06 July 2009
Robert McNamara, 1916 - 2009
Robert McNamara, the Secretary of Defense under Presidents John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, and the architect of the Vietnam War, died today in Washington, DC. He was 92.
04 July 2009
Summer Madness
Playlist:
Under the Gun - Supreme Beings of Leisure.Have a safe 4th, everyone!
Bailamos - Fergie.
Dancing Machine - The Jackson 5.
I Can't Get Next to You - Annie Lennox.
Lowdown - Boz Scaggs.
Rev It Up - Jerry Harrison.
Stand Back - Stevie Nicks.
Rumbleseat - John Mellencamp.
Get Back (From "Love") - The Beatles.
Grand - Sean Chapin.
Criminal World - David Bowie.
The Fox - Elton John.
Going Through the Motions - Aimee Mann.
Rikki Don't Lose That Number - Steely Dan.
Time Is Running Out - Steve Winwood.
Am I a Good Man - Them Two.
Summer Madness (Live) - Kool and the Gang.
Dead Fish
Watching Sarah Palin speak really is like watching a dim-bulb give a D+ high school speech. She babbles endlessly and she is incoherent.
The governor's announcement, in two parts, below...
Update: David Kurtz:
The governor's announcement, in two parts, below...
Update: David Kurtz:
Perhaps the best part of Palin's announcement today:Update 2: Steve Benen:Life is too short to compromise time and resources... it may be tempting and more comfortable to just keep your head down, plod along, and appease those who demand: "Sit down and shut up", but that's the worthless, easy path; that's a quitter's way out.Quitters stick to it. Winners quit.
She says she's "given my reasons" for quitting, in the same breath as she says she doesn't feel the need to "explain" her decision. She blasts those who take the "quitter's way out," and then quits.
03 July 2009
Palin Resigns
What the fuck?! Her term ends in less than two years. Even if she has her eyes on the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, she could at least finish the term she was elected to.The erratic dim bulb is still freakier than ever.
Update: Jed Lewison:
She sure sounds like she's running for president. Which must mean she's a moron.Mayor of a town of 6,000, half a term as governor of a state with a population less than that of San Francisco, and an absolutely ghastly run for VP. The coming catastrophe will at least be entertaining, if not a nightmare.
Update 2: Josh Marshall:
Okay, we're getting our first indication of what happened. It seems like a colossal sulk on Palin's part, or perhaps better to say an effort on her part to ingeniously combine anti-liberal media bias agitation with Christianist politics by portraying herself as having been crucified by the liberal media.That would make more sense to me than resigning a year and a half short of the end of her term to run for president.
...this clearly happened so quickly that Palin hasn't even had a chance to come up with a coherent cover story for her resignation. Some context is probably helpful here, however. Remember that based on the public record, Palin is a wildly unethical public official, guilty at a minimum of numerous instances of abusing her authority as governor. And a lot of very damaging information has come out about her in the last few days - though mainly embarrassing information about her character rather than new evidence of bad acts. I would not be surprised if this latest round of revelations shook something else loose that we haven't heard about yet.
Then again, she has never made much sense, has she?
02 July 2009
Your Daily Santorum
Fort Worth police chief, Jeff Halstead.
For those not in-the-know, a primer on Your Daily Santorum here.
For those not in-the-know, a primer on Your Daily Santorum here.
Gay Sailor Murdered on Base
From Joe. My. God.:
On the one hand, I can easily see an increase in anti-gay violence within the armed forces if gays and lesbians were able to serve openly. On the other hand, the only way to keep the lid on such violence is to change minds. And changing minds would require nothing short of full integration into the forces.
Quite the quandary.
In the mean time, the USMC should investigate this murder, arrest and charge the individual(s) responsible, and punish them to the fullest extent of the law.
The body of an openly gay sailor was found yesterday in a guard shack outside of Camp Pendleton, a USMC base just outside San Diego. The case may be investigated as a hate crime.You have to wonder if this is one of the reasons why President Obama is moving slowly on the repeal of DADT.
On the one hand, I can easily see an increase in anti-gay violence within the armed forces if gays and lesbians were able to serve openly. On the other hand, the only way to keep the lid on such violence is to change minds. And changing minds would require nothing short of full integration into the forces.
Quite the quandary.
In the mean time, the USMC should investigate this murder, arrest and charge the individual(s) responsible, and punish them to the fullest extent of the law.
Dump the California Constitution
So, the state of California ran out of money on Tuesday and is now issuing IOUs to pay its bills. I've lived here for nine years now and I can't remember a year in which California was not having budget problems. They were never as big as they are right now, but the problems incredibly led to the recall of Gov. Gray Davis in 2003 and have kept Gov. Schwarzenegger's approval ratings in the toilet, causing him to bow out of what was an expected 2010 U.S. Senate race against Barbara Boxer.
Yes, spending needs to be controlled. Yes, taxes need to be raised. But with California's dreadful rule requiring a 2/3 vote of the legislature on budget matters (by constitutional amendment, mind you), and neither Republicans or Democrats willing to move from their respective positions, it is no wonder the state didn't go belly up years ago.
The governor and both houses of the legislature will keep running through this tiresome loop of hoop-jumping, California's citizens will keep bitching and moaning over the inability of the state government to get anything done, and they will all keep voting the imbeciles back into office.
The only way to fix the problem is to scrap the current over-amended state constitution, conduct a constitutional convention, and write a brand new document. The new constitution should give each branch of the legislature the ability to vote on budget matters with a simple majority. To give the minority party a voice at the table, a provision should be made to grant filibuster power in the state senate, and a line-item veto to the governor. More importantly, a new state constitution should require that it take more than a simple majority statewide ballot vote to amend it. A new state document should require amendments be placed with a 2/3 vote of both houses of the legislature and either 2/3 (66.66%) or 3/5 (60%) of the vote on a statewide ballot.
The current constitution has been amended over 500 times. At some point (I'd say around amendment # 100 or so), the document simply seized to exist in its original form.
So why not throw it out and write a new one?
Yes, spending needs to be controlled. Yes, taxes need to be raised. But with California's dreadful rule requiring a 2/3 vote of the legislature on budget matters (by constitutional amendment, mind you), and neither Republicans or Democrats willing to move from their respective positions, it is no wonder the state didn't go belly up years ago.
The governor and both houses of the legislature will keep running through this tiresome loop of hoop-jumping, California's citizens will keep bitching and moaning over the inability of the state government to get anything done, and they will all keep voting the imbeciles back into office.
The only way to fix the problem is to scrap the current over-amended state constitution, conduct a constitutional convention, and write a brand new document. The new constitution should give each branch of the legislature the ability to vote on budget matters with a simple majority. To give the minority party a voice at the table, a provision should be made to grant filibuster power in the state senate, and a line-item veto to the governor. More importantly, a new state constitution should require that it take more than a simple majority statewide ballot vote to amend it. A new state document should require amendments be placed with a 2/3 vote of both houses of the legislature and either 2/3 (66.66%) or 3/5 (60%) of the vote on a statewide ballot.
The current constitution has been amended over 500 times. At some point (I'd say around amendment # 100 or so), the document simply seized to exist in its original form.
So why not throw it out and write a new one?
18% Pay Hikes at the White House
I know after taking office President Obama signed an order freezing the pay of his senior staff, I also know that Mr. Obama didn't sit down and personally review the pay rates of all 486 White House government employees, but...He would have had to sign off on them all. Sigh. When the government is hemorrhaging money (granted, for good reason...but hemorrhaging none the less), an 18% increase in the White House payroll budget just doesn't seem very responsible to me.
Unemployment Rises to 9.5%
An increase is an increase, but the rate of increase seems to have slowed this month. June's 9.5% unemployment rate is up from 9.4% last month. After several significant monthly jumps since September, a one-tenth increase, while something to be concerned about, gives one hope that perhaps (perhaps) the downturn is putting on the brakes.
Now if I just keep telling myself that...
Now if I just keep telling myself that...
01 July 2009
Karl Malden, 1912 - 2009
The veteran actor died today of natural causes at his home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. He was 97.
Malden is best known for his five season run on the ABC television series "The Streets of San Francisco" (1972 to 1977), as well as his role as spokesman for American Express ("Don't leave home without it.")
But the bulk of Malden's career was spent on the movie screen. He won an Oscar for his supporting role in 1951's "A Streetcar Named Desire," and appeared in a number of critically acclaimed films, such as "On the Waterfront," "Patton," and "Gypsy." And like many actors of his generation, he also appeared in a really bad movie or two.
From 1989 to 1992, Malden served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
He is survived by his wife, Mona, and two daughters.
Malden is best known for his five season run on the ABC television series "The Streets of San Francisco" (1972 to 1977), as well as his role as spokesman for American Express ("Don't leave home without it.")
But the bulk of Malden's career was spent on the movie screen. He won an Oscar for his supporting role in 1951's "A Streetcar Named Desire," and appeared in a number of critically acclaimed films, such as "On the Waterfront," "Patton," and "Gypsy." And like many actors of his generation, he also appeared in a really bad movie or two.
From 1989 to 1992, Malden served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
He is survived by his wife, Mona, and two daughters.
Mollie Sugden, 1922 - 2009
The veteran British television actress, best known to American audiences as "Mrs. Slocombe" on the venerable BBC series, "Are You Being Served," died earlier today of natural causes. She was 86.
A couple of classic clips in "remembory"...
A couple of classic clips in "remembory"...
Your Daily Santorum
Former CIA employee Michael Scheuer:
Uhh...Mr. Scheuer (and you too, Mr. Beck)...the Department of Homeland Security would like to have a word with you.
The only chance we have as a country right now is for Osama bin Laden to deploy and detonate a major weapon in the United States.
...only Osama can execute an attack which will force Americans to demand that their government protect them...with as much violence as necessary.
Uhh...Mr. Scheuer (and you too, Mr. Beck)...the Department of Homeland Security would like to have a word with you.
CA Gov Poll: Newsom Far Behind Brown
A new poll by JMM Research shows Gavin Newsom running far behind state Attorney General (and former governor) Jerry Brown in a Democratic primary for governor:
Jerry Brown 46%Of course these are early numbers, so don't read too much into them. Other candidates might well emerge, and if Sen. Feinstein throws her hat in the ring, all bets are off.
Gavin Newsom 26%
On Paper Only
Quote of the Day:
Just because Democrats have 60 members in the Senate doesn't mean they will always vote as a block. Depending on the legislation, the conservative Dems (Nelson of Nebraska, Lincoln of Arkansas, Hagan of North Carolina, Feinstein of California, etc.) may balk at legislation they deem too far left. Likewise, liberal Dems (Feingold of Wisconsin, Boxer of California, Franken of Minnesota, etc.) will vote against a conservative agenda. And that is the way it should be. I prefer our senators vote for or against legislation based on that delicate combination of their own convictions and the wishes of their constituents back home. When the Republicans were in the majority they demanded unquestioned loyalty from their caucus. The result is that they have very few moderates left in their ranks and they have become a battered and bitter minority party.
On major legislation or when Republicans are blocking something for no good reason, I hope the 60 stick together. But more than that, I would like to see the majority leader, Harry Reid, demand that any senator calling a filibuster stand on the Senate floor and talk, non-stop, until the chamber can cobble together the 60 votes to end it (or until the senator ends the filibuster of his or her own free will).
THAT is a filibuster. Demanding 60 votes for every piece of legislation based on the THREAT of a filibuster is a super-majority. There's a difference.
We have 60 votes on paper only. This will help us procedurally but we're still going to have obstacles to overcome, including two sick Senators and the fact that not every Democrat is going to stick with the caucus on every single vote.-A senior Democratic aide, commenting to Roll Call yesterday on the certification of Al Franken as the junior senator from Minnesota.
Just because Democrats have 60 members in the Senate doesn't mean they will always vote as a block. Depending on the legislation, the conservative Dems (Nelson of Nebraska, Lincoln of Arkansas, Hagan of North Carolina, Feinstein of California, etc.) may balk at legislation they deem too far left. Likewise, liberal Dems (Feingold of Wisconsin, Boxer of California, Franken of Minnesota, etc.) will vote against a conservative agenda. And that is the way it should be. I prefer our senators vote for or against legislation based on that delicate combination of their own convictions and the wishes of their constituents back home. When the Republicans were in the majority they demanded unquestioned loyalty from their caucus. The result is that they have very few moderates left in their ranks and they have become a battered and bitter minority party.
On major legislation or when Republicans are blocking something for no good reason, I hope the 60 stick together. But more than that, I would like to see the majority leader, Harry Reid, demand that any senator calling a filibuster stand on the Senate floor and talk, non-stop, until the chamber can cobble together the 60 votes to end it (or until the senator ends the filibuster of his or her own free will).
THAT is a filibuster. Demanding 60 votes for every piece of legislation based on the THREAT of a filibuster is a super-majority. There's a difference.
Legislating From the Bench
NBC's Chuck Todd calls out the conservative majority on the Supreme Court for legislating from the bench:
For all the bullshit spewed by conservatives over how liberal judges legislate from the bench, it's refreshing to hear someone from the mainstream media tell it like it is. It's really the right wing fascists who legislate from the bench under the guise of judicial opinion. The moderate and liberal justices interpret the law.
For all the bullshit spewed by conservatives over how liberal judges legislate from the bench, it's refreshing to hear someone from the mainstream media tell it like it is. It's really the right wing fascists who legislate from the bench under the guise of judicial opinion. The moderate and liberal justices interpret the law.
Mid-Week Brain Break
This track was written by Michael Jackson as a scathing indictment of American media and their no-holds-barred tabloid reporting. About a month before his death I included the song on one of my iPod playlists and, after giving the lyrics another listen, realized that in 2009 the song could be reinterpreted as an indictment against the conservative media establishment (Fox News in particular):
You tell me I'm wrong,and,
then you better prove you're right
Tired of you tellin'"Scream" by Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson...
the story your way,
It's causin' confusion,
you think it's okay, damn it.
You keep changin' the rules
while I keep playin' the game.
I can't take it much longer,
I think I might go insane
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)