But Consider the Alternative

Almost everybody has already parsed Obama's Cairo speech, and most of the opinions are entirely predictable. The left loved parts of it, but felt Obama should have pushed a more progressive agenda. The right hated it, with much screaming about "apologies" and "terrorism" weakening America. The Israeli lobby doesn't want to be confronted about settlements, and most of the Muslim Middle East response is one of "very nice words, but what will be the action?"
One thing (almost) everybody agrees on is that Obama is a powerful speaker who can articulate his message clearly. Speeches don't change the world, but they sometimes shape perception And that was Obama's goal for this speech. On that criteria, the Cairo speech appears to be a success.
The thought that kept bouncing into my mind was "what if it were McCain on that stage?" While I actually doubt that McCain would have even attempted going to Cairo to make such an outreach, he would be compelled to articulate some Middle East position in some forum. And I just cannot imagine that his views would generate a positive resonance.
That's the crux of it. When progressives feel disappointed by Obama's moderation (and we feel it a lot), we must remember that the alternative we faced in McCain was a continuation of Shrub and the Republican international disaster. When Obama speaks on a global platform, it's a positive. Shrub and McCain induced a global cringe.

Happy Fist Bump Day

Remember June 3rd, 2008? The fist bump heard ‘round the world? Now we can celebrate it as another holiday!

This June 3, a group of media and design impresarios are promoting “National
Fist Bump Day” in honor of the anniversary. They want to celebrate a new iconic American expression of authenticity, political transparency and of course, change we can believe in.

"The idea behind National Fist Bump Day is to give Americans a chance to make the world a slightly better place with a simple and fun gesture of respect," says David Weiner, one of the organizers, along with Sarah Greenwalt. “It may not solve the world's problems, but it can at least reaffirm the fact that in the end, we all can get down with each other.”

http://theroot.com/views/bump-heard-round-world

Sweaterman, I expect you to be out knocking knuckles for the good of America today.
(H/T Booman Tribune)

Loving the Husky Women

Nice. My alma mater, the University of Washington, wins the national championship in women's softball. Danielle Lawrie, I think I love you!

Art

Artwork by Lynd Ward. For Dr. George Tiller. who was assassinated this morning. I've run out of things to say (via .McClatchy)

Closing California

I grew up in San Francisco and various parts of Northern California, so I'm somewhat sentimental about the stunning beauty of the state, much of it protected within the state parks. Now the state has a budget crisis (mostly of their own making), and Arnie is proposing cutting everything that is good (at DownWithTyranny Dr. Kirk Murphy has a great post about the impact on health care), because he can't possibly raise taxes:

Nearly every state park in the Bay Area — from the towering redwoods at Big Basin to Angel Island, Mount Tamalpais to Mount Diablo and every state beach from Año Nuevo in San Mateo County to Big Sur — would close as part of budget cuts proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

In all, 220 of California's 279 state parks, about 80 percent, would be padlocked starting as soon as Labor Day, under details of a historic closing plan released Thursday night by the state parks department.

...

On Tuesday, as part of an effort to close the state's $24 billion deficit, Schwarzenegger unveiled a series of proposed cuts. They included a plan to eliminate $70 million in state general fund money to parks in the year that ends in June 2010 and $143 million of that funding by June 2011. The latter number represents 40 percent of the state park system's $387 million operating budget.

Layoffs could hit 1,500 or more of the 2,900 state parks employees

http://www.mercurynews.com/politics/ci_12481195

Remarkably short-sighted, but Californian's have a long history of bad planning in their quest for immediate gratification. Cutting taxes and hoping that magic elves will take care of everything has been the California system for decades. Here's a simple equation: a study by the University of California-Berkeley found that for every $1 in public money spent on state parks, $2.35 is returned to the state in taxes from tourism and other revenue they generate. So the current proposal will only make the deficit worse in the future.

Julia Pfiffer Burns State Park

Now That's Inhanced Interrogation

When it comes to "interrogation techniques" here's an enhancement that I can support. The suspected terrorist, Abu Jandal, was Osama bin Laden's bodyguard, and one very tough customer. So how do you make him talk?:

Abu Jandal had been in a Yemeni prison for nearly a year when Ali Soufan of the FBI and Robert McFadden of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service arrived to interrogate him in the week after 9/11. Although there was already evidence that al-Qaeda was behind the attacks, American authorities needed conclusive proof, not least to satisfy skeptics like Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, whose support was essential for any action against the terrorist organization. U.S. intelligence agencies also needed a better understanding of al-Qaeda's structure and leadership. Abu Jandal was the perfect source: the Yemeni who grew up in Saudi Arabia had been bin Laden's chief bodyguard, trusted not only to protect him but also to put a bullet in his head rather than let him be captured.

Abu Jandal's guards were so intimidated by him, they wore masks to hide their identities and begged visitors not to refer to them by name in his presence. He had no intention of cooperating with the Americans; at their first meetings, he refused even to look at them and ranted about the evils of the West. Far from confirming al-Qaeda's involvement in 9/11, he insisted the attacks had been orchestrated by Israel's Mossad. While Abu Jandal was venting his spleen, Soufan noticed that he didn't touch any of the cookies that had been served with tea: "He was a diabetic and couldn't eat anything with sugar in it." At their next meeting, the Americans brought him some sugar-free cookies, a gesture that took the edge off Abu Jandal's angry demeanor. "We had showed him respect, and we had done this nice thing for him," Soufan recalls. "So he started talking to us instead of giving us lectures."

It took more questioning, and some interrogators' sleight of hand, before the Yemeni gave up a wealth of information about al-Qaeda — including the identities of seven of the 9/11 bombers — but the cookies were the turning point. "After that, he could no longer think of us as evil Americans," Soufan says. "Now he was thinking of us as human beings."

http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/05/29/i-guess-the-use-of-sugar-free-cookies-saved-lives-just-didnt-sound-tough-enough/

Yup, sugar-free cookies. Humane treatment and cookies can break even the toughest terrorist. Not waterboarding, or any of the other 'Jack Bauer' crap. Because even terrorists like cookies.

(Added on Sunday: Now in - time magazine. Maybe I can get a pro gig someday.)

Age Check

Here's one that may make some of us feel a little old: if JFK were still alive, today would be his 92nd birthday. If you're old enough to remember JFK, you remember him as a youthful, good-looking, energetic President who was tragically cut down in his prime. It's hard to imagine him as a 92 year old.

America's Leading Boobie Blog

I'm claiming that title.

We're #9!

Somehow Kiplinger's "best cities" ranking concluded that my little town, No. 9: Flagstaff, Arizona, (out of 361) is a great place to live. I'd love to agree with them, but their reasoning will sound somewhat strange to us locals:

we assembled candidates for our 2009 Best Cities list, which focuses on places that have stable employment plus the talent to create new, well-paying positions. A robust job market makes these cities safe havens during the recession and will give them a head start toward growth when the recovery takes off.

http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2009/07/best-cities-2009-where-the-jobs-are.html

Um, guys...our local job market sucks. I hope you're right about a "robust job market" "when the recovery takes off", but as of today Flagstaff lives up to our city slogan "poverty with a view". Wages are low, jobs are few, and housing costs are high. Certainly the region boasts some of the most beautiful countryside in the nation, and Flagstaff is a very warm friendly town. I love it here. But to make it in Flagstaff you have to be willing to scale down your expectations. Sure, there are a few people prospering, but the vast majority of this town is barely scraping by.

So maybe we should be honored to be ranked so high, but I'm not sure that Kiplinger's was looking at the same city.

I'm Sold on Sotomayor

So Obama has nominated Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court; all I can say is: great choice! As President Obama pointed out, Ms. Sotomayor's credentials include one of the most important decisions of my lifetime: she saved Baseball:

WASHINGTON — Federal judges are rarely famous or widely celebrated. Yet during a brief period in 1995, Judge Sonia Sotomayor became revered, at least in those cities with major league baseball teams.

She ended a long baseball strike that year, briskly ruling against the owners in favor of the players.

The owners were trying to subvert the labor system, she said, and the strike had “placed the entire concept of collective bargaining on trial.”

After play resumed, The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that by saving the season, Judge Sotomayor joined forever the ranks of Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson and Ted Williams. The Chicago Sun-Times said she “delivered a wicked fastball” to baseball owners and emerged as one of the most inspiring figures in the history of the sport.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/us/15sotomayor.html

We all know that the right wing is going to do everything they can to trash her (or any other Obama nominee), as they've already told us:

This month, as it appeared increasingly likely that Sotomayor would be Obama's nominee, the judge has been the target of a whisper campaign, and many leading far-right activists -- including Limbaugh and Fox News personalities -- started the offensive against her weeks ago.

For what it's worth, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said earlier this month that Sotomayor would face stiff GOP opposition if she were nominated for the high court. Since that would be true of any Obama nominee, it hardly matters.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

So whenever a winger starts attacking, we should immediately ask them "Why do you hate Baseball?"; and by extension America. Ask them if they also oppose 'Mom and Apple Pie'. Maybe I'll start a new PAC: "Baseball fans for Sotomayor". Who's with me?

Memorial Day

The day we remember our fallen service members and begin the summer barbeque season. It's good that we take some time to honor those who've served to guard our freedoms, but I wish that we would also take some time to prevent adding to their ranks. There are wars that are just and necessary, but all too many have been fought for less than noble causes.
I never served in the military (being in the post-Vietnam years), and my family has a long history of missing wars, either serving during peacetime or not being eligible to serve (gramps had TB, and wasn't allowed to join WW11). The last of my ancestors to be injured in combat was in the war of 1812, and he survived another 42 years. So I don't have any strong family connection to our brave warrior class.
But I've known many veterans, and I've seen their pain. Our memorial should include a pledge to stop adding to their numbers needlessly. The sadly unnecessary war in Iraq has added over 4,000 new graves to be memorialized, with more to come before we find our way out. We can best honor them by preventing needless wars in the future.

This Friday's Boobie

Another Friday, another Boobie.

Why Can't We Be Rid of The Cheney?

Correct me if I'm right, but The Cheney doesn't hold any office, does he? He's an ex-VP, so he has the same gravitas as Dan Quayle. His only claim to fame is being the most evil, un-American, yet (so far) un-indicted war criminal in modern history. Why is he on my TV?.
Somehow the 'debate' on national security is now a game show, where the President's speech must be 'balanced' with a voice from the 'opposition' to provide 'fairness', but why the hell is The Cheney that voice? I must have missed the part of the Shrub administration where the opposition had to be given "equal time and respect", although Al Gore was allowed to be the subject of media ridicule from time to time.
But The Cheney is still spreading his lies, and the networks still pay attention. Today The Cheney cited the national security context as one in which they foremost fear was "a 9/11 with weapons of mass destruction.The Cheney said "al Qaeda was seeking nuclear weapons and that because Iraq had "known ties" to terrorists, the Bush administration focused on Iraq because it was a regime that "might transfer such weapons to terrorists." The old "Saddam-Al-Qaeda-WMD" story that has been shown to be false since it began, and is now known to be the product of torture. And The Cheney felt no shame about stating his own support for torturing detainees:

"In top secret meetings about enhanced interrogations, I made my own beliefs clear. I was and remain a strong proponent of our enhanced interrogation program."

http://washingtonindependent.com/44018/the-text-of-dick-cheneys-speech-at-aei

Brief memo to The Cheney: the Fifth Amendment doesn't really help if you make the statement on national TV. When you're finally on trial for your numerous crimes, they will use your own words against you.
But I'm still wondering why the hell anyone is putting you on my TV. If I wanted to watch a horror movie, I want good looking women between the scary parts. The Cheney should be in prison, not on TV.

(Added) The only "good" thing about The Cheney is that he proved that there are worse things than Richard Nixon, but that the country will survive them.

Not Quite the Strangest Proposal I've Read

This is certainly among the stranger proposals ever made to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (it's never going to happen, but it is an amusing idea):

A 12-year-old Iranian schoolboy who hopes to unseat hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has vowed that, if elected, he will resettle Israelis in Hawaii, The Scotsman reported on Friday.

"I will buy Hawaii, Obama's birthplace, from the United States and lease it to the Israelis who will go to live there - so that they don't kill children in Gaza," the Scottish daily quoted presidential candidate Kourosh Mozouni as saying.

The paper said Mozouni made the comments to reporters after he turned up to register holding his father's hand and waving a written campaign manifesto.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1086106.html

I didn't know that twelve-year-olds were even allowed to run for President in Iran, but lets face it: he's probably more mature than Ahmadinejad.

Yay for Hubble

I admit that I'm a "space junkie" and I can waste hours looking at Hubble's photos of other galaxies. So I'm really happy that the service mission appears to be a success. This one:

May 10, 2009: The Hubble community bids farewell to the soon-to-be decommissioned Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) onboard the Hubble Space Telescope. In tribute to Hubble's longest-running optical camera, planetary nebula K 4-55 has been imaged as WFPC2's final "pretty picture."

http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2009/21/

Thanks to the service mission we should enjoy even deeper photos for at least another 10 years, which is great news. Sometimes it helps to take a break from politics and realize what a tiny little part of the universe we occupy.

Service mission updates here: http://hubblesite.org/servicing_mission_4/

Blaming Pelosi

Gotta love the latest rethug (Gingrich/Boehner) torture strategy: It's all Nancy Pelosi's fault. She was briefed by the CIA (maybe kinda sort of) that "enhanced interrogation" might be used, so she's responsible for everything that followed. When in doubt, blame a Democrat.
Of course this is ridiculous. Pelosi was House MINORITY leader in 2002-2003. She didn't (and couldn't) authorize, justify, or initiate torture. Shrub and the Cheney bear the sole responsibility for the appalling violations of national and international law, human rights, and the commission of war crimes. The Pelosi diversion is an attempt to distract the public away from the prosecution of the actual criminals; a variation of the childhood excuse "Johnny did it, too" defense. It didn't work with Mom when we were kids, and it shouldn't work in the "adult" world, either. Especially when we're talking about the most horrific crimes ever committed in the name of "America".
Even the most basic issue of Pelosi's possible complicity is rather weak. She says the briefings were vague and unspecific, that waterboarding could be used but not saying that it was already in use. Which makes sense. I doubt that the CIA came right out and said "we're torturing people", but rather left an opening for "plausible deniability" for all parties. Does this clear Pelosi? No. If she were a truly moral leader, she should have been screaming "STOP" at the very thought of America engaging in torture. But Nancy Pelosi is NOT a truly moral leader. She is a creature of congress who long ago sold out any principles she might have had in her pursuit of position and power on capitol hill. She is guilty of standing silent while the crime was committed, but that in no way absolves those who actually committed the crime.
Torture is wrong. Torture is always wrong. The (totally unrealistic) "ticking time bomb" scenarios DO NOT justify torture, nor does the patent lie that "it works". And the Shrub/Cheney torture program wasn't even focused on preventing another terrorist attack (which still isn't justified), but rather to promote a war with Iraq. A key revelation in last month’s Senate Armed Services Committee report on detainees — that torture was used to try to coerce prisoners into “confirming” a bogus Al Qaeda-Saddam Hussein link to sell that war — is finally attracting attention. The false confessions extracted from detainees were used by Shrub, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, and Powell,et al.,as "evidence" of the need to invade Iraq and remove Saddam. It was all a pack of lies, and it is the greatest crime in the history of American government. It is our international shame, and that shame will remain until the guilty are held accountable.
Pelosi may be guilty of complicity, but she is not the party responsible for the crime. Don't let the guilty use her to distract you from that basic fact. The Shrub administration is guilty of committing war crimes including torture. They are the ones who need to be tried and convicted.

Added: No doubt that Obama is trying to take the easy way out; doing nothing and hoping the issue will just go away. I'm not in any way surprised, but I think he's wrong. The enormity of the crimes demands investigation and prosecution, regardless of what Obama wants, and a "truth commission" or congressional investigation are likely inevitable.

Added2: See also Marcy Wheeler "Dick Cheney, Torture, Iraq, and Valerie Plame", and Think Progress "a disgraced Republican is attacking Pelosi". I'm not alone in my opinion.

Added3:Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) has written a poem "Fancy Nancy," to cast blame on Pelosi. It's as bad, or even worse, that you might have expected.

It's Friday Again

Time to bring out the Boobies.

The GOP Obituary Might Be Premature

As a liberal, I'm perfectly happy to see the Republican party in total disarray. But unlike a lot of the other liberal blogs, I'm not ready to predict their demise. While it's fun to watch them flounder about searching for a leader and a message, bad ideas have a way of returning over time and the public memory is remarkably short. It is amusing to watch desperate acts such as trying to rename the Democratic party as "The Democrat Socialist Party" (note to Republicans: the Democratic Socialists of America already exist; they just haven't won many elections) in hope of bringing back anti-communist hysteria, or the pro-torture snarlings of the Cheney in order to maintain the tough guy anti-terrorist image. Hoping that Limbaugh/Cheney/Gingrich can rehabilitate the party from the damage inflicted by the Shrub administration does seem delusional.
But the recent history of partisan politics should serve as a reminder of how quickly fortunes can turn. After the '64 election, the Republicans were thought dead. Post Watergate '73-'74, Nixon had so poisoned the Republican brand that a number of members of congress changed parties as the only hope of retaining their seats. Even as recently as the '92-'93 early Clinton popularity the Republicans were considered irrelevant. And the Democratic party has been written off for dead more than a few times. McGovern and the hippies were thought lethal, St. Ronnie led to the migration of the "Reagan Democrats", and a consensual blow job was considered such a moral outrage that no upstanding citizen would ever consider voting Democratic. Karl Rove thought that 9/11 could be used to create a "permanent Republican majority" and render the Democrats "irrelevant".
My point is that political fortunes turn, sometimes very quickly. The bad ideas and conservative constituencies that are the base of the Republican party still exist. The corporatist oligarchs still have the resources to promote their self-enriching deregulation agenda to the middle class, despite the fact it's been shown to be a total failure. The religious right can still move a large number of voters by demonizing gays and abortion. Characterizing Democrats as "tax and spend liberals" will still resonate with a percentage of voters, and there is always a market for the NRA's "liberals want to take away your guns" lie. So the people that bought Shrub could get fooled again.
Another factor that must be taken into account is that Obama was elected partly because of his charisma. While none of the current faces leading the Republicans can rival that, a charismatic individual could emerge in the future and rally enough voters to win. It's not like that's never happened before.

For Baseball Junkies Only

Gerardo Parra of the Diamondbacks just became the 100th player to hit a homerun on his first at-bat. (See opening season post for context).

Not Just Another Day

I like to think that I know myself pretty well, but sometimes I'm wrong. My emotional reaction to the first Mother's Day without my Mom was stronger and more painful that I expected. Mom passed in January, and while I thought that my grieving was mostly over I found myself really missing Mom. Thankfully I had some good friends around me (special thanks to Urland), or I might have been really depressed. But tears came at unexpected times, and the hole in my life was clear. Nobody will ever look as good on a Harley as my Mom did.
I hope you all took a moment to appreciate your own Mom, and if you are a Mom I hope you got the appropriate appreciation.

Replacing Souter

The retirement of Justice Souter brings focus to the reason that we should be glad that Barack Obama defeated John McCain. Appointing Supreme Court Justices is probably the most significant longterm act of any presidency, and the current court is the legacy of the presidents in our recent past. If McCain had won the election his appointment choice could have changed the basic philosophy of the court. One more staunch conservative vote would have changed the balance for many years.
Obama's choice won't.
The over-simplified reason is the current court balance. The four staunch conservatives (Thomas, Scalia, Alito, and Roberts) will be (barring the unforeseen) on the court for many more years, whereas the "liberals" are getting toward the end of their careers. Souter is now considered a "liberal" but only in a very "moderate" way. The balance still swings on Kennedy, a mostly conservative (but sane) jurist, so there is a sort of "balance" that will continue for the foreseeable future.
No matter how "liberal" Obama's choice is (I was hoping for Angela Davis), it's not going to change the "balance". The right wing will yell and scream about whoever he chooses, but it's a whole lot of sound and fury signifying nothing. The court will still be conservative, with a hint of moderation.
I'm guessing that Obama will choose someone (a woman) who is moderately liberal, and that confirmation will be relatively smooth. A "safe" choice (unless he gets a 'reverse Souter').
We'll hear a lot about the conservative "culture" issues of abortion and gay marriage, but the status quo will remain the same regardless of who Obama nominates. This isn't the vote that can change the game, so the fight will be mostly for show.
The only real court change will come when Kennedy or one of the conservatives leaves. Or we have another wacko conservative president (McCain-ish) who can push the court farther right. But Obama can't push the court further left with this appointment. 5 to 4 is still 5 to 4.

Late Boobie

The Boobie may be late, but now the connection works. Lookout world, we're gonna put more Boobies on the intertubes.

Hooray for the Boobie

Seems to be all that gets posted these days. Happy Friday.

A Personal Update

Given how sporadic the home internet is, I haven't been posting like I had planned to. But I'm not complaining. The California trip was quite productive, and I was able to do the work that needed to be done, but it hurt like hell. Just driving was painful. But I'm not complaining. My shoulder is healing ahead of schedule, but even after 2 month's of physical therapy I can't lift more than 5 pounds with my right arm. But I'm not complaining. My therapist reminds me that it's going to take 6-8 month's to regain most of my function and a full year before fully healing. But I'm not complaining. I haven't been able to work much, so I'm still broke. But I'm not complaining.
Because it's a beautiful, sunny, warm (first really warm day of spring) day, and I'm really feeling much too good to complain.

Here's the Boobie

It's Friday, and I'm back from California, so it's time for a Boobie. Enjoy.

Road Trip

In an attempt to test the healing of my shoulder I'm heading out to California to do some work on my late mother's house in preparation for sale. I'm not sure how physically or psychologically ready I am, but here goes. Luckily I'll have some help available, as Zymurgian (long time readers may remember him) will be going with me. He knows that he'll get to do all the heavy lifting, as I'm still at a 5 lb. limit on my right arm. Thanks, Zym. We're gonna try to have some fun while there, visiting breweries and beaches as soon as the work day is done. Should be back Tuesday, but who knows what I'll have for home Internet, as my connection is sporadic at best. Look out Bay Area; I'm on my way.

Ahh! Baseball

It's the most wonderful time of the year. The start of Baseball season. I do love Baseball, as it signals Spring and Summer, and gives you a perfectly good reason to drink beer in the afternoon.

And the numbers. The only way I managed to pass college statistics was Baseball. Today's great baseball statistic: Jordan Shafer hit a home run in his first major league at-bat. He became the 99th player ever to homer first time up. So the next player to accomplish this will be the 100th. That's kinda cool (but only if you're a Baseball fan).

A Response to the Latest Gun Violence

Another week of senseless tragedies and mass killings as a result of nutjobs with guns leads me to repeat my favorite proposal. What we really need is not 'gun control', but 'bullet control'. Think about it. Guns don't kill people; bullets kill people. A gun without bullets is a club. So I'm advocating that we impose strict restrictions on the purchasing of ammunition, limiting wackos to one bullet each. I'll call it the "Barney Fife rule" (only readers of a certain age will understand that reference). One bullet is enough for most self-defense situations, used properly. If a wacko decides to go on a rampage but only has one bullet, there's a limit on the amount of damage that they can inflict. Perhaps they'll use it on themselves without feeling the need to murder a bunch of people first. Most of the wackos will be reduced to merely fondling their guns and listening to Lush Rimbaugh's hate speech in response to their paranoid delusions, which is a lot safer for the rest of us.
(Disclaimer: OK, I'm not being serious. I do believe in the right of gun ownership, and have owned guns most of my adult life. But there is a certain logic to the idea as a way to reduce the lethal incidents.)

Iowa?

When thinking of America's more progressive states, Iowa isn't usually one of them. But Iowa has now legalized gay marriage, which is great. I was tempted to make some snarky comment like "all four gay couples in Iowa celebrate" but that would be wrong.
Whenever debating the issue of gay marriage I'm reminded of Branch Rickey's comment on integrating baseball that "people in the future will look back and wonder what all the fuss was about." Because it really is a very simple issue: equal rights. The law should never discriminate against any group of people, and 'separate but equal' is NOT equal.
So I say "good for you, Iowa!"

Boobies Behind Schedule

A day late on the Boobies. I couldn't get a steady internet connection yesterday, and the weather wasn't conducive to exposing Boobies anyway. April snow and 50 mph winds. The joy of springtime in the mountains.

Not Pistachios!

Another 'Salmonella in our Food' case, and Obama hasn't fixed the FDA yet. What's taking him so long anyway?
But I'm taking this one personally. Peanut Butter? Eh, I can live without it. And I don't like children much, and they're usually sick with something anyway. Lettuce? Grossly overrated filler for salads and sandwiches that can easily be replaced with much tastier vegetables.
But Pistachios are one of the truly great foods. Healthy, tasty, and they come in that cool organic packaging. Pistachios go perfectly with beer and baseball, and the season is about to begin. This one pisses me off!
Obviously, food safety should be a basic right in a modern civilized society. It's not that difficult to avoid salmonella contamination, and it's less expensive than massive recalls, so the food industry should be doing a better job of it. And the Government should be insuring that foods are safe as part of what we pay taxes for. We need to demand it.
I'll start by demanding safe Pistachios, dammit!

Added: Actual news coverage:

TERRA BELLA, Calif. (AP) -- It could take weeks before health officials know exactly which pistachio products may be tainted with salmonella, but they've already issued a sweeping warning to avoid eating the nuts or foods containing them.

http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2009/04/01/news/national/20090401_us_ne_193721.txt

Over 2 million pounds recalled...that's a lot of nuts...I'm not happy.

"Toxic" is not a Good Brand Name

Branding is now a science, and "Legacy" polled better than "Toxic". I certainly would rather sell my assets as if they weren't "Toxic". Even at a discount "get your Toxic Assets here" isn't a great sales pitch. Customers also respond better to "Vintage" than they do to "Old".

Beyond AIG

Ok, I'm throwing my 1.3 cents in on the AIG bonus outrage, the biggest controversy of the week.

Yeah, the bonuses are an outrage. Huge rewards for greed and failure can't be justified in good times, let alone an economic crisis. Collecting millions for losing billions is a hard act to justify. It's an 'in-your-face' action by members of a group of elites who consider themselves above the rules of common decency. And the hard working public has every right to be outraged.

But it's small potatoes. 1/1000th of the bailout money. The bonuses are merely a symptom of the failure of the greater economic Ponzi scheme that came to dominate the past decade. AIG, and a host of other major financial institutions, have engaged in a long running scheme to generate huge sums of money by exchanging paper "obligations" with no regard for actual value, knowing that they wouldn't be subject to any oversight under the shrub administration. Deregulation meant that no one would be held accountable until the house of cards collapsed, and now we're seeing some of the vultures tearing off the last bits of flesh from the rapidly decaying corpse.

The real problem, yet to be solved, is that the overall economic system is now untenable. The value of a dollar is based on a belief system that is no longer realistic, but nobody wants the consequence of the dollar collapsing.

The Obama administration inherited this mess (amongst many), and is now tasked with finding some sort of fix. The current firestorm over the fatcat AIG executives is great theater, and the political and populist outrage will dominate the media for a while, but in the end it's only a distraction. It's a simple story to explain, as opposed to the complexity of the real economic issues ahead. The real challenge will be finding a way to stabilize the current economy long enough to allow repairing the underlying fundamentals and to establish regulations and enforcement to prevent future collapses. And that is going to be a hell of a lot more difficult than scapegoating a few greedy bastards.

(BTW: This doesn't mean that I think the greedheads shouldn't be held accountable-they should. And we have a right to try to recover their ill-gotten gains, although I'm skeptical about the current congressional efforts. I'm just saying that this shouldn't be our focus. The real problems are much larger.)

Added: Congress is trying a new tax...like that has worked in the past.

An Inside Look

Name that hardware! Yep, I'm sharing an inside look at my humerus, complete with artificial ingredients. Feel free to comment with naming suggestions or any other good advice.

This is actually a test post, as I now have home wireless internet access (albeit spotty), and hope to return to regular posting.

The Unexcused Absence

Because I really have no excuse for not posting for so long. I have moved into a new abode, which is a good thing. It's a tiny little place, too small to be called a cave, so I refer to it as a "grotto". While I really could use more room, the rent is cheap for this area so I can't complain. And I'm in the heart of downtown, which is great.
I could complain about physical therapy, otherwise known as torture thrice weekly, but it is helping. The shoulder is improving and the pain decreasing, except when the sadistic bastard therapist is working me. "No pain, no gain"? Isn't there some middle ground? Oh well, I've suffered worse.
I'll try to be a better, more consistent blogger in the coming weeks, but I make no promises.

Friday the 13th Boobies

Any day with Boobies is a good day. And it's bad luck to be superstitious.

Boobies of the Next Generation

Because the future calls for more Boobies!

Patience Now!

There is a parallel between the nation's economic situation and my shoulder (ain't that an egotistical little analogy?) and that is the total lack of patience. Based on the news media, a lot of the public seems to be upset that Obama's stimulus program hasn't fixed everything yet, and I'm incredibly frustrated with my pain level and continued inability to use my right arm.
Both situations are going to take time before we see any noticeable improvement, but nobody really wants to hear that. Instant gratification is what we expect. So, Mr. Obama, could you please hurry up with that economic miracle? And fix my shoulder while you're at it. Thanks.

Hooray for Boobies!

Nice to be able to post the Friday Boobie this week. Okay, it's a commercial sellout Boobie, but at least it's here.

I am on the loose

Yeah, I'm out of the hospital-released on Monday, but just now making it to the library. The surgery seems to have gone well and I'm healing on schedule so far. Which means it's still painful, but only when I move. Luckily, there are medications for that (though I'm not sure whether they're trying harder to prevent pain or movement; they seem to reduce both).
I'll try to post a lengthier update soon.

This Time, for Sure

God, I'm sick of dealing with health issues. Tomorrow morning I'm having another surgery on my shoulder to return it to proper alignment, and (hopefully) it will begin healing. I'm really tired of being in pain, and I really don't like pain medications, but most of all I'm really tired of feeling like I'm whining. I want to get back to focusing on politics (the rethuglicans campaign of obstructionism is crying out for snark) or sports (look! a 23 year old swimmer with a bong! a baseball player using a substance! shocking, I tell you) or weird animals or anything but my shoulder. But the shoulder must be fixed, and then I must begin dealing with Mom's house (way too much stuff) and find some way to make a living. And quit smoking. And quit whining.
So it's off to surgery. Wish me well, and I'll be back in a couple of days.

Returning to Normal?

I'm (sort of) back, and doing my best to maintain a positive attitude. My Mom did pass away on January 25th, and the funeral was on the 31st. She passed peacefully, and I'm thankful for that. The funeral was quite large, as my Mother had a huge circle of friends and all the family as well. I made it through delivering the eulogy, but I was pretty broken up afterward (I went through the same when my Father passed 16 years ago). I'm trying to remain upbeat and not get too depressed, but it's not easy. Hope to post more soon, but I still have another surgery coming, need to find a place to live, and deal with my financial desperation, so there may not be a lot of posting.

A Boobie's Perspective

It's Friday, and this Boobie is looking for something to celebrate.

Last Booby of January 2009!

Because I had a bit of time this mornin'.........

The Next Bad Thing

I'm really sorry to keep posting bad news, but that's all I've had lately. The latest is that my Mother has had a respiratory failure and is in a coma. So I've postponed my shoulder surgery and am flying out to California tonight to be at her bedside. If you all have more blessings or prayers to spare, please send them Mom's way. Thanks.

Pain and Frustration

Can I scream now? Yesterday the surgeon determined that my shoulder isn't healing in the proper position, something I suspected from my pain level. So I'm having another surgery (probably on Saturday) to realign and add more hardware.
I am not a happy camper right now.

The Return of the Boobie

Barely got a chance to post a Boobie. Here's a Brown Boobie in flight.

Inside Health Care

First off, thanks everybody for your kind and caring comments. It's very comforting to know that people care.

So the basic story is that I fell and landed on my shoulder. X-rays showed that I fractured the head of my right humerus and snapped the humerus about an inch below, resulting in a displaced fracture. Surgery required.

This was my first time in the hospital (as a patient) in many, many years, and it wasn't a good experience. If this is the current state of health care in America (and I believe it is), it's going to take a hell of a lot of reform.

I mentioned in my previous post that I was in the hospital for 4 days. It would have been shorter, but they couldn't get me into surgery on the first day...although they tried. I was in pre-op from about 1 pm until midnite getting conflicting reports on when an operating room would be available, when a surgeon would be, or if I was stable enough for surgery (I have high blood pressure, and laying around in pain wasn't helping). I can understand the delay (only general hospital for a large region), but I found it really frustrating that no one seemed to know what was going on. One minute I'm being told "you're in next" and the next "make yourself comfortable, it's going to be a while." No one could agree on what and how much pain medication I should be given (except that it was not enough) or communicate from one shift to another. All this is simply a result of being over-stretched. There were too few staff for the number of patients to be treated. I saw this problem throughout my entire stay.

The surgery went smoothly, and I am now the proud owner of a metal plate with 14 assorted pins, bolts, and screws keeping it in place. I get to keep it for life, unless, according to my surgeon, "something really bad happens." I'm kinda looking forward to my first metal detector.

Which brings me to the next stage of fun: accessing and enrolling in the state public health system. Because I'm unemployed, uninsured, and completely broke, I should qualify easily, right? Not quite. It's not as easy to document "nothing" as you might think. I've made my way through a mountain of forms, and now I've succeeded in proving that I'm too poor to pay the many thousands in medical costs.

The next stage is the fun of proving "temporary disability." The medical forecast is for 3-6 months of therapy before I regain "partial" use of my right arm, and as I'm right-handed, this might make it difficult finding a job at this time. I've barely begun the process, but I'm already buried in forms.

So thanks for the good wishes, and I'll try to keep posting. All donations are a huge help right now, thanks.

How NOT to Turn 50

Sorry that posting got delayed. I celebrated my 50th by slipping on an icy hill, breaking my shoulder, and spending 4 days in the hospital. I don't recommend this. I hope to tell more of the story soon, but this left-handed typing sucks.

Half A Century

Tomorrow will be my 50th birthday. Half a century spent going around the sun on this planet. While it is only another number, it is also a sort of milestone. It means I've been around long enough to see a chunk of history firsthand.

10 men have been president in my lifetime, and my earliest non-familial memory is of the assassination of one of them. When JFK was shot it shook the world, and even at 4 years old I could feel the importance of the event.

I grew up during an era when nuclear annihilation was a real possibility. The grade school 'duck and cover' drills can't have been good for our psyche, but they did impart a certain fatalistic cheer: "well, we haven't been nuked yet" was a good response to all bad news. And we've gotten through this past half century without a nuclear war (including the Reagan years), so there's reason for hope.

Having watched marches and riots for civil rights, I'll soon get to see an African-American president. More proof that we can make progress.

But something has changed in the American spirit during my lifetime. I'm not sure if I can define it, but we no longer have the "can-do" confidence that I grew up with. The determination that put a man on the moon is no longer present. Instead, there is an ideological morass where the public waits for someone else (i.e. "the government") to address the problems that we face. Opportunities that used to be available are now gone, and nobody seems to know how to build new ones. Technologies that seemed impossible during my childhood are now at our fingertips, but it's not clear how they will be applied to solve our current crisis'. The old economy is gone, but there isn't a new one that works for the people. Global warming isn't really all that complex, yet converting to renewable energy isn't being done. We can find the billions for wars or wall street, but something as simple as saving the planet doesn't fit in the budget.

50 years. I'm sounding like a curmudgeon on my birthday. I'm really trying to be more optimistic. I'll start now:

Happy New Year, everybody! I've always had my birthday on a holiday, and I think everyone else should, too. Or at least have a holiday on your birthday. A good reason to celebrate. This year we get the gift of a new president (something we've all really needed), one with a lot more brains and compassion than the one who's leaving. In spite of all the challenges facing him, we have some reason for hope...just a little optimism as the New Year begins.

Again, Happy New Year!

Consumer Confidence?

Today we got the official report that consumer confidence has reached a 'historic low'. This bit of news would seem rather obvious to anyone out in the 'real' world. There is no confidence; it would be much easier to measure "public panic" although that's not a topic with a historic standard. The forecast is bleak, and getting darker, and "consuming" is becoming a luxury that only the rich can afford. Buying the basic necessities is about all that people are willing to do, as the clouds of uncertainty blanket the future as far as the eye can see.
Over the past few decades America has built it's business system based on a "consumer economy" that depends on the public to buy more stuff, rather than the development or manufacture of real material goods that people need. Our jobs declined as we stopped making things and instead focused on consuming them. An intangible model at best, it's now facing a catastrophic failure.
As we count down the last days of 2008 (and get to my birthday), the prevailing mood is one of "oh, shit, what's next?" Despite the optimism of a new president, the outlook is gloomy.

The Last Boobie of 2008

As another year fades away, the Boobie makes plans for 2009. Starting with a new administration.
And putting a damper on Christmas, 2008:R.I.P, Eartha Kitt and Harold Pinter.

White Christmas

"Yes, Virginia, there WAS a Santa Claus"

Well, whether I want it or not, I'm getting a white Christmas. We've received a fair amount of snow (around 3 feet) over the past week, but tomorrow we're supposed to get the heaviest yet. The forecast is calling for "blizzard conditions" for most of the day. Luckily, I don't have to go anywhere. While a friend is hosting a Christmas potluck dinner that would be fun to join in on, if the weather is as bad as predicted I'll stay home. Even the best of the seasons good cheer doesn't serve well when frozen.

Actually, I haven't got much Christmas spirit this year. Not having any family nearby, and being extremely broke, I'm grateful for the friends around me. But that's true year round, not just seasonally. I'm wishing all good cheer to all, all year long.

So I hereby wish you all a happy, warm holiday.

Basic Philosophical Differences

Perhaps the most simple fundamental change that I hope to see from the Obama administration is one in basic philosophy. That is changing the government mindset from 'reactive' to 'proactive'. Shrub's administration followed the Gingrich philosophy of "shrink the federal government down to where you could drown it in a bathtub", and thus was only able to react when crisis' occurred. I'm hopeful that Obama will try to build government foresight in such a way as to prevent some future crisis'.
The clearest example so far is our current financial disaster. While the terms "bailout" and "stimulus" have been badly abused for rhetorical purposes, there is a fundamental difference in their actual meaning.
Shrub's plan to deal with the economic crisis is to give major financial institutions a whole lot of taxpayer money. This is a "bailout" and is a reactive response to the problem.
Obama's proposed plan is based on infrastructure projects and alternative energy development. This is "stimulus" and is proactive.
The difference is that one is an attempt to fix a past mistake, while the other is an attempt to develop a stronger future. And they represent a major difference in the fundamental philosophy of government.
There is no guarantee that Obama's plan will work, or that he'll engage in a proactive plan in other areas of government, but it's a good start.
(Now if they'd just send me some money)

'Twas the Boobie Before Christmas

And that's about all the holiday spirit I've got.

Shoes for Shrub

(video added because I could.)
I'm sure you've already read about it, but an Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at our shrub to celebrate shrub's visit to Baghdad:

BAGHDAD (AFP) — A journalist hurled two shoes at President George W. Bush on his farewell visit to Iraq on Sunday, highlighting hostility still felt toward the outgoing US leader who acknowledged that the war is still not won.
Muntazer al-Zaidi jumped up as Bush held a press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, shouted "It is the farewell kiss, you dog" and threw his footwear.
The president lowered his head and the first shoe hit the American and Iraqi flags behind the two leaders. The second was off target.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ifP24HzJnB4nkp4LS3UtlsaxtOcA
video here:

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=11096193&ch=4226716&src=news

I'm also sure that I'm not alone in my support for the journalist. Hell, I'd be throwing something harder than my shoes if I had the chance. Perhaps a live weasel would be appropriate.
The incident has been followed by demonstrations:

Hundreds of Iraqis joined anti-US demonstrations to protest at Bush's farewell visit on Sunday to Iraq, which was plunged into a deadly insurgency and near civil war in the aftermath of the 2003 invasion.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20081215/twl-iraq-us-bush-media-7e07afd.html

...

In Baghdad's Shiite slum of Sadr City, supporters of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for protests against Bush and demanded the release of the reporter. Thousands took to the streets Monday, chanting, "Bush, Bush, listen well: Two shoes on your head."
Talking to a small group of reporters after the incident, Bush said, "I didn't know what the guy said, but I saw his sole." He told the reporters that "you were more concerned than I was. I was watching your faces."
"I'm pretty good at ducking, as most of you know," Bush joked, adding quickly that "I'm talking about ducking your questions."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081215/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush

Only a little over a month left to go. We're going to need more shoes.

Depressing Times

I know that I'm not alone in my feelings of frustration and depression. Seems like everyone around me has similar feelings. Yeah, it's the economy...but there is a sense that the worst is still to come. Folks I know who're in good jobs are nervous-budget cuts and layoffs on their horizons. Folks like me who're looking for jobs are getting increasingly desperate. And the government 'bailout' plan is offering us nothing. While I have mixed feelings about the proposed auto bailout, at least it would help some folks keep their jobs. The 14.5 billion price tag may sound like a lot, but compared to the 700 billion bank bailout (which doesn't seem to have helped anyone but the rich 'investor' class) it almost looks like a bargain.
Of course the senate rethuglicans had to kill it...might help some union workers...they don't give money to most rethug senators...screw them. The final vote of 52-35 (35 being the rethugs) shot it down.
Sometimes I wonder how the rethugs ever win. I mean, how many times do they get to kick working class people before the people strike back? After almost 8 years of shrub and crew's demolition of the American dream, you would think that they would at least try to pretend to care, but they don't.
We try to hang our hopes on the knowledge that Obama's coming, and that he'll change things for the better. God, I hope so. But I'm not optimistic. The mess has gotten too damn big for any 'quick fix' and a lot of suffering will pass before a real turnaround can take effect.
Or maybe my mood is just because it's December. I have seasonal affective disorder, and I tend to get depressed this time of year.
Nah, it's not just me.

Boobies for Fridays

A fine looking pair of masked Boobies for your viewing pleasure.

Would You Buy A Used Senate Seat From This Governor?

Stories of corrupt polititions are a common thread throughout the history of America, but some are more blatent than others. Today's story of Illinois Gov. Blagojevich's (try spell-checking that) attempted sale of Obama's senate seat will soon be the stuff of legend:

A 76-page FBI affidavit alleges that Blagojevich was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps during the last month conspiring to sell or trade Illinois’ U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama for financial and other personal benefits for himself and his wife.

Uhm, Gov., when you campaigned as a "reformer" to replace a corrupt governor, you might have thought that people would pay attention; and that "re-forming" corruption didn't mean moving it into your own pockets. Slimeball!

Side note to local readers: Sad to note the passing of Gene "magic" Tucker, the rose man of downtown. While his health had been failing for quite a while, his heart was still there for all. We'll miss you, Gene.

The Ever Inconsistant Friday Boobie

Well, a Boobie showed up this week. A red-footed one at that.

News We Knew

The wise economists just figured out what most of us already knew: the country has been in a recession since last December.

Dec. 1 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. economy entered a recession a year ago this month, the panel that dates American business cycles said today, making this contraction already the longest since 1982.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=al4iyIoRhvao&refer=home

Thanks for telling us, guys. But most of us were all too aware that the economy was in shitty shape, going back even farther than that. Despite shrub and the rethuglicans repeated cheers that "our economy is strong", anybody living on the lower end of the money pyramid knew it sucked.
In my own situation, the job market is terrible. I spent the summer and fall working for a buddies landscaping business while trying to find better employment without luck. One sign that the economy was in trouble was when a number of his accounts started dropping his services (some he's had for almost 20 years). These are relatively well off folks (poor people don't hire gardeners) but they felt they had to cut back their spending somewhere. I still made enough to get by, but not more. And now the season is done. I'm broke and looking for work, and I've got a lot of company. This morning I was one of about 25 applying for a warehouse job that pays little and demands a lot. Just another sign of the times.

Added: Our good blog buddy Monkeyfister (http://www.monkeyfister.blogspot.com/) has some great advice for how to survive the coming years. Some of his suggestions may be unavailable to some of us, but he's got a lot of resources available that may be usefull to many.

Another Thanksgiving

Hard to believe, but we've reached another Thanksgiving. Which means that another year is almost done. I'll be partaking in the usual feast with friends (and great friends they are), and away from the internet tomorrow. Food and football. Good times.
Thanks to all of you who keep stopping by even with the sparcity of posts. Hope you're spending the holidays with folks you love (or at least try to like), and that your day will bring you reasons for "thanks."
Happy Thanksgiving, all.

Dear Janet, Please Don't Leave

So our Governor, Janet Napolitano, looks to be Obama's nominee for Homeland Security. While she's a great choice, as an Arizona Democrat I want to say "Don't leave us, Janet. We need you!" Let the "homeland" find someone else to deal with its insecurities. Napolitano has been a great governor here, especially considering the republican dominated legislature, and was the leading candidate to rid us of St. Sleazy McCain in the senate in 2010 (sad side commentary that the 2010 campaign is already underway.) Given that here in Arizona most of our recent Governors leave early due to indictment (Evan Meachem, Fife Symington), we're not used to sacrificing one for the good of the nation.
Should Napolitano end up head of DHS, the republican secretary of state, Jan Brewer, will fill the remainder of the term. And St. Sleazy will most likely get re-elected to the Senate due to name recognition alone, as it's unlikely that Napolitano would leave the cabinet in such a short time.
I know Obama has spoken of sacrifice for the good of the nation, but, damn, did he have to take my Governor as part of it?

Friday's Boobie

is of a particularly handsome specimen performing his ritual courtship dance. Kinda looks as goofy as I do on the dance floor....

Quick Notes

Lacking internet at home, I'm doing a quick post from the library (a wonderful communistic institution.) Without my comments, the political world has managed to carry on in the great function of almost governing, and for that I'm grateful.
I haven't been able to post any lengthy screeds on the defeat of Ted Stevens or the rehabilitation of Joe Lieberman or what Hillary Clinton might mean as Sec. of State, and that frustrates me. But all these have moved along without my blogging of them, so I guess my opinion really isn't all that important. I do still wish that I had more opportunity to express it, as my whole reason for starting this blog was to give me a forum to express MY opinion, which is of course quite wise and well reasoned in comparison with the opinions I hear from others. Just ask me.
All of this is a way of apologizing for the lack of posts. Reality has been rather uncooperative lately.
Damn reality.

Election Observations

Yesterday I ran a precinct polling place, as I do every election. My precinct since 2002 is comprised entirely of University students, so I have an intimate view of that segment of the electorate. Yesterday's turnout shattered all records for the precinct, and by noon I knew that Obama would win based on that turnout. Simply put, the 'youth vote' has long been the holy grail for Democrats, and Obama succeeded in motivating the college students at a level that John Kerry failed to achieve. Observing the enthusiasm amongst these young people was a cause for optimism that I haven't felt in quite a while. As an election official, I'm completely impartial on election day, and only concerned with conducting a fair and legal election. But I'm not blind. I see who's voting and what their attitude is as they vote. Yesterday, the difference was palpable.
How much of a change Obama means for America remains to be seen. But the attitude of my younger voters was a clear signal that there is a change in the political energy that may be felt for years to come.
At least I hope so.
I admit, I'm a cynical old goat. For all that I like about Barack becoming our president, I'm still skeptical about how much he'll actually be able to accomplish. The poor bastard is inheriting one hell of a mess, and the republicans aren't going to go quietly into oblivion as a result of this defeat (though I really wish they would.) The challenges ahead for Obama and America may be among the greatest in our history, and a president only has control of a fraction of the unfolding of events. In short, this thing may be too broken for even a great president to fix.
But there is that small piece of optimism, that glimmering of 'hope' that I haven't felt in a long while. Maybe, just maybe, this country is turning in the right direction. Maybe we can create a better future. Maybe those young people that I saw voting can lead to dynamic new possibilities.
If nothing else, it should be a lot more interesting to watch than the ongoing disaster of the last eight years.

CONGRATULATIONS....to

President-elect Barack Hussein Obama! Way to go America!

Happy Election Day!

Langston Hughes: Let America Be America Again

Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.

(America never was America to me.)

Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed--
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.

(It never was America to me.)

O, let my land be a land where Liberty
Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,
But opportunity is real, and life is free,
Equality is in the air we breathe.

(There's never been equality for me,
Nor freedom in this "homeland of the free.")

Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark?
And who are you that draws your veil across the stars?

I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart,
I am the Negro bearing slavery's scars.
I am the red man driven from the land,
I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek--
And finding only the same old stupid plan
Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.

I am the young man, full of strength and hope,
Tangled in that ancient endless chain
Of profit, power, gain, of grab the land!
Of grab the gold! Of grab the ways of satisfying need!
Of work the men! Of take the pay!
Of owning everything for one's own greed!

I am the farmer, bondsman to the soil.
I am the worker sold to the machine.
I am the Negro, servant to you all.
I am the people, humble, hungry, mean--
Hungry yet today despite the dream.
Beaten yet today--O, Pioneers!
I am the man who never got ahead,
The poorest worker bartered through the years.

Yet I'm the one who dreamt our basic dream
In the Old World while still a serf of kings,
Who dreamt a dream so strong, so brave, so true,
That even yet its mighty daring sings
In every brick and stone, in every furrow turned
That's made America the land it has become.
O, I'm the man who sailed those early seas
In search of what I meant to be my home--
For I'm the one who left dark Ireland's shore,
And Poland's plain, and England's grassy lea,
And torn from Black Africa's strand I came
To build a "homeland of the free."

The free?

Who said the free?  Not me?
Surely not me?  The millions on relief today?
The millions shot down when we strike?
The millions who have nothing for our pay?
For all the dreams we've dreamed
And all the songs we've sung
And all the hopes we've held
And all the flags we've hung,
The millions who have nothing for our pay--
Except the dream that's almost dead today.

O, let America be America again--
The land that never has been yet--
And yet must be--the land where every man is free.
The land that's mine--the poor man's, Indian's, Negro's, ME--
Who made America,
Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain,
Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain,
Must bring back our mighty dream again.

Sure, call me any ugly name you choose--
The steel of freedom does not stain.
From those who live like leeches on the people's lives,
We must take back our land again,
America!

O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath--
America will be!

Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death,
The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies,
We, the people, must redeem
The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.
The mountains and the endless plain--
All, all the stretch of these great green states--
And make America again!

A Quick Boobie

Sneaking in a quick Friday Boobie on a short opportunity to access the internet. Real posts soon (I hope).