September 2009 Archives

Rather than just look to our country's past accomplishments as justification for continuing the space program, I'd like to take some time to explain why I think our future depends on it.  Science & EngineeringIn the present day and more immediate future, scientific research on the International Space Station is greatly expanding now that assembly is largely complete.  On the ground, we can only escape the pervasive acceleration of gravity for very brief periods of...

It looks like ex-Governor Palin's almost shotgun son-in-law, Levi Johnston, was right when he told a news conference this past July that "he heard the governor several times say how nice it would be to take advantage of the lucrative deals that were being offered, including a reality show and a book. "I think the big deal was the book. That was millions of dollars," Johnston said. Sarah the Quitter now has her lucrative book...

From Blue America about Blanche Lincoln voting against the people of Arkansas of whom 55% support the public option....

It's time to retell the American story the way it was intended to be told. Sure, I'm a history buff, but this is more about perspective than it is history. There has been a ton of talk lately about Obama being either a communist, fascist, or socialist (as if these are interchangeable) and how that goes against what the framers wanted. They are even having tea parties like those rebels in Boston before the revolutionary...

Editor's Note:  It looks like Desperado and I were of one mind today.  At the risk of overkill, we have both posted both our entries about the turncoat Dems who voted against health care for all yesterday.  We're focusing the laser beam on the issue:Yesterday, twice, Democratic members of the Senate Finance Committee succumbed to corporate lobbyist money and shrill voices, and did what politicians do most of the time...did the wrong thing and voted...

On the subject of congresspersons for sale to the highest bidder, here's one more to add to the list--Rep. Melissa Bean (D-IL). From AP this morning:"Moderate House Democrats are drafting a proposal that would continue to shield big banks from potentially tougher state regulations when it comes to selling products such as credit cards, mortgages and savings accounts.The lawmakers say it's a practical approach to regulating large financial institutions that have customers in multiple states...

Three Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee--Max Baucus, Kent Conrad, and Blanche Lincoln--voted against both public option amendments yesterday. Here is the contact information for all three, along with the bribes, excuse me, campaign contributions each has taken from the insurance industry they voted to protect:Max Baucus ($1,196,463)202-224-2651E-mailKent Conrad ($838,787)202-224-2043E-mailBlanche Lincoln ($504,383)202-224-2843E-mailWhile we're at it, and since it does those of us in Texas absolutely no good to contact our Senators on this matter, let's...

This is getting further and further out of hand every day. The fact that anyone is even suggesting a military coup in the United States is frightening. John L. Perry today at Newsmax.com:"There is a remote, although gaining, possibility America's military will intervene as a last resort to resolve the "Obama problem." Don't dismiss it as unrealistic.America isn't the Third World. If a military coup does occur here it will be civilized. That it has...

Anyone who has spent any time at all on internet based discussion pages knows how ugly they can be.  These message boards, especially on news sites that are poorly moderated, can become the schoolyard where bullies push people around, conspiracists, bigots and racists are emboldened to spread their hate, and regular folks are driven away.  The anonymous nature of this public medium encourages some to use immoderate speech and to attack others in ways they...

Over the weekend the Hilton Hotel in St. Louis was the site of what Firedoglake appropriately named "a pulsating black hole of stupidity" also known as the How to Take Back America conference, and the gang (pictured at left) was all there. "[Phyllis] Schlafly opened the event by saying she believes President Obama is "taking us into socialism."... She said of her organization, Eagle Forum, "fighting feminists is still our main object," arguing that feminism...