He can't go home again

Gonzo's classmates give him a remedial lesson on the law. Members of the Harvard Law Class of 1982 took out an ad in the Washington Post that all but calls for a resignation.

Gonzo probably doesn't remember attending Harvard.

The Softball Playing Field

I watched the first Republican Presidential Candidates Debate and thought, Where are the leaders---these are all lesser-of-evils men. Unlike the first Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate, which presented a real selection of viable leaders. You can still watch both debates from the MSNBC site.

It was moderated by outed sexist Chris Matthews, who didn't think to comment on the 19 times St. Ronald's name was invoked and didn't ask some of the hard questions or obvious follow-ups? Some (by no means exhaustive) examples off the top of my head:

• Do you think corporations have too much influence over the political process?
• Rudy, you've said that if a Democrat wins, we'll have another 9-11. Didn't that happen on your (Republican) watch?
• Do you think gay marriage would hurt straight marriage and if so, exactly how?
• Follow up: Doesn't divorce (Guiliani, McCain) or adultery (Tommy Thompson) hurt straight marriage?
• Would you consider meeting with the Log Cabin Republicans (a gay organization)?
• Follow up to Ron Paul's comment: What do you think about wire taps on American citizens and the death of habeas corpus?
• Follow up to John McCain's repeated request for line item veto power: Don't you think such a power would obviate the need for a Congress? Would you be willing to give that power to Hillary Clinton?

"If I knew then..."

People (actually pundits) keep calling for Hillary to go beyond her "If I knew then what I know now" excuse for authorizing military force in Iraq and apologize outright. I don't think she needs to apologize, but I do think she needs to remind the public of the history. Unfortunately, a Senate vote is digital. Floor speeches are analog and here are some excerpts from the October 10, 2002 Floor Speech of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on S.J. Res. 45, A Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq

If we were to attack Iraq now, alone or with few allies, it would set a precedent that could come back to haunt us. ... So Mr. President, for all its appeal, a unilateral attack, while it cannot be ruled out, on the present facts is not a good option.

Even though the resolution before the Senate is not as strong as I would like in requiring the diplomatic route first and placing highest priority on a simple, clear requirement for unlimited inspections, I will take the President at his word that he will try hard to pass a UN resolution and will seek to avoid war, if at all possible.

Because bipartisan support for this resolution makes success in the United Nations more likely, and therefore, war less likely, and because a good faith effort by the United States, even if it fails, will bring more allies and legitimacy to our cause, I have concluded, after careful and serious
consideration, that a vote for the resolution best serves the security of our nation.

My vote is not, however, a vote for any new doctrine of pre-emption, or for uni-lateralism, or for the arrogance of American power or purpose -- all of which carry grave dangers for our nation, for the rule of international law and for the peace and security of people throughout the world.

One by one

Please take the time to watch Bill Moyers Journal, Buying the War, an indictment of the press and their nearly unified unwillingness to question the Administration during the the coordinated marketing effort between the White House, State, and the Pentagon to sell this war to America.

Between the "Patriot Police" strong-arming individual journalists and the corporate interests of the media outlets, the American people are in a no-win occupation, in extraordinary debt, still subject to wire-taps and illegal searches, no closer to independence from foreign oil, and show no signs of recovering soon.

Can't we just be nice?

http://www.beniceorelse.com/

In a recently posted AP news article, I read:

"Long before he boiled over, Virginia Tech gunman Cho Seung-Hui was picked on, pushed around and laughed at over his shyness and the strange way he talked when he was a schoolboy in the Washington suburbs, former classmates say."

It sounds so simple, but why can't people just be nice?? As a young child, my father would always refer to the golden rule - a sensibility shared by MANY around the globe.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/reciproc.htm

Sure, we all have bad moods, bad days... but I'm going to try to stay mindful of being a little more golden in my every day actions, deeds, words, and even thoughts.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me....

Muzzles on the current administration

This comes as NO surprise... I haven't believed a word I've heard since the stolen election of 2000.

The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression has honored the Bush Administration with a 2007 Muzzle Award.

http://www.tjcenter.org/

Too bad the muzzle can't get them to really shut up (and move out!)

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

In Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, John Perkins tells a fascinating story of intrigue and deception about his previous job ripping off other countries on behalf of American corporations. He would sell inflated infrastructure projects (airports, electricity grids, etc.) to foreign countries that couldn't afford them. The countries would take out loans from American banks as long as the project contracts were given to American companies. The money never left America! The projects and loans were designed for default and the countries would become American puppets after being bailed out.

Some readers cannot believe this story, claiming it's fodder for conspiracy theorists. I have no problem believing this story. I have a problem accepting that he waited 20 years to tell it for fear (and greed). And I do think he needs to make way more restitution than this confession.

Daylight Saving Time Forever

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 changed the time change dates for Daylight Saving Time in 2007 to begin on the second Sunday in March (the 11th) and end the first Sunday (the 4th) in November. Read more about the Energy Policy Act of 2005 if you wish.

Interesting things you find out: there really is a group named the Daylight Savings Time Coalition. Call or visit them.

I don't understand why we need to go back to Standard Time at all. Then we could save all the energy there is to save by setting clocks and we wouldn't need to "adjust" to the time shift ever again.

Can't we just change our Standard Time to Greenwich Mean Time + 1? Obviously, the folks who picked the initial offsets (for example, East Coast USA is GMT -05:00) chose wrong.
I'm starting a campaign and I'm calling it GMT Plus One.