Another Dipshit Politician from Alabama

I'm not a christian but my values are more in line with the teachings of Jesus than these hypocritical jackasses.

Alabama Jackass of the week: Alabama State Senator Hank Erwin

SCARBOROUGH: You have said a lot of things that have shocked a lot of people. Explain to me why you think that Katrina was God‘s wrath.
ERWIN: Well, I think, if you look at what‘s going on, this whole region has always known that, with the church, that New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are known for sin.

And if you go to a church and you read your Bible, you are always told avoid sin and that there‘s judgment for sin. And I just think that, in my analysis—and I can‘t speak for everybody, but I believe that, if you look at the factors, that you had a city that was known for sin—the signature of New Orleans is the French Quarter, Bourbon Street. It is known for sin. And you have a Bible that says God will judge sin, you can put two and two together and say, it may not be the judgment of God, but it sure looks like the footprint.

So, I just told my friends, in an opinion, I think it could be the judgment of God on the Gulf Coast and on New Orleans. And I would urge the good folks that are the innocent victims to rally and rebuild that city and get a new signature.

Wacko christian DoucheBag!

'Scarborough Country' for Sept. 28th - Scarborough Country - MSNBC.com: "Erwin"

Tone, Truth, and the Democratic Party(?)

Barack Obama posted on Daily Kos today and has attracted alot of attention:

Barack Obama: Tone, Truth, and the Democratic Party

The following rebuttal was posted shortly thereafter:

What an appalling diary from Barack Obama

I happen to be in complete agreement with the rebuttal.... and....

Update.... this rebuttal too:

A Desperate Response for Senator Obama

Give me a Paul Hackett over a Barak Obama any day of the week.

Etan Thomas - Washington Wizard Center

"Speech delivered to 300,000 protesters at the Sept. 24 Washington DC anti-war rally" Etan Thomas

Miller Walks: The Plot Thickens

Seems like everyone has their lies in place now....

The Blog | Arianna Huffington: Miller Walks: The Plot Thickens | The Huffington Post

Damn! I wish....

...I wrote this. For today, this man is my god.

Snippets below but you REALLY need to read the entire thing. Again, I say DAMN!

"Welcome to the world of the politics of personal destruction, you tubthumping, chin-jutting, Bush humping gits. Welcome to the nasty and partisan world that Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, Hugh Hewitt, Grover Norquist, Newt Gingrich, Tom DeLay, and a legion of insignificant lowest-rung toadies like yourselves nurtured into fruition daily with eager, grubby hands, and now look upon with dull-faced faux horror.

I know you hate me, and anyone else to dares disturb the thin strands of alternate reality in which George W. Bush is an intellectual giant, Saddam really was responsible for 9/11, the economy is getting better by the minute, and we capture the most very important members of al Qaeda on a weekly basis.

But here's some advice. You'd better start hating me more. This is the world you forged and, unfortunately for you, I'm beginning to take a fancy for it. Welcome to the politics of your own party, finally sprouting from the ground on which you planted the seeds and shat upon them...."

Daily Kos: Bush Supporters of the Far Right: Cries from the Lake of Fire

Thousands show up to see snow on Fillmore Street

This is why it's cool to live in San Francisco.

Thousands show up to see snow on Fillmore Street

Fossil Fuels Set to Become Relics, Says Research Group

Relics everywhere except here in the US. Think if we had invested 200 Billion in renewable energy research and implementation instead of an illegal war in Iraq.

We will remain on the teet of the oil industry as long as the oil industry is running this country.

Fossil Fuels Set to Become Relics, Says Research Group - Yahoo! News

For G.O.P., DeLay Indictment Adds to a Sea of Troubles

"It's hard work being a bunch of crooks and liars"

For G.O.P., DeLay Indictment Adds to a Sea of Troubles - New York Times

The Truth About Ronnie Earle

Think Progress � The Truth About Ronnie Earle

Clinton/Witt's FEMA vs. Bush/Allbaugh/Brown's FEMA

....Performance time is also a measure of the restoration of infrastructure to affected areas in this report. Read the whole report. It's so Clinton-era, with its imploring the reader to think about the psychological trauma suffered by victims. It's just so give-a-damn....

...the Strategic Goals of FEMA have shifted from definite measures of effectiveness in emergencies, including the responsibility to feed, hydrate, and shelter victims in the first couple of days after a disaster, to a business-speak that leaves weasel room for any screw-ups. To put it plainly, FEMA had been neutered by the Bush administration, dehumanized and made robotic....

The Rude Pundit

DeLay Indicted in Campaign Finance Probe

And the house of cards begins to crumble. Next up Frist, Rove et al.

DeLay Indicted in Campaign Finance Probe - Yahoo! News

White House Was Against Energy Conservation Before It Was For It

Lying hypocrits

Think Progress � White House Was Against Energy Conservation Before It Was For It

Bush's America

MAKING ENDS MEET / The well-off are better off, but the ranks of the poor are growing, and middle- and low-income workers feel pressure of high prices

He's so on the Bottle again

It's a Photoshop fake but still....

Hurricanes Rain on Bush's Tax Cut Parade -- In These Times

...New Orleans provides only one example of how tax cuts are routinely put ahead of the most pressing public priorities. For proof, just look at the Detroit News’ special report before the most recent presidential election. The newspaper reported that in 2004 alone, the richest 10 percent of Americans received tax cuts that were “twice as much as the government will spend on job training, $6.2 billion; college Pell grants, $12 billion; public housing, $6.3 billion; low-income rental subsidies, $19 billion; child care, $4.8 billion; insurance for low-income children, $5.2 billion; low-income energy assistance, $1.8 billion; meals for shut-ins, $180 million; and welfare, $16.9 billion.”

Hurricanes Rain on Bush's Tax Cut Parade -- In These Times

"Suppose..."

"Suppose...": Arguments for an Impeachment Resolution, by Bernard Weiner - Democratic Underground

Societies worse off 'when they have God on their side'

According to the study, belief in and worship of God are not only unnecessary for a healthy society but may actually contribute to social problems.

...“In general, higher rates of belief in and worship of a creator correlate with higher rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy and abortion in the prosperous democracies.

“The United States is almost always the most dysfunctional of the developing democracies, sometimes spectacularly so.”


Societies worse off 'when they have God on their side'

FEMA Plans to Reimburse Faith Groups for Aid

This is absolute bullshit! It's called CHARITY and VOLUNTEERING, goddammit. Bush doesn't do his job then throws money at churches who pick up his slack? Churches that don't pay taxes and can build mega churches?

It's the FIRST Amendment for a reason.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

FEMA Plans to Reimburse Faith Groups for Aid

Good Quote

"Conservatism makes no poetry, breathes no prayer, has no invention; it is all memory." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Swagger" doesn't mean Leadership!

White House Briefing  News on President George W Bush and the Bush Administration

Damned cause he DID after he DIDN'T

Response to Rita illustrates how Bush failed after Katrina - Yahoo! News

Bush's Cronyism Kills.

Appartently Bush can't stand to hire anyone that is smarter than he. Thus we have a government filled with idiots. Idiots kill.

TIME.com: How Many More Mike Browns Are Out There? -- Oct. 03, 2005

None Dare Call It Stolen

I dare. IT WAS STOLEN.

None Dare Call It Stolen (Harpers.org)

Donahue v. O'Liely

This is how Democrats need to talk to these noise machines.

You'll need quicktime to view. Great stuff!

Donahue v. O'Liely

Bush's War on Porn: Perverted Priorities Run Amuck | The Huffington Post

Bush's War on Porn: Perverted Priorities Run Amuck

Carter says Gore won 2000 election

No shit. The problem is that Americans are to fucking fat and lazy to raise enough hell that an election was STOLEN here in the good ol' US of A.... if they even care at all that their very own democracy is being subverted on a daily basis. I respect you a lot, Carter, but where the hell where you in 2000 or 2004. Where the hell were the rest of you? I'm dead sick of the conciliatory and subservient Democrat. We need more Paul Hacketts and we need to start punching these Radical Republicans in the nose every time they open there mouths.

The Raw Story | Carter says Gore won 2000 election

Drive-by Truckers - Amoeba Music - San Francisco

All Y'all,

Here are some pics I snapped when DBT played Amoeba Music Store on April 9th. Amoeba is located on Haight Street in San Francisco. That night the band played the historic Fillmore for three+ kick ass hours. Enjoy:

Fiddleworms are back with 'Year of the Cock'

The Fiddleworms were a local band back in the mid 90's in Florence, AL. I went to high school with Russell Mefford, the bands founder, and Chris Quillen, one of the greatest guitarist ever to walk the earth, in my humble opinion. Chris was tragically killed in a car accident memorial day weekend, 1996. I'll always remember where I was when I found out he died. The story I heard was that Chris was a week away from moving down to Athens, GA to join the Drive-by Truckers when the accident occurred. Not taking away from the current make-up of the band, which I think is its best make-up ever, but I can only imagine the incredible music made with Chris Quillen in the mix with DBT.

Now, I've heard through the grapevines that certain tensions remain between some folks associated with DBT and The Fiddleworms. Quite frankly it ain't none of my business. I love DBT like no other band. But I also have really fond memories of the Fiddleworms and their music. One summer I spent many a druken night in Callahans hitting on pretty college girls to the tunes of the Fiddleworms playing in the corner. I also love the fact that so much goddamn talent lives in the Shoals area of Alabama.

Below is a story in the home town newspaper about the reemergence of the band. You've got to register to access the article. You'll notice an ex DBTer, Rob Malone, has joined them. I'm sure they'll be putting out some very fine music.

After almost a decade, the Fiddleworms are back with 'Year of the Cock'

Fiddleworms

Southerners Feeling Most Impacted by War

Facing South: Times Poll: Southerners Feeling Most Impacted by War

Support for Bush's Irag policy dives after Katrina

Let's get rid of the bum!

Bush's Words on Iraq Echo LBJ in 1967

LBJ on Vietnam:
""Our nation was not born easily. There were times in those years of the 18th century when it seemed as if we might not be born at all... "Given that background, we ought not to be astonished that this struggle in Vietnam continues....We ought not to be astonished that that nation, wracked by a war of insurgency and beset by its neighbors to the north, has not already emerged, full-blown, as a perfect model of two-party democracy."

Bush on Irag:
"Like our own nation's founders over two centuries ago, the Iraqis are grappling with difficult issues, such as the role of the federal government. What is important is that Iraqis are now addressing these issues through debate and discussion — not at the barrel of a gun."

LBJ on Vietnam:
"What happens in Vietnam is extremely important to the nation's freedom and it is extremely important to the United States' security..."

Bush on Irag:
"We're laying the foundation of peace for generations to come. We're defeating the terrorists in a place like Iraq so we don't have to face them here at home. And, as well, we're spreading democracy and freedom to parts of the world that are desperate for democracy and freedom."

LBJ on Vietnam:
"Be assured that the death of your son will have meaning," Johnson told the parents of a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor during a Rose Garden ceremony on April 6, 1967. "For I give you also my solemn pledge that our country will persist — and will prevail — in the cause for which your boy died."

Bush on Irag:
"These brave men and women gave their lives for a cause that is just and necessary for the security of our country, and now we will honor their sacrifice by completing their mission."

Bush's Words on Iraq Echo LBJ in 1967 - Yahoo! News

Dear Elected Democrats...,

Dear Elected Democrats..., by Nancy Greggs - Democratic Underground

True Signs of Recovery from Katrina

You just gotta love New Orleans!

Barely, a Sign of Recovery - Los Angeles Times

The Difference between Dems and Repugs

Charitable Giver vs. Greedy Little Bitch. Guess who is who.

Pelosi willing to give up S.F. funds for recovery - Delay... Not so much

Oh, Snap, Laura Bush, SNAP!

Oh no, you di'ent, Sharon Olds. Talk to the hand, Laura, 'cause the face ain't listenin!

She's a poet... and knows it!

"But I could not face the idea of breaking bread with you. I knew that if I sat down to eat with you, it would feel to me as if I were condoning what I see to be the wild, highhanded actions of the Bush Administration."

No Place for a Poet at a Banquet of Shame

Can you say Martha Stewart?

Senator Sold Stock Before Price Dropped

I"mmm Meeelllttingggg.....

Oh the humanity. Nov. 2006 can't get here soon enough. We'll take back both the House and the Senate and impeach the whole lot of them.
Katrina's Cost May Test GOP Harmony

America waking up?

Yawn, what a nap! What's been going on for the past 5 years. WHAT! WHO!! OH SHIT!!!

Welcome back to the reality based community, folks.

Katrina Raises Voters' Doubts About Bush - Yahoo! News

Baked-Cooked Election Reform

Important! Important! Important! Read This!!!
The Blog | Larisa Alexandrovna: Baked-Cooked Election Reform | The Huffington Post

On Cursing II

Almost Before We Spoke, We Swore - New York Times

On Cursing I
Pandagon: In Defense Of Cursing

How low can he go?

I read a comment the other day stating that 35% would still support Bush even if he ate their babies. So true.... So Sad....

CNN.com - Bush approval rating at 40 percent - Sep 19, 2005

Yay! We've won the War on Terror

Now we can focus on the real problem. Porn!! Not kiddie porn but the good ol' regular porn the rest of us keep between the mattress and box springs.

Hey NASCAR dads: First Bush takes away your jobs, then he takes away your children to go fight a BS war, now he wants to take away your porn!

Republican priorities - Destroying America one hair-brained scheme at a time.

Recruits Sought for Porn Squad

Your Tax Dollars at Work

The "Your" being the middle class. We all know the rich don't have to pay taxes under Shrub anymore.
Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Ex-Iraqi defence minister wanted over $1bn fraud

On Cursing

What he says. Goddamn right!

Pandagon: In Defense Of Cursing

Kerry, Edwards Blast Bush Over Katrina

Every Democrat in every corner of this nation should be blasting Bush daily and never again vote for any of his appointments or any of his agenda items. Bush has shown such incompetence with his appointments and policy that Democrats are required to be obstructionist. Damn right, obstruct this SOB in every little thing he wants to do. If he writes another note to ask if he can go potty and a Demo catches him that Demo is henceforth mandated to tell him "NO! Go in your pants, George"

Kerry, Edwards Blast Bush Over Katrina - Yahoo! News

Clinton launches withering attack on Bush on Iraq, Katrina, budget

Clinton launches withering attack on Bush on Iraq, Katrina, budget - Yahoo! News

UPDATE:
Someone in the comments highlighted the following paragraphs from the article and I believe they need to be in the post.

Bill Clinton:
"What Americans need to understand is that ... every single day of the year, our government goes into the market and borrows money from other countries to finance Iraq, Afghanistan, Katrina, and our tax cuts," he said.

"We have never done this before. Never in the history of our republic have we ever financed a conflict, military conflict, by borrowing money from somewhere else."

Clinton added: "We depend on Japan, China, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and Korea primarily to basically loan us money every day of the year to cover my tax cut and these conflicts and Katrina. I don't think it makes any sense."

Mobile, AL - Katrina

I feel I need to post this comment left by someone on an earlier post of the blog. You can check out the post here:
To Those Who Voted for Bush...

"I got up early before Katrina was to make landfall on Monday to go to work at Univ So Ala hospital. We are to report and stay or make sure we get there when a hurricane is announced.By Tuesday morning, we had little connection to the outside world, except our local station, but I knew the Ms coast had gone down and knew the hospitals along the coast were in shambles as ambulances and helicoptors would, could not stop coming. We were spared, mostly, in Mobile, but it was obvious that the plans for such a disaster were not in place. We were running on generators that would stop working as patients were being brought to us instead of taking them to hospitals that still had power, etc. I ran through a darkend ER at one point with only a penlight thinking someone may need assistance to care for a patient in the dark. Our administrators had to turn away all but the staff until we were fed first as people came in from the surrounding neighborhoods to eat. I have since heard horror stories up and down the coast since the medical community tends to be very tight, of how the personnel at other facilities "bagged" patients by hand, and told of looters roaming their halls. We did not know of the looting as we did not have access to the news the rest of the country was watching on CNN. I felt more and more aversion to our government as I could not get out of my mind that "this must be how life is like for the Iraquis" no utilites, hot and wounded stacked up in their hopitals. I hate George Bush."

Non-believers raising voice in capital

Enough is enough. Here we come!!!

USATODAY.com - Non-believers raising voice in capital

Secular Coalition for America

Jeff Sessions - Looking for a Corpse to Make a Case

Hey Alabama,

A news alert for you: Jeff Sessions is a piece of shit. Quit electing these false prophets. Sessions is the author of the bill that would repeal the Estate tax, a tax that last year only affected 22,000 families in the U.S. The Hiltons are an example of who would be affected.

Sessions finds his little bill in trouble due to Katrina and is actively looking for a certain type of dead body floating in the waters of the gulf:

Federal troops aren't the only ones looking for bodies on the Gulf Coast. On Sept. 9, Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions called his old law professor Harold Apolinsky, co-author of Sessions' legislation repealing the federal estate tax, which was encountering sudden resistance on the Hill. Sessions had an idea to revitalize their cause, which he left on Apolinsky's voice mail: "[Arizona Sen.] Jon Kyl and I were talking about the estate tax. If we knew anybody that owned a business that lost life in the storm, that would be something we could push back with."

Please, Alabama, fire this piece of shit!

TIME.com: Looking for a Corpse to Make a Case -- Page 1

Letter to the Editor - Southern Style

I will occassionally highlight letter's to the editor (LTEs) in southern state newspapers that reflect either a progressive voice or a moderate voice who understand this administration is destroying America. I want folks to realize that there are progressive southerners who have a voice and use it. Hopefully more southerners will take a cue and take the lead in reclaiming the south for those who really care about America.

The LTE is from Florence, Alabama's newspaper, The TimesDaily:

What's really wrong

In response to the letter, "Their real agenda," by Kenny Perkins.

First of all, there is no one in the United States that has said we should surrender to Muslim terrorists in the Middle East.

There are more murders in the U.S. each year and there are less in Iraq: A country that is the size of one state in America; if you figure in the murder to population ratio, then you will see the deaths in Iraq are not a good statistical reference.

There is no hatred for American soldiers and the commander in chief? I'll tell you what is happening, though. It's people like Mr. Perkins "who go to work everyday and behave themselves" while the government does things behind our backs that are putting our lives in jeopardy everyday. What is wrong with this country is that people are not willing to question or inform themselves. When people go to work and behave without opening their eyes, people will believe and follow anything, even at the sake of what is really good for our country.

Are we stabilizing Iraq or did we start a war simply to get rid of Muslim terrorists, or did we start a war for profit? Did our Founding Fathers fight against Great Britain's occupation only to be told how our country should be run?

How is it that we can send a fleet of military ships and carriers to the Gulf region in a 24- hour period to fight the war in Iraq? How is it that we can't get food and resources to our own people in our own Gulf region after a disaster? Maybe our government has different priorities from the people of this country.

Maybe it's people like Mr. Perkins, who will watch corporate media, run by corporate politicians from both the Democrat and Republican parties, and these people who choose to support a war based on lies in Iraq and who choose to ignore the truth about Hurricane Katrina and its affects on Americans.

There have been both Democrats and Republicans condemn the government response to Katrina, so your argument of liberal bias doesn't work. This was a failure by the government of the United States, not by a single party.

So, if supporting our president, right or wrong, getting our information from corporate-funded media and corporate-funded politicians is the meaning of patriotism, ask yourself this one question: Do you feel safer with President Bush running this country?

Howard *****

Tuscumbia

Boondocks

Not up to the Task

Look at the picture below. It shows Bush getting back on Airforce 1 after his speech last night. A speech attended by no one because no one was allowed to attend. A speech the president brought his own lights for and an hour after he finished plunged that neighborhood back into darkness. A speech no reporters were allowed to be outside of their vans to cover. A political, bullshit, speech made simply to improve his poll numbers. Here's what the picture says to me :

"I have no idea what I'm doing"

"How in the hell did I become president"

"Damn, I wish I was still on vacation"

"I wonder if they bought all that 'I like black people' crap I just spewed"

"Mommy, I don't feel so good. I don't think I can go to school tomorrow"

Worst President, EVER!

REUTERS/Larry Downing

Breach of a myth

After Katrina, the country no longer believes in Bush the protector. His presidency is ruined - By Sidney Blumenthal

Salon.com | Breach of a myth

DLC: Statement of DLC Chairman Gov. Tom Vilsack

I wouldn't normally link to the DLC website. I think they are really the problem with the Democratic Party. Beltway Demo's who try to play it both ways. But Gov. Vilsack makes some good points about government:

...our national community has been diminished by the inadequate and sometimes incompetent response of one of its essential elements, our national government.

All too often, conservative ideologues who now honeycomb the halls of our great public buildings in Washington have promoted the idea that government is an alien institution that illegitimately confiscates and redistributes resources to no great purpose other than sustaining our armed forces at the absolute minimum of effectiveness. These ideologues have viewed government, even the federal government they control from top to bottom, as a necessary evil to be tolerated, an obstacle to be overcome and undermined, a "beast:" to be starved. And worse yet, when their plans to dismantle government are thwarted, they tend, not surprisingly, to view federal agencies as little more than a vast patronage opportunity for fellow-partisans who don't much believe in the missions they are supposedly pledged to perform.

DLC: Statement of DLC Chairman Gov. Tom Vilsack

Government is bad, isn't it?

Government is bad, isn't it?
Reza Dibadj

The gut-wrenching pictures from the Gulf Coast showing our fellow citizens without food, water and shelter prompt the inevitable question: How could this happen in America? The answer will require debates on global warming, energy policy, coastal development and, perhaps most important, class and poverty.

To these meta-issues, I add an important contributing factor: Our public infrastructure is compromised, making it more vulnerable to disaster. The spectacular failure of the levee system in New Orleans is only the most dramatic example. Recent events have shown how little safety margin, or redundancy, exists in our systems. Think, for example, of the communications problems first responders faced in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the blackout of 2003 in the Northeast, or the vaccine shortage of 2004. In each case, the causes are different and complex, but an overarching theme emerges: We either did not invest enough in public infrastructure, or naively relied on the private sector to provide a public good.

The problem, of course, runs much deeper than isolated crises. Consider that in its 2005 Report Card for America's Infrastructure, the American Society of Civil Engineers surveyed 15 infrastructure categories -- including roads, bridges, drinking water and public schools -- and issued an overall grade of "D." The report notes that "congested highways, overflowing sewers and corroding bridges are constant reminders of the looming crisis that jeopardizes our nation's prosperity and our quality of life." Not to mention crises in public hospitals and housing.

Contrast this assessment with America's stunning historical record of achievement. Recall President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's huge public-works projects emerging from the New Deal or President Dwight Eisenhower's creation of the interstate highway system. When Americans travel throughout much of the world, we lament the lack of clean water and modern transportation and telecommunications infrastructure that we have traditionally enjoyed at home. It would be belaboring the obvious to point out that infrastructure has been an important contributor to America's global leadership.

Of course, pundits who typically clamor for smaller government -- uncharacteristically quiet, at least for a few days -- will no doubt bristle at this suggestion as immediate dangers pass. They will point to the fact that infrastructure decisions come down to a cost-benefit analysis. But cost-benefit analysis, at least as practiced today, typically suffers from three fundamental flaws. First, cost is much easier to measure than benefit; as a consequence, new research is showing that benefits are undervalued, leading to underinvestment. (How to value accurately a human life, clean air or clean water?) Second, despite a veneer of certainty, such analyses are typically done by politicians and economists, who too often bring ideological bias. They are best left to scientists and engineers. It is no coincidence, for instance, that technical experts have been issuing warnings regarding the levee system in New Orleans for years. Third, and perhaps most fundamentally, cost-benefit analysis should only be one input into public policy.

Beneath the veneer of seemingly elegant cost-benefit analysis, the usual trump card employed by those opposed to upgrading infrastructure is that it is simply too expensive. To this, the response should be a purposeful "compared to what?" If we need to pay to be secure, so be it. After all, we are not a nation that cowers from challenges. Resources have been mustered for every problem America has faced in its history, and revamping public infrastructure should be no exception.

Intellectuals are not immune: Many want to "outsource government" and believe democratic discourse can simply be mediated via private-market transactions. Such laissez-faire theories stumble when they face public goods such as infrastructure. In economic jargon, these goods have "positive externalities": Because everyone benefits, no one individually has an incentive to pay for them. Think parks, national defense, roads, highways and, yes, levees. Private markets do not have incentives to produce these goods. Without government's coercive powers, everyone wants a free ride.

Needless to say, however, that investing in public goods is decidedly out of vogue in an era that exults the private. Why should we worry about mundane things such as public roads and sewers when our culture tells us to aspire to personal makeovers, SUVs and gated mansions? After all, according to the conventional wisdom, we need to get government off our backs so we can get on with our lives.

The stunning irony in all of this is that government is considered bad, except when we need it. Tragedies such as the Hurricane Katrina aftermath at least offer us a precious opportunity to re-examine our assumptions. Of course, improving our infrastructure is not a panacea. But it would be a good place to start.

Reza Dibadj is an associate professor of law at the University of San Francisco.

Bush: A Polluter's Feast

Politics and money, politics and money. They only things the Bushites care about.
RollingStone.com: A Polluter's Feast : Politics

Bill Maher on Shrub

"Mr. President, this job can't be fun for you any more. There's no more money to spend--you used up all of that. You can't start another war because you used up the army. And now, darn the luck, the rest of your term has become the Bush family nightmare: helping poor people. Listen to your Mom. The cupboard's bare, the credit cards maxed out. No one's speaking to you. Mission accomplished.

"Now it's time to do what you've always done best: lose interest and walk away. Like you did with your military service and the oil company and the baseball team. It's time. Time to move on and try the next fantasy job. How about cowboy or space man? Now I know what you're saying: there's so many other things that you as President could involve yourself in. Please don't. I know, I know. There's a lot left to do. There's a war with Venezuela. Eliminating the sales tax on yachts. Turning the space program over to the church. And Social Security to Fannie Mae. Giving embryos the vote.

"But, Sir, none of that is going to happen now. Why? Because you govern like Billy Joel drives. You've performed so poorly I'm surprised that you haven't given yourself a medal. You're a catastrophe that walks like a man. Herbert Hoover was a shitty president, but even he never conceded an entire city to rising water and snakes.

"On your watch, we've lost almost all of our allies, the surplus, four airliners, two trade centers, a piece of the Pentagon and the City of New Orleans. Maybe you're just not lucky. I'm not saying you don't love this country. I'm just wondering how much worse it could be if you were on the other side.

"So, yes, God does speak to you. What he is saying is: 'Take a hint.' "

'Diebold System One of Greatest Threats Democracy Has Ever Known'

Don't think the Republicans are stealing elections? Well, get your head out of your ass. And if your state is using Diebold, use a paper absentee ballot and demand a change.

'Diebold System One of Greatest Threats Democracy Has Ever Known'

THE BRAD BLOG: "* EXCLUSIVE! * A DIEBOLD INSIDER SPEAKS!"

I'm not Kidding....

This picture was snapped by REUTERS/Rick Wilking today at the U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL meeting:

Here's a closer look:

Guess who's writing this "I need to go potty" note to C. Rice? That's right, President Bush. Could this moron not remember to go before he started the goddamn meeting for the U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL. You figure this meeting might be of some importance. He's a petulant, disconnected, child who doesn't need to be running this country. RESIGN, BUSH!

Here is Reuters caption for the picture:

U.S. President George W. Bush write s a note to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a Security Council meeting at the 2005 World Summit and 60th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York September 14, 2005. World leaders are exploring ways to revitalize the United Nations at a summit on Wednesday but their blueprint falls short of Secretary-General Kofi Annan's vision of freedom from want, persecution and war. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

Right Wing Religious Wackos

These insane Christian morons will try to hijack anthing to promote their crazy-ass agenda. Jeebus!

Passion of the Penguins

UPDATE:
Fugere makes a great observation in the comments below. Give it a read then click on the link for his backing research:

Penguin Pride!

End of the Bush Era

Amen, brother, Amen.

Highlights of the article:

...leadership is detached and self-indulgent...

...more tax cuts for his wealthiest supporters...

...invoked our national anger over terrorism to win support for a war in Iraq...

The source of Bush's political success was his claim that he could protect Americans. Leadership, strength and security were Bush's calling cards. Over the past two weeks, they were lost in the surging waters of New Orleans.

And so much more.... Give it a read.

End of the Bush Era

Right-Wing Myths About Katrina, Debunked

If you need to know how to respond to the constant flow of bullshit from the Republicans click below.

Think Progress � Right-Wing Myths About Katrina, Debunked

The Complete Idiot

If you've never checked out Slate's "Complete Bushisms", you should. It really details how utterly incompetent the man is.

The Complete Bushisms - Updated frequently. By Jacob Weisberg

Adam McKay: Things to Get Used to in the Next Three Years | The Huffington Post

Good post over at the Huffington Post. Great counter blog to the Sludge Report.

Adam McKay: Things to Get Used to in the Next Three Years | The Huffington Post

Palau Archive

For those folks looking for the Palau pictures and stories: I've stored them in the August 2005 Archive. You can scroll down to the August Archive Link on the left side of the page or your can simply click here:

Palau Pictures - August Archive

Best Catch Ever!!!

Prothro for President:

Gore airlifted 270 patients and residents Saturday/Sunday

Gore should be in his second term.

The First VP to arrive in N.O.

9/11 And The Sport of God - Bill Moyers

Awesome Article by Bill Moyers. A true American Progressive and sorely missing from PBS. JPW

"This article is adapted from Bill Moyer's address this week at Union Theological Seminary in New York, where Judith and Bill Moyers received the seminary’s highest award, the Union Medal, for their contributions to faith and reason in America. Bill Moyers is a broadcast journalist and former host the PBS program NOW With Bill Moyers. Moyers also serves as president of the Schumann Center for Media and Democracy, which gives financial support to TomPaine.com".

9/11 And The Sport of God - Bill Moyers

An Irate Soldier’s Open Letter Regarding George W. Bush

An Irate Soldier’s Open Letter Regarding George W. Bush

Drive-by Truckers get one-race NASCAR ride

Drive-by Truckers - NASCAR - Sept. 10, 2005

You Go Into A Disaster With The FEMA You Have

A difference between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party:

A Democratic President appoints educated, competent, skilled individuals to serve at their leisure in government agencies. See Clinton's FEMA director Witt.

A Republican President appoints buddies or college roommates who campaign and raise money for them but lack any knowledge of or experience in the agency he appoints them. It's called Cronyism. See Bush's FEMA director Brown.

One cares about serving the people of America well and keeping them safe while the other rewards loyalist and couldn't give a damn about the American people's safety.

Think Progress � You Go Into A Disaster With The FEMA You Have

100 Songs of the South | AccessAtlanta

Arbitrary, but still fun, list of the greatest 100 songs of the south.

Outfit by The Drive-by Truckers is listed as #24. Damn right!

100 Songs of the South | AccessAtlanta

To Those Who Voted for Bush: Do You Get It Now? by Bernard Weiner - Democratic Underground

Culture of life my ass! Wake up, southerners! Quit voting for people who play on your fears and quit voting against your best interest. It may cost you your life.... hell, it may have already cost you your life if you live on the gulf coast. Bush.... Goddamn Bastard.

To Those Who Voted for Bush: Do You Get It Now? by Bernard Weiner - Democratic Underground