Reaction to McClellan and groupthink

John Cole drawing the groupthink parallel. Ring any bells?:

In order to make groupthink testable, Irving Janis devised eight symptoms that are indicative of groupthink (1977).

1. Illusions of invulnerability creating excessive optimism and encouraging risk taking.
2. Rationalising warnings that might challenge the group’s assumptions.
3. Unquestioned belief in the morality of the group, causing members to ignore the consequences of their actions.
4. Stereotyping those who are opposed to the group as weak, evil, disfigured, impotent, or stupid.
5. Direct pressure to conform placed on any member who questions the group, couched in terms of “disloyalty”.
6. Self censorship of ideas that deviate from the apparent group consensus.
7. Illusions of unanimity among group members, silence is viewed as agreement.
8. Mindguards — self-appointed members who shield the group from dissenting information.

Political correctness on the Right

Exhibit One: Right wing bloggers force Dunkin Donuts to pull ad because of Rachel Ray's scarf.

Sex on Star Trek

HT: Andrew Sullivan

Poking in the shale...

The big news in PA the last year or two on the energy front is that companies are now able to drill for natural gas profitably from the Marcellus Shale.

Close or running under a large number of cities, this is good news, particularly those of us who use home heating oil as their primary source for winter heat.

On the traction of political narrative

Kevin Drum with a good post on the difficulty (on non difficulty) of each side's political narrative.

It certainly is easier to point out how easy it is for the other side/how hard it is for your side than to confront their narrative directly.

Good news--we no longer have to outsource our torture to Syria

Heck, we're importing prisoners to import now.

Of course, given how poorly we're doing it, it should not be a surprise that we need more practice.

Meanwhile, SecDef Gates, after previously saying we need to close Gitmo, now says we are stuck right now, partly because if we return some of these people to their home countries they might be released outright,

Uh, Mr. Secretary? That's what we do to innocent people. Rather, that's what we used to do, before potential political embarrassment meant more than innocence or guilt.

"Busted is what you see!"

Gotta love the chutzpah of old city mayors.

More Mideast fumbling by McCain?

Who, exactly, should we not be speaking with?

Klein's original post.

The biggest puffer issue?

It is hard to tell whether Saddam's WMD or "rampant voter fraud" is the "biggest" non-issue foisted upon Americans by the Administration. But we see that, on the state level, things are becoming clear that much of the outcry over widespread voter fraud is a lot of nonsense.

Catholics being denied Communion for supporting Democrats?

Just came across this somewhat disturbing piece in Commonweal

The calcifying of the Catholic Church around the abortion side of their pro-life stance is not new. As is their relative silence, in the US, on the death penalty. But denying communion for Catholics who support Democratic candidates seems to be using communion as a political weapon. There is a real tax liability, at minimum, for the Church, if true.

The crime-fighting store clerk

A short tale of courage. For charcoal.

Church moving

Amazing. The song is a little cheesy, but what a great video. And what a beautiful day there. It's like a poster for the Midwest.

Husband tries to hide lottery win from wife

Video

OMG: This is the funniest fake video on the election yet

Hillary Clinton in the bunker.

Mike Gravel

No matter what else happens, you just gotta come away from this election with a big smile for Mike Gravel

Jack Daniels

Myths and truths...

Looking for William Stafford

A cool account of finding William Stafford poems on interpretive nature signs.

Garbage Island

For years we’ve been reading about a patch of garbage the size of Texas floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, ingeniously dubbed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Basically, any trash that gets dumped in the water rides the currents to this one spot and joins an ever-increasing flotilla of crap. For all the breathless accounts of the mess and its impact on the area’s sealife, however, no one seemed to have a picture of the buildup.

In order to sate our own curiosity, VBS joined the crew of a research vessel studying the trash and sailed out into one of the most remote spots of open water in the world, the North Pacific Gyre, in search of this mythical garbage island. What we discovered once we got there was an ecological disaster beyond any of our expectations and possibly the single worst thing human beings have done to the planet and ourselves. Hope you’re into cancer and sex-reversal!

Hiroshima photos

Finally revealed.

I started to read a novel recently which used the historical fact of the finding of these images as a starting point. Turned out to be not my cup of tea (the novel, though you could probably include the tragedy in there as well).

How flipping a photo makes one look elitist

In these heightened political times, where the message means less than the way it is delivered, I present to you: An editorial gaffe.

While we were arguing about whether Rev Wright loves America more than Barack Obama...

4000 death, 3000 missing from cyclone disaster on Myanmar (Burma).

This is one of the most isolated countries on earth (isolated for many reasons, but human trafficking and opium production come to mind...). Still, a disaster of epic proportions. A chance to do good here might open up an otherwise repressive country.

As I recall, Myanmar lost thousands in the tsunami a couple of years ago, but wouldn't let aid workers into the country to help. So maybe this is just another lost opportunity in the making.

UPDATE: Now past 22,000 dead.

The Empire Strikes Barak

"Is that God up there?"

Boy, locked in cellar for 5 years, sees the moon for the first time.

Obama kicks his garbage to the curb

"I might not know him as well as I thought."

Rev Wright's victimology has no place in Obama's campaign of shared goals through personal responsibility-taking.

Time away

My mother-in-law passed away recently.

Pretty much everything got put on hold to work through this--planning the funeral, people coming into town, etc. I even had to work up the courage to sing at her funeral mass (Swing Low Sweet Chariot, in case you are interested).

Will try to get back to speed soon.

Rice shortage?

Another story coming out of the blue.

Republicans looking to block expansion of pay discrimination rights

Last year the Supreme Court ruled against Lilly Ledbetter, who filed a pay discrimination suit against Goodyear because they would routinely paying her less than her male colleagues for similar work. SCOTUS rejected the suit since she needed to have filed within 6 months (!) of the first instance of the discrimination (she was underpaid for years, and didn't find out about it until then).

Republicans want to block the bill, apparently because there are a large number of people who are being discriminated against now. Er, wait--maybe because these people would want the court to redress a wrong committed against them. No, that's not it--must be because the court system is overwhelmed that legitimate claims shouldn't burden them further. Hmmm. Doesn't sound right. Anyone want to take a stab at their reasoning?

A bitter post

CQ Politics with an exhaustive analysis of Pennsylvania and the likely delgate allocation
Their prediction: Clinton 53 Obama 50.
Because of the way PA allocates delagates, it is difficult for a candidate to run away with the numbers, and the wide range of voters here make it unlikely that either candidate will win on macro grounds either.
Meanwhile, Bitter-gate (that is, the Elitists calling Obama an elitist and getting offended by it) appears to have had little effect in Pennsylvania.

Old CFLs being taken in at IKEA stores

Worried about the mercury in CFL's and live near an IKEA? Worry no more. Take 'em over to IKEA to be collected.

Photoshop disasters

Should have known there were a few sites like this, but this one seems to be pretty good.

Philly political machine gets a big "no" from the Obama campaign

Campaign refuses to pay bribes, er, "street money."

Don Young's Coconut Road amendment getting scrutiny--finally.

Years after what appears to be a clear unconstitutional move to add $10 million to a bill after it was voted on, Sen Tom Coburn (R-OK) appears ready to force the issue with an investigation.

Earmarks are bad enough. Earmarks with such clear kickbacks are worse. But earmarks after the bill has passed? Par for the course for the Alaskan "delegation."

Republicans: If we don't continue to spend billions in Iraq, "that would wreak havoc on our national and economic security "

Talk about getting it backwards!

Let's find some analogies, shall we?

"If we don't continue to charge on our credit cards, our finances will be in shambles!"

"We must keep up with doomsday analogies, or else we'd be forced to engage with Americans!"

Any more?

Credit card companies: Scum

Don't get me wrong: Credit cards can be good things. But anytime you get a company in the position of making easy money with the ability to change the rules at any time there is going to be rampant unethical behavior.

The stories are simply incredible. Seriously--take the worst credit card story you can imagine, and it has not only happened recently but happened many times across the country.

Now, some credit card companies, instead of holding you to the credit line, allow you to go over it without warning and increase your interest rate on top of a fee per month for each month you are over the limit.

I watched Maxed Out last week--this should be required viewing (I don't really mean that, but so many people are clueless about credit that you feel like there should be some simple test required).

And while I can do without his Biblical quote drop-ins, Dave Ramsey is pretty damn good if you are looking for a way out.

2008 Senate races

Dems looking good to increase their Senate lead

Even just one more Senator and Lieberman will be booted, I suspect.

Odd news sampler

Cops bust kids' root beer party

Meanwhile, after the root beer party:

Garden gnome left on tracks by teens in France holds up high speed train

Man tries to hide drugs from police--in donut box. :)

Who knew they'd look in there?

Senator Clinton's travels as First Lady

HRC's travels as First Lady.

That's a lot of sniper fire!

HT: TPM

Philly schools efforts cut fat kid rates in half

Common sense things like no candy, replacing sodas with fruit juice and a heavy educational component make some big changes in fat kid rates.

I did have to laugh out loud at the following:

For the study, changes were made to the food in vending machines or the cafeteria in five of the schools. Juice, water and low-fat milk replaced sodas. Snacks had to meet limits for fat, salt and sugar. Students who ate healthy snacks got raffle tickets to win prizes such as bikes and jump ropes.

"We found when you give children healthy choices, they pick them," said Grace McGinley, school nurse at Francis Hopkinson School, one of the test schools.

No, Nurse McGinley. You found that when you took away all bad choices that the kids got healthier. This wasn't a matter of kids choosing healthy foods over junk food.

Jeez. Even when the evidence is right there in front of them they insist upon casting it completely incorrectly.

Don't get me wrong: This is great news, and there should never be soda and junk food sold in elementary schools. But let's not cast this as some kind of "choice" by the kids.

Yoo memo

The Yoo memo, declassified

One thing I gotta hand to the Republicans: They shure are focused on the end result. They don't mind selling off the soul of the country to get there.

Glenn Greenwald with some tasty commentary.

Giving the dead back their names

Volunteers across the country are working through the difficult (and sometimes impossible) task of identifying Jane and John Does.

First recorded human voice?

A French recording from 1860 (!) might be the winner.

Pretty cool, but this recording of what might be Walt Whitman himself reading is pretty neat too.

Secret Questions...

I got to check out my Verizon bill online today, and am faced with the need to "Update My Account" with a confirmation and additional "secret questions." You know the type: Used to be "Mother's maiden name?" but now can be a host of questions designed to personalize the questions and therefore make it more secure.

Some companies, like Verizon, seem to forget that the answers to these questions should be memorial, however.

I get to choose my questions:

What is the name of your first pet? I dunno. I was probably like 3 months old at the time.

What company did you first work for? As an adult? Does my paper route count? How about part time jobs?

What is the name of your first school? I dunno. My family (like many families) moved a lot.

What is the title of your favorite book? Pretty much whatever I'm reading at the moment. Not much help for a security question.

What is your favorite food? Better, but I really don't have one food I can choose. Let alone remember I chose it.

What is the last name of your best friend? Besides my wife? Or is my wife included?

Stupid questions. How am I supposed to know what to pick, let alone remember I picked it, just so Verizon can be sure that no one will get into my account. Hell, I can't get into my account!

Trade Fact of the Week

It must be the policy wonk in me, but I love these emails from the DNC's Progressive Policy Institute. Today's is about Haiti's HOPE Act.

My all-time favorite was from 2006: The Shipping Container is 50 Years Old Today.

Richard Widmark

Actor Richard Widmark passed away. I remember him in a slew of second-rate movies in which he played the bad guy or a cowboy. Steady actor, never played too big. There are a slew of great actors who thrived in the 50s & 60s that I wish I had a chance to see more of.

RIP

South Korean college sues Yale

Yale mistakingly confirms attendance by prospective professor. Oops.

Obama endorsements

I'll post more later. Bill Richardson's endorsement was big (though a little late, IMO, probably due to intense lobbying from Billary) But this former head of Office of Legal Counsel for George HW Bush and Ronald Reagan endorses Obama

Another far lefter. It is amazing how often, when people actually read and listen to what Obama is saying, suddenly they are jerked to the far left under his Jim Jones-like charisma and unthinkingly endorse the guy. It's freakish.

What are you looking at?

Legless man takes pictures of people staring at him.

Obama cartoon

Red Sox threaten not to go to Japan if they aren't paid

Story.

Good for the Red Sox. Apparently the players are getting paid, but the coaches and support staff are not, despite earlier promises that they would be.

Obama's speech on race

Stunning. Really. Long (yes), a bit tough to get into at first, but soaring, challenging, and hopeful.

Dinosaur mummy found

Found in the Badlands.

The fact that there is skin as well as bones is an amazing find for researchers.

The math and the Democratic primary

Looking ahead for the Dems:

PA: 188 delegates
IN: 84
NC: 134
NE: 31
WV: 39
KY: 60
OR: 65
MT: 24
SD: 23
PR: 55
GU: 9

Total of 712 delegates still to be chosen. If Obama and Clinton split these, this'll give Obama 1411 + 356 = 1767 pledged delegates. With 207 superdelegates already stating they will support Obama, that gives him 1974 altogether--only 51 short of the nomination. A switch of 26 delegates from Clinton's side and he's got the nomination. Or, even fewer, and the settling of some caucus states (like Iowa) result in more delegates pledging to Obama as they go through their process.

Obviously this is all subject to change. Clinton seems very strong here in PA, but we have some weeks to go. However, what gains Clinton makes in PA are likely to be overturned in Indiana and North Carolina where Obama has healthy leads himself.

On the Clinton side, there really is no way she can win it with Florida out of the picture and Michigan less and less likely. She's trying to take super delegates but the numbers just aren't there for her. Splitting delegates in the next 11 contests (not easy to do) will give her 1598 pledged delegates. With 237 super delegates this leaves her short 190 delegates.

There are 356 super delegates (796 total - 211 - 237) who have not endorsed a candidate. Clinton *might* be able to pull it off by somehow convincing a majority of the uncommitted super delegates to support her (despite Obama's leads in the popular vote, pledged delegates, and states won). I have no doubt they will do what they have to do. But the numbers are against her.

Keeping busy

Just because you are an unpopular lame duck president doesn't mean you don't stay busy:

Bush weakens the power of the Intelligence Oversight Board

Bush orders EPA to raise seasonal ozone limits rule

Oil change & Ribs?

The New York Times reviews Mo Gridder's.

"An Unquiet Grave"

These slideshows at The Atlantic are great. Here's one by Frank Rocca, about the monastery that Franco built.

Internal Microsoft documents show they believed Vista to be, at best, labelled poorly

I'm always heartened by companies who get burned using their own products, especially when it was clear that there was a problem even before release.

I'm not sure I agree with the lawsuit idea, but by all accounts Vista is a piece of crap.

The Really Terrible Orchestra

Really. That's their name. Wonder if they can use a guitar player?

Dem popular vote numbers

I'm a solid Obama supporter, and hope that he'll win his second in a row today in Mississippi (looks good so far). But it is worth noting several things:

-Obama has a clear (greater than 500K) lead in the popular vote. This is without 4 states, of which Obama won three. With the eventual addition of those states, his popular vote lead will only increase.

-I've been asked by several people my thoughts on Michigan and Florida getting back into the game and having delegates count, either through some kind of self-financed voting scheme or some other negotiated method. My response: Too bad--let them sit it out. Think about it for a moment: These are two states who defied the DNC in order to make their delegates more relevant in the process by having their elections very early. Now that the process has passed them by, they want to negotiate, in order to have their delegates become relevant (!). If the DNC gives in to Michigan and Florida (and I've got no reason to think Howard Dean is enough of a hardass to hold the line) then they lose all control over the process, and states will do what they want, content that they can either force the issue or negotiate to get exactly what they want.

Saddam and al-Qaeda: "No operational links."

For those of us outside the Administration (and their lackeys), a collective "No shit, Sherlock."

"I'm not running for the office of Vice President"

Good stuff.

The longer Clinton campaigns, the more its own arguments are falling apart. Perhaps this comes from the lack of tough campaign experience on her part. Perhaps she really believes that everyone is out to get her and she'll do whatever she has to (unlike some people, I don't believe that being ambitious is a negative for someone seeking national office). I do believe, like Lieberman, she feels she's better and more important than the Party,

Hilzoy nails it:

That's why I think some enterprising reporter should ask her whether she would support Barack Obama if he were nominated. If she would, then she should be asked why she would be willing to support someone she does not believe is qualified to be commander in chief

Great Science Fair Experiments

A cornucopia of fun!

The Costs of the War on Terror

$3 trillion?

Next time someone complains about the lack of border agents, tell them that the cost of the war effort for a single day would pay for 11,000 more border agents.

The light hand of the law

Treasury Department and "watchlists"

Mmmm.

Gallery: The Most Curious Canned Goods Found Online

Funny pictures of dogs failing...

Simple recipe. Funny pics. In a year this will be a real time-wasting site, but you'll still bust a gut at these pics. My favorite is the cat with the kung fu kick.

"[the French] had also seen us as just a bunch of freeloading backpackers"

Backpackers give up quest after perceptive French, in lieu of his bullshit, see through the crap.

That sounds harsher than I mean it. The cluelessness of the guy made me LOL.

Love the comments after the article.

Maxim's fake music review

I did some music reviews for my college paper many years ago. Not the easiest, but sometimes I found some pretty cool stuff. And got to keep the "product." Apparently keeping the product (actually, partial product) isn't enough for Maxim.

The band Black Crowes only sent out a single, not the whole album. Yet they got 2.5 stars (out of 5) for the album. Sounds like a college professor of mine: I got a C on my first paper and nothing I did after that was any better or worse.

An important PSA

Damn

4 days of the worst flu ever. Still not over it, but I'm back at the comp. Take your vitamins!

Frank Rich on the Clinton campaign

He's spot on in many areas.

But the fact is, Clinton lacked experience where it was needed most: Running a campaign against a tough opponent. Obama's experience (most recently, against a nasty Alan Keyes in the Senetorial race) came through, while Clinton had nothing to draw upon.

Obama on US troops in Afghanistan

Outrage! Obama is an outrage I tell you! Er, maybe not. But I'm still outraged!

Medical devices shielded from suit

Victory for the Bush Administration, as it wins the argument that preapproved devices trump state laws regarding liability.

The Healing Dirt of New Mexico

Sometimes I'm embarrased to be Catholic.

"The Spies Who Love You"

Mark Fiore with another good one.

SCOTUS puckers up on government spying on innocent Americans

Glenn Greewald with the blow by blow.

Science and the Right

I'm liking Andrew Sullivan's site even more that he's on vacation. Never thought I'd say that, but this current post by Jim Manzi nails the disconnect that many conservatives are making when it comes to science and the policy decisions science results bring to the table. By attacking science itself (or spending millions of dollars on pseudo-science like ID), conservatives bring upon themselves the title of "non-thinkers."

It doesn't help that this current Administration slashes science budgets, re-writes science reports to suit political ends, and seemingly puts out their policy conclusions before (or instead of) scientific facts.

Another unforced Clinton error

This one has no real consequences, except to make her seem incompetent. I wonder if it is the experience talking?

Al Franken?

Al Franken with a slight lead in the MN race for US Senator.

The Hopemonger

Training for ice disasters

Brrr!

Violinist trips on stairs, shatters nearly priceless violin

Oops.

Superdelegates!

List of superdelegates and their committments.

One thing I didn't realize is that, as of right now, even the superdelagates from Michigan & Florida don't count.

I used to know why superdelagates exist (kind of a moderating force? To act in a tie?) but pretty clearly the use of them will change in the Democratic Party in the future.

A good question, from The Onion

Do we want another black president after the events of Deep Impact?

I see dead people's emails...

Apropos of nothing, it kind of freaks me out when I run across an old email from someone who is dead. I keep them all, even the ones that I should usually trash. Maybe, like the Native Americans, they remain alive in the next world as long as their emails are not deleted...

Sharpton to DNC: Don't listen to that fool!

Never thought I'd back Al Sharpton over Julian Bond

Administration sees Nuremberg trials as precedent for Gitmo trials

It seems they want these people to be enemy combatants only when it pleases them.

Headline of the Day

"Drunken orgies tainted system"

Cool obit

Obit for Mitchell Van Yahres

HT: Andrew Sullivan

US to cut funding for UN peacekeepers in Africa

US votes for peacekeepers, then refuses to pony up all the money.

According to White House figures quietly released this week, more than $193 million for U.N. troops would be cut for missions in Liberia, Rwanda, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire and elsewhere. A State Department official who would not be named confirmed to ABC News Monday that the cuts could be even worse.

Why I hate humans...

...and love dogs.

seriously.

so i'm driving to work this morning through my happy little neighborhood in northwestern Queens, NYC, heading up some side street on my way to the Long Island Expressway, and out of no where i see this cute girl walking her dog at a pretty fast pace, and heading right toward the intersection i'm about to cross.

now i've got the green light. clear as day. not the "red turning to green so gun it off the line" kind of green or the "whoa, it's about to turn red so gun it" kind of green, but the steady green that's been there for a minute and she clearly has the big red DO NOT WALK symbol right in her face.

so i hit my horn a little bit - a "toot toot" kind of "hey, i hope you're paying attention" kind of honk, because that little bitty cute and happy tail-waggin' oblivious to life's concerns dog - and i love dogs like no one's business - is just scampering about and heading into the street because, well, he's a happy tail-waggin' oblivious to life's concerns kind of dog.

and she stops suddenly, pulls back on the leash, and gives me the nastiest, angriest, full-of-indignation look while mouthing "HONK! HONK!" and slamming down on some faux steering wheel horn that is apparently hovering in mid-air.

well FUCK her. i shoulda hit the skank whore and taken home that little bitty cute and happy tail-waggin' oblivious to life's concerns dog, because, quite frankly, she doesn't deserve him. :o)

and THAT is why i hate humans...but love dogs.

Some big bucks being donated

The Queen of Mean tops the list. Surprised? Don't be.

Bush, the budget, and projections

Bloomberg did an interesting analysis, of what would our budget look like if we took Clinton's last budget (including long-term budgetary projections), and added in the War on Terror costs.

The result: $152 billion surplus.

It makes you sick to think about it. All that money wasted on ethanol and bridges to nowhere has accumulated into a pile that massive. Uncle Sam ate a whopping helping of apple pie every day for seven years, and now he is obese.

What's with the Washington State GOP?

Washington GOP trying to pull the wool over our eyes?.

I first noticed this on TPM. I don't know what to make of it. Anyone else?

They eat their own...

maybe one day i'll remember to post here with regularity. lord knows, the people that know me know i'm never at a loss for words...

in watching this whole political drama we call "Decision '08" unfold, i'm caught off guard by just how splintered the Republicans are. i mean, it's been clear for awhile that they are a party divided by moderates vs. religious...um...loons, and a party turned upside-down by traditional Republican values no longer holding sway, such as being fiscally conservative, or local and states rights vs. federal rights.

but still, the level of division is astonishing to me. would you have EVER, in your wildest dreams (or nightmares, i suppose), imagined Ann Coulter, and patron skeleton...err, saint, of conservatives everywhere, saying she would vote for Hillary over McCain...now, granted, her rationale is that a Hillary presidency would be a 4 year disaster followed by 30 years of Republican rule, while a McCain presidency would be a 4 year disaster followed by 30 years of Democrat rule, so, for the long term, it kind of makes sense.

isn't that putting the cart before the horse, however? by most accounts, the Bill Clinton presidency was hardly a disaster. Yes, for the religious...um...loons, it was, and they took a blow job and turned it into sweeping victories in congress, and ultimately, a presidential selection for GW Bush.

As a result of all that, the loons took over the Republican party, destroyed it from within, lost congress barely a decade after taking control and seeming like they would hold it for eons, and have now caused the aforementioned splintering.

I'd like to think the American people have learned their lessons. We allowed a small minority to convince a near-majority that the true test of a leader was some sort of random morality test. And then, when that small minority was elected to public office, they proceeded to abuse their power, commit felonies of which they've since been convicted, approve of war crimes which they may well be convicted of one day, and basically trample all over the U.S. Constitution in the name of a War on Terror that we're fighting in a nation that wasn't even a threat to us until AFTER we attacked them unprovoked and opened the door for terrorism to take over that nation.

Anyway, it's truly fascinating watching what's happening in the Republican party. When the Democrats did this on a smaller scale in 2000, it cost them the presidency. But the large scale in which Republicans are turning on each other may not just cost them the presidency, it may cost them their party, and their party's relevancy.

Administration: Immigration law enforcement more important that a faster process

Once again, the Administration has their head up their ass on immigration.

Until you start encouraging legal immigration, emphasizing the illegal side (walls, more agents, rooting out businesses which hire illegals) is like dabbing the blood from a cut after it has run down your arm a bit. Just fix the damn cut!

A Lenten Prayer

Thomes Merton (ht: Andrew Sullivan):

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

A cheap shot

Vote on Feb. 5

If you're in one of the primary states, vote. And if you vote, I say "Vote Obama." I am a liberal, and a registered Dem, so I won't discuss the Republicans although I would say that for those who can choose, and are on the fence, I think the Republican party (and their neo-con offshoot) have done enough damage to our fiscal situation and national security, especially compared to the 1990s, so I suggest giving the Dems another chance.

If you're a Dem, and are unsuare, or want to have a discussion of the merits of the two candidates, I say vote Obama, and here's why: I think he is potentially transformational. I say this because he's different, his MO is different, his platform is different, and always has been (not about "me" but about "you;" not about Dems. vs Republicans, but about common ground; not about the war on terrorism, but about building bridges between America and all other nations). He's charismatic, intelligent, wise, and willing, seemingly genuinely interested in unifying our broken political system, and image abroad.

Regarding Hillary, she is no slouch. I think Hillary is smart, knowledgeable, driven, and largely aligned with Obama's policies (policy discussion b/w the two is splitting hairs, and definitely not the most critical factor in choosing the Dem nomination...maybe b/w Romney and McCain, and of course in the general election, but Hillary and Obama are pretty similar, and don't forget, Congress has to agree with their policies, too). The differences are whether one thinks that the Clintons or Obama would be more effective in turning our country around. I think Obama will be less divisive (whether it's Hillary's fault or not, the Repubs like her (a lot) less), less combative, and more reasoned. I think thier motivations are different. Hillary wants to win her political battles; Obama seeks to mend political divisions. He does have a liberalish agenda, and that may not be suitable for conservatives, but he is not going to ram a liberal agenda down anyone's throats. Hillary is decisive, and highly policy-knowledgeable, but also potentially distracted by heavy partisan politicing -- some of which she will initiate or exacerbate. It's her MO. I think our country needs to move forward, going back to Clintons and back and forth between Clinton and Bush is not the kind of change our country needs now. I liked Bill, I like Bill, and for the most part, I like and respect Hillary, but not everyone feels that way, and they know it, and when they feel it, they make it worse. It's their style. She's a strong candidate at the wrong time. I really believe that Hillary would unfortunately continue us along a path of partisan politics where little gets done.

If you don't believe that Obama has the leadership capabilities or the right kind of experience to lead, that's fair, but I think at this stage, it's a belief in their respective leadership potential, effectiveness at governing, and their overally underlying messages, that will determine who gets the Dem nom. I think Hillary's time has passed. The country needs something more than a smart, knowledgeable driven but divisive leader. It's time for someone new, someone who is thinking broad, beyond the Dem party, and for the country. Someone who comes into the role with at least some Republicans interested and supportive. Someone who truly speaks of change and who has enacted change on a grass roots level. I trust Obama and believe he can get bipartisan politics started. It may take 8 years and another president to continue it. It's going take compromise and negotiation, tact and diplomacy, skill and judgment. These are his strengths. What we need, he has. Our country does not need a divisive leader. We need the best unifier out there.

More corruption, from on high

Court filing claims HUD head retaliated against Philadelphia for not playing along.

Maybe it is the cynic in me, but I suspect that if the Administration was Democratic that we wouldn't be seeing this filing--Philly would have played along. I'm not excusing the behavior at all, just saying that Philly is no stranger to backscratching nor to partisanship.