Some things for your amusement

It's a boring Thursday today. I had that interview yesterday (it went AWESOME, thanks for asking) and today was just a lay-around day, really. I don't know what else to do but wait for the job offer and tie up loose ends like check my books, cancel any subscriptions I may have forgotten about, get in touch with contacts, etc.

In the state news, Governor Rod Blagojevich tried to smooth over the fact that he was raising the sales tax by pushing through the IL legislature free transit rides for seniors. Low? Yes, but that's the Rod we voted for. Good for Illinois...

Nationally, it seems DoD officials may be setting us up either to be supremely disappointed or on our way out starting 2009. I wish our candidates were in Congress asking the Department about this, but if "ifs and buts" were candy and nuts...

Sucks that the "success" in Iraq is at best debatable...

Do not forget that:

The surge was always, in a sense, a gamble for time, a pacification program directed at the "home front" in the President's Global War on Terror as well as at Iraq itself. And if this is what you mean by "success" in Iraq, Bush has indeed succeeded admirably. As in the Vietnam era, when President Richard Nixon began "Vietnamizing" that war, a reduction of American casualties has had the effect of turning media attention elsewhere.

So, I'm left to ponder why we're still there, (IT'S THE MONEY, STUPID!) and to, without a hint of irony, turn my attention elsewhere.

On the campaign trail...

*Bob "Booty-Shake" Johnson has apologized for "inappropriate comments" he made about Senator and presidential candidate Barack Obama. It's odd to me that, since Mr. Johnson said he was only referring to Senator Obama's community organizing experience and not his past substance abuse, ole Booty-Shake would want to apologize and call such comments "inappropriate". Oh and plausible deniability is awesome when it is even linked to a person campaigning on your behalf, isn't it Senator Clinton?

*In MD-04, progressive challenger Donna Edwards (whose campaign I have donated to) has garnered the endorsement of EMILY'S List, a group that supports pro-choice women in local, statewide and national elections. Great stuff, since Al Wynn LOVES corporate power, and as a part of the Energy and Commerce Committee has been in the pockets of corporate lobbyists.

As Matt Stoller of Open Left noted, he's openly throwing his corruption in the voters' face. Time for a change, people, and local groups like EMILY'S List have gotten on board. Good for them.

To the right is a picture from Open Left of an invite to a fundraiser for Wynn with the telecoms celebrating his record. Now maybe he's somehow really progressive on telecom issues and yet they love him, but the cynic in me thinks it's possible he's really just another stodgy, corrupt pol that needs to be ousted yesterday.

Lastly, I am going up north to check out some vacant rooms and possibly sign a lease so I can move post haste. Wish me luck and patience.