Absurd Person Plural

You know you're in San Francisco when the lead Letter to the Editor savages Democrat Speaker Nancy Pelosi for being too conservative. The writer demanded to know why Nan would not commit to impeach President Bush if the Dems win the House in November. On March 1, San Francisco's Board of Supervisors voted 7-3 to impeach, citing Bush's wiretapping program and the administration’s response to Hurricane Katrina. In the US Senate, Russ Feingold (D.-Wis.) has two supporters -- Tom Harkin (D.-Iowa) and Barbara Boxer (D.-Calif.) -- in his quest to censure President Bush over his wiretapping of international conversations for terrorist intelligence. What’s wrong with Ms Pelosi?

I did have a great time in San Francisco. John and I visited my ninety-eight year old Aunt Marie who is still sharper than I am; we watched my Cousin Lou’s grandkids Anthony and Nicky play little league baseball; went to a designers show at a Pacific Heights mansion; watched the dogs frolic at the beach, wondering why we can’t have a dog beach in Palos Verdes; ate too many wonderful meals, including a fabulous brunch at Rulli’s on Sunday just before we headed to the airport.

One event we passed on was the annual Bay to Breakers footrace where an estimated 62,000 runners staggered through San Francisco on Sunday. From the SF Chronicle: Local bands played while scores of people dressed like smelly hippies from the '60s danced barefoot on the sidewalks. Oh wait. Those weren't costumes. This year's most clever entrepreneur may have been Craig Wong, a Hayes Street resident holding a sign outside his garage reading: "PEE IN OUR SINK -- $1." He said he planned to spend the money on beer.

It reminds me of Cousin Lou’s comment: I love California, but we live in a liberal cesspool.

I was happy to return home.

Continuing the Absurd theme, Al Gore has decided that the world faces a stark choice between the end of civilization and a future for its children. Mr. Gore said global warming was a challenge to our moral imagination to understand it and then to respond to it urgently. Apparently forgetting about his invention of the Internet, Mr. Gore explained: One can only attempt to create one's own reality for so long. Reality proper has a way of insisting itself upon you. Mother nature has joined this debate with a very powerful and persistent voice.

From the Washington Post: Gore stars in a movie An Inconvenient Truth that opens this week featuring the 2000 presidential candidate lecturing about climate change: There are charts, bullet points and diagrams; there are maps of ocean currents and endless iceberg pictures. It's hard to say which menaces the nation more: movie stars who go into politics or politicians who go into movies.

Gore said he was not considering running again for presidential office in 2008. DARN!

Finally, in a stunning reversal of their former reversal the Dixie Chicks have reaffirmed their embarrassment at being Texans. As war in Iraq loomed, the Chicks' Natalie Maines told the London audience: Just so you know, we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas. Then during a London concert in 2003, Maines apologized for disrespecting President Bush. But now, she's taking it back. I don't feel that way anymore, she told Time magazine for its issue hitting newsstands Monday. I don't feel he is owed any respect whatsoever.

Earl’s gotta die, but Saddam’s gotta live.

Are you ready for Chickdom? Repeat The Pledge: I promise that when I hear Natalie sing, or Martie fiddle, or Emily pick, that my heart will fill with admiration and respect for these women who give so much to the music world. I promise that when the day comes when they become (heaven forbid) old and wrinkly, saggy and gray, I will still respect them, still admire them, and have a high regard for the Chicks and all they stand for and do.

Respek?? NOT!!