Recent weeks in DC have certainly provided us dull-eyed hardworking Americans with some interesting evening news pieces, but it turns out...
The Gentleman from Texas has been making something of a spectacle of himself for quite some time now. And here we thought this was the lowest the Washington Republican Circus, errr, I mean um, uh Caucus could go... or at least it was the lowest they would be willing to go.
So did I, but I was OH, SO, WRONG...
I absolutely insist you read this sweet little snark from Juanita Jean Herownself.
You can find more of Juanita's knee-slappin' political commentary by clicking on the Blog link in the left margin of this page. Look for "Juanita's page" and click on it. She's a hoot.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Sunday, March 27, 2005
A Time and a Place for Everything...
Lately, many things being done by Washington Republicans are deeply disturbing. But events on Capitol Hill last week were nothing short of horrid and ghastly.
A new circle of Hell is being built just for those who would exploit the least among us in the hopes of exciting their base.
Sincere and honest people know there is a time and a place for everything. I say it's time to let Terri Schiavo go on to her Maker.
But honestly, who cares what I say? It isn't my decision to make. It's not my business. And it isn't Tom Delay's business. And it isn't Bill Frist's business. This issue is not up for popular debate or judgement. The human being that was Terri Schiavo died 15 years ago. Her brain scans show NO activity outside of the brainstem. She cannot hear, see, think, or feel anything. She does not feel thirst. She does not feel hunger. She is a shell. I do not know or understand why her parents need so badly to keep her whithered shell here on earth. It is certainly not my place to question the depth of these people's pain and despair. My own prayer is that they find grace and strength enough to do the right thing and let her go.
John Donne wrote a Sonnet ages ago that is more truthful than most thoughts I have ever heard on the subject of dying. In four hundred years, no one has said it better. Easter weekend is an appropriate time to recall what he wrote.
This is a standard 14 line, iambic pentameter sonnet, but I can't remember how the lines break up - I'm not even going to try - I'll just write it like I hear it in my head...
Holy Sonnets, #10
Death, be not proud.
Though some have call'ed thee mighty and dreadful, thou are not so.
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, much pleasure - then, from thee much more must flow.
And soonest our best men with thee do go, rest of their bones and soul's delivery.
Thou'rt slave to fate, chance, kings and desperate men, and dost with poison and war and sickness dwell.
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well, and better than thy stroke.
Why swellst thou then? One short sleep past, we wake eternally and death shall be no more.
Death - thou shalt die.
A new circle of Hell is being built just for those who would exploit the least among us in the hopes of exciting their base.
Sincere and honest people know there is a time and a place for everything. I say it's time to let Terri Schiavo go on to her Maker.
But honestly, who cares what I say? It isn't my decision to make. It's not my business. And it isn't Tom Delay's business. And it isn't Bill Frist's business. This issue is not up for popular debate or judgement. The human being that was Terri Schiavo died 15 years ago. Her brain scans show NO activity outside of the brainstem. She cannot hear, see, think, or feel anything. She does not feel thirst. She does not feel hunger. She is a shell. I do not know or understand why her parents need so badly to keep her whithered shell here on earth. It is certainly not my place to question the depth of these people's pain and despair. My own prayer is that they find grace and strength enough to do the right thing and let her go.
John Donne wrote a Sonnet ages ago that is more truthful than most thoughts I have ever heard on the subject of dying. In four hundred years, no one has said it better. Easter weekend is an appropriate time to recall what he wrote.
This is a standard 14 line, iambic pentameter sonnet, but I can't remember how the lines break up - I'm not even going to try - I'll just write it like I hear it in my head...
Holy Sonnets, #10
Death, be not proud.
Though some have call'ed thee mighty and dreadful, thou are not so.
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, much pleasure - then, from thee much more must flow.
And soonest our best men with thee do go, rest of their bones and soul's delivery.
Thou'rt slave to fate, chance, kings and desperate men, and dost with poison and war and sickness dwell.
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well, and better than thy stroke.
Why swellst thou then? One short sleep past, we wake eternally and death shall be no more.
Death - thou shalt die.
This week's Recommended Website: Juanita's is open for business ...
"The World's Most Dangerous Beauty Salon, Inc."
Come On In
Juanita's take on the BIG TEN Monument
Here's a little taste of Juanita's good old fashioned laugh-out-loud common sense...
Monumentally Bad Idea
The absolutely worst argument for putting the Ten Commandments at any government building is that they’ve been on a monument at the Texas capitol for forty-four years - because it hasn’t done diddle squat to make the government any better. In fact, we were much better off before 1961. The monument has made things worse. I think any real Texan would agree that Sam Houston on his drunkest day was more righteous and lawful than Tom Craddick or Rick Perry.
Think about it. Since 1961 we’ve lost every war that we entered, the oil boom busted, cancer has gotten worse, and the Beatles broke up. Personally, I don’t think the monument has a very good record.
And, Darlin’, the evidence is even worse in its immediate vicinity. Half the members of the Legislature are crazed with ego and the other two-thirds carry a lightening rod just in case God spots them. There are third world dictators less corrupt than the majority of people on the grounds of the Texas Capitol. Just as we’re sitting here talking, there are lawsuits from here to El Paso over the ethics of men who walked by that monument every day.
If that monument could talk, it’d probably curl your hair. Michael Scanlon and Jack Abramoff probably leaned their elbows on that monument while they made plans to rip-off poor Indian tribes for $66 million dollars. Governor Preston Smith probably buried all his profits from the Sharpstown banking scandal under that monument. Squat. I’m telling you - diddle squat that monument has helped.
Two speakers of the Texas House have resigned in disgrace since 1961. No telling what State Representative Drew Nixon did with his hookers and guns at the foot of that monument.
I can’t even imagine the horrible stuff that has gone on in the shadow of that monument and I’ve got a super-charged imagining tool. I think that monument would better serve as a warning to other government buildings instead of an inspiration.
Think about this. Tom DeLay walked past that monument every day on his way to Macho Manor to do things I don’t even want to know about in his frothy hot tub. Those commandments didn’t do jack. To this day, poor Tom has broken every one of them – including the honor thy momma part – except that he hasn’t killed anybody that we know of. And, Honey, that was after he got baptized a few times. I mean, one out of ten ain’t a record that God might be willing to dicker over.
The Ten Commandments on a slab next to the Texas Capitol were a “gift” from the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. I dunno know if we need to be worried about any hocus-pocus stuff that they might have buried with the monument that’s causing all the bad karma. But, they are a secret organization of a bunch of old white guys.
As a special philosophical gift to folks in foreign states – you can put the Ten Commandments on your state capitol grounds. But, don’t expect no miracles. In fact, things may get worse. Just be prepared for a Governor with a double-digit IQ and an Attorney General who wouldn’t know the law if we gave it teeth and let it bite his butt.
Whoa. Wait. Hold On. Is there one of those Commandment slabs in Dee Cee? I’m just saying. If not, that’s kind of a remarkable coincidence.
Come On In
Juanita's take on the BIG TEN Monument
Here's a little taste of Juanita's good old fashioned laugh-out-loud common sense...
Monumentally Bad Idea
The absolutely worst argument for putting the Ten Commandments at any government building is that they’ve been on a monument at the Texas capitol for forty-four years - because it hasn’t done diddle squat to make the government any better. In fact, we were much better off before 1961. The monument has made things worse. I think any real Texan would agree that Sam Houston on his drunkest day was more righteous and lawful than Tom Craddick or Rick Perry.
Think about it. Since 1961 we’ve lost every war that we entered, the oil boom busted, cancer has gotten worse, and the Beatles broke up. Personally, I don’t think the monument has a very good record.
And, Darlin’, the evidence is even worse in its immediate vicinity. Half the members of the Legislature are crazed with ego and the other two-thirds carry a lightening rod just in case God spots them. There are third world dictators less corrupt than the majority of people on the grounds of the Texas Capitol. Just as we’re sitting here talking, there are lawsuits from here to El Paso over the ethics of men who walked by that monument every day.
If that monument could talk, it’d probably curl your hair. Michael Scanlon and Jack Abramoff probably leaned their elbows on that monument while they made plans to rip-off poor Indian tribes for $66 million dollars. Governor Preston Smith probably buried all his profits from the Sharpstown banking scandal under that monument. Squat. I’m telling you - diddle squat that monument has helped.
Two speakers of the Texas House have resigned in disgrace since 1961. No telling what State Representative Drew Nixon did with his hookers and guns at the foot of that monument.
I can’t even imagine the horrible stuff that has gone on in the shadow of that monument and I’ve got a super-charged imagining tool. I think that monument would better serve as a warning to other government buildings instead of an inspiration.
Think about this. Tom DeLay walked past that monument every day on his way to Macho Manor to do things I don’t even want to know about in his frothy hot tub. Those commandments didn’t do jack. To this day, poor Tom has broken every one of them – including the honor thy momma part – except that he hasn’t killed anybody that we know of. And, Honey, that was after he got baptized a few times. I mean, one out of ten ain’t a record that God might be willing to dicker over.
The Ten Commandments on a slab next to the Texas Capitol were a “gift” from the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. I dunno know if we need to be worried about any hocus-pocus stuff that they might have buried with the monument that’s causing all the bad karma. But, they are a secret organization of a bunch of old white guys.
As a special philosophical gift to folks in foreign states – you can put the Ten Commandments on your state capitol grounds. But, don’t expect no miracles. In fact, things may get worse. Just be prepared for a Governor with a double-digit IQ and an Attorney General who wouldn’t know the law if we gave it teeth and let it bite his butt.
Whoa. Wait. Hold On. Is there one of those Commandment slabs in Dee Cee? I’m just saying. If not, that’s kind of a remarkable coincidence.
Monday, March 14, 2005
Email sent to local TV news
Greetings:
Still wondering if anyone out there really gives a big rat's behind about our country. This will be my third email to you on the broad issues of democracy, ethics and balance in the House of Representatives.
Washington Republicans have made a few new rules:
1) "Fair" is for losers.
2) There are no rules.
3) "All your base are belong to us."
4) There are no rules.
5) It is now perfectly moral to throw the least among us to the wolves.
6) There are no rules.
Best Regards,
Leslie H, City, St phone number
First Reference:
http://www.housedemocrats.gov/Docs/BrokenPromises.pdf
Report from House Rules Committe Minority Office:
"In the 108th Congress, House Republicans became the most arrogant, unethical and corrupt majority in modern Congressional history."
Second Reference:
Warning: Ethics-Free Zone Monday, March 14, 2005; Page A18
THIS MAY NOT sound like news, but the House of Representatives is now an ethics-free zone. To be precise, it has no mechanism for investigating or disciplining members who violate ethics rules. The proximate cause of this breakdown is the revolt by the five Democrats on the evenly divided ethics committee. Led by the ranking Democrat, Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (W.Va.), committee Democrats understandably balked last week at acceding to new rules for how the panel should conduct its business -- rules dictated by the GOP leadership and slanted toward making the ethics process, already tilted in favor of gridlock, even more feckless.
The full Editorial: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A32541-2005Mar13?language=printer
Third Reference:
"Not to know what happened before one was born is to remain forever a child." - Cicero
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0610-11.htm
Still wondering if anyone out there really gives a big rat's behind about our country. This will be my third email to you on the broad issues of democracy, ethics and balance in the House of Representatives.
Washington Republicans have made a few new rules:
1) "Fair" is for losers.
2) There are no rules.
3) "All your base are belong to us."
4) There are no rules.
5) It is now perfectly moral to throw the least among us to the wolves.
6) There are no rules.
Best Regards,
Leslie H, City, St phone number
First Reference:
http://www.housedemocrats.gov/Docs/BrokenPromises.pdf
Report from House Rules Committe Minority Office:
"In the 108th Congress, House Republicans became the most arrogant, unethical and corrupt majority in modern Congressional history."
Second Reference:
Warning: Ethics-Free Zone Monday, March 14, 2005; Page A18
THIS MAY NOT sound like news, but the House of Representatives is now an ethics-free zone. To be precise, it has no mechanism for investigating or disciplining members who violate ethics rules. The proximate cause of this breakdown is the revolt by the five Democrats on the evenly divided ethics committee. Led by the ranking Democrat, Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (W.Va.), committee Democrats understandably balked last week at acceding to new rules for how the panel should conduct its business -- rules dictated by the GOP leadership and slanted toward making the ethics process, already tilted in favor of gridlock, even more feckless.
The full Editorial: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A32541-2005Mar13?language=printer
Third Reference:
"Not to know what happened before one was born is to remain forever a child." - Cicero
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0610-11.htm
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Bamboozlepalooza
Bamboozlepalooza Follies
The exchange:
THE PRESIDENT: Let me ask you something about the Thrift Savings Plan. This is a Thrift Savings Plan that has a mix of stocks and bonds?
MS. WEBSTER: Yes, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Now, how hard was that to learn how to do that?
MS. WEBSTER: And I chose the safe plan, government bonds. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: That's all right. Well, not so safe, unless we fix the deficit. But other than that -- (laughter). We're fixing the deficit. (Applause.)
-Atrios 1:28 PM
The above blog post was taken from MyDD.com weblog.
"THE PRESIDENT" isn't really a President, but he plays one on TV.
heh! I kid, I kid.
Yes, the quotes here are really THEE President speaking.
Notice what our illustrious leader said about the fiscal stability of our country in the above exchange on the Bamboozlepalooza Tour. US Treasury Bonds are, by law, backed by the "full faith and credit of the United States of America." They are the safest investment tool on the face of the earth. In the above exchange, Bush told one of his fawning fans that government bonds are "not so safe."
Damn. Warm fuzzies to our international creditors.
Amazing. And people really voted for Bush?
All philosophical and political differences aside, did anybody really intend to mandate running our country into the ground when they voted for this guy last Nov.?
But wait! There's more!
In the next breath, Bush says, "We're fixing the deficit."
HAH!
The deficit will continue to climb if Bush's 2006 Budget passes. That's according to the Congressional Budget Office. Seems Bush forgot to put costs for Iraq or Afghanistan into his budget projections. He also forgot to factor in his "Aid to Families with Ginormous Wealth" programs (tax cuts) that are supposed to go into effect or go permanent in the next five years.
Let's not even consider the fact that putting this grand plan for private accounts into effect will cost us, our kids, and our grandkids an additional 2TRILLION buckaroos, PLUS driving Social Security to insolvency years sooner than if we left it alone.
Now, I'm no Nobel Prize winner, but that don't sound much like anything's gettin' fixed to me.
Two words, boys and girls - Bamboozle ... palooza.
The exchange:
THE PRESIDENT: Let me ask you something about the Thrift Savings Plan. This is a Thrift Savings Plan that has a mix of stocks and bonds?
MS. WEBSTER: Yes, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Now, how hard was that to learn how to do that?
MS. WEBSTER: And I chose the safe plan, government bonds. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: That's all right. Well, not so safe, unless we fix the deficit. But other than that -- (laughter). We're fixing the deficit. (Applause.)
-Atrios 1:28 PM
The above blog post was taken from MyDD.com weblog.
"THE PRESIDENT" isn't really a President, but he plays one on TV.
heh! I kid, I kid.
Yes, the quotes here are really THEE President speaking.
Notice what our illustrious leader said about the fiscal stability of our country in the above exchange on the Bamboozlepalooza Tour. US Treasury Bonds are, by law, backed by the "full faith and credit of the United States of America." They are the safest investment tool on the face of the earth. In the above exchange, Bush told one of his fawning fans that government bonds are "not so safe."
Damn. Warm fuzzies to our international creditors.
Amazing. And people really voted for Bush?
All philosophical and political differences aside, did anybody really intend to mandate running our country into the ground when they voted for this guy last Nov.?
But wait! There's more!
In the next breath, Bush says, "We're fixing the deficit."
HAH!
The deficit will continue to climb if Bush's 2006 Budget passes. That's according to the Congressional Budget Office. Seems Bush forgot to put costs for Iraq or Afghanistan into his budget projections. He also forgot to factor in his "Aid to Families with Ginormous Wealth" programs (tax cuts) that are supposed to go into effect or go permanent in the next five years.
Let's not even consider the fact that putting this grand plan for private accounts into effect will cost us, our kids, and our grandkids an additional 2TRILLION buckaroos, PLUS driving Social Security to insolvency years sooner than if we left it alone.
Now, I'm no Nobel Prize winner, but that don't sound much like anything's gettin' fixed to me.
Two words, boys and girls - Bamboozle ... palooza.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
On the impending coronation...
There's an interesting report just released by the House Rules Committee Minority Office: http://www.housedemocrats.gov/Docs/BrokenPromises.pdf
Broken Promises: The Death of Deliberative Democracy
A Congressional Report on the Unprecedented Erosion of the Democratic Process in the 108th Congress.
The report's opening sentence:
"In the 108th Congress, House Republicans became the most arrogant, unethical and corrupt majority in modern Congressional history."
The report sounds a very loud alarm for both Dems and Repubs. Our Congress has gotten in the dangerous habit of voting on far reaching, landmark legislation that they do not even read. The House leadership makes rules that prevent any and all discussion or debate on 500-1000 paged House bills.
I read this Minority Report. It gets really interesting really fast. The first few pages are pretty dry, and honestly they sound pretty whiney, but by the time you get to page 45, you realize that there really is a big problem up there in Washington. Those Washington Republicans don't give a hoot what's in a bill, they cannot possibly read any of them. They just vote as they are told by their shepherds. The Dems don't have a chance to even read the damn things before they are forced to a yes or no vote. Hell, why bother having a Congress if that's the way its going to be run. Let's just have the coronation, install the king and his court, and be done with it.
One party rule. That's what we've come to.
It's not called democracy when they do it in Cuba - why do we think it's democracy here?
And guess what? Surprise, surprise!
Not one word about it has made any media outlet I've seen. I even emailed all the stuff to my local tv stations several days back. Nothin'. Nada. Not a peep.
Too much American Idol and Michael Jackson news to report, I guess.
If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention!
DailyKos.com has some thorough citizen conversations on this report. The first post on the subject is here, but there are others that have been posted since this was posted.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/3/9/144945/8694
Broken Promises: The Death of Deliberative Democracy
A Congressional Report on the Unprecedented Erosion of the Democratic Process in the 108th Congress.
The report's opening sentence:
"In the 108th Congress, House Republicans became the most arrogant, unethical and corrupt majority in modern Congressional history."
The report sounds a very loud alarm for both Dems and Repubs. Our Congress has gotten in the dangerous habit of voting on far reaching, landmark legislation that they do not even read. The House leadership makes rules that prevent any and all discussion or debate on 500-1000 paged House bills.
I read this Minority Report. It gets really interesting really fast. The first few pages are pretty dry, and honestly they sound pretty whiney, but by the time you get to page 45, you realize that there really is a big problem up there in Washington. Those Washington Republicans don't give a hoot what's in a bill, they cannot possibly read any of them. They just vote as they are told by their shepherds. The Dems don't have a chance to even read the damn things before they are forced to a yes or no vote. Hell, why bother having a Congress if that's the way its going to be run. Let's just have the coronation, install the king and his court, and be done with it.
One party rule. That's what we've come to.
It's not called democracy when they do it in Cuba - why do we think it's democracy here?
And guess what? Surprise, surprise!
Not one word about it has made any media outlet I've seen. I even emailed all the stuff to my local tv stations several days back. Nothin'. Nada. Not a peep.
Too much American Idol and Michael Jackson news to report, I guess.
If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention!
DailyKos.com has some thorough citizen conversations on this report. The first post on the subject is here, but there are others that have been posted since this was posted.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/3/9/144945/8694
... my christening post
You have heard the old adage:
If you are not a liberal when you are young, you have no heart.
If you are not a conservative when you are old, you have no brain.
That, friend, is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard.
The reality-based fact is this:
If you are not a liberal when you are young, you have no heart.
If you are not a conservative when you are old, raise a glass and thank your God that you still have a conscience.
Yes, congratulations; if you are over 30 and you call yourself a moderate or a liberal, you have resisted the idea that your wallet could ever be as important as the still small voice that speaks to your heart.
If you are not a liberal when you are young, you have no heart.
If you are not a conservative when you are old, you have no brain.
That, friend, is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard.
The reality-based fact is this:
If you are not a liberal when you are young, you have no heart.
If you are not a conservative when you are old, raise a glass and thank your God that you still have a conscience.
Yes, congratulations; if you are over 30 and you call yourself a moderate or a liberal, you have resisted the idea that your wallet could ever be as important as the still small voice that speaks to your heart.
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