Traveling Day Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 03:28:01 PM EST
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I'm at the airport, heading back to Denver (slowly, having to change planes in Chicago) from rural Connecticut where I've spent the last five days with Jane Hamsher of Firedoglake and her three big poodles, Kobe, Lucy and Katie.

Jane is amazing. She is an eternal optimist and determined to get as much joy out of every day as she can, despite her cancer, which I'm convinced she is going to beat. We walked up and down the long winding hilly road to her house for 60 minutes every day. We cooked and ate only the freshest fish, greens, fruits and vegetables. She looks as gorgeous as always, has a strong appetite, laughs a lot and was great company. If I didn't have a day job, I would have stayed longer.

The dogs are incredibly smart, sensitive, respectful and loving. I'm going to miss them.

We didn't see much news, the days just kind of flew by, so here's another open thread to bring us all up to speed.

I should be back to regular blogging Tuesday or Wednesday.

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Traveling Day Open Thread | 25 comments (25 topical)

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Did ya ever wonder why ... (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by Sailor on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 05:33:54 PM EST

... General Franks said "We don't do body counts"

And do ya remember how the US and the UK said the science was bad when The Lancet was when they said "they were 95 per cent certain that the real number of deaths lay somewhere between 392,979 and 942,636"

Well, they lied yet again.

It turns out that more Iraqi civilians have died under bush occupation than died under saddams' rule.

Heckuva job there bushie.

: Good point about Lancet study (none / 0) (#13)
by john horse on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 10:11:53 PM EST

If you follow Sailor's link you find this interesting bit of information about the Lancet study from the British government.

But the chief scientific adviser to the Ministry of Defence, Roy Anderson, described the methods used in the (Lancet) study as "robust" and "close to best practice". Another official said it was "a tried and tested way of measuring mortality in conflict zones".
The radio show This American Life did a segment on the Lancet study and how the eagerness of the mainstream media to dismiss it.

Happy trails, and best to Jane, too! (none / 0) (#1)
by scribe on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 03:30:51 PM EST

Bush, the courts, (none / 0) (#2)
by desertswine on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 04:14:45 PM EST

and global warming.

Dissenters of the Supreme Court decision included some of the more conservative justices, including Justices Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts.

Of course.

Bad science equals bad law. (none / 0) (#4)
by Slado on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 04:54:49 PM EST

I guess I can't blame the SC for succoming to the latest fad which is the belief in man made climate change.

I mean why would anyone want to believe that the earth is too complicated to be explained by Al Gore when believing in Al Gore makes us feel good?

Funny that a bunch of 6th graders could get it right but the SC can't.

Here's some actual science on the subject that doesn subscribe to the current religous dogma that is the basis for the new Global Warming religion.


I'm sure this guy works for Exxon... (none / 0) (#5)
by Slado on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 05:09:08 PM EST

Syun-Ichi Akasofu probably doesn't know a thing about the climate.


sheer ignorance ... (none / 0) (#11)
by Sailor on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 09:26:04 PM EST

... constantly repeated is still ignorance.

Relying on 6th graders having a debate to base your scientific opinion on is the stupidest thing I've ever read here.

But that's the level of this commentator. Not even bush the oilyman denies that GW is happening and it is man influenced.

Oh, and the retired scientist quoted, also says this: "I always become suspicious when many scientists agree on some interpretation"

When scientists don't agree is cause for suspicion. When they do agree, over and over, and publish their results in peer-reviewed papers for all other scientists to analyze the data and repeat the experiments and they still agree ... that's called a fact.

And IRT the mechanical engineer that sluggo also trotted out, gee, guess who's pocket his money comes from: The coal mining industry.

So while sluggo succumbs to the latest fad in trashing Gore and science, actual scientists who aren't in 6th grade and don't make their money from the coal industry have established the facts that global warming exists and it is greatly increased by man.


: Once again... (none / 0) (#15)
by Slado on Tue Apr 03, 2007 at 09:15:28 AM EST

How come we never question the motivation of scientists who's field requires the GW myth to be reality to keep going? How come we never question the motivation of the eco-activists when the founder of Green Peace says they've gone to far?
My bad for believing in science.
I'm not saying the earth isn't warming and we shouldn't plan for it. I'm saying to blame it on CO2 is ridiculous and we should find better things to do with the billions pored into a scientific theory with so many holes.
If you haven't watch the documentary about the skeptics then you're doing yourself a diservice.
The current media hype about GW is so one sided it's comical.
For every claim made by the media there is a natrual explanation based on historic patterns or the claim isn't ture.
The earth is warming and we should all get ready to enjoy the sunshine. The doomsday scenarios are both unrealistic and motivated by other intentions.
The CO2 battle has been lost with China, India and the devloping world gearing up to join western civilization and they aren't going to give two blanks for what a bunch of high minded, double talking climate preachers have to say while they fly around the world in gas guzzling jets to spread their message.

Bad law, but for a differen't reason, Slado (none / 0) (#6)
by Gabriel Malor on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 05:16:53 PM EST

Of less interest for environmental advocates is the ruling in this case that States can make civil suits against federal agencies without having to satisfy the normal standing requirements. That's why this case led to a 5-4 decision.

The Supreme Court was asked to rule on whether the EPA can be forced to regulate carbon dioxide as a "pollutant" within the meaning of the Clean Air Act. But before any federal court can reach a ruling on the merits, the plaintiffs must demonstrate that they have standing to bring the case.

Staning usually requires that the plantiff suffer an injury, that the injury can "fairly be said" to be traced to illegal or unconstitutional action, and that the injury be redressable. In other words, the federal courts will not entertain suits from people who haven't actually been injured (with the specific exceptions of First Amendment facial challenges and Congressional exemptions). Nor will they decide cases where there is no cause-effect nexus between the injury in the objectionable act. And finally, if there is no remedy that can fix the injury, the courts will decline to make a ruling.

Because the more liberal justices of the Supreme Court are less interested in following the rules of standing (rules that they happily employ against conservative causes) and more interested in reaching the merits of this environmental darling of a case, they made up a new rule of standing: States don't have to satisfy the standing requirement.

Here, because Massachusetts was a party, the Court decided it could reach the merits. This despite the fact that no plaintiff could point to an actual injury. Nor could they point to any likely injury that would be caused by the EPA declining to make regulations on CO2 emissions from automobiles. Nor could they point to a cause-effect nexus between the EPA declining to make regulations on CO2 emissions from automobiles and any likely injury. And finally, no plaintiff could claim that their putative injury would be redressed by forcing the EPA to regulate CO2 emissions.

Forget the science, Slado. This was bad law because it was simply bad law. Now States have free reign to sue the federal government regardless of whether they can show any actual injury has occurred. This is the next best thing to getting unrestricted taxpayer suits.


OT correction (none / 0) (#9)
by Gabriel Malor on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 05:35:22 PM EST

I just want to apologise for writing "reign" when I meant "rein" above. This is a pet peeve of mine and I am ashamed that I let it get by me.

I blame distraction, owing to the outrage I feel at the Supreme Court's new rule of standing.


: I'm outraged also ... (none / 0) (#10)
by Sailor on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 09:00:06 PM EST

... that anyone could possibly think there are 5 liberal members of the supremes.

ignorance of the law ... (none / 0) (#12)
by Sailor on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 09:28:44 PM EST

... and of science.

Obviously Pat Robert's home law skool is working overtime.


I am not a lawyer... (none / 0) (#16)
by Slado on Tue Apr 03, 2007 at 09:17:43 AM EST

That's why I come to this site to be instructed by real lawyers.

I am an engineer and I know bad science when I see it. See above.

Thanks for breaking down the lawyering for me Gabriel. It's why I come to this site.


Sixth Grade Science with Ken Poppe (none / 0) (#17)
by gollo on Tue Apr 03, 2007 at 10:11:30 AM EST

can hardly be described as either "good science", or "unbiased",when Ken (Executive Director of
IFSED (International Foundation for
Science Education by Design)) is at the helm.

Evolution? 'nonesense' says Ken,
Darwin? 'Wrong again,' says Ken,
Global warming? 'Wrong, Wrong Wrong,' says Ken.
God did it? 'Eureka!' exclaims the unbiased scientsist.

The Great Global Warming Swindle? Changed from being described as a documentary, to a polemic. Why? misled scientists, questionable graphs, "some of the lines were just too squiggly for average joe so we drew a nice straight one" (to paraphrase), and a director and production team with a questionable track record for misleading, making up facts and just being plain wrong.


"Enjoy the sun... (none / 0) (#18)
by desertswine on Tue Apr 03, 2007 at 10:59:37 AM EST

shine."

Chacaltaya could be as much as 18,000 years old, but it has lost 80% of its area in the last 20 years.

"These glaciers are our water stores. One of our great concerns is the future of our drinking water supplies."

Reports like these are very disturbing indeed.


Enjoy the Sunshine! (none / 0) (#20)
by Slado on Tue Apr 03, 2007 at 05:55:25 PM EST

Here's my problem with the GW crowd.

If the "science" is to be believed then it's too late to stop the increase in CO2.

Nevermind the fact that Volcanoes, the ocean and other natural means create the vast majority of CO2 let's just put the realities aside and accept the fact that only the man made portion of CO2 is really causing the warming and ignore the fact that temperature is the cause of the rise in CO2.

IF the manmade argument is accepted then it's too late to stop it.

How are we going to make China and India stop making CO2 at the rate they currently make it and let alone at the rate they will make it?

The real answer: we're not.

The pie in the sky GW Al Gore make believe answer: "We'll set a good example".

Why don't we just give our economy to China Mr. Gore?

At the same time liberals complain about our trade cap, China's rising power blah, blah, blah they want to saddle our economy with CO2 taxes and government regulations all based on bad science.

Makes sense to me.


Buckley says it better.... (none / 0) (#21)
by Slado on Tue Apr 03, 2007 at 05:59:37 PM EST

Buckley on GW hysteria...


: Buckley.... (none / 0) (#22)
by desertswine on Tue Apr 03, 2007 at 06:05:49 PM EST

writes "spy" novels, doesn't he?

What a delightful vacation, Jeralyn! (none / 0) (#3)
by Kitt on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 04:20:48 PM EST

I feel rested too, just thinking about it. :)

These poor slobs.... (none / 0) (#7)
by kdog on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 05:23:01 PM EST

might lose their teaching jobs, for smoking a doobie at a rock-n-roll show.

Yet they could have drank 20 beers at the show and had the law's, and the board of ed's, blessing. Go figure.

Signs of Progress In Iraq? (none / 0) (#14)
by john horse on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 10:35:43 PM EST

Thanks to Senator McCain for showing us what real progress is in Iraq. After four years of war, 3,200 Americans killed, and over 24,000 wounded, just about anyone wearing body armor, accompanied by 100 American soldiers, three Blackhawk helicopters, and two Apache gunships, can walk to a market outside the green zone in Baghdad and purchase five carpets for five bucks. (warning - sarcasm alert).

Revelations by Yoko Ono (none / 0) (#19)
by Peaches on Tue Apr 03, 2007 at 11:11:36 AM EST

Someone shared this with me this morning. I thought I'd pass it along.

Bless you for your anger,
It's a sign of rising energy.
(transform the energy to versatility and it will bring you prosperity)
Bless you for your sorrow,
It's a sign of vulnerability.
(transform the energy to sympathy and it will bring you love)
Bless you for your greed,
It's a sign of great capacity.
(transform the energy to giving,
Give as much as you wish to take and you will receive satisfaction)
Bless you for your jealousy,
It's a sign of empathy.
(transform the energy to admiration
And what you admire will become part of your life)
Bless you for your fear,
It's a sign of wisdom.
(transform the energy to flexibility and you will be free from what you fear)
Bless you for your search of direction.
(transform the energy to receptivity and the direction will come to you)
Bless you for the times you see evil.
(evil feeds on your support. feed not and it will self-destruct.
Shed light and it will cease to be)
Bless you for the times you feel no love.
Open your heart to life anyway
In time you will find love in you.
You are a sea of goodness,
You are a sea of love.
Bless you, bless you, bless you,
Bless you for what you are.
Count your blessings ev'ry day for they are your protection
Which stand between you and what you wish not.
Count your curses and there will be a wall
Which stand between you and what you wish.
The world has all that you need
You have the power to attract what you wish.
Wish for health, wish for joy,
Remember, you are loved.
The world has all that you need
And you have the power to attract what you wish.
Wish for health, wish for joy,
Remember, you are loved.
I love you

You don't know what you've got till it's gone (none / 0) (#23)
by Edger on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 01:54:19 PM EST

People on an Iraqi street, before they were made so happy by George W. Bush's 2003 liberation.

Video here.

Nice video... (5.00 / 1) (#24)
by desertswine on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 03:05:55 PM EST

a beautiful, vibrant people.

I wonder how many are dead now.


: It does tug, doesn't it? (none / 0) (#25)
by Edger on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 03:08:26 PM EST