November 2007 archive

Here is the main article, which is about Dianne Feinstein and how she is going to support TelCo Amnesty, her position as W‘s key ally in the Senate, and oh by the way all that money her husband is coining from Defense contracts, but what struck my eye was these two paragraphs in the Update at the end-

While Feinstein is not up for re-election, there are many Bush-enabling Democrats who are. And as this rather good Washington Post article this morning details, liberal blogs are doing what is, in my view, the most important thing they can be doing — targeting for defeat those incumbent Democrats who deserve it by supporting and funding primary challengers.

The article details the highly successful campaign by bloggers such as Jane Hamsher, Matt Stoller, Duncan Black, Digby and others to counteract fundraising efforts by Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic establishment for any Democratic incumbents — including those who continuously support the Bush agenda — by raising equal amounts (and, in many cases, more) for the primary challengers. The article documents how bloggers raised more than $100,000 over the last week for Donna Edwards, the primary challenger to the pro-war, pro-Bush Democratic Rep. Al Wynn (and you can aid their effort by donating to Edwards here). That is exactly what is needed — incumbent Democrats knowing that they will be targeted and will face credible primary challenges for following in Joe Lieberman and Dianne Feinstein’s Bush-enabling footsteps.

Mukasey Confirmed

by emptywheel

From which we can take the following lessons:

It’s unclear that our political system has the fortitude to save itself anymore.

Rather than continue the quote with the additional lessons, let’s just stop right there and think about that.

It’s unclear that our political system has the fortitude to save itself anymore.

Anyone familiar with TheNextHurrah knows well that emptywheel, while sometimes explicitly conjectural, is neither hyperbolic nor shrill in her musings, but rather has an almost prophetic command of facts.

The New York Times has an article that lays out the risk very clearly, it is the EXPECTATION that more research in genetics will indeed prove innate differences in the races in physical and mental attributes. And if there is one thing we can know about the history of science, scientists will find what they look for. Consider this:

“Regardless of any such genetic variation, it is our moral duty to treat all as equal before God and before the law,” Perry Clark, 44, wrote on a New York Times blog. It is not necessary, argued Dr. Clark, a retired neonatologist in Leawood, Kan., who is white, to maintain the pretense that inborn racial differences do not exist.“When was the last time a nonblack sprinter won the Olympic 100 meters?” he asked.

“To say that such differences aren’t real,” Dr. Clark later said in an interview, “is to stick your head in the sand and go blah blah blah blah blah until the band marches by.”

First, to answer the good doctor's question, Alan Welles of Scotland won the Olympic gold medal in 1980. Prior to that, Valery Borzov of the then-Soviet Union won the 100 meters in the 1972 Olympics. Prior to that, Armin Hary of Germany won the 100 meter dash in 1960. 1956? White American Bobby Joe Morrow. To wit, from 1956 to 1980, white men won 4 of 7 100 meter dash Olympic gold medals. Presumably, for the good doctor, all these genetic changes occurred since 1980. MORE.  

Avedon has a great find, “Jonathan” of Buffy fame, Danny Strong, wrote a movie on the Florida recount that is in production, appraently with some big names:

Recount, the film written by Danny Strong about the 2000 presidential election, is currently filming in my state — at the scene of the crime. . . . What was more fun was meeting Danny Strong. Since I’m not a convention-goer, I figured I’d never actually meet any of the Buffy actors. But he was on the site, and I saw him here and there between takes. Then, there was one fairly long wait between takes, and he was taking photographs of the set. I was talking to another extra, and then I turned, and there he was a mere inches in front of me, with his back to me. Well, I couldn’t let the moment pass, so I said, “Thank you for writing this movie.” He turned, and I told him I was a fan, and we ended up talking about 15 minutes about the film, the election, etc. A couple of other extras also entered into the conversation, talking about their memories of the protests in Tallahassee back in 2000. Anyway, I think he was genuinely surprised to have someone single him out, as I don’t think anybody else among the extras knew who he was . . .

For Buffy fans like me, that is quite cool.  

And thank you Illini!!!

My mother has always had a flair for arts and crafts. When I was a a kid she sewed, she knitted and did crochet work. She had a loom and belonged to a weaving group. She is a veteran of craft fairs. When I wanted to earn extra money she would front me the cash to bake tons of fudge and I would sell it along side her stuff.

Her carpel tunnel nixed the sewing and crochet work. Now she makes homemade soap in wonderful scents and flavors. Whenever I visit home, I come back with a stash. She also make gorgeous quilts and she has branched into managing bees and producing small amounts of honey.