And Glenn and others can just stuff the accusation that this is Hopelessness. It's nothing of the kind. It's a recognition of reality. Which may just lead to an understanding of what's necessary to overcome and transform that Reality.

-- Ché Pasa

I agree with you on that and on the rest of your post. And I suspect most all of us do. We all know that this 'regime' breaks laws and will continue to do so. Congress legalizing it is the problem that we have some say about and are trying to effect here. There's a big difference between knowing and stating that the law breakers will continue to break the law, and not at least officially demanding that Congress does not ignore that or even legalize the law breaking.

No headache here, but then, I was consuming soup. Two kinds. One that I cobbled together from an asian rice noodle packet with some frozen peas & corn and leftover chicken added. And some leftover vegetable soup that I made myself. Still, a couple of really good cocktails would have been welcome.

That tattoo is backwards. You can gaze at it in the mirrow.

It's sure a Southeast Asian guided tour. The myriad images takes up the whole PTSD'd back of you. The grenades blast in the air, cobra gunships are painted to appear as a troll sharks, yas's even got tattooed to your face ducks. geese, and monkeys.

Your always showing off those tat-toes.

The girls hightail it when you unbutton the polyester lime green jump suite to reveal: A tatoo of a tiny garden snake. The snake tatoo is innocent enough? However, why did you request the pin-pricking artist and body piercer to do such a STUPID JOB for free?

The snake's tale ends where?

The end begins Dirigo's pierced belly button.

It's known throughout the VA Health Care Delivery System.

The garden snake tail has a rattle and a combined belly button.

Dirigo? But who's idea to curl the tattooer or YOU to include a tabooed snake head spiting from a radish looking curled-up looking dupe? You need to get those GOP tattooers removed.

The girls high-tailed it from me well before I covered every inch of my body with battle tattoos.

Well, they used to loove me, but it's all overrr naoooww...

I'm sorry if I left the impression that I thought of Dubya as a Texan. I do not. I was just quoting Pete Sessions, who should be pitied as delusional. ;->

Molly Ivins was a saint and sharper than a brand spankin' new razor blade. Her voice is acutely missed during these times.

Sysprog - how about Sneerin' Atchoo World?

Che etc., promise to not stare @ Dirigo's garden snake tatoo.

He should promise to not stare @ rotten legs that hang outs the bath tub of any Salon readers.

I just heard a knock @ the door.

Knock knock. What's up bugs bunny?

I am not funny dud. The federal,

feral, FFA-future farmer of America,

communications system fines x-post files.

Who can afford a fine of a million pesos?

YKW is watching you? They are stooped and pita-full.

W. was born in New Haven and was transplanted to West Texas, where he became a shrub, while daddy, during those early days of yesteryear, commenced to drill for awwlll amidst the sweat, the roughnecks, and the school marms.

Go listen:

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/1/29/bush_urges_congress_to_grant_immunity

or

http://tinyurl.com/2pzdxh

Thumbnail: Amy Goodman asks good questions, then lets GG answer w/out interrupting. GG erudite as hell, as usual. Too little time (6-7 min. @ end of show...)

I have also been clinging to the hope that SCOTUS would draw a line with regard to subordinating their own power. I think that may be one reason why, even though they've managed to stack that deck in their favor like so many others, the admin hasn't been chomping at the bit to have their actions scrutinized there.

It actually makes me chuckle to imagine what Scalia might pepper Bush with were he to actually try that gambit. It wouldn't be pretty, and I can almost guarantee it wouldn't be printable in polite publications either.

Dirigo goes to the Veterans Hospital podiatry walk-in 24-hour clinic.

Dirigo request a 7-foot chain leash for a garden snake so the harmless 'critter' won't sneak-off into the bushes and get lost. Be nice, Dirigo.

Don't take pain pills.

They cause great pain.

Why ya's assume they,

'Um Goop's is pains in de'butt?

Dirigo 'ill arse them?

WHY? They need to cry-out. Pity!

Ken Wainstein, a week ago, explained the risk:

http://nytimes.com/2008/01/23/washington/23nsa.html

Kenneth L. Wainstein, assistant attorney general for national security, said in an interview that if the August bill was allowed to expire in 10 days, intelligence officials would still be able to continue eavesdropping on already approved targets for another year under the law.

But “there is a risk,” Mr. Wainstein said, that the officials would not be able to use their broadened authority to identify and focus on new suspects and would have to revert to the more restrictive, pre-August standards if they wanted to eavesdrop on someone.

- - Eric Lichtblau in the NYTimes 01/23/2008

Wainstein, of all people, can be counted on to paint the direst possible picture of the consequences of letting the PAA expire. So he did, but the picture just isn't very dire.

Cocktailhag, believe me, much of the humor from last night probably wouldn't have been there if we'd had to do without your SOTU game. ;->

Seriously, though, there are just some things that shouldn't go into the compost pile. This particular Bush would be one. He's rotting for sure, but he'd just make it stink and it wouldn't be fit for any flower beds I tend.

Did your legal team indemnify you against hangovers?

Ann Richards was a Texan. She was also 1) a four-star cocktailhag, 2) nobody's fool, and 3) a decent person. If the universe had been folded slightly differently, she'd have been our president for the last eight years, and America might be well along in the process of retreating from Armageddon, rather than an obscenity on the lips of all but those taken in by the delusions which reigned last night in the House chamber.