Water rising in New Orleans as levee systems fail

Water rising in New Orleans: "'It's the lake. The lake is in the city,' one woman whispered in a horrified voice yesterday as she watched the waters cover formerly dry land. "

Atrios is pointing out the stereotyping in the coverage (note the two captions on the AP photos - black=looter; white=found these groceries) and Think Progress says that Bush cut hurricane funding for New Orleans.

How many times are we going to hear that people didn't leave because "they had grown cynical of hurricanes." PEOPLE DIDN'T LEAVE BECAUSE THEY'RE FRICKIN POOR! They had no car, or they had to go to work, or they had nowhere to go, etc. etc. It's amazing the stories Americans will tell themselves so they can continue to believe we live in a classless society.

Is Global Warming Fueling Katrina?

Progressives and Democrats should start more forcefully linking "natural" disasters that cost hundreds of lives and billions of dollars with the anti-environmental positions of the coal and oil lobbys and the policies of the Bush administration.

Is Global Warming Fueling Katrina?
Warm ocean temperatures are a key ingredient for monster hurricanes, prompting some scientists to believe that global warming is exacerbating our storm troubles"
Storm Turns Focus to Global Warming
Is Global Warming Causing More Devastating Hurricanes Worldwide?
Katrina's Real Name

WSJ.com - Poll Shows Bush Approval Ratings Sink to Lowest Point in Presidency

WSJ.com - Poll Shows Bush Approval Ratings Sink to Lowest Point in Presidency: "President Bush's job approval ratings are at their lowest point of his presidency as only 40% of U.S. adults have a favorable opinion of his job performance and 58% have a negative opinion, according to a Harris Interactive poll."

Would the withdrawal method work?

No, not a sexual reference -- get your mind out of the gutter.

I think the debate over immediate withdrawal from Iraq is an interesting one -- and one that is brings up all kinds of questions about Democratic tactics and vulnerablility to the right. In case you didn't follow Art's suggestion to read Juan Cole on the issue, you may want to check him out. Somewhat surprisingly to me, on Monday he came down against immediate withdrawal -- however, he posted an interesting counterargument made Tuesday by one of his readers -- who linked a very strong advocacy for immediate withdrawal in the form of an editorial by Andrew Bacevich in the Washington Post.

So, should we pull out, or stay in? (Iraq, that is)

Scientifically proven alternative theory to evolution

Shamelessly lifted from the interesting blog: Allspinzone

Same old same old

More on the issue of Democratic Party policy and the Iraq war, and the Sheehan effect.

On Saabs, Lattes, and Sacrifice

Bob Herbert has argued recently that American sacrifice and suffering for the Iraq war should be spread around more. I guess I agree but what could be done? Draft every Congresspersons' son or daughter? The proportion of war dead seems less predominantly minority in this war and more predominantly rural and white. I feel there's a certain justice in that if you are from a red state and support the president, than if you want to volunteer for the war then fine. At least the majority of war dead is not blue state and urban.

Blood Runs Red, Not Blue - New York Times: "As for the rest of the nation, it's not doing much for the troops, either. There was a time, long ago, when war required sacrifices that were shared by most of the population. That's over.

I was in Jacksonville, Fla., a few days ago and watched in amusement as a young woman emerged from a restaurant into 95-degree heat and gleefully exclaimed, 'All right, let's go shopping!' The war was the furthest thing from her mind."

This is scary

My father would turn over in his grave if he knew I was doing this, but this is he second time I'm creating a link in this blog to the writing of Pat Buchanan. Here he makes an interesting point about the possible Sheehan effect on the Democratic Party

Huh?

I'm having real trouble getting into this guy's mindset. This person, along with apparently many other military families (check out the reader responses if you subscribe), apparently believe that if you are against US policy you are dishonoring individual soldiers. It's tantamount to saying once we go to war, everyone must support the war, else they are dishonoring the soldiers. How un-American is that?

The idea that "we as a country made a collective decision" is so ridiculous I don't even know where to begin. But even so, the rigidity of the "sticking to the mission" is unbelieveable. So it doesn't matter what we find out about the reasons we went to war in the first place we have to stick with the first decision no matter how many people die so as to not dishonor the people who have died already? Huh?

I believe people volunteer for the military for many different reasons. I'm sure one of them is duty and love of country, but for how many of them is it blind and unthinking duty and love of country? Don't citizens, including military mothers and fathers, have a duty to at least make sure the country doesn't go to war for a bunch of lies?

OpinionJournal - Featured Article: (sub req'd)
She Does Not Speak for Me
My son died in Iraq--and it was not in vain.

BY RONALD R. GRIFFIN
Thursday, August 18, 2005 12:01 a.m. EDT

I lost a son in Iraq and Cindy Sheehan does not speak for me.

We as a country made a collective decision. We must now live up to our decision and not deviate until the mission is complete.

Those who lost their lives believed in the mission. To honor their memory, and because it's right, we must believe in the mission, too.

We refuse to allow Cindy Sheehan to speak for all of us. Instead, we ask you to learn the individual stories. They are glorious. Honor their memories.

Honor their service. Never dishonor them by giving in. They never did.

Vigil for Cindy Washington Square

DSC_9735_2
Originally uploaded by dragonballyee.

Here's a photo of the vigil at Washington Square

Point -- Counterpoint on Bush's level of empathy

I hope I did this right, but Newsweek has two very different stories on Bush and whether he understands the magnitude of his actions related to Iraq. Makes me seriously question his ability to make decisions versus be lead by others. Either way, this is good reporting in the sense that it gets through the flack and hints at what this guy thinks.


The Power of Listening by Patti Reagan and
I'm Sorry by Newsweek staff reporters

Haven't read it yet

But I thought the following blurb might snag the interest of a random liberal malcontent or two in the linked article:

NEW STUDY SHREDS MYTH THAT A MARKET ECONOMY BRINGS DEMOCRACY
It's a finger in the eye for the likes of the Times' Tom Friedman and other
prophets of the beneficial effects of globalization: a new study of 150
countries, to be published next month in the prestigious establishment
journal Foreign Affairs (published by the Council on Foreign Relations)
demonstrates conclusively that the conventional wisdom which says that free
market economies inevitably bring democracy in their wake is a myth.

Turning Point?

The word turning point is coming up a lot in these stories. Yet I've seen very little tv coverage of Sheehan. CNN has turned into the Gaza pullout channel, and the locals are obsessed with Terrell Owens.

An army of one
Pat Buchanan: Cindy Sheehan Antiwar Catalyst
Christopher Hitchens: Cindy Sheehan's Sinister Piffle
Ohioans urge escalation or pullout
Politics of War Could Pivot on Mother's Vigil

Vigils for Cindy Sheehan

There are a number of candelight vigils for Cindy Sheehan around Philly. Check the MoveOn site for the one closest you. I think Sheehan has a great idea for a protest and it's terrible how the right is smearing her.

MoveOn.org Political Action: "Cindy has asked supporters to start candlelight vigils in their communities to support her and call for an end to the war. So, MoveOn is teaming up with True Majority and Democracy for America to host Vigils for Cindy Sheehan on Wednesday, August 17th, to show our solidarity with Cindy."

Rittenhouse Review on Brooklynization of Philly

The Rittenhouse Review: "Attracted by a thriving arts and music scene here and a cost of living that is 37 percent lower than New York's, according to city figures, a significant number of youngish artists, musicians, restaurateurs[,] and designers are leaving New York City and heading down the turnpike for the same reasons they once moved to Brooklyn from Manhattan."

I'm all for growth in Philadelphia, expanding the tax base, and sprucing things up a bit. But welcoming New Yorkers? Particularly those of the 'trendy' and 'hip' sorts? Promoting the already disturbing New-York-ification of this city? That's taking things too far.

'Wait a minute,' you say. 'Didn't you move to Philadelphia from New York?'

Well, yeah, but that's different."

Liberal Bloggers in Philly

Somehow they missed Liberal Malcontents.

Philadelphia Inquirer | 08/13/2005 | Blinq |: "Why are there so many bloggers in Philadelphia, particularly liberal bloggers?"

More on the "Strategic Class"

As predicted/detailed in the Nation article linked in Meta D's recent link, more evidence that the Democratic Party power brokers are heading down the wrong road. Of particular interest is what the Nation article had to say about the Democratic think tanks, as referenced below.

Yesterday's Boston Globe considered the emerging Democratic policy on the war: "Democrats have begun to develop a more aggressive foreign policy that focuses heavily on threats they say are being neglected by the Bush administration, while avoiding taking a contentious stance on Iraq... The emerging message among Democrats reflects a recognition that winning congressional and presidential elections in the post-Sept. 11 era requires candidates to establish a willingness to use America's military might and keep the nation safe, according to party leaders and strategists... The messages have grown out of a series of party caucus meetings among House members and senators, and conferences on national security, as well as research and polling generated by Democratic think tanks."

Whoa! Is the sky falling?

First Bush nominates a gay rights advocate to the Supreme Court. Now, mainline Protestant churches are threatening divestment in companies that are complicit in Israel's mistreatment of Palestinians. What is the world coming to? Next, the Eagles will win the Super Bowl?.

Perhaps there's still a possibility that mainstream religious institutions can still be salvaged in the eyes of Victor?

Doing my best as a blogger

to help keep blogs from forcing the NY Times out of business. Here is a link to a Times article that discusses how the Bush administration launched frenetic efforts to spin the fact that Judge Roberts actually helped a group protect the civil rights of gays and lesbians (he's a bad, bad boy!).

Comment on Pennsylvania Legislation

I think this is a great idea for a blog. Thanks Mark Cohen!

Comment on Pennsylvania Legislation: "This provides short descriptions of legislative bills that are active before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The public is encouraged to post comments on these proposals. The bills with the most recent legislative actions (i.e. public hearings, committee votes, etc.) appear first. Many more bills may be found in the monthly Archives. This is presented as a courtesy of Rep. Mark B. Cohen, House Democratic Caucus Chairman."

Bush Sets Vacation Record, Red State America Sees This As Proof He's A Regular Guy

I've been looking at the press coverage of Bush's upcoming vacation, which will be the longest Presidential vacation in 36 years. In addition, he's about to break Reagan's record for most total time away from the White House. The big city papers are more likely to call attention to the Bush's extensive vacations and contrast it to the paucity of vacation time most Americans have. The smaller, so-called heartland papers, by contrast, talk about all the down-home folksy barbecue diplomacy that's going to happen down on the good ol' ranch. Is there a more perfect example of how events get filtered and interpreted through your red or blue colored glasses?

If you really want your mind blown, read this from redstate.org, which views the vacation as a good thing because he's getting away from the liberal elite. Unbelievable. In the comments, someone even says they voted for Bush because he's stronger on terror. I guess the guy in his mind equates strong family/ranch/vacation with strong on terror, which is sick considering that if Bush wasn't on vacation pre-Sept 11 2001 he may have paid more attention to the terror alert.

http://adamsweb.redstate.org/story/2005/8/1/172439/4665
Washington is an impressive city in many ways: its monuments, the halls of Government and the trappings of power are quite seductive. This isn't what President Bush is all about. At his core, the President is a man of middle American Texas values. He's not impressed with Washington's self-important social class or the Washington culture of hypocrisy and back-stabbing.

The President needs to get away, so he goes home to his favorite place, his Crawford ranch. There he goes about every day tasks like clearing brush and driving a pick-up truck. Its in these activities that a powerful man keeps his focus. He keeps his eye and his heart on that home and never loses his soul to the political battles around him, like so many in Washington do.
Its where the President develops relationships with World leaders as he invites important people to meet him away from the hustle and bustle of Washington. Suits and ties aren't required as the President focuses on understanding and building relationships in a comfortable setting.

No profiteer left behind

Don't read this one on an empty stomach (an article on how public money from NCLB is going to private tutoring firms, which by the way, pay like shit. Next they'll outsource the teaching to tutors in India -- actually, come to think about it, I have read about that already).

Posner on Media Bias and Blogs

Incisive analysis by Richard Posner on bias in the media including some intelligent observations about blogs. In general he has good things to say about blogs but here he points out that some bloggers (ahem) are parasites. He concedes that there is liberal bias in MSM and explains it's sources--fear of offending readers for one.

Bad News - New York Times: "The bloggers are parasitical on the conventional media. They copy the news and opinion generated by the conventional media, often at considerable expense, without picking up any of the tab. The degree of parasitism is striking in the case of those blogs that provide their readers with links to newspaper articles. The links enable the audience to read the articles without buying the newspaper. The legitimate gripe of the conventional media is not that bloggers undermine the overall accuracy of news reporting, but that they are free riders who may in the long run undermine the ability of the conventional media to finance the very reporting on which bloggers depend."

Modern Shed... a new kind of outdoor room.

Set up Meta with a DSL line and he could spend a lot of time in one of these...
Modern Shed... a new kind of outdoor room.: "Modern Shed is simply about storage, fun, space, achitecture and your back yard. It gives you the chance to have an office away from home, a small art studio or free up room in the garage."

Productivity: Reading News The GTD Way

The way most of us take in daily news is horribly inefficient. The problem isn’t how fast we read, or even what sites we go to — it’s the process of finding news, taking it in, and returning to work. Our current habits are based in the need for distraction and the fear that we’re missing something. We wander back and forth between our main sites — refreshing each one multiple times per day, or even per hour. This approach is guaranteed to leave you 1) feeling frustrated, and 2) far less productive. There’s a better way."

dmiessler.com - grep understanding knowledge � Productivity: Reading News The GTD Way: "Productivity: Reading News The GTD Way
Filed under: Firefox, Productivity, GTD, RSS - daniel @ 10:54 am

Harry Reid Believes in Vengeance

Here's a well-written profile of Harry Reid, who comes off sounding like a cross between an elder statesman and Travis Bickle.
The New Yorker: Fact: "As George W. Bush has learned, Harry Reid does not ignore slights. “I believe in vengeance," he once told a reporter."