One of the reasons I love Booman Tribune is because of the wonderful people here who are free to challenge and wrestle with issues, and to try their best to walk in a person's shoes for a perspective not their own.

Of the many, many wonderful folks who post here, Supersoling's voice is one I greatly respect. And he asked me a question that elicited such a deeply-felt (or for the more cynically inclined, totally wordy) response that I wanted more space to expand upon how I felt.

I feel like this diary is serving as a kind of political confessional. It is by far, not my best writing. I'm not advocating answers, just giving my response. I'm sort of surprised at the depth of feeling. It was only one man's honest question, after all, not a slam or a provocation. But it was a good question, and one that allowed me to name my frustrations--I hope, for the last time about this subject of this primary--all of the attitudes that surfaced; my belief that it was made to be divisive purposefully; and how I'm trying to make my way through the muck of all that.

His announcement will be at 1:00 in New Orleans.

See more here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/30/AR2008013001069.html?hpid=topnews

The past is not dead. In fact, it's not even past. William Faulkner

I thought about that quote the moment I learned the news of President Ford's death last week. I informed my husband a few minutes later, and then said to him, You know, it's odd that his funeral will be just days before a Democratic Congress takes over.

But perhaps this is not so odd. You know that cliche--God has a great sense of humor. And impeccable timing, to boot. Putting the lie to the vain hope that past can be buried with the truth. It cannot. Foolish people can only attempt.

Which would explain the week's worth of hosannas of our great president.

Because he's the Republican laughing the hardest now that DeLay will resign.

Quietly, of course.

Yesterday, I read the front page story on USA Today on the phenomenon known as "Stop Snitching" which of course, rather stridently urges witnesses to crime to keep their mouths shut. Let me be the first to say that I'm repulsed by this. I understand the disgust at police informants who give to police information (or what the police want to hear) while they can get away with whatever it is that they want, I have no sympathy for the fools that prey on folks in the community. Save your sob story.

Having said that, however, what's new here, other than the T-shirt and matching cap? It's not new to neither the mafia nor the police ...

...and it's most certainly NOT a new concept to the Duke University Lacrosse Team.

And isn't it funny that their likenesses aren't splashed on the covers of major newspapers?!

[CNN is chatting this up ... From the diaries by susanhu ... and don't miss JPol's huge story below!]

Prelude to a frog march? This just in via a phone call from a friend and the NYT:

Embattled Rep. Tom DeLay decided Saturday to give up his post as House majority leader, clearing the way for new leadership elections among House Republicans eager to shed the taint of scandal, two officials said. (Emphasis mine.)

Everyday it gets worse (NYT):

Counterterrorism agents at the Federal Bureau of Investigation have conducted numerous surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations that involved, at least indirectly, groups active in causes as diverse as the environment, animal cruelty and poverty relief, newly disclosed agency records show.

Oh, there's more:

One F.B.I. document indicates that agents in Indianapolis planned to conduct surveillance as part of a "Vegan Community Project." Another document talks of the Catholic Workers group's "semi-communistic ideology." A third indicates the bureau's interest in determining the location of a protest over llama fur planned by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

The documents, provided to The New York Times over the past week, came as part of a series of Freedom of Information Act lawsuits brought by the American Civil Liberties Union. For more than a year, the A.C.L.U. has been seeking access to information in F.B.I. files on about 150 protest and social groups that it says may have been improperly monitored.

Well, well, well--what have we here in today's Washington Post?

RICHMOND, Dec. 16 -- Gov. Mark R. Warner (D) on Friday quietly amended an executive order that for the first time explicitly bans Virginia state agencies from discriminating against gays in hiring and promotions.

The policy went into effect immediately, and a spokeswoman for Gov.-elect Timothy M. Kaine (D) said the incoming governor plans to continue the policy by signing the same executive order when he is inaugurated Jan. 14.

Moreover,

Warner also added "sexual orientation" to nondiscrimination language in the $72 billion budget that he delivered to lawmakers Friday. Passage of the budget with that language would codify the change in state law, making it more permanent, [Warner spokeswoman Ellen] Qualls said.

Hello all.

This diary is for For Justice: Day 2 regarding Alito's positions on age discrimination & FMLA.

My own "copper coinage" (I have someone here to thank for that phrase): States have rights; people don't. This warped concept is as antebellum as it is evil. Don't be fooled because Alito's bright enough not to snarl; he's as wingnut as they come ... only quieter.

Anyway, please take this letter and adapt as you will. Feel free to use all or in part.

Hello all.

Thank you for your comments/suggestions/recommendations here. I really appreciate it!

So what does a poodle and a stopped clock have to do with this?

This is a picture of folks at work at  al-Jazeera.

I detest wasting any time talking about this slime. I hate to even put his vile visage on this august site.

So I'll be brief.

We have a tradition of calling the veterans in our family to wish them a happy Veteran's Day and to thank them for their sacrifice for us and their service to the country. We especially thank them because while the country they have served doesn't always love, appreciate and thank them, we do. Today I include a person I've never met who I'd like to thank, too.

She is Sgt. Kelly Dougherty and she is a co-founder of Iraq Veterans Against the War. And she is still serving this nation with distinction.

I know that we have a long road ahead of us--the latest front being the Scalito nomination. But for a moment, I want to share with you something powerful. Something that can perhaps give us inspiration for the unwelcome, but unavoidable, journey ahead.

It's the honor that Mrs. Rosa Parks brought to the Capitol.