In 2008, the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) was created as a barely-noticed add-on to the 2008 Farm Bill, signed into law by George W. Bush. What sounded like a good idea — funding the use of waste biomass (sawdust, etc.) for biofuels and other uses — turned out to be not such a good idea. Complaints about the program […]

With the self-imposed GOP earmark ban, those grand old party stalwarts have simply got to find new ways to bring money back to their districts. So getchyerselfs ready for LETTERMARKS and PHONEMARKS! Though [Rep.] Kirk and other Republicans thundered against pork-barrel spending and lawmakers’ practice of designating money for special projects through earmarks, they have not shied from using a […]

The latest viral video. Ya know, cuz all the cool kidz are will be doing it. It’s a New York blizzard in 38 seconds. I’m just sayin’…

[Bumped as a reminder for all our Obama-supporting friends who may have missed it the first time.] Yesterday during the speech he gave before signing the bill repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell into law, President Obama said this: That is why I say to all Americans, gay or straight, who want nothing more than to defend this country in uniform: […]

Many so-called progressives are reluctant to give President Obama any credit for the repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. This is an opinion not borne out by “the facts on the ground”, so to speak. Early in his administration, the President brought in military leaders like Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, Chair of the […]

I have adored Michelle Obama from the moment I first heard about her and her amazing life. I am particularly enamored of her connection with children; both her own and the children of the USA in general. But, honestly, how cool is this? On Christmas Eve, the First Lady spent about 40 minutes talking to kids who were tracking Santa […]

This is a repost. “Two North” is a story about one Christmas when my mom was spending time on the psychiatric ward of our town’s hospital after trying to commit suicide to escape a physically-abusive husband. I was thirteen. It was a cataclysmic event in our lives but it brought us together into a two-person tribe like no other event […]

I have added an email subscription form in the sidebar in case you are interested in receiving updates when I add content. I’m not sure it’s working correctly so any feedback would be awesome. Thanks! I’m just sayin’…

Hurry up and finish your breakfast, we have to meet my sister for lunch. – Mrs. E. I’m just sayin’…

From Talking Points Memo: Over the last two years, Dems broke more filibusters than any Senate in recorded history. In fact the only other Senate that comes close was the last Senate, right after the GOP lost its controlling majority on the Hill. Of course they wouldn’t have been able to set this record if Republicans hadn’t abused the filibuster […]

Mrs. E and I have road tripped down to St. Louis, MO to visit her family for the holidays so blogging will be light for the next few days. Drinking, however, will not. This morning we woke up to snowfall which is rather unusual for St. Louis so we’re going to enjoy a nice, white Christmas in the Lou. A […]