State of the Day

Speechless

2011-05-23T12:33:00.003-04:00

As noted in my last post, State of the Day is officially on extended hiatus. One day I may find my voice again, but, for now, I'm speechless. Thanks again, all.

Oh, and, Republicans suck.

Rest in peace my little buddy

2011-04-01T10:35:00.007-04:00

After a very short, and hopefully pain-free, battle with mast-cell tumors, I had to say goodbye to my boy, my buddy, my constant companion for the last nine years, TIMMY!, on Sunday. Needless to say, the Creature household is very sad these days.

TIMMY! was one of kind. The kid lived every minute to the fullest during his short life. We think maybe he knew something we didn't. Without exaggeration, he was the happiest cat ever and he brought us more joy than I could ever express.

Rest in peace, buddy. Rest in peace.

Above is TIMMY! in his pet-my-fat-belly prime and below is a clip of his acting debut in a PSA made for the NYC Department of Health. Yes, he was a star. And, no, that's not me.

On a blogging note, this will probably wrap up posting on State of the Day for a while, if not for always. Maybe one day I'll resurrect the place, but for now I'd prefer to leave TIMMY! as its legacy.

Thanks, all.

Truth in Comics

2011-03-27T10:44:00.000-04:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Saturday Cat: TIMMY!

2011-03-26T15:10:00.000-04:00

Truth in Comics

2011-03-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Saturday Cat: Butters

2011-03-19T10:43:00.001-04:00

Saturday Cat(s)

2011-03-12T14:04:00.001-05:00

TIMMY! with a guest appearance by Butters' leg.

Truth in Comics

2011-03-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Saturday Cat(s)

2011-03-05T16:09:00.000-05:00

Truth in Comics

2011-02-27T08:00:00.001-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Saturday Cat: Timmy!

2011-02-26T16:11:00.001-05:00

Truth in Comics

2011-02-20T08:00:00.001-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Saturday Cat: Tweek

2011-02-19T22:02:00.000-05:00

Truth in Comics

2011-02-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat: Butters

2011-02-11T23:12:00.000-05:00

Truth in Comics

2011-02-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat: TIMMY!

2011-02-04T10:03:00.000-05:00

Truth in Comics

2011-01-30T08:00:00.001-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat: TIMMY!

2011-01-28T19:22:00.001-05:00

Truth in Comics

2011-01-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat: Tweek

2011-01-21T14:58:00.000-05:00

Truth in Comics

2011-01-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Saturday Cat: Timmy!

2011-01-15T20:40:00.001-05:00

Thank you, President Obama

2011-01-12T21:52:00.003-05:00

You gave a speech the country needed.

Truth in Old Comics

2011-01-09T08:00:00.001-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat: TIMMY!

2011-01-07T14:11:00.003-05:00

I am a really sucky blogger

2011-01-07T13:45:00.002-05:00

It's just not in me right now. However, Friday Cat and Truth in Comics will continue.

Truth in Comics

2011-01-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat: Butters

2010-12-31T11:19:00.002-05:00

Truth in Comics

2010-12-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat: TIMMY!

2010-12-24T16:56:00.001-05:00

Still pleased

2010-12-22T20:01:00.003-05:00

Days like today don't come around often. DADT, START, 9/11 first responder bill, then a kick-ass press conference. Good stuff.

Truth in Comics

2010-12-19T08:00:00.001-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

The end of DADT

2010-12-18T14:23:00.002-05:00

I don't hate everything about politics right now. It's strange.

Friday Cat: Tweek

2010-12-17T19:55:00.000-05:00

Truth in Comics

2010-12-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat: TIMMY!

2010-12-10T11:45:00.001-05:00

Pelosi's last stand

2010-12-09T13:08:00.002-05:00

She's standing firm with the majority of her caucus and demanding changes to the tax deal before it comes to the floor. Maybe we'll get that game of chicken after all.

With tax deal, the Bush coalition is back

2010-12-09T12:41:00.003-05:00

A majority of Republicans ban together with just enough DINOs to pass crappy legislation. I've seen this play before and, if I remember correctly, the country ended up in a ditch. Insanity rules.

Tax deal

2010-12-07T09:14:00.000-05:00

Let's be clear, politically, Obama got everything he wanted out of the tax-cut deal. The point, right or wrong, was to separate himself from the liberal base and appeal to moderates and independents. The more we wail the more the White House cheers. It's Bill Clinton all over again. Mission accomplished.

A dying GOP breed

2010-12-05T13:26:00.003-05:00

While I appreciate and praise the moderation expressed by Senator Lugar, I still don't see him breaking with his party on vote, after vote. Until he steps out of the GOP lemming-parade I can't take much solace from his moderate words.

Truth in Comics

2010-12-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Why waste all that typing on an email

2010-12-04T11:53:00.008-05:00

As you guys have become acutely aware of, I have no time to blog (or, I'm so dispirited, I don't feel much like it). However, I have had time to have some spirited email exchanges, see my last two substantive posts, with a very moderate buddy (and reader) who insists on making the false equivalency argument that both the Left and the Right suck ass and are only interested in destroying the other. I call him a militant moderate. Well, we got into another row yesterday after I sent him a link to this Tom Tomorrow comic:

And the "discussion" flowed:

Him: Calling me a tepid moderate seems out of line on a nice Friday morning – and, besides, as you have noted before, I am pretty militant in my moderatism.

Here is what I do not get: You and your southpaw crew apparently think that the right is out to deliberately destroy and run the US into the ground (just like the right thinks the left is). That is my main problem with the battle lines that have been drawn. I simply just refuse to believe that either side is thinking “how can I, not only obstruct the other side, but DESTROY the country today.” Each side believes what they are doing is right, and both sides want what they see as “the best for the country.” You can disagree with their theory, but I just cannot believe that one side or the other wants the country to implode – cue you calling me naïve….

Me: You’re naïve.

If the left were as absolutists as you think then maybe you’re right. However, the left (or should I say Obama) has been bending over backwards to meet in the middle (the health plan was a GOP plan from the '90s and Mitt's from when he was governor of Massachusetts, the tax cuts were larded into the stimulus to satisfy the GOP—and they still didn’t vote for it, Cap & Trade was a GOP idea—-I could go on) and they have gotten nothing in return. They may not want to destroy the country, but they want to destroy Obama, make sure he’s a one-termer. It’s politics over the good of the country. This is what I’m talking about and you never acknowledge this. You are blinded by your militant moderation.

Him: I think we have played this record before.

Why do they want to “destroy” Obama? Because in their minds, according to their political theories, he is not doing what is best for the country.

Why did the left want to “destroy” Bush – for EXACTLY the same reasons – they didn’t agree with his politics and thought he was taking the country in the wrong direction.

Why did the right want to “destroy” Clinton? You get the point.

Me: Right, but I just gave you concrete examples of the Left trying, in good faith, to deal, so it’s not the same. Can you at least admit that?

Also, too, the Left gave Bush every opportunity and benefit of the doubt at the start (pretty much until Iraq). The battle cry to destroy him did not happen until then (not even from me). Obama got no such luxury (and he didn’t even send people to die in an illegal war of choice).

Here’s a thought experiment for you: If 9/11 happened under Obama what would the GOP do? Now, think back, when 9/11 happened the country and all Dem politicians were overwhelming supportive.

And another one: If Lehman’s collapse and the banking crisis of Sept. '08 happened under Obama, what would the GOP have done? It happened under Bush and the Dems banded together to help despite that fact that it helped a GOP President.

I’m just saying it’s not as black and white as your middle-of-the-road mind would like.

Him: Hypotheticals are not really useful. I know which conclusion you draw, but I do not believe you can play “what if” like that. Do you seriously think that the GOP would not rally behind the president in the face of an attack on the country? Also, you make it sound like the left was doing Bush a favor – they were overwhelmingly supportive because it was the right thing to do.

Yes, you provided one example. If you are representing to me that in the history of American politics, the Right has always been obstructionist, and have NEVER tried to deal in good faith, I guess an uninformed guy like myself would have to take you at your word. Is that what you are telling me?

Right, its not black and white, but its not either black and every single shade of gray on the one side and only the purest white on the other, like the left often represents.

Me: You’re killing me.

“If you are representing to me that in the history of American politics, the Right has always been obstructionist, and have NEVER tried to deal in good faith, I guess an uninformed guy like myself would have to take you at your word. Is that what you are telling me?”

What I’ve been trying to tell you, and you so stubbornly won’t hear, is that times have changed. Jeez. Yes, there was a time when there was dealing in good faith. I long for those times. Newt in '94 changed ALL that and they’ve gotten worse ever since. I long for those magical times where Tip O’Neil and Ronald Reagan sat down to deal. It just doesn’t happen today. They do not give Obama an inch. Hell, Clinton gave them everything they wanted (welfare reform, anyone) and they IMPEACHED him anyway. This is what you refuse to see. Again, times have changed. Now, this is a message Dems (and especially Obama) must get too. They still think they can deal in good faith, but there’s none right now. Maybe that will change, but that is not the reality of today.

Him: Ok, Ok, jeez, keep your pants on. I do not refuse to see anything.

Your Clinton point is weak. I am sure you don’t mean that the GOP should have ignored Clinton's lies on the stand (that is what he was impeached for, right? That is a question), because Clinton scratched their back?

Me: I give up.

Him: Quitter.

Me: Just call me Sarah.

Friday Cat: Butters

2010-12-03T19:53:00.000-05:00

My general state of mind

2010-12-02T15:57:00.006-05:00

Obviously, I haven't been blogging lately, but I did have the time today to write an email about my state of mind and what's irking me. So, here goes, for what it's worth:

I’m having a hard time dealing with politics right now. The mere fact that these GOP bastards are going to the mat for the top 2% (proving they are true deficit hypocrites, I mean we’re talking $800 billion added to the deficit here), while at the same time blocking an unemployment extension (the best and purest form of stimulus-—not to mention people will suffer) has me enraged. At the same time all our ball-less president can do is repeat his happy bi-partisan bullshit (while they stab him in the back). The only one with balls in this whole thing is Nancy Pelosi.

If I had the money I would gladly pay more taxes to help. However, the key here is that I’d still get a break up to 250K. Everyone still gets the break (even the billionaires), just not over 250K. It would be one thing if the GOP didn’t say all they care about is the deficit, but that is their mantra and they are prepared to blow a giant hole in it. Hell, it's two wars, Medicare Part D, the Bush tax cuts, and a collapsing economy that got us in this HUGE hole to begin with and they take no responsibility for any of it. Also, their line about not taxing “job creators” is total bull. I loathe them and the feckless Democrats who enable them. I’m this close to checking out and not voting again.

Truth in Comics

2010-11-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat: TIMMY!

2010-11-26T12:56:00.001-05:00

Truth in Comics

2010-11-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Quote of the Day

2010-11-20T11:50:00.006-05:00

"As I've tried to explain, the GOP moderates are gone and the two or three that are left (Snow, Collins, maybe even Scott Brown) still vote like a hive. They even block things they agree with. We can debate why they always vote in lock-step, but we can't debate the fact that they have. I truly do long for a world where news is news and facts are facts. Where an informed public made wise decisions after actively gathering those facts. Where moderates existed in the GOP that could be reasoned with to support moderate legislation (which all this president has offered so far, much to my liberal-socialist chagrin). I long for a world where there is no FOX News or Rush Limbaugh. In that world Keith could go back to sports broadcasting, Rachel could be a world renowned foreign correspondent for NPR, and Jon Stewart could go back to making bad movies and doing bland stand-up. But that's the dream, not the reality." -- me, in an email to a friend (and blog reader) as I continue to try to convince him that MSNBC is not FOX News and that ultimately we agree on Jon Stewart's overriding argument (that cable news is destroying America).

Friday Cat: Tweek

2010-11-19T21:16:00.001-05:00

The Healthcare Is Too Damn High

2010-11-18T16:43:00.000-05:00

Keith v. Koppel

2010-11-16T15:51:00.001-05:00

Truth in Comics

2010-11-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat: Butters

2010-11-12T20:19:00.000-05:00

Crazy busy again at work, but there's always time for cats.

NYT comes out against Pelosi as Minority Leader

2010-11-08T09:00:00.001-05:00

While I'm fully on board with Pelosi being Minority Leader, I do agree with the NYT on this point:

What they need is what Ms. Pelosi has been unable to provide: a clear and convincing voice to help Americans understand that Democratic policies are not bankrupting the country, advancing socialism or destroying freedom.

If Ms. Pelosi had been a more persuasive communicator, she could have batted away the ludicrous caricature of her painted by Republicans across the country as some kind of fur-hatted commissar jamming her diktats down the public’s throat. Both Ms. Pelosi and Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, are inside players who seem to visibly shrink on camera when defending their policies, rarely connecting with the skeptical independent voters who raged so loudly on Tuesday.

Both leaders made horrible spokespeople, but, then again, I haven't really seen any Democrat out there doing any better (Barney Frank being the exception). Pelosi deserves to keep her leadership role, mainly because I trust no one else to fight like mad for the gains achieved.

Truth in Comics

2010-11-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Rachel on Keith

2010-11-06T13:40:00.001-04:00

Brilliant.

Friday Cat: TIMMY!

2010-11-05T19:22:00.002-04:00

Pelosi to run for Minority Leader

2010-11-05T14:23:00.002-04:00

And I'm thrilled. First, because she kicks ass. Second, because it'll piss of what's left off those damn Blue Dogs.

Quote of the Day

2010-11-03T11:48:00.001-04:00

"We the people abandoned Barack Obama yesterday. Hate what you will about him and about how he approached governing. The awful frustration of watching him compromise with a majority will seem like a happy vacation compared to what's coming. No, too many people who supported him in 2008 voted against him through their congressional races this year. And it was for the promise of a couple of extra bucks in their shrinking pay checks each week. Hope dies cheaply in this dirty, dead century." -- The Rude Pundit.

Election hangover

2010-11-03T09:38:00.001-04:00

I'll take my happy in small doses this morning. I'm more than pleased that O’Donnell and Angle lost (and that Buck and Miller will most likely join them). I'm pleased that half the Blue Dog Dems are gone. Good riddance. And finally, that Andrew Cuomo will be my governor.

The sad, of course, is plentiful. The House led by Boehner. Ugh. No Feingold. Ugh. And, no Grayson. Ugh.

Overall I think letting the GOP/Fox etc. control the narrative, from day one, was a big problem. I think the optics around the passage of health care, not the actual bill, was a fatal wound as well. And, sure, an economy in the tank didn't help. That said, Dems still control the White House and the Senate so all hope is not lost.

The next few years will be interesting, for sure.

Voted

2010-11-02T09:59:00.000-04:00

Carl Paladino can suck it. Here's hoping he disappears from our political conversations forever.

Election day

2010-11-01T21:46:00.002-04:00

Of course, go vote.

I really doubt the day will be the tsunami the GOP and the media are predicting. Until it's over I'll stay hopeful that all those registered voters who state their preference for Democrats on almost all issues will show up at the polls. It's hard to imagine otherwise.

On false equivalency

2010-11-01T21:00:00.000-04:00

Almost nothing makes me crazier than the "both sides do it" meme. Here's Keith's reasonable answer to Jon Stewart.

Truth in Comics

2010-10-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

I remember

2010-10-30T15:13:00.003-04:00

Something to keep in mind as election day fast approaches.

Friday Cat: TIMMY!

2010-10-29T13:00:00.000-04:00

Happy blogiversary!

2010-10-28T12:23:00.002-04:00

Five years ago today this blog was born. It didn't always suck as much as it does now, so that gives me hope that it will suck less in the future.

Truth in Comics

2010-10-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat: Butters

2010-10-22T16:49:00.001-04:00

Two trick pony

2010-10-20T22:03:00.001-04:00

So this blog looks like it's all Truth in Comics and Friday Cat. I guess that's better than nothing. I guess.

Truth in Comics

2010-10-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat: TIMMY!

2010-10-15T21:17:00.001-04:00

Truth in Comics

2010-10-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat: TIMMY!

2010-10-08T14:00:00.000-04:00

Blogging

2010-10-05T21:40:00.002-04:00

So busy. I seriously need to win the lottery.

Truth in Comics

2010-10-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat: TIMMY! & Butters

2010-10-01T19:49:00.001-04:00

Enthusiasm gap bridged

2010-09-30T11:35:00.000-04:00

Not that I wasn't going to vote, but the chance to vote against a jerk like Carl Paladino will make it all the more satisfying.

Quote of the Day

2010-09-29T10:41:00.001-04:00

"Vast forests have already been sacrificed to the public debate about the Tea Party: what it is, what it means, where it's going. But after lengthy study of the phenomenon, I've concluded that the whole miserable narrative boils down to one stark fact: They're full of shit. All of them." -- Matt Taibbi on the anti-government, yet government fed, Tea Party hypocrites.

Because sometimes I want to be a cheerleader

2010-09-29T09:46:00.001-04:00

Stop digging

2010-09-28T12:14:00.001-04:00

I will vote a straight Democratic ticket come November. Hell, I may even do it enthusiastically. But, the condescension coming from the president and his people towards the left needs to stop. It's one thing to try to motivate, it's another thing to not recognize (or at least acknowledge) why the left is legitimately unhappy.

Quote of the Day

2010-09-28T11:48:00.000-04:00

"Oh, good times. I’m so glad Democrats insist on using gloves with the extra padding while Republicans are adding spikes to their brass knuckles." -- Balloon Juice commenter Zifnab in response to the latest threats of never-ending investigations if the GOP regains control of Congress.

President DeMint

2010-09-28T08:49:00.002-04:00

Out of control:

South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint warned Monday evening that he would block all legislation that has not been cleared by his office in the final days of the pre-election session.

Maybe Obama should just name DeMint his chief-of-staff and cut out the middle man.

Truth in Comics

2010-09-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat: Tweek

2010-09-24T14:00:00.000-04:00

Two weeks in a row for Tweek. I hope it doesn't go to her head.

Quote of the Day

2010-09-24T11:28:00.001-04:00

"So way to go, Democrats. Instead of celebrating the health care reform bill's positive effects and condemning Republicans for wanting to make the rich richer, you're cowering in the corner, hoping the American people don't hurt you too badly and praying that Republicans won't say mean things about you." -- The Rude Pundit perfectly sums up a pathetic week for Democrats.

Dems: no vote on extending middle-class tax cut

2010-09-23T12:48:00.001-04:00

If I didn't know better I'd think the Dems want to be in the minority again. When handed a winning political issue, in a potentially brutal election cycle, they punt. It makes no sense and is utterly frustrating. What the fuck is wrong with these people?

Obama fatigue

2010-09-21T21:28:00.003-04:00

Sure I'm disappointed in the way Obama's first two years have played out, and yes he is to blame for some of that, but it's the crazy coming from the other side that really has me down (and probably is why I'm having a hard time blogging lately). As Digby explains, it's Clinton fatigue all over again. Hell, part of the reason I didn't support Hillary in the primaries was simply because I couldn't live through the crazy of the '90s all over again. Yet here we are, only more so, and I'm exhausted.

Truth in Comics

2010-09-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat: Tweek

2010-09-17T17:26:00.002-04:00

The Palin effect

2010-09-17T09:17:00.001-04:00

Digby:

But I have to wonder if the enthusiasm gap isn't about to close --- not because the Democrats are more fired up, although some might be. I am thinking that the crazed rightward shift of the GOP might start to suppress enthusiasm among the mainstream Republicans and right leaning Independents.

I think Digby is onto something here. As with the nomination of Sarah Palin, the Christine O'Donnell win may just be the last straw for those more moderate thinkers who can't take the crazy anymore.

Elizabeth Warren

2010-09-16T09:06:00.004-04:00

I'm going to come out of my blogging shell to praise President Obama for naming Elizabeth Warren to his team with a mandate to effectively run the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Not only did he pick the best person to get the agency running, he's bypassing the mess that is the Senate appointment process. Strike one up for enthusiasm there. And, while I'm here, FU Senator Dodd. You and your Wall Street, bought-and-paid-for bluster can take a hike. Enjoy your retirement.

Update: Yves Smith thinks this appointment is a way to sideline Warren. While Jonathan Cohn was skeptical too until Barney Frank put him in his place:

Frank is also convinced that Warren wouldn't take the job if she didn't have all of the authority she needed. When I expressed some more skepticism, he chastised me for being a whiny liberal who can't accept good news when it's in front of me.

That's good enough for me.

Truth in Comics

2010-09-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat: TIMMY!

2010-09-10T18:50:00.000-04:00

Blogging

2010-09-08T23:57:00.001-04:00

Lately it's been a perfect storm of not feeling it and work madness. Hopefully I'll get back in the swing soon.

Truth in Comics

2010-09-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Guest Cat: Mamoux

2010-09-03T11:55:00.004-04:00

I cat sit for Mamoux a lot. She's definitely one of the good ones.

Credit where credit is due

2010-09-01T13:07:00.001-04:00

The Oval Office Iraq speech

2010-08-31T20:55:00.003-04:00

I guess I'm in no mood to nitpick, to fight. I thought the president's speech tonight was strong. He must be given credit for removing 90K plus troops. If president McCain was in there, I doubt the withdrawal would have happened at all. I can even overlook his kid-glove approach with Bush. Like I said, I'm in no mood to fight.