Monday, October 30, 2006
Watch 'Em While You Can
And The Nominees Are
The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 2007 nominees were announced today:
R.E.M., Van Halen, the Stooges and Patti Smith (GT12 Honoree) are among the nine acts on the ballot for the 2007 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, to be held March 12 at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Also on the ballot are the Dave Clark Five, Chic, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Joe Tex and the Ronettes.
Five artists will be chosen for the final list of inductees, to be announced in January. To be eligible for induction, the 2007 class had to release their first single no later than 1981.
Black Sabbath, the Sex Pistols, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blondie, Miles Davis and record moguls Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss were enshrined in the Hall earlier this year.
The Dave Clark Five?
Yeah, Well, You Know
Studio 60' Cancellation Imminent
Here we go: despite receiving an order for three more episodes on Friday, the Aaron Sorkin NBC drama "Studio 60 on Sunset Strip" is about to be put out of its misery.
Cast members are already confiding in friends that the end is near. It's likely NBC will pull the plug shortly I am told by insiders.
Last week, Studio 60 had 7.7 million viewers. Compare that with competing "CSI: Miami," with 17.5 million. That gap cannot be closed.The Rest In Peace Here
Tharp-er Image
For the last year I have been spending a lot of time with Bob Dylan’s music. Inspired by some strange turns of musical fate and by Marty Sorcese’s documentary, Mr. G Baker, Mr. JK and myself (and later Mr. B.O.B.) have been putting together a new perspective on Bobby’s oeuvre’.
I come to Dylan with more distant ears than some of my slightly older compatriots. While Blood On The Tracks remains a touchstone album for me, I was raised on The Beatles and the Stones. Dylan has had some great moments since then and some real disasters. My one Dylan in concert experience still ranks as one of the worst ever. Early Dylan was stuff I read about or had played to me by well meaning teachers trying to heighten my consciousness. I have never really understood the overall passion for ‘Blonde On Blonde’ (Still don’t really know what ‘Sad-eyed Lady Of the Lowlands’ is all about – though it was interesting to hear a melody from George Harrison’s ‘Long Long Time’ in the epynonymous lyric).
I have enjoyed being confused by the irony inherent in the joining of the ardor for him by old sensitive folkie-granola types and Zimmy’s rather scabrous view and treatment of those very people. “How does it feel?” indeed. Watch those clips from the ‘goes electric’ performance at The Newport Folk Festival. Lost in all the reports of the event is the fact that Zimmy chose three songs with a common theme: “Fuck You All, I Am Beholden To No One.”
So far be it for me to criticize other people’s takes on Mr. D., but who the hell thought that a jukebox musical was a good idea?
Now I love Twyla. I have wept real tears during a performance of ‘In The Upper Room’. But this? It should be noted that Tharp’s biggest failure during her time with American Ballet Theater ('The Bum's Rush') was also set in a circus. I can’t imagine that this is any better.
This is why the country turned against liberals…..
Slate talks about it here.
NYTimes here:
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Why We Don't Want To Win The Senate
But Hillary could be.
And she can join forces with the Dem Pres Nominee to take over the remaining two branches of government.
And not run for president herself.
Dave Does Bill
BillO comes to visit and gets no spin.
A Country Ruled by Faith
It Starts Like This:
The right wing in America likes to think that the United States government was, at its inception, highly religious, specifically highly Christian, and even more specifically highly biblical. That was not true of that government or any later government—until 2000, when the fiction of the past became the reality of the present.
And Later, this:
The deputy undersecretary for defense intelligence, General William (Jerry) Boykin—a man leading the search for bin Laden—made headlines during the Iraq war with a slide- show lecture he gave in churches. He appeared there not in his dress uniform but in combat gear. He asked audiences (this was after the 2000 election and before the 2004 one):
"Ask yourself this: why is this man in the White House? The majority of Americans did not vote for him. Why is he there?... I tell you this morning he's in the White House because God put him there for such a time as this. God put him there to lead not only this nation but to lead the world, in such a time as this."
... God's war needs God's warriors, and the White House was ready to supply them. Kay Coles James had been the White House personnel scout for domestic offices. The equivalent director of personnel for the Iraq Coalition Provisional Authority (headed by Catholic convert Paul Bremer) was the White House liaison to the Pentagon, James O'Beirne, a conservative Catholic married to National Review editor Kate O'Beirne. Those recruited to serve in the CPA were asked if they had voted for Bush, and what their views were on Roe v. Wade and capital punishment.[39] O'Beirne trolled the conservative foundations, Republican congressional staffs, and evangelical schools for his loyalist appointees. Relatives of prominent Republicans were appointed, and staffers from offices like that of Senator Rick Santorum. Right moral attitude was more important than competence.[40]
That was proved when the first director of Iraqi health services, Dr. Frederick Burkle, was dismissed. Burkle, a distinguished physician, was a specialist in disaster relief, with experience in Kosovo, Somalia, and Kurdish Iraq. His replacement, James Haverman, had run a Christian adoption agency meant to discourage women from having abortions. Haverman placed an early emphasis on preventing Iraqis from smoking, while ruined hospitals went untended. This may suggest the policy on appointments that put Michael Brown in charge of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but the parallel is insufficiently harsh. Chris Matthews brought it up on his television show while interviewing the Washington Post reporter who had covered the CPA in Iraq, Rajiv Chandrasekaran, who said, "There were a hundred Browns in Iraq."[41] But there were Bible study groups in the Green Zone.
The rest is here. It's Long but it's Wills. You'll be a better person after you've read it.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
True conservatives At Least Know What They Are Trying To Conserve
"Not since the medieval church baptized, as it were, Aristotle as some sort of early — very early — church father has there been an intellectual hijacking as audacious as the attempt to present America's principal founders as devout Christians. Such an attempt is now in high gear among people who argue that the founders were kindred spirits with today's evangelicals, and that they founded a 'Christian nation,'"
- George F. Will, New York Times.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Music For A Busy Day
For all of you then, we give Lindsey doing a song that you all know:
Late Snark Is Still Good Snark
And Who could pass up that photo?
Last Week our Dear Leader observed National 'Character Counts' Week by campaigning for Rep. Don Sherwood of PA.
Dana Milbank takes it from here:
So it has come to this: Nineteen days before the midterm elections, President Bush flew here to champion the reelection of a congressman who last year settled a $5.5 million lawsuit alleging that he beat his mistress during a five-year affair.
I'm pleased to be here with Don Sherwood," a smiling president told the congressman's loyal but dispirited supporters at a luncheon fundraiser Thursday. "He has got a record of accomplishment."
Quite a record. While representing the good people of the 10th District, the married congressman shacked up in Washington with a Peruvian immigrant more than three decades his junior. During one assignation in 2004, the woman, who says Sherwood was striking her and trying to strangle her, locked herself in a bathroom and called 911; Sherwood told police he was giving her a back rub.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Never Is Just Another Word For "I Am A Liar"
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Rahmbo Check
My Representative is the subject of a WaPo piece today. My Fave quote:
"Well, I never said Rahm was a diplomat who spends a lot of time schmoozing," says Pelosi, who picked Emanuel last year to run the campaign. She tapped him over more senior lawmakers, she says, because she knew he'd be "coldblooded enough" to push the party relentlessly. And to those who came to have their feathers unruffled, she says she made it clear that Emanuel has her full support. "I said to them: 'We're here to win this election. What is this conversation about?' I don't think we can be better served than by having Rahm at the DCCC."
"He's abrupt with me all the time," she adds with a laugh. "I call him the Field Marshal."
The Name's The Thing
Throwing in Hillary's maiden name wins her 8 percentage points. Supposed they asked about Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton vs. Sen. John McCain or New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton vs. Arizona Sen. John McCain, or New York's junior senator Hillary Rodham Clinton vs. Arizona's senior senator John McCain?. The results might be radically different.
And We Never Said Saddam Had Anything To Do With 9/11 Either
"We're making steady progress, A free Iraq will mean a peaceful world. And it's very important for us to stay the course, and we will stay the course." George Bush July 2003.
"This conflict is a long way from over, It's going to be a battle that will last for a very long time. It is absolutely essential that we stay the course." Dick Cheney, July 21, 2006
It's All There For Those Who Want To Find It
The following headline links appeared thus, all together, on today's WaPo web page at about 4PM CDT:
• Gunmen Kill 15 Iraqi Police Recruits, Wound 25
• No Big Changes on White House Iraq Policy
• U.S. Death Toll for Month Is Highest in a Year
The writer "thought it deserved notice, and reflection."
And I couldn't agree more.
Democrats Are Hot
Scott Kleeb, running for Congress in Nebraska.Talk about Your Attractive Candidate.
Jack Bauer Policy
While Barney Frank handles the Leader of The Club For Growth well, I have to ask this:
"When people cite the success of techniques used in TV Dramas, why doesn't anyone point out that the people who write the hero's actions also write the end result of those actions?"
Using Jack Bauer's success at saving the U.S. in 24 hours once every year is as valid an argument as saying that we should all keep wild animals because the Man In The Yellow Hat had such success with Curious George.
But, of course, the Republican base's whole world view is grounded in fantasy anyway.
From a particularly intellectual Real Time this Friday:
Scarey Bible Belt George
Several months [post 9/11], during Bush's 2002 visit to Berlin, Schroeder wrote he was surprised at what he described as Bush's "exceptionally mild" speech to the German parliament.
While meetings with Bush at that time were friendly, Schroeder said he could not reconcile himself with the feeling that religion was the driving force behind many of Bush's political decisions.
"What bothered me, and in a certain way made me suspicious despite the relaxed atmosphere, was again and again in our discussions how much this president described himself as 'God-fearing,'" Schroeder wrote, adding he is a firm believer in the separation of church and state.
Schroeder accused some elements in U.S. as being hypocritical when it comes to secularism in government.
"We rightly criticize that in most Islamic states, the role of religion for society and the character of the rule of law are not clearly separated," Schroeder wrote. "But we fail to recognize that in the USA, the Christian fundamentalists and their interpretation of the Bible have similar tendencies."
Thursday, October 19, 2006
The Definition Of Talking Out Of Both Sides Of Your Mouth
From Hardball:
"I think gay marriage should be allowed if there's a ceremony kind of thing if you want to call it that. I don't have any problem with that..."
Before your jaw drops too far, McCain went on to say
"I think private ceremonies are fine. I do not think gay marriage should be legal."
People Who Go To Twelve - Vision, Creativity and Rock & Roll Win (For Once)
Having kept all of GT12 Central on, well, pins and needles for many weeks, we are happy homos 2day. Even a last minute j'accuse from evil entitled ennui-generating Laura (I'm an Architect! I'm a Mommy! I'm a New Yorker! I Wanna be a Designer!) could not stop the first win by a Project Runway Bad Boy (Sorry Santino, Not Sorry Wendy,).Jeffrey, who had more than a few dry drunk moments of petty meanness this year, cleaned the clocks of the competition last night.His collection was edgy and elegant. Grungy and Uptown. Young and timeless. He was helped by Michael's implosion into tackiness and threatened by Uli's successful recrafting of her signature look into something a little less Miami-Party girl and a little more warm weather socialite. Laura as always generated 12 versions of her, uh, 'classy' flapper matron look. (Mr Dan observes that Laura has become for me what Jackie O is to him - someone you just can't stand and can do no right).
We raise our goblet of White Grape Juice to you Jeffrey, You Go To Twelve.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Viral Success
This is not true of iPods:
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- In another example of how mobile gadgets can carry malicious programs, Apple Computer Inc. said a fraction of its iPod players sold in the past month contained a virus that affects Windows systems.
The problem affected less than 1 percent of the video iPods that were available for purchase after Sept. 12, according to a posting on Apple's technical support Web site. The company has received less than 25 reports concerning the problem, Apple said.
The iPods got the virus from a Windows computer at one of its manufacturing plants, Apple said. The virus, RavMonE.exe, is known to spread through external data storage devices when they are connected to computers and affects only machines running the Windows operating system from Apple rival Microsoft Corp. Security experts say the virus opens up further security holes for hackers.
No Big Tents for Authoritarian Christians
Some Seek 'Pink Purge' in the GOP
WASHINGTON — In recent years, the Republican Party aimed to broaden its appeal with a "big-tent" strategy of reaching out to voters who might typically lean Democratic. But now a debate is growing within the GOP about whether the tent has become too big — by including gays whose political views may conflict with the goals of the party's powerful evangelical conservatives.Some Christians, who are pivotal to the GOP's get-out-the-vote effort, are charging that gay Republican staffers in Congress may have thwarted their legislative agenda. There even are calls for what some have dubbed a "pink purge" of high-ranking gay Republicans on Capitol Hill and in the administration.
The long-simmering tension in the GOP between gays and the religious right has erupted into open conflict at a sensitive time, just weeks before a midterm election that may cost Republicans control of Congress.
"The big-tent strategy could ultimately spell doom for the Republican Party," said Tom McClusky, chief lobbyist for the Family Research Council, a Christian advocacy group.
"All a big-tent strategy seems to be doing is attracting a bunch of clowns."Now the GOP is facing a hard choice — risk losing the social conservatives who are legendary for turning out the vote, or risk alienating the moderate voters who are crucial to this election's outcome.
More Crisis In Hastertville
(The Candidate's House ^)
Candidate dies in crash
The Chicago Tribune Has The RestDeath of Aurora man in sex-abuse case is called
'self-inflicted'
A Kane County Board candidate arrested last week on sexual assault charges died Tuesday when his vehicle slammed head-on into a concrete bridge support, Aurora police said.Brent K. Schepp, 36, a father of four from Aurora, was traveling at "a very high rate of speed" on Eola Road and did not try to brake or take any evasive action, said Dan Ferrelli, police spokesman.
NYC Flashback
When we were in NYC this spring Mr Dan and I ran across this film company. What we saw entailed two guys in fish suits (above) running at and through a pack of marathoners.Last night, while being forced by band members to watch the National League finals, I saw the end result of our tourist highlight: A Bacardi ad urging us to swim against the current.
I am sticking to micro-brews.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Kansas Health Update
The chairman of the Johnson County Sun, a paper that has endorsed 'a handful' of democrats over the last 56 years, will be endorsing nothing but Democrats this year.
Why? Because the worm is turning on America's Theocratic Party....
So, what in the world has happened?
The Republican Party has changed, and it has changed monumentally.
You almost cannot be a victorious traditional Republican candidate with mainstream values in Johnson County or in Kansas anymore, because these candidates never get on the ballot in the general election. They lose in low turnout primaries, where the far right shows up to vote in disproportionate numbers.
To win a Republican primary, the candidate must move to the right.
What does to-the-right mean?
It means anti-public education, though claiming to support it.
It means weak support of our universities, while praising them.
It means anti-stem cell research.
It means ridiculing global warming.
It means gay bashing. Not so much gay marriage, but just bashing gays.
It means immigrant bashing. I'm talking about the viciousness.
It means putting religion in public schools. Not just prayer.
It means mocking evolution and claiming it is not science.
It means denigrating even abstinence-based sex education.
Note, I did not say it means "anti-abortion," because I do not find that position repugnant, at all. I respect that position.
But everything else adds up to priorities that have nothing to do with the Republican Party I once knew.
That's why, in the absence of so-called traditional Republican candidates, the choice comes down to right-wing Republicans or conservative Democrats.
And now you know why we have been forced to move left.
What The Election Means
The current Congress has shown no inclination to investigate the Bush administration. Last year The Boston Globe offered an illuminating comparison: when Bill Clinton was president, the House took 140 hours of sworn testimony into whether Mr. Clinton had used the White House Christmas list to identify possible Democratic donors. But in 2004 and 2005, a House committee took only 12 hours of testimony on the abuses at Abu Ghraib.
Culture of Life indeed. This will change.....
Sunday, October 15, 2006
I Always Wondered About Those Log Cabin Guys...
By Cliff Kincaid
October 13, 2006
NewsWithViews.com
The complex nature of the “dirty trick” against the Republicans over the Mark Foley scandal is beginning to emerge. It doesn’t involve a George Soros-funded group or emails that had been in the possession of the media or shopped around by Democratic operatives. Instead, the GOP has played a trick on itself. The party brought so-called gay Republicans into positions of power in Congress only to realize that the confidential information they held about a secret gay network was political dynamite that could backfire.
[...]So if the gay Republicans are not really Republicans, what are they? One veteran observer of this network told AIM that the Foley scandal should make it crystal clear that the gay Republicans are in reality “liberal activists” who want to use the party to advance the same homosexual agenda embraced by the Democrats.
[...]It seems appropriate to note that one of the few Republicans financially supported by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, the pro-Democratic group to which Trandahl made his contributions in 2000, was Rep. Jim Kolbe. Was the first “openly gay” Republican member of Congress a closeted Democrat as well? It’s certainly the case that he started acting more like a Democrat once his secret life was exposed. He has, for example, become a prominent advocate of gays in the military and has denounced the proposed federal amendment protecting traditional marriage.
[...]It’s early in the probe, but we may be looking at emerging evidence of a homosexual recruitment ring that operated on Capitol Hill. It’s time to get beyond partisan politics and follow the evidence wherever it leads. Our media should not be intimidated by charges of “gay bashing.” They must lead the way in getting to the bottom of this terrible abuse of power.
Meanwhile, In The Real World
SECRETARY RICE: Thank you. Thank you very much. I am truly honored and delighted to have the opportunity to swear in Mark Dybul as our next Global AIDS Coordinator. I am pleased to do that in the presence of Mark's parents, Claire and Richard; his partner, Jason; and his mother-in-law, Marilyn. You have wonderful family to support you, Mark, and I know that's always important to us. Welcome.
Photo below (L to R): Laura Bush, Mr Dybul, Partner Jason, Sec. Rice.
Back To Blue
Remember, a vote against Ken Blackwell is a vote against Stolen Elections And Authoritarian Christian Rule. He is, as we used to say in High School in '70's Ohio, a piece of shit.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - As the GOP scrambles nationwide to retain its majority, scandal-ridden Ohio appears to be falling off the financial radar screen.
Television time is being forsaken for House candidates. And national promotions of the state's gubernatorial candidate by the Republican Governors Association popped up, then disappeared.
Ohio Republicans are trying to regroup amid a guilty plea Friday by U.S. Rep. Bob Ney (news, bio, voting record) in a Washington influence-peddling case and the trial of GOP fundraiser Tom Noe — accused of stealing from a state investment in rare coins — set to begin next week. Their national counterparts are following suit, focusing every last penny on races they believe they can win.
Those include U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine (news, bio, voting record)'s seat, which is being hotly contested by U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown (news, bio, voting record); U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce (news, bio, voting record)'s seat, which Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy is seeking; and the seat Ney is vacating, which the party hopes state Rep. Joy Padgett can win over Democrat Zach Space.
"As races change, dynamics change," said Ed Patru, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. "We're not going to continue spending money in races where we're significantly ahead and, conversely, in some races if it looks to be out of reach, you're not going to dump a bunch of money into it."
In recent days, the committee pulled advertising it had planned in the race between Republican Craig Foltin and Democrat Betty Sutton for Brown's open House seat, which the GOP initially thought it could wrest from Democrats. The committee also viewed the seat being vacated by Democratic U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland (news, bio, voting record), who is running for governor, as a potential gain, but has backed away from that hope.
Strickland has held a double-digit lead in the polls in that race, which is drawing national attention because the winner's party will carry an edge into the 2008 presidential election. A narrow win in Ohio gave President Bush' the electoral votes he needed for re-election in 2004.
Meanwhile, after an aggressive early advertising push, Republican gubernatorial nominee Ken Blackwell, Ohio's secretary of state, has disappeared from the airwaves — a surprising turn of events for the leading candidate on the party's ticket.
A one-time strategy called for the RGA to air its own ads in support of Blackwell, but the governor's group appears to have written off the state.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Bill's Fault
At least that's What Colbert and Andrew Sullivan Say.... Some of my favorite people together again.... From Thursday's show.
Maggot Brain
With BOTH composer (the late) Eddie Hazel and long-time P-Funk Allstar Mike Hampton. Sometimes I think that white folk have brought nothing to Rock and Roll......
Forever
I say it alot, but reflection shows it to be true in this case:
This is one of my fave songs of all time. Buddha Bless Steve Van Zandt.
Friday, October 13, 2006
And Where Have You Been?
Ive been in Indiana and battling through final
extended tax returns this week. Also started Andrew
Sullivans The Conservative Soul and hoping he makes
some sense of that word.
Also... GO TIGERS!
Youll Never Prove Me Wrong
mark Warner says No Thanks to the chance of beoming
the anti-Hillary.
I still think he coulda done it. And I now wish he was
running against Sen. Maccacawitz.
Theres still the veepstakes...
Obama/Warner anyone?
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
And So Many More Hearts And Minds
From Raw Story:
A new study estimates that as many as 655,000 Iraqis died since the U.S.-led invasion in March of 2003, and roughly ninety percent of the deaths were directly related to violence, primarily victims of gunfire.
"A team of American and Iraqi epidemiologists estimates that 655,000 more people have died in Iraq since coalition forces arrived in March 2003 than would have died if the invasion had not occurred," David Brown reports for the Washington Post in Wednesday's edition.
The Post notes that this figure, "produced by interviewing residents during a random sampling of households throughout the country, is far higher than ones produced by other groups, including Iraq's government."
"It is more than 20 times the estimate of 30,000 civilian deaths that President Bush gave in a speech in December," Brown writes. "It is more than 10 times the estimate of roughly 50,000 civilian deaths made by the British-based Iraq Body Count research group.
Good Thing? Bad Thing?
CARLSON: It goes deeper than that though. The deep truth is that the elites in the Republican Party have pure contempt for the evangelicals who put their party in power. Everybody in ...
MATTHEWS: How do you know that? How do you know that?
CARLSON: Because I know them. Because I grew up with them. Because I live with them. They live on my street. Because I live in Washington, and I know that everybody in our world has contempt for the evangelicals. And the evangelicals know that, and they're beginning to learn that their own leaders sort of look askance at them and don't share their values.
MATTHEWS: So this gay marriage issue and other issues related to the gay lifestyle are simply tools to get elected?
CARLSON: That's exactly right. It's pandering to the base in the most cynical way, and the base is beginning to figure it out.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
I Don't Give These Guys Enough Credit
An "I'm Not Dead Yet" news conference in front of a graveyard. I guess the subtext is to stress the word 'yet'.
Back To The Boss
Our First GT12 Honoree deserves our first official YouTube.
This is 'The River' from The Rising Tour. Anyone who knows me knows I love heartbreak.
Monday, October 09, 2006
No Second Act
I actually feel sorry for her. Once your career is based on denigrating 9/11 widows, what's your second act? Unless you dig up Mother Teresa and stick a dildo in her eye, nothing could be more offensive.
Counting Our Chickens
A new USA Today/Gallup Poll shows Democrats hold a 23-point lead over Republican candidates in the generic congressional ballot. "That's double the lead Republicans had a month before they seized control of Congress in 1994."President Bush's approval rating is now 37%, down seven points in the last month. The approval rating for Congress is 24%, down five points."Government corruption, Iraq and terrorism were the three most important issues to poll respondents. They said Democrats would do a better job on all three. The party had a 21-point advantage on handling corruption and a 17-point advantage on Iraq. A longstanding GOP advantage on terrorism vanished; Democrats had a 5-point edge."
"is reported to be a professed atheist"
From Law.com:
Religion has entered the political fray in a race for an appellate court bench in east Texas.
The Austin-based Republican Party of Texas played the religion card in a Sept. 21 online newsletter. As alleged in the newsletter, Texarkana solo E. Ben Franks, Democratic nominee for a seat on the 6th Court of Appeals, "is reported to be a professed atheist" and apparently believes the Bible is a "collection of myths.'"
But Franks says he has never professed to be an atheist and is not a member of any atheist organization. Franks says no one with the Republican Party ever asked him whether he professes to be an atheist. However, he says he's not surprised by the allegation."I'm not surprised at anything anybody says in politics anymore," Franks says.
Anthony Champagne, a political science professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, says he has watched judicial races in Texas and other parts of the country for 25 years and has never before seen a judicial candidate accused of being an atheist.
Moral High Ground
A new poll by Newsweek indicated the Foley scandal was doing significant damage to the Republicans' political fortunes and could sink their chances of holding onto control of Congress on Election Day, Nov. 7. The poll found that 52 percent of Americans, including 29 percent of Republicans, believe Hastert was aware of Foley's Internet communications with underage pages and tried to cover up Foley's actions. More of those polled, 42 percent, now say they trust Democrats to do a better job handling moral values than Republicans; 36 percent favored Republicans on the values question.
Gabba Gaaba Hey Hey Hey Goodbye!
Punk venue CBGB's closing after 33 years
NEW YORK - Legs McNeil remembers the night back in 1975 when he walked into the dingy storefront club perched in the even dingier Bowery neighborhood. The band onstage, four guys in leather jackets and torn jeans, was the Ramones. McNeil sat at a nearby table, watching their set with Lou Reed.
It was unforgettable. But as McNeil would soon discover, it was just a typical night at CBGB's, the club that spawned punk rock while launching the careers of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Blondie, the Talking Heads and the Ramones.
"Every night was memorable, except I don't remember 'em," said a laughing McNeil, co-author of the punk rock history "Please Kill Me."
After Sunday, memories are all that will remain when the cramped club with its capacity of barely 300 people goes out of business after 33 years. Although its boom years are long gone, CBGB's remained a Manhattan music scene fixture: part museum, part barroom, home to more than a few rock and roll ghosts.
The Rest (In Punk) is here.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
A Night In Hastertville
GT12 spent another great great evening in St Charles IL, visiting some our very best friends. Charlie town is a major upscale burgh in Dennis Hastert's congressional district. They are all quite ashamed. Our favorite Republican now calls herself an Independent (leaving us to find another favorite Republican).as RL Burnside observed: "It's bad you know..."
No One Is Safe Any Longer
...from the responsibility-dodging authoritarian misdirection of Dick Cheney.The is no honor among thieves......
Friday, October 06, 2006
Can't Disagree With This
A Real Live Plan! From Democrats! And It's Even Reasonable!
From WaPo:
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi is thinking 100 hours, time enough, she says, to begin to "drain the swamp" after more than a decade of Republican rule.
Day One: Put new rules in place to "break the link between lobbyists and legislation."
Day Two: Enact all the recommendations made by the commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Time remaining until 100 hours: Raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, maybe in one step. Cut the interest rate on student loans in half. Allow the government to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare patients.
Broaden the types of stem cell research allowed with federal funds _ "I hope with a veto-proof majority," she added in an Associated Press interview Thursday.
All the days after that: "Pay as you go," meaning no increasing the deficit, whether the issue is middle class tax relief, health care or some other priority.
To do that, she said, Bush-era tax cuts would have to be rolled back for those above "a certain level." She mentioned annual incomes of $250,000 or $300,000 a year and higher, and said tax rates for those individuals might revert to those of the Clinton era. Details will have to be worked out, she emphasized.
"We believe in the marketplace," Pelosi said of Democrats, then drew a contrast with Republicans. "They have only rewarded wealth, not work."
A Victim Of Project Runway?
Yves St. Laurent collapsed in the road outside his boutique just hours after his latest "catwalk triumph".YSL is 70 and has lived a life characterized by lots of drugs and a healthy dose of mental instability.
None-the-less GT12 wishes to believe that someon just told him that Laura made it to the Project Runway final four.
