On 1 May, Justice Souter confirmed some long running rumors and formally announced he was preparing to retire. Before the ink was dry on his signature, the game over his replacement started. No one was nominated for the position yet, of course, but a number of people were preparing to skewer whoever was so anointed as other prepared to defend them. It was good old-fashioned tribalism made into a bizarre ritual performance.
Monthly Archives: May 2009
PowerPoint Ballistics
You find yourself in a dark room, dazzled by charts and graphs and pictures that go by just fast enough to lose you. The speaker at the front is well intentioned and trying desperately to make you as enthusiastic as they are, but it’s no use. Your mind wanders, desperately trying to find something to daydream about that will keep you from nodding off, drooling on yourself, or both.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a special holiday, and not just because it honors those who gave their lives for our nation. It was a spontaneous holiday that came about because it seemed necessary more than politically expedient. There was little official about it until long after it was part of our national calendar.
Ysabella
There’s nothing quite like studying history to change your life. No, I don’t mean this in the “those who do not know history are condemned to repeat it” divination of your future. Just as surely as language is equal parts communication and personal identification, a good analysis of history is a combination of knowledge and deep perspective that tells you something about yourself. It’s not about predicting the future, it’s about how you fit into the world right now.
Unallotted
For those of you who don’t live in Minnesota, USofA, I apologize. Our legislative session just ended with not a shout nor a wimper, but something of a wheeze. It was a lesson in political power and how to use it, or not use it, that I believe says a lot about the problem Democrats have generally. For that reason, I’ll offer my analysis of the event and let anyone who cares to throw darts at me. C’mon, I’m ready for a fight after this disaster!
Barataria - The work of Erik Hare 