Rep. Bunning says "Tough shit..."

When confronted with the reality of stopping the Unemployment Bill that would extend unemployment benefits and COBRA to millions of Americans, Rep. Jim Bunning of Kentucky says, "Tough shit!"

Wow. I wonder if he has drowned any kittens lately too. Heartless bastard.

Anybody else want to drop kick Lieberman?

Talk about working AGAINST his constituents interest! Obstruct much?

Holy cow!

Thanks a hell of a lot, Joe!

Quid pro quo

I sure wish, as we are having this Health Care reform discussion, that it wasn't so damn obvious that Big medicine, Big Pharma and the Health Insurance companies have long since bought and paid for our elected officials.

Good luck to any reform! Kicking and screaming comes to mind.

The politics of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

When I started this blog, I specifically didn't want to have it be politics heavy. Even though I live and breath liberal politics on a day to day basis, I had no intention for my blog to be politically focused. There are many, many, MANY political blogs out there and there is nothing that I could say better than any of those people.

But, one thing I was always going to allow myself was to post political cartoons and satire that I liked and enjoyed. As a life long liberal, I know that laughter is not only the best medicine, it may be the only medicine when times are tough. Like the last 8 years.

So, as you may know, every once in awhile I post a political cartoon because it is funny or apt or a perfect example of how a picture says 1,000 words.

So what. Right?

I got this anonymous comment today attached to a cartoon about Souter retiring from the Supreme Court.

"You should leave the politics off of your site - the kids are much more interesting. It's also such a cliche to be liberal on Vashon. Show some independence of thought."

RE: "The kids are much more interesting." Isn't that the truth! But, then again I am so biased!

But, I have to say, I was a liberal long before I moved to Vashon, cliche or not. I was unwittingly breathing tear gas just trying to get home from work during the Seattle WTO protests. Maybe that hit of tear gas made me more politically active or maybe it was watching the police beat the crap out of an unarmed protester but that is not what specifically sent me to the island.

I moved here for the public schools and the rural setting. Lots of liberals were a bonus. But, then again, we weren't lacking for liberals in West Seattle either.

Frankly, I love somewhat snarky comments! I makes things much more interesting. Plus, it must mean I am hitting a nerve! Good. I have always felt that life is way too short to be a boring conformist.

But, why must we think politics needs to stay in it's stinky little corner? Every time I blog about public education I am talking politics. Every time I blog about human dignity, mutual respect and diversity, I am touching on political issues. As a parent I better be a political animal. As a special parent I sure as heck better be a political animal. All the better to advocate!

Maybe if more parents saw their day to day life in "political" terms we wouldn't be in the deep, deep ugly hole we are in right now.

So, to all of you who know me: I am a liberal. I am unapologetic. I live on Vashon. Coincidence? Who gives a shit. Lacking in "independent thought"? You must not know me very well.

For those of you who don't know me; I am a liberal, I like political cartoons, I like thinking about making the world a better place.

Problems with that? Snark away!

Or, as a famous recent war-criminal president said, "Bring 'em on!"

Autistic man seeks NJ Assembly seat

From PolitickerNJ.com:

(Christopher) Gagliardi, a 28-year-old Englewood resident, was born with infantile (sic) autism. Doctors would eventually advise his mother, Lynda Grace Monahan, to put him in a group home and medicate him with Ritalin....

Gagliardi caught the political bug at an early age, attributing it to his mother's involvement in Robert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign in the 1960's. He wanted to run for governor, but didn't meet the minimum age requirements, and his letter to the Democratic Party expressing interest in being a delegate to the Democratic National Convention was ignored. So Gagliardi figured the legislature was in need of someone who will represent the mentally and physically challenged.

"During the time in the 80's and 90's, people who had challenges were either rejected in society or not recognized for their contributions to society," he said. "But with the recent breakthroughs in civil rights with the physically and mentally challenged, I thought it would be appropriate to stand up and take responsibility."

Gagliardi graduated from Ridgefield Memorial High School in 2002, where he was student council president – the first special education student to ever hold the position, he said.

The bit about the group home reminds me of a line I use when speaking on the subject: Dr. Leo Kanner, who first used the term "autism", told my mom when I was all of 4, "Mrs. KamaAina, your child is autistic. I recommend that you place him in an institution and get on with your life."

Years later, she would eventually heed the learned Dr. Kanner's advice -- but I'm not sure Yale was the sort of institution he had had in mind!

Should we help him or give him a wedgie?

You tell me.