The Specter of Political Gridlock

It’s Tuesday, but it feels like I’m 35.

Ponder that one.
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Here’s your Swine Flu update:

The number of confirmed swine flu cases in the United States has jumped to 64, federal officials said Tuesday, and states reported at least four more….

…The CDC said there were 17 new cases in New York City, four more in Texas and three additional cases in California. That brings the total numbers of cases confirmed by federal officials to 45 in New York City, 10 in California, six in Texas, two in Kansas and one in Ohio.

News buzz says that the World Health Organization has now risen us the Phase 4, the FIRST TIME EVAR that pandemic levels have risen so high. BUT keep in mind that the 6-phase system was only instituted in…2004. So, yes, this is the first time this four-year-old system has gotten to this point. But this is post-SARS and Bird Flu.

And to put it in perspective from this article:

Flu deaths are nothing new in the United States or elsewhere. The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 36,000 people died of flu-related causes each year, on average, during the 1990s in the United States.

So…it’s good that the CDC and other responsible organizations be watchful and ready. Our government seems to have taken the right steps. But should the people panic? I don’t think so. I still think the media is blowing this out of proportion. Wash your hands. Live your life. Don’t panic and don’t make any voting or economic decisions based on Swine Flu. Just avoid traveling to the hot spots. And don’t listen to Fox News during this time.

Primarily, we should be thinking about the crisis in Mexico, which is being compounded by this disease. People there are scared shitless. What can we do to help them? Let’s think about that.
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In other news, Arlen Specter.

Blah. I usually don’t like to talk about politicians, but this seems like a pretty rare ocurrence.

Frankly, the whole thing reminds me of how stupid our party system is. The fact that a guy has to declare himself a part of a new Band of Corrupt Assholes to accomplish anything in politics is upsetting. So you don’t agree with the Republicans, but your constituents might be a touch conservative? Be a freakin’ Independent…oh, but wait, our system doesn’t really like independents…does it?

Are you straying from the party line? No? That's a good Specter...No sudden movements.

I don’t see how this helps the Democrats much in the long-term. Yes, they get closer to that fillibuster-proof majority, huzzah. Let’s keep trying to game the system and work the numbers so that we don’t have to have any real discussion, just govern on the whims of the party in power. That sounds like America.

In my view, the Republicans now get to claim the coveted persecuted minority status in government. They’ll portray Specter as a corrupt official out for his own interests and seeking political power at the expense of his ideals and those of his constituents. This clearly paints the Democrats as a looming majority bent on squashing discussion. If the Dems don’t play the PR right, they’re going to face a midterm election similar to Clinton in the 90’s…and then we get to get nothing done during a time when we need things done the most.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Reform or abolish the party system. It’s a joke and it’s a joke that’s ruining us. I don’t give a shit what party Specter belongs to. What is he doing for US?!
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And finally, The Internet reminds us what life is really about.

80’s Anthems.

There will be a Gubernatorial Debate tomorrow at the Lyric in Blacksburg from 7 to 9 and I’ll be there covering it, which means: 1) reactions that night and 2) I’ll be missing the beginning of Lost :(. But if you’re in the area, you should come and listen to Creigh Deeds, Brian Moran, and Terry McAuliffe duke it out.