Part of me envies those of you (too numerous to mention) who are extraordinarily saavy regarding analysing demographics.  Once there is a single number or graph involved, my brain gets mushy.  I have only one source of data that enlightens my political comprehension:  people I know.

My domicile is smack dab in the middle of a blue collar city (largest in the upper west section of Connecticut) where I listen to the voices and music of white, Hispanic and African American folks.  I also "summer over" in a diverse neighborhood.  

I have always believed that our veterans are the only ones who can speak cogently about war.  We have many in our community, and I rarely hesitate to recommend one of their diaries or comments.  I beg your indulgence to allow me to offer some reflections as a grand daughter, daughter, niece and aunt of war veterans.

"Just" and "war" are two terms used in the same sentence that ranckle my peacenick sensibilities, and yet, I comprehend the meaning.  My Dad and uncles believed that WWII was a "just war."  They are dead now, and I am saved from unpleasant arguments about the current Iraq occupation.

Hmmm, short diary, so apologies and I didn't see this issue posted yet.  It appears that the very dogged Dennis Kucinich has finally worn Speaker Pelosi down.  Rather than leaving his impeachment resolution in limbo, Pelosi has given the greenlight for the House Judiciary Committee to consider the resolution.

THIS IS THE MOTHERSHIP NOW.  PLEASE REC THIS DIARY.  LINKS TO BABYSHIP DIARIES BELOW THE FOLD

I have been reading, with full interest, the diaries and comments pro and con regarding Senator Obama's current stance on the FISA bill, which will be has been voted on momentarily and which vote holds no element of surprise.  Each group has presented reasoned (and sometimes irrational) points.   Both groups have offered well thought out arguments which can be found when you wipe the pie out of your eyes.

I was born 58 years and a few hours ago.  I am the second daughter of a WWII Navy vet and world class mother.  I was raised before the concept of "time outs" when every adult in the neighborhood had free rein to admonish a kid who acted outside the bounds of politeness or good behaviour.  I was subjected to bad Toni home perms to my limp straight hair, home-made clothes and bagged lunches for school.  My Mom made bread and jelly for sandwiches and we ate dinner as a family 7 days a week.  We said Grace before meals, asked to be excused from the table, and thanked both of my parents for the dinner.

After over 600 years of international fame, it is still a heady thing to be generally accepted in the DKos community.  For every negative retort to one of my comments, I am showered with dozens of recs for others.  In the words of Steve Buscemi in the "brilliant" thriller, Armageddon, "I'm a fucking genius!"

Months ago, some noobie labeled me a troll.  Imagine!  Ecstasy cannot describe my visceral reaction.  Oh, an opportunity for a new post beyond Comptroller of the Customs of the port of London!  I annointed myself Admiral of the kos Troll Fellowships.

Ok, I'm sick of looking at that little brat in the red sweater.  I guess since the 1980s the appropriate thing would be to give him a "time out."  In my day, any adult in the neighborhood would have used more impressive measures to wipe that snotty look off his over-privileged face (the sweater, pudgy cheeks and good haircut are the give-aways).

Flame me, if you will.  But first, you must prove what my inner thoughts are regarding "impressive measures."

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties hearing on detainee treatment will feature David Addington and John Yoo (under subpoena to appear) at 10:00 am (EDT)and still ongoing.

It'll be on c-span 3

Yesterday the FBI raided the office and home of Scott Bloch, Special Counsel in the Office of Special Counsel (OSC).  According to news reports, Bloch's staff was told to log-off computers.  Computers and documents were seized.  While the FBI had no comment, staff at the OSC believe the raid is related to a 2005 investigation of allegations that Bloch retaliated against whistleblowers.  Additionally, the FBI presumably is investigating Bloch's purging of computer files in 2006.

You know who I'm talking about.  Yes, you -- Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Franks, Angles, Saxons and Vandals (the Jutes are jerks, I don't want to include them).  You think you are just sooo great because you took over your little fiefdoms after the Fall of the Roman Empire.  Big whoop.  Sure, sure -- you guys eventually traded your paganism for Christianity -- but we all know that was a power grab.  No one actually believes you went to church while pillaging and burning.

Fine you guys built some monastaries, wrote manuscripts, built Romanesque cathedrals out of stone -- but what have you done for me lately?

Howdy, friends.  This diary might get zilch traffic because I didn't put anything sexy in the title.  Well, don't come crying to me when you want to liveblog the next Sean Hannity, Lou Dobbs or John Gibson interview with Ann Coulter.

There's a lot of folks here who have been posting great Liveblogs or have volunteered to continue one, but have gotten concerned about logistics.  I am not the uber-veteran here, but have done enough to learn from the experts like donnamarie.  If you think you want to Liveblog something in the future -- save this diary somewhere for reference.

I have been humbled in my year and a half stint here at DKos.  Among the 160k+ users there are an incredible number of "educated" (meaning well-informed) diarists with esoteric specialties.  I learn every day.  I'm a decades old genius, my writings translated into the world's languages, and yet, I approach politics from my gut.  Hundreds of folks here can beat me to a pulp with well researched issues and facts.

That being said, I'm writing this diary anyway.  If I can write about a baby squirrel and get away with it -- why not try again.

This diary is going nowhere but, what the hay, I can publish it anyway by clicking a button.  Last week I spent time with my best friend at his primitive Sears kit cottage on a lake.  He's a Republican and he hates squirrels.

I was schlepping a bucket of water up to heat water for dishes when I heard:  "Hey, check this out!"  WTF?  The bucket weighs about 30 pounds and I was carrying it up a 92.5% rocky slope.  O.k., I needed a break.  I followed his pointing finger to some movement on the ground.

I honestly don't expect this diary to go anywhere.  I'm just watching a load of laundry flapping in the cold spring wind outside of my window. You would think I could turn this diary into an environmental analysis.   You would be wrong.  I practice environmental law but am scared, albeit  respectful, of numbers and science.  I have no links to carbon footprint data or scientific studies related to electricity or fuel economy.  I'm just aware that a personal pleasure is also a tiny bit of conservation and the effects of sunlight.

If I've knocked a good diary off the recent diary list -- chastise me for this fluff.

Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I'm thinking that either ct has been overwhelmed cleaning out trolls, was kidnapped or out on a binge yesterday.  You decide.  Now, it might be just a koinkeedink that on the very day we learned that Lieberman was full of shit about his website being hacked, DKos had two -- count 'em, two disappearances from the intertoobz.

I don't know about you, but I needed some Blood Pressure Medication.

SUPER IMPORTANT UPDATE: Please be alert for the super secret surprise party for jotter!  Bring gifts.

Seventeen years ago, I wrote a diary which immediately hit the rec list on Daily Kos.  It received univeral praise and only 12 of my comments were TR'd.  While I attended to questions by my new fans, wouldn't you know it, 4 knock-off diaries appeared on the recent diary list.  I understand emulation, but blatant goddammed rip-offs are another thing.

UPDATE: Reluctant h/t to the insufferable Jeff Lieber regarding the refinement of my title.  I changed it because I don't want to be the butt of his next screed.

PLEASE GO TO Liveblog: Part 2, # 6.  Do not post anymore comments in the Mothership.  Recommend the Mothership only.

The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is conducting a hearing titled: "Iraq After the Surge: What Next?" today beginning at 2:30 EDT.  The two witnesses are General David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker.

THIS IS THE MOTHERSHIP FOR THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE HEARING.  If you are interested in reading the comments on the Senate Armed Services Hearing, please follow this link.
Please do not post pictures as they slow things down for those on dial-up.

The hearing can be viewed/heard at
cnn.com (the least troublesome for me)
C-Span 3
msnbc - homepage

I don't know how to start, so I'll let Peter, Paul and Mary speak for me:

Where have all the good trolls gone?  
Long time passing.
Where have all the good trolls gone?
Long time ago-o
Where have all the good trolls gone?
Back to freeperville
Almost ev'ryone.
When will they ever learn?
When will they e-e-e-ver learn?

Sing along now, second verse . . . .