Sunday, August 09, 2009

Something about frying pans and fires.

As always, thanks to Bluegill for pinch-hitting while I was visiting glorious Madison WI and doing my little bit for hop bombs and Imperial Stout at the Great Taste of the Midwest.

We manded a tent corner slot this year and really pushed the t-shirt sales, which resulted in 280, more than double last year. "These Machines Kill Fascists" remains a favorite of the local crowd, and we saw them all over town during the course of three days.

There, in Madison, they get it.

Here, in Southern Indiana, we get "blue dogs," and I join the Bookseller (and others) in wondering how this designation is any different from that of "Republican."

At least part of the street was paved in my absence. I'd been hoping to return to two way streets and bike lanes ... but this ain't Wisconsin, is it?

32 comments:

dan chandler said...

How dare you compare us to those foreigners up near Canada? Don’t you love America, Roger? (By “American,” of course I mean Southern Indiana exclusively.)

Today I had the pleasure of seeing Adam & Courtney Paris’s “Victory Garden” flag that’s in front of their house. Courtney informed me that several people had asked what a victory garden is, and whether it was some sort of commie, fascists’ thing.

Ironic, eh, that someone would think that of this tools that helped us beat the fascists and win WW2? The comment reminded me of the poster printed and distributed by the federal government in 1943. The poster read “When You Ride Alone, You Ride with Hitler!” The federal government was trying to get folks to car pool, to save oil, to help win WW2.

Today we’re not fighting a war. We’re fighting two. Our dependence on oil is a large factor in both of those wars. Since we invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, has government (federal, state or local) pushed the conservation measures pushed in WW2? Okay, that’s one point.

Many would agree that it would be a good thing if New Albany had more people riding bikes (i.e. using less gas), planting gardens, improving energy conservation on both new and existing buildings. However, opponents of any city plan to help facilitate bikes, gardens or conservation often label such efforts as “socialist,” “communist,” “un-American” etc.

Hey, it helped win World War 2. Our “Greatest Generation” did it. We should too.

Jeff Gillenwater said...

I don't know why I didn't think of it before but, since the streets are still one way, why not just paint one of the lanes in on each street as a bike lane?

These stencils kill fascists.

dan chandler said...

In Cherokee Park, where the left lane has stenciled pedestrian and bike figures, someone stenciled in a unicycle figure. It’s still there, has been for about a year.

I’m going to plant a garden next spring, one with a sign “These Gardens Kill Fascists.”

Ann said...

I'm afraid it's more likely we'll see unicorns before we see bike lanes and street conversion here, Dan.

Bayernfan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bayernfan said...

I see that NABC made the Indianapolis Star Online today. I tried to link to it, but I can't get the entire link to show up!

Bayernfan said...

At the Farmers Market on Saturday, a lady (who I found out later is a retired teacher from Floyd Central) began to harangue the Health care reform ladies at their booth. She kept using words like "Communism" and "Stalin" and "Lenin" (apparently she had just read her daily Rush Limbaugh 'How to talk to Liberals' email). She was getting visibly upset, her voice was raised, she cut off the answers coming from the ladies who support reform. It was really sad to watch this lady, who seemingly had no idea what she was talking about except to throw out those catch words of "socialism", etc.

Jeff Gillenwater said...

New Albany brewer to expand, hire

First comment on article:

"This is awesome beer......we often make the trip to New Albany for this reason."

dan chandler said...

I had a pleasant surprise last night. I found a Facebook group called “I love downtown New Albany: Develop Downtown.” The surprising thing was the site was set up by a couple college kids and had 260+ mostly college age kids are members. Of the 260+ members, I only knew one person (until I sent out a bunch of invites). This wasn’t a group set up by the city, or DNA, but something spontaneous. What does this say about the next generation of residents and voters?

Iamhoosier said...

Do they vote? I almost hope that they haven't. 260 new votes might just change a few things around here.

Jeff Gillenwater said...

Amongst other things, it says they're more media savvy than the institutions and felt the need to create their own communication network.

dan chandler said...

I spoke with the group admin. He’s willing to send an email out to the group members, if you have something they need to hear. Once the “YES” signs are printed (mailed in my check last week), might want to let them know about the project and know where they can pick up one of the signs.

What else?

Iamhoosier said...

As for the "Blue Dogs", I think that some of you are still thinking that Republican means something along the lines of William F. Buckley. It does not and has not for quite some time. Compare a Blue Dog to the Republicans who think like Limbaugh or Palin or Robertson. You'll see a difference.

Daniel Short said...

On the contrary, a blue dog is someone that runs on fiscally conservative principles and then votes the other way when the party leaders put the pressure on. e.g. Baron Hill last week.

Iamhoosier said...

I need to ammend my list. Palin or Limbaugh or Robertson or Short... VBG

How are you doing Daniel?

Bayernfan said...

I'm glad he changed his mind. The only thing I'm disappointed in is that he is against a public option.

Daniel Short said...

Hello Mark, I am well. Sorry for the non response, but I had to make a road trip to St. Louis last night.

Has anyone heard of a town hall that Baron is doing?

Jeff Gillenwater said...

Baron isn't doing town halls, though he is meeting regularly with citizens.

Given the obvious efforts to disrupt town halls and purposely turn them into unproductive chaos, I can't blame anyone for not doing them.

Iamhoosier said...

No problem at all.

You in charge of busing in the "imports"? (grin)

Daniel Short said...

Jeff, given the way he voted I am not surprised that he is staying away.

Mark, the imports at a Cardinals game are $7.75!!! But, the game was good and downtown St. Louis is absolutely beautiful. It is very clean even though they have those pesky one way streets : )

Jeff Gillenwater said...

It has nothing to do with the way he voted, Daniel. I'm not very happy with him, either. He's doing his usual fence riding.

The town halls have become a target not for legitimate debate but of intentional disruption of the debate.

Daniel Short said...

Well, Jeff, that is how it is in England and other European countries. Any suggestions?

Bayernfan said...

And how many town hall style meetings in Europe have you been to, Daniel?

Daniel Short said...

Not near as many as you, I am sure. I am having enough trouble trying to make it to just one in the 9th district.

The facts are these...44% strongly oppose this system while only 26% strongly support it.

Jeff Gillenwater said...

What system, Daniel?

Daniel Short said...

Sorry, should have written proposed system, in which I meant the administration's proposed health care take over.

Jeff Gillenwater said...

There's the rub: House committees are reviewing multiple proposals and the Senate is still working on theirs. The administration has yet to endorse any of them.

How is it then that you or anyone else is against the "administration's proposed health care take over"?

Daniel Short said...

As for the 3 versions that I have read, I am not for any. The administration likes them all. 1000 pages, $10 trillion, rationed care....? Keep it.

Jeff Gillenwater said...

Care is rationed now and I think it might be more fair to say that the President supports portions of all of them.

To which poll are you referring? Who conducted it and what, specifically, was asked?

Not trying to crack wise. The numbers you offered up just don't seem to jive with what I've seen from multiple sources.

Daniel Short said...

PEW show that 42% approve and 43% do not on this issue.

http://people-press.org/reports/questionnaires/532.pdf

WSJ/NBC poll shows that 42% of those polled called it a bad idea while 36% were in favor.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124890178435291341.html

Rasmussen shows 49% oppose while 47% favor.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/august_2009/confidence_in_u_s_health_care_system_has_grown_in_recent_months

Jeff, the poll I was referring to was reported last week on RCP. When asked the general question of whether one favored or opposed government health care reform, the results were as I wrote yesterday.

Daniel Short said...

Please note that I gave you the "strongly" favor or oppose numbers.

Iamhoosier said...

Polls(properly designed and run)can play an important part in developing policy. The key word is PART.