Speaking of dire headlines...

... now Israel's defense minister has described their retaliatory air strikes in Gaza as "war to the bitter end." Not to freak anyone out, or anything...

Aww heck... bah humbug aside...

... a happy holiday to us all, both Dems and 'pubs, Libertarians and Socialists, Greens and (Other)!
Hope the day's as joyous as November 4th! ;-)

Another one for the "Really?" file.

It's bad enough that three policemen, at the wrong house, looking for three white prostitutes, tried to arrest a 12-year-old black girl as one of their suspects, and beat her so that she had to be hospitalized and suffered ear drum injury.
But then, instead of apologizing to the traumatized girl, who's still having nightmares about the incident two years later, they try to sue her and her father for assaulting a public servant, because they tried to fight back against the ridiculously bungled arrest by plain-clothes policeman who just jumped out of an unmarked van and began attacking the girl, who had stepped out of her home to turn on a breaker switch.
The first case was a mistrial, and the new case it set for February.
WTF, Galveston, Texas? Really?

Bah Humbug.

I finally get it, why some people have a problem with Christmas. And it has nothing to do with religion. I grew up hearing about how "commercialism" was ruining Christmas, and I never really got it. Well, I was a kid and I liked presents. Nor could I fathom why this time of year had the highest suicide rate of the year. It was nothing but holly and jolly to me then.
As an adult, I began to understand. Losing my religion had far less effect on my enjoyment of Christmas as merely progressing deeper and deeper into adulthood (and not having yet made the decision, as of this moment, to start a new generation and relive the whole thing through their eyes.)
I see that it's not the commercialism per se that is so objectionable (although to some, that would be enough.) It's the way the hypersentimentality (thanks, Victorians!) of the season is exploited by merchandisers to sell their trinkets. It's not so much the fact that Christmas has been co-opted that bothers me. It's the 21st century, and solstice celebrations have always reflected the times. The present epoch, for better or worse, is a very commercial epoch. What bothers me instead is the way that widowed people, single and divorced people, people who have lost a child or a sibling or a parent that year or are dealing with an illness or personal tragedy of their own, who depend on the humdrum workaday world just to cope until they can manage again, must endure 6 weeks of holiday music on the radio, holiday displays in the stores, holiday commercials on TV, Christmas lights on every corner, Christmas cookies in the office -- reminders everywhere they go to get with the Christmas program and feel how the Victorian Christmas meme tells us all we're supposed to feel, just so that we'll buy some crap at Target.
It's just a bit insidious, that's all.
I mean, it's nice to have something to distract us from and brighten the darkest time of year. I just think it should be compressed from six weeks down to maybe one, or two at most. That's not going to happen, of course, but I was feeling cranky and I had to share.
I'll be chipper again on New Year's Eve (and back to par by January 2nd.)

Waiting for the Other Shoe...

Wolf Blitzer was salivating over it early this afternoon on "Late Edition":

BLITZER: President Bush made a surprise visit to Iraq this morning, the fourth and final trip of his presidency. Let's go to Michael Ware. He's our man in Baghdad, right now. Michael, what do we know?

WARE: Well, Bush -- well, Wolf...

(LAUGHTER)

... the most extraordinary thing. You may or may not believe this. We're getting reports from the press pool that flew in with President Bush, and apparently, just a short time ago, at a press conference with Prime Minister Maliki, an Iraqi man stood up in the press conference and threw a shoe at President Bush.

By the reports we're getting, it just sailed past his head. And while the man was dragged out of the room, President Bush is said to have remarked that, "This was a size 10 shoe he threw at me, you may want to know," even as the man was heard screaming in the hallway.

So this is all during President Bush's farewell trip, as it's billed, to Iraq, where he's celebrating the SOFA agreement struck between Baghdad and Washington to see the U.S. troops to go home. Wolf?

BLITZER: Wow. That's -- that's -- that's good. I'm sure that the videotape -- we'll get that pretty soon. Any idea when we'll get that video?

WARE: No. We're all waiting with bated breath. Now, we haven't seen many pictures coming out of the trip, but, given this was at a press conference, keep your fingers crossed. Let's hope we see something very soon, Wolf.

BLITZER: I'm sure we will. And we'll bring it to our viewers, Michael, as soon as we get it.

And here it is. Yes, it's as good as it sounds. How are you liking that 3-week vacation now, Jon Stewart?

Well, I'm Not Worried Yet.

Liberals Voice Concerns About Obama

(Syntax aside) I agree with this guy (John Isaacs, the executive director for Council for Livable World):

“To me it’s not as important as who’s there, than what kind of policies they carry out.”

and this guy (Juan Cole, who "runs a prominent anti-war blog called Informed Comment"):

“... But overall, my estimation is that he has chosen competence over ideology, and I'm willing to cut him some slack."

Dire Headlines: Raising the Bar

from the Telegraph on the rise of gold "as world unravels."

Ouch. How long do we have left?
Hold this thread as we walk away...

Iceland: Case Study in Economic Crisis?

Canary in the Coal Mine?

Although I was only there briefly, I liked Iceland. Hope they're on the mend soon.

Why I Love Salon

Get over it, Clinton haters by Joe Conason

... the president-elect in his wisdom has repudiated the Clinton-bashing mythology of the '90s. Perhaps that is what he meant when he promised to say goodbye to all the partisan poison of the past.

OK, in case there had ever been any question...

... I can now say for certain that I never want to be president.

No e-mail for 4-8 years? An anachronistic Luddite deprivation for which the most powerful position in the free world would offer little consolation ;)

Obama faces the loss of his beloved BlackBerry.

The Next Question: Secretary of State

I won't lie and say that I wouldn't love to see Hillary get it. On the other hand, Bill Richardson is incredibly qualified. I wouldn't cry to see John Kerry get it, either, and he is qualified as well, although I'd prefer to see it go to one of the other two.

Veterans Day Quote du Jour: World War II vet held in Nazi slave camp

... who breaks decades of silence on his ordeal there and its aftermath of U.S. military-enforced secrecy and indifference, but nevetheless offers his unembittered wisdom:

"You only live once. Let's keep trucking. If we don't do that, who's going to do it for us? We have to be happy. Why hate? The world is full of hate, and yet they don't know what they want."

Quote du Jour: Bob Schieffer on Obama's Victory Speech

I noticed this, too.

from Schieffer's closing comments today on "Face the Nation."

Finally today, seeing the television picture of that crowd in Grant Park that had come to celebrate Barack Obama's victory was a sight I will never forget.

But I was disappointed, at first, in Obama's speech. I was expecting another of those rousing, old-time, "Yes, we can" orations that had electrified crowds during the campaign.

He made a fine speech, I thought, but why didn't he ramp it up, as he had so many times before? Where was the punchline for this one?

Well, the next day, I read something in the paper that helped me understand that wasn't what he had in mind Tuesday night.

I read that his campaign had planned a big fireworks display, but Obama had said no. He understood that the rally that night would speak for itself. There was no need to gild the moment with fireworks, nor would a stem-winding speech that rubbed victory in his opponent's face have been appropriate.

Tuesday, in his mind, was the night to say thank you, not gloat. The faces in the crowd would tell the story.

That restraint, Obama's understanding of how it would all look, an ability so often lacking in today's politicians, may well but what brought him to victory.

Time and again, in a hard-fought campaign, there were lines Obama could have crossed but didn't.

He made no issue of McCain's age. He raised no questions about his health. He never went after Sarah Palin. He knew how it would have looked.

Communicating, cutting through, connecting with people is more than just the words we choose. It also means understanding when no words are necessary.

New look

Yeah, change is in the air. I thought the blog's facelift made it look a bit less somber.

I'm also wondering if I've become a bit of a misnomer. It's pretty obvious I'm a damn liberal (or progressive, if you prefer), and now that liberals/progressives are being defined as "socialists," who knows what defines a moderate? But, as Obama has often been described as having a conservative temperament despite his politics, I maintain that I have always had a moderate temperament, given to occasional extremes... but always in moderation.

As to the brighter mood, sure, the economy's still in crisis. None of that has changed overnight. But genuine hope shouldn't be underestimated. It's been a long time since this country has been acquainted with it, and we might be pleasantly surprised what we can accomplish if we take an experimental vacation from cynicism.

It sucks about Prop. 8, though.

I feel bad for Ellen. I guess she doesn't hold as much political sway with her viewers as Oprah supposedly does.
In all seriousness, though, with her recent marriage, she does put a face to the issue, as does George Takei.

Unlike the outcomes in Florida and Arizona, this one surprised me. I thought California was cooler than this. But, like a lot of Easterners who think of Cali as mostly L.A., San Diego/Francisco, and the hippie enclaves of the north, I guess I forgot about places like Orange County. The black vote is also being blamed, but I don't know if that can completely account for it.

This issue isn't going away, though. Like all other civil rights struggles, although "struggle" is the operative word, for the long-lived and patient, time is on its side.

Change

Change.gov, that is.
That's right, people. You're not dreaming. 75 days and counting...

Poetry of the Moment: Langston Hughes

Quoted by a Howard University professor on the local NBC news this morning:
from "Let America Be America Again"

O, let America be America again--
The land that never has been yet--
And yet must be--the land where every man is free.
The land that's mine--the poor man's, Indian's, Negro's, ME--
Who made America,
Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain,
Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain,
Must bring back our mighty dream again.

Sure, call me any ugly name you choose--
The steel of freedom does not stain.
From those who live like leeches on the people's lives,
We must take back our land again,
America!

O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath--
America will be!

Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death,
The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies,
We, the people, must redeem
The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.
The mountains and the endless plain--
All, all the stretch of these great green states--
And make America again!

In the midst of our collective good cheer...

... a minute to consider that, as the country moves toward respect for diversity of all kinds, that atheists, who are also Americans, are still considered fair game as political punching bags, as exemplified by the North Carolina Senate race.

At least, it's good to see that the tactic employed by Elizabeth Dole failed. However, it will be nice to see a day when someone will step up and say, as Colin Powell did with his reminder that it's possible to be both an Arab and a "decent family man," that it's possible for a Senate candidate to stand in the same building with professed nonbelievers and not walk away with political cooties.

These 2007 statistics suggest that such attitudes ignore our present reality:
Pew Research Values Study: Percentage of people identifying themselves as atheist, agnostic or "no religion" by year of birth:

• Born after 1946 : 5%
• 1946-1964: 11%
• 1965-1976: 14%
• 1977+: 19%

Yes, we did.

It's been called.
Nice job, America. I guess we can learn from our mistakes (namely, 2000 and 2004.)

And Now We Wait.

Can you feel the collective tension?
Work is slow. Most of the pundits and spokespeople are hunkered down, waiting to pounce on the first numbers.

I was shocked to find no line whatsoever at my polling place. It could have been that I went at a good time, between peak hours for people with normal work hours, but not everyone who showed up in the middle of the day was so lucky. I guess I just live in a politically apathetic neighborhood.

So now I'm online, here and here, waiting for those numbers.

Voting Day: First Impressions

I'm working late today, so I get to cast my vote on the way in. I'm hoping the lines won't be insane at this time of day, but I could be wrong.
Watching CNN Headline News a little earlier, I saw some viewer-submitted photos of long lines in my area and other blue-state areas, but in a little town in Pennsylvania, McCain's last-hope-for-an-upset kind of town, at 9:15 in the morning, absolutely no line. This could bode well.
And, yeah, it's raining, not too hard. It's one of those lovely but melancholy foggy, drizzly autumn days. But that doesn't seem to be affecting voter turnout. In fact, although they say bad weather would be bad for Obama, that usual prediction with its assumption of fairweather Democrats may not hold water this time, so to speak.
I mean, it's a little rain, you know? I think, this time, it may be the McCain folks who stay home. But we'll see. It's gonna be a long day, but hopefully not a long night (and almost certainly not a long month, a la 2000.)

Madelyn Dunham, RIP

Also known as Barack Obama's (white) grandmother.
But, as he has often pointed out, she was a woman of accomplishment in her own right, as well as a mainstay of support in his.

On the one hand, it seems tragic that she couldn't have held on one more day to see her grandson elected, but on the other, she must have died knowing that he would be. Will be.

From Somalia: Nearly Unbelievable Cruelty

A 13-year-old Somali girl reports that she had been raped by three men and is accused of adultery and stoned to death, in a stadium full of 1,000 onlookers.

It's almost unbelievable, a caricature of senseless cruelty. But this sort of incident isn't a vestige of an unmodernized culture. It's part of a very "modern," in the sense of "recent" (I guess "anti-modern" would be more accurate) movement in the region, a consciously cultivated practice of misogynistic violence that is perpetrated by militias with a war criminal mindset. If people want a definition of "terrorism," they shouldn't go looking too hard, because this is it.

There is no "lesson" from this for 13-year-old girls in Somalia except to cower behind closed doors, because if they venture outside and are raped, they will be punished with death for the crime of enduring it and living to tell.

Obama, The "R" Word, and Me

Race is a touchy subject for a liberal, especially a white liberal. Even more so for a white liberal female who cast her primary vote for Hillary Clinton.
It's hard to know where to start, in expressing how I feel about the likelihood of our first black president. But I feel excited.
I feel proud to be an American.
Sometimes I catch a few minutes of the Michael Baisden Show while station-surfing on the way home from work, and get caught up in the excitement there. Yeah, I know I'm white. I check out sites like The Root and feel the same thing.
Maybe part of it is the proverbial guilt. My maternal grandparents hailed from western South Carolina and western Virginia, (Falwell country) respectively. And, of course, I voted for Hillary, so there's that.
But although guilt breeds a sense of responsibility, it doesn't tend to breed excitement.

Part of it is just about Barack Obama himself. He has a certain something, a certain aura of leadership, a certain authenticity, a certain down-to-earth intellectualism (versus Al Gore's and John Kerry's more detached, off-putting variety) and, of course, a certain charisma. There's something in his voice that's both soothing and inspiring, and he has the (admittedly handsome) but furrowed brow of someone who doesn't take decisions lightly, a steadiness and a quiet confidence. These are the qualities that won him all three presidential debates.
I like the guy, as I have since I saw his keynote address four years ago. I liked him even when I cast the primary vote for his opponent. But now I'm on board.
It took a little while to get enthusiastically on board. I was a Bill fan since witnessing his first inaugural, and have wanted to see Hillary run since it was first tossed around as a remote possibility. It took some time to move on, but I've moved. I don't regret my primary vote, but I think my fellow Democrats made the right decision, and I look forward to following their example on Tuesday in the general election.

And part of it really is about race. I want to see unity in this country, and I want to see real healing, and I know that the former can't come without the latter. And I know how deeply Barack Obama feels and believes this (as a crucial aspect of his own identity, no doubt) and that gives me hope that we can see both, and maybe sooner than most of us thought we would. That's the sense I got after hearing his Philadelphia speech.

So, yeah, I'm white. Yeah, I voted for Hillary. And yeah, I'm excited about our first black president, excited about racial healing and reconciliation... and excited about electing Barack Obama.

Alaska is Having the Best Week Ever...

from the Christian Science Monitor
McCain Calls on Alaskan to Step Down (Stevens, Not Palin)

Google-head: The Atlantic Asks...

... Is Google Making Us Stupid?

Umm, maybe... although I think, in reference to one of the author's points about ever-changing technologies, the emergence of the computer keyboard with easy delete key is probably an improvement over the typewriter with regard to fluid thinking... certainly with regard to editing (and, yes, verbosity.)
But, sure, I plead guilty to increased stupidity, and I blame no one but Google. But I'm glad it's not just me.

The article was also interesting for its discussion of the impact of the mechanical clock (I've never been a fan.)

And finally, it was enlightening to learn the extent of Google's ambitions... Much as I love Google, it's a wee bit scary to think that their long-term business plan may be to implant their product in our brains, or even supplant our brains with it... Not sure how I feel about that one.

And with just one week left...

... it's time for the weird-shit phase of this two-year campaign season.
OK, I should say the weirder-shit phase.

McCain volunteer faking ATM mugging/"B for Barack" knife attack.
I'm sure the McCain folks are going, gee, thanks, Ashley; that really helped. (She's sure not Bush's Ashley.)

I mentioned this earlier as only a rumor, that some evangelicals actually believe that Barack Obama is the anti-Christ. But, no, sadly, it's more than a rumor. In fact, it's even made its way into Snopes.

And then, beyond weird, into scary. I just hope these loser kids are an anomaly.

Al Franken may win a Senate seat.

Why?
Because he's good enough; he's smart enough; and doggone it, Minnesotans like him.
Or, maybe it's in part because of Norm Coleman's bailout vote.
Actually, both candidates have high unfavorability ratings, and the independent is doing relatively well.

Further Developments...

... in memory research:
Elephants never forget, but now mice may be a different story...

Colin Powell's Finest Hour...

... at least in this millennium, I think.
And he made his case well.

"Health": "An Extreme Pro-Abortion Position"

... says McCain in last night's debate:

Just again, the example of the eloquence of Sen. Obama. He's "health for the mother." You know, that's been stretched by the pro-abortion movement in America to mean almost anything. That's the extreme pro-abortion position, quote, "health."

Watch it and weep at the thought that this guy could have been (uh, I mean, could be, in a worst-case scenario) appointing judges, whatever he may say about no litmus test. And on to the issue of health care, the fact that he shows such contempt for the idea of women's health, per se, is frightening as well.

Will this cost him moderate pro-choice Republican, Democrat, and independent women voters, Chris Matthews was asking on MSNBC today.
I sure as heck hope so.

I'm not superstitious..

... but still, I hate to say it's in the bag for Obama.
As Colby King said on "Inside Washington" last week, we could still "have our hearts broken."
But after last night's debate, I'd say something dramatic would have to happen to lose it for him.
Knock on wood it doesn't, because it would have to be bigger than Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, and ACORN, if that's the best they've got.
He may not have convinced Joe the Plumber, but he's convinced enough of the rest of us to relax a bit.
As if he's ever not relaxed, as Mark Shields was complaining last night. He moves us, but what moves him?
I see this as an attribute. We need a president who keeps his cool, in these times. And we could use someone who doesn't want it so damn bad (as McCain does, as Hillary did, and Bill, for her) but who's doing it, as with the old notion of the philosopher-king, out of a sense of calling or responsibility rather than personal ambition.

Veiled for a Day...

... or "Invisible Like Me."
from Zaiba Malik in The Guardian

On the other hand...

... I wonder if Biden is being too generous, after reading this harsh but informative Rolling Stone article.

Quote du Jour: Joe Biden

Despite Joe Lieberman's dismissal of Biden's remarks here as "psychobabble" on MSNBC today, I think it was right on the money, speaking to the better aspects of McCain's character at the expense of his present campaign style.

on the "Today Show" this morning, talking about McCain's use of the term "that one."

SEN. JOE BIDEN: When John knows that he's on the attack, and this, and he's not feeling good about it, John never looks you straight in the eye. John doesn't go and refer to you by your first name.

I think it's part of this whole thing -- if you notice, John didn't make a whole lot of eye contact last night because I think John, when he's on the attack mode and making the other guy a bad guy, it's just not his style.

Well, thanks to McCain's divergence...

... from his campaign's talking points as of the last couple days (Bill Ayers, etc.) I still haven't finished my beer. If it weren't for "My friends," I'd still be completely sober.
But not "taking the gloves off" as he'd promised still didn't win him this debate, even in the town hall format he so famously favors.
If he's determined to have definitively lost this one, this could be the beginning of the end for his campaign.
He managed to be less visibly hostile than in the first debate, yet still came out with lines (like calling Obama "That one") that made him look boorish, if not vaguely racist.

Obama, for his part, answered well and looked more presidential than ever. IMO his only missteps involved consistently talking longer than necessary despite the time limits and thus contributing to Tom Brokaw's despair. When he told Tom he was doing a great job or whatever, it really did echo the "You're likable enough, Hillary" moment.

In fact, all in all, I think Tom Brokaw had the toughest night, what with everyone ignoring his red lights and even blocking his teleprompter view at the end with their awkward handshake.

So, yeah, the debate...

... was actually pretty interesting, much more so than last week's featuring the top of the ticket.
I suppose the greater liveliness was mostly owing to Sarah Palin's "Gidget goes to Washington" personality (as one of the PBS pundits so aptly put it.)
Honestly, I'll admit that it's hard not to find her perkiness somewhat endearing, even at the same time that she's grating mercilessly on one's nerves, and even with a litany of her despicable policy positions at the back of one's mind and the image of Tina Fey on the couch with her laptop, undoing a few bobby pins. And I'm sure, if I can grudgingly admit that, her fans must have been in hog heaven, so to speak (so much for that elevated tone I've been promising, but I'm working on it ;)
To be fair, her thoughts on the civil union/gay marriage issue were as progressive as Biden's.
The obvious fact that she didn't directly answer a large proportion of the questions, and that the studiously subdued Biden kicked ass (in an entirely gentlemanly way) on most of the ones she did answer, seemed irrelevant to Republicans who were just drawing a breath of relief that this wasn't a repeat of the Couric disaster, and also to Democrats who, in Mark Shields' words, were "disappointed that she didn't implode."
Yeah, I guess we were, although it would have been painful viewing if she had, kind of like watching Gidget wipe out.
Palin's strategy was evident in the following, which verged on an insult, and certainly must have irked Gwen Ifill, although Ms. Ifill stayed cordial (despite the McCain camp's accusations of her partiality) and did a great job, I thought, and even seemed to be enjoying herself by the end:

PALIN: ... And I may not answer the questions that either the moderator or you want to hear, but I'm going to talk straight to the American people..."

And talk straight to the American people, she did, straight in the camera, straight to the base, and any undecided Gidget fans that may happen to be watching...

Required Reading for Omnivores?

I haven't reached this stage of "meat-consciousness" yet. And I almost wonder, if it were a choice between just going veggie overnight (again) or attending the slaughter of each species of animal I ate, I would just go straight to veggie and skip the slaughterhouse field trip. Well, at least I'll admit to being a hypocrite, but I get the feeling that's only the first step away from meat-related hypocrisy.

Morality bites

I've also been meaning to read The Omnivore's Dilemma (a.k.a. the "All Americans Eat is Corn" book.)

The last word on Sarah Palin... until next Thursday.

I think Fareed Zakaria summed it up pretty well.
Palin Is Ready? Please.

And, the winner is...

... survey says... Obama!
From what I saw (I was technically parked in front of the television, but with my attention occasionally wandering toward other tasks like rearranging the bookshelf... Well it was 90 minutes, OK?) I would agree.
The pundits' consensus has been, and I would generally agree with them as well, that both candidates were on top of their material and both came across as sufficiently presidential, but neither of them completely dominated or had any killer takeaway lines.
However, Obama did seem a lot more cordial, less hostile to McCain than vice versa. Both have that tinge of arrogance, but, to be blunt, McCain seems a lot more likely to act like a jerk (to use the PG-rated term.) And whatever he may say about stubbornness, we've had our fill of jerk-iness in the White House lately, too.

Well, that explains her success...

Sarah Palin has apparently been witchcraft-proof since 2005.

Forget Foreign Policy; It's John "Don't Know Much About the Economy" McCain to Our Economic Rescue!

I'll admit this marathon campaign has tired me out; my enthusiasm has waned; my cynicism has waxed; my blog entries have begun to peter out... And in this frame of mind, I must admit... Sometimes Wonkette just says it best.
John McCain "Suspending" Campaign by Campaigning More

Quotes du Jour: John McCain/ Herbert Hoover

Let's play "Who Said Which?"

"The fundamentals of the economy are strong."
"The economy is fundamentally sound."

Ah, Republicans and their fundamental-ism...
Meanwhile, on Wall Street...

Speechless

So, yeah, I'm back from vacation, and I suppose I should weigh in on the Sarah Palin selection, after all the entries I spent mulling over Obama's VP decision process.
I mean, she's a woman, right? Shouldn't I be excited?
Well, I will sincerely grant that it's cool a woman is the running mate on a major party ticket. If only it were some other woman (even Condi Rice and Kay Bailey Hutchison are looking better, and that's saying a lot.)
But then I don't think there was actually much of a decision-making process with regard to this one... maybe a spur-of-the-moment "gut feeling" a la George Bush decision was made (in each case, gut = Karl Rove?) And like all things suspiciously Rovian, it could turn out to be genius... or it could turn out like the long, slow decline and fall of the Bush administration, only mercifully faster.
All I can say is that if they think former Hillary supporters are going to fall for this (yeah, there are always a few... but...) well, ladies, and West Virginians (and West Virginia ladies -- not leaving you out) please let's prove them wrong.

Gone Fishing Again

Yeah, it's that time of year when I temporarily flee the country (on vacation, I mean, of course.) I'm a bit bummed that this year's trip coincides with the DNC, just because I'm a big enough geek that I'd actually enjoy some of the speeches. And this time I'm probably not the only one who will be following it with something approaching actual interest. Well, you know, it's the climax we've been building to since -- well, since Dubya was re-elected, basically.
But hopefully it will show up on the Canadian news now and then, too. It's kind of hard to ignore us Yanks and our crazy antics, for good or for ill.

3 AM...

... has really been a key player in this election so far. That's when Obama's text message finally rolled in, 12 hours before his speech with Biden in Springfield, Illinois.
An ironic take on the 3 AM phone call -- perhaps a message to supporters that we ourselves need to stay vigilant as well?
(As a hopeless night owl, I actually was still just turning in when I heard the phone, but I don't know how many other East Coasters caught it.)
Or was it just that reporters had discovered the Secret Service agents dispatched to Biden's house and the story was appearing online, so the Obama team had to send it out in a hurry so supporters couldn't complain that we weren't in fact "the first to know?"
I guess I was among the first to know when I read the A.P. story on Yahoo, but I wish I'd gotten the message first. But that's what happens when you get reporters worked up into a lather like that. I'd personally thought the message would go out Friday, but I guess they didn't want it hashed over too much before the speech.
Well, it was pretty close, anyway.

And just as I was posting that...

... AP updated their story to add that Bayh has been eliminated.

OK, so it's Biden, barring some huge surprise.

Well, good for him. It's going to be a fun eight years with him in the mix. And productive, too, I think. He wasn't in my original top 3, but then I hadn't realized he was still in contention, so my bad. Maybe I'll have better luck with the McCain pick. But games aside, I think he's a good choice. And as far as the verbosity issue, I guess the low-key profile he's been keeping lately was a sort of probation period to see if he could do it, and he passed the test.

Well, now I can sleep in a bit.

The Veep-Watch goes on... and on...

So he's going to make us wait until tomorrow morning.
I guess I'll have my phone by the bed.
I can't believe how incredibly clever this text-message strategy was. And I'm not even much of a texter, nor exactly a bonafide Obamamaniac until this point. It's just that lure of instant knowledge. Whatever staffer came up with that plan should get promoted.

And it looks like Kaine is out, so, unless there's a big surprise, we're looking at Biden and Bayh. And Biden seems to be everyone's bet. Well, I like the guy, notorious verbosity aside. In fact, his personality is more appealing than Bayh's, in that he has more of a personality. He's a bit of a "character." And his foreign policy creds are impeccable. He would be such an asset on that front, like Cheney was to Bush but without all the Sith lord/ f-ing stuff up parts.
However, Bayh seems more steady, less apt to steal the limelight, less apt to make a verbal blunder that the other side can pounce on. And, yeah, his support for Hillary did endear him to "us."

Although I must say, on the subject of "us," I feel a strong need to distance myself from supporters like the one who was interviewed on Neil Cavuto's show today, seeming wildly distracted and almost unhinged with suppressed rage. They're talking about causing a scene at the convention. I'm sure there's a reason why only Fox News is interviewing these people (yes, there are men as well, thank goodness.) But this is the last thing we need (women -- and Democrats -- and particularly women Democrats.) In the name of sanity, not to mention unity, Hillary needs to discourage this. Seriously.

But, yeah, moving on -- as we all must -- I guess I'll just wait for that wake-up call tomorrow.

Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, RIP

I can't believe I almost forgot to pay my respects.

This woman will truly be missed.

The Barbara Walters School of Sportscasting

I admit to having enjoyed the trend toward focusing on more "human interest" stories in Olympic coverage, back in the early '90s when it first began, but now, like all "human interest" journalism, it's getting out of hand.

Instead of waiting for the athletes who didn't fare so well in their events to calm down, take a shower, have some Gatorade and sit down for a few minutes to philosophize about how they'd done their best and were just excited to be competing in such great company, how they'd keep on doing their thing and may well be back in four years, losing athletes are now cornered immediately after their crushing defeat with a microphone shoved in their face, and are asked humiliating and almost soul-crushing questions, like "How does it feel to know that you've worked for this all your life, you came to the semi-finals as a gold-medal contender and then, having let your place in the finals slip away through some careless error, will not be able to compete, thus breaking your mother's heart and betraying your country, and now that you are old and washed up with no chance in 2012, you may as well go drown yourself in the Yangtze?"
OK, I'm paraphrasing. But not by much.

And then there's the close-up, waiting for the tears. In bygone days, the camera would politely turn away after the first tear fell, but, no, these days, it waits about a minute, until the poor 16-year-old diver has apologized about three times for breaking down on camera, while the correspondent makes sympathetic noises but does not remove the microphone from its position shoved in the poor girl's face.
For the third time, she's just -- sob -- happy to be here.
Isn't there an opening for these journalists in election coverage?

Text Me, Barry

I was starting to fear that working in a para-journalistic field was starting to take its toll on me in the form of a growing addiction to instantaneous information, but it's even worse than I thought. Just stick the news wire in my veins.
Because I have just sold out my cell phone # and will now be receiving who knows how many paid-for-by-me messages about the Obama campaign over the next couple months, just so I can be among the First to Know who his VP choice is.
All I can say is, it better not happen while I'm sleeping.

By the way, his announcing that he's made up his mind while campaigning in Virginia makes Kaine look likely, but on the other hand, it could simply imply that he's spent enough time with Kaine now to rule him out. I'm going to stick with my guy Bayh, but Kaine is looking strong right now. He has the economic chops; Virginia is a critical state; and Obama may try to go for the "two fresh, young outsiders" approach and just focus on highlighting some more experienced Cabinet picks.

But, OK, I'll stop speculating and try to get some sleep. Is that reindeer hooves I hear? Or just campaign surrogates? On Blitzer, on Cavuto, on Brzezinski and Mitchell... Oh, gosh, this is bad.

Veep-mania!

I don't think the pundits can wait much longer, guys!
Choose a VP already, one of you, at least. We're hearing words like "frenzy," "fever pitch." They're getting a little antsy.

So, according to this AP story, only one of my top 3 VP pool picks for Obama has survived to the final round, Evan Bayh (my #1 pick) and Pawlenty and Romney for McCain.

I'm going to stick with Bayh (formerly Hillary's man in Indiana) and Pawlenty (my #2 for McCain.) The funny thing is that the two kind of look like brothers, or at least first cousins from a distance, so in a way they cancel each other out. Both seem safe choices.

I like the idea of Johnny choosing a pro-choicer (even if we're talking the likes of Ridge and Lieberman) but I think in the end he won't have the courage to do it. I think Romney would be a mistake, although I could be surprised.

Back to the Dem side, I like both Biden and Kaine and would be happy with either. Kaine would give us "crab cake" region folks some attention and Biden, himself a DelMarVite, is kind of goofy but entertaining and way smart.

I admit, as a former Hillary gal, that Sebelius may not go down so well with "us." Not fair to her, perhaps -- perhaps a bit sour grapes of us, but, you know, so it goes. Actually, I'd prefer Claire McCaskill, but she's a bit too newbie still.

We shall see... for the pundits' sake, I hope soon.

The Troops...

... apparently feel they would be better supported by the Democratic candidate this time.

Now, that's journalistic dedication

Georgian TV reporter carries on with her report almost immediately after being shot by a sniper while discussing the arrival of humanitarian aid in Gori.

The sniper bullet grazes her; she goes down; and moments later is sitting in the van rather calmly discussing it.

More Promising Research

... for drug addiction -- futuristic and only slightly scary in its implications.

All in all, the future looks bright, although someone somewhere is writing a new dystopia as we speak. Cynics don't believe in dystopias, unless you count reality. (But maybe I need my coffee.)

Catharsis

Is that what we want?

Am I still part of "we?"

Well, in a small way, I suppose. So maybe.

But is there any point?

Furthermore, is it good for the party, the country, to go through such an exercise?

And has Hillary really been reading her Sophocles?

Faking It

This is so sad. Imagine what effect this poorly conceived idea on the part of China's powers-that-be will have on that little girl's self-esteem, the one with the beautiful voice who was told she just wasn't pretty enough to go on stage.
This, after the fireworks scandal and rumors about some of their gymnasts' ages, may not be the impression China is trying (a bit too hard) to project. In fact, it may just end up reinforcing some of the world's existing trepidation.

The Intricate Dance of Nature and Nurture

from Newsweek, on parenting and DNA

McCain's best hope with evangelicals...

... is, according to this Time article, apparently to try to convince that demographic, who have been less than enthused with his candidacy, that Barack Obama is the Antichrist. Literally.
It seems a little far-fetched, for an ad claimed by the McCain campaign to be simply "creative" and "humorous," like the Paris Hilton ad which has gotten much more attention so far, although this one has been aired more often.
But after reading the article, and remembering a little of the evangelical mindset/imagery, and then watching the ad for the first time, I think folks like Tony Campolo, the Democrats' highest-profile evangelical supporter, are right to be alarmed.

CIA Official Says Cheney Probably Behind Forged 9/11-Iraq Letter

And why exactly are there still only two or three renegade House Democrats calling for his impeachment?
We're talking about forging a document in order to start a war, in which thousands of American lives and thousands more Iraqi lives have been lost, as well as those of our allies.
Even if the proof isn't conclusive, isn't it compelling enough to investigate? Especially when it's only one in a list of other things that already have been proven (see post below.)

A Good Use of the Venn Diagram

from Slate:
Mapping the Bush administration scandals.

Good Comeback, Paris.

Who says she can't act/ read a TelePrompter?
Better than some people, anyway.

It would be funny if "her" energy plan became the new gold standard in this election.

An Unsolved Mystery

What they call "Amerithrax" (apparently -- I hadn't heard the term until I read this article) and the suicide of Bruce Ivins as the FBI closes in.

Those poor House Republicans: They held a filibuster in the dark...

... and nobody came.

Although we can't be completely sure of that, since C-SPAN was long gone, too.

Quote du Jour: Sean McCormack

from today's State Department briefing

We've got seven months -- or six months left, 193 days, I think -- something like that. Not that I'm counting.

We're not counting, either, Sean.

On the Road to Nowhere

Poor Ted Stevens. He had it so good for so long.

My VP Pool

Guessing VPs and harassing contenders with pointless, repetitive questions and formulaic jokes on the subject has become the cable news talk shows' favorite pastime, so I may as well get in on the fun.
After my last two posts, I can't really claim to be blogging this election with any modicum of seriousness, so why not?

So, before McCain announces, in a vain attempt to steal Obama's overseas thunder:

McCain:
1) Jindal
Advantages: Young; energizes socially conservative base; not very tall; not white.
Disadvantages: Appeal with social conservatives may turn off independents.
2) Pawlenty
Advantages: Young; reinforces McCain's appeal to independents.
Disadvantages: Not from the South, where McCain needs the most help.
3) Romney
Advantages: Energizes Wall Street crowd; would pacify Rush Limbaugh.
Disadvantages: Too tall next to McCain; very white; not from the South.

Obama:
1) Bayh
Advantages: A peace offering to Clinton's people; experienced; centrist; wants it.
Disadvantages: No geographical advantage; just a bit too ambitious, perhaps.
2) Webb
Advantages: Military experience!; used to be a Republican; could deliver Virginia.
Disadvantages: Seems to prefer a Cabinet job that may be going to Reed or Hagel.
3) Richardson
Advantages: Hispanic vote; Western vote; amazing resume in all the right areas.
Disadvantages: May turn off some Clinton people; may drive racists to the polls.

Another one of those botched German-English translations?

Jelly doughnuts aside, it happened with Maliki, but then there was a third language involved there.
No, I'm guessing Angela knew exactly what she was saying ;)

Asked at a news conference on Wednesday what she thought of Obama, Merkel responded: "I would say that he is well-equipped -- physically, mentally and politically."

And apparently, Dubya's grand tradition of banal workplace sexual harassment of fellow world leaders may well continue into the next administration, if she has her way:

"That's not really up to me," she joked. "But I wouldn't resist."

However, she's retained enough sense of her gravitas as a chancellor to end on a coy note regarding Obama's Berlin speech:

"Maybe I'll turn on the television."

I bet she will.

But then, so will we all (OK, most of us, anyway.)

He's No Jelly Doughnut

Obama's speech in Berlin (the Big Three may as well admit this is why they came along, not for that "historic" Middle East leg of the itinerary.)
But I don't blame them. This is what we've all been looking forward to, a (would-be, soon-to-be, we hope) president we can be proud of, touching down on the Continent, where our old friends have been so disapproving of us lately. I can't imagine why.
And, no, Kennedy never really said that, either.

Test Your News IQ

from Pew Research Center:

Fun; just 12 questions. But, no, I didn't get a perfect score :(
Didn't do too bad, though.

She's done it her way.

Two very different kinds of performers, both in their 80s.
Tenacity doesn't begin to describe it.
As a woman no longer in the 25-34 yr. old marketing demographic, I am duly inspired.
Not that I can dance, or have a desire to professionally disrobe, but that's beside the point.
Death Valley Junction Dancer
Tempest Storm

The Lion Returns: Ted Kennedy's Medicare Vote

Genuinely moving, bipartisan moments like this are rare in the Senate.
And the vote was more than symbolic. It carried enough weight to convince eight Republicans to change their votes and pass the bill.

Christopher Hitchens Gets Waterboarded

from Vanity Fair:
Believe Me, It's Torture

I apply the Abraham Lincoln test for moral casuistry: “If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong.” Well, then, if waterboarding does not constitute torture, then there is no such thing as torture.

More from Zimbabwe's Sokwanele blog

Enough with the patronizing either/or, says this understandably highly annoyed blogger.

I love seeing dichotomies smashed.

Sy Hersh's Latest Scoop: Guess what, folks! We're goin' to Iran.

In fact, we're already there, says Sy. And our Congress let it happen, often without knowing what it was they were authorizing.
Reviled as they are, Cheney and company are still running the show, and they're making every last minute of their tenure count.

from The New Yorker: Preparing the Battlefield

Blogger Jane Hamsher & Libertarian Candidate Bob Barr Play Nice Over Shared Concerns

Thanks for the link, Mr. X, courtesy of The Economist.
The last two minutes made my day.

Mugabe's Calling Card

Rare, moving, and quite disturbing hidden-camera reporting from within Zimbabwe, with transcript, from Australia's SBS Dateline.

It's both inspiring and tragic what risks people will take just to place a vote. These are people who know the meaning of democracy, and want it desperately, and yet it is being brutally withheld from them.

Isn't there anything the international community can do to support these people?

Quote du Jour: George Carlin, RIP

from the Reuters story:

Carlin told Playboy in 2005 that he looked forward to an afterlife where he could watch the decline of civilization on a "heavenly CNN."

"The world is a big theater-in-the round as far as I'm concerned, and I'd love to watch it spin itself into oblivion," he said. "Tune in and watch the human adventure."

Iconoclasts everywhere are gonna miss this guy.

An Inside View from Zimbabwe...

... on the day democracy finally died there (if it wasn't dead already.)

from Sokwanele blog, which has been faithfully chronicling the whole catastrophic implosion of the country, including the gruesome violence of the past days.

Here's the AP story.

Quote du Jour: Semi-anonymous California Motorist

from Reuters:

U.S. motorists brave Mexico border violence for fuel

"It's worth taking the risk even with the violence," said a retired California engineer named Terry, who declined to give his surname, as he filled his red Ford pick-up truck in Tijuana, over the border from San Diego. "I know they could kill me or kidnap me, but the cost of filling my tank in the United States is just too much," he said.

WTF? I thought for a second I was reading The Onion. I've heard a lot of people bellyaching about the price of gas since it passed the $4 mark, and I've done some bellyaching about it myself, with good reason, especially knowing how little the oil companies are suffering in all of this, but saving $100 a month is worth the genuine risk (based on the recent travel advisory for border areas like Tijuana) of being kidnapped or murdered? Some people are just much, much braver than I am.

Tim Russert, RIP

As his colleague Tom Brokaw said, Russert's death came during a political campaign that he loved. He was recording voiceovers for Sunday's show when he collapsed.

He knew how to get a tough interview out of anybody. He will truly be missed.

NBC's Tim Russert dead at 58.

Susan Jhirad's open letter to fellow feminists...

... who were Hillary supporters and have been threatening mutiny.

from her op-ed in the Boston Globe

Quote du Jour: Bob Schieffer on Hillary's Swan Song

Well, since I never got around to that eulogy, I'll post Bob Schieffer's from his "Final Thought" on today's "Face the Nation." Bob always says it better than I can. I thought I wasn't going to cry, but the last paragraph made me a little sniffly.

Finally today, Hillary Clinton made the speech of her life yesterday. She showed a grace all too rare in modern politics. And she set the right example for the young people who have worked so hard for her.

The Clintons have not had much practice at losing. And, until yesterday, that showed, in a not altogether flattering way.

But yesterday, it all changed. She offered no excuses. Instead, she said the race was over; the time had come to unite behind her opponent, for whom she said she would work her heart out.

She told her followers that she had not run to be the first woman president but had been a woman running for president, and that, the next time a woman runs, it will no longer be so remarkable.

As the father of two daughters and three granddaughters, I believe she's right about that. She lost this race, but she has advanced the cause of women everywhere.

In life, we lose more than we win. Sometimes it is losing, not winning, that brings out our best. Yesterday Hillary Clinton showed us her best.

A little late, yeah, but...

... at least she finally did the right thing.
Now it's up to her supporters to do the same.
So much for a eulogy from me. Let's just move on.

Mika B. to Terry McAuliffe: Put the Bottle Down...

OK, yeah, regardless of what Hillary says tomorrow night or the day after in New York, it looks like it's pretty much over, judging by this appearance from legendary optimist Terry McAuliffe on "Morning Joe."

Despite my official conversion to Obamamania, I'm gonna be sad to see her go. It's been a hell of a ride, and the eulogy is gonna be tough to write.

But with all the slip-ups McCain's been making lately (as in being off by several thousand on the number of troops in Iraq) it's time to focus on Dems vs. 'pubs again and get on with this thing.

Scotty, they never knew ye.

I can't wait for Dana's book.

And as someone who listened to over a year's worth of daily Scott McClellan briefings, this Slate article made me giggle.

But then, again...

... is it really about finishing the marathon, or is this going to be a fight to the political (yes, political, not literal!) death, as Roland Martin fears?

I want to give Hills the benefit of the doubt, but over the week since my last post, I've seen the Clinton people take steps that indicate they have no intention of stopping short of the convention floor, come what may.

I think the reaction to Hillary's RFK comment, taken out of context, was ridiculous, but it just proves what a poisonous climate a late-running race can create. The media appetite that's been worked up over this particularly fascinating election season doesn't help matters. One can only imagine what the 1968 race would have been like with CNN and Fox News covering it 24/7. Not to mention Chris Matthews & co. on MSNBC.

Of course Clinton's people are going to try to seat Florida and Michigan. And of course they're going to capitalize on the momentum she'll likely get from Puerto Rico.

But what if they don't get the results they want with the Florida/Michigan decision, and what if the superdelegates stream Obama's way as soon as the last ballots are counted?

Then that would be a good place to bow out. And she may surprise us and do it. I know she's narrowed her circle of closest advisers, but I hope at least one person in that circle has an exit strategy short of a showdown in Denver.

Speaking of Denver, it's a sad day for the Libertarian Party. I was rooting for Mike Gravel, another major party defector (but from the right party, at least -- I mean, the Left ;) Gravel's a little nutty, yeah, but in an adorable, Santa Clausy, old Alaskan guy way, and he had some good ideas. And I have an autographed copy of his book, so it would have been cool if he made it to a national debate. Ah well.

Why She's Still In: Well, on Second Thought, Why Not?

I actually think this was a pretty straightforward answer (all things considered) that Hillary gave Wolf Blitzer today, on why she's still in the race... this before he pulled a Barbara Walters and made her cry, asking about Chelsea. Whether that move was anticipated or not, either way he should be ashamed, and he kinda looked it, too... but in any case...
The math may be against her, but I do get the sense that there's something driving her now besides political calculation... I think she's just got to finish the marathon. Her mother's watching and her daughter's watching. And Bill isn't about to say die.
And as long as the marathon stops in Puerto Rico instead of Denver, maybe it will be okay after all. Maybe everyone's gotten a little too excited about closing this deal, myself included.
I just don't want to hear about a joint ticket anymore. It sounded good a couple months ago, but now... no.

BLITZER: John Edwards says he gives you a lot of credit for being willing to stick in there and fight it out. He, as you know, dropped out. And I guess the question is, how do you do it every single day?

CLINTON: You know, Wolf, something happens every single day that just lifts my spirits and energizes me. A lot of the people who have worked their hearts out for me in this primary season -- they're not quitters in their own lives... (she lists several heartwarming examples, some of which we've heard before.)

I mean, these are people who I feel like I'm representing, and that I have a very personal connection to. So, you know, I don't believe in quitting. You may not win in life, but you do the best you can. You go the distance. You don't walk off the court before the buzzer sounds.

You never know. You might get a three-point shot at the end. And so we're going to finish this process. It's been a privilege and an honor to have met so many Americans, been to so many of the beautiful places in this country. And I feel like I'm doing it for the right reasons. And I still believe I'd be the better president and the stronger candidate against Senator McCain.

A Large Majority of Americans Actually Care About Science & Stuff

85 percent of them, according to a poll, want to see a presidential debate on the subject.

They Say More People Vote in American Idol...

... than in our national elections, so why not just make it all about the music?
In which case, Barack Obama (thanks to Will.I.Am and Obama Girl) and Mike Gravel (see recent post below) and, now, Ron Paul, are the only contenders. I have to admit the latter kind of rocks, no thanks to Paul himself. (You have to give Gravel credit for making a personal appearance in his own, even though it was just a cheap knock-off of Obama Girl's.)
I won't even bother to link to the song Hillary's people came up with (although, in retrospect, one can seeds the seeds of racial divide growing even in those earlier days, when one witnesses the sheer, overpowering white-ness of it.)
And so far, I don't see any submission yet from John McCain. I recommend a remix reflecting the trajectory of his Daily Show appearances.

The only possible good...

... that could come of this shameful tragedy in Burma/Myanmar is that the way the military government has refused and/or co-opted international aid and willfully bungled the disaster recovery (making FEMA look good) will finally prompt the rest of the world to take some kind of definitive action to help the Burmese people, instead looking the other way for another 20 years.

Mike Gravel is Delightfully Insane

from Reason:

Mike Gravel Crosses Over

Maybe it's time...

That's what George McGovern, Hillary's old mentor, said publicly, and apparently many others are saying privately.

So, since I dedicated one to Bill earlier, here's one for Hills. My co-worker had said this should be her theme song after the New Hampshire diner incident. Which reminds me: I've never once heard that Celine Dion song that supposedly won her theme song contest, back in -- sniff -- more optimistic days.

I know it looks like she's going to fight until the bitter end, and she probably will, but I think (and Thomas B. Edsall thinks) she has an opportunity in these next few weeks for a moment of grace and surprise that might even redeem the parts of the Clinton legacy (both hers and Bill's) that have been compromised in this race -- "race" being the operative word.

Contractors Wanted: Who Can Keep their Mouths Shut, Are Open to Travel, No Accounting Skills Needed

from today's Senate Democracy Policy Committee forum on Iraq, chaired by Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota

BARRY HALLEY, FMR. WORLDWIDE NETWORK SERVICES AND CAPE ENVIRONMENTAL EMPLOYEE: It was clear to me that once you knew the right people in Iraq, projects could be created with little emphasis on contract performance.

One example: I knew of a road project that CAPE had been awarded for $7 million. No roads were built or modified. The contracting process that existed at the time was flawed from the beginning, when the RFP was submitted, to the performance of contract oversight.

When I was working at CAPE, I also became aware, even though CAPE was being paid by the U.S. government to provide housing and food for its employees, CAPE employees were signing in and eating at a KBR facility.

This meant that CAPE was being paid by the government to feed its employees, but the employees were eating for free at KBR. KBR was billing the government for three meals a day that it served to the CAPE employees. The government was paying for twice the amount of meals provided.

When I brought up the double-billing to management at CAPE, the employee laughed at my concerns and told me he hoped this would not be noticed.

My numerous complaints to CAPE management about the operations in Iraq finally came to a head in August 2004. As I tried to leave my room on a Friday night, I encountered an armed guard outside my door, who told me to remain in my room.

I woke up on a Saturday morning and saw... armed security personnel standing in my room, pointing their weapons at me.

I was held until Monday morning, given a letter from the construction manager at CAPE ordering me to return to the U.S. immediately. I was attacked and beaten. A good friend of mine rescued me with his armed security guards.

While I was planning my return to the United States, I received death threats, picture of my family -- I received a picture of my family, which I took to be a threat against my family.

Since my return to the United States, I've suffered serious medical problems as a result of the beating. And my medicals have not been paid by the insurance company.

There are very tight connections between many people in Iraq, as it was my experience that the contractors protect each other in Iraq.

The lack of oversight that allowed waste and fraud to run rampant in Iraq -- and it's true that Iraq is referred to as the Wild West, and that's for good reason. Anything seems to go in Iraq, and most are powerless to prevent it.

Free Tibet: Made in China

Police in southern China have discovered a factory manufacturing Free Tibet flags, media reports say.

No further comment needed.

Geoff Garin...

... Hillary's new chief campaign strategist keeps sending me e-mails (of course I'm still on the list) asking for my personal feedback.
What a good idea, I think, actually asking supporters, us "little people," for our feedback.
If Mark Penn had been doing this sort of supporter-outreach/acting like he gave a flying frig what supporters thought sort of thing months earlier, instead of holing up with his Microtrends and locking the door, I would have had a hell of a lot to say. Now, it's -- sniff -- too late.
But Geoff does seem like a decent guy, even likable and earnest (I think "un-smarmy" is the word I'm looking for) for a campaign strategist. Saw him on "Meet the Press" last week, and it was pretty much a lovefest between him and his old pal, Obama guy David Axelrod, in between the obligatory campaign bickering.

"Shh!"

... says the VA head of mental health, Ira Katz, in an e-mail, and then goes on to mention the 1,000 suicide attempts per month among veterans under VA care, and asks what he should do about it before someone else finds out... like, for instance, Senator Patty Murray, member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

How It Went Down: The Road to Guantanamo

Philippe Sands of Vanity Fair traces the case made for torture by the top echelon in Washington and their lawyers.

And the verdict is...

... We're going to Indiana, and North Carolina...

What happened to the fabled Clintonian holiday from history?

Sure, that small part of me was glad she didn't embarrass herself in my native state. I like to see the Clintons happy. But then I read about their tactics and weep.

So what if she loses the next two? Do we keep going anyway?
I think this election is a nightmare from which the Democratic Party is trying to awake.

Pennsylvania: The Calm Before the Storm

My native state has been getting a lot of attention lately, but their time in the sun is finally winding down. In 24 hours, give or take an hour or two, we'll know the verdict that will determine the next phase in this crazy election process.
Will she or won't she win big enough to stay in the race, or will she win at all?
Even though I'm no longer in her camp, I can't bring myself to actively wish her defeat, even though I want to see this thing settled, and the Dems united.
There's part of me that's still wishing her well (and no, not just my "lady parts," for those with their minds in the gutter ;)
But for the most part, I just want to see this thing over with.

Quote du Jour: Prime Minister Gordon Brown

from a news teleconference on the Global Campaign for Education Action Week

Education is a moral issue, as well as an economic issue. It is one that transcends political divides... I want to see us become the first generation in history to ensure that every child goes to school, and that we develop the potential of not just some of the world's children, but all the world's children.

Superdelegates, Howard Dean has spoken...

Don't make him yell ;)

And it's about time, really. After that ridiculous ABC debate in Philly, and the whole divisive circus this primary has become, it's time to face reality.

I still think Hillary could be a great president. I don't regret supporting her, and I mourn what may never be. But it's time to move on (no pun intended.) She has made her mark on history; she can recover from this if she bows out gracefully now; and who knows what more she may do for the country?

Quite sincerely, Ted Kennedy, whose White House quest was always ill-starred, has been one of the most influential senators in our history. There's no shame in being a senator, not to mention a pioneer and an inspiration for the next woman candidate.

But when Fox News is one of your best allies, you know something isn't right.

It just kinda needs to stop now.

In honor of National Poetry Month...

Poem Composed of Statements Made by George W. Bush in July 2002
by H.L. Hix

And my favorite former Republican senator...

... Lincoln Chafee (to whom I believe I once dedicated a sculpture of a weeping chocolate elephant -- or at least, in my mind, it was weeping) wrote a book, Against the Tide: How a Compliant Congress Empowered a Reckless President, and was interviewed on NPR.

"Bitter" Quote du Jour: Rep. John Shimkus

I guess I'm not the only one switching camps.
Now House Republicans are doing PR damage control for Obama in their speeches on energy prices. I know this guy's from Illinois, but still...

from a news conference today:

REP. JOHN SHIMKUS (R-IL): Illinois was just declared one of the biggest states that is moving wind power. We want them all. Because more supply, with a demand, will mean lower costs. And these are true costs.

And why do we use the terminology "bitter?'

Well, you know why we use "bitter." There is bitterness out there. And it's bitterness because of these high costs. And in rural America, where people have to travel long distances to get to work -- and we don't have the buses, we don't have the light rail. We have working trucks, big trucks to haul our beef and our pork and our beans and our corn.

Best Wishes, Mr. Chairman

I felt genuinely shocked and saddened to hear that my favorite Republican (and favorite Pennsylvania senator) is sick again.
Arlen Specter's Hodgkin's disease has returned. But fortunately, it's in a very early stage, and this guy is a fighter, bless his cantankerous, crotchety heart.
Fight hard, sir. We (even us Dems -- or at least this Dem) really don't want to see Chris Matthews in your chair. Maybe Bob Casey's chair, but not yours ;)

What He Said

I guess it's time to come out and say what I've been hinting about. And internally agonizing about. I think I'll feel better. But I think the Boss said it better than I could.

In a letter addressed to friends and fans posted his Web site, Springsteen said he believes Obama is the best candidate to undo "the terrible damage done over the past eight years."

"He has the depth, the reflectiveness, and the resilience to be our next president," the letter said. "He speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years, a generous nation with a citizenry willing to tackle nuanced and complex problems, a country that's interested in its collective destiny and in the potential of its gathered spirit. A place where '...nobody crowds you, and nobody goes it alone.' "

Stephen Says: Let's Celebrate the "Democralypse"

... by voting for Barack or Hillary at DonorsChoose.org, and meanwhile help fund teacher-requested projects for schools in Pennsylvania, the current locus of the impending Democralypse. As seen on The Colbert Report.

I'm not gonna say who I "voted" for, but she (or at least some of her people) would probably rather the money went into her campaign. But hey, she kinda needed some help there...

Seriously, though, this is a great model for a charitable organization; I wish there were more like it... donors want to know that their money isn't just going for salaries or falling into a black hole.

Quote du Jour: Bob Menendez

This week's Petraeus-Crocker Iraq hearings in a nutshell:

SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ (D-NJ): You can -- despite how many questions have been asked here, you will not give us, you know, what is the end game of success. It sounds like, "When I see it, I'll realize it, but until then, give us an open checkbook."

And that's a problem. You know, how many Iraqis need to be -- what's the troop strength that needs to finally -- here, when we say, OK, they can do it on their own ability?

What is the political dynamics in which we say, OK, that's it, you know, they can move forward?

I mean, at some point, you cannot expect the Congress of the United States, on behalf of the American people, to continue an open checkbook and say, trust us, trust us; when we see it, we'll tell you that we've finally hit success.

And that's what we hear up here. And the American people are not supportive of that.

Watch it here.

Tales from the Straight Talk Express

... where even McCain's wife was not always immune from some of the "straight talk" flying around.

Yeah, Cindy wears a lot of makeup, but sheesh. I'd hate to be on the other end of a 3 a.m. phone call with that guy.

And by that I don't mean, "He sure would make me feel secure as an American." I mean the guy has issues. Let's think about this real hard, America.

Bush and Putin: One Last Soulful Glance...

So maybe Bush didn't get what he came to Russia for (an agreement on missile defense) but at least he and Vlad shared one last walk along the beach...

A Little Steely Dan For Ya

And speaking of Clintonian blues, this old favorite of mine makes me think of Bill these days...
What he needs is some good Scotch and a saxophone.
I know he won't take a breath until the bitter* end, and not a second before she does, but until that day...

*Let's face it, whatever happens, it's going to be bitter for somebody, even if that somebody is (once again) Howard Dean.

The Hannah Jones Rodham Factor

First of all, Kathy Callahan desperately needs an editor. The flagrant abuse of various punctuation marks and overall run-on style made her post on Daily Kos very painful to read. But that's beside the point.
The point is that she raised an issue which has been on my mind ever since reading Bernstein's Hillary bio. Hillary's by-all-accounts formidable grandmother was a profound influence on her life, in small part because of the direct contact they shared, but no doubt mostly because her equally formidable (and by most accounts disagreeable) father, who had been tyrannized and intimidated by Hannah Jones Rodham, passed on her way of thinking.
Growing up with Hugh Rodham, Hannah's son, meant doing what needed to be done, and getting away with what could be gotten away with, in conspiracy with Hillary's firm but infinitely supportive mother Dorothy. Their household, in a way, reminds me of the cast of "Death of a Salesman," with Hillary's two younger brothers as Biff and Happy. Hillary is the one who's not in the script, the one who got away, and found real, genuine success. But those instincts of getting along and getting away with are still a part of her, as is a trace, no doubt, of Hannah's authoritarianism, even without the Republican trappings. All you have to do is read the latest press to see the traces of each of those instincts.
Childhood is only a part of everyone's story, but it's a big clue to how the rest will unfold, to a lesser or greater extent, depending on who one joins forces with in adulthood. Hillary joined forces with William Jefferson "It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is" Clinton, God love him. And the rest has been history... theirs and ours.
As an American, I still love the Clintons, like one does a dysfunctional family, warts and all. I think Bill Clinton's presidency was one of the most successful in our history. But I'll be honest. If they don't do the right thing this time, for their party and the country, I don't think I could vote for one of them again.
That's not something I say glibly, but with a heavy heart. Whenever I hear that Fleetwood Mac song from the '93 inauguration, I feel like crying. But yesterday's gone.

Last of the Iraqis

A blog worth checking out:
http://last-of-iraqis.blogspot.com
The blogger describes himself:

i'm a 25 years old dentist i live in iraq (Baghdad) i was born and raised here but unfortunately i'm thinking that the iraqis are going to extinct so i made this blog wishing that i can make a difference or even share my greif with the whole world and give them an idea about what's happening here from the point of view of a civilian living in the war zone not from the politicians nor people who gets their benefits from the conditions.

Maybe the paradox of rioting Tibetan monks...

... is easily explained, based on the past precedent exhibited in this photo. The Dalai Lama has made a credible claim that this kind of staged protest was responsible for the surprising recent violence in Lhasa.

Real Anger, Real Dialogue...

... and dare we say, real hope -- for healing the deep wounds of this nation's legacy of slavery and systematic racism, and decades/centuries of mutual misunderstanding?
Is that too audacious to posit?
Sure, some pundits say Obama had to say something in response to the Rev. Wright controversy, especially if he was going to (I think, admirably) choose not to just "dump" the man who had been his pastor for 20 years, and some say he had to say something big, to address what is a pretty enormous issue, not just in this campaign but in American history and American life.
But I was very impressed with what he said, and how he said it.
I'm impressed with what he had to say about his white grandmother, and his message to working-class white Americans. Maybe it was in the context of this primary, but the implications of opening up such dialogue go way beyond this election. And frankly, Obama is the right person at the right time to say these things. If the spirit of Geraldine Ferraro's comments were to say that there is a time and a place... I'll agree (I think that is being generous, but, in any case, her frustration is real, just as Rev. Wright's is, and it was decent of Obama to acknowledge that, however subtly. Whatever it may mean in the context of this campaign, it's something that needed to be said.)
Yes, Barack Obama giving a good speech is nothing new. But I think, in this one, he touched on something real, something beyond just the talking points on race, that actually broached the issue itself. To sum up by paraphrasing Faulkner, to acknowledge that the past isn't dead, or even past. Until we face up to that, we'll just be running in circles on this issue.

So is this post meant to imply that I've finally switched camps?
Not... necessarily.
I'll leave it at that, I guess, so I can enjoy my vacation.

We are gray now.

Well, not "us," yet, but this blog, anyway.
I've been planning to change the look (superficial tweaking greatly amuses me :) for the blog's 1 1/2 year anniversary, but since we're going on vacation next week, I thought I'd make the change a little early. I guess I'm going back to basics this time. The times seem to call for it.

Oh, yes, and happy Ides of March! Et tu, Geraldine? (Sorry... I felt I needed to throw a little something topical in there, since it's been awhile. The electionscape has just been so depressing lately, I needed a little time to psych myself up into developing an opinion again.)

We are not amused.

I agree with Deborah Howell. "Tongue in cheek" and self-deprecating opinion pieces do not come with a moral attached (in the case of Charlotte Allen's piece, that women really are stupid after all, and should stay out of politics, being content, I guess, to gaze at pinups of their favorite politicians from the safety of their kitchens.) Maybe I (and all those Post readers who flooded the editors' inbox) are just sensitive right now (Sensitive! Yes! We're women :-P) but if this is a "tongue in cheek" humor piece, it's lacking a punchline.
Allen's premise seems to be that, since some women get a little too worked up at Obama rallies, (yeah, he's a good-looking guy, and unfortunately, unlike men, some members of our gender are susceptible to attractiveness in the opposite sex) therefore we're all a bunch of hysterical dimwits.
I don't find the following nonsequitur all that rib-tickling: "The theory that women are the dumber sex -- or at least the sex that gets into more car accidents -- is amply supported by neurological and standardized-testing evidence."
If Charlotte Allen wants to call herself stupid, (I'll admit she has a tendency to display gaping holes in logic) then she can speak for herself -- as she does here: "I am perfectly willing to admit that I myself am a classic case of female mental deficiencies. I can't add 2 and 2 (well, I can, but then what?). I don't even know how many pairs of shoes I own."
And then, "I have coasted through life and academia on the basis of an excellent memory and superior verbal skills, two areas where, researchers agree, women consistently outpace men."
And those skills are meaningless? The only skills that matter are the ones at which men statistically excel? That bill of goods sounds familiar. (All women who excel at these other skills, or excel in a spectacular way at any skill, even prissy, frou frou ones like memory and language, are "outliers," according to Allen -- yep, George Eliot and Elizabeth I, Sappho, and Margaret Thatcher were barely women at all. Well, of course... One refused to marry and the other called herself George. It all makes sense. And Sappho was a lesbian. I'll leave Margaret Thatcher alone for now. But Allen is obviously the rare exception of an analytical female, if she can see through these historic women's accomplishments -- each not just equal but superlative in her field -- and conclude that they were merely freaks of nature.)
Yeah, too bad women these days can't take a joke. It must be a hardwired deficiency in our ability to delight in tired, warmed-over insults in a transparent new guise.

Perspective

I've always found Samantha Power to be a bit personally irritating, and I welcomed her resignation over the ridiculous "monster" comment. (You don't say things like that to reporters, Scotsmen or otherwise, and expect them to keep it off the record; no true reporter ever passed up a scoop like that.)
And speaking of bias, note the photo the Huffington Post chose to run with this story (yes, admittedly, it's not one of her more "animated" shots, but, still, c'mon.)

However... I don't think Ms. Power was making a conscious effort to "demonize" Clinton; if any forethought had gone into her remark, she would have no doubt stifled it. She's a little zealous, but not an idiot. I think it probably did stem from genuine frustration with the other camp's tactics.
And honestly, I'm a little frustrated, too. Some of the stuff that apparently went on in Ohio is almost too depressing to ponder, but I can't ignore it.

Yes, I'm still on board, but as a matter of commitment, not a blood oath. I haven't jumped ship on the Clintons for being the Clintons; I knew that, once Hillary slipped behind, it was going to get a little ugly.
And I didn't freak out because my standard of integrity for politicians is somewhat lower than that I'd hold for the average person. Good people may enter politics, but it's the rare person who emerges intact. And that doesn't mean the American system is hopelessly evil; it's one of the best in the world. But when humans get together, and power is involved, things are going to go on that the average person isn't going to like, and stopping short of bloody revolution (which just spawns another corrupt system, either sooner, as in many cases, or, in the rare case -- like ours -- later) there's not much we can do. We can change things here and there -- and we should -- at the grassroots level, but we're not going to overhaul it permanently without immense cost.

So the bar is pretty low. I'm not looking for an ideal human being; just someone who can be a good president, who can follow the Constitution and improve the national standard of living rather than erode it, who can keep us out of needless wars and the alienation of our allies... the same standards I would hold a male candidate to.

But Obama's desire (despite that of many in his campaign, I'm sure) to stay above the fray is appealing, I have to admit. It's refreshing, and it's almost even crazy, in an appealing way.

I would really like to see Hillary in the White House, but not at all costs. I know she believes she can do a good job. So do I. But we all need to keep some perspective. If we (as Democrats) don't, we could be looking at another 8 years of kicking ourselves for it.

(But at least Natalie Portman's keeping the faith.)

Keeping Up With the Zeitgeist

I guess I'm not the only one dreaming of a Clinton-Obama ticket.

Doesn't sound like Obama shares the dream, though.

What She Said

Lynn Harris in Salon -- Women and Clinton: Damned if they vote, damned if they don't?

Except I'm a little more ambivalent (for which, in itself, I feel I must apologize to someone; I'm not sure who; perhaps Hillary herself? ;) I voted; I gave money, but I haven't trekked down to Arlington to make phone calls. Guilt, guilt.

But voting is so personal, as is the level of one's investment in a candidate. What other ladies do isn't really my business. And gender isn't the only factor in this equation. Still, I can relate to Ms. Harris' points.

And so, now that she lives to fight another day, according to the rules her campaign had voiced via Bill, (and probably regretted for a while there) that she had to win both big states tonight, who knows what the hell will happen next? Besides Pennsylvania. And a lot more punditry. Maybe one more debate, or two.

I still daydream sometimes of that Clinton-Obama ticket... or some kind of alchemical synthesis.

And speaking of Hillary's uphill climb...

... I almost felt bad about pinning the failure of the whole "inevitability/establishment" strategy on Mark "Microtrends" Penn, in this post back between Iowa and New Hampshire. There's something kind of mousy and endearing about Penn. He lacks the jovial Rovian arrogance, and he believes so deeply in his pet theory. And maybe that theory is perfectly valid for trend-watching in aspects of American culture with slightly less implications for the nation than choosing our next president, especially in these truly dire times.
But the thing is, I didn't like Penn's (and McAuliffe's, et al.) strategy even back when it was working, even when it looked take-it-to-the-bank solid, because I wanted Hills to be the change candidate. In so many ways, she is. But now, I guess she's not, because no one ever said she was. How did politics get dumbed down to this embarrassingly elementary level? What did the voters do to deserve being treated like a focus group?
I guess that's the problem, and one of the reasons why we so badly needs some change.
Thanks to Mr. X for the link:
Penn ain't mightier

Someone named Rice talking sense on foreign policy.

No, it's not Condi. It's Susan, Obama's senior foreign policy adviser.

And, no, don't take this to mean I'm jumping on the Obama bandwagon just yet. Hillary has one last shot next Tuesday, and there's a chance she'll pull it off. I put my vote and a relatively generous amount of hard-earned money into her quest, and so I'm sticking with her as long as Tina "Bitch is the new black!" Fey is ;)

But I thought it was about time someone pointed out succinctly, as Ms. Rice does here, how ridiculous this "we won't negotiate with these guys until we retroactively win the negotiations" policy has been.

from Tucker Carlson's show on MSNBC today

RICE: This notion of George Bush's -- and it's really unique to him -- that somehow we are rewarding our adversaries by sitting down and engaging in tough-minded, well-prepared negotiations is one of the many products of his failed presidency.

If John McCain wants to take his foreign policy advice from the most disastrous president in our lifetime, that's his prerogative, but Barack Obama is not going to do that.

CARLSON: But doesn't a meeting with the American head of state have value? It's a commodity. It's worth something.

RICE: No, it's a means to an end.

CARLSON: But isn't it also worth something?

RICE: It is a means to an end, Tucker.

First of all, these negotiations would be well-planned. But we're not going to take the view that the Bush administration has taken, that we're only going to negotiate with our adversaries after they do what it is we seek to accomplish in negotiations.

That's the position we've taken with Iran: we won't sit down and talk to you until you've ended and suspended your nuclear program, which is, of course, what we need them to do.

That's counterproductive. That ensures that we'll never have direct dialogue with Iran, whereas they're continuing their nuclear program unabated. We're having trouble getting sanctions, which we need to push forward on. And we are therefore losing, because time is on the Iranians' side.

The Undervalued Role of Play

Not to sound too crotchety, but every time I see a DVD player in the back of an SUV, presumably lulling the kids back there either to sleep or into docile DVD-consciousness, I wonder what's going to become of the imagination in generations to come.
Apparently, Alix Spiegel of NPR's Morning Edition wondered the same thing.
Old-Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills

No End in Sight

If there's anyone left out there (and I doubt there is, outside of Dick Cheney's bedroom) who doesn't think the Iraq invasion and "reconstruction" was the most poorly planned and executed military adventure in modern history, they should watch this film, which lays it out pretty plainly.
It's both maddening and sad, because there's no way to go back and undo all the needless, thoughtless damage done, all the misery that has been caused; we can only try to clean up the mess now as best we can.

Commensurate to our capacity for wonder: Gatsby lives on for new readers.

I don't know if it's the great American novel, but it's certainly one of them, and I don't think it will lose its relevance as long as America remains America, for good or ill.

NYT Education Section: Gatsby’s Green Light Beckons a New Set of Strivers