Where were you when the revolution faltered

This morning there was an interesting portrait of the Tea Party on NPR (you might be surprised, one of the major points was about its decentralization and that there are no movement leaders). One of the comments was that the effect of the Tea Party may be to split the Republican Party into their Fiscal and Social conservative branches. If you all do that, I'll be thankful. As a fiscal conservative, the corruption of the Republican Party by the influence of the social conservatives (who really aren't conservatives in my book, but retrogradists), was the worst thing Reagan and Bush Sr. did to the party (by making the deals to bring them into the party fold to garner their votes).

Unfortunately much of what the Tea Party has done has undermined their own proported values. They supposedly are beyond party and are strictly fiscally conservative, however their major victories have been to hijack Republican Primaries, usually by supporting the farthest right candidate. Those candidates, the darlings of the party and their proud achievements, are all strong social conservatives, which goes against the grain of the libertarian roots of the Tea Party.

What I see is that the Tea Party has given the social conservative wing of the Republican Party a boost. Which, IMHO, is the worst thing they could have done. And, again, really goes against their avowed purpose and values. I could make an argument about dysfunctionality here (something I did a twenty minute rant about last night in the privacy of my own home about local politics), but I'll save that for a letter date.

What the TP has done is taken races where the conservatives should have won easily this Fall and thrown them in jeopardy because the Tea Party helped propel extreme right wing candidates from the shadows into the spot light.

As a Democrat, thanks. As an American and someone interested in plurality in politics, I think you're playing with a fire you don't have a comprehension of. You've managed, for the cause of "ideological purity", to advance the careers of those who have as their first priority a social change to make us a "Christian Nation once again" (which we never have been, being an intentionally secular nation from the get go).

Congrats. You've sold your souls for political expediency all to assuage your anger.

Welcome to the machine.

Things I didn't expect to see on this morning's commute

An ermine running across the road.

A hot air ballon already launched by 7:15am in 60 degree weather.

Strange days indeed.

Reversal of Fortune

Do you believe in property rights? That is, within reasonable limits of zoning, you have the right to do with your property as you see fit, as long as it doesn't interfere with the rights of those who own property next to you (such as playing loud music, etc).

Do you believe in the freedom of religion? That people have the right to exercise and practice their chosen religion and affiliate with those that share their beliefs.

Do you believe that people are innocent before proven guilty? That innuendo isn't enough to convict.

If so, you believe the Park51 (aka Ground Zero Mosque) should go forward.

If you believe it shouldn't, you believe that the answer to the first three questions is no.

This whole thing is political theater, designed to whip up a fervor of bigotry and hysteria to garner votes. And it's working.

Random Thought of the Day

The new laser speed guns drive me crazy. Not because they catch me doing something, but because the way they're being handled is exactly like a firearm. I'm driving down the road, usually when it's getting dark or is dark, and there's a military aged man on the side of the road, and I can see him sighting down what to all appearances is a gun.

So through my brain go several thoughts. First of which is "active shooter" (it's not like Ohio hasn't had their share of highway shootings). Second of which is "best defense, swerve outward." The third thought is "best tactical move, run his ass down." Now, fortunately I can usually see the police car behind them. Although once he had it hidden behind an overpass pillar. One of these days I just now I'm going to run them down before I realize they're a police officer.

Is it just me, or does anybody else get this?

Three by three

Nine years on and that fucker's head isn't on a pike.

Nine years on and we haven't lost the fear or anger.

Nine years on and some political leaders' heinous use of events to mask their agenda still rankles me.

Nine years on and we're still having to learn who the enemy is.

Nine years on.

Speaking of fires

One of the things lost in the whole hullabaloo is that Terry Jones was denied an open burn permit. So he's been looking for an excuse to not be cited (after all, saying, "Oh, we can't do this thing we so strongly believed in because of local zoning/fire regulations," isn't a good excuse, at least not for a fire and brimstone preacher). Damn stupid to flaunt to the whole world you're about to break the law. And understand, he won't be cited for burning a Koran, but cited for violating local fire regulations. It isn't enough to really worry about (normally a small fine), but not the attention he's really looking for as the fire department turns a hose onto his event (hopefully they would use foam). However, Terry's only claim to some intelligence is the ability to leave Germany before he was ridden out on a rail.

Time is the fire in which we burn

Instead of trying to compile larger posts, I think I need to do smaller ones for the time being. Time is not on my side, no it ain't. At least not at this juncture.

So in that vein, just one political link-ee poo.

What's good for the goose, is good for the gander Yes, it seems it's the year for political parties to run people on opposing tickets in an attempt to divide the opposition. A democratic operative did it with the Michigan Tea Party, and now the Republicans are doing it in Arizona with the Green Party. Of course the difference is, when it was learned who did the registration in Michigan, the operative was tossed out of the party and the candidates were removed from the ballot. Not so much with the Arizonans.

Labor Day Musings

Normally I give some musings on the advent of Labor Day. I think it was when I learned actual history that I changed from calling myself conservative to being liberal.

But, as you can tell, I'm not feeling very effervescent this weekend. So instead I'll point you to Eric. and Michelle, who have done their own ruminations on the day and its history.

And now I see a lot of the current politics as an attempt to tear down the advances we made in the past century. Mostly because people don't understand that we've tried things before and they didn't work out so well.

Friday Photos for Labor Day

First up, one for Janiece.

Typically we go to the fair during the day. This year I met Bette at the fair Friday night, and we spent our first night at the fair in a long time.


Normally we don't do the midway stuff. Instead we tend to stick to the outside of the fair. Where you can see things like this.

But that doesn't mean we don't check other things out. If we didn't, we would miss the Best Idea Evar!

One of the fun places to stop at the fair is the library book sale. You never know what you're going to find there. I was slightly amused to go through the SF section saying, "I know that person, and that person, and that person." Usually I don't buy anything at the library sale, but instead get to haul back the load that Bette purchases. This year, however, I did score a nice buy. It was a copy of Joe Hill's Horns. And not only was it in excellent condition, it was a first edition.

You just never know what you'll find at the fair.

Labor Day

Spent the weekend working at Mom's and sleeping. Yesterday, I don't think I was awake for more than 12 hours total. Feeling much better, though.

Still congested with the Con Crud.

Studying, reading, not so much with the writing. Hopefully more later.

Two for Friday

Crazy day. Short lunch, so only two links.

Well, so much for the, "we're safe, no need for a moratorium," argument. Another oil rig in the Gulf goes "Boom!" Nope, don't need no stinking regulation here. I wonder if we charge back the cost of rescue to the companies that run these rigs? (grokked form Dan)

And a little thing about the myths surrounding the new Health Care Reform Act.

I can haz con crud

Sorry for the lack of posting, but I've been sick. Seems a bit of the con crud snuck in and zapped me. Although, I have noticed quite a number of people besides myself have a late summer cold (people who weren't at the con, and I haven't seen for a long time).

To add to the mess, the day thing has been a little crazy. The class is ramping up. And we had meetings.

So hopefully more today. But I am alive and kicking. So far.

And to give you a sample of day job, on the musak, right now, is the Black Crowes, "I Need a Remedy." Now some days we have piano jazz, so it's all not ale and cakes, but today promises to be better.