Well, it’s happened again. Started writing something, then came across something better written arguing the same thing I was going to argue. I was going to write about how Obama’s decision to drill is a pragmatic one that takes both sides of the argument into account but satisfies neither (much like many of his decisions and policies). But, heck with it. Today’s New York Times editorial, “Drill, but Not Everywhere,” says it pretty darned well: For years, the debate over offshore drilling for gas and oil has been a war of sound bites between the “drill now,...
Continue reading...United States
Weapons of mass destruction
When reading about the arrests of the Hutaree militia group members who had planned an attack against law enforcement professionals, it was mentioned (in the headline and the body) that they were charged with attempting to use “weapons of mass destruction,” but the stories explained that they had planned on using Improvised Explosive Devices, which are generally conventional in nature. “Weapons of mass destruction” is a term that is generally used to describe nuclear, biological or chemical weaponry. So, how are these so-called “militiamen” being charged with such an offense? Well, Brian Palmer, writing for Slate, explains,...
Continue reading..."Well now I feel the pain of racism"
I’d never heard of Doc Thompson until today. The only reference I can find of him in a very quick Google search is that he hosts some talk radio program out of Richmond, Virginia. However, apparently he was given the reins of Glenn Beck’s radio program yesterday and decided to make a name for himself. The type of name that will resonate with the Glenn-Beckers and Tea Partiers and nutters out there. Perhaps the type of name that will rescue him from Richmond and land him a gig on Fox News. That is, at the very least,...
Continue reading...I'm sorta disgusted.
I was fed up with the actions and rhetoric of the left when Bush was in office, despite sharing many of their concerns. I’m fed up with the current tactics of the right, and share none of their concerns. And yes, sadly, I’m still fed up with the left. I’m having trouble understanding how we move forward from such insanity. President Obama answered the question quite diplomatically this morning, as he often does. Noting that there is a divide in the ‘tea party’* movement between the truly insane (birthers, etc…) and the more rational (deficit hawks, etc…)...
Continue reading...Best. Week. Ever.
With the awesomeness surrounding the passage of healthcare reform, new DOT policy should not be overlooked. Increased commitment to and investment in bicycle facilities and walking networks can help meet goals for cleaner, healthier air; less congested roadways; and more livable, safe, cost-efficient communities. Walking and bicycling provide low-cost mobility options that place fewer demands on local roads and highways. DOT recognizes that safe and convenient walking and bicycling facilities may look different depending on the context — appropriate facilities in a rural community may be different from a dense, urban area. However, regardless of regional, climate,...
Continue reading...This isn't over
With the Senate passing the House’s bill with fixes to the health care reform package, and the House ready to take it up tonight (and likely pass it tonight as well), it almost feels like this long, national nightmare is over. It’s not. Not by a long shot. You see, while this health care bill does not take over one-sixth of the economy, as its critics may speciously claim, it is gigantic, and it does touch a great number of sections of the U.S. budget. If you remember your civics correctly, you’ll note that the Congress votes...
Continue reading...Sarah Palin's late, great planet earth
The Awl yesterday had an enormously important piece by Maud Newton, “Sarah Palin’s ‘Planet Earth’ and the End Times,” in which she (Ms. Newton) uses her own experiences with the Pentecostal and Evangelical movements to decipher Sarah Palin’s recent moves, from running for vice president, resigning the governorship, to her coming documentary series, which is likely coming to the Discovery Channel. Now, perhaps Sarah’s become (or should have become, at least) irrelevant at this stage, but she likely isn’t. If nothing else, it’s a way to see other fundamentalist/Pentecostal public figures and their motivations. When Sarah Palin...
Continue reading...Photoblogging the Revolution
It was a really nice day on Saturday here in D.C, so Estes and I decided to take a jaunt around town and enjoy the sun. Apparently, a number of Tea Party activists had the same idea, so we decided to take some pictures. Below is a photo-journal of sorts of our walk around the Capitol building, where the Tea Partiers had decided to scream about the government. Approaching the rally. Estes gets a little hesitant. I say, “We didn’t bring the ring to Mordor to not enter.” I appreciate this man’s work in defending our freedoms....
Continue reading...New York Times Columnist Line of the Day – 22 March 2010
If you’re one of the four-or-so frequent readers of this here blog, chances are you also occasionally check out the New York Times op-ed page. You may even know the names: Thomas Friedman, Gail Collins, Nicholas Kristoff, &c. Well, I’ve decided to devote a daily feature to these folks, by daily pointing out one line that is either awesome, funny, insightful, intelligent, ridiculous, or utterly divorced from reality. I hope you enjoy. Today’s comes from Paul Krugman’s excellent column entitled “Fear Strikes Out,” in which he compares the opposition to health care reform to its advocates. Instead,...
Continue reading...Seal the Deal!
I spent much of the morning watching “Washington Journal” on C-SPAN. Nutters are pisssssed. That said, most of the anger seems to be about the ‘process’ and the ‘back room deals.’ Now, I’ve seen no formal analysis , but based on what I know thus far, most deals were over policy and did not happen more than usual. I have to assume that people complaining about ‘process’ are new to watching legislation happen and either (a) don’t like our system or (b) don’t understand what is happening. Either way, fuck it, we have healthcare and that should...
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