December 27, 2007 archive

Obama on Executive Power

Yesterday LithiumCola wrote about the Boston Globe’s questionnaire about Executive Power. S/he wrote about the strong answers Senator Obama gave. We’ll I thought I’d focus a diary just on his answers and not just on the two questions LC highlighted. The questionnaire is quite informative and gives you a good look at were the canidates stand. All except Fred Thomson who was asleep and Rudy Giuliani who was day dreaming about 9/11.  

Cheeseheads show how to build a peace movement

If you were looking for excuses for December’s Iraq Moratorium to be smaller than previous ones, there were plenty available. It fell four days before Christmas, on the darkest day of the year, with cold weather in much of the country and campuses closed for winter break.

None of that mattered in Hayward, a city of 2,129 in northwestern Wisconsin, which we’ve reported on previously.  When 40 people turned out there in November, we projected that on a percentage basis that was equivalent to 12,000 people in Milwaukee, 160,000 in New York City, or 6 million nationally.

Puffed up by that kind of publicity here and elsewhere, one of the organizers, Steve Carlson, boldly set a goal of 75 for Iraq Moratorium #4 in December.  He later had some second thoughts, no doubt.

So, what happened? They doubled attendance. Here’s the report:

Best Humor of 07

Its about that time of year when we all start trying to sum up the entirity of 2007 with a list of the “10 best” of everything. When I reflect on the last 12 months, what strikes me is that it was the year I came to grips with the fact that the Democrats were not going to “save us” from Bushco and began to look at the failings of what we so affectionately call “democracy.” So its been a pretty heavy year for me.

But I also think about the three things that have helped me survive this year of dark enlightenment. That being blogs, music and comedy. So as I reflect, I’d like to take that last one and think about all the ways I’ve had my funny bone tickled and my mind tingled by the comedians – the ones who seem to be the sane among us.

These guys (my new year’s wish will be for more women in these ranks) had a lot of insane material to work with this year. And the one I find most memorable is from John Stewart as he schools us on the concept of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend (or not).”

 

Best Humor of 07

As 2007 draws to a close, you know we’ll be seeing lists of the top 10 or top 100 about everything you can imagine. When I reflect on the year, I think of three things that helped me keep my sanity during a year when our ranting went from being directed exclusively at the Republicans and moved into frustration with Democrats as well. Where do we look for sanity and hope? For me this year its been blogs, music and comedians.

So for tonight, I thought it might be fun to take that last one and find some of the moments that brought a laugh to my belly and a sigh of recognition to my heart. These folks had a lot of ironic material to work with this year. And the one that stands out to me is by John Stewart. As you know, you won’t see these clips on youtube, so you have to click through to Crooks and Liars to see this bit where Stewart explains the concept of The Enemy of My Enemy is my Friend (or not).  

Mike Gravel!

Pony Party: It’s Still A Little Bit Christmas

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