2010 archive
Octogone from Public View 0
Nadya Suleman (the “Octomom”) has fallen on difficult times. She refused an offer to make a porn film, so have a little PETA pity for her.
PETA is paying her five grand and a year’s supply of veggie burgers and dogs to put a sign in her yard encouraging persons to spay or neuter their pets.
Pardon me. I must go explode my head.
Stray Thought 0
Democracy is what Republicans agree with. If they don’t agree with it, it is by definition not democracy.
Just ask them.
The NeverEnding Story 0
Even the NeverEnding Story came to an end. In fact, it was about an hour and a half long, as contrasted to half a century.
(snip)
Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said Republicans consulting with the Senate parliamentarian had found “two minor provisions” that violate Congress’ budget rules. The provisions deal with Pell grants for low-income students.
This story will come to an end also. Then, as with the other NeverEnding Story, there will be sequels. That’s part of why the Republicans fought so hard. They know that, as with social security and medicare, trying to make it go away (remember privatizing social security) is a no win.
The House Democrats will not back down now, not even if, as Shaun Mullen suggests, Joe the Plumber (what ever happened to him, anyhow?) gets the call.
Taking Credit Where Credit Is Don’t 0
Republican Grassley.
Eagles and Farewells 1
I saw what I think was a bald eagle today, deep in suburban North Wilmington, Delaware.
I was out jawboning with one of my neighbors (soon to be an ex-neighbor when I finish packing stuff up and throwing stuff out–no more back-and-forth) in the way of making a farewell, and this bird flew–well, really, it just sort of drifted–overhead at low altitude, maybe 50 feet.
I won’t miss Delaware all that much, though it is a very nice place to live and is actually quite well run. Delaware has a fortunately low wingnut quotient and is small enough that no one can get away with anything especially sleazy for very long. Heck, I used to run into my governor at PTA meetings because his son went to the same school as my son. He came without any kind of entourage or body guard. That’s small.
My kids are scattered and all my exes live in Texas (yes, they do).
My friends meet Tuesdays for Drinking Liberally in Philly, but they are all also on line, as is much of my life. I will miss Tuesdays more than they realize.
I will miss my neighbors. They have been good neighbors for a quarter century.
But returning to Virginia is returning to family roots that reach almost 400 years. It’s home in a way that many persons in our mobile society cannot understand. Not to mention my friend who I re-met after 40 years.
You can take the Virginian out of Virginia, but you can’t take Virginia out of a Virginian.
But if my friend were elsewhere, I’d be heading there.
Back to the boid:
I wish I’d had my camera or even my camera phone on me, but I didn’t. The bird looked just like this:
I said to the neighbor, “I think that’s an eagle.” She said, “Nooooo.” I said, “Look at the white head and tail.”
And we just watched it sail down the street.
“It’s beautiful,” she said.
Track the Crazies 2
TPM has a map.
From the bullet items under the map:
Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-OH) (who has received death threats–ed.), who is on the map above, today said he confronted Minority Leader John Boehner over an interview in which Boehner said Driehaus would be a “dead man” if he voted for the bill. “I think it’s really important for folks around here, especially leader Boehner, to understand that his words have consequences,” Driehaus said.
That they are crazy does not mean they are no less dangerous. I will not be surprised if someone kills in the name of Republicanism.
If that happens, watch them back off watch the party disclaim responsibility.
Addendum:
Glomarization has more.
Later:
Now it’s faxes of nooses.
Even Later:
More death threats.
Afterthought:
These people are nuts.
Hypocrisy Watch 0
Russell King itemizes the bill at TPM.
It’s quite astounding to see it all in one list.
Via DelawareLiberal.
Fair and Bolloxed 0
Warning: Language as bad you might hear on the school bus.
Via BartBlog and I sort of stole the title from them too.
Even I Found This over the Top 0
Direct Action . . . 0
. . . while appearing gratifying, is not often indicated:
The court found that the four, aged 61 to 80, abducted James Amburn and tried to force him to refund 2.5m euros (£2.25m; $3.4m) in lost investments.
Personal Politics 0
A while ago, I posted that all politics is economics.
And it is. To quote Deep Throat (the Watergate one, not the other one), “Follow the money.”
TeacherKen points out that, in addition, all politics is personal.
Read it.
A Dog Bites When Backed into a Corner, Even When It Backs Itself into the Corner 0
The Booman analyses Republican opposition to health care reform. A nugget:
Calling your own analysts’ plans ‘socialist’ and a ‘monstrosity’ is dishonest. And it strikes me as a real problem that the Republicans have poisoned their own base’s minds about the nature of the health care reforms. They can’t walk this back now and govern responsibly without being seen as sell-outs and commie-appeasers.
A quibble. I’m not sure that any party has a “permanent base.”
Add Another Star to the Stars and Bars 0
One of Attorneys General suing to nullify the health care bill is from the State of Washington.
He didn’t tell the governor before he filed suit. She is not happy.
She is most decidedly not happy.
Via John Cole.
QOTD 0
James Madison foresaw, among other things, the Patriot Act, Guantanamo, and the Glorious and Patriotic War for a Lie in Iraq. From the Quotemaster:
Perhaps it is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged against provisions against danger, real or pretended from abroad.