Author: BooMan

Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.

Here’s an Open Discussion

“She’s just trying to make sure Anthony gets a good meal–Antonio.”

-Bush commenting on Laura inviting Justice Antonin Scalia to dinner at the White House. NBC Nightly News With Tom Brokaw, Jan. 14, 2001

But, this is also a reminder that you should consider the World/Open box in the top menu a permanent Open Discussion.

If You Know of Any

Good European or Canadian…or other international political blogs, please list them below.  I want to create a ‘world’ section to my Blogroll.

Thanks.

Okay, I Give In

So far, I have studiously avoided any discussion of the circus going on in Washington DC over this poor women who has become a political football. But, I finally saw something in this story that really smelled of truth and decency.

Mr. Shiavo said something that bears repeating. Over and over again.

President Bush has indicated he will sign any federal legislation to keep Terri Schiavo alive.

Weary after an emotional visit with his wife, Schiavo said he is astonished that politicians want to interfere in such a private matter.

“Instead of worrying about my wife, who was granted her wishes by the state courts the past seven years, they should worry about the pedophiles killing young girls,” Schiavo said, referring to a local case. “Why doesn’t Congress worry about people not having health insurance? Or the budget? Let’s talk about all the children who don’t have homes.”

He said U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who is leading a charge to extend Terri Schiavo’s life, is a “little slithering snake” pandering for votes.

St. Petersburg Times

And to put this in the form of a Q & A:

Q. Why doesn’t Congress worry about health insurance, the budget, or our children?

A. Because Tom DeLay is a little slithering snake.

I love this site…I hate this site

Here’s a thread to heap praise, contempt, advice, complaints, thoughts about weird stuff no normal person would suggest that just might be brilliant…

And anything else.

Have at it.

Shout Out to Corzine

As the dynamic duo spreads out across the country to spread their lies and false fear on Social Security, Senator Corzine tweaks ‘Big Time’ Cheney, and gets a big hand from the BooMan.

While Cheney campaigns in California and Nevada, the president was stopping in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico before returning to his Texas ranch Tuesday afternoon. Bush appeared with his mother, former first lady Barbara Bush, in Florida on Friday.

In a conference call with reporters Monday, Sen. John Corzine, D-NJ, one of the leading opponents of the president’s plan, said Cheney had “a virtual career of disdain for Social Security,” and compared his appearances to sending Saddam Hussein to campaign for democracy in Iraq.

“He’s certainly not being sent on the road to convince Democrats, moderates or Baby Boomers,” Corzine said.

Having met so much resistance to the proposal from older Americans, the White House is focusing now on persuading younger people that changes are needed to the Social Security system. Under the Bush plan, only workers born after 1950 would be eligible for the individual investment accounts.

The Press Enterprise

And the Winner of the Frog Naming Poll Is:

Prescott- 8 votes – 10 %

Boofrog- 10 votes – 13 %

Blog Frog- 7 votes – 9 %

Toadblossum- 8 votes – 10 %

Darwin- 13 votes – 17 %

Freedom Frog- 5 votes – 6 %

Jean-Frog Van Damme- 4 votes – 5 %

Rovitt- 11 votes – 15 %

Karl- 1 vote – 1 %

Jeremiah- 6 votes – 8 %

Any election lawyers out there? I hear Rovitt is on the phone with Jim Baker as we speak.

P.S. Are we using regular rules, or Louisiana rules?

Attracting More Diaries and More…

…World Diaries and more members both foreign and domestic:

Everything is going well with the site, in large part because our little community has been so patient and helpful with making suggestions.

My only complaint so far is that I have been so busy working on technical issues, and other details, plus trying to be a welcoming host…that I don’t have any time to do any serious writing, or even to really keep track of breaking news.

So, here is my request for help.

The site will be more fun and more successful if we can gain some more users, and particularly users from around the world, so that the ‘World’ feature really starts to work.

We also could use more diaries to help me keep up with the world outside this website.

So, if anyone has any good advice on how to promote the site, attract new users, or get more diaries, please post them here.

And any volunteers are welcome too.

You’ve all been great, and this venture has, so far, exceeded all my expectations.  Thank you all.

…and tell your friends we’re here 🙂

Sunday Morning Political Pantomime

I always found this useful at dKos.

MEET THE PRESS

Gen. Richard Myers

LATE EDITION (CNN)

Sen. John E. Sununu (R-NH),
Sen. Carl M. Levin (D-MI),
Lt. Gen. R. Steven Whitcomb,
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari,
Gen.(ret) George A. Joulwan,
Lt. Gen. (ret.) Michael DeLong,
Maj. Gen. (ret.) Don Shepperd

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld,
Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL)

THIS WEEK (ABC)

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ),
Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein,
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld

FACE THE NATION

Gen. Richard B. Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-VA),
Robert D. Manfred Jr., executive vice president of Major League Baseball.