Dave Mackett, President of the Airline Pilots Security Alliance, has an incredible essay online about the vulnerabilities in the current airline security procedures. You should really go read the whole thing. There's lots of good (and scary) stuff in there. (Yes, yes, I am aware that I am linking to a Pajamas Media outfit, but the essay is an important read even if the rest of that blog sucks toads.)

There is simply no deployable technology that has a prayer of keeping a motivated, prepared terrorist out of the system every time — even most times. TSA misses more than 90% of detectable weapons at passenger checkpoints in their own tests, and it is not their fault . . . What is TSA’s fault is their abject failure to embrace more robust approaches than high visibility inspections, and their accommodations to the Air Transport Association’s revenue interests at the expense of true security, while largely ignoring the recommendations of the front-line airline crews and air marshals who have no direct revenue agenda and are much more familiar with airline operations than are the bureaucrats (remember government ignoring the front-line FBI agents who tried to warn them about 9/11?). Deplorable amounts of money have been wasted on incomprehensible security strategies, while KISS [Keep It Simple, Stupid] methods proven to work have been ignored.

In the end, we should be starting with defending the smallest spaces — the cockpits and cargo compartments, and working outward to the limits of our resources; instead of starting with the airport perimeter and working inward, ignoring the actual defense of those spaces that are actually the terrorist targets. And we should be using the resources already in place to the greatest extent possible, instead of trying to bring new, untried methods into play, then waiting to find out they don’t work nearly as well in reality as they do on paper.

And in the meantime, there were 20,000 "matches" on the terrorist watch list in 2006. Seems like a worthwhile and accurate list, no?

Matt Towery's webcast features Tom Baxter today. It's great to see Baxter on Internet TV, but I fear for his safety and sanity while in captivity in North Atlanta. Towery shows off Baxter like a new toy, but somehow didn't think it was necessary to provide him a mic. Maybe he was just supposed to sit there like a trophy, since he can hardly get a word in edgewise anyway.

Note: the management at the AJC who let Tom Baxter get away are DTM!

Key to "grassroots".

Every day, it seems, there is a new grassroots strategy or movement building theory. Organize your canvassers this way. Record your data that way. It sure does seem like we spend an awful lot of time talking, reading, and writing about how, why, and when to do it.

Isn't it really all about the doorbell?

"Knock knock"
"Who's there?"
"Catherine, your neighbor. I just wanted to take a moment of your time. Are you happy with the direction of our country? No? Would you like to join me at the next breakfast (happy hour, tea party, picnic) of your local Democratic Party? We're working for change from your local community on up to Washington DC."

It's all well and good to record data; target voters; and have a strategy. But, ultimately, we have to ring the doorbells.

Listen to the Fresh Air interview with Natasha Trethewey, Pulitzer Prize winning poet and creative writing teacher at Emory University.

Natasha Trethewey was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Native Guard, her most recent collection of poetry. The title refers to a regiment of African- American soldiers who fought for the Union in the Civil War.

Trethewey grew up the child of a racially mixed marriage in Mississippi. Her mother was murdered by her stepfather; these, along with the South and its singular ways, are recurring themes in her poetry.

I made a chatty new friend today while waiting for my car to be serviced this morning. The young man is a native of Virginia, where his two brothers used to be (before their arrests and incarcerations) deep into the dog fighting underground. Despite his initial protestations that the first rule of Dog Fight Club is that you do not speak about Dog Fight Club, he was more than willing to share stories of Dog Fights He Has Witnessed, and the picturesque details of How Dog Fighting Culture Works. I'll spare you the extremely gory and appalling particulars.

Anyway, here's the rumor-mongering part: he claims that Michael Vick is deeper into this than you may have suspected. He told me that he met Michael Vick at a dog fight once -- back when Vick was mere lad on the edge of seventeen. And, he predicts that Vick will get off scot-free. Why? Because dog fighting is such an entrenched and "historic" (his word) activity in Virginia, that people at all levels of government are implicated. That's right, folks, the claim was that various highly-placed state and federal elected officials are involved as participants, breeders, and backers. Allegedly, Vick can name names and point fingers. This might prove to be more fun than the D.C. Madam's little black book.

InsiderAdvantage just sent the following alert:

Our sister publication, The Southern Political Report, has learned that former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn, who left the United States Senate in the mid-1990s after a long political career in Washington, is being courted by several individuals involved in this year's presidential contest. A group of former Washington operatives, including former Carter administration members Hamilton Jordan and Gerald Rafshoon have been quietly working to create a legitimate third-party effort in 'o8. Nunn has been contacted by that group in an attempt to "take his temperature" with regard to some role in such an effort.

Cobb seeks to restrict who can live in a house together. Otherwise known as "Hispanics, get the F out!"

Under Cobb's proposal, a house must have at least 390 square feet of "total building square footage" for each adult resident and for each car parked overnight. It also would limit the people living in a home to one family or two or fewer unrelated adults and their children and/or grandchildren. Family is defined as parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, brothers and sisters.

Officials say they could make exceptions. For example, if a family wanted to let its adult children live at home, it could apply for a land-use permit.

I bet I know how those permits are gonna go, "Hey Bob, this guy who is asking for a permit has a Z in his name! Can you believe it?"

Squicky, irrelevant, or perhaps both?

Age difference between select Presidential candidates and their spouses:

Rudy Giuliani: 10 years
John McCain: 18 years
Fred Thompson: 25 years
Christopher Dodd: 18 years
Dennis Kucinich: 31 years

The House just finished debating the Price (GA) amendment. Tom Price wanted to reduce the Department of Justice programs by $750,000,000.

Yup, Price no likey the po-po man.

But the Dems are the ones the actually want to reduce crime in our towns, cities, and states:

At the conclusion of debate on the Price (GA) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Price (GA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day

Arrr. 'Tis an article about pirates, mateys.

When I grow up, I want to work for this company.

Perhaps these folks should have rented the Fur Bus instead?

Berzerko Bezerko sends these contributions:

Get your own alias with the Ron Mexico name generator.

And, human tetris!

Updated by Tabitha Syria to add: If you liked Shelby's Ustream coverage of the debate, go drop a dime (or a hundred) in his tip jar.

For the whole complaint, with all of its shocking allegations, go here.

* Just to clarify, folks, these allegations are linked here because they are hilarious, not because I believe them to be legitimate. Seriously, go read the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that Vick subjected him to "microwave testing" and is seeking "$63,000,000,000.00 Billion dollars backed by gold and silver delivered via 'UPS'".

Warning, design blather dead ahead.

In the aftermath of the 10th CD runoff, we heard about Dems who crossed over, Team Whitehead's numerous mistakes, GOP hubris, the netroots effect, and lots of other theories, opinions and stats about how Paul Broun squeaked out a win, but let's talk graphics.

We often hear (and repeat), that yard signs don't vote, but I can't stop wondering about Paul Broun's low end, home brew look. (My favorite touch is the "Visits our Blogs" sidebar item.) Specifically, I'm wondering to what extent Broun's signs pushed him over the top. Or not. Looking at the alphabet soup that is his cobbled together site, there's plenty of cause to doubt if a candidate's graphic identity really matters at all.

From Blake Aued on June 20th:

Broun, who spent $90,000 of his own money on his campaign, credited his apparent runner-up finish to grassroots campaigning. Known for his large and numerous yard signs, other candidates ceded the "sign war" to him long ago.

"I knew we'd have to run a grassroots campaign," he said. "I knew the political hierarchy in Atlanta wanted to have a coronation instead of a special election."

Join the Young Democrats of Atlanta for an evening with Dr. Drew Westen, author of the new book The Political Brain, The Role of Emotion in Deciding The Fate of the Nation.

WHO: Drew Westen, Emory University professor of psychology and psychiatry

WHAT: Presentation and Book Signing for The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation

WHEN: Wednesday, August 1st at 7:00pm

WHERE: Manuel's Tavern, 602 N. Highland Avenue, Atlanta

Westen turns conventional political analyses on their head, suggesting that the question for Democratic politics isn't so much about moving to the right or the left but about moving the electorate. He shows how it can be done through examples of what candidates have said—or could have said—in debates, speeches, and ads. Westen's discoveries could utterly transform electoral arithmetic, showing how a different view of the mind and brain leads to a different way of talking with voters about issues that have tied the tongues of Democrats for much of forty years—such as abortion, guns, taxes, and race. You can't change the structure of the brain. But you can change the way you appeal to it. And here's how…

Don't miss it!

Update: visit The Political Brain website here.

Our favorite Dr. Drew has an op-ed in tomorrow's WaPo:

Dems, You Gotta Have Heart, by Drew Westen:

To understand why Democrats have had such a hard time winning the White House, consider two scenes from last week's CNN/YouTube debate. First, Sen. Chris Dodd offered a highly precise response to a question about energy: "The 50-mile-per-gallon standard is something I've advocated by 2017." Then former senator John Edwards told a moving story about a man who couldn't speak for 50 years because of a severe cleft palate: "For five decades, James Lowe lived in the richest nation on the planet not able to talk because he couldn't afford the procedure that would've allowed him to talk."

Which appeal was more compelling? Which one grabbed you in the gut?

Check out the new KudzuVine show from Sunday. All three candidates for female representative to the DNC from Georgia were on the show last night. Our good friend Page Gleason was the first guest, followed by Barbara Campbell and Mary Long.

All three of these women are great Democrats, but if you're heading to the State Committee meeting this week, please help push Page Gleason over the top! She has the energy, enthusiasm and experience to make the most of this important position, and will work harder and smarter than anyone for all Georgia Democrats. Go Page!

Other topics on the Kudzu Vine: YouTube Debate, VJ's new ad, candidate makeovers, and much more. It's always entertaining and informative.

Lowe's "Katrina Cottages" prove popular among the non-hurricane-displaced.

Calculate your "real age" with this life expectancy calculator.

TSA Administrator Kip Hawley is trying really, really hard to make you like him.

Portrait of the candidate as young pen pal.

Portfolio magazine puts corporate CEO pay packages in perspective.

Pirates v. ninjas.

Not only have video question submissions for the GOP CNN/YouTube debate lagged well behind submissions for Democrats, now many of the GOP candidates are claiming scheduling conflicts, prompting CNN to reschedule—as if that will help.

TV Newser blogs:

Time Magazine's Swampland says the Sept. 17 GOP CNN/YouTube debate is being moved back, possibly to December. Only two of the GOP candidates had committed to the debate which was planned for Sept. 17. The Washington Post reports Mitt Romney agreed to participate, if CNN moved the date.

Meanwhile, in what is either the sincerest form of flattery or recognition of the user-generated web world, the National Review Online's Greg Pollowitz says next Sunday's GOP debate on This Week with George Stephanopoulos will include questions from viewers. ABC's site says "George will put some of the top rated questions (either video or email) to the candidates at the debate!"

All 10 GOP candidates will be in Iowa for that debate.

We've heard Bill O'Reilly bitch and whine about the Democratic Presidential candidates attending YKos - whatevah!

On Saturday, August 4, there is a main forum for all the candidates. After the main forum each candidate will hold 45 minutes breakout sessions.

Since the wonderful BfD readers have contributed greatly for me to attend YKos, I'm going to let you guys decide which Presidential candidate breakout session I will attend and live blog.

Have at it:

Free Website Survey

* It's still not too late to add to the kitty.

Says Handel: Bring your photo ID to September special elections, from PI:

Secretary of State Karen Handel announced this morning that the state’s photo identification requirement, subject of much state and federal court action, will be effective for in-person voting, beginning with special elections of Sept. 8.

Handel said she based her decision on a June 11 ruling by the state Supreme Court, dismissing a challenge to the law because of the plaintiff’s lack of standing.

So far as we know, the federal challenge is still pending. Look for foes of the measure, who say it discriminates against minorities and the elderly, to try and stop the secretary of state.

We're heading out for YearlyKos tomorrow. Lots of blogging, live and otherwise, will ensue. You can also follow the conference online here via blogs, radio, Internet TV, Twitter, Second Life, the works. It's sure to be one of the most geeked out events ever. Why are we going? I think this opening paragraph from Gina Cooper, the Executive Director of the conference sums it up:

This gathering brings together people from all walks of life who belong to the Netroots, the US-based (but globally focused and inclusive) grassroots community that uses the Internet and blogs as primary tools for expressing viewpoints; building consensus; acting to change the status quo; mobilizing huge numbers of people and informing each other and the world about current events, grassroots actions, networks, meetings, media trends, technological advances, government policy, and culture. Because of your participation, this convention is the most concentrated gathering of high and rising profile progressive bloggers to date.

Check in on the other members of the YearlyKos "Chicago 17" here.

And I've added the YearlyKos feed to our "Dog Eared Feeds" in the lower right sidebar.

We'll see you online!