An event

My firstborn is a Ph.D.

Republican objective #1

More Proof That The Tea Party Is Sabotaging The Economy To Make President Obama Fail

This is not an isolated case. Words to this effect have come straight from the Senate Minority Leader and many others in Congress. It is Republican Objective #1 to frustrate Obama's every aim and to prevent his re-election. Why do these people hate him so much? Because he's black? I think only peripherally. Small government conservatives have felt since Reagan that they had the country on an irresistible march toward tearing down every vestige of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society and eliminating taxes, entitlements and regulations as obstacles to the will of the financial sector and the wealthy. Obama is the first President since 1980 not complicit in this -- even Bill Clinton signed off on financial deregulation that put us on the road to the meltdown of 2008. Obama believes in the affirmative role of government. An 8-year pause could enable a rethink of the whole Rightist program. I think that's what the Right fears from Obama.

Cats

I think this is how sleek, supremely confident young men got to be known as "cats."

Snapped

There are things you expect to have around forever. Our old goose, for instance -- I thought she would outlive us all. A predator got her a couple of years back. And now the big old apple tree between the house and the barn. Snapped in half by the weight of yesterday's snow. Oh well.

Bon voyage

Tomorrow, my eldest and her husband become residents of Switzerland. Bon voyage ce soir.

Heels

The folks who paved our driveway left us a booklet that advises against wearing spike heels on it. Duly noted.

Priorities

28 states argue that the feds can't require people to buy health insurance, an essential link in the financing of health reforms aimed at broadening access. But the Port Authority of NY/NJ wants to charge drivers $12 to use the Holland Tunnel to pay for the construction of the new World Trade Center Tower -- essentially a private real estate deal. I care a lot that 49 million Americans have no health insurance. I couldn't care less whether anything ever gets built at Ground Zero.