Historic Final Debate

Tonight was a historic debate, as the Democrats are poised to select either the first woman or first African American presidential candidate. Clearly, the candidates understood it was in their best interest to keep this friendly, and to check their attack rhetoric at the door.

I don't think we learned anything that we didn't already know, so it all comes down now to who has the best ground operation to GOTV on Super-Duper Tuesday.

A couple of music video's came to mind while watching the debate, so I will let you decide which is most appropriate.



or



The debate has ended, and now we wait for Super-Duper Tuesday.

Soldier Suicides at Record Level

Washington Post staff writer Dana Priest reports:

Lt. Elizabeth Whiteside, a psychiatric outpatient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center who was waiting for the Army to decide whether to court-martial her for endangering another soldier and turning a gun on herself last year in Iraq, attempted to kill herself Monday evening. In so doing, the 25-year-old Army reservist joined a record number of soldiers who have committed or tried to commit suicide after serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

"I'm very disappointed with the Army," Whiteside wrote in a note before swallowing dozens of antidepressants and other pills. "Hopefully this will help other soldiers." She was taken to the emergency room early Tuesday. Whiteside, who is now in stable physical condition, learned yesterday that the charges against her had been dismissed.

Whiteside's personal tragedy is part of an alarming phenomenon in the Army's ranks: Suicides among active-duty soldiers in 2007 reached their highest level since the Army began keeping such records in 1980, according to a draft internal study obtained by The Washington Post. Last year, 121 soldiers took their own lives, nearly 20 percent more than in 2006.

At the same time, the number of attempted suicides or self-inflicted injuries in the Army has jumped sixfold since the Iraq war began. Last year, about 2,100 soldiers injured themselves or attempted suicide, compared with about 350 in 2002, according to the U.S. Army Medical Command Suicide Prevention Action Plan. [...]

The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have placed severe stress on the Army, caused in part by repeated and lengthened deployments. Historically, suicide rates tend to decrease when soldiers are in conflicts overseas, but that trend has reversed in recent years. From a suicide rate of 9.8 per 100,000 active-duty soldiers in 2001 -- the lowest rate on record -- the Army reached an all-time high of 17.5 suicides per 100,000 active-duty soldiers in 2006.

The stress that Bush has placed on these soldiers is criminal. If anyone should face charges is should be him. When this incident occured, Whiteside at first faced a possible sentence of life in prison if found guilty of the charges against her.

Whiteside's two immediate commanders brought charges against her, but Maj. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker, the only physician in her chain of command and then the commander of Walter Reed, recommended that the charges be dropped, citing her "demonstrably severe depression" and "7 years of credible and honorable service."

The case hinged in part on whether her mental illness prompted her actions, as Walter Reed psychiatrists testified last month, or whether it was "an excuse" for her actions, as her company commander wrote when he proffered the original charges in April. Those charges included assault on a superior commissioned officer, aggravated assault, kidnapping, reckless endangerment, wrongful discharge of a firearm, communication of a threat and two attempts of intentional self-injury without intent to avoid service.

An Army hearing officer cited "Army values" and the need to do "what is right, legally and morally" when he recommended last month that Whiteside not face court-martial or other administration punishment, but that she be discharged and receive the medical benefits "she will desperately need for the remainder of her life." Whiteside decided to speak publicly about her case only after a soldier she had befriended at the hospital's psychiatric ward hanged herself after she was discharged without benefits.

Justice for these soldiers will only come the day George W. Bush is charged and sentenced for the war crimes he and his administration have committed in this war based on a lie.

In Her Own Words
Listen as Army 1st Lt. Elizabeth Whiteside shares her story.

When Violence Hits Close to Home

A woman who appeared to simply be waiting for her ride, was violently attacked this morning, just a few miles from where I live. CNN reports that police are trying to find a man who ambushed and attacked a 27 year old woman with a bat and tried to kidnap her.

The video of the attack is disturbing. A quick (unofficial) transcript of the report is as follows:

Det. Corporal Andrew John, with the Tacoma Park (MD) Police Department said: "We believe she was waiting for a ride." The incident occurred at 7:50 am. The man was behind the wheel of a white delivery-type truck that he positioned just right so he could commit the crime. "He is either trying to trap her ... or he's trying to block any further view of what he's about to do from the roadway."

Seconds later after raising the back door of the truck the man pulled out a baseball bat and went on the attack. "Whoever did this is a dangerous person."

"He grabs the victim, she struggles, he throws her to the ground. Picks her up and tries to full body slam her into the back of the truck, but she's fighting."

She continues to fight until the suspect hits her with the bat and gives up -- fleeing east on University Blvd.

It is very likely that the woman was just getting off from work and was waiting for her ride home. It would also seem that the man was either deliberately after this woman, or had been plotting to attack and kidnap ANY woman that might appear vunerable. I certainly hope he is found and locked up for a very long time.

I had just finished watching this video, when another headline caught my eye: "Body parts found in 8 bags along Interstate"

A woman's severed head was found Tuesday in a trash bag along an interstate highway, one of eight bags containing body parts discovered beside expressways in northeastern Pennsylvania, authorities said.

The parts are believed to belong to the same victim.

It was unclear whether all the body parts have been found, investigators said.

What sick bastard would kill a woman, cut her up into pieces, and then toss the body parts along side a road.

These two stories both speak to what seems to be the never ending problem of violence against women. The woman attacked near my home was the "lucky" one. She is still alive. What would motivate ANYONE to treat another human being in this way?

The state of the garden

As my spring fever continues to rise, I decided to check out my garden--which I've conveniently been ignoring since the last time I picked a green pepper or some lettuce and spinach for salad, back in maybe September? I can't recall. Suffice it to say that I didn't really clean it up before the cold came. Here's the garden today:


I guess I was hoping the stuff would just die out and compost itself! Anyway, note the washed-out colors, except for the spinach that has somehow survived snowfalls and sub-freezing temps all winter:

I wonder if it's bitter or anything--I mean the new little leaves in the center. Maybe I should've tasted some.

At the risk of breaking my own heart with longing, here's a picture of the garden taken in June 2007:

Oh, my cries of angst! [back of hand on forehead, head tilted back dramatically] Springtime, come soon!

*sigh*

Back to the washed-out colors, I had the camera on automatic mode, but the photos were very washed out in the brightness of early evening. I'm a little disappointed that the pics weren't better, but I'm not all that sure it isn't the subject matter that just looks like that, washed out and brown and dull. I took these pics at about 5pm today. I do love that the days are getting longer now!

Speaking of crazy plants that are still green, look at this over-achieving herb garden pair:

Parsley in January! I thought about picking some for Nibble, but I'm worried it too might be bitter.

Lavender staying strong! It never got any bigger than this (it's maybe seven inches across) but it seems pretty hardy.

Meanwhile, in last year's tomato garden (which I actually did clear out, so I wouldn't get a million little volunteer tomatoes), the crazy daffodils are starting to sprout:

I remember they did the same thing last year and they were fine, so I'm not too worried. Must've been that single day (yesterday) when it got into the forties. "We're having a heatwave!"

If it weren't so cold (we're in the 20s and falling, with a lot of wind), I might consider cleaning up the big garden and putting all that stuff in the compost heap:

Yikes--that heap just might need to be turned....

Edwards Departure Insures Historic Presidential Contest

The Associated Press is reporting that former Senator John Edwards is dropping out of the Democratic presidential race.

Democrat John Edwards is exiting the presidential race Wednesday, ending a scrappy underdog bid in which he steered his rivals toward progressive ideals while grappling with family hardship that roused voters' sympathies, The Associated Press has learned.

Edwards departure insures this will be a historic presidential contest, as Democrats decide between the first woman and first African American candidates.

His departure may also make it more likely that one of the two remaining candidates will head for the convention with enough delegates to secure the nomination.

Edwards ran a good and heartfelt race, and who hasn't fallen in love with Elizabeth Edwards and the courage she has displayed. I wish Edwards and his family all the best.

SOTU: Feel the love

Got a little distracted earlier, as I had intended to post this instead of my Britney rant.

When I saw Rep. Chris Shays (R-CT) give Bush a little peck on the cheek I thought "how nice that men finally feel comfortable with PDA." And what is it about CT men and kissing? Hasn't Liberman kissed Bush as well? Yikes!

Petulant, at Shakesville, has a fun take on MAN LOVE.

Mac is back, thanks to Florida

Sen. John McCain has eked out a slim victory, but a victory nonetheless, over Mitt Romney. And in a winner-takes-all delegate race you only need one more vote than the other guy.

Romney certainly has enough personal wealth to keep going, and now McCain can raise needed funds to compete as well. And it looks like Rudy will throw his support to McCain tomorrow.

It will be interesting to see if McCain can win over some of the pundits, like Rush Limbaugh, who has probably passed out by now. But keep in mind that Limbaugh didn't like Bush 1 when he first took office, but once Bush invited him to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom Limbaugh was "suddenly" a huge Bush supporter. What a sleaze bag.

On the Dem side pundits were calling it a beauty contest, but I can tell you that some of my feminist friends worked their butts off to secure votes for Sen. Clinton. And it appears their work paid off.

I found it interesting that MSNBC wasn't reporting on the Dem contest. I had to switch to CNN to find out the results. Is it a coincidence that Tweety was back on, but a win for Hillary was off? Yeah, I know the DNC has said the delegates won't be seated, but we still should be able to see the results. Bad MSNBC ... bad.

Republicans mobilized 1.6 million voters tonight, but the Democrats turned out 1.3 for a contest they were told "wouldn't count." I think that's huge! When you consider that none of the candidates campaigned in the state, and no money was spent on television or other advertising, there was still a huge turnout!

The delegates might not be seated at the convention, but tonight was a successful night for Florida Democrats.

So now it's on to Super-Duper Tuesday. But before we get there, I have one question. Who in the heck decided it should be called "Super-DUPER" ... geezzzzzz.

Open Question for Paparazzi - When did you stop beating your wife?

This is not what I intended to write about tonight, but for Christ sake when is enough, enough? How many pictures do we need of Britney Spears? Do I really need to know that she went into a restroom at a convenience store? NO.

The television is on, as usual, while I'm surfing the internet. And out of the corner of my eye I see a pack of men surrounding an obviously distraught Britney Spears. She's sitting on a curb, holding a dog, crying. And the asshole commentator is wondering what she is crying about. Gee, could it be the fact that she can't pass wind without a crush of men around her to smell it?

On Monday night, police were again called to Spears’ home after reports that a swarm of paparazzi was trespassing in the singer’s gated community.

People magazine reported the singer was “in the midst of yet another public breakdown” after an apparent argument with Mr Lufti, with whom she was driving.

She jumped out of the car near her home and was seen wandering around crying and clutching her puppy, eyewitnesses told the magazine. Britney’s parents arrived at her home some time later, around 9pm, according to reports.

It is impossible for Britney to have a "private" breakdown.

I absolutely can't imagine how she has managed to stay alive this long, given the obvious mental pressure of 24/7 media stalking. Try to imagine for a moment that absolutely EVERYTHING you do will be scrutinized -- how do you think that would make you feel?

And how complicit are we all in the stalking of this woman?

I have an idea. Let's turn off Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, and all the other programs that feed the paparazzi frenzy. Stop buying People magazine, Us and all the other publications that pay paparazzi to abuse women (mostly) and men.

These are the same programs and magazines that tell young girls if they are anything but a size "0" they are fat slobs. Let's stop feeding this vicious animal, and maybe it will go away.

A murder of crows

For some reason, a HUGE group of crows--we're talking upwards of 500--has been roosting in downtown State College, bringing with it a noisy racket and a LOT of poop. The sidewalks and newsstands are covered in bird poo, and the smell is getting pretty strong. Everyone is asking me what's happening, but I don't know. It's never happened before, in the five years we've been here.

I also noticed that they're getting big roosts of crows in Pittsburgh (thanks to our state listserv). Is this just a normal occurrence, or did Hollywood issue a casting call for a remake of The Birds?

Obama turns away from Clinton

The State of the Union was best described tonight as the POTUS version of "Groundhog Day" -- same stuff, different day. I must confess that I fell asleep during part of it. But there is one buzz that seems to be surfacing. The exchange, or lack thereof, between Sens. Clinton and Obama.

The Associated Press reports:

Rival Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama came within a foot of each other just before President Bush's State of the Union speech Monday night and managed not to acknowledge each other, and certainly not touch.

Clinton, clad in scarlet, crossed the aisle between their seats on the House floor and reached out a hand to greet Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the Democratic icon whose endorsement she had courted only to lose it to Obama.

Kennedy shook her hand while Obama, wearing a dark suit and standing between the two, turned away.

It would appear that the "uniter" is not quite ready to ... well ... unite. Come on Obama, don't be a sore winner. I hate that.

End of an Error

We all have something to celebrate tonight ... the LAST State of the Union address by George W. Bush. Just minutes away now, let's savor the moment. It's certainly been a long time coming.

Hillary Clinton to Vote No on Cloture

Sen. Hillary Clinton will be in the Senate and voting "no" on cloture on the FISA bill.

Mcjoan at DailyKos writes:

Jane breaks the great news that Senator Clinton will be on the floor tomorrow to vote against McConnell's cloture vote on the Intelligence Committee's pro-telco amnesty FISA bill. Beating this vote is critical, and good for Clinton for taking the time out of the campaign to do her current job. The Obama campaign hasn't yet said if he will be there, too, though he is scheduled to have a fundraiser in DC at 4:00. [Update: That was fast! Jane is now reporting that Obama will be there to vote no, too. This is great news. Thank you, Senators, for listening to us, and in turn, sending this critical message.]

It's great that Sen. Clinton is coming back for the vote -- it's as if she had two votes!

Media Bias Against Clintons Borders on Mental Illness

This post, from Tennessee Guerilla Women, sums up exactly my thoughts on the media.

The amount of Clinton bashing in the S.C. primary coverage on MSNBC and CNN last night was astounding. What an amazing phenomenon. I don't recall ever seeing so much overt and shameless media bias in any previous election. I may as well be watching Fox News.

The vicious media bias against all things Clinton -- or against Hillary's bid for the presidency -- is not good for Obama or the Democratic Party. Eventually, the pack will turn on Obama; it's just a matter of time until they discover that he's human too. It may be naïve to think that anyone other than the media picks our candidates.

Craig Crawford is one of the few journalists who is not running with the pack:

"You know, I have sat down here in Florida for the last month. And I have watched the coverage, and I really think the evidence-free bias against the Clintons in the media borders on mental illness. I mean, I think when Dr. Phil gets done with Britney [Spears], he ought to go to Washington and stage an intervention at the National Press Club.

I mean, we've gotten into a situation where if you try to be fair to the Clintons, if you try to be objective, if you try to say, "Well, where's the evidence of racism in the Clinton campaign?" you're accused of being a naïve shill for the Clintons. I mean, I think if somebody came out today and said that Bill Clinton -- if the town drunk in Columbia [South Carolina] came out and said, "Bill Clinton last night was poisoning the drinking water in Obama precincts," the media would say, "Ah, there goes Clinton again. You can't trust him." I really think it's a problem. You know what? You guys make him stronger with this bashing. This actually is what makes the Clintons stronger." -- read more

Vote for the worst political pundit over at TalkLeft.

There is no question that racism in an issue in this country. One only need to remember the recent racists incidents in communities and on college campuses involving a hangman's noose to know there is still a problem.

But there is ALSO a problem of sexism in this country, and that does not seem to be getting the same amount of discussion.

Sen. Clinton's campaign is not talking about sexism, and it really can't. If they did the current media bias against her would only intensify.

Rachel Maddow is the only political pundit who has consistently demonstrated any amount of integrity during this primary season. How sad that she is the only one.

Sunday Funnies

Obama wins South Carolina

Sen. Barack Obama scored a big victory in South Carolina tonight. With 99% of the votes counted Obama received 55% of the vote, Sen. Hillary Clinton received 27% of the vote and John Edwards came in at 18%.

SC had the largest African American voter turnout ever, at 53%, for a Democratic primary. Obama received 80% of that vote.

Exit poll results indicate just over half of Democratic primary voters were black this year -- what may be the highest turnout among African-Americans in any Democratic presidential primary at least since 1984, reports ABC News' Gary Langer. Women accounted for six in 10 voters, similar to their 57 percent turnout rate in 2004.

Democrats won again tonight as it the turnout was huge for this contest. More than 520,000 Democrats cast a ballot in this primary, compared to 442,918 for Republicans.

Edwards says he's staying in the race "for the long haul," to give voice to "all the people I am speaking for."

Senator Clinton is in Tennessee tonight, as we count down the next ten days to what is now being called Super-Duper Tuesday.

Happy Birthday Ellen!

Friday Night Funnies - Pushing Bush

Brian Dykstra

Feeling a little spring

I was searching through some old photos and found some images that made my heart practically scream for springtime:

sigh.

Our Terrible MSM is the Reagan Legacy

One of the terrible legacy's of the Reagan administration is the decimation of the Federal Communications Commission.

Before the Reagan years there was a limit on the number of radio and television stations one corporation could own. There was a "fairness" doctrine, which meant that broadcast stations had to give equal time for opposing points of view.

Clear Channel would not exist without Ronald Reagan, and there would be more than five corporations who owned the media in this country.

All the broadcast outlets that air programs featuring hate mongers like John Gibson, Rush Limbaugh, and the cast of FOX News would have to provide equal time for the Keith Olbermann's, Rachael Maddow's and the Air America gang.

The previous post revealed the hate filled speech of John Gibson. Bill Press is also calling out the bigotry of radio talk show host Bob Grant.

From Bill Press:

Who says racism is dead in America?

It’s alive and well – on talk radio – WABC in New York – and talk show host Bob Grant.

Grant’s record of racist, hate-talk is as old as he is.

He once complained about New York: “Minorities are the Big Apple’s majority, you don’t need the papers to tell you that, walk around and you know it. To me, that’s a bad thing. I’m a white person.”

He hated the fact that Magic Johnson was still alive: “Why is it taking so long for the HIV to go into full-blown AIDS?”

And he was disappointed in Ron Brown’s plane crash: “I have a hunch Brown might be the lone survivor. But then, I’m a pessimist at heart.”

Radio & Records magazine announced plans to honor Bob Grant at their March meeting in Washington, but changed their mind after complaints about his hateful comments.

Get this. So now conservative talkers Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Neal Boortz are threatening to boycott the meeting because, they say, Grant’s First Amendment rights are being violated.

I say let the assholes stay home!

UPDATE: Speaking of the presidents we hate and their legacy, Dr. Zaius has a GREAT post up about George Bush. It's a must read.

Fire John Gibson Now

From Think Progress:

Opening his radio show with funeral music yesterday, Fox News host John Gibson callously mocked the death of actor Heath Ledger, calling him a “weirdo” with a "serious drug problem.”

Playing an audio clip of the iconic quote, “I wish I knew how to quit you” from Ledger’s gay romance movie Brokeback Mountain, Gibson disdainfully quipped, “Well, he found out how to quit you.” Laughing, Gibson then played another clip from Brokeback Mountain in which Ledger said, “We’re dead,” followed by his own, mocking “We’re dead” before playing the clip again.

You can listen to this disgusting exchange on the Think Progress site.

This is no different from what Don Imus did, which resulted in Imus losing his job -- at least temporarily. Gibson should suffer the same consequences for his actions.

GLAAD has started a petition asking Fox News “why they continue to provide a platform for John Gibson’s cruel and tasteless comments.”

Please visit their web site, and sign the petition today!

Take the Clawsie Quiz!

Clawsie: Evil genius

or just missundahztood?

Mr. Divider?

From Taylor Marsh:

[David] Brody of CBN fed Obama a question meant to divide and hit Clinton. Obama obliged. Playing ball with the media in order to hit a fellow Democrat and send a message that Clinton is unelectable, especially with independents.

Another clip on "Countdown" showed Clinton simply saying, "As soon as we have a nominee, we will be strongly united because the most important thing is to put a Democrat in the white house starting in January 2009."

John Edwards, in an interview on "Countdown," said he intended to be the nominee, but that he absolutely believed everyone should rally around the nominee.

Gurrl Power

I loved this video of America Ferrera and Chelsea Clinton on the campaign trail.

On a different note, I think the little dust up during the last Dem debate lit a flame under a few feminist posters. Here are a just some of their posts you might want to check out.

Egalia at Tennessee Guerilla Women is on a roll:

Obama: Think You're Getting My Voters, Hillary?
The 'Fed-Up With the Misogyny' Vote
Clinton Derangement Syndrome


Taylor Marsh offers this:

Obama's Bernie Kerik
Obama's Words on Reagan Dogging Him
Obama's Faustian Bargain with Antoin 'Tony' Rezko


Melissa McEwan at Shakesville offers up this:

Shut Up, Maureen Dowd

It's gonna be a long primary season!

I see gay people ... and you can, too!

Question: What is Creating Change?

Answer: Creating Change is the one and only time each year that more than 2,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights advocates from every corner of the country converge to strategize, socialize and mobilize for LGBT equality.

It features top-level trainings, workshops, networking sessions and action-planning with our movement’s best thinkers and brightest innovators — oh yeah, there’s also tons of opportunities for socializing, meeting up with old friends and making lots of new ones. In short, Creating Change is community like you’ve never experienced it before!

For 20 years the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has hosted it's annual Creating Change conference. If you've never attended the first question I would ask is why? It's one of the best conferences for organizers in the country. And you don't have to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender to attend -- it just might make it more fun!

I'll be there from Thursday afternoon until Sunday. If you are planning to attend, please stop by the Americans United booth and say hello!

In Memoriam - Heath Ledger

Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger was found dead today in his home in Manhattan. He was 28. The Associated Press reports:

Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday at a downtown Manhattan residence, and police said drugs may have been a factor. He was 28. NYPD spokesman Paul Browne
said Ledger had an appointment for a massage at the Manhattan apartment believed to be his home. The housekeeper who went to let him know the masseuse had arrived found him dead at 3:26 p.m. [...]

The Australian-born actor was nominated for an Oscar for "Brokeback Mountain," where he met Michelle Williams in 2005. The two had lived in Brooklyn and had a daughter, Matilda, until they split up last year. [...]

Ledger was to appear as the Joker this year in "The Dark Night," a sequel to 2005's "Batman Begins." He's had starring roles in "A Knight's Tale" and "The Patriot," and played the suicidal son of Billy Bob Thornton in "Monster's Ball."

How very sad.

35th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

Today marks the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that gave women a right to safe, legal abortion. On January 22, 1973 the court issued its decision by a 7 to 2 majority. If Roe were being argued today would it receive the same majority support? The answer is probably not.

One of the reasons I'm so excited about being involved with First Freedom First is because it's a campaign that supports reproductive justice. First Freedom First believes that all Americans must be free to make choices concerning their reproductive health in keeping with their personal beliefs.

Opponents of reproductive freedom often seek legislation based on their own religious doctrines. Creating laws that are grounded in religious belief, however, conflicts with the separation of church and state and compromises our religious liberty. We must be allowed to live our lives according to our own beliefs.

I’ve been a feminist all my life, and a feminist activist for more than two decades now. I’ve been on the front line at clinics defending a woman’s right to make this personal decision, and I can assure you that at no time have I ever witnessed an anti-abortion advocate waving a medical journal telling the women entering the clinics, or the doctors inside, that they are practicing bad medicine. They wave Bibles. They read scripture. They tell the women they are committing a sin against God. Opponents often, and regularly, couch their objections to abortion in religious language.

At the center of the abortion debate are important questions of ethics and beliefs. Such questions are sometimes difficult, and ultimately will be resolved by individuals in accordance with the dictates of their own conscience. In many cases, the dictates of a person’s conscience will be influenced by their religious beliefs. Religious liberty is a basic right guaranteed to all Americans by the First Amendment. To take away a woman’s right to make personal decisions about her body is to deny her basic right to religious freedom.

Democrats debate and the gloves are off

If they were ever on to begin with. I missed the very beginning of the debate, and both Obama and Clinton were going at it when I tuned in. Regardless of what you might think of the dust up, I think it was good to get some of this out on the table.

Obama was asked about his comments on Ronald Reagan, and Republicans being the "party of ideas." And he also was asked about his many "present" votes as an Illinois State Senator. I'm not sure that he resolved the concerns that some Democrats have. He said tonight that he didn't say he agreed with the Republican ideas, but that they simply had ideas. If that is the case, then why didn't he make that more clear at the time?

I think he missed an opportunity to acknowledge how his comments might have been misunderstood. And I still maintain that it was a really dumb thing for him to say in what is clearly a very tight contest. If you watch the video it appears that he was, to an extent, trying to dis President Clinton. Maybe in response to Bill Clinton's comments during the campaign.

He also didn't seem to really answer the question from Edwards about why he voted "present" so often. I asked friends in IL-NOW about this, and they said the reason they did not endorse Obama was because some of the issues he took a pass on involved reproductive health and LGBT civil rights. They said that Obama represented a very liberal district, and would not have suffered any political consequence for supporting women, or lesbians and gays.

Obama, clearly taking a shot an Sen. Clinton, said that he didn't know who he was running against -- Bill or Hillary. Clinton responded that they both have spouses that are strongly supporting them, and that it was a good thing.

Clearly, I support Sen. Clinton. My response to Obama's charge is that if he can't stand up to criticism from Bill Clinton, how in the heck does he expect to be able to withstand attacks from the Republican smear machine, should he become the nominee?

John Edwards had to struggle to stay in the debate tonight, but some are suggesting that the dust up between Obama and Clinton might have helped him. I think both Edwards and Clinton scored points in the health care discussion. Clinton drew applause when she said, rightfully, that you must start out asking for all that you want and not with a plan that leaves 15 million people out from the beginning.

At this point I don't have an idea who will win in South Carolina. Given the number of African American voters it would seem to trend toward Sen. Obama. John Edwards did well in SC in the last primary. And I don't think you can ever count Sen. Clinton out.

Winter on the marsh

As it was a positively balmy 24 degrees this afternoon when I got home from work, I thought I'd take a little stroll on the marsh. I got out there a little after 5pm, but there wasn't much sunlight left. The sunset, however, was beautiful; here it is viewed through some teasel:


During the early summer, I saw several Virginia rails and a sora in this little wet area, which is now frozen solid:

I don't know whether they are still out there, as we're just above their northernmost winter range. They probably went south into Maryland or farther, though they could be hiding in those cattails. Who knows? I hope they're warm, wherever they are.

The sun was setting pretty quickly, and the temperature was dropping just as fast.


The full moon is out tonight, low in the eastern sky, which made for some nice photographs:




There were no birds visible out there, though I heard some sharp little tsips and chips coming from the reedy areas in the center of the marsh. I heard some occasional movement in the dry stalks of the plants, but I saw nothing. At one point, I think a little field mouse jumped just ahead of me and into a clump of dry grass, but I didn't relish the idea of seeing him any more clearly than the grayish blur I'd already seen, so I moved on.

No birds on the Long Pond, either, which has a skim of ice on it:

I mentioned in a previous post that I'd seen some ducks coming in for the evening around the time I was out there, and I did see one small flock of mallards fly near the marsh, but they disappeared quickly in the darkening sky. They may have landed on the creek behind the marsh.

By now it was getting pretty dark, so I headed home.

Real Time Savage Love: Mike Huckabee

Dan Savage of Savage Love

L.A. Times Editor is Ousted

You might be wondering, why should BAC care about this? As I read the report about Jim O'Shea being given the boot for resisting budget cuts I couldn't help but think about what Arianna Huffington wrote in her book "Pigs At The Trough" about how anytime there is a new corporate owner, one of the first things that happens is people lose their jobs.

Cutting staff might, in the short term, improve the bottom line -- but how good is it for the public?

Face it, we do not get "news" from broadcast media, we get entertainment that masquerades as news. Any national news broadcast that includes mention of Britney Spears is NOT NEWS.

Print media has always been the place for in depth reporting on important issues of the day. And while we may not pick up the traditional paper copy of the newspaper from news stands these days, many of us do read these publications online.

O'Shea is the second L.A. Times editor fired for trying to hold the line on proposed budget cuts. The previous editor, Dean Baquet, was also dismissed for refusing to cut the newsroom budget.

O'Shea's ouster came after real estate mogul Sam Zell took over the Tribune Co., but the battle lines seemed little changed: a Chicago conglomerate demanding increasingly deep cuts in its Los Angeles property, which has won a string of Pulitzers but feels disrespected by the out-of-town landlord.

Sources who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the situation -- a company spokeswoman would not even confirm the firing -- said O'Shea prided himself on holding the budgetary line and did not want a shrunken newsroom to be his legacy. While they said the proposed cutbacks were relatively small -- about $4 million, out of a budget of $120 million -- and did not involve significant layoffs, the reductions would follow a steady pace of budget-slashing since the Tribune Co. bought the Times in 2000, including about $10 million last year. The Times editorial staff has been cut from 1,200 to fewer than 900 since then, while circulation has declined from a peak of 1.1 million to about 800,000.

The other thing that disturbed me about this report is the decline in the number of people who are reading the newspaper. Newspapers generally provide the most detail about a subject, probably followed closely by bloggers -- who to a certain extent act as an extension of traditional print media. Bloggers are, or at least can be, news reporters. We've seen it most notably in reports from caucus sites in Iowa and Nevada.

It also seems as though Sam Zell is not following his own advice.

A new employee handbook, distributed at Zell's direction, sends a quite different message to workers.

How much should a company's culture reflect that of its chief executive, especially one who prides himself on being blunt and innovative -- and some might say abrasive?

If you're new Tribune Co. Chief Executive Sam Zell, the answer seems to be: a lot. At least that was the feeling workers got last week with distribution of a new employee handbook, a document that's nothing like the lawyer-filled gobbledygook in most corporate manuals.

Consider the opening:

"Rule 1: Use your best judgment."

"Rule 2: See Rule 1."

In an e-mail to employees, Zell (who took over in December after helping to take the parent company of the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune private) described the new handbook as shorter and more direct than its turgid predecessor, reflecting trust "in your judgment, and in each other."

So, did he really want O'Shea to use his "best judgment?"

Do we really want to see a cutback in reporters during an election year?

The new handbook replaces traditional words like "pursuant to," "required minimums" and "appropriate documentation," with plain language -- and even some jokes:

"• 2.5. Discrimination based on gender, age, race, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic not related to performance, ability or attitude, protected by federal or state law, or not protected (such as the inability to tell a joke, the occasional poor wardrobe choice or bad hair day), is strictly prohibited."

"• 4.5. Making the building too hot, banging on trash can lids or loud bagpipe music are annoyances you can complain about" but such actions don't constitute harassment on the basis of protected characteristics.

"• 7.1. If you use or abuse alcohol or drugs and fail to perform the duties required by your job acceptably, you are likely to be terminated. See Rule 1. Coming to work drunk is bad judgment."

"• 7.2. If you do not use or abuse alcohol or drugs and fail to perform the duties required by your job acceptably, you are likely to be terminated."

The new version "reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously, and to have fun," Zell wrote employees. It also outlines "our company's new core values," he said.

Gee, I'd certainly be in the mood for some "fun" while I worry about whether or not I'm going to get to keep my job. Wouldn't you?

Hey, maybe Jim O'Shea can file a lawsuit to get his job back? After all, wasn't he using his "best judgment?"

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

T-365 and Counting

I want to thank my friend Tengrain at Mock, Paper, Scissors for reminding us that we are now at T-365 and counting.


As Ten says it:
"It’s official - the long, national nightmare ends a year from today."

In Memoriam - Suzanne Pleshette

Suzanne Pleshette, best known for her role as Bob Newhart's wife Emily on "The Bob Newhart Show,'' died yesterday at her home in Los Angeles from respiratory failure. She was 70.

She was part of one of the most memorable moments in television :

In 1990, Pleshette reprised that role in Bob Newhart's second television series, "Newhart,'' in which he played a Vermont innkeeper. Pleshette appeared in the last scene of the series' last episode.

The ending, called one of the five most memorable moments in TV history by TV Guide, was suggested by Newhart's real-life wife. In the scene, Newhart awakens in bed with a woman. It's not immediately apparent to viewers, but he's playing Bob Hartley, his former psychologist character.

"Honey, honey, wake up,'' he says. "You won't believe the dream I just had.''

The light turns on and instead of it being Mary Frann -- his wife in the second series -- it's Pleshette in her role as his wife from the first sitcom.

"I was an innkeeper in this crazy little town in Vermont,'' he says. "The maid was an heiress; her husband talked in alliteration; the handyman kept missing the point of things; and then there were these three woodsmen.''

"That settles it. No more Japanese food before you go to bed,'' Pleshette answers.

Suzanne Pleshette was just a joy to watch, she was at ease with comedy as well as drama. In 1991 Pleshette received an Emmy nomination for her role as real estate developer Leona Helmsley. She also was nominated in 1977 and 1978 for her role as Emily Hartley, and in 1962 received an Emmy nomination for an appearance on TV's "Dr. Kildare.''

Sunday Funnies

At the feeders, and Winged Migration

While doing my weekly Project Feederwatch counts this morning, I got some decent photos at the feeders--typical visitors, but I had at least 30 birds out there at one point, which is a lot for my feeders.

As predicted, the American goldfinches are loving the new nyjer sock. Still no siskins yet, though, at least not that I've seen.
Note that I caught two of them in flight; I had put the setting on that little running man, "Sport," or whatever it's called. But the wings are still a little blurred. Maybe it was the low light. Still, that's better than I usually get!

Here's a beautiful White-crowned sparrow:
You can see some of the mealworms I got from NC Mealworms there in the tray. I haven't seen any bluebirds eating them but the worms always disappear, so someone's loving them!

Guess this cold snap and the snow have made life difficult for the little guys. Today the high was only supposed to be about 20 degrees, so I didn't take my walk. I'm hoping tomorrow might be a little more bearable, because I'd like to get out on the marsh and see what's happening out there. A couple of evenings this past week, I saw some ducks landing on the ponds. Maybe there will be more than just the usual mallards.

Speaking of which, we finally watched Winged Migration today--wow. It was really a beautiful movie, though I kept wishing they'd ID more of the birds they showed. That first bird they show--it's this beautiful songbird. It reminds me of a variegated thrush, but I don't even know where the bird was from. Anyone remember that bird? He had those big thrush eyes and a thrush-like body.

I also wished they'd showed some of our warblers, but when I mentioned that aloud--and you're not gonna believe this--Bird-Creeped-Out-Kat (oy--but I didn't want to steal Non-Birding from Sharon and Non-Birding Bill!)--anyway, BCOK said, "honey, do you really think they'd be able to find and follow a bunch of tiny warblers?"

OH.
MY.
GOD.

A totally logical birdy point from The Kat! My jaw about dropped to the floor. That Kat--she's a keeper.

There was one horrifying scene in which they were showing these beautiful Canada geese in flight, with this nice music playing, and then BLAMMO! BLAMMO! hunters are shooting the geese out of the sky! Kat started screaming, and I just buried my face in my pillow. That was rough. The Kat said, "March of the Penguins was really sad, but at least no one was shooting at the penguins!"

So--I then watched the "Making of" portion, and I realized why they didn't follow any smaller birds: they actually raised all the birds they followed. Canada geese, Grey-lag geese, Bar-Nosed (or Bar-Headed? can't remember) Geese, African white pelicans, some different kinds of cranes--birds they figured would imprint on the people who raised them, and thus be easier to follow and film. I was a little disappointed, but then I guess they did do what they set out to do, which was film them migrating in the fall and the spring. I just wonder what they did with them when they were done filming. Were the birds released into the wild? They were with these birds 24/7, hugging them, feeding them, nurturing them--those birds wouldn't survive in the wild. Maybe they gave them to a zoo or something. Anyway, I envied their closeness to the birds (one pelican really loved being hugged), but I also felt sorry that the birds didn't really have normal lives. Still--they were pretty spoiled--well, except for those poor Canada geese that got shot! *sniffle*