Back from vacation -- wondering about politics

We had a great time -- got warm, got a little sunburned (not enough for anyone else to notice, we are from Oregon, after all), got relaxed. And now it's good to be home! Although I have dozens of chores calling to me, so I'll have to post more details about the vacation later.

I've been trying to quickly cruise friends' ljs this morning to catch up a bit. There's lots of talk about Bush's news conference last night, which I missed due to the fact that I can't tolerate him in any size dose. My Bush exposure has to be filtered through The Daily Show, which is in repeats this week, so I'll have to do my own filtering somehow I guess.

There's nothing like driving 12 hours through farm country to remind you that there are a lot of people out there who really hate Democrats. What I want to know is -- why?????? Where and how did the democrats fuck up so badly that they are now seen as the party of the elite while the Republicans, of all things, are seen as the party of the common guy? I hope someone out there in LJland has some insight, because this is something that needs to be fixed, and fixed fast.

I like this idea

http://action.moveonpac.org/bakesale/

On Sat., April 17, all across the country, thousands of people will organize bake sales to raise money for MoveOn PAC's campaign to Take Back the White House. While George Bush raises money mostly from wealthy donors, we will demonstrate the broad-based grassroots support supporting MoveOn PAC and John Kerry.

Whether you can organize an event, bake something, or help out selling things, we can use your help. If you create a new bake sale, others may sign up to help. If there is already a bake sale in your neighborhood, you can sign up to help with it, or hold your own.

Sell 100 cookies, brownies, or pieces of pie--you're a Pioneer! If you top 200 items sold, you're a Ranger. And all you have to do is find a place to hold it and some friends to help you bake things. See--it's a piece of cake!

Dusting this off...

Change in practice?

The New York Times is publishing photos of soldiers' families mourning at their caskets.

We haven't seen many of these types of pictures to date, due to the Bush administration's policy of no photographers or reporters observing the arrival of soldiers' remains from Iraq.

Yes, pictures of grieving families are not unheard of in this war, but take a look at what the Times has done. This seems unusal to me. And overdue.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/15/national/15SOLD.html