Kids.

Just wanted to note how often I find myself profoundly struck and inspired by the thoughts expressed by my kids.  Such pure honesty and wonder.  Somebody's gotta figure out how to keep us from losing that. 

Where's snark?

There's a snark in this photo.  Can you find him?

From the House of Blues closing night party at Netroots Nation 2010.

Ask the Speaker

Nancy Pelosi was well received. She's a very gracious lady. She began by thanking everyone from the netroots for all the thousands of roses that were sent to her following the passage of healthcare reform. She says what has been accomplished since she became Speaker is that they have "pushed open the gate". Haven’t passed through yet but the gate is open and it would have been impossible without citizen activists. She spoke about her conversation with Obama following the passage of “healthcare for all Americans”. Huh? Do we have universal care now? Anyway, she spoke to Obama and he said that he was happier that day than he was the day he was elected. Right. And she said no, because had he not been elected it would never have happened. Then she introduces a video address to Netroots Nation from Obama. Pretty cool. Obama says he knows change not happening fast enough for some, especially those at NN. But points to what has been accomplished and the film cuts to clips of Maddow reporting on many of the big legislative achievements of the past 2 years. Nice touch. Maybe he can get around to sitting for an interview with her one of these days. Good comment from Maddow, “the last time any president achieved as much in office booze was illegal”. Got a good laugh. Cut back to Obama who reminds us that change does not, and will not happen from the top down but from the bottom up. Calls us to keep the pressure on him.


Speaker Pelosi then sat with the moderator, Cheryl Contee, and answered about 10 questions on a range of legislative issues. She was good, didn’t hedge too much. But most of the answers fell into the “we’re trying hard but the Republicans are obstructing us in the Senate” format.

I’ll follow up on that later.

[Managed to connect to the wireless network.  Got to meet Alan Grayson at the end of the Citizens United panel.  Nice guy.  Thanked him for all his work on the DISCLOSE Act.  He really took the time to shake peoples hands even though he was trying to take 5 minutes to shove some food in his face before taking part in the lunch panel on building a "progressive economic vision".]

Netroots Nation 2010

It's Vegas baby!

Well, it is Vegas so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that I got addressed as "baby" and asked if I wanted to go have a good time not once but twice on the Rio casino floor Thursday night.  Hope I don't look that desperate!  But they are working girls so I guess the real go getters get the proverbial nut, eh?

NN2010 got off to a good start last night.  Met some interesting characters before and during the opening keynote event.  The event itself was interesting.  Nevada State Senator Steven Horsford started things off with an attempt at a spirited defense of the accomplishments of the Obama administration, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.  He fought the good fight but the response was less than raucous.  Ultimately acknowledging that what has been accomplished thus far must serve as the "building blocks" of true progressive reform in the US moving forward.  They showed a great AFSCME/Brave New Films promo about taking on the lies of the right wing.  That got the attendees attention.  Majora Carter spoke passionately about her work through "Greening the Ghetto" and about the impact of "environmental sacrifice" zones on the poor in both urban and rural settings. 

Then Ed Schultz came out!  Wow!  What a fireball of energy that guy is.  He knows how to work a room.  Launched right into an all out attack on the Democratic Party and the administration and Congress.  He had a great line, which may be one of his regulars.  After talking about how we need to stop throwing ourselves at Wall Street he said, "I stick up for the people who take a shower AFTER work!"  Asked where is our moral compass as a nation and as a party.  Over the whole Sherrod incident he said he's sure they have a war room in the White House and they must also have a "sissy room".  Stop responding to FOX.  We complained to the Bush White House for 8 years.   They didn't respond once!   He busted his ass for Obama's election and he's not being "anti-Obama".  He knows where we'd be if he'd lost.  But, he said, "we're in the locker room and it's halftime" and we gotta perform better in the second half or things ain't gonna go our way.  The guy has amazing energy.

Markos came out and spoke briefly to introduce Gov. Brian Schweitzer.  He talked about the growth of the netroots since the first YealyKos 4 years ago.  The challanges facing a progressive movement that has a 25+ years structural disadvantage too the rightwing machine.  Called Harry Reid the luckiest guy in politics and thanked the tea baggers for Sharron Angle, Rand Paul and Linda McMahon!  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

Brian Schweitzer was a terrific speaker as well.  He spoke at length and told some great stories.  A really likable, sensible guy.  I'll right some more about his comments later. 

Off to breakfast and COFFEE!  Late night last night.  There was a sponsored karaoke party at one of the Rio bars.  Drinks were flowing.  Played some cards.  And I'm happy to report that I am, currently, ahead!

Suburban Paradise!

So you move to the 'burbs partially to avoid scenes like this;

But this is basically the scene that confronted me and a train load of other commuters as we returned to our little hamlet yesterday evening.  There, in the middle of a permit-only town owned parking lot, up on four jacks, was a beautiful new shiny red Nissan Maxima with it's tires stripped off!  Unbelievable!  In broad daylight, in a lot where cars are regularly ticketed for expired registrations/inspections or for parking head out so that the permit sticker required on the rear bumper is not visible.  And reportedly this is not the first incident of this kind.  We have a very visible police presence in our town.  From cruisers to mountain bike patrols.  You never have to look far to spot a town police officer.  And one look at your annual property tax bill is all the reminder you need of what such visibility costs.  But somehow it seems that the main focus of our peace officers has devolved to revenue generation for the town coffers.  Many of the times you notice them it's because they're engaged in issuing someone a ticket for some traffic or parking infraction.  It's somewhat ironic that they seem to focus on activities that will bring in the revenue needed to perpetuate their own employment.  Perhaps a little less focus on the inspection status of the vehicles in the town lots and a bit more on the teams of lowlifes stripping them down is needed? 

Just a thought.

Supersize me!

Surprise, surprise!  Turns out that the perentage of million dollar plus homes of "the wealthy" (or those who thought they were wealthy) that are in default to lenders is higher than that of homes below the million dollar level.  But weren't we told that it was Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac underwriting mortgages to the poor and unqualified that caused the housing bubble and resulting crash?  Hmmmmm.  Seems there was quite a bit of overreach on the part of the McMansion set as well.  Of course these "wealthy" defaulters can afford to just walk away and start over.  Just another bad investment to be shrugged off. 

Must be a lotta nice bargains out there these days.

If you can stomach the fare.

Fuck!

All the prayers in the world didn't seem to help Germany today as they fell to an energized Spanish team in the World Cup semis. Lacking the services of Thomas Mueller they couldn't put together enough offense to overcome the Spanish onslaught and went down 0-1.  Seriously bummed.  They'll play Uraguay on Saturday in the consolation game.

I'll be pulling for L'Oranje in the final.

SHOCKING news! Truly shocking!

Now, I know this is out of the liberal cesspool that is the New York Times, but it appears that YET ANOTHER investigation has lead to the exoneration of one of the "Climategate" scientists!

Now, why, after splashing the initial "Climategate" story all over its front page, would you think that the uber-lib rag The Times would choose to run this little tidbit buried in the Science section?

Just a teeny tiny bit of consistancy would be nice, no?

Things that make you go hmmmmm....

With the level of shrill shreiking from the Left over how Obama is just the same as Bush and how he has no intention of leaving Iraq one has to wonder how they are dealing with stories like this.

Sure sounds like someone's leaving.