These Things On My Mind

Oh great, now my horses are turning on me. This morning, in an attempt to beat the rain and catch up on some fieldwork, I harnessed up Big Jim and went to work harrowing my pasture. But, while being swarmed by flies, I’m pretty sure Big Jim had this to say to me: Get a fucking ATV.

Or maybe not. Perhaps he just wanted to go back to the fly-free barn.

Yeah, that’s it. I’m just getting paranoid.

Bear with me, folks.

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And while I remain stuck on the ATV theme, let me add this: A big tip of the hat to Rep. Tony Klein (D-E. Montpelier) for speaking out (via being quoted) in an op/ed in The Bridge regarding the Agency of Natural Resource’s (ANR) recent ATV decision. Specifically, Klein voiced his suspicion – and opposition – to the timing of the ANR’s decision, as in: Right after the legislative session ended and, worse, without giving them a heads-up before they ventured home.

Said Klein: “It was outrageous of them not to inform us. I can only think that they were either naïve or devious.”

Bravo to Klein.

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Klein’s response was much better than the milquetoast response wannabe gubernatorial candidate Senator Doug Racine gave to WDEV’s Mark Johnson when asked about the new ATV rule. Since I was deep in the woods with my headphones on at the time I heard it, let me paraphrase: “I’m running for higher office and I’m scared to death to take a strong stand because I’m a liberal but I’m hoping that both sides can work it out because I’m really for both sides because I’m that kind of a guy at a point in my life that just happens to include a run for a higher office that I’ve wanted for years since losing several elections ago and having to return to selling Jeeps at my family’s auto dealership. So, to recap, I am for looking like I care for both sides and that both sides will, in turn, care for me.”

At this point, I believe Johnson was found slumping over his microphone, only to be revived by the smell of Vermont Coffee Company coffee, whereby he launched into a live-ad and regained his footing.

Again, congrats to Klein.

[Disclaimer: Klein loved Snarky Boy.]

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Breaking News: This just in from the Broadsides Newswire: Boots Wardinski has informed the ANR that he is adding an addickdum – um, I mean, addendum — to his testimony against ATV riding on Vermont’s state-owned land and forests.

According to a just-received email from the otherwise bored Wardinski on a rainy day, he’s just sent the following message to the ANR (grammatical challenges included):

i would like to add to my monday testimony. obesity, which is rampant among atv users, reduces penis size.
– boots wardinski

Me thinks Boots is getting obsessed with all things naked.

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Never trust someone who’s too lazy to capitalize things that should be capitalized. You know, like names and the beginnings of sentences. So much for that Dartmouth education, huh Boots?

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Speaking of the newswire, here’s something totally predictable: Former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle is now telling the Obama Administration that they should drop the “public option” in their health care proposal in order to increase the chances of its passage. Yes, the same Tom Daschle who has garnered millions of dollars in lobbying and speaking fees from private insurance corporations since his forced departure (read: he lost) from the Senate.

By the time this charade is over, a health care plan that could possibly pass will read something like this:

We, the Members of Congress, propose a new national holiday in honor of the private insurance corporations who have worked tirelessly and patriotically to process large sums of money in exchange for medical services to American citizens, provided that all the necessary paperwork and premiums have been properly submitted.

Change we can believe in, indeed.

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Speaking of health care, Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, said it best when he described the Democratic health care plan like this: “The most liberal bunch of gobbledygook I’ve seen in my life — a complete liberal mishmash of ideas.”

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Knock-knock.

Who’s there?

A liberal.

A liberal who?

Oh, did I say “liberal”?

Yes, why?

Because I didn’t want to offend you.

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You get what you pay for, folks.

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But while I’m on the subject of liberals, can we please stop with the “Twitter is the revolutionary tool of today” bullshit. I mean, come on. Put your thinking caps on, people. And, if you still need a primer, go read Jeremy Scahill’s excellent words here. And, please, keep reading his excellent blog.

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It’s okay, we’re all just a needle in the hay.

Speaking of which:

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This one is for my friend, Wes:

And if you don’t get it (or know him), go here: Integral Psychosis.

Cheers, Wes.

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And, finally, The Books:

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Just stuff.

Have fun.

Be real.

Pat the pony.

Hug the rail.

Fan the flames.

And

Fuck

The

Power.