Met the Vet

I took the cats to the see the new vet today after work. Although they hate getting into the cat carriers and riding in the car, they were perfect gentlemen during the visit. The doctor and the vet tech said what well behaved cats they were.

They got a general checkup, a de-worming, flea treatment, and shots for feline leukemia and distemper. They're both up to date on their rabies shots, so they didn't need that.

This was the first visit to the new vet since I moved to Northern New York in February. This particular doctor has his office in a customized RV, so there's less overhead for office space and so forth. The bill came to $138.00 for all of those services for two cats. That's less than half the cost of the same services at my old vet. So needless to say, I am very impressed.

The doctor said the cats were healthy and had nice looking teeth. He said Whitebelly was at his optimum weight of 11 lbs, but Blackbelly, who weighed in at 13 lbs, needs to lose some weight. One thing surprised me though. He said the current recommendations are three litter boxes for a house with two cats!!! I've got two litter boxes and that seems to be plenty. I'd be curious to know what cat to litter box ratio other cat owners use. Let me know.

New York Politics: Stranger and Stranger

Even before the investigations into the Spitzer Administration's efforts to misuse the State Police in order to discredit Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno have been resolved, New Yorkers are treated to a new episode in dysfunctional government. The Albany Times Union is reporting the following:

The long-time lawyer for Gov. Eliot Spitzer's elderly father notified state and Senate investigations panels Tuesday that a person believed to be a political strategist for Senate Republicans left an angry, anonymous voice mail message warning of a subpoena about "your shady campaign loans."

"If you resist the subpoena you will be arrested and brought to Albany," the caller, believed to be political consultant Roger Stone, stated in an obscenity-laced message, according to a letter sent to Senate Investigations Committee Chairman George Winner Jr., R-Elmira.

Among other past activities, Wikipedia mentions these two items of interest regarding Roger Stone:

According to Maureen Dowd of the New York Times, Stone is the "keeper of the Nixon flame" and was an advisor to the former President in his post-presidential years, serving as "Nixon's man in Washington". Stone was a protege of former Connecticut Governor John Davis Lodge who introduced the young Stone to then former Vice President Nixon in 1967.

According to Jeff Toobin in his "Too Close To Call" Stone was recruited by former Secretary of State James Baker to over-see the recount of the disputed Presidential election in Miami-Dade county in 2000. Stone is credited with the street demonstrations and eventual shut-down of the re-count in that privotal county.

I find this stuff to be fascinating: mysterious political operatives threatening the elderly father of the Governor of New York. Wow, I smell a novel in the making. Any guesses on the motivation or what this is all about?

An Honest Mistake

Well it's a good thing that I don't believe in conspiracy theories because otherwise this article from MSNBC might have me asking some dangerous questions. It seems that even before the trial of Lt. Colonel Steven Jordan got underway, the presiding judge dismissed two of the most serious charges against Jordan because the defendant was not read his rights.

In court Monday morning, prosecutor Lt. Col. John P. Tracy announced that an investigator, Maj. Gen. George Fay, had contacted prosecutors Sunday to say that he “misspoke” when he testified during a pretrial hearing that he had advised Jordan of his rights during an interview in 2004.

In that 2004 interview, Jordan had told Fay he never saw detainees being abused and never saw nude detainees.

I fully support the rights of the accused, it's just that this strikes me as all too convenient. Just as the trial of the highest ranking military official implicated in the Abu Ghraib abuse and cover-up gets underway, two of the most serious charges are thrown out due to negligance on the part of the military investigator.

Good grief. Someone is having quite a good laugh at our expense.

Marriage Equality in Canada

The CBC is reporting that Scott Brison has become the first Member of Parliament (MP) to marry a same-sex partner since gay marriage was legalized in 2005. Mr. Brison is a member of the Liberal Party and is a member of the federal parliament from Nova Scotia.

A number of dignitaries, including Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion, former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna and former prime ministers Paul Martin and Joe Clark, were among the guests.

"Everyone involved felt like they were part of a history-making event," McKenna said. "It seemed like a validation of a long process."

Dion said he hoped his presence at the wedding would reinforce the right of same-sex couples to marry.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the CBC report is the reaction of the local citizenry to news of the wedding.

Many of the 200 or so residents of Cheverie, on the province's western shoreline in the Annapolis Valley, say they don't understand the fuss and are playing down the significance of the wedding.

"To each their own," said Pat Eldridge of nearby Canning. "Everyone's entitled to their own opinions and own way of life. He's not hurting us. If they're in love and want to be together, then that's awesome. Love is hard to find."

How long will we have to wait until America's cultural sensibilities catch up to Canada's?

Truth and Reconciliation -- One Step at a Time

From Reuters, comes this report that Lt. Colonel Steven L. Jordan will face a court martial trial for his role in the prisoner abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. The Reuters article only briefly touches on the allegations against Lt. Colonel Jordan, stating that

Jordan is charged with cruelty and maltreatment of detainees as well as making false statements and obstruction of justice, disobeying a superior officer and failure to obey orders.

However, a more complete listing of Jordan's alleged crimes can be found in this entry from Wikipedia:

A preponderance of evidence supports that LTC Jordan did, or failed to do, the following:

Failed to properly train Soldiers and civilians on the ICRP.

Failed to take full responsibility for his role as the Director, JIDC.

Failed to establish the necessary checks and balances to prevent and detect abuses.

Was derelict in his duties by failing to establish order and enforce proper use of ICRP during the night of 24 November 2003 (IP Roundup) which contributed to a chaotic situation in which detainees were abused.

Failed to prevent the unauthorized use of dogs and the humiliation of detainees who were kept naked for no acceptable purpose while he was the senior officer-in-charge in the Hard Site.

Failed to accurately and timely relay critical information to COL Pappas, such as:

The incident where a detainee had obtained a weapon.

ICRC issues.

Was deceitful during this, as well as the MG Taguba, investigations. His recollection of facts, statements, and incidents were always recounted to avoid blame or responsibility.

His version of events frequently diverged from most others.

Failed to obey a lawful order to refrain from contacting anyone except his attorney regarding this investigation.

He conducted an e-mail campaign soliciting support from others involved in the investigation.

To date, Lt. Colonel Jordan is the highest ranking military official to face trial for the abuses committed at Abu Ghraib. No charges have yet been brought forth against the civilian leaders responsible for the torture and abuse, namely, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and current Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Strange But True

Former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger has three sons. Each son is also named Lawrence Eagleburger.

Strange but true.

Cultural Bliss

No commentary needed other than to say that this clip is proof that American cultural perfection was achieved in 1979. It's been downhill ever since.

A Weakened Spitzer Tries Something New

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, still dealing with a recent corruption scandal, has apparently gotten the news that he is the governor, and not the dictator, of New York. The New York Times is reporting that Spitzer is trying to change the rocky relationship between his administration and members of the State legislature (both the Republican Senate and the Democratic Assembly).

The past two weeks have left even many of the governor’s strongest supporters dismayed that his credibility to deliver on arguably his central campaign pledge, to clean up the ethically challenged state government, has been fatally compromised.

“You talk about agents of change; we really thought Mr. Spitzer was that agent of change,” said Barbara Bartoletti, legislative director of the League of Women Voters of New York State. “Now the governor really has to prove that he is that agent of change.”

With investigations going on at almost every level of state government, Ms. Bartoletti, who has been on the scene since the Hugh Carey administration, said the state of ethics in Albany was “almost laughable” and relations among lawmakers “worse than I’ve ever seen.”

So after alienating the Republican Senate by improperly using the State Police to target Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, and making personally insulting comments about Bruno, Spitzer is seeking to repare his relationship with the same New York Democrats he trashed in an earlier fight over the replacement of disgraced former Comptroller Alan Hevesi.

Five months ago, the governor unleashed his anger at Mr. Magnarelli, a low-key member of the Assembly, after Mr. Magnarelli accused the governor of meddling in the Legislature’s selection of one of its own, Thomas P. DiNapoli, as comptroller.

“Bill Magnarelli is one of those unfortunate Assembly members who just raises his hand when he’s told,” the governor said during a trip to Syracuse in February, a shot that was the first of a series of barbs at Assembly Democrats that shocked lawmakers eager to work with the first Democratic governor in a dozen years.

This week, the headstrong governor was humble and solicitous — quietly courting lawmakers he has scorned in recent months — and the change made clear how far Mr. Spitzer has been thrown off stride by scandal and how eager he is to rebuild.

I voted for Spitzer and was thrilled to see him elected governor, especially because of his campaign pledge to actively push for marriage equality in New York. But I am sorely disappointed in a man that allows his temper and anti-social behavior get in the way of doing his job.

At present, there is no way he could ever bring about the compromises needed to get the Republican State Senate to allow a vote on the marriage equality bill. In that way, he is as much an obstacle to passage of marriage equality as Republican Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno. And, as such, I have no patience for Spitzer's temper tantrums and childish behavior. Grow up, Eliot, this state needs a leader.