merle haggard sums it up...sort of

And the big news of the day: Alito's confirmation.
Actually, the most shocking aspect is that people actually broke party lines.

Republican Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island voted no and Democrats Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia voted yes.

It was the smallest number of senators in the president's opposing party to support a Supreme Court justice in modern history. This means that more Democrats voted for Clarence Thomas (11) than they did for Alito. Yeesh.

Last night, after a few rousing games of Star Wars pinball (actually the rock, paper, scissors was more competitive than my pathetic attempts at keeping up with a jedi youth), I started thinking about my insane love for this country. At one point I mentioned how sick I was of apathetic assholes who can't even be bothered to vote bitching about corruption in politics and the two-party system. DO something about it. Democracy depends on the participation of it's citizens to exist. If you are to lazy to play, get out. I was then reminded that, sadly enough, I am in the minority with my idealistic opinions. Maybe I should leave. Leave this country to the majority and let them live with the inevitable consequences of their indifference. But alas I fear I care too much. This country is flawed. Deeply flawed. But I love The Constitution the way that some people love the religion.

And on a lighter note, Oscar nominations were announced today. I'm especially pleased that "Walk the Line" failed to get a director or best picture nod as it was a no-good-very-bad-movie.
I know it isn't surprising, but I'm pleased with "Brokeback Mountain" and it's mulitiple nominations. It's a lovely film that deserves all of the critical acclaim it is getting. I know that the Oscars are a joke, but this year on the 5th of March if one should want to track me down I shall be glued to my television eating tasty snacks and drinking tasty drinks. I shall be commenting on the fashion mishaps and the standouts. I shall be drooling over my mythological boyfriend, Jon Stewart. And I shall (depending on the amount of alcohol I have consumed) get tears in my eyes when "Brokeback" runs away with it all.

Not that I'm dramatic or anything.

that little scamp's keeping us guessing

He's leaving me little choice but to actually watch.
Same small ideas.
It's just a different topic.

"they who are all things to their neighbors cease to be anything to themselves" -aretino pietro

A lovely afternoon yesterday reading the Times at LeMONjellos. Or however you pronounce it. There were 3 fantastic book reviews: 1 by Mr. Keillor, 1 on a Phyllis Schlafly biography, and 1 on the new Reagan biography. Of the 3, I'm probably not going to have a choice but to read the Reagan book. It sounds chock full of amusing anicdotes: For the G-7 summit Baker was concerned that Reagan would sound woefully ignorant of the topics at hand so the day before, he walked into the Oval Office and dropped off a briefing book. Reagan assured him that he would look it over that night. The next morning, Baker walked into the office to see the book lying where he had left it. Furious, he asked Reagan why he hadn't read it. Reagan's response? "Well, Jim...'The Sound of Music' was on last night." 2 term president there, ladies and gents. That would be a beloved, 2 term president.

Looks like GWB is going to focus on health care for the State of the Union Tuesday. It sounds like more lip service and no long-term solutions are going to be offered up. Tax cuts, "consumer-driven" market for health care, more portability when you switch jobs... I'm a little surprised after the medicare disaster that he's even going near this one, but his numbers on domestic issues are pathetic. Actually, his numbers everywhere are low. Oh yes. That's right: I linked to Fox. It's never good when your own "news" channel has trouble spinning your numbers. Getting back to health care: methinks this is the issue. It's eventually going to cripple our economy unless something drastic happens. The boomers are coming and medical inflation is surpassing inflation in general.

Hamas: be careful what you wish for GWB.

And what is up with Kerry?! No, I don't think Alito is a good idea either, but how's about the democrats get their act together instead of you standing alone like a fool? A filibuster will a. fail and b. make the democrats look like a bunch of sore losers. If you didn't like him you should have killed him in committee.

30 years of a conservative court.
Yeesh.
Hold onto your civil liberties, America, it's going to be a bumpy ride