everyone's going to say it, but it bears repeating

100,000 people died in Asia because of a horrendous tsunami: George Bush says nothing for a week.
9 people are murdered in Minnesota: George Bush says nothing for 3 days.
1 woman, whose parents thrust her personal tragedy into the face of the American people, dies: Geoerge Bush is out 90 minutes later speaking about her death.

So I guess 1 white woman is worth much more than everyone else in the world.

same as the last time

Hahn Draws Up Flip-Flop Strategy
sorry, free reg. required. *hint*bugmenot

This is exactly the same thing Hahn did last time. He can't fight on issues. He refuses to even acknowledge that his administration is under a lot of investigations. What does he do? Line up the personal attacks against Villaragosa. Hahn won less than 25% of a primary that had an extremely low turn out. Villaragosa won 34%. You would think a sitting Mayor could pull in higher numbers.

what?

Officer disciplined for stopping doctor on way to birth

This officer is an idiot. If the man says he's a doctor, presents identification verifying that he is a doctor, calls the hospital for you to verify that he is on the way to the delivery, what are you doiing putting him in handcuffs?
I love this quote as well:

According to records released Monday from an internal police investigation, when the doctor explained he was going to a delivery, the officer allegedly asked if he was delivering a pizza and later said, "If you're a doctor, I'm Mickey Mouse or Joe Blow."

What? Why would you say something like that? And what if something had happened to the woman who was in labor?

Democrats don't do things like this

Michael Schiavo relative reports threat

I would bet you a million Quatloos that this guy voted Republican.
Democrats just don't do things like threaten to murder other people. Yes, a broad generalization, I know. But I'm sticking by it. How many liberals are running around threatening people if Mrs. Schiavo's tube is reconnected? None, that's how many!

let hope they don't hold us to the same high standards!

U.S. Says Rights Are Key to Relations

Well, since the US really hasn't done a great job living up to those ideals, it cracks me up that we are insisting that others live up to the ideals.
Or is it more like "do as I say, not as I do?"

someone's on the sauce again

Mrs. Bush Defends Gov't Role for Schiavo

lousy librarian speaking out of her ass again. how sweet of her to take 2 minutes out of her busy schedule to talk about something that is completely none of her business. those busy trips where she spends 5 hours on the ground in Afghanistan! she spent more than 5 times as much time in the air than she did on the ground.

Friday babyblogging

yikes!

In honor of Aquaria and Athenae: Thursday hunk blogging AND Happy Democrat Picture

good times!

another bad idea

New York conditionally awarded 2010 Super Bowl

I love New York City.
I even love football.
But who wants to go to the Super Bowl in freezing cold New York City in January?

life

Mrs. Schaivo is 41 years old. Why do I call her Mrs. Schiavo as opposed to Terry as everyone else does? I’ve never met the woman, I have to right to use her name as if she is a friend of mine.

I’m 34 years old. When I was 26, I was living in Singapore with my parents. I was going to clubs and dancing and meeting people. Mrs. Schiavo had a heart attack brought on by a potassium imbalance. Her brain was deprived of oxygen for 5 minutes and parts of it died.

When I was 28, I came back to the United States to attend Library School. I spent a summer in New York City. I moved to Chapel Hill North Carolina. I was elected President of my School’s student association by my peers. I made friends with some of the best people I have ever met in my entire life.
When Mrs. Schiavo was 28 she lay in a hospital bed with parts of her brain being turned into spinal fluid.

When I was 30, I had moved to Los Angeles. I was working on a brand new career. I had my own apartment. I had bought my own brand new car. My parents and I had visited Disneyworld.
When she was 30, Mrs. Schiavo was in a hospital bed, unable to swallow, unable to communicate. Unable to think.
When I was 32, I had season tickets to the Los Angeles Opera. I saw some of the most glorious pieces of operatic work ever composed. I saw Mamma Mia with my friends. I saw Robin Williams at the Universal Amphitheater. I read books, I saw movies, I spent time with my family. My father turned 60. My grandmother turned 80. One of my best friends got married. I promoted to branch manager. I now had a branch library of my own. My own staff. A budget and a building to manage.
When she was 32, Mrs. Schiavo was in a hospital bed. Visited by her husband and her parents.

I turned 34 in January. My brother’s wife had a baby. A beautiful, happy adorable baby that I have been able to hold and love.
When she was 34 Mrs. Schiavo lay in a hospital bed. Unable to acknowledge her family. Unable to chew or swallow. Unable to think.

I’m sure that many things will happen to me in the next seven years of my life. Many new experiences. And many old ones as well. My family will continue to grow, I will continue to be an active part of it.
In the seven years since she was 34, Mrs. Schiavo has been used as a pawn. She lies in a bed, unable to do anything. Her mind literally no longer exists. But she is no longer able to be an active part of her family.
Mrs. Schiavo should be allowed to die. She deserves peace. And she deserves dignity.

wtf?

Yesterday in Tuscon Georgie made this statement in regards to Mrs. Schaivo:
"Democrats and Republicans in Congress came together last night to give Terri Schiavo's parents another opportunity to save their daughter's life. (Applause.) This is a complex case with serious issues, but in extraordinary circumstances like this, it is wise to always err on the side of life. (Applause.)" Emphasis mine.

Now, isn't this the same guy who presided over 125 executions during his 5 years as Governor of Texas? The guy who couldn't be bothered to, you know, read anything about the cases of the people he was having put to death?
What an ass!

disproving the "taking over the world" idea

Look at me go! Sheer anarchy! Next thing you know, cats and dogs living together!

I'm pretty sure this picture clears him of any plots to take over.

innocent or plotting? you decide.

Look at me, tossing all the rules! Oh yeah, babyblogging on Saturday! I'm a rebel!
This is my nephew. Or as I refer to him; "world's cutest, most adorable baby."tm
According to the date stamp on the picture, he was a week old when that picture was taken.
You tell me, is he smiling innocently? Or is he plotting something?

Friday Catblogging: Percy's Revenge

I'm allergic to cats. This is Percy. Percy belongs to my friend Emily. Percy hates me. Percy is soft and squishy. And he sheds. He'll let me pet him into a near coma. By then fur is flying everywhere. I'm sneezing and my eyes are tearing and my nose is itching. Today he tried to bite me. But I love him anyway. Sad isn't it?

more suggestions please!

I'm feeling moderately well off this month.
I've paid all my bills and put some money in savings and made some donations.
And now I've got a little extra money left this month.
What should I spend it on?

how many times do they have to put it off before people start talking?

Afghan elections put back to the autumn

I guess I could also say, "freedom is on the march"!
After all, it's the same crap the chimp repeats over and over again.
And nothing ever gets done!

too sad for snark

Report: Many Died in U.S. Custody in War

I actually thought about making a snarky comment about 7 bad apples and how busy they must have been. But, damn, this is just too sad and horrible to be glib about.

could someone please explain the meaning of "fiction" to the good cardinal?

Top Cardinal Blasts 'Da Vinci Code' as 'Cheap Lies'

It appears his holiness has spent more time fuming about a work of fiction than he has looking into the predatory sexual abuses of the clergy.
Someone's lining himself up for popedom!

scratch one Republican, find another just like him

Calif. Gov. 'News' Videos Cause a Stir

What a shock! The Gropinator using good old George's tactics.

i want my money back

LA Mayor's Campaign Consultant Paid With Public Money


As a resident of Los Angeles, I want my money back.
Villaragosa isn't using public funds to pay for campain funds. (Okay, sure, he doesn't have access to them.) But Hahn should be forced to repay the money.

picked a winner. sort of

I seem to have broken my voting curse.
Except for 1992 and 1996, the candidates I've suppoted have lost.
I was starting to think I was a jinx.
Worried that I'd have to start voting for the other guy just to ensure that my guy won.
But Villaragosa won yesterday. Sort of.
On to the run off!!!
Seriously. Don't vote for Hahn.

senators who will never ever ever get my vote. ever

Biden - MD
Byrd - WV (wtf?)
Carper - DE
Conrad - ND
Johnson - SD
Kohl (also never shopping in your stores again!) - WI
Landrieu - LA
Lieberman (i second the monination to throw him bodily out of the Democratic party!) - CT
Lincoln - AR
Nelson - FL
Nelson - NE
Prior - AR
Salazar - CO
Stabenow - MI

Why is it always the usual suspects stabbing the Democrats in the back?

what's up with California libraries this week?

Hawks Set Sights On Library Employees
I can't remember the last time I saw so many stories about libraries in the news.
And I'm twisted enough that, while I feel bad for the library staff, I laughed hysterically when I read the story.

civic duty

Today's election day in Los Angeles.
I, of course did my civic duty early and voted on my way to work. Let's just say it was a completely different atmosphere than the Federal election last November.
I was quite literally the only voter there. Which is fine, it was still early in the morning.

Actually, the question I have is why is Antonio Villaragosa buying blogads this week? I mean it's great that he's buying blogads. But he's been running for quite a while. And it was only yesterday that I saw his blogad.

this is completely indefensible

California is going to the nutbags.
Believe me, there is no way that this is going to stand up.

Smelly Readers Banned From Calif. Library

Public Libraries are public buildings. Just because someone is smelly, doesn't mean you have a right to bar them from the building. In most cases, people who are homeless are so by no fault of their own. Libraries are often their link to reality. This can not be allowed to stand.

why Clinton's a class act

Clinton sleeps on floor so elder Bush can have bed

here's a quote from towards the end of the story:
"Bush said he and Clinton are not close, but have been compatible on the tour, partly because Clinton respects his age."

Now I went to hear Bill Clinton speak last Tuesday. He spoke for 45 minutes and then there was a 45 minute question and answer period. Warren Olney, one of KCRW's commentators, asked the questions. And one of the questions that he asked was how the two former Presidents got along on during their journeys. President Clinton spoke very graciously about Bush's service to the country and how he respected him for his views, even though he didn't agree with him.

jackass politics showing up in California schools

Troop Withdrawal Affects Study Abroad

California's pretty Blue. We all know that. But what we sometimes forget is that there's a huge number of crazy red staters here. That's why a serial molester sits in the chair of the highest office of the state.
Last week there was a story posted at the Daily Kos about some student Republicans attempting to challenge their professors and accusing them of spreading Communism. For Pete's sakes, what year are we living in?!
And this evening comes the story of 2 South Orange county JCs pulling their Study Abroad programs.
Rampant ignorance being allowed to spread.

sometimes you get what you deserve

Greenspan comes under unprecedented political fire

Oh, poor baby! Actually being called to task for his behavior! Nasty Democrats!

Good for Reid, Krugman and everyone else (Daily Kos) telling Greenspan to stick it.
Greenspan has been a partisan hack for years. He's so far up Bush's ass, he's tasting mouthwash.

Last night Ari Fleisher was on the Daily Show. He spoke over and over about working for the President. But what he forgets is that all of the administration work for the people. That would be us. Their loyalty should be to us. And we deserve better. What does this have to do with Greenspan the hack? He too, works for the people. And he needs to go. Now.

freedom is on the march

Report: Afghanistan Near Drug-State Status

Good thing our troops went all that way to liberate the people.
No wonder Limbaugh went over. He wanted to put in his standing order personally.

rant on!

Today is my day off.
I, as you may or may not know, am a civil servant. Leaving aside the fact that I am not ever servile and tend to become less civil as the questions become more asinine.
I get pretty good health coverage through my employer. One of these benefits is eye coverage. A rarity in these days. And a necessity in my case. If I'm not wearing my glasses or my contacts, walls are in danger from me.
Last month, I had made an appointment to have my eyes checked to get new contacts. I was very specific about my request. And the person I made my appointment with was also clear that I was making an appointment for contacts.
This morning, I got up, showered, ate breakfast and went to my 10:40 A.M. appointment. The facility I was going to is literally up the road from me. I was in the office by 10:20. Copay paid, forms submitted. Butt in chair.
20 minutes passes. My appointment time passes. My butt remains in chair. Good thing I brought a book.
Another 15 minutes passes. That very large mug of tea I drank this morning is making its presence felt. I ask the receptionist to point me to the bathroom and tell her to please make sure that I'm not called while I'm out.
5 minutes later I'm back. Having stopped to wash my hands properly. It's now 11:00 A.M.
10 minutes later I'm finally called into the office.
The old geezer, oops, I mean the doctor, tells me to take a seat. Asks me what I'm there for.
When I tells him I need new contacts, I get a whole long lecture about how I need to see that contact department, not optometry, blah blah blah. The entire time he is talking to me, he's looking at his desk. Yes, that's right, the man can't be bothered to make eye contact with me. The couple times he did look at me, it was out of the corner of his eye! Now, I may not be a supermodel, but I've never been accused of been hard on anyone's eyes.
Needless to say, I told the geezer that I wanted to reschedule for a contact appointment and stalked out of his office.
Would you like to know when the appointment is for? Late April! Yes, more than a month away!
The receptionists could tell I was furious. To the point where the manager of the department had them waive my copay for the next visit! And they gave me back the copay for today (which, since they didn't do anything, they would have had to anyway).
Over an hour of my day completely wasted.
Oh and I came home and filed a grievance against the doctor.
You know, I get jerked around over things every now and again. Most of the time, it's of little consequence and I can usually works things around to my advantage. But don't mess with me about my eyes.

surprised?

Thurmond encouraged FBI to build case against King, memo reveals

And who is surprised by this? It's like saying that the sky is blue.