Single What? Female...

The Vote v. Condi

9 hours. they debated 9 hours over Condoleeza Rice's record yesterday and they vote today. I am very happy to say that there were a number of Democrats including Ted Kennedy, Barbara Boxer and Mark Dayton (Minnesota; yeah I hadn't heard of him either but I heard he made a great speech) who spoke against Ms. Rice and plan on voting against her (it'll apparently be the first time since the 80's since there hadn't been a unanimous vote). It is expected that Condi will get confirmation today, but I think is a good thing that Bush and his people, who assumed she would be "fast-tracked" to her new position, got to see that it is indeed going to be more difficult to get his stuff done this term. (and I suggest that we keep that going by keeping in good contact with our Congress people...)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6862922/
http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/26/rice.confirmation/index.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34220-2005Jan25.html?referrer=email

And speaking of making life difficult for George, The DNC is passing around a petition to be sent to the "President" urging him to rethink his Social Security policy. They need a few more thousand signatures and I am all for passing this around and making sure they get all the signatures they need.

http://www.democrats.org/action/200501240001.html

And speaking of things that will get cut because of this and because George doesn't want to raise taxes-particularly those of attendees of the Black Tie and Boots ball-did you know that this year we will have a record deficit...AGAIN?!?!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35029-2005Jan25.html?referrer=email
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/01/26/oh_yes_it_can_happen_here/

But yes, George is still looking for $80 BILLION for Iraq, a little for Afghanistan (cause it's not as important as Iraq...even though THAT'S WHERE OSAMA IS), and a little for the tsunami victims, and whatever's left for...well whatever else needs to be taken care of. I just want to know, if George knows all these people who have BILLIONS and MILLIONS of dollars of their own...why doesn't he ask THEM for a little help? I would think they might be kinda grateful since he's not raising their taxes, has helped make sure they don't have to pay for benefits for their employees, has allowed them to cut costs by outsourcing to India and China, and is about to make cuts in social security and "simplify" the tax code. I'm just sayin', they might owe him a favor.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/25/iraq.spending.ap/index.html

I say it's this or they get to send their kids to Iraq as apparently the Army Reserve is short their recruiting quota by 15,000. The National Guard and the Reserves are having a heck of time getting people to join up...wonder why? (This was in yesteday's Newsday and sadly I cannot find the article today)

IN THE MEANTIME...

It's more from the "Things George doesn't want to hear" file. Today, it's from boston.com as they discuss a report recently filed that says that due to contaminants such as asbestos and lead from a badly damaged vacant building, rebuilding at Ground Zero couldbe seriously delayed. Wait, didn't the EPA say it was safe down there?

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/01/26/finding_may_delay_ground_zero_rebuilding/

And it's not just SpongeBob Sqaurepants getting to the Christian right, it's PBS's animated show "Postcards from Buster" now kicking up a fuss with the Education chief Miss Spellings. Well, now we know why George picked her...it's those pesky "moral values". Apparently she does not approve of Buster, a bunny, visiting Vermont and meeting two lesbian couples. Now, the show does not focus on the lesbians who happen to live in a state that allows gay/lesbian civil unions, it focuses on farms and maple-sugaring in Vermont; you know, the stuff that Vermont is actually known for. Said farms just happen to be owned and run by lesbian couples. But apparently Miss Spellings thinks this is gonna scare the kids (save for the kids who already have two mommies or two daddies and might finally get to see something that looks like their family on TV...)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6869976/

As you read the article, there is a link to a "live vote" asking you to state your opinion of the Education Department's reaction to the tv show and as I went there, the majority of people appear to believe that Miss Spellings's opinion is ludicrous. I suggest you send an e-mail of support to WGBH and your own public television station in support of the Postcards from Buster episode known as "Sugartime!" ...and perhaps send a nasty little note to Miss Spellings.

And speaking of George again, I have to add this from www.wonkette.com:

Live-Blogging the Presidential News Conference
10:02 Bush starts reading before he gets behind podium. Clearly would rather be elsewhere. Rather be being interviewed by Dan Rather.
10:03 Iraqi freedom will require "commitment of generations," i.e., "We will be drafting your grandchildren."
10:04 "There has been enormous sacrifice by some of our citizens." No one i know, of course, but my staff has informed me that is the case.

please feel free to head over to that site as there is some other brilliant stuff there today :)

And I must thank them for this link to the New York Daily News about how Bush apparently pounded the table when Bono went on a rant about AIDS drugs and wasn't allowing him to reply.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/274840p-235340c.html

And before I forget! CALL or E-MAIL STEPHANIE MILLER! Apparently, she has made just enough of a stink that the right-wingers have been on the attack, being given talking points and being told to call her show--even if she's not on the air in their state. Call or e-mail her with your support today! She was one of the few people talking about election fraud and is a great big breath of fresh air on the talk radio dial. www.stephaniemiller.com She also happens to be wicked funny. CALL HER!

And just as Bono tends to go on and on and rant, so should you! KEEP E-MAILING!!! E-mail, call, write, fax your friends and family, the press and your Congressfolk. They need to know that you are PAYING ATTENTION!! So pass it on, pass it on, pass it on!!

Peace -Alex :)

posted by funkweee @ 7:26 AM