All day I faced the burning waste...*

*You kids might not get that song reference either.

Tonight I am at the Desert Villa Inn (our room's right under the sign) in Barstow. All right, those of you who have been there knock off the maniacal laughter! Why Barstow? You may well ask. Because it's on the way home, and if you want to change direction in the western Mojave Desert, this is the place to do it. As a matter of fact, every freight train in the country changes from east-west to north-south right across the street. I-40 runs along the south side of this joint as well, to tee into I-15 a couple blocks away. The motel knows all this, and is insulated well enough that I'm not hearin' any of it except when I go out to smoke. Nice enough place. The air conditioner works, which is good because it's 10 at night and about 90 degF outside.

Why Barstow? Reason No. 2: In a lifetime of runnin' around out in the Mojave, I've never had to stay in Barstow. Today, my luck ran out.

Yesterday, we went and saw Canyon de Chelly, just east of Chinle AZ and smack dab in the middle of Injun Country. More on that when I get home. I'm ten times as fast on my home set. For now, suffice it to say that it's a wonder and well worth seeing.

Today we dropped seven thousand feet, from the Arizona Divide (7335'), west of Flagstaff AZ, to a few hundred feet above sea level at the Colorado River in a coupla hundred miles, and then climbed back up 3000' feet in the next 40 miles at temperatures over 100 degF. Thank God for modern air conditioning! And modern automotive cooling systems as well.

Tomorrow we turn north on US 395 and go home on the prettiest drive in California, bar none. A big highlight is this place, where we provision up every time we go past. Yum. Mrs. G and myself are but simple hill folk, you must remember!

This has been a nice break from blogging, but I'll be back down in the mud with y'all soon. I've got a lot of thoughts, stories, lies, etc. to share with you about my trip. There's politics in everything, whether to the good or bad.

Soon.

Feingold

Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold On the Nomination of Judge John G. Roberts To be Chief Justice of the United States

September 22, 2005

Mr. Chairman, I will vote in favor of the nomination of Judge John Roberts to be the Chief Justice of the United States. This has not been an easy decision, but I believe it is the correct one. Judge Roberts's impeccable legal credentials, his reputation and record as a fair-minded person, and his commitment to modesty and respect for precedent have persuaded me that he will not bring an ideological agenda to the position of Chief Justice of the United States and that he should be confirmed.

Sorry, Ed, but Ol' Russ just crashed and burned.

Hat tip: Shakes

Update:

The score:

By a vote of 13-5, the Senate Judiciary Committee today recommended that the Senate confirm the nomination of John G. Roberts Jr. to be chief justice of the United States.
...
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, was among the last whose vote was in question to disclose her decision, as the committee began its final pre-vote debate on Roberts. She voted against confirmation.

She was joined by Sens. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, Joseph Biden of Delaware, and Richard Durbin of Illinois, all Democrats. Sen. Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, the senior Democrat on the panel, and fellow Democratic Sens. Russell D. Feingold and Herbert Kohl, both of Wisconsin, voted in favor of confirmation . . .

Bill O'Coward

I was gonna write that Phil Donahue castrated O'Reilly on his own show, but Billy got no nuts to cut off. Go read the transcript and smile.

Link via the lovely Elise

Update:

The Green Knight has the video.

Bend over

Place your head firmly between your legs, and kiss your ass goodbye.

Hortense Davis is waiting at the Houston Greyhound station for a bus that may not be coming.

The 73-year-old woman called the Red Cross today to find out what she should do about the storm. She said she was told to go to the bus station and tell them she had no money and needs to get out of the city.

"But when I got here, they said they couldn't help me," she said. "So now I'm just sitting here."

Davis is trying to evacuate to Lufkin because she is scared hurricane Rita is going to causing major flooding in Houston.

"I'm stuck here," she said. "I don't have anywhere else to go."

Hundreds of people packed the downtown Greyhound station tonight hoping to get a ticket to safety.

Carolyn Rivera, 62, said she bought a bus ticket to Dallas today, but when she arrived at the station she discovered all the buses were filled. So she called her daughter and the two women plan to drive to Arkansas tonight. [my em]

At least it'll be easy to find the bodies.

Thanks: Atrios

Breaks?

Rick "santorum" Santorum (R-Beastiality) is feeling the pressure of election season.

[. . .]

This might be the official declaration of the end, not just of Social Security privatization, but of deference to Bush. And members of Congress, especially those like Santorum who are worried about reelection, have so many years of docility to make up for that if they really want to separate themselves from a highly unpopular president, they will have to make a very fast, very decisive break. [my em]

[. . .]

All I have to say is . . . heh.

Hat tip: PW

Nepotistic cronyism

Via Maru from Newsmax (Right wing rag - no link):

Julie "who??" Myers, a 36-year-old with limited executive experience, is slated to become head of one of the nation's most critical security-related agencies, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, part of the Department of Homeland Security.

Myers' uncle is none other than the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Richard B. Myers.

And Myers' husband is DHS chief Michael Chertoff's current chief of staff, John F. Wood.

Yeah, real good. As Maru asks, "feeling safer yet"?

. . . John F. Wood . . . Fortunately, no relation.

I'm seething

A group of House Republicans have proposed a plan to offset the costs of relief and rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina that includes trimming military quality-of-life programs, including health care.

Possible sources of funding cuts to free up money for Katrina relief include reduced health benefits, consolidation of the three military exchange systems and the closure of the military's stateside school system. [my em]

[. . .]

We can spend $1bn trucking ice around the country and we're looking to cut costs on the backs of our troops? Aaaarrrrggghhh! Reading this shit gets me homicidal. Tom DeLay says there's no pork in the budget, yet we can build a bridge to nowhere in Alaska? I'm out of my mind with rage right now. I have a good mind to walk over to the neighbor I hate and beat the shit out of him just because I can. If he weren't a Democrat . . . Can you tell I have a big problem with people who try to shaft our troops?

Thanks to my pal Jo Fish for the link. I think. Go read his post on this subject too. Grrrrr . . .

Principle

Yes, I harp on it, but there's a reason. Here's an example via Travis:

Dear Mrs. Bush,

I am writing to let you know why I am not able to accept your kind invitation to give a presentation at the National Book Festival on September 24, or to attend your dinner at the Library of Congress or the breakfast at the White House.

[. . .]

But I could not face the idea of breaking bread with you. I knew that if I sat down to eat with you, it would feel to me as if I were condoning what I see to be the wild, highhanded actions of the Bush Administration.

What kept coming to the fore of my mind was that I would be taking food from the hand of the First Lady who represents the Administration that unleashed this war and that wills its continuation, even to the extent of permitting "extraordinary rendition": flying people to other countries where they will be tortured for us.

[. . .]

When you give up your ethics and principles, it's almost impossible to reacquire them.

Realities

The war is lost. Three years after the invasion, the occupation forces control less and less of the country all the time. The level of wanton violence -- from all sides -- keeps rising. The physical infrastructure of the country continues to deteriorate. The social fabric is in tatters.

[. . .]

Mr. H shows us what's really going on in the uber-fuckup in Mesopotamia and concludes:

And all the children are insane*

*Young-uns won't get it.

Your tax dollars at work

The government will pay more than $4 for each of the thousands of five-pound bags of ice ordered for Gulf Coast hurricane-relief efforts that are now sitting unused in tractor-trailers in Gloucester and across the United States, say shipping and ice-making experts.

The same five-pound bag of ice would cost about $1.50 at a neighborhood convenience store.

"It will cost close to $1 billion in trucking for $2 million worth of ice," said James Perdue, owner of J.L. Perdue trucking company of Kearney, Neb. [my em]

[. . .]

So, how many people could have been helped find housing or whatever else they need in Katrina's aftermath? Instead, a $1 billion is pissed away moving frozen water everywhere east of the Mississippi. Ineptitude in action.

[Link] thanks to Lambert

One for everybody

A miserable statistic from the King:

American troop deaths in Iraq have now passed the 1900 mark. Throw in the wounded, and the official US casualty count tops 20,000. Paul Craig Roberts, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under Reagan, notes that if the Iraqi insurgency is 20,000 strong, as US military commanders continue to insist, then "each insurgent is responsible for one US casualty":

[. . .]

So what are we doing? Fucking the troops even more. A related post from the King:

The war in Iraq now costs you, the American taxpayer, $6.7 billion each month, or well over a billion and a half a week. When unanticipated expenses (such as skyrocketing fuel costs; remember when oil revenues were supposed to pay for the cost of the occupation?) left the Army scrambling to cover a $1.43 billion shortfall, one obvious solution presented itself -- raid the vehicular armor fund, which serves absolutely no useful purpose apart from keeping American soldiers alive:

[. . .]

When, praise God, does this become criminal?

One for us

John Kerry:

Monday, I shared with you my Brown University speech setting out what needs to be said and done at this critical moment for our country. Today, in that same spirit of clarity and conviction, I want to tell you how I will vote on the nomination of John Roberts to serve as Chief Justice of the United States.

I will vote against this vitally important nomination.

Win or lose on this vote, it is essential that we act on our deepest convictions. And I refuse to vote for a Supreme Court nominee who came before the Senate intent on demonstrating his ability to deftly deflect legitimate questions about his views, opinions and philosophy. [my em]

[. . .]

I didn't think he'd find his spine. Hope he and Harry Reid talk to Ol' Leahy.

I always thought he was stupid

------------------------------------------------------
MSNBC Breaking News
------------------------------------------------------

Sen. Leahy, top Democrat on judiciary panel, to vote for Roberts -

And this seals it. What about it, Vermonters (who I always thought were blessed with a bit more common sense)? Do you have a Dem candidate who can give Leahy a primary fight?

Heh . . .

Saw this at Maru's.

Mardi Gras Officials Contemplate New Politically Correct Term For 'Float'

Yes!

WASHINGTON -- Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said Tuesday he would oppose confirmation of Chief Justice-nominee John Roberts, questioning Roberts' commitment to civil rights and accusing the Bush administration of stonewalling requests for documents that might shed light on his views.

[. . .]

Way to go, Harry. However, we don't need statements like this:

[. . .]

At the same time, Reid readily predicted Roberts will win Senate confirmation, coupling the forecast with a warning of sorts to President Bush as he considers candidates for a second vacancy on the Supreme Court. "No one should think that just automatically they're all going to be easy like this one," he said.

[. . .]

What he should have said was, 'if we don't get all the documents we asked for, we're gonna filibuster this motherfucker until the cows come home'.

Hat tip: Skippy

We told you so

You owe it to yourself to read this. Driftglass via Shakes:

[. . .]

I couldn't help but remember that it is already the tax dollars confiscated from the hard-working men and women of the Blue States and Socialistically redistributed to the Loser Red States that props up their backwards economies, illiterate WalMart Confederate populations and their hateful Fundy Cults. That without Welfare from the Hated Yankee States, the States Formerly Known as Slaveholding would collapse into the Third World dictatorships and pestholes that they always wanted to be.

If ever a swath of states absolutely BEGGED to be written off as a bad debt, it's the Confederate South. The roots of so much that is cancerously wrong with this country come straight out of the poisonous legacy of Dixie, and if I thought that pulling the plug on the mutant children of Jefferson Davis in the name of State's Rights, Secession or just finally-kicking-these-fuckers-to-the-curb common sense would solve our problems, I'd drop my alias and petition for it coast-to-coast tomorrow. [my em]

[. . .]

Still in New Mexico

Posting tonight from Belen, New Mexico, a little south of Albuquerque. I read the history of the town and as near as I can figure, its main claim to fame is that it's a little south of Albuquerque. Nice Best Western motel, complete with a dead snake (just a little one) in the swimming pool, with a bitchin' '50s diner about 100 feet from our room. The joint's got an Edsel on their T-shirts. Good food cheap, too.

I'll bore you with details in a minute, but first, a couple of observations.

It's amazing how small the United States is. The other day we were cruising through the very pretty Chama Valley NM on US 84. I was just sort of idly musing that maybe they could get just a little bit of the billions in highway pork so they could paint a center stripe on a US Highway when we blasted past a little sign that said "Continental Divide". Just that fast, we went from Out West to Back East!

We crossed the Colorado Plateau through some real pretty high country. Stopped for gas in Pagosa Springs and two things happened: saw a car being loaded on a wrecker that had a deer try to get in through the windshield. The little sucker damn near made it, too. A hoof mark on the passenger door and one on the front fender. The windshield was caved in almost to where the passenger was sitting. If it had been me, I'da damn sure browned my knickers so I think they were getting it towed because the interior of the car smelled bad!

The other thing is I still can't get this silly song out of my head.

All these mountain two-lanes have big rigs runnin' up and down (I mean up and down quite literally) at all hours. All the little towns have signs that say, in effect, "Wake my ass up with your Jake Brake and you're gonna fuckin' die!"

We walked around old Santa Fe yesterday. Went in the St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral that dates from the 16th century. Looked like a nicely furnished old Catholic church to me. The NM State Museum is closed on Mondays, and I couldn't find the Sanctuary of Mary on the Half Shell (thanks, Fixer!), so the morning devolved to shopping. Mrs. G, who has trouble deciding between two items on a menu, went straight to one pair of earrings out of a choice of 100,000! Women!

Santa Fe is basically a lethal hip-hold tourist trap. Get caught in it, and the only way out is to chew your wallet off and make a run for it! It was fun. Note: there's plenty of parking and the drivers are nice to pedestrians. They let the souvenir joints mow you down.

Then up to Taos. Artsy-fartsy tourist town like Santa Fe, but we wanted to see it. Went out to the Taos Pueblo, which is the oldest continuously inhabited place in the United States. Those blanket asses got a racket goin' on, charge $10 a head to look at 1000 year-old mud condos. No shortage of takers, either. They're gettin' back at Whitey good. Good for them. We saw all we needed to see from the parking lot.

Took the scenic route back to Santa Fe through the Carson National Forest in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Real purty country. There sure is a lot of shit around here named for people who raped and pillaged, enslaved and murdered the locals and ruined their ancient cultures. The winners get to name 'em, I guess. Due to road construction, we missed the little town of Truchas where one of my favorite movies, "The Milagro Beanfield War", was filmed.

Today we went to Roswell to the UFO Museum. Well worth the trip. Then we got the fuck out of there. Too close to Texas. I was afraid we'd get all retarded or something. Tried to get gas at a Texaco station and my ChevTex card wouldn't work. The guy told me it was a Shell station, they just hadn't changed the signs yet! In-fuckin'-credible!

We cruised up here through Lincoln County, of Billy the Kid and Lincoln County War fame. Real Old West cowboy country. Population density of 4 people/square mile. Waved to Fixer's buds as we went by White Sands.

We're pretty much headin' for the barn now, but we've got another side trip or two to make. We're three or four days out. When I get home and collect my thoughts, I might have another yarn or two. Or sooner, you never know.

Missing links

I love that fucking Penguin.

Tanish the Wolf talks about a major differentiating characteristic between left-wing bloggers and right-wing bloggers. Lefties' blogs are filled with frustration, resentment, and humor, he says. While right-wing blogs express only one thing: pure, unfettered rage.

[. . .]

A great post on the anthropology and pshrinkology of 'us' and 'them'.

You know, with all these talking animals, cruising Left Blogtopia (y!sctp!) is like being in a cartoon. Can one of you clowns introduce me to Jessica Rabbit?

Opening salvoes?

Via Ol' Froth:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 - A senior White House budget official who resigned abruptly last week was arrested Monday on charges of lying to investigators and obstructing a federal inquiry involving Jack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist who has been under scrutiny by the Justice Department for more than a year.

[. . .]

One step closer to DeLay?

Update:

Jo Fish:

[. . .]

Words that ring hollow when the top guy in charge of all money being spent is about to be indicted for various and sundry things related to being fundamentally honest. Not just any guy...the TOP guy in the money giving-out process. Another crony caught. The FBI has to be on the 1600 Crew shitlist right around now... I guess they didn't get the "leave the cronies alone" memo from Rove's office. [my em]

[. . .]

R.I.P.

VIENNA (Reuters) - Simon Wiesenthal, the veteran Nazi hunter who helped bring over 1,100 Nazi war criminals to trial, has died in Vienna at the age of 96, the Simon Wiesenthal Center said on Tuesday.

[. . .]

He put a lot of Nazis where they belonged, in jail or at the end of a rope. The world owes him a great debt.

Par for the course

Via His Highness:

In the midst of administering chest compressions to a dying woman several days after Hurricane Katrina struck, Dr. Mark N. Perlmutter was ordered to stop by a federal official because he wasn't registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"I begged him to let me continue," said Perlmutter, who left his home and practice as an orthopedic surgeon in Pennsylvania to come to Louisiana and volunteer to care for hurricane victims. "People were dying, and I was the only doctor on the tarmac (at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport) where scores of nonresponsive patients lay on stretchers. Two patients died in front of me.

"I showed him (the U.S. Coast Guard official in charge) my medical credentials. I had tried to get through to FEMA for 12 hours the day before and finally gave up. I asked him to let me stay until I was replaced by another doctor, but he refused. He said he was afraid of being sued. I informed him about the Good Samaritan laws and asked him if he was willing to let people die so the government wouldn't be sued, but he would not back down. I had to leave." [Link]

[. . .]

The clock is ticking, a (the only) qualified doctor on the scene is rendering aid in an emergency situation, and you order him to stop because you're afraid of a lawsuit? I give a shit if the guy was an auto mechanic. He's saving lives in an emergency situation. The Bush administration in a nutshell: Lives mean nothing when they come in conflict with the political agenda. Time to start prepping some cells in The Hague.

Too good to be true

SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea said Tuesday it would not dismantle its nuclear weapons program until the United States first provides an atomic energy reactor, casting doubt on its commitment to a breakthrough agreement reached at international arms talks.

[. . .]

Both the United States and Japan, members of the six-nation disarmament talks, rejected the North's latest demand.

[. . .]

I knew it sounded too good to be true to get my hopes up.

What Roberts will do

The Rude One calls it once again:

[. . .]

Is there anyone, Democrat or Republican, who thinks that Roberts got out of interviews with Rove and Cheney without them knowing exactly how he would rule on every goddamn issue that might come up, from Roe v. Wade to enemy combatant cases? Rove and Cheney may be "masterful" politicians, but, to be sure, they are not subtle men. Shit, the fact that Rove even interviewed Roberts means that the political operation was under way.

[. . .]

And as for Roberts' interview with Cheney? Well, let's just say that if Roberts didn't answer questions directly, the femur of a Gitmo detainee who committed suicide would have needed to have been removed from Roberts' colon.

So let's stop playing these stupid fucking games of "Is-he-really-a-moderate?" The Bush White House knows exactly what Roberts will do, on every goddamn case that makes it to the Supreme Court. Or else they wouldn't have nominated him. This adminstration micromanages every fuckin' message that it's associated with. And you can bet they've got photos of Roberts in his Peppermint Patty outfit going down on the male classmate who played Snoopy or some such shit as insurance that Roberts will play nicely.

[. . .]

Note to Dem Senators: This is all you need to know, dickheads. Now, filibuster accordingly.

Beth Quinn

Since I refuse to give Izvestia on the Hudson any money, I've been checking around for new news sources. I found Ms. Quinn (subscription required but filling out the form is worth it for her columns) via the Penguin:

Well, folks, the only thing left up in the air now is whether George Bush is the worst president ever. Herbert Hoover has held the title since 1933.

It's been neck and neck for a while, but I think Bush pulled ahead with his spectacular failure in handling Katrina.

George Bush is a walking catastrophe. Far more than even Katrina, he is one of the worst disasters to ever hit America. His performance these past two weeks seemed a showcase for his utter stupidity and indifference, complete with flood, fire and floating bodies.

[. . .]

Most of all, I'm offended by those Americans who still insist that this sociopath is a swell guy, a terrific leader, a fine thinker. What is wrong with you people?!

[. . .]

Heh. Like I said, waste some time and subscribe (it's free) to read the whole thing. It's worth it.

Yeah, right

The US space agency Nasa has announced plans to return to the Moon by 2020.

Nasa administrator Dr Michael Griffin said four astronauts would be sent in a new space vehicle, in a project that would cost $104bn (£58bn).

"We will return to the Moon no later than 2020 and extend human presence across the Solar System and beyond," Dr Griffin said on Monday. [BBC] [my em]

[. . .]

Answer me one question, Dr. Griffin. Who the fuck is gonna pay for it after the Chimp gets done bankrupting the nation?

Loser

I saw this at MyDD, but the Sister said it all before I could. Go see her.

[. . .]

Which just further reinforces my belief that the key attribute shared by Bush's core supporters, be they anti-taxers, social conservatives, blood-lusting warmongers, or some ugly combination thereof, is a complete lack of understanding about what government is meant to do . . .

[. . .]

Of course The-Government-Never-Gave-Me-Shit Brigade doesn't understand government, and gets mad at President Sideshow for giving money toward the Gulf Coast's reconstruction . . .

The Chimp's numbers are finding new lows and I'm doing the Dance of Joy. Unlike Gord, I don't do it naked anymore. I got arrested for inadequate exposure.

Talk like a pirate day

It's talk like a pirate day. I'll be drinking like a pirate instead. Unfortunately, the Mrs. is in L.A. or I'd be carousing like a pirate too.

I wonder

Ya think they would have given Iraq the same deal if Saddam would have waved his prick around like that insane dwarf in NK?

BEIJING - North Korea pledged to drop its nuclear weapons development and rejoin international arms treaties in a unanimous agreement Monday at six-party arms talks, the first ever after more than two years of negotiations.

The North "committed to abandoning all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs and returning at an early date" to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, according to the agreement by the six countries at the talks.

[. . .]

North Korea and the United States also pledged in the agreement to respect each other's sovereignty and right to peaceful coexistence, and to take steps to normalize relations.

"The United States affirmed that it has no nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula and has no intention to attack or invade (North Korea) with nuclear or conventional weapons," according to the statement, in assurances echoed by South Korea. [my em]

[. . .]

If they gave Saddam the same assurances, stuck with the sanctions route instead of invading, we might not be paying so much for oil. We certainly wouldn't have had to bury 2000 of our children so far.

Theft

Of your tax dollars.

One billion dollars has been plundered from Iraq's defence ministry in one of the largest thefts in history, The Independent can reveal, leaving the country's army to fight a savage insurgency with museum-piece weapons.

The money, intended to train and equip an Iraqi army capable of bringing security to a country shattered by the US-led invasion and prolonged rebellion, was instead siphoned abroad in cash and has disappeared.

[. . .]

Most of the money was supposedly spent buying arms from Poland and Pakistan. The contracts were peculiar in four ways. According to Mr Allawi, they were awarded without bidding, and were signed with a Baghdad-based company, and not directly with the foreign supplier. The money was paid up front, and, surprisingly for Iraq, it was paid at great speed out of the ministry's account with the Central Bank. Military equipment purchased in Poland included 28-year-old Soviet-made helicopters. The manufacturers said they should have been scrapped after 25 years of service. Armoured cars purchased by Iraq turned out to be so poorly made that even a bullet from an elderly AK-47 machine-gun could penetrate their armour. A shipment of the latest MP5 American machine-guns, at a cost of $3,500 (£1,900) each, consisted in reality of Egyptian copies worth only $200 a gun. Other armoured cars leaked so much oil that they had to be abandoned. A deal was struck to buy 7.62mm machine-gun bullets for 16 cents each, although they should

[. . .]

Senior Iraqi officials now say they cannot understand how, if this is so, the disappearance of almost all the military procurement budget could have passed unnoticed by the US military in Baghdad and civilian advisers working in the defence ministry.

Government officials in Baghdad even suggest that the skill with which the robbery was organised suggests that the Iraqis involved were only front men, and "rogue elements" within the US military or intelligence services may have played a decisive role behind the scenes. [my em]

[. . .]

Medals of Freedom for everybody. Personally, I'd check Bremer's or Kerik's pockets.

Hat tip: Atrios

Moab to Santa Fe

Comin' atcha tonight from the Comfort Inn in Santa Fe.

Yesterday we went to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. There's a bazillion Googlies on these, so I'll be brief.

The Arches is the densest grouping of geological formations due to erosion on the planet, I think. Red rocks formed into arches, spires, domes, you name the shape, all done one drop of water at a time. The three or four seas that have come and gone over time were made up of individual drops, after all. Sediment turned into rock one layer at a time, and then eroded away after the last sea receded. Shit, guys get a doctorate in this stuff and their work's just beginning. Anyway, it's really beautiful and fascinating to see.

Canyonlands is just a few miles and one mountain range away, but way different. We stood at the end of the part of the park called "Island in the Sky" and just looked. Words can't really describe it. You're at 6000' elevation. You can see fifty miles, give or take, to the horizon, through an arc of up to 180 degrees. You look straight down 1000' to an old sea bed, and another 1000' feet down to the Green and Colorado Rivers' gorges. They have their confluence here before they go down through the Grand Canyon to water golf courses in Las Vegas. Erosion: water, gritty sediment, time. Awesome. It should make you feel very, very, small.

The upshot is, if any dumbass tells me this was all done 6000 years ago while men rode around on dinosaurs, he can kiss my ancient, eroded ass.

One more thing before I fall asleep at the helm of this thing. We stopped in Cortez, Colorado, at about the nicest Visitor Information Center I've ever seen. Lotsa free stuff, gift shop, municipal park, the works. It was here that I had the ultimate introduction to life in the Four Corners. I got panhandled in the park by a drunk Navajo. At noon on Sunday. I coughed up a little, but not enough for a bottle. I saw in this gentleman a fine tribute to the Great White Father. If there's a point to be made, you make it for me. I'm going to bed.

Oh, Canada

I'm surprised these people even bother with us anymore. They have every right to line up along the border (yes, all of 'em), drop their pants (they're used to the cold), and give us a collective moon. But they don't. They do what good friends and neighbors do. Cathie:

Congratulations to Meg Brubacher and Bonnie Deekon -- this news story "CTV.ca | Canadians mount dog rescue effort in New Orleans" notes that they drove to New Orleans and returned late Thursday night with 15 dogs, including seven puppies. Deekon is director of the Cambridge & District Humane Society, where the dogs will be put up for adoption.

Sorry, but I stole the whole thing because it was short. Maybe some more of us will appreciate our friends to the north. Thanks for your help.

Update

Gary illustrates why I'd consider moving there if it weren't so goddamn cold in the winter.

A question

Our friend Atrios is the master of the 'open thread'. I was just wondering if you (the readers) would like me to start doing that here? Personally, I didn't think we got enough commenters here (something I like because I can follow the threads, old pothead, you know) but do you want say . . . a post a day where folks can hang and bullshit about any topic? Maybe I can do pissy pithy little blurbs like the A-man too? Let me know in comments.

Feingold in '08 . . . again

Last week I directed you to Ed's place for his 2-parter on Russ Feingold of WI. This week, I send you to Shakes:

[. . .]

That said, I'm not sure that Russ Feingold's liberalism will have as limited appeal as it might seem at first blush. It's true that Feingold is now ranked the most liberal Senator (tied with Boxer) in the Senate, which would likely be, under typical circumstances, a liability. But with the opportunity having presented itself to hold accountable not just the Bush administration, but the conservative agenda, for many of the massive government failures we've seen lately, the game has changed a bit . . .

To me, Feingold is looking more and more of what we need. Someone we can give the nation who isn't beholden to special interest and has a firm and principled progressive vision. After eight years of crooks, Americans might see him as a refreshing change. In my book though, it's too soon to be looking at candidates for '08. A lot can happen by then. The focus should be on at least one house of Congress in '06. Personally, I'll keep an eye on all the 'likely candidates' but I'll make up my mind before the primary season in '07.

Can we find a winner?

David Mamet in the L.A. Times via Lambert:

[. . .]

Control of the initiative is control of the battle. In the alley, at the poker table or in politics. One must raise. The American public chose Bush over Kerry in 2004. How, the undecided electorate rightly wondered, could one believe that Kerry would stand up for America when he could not stand up to Bush? A possible response to the Swift boat veterans would have been: "I served. He didn't. I didn't bring up the subject, but, if all George Bush has to show for his time in the Guard is a scrap of paper with some doodling on it, I say the man was a deserter."

[. . .]

I've asked the question a million times. Is there a Democrat out there with the balls to raise?

Scams

I was wondering when this would happen. Via Atrios:

WASHINGTON - (KRT) - From the Indian Ocean tsunami to the church around the corner, Americans have shown time and again they are willing to open their pocketbooks for charity, for a total of about $250 billion last year alone.

[. . .]

Although more than $30 billion in taxpayer funds have been appropriated for Iraqi reconstruction, the administration earlier this month launched an Internet-based fundraising effort that it says is aimed at giving Americans "a further stake in building a free and prosperous Iraq."

Contributors have no way of knowing who's getting the money or precisely where it's headed, because the government says it must keep the details secret for security reasons.

[. . .]

So whaddaya say? Dig deep in them pockets. You gave to the 9/11 rescue and recovery (thank you on behalf of my fellow New Yorkers by the way), the tsunami, and now the Gulf. Why not give a little more for Iraq? Much as I feel for the Iraqi people, they're getting enough of my money, thank you very much. What I'm waiting for is a telethon to buy up-armored Humvees and flak jackets for our troops. Lowlife motherfuckers.

The curtain has parted

The wonderful Frank Rich:

ONCE Toto parts the curtain, the Wizard of Oz can never be the wizard again. He is forever Professor Marvel, blowhard and snake-oil salesman. Hurricane Katrina, which is likely to endure in the American psyche as long as L. Frank Baum's mythic tornado, has similarly unmasked George W. Bush.

The worst storm in our history proved perfect for exposing this president because in one big blast it illuminated all his failings: the rampant cronyism, the empty sloganeering of "compassionate conservatism," the lack of concern for the "underprivileged" his mother condescended to at the Astrodome, the reckless lack of planning for all government operations except tax cuts, the use of spin and photo-ops to camouflage failure and to substitute for action.

[. . .]

Thanks to Brilliant at Breakfast for the link, being that I refuse to pay for the Times.

Uh, never mind . . .

Secret plans by the Government to reduce troop numbers in Iraq have been shelved - and there is now no office date for the withdrawal of British soldiers, The Sunday Telegraph has learnt.

[. . .]

But the confirmation of a new large-scale troop redeployment, and the news that there is no end-date for British withdrawal, have sparked fears among serving soldiers and senior military figures that Iraq may be developing into Britain's own "Vietnam".

Last night, senior officers accused the Government of having a "head-in-the-sand mentality" over Britain's defence requirements and its involvement in Iraq, where more than 200 civilians were killed in terrorists attack last week alone. They said the Army - which is also sending 3,000 extra troops to Afghanistan next April - was under-manned, "strapped for cash" and being "dangerously overstretched".

[. . .]

One serving brigadier, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the danger of Britain becoming bogged down in its own "Vietnam war" was getting stronger every day. "The return of the 7th Armoured Brigade to Iraq is a significant benchmark," he said.

[. . .]

So, Iraq isn't going swimmingly in the British sectors either, as we've been led to believe. And now with the redeployment of their strongest amored unit, the Brits are in it as deeply as we are. I'm surprised Tony's been able to hold onto power for so long, but it surprised the shit out of me when we reelected the Chimp too. The whole article is at Melanie's.

Poorness

The Angry Old Broad is fired up again; this time at white people who think they know poor.

Shut the Fuck Up.Yeah,I said it.Sit Down,Shut Up,and for once in your meaningless little spoiled ass life listen.

No one"wants"to be poor you morons.You talk like you've lived poor.Like you've had to struggle to survive and make ends meet.Like you know what it's like not to eat so your kids can.No you don't.

You talk like you've been poor,and therefore deem yourselves experts.No you aren't.

You seem to be living in a very sheltered world,so I'll try to keep this simple.

[. . .]

Read it now.

Back Door

Avedon Carol and I have been doing some link trading. From Brad Blog:

[. . .]

Pointing to a little-noticed "Cyber Security Alert" issued by the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the source inside Diebold -- who "for the time being" is requesting anonymity due to a continuing sensitive relationship with the company -- is charging that Diebold's technicians, including at least one of its lead programmers, knew about the security flaw and that the company instructed them to keep quiet about it.

"Diebold threatened violators with immediate dismissal," the insider, who we'll call DIEB-THROAT, explained recently to The BRAD BLOG via email. "In 2005, after one newly hired member of Diebold's technical staff pointed out the security flaw, he was criticized and isolated."

[. . .]

Ever wonder how Bush won, and the Republicans plan to stay in power? Brad has links aplenty.

She's got great teeth but . . .

Symbolic of the importance the Bush Administration places on women's health, a male veterinarian has been appointed by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Lester Crawford as acting director of the Office of Women's Health. Norris E. Alderson, PhD, has spent the majority of his career at the FDA holding various positions in the Center for Veterinary Medicine. [my em]

[. . .]

She's a little broad across the flanks. Hope you ladies realize what the Chimp thinks of you.

Great thanks: Maru

Empires

For anybody interested, Chapter 14 is up at creativity . . .

Can we talk?

About tax and spend Liberals?

Click. I'll wait.

Now, shut the fuck up.

Graphic thanks to Ol' Froth

Heh . . .

Our esteemed colleague and fellow veteran Jo Fish made a list of all the names he's used for President Useless Gasbag:

Preznit Their Blood His Gutz
Preznit Kissin' Condi
Preznit Rexall Wrangler
Preznit Economic Disaster
Preznit Dangerous Pretzel
Preznit Illiterate
Preznit Yellow Stripe
Preznit Turd Smoker
Preznit Buggered and Beholden

[. . .]

Much more here.

Unbelievable

As most regulars know, I refuse to go to wingnut sites. I just get too pissed off and it torques my sphincter to give them a hit. Fortunately there's Pam, who would deserve a Medal of Freedom for going to these places, were the MoF not so devalued by Chimpy's giving it to Tenet and Bremer.

So, I'm over at Big Brass Blog for my daily visit and I see this post by Pam with her usual section with quotes from the Freepers. They're getting more hateful by the day.

"If everyone in your town feels the same way. Just act like they aren't there. Act like they're invisible. Everybody. Do it long enough and the nature of the attention starved negro will come out in such ways to deserve arrest, but none will be able to blame Whitey."

"Yea man, I know how you feel. The little town that I live in which is in Utah is 98% white at least, and now we have these blacks being moved here . Im not saying all of them, but the majority of them are low life druggie criminals who live off of welfare. I would also like to know what to do."

"So far none here in north Indiana, coons don't like the cold. I'm buying some guns to prepare myself for them, I'm sure some will make it up here."

"115 due to land in Tucson this morning! Time to print out my listing of the dangers these negroes will face in this area of the Sonoran Desert and infiltrate the leaflets in their Welcome Wagon handouts."

"Unless these niggers get krystaaal and fried chicken, they will start rioting and raping whites. If they do get their demands, they will still rape and kill, just not riot as much."

This is America in the 21st Century. Thing is, much as I revile these people, I pity them too. To have such closed minds must be painful. I can imagine their torment. That doesn't mitigate the fact I'd like to throw them all a serious beating and knock some sense into them. Hateful motherfuckers. I did see a glimmer of hope in one quote though.

"Believe it or not, we called the local Klan about 2 weeks ago, and they actually admitted that they don't do anything anymore, because they are broke...."

I hope they all go broke.

Hi, gang

This is bitchin'! I'm sittin' in the Days Inn in Moab, Utah, wi-fied up. I think this might actually work!

We spent last night at the Ramada Inn & Copper Queen Casino in Ely, Nevada. They had a data port on the telephone for dial-up. They gave me a local number, but I couldn't figure out how to connect. My set said I was connected, but I missed something. I was tired. This is, after all, a learning curve and it helps to be alert.

We took US 50, "The Loneliest Road in America", from Fallon NV to Ely. Fallon is famous for Fallon melons and for having a Naval Air Station billed as "The World's Largest Aircraft Carrier". In 250 miles of two-lane, we crossed 11 mountain ranges over passes from 4400' to 7600'. There's only two towns in between, Austin and Eureka, both old mining towns clinging to mountainsides, literally and figuratively. Ely is at 6500'.

On the way, we got passed three times by the same group of Indiana bikers on sport machines with one really weird trike: two wheels in front, one behind, Yamaha (I think) shaft-drive powertrain. The driver had a single-seat cockpit. I looked at it in the gas station in Fallon, and it had a handicap control setup. It takes balls to ride out from the Midwest when you can't walk, folks. These guys weren't dawdling, either. They were haulin' ass.

Today was more mountains, but with some I-70 and some spectacular geological scenery thrown in. We came here for the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, but come to find out this burg is mountain bike and 4WD central as well as a geological wonderland. There's a 'sickle rally this weekend, apparently run out of "Bone Daddy's Custom Cycles" which is across the street. Hawgs and other large bikes all over the place. Also, some kind of music festival. It's a happenin' joint in a beautiful setting.

On the technical side, we're 740 miles from home. Gas has been runnin' $3 to $3.11 and, get this, starting at Ely, 87 octane is the middle grade. That's new to me. Regular is 85 octane. Our mileage has run from 20.1 mpg to 23.2 mpg. I'm happy with that. V6 Toyota Tacoma.

I didn't put in links 'cuz...no guts! I'm afraid I'll screw up and lose it all.

More later.

They knew

All the denials and bullshit aside, the Chimp and all his cronies knew exactly what could happen when Katrina made landfall. NPR:

[. . .]

Leo Bosner, an emergency management specialist at FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C., is in charge of the unit that alerts officials of impending crises and manages the response. As early as Friday, Aug. 26, Bosner knew that Katrina could turn into a major emergency.

In daily e-mails -- known as National Situation Updates -- sent to Chertoff, Brown and others in the days before Katrina made landfall in the Gulf Coast, Bosner warned of its growing strength -- and of the particular danger the hurricane posed to New Orleans, much of which lies below sea level.

But Bosner says FEMA failed to organize the massive mobilization of National Guard troops and evacuation buses needed for a quick and effective relief response when Katrina struck. He says he and his colleagues at FEMA's D.C. headquarters were shocked by the lack of response. [my emphases]

[. . .]

It wasn't that they 'had no idea the levees could break'. Chertoff and the rest knew what could happen and didn't give a shit. Time for some 'Homeland Security' [cough] guys to do some jail time.

Link courtesy of the wonderful Melanie.

Sound like Iraq to you?

[. . .]

It is impossible to over-emphasize the extent to which this area is under government occupation, and portions of it under government-enforced lockdown. Police cars rule the streets. They (along with Humvees, ambulances, fire apparatus, FEMA trucks and all official-looking SUVs) are generally not stopped at checkpoints and roadblocks. All other vehicles are subject to long lines and snap judgments and must PROVE they have vital business inside the vast roped-off regions here. If we did not have the services of an off-duty law enforcement officer, we could not do our jobs in the course of a work day and get back in time to put together the broadcast and get on the air. As we are about to do. [my emphasis]

It's New Orleans. It's the Chimpy Inc way. Turn everything they touch into a fucked up police state. Brian Williams also has more to say about the 'electrical situation' for the hours around Chimpy's speech. By the way, I like Brian Williams. Seems like he has a bit more character than most of the news-reading weenies.

Hat tip: Shakes

Suggestion

Smirky McFlightsuit says we need to cut stuff to pay for the mess Katrina made. How about WE CUT THE WAR IN IRAQ!

Intelligent [cough] Design

Go see CN Todd.

Puppies!

It is Friday, isn't it?

But . . .

Can he make sparks shoot out his ass? Zoe at Demagogue:

Just in case people didn't realize it, last night's flood of pretty lights in Jackson Square that served as a etheral backdrop during Bush's speech were only temporary. About an hour after Bush left town, so did all the electricity.

[. . .]

The Bush Stage Show travels on and fuck the people, wreckage, and bodies they use as props. Motherfuckers.

I love Pauly

Especially when he's pissed.

[. . .]

Mr. President, your legacy is set in stone, finished. You might as well go on another vacation -- your self-portrait is as good as shredded. Your word isn't worth dog paddies anymore. It doesn't matter if you ride out the rest of your second term indictment-free -- your reputation is irremediably shot.

[. . .]

Go read the rest. If I were a gay man, I'd want to have Pauly's children.

Morons

I love how the Chimp's handlers have pushed the meme that 'Dumb is Beautiful'. Getting President Underachiever elected supposedly proved you don't have to be smart to run a country. After 5 years we've learned you have to be smart to run it well. Now that dumb is fashionable in America, businesses are starting to feel the effects:

NEW YORK (AP) -- International Business Machines Corp., worried the United States is losing its competitive edge, will financially back employees who want to leave the company to become math and science teachers.

[. . .]

I wrote about this a few months back when Toyota opened an assembly plant in Ontario, Canada instead of the southern U.S.

[. . .]

He said Nissan and Honda have encountered difficulties getting new plants up to full production in recent years in Mississippi and Alabama due to an untrained - and often illiterate - workforce. In Alabama, trainers had to use "pictorials" to teach some illiterate workers how to use high-tech plant equipment.

"The educational level and the skill level of the people down there is so much lower than it is in Ontario," Fedchun said.

[. . .]

So, in 20 years, all we'll be able to provide is unskilled labor for the Japanese and the Europeans. In a probable scenario, India will probably start outsourcing their menial labor to us as well, as the standard of living there becomes more robust. That's if the Chinese just don't foreclose on our debt. Idiots.

Great thanks to the Chemist for the AP link.

The Delusion Administration

From John Emerson at Seeing the Forest.

The brazenness of the Republican PR machine is almost impossible to describe.

After years passing out pork and presiding over the highest deficits in American history, for example, Tom Delay has just declared victory in the budget wars -- claiming that the Republicans have finally cut out all the fat.

So now Karl Rove will be free to throw as much money at the Gulf Coast as he wants to, in order to advance the Republican campign operation he's headed for so long. [my emphasis]

[. . .]

No, they're not delusional, anybody who still calls themselves a Republican is. They'll keep spouting this shit as long as someone believes them. Time for folks who still think these guys are doing a good job to drop the denial and stare reality in the face . . . before it jumps up and bites them in the ass.

Spineless

How very true. From my friend, Ed:

. . . As I have written before, the longer the insulated D.C. Democratic Establishment practices its trademark thumb-in-the-wind, split-the-difference politics on the most important national security issues, the more the public will perceive the Democrats as standing for nothing. . .

Friday Cattle Dog Blogging

Princess Shayna says George W. Bush is full of shit and last night was merely a feeble attempt to boost his poll numbers. And even her father can button his shirt correctly without help.

Housekeeping . . . again

That Google Blog Search I put in the left sidebar really sucked. I replaced it with Technorati's offering.

Opinions

Yeah, I know. Opinions are like assholes. Everybody's got one and they all stink. But when they're John Roberts' opinions, it behooves you to listen. Jami's got a compendium of them. This guy should be filibustered.

Glow in the dark?

I know about radiation. My dad owned an industrial testing lab and was a major contractor for Grumman, Republic, the State and City of New York. Almost every major bridge connecting Manhattan with New York, Long Island, and New Jersey was X-rayed by his people. So was the World Trade Center when it went up. My dad was one of the pioneers in the field. I worked for the crusty old Brit for 2 years as well. I know about radiation and what it can do to living things. My dad was only 64 when cancer took him in a violent and painful way. Thankfully he went quickly. Naturally, when I see this symbol:



It makes my sphincter tighten. If I poked around my garage, I could probably still find a couple of those signs. I urge you to read this post from RJ Eskow:

How's this sentence for grabbing your attention? "Some radiological waste storage areas may lack adequate protection against sabotage which could cause wide-area radiological dispersal." That's from a retired Admiral's independent report on the security capability of the Department of Energy, another crony-laden organ of the Bush Administration. [my em]

[. . .]

There's only one good thing about radiation poisoning. You don't have to turn on the light when you go take a leak in the middle of the night. But that only lasts until you die horribly and painfully. If the Chimp administration drops the ball after a dirty bomb attack, you can curse them with your last breaths.

Toxicity

From Advena at 12th Harmonic:

[. . .]

I would genuinely like to know the answers to these questions because I am trying to think of a way in which this doesn't mean that Louisiana and Mississippi will be a giant dead zone and I'm not coming up with one:

New government tests show dangerous amounts of sewage-related bacteria and lead from unknown sources in the floodwaters in New Orleans, and high levels of chemicals such as hexavalent chromium, used in industrial plating, and arsenic, used in treating wood.

. . .

[. . .]

Just ruined my dinner.

Update:

Cookie Jill has more.

So long for a while...maybe

Me 'n Mrs. G are heading out for a little road trip. She's in a position that is required by law to take two weeks off in a row to see if there's a spike in the books. Like, to see if the joint starts making a profit while she's gone. We'll be gone eight or nine days.

We're heading for Santa Fe, New Mexico. We like to look at different-colored dirt and rocks. There'll be plenty, no doubt.

I think I've got my laptop to where I can post along the way. I want to, just to see if it actually works. We will see. If it does, you'll be hearing from me sooner. If it doesn't, you'll be hearing from me later.

Thanks to all of you who helped me with hints and tips. If nothing else, I know to keep the Cholula away from the keyboard and not to take mini-Hal in the swimming pool.

Hasta luego, amigos.

Why do I have no problem believing this?

From The Onion:

HOUSTON - On Tuesday, Halliburton received a $110 million no-bid government contract to pry the gold fillings from the mouths of deceased disaster victims in the New Orleans-Gulf Coast area. "We are proud to serve the government in this time of crisis by recovering valuable resources from the wreckage of this deadly storm," said David J. Lesar, Halliburton's president. "The gold we recover from the human rubble of Katrina can be used to make fighter-jet electronics, supercomputer chips, inflation-proof A-grade investments, and luxury yachting watches."

It's about what we've come to expect from this lowlife administration.

NYC Unity

(New York - AP, Sept. 14, 2005) - The second-place finisher conceded the Democratic mayoral primary to Fernando Ferrer on Wednesday, sparing the party the threat of a divisive runoff in its uphill quest to unseat Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

With absentee ballots still outstanding after Tuesday's primary, Ferrer was just fractions of a percentage point shy of the 40 percent he needed to avoid a runoff with Rep. Anthony Weiner, who had 29 percent. Elections officials had said it might take several days to count all the votes.

[. . .]

I know Weiner is looking long-term and this move to consolidate Dem Party unity in NYC earned him a lot of goodwill here. Maybe a Senatorial run if Hillary chases the White House? But the morning after election day, Bloomberg will still be Mayor of New York. Freddy Ferrer's time is long past and I hope he bypasses any future elections in favor of a younger, more electable candidate.

The Pledge

I wasn't gonna say much about it because folks to the left of me would probably be pissed and this isn't worth it. Mustang Bobby has probably the closest take on what I believe. Stolen in full:

I'm sorry, but this finding the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional is just plain silly. I suppose in the strictest construction of an interpretation of the First Amendment it probably rises to some level of violating the Establishment clause, but sheesh... There are just some fights not worth picking and this is one of them.

Aside from the fact that it hands the Religious Reich a couple of million dollars in fund-raising, it trivializes the real abuses of the First Amendment like the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act.

This is a no-win fight. Even if the complainant prevails, all it will do is piss off a bunch of people who are spoiling for a fight, as if they need another excuse to raise more money to rally for a theocratic state.

Ya gotta go to his page for the links though.

Creationist humor

Go see M and T (and give Harry Hound a milkbone).

Something stinks

And a guy who's used to eating fish all the time (no, I'm not going there) knows about bad smells. I never agreed with any Libertarian as much as I do the guy in the fancy suit.

I gotta go potty

Seriously.

Via Atrios

Housekeeping

I put a link up in the left sidebar to a new utility from Google. It's a blog search engine. Give it a try. Thanks to Kevin Drum for the heads up.

Are you surprised?

WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans on Wednesday scuttled an attempt by Sen. Hillary Clinton to establish an independent, bipartisan panel patterned after the 9/11 Commission to investigate what went wrong with federal, state and local governments' response to Hurricane Katrina.

The New York Democrat's bid to establish the panel - which would have also made recommendations on how to improve the government's disaster response apparatus - failed to win the two-thirds majority vote needed to overcome procedural hurdles.

[. . .]

Great thanks: Mr. H

Moon over Nassau

Nassau County, New York that is. Got my ass in trouble today. Heh. As regular readers know our local (Republican) congessman's office is in a storefront just up the block from the shop. And as regulars also know, I moon him whenever I see him in there (I been doing it for a year and a half, since he moved his office there). So, this morning I see him pull up and get out of his car. Heh again. I put down the wrench, walk out to the sidewalk, bend over, and drop my pants. I look over my shoulder and yell, like I always do, "Hey John, you Nazi sonofabitch, come over here and kiss my ass". His secretary always laughs and waves. She can't stand him either and she likes looking at my ass but I digress.

Today, after I'm done yelling, I hear laughter from the Indian and PDB. I turn around (I'm still bent over) and guess what? I'm staring into the grille of a Nassau County police car. Great. The lady cop (whom I've known for 10 years) gets out and says, "Jesus Christ, Rich, pull up your pants". More raucous laughter from the shop.

So of course I say, "what's the problem, officer?" Turns out she too likes the way my ass looks, but the Republican sonofabitch is threatening to press charges now. So, I made a deal with the cop that I'd just give the Neocon prick the finger from now on or she'd have to bust me for public lewdness. Of course, this afternoon I went over there and stuck an 'I think with the Alternate Brain' bumper sticker on his car. Wonder how long it is before he notices.

Charities are for Suckers

I came across this one on Yahoo News. Not a bad article - and the headline sure grabs ya.

Charities are for Suckers


By Ted Rall Tue Sep 13, 8:06 PM ET

Leave Katrina Relief Efforts to Government

NEW YORK--Hurricane Katrina has prompted Americans to donate more than $700 million to charity, reports the Chronicle of Philanthropy. So many suckers, so little foresight.

Government has been shirking its basic responsibilities since the '80s, when Ronald Reagan sold us his belief that the sick, poor and unlucky should no longer count on "big government" to help them, but should rather live and die at the whim of contributors to private charities. The Katrina disaster, whose total damage estimate has risen from $100 to $125 billion, marks the culmination of Reagan's privatization of despair.

The American Red Cross leads the post-Katrina sweepstakes, quickly closing in on the $534 million it took in just after 9/11. But Red Cross spokeswoman Sheila Graham told the AP it needs another half billion "to provide emergency relief over the coming weeks for thousands of evacuees who have scattered among 675 of its shelters in 23 states."

Shelley Borysiewicz of Catholic Charities USA, which has raised $7 million thus far, also continues to solicit donations: "We don't want people to lose sight of the fact that this is going to take years of recovery, and we're going to be there to help the people who fall through the cracks."

What "cracks"? Why should New Orleans' dispossessed have to live in private shelters? We live in the United States, not Mali. There's only one reason flood victims aren't getting help from the government: because the government refuses to help them. The Red Cross and its cohorts are letting lazy, incompetent and corrupt politicians off the hook, and so are their donors.

It's ridiculous, but people evidently need to be reminded that the United States is not only the world's wealthiest nation but the wealthiest society that has existed anywhere, ever. The U.S. government can easily pick up the tab for people inconvenienced by bad weather--if helping them is a priority. That goes double for Katrina, a disaster caused by the government's conscious decision to eliminate the $50 million pittance needed to improve New Orleans' levees.

For our leaders the optional war against Iraq is such a priority, which the Congressional Budget Office expects to cost $600 billion by 2010. That's four or five Katrinas right there. (That's also where the levee money went.) Because rich people are always a political priority, their taxes have been slashed by $4 trillion over a decade--the equivalent of 32 Katrinas. So worried are our public servants about the tax burden placed on the rich that they're looking out for rich dead people. This is why they've gutted the estate tax that, at a cost of $75 billion annually, will run half a Katrina a year. Trickle-down economists beginning with Milton Friedman shout "starve the beast," but while the social programs are put on a diet, the mean and powerful pig out more than ever.

Disaster relief is too important to be left to private fundraisers, with their self-sustaining fundraising expenses, administrative overhead (nine percent for the Red Cross) and their parochial, often religious, agendas. It's also way too expensive. In the final analysis, after the floodwaters have receded and the poor neighborhoods of New Orleans have been razed under eminent domain, major charities will be lucky if they've managed to raise one percent of the total cost of Katrina. Congress, recognizing the reality that only the federal government possesses the means to deal with the calamity, has already allocated $58 billion--over 70 times the amount raised by charities--to flood relief along the Gulf of Mexico. As Bush says, that's only a "down payment."

Cutting a check to the Red Cross isn't just a vote for irresponsible government. It's a drop in the bucket compared to what you'll end up paying for Katrina in increased taxes.

Granted, in terms of popularity of likelihood of success, trying to make a case against giving money to charities compares to lobbying against puppies. The impulse to donate, after all, is rooted in our best human traits. As we watched New Orleanians die of thirst, disease and anarchic violence in the face of Bush Administration disinterest and local government incompetence, millions of us did the only thing we thought we could to do to help: cut a check or click a PayPal button. Tragically, that generosity feeds into the mindset of the sinister ideologues who argue that government shouldn't help people--the very mindset that caused the levee break that turned Katrina into a holocaust and led to official unresponsiveness. And it is already setting the stage for the next avoidable disaster.

It's time to "starve the beast": private charities used by the government to justify the abdication of its duties to its citizens.

Pay up, sucka

Roger Ailes the Good:

Starting next week, the New York Times' "influential" op-ed columnists will only be available online to those who subscribe to TimesSelect for a $49.95 annual fee. (They should combine forces with BSafe.com for a package deal -- "keep teen masturbators off your computer and Nick Kristof on your computer for only $99.90 a year.")

[. . .]

Looks like I'll be reading something else online. It sure as Hell ain't worth $50 a year. Not when the FT is on my doorstep at . . . now in fact.

Alles klar, Frau Kommissar

Pic shamelessly stolen from Karena

Resignations and Impeachments

Go see Froggy.

And speaking of clusterfucking . . .

BAGHDAD, Iraq - At least 73 people were killed and 162 wounded early Wednesday when a suicide bomber detonated his vehicle near a group of construction workers in a Shiite district in northern Baghdad, police said.

[. . .]

So tell me, what has actually gone right over the last five years? I mean, blowing away all the Republican rhetoric, what exactly can they point to that's been a benifit to this nation? What do we have to show for the past five years? Nothing but death, destruction, and disaster. Oh yeah, that $300 check from the IRS I got a couple years ago. Gee, thanks a fucking lot.

Maybe it is time for what I call a 'Bastille Moment'. Maybe it is just about time to storm the gates. I mean, after catching some of the Roberts hearings, I sure as Hell know the Democrats in the Senate are all taking turns sharing the same set of balls. If you heard Schmuck Schumer (D-NY) yesterday, "You know you're going to be Chief Justice", it's already a foregone conclusion he'll be confirmed.

Hel-lo, Idiots? Every single nominee, every single piece of legislation that comes from the Republican side of the Congress or the White House itself should be opposed and filibustered by every Democrat. If some don't want to toe the party line, it's time to back those candidates who will. How long will you spineless wimps let these treasonous bastids get away with everything?

And just a note: At the shop, when somebody fucks something simple up, a question is asked. "What are you, a fucking Republican?"

Body counts

New Orleans is beginning to look like Funeralgate, supersized.

FEMA has relieved volunteers of their emergency mortuary services in Louisiana only, and contracted out to Kenyon, a "wholly-owned subsidiary of Service Corporation International" of Houston, Texas.

Are the alarms sounding yet? LightUpTheDarkness reminds us why they should be:

Of course, we have to protect Dear Leader against those Satan-spawn Democrats who'd use this against him. Wait, soon we'll hear no one died in the storm. Bodies, what bodies?

Hat tip: Cabana Boy

What If...

It's around 8:15, and I'm on a sugar high from eating an almond roca brownie, so my mind is spinning in all sorts of directions, sort of like...Hurricane Ophelia.

Someone had better phone the White House and let Smirky McFlightsuit, Darth Cheney, Chertoff, and Captain Duct Tape know that Hurricane Ophelia is headed for the Carolina coast. Seems no one there has a radio, a TV, a newspaper, a carrier pigeon, or access to the Internets. They might want to start preparing now instead of next week.

But what if...what if the hurricane veers northerly and hits the coast of Virginia? Smirky hasn't been watching the news; he's been playing his new guitar for Dick and the boys. No one gets on the horn and let's D.C. know a hurricane is knocking on the door. The storm hits, and a storm surge the size of Rush Limbaugh's ass roars up the Potomac, turning elite Foggy Bottom into Soggy Bottom?

I'd like to see the Georgetown/Soggy Bottom crowd herded into the Capital rotundra for a week with nothing to eat, no lights, no bathroom, and no maid service. Betcha some of them would sneak out and loot, I mean find stuff at Nordstoms. I'd like to see them perching on the roofs of their Mercedes, waiting for the military to airlift them out.

And would the Jesus jumpers in Kansas say "Hallelujah, God has sent a storm to cleanse Washington of its sinners" like they said of New Orleans?

Now I've seen everything...you may shoot me

I've been sitting trying to reconfigure the dilithium crystals in this blankety-blank high-zoot laptop so it'll have some chance of being useful out in East Dumptruck and I ran across this at Alternet:

A German inventor says he's found a way to make cheap diesel fuel out of dead cats.

Holy crap.

Al Gore

[. . .]

All of us know that our nation -- all of us, the United States of America -- failed the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast when this hurricane was approaching them, and when it struck. When the corpses of American citizens are floating in toxic floodwaters five days after a hurricane strikes, it is time not only to respond directly to the victims of the catastrophe but to hold the processes of our nation accountable, and the leaders of our nation accountable, for the failures that have taken place.

[. . .]

And of course in both cases the story is complex and many factors are involved, but I want you draw a line connecting the feelings that you had then and now. And I want you to draw another line, connecting those responsible for both of those unbelievable tragedies that embarrassed our nation in the eyes of the world. [my emphases]

[. . .]

Go read it all.

Thanks to Jaye at Blondie's

President Dicknose

Can we qualify this any more?

[. . .]

"To the extent the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility," Bush said.

[. . .]

"Are we capable of dealing with a severe attack? That's a very important question and it's in the national interest that we find out what went on so we can better respond," Bush replied.

[. . .]

The extent the federal governement didn't fully do its job right? Christ almighty. Can you stand any farther away and still take responsibility? You know how to better respond? Resign before we impeach you and before we have another catastrophe you'll fuck up beyond recognition.

Hat tip: Lady Shakes

Like, Later, Maynard

Bob Denver passed away on September 2. Most of you probably remember him from "Gilligan's Island". Not me. I don't think I ever watched an episode of that all the way through. I remember him as Maynard G. Krebs in "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis".

This LATimes article does too.

For that, we have Denver to thank. Even though his face will forever be associated with Gilligan, whom the skipper blamed for every mishap on the island, I suspect he was more of a beatnik than a shipwrecked buffoon. If only today's television teenagers were less like Gilligan and more like Maynard. May Bob Denver, like, rest in peace.

MIA

Sorry I've been somewhat MIA for the past couple weeks. Harry (my boss) was on vacation until Friday. On Saturday, he got a call that his brother was dying (he's been fighting cancer for the past 5 years), so Harry headed up to Oswego to be with him. Guess who's doing the administrative stuff at the shop? Yeah, that's why I don't have my own shop.

I've also been trying to finish Empires and, as the readers who are also writers know, when inspiration comes, you gotta go with it.

Hopefully, I'll be back to a regular posting schedule soon.

Ramblin' Man

I'm on my way to New Orleans this morning:



Leaving out of Nashville, Tennessee:



They're always having a good time down on the Bayou:



And Delta women think the world of me:

Words: Ramblin' Man - The Allman Bros.
Pics: Jane, Maru, and Attaturk

Fear rules

Jane:

[. . .]

There are many reasons why people in power live in denial and create dream worlds for themselves. But the personality characteristics George Bush is evincing are typical of people with untreated alcoholism, or as we in the club call it, being a "dry drunk." [my em]

[. . .]

Book Review

[. . .]

Whether or not any of these people believe their own "bull" on this subject, their attempts to argue there exists a coherent left/liberal/Democratic movement, coordinated and institutionalized, that is constantly on the political attack in order to preserve a secular, internationalized, multi-culti America, have been shown by various writers, journalists (though fewer of those) and academics, to be pitifully lacking in evidence or credibility, despite the Herculean efforts of David Horowitz.

[. . .]

Leah's review. Looks like I'll be reading this when the Mrs. heads to LA next week.

The 'new' FEMA

The guy on the iceberg looks at Mr. Duct Tape and Plastic.

FEMA = Flatulent Emissions, Mentally Addled

How Bush Blew It

Newsweek. 'Nuff said.

Charles Emerson Winchester III

"I do one thing, I do it very well, and then I move on." Of course, Charles was a thoracic surgeon at Massachusetts General before serving his country in Korea*. Chimpy did neither, and he's certainly not even half as smart. Digby:

Junior just said that the American people need to understand that he can do more than one thing at a time and that the government and other individuals can do more than one things at a time.

[. . .]

I saw his little photo op this afternoon. He didn't even know Brownie resigned. Does he even know he's the President . . . like . . . for real?

*Yes, I know M*A*S*H was a TV show and not real, but you gotta admit, as Conservatives go, Charles was the type of Conservative you could respect.

Hints and Tips Needed

Me 'n Mrs. G are going on vacation later this week. If anybody has hints and tips about operating a laptop while away from home, please comment. I know nothing, so say anything. Please.

Katrina Humor

Whilst blundering and careening about the internets, I found About: Political Humor. Many jokes about the slow political response to Katrina, many links. Go spend some time there.

From the Late Night Comedians link:

"Although the waters have receded from New Orleans, it's still a huge, huge problem and will be for months to come. You see the fresh water is contaminated with oil and gas. Actually, from Dick Cheney's perspective, the oil and gas is contaminated with fresh water." -Jay Leno

"As you know, FEMA stands for 'Fix Everything My Ass.'" --Jay Leno

"By the way, if you want to help the victims hit hardest by hurricane Katrina, Fox news has posted the Web site of the Republican National Committee." --Bill Maher

"But hey, it is New Orleans. Watching today, I could tell that this city has not lost its hope. It has not lost its distinctive pluck, because every time rescue teams would toss supplies to people, women flashed their tits." --Bill Maher

Laughter heals. Go start gettin' healed.

Everywhere I roam . . .

River:

[. . .]

The electrical situation deteriorated this summer in Baghdad. We've gone from a solid 8 - 10 hours daily to around six. During the winter, we have generators in the area providing electricity when it goes off. In the summer, however, with the heat and the heavy electrical load from air-conditioners AND the fuel shortage, many generators have to be turned off for most of the day.

We're also having water difficulties, though people have grown accustomed to that. You can tell first thing in the morning that the water is cut off. I woke up this morning and knew it even before I had gotten out of bed. The house just sounds . . . dry. You strain your ears for the familiar house sounds and they aren't there- there's no drip-drip-drip from the faucet in the bathroom down the hall. There's no sound of dishes being washed in the kitchen downstairs. There's no sound of a toilet being flushed, and certainly no sound of a shower. The house is dry.

The dryness and heat are a stark contrast to the images we see on television of Mississippi and Louisiana. Daily, we watch the havoc Katrina left in its wake and try to determine which are more difficult to bear- man-made catastrophes like wars and occupations, or natural disasters like hurricanes and tsunamis.

[. . .]

The Persian Gulf or the Gulf of Mexico, everything the Chimp touches turns to shit.

9/11 and the Sport of God

Damn fine rant by Bill Moyers on why we must fight religious fundamentalists, any of 'em, with all our might.

What's also unique is the intensity, organization, and anger they have brought to the public square. Listen to their preachers, evangelists, and homegrown ayatollahs: Their viral intolerance - their loathing of other people's beliefs, of America's secular and liberal values, of an independent press, of the courts, of reason, science and the search for objective knowledge - has become an unprecedented sectarian crusade for state power. They use the language of faith to demonize political opponents, mislead and misinform voters, censor writers and artists, ostracize dissenters, and marginalize the poor. These are the foot soldiers in a political holy war financed by wealthy economic interests and guided by savvy partisan operatives who know that couching political ambition in religious rhetoric can ignite the passion of followers as ferociously as when Constantine painted the Sign of Christ (the "Christograph") on the shields of his soldiers and on the banners of his legions and routed his rivals in Rome. Never mind that the Emperor himself was never baptized into the faith; it served him well enough to make the God worshipped by Christians his most important ally and turn the Sign of Christ into the one imperial symbol most widely recognized and feared from east to west.

Read it. Hallelujah, brethren 'n sisteren!

A little wry humor...

Here's seven on Katrina from The Onion. Here's my favorite:

White Foragers Report Threat Of Black Looters

NEW ORLEANS - Throughout the Gulf Coast, Caucasian suburbanites attempting to gather food and drink in the shattered wreckage of shopping districts have reported seeing African­Americans "looting snacks and beer from damaged businesses." "I was in the abandoned Wal-Mart gathering an air mattress so I could float out the potato chips, beef jerky, and Budweiser I'd managed to find," said white survivor Lars Wrightson, who had carefully selected foodstuffs whose salt and alcohol content provide protection against contamination. "Then I look up, and I see a whole family of [African-Americans] going straight for the booze. Hell, you could see they had already looted a fortune in diapers." Radio stations still in operation are advising store owners and white people in the affected areas to locate firearms in sporting-goods stores in order to protect themselves against marauding blacks looting gun shops.

We ofttimes say in jest what we mean the most.

Noblesse oblige? Not our president

You know it's serious when sweet little Margaret Carlson gets pissed off.

Oh really? The Bushes have always made fun of Bill Clinton's lip-biting, hands-on governing, but who wouldn't prefer it to this president's upbeat platitudes. Tanned and rested from a vacation so long it would embarrass the French, Bush initially flew over the devastation in Air Force One, promising his prayers on his way someplace else. When he actually arrived in Louisiana a few days later, he reminisced about going to New Orleans "to enjoy myself, occasionally too much," apparently thinking he was at a fundraiser. He topped that in Mississippi: "Out of the rubble of Trent Lott's house ... there's going to be a fantastic house. And I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch."

Even to his detractors, the callous, puerile attitude and sheer ineptitude of Bush this past week is shocking. He got off to a slow start on 9/11 but quickly found his bullhorn and Rudy Giuliani. He's got neither here.

To paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, we went to New Orleans with the government we have - replete with its Chertoffs, Brownies, Cheneys and assorted other ideologues, cronies and schemers who gorge on patronage, revel in politics and brush off the mundane responsibilities of the offices they hold. They're Big Picture guys who have brought the same management skills to the Gulf states that they brought to that other gulf.

The worrisome question is how much like them are the rest of us? In 2000, even his supporters found Al Gore and his 10-point plans long-winded compared with the affable frat boy rescued from a checkered career by family and connections until he was running the Texas Rangers and then Texas itself. For three years, we watched as Bush created and compounded the tragedy in Iraq, and rehired him anyway. Perhaps now we see that you better treat government with respect. You never know when your life - political and otherwise - might depend on it.

Screw Bush, what worries me is that my life has been put in danger by my fellow citizens who bought into his crap because they're scared of gays and women's choices.

I read somewhere recently that if voting were an IQ test, the nation failed it.

Performance

And no, I'm not talking about Dubya's limp little pecker. DemVet has an excellent essay up:

[. . .]

But all of a sudden we've hit this sort of weird peak. People have been getting bombarded for so long with the concept of performance; corporate performace (work harder!), personal performance (home/life/relationships), familial performance (soccer mom/dad), school (right one/SAT/Med/Law) and it goes on and on. We all go to work and have meet performance expectations, sometimes monthly or half-yearly or certainly yearly. But strangely no one does seem to apply these standards to politicians. Elections occur, and they don't get judged on anything but their ability to perform like trained seals at fundraisers: perform well, get enough cash-stuffed fish to run a campaign until you have so much electoral momentum cycle-to-cycle that it's not even a chore anymore, no one runs against you. Performance is only due for the corporate masters who toss the fish, and sometimes their orders are "do nothing".

[. . .]

September 11th

Fuck all the commemorations and memorial services. Fuck all the rhetoric and the bullshit you'll hear today. All I ask, as a New Yorker who lost friends and neighbors (and nearly my wife) that horrible day, is that you remember. Just remember what this nation was like before this day and how far we've fallen since Osama bin Laden gave George W. Bush the gift from Allah that turned out to be a mandate from the Devil.