And who says that news organizations are increasingly out of touch?

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Who's teaching these kids? And where are they getting this crap?

It turns out the First Amendment is a second-rate issue to many of those nearing their own adult independence, according to a study of high school attitudes released Monday.

The original amendment to the Constitution is the cornerstone of the way of life in the United States, promising citizens the freedoms of religion, speech, press and assembly.

Yet, when told of the exact text of the First Amendment, more than one in three high school students said it goes "too far" in the rights it guarantees. Only half of the students said newspapers should be allowed to publish freely without government approval of stories.

"These results are not only disturbing; they are dangerous," said Hodding Carter III, president of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which sponsored the $1 million study. "Ignorance about the basics of this free society is a danger to our nation's future."

Perhaps one of their instructors should start persecuting them for listening to "proscribed music," or the library should start hiding some of their books. It's obvious (for good or ill) that they don't understand what a nation without free speech looks like...

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Hillary Clinton passed out between speeches this morning.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton fainted Monday after complaining of a stomach virus before a scheduled speech on Social Security. She received medical attention at the scene and then went on to give another speech at a Catholic college Monday afternoon.

"It wasn't as dramatic as it sounds," Clinton said after the 30-minute speech.

I'm sure this is nothing like that whole Rod Stewart thing, but better if we just get out in front of the GOP spin anyway...

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The Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) was formed in 1985 by Will Marshall and Al From, both staffers for Representative Gillis Long (D-LA), after Reagan's massive 1984 defeat of Walter Mondale.

The DLC's stated goal was to move Democratic party policy away from simple "liberal" vs. "conservative" ideology toward more right-center (and therefore more actionable) positions on the economy, welfare, jobs and the environment. The DLC claims the resounding success of Clinton's centrist political approach was a result of their policy approach, although there's some debate over whether it was this or Clinton's ability to draw support from both the center-left and the center-right that made him so successful.

The DLC's "credo" states:

In keeping with our party's grand tradition, we reaffirm Jefferson's belief in individual liberty and capacity for self-government. We endorse Jackson's credo of equal opportunity for all, special privileges for none. We embrace Roosevelt's thirst for innovation and Kennedy's summons to civic duty. And we intend to carry on Clinton's insistence upon new means to achieve progressive ideals.

What caught my eye? Well, see where it touches on "individual liberty" and "self-government?" Doesn't this echo the GOP's position on an "ownership society?"

Then, last week, I ran across this rant by Matt Taibbi about the DLC's house blog, The Bull Moose, and it's author, Marshall Wittmann:

Wittmann calls himself the "Bull Moose," and his blog, bullmooseblog.com, is one of two blogs funded and maintained by the Democratic Leadership Council. The other, as previously noted in this space, is the no-less-loathsome newdonkey.com, maintained by the noted corporate whore and windbag, Will Marshall.

A moose, and a donkey. The Democratic Leadership Council, it seems, is a place where soulless 50-year-old men can dress up in Garanimals and e-gloat about shooting our votes into space. It is really too bad the guillotine has gone out of style.

Taibbi is pissed, and seems to be accusing Wittmann and the DLC of "sell[ing] out the genuine political aspirations of millions of people." Why? I decided to take a closer look at Wittmann.

On September 20, 2001, conservative think-tank Project for the New American Century sent a letter approving and encouraging Bush's intent to "declare a war on terrorism." While most of the signatories were run-of-the-mill arch-conservatives like former drug czar William Bennet or Weekly Standard editor William Kristol, one notable addition was erstwhile Democrat Marshall Wittmann. He joins this list of conservatives again on April 3, 2002 to join the PNAC in encouraging Bush to disengage from Palestine. What in the world is the DLC's mouthpiece doing there?

It seems that the standard DLC position on foreign policy is essentially the same as the GOP's.

Although DLC members shared, for the most part, the neoliberal perspective of centrist Democrats such as Gary Hart, Paul Tsongas, and Michael Dukakis, they took a much harsher, conservative stance on social justice and foreign policy issues. Regarding foreign policy, the DLC attempted to resurrect the hard-line anticommunism of Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson but rejected the New Deal politics that Jackson and other traditional “New Deal liberals” embraced. In the late 1980s, DLC Democrats supported aid to the contras, applauded President Reagan’s “Evil Empire” rhetoric, and offered their support to those militarists calling for missile defense and rejecting arms control negotiations. While the neoliberals foresaw an end to the cold war, the DLC still viewed the Soviet Union as an unmitigated threat.

In fact, it seems that most of the DLC's agenda runs conservative. Progressive publication The Nation's Washington correspondent, John Nichols, suggests that the DLC was "founded in the mid-1980s with essentially the same purpose as the Christian Coalition--to pull a broad political party dramatically to the right."

What's the DLC up to lately? During the recent election, they created significant divides within the party by ardently opposing Howard Dean's campaign despite massive popular support and amazingly successful fundraising, and they're continuing to resist his pursuit of the DNC chair. Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman, former president of the DLC, just voted to approve Condoleeza Rice's nomination as Secretary of State, saying "the nominee deserves the benefit of the doubt," despite her many egregious mistakes and evasions. And the December 2004 edition of the DLC's magazine, The Blueprint, says:

First and foremost, we need to bridge the trust gap on national security by spelling out our own offense against terrorism and clearly rejecting our anti-war wing, so that Republicans can no longer portray us as the anti-war party in the war on terrorism. We must leave no doubt that Michael Moore neither represents nor defines our party.

This despite mushy approval numbers for Bush, weakening popular support for the war and a re-energized progressive movement among mainstream Democrats.

My concern with the "New Democrats" of the DLC is twofold: first, they seem to be interested in pushing the Democratic agenda more and more toward the right; and second, some of their key people have disturbing ties to the most radical right wing of the GOP. I'm starting to wonder, is the DLC really a Democratic organization, or is it just a brilliant infiltration? I'll continue to develop a clearer picture of this group and it's principal members. In the meantime, I intend to reconsider just how valuable the DLC's "center-left" approach really is. The question is coming: are you a "New Progressive" or a "New Democrat"?

UPDATE: Just ran across this old posting at Buzzflash, outlining some of the DLC attack on Dean. Interesting read.

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My friend Robyn is directing a new play for the theater ensemble The Free Associates, and since they are a non-profit organization, they are having a silent auction fundraiser.

If you have anything that you don't need anymore, why not donate it?
And if you don't donate, make an effort to go see the play!

On February 12, The Free Associates Theatre Company is holding a benefit to raise funds for our new show, Whose West Wing Is It Anyway?! I am in the midst of directing this fast-paced, hilarious parody of the US Government performed in the style of the sleek, dry NBC hit, The West Wing. The benefit will be held at John Barleycorn, 658 W. Belden in Chicago. I am creating and directing this exciting new show which will open on March 26 at the Peter Jones Gallery Theatre in Chicago. Here is a link to information about our benefit, if you are interested in attending: http://www.evite.com/office@thefreeassociates.com/un-augural_ball

I write to you in hopes that you can assist me as I am collecting donations for our silent auction. We would greatly appreciate you assistance. If you, your company, or an organization with which you are familiar would be interested in giving us a donation of goods or services, we would be thrilled. We are a not-for-profit organization, so anything you'd like to send is tax deductible. Please see the attachment for information about how to give and what you can expect in return for your donation. We accept all donations - here are some examples of what we've received for this and past benefits: theatre tickets, restaurant and spa gift certificates, hotel stays, jewelry, classes, services, clothing, a beagle puppy with all its shots (yes, i am serious) and much more.

If you are able to donate, we would give you advertising space in our program during the 8 week run of our show, as well as 2 complimentary tickets to the performance.

Robyn Okrant
The Free Associates

So please, try to give something...
It is always good to support the performing arts.

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Steve over at The Sneeze has a very important public service announcement. Best read before the late-nite munchies arrive. Beware the "naughty, spiteful treat."

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I'm sure democrats and independants have their share of 'unique' personalities in their parties, but these five republicans freak me out (and I don't freak easy)...
How do these people keep getting in (or rather, who keeps letting them out)??
Is it really that impossible to get intelligent, well-balanced people elected?

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Atrios has been following the writings of Ridgecrest, California resident Billie Miller. Ms. Miller is (or was, I suppose) a product of the modern right-wing media hate machine. In a letter to the editor of The Daily Independent, she says:

Newspaper shouldn't print Liberal voices

Editor:

Thank Goodness for such literate and intelligent men as Julius Wolfson, Derek Cooper, Ron Scott and May Shaw.

I just can't understand why more good conservatives haven't spoken out against the dangerous opinions of rabble-rousers such as Phyllis Lilly, Linda Robin and that R C Johnson person. Why does The Daily Independent print the degenerate views of poisonous Liberals who hate freedom?

As Mr. Scott points out, the glorious Constitution is there to protect the rights of Christians to profess their faith. This country was founded by good Christians and the Constitution guarantees our right to express our religion.

It just is completely beyond me how we have allowed Liberals to deny us this guaranteed right.

Oh, they raise ridiculous arguments like other (false) religions would be "upset" if they were forced to pray alongside the righteous in schools or council meetings.

Surely those others would appreciate the opportunity to be saved. As God's chosen people, we Christians have the right to express our religion and praise tolerant, patient and merciful God, and I don't want to read any more letters from Liberals suggesting non-believers should be allowed to express their superstitions just because we Christians can express ours.

The Founding Fathers were God-fearing men and never intended the first Amendment to promote other superstitious beliefs.

Ridgecrest used to be filled with right-minded, polite and decent people.

I can't believe the vicious slander of some people who have the nerve to portray or suggest Jesus behaved as a Liberal.

Jesus makes his position very clear. The wisdom of an "eye for an eye" would never occur to a Liberal.

Liberals are always talking about peace at any price, when Jesus said: Do not think I have come to bring peace, but a sword.

Liberals hate people who have managed to raise their station in life, and instead insist on giving money away to the irresponsible: Store yourselves treasures for Heaven for where your treasure is, there your heart is also.

No one can serve two masters, either your are a good conservative with God or you are not with God. Remember: A bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

Billie Miller

Ridgecrest

You can go through her letter and count the misinterpretations of her faith, the misunderstandings of law and her assertions that only she and her ilk are decent folk, if you like. Just for fun, try tracing her opinions back to their sources in the original comments by Limbaugh or Dobson. Or you can just sit there shaking your head, like I did.

This is what the right wing looks like, at the street level. Impassioned idiots. It's overwhelming to think that some version of this makes up about half of our neighbors. How in the world do you unplug someone from this without hurting them, or yourself, in the process? It's impossible.

And then, as the theoretical physicists like to say, a miracle happens.

Editor:

I must apologize for the letters I've written to the Editor.

I didn't use the right words and didn't intend the way it sounded. I've talked about the letters in the editorial section with some dear and supportive friends and realize how offensive some of the points I made could be.

I also learned some insights from my church group and with their help think I understand the points made earlier by other contributors as well as what the Bible means.

Jesus was tolerant and loved everyone - especially the poor and outcasts. As a couple of other letters pointed out, I now see that in some ways Jesus Himself was not very like a modern conservative and that has me thinking. I also see that all who are religious have equal rights and no religion can be held above the others, whether in school or anywhere else.

I understand now that I offended many people who I had no right to offend and I am sorry.

Billie Miller

Ridgecrest

And so, gentle reader, I'll send you off into the weekend with this comforting thought: they can be saved. I have no idea how they did it, and I've watched a number of people try it and fail. Somewhere out there, though, there's a formula for deprogramming these poor Hannity victims and Rove zombies. Let's find it, bottle it and start spreading it around.

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[23:36] ChaosDigest: http://www.badgerbadgerbadger.com/
[23:37] ChaosDigest: Sounds like Pavement
[23:38] haydesigner: this mushroom song never ends, does it?
[23:38] haydesigner: I think I'll leave it playing while my wife slleps
[23:38] ChaosDigest: Oh, yeah it does. Wait.
[23:38] haydesigner: errr sleeps
[23:39] haydesigner: it would be funny if it didn't end, and then you blogged it, saying "it has a GREAT ending, make sure to watch it all the way through!" :-P
[23:40] ChaosDigest: Maybe I will. Huh.
[23:40] haydesigner: I don't think it does end
[23:40] ChaosDigest: Hmmm.

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For all the junk I get in the mail, I actually like the Flax art & design catalog. This organization appears to be active in the art scene around San Francisco, going all the way back to 1938. They have a lot of interesting stuff ranging from practical art supplies to funky household gadgets. Some friends got my daughter a very cool, good-quality, portable easel from Flax for Christmas; it'll be one of those art tools she keeps throughout her life.

Flax is having a contest. So, all you under-appreciated designers, create a catalog cover for this art and design company. The rules are pretty simple and it can be apparently any form of illustration you like, traditional or digital. It may be electronically submitted. Just use their logo on the front and leave room for the merchandise/mailer panel on the back and you have a shot. If they actually use your piece you'll get $1,000 gift certificate to use on their merchandise. Finalists get $100 gift certificates. The details of the contest, specifications and samples are to be found here. Deadline May 31, 2005.

Go create something.

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Neo-con and inventor of the DIY CIA Douglas Feith announced that he's leaving government service. Someone must have gotten sick of all the great advice.

"I don't have any definite plans," he said of his post-Pentagon life. "I just have some notions."

That's okay, Doug! We'll know what you're up to by watching to see which small foreign government falls in the next six months. When the BBC shows up to cover whatever revolution, just throw us a little wink or something so we know you got this, could you?

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Maureen Dowd's decided to switch sides, 'cause GOP-friendly columnists get paid better.

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In an effort to move past his social security misfire, Bush is bringing some new health care policy ideas forward. He spoke yesterday at the National Institutes of Health, where he promised to kill more scientific and medical research funding, as a deficit-control measure:

We understand how important science is. And we understand it's important to be the leading nation when it comes to research, and we'll continue to stay there. But we are funding some things that aren't effective, as well. And so the budget I submit to the United States Congress will work on reducing our deficit in half by over a five-year period of time, and at the same time, funding much needed priorities.

In comments today, the President expounded on the value of centralized data storage of medical records, and the benefits of standardized data formats for medical record-keeping.

The White House announced that it will propose that the federal government spend $125 million in next year's budget to test computerization of health records. The government is spending $50 million on this in the current budget year, and Bush is also asking Congress to double that amount for 2005.

The Cleveland Clinic has been helping the government develop standards for computerization and Bush heard from doctors who joined him on stage to praise the technology. The hospital uses the Internet to give patients second opinions online for cancer, heart disease and other conditions and also provides health information aimed at eliminating the time and expense of hospital visits.

Now, don't get me wrong: I'm in favor of a more standards-driven healthcare industry. I'm amazed that no one ever need touch "TV Guide" again, while thousands of people are hurt every year because physicians still issue orders and prescriptions in handwriting. This problem is easily fixable: databases of drugs with automatic safety checks (like Walgreen's has had for years, now) and a web-based (ie. accessible through phones, Palms, watches, etc.) "prescription pad" application for doctors. I could probably write a prototype of it myself.

What I'm struggling with is the massive cognitive dissonance of watching George Bush push exactly the same ideas that earned Bill and Hillary Clinton a scathing stream of GOP invective that's still going on years later. Remember Phyllis Schlafly?

Allowing the government to collect and store personal medical records, and to track us as we move about in our daily lives, puts awesome power in the hands of government bureaucrats. It gives them the power to force us to conform to government health care policy, whether that means mandating that all children be immunized with an AIDS vaccine when it is put on the market, or mandating that expensive medical treatment must be withheld from seniors.

Once all medical records are computerized with unique identifiers such as Social Security numbers, an instant check system will give all government agencies the power to deny basic services, including daycare, school, college, access to hospital emergency rooms, health insurance, a driver's license, etc., to those who don't conform to government health policies.

Don't be misled by the efforts in Congress to pass so-called privacy legislation that creates hundreds of new crimes and layers of new bureaucracies, supposedly to safeguard against unauthorized disclosure of confidential health information. Tell your Member of Congress that all HHS appropriation bills should forbid the spending of taxpayers' money to collect or coordinate medical information on individuals. Our medical records are none of the government's business.

Come on, wing-nuts! Where's the outrage? Turns out your boy wants to barcode your babies, Clinton-style!

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Here at Chaos Digest, we like the cars that go boom.

(Click to play.)


(Thanks to Mixmaster Spleen of the One Shot Crew for the quick service.)

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Can anyone tell me why Joe Lieberman is cozying up to Condi Rice with such fervor?

But Ms. Rice's critics were far outnumbered by those who favored her, on both sides of the aisle. "This nominee is more than qualified," Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, Democrat of Connecticut, said today.

Mr. President: I have always believed that our responsibility to advise and consent does not mean that we have to agree with every opinion or every action that the nominee has ever taken, but that that nominee deserves the benefit of the doubt and that our responsibility is to determine whether the nominee is fit for the position for which the President has nominated him or her and whether the nominee, in our judgment, will serve in the national interest. And I conclude that Dr. Condoleezza Rice meets that standard, at least, and much more.

The Democrats must be aware that the only way they're effective to any extent at all is by staying unified. Looks like Dick Durbin's got a challenge ahead of him getting the neo-con from Connecticut back in line until the mid-term housecleaning.

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Anheuser-Busch is rolling out a caffienated beer. You'll love the name.

Going against the grain in courting the young cocktail crowd, beermaker Anheuser-Busch Cos. is launching a new "brew" to go head-to-head with classic mixed drinks -- traditional suds spiked with caffeine, fruit flavoring, herbal guarana and ginseng.

The world's largest brewer's nationwide rollout this week of B-to-the-E -- the "B" standing for beer, the "E" for something "extra" and shown as an exponent of B -- came as beermakers look to piggyback strides liquor companies have made in luring young consumers to flavored and mixed drinks.

Anheuser-Busch test marketed B-to-the-E from in the fall, eventually assessing in 55 U.S. cities whether the new "beer" appealed to 20-something consumers craving something zippy in their highly social, fast-paced lifestyles.

"It's producing a lot of excitement for this beer category in that consumers and bartenders are not looking at this as a typical beer," in many cases with B-to-the-E served over ice, said Dawn Roepke, the St. Louis-based brewer's brand manager of new-product development. "It's going right up against mixed drinks."

She declined to reveal sales data.

You thought the line to the bathroom was long now...

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A couple of anonymous filmmakers decided to produce a fake ad promoting just how tough the little VW Polo really is. Only, they may be a little out of bounds on the positioning...

(Click to play.)


(Thanks again to Apostropher.)

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UPDATE: If you wish to tell Universal Press Syndicate (the distributor of Maggie Gallagher's weekly column) know how you feel, please feel free to let CEO John P. McMeel, a Notre Dame alum, know. Shoot him an email. Just be polite is all I ask.
(UPS is the same company that distributes the 'Doonesbury' comic strip that Continental Features dropped out of their package last year due to Gary Trudeau's critism of Bush's administration).

Another Bush initiative that a majority of the country does not want/care about...

Another paid shill.

Howard Kurtz of The Washington Post reports that another pundit on Bush payroll, a conservative columnist Maggie Gallagher, was paid to push the anti-gay marriage admendment. She had a contract with the Department of Health and Human Services to help promote the president's proposal. Here is a link to the CBS News version of the story.

Maggie Gallagher had this to say in an emotional and eloquent defense:

"Did I violate journalistic ethics by not disclosing it?" Gallagher told the Post. "I don't know. You tell me."

Biting back my usual smart-ass remarks, I'll just say this (and sincerely no disrespect to journalism majors everywhere): I guess brains are not a prerequisite for being a reporter. I mean, it is not like ethics classes aren't required in journalism school. (okay, so I didn't do a very good job of biting back).

Bush, meanwhile, was noticably furious, and came out swinging, intent to stop this practice for good, and to restore people's faith in their government.

President Bush said he had instructed his cabinet secretaries not to put commentators on the government payroll.

"There needs to be a nice independent relationship between the White House and the press," Mr. Bush said.

Okay, I'm sure he meant to add "We will find out how pervasive this practice has been during my administration AND who has been authorizing and directing these immoral and unethical breaches. And dammit, that person's head will roll! I won't stand for anything to impune the dignity of the White House, for no man, or policy, is above the law!!!!"
I'm sure he will say it later tonight.
Or the reporter just forgot to write it down.
Or something.

P.S. For the spleens of the world who do not like to go to websites that require you to log in before you can read stories, try BugMeNot.com for generic logins.

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Now this is a great use of technology and grassroots...

Basic Hip Digital Oddio has made a goal of transfering a bunch of old (really old... think 78rpm records) children's record to MP3s and scanning the covers and art to go along with it, and they are calling it Kiddie Records Weekly... This week they have showcased "Tales of Uncle Remus" (hence the pic here). They put a new one up each week, and only for that week, so you have to go back each week if you want to a new one.

Now most of these are actually before my time, but there might be some good nostalgia for me somewhere. And for those with small kids, this will let you and your children harken back to a time a bit more innocent and a bit less obnoxiously marketed.

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I have been known to joke with female friends that have been pregnant about the joy of pushing a bowling ball through their cervix, but this is a wee bit extreme, methinks...

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The Freeway Blogger is advocating a "three state" solution for Iraq, in which each acrimonious religious faction gets their own nation-let. Hey, it's a thought. In any case, it's an interesting example of getting a meme into mass consideration without using the Mass Media™.

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The Democrats have announced the creation of a centralized "war room" for communications and media management. They're also making the same messages available online at Democrats.gov, as well as pushing feeds to some interested blogs. Hopefully, having a single hub for talking points will make herding the cats a little more productive...

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Members of the conservative "agenda setting" Arlington Group started whining to Karl Rove this week that Bush doesn't seem to be doing enough to advance their socially backward, homophobic cause. In particular, they want him to put as much effort behind a federal gay marriage ban as he has into his social security putsch.

We couldn't help but notice the contrast between how the president is approaching the difficult issue of Social Security privatization where the public is deeply divided and the marriage issue where public opinion is overwhelmingly on his side,' the letter said. 'Is he prepared to spend significant political capital on privatization but reluctant to devote the same energy to preserving traditional marriage? If so it would create outrage with countless voters who stood with him just a few weeks ago, including an unprecedented number of African-Americans, Latinos and Catholics who broke with tradition and supported the president solely because of this issue.

When the administration adopts a defeatist attitude on an issue that is at the top of our agenda, it becomes impossible for us to unite our movement on an issue such as Social Security privatization where there are already deep misgivings.

That's right! They're threatening to nuke social security privatization unless they get gay marriage banned forever. Given the lukewarm support that has greeted the administration's "Crisis! Iceberg! Aieee!" message, this threat doesn't seem to carry much weight. Privatization seems to be chilling nicely; no one in government had a thing to say about it today, while everyone and their grandparents are calling the reform "hugely expensive" and "unnecessary." Only Moon's Goons are still trying to stoke this fire.

So, in short, protest away, evangelicals! Threatening to kill an already dead proposal makes you look weak and late to the party. It's a win-win for Bush, too. He got to play you like rented band instruments through the election, and now he gets to cherry pick through all the support you've offered him. I can't say I enjoy seeing another Rove strategy pay off, but it is refreshing to see the wing-nuts being herded back to their home on the fringes again. I'd say this ought to just about wrap up the sophistry of a new, politically-savvy fundamentalist movement, wouldn't you?

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Bush wants another $80 billion for the Middle East quagmire-cum-money pit, while the Congressional Budget Office projects $855 billion in deficits over the next decade ($368 billion this year alone) without even factoring in the unrecoverable war expenses. Remember those kids in the MoveOn "Child's Pay" ad? Picture their kids...

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While 97% of people online do not even know what Usenet is, this has my ears perked up quite high, as I use Usenet a ton at home (my fav being alt.sports.baseball.chicago-cubs) and the trickle down effect could impact me...

The Spam Kings Blog muses if other ISP may soon follow suit. I definitely hope not, and I will be very pissed at Earthlink if they do... they already throttle my download speed from usenet to 1/5 capacity. And this coming at a time when bandwidth is getting cheaper and cheaper for service providers.

But if other ISPs indeed do so, Usenet service may likely go the route of paying for access (like Giganews and the ilk), and that will really, really suck.

And for those who might think "Big deal, who cares?", just envision a time when your provider wants you to pay extra for giving you email service, especially after you've been getting included for free all these years.

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The original Macintosh launched at a medium-sized media event back in January, 1984. A digitized version of the only videotape of the event was released today. Apparently, noted Mac enthusiast Scott Knaster had taped the event and held on to the Betamax cassette for 21 years. The tape was digitally salvaged and enhanced by German media firm TextLab. It's believed to be the only surviving record of the event.

If you're curious about the birth of a computing revolution, the origin of a lot of Mac humor or what a (very young) Steve Jobs looks like in a bow-tie, check it out. Here's a BitTorrent. If you're not hip to the Torrent yet, better catch up.

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John Paul Jones made these words famous in 1779, when he refused to surrender his burning, sinking ship Bonhomme Richard to the Royal Navy frigate Serapis. Three hours later, Serapis surrendered and Jones took command.

Today, Senate Democrats staked out their position for the upcoming session of Congress, citing numerous Bush administration lies and mistakes, and a legislative agenda that has neglected most average Americans.

Outnumbered Senate Democrats accused President Bush and his Republican allies today of mismanaging the war in Iraq and ignoring the needs of their countrymen at home, and they vowed to be heard in the new Congress on issues of importance to millions of Americans.

"Why is the promise of America not still alive and well for all of us?" Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the minority leader, asked rhetorically at a Capitol Hill news conference. "In part, it's because we have a government that simply doesn't live up to the values upon which this promise was made."

Mr. Reid and several party colleagues said President Bush had bungled the peace-keeping operation in Iraq, falsely asserted that there was a crisis in Social Security, ignored the needs of the 45 million Americans without health insurance, allowed budget deficits to mushroom and promoted tax policies that had made the rich richer and encouraged United States companies to relocate overseas.

Minority Whip and Illinois Senator Dick Durbin helped lead the charge, attacking a Bush remark from the inaugural.

Mr. Durbin spoke disdainfully of President Bush's vision of "an ownership society."

"What is the 'ownership society'?" Mr. Durbin asked. "I think you can boil it down to just one basic statement: Just remember, we're all in this alone. That's wrong. There are many problems facing America that we need to face together, and not alone."

Given that the Republicans enjoy a ten-vote advantage in the Senate, Dems expect to make headway with their agenda by appealing directly to the voters on "meat and potato" issues like insurance and employment. This seems like a good tactic given the approaching mid-term elections. Raising the idea early that the Republicans have lost touch with Americans on core issues in favor of their ideological agenda can only pay dividends in 2006.

Several Republicans have already shown signs of breaking lockstep, and there's a sense that Bush will be unable to maintain the same tight discipline he enjoyed in his first term. A recent Pew Research Center poll places Bush's approval at 50%, disapproval at 43%. The same survey shows the White House's legislative agenda running almost exactly opposite the public's priorities: 71% of Americans see the need for health care reform, while fewer than half (49%) think the social security system needs major changes.

How many politicians facing an election will continue to support a lame duck president waging a bloody, unproductive war and driving an ideological, out-of-step domestic agenda?

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I've had this idea in my head for a few weeks now, but I have not seen anything that discusses this at all. I keep feeling there is something incredibly simple that I am missing which would render this question moot, but I still can not think of anything... perhaps someone else out there can help me.

My simple question is this:

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If Social Security is broken and unfixable like this administration is trying so hard to say (not prove) it is, why not just end it?

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Seriously.
Why not?
Abolish the tax altogether.

Just grandfather it out, slowly ease off the payment and taxes, and then let the system fade away... Give ALL the money from the SS taxes back to the people, and let us do whatever we want with it.

It seems to my feeble mind that essentially what this administration (and the Republican party) want to do is:

1. Shift the burden of cost of administration of the SS money from the government to the people (meaning we'd be paying for the privilege of paying SS taxes), and
2. Give some buddies in the investment business a fuck of a lot of money. And I mean a lot.
   

The current proposed plan makes us give our money to someone else (who we don't choose), AND we pay them to take care of our money.

Seriously, someone please point out where my comprehension is wrong here...

I do not see who stands to win here except for investment firms.

Why not just let us keep the money?

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I may have mentioned that we live in the woods. This means near-daily exposure to wildlife, some of it engaged in reconnaissance. Rob thinks our back yard resembles the scene around Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' cottage. For some reason, animals are really attracted to my family.

Rob and I were eating lunch downstairs when we heard "tik, tik, tik" at the window. We turn to see this healthy specimen munching vines from the side of the house, antlers tapping the glass. Between bites, he's looking in the window. From this vantage point, he's standing about 3 feet over our heads (our downstairs is partially underground). It's pretty unnerving to have such a large animal peeking in on you, and this wasn't the first time he's done it. Last time, we were worried that he was seeing his reflection in the glass and considering whether to challenge the "other" buck (he hesitated because they were closely matched). It's a pretty hurried and unspectacular picture, but when he realized I was approaching the glass, he took off.

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(Patriotboy, by way of The American Street, from an original photo published by the New York Times.)

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And 99.98% of Americans are relieved....

The Seattle Post-Intelligence has a brief listing of highlights from Mr. Powell's 4-years... rather underwhelming, I must say.

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...brought to you as a public service announcement by the League of Deaf Blondes in cooperation with the Democratic National Committee.

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It is from a Brit-awards POV, but jacobw has a very interesting perspective on how the movie industry is starting to act super-paranoid, and how it hurts good films.

Being a bit more savvy about the dark underbelly of the internet than most, I know it is waaaay easier to download movies from the internet than 98% of the people realize. And with everyone and their aunt getting faster and faster connections, I kinda understand why Hollywood and the ilk are forseeing their hugely profitable products go the way the music industry has the past 2-3 years (of course, the music industry is basically a self-induced implosion, but that's a whole 'nother story).

However, the movie seemingly fails to realize a couple of major differences between them and the music biz:

1. Going to movies is an event; ala a date, or a reward night out for parents. Music CDs are not like that at all.
2. Nothing can beat the full sensory experience in a good theater (unless you want to drop 10k+ on a dedicated room at home). Huge screen, great sound, nothing to distract you for 2 hours (phone, kids, dinner, etc).

While DVDs are cool, and HDTV rocks, they still can't touch an actual theater. Of course, ticket prices that are getting upwards of $12-15 each might have more and more opting to stay home, especially when 80% of the movies are tripe (reference any John Woo flick). Still, I find it very hard to forsee the movie industry becoming obsolete to any degree anytime in the near or far term.

Unless, like the music industry, they do it to themselves.

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Americans love a good scandal. So in honor of the next four years of Bush Administration policies, I have searched around to find a good scandal to sink our collective teeth into, and here are some you may want to brush up on. Salon.com has compiled the 34 most notable scandals since the beginning of the Bush Administration, all of which deserve more attention than they are currently getting in mainstream media.

Some of these you may remember. After all, who can forget the torture at Abu Ghraib prison, or the false evidence that lead us to war in Iraq? But what ever happened after the allegations of Halliburton's no-bid contracts, or it's alleged business with Iran? Remember the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame? What about the misappropriation of $700 million in funding to fight the war in Afghanistan that ended up going to the war in Iraq without Congressional approval? How about VP Cheney's secret energy task force? (Even I forgot about that one!)

So click on over to Salon.com (pesky subscription or commercial required- but worth it!) and update your scandal scorecard. The article outlines all 34 of the scandals, as well as where the investigations currently stand. And while you're at it, write a letter to your favorite senator, congressperson, or newspaper and ask them to follow up on these scandals from time to time.

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After (quite literally) years of hemming and hawing (just ask the professor how long I've talked about it), a couple of months ago I finally pulled the trigger on buying a new TV, a sweet 50" Samsung DLP HDTV. Now one of my bros and one of my cousins both had recently their sets fizzle, and want to also get HDTVs.

To help in their decision, I came across this über-techie article: Display Technology Shoot-Out Part I