Volume 1 Issue 40

January 14, 2003

Negotiating Without Negotiating

Congress moving away, Korea rambling on, but no ones allowed on the bus...

OK, sorry no "rant" column today, but some rancid smell is being piped through the heating system here, and we're preparing to flee, so just the insanity today!

Congress on the move? It may soon be renovation time for the House and Senate chambers soon, and big time renovation, not just changing the carpets or anything, on the scale that hasn't been done since the late 1940's. A large-scale renovation to remove asbestos, install better wiring and sprinkler systems and such would force one or both chambers to leave the Capitol for sometime. The House may meet in an auditorium in the now under construction Capitol Visitors Center, but the Senate apparently already has a ready to go alternate chamber in the Hart Senate Office Building. Or they could just do it at someone's house I guess -

http://www.cq.com/common/document_display.jsp?file=/editoria l_access/news/scoop_text.html

North Korea Ramblings of the Day: North Korea may be building a nuclear bomb, but they have problems with their web development division -

http://slate.msn.com/id/2076686/
But it looks like the DPRK's negotiation with New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is a sign they're looking for a way out of the crisis -

http://slate.msn.com/id/2076697/
And Nicholas Kristof continues his stories of his trip to North Korea...why are there no old or disabled people around?

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/14/opinion/14KRIS.html
Diversion Warning: Of course, they don't want undesirables in Key West, FL either -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/14/national/14FLOR.html
Bush also looks to be willing to compromise. Basically though, nothing has changed from last week, we're basically "giving in" to them, though we probably don't have any other choice. -

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-US-NKorea.html

On War: The Washington Post had an excellent piece on former Senator Gene McCarthy in the Sunday Magazine -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24946-2003Jan7.html

To Draft or Not to Draft: The Pentagon released a report saying that the draft is unnecessary, rebutting calls from some Congressional Democrats to reinstate the draft -

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030114-27407742.htm

And Speaking of Tax Cuts: A stripper in Sweden has been told she can not deduct the cost of her breast implants from her taxes -

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Deductible-Implants.html

Look Who's Running for President: Liberman is running a conservative campaign, which could help or hurt him, depending on who you ask. Oh, and btw, on Thursday, the Liberman's will be on Comedy Central's The Daily Show. That should be interesting... -

http://slate.msn.com/id/2076679/
He's quite behind in Iowa apparently -
http://desmoinesregister.com/news/stories/c4789004/20220161. html

Look Who's Running for President 2: John Kerry has picked up the chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party to run his campaign, this is a good sign of his strength there -

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/014/region/Director_of_N_H_s tate_Democrat:.shtml

Look Who's Running For President 3: Bob Graham is sounding out Florida supporters on a possible run. Any decision though, is probably a week or so away -

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/DailyNews/Graham_010 313.html

Look Who's Running For President - A Scorecard Update (1/14):
RUNNING
Gov. Howard "Jed Barlett" Dean (Vermont) - http://www.deanforamerica.com/
Senator John Kerry (Massachusetts) - http://www.johnkerry.com
Senator John Edwards (North Carolina) - http://www.johnedwards2004.com/
Congressman Richard Gephardt (Missouri) No Known Website Yet...
Al Sharpton (NY) - http://www.sharptonexplore2004.com/
Senator Joe Liberman (Conn.)

CONSIDERING
Senator Bob Graham (Florida)
Former Senator Gary Hart (Colorado)

LONG SHOTS
General Wesley Clark (Arkansas)
Senator Hilary Clinton (New York)
Senator Joseph Biden (Delaware)
Senator Chris Dodd (Conn.)
Governor Mark Warner (Virginia)
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (Ohio)
Ralph Nader
50 "favorite sons" under the Donna Brazille plan
And half the Democratic Party over the age of 35.

OUT
Former VP and President-Elect Al Gore
Governor Gray Davis (California)
Former Senator Bill Bradley (New Jersey)
Senator Tom Daschle (South Dakota)

Card Movement Today: General Clark is demoted to "Long Shot." He hasn't been in the news too much lately, and I'm beginning to think maybe he's positioning himself as VP material. Though with all of these folks seeking the nomination, you'd think one of them would have possibility there if they don't win as well (think Edwards and Dean).

Vampire Update: Malawi is still having a "vampire problem" -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/14/international/africa/14VAM P.html

Salad Time: Ever buy those bagged salads at the store? You'd be amazed how much science and espionage goes into them -

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/14/national/14LETT.html?8hpib

Speaking of Football: The NFL is trying to figure out how to stop referee calls from being so controversial -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/14/sports/football/14REFS.htm l

Taking the Bus: In Bend, Oregon the transit authority has decided to ban smelly people from their buses. WMATA, are you listening? Btw, this sounds like a great transit system...its reservation based, so you just call and the bus comes for you! -

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/200301 13/ap_on_fe_st/anti_stinking_law_1

And Finally: It was so good, I had to put it in.
To the tune of "If you're happy and you know it"
If we cannot find Osama, bomb Iraq
If the markets hurt your Mama, bomb Iraq
If the terrorists are Saudi
And the bank took back your Audi
And the TV shows are bawdy, Bomb Iraq.
If the corporate scandals growin', bomb Iraq
And your ties to them are showin', bomb Iraq
If the smoking gun ain't smokin'
We don't care, and we're not jokin'
That Saddam will soon be croakin', Bomb Iraq.
Even if we have no allies, bomb Iraq
>From the sand dunes to the valleys, bomb Iraq
So to hell with the inspections
Let's look tough for the elections
Close your mind and take directions, Bomb Iraq.
So here's one for dear old daddy, bomb Iraq
>From his favorite little laddy, bomb Iraq
Saying no would look like treason
It's the Hussein hunting season
Even if we have no reason, Bomb Iraq.

Have a great day!

Gregory S. Gadren