Smells Like Dead Elephants

A few weeks back, when I asked "What are you reading?" Pissed Off Patricia mentioned Smells Like Dead Elephants: Dispatches from a Rotting Empire, by Matt Taibbi (Grove Atlantic, $14.00). There was an ARC at the house we were staying at so I borrowed it.

Since it was a publisher's Advance copy, there wasn't finished art or cover copy, other than the Washington Post saying "A political reporter with the gonzo spirit that made Hunter S Thompson and P. J. O'Rourke so much fun." As I started reading, I thought this guy must be writing for Rolling Stone, no one else would print this stuff! And indeed, the essays start when he got an editorial job at Rolling Stone.

Taibbi spends time with Bernie Sanders, watching him try to address the House Rules Committee and present 4 amendments, all of which have bi-partisan support. As he describes the lobbyist leprechaun rules that govern DC, it becomes a mirror fun house, all bent on not really doing anything.

"It's funny," Sanders says. "When I first came to Congress, I'd been mayor of Burlington, Vermont - a professional politician. And I didn't know any of this. I assumed that if you get majorities in both houses, you win. I figured it's democracy, right?"

Well, that's what they call it, anyway.

Taibbi attempts to see Cindy Sheehan during the first sit in near Crawford, trying to get past her oh so protective handlers. In Oct 05, he goes to New Orleans with Sean Penn, whose star power is often the only thing that gets them past the barricades for his article Apocalypse There. Later in the book, How To Steal a Coastline from April 06 will show what a massive land grab reconstruction has been. Taibbi is truly humbled by these experiences.

Fort Apache Iraq, Darwinian Warfare, or the Worst Congress Ever, it's really hard to pick my favorite essay. They will all enrage you. This volume tempts me to subscribe to Rolling Stone again, after some 24 years. But I will keep Matt Taibbi's name handy for googling.

This really is a great recommend, thanks so much P.O.P.!

Smells Like Dead Elephants originally came out in Oct 07, so you may have to have your Fine Independent Bookstore order it for you. Or ask your favorite librarian.

So, what are you reading this week?

*from The Book Report at the General's

My Inner French-Canadian Woman has something to say:

A humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions has been playing out in Burma for more than 20 years. Thousands have been killed and many thousands more arrested, forced into slave labour or displaced from their villages by the ruling military regime. Burma’s women have endured rape and other forms of systematic sexual violence employed by the military to enforce its control over the country’s ethnic minorities. On May 3, 2008, Cyclone Nargis brought new and terrible suffering to the people of Burma, suffering made only worse by the military regime’s refusal to promptly accept the international community’s ensuing offers of humanitarian assistance. What began as a natural disaster was soon supplanted by a catastrophe rooted in the pride, paranoia and corruption of Burma’s military rulers.

The Panties for Peace Campaign

The Panties for Peace campaign was launched by the women’s organization Lanna Action for Burma (LAB) on Oct. 16, 2007, in the hopes of bringing an end to the military regime’s rampant abuse of Burma’s population – and the abuse of Burma’s women in particular. Founded in the wake of the military’s brutal response to monk-led pro-democracy uprisings in Burma last fall, the Panties for Peace campaign has been given new and pressing importance by the regime’s self-interested and inhumane response to the devastation of Cyclone Nargis. The campaign has been already launched around the world, in Australia, the Philippines, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Poland, the USA and in Brazil.

More here

Thanks Roisin!

Netroots Nation in Second Life

If you ever wanted to attend the Yearly kos convention, now you can virtually! We'll be helping out on Netroots Island during the main events on the 17th & 18th.

If you've ever wondered about Second Life, now is the perfect time to join. The Newbie Orientation Committe is waiting to help you with any questions you might have. If you have a broadband connection you'll probably do fine. Sign up for the free membership and download the software. You'll be led through a few simple exercises to teach you how to navigate. Then head over to Netroots Nation on SL Island where you can contact me, BookemJackson Streeter or any of the other comitte members: Michele Mrigesh, Mala Fegte, Bjorlynn Loon, Pb Recreant, Lumi Ihnen, Skal Paulse, Gloriana Maertens, Jane2 McMahon, Moran Singh, Padmini Jewell, or GenJCChristian Homewood.

Later, the General has a concert series to knock your socks off!
Saturday, July 12, 2008 at the Netroots Nation Dance Pavilion, Netroots Nation Island

5:00pm SLT - Robie Bloch, Singer/Songwriter Cathy Kreger's SL alter-ego brings us her "jump-up-and-dance" style of electro-acoustic folk rock.

6:00 pm SLT - JueL Resistance
Suzen JueL, a.k.a. JueL Resistance, is a self taught musician who has been performing since she was 13 years old. She has perfected the weaving of her mind's eye and heart's passion into lyrical paintings richly embedded with emotional hues from her personal experiences. Her lyrics feed the listener's soul and stirs the heart and sentiment of any who have been privileged to hear her perform them.

Her style and sound have been compared, both lyrically and vocally, to such legendary greats as Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Sue Foley, Leonard Cohen, Janis Joplin, Mazzy Star, Curt Cobain as well as a generous handful of other talented acoustic musicians.

You can find the schedule for the rest of the events at Thinking Liberallyand then go to the convention.

Books For Soldiers

Our Second Life friend, StormBear was going to be interviewed today on Fox News for his Netroots efforts running his 503 charity, Books For Soldiers. 45 minutes before he was to be picked up by the SF station, they called to cancel. "Something came up."

And what was the burning news item he was bumped for? A Florida man was bitten by a snake in the garden center of a Walmart.

If you are able to donate either books or money to Books For Soldiers, please do. Corporate funding has dried up this year and StormBear needs help to continue his efforts.

Also see: Daily KOs