Keeping the Peace

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/27/AR2009072701907.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

The lovely Eugene Robinson has a must read column about the Gates arrest. I must admit to being stunned at the kerfuffle about what Barack had to say about the reaction to the Cambridge police and their arrest of Henry Louis Gates. I listened to the press conference about health care, and even though the question had nothing to do with the purpose of the presser, I must admit to being pleasantly surprised by Barack's answer to the question about the arrest of Skip Gates. I thought he was blunt, but accurate. I mean, come on, does anyone really think that race had nothing to do with the arrest? Please. Gates may not have been super polite, and maybe he was rude, and mabye he quoted Happy Days. I think it unlikely, but if he did indeed say something about Crowley's mother, who is the professional here? I thought that police had a mission to keep the peace. Does anyone think that what officer Crowley did defused the situation or inflamed the situation? It is his job to diffuse the situation. As the divine Eugene point out "...meeting a a Harvard faculty member who happens to be arrogant is like meeting a basketball player who happens to be tall..." If you, as part of your job, are supposed to keep the peace, what are you doing if you arrest a black cane carrying professor in his own home, who might have irritated you by being angry/superior/who knows what? It is sort of like a shrink bitching about "...all these people, they go on and on about how miserable they are...It is depressing!" ( Sad but true, I had a therapist friend who complained about her patients being so depressed.) Crowley must have known right away that he was not arresting a public menace, but more bringing in someone he found really annoying. If one were to arrest annoying people, that would bring the criminal justice system to a standstill. Crowley should have known better. But at least it appears that he is trying to diffuse the situation somewhat, by going to the White House. But I have read that the Gates flap has caused Barack's poll numbers to slip, and I find that very sad. It seems that it has given the racist right wing cover to unleash the demons of hate.

We need the Dog Whisperer

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25368.html

It is pretty amazing that the repugs are so up front about their real goal, which is according to Gentleman Jim, "breaking him." They offer no alternative, other than the status quo or cutting medicare and medicaid benefits. They want to obstruct any progress because defeating the Dems is more important than anything, including the wishes of their constituents. And they are not concealing their goal, not one little bit. What is more mysterious is the Dems. I just don't get it, here they have a wildly popular president, a strong majority in both houses, the Repugs poll numbers in the toilet, large public support for health care reform, including the public option, and yet many Dems are trembling in their boots about any kind of change. What surprises me, is that it is not just those Dems that were allegedly traumatized by '94, but even newly elected members of Congress. I initially thought that it was the dreaded Beltway syndrome, but there is more than that going on. I was initially encouraged when I heard that Rahmbo was on the case, but so far he has not brought them to their knees. I miss the old Rahm. The claim of the Blue Dogs that their reluctance is about fiscal responsibility rings hollow, because they are quite willing to spend on other things. What they seem to fail to realize is that if health care reform is not passed, they will have a crippled administration and a party that will be a deemed an utter failure. These centrists are so ridiculously self important. I think that if Teddy were well and knocking some sense into these fools, that the progress would be faster. It is such a shame that he is so ill during the fight over an issue that is so important to him. He is so respected Senator on both sides of the aisle that he is sorely missed.

Uncle Walter

I felt sad to hear about Walter Cronkite's death. My mother worked for him for many years, back in the very early days of CBS News, and back when reporters were actual reporters and not corporate tools. She had great respect for him and found him decent, smart and kind. In fact he went to bat for her when her job was threatened. It is galling to hear him celebrated by "reporters" who are everything he wasn't. Although he never revealed his party affiliation he never concealed that he had actual thoughts. He was called the most trusted man in America, but he earned that trust by becoming a truth teller, something that is clearly not a goal of today's network reporters. Reporters today crave access over everything, which creates an imbalance and a sychophantish relationship with those in power. Right before the War in Afghanistan I heard him on the radio saying what a bad idea he thought it was to invade. I don't think you will hear much about that statement in the grief orgy.

Cone...Cohen...?

I must truly be a masochist. The weather has been changeable, so for some reason I thought it would be productive to try to watch or listen to the Sotomayor hearings on and off. Today they have been dull, dull, dull, and I often crack and turn down the volume on my computer, like when they had the ding bat from the NRA testifying. One high point was seeing David Cone testify. He said in essence, that some may call it an exageration that she saved baseball, but she succeeded getting the players out on the field where many others had failed, including Congress, various mediators and the President. The other high point was hearing Jeffrey Beaurgard Sessions welcome "David Cohen." Huh, he must be thinking... well I know he played for New York teams, and he is recommending a wise Latina to become a Supreme, so I must be saying his name right..."Cohen."

Sotomayor and the Sillies

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/13/AR2009071302605.html

I have following the Sotomayor hearings, sort of - the weather is too beautiful and the speeches and questioning are so dull, not to mention wildly hypocritical. If I hear one more question about a wise Latina by a stupid white guy, I am going to scream. It is amazing how the so called bully is being so patient with these clearly rude and silly people. This piece by Eugene Robinson nails the idiocy that is the Republican's way of questioning Sotomayor. The poor little lambs, they are terrified that immigrants and people of color are going to enslave them. The only normal for them is the conservative white male point of view. They are also desperate to make out that the creepy John Roberts represents American views. It was startling to see his wife and kiddies at his confirmation. They all looked as if they were in costume circa 1958. There is definitely something icky about Roberts, and I sure wouldn't trust him as a scout master. It is pretty ridiculous to hear Jeff Sessions, who not all that long ago thought the KKK was a fine organization until he learned that some of them smoked pot, imply that Sotomayor is a racist and a bigot. I guess that is how he sees the world - any difference inspires hatred and bigotry. Coming from him it ludicrous. Next we will hear Newt lecturing her about the sanctity of marriage. I do wish the Dems would stop talking about her inspirational life, not that it isn't, but look at Clarence T. His life story is pretty inspirational, but he is a warped, bitter and miserable human being. Sotomayor has great academic credential and a long and varied career in the law.