"What do you mean I can't inhale carcinageons while imbibing in a toxic substance that errodes my liver and encourage less than healthly food/sex/driving choices?!"

 In an interview yesterday with Chris Matthews, Howard Fineman, NBC's chief political correspondent, said he believed internal strife has erupted in the Bush administration. "Right now, my sense, in reporting this, Chris, is that the Bush family, political family, is at war with itself inside the White House … it's Andy Card, the chief of staff, and his people against Karl Rove, the brain … but now [there are] emerging divisions within the administration over why we went into that war, how we went into that war and what was done to sell it. There are people are out for Karl Rove inside that White House, which makes his situation even more perilous."

So, hang on.

We are going all over the place.

 ...

First up, High School Sux:

Here’s a sad story from the Chron. Evidently, some high schoolers in H-town are having troubles assimilating the kids from N.O. (or vice, versa) Fights ensue, the police are called, searches are involved.

But, hey, don’t let that get you down. We are all just people. Even these proto-adults: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3354581

Next, Big Brother is listening:

Speaking of “watch your azz,” turns out what you type out on your keyboard can be decoded just by recording it and running it through some program. Great. Next thing you know, corpMerica will require us to use very loud keyboards: http://www.cbc.ca/story/business/national/2005/09/14/acoustical_snooping20050914.html

Mallrats in Pricey Malls Are Rats:

Also ran across a story about pizzed Galleria workers (note: for those you that have never been, the people that work there are to be both hated and pitied – well, not the biatch that stole my credit card…but that’s another blog). Anywho, in case you haven’t seen them, the check cards passed out to some of those impacted by Katrina clearly indicate what they are (I didn’t save the link, but the photo shows the cards with like a cross on it or something).

So, imagine the chagrin of the lowly mall worker feels when someone drops one of those cards on the counter to buy some bling! A paraphrase follows:

"I donated money for these people and they are buying luxury items I can't afford!"

I laughed when I read this. I mean, dude, come on! Would you blame the guy if he bought beer with it? Its not your money. Not anymore.

Maybe the guy’s wife lost her bling ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE and this small token would make someone feel better. Whatever. Did I mention I hate the Galleria?

My Shame and Limpball’s an Azz:

OK, (and I hate admitting this) I heard a tape of Rush Limpball on Howard Stern, this morning. The junky “stumbles” over the correct pronunciation of “Nagin.” Reminds me of that Cedric the Entertainer’s bit from his short lived show (“why did you guys beat me up?”  “Too much ‘ger’.”)

 What a jackazz.

Of course, a quick Google and I can’t find it anywhere. So, who knows.

Headline Writers Sux:

I think the following is from AP. What pizzes me off is the “headline” is “Brown Criticizes Local Governments” (or something like that). But, if you read it, it seems pretty clear that the White House new N.O. was in the shiznit from the getgo. 

Michael Brown told The New York Times that within hours of Katrina's attack on New Orleans he told the White House that Louisiana officials lacked an organized response, leading to an ``out of control'' situation.

Brown said he called Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and White House chief of staff Andrew Card to let them know the situation was out of control.

His account suggests the White House knew right away that the storm was leaving the coast in shambles.

I also like the “within hours of Katrina's attack.”

If you type “define:attack” into your handy Google toolbar, the first two entries returned are:

• (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons); "the attack began at dawn"
• a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition; "an attack of diarrhea"

More Katrina/Iraq/911 related info:

Because between 35 and 40 percent of Louisiana's National Guard is on duty in Iraq, Gov. Blanco had fewer than 6,000 troops available for responding to Katrina. Over the weekend, she activated about 3,500 of them; by Monday, about 5,700 are ready.

Getting Your Rant On:

If you want a timeline of the events leading up to Katrina and the disaster that follows, try this link (this is from a premium account, but you should be able to view it): http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/09/15/katrina_timeline/index.html

I read up to just after the storm hit. Will print it out and read it all someday.

What seems clear to me is: the Governor made mistakes, the red tape to get any kind of help is ridiculous, and Bush was willing to allow this nightmare to happen.

Let me re-phrase. I believe that he is a mean spirited SOB, that he must have things his way, and rather than do whatever it takes to save lives/property, when his plan to help was not immediately accepted, he was content to sit and wait for the “proper papers” to be filed out before springing into acting (his plan included Federalizing law enforcement by bringing it under the Military which gets Constitutionally tricky. The Gov. responded by stating she needed boots on the ground as a show of force, that National Guardsmen were preferred, but would take anything. That they would not be doing “law enforcement.” – what’s funny is the lawlessness settled down after those small number of troops were deployed).

Seriously, take the time to read the timeline (at least up to page three, I think). If for no other reason than to see how red tape is partly responsible for this nightmare.

Yes, the Governor and her staff deserve some of the blame. However, I believe a President that was “engaged” (you realize that Katrina made him come back from his five week vacation, early, right?) would have returned to Washington and been prepared to “push” all the help that was at his discretion to deliver.

A President that was concerned about “life” would have been on the phone with the Gov. saying “Look, we got your request but we need you to be specific. What do you want? This or that? Tell me, the stenographer on the other line will take it down, we’ll call it your formal request and get the ball rolling.”

A President who’s head was in the game would have said he wanted updates. How many troops are needed and when can we deliver them? How many buses are needed? Its been four hours, where are the buses, physically? Can we send a Hospital ship into the Gulf, yet? Where’s Chaney? I need him in Houston to monitor the situation in the Astrodome. We need to make sure Texas has the money they need to deal with this, ASAP.  “Can anyone get through to the Gov? Why don’t we have a satellite phone there? Can the military do anything about communication. I thought we addressed these issues after 9/11? After we get this under control, we need to go back to square one. We have got to set up an effective method of communication for our first responders and their commanders. That has to be first! Now, as soon as possible, we need to help them set up a new command center down there…who’s on that?”

Engaged? Where have I heard that before…Daily meetings with department heads and people shaking the trees for information. Now, was that after the President received a memo titled “OBL Determined to Attack the US”? No.

Was it after the 25th warning by the FAA of terrorists trying to infiltrate airports/training centers? After the 35th? The 40th? The 50th? How about the 52nd?

Nope.

Wrong administration. Wrong century (wrong millennium, depending on how you look at it).

I get that this guy “manages” differently. I get that Clinton was into the details while this guy isn’t. There is nothing inherently wrong with that. But, there are times when you’ve got to suck it up and do the work. You’ve got to ride your staff so they perform at a higher level. You are the top of food chain and its your responsibility to raise the bar.

This guy?

Yeah, it takes a THE AFTERMATH OF A CAT 5 (ok, a very strong cat 4) HURRICANE to get him back early from a five week vacation.

Spitting into the Wind:

Finally, I sent a letter to the editors at Salon.com. It’s not really in response to the OpEd piece “Breach of a myth” by Sidney Blumenthal. That was just the jumping off point (he’s written better). Here’s what I sent them:

I share Mr. Blumenthal's opinion that Bush's presidency is "ruined."  However, I am not sure Katrina has converted anyone "new" over to this realization.

In fact, I regularly receive emails from friends and associates that clearly state the opposite. These older, white, middle-class males point to the same old bugaboo: its the liberal media, stupid, not reality.

Where we see gross failures on all levels of government (and pure pettiness), they see looters and people who are blaming the weather on the President.

In fact, the President's base is as strong as ever and he will prevail as the result. He and his dogma.

This is the lesson from Katrina.

Now, what are we going to do about it?

Four years after a "failure of imagination" contributed to the tragedy of 9/11, Katrina has clearly demonstrated to anyone that might be interested in hurting the U.S. that now's a good time.

Well, that's the message we are sending out to the world. Here was a disaster with almost a week's warning for the government to prepare. Now look at all the lives lost because we could not get help down their soon enough. Like this is 1905 rather than 2005. Look at the horror and chaos that is getting broadcasted to the world.

I say that's the message because had this been a terrorist attack, things would have been much different. There would be no one or thing that would stop the Feds from getting in there and doing “their job.” The full force of the United States Armed Forces would have descending upon the site within hours.

And that's the tragedy. To the world, we look weak, vulnerable, and incompetent (not to mention more ruthless and more “white” +).

All that can do, this glaring, 24-hour advertisement of our shame, is encourage more attacks.

So, the question is how is a hurricane different from a terrorist attack?

Well, since FEMA was moved under OHS, it isn't.

Period.

That's why FEMA is *under* OHS. Because clean up is clean up.

So, again, why was this different?

Bottom line: because the U.S. has been shown to be weak (and thus inviting an attack) AND because FEMA has not done the job it was supposed to do *before* it was consumed by OHS, both Chertoff and Brown must be fired.

They must be removed from office to demonstrate that we take these failures seriously. To show those who would attack us that we may have been sloppy IN THIS INSTANCE but we see that now and are taking aggressive steps to correct it.

That’s the only way to deter those who may be emboldened by the impact of Katrina. MSBob was right: perception is reality. We must take steps (have taken steps) to change that perception.

However, to leave them in office sends the opposite message. To allow them to fall on their swords won’t cut it either. The message must be that failure is not acceptable.

I fear, though, that the time to correct the message has passed.

And that is why Bush should leave, as well.

----

Who was held responsible for the failures of 9/11?
Who has been held responsible for the failure to properly plan and execute a war plan in Iraq (don't tell me that they didn't plan "for the peace." That implies there was a plan. They sent in too few troops with the wrong, if any, armor, in vehicles that also were not properly equipped)?

No one.

Jesus Christ, a pizza-faced kid working at Burger King is held to a higher standard than those that work under this President!

It makes us fundamentally unsafe.

If you can’t see what a failure of leadership this man has been, how that failure invites terrorists to hit us again, well, I guess I need to brush up on my Photoshop skills and start publishing photos of GW punching puppies. Because I don’t know what else these people need to know to at least start questioning their devotion.

For all the screaming and pandering and noise the Right makes about how “people” (read “so poor, so black”) are not made to be personally responsible for their actions, you would think some lone voice might speak up and apply that same principle to someone that looks like they do.

Why not?

Personally, I suspect the answer is in all those images we’ve been watching for the past week.

---Addendum

In a previous post, I warned that the end was near b/c Newt and I were on the same page.

I’ve got news for you: its worse than that. This monumental failure of a leader has actually made me re-evaluate Nixon. Nixon was the guy that got my head in the game, made me start paying attention. While I had zero chances of being on his enemies list, it didn’t take a genius to realize if the Prez was making lists, then others were too.

And, at the end of the day, he had to quit. His crimes were too great. And, in the end, he knew it. He knew that to stay in office would result in the destruction of it. Sure, if convicted, he could have faced blah,blah,blah. As much as I detested what that man did, I believe he left in order to preserve the office.

So, what does it say when I tell you that I would rather have him in that chair than GWBush?

Bathroom Etiquette:

Before I start, let me, like our Founding Fathers, announce why such a drastic action (writing this blog) is required.

Reason One: If I don't get this off my chest, there *will* be violence.

Reason Two: Really, this communication should be in the form of a private conversation or an email. Why? Because I know *exactly* who the jackass is whose behavior is getting under my skin. Why not talk to him? BECAUSE HE IS A FREAKIN' VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE STUPID COMPANY I DO CONTRACT WORK FOR.

Here We Go

Basic Rules Concerning the Urinal:

* Bottom Line, unless the only option is wizzing on the floor *YOU DO NOT TAKE THE URINAL NEXT TO ANYONE*.

If this means hitting a stall, then so be it. It doesn't make you a "woman." It makes you considerate.

Look, I'm not having a conversation with you, so why do we have to stand shoulder to shoulder? Just keep walking.

Oh my gOD, why would you "snuggle up" next to anyone and *NOT* try to have a conversation! What is wrong with you? Don’t get that close and don’t take to me! In fact...

* No conversations while standing at the big U, OK? Talking implies eye contact, right? Well, I am not going to look at you and I am *not* going to stare at the wall while I'm trying to "talk with you." Shut up and move to the stall. We'll catch up in the hall.

Just pretend this is Fight Club, in here.

Wait.

On second thought, just shut up.

Basic Rule Concerning the Bathroom "Experience":

* If you walked into the "head" just to comb your hair and straighten your shirt, then you have my permission not to wash your hands. However, under *ALL* *OTHER* *CIRCUMSTANCES*: YOU MUST WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP AND WATER.

Period.

And I don't want to hear anything out of anyovya' other than "Yes, I understand and will pass this on to every male I know."

Look, you can say I'm hysterical. However, when THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THIS COMPANY WALKS OUT OF A STALL AND OUT OF THE BATHROOM WITHOUT WASHING HIS FREAKIN' HANDS, touching the same doors as the rest of us, I think I'm handling this pretty well.

<Construct>

But, dude, maybe he just made a tinkle. You know, like you requested.

</Construct>

Don't ask questions! Take my word. The man *SHOULD* have washed his hands, ok (Hell, he *should* see a doctor)?!

Unbelievable!

Same guy snuggled up to me just a few minutes ago. Couldn't believe it. Wanted to scream. Bad enough I'm afraid to touch any freakin' door between his office and the toilet. Now, I've got to hit the dang stall EVERY TIME just to get a little breathing room.

<Construct>

Dude, you're taking this a little personally, aren't you?

</Construct>

LOOKIT! Its hot on this floor, there are never any supplies, there's always a meeting to go to, the guy next to me enjoys loudly swallowing his snot, IS IT ASKING TOO FRIGGIN' MUCH TO GET THREE MINUTES PEACE?!

Final Rule:

*…

No, I can't bring myself to writing about this one. Makes me absolutely friggin' crazy, though. Makes me want to print out directions to the nearest internist and post them in each...well, OK, I'm going to far.

Sorry.

Will try something with a little more substance next time.

How about this: Dean says (said – it’s been awhile since I’ve checked the papers) DeLay WILL do jail time.

Jail.

Time.

Never have two words sounded so good together.

Work is making me so frickin' nuts I can't concentrate on anything.

When I’m not in a meeting, the one person I need to talk to is in a meeting.

Everyone congregates in my "cube bloc" (there are four of us) to "dialogue." They are loud and it doesn't *EVER* concern my projects.

The guy sitting next to me (I call him Elvis due to his pompadour-like hair cut) is ALWAYS loud, always on the phone, always coughing, and always HACKING UP SOMETHING (and never spitting it out).

The PM that said s|he was going to quit on Friday was here MONDAY.

THE PM SUX.

And no matter what I do and have done THEY KEEP CALLING ME A TECHNICAL WRITER!!!!!

<NOTE: First, I don't have the skills of a Tech Writer. Second, when they say Tech Writer, they really mean "make this pretty!">

For example:

I've made it very clear that I want analyst work. And, until this project, that hasn't been an issue.

Normally, my job has been producing functional specs, flow charts, and helping out on the Tech Spec and release notes.

Been doing that for nine months.

Now, I'm working with a different PM and my task is writing the use cases (when I'm not busy making every other document "look pretty").

So, I pull together a Use case from a project with no requirements, flesh out diagrams and screen shots, and put them into a nice package.

Then, the project changes scope.

NP.

Happens all the time.

Delete, delete, delete, and some retooling of the diagrams/screen shots. Done.

More "making pretty" work follows.

Then I get this email from the PM with a list of crap that needs to be put into a PowerPoint presentation.

I read the email.

I’m in the project.

Nothing makes sense.

I mean, there are phrases that are completely meaningless. I can't tell if this presentation is intended to communicate status, outline the direction we're taking, if its a proof of concept.

Nothing.

So, after getting no feed back on my emails asking for clarification, I break things up, add a system diagram I had already put together and marked up all my questions. Then I wait for feedback.

Wait, wait, wait.

Finally, I physically follow up. I did this because I knew the PM wanted to distribute this file to the team to review. I knew that it would then go to people outside of this office. I really wanted someone to point out what a bunch of crap this was BEFORE it got shipped outside the office. And the meeting was less than twenty hours away.

Even when confronted with straight-forward questions, I could get no reasonable answers.

So, I make some BS changes, email it back, and let the PM deal with the steaming pile of crap that is this presentation.

And, in case I'm not being very clear, this whole situation is driving me outta’ my ever lovin’ mind.

Its crap work.

And its crap work I can't make better b/c the person in charge is completely clueless.

Now, here's the funny:

This person walks by my cube Monday morning (notice: I'm in shock b/c this person was supposed to have quit, Friday). This person says "hey, in all your investigation and 'dealings' with this project, have you put together a functional spec?"

WHAT?

Did I, on a whim, put together a functional spec for a project with no requirements when you have made it clear that writing the fx spec is soooooo not my job?

You!

The same person that has done everything to turn my job into an administrative assistant's gig?

Go to hell!

[Brokensword-Raging_Impotence detects a 79.9999% increase in tension/sweat/hear-rate index]

<raging_impotence>

   <shutting down main processor>

   <increasing pump capacity>

   <attempting override to release adrenaline>

<Unauthorized access to adrenaline detected>

<emergency B-RI shut_down protocol>

   <access to audio out has been terminated>

   <audio in capacity reduced 75%>

   <exhaust vent/air exchange cycle set to "long_interval">

   <release dopamine>

   <accessing memory file :\\Emergency\Rage_Impotence-shutdown\happy\music\Jimi-Hendrix\Little-Wing>

   <play.Little-Wing>

   <Brokensword-Raging_Impotence detects 86.6666% drop in tension/sweat/hear-rate index>

</raging_impotence>

</emergency B-RI shut_down protocol>

"um, no. Sorry."

And today, it’s official. I now get to piece together a POS Fx Spec (with the PM’s help, of course). Still without requirements (functional or otherwise), using very dated material.

Great.

Should have known it was going to be a lousy day. On the way in, Howard Stern started playing Little Wing after the break on his little morning show.

<dude, I know, I know, but there is literally nothing else to listen to>

It was a bad sign b/c he can't keep his mouth shut. Had to talk all over that beautiful piece of music.

All I have to do is just imagine hearing those first few chords and my alpha waves shift into a whole other plane. Doesn't matter if its SRV or Jimi. The impact is the same: as close to heaven as I will ever get.

Then *jackazz* has to open his trap.

I went from having the most relaxing 25 mile commute to work I've ever had, to almost killing someone (which would make it normal).

Just never recovered.

The good news is I've still got Etta James in the disc player out in the Brokenswordmobile. Maybe she can pull me through. (HEY, Buschick, I gave up my SUV for a four cylinder! Of course, the AC had been out for two years, the paint was all but gone, and the interior was almost threadbare)

NOTE: Here is a list of what I wanted to rant about today:

* Jesus can't get a driver's license in West Virginia. Oh, he *can* get one from Florida, and a passport and a SSN card from the Feds. And its the Feds that are dragging their feet in providing the documentation he needs. THEY ALREADY GAVE HIM A PASSPORT & SSN card!!!

* The Texas Leg., in an attempt to increase founding for schools and provide property tax relief, is planning (bills about to go to floor debate):

     * Increasing taxes on the poor

     * Decreasing taxes on the rich

     * Under funding Texas schools by 1/4 of a billion dollars

* Has Chappelle cracked under the pressure (I hope not!)? No matter what is behind the production shut down, no one can take away two years of some of the best, original comedy on TV.

* Jimmy Buffet has inked a deal with Sirius to produce a 24 hour all Margaritaville channel. Guess I won't be getting that Satellite radio after all.

Oh, and the following quotes where RIPE: 

"Women, if left to their own devices, are going to tend and trend Democratic. That is absolutely the case," Kellyanne Conway told the Post. "Women are still congenitally Democratic -- and I'm the Republican pollster saying that."

 And

"Senate Republicans, who prohibited more than 60 of Bill Clinton's judicial nominees from ever reaching the Senate floor, are seeking to change the rules of the Senate because Democrats are blocking seven of George W. Bush's nominees."

For now, it’s best if I concentrate on my inner Hendrix soundtrack.

Note: If you read this and think I am bashing Catholics just to bash Catholics, then I am sorry (its tuff love, I swear). I *am* confounded by some of them with regards to pedophile Priests. But Catholics aren't alone in frustrating me. Baptists, for example, make me really freakin' nuts. But I was raised in *their* church and so have a more "finely tuned" receiver for the crap they pull. And just wait until the next Baptist convention comes around. 

The point is I am an equal opportunity ridiculer of hypocrites, blow-hards, and those that confound me.

People are people. I don't loathe anyone because of the nouns associated to them. Its the verbs. You raise my ire (or not) by your actions (or not), not because you are a Catholic, Baptist, Republican, or Democrat (though I will admit that just calling yourself a NAZI is grounds for being left off my Christmas Party list).

That being said, on with the show...

-------------------------

You know, I was listening to NPR, today, and the local Archbishop was saying what a great choice they made in selecting the new Pope.

And I thought, "yeah, if you want a return to the dark ages."

Then, I read an article about the name the new Pope selected. Among other things, St. Benedict is the patron saint of Europe.

Perfect! That is so dead on.

What a brilliant illustration of the focus of "the church."

Not where the future lies (the America's, Africa, the third world), but where it has already been. A return to those thrilling days of yester-year. Not a god of Love with outstretched arms, but one of hate and vengeance and intolerance.

Look, I really could care less about what goes on in Rome. I don't care what the followers of that church *believe*, or not.

This is NOT about Martin Luther.

What I can't understand is how they have continued to allow AN INSTITUTION THAT HAS ADMITTED TO COVERING UP THE ACTIVITIES OF PEDOPHILES AND A COMPLETE CONTRAVENTION OF U.S. LAW AS WELL AS COMMON FREAKIN' DECENCY to look after the physical and mental well being of their children, IN ADDITION to instructing them on morals and spirituality.

Look, you wanna say that there is more good than bad? You wanna say don't throw out the baby with the bath water? I say *that* is exactly what you get when you hand over your babies to AN INSTITUTION THAT HAS ADMITTED TO COVERING UP THE ACTIVITIES OF PEDOPHILES.

Look, I'm not trying to say Catholicism or Catholics are bad. All I am trying to say is how can anyone tolerate the deafening silence from Rome? How can anyone trust their soul and the souls of their children to these men when they can't be entrusted with a child's body?

You do realize that they can't be trusted , right? They have covered up these activities for centuries. They have been instructed not to report it to local authorities. You want to believe it can't happen to you?

Fine.

Good luck with that.

But, can someone just, please, please, explain to me the lack of outrage? That is all I have wanted to hear.

What's that? Oh, you need some more hay.

Here you go.

This weekend 9 people were arrested on their way to a Mad Max Marathon. To get all fired up for three crappy movies (I can't watch dubbed movies, the second one was OK, Tina is good, but she can't save number three), these lunkheads decided to role play.

Sure, Trekkies and Star Wars people do it all the time. Of course, they have the luxury of not being able to actually render working models of transport (IE a spaceship or hover car). Unfortunately for the followers of Mad Max, you can get your hands on a tanker truck and add barbed wire and *fake* machine gun turrets.

Yes, that's right, folks. The bright eyed people of the Thunder dome did just that. Then, they drove, in a convoy, from Boerne, TX to San Antonio (where the festival was being held). And there was much whoopin' and a hollerin'.

Much to the sheer panic of the good folks of Boerne, Tx. And, as good citizens are want to do, they called the police. And the police arrested some of these clear thinkers.

<<Now, I am not endorsing the arrests. Reading the article, it seems a little harsh for some very poor judgment. But, I wasn't there>>

Mind you, arresting NINE people was enough for the theater to call off the festival.

Finally, some good news to read about.

---------------

Ted Nugent at the NRA Convention:

"Remember the Alamo! Shoot 'em!" He continued, "To show you how radical I am, I want carjackers dead. I want rapists dead. I want burglars dead. I want child molesters dead. I want the bad guys dead. No court case. No parole. No early release. I want 'em dead. Get a gun and when they attack you, shoot 'em." (Associated Press)

Thinking so clear and bright and obvious. To comment on it would only detract and detour. Of course, by the time he figures out that the abolishing of laws/courts/justice would free up PETA to arm itself and go after "the bad guys"....well, I figure they would love to have his head stuffed and mounted.

--------------

Age Limit NBA:

Is it a race thing?

Is Hockey?

I don't know. I suspect race is a smokescreen.

Anyway, I don't really care about Basketball+ (or many other sports I can only afford to see on TV). What I do care about is the massive level of hypocrisy in this land of ours. What I care about is how in the HELL do they think they have the right to tell *ANYONE* when they can start a job *AFTER* their eighteenth birthday?

Don't get me wrong. I think 18 *is* too young for that kind of money and lifestyle (that the money will bring). But, I also think pumping out baby after baby (or just "baby, sometimes) is criminal. That's how I feel, that's what I believe. What I don't believe is that the state has the right to enforce that belief++.

Bottom line: when one reaches the age of majority, then one should have all the freedom and responsibly that entering that state entails. Including: voting, drinking, and the opportunity to work where you want, doing what you want.

Not saying anyone should get to do anything. Only that they should have the chance. Let the market figure it out.

However, since age discrimination is written into the Constitution, chances are this *radical* idea won't fly.

-----

Endnotes

+ Hometown team excluded

++ Well, that baby thing might come to a head if we don't solve the whole breathable air and drinkable water thing. Not to mention the food thing. Oh, and the energy thing, the state of healthcare for children thing, etc...

Read it here with your own eyes

So, four days after GWBush is sworn in as President, Richard Clarke sends this memo. In it, he identifies Al Queda as a specific threat. A threat that must have its own "category" and not lumped in with other threats within a region. This is the memo where he begins his quest to have a meeting with the top brass to get the ball rolling. The meeting that Condi couldn't find time to schedule until September 2001.

So, he told her that Al Queda was a threat. Add to this the PDB "Bin Laden Determined to Strike Inside US."

Now, if ANYONE would have taken personal responsibility for the safety and security of the US, maybe those two documents PLUS THE 52 WARNINGS TO THE FAA BY THEIR OWN SECURITY DIVISION ABOUT HIJACKINGS THAT WILL USE PLANES AS WEAPONS...maybe they could have connected the dots and got something done.

You know, some have said that the failures that lead to the events of 9/11 was due to a "failure of imagination." Clearly, that is not true, as NO IMAGINATION WAS NEEDED AT ALL.

What was needed was the ability to read and the desire to do your job (as opposed to implementing an agenda: Invade Iraq & terminate the New Deal).

Have you read "A New Pearl Harbor?" Read that what the NeoCons stated was *required* in order to implement their agenda?

I'm not saying that the NeoCons and their toadies *conspired* to allow the events of 9/11 to happen.

I am saying that their eyes were not on the ball. That their focus was not on "governing" but solely on implementing their agenda.  And their disdain for the job of governing clearly got in the way of executing their duties AS DESCRIBED IN THE CONSTITUTION!

I'm sure they find it just a quaint as the Geneva Conventions.

The other day, when I was ranting about torture  and I left something out.

When are we going to start allowing torture *inside* the US? I mean, obviously its OK to torture every single POW and criminal in Iraq, why should we stop with war (NOTE: the "every single" bit is the important part).

Why not, for example, the war on drugs? I mean, wouldn't that lead us to the dealers and from there to the suppliers? Wouldn't this allow us to shut down drugs? What drains the economy more (OK, maybe not *more*), what impacts everyone on a daily basis more, what is ruining the lives of our friends and relatives...

So, I am getting out in front on this. I am calling for the re-institution of torture. Not just in WAR and DRUGS, but how about corporate fraud? I mean, if there is anyone who is going to squeal, its going to be a white collar exec. I mean, a crackhead is going to be hard to, well, crack. But, come on, all you would have to do is put Ken Lay in the same cell as a crackhead and tell the crackhead all he has to do to get his next rock is to get Kenny-boy to admit to what he'd done.

Boom. No more corporate fraud.

So, I'm in. Who's with me!

Oh, I get it! He's pulling a COSTANZA!!!!!

He's wearing the hiking boots just to gain that extra two inches!!!

And, if you are wearing hiking boots, you can't wear black...or a suit...

I love the hat. Has a website on it.

Idiots...

From the AP:

"President Bush expressed misgivings for two of his most famous expressions: "Bring 'em on," in reference to Iraqis attacking U.S. troops, and his vow to get Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." Bush acknowledged that his tough language "had an unintended consequence."

"Sometimes, words have consequences you don't intend them to mean," Bush said Thursday.

"I want justice," Bush said. "And there's an old poster out West, that I recall, that said, 'Wanted, Dead or Alive.' "

Recalling that remark, Bush said Thursday: "I can remember getting back to the White House, and Laura (Bush) said, 'Why did you do that for?' I said, 'Well, it was just an expression that came out.'

"I don't know if you'd call it a regret, but it certainly is a lesson that a president must be mindful of, that the words that you sometimes say. I speak plainly sometimes, but you've got to be mindful of the consequences of the words. So put that down. I don't know if you'd call that a confession, a regret, something."

Here’s what bugs me:

i) He’s only now beginning to understand that AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE LISTENING!!!

ii) I have said that his comment “Bring ‘em on” was a mistake from the gitgo. I got what the intent was, but, as usual, you can’t put a muzzle on the President’s brain. Idiot. See, maybe if he had actually fought in a war, instead of successfully got out of one, maybe he would watch what comes out of your mouth.

iii) This one makes me INSANE. The POTUS *regrets* saying that he wants OBL dead or alive. WTF? OBL needs to be put down NOW. This bastard *was* responsible for 911. He has actively been killing Americans FOR YEARS. YOU REGRET SAYING YOU WANT HIM DEAD? You F*CK! And Laura can burn with you. She should have padded his wrist and said “Good job, Georgie. Now you are getting it.” B*TCH.

HOW IS THIS MAN OUR PRESIDENT?

<Note: this was mostly copied straight from this article  http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2992110