Thursday, August 26, 2004
Home with the Armadilla
Mrs. JoesBlog and I had a nice time the other night at a fundraiser for local congressman Martin Frost at Gilley's. Excellent barbecue, a speech/pep-talk from Frost, and the highlight, a set from the legendary Gary P. Nunn. It was the first time I'd seen Nunn, and I'd forgotten that I used to like some of his stuff back when that redneck outlaw thing was a big deal. He's a great songwriter, but of course all I really wanted to hear was London Homesick Blues, which he delivered perfectly. Exactly the same as I remember from Viva Terlingua.
When a Texan fancies he'll take his chancesSpeaking of taking chances here in red-state ground zero, the Frost event with 1200 liberals parked on the same lot was the first place I've been lately where I wasn't half-expecting to get my truck keyed.
Chances will be taken, that's for sure.
The Joemobile
Frost, a heavyweight congressman and chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, is one of the prime targets of Tom DeLay's redistricting power grab. His formerly safe Irving-centered district was carved up, leaving him to run against a Republican incumbent.
I worked last election against Pete Sessions, the self-described "most conservative member of Congress" and son of former FBI chief William Sessions. He's a political hack and safe Bush vote with not much in the way of accomplishments (and a penchant for bizarre behavior), while Martin Frost is a national player and has been bringing home the bacon for his district for a long time.
This is looking like a surprisingly competitive race. It would be nice for a few of these moderate Texas Dems like Frost, Chet Edwards and Charlie Stenholm to hang on and stick it to DeLay. One of DeLay's stated goals is to eliminate as many moderate southern Democrats as possible, in an attempt to make the party's elected representation look out of the mainstream.
We aim to help Frost as much as we can, even though sadly we aren't in his district (ours is a non-competitive GOP lock). This is easy to do when we get great BBQ and "good country music from Amarillo and Abilene" in the bargain.
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Josh Marshall on FIRE!
This is so good from start to finish, I can't decide what to excerpt. Picking just one great point at random:
...On the balance sheet of moral bravery, as opposed to physical bravery, the two men are about as far apart as you can be on Vietnam. On the one hand you have Kerry, who already had doubts about whether we should be fighting in Vietnam before he went, and put his life on the line anyway. On the other hand, you have George W. Bush who supported the war, which means he believed the goal was worth the cost in American lives. Only, not his life. He believed others should go; just not him. It's the story of his life. That is almost the definition of moral cowardice.
The rest of the piece isn't all about Vietnam, it's really more about how Kerry and allies should be going after Bush right now. I strongly recommend reading the whole thing. (Thanks to Susan for the tip.)
Wake Up, Media!
E. J. Dionne in the Washington Post (excerpt via Atrios):
The media have to do more than "he said/he said" reporting. If the charges don't hold up, they don't hold up. And, yes, now that John Kerry's life during his twenties has been put at the heart of this campaign just over two months from Election Day, the media owe the country a comparable review of what Bush was doing at the same time and the same age.
If all the stories about what Kerry did in Vietnam are not balanced by serious scrutiny of Bush in the Vietnam years, the media will be capitulating to a right-wing smear campaign. Surely our nation's editors and producers don't want to send a signal that all you have to do to set the media's agenda is spend a half-million bucks on television ads.
This is also a test of John McCain. When he ran against Bush four years ago, McCain was smeared mercilessly. When McCain protested to Bush about the attacks at one of their debates during the 2000 primaries, Bush brushed him off. "John," Bush said, "it's politics."
McCain snapped back, "George, everything isn't politics."
Blueberries lower cholesterol
They also "may help fight cancer and ward off diabetes".
(And the best blueberries, of course, are from Maine.)
Monday, August 23, 2004
Is this a beer commercial or just Oklahoma?
Burnt Orange Report has a classic.
Excerpts:
A few visitors to Arbuckle Lake got more than they bargained for as they witnessed two Sulphur women engaged in a brawl, tearing off each other's bathing suit tops. The incident occurred Friday, July 10...
...Witnesses told the ranger the fight continued for about five minutes during which time both of the women's bathing suit tops were again ripped off, exposing their breasts to the other visitors and children in the picnic area...
...Hamilton told the officer she couldn't remember what they had been fighting about, and their tops had come off accidentally. She said Fisher had bit her by the eyebrow, and there were visible teeth marks under her left eyebrow, according to the ranger's report.
Red Sox Watch: Making progress...
Science Monday
Duck!
Whew, that was close! Looks like we were almost in a crappy Bruce Willis movie.
Maybe you're fine with this, but personally I am NOT happy that this happened in March and we're just now finding out about it. How can we possibly know to send Willis and Affleck to save the Earth with this kind of lackadaisical notification? These guy's time is valuable, and they can't be expected to save us without at least a little notice. Where do the prez candidates stand on funding for astronomy, our first line of defense?
Also, if you can get past the mental image of flies mating, this is kind of interesting. Might explain the, um, reputation of jet-lagged airline crews.
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Says it all:
Friday, August 20, 2004
Onion headline
Red Sox Watch
One adds this topic to curry favor with Mrs Joe'sBlog. One knows what is good for one.
First installment: USAToday says the Sox are on the rise. (And the Rangers are hanging in there, still 1/2 game out )
If one is not a Red Sox fan, feel free to express one's views via the Comments...
NYTimes firmly links Swift Boat Jerks to Bush campaign
Everything you need to know about the Swift Boat Veterans Against Truth. (With a handy diagram here.)
As if we didn't already know who dug them up and funded them. Maybe this will sway an independent or two though, if there still are any.
The Bushies know the fine line they're skirting here. All the wrapping of themselves in the flag, respect for the miltary, etc. looks mighty fishy if these chicken-hawks get caught trashing a war hero. I doubt Jane Q. America will approve of that, which I'm sure is why Bush keeps saying he will NEVER question Kerry's record. Right. He'll just make sure someone else does.
Update: Even Bill O'Reilly is creeped out by the SBVets.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Retro vs. Metro
This is kind of cool. I hear it's funded by the guy who founded the online University of Phoenix.
These folks are adding to the general debate by running ads pointing out the real differences between so-called Red and Blue areas. Like for instance, Blue areas pay way more into the federal treasury and get way less back than Red areas (stop the Socialism!). Or that the main industries in Red states are supported by government subsidies far more than the main industries in Blue states. They even have this "dupometer", to combat some of the wing-nut myths the media has been too lazy to challenge.
In general, it's getting safer to admit you're a liberal these days. Even in Dallas, I've had anti-war and anti-Bush bumper stickers on my car for months and still haven't been vandalized. I've gotten several thumbs-ups and so far no birds. Howard Dean and MoveOn deserve a lot of credit. The improving atmosphere started some time last fall, when Dean was out there more or less single-handedly making it OK to say Our Leader is a miserable failure.
Elmer Bernstein, 1922 - 2004
If you remember the theme from Gunsmoke or can hum the music from the old Marlboro commercials, or if you recall how much the music added to the fun of Animal House, The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters, then you'll be a little sad to hear that Elmer Bernstein passed away yesterday.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
New Yorkers, get your cameras ready!
From TBogg via Wonkette:
If you're a New Yorker with a digital camera or a phone camera and better than average run-away speed, we'd love to see any pictures you might have of Republican delegates as they visit the big city...or massage parlors...or hotel lobbies with women who may not be their wives (Handy Tip: If she's attractive and isn't wearing a red white and blue elephant pin, she's probably not Mrs. Delegate from Possum Holler). Details (who and where) would be appreciated. If you've got pictures...we want 'em. If you want credit...you got it. Extra credit for shots in front of strip clubs. Extra extra credit if you catch a pundit. Extra extra extra credit if you catch Rick Santorum going into a pet store. Extra extra extra extra credit if you catch him coming out with Ann Coulter..
Fencing: very cool sport
Update: Drudge picks up Sessions story
Drudge links to this story from a Houston TV station. Not on Google, The Note or Wonkette yet, but picking up steam...
Bush daughters to attend gay wedding on 9/11?
NYDN Page Six, via Drudge:
When Washington-area beautician Erwin Gomez and his longtime partner James Packard celebrate their marital vows with 400 of their closest friends next month, two of Gomez's best customers will probably be in attendance: President Bush's twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara.
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Local GOP congressman caught stealing yard signs!
In a replay of a previous controversy, Pete Sessions' campaign is back to it's old tricks, stealing Martin Frost's yard signs. Seems ol' Pete got caught doing the same thing back in 2002. Wasn't arrested though. Pity.
We're going to do what we can to help the Frost campaign this fall.
Re-Activist Judges
Dahlia Lithwick is one of my favorite Slaters. This month she's been a guest columnist for the NYTimes. If she keeps coming up with stuff like this, maybe they'll keep her.
We have, at least as a matter of political language, internalized the fiction that liberal judges "make" law, while conservative judges "interpret" it.
Good one from the General
Sunday, August 15, 2004
Signing On
