Posts from — March 2008

So I wander out the mailbox and what is waiting for me, but a plea for money disguised as a survey for the Democratic National Committee.

I think question 12 is the one that really, truly demonstrates the disconnect from reality that surrounds these people:

12. How concerned are you that Republican voter suppression schemes will disenfranchise Democrats and impact the outcome of the presidential race?

Just a few friendly hints, Howard:

1. This is really not a good time for the DNC to be asking for money from Floridians.
2. You really shouldn’t mention disenfranchisement for the next two or three decades in the Sunshine State.
3. It is now the 48 State Strategy.

Update: Rasmussen just called on the landline for a political survey, but I couldn’t participate because the numbers on the phone currently connected to the landline weren’t working. Well, at least it reminded me to fix the phone and it saved Rasmussen from recording my opinions.

that the V-22 May Need New Engine.

OK, almost immediately after arrival in the area the “spanner spinners” responsible for keeping British equipment working, raised hell because vehicles where shipped to Iraq without “desert” air filters, and the special air filters weren’t readily available.

Ever seen David Lean’s film, Lawrence of Arabia? Did you notice the abundance of sand? Ever heard of “sandpaper” or “sand blasting”? What do you think happens if an engine sucks in a lot of sand? Think there just might be some wear on mechanical devices in a sandy environment?

Everything, and I do mean everything, experiences erosion when exposed to the sand filled air in Iraq. Paint is worn down, windows get scratched, clothing takes a beating. The best you can do with engines is use special desert air filters. They are problem for jet engines because they restrict the flow of air and get clogged quickly. The time periods for routine maintenance are radically reduced in desert warfare and no one should have been surprised that the engines on the V-22 were going to require a lot of maintenance.

Planning for equipment maintenance and repair based on conditions when the equipment is at a US garrison is just incredibly stupid when you launch a desert war.

It’s that time of year. Spring arrived at 48 minutes after midnight [CDT] this morning [that was also the temperature in degrees F]. You can watch the seasons come and go at Archæoastronomy.

The air is already filled with pollen, the live oaks are starting to drop last year’s leaves, and some of the feral cats are preggers.

Almost everyone has been fixated on the contest for the nomination and are missing the point of the process – the election in November. People are running around playing games with no concern about how those games will play out in November when the truly important vote takes place, and this has been truly bad for the prospects of a Democratic President unless John McCain has a total meltdown.

Lambert points to the work of Anglachelg and her post on fun with the electoral college. She comes to the same conclusion as EBW of Wampum at did about the four key states [Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Florida] and use the maps at 270 to Win [a great resource, BTW] to run various scenarios. It does not look good.

Over at The Real Spiel there is a general overview of what things are looking like, and what the problems are, and has a pointer to River Daughter, who fact checks a lot of the claims being tossed around in her post, Have you actually read the rules?

[Read more →]

Your should revisit Juan Cole’s golden oldie, Fisking the “War on Terror”, and stop by Distributorcap NY for his righteous rant and thumbnail history of the country the Hedgemony destroyed.

People forget that it wasn’t just the history of one small country that was destroyed by the shock and awe, followed by ignoring the looting, it was the history of Western Civilization. For those who remember their Old Testament, Abraham was from Ur, a town in Iraq. Our laws, time keeping, writing, etc. all have their roots in Iraq, and what wasn’t blown up, was carried off by looters.

And people think that “conservatives” honor history and old traditions.

With everything that has been going on in real life and the ‘Net, I’m late in congratulating the Culture Ghost and Significant Other on their pending marriage at the end of the week.

As Spock says: “Live long and prosper!”

Five years, over 4,000 dead when you count those who died of their wounds after returning to the States, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis dead, a former country in tatters with no infrastructure and a civil war in progress, a cost measured in trillions of dollars in debt, tens of thousands of Americans wounded in mind and body, and all for nothing.

There was no threat, no ties to al Qaeda, no WMDs – lies, all lies.

And the people who did this to the world get to finish their terms in office because our elected representatives don’t have the courage to impeach and punish them.

I Told you This Was Coming

A short bit on the Republicans keeping the Democratic nominee off the ballot.

Heartfelt Thanks to Mary Beth

Mary Beth’s stories on this issue.

All Politics Is Local

The story of how and why the date was changed.

Let’s Enforce The Rules

The actual rules of the party, and how they weren’t enforced.

Why Am I Angry?

And my latest post on the Florida Party’s efforts to resolve the issue.

Before you question what has happened, make the effort to inform yourself on the issue because arrogance and ignorance are not appealing qualities when the purpose is supposedly to win elections. Alienating the voters in a state with 27 electoral votes is not a good political move.

The Republicans control 65% of both houses of the state legislature. The governor is a Republican. The legislative session is 60 days in March and April. A special session would have to be called by the governor or the leader of one of the houses, all Republicans.

In her Party Statement on Primary Situation, Congresswoman Karen L. Thurman, Chair of the Florida Democratic Party, adds some details on how nasty the Republicans were in this, including doing it with Bill 537. For those not familiar with Florida, that was the “official” number of votes that separated Al Gore and the Shrubbery in the 2000 election.

She notes:

Our Democratic legislators in Tallahassee tried to set the Florida primary on Feb. 5, instead of Jan. 29, but of course, their proposed amendment to House Bill 537 was greeted with laughter and derision from the Republicans who control the state government.

[Read more →]

The BBC announced his death and provides this brief Obituary

Science fiction writer Sir Arthur C Clarke has died at the age of 90 in Sri Lanka.

Once called “the first dweller in the electronic cottage”, his vision of the future, and its technology – popularised in films like 2001: A Space Odyssey – captured the popular imagination.

Arthur C Clarke’s vivid – and detailed – descriptions of space shuttles, super-computers and rapid communications systems were enjoyed by millions of readers around the world.

His writings gave science fiction – a genre often accused of veering towards the fantastical – a refreshingly human and practical face.

Clarke’s ideas and gadgets engaged his readers because of, not despite, their plausibility. Quite often, his fictional musings formed the basis of what we now see as science fact.

His were among the first books in the genre that I read, and he managed to keep the science in science fiction.

Why don’t Florida progressives adopt a new motto to express their opinion? Something that will fit on a bumper sticker and can be chanted at gatherings, a rallying cry:

No Vote In Denver = No Vote In November

Just a thought, after I learned at Corrente that Kos thinks it’s nice that Florida and Michigan are willing to take one for the team.

I have no idea what “team” he is referring to, unless it’s the one that just cut Florida and Michigan from their “roster” .

The final mushers have made it into Nome:

76 Martin Koenig (96)^r [Montana]

77 Liz Parrish (75)^r [Oregon]

78 Deborah Bicknell (21)^r

That means that Deborah Bicknell wins the Red Lantern for being the last finisher and it’s 50 weeks until the Iditarod.

I feel really bad for Molly Yazwinski (62)^r who scratched at White Mountain today. She left just before midnight on the 16^th with Liz and Deborah, but apparently had to turn back. I would guess it was her team, because humans can fool themselves into believing and doing incredibly foolish things, but dogs tend to be more realistic. So close, but no belt buckle.

For a round-up of all the prizes awarded read the Finishers Banquet article at the official race website.

CNN reports on the first of what will probably be many law suits: Attorney: DNC violates Constitution

Atlanta (CNN) — The Democratic National Committee is violating the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment by allowing only four states to hold caucuses or primaries before the first Tuesday in February, a Florida attorney argued Monday before a federal appeals court.

Attorney Michael Steinberg filed suit in August on behalf of Democratic Party activist Vincent Dimaio.

The suit came after the DNC said it would not seat Florida delegates at the national convention because the state party defied party rules and scheduled its primary for January 29.

A federal judge in Florida dismissed the lawsuit in October, but Dimaio appealed.

[Read more →]

The BBC reports: Florida ditches new primary plan

Supporters of Mr Obama had opposed re-staging the primary.

Mr Obama expressed concern over whether a Florida postal vote could be held with fairness and accuracy if it was organised at such short notice. But had said his campaign would “abide by whatever the DNC decides”.

Mrs Clinton had called for the primary to be run again or the January results honoured.

The DNC had said it would not support the plan unless both Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton backed it.

So no vote is much fairer than any vote that might help someone other than himself according to Mr. Obama.

Should Mr. Obama win the nomination, I wouldn’t suggest he come to Florida – he won’t be welcome. I would also suggest that the title of this post reflects the attitude of many progressives in the state with regard to the national party, and wouldn’t be surprised to see some of the current Democrats become independents to keep their seats.

The donkey has become a jackass.