This is in honor of Veterans the other 364 days of the year and in peacetime.
Tommy by Rudyard Kipling
I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o'beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins," when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mr. Atkins," when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy how's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.
We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints:
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind,"
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind.
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country," when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
But Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Oh Just Shut Up
I don't know why I subject myself to Atlanta's talk radio idiocy,but once in awhile in the car I do,just to see what the dipshits are up to. Because it's a holiday,the main conservatard station is replaying crap from this past week.
So I'm listening to some woman(Laura Ingraham?I'm not sure) go on and on about the minimum wage hike and how it will destroy the economy and actually increase the number of scary brown people who come here. Yawn,seriously,it's obvious these people learned nothing from this week's elections.
Then she takes a call from this guy who is livid about the conservative upset,he's voted loyally,sent them money,etc,for 30 years. And he's pissed,PISSED mind you, that now the war is going to end. Yes,folks,the war might end,heaven help us all. So he rattles on some more,and he says he's leaving work early because he's just too upset to work. (someone please,get this man a fucking wa-haaaa-mbulance,stat) .The show host tells him not to leave work,that's what liberals do,and someone has to keep the economy going.
Ya know what? FUCK YOU lady and your jackass warmongering caller too. My husband put in 70 hours this week,how many hours did you work this week? Let's see,3 hours a day,times 5,that's 15. And being the generous soul I am,I'll give you another 15 to do staff meetings and what you call show preparation.Even though I doubt reading RNC talking points requires that much work. So,just to be "fair and balanced"I'll give you 30 hours a week for a job that doesn't require any heavy lifting,mentally or physically, and that pays you several times what my husband makes. Once my husband hits 30 hours his week ain't even half over yet you stupid,vapid,lying,she-beast. If liberals decided to take the day off this country would stop running,so shut your empty headed pie hole. I wish my husband would work less,but he can't. He goes to work sick,hurting and sore all over,and brings lots of work home with him too. Liberals are lazy my ass.
And as for you, sad widdle caller who has his poor widdle feewings hurt because the war might be over soon...I've got two words for you: Enlist Motherfucker. I'll drive you to the recruiter's office my damned self. I'll even send you care packages once you get to Iraq, you little snivelling bitch. Talk to me when you have sand caked in the crack of your ass and the next hot shower you get is weeks away in polluted water because fucking KBR can't do their job. Oh,and on the way home from the recruiter's office,we'll swing by the VA hospital and you can go tell the heroes there how pissed off you are that the war might end soon. Go on,say it,right to their faces. Then,we'll stop off at the VA mental health center/outpatient clinic and you can tell those guys and gals the same thing. And since it's Veteran's day,let's visit a cemetary and you can tell that shit to families placing flags and flowers on their loved one's graves you evil,demented shithead. Do a tour in Iraq and then we'll see how much you like this war your Party loves so much. If you refuse to serve,then shut the fuck up. Jesus Tapdancing Christ I am sick of these people.
When I was a kid,I had two cousins(actually their mom was my grandpa's sister.We called her Auntie),about a decade older than me who did more than one tour of duty in Vietnam. They had 3 sisters,also older than me,and I hung out at their house on the weekends alot. Before they left,I was their very favoritist little cousin. They doted on me,even let me hang out with them and their friends,even though I was a little kid and a pain in the ass. I was a precocious kid,learned to read when I was 3,by the time I was in 3rd grade I was a total science geek,and they made a huge deal about showing off how smart I was to their buddies. Bobby and Dick,the best friends a kid could have. I didn't have an older brother or older sister,so they were the next best thing. I got to be the baby of the family at their house and all of them spoiled me rotten.
Both of them came home from the war in one piece,addicted to heroin. Suffering from PTSD. After that,I never got to be alone with them anymore. No one would tell me why,but I knew. I wouldn't realize til much later on what they had to do"over there",and how that pretty much stole who they were before.
Their mother raised 5 kids by herself,her husband left one day and no one ever saw him again. She worked two jobs and in her spare time(haha)put herself through nursing school. I have no idea how she did it but she did. Blue collar working class families from that time almost without fail had at least one kid in Vietnam.
They came home to a nation that didn't honor them with any parades or admiration. To a government who exposed them to toxins in the battlefield and lied about it,denying them benefits. To families who didn't fully comprehend why they were there or what they were faced with in the jungle. To this day there are still homeless Vietnam Veterans. Some families never recovered from their lost loved ones,those who died and those who came home forever changed.
If we learn anything at all from Iraq and Afghanistan,maybe it should be this:
If our so called "leaders"want a war so bad,let them send their own kids first. Maybe that should be THE first rule of warfare. If they won't do that,then perhaps the war they want is bullshit. And maybe we should wonder if it's not all just a lie to enrich pasty white "bidness men". And maybe,maybe,we should refuse to send our kids to die to fatten their wallets.
And finally,thank you,Fixer,Gordon,Nina,Lurch,Sizemore and all the many other Vets who come here to chat,rant,and occasionally scheme and dream. To all of you and all Vets,thank you for your dedication,courage,sacrifices,and service. You are the spine of the nation,that allows all of us to stand just a little taller.
So I'm listening to some woman(Laura Ingraham?I'm not sure) go on and on about the minimum wage hike and how it will destroy the economy and actually increase the number of scary brown people who come here. Yawn,seriously,it's obvious these people learned nothing from this week's elections.
Then she takes a call from this guy who is livid about the conservative upset,he's voted loyally,sent them money,etc,for 30 years. And he's pissed,PISSED mind you, that now the war is going to end. Yes,folks,the war might end,heaven help us all. So he rattles on some more,and he says he's leaving work early because he's just too upset to work. (someone please,get this man a fucking wa-haaaa-mbulance,stat) .The show host tells him not to leave work,that's what liberals do,and someone has to keep the economy going.
Ya know what? FUCK YOU lady and your jackass warmongering caller too. My husband put in 70 hours this week,how many hours did you work this week? Let's see,3 hours a day,times 5,that's 15. And being the generous soul I am,I'll give you another 15 to do staff meetings and what you call show preparation.Even though I doubt reading RNC talking points requires that much work. So,just to be "fair and balanced"I'll give you 30 hours a week for a job that doesn't require any heavy lifting,mentally or physically, and that pays you several times what my husband makes. Once my husband hits 30 hours his week ain't even half over yet you stupid,vapid,lying,she-beast. If liberals decided to take the day off this country would stop running,so shut your empty headed pie hole. I wish my husband would work less,but he can't. He goes to work sick,hurting and sore all over,and brings lots of work home with him too. Liberals are lazy my ass.
And as for you, sad widdle caller who has his poor widdle feewings hurt because the war might be over soon...I've got two words for you: Enlist Motherfucker. I'll drive you to the recruiter's office my damned self. I'll even send you care packages once you get to Iraq, you little snivelling bitch. Talk to me when you have sand caked in the crack of your ass and the next hot shower you get is weeks away in polluted water because fucking KBR can't do their job. Oh,and on the way home from the recruiter's office,we'll swing by the VA hospital and you can go tell the heroes there how pissed off you are that the war might end soon. Go on,say it,right to their faces. Then,we'll stop off at the VA mental health center/outpatient clinic and you can tell those guys and gals the same thing. And since it's Veteran's day,let's visit a cemetary and you can tell that shit to families placing flags and flowers on their loved one's graves you evil,demented shithead. Do a tour in Iraq and then we'll see how much you like this war your Party loves so much. If you refuse to serve,then shut the fuck up. Jesus Tapdancing Christ I am sick of these people.
When I was a kid,I had two cousins(actually their mom was my grandpa's sister.We called her Auntie),about a decade older than me who did more than one tour of duty in Vietnam. They had 3 sisters,also older than me,and I hung out at their house on the weekends alot. Before they left,I was their very favoritist little cousin. They doted on me,even let me hang out with them and their friends,even though I was a little kid and a pain in the ass. I was a precocious kid,learned to read when I was 3,by the time I was in 3rd grade I was a total science geek,and they made a huge deal about showing off how smart I was to their buddies. Bobby and Dick,the best friends a kid could have. I didn't have an older brother or older sister,so they were the next best thing. I got to be the baby of the family at their house and all of them spoiled me rotten.
Both of them came home from the war in one piece,addicted to heroin. Suffering from PTSD. After that,I never got to be alone with them anymore. No one would tell me why,but I knew. I wouldn't realize til much later on what they had to do"over there",and how that pretty much stole who they were before.
Their mother raised 5 kids by herself,her husband left one day and no one ever saw him again. She worked two jobs and in her spare time(haha)put herself through nursing school. I have no idea how she did it but she did. Blue collar working class families from that time almost without fail had at least one kid in Vietnam.
They came home to a nation that didn't honor them with any parades or admiration. To a government who exposed them to toxins in the battlefield and lied about it,denying them benefits. To families who didn't fully comprehend why they were there or what they were faced with in the jungle. To this day there are still homeless Vietnam Veterans. Some families never recovered from their lost loved ones,those who died and those who came home forever changed.
If we learn anything at all from Iraq and Afghanistan,maybe it should be this:
If our so called "leaders"want a war so bad,let them send their own kids first. Maybe that should be THE first rule of warfare. If they won't do that,then perhaps the war they want is bullshit. And maybe we should wonder if it's not all just a lie to enrich pasty white "bidness men". And maybe,maybe,we should refuse to send our kids to die to fatten their wallets.
And finally,thank you,Fixer,Gordon,Nina,Lurch,Sizemore and all the many other Vets who come here to chat,rant,and occasionally scheme and dream. To all of you and all Vets,thank you for your dedication,courage,sacrifices,and service. You are the spine of the nation,that allows all of us to stand just a little taller.
Forgotten -- except on Veterans Day
From Open Forum in the San Francisco Chronicle:
Please read the rest.
If you get the idea that we care about Veterans around here, you're right.
Since America mobilized after 9/11, the organization I lead, Swords to Plowshares, has met with Bay Area veterans and their families through our Iraq Veteran Project. Some of the vets we talk with are doing well. Others are struggling. All have tales to tell of the hardships visited on them and their peers -- divorce, debt, homes lost, jobs lost, businesses lost, nightmares, panic attacks, rages, fear of redeployment and suicide.
Claims for VA disability benefits have increased 36 percent since 2000: The backlog has never been greater. It can take months or years for disabled veterans to secure benefits they deserve as a result of their military service. The complexity of Iraq combat disabilities, such as traumatic brain injury, environmental hazards and post-traumatic stress disorder, may slow the process further. If a veteran's claim is upheld, he or she is entitled to retroactive benefits. But they and their families can face severe financial difficulties while they await resolution of their claims. Recent reports published by the National Security Archives show a disturbing disparity in claims resolution between National Guard and Reserve and regular forces. Fewer Guard and Reserve members are filing claims than their regular Army counterparts and are half as likely to prevail. This information was released only after threat of lawsuit from veterans' rights organizations.
Congress. In April 2005, the "Comprehensive Assistance for Veterans Exposed to Traumatic Stressors Act" was introduced, only to languish and die. The bill laid out a proactive strategy for the VA and the Pentagon to recognize mental-health needs and respond quickly. Dr. Charles Hoge, whose study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that one-third of returning troops are at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder and thus would qualify for mental-health services, testified to the enormous unmet need in subcommittee hearings. And yet, Congress did not value our service members enough to hold full legislative hearings on the subject. Instead, it slashed funding for Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center by half in the 2007 Defense Appropriations bill. This, despite knowing that traumatic brain injury caused by the concussive force of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) is the signature wound of this war.
It failed to move legislation that would have extended presumptive VA health-care eligibility from two years to five years. Considering the delayed onset of post traumatic stress disorder, this shorter coverage will impose unnecessary and cruel obstacles for veterans in need of mental-health services. Congress also failed to approve legislation that would have provided counseling and supportive services to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans at risk for homelessness.
We will ensure veterans have a voice. For your part, let your lawmakers know that you support reintroduction of the Comprehensive Assistance for Veterans Exposed to Traumatic Stressors Act. And let it be hoped that, next year, we, as a nation do better by our veterans.
Please read the rest.
If you get the idea that we care about Veterans around here, you're right.
Keep it covered
Stolen unabashedly from Sumo; more at the link:
Let's hope our people don't see another year in Iraq.
Let's hope our people don't see another year in Iraq.
War Stories from Ward 7-D
Stolen from AOB in comments because she says it so well:
Last night I watched a show on San Francisco PBS station KQED called "California Connected" about some Iraq Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury undergoing lengthy treatment at the VA hospital in Palo Alto CA. These kids are going to have to live with their condition for sixty or more years.
The show itself made me cry for the young soldiers that were profiled. The concurrent thought that funding for TBI research and treatment has been cut ENRAGED me.
TBI is the signature injury of Bush's War.
Please go watch "War Stories From Ward 7-D". Since the show was made in California for California viewers, I don't know if it has been aired elsewhere. It's a half-hour show and I know that's a big commitment of your time, but I also know that this show needs to be seen by as many folks as possible to galvanize them into demanding some action from our new Congress.
Most of us are privileged to go about our business as usual this Veterans Day. Many of these TBI casualties will never have normal 'business as usual' ever again. It behooves us as a nation, and as caring people, to make sure they get rehabilitated to the extent possible and that their needs are met for as long as it takes.
...
Dems need to get on the stick and get more money and people working for the VA, for PTSD therapies, head trauma injuries(Randi's caller was also recovering from brain damage)and get these folks some money for mortgages and college. That's the LEAST we should be doing for our veterans. There also needs to be money set aside to get our homeless vets off the street,their numbers are growing and that is NOT acceptable.
Last night I watched a show on San Francisco PBS station KQED called "California Connected" about some Iraq Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury undergoing lengthy treatment at the VA hospital in Palo Alto CA. These kids are going to have to live with their condition for sixty or more years.
The show itself made me cry for the young soldiers that were profiled. The concurrent thought that funding for TBI research and treatment has been cut ENRAGED me.
TBI is the signature injury of Bush's War.
Please go watch "War Stories From Ward 7-D". Since the show was made in California for California viewers, I don't know if it has been aired elsewhere. It's a half-hour show and I know that's a big commitment of your time, but I also know that this show needs to be seen by as many folks as possible to galvanize them into demanding some action from our new Congress.
Most of us are privileged to go about our business as usual this Veterans Day. Many of these TBI casualties will never have normal 'business as usual' ever again. It behooves us as a nation, and as caring people, to make sure they get rehabilitated to the extent possible and that their needs are met for as long as it takes.
Some more thoughts on Veterans Day
Looks like the poetic muse is loose in the Brain in honor of Veterans Day. Here's a couple from The Master*:
If any question why we died,
Tell them, because our fathers lied.
A Dead Statesman
I could not dig: I dared not rob:
Therefore I lied to please the mob.
Now all my lies are proved untrue
And I must face the men I slew.
What tale shall serve me here among
Mine angry and defrauded young?
If any question why we died,
Tell them, because our fathers lied.
A Dead Statesman
I could not dig: I dared not rob:
Therefore I lied to please the mob.
Now all my lies are proved untrue
And I must face the men I slew.
What tale shall serve me here among
Mine angry and defrauded young?
*Rudyard Kipling. Selections are from Epitaphs.
On the 11th Month on the 11th Day at the 11th Hour...
In Memoriam
The young dead soldiers do not speak.
Nevertheless they are heard in the still houses.
(Who has not heard them?) ...
They say,
We were young. We have died. Remember us.
They say,
We have done what we could
But until it is finished it is not done.
They say,
We have given our lives
But until it is finished no one can know what our lives gave.
They say,
Our deaths are not ours,
They are yours,
They will mean what you make them.
They say,
Whether our lives, and our deaths were for peace and a new hope
Or for nothing
We cannot say.
It is you who must say this.
They say,
We leave you our deaths,
Give them their meaning.
Archibald McLeish
Two Soldiers, as sung by Bob Dylan. (You have to download a wee Rhapsody Media Player that's free, and the song is worth it.)
Good
Jesus Camp to close. Hopefully they'll be able to save the minds of the poor children they fucked up.
Veterans Day
[Originally posted 11 November 2004. ~ F.]
Take the time for reflection today. Think about the millions of lives given in defense of this country and the ideals we hold dear. There are many who gave parts of their body and minds and live amongst us, take the time to think about them today too. And think about all of the men and women serving on active duty now, in places all around the world. If you know a vet, take the time to shake his or her hand and say thanks. Vets, past and present, have always been willing to do what most can't or won't, in order to preserve our way of life. Acknowledge that willingness and say a prayer for those who will give their lives in the future.
In Flanders' Fields
Update:
Stolen from AOB in comments because she says it so well:
Take the time for reflection today. Think about the millions of lives given in defense of this country and the ideals we hold dear. There are many who gave parts of their body and minds and live amongst us, take the time to think about them today too. And think about all of the men and women serving on active duty now, in places all around the world. If you know a vet, take the time to shake his or her hand and say thanks. Vets, past and present, have always been willing to do what most can't or won't, in order to preserve our way of life. Acknowledge that willingness and say a prayer for those who will give their lives in the future.
In Flanders' Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Verse and link courtesy of Melanie.
Update:
Stolen from AOB in comments because she says it so well:
...
Dems need to get on the stick and get more money and people working for the VA, for PTSD therapies, head trauma injuries(Randi's caller was also recovering from brain damage)and get these folks some money for mortgages and college. That's the LEAST we should be doing for our veterans. There also needs to be money set aside to get our homeless vets off the street,their numbers are growing and that is NOT acceptable.
Friday, November 10, 2006
The Lighter Side
Got this from Mrs. G via e-mail:
A young boy went up to his father and asked him, Dad, "What is the difference between 'potentially' and 'realistically'?
The father thought for a moment, then answered, "Go ask your mother if she would sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars. Then ask your sister if she would sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars, and then, ask your brother if he'd sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars. Come back and tell me what you learn from that."
So the boy went to his mother and asked, "Would you sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars?"
The mother replied, "Of course, I would! We could really use that money to fix up the house and send you kids to a great university!"
The boy then went to his sister and asked, "Would you sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars?"
The girl replied, "Oh, good heavens! I LOVE Brad Pitt and I would sleep with him in a heartbeat. Are you nuts?"
The boy then went to his brother and asked, "Would you sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars?"
"Of course," the brother replied. "Do you know how much a million bucks would buy?"
The boy pondered the answers for a few days and then went back to his dad.
His father asked him, "Did you find out the difference between 'potentially' and 'realistically'?"
The boy replied, "Yes, 'potentially', you and I are sitting on three million dollars, but 'realistically', we're living with two hookers and a future congressman."
Ba-Da-Bing!
A young boy went up to his father and asked him, Dad, "What is the difference between 'potentially' and 'realistically'?
The father thought for a moment, then answered, "Go ask your mother if she would sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars. Then ask your sister if she would sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars, and then, ask your brother if he'd sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars. Come back and tell me what you learn from that."
So the boy went to his mother and asked, "Would you sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars?"
The mother replied, "Of course, I would! We could really use that money to fix up the house and send you kids to a great university!"
The boy then went to his sister and asked, "Would you sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars?"
The girl replied, "Oh, good heavens! I LOVE Brad Pitt and I would sleep with him in a heartbeat. Are you nuts?"
The boy then went to his brother and asked, "Would you sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars?"
"Of course," the brother replied. "Do you know how much a million bucks would buy?"
The boy pondered the answers for a few days and then went back to his dad.
His father asked him, "Did you find out the difference between 'potentially' and 'realistically'?"
The boy replied, "Yes, 'potentially', you and I are sitting on three million dollars, but 'realistically', we're living with two hookers and a future congressman."
Ba-Da-Bing!
Ja, naturlich ...
The Germans are the first in:
I don't care who metes out justice as long as it's done.
Just days after his resignation, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is about to face more repercussions for his involvement in the troubled wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. New legal documents, to be filed next week with Germany's top prosecutor, will seek a criminal investigation and prosecution of Rumsfeld, along with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, former CIA director George Tenet and other senior U.S. civilian and military officers, for their alleged roles in abuses committed at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison and at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
...
I don't care who metes out justice as long as it's done.
Link thanks to Flame.
Election Aftermath, CA-04
Congratulations to Charlie Brown, even though he lost to Doolittle. Just like Dave Mejias in Fixer's district, Col. Brown was the first serious major opposition to this entrenched Repuglican ever. He gave it a helluva shot and damn near did it.
Kudos as well to Espresso, Charlie's overworked volunteer for the eastern Sierra in Placer and Nevada Counties. She worked her be-boops off. Part of an e-mail she sent out:
You did good, kid. It was all them flatlanders from the western slope. We simple hill folk blame everything on them anyway. I live in Nevada County and I'm proud of us.
Just as an aside, Espresso lives about a thousand feet higher in the mountains than I do, and probably considers me a flatlander. Neither one of us trusts anybody below 6000 feet.
After looking at the Secretary of State's election report (courtesy of our long-lost buddy Travis), all our cow counties went for Doolittle, which indicates to me that the farther you live from electricity and indoor plumbing, the more likely you are to vote Republitard. You shit with the goats, you smell like 'em.
It threw a scare into Doolittle, though. From the Sackatomatoes Bee:
That ball and chain and nine-pound hammer you're gonna get in the pen might be a little drag on yer ass too. Happy landings.
That, in and of itself, is a victory. Most of the folks in the foothills, and those downstream who know what's goin' on, don't want that dam on the American River. The ones in favor of it are developers and others who have a vested interest in continued growth of our already over-populated state. That's a whole 'nother story.
Try again next time, Charlie. You did fine.
Kudos as well to Espresso, Charlie's overworked volunteer for the eastern Sierra in Placer and Nevada Counties. She worked her be-boops off. Part of an e-mail she sent out:
As you all most likely know, Charlie did not win, but missed the target by slightly less than 3% District wide. I understand that Nevada County went for Charlie, Placer did not (and as a Placer County resident, let me be the first to say "Why yes, we are inbred idiots! Thanks for asking!")
You did good, kid. It was all them flatlanders from the western slope. We simple hill folk blame everything on them anyway. I live in Nevada County and I'm proud of us.
Just as an aside, Espresso lives about a thousand feet higher in the mountains than I do, and probably considers me a flatlander. Neither one of us trusts anybody below 6000 feet.
After looking at the Secretary of State's election report (courtesy of our long-lost buddy Travis), all our cow counties went for Doolittle, which indicates to me that the farther you live from electricity and indoor plumbing, the more likely you are to vote Republitard. You shit with the goats, you smell like 'em.
It threw a scare into Doolittle, though. From the Sackatomatoes Bee:
Rep. John Doolittle, sounding chastened by a victory Tuesday that was too close for comfort, said Wednesday he will not run for a position in the House Republican leadership next week and will work to remove the legal "cloud" that threatened his re-election.
"The message from the election is that I need to re-evaluate, to be more in touch with my constituents and see how to best meet their needs," he said in an interview with The Bee.
Doolittle also said he will work aggressively to resolve any questions the Justice Department might have about his relationship with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
"I'd just like them to know what I know," he said. "That above all else was a real drag on my campaign."
That ball and chain and nine-pound hammer you're gonna get in the pen might be a little drag on yer ass too. Happy landings.
In his concession speech early Wednesday, Brown said his strong showing against Doolittle in the heavily Republican district ushered in a new era of politics.
"No Republican will ever take the 4th District for granted again," he declared.
On other issues, Doolittle said he will lose some effectiveness in promoting construction of an Auburn Dam because he no longer will be among the Republican majority on the House Appropriations Committee.
That, in and of itself, is a victory. Most of the folks in the foothills, and those downstream who know what's goin' on, don't want that dam on the American River. The ones in favor of it are developers and others who have a vested interest in continued growth of our already over-populated state. That's a whole 'nother story.
Try again next time, Charlie. You did fine.
Election Aftermath, CA-11
Congratulations to Jerry McNerney, CA-11's new Congressman-elect. Ya done good against great odds.
From the EssEffChron:
And from Misery Watch:
Heh. That was the nicest thing they said about him. Their post goes into more detail about Pombo's assholarity and crimes.
A major victory for the Grass Roots. For the rest of us as well.
From the EssEffChron:
TO FULLY understand Tuesday's Democratic victory, look no further than California's 11th Congressional District.
It was there that Jerry McNerney, an obscure Democratic candidate with almost no political experience, toppled Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, a powerful member of the Republican majority in Congress.
Pombo suffered from being a protégé of disgraced former Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who elevated this San Joaquin County rancher with a hatred of many environmental regulations to chairman of the House Resources Committee. He also had received contributions from convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Pombo's efforts to weaken environmental regulations inspired the anger of environmentalists who, among many others, flooded his district to promote McNerney's candidacy. Almost the entire volunteer effort was run independently of the Democratic Party (my em).
The GOP selection of Pombo to head a committee charged with guarding the nation's environment was one of the most cynical acts of its now shattered majority. His departure from Congress is long overdue.
And from Misery Watch:
A particularly strong good riddance
The election results were overwhelmingly positive. So many creeps were swept out. But one in particular deserves special notice.
Heh. That was the nicest thing they said about him. Their post goes into more detail about Pombo's assholarity and crimes.
A major victory for the Grass Roots. For the rest of us as well.
Fuck The South? Not so fast there buddy...
Now that the elections are behind us and we have Democratic victory to savor, I'd like to talk about something that's been bugging the hell out of me. I'm seriously not trying to slam anyone in particular here either, I'm just kinda pissed about this "Fuck The South"attitude that persists in more than a few Democratic and liberal political circles. Gee thanks alot there,nice to know it's ok for me to devote my time and energy(and money) to people I can't vote for and when you win,I still can't convince you that not everyone south of the Mason/Dixon is a mouthbreathing redneck dipshit. No,appearently I deserve to be given shit because I live here and it's not your fault. Trust me,if I could afford to move I would,for environmental reasons more than anything else. Republican attitudes towards business and expansion lay the countryside to waste,I hate that. When I bought my home 10 yrs ago I lived in a rural area. Now I live in the suburbs,without having had to move so much as a box. Suburbs are a virus,but I digress. I'd love to live in a blue state that has it's shit together better than Georgia,but I gotta work from where I am,blooming where I'm planted as it were.
Howard Dean's 50 State Strategy is a great plan,it should be fleshed out some more and really firmed up as much as possible. I think once that happens this will become quite a formidable and positive political machine,as long as it does not succomb to big bucks and big egos too much(a little is inevitable,but it can be kept in check). And hopefully at some point,the people with influence in the Party will realize that some political investment in the South does have a payoff,but it will require some patience,some nurturing and some time. There are progressive liberal types here who are starving to help get Dems elected,but we often aren't asked to do anything for our own people,here.
Last summer,at Yearly Kos,there was a panel on the South and it's politics,whether that can shift or not,blah,blah,blah. I never got to see it on C-Span,but I noted that none of the bloggers on the panel lived in the South(If I'm wrong about that I stand corrected,but I don't think I'm wrong). I wonder if any of them have ever visited the South,outside of a blue splotch like the actual city of Atlanta. This is a Problem. If we want to weaken and minimalize Modern Conservativism(hey,they called themselves that first,not me),we're gonna have to convince Southerners that they need to start voting in their own best interests. You ain't gonna do that if you continue to keep southern progressives on the outside looking in. And you certainly won't do it by assuming everyone who lives in the South is an idiot.
I'm not saying there is NO Dem organizing and working going on here,there is,but it's very much a club for"professionals",or so anemic and uninspiring it borders on depressing. It's not too grassrootsy,but it is very "establishment". You don't win hearts and minds with that stuff. Especially of people who have to work for a living.
We had a fairly good Dem running here against an incumbent Repub for the U.S. House,but I never saw one TV commercial,one local TV appearence,a bumpersticker or sign,no literature,flyers or events. Nada. I went to his campaign headquarters to volunteer and no one could make up their minds if they needed my help or not. I hung out there for a few days,did some phone calls,brought in food,etc,but quit,simply becaus I was underwhelmed by the energy being devoted. It was like this was a hobby and a social club or something. It was fucking depressing. And even with all that, he got 30 percent of the vote,investment could have put him over the top by enough of a margin to win. It's not about how much money you spend,it's HOW you spend it that makes for a good campaign. You also have to get people on the ground fired up,excited,and take that to the people,one on one around kitchen tables.
Our Hispanic population is growing by leaps and bounds. With no one reaching out to them who has their best interests at heart, many won't vote,or if they do,they won't go to the polls fully informed. That's a huge untapped amount progressive potential. The Hispanic community also has it's own media,it's own small business community,infrastructures that are perfect for politics and helping to organize.
Women are another part of the population in the South that is virtually ignored by Democrats. We're the ones paying attention to the schools. We do the shopping for our families,we know how much prices effect our bottom lines. Many of us are single mothers (more untapped progressive potential,big time) who have to work more than one job to support our kids. Many of us are white suburban moms who worry about college tuitions that have gone through the roof. Many of us have families in tremendous debt. We wonder if the Occupation of Iraq will take our kids or their friends away from us. We deal with husbands who cheat on us,family crises,aging parents,churches who aren't woman friendly,politics that won't take us seriously.
Red State America is a wierd place to be sure. Megachurches and McMansions co-mingle,there's a Super WalMart every 3 miles and a mall of one kind or another in between. There are multi-million dollar new schools that undereducate and warehouse our kids and no one seems to notice. Shopping is entertainment,SUVs and Big Trucks rule the roads. But alot of people still aren't happy,and they know somethin' ain't right,they just can't put their finger on why or what. I think I have a couple of ideas as to why and what.
First and foremost is a lack of community investment. It's not all that"neighborly" in these parts. Some of that has to do with how developers develop,it's more isolating than communal. Urban sprawl is not all that warm and welcoming. Outside of church,or perhaps kid's sports or the golf course,there's no place to belong. This means there's a huge void that megachurches seized on. Give the people something else that solid,they WILL come.
Second,there's no counter message. No alternative to the southern GOP brand of politics and religion with big bidness all swirled in. What we don't need here is Dems trying to be more like the Repubs,we need a completely different deal. And it can be done without religion taking a front seat. I call it Bread and Butter Politics. Jobs,pensions and retirement,the ability to save and maybe even invest a little,healthcare costs,a fairer and easier to understand tax structure,schools,government corruption,the occupation of Iraq and what that means for the future,better schools,a safe and healthy food supply,you get the idea. These things do matter to families,even suburban ones.
I know lots of families who are struggling and carrying huge debts even with a 6 figure salary. They're one health care crisis or a couple of paychecks away from financial disaster. If you talk to them about economics and the real effects of politics on their own economic future,they'll respond positively.
The GOP machine in Georgia took a blow when Ralph Reed was laughed out of the primaries. It would have been a perfect opening for a solid Dem to come in and make inroads. Instead we got Mark Taylor,who had nothing to offer voters to challenge incumbent governor Sonny Purdue. Taylor got his ass handed to him. I've had more pleasant and exciting root canals than Taylor's campaign. Whoever ran that mess should be run out of poltics and into an exciting career at McDonald's working the deep fryer.
Georgia,for all it's red state pain in the ass-ness, has some stuff going for it that could help create Progressive inroads,such as:
A fairly healthy organic and industrial farm industry. There are food co-ops and other venues in place that fit in with a Democratic platform perfectly. Support the family farmer,you'll find a friend there.
Our schools simply need better curriculums,we are woefully behind in many ways. Bring people some sane changes to NCLB and religious wingnut nonsense and people will respond,happily.
Urban Sprawl has surpassed infrastructure capacity,and it's taking it's toll. Traffic is a mess,public transportation is limited,utilities are on tenuous ground. Sane city planning is needed desperately.
Women and minorites,as I said above,huge untapped voter base. Stop treating us like we're stupid and second class. The things we care about are good for everyone.
Small businesses here are taking hits from the WalMarts of the world,support them,you'll find a loyal voting bloc. Combine them with small scale farmers and you'd have an even bigger voting pool.
Atlanta's GLBT community is huge and has outreach outside the city limits. There are allies there with organizing experience.
Also,the Southern suburbs are full of white people who aren't FROM the South and don't have "southern traditions"as baggage.Like me. Hell,I can go for days without actually meeting someone who was actually born here. You think all those people are conservatives? No way. We didn't come here for the politics,most of us came here when jobs up north dried up or companies transferred us to the region.
Yeah,the wingnuts are moneyed and loony,but they are not invincible. They're very comfortable here,which means there are weaknesses that are obvious if you look for them. By writing off the South you're proving that the Southern Strategy works and you're engaging in the same divisive politics that let the GOP claim the South as it's own. Stop It.
Howard Dean's 50 State Strategy is a great plan,it should be fleshed out some more and really firmed up as much as possible. I think once that happens this will become quite a formidable and positive political machine,as long as it does not succomb to big bucks and big egos too much(a little is inevitable,but it can be kept in check). And hopefully at some point,the people with influence in the Party will realize that some political investment in the South does have a payoff,but it will require some patience,some nurturing and some time. There are progressive liberal types here who are starving to help get Dems elected,but we often aren't asked to do anything for our own people,here.
Last summer,at Yearly Kos,there was a panel on the South and it's politics,whether that can shift or not,blah,blah,blah. I never got to see it on C-Span,but I noted that none of the bloggers on the panel lived in the South(If I'm wrong about that I stand corrected,but I don't think I'm wrong). I wonder if any of them have ever visited the South,outside of a blue splotch like the actual city of Atlanta. This is a Problem. If we want to weaken and minimalize Modern Conservativism(hey,they called themselves that first,not me),we're gonna have to convince Southerners that they need to start voting in their own best interests. You ain't gonna do that if you continue to keep southern progressives on the outside looking in. And you certainly won't do it by assuming everyone who lives in the South is an idiot.
I'm not saying there is NO Dem organizing and working going on here,there is,but it's very much a club for"professionals",or so anemic and uninspiring it borders on depressing. It's not too grassrootsy,but it is very "establishment". You don't win hearts and minds with that stuff. Especially of people who have to work for a living.
We had a fairly good Dem running here against an incumbent Repub for the U.S. House,but I never saw one TV commercial,one local TV appearence,a bumpersticker or sign,no literature,flyers or events. Nada. I went to his campaign headquarters to volunteer and no one could make up their minds if they needed my help or not. I hung out there for a few days,did some phone calls,brought in food,etc,but quit,simply becaus I was underwhelmed by the energy being devoted. It was like this was a hobby and a social club or something. It was fucking depressing. And even with all that, he got 30 percent of the vote,investment could have put him over the top by enough of a margin to win. It's not about how much money you spend,it's HOW you spend it that makes for a good campaign. You also have to get people on the ground fired up,excited,and take that to the people,one on one around kitchen tables.
Our Hispanic population is growing by leaps and bounds. With no one reaching out to them who has their best interests at heart, many won't vote,or if they do,they won't go to the polls fully informed. That's a huge untapped amount progressive potential. The Hispanic community also has it's own media,it's own small business community,infrastructures that are perfect for politics and helping to organize.
Women are another part of the population in the South that is virtually ignored by Democrats. We're the ones paying attention to the schools. We do the shopping for our families,we know how much prices effect our bottom lines. Many of us are single mothers (more untapped progressive potential,big time) who have to work more than one job to support our kids. Many of us are white suburban moms who worry about college tuitions that have gone through the roof. Many of us have families in tremendous debt. We wonder if the Occupation of Iraq will take our kids or their friends away from us. We deal with husbands who cheat on us,family crises,aging parents,churches who aren't woman friendly,politics that won't take us seriously.
Red State America is a wierd place to be sure. Megachurches and McMansions co-mingle,there's a Super WalMart every 3 miles and a mall of one kind or another in between. There are multi-million dollar new schools that undereducate and warehouse our kids and no one seems to notice. Shopping is entertainment,SUVs and Big Trucks rule the roads. But alot of people still aren't happy,and they know somethin' ain't right,they just can't put their finger on why or what. I think I have a couple of ideas as to why and what.
First and foremost is a lack of community investment. It's not all that"neighborly" in these parts. Some of that has to do with how developers develop,it's more isolating than communal. Urban sprawl is not all that warm and welcoming. Outside of church,or perhaps kid's sports or the golf course,there's no place to belong. This means there's a huge void that megachurches seized on. Give the people something else that solid,they WILL come.
Second,there's no counter message. No alternative to the southern GOP brand of politics and religion with big bidness all swirled in. What we don't need here is Dems trying to be more like the Repubs,we need a completely different deal. And it can be done without religion taking a front seat. I call it Bread and Butter Politics. Jobs,pensions and retirement,the ability to save and maybe even invest a little,healthcare costs,a fairer and easier to understand tax structure,schools,government corruption,the occupation of Iraq and what that means for the future,better schools,a safe and healthy food supply,you get the idea. These things do matter to families,even suburban ones.
I know lots of families who are struggling and carrying huge debts even with a 6 figure salary. They're one health care crisis or a couple of paychecks away from financial disaster. If you talk to them about economics and the real effects of politics on their own economic future,they'll respond positively.
The GOP machine in Georgia took a blow when Ralph Reed was laughed out of the primaries. It would have been a perfect opening for a solid Dem to come in and make inroads. Instead we got Mark Taylor,who had nothing to offer voters to challenge incumbent governor Sonny Purdue. Taylor got his ass handed to him. I've had more pleasant and exciting root canals than Taylor's campaign. Whoever ran that mess should be run out of poltics and into an exciting career at McDonald's working the deep fryer.
Georgia,for all it's red state pain in the ass-ness, has some stuff going for it that could help create Progressive inroads,such as:
A fairly healthy organic and industrial farm industry. There are food co-ops and other venues in place that fit in with a Democratic platform perfectly. Support the family farmer,you'll find a friend there.
Our schools simply need better curriculums,we are woefully behind in many ways. Bring people some sane changes to NCLB and religious wingnut nonsense and people will respond,happily.
Urban Sprawl has surpassed infrastructure capacity,and it's taking it's toll. Traffic is a mess,public transportation is limited,utilities are on tenuous ground. Sane city planning is needed desperately.
Women and minorites,as I said above,huge untapped voter base. Stop treating us like we're stupid and second class. The things we care about are good for everyone.
Small businesses here are taking hits from the WalMarts of the world,support them,you'll find a loyal voting bloc. Combine them with small scale farmers and you'd have an even bigger voting pool.
Atlanta's GLBT community is huge and has outreach outside the city limits. There are allies there with organizing experience.
Also,the Southern suburbs are full of white people who aren't FROM the South and don't have "southern traditions"as baggage.Like me. Hell,I can go for days without actually meeting someone who was actually born here. You think all those people are conservatives? No way. We didn't come here for the politics,most of us came here when jobs up north dried up or companies transferred us to the region.
Yeah,the wingnuts are moneyed and loony,but they are not invincible. They're very comfortable here,which means there are weaknesses that are obvious if you look for them. By writing off the South you're proving that the Southern Strategy works and you're engaging in the same divisive politics that let the GOP claim the South as it's own. Stop It.
Happy Birthday
Today is the 231st Birthday of the United States Marine Corps. I thought this year I'd bring you the history of the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.
[The history of the Marine Corps emblem is a story related to the history of the Corps itself. The emblem of today traces its roots to the designs and ornaments of early Continental Marines as well as British Royal Marines. The emblem took its present form in 1868. Before that time many devices, ornaments, and distinguishing marks followed one another as official marks of the Corps.
In 1776, the device consisted of a "foul anchor" of silver or pewter. The foul anchor still forms a part of the emblem today. (A foul anchor is an anchor which has one or more turns of the chain around it). Changes were made in 1798, 1821, and 1824. In 1834 it was prescribed that a brass eagle be worn on the hat, the eagle to measure 3 1/2 inches from wingtip to wingtip.
During the early years numerous distinguishing marks were prescribed, including "black cockades, "scarlet plumes," and "yellow bands and tassels." In 1859 the origin of the present color scheme for the officer's dress uniform ornaments appeared on an elaborate device of solid white metal and yellow metal. The design included a United States shield, half wreath, a bugle, and the letter "M."
In 1868, Brigadier General Commandant Jacob Zeilin appointed a board "to decide and report upon the various devices of cap ornaments for the Marine Corps." On 13 November 1868, the board turned in its report. It was approved by the Commandant four days later, and on 19 November 1868 was signed by the Secretary of the Navy.
The emblem recommended by this board has survived with minor changes to this day. It consists of a globe (showing the Western Hemisphere) intersected by a foul anchor, and surmounted by a spread eagle. On the emblem itself, the device is topped by a ribbon inscribed with the Latin motto "Semper Fidelis" (Always Faithful). The uniform ornaments omit the motto ribbon.
The general design of the emblem was probably derived from the British Royal Marines' "Globe and Laurel." The globe on the U.S. Marine emblem signifies service in any part of the world. The eagle also indirectly signifies service worldwide, although this may not have been the intention of the designers in 1868. The eagle they selected for the Marine emblem is a crested eagle, a type found all over the world. On the other hand, the eagle pictured on the great seal and the currency of the United States is the bald eagle, strictly an American variety. The anchor, whose origin dates back to the founding of the Marine Corps in 1775, indicates the amphibious nature of Marines' duties.]
If you ask a Marine, he (or 'she' - PC, you know) may tell you that the 'foul anchor' actually symbolizes the often turbulent relationship between the Marine Corps and
I am a little miffed that I never got to wear "black cockades", "scarlet plumes", and "yellow bands and tassels". Well, not on duty anyway...
I chose the emblem above just to get this in:
"You Marines are just part of the Department of the Navy."
"Yeah, the men's department." (rimshot)
Today, brothers Lurch, Moderate Man, and Deuddersun also wish the Corps a Happy Birthday. Check 'em out. Also, please read my posts for 2004 and 2005 if you like. The '05 one in particular comes as close as I'll probably ever get to timeless prose.
Happy Birthday, Marine Corps, and as always, Semper Fi.
Awwww
Can you hear the violins playing?
You know the old saying, 'lay down with dogs ...' These are the people who kept the Rethug Machine going. I hope they all end up living under a bridge in a refrigerator box.
The hundreds of Republican staffers - not to mention more than a few Members - who will lose their jobs in the next few weeks are going to face a hostile marketplace on K Street as unemployed Republicans flood the market.
Tuesday's election results sent at least 20 incumbents in the House and Senate packing and flipped control of the House to Democrats. It also flipped a decade-long trend of Republicans as the darlings of the lobbying sector. While GOP aides are flooding the town with their resumes, it's now plugged-in Democratic aides whom companies and firms really have an eye for.
...
You know the old saying, 'lay down with dogs ...' These are the people who kept the Rethug Machine going. I hope they all end up living under a bridge in a refrigerator box.
Link thanks to Skippy.
The new SECDEF
His Highness has some good background on Rummy's replacement. I can't wait until all these Cold War relics die off.
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