The Band: A Thanksgiving Memoir

This is Bob Dylan singing "Forever Young" followed by "Baby Let me Follow you Down". I saw this from the movie "The Last Waltz" (which also took place during Thanksgiving when it was filmed, if I'm not mistaken) in college and it reminds me of my college sweetheart when we saw it together in the college theater, and loved the film.

When my boyfriend was in the mode of transition to move on, he was torn between those songs in expressing his feelings towards me in writing those lyrics in cards, or pointing out "The Last Waltz" album as he was going on to grad school and I was still a senior. It took us many years to break up, albeit we were sweethearts officially only for 18 months. We had our good and still sad times after our break-up afterwards. It was like watching Abbie and whoever on ER when young.

I still love those songs, think of those times, and now bless my former sweetheart for being insightful, even though the break up was one of toughest in our lives. It was hard on me. I cannot speak if it was harder on him or not. I'm guessing it was at the time, but goodness, the aftermath was longer in the tooth for me.

Not preferring to end this post on a negative note, so I will just say that "Forever Young" is a good song to wish anyone well. It is a timeless song. Good job, Bob.

Message from Benny's World and John Edwards

Have a blessed Thanksgiving from the Benny's and the Edwards families.

Jim Hightower Channels John Edwards (sorta)

This video is priceless.

It's always impressive to see a politician take an unbending stand on principle, so I salute George W for going against popular opinion by vetoing the SCHIP bill, which would have extended health coverage to some six million uninsured children in our country.

Bush said that what irked him about this children's health proposal is the principle of providing government-financed, coverage which he derided as "federalized" medicine. George, you see, is a die hard privatization ideologue, and he insists that people should get their health care from the free market, not the government. The vast majority of his Republican colleagues in Congress agreed, voting to uphold his veto of the children's bill.

This news prompted Alan, one of our stalwart [listeners] [readers] in Fort Collins, Colorado, to suggest a national campaign in support of this principled stand that the Republicans in Washington have taken. Since Bush and his GOP allies don't believe in federalized medicine, Alan says it is our duty to free them of the burden of having their own health coverage paid for by us taxpayers! As a matter of principle, we must take away their government health plans and let them buy their own in the free market.

This idea offers two pluses: one, taxpayers will no longer have to pay benefits to politicians who are ideologically opposed to them, and, two, the money saved can be redirected to the millions of American children without health coverage.

Edwards has said that in the first 6 months of his first term if Congress did not pass a UHC bill, he would invoke the 27th amendment and that no one in Congress, the WH, or the Executive Building would have those privileges.

Maybe JRE could take a tip from Alan and Jim in the way of rephrasing this concept, such as "if Congress doesn't pass a UHC the first 6 months in office, they should resign their health care privileges or else I will take them away from them."

That would get the attention of the crossovers.

Montana Maven Has Podcasts Up

On the Citizens Voice network..

I met the Maven at Yearly Kos. She's an intellectual hoot (yes oxymoronic but it's true).

She has a great guest: Harvey Wasserman, talking about No Nukes.

and yes, she is a JRE supporter.

I've met some great artists.

Blue Star Helmet Guys Kicked DC Butts Today

The Dallas Cowboys beat the Washington Redskins 28-23 today in Texas Stadium. The game is part of the quasi semi-annual Super Bowl series between the 2 rivals.

From SBR Forum.com, as which I didn't get to see any of the game today, other than occasional reports on CBS.

IRVING, Texas (Ticker) - Ten minutes before Sunday's kickoff, the Washington Redskins emerged from the locker room and gathered at midfield, jumping up and down on the large blue star that adorns Texas Stadium.

It was a move reminiscent of Terrell Owens years ago.

However, it was Owens who had the last laugh, catching four touchdown passes and leading the Dallas Cowboys to a 28-23 victory over their NFC East rival Washington Redskins.

Minus defensive backs Carlos Rogers and Sean Taylor, the Redskins' secondary was able to keep Dallas' big-play offense in check in the first half before Owens exploded in the second half.

Three of Owens' four TD receptions - which tied a Cowboys' franchise record - came after the intermission.

The Redskins (5-5) nearly spoiled Owens' spectacular day, reaching the Cowboys' 19-yard line with under two minutes remaining, but defensive back Terence Newman sealed the win with an interception.

Washington opened the scoring after taking the ball at their own 41-yard line following a missed field goal by Dallas.

Showing fresh legs despite their numerous injuries coming into Sunday, the Redskins moved methodically down the field and reached the end zone on Jason Campbell's 19-yard TD pass to tight end Chris Cooley.

The Cowboys (9-1) were unable to mount anything on their two first-quarter drives, but on their first possession in the second quarter, the offense came to life.

Quarterback Tony Romo relied almost exclusively on the short passing game, hitting tight end Jason Witten three times for for 16 yards and Owens three times for 32 yards, including a 4-yarder that tied the game at 7-7 with 1:21 left in the half.

Shaun Suisham kicked a 45-yard field goal with four seconds remaining to give Washington a 10-7 halftime lead.

But two major calls by the officiating crew in the third quarter helped give Dallas the lead for good.

With the Cowboys facing a 2nd-and-6 at their own 27, Romo's pass over the middle appeared to be intercepted by Redskins linebacker Rocky McIntosh, who returned it inside the 5-yard line.

Dallas coach Wade Phillips challenged the call, and replays showed the ball had hit the ground, giving the Cowboys renewed life.

On the next play, Romo looked long for wide receiver Patrick Crayton. The pass was underthrown but Washington safety Reed Doughty was called for a 51-yard pass interference penalty, taking Dallas down to Washington's 22-yard line.

Three plays later, Romo hit a streaking Owens in the end zone for 31 yards, giving Dallas a 14-10 lead.

Romo finished 22-of-31 for 293 yards with the four touchdowns.

The Redskins answered with an eight-play, 50-yard drive and closed to 14-13 on Suisham's 39-yard field goal.

It took Romo and the Cowboys only six plays to pad their lead. He hit Sam Hurd for 13 yards and Witten for 23 yards before hooking up with Owens for his third touchdown of the day.

Owens again beat Shawn Springs in a play that looked remarkably like his second touchdown - only this time from 46 yards - to put Dallas ahead, 21-13.

Owens finished the day with eight catches for 173 yards. It was his third straight 100-yard receiving day and moved him past Art Monk into 11th place on the NFL's all-time receiving yards list.

It also was Owens' fifth consecutive game with at least one touchdown catch.

While Washington closed the gap to 21-16 on Suisham's 44-yard field goal, the Owens' show wasn't over. His fourth touchdown of the day came on a 52-yard pass from Romo for a 28-16 lead midway through the final quarter.

Oliver Willis covered the game as well. Sorry Oliver, but your guys were off their turf and in America's Team-land today.

If one does not understand why this is a big deal, then s/he is neither a Pokes nor a Redskins fan.

As we say in Texas, "How 'bout those Cowboys!"

Done.

John Edwards Understands the Global Warming Problem

Last night, JRE appeared over the Internet and talked in front of Grist.com and LCV about the subject. He had more plans on how to treat the core problems not just the symptoms.

Check out TomP's diary at the Daily Kos to read more about John Edwards' ideas and see the videos.

I might add that Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne will be joining JRE this week in Iowa to discuss this important issue.