We Interrupt This Program to Bring You the World's Worst Airport

Why do I feel like I am in a washing machine when I am at Atlanta's airport? I mean, coming and going, daytime, nighttime. Who in her mind would want to change planes at this human crossroads of chaos?

The view from the air, the crisscrossing of the highways and interstates and cars, trucks, trucks, and cars on the red clay soon gives you to know you have lots to dread, for awaiting you below is a human tornado full of bodies churning up. Whenever I land at Atlanta, I am always so happy I don't live there.

Is it because Atlanta is the nation's busiest, and all the people walk up and down, across and yon, hither and dither all over you, yakking into their cell phones, or screaming at someone nearby?

My goodness gracious sakes! The food court at E concourse? Like it is not noisy enough, my gosh, and there on Wednesday afternoon was a real pianist playing his instrument, and why? Who can hear music when shouts and yells at the fast-food court raise the decibel level to that of a space ship lifting off from Cape Canaveral? I mean, really!

When we (Delta) taxied to a gate upon arrival from Albuquerque, we were kept waiting on board 30 minutes while an airport crew readied itself(you could see them from a window) and the pilot announced, "wing equipment repair" needed to be made. You mean, the repair could not wait until we de-planed? You got that right, sista.

Talk about a dichotomy: Albuquerque, location of gentility, manners, charm, and beauty. The security staff doesn't growl (Atlanta), bite, or snap. And, it has recycling bins!

Atlanta recycles? Oh, please. The woman at the information booth at E looked stunned at the question. I suppose it would make too much sense for the world's busiest (it gloats; who would want this appellation?) airport to recycle containers and trash. Who's got time? Inclination? Money?

The only bright note I found at the Atlanta airport was the organic restaurant, Natures Table Bistro, where the cucumber dill salad and the vegetarian chili were scrumptious. The woman dishing it up gave me a sample, and the man finishing up orders told me water was $300/cup (no typo). For just about $8, the airport food was surprisingly good. (I drank tap water.)

Upon arrival at BWI, I was knocked off my feet in a ladies room to find, hold on, freshly cut flowers in a vase with a pink ribbon. I mean, at an airport?

Maybe Atlanta could go to school in Albuquerque and Baltimore and learn some manners for it surely ain't got no Southern charm left. No one calls it a Southern city anymore, and it shows.

Celebrate Iraq! Dance to the Music!

Buzh celebrated today the declining numbers of deaths of our troops in Iraq.

Bring out the champagne and cake! What, still below 5,000? Let's clink our glasses. Yahoo! Jump up and down. What an achievement, Mr. Buzh.

What? To celebrate, will you call up Cheneygang and plan a party?

Oh! Ambassador Ryan Crocker was "able to walk through Sadr City" last week? Marvelous! It only took the lives of 4,122 of our soldiers, the malicious wounding of 30,409 other American troops and the deaths of almost 95,000 Iraqi civilians, only 95,000, to afford Crocker a nice little walk. How sweet it is.

Thank you, Mr. Prezident. Will you, please, walk through Baghdad today?

(You would think the CNN scribes could at least list the number of deaths in this story, but that would be too much trouble and cause them to veer too much from Buzh's mouth release.)

Starbucks Does Not Recycle

Scene: Los Alamos, NM



Date: Sunday, July 27, 2008



Time: 4 p.m



Two teenagers re-enter the Starbucks across from the P.O. carrying empty Starbucks containers and ask the barista who is cleaning:



Do you have a place to recycle these?



Barista shrugs his shoulders, makes no verbal sound and continues sweeping.

Cartoon Idea: John McCain on the Mountain Top

Cartoon idea being born...DING DING DING...McCain in Middle East wearing sunglasses and hat, standing on Pakistan/Afghanistan mountainous border, in shirt sleeves with aides, Rudi (and mt. goats) standing around, surrounded by troops loaded wi. rifles and helmets... saying something like "Where are we? What time is it?" Then he could be saying something really profound like "After we send troops to India to finish off the Taliban, we'll send a brigade to South Korea to battle the axle (sic) of evil" or some nonsense.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain stands Barack Obama in all his glory tour with a halo above him and saying...saying...you finish it...

Response to Sen. Webb's Response to My Letter Including Support for an Airline/Airport Recycling Act

Dear Senator Webb,

Thank you for replying to my telephone calls and letters about FISA. I appreciate your responses and the attention.

If I understand your letter correctly, it sounds like you opposed many parts of FISA. Then why did you vote for it? I do not understand.

Meanwhile (new subject): I support Sen. Barack Obama's quest to get us out of Iraq as fast as possible, and I hope you will assist him and work strenuously to achieve it. This is My Number One Issue.

(Another new subject):

When I travel I am appalled by the lack and customary absence of recycling containers in U.S. airports. In this day and time of attention devoted to recycling, I am stunned that airports and airlines do not recycle newspapers and containers.

A U.S. Airport/Airline Recycling Act would:

1. Improve the environment;
2. Create jobs;
3. Reduce the manufacture of more containers;
4. Reduce solid waste;
5. Reduce energy demands;
6. Save gasoline costs (for trucks used to haul trash);
7. Utilize newspapers and containers in an environmentally sound way to
produce recycled materials for other products;
8. Focus attention on recycling, thereby producing more recycling at homes,
schools, and businesses.

If airline employees and passengers can "carry it on," why can't they "carry it off"? Perhaps (another idea) incentives to passengers could be offered.

I pose this to you as policy to consider for legislation quickly. It has benefits for all.

Sincerely,
Patriciadc

Veep Chat

Enter Jason:
So far, I'm not impressed with the list:

For Obama, Who's Being Vetted?
17 Jul 2008 05:01 pm

A simple exercise, based on public statements and some reporting.

Confirmed

Sen. Chris Dodd

Almost certainly being vetted (based on my and other's reporting)

Gov. Tim Kaine
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius
Sen. Evan Bayh

Unknown

Sen. Chuck Hagel
Sen. Hillary Clinton
Sen. Claire McCaskill
Ex-Sen. Sam Nunn
Ex-Sen. Tom Daschle
Ex-Sen. John Edwards

Not being vetted

Sen. Jack Reed
Sen. Joe Biden (yet)
Ex-Rep. Dick Gephardt
Sen. Jim Webb
Ex-Gen. Colin Powell


Patricia enters:
Dodd, I don't think will do much for the ticket although I like him and his voice a lot in the Senate. Isn't he from CT? What happens to his seat if he leaves? The gov. appoints? Is the gov. a Dem or Repub.? We can't afford to lose a Senate seat.

Jason:
The Gov of CT is in fact a Repub. So, Dodd is out. Plus, he's got bad ties to Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac and Countrywide. Uh-oh. Not good!!!

Patricia:
Agreed.

NO WAY another woman would get it over Hill. Her supporters would be furious!

Jason:
I'm beginning to think that there may be a chance for a woman. Maybe Sebelius or McCaskill. Both actually have more elected experience than Hill. And if Hill can signal her blessing, maybe her peeps would shut up? Although, I sincerely hope McBush picks Carly Fiorina. That would be AWESOME--for us!!!

Patricia:
If McShame picks her, he is truly has fewer brains than I think he's got. Should we call and write urging her nom.? I do NOT think O will pick any woman but Hill and please, not her!

Kaine is out; hell, he can't even get anything done in VA. Why would he be included? A firebrand. Yeah, Kaine is out.

Jason:
Plus, I think he likes being Gov.

Patricia:
There have been a lot of problems with his ineffectiveness as gov. He is quite frustrated!

Jason:
Bayh is an insincere Hill supporter. Bayh is BORING--read, Dan Quayle.

Patricia:
Where is Rendell?

Jason:
He would be a horrible choice, because he always puts his foot in his mouth. Remember, back in February, I think, he is the one who said O would not do well in PA because of all the racists that live in his state, hahaha!

Patricia:
No, no, no to Daschle! Ineffective as Senate head.

Jason:
Daschle will make a great Chief of Staff.

Patricia:
Edwards could not carry NC 4 yrs. ago. Why would O go with him? Nope, not him. NC's prob. sewed up with all the blacks, anyway. I think the Edwards of today is vastly improved from the Edwards of four years ago. And, I do think that his and O's message is exactly the same. The only problem is would an Edwards pick carry the baggage of the 2004 campaign? It may look like it.

I like Edwards, but I don't think he has a chance bec. of leftovers from 2004 and suggesting Kerry (ouch; becoming like Dukakis almost).
Nope to Powell (another minority; the racists would have a field day, and besides, yrs. ago, he refused to be vetted)

Jason:
Powell will endorse O and that will be BIG enough.

Patricia:
Gephardt? Hhmmmmmm...good for location. But a "has-been'? A Washington type too much?

Jason:
HAHAHAHAHA, yeah right. If he does, say goodbye. Gephardt is more boring than watching paint dry. And we used to work for him!!!

Patricia:
Is Nunn too old? I like him, but my No. 1 IS......THE COWBOY

Jason:
Nunn is 69. Too old. Hagel . . . I still like him the most!!!


Patricia:
Oh, goody! That's two of us! And there was another posting to the NYT yesterday (after mine) saying Hagel would be a great choice!

Ring, ring, ring...there goes my telephone. It's likely Obama's team wanting my opinions on all the above. I'll just send this e-mail to The Team

Letter from Sen. Jim Webb RE: FISA

July 14, 2008

Dear :

Thank you for contacting my office regarding legislation designed to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) (H.R.6304). I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns with me.

As you know, this legislation would amend current law by expanding the intelligence community's authority to collect foreign intelligence through electronic means. Having served as U.S. Secretary of the Navy and as Assistant Secretary of Defense, I relied on decades of experience in dealing with national security matters and classified intelligence when I voted - along with a bipartisan coalition of 68 other senators - in favor of final passage of this bill on July 9, 2008. Before this vote, I also met with a wide variety of people who were both supportive of, and opposed to, the legislation.

During the Senate's FISA debates in February and in July, I supported a number of amendments that were designed to improve the constitutional protections of our citizens. For example, in February, Senators Russell Feingold, Jon Tester, and I introduced an amendment that would have added additional checks and balances with respect to assessing the appropriate use of surveillance. Unfortunately, this amendment did not pass the full Senate.

Regarding retroactive immunity for telecommunication companies that participated in the National Security Agency's (NSA) warrantless wiretapping program, I do not support full immunity for companies who aided Government surveillance. I prefer a middle-ground solution that would allow court cases to proceed under appropriate circumstances. For example, during the July FISA debate, I supported an amendment offered by Senator Arlen Specter, which would have permitted cases to move forward if the court found that the Administration's surveillance program was unconstitutional. Similarly, I supported an amendment offered by Senator Jeff Bingaman, which would have required an independent investigation of the Administration's surveillance program before telecommunication companies could be granted immunity. Although these amendments failed, the legislation requires some court oversight in pending civil cases and does not foreclose future criminal cases.

Thank you once again for sharing your specific views on the important issue of electronic surveillance. As the Senate continues to debate policies related to surveillance and fulfills its oversight duties, please be assured that my staff and I will keep your thoughts in mind.

I would also invite you to visit my website at www.webb.senate.gov for regular updates about my activities and positions on matters that are important to Virginia and our nation.

Sincerely,

Jim Webb
United States Senator

CNN = Children's Naughty Network

If you click on the tab for "Iraq War" at CNN.com, you are taken to a site where the most recent story, "Iraq Troop Surge Ends; 150,000 Left" was filed "4 hours and 19 minutes ago" at the time I looked today.

Beyond that, the most recent story filed under "Iraq War" was dated July 10, 2008 ("Senate Okays Petraeus as head of Mideast forces") six days ago. Before that, June 24, 2008 ("Iraqi military to take control of Anbar province") 16 days before July 10.

Did the war stop? Has CNN pulled its staff out of Iraq to focus on more important issues like the color of Britney's underpants today or where Paris was taking her dog for lunch?

On the list of ten "most popular viewed" stories of the hour was one about a rapper (#4) and another, about a "boy band promoter" (#5). Britney and Paris each has her own tab among CNN's "top (10) people."

And the war is a "forgotten war." Why is that?

No wonder it's all right for John McCain to send more troops into Iraq. No wonder it's all right for John McCain to pledge the children of the middle and lower-income to a forgotten war. They have no voice. But the salaries paid by the military to lure the family members of those who are not wealthy to its wares are enticing.

How many of our troops in Iraq and in Afghanistan are sons and daughters of parents in top income brackets? Hey, Defense Department: You got a study on that? Yeah, I didn't think so.

"You can take my money, but leave my children at home!" is the silent mantra of the Top Tier Whiners. "Let them fight my battles! Who cares?" Well, certainly not the decision-makers, the "deciders" at CNN.

I checked casualty figures for the days CNN failed to make an entry about the Iraq War:

On June 24, 2008 five American soldiers were killed in Iraq. Between June 24 and July 10 when CNN had no coverage of the Iraq War, 14 American troops died in Iraq. Between July 10 and July 16 three American soldiers died in Iraq. I haven't included the number of those injured. I guess these numbers are not high enough to compete with Paris' lipstick choice today.

Does not the "news" business demand some accountability of itself, some level of sophistication, responsibility, and professionalism? Must it continually serve up garbage to attract those with no more depth than a sponge, those who have never registered to vote, those whose only care is what kind of fluff can I wear today, those who have never had to provide, those who are unable to read more than a paragraph on a cereal box, those who are unable to compose a letter demanding coverage of world events?

Rather than a news source, CNN has become the channel for teenagers who are enamored by Hollywood types with empty heads and empty voices, rather like the heads of CNN's management.

Actually, it's surprising CNN even carries a tab for "Iraq War." I doubt its viewers click on that tab much or even know where Iraq is. Let us be thankful for small things. At least, Fox makes noise.

Yes, Virginia, there is Another Virginia

Tim Kaine for VP?


In Sunday’s Washington Post Chris Cilliza has Gov. Kaine listed at the No. 1 most likely person Barack Obama will choose as his running mate on the Democratic ticket.

How is that?

Kaine can’t get anything done with the Virginia legislature when Northern Virginia is facing a real emergency with its traffic torment. How long have we been at this now?

He called the legislature into special session in June (which cost $22,000/day, according to the Post) to tackle the transportation nightmare, and what has it achieved? How about a big fat nothing?

Not only is there gridlock on the roads, Dr. Gridlock, but there is gridlock in the Big House!

Yes, Virginia, it’s payback time: The “Rest of Virginia” punishes Northern Virginia for its political tilt the wrong way and for dragging all of Virginia left, young man, that is, whoops, “west.”

Imagine, if you will, electing a Democratic senator to replace a incumbent racist Republican senator, and electing a Democratic governor, and, most likely, another Democratic senator this fall! The nerve of those Northern Virginia Damn Yankees!

Yes, Virginia, there is another Virginia. It’s “Northern Virginia,” and it’s high time for it to secede from the “Rest of Virginia,” much like West Virginia did in 1863. Then, the “Rest of Virginia” can deal with itself and pay for itself, too.

Tim Kaine as VP? Timmy, I hardly knew ye.

O Yo Bama Bro

Hello, just wondering...

Is there a ratio between Obama's giant leap to the middle and his decline in dollars collected? In the decline of passion by those who've worked long and hard for him up to now? In the strides McCain is making, catching up?

Oh yeah, we are just the left, the ones he's abandoned for the middle. His base, the ones he's taken for granted in his march to vote against FISA, "refine" his stance on Iraq, approve the DC handgun lifting, and what else? And what has his shift brought him?

Like any company which neglects its "mission," the initial goal is slowly transformed into another and another, and soon, what was it any way? Has he become a student of the Terry McAuliffe school?

Just wondering, that's all...

Bob Novak's VP Candidate Column

To Friends: I know, it's Novak, but he DOES have credibility...

Kaine: Low charisma!!!
Rendell and Casey are "blood enemies"?
Georgia: "probably unwinnable"?
Where is my Hagel?
Who is Rob Portman?
Crist is getting "married" "erasing one question mark." Oh, sure...
John Warner has not yet endorsed Gilmore which says a lot.
Novak says a lot about N. VA (for you N. VA folks).

Frank replies:

WESLEY CLARK! WHY IS HE NOT ON THE LIST? HOW CAN YOU GET ANYMORE QUALIFIED THAT AN EXPERIENCED GENERAL WHO KNOWS THE DANGERS OF THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX AND WHO IS ALSO A RHODES SCHOLAR

Patricia replies:

He screwed up last wk with his comment that being shot down did not qualify McC to be prez. (I agree wi. him, as I think many do; however, it, in effectuality (?), lost him the veep seat!)

Wait, there's more! Developing story...

Where is Tennessee governor Phil Bredesen? Left off list! Tennessee has shot itself in the foot again. But it's got guns, and now, plenty of volunteers with nothing to do.

Oh yeah? Fred Thompson! Left off list! Maybe because he's hibernating in the Tennessee woods?

But Al Gore is on. Right on, volunteers, right on! They may have something to do, after all.

Frank replies:

That's ridiculous. Clark is by far the most qualified. That's not a screw up! Who could quarrel with that comment? Getting shot down doesn't qualify you for being commander-in-chief.

Obama Oburnout Rev.

Alrightalready!

My Obama pals are giving me so much grief and making me feel like I have succumbed to the Republican propaganda machine, that I feel like I need to make some sort of apology, but you'll note the post is still up and

Hey! Doesn't "refined" mean some sort of change? Just asking, that's all...just asking.

Obama OBurnout

Is he like all the others the way my pal Maureen characterizes politicians?

I thought we were voting for "change."

Keenly irritating is his aboutface on FISA, then, perhaps a change of mind about Nafta, then, the child rape execution question, but the worst, the worst, is his waffling on Iraq.

When thousands of us passionately believed he was going to do all within his might to get us out of Iraq quickly, now come the words that, well, maybe he'll see things differently, the closer he gets to office.

Hillary? Calling Hillary! No need to call her since Obama's studying her playbook, but why? She failed in her quest!

Isn't this what she did: Tried to be all things to every body (two words), and turned off her base?

Like thousands of others, I am one of those passionate activists who has traveled from state to state canvassing for Obama, registering voters, making telephone calls, sending in my wee bits of money. Oh, sure, he's got my vote, but my passion has withered, and I am taking a break for now.