One down, 49 states to go
“The Legislature couldn’t reform it, lawmakers won’t repeal
it, but I will not stand for it I must act.”
–GOV. GEORGE RYAN, who commuted all Illinois death sentences.
Author: Ruby Sinreich
Wanda Sykes for President
I pity the fools who missed Wanda on Comedy Central last night. She’s not just funny, she’s smart and slightly political. You probably missed her in Pootie Tang as well. What can I say? It’s your loss, and don’t let it happen again!
Time to get on the bus
Look out DC, this one’s gonna be a whopper.
Peace March on Washington D.C.
Join other Triangle area activists on
January 18 and 19 for a national peace march on Washington
D.C.
Information and bus tickets available at
Internationalist Books in Chapel Hill: 405 W. Franklin
St, Chapel Hill phone 942-1740.Tickets for the Chapel Hill buses are $22 payable by
cash or check. Sorry, no reservations taken over the
phone.For info about the Durham bus, contact the SARN
office at 682-9575 or email theresaelamin@aol.com or
djg9@duke.eduFor information on the Raleigh buses, please contact
Suzanne Stockwell at stockwell3@earthlink.netScholarship seats are being sought, so if you or
someone you know has the financial means to sponsor
another protestor, please contact one of the
above numbers or emails. Thanks!
This shouldn’t surprise you
The New York Times reports that the Bush administration has taken secrecy and obfuscation to new heights. Here are some highlights from the article:
“…Vice President Dick Cheney’s battle to keep records of his energy task force secret, reflect an administration that arrived in Washington determined to strengthen the authority of the executive branch…”
“measures taken by the Bush administration to enforce greater government secrecy have received relatively little attention, masking the proportions of what dozens of experts described in recent interviews as a sea change in government openness.”
” The Ashcroft directive [on the Freedom of Information Act] encouraged federal agencies to reject requests for documents if there was any legal basis to do so, promising that the Justice Department would defend them in court.”
“In the year that ended on Sept. 30, 2001, most of which came during the Bush presidency, 260,978 documents were classified, up 18 percent from the previous year. And since Sept. 11, three new agencies were given the power to stamp documents as “Secret” — the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services.”
And it’s surely going to get a lot worse before it gets better. See health information disappearing from government websites, attempting to put Kissinger in charge of the 9-11 probe, and anything about Enron or Dick Cheney. Hold on to your rights, it’s going to be a wild ride.
E is for excess
I’m sure no-one but me watched the Enron movie “The Crooked E” on TV tonight. It was much better than I expected. After some intial awkwardness, the acting was competent, and it was directed by the woman who did Wayne’s World, The Decline of Western Civilization series, and Suburbia (the real one from 1984) among other cool things.
Anyway, it was entertaining and made it’s points about inidividual greed well, if heavy-handedly. They repeatedly mentioned Dick Cheney, talked about Ken Lay’s campaign contributions, and pointed out the fat cats selling while they told employees and the public to buy. I found myself wondering if people really said THAT. I have to assume that in most cases they were taking some liberties, especially with the dialog. I guess I’ll have to do some research myself. Anyway, I know you missed it, but that’s OK because I taped it for you.
I bet he can’t even spell hypocrite
“I have no heart for somebody who starves his folks.”
-President Bush, speaking about North Korean leader, Kim Jong Il. (New York Times)
OK fine, but what about somebody who starves other people’s folks? Afghanistan and
Iraq come immediately to mind as just the most recent and obvious cases. But whose folks are the people of the United States? “The USDA recently reported that in 2001 some 11.5 million U.S. households did not have access to enough food to meet their basic needs.” Apparently po’ folks ain’t George’s folks.
I know I shouldn’t
I’m either a fool or a glutton for punishment, but somewhere deep down inside I am a little excited about John Edwards running for POTUS. He’s just as lame and moderate as any other southern Democrat, but he’s cuter and he lives less than 50 miles away from me. Plus I know people who know him – woo hoo.
BUT! In spite of the fact that he tries to echo Paul Wellstone, he votes more like Joe Leiberman. He hasn’t listened to progressive grassroots voices in North Carolina. He even supported Bush’s war in Iraq. I pledged not to vote for anyone who voted for it, and I meant it. Case closed.
Happy New Year!!!
Report
Just wanted to let everyone know that the Atlantic Ocean is still there. My friends and I like to check on it periodically at this time of year…
Advice
Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, take your car to Tim’s Garage in Carrboro. I am not kidding.
I took my car in for some noises that had been going on for about a year (read: not critical). After a $150 set of new belts, I suddenly needed a new $350 water pump and had no car for the weekend. On Monday, when I went to pick up the car, the power steering didn’t work anymore! So I left it ’till Tuesday (“hush hush…”) and they still had no idea what’s wrong.
Yesterday, I was driving my grandmother over to the X-mas festivities with the stepfamily and A BELT FLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. (And the engine didn’t miss a beat.) Tell me why I shouldn’t sue the bastards and/or undertake a massive PR campaign to put ’em out of business.