INTERESTING TIMES

Unfortunately, as Shrub proved, lack of intelligence and unclear speech do not disqualify one for the presidency. Quotes to demonstrate Santorum's lack of sophistication and insight:
( Santorum quotes )

I mean, I AM allowed to just go off about what I think, right? That seems to be what the majority of moralizing politicians do these days. It amazes me how surely the devil will assume high moral ground and dictate from it. The adjectives are awesome. Misguided. Dangerous. Wrongheaded. That last one is a particular favorite of mine. Did Shrub invent that word?

But seriously now. People seem to think that if something FEELS right then it is right. What if it feels right and is wrong? What if your gut is misguided? What if your certainty is wrongheaded? When do we begin to resort to intelligent consideration of trends and patterns, not just impressions based on isolated facts?

The EPA has told BP that they must use a less toxic form of dispersant for the remainder of the oil bleed in the gulf. If this mess had happened under Shrub, do you think the EPA would have done that? I think that Obama's intelligent, rational influence is pervasive in our government, and that each and every agency is gradually stepping up to the plate to serve the people of this nation better. Those who blame him for the fact that BP (and other oil companies) have done little/nothing to insure the safety of their extraction procedures neglect to notice that the wholesale extraction without regard for consequences has been going on for fifty years.

It may be no surprise to you to hear that the protests that shut down the recount of votes in Florida 9 years ago were orchestrated (and manned) by the Republican party. Rachel Maddow just had a segment in which she illustrated this point by naming the front 9 protesters. Rather than being a spontaneous citizen protest, it was a collection of Republican staffers from all around who went to Florida to stop votes from being counted. It appears that MSNBC won't let me embed the segment. No wonder, they're another corporation with much to lose.

In another segment Rachel reports that the belligerent mobs currently obstructing town hall meetings on healthcare reform are also thanks to Republican/corporate organizing. It just figures. Anytime somebody is completely unreasonable and determined to shut down all conversation, it is my humble opinion that they should simply be excluded from the discussion. Because we need some of the good part of democracy there days; open discourse and compromise, instead of shouting matches and abuse.

I remain impressed with the quality of Rachel's reporting, though she doesn't admit how many of us would like to see government get smaller and spend less. Her humor when she disagrees is mocking, and she does not always recognize the legitimate argments against her own positions. She is not free of bias. But at least her bias includes a hairy eyeball toward corporations and government. I'm glad she's keeping an eye on them.

There's a link to her show on the left column of this blog, if you feel inclined to peek.

Karl Rove was scheduled for the 3rd time to appear in front of the House Judiciary Committee and did not show. He is expected to testify about his (alleged) involvement in the firing of US Attorneys and the (alleged) political prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman. (I guess you have to say alleged to avoid accusations of defamation, slander, or libel.) Obviously he does not want to testify. Does he think we're going to forget about him? Or that Congress can't or won't take the next step to bring him to justice? What is the next step? Maybe it's time we take it.

( one more interesting news item )

The George W. Bush Presidential Library is now in the planning stages and accepting donations.
The Library will include:
( the rooms of the library and a few quotes from the soon to be former decider in chief (silliness from forwarded email, saved to help us be clear on Shrub's legacy) )