Better public policy in action, shut down the Republican senate. We're seeing their new strategy in action, obstruction, slash and burn. Nothing's new and the extreme right wing is in full control of the party now.

THAT'S a tree!

How much of the Repub refusal to bail out Detroit is related to wanting to end union money's going to the Dems? No UAW, no donations, no vounteers manning phone banks.... I'm sure there's enough crassness for many Congress members to be willing to sacrifice Detroit and all that depends on Detroit for partisan advantage at this level. A depressing thought for the day. But there's always Blagojevich to cheer us all up!

aHHHHHhhhhh Jeckyll Island.... the original scene of the financial " crime" right?
How appropriate !!
Hey Steve, go down to St. Mary's Ga, about 40 miles south and take the ferry boat over to Cumberland Island. If you think St Simons is good, you'll love the Carnegie Ruins on Cumberland. It's well worth the time.

Stuff folks should know

http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/84307?print

Alabama paid approximately $175,000 in incentives for "each" of the 891 employees at the Toyota Engine Plant in Huntsville, Alabama.

by Gary Ater
December 10, 2008

"What does the Senator and his other GOP colleagues have against offering a bridge-loan of taxpayer dollars to a key US manufacturing industry?"

I ask this question of the Alabama Senator, because the reason that the foreign automakers are located in these southern states today, is that Alabama, and now Mississippi and Georgia, were successful in out-bidding other US states with large taxpayer incentives. These vast amounts of tax-payer dollars enticed the foreign auto companies into building their factories in these southern states.

In fact, the Alabama Automobile Manufacturers Association says that Alabama paid approximately $175,000 in incentives for "each" of the 891 employees at the Toyota Engine Plant in Huntsville, Alabama. (That´s $156 Million in taxpayer incentives for one single factory) At that kind of taxpayer cost, what problem does the fine Senator of Alabama have with a tax-payer loan, (not cash or long-term tax incentives) to an American industry that currently involves 1 out of every 10 working Americans? (Both "blue" and "white" collar workers.)"

Posted by: S Brennan | December 12, 2008 4:10 PM

Wonderful tree. Is that resurrection fern growing on the impressive, near-horizontal branches? If so, it must have rained not too long ago--that fern dries up on the branch, and then perks up after a rain. Beautiful!

Gotta be resurrection fern, Beth. Live oaks are the deities of southern oakdom, even as all oaks (and trees collectively) have a divinity about them, but the resurrection fern's affinity for live oaks is the clincher. Besides, they are the feature tree in Sydney Lanier's poem.

God's truth - I once parked my '68 VW Beetle behind a live oak somewhere on a road north out of New Orleans, and only the bumpers were visible from the other side of that magnificent creature.

We are spending Christmas on St. Simons. There are many beautiful Live Oaks there on the island. Ah, the marshes of Glynn.

The tree is so lovely I am going to try to draw it. I have been using colored pencils lately but may have to do this in water color. Hope you don't mind but I love trees like this. I have a pencil drawing I did of one I photographed in England that I really like... If you want to see what I have done with your tree...you'll have to email me....Best wishes and Happy Holidays....

"I have been using colored pencils lately but may have to do this in water color....."

Joan, I hope Steve will share your finished piece with us. He certainly has been gracious enough to both Nina and I in giving our artistic efforts exposure here on his blog.

http://deepintoartlifewest.blogspot.com/

"He certainly has been gracious enough to both Nina and I in
giving our artistic efforts exposure here on his blog."

I`ve only once seen the visual results of your artistic efforts
here, POA (as well as Nina`s), but I agree that Steve is a
gracious host. As a matter of fact he`s given the literary results
of your artistic efforts almost daily exposure.

Yeah, you may say that you don`t do art while you write
comments on a political blog, but to me it`s impossible not to
appreciate the artistic element in your sentences; it`s
inseparable from the serious content, and not a distraction or
mere decor. Admit it POA: you`re a writer. And you`ve not
chosen the novel, the short story, or the poem, but the political
blog comment as your literary form - an equivalent to certain
political cartoonists.
Intended or not - the result is artistic. And often amusing as
well.