Arlington

3:12 pm EST December 31st, 2005 | Politics | 35 Comments

Yesterday, I went to Arlington National Cemetery. I saw JFK’s grave site and the eternal flame, as well as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the intricate changing of the guard associated with it. But what left the biggest impression on me where the headstones. At Arlington, there are literally headstones as far as the eye can see.

And it makes you think – why are those people there? They served their country, and in honor to their service, they are buried on hallowed ground. They’re all there – WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Korea, Afghanistan… and Iraq, as well as others who served when we weren’t at war.

But before you go on the grounds there’s a historical video telling you about Arlington National Cemetary. One fact that stood out is that at it’s current rate, Arlington will be full by 2025.

We should probably work to stop that from happening any sooner than necessary.

Flat George Redux

9:12 pm EST December 30th, 2005 | Politics | 62 Comments

It’s really as if nothing happened in the past 5 years.

Bush

Clinton

MD: Franchot for Comptroller

9:12 pm EST December 30th, 2005 | Democrats | Comments Off

Delegate Peter Franchot is running in the Democratic primary for comptroller against former governor Donald Schaeffer, because the man is just too cosy with Ehrlich and the Republican party. He explains why

Ladies and Gentlemen, this election represents the end of an era, and the dawning of a new day. A day when Democrats are proud to stand up as Democrats and make their voices heard. A day when being a Democrat no longer means being less Republican, but being a Democrat means being more progressive. A day when voters reward candidates with a social conscience. A day when middle class and working families interests again come first to our state policymakers.

[snip]

Don t be fooled by a wolf in sheep s clothing. Our Democratic Comptroller is a Democrat in name only. Don t believe me? In 1992, William Donald Schaefer endorsed George Bush over Bill Clinton. It s true. Four years later, he endorsed Bob Dole over Bill Clinton. Then faced with the choice between Al Gore and George W. Bush, did he endorse Al Gore? Nope. And after four years of George W. Bush leading in the wrong direction, William Donald Schaeffer would not even endorse John Kerry over George Bush.

And, after four years of W leading us in the wrong direction, William Donald Schaefer again endorsed George W Bush over John Kerry. Ladies and gentlemen, when you endorse Bush and Dole over Bill Clinton, and then don t endorse Al Gore and John Kerry over George W. Bush, you are not a Democrat.

2006 Predictions

12:12 pm EST December 30th, 2005 | Politics | 36 Comments

* Dean will be DNC chair until he decides not to be DNC chair and not a moment sooner (sometime after the ’08 election)
* The House will remain essentially the same, Dems will win in MD, PA, TN senate races but GOP will retain control
* Another White House insider will be indicted, but the MSM will ignore it the way they have ignored the Libby case
* Republicans will be evil, Democrats will be dumb

A Resolution for The Left

12:12 pm EST December 29th, 2005 | Politics | 72 Comments

One of the things we’ve got to start doing is quit accepting that the nonsense ginned up by the Republican PR industry (RNC, White House, MRC, AEI, Heritage, Fox, MRC, etc.) has any merits and must always be answered.

Folks, they’re lying and full of shit. When your opponent is lying like that, just say it and keep talking about what’s important. If someone says the sky is green, it’s no use to point out scientific data otherwise. It just isn’t true and you should say so. The time for this attitude has long passed.

Apple’s iPod Problem

1:12 am EST December 29th, 2005 | Uncategorized | 12 Comments

This is sort of out of left field for me, but it should be noted. The iPod is a really cool device, and I especially love listening to podcasts and music on the train on the way to work (recommended: Open Source, Slate Podcasts, and Weekend America) but damned if there isn’t something wrong with the device. In 2005 I had to replace my iPod mini twice (luckily there are a few Apple Stores in Maryland, as well as D.C.). This means I am now on my third iPod in less than ten months. The screen clouded out on the first one, the second one’s hard drive died, and the third seems okay so far though it doesn’t tell me “all clear” when it’s done syncing with iTunes like it’s supposed to. When it works, it’s great, and lives up to all the deserved hype about ease of use and interface.

When it works. Right about now Apple is acting like a certain other company who thinks they can do no wrong while shipping bad product.

Topic: Oliver's World

Bush Does What Bin Laden Couldn’t

1:12 am EST December 29th, 2005 | News | 45 Comments

Fear destroys what bin Laden could not

Never would I have expected this nation — which emerged stronger from a civil war and a civil rights movement, won two world wars, endured the Depression, recovered from a disastrous campaign in Southeast Asia and still managed to lead the world in the principles of liberty — would cower behind anyone just for promising to “protect us.”

President Bush recently confirmed that he has authorized wiretaps against U.S. citizens on at least 30 occasions and said he’ll continue doing it. His justification? He, as president — or is that king? — has a right to disregard any law, constitutional tenet or congressional mandate to protect the American people.

Is that America’s highest goal — preventing another terrorist attack? Are there no principles of law and liberty more important than this? Who would have remembered Patrick Henry had he written, “What’s wrong with giving up a little liberty if it protects me from death?”

This is part of a pattern of Bush doing exactly what Bin Laden wants. Leave Saudi Arabia? Inflame more jihadists? Sometimes it’s like they’re working on the same team.

Topic: George W. Bush

Bush’s Wingnut Problem

12:12 am EST December 28th, 2005 | Republicans | 87 Comments

The neo-fascists at the copycat MoveAmericaForward group (headed by Melanie Morgan and failed senate candidate Howard Kaloogian) are doing an ad buy to bolster Bush’s low ratings… by claiming that there were WMDs in Iraq.

Somebody didn’t get the talking points.

No word yet on whether their next campaign will be to find Nicole Simpson’s real killer.

Wingnuts for Ehrlich

11:12 pm EST December 27th, 2005 | Uncategorized | 26 Comments

Maryland, my home state, happens to be a center-left state. Reliably Democratic (Maryland is 2-1 Democratic registration), the only way Bob Ehrlich won the governorship was by running as a moderate against one of the all-time worst gubernatorial candidates in American history. In 2006, he’s going to have a much harder time against Martin O’Malley… and now Ehrlich’s hard right base is grumbling.

No one believes that Republicans will abandon Ehrlich when he stands for reelection in November 2006. But Purtilo was one of numerous conservative leaders interviewed in recent weeks who said they are noticing cracks in the foundation that gave the state its first Republican governor in a generation.

Just as black voters have warned Democrats not to take them for granted in 2006, social conservatives are starting to send a similar message to the state’s leading Republican.

It’s hard work for Governor Bob. He’s already got weak re-election numbers because of his rightward lurch, and if he goes further to the right it’ll be a mess for him among whatever moderates are still left in his column. He’d like to pick a Democratic running mate, but the upside among Dems would probably be zip while it would tell the wingnut base to stay home.

Maryland ain’t Alabama, kids. Thank God.

Topic: 2006 Election

Fool Me Twice…

4:12 am EST December 27th, 2005 | Politics | 31 Comments

Hillary Clinton is trying to play this game where she comes across as the candidate you agree with, no matter what your position happens to be, without standing on any principles. It’s a decidedly pre-2000 electoral strategy and one that will be doomed to failure and quite open to a significant challenge within the Democratic primaries.