Concerning the Supreme Court issue, it seems that we've given Democrats just enough rope to hang themselves -

Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.):

• "Nominees deserve a vote. If our . . . colleagues don't like them, vote against them. But don't just sit on them - that is obstruction of justice. Free and full debate over judicial nominations is healthy.

The Constitution is clear that only individuals acceptable to both the President and the Senate should be confirmed.

The President and the Senate do not always agree. But we should resolve these disagreements by voting on these nominees - yes or no." Congressional Record, January 28, 1999.

Senator Tom Harkin (D-Id.):

• "I really believe that the filibuster rules are unconstitutional. I believe the Constitution sets out five times when you need majority or supermajority votes in the Senate for treaties, impeachment." Congressional Record, March 1, 1994.

Senator Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.):

• "[T]he filibuster rule... there is no constitutional basis for it.... It is, in its way, inconsistent with the Constitution, one might almost say an amendment of the Constitution by rule of the U.S. Senate." Congressional Record, January 4, 1995

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.):

• "If we want to vote against somebody, vote against them. I respect that. State your reasons. I respect that. But don't hold up a qualified judicial nominee. [...] I have had judicial nominations by both Democrat and Republican Presidents that I intended to oppose.

But I fought like mad to make sure they at least got a chance to be on the floor for a vote. [...] Don't hold them in this anonymous unconscionable limbo, because in doing that, the minority of Senators really shame all Senators." Congressional Record, June 18, 1998.

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.):

• "According to the U.S. Constitution, the President nominates, and the Senate shall provide advice and consent. It is not the role of the Senate to obstruct the process and prevent numbers of highly qualified nominees from even being given the opportunity for a vote on the Senate floor." Congressional Record, May 14, 1997.

Senator Tom Daschle (D-S.D.):

• "I must say, I find it simply baffling that a Senator would vote against even voting on a judicial nomination." Congressional Record, October 5, 1999.

Ugh. This week was freaking terrible. 5 plane rides, 3 cities in 3 states over 4 days. By far the Orlando airport is the nicest of the airports I've seen so far, followed by Louisville. Miami is a distant third. The absolute worst airport I've seen so far is Detroit - they seriously need to think about digging up some tax dollars and welcoming their airport to the 21st century. (e:hodown) - corroborate this shit!

We had the coolest car this week - a brand new '06 Charger... it arrived at the rental agency just earlier this week. I don't care what anybody says - those cars are crazy. The V-8 version has some kind of displacement feature that turns the engine into V-4 mode... and the car still has 325 horsepower. That is some sweet shit right there. I had to clean the drool off of the hood... people were mesmerized by that car everywhere we went. Personally, if I was going to spend $24-$30k on a ride, I'd buy a Chrysler Comet and trick that bad boy out with some rims, drop it 4" lower to the floor, take off all identifying marks, give it a custom paint job and put a crazy sound system in it. I saw a car just like this in Los Angeles... I WILL have one some day. Yeah, it would look kind of like a ghettomobile but I guarantee that every (e:estripper) couldn't peel the smile off their face if they were riding with me.

Seriously, if Bruce Jackson gets "best blog" that will be a testament to the poor taste of Artvoice readers. Thats like saying that Marino was better than Kelly - that shit is patently false.

Ugh. My break is almost over and I leave for various parts of the USA on Sunday night. Its been fun being on the shelf for a week - Its been two months since I've really been able to do nothing whatsoever. Back to the grind.

Besides my iPod and my trusty (and old) Walkman that I use for late nights when I'm bored and laying in bed and want to listen to George Noory or whatever local shit is on, I buy books. I learned the hard way about long flights with no entertainment... that is not going to happen to me again. I bought a book called "The Fabric of the Cosmos" by Brian Greene - essentially its an explanation of theoretical physics written in a manner that people without background in physics can relate to. I went to school for business and never took a physics class so excessive details are meaningless to me. Dr. Greene is an interesting guy - I first saw him in a PBS/Nova show about string theory and thought it was excellent. Why not read one of his books?

The funny thing about investigating books to read for me is reading reviews on Amazon - in the science community there is so much petty professional jealousy its hilarious. People that are obsessed about "being right" concerning things that are only theoretical in nature makes me laugh out loud. Being a geek is ok, but dickswinging over physics-related stuff is disturbing. People like that need to have their ears boxed a couple times, but I suppose if I earned a Ph.D in Physics I'd be hard up for a life and social skills too.

(e:Paul) - I was about a week away from entering Officer Training School for the U.S. Air Force before I got my current job. At least you're willing to admit that there is nothing you'd die for... a lot of people with your perspective don't have the guts to admit that. That kind of a retort is a last-resort copout but I respect the fact that you are principled. Even if I disagree with somebody 110% on an issue if they are principled and do not resort to some kind of moral relativism bullshit then I have an enormous amount of respect for them. Alot of anti-war people don't have principle and are protesting because they think its cool... and no I'm not belittling protesters. Don't try to set up the chickenhawk argument, its old and unapplicable to me.

And stop calling me conservative - I'm moderate. Being pro-war on terror doesn't mean you are conservative. Millions of Democrats are pro-war on terror, and in November the Democrats lost because of this and other issues. Ask me about some social issues and I think your predisposition about me (someone you haven't met, by the way) would be shattered.

I think my views on social issues is my redeeming factor with the liberal girls... when it comes to day to day real-life issues I don't like to see people be oppressed. Gay marriage shouldn't be banned, we should do more for the poor for our country (although a full blown socialist welfare state is unacceptable), at the very least kids should be provided some kind of basic health care, our social system causes us to be overworked, we should find some real and practical energy alternatives so we can put the brakes on global warming or at least shift the blame to India and China (plus give the Middle East and Venezuela the finger, a bonus), and in general I think that we Americans should learn to live with a bit less so that doing something for the common good isn't such a big deal.

Anyhow, onto other non-terror or war related issues. I decided to do the fiscally irresponsible thing and get a forebearance on my $40,000 worth of school loans. I don't want to pay them right now. The problem with education is that you can't win no matter if there is an abundance of or lack of a welfare state. If I wasn't paying $40,000 for school out of my pocket I'd be paying for it partially out of my pocket directly, partially out of someone elses pocket via taxes (fucking unacceptable) and out of my own pocket via taxes.

Bonobo + Lazlo Hollyfeld at Nietzsche's tonight - $10. (e:Jason) and yours truly will be there and if you are into quality instrumental music you won't be disappointed.

My argument is not without logic, although I admit that this is an emotional topic - not just for me, however but for all of us. Suggesting however, that my previous post was an emotional rant etc. was just plain stupid... there is no other way to describe it. I would have expected better from you (e:Paul). (e:Rebecca) however is a peach. :) And I don't mind apologizing, (e:Paul), for calling people that don't think they way I do "unintelligent" - however these same people were very unapologetic about saying the same thing to me when President Bush was elected in November. Thats says more about them than about me.

What I said is not an opinion - its a statement of fact pure and simple. They are going to keep killing people until they are stopped, and if a person thinks that negotiating our way out of this is a workable option I feel sorry for them. I'm not saying that its a perfect world but that is the current reality we are in. I'm also not saying that I like seeing people die. War sucks. War is a necessary evil when you are dealing with people whose only language is violence. Tolerance of these types of people is not only irresponsible but is dangerous in its idiocy. Right now the real world is a violent place, and its not about to change anytime soon. Even if we did what liberals wanted, and just GIVE UP... these same people are going to keep doing the same things. Thats unacceptable to the American public.

Our natural reaction as Americans is to fight back if someone slaps us in the mouth. With my job I've been able to actually physically meet, see, shake hands with and eat with mainstream Americans - unfortunately most in Buffalo, the northeast, or those in California don't get that chance. They don't buy what the left is selling concerning how we should handle the war on terror. Mainstream America isn't stupid - they see the left acting this way and is a primary reason why the left can't win national elections. Lets not forget that I used to be liberal (voted for Clinton and Gore), and once I graduated from college I grew up a bit and saw things for how they were, not how I thought they were in my little liberal academic bubble. The real world is a bitch, and its the current real world we are in that some people don't have the intestinal fortitude to deal with.

People that think that George Bush invented terrorism are not being intellectually honest. This is not about 21st C. American politics - this is about a subject that makes liberals very uncomfortable - religion. Religion and also ideology. If you don't trust GWB, fine - thats your opinion and theres nothing wrong with that... I respect it. The subject is much more complicated than blind hatred for a President you don't like.

Anyhow, its funny that I pretty much date 100% liberal girls.