Torch Is Passed

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Today, in a marathon session of the Democratic Rules Committee, it was--for all the sturm und drang--a simple decision. Having violated the rules, the Florida and Michigan delegations will be seated with half-value votes.

There were impassioned arguments presented by representatives of the Florida and Michigan Democratic Parties, by advocates for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, and at the end of the day a compromise was fashioned that likely fully pleased nobody. But such is the nature of civilized people getting together in diplomatic fashion to negotiate a plan that all sides could live with, if not like...or accept.

Oh, there is that threat by Icky Harold that Senator Clinton reserves the right to drag this out to the convention in Denver. And there were the unseemly reincarnations of the Republican pinstrip army from Florida 2000. Funny how those folks were so willing to fight then...where are they in volunteering for BushCo's war in Iraq?

But enough of Republicans... today the Clinton performance with its amen choristers loudly demanding their way didn't work.

And there is the uncertainty about the scorched earth pray for disaster to strike Obama campaign strategy of the Clinton folks--which seems to be the only strategy they have left. They botched the rest, all the way back to Iowa.

But rather than looking backward, let us look forward, for come what may, there will be a new Democratic leader now. A new generation of Americans going forward. A new way.

Today, the torch is passed. And there is the promise of tomorrow.

First Responders

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The visuals show rubble and destruction. The voice-over interviews on-scene are still uncertain of details in these first hours after the crane collapse in New York City at 91^st Street and First Avenue.

But one thing is certain. The first responders are there. Emergency rescue, firefighters, police…the cogs in the mighty engine that is a civilization that works together for the common good of all.

We take them for granted most days. Maybe subconsciously aware if we live in large enough cities that the sirens are sounding in our heads like the undernote of a neverending symphony.

And yet, these are the folks who assure to our defense at home, just as their brethren go to foreign shores with the same noble purpose in their hearts.

Would that those who send them could say the same.

Homeland Security, overseen by a committee chairman, Joe Lieberman, who never oversees one of the most bloated political appointee-riddled BushCo welfare-filled monstrosities ever conceived. One. They have others.

But today is a day to pause and reflect on where we’d be without any of our first responders. If the small towns’ and big cities’ police and fire and rescue and responders had all been sucked into a phony war with its devastating consequences on lives, on limb, on our national honor…instead of the too-large percentages who’ve actually been taken via National Guard and Reserves. Too many to serve multiple tours and more than regular military. We cannot honor them enough for their sacrifice.

We’ve seen a Memorial Weekend pass. Juxtaposed with a president and would-be carrier forward of a third term wanna-be-president inveighing against Senator Webb’s 21^st Century G.I. Bill. And a “news” media that pushes Iraq further and further back into the shadows because to do otherwise means that they, too, must look in the mirror of accountability and acknowledge their culpability in furtherance of the corrupt Iraq War of Team BushCo.

We owe our first responders so much better.

So let us be first responders, too, bringing America up out of the rubble inflicted by the barbarian rule of the last nearly eight years. Let us restore the common good, the rule of law, the order of responsible regulation, the honor of a civilized government. Let us Get Out the Vote. And Vote…as if your nation depends on it, for it does.

Navel Gazing...

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and whoa, no, not me, not my fault, I'm not responsible spiraled skyward like a stray fireworks display as the establishment media types fell all over themselves Wednesday to proclaim that they were doing their job, why didn't you do yours, little Scotty McClellan?

Yes, do tell.

The viral reaction of the media to the incendiary charges in Scott McClellan's new book, confirming that Team BushCo lied us into Iraq, smeared those like the Wilsons who stood in their way, and alternately bullied and sweet-talked most of the media into going along with their propaganda shows just how touchy the "liberal" media are about their own complicity.

Shades of Ted Bundy. Ann Rule would have a field day with Bush, the Stranger Beside Scotty.

Meanwhile, Glenn Greenwald over at Salon has some pointed thoughts about the Big Boys-and-Girl Club that is the establishment media. Please do give Glenn's commentary a read, and you'll meet a real hero of journalism, David Halberstam.

Speakin' of doing their job, there's the small matter of one Senator John McCain and his cronies on the lobby-love train that seems to've been lost in the scrambling, backpedaling, fingerpointing yesterday. Just sayin'....

And Mr. Brokaw...weaseling does not become you.

Prairie Postcard: Gramm's Fairy Tales

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Last night, mainstream media in the program of Keith Olbermann's Countdown showed that true investigative journalism is alive and rarin' to go despite the best efforts of a tiny band of corporate overlords co-opted with Team BushCo to stifle anything that might discredit or otherwise expose the naked corruption of the Republican brand.

The short story: Former Texas Senator Phil-the-pill Gramm, who never met a regulation he didn't try to stomp into the dirt, was a paid lobbyist for UBS, a gigagantic Swiss bank with heavy investments deep in the U.S. mortgage market while also serving as John McCain's key economic advisor...and lobbying Congress for industry-friendly legislation.

Oh, the tentacles of corruption and cronyism they do run deep. While you're over at Keith's place, take a look at this picture and tell me if it doesn't make you think of the Brothers Grimm...and likely to get grimmer.

The moral of the tale: choose your friends wise, and your advisors wiser.... or you're liable to end up with: it's the economy--stupid.

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This is one of three stories poppin' already today. Scotty McClellan's book release is stirring the pot about how Team BushCo lied us into Iraq. Obama methodically added another three superdelegates this morning.

Go ahead and cruise around the blogosphere. here. here. here. here. Read what the msm will be talkin' about...tomorrow...maybe....

Prairie Postcard: Why Does Fox News Hate the Troops?

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Over at ThinkProgress, they've a video up and commentary from those intellectual and moral "giants" at Fox News' Morning Show. Kilmeade, Doocy, and Gretchen Carlson, late of Minnesota beauty fame. In this case, beauty doesn't even seem to be skin deep...perhaps she'd like to share her views up close and personal with the families of Minnesota National Guard serving in Iraq?

Maybe she could visit some of Minnesota's home-grown finest at VA Hospitals where they're routinely struggling for decent health care.

Because they're volunteers, posit the Foxy Firebrands, they haven't earned, don't deserve and shouldn't get G.I. Bill education benefits.

We know that Fox News and everyone associated with it has totally compromised and whored out their moral integrity and ethics to Team BushCo, but this is low class even by their standards.

For shame.

Back in the U.S.S.R?

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While the aging media are pursuing their long-overrun horserace on the Democratic side of the ticket, with occasional asides to note that they loves them some John McCain, the world is spinning on without us.

I won't say that for the past seven-plus years, thanks to Team BushCo and the corp media backup dancers, we have been as isolated from reality as North Korea, but... Well, let's just say I won't say it.

Meanwhile, perhaps there are signs that said media are actually looking out at the world again. The first is interesting. Fareed Zakaria has been signed by CNN to host a show on international affairs. May we say: long overdue!!!! [CNN's International Hour is far too small a slice of their broadcast pie] with a side of: please get rid of the Screeds: Dobbs and Beck.

The second is alarming.

Now, coming from the world of fiction, I'm a believer in foreshadowing, especially in real life. Yes, I tirelessly, even tiresomely, repeat that bite of Bush's: I don't care about dictatorships as long as I get to be dictator....

So the Breaking News this morning that the president of Belarus has named Vladimir Putin as his prime minister gives me pause.

Something tells me Minsk is not a place Rochelle, Rochelle is going to want to visit anytime soon.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

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Respect is not something you are given.

Respect is something you earn.

And yet Hillary supporters are going around right now demanding respect for her.

While she goes around blaming everyone else but herself for her appalling RFK assassination reference. A reference she has made multiple times. A reference that has now given license for the likes of Liz Trotta of Fox News to suggest that "knocking off" Obama would be just swell.

Let us dispense with the niceties.

I do not respect Hillary Clinton.

She has not earned my respect. She lies. She makes up facts. She tries to change rules after the game has been played. She pulls out meaningless scorecards...for example, winning the "popular vote." That is meaningless, because it has not been one single election in one time frame. No, it has been caucuses and primaries, votes among 2 candidates, votes among 8 candidates, votes among 7 candidates, votes among 6 candidates, votes among 5 candidates, votes among 4 candidates, votes among 3 candidates....

I do not respect Hillary Clinton because she bases her metrics not on herself, but on the likelihood of her opponent being struck by catastrophe. And since her oppo research team doesn't seem to be finding something sufficiently nasty to use, then has she got an alternate idea for you.

I do not respect Hillary Clinton because even now she is lying to us via her supporters who say this will all be wrapped up in mid-June after the primaries. If her supporters believe that, they're nuts. This woman has absolutely no intention of quitting...subconsciously or otherwise...she references back to 1968 because that campaign season was undecided into the convention. She intends to proceed there with a fight over rules or the floor or the price of the catered coffee.

She is "in it to win it..." and anyone who believes otherwise, well, let me introduce you to another politician who foreshadowed: "I don't have a problem with dictatorships, as long as I get to be dictator." How's that workin' out for ya?