Resurrection!

Hooray for resurrection of the TGB (The Group's Blog)! Boo-hiss for resurrection of a Republican-controlled House and Republican dominated governorships and state legislatures. :(

I'm afraid the later resurrections above mean we're even further from American Climate Legislation. The United State's shift toward a sustainable energy future remains depressing. You can access a remarkable and recent New Yorker article about the collapse of cap-and-trade last Spring here.

In that article, blame for the demise of a bi-partisan climate bill, which seemed surprisingly like a reality at one point, falls upon many, including the White House. Granted, altering how the global economy functions and is powered would be daunting at any time for the world's largest economy but especially so during the worst recession in 80 years (a recession, I might add, that began under Republican rule and stemmed from laissez faire deregulation of our financial markets and money lenders.)

As Brad mentioned elsewhere, immigration will likely be a big push for the G.O.P (i.e. Party of NO.) However, I expect Republican will focus on extending (and seeking to make permanent) the Bush tax cuts as the House's first priority followed by attempts to dismantle the Health Care bill.

On related note, I'm interested to see how much pull the Tea Party players have in the newly resurgent GOP. My guess is the GOP will co-opt the Tea Party peeps and make them dance to corporate-called tunes (somewhat like what happened to the Populist Party in the mid 1890s). My hope is the Tea Party grows enough to run a third party candidate who splits the 2012 Republican ticket for Obama to win (similar to what happened in 1912 with Wilson/Taft/Roosevelt, or more recently in 1992 with Clinton/Bush/Perot and in 2000 with Bush/Gore/Nader.) Here's hoping.

She arrives.

Sydney Grace came into her own at 1:35 PM on Friday, June 5, 2009. All are well--and home already. Love to you all.

Is Sotamayor a racist?

Lots of hatred being spewed on FoxNews and on right-wing radio about Sotomayor's supposed "reverse discrimination" (easiest, least thoughtful, most diabolical charge any white person could ever level against a minority...and sadly, a charge that many of us white folks are eager to buy into). Here's a link to a short article describing experiences of people who actually argued cases before her...for your review.

Conservative Radio Host Gets Waterboarded

Anybody else hear about this?

Honest question? What do people think about whether or not waterboarding is torture? Second question: whether it is or not, is it okay to use this technique to get information?

Enjoy the weekend, everyone!

What's Going On?

Anybody heard anything about the Cincy "Tea Party" rally? Here's a link to some WKRC video about media intimidation...by "a small pocket of protesters." 'Twas always thus...it's always the few that ruin it for the many.

Anybody in the area heard anything?

Tough News

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, everyone, but I wanted you all to know that my dad lost his job a couple Fridays ago. Please keep him in your thoughts and wish him well in his search for a new job. If you feel compelled, I'm sure he'd appreciate a phone call.

Nick Marino--Local Boy Makes Good

Hi, all...

Just an update about Nick Marino.  He seems to be the Managing Editor at Paste, this independent magazine rising in the world (http://www.pastemagazine.com/) AND he's got a Wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Marino).  I happened to have, um, appended a wee little bit there at the end of entry.  Thanks, Wikipedia!

Hope you're all well.  Oh, yeah--Ella's getting a sister in June.

Love,

Adam

Ode to a Grecian Lush

A nice reflection on life, booze, and old school Greeks. I especially like one the comments posted in response: "All things in moderation, including moderation."

This blew my f'ing mind...

"If we compacted the history of the Earth into a movie lasting one year, running 146 years per second, life would not appear until March, multicellular organism not until November, dinosaurs not until December 13 (lasting until December 26), mammals not until December 15, Homo Sapiens (our species) not until 11 minutes before midnight of December 31, and civilization not until one minute before the movie ended. Yet in a very short, say less than 200 years, a mere 0.000002% of Earth's life, humans have become capable of seriously altering the entire biosphere. In some respects we have already altered it more profoundly that it has changed in the past BILLION years. (from philosopher Louis Pojman, written in 2000)

I had a number of thoughts about this (ambivelence about human genius and destruction, the insanity of religions based on anthropomorphic gods, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist's "Atomic Clock" approaching midnight, etc.)

What does it make you think about?

Good Cop Bad Cop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZM5JB3N43c

Rhode Island it’s neither a road nor an island – discuss.

Let's talk about age. This came up over the holidays with the group of us that got together. Is it an issue for any of us? If so, why? What is the issue? Most of us have or are just about to hit 30 - is this a major milestone? Does it mean anything? Are we where we thought we’d be at 30?

I still think we’re babies in the big scheme of things (even those of us with babies). Every now and again I freak out, but for the most part I think I am okay with it all. Maybe because I still get carded and I “appear” to be in my early twenties. I knew looking like a 12 year old would come in handy some day. haha However, I do every now and again think oh boy time keeps going and there is a lot of life to get in …

Scared of Santa?

Bri found this awesome site, which had me in tears. I hope y'all enjoy it as much as I did.

Merry Xmas to you all, and to all merry Xmas!

(and, see a few of y'all SOON!!)

Sweet Vindication

Hey, everyone. Do you remember several months back when I was toying with the notion of starting a new blog where I posted the responses of my Senators and Congressperson to various petitions I sent them? Well, DailyKos, one of my daily read blogs has begun doing that very thing...not en masse, but pertaining specifically to the vote on whether Joe Lieberman should have retained his committee chairmanship.

Sweet...swt. Identifying information on whom the letters have been addressed to has been removed.

-Brad

Olbermann on Prop. 8

I don't normally watch Olbermann, but after seeing this, I might.  Beautiful speech about the idiots who voted for Prop. 8

Diarrhea of the Keyboard

Not to be confused with Diarrhea ON the Keyboard.

I have returned to Our Favored Blog to see that Rog has taken over...in true Shock and Awe style. Good stuff.

Anybody have any predictions about Joe Lieberman's fate in the democratic caucus? Will his chairmanship be removed? Will he be booted from the caucus?

Will Missouri ever give up its electoral votes?

If you didn't hear, we here in MA had a question on the ballot to change possession of less than an ounce of marijuana into a civil charge rather than a criminal charge. I support the concept and voted for it. I was pretty sure that it would pass, despite the fact that literally every police chief and district attorney in the state came out against it. As it happened, not only did it pass, but by a 2-1 margin! Shocking! Way to go, Marijuanachusetts!

I did see that the assisted suicide (with a bunch of conditions) question was passed in Washington. Hmmm.

O

Check it out....

He won. In the top three. Beat out three incumbents in terms of votes.

http://www.kypost.com/content/democracy2008/nkyelectionnews/story.aspx?content_id=4ba29cdc-ed12-4d8c-8c38-606affed02c6

Yes we can.

UPDATE....And so can Ella.  This morning, I had Ella push the button to select Obama/Biden and then to officially cast the ballot.  I teared up a bit.  Here's the proud voter just after:

Tomorrow's the Big Day...

And I know what you're all thinking...Will Matt Olliges pull this one out?!   Here's hoping...best of luck, Matt!  Matt for Bellevue City Council!

Halloween Harvest Moon

Happy Halloween

In honor of Halloween, I happily present a clip from Monster Squad, arguably the highest watermark of human achievement.  Watch to discover the answer to that oldest of questions: Does Wolf Man have nards?