our military dictator can cavalierly engineer the removal of judges and can't seem to be stopped?
Is this part of freedom on the march?
That wasn't Canadian. I read CBS as CBC. No wonder there were 29 pages of mostly negative comments. Didn't say where any of them were from. I'm tired. Sorry. I want out. I'm trapped with scorpions.
Hello, I wanted to describe today's protest to all of you.
I encountered a very different environment this time. I stood out there with the same sign as last week and the one I made too. But on the other side, I wrote "IMPEACH". (I couldn't decide if I should write "Enough" as Clark Jr. suggested. In the end, Impeach won!
So for the two hours I was out there, I had 5 high school students come and talk to me. I had a few elderly people come and talk to me. And I had one elderly man drive by and vehemently shake his head, 'No' at my Impeach sign. I had one person yell out his car window, exact quote here: "Awwwww...TAKE IT TO ANOTHER TOWN!!!" I laughed back at him. I'm not sure I should have laughed so rudely in his face but frankly, I felt the people were on my side!
Because in addition to those conversations and questions, I got a ton of thumbs up, smiles, and car honks too.
I called Pelosi's office and described the reaction from this small little rural town. And as I was talking on the voice mail, a car horn honked for Impeachment!
Sparrow
Tons of thumbs up!!!!
;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
homeward bound
I think I want to write IMPEACH really big on the back of a t-shirt and wear it to Bite of Seattle and to a work-related event.
House Dems/Libs will not fund the war:
Dear Mr. President:
We are writing to inform you that we will only support appropriating additional funds for U.S. military operations in Iraq during Fiscal Year 2008 and beyond for the protection and safe redeployment of all our troops out of Iraq before you leave office.
More than 3,600 of our brave soldiers have died in Iraq. More than 26,000 have been seriously wounded. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed or injured in the hostilities and more than 4 million have been displaced from their homes. Furthermore, this conflict has degenerated into a sectarian civil war and U.S. taxpayers have paid more than $500 billion, despite assurances that you and your key advisors gave our nation at the time you ordered the invasion in March, 2003 that this military intervention would cost far less and be paid from Iraqi oil revenues.
We agree with a clear and growing majority of the American people who are opposed to continued, open-ended U.S. military operations in Iraq, and believe it is unwise and unacceptable for you to continue to unilaterally impose these staggering costs and the soaring debt on Americans currently and for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (CA); Rep. Barbara Lee (CA); Rep. Maxine Waters (CA); Rep. Ellen Tauscher (CA); Rep. Rush Holt (NJ); Rep. Maurice Hinchey (NY); Rep. Diane Watson (CA); Rep. Ed Pastor (AZ); Rep. Barney Frank (MA); Rep. Danny Davis (IL); Rep. John Conyers (MI); Rep. John Hall (NY); Rep. Bob Filner (CA); Rep. Nydia Velazquez (NY); Rep. Bobby Rush (IL); Rep. Charles Rangel (NY); Rep. Ed Towns (NY); Rep. Paul Hodes (NH); Rep. William Lacy Clay (MO); Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR); Rep. Albert Wynn (MD); Rep. Bill Delahunt (MA); Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC); Rep. G. K. Butterfield (NC); Rep. Hilda Solis (CA); Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY); Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY); Rep. Michael Honda (CA); Rep. Steve Cohen (TN); Rep. Phil Hare (IL); Rep. Grace Flores Napolitano (CA); Rep. Alcee Hastings (FL); Rep. James McGovern (MA); Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH); Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL); Rep. Julia Carson (IN); Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA); Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ); Rep. John Olver (MA); Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX); Rep. Jim McDermott (WA); Rep. Ed Markey (MA); Rep. Chaka Fattah (PA); Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ); Rep. Rubin Hinojosa (TX); Rep. Pete Stark (CA); Rep. Bobby Scott (VA); Rep. Jim Moran (VA); Rep. Betty McCollum (MN); Rep. Jim Oberstar (MN); Rep. Diana DeGette (CO); Rep. Stephen Lynch (MA); Rep. Artur Davis (AL); Rep. Hank Johnson (GA); Rep. Donald Payne (NJ); Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (MO); Rep. John Lewis (GA); Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY); Rep. Neil Abercrombie (HI); Rep. Gwen Moore (WI); Rep. Keith Ellison (MN); Rep. Tammy Baldwin (WI); Rep. Donna Christensen (USVI); Rep. David Scott (GA); Rep. Luis Gutierrez (IL); Lois Capps (CA); Steve Rothman (NJ); Elijah Cummings (MD); and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX).
Because in addition to those conversations and questions, I got a ton of thumbs up, smiles, and car honks too.
I called Pelosi's office and described the reaction from this small little rural town. And as I was talking on the voice mail, a car horn honked for Impeachment!
Posted by: sparrow at July 20, 2007 08:47 PM
@@@@@@@@
During the All- night Senate session, I sent text messages to the cell phones of the Republican Senators' press people saying "Impeach Cheney Now". I got one response - from Mitch McConnells press guy: :Who Is This?
LOL
OH.. I want to add... As I was getting ready to go, more people came up to speak to me.
One of the older couples who came to speak to me was unaware of why we should impeach. (Actually two people asked me, "Who?" and "Why?"!) And so there was a student who was talking to him with me. Even the high school student wasn't sure of why he didn't trust Bush he just knew that there was something fishy going on.
At any rate, I explained to both of them who Valerie Plame and Skooter Libby are. I explained about the commutation. When I got to the illegal wiretaps of Americans and the executive orders made over the last two days, both looked disgusted. The older man looked especially concerned.
And at that point, I was getting ready (once again) to leave when someone else came up to me. He thanked me for going out with my signs. He said he didn't know what conclusion the older man would come to but that I gave them lots to think about.
He said as I was getting in my car, "Thank you for putting in your time for impeachment!"
(I should have gotten more than his first name. He could have been an ally.)
Posted by: Ralpheh at July 20, 2007 09:00 PM
lol...
Good to lean on the Republicans too. I really need to start doing that myself.
Oh..and one very last thing... (sorry)
I forgot to mention...
The highschool students seemed willing to do a petition for a moment of silence for Impeachment. They are willing to walk out too if the school won't let them do it. (I guess they did that for a gay defamation thing last year and it worked.)
So maybe I will be in trouble for encouraging that idea too.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/19/AR2007071902625.html
Broader Privilege Claimed In Firings
White House Says Hill Can't Pursue Contempt Cases
Bush administration officials unveiled a bold new assertion of executive authority yesterday in the dispute over the firing of nine U.S. attorneys, saying that the Justice Department will never be allowed to pursue contempt charges initiated by Congress against White House officials once the president has invoked executive privilege.
The position presents serious legal and political obstacles for congressional Democrats, who have begun laying the groundwork for contempt proceedings against current and former White House officials in order to pry loose information about the dismissals.
~~~~~
The administration has not directly informed Congress of its view. A spokeswoman for Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), the Judiciary Committee's chairman, declined to comment . But other leading Democrats attacked the argument.
Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) called it "an outrageous abuse of executive privilege" and said: "The White House must stop stonewalling and start being accountable to Congress and the American people. No one, including the president, is above the law."
Sen. Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.) said the administration is "hastening a constitutional crisis," and Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) said the position "makes a mockery of the ideal that no one is above the law."
Waxman added: "I suppose the next step would be just disbanding the Justice Department."
Under long-established procedures and laws, the House and Senate can each pursue two kinds of criminal contempt proceedings, and the Senate also has a civil contempt option. The first, called statutory contempt, has been the avenue most frequently pursued in modern times, and is the one that requires a referral to the U.S. attorney in the District.
Both chambers also have an "inherent contempt" power, allowing either body to hold its own trials and even jail those found in defiance of Congress. Although widely used during the 19th century, the power has not been invoked since 1934 and Democratic lawmakers have not displayed an appetite for reviving the practice.
{{{The above is an excerpt from the WaPo story on TO that nmp posted. So, when will any Congress Critters get a clue? INHERENT CONTEMPT is the way to go with these idiots... and NOW, not when it's too late, dammit! Screw the other methods; it takes too long. We've waited long enough to find out the truth behind dang near everything that's happened since December 2000. What good is a majority rule in Congress if Dems continue to mutter into their collective cobweb beards...?}}}
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070720/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_terrorism_15
Bush alters rules for interrogations
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070720/pl_nm/security_interrogations_dc_4
Bush puts CIA prisons under Geneva Conventions
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush, under fire over the treatment of CIA detainees, on Friday ordered that agency interrogators comply with Geneva Conventions against torture.
{{{Er-r-r-r-r...??? Does anyone remember the debates on MCA '06? Wasn't McCain's amendment banning torture included? Didn't DimWit issue a signing statement that said he didn't have to follow McCain's amendment regarding torture...? Or was McCain's amendment banning torture attached to a different piece of legislation and I'm mis-remembering the timeline...? BTW, doesn't changing the rules now mean he is inadvertently admitting torture has been done in the past...? Why these CYA measures at this late date since the torture has already been done, and torture already done can't be undone...?}}}
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/07/20/daily-show-bushs-fuzzy-al-qaeda-math/
Daily Show: Bush’s Fuzzy al Qaeda Math
{{{If I were young and fertile again, I would want to have babies sired by either Jon Stewart or Keith Olberman... or both!}}}
NonnyO
Jon Stewart is hot
Ralpheh and Sparrow
Your activism/creativity is inspiring
I am out of work and ready to raise hell unfettered
Posted by: Ralpheh at July 20, 2007 08:56 PM
Nice list of signatory Congresspeople.
I know Tauscher (D-CA). She's from the most Republican district in the San Francisco Bay Area (Walnut Creek), and is hardly a "bleeding-heart liberal." To know that she's on board with this resolution says a lot.
I am out of work and ready to raise hell unfettered
Posted by: not my president at July 20, 2007 10:14 PM
I'll join you.
NonnyO
Jon Stewart is hot
Posted by: not my president at July 20, 2007 10:14 PM
;-) Yeah, I know {swoon}! I love eye candy that comes with positive personality traits like intelligence and humor! Those kinds of genes need to go forward to the next generation...! Keith Olbermann has the same (swoon, again}. All one has to do is look in their eyes and watch the corners of their mouths turn up in those cute, impish grins to know they would be remarkably nice people to be around for longer than a one-night stand....
http://www.americanprogress.org/cartoons/2007/07/072007_oil.html
{{{Is it my imagination, or is it only "coincidence" that the major "news" stories that should send people into the streets screaming in protest over many, many things just seem to be part of a late Friday afternoon or evening news dump when both the administration, politicians, and Lamestream Media know full well that people are going to ignore the news of the day in their preparations for weekend fun...?}}}
Guantanamo Hunger Strikers Stay Defiant
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/072007R.shtml
Ben Fox for the Associated Press says that the number of Guantanamo inmates who are on hunger strikes has grown to two dozen in recent months and the military is using force-feeding to keep them from starving.
{{{Oh. Now I get the reason for DimWit rescinding his approval of torture....}}}
Pentagon Extends Iraq Tours for 2,200 Marines
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/072007S.shtml
Reuters reports that the Pentagon has extended the combat tours of 2,200 Marines in Iraq for 30 days.
Audit: DC Overpaid Medicaid Firms $97 Million
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/072007T.shtml
An audit found that the District of Columbia risks losing federal funds because it has overpaid contractors almost $100 million for medical services, reported the Associated Press.
Sea Levels May Rise Nine Inches This Century
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/072007EA.shtml
Steve Connor for the Independent UK reports that, "the melting of mountain glaciers and ice caps as a result of global warming over the next century is likely to cause bigger than expected increases in sea levels."
Australia Could Become US Nuclear Waste Dump
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/072007EC.shtml
David Mark for ABC news reports that Australia and the US are discussing nuclear cooperation. Critics of the Australian government believe the US wishes to use the country as the world's nuclear waste dump.
Pesticide Trial Begins Against Dole, Dow
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/072007LA.shtml
T. Christian Miller for the Los Angeles Times reports that a trial has begun, pitting Nicaraguan banana workers against Dole Food Company. Dole is accused of exposing the workers to pesticides made by Dow Chemical Company that caused permanent sterility. The trial began on Thursday of this week after nearly three decades of legal struggle.
Paid Family Leave - It's About Time
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/072007LC.shtml
Martha Burk of Ms. Magazine says, "Senators Christopher Dodd
(D-Connecticut) and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) have introduced a bill to provide paid family leave for birth or adoption of a newborn, care of an elderly parent, or serious illness of the employee."
{{{Only Patty Murray (WA) and Ted Kennedy have signed on to this bill.}}}
http://www.transcend.no/english/projects/swb/toyouth.htm
To Youth
by Nordahl Grieg (Norwegian)
Enemies near and by,
threatening your right!
Under a storm of blood -
You have to fight!
Might you then ask in fear,
unarmed and open:
how shall I combat them,
what is my weapon?
Here is your shelter strong,
here is your sword:
faith in mankind, and
in everyone's worth.
For all the future holds,
seek this and tend it.
Die, if you have to, but:
deepen, extend it!
Silent the bullets glide
all through the night.
Use all your strength and love,
stop deadly flight!
War is contempt for life.
Peace is creating.
Add forces to the strife:
death shall be beaten!
Love - and enrich with dreams -
greatness of old!
Challenge unknown terrain -
truth will be told.
Works not yet being built,
stars never seen -
reveal them through rescued lives,
able and keen!
Noble is everyone,
earh, rich and sweet!
Hunger and suffering,
caused by deceit.
Crush it! In life's own name
injustice shall fall.
Light, bread and love and hope,
birthright of all.
Forcing all weapons down,
warfare shall cease!
Sheilding man's dignity
creating true peace.
Who by his right hand's side
carries a burden,
precious and dear to him,
can never murder.
This is our promise,
from kin to kin:
cherish our fragile Earth,
it's ours to win.
We will protect and keep
beauty and grace -
as if we held a child
in tender embrace!
{{{"War is contempt for life...."}}}
NonnyO
Bush Has Found Enlightenment
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Daily_Show_Bush_has_obtained_enlightenment_0720.html
This guy is hot (Stewart's guest)
Posted by: NonnyO at July 20, 2007 07:39 PM
My thoughts exactly. Especially where they are quite agile and fast - in the water!
sparrow - that's where it will benefit your country - out there changing votes and adding the voices of the newly outraged. Especially amongst the kids, the voters of the future. They are the ones who need to let their families know they don't want to inherit the disaster that Bush will soon leave for them.
Well done!
And Karen - great metaphor. I have scorpions here but they are pitch black and look like a black thread of wool until I get my finger almost there to pick it up and the tail flips up! I get around in bare feet so I expect I'll come to grief one of these days. Why do they choose the floor? Why can't they walk on walls like everything else?
Blind loyalty latest US war casualty
Charles Fisher: "Why are we the world's police? The only reason we are there is because of oil - if it's not in the country, it's a route to it."
Ian Munro, Pemberton, New Jersey
July 21, 2007
Page 1 of 3 | Single page
PEMBERTON, New Jersey, is a military town, but it emerges from the highway like a vision of an older, simpler, idealised America conceived by Norman Rockwell.
This is not a holiday, yet Pemberton's historic main street is dressed in national flags, the Stars and Stripes lifting from every lightpole, and most front porches. The streetscape reflects more optimistic times. The houses are Georgian and Victorian, brick and timber, multi-storied, high-gabled and elaborately decorated.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/blind-loyalty-latest-us-war-casualty/2007/07/20/1184560042052.html
Knee-jerk responses to terror lead to disaster
Waleed Aly
July 21, 2007
http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/kneejerk-responses-to-terror-lead-to-disaster/2007/07/20/1184560033516.html
Ian Munro, Toronto
July 21, 2007
"Mr Walcott was in Landstuhl military hospital when the hideously burned survivors of the 2004 Mosul mess tent bombing arrived. Some, he says, resembled nothing so much as a lump of coal, still screaming in pain despite the tide of morphine coursing through them.
"Seeing people in that suffering and pain, if you are going to do that to your country's soldiers and sailors, then there's got to be a damn good reason, not just the abstract like this one was," says Mr Walcott, 25."
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/07/20/1184560043661.html?from=top5
Here in Australia, with a Federal election looming any month now, it's a joy to read the papers.
------
"As the Prime Minister and his ministers filed into the cabinet room for a meeting, John Howard was in a fury at the way ABC radio's AM program had portrayed his Government that morning.
""Howard's face went red and his lips white as he complained about AM's coverage of the Iraq war," write his biographers, the academics Wayne Errington and Peter van Onselen, in their book, John Winston Howard: The Biography.
""Peter Costello countered Howard's anger with a quip: "How can we complain about the ABC when we appointed all the board members?" the Treasurer teased.""
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/07/20/1184560038621.html?from=top5
------
Hahahaha. The opposition doesn't need to do a thing. The Government shoots itself in the mouth or foot at every turn. I love it!
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/77369.php
In an overwhelming majority of 17 to 4, and in defiance of a threatened veto by President Bush, the US Senate Finance Committee approved a bill to expand child healthcare using a large increase in tobacco tax. Most of the Republicans on the Committee joined the Democrats to vote in favour of the bill.
The current legislation for the State Children's Health Insurance Program, SCHIP, is due to expire at the end of September.
If passed by Congress, the new bill would entitle another 3.2 million children in low income families to receive state funded health insurance. These families can't afford medical insurance but don't qualify for Medicaid because their earnings are just above the cut off point.
If passed, the bill would bring the overall number of state insured children to around 10 million.
President Bush has said a number of times he is against the bill because it expands the government's role in healthcare and is financed by a huge tax increase. He favours a system of tax breaks to encourage uninsured people to take up private insurance.
The Senate panel voted to provide an additional 35 billion dollars to finance the expanded program, bringing the total spend to 60 billion over the next five years. President Bush's proposal is for a 5 billion increase to continue the program without expansion, with a total spend of 30 billion over five years.
[snip]
According to a report by Reuters, Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said the Senate would approve the bill later this month in defiance of Bush's threat to veto it. He said they were going to fight for it, "This is important", he said.
A New York Times report said that Republican Senator Charles E Grassley of Iowa, co-author of the bill called Bush's plan "unrealistic" and he couldn't see how only a 5 billion dollar increase in SCHIP funding would enable it to continue doing what it did now.
The report quotes another bill co-author Democrat Senator John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia as saying that Mr Bush and his health secretary Michael Leavitt were being "pretty belligerent" in their criticism of the bill.
Another proposal in the bill would remove the waivers brought in by the Bush government that allow some states to use money from SCHIP to cover adults who don't have kids.
Republican Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas said the new bill would allow states to help low income families buy private insurance. He said he was "proud" to support the bill.
[snip]
Getting the bill through the Senate may not be as straightforward as some might imagine. The original proposal in the Senate Committee by the Democrats was for a 50 billion increase, the 35 billion was a compromise. However, the Democrats are adamant about pursuing the original 50 billion, and some are saying that if they try to do this in the Senate it could make the situation very fragile because many Republican Senators will be very nervous about approving a spend that is significantly above what the Finance Committee approved.
"I hope they understand it takes 60 votes to get anything done in the United States Senate," said Sen. Grassley to the Associated Press.
Some of us got this email earlier this afternoon. For the sake of others of us who aren't on the same mailing lists, I'm going to repost it here.
A couple or three salient points about this email, btw...
There's always a question bandied about by bloggers as to whether a given email from a politician was actually written by him/er or was just knocked out by some staff minion and posted over the pol's signature. (Not that I would know anything about that myself, you understand. Ahem.) Here at the DCP we have several people who are personally familiar with this particular pol and know his speaking and writing styles quite well, so I'll let them tell you if this email is quote-unquote authentic or not.
Also, and this is very important when it comes to judging the credibility of mass messages sent out to pols' mailing lists, you'll notice that nowhere in this email does it ask for money. This particular pol doesn't always ask for money, and when he does it's often for other pols to use against Republicans in races he's not involved in himself. But, still. Always nice to hear from somebody in Washington who's not just hitting you up for a buck again, hmm hmm?
And, yeah... I really liked the P.S. part, too.
----------
Hello [Otter],
Bottom line - no sugarcoating it -- I'm not happy we couldn't break the GOP filibuster on Iraq. But I'm writing just to let you know that I can feel the progress we're making.
Here's what I take away from the week that's ending. First, you've got a whole lot of Senators who voiced opposition to the current disastrous course in Iraq, but couldn't bring themselves to admit that we needed an open debate on what the new course should be. They filibustered, throwing up a roadblock to any new course. (OK, that's deeply frustrating - but then again two years ago could you imagine the day when the President would have such intense criticism from his own right flank on Iraq? The dam is breaking.)
But most importantly, we're not going to let the roadblock stand. We, and I mean all of us who have been pressing and pressing on the war, have now made it clear in both parties that this Iraq policy is beyond broken. Last year, only 13 Senators voted for the Kerry-Feingold bill to set a deadline to redeploy; now it's the unified Democratic position. In May, Republicans were dismissing even tough questions about the escalation. Now, they're falling all over themselves to distance themselves from the President.
So we're making progress. But progress doesn't mean anything to the troops in the field. We need to get results. It's just plain wrong for some people to admit that the policy is broken, but then filibuster attempts to fix it. If the policy is broken, we owe it to all Americans to hold open debate and arrive at a solution.
We'll keep slugging until we'll get there.
Thanks,
John Kerry
P.S. -- You and I know damn well what happens at moments like this: the Administration attacks their opponents ruthlessly. They smear, they lie. Yesterday they went after Sen. Clinton. I stepped up to defend her. Tomorrow who knows which Democrat they'll attack. Here's what I'm asking you: I don't care if you have a horse in 2008, or who you're supporting. Anytime you see a Democrat get attacked, please step up and defend them.
----------
nicely done john,
Otter
Bush Has Found Enlightenment
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Daily_Show_Bush_has_obtained_enlightenment_0720.html
This guy is hot (Stewart's guest)
Posted by: not my president at July 21, 2007 12:31 AM
Yes. I've seen him before, and thought the same.... :-) His comedy is also hysterically funny, and this bit was more 'spot on' than usual! :-) The logical fallacies are becoming ever more apparent as time goes by.
BTW, IMHO, Frances Townsend resembles Mann Coulter. What is is with these Stepford kinds of women...? They sound alike, they look alike.... I thought the reichwingers didn't like the whole idea of cloning....
~~~~~
Posted by: NonnyO at July 20, 2007 07:39 PM
My thoughts exactly. Especially where they are quite agile and fast - in the water!
Posted by: woz at July 21, 2007 02:24 AM
:-) Yes. :-) The Cons (scorpions) convict themselves by their own destructive tendencies. What they don't realize is that if they didn't try to kill us we'd leave them to themselves to do each other in, with no assistance from us....
Instead of trying to tame scorpions or figuring out a way to kill them all....
Why not just ask the turtle why he is stupid enough to put a stone cold killer on his back?
Why assume the scorpion is the problem?
If you reread that fable, do note how clear, concise, and honest the scorpion is. The scorpion understands himself very well.
What is not so clear is why the turtle changed his mind. He allowed himself to be taken to his death.
Even after noting the scorpion is a killer.
It is the turtle who is confused.
This one seems to have legs.
"In an apparent violation of the law, a controverisal aide to ex-Gov. Mitt Romney created phony law enforcement badges that he and other staffers used on the campaign trail to strong-arm reporters, avoid paying tolls and trick security guards into giving them immediate access to campaign venues, sources told the Herald.
The bogus badges were part of the bizarre security tactics allegedly employed by Jay Garrity, the director of operations for Romney who is under investigation for impersonating a law enforcement officer in two states. Garrity is on a leave of absence from the campaign while the probe is ongoing.
A campaign source said Garrity directed underlings on Romney’s presidential staff to use the badges at events nationwide to create an image of security and to ensure that the governor’s events went smoothly."
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/015620.php
Posted by: Christy at July 21, 2007 06:49 AM
The turtle is generous and compassionate and thus the wisdom to say no isn't being activated.
Maybe that's why they're called 'bleeding heart...'
Hello from Charlottesville!
I have some photos and a story from last evening's event her in C-ville with Cindhy Sheehan, Rev. Yearwood, et al--it was a great event, and highly inspiring. Meanwhile, heads up on this one:
ACTIONS AND UPDATES
Here’s What You Can Do!
It’s Time for a National Intervention
October 21-23, Washington, D.C.
The Iraq war and the threat of climate change are the twin global threats that millions of Americans said they wanted immediate action on after the U.S. mid-term election. But as Iraq continues to devolve into violence and chaos, and as we hit another year of record warm temperatures, our legislators are failing to respond to the will of the people. We want a safe and healthy planet for years and years to come. Please join us in a series of actions in 2007 to fight climate change, not wars for oil!
Turn your voice into action!
NONVIOLENT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
TO TAKE OVER CAPITOL HILL
We need to take immediate action…
…To end the war in Iraq and all future oil wars
…To halt the impending climate crisis
…To end the US addiction to oil and other fossil fuels
…To rebuild New Orleans and all impacted communities
…To end racism and corporate greed
…To promote green jobs in a clean energy economy
http://nowarnowarming.org/
Should DCP endorse? CHeck the list on the left.
Posted by: NonnyO at July 20, 2007 10:42 PM
Don't expect the Pubs to sign on to that bill. It would be wonderful if they did, but they know the baby boomers are busy taking care of their aged parents now, and although they took our money and played the materialism game big time when we were in our thirties and forties, and even though we indeed paid our dues, they are not about to pay us to stay home and take care of our loved ones. Unless, of course, they figure that would be cheaper in the long run than paying for the elderly to be placed in homes while the baby boomers work their jobs.
In retrospect, I think people are getting wise to the entire class struggle here. We all know this, but Katrina and Bush's (err, his keeper's) push to privatize Social Security tipped his hat.
I went to Google, hit News and top story is "Bush Butt Probed, Cheney in Charge" -
http://www.axcessnews.com/index.php/articles/show/id/11684
which doesn't sound very dignified.
Posted by: not my president at July 20, 2007 06:45 PM
I thought that was SOOOooooo FUNNY!!!!! I sent it to my aunt who has finally decided Cheney is evil. That was such a funny piece.
A heart that is bleeding is also just another way to die badly.
Since when did generous or compassionate ever equate with willingly being led to your own death by someone you KNOW is a killer?
I don't get it.
In a sense that argument almost reminds me of how bush keeps recieving the very much undeserved benefit of the doubt, because is it the politically polite thing to do.
Compassion was never intended to be a suicidal trait.
Posted by: TSP at July 21, 2007 09:48 AM
And, I might add, that I wouldn't put it past them to (if they could pull off a dictatorship) to put us Sr.s in a train and take us to gas us. We will, after all, be a drain on corporate America, and on America's government, which I don't believe has the resources left to pay us our retirement Social Security benefits (even though we paid into them for 50 years.)
Which leads me to think that it is probably no coincidence that they have made affordable and attainable health care so difficult to obtain. It was just barbaric the way they kept sending my mom home to just die instead of keeping her in the hospital and keeping her comfortable during her last weeks of life. I think in the end her lungs filled with fluid, and her heart just couldn't get enough oxegyn, and they could have tapped her lungs again but they just took off the ventilator and let her die. Maybe they figued she was at the end of the road, and that tapping her lungs might give her another week, but we were all tired of watching her suffer.
"John Conyers gave me goosebumps. He arrived with "minor rock star status" -- (or better!) at a reception sponsored by the Progressive Democrats of America.
What a beautiful man - a wise and true gentleman, joined us just now in San Diego at the Holiday Inn for a reception. And there were goosebumps when he said on entering the standing room only crowd (filled with impeachment and other signs):
"What are we waiting for? Let's take these two guys out!"
(Huge cheers in the room!!)
Yes, he really said that - first thing as he came in the door here in San Diego and repeated it again later. He is mingling with us common people and will soon give a talk. I was so excited when I heard those words, I just had to share.
Also, Land Shark was here and talked to Conyers in the presence of others about the disastrous Holt bill as well as impeachment issues. Conyers stated that he would be going for inherent contempt - he declared that as his intent.
MORE LATER, kp
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1390369
Under pressure on Iraq, US makes overtures to UN
July 21, 2007 - 1:58PM
Under pressure to start withdrawing US troops, the Bush administration says it wants the United Nations to play an expanded role in Iraq as a mediator both internally and with neighbouring countries.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/us-makes-overtures-to-un-on-iraq/2007/07/21/1184560088164.html
Woz
Thanks for all the Australian articles!
Otter
That's John! I love the PS especially.
TSP
Good to see you. I read your comments about healthcare etc. and this administration isn't funding children's healthcare, even.
Good morning all!
Off topic but I told my disgruntled postal worker friend that the new Harry Potter book broke all records for number of copies the Postal Service ever had to ship in one day. She told her husband who quit the PO and now works in the public library.
She said:
George worked at the library all day today. He said that people come in there and call there and ask the darndest questions. Today a woman called up and wanted to ask the librarian what a blog is. I said tell her its short for a big log.
On another note, I also read that Michael Moore's "Sicko" is now in the Top 5 documentaries ever and is opening at 500 more theaters and also doing well in Canada.
RUNNING OUT OF OIL: USA NO LONGER A SUPER-POWER
(I wrote this post after reading the first 100 pages of "American Theocracy" by Kevin Phillips - a fascinating study of energy and the power of nations.)
While the nation is debating the Iraq disaster, it is worth noting that the United States production of oil has been declining since the early 1970's (when it reached its peak). Since then the United States has had to import more and more oil from abroad. Recently, the United States has reached the level of importing more than half of its oil needs from other countries. This is a sure sign of decline of economic and political power.
The U.S. is forced to import oil from countries which are hostile and may even turn on it at some point (Saudi Arabia and Venezuela). A book called "American Theocracy" puts forth the suggestion that, due to the lack of suitable and abundant oil supply, the invasion of Iraq was planned some time ago, perhaps as far back as 1997. Clearly Cheney was concerned with declining U.S. oil production before he become Vice President. The secret energy meetings arranged by the Vice president in early 2001 underscores the fact that oil and energy were top priorities for Cheney and the Bushies.
You know, I am curious. Bush signed an Executive Order having to to with torture. The interpretation I originally heard was that he has agreed that treatment of detainees will conform to the Geneva Convention. Now I saw an article where it says that his Order allows the CIA to resume cruelties. I will have to compare versions, read more, reread.
It sounds like a question of whether the glass is half full or half empty, but in any case it contains poison.
Ralpheh
Good summary - keep going as you read the book.
I am on a bunch of conservative things now because Anne Coulter sold my name. I am leaving it that was so I can study them. They offered a book today that claims that we should fight everyone in the middle east or the countries of Europe will soon become Muslim and in our lifetimes so will America.
I wanted to know what the conservatives are paranoid about.
I'm going off to paint the rocks again. And I will hike with the word "Impeach" on a two sided board across one of the busy roads here.
I have found that I actually feel guilty for not doing that even when I'm dead tired and I come home with a headache.
Ralpheh
I have also read that Saudi Arabia may be overestimating its reserves to it can charge more on OPEC and is actually much closer to "peak oil" than it lets on. Countries like Saudi Arabia and Norway with plenty of crude still import gasoline because they can't refine their own crude fast enough and so sell it. They are not energy self-sufficient.
What you say above is probably true because why else would the US want to drill in Alaska and go through the expensive and polluting hassle of recovering petroleum from under shale in Canada? & we even have a territorial dispute with Canada now having to do with resources. Canada is beefing up security. I've talked to Canadians that are afraid that we will invade them in the future, going after water.
Sounds like a good book to read.
Sparrow
Good work! You deserve a break and you will get it in early August!
Before I go, I just want to say one thing about Dailykos. Today they have a HUGE CNN flashing atrocity on their website. Given CNN's bias, should DailyKos be advertising for them?
sparrow
I'll bet they can't turn down the revenue. I believe that's how it works. Can I still say better CNN than Fox, or maybe not .. my understanding was that there isn't much news on either.
sparrow
went and looked - maybe it's up there (CNN logo) because "candidates are going to debate" -
Bush said the usual on radio - war on Iraq is part of war on terror - repeat repeat
“No radio address erases the fact that our own intelligence agencies say the war in Iraq has created a whole new generation of terrorists, and diverted attention from the Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the 9/11 attacks were plotted. While we are bogged down with a failed policy, Al Qaeda is regrouping and growing in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Our troops and our country need a new policy from this President, not the same old rhetoric.”
John Kerry
Maybe this is why Bush issued an Executive Order saying to comply with the Geneva Conventions in the future.
Federal Appeals Court Denies Gitmo Evidence Secrecy
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/072107Y.shtml
William Glaberson of the New York Times reports in Saturday's edition that "a federal appeals court ordered the government yesterday to turn over virtually all its information on Guantanamo detainees who are challenging their detention,
rejecting an effort by the Justice Department to limit disclosures and setting the stage for new legal battles over the government's reasons for holding the men indefinitely."
Just as an FYI, while it is true that America imports half of the oil it uses, over 80% of the oil it imports comes from only two other countries -- Canada and Mexico, neither of which is fomenting revolution abroad or flying airplanes into buildings here at home.
I am on a bunch of conservative things now because Anne Coulter sold my name. I am leaving it that was so I can study them. They offered a book today that claims that we should fight everyone in the middle east or the countries of Europe will soon become Muslim and in our lifetimes so will America.
I wanted to know what the conservatives are paranoid about.
Posted by: not my president at July 21, 2007 11:06 AM
Mann Coulter, selling names, really is a tranny whore, as Randi Rhodes likes to say.
The conservatives shouldn't really be worried. Their brand of Christianity is just as barbaric and backward as the Islamic wave they fear so much. There won't be much of a change.
Can I still say better CNN than Fox, or maybe not .. my understanding was that there isn't much news on either.
Posted by: not my president at July 21, 2007 11:21 AM
Fox is better than CNN. Fox at least has the integrity to consistently carry right-wing bias ALL THE WAY. CNN went from Clinton News Network to Fox Lite (and if Hillary becomes our next Prez, will return to Clinton News Network) - a total flip-flopper.
It is the turtle who is confused.
Posted by: Christy at July 21, 2007 06:49 AM
More naive than confused, I think.
But if the scorpion wanted to save its own life, why not wait until the gullible turtle crossed to the safety of land for the scorpion? Why kill its support, thus committing suicide at the same time?
:-) I see the fable from several viewpoints, obviouisly.... :-)
Everyone knows the one most likely to die from the scorpions sting...is the scorpion.
The scorpion certainly knew it.
"Because it is in my nature,"
There are several flying stinging insects that can not sting you without ripping out their entire core.
Yet they still will sting you.
To them, we attribute their stupidity to just that, ignorance, stupidity, destiny. Nature.
Yet, to the scorpion we attribute it to a motive. A dark motive at that.
They say when scorpions sting themselves to death, it is for the 'sheer joy of stinging', but I doubt the scorpio finds it enjoyable.
I think the turtle gets off too easy while everyone blames the scorpion.
Christy
You're right - there are thousands of types of scorpions and they use the venom to paralyze their prey before they eat it. Most of them aren't that dangerous to humans. They can control the amount of venom they use and they use it only for prey that is a little large or struggles. Toxicity level for humans varies but you treat it with ice.
My husband just got bit by a spider on the top of the head yesterday and we researched it and found out it was probably a hobo spider. Similar thing - temporary stinging pain then swelling, temporary headache, but he won't die. People think it's the brown recluse, but they don't even live here. The hobo spider does but is being overtaken by a European spider, also poisonous but you don't die or even have to go to the hospital, unless wildly allergic to the venom.
I also found out we are "the spider capital of the United States."
So we're known for something other than cloudy skies.
The scorpions bear resemblances to humans. The young are born one by one. They are carried by their mother until they have moulted, or they can not survive. Some live up to 25 years and they may be older than we are, in the fossil record.
They are nocturnal and don't like light and by hiding can avoid being prey for larger animals, such as small mammals. They're out for insects and only sting them if them can't crush them. They can only digest food in liquid form.
They are interesting! I LOVE stuff like this!
Acc/WIkipedia and some other sources, scorpions don't really sting themselves to death when faced with danger. They aren't even allergic to their own venom. They probably evolved in the ocean (note resemblance to lobsters?)
I wonder if they're good to eat? With garlic butter?
Here is a delicious scorpion recipe.
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/wml/naturalworld/bughouse/scorpionsoup.asp
NMP,
Hope your hubby is ok.
Since I lived in Utah and got very familiar with a native called the Wolf Spider, I am now totally arachnophobic.
Between them and the Mormons, I am not sure who frightened me more.
TURTLE SOUP AU SHERRY
http://www.gumbopages.com/food/soups/turtle-soup.html
Hmmm, I had always heard scorpions sting themselves, but I never realized I had never seen it until now.
Hmmm.
I do know they eat each other. Each other is apperently their favorite dinner.
Suicidal, homocidal, it don't matter, it is still a stone cold killer.
Christy
Yes, they'll eat anything in their path that is their size or smaller. They can't see or hear - they have chemical detectors and air vibration detectors. They are cannibals! Some may even eat their young. They aren't affected by their own venom though, so what they do is overturn each other and sting into the gut. So it's not the venom, it's the wound. They live in a world where it is commonplace to eat your own friends.
So this really is a good analogy with the Republicans.
The Logic of Impeachment
By Robert Parry
July 21, 2007
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has taken impeachment “off the table,” in line with Official Washington’s view that trying to oust George W. Bush and Dick Cheney would be an unpleasant waste of time. But there is emerging a compelling logic that an unprecedented dual impeachment might be vital to the future of the United States.
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2007/072107.html
'A Dual Impeachment'
Me thinks we just found a new talking point.
"Secondly, Collins asked Hinchey, "What is your posture on the impeachment of Vice President Cheney?"
Hinchey, who is not one of the 14 current co-sponsors of Dennis Kucinich's HR (see explanation at end of article) House Res 333, calling for the Impeachment of Dick Cheney, laughed and said "I think that this administration --- both the President and the Vice-President --- are the most impeachable in the history of our country."
He went on to add that both Bush and Cheney "have engaged in activities that have not only made them impeachable, but they have engaged in activities that have violated, in a criminal way, very important federal laws."
When asked what might be done to encourage House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to put Impeachment "back on the table," Hinchey replied that he felt it already was, but that Pelosi "doesn't have the votes to do it." He added that the problem is more acute in the Senate, where the Democrats have only "the majority of one single vote."
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=4833
As soon as georgies crimes start going public, the dems will stand totally united and the republicans will jump ship in droves.
Really, who does want to hang for WAR CRIMES..?
Our politicians always say ' Trust Us.'
Why do they not ever trust in US?
I think all of them live in a bubble. They look at us as sheep for so long, they start to believe we are sheep.
No matter what we say otherwise.
I am sick of all of them.
I believe all of congress should be eaten by hungry lions who can not tell the difference between republicans and democrats.
Why...?
Why not?, is the better question.
IMHO,
The turtle should never have the scorpion climb on his back. Heck, I wouldn't even have dinner with him!
People (err, Scorpions) CAN change, but I would take in to account their previous record of being able and willing to change before I ever made a deal with them. It's the M.O., remember?
As far as turtles go, they are just one big dysfunctional family....but at least they are not socio-paths.
India has a female president now.
Just as an FYI, while it is true that America imports half of the oil it uses, over 80% of the oil it imports comes from only two other countries -- Canada and Mexico, neither of which is fomenting revolution abroad or flying airplanes into buildings here at home.
Posted by: Otter at July 21, 2007 01:03 PM
@@@@@@
Since there is only a finite amount of oil produced in the world, by importing oil, the United States drives up the world price of oil, thus making the Middle East countries quite wealthy. My guess is that Mexican and Canadian oil are new sources. Since in the '70's and '80's we were buying much of our oil from OPEC.
Regarding Saudi Arabia and oil:
The book (American Theocracy) suggests that Saudi Arabia may have less oil reserves than is commonly assumed. There is another book titled "Twilight in the Desert" which hypothesizes a world wide catastrophe should Saudi oil production begin to decline and the oil "reserves" prove false.
Nice guy that Mitt Romney is. See this photo.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/21/173623/077
up security. I've talked to Canadians that are afraid that we will invade them in the future, going after water.
Sounds like a good book to read.
Posted by: not my president at July 21, 2007 11:09 AM
@@@@@@
The first part of Phillips' book (the first 100 pages) is all about energy sources and the wealth of nations based on energy. This is very interesting.
He talks about the various energy periods:
1500-1700 Wind/ Sail energy = the Dutch sailing/trade/empire and windmills and pumps
1750-1900(?) Whale oil = international whaling industry in Europe and US/Canada
1800-1900 Coal = Great Britain steam engines, canals, railroads, British empire
1900 - present Petroleum = United States/ big oil companies/ automobile industry/ interstate highways/ military industrial complex based on oil
The rest of the book is about fanatic, fundamentalist American religious movements and their taking control of the Republican party. One chapter is titled, rather sarcastically and ironically, "The Erring Republican Majority"
Nice guy that Mitt Romney is. See this photo.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/21/173623/077
Posted by: madame defarge at July
@@@@@@@
What are the names of Mitt's kids??
Do we have to fight fire with fire?
Back from protesting. Here's my update.
Hiking for impeachment had to be taken off the table due to construction that was blocking traffic everywhere!
So I made a quick change of plans. Instead, I stood at the stop light off this very main state highway and I used my signs. I also created another new one: "HIGH CRIMES, LIES, TREASON, COVERUPS, IMPEACH".
The end results of my 'tally' were:
Number of honks, thumbs up, and shouts of agreement--lost count at somewhere around 100.
Number of F'you's--1
Number of "Stay the course"--1
Number of "NO's"--2.
I got a nice bookmark of "Heck yes, you're right" as I started my day and a sweet thumbs up as I was walking to my car.
Though most people don't react at all, when all is said and done, I'd say it was pretty successful.
PS. Noted that the F-You's come and the overly aggressive behavior comes when I am talking to pedestrians. Think it's coincidence?
I was out for 3 hours approx.
Some interesting campaign fundraising numbers from my red town...
111 people donated $130K to Obama
20 people donated $28K to Hillary
50 people donated $38K to McCain
45 people donated $57K to Romney
37 people donated $51K to Rudy
Oh..and my big rocks were blocked off this time too. So I couldn't freeway blog on them.
sparrow--You do amazing work truly!
madame: GREAT news from a red district!
Richard and I are in Virginia, eating amazing blackberry pie...
More to come!
And because the pie was so good, he just ordered....
TURTLE cheesecake!
and it's also AMAAAZZZIIINNNNNGGGGGGGG!!
Karen, if you're still in Charlottesville, I'm so damn jealous. That's one of my new favorite places.
madame--we are in Sperryville, which is one of our favorite places. It's like C-ville, only teeny. Less traffic too!
And I'll bet you've got a great view of my favorite mountains... Sigh... Enjoy!
Obama courts Iowa union activists By MIKE GLOVER, Associated Press Writer
Sat Jul 21, 2:50 PM ET
DES MOINES, Iowa - Democrat Barack Obama is telling union activists he would walk a picket line as president if organized labor helps elect him in 2008.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Illinois senator also criticized President Bush's policies toward working people.
`We are facing a Washington that has thrown open its doors to the most anti-union, anti-worker forces we've seen in generations," Obama said in remarks prepared for delivery Saturday night. "What we need to make real today is the idea that in this country we value the labor of every American."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070721/ap_on_el_pr/obama_labor
Ralpheh
In the 70s I worked for Shell Oil and we were producing and using some of our own oil still - I worked in St. Paul and it came up the Mississippi from Texas on barges. We topped out.
There is alot of oil under Canada but it's hard & expensive to get at and it's a different process, very bad for the earth. Plus it's theirs, not ours, so we have to buy it, increasing our trade deficit. What do we have that Canada needs? More corn?
I was looking in the back of The Economist at the weekly chart and our trade deficit is highest in the world, and largest percentage of GDP. Considering the size of Britain, they weren't sitting very good either, compared with the European continental countries. I wonder why? Could it be war related?!
The red/blue map is back
http://www.fundrace.org/citymap.php
Caution - the map isn't updated for the next race.
Patterns may remain similar.
Oh rats, I almost forgot...
Happy National Holiday to all those who are Belgian -- or even those who drink Belgian beer or eat Belgian chocolate.
Since I lived in Utah and got very familiar with a native called the Wolf Spider, I am now totally arachnophobic.
Between them and the Mormons, I am not sure who frightened me more.
Posted by: Christy at July 21, 2007 02:01 PM
Christy, you really make me laugh!!!
CNN/YouTube Debates - make a video with a question for them
http://www.youtube.com/debates?utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-st_realclearpolitics&utm_medium=ha
first one is Monday
PS. Noted that the F-You's come and the overly aggressive behavior comes when I am talking to pedestrians. Think it's coincidence?
Posted by: sparrow at July 21, 2007 06:17 PM
Wow! Good for you sparrow. And no, I don't think it's coincidence - no doubt the abusers were bigger or appearing stronger than you. Some people just get off on power. Look at the model they've got.
quote to tote:
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Example of question for presidential candidates that was put on YouTube:
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=vtpJdg5y1QY&feature=dir
by Michael Moore
I think it's 9 seconds long
And no, I don't think it's coincidence - no doubt the abusers were bigger or appearing stronger than you. Some people just get off on power. Look at the model they've got.
Posted by: woz at July 21, 2007 11:10 PM
They were all men who did the shouting at me. (Age unidentifiable except my guess was in the 30's.)
Oddly, or maybe not, most women if they don't agree just glare or turn away. But there was one women who honked and gave the finger. (Definitely an in your face type gesture.)
Posted by: TSP at July 21, 2007 11:29 PM
While I was protesting yesterday a man came up and asked me if I had read a book by Theodore Gailbraith. He was the one who assumed that I wanted impeachment because I was anti-war. At anyrate, Gailbraith's book is about Islamic Fundamentalism and if my assumption about the guy is correct he is pro-war due to that book (or philosophy) but I was at least able to remind him of all the other high-crimes these people have committed even if you are pro-war.
http://www.amazon.com/Holy-War-Militant-Christian-Fundamentalism/dp/0786413360
Of course, I don't know if we still get donations from purchases from Powells. But if you're interested in purchasing the book, please use the powells link above.