Collective Sigh

Middle name crisis

So Barack Obama's middle name happens to be Hussein, and the wingers are having plenty of fun with it.

My middle name happens to be Eileen, which happens to be Irish.

If anyone wants to use it to tie me in with the Irish Republican Army, please feel free.

Not that I support the IRA; I just like to watch wingers go nuclear-stupid over nothing.

Sheriff Andy Taylor would not approve

My all-time favorite church sign at the local Abundant Life Whole Gospel Something-or-other Tabernacle proudly proclaimed congratulations to Pastor Bobby on his high school graduation.

Maybe it’s just me, but I prefer my spiritual advisor, Biblical scholar, and shepherd of the flock to have just a tad more maturity and a bit more education than a high school diploma.

I also prefer someone without a criminal record.

I’ve never served on a pastoral search committee and hope I never do. There’s no pleasing an entire congregation, or even an entire committee. Half like Potential Pastor A and detest Potential Pastor B – and the other half vice-versa.

You question their employment record, educational resume’, peer into their marital status, family situation, and so on and so on.

If the poor applicant still wants the job, he/she has to audition for the part by appearing one Sunday as guest speaker, doing his/her best to impress a congregation with oratorical brilliance.

But apparently all that nonsense was unnecessary at Victory Bible Church in Mt. Airy, N.C. – Mt. Airy being the supposed prototype for Mayberry, and therefore the reason Sheriff Andy Taylor wouldn’t be too thrilled with Victory Bible Church.

Mt. Airy Pastor Faces Weapons Charge

Church members are reacting after a minister was pulled from the pulpit and arrested in front of his Sunday morning congregation.

Jerry Wayne Whitaker was hired 18 months ago at Victory Baptist Church. He told church members he was a former U.S. marshal who had been injured on the job.

"He just seemed to be the man for us, and he wanted to be here and we wanted him here," said church deacon Gary Scarce.

Whitaker flashed a handgun during a September service, according to the church. Some members left and never come back, while others called police.

Authorities then learned that Whitaker had been convicted of drug trafficking in Virginia. He was charged with carrying a concealed weapon.

One of the church deacons said he hadn't thought of doing background checks on preachers since they are held to such a high standard. But he said he will from now on.

Whitaker could face more charges, including impersonating a U.S. marshal.

I can see the sign now – “Come worship with us and felony-free Pastor X”.

Something I thought I'd never see in my lifetime

I protested the Viet Nam war, I hated the war, I hated the Wise Men who got us into the war. I lost a lot of friends and a boyfriend in Viet Nam, not to mention all the guys who came back missing a body or mind part.

I never disrespected the troops, who were only doing their duty. I hoped I'd never see such a tragic fiasco again.

But there's one thing I didn't think I'd ever see in my lifetime -


















President Bush poses in front of a bust of Ho Chi Minh during a Friday meeting at the presidential palace in Hanoi.

I guess that's easy enough for him to do.

Trust your friends if you want to keep them

If it's so almighty important to nab someone for buying night vision equipment (freely available on the 'net; just use The Google), why can't we trust Great Britain to pull off the sting?

Outrage at London sting by US spies

Undercover American agents are staging secret 'sting' operations in Britain against criminal and terrorist suspects they want to extradite to the US.

In a recent operation, agents from America's Department of Homeland Security set up a suspect by posing as dealers wanting to illegally sell night-vision goggles for export to Iran.

The spies arranged a series of clandestine meetings in London hotels, which they secretly filmed as evidence. It is thought to be the first time American agents have been caught using such sting tactics in Britain.

Urgent questions were being asked about whether the British Government had been aware of the operation. If so, it raises issues of the State collaborating with foreign agencies to entrap suspects - and if not it raises the spectre of American spies working unchecked on British soil.

When you show your friends you distrust them, they don't stay friends for long.

I'm not quite a "senior" yet, but the day is coming; not only for me, but for everyone. The day will come when many - most - of us will live on a lower, fixed income.

And the day will come when we are prescribed a plethora of increasingly expensive medications for the usual senior health conditions.

The face of 'compassionate conservatism' never looked uglier than when the Bush administration made it illegal for Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices, something the Veteran's Administration has done successfully for years.

Lord love her, House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi has said the House will take up legislation to repeal that ban in its first 100 hours under Democratic control.

Predictably, the Bush administration is not only opposed to any negotiation, but has declared it's incompetency to carry on any negotiations:

Secretary Leavitt said he did not want the power to negotiate drug prices. “I don’t believe I can do a better job than an efficient market,” he said.

“We are seeing large-scale negotiations with drug manufacturers, but they are conducted by private drug plans, not by the government,” Mr. Leavitt said. “A robust marketplace with a lot of competitors has driven down prices. It’s the magic of the market. To assume that the government, in our genius, could improve on this belies the reality of a complex task.”

Let's stop a moment and consider:

In December 2005, just before leaving office, Mr. Leavitt’s predecessor, Tommy G. Thompson, said he wished Congress had given him the authority to negotiate prices for Medicare beneficiaries, as he negotiated discounts on antibiotics during the anthrax scare of 2001.

And just which 'robust marketplace' has driven down prices?

Would it be the marketplace that has seen drug prices rise four times faster than inflation since implementation of Medicare Part D?

Obviously, it's time to take the secretary of health and human services at his word - he not only doesn't want the job of protecting America's seniors, he also doesn't have the competency to do it.

Word to the Bush administration - if you can't lead, get out of the way.

A wondrous sight to behold

I can’t remember where I’ve read and heard it, so no link (sorry) – but surely I’m not the only one who has heard the same thing.

Would it have made a difference to the mid-term elections if Rumsfeld's 'resignation' was made public a month or so earlier?

On the day Rumsfeld's canning was announced, I was standing in a co-worker's office as she logged on to the 'net and read the news.

This is a woman who is a Bush acolyte; a true believer who thinks anything The Decider does or says should be added to the New Testament. A like-minded soul was standing nearby.

When she read the news, her face turned red and she shrieked "Why didn't Bush fire him BEFORE the election when it would have done us some good?!!!".

The like-minded soul came running, and I was privileged to witness a double winger explosion.

Would it have made a difference? I don't know, but I tend to think "yes". These two representatives of the base sure thought it could have made a difference.

They obviously recognized Rumsfeld was a liability – and they are furious with their Hero for selling them out.

I’m still trying to wipe the smirk off my face.

A wondrous sight to behold

I can’t remember where I’ve read and heard it, so no link (sorry) – but surely I’m not the only one who has heard the same thing.

Would it have made a difference to the mid-term elections if Rumsfeld's 'resignation' was made public a month or so earlier?

On the day Rumsfeld's canning was announced, I was standing in a co-worker's office as she logged on to the 'net and read the news.

This is a woman who is a Bush acolyte; a true believer who thinks anything The Decider does or says should be added to the New Testament. A like-minded soul was standing nearby.

When she read the news, her face turned red and she shrieked "Why didn't Bush fire him BEFORE the election when it would have done us some good?!!!".

The like-minded soul came running, and I was privileged to witness a double winger explosion.

Would it have made a difference? I don't know, but I tend to think "yes". These two representatives of the base sure thought it could have made a difference.

They obviously recognized Rumsfeld was a liability – and they are furious with their Hero for selling them out.

I’m still trying to wipe the smirk off my face.

Thank you, vets.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:13 (KJV)

I would add - 'and be willing to lay down his life for complete strangers'.

Rangel Intends to Take Cheney's Office

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), "the incoming chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, told the New York Post that he's got his eye on Capitol Hill office space now held by the man he recently called a "son of a bitch" -- Vice President Dick Cheney.

Said Rangel: "Mr. Cheney enjoys an office on the second floor of the House of Representatives that historically has been designated for the Ways and Means Committee chairman... I talked to Nancy Pelosi about it this morning... I'm trying to find some way to be gentle as I restore the dignity of that office."

Rep. Rangel - one picture is worth a thousand words -




















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From the inbox

Some joker - most likely one of the jokers related to me by blood - signed me up on an RNC e-mail list.

I take great delight and a huge helping of "NYAH NYAH NYAH" posting some of those messages here.

From my good buddy Ken Mehlman on Monday, November 6, 2006 (which would be approximately 24 hours prior to him exploding):

Just 24 hours to go... and there's big news.

The three final polls of Election 2006 are out - and all show momentum shifting dramatically to Republicans in the final hours of this campaign. Republicans are now more likely to vote and to have been contacted by one of our volunteers. This weekend, you helped us contact 7 million more voters. I have included a polling memo with this message that shows the extent of Republican momentum in the final days of this campaign.

Andante, the last few elections have been tight, and tomorrow will be no different. If we can keep this momentum going, Republicans are poised to make history, but we can only do it with your help. That's why we need you to get on the phone and turn out 30 additional Republican voters.

And from Decideress-In-Chief Laura Bush on November 2, 2006 (right about the time she started double-dosing)-

In less than a week Americans will go to the polls to determine if we will have a Republican majority in the U.S. Congress to help keep our country safe and our economy growing. Early voting has started in some states and people are mailing in absentee ballots. But it's not too late for us to make a difference.

Andante, the President is committed to winning Republican victories at all levels and we are criss-crossing the country campaigning for GOP candidates and spreading our hopeful, optimistic message. But with precious little time remaining, our President and our Party need your help today, too.

...and so forth, followed by the inevitable plea for a secure on-line donation.

I have six words for them.....

SPEAKER PELOSI

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER REID

Man, that felt good.

Crap, I missed it again

I missed my own blogiversary again (November 5).

Nobody knows the average lifespan of a blog, but I imagine blogiversaries are somewhat like birthdays.

From the wit and wisdom of Jerry Seinfeld -

To me, the thing about birthday parties is that the first birthday party you have and the last birthday party you have are actually quite similar. You know, you just kinda sit there...you're the least excited person at the party. You don't even really realize that there is a party. You don't know what's goin' on. Both birthday parties, people have to kinda help you blow out the candles, you can't do it...you don't even know why you're doing it. What is this ritual? What is going on? It's also the only two birthday parties where other people have to gather your friends together for you. Sometimes they're not even your friends. They make the judgement. They bring 'em in, they sit 'em down, and they tell you - 'these are your friends! Tell them thank you for coming to my birthday party.'

I promise when I can't find the keyboard or remember my password I'll give it up.

Pot - Kettle - Black

Peter Daou at Salon wades into Free Republic so we don't have to -

"We will all settle in to a kind of trance/mode of watching the perfidy unfold as the Democrat's political corruption seizes power over us, as they entrench themselves permanently into government, and thwart the democratic system we have all tried to save."

Thus proving the wisdom of that greatest of Republican philosophers, James Danforth Quayle -

What a waste it is to lose one's mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is.

What a week this has been!

It began as I discovered a way to afford health care insurance...take on an additional job.

That makes three (paid), plus the obvious wife-mother business and sole caretaker for my mother.

Sort of cuts into blogging time, but heck - you do what you have to do.

"Speaker Pelosi" - omigod...I would not allow myself to believe it could happen, but happen it has.

I love the sound of it - "Speaker Pelosi". Say it loud, say it proud!

Let's face it - even with a win in the Senate, Democrats won't be able to do much about bringing home the troops and prying Dubya from his quagmire.

But at least we won't be bombarded by Social Security bamboozlements, Medicare & Medicaid cuts, or strawman distractions like anti-abortion & gay-bashing legislation.

My own little corner of Rightwing Heaven is still (predictably) solidly Republican; that was never in question.

But thanks to the hard work in so many other parts of the country, the landscape doesn't look quite as bleak as it did 24 hours ago.

And maybe...just maybe...the United States has taken the first steps to regaining credibility with the rest of the world.

Thus saith Donald Rumsfeld

"As you know, you have to go to war with the Army you have, not the Army you want"

An Abu Ghraib Offender Heads Back to Iraq

The U.S. military tells TIME that one of the soldiers convicted for his role in Abu Ghraib, having served his sentence, has just been sent back to serve in Iraq.

Sgt. Santos Cardona, 32, a military policeman from Fullerton, Calif., served in 2003 and 2004 at Abu Ghraib as a military dog handler. After pictures of Cardona using the animal to threaten Iraqis were made public, he was convicted in May of dereliction of duty and aggravated assault, the equivalent of a felony in the U.S. civilian justice system.

That guy.

Chem Lab Fire Destroys N.C. High School

A fire that began in a chemistry lab destroyed a high school, leaving more than 1,000 students without a school building for the rest of the year.

A teacher spotted the fire around 2 p.m. Wednesday at Eastern Guilford High School and tried to put it out with an extinguisher, but then pulled the alarm. The school, which has 1,060 students, was evacuated, with students, teachers and other employees going to a nearby church.

(...)

"I just don't know what we are going to do about school or football," said Brandon Pride, 17. "I wonder if we've lost our transcripts and what this is going to mean for the rest of the year and college."

Thanks to a good evacuation plan, over 1,000 students and staff are safe.

But think about it...just about anything in the school is gone. Documents, textbooks, school supplies, yearbook materials, sports equipment, band instruments, any personal effects not on the student's person...an incredible loss.

Seniors had just brought baby pictures from home to be included in the yearbook. Those went up in smoke, too.

Where was the sprinkler system, you might ask? Shouldn't if have contained the fire to the empty chemistry lab?

Any school built before sprinkler systems were mandatory - somewhere around 1974, if I remember correctly - doesn't have a system. And it turns out that's a LOT of schools with a lot of our precious children inside them.

According to our local news, retrofitting a school would cost somewhere upwards of $800,000.00, and the counties don't have that kind of money.

How much did you say we are flushing down the toilet every day in Iraq? Something like $177 million per day?