Are you kidding me?

N Boortz carries a story today claiming that "Clinton Justice Department" warrent requirements stopped the FBI from pursuing hints of 9/11. it's a double hitter for the republicans - clinton caused 9/11! we need to be able to search whoever we feel like whenever we feel like it! down with the fourth amendment!

it's too damn convenient. this sounds like a rumor on the level with the one claiming that the democratic vp nominee was responsible for high medical insurance.

do you seriously think the republicans wouldn't have used every opportunity to blame clinton for 9/11? they blame the democrats for everything now, while the dems control NO branches of government.

meanwhile, there is no doubt that republicans are to blame for raising the cost of higher ed for the middle class (slashing the student aid budget), destroying bankrupcy protection, and giving BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to oil companies (no strings attached) and paying only lipservice to fixing education and finding alternative fuels (unfunded mandates, anyone?).

i'm not saying the dems are much better, but the republicans deserve your disgust, not your loyalty.

Being mean

Is it wrong that I love the sinking approval ratings (last clocked at 33%) of the present administration? I'd gladly trade them for, oh, I don't know:

• a positive resolution (for all parties) of the war in Iraq
• real help and relief for the people hurt by Hurricane Katrina (particularly those in New Orleans)
• no more free tax breaks (think 7 billion) for oil companies
  
• or even no more cuts to student financial aid (does anyone else think this is a real TAX on the middle class - for those people pulling on those lovely bootstraps of theirs?)

Too bad I don't think the plummeting ratings represent a real understanding of why we should never have elected this guy in the first place. More like war fatigue.

Someone else commented recently, on the break-up of a family member and his less-than-stellar girlfriend, "I'm thrilled. Is that wrong?"

I say no, as long as what really motivates you is the happiness of the family member. The girlfriend sucked (in pretty much every way), but what really made her unacceptable was the fact that she didn't make him happy. So what's not to be thrilled about?

Bad things, Good people

Shouldn't go together.

Say a little prayer, for my friends, my sister, and everyone else who needs it.

Michigan

It's my home. And I love it.

Do you have to love it?

No.

But you don't need to feel superior about not loving it.

And you don't have to live here (in fact, if you actively dislike it, you probably shouldn't). No one is making you stay.

Calm. Down.

It'll be okay.

New York - Dirty, Loud and Cool

Back to reality after a week in NYC.

I have always marvelled at the way a new reality can just take over your life. After one day working at the UN, I felt like I had been doing it forever. My normal life in Michigan seemed like a distant dream.

It was my first time in New York. The city was loud - like 24/7, sleep-with-your-earplugs-in loud. And it was dirty - like three-pieces-of-garbage-in-one-tree and garbage-bags-every-day-of-the-week dirty. But it was also pretty damn cool. We walked to work every day (0ne of my favorite things to do in a big city) and wandered around every night. I saw: Times Square, Rockefeller Center, the UN (included the employees-only parts), the Statue of Liberty (from far away - too windy to go in), 34th Street shopping & Macy's, Chinatown, and a bunch of other stuff.

Highlight of the week: seeing the Conan O'Brien Show. We went early in the morning two days and got tickets on the second try. It was pretty darn funny, including a great comedian that I had never heard of (Dwayne Perkins) who told the audience to buy him cake instead of drinks.

The people at the UN library made great hosts, although the organization as a whole seemed a bit too apologetic/defensive about the recent scandals. I bought my dad a hat from the UN. As a republican, he hates the place, but he likes hats, so I think I can get him to wear it.

Now I'm back in Michigan, caught up on sleep, and ready to finish my last eight weeks of grad school.