Auburn man ordered to pay support for child that's not his

"Cruddy" indeed

The end result of higher Oil prices.

I don't feel like writing this today but I will write it soon.

I do want to leave you with this to ponder---who wins with higher Oil prices?

The goal of Republicans: Making America into Mexico

I will get into this in greater detail one day, but consider this. Next to the US, Mexico has the second largest number of Billionaires in the world.

When you consider the differences in cost of living, it could be argued that Mexicans ONLY worth hundred's of millions could legitimately be considered on par with American Billionaires.

And yet a huge part of mexico's population lives in abject poverty. A blind man could see the inevitablity of bloody class struggles in Mexico if the US border was ever to be adequately secured.

If the mexican government took 10-20% of the money owned by rich Mexicans and invested it into the education and housing of it's poorer citizens would the rich still not be filthy rich? Would a greater percentage of the poor not be more able to contribute to the prosperity of Mexico?

But you can't do that. The elite run Mexico. Their money is precious to them and belongs to them and no one else. They would not stand for someone taking from them. So they allow the rest of the country to rot.

Public education is crap. Mexico's police force is internationally known to take bribes. Theft and violence is a part of daily life in mexico.

The rich elite live above that. If they want to fly their families somewhere, they call an acquaintance in the airlines. Paid ticket holders are routinely bumped from their seats to free those seats for the elite. Flights leave early so the elite are not inconvenienced.

America uses taxes and services to address the gross imbalances that can exist between the rich and the poor.

America already fought its war on slavery and banned indentured servants. America has been about giving EVERYONE an equal chance to succeed in no small part in reaction to those learning experiences.

Why do the Republicans think America should be more like Mexico?

Republicans choking on their own success (A bit of a happy ramble)

I wish I could say it was all part of the plan, but no. The democrats did TRY to win the last election, but the eastern democrats chose an ineffective eastern candidate over a general and former head of NATO as the candidate to challenge a bumbling, language mangling, incumbent whose STRENGTH was his internationally despised, ill-conceived foreign policy.

In spite of the Dems eternal wretchedness in choosing candidates, the Democrats almost stole the presidential election in Ohio---despite a heavy national lean to the republican party overall.

But what can you say. The Democrats were handed an incumbent opponent with a 49% approval rating --- practically a guaranteed loser --- and they "mislead" their party to a near landslide defeat.

Obviously, election day 2004 was a bitter day for liberals everywhere. The thought at the time was that this landslide defeat might be the end of the democratic party (not a bad idea IMO, but a vast overreaction...Again IMO). With Bush back as President and the House AND the Senate firmly controlled by Republican majorities nothing would prevent the Religious Reich from implementing their agenda. Roe v. Wade would fall. The rich would be further released from a significant tax burden. America would continue to invade countries we don't like. The American government would continue to spend money to win stupid wars at any cost while the country falls further and further into debt. And, of course, liberals would be blamed for it for disagreeing. (Because we are all, admittedly, whiney bitches.)

Well, based off the last 6 months, I could not be happier with the prospects for the next 3 years at least.

The Republican's political success is....well....a big fat pretzel.

So far they have put themselves up against the supreme court in a notably contentious way. (A frustrated Tom DeLay made statements that seemed intended to imply congress would wreak their righteous holy vengeance on the supreme court's powers and funding for not going along with the Reich's agenda. Some media have taken DeLay's words to imply that he is --- in old school KKK politician style --- openly suggesting that someone might take some righteous fury out by trying to kill a judge. The reporting suggests DeLay's words were irresponsible at best, reprehensible at worst.)

They have tried to manipulate the system to achieve a political+religious goal (Trying to keep Terri S. Alive despite the fact the courts had already followed due process on the matter in a professional and thorough manner.)

The media appears to have caught DeLay in an honest-to-gosh ethical scandal. There appears to be enough smoke to launch and investigation into DeLay, but DeLay has had an active role in making changes to ethics committee rules that makes it impossible for an investigation into his ethics to occur without a republican crossing the line.

Republicans wear their "morals" like bulletproof vests, but their lack of ethics are proving more difficult to obscure.

The Republican leadership is learning that "yes, Bush's economic plan is in fact pretty much the same one that had the economy on it's knees for the last 4 years". Being able to give approval on policies that don't work won't buy you much goodwill with the public.

The trade deficit has hit an all-time record.

Gas prices are at ridiculous highs.

We continue to borrow money for things that do not help our Infastructure and will not make us MORE capable of paying off this debt.

The economy appears faltering which suggests interest rates are NOT going to go back up much. That in turn means that banks will have to work MUCH harder to make loans --- meaning they will have to offer more loans to less qualified candidates at these reduced rates to make the kind of money they need to make. That in turn mean more defaults. More bankruptcies. More bank bailouts.

Congressional approval rating is at a deserved 37%.

I cannot wait for the next election. As it will not be a presidential election, the eastern democrats who chose lame candidate after lame candidate will not be able to undermine this group of Republican's work.

2008? Well. That still looks like a date with disaster. It appears the Dem front runners are Hillary Clinton (a woman) and Obama (a black man). Great candidates for a proudly chauvinistic and racist electorate.

Oh well. We can only hope that sane Republicans (like John McCain) can save the day and squeeze empty shill Rudy Giuliani and backwoods asshole Jeb Bush out of the presidential picture in 2008. Maybe we could actually have a red, white, and blue America again, instead of a red one and a blue one.

"Bigger fool theory" points to Housing bubble in many markets

I heard this on the NPR today and I thought it was an interesting take on speculators and speculation.

The story being discussed was whether or not there was a bubble in the real estate markets in certain regions (california being one). This interested me as it was an idea leading economist (and my brother) Dr. Luke put forth a number of times quite forcefully to other Californians we encountered on our vaction last week. A lot of leading economists have apparently fallen into line stating that a "bubble" existed in certain regions accross the US.

They quoted the bigger fool theory. The idea was that investors are now buying houses in certain areas not for usage gain by renting or occupying, but rather to sell them at a higher price to the next buyer. Hence they are looking for a "bigger fool".

They went on to talk about the fact that rental prices are remaining consistent in the area, but home values have in some cases more than doubled. That suggests that home values are artificially high in some areas.

I know to say that homes are artificially overpriced in California is no suprise to any of my friends in California, but the fact that it is now being seen as a problem by economists who are know loudly voicing these concerns does indicate there may be some real blood letting in some real estate markets in the near future. Buyer beware.

Reefer Madness - Videos and Music from the Showtime Movie Musical

"Listen to Jesus, Jimmy" is my favorite.

I'm Not Locked Into This 5.75% 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage With You --- You're Locked Into This 5.75% 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage With Me

Latest from The Onion

This is really funny stuff. Ordinarilly, the Onion does not amuse me, but this is greatness.

Breaking News!!!!! ~ Dr. Luke's Travels in Blogland ~

My dear sweet brother Dr. Luke now has his own Blog! Please visit him and encourage him!


~ Dr. Luke's Travels in Blogland ~

AOL News - 37 percent favorable opinion of the work being done by Congress

AOL News - President's Approval Rating Falls Again: "37 percent have a favorable opinion of the work being done by Congress"

Great image!

The King Has No Clothes: But Saying So Might Land You In Prison

I thought this was a very interesting article dealing with the supression of dissenting voices under bush.