Outrage.com: May 2004

Whew. I've made no secret of the fact that I've gained weight since I started working in Stamford - an average 100-minute commute each way. So now they say driving longer means larger waistlines. At first I thought it was a thyroid problem. I knew my commute was hazardous -- but I just thought it was the whackos on 95 and the potholes on the New England Thruway. Good to know my love of pasta, fast food and chocolate chip cookies don't have anything to do with it. God forbid.

Headlines like this one -- The 'Hypermodern' Foe: How the Evangelicals and Catholics Joined Forces -- tend to keep me up nights.

Maybe I just don't like to be called soulless. But isn't Pope J2P2 talking about the soullessness of Western society, not just the US? Despite the misleading AP headline that will undoubtedly be replicated hundreds of times thanks to Google. Okay, so he was addressing a few bishops from the US but I say there's plenty of "soulless" fingerpointing to go around, wouldn't you?

What outrages me about the delay in relief supplies is not that there are post-9/11 regulations to contend with. What outrages me is that those regulations will not stop ONE terrorist. See, they know all about the restrictions so they'll find another way to get through that no one's thought of yet. And caught in the crossfire are these poor shnooks trying to help out a few flood victims. Classic. Just classic.

I'm not outraged over the GOP's attacks -- I don't expect anything else and I understand their agenda full well. I am outraged over Democratic politicians who couldn't keep their mouths shut about this. It's a no-brainer -- unfortunately it seems too many within the Democratic Party are operating on no brains as Kerry removes any doubt of when he'll accept the nomination.

I think Kerry is right on target and should delay accepting the nomination - the millions of dollars at stake will be worth whatever flak he gets -- which will come primarily from people who wouldn't be voting for him anyway.

I also hope the Kerry team will consider adding my slogan (okay it's really not mine, but why quibble?) to the roster.

And one more suggestion this morning (I actually think I have a fever so bear with me): rather than asking "are you better off than you were four years ago?," let's start asking "do you want to be here four years from now?" Doesn't that frame the discussion more accurately? And I'm not being figurative or symbolic; I really mean here - wherever that happens to be for you - in the literal, physical, concrete sense of the word. I mean it.

I'm having trouble making decisions lately so I've been putting a lot of things off. Which Dell computer system to go with? What type of computer desk I want to replace the 15-year old IKEA special? Whether to switch over to Verizon DSL from cable modem service. I'm starting to think I like the process of making decisions more than I like the decisions themselves.

God Bless General Franco. At least that's what American Catholic school children were instructed to say back in the 1930s, according to my mother. So I don't find the pastoral letters concerning the Eucharist and Catholic officials and voters who support abortion rights all that credible. At first I was sad. Then I was outraged. Now I'm thinking - the only way they win on this one is if I continue to care about what a few priests have to say and join them in viewing the altar as a political battlefield.

The church's track record on morality and politics stinks, at best. If you want to know the real legacy of Franco, here's a good source. Followed of course by the Church's evil silence during the Holocaust or its decades of evil that allowed pedophiles, not only to remain free, but to inflict more betrayals on parish after unsuspecting parish. And that's just this century! A Time for Honesty is the pastoral letter by Newark Bishop John J. Meyers that the visiting priest at my church talked about a few weeks ago. A time for honesty -- I couldn't agree more.

If you haven't been following this particular issue, all of the pros and cons are covered online, from local papers to magazines like Time and Newsweek.

There are two questions I have not seen raised yet. One, no one is denying that this has been a position of the Catholic Church for years. So why go hard-ass now? Why take the moral high ground while still reeling from the pedophile scandal? It's time for honesty NOW? This has got Opus Dei written all over it and it seems like a chosen few were selected to deliver the message. But I'll need more proof of their involvement before I can take that any further.

And the second question, and the one that I really want an answer to, is at what point does the political exhortations from pulpits in god knows how many churches across this country lead to an investigation of the Roman Catholic Church's non-exempt tax status? While the bishops are clever enough not to name names (they must have learned SOMETHING through the pedophile years) and even go so far as to state they are not telling anyone who to vote for, there is no mistaking the message: your President, your Senators and your Representative - hell, your local school board member - must be anti-choice. So they are telling people who to vote for. If that isn't a political position, I don't know what is. So why no action? I can't wait for the bishop's meeting in October. That should be quite a show.

I stumbled onto Staffers, a program on the Discovery-Times channel but was not surprised to see my old friend Jim Loftus as one of those featured. He and I worked together on the Dukakis/Bentsen campaign. He is amazing.

File Bush II's plan for stability in Iraq under "Too Little, Too Late. But what outrages me most is the fact that the speech is delivered at the Army War College -- either they really don't get it or they really don't give a shite. Not sure which. Probably a little of both.

I can't say I've ever thought of sex while sitting in I-95 traffic -- which is often. Most of my thoughts while in traffic are not nearly so pleasant. I'm usually trying to figure out what moron ahead is causing this, or trying not pull my hair out or figuring out all the reasons why I shouldn't use the shoulder like so many other assholes whizzing by me.

And then I once again realize that would make me an AD (asshole driver) and that's not really what I want to be. Then I start thinking about where the cop is probably sitting up ahead, waiting for all those others to go by but decides I'm the one he'll stop. Then I think of all the excuses or clever things I'd say to get out of the ticket. And usually by this time, traffic starts to move again -- for a few feet at least.

I just love this article - thanks for sending JB. Tilly wanted to enlist but she failed on two counts - she's apparently afraid of mice so flea-infested rats would probably send her over the edge. And I'm not sure military life would suit her - she's cowering in my closet right now because I had the nerve to invite two electricians into her house to do some electrical work. What was I thinking?

It's obvious 9/11 victims' family members are still grieving so I don't want anyone to take this the wrong way but the screeching yesterday was a little hard to accept -- even if I do agree with what they're saying and feeling. I'm sorry for their loss -- but that doesn't mean that they can do or say anything they want. It reminded me of the endless rounds of appeasement during the selection of the 9/11 memorial. It was a painful thing to watch as the "victims' representatives" went overboard in their insistence that they should be listened to more than anyone else or some action should be taken because they've suffered.

You can't look at the last two days of testimony before the 9/11 Commission without fully understanding the historical relationship between the New York Police Department and the New York Fire Department. (I think it started as an anti-Irish thing - firefighters were native NYers, police were Irish immigrants but I could be wrong on that one.)

But anybody who's spent more than five minutes in NYC knows that in general these two "cults" hate each other. And of course that shouldn't be -- but that's been the way of it for decades and it's systemic and institutionalized. So address that before any talk about communication devices. Study NYC history and then put what happened on September 11 in perspective.

Good to see GAO outraged over the Bush-Cheney campaign's Medicare VNR - maybe not as outraged as I was, but who is really?

So sending the VNR was illegal - impeachment anyone? If we can impeach someone for lying about a blowjob, we can certainly see our way clear to impeaching for an overt criminal act. And I'm sure this is just the tip of the iceberg with this crowd. So who's with me?

Now let me get this straight. Democratic solutions to stave gas prices are rejected as "politics" while Bush II reminds us we're at war (as if we needed reminding) and that temporarily halting additions or using a small portion of the 660 million gallons in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve would put us at risk if a terror strike occurs. (NOTE TO THE BUSHIES: No one's saying EMPTY the reserves. These tiny nuances are obviously too difficult for your ruler to understand. Please explain it to him in small words.)

And then it gets even better. Somehow, in Bushworld, blame the Democrats because they wouldn't back his proposal to drill in Alaska. That really takes chutzpah when there's been no movement on new refineries on US soil since the 1970s or any real effort by this regime on alternative fuels. The lunatics truly are running the asylum.

I know there are truly important things going on in this world to be more outraged about. But I can't help myself. It's a crime -- yes, a crime -- that Angel is no more after tonight. Except in syndication on TNT, or on DVD, or on Buffy early seasons, or the rumored TV movies...but I digress.

It's a sad day when quality programming goes off the air and the despicable, mind-numbing reality show drek -- Fear Factor Toddlers and Execute the Prisoner are coming, mark my words - continues ad naseum. Grrrr...Aarrgghh.

Something to look forward to this summer - rising gas prices. I drive approximately 55 miles each way to work so I fill me car almost every other day. I'm not a happy camper. So who's to blame? Hopefully Bush II will be held responsible for not doing more to prevent this.

I've been asking myself this since Saturday night: why all the ruckus over communion NOW? Many elections have come and gone since the right to an abortion was protected by the Supreme Court. So now all of sudden this hard line appears? Something's rotten in Rome - or more likely consverative American dioceses in Colorado, New Jersey or Pennsylvania, I'm telling you. Is it the high-profile of Kerry's Catholicism? But why should that matter TODAY - anti-choice is anti-choice, regardless of religion, as Fr. Leinhard pointed out on Saturday while praising Newark Archbiship Myers letter. (Coincidental that the only TV interview the Newark guy granted was to FOX News? I think not.)

Now, as Outrage.com predicted weeks ago, the Catholic conservatives have moved from public officials to the general congegration. The only thing Catholic priests are doing in continuing this lunacy is to further the re-election of Bush II. They are so far out of bounds I can't stand it.

I've become more of an animal rights person since rescuing Tilly but I still think I have some balance. Then I read this article about inhumane treatment in China -- and the move to legislate some protections. And I don't buy that this is a move to imprint Western beliefs -- it's about cruelty and decency. While they've used a kitten picture (thanks JH), it's the image of those poor dogs lined up and waiting to be slaughtered that's behind today's outrage.

I've been asking myself this question for weeks. Might be time to give my old friend Bill Knapp a call.

I walked out of church during the Profession of Faith during the 5:30 pm mass yesterday at St. Patrick's Church in Huntington, NY. No one noticed really. There'll be no mention in the newspaper. But the homily - from a priest who had already decried gay marriage from the pulpit - focused on a letter from a bishop in N.J. The reader's digest version: anyone who does not follow the teachings of the Catholic Church - OR VOTES for someone who doesn't - when it comes to abortion and euthanasia isn't really Catholic and it's dishonest for such a person to receive communion. And it's my duty as a Catholic to vote against any politician that does not agree with the Church in all its teachings.

I can't say it was unexpected; particularly from this particular priest and I had planned to listen and move on. But what forced me to leave was his declaration that Catholics aren't alone in this "fight" - there are Protestant, Jewish, even athiest pro-lifers, he said. And that's when it hit me - it would be okay for me to receive communion from this guy if I was against abortion rights but didn't believe in God. And then a sizable enough portion of the congregation clapped when he was done. That was the last straw for me.

I realized I didn't want to stand and profess my faith. So I walked out. Part of me is scared and sad and angry. How at 42 do I find another religion? How do I walk away from something that's been a part of who I am - in one way or another? I need to get over being sad -- will figure out what I'm going to do when the outrage arrives. And arrive it will.

Okay - so maybe he's not pathological. But I've read Citizen Nader and The Real Voice. And I have a pretty good understanding of where Ralph Nader is coming from. I'll go along with AlterNet's advice that's he's a good candidate for group therapy. "It's more sad than outrageous." Couldn't have said it better myself.

Don't say I didn't warn you. Denying communion to pro-choice voters was inevitable. And it would be laughable, given that there aren't enough priests to go around and the population of practicing Catholics in this country is seriously aging out, if it weren't so scarey.

This is another attempt by hard core conservatives to roll back the 20th century. But it really comes down to leadership and it's obvious there's isn't any in the RC Church right now. Pope J2P2 should step down and allow someone in better health to deal with this mess.

It's cause for mourning when well-written, creative television show like Angel is yanked before its time but as my friend JH reminds me, fans have no one to blame but Boreanaz who has decided it, in fact, is time to move on. Really too bad.

Interesting article about Nader and Blumenthal's outrage over a sweetheart deal for the CEO of a CT hospital.

Apparently the Reform Party thinks gas prices would not be over $2 a gallon if Ralph Nader was in charge. Good luck with that.

The endorsement hurts Kerry -- but what bothers me most is the complete lack of acknowledgement of that, despite what all the polls, pundits and surveys say. The more Nader clings to the "I'll be drawing more votes away from Bush" nonsense the more outraged I become.

I don't see how the FEC ruling could have been any different. But don't blame the "rise in negative ads" on independent spending - that was happening one way or the other, believe me.

Does anyone think that the fact that Nicholas Berg was Jewish is a coincidence? Or unknown to his assassins? The Progressive doubts that - as do I. This eternal battle we are in is not about hating Americans; it's about hating Jews. Always has been.

For the uninformed like Senator Inhofe, one cannot be too outraged (r.r.). It's simply not possible. The issue here though, in this case Abu Griab-gate at least, is not about the level of outrage, but whether or not the esteemed Senator agrees with the prevailing outrage. He obviously does not. But he's got no right to be outraged over it.

Not that this is a surprise. But I'm still outraged nonetheless. And it's not about pro-choice - it's about the fact that unfounded moralistic bullshit takes precedence over scientific fact.

According to this article, "In denying over-the-counter availability, the FDA cited concerns about teens taking Plan B without clinical supervision. Opponents to approval expressed concerns that easier access may result in increased teen promiscuity, and may make teen girls subject to abuse by older men."

Science has been taking a back seat to religious fanatacism on the most fundamental of decisions in this country. It's a problem. And don't even get me started about stem cell research. Kudos to NJ Gov. McGreevey, who now will likely have his confirmation revoked and be banned from the confessional for establishing a state-funded research institute. Take that Bush II -- and take that you Vatican fascists.

Six months to go and John Zogby says it's Kerry's election to lose.

How freaky is this?

I'm looking up my different horoscopes on the web (I swear this is the only day I do this sort of thing, honest to god) and I come to Horoscope.com.

The horoscope for today itself is fun but then I get to the motivational quote for today. It's the SAME exact quote I used for my college yearbook.

Today's Motivational Quote:In order to live free and happily you must sacrifice boredom. It is not always an easy sacrifice. -- Richard Bach, Illusions

It's as true now as it was 20 years ago! Too scarey, isn't it?

Happy Birthday to me. Here's what the NY Daily News says about me:

Today's Birthday
You are drawn like a magnet to the people who can help you the most this year! Your keen business sense gets a workout in the next five weeks. In addition to your usual hard work, you can wheel and deal your way into a nice cash bonus, so deserved! Romance comes into your life when you're feeling terrific about your body next month. Pisces and Scorpio like your body, too! Your lucky numbers are 4, 9, 18, 20 and 33.

Hmmmm, a cash bonus. Wouldn't that be nice...

Update: More horoscope nonsense from the NY Post:

Your Horoscope for May 11, 2004
IF TUESDAY, MAY 11TH, IS YOUR BIRTHDAY
Make it your mission in life this year to do only those things that you really want to do. Take a look at your life - both at home and at work - and identify all those things you do because other people want you to do them. Now scrap each and every one of them. You'll be amazed how much time and energy you will have for more important things that you want to do.

At what point does Ralph Nader's antics move from pathetic to pathological? Again, he cannot garner enough support to meet long-standing state ballot requirements. This time in Texas. And rather than accept his shortcomings, he sues. He'll be so busy following up on the many lawsuits he'll need to file against every state in the country where he couldn't muster enough support, he won't have time for anything else at this rate.

And we just knew this was coming, right?

Now I'm not calling for Rumsfeld's resignation over Abu Ghraib-gate -- hell, I was calling for it more than a year ago -- but I'm quite certain "superb" is not the word I'd use if I were his boss. And seriously, if one more person says this isn't how Americans act(r.r.), I'm going to scream -- have they seen a pro-wrestling match? watched Jerry Springer? spent five minutes in a correctional facility? walked through any given high school? or god forbid attended 7th grade gym class? Talk about abuse and torture.

I'm not quite sure what bothers Bush II more -- the actual abuse that occurred in Iraqi prisons or that it "damages" his cause. I guess God didn't tell 'em to do this, now did he?

And I'm not sure which bothers me more -- that even ONE soldier could stand by as soldiers commit the very acts from which we had to save the Iraqi people or that I have no doubt that this was inevitable -- and that any soldier is capable of abuse in those circumstances. I don't mean any disrespect -- believe me -- but there was an interesting piece on TV last night about a prison psychology experiment conducted at Stanford in the early 70's. Power corrupts -- but part of me believes the corruption is already there. Power is about the freedom to let that corruption surface.

The "I was only thinking of my mom" defense may not help the alleged Sasser culprit. But it reminds me of a story I covered once: a rash of broken shop windows along Main Street. Would happen much the same way - a brick or piece of concrete, no witnesses, police were stumped. Turns out one of the shop owners paid a visit to the local glass/window repair shop and told them if the vandalism didn't stop, there'd be hell to pay. Funny thing - no more windows were smashed. At least in my coverage area.

Monday is a big day in the Nader camp. If he can't get on the ballot in Texas, he should take it as a sign that his staying in the race hands a victory to Bush II in November.

And once again, I just wish he'd do the math. Or at the very least acknowledge the flaws in his theory. While there's an occasional Republican found who will say they'll vote for Nader, most experts agree Nader will siphon more votes from Kerry than he will from Bush II.

Here's what I have to say about the Friends finale.

Maybe I'm too cranky, but just go already, would ya?

TWO hours of Dateline, numerous morning show appearances, and I've lost count of the print paper wasted...er, I mean used on this.

I have no problems with the show. It was a long-lasting, well-written, nice little sitcom that usually made me laugh. But come on. It honest to god was no more than that.

Now let me get this straight. Bush II's "we're all appalled in my country" speech was not translated into Arabic on Tass, er I mean Alhurra, the US-govt run station. Hmmm, so who was Bush II really talking to?

This kind of think is what scares me the most. It's common sense. Even if you don't give a shit if anyone in Iraq understands, translate the goddamn thing so that no one can accuse you of...well, exactly what he's been accused of: playing to an American audience due to the upcoming presidential election. I swear to god this is Politics 101. Where were these guys when that class was held - at Bible School?

I don't understand why something like this is classified as odd or "offbeat." I see nothing odd about this woman's action. In fact, she has my respect and admiration.

But I do have three words for you -- P... M ... S. No doubt about it.

For those of you who don't know already, I'm going to school at night -- slowly but surely I'm on track for an MS in Education to teach 7th grade English. You cannot mention the No Child Left Behind Act to ANY practicing teacher I've met. And I don't buy the GOP attack response. Kerry voted for a law. Bush has refused to make it a funding priority. And what I hear consistently from teachers is that these unfunded mandates are not bringing low-performing schools up. It's dragging high-performing schools down. That can't be good, as I'm fond of saying.

Now this (r.r.) is something they'll apologize for. Hard to keep track actually.

I'm not sure what's more weird in this situation. (thanks for the link JH)

Having a mannequin in your office.

Or caring about someone having a mannequin in their office.

Recess Appointments Abound at the Department of Education. While I love the headline (recess, education, get it?), it's outrageous that two of the top three federal education officials are brought in through the back door. What is Bush so afraid of?

According to Education Week, this has become an all too familiar pattern with the Bush II regime, particularly in the area of education. Here's the full article (r.r.). Here's a little excerpt for those who aren't interested in registering for Education Week.

Excerpt:
Allen Abney, a White House spokesman, said that in the past, members of the Senate have held up the president's education nominees, and that recess appointments are a way around the problem.

"As education is a top priority for President Bush, the White House felt it was important to fill these vacancies," Mr. Abney said last week.

But Paul C. Light, a professor of public service at New York University, who once led a project on presidential appointments at the Brookings Institution in Washington, said it appeared the White House wanted to avoid hearings that could provide an opening for criticism of the No Child Left Behind Act.

"The Bush administration is trying to insulate the [president's re-election] campaign and itself from any opportunity for anyone to pick a fight," Mr. Light said. "They're doing potential damage control in education." -- source: Education Week, 2004 Editorial Projects in Education Vol. 23, number 33, page 26

Hmmm -- education is a top priority for Bush II? Chris Dodd doesn't think so; neither does William Raspberry. I'm sure I'll find more...

Not sure if I can stay Catholic if this keeps up much longer. There's something so fundamentally wrong with the Catholic Church denying Eucharist to politicans who support a woman's right to an abortion -- but those other pesky moral issues like the death penalty, euthenasia to name a few -- don't warrant any special sanctions. This has got Opus Dei written all over it.

And I guess the only officials they'll go after (r.r) are Democrats -- or are pro-choice Republicans on the hit list too? There's a protest brewing here -- just not sure yet what form it will take. If this applies to politicians, why doesn't it apply to every person sitting in a pew? Will the priest take a poll -- and find out where everyone stands before handing out the wafers? Is it time for the Catholic Church to quietly reflect on its own sins before stoning others?

John McCain has stolen my idea. Though I wouldn't presume to think I was the first and only person to think every member of Congress should "just go home." I'm starting to think I've been spending too much time on the presidential race. I should be focusing my energy and outrage on local races. Let's start with a clean slate - send every incumbent home - throw out the good with the bad. It's time to send a message to Washington about who's really in charge here.

When I fly to VA to visit my family (I usually drive), as I did this weekend, I usually take Delta Shuttle. So it makes me all warm and tingly when I read about computer problems and our airlines.

I'm not a nervous flyer but I do have one habit that could be a little whacked. I count to 30 immediately after wheels up. I heard somewhere that most crashes occur within the first 29 seconds of a flight. No idea if that's true or not but I can't tell you how relieved I am when I reach 30.

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