Change For A Nickel

With regard to the recent outpouring of support from the right wing for the recently convicted Scooter Libby, their double standards never cease to amaze me. Everything they do is justified as long as it is in line with their most “noble” goal of bringing democracy to the poor Iraqis. This often involves contracting the now epidemic and chronic mental condition of CRS (Can’t Remember Shit). So lying to a grand jury is OK. Lying to Congress is OK. Utilizing your political party’s e-mail system to communicate a political agenda and then deleting your e-mails is OK. Outing a CIA agent is OK. Ruining the careers of US attorney’s is OK. Funding both sides of an insurgency in a civil war is OK. Massaging CIA intelligence to jinn up an illegal war is OK. Continuing to state that there was a link between Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein even though there never was ANY link is OK. Torture is OK. Illegal wiretaps are OK. Revoking one of the bedrocks of the Constitution, Habeas Corpus is OK. Preemptive war with Iraq is OK.

This administration and their failed policies and lies are a direct threat to the security of this country and the integrity of its soul. Because of the actions of this administration the US is bogged down in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Because of their “Roadmap” plan with Israel (No Palestinians were involved) civil war has broken out in Gaza between Hamas and Fatah. I’m sure I could continue on with example after excruciating example but the one I will close with is by far the most ironic and ominous. Because of the war we started in Iraq for the then stated goal of eliminating Al Qaeda who attacked us on 9/11/2001, Al Qaeda has not diminished. It has not disbanded. According to recent reports, Al Qaeda has grown and continues to grow across the Middle East and North Africa.

Last night I was privileged to attend a celebration which marked the end of several years of work by tons of people and organizations (Thanks Rob Rizzo!!). The Center on Halsted FINALLY opened. When I first heard of it (oh so many years ago) I thought it was a faerie tale (pardon the pun) or a pipe dream. Well, I was proven wrong, thank the gods!! The Center on Halsted hosted it’s black tie gala for all those people and organizations who helped make the dream a reality.

Oh, and I don’t have to tell you, the gays know how to put on a party! The reception was hosted at the Center on all 3(?) floors. There was also a silent auction during the reception. Servers were busy dishing out the nibbles and I was busy eating them. Dinner was held in a ginormous tent. (Yes, ginormous is my word of the month.) Champagne and wine ran like rivers before and during dinner. While we ate speakers gave thanks to all who contributed to the center. Also, I don’t think I could walk 5 feet without stumbling upon another bar! It was like heaven!! To make a long story short, it was a damn good party. Check out the pics!

This country is slowly going back in time with every day this snot ball of a president is in office.  When the President told the public in an interview that he ’knows Putin’s heart’ you would think, great.  There’s no problem here but ”The next thing you know, old Jed’s a millionaire” and we are planning to have missles stationed in Poland, Putin is taking state control over everything not nailed down and we are reliving cold war days!  “Mr. Putin, put that wall back up!”

Abstenance to prevent pregnancy and STDs??  That’s right out of the Catholic Church’s handbook, isn’t it?  We all know how well that rhythm method works.

A museum passing off creationism as science??  Disneyland for the Kool-aid crowd.  (OK, the administration didn’t have anything to do with this.  I just thought it fit right in with all the other craziness)

The Patriot Act which took away Habeus Corpus which is a human rights law that was adopted some 800 years ago!!

“Islamic Fascism”??  What the F**k is that?  But as you and I both know this war smacks of something once called the… Crusades?!?!

And there you have it.  This president has successfully taken us back to the Dark Ages!   

Mission accomplished!!!

I’ve been a huge fan of NASA for years.  I grew up with the space shuttle and I remember when challenger exploded on takeoff.   Then there was Hubble.  Wow!  Recently NASA has had enormous success with their unmanned missions with landings on Mars, Saturn’s moon Titan and even an asteroid!  But I have had issue with this administration’s pointless goal to put a permanent base on the moon with an eventual manned mission to Mars.  I would totally be geeked if we did get to Mars but the scientist in me says there is still so much to be learned from the current unmanned missions before we venture out again.  Not to mention the actual goal of the mission other than to say a human has landed on Mars.  We did that during the cold war with the race to the moon and all we got were a bunch of rocks!

I just listened to an interview with the current administrator of NASA on NPR yesterday.    OK, so he agrees with the administration about going to Mars.  A lot of starry eyed geeks also want to see it happen but as a scientist at NASA he should have better foresight into such things.  You can imagine my jaw dropping to the floor when this puppet of the administration actually questioned global warming!  There should be a sign on the door to NASA that reads, “No Bush lackeys in the house of ginormous brains!!”

Listen for yourself:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10571499