Open Thread – Brian Goes Bard, and We Go Netroots!
~Brian attends The Taming of the Shrew (photo from Mudflatter Jimzmum)
Did we ever doubt that Brian the Moose was a fan of the Bard? While our blog moosecot was busy soaking up some culture en plein air, progressive blogger types in Alaska have been scuttling around with suitcases.
It’s that time of year again – the annual gathering of the online progressive community – Netroots Nation. It’s three days of panel discussions, workshops, films, presentations, and awesome speakers. And of course there will be networking galore, and a chance to catch up with old friends. And we can’t forget the revelry and frolicking. There’s that too.
This year, the Alaska contingent will be huge by former standards. In Pittsburgh in 2009 it was just me and Shannyn Moore. Now, just two years later in Minneapolis we’ll have at least seven and I may be forgetting someone. I will be blogging from Netroots as I can. The schedule is tight this year, so for those of you who want to know what’s going on in real time, make sure you’re following me on Facebook (Jeanne Devon) and Twitter (@Mudflats). You can also follow Shannyn on Twitter (@shannynmoore).
All Kenai mudpups ok after the quake today?
No reports in ADN about damage.
Best wishes to all there!
http://www.aeic.alaska.edu/Seis/recent/sub/quakes/2011167_evid10253162/evid10253162.html
I was reading my way through a college football message board on Wed. and came across an interesting question from some well educated young adult. He asked if John Mccain really stayed in a Hilton Hotel in Hanoi during the Viet Nam war and couldn’t seem to grasp the idea that the Hanoi Hilton was an infamous prison camp where POW’s didn’t get room service. He was,I think,serious. Is it possible that people in America are that far out of reality?
Probably home schooled . . . .
Are we ,as a Nation, headed back to the sixties where riot police were free to bust heads of protesters and journalists alike? Nixon used hard hats tro beat up Viet Nam protesters. I recall images of construction workers gathered in front of government bldgs just waiting to pummel anyone who looked like a student or a person of Color.
Such a totally OT thing … but just realized this is an Open Thread! So, OK!
Today I finally received my copy of Blind Allegiance. Being totally backwards (as usual), I read the last two chapters first. I cried.
It so totally took me back to 2009, the Eagle disaster, and losing our home. Frank Bailey was right here, probably at times no more than a few feet from me – and I didn’t know it. I never met him.
I wish I had met him. I wish we could have talked. I have no idea what I would have said, but I know that I would have liked him, and we would have truly communicated.
Reading the book, there is no doubt he was here, believe me. His descriptions are so detailed, especially playing the piano in Red Men Hall. (That piano came here in 1901, and before he was here we trucked it into Fairbanks to get it restored so it could actually be played and used with other instruments.) It just does my heart good that he enjoyed playing it when he was here — because that is what it was meant for. It was good for the piano, but more importantly, it was good for Frank.
I also remember the Mennonite folks gathered around the piano and singing traditional hymns in harmony, sometimes with guitars, violins and bass. It was … indescribable, beautiful.
I grew up with music, so I guess, in the midst of all that destruction, the music was my own symbol of hope at that time. When Frank talked in the book about being the ‘Piano Man,’ that was when I lost it.
Tonight took me on another journey back to 2009, when so very many of you Mudflatters were a lifeline for Eagle. I have many names in mind right now – and you know who you are – but in truth, there were so many of you who donated, wrote, supported and volunteered for us … I can’t even begin to single out anyone. To mention even one name would be leaving someone else out. We love you all…..please know you have forever changed our lives, and we never would have made it through 2009 without your help.
But most of all, the one name I will mention is Jeanne Devon. Because without Mudflats, all of that never would have happened. And I never would have had that wonderful feeling that someone out there, somewhere, really did care.
You ‘flatters are pretty special.
Hugs and peace.
Martha UYS — this is for YOU! — and all who think we should stop fixating on $P!
Editorial: Stop paying attention to Palin
http://iowastatedaily.com/opinion/article_de297870-9777-11e0-8435-001cc4c002e0.html
“…Palin coverage is denying the American people the coverage of the politicians actually running — and dragging America further toward idiocracy. Neither journalists nor their audience should perpetuate it.”
I tend to agree. But yet, why do I keep worrying? I think my worry has a purpose ….
—————————
Sorry — I just can’t settle down tonight. The problems in Wisconsin, the total ineptitude of everyone to realize & QUESTION the omissions in the Palin emails, and other personal/family things …… I don’t think I’m going to sleep at all tonight. Total adrenaline.
{{{{{yukonbushgrma}}}}}
I got some good sleep, and woke up Before the rest of the birds in the forest this morning. The rooster isn’t even up yet! It’s still dark, almost cool, and that oh-so-peaceful quiet … it’ll be light enough for a swim within the hour, and I’ll be prune-y before breakfast. 🙂
Maybe you need to send me your rooster …… or your prunes …
Another interesting, but less political (maybe) topic:
Bristol Palin puts Arizona house up for rent:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110616/ap_on_re_us/us_people_bristol_palin_4
PHOENIX – Bristol Palin didn’t stay too long in her house 35 miles south of Phoenix in Maricopa. A real estate agent has confirmed the daughter of possible presidential candidate Sarah Palin is renting out the 4,000 square foot house.
Nate Martinez with RE/MAX Professionals says the five-bedroom home went on the market this week. She’s asking $1,400 a month for the home she bought last year for $172,000.
Bristol Palin will be back on TV by the end of the year, starring in a reality series for the Bio Channel. The as-yet-untitled series will follow her move from Alaska to Los Angeles with her son, Tripp, to work at a small charity. She will live with actor brothers Kyle and Christopher Massey.
The Arizona Republic first reported that Palin had put her home up for rent.
Can’t tell you how absolutely furious I am right now. It’s all about greed, paybacks…and well…Shiving the shit out of democracy.
I’ll have some great video and analysis for you tomorrow.
You know, the one thing we know here is that what is happening in your state can, and maybe will, happen in ours. We are watching, learning, and hurting for you.
Heading to bed. 50% complete. I promise I’ll have a huge update about the situation here by tomorrow night.
Good night all,
Patrick
Thanks a bunch, Patrick. We luv you here in AK. Get good rest.
Sweet dreams.
May you wake up with a smile, rested and ready for the new day.
{{{{{Patrick and themudflats family}}}}}
WARNING! SeaFourPee stuff!
“A GOP expert today claims all Palin would have to do is, “Snap her fingers,” with a warning that Democrats should be careful what they wish for. Thus, on Fox News today …”
http://www.examiner.com/political-transcripts-in-national/palin-can-snap-her-fingers-for-money-to-run-beat-obama-says-gop-expert
—————-
Sorry — I just can’t watch Faux Noise. But if you want to know what the seefourpeas are saying right now, take a look …. ummmmm, spooky …
Hey all, I’ve decided to pretty much upload video of the whole rally, all the speakers, etc. It is taking quite a bit of time to upload the hi-def raw video to youtube. I suppose I want to give you all an opportunity to experience it as if you were there.
Stay tuned.
Patrick
Patrick, you’re a sweetie!
You must be exhausted.
But believe me, we ALL will truly appreciate your efforts. It means a lot for every single one of the 50 states, not just Wisconsin.
But personally, for me, having been born there, it’s especially important.
Thank you so much. Your words, and pictures/sound, will make a difference. You HAVE to believe that. STAY STRONG.
Patrick, my badger brother, thank you for all you do to speak truth to power, for sharing your time and your talents to keep us informed about this struggle as it unfolds.
When I feel a pity party coming on here in exile in Florida (what IS it with “Scott” anyway?!), I look to you and the other “small C” citizens, We the People, united to speak up and act out and reclaim our country. You re-frame my perspective and inspire me to be a better citizen, also, too.
L’Chaim!
L’Shalom.
thatcrowwoman
Americans fighting against prejudice and propaganda:
http://myfellowamerican.us/about
It is time to reverse the dangerous course that the GOP has mindlessly set the nation tracking
It appears that the newly elected Wisconsin SC justice has just indulged in right wing social engineering, by using the demonstrations as the rational for his vote that the ignoring of the 24 hr rule by the majority was ok to do. The “rulr of Law” appears to have gone out the window in Wisconsin….
RULE of Law….dang , I need more coffee !!!
Well, yes, what does anyone suppose all that elaborate election fraud was about in choosing this so called judge? In my opinion Prosser is a paid stooge of the Koch brothers. It is interesting that the recount that ultimately put Franken in the US Senate took months and months but that the many anomalies and insecure ballots in one county that swung this election were dismissed and not even examined in detail.
What does anyone suppose would have been the rethuglican response if after 48 hours some democratic election official “discovered” 70,000 votes for Al Gore in 2000? The election in WI for the supreme court was fraudulent in my opinion, plain and simple. And that implies that the whole system is corrupted because it not only could not discover the fraud, but it did not even try to do so.
Yep, so totally right!
It still infuriates me that the Election Minutes of Waukesha County hadn’t even been RECEIVED yet when the WI GAB certified the election. The GAB is REQUIRED BY LAW to examine the minutes of all 72 counties — but they hadn’t yet examined Waukesha County’s — THE MOST SUSPECT OF ALL! — and they still certified. What a joke.
I still wish Kloppenburg had stood her ground and contested. But I wasn’t there, and I don’t know what she and her staff were going through.
It so much makes me think of the Palin emails — because the folks who reviewed them and approved the redactions were almost all part of the former Palin administration. Duh, what were they going to do, throw her under the bus? Probably not. There were afraid of what she might do to them.
Same thing in WI. The GAB is pretty much controlled by the administration. They’ll do what Walker expects them to do. Is it any surprise they didn’t even wait to get all the data (even the most important data) before they certified the election?
And THEN we have the question of the voting machines, and the count. That’s a very big one. Check out Bradblog.com if you want to hear some really frightening stories about how voting machines can be rigged. Yes, Krubozumo, the 2000 election should have opened our eyes …… and then the 2004 election. How can we be so gullible? Maybe we aren’t, but there’s someone out there who is making sure nothing gets changed. They like it just the way it is.
[…crying again…]
When I read Patrick’s blog tonight, it still didn’t mention that FitzWalkerstan had taken away collective bargaining rights. They did. Obviously there’s a lot going on there, and there wasn’t any news yet on his blog that they really had passed the bill.
And I want to hear, from Patrick, how Wisconsin people are reacting to that. I know we can read his blog, but I also hope he can write something for us here in Alaska — as citizens of ALL the states — to explain why Walker’s means of operating are just not the way to do it.
This is something the whole country should be paying attention to, because believe me, it’s going to happen again ……..
It certainly is. This is heart-wrenching.
Quite true. And I might add that I have seen notices to the effect that a coalition of unions has already filed suit against this law in Federal court as unconstitutional.
In my opinion what we have seen transpire in Wi, Mi, Oh, and In is the implementation of the ALEC strategy in a few key test cases. WI may well be the most important because it is or was historically a progressive color. Some bright but under employed web researcher should go back and exhume the campaign promises of Walker and his legislative cronies, and compare what they said they would do with what they have actually done.
What is going on in Wi is not legislation, it is a quiet, under the rader coup de’ etat. They are bought and paid for. It may be possible to undo all the damage they are doing eventually, but the cost in time and money and heartbreak far outweighs the minor benefit of eventually getting back to where we were 30 years ago.
As I see it the sole reason why this kind of mess can emerge is because a minority of fanatics vote with utterly predictable consistency, while a large majority of sane people, simply do not bother to vote. If we can change that we can put the oligarchs out of business. Otherwise Goldman Sachs will appoint themselves king of the world.
So true — and so sad — Krubozumo.
I cry over this.
Citizens United needs to be overthrown. I don’t care what it takes — it needs to happen. That has been such a major factor in what has caused these debacles to happen. The Kochs and all their corporate cronies have their fingers into everything now. Who knows where it will stop? Perhaps never.
What it has come down to: every aspect of our law-making has been bought and paid for. And not in a pretty way.
I have a friend who is Canadian. She keeps telling me, “why doesn’t the US do elections like Canada does? Give them a (short) time period to campaign, hold the election, and it’s done.” Apparently they have more restrictions on campaign funding too — perhaps our Canadian friends can weigh in on that.
Anyway — how did our precious nation morph into this joke of a money-grubbing, desperate, winner-takes-all-over-principle place to live? How can we be proud to be Americans when this is going on?
It makes me ill.
Hey guys…working on something now. Honestly, yesterday was so unbelievably depressing. As i got downtown to cover the rally I was optimistic..then heard via twitter the supreme court overturned Judge sumi’s decision. Couple that with the complete assault on working people/poor people the GOP is perpetrating…and I needed to take a breather after the rally. In fact, I’m still collecting my thoughts. I shot about an hour of video..233 photos..and a bunch of other stuff.
I’ll have something up for mudflatters by tomorrow but truth be told I’m finding it hard to find the motivation at the moment.
Sorry guys, something is coming soon!
Patrick
Patrick!!!
It’s just so good to hear from you, believe me.
I can’t imagine what you have experienced the past few days. And if anyone needs a breather, it must be you.
Just glad you got the message that we’d love to hear your story. You KNOW we’re behind you here, right?!!! We certainly can wait until you’re ready.
THANK YOU for all you’re doing on behalf of Wisconsin and the rest of us out there!
Patrick please for the love of -insert deitiy’s name- we must soldier on. Take what time is needed to collect yourself and then kick the SOBS below the belt a dozen times for all mankind. Like a vulture,I can wait. Unfortunately my sense of smell is too delicate to be where you are,which is why I so admire those ,like you,who can.
OK!!! Think I found Patrick’s blog:
Dispatches from Fitzwalkerstan –
http://wiscoprogressive.wordpress.com/
It certainly does not sound good. Not at all. I cry for my Wisconsin.
I forgot — Patrick has a blog, but I didn’t bookmark it.
Does anyone have it?
Linda, and Moderators:
Please ask Patrick from Wisconsin to give us another update. Tuesday there were major happenings there, with demonstrations. Not good. At all.
I know some will be watching the TCM showing tomorrow (Wednesday) at 8:15 PM of “A FACE IN THE CROWD” because of a recent popular article that compared Lonesome Rhodes(played by Andy Griffith) rise to power to that of Sarah Palin… Although I agree there are some similarities, the main difference to me is that when Lonesome is finally outed as a fake scumbag, his followers abandon him in the movie version… In the Sarah Palin version they not only close their eyes to her faults, they blame her detractors (Sarah coined the term “haters” for these astute individuals) for pointing them out!!!
By some strange coincidence, a much better comparative movie is actually being shown on TCM tomorrow (Wednesday) at 2:00 PM called “Kind Hearts and Coronets”… Not only is it a better movie, but the main character has much more in common with Sarah Palin as each individual who stands in the way of the coveted position of “power” is uniquely dispatched (or “thrown under the bus”), with the main character not giving a wit about the path of destruction left in their self-centered and narcissistic rise to power…
Whoa, Bob — I’m going to put “Kind Hearts and Coronets” on the DVR right now. Thanks!
Not sure about the spelling, but Carrie Nation? I have seen both the other films. How about Elmer Gantry? How about the Triumph of the Will?
Therein lies the danger of playing puppets, one might break its strings.
Krubozumo —
“search on the palin emails” — well, isn’t that a surprise? It so very sickens me that this $P email fiasco has gone on for almost 3 years and they’ve had all that time to cleanse them of anything incriminating. It was interesting to hear today that almost a month’s worth of emails are missing in the latest release. I’m sure that has to do with private email accounts, and we will never, ever hear what was in them. UNLESS someone can file a request for them — PLEASE!!! This was a critical time in her administration, and we all know she was emailing fast and furious every day.
About the GOP New Hampshire debate —
You said, “moderator and the venue were both biased.” Absolutely. I recognized that right away. And also, most of the questioners were biased as well. Some of the media folks did try to do their job, but most didn’t push hard enough.
It was a GOP event, staged with GOP candidates and GOP fans. What should we expect?
Anyway, that’s what I was thinking. I just tuned in to see what was going on in their heads.
“No one seems to notice that the radical and extremist actions of rethuglican dominated legislatures and governors in a few states are disenfranchising the entire population in favor of their corporate masters.” —
Whoa! I noticed right away what was going on in Wisconsin. They’re taking away everything that has made Wisconsin a great state to live in. I came from there. I would not live there now — no way. But the problem is, the legislature there, and the governor, seem to think they can ride rough-shod over the citizens. And that is what they are doing. They just do not care. I pray that the good citizens of Wisconsin can get their wits about them and turn things around with the recall elections. And that they will recall Scott Walker as soon as they’re able.
You are right. What has happened in Wisconsin, and other states, has immense and ominous implications for other states — and the whole country. We should be extremely concerned.
And we should be doing everything we can to change the course our country is heading.
Thanks, Krubozumo. Your words are gold.
Yukonbushgrma –
Thanks for the reply, it is inspiring to have some feed back. It is frustrating to think that such blatent and destructive actions as we are witnessing go largely un-noticed. I admit I was exhorting the narrow constituency of those who are already better informed than most. I guess I should have put much more emphasis on the idea that what we need to do is reach out to those we know and somehow persuade them that they too need to pay attention and to encourage their circle of associates to do so and so on and so on. Whether locally, as in terms of realizing that Mayor Sullivan in Anchorage is beginning the programmed movement to disengranchise public schools, divert taxpayer money to private interests that do not teach but indoctrinate, and make higher education unafforable to any but the well heeled. Or nationally, why are we not writing to every member of our own state legislatures and asking them point blank are you a member of ALEC?
The cheapest commodity in the United States today is a State Legislator. You can buy a gross of them for what it costs to drive to work for two years. Local politicians are virtually free. Sullivan is a good example. He skinned Anchorage for nearly $200 grand and his assembly just rubber stamped the whole deal.
Here’s the thing. Corruption is metastatic. Once is takes root it spreads with alarming ease. All those who try to stay on the up and up are dismissed, those with the temerity to point out crimes are attacked. Sooner or later the day comes when a visit is paid to some public persona and the hint is dropped – nice little secure legislative seat you have here, pity if anything was to happen to it. Maybe you ought to have some insurance, like for next election?
I admit freely that the problem is vexing. There is no obvious way to prevent the enormous power and influence of the oligarchy from slathering its influence with abandon. But is that really what life and politics are all about? Do we really only absorb propaganda and never think of our own interests, our own goals, our own expecations of what the oft pandered word freedom actually means? I hope not.
If I have riled up two people into responding, I have doubled my effect on the world, and the effectiveness of anything and everything those two do in terms of passing along the call to action.
I am still reading the rest of the thread.
I guess it is my role to be the sober voice. So be it.
No one seems to notice that the so called debate was really nothing more than an echo chamber shouting session for all there gathered to bash Obama. So apparently the criterion for choosing a rethuglican candidate is how well they can bad mouth and lie about the struggle to revive an economy poisoned by corruption and theivery. The moderator and the venue were both biased in favor of this kind of lilt. It was both pathetic and disgusting. And no one suggested anything in the way of new policy except the continued vigorous pursuit of the same failed policies that have afflicted us for more than three decades. More wealth to the rich. Disenfranchise the helpless, the homeless, the unemployed. Subjugate women to the will of perverse men. Systematize the indoctrination of all children to the rigid dogmas of superstitious nonsense. You want unions? Communists! You want universal single payer healthcare? Communists! You want a modest and certain retirement without having to amass millions? Communist!
No one seems to notice that the radical and extremist actions of rethuglican dominated legislatures and governors in a few states are disenfranchising the entire population in favor of their corporate masters. No one seems to notice that the reason congressman weiner for all his failings is being hounded out of office for indiscrete twitters is that he was vociferous about impeaching Clarence Thomas for years long felonious lying about his conflict of interest in deciding such critical cases as Citizens United. No one seems to notice that ALEC is conspiriing with so called politicians to expropriate the entire substance of states in favor of a few enourmously rich individuals. Who by the way, pay no taxes at all. In fact the taxes deducted from your pay checks subsidize the subversive activities of entities such as Koch industries. We pay them to steal our opportunity to live a decent life. And no one notices.
Then there are the dangerously deranged demagogues like Palin and Bachmann who claim that god almighty has ordained them to be leaders and have hegemony over all of us pitiful little people who can only work for a living, instead of suckng millions out of delusional idiots clinging to the idea that their magical sky daddy is going to swoop down and make everything pretty and nice –
Now and then the ugly truth imposes itself momentarily. Two or three billion people are unable to afford to buy food. We don’t see them because we are looking at Tee Vee instead of the not so subtle hard scrabble reality of Rio, or Hong Kong, or Mumbai or Cape Town. We think because our daily lives do not touch the flaming front edges of desperation and deprivation that are the centers of the world that they don’t exist.
I can assure you that they do.
I am hard put to say just what this all means. I will leave it now, I have described the circumstances. There are small issues and large issues. Choose for yourselves what you would address.
BTW I did a search on the palin emails at some site using the single key word Pebble, and got zero hits.
Money equals power. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Krubozumo- don’t sell the Pups short on what is perceived as a lack of attention paid to Rethuglican guvs and legislators stirring up trouble. I’m gonna guess the average reader on the Mudflats is much better informed about conditions around the country than you realize. Jeanne,Linda,Shannyn and guest bloggers are in the know and they know what will interest us and keep us engaged. As far as the so-called debate goes,I did not pay any attention because if you know anything about current events and Rethuglicans,you know that everything is Obama’s fault and that is as deep as those politicians can get on any subject. Deep in their collective psyche they are just itching to tell all Americans that the Potus is not a US citizen because that is what their followers want to hear. Lets cut some more taxes and grow our way out of deficits. Insert Howard Dean shriek here.
Mike – I don’t and didn’t mean to sell anyone short here, but this is an open thread and after reading a few ‘headlines’ from various places in the webosphere I just decided it was time for a rant. I know there has been more coverage of WI here than almost any other blog I have seen.
But for example, the case of Clarence Thomas affects us all, everywhere in the US. It merits the attention of even an obscure AK blog that is mainly focused on local politics and some more pleasant and fullfilling diversions but that also acknowledges that one of the most divisive, unqualified, nay, disqualified celebrity politicians in US history is from there (AK) and is still one of the vanguard of power hungry and greedy right wing nutjobs who are “news” to the tabloid press and tabloid non-reality Tee Vee.
So the purpose of my rant was and is to try to get people to respond to what is going on around them and set aside some of the snark and comedic relief, both admittedly necessary, but as pressure release to having more substantive and deliberative conversations. We are the core constituency that can make a difference because we have been paying attention but all of our erudition will go un-noticed in the flood of mass media propaganda that is being queued up to assail the preoccupied during the next 16 months.
Perhaps I do not express myself very well, perhaps I am deluded to think that the collective we whom I address remain apathetic and passive that things will somehow work out on their own. But I don’t think so, so yes I am shrieking as did Howard Dean. But for a different reason.
Thanks for responding.
Have a good time at Netroots! We’ll hold down the fort in between reports. Brian, go easy on that booze. A drunken moose is hard to handle. 🙂
Go easy on that frolicking !!! Minneapolis ain’t Vegas !! but they should have some good smorgesbords !
I wish I could be there. Sounds like fun.
I am so proud of the respect that people in western NY showed yesterday to one of our fallen heroes, 20-year-old Army Sergeant Devin Snyder who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. As the procession left the Rochester airport, it passed under a giant flag held up by fire trucks from Rochester and Gates Fire Departments.
“The patriotic display was perhaps one part pain and three parts pride. Across three counties for more than three hours folks left their homes, their jobs, and their schools to find a spot along the procession route.”
“American Legion members appeared at every highway overpass and country intersection in full uniform and saluting their fallen comrade.”
About a thousand children lined up at the school Sgt. Snyder attended, accompanied by teachers and staff. People holding flags or signs were at every intersection between the highway and Devin’s hometown of Cohocton.
Although each loss of life in the wars in the Middle East is a tragedy, I am glad that so many took time from their own busy lives to honor this brave young woman. Let’s hope that she is the last to fall in battle.
http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/Soldier-homecoming-Devin-Snyder-Cohocton/OsB_h2TrxkaO6r3dgmvqWw.cspx
May all who loved this oh so young man find Peace.
Leenie, this so reminds me of something our daughter shared with us a year or two ago.
She’s a cop in Minneapolis, but also, she’s Honor Guard … part of a unit that attends police funerals all over the country.
She sent us photos of the one in Seattle, where her fellow cops were killed. The procession went on for miles, with people lined up all the way. Color guards and police detachments from everywhere in the US – and Canada! – were there. They didn’t have enough room in the huge convention center (or whatever building it was) for everyone who wanted to attend.
The respect was amazing. I always wondered why she volunteered for the Honor Guard, because I know at times it has to be hard. She has comforted grieving family members of her own force, rode her horse in the procession, and travelled hundreds of miles to show respect for the fallen.
The more I hear, the more I know.
Thanks for writing that.
The final word on Paul Revere from the man himself:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-paul-revere-letter-20110614,0,7949410.story
Who is gonna be the one to tell her Righteousness she is wrong? I’m not gonna do it. Don’t think you can get Mikey to do it. I’ve augured with dumb hogs and they are stubborn. Just not Palin stubborn.
Bon voyage.
I did not watch the Repubs “debate” in NH, but I read this live blog from the Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/richard-adams-blog/2011/jun/14/republican-debate-new-hampshire-live
“Mitt Romney: the former governor of neighbouring Massachusetts is currently leading the polls, having been running for president since 2007 (seriously). With a campaigning style so wooden you could make furniture from it, Romney’s hard work and much-touted business background have helped him in the opinion polls. Many Republicans think he’s too liberal on matters such as healthcare, and don’t trust him.”
And there’s much more, in the same vein. Best, IMO, is the part about children, which you must read!
How can you be too liberal on healthcare…….I give up.
According to this report, Mitt Romney was the only Republican candidate who did not demonstrate Islamaphobia during the debate last night. But he was only one out of the current crop of seven candidates represented that did not do so. What is truly frightening is that the GOP embraces the spread of hate and fear of Muslims including Muslim Americans. Of course history is filled with this type of demonization of a group of people. In ancient Rome Christians were fed to lions. In China (during the cultural revolution) as well as in Russia under Stalin, educated people were killed because of propagandized hatred against them. In Germany, peace loving neighbors were rounded up and sent to death camps just because they were Jewish. And not so long ago in the Balkans, people who had coexisted for decades became bitter enemies and people were convinced by their leaders that ethnic cleansing was necessary.
It’s time to stop this anti-Islam insanity before history repeats itself.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/gop-hopefuls-trafficked-in-crackpot-sharia-panic-with-one-exception-romney/2011/03/04/AGHFXZUH_blog.html#pagebreak
I so agree with you. I received a personal email today from a long-time friend (lives in the lower 48) with a ‘forward’ that was anti-Muslim and it upset me so much. This is a wonderful person whom I’ve known for years and the fact she sent it just floored me. What is wrong w/some of our fellow Americans? I’m very, very concerned.
The people who say all Muslims want to kill non-muslims are the reincarnation of those not very long ago who said that all Jews used the blood of Christian babies to make matzo.
The really crazy part of all this is that Islam developed out of the same judaic tradition that Christianity came from. There are some on the right who claim this country is built on Judaic/Christian principals. More accurately, they should be saying it is built on Judaic/Christian/Islamic principals.
I have to admit.. I am somewhat anti Muslim. The only reason I am anti Muslim is because of how the women are treated.
Now I am not any kind of scholar of the Quran or whatever they call their holy book, but from what I can gather these ladies have to cover themselves entirely so that the men will not be tempted, or some such shyte.
I live in Australia and we have had a large influx of Muslims over the past few years. Every time I see a woman wearing the hijab and completely covering themselves, it makes me want to scream.
It is made worse by the fact that the man/men accompanying her are showing their butt crack and wearing shorts and tank tops. I was at a public pool once and there was a woman wearing a burkini – all the men with her were wearing speedos.
If the women have to cover themselves, the men should have to as well. I believe in equality!
The truth is with the anti muslim propaganda – a lot of politicians do this at one point. Pauline Hanson (she of the One Nation) in Australia was famous for it. She would point at a group of people and say – these people are to blame for everything bad in your life. She pointed at Single Mothers, Asians, Aboriginals and probably a few others I’ve forgotten.
Romney might not have been Islamophobic, but he really did waffle when answering the question. All he said was something like, “Well, I hire the people I know, and the people I trust.” He never really did answer the question — just like many others who didn’t answer. He waffled.
And so did others.
Gingrich answered conclusively — he wouldn’t hire a Muslim, period! I do think that is Islamophobic.
I’d like to hear them say (actually much like Herman Cain), “Well, I read their resume, I check references, I talk to them … and then I decide.” (This is totally paraphrased.)
In the meantime, as we await Netroots reports, don’t miss Stonekettle Station:
http://www.stonekettle.com/2011/06/if-constitution-was-written-today.html
Yes, yes; excellent post by Mr Wright.
Thank you for the link. Very well done!
Have a great time, all!
Maybe it’s “The Tempest” 😉
Have a safe trip, AKM, and write when you can… we’ll hold down the fort. *waving* from Colorado-
“Taming of the Shrew”. If only ! ( where’s Brian’s picnic basket and wine bottle ?)
So it’s already time for Shakespeare in the Park outings and the Netroots gathering. From there it’s 4th of July, back to school sales and then, whooooosh! Halloween. Thank goodness I haven’t taken down the garland from above the picture window. The holidays are practically around the corner !
The basket and cooler are out of the shot. Brian had a lovely browse of shrimp salad, pickled asparagus, dried cranberry, apricot and walnut baklava, and Chardonnay. He was a bit drowsy, so Himself had to hold him up.
Have a fantastic time at Netroots, everyone! Brian is snuggled up to my roll of embroidered SP toilet paper.
I want a picture of that TP! I mean, I really really REALLY want a picture of that SP TP!!
Here you go. I found it on Etsy during the campaign, and had to have it. Don’t know if the seller will make more, but why not?
Oh, it came mailed in a cleaned up two-liter soda bottle, all labels removed. The bottle is cut at the top where it starts to narrow, some tissue stuffed in, then the SPTP, more tissue, then the top portion of the soda bottle is taped back on. Shipping label taped to the outside.
I haven’t the heart to take it out of that bottle.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/61852174/embroidered-toilet-paper-elect-sarah