Arbitrarily Tom

Wrath 

Ricco Photos part 2 

Ricco fire photos part one 

In reaction to the London bombings, Jared has ordered the terror level at all South Dakota's Subway restaurants raised from Grilled Chicken Jalepeno all the way up to Meatball Marinara

The AP network news reports that the crime of car bombing appears to be down in Iraq, presumably because they're running out of cars to bomb. Administration officials are sending Condoleeza Rice on a fact finding mission as to why the citizens of Iraq just aren't taking advantage of the GM Employee discount.

SUPREME BRINGS
Clarance Thomas has announced he's going to retire next Thursday.

Ruth Bader Ginsberg is pencilled in for the 21st

Breyer and Souter are fighting over the 27th

and Renquist has katie-barred the door and reportedly released the statement .... "YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!"

And in October, Bush will officially start picking his replacements for members of the House of Representatives...

SD's homeland Security director John Berheim says that the state terror level on mass transportation systems really won't affect us since we've yet to build our monorail (Well, sir, there's nothing on earth like a genuine, bona fide, electrified, six-car monorail! What'd I say? Monorail!), though Senator Thune has gotten $43,000 in funds to start building the subway in Murdo.

FOUND ART 

It's sad when Republicans attack Republicans ... but I can understand why some don't like what the state party is forced to stand for (thus the starting of the "Mainstream South Dakota Coalition"... and not just the "Activist judge," "Anti-Abortion," "Pro-Lynching" and "Anti-Gay" bumper sticker things ...

But for not adequately armoring vehicles in Iraq ... a lower Stock Market, a stagnant economy ... approval of torture ... unprotected borders ... 10 trillion dollar deficit, 40 million uninsured ... not having the head of Osama ... giving terrorists reasons not to fear the US ... or the citizens of the world to respect us ... high gas prices ... allowing financial aid to decrease and tuition to increase ... being against helping Africa "as fast" as other countries ...

The critics of the Moderate Coalition (of the willing) slam it for not holding firm to the Republican Party Platform ... but isn't a willingness to compromise with Democrats in the name of progress to actually get common goals and legislation passed something to praise rather than criticize?

SOURCEGATE
Novak (who said the name) is still walking around, Cooper (who did not) is free, Miller (who did not) is not. The source being protected put the life of a CIA operative in jeopardy, and depending on the identity of the source, may have committed perjury on top of it.

Mr. Source certainily knows what he's doing, since Cooper can now say it's "X," which can disagree with Novak's testimony of "Y" which may even disagree with whatever Miller might say, be it "X," "Y" or even "Z." With the judge wanting more than one source ... Who does he think he is ... a journalist?

Admittedly, my favorite conspiracy theory about Ellworth is that everything the Republican bloggers are (occsionally paid to be?) telling us was correct: Thune does have "the President's ear," and the closing is pubishment for Daschle's impudence ... but that the base actually is safe, and being on the closure list is a gigantic hoax since Thune can then prove his "power" by saving it.

This would, of course, require the willingness of Thune to manipulate the entire state, White House strategists like Karl Rove to play "gotcha" politics, and a public that's willing to be used.

LONDON CALLING
Are the London subway bombings the work of Al Queda (a theory immediately forwarded by Bush since "the war on terror goes on")?

Perhaps people trying to stop the G8 Summit from helping Africa with third world debt relief as promoted by the "Live 8" concerts and ONE Foundation? How weird is it to hear (as reported yesterday) that America doesn't want to relieve African debt "as fast" as other nations?

Are the bombers just upset that Paris and NYC didn't get the Olympics? Remembering the homegrown terror of the Oklahoma City bombing, the still unsolved Anthrax attacks in DC, and the abortion clinic, gay bar, and Centennial Olympic Park bombing by Eric Rudolph who attacked at the 1996 Summer Olympics because of his anti-abortion views and because (I kid you not) the Olympic theme was John Lennon's "Imagine," which he felt "promoted the values of global socialism."

In any case ... isn't it nice to have "terror" to talk about instead of the whole Valerie Plame case involving the lack of WMD and the White House's (possibily criminal) retribution against those who disagree with it?

Not orchids or kitties, but we must keep up with the Bloggers,  

“Secularist” is the Santa Claus of religion. An abundant gift giver that people try and convince the innocent to believe in, But more often than not, an illusion used to scare folks into behaving.

It’s so meaningless a distinction that it’s begotten “Church on Church” attacks. When The United Church of Christ tried to encourage people to start attending services again to find a new shared fellowship with their neighbors, regardless of opinions on race, abortion or sexual orientation. (Views also shared by Unity and Unitarian Universalist congregations) they were charged with “hate crimes” against the fundamentalist sects.

Suggesting these churches can advertise they’re “welcome to all” is “bigotry,” according to churches which apparently … aren’t.

The boogeyman of “the communist ACLU is ‘preventing’ Nativity scenes” is used by those seeking religious exclusivity on government property (in communities unlikely to approve of the same space used for similar ceremonies from all religions). Such was the case of the Salvation Army — wanting to be the only charity soliciting at Target.

Which party is using force: heavily funded groups in the business of taking pre-emptive offense, complaining about television broadcasts, movies and music their followers never see, or the seemingly wise businessmen wishing “Happy Holidays” willing to respect customers’ celebrations of Hanukkah, Solstice, Kwanzaa, or even (gasp) nothing in December?

“Forced” recognition that millions of Americans have multiple belief systems and accompanying holidays has shamelessly been labeled a “hate crime against Christians.” Spurred on by talk radio, televangelist’s fund-raising screeds, and identical opinion letters across America, such is the great “Secularist” discrimination Myth.

The latest meme on conservative political blogs is to suggest that Thomas Jefferson said the Constitution should not be treated by "activist judges"'as a "thing of wax." (Tell that to them when they want to add flag burning and gay marriage amendments.) But I digress. ... Were these other actual thoughts from Jefferson making the rounds of the blogoshere it might incite a movement to remove Jefferson (along with that homosexual Abe Lincoln) from Mt. Rushmore (and put up Reagan and the other oft suggested giant granite head, Elvis):

“Because religious belief, or non-belief, is such an important part of every person’s life, freedom of religion affects every individual. State churches that use government power to support themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths undermine all our civil rights. Moreover, state support of the church tends to make the clergy unresponsive to the people and leads to corruption within religion. Erecting the “wall of separation between church and state,” therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society. We have solved … the great and interesting question whether freedom of religion is compatible with order in government and obedience to the laws. And we have experienced the quiet as well as the comfort which results from leaving every one to profess freely and openly those principles of religion which are the inductions of his own reason and the serious convictions of his own inquiries.” — Thomas Jefferson, to the Virginia Baptists (1808).

"Because religious belief, or non-belief, is such an important part of every person’s life, freedom of religion affects every individual. State churches that use government power to support themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths undermine all our civil rights. Moreover, state support of the church tends to make the clergy unresponsive to the people and leads to corruption within religion. Erecting the “wall of separation between church and state,” therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society. We have solved … the great and interesting question whether freedom of religion is compatible with order in government and obedience to the laws. And we have experienced the quiet as well as the comfort which results from leaving every one to profess freely and openly those principles of religion which are the inductions of his own reason and the serious convictions of his own inquiries.”– Thomas Jefferson, to the Virginia Baptists (1808).

“The clergy, by getting themselves established by law and ingrafted into the machine of government, have been a very formidable engine against the civil and religious rights of man.” — Thomas Jefferson, to Jeremiah Moor, 1800

“No man [should] be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor [should he] be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor … otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief … All men [should] be free to profess and by argument to maintain their opinions in matters of religion, and … the same [should] in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.” — Thomas Jefferson, Statute for Religious Freedom, 1779.

“We have no right to prejudice another in his civil enjoyments because he is of another church.” — Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Religion, 1776.

“The declaration that religious faith shall be unpunished does not give immunity to criminal acts dictated by religious error.” — Thomas Jefferson, to James Madison

“I may grow rich by an art I am compelled to follow; I may recover health by medicines I am compelled to take against my own judgment; but I cannot be saved by a worship I disbelieve and abhor.” — Thomas Jefferson, notes for a speech, ca. 1776

“I concur with you strictly in your opinion of the comparative merits of atheism and demonism, and really see nothing but the latter in the being worshiped by many who think themselves Christians.” — Thomas Jefferson, letter to Richard Price from Paris, January 8, 1789.

“My aim in that was, to justify the character of Jesus against the fictions of his pseudo-followers, which have exposed him to the inference of being an impostor. For if we could believe that he really countenanced the follies, the falsehoods and the charlatanisms which his biographers father on him, and admit the misconstructions, interpolations and theorizations of the fathers of the early, and fanatics of the latter ages, the conclusion would be irresistible by every sound mind, that he was an impostor. I give no credit to their falsifications of his actions and doctrines, and to rescue his character, the postulate in my letter asked only what is granted in reading every other historian…. That Jesus did not mean to impose himself on mankind as the son of God, physically speaking, I have been convinced by the writings of men more learned than myself in that lore.” — Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Short, August 4, 1820

“Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.” — Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush. 21 April 1803

Missionary E. Stanley Jones met with Ghandi and aske, “Mr. Ghandi, though you quote the words of Christ often, why is that you appear to so adamantly reject becoming his follower?”

Ghandi replied, “Oh, I don’t reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It’s just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

At some point, valid criticism of the buraeucratic faults became sinful behavior.

Asking Christianity to get along with anything from Judiasm to Athiesm became “Secularism” (the new fundrasing evil to be against though “communism” still seems to be hanging around).”

With cable networks, satelite systems, (three religious radio stations in Rapid City alone, though I’ve gotta love the fact that the new one — The Point — that refuses to admit on the air that it’s a Christian rock station since otherwise teens wouldn’t listen), billions upon billions of dollars in merchandise, influence, and power … they still (like Wal-mart) maintain they’re unfairly discriminated against as a meek defenseless waif.

the supreme court decision on the ten comandments can be summed up as : you can have them as legal documents, but displaying them in 2-ton form just to cause outrage / be an ass about it is not acceptable.

Where are the 2-ton Beatitudes statues?

Howard Dean is effective, but like many other things, the Republicans, unable to admit his suggestions that they use FNC as propaganda, and are a predominantly white elitist group, use him as a distraction.

“Howard Dean was mean to us” is a better headine / 24 hour hews / talk radio / blog bloviation cycle than dealing with the Downing Street Memo.

The Michael Jackson court case and watching Tom Cruise self destruct are better conversation than the President’s least watched press conference and the public’s growing mistrust of his movtives for going to war.

When you don’t want to be the party that refused to declare lynching of African Americans as, you know, maybe a bad thing, beat the drums on Flag Burning. Isn’t our soldier’s mistreatment of the Koran at Guantanamo … the same offense? Oh well, that’s okay because (insert shiny distraction here) … “Did you hear Saddam Hussein likes Doritos”?!?

Gay marriage is a distraction. Terry Schiavo is a distraction. Senator Durbin’s comments were a distraction. A sleazy book about Hilary Clinton (that even Conservatives disavow as a crude, disreputable, poorly-sourced mudslinging screed)? Topic changer du jour.

Health care? Veteran’s Administration funding? Third World Debt Absolution? AIDS? Public Education? A growing dislike of America by the world community? Outsourcing? Sorry, you’re just too boring. Can we get a sexy blonde in here to discuss being mistreated by people on the other side?

Welcome to world inside a bottle of Coca-Cola. Fizzy, caffinated, and syrupy but after the quick fix wears off, bloated, empty calories, wanting more of the same, and headed for diabetes.

I say we get rid of the ACLU only if the NRA and Focus on the Family agree to disband permanently. That’s fair isn’t it?

The ACLU took the side of student run religious clubs in public high schools to distribute their fliers …. defended Jerry Falwell in his fight to incorporate his church … defends anti-abortion groups right to rent public school halls to show fundraising documentaries … the right of a Nebraska church to be treated with the same legal considerations of a school or daycare … the right of a Catholic man to not be court ordered into a Pentacostal drug rehab … the rights to conduct Baptisms in public parks … the right to reveal religious beliefs and still be put on a jury … the rights of students to hand out candy canes with religious messages at Christmastime … suppourting the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, and (religious) Equal Access (to public facilities) Act …

The big lie is that the ACLU does not support religion. On the contrary, it just doesn’t support religious supremacy.

Crosses on money, electrical poles, etc. It’s sadly a tactical trivialization and demonization of the issues that the ACLU actually does fight for and against.

Are coin / seal designers intending their wheat stalks to represent a religious viewpoint subliminally, accidentally, or deliberately … or is the intent to be, you know, wheat? God only knows.

As I recall, the argument allowing “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance is that kids are regurgitating an oath they don’t necessarily understand, “allegiance,” “Republic” “for Richard Stands” and are repeating the ritual because they’re told to. It was the atheist father suing on behalf of his child who argued that the “loyalty oath” had more meaning than it actually does.

Same for the “under god” on money and buildings as it’s not a promotion of one faith over another. Nativity scenes (which people are certainly open to have on private property) are.

The fund raising claim of an “evil godless anti-religion agenda” presumes that the bureaucracies of the churches be they televangelists, politicians, or snake oil salesmen are agenda-less. The very suggestion that all faiths should be equal under the law is the belief of the ACLU, from Atheism, (Baptist, Mormon, Muslim) to Zoroastrianism.

For religions that do believe that they must convert everyone on the planet to their own one-true-deity’s belief, being told they can’t be the only ones promoting their agenda on property that we all own — it’s an “immoral” attack, when they are actually the aggressors.

What’s forgotten, as noted by Smith is a professor and associate chair of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the author of “Christian America? What Evangelicals Really Want,” is that : “Jesus’ (teachings) assumed that his followers would always be a minority surrounded by a plurality of nonbelievers, whom they should not try to dominate, but should love and serve for God’s sake.”

The irrationally feared “marriage equality for all… yes, it could mean millions of dollars to the state tourism and hospitality economy as civil unions and marriage it has in Vermont and Massachusetts.

San Francisco found that treating all married couples (whether long-term committed as gay or straight) equally, saved them millions in health care costs when a higher level of input into the insurance system meant fewer uninsured (and thus a substantial drop in use of Emergengy Room and Urgent Care visits.)

As for the costs of anti-gay laws (the major moneymaker for Focus on the Family and CWA), not only did Colorado lose millions of dollars in a tourism boycott over their Amendment 2, but the state spent even more millions in legal costs taking the when the unconstitutional measure all the way to the US Supreme Court, where they lost.

Creating a second class of citizen as fearful paranoid state Constitutional Amendment will do automatically sets up South Dakota for a legal battle it cannot afford. If the SD Family Policy Council, Concerned Women for America, and Focus on the Family are willing to pay the states legal bills for this fight, then yes, lets “ban marriage.” But let them be pay for what their movement costs, not the taxpayers.