Date

Al Gore on "The Assault on Reason"

barbara — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 09:11:32 -0500

by barbara

(Click here to read an excerpt from Al Gore's book, The Assault on Reason).

Yesterday, I visited the ATM and filled up my car’s gas tank for the first time since we returned from Ireland (think sticker shock). Then I went to Target, where I bought ant poison, Advil and Al Gore’s new book, The Assault on Reason. Tomorrow I’ll shop in the “B” section.

I’m just getting into Gore’s book, but Arianna Huffington has finished it and scored an interview with him. Scooped again. Be that as it may, and assuming I’ll not soon get to interview the man myself, here are some excerpts from Arianna’s column about the man in whose basket I am placing all my nuggets of political and cultural hope.

. . . I interviewed Al Gore over the weekend. After talking with him and reading his book, The Assault on Reason (which will debut at #1 in the New York Times on Sunday), it was clear that he is obsessed with two kinds of pollution -- the pollution of our planet, and the pollution of our politics and culture. In other words, the toxicity of the atmosphere and the toxicity of the public sphere. Read on!

Do Not Pass Go

susan — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 12:47:24 -0500

It's a slow day at the C-Line, so let's bump Paul Miller's comment, and those that follow, up to a post. It may be a sign of the times that we're reduced to playing futile games while the ship sinks. But it's a mindlessly pleasant distraction.

Paul wrote:
Here is a new game to play:
You have 50 years of criminal sentences to dispense, how would you like to spend your political capital? Here's my breakout:
I'm going to give Rove 15
Bush and Cheney 10 each
Rumsfeld 6 years, 6 months and 6 days
Rice 5 years
Wolfie 2 yrs 359 days
John Bolton 1 year

You might want to save something depending on how the US attorney scandal plays out. Also, Libby's sentence does not cut in to your 50 year account. Your turn for more.

Raindrops keep falling on our shed

barbara — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 07:39:47 -0500

by barbara

It’s a misty morning in Lake Wobegon. A just-right rain for early Sunday.

Sometimes a day like this is necessary, I think. It helps shrink the world to manageable size for a short while. Right now, I’m looking more closely at the greening bushes in the yard than at George Bush. Paying more attention to rain-washed peonies than to Turd Blossom. Far more focused on a cuppa joe than on Lieberman. Yes, sometimes a rainy day also nurtures overblown metaphors. That is the way of things. There’s a little bit more.

(Rose)Mary's Baby

susan — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 00:13:16 -0500

Remember in Rosemary's Baby, when Mia Farrow's baby turns out to be the child of the devil, and the cult of creepy old people move in and take over? Well . . .

Don't give 'em a summer vacation!

barbara — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:54:42 -0500

by barbara

So did you ever say or think, “What can I do about George’s Terrible Awful No-Good War in Iraq?”

Dear friends, it’s time to DO. OUR. THING.

Step One: Read this morning’s post by Christy Hardin Smith at Firedoglake. Use the link to the Tom Matzzie chat. Read the comments to the post. I haven’t yet, but I will. There’s generally meaty stuff there. Here’s part of Christy’s post: Please read it!

A qualified president speaks

barbara — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 09:12:18 -0500

Historical wisdom via LeftyMN:

“I sincerely wish … we could see our government so secured as to depend less on the character of the person in whose hands it is trusted. Bad men will sometimes get in and with such an immense patronage may make great progress in corrupting the public mind and principles. This is a subject with which wisdom and patriotism should be occupied.”

~ Thomas Jefferson, 1801

Scooter gets 30 months

barbara — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 11:18:34 -0500

by barbara

Scooter Libby has been sentenced to 30 months in prison. Are ya hearin' Fitzgerald breathin' down your neck, Darth?

Libby spoke briefly on his own behalf today, saying that he hoped the judge would consider the whole of his life.

Apparently Judge Reggie Walton did just that. In spite of heart-felt written support from the likes of Donald Rumsfeld, John Bolton, General Pace and Henry Kissinger (now there’s an odd lot), Scooter didn’t wriggle out of doing time. Yet. Because Junior will likely pardon him – another damning action by the Current Resident, all of which still does not seem to warrant impeachment in some people’s minds. Read on.

Staffing Crisis at State Department

susan — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:25:09 -0500

In case you missed it department.

Tucked away beneath the fold on page 6 of today's (June 6) NYTimes was this little hiccup of a story from Agence France-Presse:

"Saddled by the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the State Department faces a staff shortage crisis amid 'worsening morale,' according to an independent study that blames Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice for the problem." Read on.

Paris Goes Home; Jail Too Hard

susan — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 14:52:29 -0500

Lite Load

Two things bugging me today. Minor. No heavy lifting.

One, I know we don't really pay attention to Britney, Paris et al, but it's hard not to when "news" about them lurks around so many aisles of our daily lives. So I know that Paris had "health issues" and was released to home confinement, and must wear an electronic monitor for the duration or her sentence of roughly 40 days. Privacy rules forbid any info being disclosed about what her health problems are, but, but the word is that she wasn't eating any of the prison food. Awww. Gimme a break. If Martha Stewart could stomach the food, surely little lapdog Paris could force down some scraps. Does anyone wonder why people of color and the poor don't trust the justice system? Coming soon, the pardon of Scooter. Click here for part 2: The cursed captcha/comments snafu.

Peony Palette Cleanser.

susan — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 22:20:54 -0500

To atone for mentioning Paris. (H-tip, Will Winter)

Peonies

This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready
to break my heart
as the sun rises,
as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers

and they open-
pools of lace,
white and pink-
and all day the black ants climb over them,

Look, it's Judge Crater! No, wait, it's Elvis!!

barbara — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 08:49:25 -0500

by barbara

One of the joys of blogging is that you never know from one day to the next where events will take you. Today, I discovered the world of pareidolia. Not to worry! It's okay.

My rusty Latin suggests the word might mean a couple of sad people. But no! Wikipedia tells us that the word pareidolia “comes from the Greek para — amiss, faulty, wrong — and eidolon — image (the diminutive of eidos — appearance, form),” and that it “describes a psychological phenomenon involving a vague and random stimulus (often an image or sound) being perceived as significant. Common examples include images of animals or faces in clouds, the man in the moon, and hidden messages on records played in reverse.” Think Rorschach Test for starters.

What got me on this particular track was a story in today’s news about some citizens of Rosemont, Illinois who believe they are seeing the image of their recently deceased mayor, Donald Stephens, in the bark of a 50-foot sycamore tree that stands outside a health club. Read on!

Laundresses on Leave

susan — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 14:20:18 -0500

The Clothesline is slack. Due to graduations, celebrations and the onslaught of glorious summer weather, the laundresses are MIA. As much as we love the Nun Bun, we realize it's time for something new. We'll be back tomorrow with our usual cutting-edge commentary. Okay, prattle. Stay tuned. (But it's a nice vaguely depresso sort of painting by Paul Serusier. Click here -- or on the headline -- to see it enlarged.)

Guilty as charged: The U.S. media

barbara — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:49:44 -0500

by barbara

(See thrilling Sopranos update at the end of this post!!)

This just in from ABC News via Huffington Post.

Paris Hilton telephoned Barbara Walters yesterday, collect, to say: “I used to act dumb. That act is no longer cute. Now, I would like to make a difference. … God has given me this new chance.”

Full disclosure: As I read the story, I must confess that I thought I saw the fine hand of a public relations professional in all of this. What a cynical wench I am. Turns out it was the hand of the Almighty. Apparently jail is the place to go for divine guidance about one’s errant path. Think Charles Colson. Think Guantanamo. Please read on.

Do ya wannabe a U.S. Senator?

barbara — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 11:52:17 -0500

by barbara

(See UPDATE for latest on a truly terrible rumor, more or less confirmed!)

If you live in Wyoming, you can enter the competition to complete the term of Senator Craig Thomas. It’s open to all comers (well, probably Democrats need not apply).

Following the funeral and burial yesterday (June 11) of Senator Thomas (who died on June 4), the Wyoming Republican Party announced a statewide search process for succeeding him. It’s kind of like American Idol without Paula and Simon. Check it out. But best you hurry, because completed application forms must be submitted by Thursday. Of course there's more! Click!

Breaking: Scooter to jail during appeal

susan — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 13:22:49 -0500

Judge Reggie Walton has ordered "Scooter" Libby to report to prison while his attorneys appeal his perjury and obstruction convictions.
His attorneys have ten days to appeal Walton's latest ruling, so it's not clear when -- or if -- Scooter might actually have to report. Click here for a little bit more.

Be part of the solution!

barbara — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 09:54:57 -0500

by barbara

For months, I’ve been harping about the need for Americans to rise up off our couches and computer chairs and DO something to help our country. The answer to “so, like what?” crossed my radar this morning. Friends, I believe it is now possible to maintain one’s rosy rump roost AND do something profoundly patriotic. Here's the scoop.

Par-ing Down the Strib

susan — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:20:19 -0500

Thoughts on the decline of the Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Why haven't you written anything about the massacre at the Strib?" someone asked the other day. I thought about it, and realized I don't have enough inside information to write anything that hasn't already been written. And in a deal like this, you can be sure that there's lots going on behind the scenes that will probably stay there. More, of course.

Day-to-day Living

susan — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 10:42:50 -0500

"Any idiot can face a crisis; it is this day-to-day living that wears you out." Anton Chekhov

Lots of random thoughts flapping in the wind today, another muggy one out here on the edge of the prairie.

For starters, who'd a thunk it'd be Condi who's holding the line on bombing Iran's nuke facilities? She's hanging in with the Europeans and taking the diplomatic route, staving off Darth Cheney, at least for now. Perhaps, unlike the rest of BushCo, she's seen how effective the militarly route has been in Iraq. If insanity is doing the same thing over and over and getting the same bad result every time, then Condi has made the leap to sanity. More, you betcha.

Happy Father's Day, ummm, Fathers' Day

barbara — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 08:59:58 -0500

by barbara

Happy Father’s Day, dudes. Hope the weather’s good where you are. Hope your kids (little, big, bigger) can hang out with you today. Hope you like the tie.

I saw this short clip of Senator Jim Webb with his son Jimmy, who just returned from Iraq. Even though the clip is fiercely edited to fit a TV attention-span-of-a-gnat space, the easy warmth of that father-son relationship is pretty cool. I know. Cool warmth. Oxymoronic.

Fathers and sons. Big George and Little George. Wonder how that family celebrates this day. Wonder what kind of card Junior sent to Poppy: See what it says!

A call for people who can think and reason

barbara — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 08:21:23 -0500

by barbara and The Big Easy

There’s an odd U.S. Senate race shaping up in Minnesota. It's for Paul Wellstone’s seat, which is currently occupied by Norm Coleman. Democratic candidates are popping up like dandelions. Al Franken (think “Saturday Night Live” and “Air America”) has moved back to his birth state to run. Perennial thinkin’-about-bein’-a-candidate, attorney Michael Ciresi (think MN vs. big tobacco) has thrown his hat in the ring. Some guy named Jim Cohen has also announced his candidacy. I have no idea who he is.

The latest possible entry is one Peter Agre, M.D., who, among other things, was born in Wellstone’s teaching town (Northfield, MN), is a Duke University School of Medicine professor, and was awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Ho-hum. Just your average intellectual giant.

Some of us have been musing about whether an academic, yea verily an intellectual, candidate could have a chance in the state that elected Jesse Ventura and the country that almost elected George Bush. All of which prompted my new pal, The Big Easy to weigh in. Here’s what he has to say:

Let your money talk

barbara — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 11:30:56 -0500

by barbara

July 6. Mark that sucker on your calendar. Big day for America. Junior will reach 61 years of (chronological) age. Let the festivities begin!

Count on Laura to stand by her man on his Big Day. Apparently she emailed supporters of the Republican National Committee (yes, both of them), saying: “Please consider commemorating President Bush’s 61st birthday with a gift our entire Party can share.” Impeachment proceedings? No! Donations of $61 to the RNC and an opportunity to sign the RNC’s birthday card to Junior. Woo hoo!!

Now here’s the thing. According to CNN, Elizabeth Edwards did a similar thing for John’s 54th birthday on June 10. So why am I getting all snarkeristic about the Bush dealie? Here’s why.

Make someone's day

barbara — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 11:21:50 -0500

by barbara

By now, all y’all probably know that Michael Bloomberg (pictured here with Clint Eastwood) is a very wealthy man who also is the Republican mayor of New York City. Well, he was Republican until yesterday, when he officially gave the Republican Party the boot. All of which is fueling speculation that Bloomberg plans to launch a bid for the U.S. presidency as an independent. Yes, the same Michael Bloomberg who was a lifelong Democrat until his 2001 run for mayor.

Oh frabjous day! How schadenfreudy to see someone stick it to George and his posse. To see the Republicans humiliated in the national media, such as it is. This is a very big deal, calloo callay.

Duh-oh. Did I just sense the ghost of Ralph Nader passing by? Click here to find out!

Revisionist naming: An idea whose time has come

barbara — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 08:14:29 -0500

by barbara

I just read an interesting piece via HuffPost about Japan deep-sixing Iwo Jima. Not the island itself. Just its name. Henceforth the infamous island shall be known by its original name, Iwo To.

The infamy part is rooted in the fact that 7,000 Americans and, by various accounts, some 20,000 Japanese, perished in a bloody battle there in 1945. The subsequent photo of Marines raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi seared the island into memory – even for those of us who were too young to understand or no more than a gleam in the old man’s eye, as the old saying goes.

Recognizing that this is about returning to an earlier name, it nevertheless led me to reflect about renaming some other historic places, events and organizations to more accurately reflect their place in current time. Modest list follows.

America, wake up!!!

barbara — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 09:12:08 -0500

barbara writes

For four years, Vice President Dick Cheney has resisted routine oversight of his office’s handling of classified information, and when the National Archives unit that monitors classification in the executive branch objected, the vice president’s office suggested abolishing the oversight unit, according to documents released yesterday by a Democratic congressman. Source: New York Times.

Our government is in the hands of dangerous, megalomaniacal people. That is not hyperbolic. And the most dangerous of all is Richard “Darth” Cheney.

We are in deep, serious trouble. We have domestic terrorists, fronting as a presidential administration. Cheney et al have burrowed their way to the heart of our country, and we are on the brink of total organ shutdown. More, unfortunately.

Little boy lost

barbara — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 16:09:51 -0500

by barbara

Sooner or later, the White House spin is gonna make America hurl. It’s that bad.

What follows is an add-on to the previous post, wherein we learned that Darth Cheney has declared himself exempt from executive branch oversight. Furthermore, since that pesky oversight agency keeps asking him for information and records, then by god, he’s going to abolish the agency. And if the agency protests, Darth will have the Justice Department rule on the whole matter.

But wait! It gets better!

Warning: Circular thinking zone!

barbara — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 14:57:02 -0500

by barbara

Here's my summary of the latest on BushSpeak and CheneyWorld via today’s Los Angeles Times:

Bush issued an executive order in March 2003, requiring all government agencies in the executive branch to submit to oversight.
Cheney filed requisite oversight reports in 2001 and 2002; he stopped in 2003 and has steadfastly refused to comply since then.
The Security Oversight Office of the National Archives and Records Administration has been rebuffed for four years in its attempt to inspect how Cheney’s office handles classified documents.
On Friday, White House spokesman Tony Fratto declared that Bush never intended oversight to apply to his own office nor to Cheney’s.
Why are we not surprised?
(Quote from the Times): This executive order was issued by the president, and he knows what his intentions were,” Fratto said. “He is in compliance with his executive order.” Fratto conceded that the lengthy directive, technically an amendment to an existing executive order, did not specifically exempt the president’s or vice president’s offices. Instead, it refers to “agencies” as being subject to the requirements, which Fratto said did not include the two executive offices. “It does take a little bit of inference,” Fratto said.
Inference? INFERENCE? Oh, lord help us.
According to the Times, Chipper White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said that Cheney’s office is exempt from the requirements because the president intended him to be.

Click and read, and then let's talk.

WaPo VIRAL: Very Important Reading At Last!

barbara — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 09:22:29 -0500

barbara writes

UPDATED: Wednesday, June 27
UPDATED: Tuesday, June 26

There's a very important series of articles (four in all) in this week's Washington Post. They provide us with an in-depth look at our feral vice president, illustrating how he has seized control of the United States branches of government, on his march toward a totalitarian state (my opinion).

This is MUST reading for every American who gives a damn. I'll update tomorrow and the following day within this post, providing a link to each new chapter. Click here to read more.

Compare and contrast

barbara — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 08:11:19 -0500

by barbara

I was pretty pleased to discover that the Minneapolis Star Tribune was running the WaPo’s articles about Cheney. Up to but not including the moment I realized there were huge, unacknowledged edits to the WaPo piece that included cutting nearly 2/3 of the first story. And so I launched a line-by-line comparison of the WaPo and Strib versions. Much was lost in the editing process, but readers were left to believe they were seeing the original version that is causing so much conversation, at least in the blogosphere. Not so.

It’s hard to tell what prompted the deletions. Given that the Strib is now owned by a corporation with no journalism creds, it may have been about squeezing the story into a space that fits the newspaper’s new skinny, relatively newsless format. No room for the third installment today. So right here in my own back yard we have what LeftyMN calls “news lite.” And in this case, the deletions contribute to Voldemort's ability to slither around, playing fast and loose with our government.

What follows is the portion of the first piece that the Strib saw fit to print in edited fashion. The bolded text below indicates the portions the Strib cut out of the first installment. Click here to compare and contrast.

Bong Hits 4 Jesus

susan — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:57:05 -0500

And other idiocies.

Even when you thought it couldn't, it just keeps getting worse.

There's Dark Cheney declaring himself a hybrid -- he runs on one oily source of power (executive) until it overheats, then switches to another quieter source (legislative) when the regulators are on his tail.

And there's the Supremes, deciding 5-4 in favor of "free speech" for corporate and union giants, ie., billions of ad dollars on "issues" in the last days of a campaign, but not for a high school kid in Juneau, who held up a cryptic banner -- Bong hits 4 Jesus -- as the Olympic torch passed through his town. He wasn't on school property, but it was a school sanctioned event, so shuddup kid. (Why's the school sanctioning this sort of thing anyhow? Oh, silly me, sports rule.) Here's a glimpse of how the other side sees this. New England Republican writes:

"This case is distinguishable from the 1st instance because public schools are educational institutions where appropriate limitations on disruptive behavior are valid. The student in question even admitted he wasn’t exercising free speech as much as he was looking for attention."

And what, pray tell, are the corporations looking for? If only it were just a little attention. Like more, duh.

Senate subpoenas White House and Darth's office

barbara — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:09:29 -0500

by barbara

Remember "Gunfight at OK Corral?" Circle the wagons, 'cause this is going to get very interesting.

The Huffington Post:is the first place I read that the Senate Judiciary Committee subpoenaed the White House and Vice President Dick Cheney's office today "for documents relating to President Bush's warrantless eavesdropping program." Yes, first report came via the blogs. Woo hoo!!

Echoing its response to previous congressional subpoenas to former administration officials Harriet Miers and Sara Taylor, the White House gave no indication that it would comply.

"We're aware of the committee's action and will respond appropriately," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said. "It's unfortunate that congressional Democrats continue to choose the route of confrontation." Click and read.

Inquiring mind wants to know

barbara — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:07:57 -0500

by barbara

So what are we to do?

If we take a strong stand for ending George's War, we fuel the rage of the Fury-spewing Valkyries, who promise our butts will be lawn for our infamy. (NOTE: This applies equally to Republican Richard Lugar, who, upon denouncing George’s War, reportedly was summoned to the White House for a come-to-Jesus conversation with the First Hypocrite). Click and muse.

Tim Walz: Antidote to slough of despond

barbara — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 09:41:22 -0500

by barbara

Folks, freshman Congressman Tim Walz could use our help. He's not my congressional representative. I don’t have one. Think John Kline.

Tim Walz is the Mankato high school teacher who unseated the oily BushCo foot soldier, Gil Gutknecht, last November. The contrast between Gutknecht and Walz could not be more extreme. For starters, words often applied to Walz include likeable, principled, authentic, integrity, real, accessible. And that overused favorite, “nice.” But I’ve met him. And it’s true. He’s a very nice man. So what, you ask? Click and read on.