Tea leaves ....... weigh in on how yours are looking these days .....

[Stinky The Clown]

How are your tea leaves looking these days? I'm not looking for documentation so much as gut feelings. How would you answer any or all of these questions, just based on your own gut feelings?

Rove, et all ...... honestly, do you think anything will come of this?

Roberts ....... confirmed or not?

Roe ..... surviving or thrown on the ash heap of history?

Abu Ghraib pictures ........ they're due out ... tomorrow? .... will they matter?

Vote system reforms ....... will anything get fixed?

06 midterm elections ...... we gunna pick up a few seats? A majority in one or the other houses?

Alternative energy ..... we all know the oil's running dry. Is there any alternative energy that's viable?

Any other issues you wanna yammer about?

[On the Road]

1. Here's What My Tea Leaves Said:

Rove, et all ...... Indictments. Resignations. Possible jail.

Roberts ....... Confirmed. Barring a scandal.

Roe ..... Surviving. At least for now.

Abu Ghraib pictures ........ Maybe later, maybe never.

Vote system reforms ....... Uneven progress, all at the state and local level.

06 midterm elections ...... We will pick up some seats, but remain a minority in both houses.

Alternative energy ..... Will take years. Several alternatives, but nothing on the horizon that beats the current price of oil, which will stay high for at least the next two years. Eventually, exploration will result in some new discoveries, but the trend is up.

[Ready4Change]

2. My leaves: Soggy silk, made from fake plants

Rove, et all: If idealogical Republicans weren't in control of the WH, Congress and Senate he'd be in jail right now, possibly with Libby, and they'd be rolling oper on higher officials (Cheney, maybe) to get reduced sentences (ie: not hung for treason against the state.)

But maybe they'll get a slap on the wrist, then a medal a few months down the line for loyalty to the regime.

Roberts: My gut says he must be rejected. But I admit I know little of him. He needs review/questions.

Roe: Under assault. Not at risk as things stand NOW, but perhaps after 2 new SCOTUS appointees are put in place.

Abu Ghraib pictures: Americans are tired, weary, of unpleasant reminders of the wrongs. Blinders full on. Minor lackys will be punished, higher officers responsible will get off free.

Vote system reforms: The fix is in, and it's NOT a fix for corruptable voting machines.

06 midterm elections: See above.

Alternative energy: Oil blindness will keep alternative development research strangled in the US. Foreign nations, wiser, will surge ahead, while we fight to suck up the last of the oil. When that's gone we will have to buy/beg for emergency solutions. Thus ends our last SuperPower nation status.

Sorry to sound so negative. All this is correctable. But not as long as the current lot remains in power.