Date

Bodies on Beach Say Impeach

susan — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:33:29 -0600

Wimps in Snow Stay Home
Click here to skip the blather and hit the beach. (Then scroll to bottom.)
by susan
Welcome to the land of Minnesota wimps. For two days the weather yakkers have been shilling the coming storm, so the grocery stores have been jammed with people (yours truly included) filling their larders with caribou quarters and fresh blubber. Schools have closed, the evening's events have been cancelled, and probably only the poor old postman will stagger through. Now when I was a girl . . .

If a tree falls in the forest, and Democrats go blind and deaf . . .

barbara — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 13:01:11 -0600

First the wingnuts came for Bill Clinton,
I remained silent;
I am not Bill Clinton.
When they made up stuff about Gore,
I remained silent;
I am not Gore.
When they lied about John Kerry
I didn't speak up for him;
I complained about how he ran his campaign.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out;

Gore's Honor Deserved

susan — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 16:01:54 -0600

All Gore, All Day
by susan -- sort of.
Loved what Barb has to say about Dems missing in action when it comes to defending their own. So I thought I'd post my in-house Dem's defense of Al, published as a LTE today in the Star Tribune.
by Jim Lenfestey
One thing former Vice President Al Gore is definitely not good at is defending himself, so let me do so in the context of Katherine Kersten's Feb. 26 column mocking the University of Minnesota for considering him for an honorary degree. Read on.

Mouthpiece for the right

barbara — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 10:02:53 -0600

If I say anything about this, I will go ballistic yet again. Bad form for a peace advocate. Go ballistic for me, okay? From AmericaBlog:
"UPI and FOX cover Coulter calling John Edwards a 'faggot,' but AP, Wash Post and NYT nowhere to be found. UPDATE: See John Edwards' response and also repudiation by Republic candidates McCain, Giuliani and Romney. Yeah, I know, but it's better than nothing. I think. Read on.

And the Nobel Peace Prize goes to . . . .

barbara — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 11:23:14 -0600

by barbara
Great news for the end-times crowd. According to today's LA Times, the U.S. is poised to restart the production of nuclear weapons. The Times tells us that:
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory was declared the winner in a competition to design the nation's first hydrogen bomb in two decades, a major step in restarting production of nuclear weapons. The Bush administration said the program would improve the U.S. stockpile's reliability, security and safety and would allow for a reduction in the thousands of weapons held in reserve for a potential war. [...] Read on.

Blood Sunday in Selma

susan — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 02:02:48 -0600

A long recounting of my short moment in history.
by susan
Today I watched Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, both speaking at predominantly black churches in Selma, Alabama, commemorating the 42nd anniversary of Bloody Sunday -- the day civil rights marchers were beaten and turned back at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma by heavily armed state troopers and deputies.
Both senators gave solid speeches, one pitched a little too low and the other a little too high, or so it seemed to me, but watching the whole ebony and ivory thing, playing out in a town made famous for its public display of racism and brutality, seemed bigger to me than whether Barack is black enough or Hillary is Bill enough and who showed up in which church for whom. Read on.

What would Walter (Reed) say -- WWWS?

barbara — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 14:32:30 -0600

by barbara
The Washington Post ran a story today about Walter Reed Hospital syndrome reaching beyond the walls of that crumbling institution.
One of the vets quoted in the story (Ray Oliva) talked about his VA hospital in Livermore, California. Livermore, Livermore. Ah! A Clothesline post from Saturday. Livermore CA is home of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory that just won the competition to design a hydrogen bomb for the U.S. Folks, this is even bigger than the national LEGOs championship. Read on.

Requiem

barbara — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 08:30:25 -0600

Debi Smith at Smirking Chimp posts a list of U.S. soldiers who died in Iraq in February. Grim reminder of the ultimate price for Georges War. Read the names. One by one. Slowly. Read the ages. Lives truncated, future promise extinguished in the madness of war. And then remember this: We can support our troops or we can support George Bush. It is not possible to do both. Read on, please.

Justice!!

barbara — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 11:43:39 -0600

Scooter Libby:
The jury speaks.
Charges one, two, four, and five: GUILTY.
Charge three: not guilty.
More as soon as we come down from Big High!

Speaking of justice

barbara — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:30:27 -0600

by barbara
Here are the counts and verdicts in the Scooter Libby trial (relative to outing CIA covert operative Valerie Plame, in case youve been living on the former planet Pluto and somehow missed out on all of this). Think Progress has a great discussion of the five component charges against Libby: Read on.

Will Scooter Squeal?

susan — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 11:44:15 -0600

White House circles wagons, but do Dems have a plan?
by susan
In comments on the post below, Barb wonders what the pressure from the White House to keep Scooter from squealing must be like. Well, if the federal prosecuter who was removed from his job in Arkansas to make room for Karl Rove's buddy was told to keep quiet or suffer the consequences, we can only imagine. What I wonder is if any on our side are bringing similar pressure on him to talk. Is there a Father confessor sort who goes to Scooter and shows him the way to absolution, a Jiminy Cricket type, say John Dean? Read on.

It's the Perjury, Stupid

susan — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 00:08:52 -0600

by susan
Put aside for a moment the saga of Scooter, and turn to Newt. Gingrich. The thrice married serial infidel, the mastermind of the Republican "revolution," the dark horse presidential wannabee.
In a heart-to-heart with James Dobson of Focus on the Family, Newt admits that he was having an extramarital affair with the current Mrs. Newt, a congressional aid twenty years his junior, during the same period of time that he was perorating against Bill Clinton for his dalliance with Monica Lewinsky. Read on.

Ready for daylight savings time?

barbara — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 08:33:22 -0600

DSTThe University of Minnesota has a quick diagnostic tool for determining if your computer is ready for Daylight Savings Time (which begins tomorrow -- Sunday). Click here.

Saturday mixed load

barbara — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 13:18:20 -0600

by barbara
Well, here it is, the end of another week and were already well into the weekend. Got big plans for Saturday night? Our idea of Big Plans is to listen to Garrison Keillor and play a couple hands of cribbage after dinner. We are not exciting people. More like sturdy peasant stock. Which leaves us lots of time to think about things. You know. Stuff. The whichness of what, which this week included all kinds of goodies in the world at large. Check 'em out.

Privatization, a Proven Loser

susan — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 02:49:06 -0500

by susan
The mess at Walter Reed Hospital, coming on top of the twin quagmires of New Orleans and Iraq, brings to mind Ronald Reagan's oft-quoted quip that the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help." The so-called conservatives, those in power who have brought this nation to its knees, still seem to think this is a great laugh line, right up there with Ann Coulter's homophobic slam- dunk of John Edwards.

The Ultimate Privatizing Prize

lynnell — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 12:26:40 -0500

by Lynnell Mickelsen
Piggy-backing on Susans post on privatizing.
As if Iraq, Katrina and Walter Reed haven't been enough, just remember that conservatives all over the country still have their eyes on a very big privatization prize----your local public schools.
Never mind that education has never been a real big money-maker as entrepreneur Chris Whittle so unwittingly proved.
His highly-publicized and praised Edison Schools, Inc. once sold at $40 a share. But in less than four years, it tumbled down to a low of 14 cents a share and soon after, the company was bought privately (at $1.75 a share) and stopped releasing public disclosure of its finances. Theres more info here.

Man overboard

barbara — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 15:23:36 -0500

by barbara
Depending where you get your news, and if you read no further than the headline, this is what just happened:
Army's surgeon general to retire
Army Surgeon General Submits Request to Retire
General Steps Down in Walter Reed Furor

BREAKING NEWS This just in!

barbara — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 15:14:19 -0500

by barbara
The White House has announced a new policy with respect to its high level appointments and also to vetting candidates for elected office at the national level. The policy, called "Do Ask and Do Answer" (DADA), will be enforced during all future screening processes. In addition, radar will warn screeners if the supplicant has an unhealthy level of decency.
At issue is the emergence under the watchful eye of this administration (WEOTA) of two particularly troubling groups: Military Personnel Who Are Not Homophobic (MIPWHANTH) and Legislators with Integrity (LEWIs). According to White House spokesman Tony Sleet, it is expected that individuals such as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will advance the agenda of the neocon/theocon "folks" without question. Read on!

The Gonzales Eight

susan — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 01:05:17 -0500

by susan
Oh snap! Gonzales is doing his bug on a pin routine so effectively that for a minute I started to feel sorry for him. Poor little man, all alone in the middle of that gaudy casino carpet, saying he didn't get to where he got by quitting -- so he'll let others do the quitting for him. How very -- Bushian of him.
He takes full responsibility for the "mistakes" that someone (like his Chief of Staff, like Harriet Meirs) made in the way the Gonazles Eight were fired -- but he'll be sticking around to keep doing a job for (on) the American people. More!

BREAKING NEWS: This just in!

barbara — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 10:17:04 -0500

by barbara
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, an aide to Osama bin Laden and purported mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, has admitted his guilt! Mohammed insisted that his confession was not the result of torture and all loyal and patriotic Americans believe this!
It is purely coincidental that this confession comes amidst a tidal wave of Bush administration scandals. Accused of timing Mohammeds confession to divert attention from Bush-related atrocities, White House spokesman Tony Snowjob rolled his eyes and muttered, "Liberal bias, liberal bias!" More!

The Blame Plame game

barbara — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 20:16:19 -0500

by barbara
Unless you live in the White House, where seldom is heard a discouraging word, you probably know that Valerie Plame testified with devastating effect before Henry Waxmans House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Friday morning. It was absolutely fascinating, start to finish. For starters, half of the committee didnt bother to show up. Go ahead. Guess.
Since I dont watch television, Ive never seen nor heard Waxman (I thought hed be taller). Ive never before seen nor heard the shrill and extremely irritating Victoria Toensing. I didnt know that Georgia has one of the most obnoxious and toadying congressmen in Christendom (Republican Lynn Westmoreland). More on all of this in a moment. There's more!

Remembering

barbara — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 10:08:16 -0500

by barbara
First Wednesday in January 1991. The United States and multiple allies (we used to have allies in those days) was preparing to launch the Persian Gulf War. A tense time. President Bush (pre) was somber and resolute. It was, after all, a noble cause. Thus are wars positioned to the commoners. Having done some activism around peacemaking, the new war didnt sit well with me, but then no one asked for my opinion. And in those days, I didnt say a lot about things political. Hard to imagine, isnt it? Read more.

Shock and Horror

susan — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 10:38:41 -0500

On vacation, light load
by susan
I slipped out of town last Friday, a winter escape plan hatched over 30 year ago by my mother, who figured out a way to get her entire family together once a year on a (formerly) quiet beach in Florida for a week in March
.
We're still at it, my sisters, in-laws and I, though my parents are no longer alive, and our own children (20 grands among us) are grown and busy with their own children, so the crowd has thinned and, um, matured. More.

Mah fellow Americans

barbara — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 13:04:01 -0500

by barbara
Could I just say that I am fed up and rising with our feckless leader?
On this fourth anniversary of the beginning of Georges Bloody War, he has these things to say to the American people, with explanatory comments by Barbara:
"Four years after this war began, the fight is difficult, but it can be won. It will be won if we have the courage and resolve to see it through." Unfortunately there is more. The "courage and resolve" thing is old and stale and false, George, and it is offensive coming out of the mouth of a serial liar.

The Hidden Costs of War

barbara — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 08:46:35 -0500

Guest post by Perhansa
In his excellent book, A Short History of Progress, Ronald Wright observed, "Each time history repeats itself, the price goes up." As we begin year five of the Iraq version of "Groundhog Day" ("Operation Iraqi Freedom" in case anyone has misplaced or lost their yard sign), much of the country is taking stock of the war effort and its costs in lieu of continued funding. More.

Constitutional crisis looming

barbara — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 06:56:37 -0500

by barbara
If you woke up with a belly full of Bush shenanigans (and even if you didnt), now is the time for all good women and men to come to the aid of their country. What follows is a list of the members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Make phone calls. Today. Now. Urge these women and men (both Democrats and Republicans) to hold George Bush and his administration accountable. Tell them not to let George Bush, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove and others play fast and loose with the Constitution of the United States. Ask them to issue subpoenas and not give an inch. Tell them we have their back. And let us be prepared to demonstrate that. The issue here is accountability. It is about protecting and defending the Constitution upon which this nation is built. And it is about discovering the truth, which took a powder along with the WMDs. More later. Call now. Please! Click for list of names and phone numbers!

Quick overview of US attorney situation

barbara — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 11:21:22 -0500

by barbara with an assist from LeftyMN
Innocent people are not afraid to testify under oath and in public.
A Clothesline reader asked this morning why the U.S. attorney firings are worthy of so much flapdoodle (my word, not the readers). After all, hasnt this been de rigueur throughout recent presidential history? Dont U.S. attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president, as Bush is so fond of reminding us? My first impulse was to blow off the reader inquiry. "Well, for Petes sake, everyone knows that . . . ." My inability to easily finish that sentence is certainly not because there isnt anything to say, but rather because there is so much. A whole lot more!

The peace of wild things

barbara — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 17:23:12 -0500

by Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life
and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

I have posted this before. I will post it again when my heart is too heavy, too weary of our deeply troubled and troubling world. ~ B

Physician, heal thyself

barbara — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 18:25:57 -0500

by Perhansa
After my guest post earlier this week, my wife and I had an intense conversation about current world events, our own accountability, and what, if anything we can or should do in response. She was kind enough to remind me, knowing me as well as she does, that I have a habit of stopping once Ive reached the "insight" stage about many of the things I seem to care deeply about. Read more.

Weekend: Mixed load

barbara — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 01:41:40 -0500

by barbara
Courtesy of Bob Geiger, a ditty tailor-made for the Clotheslines take on Bush World:
The Eagles: Dirty Laundry
We can do the innuendo,
We can dance and sing,
When it's said and done we haven't told you a thing,
We all know that crap is king,
Give us dirty laundry.
Oh, there's more.

Weekend Mixed Load Part II: Don't sort it alone!!

barbara — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 11:28:44 -0500

by barbara
Things that make your blood curdle department:
The BBC reports that the British troops captured by Iranians are being held in Tehran.
The 15 Royal Navy personnel seized at gunpoint in the Gulf by Iran are reportedly being questioned in Tehran. There's more, there's more!

The game's afoot

barbara — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 14:09:37 -0500

Guest post by LeftyMN
Okay, okay. March Madness is here, and Im not talking about the upcoming hearings on the firings of U.S. Attorneys by Abu Gonzalez of the ReichsJustice Chancellory.
No, I mean college basketball and hockey tournaments. I will admit that by last night, I had binged on so much basketball that even I was sated. But hey, did you see the great college hockey match between the Minnesota Gophers and the University of North Dakota (nickname not politically correct), which ended in a fantastic goal by Minnesota in overtime? Read more.

The Troubles winding down

barbara — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 17:04:35 -0500

by barbara

I've just finished reading in the New York Times about a bold and breath-taking concept in brokering peace. It's called face-to-face negotiating. It happened today in Belfast, Ireland. The net result was an agreement to form a joint administration to govern Northern Ireland. I am amazed, amazed, I tell you. Read on.

Mustering out ceremony

barbara — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 09:04:44 -0500

by barbara
It might surprise you to know that I have a large, color photo of George W. Bush on my desk. Its propped up on a typing stand right next to my computer monitor. Its a temporary thing. I pulled it out of last weeks Newsweek. Well, the one dated this week, actually, but it was delivered last week and was already out of date then. The photo wasnt a centerfold. FYI, its page 24. I decided I ought to take a closer look at this man. Let me paint you a word picture. Read the rest.

Live! From the Florida Keys . . .

susan — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:15:54 -0500

Celebrity Siting!
Folks, there's a war going on, and Iran is drawing nearer in our sights. But you already knew that. Here in the Keys, most people do not. After all, there are fish to catch -- big fighting tarpon and feisty little bonefish -- shipwrecks and reefs to snorkel, and rum waiting to be mixed up in syrupy concoctions served in mason jars.
The only fishy thing about the place where I've landed is that it turns out to be the numero uno destination for fashion shoots. The languid curve of the beach-front coconut palms swooping out over aquamarine water is the perfect match for the languid curves of lingerie and swim suit models for Victoria's Secret.

Dug in

barbara — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:51:20 -0500

by perhansa
The proverbial excrement is starting to hit the fan. The new Congress is beginning to enact much needed oversight. Its about time. That Bush is a lame duck and that 2008 isnt that far away makes the cynic in me think its not happening just because Americans sent a message to Washington.
That said, I believe that the more progressive band of thinkers in government have the best chance of making some headway against the status quo. For me, this brings on a conundrum that generates a days-on-end, book-reading, gut wrenching, mull-it-over-and-over, walk-the-razors-edge mental funk that cant be resolved with pat answers. The conundrum: Its difficult to practice the compassion and self-discipline necessary to heal and still allow myself to feel (and exhibit) the anger and betrayal I feel in a non-destructive way.

The Georges

barbara — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 07:04:01 -0500

by barbara
We've heard for years that Papa Bush had good reasons for "failing" to pursue Saddam Hussein and bring him down. But yesterday, an email from a friend made me do the shake head and sigh, sigh, sigh thing. I hadn't seen Bush the Elder's own words. Here's the email, in its entirety:
Interesting...
In his memoirs, "A World Transformed," written five years ago, George Bush, Senior, wrote the following to explain why he didn't go after Saddam Hussein at the end of the Gulf War. Read the rest.

Age-old question revisited

barbara — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 13:48:49 -0500

by barbara
The weighty issue of the day did not start out having anything whatsoever to do with lowering the lid. No. It's this: Should you eat food that has been dropped on the floor?
Can you tell I'm off to a slow start today? It's been raining for, oh, too long. Most Minnesotans adapt to our weather. So today I am mostly cloudy with intermittent showers and blustery winds. And I don't feel one bit like writing about topical matters. Think sensory overload. Too. Much. Disturbing. Stuff. Hence the topic du jour. Several weeks ago, I noticed a piece in the Chicago Tribune that I've been saving for . . . a rainy day. Bingo! Read on if you dare!