Another Friday Night

I believe in the press they call this taking out the trash or the Friday news dump. I'm going to take a couple days off from the blog and wanted to post a few things before I do. Apparently I posted 41 times in July. 42 times in 31 days if you count this post. That's just insane.

Here are a few stories/articles/posts that have caught my attention this week and are worth a read (consider this the bulleted list version of a smorgasbord):

• "It's time to pony up--why good websites shouldn't be free" by Daniel Lyons in the upcoming Newsweek. I've thought a little about this and which websites I frequent would cease to me my go-to spots if I had to pay a fee.

• "A new taste of Hemingway's A Moveable Feast" from Smithsonian magazine. I find myself drawn to Hemingway, though I've never personally connected with any of his novels. Maybe it's the Idaho connection, who knows.

• "The 'Curse' of Idaho's First District" via MountainGoat Report. Also worth noting that a few other colorful characters have held the 1st CD seat including Larry "Widestance" Craig and the womanizing Steve Symms. It's hard to believe that a seat that has been held by a brilliant state historian, Burton French, Gracie Pfost, and perhaps the most qualified Idahoan elected to the seat, Abe Goff, has also been held by the likes of Sali, Chenoweth, and the Running Man (aka Minnick). I guess we've been fairly lucky in the 2nd CD. Well, minus the very large and humiliating George Hansen hiccup...

• "Is health care reform really going to happen?" on the Idaho State Journal politics blog. Mentioned this briefly yesterday and it's a great article.

Still no sign of Robert Manwill, but nobody is giving up hope. The baseball trade deadline has come and gone. And Lou Dobbs is still a wingnut goading crackpot. Pretty sure I can stand to take a break for a couple of days.

TGIF Tunes

Vertical Horizon's "Forever" from Go. (Runners-up this week are Ha-Ash with "Already Home" and Seven Mary Three's "Water's Edge." In fact, these three songs are pretty much the only ones I've listened to all week.)

2009 Trade Deadline

Major League Baseball's trade deadline passed this afternoon and the big name we've been hearing about for weeks didn't budge. That's right, the Blue Jays held onto their ace Roy Halladay and at least one of the teams that had attempted to broker a trade for him, the Phillies, managed to fair pretty well without him. Let's slow this down...here's your play-by-play of all things trade:

We've heard of teams that know they aren't in the thick of division races ridding themselves of payroll, but the Pirates have redefined team building. Last season they parted with their all-star caliber outfielders, Jason Bay (to the Red Sox) and Xavier Nady (to the Yankees), and this season they've parted with the rest of their semi-recognized starters and nearly the rest of their starting lineup--Nate McLouth (to the Braves), Adam LaRoche (to the Red Sox and quickly to the Braves), Freddy Sanchez (to the Giants), Ian Snell and Jack Wilson (both to the Mariners), Eric Hinske (to the Yankees), Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett (both to the Nationals). Those of you keeping score know that this means 17 new players for the Pirates in a grand total of 7 deals. Add to that the loss of Nady and Bay last season and you have nearly an entire 25-man roster in brand new Pirate uniforms.

The Indians traded away their ace, catcher, first baseman, reliever, and an outfielder. The Tribe will pick up eleven players in exchange for five, which, for a team that is rebuilding should work out pretty well. However, you have to wonder what exactly the strategy is in Cleveland--remember they traded CC Sabathia to the Brewers at the end of last season. You'd think with Cliff Lee (now of the Phillies), Victor Martinez (now of the Red Sox), Ben Francisco (also a Philly), Rafael Betancourt (now with the Rockies), and Ryan Garko (now of the Giants), the Tribe could have been in contention. I guess this is proof of how important Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore being healthy are to this franchise.

One trade in particular is being referred to as a wash, but the trade of Adam LaRoche to the Braves. The Red Sox just barely acquired LaRoche and in the last minutes before the trade deadline sent him to Atlanta for first baseman Casey Kotchman. Sure it is just a swap of two first basemen, but I think this is actually going to work very well. Kotchman, who was acquired by the Braves in the Mark Teixeira trade to the Angels last season, has always seemed to be an American League type of player. And Adam LaRoche was drafted by the Braves and spent quality time taking throws across the diamond from Chipper Jones. Kotchman never really fit in the Braves lineup and LaRoche brings an already established chemistry. Kotchman might find Boston a perfect fit and with the unknown of Mike Lowell in the Red Sox lineup, somebody is going to have to take the place of Kevin Youkilis when he makes the move to third.

Much can be said about the boosting of franchises by key trades. Clearly, the Giants, Phillies, Dodgers, Twins, Red Sox, Tigers, Marlins, and Cardinals have been given a boost by key signings. It may prove to be that last boost they need to make it to the playoffs, but there is one team that really did themselves a favor right before the deadline. The Chicago White Sox signed Jake Peavy in a trade that resembles the one they attempted earlier in the season. Time was really a factor here. Peavy, who has been out with a bad ankle, must have been ready to say goodbye to San Diego. Adding an ace like Peavy to a starting rotation that already includes the brilliance of John Danks and the perfect Mark Buerhle solidifies the White Sox lineup. Ozzie Guillen, who was in the news today for demanding the list of players who tested positive for steroids in 2003 be released so we can stop facing the news as individual names are released, has a solid shot in the American League Central where his White Sox are two and a half games behind the league-leading Tigers.

What was the biggest surprise of today's trading? Not that Roy Halladay wasn't traded. Not that the White Sox landed Peavy. Not even that teams that were in contention might be runaways with single trades. The big surprise today was that the Mets didn't make a single move. They've got an enormous payroll and they can't win their division or even keep it together through September. If any team should have started trading away players and ridding themselves of payroll it was the Mets. They've signed some of the biggest names in baseball (Putz, K-Rod, Santana) and they still can't win. Paging Mr. Minaya, you're the captain of a ship that sank two years ago. Problem is, you're the only one who can't see it. Okay, you and David Wright...

Still Endangered

The Boise Police Department held a lunchtime press conference regarding the Robert Manwill case and its status. The staff at the Idaho Statesman have kept a running account of the day's happenings related to the case and Treasured Valley has a news roundup from local media and blogs to check out as well.

I have a few questions/bafflements of my own at this point:

• Why was the mother's apartment not searched prior to yesterday evening?

I can't quite wrap my head around why the Boise police didn't search the apartment of Melissa Jenkins, mother of missing eight-year-old Robert Manwill, prior to last night when they took a look at the apartment and found something that warranted discussion by the police with the public about "suspicious circumstances" that may have lead to the injury and disappearance of Robert.

• Where is the mother and why hasn't she appeared with the rest of the family at the press conferences?

This could be the result of many things, the suspicion surrounding this woman included. However, it would seem to me that if the mother was really interested in finding her son and had absolutely no idea where he was or if he was safe, she would be out there leading the charge to find him.

• Why did the state police prevent the local police from activating a nationwide AMBER alert for Robert?

Apparently there are strict rules in place and one of them requires the child to be an abductee rather than simply a missing person. The Press-Tribune has more information on this particular obstacle. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has a flyer posted at the top of their website asking for help in finding Robert Manwill. This was not the case a few days ago. Sadly, Robert is only one of fourteen children currently missing and riding atop the organization's website. Many of the children on the website are victims of family abductions, usually resulting from custody disputes. Unfortunately, Robert appears to be in the opposite situation--he was with a parent who had legal visitation and disappeared from there. Please visit the website and take a look at these endangered kids.

This story does not appear to be getting any simpler and it's beginning to be awfully difficult to stay positive. As we all continue to hope Robert comes home safely, the one positive we can all note is that Nancy Grace is still on vacation.

Medicare, Health Care, & Minnick

On this day in 1965, President Johnson signed into law one of the most progressive and needed pieces of legislation of the modern era. The bill offered an essential government insurance program to the nation's elderly. In the Truman Library, flanked by President Truman himself, Johnson signed into law the act that created Medicare. To this day, it remains one of the more successful government health programs enacted by the United States government.

There are other government-run health programs in existence today that provide a needed service to millions of Americans. Medicaid, SCHIP, state health insurance funds, and health care offered to our nation's veterans via the VA (and CHAMPUS or TRICARE) are just a few in addition to Medicare. Despite the success of these programs, there remains a great deal of skepticism surrounding health care reform and what reform might cost this country.

An op-ed in today's Idaho State Journal poses a question that is on the minds of millions of Americans--Is health care reform really going to happen? Leonard Hitchcock writes:

As complicated as the health care debate is, people seem to agree on the following facts: the per capita cost of health care in the U.S. is over two times what it is in other advanced countries and yet Americans do not enjoy better quality care.

Millions of Americans cannot afford the insurance premiums necessary to provide health care for themselves; businesses, both small and large (e.g. General Motors), have been crippled by the cost of employee health plans; drugs are more expensive in the U.S. than elsewhere; and private health insurance firms charge high premiums and deny coverage to their clients whenever possible.

It is true, many employers cannot afford insurance for their employees and those who are not offered benefits from their employer often cannot afford insurance on their own. Generally, if we can't afford something we go without. This is the case with millions of Americans who are uninsured. The problem with health care in this country isn't limited to the large number of people without health insurance because of the cost; the problem envelopes groups of people who have been turned away regardless of their ability to pay due to pre-existing conditions, groups of people who are underinsured, and groups of people who simply cannot be responsible for their own health care as well as the associated costs (i.e. children, the disabled).

In the current issue of Newsweek, Senator Ted Kennedy lays out his history with health care and his belief that we are closer now to reform than we have been in his entire senatorial career. This may be his last political battle as a member of Congress and this is not one he feels this country can afford to lose. After discussing his own personal health battles, battles that include a broken back sustained in a plane crash and his current battle with brain cancer, Senator Kennedy reflects on the fairness (or lack thereof) of him receiving the treatment he needs and the reality of many Americans going without the same needed care:

But quality care shouldn't depend on your financial resources, or the type of job you have, or the medical condition you face. Every American should be able to get the same treatment that U.S. senators are entitled to.

Unfortunately, many members of Congress cannot see the problem with providing superb health care to the elite, political population in D.C. and denying adequate health care to the average citizen in rural America. Are members of Congress more deserving of coverage than you or I? Some would say yes, but the truth is the men and women who have been elected to Congress are more likely to be in a position where they could afford health insurance for themselves and their family if they weren't covered by the congressional plan.

Despite the idea being around for nearly a century, health care reform was first proposed by President Theodore Roosevelt, it seems at times that we are really close to reform and then at other times we seem millions of miles away. It certainly does not appear that any legislation offering health care reform will be immediately passed when Congress returns from their August "work" break. What exactly members of Congress will be doing over the August recess that will actually help average Americans remains unknown. Had they agreed to stay in the nation's capital for the month, surely they could have worked through the road blocks that have this legislation stalled.

Congressmen choosing to return to their home districts to meet with constituents to talk issues to death aren't going to solve anything. The Idaho delegation might as well skip the constituent talk all together--they seemed to be so considerate in their decision to vote against Judge Sotomayor, what could they possibly learn from constituents that they aren't currently learning from Fox News? Oh, wait, that would exclude the one "Democrat" wouldn't it? Hopefully Congressman Minnick has a better plan than simply holding these so-called economic summits. Even if these summits are about creating jobs, will those jobs come with health insurance? Hopefully Congressman Minnick won't be running from his constituents the way he recently ran from Mike Stark. Minnick doesn't need his constituents' opinions either, after all he did consult with Congressman Simpson and decided to vote against health care reform before any final language made it out of committee.

President Johnson was never the most vocal supporter of Medicare, but he saw a need and he set out to offer an effective solution. If he were alive today, on this the anniversary of him signing into law Medicare, he would be disgusted by an entire Congress throwing out talking points about Barack Obama's place of birth and the legality of abortion when there are millions of Americans who needed help months ago, not months from now.

Quote of the Day

Perhaps the only work of Austen I've ever really liked:

"There will be little rubs and disappointments everywhere, and we are all apt to expect too much; but then, if one scheme of happiness fails, human nature turns to another; if the first calculation is wrong, we make a second better: we find comfort somewhere..."

-- Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

Endangered

When Robert Manwill went missing Friday night, he was an eight-year-old boy in danger. Today, after several days of non-stop searching, the Idaho Statesman has revealed the circumstances that put this eight-year-old boy in danger long before he went missing.

Something about this story wasn't right from the beginning, wasn't right beyond the sense that this very young boy was missing. The reporting was vague regarding this boy's family, specifically why he was at his mother's house when he disappeared. An AMBER alert was not issued, in fact remains to be issued by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and a rather odd scenario was being considered by the Boise police--that Robert Manwill was/is hiding.

What could an eight-year-old be hiding from for several days? Unfortunately, quite a lot, as the Statesman story today reveals.

Robert Manwill was visiting his mother Friday night, a mother who is on probation after fracturing the skull of another of her children, an infant. Robert's infant sibling was removed from his mother. As if this alone isn't enough for an eight-year-old to have in his memory, another sibling was murdered by his father's wife (not Robert's mother), after she stabbed the four-year-old in the chest. The first incident, that of his mother's assault on his infant sibling that caused the fracturing of the infant's skull, what court documents refer to as "willfully" striking the baby's head against a hard surface, resulted in merely a misdemeanor charge of injury to a child. It does not appear that Robert's mother even served jail time for this. Apparently, the mother's boyfriend has a history of assault as well that includes a court order that prevents him from being alone with a two-year-old daughter (also belonging to Robert's mother). The only clear and appropriate charge seems to be that of Robert's father's former wife who was charged with first degree murder for the stabbing death of a four-year-old. Amazingly, the first degree murder of a four-year-old only cost this woman ten years of her life in prison.

This boy's family history is rampant with assault, abuse, and other reasons for him to hide, should that have been the cause of his disappearance initially. The Boise police say they do not have a suspect, but it is quite obvious now, since the Statesman was able to attain this information, that the police are more than aware of Melissa Scott Jenkin's history and any probability of her being involved in the disappearance of her son.

Like far too many children in this state, Robert and his siblings are proof that even the most egregious crimes against children are not as aggressively punished as they should be. It certainly is no surprise that he may have wanted to hide. He may have known that he wasn't safe in his mother's home and anything that had happened in the past was bound to happen again. After all, the state moved to protect his infant brother too late, how would now be any different?

All of the speculation surrounding an eight-year-old missing in Boise is just that, speculation. Unfortunately, it just doesn't seem plausible that Robert Manwill wandered away from home and is trying to find his way back.

As the entire Boise community continues to hope and pray for Robert's safe return, a 'thank you' is in order for the countless volunteers who are out looking for Robert. Should, god forbid, the unthinkable happen, it will not be due to a lack of looking on the part of the Boise police, BSU's officers, and the community in general. It's times like these when it is truly evident what a community is made of and it appears that the entire valley is joining together to find a missing boy.

It's unfortunate that some are calling this effort a "wild goose chase" and that the Statesman has put together a "blockbuster" in their reporting. The disappearance of a child is never something to speak of offhandedly and it certainly isn't time to point fingers. These cases happen far more often than any of us care to admit. The insensitivity of some, referring to "dumping areas" is irrefutably inappropriate. Those who have lost sleep over this case and are tormented by the story should not have to read such insensitivity in alternative news sources.

Wherever Robert Manwill is, we can only hope he is safer than at home with those who have hurt him in the past.

[H/T: Treasured Valley. I am not in the habit of reading the Idaho Statesman daily, but I noticed this story first thing Monday morning via Treasured Valley and have kept a close eye on it since.]

IDP Recruitment Committee Formed

Idaho Democrats form candidate recruitment committee for 2010

BOISE – Idaho Democratic Party Chairman Keith Roark today announced the formation of a special candidate recruitment committee for the 2010 elections, with a goal of recruiting top-notch Democratic candidates for all statewide and federal offices.

“We have received many expressions of interest from potential candidates and want to provide a source of information, advice and discussion to help these people make decisions about running for statewide office,” said R. Keith Roark, state party chairman. He added that Boise attorney Betty Richardson will chair the committee. “Betty did an outstanding job with candidate recruitment when she led the Ada County Democrats. Now she will bring those skills to bear at the state level.” Richardson, a former U.S. Attorney for Idaho and Congressional candidate in 2002, said she welcomes the assignment.

Roark said the committee will look most closely at the governor’s race. Governor Otter “has been focused on roads, to the exclusion of almost everything else, and he has lost the confidence of the Legislature and the people of Idaho,” Roark said. “We intend to offer a better alternative – someone who has a clear vision for Idaho’s future, especially our economic future.”

“I want to emphasize that the state party organization will not attempt to select our nominees,” Roark added. “Our voters will make those decisions in the primary elections next May. Our role, at present, is to make sure the voters have excellent choices. Certainly, one-party government has not served Idaho well.”

Individuals interested in running for office, or in recommending potential candidates, can reach Richardson and the committee via email to betty@richardsonandoleary.com; phone (208) 938-7903; or postal mail to Richardson & O'Leary, 515 N. 27th Street, Boise, ID 83702.

(For more information, contact Julie Fanselow julie@idaho-democrats.org or (208) 336-1815 ext.102)

A Live Birther

The Twin Falls Times-News, hardly a haven of liberal thought, has sponsored a series of blogs for nearly a year. Initially, three blogs were created offering three distinct styles and ideologies, one for progressives, one for conservatives, and one for moderates, albeit moderate conservatives. As time has passed, the progressive blog has been, well, progressive and pro-Obama to the point that moderate progressives are turned off by it; the moderate blog has become a thought-provoking, well-written testament to the independent nature of Idahoans; and, the conservative blog has become the go-to for the conspiracy theory believing right-wingers otherwise known as birthers. Yes, those people you hear about and see on the news ranting at town hall meetings about the citizenship of our president really do exist.

Perhaps the political ideology of Tom Young, author of Conservative Corner, should have been immediately apparent when he stated in his blog bio that he isn't a Republican, he is a conservative. That is to say, Tom Young believes in conservative values that are more conservative than mainstream Republicans are willing to embrace. What kind of beliefs? The kind that boil down to believing that the President of the United States is not legitimately the President of the United States because he's not an actual citizen. Yes folks, we have ourselves a real, live birther.

Birthers, or those who believe as Mr. Young does, aren't being laughed-off as most conspiracy theorists traditionally are. Birthers are finding their views tolerated by conservatives, if not the Republican party and not only are their views being tolerated, they've found a voice that is leading their theories right into the mainstream. That voice happens to be a graduate from Minico High School, right here in Idaho, Rupert to be exact. Lou Dobbs, the anti-immigration, talking head on CNN, has long been a voice that has spread xenophobic fear on the national stage. His all out hatred for Hispanics may have been shaped right here in Idaho. And it is Lou Dobbs who is mainstreaming the likes of Jerome Corsi, G. Gordon Liddy (who was recently on Hardball with Chris Matthews and said that Obama was born in Mombasa), Liz Cheney, and the countless fringe-dwellers who continue to believe that President Obama is not an American citizen.

It may not just be Lou Dobbs at CNN who subscribes to this misguided belief that the birth certificate issued by the state of Hawaii is forged or otherwise illegitimate. And analysts at Fox News, including Glenn Beck (who has a show on Fox as well as Headline News) have outright accused the state of Hawaii of throwing out documents related to Obama's birth.

Glenn Beck and Lou Dobbs have a substantial following in Idaho. Dobbs has the Idaho connection working for him as well as his blatantly hateful anti-immigration opinions that are shared by many rural Idahoans. Glenn Beck's conservatism and faith play well to audiences in Idaho, especially southern Idaho where the population is largely Mormon (a faith Beck, who was raised Catholic, converted to). About a year ago when Glenn Beck was in Pocatello for a book signing at Deseret Book in the Pine Ridge Mall, a lengthy line of people formed hours before Beck even arrived. He once spoke to the now defunct College Republicans at BYU-Idaho in Rexburg and just this month, Glenn Beck was the headliner at a fundraiser for Idaho Falls area police and firefighters. He is always well received here in Idaho, despite his growing instability and on-air antics. It should come as no surprise that Idahoans like Tom Young are just as gung-ho about Obama's birth as are Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck.

Two posts are currently atop the front page at Tom Young's Conservative Corner. "CNN vs. Hawaii" and "Fiboma" are simply the latest of Young's attempts to convince his readership that Obama was merely raised in Hawaii and was actually born in Kenya, therefore disqualifying him for the presidency. In the past, he has pointed to news from what he calls the "eligibility front" and only one area resident, Rudy Castro, has even attempted to take Young to task for facilitating this lie. Certainly Mr. Young has a right to his beliefs and has the same freedom of speech that all of us share, but the Times-News as the home of his blog, should have a responsibility to the truth and clearly by allowing Mr. Young to post article after article spreading these lies about Obama's citizenship, they are neglecting their responsibility to the public and the truth.

Tom Young isn't the only Idahoan with an outlet to share this birther paranoia, in fact he isn't the only resident of the Magic Valley spewing these falsehoods. Steve Mitton, a radio personality in the Magic Valley and a colleague of none other than Zeb Bell, has devoted a great deal of time and attention on his own blog to this birther nonsense. Surely he is devoting some of his radio show to the cause as well. Birthers are alive and well in southern Idaho and as long as the Times-News and Lee Family Broadcasting (owners of KBAR, the station that broadcasts Mitton's show) allow it, they are here to stay.

Cooperstown

Tomorrow Jim Rice and Rickey Henderson will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown. Posthumously, Joe "Flash" Gordon will be inducted as well. If I remember the details correctly, Jim Rice is being inducted in his final year of eligibility, twenty years following his retirement with the Boston Red Sox, and Rickey Henderson is being inducted on his first ballot and first year of eligibility.

What I find most interesting about the hall of fame induction process is how two players that may not have been teammates or even liked each other in their playing days, become two guys with complete respect for one another and the shared experience of induction. This first impressed me in 2007 when Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken, Jr. entered the hall together. Of course, they shared something else that is very rare in baseball these days--they both spent their entire careers with one franchise (Padres and Orioles, respectively). There time as analysts the season they were inducted also solidified them in my mind as a pair in baseball, despite them having never played on the same team. I can't help but wonder if Rice and Henderson being inducted together won't do the same.

I was too young to watch or remember Jim Rice's career, but I watched Rickey Henderson for many years while he played for various teams. Most of my memories of Rickey are from his days in a New York Mets uniform. That would have been the season Rickey was voted the National League's comeback player of the year. Thinking of Rickey's years in New York, certainly not necessarily the franchises he was most known for, I have thought quite a bit about the really extraordinary hitters who have gone to the Mets in their final years, perhaps the two most notable with the Mets now being Gary Sheffield and Carlos Delgado.

Enough with my reminiscing, Keith Olbermann, the newsman no longer known so much for his sports work, has a fabulous series of posts as he visited this Cooperstown this weekend and will watch the inductions of Rice, Henderson and Gordon tomorrow. The Cooperstown Flood, Cooperstown: Saturday, and Cooperstown: Saturday Evening are all great reads.

And with the weekend in Cooperstown has risen more discussion on the matter of the steroid era and how players who played in the steroid-clouded era will be treated on their respective ballots. If Ozzie Smith and Hank Aaron are any indication, there will be some sort of way of noting those who cheated the game. It's unfortunate that players under suspicion will even be eligible for induction, but I'm afraid that steroid use in baseball was once so rampant that there's no way of telling who it reached.

Patriot Extremist To Speak In Twin Falls

Today's edition of the Twin Falls Times-News offers two more letters to the editor noting an all-day constitutional seminar to be held tomorrow, Saturday the 25th, at the Herrett Center in Twin Falls. The title of the first of the two letters reveals little ("Educate ourselves on Constitution Day"), but the second letter titled "What's wrong in America?" suggests this event is in fact tied to the tea parties if not something even more ominous.

These two letters come on the heels of a letter mentioning supposed methods being employed by the U.S. government to lead this country down the wrong path and announcing this very constitutional seminar. That letter offered the following information about the seminar (which also appeared on Craigslist):

"Join TEARS of the Patriots for a daylong seminar on the Constitution in the Rick Allen Room of the Herrett Center at the College of Southern Idaho starting at 9 a.m. July 25. The speaker is retired Marine Corps Maj. and Professor of Constitutional Studies at the University of North Las Vegas (sic) Jack Ringler. Registration is $20 at the door, or you may pre-register for $17.76 by going to tearsofthepatriots.org/ and clicking the "calendar" link on the home page."

Initially, my first assumption was that this organization, Tears of the Patriots, was merely one of the off-shoots of the nationwide tea parties that took place on tax day, something potentially laced with hate. I clicked on the link provided and it took me to a meetup page that listed meetup topics that included Ron Paul's recent bid for the presidency and Campaign for Liberty, libertarianism, birthers, Glenn Beck's 9/12 project, tea parties, the John Birch Society, and the United States Constitution. I wasn't familiar with the Free State Project, but nothing in the topics list jumped out at me. It isn't like the Magic Valley isn't known for their more extreme fundamentalist residents. However, after the superb reporting of Boise Weekly on a speech given Wednesday night in downtown Boise by Nazi sympathizer David Irving, it occurred to me that I never looked into this constitutional scholar that will be speaking at the Herrett Center tomorrow. Big mistake.

The speaker, Major Jack K. Ringler, USMC Retired, is listed on each of the announcements of tomorrow's event as a Professor of Constitutional Studies at UNLV. Don't let the fliers fool you. UNLV has nothing to do with this.

As it turns out, Ringler is a whole lot more than what anyone reading these very enthusiastic letters to the editor might suspect. An article written in 1998 by Steve Friess of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reveals that Ringler has the makings of someone rooted in the Patriot movement. While teaching at the Community College of Southern Nevada, not UNLV by any stretch, Ringler spouted the very New World Order conspiracy theories that the Patriot movement is known for. The Friess article quotes Ringler as opening his courses with the following warning to his students: "Don't turn me off... Don't just say, 'God, he's way out there.' I'm not trying to convince you. I'm just trying to give you information." In fact, the course was even titled "The New World Order: The Ultimate Conspiracy." Ringler apparently approached the school's administration to teach the course.

Ringler is not listed anywhere on UNLV's website, however he is listed on the website of the College of Southern Nevada with emeritus status in History as well as Philosophical and Regional Studies. It appears he also taught U.S. History courses, first-half courses that generally cover the country's history up until the Civil War, at some point while employed at CSN. Whether the courses he taught speak to his general ideology is unclear, but the Freiss article in addition to a government publication Ringler penned in 1970 tell a more complete story.

The government publication, "U.S. Marine Corps Operations In the Dominican Republic, April-June 1965," offers a brief glimpse of Ringler's animosity toward non-whites and non-Christians. Ringler appears to fit the mold that the Southern Poverty Law Center has been warning about more recently--the emergence of neo-Nazis in the military. In Ringler's case, he may have left the military with not only the tactical training so well-known in the Patriot movement, but also a growing hatred for minorities. The publication offers a brief biography of Ringler:

"One of the authors, Major Jack K. Ringler, came to the Historical Branch (Historical Division after 1968) following a tour as an infantry officer in Vietnam. He is a graduate of the Naval War College and received a master's degree from George Washington University. He completed this history [publication] while serving as the head of division's reference, archives,and library activities. After his retirement, Major Ringler became a history professor in Nevada."

On the surface his credentials appear flawless and completely appropriate for a history professor. The syllabus for his course is what sends up red flags. Speaking of Americans' "thought conditioners" (i.e. the government) and the illegitimacy of the Federal Reserve, Ringler even went so far as to assign Treason: The New World Order as required reading.

In addition to his academic resume, Ringler served in the leadership of the Independent American Party of Nevada for a time. The Independent American Party is the party that backed George Wallace in the 60's and continues to oppose the concept of the "New World Order."

This is the speaker that the residents of Twin Falls area are so excited about having in town for an all-day seminar on the Constitution? I'm afraid of what constitution that may be. Judging by what the group promoting and sponsoring this event outlines in its brochure as being established "principles" and the obvious omission of "all men are created equal" in their "Modern Declaration of Independence," it sure isn't the United States Constitution.

TDIH: ADA

July 24, 2009

Statement from Former President George H.W. Bush on the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

____________

“I congratulate President Obama for taking some time today to remember the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. There is no place in our society for prejudice of any kind, yet it was not that long ago when Americans with disabilities were often not given equal rights and opportunities. Whether the cause was ignorance or indifference, it was not acceptable. We can all take pride in how much the ADA has accomplished, which is evident every time you attend a sporting event, ride the subway, or go to work. Yet, there is always more to be done, which is why it’s good not only to celebrate our successes, but to look forward at what still must be done. As long as we never forget that every life is a miracle and each person has something to contribute, we will finish the job.”

Perfection

It's only happened eighteen times in the entire history of major league baseball, sixteen in the modern era, and it happened today on a mound in Chicago.



Congratulations to Mark Buehrle, the Chicago White Sox pitcher who threw the perfect game today, and congrats to his teammates DeWayne Wise who stole a homerun and Ramon Castro who caught the game.

Questions for Idahoans and Congressman Minnick

Can someone honestly say to me that we don't have a problem with hate in this state? News this afternoon of a ruling in the case of Michael Bullard and Richard Armstrong reminded me again that being recognizably different in any way can be a very horrific thing when intolerant bigots are in your midst. Betsy Russell has the ruling and if this story weren't enough, again today the Times-News is showcasing a new brand of hate ala the teabaggers. If you answered my question honestly and still don't think we have a problem with hate here at home, go read what one of Zeb's Rebs has to say to President Obama. Seriously, who signs a letter "A White, Christian, American Mom"? I think we all know the answer to that.
______________________

What happened to that oft-espoused idea/belief that Congressman Minnick would vote with the Democrats when it counted? He's not only voting against his own party, he's voting against the Idahoans that elected him in refusing to support health care reform. I am with Wordsmith on this one, it means diddly squat to be a Blue Dog Democrat anymore. All that means is you're a Democrat who votes with the Republicans. Wouldn't it just be easier to be a Republican? When Minnick says he hopes he can support a final version of the bill that has more bipartisan support, I hope that doesn't mean he'll vote for the bill when the Republicans who think like him can vote for it. Congressman Minnick, could I borrow your health insurance for awhile? Because I'm an average Idahoan who really needs health care in this country to be reformed and I don't need it to be reformed ten months from now when you're running for re-election or even a month from now when all you Washington politicians come back from you break. I need health care reform right now and I can't just take a month off from that absolute need.

Summer Readin'

While I am adding a few lists to my Amazon wish list, I wanted to take note of the progress on and additions I've made to my summer reading list (links to each of the titles appear in the 'Summer Reading List' sidebar section). Books in bold are new additions to the list since the last time I mentioned the list and strikeout obviously means I've finished a book and am crossing it off the list:

Alex Cross's Trial
America Back on Track
Assassination Vacation
Charles Olson and Ezra Pound: An Encounter at St. Elizabeth's
Essays of E.B. White
Finger Lickin' Fifteen
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
Hate Is My Neighbor
In God's Country: The Patriot Movement and the Pacific Northwest
Late Innings
Mad In America: Bad Science, Bad Medicine, and The Enduring Mistreatment of the Mentally Ill
My Father's Tears
Run For Your Life
Swimsuit
Take the Cannoli: Stories from the New World
The 8th Confession
The Confessions of Nat Turner
The Deputy
The Eliminationists: How Hate Talk Radicalized the American Right
The Mindbody Prescription
The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder
The Selected Papers of Margaret Sanger: vol. 1: The Woman Rebel, 1900-1928
Writings from the New Yorker, 1927-1976

I began and finished the latest Janet Evanovich book Tuesday night, within the next 24-48 hours I should be finished with both Hate Is My Neighbor and In God's Country, and tomorrow I might pick up a copy of James Patterson's newest release.

Middle of the Week Mélange

If you missed my post on gubernatorial papers and the differences between former elected officials from the Idaho GOP and Idaho Democrats, scroll on down or check it out here.

I have every intention of still posting the Cronkite tribute I mentioned on Saturday, I just haven't made it to the topic yet. I'm afraid my post on Cronkite will come late, just as my post on McNamara did. I never anticipated the Sotomayor hearings taking as much time, both writing and otherwise, as they did. So, I'm behind a half dozen or so posts.

For those of you reading this now (as opposed to after 6pm), don't forget President Obama is holding a prime time press conference on health care reform this evening. If you turn a tv on, I can't imagine you'll miss it. That's another post I'd like to get to--my take on health care reform and my own experiences with health insurance throughout my life especially here lately.

I try to keep up with Steve Clemons of the Washington Note, but I miss things from time to time. However, today, his post "Note to White House: Netanyahu is Obama's Khrushchev" caught my attention. Go check it out if foreign relations is your thing...or even if it isn't.

In baseball news, former Braves first baseman Adam LaRoche has been traded to the Boston Red Sox. He'll be joining former Atlanta teammates J.D. Drew and Mark Kotsay. I think LaRoche is one of the decent guys in baseball and he just doesn't get enough recognition. It is unfortunate that he won't be playing with his younger brother Andy for the Pirates anymore, but even more unfortunate is that the Pirates are trading off all of their talent (McLouth went to Atlanta in a surprise deal not long ago). The Pirates will get two prospects in the trade. It's no wonder Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson aren't signing on for additional years in Pittsburgh at this stage in the game.

One other bit of baseball news is the unfortunate story Erin Andrews of ESPN finds herself stuck in. She appears to have been a victim of a peeping tom with a video camera. The Red Sox and Rangers will be facing off here shortly--we'll see if Andrews surfaces. I'd probably hideout in my house for months if I were in her shoes.

Around the Idaho blogosphere, Sisyphus is keeping tabs on the kiss-ins in Salt Lake on the LDS temple grounds; Wordsmith has the latest on a captured Idaho soldier; Gary Eller has two posts over at In the Middle that are worth a read ("American Soldiers" and "Double Standards"); and, Chris keeps things rolling over at Treasured Valley with a promised second phase to this project of his that somehow has turned into, in my humble opinion, the biggest site going in Idaho right now.

I'll try to catch up with the blogging, I just keep getting sidetracked by other stories. It's only Wednesday, there's time...

Save the Sentiment

As someone who has visited the Idaho State Historical Society dozens of times to look at more collections than I can probably count, a majority of them being gubernatorial records, I have for some time found the problems associated with former Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne's papers intriguing. That said, it should come as no surprise that Dan Popkey's interview of Kempthorne running in the Idaho Statesman today caught my attention.

First and foremost, it should be noted that I am thrilled that Kempthorne's papers finally made their way to the state history center. Having kept an eye on the status of his papers for several years (writing about it here, here, and here), I have heard nearly every excuse Kempthorne has offered as to why his papers weren't immediately transferred to the state archives as required by the law and one hundred years of precedent. All of those excuses were head-scratchers to be certain, but his comments today in the Statesman are a little bizarre in their own right:

Kempthorne said he chose the Historical Society [to house his papers] for its focus on gubernatorial records and the passion throughout the agency, starting with Director Janet Gallimore and running to volunteers like Julianne Ruby, who helps index his collection.

"I love history, and they have made this a priority," Kempthorne said. "It's humbling to know you're a part of this, but it is the story of many Idahoans. It's the story of citizenship and what was accomplished together."

Really, Dirk? I have a hard time believing that Governor Kempthorne has any respect for state history based on his withholding of the papers initially. Never mind the fiasco with the state quarter that resulted in it portraying none of our state history and culture, Kempthorne had to know that leaving his papers in storage, unattended, and without any restriction to staffers and who knows who else that may have waded into the papers in search of one item with no respect for the rest of the materials therein.

Instead of donating his papers immediately upon leaving office so that whomever he donated them could begin the tedious task of processing them, he continued to drag his feet. Even Popkey's article addresses the condition and status of the papers up until their donation:

"[The papers] had been hastily stored in space off the tunnels under the Capitol Mall. Mixed in with Kempthorne's stuff was a misplaced box from the Andrus years and 24 boxes from former Gov. Phil Batt."

Not only was he keeping government documents and materials of an historic nature from the public, the public who paid for their creation, he was unknowingly keeping papers from two other administrations from the public. The entire situation is unfortunate.

As to how Governor Kempthorne feels about his materials being housed in the state archives and that bit of sentiment he expressed to Popkey, I don't believe it. The problem isn't that Governor Kempthorne may have had anything to hide, the problem is that elected Republicans in this state don't have a very good track record when it comes to transparency and public consumption of their papers. Governor Batt's papers, by no fault of the Idaho State Historical Society where they are housed, are a complete mess and offer very little insight into his administration; It will be interesting to see what becomes of the twenty-four Batt boxes found with Kempthorne's papers. Senator Symms' papers at the College of Idaho remain in the Symms' apple boxes they were donated in and much of those materials are restricted to the public by Symms. And there's no telling what will happen with former Senator Craig's papers, but my guess is that he will donate them to the University of Idaho in his home district, contingent upon restrictions protecting case files (if he chooses to donate them) and legal matters stemming from his arrest in Minnesota. It is my understanding that both Orval and George Hansen's papers are also housed at the state archives, though I am not aware of their status or accessibility. Whatever happened to the papers of Helen Chenoweth remains a mystery. One collection, that of Senator McClure housed in Moscow at U of I, has been processed and is available with some usage restrictions until 2016.

Clearly, records related to the governance of this state over several decades with Republicans at the helm have not been a priority to the Republican party or its leaders. In contrast, Democrats who have served in statewide and federal positions in the past few decades have made their papers available, even at times when those papers have not been completely processed. The papers of former Governor Evans are housed at the state archives and available for research, though the processing is not entirely complete. Andrus' papers are available at Boise State, it was his prerogative to have them housed there instead of the state archive, and have been processed and arranged in a way advantageous to researchers. LaRocco's papers are also housed at BSU, completely processed and available for research. The papers of former Senator Church are available at BSU and are a remarkable testament to Frank Church and his contributions to this state. And despite the continued processing taking place on the papers of former Congressman Stallings, his papers are available at ISU and have been available to the public for some time now. In this realm, the obstructionist label could only be applied to the GOP.

What I had forgotten and was reminded of by Popkey's article is that Kempthorne's senatorial papers are housed at the University of Idaho. The fact that papers from one part of his career are available at one institution or repository and another part of his career available elsewhere creates accessibility problems for researchers, especially in this state so regionally divided. I have found that collections that are split between institutions as the Kempthorne papers are, prove to be the most frustrating and difficult for research purposes.

If Kempthorne does in fact hold any amount of sentiment in regard to the housing of his papers at the state archives, that doesn't rid him of blame for denying the people he once served access to those papers in a reasonable time frame.

New Music Tuesday

They say his songs are mushy and that he's dopey, but why wouldn't the son of Kenny Loggins have a few truly heartfelt lyrics on his Tuesday release Time to Move? Yesterday, Crosby Loggins released his first solo album and for all that has been released in the past month, including the sophomore releases of Rob Thomas and Daughtry, Time to Move seems both able to compete on today's pop/rock scene and worthy of a listen. Don't let his winning of Cradle of Rock on MTV scare you away--he isn't the usual reality show, son-of-a-celebrity type. A sampling of Time to Move, here are the lyrics from the title song:

I'm bouncing off the walls tonight
Drunken heart, sunken eyes
It's 3 am, I'm tangled up over you
Lying on a burning bed
I think too much, it hurts my head
But there's a light that's shining through

I left you lonely, if I could only have
A chance to prove
I could love you for who you are
Do you feel you're giving something
But getting nothing
Imade you wait for long enough
Come on it's time to move

I've had time enough to know
Changed my mind, I can show you
I'll be true, if you will just
Take me back
I'm not about to give up yet
If there's a chance, I won't quit
I'll do what it takes to get through

Left you lonely, if I could only
Have a chance to prove
That I could love you for who you are
Do you feel you're giving something
But getting nothing
I made you wait for long enough now
Come on it's time to move

Bouncing off the walls again
A different light is pouring in now
I can see I'll never be
The way I was when I found you

I left you lonely, if I could only
Have the chance to prove
That I could love you for who you are
Do you feel you're giving something
And getting nothing
I'd like to try to make it all up to you

I left you lonely, if I could only
Have the chance to prove
I could like you for who you are
Do you feel you're giving something
And getting nothing
I made you wait for long enough
So come on it's time to move

I downloaded this single from iTunes around 10pm (MST) when Tuesday's new releases hit the iTunes stores and since then I've listened to the song thirty-seven times. Yes, it's that good. I haven't downloaded the rest of the album, yet, but I plan to in the next few days. I hear his single "Seriously" is even better than the title track.

Quote of the Day

"For how many thousands of years now have we humans been what we insist on calling "civilized?" And yet, in total contradiction, we also persist in the savage belief that we must occasionally, at least, settle our arguments by killing one another.

"While we spend much of our time and a great deal of our treasure in preparing for war, we see no comparable effort to establish a lasting peace. Meanwhile, emphasizing the sloth in this regard, those advocates who work for world peace by urging a system of world government are called impractical dreamers. Those impractical dreamers are entitled to ask their critics what is so practical about war."

--Walter Cronkite, Address to the U.N. (October 19, 1999)

Sotomayor & Hate Here At Home

In the past few weeks I've heard some really ridiculous and bordering on insane comments made about Judge Sonia Sotomayor, the least of which being what the Washington Post front-paged today regarding the completely non-legal decision made by Sotomayor to observe fashion trends that ignored femininity for the workplace. A letter to the editor printed in today's Twin Falls Times-News takes the prize for the most paranoid and outrageous.

The Mini-Cassia/Magic Valley area has for some time been a haven of hatred aimed at the growing Hispanic community. It shouldn't come as a surprise that Obama's Hispanic nominee to the United States Supreme Court would fuel a fire that has been raging for far too long. However, even I, someone with a broad understanding of how deeply rooted the anti-Hispanic sentiment is in that community, was completely blown away by one Rick Martin's (not to be confused with a Grammy winning Latin music powerhouse) letter disqualifying Judge Sotomayor for an alleged association with the National Council of La Raza.

A snippet of the letter:

Meaning "The Race," La Raza is a revolutionary Mexican-American group seeking to cancel enforcement of immigration laws and grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens. Even more, the organization backs the return to Mexico of what it labels Aztlan. The vast area targeted includes California, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico and portions of Colorado and Texas. La Raza's designs for our country are perhaps the most divisive and dangerous seen since our tragic War Between the States.

La Raza's president, Janet Murguia, jumped for joy over the choice of Sotomayor. She heaped high praise on President Obama for his selection. Will Arizona's John McCain approve the choice? How about the senators from the other states claimed by Aztlan? Won't a positive vote for Sotomayor indicate their approval of the demand that the people in six states, in four cases the entire states themselves, become part of Mexico?

Perhaps I am excessively sensitive to a few of the terms used in this letter including 'revolutionary' and 'Aztlan' having just finished reading David Neiwert's The Eliminationists and In God's Country, but I suspect I will not be the only reader that spent even ten minutes listening to Judge Sotomayor defend herself against attacks regarding her "wise Latina" speeches who takes this letter for what it is--a frighteningly shared hatred and fear manifest in beliefs about an "invasion" of this country by Mexico or Hispanics.

I know plenty of young people who live in the area in which this letter was printed, young people who are impressionable, that I worry about reading this sort of hatred and untruth. I have thought a great deal about the responsibility of the press and whether the editor of the Times-News or even my local paper the Idaho State Journal, and whether those editors have a responsibility to print every letter they receive regardless of the hatred they might be spreading throughout their respective communities. Specifically, I am reminded of a fellow by the name of Robert Mathews who wrote many a hate-filled drivel that the Sandpoint Daily Bee, led by Dave Neiwert, refused to print back in the days when Idaho was known for the Aryan Nations in Hayden Lake and the Ruby Ridge incident. For those of you who are familiar with Mr. Mathews or his mention in Neiwert's God's Country, it wasn't simply a matter of black helicopter paranoia, he was in fact guilty of much violent hatred. Do we simply just hope that Mr. Martin of Buhl, the Times-News letter-to-the-editor writer, is paranoid and anti-Hispanic and not driven by the type of hatred that led Mr. Mathews to violence? It's unfortunate that we have to take these types of chances. It's unfortunate that the cost of maintaining our freedom of speech is this sort of freedom given to those who use it to spread and fuel hatred and violence.

As for Judge Sotomayor, having listened to her responses to the borderline racist questions posed to her by Senators Graham (R-South Carolina), Coburn (R-Oklahoma), Kyl (R-Arizona), and Sessions (R-Alabama), I don't believe for a second that any of her decisions on the bench will be driven by her own ethnicity. Having gone into her confirmation hearings as someone skeptical of her nomination by Obama as both a woman and as an American who has not come around entirely to Obama's presidency, I am completely convinced that Sonia Sotomayor is immensely qualified to serve on our highest Court and that she will bring her vast array of experiences, not as a woman, Hispanic, or student impacted by affirmative action, but as a jurist that has served as a prosecutor, private lawyer, district attorney, and federal and appellate judge. She is, as has been said, one of the most qualified nominees to the Supreme Court in approximately a century.

I fear for my state, a state that harbors these paranoid, hateful, and often bordering on insane beliefs about minorities, liberals, and other groups targeted by an immense amount of xenophobia that exists here, but more than anything I fear for the younger generation of Idahoans that are growing up with these influences. It isn't just Zeb Bell, it's an entire belief system embedded in our backyards.

Smorgasbord Saturday

A Walter Cronkite tribute post is in the works and should be posted at some point this weekend. Cronkite passed away yesterday at the age of 92. In the meantime, here is President Obama's statement on the death of Cronkite:



Two worlds collided last night as the Mets announcers in their booth noted the passing of Walter Cronkite, as the news was breaking, and the Braves announcers in their Peachtree TV booth were joined by Greg Maddux. Maddux, a former Brave with eleven seasons of domination on the mound, was recognized at Turner Field yesterday as the newest member of the Braves franchise hall of fame. His number joined those of Braves' legends Phil Neikro, Warren Spahn, Hammerin' Hank Aaron, Dale Murphy, Eddie Mathews, and of course Jackie Robinson (his number has been retired across the league by each of the individual franchises) retired and on display at Turner Field in Atlanta. You know it is a huge night in Braves history when Bobby Cox says it was one of the best nights he's spent at the ballpark. Can you imagine how many nights Bobby Cox has spent the ballpark? And in true Maddux form, he was overwhelmed by the ceremony and truly too humble to admit he deserved such an honor. There on the field with guys like Chipper Jones, Eddie Perez, David Justice, Don Sutton, Phil Neikro, Dale Murphy, and Tommy Glavine via video, Maddux simply said, let's go out and beat the Mets "just like old times." And beat the Mets they did. Jair Jurrjens, perhaps the most Maddux-like pitcher in the game right now, threw six shutout innings and made a superb play fielding off the mound channeling eighteen-time Gold Glove winner Maddux. I'm with Bobby Cox on this one...what a night to be at the ballpark!

While I'm on the topic of the Braves, last night as I was watching the Padres/Rockies match up on FSN Rocky Mountain, I was reflecting on the fact that this is the third time in my life that I've lived in an area where the television lineup offered team-specific programming. I grew up, as I said yesterday, a kid in the Braves on TBS world. As a teenager, before our lineup stopped offering WGN in exchange for the WB (which is now the CW, I believe), I got non-stop coverage of the Chicago Cubs. And now, because of my location, the Fox Sports Network on cable here is the Rocky Mountain region which means instead of the Seattle Mariners that viewers in Boise get, we get all access coverage of the Colorado Rockies. Despite having probably an even number of years watching each of those three teams play whichever team was on their schedule, I stuck with the Braves and never much cared for the Cubs or Rockies. So, when I say I'm a Braves fan and people mention that I must have grown up watching the Braves on TBS, I get a bit annoyed. That and the whole 'fair weather friend' comment annoys me. Just because the Braves won fourteen straight division titles doesn't mean I like them any less now that they've had a few rough seasons and haven't made it to the playoffs. All of this, I'm sure, is far more than anybody cared to know...

There's another insane letter to the editor in the Times-News this morning. Unfortunately, this is pretty much all there have been in the days since Obama's election.

If any of you regular readers are students, I highly recommend taking a look at the Google Student Blog. I just recently discovered it, I'm a huge fan of the Google blog, and the student blog offers all sorts of wonderful tools. I've yet to take full advantage of the new tasks lab Gmail is offering, but Google for Students has a video tutorial and I hope to start using it regularly. One of the tools I was thrilled to see is a resume and cover letter template. It's geared toward recent graduates, but anybody can and should take advantage of the template. It can be so difficult to put a resume or cover letter together for the first time and not starting from scratch is a huge leg up.

Hopefully I'll have an update on my summer reading list in the next week. I finished Dave Neiwert's The Eliminationists and decided to pick up another of his works, God's Country, which I started last night. I haven't picked up the new James Patterson book, the new Janet Evanovich title, or the posthumous work of John Updike's, all of which were released recently, if that tells you anything about the status of my summer reading list.

It appears I wasn't the only one preoccupied with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg this week. Michael Gerson of the Washington Post, as well as a string of other journalists, reported on comments Ginsburg made in an interview with the New York Times Magazine. He calls it a scandal, I wouldn't go that far, but I will say that the comments Ginsburg made this week are precisely why I said in sixteen years on the bench we've never come to a full understanding of what Ginsburg thinks or believes about reproductive rights in this country. When Ginsburg was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Clinton and confirmed by the Senate, the Democrats probably weren't as sure as they have been with other nominees of what they were getting. I wouldn't go so far as to say that Ginsburg has turned out to be what O'Connor was for Reagan and disappointed conservatives or what Earl Warren was for Eisenhower and enraged conservatives, but Ginsburg has definitely been hit-and-miss in terms of reproductive health, equal rights for women and minorities, and other largely progressive causes. Perhaps that makes her a good justice--a fair justice even. The jury is still out on that.

Today's tunes include Martina McBride's new single, "I Just Call You Mine," and "Alright" by Darius Rucker. I saw one of the funniest videos this morning by Randy Houser. I don't much care for the song "Going Out With My Boots On," but check out the video and you'll see what I mean. The kid in it is absolutely adorable! And don't think you have to like country music to like this video. Yesterday it was all Vienna Teng, today it's all country. Go figure!

Have a wonderful Saturday afternoon.

TGIF Tunes

"Daughter" by Vienna Teng.

Retiring No. 31

Greg Maddux is a guy I grew up watching. I, like the rest of the Braves on TBS generation, saw more Maddux wins on television than any other player in baseball. For a young baseball fan, watching Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz take the mound for Atlanta was like watching pure perfection.

Today the Atlanta Braves will honor Greg Maddux for his eleven year service to the franchise and all the winning that came with it by retiring his number, 31.

The Atlanta press release noted that the Braves will honor Greg Maddux today by "inducting him into the Braves Hall of Fame and retiring his uniform number. The induction will take place at the Braves Hall of Fame Luncheon at the Omni Hotel at the CNN Center during the day and the uniform number retirement will occur in a pre-game ceremony that night before the Braves take on the New York Mets." I can't think of a more deserving guy in baseball.

There's so much to point to in the career of Greg Maddux, this Nike commercial of the less serious highlights:

While with Atlanta, Greg Maddux had 194 wins, 1,828 strike outs and was a key part of the Braves 1995 World Series championship. And what he did in Atlanta he was able to do in L.A., Chicago, and San Diego. All in all, Maddux won a World Series, earned an unbelievable 18 Gold Gloves, won the National League Cy Young Award four consecutive years, was selected for the All-Star Game 8 times, won 355 games, and struck out a whopping 3,371 hitters. Maddux is now in the Braves franchise hall of fame and without question will be inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown.

Recently, Orel Hershiser referred to Chipper Jones as the "last soldier standing" in that amazing fourteen season run of division titles for the Braves and what I hope will happen today is that Chipper will be on hand, along with a lineup of Braves that grew up watching the genius that was Maddux on the mound, to truly honor a good and decent legend of the game.

Unfortunately, the franchise hasn't been as kind (as was deserved) to Tom Glavine and it remains to be seen what the Red Sox acquisition of John Smoltz will do to his chances of being recognized by the Braves. My guess is that when Smoltz retires we'll be having a similar ceremony for him--Maddux left Atlanta, too, and he's getting the ceremony he rightly deserves.

The Blatant Racism of Lindsey Graham

(Update: To hear for yourself what Senator Graham said today, the video is available via YouTube and the exact comment in question appears at the 5:10 mark.)

If there was any doubt about Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) being a bigoted, racist and awfully pretentious blowhard, there is no longer.

I simply could not believe my ears a few moments ago when Senator Graham, taking part in the Sotomayor confirmation hearings in the Judiciary Committee, questioned Lt. Ben Vargas, one of the New Haven fire fighters who was part of the Frank Ricci, et al. v. John Destefano, et al. case (decided by Sotomayor on a three-judge panel and recently ruled on by the U.S. Supreme Court), about how he, a Latino, was received by minorities when he took the side of the white fire fighters in the case. Senator Graham, eluding to retribution on the part of other Latinos and minority fire fighters, asked Lt. Ben Vargas of they had called him "an Uncle Tom." For those of you unaware, the term 'Uncle Tom' is a disparaging pejorative used against minorities who have been perceived by others as being subservient to white authority figures. Clearly, the term's origin is from Harriet Beecher Stow's Uncle Tom's Cabin.

I don't know which is more shocking, that Senator Graham would use such a term in front of his colleagues and the American public paying attention to Sotomayor's confirmation hearings or that not a single person in the hearing room called him out on it.

With racism this blatant, how can anyone believe that this confirmation hearing isn't being directly influenced by prejudice and racism?

The Death of McNamara

Historians are often forced to weigh the ultimate outcome of foreign policy decisions made during the Kennedy administration that contributed to the massive losses of American life in Vietnam from the fall of Dien Bien Phu to the fall of Saigon with the successful domestic policy measures that culminated in the passage of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts. Kennedy's legacy is in many ways the most difficult to determine of each man having served as President of the United States. Where President Johnson's positive domestic legacy has been completely buried in the failures of his foreign policy legacy, President Kennedy's legacy is riddled with the unknown. Perhaps the greatest question surrounding the Kennedy administration is what may or may not have happened in regard to the Vietnam War. Nowhere has the difference in these administrations legacies been more apparent than in the death of their shared cabinet member, former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara.

Since media outlets began reporting on July 6th that McNamara had died, there have been obituaries and op-eds in nearly every world news publication, articles that have critiqued what has become known as "McNamara's War." Journalists the country over have taken the opportunity of his death to opine on the catastrophe that was the Vietnam War, hardly noting that underneath the heavy legacy of being the architect of the greatest foreign policy disasters in American history, Bob McNamara was a human being, a father and a man deeply tormented by his role in the death of 58,000 American soldiers and nearly an equal number of Vietnamese.

It could not be known in 1964 when the distinguished Senator Morse (D-Oregon) called the pending war in Vietnam "McNamara's War" that the war would last as long and with such horrifying consequences as it did. In April of 1964, Senator Morse could not have known that in August then President Johnson would approach the United States Congress requesting permission to "take all necessary measures repel any armed attack against forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression" and that he, Morse, would be one of only two senators to vote against the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. Notably, it could not have been known in April of 1964, when McNamara said he had no qualms with being identified as the chief architect and responsible party behind the Vietnam War, that when the quagmire would finally cease the weight of all that was lost in combat would so heavily weight on his conscience and his heart.

Robert McNamara left the Pentagon and the Johnson administration in 1968, a month prior to Johnson's announcement that he would not seek re-election. Clark Clifford took over in the Department of Defense and served in that capacity until the Johnson administration would leave the White House in January of 1969, making way for another administration, Nixon's, but not the administration that would see the final days of the Vietnam War. Of the many men who served throughout the Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford administrations, McNamara took upon himself the most responsibility for the war and consequently became the most tormented by its monumental failure. Nowhere was his torment more evident than in his 1995 memoir In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam and the eventual Errol Morris film The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara. None of this served to erase McNamara's guilt or personal and professional responsibility for the war, it simply served an historical purpose. Too often we refer to the notion that those who do not know their own history are doomed to repeat it without recognizing the situations, like those surrounding the Vietnam War, that we truly must better understand to avoid repeating. Where many Americans saw an old man in his final years discussing his failures as if he were attempting to explain them away, historians saw a man deeply tormented yet equally determined to tell a story that might prevent future foreign policy failures of the magnitude of the lost war in Vietnam.

It is unfortunate that in McNamara's passing, some would rather resort to dragging out the arguments that have been used against McNamara for decades than simply acknowledge that a man who holds a place in our shared history is no longer with us to share both his failures and his successes for they are, after all, also our own failures and successes. It is altogether ironic that at a time when Republicans are throwing around the word 'empathy' as if it is a scarlet letter and one that should keep the current nominee to the United States Supreme Court, Republicans and Democrats alike can't seem to muster any empathy for a man who held the weight of our collective foreign policy failures on his shoulders for decades. Some would rather keep a candidate or nominee from a decision-making position because they might show empathy toward those involved in their decisions, yet when a man in a position such as the Secretary of Defense shows a lack of empathy toward the young soldiers he sends into war he is chastised by those same individuals for the rest of his life.

The Haughty Hearings

Yesterday, the following statement made by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) to Judge Sonia Sotomayor was both condescending and disrespectful (above and beyond his blunt question of whether or not the word 'abortion' appears in the Constitution which was followed up today by Senator Franken (D-Minnesota) asking if 'birth control' appears there):

"Some of the things trouble me, generally speaking left of center, but within the mainstream, and you have these speeches that just blow me away. Don't become a speechwriter, if this law thing doesn't work out, because these speeches really throw a wrinkle into everything."

It is unconscionable that a United States senator would make such a statement in a completely serious manner during a confirmation hearing of a Supreme Court nominee. His ridiculous and condescending statement was followed by a rapid fire questioning that held no purpose other than to more or less attempt to determine if the Supreme Court nominee defined certain legal terms precisely as Graham. The way in which these members of the Senate (on both sides of the aisle) are questioning Judge Sotomayor is despicable. The only thing more despicable than the questioning itself is that the internet reporting on the hearings is being met by racist, sexist and fear-provoking public comments.

Two Words & Sixteen Years Later

As has been said in a myriad of circumstances, hindsight in 20/20. In listening this morning and afternoon to the Senate confirmation hearings of Judge Sonia Sotomayor, I have come to a better understanding of the frustrations and concerns that surfaced during the process of and following the confirmation of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Not being old enough to comprehend the historic magnitude and political implications of President Clinton's nomination of Ginsburg to the United States Supreme Court, it has taken sixteen years for the frustrations of many to become clear in regard to Ginsburg's stated positions on Roe v Wade and Planned Parenthood v Casey (she was, of course, nominated to the Court after Casey had been decided).

Sixteen years of our uncertainty as to where Justice Ginsburg, sitting through her own Senate confirmation hearing, stood on both a woman's right to choose and the fundamental right to privacy became crystal clear in the response of current Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor to the question of whether the decisions of prior Courts to uphold a woman's right to choose were appropriate or legitimate (the cases are not limited to Roe and Casey, but also include Griswold v Connecticut, Webster v Reproductive Health Services, Stenberg v Carhart and Gonzales v Carhart). Judge Sotomayor simply responded that these cases are "settled law." In two words Sotomayor was able to make blatantly obvious the vagueness the last female jurist nominated and confirmed to the Supreme Court left wide open when she joined the Court.

Now, the question will become whether the Senators voting to confirm Judge Sotomayor and the American people as a whole appreciate her brevity or if they will continue to surmise that she is for or against a woman's right to choose based on her background, experience or even gender. The question will also remain as to how Sotomayor will be perceived by the hard right, in general a group of Americans who, regardless of Sotomayor's honesty, will continue to oppose her on the basis that she is on the side of the law or for the sake of simplicity pro-choice. This is one of the issues in this country that is continuously blurred because Judge Sotomayor or any person in her position will be rejected or opposed because of anti-choice sentiment, yet on the other hand could be rejected on the basis of disrespect of the law had she said that no, she does not support or wish to uphold Roe. This conundrum being precisely why reproductive rights are a wedge issue in this country--one side views the finality of the issue as a person being on the side of the law or not while the other side views a person as being for or against life. We will never agree that there are no absolutes on this issue.

Going back to Justice Ginsburg, I think it is appropriate to explain my opening comment about hindsight. We can assume now, some sixteen years after her confirmation, based on case law, her voting record, and her written opinions, that Ginsburg sides with the law and will continue to vote to uphold Roe v Wade. However, upon her confirmation, I am not entirely certain any American, politician or otherwise, aside from Ginsburg herself could have predicted how she would vote on any matter of reproductive health. Ginsburg had this to say about the right to privacy:

"There is a constitutional right to privacy composed of at least two distinguishable parts. One is the privacy expressed vividly in the fourth amendment: The Government shall not break into my home or my office without a warrant, based on probable cause; the Government shall leave me alone.

"The other is the notion of personal autonomy. The Government shall not make my decisions for me. I shall make, as an individual, uncontrolled by my Government, basic decisions that affect my life's course. Yes, I think that what has been placed under the label privacy is a constitutional right that has those two elements, the right to be let alone and the right to make decisions about one's life course."

In the case of Justice Ginsburg, I would argue that in her confirmation hearings she said too much. Instead of clearly defining her positions, as Sotomayor has today with her "settled law" statement, Ginsburg discussed the rulings on privacy issues that were in conflict with one another (specifically Casey and Thornburgh) and continued on to volunteer opinions that may have served to contradict one another. To further prove my point on the statements of Ginsburg prior to her joing the Court, here are two more statements made during her confirmation hearing that are vivid, but unfortunate in comparison to the statements of Sotomayor:

"...The decision whether or not to bear a child is central to a woman's life, to her well-being and dignity. It is a decision she must make for herself. When Government controls that decision for her, she is being treated as less than a fully adult human responsible for her own choices..."

And, in response to a different question from a different senator:

"I will rest my answer on the Casey decision, which recognizes that it is her body, her life, and men, to that extent, are not similarly situated. They don't bear the child."

It is unfortunate that Ginsburg couldn't simply answer the question by stating, as clearly as Sotomayor has, that these decisions had been made and it would then be her responsibility to uphold the law until a case might offer the opportunity for the Court to clarify its position on the matter. It is also unfortunate that in order to compare the way in which Sotomayor has answered the prodding of predominantly male senators on the issue of a woman's reproductive health to another justice, we must go back to the nomination and confirmation of Ginsburg because the questioning practices are far more similar between Sotomayor and Ginsburg than between Sotomayor and Roberts or Alito.

We have been forced to endure the rather pointed questions posed to Sotomayor on whether she feels empathy toward plaintiffs and defendants in cases and, as recently as this afternoon, ridiculous questions about the text of the Constitution and if the actual word 'abortion' appears there. It seems obvious that we should instead be grateful for brevity and clear-cut responses that do not leave us wondering for sixteen years what exactly a person serving on the highest court in our nation believes about the laws that govern us.

All-Star Touch-Ups

Here's a final update on the changes to the All-Star Game rosters with news coming this week that Jonathan Broxton, Dustin Pedroia and Matt Cain won't be able to play in tomorrow night's mid-summer classic (Broxton and Cain are hurt and Pedroia's wife is experiencing pregnancy complications). Called in for the occasion are three guys who more than deserve to be in the game--Carlos Pena of the Tampa Bay Rays, Trevor Hoffman of the Milwaukee Brewers, and Zach Duke of the Pittsburg Pirates.

Tomorrow night look for Tim Lincecum and Roy Halladay to take the mound as the NL and AL starting pitchers, respectively. If there are two better pitchers in the game right now I would like to know who those pitchers are. Lincecum's release and follow through is something I have never seen in baseball and Doc Halladay is amazing to watch. As has been said by every baseball analyst who is anything, where Halladay goes pre-trade deadline, so goes that team to the World Series.

A big congratulations to Prince Fielder and Nelson Cruz, finalists in tonight's State Farm Home Run Derby. Truthfully, I didn't think a guy like Prince Fielder with that swing could even survive the Derby. Also, I was hoping the Derby would serve as a coming out party of sorts for San Diego's Adrian Gonzalez, the way last year's Derby at the old Yankee Stadium was for Josh Hamilton of the Rangers. Naturally my pick for the Derby was the only full-time catcher in it (sorry Brandon Inge, you're now a traitorous third baseman). Who says catchers don't win batting titles? So it's been sixty-seven years. This is the year. I can feel it. Man, I sound like a Cubs fan...

For fans of the game and the game's history tomorrow will be a phenomenal night, not only will we get the pleasure of watching the mid-summer classic with the first pitch being thrown out by President Obama, we will have the opportunity to join the greatest hitter in the game today in honoring one of the greatest players in the history of the game--Stan "the Man" Musial.

Not Politics As Usual

This afternoon I happened to arrive home just in time to hear Senators Schumer and Gillibrand (D-New York) introduce Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor prior to her swearing an oath to speak only the truth in her Senate confirmation hearings. Her opening remarks, serving in many ways as her only controlled and personal introduction to the American people, were thoughtful and inspiring. Her opening remarks, I believe, were presented and intended in a very non-partisan way. As this nation embarks on what will be at times a tense process, I can't help but pause to consider the historical process that is nominating and confirming a justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Today it should not matter that Sonia Sotomayor is the nominee or that the distinguished senator from Vermont is chairing these hearings. Today it should not matter that Judge Sotomayor is a woman or even a Latina. Today as these hearings begin on a national stage, in front of audiences that are torn apart culturally, socioeconomically or even divided on party lines, it should not matter that Sotomayor has been nominated by a progressive liberal, an African-American man, even. Today it should matter that we are Americans and the process that was conceived and written by our founding fathers hundreds of years ago still works. Today the process of nominating and confirming a jurist to the highest court in the land should be looked to as a historic feat and one that we should feel honored to be observing.

The United States Constitution outlines the process that we will watch over the coming days and weeks and it is simply astonishing that a process first put into place in the 18th century can still be meaningful and effective in the 21st century. What better time than now to review Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the Constitution?

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

Call me sentimental and easily moved by the historical processes of our nation, but it is simply incredible that thirty-nine men gathered in the Assembly Room of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 17, 1787 at the conclusion of a lengthy Constitutional Convention to sign the very document that outlines for us today how a jurist may be selected to serve on the Supreme Court.

Disregarding the hecklers in the hearing room, the barely veiled cutting remarks of senators with significant philosophical differences with Judge Sotomayor, and the rabid racial epithets that have been used in the lead up to today's hearing, on process alone, today was a wonderful lesson in the brilliance of founding fathers who saw merit in the establishment of a constitutional democracy. And regardless of how a person might feel about Sotomayor the woman or even the jurist, there is something to be said for the historic nature of her potential confirmation representing only the 111th confirmation of a United States Supreme Court justice, the 3rd confirmation of a female jurist, and 1st of an Hispanic jurist.

When we are wise enough to place politics aside, there is a beautiful history at the base of our political system.

A Commercial Worth Sharing

It's not very often I find myself taking the television off mute during the commercial/inning breaks while I'm watching weekend baseball, but in flipping between the Dodgers/Brewers matchup on TBS and the Braves/Rockies matchup on FSN, I had to stop and watch this commercial every time. You don't have to like the Yankees to appreciate this Pepsi commercial.

Home

"When I speak of home, I speak of the place where--in default of a better--those I love are gathered together; and if that place were a gypsy's tent, or a barn, I should call it by the same good name notwithstanding."
-- Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby

I was ten years old when my family began construction on an assisted living facility for the developmentally disabled. For the better part of six years, it is where I called home and it never seemed out of the ordinary to me that I was growing up in such surroundings. My younger brother, who was three when we began construction, couldn't comprehend some years later when he first started visiting the homes of his friends why all kids didn't have disabled people living with them. With two siblings of our own who are developmentally disabled, I don't think either of us ever gave our living arrangement during those six years a second thought.

After two years of living in an apartment I shared with at times up to five other girls, I felt that I had tasted the college living experience and it wasn't for me. The summer between my freshman and sophomore years of college, my roommates all returned to their homes in the Mini-Cassia area and I remained in our three bedroom apartment without air conditioning and without cable. It was an incredibly long summer broken up only by the trip I took to Dallas that July. When my sophomore year ended and my roommates, none of which were the same roommates as the year before, returned home for the summer, I was determined to find somewhere else to live so I didn't have to endure another summer in that apartment alone. Looking back at that decision, I realize the change that came in my living arrangements that summer was rather drastic.

That summer I could have moved in with a Kenyan friend of mine in the cutest little purple house in all of Pocatello or I could have taken a house sitting job that summer for a professor who was leaving to visit family in England. The purple house had one major hangup--my Kenyan friend had just brought her mother to the States and her mother spoke zero English. Since we would have been home a great deal with that language barrier, I was worried about how that might work out. The house sitting gig brought its own obstacle--cats. The house owners had six cats and I am allergic. Just when I thought I was going to spend another summer in an apartment by myself, I was offered a job as house parent at a local assisted living facility for the developmentally disabled. I can't remember the details, but I think I was asked to take the job on a Friday, moved in on a Wednesday and took a summer course final exam the next day. If I had any reservations about the job, I certainly didn't have the time to think about them.

That was four years ago. In taking this job, I inherited all sorts of things. When I moved in, I didn't even own a bed. I inherited a chair, a book shelf, a bed frame, a dresser in need of some TLC, a couch and a desk. I've added six book shelves and two night stands to that list as well as more books than I care to mention. However, what I've inherited that has turned out to be the greatest blessing is this amazing family. When I took this job I immediately inherited fourteen siblings.

I don't know what other people in my position would consider these living arrangements. Maybe they'd just consider it fourteen roommates? For me it is truly a family. We don't always get along, especially when one TV or another is too loud or the washing machine is about to walk off because whatever I tossed in there caused it to be off balance and everyone in the entire house can hear it. We may not always get along, but there is no question that we love each other like siblings. At first it was simply the fourteen of them and the one of me, but over time they've let me be just another one of the clan. They want to know if I'm sick, if I'm going to work, when I'll be home, if I'm joining them for dinner and every other personal thing they don't even hesitate to ask. And over time, I've come to feel exactly as attached to them as they are to me. I know when they're sick, when they're fighting, if they've gone to visit friends or family, and especially if there is a birthday to celebrate (not because I remember birthdays with any regularity, but because a birthday is well-talked about for days, even weeks in advance).

All of this is to say that we're a family. A rather large and sometimes dysfunctional family, but a family that loves each other nonetheless. And this family just lost a dearly loved member of it.

Yesterday morning one of the residents passed away after a trip to the emergency room in an ambulance. If there is anything more difficult than losing a family member, it's having to tell the other family members. In this case, the difficulty lies in the inability of some of the residents to even comprehend illness and death. And I say 'lies' because there is no past tense around here. We are still having to explain that he isn't coming home again and we are still giving hugs and dealing with sudden outbursts of tears. I suspect we will be for some time. Perhaps in having to be pulled together for the sake of those I live with, I didn't let yesterday's events set in. It wasn't until this morning when I woke at the usual time that I would get up with this particular resident that it really hit me. And tonight as the ten o'clock hour approaches, when I become the responsible staff person, it crossed my mind that instead of being responsible for fourteen of my closest friends, tonight there will just be thirteen. Thirteen people that I admire and love; thirteen people that mean just a bit more to me today than they did yesterday.

I have never lost a family member that I had been living with. This is as new to me as it is to everyone else under this roof. And as non-traditional as we are, we are still a family dealing with this loss in ways only families do--with each other. The entire experience is proving to be a chance to learn and grow for me, but also in this unfortunate situation I have been reminded that a family can be of your making. I'm blessed to have this family that I come home to every day, that loves me for who I am and nothing changes that. We all can miss the forest for the trees and right now I am able to see what is.

The Break

We're headed into the all-star break and Major League Baseball has announced that the final vote winners for the 33-man rosters are Shane Victorino of the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League and Brandon Inge of the Detroit Tigers for the American League. Certainly Shane Victorino's post-season heroics bought him Philly fan votes and as I've said from the get-go, Brandon Inge deserves to be in the all-star game Tuesday. The MLB announced today that replacements for the injured Carlos Beltran and Torii Hunter will be Jayson Werth (pictured, upper right) and Nelson Cruz. Jayson Werth is an amazing talent and though this places the Phillies prominently around the diamond for the NL roster, he is very deserving of this choice. Of course, I'm biased because he's the only player keeping my fantasy team afloat...

Beginning tomorrow we'll see festivites in St. Louis pick up steam. An all-star charity concert headlined by Sheryl Crow will take place in downtown St. Louis. The MLB Futures Game will take place Sunday night in St. Louis (while the Cardinals are taking on the Cubs), the State Farm Home Run Derby will be telecast Monday night, and the big finale 2009 All-Star Game will take place Tuesday night at Busch Stadium and televised on Fox.

Speaking of my fantasy team, if Chipper Jones can't get healthy and start hitting for power, I'm not sure I can keep him in the lineup. Something tells me the move today to send Georgia-born Jeff Franceour to the Mets, bringing Ryan Church to Atlanta isn't going to bode well for Chipper getting some time off. That on top of Escobar's antics and Kelly Johnson on the DL. Who knew Martin Prado would become the steadiest bat in the Braves lineup?

While on the topic of baseball, I read something yesterday about soon to be inducted Hall-of-Famer Ricky Henderson that I wanted to mention. Henderson, who was voted into Cooperstown his first eligible year, will be honored by his old club the Oakland A's in August, just a week after his induction ceremony at Cooperstown. His number, 24, will be retired the A's to honor the 10-time all-star. What I found so impressive about the article is what Ricky had to say in response to the news that the A's would be retiring his number:

"When I was a kid growing up in Oakland, I could never have imagined this happening. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank the Oakland Athletics organization for retiring my No. 24. I would like to thank Jackie Robinson for opening the gates and allowing me to be [able] to play the game of baseball. I would like to thank my family, friends and fans for their loyal support over all these years. This honor is for them as well."

Before his friends, family and fans, he thanked the one and only Jackie Robinson for breaking the color barrier in baseball. I thought that was incredibly admirable and very commendable of Henderson. If there is one thing I really enjoy about the all-star break it is that so many players take the honor as an opportunity to thank the people who got them there.

(CREDIT: "Jackie Robinson, in Kansas City Monarchs uniform." Photograph, Call (Kansas City), 1945. By Popular Demand: Jackie Robinson and Other Baseball Highlights, 1860s-1960s, Library of Congress.)

Senator Resign (R-LaLaLand)

I've heard references to "Senator Resign" from a few talking heads today and I've thought, well, isn't that a bit harsh. You can't call for the resignation of a man simply because he lacks common sense and is an unabashed hypocrite, but the more this story behind Ensign's affair unravels, the more I understand why people are calling for his resignation.

Chris Cillizza of The Fix is reporting on just who was giving money to Senator John Ensign's (R-Nevada) mistress--his parents. No, I am not making this up. The story that began as a rather simple and common 'I cheated on my wife' scenario has morphed into something almost as insane as what comes out of Governor Mark Sanford's (R-South Carolina) mouth every time he opens it. In the past weeks we've learned that not only did Mr. Family Values cheat on his wife, his mistress and her husband were friends of the senator's family and were involved in his campaign. As if those details weren't enough, we've also learned that the husband of Ensign's mistress was attempting to extort millions of dollars from Ensign and the son of this couple was employed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee at the urging of Ensign while he was chairman of the NRSC.

According to The Fix, Ensign's father, former chairman of the Mandalay Resort Group, shelled out $96,000 a year ago to his son's mistress. Apparently the elder Ensign knows a little something about that famous saying "whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."

At this point, if Ensign were to resign, I'm not even sure if he would be able to dodge a massive ethics investigation. Did he offer the son of his mistress a job because he deserved a job or did he do so because of the relationship with the guy's mother? And, even more cynical, could he have offered the son a job because he had found out about the affair and this was Ensign's way of keeping him quiet? All of these things boggle my mind. The fact that this is a sitting United States senator who was being urged by his Senate colleague and housemate, Tom Coburn, to abandon the affair while living a high profile life is small potatoes in comparison to the financial and ethical breaches.

While some of us have moved on from wondering what exactly this secretive Christian group known as C-Street is that houses the likes of Ensign, Sanford and Coburn, I think it is safe to say that most of us still can't wrap our minds around the bigger question here--how'd this fly under the radar for so long? The man either asked his parents to pay off the woman he was cheating on his wife with or they volunteered the money. Meanwhile a fellow senator is begging Ensign to end this affair and what does he do? Hires the son of his mistress to work for the NRSC. What, his campaign wasn't good enough?

Quote of the Day

"Mature as he was, she might yet be able to help him to the building of the rainbow bridge that should connect the prose in us with the passion. Without it we are meaningless fragments, half monks, half beasts, unconnected arches that have never joined into a man. With it love is born, and alights on the highest curve, glowing against the grey, sober against the fire."

-- E.M. Forster, Howards End

Taking Note of Superb Blogging

Perhaps it goes without saying, but things have been completely upside down around here for the last few weeks. I've tried to keep up with the blogs, posting here-and-there on this one, but I'm afraid the really deserving writing that I'd like to mention here hasn't been given any attention. As I continue working on a few posts of my own, I want to point to the really superb writing over at Idablue of late:

• "Gov. Sanford" (6/26)
• "It's near to becoming official" (6/27)
• "Sanford saved again" (7/4)
• "Minnick and health care" (7/4)
• "Join the Navy and see the world" (7/7)

You'll notice I left one of his past six posts off this list. His post on Sarah Palin's comments about Down Syndrome children isn't necessarily something I agree with, but I share his confusion over Palin's actual comment. Regardless, five out of six isn't bad and I highly recommend you take a look over at Idablue and see for yourself exactly what I'm talking about. Keep up the good work, Idablue!

All-Star Selections

The 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be held at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on the evening of July 14th. Yesterday, during a televised selection show on TBS, the starters, pitching staffs, and reserves were announced for the American League and National League. The following represents how fans (for the starters) and MLB players and All-Star Game managers (for pitching and reserves) voted:

American League Starters
C: Joe Mauer (Twins)
1B: Mark Teixeira (Yankees)
2B: Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox)
SS: Derek Jeter (Yankees)
3B: Evan Longoria (Rays)
OF: Ichiro Suzuki (Mariners)
OF: Jason Bay (Red Sox)
OF: Josh Hamilton (Rangers)

AL Pitching Staff: Tim Wakefield (Red Sox), Zack Greinke (Royals), Roy Halladay (Blue Jays), Josh Beckett (Red Sox), Mariano Rivera (Yankees), Mark Buehrle (White Sox), Justin Verlander (Tigers), Andrew Bailey (A's), Brian Fuentes (Angels), Edwin Jackson (Tigers), Felix Hernandez (Mariners), Joe Nathan (Twins), Jonathan Papelbon (Red Sox).

AL Reserves: Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox), Ben Zobrist (Rays), Carl Crawford (Rays), Jason Bartlett (Rays), Curtis Granderson (Tigers), Torii Hunter (Angels), Justin Morneau (Twins), Adam Jones (Orioles), Victor Martinez (Indians), Aaron Hill (Blue Jays), Michael Young (Rangers).

AL Coaching Staff: Joe Maddon (Rays), Trey Hillman (Blue Jays), Don Wakamatsu (Mariners).

National League Starters
C: Yadier Molina (Cardinals)
1B: Albert Pujols (Cardinals)
2B: Chase Utley (Phillies)
SS: Hanley Ramirez (Marlins)
3B: David Wright (Mets)
OF: Raul Ibanez (Phillies)
OF: Ryan Braun (Brewers)
OF: Carlos Beltran (Mets)

Pitching Staff: Johan Santana (Mets), Tim Lincecum (Giants), Matt Cain (Giants), Jonathan Broxton (Dodgers), Heath Bell (Padres), Jason Marquis (Rockies), Dan Haren (Diamondbacks), Ted Lilly (Cubs), Chad Billingsley (Dodgers), Josh Johnson (Marlins), Francisco Cordero (Reds), Ryan Franklin (Cardinals), Francisco Rodriguez (Mets).

Reserves: Price Fielder (Brewers), Adrian Gonzalez (Padres), Brian McCann (Braves), Ryan Howard (Phillies), Miguel Tejada (Astros), Hunter Pence (Astros), Justin Upton (Diamondbacks), Ryan Zimmerman (Nationals), Brad Hawpe (Rockies), Freddy Sanchez (Pirates), Orlando Hudson (Dodgers).

Coaching Staff: Charlie Manuel (Phillies), Tony La Russa (Cardinals), Joe Torre (Dodgers).

The All-Star Game rosters have been expanded this year to include 33 players on each team, up from the 32 on last year's rosters. The final man on each roster will be voted on by the fans. Below are the players eligible in each league for your final vote:

Final Vote
American League
Chone Figgens (Angels), Brandon Inge (Tigers), Adam Lind (Blue Jays), Ian Kinsler (Rangers), Carlos Pena (Rays).
National League
Matt Kemp (Dodgers), Cristian Guzman (Nationals), Mark Reynolds (Diamondbacks), Shane Victorino (Phillies), Pablo Sandoval (Giants).

My votes didn't exactly match up with the overall picks, however my final vote for the AL will go to, without hesitation, Brandon Inge of the Detroit Tigers and I think the final vote choices picked the wrong Philly--I would have gone with Werth--so my NL vote will go to Pablo "Kung Fu Panda" Sandoval (why the nickname? just look at this dude).

It is very exciting to see two veterans of the game, Tim Wakefield and Raul Ibanez, finally being recognized for their talent and stamina. Should be a great all-star break in St. Louis. The future all-stars game will take place on the evening of Sunday July 12th, the State Farm Home Run Derby Monday July 13th and the big finale All-Star Game Tuesday July 14th.

Smorgasbord Saturday

Happy Independence Day! Please remember that today is a day to celebrate our freedom and not simply a day to shoot fireworks into the neighbors yard...

I have been thinking a great deal this week about a handful of writers, the Shelleys, E.M. Forster, and James Joyce. For reasons I'd rather not share, I've found a certain amount of solace in the firm understanding they each seem to have had on the suffering and struggles of all human beings. You'll notice my quote of the week comes from Joyce's second greatest work and talks about pity, terror and human suffering. Somehow I think that the mind behind Howard's End and Mary Shelley who created a character, Victor Frankenstein, with the wherewithal to say that "the different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings of human nature" may have known something the rest of us have yet to grasp. Without meaning to wax somewhat philosophical, I don't see writers of this magnitude in our midst today. More on writers, books and what they mean in this digital day and age when fewer people actually crack open a book and lose themselves in the pages to come in the next few days.

On a lighter note, the Major League Baseball All-star Game Selection Show will begin at 1pm (EST) tomorrow on TBS. 32 of the 33 roster spots will be announced and voting will soon open to fans for the final roster spot. The Homerun Derby will take place July 13th with the 2009 All-star Game the following night, July 14th.

I have been rather intrigued by the decision of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin to resign as governor of the state of Alaska. The Vanity Fair article that preceded her announcement to resign effective July 26th is a rather interesting read that I would recommend to anyone that hasn't already taken a look. What role, if any, the article played in Palin's decision to resign is unknown, however, Vanity Fair is recognizing the timing of their article and directs your attention to yesterday's press conference and Palin's appearance in Runner's World (with her adorable son Trig). There are so many questions yet to be answered, but one I can't help but articulate is how on earth did Vanity Fair become the go-to for political and cultural analysis? It's worth nothing that the great reveal of one of history's bigger questions--Who was Deep Throat?--happened in Vanity Fair when former G-man Mark Felt gave them the exclusive interview.

In other magazine news, the Smithsonian magazine has a great feature on Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev's visit to Hollywood fifty years ago. The article (with video) shows a man who was almost as unpredictable as Sarah Palin visiting a country with which he was at odds. It is hard to imagine today that at the height of the cold war, a visiting head of state would be welcomed, nearly everywhere but Disneyland, and entertained as if there were no serious concerns in the world. I suppose the only thing as unimaginable at the time, looking back, is that Richard M. Nixon was truly a rising political star.

That's it for this smorgasbord installment. No music links to share, even. Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend.

Quote of the Week

"Pity is the feeling which arrests the mind in the presence of whatsoever is grave and constant in human sufferings and unites it with the sufferer. Terror is the feeling which arrests the mind in the presence of whatsoever is grave and constant in human sufferings and unites it with the secret cause."

-- James Joyce, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

TGIF Tunes

Thriving Ivory with "Flowers for a Ghost" (actual song begins at 1:33 or for just good quality audio try this). Was hoping one of their covers would be available for high quality download--no such luck.

Going to Sleep

Now that the day wearies me,
My yearning desire,
Will receive more kindly
Like a tired child, the starry night

Hence, leave off your deeds
mind, forget all thoughts
All of my forces
Yearn only to sink into sleep.

And my soul, unguarded,
Would soar on widespread wings,
To live in a night’s magical sphere
more profoundly, more variously.

by Herman Hesse

Not All Publicity Is Good Publicity

Rachael Daigle of the Boise Weekly picked up on the Newsweek story about "Idaho slumlord" who had varying degrees of dishonest degrading things to say about Pocatello. Go check out her piece at BW and please read the response of local newsman Jimmy Hancock (following the intro by Jenny Hopkins) who takes Newsweek to task for not doing more research for their original piece.

Voting Down to the Wire

There are three days left for fans to vote for the MLB All-star Game starters. The fans pick the starters for each defensive position, the players pick the starting pitchers, and the coaches (last year's World Series managers Joe Maddon and Charlie Manuel) fill in the rest of the All-star game rosters.

The only rules? Each team in baseball must have a representative from their team on the All-Star roster. This doesn't mean that the fans must pick a player from each team on their ballot, but it does mean the players and coaches are responsible for evening things out and picking players from lesser-known rosters. Fans can cast their ballots up to twenty-five times. The winners will be announced by Major League Baseball and they'll suit up t square off in St. Louis during the all-star break weekend. The National League starters will take on the American League starters and perhaps, just maybe, the National League will put an end to their infamous losing skid. The all-star game will be played on July 14th with the home run derby and futures game prior to the big night.

Enough already with the particulars... Here's how my ballots have gone:

Starting with the American League, my choice at first base has flipped back and forth between Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins and Carlos Pena of the Tampa Bay Rays. I haven't been able to pick, in good conscience either Mark Teixeira of the Yankees or Youkilis of the Red Sox. Teixeira is a very talented first baseman, but there's a line to be drawn when you expect and accept such a ridiculous contract.

At second base I have chosen Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers on half of my ballots and Aaron Hill of Toronto on the rest of the ballots. Earlier in the week, Kinsler was up 3 homers to Aaron Hill, but Hill has been on a tear and I'm sure has since surpassed Kinsler. At short stop, I've had to take into account that there are plenty of superb players at that position in the American League. However, my philosophy on this pick is if you take the short stop out of the lineup, can the team survive. That leaves one man--Marco Scutaro of Toronto. His fielding fuels the Blue Jays and his presence in that lineup gives Aaron Hill the protection required to hit as he has. The guy most overlooked in the American League and most deserving of getting the start at third base is Brandon Inge of the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers have been unstoppable on many fronts and the offense Inge has brought this season is part of the Tigers' success. I also look at what Inge can do defensively and marvel at his athleticism--he can play third base and catch a game with an equal amount of skill. Of course, in the American League Inge is going to be overlooked, but still, Inge has been my choice on all twenty-five of my ballots.

Another guy who has been my pick on every ballot is Joe Mauer, Minnesota's catcher. Since his return from the DL, he has been a power hitter the likes of which Minnesota hasn't seen in years. Put him in the lineup with Morneau and it's an amazing thing to see.

The ballot allows for a fan to choose three outfielders for each league. Not discounting the brilliance of Jason Bay or J.D. Drew in Boston, I have to go with the Seattle corners--Ichiro Suzuki (who is leading the league in hitting) and Ken Griffey, Jr. "The Kid" has infused the Seattle lineup and brought leadership to a clubhouse that has been without it since, well, the days when Jr. played there the first time around. Griffey isn't just a presence, either. He has proven that he still has the stuff of legends. His place in Cooperstown is secure and he's a perfect choice for the AL ballot. Rounding out my top three is Torii Hunter now with the Angels after years of amazing wall-smashing catches at the Metrodome in Minnesota. What sealed the deal for me in terms of the ballot was Hunter's recent three-homer game. He has offense to add to his superb defense and the Angels are all the better for it.

Moving on to the National League ballot... Perhaps the most difficult decisions for me come with the NL ballot because I am truly biased. The NL is what I love and the kind of baseball I like to see played. One of the most difficult decisions came in voting for a first baseman. Clearly, Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals will be the starter at first. Being in St. Louis, the fans are going to pick him and with his recent 29th and 30th home runs, Pujols is a lock. His defense and offense are unmatched. However, I think that one of the obligatory picks by the NL coaches will snag Adrian Gonzalez of the San Diego Padres as the backup first baseman. There's always a chance Ryan Howard of the Phillies will get to play an inning or two here as well. All of my votes went to Adrian Gonzalez who is, I believe, the most underrated players in the game.

My votes at second base were split with a majority going to Chase Utley of the Phillies. He's leading the votes there and I'm sure he'll be the starter. The rest of my votes actually ended up going to Orlando Hudson of the L.A. Dodgers because he has been the best off-season acquisition in years. If the Dodgers didn't have so many stand-out players and didn't have the cloud of Manny Ramirez always hanging over them, I think a lot of people would be raving about Hudson and what he has brought to the Dodgers. Just think about the fact that in his first regular season game in a Dodgers uniform, Hudson hit for the cycle. That's simply amazing no matter what position you play.

Short stop in the National League is an interesting predicament. If you take out Jose Reyes of the Mets who has been battling hamstring and calf problems and you take out Jimmy Rollins who has yet to hit with any consistency this season, the standout player has to be Hanley Ramirez of the Florida Marlins. Tejada is out, not because he isn't playing well, but because I refuse to vote for someone who is so secretive. Tejada used steroids, period. All-star caliber players in this new era of baseball have to be punished for that. And picking Hanley meets the rules of representing all NL teams.

My choice at third base is and will always be as long as Chipper Jones is playing, completely biased. There are standout performers in the National League, David Wright with his league leading batting average being one of them. However, Chipper Jones embodies everything I love about baseball and like my philosophy regarding the AL shortstop, if you were to take Chipper out of Braves' lineup, I'm convinced their numbers would be equal to the mediocre if not pathetic numbers of the Nationals.

The best offensive catcher in the National League has to be Brian McCann of the Atlanta Braves. The best defensive catchers are without question, Yadier Molina of St. Louis and Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez of the Houston Astros. Despite Pudge being my favorite player in the game today, all of my votes went to McCann though Molina will be the starter because the game is being played on his home turf.

The three picks for the National League outfield are Juan Pierre of the L.A. Dodgers, Raul Ibanez of the Phillies, and his teammate, Jayson Werth. Pierre has stepped in when the Dodgers needs consistency most and in many ways has done what Manny Ramirez never will do--play the game well and quietly. Pierre deserves to be recognized for not only playing well, but also for being the anti-Manny. What is there to say about Raul Ibanez? This is his year. Though on the disabled list at the moment, Raul will be back and he's carrying his team while Howard finds his stride and Rollins gets things back on track. Ibanez has been one of the biggest surprises in baseball this season and deserves to represent the Phillies in the all-star game. Jayson Werth may seem like an odd choice, but like Adrian Gonzalez, this is a guy who is severely underestimated. He hits for power, gets on base and even steals bases. All while fielding his position with ease.

As a fan, I don't get to vote on any of the pitchers, but if I did for the American League I would, limiting myself to four in each league, choose without hesitation Zack Greinke of the Kansas City Royals (I think everybody who knows anything about baseball would pick Greinke); Tim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox, who surprisingly has never been an all-star starter; Mariano Rivera of the Yankees, arguably the second-best closer in the history of Major League Baseball; and, Roy Halladay of the Toronto Blue Jays who continues to get better and better with each passing season.

The National League pitchers I would choose if given the option would be Tim Lincecum, reigning Cy Young award winning starter with the San Francisco Giants; Johan Santana who continues to be the best thing and perhaps only thing the New York Mets have going for them; Trevor Hoffman, a guy whose career may have seemed over, but he is closing games with Milwaukee this year in ways he closed games a decade ago; and, another guy who appeared to be a washed out, has-been Jason Marquis in Colorado.

Voting closes on July 2nd, so don't put off casting your ballot(s) for too much longer. The all-star break is rapidly approaching.