The Paradox of Vision

The Dream Realized

2008-11-07T08:04:00.006-06:00

...and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

These really do say it all.

Change Has Come

2008-11-05T07:26:00.004-06:00

Wow. Unbelieveable feelings of relief. After eight looooonnnnggg years, I finally have hope again for my country. In the last weeks before the election, I have been mostly silent, holding my breath and waiting to see if the signs of light at the end of the tunnel were real.

When I think about the possible implications, I am just dumbfounded. The real chance that the wars will end. The real chance that the assault on the environment will end. The real chance that we will regain the respect and admiration of the world. The real chance that our economy can be repaired.

America began as, and will always remain, a fluid and dynamic grand experiment. We are learning, as a country, across generations, how to become better as human beings. It is hard to defy all that evolutionary programming which makes us fear and distrust anyone different from ourselves, but we are slowly moving in a positive direction. Sometimes we take steps back, but they are always followed by a greater number of steps forward. Barack Obama represents the hope that we all hold - for our nation and for our world - the world our children will inherit.

Full text of his acceptance speech here. Yes We Can.

Having said that, as I sit here floating in the post-victory happy place where I've been since last night, I feel obligated to link to a few words from John Scalzi offering a little reality check on things. We're not talking the second coming of Jesus here, folks. This is a man, preparing to run a country in the midst of not one but several epic crises, a man who must govern the Entire United States of America, red states included. He will be forced to concede some things. He will fail at some things.

Nevertheless, I'm going to enjoy this. I want to savor the feeling of an historic moment. It's the same feeling I had in college when I watched the Berlin Wall come down. Hope, simple and pure. We may just be alright.

Yes we can.

Election Day 2008

2008-11-04T06:26:00.003-06:00

For the Record, Here are my voting recommendations:

President - Barack Obama
LA Senator - Mary Landrieu
U.S. Representative, 7th District - Don Cravins, Jr.

Proposed Constitutional Amendments:

#1, Term Limits for Boards - NO
#2, Increased Notice For Special Session - NO
#3, Appointment of Temporary Replacements for Legislators - NO
#4, Increase Parish's share of severence tax - YES
#5, Preserve special assessment for homeowners - YES
#6, Remove right of first refusal for blighted properties - YES
#7, Invest non-pension benefits in stocks - NO

In all cases, folks, vote your conscience, but VOTE. It's a right and a privilege.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T15:30:00.003-05:00

Via Your Right Hand Thief (Passing it Along from The Dark Wraith):

LYAO Friday - A Recap of SNL's Thursday Nite Opener Sketch

2008-10-24T11:20:00.001-05:00

For a little while I was trying to be folksy but after a bit, it just came off douchey...

Opie, Andy & the Fonz Support Obama

2008-10-24T08:19:00.001-05:00

Ron Howard in a funny and surreally (yes I just made that word up) nostalgic call to action in this year's presidential election:

Kudos

2008-10-07T08:14:00.004-05:00

To the Louisiana House of Representatives and Speaker Jim Tucker for removing Rep. John LaBruzzo from his position as vice chairman of the House health care committee. In my opinion he should have been removed from the committee entirely, but at least our lawmakers had the presence of mind to address in some way LaBruzzo's outrageous suggestion that we pay the poor citizens in this state $1000 to be sterilized.

It is precisely people like LaBruzzo and his constituents who give our state its reputation for racism and ignorance. Can you imagine young, educated professionals reading stories like this and deciding Louisiana would be a great place to settle and raise children? Is it no wonder that our best and brightest college graduates decide to move elsewhere after college?

Yes, it is true that Louisiana has an unacceptable number of families on welfare, but the blame lies with our substandard educational system and the lack of a coherent plan to prevent poverty. If we are serious about solving the problems afflicting the poor in this state, we need to stop laying blame on their reproductive choices and start giving everyone access to quality education and job training.

LaBruzzo is an idiot. If anyone should think twice about reproducing, it's him.

Not One of Our Prouder Moments

2008-09-25T08:07:00.004-05:00

State Representative and Republican John LaBruzzo of Metairie, LA (the area that also elected David Duke in '89) made us all proud to be from Louisiana this week when he proposed offering $1,000 to poor people in exchange for having them sterilized. I don't even know where to start with this one. It's one of those stories you read and literally yell at no one in particular, "WTF?"

I'm posting his picture here so you can get a good, long look at him.

This is exactly the kind of idiot who gets the microphone all too often in Louisiana. We are perceived as backwards, racist bigots constantly in the press, and no wonder. The sad thing is, I know his type - the heir to generations of white Southerners who believe every derrogatory stereotype concerning anyone of color, and who think all our problems will be solved if we just 'get all the negroes off welfare'. They've never personally known anyone of a different race or lower socio-economic status, but feel comfortable making blanket statements about their lives and motivations. It makes me sick, frankly.

This, of course, is not even touching on the fact that the whole idea of state-mandated and funded Eugenics is frightening and evil. EVIL.

You know, I love Louisiana. I truly, truly do. I was born here, and have lived here all my life. I'll be honest, though - it's hard to stay. It's hard to raise my children here surrounded with all this ignorance and racism that bombards us on a daily basis. I tell myself that my family needs to stay, that for this state to ever get any better young, educated professionals need to stop running to places with better health care, better educational and job opportunities, and higher standards of common human decency. I'll tell ya, though - this shit? It makes me want to pack up and run.

The Pile Just Keeps Growing

2008-09-15T11:24:00.005-05:00

I really didn't intend to do any more posting about Sarah Palin, at least for the time being. But the pile just keeps on getting taller and taller, the smell just keeps on getting more awful, and my tolerance for ignoring this stuff is pretty low to begin with.

Now, to be honest, this is probably because I live in an area populated with lots of conservative Christian voters who aren't necessarily that well-versed on the finer points of politics. That's being polite, if you hadn't noticed. The fact is, most of the people around here are voting for McCain because Obama's name sounds funny and he's pro-choice. Really. It matters not one whit that A) The current Republican administration has, by any yardstick imaginable, run this country straight into the ground, B) McCain/Palin promise four more years of the same or C) The McCain/Palin/Republican campaign machine is a great big ball of misdirection, smear tactics and outright lying. Seriously, they don't care. Obama's name sounds funny. Didn't somebody say he was a Muslim? Yeah, I ain't votin' fer him. So, you see, I'm assaulted from all sides on a daily basis. I can't even discuss politics casually with my neighbors without getting really angry. I need to vent periodically.

In any case, rant aside, The New York Times ran a piece on Saturday that just adds more evidence for my opinion of Sarah Palin - that this woman is simply not fit to govern this country (and let's be honest, who really thinks John McCain will last a year in office?) She has no real grasp of or interest in actual policy, she appoints elementary school friends to every top post (yes I know lots of politicians do this but at least let's have someone running the Dept of Agriculture who has more than just a "childhood love of cows" to recommend them for the post), she carries out systematic removal of anyone within her reach of power who offends her (personally or politically), and she is unapologetically guided in all her policy decisions by her fundamentalist Christian beliefs which portray science and education as, at least, laughable and, at worst, dangerous.

Here, have some tidbits:

Gov. Sarah Palin lives by the maxim that all politics is local, not to mention personal. So when there was a vacancy at the top of the State Division of Agriculture, she appointed a high school classmate, Franci Havemeister, to the $95,000-a-year directorship. A former real estate agent, Ms. Havemeister cited her childhood love of cows as a qualification for running the roughly $2 million agency.
Rick Steiner, a University of Alaska professor, sought the e-mail messages of state scientists who had examined the effect of global warming on polar bears. (Ms. Palin said the scientists had found no ill effects, and she has sued the federal government to block the listing of the bears as endangered.) An administration official told Mr. Steiner that his request would cost $468,784 to process. When Mr. Steiner finally obtained the e-mail messages — through a federal records request — he discovered that state scientists had in fact agreed that the bears were in danger, records show. “Their secrecy is off the charts,” Mr. Steiner said.
But in 1995, Ms. Palin, then a city councilwoman, told colleagues that she had noticed the book “Daddy’s Roommate” on the shelves and that it did not belong there, according to Ms. Chase and Mr. Stein. Ms. Chase read the book, which helps children understand homosexuality, and said it was inoffensive; she suggested that Ms. Palin read it. “Sarah said she didn’t need to read that stuff,” Ms. Chase said. “It was disturbing that someone would be willing to remove a book from the library and she didn’t even read it.” “I’m still proud of Sarah,” she added, “but she scares the bejeebers out of me.”
The Wasilla High School yearbook archive now doubles as a veritable directory of state government. Ms. Palin appointed Mr. Bitney, her former junior high school band-mate, as her legislative director and chose another classmate, Joe Austerman, to manage the economic development office for $82,908 a year. Mr. Austerman had established an Alaska franchise for Mailboxes Etc.
Many lawmakers contend that Ms. Palin is overly reliant on a small inner circle that leaves her isolated. Democrats and Republicans alike describe her as often missing in action. Since taking office in 2007, Ms. Palin has spent 312 nights at her Wasilla home, some 600 miles to the north of the governor’s mansion in Juneau, records show.
Mayors across the state, from the larger cities to tiny municipalities along the southeastern fiords, are even more frustrated. Often, their letters go unanswered and their pleas ignored, records and interviews show.

It occurred to me while reading this article that in truth, Sarah Palin is the ideal Republican candidate. She's clueless about actual policy issues and unfailingly faithful to the religious right, so she's easy to program and control. She's not interested in debate or dissent, instead choosing to surround herself with cronies and old friends who are unwilling to question her, and, probably most importantly, she's very, very good at spouting the RNC's talking points in such a way that makes them sound self-evident and hip. She looks pretty and vivacious in front of the camera, in contrast to her half-dead running mate. No wonder she's their beauty queen.

Oh, and also, War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength. Right?

Points to Consider

2008-09-15T10:38:00.000-05:00

Via Minister Faust, guest blogging on Ecstatic Days...

I’m a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight…..

If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you’re “exotic” and “different.”

Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.

If your name is Barack you’re a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you’re a maverick.

Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.

Attend five different small colleges before graduating, you’re well grounded.

If you:

Spend three years as a brilliant community organiser
Become the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review
Create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters
Spend twelve years as a Constitutional Law professor
Spend eight years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people
Become chairman of the state Senate’s Health and Human Services committee, and
Spend four years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran’s Affairs committees

…you don’t have any real leadership experience.

If your total resume is:

Local weather girl
Four years on the city council and six years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, and
Twenty months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people…

Then you’re qualified to become the country’s second highest ranking executive.

If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you’re not a real Christian.

If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you’re a Christian.

If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

If , while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state’s school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant , you’re very responsible.

If your wife is a Harvard graduate laywer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family’s values don’t represent America’s.

If you’re husband is nicknamed ‘First Dude’, with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn’t register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.

A Great Campaign Poster for McCain

2008-09-15T10:32:00.002-05:00

Or should be, anyway. After all, he voted with Bush 100% of the time last year.

Another Memorial

2008-09-11T08:07:00.004-05:00

To another great tragedy America has suffered. Another chance to remember what could have been, how we could have responded with honest, decisive action to capture the predator responsible, instead of miring our country in seven years of bloody war that has done little for justice but much for the shedding of innocent blood.

During your moment of silence today, think about this - what would America be like today if we had taken another path? If we had focused on coming together as a nation instead of being distracted by flashy marketing that focused our attention on a country that had nothing to do with the crime? Where would we be if we had spent those billions of dollars on educating our youth instead of playing kingmaker in a foreign country where we had no right to be?

Remember those who gave their lives, and mourn. Remember too, what our country has lost in the time since, and mourn for that as well.

"I Need to Know if She Really Thinks Dinosaurs Were Here 4,000 Years Ago"

2008-09-10T20:43:00.003-05:00

"Because she's going to have the nuclear codes."

Via Edge of the American West (an excellent blog about American History and politics), Matt Damon gives us his take on Sarah Palin as President.

John McCain Fights...For What?

2008-09-10T10:23:00.002-05:00

From Senator Barbara Boxer of California, some comments on John McCain's GOP Convention acceptance speech:

For Immediate Release
September 5, 2008

Last night at the Republican National Convention, John McCain used the word "fight" more than 40 times in his speech.

In the 16 years that we have served together in the Senate, I have seen John McCain fight.

I have seen him fight against raising the federal minimum wage 14 times.

I have seen him fight against making sure that women earn equal pay for equal work.

I have seen him fight against a women's right to choose so consistently that he received a zero percent vote rating from pro-choice organizations.

I have seen him fight against helping families gain access to birth control.

I have seen him fight against Social Security, even going so far as to call its current funding system "an absolute disgrace."

And I saw him fight against the new GI Bill of Rights until it became politically untenable for him to do so.

John McCain voted with President Bush 95 percent of the time in 2007 and 100 percent of the time in 2008 -- that's no maverick.

We do have two real fighters for change in this election -- their names are Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Credit Where Credit is Due

2008-09-08T12:40:00.003-05:00

Oyster over at YRHT and Pistolette posted today about Bobby Jindal's handling of Hurricane Gustav, and I'll go on record saying I agree with their comments. Honestly, I can't think of a single thing he neglected to handle with efficiency and thoroughness. His press conferences showed a leader who was in charge, informed, and prepared not only to take action, but to stand up for our citizens. I think it's fairly obvious that I'm not a big PBJ fan, but I'll give him credit where it's due.

In fact, to show that I'm serious, I'll even post a picture of the Gov, sans Devil Horns. Well done.

Palin vs Obama - A Dark Comedy by Lisa Nova

2008-09-08T10:09:00.001-05:00

Still Here

2008-09-06T09:05:00.004-05:00

We made it through Gustav with nary a scratch, thank goodness. We were without power for two days, but that is a minor inconvenience compared with some of the things that happened in this area - lots of people have trees slicing through their roofs, and a few parishes still have no water or power. Hopefully, help will be forthcoming a little more quickly this time.

In the meantime, I've been perusing the internets buzz lately about the GOP Veep nominee, Sarah Palin. Turns out she's as bad as I figured James Dobson's choice would be, with the added insult that the Republican party thought it would be clever to nominate a woman because Hillary's supporters just wanted a female, right? The politics don't matter much. Yeah, ok. Idiots. Gloria Steinem says it very well in a LA Times opinion piece here.

Anyway, you know I love Jon Stewart, so to rev up your outrage while laughing your ass off check out his little segment on Republican hypocrisy.

Storm Update

2008-09-01T12:53:00.002-05:00

*Cross-Posted at The Wild Wild Left*

So far so good here in Lafayette, LA. We are watching the eye of the storm on television move over Morgan City, up the Hwy. 90 corridor on its way here. Still safe, still have electricity. Winds are gusting to around 40mph now, so things are deteriorating outside, and I expect them to continue to do so as the eye gets closer. The various news outlets are reporting that the Industrial Canal in New Orleans (that was breached in Katrina and devestated the Ninth Ward) has overtopped its levees and is causing some flooding. No word on the severity.

I will try to keep posting as long as possible, but for now we are fine. Keep us in your thoughts.

Riding Out the Storm

2008-09-01T09:55:00.001-05:00

Gustav is coming ashore and so far we are faring well. Wind gusts 20 - 25mph so far, and the first hard rain squall just arrived a few minutes ago. We have power for the moment, but I'm not sure how much longer that will last. I'll try to post again today with an update. Hope everyone is safe.

Remembering the Day

2008-08-29T05:58:00.003-05:00

Do you remember what you were doing August 29, 2005? Did you go to work as usual that day? Shop for groceries? Bring your kids to soccer practice? Maybe you had a fight with your spouse, or got pissed off in traffic. You probably don't remember, do you?

I remember what I did that day. I cried. I cried a lot. I cried for my friends, my family, the home I had left behind. I sat, evacuated, and wept for those who couldn't evacuate, and I watched as they slowly drowned when the water came into their houses faster than they could escape. I cried until there was nothing left, until I was just a shell of a human being, until I passed out from exhaustion.

Remember New Orleans. Remember Louisiana. Remember that we are still not recovered, still not where we were, or where we should be. Remember those who died, and those who were never able to come home. Remember that as human beings, as Americans, it is our obligation to help one another, to love one another, and to share concern for one another.

I will never forget.

View Katrina Timeline

View Katrina Slideshow

The Promise of America

2008-08-29T05:54:00.001-05:00

America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for. Not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save. Not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend. America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise -- that American promise -- and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.

Here We Go Again

2008-08-28T20:23:00.002-05:00

Obviously worried tonight, as Gustav appears to be making a beeline for Louisiana. Everyone is gearing up here, buying supplies, gassing up vehicles, and making evacuation plans (rooms are booked to Dallas and Memphis I hear). Sad, but we know the routine.

Despite Jindal's attempt at a comforting press conference this afternoon I'm not entirely convinced that things are under control at the state and federal level. We'll see of course. Unfortunately, for people who have no other means for escape, "we'll see" takes on a whole new meaning. From what I hear evacuations will start on Saturday. Supposed to be 700 buses and umpteen trains waiting to get everyone out.

As for myself, I plan to ride out the storm. We are on high ground this time (unlike my situation during Katrina), and there are no trees in the immediate vicinity to land on my house. The worst part is always the uncertainty, and of course...the waiting.

By Any Means Necessary

2008-08-22T08:35:00.004-05:00

Via The Daily Kingfish and The Baton Rouge Advocate, Governor PBJ let an executive order protecting gay and lesbians in the workplace die yesterday. Originally enacted under Edwin Edwards, allowed to lapse by Mike Foster, it was signed again by Kathleen Blanco in 2004. Jindal's justification was that "State and federal law already prohibits discrimination". Well, here's the thing - the law actually doesn't protect gay rights in the workplace as written - that was the whole point of the addition. "I don’t think it is necessary to create additional special categories or special rights," Jindal said. Of course he doesn't. That would affect the client base of Exorcists like himself who think homosexuality is a result of demon infestation. And we must be able to deal with those pesky demons, mustn't we?

Louisiana Family Forum is a group that seeks to “persuasively present biblical principles” in political and other issues. During the campaigns last year, the group’s leaders told Jindal and some legislators running for office, how disappointed they were in Blanco for signing the executive order, said Gene Mills of Baton Rouge, the group’s executive director.
“Gov. Jindal comes from a different mindset, understanding the damage that this potentially poses to children and to the economy. He decided not to re-up that executive order but to simply let it sunset,” Mills said.

What is wrong with you people? Seriously. How can you possibly have the balls to stand up with a straight face and claim that homosexuality is a danger to your children? All these people want to do is live their lives in peace like the rest of us, without fear of being fired for no reason other than who they go home with at night. That is none of your business. NONE. OF. YOUR. BUSINESS.

As for economic impact? You're damned right it will have economic impact, because well-educated, productive, highly-trained people who would ordinarily consider Louisiana as a place to move to will now stay away because they have no job protection under state civil rights laws. But hey, we don't need any more intellectuals around here, do we? What a mistake that would be.

Jindal said he feared Blanco’s executive order interfered with “faith-based” groups that partner with the state. For instance, the state Department of Health and Hospitals contracts with religious groups that provide biblically based treatment for drug and alcohol abuse.

Under the federal civil rights act, which forbids discrimination in many public and private agencies, religious groups are allowed to pick and choose their associations. Because of that ability, many faith-based groups feared the Blanco order could preclude them from being paid for the services provided to the state.

“I do worry about them and they have expressed concerns,” Jindal said.

Excuse me, I have to go throw up now.

I'm Leaning Towards

2008-08-19T20:45:00.003-05:00

Bush and McCain - BFF

2008-08-16T12:43:00.002-05:00

Fiscal Conservatives?

2008-08-09T09:16:00.002-05:00

I've always thought it was quite ironic that the Republicans constantly refer to themselves as "fiscal conservatives" versus the "tax and spend" Democrats, especially when you actually look at the fiscal policies of the various administrations over the last 25 years or so. It's like Doublespeak on crack. War is peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance Is Strength. Blowing Money out the Ass and Running Up A Huge National Debt is Fiscally Conservative.

From Ventura County Star political cartoonist Steve Greenberg:

Never Forget the TRUTH

2008-08-06T13:54:00.003-05:00

Today is the anniversary of the memo that could have changed everything. It was given to President Bush by Harriet Myers, and it was titled, "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S." How many lives could have been saved by a President with true foresight and courage?

George W. Bush as the Joker

2008-08-01T13:53:00.003-05:00

Love this picture by Drew Friedman for Vanity Fair. Captures how I see him perfectly.

Obama? Where Are You Going? Wait!

2008-07-28T18:42:00.003-05:00

Crossposted at The Wild, Wild Left

An old friend recently asked me about where I stand in my support of Obama. Up until now I've been outspoken and very vocally supportive of his campaign, based on the fact that A) He seemed unafraid to support progressive issues and B) He seemed the right man, at the right time, to bring our country together. I have to admit, though, that I've been less vocal lately (read silent). Today I redesigned my blog, and after some thought, I left off the little "Support Obama" graphics I've been sporting for a few months now.

I'm just baffled, frankly. I don't understand who these Democratic candidates are listening to. I understand about the need to reach out to the center, and even to the right, in an effort to portray oneself as understanding of their needs. A President of the United States should be willing, insistent, in fact, on listening to the wishes of every citizen. However, for some unknown, unfathomable reason, Democratic candidates lately have felt it their duty to pander instead of listen, to court instead of consider - a tactic that is not only dangerous, it's misguided, and possibly deadly.

So listen up, candidates and earstwhile advisory staff: You can't have it both ways. You can't stand in front of thousands upon thousands of frustrated, hopeful progressives and shout that YOU are the one who will change things, YOU are their one great hope for turning back the tide of the loss of women's rights, the unconscionable intermingling of church and state, and the loss of basic constitutional freedoms while simultaneously voting and speaking in terms which directly refute your supposed ideals.

While he campaigned among and for Democrats only Obama seemed like just what this party needed - a candidate not afraid to stand up against the Evangelical Right that has held American politics hostage for years. And then, magically, once the cards shifted and he found himself the nominee, he started backtracking, shifting, and yes, pandering.

Think the FISA vote.
Think women's reproductive rights.
Think withdrawing from Iraq.
Think faith based initiatives.

It's more than just wrong. It's politically stupid. By trying to play it both ways, Obama is going to lose his core voting block. You can't convince the Republicans that you are one of them. They won't buy it. And your base, your best shot at winning this election, will feel like you've betrayed them and stay home in November. You'll lose to a candidate who is riding the coattails of a President with a 27% approval rating.

Yes, I'm still voting for Obama. In a choice between ANYONE and McCain, I'll still vote for the other guy. However, I don't want to drag my feet to the polls in November. I don't want to go through the motions of choosing the lesser of two evils. I want a candidate I can believe in, a candidate who really can offer me HOPE that we aren't failing as a democracy. So, if you don't mind, will the real Barack Obama please stand up?

The Fleecing of America

2008-07-28T18:07:00.004-05:00

Crossposted at The Wild, Wild Left

For a long time NBC has had a segment wherein they uncover frivolous spending on the part of the federal government, usually a pork project or some kind of useless military contract. Well, today from CNN, a report on the Mother of all Fleecings:

President Bush's budget chief blamed the faltering economy and the bipartisan stimulus package for the record $482 billion deficit the White House predicted for the 2009 budget year.

Wow. Maybe those stimulus checks were a mistake. Looks like that little stunt plunged us into a national financial nightmare. Good thing the Republicans lived up to their fiscally conservative hype for the first seven years, because otherwise we might really be in trouble. Oh. Wait.

President Bush inherited a budget surplus of $128 billion when he took office in 2001 but has since posted a budget deficit every year.

Wait, what? Republicans are supposed to be the party of financial responsibility! Those tax and spend Democrats are the ones who always get this country in trouble! Aren't they?

The Bush administration has spent heavily on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and faces a large budget shortfall in tax revenue because of Bush's tax cuts and a souring economy.

Well, my world view just got blown out of the water. All I can say is, this must be the work of the Devil. Somebody call Hagee.

LA Rejects Real ID

2008-07-28T07:48:00.003-05:00

The Associated Press is reporting this morning that Louisiana has become the latest state to formally reject the REAL ID concept through legislation. Maligned by social conservatives and the ACLU alike, REAL ID was conceived by Bush and buddies as a way to track terrorists and illegal aliens by requiring a national identity card that verifies social security & birth information. In other words, fascism.

Besides the huge cost of completely overhauling each state's id issuing bureaus and increasing the chance for id theft, REAL ID, like so many of the Bush Administration's anti-terrorism plans, has no real hope of actually catching real terrorists. The only effects will be to place ordinary, law-abiding Americans under more surveillance while simultaneously forcing us to wade through ever-higher bundles of bureaucratic red tape.

Of course, since state compliance isn't mandated until 2009, this legislation is largely symbolic at this point. We'll see on down the line if this was simply a political tool to wave around when we cave later. But still.

Yes, You Do Have the Right To Be An Asshole

2008-07-22T16:25:00.004-05:00

I'm not going to glorify this by harping more than necessary. It deserves a mention, though, because it brings up an argument that's thrown at me time and again when I defend the First Amendment, to wit, "Yeah, but what if it was something that was really, really personally offensive to YOU."

Well, here you go.

I just have a couple of things to say here, things I don't normally share online. First, I am the mother of a child with autism, so yes, this is personally VERY offensive to me. So offensive that I don't even know where to begin the refutation. Suffice it to say this is bullshit, on many different levels.

Second, yes, he does have the right to be an asshole. And wrong. And offensive. I don't have to listen to him. That's my right.

I'm not going to say I'm not happy, however, that his advertisers are running for the hills.

Grab Onto Something Anchored, There Goes Gravity!

2008-07-22T10:49:00.006-05:00

I am seriously baffled here. I mean, these people have most probably attended some kind of educational institution at some point in their lives, right? They must be able to read, right? You can understand the ignorance of the past - lack of education, prevalence of superstition, but in the 21st century? Hmmm...on second thought, maybe I just answered my own question.

A quote:

Hot on the heels of a recent Louisiana victory in the fight against evolution, the Seattle-based think tank Discovery Institute held a press conference Thursday to announce their latest initiative: defeating the myth of gravity.

Robert Crowther, Discovery’s director of communications was visibly excited as he detailed the Institute’s plan for attacking what he refers to as the sloppy, inaccurate, and overtly biased portrayal of the theory of gravity.

“Gravity is just a theory, and a poorly-supported one at that,” said Crowther.

Nice to see Louisiana mentioned in the article, too. What a great reputation we're building up here. Oh, and I take exception to calling it a think tank.

“The so-called consensus in the scientific community is that gravity is allegedly described by the general theory of relativity,” explained Crowther. “They’re piling theory on top of theory here, and feeding it to us as if it were fact.”

As evidence that the theory of gravity is suspect, Crowther pointed to examples in nature that seem to literally fly in the face of the accepted explanations. “Take birds, for instance,” he said, “why doesn’t gravity seem to affect them as they soar majestically through the air? These are the questions that the news media and scientific establishment don’t want anyone to ask.”

Wow. Dude, he has a point. I mean, airplanes can take off, can't they? And hell, we've been to space! Oh, wait, that was filmed on a secret sound stage by shady conspirators in the liberal media. Still, no way could Michael Jordan jump as high as he did if gravity existed. That could only be explained as the hand of God.

This shit might actually be funny if there weren't lots of people who believed it. Jeez.

Rising Tide III

2008-07-22T10:46:00.003-05:00

I'd really like to go to this, though I'm not sure if it'll be possible. Will have to do some visitation arranging with the Ex. In any case, check out the site and the blog.

A Little Hope in LA

2008-06-26T08:05:00.002-05:00

A few days ago, I contacted my local U.S. Representative, Charles Boustany (no really, check out his voting record), about the FISA legislation about to be voted on by the House. I had a pretty good idea of what his reply would be like, but I sent my email anyway - it's important to let him know that not everyone in his district agrees with his Bush-Rubberstamping that passes for legislating. In any case, here is an excerpt from the reply I received:

One of the more controversial issues throughout this debate has been the role of telecommunications companies following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Allegations of improper activities and privacy violations have been levied against these companies. While the White House wanted to grant full immunity to these companies before any case could be brought against them, H.R. 6304 establishes a federal court review process to determine whether or not the activities were conducted in a lawful manner. In no way does this legislation grant immediate immunity to any company facing such allegations.

On June 20, 2008, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6304 by a vote of 293 - 129. The Senate is expected to quickly pass the legislation. It is vital that our intelligence community have the necessary tools to collect and analyze information that will protect our country from future attacks. It is equally important that the Constitution and our civil liberties are protected. These values and respect for the rule of law have made us the greatest country in the world and we cannot lose sight of these traits in the fight against extremists who wish to destroy this nation. Rest assured, I will keep your views in mind as Congress continues to work on legislation to enhance our national security.

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts and concerns with me on this matter.

Sincerely,

Charles W. Boustany, Jr., M.D.
Member of Congress

Yeah, ok, you're welcome. Whatever. Cause you know, we need more legislation to enhance our national security. Or let big telecoms off the hook for spying on Americans. Or line our pockets. Or take away giant chunks of the Constitution so there's not a damned thing anyone can do about it.

Anyway, like I said, it was expected. But, here's a little hope. Democratic State Senator Donald Cravins, Jr. has announced that he's in the race for Boustany's seat. So we'll see. Maybe the days of rubberstamping are numbered.

I Hate To Say I Told You So...

2008-06-25T20:56:00.002-05:00

Well, actually, not really. I love being right...

Fourth Amendment? What Fourth Amendment?

2008-06-25T20:27:00.002-05:00

Via Neil Gaiman's blog, an interesting piece tonight from the LA Times concerning your privacy. Earlier this summer, while reading Cory Doctorow's latest, Little Brother, I thought his description of hiding his laptop data was pretty neat. Now, I'm thinking it wasn't just neat, it's necessary.

Did you know that the rules for probable cause and search warrants don't apply to your electronics when you enter the United States? By the current standards, customs agents can search through and copy any data they find on your laptop or any other portable electronic device. In their eyes, it's akin to searching your luggage. There's not a damned thing you can do about it either, short of turning your ass around and leaving. If they let you, that is. (Insert evil laugh here)

Apparently, the Department of Homeland Insecurity doesn't even disclose all of the policies and details about what they are looking for and what the criteria for searches is. Luckily, Sen. Russ Feingold wants to find out. (Aren't you glad there are a few democrats who care if your rights are trampled?) The Electronic Frontier Foundation, as always, is also filing suit to have the information made public.

Check out the article. Also, read Cory Doctorow's book. Although it's marketed to teens, everyone who touches a computer should read it. Seriously, this shit is not inconceivable.

I'm Voting Republican!

2008-06-24T17:14:00.002-05:00

*Cross Posted at The Wild, Wild Left*

Who Watches the Watchers?

2008-06-24T14:47:00.003-05:00

**Cross Posted at The Wild, Wild Left*

Check out this article in Wired Magazine about photographer Trevor Paglen, who has an exhibition coming up at the University of California Berkeley Art Museum. Trevor's unusual niche is photographing the things we aren't supposed to know about - in this case secret spy satellites. He meticulously researches, searches for, and then photographs the eyes in the sky as they pass over, and his collection of photos is both beautiful and mildly disturbing. We know they're there, but we don't like to think about them, you know? From the article:

Satellites are just the latest in Paglen's photography of supposedly nonexistent subjects. To date, he's snapped haunting images of various military sites in the Nevada deserts, "torture taxis" (private planes that whisk people off to secret prisons without judicial oversight) and uniform patches from various top-secret military programs.

Trevor's work is political, to be sure, and that's what I like about it. It's good to be reminded of all the things our government doesn't want to talk about.

SOS, Different Day

2008-06-19T21:06:00.007-05:00

Congress seems to have reached a deal with the Devil today, overhauling FISA legislation to take the teeth from any meaningful hope of prosecuting the big telecoms. From the New York Times:

The deal, expanding the government’s powers to spy on terrorism suspects in some key respects, would strengthen the ability of intelligence officials to eavesdrop on foreign targets. It would also allow them to conduct emergency wiretaps without court orders on American targets for a week if it is determined that important national security information would be lost otherwise. If approved, as appears likely, it would be the most significant revision of surveillance law in 30 years.

What I find funny is that House Democrats "insisted" on adding language to the bill which affirms these intelligence protocols as the "exclusive" means by which the government can use wiretaps for terrorist surveillance. Pelosi chirped,

"the law is the exclusive authority and not the whim of the president of the United States"

Oh really? Wow, that makes me feel so much better. It's a true comfort to know that you guys won't let the President bully you into ignoring the rule of law. Thanks for that.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is mounting a last minute effort to get constituents to contact their respective elected ninnys to urge them to vote against this affront to decency. Click below to participate - let your voice be heard.

The Creation of a Republican Soldier

2008-06-04T21:57:00.002-05:00

The New York Times published an interesting story a few days ago concerning our most honorable Governor Bobby Jindal's current status as a possible VP for McCain. The article argues that whereas McCain is seen as having a scratchy record on toeing the party line, our own PBJ has a record dripping with all the religious fervor any right wingnut would be proud to slurp up, and is therefore the perfect young, dynamic offset for McCain's wishy-washy oldness.

Now, I've always held the opinion that Piyush Jindal is his own greatest creation, fashioning himself with extraordinary singleness of purpose into "Bobby" from The Brady Bunch, squeaky clean with a seemingly painful, but heartfelt and total conversion to Catholicism. He made himself over, from the son of Indian immigrants into a young rising star of the Republican party. He groomed every aspect of himself, from his sparkling college career to his pius and beautifully orchestrated acceptance of evangelical Christian values.

(An Interesting side note. Check out this article from the Daily Kingfish last year concerning the whacked-out side of "Bobby" that even his own press agents don't want to let out.)

One of the criticisms that's always been an issue with PBJ has been his steady record of hopping progressively upward as if on a planned trajectory. Hello? I don't care what he says about "having the job he wants". The Governor's office is just another stepping stone. If he's not VP this year, watch him in four.

"Bobby" Jindal offends me on so many different levels. As if being a lockstep lackey of the Bush Administration weren't enough, it's clear to me that young Piyush had a plan as a kid. And Louisiana has just been checked off.

Finally

2008-06-04T08:18:00.001-05:00

We can get down to the business of taking our country back.

From yesterday's speech:

America, this is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past. Our time to bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face. Our time to offer a new direction for the country we love.

Too Good To Pass Up

2008-05-16T11:42:00.004-05:00

Crossposted at The Wild, Wild Left

I'm not generally a Chris Matthews fan, but this was just too good. I wish journalists and talk show hosts would do this more often - call these phony, war-mongering, attention-seeking idiots on the fact that they are completely ignorant of history. Kudos to Matthews for having the guts to not only ask the question, but to stick it to this guy until he damned-well answered:

...people of good conscience remain silent

2008-04-24T21:31:00.021-05:00

Last Sunday, the New York Times published an unsettling story about PsyOps. Psychological Operations are techniques used by military forces to influence a target's emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and behavior. PsyOps can disseminate White, Gray or Black propaganda. White propaganda contains true factual information and the true source is disclosed. The dirtier shades drop concerns for truth and hide the origin of the misinformation.

Our military engages in these operations against foreign targets. It seems silly to have to state that. Obviously our military doesn't engage in domestic operations against American citizens. That would be against the law. Well, apparently not in the Bush administration. In the War on Terror we are all fair game. According to the NY Times' story, the Pentagon has been engaging in domestic PsyOps. The goal, to manipulate public opinion on the war against terror through misinformation.

However, that isn't the worst. The LA Times points out the worst part. Why isn't this everywhere? Apparently we don't care.

The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment. - Robert Maynard Hutchins

Waterboarding - See for Yourself

2008-04-24T09:46:00.003-05:00

**Crossposted at The Wild, Wild Left**

Think waterboarding isn't torture? Check out this new video from Amnesty International's "Unsubscribe Me" Campaign. See what President Bush calls an "Enhanced Interrogation Technique":

The Rape of Louisiana, Part II

2008-04-22T09:50:00.005-05:00

*Crossposted at The Wild, Wild Left*

In Honor of Earth Day, a reminder not to buy cypress mulch for your home garden. Every year, 20,000 acres of these beautiful and majestic trees are cut down and ground up to be used for nothing more than spreading around in suburban flower beds. Most of it comes from the Atchafalaya Basin, the largest swamp in the United States, which is located less than 20 miles from where I live.

The Forestry Industry loves to claim that the cypress they cut is sustainable, but the facts reveal that 80% of what is cut down cannot be regrown, due mostly in part to the levee system we have, which prevents the ancient, annual spring floods that renew and build up the soil. They can plant all the cypress seedlings behind they want - salt water intrusion from the Gulf of Mexico kills them within weeks.

Sadly, and yet typically, greed and the poverty level in this state play a huge role in the loss of our cypress forests. Most of the land in the Basin is privately owned, mainly by people who have little more than their land to their names. When the logging companies come with offers of a few thousand dollars to take their timber, all the while promising to replant and replace, they have few decliners. The state is woe to regulate an industry that brings in billions of dollars of revenue every year. Thus, the rape continues unabated.

Ironically, our elected officials are begging the federal government for more money to shore up and build more levees, while simultaneously allowing the removal of one of the most important natural barriers we have to storm surge and coastal erosion. In the few places where the levees held secure during Katrina and Rita, the cypress forests which flanked them were responsible.

This is of course in addition to the fact that the Atchafalaya Basin is one of the most rich and diverse eco-systems in the world. Thousands of species of animals live there, as well as hundreds upon hundreds of species of migratory birds that call it home for at least part of every year. When the cypress is gone, the eco-system will go with it, along with a good part of our heritage of hunting, fishing, trapping, and recreation.

Since it is clear that our local and state governments aren't terribly interested in saving the cypress forests, it is up to consumers to persuade logging companies that their efforts aren't worth it. Lowe's and Wal-Mart (can you believe that?) have stopped buying cypress mulch harvested here, but it can sometimes be very hard to track exactly where the mulch companies get their timber, since many don't directly harvest, but instead buy from third party operations. So do my beloved home a favor - DON'T BUY cypress mulch. Use pine bark, or pine straw, which is much more sustainable and is manufactured as a byproduct of lumber production.

More information:

Mother Jones has a great article on this subject called Mulch Madness.

Again from Mother Jones, a guide to sustainable mulch.

Atchafalaya Basin Waterkeeper Campaign to Save the Cypress/Tupelo Forests

Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana

Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy

Some Thoughts on Race

2008-04-02T22:18:00.002-05:00

Continuing my series "Some Thoughts On..." I've been mulling over the topic of race relations in America these days. It's in the news lately, mostly due to the Presidential campaign, but I've also been reading Charles Lane's excellent new book, The Day Freedom Died, about the Colfax massacre that occurred in central Louisiana in 1873. Both of these incidents, 135 years apart, got me thinking about just what has changed, and what has not, in our attitudes towards one another.

First let me say a few words about the Obama speech. If I had any lingering doubts before about voting for this man they are now gone. Yes, it is true that his economic plan is shaky (at best). It's true that on a lot of issues, he and Hillary have similar blueprints. And yes, for the one thousandth time, he's inexperienced by Washington standards.

But my god, what a speech. And he wrote it himself, people. Let me say that again. He wrote it himself. Despite any and all criticisms of what he would or would not do as President, that speech showed that he has a grasp of the racial situation in America today FAR and away better than any candidate in recent memory. This, coupled with the fact that he has the ability to bring these issues to the table and actually discuss them intelligently with white and African Americans is enough to make me stand up and cheer for the man.

The Day Freedom Died, on the other hand, is making me sad beyond measure, and not only because it discusses a dismal and sickening event in American history. It's an excellent book, full of information I didn't know about my own home state. I was born and raised in Louisiana, near the area where Colfax is located, and as I read this book I am thinking, how far have we really come since then? The vast majority of white people here still have the very same attitudes that allowed this to happen in the first place. I grew up hearing my elders, my older neighbors, and my friends make comments about the "lazy niggers" who do nothing but live off welfare and commit crimes. It hurts me to admit these things about the people I loved and respected as a child, but it's the truth. There is still a strong belief in old stereotypes, with little regard or interest in the actual history of what went on in our own cities and towns before, during, and after the Civil War. We aren't taught about things like the Colfax Massacre in school here (which, incidentally, is referred to on an historical marker in the town of Colfax as the "Colfax Riot").

During Katrina I watched with horror from my safe evacuation point as literally thousands of human beings were treated like cattle, abandoned and then herded around like so many livestock. To this day many white people I know can only remember the looters who broke into the stores in New Orleans. I can only say to them, Don't you remember what happened at the Superdome and the Convention Center? They shrug as if it were somehow the victims' fault that they didn't evacuate to Alabama and stay at the Motel Six.

It's a problem so pervasive, so ingrained in the way we think about ourselves and one another that I don't know how to even begin to unravel things. I'm not sure where to look for the starting place for a dialog like this. I'm constantly amazed, even as a 36 year old woman, how many people here are racist, whether overtly or simply through the attitudes engendered of their inheritance of 150 years of resentment.

We have a lot of problems in this country, problems the next President will have to find some kind of way to begin solving. Our economy is tanking. We have little or no standing in the international community. We consume natural resources like there's no tomorrow. And we're fighting a costly and useless war of aggression that was started on false pretenses and continues despite all logic. But we must also deal with our cultural baggage as well. Our nation will suffer until we do, and we'll be doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past until we realize that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL means just what it says. The next President of the United States will have to find a way to do that.

And in my opinion, at least Obama has a shot.

A Picture is Worth...4,000 American Lives

2008-03-25T09:35:00.002-05:00

An awesome mosaic from Nico Pitney over at The Huffington Post. This says it all, doesn't it?

Thoughts on Poverty

2008-03-05T09:37:00.005-06:00

*Crossposted on The Wild Wild Left*

Photo: Mario Tama/AFP/Getty Images

During a three-year average, 2004-4006, Louisiana had the third highest percentage of people living in poverty in the nation. Only Mississippi and the District of Columbia had more poor. For anyone counting, that translates to a family of four living on less than $21,200 a year. This, during a period when George W. Bush promised not to leave us behind. This, during a period the Bush Administration ran around touting our "strong, growing economy". Maybe strong for you, Georgie. Maybe strong for your buddies in defense contracting and big oil. Not strong for everyone.

In New Orleans, which has always had a significant homeless population, hundreds of people now live under the I-10 bridge at Claiborne Avenue. Some have jobs, others do not. Many say they moved here after Katrina because church groups and other charities bring supplies to this location more frequently. This year, they watched the Endymion Mardi Gras parade roll by, a symbol that the city is on its way back. But not for everyone.

We have a tendency in this country to blame people in poverty for their situation. After all, the United States was built on the mythos that Americans know how to pull themselves up from nothing to become John D. Rockefellers, movie stars, and presidents. If some can do it, so can everyone right? This is the land of opportunity. But not for everyone.

Author John Scalzi wrote a very nice post on his blog Whatever a few days ago about this very subject. As any of us who have ever been poor know, there are lots and lots of circumstances that can lead one to poverty - and in the case of children, only their birth is to blame. Unless you have been there personally, hiding ragged clothes and pretending you aren't hungry at lunchtime, you can't imagine how the odds are stacked against someone in this country who has nothing. It's popular and easy to point a finger and say it's their fault, to make fun of those kids who clearly didn't have breakfast and might not have dinner, to whisper around that my god, everyone can afford at least some food, can't they? No, not everyone.

I'll leave you with another Scalzi post, reprinted in its entirety, which actually got me to thinking about this subject in the first place when I ran across it a week or so ago. It's from 2005, but if you've ever experienced true poverty, it will strike a chord. It certainly did in me.

Being Poor

Being poor is knowing exactly how much everything costs.

Being poor is getting angry at your kids for asking for all the crap they see on TV.

Being poor is having to keep buying $800 cars because they're what you can afford, and then having the cars break down on you, because there's not an $800 car in America that's worth a damn.

Being poor is hoping the toothache goes away.

Being poor is knowing your kid goes to friends' houses but never has friends over to yours.

Being poor is going to the restroom before you get in the school lunch line so your friends will be ahead of you and won't hear you say "I get free lunch" when you get to the cashier.

Being poor is living next to the freeway.

Being poor is coming back to the car with your children in the back seat, clutching that box of Raisin Bran you just bought and trying to think of a way to make the kids understand that the box has to last.

Being poor is wondering if your well-off sibling is lying when he says he doesn't mind when you ask for help.

Being poor is off-brand toys.

Being poor is a heater in only one room of the house.

Being poor is knowing you can't leave $5 on the coffee table when your friends are around.

Being poor is hoping your kids don't have a growth spurt.

Being poor is stealing meat from the store, frying it up before your mom gets home and then telling her she doesn't have make dinner tonight because you're not hungry anyway.

Being poor is Goodwill underwear.

Being poor is not enough space for everyone who lives with you.

Being poor is feeling the glued soles tear off your supermarket shoes when you run around the playground.

Being poor is your kid's school being the one with the 15-year-old textbooks and no air conditioning.

Being poor is thinking $8 an hour is a really good deal.

Being poor is relying on people who don't give a damn about you.

Being poor is an overnight shift under florescent lights.

Being poor is finding the letter your mom wrote to your dad, begging him for the child support.

Being poor is a bathtub you have to empty into the toilet.

Being poor is stopping the car to take a lamp from a stranger's trash.

Being poor is making lunch for your kid when a cockroach skitters over the bread, and you looking over to see if your kid saw.

Being poor is believing a GED actually makes a goddamned difference.

Being poor is people angry at you just for walking around in the mall.

Being poor is not taking the job because you can't find someone you trust to watch your kids.

Being poor is the police busting into the apartment right next to yours.

Being poor is not talking to that girl because she'll probably just laugh at your clothes.

Being poor is hoping you'll be invited for dinner.

Being poor is a sidewalk with lots of brown glass on it.

Being poor is people thinking they know something about you by the way you talk.

Being poor is needing that 35-cent raise.

Being poor is your kid's teacher assuming you don't have any books in your home.

Being poor is six dollars short on the utility bill and no way to close the gap.

Being poor is crying when you drop the mac and cheese on the floor.

Being poor is knowing you work as hard as anyone, anywhere.

Being poor is people surprised to discover you're not actually stupid.

Being poor is people surprised to discover you're not actually lazy.

Being poor is a six-hour wait in an emergency room with a sick child asleep on your lap.

Being poor is never buying anything someone else hasn't bought first.

Being poor is picking the 10 cent ramen instead of the 12 cent ramen because that's two extra packages for every dollar.

Being poor is having to live with choices you didn't know you made when you were 14 years old.

Being poor is getting tired of people wanting you to be grateful.

Being poor is knowing you're being judged.

Being poor is a box of crayons and a $1 coloring book from a community center Santa.

Being poor is checking the coin return slot of every soda machine you go by.

Being poor is deciding that it's all right to base a relationship on shelter.

Being poor is knowing you really shouldn't spend that buck on a Lotto ticket.

Being poor is hoping the register lady will spot you the dime.

Being poor is feeling helpless when your child makes the same mistakes you did, and won't listen to you beg them against doing so.

Being poor is a cough that doesn't go away.

Being poor is making sure you don't spill on the couch, just in case you have to give it back before the lease is up.

Being poor is a $200 paycheck advance from a company that takes $250 when the paycheck comes in.

Being poor is four years of night classes for an Associates of Art degree.

Being poor is a lumpy futon bed.

Being poor is knowing where the shelter is.

Being poor is people who have never been poor wondering why you choose to be so.

Being poor is knowing how hard it is to stop being poor.

Being poor is seeing how few options you have.

Being poor is running in place.

Being poor is people wondering why you didn't leave.

Thanks John, for an eloquent and simple list that says it all.

On the Issues - The Facts, Pt. 2 (Economics)

2008-03-05T09:04:00.003-06:00

In the spirit of last night's big fat juicy primaries, the results of which seem to indicate that the fat lady has yet to sing, I thought I'd offer up the following:

As a follow-up to a recent post I did on the congressional records of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, here is another good article I found recently in Mother Jones comparing the two on Economic issues. While MJ does a good job of parsing out both candidates' official economic blueprints, they seem to go out of their way to balance their endorsement of Clinton and Obama, giving each fairly equal kudos but not much criticism beyond calling them on a few hazy points. What concerns me personally is a more in-depth look at how their big fine "blueprints" will be put into practice. Of course, the elephant in the corner is the Iraq War, which is siphoning off HUGE sums of money, and its home-grown bastard child, the skyrocketing deficit. Neither of the candidates plans mentioned much in the way of the current economic crises beyond a quick stop-gap for the housing/subprime disaster.

It would seem to me that although the issues they raise are important, and certainly noble, the first economic problem the new President will face is dealing with the GIANT SUCKING HOLE of Recession we seem to be sliding into. The entire bloody mess, from Iraq to the price of fuel to the rising cost of living and the impending credit meltdown will have to be dealt with firmly, decisively, and immediately.

So, my question to Hillary and Barack is, exactly how do you plan to shovel Bush's shit?

The Faces of Torture

2008-02-28T09:18:00.006-06:00

Warning: Disturbing Content

Wired magazine is running a front page story today from the Technology, Entertainment & Design conference out in Monterey, CA, an interview with psychologist Philip Zimbardo. The article includes some very disturbing images Zimbardo obtained while serving as an expert witness in one of the Abu Ghraib torture trials. His book, The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil, explores how and why seemingly normal, honest people can do unspeakably horrible things with a smile on their faces.

He argues that the high-stress situation and institutional control of the thinking and environment of these guards undermines their basic human capacity for empathy, kindness, and mercy. I think he's probably right, but still, I can't help but be horrified, both at what happened to the victims, and what was done to these young Americans that transformed them from high-school kids going to football games and goofing off with Playstations into this.

We've seen it before:

and here, from World War II:

What a sad, sad world we live in. I cry when I realize that since then we've come no further in the protection of human rights, that the Geneva Conventions today nothing more than pieces of paper on which George Bush and Dick Cheney continually wipe their asses.

How can we ever dream of peace?

David Vitter is Thinking About Your Granddaughter's Vagina

2008-02-28T09:10:00.003-06:00

What a shock, right?

Check out this post from Chris Kelly over at the Huffington Post. Good ole' Diaper Dave is once again about the important work of legislating what women can do with their own bodies, even women who haven't been born yet!

Terror Watch List Swells to Epic Proportions

2008-02-28T09:00:00.003-06:00

As part of an earlier post about current threats to Americans' right to privacy, I mentioned the FBI's Terror Watch List, which at the time included roughly 860,000 people. Now, according to a new website launched by the ACLU, that number has grown to an astonishing 918,000. Yes, that's right, there are almost one million suspected terrorists try to fly around America right now. Holy shit! Could they blow up one million buildings? Bridges? Schools? And they're insidious too, those terrorists, sneaky and clever. According to the Watch List, children and infants are included - do you think they're planning to blow up elementary schools and day cares, like some twisted Little Rascals terror cell?

Wow, am I glad the American government has an efficient and logical way to track potential terrorist movement in and out of the country. Thank goodness we live in a place where ordinary citizens are protected, and not treated like criminals whenever they try to board a plane. And whew, what a relief in this time of economic crises to know that our tax dollars are not being wasted on security measures that have no hope of ever providing any sort of security! Yeah Bush! (Jesus, how many more days do we have?)

The Facts

2008-02-26T20:46:00.003-06:00

Recently I've been asked by a few friends why I have chosen to support Barack Obama for the Democratic Presidential nomination. Although I wrote a post a month or so ago when I made the decision, I was still a bit bummed out by Chris Dodd's poor showing in Iowa and so I didn't really put enough thought and heart into my reasoning as I should have. The tone was along the lines of, "...well, he seems ok, and although I'm not totally sold on all the hero-worship going around these days, I've seen enough to know I'd prefer him to Hillary..." Since that time I've learned a great deal more about where he stands on the issues, and so am on a much more firm footing when I defend my choice. Having said that however, a few days ago I came across a post on Daily Kos that laid out in carefully researched detail a comparison of the voting records of Obama and Clinton. That post speaks volumes as far as I'm concerned because it reaches beyond the rhetoric, political maneuvering and lofty speeches and makes its points on the one thing the candidates cannot deny - which bills they introduced and voted for as Senators. So without getting into issues of race, gender, change, hope, or JFK reincarnated, here it is...

I Refuse to Buy into the Obama Hype

by Grassroots Mom

Wed Feb 20, 2008 at 05:13:32 PM PST

The next President is going to have some MAJOR challenges.
I refuse to buy into the hype, on either side, but especially on that of Obama. However the "empty rhetoric" v. "history of accomplishments" arguments have prompted me to check it out on my own, not relying on any candidate's website, book, or worst of all supporters' diaries, like this one.

I went to the Library of Congress Website. The FACTS of what each did in the Senate last year sure surprised me. I'm sure they will surprise you, too. Whether you love or hate Hillary, you will be surprised. Whether you think Obama is the second coming of JFK or an inexperienced lightweight, you will surprised. Go check out the Library of Congress Website. After spending some time there, it will be clear that there is really only one candidate would is ready to be the next president, even better than Gore. If you don't want to spend an hour or two doing research, then I'll tell you what I discovered on the jump.

Grassroots Mom's diary :: ::

I looked up Obama and looked up Clinton. I looked at the bills that they both authored and introduced. Anyone who has been around politics, and is honest, realizes that there are a lot of reasons why a Senator votes one way or another on bills or misses votes. However an examination of the bills that each of these Senators cared enough about to author and introduce revealed much to me: what they care about, what their priorities are, how they tackle problems. And the list of co-sponsors showed something about how they lead, inspire and work with others. Finally, looking at which bills actually passed is pretty indicative of how effective each would be at getting things done.

Before I get into the nitty gritty, let's all be honest here. It is damn hard to get anything through Congress these days. And Obama and Clinton care about the same issues and have obviously worked together on a lot of legislation, whatever Sen. Clinton's campaign may imply. She is a frequent co-sponsor on his bills, and he on hers. They are both completely competent senators.

I started with Sen. Clinton.

I'm not a Hillary Hater, but I certainly didn't like her much either. I didn't like her DLC history; her votes on Iraq, Iran or the bankruptcy bill; her characterization of the years she spent as First Lady as "executive experience." Hillary Clinton is no Eleanor Roosevelt. Perhaps more like Lady Bird Johnson. Hillary claims to have brought us SCHIP (with a little help from Ted Kennedy). Lady Bird brought us Head Start as well as cleaner, nicer highways. Anyone 40 or older probably remembers when the nation's highways were basically disgusting garbage dumps lined with billboards. But no one thinks Lady Bird should have been president. Might as well argue for Barbara Bush because of her efforts on family literacy, or Nancy Reagan and the War on Drugs.

Hillary Clinton does have a solid record in the Senate, however.

I came away from my research really knowing a lot more about what is important to Hillary in her heart: kids and their well being. My research changed my feeling about her significantly. About 40% of her bills dealt with health care and/or kids. As a mom with small kids, I like her passion for children's issues. But curiously, her big bill to deliver health care to every child, the one she lauds on her website, S.895 : "A bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to ensure that every child in the United States has access to affordable, quality health insurance coverage, and for other purposes" had not a single co-sponsor. Not one, according to the Library of Congress. Why is that? Is it a bad bill? Or is she not able to recruit support for her signature issue? Or did she just submit it simply to put in the hopper, so to speak, so she could claim she was working on it. I honestly don't know the answer, but I find it curious and suspicious that not even Ted Kennedy co-sponsored it. Its sister bill in the house, H.R. 1535, introduced by John Dingell has 42 co-sponsors. It's just weird. I honestly don't know what to make of it.

S.895 was major. But most of her other bills are much smaller in scale and scope — more targeted and more careful.

For example, she introduced one bill that offered tax credits for building owners who clean up lead paint. Which is a very good thing. And Obama is a co-sponsor. "S.1793 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit for property owners who remove lead-based paint hazards."

Obama's anti-lead bill (S. 1306) directed the Consumer Product Safety Commission to classify certain children's products containing lead as banned hazardous substances. He had another bill prohibitting the interstate transport of children's products containing lead. (S.2132) And Hillary co-sponsored each of these.

In other words, they both care about protecting children from lead.

The difference is in the scope and the approach.

Obama's bill shows how he thinks big: do everything we can to make sure that lead-painted Thomas the Tank Engine toys don't get into the hands and mouths of millions of toddlers in this country.

Or Hillary: encourage people by offering tax credits to clean up lead paint in old buildings. People have been talking about lead paint in old buildings hurting kids in living in inner cities, since, well when I was a kid — for decades. If it is still a big problem, is offering tax credits for clean up, i.e. scrape down the walls and repaint, the best way to protect kids from lead?

How many of you parents have lead paint problems? How many have (or had) toxic Thomas the Tank Engine Toys? They are everywhere. The local bookstore and kid's shoe store and the doctor's office and the preschool and the toystore all have train tables. There is nowhere you can go anymore with toddlers that doesn't have a Thomas the Tank Engine train table covered with toxic toys. But that's just my feeling.

Obama's bills risk pissing off the toy industry and the Chinese. Hillary's risks nothing.

A lot of Clinton's health bills focus on children. Or women. She introduced a billl for research in the causes of gestational diabetes, for more pediatric research (S.895) and a rural agriculture bill to get farm-fresh veggies into schools (S.1031).

Her bill dealing with the crisis in foreclosure is actually S.2114 : "A bill to amend the Truth in Lending Act, to provide for enhanced disclosures to consumers and enhanced regulation of mortgage brokers, and for other purposes." Again, no co-sponsors. Obama also introduced a bill in the face of the mortgage foreclosure crisis: S.1222 : "A bill to stop mortgage transactions which operate to promote fraud, risk, abuse, and under-development, and for other purposes." Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 4/25/2007), co-sponsored by Dick Durbin.

In her ads and speeches, Clinton claims that she's fighting to stop foreclosure while implying that Obama is empty rhetoric. Actually, Clinton is calling for "enhanced disclosures to consumers and enhanced regulation", while Obama's bill will "stop mortgage transactions which operate to promote fraud, risk, abuse, and under-development." After looking at the two bills, Obama's appears to be tougher, more directly addressing the problem.

Speaking of Obama, here's a list of some of his proposed legislation.

Four bills on energy including
• S.1151 : A bill to provide incentives to the auto industry to accelerate efforts to develop more energy-efficient vehicles to lessen dependence on oil;
•S.115 : A bill to suspend royalty relief, to repeal certain provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal certain tax incentives for the oil and gas industry; and •S.133 : A bill to promote the national security and stability of the economy of the United States by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology, and for other purposes.

Clinton had only one bill that I could find that addressed the same issue, S.701 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose a temporary oil profit fee and to use the proceeds of the fee collected to provide a Strategic Energy Fund and expand certain energy tax incentives, and for other purposes.

Obama wants to "repeal certain tax incentives for the oil and gas industry". Clinton sees the answer in a "temporary oil profit fee" and to "expand certain energy tax incentives" for alternative energy. Obama's alternative energy bill (S.133) was co-sponsored by Harkin, Lugar and Salazar. Clinton's bill again had no co-sponsors.

On health care he introduced ten bills/amendments, including one amendment that passed: S.AMDT.1041 to S.1082 To improve the safety and efficacy of genetic tests. Other issues addressed in his proposed health care legislation were AIDS research (S.823 ), hospital report cards (S.692 — the V.A., and S.1824 — Medicare), better emergency care (S.1873), and drug price controls (S.2347).

Clinton's health care bills, for the most part, didn't impress me much, although she introduced many more bills in this area than Obama did:

S.CON.RES.63 : A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the need for additional research into the chronic neurological condition hydrocephalus, and for other purposes.
S.RES.176 : A resolution recognizing April 30, 2007, as "National Healthy Schools Day".
S.RES.222 : A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.
S.201 : A bill to establish a grant program for individuals still suffering health effects as a result of the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York City and at the Pentagon.
S.907 : A bill to establish an Advisory Committee on Gestational Diabetes, to provide grants to better understand and reduce gestational diabetes, and for other purposes.
S.993 : A bill to improve pediatric research.
S.982 : A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for integration of mental health services and mental health treatment outreach teams, and for other purposes.
S.1065 : A bill to improve the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury in members and former members of the Armed Forces, to review and expand telehealth and telemental health programs of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
S.1075 : A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to expand access to contraceptive services for women and men under the Medicaid program, help low income women and couples prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce abortion, and for other purposes.
S.1343 : A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to prevention and treatment of diabetes, and for other purposes.
S.1712 : A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve newborn screening activities, and for other purposes.

and on and on. Plenty of these have plenty of co-sponsors. Obviously, Hillary Clinton really knows her stuff on the issues of health care. None of them passed, however. On Obama's side, one of his health care initiatives passed in the Senate, the aforementioned amendment to Kennedy's S.1082, the FDA Revitalization Act.

Truth be told, it was very depressing doing this research to see all these great ideas and how little actually gets done. Looking at the legislative history of Kennedy's bill is a good example. It finally passed but its sister bill in the House, H.R.2900, was the one that was finally enacted, and with it, Obama's amendment for safe and effective genetic testing. Clinton submitted two amendments to this bill, one of would have eliminated the sunsetting of pediatric data collection; the other would have begin the process to approve generic versions of complex and expensive drugs called biologics or biotech drugs. Neither were adopted.

Now let's look more closely at Obama.

I was blown away as I started going through his record. I've already mentioned his bills on health care and energy. In addition he had introduced bills on Iran, voting, veterans, global warming, campaign finance and lobbyists, Blackwater, global poverty, nuclear proliferation, and education.
On Iran: S.J.RES.23 : A joint resolution clarifying that the use of force against Iran is not authorized by the Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq, any resolution previously adopted, or any other provision of law.

On votingPassed out of Committee and now on the Senate Calendar for Feb. 22, 2008
S.453 : A bill to prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections Please check this out! This is a great bill. We need this. I can't believe that this time voter intimidation is not already illegal.

On veterans and military personnel: S.1084 : A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans;

On global warmingS.1324 : A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuel sold in the United States;S.1389 : A bill to authorize the National Science Foundation to establish a Climate Change Education Program; S.AMDT.599 to S.CON.RES.21 To add $200 million for Function 270 (Energy) for the demonstration and monitoring of carbon capture and sequestration technology by the Department of Energy. (This last one passed both the House and the Senate as part of the budget bill.)

On campaign finance and lobbyists S.2030 : A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require reporting relating to bundled contributions made by persons other than registered lobbyists; and S.AMDT.41 to S.1 To require lobbyists to disclose the candidates, leadership PACs, or political parties for whom they collect or arrange contributions, and the aggregate amount of the contributions collected or arranged.

On Blackwater S.2044 : A bill to provide procedures for the proper classification of employees and independent contractors, and for other purposes, and S.2147 : A bill to require accountability for contractors and contract personnel under Federal contracts, and for other purposes.

On global poverty S.2433 : A bill to require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.

On global nuclear proliferation S.1977 : A bill to provide for sustained United States leadership in a cooperative global effort to prevent nuclear terrorism, reduce global nuclear arsenals, stop the spread of nuclear weapons and related material and technology, and support the responsible and peaceful use of nuclear technology.

I counted nine education bills, but it's getting late and I've got to get my kids ready for bed.

As I mentioned earlier, Clinton is a frequent co-sponsor on many of Obama's bills. So is Ted Kennedy. So are a number of Republicans.

Finally, Obama appears to have a better record last year in the Senate on getting his bills and amendments passed than does Clinton. I've listed everything that passed the Senate for each them at the end in boxes. But check out Thomas.loc.gov for yourself. I may have missed something.

In my eyes Obama is the superior choice in every way. He cares about more of the issues that matter to me. Kids and health care are important but so is the issue of global warming, on which Clinton introduced not a single bill last year.

Obama is a leader. With bigger majorities in Congress, much of his agenda should sail through. He can inspire this country to change course on so many things, from health care to global warming, where attitudes have to be changed first. I remember Bill Clinton's endless laundry lists of small, focus group approved initiatives. For those who say Hillary will not govern like Bill did, I respond that the people who were doing the market testing of his proposed policies were Dick Morris, of course, and Mark Penn, who is now running Hillary's campaign.

It's Obama for me! I just sent him $100. My first donation this election.

Yes, We Can!

Clinton's Successes:
S.694 : A bill to direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations to reduce the incidence of child injury and death occurring inside or outside of light motor vehicles, and for other purposes. (This is currently in conference committee to reconcile difference with the House bill)
Passed in the Senate:
S.CON.RES.27 : A concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of "National Purple Heart Recognition Day".
S.RES.21 : A resolution recognizing the uncommon valor of Wesley Autrey of New York, New York
S.RES.92 : A resolution calling for the immediate and unconditional release of soldiers of Israel held captive by Hamas and Hezbollah.
S.RES.141 : A resolution urging all member countries of the International Commission of the International Tracing Service who have yet to ratify the May 2006 amendments to the 1955 Bonn Accords to expedite the ratification process to allow for open access to the Holocaust archives located at Bad Arolsen, Germany.
S.RES.222 : A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.
S.AMDT.666 to H.R.1591 To link award fees under Department of Homeland Security contracts to successful acquisition outcomes under such contracts.
S.AMDT.2047 to H.R.1585 To specify additional individuals eligible to transportation for survivors of deceased members of the Armed Forces to attend their burial ceremonies.
S.AMDT.2108 to H.R.1585 To require a report on the planning and implementation of the policy of the United States toward Darfur.
S.AMDT.2390 to H.R.2638 To require that all contracts of the Department of Homeland Security that provide award fees link such fees to successful acquisition outcomes.
S.AMDT.2474 to H.R.2638 To ensure that the Federal Protective Service has adequate personnel.
S.AMDT.2823 to H.R.3074 To require a report on plans to alleviate congestion and flight delays in the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia Airspace.
S.AMDT.2917 to H.R.1585 To extend and enhance the authority for temporary lodging expenses for members of the Armed Forces in areas subject to a major disaster declaration or for installations experiencing a sudden increase in personnel levels.

Obama's Success:
S.AMDT.1041 to S.1082 To improve the safety and efficacy of genetic tests.
S.AMDT.3073 to H.R.1585 To provide for transparency and accountability in military and security contracting.
S.AMDT.3078 to H.R.1585 Relating to administrative separations of members of the Armed Forces for personality disorder.
S.AMDT.41 to S.1 To require lobbyists to disclose the candidates, leadership PACs, or political parties for whom they collect or arrange contributions, and the aggregate amount of the contributions collected or arranged.
S.AMDT.524 to S.CON.RES.21 To provide $100 million for the Summer Term Education Program supporting summer learning opportunities for low-income students in the early grades to lessen summer learning losses that contribute to the achievement gaps separating low-income students from their middle-class peers.
S.AMDT.599 to S.CON.RES.21 To add $200 million for Function 270 (Energy) for the demonstration and monitoring of carbon capture and sequestration technology by the Department of Energy.
S.AMDT.905 to S.761 To require the Director of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education to establish a program to recruit and provide mentors for women and underrepresented minorities who are interested in careers in mathematics, science, and engineering.
S.AMDT.923 to S.761 To expand the pipeline of individuals entering the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields to support United States innovation and competitiveness.
S.AMDT.924 to S.761 To establish summer term education programs.
S.AMDT.2519 to H.R.2638 To provide that one of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5 million or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee certifies in writing to the agency awarding the contract or grant that the contractor or grantee owes no past due Federal tax liability.
S.AMDT.2588 to H.R.976 To provide certain employment protections for family members who are caring for members of the Armed Forces recovering from illnesses and injuries incurred on active duty.
S.AMDT.2658 to H.R.2642 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
S.AMDT.2692 to H.R.2764 To require a comprehensive nuclear threat reduction and security plan.
S.AMDT.2799 to H.R.3074 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
S.AMDT.3137 to H.R.3222 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
S.AMDT.3234 to H.R.3093 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
S.AMDT.3331 to H.R.3043 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
Senate Resolutions Passed:
S.RES.133 : A resolution celebrating the life of Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson.
S.RES.268 : A resolution designating July 12, 2007, as "National Summer Learning Day".

Added:I realize, of course that several of these amendments are exactly the same. They were added to spending bills. My only reason for including them is for completeness. They are not here to pad out Obama's record. Furthermore, I want to make clear that I only looked at one single year, 2007. This is not meant as a comprehensive review of either candidate's entire Senate record. If you are interested in doing your own research, please go to http://thomas.loc.gov and look it up.

A Letter From Chris Dodd

2008-02-26T20:20:00.000-06:00

Received this via email this morning...

Dear Lynette,

We have been through a lot in this past year and your friendship and support have meant so much to me. That is why I wanted to let you know of my decision to endorse a Democratic candidate for President - and that I have decided to support Barack Obama.

We all understand how much is at stake in this election and that it is more important than ever that we put a Democrat in the White House.

And while both of our Party's remaining candidates are extremely talented and would make excellent commanders-in-chief, I am throwing my support to the candidate who I believe will open the most eyes to our shared Democratic vision.

I'm deeply proud to be the first 2008 Democratic presidential candidate to endorse Barack Obama. He is ready to be President. And I am ready to support him - to work with him and for him and help elect him our 44th President.

Put simply, I believe Barack Obama is uniquely qualified to help us face this housing crisis, create good jobs, strengthen America's families in this 21st century global economy, unite the world against terrorism and end the war in Iraq - and perhaps most importantly, call the American people to shared service and sacrifice. In this campaign, he has drawn millions of voters into politics for the first time in their lives and shown us that we are united by so much more than that which divides us.

That is why I believe the time has come for Democrats to come together as a Party and focus on winning the general election. The stakes are too high not to.

The last seven years have been as difficult as any I can remember. More than ever, we need a President who will inspire us to take part in the political process and change our country's path.

Today, when we need it most, we are hearing a new call from Barack Obama. And I hope you, like me, will answer it in the affirmative.

Please get involved in Barack Obama's campaign now: http://action.barackobama.com/doddsupporters

Sincerely,

Chris Dodd

Ordinary Americans Speak Out Against Telecom Immunity

2008-02-21T17:12:00.004-06:00

This video, courtesy of the People For the American Way and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, features yours truly along with other ordinary Americans making their voices heard, telling Congress it is NOT OK to grant retroactive immunity to the telecoms who participated in the illegal wiretapping of our private conversations. I'm pretty proud to say I was a part of it.

Some Thoughts on Torture

2008-02-21T10:30:00.002-06:00

At one point a few years ago, I had some degree of respect for John McCain. No, I didn't agree with his politics, but you had to admit, the man spent years as a prisoner of war and had experienced torture first hand. I respected him because on this issue, and a few others, he had the courage to stand up to the Neo-Cons and say, this is not ok: war is one thing, but we can't stoop to the level of torturing prisoners. Now, of course, in the heat of the race for the Presidency, and desperate to tie up (no pun intended) the support of those wingnut Extra-Cons, he's gone and changed his mind. And you know, I can't imagine how he and his political strategists thought this was a good idea - the Extra-Cons don't believe him (they have and always will think he's a closet Liberal and a liar) and the more center-leaning Republicans (as well as some Democrats) now know that he will stoop to ANY level to try and pander some votes. The man is less than a joke, he's pathetic.

In any case, it saddens me to think about how things have changed from when I graduated high school. Right around that time the Berlin Wall fell, the Cold War ended, and immediately thereafter a Democrat swept into the White House like a breath of fresh air. We all (the college crowd I hung out with) felt like our generation was going to be the beneficiaries of a new age of America, an age of peace and prosperity, and, dare I say it, an age when the focus was on the furthering of civilization and social projects that helped while managing to stay respectful.

How very sad to see that that was nothing more than a naive dream of childhood. The Gen-X'ers have grown up now, and we all have careers and families. In the intervening years the world has turned dark indeed, led into an ocean of blood by an overwhelming tide of greed that knows no boundaries, defined by the justification for an unending war and torture as a matter of course. And while I am hopeful of a new breath of fresh air this November, I worry about the country and the world my children will someday inherit. The Baby Boomers were all about changing the world, and boy, did they ever. Thanks a lot, guys. Will my generation fare any better?

Now that you are thoroughly depressed for the day, here is an interesting article from the Washington Post on some common myths about torture and its effectiveness. Also, in case you hadn't noticed my little graphic to the right, Amnesty International has a very moving campaign going on to stop human rights abuses in the name of the "War on Terror" called "Unsubscribe Me." Check it out and do a little something today to make the world a better place.

"A Cartoon" by Mr. Fish

2008-02-21T10:23:00.001-06:00

Of Harper's Magazine, via Crooks and Liars:

Thoughts On Illegal Immigration

2008-02-15T08:49:00.004-06:00

From Firedoglake, Part 2 of a three part series on the illegal immigration issue caught my eye this morning. This has only recently (in the last two years or so) become somewhat of a hot button issue in Louisiana, as we saw a large influx of Hispanic workers move into the New Orleans and Southwest Louisiana areas after Katrina and Rita. I was shocked at how vitriolic the reception here seemed - almost immediately I started hearing under-the-breath comments about "the Mexicans" invading our state, not paying taxes, taking all the jobs, etc. etc. ad nauseum. It shocked me I guess because compared to lots of places in the South, I think we have a historical tendency to be more welcoming and appreciative of other cultures. In retrospect, however, I guess that is just naivete on my part. Racism has always been alive and well here.

Although not many people will admit it, however, these Hispanic workers have practically rebuilt many of the areas in Louisiana that were devastated by the storms. I lived in Slidell during Katrina, and I am an eyewitness to the fact that in the weeks following the storm, there simply was no available labor to put roofs back on those businesses and homes. No one, that is, but the Mexican workers who came here looking for honest work, who were willing to toil long, long hours in the heat, humidity and mosquitos when lots of places didn't even have power or working plumbing. Every day for months and months I saw crews building, hauling, working their asses off when most of us were still numb from shock. Yes, it's true we all pulled together and saw one another through those hard times. But without that Mexican labor, half of Slidell would probably still be struggling to find a workforce to rebuild.

They contribute to the economy when they pay sales taxes, and when they buy goods that stimulate business. Crime in this area has not risen as a result of their presence, but we have had a new and interesting influx of culture and tradition, the very things that have, over the generations of immigration to Louisiana, added to our allure as one of the most unique places in the world. They deserve a chance, just as most of our ancestors received, to work legally to become citizens, to pay taxes, and contribute to the community without the constant fear they will be deported. They deserve the chance to be what we all are - Americans.

"You Are A Fascist - Get Them To Print You A T-Shirt"

2008-02-15T08:29:00.003-06:00

Wanted to pass this along this morning - Keith Olbermann, as usual, said it much better than I can in his special comment last night-

A part of what I will say, was said here on Jan. 31. Unfortunately it is both sadder and truer now than it was then.

“Who’s to blame?” Mr. Bush also said this afternoon, “Look, these folks in Congress passed a good bill late last summer.... The problem is, they let the bill expire. My attitude is: If the bill was good enough then, why not pass the bill again?”

Like the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. Or Executive Order 90-66. Or The Alien and Sedition Acts. Or slavery.

Mr. Bush, you say that our ability to track terrorist threats will be weakened and our citizens will be in greater danger. Yet you have weakened that ability!

You have subjected us, your citizens, to that greater danger! This, Mr. Bush, is simple enough for even you to understand.

For the moment, at least, thanks to some true patriots in the House, and your own stubbornness, you have tabled telecom immunity, and the FISA act.

You. By your own terms and your definitions, you have just sided with the terrorists. You’ve got to have this law, or we’re all going to die. But, practically speaking, you vetoed this law.

It is bad enough, sir, that you were demanding an ex post facto law that could still clear the AT&Ts and the Verizons from responsibility for their systematic, aggressive and blatant collaboration with your illegal and unjustified spying on Americans under this flimsy guise of looking for any terrorists who are stupid enough to make a collect call or send a mass e-mail.

But when you demanded it again during the State of the Union address, you wouldn’t even confirm that they actually did anything for which they deserved to be cleared.

“The Congress must pass liability protection for companies believed to have assisted in the efforts to defend America.”

Believed? Don’t you know? Don’t you even have the guts Dick Cheney showed in admitting they did collaborate with you? Does this endless presidency of loopholes and fine print extend even here? If you believe in the seamless mutuality of government and big business, come out and say it! There is a dictionary definition, one word that describes that toxic blend.

You’re a fascist — get them to print you a T-shirt with fascist on it! What else is this but fascism? Did you see Mark Klein on this newscast last November?

Mark Klein was the AT&T whistleblower who explained in the placid, dull terms of your local neighborhood IT desk how he personally attached all AT&T circuits, everything, carrying every one of your phone calls, every one of your e-mails, every bit of your Web browsing into a secure room, room No. 641-A at the Folsom Street facility in San Francisco, where it was all copied so the government could look at it.

Not some of it, not just the international part of it, certainly not just the stuff some spy, a spy both patriotic and telepathic, might be able to divine had been sent or spoken by or to a terrorist.

Everything! Every time you looked at a naked picture. Every time you bid on eBay. Every time you phoned in a donation to a Democrat. “My thought was,” Mr. Klein told us last November, “George Orwell’s ‘1984.’ And here I am, forced to connect the Big Brother machine."

And if there’s one thing we know about Big Brother, Mr. Bush, it is that he is — you are — a liar.

“This Saturday at midnight,” you said Thursday, “legislation authorizing intelligence professionals to quickly and effectively monitor terrorist communications will expire. If Congress does not act by that time, our ability to find out who the terrorists are talking to, what they are saying and what they are planning will be compromised.” You said that “the lives of countless Americans depend” on your getting your way.

This is crap. And you sling it with an audacity and a speed unrivaled by even the greatest political felons of our history.

Richard Clarke — you might remember him, sir: He was one of the counterterror pros you inherited from President Clinton, before you ran the professionals out of government in favor of your unreality-based reality — Richard Clarke wrote in the Philadelphia Inquirer:

“Let me be clear: Our ability to track and monitor terrorists overseas would not cease should the Protect America Act expire.

“If this were true, the president would not threaten to terminate any temporary extension with his veto pen. All surveillance currently occurring would continue even after legislative provisions lapsed because authorizations issued under the act are in effect up to a full year.”

You are a liar, Mr. Bush. And after showing some skill at it, you have ceased to even be a very good liar.

And your minions like John Boehner, your Republican congressional crash dummies who just happen to decide to walk out of Congress when a podium-full of microphones await them, they should just keep walking, out of Congress and, if possible, out of the country.

For they and you, sir, have no place in a government of the people, by the people, for the people.

The lot of you are the symbolic descendants of the despotic middle managers of some banana republic to whom “freedom” is an ironic brand name, a word you reach for when you want to get away with its opposite.

Thus, Mr. Bush, your panoramic invasion of privacy is dressed up as “protecting America.”

Thus, Mr. Bush, your indiscriminate domestic spying becomes the focused monitoring only of “terrorist communications.”

Thus, Mr. Bush, what you and the telecom giants have done isn’t unlawful; it’s just the kind of perfectly legal, passionately patriotic thing for which you happen to need immunity!

Richard Clarke is on the money, as usual.

That the president was willing to veto this eavesdropping means there is no threat to the legitimate counterterror efforts under way.

As Sen. Edward Kennedy reminded us in December:

“The president has said that American lives will be sacrificed if Congress does not change FISA.

“But he has also said that he will veto any FISA bill that does not grant retroactive immunity.

“No immunity, no FISA bill. So if we take the president at his word, he’s willing to let Americans die to protect the phone companies.”

And that literally cannot be. Even Mr. Bush could not overtly take a step that actually aids the terrorists. I am not talking about ethics here. I am talking about blame. If the president seems to be throwing the baby out with the bath water, it means we can safely conclude there is no baby.

Because if there were, sir, now that you have vetoed an extension of this eavesdropping, if some terrorist attack were to follow, you would not merely be guilty of siding with the terrorists. You would not merely be guilty of prioritizing the telecoms over the people. You would not merely be guilty of stupidity. You would not merely be guilty of treason, sir.

You would be personally, and eternally, responsible.

And if there is one thing we know about you, Mr. Bush, one thing that you have proved time and time again — it is that you are never responsible.

As recently ago as 2006, we spoke words like these with trepidation.

The idea that even the most cynical and untrustworthy of politicians in our history, George W. Bush, would use the literal form of terrorism against his own people was dangerous territory. It seemed to tempt fate, to heighten fear.

We will not fear any longer. We will not fear the international terrorists, and we will thwart them. We will not fear the recognition of the manipulation of our yearning for safety, and we will call it what it is: terrorism. We will not fear identifying the vulgar hypocrites in our government, and we will name them. And we will not fear George W. Bush. Nor will we fear because George W. Bush wants us to fear.

No, That Applies to You, Not Me

2008-02-12T18:20:00.001-06:00

Well, here is a big surprise - Bobby Jindal's "ethics reforms" are meeting a little resistance in the Louisiana legislature, due to the fact that his idea of reform involves throwing a few meaningless bones disguised as bills out and hoping no one notices that they a) don't include the executive branch and b) have no real teeth. For instance:

Jindal's office issued a statement today in opposition to a bill proposed by Rep. Wayne Waddell of Shreveport which aims to treat the governor's office like any other state agency in that all records should be made public. Jimmy Faircloth, the governor's lawyer, said they opposed the bill because it would impede the free flow of ideas, policy recommendations and contract negotiations which should be kept private. Yes, that's the ticket...private.

Additionally, there is currently a little debate going on about differing versions of another ethics bill which would possibly prohibit Louisiana public officials from receiving free tickets to sports or cultural events. One proposal, sponsored by Democrat Ben Nevers, would bar that particular little perk, while a rival bill introduced by Joel Chaisson of Destrehan would leave the ticket grubbing intact. Chaisson, is, of course, Jindal's choice for Senate Majority Leader.

This is what makes me mad about media coverage - "JINDAL'S ETHICS REFORM" is splashed all over every front page around here, and the general public thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread because he's trying to "clean up Louisiana politics" when the truth is that through a series of sidesteps and watered-down bills he's not changing much at all. This, while totally excluding campaign finance laws as part of the "ethics revolution" amid questions concerning his own campaign finances. *Sigh* What the hell, when does Jazz Fest start?

Mary Landrieu, Why Did We Elect You?

2008-02-12T13:27:00.000-06:00

Chris Dodd's bill to strip retroactive immunity from telecom companies has failed in the Senate today, with a vote of 31 - 67. To pass, the measure needed 51 votes. Eighteen democrats joined the Republicans to snuggle down deep in the pockets of AT & T and their colleagues, including our own spectacularly limp Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu. And of course, diaper-boy David Vitter voted with his party as well. Can't say I'm surprised, but damn, it's so disappointing. How can they possibly justify allowing corporations to spy on American citizens without probable cause, warrants, or any type of consequences? And don't give me that War on Terror bullshit. Please. Just don't even go there.

How Accurate Are Those Political Polls?

2008-02-12T13:21:00.001-06:00

Via Firedoglake (and other places, it's being passed around), a compact little graphic illustrating how accurate those ever-present political polls are. The statistical analysis is here.

Get Your Obama Fix!

2008-02-11T22:50:00.000-06:00

My fellow blogger The Field Negro calls us Obamaholics: people who think the good Senator from Illinois is nigh unto the second coming. He may be right, but when you wander around in a pitch black cave for 8 years and are veritably starving for light, you'll run like hell in the direction of the nearest illumination. So, call it what you will, I'm all about the O-Man these days. In that vein, I started looking for ways to work on the campaign, and found a few links across the 'net to get you started. I thought I'd post them here so all you raging Obamaholics out there can get your fix:

The Official Barack Obama Campaign Website

MyBarackObama.com
Related to the official site, a social networking area for Obamaholics to hook-up and join discussion groups, set-up fundraising and campaign events, and find others in your area who are on the bandwagon.

The Official Barack Obama MySpace Profile
Get MySpace buttons and tags to show your support

The Official Louisiana Barack Obama MySpace Profile

The U.S. Senate Page

The Twitter Profile
Keep up with Obama's campaign stops and appearances

OpenCongress Profile
Information about the good Senator's voting record (with both specific bills and voting trends), committee assignments, and RSS Feeds of some of the more popular Obama blogs

10,000 Years

2008-02-11T22:45:00.001-06:00

Via The Daily Kingfish, a tribute to John McCain's ultra-groovy policy for the Middle East:

The Time for Choices

2008-02-02T21:15:00.000-06:00

Up until this point I've been ambivalent on my choice for President. That isn't to say I haven't had my opinions (wouldn't you be disappointed if I didn't?) but I think a big test of each and every candidate is how they handle themselves on the campaign trail. Will you try and appeal to the lowest common denominator? Will you try to win by dividing and carving up public opinion, hoping to gain support not on the merit of your own ideas, but on the bad publicity and prurient fascination of the E! tv devotees?

I originally supported Chris Dodd in his bid mainly for this very reason. When no one wanted to stand up and fight the White House because of the fear of negative backlash in an election season, he alone rose to the occasion and drew a line in the sand with regards to telecom immunity and White House blank checks for the destruction of American rights. However, it was fairly obvious from the beginning that he did not choose his fights based on their sex appeal or front page possibilities, and though I have supported him through his candidacy and even now after he has withdrawn, I know it's time to choose a new candidate for President that I can feel good about.

There was a time when that person would have been Hillary Clinton hands down. When her husband was elected President she was a shining example of someone who is really committed to leaving a legacy of forward progress in our country, a strong woman who was an equal partner and not just an arm decoration for her husband. I liked her so much because she was an intelligent political thinker in her own right, ready out of the chute to tackle the health care crisis in this country.

However, after it was clear that her proposals were not going to pass in Congress, and after the Republicans turned her image of a strong, smart First Lady into something of an embarassment, she turned tail and bowed to political pressure, spending the last years of her husband's tenure as the dutiful, quiet wife who only supported safe charity work. As far as I'm concerned, she's been eaten alive by Washington, and what was spit out at the end of the feast was nothing more than the memory of a symbol with no meaning, no substance, and no ethics remaining. The lesson she learned from her experience as First Lady was to do whatever it takes to win, no matter what it costs politically or ethically. Now, the woman who stands at podiums and declares her commitment to change in America is unrecognizeable to me. And so, she has lost my vote.

At this point that leaves Barack Obama, and so I have decided to cast my small lot of democracy behind him. While I haven't been impressed with his tendency to let himself get embroiled in the mud slinging from time to time, I have to say he seems to sincerely want to bring about change in this country. Now, whether that is feasible, considering the cowering, pathetic excuse for a Democratic Congressional majority we currently are stuck with, I don't know, but at least the man has the balls to stand up and proclaim that everyday Americans still matter. That counts for a lot in my book.

No, he's not perfect. No, he's never been tried in situations of international diplomacy and foreign policy. But I mean really, come on, let's get serious - Dick Cheney came to the White House with tons of foreign relations experience and jeez, look at all the good that's done us. We'd have been better off if Bushie had sent a trained monkey to just fling poop at anyone who didn't speak English. We'd probably have a better international reputation these days. Or at the very least, a little sympathy.

I know he's not JFK or MLK come again. I know he won't stop racism, save New Orleans, or keep us from falling into hard economic times. Georgie has messed everything up far too much for anyone to fix those problems overnight. And yes, I know he's a politician. They do what they have to do in order to get elected, and their conduct after the polls are closed oftentimes is very different from the smiling promises they make while they want your support. But damnit, the man is convincing. And I think at this point, more than Hillary, or poor John Edwards, or even my beloved Chris Dodd, Barack Obama has a chance to edge us just a little bit closer to being a UNITED STATES.

Go Barack!

Here are some other people who share my opinion. (Very cool video)

Thank You, Senator Dodd

2008-01-27T20:25:00.000-06:00

Ethics Reform (Yeah Right)

2008-01-26T09:58:00.000-06:00

Well, here we go. I said earlier I'd give Bobby Jindal enough rope to hang himself with, and he's started right out of the gate paying out line. You know, you'd think that if your entire campaign message was based around "Ethics Reform" you'd at least get settled comfortably in office and make a few speeches before the sludge started seeping out of your shoes. Apparently though, there's a lot of sludge to be had.

While running for governor, Jindal accepted $118,000 from the state Republican party and then "forgot" to disclose that money on his campaign finance filings. Later on, when he was caught, his staff vowed to simply pay the maximum $2500 fine that may have resulted from an investigation in the interest of "moving on" (that's a direct quote). Now, the Louisiana State Ethics Board has a little bit to say about that. No, you may not simply pay the maximum fine and avoid an investigation. Everyone, yes EVERYONE, must follow the rules - try THAT for ethics. Jindal's office is not happy, because the Ethics Board says an investigation will take months.

Now, what makes me wonder is - why does this bother Jindal? If you are such an ethical person, simply respect the rule of law, allow the investigation to run it's course, and hold a press conference at the end to make sure everyone knows you were found innocent of everything except a little boo boo in the accounting department. Or....what? What are you afraid of? That maybe the investigation will find something else?

Note to the new governor: You're starting to look like a hypocrite already.

Roe v. Wade in LA - 2008

2008-01-23T08:48:00.000-06:00

Yesterday marked the 35th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. I got to thinking about what that means to women in Louisiana. Periodically we hear of anti-abortion legislation being passed prohibiting this or that, but I was pretty unclear about just how restrictive abortion laws have become in this state. I decided to do a little research, and find out for myself exactly how many hoops women have to jump through here in order to obtain a legal abortion, and what I found was fairly shocking, even to me. Basically what I've discovered is, if you want an abortion in Louisiana, go somewhere else. For example:

Louisiana is:

- 2nd in the nation when it comes to restrictions on abortion, According to pro-life organization AUL (Americans United for Life).

-One of three states which have laws stating that if Roe v. Wade is overturned, all abortions (with the exception of threat to the mother's life only) are automatically prohibited.

-One of 18 states banning partial birth abortions.

-One of three states with resolutions in opposition to the Freedom of Choice Act, which proposes to codify Roe v. Wade.

-One of four states requiring viability testing.

-One of ten states with an unenforceable & unconstitutional law requiring spousal consent for an abortion.

-One of 38 states preventing abortions for minors without parental consent.

-One of 43 states requiring that only licensed physicians may perform abortions.

-One of 18 states with mandatory waiting periods.

-One of five states with a "gag rule" preventing state workers from providing abortion counseling or giving abortion referrals.

-One of five states prohibiting the use of public facilities for abortions.

-One of 27 states that provide state funds for abortion ONLY in the case of threat to the mother's life, rape, or incest.

-NOT one of12 states prohibiting abortion clinic blockades & harassment.

So, how does a woman in Louisiana find help when she is considering abortion? Planned Parenthood has clinics in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Also, try here and here.

Finally, for those interested, I was recently interviewed by the local Lafayette, LA newspaper for an article on abortion rights. Check it out here, along with my snappy letter to the editor.

Remember your rights today. Stand up for true freedom - and a woman's right to choose.

The Rape of Louisiana, Part.....

2008-01-22T10:40:00.000-06:00

Who can keep count?

Today on the Huffington Post:

Did Oil Canals Worsen Katrina's Effects?

Bark at me about how the oil industry supports this state by adding thousands of jobs. Yeah, I know, my husband works for a company that gets many of its contracts from Big Oil. Still no excuse. Put a paycheck in your employee's hand while systematically destroying his home. And of course we can't kick you out, because we depend on you too much economically. Louisiana is the whore that the pimp oil companies send out to make money with a black eye.

Try responsibility for a change. Really, it's very refreshing.

A Day to Stop and Consider

2008-01-21T11:05:00.000-06:00

I have two children, ages seven and nine. I don't mention them much in my blogging, as I try and keep my private life and public opinions separate. However, today the intersection between what I believe and my children is much on my minds, as they are home from school for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

I asked my daughter this morning if she knew who Dr. King was, and she said something like, "Well, Mama I know he was a king..." I laughed a little and we spent some time surfing around on the Internet, learning about who he was and how he changed the world she lives in. She has friends who are African American, and her teacher is African American, and she takes for granted that their right to be in school with her has always existed. When I got to the part about his assassination on April 4, 1968, tears welled up in her eyes. I hope I have imparted at least some of the significance of who Dr. King was and what he meant to the United States. What, in fact, his legacy continues to mean, as we struggle every day with how to be a country that tolerates different cultures, histories, and points of view.

Take the time today to listen to Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech. Take the time to think about how you stand on civil rights issues, and what the coming presidential election could mean to all of us in regards to tolerance and the goal of an American Dream that is accessible to everyone. Take the time to think about peace.

Meanwhile, here is a video I found via Crooks and Liars - a little montage set to the Black Eyed Peas' "Where is the Love".

OpenCongress

2008-01-18T16:19:00.000-06:00

Check out OpenCongress.org, a site I discovered this week that is the coolest thing since sliced bread for those of us interested in politics and keeping up with what Congress is doing. The site offers an organized, easy-to-use system for tracking individual lawmakers or bills making their way through the legislative process. It also offers profiles of every member of the House and Senate, as well as news and information about current hot button issues. I have to say I am amazed and grateful for this thing - it makes the job of staying informed A LOT easier.

Landrieu Accused of Accepting Bribes

2008-01-15T08:44:00.000-06:00

Seriously, what's wrong with people? It's hard to continue to be politically active in light of news like this, which seems to pop up constantly in this state. The Democrats in Louisiana struggle daily to gain the tiniest bit of support in an overwhelmingly red state, and the news that Mary Landrieu is allegedly trading schoolbooks for bribes just makes our uphill climb that much steeper. I'm not sure what to say at this point. I'm disappointed and discouraged, but sadly, not terribly surprised.

It's a running joke that Louisiana is the home of spicy food and spicier politics. We have a long history of back-room deals and cash in the freezer. At the end of the day however, the fact is that deals like this go on all day every day in every corner of politics. For some reason, Louisianians just seem to get caught more often.

Bobby Jindal, our new, young, God-fearing Republican governor, was sworn in yesterday, riding into town on a white horse while crowing about serious ethics reform. In my opinion, that translates into smiling and shaking the voters' hands while continuing politics as usual. I'm willing to give him enough rope to hang himself with, though. Today, that rope isn't very long at all.

Top 10 Threats to Americans’ Right to Privacy

2007-11-27T14:15:00.000-06:00

Since 9/11, Americans have become accustomed to almost daily reports of new and increasingly intrusive ways in which their government wants to examine the minutia of their daily lives. We were all afraid after the horrifying attacks that day, and our fear allowed us to be put into a position where the loss of our civil liberties and privacy seemed the only way we could remain safe. Instead, the resulting climate of suspicion and lost trust has left us feeling less secure than any generation before, as we are spied upon from every conceivable vantage point. Most of us can name a few of the recent controversies and proposed surveillance plans cooked up by the current administration, but for those of you who need a refresher, here is my own personal list of the top 10 most frightening ways our government either does, or would like to, spy on its own citizens.

10. Domestic Spy Satellites

In May, 2007, Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnels sent a memo to Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff directing him to begin the process of allowing civilian agencies and law enforcement to use information from domestic spy satellites. Previously, NASA and the USGS had access to only the most basic information from the images, expressly for scientific and environmental study. Now, any authorized agency could have access to real-time, high-res images from anywhere in the nation, with the stated purpose being border security and smuggling operations. Although it has already funded the program, Congress has asked that privacy concerns be answered before the final go-ahead, and Homeland Security is currently preparing a report.

Biometric Passports

In 2005, the U.S. State Department began issuing new e-passports, which included an RFID tag embedded in the cover that contained the same information as the paper version, as well as a digital photograph which can be scanned with facial recognition software. Although fingerprints are not currently included on the devices, the chip does contain enough memory to add that information. To address privacy concerns, the government enabled the chips with anti-skimming technology, although it has subsequently been proven that RFID readers placed 1 meter away can easily read the chips. Since August, 2007, only e-passports have been issued by the U.S. Government.

Cyber-Tracking

Google, MSN, AOL, Yahoo, and other top search engines already keep massive databases of information concerning Americans’ online search habits. In 2006, the U.S. Justice Department demanded that they all turn over millions of search records in their attempt to revive the Child Online Protection Act. All complied but Google, who filed suit to stop the government’s action. Luckily, a federal judge agreed, finding the records request overreaching. While it may seem a noble cause to collect evidence against child predators, both the databases and the government’s attempts to mine them are frightening in their potential to invade our privacy. The search engines claim they use the information for marketing and ad targeting, but its very existence is disturbing, to say the least. In February 2007, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) introduced a bill which would require ISP’s to retain the search data of their customers, with a penalty for failure to comply of one year in prison.

The Terrorist Watch List

Since its inception in 2004, the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Database has grown to include an astounding 860,000 names, most of them American citizens, including thousands infants and small children. According to the FBI website, the list was created to allow “one stop shopping” for government screeners, and includes “only individuals who are known or appropriately suspected to be or have been engaged in conduct constituting, in preparation for, in aid of, or related to terrorism.” Wow, that’s a lot of terrorists. The government claims that the inflated number is mainly caused by the numerous aliases terrorists use, but also acknowledges that the system does need to be tweaked somewhat. Of course, you only find out if you are on the list if you show up at an airport and are refused your flight. Next, a messy and time-consuming process of proving you are not a terrorist ensues, which does not, unfortunately, guarantee that you will be taken off of it. You are also not allowed access to the reason you were placed on the list in the first place – that information is classified. The FBI says it is working on improving and streamlining the list, while more than 15,000 people are currently are appealing their inclusion.

Spying by Civil Servants

Another way the Bush administration has discovered to spy on Americans without a warrant is through the use of civil servants and service personnel. Since firemen and EMT’s do not need a warrant to enter someone’s home, they are now encouraged to be on the lookout for suspicious materials and/or activity while they are in the act of putting out fires and saving lives. Librarians have also been targeted, as the government is interested in tracking which books you check out. In 2002, Bush proposed that other workers, namely repairmen and postal employees, also spy on their customers and report suspicious behavior to the FBI. Creating a system where ordinary citizens make a practice of spying on one another is dangerous, abhorrent, and utterly frightening. Somewhere, George Orwell is weeping.

Illegal and Warrantless Wiretapping

In 2005, the New York Times broke the story that the NSA had been wiretapping phone calls of Americans without warrants. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales acknowledged the practice, which the Bush Administration called the “Terrorist Surveillance Program”, saying that since at least one end of the communications were in a foreign country, the government did not, in fact, need a warrant, even though potentially millions of American citizens were being surveilled without due process of law. Dozens of lawsuits were subsequently filed, including class action suits against the likes of AT&T, who voluntarily provided the government with customers’ phone numbers, call records, and email messages. In November 2007, the House of Representatives passed the Restore Act, which gives oversight of foreign surveillance back to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and denies immunity to telecom companies who claim that lawsuits resulting from their complicity will send them into bankruptcy. Bush insists that not granting immunity will reveal too many classified details about the program, and has vowed to veto the bill.

Public Video Surveillance

In recent years public video surveillance has increased astronomically, as fears of crime coupled with cheap technology have prompted many local governments to install cameras on street corners as well as in retail stores, airports and sports venues. Studies have shown, however, that the presence of cameras does not, in fact, deter crime, even in Great Britain, where over 150,000 cameras catch each and every citizen over 300 times per day. While it may be an admirable ideal to use the images to identify criminals, the potential for abuse by government officials is staggering. As the technology increases, that potential is only magnified. Do you want your every move tracked and watched by a computer that has been programmed to make judgments and choices about your life?

Hand-in-hand with public cameras are the latest advancements in face recognition technology, now used in a handful of applications and venues but coming soon to a street corner near you. Imagine the capability of capturing your face on video, then matching it to records which contain all your personal information and the intimate details of your life, all scrutinized by the government in the name of security. Frightening indeed.

DNA Databanks

Another growing threat to privacy in the name of criminal deterrence is the buildup of DNA databases by law enforcement agencies. Originally meant to track and identify the guilty (and prevent the conviction of the innocent) in heinous crimes, all 50 states are currently keeping genetic tissue samples taken from an ever-broadening definition of arrestees, including innocent citizens who are later released or found not guilty in court. In January of 2006, President Bush signed into law the “DNA Fingerprint Act”, authored by Senator John Kyl (R-AZ). The new law greatly expanded federal authority in DNA evidence, including the right to collect and permanently store DNA from anyone arrested, as well as any detained non-U.S. citizen. It was attached to the very popular Violence Against Women Act, and therefore received broad bi-partisan support and little public scrutiny.

Once used only for identification purposes, increasingly sophisticated technology is allowing a broad range of genetic information to be gleaned from these samples, providing a serious and continuing threat to 4^th amendment protection.

Real ID

Signed into law by President Bush in 2005, the Real ID Act, if accepted and implemented by all 50 states, would effectively create a national identity card. All state-issued id’s (driver’s licenses) would be federally standardized, and all cards would be required to have “common machine-readable technology” with encoded information about the holder, information easily accessible by anyone with a low cost card reader (including, of course, identity thieves). Besides being enormously expensive to implement by the states, who would have to shoulder the cost of redesigning, issuing, and maintaining the new id’s and database, the idea has been under fire from a large percentage of the American public, with both the ACLU and progressive organizations as well as conservatives and right-wing groups opposed to such a massive invasion of privacy. The excuse for its passage was the usual fear-mongering about tracking terrorists, but the federal government has failed to prove that a national id card would in any way prevent terrorism. In fact, a national identity card could easily become tantamount to a “national passport”, checked at state borders, scanned by retail stores, consolidating information which could easily be tracked by governmental entities. On the road to a military, fascist state, national identity cards are a crucial step.

Total Information Awareness

Conceived by DARPA (Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency) in 2002, the Information Awareness Office was created in order to develop information technologies which would ultimately lead to complete access for governmental agencies to an all-encompassing network of integrated personal data. The stated goal was, of course, the tracking and arrest of terrorists, but the fact that over three-quarters of a million American citizens are currently on the “Terrorist Watch List” only scratches the surface of the potential abuse of such a system. As an “ultra large-scale database”, TIA would contain everything from medical and financial records to shopping habits, criminal records, communications, web surfing habits, email messages, and any other conceivable bit of information available on an individual. The program’s motto is “knowledge is power”, a phrase which is truly frightening in its Orwellian implications. In 2003, Congress defunded the office, although many of its core research and implementation projects have continued under different names and in different agencies.

Racist Trent Lott Finally Steps Down, Wants Lobby Money

2007-11-26T11:25:00.000-06:00

From CNN.com:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, intends to resign by the end of the year and join the private sector, sources tell CNN.

Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, is serving his fourth term in the U.S. Senate.

Lott, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, is expected to make the announcement Monday in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

A senior Republican source close to Lott said one reason for the decision is the new lobbying restrictions on former lawmakers.

A law kicks in on January 1 that forbids lawmakers from lobbying for two years after leaving office. Those who leave by the end of 2007 are covered by the previous law, which demands a wait of only one year.

Lott, the Republican whip, was elected last year to a fourth term in the Senate. His term lasts until 2012.

How surprising. Knowing his party is in big trouble, and his chances for re-election are not assured, Lott runs for the money bags before the new rules take effect.

If ever one needed proof that some lawmakers use politics as nothing more than a very lucrative trough, here you are.

Of course, I'm not sad to see him go. His longing for the days of segregation did nothing but give the South yet another embarassing stain. His good ol' boy attitude and old guard Southern approach to politics is shameful. Of course, depressing as it is to think about, his type are like the Hydra around here. All we can do is keep chopping.

Warning: Contains Graphic Content

2007-10-30T08:29:00.000-05:00

The above is a video by Prime63, a top-ten finalist in the Lions to Lambs YouTube Video Contest. I found this on Crooks & Liars, a great watch-dog Progressive blog. I wanted to share this because it is very powerful despite its short length, and because I think it says in 30 seconds what I struggle for words to express.

To Lighten the Mood

2007-09-21T00:05:00.001-05:00

The More Things Change...

2007-09-20T16:21:00.000-05:00

I've been meaning to write a post about the events unfolding in Jena, LA for months now. I've followed the press reports from the beginning, when it was a page three story in our local daily. I haven't written anything simply because I kept waiting for something, someone in a place of authority in all of this mess to wake up and point out the insanity of the whole thing. I'm still dumbfounded that it took a huge national media campaign, thousands of protesters, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton to provoke some action by the courts. I wonder with a heavy heart what would have happened if the story had remained on page three.

I have such high hopes for Louisiana. It may seem unbelieveable to people from the rest of America, but we're not all a bunch of red-necked crackers holding shotguns and burning crosses in front of houses. Lots and lots of us get along just fine, respect one another, and cross the color line everyday. Many of us here believe in racial justice, fairness, and the rule of law.

The saddest part of this case to me is the high school. I grew up in Southwest Louisiana, which for various economic and historical reasons had more racial harmony than elsewhere in the state. In part it was due to the civil rights movement having been so recent (this was in the 70's and 80's), but it also stemmed from the fact that our economy had never depended on slavery. In our little sheltered corner of backwoods we were protected, I suppose, from the reality of the rest of Louisiana, and so for me to imagine schools where racism was both intrinsic and officially sanctioned is beyond conception.

Because of my own upbringing, I can't imagine a cafeteria where the whites sit on one side and the blacks on another. Areas of campus where only whites or only blacks hang out. At my school we all hung out together, ALL of us, and we were all friends, black and white. Kids of other races who moved into town were accepted as cool right from the start, and were treated as interesting, having seen more of the world than any of us. We had black and white faculty, and they were equally beloved (or hated, depending on the homework they dished out).

The difference, in my opinion, is that from the earliest age we were taught to all stick together. Allegiances at my school were by class (school grade rather than economic). We were taught that racism was wrong, and even though there were individuals who were racists (this is Louisiana after all), it wasn't a systemic problem. It wasn't endorsed officially or unofficially.

Why didn't someone stand up in Jena long before now? One report I read stated that black and white kids sat next to one another only during class and on sports teams. These kids should have been friends, playing together as elementary students. They should have been taught about the things that united them, not the things that divided them. There should never have been a tree where only white kids sat. The appearance of those nooses should have been swiftly and severely punished.

We should be moving forward in this state, not backward. We shouldn't have to have Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton down here leading marches through our towns. Children should be taught tolerance and racial equality, instead of inheriting the dangerous and destructive views of their ancestors. Louisiana is one of the most culturally rich and diverse states in our country. We should be proud of that, celebrate it, not embarass ourselves and ruin lives with backwards and antiquated prejudices. As adults we should know better by now, and we are only handicapping our children if we don't teach them to live in a world where not everyone looks, acts, and thinks as they do. The Jena Six should not only be a call for justice. It should be a wake-up call.

Religious Freedom

2007-09-19T18:32:00.000-05:00

I find it ironic that our personal religious preferences are being used to divide the one thing that unites us - America. Our shared government, the one thing that unites all of us, must be all inclusive.

Many of our forefathers, the founders of this great country, came to America to escape religious persecution. Have we forgotten the lessons that they taught us so quickly? Will America celebrate its 250 year anniversary as the land of the free, enjoying the freedoms that true American patriots paid for with their blood? Or will we squander the legacy that has been given to us, quarreling with our fellow citizens over private religious differences?

It is clear what the founders thought about this issue. They felt so strongly about it, that it was the first thing they explicitly stated in the Bill of Rights:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

Has the life blood of our nation, the individuality of our citizens, become so diluted that we allow demagogues to manipulate us so easily?

The Separation of Church and State

2007-09-19T11:43:00.000-05:00

In the last ten years, religion has become a huge influencing factor on elections, legislation, and even political appointments. In my mind I can trace it back to the 1994 Congressional elections, and the Republicans' very successful media campaign, their "Contract with America". Since then, we've seen conservative Christian groups and denominational organizations wield tremendous influence over the neo-con movement. Republicans fall over themselves trying to get endorsements from this or that religious organization, as if accepting those contributions gives them some sort of moral stamp of approval. Democrats, still wearing Monica Lewinsky's stained dress, have been painted as amoral and godless. Republican media outlets and spin-meisters claim that our government has lost its Christian roots, and that is why we as a nation are going to hell in a handbasket.

Of course, we could ask David Vitter and Larry Craig about those handbasket issues.

Hypocrisy, however, is not the topic of this post. Today I want to talk about what has gotten muddled around and lost in the midst of this cloud of morality-pandering. It's the issue of why the Founding Fathers never intended religion to be a part of the United States government, of why all this talk of bringing America back to its founding principles is at best, misguided and misinformed, and at worst, criminal and treacherous.

First, a little history lesson. The men who founded this nation were Christians, certainly. They were also well aware of how the argument of "divine right" ended any and all discussion and disagreement with the King of England. George and his government believed that God had appointed him king, and that was that. (Boy, does that sound familiar.) Madison, Jefferson, and the other American patriots wanted to create a country that guaranteed everyone the right to worship as they pleased - but that right is only valid if no single religion or sect is dictated from the federal government. Thomas Jefferson said,

"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for is faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church and State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties."

James Madison, the principal author of our Constitution, argued that government sponsorship of a single church or sect above others fundamentally encroached upon the rights of other Americans, and negated one's protected freedom to worship as one pleased.

"Congress should not establish a religion and enforce the legal observation of it by law, nor compel men to worship God in any manner contrary to their conscience, or that one sect might obtain a pre-eminence, or two combined together, and establish a religion to which they would compel others to conform" (Madison, Annals of Congress, 1789).

"Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other Religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other Sects? that the same authority which can force a citizen to contribute three pence only of his property for the support of any one establishment, may force him to conform to any other establishment in all cases whatsoever?" (Madison, Memorial and Remonstrance)

Many conservative friends of mine point to the words "In God We Trust" as our national motto and on our currency, and "one nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. For those of you who don't know, the national motto wasn't established until 1956, and the Pledge of Allegiance was changed to include God in 1954. Note that these changes took place the last time our country faced a "shadowy" enemy we feared but couldn't pinpoint - communists. Americans were taught to fear them because they were "godless" and evil, and it was only much later that we realized the "red scare" and it's bastard child McCarthyism did much more harm to our country than good.

Spirituality is by nature an individual decision. It is all about choices that apply to you, your family, your upbringing and heritage, your way of life. There are several major world religions today, each with millions and millions of followers. Each religion has thousands of sects or denominations. Each denomination has literally thousands of individual churches, each with its own dynamics, interpretations and beliefs, and even within those local churches, each member chooses every day which of those beliefs to hold and practice. Think about Christianity in America as just one example. Protestants and Catholics. Episcopalians and Baptists and Methodists and Seventh Day Adventists. Each denomination and each church within it have their own interpretation of the Bible, and of how literally we should take it. These are faith-based decisions which are left up to every human being who chooses to believe.

Government, and in particular a democratic form of government, is by contrast designed to unite. "WE THE PEOPLE" begins the preamble to the Constitution. The government of the United States was set up so that a central federal system safeguarded the rights of all its citizens. It is what makes this country beautiful, and has in the past made other nations envy and imitate us. It is totally against reason to think we can be united under a particular religion. Imagine your right to vote hinging on your religious affiliation. Or your right to a fair trial. Imagine if laws were passed designating a state religion for the United States, and the resulting laws restricting the rights of anyone not belonging to that religion.

Imagine being a Jew or Muslim and walking into a courtroom with a big picture of Jesus hanging on the wall along with a sign that said "To Know Peace Obey these laws". Would you feel that you were about to be tried fairly?

The separation of church and state is essential to the survival of a democracy. The Founding fathers knew that, and while they didn't establish a national motto at the time, they did choose words to adorn our national seal. The words are in Latin, "E Pluribus Unum". The translation? The true meaning of Democracy: "Out of Many, One".

2007-09-12T14:41:00.001-05:00

The Bush administration has made an art out of making us afraid. It is the cornerstone and rationale of the "War on Terror", the invasion of Iraq, the shredding of our Constitution, and the dissolution of some of our most basic freedoms. Lacking any facts, the backing of the international community or any semblance of truth and reality, it was all they had, and it worked. Congress approved and continues to tacitly approve this appallingly expensive (in bodies and dollars) war, people are afraid to walk through an airport or say the wrong thing in public, and a good portion of Americans think Muslims are all out to kill us.

It has to stop. At some point, we have to say, ENOUGH. Who is going to save our country if not the people who founded it - our citizens. We cannot just wait around for Bush's term to expire, and hope without real hope that the next president who comes along will have the balls to fix things. The Congress needs to get off its ass - NOW - and fight to bring our troops home and repair the Constitution. The American people need to rise up and remind their Congressmen who pays their salaries. We need bring those who are actually responsible for 9/11 to justice. I see stories that give me hope, but one isolated event isn't enough. Our President has shamed us, and taken advantage of us, and brought us to the brink of dictatorship, all while thumbing his nose at the law and daring anyone to stop him. America needs to stop being afraid, and call his bluff.

A New Forum

2007-09-11T22:47:00.000-05:00

Even after I wrote about my political posting, I wasn't happy about the state of my blog. What is it about? Writing? Politics? I am well aware that art and political discourse don't play well together. Hell, they don't even look good sitting on the same bench. Therefore after some thought I decided to break things up into separate entities.

The Persistence of Vision will continue to be about the things that prompted its origin - art, writing, folklore, magic and other interesting tidbits. The Paradox of Vision will be my activist voice - reserved for the constant struggle I feel as a citizen of the United States in 2007. There are days when I read the news and it is filled with things I don't want to see, things which outrage me and cause me to question the future of our nation. Other times I look around and see people and ideas that make me proud to be an American. It is open to any topic under the political umbrella - from the latest despotic labors of Mr. Bush and his cronies to rampant Republican hypocrisy, Louisiana politics and candidates and citizens that I admire and support. I know there are tons of political blogs out there supporting both sides of the aisle, but I don't care. I am a citizen, and a voter. My voice is important, even if it is drowned out in the crowd. I won't hide my eyes to what is going on around me. Democracy cannot die as long as there are informed voices that demand truth and justice.

I'll also be welcoming the LOML as a co-author and occasional ranter-in-residence. His screen name is El Prez, and he'll be offering his own take on free speech issues, legislation affecting electronic freedoms, and occasionally, opinions which are totally at odds with my own. But hey, I welcome discourse. It's what America is all about.