Happy Labor Day!

As usual, I'll celebrate it by laboring. If you've got the day off and find yourself in the Shoreline area, drop down the hill to the perfect tavern and say howdy.

From the "Me neither" file.

Me neither.

Actually, it's probably too late for me (no savings, no pension and, well, not much time...), but we oughta do what we can for the kid.

Hat tip to AFL-CIO NOW.

From the "Wild about Harry" file.

The Majority leader make's 'em think it's Hell on the Senate floor today. via AMERICAblog…

In just a few minutes we're going to proceed to the START Treaty. I'm told the Republicans are going to make us read the entire treaty in an effort to stall us from passing it. Isn't that wonderful?

That piece of -- that treaty has been here since April or May of this year. Plenty of time to read it. These are additional days of wasted time we could be using to pass legislation to get home for the holidays, yet some of my Republican colleagues have the nerve to whine about having to stay and actually do the work of the American people.

We make large salaries, Madam President. We could work as most Americans do during the holidays. Perhaps Senators Kyl and DeMint have been in Washington too long because in my state, Nevadans employed in casinos and hotels and throughout the state of Nevada, on ranches, basically every place, have to work hard on holidays, including Christmas, to support their families.

The mines don't get shut down on Christmas. People work. They get paid double time a lot of times when they have good contracts, but they work on Christmas holidays. Most people don't get two weeks off on any time, let alone Christmas week. And these people who are lucky enough to have a job in these trying times need to work extra hours to make ends meet. So it's offensive to me and millions of working Americans across this country for any Senator to suggest that working through the Christmas holidays is somehow sacrilegious.

They decide to work with us, we can all have a happy holiday. If they don't, we're going to continue until we finish the people's business.

Madam President, I move to proceed to Executive Session to Calendar Number 7, the START Treaty. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Damn straight, Senator.

Happy Labor Day...

...I suppose. It's five shifts in three days, like most of your three day weekends are for me. I'm grateful for the work, and I know that this Labor Day is being observed by millions of folks who'd love to have some paid labor to do, but it makes it kind of hard to focus on the "holiday."

If you're better situated for enjoyment, enjoy!

Hat tip to Demeur for the graphic.

Ho Hi, Ho Hi, tell the job goodbye...

...until tomorrow. Meanwhile, time for ten...

Booker T. & The MG's - Hip Hug-Her
Shel Silverstein - Boa Constrictor
The Steel Wheels - Red Wing
John Prine - Please Don't Bury Me
Gene Clark - Silver Raven
Utah Phillips - Larimer Street
Lee Valley String Band - Carolina Star
The Torquays - Shake A Tail Feather
George Jones - Why Baby Why
Cannibal & The Headhunters - Land Of 1000 Dances

A reminder…

…from Gail Collins.

We always need to remember that behind almost every great moment in history, there are heroic people doing really boring and frustrating things for a prolonged period of time.

Change is hard. Progress is slow. There's always work to do.

Sorry kids, that's just the way it is.

Something of substance...

...when I catch up a bit. An unfortunate alignment of vacation schedules and an injured cook has led to me spending altogether too many hours at the perfect tavern. Today was Day 12 of Shaun Held Hostage and there's no relief in sight for a number of days. Drop in if you have a chance and you're likely to find me around or by in a bit. Big doings planned for the Fourth, by the way, if you're in town and at loose ends.

Anyway, thought I should check in. Off to Bloglines in search of posting fodder...