A Defining Moment

In ten years we will look back at this and realize how truly pathetic Bush was.

The Constitution and Bill of Rights were created to give people freedoms and liberties. No amendment will pass out of Congress, but it will get a lot debate. And with debate, rational people will realize that it is foolish to even propose such an idea as this, which really is an attempt to put hate and discrimination into the Constitution. The Civil Rights movements of the past hundred years has been using the Constitution to show that hate and discrimination has no place in America, and the founding fathers sought to ensure that.

But for some potential political gain, Bush is willing to support the idea of a Constitutional amendment to prevent Americans from pursuing life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It makes you wonder if Bush has actually read the Declaration of Independence and Constitution.

Bush Urges Congress to Pass Gay Marriage Amendment (washingtonpost.com)

More Electability-abilty?

As the idea of choosing an electable candidate seems to been the main cause of Dean's demise, there is an argument that Edwards would do better in the general election than Kerry. Basically you assume both get all Democrats and independents that have had enough of Bush, leaving the fence sitters. Wisconsin suggests Edwards can attract more of them.

"The data suggest that Edwards is more electable among those the Democrats need to appeal to: men, Southerners, Republicans and Independents. Yes, he seems a little jejune. Yes, his protectionism is worrying. But he is so obviously a better speaker and a better candidate than the current front-runner. I think Kerry can still be stopped. He was the default choice after Dean flamed out. The Dems now have a real choice - between Kerry and Edwards. I'd go for Edwards in a heartbeat." www.AndrewSullivan.com - Daily Dish

Tested Does Not Mean Replaced

I don't know the regulations, but how the hell does one interpret a rule that says you need to replace something, but if that is too much to do, just run a test on it. That's like going to get a blown tire replaced, and instead of installing a new tire, the shop just takes an air pressure reading on the bad tire and then bills you for a new tire. In the real world it does not work that way.

It is real comforting to know that the EPA and water authority are looking after our best interest!

"Instead, the agency requested -- and later gained -- approval from the EPA to do massive numbers of water tests in order to find many homes that had no lead contamination of the water, according to the documents. Under WASA's and the EPA's interpretation of the federal law, those homes could then be effectively counted as having had their lead service lines replaced even though the lines remained in the ground." WASA Avoided Replacing Lead Service Lines

A fleeing bank robber is tripped up by a bystander. Police come and arrest bystander.

Ashcroft at it again!! When we are suppose to be at war with terrorists, you would think the Justice Department would use their resources a bit more wisely.

In a move unprecedented in U.S. history, John Ashcroft's Justice Department has indicted an entire organization – Greenpeace! -- for the peaceful protest activities of its members.

For years, we have been working to halt environmental destruction and human rights abuses by criminal enterprises in Brazil's Amazon rainforest. In April 2002, miles off the coast of Florida, two Greenpeace activists boarded a ship that was carrying wood illegally exported from the Brazilian Amazon. Their goal was to hang a banner that said "President Bush: Stop Illegal Logging."

But instead of intercepting the contraband and prosecuting the smugglers, the federal government has charged Greenpeace with crimes for boarding the ship. This case poses a serious threat to citizens' right to free speech and to engage in peaceful dissent. GreenpeaceUSA - Ashcroft vs. Greenpeace

You cannot be serious!!

"Good People Beget Good People: A Genealogy of the Frist Family"
Amazon.com

Not a good start

Homicide Count as of February 2, 2004:
This Year 24
Last Year 19
Percent Change +26.3%
Metropolitan Police Department - Services - Crime Statistics

So when is it an emergency? Not that the emergency rules that Ramsey put in place were that significant. What we need is to be able to bring in large numbers of additional officers, not just have flexibility with the ones we have. All that flexibility does is take some police from one place, and put them somewhere else.

Today's murder at Ballou is stunning considering it was already known to be a place with a violence problem. It will be very interesting to find out how some kid can get in with a gun just start shooting.

Two Shot at Ballou High School