It’s the best part of summer, the long lovely passage into fall. A procession of lazy golden days that my sandy-haired, gap-toothed little girl has been painting, small abstract masterpieces in tempera and crayon and glitter, reminiscent of Franz Kline or Willem de Kooning (his early glitter period). She put a sign out front, “Art for Sale,” and charged 25 cents per painting. Cheap at the price.Continue reading “A modest plan by Garrison Keillor”
George Bush, Immigrants and the Military Industrial Complex
Could it be that George Bush wants more immigrants not only for cheap labor for corporations but also for red meat for the military meatgrinder? We would not have to think about having a draft if we have quantities of Hispanic men to fill the order. We have to feed the war machine somehow…
Bloodstained Sea by Michael Walling
The following info is from Amazon:
Book Description
The definitive work on what the Coast Guard achieved when called to serve. An absolute ‘must read.’ “-; Military magazine Americans called it Torpedo Junction; to the Germans, it was Devil’s Gorge. By any name, the North Atlantic of the early 1940s was one of the most dangerous fronts in a catastrophic war. Called upon in desperate times, seven of the Coast Guard’s finest ships-;the sleek, efficient, tough 327-foot Secretary-class cutters-;and their crews plied these unforgiving waters to protect convoys of troops and much-needed supplies. Painstakingly assembled from interviews, diaries, notes, and letters, these are their stories. . . . “One of the most riveting accounts of naval combat history I’ve seen.”-;Vince Patton, Master Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.) “A compelling tale of courage and heroism told with all the fury and terror experienced by those Coast Guard veterans who lived it.”-;Robert F. Cross, author, Sailor in the White House: The Seafaring Life of FDR “Walling brings the bloody Battle of the Atlantic alive.”-;Dr. Martin Davis, author, Traditions and Tales of the Navy; executive director, the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum “An important contribution to the history of the Coast Guard in World War II.”-; Naval History “Snatches our venerable Coast Guard’s history from the depths of obscurity and preserves the exploits of these brave men for future generations.”-;David Morris, author, Storm on the Horizon: Khaffi-;The Battle that Changed the Course of the Gulf WarContinue reading “Bloodstained Sea by Michael Walling”
Bernie is the favorite!
Bernie Sanders is going to WIN!!!
Bush Grants Self Power to Grant More Power to Self
This article is from www.theonion.com
WASHINGTON, DC—In a decisive 1–0 decision Monday, President Bush voted to grant the president the constitutional power to grant himself additional powers.
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President Bush announces announcement of the new power-granting announcement.
“As president, I strongly believe that my first duty as president is to support and serve the president,” Bush said during a televised address from the East Room of the White House shortly after signing his executive order. “I promise the American people that I will not abuse this new power, unless it becomes necessary to grant myself the power to do so at a later time.”
The Presidential Empowerment Act, which the president hand-drafted on his own Oval Office stationery and promptly signed into law, provides Bush with full authority to permit himself to authorize increased jurisdiction over the three branches of the federal government, provided that the president considers it in his best interest to do so.
“In a time of war, the president must have the power he needs to make the tough decisions, including, if need be, the decision to grant himself even more power,” Bush said. “To do otherwise would be playing into the hands of our enemies.”
Added Bush: “And it’s all under due process of the law as I see it.”
“The president can grant himself the power to interpret new laws however he sees fit, then use that power to interpret a law in such a manner that in turn grants him increased power.”
Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez
In addition, the president reserves the right to overturn any decision to allow himself to increase his power by using a line-item veto, which in turn may only be overruled by the president.
Senior administration officials lauded Bush’s decision, saying that current presidential powers over presidential power were “far too limited.”
“Previously, the president only had the power to petition Congress to allow him to grant himself the power to grant more power to himself,” Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez said shortly after the ceremony. “Now, the president can grant himself the power to interpret new laws however he sees fit, then use that power to interpret a law in such a manner that in turn grants him increased power.”
In addition, a proviso in the 12th provision of the new law permits Bush the authority to waive the need for any presidential authorization of power in a case concerning national security, although legal experts suggest it would be little exercised.
Despite the president’s new powers, the role of Congress and the Supreme Court has not been overlooked. Under the new law, both enjoy the newly broadened ability to grant the president the authority to increase his presidential powers.
“The only thing we can do now is withhold our ability to grant him more authority to grant himself more power—unless he authorizes himself to strip us of that power.”
Sen. Harry Reid (D–NV)
“This gives the president the tools he needs to ensure that the president has all the necessary tools to expedite what needs to be done, unfettered by presidential restrictions on himself,” said Rep. John Cornyn (R-TX). “It’s long overdue.”
Though public response to the new law has been limited, there has been an unfavorable reaction among Democrats, who are calling for restrictions on Bush’s power to allow himself to grant the president more powers that would restrict the powers of Congress.
“This is a clear case of President Bush having carte blanche to grant himself complete discretion to enact laws to increase his power,” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said. “The only thing we can do now is withhold our ability to grant him more authority to grant himself more power.”
“Unless he authorizes himself to strip us of that power,” Reid added.
Despite criticism, Bush took his first official action under the new law Tuesday, signing an executive order ordering that the chief executive be able to order more executive orders.
In addition, Republicans fearful that the president’s new power undermines their ability to grant him power have proposed a new law that would allow senators to permit him to grant himself power, with or without presidential approval.
NTN Trivia Player
I have played NTN trivia for over ten years. It’s a hobby of mine. Favorite games = Showdown, Brainbuster, Six
New plants for my garden
I saw beautiful daylilies in Vermont this summer and I bought some for my garden here in Florida as a reminder of VT
If the Spirit of Liberty Should Vanish…
“Vermont is a state I love.
I could not look upon the peaks of Ascutney,
Killington, Mansfield and Equinox
Without being moved in a way that no other scene could move me.
It was here that I first saw the light of day;
Here I receive my bride;
Here my dead lie,
pillowed on the loving breast of our everlasting hills.
I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys,
Her scenery and invigorating climate,
but most of all because of her indomitable people.
They are a race of pioneers who have almost beggared themselves
to serve others.
If the spirit of liberty should vanish in other parts of the union
and support of our institutions should languish,
It could all be replenished from the generous store held by the people
Of this brave little state of Vermont.”
– Calvin Coolidge
How about election 2006?
So will the Democrats win back the House?
Pictures from New Orleans
We can show pictures of what your house, your block looks like now… we want to see how things are progressing. You can identify the picture by block and/or street or zip code because then we can see where things are happening and where they are not. We want to see how the city is being rebuilt because we do not see enough detail on the TV news. The news networks are not showing enough of what is going on. So please post pictures of what is happening in New Orleans and let us know the location so we can oversee the process. The more people interested is knowing what is happening in NO the better. Is government going to help or not? We want to know.
Renaissance 