I spent this beautiful afternoon visiting farms in the Hudson Valley for my job. I passed rolling fields of corn and hay, watched as horses gathered on a hilltop for a late afternoon bite. As I made it into the smaller towns of my county, I wondered what they would look like as gas prices moved towards 5, 6 or $10 a gallon. Would Manhattanites abandon their second homes or were they insulated enough from the economic realities most of us face. Did the locals have a decent way to earn a living if things went south? I stopped at a Stewarts to fill up on my way back home. While I watched the readout of gallons slowly move from one to ten as the dollar amount moved too rapidly for my eyes, I noticed a pickup truck filling up on the other side of the pump, a sign for solar energy systems on the back of the vehicle.

Is there gold hidden under the White House? From out here, America is starting to look like a big box store, bright neon flashing "prosperity and freedom", with nothing inside. Hell, it looks like the last guy stripped the lights,wires, took out the sinks and toilets, got in his pickup and said, "thanks chumps, see ya later!". I guess you both really want to do this, so I came up with a list of things that needs fixing. It's certainly not a complete list, and it's not in order, but it'll get you started.

I like to think I've tried to stay somewhat openminded in this hell we call primary season. Up front, I like Edwards best, Obama second and Clinton third, but will happily support any of them come crunch time.
I have to tell you, after reading all the acidic cross posting on candidate diaries, I am starting to believe not one of them should be nominated. Not one of them. They've all done something, or many things, wrong. They have not supported all my positions, they've all capitulated on legislation. They have all done something untoward during the primary process. They've all apparently lied to us repeatedly.   There voting records make me doubt their sincerity to progressive change. I doubt their leadership ability. They are all snakes. They are not to be trusted. I'm beginning to hate them all.

It's been a very trying primary season.  A lot of mud has been slung, but after careful consideration of the statements by the candidates, I think it is clear that any thinking person must choose Kodos.  I'm not trying to say anyone who doesn't choose Kodos is an idiot, or doesn't care about the planet, or America (even though they probably don't) it's just that the facts speak for themselves. For instance, it was Kang, not Kodos who said: "Abortions for all.", but when confronted by an angry crowd, flip-flopped and said "Very well, no abortions for anyone." When the crowd booed again he came up with his now famous lame compromise "Hmm... Abortions for some, miniature American flags for others." Is this really the kind of leadership America needs now? It gets worse...

Predictions of renewed or intensified fighting between warring factions of democratic primary presidential candidates over this Christmas holiday have been proven largely wrong.  See Sectarian Fighting : http://www.dailykos.com/...
At 2pm est there have been no reports of attack diaries and only a few scattered derogatory comments.  While the day's celebrations are well underway in the eastern provinces, faction supporters in the west are only beginning their holiday rituals. Given the fragility of the ceasefire, some KOS members are laying in stockpiles of cookies and eggnog "just in case".  

Just called  (about 12:20pm) my NY senators, Schumer and Clinton, to voice support for a filibuster of Mr. Alito.  Senator Clinton's office said "there will be no filibuster", Schumer's office said "no decision yet on filibuster". DNC is simply taking comments (voice mail boxes are full). Would love to hear from others on this board to see if they got the same message from their democratic senators.

The head of Thailand's Disease Control Department is now quoted as saying the H5N1 avian flu virus is capable of limited human to human transmission. http://effectmeasure.blogspot.com/ Should this virus mutate further and be capable of sustained human to human transmission, Katrina will seem like a terrible, localized problem amidst a larger catastrophe. Like a hurricane, this virus will change course and intensity in unpredictable ways. Experts continually warn about its terrible potential, governments are very slow to respond. Like Katrina, we at first may seem to have "dodged a bullet" only to find out that our lack of planning creates a  much larger disaster. Watching the criminal federal response to Katrina, and knowing our government is underprepared for a pandemic outbreak, I would recommend adding this to the Democratic legislative agenda. Press reports that Bush supposedly read "The Great Influenza" on summer break gives me no comfort, as a book report was not required.