Loan Me A Dime

Nothing I write can top this:




For the record, left to right you're watching Mr. Warren Haynes, Mr. Derek Trucks, and Mr. Boz Scaggs.

Just Do It

The time has come. Democrats have gone too far to turn back. Their Congressional leaders must choose from among two options obtain approval from the House for the Senate bill as it is, then return it to the Senate for approval via the reconciliation process. While I would like a reconciliation bill to include a robust public option (and have written both of my senators urging them to support this), long-time public option champion Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) believes that this is simply not realistic at this time. The West Virginia Democrat has been a reliable progressive for years, so his view merits more serious consideration than that of a hack like Ben Nelson ("D"-NE) or Holy Joe Lieberman (I for Idiot-CN).

Republicans will howl about reconciliation as an abuse of process, but that's only because it will foil their own Satanic plans. They'll claim that reconciliation was never intended for something like health care reform, as if they've never applied the rules creatively themselves. And when it comes to abuse, they've abused the filibuster relentlessly, applying it in record numbers to even uncontroversial mid-level appointments. If reconciliation is abuse -- and I don't see how it can be when the bill has already passed the Senate with 60 votes -- well, it's past time to fight fire with fire.

Republicans will also claim that the health care bill is "too big" to not be returned to the Senate, where they will not give it the up or down vote that they held so sacred back when George Bush attempted to change the nature of American jurisprudence by appointing right-wing judges to every court vacancy. If that deserved an up or down vote, than so does health care reform. But since the Republicans will use Senate rules (and, as I said, it's fine and dandy when they abuse the rules) to prevent a majority vote, Democrats have little choice but to turn to reconciliation. Besides, as Paul Krugman points out here, the Bush tax cuts went through reconciliation and they were twice the cost of the health care bill...

This is a terrible, tragic story. Pathetically, it will engender more foolish noisemaking like this, from someone who wants to turn our schools into armed camps:

An article in The Times seems to imply that Sen. Pam Roach made an outrageous statement by saying that there would be fewer school shootings if teachers were allowed to carry concealed weapons [“State Sen. Pam Roach is anything but boring,” page one. Feb. 21].

But Pam is right! She deserves much credit for clear, honest reasoning. Think back to the Columbine teacher who was killed while trying to shield students with his own body. The outcome of that encounter would most likely have been much different had he been armed and therefore able to stop the shooters quickly, before they had a chance to kill so many helpless kids.

We all know — or should know — that criminals don’t care if they break the law and that they will bring firearms into schools any time they want to do so. On the other hand, reputable people obey the law. We therefore leave our children completely unprotected when we ban firearms in schools. They and their teachers are victims-in-waiting — no matter how fast the police arrive. Arm our teachers — those who have the courage and willingness to protect the children in their care.

Sigh.

Just walkin' in the rain, so alone and blue...

OK, the Allman Brothers Band:

Damn, But It's Cold!

My son and I braved gray skies and cool weather yesterday afternoon to attend the Mariners-Red Sox game. Southbound readers will hear with some incredulity that we had to wear sweatshirts and that -- yes -- the game did occur in this universe, on this planet, and in this country. The Sox won 6-3 with three runs in the top of the 12 with the help of timely hitting and defense from third baseman Mike Lowell. After the top of the 12th, the M's fan in front of me -- we'd been needling each other all game -- got up to leave. When I called him a quitter, he turned to his friends and said "He's right. We have to stay." 

As we continued the good-natured kidding on the way out, it struck me that here was yet another great thing about baseball: There's another game tomorrow, which means there's not much danger of the needling getting out of hand. Last year at a Sox-M's game, the two guys next to me were getting into it, with the Sox fan easily getting the better of the exchange. At one point he turned to me and whispered "This guy has no game..." 

It was cold in the house this morning. I would have turned on the heater, except that Premium T. wouldn't let me...

Here are some young people doing what young people do best: Their part to make this a better world. I have a lot more respect for them than for Young Republicans with their very own K Street lobbying firm...

"I know how to win wars," says John McCain. Johnny Wattles doesn't bother to explain where he obtained this knowledge, although it was presumably not in Vietnam. We certainly don't need any more victories like that. After accusing Barack Obama of trying to sound tough and promising that Johnny won't bluster, the tough-sounding McCain blustered that "when I am commander in chief, there will be nowhere the terrorists can run and nowhere they can hide." So, Johnny, what's your plan for shoehorning them out of the Pashtun in Pakistan?...

In New Orleans, the second line is the group of celebrants who follow the band in a parade. As Nick Spitzer writes, the second line is a barometer of the health of the city:  "The second line as a kind of urban village afoot honors and recalls the grand public nature of many New Orleans traditions...It reclaims the city's familiar spaces for returning dwellers, and like jazz itself, helps balance the needs and talents of individual players with the larger group. The intermingled values of social aid and pleasure are what all New Orleanians can draw on to collectively self-author their future. That future at its best suggests crossing of the traditional boundaries of race and neighborhood, culture and class..." New Orleans needs a second line? Heck, sounds to me like we all do. Read the rest of his excellent article here...

Here's a fun app that allows you to play with demographic categories of race, gender and religion to project the outcome of the fall election. If the same patterns of 2006 hold for the fall, Obama will win decisively; if the 2004 patterns repeat themselves, McCain wins narrowly. Which illustrates his problem: (1) We're closer to 2006 than 2004; (2) He's not the incumbent; and (3) Obama is a much stronger candidate and more capable national politician than John Kerry. It's early and anything can happen, but right now I sure like Obama's chances...

This one goes out to my southbound friends: