Bill Richardson once more rules...

I like Bill Richardson, dammit! How is it that NM, which seems to have alternating tight-assed people and cool arty types, gets the cool guv? Not that I don't like Miss Janet (if ya nasty)...

Here's Big Bill's newest socially progressive move, a same-sex/unmarried partner law

From the article:
"New Mexico's proposed domestic-partnership bill remained alive Tuesday as tired lawmakers were called back into special session to consider it and several other bills deemed crucial by Gov. Bill Richardson."

Later in the aticle, another wow moment:
"In 2003, Richardson signed an executive order extending benefits to the domestic partners of state workers, the Albuquerque Journal reported. Last week, he vowed to sign a bill legalizing medical marijuana for HIV/AIDS and other patients."


I like this guy. I wonder if he'll stay governor long enough for me to get a job (I was already ofered one, but in CARLSBAD, ew) in NM-- even though they can barely make Mexican food. I swear to deity of your choice, I went to a restaurant recommended by the local Nuevo Mexicanos, and when I asked what their green sauce for enchiladas was like, with a straight face they said "It's cream of mushroom soup with ortega chilies".

GAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh.......

What? Is someone in DC sprouting huevos de oro? And petfood recall!!

It might be possible, you know...NYTimes on Leahy's gauntlet

From the article:

“I do not believe in this ‘We’ll have a private briefing for you where we’ll tell you everything,’ and they don’t,” Mr. Leahy said on “This Week” on ABC, adding: “I want testimony under oath. I am sick and tired of getting half-truths on this.”

NICE! But the reality might likely be:
Dan Bartlett, counselor to Mr. Bush, has said it is “highly unlikely” that the president would waive executive privilege to allow his top aides to testify publicly. One Republican strategist close to the White House, speaking on the condition of anonymity so as not to appear to be representing the administration, said: “No president is going to let their senior staff assistant to the president go testify. Forget that. They might agree to do an informal interview, but they’ll never testify.”

Do you think it's likely that TweedleRove might testify? I'm betting it's about as likely as the NCAA championship going to the top seed...

It's nice to see some politicians looking brave. I hope it's legitimate.

BTW: please note that if you have animal companions, a massive pet food recall has been initiated. Please check www.menufoods.com

Mexican protests, and the tourists who came to enjoy it...*@&##^!

AP photo of protester

WARNING- GRAPHIC IMAGE AHEAD.

Not all that long ago, as expected and already done, there were protests in Mexico over all the evil that Bush does, etc:Protests

BUT, what was REALLY funny was this quote, seemingly way the hell out of context,and a little bit puzzling to yours truly:

"Tourists dining at sidewalk cafes watched the protests curiously, some snapping photographs and or taking videos with their cell phones.

Erin Graham, a 24-year-old student from Houston was in the square with her husband and two small children when the riot police suddenly arrived and began fighting with the protesters. She said she ran over to see what was happening, while her husband stayed behind with the children.

'Studying Mexican history, I have read about this a lot," she said as police vans sped by, their lights flashing, "but I wanted to see it in person.'"

Well-- what the hell WAS it she wanted to see? What is the "it"? Police vans? Protests? Uprising of the people? Or, like the other tourists, the (air quote) undoubtedly inherent violence of the Mexican people? (end air quote) What was she going to do? Hope to take a good celly vid and post it on YouTube? Become a victim like los pobrecitos massacred at Tlatelolco?

If this person, or ANY American, is studying Mexican history with a sense of "how romantic!", they need to remember that like our own country, a threatened government can respond very poorly. did she think she wanted to see this in person?:Students murdered at Tlatelolco

Why oh why does it indeed pain me to see the absentminded tourist mentality of Mexico as still a savage place? Perhaps I am putting too much in this poor Houstonian's mouth, but I, who have studied American history from more than one viewpoint and Mexican history from the POV of los pobres, get infuriated when i read contemporary accounts of American attitudes toward Mexico- or frankly, US 'tudes toward any place more hot than Minnesota. Don't they know the damn Tropical theory of temper hardly applies? Ain't no bloodsucking nasty Berserker in Chiapas, dudes.

Ay. Poor Mexico, so close to the US, so far from God!

Goodbye to all that in Las Vegas

Midnight, the Stardust casino/ hotel was imploded to make way for more Steve Wynn shenanigans. The SO and I were hitched across the street from the Stardust (it's where we parked), and in the shadow of the Wynn. RIP, ol' girl!
You Tube coverage of the implosion

Ain't a good time to be one in ten... Coulter N Pace N everyone...

So here we go... tripping down the street... saying the freakiest bullshit... to everyone we meet... HEY HEY WE'RE THE MONKEYS!

We're so great and civil here that, even though as General Gorilla in chief Pace can condemn on the one hand and praise Jaysus for the opportunities of the US on the other. The infuriatingly offhand, sure to be praised comments by this general eliminates for the freakazoid other rightwing nutzoid monkeys marching in the band the hard work all our soldiers do, gay or straight or purple, most of them doing more than those Talking Heads will ever do. Heaven forbid our gay soldiers, who put their lives on the line, should be afforded the honor and respect to be themselves. Here's General Gorilla's take
Pace comments.

Not too long ago, chimp in chief Ann "What, me admit hypocrisy?" Coulter went ape on John Edwards, a seemingly nice enough guy, with theF word dropping down. Not that I nor anyone else expects anything else, but to go there when you can't really do much good for your so-called agenda smells of desperation and a HUGE level of hypocrisy.

Good Jaysus. Between Pace, Coulter, and of course a litany of Fox bullshit, it's been a smelly time in US news and politics. Racism, I expected, and of course sexism, but homophobia too? Is there anything Americans WON'T hate?

I hate stupid people. I was even told so by a bruja in New Orleans who read my palm. So there.

**BREAKING NEWS! Pace expresses regret. There is a dog:The Almost Apology
Coulter-cabra

What DOES it mean that we haven't been attacked again?

I have been cogitating on this question, that a sign of the prez' success is that we have not had another terrorist attack on our soil. It was referenced by some kiss-ass (ahem) in Texas Monthly's cover story, "The unfinished legacy of GWB".

Now, I have heard this asserted several times over the years, and it does bear some scrutiny-- what DOES it mean that it hasn't happened again? Numerous leaders of our country did not have a terrorist attack on their watch--does that mean they were successful at combating terrorism? There seems to be a little illogic here, but one does wonder-- does the lack of an even mean we're ready for it? Does it mean the original event wasn't a one time occurrance?

Reading the article, which you can look up here( Texas Monthly), made me painfully aware that there are far too many extreme right wing figures trying to play the Symphony for Lame Duck. I'm all right with holding judgment of a president till he is done, but let us not use weak arguments of "see, it's all fine because it hasn't happened again, neener neener!" It's weak, and befits not serious thinkers.

Of course, who am I kidding? What right wing nutcase (or some leftwing nutcases) is a serious thinker?

Stupid days of spring have sprung...

In the madness that this year has already brought, I find my mind turning to higher thoughts, trying to sort out what it means to have lost my mom, turn the page on another very busy and complex year, and what it is to be getting older..

Of course, if I turn on the tv it all gets drowned out in the madness that is the political arena--where hats have been tossed with abandon lately by the likely and the completely unlikely-- Mitt Romney? And all my silent speculation on the state of the world goes right out the window. CNN keeps infuriating me, and I have to remember I was on a news embargo for a reason.

I suppose there is some interest for me in the Democratic side of things, with Obama, my ex-Senator, and Clinton jumping in. I'm not entirely sure, as I said a few months ago, whether as a nation we're more comfortable with racism or sexism, cause I have a feeling it ain't gonna be pretty in the coming months.

Contrariwise, Arizona continues to amaze me with its pigheaded tendencies, and it's frankly heave-inducing how bad news is in my corner of the state. Besides misspelling in the paper, tv news headlines are poorly-spelled and even more horribly thought out. John McCain continues on what seems to me to be now a rollercoaster to political oblivion--I don't feel he's made himself particularly relevent, and he might end up suffering from insufferable Joe Liebermanitis. NO ONE in the great political landscape (you know, not us bloggers) seems to be pushing intelligent leadership, though Raul Grijalva's missive was impressive. (Who the hell is the american patrol peeps who seem to have it out for him, by the way?)

Well, we're on our way to another election parade. I'll be watching with Shiner in hand and heart in throat.


Let us not also forget, as if we could, the sad spectacle of
Anna Nicole Smith's death, which is somehow a weirdly compelling tragedy. I feel sorry for her, which is completely unwarranted, but I do. It's ugly and sad, the post-death jockeying for what could be quite a fortune.

Death is supposed to be gentle and peaceful and somehow kind--and it's not, as far as I can see.