Despite feeling like shit and sleeping most of the day, I got my sorry ass out of bed, took a shower and went to vote. (Compared to what folks went through to even allow us the right to vote, it was the least I could do.) All the usual suspects were out and about, including some friends. Usually I’m among the faithful around city hall but with a growing family and a tight schedule I ended up sitting this one out mostly.

For (central) Texas election returns, check out the News 8 Austin election returns center.

Congrats to Michelle for making her way on to the Kyle City Council. She’s fought long and hard to make her way there and it’s a win not just for her, but for the council and for the city as a whole. We’ve come a very long way in a very short time and it’s nice to see the council grow to include some very smart and dedicated individuals.

Forgive the fact that its Fox News doing the reporting. I wonder if there might be more video out there but this is what a quick search picked up on youtube. Here’s an interesting comment on this particular video thread:

Omg does this remind anyone of the peaceful marchs by african american civil activists that were beaten down in the civil rights era by police and govt.? I cannot believe what I just saw, it has no justification no matter your race, legal status, etc.

It’s interesting to note some of the other responses to this video and in general the response that I see in the media at-large. What bothers me most about it is how there seems to be this tacit connection being made that something like this doesn’t matter because, well, they’re immigrants and they have no rights anyway - seemingly giving them a less-than-human quality as they discuss this issue. I fear, given the way the Republicans are using immigration as a wedge issue that we might find ourselves in a era where racism and xenophobia are considered party platforms.

Update: Looks like the mayor will return to address the issue and there are all sorts of investigations being squeezed out of LA and Washington. Reading stories and comments around the web both sides are heated up on this issue. What a waste of air - if the folks condemning the marchers and setting up border watches (minutement) spent half that same energy on something that is more a national priority (just pick one, there are plenty) then we could easily do something akin to putting a man on the moon.

This type of hate, unfortunately, is an incredibly potent catalyst for action.

Perhaps everything is not as it seems

For President in ‘08? Well, perhaps - but only if Gore isn’t running. And now he’s courting the geek vote, and apart from everything is having the same sort of ethics issues everyone else is having. I do like where he comes from and all and he’s definitely not “dumb” so let’s keep an eye on him and see what he can make of it.

Phew. When I read the headlines at HuffPo I thought it might be my beloved St. Mary’s (go rattlers!), but it was Incarnate Word (UIW) down the street. I think it’s very interesting that a Librarian (off all folks) would think to cancel the subscription to the NYTimes due to the leaked bank SWIFT program. I would be more upset but I don’t think the NYTimes will miss the 2 paper-a-day subscription that covers the UIW library. And on the contrary, given the NYTimes has been putting their necks on the line for us lately, I’ve been considering a subscription myself…they’ve done more oversight into this administration in one year than the congress has even considered mustering in the past 6. Crunchy…

Especially with captions like this… Completely irreverant with daily musings and constant deconstruction. I likey…

First, there was Flight 93 and now there’s World Trade Center (forgive the link to exposetheleft.com). Hollywood has officially lifted the veil of time some five years after Sept. 11 and have started to provide us those movies that take the best of that day and remind us what it means to have courage, to be appropriately fearful in the face of insurmountable odds but to have the balls no less to go forward in the hopes of helping others and saving lives. In my meek humanity I know I cannot comprehend the vast courage of my fellow man on that day. We are all brothers and sisters globally, but my fellow Americans made me damn proud. I am worried though, that with all things, these emotions will again be mis-used and abused. This emotion, the smell of fear on the horizon gave rise to so much more death than what happened on that very ill-fated day. For all my pride for my brothers and sisters that day — your memory has been enslaved by the corruption of politics and a decaying democracy buckling under the weight of its own largesse. It is all very tiring because I never felt like we had the time to truly grieve to an understanding. We had too many people in the wrong places not asking the question “why?”, but rather, asking the question “who?” Damn those folks who won’t let the emotion of hate wane with the power of time. Damn those who take advantage of the appearance of fear. Damn those in the media for saying that we are fearful anyhow and that we somehow cower at the change of a fucking color in the “terror threat” - who’s afraid? Not I, or anyone I know - the media and the politicians manufacturer reality and force feed it to us. But I digress. This movie will be powerful - even if it is the shittiest “movie” ever - but the emotions behind that event will come flooding back to you as fresh as the day it happened. I do not want to go back there because I’m ashamed to face the memory of my kinsmen, ashamed to show them what we’ve done in their name all the years since. In some cases, I’m not sure what is the greater tragedy - and that’s saying a hell of a lot.

Repeat to self: I will not stoop to name-calling and general swearing in the direction of idiot conservatives who refuse to engage in a serious debate about the issues…must…not…stoop….
I’ll give them one thing though - they know how to reframe their arguments very well. It doesn’t mean they’re right, it just means they know how to cherry pick wording that is winnable and market it as such even though it is nowhere near the real issue at hand.

This AlterNet article freaks me out. Reminds me of a conversation I had with a family member about alternative energy sources and the fact that new diesel technology is extremely friendly to the environment. The problem? Continued oil dependence. The AlterNet article plays out the reality of every fear one might have regarding what is done in order to bring gas to the pump. It makes me fucking sick…

Who’d thunk it: But Christopher Hitchens does have something bad to say about this administration (and is mad as hell and suing about it!)

Good Lord: Why would *anyone* use the word “plantation” to describe anything (much less the House of Representatives) and on MLK day. That’s like wiping before you poop - don’t make no sense. Seriously, lay off those kinds of fucking analogies - it’s not cool. Just because you are a democrat in a church with an African American congregration doesn’t mean you have a license all of a sudden to do that sort of shit. Seriously, it’s fucked and I don’t like it. Even worse, the progressive sites are defending Hillary by showing that the Republicans (one specific story talks of Gingrich) have done it on plenty of occasions. Really awful tactic - you can sell it but I’m not buyin it.

Gore settles in: ducks a right from the White House and and throws a power punch to the gut

I hate to even think about putting faith in one individual with regard to retaking our democracy, but Gore showed a level of passion and intellectual honesty yesterday that cannot simply be dismissed. It was nothing short of inspiring and said, perhaps, everything that I’ve wanted to say these past months but could not find the time to coalesce and succintly deliver the thoughts necessary to overwhelm the wrong that is plauging our beleaguered country. Mr. Gore, if you are paying attention - if you be the man of your speech, then we need you, sir. Please consider running for office.