Month: August 2008

Political Crack15 Comments

Big Scoop From The Asshole Gallery

A story from yesterday which has been bugging me:How many democrats is “some?” A common concern: that the stadium appearance plays against Obama’s convention goal of lowering his star wattage and connecting with average Americans and that it gives Republicans a chance to drive home their message that the Democratic nominee is a narcissistic celebrity candidate. “We already know he is a rock star, we already know he can bring 85,000 people together in a stadium. He has done it multiple times. He needs to talk to people who haven’t made up their minds yet,” said Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen. … Continue reading Big Scoop From The Asshole Gallery

Political Crack16 Comments

A Do-Over

I won’t be able to read too much of this without wanting to rip somebody’s face off, but even for Politico, this is horrific. A DO-OVER: The unexpected disaster also offers the GOPa do-over on Bush’s disastrous response to Katrina three years ago. If the government can do a much better job of responding to a natural disaster this time around, it can only help the GOP. NOT FOR THEM. Light the authors’ e-mails up: Mike Allen. Jim VanderHei. A do-over. I have no words. A. Continue reading A Do-Over

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood9 Comments

Hurricane Gustav…

It is different waiting and watching Gustav, than it was to do such three years ago with Katrina. Then I sort of knew one person in New Orleans. Now that one person is a dear, dear friend. In three years I have made many more friends. I know what they have been through the past 3 years. I know how hard they have fought to rebuild their homes and save their beloved city. It has been a long struggle in which they have been patient and brave and angry and determined and always still of good humor. Theare New Orleanians.Three … Continue reading Hurricane Gustav…

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood8 Comments

“Karmic Payback”…just saying it may not be the bitch they think

As our friends in New Orleans face theexcruciating wait to see where Gustav will go, there is much talk of the possible political effects of Gustav hitting the Gulf Coast during the GOP Convention.Politico writes that it could “swamp” the GOP andthe NYT’s editorial board writes of possible “karmic payback” for the Republicans. Just as, much caution is advised in forecasting what Gustav will do, I would advise the same caution in predicting the possible political outcome. Because there is another political scenario far different from payback. It could be payoff. One of the important lessons of Katrina was… don’t … Continue reading “Karmic Payback”…just saying it may not be the bitch they think

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood3 Comments

Nauseating

No words. How to help. Realize that someone, whether they are your friends or not, is going to get hit. Realize that Jamaica and the surrounding islands are being torn up by Gustav as you read this, realize especially that Cuba is almost sure to suffer a devastating storm surge, no matter what. Realize that after that, Gustav will sit and recover, then keep on coming and wreak more damage, closer to home. Realize thatright now is the time to make your online donations, buy groceries for the food bank shipment, look up who in your community is putting together … Continue reading Nauseating

Political Crack24 Comments

Better Still That They Be Sung

Denver, 1908 There isn’t going to be a horse race to cover, either in New York or San Diego, but we gave you the air waves for free 70 years ago and 357 days a year you can say who’s up and who’s down, who won the West and who lost the South but what’s wrong with 8 days, not every year but every 4 years, showing our leaders talking to us. Not a fraction of what they said but what they said. And then the balloons. — Toby, The West Wing The story all week is that there is … Continue reading Better Still That They Be Sung

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood12 Comments

Wrong reminder

MorethanjustafewNOLAbloggers have rippedWill Bunch and aKos diary for writing how Hurricane Gustav hitting the Gulf Coast at the time of the Republican Convention could be a “nightmare” for the Republicans. The NOLA bloggers find it insensitive and callous to be speaking of “a realpolitik point of view” as they possibly face another disaster. I hadn’t thought of Gustav in terms of the Republican Convention. Rather I have been thinking of how my friends in New Orleans may be packing up their important papers, family photos, children’s favorite toys, placing beloved pets in their carriers, gassing up their cars, making hotel … Continue reading Wrong reminder

Law/Justice5 Comments

Del Martin, pioneer GLBT activist and newlywed, dead at 87

SFGate: Del Martin, a pioneering lesbian rights activist who married her lifelong partner on the first day same-sex couples could legally wed in California, has died. She was 87. Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, says Martin died at a San Francisco hospital Wednesday morning two weeks after a broken arm exacerbated her existing health problems. Kendell says her wife, Phyllis Lyon, was by her side. Slideshow I made back in June, featuring Del and Phyllis Continue reading Del Martin, pioneer GLBT activist and newlywed, dead at 87

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Immoral Values13 Comments

Pushing you away from me

I’m not the NOLA expert around here, so I won’t say anything… was my first thought after readingScout’s excellent post but goddamn if I wasn’t committing one of the Stupid Liberal Tricks* that chaps my ass more than almost any other: “I’m not a woman so my opinion on abortion or birth control doesn’t matter.” (alternate version: “I’m not straight so my opinion on abortion or birth control doesn’t matter” or “I’m 87 so my opinion on abortion or birth control doesn’t matter.”) “I’m not gay, lesbian, bi, trans, queer so my opinion on GLBTQ issues doesn’t really matter.” “I’m … Continue reading Pushing you away from me

Uncategorized5 Comments

10 million net jobs created during Jimmy Carter’s term

What to do with Jimmy Carter? I don’t know. I didn’t see the Democratic Convention video of him interviewing New Orleanians last night, but I assume it was pretty good. Republicans like to slag on Carter, and they havecompared Barack Obama to Carter during the campaign. This linkage is sort of useful, actually, because you wouldn’t believe how many conservatives think that they need to suffer through another “Carter” before the country will be ready to elect the“next Ronald Reagan”. Operating under that assumption, conservatives will be much less willing to hold their nose for McCain this election if they … Continue reading 10 million net jobs created during Jimmy Carter’s term

Jude, Of Interest8 Comments

So Is Life

Yeah, so I got reminded ofThe Muppet Show recently. And that made me think of Mr. Belafonte there.  I hate to sound like a dirty fucking hippie, especially since Athenaehas that nailed down for us, but damn. C’mon, people. It is up to us. Shit’s never gonna be perfect, but the world doesn’t have to exist in a state of perma-suck.  And, yeah, there are always gonna be assholes telling you that you’re stupid, or you’re fighting the inevitable, or you’re just too naive and eager. Well, those people can either help us or get kicked in the nuts*. So … Continue reading So Is Life

Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood6 Comments

Alphonso Jackson’s wife had “financial ties to at least two companies that did business at” HANO

National Journal apparently has another follow up to their reporting on the federal investigation of HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson but it is subscription only. However a Dallas Observer blog reports on the article which includes that Alphonso’s wife had ties to at least 2 companies that did business with HANO. FromThe Dallas Observer Blog Unfair Park… Today, theNational Journal offersa subscription-only follow-up that says federal investigators, the FBI and a Washington, D.C., grand jury are digging even deeper into Jackson’s affairs and discovering further connections, including a “stucco contractor” with whom Jackson is pals and to whom the HUD secretary … Continue reading Alphonso Jackson’s wife had “financial ties to at least two companies that did business at” HANO

Uncategorized9 Comments

Ramping Up the Rhetoric

Down here we’re going about our normal lives as routinely as possible while of course keeping an alert if not anxious eye out onGustav. I’m lucky–Baton Rouge is well inland. If the track continues, we’ll see a storm, but won’t have to deal with the consequences of storm surge…or levee failures. Nonetheless, while I’m not on pins and needles, I’m wary enough: I’ve got family near the coastline around New Iberia and friends in NOLA, two of whom, with their two dogs, have an open invitation should they need to evacuate. And, while I’m quite fond of them, I’m obviously … Continue reading Ramping Up the Rhetoric

Faith5 Comments

Oh, For The Love of God — Really

The AP interviews a bunch of people who don’t know shit, News At Eleven: “It’s important that people of faith are being listened to just like other constituencies, that we’re not marginalized,” said Alexia Kelley of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, which haspressed the party to support policies aimed at reducing abortion rates. “Just because we’re participating in the process and engaging people who may not agree with us doesn’t mean we’re just a mascot.” Emphasis mine. They already do. They always have.And for at LEAST four years and probably longer, they’ve been packaging those programs specifically as … Continue reading Oh, For The Love of God — Really

Political Crack6 Comments

Fire Us Up

Yeah. I’ve been missing the fun this time around, too. It’s not that I don’t like Obama. It’s not that I’m still pissed that Dodd got so few votes in Iowa (fucking fuckity fuckers)(okay, maybe I’m a little pissed). It’s just … I dunno, I just wasn’t feeling it yet. Then Teddy Kennedy and Schweitzer and Hillary and Warner and Strickland, and Tammy Baldwin (who did good last night, but needs more major face time on stuff like this) and Janet Napolitano and fucking DENNIS, dude, who should be king, and Michelle and the kids, and even Bob Casey did … Continue reading Fire Us Up

Political Crack11 Comments

Hey, Comedy Central Bloggers

Me and Dennis DiClaudio from Indecision 2008 Blog. I win. Unfortunately: She added insult to injury by coming out Tuesday night looking great in a blazing orange pantsuit and teaching the precocious pup Obama something about intensity and message. She thanked her “sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits,” and slyly noted that Obama would enact her health care plan rather than his. She offered the electrifying fight that the limpid Obama has not — setting off paranoia among some Democrats that they had chosen the wrong nominee or that Obama had chosen the wrong running mate. “It makes perfect sense that … Continue reading Hey, Comedy Central Bloggers

Political Crack15 Comments

Convention Day Two Crack Van

Posts in the van belong to their authors. Not to me, Jude, Scout, any of the guests. Speaking schedule here. Watch live here. Update: Van closed. Thanks to everybody for putting up with my intermittent access and for stopping by and chatting. Tomorrow: The Bidening! Update 2: Hillary’s speech: A. ps. I bet the Comedy Central bloggers (who are here, quoting from the bits of the Van I read out loud to them) $5 that the story tomorrow would be that Hillary did TOO well tonight in order to deliberatly and maliciously upstage Obama, just so those who are interested … Continue reading Convention Day Two Crack Van