Alright, a couple of plugs, one long overdue. I've been reading Reason by Robert Reich, which is maybe the only level-headed political book on the shelves these days. Much recommended, even though I'm only about 50 pages in. On the music scene, I have been forgetting to point out Sevendust's Southside Double-Wide. Thanks to Tom for the referral (that PX must be stocked). Anyways, I can't stop listening to it; probably the best live album I've ever heard. Solid stuff by a solid band.
Hey, our economy is "turning the corner." Wait, no it's not. I guess we're just watching Bush "Moving America Forward." Into what, for whatever reason, we just don't know. What we do know is that our pals the Saudis have decided to open up the oil taps...just in time for the Republican National Convention presumably. Joy.
Speaking of what George has done for us, apparently his damage control people are all over the moment last week when he said he'd consider a national sales tax. Reason being is that it would hit the middle class and poor a lot harder than the wealthy. Which, considering his tax cut strategy, is probably not anything he gives a damn about.
Alan Keyes is running for a Senate seat in Illinois. Which, being from Maryland, makes him uniquely qualified. But don't call him a strict constitutionalist conservative. In fact, he wants to get rid of that whole pesky "public voting for senators" thing. Seems he, like his party, can't trust the American people to do their bidding for them. At least it's more creative than getting the Supreme Court to trump the electorate.
One last article concerning the Olympics and the low profile our citizens (and athletes by extension) are being asked to take in light of the fact that the entire planet is pissed off at us. Thanks George!!! To be fair, it's not just us being jerks. An Iranian judo athlete is refusing to fight an Israeli because...well, he's a Jew. Thanks for making us look better than you silly racist punks Iran!!!
