You Never Call Me ....

L.A. Times headline: Americans not concerned with diversity on Supreme Court, poll shows

I could write all day about this poll, but what I really want to know is, who does Gallop call for these polls?

I have never been called to participate in a poll. I have lots of opinions to share!!!

Setting aside for the moment that I don't really like polls and am suspicious of all stats that come from them, I want to know: Have you ever been asked to participate in a Gallop poll?

Tiger Beat Centerfold

Did you hear?!? The official portrait of President Obama has been released today!!!

OMG!!!

It's utterly ridiculous, but every time I see Obama looking presidential, I get all giddy.

I know there will be disappointments. It won't be all rainbows and unicorns with Obama in the White House.

But still ....

Isn't he a dreamy President?

Not Me

In an CBS blog article about the resignation of Roy Blunt as House GOP Whip, Blunt relates some of the "Republican Victories" (as written to himself in a letter following the 2006 mid-term election failure).

The "victory" that best illustrates today (I'm sure I can find another example tomorrow) why I am not Republican (or Libertarian, for that matter):

• upholding a veto on an expansion of children's health insurance

We wouldn't want under-privileged children to be too healthy. Otherwise for-profit hospitals and insurance companies wouldn't make any money.

Awesome

Jon and I spent part of Tuesday night at historic Doyle's in Jamaica Plain. It was great to be part of the crowd, cheering as the results came through in Obama's favor.

It's been so long since I've been really excited about the outcome of an election!

On the BBC website, a woman from Boston posted a comment about how she just wanted to hug all her neighbors because she was so happy. I kind of felt the same way. Riding in on the T this morning, I wanted to high five everyone or break into song or something.

One of my co-workers - who doesn't even work on Wednesdays - came into the office just to say "Hallelujah!" That was great.

Back to the BBC, they have a great world map where they've plotted all the comments that have come in from around the world. It's really fascinating. Highly recommend: Have Your Say Map.

How (not) shocking

"Senate Panel Accuses Bush of Iraq Exaggerations"

In a report long delayed by partisan squabbling, the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday accused President Bush and Vice President Cheney of taking the country to war in Iraq by exaggerating evidence of links between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda in the emotional aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Um, how much money and time did the government waste on this? Isn't this really old news? Thanks, NY Times and Federal Government, for sharing this late-breaking news.

Happy Valentines Day ..... blahhhhhh

I generally allow myself to be sick once during winter. But twice?

Yesterday afternoon I made the mistake of admitting to myself that I was feeling a little sub-weather. And once I admitted those physical feelings of "uckiness" it was all over. Mental powers are amazing.

I spend the night in achy, parched misery. My mind wandered all over the place; the topic I remember most clearly: Bush's "clean coal" declaration during the State of the Union.

You'd think I'd be over it be now .... the idiocy of standing in the entry way of a new centuary and proclaiming that coal - the harbringer of the Industrial Revolution - is the 21st century answer to energy.

Let's pretend that clean coal power works, that archaic power plants would not be grandfathered out of upgrading. I know, I know, it's hard to imagine. Just hang up your disbelief on the coat rack and come with me.

All you have to do is walk away from the "clean coal" power plants and witness the environmental raping of strip-mines and the less-than-stellar working conditions of coal mines (under the ground in dark tunnels - you can't get less stellar than that) to realize that "clean coal" is pure fantasy. Never mind the energy and fossil fuels it takes to mine the coal and deliever it to these fabulous clean coal power plants.

Now excuse me while I consume my 100th glass of water, blow my nose, an crawl into bed.

(and why doesn't spell check work on blogger? Now my misspelled underbelly is vulnerable and composed ....)

[sniffle]

Edwards Bows Out

Good-bye, Jon Edwards. I will miss your populism and $200 haircuts (just kidding, it was just that once, and he didn't mean to do it .... but I do find it funny all the same).

Giuliani is gone too, but did anyone even remember he was still around? Now if we could only get rid of Romney and his too-perfect hair -- I wonder what he spends on hair cuts?

State of the Bush 16

Man ... I'm tired ... I just can't type fast enougbh to keep up with the idiot pronouncements you keep making.


You win, Bush.


But I never have to sit through another State of the Bush again! Hooray!

State of the Bush 15

The Path of Service

More Americans are volunteering than ever before ... because the government isn't doing their job.

I'm all about volunteering ... but if the government was more capable handling the Gulf Coast Crisis post Katrina ... well, you see what I'm saying

State of the Bush 14

Ban the patenting of "human life" ... but it's OK to do that to food ...... gmo food patents are fine .... we'll protect life but we won't help sustain it ... that's the Republican way.

State of the Bush 13

Matters of life and science ...

Respect "moral boundries" (morals our government decided for you)

State of the Bush 12

The Enivornment ....

Let's create a treaty .... It's called the Kyoto Treaty! And you refused to sign it.

State of the Bush 11

Energy ...

Not coal power, you idiot! .... That's 19th century technology ... what's futuristic about that?

Are you going to propose a fleet of hot air balloons next?

And I hear steam power is going to be huge!

State of the Bush 10

"Purveyers of false populism" ... fancy phrase, Mr. I-clear-brush-on-a-ranch.

State of the Bush 9

The Government should not worry about the fate of private schools .... they're private ... isn't that consumer choice in action?

Flip flop much?!

Public monies should go to public schools!

--I swear, I've only had less than one chocolate martini --

.... Trade agreeements with Peru? What are we getting, llamas?

State of the Bush 8

"Trust students to learn if given the chance?" WTF!

Oh sure, they test better ... but is they learning gooder?

State of the Bush 7

We may share a common healthcare goal, but certainly not the means to the ends.

"Consumer choice" is such an empty phrase!

Bush - what are you smirking about?

State of the Bush 6

Oh there's a unique stand: balancing the budget.

Cheap applause, Bush.

(Come on, Nancy, slug the VP .... something exciting like a heart attack is just what this speech needs)

State of the Bush 5

"Tax Relief" = keeping the rich for paying their fair share.

Nothing like an IRS joke ... oh, didn't go over well with the Democrats .... too bad, Prez.

Republicans stand .... the Democrats scowl.

Where's the Td Kennedy shot? Come on, people.

State of the Bush 4

Come on ... he's been speaking for nearly a minute, and not a shot of Ted Kennedy .... what's the deal, ABC?

Summation of first point: Some things are going up .... but other things are not .... and the net gain is not in your favor.