July 24, 2007
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TUESDAY POLITICS
So I guess you saw the YouTube Debates. It was really pretty clever and amusing and it would be nice to know who handpicked the videos of commonfolk asking questions by this incredibly popular new technology because they seemed to do a fairly evenhanded job as far as I could tell. It was kind of like watching the entertainment during half-time at the Super Bowl. Lots of ambience and foo-fah, lots of answers we’ve heard before with too few details, lots of good cheer. Some like the trusty Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel made Talking the Talk sound like something might actually change if they were in charge. Meanwhile, back at Democratic Rep John Conyers’ office on Capitol Hill, one citizen and her back-up for the day were Walking the Walk. Conyers is the House Judiciary Chairman who actually raised the possibility of impeachment more than a year ago. Today, however, chanting “What do we want? Impeachment. When do we want it? Now,” Cindy Sheehan et al were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, though they were likely to be released within hours after processing. Well, we all had good fun watching those debates. Hopefully, we’re all having a great summer. Lindsay Lohan just got arrested again and I’m betting we’ll see her face plastered on every news program and Entertainment Weekly type show for days to come. Gee, wonder if we’ll see any news about that arrest for Walking the Walk. With Congress approval rating at 21%, I’m guessing not. But it’s my birthday today, so that’s my wish. Just one peek at the Real News. Is that too much to ask? By the way, here’s that news item with lots of interesting comments to follow.
Deep Thought:“If you ever feel like you’re on the verge of a nervous breakdown, just follow these simple rules: First, calm down; second, come over and wash my car; third, shine all my shoes. There, isn’t that better?”
Today I am grateful for: The color red (which signifies so many things)
Guess the Movie: “I know there is a law in life, that blood gets more blood as dog begets dog. Death generates death, as the vulture breeds the vulture! But the voice I heard today on the hill said, ‘Love your enemy. Do good to those who despitefully use you.’” Answer: Ben-Hur, 1959.
Exploring a Surprising Link
Between Obesity and Diet Soda
Do unhealthy people drink diet soda? Does diet soda make people unhealthy? (Rest of article here.)
Comments (29)
Happy Birthday to you!
I wish I could grant your wish.
I caught the re-run this morning, and I have to say I liked it…, the guy with the giant assault rifle was disturbing, but other than that I thought the public put forth decent questions, and we got a pretty good look at the candidates and their platforms.
I read that diet soda is not really healthy. Mostly I drink water or tea, but occasionally I like a diet soda… oh well.
Happy Birthday. Your a Leo, the Lioness? I am also.
Hugs, Tricia
Oh, and lohan shmohan… ugh!
I’m not in favor of either campaign debates right now, or impeachment, and honestly, I think Cindy Sheehan is on the verge of becoming destructive. I do not want her running against Nancy Pelosi. I do not want her harassing John Conyers over this (gas mileage yes, this, no). And I do not want the US Congress going out of business for six months to run an impeachment trial with a foregone conclusion. She might not like the way the US Constitution sets up the government. Neither do I. I would much prefer a multi-party Parliamentary Democracy. But that’s not what exists. US Voters were so upset with the government last November that they defeated 8% of incumbents. Yes, that’s right, 92% were re-elected, including 82% of Republicans. (Just a comparison – very happy Ireland only re-elected 86% of its national legislature in the last election.) So if Cindy Sheehan thought a 14 seat House majority and 50 Democratic seats in the Senate was going to overturn Bush policies overnight, I think she needs a civics lesson.
For President? To the candidate (besides Kucinich) who proposes single-payer National Health, goes my vote. That’s it. One issue.
Ouch.
Sorry, I’m crabby today. But still, you have to defeat more than 35 people to turn this government around, and “the left” has not done that yet. Couldn’t even beat Lieberman in Connecticut. Can’t even get mainstream Dem Presidential candidates to really offer a health care plan. I always go back to the Canadian election of 1993. Voters there ousted 167 of 169 Commons members of the Conservative Party. They wiped them out. That was a mandate for change from an informed electorate, something the US just does not have right now.
There’s plenty of work to be done, but it is in the neighborhoods, convincing people. In the streets, arguing, presenting alternatives. And in the state legislatures where you could do everything from redistricting congressional seats (why not wipe out Republicans in Illinois and California the way DeLay did-in the Texas Democrats?) to legalizing fusion voting in the 47 votes that force the two-party choice, to changing ballot access rules.
I didn’t see the debates but vaguely recall the DNC or some group I get e-mails from putting out a call for questions. Sounds like I missed a good thing.
hmmm…. I never tire of coming here and visiting your space, and when I do get here, I’m reminded of how little time I have these days to enjoy my own curiousity and the thoughts and creativity of others….blessings and all good things to you on your birthday and every day! HAPPY HAPPY
d
Happy Birthday.
I saw the YouTube debates. I thought it was kind of a silly gimick. Plus sometimes it was hard to understand what the YouTuber’s were saying. I would have liked to see Cindy Sheehan ask some questions of the candidates. That would have been interesting.
Happy Birthday!
happy birthday. The YouTube debates was revolutionary and a great new breakthrough…
Is it your birthday? Happy Birthday! I hope it was a wonderful birthday and you got to spend time with all your loved ones.
The YouTube thing was interesting, but since the answers were still the same…
I worry for Lindsay Lohan. I keep telling myself that I am over my soft spot for her that developed after The Parent Trap remake when she was so very cute, but clearly I’m not.
Oh and happy birthday. This is a good time of year for a birthday. I enjoyed Lindsay in Bobby. ryc–I did ask a doctor and he thought it might be an ulcer. But they are gone now so I imagine it was a touch of food poisoning day after day. My friend had pancreatic cancer and it started with stomach aches. It progressed really fast too.
Happy birthdaY. I hope you have plenty more wishes than candles and hope you get ‘em all!
Happy birthday to you! And happy xanga-versary on Saturday! Peace back.
Happy Birthday a day late!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope you are enjoying this sunshine!!!
well i did not watch the debates as they bother me so,,, in my line of biz,, i see the bad part of both parties,, and today after spending 3 hours at the governors office explaining about a immigrant in a total vegetative state that needed to be moved to his home country ,, i was told it was a international affair,, or to call INS,, yeah right,, they dont want a bill of 22 thoussand to air flight him back,,, so quietly in my prayers today as they were taking the trach out, i prayed he would just go home peacefully, my prayers were not answered, My government does not care and my soul aches
Happy belated Birthday i too long for real news with real reporters on real tubes sadly like real government those days are gone the Enquirer has mainstrean news scrambling for late breaking headliness Hollywood sells politicians & media mogals know the upcoming majority mentality nothing has changed there is now just more “double talk” beck
we need a sex change operation next election beck
i am so glad u came by!!! maybe you and i can work the problems of the world out,, idont do the political thing as it irritates me to no end at this points,, i guess im the activist,, the one who fights for all people,,, maybe you can teach me a thing or two or three, oh heck alot more!!! be safe my new friend
My thumbs have been aching ever since you mentioned your success with glucosamine. Did you do something? Just joking, of course. Unfortunately, all my other joints are involved, too, but I think of you every time I feel a twinge in my thumbs Thanks for your good wishes
Dear Lionne,
I promised I’d attempt to return to these blogs, like yours, I’ve been “neglecting”. I’m following the news of course, in the papers, and on the internet, but I haven’t watched any debates yet. CNN officials picked the YouTube questions that were aired. I’ve seen some of them on the YouTube site, but I didn’t watch the program.
I’m still predicting that the Democratic ticket will be Clinton/Obama even though it seems unlikely at this point beacause their camps have been sniping at each other.
The time to impeace Bush would have been in 2004 or 2005, but he had just been reelected and nobody was thinking that the war was wrong in those days. Well, nobody but me anyway. Read what I wrote online on Sept. 16, 2001, in my essay “A Personal and Universal Response to Tragedy”
“Our troubles are not over yet. Even a “war” will be, like Vietnam, a protracted, involving, fiasco, costing billions of dollars, and sadly, probably not amounting to much. The terrorist ideology, with roots in religious fanaticism, is deeply ingrained in this country. We let anyone in, legal or not, and if they stay here long enough, we grant them amnesty, and let them go about their business.”
I wrote that before Bush even sent troops into Afghanistan. It’s too late in his Presidency to impeach him now. Hopefully, things will change for the better during the next administration. Sadly, things are probably never going to get any better for the poor souls in the Middle East, who basically, have been fighting the same fights for over two thousand years.
Michael F. Nyiri, poet, philosopher, fool
happy bday to a fellow Lion!
Liked this blog. Entertaining, useful, smart and thought provoking. Oh and funny! You
totally made me laugh with the nervous breakdown suggestions. You’re right. All we need to
do is keep busy and feel useful. We spend too much time in our heads sometimes working
ourselves up into a lather for nothing.
Do u celebrate ur bday for a month like i do? Yeah HELL YEAH I’m worth it!
Happy birthday a little late! I hope it was a good one. Nice weather we’ve been having, eh? Wow. Gorgeous summer.
Happy late birfday
RYC: Solar powered anything in Oregon is kind of a giggle, eh?
Thank goodness for the breeze. It was a scorcher. But I hung out outside under the camping awning we bought and had a fan blowing on me. It was wonderful.
Happy birthday:)..some newsworthy politcal news would be unnerving but welcome:)
Sorry I missed your birthday. I hope it was all you wished for. Have a great weekend!
Have the happiest of birthdays and may it be just a hint of the happy ones to come.
I heard that they sent someone out hunting news, they found it had been covered up before they could get there.