Home Improvement

I've been semi-ignoring the news and political spheres for a few days since we decided to start refurbishing our shack instead of attempting to sell and relocate in the middle of a real estate meltdown.

Ok, to be honest, I sort of decided the matter by threatening to commence throwing our furniture out of the window and host a marshmellow roasting bonfire. Based on past performance, DH figured I was fully capable of making good on that threat. Yes, I'm evil.

Once room #1 was emptied, I, in my less than infinite wisdom, decided that redoing the entire floor was a great idea. This did turn out to be a great idea and it looks fabulous but in case you are thinking of doing this yourself, here are my 3 important tips to keep in mind:

1. Make certain you are married to someone who is proficient in handling power tools and construction. If I had attempted this project on my own I would now have a dirt floor, possibly no walls either.

2. Assume he/she knows what they are doing and don't bug them. Bring beer at reasonable intervals. Acknowledge them as the God of Home Improvement that they truly are.

3. Stand back and admire your beautiful new floor.

From My Mailbox (which I should check more often)

Nevada Up North sends this:

Petition for a Western "Frontier" Debate click to sign the petition.

This petition encourages the Nevada Democratic Party to find partners for a "Frontier" Presidential Primary Debate to replace the successfully defeated Fox News debate.

A "Frontier" Debate is defined as: Partnering with online sponsors such as but not limited to PoliticsTV and YouTube to broadcast a debate over the internet. That the contract of such a debate allows it to remain in the public domain and that a special emphasis be placed on highlighting the "Frontier" of American politics using technology.

I had expressed my doubts about the effectiveness of such a debate at least as far as the rural and western vote is concerned however....I'm not opposed to it if there is enough interest from wherever it comes. You decide.

New Widget

Added the weekly Pajamas Media Presidential Straw Poll. No, I only get to vote once a week same as everyone else so all those 381 votes for Richardson are not mine.

UPDATE: C'mon Edwards and Obama voters....need a lot more votes to re-skew their numbers. Busy re-doing some floors and stuff this weekend, try to get back soon.

Don't Think This Made the News Today

Didn't see this on the news today so I thought I'd put it here, feel free to pass it on.

March 15, 2007

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson Calls for Repeal of US Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today called on Congress to repeal the US Military's policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" regarding homosexuality. The Governor also repeated his reaction to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace's remarks that homosexuality is "immoral".

The Governor issued this statement: "I do not believe that homosexuality is immoral, and I believe Congress should repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' I voted against it when I served in Congress. People should not be judged based on their sexual orientation. Throughout my entire career I have fought for equal rights and against discrimination of any kind.

While others talk about doing the right thing, on my watch in New Mexico we've made significant progress. I support civil unions or domestic partnerships, and as Governor I have passed hate crime legislation. I also supported and signed legislation extending civil rights protections based on sexual orientation, and I ordered that access to health insurance and benefits be extended to the domestic partners of state employees.

The remarks by General Pace are unfortunate and the Administration should reject them."

Guess that ought to clear up any confusion as to where he stands on this issue.

Media Moments I'd Love To See

While we're busy asking candidates and media personalities stupid personal questions, just for fun these are a few I'd enjoy hearing.

Reporters ask....

1. James Dobson of Focus on the Family if he is jealous of Mitt Romney.

2. Rep. Barney Frank if he feels heterosexuality is immoral.

3. Hillary Clinton if her church is "separatist" and too non-inclusive of non-midwesterners.

4. Rudy Giuliani if he feels being seen dressed as a woman on national television will win him the crossdresser vote.

5. Nancy Pelosi if she washes her hands after shaking hands with Dick Cheney.

6. Harry Reid if he wears Mormon underwear.

7. Anne Coulter when she first realized she bore a striking resemblance to Skeletor.

8. Condoleezza Rice if she approves of extra-marital sexual relations or recommends self-gratification.

9. Dick Cheney if he feels he's been discriminated against as a mean, unlikeable old white man.

10. George Bush how being a redneck has impacted his struggle for world domination.

Oh Darn, I'm Not the Queen of the World

A mini-dust up a few days ago here in the Silver State. Sometimes I like to digest things a little before I go off half-cocked on a rant.

Seems State Senate Transportation Chairman Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas said, "I don't think any legislator is too worried about what cyberspace bloggers are doing".

Oh my, them's fightin' words. Or are they? I couldn't locate any inner outrage over this.

First off, if it matters at all, his comment was in response to comments made by conservative commentator, blogger and activist Chuck Muth. Apparently that means NV republicans do not care what conservative bloggers are saying. I'm certain they don't care what centrist, progressive, or liberal bloggers are saying either so I guess that sort of includes all of us. Ok, good to know where you stand anyway.

To be 100% honest though, I have to be the first to admit that I would not want a legislator who ran willy-nilly every time the blogoshere spoke.

Have you really looked at the blogs? I mean a lot of them, not just the ones you agree with or like. A huge percentage of it is outright lies, half-truths and illogical fruit-loopiness on every side of the fence. And that is just the political to semi-political ones.

I went trolling for blog posts re: Richardson the other night, boy was that fun. I found everything from a post about Richardson, Governor of....Arizona (tell me we are not this retarded) to a blatantly twisted attack on him filled with outright lies and twisted half-truths posted at, believe it or not, the Daily Kos. I even found one arguing that his true goal was to stage a "Mexican takeover" of the United States and another declaring that he would "deport all immigrants". Hmmm.

Yes, I think Nolan is wrong, some attention should be paid. The blogs are great for getting an idea about where various segments of our population stands, what concerns us and why BUT we are only a small, representative sampling of the population at large. Let's be honest, most of the MAJOR big blogs are heavily skewed towards a hardcore base either liberal or conservative. They do not represent the vast majority of voters who are a far less partisan mix of views and values.

Any politician taking his/her marching orders from either DKos or LGF is out of their tree. They'd have to be completely insane to follow any of us 100%. They'd also be out of office purty darn quick.

We matter but so does everyone else, we're just one piece of the pie.

Placing My Bets in Nevada

Rick at The Next President Visits Nevada posted his guess-timate for the outcome of the '08 election so just in case anyone actually wonders or is confused, I thought I'd post my best guesses.

Sadly I think Rick is mostly correct...Giuliani is most likely the guy we have to beat and that is likely to be much more difficult than the pundits who are focused on the fundie-values voters might lead one to believe.

Most of the far right are more than happy to put their "values" on the back burner in exchange for what they believe is a tough-guy who will keep them safe. They're scared and they aren't real bright so someone they believe is more likely to "blow stuff up" is what they are looking for. Rudy fits their he-man schoolyard bully self-image.

Obviously I have chosen Richardson as my #1. Mostly because I do believe his past performance and credentials are the best of the bunch but also for another very important reason: he is the one most likely to be able to win a national election. Face it, even if every single registered Democrat loved you...it would not be enough votes to win the country. We have to take the center.

Ok, the other candidates:

1. Clinton: I don't hate her, she is not a terrible candidate overall and we could do far worse but: what are the odds she can win the country? Slim to none. Very large, very strong "I hate Hillary" sentiment running through the mainstream and the hard left base has abandoned her....she has no solid ground. Not a chance in hell she could take on Giuliani.

2. Obama: my #2 choice. Smart, popular and populist. A bit too populist for my taste but hey, no candidate is perfect and I think he might be able to win. Maybe. It would be by a very slim margin if at all but I see at least a possibility. Might be able to go toe-to-toe with Rudykins.

3. Edwards: regardless of my personal views about him there is reality to contend with. Edwards will never win the country. It simply is not going to happen, America is not going to give him the love no matter how much his base loves him, not if every Dem in the country votes for him. Ok, maybe if all the Republican candidates died. Rudy would have him for brunch, smothered in a nice Alfredo sauce. Nominate him and say hello to another 4 years of right wing nutty goodness.

4. Biden: his time is past. Some of his ideas were great....in their time. Their time is long gone and he has not kept up with changes. Always running a few feet behind the situation. He might be able to stand up to the Rudester IF he had popular support. Which he does not and is not ever likely to get.

5. Dodd and that other guy: do I even need to say anything? Never going to happen.

So there it is. I don't just want a candidate who agrees with my views on every single issue, I want one who is pretty much in line with what the Democratic party is supposed to stand for (which is essentially all of the current candidates) AND I want one who can win the country. If and when other or another candidate shows me he or she has the right stuff to make it so...I'm open to it.

We keep losing because we keep nominating candidates who will not play in middle America. How many ways on how many days do I have to say that? Liberal and progressive numbers are growing, slowly but surely but we are still far away from being a solid majority, we can't afford to discount the middle and sometimes that means having to act like adults and realize we cannot have our own way on every issue all of the time and right this minute. In that spirit, I will vote for whoever ultimately is our nominee and hope he/she wins. I just hope we can get our chit together and pick a winner for a change.

Maz Jobrani

If you haven't seen Comedy Central's "Axis of Evil Comedy Tour" you might want to, it's hysterical.

Maz Jobrani was my favorite.

Now I'm Happy

Fox news is now beginning to launch an attack on Governor Bill Richardson which tells me....he matters. You bet he does you wingnut buttmonkeys, he's the biggest threat to your little nutwing paradise so keep yakking. He can use the free publicity since he does not have the gazillion dollar bankroll some of the others do.

Now if I could just get Anne Coulter and Bill O'Reilly to call him some ugly names........

Plea for Restoration of Sanity

Mimus Pauly at Mockingbird's Medley has a 3-post series on "Liberal Outrage Fatigue" that does a fine job of expressing what I've been feeling regarding most of the numerous "outrages" that have been fodder for the MSM and blog-o-sphere recently. I seriously doubt we're the only ones suffering from this syndrome.

In any event, in the spirit of expressing my own case of LOF I thought I'd make a list of at least some of the issues I have not cared to address here.

1. Anne Coulter says faggot: is this surprising to anyone? We know who and what she is, now more people know this too. Beats masking her true identity with a smile and softer words and hey, it's costing her dearly.

2. Gen. Pace calls homosexuality "immoral": it's what he believes. Out of line for him to express this sentiment as a spokesperson for the military. His career is probably over.

3. Ailes makes tasteless Clinton and Obama jokes: again, is this surprising? I've certainly made tasteless (insert name of any Republican candidate) jokes. Granted, I'm not the spokesperson for anyone. Bad move for the head of a major network but for anyone who was in doubt...shows his true colors.

4. Congressman Obey loses his temper with liberal activists: not the best thing he could have done but if you harass a person long enough about situations over which they have little or no control (ie: making other members of congress vote the way you'd like) they are likely to snap eventually. Go harass the republicans who keep voting "no". Quit acting like assmonkeys and biting the hands that feed you.

5. O'Reilly blames toddlers dying on illegal immigration: um. Over the top even for O'Reilly. When even Geraldo thinks you are a racist, xenophobic, idiot.....you're done for. Bye, bye Billy-goat, have a nice retirement.

6. Walter Reed: not something new. We've failed miserably at caring for our military personnel for at least 50 years. Bush DID make an already bad situation (which incidentally had begun to improve during the Clinton administration) worse and deserves blame for his part in it but we all share the blame here. We ignored it.

Those are just a few that come to mind but you get the idea.

Meanwhile we do what we've learned to do while our country continues to degenerate into a mass of sectarian political fighting, our citizens continue to live in poverty and lack access to healthcare and social security and medicaid teeter on the brink of bankruptcy: run around in circles and scream and shout. Oh yeah, there's all those people dying over in that Eye-Rack place too.

I don't have a problem with people being angry with many of these things, I'm probably as angry about them as anyone but I think we need to remember the real focus which as I recall is change. If we cannot nominate a candidate who can win at the national election it's all for naught and the song remains the same.

Just something to think about.

Whatever Happened To.....

I hate when a news item catches my attention then just goes poof. No follow up, no conclusion, not even a mention. Sometimes I just have to go look it up and see if I can figure out why.

I was interested in the news about David Brown, the inmate from New York's Rikers Island who was arrested for allegedly offering to pay an undercover officer $15, 000 to decapitate NY Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly. Sounded kind of cheap to me, something smelled funny.

I understand now why some people might not want this story to grow legs because if the real details of this case were to become much publicized, quite a few people will be looking plenty foolish.

Turns out Mr. Brown is a) mentally ill b) confined to a wheelchair and c) penniless. I do not dispute that he is indeed a "danger to self and others" but considering he was already incarcerated in addition to all other factors, I have to ask: why was a mentally ill, wheelchair bound offender locked up in Rikers and not in a facility designed for violent and/or dangerous mentally ill persons?

Nope, instead the state of NY in it's infinite wisdom sent him to a penal facility where he could in turn be victimized by other inmates, then, acting on a tip from another inmate police sent in an undercover officer posing as a hitman to get a taped interview....with an insane person. Pure genius.

I worked with the "violent and dangerous" mentally ill for many years. They say things like this and are fully capable of appearing coherent and rational while trying to convince you that Vladimir Putin has planted a listening device in their closet or that they are the leader of a terrorist organization and are going to kill the president.

Contrary to the general public misconception, most mentally ill people do not rant, rave and drool 24/7. Some never do at all but they are still very much out of touch with reality and anyone who has ever worked in the justice system would know this and would have known this man was severely ill.

Crime must be slow in NY.

I hope Mr. Brown ends up in a secured treatment facility where he would be held until he could be deemed "no longer a danger" by a court. In cases such as his that is usually a very, very, long time if not forever. There is no "determinate sentencing" in the mental health system so a person may be detained as long as needed, whether that is 1 year or 100 years. They also are likely to receive much better treatment (no, it isn't all that cushy, just far more humane than prison) which works out better for the public. When you send a mentally ill person to prison he or she is far likelier to be released sooner and to be even more violent and potentially dangerous upon that release.

Where is the ACLU when you need them?

WABC News-NY

Two Posts From Featheriver

He's said it all for me here so I asked his permission to re-run them in their entirety. See below.

What the Democratic Presidential Candidates Have to Say

Dennis Kucinich on Yucca Mountain:

"We can't find a good way to deal with a bad idea. We've got to find a way to move away from the bad idea to something that is sustainable. "
- Dennis Kucinich, Democratic Ohio Congressman running for President, in reference to Yucca Mountain. Wednesday, March 07, 2007.

Bill Richardson on the Mexican Border Wall:

"This idea of a wall is asinine, it's dumb. Desperate people will go over and under it and the Congress didn't fund the wall in its entirety so it's just a cheap political vote. "
- Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, Democratic candidate for President discussing immigration issues. Tuesday, March 06, 2007.

John Edwards on Regulating Gambling:

"I think there are some things that we should take more control over than we're doing now and I recognize this may not be popular here in Nevada but I think some things particularly betting on college sports is troublesome to me. I think internet betting is troublesome, which is essentially completely unregulated. "
- Former Senator John Edwards, Democratic for President, in answer to the question "Do you believe the Federal Government should take a role in regulating gaming?" Monday, March 05, 2007.

Joe Biden on Illegal Immigration:

"It's not like a group of poor Mexicans are sitting in a rural village saying why don't we gather every cent we have, give it some criminal who's going to put us in the back of a truck with no ventilation, smuggle us across the desert, we may die and then go to a country that doesn't want us, that doesn't speak our language. One of the things we have to understand is as long as there is this magnet of 2, 5, 10, 20 to 1 disparity in wages, this is going to continue. "
- US Senator Joe Biden, Democrat running for President, discussing his thoughts on legal and illegal immigration. Tuesday, February 27, 2007.

Chris Dodd on Nevada Federal Land Sales:

"You're gonna get me, you're gonna play games with me North and South Nevada. I have got to be careful about this one. This is like San Francisco and Los Angeles. You go ahead and ask the question. Are we almost done I hope? "
- US Senator Chris Dodd Democrat running for President humorously ducking a question about Federal land sales in Nevada and where the money goes, including the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Monday, February 26, 2007.

Their comments tend to give you a clue as to how they think.

Nevada Newsmakers
Post by Featheriver

Mixing Richardson and rurals could help turn Nevada blue

Erin Neff, one of my favorite columnists for the Las Vegas Review-Journal has a column Democratic Presidential Candidate Bill Richardson would probably love.

Neff writes, "Not only did Bill Richardson get a seasoned Democratic operative to lead his Nevada Team, he got one who knows how to fire a rifle."

What!? A Democrat who monkeys around with guns? Can't be. Democrats are opposed to guns aren't they? They want to take our guns away; I know that because somebody told me they did.

No so at all! The Nevada Democratic Party even has a plank in their platform which supports ownership and use of guns. Those people who think Democrats are opposed to hunting and guns are just plain mistaken. But, I digress.

Erin goes on, "When you travel outside Las Vegas and talk to voters in Elko, Lincoln and Nye counties, you find plenty who could go for Democrats if the candidate was fairly fiscally conservative and "doesn't try to take our guns."

"Kristian Forland is an Elko Democrat who goes to Lincoln Day dinners. Bipartisanship isn't a dirty word in Elko. And plenty of Republicans are planning to attend the Elko Democrats' Kicking Ass Skeet Shoot next month at the Wells Gun Club. The winners get shotguns."

Right on Erin. I wrote about Forland's "Kicking Ass Skeet Shoot" a few weeks ago suggesting the Nye County Democratic Central Committee do the same thing here in Nye County. It would counteract the misunderstanding of many people who believe Democrats are against guns. Might even, as Neff suggests, prompt some to "convert" to Democrats. My suggestion went like so many of them do, into cyberspace, never to be heard of again. I still think it's a good idea. If only I could find another Democrat who might agree with me and then badger the Nye Central Committee in putting on such a shoot here in Nye County. I doubt they're even aware of the suggestion.

Back to Neff. "You can't really get too more gun friendly," Forland said.

Richardson's new state director, Roberta Lange, is also a former rifle champion.

"Richardson, the New Mexico governor with the best resume to be president, knows the West. Democrats rightly believe the path to the White House in 2008 runs through the West, where voters like their guns and open space almost as much as they dislike taxes and government intrusion.

"Nevada has done nothing politically to suggest it doesn't fit that mold. Voters have declared the state pro-choice and approved medical marijuana at the same time they have sought to restrain taxes and have elected fiscal conservatives statewide," Neff writes.

Neff gives Democrats some advice. "But unless Democrats reach out to Republicans and independents in Elko and Esmeralda counties, you can forget about Nevada going blue. And unless Democrats reach out to all voters nationally, the White House isn't going to change parties.

"When you reach out to people who don't know you -- whether on Fox News or in Carlin -- you're more likely to open people's minds. The true believers won't budge, but there are plenty who will.

How else do you think Democrat Jill Derby came close to beating Republican Dean Heller last year despite having nearly 48,000 fewer registered Democrats in the 2nd Congressional District? And how else do you explain Fox News' ratings dominance nationally, even in the bluest of places?

More pertinent observations from Ms. Neff. "Forland thinks the candidate who comes to Elko, shakes some hands and looks voters in the eye will have the advantage in the Democratic caucus -- and possibly beyond."

She's right. During last fall's pre-election season I wrote criticizing Jim Gibson for ignoring Nye County in his quest of the Governorship. I commented, "You ignore us, we'll ignore you on Election Day." Sometime after that he did show up in Nye County a few times. But it was too few, too late.

The Presidential Candidates will be prudent if they heed what Forland is saying. You don't show up in the rurals, get some dust on your shoes, rub elbows with us rural hicks, then you won't get many votes in the rurals. We (the rurals) ain't Las Vegas or Reno but you're going to need our votes to get the nomination.

Theresa Navarro is Richardson's northern field director. According to Neff, Navarro has already "laid the groundwork for Richardson in Lyon County and is planning a traditional rural tour next week."

"Richardson is not only good on guns, he has rebated taxes and knows energy and water. He's also a heck of a hands-on handshaker if he decides to campaign in the rurals…."

John Cahill runs the Nevada Outdoor Democratic Caucus. "Cahill believes outdoors issues are critical not just in rural Nevada, but also to peel away Republicans gun owners in labor unions and other traditional Democratic constituencies."

Cahill is right. Nye County would be wise if they contacted Cahill and use his expertise in building up the Democratic membership in Nye County. There are some 1,500 more registered Republicans than Democrats in Nye County. There is a huge 3,000 group of Independents in Nye as well. A lot of them are union members. Nye County should be working on those groups.

Anybody paying any attention out there?

Las Vegas Review Journal
Post by Featheriver

NOW I Get It!

I was having a difficult time trying to understand the Christian Right's obsession with Israel both pro and anti because it seems there are two distinct camps and at least a few others in between with equally bizarre and extreme views.

This music video has cleared the matter up considerably.

Caution: Not for the kiddies or workplace viewing. If Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell is in the room, give them a pan to drool in and save having to mop the floor afterwards.

Why I Love YouTube

Blog-cruising I ran across this music video at The Sudanese Thinker and being the nosy, always curious person I am I had to troll YouTube for what else I might find. Here's just a small sample I wanted to share, hope you enjoy.

From Sudan:








Somalia






Eritrea








Ethiopia






An Ethiopian group singing what I'm told is a Sudanese song



Much more out there go have your own look, funny what you find when your eyes are open.

I SWEAR He Never Called Me

Richardson is out of the debate according to Kos so it will either be a Hillary-Barack slugfest or far more likely, no debate at all.

Good riddance to a nuisance issue.

Hat tip: Las Vegas Gleaner

UPDATE: It's official, the debate has been cancelled. Head on over to the commentary if you want to join in kindergarten fun in deciding who gets demerits and how many for what they did or didn't do and why. Nice of Kos to break the news for us but ya, I remember why I don't hang out there. If this is the biggest issue you use in deciding your vote for the man or woman who might become leader of the free world....no wonder we're in deep shit.

Democratic Implosion: Part What....100?

Yippee, we didn't have enough to fight about now we're going to throttle each other over how and when to get out of Iraq.

My stance: we should already be out. Since we aren't I'd like us out as soon as is humanly possible, like today would be good. Reality is we have to get enough votes to pass any resolution which will most likely be vetoed by the Naked Emperor regardless. Pick one that has the most support and go with it or hell, stick your neck out there and support all of them and hope one flies. It's not an "either or" situation if your real mission IS to get our troops out of there.

The Great Fox Debate: cancel the whole debate. We've elevated the fight to the point of pissing off everyone and are now in the process of killing not only the candidates themselves but in some cases are now waging war against the state Democratic parties themselves. Cancel it and end the fight. So we'll miss an opportunity for more publicity, beats getting more publicity for being dingdongs. Half the country already thinks all Democrats are dingdongs, why give them
more ammo.

I'm sure we can find more "talking points" to fight about but let's do a little damage control, m'kay?

In the meantime, my favorite comedian gives us the scoop about what is really in Dick Cheney's leg.

Alabama Loves Cucumbers

I have to add to my last post. If you are watching sci-fi to get your groove on, consider consulting a medical professional UNLESS you live in Alabama in which case we all understand your plight.

Mark Day explains it all.

Geek-a-vision Rant

I keep hearing that Battlestar Galactica gets fantastic ratings.

Who the heck are these viewers? I'm a major sci-fi geekette and this show is nothing more than a soap opera in space gear.

I understand that some of the geek guys think Starbuck is hot and have odd fantasies about alien chicks named Number Six but maybe what is needed is a Sci-Fi porn channel so real sci-fi fans don't have to be bothered. Sorry guys but we'd rather watch Carter who keeps her issues in check than Starbuck who's issues have issues. See, if someone launches a sci-fi porn channel you can still watch Starbuck sleep with the entire cast and even get it in more detail. The rest of us will stick with Carter who knows how to keep her jumpsuit on. Besides, Vala would kick Number Six's alien butt.

To make matters even worse Galactica pretends to be rough and profane by peppering every other line of dialogue with it's made-for-TV version of cursing. Frack this and frack that. I suppose it fills up the airtime and saves the writers having to come up with something more interesting. Please, just say fuck or drop it altogether. You aren't cool or clever with this ploy.

As for the rest of the casts, how could you even compare Teal'c, O' Neill et al....

To these girlie-men.....

And for real people, if you are watching sci-fi to get your groove on, consider consulting a medical professional. Frack.

Let's Commit Suicide So the Rightwing Can't Kill Us

I'd been thinking about writing something about the difference between being a Democrat or a Republican so I'm going to give it a shot.

It's the difference between being for things or against things.

Democrats are for things. We're for equal rights and equal opportunity. We're for everyone having at least their basic human needs met. We're for trying to talk things out instead of using force as our first option and most of all we are for people. All people, even the ones we don't like much.

Being a Republican is about being against things. Against having to pay your share, against providing for the less fortunate, against equal treatment for all people and certainly against allowing people to make their own choices and decide what is best for themselves.

At least that was how it stood.

I'm beginning to wonder. I've been a Democrat all of my life and for sure I'm not about to turn into a Republican but at the rate things are going I may be left with no party at all.

Lately it seems like both parties aren't about anything but being against things. It's looking like we're going to tear each other to shreds while our opponents march right over us one more time. You'd think we'd have learned by now.

Blue Lyon just said adios to MoveOn.org now that they've declared war on the Nevada Democratic party. I've already said my two cents worth about the whole Fox news debate, I'm pretty much done with it and don't care much one way or the other who winds up airing the debate or even if it gets aired at all. I do have a few words for MoveOn.org though: exactly who in the hell do you suppose is going to be your voter base in Nevada if you continue waging your little war on the state party? Wild burros or jackrabbits?

Whatever, wage your little war and maybe win a battle just don't act surprised if you lose the war.

It's All About Me

It never ceases to amaze me that as a group we seem to require "studies" to figure out what I would imagine any person possessing a reasonable amount of common sense and normal intelligence probably knows already. I'm not complaining that these studies are done, I don't care all that much one way or the other but are we really this blind? More to the point, do we do anything with the information once we have it?

This recently released study examining narcissism in "generation Y" strikes me, gah, as so many things. Obvious, funny, sad, disturbing, would be a few of the descriptives that come to mind.

I'm going to try not to write a book here but no promises, if this bores you...move on now.

This news was not news to me, I raised three of these "Y" kids. Mea culpa. Being from a massively dysfunctional and verifiably insane family myself and starting out on my own from ground zero both economically and socially I did what most damaged, socially retarded young women with no family support do.....made a horrifically bad choice to marry the wrong person at far too young an age and promptly commenced to making more humans so I could engage in my ultimate driving fantasy of having MY children have an oh-so-much-better life.

So we've now established that despite all test scores to the contrary, I am fully capable of being a retarded dimwit able to make poor choices based on fuzzy, illogical thinking and emotion. Kind of shot my own narcissistic tendencies right in the foot.

I'd be more interested in a follow up study in 20 or 30 years to see how many of them got a clue after life has had a chance to bitch-slap them around a little bit. My guess is it would be quite a few.

Marc Flacks, an assistant professor of sociology, said that he believed that narcissism was too harsh a description for current students and that it was more important to discuss why "we have a society in which narcissistic behavior is a good quality to have."

"This is a bottom-line society, so students are smart to seek the most direct route to the bottom line," he added. "If you don't have a me-first attitude, you won't succeed.

There it is, we created them. We've been out of control egomaniacs for generations and it's only getting worse, where it will stop nobody knows.

Since I blog, therefore I might be narcissistic, I decided to answer the few test questions that were presented in the article.

1. "If I ruled the world, it would be a better place."

Definitely not. I'd get bored and frustrated and tell everyone to piss off. Whole thing would blow up in a great big, fiery ball in space.

2. "I think I am a special person."

A little odd maybe. How "special" could I be with a few billion others of my kind to compete with? Not very.

3. "I can live my life any way I want to."

More or less if I can afford to but I also will reap consequences from whatever ways I choose. I could afford to become a heroin addict but prison would cramp my style.

4. "I like to be the center of attention."

Sometimes, doesn't everyone? Mostly I value privacy over attention though since while I might have rare, occasional moments of bright and shiny coolness the other 99% of the time I probably look anywhere from too mundane for words to outright assmonkey-ish so I'd just as soon not have all eyes on me. I'm too lazy to keep up a "public persona".

Not too high up on the narcissist scale. I don't think I'm "more special" but I don't think I'm any "less special" either. I blog because I've been pissed off since I learned to talk and blogging is much more socially acceptable than kicking random strangers in the shins. I'd love to see other people's answers to these questions if you are inclined to answer them.

Our young people? Wouldn't worry too much, they'll most likely figure things out after they fall on their rumps a few times. Worst case scenario, they won't figure it out and we'll extinct ourselves which does not upset me nearly as much as it used to.

Viva Mexico!

Score another point for Mexico, another state has now legalized civil unions for same-sex couples. In even more un-American, un-wingnut, non-fanatical style the Catholic church in Saltillo is not even batting an eye.

Bishop Raúl Vera, who heads the Catholic Diocese of Saltillo, has declined to condemn the law.

While Vera insists that “two women or two men cannot get married,” he also sees gays as a vulnerable minority.

“We cannot be arch-conservatives and say, 'Don't do that,' ” Vera said. “Today we live in a society that is composed in a different way. There are people who do not want to marry under the law or in the church. They need legal protection. I should not abandon these people.”

I'll save the commentary because Hasta Los Gatos Quieren Zapatos already has it.

Iowans Don't Like Mexicans? Tell Me It Isn't So

According to a poll by the Des Moines Register, Iowans may love the brothers and the sisters but Hispanics might not be welcome at family dinners.

A new Des Moines Register Iowa Poll shows two-thirds of the state's adults believe the nation is ready for an African-American president in 2008. A smaller majority - 55 percent - says the American electorate is open to choosing a woman. But just 40 percent believe the country is ready for a president who is Hispanic.

The poll covers all Iowa adults - not just those planning to take part in the caucuses or in the 2008 presidential election.

Among Democrats, 66 percent say the country is ready for an African-American president, 60 percent say it's ready for a woman president and 44 percent say it's ready for a Hispanic president.

Not good news to me, that would indicate that roughly 34% to 56% of my fellow Democrats are retarded. Still better numbers than for that other party but I think we can do better.

Come on Iowa Dems and all the other Dems, the year is 2007 not 1963.

Some Days I Think It Might Be Simpler If I Started Smoking Crack

I'm guessing that by now everyone has seen the video of the pot smoking toddlers. I have only one question: why in the hell is everyone acting so shocked?

I'm going to guess it goes back to what I've said before about "mainstream" America being clueless about many things that go on and have been going on in this country for years. I'm thinking this new and improved media access might just blow the cover off of a lot of things, get ready for an eye-opening ride.

I'm in my mid-forties and I can go back 30 years and recall seeing toddlers smoking pot. The first time I saw it I was only about 13 myself and it was not teenagers giving it to them and for anyone who wants to delude themselves that this is an inner city, race-based phenomena...it was by the toddlers' white, adult parents. Truth is, every incident I ever saw of children being given marijuana involved white, adult parents. White, adult parents in small town America.

Excuse me for not getting very excited about teenagers doing this...teenagers across the board usually do not have real good judgement, m'kay?

Shame I don't have video of the time I saw an 18 month-old baby and his 6 year old sister running around a table that was covered with a scale and plastic baggies and a large quantity of methamphetamine. Shocking? Not really, it's a lot more common than middle America wants to know about.

The biggest difference is white people get away with it more often because law enforcement, courts and social services don't look at white people as hard. We can do shit and never get caught. When we are caught we are more likely to get off with lighter sentences or receive "treatment". I worked in the damned system for many years, I don't need any studies to tell me that.

The truth is that children living in drug infested environments are not usually difficult to spot. Most of the time everyone knows it, their teachers, neighbors, probably even the mailman but there is no realistic system in place to help them. Jailing their parents lands them in an overburdened foster care system and often subject to even worse abuse and neglect than they've already experienced because believe it or not, even drug-addicted parents with serious emotional problems usually love their children, foster parents don't.

Besides, if we did actually gather up all of these children they would number in the millions. That is the cold, hard fact.

If we compiled a list of the names of the children who have died while in foster care it would probably form a bridge all the way to England. That wouldn't even begin to touch the ones who lived but suffered emotional and sexual abuse.

So what to do? First off we need to wake up and acknowledge how prevalent this sort of thing is and quit acting like it's some kind of freaky "isolated incident". Take off the blinders people.

The rest is not as difficult as one might think. The welfare of our children will never improve until we improve the welfare of their parents. We just can't adopt them all out to Angelina and Madonna, we have to be there for the parents so they have the resources to be better parents. Or we can continue to ignore reality and do nothing except when some incident makes it onto our nightly newscast and allow generation after generation to continue in a downward spiral creating it's own version of America and then scream at our lawmakers to lock more people up when it impinges upon our way of life. At least until there aren't any more of "us" to scream about anything. That strategy has been working out really well for us hasn't it?

At what point is America going to begin to comprehend that targeted "social spending" is not a handout. Even leaving out humanitarian concerns and emotion, ignoring social issues like poverty and health care, mental health care and child care, etc. is just not a good business decision. In the long run it isn't cost effective and it costs us more to ignore than it would to address the problems.

How long could you operate a business if you did not supply your employees with the tools they needed to do their jobs? Not very long. So why is it that we seem to think that we can function as a society in any profitable way by not supplying our people with the tools they need to do their jobs?

Just Who's Right to Life Are You Protecting?

I hadn't gotten around to saying much of anything about abortion but Quaker Agitator and The Field Negro both pointed me to a bit of news that ties right in with my stance on the issue. That stance being, I'm pro-choice within limits but in all honesty....I simply do not care all that much.

I find it strange, more accurately retarded, that we are even still having such a heated debate over what should be almost a non-issue at this late date. Since abortion became legal has there been an overwhelming increase in the number of women seeking abortion? No. Has abortion become the method of choice for birth control? No. Do fewer women die due to complications from illegally obtained abortions? Yes.

Be honest, women do not look forward to joining the "I had an abortion" club. We don't actively seek to become impregnated so we can fork over a few hundred dollars and undergo what to most of us is an invasive procedure and one highly charged with ethical, moral, and emotional issues. Having an abortion is just not high on our "to do" list.

I've heard it argued that there is a certain percentage who will deliberately eschew any and all forms of birth control and instead have one abortion after another. I'm not going to deny that those women exist, I can't because I've personally seen a few of them. Then again I've seen a lot of things that go on in this country that mainstream America seems to be clueless about. So what about those women? Well, what about them? The fact is we cannot base legislation on the lowest common denominator and we cannot legislate to protect every idiot from themselves. Not unless we want to live in a Taliban American Style society. I'll take a pass on that.

The Regressive Christian Right will argue that even those babies have a right to live. Mebbe so. Hey Righties, are you going to support them? Are you going to ensure that they live in loving homes and receive good educations, health care and an opportunity for a better life? Your track record thus far says no.

Take a look at the article I linked above. We aren't caring for the very real, living, breathing children we have amongst us now. Twelve-year-old Deamonte Driver died of a toothache. Pretty much says it all doesn't it? A 12 year old child died because his family did not have health insurance. Where were all the "Right to Life" voters to support this child and his family?

I'll tell you where they were, busy voting to protect their precious pocketbooks and standing in front of abortion clinics holding protest signs to prove what wonderful Christians they are.

It's a sad day when I, an Atheist, knows your Jesus better than you do. I do too. I know your Jesus would be asking you why you were not looking out for your brother. That little boy was your brother and you stood around waving a sign and flocked to the polls to vote against "social spending" and protect your little greedy selves and you said nothing while your brother died.

Not only are you not Christians, you are also murderers. Big, fat, selfish, greedy, murdering pigs. Then you have the nerve to squeal like the pigs you are that you are being "persecuted". Persecuted my ass. You've run what was once one of the greatest nations on earth straight into the ground, destroyed entire cultures that you either wanted to use for your own ends or simply did not like, and continue to wave your banners while your own fellow citizens die for lack of health care, lack access to quality education and don't stand a snowball's chance in hell of ever even owning their own home.

Then you expect me to get excited about abortion???? Piss off. There is no nicer way to say it. You start putting your money where your mouth is then come back to the bargaining table and I might be willing to hear you, until then you can talk to the hand.

Yes Virginia, Godless Liberals DO Have Moral Dilemmas

I watched the unfolding mess as tornadoes ripped through the southern US and I have to confess to having to struggle between my own better nature and a huge case of schadenfreude. For the families who lost loved ones my better nature is winning, no one "deserves" a fate like that. In the case of a few others, schadenfreude is winning.

Anyone else remember Alabama State Senator Hank Erwin? I haven't been able to get him out of my head the last few days. See, back in 2005 just shortly after hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans the good senator was quick to publicly condemn New Orleans and made it clear the people of New Orleans "deserved" their fate, in his view it was "God's judgement".

From his 9/28/05 appearance on MSNBC's Scarborough Country:

I am joined right now by Alabama State Senator Hank Erwin.
Senator, thank you for being with me tonight. You—you...

HANK ERWIN ®, ALABAMA STATE SENATOR: Joe, good to see you.

SCARBOROUGH: You have said a lot of things that have shocked a lot of people. Explain to me why you think that Katrina was God‘s wrath.

ERWIN: Well, I think, if you look at what‘s going on, this whole region has always known that, with the church, that New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are known for sin.

And if you go to a church and you read your Bible, you are always told avoid sin and that there‘s judgment for sin. And I just think that, in my analysis—and I can‘t speak for everybody, but I believe that, if you look at the factors, that you had a city that was known for sin—the signature of New Orleans is the French Quarter, Bourbon Street. It is known for sin. And you have a Bible that says God will judge sin, you can put two and two together and say, it may not be the judgment of God, but it sure looks like the footprint.

So, I just told my friends, in an opinion, I think it could be the judgment of God on the Gulf Coast and on New Orleans. And I would urge the good folks that are the innocent victims to rally and rebuild that city and get a new signature.

SCARBOROUGH: And you wrote this—quote—“New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast have always been known for gambling, sin and wickedness.”

ERWIN: Yes.

SCARBOROUGH: “It‘s the kind of behavior that ultimately brings the judgment of God. Why were we surprised when, finally, the hand of judgment fell?”

I have got to ask you this, Senator. I was on the ground in Mississippi. We certainly saw the pictures out of Louisiana. I saw young children, 15-month-old babies, who were suffering. I saw, in New Orleans, young children. I mean, you look on TV, you see young babies dying on the sidewalk of heat exhaustion. Certainly, these babies aren‘t sinful, are they? Should they be made to pay for the sins of tourists from Florida that go over and gamble in New Orleans and Biloxi?

ERWIN: Well, I think you need to understand that, whenever—wherever sin goes, the sins of a few can affect the innocence of many.

And I think that you are seeing also along the Gulf Coast, as well as in the neighbors of our good state of Mississippi, a lot of innocent people that were affected by this hurricane. And that‘s the tragedy of sin, is that you never sin alone. You always affect other people. And we have had a lot of innocent people who have been hurt. Here in Birmingham...

SCARBOROUGH: But, you know, Senator—you know, Senator, though, I mean, the thing about the New Orleans—the New Orleans storm is that it was the French Quarter that seemed to be spared of devastation.

ERWIN: Well, I understand that, and I think the lord sent them a message that we need to turn around or we may have another hurricane come.

And I just think the people who have been going in there, the church people have been going into the French Quarter for years, appealing for the people to turn around and get back right with God. So, I think the message needs to go even stronger, please turn around, so we never have to go through this again.

As anyone who knows me would expect I was furious so I wrote to Senator Erwin. I don't recall the exact text of the entire letter but I do recall that along with telling him that his words were reprehensible for anyone and much more so coming from an elected representative of the people I also told him that if there were a God, he could rest assured that God would not look very favorably upon him either. I also said it would most surely suck when one of these days, the shoe was on the other foot.

Damn, this week the shoe was on the other foot. How does it feel Senator?

Now anyone coming from some saner corner of the world might assume that after making such hateful and callous comments on national television the senator's political career would be finished. Surely no one in their right mind would ever vote for such a person again now would they?

Think again, they sure enough did. Voted him right back in in 2006.

So there it is folks. While my heart goes out to the people who lost friends and family, my sympathy is tempered by the fact that when others suffered a similar tragedy the much touted milk of Christian kindness was nowhere to be seen. No, in fact your elected leaders were all too pleased to blame the victims and bask in their own self-righteousness. Rather than condemning them for it, you re-elected them. I'm just not really feeling your pain much.

I know that's harsh, I'm not particularly pleased with myself for feeling this way but it's honest. It's how you've made me and probably a lot of others feel as well. I'm struggling to feel sympathy but also questioning if I even have any ethical reason to feel I should help nourish a viper in my country's bosom.

Questions Not to Ask a Canadian

Not sure where this originated, some claim these were actual questions posted on a tourism site but I can't verify that and who cares anyway, it's funny.

Q:I have never seen it warm on Canadian TV, so how do the plants grow? (England)
A. We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around and watch them die.

Q:Will I be able to see Polar Bears in the street?(USA)
A: Depends on how much you've been drinking.

Q:I want to walk from Vancouver to Toronto-can I follow the Railroad tracks? (Sweden)
A: Sure, it's only Four thousand miles, take lots of water.

Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Canada?(Sweden)
A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.

Q: It is imperative that I find the names and addresses of places to contact for a stuffed Beaver.(Italy)
A: Let's not touch this one.

Q: Are there any ATM's (cash machines) in Canada? Can you send me a list of them in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax? (England)
A: What? did your last slave die?

Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Canada? (USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Ca-na-da is that big country to your North...oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Calgary. Come naked.

Q: Which direction is North in Canada? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Canada?(England)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule?(USA)
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Vancouver and in Calgary, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

Q: Do you have perfume in Canada? (Germany)
A: No, WE don't stink.

Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you sell it in Canada? (USA)
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.

Q: Can you tell me the regions in British Columbia where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.

Q: Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada? (USA)
A: Only at Thanksgiving.

Q: Are there supermarkets in Toronto and is milk available all year round? (Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of Vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal.

Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Canada, but I forget its name. It's a kind of big horse with horns. (USA )
A: It's called a Moose. They are tall and very violent, eating the brains of anyone walking close to them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.

Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go?(USA)
A: Yes, but you will have to learn it first.

Another Stick in the Eye of the MSM

Foot in mouth prize to CNN and the Associated Press for running with Richardson asks Democrats to keep campaign positive.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson is proposing a rule that is common on kindergarten playgrounds but doesn't usually work in politics -- be nice to each other.

Richardson hasn't always followed the principle while running for office in his home state of New Mexico. And the leading candidates don't seem to be embracing the idea in the 2008 White House contest, either.

"I believe the Clinton-Obama spat is not helpful," Richardson said in an interview Tuesday while visiting Washington. "We should stop those kind of attacks on each other and surrogates. We should talk about the issues and be positive."

But during his first run for office in 1980, Richardson criticized opponent Republican Rep. Manuel Lujan for his ties to energy companies and his spotty attendance record. Richardson unexpectedly came within 1 percentage point of victory.

"When you're a big underdog, you've got to go after the other guy's record," Richardson wrote of his decision to go negative in his autobiography, "Between Worlds."

His negative ads in 1980 were against a Republican, not in a primary race like his proposal would affect this time. But the case raises questions about how to define a personal attack.
Richardson said in the interview that his 1980 campaign "was a combination of positive and negative," but he said he didn't attack Lujan personally and instead "talked about a record."

You've already negated your premise here guys. If you go back and listen to Richardson's speech you'll recall he was referring to personal attacks against other Democratic candidates. He said, and I quote, "save it for the Republicans". Good advice that, we all know their record on personal attacks don't we?

I'd seriously question whether bringing up a candidates ties to energy companies and their work attendance record would even fall into the category of "personal". Seems pretty relevant and work related to me. Unlike say, fretting over a candidate smoking a cigarette or what church they attend which is about as personal as one could get.

Must be a slow news day because you guys are really scraping the bottom trying to make this a story worthy of anything better than lining the bottom of the litterbox.

Are We Really This Stupid?

We've clearly established that Fox network is a barrel full 'o retarded wingnuts so that isn't even interesting enough to discuss at this point but wait a sec, what about those other networks?

We have MSNBC with their new "All Anna Nicole, All the Time" format. Ok, they do take occasional breaks to run Tucker Carlson Boy Moron, Chris "I Might Be a Conservative" Matthews and Keith "Preaching to the Choir" Olbermann.

Yes, that's correct, I rarely watch Olbermann. It would be pointless, he usually agrees with me and there is little or no discussion so other than perhaps gaining some comfort from the fact that at least someone shares most of my views there is nothing to be gained by watching him.

For sheer entertainment value the other two provide some positively side-splitting laughs. Just a few fun moments from the last week.

Tucker Carlson complaining about how much money former President Bill Clinton makes:

CROWLEY: ... the first dude has not addressed.
How much time will be spend in the White House? Who what will his role be in crafting policy? Will he be at the table?
Fascinating questions that they haven’t really touched. And so those are big question marks. But bottom line, Tucker, I mean, you believe in the free market.

CARLSON: Yes. Yes.

CROWLEY: The man is—the free market is running well.

CARLSON: Oh, absolutely. But he doesn’t believe in the free market, and that’s the difference.

Bill Clinton, one of the strongest supporters of NAFTA doesn't believe in the free market. Who knew, thanks for the tip Tucker. Little perturbed that Clinton is disgustingly rich and famous and you are a talking windbag on a cable news show wearing an ugly tie? Now move to the back of the class.

Yesterdays Hardball interview with Seymour Hersh was worth watching, no surprise there. Priceless moment came at the end of the interview when Matthews asked Hersh which issue he felt was the greatest threat to America from his list of fun things to worry about, Iranian nukes, Taliban resurgence, sectarian violence in Iraq, etc. Hersh's response? "George W. Bush".

Then there is CNN, the big boss of the cable news world. Let's see they have Lou Dobbs with his 15 minute rants after which he allows his guest-with-dissenting-opinion 45 uninterrupted seconds to state their case. Do I really need to say any more about the utter banal mediocrity of this man?

Paula Zahn's show raises a lot of interesting points for discussion, or they would be if she actually had talking heads capable of discussion. Sorry Paula, Bill Donohue and Debbie Schlussel don't cut it and while we are busily hammering on the subject of giving irresponsible networks credibility let's go ahead and hammer on networks and their hosts and anchors giving irresponsible, moronic, and hate-mongering pundits credibility. Let's just do that. I like you Paula but do yourself a favor and instead of endlessly debating why and how men and corporate America "define women" go eat something, gain a pound or two because you're starting to look scary. If your corporate bosses don't like it yank off one of your high-heeled shoes and poke out their eyes.

Sorry but this has a lot to do with why I can't get too excited about the "let's kill Fox" movement. They ARE biased, ridiculous, and nearly always playing to the lowest common denominator. At least a large percentage of the time so are all the other networks. Maybe it's time we looked at ourselves and why nutwing news has become the biggest winner in the ratings game. Tyrants only have as much power as people give them so if we are being controlled by insane idiots.........

Consumerism on Steroids

I watch commercials. I don't particularly like commercials but they are a great indicator of where and who we are because I'm certain if they didn't resonate with at least a fairly large segment of the population the companies that pay to air them would not be spending millions to do so.

This one for U.S. Steel Buildings (video here) is driving me completely nuts.

Did you watch it? What is wrong with this picture?

We are so obsessed with our "stuff" that we now spend thousands of dollars to buy extra houses for it to live in, that's what's wrong with it.

If you need an extra 40 x 60 foot steel building to store all of your "keepsakes" please seek professional help immediately. Your stuff owns you.

More About the Good Old Days

I can't even begin to cap on this, Al Sharpton wants a DNA test. How could anyone outdo the news that former South Carolina governor Strom Thurmond's family once held Rev. Sharpton's great-grandfather as a slave.

Now I'm sure all of us have ancestors we could just as easily do without but hopefully most of us have rejected some of the more disgusting ideals and beliefs they held dear. It's called progress.

Not Strom. He never disavowed his support of segregation his entire life, he was just a little quieter about it in his twilight years. The public disclosure shortly after his death in 2003 that he had fathered an illegitimate daughter with an African-American woman who was employed as a maid by his family certainly blew a giant hole in the legacy he intended to leave in the public memory. This latest bit of scandalous history can only pale in comparison.

Truthfully I don't think it reflects all that much on Strom much as I loathed everything about him. Everyone knew exactly what he and most of his kindred were all about. If anything it reflects a great deal about the good voters of South Carolina who held this unabashed and unapologetic, hypocritical racist in such high esteem that they elected him to represent them time and time again, both as a Democrat and then later as a Republican. Shame on all of you.

Another strike on all the social regressives out there. Don't even try your "well, Clinton got a blow job" chant. Oral sex with another FREE and consenting adult just doesn't quite stack up on the moral outrage scale when held up next to "owning" fellow human beings or at the very least not disavowing the practice and fathering a child with a woman you considered to be unworthy of drinking from the same fountain as you. I'm disgusted to even be part of the same species as you.

Those of you too young to remember when open discrimination and outright abuse of targeted groups was not only acceptable but often a matter of public policy, keep in mind the past is not that far in the past. We can't afford to elect one social regressive. Not one. I don't care if the group they are targeting is Black, Hispanic, people of some particular or no faith, or same-sex couples, we cannot condone discrimination or any position of lesser legal status for anyone.

If you are Black and hate gays, get over it. If you are White and hate Mexicans get over it. If you're gay and hate Blacks get over it. Do whatever you want with your personal life and choices, just keep it out of the public domain. The minute we accept or embrace intolerance towards any group we've opened the door on a past better left in the history books. If you want to walk this path I can't stop you, just don't come crying to me when they come for you.

Stupid Scammer Tricks

I'm a bit jealous. Blue Lyon finds a transcript of Vilsack's farewell speech in her inbox and I get...scheming weenies.

Dear Friend

This mail will definitely be coming to you as a surprise,but i must crave your indulgence to introduce myself to you. I am Lance corporal. ########,a US marine currently serving in Iraq. The reason why i am contacting you via this media is because it is anonymouse. I cant contact my friends and family back home as they are listed as acquitances in my military file and to contact them may compromise the confidentiality of this transaction. I am currently in duty break . I and my partner, secretly moved some abandoned cash in a mansion belonging to the slayed former president of Iraqi, SaddamHusein and the total cash is $25million. We have discovered the cash forover 3 months now but we waited until the verdict has been passed and we are sure there is no way anybody could have a trace.

As I write this letter to you, this box is here with me in cash as I secretly moved it out of Iraq to Kuwait. You do not have to be afraid of anything as no one else knows about this and everything is safe. I would be pleased and grateful to you if you could assist us in receiving this box for us on your behalf as I will be heading back soon to camp in Iraq to join my collegues. Of course, I will give you some money for your efforts. We have limited time now, kindly get back to me immediately.

Moving the funds out of here is not going to be much of a problem as arrangements are being made towards that. All I want from you is your trust and assurance that if the box gets to you, you can keep it in a safe place until our arrival. I have to stop here now.we have limited time now, kindly get back to me immediately.

In God we trust,Lance corporal. ########

Hopefully unlike in the Nigerian e-mail scams, no congressmen will fall prey to this one. Maybe the sender just assumed I was retarded since I live in Pahrump.

Fabulous News of the Day

No, Brittany didn't get another tattoo.

As NV Mojo Rising says, Divine Strake is dead. Just wanted to add my own special thanks to the Western Shoshone who fought so hard for this victory.

Every once in a while the good guys do win.

Leaving Las Vegas

Per the Las Vegas Gleaner:

One other thought: The local political industrial complex is always running off at the mouth about how Nevada's Democrats are "different" than Democrats in the rest of the country, more conservative, hence the importance of bringing the Wonderful West into play, blahblahblah. As the prez wannabes parade through the state and campaign not on the issues that the West As Savior Movement says they should be talking about, but actual issues that people ask them about, that long-held conventional wisdom might get more than a few holes poked in it, and might even be exposed as flat-out bullshit.

There is some truth there although perhaps not in the way the Gleaner might have intended to highlight.

I don't think there is much of a case to be made for Nevadans being "more conservative". I mean after all, we're the home of legal gambling, legal brothels and the 5 minute divorce. Las Vegas is among the nation's leaders for child prostitution, substance abuse and where else could one expect to find bodies stuffed in suitcases on a regular weekly basis and former mob lawyers can grow up to be mayor? If Nevada is conservative then all it is conserving is it's right to be an assmonkey.

Now certain Las Vegans can rant on about those stupid, pesky, backwards rurals but the truth is that one of the greatest obstacles to democrats being able to gain any ground in Nevada has been Las Vegas. Yeah you. Republicans in Democratic clothing.

Gleaner is right about one thing, the same issues that concern the rest of America concern the average Nevadan.

We are concerned about what is happening to our environment, we aren't real keen on the BLM rapidly divesting itself of our lands by auctioning it off to Las Vegas developers either. Tip of the day: Taylor and friends, get rid of the big, gas-guzzling pick-em-up trucks and SUV's sporting "NV Democrat" vanity plates. While you're on it, update your MySpace page, if you're 19 years old then I'm Beyonce Knowles and you can kiss my black ass.

We're also concerned about the economy, especially as it relates to the middle class and "working poor" (such lovely terms we come up with for such ugly realities). Those things concern us a lot because they affect the overwhelming MAJORITY of small town and rural Nevadans. Unlike some of you city folk who would prefer to debate ideological points at the club while sipping cocktails.

Foreign policy is a big deal to us too because surprise, surprise, those are OUR children over in Iraqmire getting blown to pieces. Ours, not yours.

A whole lot of us don't begrudge anyone equal rights, gay or straight, religious or not, black, white or brown. As a group we haven't often been very vocal on these issues because see, you guys forgot about ours and we're fighting for our lives here.

You want to take our water so you can build more condos and put in more golf courses then you want to tell us how to vote.

You want people to come work in your casinos and industry, clean your houses, staff your hospitals and teach in your schools but you don't want to pay enough for them to be able to afford a home of their own. Everyone knows the real story of Las Vegas – enormous power concentrated in the hands of casinos, unchecked by government and oblivious to community responsibility.

You have a mayor who calls himself a Democrat but I didn't hear your outrage when he decided to make it illegal to feed the homeless.

You claim to root for the party that stands for fairness and equality but you're ok with rating women for their "bimbo appeal" and treating the less financially privileged like house pets.

All of that then you want to call us dimwits, nuts and idiots. Who really is the jackass here?

Do I think think all Las Vegans are like this? Nope. Just a large percentage of the ones who've been "speaking for the party". My party. What you are is a black eye in the face of real democrats everywhere and the best people to guarantee continued republican control of the state for years to come.

Enough Already

I give up, the leftosphere can take the entire August debate and air it on MTV or the Cooking Channel or just cancel it altogether. Hell, do it American Idol style and hire Simon Cowell to run it, "Mr. Kucinich, you are not a ballerina".

More from Taylor Marsh:

But if we're being honest about the Nevada Democrats choosing Fox, you have to come to grips with the fact that our candidates are likely for it. Harry Reid and the Nevada Democrats have been seduced. The Democratic '08ers want as many different eyes on them as they can get. It's also a foreign policy crowd and a "strong on terror" audience, whatever that means, so it will benefit Biden and Richardson, though that's not to say the other candidates aren't good on foreign policy.

See your point on Biden who has been pretty supportive of keeping our troops in Iraq but um, your very obvious anti-Richardson bias aside...how does that benefit him? He's consistently called for withdrawal of troops and repeatedly urged congress to force the issue. I can live with you not liking Richardson for whatever reason but I have issues with flawed reasoning. Also with outright lying.

The west may be going Democratic, but if it is it won't be through any help from Fox.

It won't be through any help from you either. Now that you and your kindred have called everyone who doesn't fall right in with your party line every demeaning name you could think of....we love you almost as much as we love the rightosphere. Ever wonder why you keep losing the middle? This is from the bottom of my heart: fuck you, you narcissistic, leftwing version of Michelle Malkin.

I hate Fox. They don't run a single show or have a single commentator I have one ounce of respect for. That isn't relevant, millions of voters do. Short of deporting all of them to East Timor they are a fact of life you have to deal with. What's next, the Republicans boycott coverage of their debates on CNN?

Do I love this choice? Yes and no. I do see a golden opportunity here and the simple fact is that every other network declined to air this. Am I worried about the spin? Yes. There have to be some ground rules. Something you might could push for if you weren't so busy alienating everyone who isn't lockstep with you. You might be special, you aren't a big enough majority to win an election with your attitude.

I've been a democrat all of my life. Along the way I've even managed to convince a few people to go dem too. If I keep reading this kind of garbage for much longer I'll be contemplating getting a "Mc/Cain in '08" tattoo on my backside. Thanks so much for campaigning for the republican party. Sorry we'uns weren't good enuff fer you'uns.

Cirque du Anna Nicole

Assmonkey Press - In an effort to sustain public interest in the proceedings following the death of Anna Nicole Smith, Circuit Judge Larry Seidlin has authorized payment for services to voodoo practitioner Ki Gendeng Pamungkas, renowned for his earlier success in jinxing President George W. Bush.

Stated Judge Seidlin, "this is probably my last shot at a book deal, face it, once this trial is over I'm finished in the judiciary system. A man has to make a living."

Mr. Pamungkas will be retained by Broward County to reanimate the deceased in an attempt to allow the deceased to testify on her own behalf. According to reports by insiders, both CNN and MSNBC have heartily endorsed the move. States an anonymous source at MSNBC, "this can only be seen as a career maker for Rita Cosby".

When asked for his views on this development, CNN president Jonathan Klein stated, "we can only report the news, not judge whether or not it has merit. After all, when have we ever used judgement before?"

In a related development the Assmonkey Press is investigating unconfirmed reports that Rita Cosby is in negotiations with Rupert Murdoch to launch a new 24 hour news network in partnership with Glenn Beck, Lou Dobbs and Nancy Grace. Bill O'Reilly could not be reached for comment as his staff informed us he was on retreat working on his newest book, "Voodoo Warriors and Why They Hate America".

AP Disclaimer: The above is presented for parody purposes only. Any persons believing one word of this should seek professional help immediately. Not responsible for outcome, results may vary.

One Nevada Dimwit's Point of View

If Nevada politics bores you, you might want to skip this because I'm on one this morning. Big time. Trying to take deep breaths and not just start flinging turds.

My frustration grows and grows. After reading some of the early blog commentary regarding yesterday's speechifying in Carson City I have reached an even deeper understanding of why we have never become the majority party in most of the country.

We (as in the democratic party) just don't get it. We're so wrapped up in party politics and being on the "right side" of every itty-bitty issue that comes up so as to remain in good standing with the cool kids that we completely forget who it was we were supposed to want to represent. Let me remind you. It was regular people. Not party hacks, not wanna-be blogging mega-stars, not just the all-important and ever snarky Las Vegas pundits and definitely not the ultra-rich and uber-cool folks in Pacific Palisades who do not give a rats ass about Nevadans even on a good day.

Quit thinking about all those people for a minute, dig your cranium out of your rear and take a long, hard look at reality. Those people may give you a lot of cash and that's always helpful. They won't get anyone elected. They get one vote, same as me, same as all the old folks living in the trailer park. There are more of us.

Let's begin with Taylor Marsh, "the antidote to rightwing talk".

The reason I missed Richardson was because Edwards took the time to go into the media room and answer a lot of questions, starting off with Iraq.

What about poverty and gambling, was another question. Edwards was flat out honest, saying he hadn't thought about it, but he would after the question and thanked the reporter for asking it.

The last question came at the same time someone came to tell him time was up. What do you think about legalized prostitution in Nevada? Edwards laughed and said, "That's a good question to leave on." Then laughing and leaving the room Edwards added with a laugh, "I can't believe you asked that question." Chuckling as he walked out the door.

Great reporting there Ms. Marsh. You missed a candidates speech so you could ask John Edwards how he felt about gambling and prostitution. I'm so sure those are matters of great national concern. In my perfect world Edwards would have responded, "gee, I never gave it much thought Taylor but how do you feel about having fried okra shoved up your ass by a guy whistling Dixie?". Now THAT would have gotten him some western votes. Luckily for all of us he simply laughed in your foolish face and made a graceful exit.

Here was what you did manage to cover of Gov. Richardson's appearance:

Richardson was next and I missed quite a bit of it.

"We should not be known for Abu Ghraid." - Bill Richardson

Richardson arrived about 1:00 p.m., according to a reporter in the media room. He talked about "worker protections" and "environmental protections" in our trade agreements, which he believes should be fair trade, not just free trade, which includes dealing with "wage disparity."

Richardson closed by talking about the world and Darfur, but made a point of saying we need to talk to our enemies, too.

I can see why this would not have interested you much. Nothing scurrilous or scandalous enough to insure more hits to your blog. After all, it's all about you isn't it? Oh, by the way, "Senator Reid greeted us at about 11am, Governor Richardson arrived just about then, spoke to the group and did a LOT of schmoozing before heading over to the Community Center." That's 11am dear, not 1pm. You might try poking your head out to see what's going on now and then.

Then there is this in the Las Vegas Gleaner re: Fox news coverage of the August debate.

Reid is not interested in assuring Democratic majorities (or Democratic policies) by changing the public's mind as much as he is in convincing a majority of the public that Democrats like guns too, have values too, hate taxes too and are, if not right on the issues, then at least, oh, acceptable.

So what are you saying here, Reid is interested in assuring a Republican majority? Don't think so, next. By the way Gleaner people, a lot of Democrats do have guns, we do have values which may or may not be the same as the average Republican's but we have them, and we do hate taxes, we're usually just a little more reasonable about seeing the need for some.

I do get so tired of having to explain things to folks but dammit-all, someone who isn't one of the special folks has got to do it.

I'm hardly Harry Reid's biggest cheerleader as some of my previous posts can attest to but there is a reason Reid has been in the senate since 1986 in a RED state. He isn't stupid. He's smart enough to choose his battles and realize that bending on some issues can mean the difference between life and death on bigger issues. Do you want to nitpick about reaching out to try and snag a few votes from across the aisle or would you rather not have a fully operational Yucca Mountain Project and keep feeding troops to Iraq? In case you've forgotten, 1% can be the difference between being Mr./Madam President or "who was that guy who ran in.....?"

Grow up.

JWH comments on Hillary's lack of appropriate butt-kissing to the press:

Don't pass out from shock when I tell you this, but Hillary Clinton flat out avoided the press. No one seen her arrive or leave. It was like magic. I guess we'll find out within the next couple of years if a candidate can win an election on money alone without actually answering the hard questions from the media.

JWH, don't pass out from shock but the press ain't impressing us much. I'm sorry if she didn't take time to pontificate upon her stance towards gambling and prostitution but something had to get cut y'know. Hillary isn't my numero uno either but props to her for not being retarded.

CLS from Blue Lyon was there, "I've read elsewhere that the local press and some bloggers felt that she avoided them. That might have been because she was actually spending time with Democrats - visiting over at the legislature, taking a trip through Comma Coffee (one of our attendees told us she had been over there meeting people and shaking hands), meeting with Democratic women, speaking at the forum. And then she came over to visit with us before heading off to Las Vegas for a 5pm speaking engagement."

In addition to all of this local fun I'd put money on most people being tired of listening to the pundits debate whether or not Obama is "Black enough" or Richardson is "Mexican enough".

While we've pretty much established that Biden might be clean but not so articulate I have to ask the burning question: is Edwards Cracker enough to win the Cracker vote? Enquiring minds want to know.

Carson City Blues

That was fun. Had my days mixed up and was just lucky I went channel flipping and caught the festivities in Carson City on C-Span. Ok, I missed Dodd and Clinton, somehow I doubt I missed much and I'm sure someone will fill me in if I did.

Vilsack - managed to come off less weird than usual.
Edwards - still not buying it. No, paying for universal health care simply by eliminating the Bush tax cuts doesn't wash, do the math. No, you are not my brother.
Richardson - nothing new, straight and to the point. Summary: they talk about it, I've done it.
Joe Biden - the only one who surprised me a little, came out stronger than I expected. Don't totally disagree with his plan for Iraq, thing is: the Iraqis do. That's been the thorn all along. Mucho agreement on our problems with public and higher education.
Dennis Kucinich - um. Don't ask.
Mike Gravel - public suicide should not be televised.

Of course this is only my opinion and as Kos at Daily Kos has pointed out, I am jes' a dimwit Nevadan, what do I know. Not much probably. Maybe enough to know that having a mutual masturbation-fest with party idealogues has never won us an election. Just a theory. From a dimwit Nevadan.