Thursday, March 02, 2006
SIPP
It probably seems like a small thing, but I'd like to hear some of the Pain Caucus type Kausian Democrats speak up about the potential killing of the collection of the SIPP data. While it's certainly the case that results matter, not simply programs, as such people liked to tell us you can't actually measure results without data.
JPod Love
Once upon a time I had the weird experience of hearing JPod saying almost nice things about me on NPR. I figure I've owed him the return favor, so here's a shout out to JPod.
On Travel
Travel just isn't compatible with blogging. I know it often appears that I just throw out a few one liners and head out for cocktails, but in truth it takes a lot of time doing this blog the way I normally do it. Even aside from having to churn through numerous emails when I'm out for most of the day it takes an immense amount of time to catch up. I say the type of blogging I do involves staying 5 minutes ahead of the news cycle, and 8 hours is like 3 months in blogging time...
Contract
Was just listening to Vanni Cappelli on Radio Times discussing the situation in Afghanistan. He summed up the situation there rather succintly: Karzi is the Mayor of Kabul, the national government isn't legitimate because it doesn't have a monopoly on legitimate use of violence, and the people tolerated the American invasion because they understood the situation and didn't much love the Taliban, but the implicit contract was that the Americans would rebuild the country after showing it up but they didn't.
Fighting a Signifier
Sifu Tweety:
Here’s my little translator’s key to this emerging talking point: Republicans attach incredible importance to media criticism of the war, because they genuinely believe that the war is won and lost IN THE MEDIA. The American media, that is. Their partisan selves are so thoroughly embedded in the culture-jamming electioneering of the Rovist personality cult the GOP has become that they genuinely don’t recognize the difference between actually achieving peace and a non-doomed secular democracy in Iraq, and just being able to plausibly claim that peace on American TV.
Anne Dicker for PA State Rep
For local folks in the right neighborhood I'd recommend supporting Anne Dicker for PA State House. She's running in the primary in the 175th District for an open seat. Philadelphia people are likely aware of Anne's involvement in Philly for Dean/Philly for Change. If you wish, you can help by contributing, signing/getting signatures/volunteering/etc...
Patron Saint of the Ethically Challenged
Donate to his charity, get an earmark.
Remember that on the payroll of Santorum's charity is the treasurer of his leadership PAC, his finance director, and one of his fundraisers.
The largest known giver to a controversial charity founded by U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum made its $25,000 donation as the senator was working to win as much as $8.5 million in federal aid for the donor's project in Delaware County.
Federal tax records show that Preferred Real Estate Inc., the developer of the Wharf at Rivertown project in Chester, wrote the check to Santorum's Operation Good Neighbor Foundation in 2002.
On his campaign Web site, Santorum boasts of winning $8.5 million in federal aid for the riverfront redevelopment of an abandoned Peco Energy plant - an effort that culminated in the earmarking of $6 million in highway money last year.
But good-government experts were troubled by the appearance of a developer giving money to the senator's charity at the same time it was lobbying for federal dollars. Unlike a campaign contribution, checks to a charity can be written by a corporation and are not subject to any limit.
Remember that on the payroll of Santorum's charity is the treasurer of his leadership PAC, his finance director, and one of his fundraisers.
Bert is Evil
Not sure why I just remembered this, but an odd moment of levity after 9/11 was when Bert showed up in pro-Taliban/Bin Laden demonstration posters. A walk down memory lane.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)