Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius is my Choice for Obama V.P.

This question will continue to dominate the political landscape over the next few weeks as Michigan and Florida get resolved. But, there is continuous speculation on who will be the heir apparent. Much of that speculation focuses on whether Obama owes that pick to Hillary Clinton. I have long argued against this pick and still am vehemently opposed to it. The least of which is her Republican turn in the primaries and hawkish tone as well as unsavory rhetoric among the white working class voters. But, all that is forgivable as she is a seasoned politician that would serve as the hammer in the campaign that Obama is unlikely to do. But most important is that Obama's message of change becomes weakened with the Clinton pick. In step Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

She has been my pick for a while, but I have wavered as many tinker with the talking points of no foreign policy experience, blah, blah. She is an exact replica of Obama's change message, however in Kansas while still sticking to extremely progressive ideals and reaching out to voters one would never expect. With that comes the question is he (Obama) or she (Sebelius) tough enough? Well, the answer to that question is in the actions. On May 19th Sebelius said no to a Republican favored, politically expedient, but well accepted voter I.D. law that seeks only to disenfranchise the poor. The Supreme Court recently upheld the sanctity of these bills in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board. And so far, few states have gotten riled up, preferring instead to spend their little remaining legislative time this session on real solutions to real problems, rather than disenfranchising elderly nuns.

This is how the Brennan Center described the bill:

The Kansas legislature recently passed legislation requiring voters to show citizenship papers when registering and photo ID when voting in person at the polls. This is the harshest such law in the country, beyond any other state. And though there's no indication that there's a pressing problem this solves, there are already reports from other states with less restrictive rules that real people are showing up and having to cast ballots that won't count. Most people, yes, have specific types of documentation. But some just don't—and without the right papers, it's actually not a small thing to get the right papers. Sometimes, you're stuck in an endless loop: needing to show a birth certificate to get a photo ID, and needing to show photo ID to get a birth certificate. At times, the bureaucracy can be majestic in its capacity to frustrate. I have spoken to clients on the phone with this issue. It is common among the poor or those who are homeless.

The bill landed on Governor Sebelius' desk and she quickly vetoed it. She stated: the bill created a roadblock that prevents citizens from voting. “Additionally, she said "no elected official should support enacting new laws discouraging or disenfranchising any American who has been legally voting for years.” The law of course is passed with the notion to protect voter fraud, but like in the Crawford case there is no (count it none) evidence whatsoever that indicates voter fraud. This is also no small act because last year the rationale was the bill could be unconstitutional, but since the measure has been upheld by this right wing renegade court Sebelius may suffer political consequences. Instead she chose to stand up and do the right thing, a rare quality in national politicians.

Sebelius for V.P. all the way. She was against the war, firmly pro-choice, and has consistently stood up to the right wing in Kansas. For more on Governor Sebelius go here.

rat packer to be next prez

from SG friend & reader, and obama swooner r thelonious:

"Is it ok to want Obama to be president because he would obviously be

the coolest motherfucker in the room?"

i say, oh yeah, it's ok!

Hillary is Taking the Fight to the Convention

How far has the Clinton campaign gone to send Lanny Davis (Mr. Joe Lieberman) on to Fox News to tell us that Fox News is the most fair and balanced network? Too far in my opinion.

Make no mistake about this the Clinton campaign is back in full swing claiming Obama is actually like George Bush because he is disenfranchising voters in Michigan and Florida. The campaign is going on the offensive about sexism as well. I saw an argument tonight claiming sexism is the reason she did not win the nomination or is not winning. It has nothing to do with the fact that she has run this campaign like a Republican, she is the candidate of "let's obliterate Iran." She has pulled out every stop, asked for the votes of white, hard working Americans so why not bring up sexism as the reason.

So, let me say a little something about this. There is no doubt sexism has played a part in this campaign especially from the media stand point as has racism - clearly. Arguing which ism is worse is a useless, petty argument that has no place here (though one could make the argument since women make up 58% of the voting in democratic primaries this has not been a disadvantage). Both candidates suffer the hardship of being the first, but I feel as democratic voters are concerned (excluding media bullshit and Republican crazies) each candidate has been given a fair shot by the democratic voting public. You can say W. Virginia and Kentucky would never go for Obama because of "cultural" elements there just as you can say MD., VA. and DC and other southern states were going Obama all the way because of his advantages in garnering most of the black vote.

The argument is petty, vile and stupid. The Clinton campaign is not going away. They are taking this to the convention unless the most powerful democrat in the country stops her. Yes, Nancy Pelosi. Act soon.

Ted Kennedy Diagnosed with Brain Cancer

Ted Kennedy has been diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. Ted Kennedy is a man of many persons and lives. From cheating in law school, to a bumbling young Senator in gaining his brother's seat in 1962 to becoming an outstanding Senator in his own right, delivering a stirring eulogy at his brother Robert's funeral and then - to Chappaquiddick. Despite this tragic episode he again became the "Lion of the Senate." Indeed he is... and outlining his legislative accomplishments would take a lot longer than a blog post. I remember as a young man as he brought Justice Bork to his knees in declaring his racist, sexist views of the Constitution. On that day, I came to the conclusion that we all have contradictions in us, some of us larger than others. His Chappaquiddick episode is unexplainable and that is not really in doubt, but neither is his committment to the progressive causes (every one of them) that lead our nation. No, he isn't perfect, but as far as politicians go, he was pretty good. My thoughts are with Ted Kennedy today.
Obama expresses his support for Ted Kennedy


Senator Byrd offers his tearing support to his dear friend.

Green Car of the Year?

From R. Thelonious, the infrequent, but dead on balls accurate poster.

My wife and I were driving down the highway the other day. Actually we were stuck in traffic. Parked on the highway. To our right was a ginormous billboard announcing the 2008 Green Car of the Year:

2008 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid!!!

"What the fuck?!" we said to ourselves. Turns out this earth-friendly gas guzzler gets 21/22 mpg est. compared to its non-hybrid brother which gets 14/19 mpg est. Apparently, everyone is gaga that they managed to get a 50% increase in city driving fuel efficiency. Notable, but not laudable. Other hybrids on the market get 30/34 mpg est. So why did Carl Pope, President of the Sierra Club, vote for the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid? Because it "ends the argument that efficiency and vehicle choice are incompatible." In the ongoing debate about the wisdom of partnerships between corporate interests (polluters) and environmentalists, score a point for the cynics who see this as the polluters opportunity to put green lipstick on their pigs.

And then I see this op-ed from Krugman. Though he and I are not very friendly due to his unexplained disdain for Obama, I still read him especially when he informs me that "the average German car uses about a quarter less gas per mile than the average American car. By and large, the Germans don't drive itsy-bitsy toy cars, but they do drive modest-sized passenger vehicles rather than S.U.V.s and pickup trucks." Not only that, but "over the course of the 1970s and 1980s, the average mileage of U.S. passenger vehicles rose about 50 percent, as Americans switched to smaller, lighter cars."

Ok, I am done venting. Thanks for listening.

The People's Movement

75,000 people gathered in Portland Oregon (my favorite American city) to hear what the next President of the United States had to say. Despite what many people say (and there are legitimate concerns with Mr. Obama's policies) the American people are ready for something vastly different than what we have in this country right now. People are thirsty for change, a different direction where the people are represented. 247 days left.

From the Washington Post: Sen. Barack Obama has seen his share of large crowds over the last 15 months, but his campaign said they have not approached the numbers gathered along the waterfront here right now. The campaign, citing figures from Duane Bray, battalion chief of Portland Fire & Rescue, estimated that 75,000 people are watching him speak.

The scene suggests this is not an exaggeration. The sea of heads stretches for half a mile along the grassy embankment, while others watch from kayaks and power boats bobbing on the Willamette River. More hug the rails of the steel bridge that stretches across the water and crowds are even watching from jetties on the opposite shore.

hang it up

since i spent part of the day air drying my laundry despite some drops of rain... and reading my middlebury magazine... a shout out to a fellow middlebury alum who is the founder of project laundry list. alexander lee is a full on air-drying advocate who helps green activists promote the "right to dry."

from the sierra club,

Alexander Lee

Concord, New Hampshire

Founder and executive director, Project Laundry List

"When I was a child, my mother always hung out our clothes to dry. At the time I didn't think much of it, but when I was in college, Helen Caldicott gave a speech at a peace symposium. She said one step to shut down the nuclear industry was for us all to dry our laundry on a clothesline. That really made me stop and think.

"Dryers use a lot of energy: 6 to 10 percent of residential electricity usage. Clotheslines are a great alternative. Your clothes will last longer and smell better, and you'll save money on your energy bills. The sun basically does all the work for free.

"Project Laundry List was created at Middlebury College. We launched National Hanging Out Day and asked people to 'hang your pants, stop the plants' and 'put yourself on the line.'

"I've gotten hundreds of e-mails from people all over the country saying that they're going to try putting a clothesline in their backyard. It's an easy step anyone can take. The problem is that in a lot of neighborhoods, community associations see hanging laundry as a flag of poverty, and they have banned it in public. In Columbus, Ohio, you're not allowed to hang clothing out to dry in any historic district, and there are other restrictions around the country. We're trying to pass legislation in North Carolina and Vermont that would say community association boards can't prohibit people from using clotheslines. We are also championing right-to-dry language in any national climate-change legislation.

"Taking the time to hang out your clothes is a consciousness-raising activity; it makes you rethink other parts of your life. Plus, you can save up to $85 a year in energy costs."

--interview by Orli Cotel

HANG IT ALL

Just line drying your clothes in the spring and summer can prevent about 700 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per household, based on Energy Information Administration averages. To keep jeans and towels from getting stiff, add a half cup of white distilled vinegar to the rinse cycle or give them a brief spin in a clothes dryer.

ON THE WEB

For more tips on how to use less energy to wash and dry clothes, visit laundrylist.org and www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/laundry.html.

The Double Wammy for New Jersey Residents without Health Insurance

A measure sponsored by Senator Loretta Weinberg, which would limit the amount hospitals may charge certain uninsured patients for inpatient and outpatient care was unanimously approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.

Weinberg said she understands hospitals are struggling, but they cannot be allowed to make-up in lost profit on the uninsured, especially she says when these men and women are the least able to pay. Senator Weinberg's bill, S1797, would cap hospital bills for uninsured patients at no more than 15% above the Federal Medicare charge. The bill also calls upon the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a sliding fee scale, based on family income, which would be used to determine reasonable costs for hospital services.

In order to qualify for these set fees, residents' income would have to be less than 500% of the Federal poverty level, which is currently $21,200 for a family of 4 (500% of which is $106,000), said Senator Weinberg.

As someone who has been a victim of this fraud I applaud Senator Weinberg, who has shown herself to be a true blue progressive. Bills are high enough in hospitals when one has insurance, but when you don't the bills pile up at insurmountable proportions. I had surgery after a car accident that was a very serious situation. Within days my bills were passing the $75,000 dollar mark. With no ability to pay (I was in law school) and because I sacrificed my health insurance for food and books I was up the creek. Two years later, poverty stricken throughout law school I finally won a lawsuit to pay the bills.

But, the unfairness in charging someone who does not have health insurance more for their health care shocks the conscience. How many different issues could universal health care actually solve? It would be an interesting list to compile.

a bright vision for the future-- essential reading

from symposia books in providence, RI (a wonderful bookstore we discovered a few years ago), a book i want to get... i briefly knew chris carlsson (friend of a friend) when i lived in san francisco in the mid 90s, he started the critical mass bike ride phemon, every friday in the city...

Chris Carlsson, the author, will be at symposia on monday may 19th for an in-store reading...

Nowtopia: How Pirate Programmers, Outlaw Bicyclists, and Vacant-lot Gardeners are inventing the Future Today!

"Chris Carlsson is one of our most original and compelling voices of radical social change in America. Nowtopia opens a window onto today's vibrant subcultures of technical experimentation and cooperative work, in everything from biofuels to bicycling, gardening to the webworld. More than tinkerers and bohemians, these renegade innovators are pioneers of new ways of living beyond the market and ordinary jobs. Carlsson moves effortlessly from tales of personal liberation to a trenchant analysis of the reconfiguration of class. Nowtopia is a ringing appeal for the liberation of human creativity from the noose of wagework--before it's too late."

-Richard Walker, Prof. of Geography, University of California, Berkeley, Author of The Capitalist Imperative

another one bites the dust...

ok my favorite cafe mola aka emack & bolio's is gone (converting to a eco-yogurt store?! huh?! and no more coffee), and guess what i see on washington street the other day???!!!!!!! another starbucks... but of course, now there are 3 in the mile square corporate city, along with a plethora of banks, nail salons and other lovely soulless chains. i'm so desperate i found myself thinking, hmm, maybe i can go to panera for a cafe feel... the soul of hoboken dies a little more... the days of independent stores rapidly decline.

Olbermann on O'Reilly's Body Language

Bill O'Reilly is famous for putting body language experts on his show. Olbermann cuts him up in this segment and is simply beautiful. I don't think I ever laughed so hard during an Olbermann segment. This is fantastic. First a review of the O'Reilly flip out by Keith and then the body language expert.

Assclown-in-Chief Bush Attacks Democrats at the Knesset

President Bush went to Israel to slam an American Senator, the leading opposition Presidential candidate as an "appeaser." Some say this is the first time in history an American President went on foreign soil to slam a fellow American politically. Here is a short clip and it is quite shocking. It seems Bush considers Israel more of a friend than democrats.

Obama responds in a forceful way outlining the differences between he and these nut Republicans. I think it is interesting though the credibility Obama brings because he never supported this war. He speaks with conviction and outrage just like Americans who never supported this disastrous policy. He stands strong and cannot attack him like they attacked Kerry. Though, I must say we must change our policy toward Israel which he is signaling he won't do. But, the entire middle east peace depends upon it. Anyway, here is the clip:

Dying on the Road

According to the organization, Make Roads Safe, and reported by The New York Times' Minute Waltz, every 6 seconds someone is killed on the roads of the world.

This got me to thinking. And I just read in today's local Bauru daily newspaper, that, on one of the highways that runs from Bauru to another city called Iacanga, someone dies every 10 days.

Now, this is a disturbing fact, just on the surface, but when combined with the fact that this statistic is fatal accidents, it becomes truly frightening when you think about how many total accidents must occur daily on that particularly small, two-lane road.

I have written in the past about my experiences driving in Bauru in particular, and this week, in one of my Conversation classes at CNA Language School, where I teach ESL, I tried to get to the roots of the problem.

The consensus was that individuality, and the belief that one's life is so stressful that everyone is just getting in the way when you are driving, leads to so many of the accidents on today's roads.In the textbook we use, the writer notes some instances in Philadelphia, in which one driver, cut off, shot another driver in the head. Another, in the same city, was over a parking spot.

As I drive to work today, I am certain that I will feel the adrenaline rush when someone cuts me off, or runs a red light, and I try not to blow my horn at them. Then, I am sure I will let my mind wander for a moment, longing for a city where I don't need to drive to work, because I have the greatest subway system in the world: New York.

Do It Yourself Laptop Bag

SG reader and friend lice sent me this recycling tip:

How to Make a Laptop Bag from Cardboard

So you've just received a nice laptop, but you can't afford 40 bucks for a carry case? Or your current laptop bag has shredded, gotten coffee spilled on it, or doesn't fit your new laptop? You can make an inexpensive temporary replacement from nothing more than a box and some packing tape!


thanks lice!

CA Overturns Gay Marriage Ban!

California is now the second state in the union to allow same sex marriage!

What a couple of days we are having. First NARAL endorses Obama, then Edwards does the same and now CA sees the light. Woohoo! It's a good week.

Although there is still an anti-gay marriage ballot initiatives slated for a vote in Cali. Consider donating to stop it.

A New Wild West?

Yesterday, in Brasilia, Brazil's capitol, Marina Silva, Minister of the Environment, resigned. She had worked for Lula's PT (Worker's Party) for over five years, but had battled recently with senior aides, as well as governor's of some of the most controversial states in the battle between agrobusiness interests and Amazon rainforest protection. While not exactly saying that she felt stepped-on, she did say that this time, unlike in the past, her decision was permanent. As Folha de S. Paulo noted, this is seen as a victory for the soy and ranching business, and especially the governor of Mato Grosso, who has called for an increase in deforestation, as a solution for the inflation of food prices. Silva, an ardent advocate for the different tribes in the area, as well as increased protection and penalties against illegal lumbering, was publicly at odds with the governor, one of the most powerful in Brazil.

BBC, as I just read in Folha de S. Paulo, is on top of things in the Amazon, as well as Indonesia, another literal hotspot for the burning and destruction of rainforests worldwide. The photo attached to this post is from yesterday's issue of BBC online, and shows the drastic demarkation between farmland (mainly soy) and the Amazon, in the state of Mato Grosso. This report, combined with the numerous reports both nationally and internationally regarding the acquittal of Bida, accused of ordering the death of Dorothy Stang, who tirelessly defended natives and the rainforest in the state of Para, has put the focus back on what has become today's Wild West, and one of the most important battlegrounds in the fight to control climate change while feeding a world increasingly dependent on Brazil for food. Numerous reports here in Brazilian periodicals have noted that areas with high levels of illegal lumbering also have the highest numbers of homicide per capita. With the aforementioned acquittal of a powerful farmer in the death of Stang, many fear that it is open season on dissidents an voices for the Amazon.

To check out the fascinating slideshow on BBC, complete with shocking captions and stories about those who make up the Amazon reality today, go to:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7399991.stm

Do not miss this revealing and disturbing look at one of the most important places in the world.

Who Needs Speed Racer?

My brother, John Fogarty, has been putting out local New Jersey art for years, and doing it for much less than the wacked-out Wachowski Brothers, creators of the middling, Speed Racer. I have to admit, I have not seen the popcorn light show that is their attempt at a film version of the classic pre-cursor to Anime, but I don't really plan to spend $10 to see great colors when I can just look at the bouncing balls of color in this recent piece by Mr. Fogarty.

Flight of the Conchords: Ladies of the World

O'Reilly Flips Out

How nuts is this guy? This is from 16 years ago, but talk about anger problems. To quote Ketih Olberman: Bill O'Reilly, today's worst person in the world.

Edwards Endorses Obama

Adding to Magda's good news below, John Edwards decided to get off the fence and endorse Obama. In the great words of someone, "what took you so long?" Edwards gave a spirited endorsement, no doubt which marked many of his own campaign promises, ending poverty, universal healthcare, ridding Washington of the special interests and ending the free ride for corporations. Though, I have to admit it was not as complimentary of Obama as one would have liked. He barely mentioned him, but that seems to be just fodder for the pundits and he was there to give Obama the credibility with those so-called blue collar white voters. Since Obama got 27% of the vote in W. Virginia and Edwards who has been gone for three months got 7%. That is a shocking statistic. Anyway, they looked good together. Who will be the VP? McCaskill? Sebelius? Webb? Edwards? Richardson? Who knows? But, let the conversation begin. When the video is available I will put it up.

Update: Videos below.