Live 8 - Dig it!

What is Live 8? The short version: a whole lot of simultaneous consciousness-raising rock-and-roll shows, going on in 10 (I think) cities around the world. Once again - is it just a 1985 nostalgia trip? - Philly has gotten the nod as the only US venue. It will all be happening right outside our soon-to-be-ex front steps in the city's lovely Fairmount section, on the famous Art Museum steps. This time, it's about making people aware of the massive Third World Debt relief campaign that is gathering steam in advance of next week's G-8 summit in Scotland. If you have a chance, visit the One campaign site, and see what they are talking about.

And rock on!

W. sez "Bono Loves Me!"

Thanks to my dear hubby for passing this one along.

Seems that the Bushies just can't pass up an opportunity to twist words and distort reality. I am tickled by the fact that the White House wants to snuggle up to my hero Bono, but their willingness to misappropriate his comments in their own self-interest is pretty pathetic. I know my boy is too civilized to get into a war of words with this crew, but I have to say, that's one battle I would like a ring-side seat for. Something tells me Scott McClellan wouldn't stand a chance against our quick-witted Irishman.

Nothing Like a Good Night's Rest

Can you believe this guy?

Sometimes you have to just cut out all of the political B.S. and get down with the nephew. The little boogie man graced us with his presence last weekend, and it was a treat beyond compare. Rumor has it that he has started crawling the in the past few days. Look out, world!

Wither Choice?

This morning I went to pick up some bagels and beverages at our local coffee shop, which is known for its support of various "left-wing" causes. They hosted numerous Democratic meet-ups during last year's election, and there are always "liberal" pamphlets and signs adorning the walls. Things were a little discombubulated in there this morning, and I felt like I had to wait an inordinantly long time for three toasted bagels. As I waited, I thought to myself, "If the Democrats can't even run this bloody coffee house, is it any wonder people think they can't run the government?"

I continue to be deeply disturbed by all of the rhetorical maneuvers going on within my party at the moment, particularly as relates to the abortion issue...and all of this of course brings me back to my deep unease with the way things are shaping up here in PA. as all the big Dems gear up to support anti-choice Bob Casey for a run against Santorum (aka The Dark Lord) in November of '06. I know I keep making passing references to this situation, but I am really stuck on it, and I can't quite seem to get over my issues. Everyone wants me to believe that the most important thing is gaining a Democratic majority in the Senate. But is it OK to sacrifice our principles on the abortion issue in the process? Katha Pollitt speaks for me this week. She makes a pretty compelling case: if we want to re-focus the debate, shouldn't we be talking about a whole panoply of rights - paid maternity leave, health care, etc.?

23rd and Iraq, B**ch

I served as a poll-watcher for the Kerry campaign back in November of last year. My partner and I found ourselves in a low-income area of North Philadelphia, and as we roamed the neighborhood on foot, we saw scrawled on a pillar at the edge of a housing development the words, "23rd and Iraq, Bitch." It said a lot, I thought, about what some anonymous person felt about their neighborhood.

But what of the REAL Iraq? According to W., things are going swimmingly, and there's just no way to tell how long we will have to be shipping our young men and women over there to help spread democracy (and have their limbs blown off in the process.) Don't you just have to wonder what kind of alternate reality this man is living in?

This is Not an Endorsement

How about a quick dose of politics? I know it's been awhile. I am by no means endorsing John Kerry's highly-probable second run at the Presidency. (Still pretty pissed at him for bungling things so badly last year.) But I did sign his little petition asking Bush to do the right thing and offer a retraction of Karl Rove's idiotic comments the other night.

Senator Franken? You Betcha!

I am sure my steadfast Republican parents are sick to their stomachs already at the prospect of Al Franken becoming their next Senator. But this sure is fun to think about. I personally would relish seeing old Al on the Senate floor, going head-to-head with Dr. Perfect and Co. And you know Paul Wellstone would be smiling down on the whole thing.

Your Attempt to Reach Your Elected Official Cannot Be Completed as Dialed...

I just keep racking up more and more reasons to want Rick Santorum out of office. Here's the lastest, as expressed in an email which I attempted to send through his website...(And hey, check out the second listing that comes up when you Google "Rick Santorum")

Dear Senator Santorum:
Yesterday, as I do quite often, I signed an on-line petition sponsored by the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) in effort to express my feelings to you about an important environmental issue. After sending the petition via the NRDC website, I received an automated email from your office stating that the email I sent could not be read because it had not been sent directly through your website.
As I am sure you are aware, countless interest groups generate on-line petitions for their members to forward to their elected officials. It's one of the great things about the internet - the ability to reach people so quickly and efficiently. Why is your policy to block these vital channels of communication between yourself and your constituents?
If you want to be re-elected, you really ought to practice listening to the people who will be casting ballots next November. Rest assured, mine will not be cast for you.

In the mean time, pay the NRDC site a visit and see what they are talking about.

It Ain't The Heat

Well, actually it is. It's been in the 90's here in Philly for about ten days - feels like August already, and it's not even summer yet. Global warming? Check out the Virtual March on Washington that has been orchestrated to raise awareness of this looming environmental crisis, and sign on. We have some pretty good company.

Look in the Mirror, W.

Maybe Tony Blair has been humbled by his party's poor showing in the recent elections in Britain, but for whatever reason, he seems to be trying to shimmy to the left a bit. In Washington recently, he was trumpeting for a massive increase in debt relief for Africa, while Bush - claiming that the U.S. has already done more for that continent in crisis than any other country, and that we don't want to give handouts to totalitarian regimes - actually had the nerve to say, "No developed nation is going to want to support a government that doesn't take an interest in their people, that doesn't focus on education and health care."

Then I guess it's no wonder that support for the U.S. is at an all-time low.

I just wish that W. could appreciate the irony in his position, given the way he treats people in his own country.

The Downing Street Memo

It's easy to forget about all of the atrocities that are going on in the world when I am sitting in my ninth floor office with no air conditioning on a 90 degree day - which is a pretty major atrocity in and of itself. But thanks to the good people at Democracy for America, I got a nice little kick in the pants this AM. If you haven't already, check out the Downing Street Memo. It doesn't have the catchiness of the "so-called sexed-up dossier," but it's another important piece in the Iraq puzzle. Just a little more egg on America's face.

Wow! My Job Really IS hard!

Whenever I tell people that I am a child welfare lawyer, the response I often get is, "Wow - that must be really hard." Is it?? I don't really know. It's what I do every day. Sometimes it's difficult to see what is right under your nose.

Today I attended the first day of a two day interdisciplinary child welfare conference at Penn's Field Center. All manner of professionals are in attendance - doctors, lawyers, social workers, the whole works. It's being held in an extremely sexy new Wharton building that feels a bit like the set of Battlestar Gallactica. The day started with a keynote address from a guy named Dave Pelzer, probably the world's most famous (and well-published) survivor of child abuse. He was inspirational and entertaining, and provided very strategically timed glimpses into the horrors he experienced as a kid. He also made it very clear that it was the social service workers who saved his life.

Lunch got a little weird, as we heard from a genuis pediatrician/child abuse expert/tuba virtuoso named Dr. Eli Newberger, from Hah-vard. He did in fact play his tuba for us, accompanying a banjo player/singer, doing some Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong and Paul Robeson.

A few of the panels were a little dry, but the day ended with a bang as I sat and listened to Dr. Cindy Christian of Children's Hospital. She is the local child abuse guru and is generally an amazing woman. I have heard about her for years, even had her testify in a case way back when I worked for the city. But seeing her in action, talking about child abuse from the medical angle and what the doctor's duties are...plus the incredibly graphic slides of some of her more extreme cases...well, let's just say that I walked home from Penn on a beautiful, sunny evening, put on the U2, and had a good hard cry.

Yeah, it's hard. But you know what? I'm really proud of what I do, and to be in the same community as all of the generally kick-ass folks who are hanging out at Penn over these two days.