Fables of the reconstruction

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally West Philly Tonight

Thursday, April 30th
Drinking Liberally West Philly
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
The Blarney Stone
3929 Sansom St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Parking nearby or take the train or trolley.

Help Us Promote DL
Spread the word to your liberal friends to sign up for a group of like-minded people who get together every week to have fun and talk about what's happening in progressive politics right now. Please forward this email to those who might be interested in coming out and Drinking Liberally.

PANIC!

That is all.

Specter's Deal: Thanks, Club for Growth!

Why did Ed Rendell deal the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate seat to Arlen Specter when a real Democrat could easily have beaten Pat Toomey? To get to 60 votes this year.

A new Senator wouldn't take office until January, 2011, and that's too late to achieve health care reform or to confirm a new Supreme Court justice or two. I'm speculating that Specter has probably agreed to do both of those things as part of this deal.

One of the many ironies is that without the challenge to Specter from Toomey and the Club for Growth, Specter would never have jumped ship and we'd have far longer odds achieving the things we want. The far right may have handed us public option health care, and saved Roe v. Wade. If it comes about like I hope it will, I am sending them flowers.

Why did Specter vote no on cloture for EFCA? As a last-ditch attempt to win the Republican nomination. But now that he voted no, and went out of his way to point it out in his announcement yesterday, can he be brought around? The SEIU and the AFL-CIO sure are acting like he can be. Specter is an unprincipled opportunist (but he's our unprincipled opportunist!), so the only thing that matters is what he wants in exchange for his vote.

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally South Philly Tonight

Wednesday, April 29nd
Drinking Liberally South Philly
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
South Philadelphia Tap Room
1509 Mifflin St.
Philadelphia PA 19145
Directions or take the Orange Line to Snyder.

Help Us Promote DL
Spread the word to your liberal friends to sign up for a group of like-minded people who get together every week to have fun and talk about what's happening in progressive politics right now. Please forward this email to those who might be interested in coming out and Drinking Liberally.

'Brendan Is Talking to Him Now'

Pat Toomey accidentally wandered into the Drinking Liberally venue to have dinner. He's wondering why everyone is laughing.

Last Dance

At the risk of sounding callous: Maybe I'd be less sanguine about short-circuiting a contested Pennsylvania Democratic primary for U.S. Senate if Specter were, say, 50 years old and in great health.

But he's, you know, not.

Specter Switches: No Wonder Rendell Isn't Running

This must have been in the works for some time:

Sen. Arlen Specter Will Switch Parties, Run As Democrat in 2010

And like Ed, Arlen started out in life as a Democratic Philly D.A. I bet you they're best buds on the campaign trail.

Now my question is, why did Specter vote against card check if he was thinking of doing this?

And in terms of timing, what better way for him to get back at being yanked around by the nose by GOP leadership over the years? he surely resented that.

Update: Ambinder, on one of the causes of the switch:

The contested primary between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama captured the attention of Pennsylvania moderates and resulted in a significant registration shift among moderates in Republican areas to Democratic.

As he says, "Thanks, Hillary!" No, seriously. Thank you, Sen. Clinton.

Also, the near-term benefits to Obama:

Getting to 60 on health care this year is inevitable now. Giving labor more room to maneuver during the legislative negotiations is also more likely. Getting some judges through, although Specter will want to retain his independence.

Emphasis added.

I can see why Duncan is upset - Spectering is a verb, after all - but one thing a deal like this gives you that a real contested primary does not: Certainty that you have an agreement on legislation that really matters to you, like health care. That's what happens when you're trying to flip a single vote in order to get to the number you need to make: Kind of sleazy, underhanded deals. This is also known as politics.

Now, let's see if the health care bill is any fucking good.

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally Center City Tonight 6-10 p.m.

All Drinking Liberally Philadelphia events are guaranteed 100% swine flu-free or double your DL membership dues back.

Tuesday, April 28th
Drinking Liberally Center City
6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Triumph Brewing Co.
117 Chestnut St. (between Front and 2nd Streets)
Philadelphia, PA 19106.
Meet at the upstairs bar.
$3 beers, $4 wine, $5 well drinks all night.
Happy hour food specials: $4 pizza app, half-price burgers.

Triumph Brewery is conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (5, 25, 47, 57). Driving directions are here.

Help Us Promote DL
Spread the word to your liberal friends to sign up for a group of like-minded people who get together every week to have fun and talk about what's happening in progressive politics right now. Please forward this email to those who might be interested in coming out and Drinking Liberally.

Philly Carshare in Trouble

Last year, PhillyCarshare was a major hit. Today, they're stumbling and may be heading for oblivion.

The current problem is that on Friday after business hours, they sent out an email to all of the members who had the plan with no monthly fee that they would be switched over to the $15/month plan in six days, on May 1st, and their credit cards automatically charged every month until they canceled.

What a stupid, greedy move. The incentive is obvious: Give customers only 6 days to cancel, and many will miss the deadline, giving Philly Carshare a big shot of revenue. Some of these free members may have changed their email addresses, or even moved out of Philly. The account was free, why bother to cancel? They might not even realize they were being charged until they got their credit card statements and examined them, which might even be after they were charged a second time.

Naturally, members are incensed at this and have started complaining and canceling their accounts. But this is just the latest in a series of problems that have annoyed and worried members. Last year, they changed the way the cars were refueled, which led to a rash of break-ins to steal the gas cards from the cars, which resulted in members having to buy gas and seek reimbursement. Rates have fluctuated wildly. The phone reservation system went from a live person to full automation, practically making it worthless. Car maintenance became spottier, and the cars inevitably aged and began looking it.

All of these stumbles points to an entity with no effective leadership. When that happens, you have to think they're going out of business.

Local Programming: Drinking (Coffee) Liberally Mt. Airy Sunday at Noon

Sunday, April 26th
Drinking (Coffee) Liberally Mt. Airy
Mt. Airy Drinking Liberally meets every Sunday, at noon, at Infusion Coffee + Tea (7133 Germantown Ave.), from noon until 2:00 PM.

Hopey-Changey: Administration Caves on Extremism Report

I'm sorry, so sorry:

A detailed account of the meeting from the American Legion states that "Hunched forward with head bowed, the Secretary of Homeland Security looked the National Commander of The American Legion straight in the eye and said, very quietly, 'I’m sorry, Dave.'"

"Nice hat, too."

Next I expect Napolitano to apologize to some militia and white-supremacist organizations.

Treason!

Shorter Porter Goss:

Liberals stabbed America in the back! The CIA needs to be able to torture in secret for freedom to survive.

CAPTCHA This

I used to be able to ban comment spam by blocking IPs. Typepad took that functionality away for some unknown reason. I am annoyed enough with the spam comments that I have turned on CAPTCHA. If you don't want to deal, you can authenticate with Typekey. If CAPTCHA prevents you from commenting, and you care, email me.

See More Ira Glass?

Went to see this Thursday night. It was interesting to see live radio on a movie screen. Will it take off? Do I care? What I'd rather see are concerts live in the movie theater. It's a no brainer. Your favorite band is playing too far away to see them in person. Pay $10 and see them on the big screen. Sell beer and you're rich.

Quote of the Day: A Black Fly in the Chardonnay

Male bartender, indicating two very young, very well-endowed women at the other end of the bar who had been flirting with him all night: "Women tend bar for the money; men tend bar for the sex. And I'm married."

So Jaded

I haven't been posting much because I'm pretty depressed about (a) the economy and (b) Obama's handling thereof. Torture prosecutions, yeah sure, I want that but the top people like Cheney and Rice and Rumsfeld can't be touched, so what's the point? Lt. Calley and Lynddie England took the fall, I don't need more of them..

But the economy is shitty & possibly getting shittier and may in fact become catastrophic. Handled badly enough, large numbers of real people will suffer. Some will die needlessly, others' lives will be ruined.

It all matters, but some things really matter. Everything I read tells me that the administration is fucking it up.

Cuteness Blogging

A little girl with her daddy's big black umbrella on 5th St.:

When questioned, she claimed it was raining. ''Brella!'', she insisted.

Great Business Models, Exhibit A

I mean, why didn't I think of that?
(Via.)

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally West Philly Tonight

Thursday, April 23rd
Drinking Liberally West Philly
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
The Blarney Stone
3929 Sansom St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Parking nearby or take the train or trolley.

Tragedy in ATM Receipt Form

It's 8:06:42 on a Saturday night in University City, when suddenly:

Local Programming: ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero on LGBT Rights

Monday, May 11th:

Join the ACLU of Pennsylvania’s Greater Philadelphia Chapter for a frank discussion about the current state of LGBT rights and what we can do to ensure equality for ALL Americans.

Featuring:

Anthony Romero

Anthony Romero, Executive Director, National ACLU
Stephen Glassman, Chair, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission

When: Monday, May 11, 2009, 7:00 p.m.

Where: The Hub, Cira Centre , 2929 Arch Street, Philadelphia
(across from 30th Street Station) Directions and parking information

You are invited to attend a wine and cheese reception before the program beginning at 6:15 p.m. at the same location.

Free & open to the public. No RSVP needed.

Questions? Contact us at [email protected] or 215-592-1513 x122.

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally South Philly Tonight

Wednesday, April 22nd
Happy Administrative Professionals Day!
Drinking Liberally South Philly
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
South Philadelphia Tap Room
1509 Mifflin St.
Philadelphia PA 19145
Directions or take the Orange Line to Snyder.

Politics Sucks, Let's Drink

Good thing I'm not a role model for anyone. Off to drink liberally and reminisce about the days when we all could complain about Bush.

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally Center City Tonight 6-10 p.m.

In the news last week: Philly Liberal Drinkers mocking those who must be mocked. For their own good, for the good of the nation, for the good of the world.

Tuesday, April 21st
Drinking Liberally Center City
6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Triumph Brewing Co.
117 Chestnut St. (between Front and 2nd Streets)
Philadelphia, PA 19106.
Meet at the upstairs bar.
$3 beers, $4 wine, $5 well drinks all night.
Happy hour food specials: $4 pizza app, half-price burgers.

Triumph Brewery is conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (5, 25, 47, 57). Driving directions are here.

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally Mt. Airy Sunday at Noon

Sunday, April 19th
Drinking (Coffee) Liberally Mt. Airy
Mt. Airy Drinking Liberally meets every Sunday, at noon, at Infusion Coffee + Tea (7133 Germantown Ave.), from noon until 2:00 PM.

Local Programming: Women's Medical Fund Benefit April 26th

Via email:

Please consider yourselves invited to a party to benefit the Philadelphia Women's Medical Fund. The Fund provides no-interest loans to low-income women who have chosen abortion but can't afford the cost of a safe, legal procedure. Some of these women are victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, many have health problems complicated by pregnancy, all face difficult choices. The average income for women seeking assistance from the Fund is about $400 a month; for most women this has to support them and two children. By providing small loans--usually $50 to $250--the Fund is able to help women maintain their dignity, independence, and hopes for a better life.

Times are tough for lots of folks, but the burden is falling especially heavily on poor women seeking to access abortion and other reproductive health services. Please consider coming out and having a drink to support a great cause!

P.S. And if this date doesn't work or if you're not into going to a bar, the Fund's Spring Reception is May 21. Let me know you're interested and I can send you more info!

Rally for Choice:

An evening to support Women's Medical Fund 

hosted by Anna Mancusi and Natasha Dravid

A story of a woman who received WMF Funding:

S.K., a 25-year-old mother of three, including three-year-old twins, was poised to begin a new life. She was about to start classes in a local university's nursing program, and she was awaiting her first paycheck from her new job as a nurse's aid. WMF helped her with $50, which enabled her to pursue her dream of independence.

Sunday, April 26 at L'Etage (above Beau Monde, 6th & Bainbridge)  

FEATURING

Philadelphia DJs BROADZILLA!

7:00 PM to close.

$10 at the door.  

We hope to see you there! 

If you are unable to attend, please consider making a donation online.

The Women's Medical Fund provides direct financial assistance and other support to low-income women and girls in Southeastern Pennsylvania who wish to terminate a pregnancy but cannot afford a safe legal abortion. The Women's Medical Fund also raises public awareness of the devastating impact of denying access to safe legal abortions.

Like a Fucking Boomerang

It's nice to see scum get their just desserts; it's horrific it took four murders to make it happen.

Hopey-Changey for CIA Torturors

They were just following orders:

The Justice Department will not prosecute CIA officers who used harsh interrogation techniques against terrorism suspects, Obama administration officials said this afternoon, as they released four Bush-era legal memos detailing practices that critics have likened to torture. ...

Both Obama and Holder for months have indicated a desire to look forward rather than ignite investigations that could alienate the intelligence community and ignite partisan rancor. "This is a time for reflection, not retribution," Obama said in his statement this afternoon even as he bemoaned the recent passing of a "dark and painful chapter in our history."  ...

"It would be unfair to prosecute dedicated men and women working to protect America for conduct that was sanctioned in advance by the Justice Department," [Attorney General Eric H. ] Holder said in a statement.

For the first time, officials said today that they would provide legal representation at no cost to CIA employees subjected to probes by international tribunals or U.S. congressional inquiries. They also said they would indemnify agency workers against any possible financial judgments.

What makes this decision worse for me is that I agree with it.

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally West Philly and Ridley Park Tonight

Thursday, April 16th
Drinking Liberally Ridley Park
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
The Tavern @ Burke's Bend
601 E. Chester Pike
Ridley Park, PA 19078

Drinking Liberally West Philly
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
The Blarney Stone
3929 Sansom St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Parking nearby or take the train or trolley.

Laugh and Point

I really think there are some gay Republican creative types who are punking the idiot social warriors with these marketing ideas.

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally South Philly Tonight

Wednesday, April 15th
Drinking Liberally South Philly
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
South Philadelphia Tap Room
1509 Mifflin St.
Philadelphia PA 19145
Directions or take the Orange Line to Snyder.

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally Center City Tonight 6-10 p.m.

Come on out and spend that refund!

Tuesday, April 14th
Drinking Liberally Center City
6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Triumph Brewing Co.
117 Chestnut St. (between Front and 2nd Streets)
Philadelphia, PA 19106.
Meet at the upstairs bar.
$3 beers, $4 wine, $5 well drinks all night.
Happy hour food specials: $4 pizza app, half-price burgers.

Triumph Brewery is conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (5, 25, 47, 57). Driving directions are here.

I'm Buyin' Me a Jaunty Hat, Too

He's right;  this is just hilarious:

Look out for the pigeons!

Update 4/9/09: The Farmer at the non-insane corrente:

What is Philadelphia style? I dunno, but please stop it.

Philly Politics: District Attorney Edition

If you're Seth Williams, you couldn't have planned this any better.

Back on March 27th, a Common Pleas Court judge threw the candidate for Philadelphia District Attorney off the ballot at the urging of another candidate, Dan McCaffrey. The judge used a dubious legal theory that reimbursements of expenses paid by the candidate - say, Williams bought soda for volunteers in his office, then paid himself back from campaign funds (which would properly be accounted for as a campaign expense) - constituted "income" to the candidate. And since income needs to be disclosed by the candidates, and the reimbursement "income" wasn't disclosed, then Williams was off the ballot. (By the way, McCaffrey - and every other candidate in the history of the Commonwealth - has never disclosed reimbursements as income.)

After Williams was thrown off the ballot, people were outraged and rallied around him. He quickly racked up a number of endorsements.

Today, Commonwealth Court overturned the trial court order. Williams is back on the ballot, and public sympathy is on his side as the guy "they" tried to ace out.

Local Programming: Drinking (Coffee) Liberally Mt. Airy Sunday at Noon

Sunday, April 5th
Drinking (Coffee) Liberally Mt. Airy
Mt. Airy Drinking Liberally meets every Sunday, at noon, at Infusion Coffee + Tea (7133 Germantown Ave.), from noon until 2:00 PM.

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally West Philly Tonight

Thursday, April 2nd
Drinking Liberally West Philly
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
The Blarney Stone
3929 Sansom St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Parking nearby or take the train or trolley.

Other Area Events
Thursday, April 2nd
You may have heard the news that, in a dubious legal decision, a court has ruled that District Attorney candidate Seth Williams may not appear on the primary ballot on May 19th. The Williams campaign is holding a "Let Philly Voters Decide" rally on Thursday at 11 a.m. in Dilworth Plaza on the west side of City Hall. RSVP and get more information here if you're interested.

Not an April Fool's Joke: A Rapping Jihadi

A Somali jihadi who apparently lived in the States at some point, Abu Mansour drops beats such as:

"The American dream has fallen, Bush is going down like Stalin, the economy is crawlin', the widows are bawlin', you dead you be haulin', while our takbeers (chants of Allah is Great) keep callin'."

There is a link to the audio here. Go ahead, savor.

Tax Topic: Standard Deduction for Kidnapped Children

Tax Topic 357:

Tax Information for Parents of Kidnapped Children

You may claim a kidnapped child as your dependent if the following requirements are met:

1. The child must be presumed by law enforcement to have been kidnapped by someone who is not a member of your family or a member of the child's family, and
2. The child had, for the taxable year in which the kidnapping occurred, the same principal place of abode as the taxpayer for more than one-half of the portion of such year before the date of kidnapping.

If both of these requirements are met, the child may meet the requirements for purposes of determining:

• The dependency exemption
• The child tax credit, and
• Head of household or qualifying widow(er) with dependent child filing status.

This tax treatment will cease to apply as of your first tax year beginning after the calendar year in which either there is a determination that the child is dead or the child would have reached age 18, whichever occurs first.

I'm glad the IRS provides guidance for this situation, but why is there no deduction if the child is kidnapped by a family member? Is there a deduction available for the kidnapper in that case? It would be safe for them to do so, because I assume the IRS is not checking returns for the Social Security numbers of kidnapped children.

(Via.)

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally South Philly Tonight

South Philly Drinking Liberally has now been spun off as a completely independent chapter! This is due to the hard work of the organizers, Rose Corrigan and Lala Stone. And by "hard work", I mean it in the sense George W. Bush meant when he said something was hard work - it requires lots of drinking. Please sign up at the South Philly chapter page and pass the word along to people who might be interested in going.

Wednesday, April 1st
Drinking Liberally South Philly
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
South Philadelphia Tap Room
1509 Mifflin St.
Philadelphia PA 19145