The Year in Steph 2007

Jim Ward, Chris Lavoie, Stephanie Miller & Rebekah Baker receive a BLLOTY Award 2007

Loyal readers of this blog, you all may remember that this blog wasn't even a month old last year when we welcomed in 2007. It was a difficult, in many ways an ugly year, yet thanks to our fearless talk radio host, Stephanie Miller, and her esteemed crew of the Mooks (Jim Ward and Chris Lavoie) and recently named Mookette, Rebekah Baker, we weathered a year to which many of us are glad to say good-bye. It may have been a personal train wreck of a year for Momma (AKA Stephanie), and we were witness to her insomnia, mercury toxicity and the loss of her beloved Poo Bear, although details of her personal stress were not shared with her listeners (and for that we thank you, we guess, Momma). One of the bookends of 2007 that ended on a happy note was the demise of Columbus' WTPG (the only progressive station in the Columbus market) in January 2007, and the ultimate revival of progressive radio in Columbus, Ohio on WVKO - AM1580 in December 2007. In no small way it was thanks to a cadre of loyal SMS listeners (among them Ohio Majority Radio and Non-Stop Radio). Just goes to show the power of Stephanie and crew =). See the following stories that covered this saga as it unfolded: Rally Set for Monday in Columbus, Save Progressive Radio Drop, Power to the People.

Another exciting development for the SMS grew out of Don Imus well-earned firing, and that was the amazing return to television for Stephanie, accompanied by Chris Lavoie's adorable TV debut, (Jim Ward has been on numerous TV shows and his voice work has been featured in many more shows). That's right loyal fans, the MSNBC appearance led to the occurrence now known as the "Epic Sweating Incident," in which Ms. Miller failed to heed warnings sent to her by loyal fans to "keep her arms down," thereby exposing her damp arm pits to almost a million viewers. All in all, it was an excellent, if not exhausting, week for Steph fans (see links to SMS on MSNBC: Stephanie and the Boyz do MSNBC, Let Dan Abrmas Know that You Love Steph, Clip of Steph on MSNBC on YouTube).

Another memorable moment of the year in Steph 2007 included the launching of Stephanie's vice presidential campaign (October 1, 2007). Along with CC Goldwater, Steph is recreating the 1964 Goldwater/Miller ticket in an attempt to make a serious political point - the point being that neither Barry nor Bill would recognize the current right wing version of the republican party into which their erstwhile party has evolved. The campaign is also a shameless publicity stunt to promote Steph's radio show and CC's DVD "Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater." In spite of my lack of support for the imaginary ticket, Dylan (my younger and more gullible dog) has endorsed the Goldwater/Miller team for 2008. (see the following posts for more of my opinion of the mythical Goldwater/Miller 2008 ticket: Steph throws her well-worn ball cap into the ring, Goldwater/Miller Rally in Phoenix, Two Thirds of RML's Household Split Endorsements).

In any case, we say a big "Good Riddance to 2007," and we launch into 2008 with great expectations. Here are a few things that this blogger and loyal fan of the SMS would like to see/hear in 2008 - more Stephanie impressions (we especially can imagine and would love to hear Kay Rooney inviting Susan Estrich in for a glass of rye, Roseanne grilling Hillary on her stand on the war in Iraq, and Joan Rivers returning to the red carpet for any of the upcoming award shows), we would also like to see Steph become a permanent unsavory element on MSNBC (I think that she has earned her place, if not in Dan Abrams heart, then certainly on his show), we also eagerly anticipate the birth of Momma's third child (doggie) and wonder what mischief this puppy will get into. All in all, I just want to send a HUGE THANK YOU to Stephanie, Jim, Chris and Rebekah for whatever measure of sanity to which I can lay claim. Here's to 2008, a new year, a new administration, new hope, and new promise. Let's all work for Justice and Peace - Happy New Year Everybody!!!

Benazir Bhutto (1953 - 2007)

Benazir Bhutto
(June 21, 1953 - December 27, 2007)

I was driving back to Tulsa from Jamestown, Indiana. I was about halfway through Missouri when I turned on NPR and heard the news that Benazir Bhutto had been assassinated by a suicide bomber after delivering an impassioned speech at a rally in Rawalpindi. My heart dropped and I drove on stunned that another fighter for democracy had fallen. I was immediately transported back to my fifth grade class when our principal, Mr. Edwards - a kindly, grandfatherly sort - came to our classroom to comfort us over the death of Martin Luther King Jr. who had been shot and killed in Memphis the evening before. This confirmed in my young mind that all great men (they had all been men up until that time) would sooner or later be shot and killed by an angry gunman who would deprive the country of a brave and valuable leader. More than that, in the case of JFK, MLK and Bobby Kennedy, the country was robbed of its future, of its visionary, of the one who had been anointed to take the nation into tomorrow and beyond.

It is this anguish that I imagine the people of Pakistan are experiencing today, this feeling of being cheated by a lone lunatic (or a group of mad fundamentalists who may or may not have the support of the military mad man, Pervez Musharraf, who is currently the head of the Pakistani state) out of a future that they could almost envisage, a future that dangled so tantalizingly close. Like JFK, MLK, and Bobby, Benazir Bhutto was not a perfect politician and was not without shortcomings as a leader, but like JFK, MLK, and Bobby, she inspired her fellow countrywomen/men to dream better dreams, to dare to believe that a country mired in chaos and ruled by a despot could achieve a measure of democracy. She will be missed, not only by the grief-stricken Pakistanis, but by a world that wants so badly to believe that the war-torn regions of the world are populated by more than warring tribes that give way to terrorism whenever the people become so disgruntled with their lives that they put down their plowshares and pick up AK-47s. Or perhaps worse, strap explosives to their bodies and detonate them in a crowded market or next to a car in which a courageous leader is riding.

Ms. Bhutto - go in peace, the peace that you were never able to realize on this earth. Let us all work toward the goal of peace with all our might.

The Guardian's coverage of Bhutto's assassination.

David Frost's inteview with Benazir Bhutto (November 2, 2007).

Two Thirds of RML's Household Split Endorsements

Earlier this week I left a comment on one of my favorite doggie bloggers' blogs, (RoxiesWorld), in response to another post that Roxie wrote in support of her candidate, Hillary Rodham Clinton. The comment, for those of you who are not inclined to visit Roxie's World, reads as follows:

Dear Roxie,
You've built a strong case for your candidate, but you've still not allayed my greatest fear, and you have not addressed my, as yet, unanswered question: "Is Hillary electable?" Perhaps it's my perspective that comes from nearly seven years of living in a very red state (OK) interrupted by visits to an even redder state (IN) that gives me pause (not paws, Roxie) to fret. I am a notorious worry-wart, Rox, but I just can't shake the fear that we (Democrats/Liberals/Progressives) are setting ourselves up for a disastrous fall of epic proportions. I have visions of Newt, Rush and their cohorts salivating in the right wing just waiting for a chance to draw more Clinton blood. God, I hope I am wrong, and if Hillary gets the nomination I'll disavow this comment and several posts on my own blog, But Roxie, if there is anything you can say that would assuage my nerves, please tell me now.
Love & Cheers,
Auntie Faye

Alas, Roxie (and her mom, Moose, who helps Roxie with her typing) in her response to my comment, missed my point entirely. Roxie went on and on listing various reasons why many of the candidates on both sides of the aisle have a variety of reasons why their candidacies may fail - such as the color of Barack Obama's skin, or Fred Thompson's napping through the campaign, but all of these obstacles, while they may prove slightly problematic, do not compare to the wrath of the right wing nut jobs as they collect up their hate in anticipation of the monumental fight against Hillary Clinton. How do I know this? Well, answering this question has proven to be a dilemma that I confess gave me pause in figuring how to handle. I must also confess that this is why it has taken me nearly four days to respond to Roxie's response to my comment. You see, one of the reasons I provided in my initial comment and a reason I will return to again is one I am loathe to use, namely, because I hope against hope that Roxie's moms will come and visit me here in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and it is not my intention to paint my home as the redneck enclave that in some form it very well may be. Yet it is this same neck of the woods from which I gleaned my evidence of Hillary's ultimate defeat/weakness. So you see my trouble - I must rely on all I have learned and sensed from those around me to prove my point that Hillary's nomination will bring every right wing, homophobic, fundamentalist nut job out of the woodwork, all the while defending the place where I live against the arrogant judgment of my East coast friends. I may be living in a dream world to even imagine that my East coast friends (though Moose grew up in Indiana, and Goose hails from Texas) would deign to visit me here in Tulsa (which is a very livable city with two great museums, many fine restaurants, and more than a handful of great people whose values and politics I share, and Tulsa also happens to be the headquarters of INDN's List - an outstanding progressive Native political organization). But I wish that my East coast friends would give me a skosh more credit for recognizing a brewing lynch mob when Hillary and her coterie are soon to be surrounded by one. This is all to say that Roxie not only did not allay my fears, she insulted me by asking if I had indeed said anything at all. I am saying something that I wish more liberal Democrats would listen to, and that is the nomination of Hillary Clinton will mobilize the far right wing more ferverently than gay marriage or abortion ever did. I know, I know, I am sounding more like a Fox news head than the MSNBC junkie I am in real life, but mark my words, kids, this scares the bejesus out of me, and I am still waiting for somebody out there who knows something I don't to assuage my nerves.

All of this being as true today as it was on Monday, I took a poll in my house today and found that I am living in a somewhat divided household, and although I have not yet made up my own mind, it turns out my boyz already have. Dylan - dear, sweet, scallywag Dillie - has thrown his support behind the faux candidacy of Goldwater/Miller (that’s CC, Barry’s granddaughter, and Stephanie, William Miller’s daughter) a ticket that is recreating the 1964 team for shamelessly promotional purposes. What can I say? He may be my son, but he has a mind of his own, and he loves him some Stephanie Miller. Tulsey, on the other hand, has always been a Momma’s boy, and is easily confused, so whenever he hears “Momma’s for Obama” he assumes that the reference is to his Momma (i.e. me), although, as I have already stated, I have not yet made up my mind as to which candidate I will endorse, Tulsey has already cast his lot with Barack.

Anyway, I am writing this post while I should be packing my bags and gathering my gifts because tomorrow morning the boyz and I will be hitting the road bound for Jamestown, Indiana, where we will spend a week with the folks and celebrate the holidaze. So until next Thursday, or until I find a cafe west of Indianapolis, Indiana with free Wi-Fi, I will sign off for a week or so and wish all of my loyal readers a very Happy ChristmaHannaKwansica to you and yours. See you all on the flip side...

Momma in the Funny Papers

Non Sequitur, Wiley Miller, December 19, 2007

Keith Olbermann: Truth-Teller Extraordinaire

Dear readers, if you all , like me, have become a fan of Keith Olbermann, the brilliant commentator on MSNBC, and star of Countdown (M - Th, 7:00 - 8:00pm, CST), then you will want to visit this link and watch the excellent segment of Bill Moyers' Journal (PBS, Fridays 8:00 - 9:00pm, CST) in which Mr. Moyers interviewed Mr. Olbermann. This wonderful piece showcases two highly respected journalists talking about their craft. In the interview Keith Olbermann discusses the genesis of his "Special Comments." He also answers questions posed by young interns at PBS who asked Olbermann questions about corporate sponsorship and journalistic objectivity and a question about Mr. Olbermann's perspective as a white, upper-middle class man. Mr. Olbermann handily responds to these questions with answers that were both thoughtful and honest.

I cannot in good conscience fail to mention that Keith Olbermann has long been on the top of Stephanie Miller's "Future Husband(s) List," but rumor on the street has it that Stephanie "well-known media whore" Miller has realigned her desires and set her sights on Dan Abrams. I think that Stephanie is giving up on a real prize in lieu of an albeit more available and much younger man. Unless Stephie is looking to add the term "cougar" to her resume, I think that she should reconsider her traitorous move. Mr. Abrams is nothing but an Olbermann wannabe and not a very convincing one at that. He is as light and fluffy as a good pancake without Olbermann's gravitas or mettle. He may be cute, but may I remind Ms. Miller that her cohort, Jim Ward, also thinks that Dana Perino is cute (as in a "lying sack of cute")? I, for one, don't think that Danny-boy holds a candle to Keith. I encourage you, Stephanie, to consider carefully your allegiances. TRO or not, Keith is sooooo worth it!

Here's a link to Countdown if you would like to watch a Special Comment or two.

Link to Olbermann's new book Olbermann: Truth and Consequences, Special comments on the Bush administration's war on American values, where you can read excerpts from this book.

Check out: The Most Honest Man in News (Rolling Stone, Mark Binelli, February 22, 2007)

Keith Olbermann Org (KO.O.) A welcoming community of friends who enjoy Keith Olbermann, Countdown, and respectful, vibrant discussions.

See also The Nation's article on Keith Olbermann - Olbermann Rules!, Marvin Kitman (September 20, 2007)

Power for the People

Shame on those folks who had the audacity to show-off their holiday lights while others still had NO power.

As I was driving back last night from our library staff holiday party, I had already dismissed thoughts of arriving home to lights, heat, in short power, although there had been a few reports from co-workers that their power had been restored. I wasn't optimistic, mostly because of the extent of the damage in my working class neighborhood and the fact that it is indeed a working class neighborhood where the original home owners are all dying or moving into assisted living facilities, and there are many "for sale" signs up and even more troubling many "for rent" signs popping up in several front yards. Those of us who own our homes in this 'hood are just glad when new residents don't set up a meth lab in their newly occupied house. Still there were encouraging signs as I turned off the main drag into my neighborhood, a line of electric company trucks (from Georgia!) were heading out, and I thought I saw a few glimmering lights along the streets. Could it be? Had PSO, with the help of electric companies from across the country, been able to get our power back on a full four days before the earlier prediction of power restoration? Well, I wouldn't call it a miracle (mostly because I am too much of a skeptic to believe in divine intervention), but still it was a welcome sight to be able to pull into my driveway and open my garage door with the garage door opener. I have POWER BACK in my house, and I am not even complaining that my cable is still out.

I stowed my arctic-rated sleeping bag back in the closet, and fired up my lap top and spent a warm and well-lit evening in my own home. Don't worry dear readers, I am not about to subject you to a sappy rendition of how strong our pioneer ancestors must have been to live every night without the comforts that we take for granted, or worse yet regale you with a plucky tale about how we all came together in a time of need and made the best of it, but I will say that it was a trying week, and I am glad to be able to be in my home without shivering or straining my eyes to see which bills arrived that day. And through it all I am thankful for my sleeping bag, my boyz (Tulsey & Dylan), a handful of candles, a sturdy flashlight, and some AAA batteries that allowed me to listen to NPR in the mornings and Steph in the evenings. I also must give thanks to all of the folks who, although they do not realize it, helped me get through this rough week by sacrificing a bottle or two of wine that I bought to give as holiday gifts but ended up drinking myself - viva Il Bastardo!

Today I am attending a Wellbriety PowWow that is hosted by my friend's family in Pryor, OK. It should be a happy event - my friend has had power since Thursday and never lost heat as the house where she lives relies on propane for warmth. I'm sure by tomorrow I will be back to my usual commentary on the state of the nation and the world, but please excuse this brief excursion into daily life here in Tulsa - it may not be what you are all used to, and believe me it wasn't what we were used to either.

Day Four with NO Power & NO Heat

Loyal readers of this blog, I am writing to you from my desk at work (something I rarely if ever do, as I do try to draw a line between my professional life and my personal life and my blog is definitely part of my personal life), but alas, sometimes exceptions must be made, and I think that four days of no power (no electricity, NO HEAT, no internet access, no cable TV) as a result of an ice storm that blew into Oklahoma on Sunday night and stayed until late Monday afternoon and took down many, many tree branches (and trees) along with power lines, fences, and utility poles that fell across streets, cars, driveways and sidewalks is a reasonable excuse to deviate from my usual practice of keeping my personal tasks separate from my professional life. I didn't venture out of my house until Monday afternoon spending most of the day on hold with the Public Service (sic) Company of Oklahoma attempting to report a downed power line that was in my backyard. Around 3:00pm I went outside and tried my best to move the six or seven large branches that had fallen out of the oak tree in my backyard, all the while staying clear of the largest branch that took out a section of my fence and the already mentioned downed power line.

I have been weathering the chill better than most as I have an excellent sleeping bag (rated to 20 degrees) and two very warm doggies who sleep with me every night. I also have the benefit of a gas-top stove so I can heat water and soup and make grilled cheese sandwiches (a food I have been craving - comfort, I suppose). Also I have managed to hook up a small radio with a pair of cheap speakers so that I can listen to NPR in the mornings and by hooking up my MP3 player at night I can listen to my StephCast which has been a godsend - nothing is more pathetic than sitting alone in one's living room in front of a lone candle in silence - I have avoided this pathetic fate because 1) I am not alone - I have the wonderful company of my two best friends (Tulsey and Dylan), and 2) I am not sitting in silence - see earlier reference to my jerry-built radio/MP3 player. So I am not complaining although those of you who tuned into the SMS yesterday morning may disagree - I had to call in and tell the residents of an albeit chillier-than-usual Southern California that they had little room to bitch. Jim apparently was late to the studio because he had to scrape frost off his windshield - at least he didn't have to scrape frost off his toilet seat before his morning ablutions.

Dear readers, I will keep you posted on how long I will be forced to live here in the cold, dark house on the prairie - PSO is predicting that we may have power by sometime next week, but the weather folks are predicting snow for the weekend, so who knows what the next week will bring us as we tough it out here in the middle of America? Keep us in your thoughts and send warm wishes our way - we could sure use the heat =)

Momma's Nativity Scene

Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon

On the first anniversary/birthday of this blog I have decided to mark the occasion by posting this video clip of images that show the atrocity that is war in this perverted world we live in (the world could be beautiful, but it's not). I think that beyond being a fan site for Stephanie Miller and her morning radio show, this blog has been dedicated to ending the wars that this country has started and encouraging peaceful resolution to conflicts in the world. I have attempted to address these issues by pointing out the horrible policies of the current administration that have led us into the disastrous situations that we find ourselves in around the world along with the incredible price that we are paying at home for these murderous escapades abroad.

I'm sure that I'll get back to lighter fare in subsequent posts (wishing everyone a Happy ChrismaHannaKwansica), but today I just wanted to post a video and a wonderful song that I hope will remind us all of the huge job that is before us, and to never give up, never back down, never acquiesce to the powers that be that are leading us all down a hellish path. Many thanks to the loyal readers of this blog for all the support. And please keep working for peace - it may seem like a thankless job, but it is really our only honorable work.

Stephie Meets Larry!

On Monday's show Stephanie relayed a story about her magical airplane ride back to LA from Seattle on MyLaska Airlines (names have been changed to protect the obvious). On this flight Stephie apparently made the acquaintance of, Larry, the only straight (male) flight attendant working the friendly skies. Stephanie also mentioned that she flirted rather shamelessly with Larry and even showed off her runner's calves to him. That got my mind going around 4:00 this morning, I thought I remembered seeing a shot of those gams in an earlier photo. With just a little bit of searching, I came across the shot I had in mind and decided that it merited a little collage, so voila - here it is... Enjoy!!
Click HERE to watch Stephanie's Evening in Seattle.

George W. Bush is a Lying Sack of Crap

Following, I have posted a verbatim transcript from today's press conference (the text below was copied and pasted from the White House's own web site). If there is anyone left on this planet who does not regard George W. Bush as the stupidest, most idiotic, most moronic president who has ever stolen the oval office - then you can't read or think for yourself. Let me point out a few salient lines to you, dear readers: the president claims that he not only did not know about the NIE until last week, he also claims that when Mike McConnell came into his office in AUGUST (2007) and said, "Mr. President, we have new information about Iran and their nuclear plans," he did not reply, "What is the new information, Mr. McConnell?" And if he didn't ask that question, does he have any business leading the free world? I think not. I rest my case, mostly because I am exhausted, and I know that I could not rest tonight without commenting on these highly egregious and suspicious statements made by our fearful leader (sic).

I had to borrow a well-worn phrase from this blog's namesake show as I composed this post. It is, of course, the "Lying Sack of Crap" phrase that has magically become ensconced in the brain of every listener of the SMS. It is a song that haunts us every night as we lie awake at 2:30 in the morning and wonder what kind of world we will awaken to the next day. It is an earworm so powerful as to knock out even the sappiest of '70s songs from our heads. I myself used it just today to jar a rather incessant chorus of " In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, bay-bee" out of my noggin - okay so that was a '60s song - sue me, I'm a few years older than Steph... Anyway, here's to that lovable little jingle that has become an anthem of sorts to those of us who believe in the power of the Stephanie Miller Show, and I'd like to dedicate that little tune to our commander-in-chief (sic) George W. Bush - hit it, boyz (er, Chris)... "You're a lying sack of crap, you're a lying sack of crap, you're a lyin', smelly, stinkin', nasty sack of liquid crap - bing bing"

David.

Q Mr. President, thank you. I'd like to follow on that. When you talked about Iraq, you and others in the administration talked about a mushroom cloud; then there were no WMD in Iraq. When it came to Iran, you said in October, on October 17th, you warned about the prospect of World War III, when months before you made that statement, this intelligence about them suspending their weapons program back in '03 had already come to light to this administration. So can't you be accused of hyping this threat? And don't you worry that that undermines U.S. credibility?

THE PRESIDENT: David, I don't want to contradict an august reporter such as yourself, but I was made aware of the NIE last week. In August, I think it was Mike McConnell came in and said, we have some new information. He didn't tell me what the information was; he did tell me it was going to take a while to analyze. Why would you take time to analyze new information? One, you want to make sure it's not disinformation. You want to make sure the piece of intelligence you have is real. And secondly, they want to make sure they understand the intelligence they gathered: If they think it's real, then what does it mean? And it wasn't until last week that I was briefed on the NIE that is now public.

And the second part of your question has to do with this. Look, Iran was dangerous, Iran is dangerous, and Iran will be dangerous if they have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon. The NIE says that Iran had a hidden -- a covert nuclear weapons program. That's what it said. What's to say they couldn't start another covert nuclear weapons program? And the best way to ensure that the world is peaceful in the future is for the international community to continue to work together to say to the Iranians, we're going to isolate you. However, there is a better way forward for the Iranians.

Now, in 2003, the Iranian government began to come to the table in discussions with the EU-3, facilitated by the United States. In other words, we said to the EU-3, we'll support your efforts to say to the Iranians, you have a choice to make: You can continue to do policy that will isolate you, or there's a better way forward, so that it was the sticks-and-carrots approach.

You might remember the United States said at that point in time, we'll put the WTO on the table for consideration, or we'll help you with spare parts for your airplanes. It was all an attempt to take advantage of what we thought was a more open-minded Iranian regime at the time -- a willingness of this regime to talk about a way forward. And then the Iranians had elections, and Ahmadinejad announced that -- to the IAEA that he was going to -- this is after, by the way, the Iranians had suspended their enrichment program -- he said, we're going to stop the suspension, we'll start up the program again. And that's where we are today.

My point is, is that there is a better way forward for the Iranians. There has been a moment during my presidency in which diplomacy provided a way forward for the Iranians. And our hope is we can get back on that path again. But what is certain is that if Iran ever had the knowledge to develop a nuclear weapon and they passed that knowledge on to a covert program, which at one time in their history has existed, the world would be more dangerous. And now is the time for the international community to work together.

Q Mr. President, thank you. Just to follow, I understand what you're saying about when you were informed about the NIE. Are you saying at no point while the rhetoric was escalating, as "World War III" was making it into conversation, at no point nobody from your intelligence team or your administration was saying, maybe you want to back it down a little bit?

THE PRESIDENT: No, nobody ever told me that. Having said -- having laid that out, I still feel strongly that Iran is a danger. Nothing has changed in this NIE that says, okay, why don't we just stop worrying about it. Quite the contrary. I think the NIE makes it clear that Iran needs to be taken seriously as a threat to peace. My opinion hasn't changed.

And I just explained, Jim, that if you want to avoid a really problematic situation in the Middle East, now is the time to continue to work together. That's our message to our allies, and it's an important message for them to hear. And here's the reason why: In order for a nation to develop a nuclear weapons program they must have the materials from which to make a bomb, the know-how on how to take that material and make it explode, and a delivery system.

Now, the Iranians -- the most difficult aspect of developing a weapons program, or as some would say, the long pole in the tent, is enriching uranium. This is a nation -- Iran is a nation that is testing ballistic missiles. And it is a nation that is trying to enrich uranium. The NIE says this is a country that had a covert nuclear weapons program, which, by the way, they have failed to disclose, even today. They have never admitted the program existed in the first place.

The danger is, is that they can enrich, play like they got a civilian program -- or have a civilian program, or claim it's a civilian program -- and pass the knowledge to a covert military program. And then the danger is, is at some point in the future, they show up with a weapon. And my comments are, now is the time to work together to prevent that scenario from taking place. It's in our interests.

Why I Will NOT Be Endorsing Senator Hillary Clinton

Last night, I was sitting in my living room in Tulsa, OK talking with a friend and the conversation turned to politics (not an unusual turn for talk in my house these days). I asked my friend what her thoughts on Hillary's chances are, and her answer sums up my greatest political fear: she said, "Hillary will come very close to winning the White House, but in the end she will fail." That fear was underscored by a recent Zogby poll that showed Hillary vulnerable if not outright defeated by five of the clowns that currently make up the Republican field of presidential contenders. Sure, I voted for John Kerry in 2004, and I voted for Michael Dukakis in 1988, and I did so with the trepidation that comes with the almost certain knowledge that I was NOT voting for the person who would win the race. Although I have not forgotten about the voting poll shenanigans in Ohio that likely tipped the scales to Dubya in 2004, and of course, I am as convinced as I was that November night in 2000 as I drove home in Albuquerque, NM and cheered out loud into the night when Florida was called for Al Gore, that Mr. Gore's presidency was stolen out from under him and more importantly out from under the American people. But I am worried. In a country that has announced over and over again that they would prefer a Democratic leader over a Republican leader, why is Hillary the name that is on the tip of every wealthy GOPer's tongue as the candidate that they claim to fear the most?

I have suspected that the GOP has been planning a campaign against Ms. Clinton since she began to hint that she might seek the oval office. Karl Rove has already strategerized himself a plan to defeat Hillary, and I don't think that the rhetoric will seem new or fresh. Rove's plan is simply to recycle some old critical lines that will, I fear, appeal to all of those Republicans who hate the Clintons with a passion heretofore reserved for Satan, condoms, and Islamofascists.

I know that I am not pointing out anything that hasn't been whispered in every Democratic Committee Meeting since Hillary threw her hat in the ring, but I am predicting a much closer race if Hillary is the Democratic nominee, and I just don't know how much this tired old political heart of mine can bear. Why don't we nominate somebody like Governor Richardson, whose resume alone would be fun to watch the Republicans try to challenge? Or Barack Obama, who I'd love to see get the nod, just to watch all the redneck Republicans squirm as they try to run against a person of color without playing the race card (and you and I both know that the party of Macaca and Trent Lott and Bob Jones University can't get through an entire election cycle without putting their pale white foot in between their thin little lips =).

I have, up to this point, hedged my bets. I have sent checks to Obama, Edwards, Clinton, Richardson and even Dodd, when he stood up in the Senate against the egregious FISA bill that was poised to slip through the Congress and would have undoubtedly been signed by the president. The FISA bill is a horrendous piece of legislation that would have carved up a few more of our ever-shrinking civil liberties. But I vow, as of today, that I will not send another dime to Hillary Clinton - no matter how clever her marketing ploys are. I want a real change in Washington D.C., and as much as I admire Bill Clinton and miss his leadership, Bill is not running again, it is his wife Hillary who would be our nominee and I fear another presidential also-ran.

Those of you who have been reading this blog over the last several months, may wonder if my lack of enthusiasm for Hillary Clinton can be traced to her refusal to attend "Prez on the Rez." I must answer that charge with a Clintonian "yes and no." I understand that campaigns make calculated choices everyday about which events will yield better results, and I also understand that Hillary's choice to not attend "POTR" was made by her and her staff at one time and reflected Hillary's priorities at the moment, which may not be her priorities a few months later. Still, I also know that when Hillary declined our invitation to join "POTR," the event immediately became a lower priority for Obama and John Edwards. She was, afterall, the leader at that point in the race and her choices influenced the choices of the other candidates.

So I, like a dog, do not readily forget slights such as Hillary's cold shoulder toward Indian Country, but that is not the primary reason I am not onboard her wagon. It is her stance on Iraq, her recent vote for the Lieberman/Kyl amendment, her inability to take a stand and then stand her ground, all of these reasons and personality characteristics that Hillary has displayed have me waiting on the sidelines until the Oklahoma primary vote on February 5, 2008, and I'm hoping that at that point in time, my vote will still make a difference.

See Frank Rich's Op-ed Piece in today's NYTimes: Who's Afraid of Barack Obama?

Good Riddance, Trent "Vacant" Lott

Here are a few good reasons why we won't be missing Senator Lott when he retires at the end of the year (so he will be exempt from the new lobbying law that would impose a two year wait before he could start collecting huge bucks from a K Street Lobbying Firm - the dollar signs were just too tempting to Trent.)

Steph read these quotes for Jim Ward to take a stab at guessing the source, on the show on Tuesday (Hours 1 & 3):

"I want to say this about my state. When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years either."
Trent Lott (R - Miss.) at Strom Thurmond's B-day party

"Racial discrimination does not always violate public policy."
Trent Lott (R - Miss.)

"Yesterday in a 25 to 24 vote, Republicans welcomed back Lott back into their leadership and named him minority whip. That is great for Trent. They say minority whip is a stepping stone to Grand Wizard."
Stephen Colbert

"Trent Lott has found himself in a lot of trouble over his comments (about segregation)...Keep in mind Lott only says this kind of stuff once every 22 years. We like to think of him as the Halley's Comet of bigotry."
Jon Stewart

"Last night Trent Lott appeared on the Black Entertainment Network and he apologized. He was sincere about this. He said he no longer feels the bigotry and prejudice that he felt last week."
David Letterman

"One Republican leader said what Trent Lott did was a mistake of the mouth and not of the heart. Today, former President Clinton said, why didn't I think of that?"
Jay Leno

"The Supreme Court is expected to rule this week whether banning cross burning by groups like the Klu Klux Klan violates the first amendment. The outcome could affect the entertainment at Trent Lott's Christmas party."
Tina Fey

From today's Huffington Post:
Trent Lott's Brother-In-Law, Nephew, Indicted On Federal Bribery Charges

Back From the Cruise and Still Listening to SMS

Grand Turks Island on Thanksgiving Day 2007

Well, loyal readers of this blog (yes, both of you =), I'm back from a five-day cruise with all ten members of my immediate family, and I'm happy to report that nobody went overboard - unless you take into account the enormous amount of alkeehaul that my sister Laliqua (AKA Lynnie) downed... We'll see if she is reading my blog!?*#?!! Seriously folks, we had a great time, the weather was fabulous, the ports of call were mahvelous, the food was plentiful, and the sushi was fresh and delicious. The only downside at all (and it is a very minor complaint) is that the internet connection sucked, and was so slow that it was impossible to download Steph and the mooks every day. No biggie, I just waited until I had four hours to kill in the Miami Airport and logged onto to their wi-fi and downloaded the entire week's worth of shows in a few minutes, and, presto, the airport wait immediately became bearable.

Le Beaujolais Nouveau et Arrive

I did however imagine that I was suffering from a few SMS withdrawal symptoms - Steph read them on the air on yesterday's show (top of hour 3). They went something like this:

A Few Symptoms of Stephanie Miller Show Withdrawal (as experienced on a cruise ship with sucky internet access):
--Not being able to walk by the piano bar without thinking "Did Stephanie play that song on her 70s ear worm episodes?"
--Trying to decide when would be the best moment to introduce the Goldwater/Miller campaign as a conversational gambit with my ultra-conservative family.
--Wondering if Stephanie is busy burning the sauerkraut (a Thanksgiving/Holiday tradition at Chez Steph).
--Teaching my nieces and nephew how to sing the "Lying Sack of Crap" song.
--My younger niece kept asking "Why is Auntie Faye making me say 'Charlie Rangel' over and over again?"
--Telling the 57th guy that tried to sell me a coconut monkey adult beverage "The computer says no."

More coming on the recently retiring Trent "Vacant" Lott....Stay tuned...

Note to loyal readers of this blog...

I just wanted to let the cadre of loyal readers (you may be small in number, but you are mighty in spirit =) know that I will be out of the loop for the next seven days. I will be on a big boat floating (hopefully) somewhere in the Caribbean Sea. I will be with all ten members of my immediate family (parents, my brother, both of my sisters, my married sister's husband and their three children - ages 11, 13 & 15). We will be onboard a Carnival cruise ship. I'm not even sure where our ports of call will be, because I figure I'm not responsible for guiding the vessel, so it's not for me to worry where we go. I'm sure that we will all gain a few pounds as cruises have a reputation for being nothing if not floating buffets, but there is also a gym onboard (yeah right - that's where you'll find me =). I will more than likely be lounging on the lido deck with a good book in one hand and an exotic beverage with a tiny umbrella in it in the other. In any case, I will be composing future posts in my mind, I'm sure, and I'll report back how it was to spend turkey day on the high seas. Happy Thnaksgiving to everyone out in the blogosphere. Bon Voyage!

Congratulations, Sherman!!!

Good Morning Folks,

I realize that of late this blog has devolved into a cheering block for people I admire, but it is afterall my blog, and it is afterall a fan-based blog - perhaps I just want to demonstrate to readers that I am not singularly obsessed with Stephanie Miller, so I make no apologies, just an observation. This is another post in the hero-worship vein. This post sings the praises of and offers congratulations to one of my all-time favorite writers, Mr. Sherman Alexie, who last night won a National Book Award for his most recent novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.

Alexie received the news last night at the awards ceremony in New York. He won for best book in the young people's literature category. In his acceptance speech, Alexie, an author of 19 books of fiction, poetry and essays, quipped, "Wow ... I obviously should have been writing YA [young adult] all along."

Well, Sherman, I beg to differ as many of my favorite stories and longer pieces of fiction that you penned are not for teenage eyes or sensibilities. Aside from the prize-winning book already mentioned, Mr. Alexie is the author of The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, Reservation Blues, Ten Little Indians and The Toughest Indian in the World. In addition to being a smart, witty writer, Mr. Alexie is also a marvelous poet, and an even better speaker.

Here's a link to a review of Alexie's prize-winning novel and an interview published in the Seattle Times.

If you would like to read more about Sherman Alexie, check out his web site.

A Mighty Voice

“There’s a dangerous culture of obedience throughout much of this country that’s worse in Utah than anywhere."

Hello fellow liberals, progressives, and other readers of this blog,

With this post I am introducing you to a political maverick and a strong voice for change in this country. His name in Ross C. Anderson, but he goes by Rocky Anderson, and he is the outgoing mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah (the mayor-elect of SLC is Ralph Becker, a fellow Democrat, whom Rocky supported). Mr. Anderson announced last July that he would not seek a third term, saying he wanted to devote the rest of his life to grass-roots organizing involving human rights and global warming. Although at the time of his announcement he did not have specific plans.

I know what you all are thinking - isn't Salt Lake City just a right turn away from Colorado Springs, Colorado (home of "Focus on the Family" and other stinky right wing morsels)? Well, yes and no, SLC is the capitol of Utah which is the state among the fifty that lays claim, outloud, to be founded by Mormons, but it also is a city that boasts one of the most progressive mayors on the western side of the Rockies. For evidence I offer up the text of Mr. Anderson's riveting speech that he delivered only a couple weeks ago (October 27, 2007). I defy any of you to read that speech and imagine those words channeling through your ears and into your head, and not agree that Rocky Anderson is a voice that should be heard loudly and proudly across our aching nation.

In the few pages of this amazing speech, he summarizes all of the crimes, lies, deception, greed, arrogance, and sheer incompetence that is and will be the legacy of the Bush/Cheney administration. And he does it eloquently, and in doing so he speaks for the many of us who feel discouraged, spent, and downright impotent to speak truth to power and have it make a lick of difference.

Here's a clip of flip-flopping Mitt Romney singing Rocky's praises.

Here are clips of Rocky Anderson debating Sean Insanity of Faux News:
Part One / Part Two / Part Three / Part Four / Part Five

An Evening Walking the Red Road

Last night a friend and I went to see Arigon Starr in her fabulous one-woman show called The Red Road. It was produced for and staged at the Gilcrease Museum, an institution with a long history of supporting Native efforts in the arts. We walked through a gallery filled with buckskin dresses, beaded mocassins and feathered headdresses on our way to the theater, where we were greeted by Starr's mother who ended up sitting next to my friend. There were few empty seats as the star of the show charged onto the bare bones set (two tables, one covered with a radio microphone and a variety of noise-makers, the other simply covered with a gingham tablecloth, a microphone on a stand, a hat rack with Starr's signature red cowgirl hat - complete with a rhinestone tiara as the hat band - and finally an acoustic guitar). These were all the props that Starr needed to portray eleven characters who all play a role at Verna Yahola's All Nations Cafe, located in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, where the action of one eventful day unfolds. The day is June 4, 1977 when Verna's long-time friend and country music singer Patty Jones (Choctaw) arrives to tape an episode of her country music show and where Verna is dealing with issues familial, financial, romantic, and finally personal. How Verna resolves the issues facing her on this one day reveals her generosity, her humor and her resilience as a Native woman.

In spite of the fact that I am of dubious Native ancestry, I got most of the inside Indian jokes from Verna's Navajo fry cook who pointed to the Red Rocks east of Gallup, New Mexico with his lips to Verna's friend, Etta's (Ojibway) reference to 49ers (a post-powwow party that usually lasts until the wee hours). I've got to hand it to Arigon Starr, her ability to portray a wide variety of characters with humor and accuracy, along with her wonderful musical talent, were the facets that made the show so special and such a treat to watch. Ms. Starr is definitely a rising star in the musical theater arena, and also a great singer/songwriter in her own right. All in all, it was a magnificently entertaining evening that I was happy to enjoy with a good friend. Yakoke, Geo...

Visit Arigon Starr's web site to find out more about this talented Kickapoo/Creek artist.

Criminal Diplomacy

I'm afraid that our diplomatic efforts have moved from being negligent and incompetent to being criminal. I base this statement in part on an article that was sent to me by Martha, the coordinator of a great listserv (Democracy). The article, from Esquire magazine entitled The Secret History of the Impending War with Iran That the White House Doesn't Want You to Know, confirms the base vileness and evil that is embodied in the actions of Bush & Cheney. As reported by two highly reliable sources that both worked inside the Bush administration (Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann), Bush/Cheney have been planning for a war with Iran since before the 2000 election when the Supreme Court chose Bush to be the president (talk about judicial activism). According to both Leverett and Mann, the Iranian government made overtures to assist the U.S. in the fight against terrorism and were rebuked. Moreover these offers of assistance from Iran were ignored by the BushCo administration further insulting a regime that is known for its influencial role in the Middle East.

In direct contradiction to representations made by this administration, we had been purposefully and gainfully talking with Iran throughout the two years that followed 9/11 and were on the verge of a breakthrough with the leadership of Iran when Stephen Hadley called Colin Powell and told him to reject an offer that Iran was dangling before our eyes. Thereby, not only embarrassing Powell, but also setting the stage for a much more antagonistic relationship between BushCo and Iran, one that seems inexorably to be leading us to war. This is the very definition of evil - a person or institution or government that would choose antagonism over cooperation knowing that the results of that choice would lead to untold death and destruction.

That is, I'm sad to report, the criminal state of our foreign policy under the Bush/Cheney administration. We are not seeking to broker peace with the rest of the world (Muslim and otherwise), but instead we are actively looking for ways to thwart any progress that might forestall a rush to war. Please read the article and let me know if you disagree with my assertion.

Also, Mrs. Mann Leverett was on Keith Olbermann's show tonight discussing (as much as she is able) the situation that seems to be leading us into yet another unnecessary and illegal attack on a country that has done nothing to us. I have my own cynical rationale for why an administration would choose war over peace, and it has much to do with GREED, the old profit margin, the bottom line, MONEY. Halliburton, KRB, Blackwater and other defense industries are making huge sums of money off these wars. This is a situation I personally find obscene. The fact that Congress is about to give Bush another blank check to prosecute his occupation of Iraq and all the while keeping his options open for an attack on Iran, I find to be immoral and insane. May I remind readers that one accepted definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again yet expecting different results each time? According to this definition what Bush/Cheney (for they are one monster in my eyes) are doing is a textbook example of insanity.

To read about other diplomatic crimes, this one concerning Pakistan, please see Fred Kaplan's article in Slate: The Freedom Agenda Fizzles How George Bush and Condoleezza Rice made a mess of Pakistan.

We must as a people find a way to STOP the MADNESS. Bush/Cheney must be impeached or at the very least criminally prosecuted when they leave office. Please visit American Friends Service Committee to find out how you can work for peace. Thank you and good night.

Inhofe Has Got to Go!!!

"I have been called -- my kids are all aware of this -- dumb, crazy man, science abuser, Holocaust denier, villain of the month, hate-filled, warmonger, Neanderthal, Genghis Khan and Attila the Hun, and I can just tell you that I wear some of those titles proudly."
Senator James Inhofe, March 3, 2007


This post introduces readers to a fabulous new web site:
LayOffInhofe.com
Jim Inhofe: Uncaring, Unethical, and...Our Senator?

Here is the introduction taken directly from the web site:
"The goal of this website is, first and foremost, to demonstrate the failings of Sen. James Inhofe as a representative of the people of Oklahoma. You will see, mostly through known facts and his own words, that as a senator, James Inhofe is unkind, unethical, and simply not right for Oklahoma. Whether you are a student trying to pay for college, a person working for an honest days wage to provide for your family, or a senior attempting to enjoy your retirement, Jim Inhofe is not working for you."

Here is one of Mr. Inhofe's more embarrassing public statements:
"As you see here, and I think this is maybe the most important prop we’ll have during the entire debate, my wife and I have been married 47 years. We have 20 kids and grandkids. I'm really proud to say that in the recorded history of our family, we've never had a divorce or any kind of homosexual relationship."
Jim Inhofe on the Senate Floor, June 8, 2006

Need any more evidence that Inhofe is a dangerous, wrong-headed politician? Check this out:
Inhofe slams DiCaprio for scaring kids in two-hour Senate speech

What can you do to help send this despicable character back to pasture in Oklahoma where he can pass his final days? You can support - financially, publicly, and proudly - Andrew Rice's campaign for the Senate seat now being held by Inhofe. Please visit Mr. Rice's web site and get behind a person who will act in Oklahoma's best interest and will truly represent you and your concerns in Washington D.C.

See the following article that appeared on CounterPunch.org back in May 2004:
The Deranged Mind of James Inhofe - Maybe the Dumbest US Senator of Them All

Happy Halloweenie!!!

Here are a few images that I thought might make you chuckle just a little bit or alternatively scare the bejesus out of you.

If the image above doesn't scare you half to death, then the following article certainly should:
White House Leak: Cheney's Plan for Iran Attack Starts With Israeli Missile Strike

Steph read this e-mail at the top of hour one today (10/31/07) in honor of Halloween.
From Roseanne's Blog:
October 29, 2007 - Monday
Trick-or-Treating is Better than Sex
Top 10 reasons why trick-or-treating is better than sex:
10. You are guaranteed to get at least a little something in the sack.
9. If you get tired, you can wait 10 minutes and go at it again.
8. The uglier you look, the easier it is to get some.
7. You don't have to compliment the person who gives you some.
6. It's ok when the person you're with fantasizes you're someone else, because you are.
5. Forty years from now you'll still enjoy candy.
4. If you don't like what you get, you can always go next door.
3. It doesn't matter if the kids hear you moaning and groaning.
2. Less guilt the morning after.
1. You can do the whole neighborhood!

Goldwater/Miller 2008 Rally in Phoenix

CC Goldwater & Stephanie Miller, Phoenix Oct. 2007

Goldwater/Miller 2008 Rally in Phoenix and I Will Not Be There - blah, blah, blah...
Loyal fans of this blog are probably expecting me to endorse the Goldwater/Miller 2008 ticket, but I warn you, I will disappoint your expectations. I cannot in good conscience endorse a phony, promotional ticket, not when the stakes are as high as they are in the upcoming election. Call me a stick up the butt liberal if you must, but I just cannot waste my time creating a MySpace page for fake candidates - much as I know that would please both Steph and her running mate CC. Even though I'm sure that it would get me a mention, however fleeting, on Steph's morning radio show. I will not support a ticket that is in the race to make only one point - a point that Stephanie has made ad nauseum on her radio show - the point being that "The current Republican party bears little resemblance to her father's, William Miller, and Barry Goldwater's party." A point that is true as far as it goes, but being a radical militant librarian and a naturally curious grrrl - I did a little bit of research and unearthed the platform on which Mr. Goldwater and Mr. Miller ran (see Rebuplican Platform 1964 - warning dull, repetitive reading ahead - perfect cure for insomnia). In summation, the platform talks a lot about the evils of Communism and the wonders of freedom, it speaks loudly about shrinking the federal government and keeping said government out of people's lives and keeping regulation of business to a minimum. It does promise to honor the Civil Rights Act and to provide equal opportunity for all, but there are troubling parts in the platform, too - a mention of exempting the minimum wage laws for teenage workers, a remark about keeping the United Nations in its place, a clear vision of a world in which the United States is the most militarily powerful nation on the planet, where natural resources are there for our exploitation - without government protection or "interference" (as the Republicans would term it). There are plenty of seeds in the '64 Republican platform from which one can see the GOP plants that have blossomed today. It was not, as Stephanie would have us see it now, a party that would have left us all alone to be gay, or bi-sexual, or atheist, or agnostic, or, gasp, even communist (Not communist, just ask Joe McCarthy about that).

Stephanie was on Dan Abrams Show the other night talking about the phenomenon of phony candidates, namely Stephen Colbert, who has apparently drawn even more attention than the Goldwater/Miller 2008 ticket (surprise, surprise!). It struck me as a telling moment in media history when a real news program spent part of its show discussing the impact that fake candidates are having on a very real election. Even in good fun, it strikes me as odd that Stephen Colbert is currently polling higher than Governor Bill Richardson and Representative Dennis Kucinich and is tied with Senator Joe Biden (I can't say that I'm surprised that Colbert is beating former Senator Mike Gravel). Still, I appreciate a good joke as much as the next grrrl, but I must say that I am having a hard time finding the humor in an election that has the potential to restore the Constitution, end an illegal and immoral war, and generally bring America back to the people who make this such a great country. Sorry folks, the joke's over - now get back to making us laugh about really funny stuff - like Larry Craig or Mitt Romney....

Goldwater-Miller back on the campaign trail (Arizona Republic, Oct. 27, 2007)

Steph on Roseanne

Back on June 5th of this year, Stephanie Miller made an appearance on Roseanne Barr's Radio Show on KCAA - just click on this link to listen to Stephanie converse with Roseanne. They dish about radio shows, Ann Coulter, Paris Hilton, Sarah Silverman, politics, and making your/their voice(s) heard. It is loads of fun and pretty darn funny, too.
Check it out....

Remind Me, Why Is Impeachment Off the Table?

"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross."
(attributed to) Sinclair Lewis

Stephanie,
I'm not sure what the members of Congress think that they are doing, but why do they think that they can ignore the very people that they are supposed to be representing? We DO NOT want any more wars - we want the war in Iraq to end, we DO WANT children to receive health care coverage, we are sick and tired of the hypocrisy and appalling corruption that seems to be business as usual inside the beltway, and we DO NOT want the government in our personal lives - listening to our phone calls, tracing our e-mails or the web sites that we choose to visit. We want a government that provides for us in old age, that does not leave us destitute if we are struck by cancer or some other life-threatening illness, a government that provides safe and educational schools that will prepare our children for good jobs in the 21st century. We are sick and tired of paying billions and billions of dollars for a war that is not getting us anywhere in the struggle against terrorism (sic), but rather is merely making the terrorist situation worse. I read Frank Rich's column this morning and felt an overwhelming sense of despair at the entrenched corruption and cronyism that has become the true legacy of this Bush/Cheney administration. We are mad as hell and we wonder what we can do to express our outrage in a meaningful way, a way that will be heard, a way that will make a difference in our lives and in our world. Remind me again, why is impeachment off the table???
Later,
Faye

Impeachment Is Not Off the Table
http://www.projectcensored.org/newsflash/impeachment.htm
By Peter Phillips

October 21, 2007
NYTimes Op-Ed Columnist
Suicide Is Not Painless
By FRANK RICH

Rep. Stark & Sen. Dodd Find Spines, Feinstein Loses Hers

NOTE: This post does not constitute an endorsement of Senator Dodd for president, rather it is just a round of applause from this blogger for Chris Dodd's courageous stand against the erosion of our Constitutionally-enshrined rights.

Stephanie,
Please get on the horn and ask the Matron Saint of the Stephanie Miller Show (Senator Barbara Boxer) what's up with Sister Feinstein? What WAS she thinking? Southwick is a known racist, homophobic SOB and Dianne should realize by now that the republicans aren't playing, you can't give them an inch, or they'll be taking a mile soon enough =(

Thank you so much for speaking out tonight on Dan Abrams show although the blowhole that you were up against tried to hammer his question down your throat "Define torture, Stephanie..." What an idiot - the issue is not whether you or Dan Abrams can define torture, but rather the point is that torture is defined and spelled out in documents (treaties, laws, cases) that the Bush administration is ignoring. What a toooooolie toooolie toooolie tool...

ENOUGH is ENOUGH - we have got to stand up and say NO MORE! I think that Representative Stark (13th District CA) is correct - I support what he had to say, the emotion that he expressed, the frustration that was captured by his words - I HOPE that he DOES NOT APOLOGIZE or back down. You should be proud of Peter Stark, please call him or e-mail him and tell him thank you for finally speaking out and announcing what is obvious to a strong majority of the American people - the emperor has no clothes. Thank God for Rep. Stark, and Senator Chris Dodd who has put a hold on the terrible piece of legistation that is making its way through the Congress - the most recent incarnation of the FISA bill.

Here is Senator Dodd's letter explaining his position - I sincerely hope that Harry Reid thinks twice before he attempts to go around this wise and long-overdue stand against the assault on our civil liberties:

The Military Commissions Act. Warrantless wiretapping. Shredding of Habeas Corpus. Torture. Extraordinary Rendition. Secret Prisons.

No more. I have decided to place a "hold" on the latest FISA bill that would have included amnesty for telecommunications companies that enabled the President's assault on the Constitution by illegally providing personal information on their customers without judicial authorization.

I said that I would do everything I could to stop this bill from passing, and I have. It's about delivering results -- and as I've said before, the FIRST thing I will do after being sworn into office is restore the Constitution. But we shouldn't have to wait until then to prevent the further erosion of our country's most treasured document. That's why I am stopping this bill today.

From Senator Dodd's Web Site: http://action.chrisdodd.com/signUp.jsp?key=1570


Here's the announcement that demonstrates that Senator Dianne Feinstein has lost her flipping mind:

Alarming Anti-Gay Vote - From a Democrat
By Jennifer Vanasco
The Visible Vote '08
October 16, 2007

File under "What was she thinking?"

Dianne Feinstein, who represents San Francisco, voted to support Mississippi Judge Leslie Southwick for appointment to the powerful New Orleans-based United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Southwick is known for anti-gay and racist opinions.

For example: Judge Southwick also joined another decision taking a child away from a mother because she was bisexual. Adding insult to injury in that case, he signed a concurring opinion that attacked the mother for her "decision to participate in a homosexual relationship" and told her that losing her baby was one of the possible consequences of her "exertion of her perceived right." Democrats were going to kill his nomination in committee - but no, Feinstein sided with Republican colleagues to bring his nomination to the House floor.

Something is very wrong when a Democratic senator representing San Francisco is A-OK with a judge who will take a child away from its mother because she's gay.

UPDATE: Randi Rhodes Was NOT Mugged

Stephanie & Randi in NYC

UPDATE: Apparently Randi Rhodes wasn't mugged, thank god, but something happened to her when she was out walking her dog, Simon, on Sunday night, and Randi is in pain, so we send our best thoughts to her and wish her relief from her injuries. We all look forward to hearing the real story of what happened to Randi when she returns to the air on Thursday. Meantime, rest, relax and heal Randi - we love you!!!

This is a very quickly composed post as I am at work and technically shouldn't be messing with my personal blog, but I wanted to get this up and send my very best wishes to Randi for a speedy recovery and to let her know that our best thoughts go out to her in this time of pain. Go Randi - we all love you and know that you'll pull through this horrible experience...

If you'd like to send a card or get well note to Randi, please send it to:
The Randi Rhodes Show
641 Sixth Avenue, 4th floor
New York, New York 10019

His High Holiness the Dalai Lama

"We are all human beings on this planet, and we are all dependent on each other. It benefits no one to create barriers and division. All human beings are like brothers and sisters, and must realize our common interests."
The Dalai Lama, October 18, 2007

In the summer of 1987 I was fortunate enough to make a trip to Asia. Specifically, I travelled to Hong Kong, Thailand, Nepal and from Kathmandu, I went overland into Tibet. It was a two-day trip because heavy summer rains had washed out the road to the Nepal/Tibet border. In my second attempt to get to Tibet, I had pared my travel parcel down to what fit into my day pack. I knew from a previous attempt to make it to the border that a 40 kilometer hike awaited me when I got off the bus at the end of the road, and I knew that the hike would not be easy. It might involve jumping over fast-flowing water rushing down a ravine recently carved through the trail that I would be taking, and with that in mind, it behooved me to travel as light as I possibly could. After a long first day on the trail in which I followed in line with amazing sherpas who carried huge loads on their small backs, I found a bed in a house in Tatopani (means "hot water" in Nepali). The woman who ran the road house motioned me up a flight of wooden stairs with a candle as her light and pointed to a narrow spot in a long row of wooden planks - that would be my bed for a night through which I remember sleeping fairly well. The next morning I fell back in line with the sherpas who turned out to be my bed mates from the night before and we hiked on to the Tibetan border. I remember passing quickly through customs which was nothing more than a shack in the middle of a bridge that crossed a river. On the other side, in Tibet, there were three seemingly insurmountable cliffs of rock - the remains of what had apparently been a hairpin road that was washed away by recent storms. I began the arduous climb, glad again that I had nothing but my small day pack on my back. I was much younger then (28 years old to be exact) and hopped over the early rocks with ease, only stumbling a few times, glad also for the high-topped sneakers that I had chosen for the trip when it was in its planning stages back in Albuquerque, NM. I remember pausing briefly and taking a long draw from my iodine treated water bottle at the top of each heap of rubble. When I reached the top of the pile of washed out hillside and was back on what appeared to be a road, I saw ahead of me what turned out to be an encampment of Chinese soldiers. I was so weary that I don't think it even occurred to me to look for a way around the camp, I just kept walking into what was apparently the midst of the soldiers' outpost. I was quickly surrounded by a group of soldiers - what struck me about them was that they all appeared to be so young, boys really, teenagers definitely, a hardship post most assuredly. They surrounded me, and one of the boys pulled a gun out of his belt and aimed it directly at my forehead and proceeded to pull the trigger - a dead clunk - nothing happened, but even with my exhausted and delayed reaction, I mustered a show of terror on my face and the boy-soldiers broke into a fit of laughter. I kept on walking until the encampment faded behind me.

MFH in Tibet 1987

Forgive this 20 year old flash back - I guess I am feeling a bit nostalgic today. This post was inspired by a piece I read today on HuffPo about a visit that The Dalai Lama recently made to Radio City Music Hall. Of course, I didn't meet The Dalai Lama when I was in Tibet - His Holiness had long ago left his home in Lhasa for another home in exile in Dharamsala in Northern India. I did visit the Potala Palace when I was in Lhasa, and all along my travels I was struck by the calm kindness of the Tibetan people, who always had a smile and a nod for my feeble attempts to speak a phrase or two of their language, and who always welcomed me to join them in their current pilgrimage to the next monastery or temple. Om Mani Padme Hum....

See NYTimes article (October 17, 2007) - Dalai Lama Is Honored on Capitol Hill