I want a commission er...commissioned, like the 9/11 commission.

I've had it with fucking commissions. By the time it's done Bush will be out of office.

The second Reagan term was killed off by Iran Contra. This will effectively scuttle any Bush agenda for the next 2 years. I hope it makes a difference in the next congressional election.

I hope so.

I've had it with fucking commissions. By the time it's done Bush will be out of office.

Right, but the agencies that we fund to protect and serve us will still be in place, and in horrible, horrible shape. This isn't only a matter of incompetents at the top. I think it's more pervasive than that, although that's probably the root cause.

Most companies and agencies can run with their chief incapacitated, provided the worker bees have what they need to do their jobs.

I'm glad I deleted what I started because brenda said it better.

Most companies and agencies can run with their chief incapacitated, provided the worker bees have what they need to do their jobs.

Hey, no kidding. I feel like I am paying premium taxes, and getting less-than-premium services.

Speaking of premium... Most of the people I've talk to seem to be most angry about the rise in gasoline prices. Hello? 20 oil rigs in the Gulf disappeared, and the two major pipelines that supply the eastern seaboard were damaged. Of course that's going to affect supply, and thus prices. I wouldn't be surprised if the oil companies took advantage of it, but most local station owners have taken profits of only pennies to keep from driving their customers away. Sheesh. The gas prices are the least of our worries.

Get in your car and drive away from the major cities (and north, if you ask me, when possible) is the safest response to disaster in my book.

Except when leaders of neighboring municipalities are keeping you out by shooting at you. I mean, shit. Even the people who could walk out weren't allowed.

I read somewhere that a whole lot of top people in some department that oughta have been on top of this were in Greece for somebody's wedding.

They can turn around and come home. If anyone can get an international flight quickly, it's going to be members of a government.

When Hurricane Floyd was on its way toward the Atlantic coast (Carolinas, I think) in 1999, President Clinton was in New Zealand, meeting with President Jiang of China. He cut short his meetings overseas and flew home to coordinate the rescue efforts, one day BEFORE the hurricane hit.

Hello, all. I celebrated my birthday with a swankeriffic dinner (Mediterranean; I had grilled lamb with tzatziki and a fava bean moussaka, and lemon-ginger tea, and date tartlets for dessert) and then a loss to the Yankees (I only saw a few minutes at the end) and then a good yelling session at the 3rd floor frat-type boys in my building who thought it was a great idea to play beer pong in the back yard without warning their neighbors.

Hurray? But they did get quieter, and they had even cleaned up before 11am the next morning. And then I had a conversation topic to use when introducing myself to the neighbors, C. and G. and their two under-three toddlers. Somehow I think the frat-type boys will quickly discover that this is not a beer pong neighborhood.

I have aperitif wine and cheese and raspberries fresh from the garden. Till about an hour ago, I was so stuffed up (and Benadryl knocked me over and stole my lunch money) that I could not taste them, but I am thinking, when you are at home, it is okay to drink aperitifs without any intention of actually having dinner. Right? Right?

I hab a code too, Nutty.