(Don't) Stay the Course

Adieu!

I am off tomorrow for Ukraine, where I will be volunteering in our UCARE summer camp for orphans, and then traveling a bit. I don't know when I'll be able to post again--it's not like India, where I stayed with friends who had WiFi in their flat. I'm not sure what sort of internet access I'll have, fast or slow, and how often I'll be able to get to it.

So have a nice summer, don't forget to vote in the primary! (I voted today by absentee ballot.)

Check back here after August 20th.

And pray for peace.......

Bolton is an Ass

Canadian Saja El-Akhras, 8, died in Lebanon.

From Yahoo News:

US Ambassador John Bolton said there was no moral equivalence between the civilian casualties from the Israeli raids in Lebanon and those killed in Israel from "malicious terrorist acts".

Asked to comment on the deaths in an Israeli air strike of eight Canadian citizens in southern Lebanon Sunday, he said: "it is a matter of great concern to us ...that these civilian deaths are occurring. It's a tragedy."

"I think it would be a mistake to ascribe moral equivalence to civilians who die as the direct result of malicious terrorist acts," he added, while defending as "self-defense" Israel's military action, which has had "the tragic and unfortunate consequence of civilian deaths".

The eight dead Canadians were a Lebanese-Canadian couple, their four children, his mother and an uncle, said relatives in Montreal.

The Montreal pharmacist and his family had arrived in Lebanon 10 days earlier for a vacation in his parents' home village and to introduce his children to relatives, they said.

Three of his Lebanese relatives died too, a family member told AFP.

"It's simply not the same thing to say that it's the same act to deliberately target innocent civilians, to desire their deaths, to fire rockets and use explosive devices or kidnapping versus the sad and highly unfortunate consequences of self-defense," Bolton noted.

The overall civilian death toll from the Israeli onslaught in Lebanon since last Wednesday reached 195, in addition to 12 soldiers, officials said. Twenty-four Israelis have also been killed since fighting began last Wednesday, including 12 civilians in a barrage of Hezbollah rocket fire across the border.

As in Animal Farm, some are more equal than others. And, when brown people die, Bolton doesn't care.....

Worst President Ever

I wrote to Bart, of bartcop.com, about the WPE bumpersticker I had gotten from him, and which I have stuck onto the back of my 2000 Jeep Cherokee:

He was kind enough to post my letter on his site:

My parents (who are in their 70s and survived Stalin's USSR and WWII), although they hate Bush almost as much as I do, were apprehensive about my putting the WPE sticker on the back of my Jeep. They live in a Republican neighborhood, and thought it might upset their neighbors, or that crazy people might take it out on my car.

Imagine their surprise when their next door neighbor wandered over, took one look at it, and launched into a diatribe against Bush. This guy is a retired plumber, devout Catholic, and generally pretty conservative.

I told them similar things happened to me all the time. When I went to a local hardware store, and the owner saw the sticker, he also launched into an anti-Bush diatribe. A woman at the drugstore sees my stickers, and asks me where to get some.

So many people have been cowed into silence, and are afraid of being labeled "un-American" if they don't "support their president" that they don't realized how many people out here in the heartland really agree with them. Bush is "hated" by a majority of Americans. Look at the polls.

All it takes is a sticker (or a T-shirt) to get the conversation going, an outward sign that acts to catalyze the conversation. And once people start talking, they come flooding out, the pent up feelings they've had. It's as though they are relieved to finally express what they really believe.

Thanks Bart!

And, everyone out there, don't be afraid. Speak up. You'll be surprised to discover how many people really do agree with you. Remember, as Teddy Roosevelt said:

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else."

(No secret symbolism here. I just liked this picture of Teddy and the teddy bears.)

Mission Accomplished!

Public Schools

So much for the Republican dream of vouchers:

The Education Department reported on Friday that children in public schools generally performed as well or better in reading and mathematics than comparable children in private schools. The exception was in eighth-grade reading, where the private school counterparts fared better.

The report, which compared fourth- and eighth-grade reading and math scores in 2003 from nearly 7,000 public schools and more than 530 private schools, also found that conservative Christian schools lagged significantly behind public schools on eighth-grade math.(Imagine if they had tested them on science!--me)

The study, carrying the imprimatur of the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the Education Department, was contracted to the Educational Testing Service and delivered to the department last year.....

The report separated private schools by type and found that among private school students, those in Lutheran schools performed best, while those in conservative Christian schools did worst.

The right will not accept this, though, because the whole point of diverting public funds to private schools was never about the quality of education, but about religious indoctrination.

I went to public schools, and received a good education. The attempt (ongoing) to divert funds from public schools into private ones only weakens the public school system. Rather than pulling money out of the public school system, what should be done is to make sure that it is spread around equally, so that all school districts are "good" school districts. Property taxes, when used to fund education, do the opposite–rich districts can spend thousands more on their students, providing their children with all thing good and new, while poor districts struggle to get by with large classrooms and inadequate facilities, continuing the cycle of poor education and poverty in those communities.

One of the things that has always differentiated our country from those that are much more class based (e.g. England) is the provision of a good, secular education to all its citizens, with a common curriculum, teaching us all to be citizens of our country, rather than members of some small elite group. It is the public education system that has allowed the US to be a melting pot, and has kept us from having the sorts of sectarian problems plaguing France and England due to non-assimilation. Public schools teach us all, immigrants and native-born, how to be Americans.

We need to preserve and protect public education, this jewel established, in their ecumenical wisdom, by our forefathers.

The Three Commandments

Congressman Lynn Westmoreland is a strong proponent of posting the ten commandments in public places. Watch him discuss his crusade with Steve Colbert.

Indiana: The Most Dangerous State

Or so it would seem, based on the number of entries into the National Asset Database. According to today's NYT:

It reads like a tally of terrorist targets that a child might have written: Old MacDonald’s Petting Zoo, the Amish Country Popcorn factory, the Mule Day Parade, the Sweetwater Flea Market and an unspecified “Beach at End of a Street.”

But the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security, in a report released Tuesday, found that the list was not child’s play: all these “unusual or out-of-place” sites “whose criticality is not readily apparent” are inexplicably included in the federal antiterrorism database.

The National Asset Database, as it is known, is so flawed, the inspector general found, that as of January, Indiana, with 8,591 potential terrorist targets, had 50 percent more listed sites than New York (5,687) and more than twice as many as California (3,212), ranking the state the most target-rich place in the nation.

Wisconsin (yes, that Wisconsin) was second on the list.

Now I've been to Wisconsin, and it is a lovely state, but really– more potential terrorism targets that New York or California? What do terrorists have against cows?

The database is used by the Homeland Security Department to help divvy up the hundreds of millions of dollars in antiterrorism grants each year, including the program announced in May that cut money to New York City and Washington by 40 percent, while significantly increasing spending for cities including Louisville, Ky., and Omaha.

“We don’t find it embarrassing,” said the department’s deputy press secretary, Jarrod Agen. “The list is a valuable tool.”

What, money is involved? Perhaps this may explain all the antiterrorism funding going to Wyoming.

In addition to the petting zoo, in Woodville, Ala., and the Mule Day Parade in Columbia, Tenn., the auditors questioned many entries, including “Nix’s Check Cashing,” “Mall at Sears,” “Ice Cream Parlor,” “Tackle Shop,” “Donut Shop,” “Anti-Cruelty Society” and “Bean Fest.”

Even people connected to some of those businesses or events are baffled at their inclusion as possible terrorist targets.

“Seems like someone has gone overboard,” said Larry Buss, who helps organize the Apple and Pork Festival in Clinton, Ill. “Their time could be spent better doing other things, like providing security for the country.”

Angela McNabb, manager of the Sweetwater Flea Market, which is 50 miles from Knoxville, Tenn., said: “I don’t know where they get their information. We are talking about a flea market here.”

And what do New Yorkers think of all this?

New York City officials, who have questioned the rationale for the reduction in this year’s antiterrorism grants, were similarly blunt.

“Now we know why the Homeland Security grant formula came out as wacky as it was,” Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, said Tuesday. “This report is the smoking gun that thoroughly indicts the system.”

The source of the problems, the audit said, appears to be insufficient definitions or standards for inclusion provided to the states, which submit lists of locations for the database.

New York, for example, lists only 2 percent of the nation’s banking and finance sector assets, which ranks it between North Dakota and Missouri. Washington State lists nearly twice as many national monuments and icons as the District of Columbia.

Montana, one of the least populous states in the nation, turned up with far more assets than big-population states including Massachusetts, North Carolina and New Jersey.

The inspector general questions whether many of the sites listed in whole categories — like the 1,305 casinos, 163 water parks, 159 cruise ships, 244 jails, 3,773 malls, 718 mortuaries and 571 nursing homes — should even be included in the tally.

But the report also notes that the list “may have too few assets in essential areas.” It apparently does not include many major business and finance operations or critical national telecommunications hubs.

The department does not release the list of 77,069 sites, but the report said that as of January it included 17,327 commercial properties like office buildings, malls and shopping centers, 12,019 government facilities, 8,402 public health buildings, 7,889 power plants and 2,963 sites with chemical or hazardous materials.

And popcorn?

One business owner who learned from a reporter that a company named Amish Country Popcorn was on the list was at first puzzled. The businessman, Brian Lehman, said he owned the only operation in the country with that name.

“I am out in the middle of nowhere,” said Mr. Lehman, whose business in Berne, Ind., has five employees and grows and distributes popcorn. “We are nothing but a bunch of Amish buggies and tractors out here. No one would care.”

But on second thought, he came up with an explanation: “Maybe because popcorn explodes?”

Maybe. It's as good an explanation as any other.

Thinking About the Union

Bloger was down yesterday, so I couldn't post. Today I listend to Springsteen's latest, the Seeger Sessions, and watched a PBS program about Woody Guthrie, someone who had respect for the workingman.

Then I saw this on line and had to post it:

The Scab

After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, and the vampire, he had some awful substance left with which he made a scab.

A scab is a two-legged animal with a corkscrew soul, a water brain, a combination backbone of jelly and glue. Where others have hearts, he carries a tumor of rotten principles.

When a scab comes down the street, men turn their backs and angels weep in heaven, and the devil shuts the gates of hell to keep him out.

No man (or woman) has a right to scab so long as there is a pool of water to drown his carcass in, or a rope long enough to hang his body with. Judas was a gentleman compared with a scab. For betraying his master, he had character enough to hang himself." A scab has not.

Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. Judas sold his Savior for thirty pieces of silver. Benedict Arnold sold his country for a promise of a commission in the British army." The scab sells his birthright, country, his wife, his children and his fellowmen for an unfulfilled promise from his employer.

Esau was a traitor to himself; Judas was a traitor to his God; Benedict Arnold was a traitor to his country; a scab is a traitor to his God, his country, his family and his class.

–– Jack London

Solidarity now, Solidarity forever. And death to Walmart!

Irony is Dead

Winner of this month's Dan Quayle* award:

Right wing anti-abortion blogger takes a fictitious woman to ask based on an article in the Onion. Really. And posts her fake picture. Read it here.

Yes, truth is sometimes stranger than fiction, but he should have read the entire site; this article may have tipped him off to the true nature of the site.....

Then again, you'd think he'd have figured out by now how to disable comments on his site! Really, this affirms my belief that you should have to pass an IQ test to reproduce and/or blog. The world would be a better place.


__________
*Dan Quayle, for those of you a bit historically challenged, while Vice President of the USA, attacked Murphy Brown, a television character, for having a child out of wedlock. Many of us suspect that Bush Sr. selected him as his VP to make himself look literate and statesmanlike in comparison.

First Veto

After five years of his reign.......er, presidency, Bush is about to veto his very first piece of legislation. And what piece of legislation can be so egregiously horrible that even Bush can't stand it? Allowing polluters to pollute more? Allowing more arsenic in our water and more mercury in our children? Some huge wasteful spending package?

No.

President Bush will likely cast the first veto of his presidency if the Senate, as expected, passes legislation to expand federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research, White House aide Karl Rove said today.

"The president is emphatic about this," Rove - Bush's top political advisor and architect of his 2000 and 2004 campaigns...

The U.S. House of Representatives has already passed the legislation, co-sponsored by Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Denver, and Rep. Mike Castle, R-Del. If the Senate approves the bill it would go to the president's desk.

Stem cell research? Well, who could possibly profit from such a nefarious practice?

"I'm appalled that Bush would use the first veto of his presidency to veto a bill that could help 110 million people and their families," DeGette said today after being informed of Rove's remarks.

.....The Bush administration's stem cell policy, adopted in 2001, has been to allow federal research funding only for existing lines of embryonic stem cells. Researchers and patients groups have complained that the policy hinders vital research into treatments for diabetes, Parkinson's disease and other illnesses.

So who would benefit from vetoing this legislation?

"We were all an embryo at one point, and we ought to as a society be very careful about being callous about the wanton destruction of embryos, of life," Rove said. Recent research, he said, shows that researchers "have far more promise from adult stem cells than from embryonic stem cells."

Rove is locking up the all-important Blastocyst-American (and right wingnut) vote, I see. The War On Science continues!!!!!

(Note: Rove lied. Adult stem cells are very limited in their potential, and research has proved unpromising; most researchers prefer to use embryonic cells because of their potential to differentiate into any cell type. And I have doubts about his former emrbyonicity.....)

Tom Petty

The right is always going on about how "celebrities" should stick to acting/singing/whatever and leave the job of politics to those who know best.

So who has a better grasp of reality? The pundits who produced this magazine:

Or Tom Petty, rocker extraordinaire:

"The war in Iraq is shameful. Whether you're pro or con Bush, you've got to admit it: The guy lied. And he continues to do so. I can't understand why he's just not run out on a rail. To send somebody's kids off and have them killed for no good reason-- he's going to have his day in hell for that. I wouldn't want that karma. When you kill somebody's little sister with a missile, he's going to hate you forever. And the next generation will hate you even more."

Rock on!

William Shatner

I may have been a bit premature in crowning Tiny Tim's version of "Do You Think I'm Sexy" the worst video of all time. This one may actually be worse, that is, if you consider what follows to be music. I'm not sure that I do.....

The President's Misguided Message

Rep. John Murtha speaks:

I am disappointed that the President spoke on Independence Day to soldiers and their families at Fort Bragg without putting forth a new plan for Iraq. The President instead stuck to his old “stay the course” slogan saying “I’m not going to allow the sacrifice of 2,527 troops who have died in Iraq to be in vain by pulling out before the job is done.”

The problem with this statement is that the military has done its job. The Administration and the newly formed Iraqi government have not. As I have said many times before, and our top Commanders agree, Iraq cannot be “won militarily.” Why then does the President continue to insist that our military shoulder the burden of this Administration’s mistake-laden policies? Instead, the President should have said to this most deserving crowd:

Further advances in Iraq can only be accomplished by the Iraqis. They must fight for their own unity and for their own freedom. Our military has accomplished its mission in Iraq. It is time that we bring them home.

Proud to be a Liberal

Who said the following?

Liberals got women the right to vote. Liberals got African-Americans the right to vote. Liberals created Social Security and lifted millions of elderly people out of poverty. Liberals ended segregation. Liberals passed the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act. Liberals created Medicare. Liberals passed the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act.

What did Conservatives do? They opposed them on every one of those things – every one. So when you try to hurl that label at my feet, ‘Liberal,’ as if it were something to be ashamed of, something dirty, something to run away from, it won’t work, Senator, because I will pick up that label and I will wear it as a badge of honor.

It was Matt Santos, a fictional congressman (and presdiential candidate) on the West Wing.

If only real life politicians could be as eloquent.........and have it reported. Damn that liberal media!

Great Moments in Liberalism: Lyndon Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Worst Music Video........Ever!

Don't say I didn't warn you!

What's the difference between a pope and a frill-necked lizard?

I stole the title from Pharyngula, my favorite science (and philosophy) blog, and the photos from Pandagon. (His answer: Not Much. Mine: The lizard seems friendlier.)

It seems that the "Poop," (as my friend Beth, a Catholic, calls him) is off to Spain to save marriage. Well, to save the "right" kind of marriage. Spain doesn't seem interested in his help:

Pope Benedict XVI travels to Spain this weekend as part of his campaign to defend the traditional family, visiting a predominantly Roman Catholic country that allows gay marriage, divorce and abortion.

For months Benedict has been denouncing gay marriage and other challenges to church doctrine in Europe and elsewhere - recently summed up by the Vatican as the “greatest threat ever” to the traditional family based on marriage between a man and a woman.

…Relations have been so strained between the Holy See and Madrid that a meeting between Benedict and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was only confirmed a few weeks before the trip. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Valencia on Saturday afternoon on Benedict’s turf - the residence of Valencia’s archbishop.

Benedict, a German, has made combating a Europe of empty churches and religious apathy a priority of his papacy. Vatican officials have declared that such former Catholic bedrocks as Spain are in need of what they call a “new evangelization.”

Perhaps those empty pews should be telling him something? Perhaps not everyone thinks that the church should preach exclusion and condemnation on those that Jesus neither excluded or condemned?

It's OK

Actually, it's not OK.

So True

Busy, Busy, Busy

I've busy lately - first, off to deer camp in Harrison for the Fourth of July weekend, and now getting ready for my approaching trip to Ukraine and summer camp (leaving July 19th). And I still haven't quite gotten the house and yard ready for summer* (garage half cleaned, playhouse still full of winter stuff).

So no posts recently, and not many to come.

And why is it that a cottage in northern Michigan will have well water, propane heat, but top of the line satellite TV? I thought it was all about getting away from it all. (No internet access, I should add.)


*Mouse eradication is proceeding apace. After they shredded a flag, several boxes of Kleenex, a roll of paper towels, and several textiles, not to mention nibbling at various books and boxes, I decided it was time to take action. I hadn't had these problems in years past. They even started in on the wires in the BMW and squirreled away grain in my cabinets. (Or maybe that was the squirrels.) Anyway, poison is out, and small mouse bodies have appeared in odd places, including the back seat of the Jeep.

American Values

Senator Byron Dorgan, the junior senator from North Dakota, has written a book. It is entitled "Take This Job and Ship It: How Corporate Greed and Brain-Dead Politics Are Selling Out America." In it he writes

I feel strongly that some important American values are being sacrificed in order to find the lowest-priced gallon of mustard or twelve-pack of underwear.

The role of government is to help create a society beneficial to people. People are the priority. Not corporations. Certainly commerce plays a huge role in the betterment of any great society, but any society that forgets that its primary purpose is to serve the people cannot ever be great.

We are engaged in more than an academic debate over philosophy. I believe this to be a contest for the soul of a great nation, with immense ramifications for the entire world. It is about values.

People, not corporations. What a novel concept!

Coincidence

Today, July 6, 2006, is George W. Bush's 60th birthday.


It is also the day twelve years ago that the film Forrest Gump was released, the same year W.'s political career began in Texas.


Coincidence? I think not.