This is the Rick Margitza Group (Rick Margitza on tenor saxophone, Joey Calderazzo on piano, Marc Johnson on bass, Peter Erskine on drums, and Steve Masakowski on guitar) performing “Walls” at the Mt. Fuji Jazz Festival in 1990.Rick Margitza (born …

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Anti-tax Republicans hold community meeting in new firehouse, complain that firehouse has wasteful features like the community meeting space.
Impressively, this fire house was built to stand for 100 years. I once asked one of the heads of a major hospital about how long their new construction was designed to last for. He said that they [...]

Continue reading " Irony, thy name is anti-tax Republican. "

I think Ta-Nehisi Coates was speaking for a lot of black folks when he wrote this:
My requirements for Barack Obama–as a black man running for president–are very simple: I need him to publicily be affectionate to his wife and kids, to acknowledge them whenever possible. That, really, is the only extra burden I put [...]

Continue reading " It’s a family affair "

We’ll go out on a limb now: Gustav will largely spare New Orleans from major damage, only to create massive flooding in East Texas by the end of the week.The five-day forecast from the National Hurricane Center (below) has Gustav stalling once it goes …

Continue reading " Gustav–Watch for Flooding in East Texas "

Almost two years ago I had the opportunity to go with friends from St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in McLean on a mission trip to the Gulf Coast. The experience was emotional and personally rewarding and I posted on different topics…

Continue reading " Remembering Our Gulf Coast Communities "

So where are all those right wing evangelicals who think everything is a sign from God? What do they make of not one, but two, hurricanes bearing down on the U.S. as the GOP begins its quadrennial convention?This is, of course, a nightmare for John McC…

Continue reading " Gustav, Hanna Steal Show From GOP "

When Gov Kaine was on the Daily Show last week, he gave Jon Stewart a button with this logo. I almost wish Kaine had gotten the nod just to see it get wider play. Well, not really, but it still would be pretty funny.

addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fbearingdrift.com%2F2008%2F08%2F31%2Fthe-eyebrow-that-wont-die%2F’;
addthis_title = [...]

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This isn’t breaking news, but it’s just too fun to pass over noting. Here’s Karl Rove on a certain potential veep pick a little while back.
“With all due respect again to Governor Kaine, he’s been a governor for three years. He’s been able but undistinguished. I don’t think people could really name a big, [...]

Continue reading " Political Madlibs "

It comes about 2:30 into it…  I wonder if she has looked at the U.S. Constitution.  That might give her some useful clues.  

Continue reading " Palin doesn’t even know what the VP does "

It’s a classic case of trying to close the barn door after the horse has already bolted.After announcing Sarah Palin as his choice for vice president, and after revelations that Palin is under investigation by Alaska’s legislature for an ethics breach,…

Continue reading " Breaking! Sarah Palin was not properly vetted! "

I was curious to see how many third parties made it onto the ballot here in Virginia, so I went over to the Virginia State Board of Elections.  Here are the candidates that will be appearing on the ballot in Virginia for U.S. Senate:

Jim Gilmore …

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And now we know why.
A New York Post picture of Charlie Rangel spotted at Famous DC …

Continue reading " Charlie Don’t Surf "

So what’s the deal with Sarah Palin and marijuana?
New York Daily News on Saturday:
She admits she tried it - but didn’t like it - when marijuana was still legal in Alaska.
And why is it no longer legal?  You’ll have to thank a Republican for that.
Associated Press, June 3, 2006:
Possessing small amounts of marijuana, even in [...]

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I am on the John McCain e-mail list, for reasons that are not immediately clear.  But on Friday, I got the e-mail with not only the announcement, but also the McCain talking points:

McCain-Palin: Team Of Mavericks To Change Washington

Barack Obama has been running for president ever since he was elected to the Senate, but Sarah Palin is a governor with a record of achieving results for Alaska.

Obama’s “experience” is running for political office; Governor Palin’s experience is bringing people together to get things done.

The Obama-Biden ticket is big on talk. The McCain-Palin ticket is big on results.

To change Washington, it’s going to take a team of Mavericks who have a record of accomplishment in shaking up the status quo.

Last night we heard a negative, partisan speech from Barack Obama. He made the argument that if we have Democratic one party rule, our problems will be solved.

But John McCain has made the case that the problem isn’t a Republican Administration or a Democratic Congress, the problem is Washington.

Governor Palin: A Tough Executive With Record Of Results

Governor Palin is a tough executive who has demonstrated during her time in office that she is ready to be president. She has brought Republicans and Democrats together within her Administration and has seen approval ratings of over 80 percent.

She has challenged the influence of the big oil companies while fighting for the development of new energy resources.

She leads a state that matters to every one of us — Alaska has significant energy resources and she has been a leader in the fight to make America energy independent.

She has actually used her veto and cut budgetary spending. And she put a stop to the bridge to nowhere that would have cost taxpayers $400 million dollars.

In Alaska, she challenged a corrupt system and passed a landmark ethics reform bill.

They forgot to mention the one that some commentator gave — “She knows about foreign policy because Alaska is so near to Russia.”

Continue reading " McCain-Palin talking points "

Monday of course is a special day for Americans, a day when we grill, head to the pool one last time, and mark the end of light summer rush hours — all to recognize the many workers who put together the London Interbank Offered rate, LIBOR.
You see, LIBOR Day is a treasured holiday for most [...]

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A giant storm is bearing down on the United States, about to strike an area devastated just three years ago. A million Americans are fleeing for their lives. Experts estimate that the damage from Hurricane Gustav could top $30 billion. What do you do?I…

Continue reading " McCain is planning to politicize Hurricane Gustav "

Here’s a good encapsulation of the anti-Sarah Palin argument.
Go ahead. Make the case why this woman, with no real national security or foreign policy experience, is ready on day one, as John McCain had said earlier, ready to become commander-in-chief.
Who said it?  Wolf Blitzer.

Continue reading " Palin-drone "

There are some things about Palin that concern me a little–that should concern us all– but it seems that so many are just falling in line because they are Republicans and McCain picked her. He can do no wrong. And of course she is qualified. She’s wonderful. And blah blah blah.
Truth is, she is young, [...]

Continue reading " Breaking the Rose Colored Glasses "

Bush said that despite the strengthening of levees after Katrina, “in a storm of this size there is serious risk of significant flooding.”Addressing reporters after a meeting with FEMA officials, Bush said he would travel to Austin and San Antonio, Tex…

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Joe Trippi offers a different take on the Palin choice for VP. It’s not about gender. It’s about throwing the bums out:
The McCain campaign plans on making an assault on Barack Obama’s strength as a change agent. And challenge, what the McCain campaign will describe as, Obama’s weak or non-existent attacks on corruption within the Democratic party and other institutions throughout his career.

Continue reading " Taking on the Bums "