Where’s the Outrage?

A few days ago I ordered a burrito from the drive-up window of a Mexican take-out place here in Houston.

I drove up to the window after I made my order and the person working was a kid of maybe 17.

I assessed him based on my own experiences and outlook.

I felt this young person was someone who might have a creative temperament and nature. Also, he seemed kind.

This view was based on the entirety of his appearance and the way he spoke and carried himself.

I have a sympathy for the creative temperament and I took a liking to this person.

I felt he did not have the libertarian streak often found in younger creative-minded people. I felt he was someone who would pay his taxes.

It takes confidence and quality to have both a distinct personality and to have the willingness to accept that you are one person in a society of many.

[Read more →]

Tags: General by Texas Liberal
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The first dance at weddings are usually terrible.  There are so many details to take care of practicing for the First Dance seems to never get done.  These guys have it down.

 

 First Dance [1:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Fun by ecthompson
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Everyone who knows sports knows . Few people know Bill Willis. Bill Willis played for the Cleveland Browns before Jackie Robinson stepped into a MLB uniform. He played Guard on offense and middle guard (nose tackle) on defense. Mr. Willis helped Ohio State win a championship under a coach called Paul Brown. Brown helped start the Cleveland Browns in 1946. One of his first players was Bill Willis. Willis played for ‘46 thru ‘53. Paul Brown wrote that Willis was the forerunner of the modern middle linebacker. Bill Willis was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1977.

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From NYT:

Bill Willis, the Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame guard who played a major role in breaking professional football’s racial barrier in the decade after World War II, died Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio. He was 86.

The cause was complications of a stroke, said the current Browns franchise, the successor in Cleveland to the original Browns.

In the autumn of 1946, a year before Jackie Robinson broke the racial barrier in major league baseball, Willis joined the newly formed Browns of the fledgling All-America Football Conference, playing guard on offense and middle guard — akin to today’s noseguard — on defense. (more…)

Tags: Sports by ecthompson
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In spite of Collinsworth trying to make a big deal of a late pass interference penalty, the game was not won or lost on that play. Both teams tried to win and lose this game. Both teams had ridiculous penalties. Both teams had costly face mask penalties. The game was lost by the Green Bay Packers’ offensive line. For reasons that were unclear the Packers wanted to go deep which means that the offensive line had to give Farve time. Greg Ellis, Demarcus Ware and blitzing linebackers hit Farve throughout the first and second quarter.

Although Chris Collinsworth stated that Tony Romo played well, he really didn’t. He missed wide open receivers. This was Romo’s worst game since the Buffalo game. Patrick Crayton deserves a game ball but got no lovin’ from Bryant Gumbel (who looks ill) or Collinsworth.

So, the Dallas Cowboys knocked Brett Farve out of the game. There was much celebration but the Packers didn’t rollover. The Cowboys were still celebrating as the Packers scored 14 unanswered points. The Boyz served up a goose egg in the 3rd quarter. I think that this is the first time that the Cowboys haven’t scored anything in the 3rd quarter all . This may have been one of Jason Garrett’s worse game at ball calling. 4th and 2 and we run Julius Jones. Julius (I can’t make a move or make someone miss) Jones ran right into the back of his right tackle. Garrett called a screen in the third quarter when we needed to make a play. Marion Barber was dropped for a 3 yard loss.

Demarcus Ware had a monster game. He had the play of the game. The Packers clearly had the momentum. The Cowboys had driven the ball down the field. Tony Romo threw a TD to Terrell Owens who flipped-bobbled-bounced the ball up in the air and Al Harris happily intercepted. The Packers have the ball on the 20. Rodgers hits Jennings for 15 yards, ball on 35. More momentum. 1st and 10 - incomplete pass. 2nd and 10 - a 5 yard pass to an invisible Donald Driver. 3rd and 5 - Demarcus Ware comes off the corner and sacks Rodgers. Momentum stopped.

Don’t believe the hype. The Cowboys are good but they aren’t great. The defense needs to tighten up. Stupid penalties must stop. The offense needs to be able to run the ball any time.

 

 Cowboys edge Packers [5:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Sports by ecthompson
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PBS’s Now is a great show.  If you haven’t seen it, take some time and sit down and be educated.  Last week they tackled the subprime mortgage crisis.  I really didn’t understand what a subprime mortgage was until I read this article in The Nation.  Again, we see the problem of a lack of government oversight.  It is not enough for a business to go belly up.  Capitalists state that is the consequence of bad loans.  But they never tell you that the guys who were at the top, aren’t going to jail.  Their houses aren’t being foreclosed.  They have a golden parachute and they are in the South Pacific somewhere sippin’ some froo-froo drink with an umbrella in it.  Government is suppose to protect its citizens against out and out fraud like this.

Please if you have an opportunity you should go to PBS’s web site and enjoy Now.

 

 PBS - Now - Supprime mortgage [8:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 PBS - Now [13:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Domestic Issues, Media by ecthompson
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From Think Progress:

Last night during the Republican presidential candidates’ YouTube debate, CNN failed to disclose that a questioner, Retired Brig. Gen. Keith Kerr, who asked about gays and lesbians serving in the military, is actually a co-chair of “Veterans and Military Retirees for Hillary Committee” and a steering member of “LGBT Americans for Hillary.” (See the question here.) CNN Senior Vice President and Executive Producer of the debate, David Bohrman, later acknowledged the network’s error:

We regret this, and apologize to the Republican candidates. We never would have used the General’s question had we known that he was connected to any presidential candidate.

Phil Singer, a spokesman for the Clinton campaign, told Raw Story: “[Kerr] is not a campaign employee and was not acting on behalf of the campaign.”

Tags: Election 2008 by ecthompson
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The Senate is working on a bill to compel judges to evaluate the governments claims of national security.  Keith Olbermann has an excellent discussion with Jonathan Turley.

 

 Government hiding [5:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Civil Liberty, Countdown by ecthompson
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Okay, here’s what I don’t understand, Charlie Rose is a smart man.  He must know when a guest is pulling the wool over on him.  Doesn’t he have a receiver in his ear?  Can’t a producer actually look up a stat for him?  Why doesn’t Charlie Rose have a computer in front of him to look up stuff?  I’m not saying that Charlie Rose should have called Karl Rove a liar, even though he clear is.  Charlie Rose should have said, “Wait a minute, as I recall, the president was pushing the agenda back then.  Everything that the president asked for he got back then.  So, are you saying that the president publicly asked Congress to wait until after the election to past the authorization to go to war?  Finally, I thought you said in a speech in New England to fellow Republicans, “to run on the war.”  isn’t that correct?”

Keith Olbermann and Adrianna Huffington do a great job at exposing Karl Rove’s lie.  (Rove didn’t make a misstatement.  This is a lie.  He is trying to change his and President Bush’s legacy.  This is also a peak into his book.)

 

 Rove re-writing history [5:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Bush Administration, Countdown, Party Politics by ecthompson
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Keith Olbermann picks up on a story that was in the Village Voice about Rudy Giuliani’s ties to major terrorists suspects. The fact that Rudy has ties to anyone in the corrupt nation of Qatar is somewhat troubling. The fact that a close business partner may have harbored KSM is yet another piece of evidence that Rudy really has poor judgment on who he associates with.

Add this to the fact that Rudy billed the city of New York for security while he was having an affair with Judith Nathan in the Hamptons. Someone is out for Rudy because it is weird how government documents just suddenly turn up. I’m not saying that Rudy isn’t a weasel because I really think that he is. I’m just saying that he was really pissed off the wrong folks along the way.

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From the Village Voice:

Three weeks after 9/11, when the roar of fighter jets still haunted the city’s skyline, the emir of gas-rich Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah al-Thani, toured Ground Zero. Although a member of the emir’s own royal family had harbored the man who would later be identified as the mastermind of the attack—a man named Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, often referred to in intelligence circles by his initials, KSM—al-Thani rushed to New York in its aftermath, offering to make a $3 million donation, principally to the families of its victims. Rudy Giuliani, apparently unaware of what the FBI and CIA had long known about Qatari links to Al Qaeda, appeared on CNN with al-Thani that night and vouched for the emir when Larry King asked the mayor: “You are a friend of his, are you not?” (more…)

 

 Countdown - More bad stuff on Rudy [7:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Countdown, Election 2008 by ecthompson
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Thursday night football. I’m not sure that I’m ready for more Thursday night football. It is hard to block out time to watch football, Thursday, Sunday and Monday Night.

So, we have the Dallas Cowboys vs. the Green Bay Packers. It has been a long time since both of these teams played in a meaningful game against each other. In 1994-5, I thought that the Packers were the better team. Brett Favre was playing extremely good football. Reggie White was leading their defense. Now, this wasn’t the old Reggie White, this was Reggie as a beast. The Cowboys had Eric Williams. Eric was the best offensive tackle in the league, possibly the most dominant ever (drunk in a car crash killed his career). The Cowboys throughout the early to mid-90’s would beat up Brett Favre until he would make a mistake. Once the mistakes started coming they would come in bunches.

How the Cowboys win: The Cowboys offense will need to show some patience. They will need to control the clock and take their shots when they are available. The Packers have an excellent rush package. Jason Garrett, the offensive coordinator for the Boyz, has talked about the offensive line all year.  Well, it is time for them to step up.  They will have to give Romo some time to throw.  The Cowboys must avoid 3rd and long just like with the Giants. Tony Romo will have to protect the ball. Early turnovers will be deadly. Brett Favre will make you pay. The Green Bay defense is ranked #13 in the league in stopping the run. They give up an average of 100 yards on the ground per game. The Cowboys will have to sprinkle in the run as they have the last 2 or 3 games. Use the pass to set up the run. I think that we should throw out of some of the 2 tight end sets in order to keep Green Bay off balance. If we are able to control the clock and keep Brett Farve frustrated (hit him and hit him often) then the Cowboys will roll.

How the Cowboys Lose: Brett Farve loves to go up top. He just love to throw deep. If he has time, he will go deep early. If he has success he will throw deep all day. His offensive line must control Demarcus Ware, Greg Ellis and the much improved Chris Canty. The Cowboys will stunt and blitz. I do not see any reason for the Packers not to try what the New York Giants and Washington Redskins did which was to try to isolate their tight end on Roy Williams. Farve loves Bubba Franks, Donald Lee and his running backs out of the back field. If Farve has time he will carve up the Cowboys secondary. On the other side of the football, the Packers will have to force Tony Romo into some bad decisions. If they are able to force turnovers and handle the ball to Brett in good field position it will be a long afternoon for the Dallas Cowboys.

I suspect that this game will be like most in the NFL, turnovers will tell the tale.  The Cowboys will win but late turnovers will make the score look more lopsided than it truly is.  Cowboys by 8.  This will be a good game.

 

 Cowboys - Packers preview [3:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Sports by ecthompson
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Senator Trent Lott and Representative Newt Gingrich are the dynamic duo.  They were the ones that set up a system that rewarded loyalty to them and the party above loyalty to your family and friends.  You wanted to get a bill to come up for discussion you had to pay.  If you wanted to get re-elected, you had to pay.  For their friends, piles of cash and no opposition in the primaries.  For their enemies, the wrath of the right wing, including Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh.  That’s how it was.  Things have changed.  The mighty have fallen.  Newt requested that his backers for president raise $20 million, if I’m not mistaken, they didn’t come close.  Senator Trent Lott has been up and down over the last several years.  He butted heads with the White House and lost.  He lost his position has Senate Majority leader, in part because the White House wanted him out.  He won the Senate Minority whip by one vote.

Suddenly, he called a press conference and will resign from the Senate before his term is over.   Why did he leave so suddenly?  I’m guessing that he is involved in something bad and it may come out soon.

From American Progress:

Yesterday, Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-MS) announced he would resign from the Senate before the end of the year. Lott’s departure was “stunning” for its timing, observed the Washington Post. Currently occupying the number two position in the Senate GOP leadership — after enjoying a “political rehabilitation from allegations of racial insensitivity” — Lott “cruis[ed] to his re-election” just last year. With this sudden resignation, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) said yesterday that he would “call a Special Election for United States Senator to be held on November 4, 2008,” an election which may violate Mississippi state law. The resignation has sparked a “round of maneuvering inside the Republican conference,” with Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) announcing he will run for the leadership position. While Lott has not yet clarified a specific motive for his retirement, the “decision will complete a two-year roller coaster ride for Lott and his emotional investment in the Senate.”

THE LOBBYIST’S SENATOR: Lott has warmly embraced the entreaties of lobbyists while in the Senate. For example, he “tops the list” of “lawmakers who have most frequently been jetted around the country aboard the luxurious private jets of Corporate America.” In 2006, he voted against establishing a Senate Office of Public Integrity. Lott, whose son is a lobbyist, was part of a small bloc of conservatives who voted against the ethics reform bill in August that included a two-year revolving door ban, reflecting his longtime opposition to lobbying reform.  It is speculated that Lott is retiring so that he can avoid these new restrictions on former members entering the lobbying world, which kick in after 2008. Lott said yesterday that “he was going to move into the private sector after 35 years in Congress.” NBC News reported that Lott may join the “lucrative world of lobbying Congress.” He maintains the ethics restrictions “didn’t have a big role” in his resignation.

I’m not sure why Senator Lott has stepped down.  He is clearly someone that progressives need to keep an eye on.  Trent Lott is still a mover and a shaker.  He has been in Congress a long time.  He loves power.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he is up to something in his home state of Mississippi.   (psst. there is an ugly rumor that Lott’s gay affair may be the breaking story.  I have no idea if this is true.  All I know is there is a reason that he left suddenly.)

 

 Countdown - Lott outta here [6:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Countdown, Senate by ecthompson
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The United States signed an agreement with Iraq that we were provide support (troops) and Iraq would allow us to rape the country with Halliburton and other corporate giants.  Cool.  I’m sure that everyone is happy with this.

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From WaPo:

President Bush reached a deal yesterday that is intended to lead to a more normalized, long-term relationship between the United States and Iraq by the time he leaves office, but it left unsettled the question of how many and how long U.S. forces would remain.

Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki signed the declaration of principles during a secure videoconference as part of an effort to move forward 4 1/2 years after a U.S.-led coalition invaded Iraq and toppled Saddam Hussein. The declaration calls for the current U.N. mandate to be extended one year, then replaced at the end of 2008 by a bilateral pact governing the economic, political and security aspects of the relationship.

“The basic message here should be clear: Iraq is increasingly able to stand on its own,” said Lt. Gen. Douglas E. Lute, Bush’s top Iraq adviser. “That’s very good news. But it won’t have to stand alone.  (more…)

 

 Countdown - We're staying in Iraq, forever [6:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Bush Administration, Countdown, Iraq by ecthompson
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New FISA law is pending passage in the Senate. I was going to write a long post on this for a number of reasons. First, it is an important topic. Second, Glenn Greenwald has been blogging about this for a while (here, here and here). Thirdly, Joe Klein for reasons that aren’t clear, completely misrepresented the bill and got caught doing so. But, you and I have been saved. One of the authors of the bill Representative Rush Holt has written a nice summary of the bill on the Huffington Post.

From Representative Holt:

I was pleased to see Time Magazine columnist Joe Klein acknowledge that he “may have made a mistake” in his column attacking the House Majority (”The Tone Deaf Democrats“) and misrepresenting the RESTORE Act. Unfortunately, Mr. Klein still professes confusion toward the bill’s contents and continues to question whether the House should have passed it in the first place.

As one of the bill’s authors, I want to set the record straight about what’s in the RESTORE Act, why it’s needed to safeguard Americans from unwarranted surveillance, and ultimately, why it will lead to better intelligence gathering.

In his original column, Mr. Klein incorrectly wrote, “Unfortunately, Speaker Nancy Pelosi quashed the House Intelligence Committee’s bipartisan effort and supported a Democratic bill that - Limbaugh is salivating - would require the surveillance of every foreign-terrorist target’s calls to be approved by the FISA court, an institution founded to protect the rights of U.S. citizens only.” It contains no such provision. (more…)

Tags: Domestic Issues, Domestic Spying by ecthompson
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I’m a huge professional football fan. I love the game. Sean Taylor was a first round draft pick of the Washington Redskins about 4 years ago. He was a hard hitting safety that was really learning to play the game. He was shot in his house Monday night. He was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital (great trauma center) where he died early Tuesday morning. Exactly what happened in his house is unclear.

Sean Taylor is the second NFL player in less than a year to be shot and killed. Darrant Williams of the Denver Broncos was shot last New Year’s Eve. There are a ton of things that I can say about folks that have more dollars than sense. I could comment violence in the Black community which must stop. I think that I’m going to leave this right here for now. (Thankfully, Michael Wilbon of the WaPo didn’t leave it. He took it where this needed to go. Senseless Violence in the Black Community- For what?)

I have a couple of questions - Sean Taylor was a multi-millionaire. Where was the help? Was there no maid or anything? Where is the fancy alarm system? It has been reported that his phone lines were cut? If this is true then throw out that this was some random thing. This was specific. What was in the house? Was anything stolen? What is this Miami Vice, phone lines cut? Was this a cat burglar looking for the Hope Diamond? Someone help me understand this one.

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From Miami Herald:

Miami-Dade detectives looking for the mysterious intruder who shot football star Sean Taylor now say they are hunting a killer.

After clinging to life nearly 24 hours, the Washington Redskins Pro Bowl safety succumbed to a bullet wound to the leg about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Shot Monday morning at his Palmetto Bay home — just feet from his baby daughter — he died before he could speak to detectives. They are treating his death as a homicide. Under scrutiny of national media, investigators are looking into everything from a 2005 fight involving Taylor to a strange break-in last week at his home. (more…)

 

 Redskin's Sean Taylor dead at 24 [1:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Race, Sports by ecthompson
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In his Cross of Gold speech at the 1896 Democratic Convention, William Jennings Bryan said, ” The individual is but an atom. He is born. He acts . He dies….”

In seeming contrast, the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus said “Everything we do or think depends on participation in the divine account.” 

These assertions appear at odds. How can an atomistic individual be part of the collective cosmic whole?

What Bryan says next in Cross of Gold gives a clue. He says—”…But principles are eternal.”

In Bryan’s conception of life, atomistic individuals find connection with the whole in asserting the underlying principles that give life a greater meaning and coherence.

Read now what Heraclitus said about the actions of individuals—”But although the account is common, most men live as though they had an understanding of their own”

People live as they are seperate from the whole, but really this is not the case.

I agree with both Bryan and Heraclitus. I see no conflict.

The extent to which you agree or disagree with these men might provide a clue as to your outlook on a number of questions of politics and life.

Please click here to read about William Jennings Bryan.

Please click here to read the Cross of Gold Speech.

Please click here to read about Heraclitus.

Tags: General by Texas Liberal
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Of all Martin Luther King’s sermons, the one I’ve found the most instructive is “Unfulfilled Dreams.” It offers solid perspective on the disappointments we all face in life.

Unfulfilled Dreams is the title given to the sermon in the excellent audio collection of King’s speeches called “A Knock At Midnight.” I’d suggest purchase of this collection to anybody. Play these sermons in your car as you commute and go about your affairs, and they might change your life.

In a print collection of King’s sermons titled ” Strength To Love“, this sermon is called “Shattered Dreams.” While the text between the audio and print versions has some differences, the message is the same. ( Here is a link to the full “A Knock At Midnight” text of Unfulfilled Dreams.)

Strength To Love is the best book compilation of King’s sermons.

Here are excerpts and observations from Unfulfilled Dreams—

King begins by discussing how King David wanted to build a temple to honor God. He talks about how important it was for David to finish this temple and how David would not be successful in this undertaking.

[Read more →]

Tags: Books, Civil Rights, Religion by Texas Liberal
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If you have pot and you want to make civil unrest what do you put into your pot? Start with a country that has a long history of ethnic tensions and add a dictatorial general, Pervez Musharraf then you need to add some spices - Benazir Bhutto plus Muslim extremists. Oh, and then for your special ingredient add a dash of Nawar Sharif.

BTW, what is the Bush administration doing to keep a lid on this pressure cooker?

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From MSNBC:

Exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned home to a hero’s welcome Sunday and called on President Gen. Pervez Musharraf to end emergency rule before elections, a fresh challenge to the U.S.-backed leader.

“These (emergency) conditions are not conducive to free and fair elections,” Sharif told reporters at the airport after arriving from Saudi Arabia. “I think the constitution of Pakistan should be restored, and there should be rule of law.”

Sharif, the head of one of the country’s main opposition parties, said he had not negotiated his return with Musharraf, who overthrew him in a 1999 coup, and expelled him when he first tried come back to Pakistan this year. (more…)

 

 Sharif returns [1:31m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Bush Administration, Pakistan by ecthompson
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I’m going to tell you 2 recent tales that happened in my life which underscores the problems in corporate America.  For extra emphasis, I’m adding a recent segment of the Bill Moyers Journal.  If you haven’t seen the Bill Moyers Journal you are missing some of the best reporting and journalism anywhere.  Bill Moyers speaks with John Bogle.  Mr. Bogle isn’t some commie pinko who wants everyone to live in communes.  Instead, he is the creator and chairman of the highly successful Vanguard Group investment company.

When I was growing up Sears was the place to get appliances and tools.  They sold their products at a good price and they gave great service.  Every town had a Sears of some sort.  Smaller towns would have catalog stores.  Anyway, something happened to Sears over the last 30 - 40 years.  They lost their way.  They had a big push into the the clothing market with beautiful fashion models designing clothes for them but in the long run that really didn’t work out.  Sears has lost a lot of their appliance market to stores like Best Buy and Lowe’s.  Anyway, we bought a refrigerator last Saturday the 17th.  We wanted the refrigerator as soon as possible.  One week.  One week deliver?  That’s crazy.  I can order something from E-Bay or Amazon and get it the next day but I can’t get a refrigerator for a week?

Next, these corporate morons give you a 4 hour window for deliver.  So, since most families have 2 people working, someone has to take off for 4 hours and wait.  It is a waste of our time and money.  So, the refrigerator arrives on Saturday.   There is much rejoicing until a huge dent is found on the top right corner.  Although the refrig was packaged in thin Styrofoam it wasn’t protected.  We sent the refrigerator back.  We called Sears.  We wanted delivery later on that day of a dent-free refrigerator.  Not.  After an hour on the phone with multiple transfers and hang ups, we are told that someone would call us today, Sunday.  The bottom-line is that we haven’t gotten our refrigerator.  Sears has our money and we have nothing but a promise of a dent-free refrigerator this coming Wednesday.  We saw a better deal on the exact same refrigerator at Best Buy with next day delivery in the paper today.  We are tempted to go buy that one but getting our money back would be a bear.

Another corporation that proves we need more oversight is an assisted living place in North Dallas.  One of my best friends had his father there.  The place was a wonderful facility 10 years ago.  Great atmosphere.  Attentive staff the works.  It was expensive but worth it.  Well, over the last year or two, the only thing that is the same is the exterior.  Who knows who bought it?  The bottom-line is that good personnel have left.  The trash have stayed.  Residents are now getting mediocre care.  This weekend my friend moved his father to another facility 5 - 10 miles north of the old one.  Hopefully, this will be better.  If there are any citizens who deserve our best (besides our veterans) it is our elderly.   They have been productive members of society.  Their only crime has been that they have out lived their failing bodies.

 

 Bill Moyers Journal - John Bogle [23:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Corporate Wrongs by ecthompson
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This is something that happens with greater frequency than most Americans realize. Driving while Black. In Dallas, during the late 70’s and early 80’s I was pulled over many times. I was usually pulled over because I was driving a nice car, in a nice neighborhood. I was young at the time. I had a routine. I turned the interior lights on so that everyone who wanted to see into the car could see everything. I would have my driver’s license and insurance card ready for the police officer. I was polite. Yes, Sir. No, Sir. I answered all of his questions quickly and concisely. I had no intention of going to jail and no intention of being an “accident”.

Now, to be honest. I did drive fast in those days and I did get tickets for speeding from time to time. But what I’m talking about is the weaving charge. It is a subjective reason to check out someone. If this kind of thing happened only once or twice, then it would be no big deal. It happens all of the time. I bet I got pulled over 3 to 4 times per year. I was never pulled over when I had one of my white friends in the car. It was almost always when I was by myself and driving in a very nice neighborhood. Finally, I must say that I haven’t been pulled over for DWB in years.

This interview with Representative Danny Davis is stupid. The questions are mind-numbingly simple.

 

 Rep Davis gets pulled over for DWB [5:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Race by ecthompson
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There are times that I really don’t like this format. It seems petty or tit for tat. The president gives his weekly radio address and there is a democratic response.

This week General Richardo Sanchez who has recently been outspoken about his opposition to the war. I have a problem with those who were on the inside who helped carry out Bush’s policies who now decide that everything isn’t as rosy as they pictured it several months before. I know of no independent source that states that General Sanchez tried to stand up to the Donald Rumsfeld or any of the others in the pentagon. As a matter of fact, Thomas Rick’s book, Fiasco paints Sanchez as a yes man which is why Rumsfeld choose him.

General Sanchez really just reinforces what we already know about Iraq. Our troops are performing well. They are doing everything that we ask and more. There is no political solution in sight. Without a political solution we are wasting time and money and valuable men/women. Yes, there is less violence in Iraq. This is a great thing but without a oil revenue sharing deal our soldiers are just out there in the breeze. Sanchez says that it is time for our troops to come home.

We need to start the orderly redeployment of our troops. Tens of thousands need to go to Afghanistan. We need to quell the violence and crush the remnants of the Taliban. Our military needs to be refit. We need new equipment. We have tons of needs including getting out of Iraq.

 

 Democractic Repsonse [3:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Bush Administration, Iraq by ecthompson
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