Quote of the day:

"If we are to survive, we must have ideas, vision, and courage. These things are rarely produced by committees. Everything that matters in our intellectual and moral life begins with an individual confronting his own mind and conscience in a room by himself." -Arthur Schlesinger, Jr

I think I had better pull out my old Zazen Pillow.

Rumsfeld Resigns!





About 2 hours ago, The Whitehouse announced that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld will Resign.

This comes on the heels of a Democratic wave overtaking the House, a majority of the Governorships, and potentially the Senate. Seeing this as anything other than a “cleaning house” move on the Presidents part is near impossible.

The President has nominated CIA Director Bob Gates.

The real question is whether the change in personnel will coincide with a change in policy towards Iraq. I remain hopeful, but skeptical.

Free Trade Saves Lives


Frontline (PBS) recently had a program highlighting the efforts of an organization called Kiva.org. This organization enables average people to loan small amounts of money to those in the Third World who are in need of a business loan. $50 is not a large sum to many of us, but it can provide a life change to others.

The saying, "if you give a man a fish, he eats for a day. But if you teach a man to fish, he'll eat for a lifetime," applies.

Quote of the day:

• The evil that is in the world always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence, if they lack understanding. On the whole men are more good than bad; that, however, isn't the real point. But they are more or less ignorant, and it is this that we call vice or virtue; the most incorrigible vice being that of an ignorance which fancies it knows everything and therefore claims for itself the right to kill. There can be no true goodness, nor true love, without the utmost clear-sightedness. ~ Albert Camus

Democrats have been hammering the Republicans on this point for a long time now. They have recently claimed the house, and possibly the Senate.

A Democratic win is imperitive. But, Pragmatism must reign supreme. Good intentions have never fed anyone. But good solid planning, based and good solid facts, has.

I hope for a resurgency in Clinton-style Democratic policies. Socially liberal, but fiscally conservative. Bring down the deficit, encourage free trade that is as fair to those on the ground as it is to those on Wallstreet, Find Osama, Build a functioning democracy in Iraq, Contain China (and help to disband the CCP from within), encourage a Reformation in the Islamic world, take the Environmental Bull by the horns, and otherwise lead with a clear mind.

A full list, and there is more. But this election gives the Dem's the opportunity to restructure the party for the better ... let us hope they do, for if they don't, the Religious Right will gather together, stronger, and win it all back in 2008.