toniD's Quote of the Day

From toniD on the BlueRootsRadio blog, her

Quote of the Day

“We had two recent tea party demonstrations in Washington, one a week before the health care vote – drew about 1,000 people. The tax day rally, by the organizers own estimate was 1,500 people. If I organized a rally for stronger laws to protect puppies, I would get 100,000 people to Washington. So, I think the media has blown the tea party themselves out of proportion.”

– Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D), in an interview on Meet the Press

(And I think of all the peace and justice rallies with so many people more that the corporate media didn't cover, or hardly covered....)

On Cindy Sheehan and a Cold-hearted Cop

Cindy Sheehan was arrested this past weekend at the ANSWER march in Washington, DC. [Not well attended but ANSWER is more anti-war than pro-peace and their events do not feed my spirit -- but that is something to blog about at PeaceHugs.com one of these days.] She wrote eloquently of her experience of Civil Disobedience by the White House but her UPDATE, particularly affected me:

UPDATE: Three of us went to pick up our property this morning at the Park Police station and as we were being jacked around, an officer named Thomas (Badge number 628) told me that if I “stopped getting arrested” I wouldn’t have to go through all of this.

I said: “when the wars stop, I will stop.” He actually then told me: “The wars will stop when we nuke them and take their oil.”

I wonder why they are called “pigs.”

An upset Cindy put it differently than I would, but certainly Thomas of Badge number 628 is a disgrace and should be dismissed from the force. He dishonors the Men and Women in Blue, most of whom I want/need to believe are NOT pigs. And actually, come to think of it, PIGS are sweet and intelligent critters -- not like the disgraceful Thomas of Badge number 628.

(Read more about Cindy here.)

Laura Flanders Radio Nation bloggers Unite!

This is a special note to fellow bloggers, that a group of the Air America Radio weekend Laura Flanders' show bloggers still continue to blog together, thanks to MaggiesBoy, at his special RadioNation site. When he's not doing his BlueRootsRadio show, Johnson is blogging with us. Today, MB was in abstentia but YBNurmal was there, as was Nightbird, as was Smnoll and KateAnne. We miss our fellow Laura bloggers. Find us there most Sundays, 1-2 pm (Eastern time). Then onwards to blogging at the Sam Seder Show. Seder you all later!

Sam Seder and AAR

One of the sweetest, most real, endearing, charming, witty folks on radio is Sam Seder. He is under-used these days by Mark Green's Air America Radio but he is used: his Sunday show, blogging on the AAR website and filling in for various absent AAR personalities. I don't miss Rachel Maddow so much when Sam is her substitute (as for Kent Jones, now that is for another blog).

With the demise of her great two three-hour weekend shows, Laura Flanders' bloggers have flocked to Sam's site to stay in touch and commiserate: maggiesboy, YBNurmal, nightbird, Smnoll, What Now Toons, KateAnne (moi)... But there we are met by a great cast of characters who touch our hearts and make us grow, in particular (but not exclusively): Fernando, Nefferkitti, toniD, bibimimi, Sunshine Jim, pbtrue1, Crank Bait, the list continues.... Loyal Sederistas blog during the Sunday show but other times, too, with public diaries -- called Open Mics -- available. Camaraderie abounds and Sam may only have an occasional visit by his former sidekick Janeane Garofalo but he's been smart enough to groom his producer Lauren Kirchner to show her compatible spirit and help fill Janeane's void. Good show, good blogging. But, Mark Green, please use Sam more so he can make enough money to help support baby Myla and we can keep him a part of our lives. He is such an asset to you -- a goodwill ambassador -- but do you know it? The rest of us do. Sam, we love you.