December 2007
79 posts
Sprawl →
Eduardo M. Peñalver argues in the Wa-Po that the bursting of the housing bubble combined with high gas taxes might mean the end of sprawl. I’m not that optimistic, but it’s an argument we need to hear more often. With all the cockamamie ideas out there for reducing global warming (”huge mirrors in space!”) the relatively simple, straightforward idea of building slightly denser communities has...
Afghanisatn →
Talking about Charlie Wilson’s War and America’s involvement in Afghanistan in the 1980s, Will writes:
Ultimately, I have to disagree with both parties, and with both non-interventionist Democrats and neo-conservative Republicans. America’s involvement in the world should be based on America’s national interest. All other considerations are less important. Was the covert war propagated by Wilson...
Huckabee vs. Tom Frank →
The key insight of Tom Frank’s What’s the Matter with Kansas? was that rural, conservative voters were inexplicably voting for a party — the Republicans — who went against their economic interest. Frank thought it absurd that these poor people would vote for a party that, when you really looked at their record, was mostly about environmental deregulation and tax cuts for billionaires.
Well, it’s...
Polarization vs. Sorting vs. Partisanship →
Josh Patashnik has some interesting thoughts on where we are and where we might be going in the post-bipartisan era.
Housing →
Thanks to the Contrarian, as always, for holding down the fort while the rest of us are on Christmas vacation.
Right now I’m in California, where I can see several new housing developments that were supposed to have been built by now have been put on hold. The market here, a couple hours northeast of the SF bay, is tanking.
Meanwhile, in Seattle, I see that home prices increased by only 3.3%...
113 - Year End Review: The Good, The Bad And The... →
Today we’ll review what the right-wing was up to in 2007, as you heard it on Blast The Right. Plus, I’ll have some updates for you. Usually this podcast covers one or two topics in depth. Today you’ll hear a summation of over 40 podcasts, so the pace will be brisk. In order to get a handle on this year’s subjects, I grouped the podcasts by subject matter, and that’s...
Gilmore Girls Meets Little Miss Sunshine (Dude,... →
I have to say that I didn’t tear up or choke back anything in the final scenes of Juno, like A.O. Scott says he did; the film was too glib and slick to be believable — not to mention unfunny (not that it was unfunny, but it wasn’t consistently humorous, just grating like someone who makes a lot of quips can sound “funny” but not really be all that funny because their onslaught of quips is too...
And This Holiday Season, Remember Always To... →
Does the Daily News need help moderating the comments on their website? From a story about a horrific spate of murders Christmas Eve, these beauties:
BLACK ON BLACK CRIMES. 80% OF THE CRIMES COMITTED AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE IS CAUSED BY BLACK PEOPLE. MEANWHILE, WHILE THE DUMB BLACK OR LATINO ARE KILLING THEMSELVES, THE WHITE MAN IS LAUGHING HIS TAIL OFF.
…
Darkies can’t even celebrate...
Merry Christmas show#226 →
all Christmas music
TnT-054 Spanking the XXXmas Identity Movement →
TnT054
Sponsored by Visual Pink! Christmas-is it really the most wonderful time of the year? They Live Taser Saucer To Become A Reality Naomi Wolf: America’s Fascist Coup Owes Legacy To Bush’s Nazi Grandfather America is Going Fascist Former president of italy say 9/11 inside job Song- Christmas is Cancelled by Citizens Band Rod Of Correction-the Speak Softly spanking stick Us Time
Note about...
CyberPunkRadio - #96 - Yule →
I’m Getting Nothing For Christmas, Genetically Modified Gingerbread Man
12.24.2007 Holiday Hiatus →
As I finish up my studies in Tokyo and head back to the States, I just wanted to give you a heads-up. I’ll be off the radar for a bit as I relocate. I’ve put some back episodes into the feed. Feel free to peruse. Happy Holidays! Web: TheWarOnDemocracy.com Email: TheWarOnDemocracy@yahoo.com Skype: TheWarOnDemocracy Voicemail: 415-992-5534 MySpace: myspace.com/TheWarOnDemocracy
Happy Holidays →
We’ll be taking this week off, folks. Podcasting and blogging will resume after the first of the year. Probably very soon after the first, but we’ll see what logistics dictate.
Thanks for listening in 2007!!
Happy Holidays →
We’ll be taking this week off, folks. Podcasting and blogging will resume after the first of the year. Probably very soon after the first, but we’ll see what logistics dictate.
Thanks for listening in 2007!!
Theory of Change →
Mark Schmitt on Obama:
But let’s take a slightly different angle on the charge that Obama is “naïve” about power and partisanship. Suppose you were as non-naïve about it as I am — but your job wasn’t writing about politics, it was running for president? What should you do? In that case, your responsibility is not merely to describe the situation exactly, but to find a way to subvert it. In other...
Iowa Caucus: Brief History →
In time for the Jan 3rd. Iowa caucuses, we look at the caucus, how it works and the the history of the Iowa Caucus and its fairly recent importance in presidential selection. A hidden factor in the Democratic side of the Iowa caucus makes it difficult for polls to predict.
Iowa Caucus: Brief History →
In time for the Jan 3rd. Iowa caucuses, we look at the caucus, how it works and the the history of the Iowa Caucus and its fairly recent importance in presidential selection.
Christmas 2007 with Euro Call Us 206-339-4328 →
It’s Christmastime again, and Euro knows if you’ve been naughty or nice. Want to sound off? Donât suffer in silence; call our
listener line at 206-339-4328. Visit
the mothership. Music by: Christmas at the Devil’s House, A Band Called Quinn, Bubble, The Egerton Boyz and Little Tom from the Podsafe Music Network. Happy Holidays, and be sure to watch for our “Euro’s...
Eventually Even The Hackers Will Switch To A Mac .... →
The military finally decides that if you can’t beat them, join them:
[Lieutenant Colonel C.J.] Wallington, a division chief in the Army’s office of enterprise information systems, says the military is quietly working to integrate Macintosh computers into its systems to make them harder to hack. That’s because fewer attacks have been designed to infiltrate Mac computers, and adding more Macs to...
A Term Limit Of One! →
Faster Legacy in practice — a sidenote from a story about the recent elections in South Korea:
The results on Wednesday reflected voters’ deep dissatisfaction with the liberal administration of President Roh Moo-hyun, who is limited to a single five-year term by the Constitution, and his handling of the economy. By turning to Mr. Lee [Myung-bak], the candidate of the opposition conservative Grand...
Wake Up AMerica podcast #103 →
This week: Obama We speak with Mary Rauh of the New Hampshire Obama for President Campaign. Also, - Impeachment attempts to crawl back on the table - Ohio’s Secretary of State removes any last shred of doubt that the 2004 Ohio election was fixed. - And, Kathy sings Get Off Your Sorry Ass and Vote Join us
Energy Bill Passes →
Watered down and everything, but it finally went through:
The legislation calls for a 40% increase in fuel efficiency for new cars and light trucks by 2020, for a fleetwide average of 35 miles per gallon. It also requires a fivefold increase — to 36 billion gallons — in the amount of alternative homegrown fuels, such as ethanol, that must be added to the nation’s gasoline supply by 2022.
And...
Presidential Pass Offs →
A look at Presidential ‘pass-offs’ that is when an incumbent passes the Presidency to the successor of his choosing. We look at successful incidences (Adams, Taft, George H.W. Bush) and troubled ones (Nixon, Humphrey, Gore) Happy Holidays to all who listen.
No Cloned Meat! →
Big effin’ deal, the Senate votes to ban cloned meat.
Corn-fed, antibiotic-laden, manure-filled factory beef is still perfectly legal, though.
Mange!
You Wouldn’t Think That Edwards Would Have Been... →
It’s not so much the idea that John Edwards knocked up someone but rather that a campaign aide would actually try to cover up for Edwards in such a ridiculous way. That basically makes me not want to trust not only Edwards but anyone surrounding John Edwards, no matter how “selfless” they come off in the Enquirer:
But The ENQUIRER has now confirmed not only that Rielle is pregnant, but she is...
Tony Soprano in Tennis Shoes →
The Politico has a story today alleging that our own Patty Murray, the preschool teacher-turned-Senate-powerhouse, may be staging a coup of sorts on the Senate Appropriations Committee, making 90-year-old Robert Byrd the “chairman emeritus,” and herself “acting chairwoman.”
Sopranos fans will immediately recognize the scenario from Season 1, where Tony puts Junior at the top of the org chart,...
Changing The Offending Line To “You Scumbag, You... →
The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York,” bowdlerized:
BBC Radio 1 has said it will stand by its ban on the word “faggot” from the Pogues’ 1987 Christmas hit Fairytale of New York to avoid offence.
The word, sung by the late Kirsty MacColl as she trades insults with Shane MacGowan, has been dubbed out.
But MacColl’s mother, Jean, called the ban “too ridiculous”, while the Pogues said they found it...
Holiday Shopping Closeouts! →
The EuroSatan Black T-Shirt …On Sale Now!
Get the SoonerThought Shows favorite satirist on your chest!
And much more! Check it out today!
Big Corn vs. Little Shrimp →
Ethanol production is helping to kill marine life in the Gulf of Mexico, as nitrogen fertilizers make their way down the Mighty Mississippi:
“Corn agriculture practices release a lot of nitrogen,” said Donald Scavia, a University of Michigan professor who has studied corn fertilizer’s effect on the dead zone. “More corn equals more nitrogen pollution.”
Farmers realize the connection between...
Episode 325 →
Steroids in baseball, Climate meetings in Bali, Caucuses in Iowa, and finally: transit in Seattle. Let’s celebrate the opening of the Seattle Monorail!Links Mentioned: Andy Pettitte’s lame excuse … a climate change win in Bali … the Seattle Monorail Project.
Episode 325 →
Steroids in baseball, Climate meetings in Bali, Caucuses in Iowa, and finally: transit in Seattle. Let’s celebrate the opening of the Seattle Monorail!Links Mentioned: Andy Pettitte’s lame excuse … a climate change win in Bali … the Seattle Monorail Project.
Episode 60 Greg Palast Interview →
We welcome best-selling author and Sam Spade of Journalism
Greg Palast back to the show for a quick interview. Support the Palast
Investigative Fund and finish your Christmas shopping by clicking here. Want to sound off? Donât suffer in silence; call our
listener line at 206-339-4328. Visit
the mothership. Music: Conspiracy Theory by Mark Smith; SoonerThought Show
theme is Busted Frog by .22 from...
Faster Kerry Or Faster Dean? →
The other day I was going to compare Huckabee to Kerry, in that he was a “safe” sort of establishment candidate that emerged at the right time in 2004 — and ultimately was a bad idea — but things just got sped up to the point where now he’s being compared to Howard Dean. Funny, that.
Food and Carbon Footprints →
Trying to calculate the carbon impacts of your foods is mostly a fool’s errand. You might fret that your “organic” tomatoes come from China, arriving at your local whole foods “soaked in diesel fuel” as Michael Pollan likes to say. As This NYT op-ed says, we just don’t have enough information to make the right decision, to weigh the relative impacts of farming operations, distribution, storage,...
BaldGuyShow | Music Show #224 | baldguyshow at... →
Great music for great fans!
00:02 AJ - BaldGuyShow.net - Intro
01:15 I Am (Molly’s Theme)
06:07 ECSTASY
10:49 04 My Wish Is For You
14:54 Marmalade
19:37 Jonathan Coulton - Podsafe Christmas Song
22:46 An Inconvenient Truth
26:56 07 The Last Of The Superheros
30:48 Tokyo
34:19 10 Stars Light
38:35 01 The Not Sad Song
42:04 Run_Rabbit_Run_full
45:11 AJ - BGS Outro
...
Women Voters →
An overall look at women voters in America and an attempt to answer the question if a woman can win the White House. To answer that, we take of a bit of a journey that takes us through a critical primary in a past election, the letters between John Adam and his wife, the obstacles to the women’s vote after the Civil War and to the early 20th century, as well as the true first election in...
112 - As At Home, So Abroad: Right-Wing Policies... →
Today you’ll hear how extreme right-wing policies of the United States literally cause starvation and death in the Third World. And, I’ll show you the link between this unfortunate situation, and two hot button front page issues in the US, health care, and the occupation of Iraq. The microcosm will be Malawi, where right-wingers in the US and international financial institutions...
Wake Up AM podcast #102 →
This Week: Like it or not, waterboarding is forever a part of our culture now and maybe that was their intention. - Also, The Speaker of the House (not Pelosi) joins us to tell us why SHE is supporting Hillary. AND, Wake Up AMerica joins the lineup of XM Satellite Radio ! Don’t worry, we’ll still be podcasting as well. Join us!
Bad Environment News →
Two stories today are bad news for people who are fans of the Planet called Earth. Both revolve around the fact that, despite having a weakening economy and a weak president, the United States government is still powerful enough to kick the Earth in the proverbial shins every now and then.
In Bali, where countries are trying to engineer the successor to the Kyoto Protocols, which expire in 2012...
The Press Corps in the Air →
The Professor isn’t the only member of the media elite who has to suffer on Northwest Airlines’ narrow-body 757s. The New Republic’s Frank Foer welcomes us aboard “Conventional Wisdom One”:
When I journeyed to Des Moines last night, I hopped a flight that should rebrand itself Conventional Wisdom One. It is the lone direct flight from Washington National to Des Moines, and it leaves every...
You Know NW Government is Too Clean When… →
It’s considered newsworthy that the waste management business might be engaged in some unethical behavior.
McCain’s Age As A Strength, Not A Weakness →
Much has been made about how Republican Presidential candidate John McCain is too old (”John McCain has done a lot of things for his country. He could do one more service by acknowledging that the presidency is a job for a younger person.”) but isn’t it possible that his age is a strength and not a weakness?
He’s 71 now and would be 72 in January 2009, when he would take office were he to be...
Did Elliot Spitzer Unnecessarily Provoke The... →
Was the freelance/permalance labor strife at Viacom precipitated by New York Governor Elliot Spitzer’s overaggressive meddling? In other words, was a freelance-employer relationship that actually provided benefits to freelancers stupidly, unaccountably deemed illegal by Spitzer so that the upshot is that now none of them will get benefits? It seems that way:
Not every employer is out to exploit...
Marines to Afghanistan →
Even though Gates turned it down, this seems sort of significant:
Senior Defense Department officials said Mr. Gates met at the Pentagon on Friday with Gen. James T. Conway, the Marine Corps commandant, and received a formal proposal that would shift Marine forces from Anbar Province and deploy them in Afghanistan.
The proposal was based on Marine Corps concepts in which an integrated...
Quote of the Day →
Yglesias:
I feel like a preacher flanked with an anti-immigrant vigilante on one side and Chuck Norris on the other is sort of the ultimate Republican primary candidate.
Getting It Up The A*# AGAIN! →
Everyone has heard the joke begging somebody to please give Bush a blowjob so we can impeach him. Along that same line of thinking, why couldn’t we impeach the entire administration along with many members of congress for being whores? (No offense meant to sex workers) After all, we keep giving them our money and they repeatedly give it to us up the ass! (If you want to correct me by telling me...
Energy Bill Redux →
Senate Democrats are still trying to rework the energy bill so that they can get it passed. But jettisoning too many of the bill’s key provisions could render it meaningless. Especially the taxes on carbon energy sources that would be used to subsidize renewables.
The Dems ought to take a page from the President’s playbook. Call this bill the “Addicted to Oil Act of 2007,” and use Bush’s own...
“Heat Islands” →
In a lame attempt to be contrarian, noted sprawl apologist Joel Kotkin writes in Sunday’s Seattle Times that dense city living causes global warming, because they generate “heat islands” which extend far beyond the city’s boundaries.
No, wait — he doesn’t actually argue that, but you have to read the piece twice to realize it. Instead, he uses several rhetorical sleights-of-hand, leading you...
Yeah, Right — If You’re Really The President Of... →
That story on the kid from Iceland apparently getting through to the President’s secret phone line includes this tidbit:
A White House official, who asked not to be identified, denied the young man had accessed a private number but instead dialled 202-456-1414, the main switchboard for the West Wing.
Vífill’s mother, Harpa Hreinsdottir, a teacher at the local high school, said her son did, in...
Sadr →
For all the talk about the success of the “surge” in tamping down violence in Iraq, surely Moqtada al-Sadr’s decision to declare a 6-month ceasefire and shut down the Mahdi Army is a big reason why we’re seeing relative calm in Baghdad and beyond.
But Sadr’s followers are running out of patience:
“There is an entity in the Sadr trend that doesn’t want the freeze,” said Sheik Naza al Timini, a...