I just left Canada.

They have their scandals. I was 'touched' when Harper gave a long-over-due public apology to victims of the forced schooling of native Mi'kmaq Indians (ETC.,) and other native born tribal customs etc., I know it was done in America too... The forced removal of the naive children and cruel forced placement in residential "schools" was a CBC sad news story. Just so we Listen, pause, and do what we can with a proper humanitarian intention. A good heart is sweet and merry, and identifies with what's also sad. The inhumanity of fellow creatures? And RMP's 'hit' my sig. stuff can't be ignored.

It's way too early for a swig of some blueberry aperitif? O sweet birdsongs.

It can always be gulped down with yogurt, oatmeal, and creamed rice soup.

Save a few Loon coins for a rainy day.

I am from Johnson's (highly jerrymandered) district.

In a district designed to minimize the impact of Champaign-Urbana (University of IL) he still has had to fend off a credible Democratic candidate the last two election cycles.

I think (though I still made the phone call to thank him for his vote) he voted this way because he knew it would easily pass. This gives him a fig leaf for the next election.

He gets to show all his low-information voters how good a Republican he is since he has been in lockstep with Bush for the past 7.5 years.

Now he gets to show progressives he really is for civil liberties because he voted against this bill. I really think it was a cynical move, and I bet he got dispensation to vote this way from his leadership.

Cheers,

Bryan

The "mushroom cloud" does not observe national borders. Twenty years ago, there was a nuclear accident in Chernobyl in the Ukraine and some of its effects were found as far west as Scotland so that sheep were believed to be grazing on contaminated grass..The Ukraine was then part of the Soviet Union so it would have all been hushed up if it had not been for some Scandinavian scientists monitoring what was going on to the east of them.

As for Canada, "what you lose on the swings, you win on the roundabouts". Although income tax may be very high there, the Canadians are said to have one of the best health systems in the world. Alternatively, if you wanted a free X-ray, you could take a swim in most of the coastal waters around the world, except those of New Zealand which boasts of being a nuclear-free zone.

No watch "Meet The Press" and eat breakfast at the same time.

`

'Animals' by Frank O'Hara.

Have you forgotten what we were like then

when we were still first rate

and the day came fat with an apple in its mouth

it's no use worrying about Time

but we did have a few tricks up our sleeves

and turned some sharp corners

the whole pasture looked like our meal

we didn't need speedometers

we could manage cocktails out of ice and water

I wouldn't want to be faster

or greener than now if you were with me O you

were the best of all my days

The prevailing winds in North America travel from northwest to southeast. Vancouver sits on the extreme west coast of Canada. Unless Washington state gets nuked, I'll be fine, and even then, it would take quite a freaky wind-shift to carry it up to BC.

`Poem in Thanks. By Thomas Lux.

~

Lord Whoever, thank you for this air I'm about to in-and exhale, this hutch in the woods, the wood for fire, the light--both lamp and the natural stuff of leaf-back, fern (fiddleheads are delicious. apologies. Howdy you Canadians), and wing.

For the piano, the shovel for ashes, the moth-gnawed blankets, the stone-cold water stone-cold: Thank you, Lord, coming for to carry me here--where I'll gnash it out, Lord, thank you for the goddamn birds singing!

Ever read, "Atlas Shrugged"?

Sure, Ayn Rand makes Ron Paul look like a liberal, but she got a couple of things right.

Here was I thinking that you were deeply patriotic and selflessly idealistic but it now transpires that you don't give a damn about Washington State or Seattle, for that matter. Where would all the "latte liberals" get their Starbucks from if Seattle was demolished!

Anyway, if I were you, I'd be more worried about that Juan de Fuca fault that's causing underwater eruptions along that particular coastline. I was interested in Senor de Fuca because of his intriguing name but I gather that all his "tall tales" of exploration met with a frosty reception. All the same, "revenge is a dish best eaten cold" and his ghost could be out there somewhere waiting to have the last laugh. You should try New Zealand, even if you're not interested in rugby. The Prime Minister is a woman but I suppose that wouldn't be a problem. I've been learning that American men are all for "equal opportunities", don't recoil at the idea of a woman in power, can't name any female who'd reach their stringent standards for the Presidency but, at the same time, were absolutely certain that it should not be "this woman" i.e

Hillary Clinton. All the contortions that the Obama supporters are performing as he breaks his word yet again must be painful but yoga might help to promote suppleness.

Btw, Renegade Iconoclast, what images are you breaking? I'd say that Barack is doing that all on his own but those more steeped in Biblical lore than I am might get a swift but searing image of a Pontius Pilate.

Here was I thinking that you were deeply patriotic and selflessly idealistic but it now transpires that you don't give a damn about Washington State or Seattle, for that matter. Where would all the "latte liberals" get their Starbucks from if Seattle was demolished!

Just for the record, I certainly don't wish anyone to get nuked, and if that happened, I'd volunteer to help. I'm not sure what part of being patriotic requires me to be vaporized along with all the idiots who vote for McCain, that's all.

You should try New Zealand, even if you're not interested in rugby.

I've also considered New Zealand, but I haven't really studied them in detail.

The Prime Minister is a woman but I suppose that wouldn't be a problem.

Absolutely not. The only thing that matters is her politics.

I've been learning that American men are all for "equal opportunities", don't recoil at the idea of a woman in power, can't name any female who'd reach their stringent standards for the Presidency but, at the same time, were absolutely certain that it should not be "this woman" i.e Hillary Clinton.

Well, you may think you have me pegged, but ya don't. If I could choose any historical figure to have been president, who wasn't, my first choice would be, hands down, Barbara Jordan. Another that comes to mind is Molly Ivins. Furthermore, I live in Texas, and happily voted for Ann Richards, whom I loved with all my heart. I think I'd have to go with Ben Franklin before Ann, though, much as I loved her.

As for living people, I'd say Elizabeth Kucinich would be fantastic. Too bad she's a British native.

As for Hillary, she and Bill are cut from the very same, DLC mold. I don't much care for conservative democrats, and for the record, my original dog in this fight was John Edwards. It would have been Dennis, if he hadn't gone on Bill Maher and said that war was off the table in all circumstances, and he wouldn't kill Bin Laden if he got the chance.

Btw, Renegade Iconoclast, what images are you breaking? I'd say that Barack is doing that all on his own but those more steeped in Biblical lore than I am might get a swift but searing image of a Pontius Pilate.

Well, I'm about ready to take Glenn to task for his comments in this thread. Normally, he does great research, and doesn't trade in speculation and innuendo. However, he said to someone upthread that if we didn't think Obama approved the bill in advance, we were naive. He said that on the basis of no evidence whatsoever, and it was not his best moment.

Glenn enough of an Icon for ya?