finally got around to reading Crashing the Gate: Netroots, Grassroots and the Rise of People Powered Politics by liberal bloggers Jerome Armstrong of MyDD and Markos Moulitsas of the Daily KOS.

In the book they present an interesting concept that is a unique combination of true, complex, and yet very, very Simple.

Merriam-Webster Online defines offers the following two definitions of progress:
a forward or onward movement (as to an objective or to a goal) : ADVANCE or
gradual betterment; especially : the progressive development of humankind

On Tuesday, Vice President Dick Cheney stated that he thought it was possible Hillary Clinton could win the White House.

"I think Hillary Clinton is a formidable candidate," Cheney said in an interview with Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes" due to air Tuesday evening.

"I think she could win. I hope she doesn't. I disagree with her on nearly all the issues, but nobody should underestimate her. She's a very serious candidate for president," he said.

Back in 2004, during the publicity surrounding the release of their movie "Team America", Trey Stone and Matt Parker (who also are responsible for the ever irreverent South Park), made comments that were basically people who were uninformed shouldn't vote.

Now, the AARP (who are the polar opposites of Stone and Parker) have released a "Don't Vote ad campaign and website.

I have always been a firm believer in the "If you don't vote, don't bitch" philosophy, but my views are changing as I get older and the voting public gets stupider. Many vote now based solely on sound bites or the negative campaigns, with no regard for truth.

Back in August I posted a blog entry discussing Ken Mehlman's appearance on one of the Sunday morning pundit shows.

I thought Mehlman was just testing out talking points, and discarded it after that morning because it isn't work out.

I apologize for misunderestimating the Republican machine.

The Newtster is back and was actually fairly well behaved in the portion of the interview I caught (Hmmm. A run for the Presidency in the works? I bet Rush is creaming his drug addled self).

He did say one thing that chilled me to the bones though.

He was asked if the Democrats would take the House or Senate in November.

How many people have been picked on by a bigger, stronger, meaner, usually stupider kid?

I didn't get picked on a lot, but some, and just the other day I heard one of them was in prison and unlikely to get out until he is an old, old, old man. I had actually seen him at a bar in my hometown a few years ago and, instead of this huge, scary guy I remembered from riding the bus in 6th grade, he was actually several inches shorter than my adult height and kind of scrawny. More pitiful looking than scary, but he was also extremely rude to both a waitress and a janitor at the bar.

You can tell a lot by the way a person treats those perceived as lower in the pecking order.

The French news is reporting that Osama Bin Laden died last month of Typhoid.

The French newspaper "L'Est Republican" apparently bases its story on conmfidential documens leaked from the French Defense Ministry.

The American government is saying they are unable to confirm the story.

Is it time for the Sons of Liberty to rise again?

The origins of the Sons of Liberty are in dispute.  Some authorities say it was started in the early summer of 1765 with a group of Boston artisans and shopkeepers who called themselves The Loyal Nine. Others claim the group started in early 1765 in New York.

Regardless of who or exactly when it was started, there is no question that the Sons of Liberty rose in response to the Stamp Act and were dedicated to promoting liberty with limited government interference.