mushinnoshin

Glad to see Kucinich introduce Articles of Impeachment against Bush. Of course it’s not going to go anywhere, it’s the statement that matters. A hundred years from now historians will be able to look at the congressional record and know that at least *some* people were willing to call this criminal regime for what it is.

Nice to see Wexler co-sponsor. I don’t know much about him, but I do understand he endorsed Obama under heavy criticism, so good on him.

Of course I wish they could have done this a year or seven ago. At this point I’m actually inclined to agree with Pelosi and the others who are going to kill it, knowing that it could backfire and hurt Obama in the fall. Don’t get me wrong, if I was on the hill myself I’d vote for it, but I’m not going to be angry when the Democratic leadership doesn’t — this time.

More at ImpeachBush.

Now does this mean Kucinich has locked up the Libertarian Party nomination next time around, or do they only nominate people who try to impeach *popular* presidents?

I’ve been watching a Civil War flick. I may have more to say about that later, but for now — they just showed a scene where the Confederates held a barn dance, and I just wanted to remark on how it amuses me that the music they played, an ancestor of bluegrass, and similar to any fiddle-centric music you might hear in such a period piece on the Old South, sounds Celtic to me.

Of course that’s not a coincidence, as all of that genre up to and including bluegrass proper truly is descended through the Scotch-Irish lineage by way of immigration from the homeland. And certainly, there’s nothing original in noticing this connection. I just wanted to remark on it, because it has always seemed an interesting topic to me. Perhaps speaking particularly as a musician with Scottish roots who enjoys the Celtic while yet keeping the Southern at a distance, it represents a part of my need to accept myself for who I am and where I come from — or is it a need to educate my closer “American American” relatives on the European origins of *their* culture?

Eh, don’t really know at the moment. I think I’ll just grab an ale and restart the film.

Mother Jones with one of the better roundups I’ve seen on Obama’s VP Options.

I’m not really sure who I’m rooting for at this point. Bill Richardson is my first choice to actually hold the job, but I’m not certain if he’s the best choice in terms of campaign strategy. I don’t think he’s a bad choice for strategy, just saying I don’t know, and there are good arguments for and against a number of people.

So failing that, I want him as Secretary of State. And honestly, that job might really play better to his strengths. In which case, I think Sebelius is my current next favorite for veep, though I’m not hard sold on her or anyone. MJ mentioned Sherrod Brown which strikes me as another interesting choice.

A few other cabinet picks? Well, Jim Webb as Secretary of Defense seems to be a no-brainer. And I’d love to see Russ Feingold in there somewhere, maybe Attorney General?

And I think ACK once suggested our own Jim Cooper for Director of the Office of Management and Budget? I could definitely get on board with that. Let’s point his fiscal conservatism directly towards the budget where he’s useful, while giving those of us in Nashville a chance to put a more socially progressive legislator in the House to ally with Cohen.

UPDATE: GoldnI with a reported leak
More: Sharon Cobb and the Huffington Post

So big congratulations to my dear little sister who ran off and got married last week! Nothing fancy, they did a little private pseudo-eloping thing, honeymooned for a week, then had a family lunch reception today. Met the new in-laws and my new step-niece, they all seem nice.

This of course leaves me as the last single of the siblings. I just hope my parents aren’t holding their breath or things could get ugly. Because frankly, I’ve just about given up. I had an almost funny train of thought about odds and lightning striking on the very day you win the lottery, but I’ll try and spare the pessimism. I’d really like to be more optimistic, but history speaks for itself.

It’s not even like I really have a right to complain, there have been plenty of opportunities. But after spending the first fourteen or so years of my life watching my parents engage day after day in a miserable, bitter, loveless cold war, I learned too well the lesson, and find myself today completely incapable of sustaining any sort of relationship with another human being that isn’t founded in a great friendship.

And how often do you make truly great, life-changing friendships? So far I can still numerate them on my hands.

With someone to whom you’re also physically attracted? Well I think I’m up to about four on that count.

With someone who also finds you attractive, and isn’t already spoken for or otherwise unavailable?

Sigh.

What might be the worst part is that it always seems to lead to losing the friend, too. And soon enough you’re afraid to make any more of those, either.

So, yeah. Here’s looking forward to the day when my sister and her husband build an apartment over the garage to take in her half-crazy alcoholic brother, his piano, and his cat.

This should be fun!

I just received some belated birthday money, and since most of my stimulus check got sucked up in medical expenses, I was determined to get something I wanted with this nice little bonus. So the Coopers Micro Brew Kit which I’ve had my eye on for a while is now en route. I can’t wait!

The money quote from last night’s Daily Show cracked me up:

Wow, look at that pose he’s striking… he’s not just running for President, he’s running for COIN!!!

…at last partly ‘cuz it reminded me of:

Obama Practices Looking-Off-Into-Future Pose

(set-up begins around 5:07, but the earlier bits on Hillary were great too…)

Heehee, sorry about that. I’m really not as depressed as I sometimes might seem. I just don’t have much to say when I’m happy :)