Because I imagine she's had about 150 weeks like the one I'm just ending.
That's why.
Friday, April 11, 2014
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Lincoln Wept
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/jim-demint-asserts-federal-government-played-no-role-freeing-slaves
Having won the Civil War and freed the slaves, maybe we could now let South Carolina secede anyway, because dumb.
Having won the Civil War and freed the slaves, maybe we could now let South Carolina secede anyway, because dumb.
Close The Internets! We Have A Winner!
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/04/10/kiss-me-deadly-if-vance-mcallister-had-hired-a-hooker-hed-be-talking-about-benghazi-today/#comment_disclaimer
TBogg revives his reputation as the master of snark.
TBogg revives his reputation as the master of snark.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Crimes In Your Name
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/eugene-robinson-the-senates-torture-report-merits-an-emotional-response--outrage/2014/04/07/d4413674-be87-11e3-b195-dd0c1174052c_story.html
There used to be a meme: "How has Obama failed you today?" that tweaked the Left and Right's criticism of Obama for not providing the magic ponies they wanted. But if there is a way Obama failed me, it would be his decision not to prosecute the criminal behavior of the Bush years on Wall Street and in the torture regime.
Obama saw himself as someone who was going to try and rise above the partisan rancor of the Bush years, but as we have seen, that was a pipe dream. He has recently come to the conclusion that he can no longer attempt negotiations with the legislative nihilists, and good for him.
But the release of Senate Select committee's report on torture is an opportunity. It's an opportunity to force the GOP to defend what it did in our name, force it to relive the shame of Abu Ghraib and the Black Sites. And of course, they will defend it. Undead Thing Dick "Dick" Cheney is already defending torture, prompting mild mannered Mainer Angus King to invite Dick to be waterboarded himself. Dick has a heart condition, so why don't we waterboard Liz instead, and Dick can watch.
Then let's see if that constitutes torture.
As Robinson notes, torture is illegal. I hear the immoral argument he makes, and I share that view. But to me, it is the fact that the CIA and parts of the Executive branch directly and obviously broke the law that is distressing.
When I teach my students about the necessary pre-conditions for democracy to work, we always return to the Rule of Law, which basically states that laws constrain the rich and poor alike, the government as well as its citizens. What took place in the CIA and the Cheney offices was a direct violation of American law. The idea that they should escape prosecution is sickening.
Torture was a moral blot on this country's history. The failure to prosecute those involved is a failure of the very institutions of government that we depend on to maintain a free society.
So the Obama administration needs to prosecute those responsible for torture, but only if they are willing to follow that trail all the way up the ladder to Addington, Yoo and Cheney.
Does anyone see that happening?
There used to be a meme: "How has Obama failed you today?" that tweaked the Left and Right's criticism of Obama for not providing the magic ponies they wanted. But if there is a way Obama failed me, it would be his decision not to prosecute the criminal behavior of the Bush years on Wall Street and in the torture regime.
Obama saw himself as someone who was going to try and rise above the partisan rancor of the Bush years, but as we have seen, that was a pipe dream. He has recently come to the conclusion that he can no longer attempt negotiations with the legislative nihilists, and good for him.
But the release of Senate Select committee's report on torture is an opportunity. It's an opportunity to force the GOP to defend what it did in our name, force it to relive the shame of Abu Ghraib and the Black Sites. And of course, they will defend it. Undead Thing Dick "Dick" Cheney is already defending torture, prompting mild mannered Mainer Angus King to invite Dick to be waterboarded himself. Dick has a heart condition, so why don't we waterboard Liz instead, and Dick can watch.
Then let's see if that constitutes torture.
As Robinson notes, torture is illegal. I hear the immoral argument he makes, and I share that view. But to me, it is the fact that the CIA and parts of the Executive branch directly and obviously broke the law that is distressing.
When I teach my students about the necessary pre-conditions for democracy to work, we always return to the Rule of Law, which basically states that laws constrain the rich and poor alike, the government as well as its citizens. What took place in the CIA and the Cheney offices was a direct violation of American law. The idea that they should escape prosecution is sickening.
Torture was a moral blot on this country's history. The failure to prosecute those involved is a failure of the very institutions of government that we depend on to maintain a free society.
So the Obama administration needs to prosecute those responsible for torture, but only if they are willing to follow that trail all the way up the ladder to Addington, Yoo and Cheney.
Does anyone see that happening?
Monday, April 7, 2014
The Oppressed Free Marketeers
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-must-read-from-the-brittle-grip-series
Josh Marshall has been trying to figure out why - with a bull market boosting stocks to record highs - we've had so much talk about "Kristallnacht" and "Worse than Hitler" from the Wall Street "Masters of the Universe."
The letter above makes so much sense, because it feeds into what I think is increasingly the way to explain all of American politics today, especially but not exclusively on the Right.
It can be summed up as: "If the facts do not conform to the theory, they must be disposed of."
This is the height of irrationality, but it is a natural human characteristic. If we believe something deeply, then evidence that our beliefs are wrong actually makes people cling to those beliefs more tightly.
Given the ideological nature of the modern GOP, this is going to bite them more.
Josh Marshall has been trying to figure out why - with a bull market boosting stocks to record highs - we've had so much talk about "Kristallnacht" and "Worse than Hitler" from the Wall Street "Masters of the Universe."
The letter above makes so much sense, because it feeds into what I think is increasingly the way to explain all of American politics today, especially but not exclusively on the Right.
It can be summed up as: "If the facts do not conform to the theory, they must be disposed of."
This is the height of irrationality, but it is a natural human characteristic. If we believe something deeply, then evidence that our beliefs are wrong actually makes people cling to those beliefs more tightly.
Given the ideological nature of the modern GOP, this is going to bite them more.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
So Much For Jeb! 2016
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/jeb-bush-immigration-felony
James Carville once famously said that "Democrats have to fall in love, Republicans just fall in line."
The idea was that the GOP ultimately accepted the establishment candidate, even if that meant they weren't thrilled with the choice.
And certainly McCain and Romney were not beloved of the "base".
But Jeb Bush is the ultimately establishment candidate. Socially moderate for the GOP and embracing immigration reform like his brother is fine with Wall Street.
But C+ Augustus couldn't get immigration reform through a Congress he controlled and the 2012 primary was basically a competition as to who could hate on immigrants more. For Bush to come out now and call immigration an "act of love" will prove the ultimate test of whether the GOP establishment can force their candidate on the Tea Party base.
(The fact that Jeb is right, is of course irrelevant.)
James Carville once famously said that "Democrats have to fall in love, Republicans just fall in line."
The idea was that the GOP ultimately accepted the establishment candidate, even if that meant they weren't thrilled with the choice.
And certainly McCain and Romney were not beloved of the "base".
But Jeb Bush is the ultimately establishment candidate. Socially moderate for the GOP and embracing immigration reform like his brother is fine with Wall Street.
But C+ Augustus couldn't get immigration reform through a Congress he controlled and the 2012 primary was basically a competition as to who could hate on immigrants more. For Bush to come out now and call immigration an "act of love" will prove the ultimate test of whether the GOP establishment can force their candidate on the Tea Party base.
(The fact that Jeb is right, is of course irrelevant.)
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Smell
We tried a compost system last year. I had to empty it today. I can't begin to describe the smell. And what's more that smell has managed to remain on my hands and in the air. It's amazing that on a windy spring day, it still smells of rot.
I may have to bleach the backyard.
I may have to bleach the backyard.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Between Two Memes
The "Seven Million" number surrounding ACA sign-ups is a red herring, a macguffin.
Jon Chait explains why:
Go read the explanation.
Jon Chait explains why:
The biggest trouble with seven million is that it’s not the number of people benefiting from Obamacare. Conservatives are picking away at the figure,correctly arguing that it does not show a terribly high reduction in the uninsured. What they haven’t conceded is that, in many ways, seven million wildly understates the number of Obamacare beneficiaries.
It ignores people under 26 enrolling in their parents’ plans, and people enrolling in Medicaid. It likewise ignores the fact that probably millions of people have obtained insurance off the exchanges, and millions more can still obtain insurance through the exchanges after the deadline has passed. The last two points are important enough to merit a bit of explanation.
Go read the explanation.
Betty Cracker Lays The Wood
Modern conservatism in the US is predicated on a bizarre, ongoing inversion of reality. Item: an addled B-movie actorexplodes the national debt and is lionized as a champion of small government. A cowardly, none-too-bright male cheerleader from a patrician clan is packaged and sold as a brush-clearin,’ neo-Churchillian, genius cowpoke.
The party that bankrupted the country through ruinous, pointless warmongering and Wall Street wilding markets itself as the fiscally responsible foreign policy grownups. The party that lets a gun manufacturer flak organization intimidate it into allowing terrorists and the floridly insane to purchase unlimited semiautomatic weapons bills itself as tough on crime. Etc.
So it shouldn’t be surprising that conservatives’ perception of their ongoing defeat in the culture wars is exactly the opposite of reality on every level too. But that doesn’t mean we can’t laugh at the ahistorical ranting. Cue thePowertools, lamenting the resignation of erstwhile Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich:
So the liberals claim another scalp. This is something new in our history, as far as I know. Until now, private citizens could hold whatever political beliefs they wanted, and support political causes as they chose.
Ever heard of the McCarthy hearings? Where a wingnut senator persecuted private citizens and destroyed their livelihoods because of their political beliefs? See, when the party of free markets decides to regulate political beliefs,it does so via the government.
What happened to Eich is a free market phenomenon. You can make the argument that the companies and developers who balked at the prospect of working with a CEO who thinks gays are icky should have given Eich a chance. But the companies and developers are independent agents who are free to vote with their feet because freedom.
I would add that perhaps the best tool progressives and generally sane people have right now is the power of the purse. Given the evisceration of campaign finance laws by the Free Market Five on the Supreme Court, we can expect to see more hollowing out of reform at the state level. (I would guess that national elections won't be nearly as influenced by the tide of dark money as local elections.)
So, if you're as disgusted by Florida's "Stand Your Ground and Kill A Colored" laws, the only thing to do is not to go to Florida.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
More Guns
In the aftermath of Sandy Hook, the immoral death eaters at the NRA said that if only there had been armed guards at an elementary school Adam Lanza wouldn't have been able to slaughter children.
Yesterday, at a military base that has already seen a mass shooting, another gunman killed multiple people. At a military base. With armed guards. Not some wannabe mall cop at an elementary school, a military base that increased security since its LAST shooting spree.
More guns don't make us safe. This was always true. Look at countries with strict gun control laws. They don't have the incidents of murder that we have.
We are sacrificing our sons and daughters for a lie.
An armed society is not a free society or a polite society. It is a society drenched in fear and blood. But the bloodshed at Ft. Hood won't make a dent on the minds of those who feverishly love their arsenals and lust for more. Theirs is not a rational position; it never was.
There is a separate point to be made, perhaps, about the psychological costs of Iraq and Afghanistan and how we will see more shooting like this as the damaged men come home from years of slaughter and mayhem into a society that says "Thank you for your service" but doesn't acknowledge that we send young men (and increasingly young women) into combat, have them kill for us, bear wounds for us and then bring them home and set them adrift.
But right now, there is more blood on the hands of the NRA and there isn't enough water in the world to wash it off.
UPDATE: TBogg reads gun nuts so you don't have to.
Yesterday, at a military base that has already seen a mass shooting, another gunman killed multiple people. At a military base. With armed guards. Not some wannabe mall cop at an elementary school, a military base that increased security since its LAST shooting spree.
More guns don't make us safe. This was always true. Look at countries with strict gun control laws. They don't have the incidents of murder that we have.
We are sacrificing our sons and daughters for a lie.
An armed society is not a free society or a polite society. It is a society drenched in fear and blood. But the bloodshed at Ft. Hood won't make a dent on the minds of those who feverishly love their arsenals and lust for more. Theirs is not a rational position; it never was.
There is a separate point to be made, perhaps, about the psychological costs of Iraq and Afghanistan and how we will see more shooting like this as the damaged men come home from years of slaughter and mayhem into a society that says "Thank you for your service" but doesn't acknowledge that we send young men (and increasingly young women) into combat, have them kill for us, bear wounds for us and then bring them home and set them adrift.
But right now, there is more blood on the hands of the NRA and there isn't enough water in the world to wash it off.
UPDATE: TBogg reads gun nuts so you don't have to.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
PETA's Restaurant Reviews
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/04/obamacare-train-did-not-wreck.html
Shorter Chait: Republicans see all policy through an ideological lens. Democrats see all policy through a policy lens.
Shorter Chait: Republicans see all policy through an ideological lens. Democrats see all policy through a policy lens.
Patience.....Patience
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/gop-obamacare-7-million
So, yeah, Obamacare hit its target number. It stuck the landing. Certainly had trouble mounting the bar at first, but great finish.
The hyperventilating by the GOP over how awful ACA is was always a cynical political gambit. Incessant attacks were designed to undermine faith in the law. Add into it the incompetent launch of the website, and things looked shaky.
That was 120 days ago.
It is always a fascinating exercise to try and figure out how a political party has the support of less than half the electorate, has no positive ideas for governance, has few policy positions that people support and has its fair share of panty-sniffing creeps trying to pry open your bedroom door consistently manages to win elections.
But the knee-jerk, reflexive coverage the website rollout and the early struggles of the law have played perfectly to the headline-obsessed, ADHD press. Our analysis for the most part is incapable of seeing past the "horse race" or the here and now. Some writers like Ezra Klein have tried to disentangle policy from politics, but with mixed results.
In the end, Obamacare will work - not perfectly but well. Repeal isn't going to happen unless the Republicans win both Houses of Congress and the White House - something I'd consider very, very unlikely. By 2020, ACA will be the new normal.
The internet/cable TV obsession with the short term helps make our politics stupid, which helps elect stupid politicians.
So, yeah, Obamacare hit its target number. It stuck the landing. Certainly had trouble mounting the bar at first, but great finish.
The hyperventilating by the GOP over how awful ACA is was always a cynical political gambit. Incessant attacks were designed to undermine faith in the law. Add into it the incompetent launch of the website, and things looked shaky.
That was 120 days ago.
It is always a fascinating exercise to try and figure out how a political party has the support of less than half the electorate, has no positive ideas for governance, has few policy positions that people support and has its fair share of panty-sniffing creeps trying to pry open your bedroom door consistently manages to win elections.
But the knee-jerk, reflexive coverage the website rollout and the early struggles of the law have played perfectly to the headline-obsessed, ADHD press. Our analysis for the most part is incapable of seeing past the "horse race" or the here and now. Some writers like Ezra Klein have tried to disentangle policy from politics, but with mixed results.
In the end, Obamacare will work - not perfectly but well. Repeal isn't going to happen unless the Republicans win both Houses of Congress and the White House - something I'd consider very, very unlikely. By 2020, ACA will be the new normal.
The internet/cable TV obsession with the short term helps make our politics stupid, which helps elect stupid politicians.
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