A Call for Impeachment

Yesterday the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to set a precedent that effectively repeals a portion of the fifth amendment.

The Constitution, in its fifth amendment:

...nor shall private property be taken for public (emphasis added) use, without just compensation.

Justice Stevens, writing for the majority:

The city has carefully formulated a development plan that it believes will provide appreciable benefits to the community, including, but not limited to, new jobs and increased tax revenue

The "development plan" in question will evict families from their long held homes and businesses to build a "waterfront hotel and conference center, office space and 80 residential properties."

Hardly public use.

This is one of the worst decisions in U.S. history. The foundation of American society is private property, and I think Justices Stevens, Breyer, Souter and Ginsburg should be impeached.

The House of Lords

I always find it a bit condescending when the Democrats try to identify with "average Americans," and I think this article sums up my feelings pretty well. A preview:

A political class drawn from the ranks of those who have ascended on the basis of their own work and talents is far preferable to selecting from those whose background is shuffling papers or cashing checks from a trust fund. Democrats have adopted a Chirac-like attitude towards the common working men and women: shocked that they don't vote the way their social betters direct them. As in the old joke goes, "If I want your opinion, I will give it to you."

Paint the Nation Insane

The Democrats are getting wackier and wackier by the hour it seems. After Senator Durbin compared our troops to Pol Pot (a man empowered by the Democrats), rather than apologizing or facing some sort of punishment from the Senate, he's a guest of honor at the Democrats' Paint the Nation Blue event, also featuring roundly criticized polemic Howard Dean.

The Democrats love losing elections. They're setting themselves up for another huge bloodletting in 2006 followed by four more years of Republican presidency in 2008.

The only redeeming quality of their political retreat (from their perspective) is that there is no shortage of Republicans in the Senate willing to join them in hysteria.

If we're considering shutting down institutions that are hurting the image of the U.S. overseas, maybe we should start with the U.S. Senate instead of a POW camp in Cuba. The great compromise has turned into the greatest joke in worldwide politics.

Jeb the Lionheart's neverending crusade

Governor Jeb Bush of Florida has asked a prosecutor to determine why Michael Schiavo purportedly waited 40 minutes after his wife Terri's collapse to call 911. Apparenly Mr. Schiavo testified in 1992 he found her unconscious at approximately 5:00 AM and records show he called 911 at 5:40 AM. Although Terri's autopsy showed no signs of abuse, indicated her brain had atrophied to less than half of normal size, and concluded there was no hope of recovery, the power of Christ compels Gov. Bush to punish Mr. Schiavo for something. Negligence for starters; if that fails, then perjury, and if slimy Schiavo shakes that rap too, surely they can nail him for tax evasion.

Didn't you right-wingers learn your damn lesson the last time around? Just admit you want an activist judge of your own to reverse 13 years of previous decisions and we can all move on!

Stand Up!

The Dave Matthews Band is back. DMB released their critically acclaimed 6th studio album Stand Up on May 10, 2005. The album has received positive reviews, and debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts.

While I am inclined to gush on and on about the band, I will do my best to remain objective and stick to the task at hand...reviewing the album.

I held off writing this review, because I really wanted to get a good feel for the album and after nearly a month's worth of listening.... I’m sold. This album has a song for everyone, and I think Dave sums it up best.

"This album," Matthews told Rolling Stone, "is about love, life, God, death and sex."

The Background:
DMB recorded the album in their brand new recording studio located in their hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia. The band chose producer Mark Batson to work with. You may recall his name from working with the likes of Eminem, 50 cent, and Maroon 5. Upon reading that sentence, one may get the feeling of deja vu. Let me rest assure you that this is not Everyday.

I would compare Batson to a taxi driver. The band told him where to go, and he drove them there. The unique thing that Batson did was that he brought in each band member individually. Then he simply told them to press record and play. This allowed the band members to display their talents individually. After the band members played their session, Batsons role was to put everything together.

For example, the ping noise from the violin you hear in "American Baby" derived from Boyd playing around with his violin. That one lick turned into an entire song. The band members fed off each other during the making of this album. Carter would hear a few notes from Leroi and start playing. Dave would hear the beat and begin writing lyrics. This process was different for the band has been accustomed too. Not only did the band enjoy the process, but it also led to a successful album.

The Goods:
Dream Girl- The song starts off with Dave singing in sort of an African mantra. Then the music kicks in and you have one of the best songs on the album. Nothing fancy, but a great loving making song for the summer.

Notable lyric: "Still you’re my best friend and after a good, good drunk, we wake up and make love after a deep sleep."

Grade: A

Old Dirt Hill (Bring That Beat Back)- This song brings back a 70's funk taste. The lyrics talk about childhood and missing those days of riding your bike and smoking under the bridge.

Notable lyric: "I was just a kid, that's what I miss."

Grade: B+

Stand Up (For It)- This song really makes you want to stand up. A good rock/funk song.

Notable Lyric: "I feel like a drug that's cooking in my veins. I'm so out of my mind that I'll shoot you up again."

Grade: B

American Baby (Intro)- Piano, bombs and machine going off in the background. A cool and fitting intro into American Baby. Carter has a great solo.

American Baby- Dave wrote this song the day after our presidential elections when the country was completely divided. Great beat, lyrics are awesome. The song talks about all the things that make this country special, and how we need to find the values that we seem to have misplaced.

Notable Lyric: "Nobody's laughing now. God's grace is lost and the devil is proud."

Grade: A-

Smooth Rider- Badass. A bluesy, rock song that kicks ass.

Notable Lyric: "If you see me out there running, and see the sheriff coming...your Daddy's crazy with that gun in his hand."

Grade: B+

Everybody Wake Up (Our Finest Hour Arrives)- Another song dappling in politics. A good beat and the lyrics are pretty good.

Notable Lyric: "I remember the words of a misguided fool. Do unto others as they do to you. Not an eye for an eye is the golden rule. It just leaves a room full of blood."

Grade: B-

Out of my hands- A depressing song about death. Pretty much just Dave and a piano. Lyrics aren't particularly strong.

Notable Lyric: "I can't just walk away. It'd be nice to walk away. But, I don't feel safe...just get away."

Grade: C+

Hello Again- A song that they played during the entire Summer 2004 tour. I knew this would be a difficult song to capture in the studio and I was right. Dave sounds weird on it. Yet, it's a great song that is much better live and will be a classic for years to come.

Notable Lyric: "I am not worth the flesh on my bones. I am not worth the air in my lungs."

Grade: A

Louisiana Bayou- Funk, Blues, and Rock all play a big role in the arrangement in this song. A great southern rock song.

Notable Lyric: "It's a shame to lose your way as a child."

Grade: B+

Stolen Away on 55th & Third- A very jazzy song that Leroi shines in. The song talks about meeting up with a lover that you have not seen in a few years.

Notable Lyric: "Funny I think how time gets away. Funny how you take me right back again."

Grade: A-

You Might Die Trying- A great rock tune. Kickass beat.

Notable Lyric: "To change the world. You start with one step. However small, the first step is hardest of all. Once you get your gate, you’ll be walking tall.”

Grade: A-

Steady as We Go- A beautiful song. Piano dominated and the lyrics are outstanding. Possible wedding song? Lyrics discuss the ups and downs in a relationship.

Notable Lyric: "Troubles they may come and go, but good times they're the gold. So if the road gets rocky, girl, steady as we go."

Grade: A

Hunger for the Great Light- Grunge rock and dirty sex comprise this song. The song began from Stefan picking up an electric guitar and rocking out. He requested that the lyrics be about dirty sex. Dave delivered. Upon listening to this you'll find your head bopping to this song or having angry sex.

Notable Lyric: "I wanna be your hunger...and when I go down for you I wanna blow your mind."

Grade: A

The Lowdown:
Dave Matthews Band has a delivered a very special album. I am going to go out on a limb and say that this album rivals Before These Crowded Streets. The band touched on every aspect of their musical backgrounds that make them one of the most unique talents out right now. Stand Up gets better with each listen. DMB were able to build on their roots and create a diverse album that is the beginning of great things to come. The album was really built around Carter’s drums, which is arguably the best musician in the band. Each member played a new instrument and Dave’s writing has matured. His political sentiment is very apparent in numerous songs.

Check it:
The band has kicked of their 2005 tour in support of Stand Up. After the first two shows, reviews have been extremely positive. The band is playing approximately 7-8 songs from Stand Up per show. As with any DMB album, the songs are usually better live. So, if you have not seen the band in awhile this would be a good tour to reacquaint yourself with them.

The Final Say:
Stand Up proves that the Dave Matthews Band is not in the latter part of their career, but are actually getting better. The future definitely looks bright for the band and I am excited to see what is in store next.

Final Grade: A

David Brooks is a moron

New York Times columnist David Brooks is renowned for his sharp ability to clearly see only one side of an issue. There are times when he seems utterly unable to grasp how inconsistent his argument is with his evidence. Then again, maybe the "liberal media elite" wants him to look like a stooge, since Brooks is really the NYT's only regular right-leaning op-ed writer.

In today's column, Brooks talks about the Dutch and French rejection of the EU constitution. He starts off with a bang:

Forgive me for making a blunt and obvious point, but events in Western Europe are slowly discrediting large swaths of American liberalism.

And swiftly undermines his argument:

The "no" campaign united the fearful right, led by Jean-Marie Le Pen, with the fearful left, led by the Communists.

So the "discrediting... of American liberalism" was led by a borderline Fascist and radical socialists. I'm not sure that is a demographic we should be using as a barometer of American policy. But more importantly, Brooks' argument overlooks the counterpoint his evidence tries to hard to make for him. Le Pen's opposition had nothing to do with American-style liberalism and everything to do with nativism and xenophobia, so I hardly think Brooks should use this as supporting evidence that the left is on the run. Brooks then turns his sharp analytical abilities to the left's opposition. As evidence of his idea that the European left is turning against American-style liberalism, Brooks offers this logical gem:

Most of the policy ideas advocated by American liberals have already been enacted in Europe: generous welfare measures, ample labor protections, highly progressive tax rates, single-payer health care systems, zoning restrictions to limit big retailers, and cradle-to-grave middle-class subsidies supporting everything from child care to pension security...

The highest "no" votes came from the most vulnerable, from workers and the industrial north.

Could it be that the poor industrial workers actually like having generous social programs, restricted immigration, and government subsidies? This would seem to be the logical conclusion, but Brooks inexplicably concludes they are voting "no" to express their frustration with leftonomics. This is hardly a rejection of what Americans call liberalism; in fact, the French left's rejection is a show of support for France's current socioeconomic policies, which are far to the left of American liberals. If anything, their stance signals a rejection of the American right's economic approach.

The only evidence Brooks offers to back up his thesis is evidence that is better suited to the counterpoint. David Brooks is the worst columnist at the Times, and that's saying something.