There are a lots of reasons I would not be able to hold my head high and admit to being a member of the GOP but I will focus on one. Anyone that reads this blog knows I am opposed to the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and regard armed conflict in this respect as a complete and utter failure of our diplomatic corps. Nevertheless, I hail from warriors, my ancestors fought their way up the Iberian peninsula and ultimately settled in France and Ireland enduring many hardships and inciting and surviving many battles on the way. Generally regarded as fearless and hardy I can only wonder what they would make of a panic driven society that willingly lines up to remove their shoes before going on a journey. And now we have to worry about underwear….

Recently, while visiting the DMV I witnessed a diminutive, frail, old woman walking in with a framed marriage certificate. It seems she had recently remarried and wanted to change her last name. After waiting her turn she gathered her bag and picture frame and tottered up to the counter and began rummaging around pulling out bits of paper and ID. Alas, she was turned away by a very sympathetic DMV employee because she had not sufficiently proven she was an American citizen. 1) She needed an original Social Security card not a copy and she couldn’t locate her Medicare card. 2) She needed her marriage license, a certificate signed by her pastor was not proof she was married. 3) She would have to write to California for a copy of her birth certificate in order to prove her statement “but I have lived here all my life”.

Ben Franklin famously said ‘Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.” Not only have we lost security and freedom but we have forfeited our dignity along with it. How shameful Congress sees fit to treat the citizens of this country as potential terrorists over the acts of a few.

The GOP continue to campaign on fear and crow with military machismo, “my SMAW is bigger than your RPG”, and legislate draconian laws initiating embarrassing rituals wherein we remove our shoes before boarding a plane and peeping toms will be provided with x-ray machines to facilitate looking up our skirts. How degrading and shame on the Democrats for playing along.

All I can think is what a bunch of fraidy pants. What colossal pussies. What are they overcompensating for? If they submit to nude x-rays we may find out soon.

My ancestors are rolling over in fits of laughter… I know it.

How important is NY’s 23rd district? Not very…

Keith outdoes himself tonight and rightly points out that we have way too much ignorance in this country and in Congress for this country to prevail. Rep Joe Wilson was not only disrespectful, he was WRONG!

In my opinion, the same can be said for some of the elected officials in Coos County as well.

This is very, very, funny satire and so true!!! Get Bachmann on the phone.

(hat tip/Janice)

Spectacularly beautiful venue along the Umpqua River hosted a nice gathering designed to raise awareness and funds of the gubernatorial efforts of Bill Bradbury, former Oregon Secretary of State.

Jody McCaffree leading the fight against LNG in Coos Bay, speaks with the candidate afterward.

Bradbury will be at Black Market this evening in Coos Bay

Just got some reports on DeFazio’s town hall in Corvallis today and will receive updates on Grants Pass by tomorrow morning. Apparently, protesters, tea baggers if you will, some from as far away as Vermont! are disrupting local town halls including DeFazio’s. Word is that DeFazio handled the event pretty well.

Who the hell do these people think they are disrupting OUR TOWN HALL MEETINGS and intruding on OUR opportunity to talk with OUR Congressman?

Evidently they arrive two hours early to secure the best seating and they take over the meeting.

UPDATE: From AP

U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio ran into a buzzsaw of fear and misinformation about federal health care reform proposals Wednesday on his first day of town hall meetings during the Congressional recess.

At a stop in Grants Pass, the Springfield Democrat repeatedly had to call for quiet and correct people on what the proposed legislation actually says regarding end-of-life care, illegal aliens and other issues.

DeFazio noted that the bill before the House has Medicare pay for the elderly to talk to their doctor about what kind of care they want at the end of their lives. He characterized fears that it would promote euthanasia as “phony arguments.”

(hat tip/Jody)

It is really hard to maintain any optimism or hope that Coos County might participate in a knowledge economy when the largest newspaper writes an editorial designed to keep the populous dumb and angry.

Entitled ‘Politics is all about persuasion’ the editor proceeds to persuade the reader a recent decision on the part of the City of San Francisco City to denounce Coos Bay’s proposed LNG terminal and pipeline is not based on factual data and well researched decision making. Rather that SF is populated by liberal busy bodies intruding upon other people’s business.

Opponents of a North Spit LNG terminal have failed to enlist hometown councils and boards in their cause. Oregon requires neutrality on land-use planning issues, and besides, local electees don’t need a fracas.

Thwarted at home, the LNG foes found willing ears in San Francisco. And such ears! The San Fran has a notorious fondness for crusades both large and small. It has battled the National Rifle Association over banning handguns, lectured China about human rights, and cleansed the city of non-biodegradable grocery bags.

Now, I could easily argue that each of the ‘crusades’ listed above have significant economic impact on the well being of San Francisco citizens but The World isn’t interested in facts or they would not belittle Jody McCaffree, a life long resident of Coos County, without citing some facts to support backup their own unconditional support for foreign LNG. The editor, still devoid of facts then resorts to name calling labeling board member, Chris Daly a “firebrand di tutti firebrand”. How classy, Clark, you should be really proud of your pithy, earthy and studiously ignorant redneck prose.

One final comment, the editorial begins by referring to old time journalists as if the writer had some insight into real journalism. Old time journalists, real journalists considered it a requirement to inform their readers, not blow smoke up their asses. How stupid do you think everyone is?