This is what I had posted on my other blog...

If you go here you can read the rest of the archives.

Monday, September 12, 2005

Roberts Confirmation Hearings

I actually watched on CNN for a bit, and then fell asleep. Today seemed to be the "OK, everybody gets to say something inconsequential for ten minutes, and then we'll really begin tomorrow." What was really annoying was that you could hear whispering and apparent laughter which made you wonder what was going on in the gallery. However, according to the Washington Post, three junior Republican senators, Comyn, Coburn and Brownback were"whispering and joking among themselves as others spoke." And to think people elected these people. Well, let's hope they behave better on Thursday. (OK, Tuesday was the second day of the hearing, but I thought it was Wednesday when I wrote that...)

I've been trying to keep an open mind about Roberts until I've actually what happens during the confirmation hearing. Or as CNN put it on their banner, confirmation battle. I guess battle might bring higher ratings?

I do think the government should have released all of Roberts' papers. This is a lifetime appointment, and deserves scrutinization.Why there were unwilling to is just very strange. They may not be, but it looks to many as if they are hiding something. This administration just seems to like being secretive.

I was raised in Florida, which has something called the "Sunshine Law". Basically, all state and local business is conducted in the open, unless there was some sort of security issue involved. I liked that. Heck, if it were up to me, I'd even release Roberts' Post-its!From what I've seen he approaches cases with an open mind, even though personally he would seem to be a stereotypical conservative.

I'm concerned about maintaining the freedoms women and minorities have rightfully won. Yeah, I'm a liberal, and proud of it. But I also don't have a closed mind and will wait until the hearing end to decide for myself whether or not Roberts is a good choice. From what I've seen and read so far, I'm willing to give him a chance, but there's also a knot in my stomach. His confirmation feels like a slam dunk.

Times like this make me feel really thankful that we have three different branches of government and checks and balances.
posted by
Pam at 5:23 PM 1 comments

Sunday, September 11, 2005

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Dies

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, died Saturday at age of 81. He had suffered from lung cancer and heart disease. His career spanned 50 years. He was a singer and guitarist who played blues, country, jazz and Cajun music. Brown died at his brother's home in Orange, Texas, where he had go to escape hurricane Katrina. Brown's home in Slidell, La., was completely destroyed by the hurricane.

His first hits were "Okie Dokie Stomp" and "Ain't That Dandy," but Brown disliked being labeled a bluesman. In his later career he played a half-dozen instruments and performed jazz, country, Texas blues, zydeco and Cajun music.Brown had more than 30 recordings and won a Grammy award in 1982 for Alright Again. He was also nominated for a Grammy in 1986 for Long Way Home. To learn more about Gate, click here.

posted by Pam at 5:25 AM 0 comments

Friday, September 09, 2005

Love Will Find a Way!

Joe and Trenise were supposed to get married last Sunday, but Katrina interrupted their plans. Word got around the Coliseum, and everything from wedding clothes, cakes, food and drink were donated from nearby businesses. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Kirsh!

Weekend Edition - Sunday, September 4, 2005· One ray of hope amid painful days on the Gulf Coast: Two evacuees from the hurricane, Joe Kirsh and Trenise Williams, were married while waiting with 1,000 others gathered at the Mississippi Coliseum. Their planned New Orleans wedding was interrupted by Katrina.

Photo by David Schaper, NPR Click here to go to the NPR site to read more.
posted by Pam at 11:21 AM 3 comments

Saturday, September 03, 2005

Chief Justice Rhenquist Dies

From CNN: Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who helped shift the U.S. Supreme Court towarda more conservative ideology and strongly supported states' rights during his three decades on the bench, has died. Rehnquist was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in October 2004, not long after the 2004-2005 court session began, and received outpatient radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

For the full story, click here.

posted by Pam at 10:33 PM 0 comments

Finally, Hope has Arrived in Nola!

Evacuations are going full speed at last. Even Carnival Cruise Lines is pitching in, sending three of their ships to help. I think people have figured out that finger pointing wasn't helping the stranded people. Once everyone is safe, then it's time to figure out what went wrong.

President Bush has promised 17,000 more troops will be deployed over the next 72 hours.I'm glad that he has acknowleged that the response to Hurricane Katrina's victims has been unacceptable. How we treat Katrina refugees is going to go a long way in showing people what we are really like as a nation.

posted by Pam at 6:11
PM 2 comments

Friday, September 02, 2005

Red Cross PREVENTED From Helping in New Orleans

Yes, you read that right! And it is unbelievable. A big thanks to SteveRose who posted this find at Daily Kos. Are we ready for another 9/11? Not if Hurricane Katrina is a test, because our government agencies have failed miserably.

Disaster FAQs

HurricaneKatrina:
Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans? Acess (sic) to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders. The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request---that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city. Click here to see what the Red Cross has to say.

While you're at it, write the media, your elected officials, and just generally raise hell. THIS IS WRONG. The Red Cross should given top priority considering people are DYING. Does Homeland (In)Security really believe that if people were given a few bottles of water and MRSs, that they would want to stay in an area with water contaminated with chemicals, feces, decomposing corpses, and no food? At the very least, the Red Cross should be able to go in with the rescuers to administer basic first aid, and to give out water and a meal. Even if it's bag of chips. We need some good clear, leadership on this issue, and it sure as hell doesn't seem to be coming from Bush.

posted by Pam at 10:22 PM 0 comments

Katrina

Being a weather junkie, I was glued to the television, radio, the Weather Channel, the NYT - anyplace I could get a fix. Now it's Friday and I need to get some sleep. I cannot even begin to feel the pain of the people still trapped. This is a disaster of epic proportions, and the polititians (with except few) are twiddling their thumbs
while people die.

Who's the designated Rudy Guiliani for this event? It feels like no one is in charge.In listening to Bush's televised address yesterday, it did not strike me as being his best moment. What did stick with me (maybe I was addled by lack of sleep) was that he mentioned oil and gas much more than he mentioned the human cost. If any of you out there were keeping count, let me know. I'll post them here. Or over at my weather blog.In the mean time, I'm off to take and ativan (lots of anxiety) and a hydrocodone (f-ed up back) and sleep. I'll says some prayers first because I'm grateful I'm alive and well and warm, and so is all my family.

On an unusual note, those of you who know me know I have a brother named
George who is a walking one man destruction crew. Last week he fell off a three
story building, landed on a truck and bruised his bum. Lucky bastard, and he
knows it!

posted by Pam at 11:42 AM 2 comments

Saturday, August 27, 2005

City on the Edge of Crawford, Part 2

Check out the graphic on Perrspectives.com.

It would seem that the portal's out of adjustment because some comments almost seem to be contradictory the further one travels forward in time. The war seems to be occuring backwards! Or perhaps we are seeing a bizarre parallel universe infringing on our own. Hmm. Something's not quite right here.

posted by Pam at 4:42 PM 0 comments