Drinking Liberally Olympia--Issues of the Moment

The Filibuster—let them REALLY Filibuster

2010-01-30T05:24:00.001-08:00

The other night on the Daily Show, Doris Goodwin Kearns told John Daily that what is stopping legislation is not the Filibuster, but the threat of the filibuster. Her solution: Let them filibuster. Let one senator drone on for twenty four hours without peeing. Eventually, they will have to pee. it will be broken. Let them quote the bible for 24 hours, and recite letter after letter from constituents. Then break it. and vote, damnit!

The problem, however, is that the filibuster makes it unlikely that the administration will get much done this year. And the White House's disinterest in making an issue out of the filibuster ensures that the public won't really know why they're not getting much done. A Pew poll released today found that only 26 percent of Americans could correctly identify 60 votes as the numbers needed to break a filibuster. Twenty-five percent thought 51 votes was sufficient, and 37 percent had no idea

Ezra Klein - David Axelrod: 'Reconciliation is a tool that is there to be used'

Closing The Book On The Bush Legacy - The Atlantic Politics Channel

2009-09-12T08:02:00.001-07:00

Marc Ambinder points out that during the Bush year’s the haves did quite well, and the have not’s – well they have even less. So when we try to turn the tables today, we are met with labels of “socialism” and “Nazism".

Go figure.

Thursday's annual Census Bureau report on income, poverty and access to health care-the Bureau's principal report card on the well-being of average Americans-closes the books on the economic record of George W. Bush.

It's not a record many Republicans are likely to point to with pride.

On every major measurement, the Census Bureau report shows that the country lost ground during Bush's two terms. While Bush was in office, the median household income declined, poverty increased, childhood poverty increased even more, and the number of Americans without health insurance spiked. By contrast, the country's condition improved on each of those measures during Bill Clinton's two terms, often substantially.

Closing The Book On The Bush Legacy - The Atlantic Politics Channel

Health Care and Obama

2009-09-05T22:26:00.001-07:00

Will Obama take a hit in the 2010 elections? Maybe. Remember, he was elected largely from engaging young, motivated voters, and getting them to the polls.

Obama is staking his immediate political future on passing health care. It’s an important issue, just not that important for the 18-30 year olds. It doesn’t engage them. Health care does, however, engage the status quo, and even though Health care reform seems like it should be wildly popular with those of a more older persuasion, it doesn’t seem to be THE issue for them. And all of a sudden, 2010 is in play for the Republicans.

Depression 2009?

2009-04-04T08:18:00.001-07:00

Robert Reich calls it:

This is still not the Great Depression of the 1930s, but it is a Depression. And the only way out is government spending on a very large scale. We should stop worrying about Wall Street. Worry about American workers. Use money to build up Main Street, and the future capacities of our workforce.

Robert Reich's Blog

AIG Bailout: A round of Bonuses……again

2009-03-15T19:29:00.001-07:00

Robert Reich once again nails it on the head. Where is our government? Why is it the rich are still entitled to get richer, but when we talk about bailing out the common person--who was taken advantage of by the people being enriched—everyday people are called lazy and stupid? This is not right—and I am extremely disappointed.

But if our very own Secretary of the Treasury doesn't even learn of the bonuses until months after AIG has decided to pay them, and cannot make stick his decision that they should not be paid, AIG is not even accountable to the government. That means AIG's executives -- using $170 billion of our money, so far -- are accountable to no one.

Robert Reich's Blog

An Inauguration for the Ages

2009-01-17T18:44:00.001-08:00

Take a look at this New Republic article. The cover of the New Republic depicts civil rights leaders and others who have sacrificed much that will evenutally result in Barack Obama's inaugaration. Hats off to Artist John Mavroudis for this accomplishment:

An Inauguration for the Ages

The spirits of the civil rights movement--and movements for social
justice everywhere--will be with Obama on this historic Inauguration Day. Artist
John Mavroudis imagines the occasion. It was on August 24, 2008, on the
forty-fifth anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, that
Obama accepted the Democratic party's nomination, becoming the first black
American to be a major party's presidential candidate.
And on January 20,
2009--one day after Martin Luther King Day--Obama will be sworn in as the first
black president of the United States. No doubt the spirits of the civil rights
movement, and of movements for racial justice everywhere, will be with him then.

An Inauguration for the Ages

Inside the editorial page - 'My heart swelled with pride' | The News Tribune | Tacoma, WA

2009-01-17T17:05:00.001-08:00

Quincy Jones grew up in Seattle. His story offers a local and African American perspective on the election of Barack Obama. It hits home in many ways. But it also offers a glimpse into what I can’t feel, not having the experiences of growing up during the Civil Rights movement nor as an African American.

Obama offers a sense of hope for the country

By Quincy Jones
Like many Americans and citizens of the world, on the morning of Nov. 5, 2008, I awoke with a renewed sense of purpose. The night before I had seen an event I could never have imagined, the election of an African-American as president of the United States of America. It’s true — if you live long enough, anything is possible.

As I sat with family and friends watching the election results, I resigned myself to tempering my emotions. Like all of Barack Obama’s supporters, I was encouraged by the strength, poise and deftness with which he ran his campaign. I knew that he was the best person for the job. But as a black man in America, I knew from experience not to let what I wanted to happen stray too far from the reality of what I knew could happen.

Inside the editorial page - 'My heart swelled with pride' | The News Tribune | Tacoma, WA

It's over: Bush staffers make exits - Daniel Libit - Politico.com

2009-01-17T16:22:00.001-08:00

YES!! It’s really happening—it will happen. A peaceful transfer of power, and a party unlike I have seen during my lifetime!

The president will be the president until 12 noon Tuesday, but most of his employees will be gone by the close of business Friday.
They’ll turn in their BlackBerrys, laptops, building passes and gym keys.
And by the time the weekend is out — before the new administration can reverse course on waterboarding or SCHIP or anything else — teams of painters and carpet cleaners will have wiped away any hint that they ever set foot in the White House.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17497.html

Not Doing Enough

2009-01-09T08:15:00.001-08:00

John Judis of the New Republic points out that an $800 billion stimulus package will not do nearly enough to bring our country out of this recession. It's a beginning.

Judis goes on to say that we need to fight this as a war and on two fronts: at home and internationally by bringing stability to the International Monetary Fund. Given that our world is so much more connected than it was during the depression in the 30's, I would agree that it is imperative. It's an interesting article, and I encourage you to click on the link and read the entire article. It sums up the problem and potential solutions nicely.

There's much to like in Obama's plan. But there are two important ways he may have to go further. Most economists agree that what finally pulled the U.S. out of the Great Depression was military spending for World War II. Some liberals argue that if the Roosevelt administration had not abandoned a Keynesian stimulus strategy in 1937-38, the U.S. might have gotten out of the depression without a war. But in 1936, unemployment was still at 16.9 percent; by 1942, after two years of war spending, it was 4.7 percent, strongly indicating that it was war spending that did it. I am not suggesting that the United States start a world war in order to solve the world's economic problem. But I am suggesting a strategy that could be called the fiscal equivalent of war.

Not Doing Enough

The Dr Codfish Chronicles: We All Live Downstream

2009-01-07T19:15:00.001-08:00

My friends Paul and Sheila live in an area that is not all that prone to flooding……right! For the second time in 13 months, they are facing another flood. Since the last flood, they have raised their home, and prepared as best as they can. Please think positive thoughts for them this evening, but do read his post. It’s an amazing piece. We’re here for you Paul and Sheila!

Last night at about 8:30 I was going through the final edit of an article I had drafted for a bicycling publication. The phone rang and it was my neighbor. His wife is on the city council and she had just received a call from the Mayor who had let her know that Oakville will once again experience a flood sometime in the next 36 hours or so. Something about the call, about Troy’s voice, the incessant din of rain on the roof, it all combined to shake me in my skin. He had to say it twice; I wasn’t reacting as I should. You know that feeling you get when you have just had a very close call in a motor vehicle, or maybe when you actually have been in an accident? That sense of a body blow when someone you thought loved you said, “not any more”?

http://drcodfish.blogspot.com/2009/01/we-all-live-downstream.html

RNC chair race: 'Everyone is basically p-ssed' - Alexander Burns - Politico.com

2009-01-04T17:21:00.001-08:00

The Republicans are pissed. Go figure. They sure can’t.

“Some people are p-ssed off at [Americans for Tax Reform President] Grover [Norquist]. Some people are p-ssed off at the Conservative Steering Committee. Some people are pissed off at [current RNC chair] Mike Duncan. Some people are p-ssed off at social conservatives. The social conservatives are p-ssed at leaders in Congress,” said a Republican consultant who has worked with the RNC. “Everyone is basically p-ssed.” -- http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17029.html

zenpotluck.com » An alternative to a Big 3 bailout

2008-12-14T08:07:00.001-08:00

My friend Random Sparks in his Zenpotluck blog suggests an alternative to investing in the traditional auto industry to keep them afloat. Instead he advocates investing in new companies that are trying to build the cars of tomorrow, rather than the cars of yesterday:

Upon reading about todays new $34 billion bailout plea by the Big 3 US auto makers, complete with pay-us-or-have-a-Great-Depression scare tactics, I felt compelled to send the following letter to my state representatives and the Obama transition team:

The potential bailout of the Big 3 US automakers raises an interesting question. What would small, emerging automakers do with the $34 billion bailout that the Big 3 are now requesting? Rather than simply giving the money to GM, Chrysler and Ford, I suggest opening a bid process to ALL US automakers, and granting investment capital to those who offer the best proposals, Big 3 or not. There are so many contenders. Here are just a few: Tesla Motors (www.teslamotors.com) Myers Motors (www.myersmotors.com) Aptera (www.aptera.com) American Electric (www.getkurrent.com) Tango (www.commutercars.com) I think that if the Big 3 needs to compete against innovative startups for their own survival, they will be more likely to develop greener transportation alternatives. Simply giving them the money would invite more of the same. I am confident that the Big 3 can compete in this marketplace if they summon the will to do so. But in any case, American auto workers and citizens will be much better served if the end result of this government investment process is a new industry - with new companies if necessary - building future-thinking vehicles. Thank you for your consideration and anything you can do to circulate my suggestion to governmental decision makers. We have a huge opportunity here if we just show the courage and determination to do it right.

zenpotluck.com » Request for Proposal

States I have visited

2008-12-10T05:33:00.001-08:00

States I have visited

A friend of mine turned me on to this website. I've visited most of these states, a few I have spent time in airports in while connecting flights.

I had some fun spending a few moments and think about all the places in this country that I have visited.

Bush by the Numbers - ProPublica

2008-12-09T06:10:00.001-08:00

The results of a failed presidency....

The final report card for George W. Bush wont be in the mail for another few years. (Nixons is still being revised -- and, for that matter, Lincolns.) But with just a few weeks to go before the 43rd president moves back to Texas, its not too early to measure the impact of his policies across American life.

Bush by the Numbers - ProPublica

They are all interesting, especially his fiasco policies regarding the environment, but this one is particularly telling:

Number of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests

2000--2.2 million

2007--21.8 million

Fiscal years. Source: Department of Justice

Number of personnel who process FOIA requests

2000--5,378

2007--5,367

Fiscal years. Source: Department of Justice

Government Cheese of a Different Kind « Margaret and Helen

2008-11-18T19:45:00.001-08:00

I invite you to drop by and check out Margaret and Helen's Blog. They have been friends for 60 years, and they always have something to say. Here is "prime choice" from Helen:

OK. Now I am all worked up again. Republicans - each and every last one of you - need to reach for the nearest gas pump and then promptly stick it so far up your ass that only Sarah Palins Pipeline From Jesus can find it. How could you do this to us? An idiot. You put an idiot in charge of things and sat by for EIGHT years while the nation and the world fell apart. And if that wasnt enough, 58 million of you wanted to replace Laurel with Hardy as the next president. Sweet Jesus if I could jump through this computer screen and slap the crap out of 58 million of you I would. Everyday is precious. EVERYDAY. And we just pissed away 2,920. Never again.

Government Cheese of a Different Kind « Margaret and Helen

DL Presidential Pick Pool & the Electoral College

2008-11-15T06:57:00.001-08:00

While the Presidential election is (almost) history, the final electoral college vote yet remains to be taken. On the Monday following the second Wednesday in December (December 6th, 2008), the electors of each state meet in their respective state capitals to cast their votes for president and vice president. These votes are then sealed and sent to the president of the Senate, who on January 6th opens and reads the votes in the presence of both houses of Congress.

However, the final electoral college tally will likely be:

Obama 365
McCain 173

At our last DL meeting, attendees participated in our presidential pick pool, casting their best guesses on the number of electoral college votes the candidates would get. Here are the results:

Place	Name	Obama	McCain
1	Kathy	364	174
2	Bruce	370	168
3	Brian	358	180
4	Angel	338	200
5	Nancy	331	207
6	Roger	315	223
7	Peter	312	216
8	Cynthia	300	238
9	Cynde	281	257

Congratulations to Kathy, who just about nailed the pick! At the next DL meeting, we will all show proper respect for her predictive abilities!

Where are the Olympia area election parties?

2008-11-02T15:50:00.001-08:00

There are no official DL election events on Tuesday this year, but I'm sure that many will take place on this very important event. I personally will be out of town for work (big, big bummer).

I've had a few inquiries about events, but I am just not that connected. Does anyone know of an election event that a fellow progressive would be welcome to attend? If so, please post relevant information in the comments section.

If you are looking for an election event to attend, check out the comments section to this post.

Drinking Liberally Tomorrow Night, Monday Nov. 3rd

2008-11-02T15:40:00.001-08:00

From the DL Olympia Email List:

Hello Drinking Liberally Olympia,
It's going to be a great week! Tomorrow, we gather for a Drinking Liberally Pep Rally! On Tuesday, I am confident that we will elect a Democratic tidal wave the likes of which I have not seen in my lifetime.
Drop by Bally Hoo's Irish Restaurant and Pub tomorrow night at 7 pm for our regular -- but always outstanding -- Drinking Liberally get together. Look for us in the back of the restaurant.
What's on tap? Besides the always great beer, plan on participating in the Electoral College Sweepstakes! We will note everybody's prediction for the number of electoral college votes cast for Obama (and McCain, too, I guess). Whoever comes closest will get.....bragging rights! By the way, 537 electoral college votes are up for grabs.
And I'm sure I don't need to remind you to vote, because most of you already have. There are ballot drop boxes all around the Olympia area, so I recommend you use one of them!
If you are not all politicked out, check out a great music video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN_NNZyh43s&eurll
Hope to see you tomorrow night at Bally Hoo's!
Progressively and Liberally Yours,
Bruce
PS: I had a few inquiries about a DL get-together on Tuesday night, but after checking with the "regulars," it appears other commitments and events have already been scheduled.

The Washington Monthly: It takes 10 hours to vote in Atlanta

2008-11-01T17:36:00.001-07:00

In my earlier post, I questioned why someone would want to undertake an elected office when they view government as the problem.

In this post,I encourage anyone and everyone who has the vision and energy to fix problems in Government--so it can do what it is meant to do--to be involved:

Besides that, the idea that anyone should have to wait for ten hours to vote is insane. And while I'd be happy to chalk up, say, 30 minute waits to unexpectedly high turnout, there's a point at which you just have to think: don't we pay people to estimate how high turnout will be, and to plan accordingly? And don't ten hour lines call their competence into question? We have to fix this. It's shameful.

The Washington Monthly

Palin: “Government Is The Problem, Doggone It!”

2008-11-01T17:11:00.000-07:00

For the life of me, will someone explain to me why Republicans want to be a part of government if it is so evil and problem-prone? It would be like me wanting to join an evangelical church because I can't stand the thought of being told what to think, who to accept, and what my "family-values" are (not to mention having to talk in that Tongues thing).

This from Scott Conroy at CBS News:

(NEW PORT RICHEY, FLA.) - Sarah Palin pressed her argument that Barack Obama would move the country in a dramatically leftward direction.

“Our opponent’s plan is just for more bigger government, and doggone it, government is the problem, not the solution,” Palin said at a rally here.

Simulation Shows Obama Will Win -- Political Wire

2008-10-31T19:36:00.001-07:00

It is looking good, but nothing is given. I've volunteered to spend a couple of hours knocking on doors or making phone calls on Sunday. If you are so inclined, contact your local Obama (or Gregoire) office and help out this weekend.

Brian Adams, a mathematics and computer science professor at Franklin & Marshall College, reports that there's a 99.98% chance that Sen. Barack Obama will win the presidential election on Tuesday. Adams has developed a simulation model that involves running 50 million simulated state-by-state races, using the late-October poll results for each state. He ran his simulation 50 million times to allow him to calculate all the different combinations of electoral votes that might result, even long shots. While the number of possible outcomes is very large, the result is always the same. Obama receives 270 or more electoral votes 99.98% of the time. Using intervals of electoral vote results, there is a 95 percent chance that the outcome will have Obama winning between 303 and 381 electoral votes

Simulation Shows Obama Will Win -- Political Wire

That Vision Thang.....

2008-10-29T20:58:00.001-07:00

As I sit here watching the Obama - Clinton Rally, it strikes me that we finally are hearing what has been missing for eight long years...a vision for America that builds community, builds unity, and builds a promise for a chance of a better life. Together, not alone.

I'm a sucker for a moment that moves my heart and my soul. And this is it. Finally.

Go out and vote. It's the most important thing that you can do.

Obama has got identity politics on the run | Andrew Sullivan - Times Online

2008-10-26T19:41:00.001-07:00

This is one of the most positive - and humbling -- descriptions that I have read during this election season. If this doesn't illustrate another wonderful reason to vote -- I don't know what will.

So go vote!

The e-mail read: For me the most moving moment came when the family in front of me, comprising probably four generations of voters (including an 18-year-old girl voting for her first time and a ninetysomething hunched-over grandmother), got their turn to vote. When the old woman left the voting booth, she made it about halfway to the door before collapsing in a nearby chair, where she began weeping uncontrollably. When we rushed over to help, we realised that she wasnt in trouble at all, but she had not truly believed, until she left the booth, she would ever live long enough to cast a vote for an African American for president.

Obama has got identity politics on the run | Andrew Sullivan - Times Online

New Washington State Poll Numbers | Slog | The Stranger | Seattle's Only Newspaper

2008-10-21T20:54:00.001-07:00

At Last Night's Drinking Liberally, there was much concern that the Governor's race could tip toward Rossi. The latest poll numbers -- at least this lastest Elway Poll, seems to point otherwise:

Theres a new Elway Poll out today and it has good news for Gov. Christine Gregoire (with continuing good news for Barack Obama). Gregoire 51, Rossi 39 Obama 55, McCain 36

New Washington State Poll Numbers | Slog | The Stranger | Seattle's Only Newspaper

Beat the Press Archive | The American Prospect: Joe the Plumber would pay a max. $900/year in taxes

2008-10-18T07:51:00.001-07:00

According to Dean Baker of the Center for Economic Policy and Research, if Joe the Plumber netted $250,000, he would pay an additional $900 in taxes per year. If he makes more, he would pay more, if he makes less, he would pay less.

Seems to me that is fair. $900 will not prevent Joe from hiring others, and it would not prevent Joe from conducting his business.

This is fair. We need to start putting these soundbytes into perspective so people can make informed decisions.

Much of last night's presidential debate centered on "Joe the Plumber," Joe Wurzelbacher, a plumber who Barack Obama met while campaigning in Ohio. According to the New York Times, Mr. Wurzelbacher says that he is planning to buy a plumbing business that has profits of between $250,000 and $280,000 a year. While this income would put Mr. Wurzelbacher above the threshold where he could expect to pay higher taxes under Senator Obama's tax plan, the increase in his tax bill would be relatively modest. Under Senator Obama's plan, the tax on income above $250,000 would increase by 3 percentage points from 33 percent to 36 percent. This means that Mr. Wurzelbacher could expect to see his tax bill rise by between $0-$900, assuming that this plumbing business would be his entire taxable income. If he has additional taxable income, then he would see a larger increase in his taxes. It would have been useful for reporters to explain the extent to which Joe the Plumber would see his taxes increase under Senator Obama's tax proposal. It is unlikely that this tax increase will seriously impair his plans for his business as Senator McCain implied.

Beat the Press Archive | The American Prospect

Reporter attacked at Palin Rally: Automatic Writing

2008-10-17T07:38:00.001-07:00

This reporter had a rough day at a Palin Rally held at Elon University yesterday. I have the essentials below, but I recommend that you click on the link at the end of the post and read the whole article.

Emotions are definitely running high. There is definitely going to be some ugliness over the next couple of weeks.

I sidled up to one of the Obama supporters and asked why they were there, what they were trying to accomplish. As he was telling me a large, bearded man in full McCain-Palin campaign regalia got in his face to yell at him. Hey, hey, I said. Im trying to interview him. Just a minute, okay? The man began to say something about how of course I was interviewing the Obama people when suddenly, from behind us, the sound of a pro-Obama rap song came blaring out of the windows of a dorm building. We all turned our heads to see Obama signs in the windows. This was met with curses, screams and chants of U.S.A by McCain-Palin folks who crowded under the windows trying to drown it out and yell at the person playing the stereo. It was a moment of levity in an otherwise very tense situation and so I let out a gentle chuckle and shook my head. Oh, you think thats funny?! the large bearded man said. His face was turning red. Yeah, thats real funny& he said. And then he kicked the back of my leg, buckling my right knee and sending me sprawling onto the ground. From my position there I saw the bottoms of a number of feet almost accidentally stomping me to death as the two political camps screamed back and forth, the music continued to blare and some of the Obama crowd moved the large bearded man and his friends away. When I was helped to my feet the bearded man was walking away quickly. For a moment I considered running the bloated, twelve-sandwich eating prick down and beating the living hell out of him&and then I remembered that Im a reporter, how much I enjoy being gainfully employed and how hard it would be to keep my job if I got into a fistfight with a guy at a political rally. So instead I limped off to try to find a security guard or cop.

How I Became Joe Sixpack « AUTOMATIC WRITING

The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan (October 10, 2008) - The Dangerous Panic On The Far Right

2008-10-10T07:00:00.001-07:00

Andrew Sullivan hit's the head on the nail. This is a dangerous time for Barack Obama. McCain is encouraging hatred at a time when we need to be united. Panic is ugly, and let's pray that it doesn't get any worse.

I wonder...what are acceptable morals and ethics these days? The ends most definitely do not justify the means. These are Machiavellian days.

...This is a moment of maximal physical danger for the young Democratic nominee. And McCain is playing with fire. If he really wants to put country first, he will attack Obama on his policies - not on these inflammatory, personal, creepy grounds. This is getting close to the atmosphere stoked by the Israeli far right before the assassination of Rabin. For God's sake, McCain, stop it. For once in this campaign, put your country first.

The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan (October 10, 2008) - The Dangerous Panic On The Far Right

A DL Member Angel Cruz on the bailout: You should be afraid

2008-10-05T09:32:00.001-07:00

Angel presents a perspective on the bailout that you may or may not agree with, but the solution outlined below deals with the problem, and it's not a band-aid to cover the wound.

As I sat here watching the Bailout Bill debate on the House floor I was overwhelmed with fear. The bill being considered was not drawn from a thoughtful game plan. In fact the $700 billion is admitted as "picking a really big number", and the additional $150 billion added to the bill is not part of any plan but merely pork tossed out to grease the vote. $850 billion tossed into the wind hoping something good will happen.
Paulson is correct that the signal lights of our economy are all flashing red but there is no reflection on how we got here and what it will take to undo the mess. The Paulsen/Senate/House plan commits the VERY same mistakes that got us in trouble by placing most of its faith in financial alchemy. The investment banks and ratings agencies thought you could reduce the risk by slicing up these mortgages even though the system had been working just fine. Now we are told that by the government pulling all the slices back together real value will be recreated. Yes, for the banks, because we will be overpaying!
The proposal shows little evidence of having learned the lessons of information asymmetry which played such a large role in getting us into this mess. The banks will pass on their lousiest mortgages. Paulson may assure us: we will hire the best and brightest of Wall Street to make sure that this doesn’t happen. (Wall Street firms are already licking their lips at the prospect of a new source of revenues: fees from the U.S. Treasury.) But even Wall Street’s best and brightest don’t exactly have a credible record in asset valuation; if they had done better, we wouldn’t be where we are. This also assumes that they are really working for the American people, not their long term employers in financial markets. Even if they do use some fancy mathematical model to value different mortgages, those in Wall Street have long made money by gaming against these models. We will then wind up not with the absolutely lousiest mortgages, but with those which Treasury’s models most underpriced risk. So what are the major flaws in proposal as passed?
There are three critical flaws in the proposal. The first is that it relies—once again—on trickle down economics: somehow, throwing enough money at Wall Street will trickle down to the benefit of Main Street, helping ordinary workers and homeowners. (The irony is that Wall Street was itself destroyed in an act of trickle
up economics—in its rush to make sure that the money it had discovered at the bottom of the pyramid was moved to the top.) Trickle down economics almost never works, and it is no more likely to work at this time than at any other. Even if it “works,” it’s neither the most efficient nor the fairest way of addressing the problem.
The second is that it sees the fundamental problem as a crisis of confidence. That no doubt is part of the problem; but the failure of confidence is because the financial markets made some very bad loans. That’s not just a matter of imagination or perception. It’s reality. There was a housing bubble, which supercharged our economy, and that has now burst. Best estimates are that house prices have a ways to fall before they are back to normal. We might be able to stop overshooting; but that is perhaps the best we can hope for. And if prices do continue to fall, there will be more foreclosures. The bad loans have created a hole in banks’ balance sheets. That has to be repaired. If the government pays fair value for these assets, it will do nothing to repair that hole.
The third is that real contractionary dynamics are already in play, and this proposal does nothing about that. Even if the proposal were implemented quickly, there would be some credit contraction. But beyond that, states and localities are hurting, and are cutting back expenditures. Household balance sheets are weaker, and we can expect consumers to contract expenditure—or at least not expand it at a pace to sustain growth. The U.S. economy has been sustained by a consumption boom fueled by excessive borrowing, and that will be curtailed. But an economic slowdown will exacerbate all our financial problems. The President has made it clear that he will veto any effective stimulus bill, including an extension of unemployment benefits.
Of course this bill downplays foreclosures. Large amounts of foreclosures may accelerate the downturn, and may result in overshooting, and so it is important to address the foreclosure problem. Let’s be clear about one thing: the Administration’s view that the $700 billion bail-out will ensure that the mortgages the market views as bad aren’t really so bad is a fantasy. The fact is that loans were made on the basis of inflated prices, and real estate prices are falling. No amount of talking up the market is going to change that. But direct aid to homeowners can make a difference.
That is why it is also absolutely essential that we deal directly with the foreclosure problem and Joseph Stiglitz provides a map. Joseph Stiglitz states the Paulson plan is like providing massive blood transfusions to an ailing patient while vast internal hemorrhaging is occurring. Unless we deal with the underlying source of the problem, the bleeding of our financial system will continue. Stiglitz says there are three things we could do easily and quickly, and for a fraction of the price of the Wall Street bail-out. "First, we can make housing more affordable for poor and middle income Americans, by converting our mortgage deduction into a cashable tax credit. The government pays in effect 50% of mortgage interest and real estate taxes for upper income Americans, yet for poor Americans it does nothing. This reform is, in any case, long overdue. Secondly, we need bankruptcy reform allowing for homeowners to write down the value of their homes and stay in their houses, in addition to the help that the current legislation proposes. Thirdly, government could assume part of the mortgage, taking advantage of the lower interest rate at which it has access to funds and its greater ability to demand repayment. In return for the lower interest rate—which would make housing more affordable— it could demand from the homeowner the conversion of the loan into a recourse loan (reducing the likelihood of default), and from the original holders of the mortgage, a write down of the value of the mortgage to say 90% of the current market price."
Sounds good to me.
Angel
We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.
Abraham Lincoln

I would add that in addition to directly helping those in danger of foreclosure, there is in addition another crisis that no one is talking about: We are a nation of financial illiterates. There is an expectation that we should "just know" how to manage our money. As some of us know, that is not the case. And since our economy is based on consumerism, our nation has turned into a nation of debtors.

We should immediately start a national educational effort that will help people to obtain a basic level of financial literacy. Start with schools, but reach out to everyone and anyone that is in need. That is the real way to keep our country on an even financial keel.

Tina Fey As Sarah Palin In VP Debate On SNL (VIDEO)

2008-10-04T22:45:00.001-07:00

Tina Fey nails it again! Check out the VP debate satire. It's satire, but it's so real, it's scary (but funny as hell!).....

Saturday Night Live's sketch about the vice presidential debate starred Queen Latifah as debate moderator Gwen Ifill, as well as Tina Fey, reprising her role as Governor Sarah Palin.

Tina Fey As Sarah Palin In VP Debate On SNL (VIDEO)

Palin says Obama 'palling around' with terrorists

2008-10-04T13:12:00.001-07:00

OK--Here we go. It's going to get ugly. Screw civility...I hope Obama's got a gameplan to respond.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) - Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Saturday accused Democrat Barack Obama of "palling around with terrorists" because of his association with a former 1960s radical, stepping up the campaign's effort to portray Obama as unacceptable to American voters.

Palin says Obama 'palling around' with terrorists

The Twelve Lies of Sarah Palin: The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan

2008-09-23T21:00:00.001-07:00

Andrew Sullivan pegs it in this post:

The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan

Tina Fey as Sarah Palin

2008-09-23T07:38:00.001-07:00

McCain on banking and health - Paul Krugman - Op-Ed Columnist - New York Times Blog

2008-09-20T07:15:00.001-07:00

Krugman quotes the latest McCainism:

Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation.

McCain on banking and health - Paul Krugman - Op-Ed Columnist - New York Times Blog

Drinking Liberally Olympia has a new home!

2008-09-14T20:38:00.001-07:00

Hello Drinking Liberally Olympia!

There is lots going on with DL Olympia, so please read the entire message!

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT
Please plan on joining Barry and me tomorrow night, September 15th, at 7 pm for a fun evening of political discussion and fellowship! Lots has happened over the past few weeks and months, and it's an exciting time to gather with fellow liberals to toast the season!

NEW MEETING LOCATION
We are pleased to announce that our Drinking Liberally Olympia meetings will now be held at the BallyHoo Irish Pub and Restaurant. The pub is located in Tumwater, right across the street from the Olympia Brewery location, and next door to the Schmidt Mansion.

Ballyhoo offers a wide variety of beer and wine, and other libations if desired. Your official food tasters found the menu items quite appealing as well!

We will be meeting in the back room. The area is more conducive to conversation.

The address is:
316 Schmidt Place
Tumwater, WA, 98501-3343

DL OLYMPIA IS BACK TO MEETING TWICE A MONTH
Starting with September 15th, we will once again be hosting meetings twice a month, on the first and the third of each month, starting at 7:00.

Barack Obama : : Change We Can Believe In | Obama HQ Blogger: Largest Crowd Yet: 75,000 Rally in Portland

2008-05-18T20:29:00.001-07:00

For hours now, we've been seeing stories about the huge lines for today's outdoor rally at Waterfront Park in Portland, Oregon. It's now been confirmed that the actual crowd on hand topped 75,000 people (60,000 inside the gates of Waterfront Park, with another 15,000 outside). Here is what the largest crowd yet of this Presidential campaign looks like:

The sea of heads stretches for half a mile along the grassy embankment, while others watch from kayaks and power boats bobbing on the Willamette River. More hug the rails of the steel bridge that stretches across the water and crowds are even watching from jetties on the opposite shore.

All I can say is wow!.....I wish I was there!

Barack Obama : : Change We Can Believe In | Obama HQ Blogger: Largest Crowd Yet: 75,000 Rally in Portland

The Washington Note--Creation of a National Infrastructure Bank

2008-02-18T05:03:00.001-08:00

Your humble blogger makes his living helping communities to invest in public works infrastructure. Obama has come out supporting the need for the Federal Government to once again invest our nation's infrastructure. And by the way, Washington state has a great model that stands out as one of the best: The Public Works Trust Fund.

This from Steve Clemons at the Washington Note:

Barack Obama has just announced support for a national infrastructure bank -- similar to the one that Senators Chris Dodd and Chuck Hagel have been pushing for in Congress.

This is really important for the nation -- and helps to get back to sensible thinking about rebuilding the foundation on which this country's commerce, jobs base, social networks, just about everything that requires connectivity is based. Dems -- particularly budget hawks -- are in a bind because the stress on the discretionary part of the national budget is going to preempt any 'politics of optimism' if we can't distinguish between capital investments in national infrastructure that will help drive forward growth and gains for the economy -- and other kinds of disbursements that have less of an impact on economic growth.

The Washington Note

John Edwards To Drop Out Of Race - Politics on The Huffington Post

2008-01-30T06:31:00.001-08:00

What ticks me off about this is that the vast majority of Democrats in this country has had no say in who our nominee will be. The system is broken -- and it needs fixin'.

DENVER — Democrat John Edwards is exiting the presidential race Wednesday, ending a scrappy underdog bid in which he steered his rivals toward progressive ideals while grappling with family hardship that roused voters' sympathies but never diverted his campaign, The Associated Press has learned.

John Edwards To Drop Out Of Race - Politics on The Huffington Post

Drinking Liberally Presidential Caucus Survey Results

2008-01-19T12:44:00.001-08:00

Thanks to all that participated in the Survey this past week. The results are presented below, along with supplemental information presented during the survey. After the online survey results are presented, then the January 7th Drinking Liberally question results are presented.

There are some differences between the two, which may or may not be surprising to you. I will leave the analysis up to you.

Introduction to Survey

Who is your ideal liberal candidate for president? Choose your favorite person even if that person is no longer running for president.All responses are anonymous. Please be sure to read the introduction at the beginning of each page. It will give you the context on how to answer the questions.
These questions replicate a DL Olympia Caucus that we conducted at the first January Drinking Liberally meeting in which 16 people participated.

After you vote on each page, the following page will provide a description of how people voted at the January DL Meeting. Please make your selection first and then proceed to the next page -- No looking at the results first and then voting, and no changing your vote after you look!

Now on to the survey...

Favorite Candidate

On this page, you will identify your favorite candidate for president independent on whether he/she is still running or no longer running.

Which candidate would you most likely support for President?

	Percent	Count

Hillary Clinton	15.40%	4

Barack Obama	19.20%	5

John Edwards	23.10%	6

Dennis Kucinich	23.10%	6

Joe Biden	7.70%	2

Chris Dodd	0.00%	0
Bill Richardson	0.00%	0
None of these choices	11.50%	3

2. If you selected "None of these choices" above, please write in your favorite candidate.

Percent

Count

Ralph Nader	7.70%	2
Russ Feingold	3.80%	1

At the first January DL Olympia Meeting, here are the results of the poll of the 16 people who participated during the meeting:
5 Barack Obama
5 John Edwards
4 Hillary Clinton
2 Dennis Kucinich

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

Your preference for "viable candidates"

These questions will identify your preference for candidates who are currently running for President, and who have gathered significant support in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries

Which candidate would you most likely support for President?

Percent

Count

Hillary Clinton	18.20%	4

Barack Obama	22.70%	5

John Edwards	54.50%	12

Do not wish to respond	4.50%	1

	answered question	22
	skipped question	4

At the first January DL Olympia Meeting, here are the results of the poll of the 16 people who participated during the meeting:
6 Barack Obama
6 John Edwards
4 Hillary Clinton

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

Now for an interesting twist....

Let's assume that no Candidate can garner enough electoral votes to win the nomination. After much arm twisting by Democratic party leaders, Al Gore decides to be considered as the party's nominee.

Which candidate would you most likely support for President?

Percent

Count

Hillary Clinton	4.50%	1

Barack Obama	22.70%	5

John Edwards	40.90%	9

Al Gore	31.80%	7

	answered question	22

	skipped question	4

At the first January DL Olympia Meeting, here are the results of the poll of the 16 people who participated during the meeting:

Of the 16 people who voted, 14 changed their votes to Al Gore.

Sorry, I lost the notes that contained the records for the other two votes who didn't change their votes....

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

Clinton accuses Obama of flip-flops - Decision '08- msnbc.com

2008-01-07T07:57:00.001-08:00

You know--I kind of like flip-floppers. They show the maturity to change their position if wrong, if they get new information, or they found out how to do something better. Look at where our country is today because Bush refused to take a second look at failed policies.

Flip-flopping is NOT a sin......the sin is changing your position, or refusing to take a position for political gain.

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democratic presidential front-runner no longer, accused campaign rival Barack Obama of changing his positions on health care and "a number of issues" in a debate three days before the crucial New Hampshire primary.

Clinton accuses Obama of flip-flops - Decision '08- msnbc.com

The Obama Phenomenon | MetaFilter

2008-01-06T22:22:00.001-08:00

Metafilter has an extensive community dialogue on the rise of Obama. Tonight, it's reported he is favored by 10% over Clinton in New Hampshire.

One who follows the link below will find that they can spend hours--and I mean literally hours--following the links about the ascendency of Barack Obama.

It is quite amazing to witness what he appears to have unleashed--an energy and an excitement that calls for all of us to work together to rebuild a country that we can all be proud of.

It's going to be interesting!

The Obama Phenomenon

The Obama Phenomenon | MetaFilter

Drinking Liberally Meetings Moved to 1st and 3rd Mondays

2007-12-27T21:07:00.001-08:00

Due to yet another scheduling conflict, DL participants have agreed to reschedule their regular Drinking Liberally Meetings to the 1st and 3rd Mondays. We will continue to meet at the Urban Onion starting at 7:00 PM.

Our next meeting will be January 7th. Please plan on joining us as part of your 2008!

Wexler Wants Hearings.com

2007-12-27T21:02:00.001-08:00

If you haven't signed the petition yet, please do so. Here. The effort is gaining steam -- Do your part today.

MIAMI HERALD: Rep. Wexler calls for Cheney's impeachment

by Lesley Clarke
Echoes of Dennis Kucinich? A South Florida congressman called for impeachment hearings on the vice president.
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Robert Wexler is taking on the Bush administration -- in cyberspace.
The Boca Raton Democrat has launched a website -- wexlerwantshearings.com -- and is gathering signatures calling for impeachment hearings against Vice President Dick Cheney.
''Our Constitution mandates that the House of Representatives hold presidents and vice presidents accountable when they commit high crimes,'' Wexler says in a video on the site, which suggests, among other things, that Cheney manipulated intelligence to boost the case for war against Iraq and was involved in the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame.
Within two days of posting, Wexler said he had surpassed his goal of 50,000 signatures and is aiming for 250,000. He's written an op-ed article with two fellow members of the House Judiciary committee, calling for hearings into whether Cheney violated the Constitution.
Though the push is, as Wexler acknowledges, a ''huge uphill battle,'' because House leadership has not been interested, the quest has made him a favorite of left-leaning activists.
''It's phenomenal. I think he's a very brave person to go against the Democratic leadership,'' said Diane Lawrence, a Kendall woman and member of the South Florida Impeachment Coalition, which began calling for impeachment hearings last August. ``He's gaining momentum, this is what people around the country were waiting for.''
Wexler, a veteran member of the House Judiciary Committee, hopes to deliver the signatures to the committee in January when Congress returns to Washington.

Wexler for Congress

AlterNet: America's Rich Citizens Can't Escape Our Poor Public Infrastructure

2007-11-21T06:37:00.001-08:00

Barbara Ehrenreich, author of "Nickel and Dimed," is an expert on poverty in America. In this post, she makes the point that even the ultra-rich can't get away from the poverty that they have helped to create.

What this means is that even the very rich cannot escape into their own little bubble of purity and excellence, of “haute” this and “haute” that. Ride around in a limo and you still have to sit in traffic created by ordinary people who can’t afford to live near where they work. Fly in a private jet and you’re still dependent on archaic, underfinanced, systems of air traffic control. Travel first class on the Acela train and you still have to stare out at the rotting environs of Philadelphia and Newark. Oh, and you lobbied against higher taxes and regulations on business? Then think twice before you sink your teeth into that chocolate and gold dessert. The vermin are always with you.

AlterNet: America's Rich Citizens Can't Escape Our Poor Public Infrastructure

No Drinking Liberally Monday Night

2007-11-11T07:25:00.001-08:00

Monday Night's Drinking Liberally meeting is canceled in commemoration of Veteran's Day. Join us November 26th at a new location for the next exciting get together!

Goodbye to All That

2007-11-05T06:47:00.001-08:00

A fascinating article about Barack Obama by Andrew Sullivan in the Atlantic. It offers a perspective of why Obama's candidacy, and if elected, his presidency, could move this country in a new, positive direction. Sullivan believes that Obama is the catalyst for finding, exploring, and bringing about common ground as a matter of principle. Sullivan believes Obama could bring together varied interests within this country, and take this country to a place where it is viewed both as a leader and a partner on the global front.

At its best, the Obama candidacy is about ending a war—not so much the war in Iraq, which now has a momentum that will propel the occupation into the next decade—but the war within America that has prevailed since Vietnam and that shows dangerous signs of intensifying, a nonviolent civil war that has crippled America at the very time the world needs it most. It is a war about war—and about culture and about religion and about race. And in that war, Obama—and Obama alone—offers the possibility of a truce.

Goodbye to All That

Talking Points Memo | Dean on Mukasey

2007-11-03T07:21:00.001-07:00

John Dean has a few thoughts on the pending approval by the Senate Judiciary Committee of Judge Mukasey 's AG appointment. I agree with him:

Since Judge Mukasey’s situation is not unlike that facing Elliot Richardson when he was appointed Attorney General during Watergate, why should not the Senate Judiciary Committee similarly make it a quid pro quo for his confirmation that he appoint a special prosecutor to investigate war crimes? Richardson was only confirmed when he agreed to appoint a special prosecutor, which, of course, he did. And when Nixon fired that prosecutor, Archibald Cox, it lead to his impeachment.
Before the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee completely cave-in to Bush, at minimum they should demand that Judge Mukasey appoint a special prosecutor to investigate if war crimes have been committed. If Mukasey refuses he should be rejected. This, indeed, should be a pre-condition to anyone filling the post of Attorney General under Bush.
If the Democrats in the Senate refuse to demand any such requirement, it will be act that should send chills down the spine of every thinking American.

Talking Points Memo | Dean on Mukasey

This is a sad time in American history. And, unfortunately, congressional Democrats have to take much of the blame. We all know and are saddened by what has happened in the Bush Administration. But the fact that it is being ignored by our duly elected representatives is sadder still.

Demand Peace

2007-10-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

"Before the terrifying prospects now available to humanity, we see even more clearly that peace is the only goal worth struggling for. This is no longer a prayer but a demand to be made by all peoples to their government -- a demand to choose definitively between hell and reason."

Albert Camus (French Resistance Newspaper Combat, August 8, 1945)

Fall 2002 ... Iraq. Fall 2007 ... Iran.

2007-10-24T15:54:00.001-07:00

Don't let it happen again, America!

Shifting Targets: The Administration’s Plan for Iran
by Seymour M. Hersh
The New Yorker
October 8, 2007

“They’re moving everybody to the Iran desk,” one recently retired C.I.A. official said. “They’re dragging in a lot of analysts and ramping up everything. It’s just like the fall of 2002”—the months before the invasion of Iraq, when the Iraqi Operations Group became the most important in the agency. He added, “The guys now running the Iranian program have limited direct experience with Iran. In the event of an attack, how will the Iranians react? They will react, and the Administration has not thought it all the way through.”
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/10/08/071008fa_fact_hersh

Say "No" To War With Iran

2007-10-24T15:14:00.000-07:00

Speak Up, America ... NOW! Exercise your prerogative as citizens. Yell, shout, scream at Congress that war with Iran is not the answer. Your silence is your assent.

From Physicians for Social Responsibility:
http://www.psr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=NoWarOnIran

Promoting a Diplomatic Solution to the Iran Crisis
Remarks by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, aggressive posturing by the Bush Administration, and provocative legislation from Senators Kyl and Lieberman have again drawn the world’s attention to tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

The absence of communication between the two grows more dangerous every day.

Instead of speaking at each other from the podium, U.S. and Iranian leaders should seize the opportunity to talk to each other. During the past year PSR has promoted diplomacy with Iran as the most responsible approach to this difficult situation.

PSR is working to use its medical voice to educate the public about the likely human consequences of a war with Iran. PSR produced a report entitled War is Not the Answer: The Medical and Public Health Consequences of Attacking Iran, which is being used by PSR chapters to educate Congressional representatives, the media and the public about the consequences of a military strike and the need for a diplomatic solution. Click here to view PSR’s work on Iran.

Al Gore, UN Panel Share Nobel for Peace - Technology on The Huffington Post

2007-10-12T06:54:00.001-07:00

This will be interesting over the next couple of weeks. An immense amount of pressure will be put on Al Gore to run for the presidency. Will he bite?

OSLO, Norway — Former Vice President Al Gore and the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change jointly won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Friday for their efforts to spread awareness of man-made climate change and to lay the foundations for fighting it.
Gore, who won an Academy Award earlier this year for his film on global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth," had been widely tipped to win the prize.
He said that global warming was not a political issue but a worldwide crisis.
"We face a true planetary emergency. ... It is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity," he said. "It is also our greatest opportunity to lift global consciousness to a higher level."
The win is also likely add further fuel to a burgeoning movement in the United States for Gore to run for president in 2008, which he has so far said he does not plan to do.

Al Gore, UN Panel Share Nobel for Peace - Technology on The Huffington Post

The Seattle Times: Postman on Politics

2007-10-04T21:18:00.001-07:00

The S-CHIP fiasco:

I applaud the Governor for showing moral leadership on this issue. Since Hillary was riotously dismissed in the mid-90's over her health care proposal, no one--and I repeat NO ONE -- in a leadership position has been willing to take on the issue of accessible and affordable health care. It's a disgrace to the country.

The beef I have about the republicans supporting the Bush veto is that they have had 10 years to put something on the table to get at least our nation's children access to health care--for most, it hasn't even crossed their minds to work the issue. They had their chance, now it's time to do something. Anything. And get results.

As usual, I pose the question to Congressional Democratic Leadership: Do you have what it takes to make something happen? Is it finally time to take a stand and make something happen?

At least our Governor has drawn a line in the sand -- I thank you!

Working across the aisle
Posted by David Postman at 03:52 PM
"This is not a political issue. This is an issue of getting children health care. We have to work together in order to make that happen in this country."
Gov. Christine Gregoire, Oct. 1, announcing a lawsuit against the federal government over implementation of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
"The Republican party's opposition to children's health care is shameful and represents the fundamental difference in values that our next election will be fought over."
Gregoire, from a Sept. 18 fundraising appeal

The Seattle Times: Postman on Politics

Drinking Liberally Monday, October 8th....

2007-10-03T21:15:00.001-07:00

Will be held at Warren Tryk's house, and not at the Tumwater Valley Bar and Grill. The time is 7:00 pm and is a BYOB and Bring your own food (appetizer recommended).

We will return to the TVB&G on October 22nd.

For directions, visit the Drinking Liberally meeting notification blog.

Solar Energy / Green Building Tour This Saturday

2007-10-03T21:11:00.001-07:00

National Solar Energy & Green Building Tour

Real Places for Real People

Self-Guided Tour in Thurston County

This Saturday, October 6^th

10:00 am – 4:00 pm

For Locations & Map Visit: http://www.solarwashington.org/tour/2007/OlympiaTour.htm

What is a Green Home?

They use less energy and are more comfortable to live in.
They use less water for every day use
They have healthy, superior, indoor air quality
They use our natural resources efficiently, by reducing waste, reusing products, and using products that contain recycled content, and
Their landscapes requires less watering and chemicals, and a landscape that minimizes water run-off problems down stream.

A Green Built Home is Simply a Quality Built Home
That Will Retain Value into the Future !!!

The tour is sponsored locally by
SunSet Air, Scott Homes & Merrill Lynch

Drinking Liberally Monday, Sept. 10th, 7 pm

2007-09-09T20:48:00.001-07:00

Please plan on joining us tomorrow night for another DL Olympia Style discussion. The Place and time is the same as always: 7 pm at the Tumwater Valley Bar and Grill.

There is no formal topic tomorrow night, just a discussion of current - or past events. Whatever you find interesting!

Press Esc has a rundown on a number of articles that you might --or might not have read about in the past couple of weeks. Pick one and we will talk about it.

Press Esc Community Based Reporting

The War President?

2007-09-07T04:25:00.001-07:00

Let's see now....

The President proudly declares himself the "War President." However, the only institution in our country that has the power to declare war--Congress--has decline to do so.

Sure, they passed the "Patriot Act" but they haven't declared war. Now our "war president" is rallying the troops for yet another skirmish in Iran.

The fact of the matter is that the "War President" is merely a "War President" for political advantage. It's sad to think that more than half of the people in our country has fallen for it hook, line and sinker at one time or another. Let's hope they don't take the bait once again.

Metafilter has some interesting dialogue on the current Iran missives:

"Considering a war with Iran: A discussion paper on WMD in the Middle East" (PDF). A new study by two British scholars claims that the United States has the capacity for and may be prepared to launch a massive assault on Iran. This comes just in time for the post Labor Day product rollout.

Considering a war with Iran | MetaFilter

Obama offers hard truths to supporters - Yahoo! News

2007-09-02T21:38:00.001-07:00

Ah yes, the campaigning continues....but when exactly will the rubber hit the road? According to the article, Obama is sending the message that he is not a "yes man."

WASHINGTON - Democrat Barack Obama has a habit of telling interest groups what they don't want to hear, even at the risk of alienating audiences critical to the prospects of a presidential candidate.
Not to be undone by his rivals, the Illinois senator has made remarks befitting the myriad of forums and debates he's attended, praising the work of unions, upholding Israel to Jewish groups and decrying President Bush's spending on education.

Obama offers hard truths to supporters - Yahoo! News

TPM: The Big Picture and Defining Hypocrisy

2007-09-01T06:15:00.001-07:00

It's always good to seek out the larger lesson behind a political scandal. So in this case, it seems to be, If you're a Republican and you want to misbehave sexually, make sure it's with a chick.

Late Update: Also, make sure you've got a Democratic governor.
--By Josh Marshall, TPM

Talking Points Memo | The Big Picture

==============================================

And this from Wikipedia:

Defining hypocrisy

Merriam-Webster defines hypocrisy as "a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not."
Webster's New World Dictionary defines it thus: "A pretending to be what one is not, or to feel what one does not feel, especially a pretense of virtue, piety, etc." It defines hypocrite as follows: "a person who pretends to be what he is not, one who pretends to be better than he really is."
Since the root of the word comes from actors acting a part, the definition as laid out in dictionaries makes sense. It appears popular usage uses the word to mean something different from its dictionary definition.
Popularily, it is believed an act of hypocrisy has the aim to condemn another person or people, but not to condemn an act; when the critic makes verbal attacks or demands of punishment against perpetrators of the act that one practices oneself. The word hypocrisy is used to mean, simply put, the pot calling the kettle black. One is hard put to find dictionary support of that meaning.
Hypocrisy, then, consists of pretense, feigning, phoniness, being two-faced, insincerity. The theme of insincerity underlies the words of Jesus in the Christian Bible when he calls certain Pharisees to task for being hypocrites, i.e., insincere in their religious practices.

No Meeting on August 27th....

2007-08-21T21:21:00.001-07:00

See you in September!

Topic for 8/13 Drinking Liberally get-together: Dems give Bush the right to keep spying on Americans so they can go on vacation

2007-08-12T09:41:00.001-07:00

Meeting Time: 7:00 pm, Monday August 13th
Meeting Place: Tumwater Valley Bar and Grill

So Let me get this right: Congress votes to give Bush and Company the privilege of warrantless wiretapping, and gives the Attorney General (you know, the guy they want to impeach) and the Director of National Intelligence the authority to decide who in this country the US government will spy on.

I'm thinking we need to clean house again. Anyone want to run for Congress? Maybe the Senate? By the say, does anyone know why Patty Murray didn't vote on this issue?

But I digress.....at Monday's meeting, among the things that I propose for discussion: Do you think Congress is looking our for our best interest? And by Congress, I mean Democratic members of Congress. Are they in it just to get re-elected or are do they have a "higher vision?" Is there anything we can do to influence decision making other than writing letters and getting canned replies back in return?

Want to learn more?

A detailed blog post on this issue, complete with congressional voting record on this subject, can be found at Pat's Daily Grind.

From AlterNet: Rights and Liberties: With FISA Law, Democrats Give Bush a Blank Check for Domestic Spying (link to full article below):

Responding to fear-mongering by the Bush administration, the Democrat-led Congress put its stamp of approval on the unconstitutional wiretapping of Americans. George W. Bush has perfected the art of ramming ill-considered legislation through Congress by hyping emergencies that don't exist. He did it with the USA Patriot Act, the authorization for the Iraq war, the Military Commissions Act, and now the "Protect America Act of 2007" which amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
FISA was enacted in 1978 in reaction to excesses of Richard Nixon and the FBI, who covertly spied on critics of administration policies. FISA set up a conservative system with judges who meet in secret and issue nearly every wiretapping order the administration requests.
But that wasn't good enough for Bush. In 2001, he secretly established his "Terrorist Surveillance Program," with which the National Security Agency has illegally spied on Americans. Instead of holding hearings and holding the executive accountable for his law-breaking, Congress capitulated once again to the White House's strong-arm tactics. As Congress was about to adjourn for its summer recess, Bush officials threatened to label anyone who opposed their new legislation as soft on terror. True to form, Congress -- including 16 Senate and 41 House Democrats -- caved.
The new law takes the power to authorize electronic surveillance out of the hands of a judge and places it in the hands of the attorney general (AG) and the director of national intelligence (DNI). FISA had required the government to convince a judge there was probable cause to believe the target of the surveillance was a foreign power or the agent of a foreign power. The law didn't apply to wiretaps of foreign nationals abroad. Its restrictions were triggered only when the surveillance targeted a U.S. citizen or permanent resident or when the surveillance was obtained from a wiretap physically located in the United States. The attorney general was required to certify that the communications to be monitored would be exclusively between foreign powers and there was no substantial likelihood a U.S. person would be overheard.
Under the new law, the attorney general and the director of national intelligence can authorize "surveillance directed at a person reasonably believed to be located outside of the United States." The surveillance could take place inside the U.S., and there is no requirement of any connection with al-Qaeda, terrorism or criminal behavior. The requirement that the AG certify there is no substantial likelihood a U.S. person will be overheard has been eliminated.

AlterNet: Rights and Liberties: With FISA Law, Democrats Give Bush a Blank Check for Domestic Spying

One million Iraqis killed | Press Esc

2007-08-12T08:02:00.001-07:00

Whether this figure is accurate or not, it cannot be disputed that hundreds of thousands of Iraquis have lost their lives due to the US invasion.

And impeachment is off the table......

One million Iraqis have been killed in the violence caused by the US-led invasion of March 2003, an independent think tank estimated based on the study published in prestigious medical journal The Lancet and the online civilian casualty database Iraq Body Count.
Just Foreign Policy pointed out that since the last scientific estimate of 601,000 violent Iraqi deaths attributable to the U.S.-led invasion was made over a year ago, it necessarily does not include Iraqis who have been killed since then.

One million Iraqis killed | Press Esc

Ex-DOJ employees spar with administration - Lisa Lerer - Politico.com

2007-08-12T07:55:00.001-07:00

I have found that the old adage, what goes around comes around most often comes true. Though our Congress seems unable--or unwilling-- to make the hard choices that must be made, fired DOJ'ers are doing the dirty work.

I especially like the quote about lawyers going postal.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales knows well the ways of sparring with the Senate Judiciary Committee, but increasingly he is facing an uncommon and more effective adversary: former Department of Justice career attorneys who are out to settle the score with Gonzales and the administration.
After months of scandal, firings and some testimony from Gonzales that many on Capitol Hill found wholly unsatisfying, these ex-Justice Department employees are taking a rare step and fighting back.
Former employees of the Civil Rights Division are channeling their workplace rage into lobbying force. The government lawyers say they were ignored, disrespected and kicked out by Bush appointees. The attorneys describe an increasingly partisan workplace, where political appointees intimidated career lawyers and undermined civil rights to push political agendas.
The Justice Department rejects the charges. "Many of the criticisms of the Civil Rights Division and its current and former employees are unfounded,” said Civil Rights Division spokeswoman Cynthia Magnuson. “It is unfortunate that critics repeatedly ignore the division's strong record and resort to political and personal attacks."
But the ex-employees, now safely out of the administration, are undeterred and are increasingly speaking out in a clamor of congressional testimony, letters to committees, scathing op-eds and a whole lot of well-publicized trash talking.
For a government lawyer, it's the equivalent of going postal. "These are people who have spent their entire lives being loyal [to the department]," said Mark Agrast, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress focused on legal issues. "It goes against their grain to speak out."

Ex-DOJ employees spar with administration - Lisa Lerer - Politico.com

Hispanic Voter Shift Gives Hope To GOP, Democrats Still Hold An Edge, But Are Losing Ground Among Young And College-Educated Hispanic Voters - CBS News

2007-08-09T22:30:00.001-07:00

Now, if I were Hispanic--which I'm not--why would I vote republican? The republican party have done nothing but shown amazing prejudice against people from Hispanic heritage.

(AP) Democrats hold an edge with Hispanics in national elections, but Latinos' growing tendency to register as independents and split their vote between parties is buoying Republican prospects for 2008.

Hispanic Voter Shift Gives Hope To GOP, Democrats Still Hold An Edge, But Are Losing Ground Among Young And College-Educated Hispanic Voters - CBS News

Another example:

A developmentally disabled Hispanic man was deported last may, and only recently found, returned to the US, and released to his family, reports the LA Times. The story goes on to say that while the US government acknowledged the mistake, the government felt no obligation to help search for the man.

Unions Go Slow in Backing a Democrat - TIME

2007-08-09T22:19:00.001-07:00

John Edwards had been expecting major endorsements from USA unions. It hasn't happened. And in the AFL-CIO Forum earlier this week, it was Dennis Kucinich that stole Edward's thunder. This from Time Magazine, written prior to the Forum

In a campaign season that has started earlier than ever, one powerful group trying not to get swept up in the heat of the moment is organized labor. As members of the largest U.S. umbrella union, the AFL-CIO, gather in Chicago for the launch of their presidential endorsement process, no immediate endorsements are expected. And that is causing particular angst for the Democratic candidate who has worked hardest for the union vote: John Edwards.

Unions Go Slow in Backing a Democrat - TIME

By the way, the Debate was scheduled for 4:00 Pacific Time. That is the time for virtually all the other debates--I wonder what the debate organizers are thinking....that the Pacific Time zone folks don't vote?

Warrantless Surveillance: Taking Liberties

2007-08-06T18:51:00.000-07:00

This weekend the Democratic Congress expanded the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) giving the Bush Administration power to tap international telephone calls and email messages of American citizens. Not concerned? Well maybe you ought to be. Here's what the Center for National Security Studies says about it:

The Center for National Security Studies strongly opposes the administration’s FISA bill, S. 1927, because it would permit the National Security Agency to acquire and analyze all international communications of Americans, without any meaningful judicial oversight. The administration legislation would allow the NSA warrantless access to virtually all international communications of Americans with anyone outside the US, so long as the government declared that the surveillance was directed at people, which includes foreigners and citizens, reasonably believed to be located outside the US, a definition that covers billions of people.

The administration rejected all reasonable efforts to require that such surveillance be focused on foreigners, be directed at terrorist targets or be limited to protecting against international terrorism. They also rejected efforts to include meaningful court review of the rights of individual Americans’ swept in or even an independent audit of the affect on the privacy of Americans.

This legislation would sunset or expire in six months. However, the sunset has an exception that would allow any directives by Attorney General Gonzales and Director of National Intelligence McConnell that commandeer access to US telephone and internet companies to remain in effect until their expiration (which is likely to be until the end of the administration since the directives can be issued for up to one year, so could be issued to last for the next six months and then reissued on the eve of the sunset, in January 2008, to remain in effect until this administration is finally over in January 2009).
For CNSS’ full analysis and information on the status of requested documents about surveillance of Americans please follow this link

Here's how Washington's Congressional delegation voted:

Nay	WA	Cantwell, Maria [D]
No Vote	WA	Murray, Patty [D]

Nay	WA-1	Inslee, Jay [D]
Nay	WA-2	Larsen, Rick [D]
Nay	WA-3	Baird, Brian [D]
Aye	WA-4	Hastings, Doc [R]
Aye	WA-5	McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R]
Nay	WA-6	Dicks, Norman [D]
Nay	WA-7	McDermott, James [D]
Aye	WA-8	Reichert, Dave [R]
Nay	WA-9	Smith, Adam [D]

Source: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-1927

Campaign Finance: Who's Giving, Who's Getting

2007-08-02T11:44:00.000-07:00

Search who is getting how much and from where at this website, an extensive database for information on campaign finance.

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/index.asp

"The President Cannot Ignore an Impeachment"

2007-07-31T20:55:00.001-07:00

The Nation has an opinion peace on Jay Inslee's attempt today to start a Gonzales impeachment proceeding in Congress. I've attached a snippet of the article, but the entire piece is a good read.

After months of revelations about his ham-handed attempts to politicize investigations and prosecutions by U.S. Attorneys and sections of the Department of Justice he heads, after his repeated refusals to cooperate with Congress and his deliberate attempts to deceive the House and Senate judiciary committees, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has invited impeachment to an extent rarely seen in the long and sordid history of executive assaults on the rule of law.
And Congressman Jay Inslee is answering the invitation.
The Washington Democrat moved Tuesday to introduce a resolution that directs the House Judiciary Committee to investigate whether Alberto R. Gonzales, Attorney General of the United States, should be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors.
Inslee's initiative is a serious one, and he is in many senses precisely the right member of the House to be making this push.
As a former prosecutor, he is well acquainted with the requirements of the oath that all House members swear to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic." He is, as well, a member of the Democratic establishment in the House, a relatively moderate representative who is on good terms with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. But, most significantly, he is a representative from a state with an active impeachment movement.
For more than a year, the Washington for Impeachment campaign has demanded that Congress act to hold members of the Bush-Cheney administration to account for their high crimes and misdemeanors. Inslee has heard those demands, loud and clear, and he recognizes their broad appeal. Thus, his move to open an impeachment inquiry is proceeding on the precise lines that the founders intended.

"The President Cannot Ignore an Impeachment"

I Don't Recall.....

2007-07-31T20:47:00.001-07:00

"I don't recall" The quote of the month, er, year, I mean the last six years..

Cheney on Trip to Ashcroft's Hospital Bedside: "I Don't Recall"

TPMmuckraker July 31, 2007 4:52 PM

Health Care Reform: What Presidential Candidates Are Saying

2007-07-31T09:42:00.001-07:00

From government and business subsidized universal coverage to a market-based laissez faire model, opinions among the 2008 presidential candidates on how to fix our health care system are diverse. Get a glimpse of what they're saying.

The Presidential Candidates on Health Care
Presidential candidates in both parties are promising to overhaul the
nation's health care system and cover more — if not all — of the
nation's uninsured. In 2005, 44.8 million people — 15.3 percent
of the population — were without health insurance, according to
estimates released by the Census Bureau in March. The leading
Democrats are competing among themselves over who has the
better plan to control costs and approach universal coverage.
The Republicans, for the most part, are promising to expand
coverage without increasing the role of the federal government,
and reduce cost through tax incentives. Most of the candidates
have not presented a detailed outline of their health care plans,
but here is what they have said so far.

http://www.nytimes.com/ref/us/politics/HEALTH_POSITIONS_2.html

Remembering the Iraq War Resolution Vote

2007-07-30T18:03:00.000-07:00

This October will mark the fifth year since Congress passed the Iraq War Resolution (Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002). It seems like a good anniversary to refresh our memory about how Congress voted.

In the House of Representatives, a total of 296 votes were cast to pass the resolution (81 by Democrats). Votes against adoption were 133 (126 Democrats, 6 Republicans, and 1 Independent). Three members did not vote. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll455.xml#Y

In the Senate, 77 voted for passage (48 Republicans and 29 Democrats). There were 23 who voted against. All were Democrats with the exception of Sen. Chaffee (R-Rhode Island) and Sen. Jeffords (I-Vermont). http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00237

Here’s how the Senators and Representatives from Washington state voted:

Voting “nay” were: Sen. Patty Murray (D), Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA 3th), Jay Inslee (D-WA 1st), Rick Larsen (D - WA 2nd), and Jim McDermott (D-WA 7th).

Voting “yea” were: Sen. Maria Cantwell (D), Norman Dicks (D-WA 6th), Jennifer Dunn (R-WA 8th), Doc Hastings (R-WA 4th), George Nethercutt (R-WA 5th), and Adam Smith (D-WA 9th).

The question that has nagged me for the past five years is why so many Democrats voted for passage. Let’s remember that these votes were cast long after some members of Congress had raised serious questions as to the veracity of the information presented by the Bush Administration supporting passage of the resolution. So what happened to critical thinking? (I am neither excusing the Republicans who voted for passage nor suggesting that they possess lesser intellect, but we all know that the custom in the D.C. beltway is to vote with your own Party’s president.)

Sen. Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia) was memorable, doggedly challenging the Administration those many months leading up to October 2002, but he certainly was not the lone voice of dissent. There were others, both in the Senate and House of Representatives. Here’s a portion of Sen. Russ Feingold’s speech given from the Senate Floor on October 9, 2002 http://www.feingold.senate.gov/speeches/02/10/2002A10531.html

Now, after many more meetings and reading articles and attending briefings, listening to my colleagues' speeches, and especially listening to the President's speech in Cincinnati on Monday, Mr. President, I still don't believe that the President and the Administration have adequately answered the critical questions. They have not yet met the important burden to persuade Congress and the American people that we should invade Iraq at this time.

Both in terms of the justifications for an invasion and in terms of the mission and the plan for the invasion, Mr. President, the Administration's arguments just don't add up. They don't add up to a coherent basis for a new major war in the middle of our current challenging fight against the terrorism of al Qaeda and related organizations. Therefore, I cannot support the resolution for the use of force before us.

Doesn't it make you wonder how things would be today if those 29 Democratic Senators had voted against the resolution?

So I ask those Democrats in Congress who supported the resolution, “Just what were you thinking?”

Talking Points Memo | Cheney?

2007-07-30T06:42:00.001-07:00

Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo writes that the Vice President is really behind that hospital visit by Gonzales and Company to Ashcroft while he was under sedation:

We've noted Sunday's NYT editorial endorsing the impeachment of Alberto Gonzales if Solicitor General and acting AG Paul Clement does not appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Gonzales' alleged perjury before Congress. But a number of readers have pointed out this odd passage. The Times editorial rather blandly states that it was Vice President Cheney who ordered the nighttime visit to John Ashcroft's hospital room.

Talking Points Memo | Cheney?

Amazing--where have all the scruples gone?

Think Progress » Conservatives Refuse To Appear On Fox News To Publicly Defend Gonzales

2007-07-29T12:57:00.001-07:00

Some of the Attorney General's biggest critics are republicans....

On Fox News Sunday this morning, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA) refused to defend Attorney General Alberto Gonzales against accusations that he may have perjured himself before Congress. “It’s very damaging…we badly need an attorney general who is above any question,” said Gingrich. He continued:

Both the president and country are better served if the attorney general is a figure of competence. Sadly, the current attorney general is not seen as any of those things. I think it’s a liability for the president. More importantly, it’s a liability for the United States of America.

Later in the show, host Chris Wallace revealed that no conservative would willingly defend Gonzales on Fox. “By the way, we invited White House officials and Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee to defend Attorney General Gonzales,” said Wallace. “We had no takers.”

Think Progress » Conservatives Refuse To Appear On Fox News To Publicly Defend Gonzales

G.O.P. Leaders Fight Expansion of Children’s Health Insurance - New York Times

2007-07-29T12:51:00.000-07:00

G.O.P. Leaders Fight Expansion of Children’s Health Insurance - New York Times: "WASHINGTON, July 24 — Republican leaders of the House and Senate on Tuesday attacked proposals that call for a major expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, to be financed with higher tobacco taxes.

“Republicans will fight these proposals,” said the House Republican leader, Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio."

Shame, Shame, Shame! Denying health care to anywhere between 3.5 and 5 million children. Republicans are trying to stop this by saying it is a step towards a nationalized health care program. They had six years to come up with an effort that would work. They failed.

It's time to stop hurting our children, and get something done.

Complicity

2007-07-27T21:47:00.000-07:00

Complicity. It is a word that describes the ulcer gnawing at my conscience. I felt its first twinge the day I watched in horror the televised air raid as our bombs lit Baghdad’s pre-dawn sky on March 20, 2003, the event that marked the beginning of the Bush Administration’s Operation Shock and Awe. I was neither shocked nor awed, only horrified as I imagined the fear and carnage that descended upon the streets of that ancient city as our weapons of mass destruction struck their targets one by one. There was a moment of surrealism, of disbelief that my government would actually invade another country without provocation. Iraq had caused us no harm and posed no imminent threat. This war was not even preemptive. There was no danger to preempt, at least none existed that some means short of an invasion could not have extirpated.

In the months preceding Shock and Awe, I observed with detached curiosity and amusement the Bush Administration’s clumsy slight of hands as it shuffled facts, seemingly mixing one deck of cards (al Qaeda) with another (Saddam Hussein). Clumsy because the Administration’s claims were contemporaneously refuted by reputable sources as being weak at best. The reports that contradicted the Administration’s claims were readily available to the public even though the mainstream media failed to put it into pablum for easy consumption. Surely, I thought, Congress with its almost unfettered access to a wealth of classified and unclassified information would demand that the Administration respond to these reports. I hoped against hope.

As the reality of Shock and Awe sank into me, the disbelief was replaced by outrage at Congress, other government officials who had the facts but didn’t speak out, the mainstream media for not living up to their responsibilities as our Fourth Estate, and the citizens who were paralyzed by fear into not questioning our government.

Yet through the heat of my outrage, I felt the first pangs of pain. I criticized others but what had I done as a citizen of the most powerful nation in the world? I stood aside and did little while my government plummeted into the abyss with devastating consequences. By not challenging the actions of my government by any and all legal means available to me, by that passivity I became complicit. I am an accomplice in my government’s immoral action that killed and wounded over 100,000 people, including our brave women and men in uniform, an action that is far from over.

Each time I see photographs of our dead soldiers being honored by the media, read about the plight of our wounded, see images of bloodied bodies of beautiful Iraqi children limp in the arms of their parents who are too bereft to do more than groan, I am overcome by such excruciating pain that I feel I must scream. Yet I know that that achieves nothing. Each day I spend paralyzed costs more lives, so I am moved to act now, to make my voice heard by my Congress. I intend to become a constant pain in its backside just as my complicity constantly gnaws at me. I come to this late, but there are still many more lives at stake.

It is my hope that each of you, as a citizen of a nation that many people around the world regard as the greatest experiment in democracy, will join me. Although trite from overuse, we must remember those wonderful words from our Constitution's preamble. “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

We the people must make our voices heard by those who represent us in Congress. Write, email, and call them as often as you can and demand. Demand that they represent YOU. Whether you want them to end this immoral war or impeach President Bush and Vice President Cheney for abuses of power including misleading this country into this disastrous war, make Congress listen to YOUR voice. They will try to paralyze you into silence by their excuses which are cloaked in political pragmatism, but do not listen because they are specious arguments. Do not let them think for you. Think for yourself. Remember the words Immanuel Kant wrote in 1787 describing enlightenment:

“Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-incurred immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use one's own understanding without the guidance of another. This immaturity is self-incurred if its cause is not lack of understanding, but lack of resolution and courage to use it without the guidance of another. The motto of enlightenment is therefore: Sapere aude! Have courage to use your own understanding!”

“Laziness and cowardice are the reasons why such a large proportion of men, even when nature has long emancipated them from alien guidance (naturaliter maiorennes), nevertheless gladly remain immature for life. For the same reasons, it is all too easy for others to set themselves up as their guardians. It is so convenient to be immature! If I have a book to have understanding in place of me, a spiritual adviser to have a conscience for me, a doctor to judge my diet for me, and so on, I need not make any efforts at all. I need not think, so long as I can pay; others will soon enough take the tiresome job over for me.”

Another case for Impeachment

2007-07-25T21:57:00.001-07:00

Talking Points Memo | Impeachment?

As regular readers of this site know, I've always been against the movement to impeach President Bush. I take this position not because he hasn't done plenty to merit it. My reasons are practical. Minor reasons are that it's late in the president's term and that I think impeachment itself is toxic to our political system -- though it can be less toxic than the high officials thrown from office. My key reason, though, is that Congress at present can't even get to the relatively low threshold of votes required to force the president's hand on Iraq. So to use an analogy which for whatever reason springs readily to my mind at this point in my life, coming out for impeachment under present circumstances is like being so frustrated that you can't crawl that you come out for walking. In various ways it seems to elevate psychic satisfactions above progress on changing a series of policies that are doing daily and almost vast damage to our country. Find me seventeen Republican senators who are going to convict President Bush in a senate trial.

On balance, this is still my position. But in recent days, for the first time I think, I've seen new facts that make me wonder whether the calculus has changed. Or to put it another way, to question whether my position is still justifiable in the face of what's happening in front of our eyes.

I've made up my mind. Impeachment must be on the table. The precedents being set by this presidency is setting the stage for an evolution of our government that no one wants. If impeachment means that a liberal will lose the presidency, so be it. We must question authority. And we must restore our system of checks and balances. Write, call, scream, do whatever it takes to let our elected congressional representatives that they must look past their personal ambitions, and ask themselves what they can do for their country. It is time to take a stand.

Here we go again.....and again....

2007-07-21T22:41:00.001-07:00

Rules Lay Out C.I.A.’s Tactics in Questioning - New York Times

WASHINGTON, July 20 — The White House said Friday that it had given the Central Intelligence Agency approval to resume its use of some severe interrogation methods for questioning terrorism suspects in secret prisons overseas.

I REALLY hope that there will be a media outcry over this....but I doubt it!!

Peggy Noonan dead on? What's the world coming to?

2007-07-16T06:40:00.001-07:00

From DL Olympia regular Warren:

Peggy Noonan, who seemed to effectively give up on Bush’s presidency six weeks ago, during the immigration debate, wrote one of her less-annoying columns today.

In fact, she raises a good point about the president’s demeanor.

As I watched the news conference, it occurred to me that one of the things that might leave people feeling somewhat disoriented is the president’s seemingly effortless high spirits. He’s in a good mood. There was the usual teasing, the partly aggressive, partly joshing humor, the certitude. He doesn't seem to be suffering, which is jarring. Presidents in great enterprises that are going badly suffer: Lincoln, LBJ with his head in his hands. Why doesn't Mr. Bush? Every major domestic initiative of his second term has been ill thought through and ended in failure. His Iraq leadership has failed. His standing is lower than any previous president’s since polling began. He’s in a good mood. Discuss.
Is it defiance? Denial? Is it that he’s right and you're wrong, which is your problem? Is he faking a certain steely good cheer to show his foes from Washington to Baghdad that the American president is neither beaten nor bowed? Fair enough: Presidents can't sit around and moan. But it doesn't look like an act. People would feel better to know his lack of success sometimes gets to him. It gets to them.

You know, that’s true. This president has had more calamities, of greater consequence, than any president should be allowed. And yet, he brags about how well he sleeps, he takes more vacation time than any president in history, and he’s constantly smirking, as if he hasn't a care in the world.

The president has the weight of the world on his shoulders. How about showing some signs of stress?

AlterNet: Blogs: Video: Will Ferrell as George W. Bush on 'Global Warmings'

2007-07-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

AlterNet: Blogs: Video: "Will Ferrell as George W. Bush on 'Global Warmings' [VIDEO]
Posted by Adam Howard on July 14, 2007 at 2:35 AM."

This is another great satire on the President and his new focus on "global warmings." It's hilarious. Take a minute to watch

Nick Anderson: Feel Good, Inc.

2007-07-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

Nick Anderson: Feel Good, Inc.

Houston Chronicle's Editorial Cartoonist Nick Anderson has come out with a great animation on the "feel good" presidency.

TPM: The REAL Reason?

2007-07-03T05:50:00.000-07:00

Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall July 2, 2007 09:35 PM:

"TPM Reader PT notes what many others have also flagged ...

I havent seen this noted but i think the reason for the commutation is that a pardon would mean that Libby was no longer exposed to criminal sanctions and thus had no Fifth Amendment privilege. As it stands he has a fine and probation at stake during the pendency of the appeal which inulates him ( and Bush and Cheney) from havaing to answer questions before Congress."

Makes sense. Now he is still insulated from testifying to Congress. Congress REALLY needs to act upon this. They need to find out the REAL reasons we invaded Iraq.

Another one for the list!

2007-07-02T22:32:00.001-07:00

Shrub did it again! Today, he commuted Scooter Libby's prison sentence. In his commutation statement, Bush says the sentence was "excessive."

Interesting action for someone who holds the all-time record for executions held as governor. The next question is "What's he hiding?" I bet you know without being told! But the answer is something to do with Ass-ets.

Just think, in just over a week, the Bush administration has exempted the Vice-President from being a part of the Executive branch of government, and exempting members of the executive branch from responding to subponeas. How many laws have they broken in just one week?

Just will next week bring? And will our so called Democratic-elected Congress take any kind of action.....As I said before, I doubt it!

The Washington Note: Cheney Plays Julius Caesar and Like Then Must be Stopped (Legally)

2007-06-30T08:50:00.001-07:00

Steve Clemons, over at his blog, The Washington Note, notes:

It is clear now, in retrospect that Cheney has worked hard to write in the "Office of the Vice President" as a body with specific statutory authority that does not derive from the Presidency as his machinations on modifying Executive Orders on "Classified National Security Information."

Republicans and Democrats in Congress should be unifying now on all fronts to immediately contain the power of Cheney and his team if they in fact do not feel that there are any controls on them that should be acknowledged.
Bush was never a Julius Caesar type. Cheney, however, is.

The question is...will Democrats and Repubicans stop him? Do they have the political will to do what is right? Unfortunately, past history suggests no......let's see if they suprise us!

One person CAN make a difference

2007-06-30T07:41:00.001-07:00

When nonvoters are asked why they don't participate in politics, the most common answer they give is that they don't think they can have any impact. The system's gamed, they say, broken, and lawmakers are only concerned about the interests of their cronies.
Thankfully, Andrew Bossie, a young grass-roots organizer, never came to believe that ordinary people are powerless. In 2005, Bossie, then a student at the University of Southern Maine, looked around and noticed that a generation of young people was having real problems affording the kind of education that most people see as vital to having a shot at the American dream. "The skyrocketing costs of tuition, books and living expenses was taking its toll not only on me, but also on my siblings, friends and peers," Bossie wrote in an e-mail exchange. "It was not uncommon to see a college dorm vacated mid-semester because a tuition bill couldn't be paid, or to find a seat once occupied by an eager student empty, because they simply could not afford to continue."
Nobody told Andrew Bossie that he couldn't do anything about the bleak post-graduation prospects so many of his fellow students faced, so he decided he would. "I had a crazy, hare-brained idea," Bossie told me in a phone interview. "And I started to have conversations with people who were politically active, and when I did that I saw that it generated a lot of excitement."

In an interesting alternet article, Bossie, a college student, describes how he decided to go about and change something the way the system is suppose to work: from the ground up, through volunteers dedicated to a cause, There were no paid signature gatherers, no high gloss commercials, just plain old hard work and determination, and a cause that rung true with both Maine residents and their legislature. Congratulations to Bossie, who teaches us all that we can still make a difference!

Start Off the Day Right!!

2007-06-28T18:15:00.001-07:00

From Drinking Liberally regular Warren:

Here's a tip on how to start each day with a positive outlook....

1. Empty the Trash/Recycle Bin on your computer desktop.

2. Create a new folder on your desktop (right-click/new/folder).
3. Name it "George W. Bush"
4. Send it to the trash.
5. Empty the trash.

6. Your PC will ask you, "Do you really want to delete "George W. Bush?"
7. Firmly Click "Yes."
8. Feel better.

Works every time!

White House threatens veto of energy bill | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

2007-06-18T01:01:00.001-07:00

White House threatens veto of energy bill | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

WASHINGTON — President Bush on Tuesday threatened to veto a broad energy conservation bill under consideration in the Senate, if lawmakers try to ban price gouging or swipe at the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. As the Senate began what will likely be several days of debate on the energy package, the White House Office of Management and Budget took aim at a provision that would make price gouging at the gasoline pump a federal crime if the president declared a national energy emergency. More than two dozen states have price gouging laws, but federal law does not address the issue. Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has pointed to the price gouging language as evidence the Democrat-controlled Senate is doing something about high gasoline prices. But the administration argues a price-gouging provision would do nothing to alleviate prices. Echoing oil industry arguments, the White House said price gouging language "could result in gasoline price controls and in some cases bring back long gas lines reminiscent of the 1970s." The sponsor of the language, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., contends: "A strong federal statute that says you are crossing the line is needed. I don't see why anybody would be concerned that we're prohibiting wrongdoing." A somewhat different price gouging bill has already passed the House. That measure also drew a veto threat. The Senate may also try to attach the "No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels" or "NOPEC" provision.

Help me here.....The president will veto the energy bill because it would make price gouging a federal crime?  Let's see now, the president comes from a long line of oil interests among friends and family.  Doesn't this seem insane?  I wonder why the major news outlets isn't picking this one up?

Gerrymandering: June 11th's Drinking Liberally Olympia Meeting Topic

2007-06-10T07:52:00.001-07:00

Hello all!

Hope your summer is going well!

I thought we might kick off tomorrow night's discussion around Gerrymandering. Gerrymandering, as you my know, happens when a congressional district boundaries are changed for political gain.

One of the most well known cases happened in 2003, when the Texas Republican controlled legislature changed the boundaries of the congressional districts to be even more Republican! If you recall, the Democrats in the Legislature took off--out of state--to prevent a vote. Tom DeLay sent US Marshalls' to find them and bring them back--which they did. The Redistricting Plan passed in the fall of 2003.

Gerrymandering is used whenever and wherever elections are held. In the age of computers, however, it has taken on a new life of its own; mapping and GIS programs allow for manipulation to occur once unimaginable.

On Monday, a game developed by students at the University of Southern California debuts on the web. It shows how easily Gerrymandering is used to solidify congressional offices for a partisan purpose. If you have time on Monday, you can play the game at http://www.redistrictinggame.org/.

For some general information on Gerrymandering, Wikipedia has an excellent article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrymandering

Hope to see you tomorrow night, 7:00, at the Tumwater Valley Bar and Grill!

It's game time--learn how the political game REALLY works!

2007-06-10T07:23:00.001-07:00

Mike Musgrove - The New Political Games Make a Point - washingtonpost.com

Jonathan D. Aronson, a professor and political scientist at USC, is a little exasperated that Americans sometimes worry about the potential for voting-machine tampering when there may be a more fundamental -- though, perhaps, drier and harder-to-explain -- problem in how districts are drawn.

"My question was, why would you need to rig the voting machines if you'd already rigged the election by making seats safe?" he said. He took the issue to USC's game-design school to see whether it could build a game on the topic.

Find out how an election can be rigged and play the game at the game's website starting June 11th.

The making of a king?

2007-06-01T22:31:00.001-07:00

AlterNet: Don't We Have a Constitution, Not a King?

Bush has issued a directive that would place all governmental powers in his hands in the case of a catastrophic emergency. If a terrorist attack happens before the 2008 election, could Bush and Cheney use this to avoid relinquishing power to a successor administration?

No...it couldn't happen, could it? Everyone should read Al Gore's new book, "Assault on Reason," or take an hour and watch him talk about his book with Charlie Rose. Of course, watching Al plays into his criticism that actually reading about an issue allows for a more informed republic....

.hmm....It can't happen here, eh?

'Til the End of Days

2007-05-30T22:23:00.001-07:00

George Bush envisions an armed forces presence in Iraq similar to Korea.

So blogs Josh Marshall in Talking Points Memo. Like Korea? We're still there! Marshall notes that this is not about establishing democracy. It's about controlling oil, notes one of his readers.

If this is true, It's about money. It's about strengthening his, his families, and his oil network's financial position long after Bush leaves the White House.

NASA just released a report warning that global warming will reach a tipping point in 10 years. It's too late, the report claims, to do anything about it now. So Oilman Bush might as well milk the oil economy for all it's worth and make a few bucks before life as our kids know it exists no more. What a legacy to leave....

No Drinking Liberally Monday Night

2007-05-26T12:06:00.001-07:00

Due to the Memorial Day Holiday, no Drinking Liberally meeting will be held Monday night, May 28th.

Join us at our next regularly scheduled meeting on June 11th.

The entire government has failed us on Iraq - Countdown with Keith Olbermann - MSNBC.com

2007-05-23T22:30:00.001-07:00

Few men or women elected in our history—whether executive or legislative, state or national—have been sent into office with a mandate more obvious, nor instructions more
clear:

Get us out of Iraq.

Yet after six months of preparation and execution—half a year gathering the
strands of public support; translating into action, the collective will
of the nearly 70 percent of Americans who reject this War of Lies, the
Democrats have managed only this:

The Democratic leadership has surrendered to a president—if not the worst
president, then easily the most selfish, in our history—who happily
blackmails his own people, and uses his own military personnel as
hostages to his asinine demand, that the Democrats “give the troops
their money”;
The Democratic leadership has agreed to finance the deaths of Americans in a war that has only reduced the security of Americans;
The Democratic leadership has given Mr. Bush all that he wanted, with the
only caveat being, not merely meaningless symbolism about benchmarks
for the Iraqi government, but optional meaningless symbolism about
benchmarks for the Iraqi government.
The Democratic leadership has, in sum, claimed a compromise with the
Administration, in which the only things truly compromised, are the
trust of the voters, the ethics of the Democrats, and the lives of our
brave, and doomed, friends, and family, in Iraq.

Keith Olbermann has once again hit the nail on the head. We've actually been betrayed by our Congressional delegation. They say that they have to compromise and let the Bush and company destroy themselves, thereby assuring that 2008 will be a Democratic Election Year.

At what cost? How many more of the men and women in our military -- and their wives and husbands, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, will be sacrificed for a political end?

We can't wait any more. We need to bring our soldiers home from Iraq. It must stop. Now.

John Edwards: Right (or should I say Left) on the Issues. It's time to pay the piper

2007-05-23T21:53:00.001-07:00

John Edwards for President-A Strong Military for a New Century

Moving Beyond the "War on Terror"

“The core of this presidency has been a political doctrine that George Bush calls the ‘Global War on Terror.’ He has used this doctrine like a sledgehammer to justify the worst abuses and biggest mistakes of his administration, from Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib, to the war in Iraq. The worst thing about the Global War on Terror approach is that it has backfired—our military has been strained to the breaking point and the threat from terrorism has grown.”

“We need a post-Bush, post-9/11, post-Iraq American military that is mission-focused on protecting Americans from 21st century threats, not misused for discredited ideological pursuits. We need to recognize that we have far more powerful weapons available to us than just bombs, and we need to bring them to bear. We need to reengage the world with the full weight of our moral leadership.”

“What we need is not more slogans but a comprehensive strategy to deal with the complex challenge of both delivering justice and being just. Not hard power. Not soft power. Smart power.”

It's time. I've been waiting for a candidate to break out. John Edwards is more right than anyone else on the issues. He actually is willing to put it out there and tell us where he stands, where the other candidates are not. Congressional Democrats are selling out and giving Bush a blank check on the war. Edwards is calling them out. And he is challenging you, me, and our neighbors to up the level on the Iraq war. This memorial day.

Lives are at stake.

It's time. I'm sending $$ to the Edwards Campaign this week.

George Monbiot: "If We Don’t Deal with Climate Change We Condemn Hundreds of Millions of People to Death"

2007-05-20T07:16:00.000-07:00

Amy Goodman over at Democracy Now has a transcript of a great interview with George Monbiot, author of Heat: How to Stop the Planet from Burning

Global warming is being pushed as a major issue for next month's gathering of world leaders at the G8 summit in Germany. The Washington Post reported this week the Bush administration is trying to weaken the proposed climate change declaration. U.S. negotiators want to delete a pledge to limit the global temperature rise and cut emissions of greenhouse gas to half 1990 levels. The administration also wants to strike language that designates the U.N. as the appropriate forum for negotiating action on climate change.
Our next guest has done a detailed study into what it would practically take to heed the warnings on climate change and reduce our emissions of greenhouse gas. George Monbiot is a widely read columnist for the Guardian of London and a leading British campaigner for the environment. His latest book is called “Heat: How to Stop the Planet from Burning.”

In the interview, and, I assume, his book, he talks about the need for the World's technologically advanced nations to "lead the way" for real actions that will result in a 60% reduction in green house gasses by 2030. 2030, he says, is the tipping point in which there is no reverse if fail. The countries who need to lead the way need to reduce their own GHG emissions by 90%, something that can be done.

Monbiot describes the lack of political will, especially in the United State at the Federal Level, as the one thing that is keeping the world from achieving this goal.

One action that he says is critical that particularly disturbs me, however, that he says needs to happen is a significant reduction in air travel. Let's face it, we live globally. We are all connected. In order for us to understand each other, we have to be with one another. It is only when we understand one another will society begin to move away from violence towards one another.

This reminds me that one of the paramount rules of the world is that whatever action we take will cause a reaction (positive, neutral, or negative) to occur as well, and it is something that we need to take great care to avoid creating even greater problems.

Fiction begets reality.....(NY Times: Subscription Required)

2007-05-15T20:18:00.001-07:00

Gonzales Pressed Ailing Ashcroft on Spy Plan, Aide Says - New York Times

WASHINGTON, May 15 — On the night of March 10, 2004, a high-ranking Justice Department official rushed to a Washington hospital to prevent two White House aides from taking advantage of the critically ill Attorney General, John Ashcroft, the official testified today. One of those aides was Alberto R. Gonzales, who was then White House counsel and eventually succeeded Mr. Ashcroft as Attorney General. “I was very upset,” said James B. Comey, who was deputy Attorney General at the time, in his testimony today before the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I was angry. I thought I had just witnessed an effort to take advantage of a very sick man, who did not have the powers of the attorney general because they had been transferred to me.” The hospital visit by Mr. Gonzales and Andrew H. Card Jr., who was then White House chief of staff, has been disclosed before, but never in such dramatic, personal detail. Mr. Comey’s account offered a rare and titillating glimpse of a Washington power struggle, complete with a late-night showdown in the White House after a dramatic encounter in a darkened hospital room — in short, elements of a potboiler paperback novel.

Egos, power struggles...these boys need to grow up...forget it, that will never happen!

Drinking Liberally Tomorrow Night, May 14th

2007-05-13T19:59:00.001-07:00

Join us Monday Night, the 14th of May, at 7pm for another DL get-together, Oly style!  Come with your best bushie-related joke or story.  Be prepared to laugh, vent, console, and just have a good time!

$456 Billion Buys what?

2007-05-13T19:55:00.001-07:00

What does $456 billion buy? - Boston.com

Including the $124.2 billion bill, the total cost of the Iraq war may reach $456 billion in September, according to the National Priorities Project, an organization that tracks public spending.

This link presents a slideshow on what $456 billion would buy for other things than killing and maiming. Can you think of others? I bet you can....

Bushies Behaving Badly: Slate Magazine

2007-05-13T08:30:00.001-07:00

An illustrated guide to Republican scandals. - By Holly Allen, Christopher Beam, and Torie Bosch - Slate Magazine

Having a hard time keeping track of all 10,000 GOP scandals? Between fired U.S. attorneys, deleted RNC e-mails, sexually harassed pages, outed CIA agents, and tortured Iraqi prisoners—not to mention the warrantless wiretapping, plum defense contracts, and golf junkets to Scotland—you could be forgiven for losing track of which congressman or Bush administration flunky did which shady thing. Renzi—now, was that the guy with the skeezy land deal? Or the woman Paul Wolfowitz promoted?

Bill Moyers: I'll be watching TV again on Friday Nights

2007-04-30T07:00:00.001-07:00

Bill Moyers Journal . Home | PBS

Bill Moyers has a new show on PBS. premiering last Friday night. His guests included Jon Stewart and Talking Points Memo Josh Marshall. Both interviews provided interesting perspective on the news and how people -- especially those of the younger set -- are obtaining their news. Moyers' website offers video of the show, a weblog, transcripts, etc.

For us liberals, Moyers provides fresh and interesting subject matter from a usually mundane medium.

"Don't Touch Me....." or how to shut one's eyes and put his hands over his ears...

2007-04-22T17:30:00.001-07:00

The Blog | Laurie David and Sheryl Crow: Karl Rove Gets Thrown Under the Stop Global Warming Bus | The Huffington Post

Last night Thelma and Louise drove the bus off the cliff or at least into the White House Correspondents Dinner. The "highlight" of the evening had to be when we were introduced to Karl Rove. How excited were we to have our first opportunity ever to talk directly to the Bush Administration about global warming. We asked Mr. Rove if he would consider taking a fresh look at the science of global warming. Much to our dismay, he immediately got combative. And it went downhill from there.

An interesting post by Laurie David and Sheryl Crow. 

Robert Reich on pills and guns

2007-04-18T21:17:00.001-07:00

Robert Reich's Blog: Guns, Anti-Depressants, and the Massacre in Virginia

In the United States, if you are seriously depressed, you can purchase anti-depressive drugs like Prozac, but only if you have a prescription from a doctor. Anti-depressants are enormously beneficial to millions of people but they are also potentially dangerous if used improperly. So, you have to see a doctor and get an assessment before you can go to a drug store and purchase one.

But in the United States, in places like Virginia, a seriously depressed or deranged person can walk into a store and buy a semi-automatic handgun and a box of ammunition. All you need is two forms of identification. You don’t need permission from a doctor or counselor or anyone in the business of screening people to make sure they’re fit to have a gun.

Robert Reich nails this one.  Special interests are rampant.  Today, congress was not able to block a prescription medicine reform bill for medicaid.  Pharmaceuticals have spent millions donating to congressional races.  And people continue to die because of it.

It is a sad week in this country.

Drinking Liberally reaches 200 chapters nationwide

2007-04-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

From our friends at the National Level...

What Our 200th Chapter Means

With the arrival of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, the Drinking Liberally
map has hit 200 chapters. And with your help
(http://livingliberally.org/4.21.07), we're ready to go so much
further.

While beer companies should rejoice that more Americans are promoting
democracy one pint at a time, it's the progressive movement that has
cause to celebrate: with every new social club, we're building a
community that energizes and expands Liberal America.

Drinking Liberally has never been about the "drinking" -- it's about
creating a welcoming environment in which newcomers can engage,
activists can connect, and everyone can make progressive politics part
of their every day lives. And that's taken different shapes around
the country.

- In Reading, PA, Drinking Liberally is about hosting 100 activists to
meet grassroot candidates before the '06 election
- In Gooding, ID, Drinking Liberally is about defending the word
"liberal" from libelous attacks in the local newspaper
- In Natchez, MS, Drinking Liberally is about finding a bar where
black and white patrons feel comfortable attending together
- In Louisville, KY, Drinking Liberally is about building a network
that pledged thousands of dollars to local public radio

It's fitting that our 200th outpost is the 11th group in Colorado, a
state that is now tied with Pennsylvania for the most chapters.
Colorado is the center of the rising progressive power of the Mountain
West. Its landscape is dotted with dynamic groups like Progress Now
and Progressive Majority and terrific websites like
ColoradoConfidential.com and SquareState.net, a network of progressive
leaders and organizations that are creating real change and serving as
models of political action for the rest of the country.

We are proud to have 11 chapters in Colorado. We're so proud that we
held our 2006 Drinking Liberally National Conference in Denver...and
led the way for the DNC to follow suit next summer.

This rapid and remarkable growth signals another reason for the
progressive movement to be proud. Drinking Liberally has grown as
much or more between election cycles, when activism traditionally
drops off. We are proving that a liberal identity can and will exist
for many Americans more than once every four years.

Up to this point, Drinking Liberally has been fueled by an amazing
network of volunteers -- as is true for our Laughing Liberally comedy
shows, Reading Liberally book tours, Screening Liberally film series,
Eating Liberally meals and Blogging Liberally special events. But
there is only so large a network can grow and only so long it can last
on such a foundation. We have reached 200 chapters as a loose-knit
operation...imagine what we could do with the resources to build a
strong, sustainable organization?

That's why we are excited about the Living Liberally Launch Party
(http://livingliberally.org/4.21.07), this Saturday, April 21st, in
New York City. Living Liberally is the hub that connects all of these
projects, and will make our network an even more valuable partner to
the progressive movement. We're raising the funds to build our
infrastructure, hire our first paid staff and take our next giant
steps forward.

If you want to celebrate our 200th chapter or just tip your hat to the
local group in your town, if you're impressed with how this network
has grown or trust where we plan on taking it next, please buy a
ticket to this Saturday's event
(http://livingliberally.org/4.21.07/ticket.html). Even if you cannot
attend, you can make a contribution
(http://livingliberally.org/4.21.07/sponsor.html) that will help make
200 a stepping stone to even greater achievements.

Welcome, Pagosa Springs. Thank you, everyone, for promoting democracy
one pint at a time.