March 11, 2010

I Feel Better About Driving Today

If only because this article put my situation as an aside:

(In a car with a manual transmission, a driver is naturally prevented from making a simple pedal error, because even if his right foot goes to the accelerator instead of the brake, the car still will not move unless he also intentionally lifts his left foot from the clutch.)

The two cars I managed to buy in this life have both been manuals.

As far as I care, whatever I drive in the future will have a manual.

What a Day...

On this day, we were blessed with the annoying Australian and two annoying Italian-Americans.

Fortunately, for balance, we were also blessed with an incredibly gifted American.

So it was and is a good day.

He Has A List

TRMS points out some inconsistencies with the idiot's ever-malleable list.

On top of that, it turns out that he doesn't even know the rules of the game and authoritatively disproves his own damned arguments with his continued teevee appearances.

On top of that:

Continue reading "He Has A List" »

March 10, 2010

Free* Wireless Broadband

Considering how crappy satellite service is on a day-to-day basis, I enjoy getting my hopes up like this:

Given the political gridlock that's recently taken hold of Capitol Hill (and the sadly realistic possibility that "socialist Wi-Fi" could ignite another powder keg of Tea Party hysteria), we wouldn't get our hopes up, even in a country where one-third of the population doesn't have high-speed access. Providing free or subsidized broadband makes absolutely perfect sense -- which is exactly why we're not optimistic about seeing it come to fruition.

Emphasis mine.

*High hopes, also...

Applause for Bors!

Hopefully, this will be the only mention of the lies of turdblossom:

I have less patience for disputing lies lately.

It's enough for me to acknowledge a liar and his lies.

What a FARKing Line...

It's not even blasphemous, really:

Jesus, Crist is getting crucified by Marco Rubio in the Florida Senate Primary *and* by McColum in the Governor Primary. There's little chance of him coming back from the dead THIS time

This has been your religious study for the day...

An Excellent Piece on "Conservatism"

Summed up nicely with where it will leave us:

After all, so called "Conservatism" is the opposite of progress. It is moving backwards instead of forwards. The world, however, doesn't stop -- and the immoral assertion of "centrism" as the trope that politicians use to stifle America's advancement is allowing other nations like China, India and a United Europe to catapult past us.

To repeat an important point: THE WORLD DOESN'T STOP.

It's like building a sandcastle on the beach - enjoy it while you can because it's not going to last forever unless you plan on repairing the wind damage as it happens.

And good luck if there's a tide on your beach.

Even without a tide, some bully could display his envy and jealousy by kicking your sandcastle over.

Regarding Insurance Companies

It's not that I don't respect them.

I can't afford to:

Paul Fell
Artizans Syndicate
Mar 10, 2010

The Onion Comedy

Of course, this is comedy, I hope:
LibraLibra Sep 23 - Oct 23

You claim that nobody understand you, but then, the strange white men in lab coats are doing the best they can.

Of course it's comedy.

What else could it be?

March 09, 2010

Nature Video of the Day

I watched this video twice before posting it:

I only wish it could be in super slo-mo...

What a Load of BS...

Regarding the reform plan currently being worked on:

"I actually think the Senate bill will more effectively prohibit federal funds from going to abortion," said Stephen Schneck, director of the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies at Catholic University of America in Washington. "That legislation will actually reduce the demand for abortion in the United States."

Says a person who (apparently) believes that legislation actually impacts personal behavior.

No wonder they're so afraid of Washington - they can't live right in the first place...

Ted's Got A Point

We've been warned about it for years, but so what?

I wonder how we'll be treated by our future energy overlords?

A Ray of Hope

I will admit to some skepticism when I glanced at the article:

The Health Care Summit Worked

Only because nothing has happened yet and if you're looking for optimism out of me, you would normally have a bit of a wait on your hands.

But this makes sense:

...in the far more likely event that the GOP continued its full-court obstructionist press, the public would recognize that reform would only pass if Democrats acted alone, and would urge Dems to forge ahead.

And that's exactly what is happening.

The nation has finally been exposed to and accepted the party of no, I can hope, and they don't really care for it.

I'm not celebrating yet, but I feel better about it...

Senator Franken's Newsletter

Email from Senator Franken:

North Star Newsletter - March 2010

Welcome to my newsletter. It's been a busy eight months since I was sworn in, but it's an honor to serve Minnesota and I love every minute of it. I've decided to start a monthly newsletter to let people know how I've been working for Minnesota and how what's happening in the Senate is affecting our great state.

Since I was sworn in last July, I've been able to introduce 14 bills and have filed or offered 9 amendments that aim to improve the lives of Minnesotans. Two of them – the Service Dogs for Veterans Act and the Jamie Leigh Jones Amendment – have passed the Senate with bipartisan support and have been signed into law. Two more – the Fairness In Insurance Act and the Diabetes Prevention Act – were incorporated into the health reform legislation that passed the Senate.

I also come back home to Minnesota every chance I get. So far I've toured farms, factories, veterans homes, and held roundtable discussions in communities across the state on many issues including our economy and health care. I've answered 130,000 of your letters and many more phone calls. And I want to say thank you to all of my constituents who provide their input. I hope this newsletter will be one way for me to report back to you.

I was sold on Al as soon as he announced if only because I read his books and he seemed to give a damn.

Turns out that he's working like he gives a damn, also.

If you'd like to read the rest, sign up for it!

Yesterday's Obama Returns

Come for the sordid tale of the status quo, stay for the Obama rouser:

Continue reading "Yesterday's Obama Returns" »

March 08, 2010

Dude...QotD...

"Normally the beautiful days in life come after fatigue and difficulties. The difficult labor produces a more beloved result."
PRIME MINISTER NURI KAMAL AL-MALIKI of Iraq, after voting on a day with high turnout despite a wave of bombings.

Not to make light of the clusterf*** that we know as Iraq, but a strangely poetic quote from the largely handpicked PM...

Someone Deserves Something...

Because Stupak deserves every inquisition his actions have begotten, so here's TRMS:

Continue reading "Someone Deserves Something..." »

March 07, 2010

Offensive, Wolf?

At the very least, yes.

Sometimes, Anger Helps

It is time for someone to realize that:

Democrats stop being Republican Lite. Stop whining about that mean GOP and their nasty messaging. Grow a pair, get a message, get a bumper sticker and hang it out there. Get some strong vivid talking points.

G-O-P = Greed Over People.

Greed Kills - jobs, people and the economy.

Terrorism is Viagra for Republicans: The more fear - the more excited they get.

When a soldier dies for America, who dares ask if they were gay or straight?

Don't act so shocked, Democratic Party. Have you looked around lately?

You're losing the young vote that showed up to elect Obama. You're losing those old enough to remember real Democrats. Why? Because you don't talk to them any more than you talk to me. You talk at me. You talk around me. You talk down to me. You talk about me. You don't talk with me. And you don't inspire and you don't champion and without that you are nothing more than an arbitrator of compromise and abdication.

You are facing a bully. Deal with it!

A bully that cannot be trusted in any way other than to only look out for themselves.

Something to remember...

Racism? What Racism?!

This is why there were public stocks a long time ago.  In some ways it was a better public humiliation:

The CEO of Tennessee's hospitality association is apologizing for sending an e-mail to a group of public figures that compares first lady Michelle Obama to a chimpanzee.

The Tennessean of Nashville reports that Tennessee Hospitality Association CEO Walt Baker's e-mail compares the first lady to Tarzan sidekick Cheeta. At the bottom of the e-mail is a photo of Obama, caught in an awkward moment with her lips pursed, and one of a chimpanzee wearing a similar expression.

I'm sure that Walt will insist that he's not a racist.  I'm sure that some of his best friends...

March 06, 2010

Ahhh, Ain't That America

If you want to know what was going through my mind as I clicked again and again and again:

50 Depressing Facts About The Healthcare System That Will Make You Beg For Reform

I will tell you that Pink Houses was the theme music...

The Gasbad

As much as it pains me to listen to the gasbag, I am a fan of Brave New Films.

The only concession to myself is putting the gasbag's voice under the jump:

Continue reading "The Gasbad" »

Obama's Broadcast Today

As good a finish as it gets at this point, really:

...we also know what the future will look like if we don’t act – if we let this opportunity pass for another year, or another decade, or another generation.  More Americans will lose their family’s health insurance if they switch jobs or lose their job. More small businesses will be forced to choose between health care and hiring. More insurance companies will raise premiums and deny coverage. And the rising cost of Medicare and Medicaid will sink our government deeper and deeper into debt.

I don’t accept that future for the United States of America.I  know it has been a long and hard road to this point. And we are not finished with our journey just yet. But we are close. We are very close. And so I ask Congress to finish its work. I ask them to give the American people an up or down vote.  And let’s show our citizens that it’s still possible for Washington to look out for their interests and their future. Thanks for listening.

Pass the damn bill, already...

I Hope It's Just Me

Whenever I see this:

I can't help but see Jackie Earle Haley in the role of Rorschach.

They did share some mental instability, it would seem...

The Moore Letter

There's a lot that I agree with in Michael Moore's letter to President Obama.

A lot:

Well, you and the Democrats have been in charge now for over a year and not one banking regulation has been reinstated. We don't have universal health care. The war in Afghanistan has escalated. And tens of thousands of Americans continue to lose their jobs and be thrown out of their homes. For most of us, it's just simply no longer good enough that Bush is gone. Woo hoo. Bush is gone. Yippee. That hasn't created one new friggin' job.

You're such a good guy, Mr. President. You came to Washington with your hand extended to the Republicans and they just chopped it off. You wanted to be respectful and they decided that they were going to say "no" to everything you suggested. Yet, you kept on saying you still believed in bipartisanship.

So far, so good, but here's where it starts to go off the tracks for me:

Well, if you really want bipartisanship, just go ahead and let the Republicans win in November. Then you'll get all the bipartisanship you want.

Let me be clear about one thing: The Democrats on Election Day 2010 are going to get an ass-whoopin' of biblical proportions if things don't change right now. And after the new Republican majority takes over, they, along with a few conservative Democrats in Congress, will get to bipartisanly impeach you for being a socialist and a citizen of Kenya. How nice to see both sides of the aisle working together again!

And the brief window we had to fix this country will be gone.

Gone.

Gone, baby, gone.

Although I understand that each and every Democrat will be facing an energized GOPer/Teabagger/Crazy uprising to some point in their elections this year.

As it was, as it is, as it ever shall be.

What I really have a problem with is the notion of a "brief window" to "fix" this country.

The president has gotten the ball rolling, and for that I am grateful.

The effort never ends, regardless of what happens later this year.