Thursday, November 11, 2010

Finger Wag

I'm pretty sure a finger wag isn't going to do the trick.

Only, if only, a law would have been passed to prevent such egregious greed. Oh, yeah.... right.

This is the point where I'm suppose to clap louder.

Health Insurance Profits Soar, Dem Calls For Rebates:
"WASHINGTON -- Health insurance profits are skyrocketing in 2010 compared to last year's returns and the outgoing chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees the companies is calling on them to return the profits to consumers in the form of premium reductions."
_______

No one could have predicted....

Exclusive: Multiple independent lab tests confirm oil in Gulf shrimp | Raw Story

_______

Damn cool.

The Abandoned City Hall Subway Stop Now Open To Tourists (PHOTOS)

_______

You think the coming war over water is going to be bad.

The end of chocolate? : The Thin Green Line:
"Cocoa can only be grown close to the equator, mostly in West Africa, and farmers there lack incentives to replant the trees as they die. Cocoa trees take three years to mature. Small-scale producers of the delicious stuff earn just 80 cents a day selling to the mega-corporations that control the market."
_______
_____
___

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Orange Tossing

Amen.

Grayson: Democratic ‘appeasement’ cost us the election | Raw Story:
"'Our strategy for two years has been appeasement, and look where it got us,' Grayson told MSNBC. 'I think Democrats want to see a fighting leadership, they want to see a fighting president — somebody who actually accomplishes good things for constituents.'"
_______

Double Amen with a Weeellll.

Peace Sucks a Hairy Asshole - First Draft:
"Here's the problem, you gutless fucks. You had majorities. And I KNOW, okay, but all America sees is that you had majorities and you wasted them. Because that's what the GOP told them, and you said, 'buh buh buh' and couldn't point to anything you did right, not even with the unwashed hippies holding your arm up for you. You had majorities, and you had Harry Reid, refusing to be mean to Republicans by shoving stuff through. You had majorities, and you had Barack Obama acting like he was already an ex-president and could be gracious and social with these pricks. You had majorities, used them to do some stuff, and then sat back and acted like we should be grateful when we can fucking count.

We can fucking count, out here. We know what 51 means. We know what 257 means. We're not morons. And all the procedural whatsit you argue today, about ConservaDems and Blue Dogs, doesn't mean shit. You had it, and we worked hard to give it to you, and we see you calling things impossible which are just very hard, and we get fucking annoyed, because we don't get to get away with that shit. Not at our jobs and not in our lives."
_______

And yet, I'm not allowed to drive with a six-pack in belly. Does. Not. Compute.

As boomers age, 1 in 5 drivers will be oldsters - Yahoo! News

_______

Yeah, what's the big deal?

Man arrested for throwing oranges at planes:
"Police say Henio admitted to sniffing spray paint. He also admitted to throwing oranges at the planes, and said he didn't know why it was a big deal."
_______
_____
___

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

All Apologies

Apology accepted, but there are still too many like you gumming up the works. Follow or get out of the way.

Daily Kos: I owe you an apology...

It was then that I realized that my desire for "compromise" and subsequent mocking of those I labeled "purity elements" was not only cruel and undue, but incredibly short-sighted and inaccurate.

I am a flawed person, like many who walk the Earth. However, I refuse to be a flawed person who does not admit fault and recognize the truth...and the truth is, Democrats who work to hold our party leaders to the principles and ideals that make us great should be celebrated, not mocked. These people genuinely care about improving the lives of others via equitable policies that seek to turn back the oppression that has choked the quality of life out of the working class for countless decades.

To my moderate friends at Daily Kos, I still love you. We need you as part of this party, even if we disagree from time to time. But please understand, I can no longer sit by and cheer when I see things transpire via the Democratic Party that serve to hurt the country and its people.

To my friends a little more to the left, please accept my apology for failing to seek to understand your motives better. When we as a party said we wanted change, you weren't kidding. YOU were serious...and now you seek to hold our Democratic Party leaders to that same standard. You have made me realize that it is better to struggle with angels than eat at the side of the devil.

There was a time when I didn't realize this. I will NEVER make that same mistake again.

________

Wherein Maher rightfully schools Jon Stewart's false equivalency.

AMERICAblog News: Bill Maher: The right and the left aren't equally crazy

________

Speaking of getting schooled, this cat does in the comments section. Oh boy does he get schooled in the comments.

Scientific support for creationism strong | The Crimson White

_______

Really?

How to Identify Sarcasm (Flowchart)

_______
_____
___

Monday, November 08, 2010

Bear vs. Bison

Oh Noes Globe!

Snowglobe forces evacuation at Bradley Airport - Courant.com

_______

A government dictating the proper thing for a corporation to do against the corporation's will. Wow. What a novel concept.

McDonald’s furious after San Francisco bans Happy Meals


_______

Big Box retailers: Killing communities since... their beginning.

What It's Like to Work in Walmart Hell | | AlterNet:
"There's nothing -- not a goddamn thing -- about big-box retailers that makes the world better."
_______

Great pictures.

Bear vs. Bison: Alex Wypyszinski Snaps Photos Of Rare Hunt On Yellowstone National Park Road (VIDEO)

_______
_____
___

Friday, November 05, 2010

DBT Week in Review - 11/5/10

DBT!

Drive-by Truckers’ New Video, Free Download And ‘Go-Go Boots’ Release Date � Street Date

Drive-By Truckers, Bobby Bare Jr. put on an energetic show | Richmond Times-Dispatch

Austin Film Festival, day eight: The Secret To A Happy Ending is, in fact, an ending� | Film | The A.V. Club Austin

Drive-By Truckers | Pollstar - The Concert Hotwire

YouTube - David Lowery Interviews Patterson Hood, Part 1

YouTube - David Lowery Interviews Patterson Hood, Part 2

YouTube - PATTERSON HOOD DEEP GROOVE RECORDS 10 30 2010

_______

Wes Freed

A Ghostly Wine Fit For Halloween | My Fabulous World In Wine

Facebook | Wes Freed's Photos - For Sale:
"We're awful proud of this Big To-Do book here at the Shop. It's got illustrations for every song from the B T-D , along with poster art , lyrics , excellent band photos by Danny Clinch , Pattersons insightful liner notes , and forewords by Ray McKinnon & No Depression editor Grant Alden. It is available now , signed (by me) , for $15 , including shipping (US).
Git ye some!

Contact Wes to place an order:

freed@mindspring.com

Also , to order a BT-D book , just send a check or MO , $15 (US) payable to Jyl Freed , to : the Freeds 1902 S. Battery Dr. Richmond , Va 23222, & I'll get one right out to you! Thanks,-Wes"
_______

Slobberbone/Lucero/Maddow

The Maddow Blog - Rachel's song today: Lucero's 'The War':
"As an advanced means of procrastinating over the segment I got assigned, I asked Rachel to name a song she loved. She wrote back, 'Placemat Blues.' The first person to find a video of that Slobberbone song wins some sort of imaginary prize not yet dreamed up.

Rachel, being game, sent some more -- including this one, which I'm posting, from Lucero."
_______

Music

Meh.

HEAR IT: Amy Winehouse Returns with New Cover! | SPIN.com

Bet not meh.

Lost Ray Charles & Johnny Cash duet found in storage : SFGate: Daily Dish

Oh, Alcohol. Is there anything you can't do?

Study: Alcohol more lethal than heroin, cocaine - Yahoo! Canada News

_______
_____
__

Thursday, November 04, 2010

Failure of Leadership

Yesterday's post was cathartic. More of my thoughts and some action items on Monday.

I received a lot of support both publicly and privately for yesterday's post and I appreciate those who haven't pulled the shades over their eyes and are tuned into to the failure of leadership we are tragically experiencing.

The election map was in our favor on Tuesday. What happened absolutely did not have to happen. The election map in 2012 is in the Republicans favor. You do the math.

We've got to find a way to bring on board our Progressives brothers and sisters who are simply predisposed to avoid any kind of conflict and are too scared to consider that 'their guy' is turning into a very big problem. We need an unapologetic, advocate leader, not a philosopher king.

First article: Look up 'Marshall Ganz' and see the position this person held in Obama's campaign in '08. Then read their op-ed several times. This is an insider who nails part of the problem.

Obama suffering from failure of leadership - latimes.com:


"The nation was ready for transformation, but the president gave us transaction. And, as is the case with leadership failures, much of the public's anger, disappointment and frustration has been turned on a leader who failed to lead.

Obama and his team made three crucial choices that undermined the president's transformational mission. First, he abandoned the bully pulpit of moral argument and public education. Next, he chose to lead with a politics of compromise rather than advocacy. And finally, he chose to demobilize the movement that elected him president. By shifting focus from a public ready to drive change — as in 'yes we can' — he shifted the focus to himself and attempted to negotiate change from the inside, as in 'yes I can.'"
_______

Ask yourself, which strategy prevailed on Tuesday? Which strategy failed? Why are we going to continue to pursue a failed strategy? The very definition of insanity.

Daily Kos: How'd That Bipartisanship Thing Work Out For You?:
"Could the effort at bipartisanship over the last two years have been a bigger disaster? The Democrats allowed the Republicans to make their case for two straight years while Democrats laid down their arms. And it turns out the voters didn't know why they should vote for the Democrats. Surprise, surprise.

The Republicans on the other hand went with complete and utter partisanship -- and it worked! If the Obama White House trusts one more idiot in Washington who says they should try reaching consensus with the Republicans, then they deserve the ass kicking they'll get next time around, too."
_______

Obama's Fed dropped a nice little bundle of cash on Corp America the day after the election, b/c they knew it wouldn't get any press.

This is unbelievable.

Federal Reserve Rains Money On Corporate America -- But Main Street Left High And Dry:
"When it comes to helping Wall Street and corporate America, the Federal Reserve spares no expense."
_______

Thank jeebus for Markos.

Daily Kos: The battle for 2012 starts NOW:
"First thing's first -- stop bashing the base, or the professional left, or whatever liberal boogeymen pisses them off. Fact is, people who fall in those disaffected categories -- the young, blacks, Latinos -- don't read blogs, or watch Keith Olbermann, or read Firedoglake. But they are losing their jobs and their homes, and they see Wall Street get all manners of bailouts without any of it trickling down to them. That has killed us. Make their lives better, or (since nothing will happen with Boehner in the House) at least fight to make their lives better."
_______

This is what happens:

Turnout among young voters: 20 percent | Raw Story:
"Only about one in five people under the age of 30 voted in the mid-term elections Tuesday, says a study based on exit polls.

The poor turnout among youth likely had some effect on the outcome of most races, but nowhere was this more dramatically highlighted than in the California ballot initiative to legalize marijuana. Political observers on Wednesday said the poor youth turnout in California accounted for the defeat of Proposition 19.

'Pot legalization defeated thanks to the elderly,' reads the headline of a Justin Elliott article at Salon.com. Elliott points to a report that while six in 10 youth voters supported the measure, it was opposed by seven in 10 senior citizens."
_______

He simply doesn't get it and he's a stubborn as Bush. He's not going to change. We are looking at a complete Republican takeover in 2012. He'll get annihilated by whichever clown the Republicans nominated. Obama will run on 'I'm not as a bad as the other guy' again, and it'll look like we got off easy in 2010.

Obama challenges Cabinet, sets bipartisan talks - Yahoo! News

_______


Interesting Times: The Era of the Disappearing Era : The New Yorker:
"Yesterday, I ran into Senator Mark Warner, of Virginia, who was campaigning with Perriello in Martinsville and Danville. When I interviewed him over the summer for my piece on the Senate, he had said that he expected the election of some moderate Republicans, like Mark Kirk of Illinois and Mike Castle of Delaware, who might be able to create more middle ground for bipartisanship. When I reminded him of this yesterday, Warner wouldn’t abandon the hope. How is it faring tonight? Not well—Castle lost to Christine O’Donnell in the primary, Kirk is losing, and Rand Paul and Marco Rubio, and perhaps other Tea Party senators, are headed to Washington. I predict that there will not even be a gesture toward centrism and bipartisanship on the part of Republican leadership. They’re too scared, and too eager. Pace David Brooks, the level of extremism and partisanship I described will go up—way up. This midterm is the party’s first salvo in its first order of business, to end Obama’s Presidency. There will be little mercy and a great deal of rancor. Tomorrow we’ll find out how Obama sees the next two years. I see one of the ugliest political periods in my lifetime, which has seen a few."
_______

The only highlight from last Tuesday.

Blue Dog Coalition Crushed By GOP Wave Election

_______

This is a pissing into the wind article to post, b/c Obama is not going to deviate from the iceburg he's got us pointing towards, but it is a good read. And it makes you hope that we can, at some point, elect an actual Progressive Leader with some giant balls.

Opinion: Obama can learn from 'Godfather' - Roger Alan Stone - POLITICO.com:
"Remember that the don has done you this favor.

As a powerful man, the don does many people many favors. But they know that something will be expected of them in return. When that moment comes, they had better be willing to return the favor. This favor bank is a great source of the don’s power.

Obama has been all quid, with no pro quo. With Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) down on his luck — no job in the McCain administration and the Democratic Caucus skeptical of his liberal credentials — Obama intervened. Because of that, Lieberman got the committee chairmanship he so desperately wanted. But, somehow, attached to that favor were no strings — for example, no condition that he could vote as he wanted on bills but would support the caucus on breaking filibusters."
_______
_____
___

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

One Day It's Gonna Be....

(The views expressed here are mine (JPW) and mine alone.)

You're not going to like the way this sounds, but.... today is the day We Told You So.

Heckuva job, Obama and Democrats. Heckuva job. This is ALL. ON. YOU.

This is what happens when you take a historic opportunity and flip it on its head.

This is what happens when you don't have a back-bone and you are willing to compromise your beliefs before negotiations even begin.

This is what happens when you have no convictions to be courageous about.

This is what happens when you piss on your base and bend over backwards to accommodate TeaBagging Lucy, yet she still pulls the ball away every fucking time.

This is what happens when you're blindly loyal to your guy (Obama) regardless of his actions because he's your guy. And, oh, how scary it would be for President Palin. We must keep not-as-bad-as-Palin or the vapors will kill us all!

This is what happens when you base your case on being a little less worse than the other guy.

This is what happens when you are too polite to challenge your teabagging neighbor because talking about politics isn't polite. And an argument might happen. And somebodies fweewings might get hurt.

This is what happens, Democratic voters, when you are too scared to punch your politicians and your Republicans neighbors square in the fucking nose every chance you can.

This is what happens when you bail-out Wall Street (Banks are doing super these days) and screw over main street again and again at the expense of Big Business (almost 10% unemployement still and this doesn't reflect the real unemployment figure which is closer to 20%). People need to realize that nobody, and I mean NOBODY is looking out for the American people in Washington.

This is what happens when you ask for half of the stimulus you need then give away 35% of that half to Republicans as worthless tax cuts.

This is what happens when you bail out health insurance companies instead of providing a TRUE means for affordable health-care for ALL.

This is what happens with you put a Blue Dog and Republicans in charge of health care.

This is what happens when you fill your cabinet with Blue Dogs and Republicans instead of Progressives and Liberals.

This is what happens when you employ the people who created the economic mess to fix the economic mess.

This is what happens when you defend, in court, a bigoted, unconstitutional law (DADT) all the while stating that you are a 'fierce advocate' for gays/lesbians (and I don't give a damn that the OA has more gay staffers than any in history. See next This is What...)

This is what happens when you try to buy off a constituency with access instead of sound policy that would actually serve WE THE GODDAMN PEOPLE.

This is what happens when you govern like Republicans.

This is what happens, when you, the voting Democrat buy into the bullshit Jon Stewart false-equivalency, Rally for Insanity (remember the definition of Insanity) kumbaya 'Why Can't We All Get Along', both sides are being mean horse-bull-fucking-shit.

This is what happens when you are weak and wrong ALWAYS.

The loss of Alan Grayson is what happens.

The loss of Russ Fiengold is what happens.

Who's 'fucking retarded' now, Rahm.

You kinda need the 'Professional Left', don't you Obama.

Whose the fucking whiners now?

If you are a Democrat and are too timid and scared to fight and fight dirty... If you are too frightened to go lower than our enemies (make no mistake, Republicans are our enemies. They hate Democrats with a blind rage. The Will NEVER CHANGE unless when beat them into oblivion) step the fuck aside and keep your fucking mouth shut.

If the Democratic Party has any chance at all the REAL fighters must take over and be absolutely brutal about it.

A figurative gun should be placed to the heads of every conservative Democrat holding office. Get on board or change parties, otherwise, you life will be hell.

I'm looking forward to hearing from those who wagged a weak finger at me for pointing a stern finger at the failures of Obama and Dems over the past two years. You were warned.

At least we'll get to the bottom of that pesky birth certificate issue.

Heckuva job, Obama and Dems. Heckuva job.

Today is the day We Told You So.

P.S. If you think you are being informed by any of the 'news channels' on TV, you might be fucking retarded. Kill your cable. Read your news.

Dean in 2012.
_______

ThinkProgress � To Pay For Mortgage And Health Care, Woman Forced To Sell Letter From Obama Saying ‘Things Will Get Better’

_______

Liberal activist blames ‘weak Democratic leaders’ for historic losses – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs:
"'What the average voter saw of Democrats was weak, watered-down change - and weak Democratic leaders who cut deals with the very Wall Street banks and insurance companies they are supposed to be fighting,' Adam Green, the co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee said in a statement."
_______

Cenk Uygur: Why Are Democrats Going to Lose When They Are More Popular?:
"No, this is about broader issues. Did you deliver for the average American voter or did you deliver for Wall Street? Come on, look at the numbers. Wall Street is backing to make record profits and bonuses and we're at nearly 10% unemployment. People aren't stupid. They got robbed. The system didn't get fixed. It's still rigged in favor of the rich and powerful.

Some liberals, progressives and Democrats will accuse me of party treason for saying that. They're right, I don't give a damn about the parties."
_______

Robert Kuttner: What Lessons of Election Day?:
"For starters, liberals are dismayed with Obama not because this or that initiative was insufficiently lefty. They are mad at Obama for blowing what had to be a Roosevelt moment, and thereby ushering in a totally needless period of far-right resurgence, dominated by a lunatic right that makes Newt Gingrich and Karl Rove look like moderates."
_______

Daily Kos: Don't Fool Yourself, Democrats. KNOW why you lost.:
"You have to learn to fight dirty. I am sick and tired of saying this. Most of us are. You have to fight dirty and win. If you don't, if you feel that your good intentions will win out just simply because they are good, you are the most naive people on the planet.

I have been a democrat my entire life. I am exhausted at this argument. It's the same thing every time. Get a fucking backbone, stand up for something and be willing to fall into the abyss over it. That is the only way you will win respect.

Otherwise, the republicans, who shouldn't hold a job at McDonalds let alone power in Washington, will roughshod over you for decades to come. And it will be your fault - again."
_______

This exact opposite of this wish will happen. Bank on it.

Twitter / Peter Daou: I don't want to hear anyth ...:
"I don't want to hear anything about Obama being conciliatory tomorrow - how about throwing down the gauntlet and challenging GOP to deliver"
_______
_____
___

Monday, November 01, 2010

SOME People are Awesome

Happy November! Eat some turkey:

Making the Case for a $140 Turkey: BA Daily: Blogs : bonappetit.com

_______

Then make a local FAUX affiliate eat some crow:

Daily Kos: Milwaukee County Dems take on Fox News crew

_______
Attaboy, Jorge.

Soros gives $1M to Calif. pot legalization measure - Yahoo! News:
"SAN FRANCISCO – Billionaire financier George Soros has thrown his weight behind California's marijuana legalization measure with a $1 million donation a week before the vote. The contribution reported Tuesday by The Sacramento Bee is the single biggest donation from an individual other than Proposition 19's main sponsor, Oakland medical marijuana entrepreneur Richard Lee."
_______

Forward looking NorCal. Thank jeebus. I love the headlands.

Marin Headlands saved when 1960s city plan quashed

_______

SOME people are Awesome:



_______
_____
___

Friday, October 29, 2010

DBT Halloween Week in Review - 10/29/10

DBT!

Big, rockin' Halloween weekend in Richmond, VA. All y'all have fun!

Big news!

Facebook | Note from Patterson - Free Download, New Video, Go-Go Boots, Halloween and Record Store Day!

_______

Facebook | Patterson Hood Solo In-Store - Richmond, VA

______

Drive-By Truckers | Pollstar - The Concert Hotwire

_______

Drive-By Truckers "Used To Be A Cop" from Jason Thrasher on Vimeo.



_______



_______

Wes Freed

Big weekend for Wes!

Facebook | The Art of Wes Freed - Presented by The Gig Gallery and Plan 9 Music

_______

Wes' wine showcased on The Today Show (Kathy Lee has the taste-buds of a three year old... and is also a bitch... couldn't help myself with the last part).

Today Show: Spooky spirits for Halloween

2008 Ghost Winery Cabernet Franc:
"Label Design
Virginia based artist Wes Freed, best known for his art on the CD covers for Drive By Truckers, created a custom piece for the Ghost Winery label."
_______

If you are in NorCal drop by St. Helena tomorrow:

Facebook | Cabernet Francenstein Fest

_______

Centro-Matic

Check out the kick-ass Spanish shop-keeper:

Centro-matic tour dates in Spain… Two shows with Micah P Hinson!

_______

Music

Jesse Kornbluth: Keith Richards Lets It Bleed in 'Life,' 547 Pages of Music And Mayhem

Johnny Cash costumes, guitars, lyrics up for sale

Sony Walkman Declared Dead in Japan, We Pour One Out For the Cassette

_______
_____
___