What? Louder, please.

I just have to comment on the hilarity of the dedication to tradition in politics. To this day, matters are voted upon by saying "aye" or "no" at the appropriate time and the Speaker at the time decides who won. It's pretty much standard proceedure for someone to object and demand an electronic vote, which they always do, but it's still funny to observe those passionate issues such as the stem cell bill today where the congresspersons yell surprisingly loud 'NO!' rather than a simple declaration, as is usual. Of course, the Speaker, in my observation, calls it in whatever manner he is in favor, and it's put to electronic vote. Maybe our most effective politicians would be those with plenty of strong experience in a student section, like myself. Heck, we can yell for, depending on the sport, up to 90 minutes straight at the top of our voice. ;) Something I'm very proud of.

Ah, C-SPAN, you bring to light our most embarrassing realities of governmental proceedure.

Empty Promises and Soon, Empty Fishing Boats

While the approval ratings dwindle, the rest of America has already woken up accepted the painful reality: we elected a monkey. From a purely environmental standpoint, a "monkey" is a terrible comparison; monkeys make up a very necessary part of many ecosystems and generally benefit the region. Ours is more like that monkey in the black and white film washing a cat in a sink: rather entertaining, but truthfully good for nothing.

Think Progressive has even compliled a list of of the "president's" previous rhetorical promises for cleaner energy and independence from oil. This year the Financial Times said that Bush will be giving a State of the Union address (Jan. 23) centered around energy. Al Hubbard, constucting this new energy policy, foresees “headlines above the fold that will knock your socks off in terms of our commitment to energy independence.” For some reason, I'm yet to get out the champagne.

Additionally, Bush recently opened a large area in Alaska's Bristol Bay up to drilling. Bristol Bay is one of the most important fishing areas in the world, home to salmon, cod, red king crab, halibut, and herring. What's worse, the site where they intend to dig is right on top of the feeding grounds of one of the most endangered whales in the world: the North Pacific Right Whale. This basically puts this administration in a nutshell: selfish interests without the slightest care for consequences. Senator Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, worked in 2003 to convince Congress to lift a moratorium on drilling there and succeeded, which goes to show that even the state's own Congressman doesn't give a damn about protecting one of the states strongest industries and their oldest tradition.

What a happy day.

Words of Iraqi Children

From CNN.com, Carl Perry writes:

It was just an idea – talk to kids. Find out what they think of the war. When you interview adults here in Iraq – you often get a filtered view of reality. On the other hand, kids can’t lie. They will always tell you the truth – and really, it’s the truth we’re interested in.

So, one morning I set out in the neighborhood looking for kids to talk to. With me, the over talented cameraman Dominic Swann – neither of us had a clue if anyone would talk to us. Our fixer kept smoking – shaking his head, letting us know that this in all likelyhood would be a failed mission. Of course, it’s Baghdad so our other options were try this, or sit in the office and wait for the violence and live shots to begin.

It took over three hours of talking to people before we found a 16 year old boy who was willing to tell us his thoughts. His first one, “Saddam was better than the Americans.” We’re off to a great start – I thought. “Any hope for Iraq” I asked. “None,” he said.

“This is going to be a very uplifting piece” our stringer said immediately. Such is Iraq.

Kids in Iraq are wonderful. They run the same routine anytime they see a foreigner. First they send a scout. He appears from no where – checks out the situation, then disappears. Depending on his report to the others, flocks of kids start to arrive. In this case, there were at least a dozen.

One became the leader. He pointed out everything that had changed – the trash, the blast walls – the western security. He told us he wished he could play football without fearing for his life.

I asked one final question to the group that had arrived. “How many of you have lost family members in this war? Everyone raised their hand.

“Welcome to Iraq,” said my stringer.