Linkdump Blogging

December 6, 2007

Long day. Good day. A day in the woods. No complaints here.

Well, let’s see, I’m sure I can come up with something for you word hungry heathens of the computer never lands. Perhaps I’ll go the J.D. route. No, not Jack Daniels. J.D., as in the man behind the Five Before Chaos fame and his slovenly use of linkdumps when the wild-eyed bastard can’t figure out how to string a few hundred words of his own together. So, here you go:

The Prog Dilemma: I’ve been reading the Prog Blog of late, even commenting over there from time to time. I find the Vermont Progressives to be a mental conundrum. On one hand, their talk on the issues can be quite good. Take, for example, Rep. Dave Zuckerman’s piece on end of life care. And Doug Hoffer and Chris Pearson’s stuff can be really good as well.

But then there’s the whole cult of Anthony Pollina thing that makes me want to flee the room as fast as I can. Sorry, but he just feels like one, big energy, money and time suck over there. Imagine, for example, if the Progs could free themselves from the Pollina cloud and focus on the issues and the local campaigns that have truly brought them whatever success they can claim. And imagine if the one million dollars Anthony’s out trying to raise right now for his — and his alone – campaign was, instead, being raised for an issues oriented campaign and a full slate of Prog candidates for the state legislature. That’s a lot of dough with a huge possibility for truly changing the debate, building a base and putting new Progs under the golden dome.

But it probably won’t happen. Instead, the Pollina show will go on, an obscene amount of money will be raised and spent, enormous amounts of grassroots energy will be called on to participate in his latest losing venture, and then we’ll all be serenaded with the same post-election rhetoric that always follows a Pollina loss: Look how good he did in the Kingdom! Yawn.

If, as they so often claim, the Progs are strong in the Northeast Kingdom, how about a full-on organizing strategy up there that would seek to steal some legislative seats? If they love Anthony there, let him stump for a whole new generation of candidates. Because it’s time for the Progs to build a party, not another cult of personality. Been there, done that with Bernie.

The CIA Eats the Joint: The New York Times is reporting tonight that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is admitting to destroying critical evidence surrounding its interrogation techniques (read: torture). Here’s an excerpt from the lead article:

The Central Intelligence Agency in 2005 destroyed at least two videotapes documenting the interrogation of two Al Qaeda operatives in the agency’s custody, a step it took in the midst of Congressional and legal scrutiny about the C.I.A’s secret detention program, according to current and former government officials.

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The existence and subsequent destruction of the tapes are likely to reignite the debate over the use of severe interrogation techniques on terror suspects, and their destruction raises questions about whether C.I.A. officials withheld information about aspects of the program from the courts and from the Sept. 11 commission appointed by President Bush and Congress. It was not clear who within the C.I.A. authorized the destruction of the tapes, but current and former government officials said it had been approved at the highest levels of the agency.

Damn. It just keeps getting worse. It’s a good thing Congress didn’t bother itself with impeachment…(snark, snark).

Speaking of impeachment: Niranjan Ramakrishnan has a fun little piece over at CounterPunch suggesting that if Nancy Pelosi won’t move the Bush impeachment bills perhaps we should just move to impeach her instead. Oh boy, and I can hear all the good little Dems saying “but, but, but…”. I’m beginning to think that’s all the good little Dems ever say anymore. If they like your issue, they don’t like your tone. If they like your tone, they don’t like your tactics. If they like your tactics, they don’t like your timing. Good grief they’re tedious. But, hey, take your time Dems. I mean, it’s not as if we’re at war or anything…

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Speaking of Dems: The Carpetbagger Report has a guest blog entry from an ACLU honcho today about the new “intelligence” bills floating around the U.S. Congress. And, surprise, surprise, it asks an all too familiar question: Why won’t the Dems lead? Read it.

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God is my Co-Pilot: Mitt Romney tried to pull a Kennedy today and speak about his religion and its relation to his presidential bid. I tried to read about it but the whole thing just totally creeped me out. And then I found Sam Smith’s typically brilliant analysis of it and thought it would be best just to share it with you. Read it. Read him. And simply rejoice in the voice of reason.

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Finally, much of the Vermont media and blogosphere today featured photos of the official U.S. Capitol “holiday” tree that originated from our own Green Mountain National Forest. And much of the commentary went something like this: Ain’t we grand! Whatever. But the best part of this tree story is what the good old loggers wrote at the base of the tree before it was shipped to D.C.: “This End Down.” Priceless.

Thanks for playing.

Posted by M. Colby | Filed Under blog 

Comments

3 Responses to “Linkdump Blogging”

  1. JD Ryan on December 6th, 2007 11:32 pm

    Linkdumps are the last refuge of a lazy blogger. Pffffft. So now you’re copying FBC? What next, gonna start writing about crappy movies?

  2. Peter Buknatski on December 7th, 2007 2:02 pm

    Hey. Yeah, you.
    Know what day today is?
    That’s right. The Day Of Infamy.
    A Surprise Attack is in order.
    Let’s strafe the guy on horseback.
    Shock And Awe.

    –Peter Welch

  3. Jeremy Ayotte on December 8th, 2007 9:20 am

    SOOOOO, your bored with whats happening over at the prog website. Good, I’m happy that there are people out there that disagree with actions within the Prog Blog. I disagree with the whole “cult” statement and also the mistake of raising one million towards getting political change in the Governors office however, my question is what are you doing about it .GET INVOLVED, CHAIR YOUR TOWN, MAKE MEETINGS, LEAVE COMPLETE THOUGHTS, do something if you dislike what is happening in Prog land don’t discreidt something that your not willing to get phyically involved in. Here is what’s happening in Lamoille County thanks to action next year. BLOGGING IS ONE THING BUT THEN WE NEED TO GET PHYICALLY INVOLVED. It may be that I wrong in regards to what is important to you. Maybe your out there fighting to stop the war. Maybe your involved in other ways but desent requires more than talk. Hope to see you there.

    Dates and Events: “Stop Domestic Abuse” Bake Sale, 04/21/08 from 8:00 am to 3:00p.m. In Dewey common area.

    “No Blood for Oil” 03/04/08 meet at 3:30 in front of Dewey and then march to the Post Office to sent out letters to congress asking for the war to end. Protest signs will be used. For three weeks before the protest we will do a media drive to inform all students and staff at JSC so hopefully we can send one-thousand letters.

    “Rally for Pollina” 02/18/08 from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. Fundraiser for Pollina, guest speakers and hopefully Pollina. Voter Drive, live music. JSC Students $5.00 donation, JSC Community $10.00 donation. Donated less or more or nothing at all. Base Lodge.

    Progressive drives. 02/04/08 and 03/17/08. In front of stairs in Stearns. 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. I’ll sit there to give out info about the club and party.

    JSC Progressive Club day at the Capital. Going to committees ECT… sometime after the next term has started at JSC.

    Three events in the air: Spring food drive. Need a place to hold a band. Helping Children Globally. Will get in touch with Children Global Club to see what we can do. Fundraiser for children that are in need in Africa. Getting high school students involved in the political process and getting them to the capital in order to ask for proper higher education funding.

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