He’s on a rant about the Justice Department under the Bush Adminsitration — people who seem to think they work for the President and not for the people of the United States: The core attribute of the Justice Department is independence, not allegiance to the President as "client." The President has his own lawyers in the White House Counsel’s Office. … Read More
Bush’s Legacy
Yes, I too think it is time we should start naming public buildings after our illustrious president. A good place to start: A measure seeking to commemorate President Bush’s years in office by slapping his name on a San Francisco sewage plant has qualified for the November ballot. The measure certified Thursday would rename the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant … Read More
Tuning In
This is usually the time of year when I start to really tune in to the Bosox. Season being half over and all. It looks like we’re in first — barely — and that seem largely due to a Tampa Bay impode more than anything else. (Really? Tampa Bay? Why are they even a factor?!?) Yankees not a serious threat … Read More
Dear Abby Hijacked: Volume Four
Past installments From her July 16 column… DEAR ABBY: My 17-year-old niece, "Nicki," was recently diagnosed with an STD. When her mother, my sister-in-law "Cynthia," found out she was horrified. She had ignored several family members — including me — who had tried to warn her that Nicki was sexually active and not taking proper precautions. Now Nicki’s 14-year-old sister, … Read More
Moon Transits The Earth
At first blush, this may not seem all that amazing — a short filmed sequence of the Earth… with the moon going in front of it. After all, we live in a time where such a thing can be generated on even the simplest computer. But keep in mind, this is REAL, and reflects the first time in history of … Read More
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog
This is fun. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog A webshow about Dr. Horrible, a very inept supercriminal with dubious superpowers, attempting to be accepted into the Evil League of Evil, while winning the heart of the girl he loves. And it’s in the style of a Broadway-style musical. starring Neil Patrick Harris, Nathon Fillion from Firefly, and Felicia Day. Harris … Read More
Jib Jab Political Ad
The boys are at it again. LOOK FOR A SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY A SPECIAL GUEST TOWARD THE END! Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!
Late Night Comedians Can’t Find The Funny In Obama
The New York Times addresses this "problem": Comedy has been no easier for the phalanx of late-night television hosts who depend on skewering political leaders for a healthy quotient of their nightly monologues. Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O’Brien and others have delivered a nightly stream of jokes about the Republican running for president — each one a variant on … Read More
The Coveted Marie Jon Apostrophe Endorsement
Well, I guess one could say that I am flattered that syndicated columnist Marie Jon Apostrophe reads my blog, or, at least, my posts concerning her columns, even though she does nothing but leave cryptic comments. It also looks like I may have gotten through to her. For the first time in months, she’s written a column about Barack Obama … Read More
Can’t Kill Or Capture Our Way To Victory
Hmmmm: Barack Obama warned yesterday against the risk of a “creeping militarization” of U.S. foreign policy, saying the State Department should lead U.S. engagement with other countries, with the military playing a supporting role. “We cannot kill or capture our way to victory” in the long-term campaign against terrorism, Obama said, arguing that military action should be subordinate to political … Read More
Local Politics: Dem In NC-11 Running Virtually Opposed
From Kos: At one point, the GOP was bursting with enthusiasm about gaining back their long-lost and well-deserved House majority, and high on their target list for this goal were seats like North Carolina’s Republican-leaning 11th District, now represented by freshman Democrat Heath Shuler. Except that their candidate has now suspended his campaign. Republican Congressional candidate Carl Mumpower has suspended … Read More
An Uneducated President Is Not A “Plus”
I touched on this yesterday, but it seems to me that the GOP strategy of touting one’s educational ineptitude is really not a good selling point. It’s kind of like pandering to stupid people: "Hey, I’m a moron, just like you. And if I can get in the White House, so can you. Because I’m a regular Joe, a non-Ivy … Read More
A Useful Set of Graphs
Presidents and the economy. In the graphs, the parties are color-coded by the traditional Republican red and Democratic blue. Individual terms are in a lighter shade, and the party average is the darker shade. Technical note Unless otherwise noted, the figure shown is average annual growth rate for a president’s term, from the year, quarter, or month of inauguration to … Read More
Jesse Helms — Leader Against HIV?
What is Elizabeth Dole smoking? From the Congressional Record dated July 14, 2008: SA 5074. Mrs. DOLE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 2731, to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to provide assistance to foreign countries to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie … Read More
The PZ Myers Brouhaha
UPDATE: A helpful perspective from Heather in the comments…. be sure to check it out I occasionally read PZ Myer’s blog: Pharyngula. PZ, a biologist and assistant professor at University of Minnesota, is a very good writer (excuse me, very well writer) known mostly for his eloquent posts debuking creationism and intelligent design theories. While not usually incidiary, PZ — … Read More