Musings on Life

Oh how I wish...

2010-10-07T08:03:00.002-06:00

Oh how I wish I could make up salacious lies and untruths to convince people to vote my way.
Oh how I wish I had millions from foreign interests and billionaires to amplify those lies.
Oh how I wish the people on my political side where so easily manipulated.
Oh how I wish I didn't have to prove my points with facts and figures.
Oh how I wish I could dress up in 18th century costume, carry racist signs and have the media call that a serious political movement.

Oh how I wish I were a Republican in 2010 America....

Not really!

A Flock of...Social Networking Web Browsers

2009-07-16T20:34:00.001-06:00

So I've decided to jump (or is it fly) on the Flock web browser bandwagon. Maybe bandwagon is a generous term as I have yet to hear of anyone else besides one of my Facebook friends use this thing, but I digress.

Basically Flock, found as a free download here: www.flock.com, is a web browser that attempts to connect all of your various social networkie accounts into the actual browser itself. It is an ingenious idea, and so far, has proven very useful. As an example, I am actually typing this blog update using the browser, while simultaniously watching the Facebook status updates of my friends update in a sidebar, any FB notifications I may get update at the bottom of the browser, and my gmail inbox update at the top of the browser. Life is good!

I would have to give this browser experience two thumbs up, a high five, and 9ish out of 10ish points! It is free, it is fun, so go give it a shot!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

To Pre, or Not to Pre

2009-01-28T08:49:00.002-07:00

Hamlet may have had to struggle with his own tough decisions, but I assure you they were mere child's play compared to the decision I am wrestling with! I speak, of course, of the yet to be released Palm Pre cellphone (due out sometime in the first half of 2009 exclusively on Sprint, my carrier luckily enough) and my monumental paradox of whether to update from my current phone on day 1, OR to wait a while for the price to settle down and the bugs to be squished out of it.

The decision may seem a bit trifle without some back story, so let me explain. About a year ago, I decided to finally upgrade my boring ol cellie for something a bit more fun. Being that I am: A) on Sprint, who notoriously gets the leftover crumbs of the "hot new" cellphone releases, and B) on a limited budget and not looking to spend much over 100 bucks for a new phone, my choices were slim. I agonized over the pick, and finally decided to pick up the Upstage from Samsung. It fit the bill nicely: it seemed fun in the store, was right around $100 (with the requisite 2 year contract that is!), and it played music! Well, it wasn't too long before this "fun" little device turned into the bane of my existence.

OK, so at this point in the story I am screwed right? I have just signed up for a new two year contract to get the subsidized price of this torture device (read: cellphone). As luck would have it, turns out that some wires got crossed somewhere and I did not show up in the system as getting the subsidized price. Meaning, I could again get a discounted cellphone by signing up for yet another 2 year contract (and not having to wait an additional two years to do so). Hooray, right?! Mostly, but remember, I am still on Sprint and still not looking to spend much money.

As if by some divine intervention, in the spring of last year I start hearing about this new phone from Samsung called the Instinct (exclusive to Sprint and due out in mere weeks). Hallelujah! This phone was marketed as the iPhone killer. (SIDE NOTE: Ah yes, the iPhone. I should've mentioned this sooner as the backdrop to all things cellphone. Of course I want one. Of course I am jealous of those who do. But I am not switching to AT&T to get one. Enough said.) I was there on the day it released and picked up one for a "discounted" price of $200, more than I wanted to spend, but THIS phone was going to be worth it. Right?

I have now had the phone for about 7 months, and I can say with all certainty that it is by no means an iPhone killer. It does some things well, and yes it can even be described as "fun" every now and then; BUT, more often than not I find it lacking in many ways from what I was wanting/expecting. Add to that the multiple buggy issues and the lack of any fun or useful applications being added, and you can see why I am now ready to move on to greener pastures. Unfortunately, no wires were crossed this time and I do need to live with it for the full 2 years in order to get my next phone at a discounted price.

SO, this all brings me back to the Pre decision. Do I live with my "broken" phone another year and a few months, wait for the fully subsidized discount, wait for the Pre price to come down and bugs to be fixed, and wait to see if it truly what the hype suggests. OR, do I do the impulsive, American thing and just throw caution to the wind, buy it for most likely $400-500 (of course, I can make some of that back by selling my Instinct for a couple hundred), and hope for the best?

Oh, Shakespeare! Where are you when I need you most??

Am I deficient as an X-Gen Dad?

2009-01-26T12:16:00.003-07:00

I grew up a typical "X-gener". I've played copious amounts of video games on all the latest "had to have" systems from the Atari 2600 to the Nintendo Wii. I rushed home from grade school to plop myself down in front of the television set in my bedroom, so as not to miss the latest episodes of Transformers or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Much of my young adult life was wasted exploring the wonders (and seedy underbelly) of the World Wide Web. And now, early on in my 30's, I find myself constantly drawn to the shiniest new consumer electronics, buying them when I have the means. Do I really need to mention that my favorite store is Best Buy?

My question, or perhaps my concern is a better way of putting it, is this: Did growing up part of the "Me Generation" made me an ill-equipped father? I know it is a bit of hyperbole to pose the question in such a manner; and anyone who knows me will tell you that I am a fine father in all the ways that matter most. It is most likely just my pursuit of perfection in child rearing (as if such a notion exists!), and constant self analysis that is to blame for driving this silly concern.

Regardless of the reasons, there does exist this sneaky bit of guilt that creeps into my head after I have allowed my boys too much "videogame" time, or put on the latest Pixar flick for them to watch at night, or allowed/encouraged them to buy a cheap plastic, "Made in China" toy that is reminiscent of my youth. (Side note: Dear Mr. Toy Company Exec, Don't think I don't know what you are doing by coming out with Transformers and GI Joes to sell to my kids. I know you are just playing off of my nostalgia. I am on to you!) Wouldn't a better father be encouraging his kids to put that videogame/movie time to better, more practical use by reading a book or practicing math problems? And wouldn't a better father tell his kids to invest that money spent on cheap plastic toys in some interest bearing account for future financial ease?

So then, why do I keep falling into these traps and allowing my kids such "extravagances"? The answer if painfully clear. It is because this is how I spent my youth. I am passing on what I learned as an "X-gener". Even more than that, it is how I still desire to spend my own time. Amirite, fellow "X-geners"??! ;)

The answer? Probably just that old adage of "everything in moderation". Even with that in play, I will most likely always continue to feel some measure of guilt...

Thank you...

2008-11-05T11:23:00.002-07:00

I just wanted to write a quick post and hand out some thank you's relating to President-Elect Obama's historic win last night.

Thank you to all of the voters who were not suckered into fear in yet another election.
Thank you to the paid and unpaid volunteers around my state of Colorado and around that country that gave so much of their time and efforts to make this a reality.
Thank you to the states of Indiana, Virginia, Nevada, Colorado, and any other state I am forgetting that "bucked the trend" and went blue for a change!
Thank you to Sen. McCain for giving a very gracious concession speech last night.
Thank you to the voting machines for not being the story of this election!
Thank you to the pundits last night who worked as well as they could to properly frame this historic moment in America into words.
Thank you to my wife and kids who allowed me some of our family time to go volunteer for the campaign, and who even worked when they could to help out themselves!
Thank you to Stephen Korda, my local Obama Campaign field organizer.
And last, but certainly not least, a HUGE thank you to Sen. Obama for inspiring us with your words and your deeds; and for not ever giving up or giving in during this long, and often times difficult, campaign.

Thank you America!!!!

Time to Choose..

2008-10-31T11:17:00.002-06:00

This one...

Or, that one...

VOTE!!

100,000

2008-10-20T16:28:00.005-06:00

This is what 100,000 supporters of Socialism look like:

This is what 100,000 supporters of a "Terrorist Sympathizer" look like:

And this is what 100,000 supporters of the potentially Muslim, probably Vote-Stealing, most likely Inexperienced candidate for President this year look like:

God I love America!!

10 Years!!!

2008-10-09T13:20:00.002-06:00

As any of you out there who read this blog know, I write almost exclusively about politics. You might think from my narrow, single-minded obsession on the topic, that it is my passion. Well, you would be right!

However, while it is a huge passion of mine, it is no where near my number 1 passion. No, that title belongs to the woman who has stuck by me for 10 years of marriage as of today (and 11+ if you count our courtship!). She is my rock, my missing puzzle piece, my biggest cheerleader, my best friend, and my greatest love.

I have no idea sometimes why she has decided to stick by my side through some of the silly things I have done; but I do know that I am grateful on a daily basis that she has. I have no idea how and where our next 10 years are going to unfold and take us; but I do know that I want her there, holding my hand every step of the way. And I have no idea how a love could grow this strong and deep, or if it could even grow further; but I do know that I am excited to find out!

I am so incredibly happy to be with you, Amy! Thank you, thank you, thank you for today, tomorrow, and forever.

Love Always,

Shawn

Mavericky Feelins and Such

2008-10-06T10:11:00.003-06:00

Recently I have learned (the hard way of course) that people are quite emotionally involved in this year's Presidential election. Maybe I should restate that previous statement to better reflect reality. People on the Left side of the political spectrum are emotionally involved in this year's Presidential election; while people on the Right side are emotionally involved in the *Vice* Presidential election.

While I know any election brings with it a certain level of emotional investment in your "team" and a certain number of hardcore followers on either side, I feel this year is a little different. There is no doubt that we are at a major turning point in our nation's history and that fact alone is deepening the emotions of this year's race. With two wars that have been going on far too long and have been poorly mishandled, we have undermined our standing in the world as a fair-minded superpower. With an economy that seems to teeter right on the brink of complete collapse everyday, we have undermined our financial future, as well as the financial futures of countless other countries. And with a congress and White House administration that has shown complete contempt and disregard for the Constitution, the rule of law, or the will of the people, we have shredded what little confidence in our elected officials we have had left.

I get it. We SHOULD be more emotionally involved this year than in previous years. We SHOULD take the time to look into the past decisions, votes, relationships, temperaments, scandals, and lives in general of all four of these major candidates and running mates before we decide whom to support and give our vote. And I feel we SHOULD be able to help campaign for the candidate we decide to support, even if that means talking to the opposition about the pluses of our choice and the minuses of theirs.

And, yes, even if that means hurting someone else's feelings. It is more important that we debate, question and criticize now, rather than after the vote when it is too late. It is more important to call out a lie or a smear now, than to let it pass and have it become part of the "official" mantra and definition of a candidate. And finally, it is more important that we hurt each others' feelings now, than hurt the country for another 4 years.

CHINOs, The New Fashion Trend This Fall

2008-09-09T12:09:00.003-06:00

Now that both of the major party conventions are behind us, there is one thing that is certain: A Change is Comin'. We have known this from the Democrats, and in advance of the DNC, as Sen. Obama has run thus far on a consistent message of Change. The surprising new twist coming out of the Republicans and the RNC, however, is that they too are now the agents of Change. Who knew?! But wait, before I go and get all cynical, this is good news, right? We have a wildly unpopular President who has run our country into the ground in too many ways to mention right now. Change is what we are all desiring right now; so, Change, whether it is promised by one party or the other, is Change, right? And Change is good??! Right?!

NOT SO FAST! While there is a certain level of change, with a small c, that is intrinsic in any turning over of the guard from one President's watch to an other's; this year, the choice between the Democratic and Republican Parties' Change, with a big C, could not be any more stark.

On the one hand, you have a candidate in Barack Obama who is offering the kind of Change that is real and substantial (and in my opinion, positive and needed). Whether or not you agree with them, you have to admit that his policies, along with his voting record, represent a stark break from the past 8 years.

ON THE OTHER HAND. Looking at the voting records, executive decisions and lobbyist ties of both Gov. Palin and Sen. McCain, you find not a Change from the past 8 years, but rather an almost exact duplicate of the past 8 years.

This is why I have come up with the term CHINOs to describe the Republican ticket this year. As many of you who follow politics may or may not be aware, there are these disparaging terms that float around both sides of the political divide, namely RINOs and DINOs. A RINO is a term given to Republicans In Name Only who vote more liberally than their detractors would like. You can infer from that definition what a DINO would be. The CHINOs are something new in this year's election. They are the candidates who represent CHange In Name Only. Kinda catchy, eh?

Silly name calling aside, please take the time to really investigate the records of these two tickets before deciding which one to support and ultimately vote for this November. Please don't just believe what the media, your peers, the candidates, or even me and other bloggers on the internets are saying about the Change each ticket will bring without first doing your own homework. This is a truly important election at an important time in our nation's history. Let's don't get fooled again.

And remember, CHINOs only look good on rich, white Republicans!

A little invasive and creepy, BUT...

2008-08-13T11:11:00.006-06:00

I know it is always a little weird and invasive when the media sends its hound dogs to ~~spy on~~ take pictures of celebrity types while they are on vacation. I think it is wrong and I wish it wasn't a part of our culture. BUT, hypocrisy upcoming on my part, when I saw these wonderful pics of the Obamas on their Hawaiian vacation, I just couldn't resist and had to share them here on my blog.

Whether or not this man becomes our President in January of next year, I hope it is never lost in the ugliness of the attacks from his opponent what a great dad and family man he seems to be.

USA, USA! - Part 1

2008-08-11T11:51:00.002-06:00

As I stated in my previous post, I am hoping for a brief pause in the ugliness of this year's Presidential campaign while the Olympics are being held in China. With that in mind, I am going to try and stay above the fray and focus on the games. I will not be pointing out how mean and ridiculous Sen. McCain looks in his rehashed "Obama is Paris Hilton" ads that play during every commercial break of the games. I will not be questioning as to how Sen. McCain could possibly, with a straight face, run an ad that tries to portray himself as the "alternative energy guy". And I certainly won't be making much of this quote from ABC News political analyst Cokie Roberts: "I know his grandmother lives in Hawaii and I know Hawaii is a state, but it has the look of him going off to some sort of foreign, exotic place. He should be in Myrtle Beach, and, you know, if he's going to take a vacation at this time." (except to say that it pretty much sums up the media's usefulness in this election)

Nope, you will hear none of that talk from me. I would rather just sum up my viewership of the games this weekend in a few short sentences:

The Chinese set the bar so high with the opening ceremony that no other country may be able to ever match it, simply stunning.
Props to President Bush for being the first Prez to visit the Olympic games on foreign soil.
The men's 4x100 freestyle relay was the most exciting swimming event I have ever watched.
The USA men's basketball team, the so called "Redeem Team", should easily make their way to the gold medal.
The Chinese are going to win a LOT of gold medals.

That is all for now. I will give more impressions throughout the week. Until then, USA, USA!

Here is to Hoping

2008-08-08T09:42:00.002-06:00

Today is the 8th day of the 8th month of 2008, 8-8-08. It is also the day, cleverly enough, of the opening ceremony for the 29th Olympiad! I don't know how many of you get excited about the Summer Olympics, but I sure do. It is just so great to watch as the world mostly comes together every four years to compete, not with weapons or harsh words, but through sports. And even though China has a whole host of issues when it comes to politics and human rights, I think they will make a great host this year for the games. I think it is more appropriate to deal with their issues after the games.

This weekend also starts a 9 day, much deserved Hawaiian vacation for the Obamas. As we should all know by now, Sen. Obama was born and raised in the Rainbow State, mostly by his grandparents. With his grandmother being the only surviving member of his parental units, and being in her mid-80s now, this trip is as much about reconnecting with family and friends as it is about taking time off from the long, tough and ugly campaign he has had against both Sen. Clinton and Sen. McCain.

Here are my hopes. I hope the USA is successful in bringing home from China lots of gold medals. I hope Sen. Obama enjoys his time in Hawaii, and reemerges from the trip with enough energy and focus to carry this fight the rest of the way to a successful November. And I REALLY hope that we Americans who have been sucked into this increasingly ugly campaign can also take a vacation and enjoy two weeks of Olympic coverage; while at the same time, ignoring the predictable attacks that are sure to come from the political right about how "Obama is out of touch because he is going to a vacation paradise", or "Obama is on vacation while John McCain is working hard for you", or "Blah blah blah, Obama bad, blah blah".

I, for one, will be taking a break from the ugly and chanting, USA, USA, USA!

Arianna Says..

2008-08-07T11:51:00.002-06:00

One of the sites I visit on a regular basis (think 5 to 10 times a day!) is the Huffington Post. As an unashamed liberal, I find this site to be a breath of fresh air filled with Op Eds, breaking news, and offbeat stories. In a world filled with so many right leaning news organizations, it is nice to have a place to go that is filled with voices similar to mine.

Every now and then, Ms. Huffingon actually writes a little opinion piece on her site. These writings are typically pretty insightful and worthy of a quick read. Her post today is no exception. Actually, today's post is so well written, and so in line with the points I have been trying to make lately about this silly "campaign" of John McCain, that I do not feel like I can improve on it.

With that said, I am going to take the easy way out today and urge you to follow this link and read her thoughts for yourself. Thanks!

McCain is so funny! (just not for the reasons he would like)

2008-08-06T10:12:00.002-06:00

Watch this video and then we can discuss afterwards:

HAHAHA!! You are SO totally funny, John McCain! Man, has your race for the White House turned into quite the ~~gaffe~~ laugh a minute, or what?? Your comparing of Sen. Obama to Britney and Paris!? *chuckle* Your comparison of Obama to the Messiah!? *snort* And your ad claiming Obama wants to put his face all over Mt. Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty!? *guffaw* If this President thing doesn't work out for ya, Sen. McCain, I am SURE the folks at Last Comic Standing will be giving you a call!

Now onto McCain's latest HILARIOUS attacks, featured in the video above, which center on how silly Obama is for only offering one solution in his energy plan, namely inflating tires. *LOL* (BTW, Mr. "I don't know the internet too good" McCain, you might want to have a staffer look up the definition of LOL, oh and BTW). He even has a funny little giveaway on "his" website that really drives home the humor. Seriously, Sen. McCain, you have to stop! I am bursting at the seems with laughter here!

Unfortunately, I, and many Americans like me, are not laughing WITH you, we are laughing AT you. The more you insist on going down this road of juvenile, inane, and baseless attacks against Sen. Obama, and the more you smile with that creepy, yellow-toothed smile of yours, the more we have to laugh at your pitifulness. This "tactic" of yours may work for a temporary, and false (more on that in a future post) bump in the polls, but do you REALLY think we the people are going to be fooled by this smear campaign yet again? Do you really think we are going to put up with this hilarity for 3 more months? If so, you are funnier than I could have ever given you credit.

FACTS ON "TIRE-PRESSURE-GATE":

Sen. Obama's plan for energy and the environment is WAY more complex than a tire pressure gauge, and is outlined here on his website.
Sen. McCain's plan to "Drill Here, Drill Now" (which, by the way, is actually a gem conjured up by Newt Gingrich) will result in %1 of American's energy needs in the year 2030. Proper tire pressure will result in a %3 to %4 reduction in energy needs RIGHT NOW.
The Department of Energy estimates that 1.2 billion gallons of fuel were wasted in 2005 as a result of driving on under-inflated tires.*
Fuel efficiency is reduced by 1% for every 3 PSI that tires are under-inflated.*
Proper tire inflation can save the equivalent of about 1 tank of gas per year.*
Proper tire inflation also reduces CO2 emissions.*
Experts estimate that 25% of automobiles are running on tires with lower than recommended pressure, because people don’t know how to check their tires or don’t realize that tires naturally lose air over time.*

*Source: The Auto Alliance

how a republican views john mccain

2008-08-04T09:20:00.003-06:00

As I have already alluded to in a previous post, the people to the far right of the political spectrum are in no ways big fans of Sen. McCain. There are numerous reasons they have cited for this, including his past stances on abortion, illegal immigration, and campaign finance reform. If you look at their previous opposition to him (and I say previous because we all know the far right now has a new politician to kick around) and view it on a very narrow and superficial level, it doesn't seem like McCain would make all that bad of a Presidential candidate if you are in the middle or to the left of the political spectrum. I mean, a lot of the problems the right has had with him centers around his working with Senators on the left, and working on legislation that is more often supported by those on the left. Maybe he really is a "Maverick" like the media labels him? Maybe he really does "buck his party" and do what is right for America? Or maybe the truth about who John McCain really is as a person and a candidate is far scarier than the myth of his Independence. And if you take a moment to research articles written by the far right back in the spring, during the Republican primary season, you will see they have already done the opposition research on McCain, and what they have found and written on should scare every single American away from voting for this Manchurian Candidate.

One such article was written in March by a man named Roland C. Eyears, and does a pretty good job of summing up the more nefarious parts of McCain's background. While I don't agree with all of the ideology of the author, I do agree with his summation (based on this article and other research I have done so far) that John McCain is quite possibly "the most flawed and compromised candidate in our nation’s history".

I am going to include some of the key points of the article below for those who do not have time to read the entire thing. If you do have time, however, I recommend reading the entire article, and doing research elsewhere on McCain. You may just be shocked by what you easily unearth.

EARLY DAYS

Had he not been the son and grandson of admirals, there is scant chance he would have been admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy. Given his behavior patterns and academics, had he not been the son and grandson of admirals, there is little doubt he would have been thrown out. Instead, in 1958 he managed to graduate 894 out of 899. Had he not been the son and grandson of admirals, he is no chance he would have been accepted into the prestigious naval flight training program over far better qualified officers. On his way to becoming a North Vietnamese ace, the aviator lost 3 expensive aircraft on routine, non-combat flights. Little was made of all that, because he was, you know, the son and grandson of admirals.

POW TIME

McCain’s 5½-year stay at the Hanoi Hilton (officially Hoa Loa Prison) has ever since been the subject of great controversy. He maintains that he was tortured and otherwise badly mistreated. One of many who disagree is Dennis Johnson, imprisoned at Hanoi and never given treatment for his broken leg. He reports that every time he saw McCain, who was generally kept segregated, the man was clean-shaven, dressed in fresh clothes, and appeared comfortable among North Vietnamese Army officers. He adds that he frequently heard McCain’s collaborative statements broadcast over the prison’s loud speakers. Jack McLamb is a highly respected name in law enforcement circles. States McLamb, “He was never tortured…The Vietnamese Communists called him the Songbird, that’s his code name, Songbird McCain, because he just came into the camp singing and telling them everything they wanted to know.” McLamb further quotes former POWs as saying McCain starred in 32 propaganda videos in which he denounced his country and comrades.

According to T, a Russian translator who interpreted all interrogations and notes pertaining to McCain during the latter’s stay from December, 1969, to March, 1973, when a well-fed looking McCain’s was released, privileges were extended. These included time at a furnished apartment in Hanoi – furnished with 2 prostitutes. McCain would attribute such absences to solitary confinement.

TEMPER

The senator’s temper and temperament remain in question. His biographer quotes him: “At the smallest provocation I would go off into a mad frenzy, and then suddenly crash to the floor unconscious.” Has he moderated over time? Apparently. Somewhat. Senators who have had McCain scream hyphenated obscenities at them nose-to-nose include Rick Santorum, Richard Shelby, Thad Cochran, and James Inhofe. Most colleagues decline comment. The man has been called psychologically unstable.

FAMILY MOB TIES

Then one day in 1981, an obscure, newly retired naval officer rode into the land of sun, cacti, and retirees. After his first wife, who had raised his children and waited for him became crippled in an accident, John McCain had dumped her overboard and married his mistress – Cindy, daughter of James Hensley (a man with clear mob ties who did a 10 year prison sentence). The next year the “straight talker” was installed in the U.S. House of Lords. Four years later he moved to the senate. So who owns honest John McCain? The mob that runs Arizona? The big Vegas money that continues to contribute heavily? The Israeli connection? You be the judge.

EXTRA CURRICULAR

Recently, the New York Times ran a piece suggesting that McCain may have had an affair with lobbyist Vicki Iseman that went back 8 years. Ms. Iseman is a partner in Alcalde & Fay, who represent Carnival Lines, several broadcasters, and municipalities. The Times, along with Drudge and the Washington Post, had been sitting on the story for some weeks. The allegations are unproven, and, the senator has exhibited extraordinary self-control when denying them. I can only say that he has a history of this type of Clintonian behavior, both in the military and, admittedly, during his first marriage. Apparently it is acceptable anymore. In any case, I question whether the Times should have run with this.

desperate times call for...

2008-08-01T11:01:00.003-06:00

...childish name calling and lies! Or at least that is the clear message coming from the McCain camp as of late. Let us look at a few priceless gems from the past couple weeks that would make any grade school playground bully proud.

Wow, he really is getting desperate, huh? What a disgrace to his party, his country, and the uniform that he once wore. I cannot believe we even have to hear about, consider, or defend childish behavior such as this in the race for the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!?! Seriously, does McCain not get the seriousness of this position? Or the seriousness of the country’s issues right now? Paris, Britney, organic tea; do we REALLY have to talk about this????????

UGH!

SIDENOTE: Here are a few good websites to go to if you want the truth behind Sen. McCain's never ending smears:

Read and sign, please

2008-07-31T12:23:00.002-06:00

Taking a step back from the '08 Presidential campaign for a moment, I wanted to share the link for the tragic story of Pfc. LaVena Johnson. I am ashamed that I did not know anything about this until it was mentioned this morning on a political talk show that I listen to on my way to work.

If you get a moment, please take a moment to read her story and sign the petition for Congressional action at colorofchange.org. Thank you.

Offshore Drilling (for votes)

2008-07-29T12:03:00.003-06:00

Looks like the Republicans have finally found their voice in this election cycle. They have found their one simple, uniting, easily digestible, and patently false issue to pound into the voters' heads over and over again until it becomes the "truth" (you know, like the "truth" that Republicans are better for the economy and the troops?). This year they are banking on Offshore Drilling.

Take this recent attack ad from the McCain campaign on how it is Obama's fault that we are paying so much for gas. This is one of those classic "red meat" electoral issues, not unlike gay marriage or handgun control, which is meant to target all uninformed voters and get them fired up; to divide us on an argument based on false pretenses; and to pretend as a party to offer a real solution to real Americans problems. The only real problem here is that offshore drilling is not a solution.

Here are some facts about offshore drilling, taken from analysis performed by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the independent statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy:

The oil companies already have access to some 34 billion barrels of offshore oil they haven’t even developed yet, but ending the federal moratorium on offshore drilling would probably add only another 8 billion barrels.
Since Bush was elected the oil companies have made a $600 billion profit which they used to increase dividends instead of investing in exploration.
Opening up the outer continental shelf in the Pacific, Atlantic and eastern Gulf regions would result in production no sooner than 2017, and would not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil production before 2030.
ANWR would add only 1 to 2 percent to the overall world oil supply. The drilling there would subtract anywhere from 41 cents to $1.44 per barrel of crude oil around 2025. That translates to a savings of just a couple pennies per gallon at the pump.
If we raised average fuel efficiency to 40 MPG by 2030; this would save us more than 5 million barrels of oil per day. (This amounts to 25 times as much as we would get from Senator McCain's offshore drilling.)

Here is one more truth for you. Before June of this year, Sen. McCain was consistently against drilling in protected areas offshore and on land. This stance only netted him around $200,000 a month from the oil industry in the form of campaign contributions. Last month, after his reversal of stance (a.k.a. flip-flop), he was able to net $1.1 million from them. (source) Yeah, exactly.

Jealous Much?

2008-07-28T09:13:00.002-06:00

Sen. Obama is back in the United States. His tour of the Middle East and Western Europe is over. By any fair and rational measure, this trip was a resounding success. He was greeted very warmly by the troops in both Afghanistan and Kuwait. His meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki was preceded by the somewhat stunning news the PM supports his plan for a troop withdrawal timeline (stunning if you haven't keyed into the fact yet that the Iraqi people want us out!). He was met by a crowd of over 200,000 enthusiastic supporters in Germany. And finally, he was received well by both French President Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Brown. Again, by any rational measure this trip was great for Obama.

Which leads us to the irrational reaction of the McCain camp and the growing general consensus of the mainstream media regarding this trip. What, you didn't expect them to have a rational reaction, did you? Whether it is McCain's feigned outrage at Obama's "refusal to meet with injured troops", or Fox News' continuing story line that the MSM loves Obama more, and proves it by their coverage of him on this trip; the "forces aligned against Obama's Presidential campaign"'s answer to this successful trip by Obama seems to be, smear, distort, and outright lie if you have to in order to make the trip seem like a farce or a failure. It begs the question, why? Why not just cover the trip in a straight up, black and white kind of way, you know, like good journalist should do? Why is there always a "spin" in the reports of this trip, and why does that spin generally fall negatively at the feet of Sen. Obama? In a word, jealousy.

Sen. McCain said it best this past week when he mentioned that he was feeling ignored. And I can't really blame him for his anger and grumpiness at the moment (and we all know how angry and grumpy he can be!), Sen. Obama is getting the coverage and press from his trip that a candidate can only dream of getting. But that coverage should not be misinterpreted as bias by the media either by McCain, by the media itself, or by the gullible consumers of this spin. The coverage of the trip was so pervasive last week because of the nature of the "cover every bit of political minutia" media, and the compact nature of Sen. Obama's trip. I am quite confident that if McCain would have waited until now to schedule his own tour of the Middle East and "meet and greet" with European leaders, instead of doing it way back in the early spring during the middle of a bigger political story going on in the Democratic Primary, that he would benefit from the same level of media focus.

So, this week, until the "outrage" over the Obama trip dies down, try to not get too caught up in the hypocrisy of the accusations of "bad judgement" used by Obama in meeting with foreign leaders during a Presidential campaign (as McCain also did), the anger at Obama's cancelling an event with the troops (as McCain also did), or the myth pushed forward by the media, that the media is unfairly biased towards Obama (how does that even make sense for an entity to continuously blame itself, and not change itself???). Instead, let us all look up at the elephant in the room (pun intended), and call this thing for what it is; a big, ugly green monster known simply as jealousy.

And they're off!

2008-07-25T10:31:00.002-06:00

If you have been paying attention to the news of the election at all this week, you will have noticed that it has been quite a good week for Sen. Obama, and quite a bad week for Sen. McCain from a PR perspective. While Obama has been greeted everywhere he goes on his Middle Eastern and European trip this week with big crowds and great support, Sen. McCain can't quite seem to get his facts straight about much of anything related to his "strongest electoral asset", foreign policy, or to gather more than a dozen or so people to his appearances. To make matters worse for McCain, the scheduled speech he was to give atop an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico this week (you know, to remind us all what a great idea it would be to drill for oil there?) was dramatically cancelled due to the presence of one Hurricane Dolly. This guy can not catch a break!

Still though, there seems to be something fishy thus far in the reporting of this year's Presidential race. Whether it is the predictable accusations from the right of media bias towards Sen. Obama, or the clever editing of Sen. McCain's interview on CBS (part of that "liberal media") to make him seem less of an idiot on foreign policy, or the non-digging into various events from McCain's past that could make for juicy tabloid headlines (akin to the hours of Reverend Wright, Obama as a Muslim and Monica Lewinsky headlines!); there is a clear pattern so far by the television media in this country to prop up an ailing and bumbling John McCain run for the White House.

So why is this propping up being done? Of course there are many conspiratorial reasons one could point to, such as: The media is corporate owned, and as such, has it in their best interest to have a friendlier pro-corporate candidate elected President. The media have long had a love-affair with the "Maverick" John McCain and his BBQ ribs. The mainstream media isn't really all that liberal after all, and in fact, have a demonstrated history of attacking Democratic Presidents and Presidential nominees far more than they do attacking their Republican counterparts. All of these theories hold a certain amount of truth and most likely all combine to slant the media's reporting towards McCain.

I am starting to feel that, in addition to these aspects of the media's reporting, there is another hidden factor at play here. This hidden factor is what I like to call the Horserace Factor. The Horserace Factor is quite simply the media's desire to have this be a close, down to the wire, photo finish election. The reason for this is obvious, and is all about their bottom line. If, on one hand, the race is close, this will increase their viewership from now until election night, and will proportionally increase their ad revenue. If, on the other hand, this race is a blow out and people decide to tune out early, that ad revenue suffers. This same Horserace Factor could be seen on display late in the Democratic Primary where it was a given after a certain point that Obama was going to win. Not having it in their interest to acknowledge this fact, the media kept selling the hype of Clinton's chances of coming back. Every night they could squeeze out of those primary contests, and every "exclusive" poll or vote tally they could report to their viewers equated money in the bank. The reporting of this election so far, and the media's insistence upon helping out the struggling McCain, leads me to believe that this same strategy is, and will continue to be, in play.

Just remember, at the end of the day, the mainstream media (with the exclusion of Fox News, which is, as we all know, a special case) is not beholden to either the left or the right, but rather the money and the share holders.

More Proof of the "Liberal Media"

2008-07-23T11:28:00.002-06:00

Wow! This video, along with this story from Daily Kos is crazy! CBS actually edited McCain's response to not make him look like an idiot for not knowing the facts in Iraq! And somehow there is still a clear and deliberate agenda by the media to help elect Obama?! Come on, get real.

Combine this latest flub with the Iraq/Pakistan border comment, and the Al Qaeda/Iran working together comments, and the Czechoslovakia comments, and you start to see that this guy really has no clue what he is talking about when it comes to foreign policy!! AND THAT IS HIS SUPPOSED STRONG SUIT!!

I cant wait to see all his weaker suits! ;)

From the Mouths of Babes...

2008-07-22T10:41:00.004-06:00

Now that we are into the mid to late July time frame, I have decided to get more serious about my volunteer work to support Sen. Obama's historic run for the Presidency. This past weekend I decided to help out by teaming up with my county's canvassing efforts. I had anticipated going this adventure alone as my wife is currently 7 months pregnant, my kids are really too young to care that much about politics, and it was going to be close to 100 degrees that day. Little did I know that my soon to be 7 year old son would take such an interest in my activities for the day, and convince me to take him along.

After meeting with the group of fellow canvassers and getting the run down and training on how the day was to go, my son and I were off to the neighborhood we had been assigned. The drive from the meeting place to the neighborhood was about 20 minutes or so, and afforded us the opportunity to discuss all things political. (Let me tell you, this is a surreal conversation to have with a little boy who's diapers you had changed up until a handful of years ago!) The conversation quickly and predictably turned to his questioning of why I like Obama better than McCain. I gave him my list of top three reason: the war, the environment, and the economy, and tried as best I could to relate them to him in 6 year old terms.

I should say this, my son is quite a deep thinker, is mature for his age, and has always been talked to by his mother and me as such. Knowing this, I was still surprised and amazed by the poignancy of his remark when I started talking about why I like Obama better on the Iraq War issue. I told him the war has been going on for a little over 5 years now and that Obama seems more committed to ending it, to which he responded: "Wow, five years, that is as old as my brother." Such a simple statement, but one which I hadn't considered. That simple statement floored me and really brought it home about how long this war has really dragged out to this point.

My youngest son was born in May of 2003, the war was born in April of 2003. My youngest son, who luckily won't remember much of this when he gets older, has known nothing but a country at war. I think of the other kids his age who have lost their fathers or mothers, or very rarely see them, because of this war. I think of all the things I have done with him, all the big and little accomplishments of his life, and contrast that with how the last 5 years have been for the U.S. and Iraqi soldiers, or the women and little 5 year old Iraqi citizens. And finally, I ultimately think about how we could possibly elect someone for President who could cavalierly say we could be there a hundred or a thousand years, and what that means for the rest of both of my son's lives.

I am tired of this war. I have been tired of this war since it's very inception. I have always had what I felt to be sound reasons for this stance against the war, many of them I have blogged about. Now, five years in, and thanks to my 6 year old son, I have a deeply personal reason to be against this war.

Onward we go, better informed...

2008-06-10T12:58:00.005-06:00

OK, so the honeymoon is over. We all know now who the candidates for President from both of the major parties are going to be this November. (By the way, did you know that Ralph Nader of the Green Party, and Bob Barr of the Libertarian Party are also running? No? Didn't think so! *grin*) After a long, and often times brutal, primary campaign season where we Democrats often spent more time attacking each other than we did the Republicans; it is finally time to put that aside and focus our attention in on the stark differences between these two candidates.

I will be doing just that many times between now and decision day, and in many differing ways. For this first blog, I think it is only appropriate (again, given the fact that we Democrats have spent so long now tearing each other down) to look at the numerous negatives of John McCain from a Republican point of view.

1. Did you know that John McCain was one of the infamous "Keating Five"? Well, the far right-wing blog Free Republic sure does, and tells all about it in this story.

2. How about this revelation of John McCain the POW, as John McCain the "songbird", by Ted Sampley? You might also recognize the name Ted Sampley as the creator of Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry.

3. You know we have to dip into the slime of right-wing talkers. Here is an interesting transcript from Fox News of Laura Ingraham and Bill O'Reilly chatting about why the former could not bring herself to support John McCain. Hmm, I wonder if she can now?

4. Rush Limbaugh is always good for a quote or two, eh? Here he is railing against John McCain, questioning his patriotism, his "Maverick" label, etc, etc. Classic Limbaugh.

5. Finally, a classic from 2000. This story is from The Nation, but the dirty tricks are straight from the Republican mind of Karl Rove.

These are just a few of the MANY stories out there to be found on the internets where Republican words and tactics are used to destroy the character of their own candidate. Always remember throughout this election season, as much as these same Republican talkers will spew venom and hatred at Barack Obama, as much as they appear to not like him as a person, a candidate or an American, they really kinda feel the same about McCain.

VICTORY!!!!

2008-06-04T07:59:00.003-06:00

Sen. Obama has finally, and officially* done it. He has become the Democratic Party's nominee for President in 2008. I couldn't be happier for him, his family, the party, and all of America. It has been said all over the place, but it bears repeating, this truly is an historic day for our country. For a country with a shameful past in the way it has treated those with different color skin to be one step away from electing our first non-white leader is remarkable.

Now the fun begins! The attacks from Sen. McCain and the right wing media (Fox News, Rush, Hannity, O'Reilly, The New York Post, The Washington Times, The Weekly Standard, to name a few). The Sen. Clinton campaign death watch (really, why could she have not taken the high road last night and conceded the race??). And, finally, a long summer filled with amazing, uplifting, powerful speeches delivered by (hopefully) the 44th President of the United States. I am looking forward to it all!

*Nothing is official until the first vote is taken and counted at the Democratic Convention is August.

This one is for you, Hillary

2008-04-23T13:05:00.003-06:00

It has been a while since my last post, one month and 17 days to be exact. One thing has definitely remained constant throughout this hiatus, the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination. Within the constant of this seemingly never-ending race, you also have some "sub-constants".

Let us look at a few:

1) Sen. Hillary Clinton continues to attack attack attack her fellow contender on ever increasing personal levels.
2) The chances of Sen. Clinton being able to surpass, or even catch up with Sen. Obama in terms of total delegates, money, pledged delegates, states won, or overall popular vote continue to decrease.
3) Sen. John McCain continues to benefit from the Democratic candidates tearing each other down with the help of the media, while having that media spotlight turned completely away from himself.
4) It becomes ever more clear that Sen. Clinton will not put an end to her campaign, for the sake of her party's chances in the general election, until after the convention in August.
5) The animosity amongst supporters of both Democratic Senators continues to grow to the point where a considerable portion of them may decide to stay home for the general election.
6) DNC Chairman Howard Dean, former VP Al Gore, and former Democratic candidate John Edwards remain content to sit on the sidelines and watch these two candidates tear each other apart instead of using their influence to try and help stop the bleeding.

I am sure I could go on, but you get the point. The question I have is, why does Sen. Clinton not get the point? Yes, I know she is coming off of a "big win" last night in Pennsylvania, so quiting is the last thing on her mind right now. BUT, I just want to take a moment and pretend like she would ever read this post, and/or would listen to sound logic coming from a lifelong Democrat and consistent voter, and maybe try and talk a little sense into her. It is worth a shot, right? If nothing else, I am getting these pent up feelings out into the open. Here goes...

Sen Clinton,

I have to first ask you a simple question. Why? Why are you continuing to do this to your party, and to a larger degree, to your country, when you know there is VERY little shot of your winning this primary election? You know that after last night's margin of victory (which, don't get me wrong, was an impressive 8.5 percent) that you officially now have no shot of ending up with the pledged delegate lead at the end of this race? And I am sure you have smart people on your campaign team that are now telling you, again as a result of last night's victory margin, that you also have no chance of ending this race with the lead in overall popular vote count? You know that once Sen. Obama won his 26th state, way back in February I believe it was, that you no longer have the ability to win a plurality of states? You also have to be able to sense now that, since Feb. 5th (remember, "Super Tuesday", the date your campaign expected this race to be over and clearly yours?) you have not been able to keep pace with Sen. Obama in either money raised, amount of donors, or super delegates? To add to this pain, it also has to hurt that you have lost some of your own super delegates; AND, it really has to sting that super delegates you were counting on through ties with your husband, like Gov. Richardson, have gone with the other candidate.

I know there is no easy way to swallow this pill. You were it. You were our party's big shining star when this thing started. You are the wife of our party's hero. We were all ready to throw you on our shoulders and carry you to the White House to save us from 8 years of "W" madness. Then along comes this even brighter shining star and messed up all of those dreams for you. I can't imagine being an historic candidate, such as you are, and having that negated by another historic candidate in the same election cycle. SERIOUSLY, what are the odds!?

At this point though, none of that should matter. You know what you need to do, right? And it is not just for your party, nor is it just for your political future. No, it is for something much bigger than ego, it is for your country. I know you know what dire straights we are in right now after 8 years of a disastrous President, and I KNOW that you do not want to sentence us to 4 or 8 more years of the same types of mistakes. You know we can not afford nor sustain a John McCain Presidency. That is why I plead of you, I BEG of you to end this run and help to heal our party RIGHT NOW around it's eventual nominee. You have a huge following and a huge support base, and you have to know that we are going to need that in order to win in November against Sen. McCain and his "attack media" that supports him.

Please, at least consider this...and soon.

Sincerely,
A Concerned Democrat

P.S. I am sure I don't need to remind you of this fact either, since someone on your staff has likely already brought it up. The last candidate to go into the convention trailing in pledge delegates, convincing the super delegates to swing his way because he was a better candidate in the fall (you know, the strategy you are currently employing), that candidate, Walter Mondale. You also remember how many states he ended up winning in the fall of 1984, right? Yep, ONE.

Well...if Obama isn't going to do it...

2008-03-06T13:18:00.002-07:00

I know that Sen. Obama is trying his hardest to run this campaign the way in which we would ALL like to see a campaign run. He is staying away from the smears and the character attacks. He is staying away from the MOUNTAINS of innuendos and hateful words that have been spewed at the Clintons for years from the Republican Right Wing attack machine. He is trying to run on a message of Hope, Change and Optimism. And, when you look at where he is right now, he has been rather successful in this tactic so far.

SO FAR... Now I feel as though it is time for him to make a slight shift towards the more negative. Now I think he needs to go on the offensive against the Clintons. He does not need to become as nasty as she has been, but there are some questions that don't involve character attacks, that he could more aggressively start to put into the minds of future voters.

First off, why change? Well, as we saw on Tuesday with Clinton's "wins", her constant attack mode, throw-the-kitchen-sink-at-him offensive is starting to work. (note: I put wins in quotes for two reasons. #1. She was up in the polls by 20% in both states just two weeks prior to their voting. She "won" them both by far smaller margins. #2. You do not win states in the Democratic Presidential primaries, you win delegates. The split on Tuesday night was within 3 or 4 delegates, not really a win for her has she has 140ish to make up.) We have this phenomenon where, for what ever reason, we voters claim that we hate the way political campaigns and politics in general have become so divisive and mean spirited, yet we continue to fall for the divisiveness and mean spiritedness. Perhaps if we voted more consistently for Hope, Change and Optimism it would become more pervasive? Just a thought.

Secondly, her attacks are coming at a feverishly quick (and increasingly nasty) pace. This is due to the fact that she has had little "comeback". It is like if you were in a snowball fight. When you are throwing snowballs, and the other person refuses to throw the snowballs back, only deflects those coming his way, you are liberated by not having to duck, seek cover, and regroup to throw your own snowballs again. If Obama wants to put any kind of an end to the attacks coming from her campaign, he needs to make her duck and cover a little bit too.

So where to begin? Obviously the big questions he needs voters to start thinking about, he has already begun to put out there. She needs to account for both her missing tax returns and her missing schedule logs from her time as a First Lady. If she is to run on 35 years of experience, we need to know as voters what she did for those 8 years when her job consisted of being the non-elected, no constitutional obligation First Lady of the United States. We also need to know as voters what sorts of monied interests her and her husband have had in the past 7 years that Bill Clinton has been out of office. Perhaps there might show up someone in those missing tax returns that we are not comfortable with. She should not get a pass on this and continue to say "I will release them at some point in the future".

Sen. Obama should also point out to voters that part of Sen. Clinton's 35 years of experience consists of time spent on the board of Wal-Mart. He needs to remind voters that her time there was at a time concurrent with Wal-Mart's attacks on unions and equal opportunities for female employees. He needs to remind voters that another part of her 35 years of experience was the relatively minuscule 7 years spent as a U.S. Senator (relative to Sen. McCain's 35 years of Senatorial experience). He needs to remind us of how few bills she introduced in that time that became laws.

These are just some places to start. But he needs to start, and soon...

Politcal Potpourri

2008-02-29T11:24:00.005-07:00

It has been a while again since I last posted anything. It is just hard to find the time with family, school and job responsibilities. I so admire and commend you folks out there who do this on a more regular basis than myself.

Anyway, in the time since my last post, I have had quite a few political ideas, news stories, and controversies come to mind that have created quite the backlog. With that in mind, today's post is going to be a political potpourri of all of these ideas. Unfortunately, I will not be able to go into any great depth on any of them, but at least they will be out of my head!

Potpourri Ingredient #1 - The Dried Stink Weed: Come on, with a hotly contested primary season still going strong, you had to know there would be some stink weed in the mix! As I eluded to in the previous post, the closer this race gets to the end of the line for Sen. Clinton, the nastier her attacks are going to become. This past weekend, after having a debate Thursday night with Sen. Obama where she ended it by saying it has been an honor to run against him, she spent the entire weekend throwing all the mud she could gather at him. This was dubbed her "kitchen sink" strategy by one of her aides. Here are the highlights (er, low lights): "Shame on you", "Celestial Choirs", "Muslim Garb", and "Watch Saturday Night Live". The funny thing about this "strategy"? It is having the opposite effect of what she was hoping. After being up nearly 20 points in both Texas and Ohio a couple weeks ago, she is now down in Texas and "too close to call" in Ohio.

Potpourri Ingredient #2 - Even More Dried Stink Weed: Now that the race for the Republican Presidential nominee is in the bag for Sen. McCain, he can get on with the business of doing what Republicans do best; fear-mongering, race-baiting, and "lack of patriotism" bashing of Democrats! Seriously, can we just write out the strategy now that the Republicans are going to use over the next 8 months and be done with it? We have seen this movie before, do we really need to watch it again? I could go into the details and provide the links, but I will not be a part of doing the dirty work for this "Maverick", "Moderate" Senator from Arizona. If you want the slime, you know where to get it. (hint: it starts with an F and ends with an X).

Potpourri Ingredient #3 - Rotting Beef: And then there is this story. Apparently, if a cow is not able to physically walk to the slaughter house, it is considered a "downer cow" and can not be used for human consumption. This sick story (along with video!) details the lengths this meat processing facility went through to get the cows to "walk" to the slaughter house, and where this meat is ending up. For those of you who say "politics don't matter" or "we are better off with no taxes/government/etc", please, consider this as a side effect of that line of reasoning.

Potpourri Ingredient #4 - Cilantro: Cilantro? You know, it is this sneaky, surprising spice that shows up and immediately makes food taste better. (side note: apparently not everyone is down on the cilantro!) These following two videos featuring impromptu attacks live on Fox News provide just enough cilantro to spice things up for the better: Lee Camp and Montel Williams (yes, THAT Montel).

Potpourri Ingredient #5 - A Nice Ripe Onion: Finally, here is a hilarious video put together by the fine folks at The Onion. Funny because it is true.

So there ya have it, my little sampling-o-the-day of Political Potpourri. Sure, it probably doesn't smell too good, but, unfortunately, neither does our country at the moment. Enjoy your weekend! Oh, and if you happen to live in either Texas, Ohio, Vermont, or Rhode Island (or know someone who does), get out and vote next Tuesday!

Hillary, stop! You are embarrassing yourself and tearing the party apart!

2008-02-14T09:28:00.004-07:00

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, Sen. Clinton is not going to give up this primary election easily and without a kicking and screaming fight. Nor should she, really, when you consider the amount of delegates she has already accumulated, the number of supporters and endorsers she has, and the fact that this is a race that is still close for the position she has been wanting her entire life.

WITH THAT SAID, I wanted to share some things this morning that she and her campaign are currently doing that are just showing an ugly desperation and disgregard for democracy:

1. First off, just look at that picture above, taken in El Paso, Texas. She is quite clearly exploiting the fact that one of her most dependable voting blocks so far this election has been the Mexican-Americans. Add to that the fact that she is using the Giuliani tactic of campaigning way in the future (the Texas primary is not until the 4th of March), and disregarding the primary contests of the present. That didn't work out too well for Giuliani, and hopefully it won't for her either.
2. How about this great strategy taken from an article in today's New York Times. With every delegate precious, Mrs. Clinton’s advisers also made it clear that they were prepared to take a number of potentially incendiary steps to build up Mrs. Clinton’s count. Top among these, her aides said, is pressing for Democrats to seat the disputed delegations from Florida and Michigan, who held their primaries in January in defiance of Democratic Party rules. If she succeeds in doing this some how, we should all take to the streets in volient protest. The ONLY reason she got the most votes in Michigan was because she was the only name on the ballot (all appologies to Rep. Kucinich). And the ONLY reason she won Florida is because she was the only one who broke the rules and choose to show up there to campaign! Disgusting if this happens.
3. I'm sorry if you live in any of these 20 states: WA, ID, NV, UT, CO, ND, MN, IA, NE, KS, MO, AK LA, AL, GA, SC, VA, MD, ME, CT, Hillary's people think you are "insignificant". Quote from MSNBC article: “Could we possibly have a nominee who hasn't won any of the significant states -- outside of Illinois?” Chief Strategist Mark Penn said. “That raises some serious questions about Sen. Obama.” So, apparently you only matter if you are from the states which Hillary won, which I should mention, are mostly states that ANY Democratic Presidential candidate would win in a general election.

Hillary, I know you are most likely taking this thing to it's bitter, unnatural end. I know you are prepared for an ugly battle on the floor of the DNC Convention. I just wish it didn't have to be this way. We Democrats are looking for unity, and a light at the end of a very long and dark 8 year tunnel. We have found that light in Sen. Obama. I am sorry we did not find it in you. Perhaps your day will still come. As for today, please stop working to extinguish our light! Please consider your party and your nation! If we decide to go another way this year, please let us! Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day! ;)

Thanks for reading...

"Yes We Can" is becoming "Yes We Are"!!

2008-02-13T09:07:00.004-07:00

It has been a while since my last post. Actually, I just re-read my last post and discovered it was about the so called "Super Tuesday" of the primary schedule, so it has been exactly 9 days! I appologize to any of the readers I have out there for the delay. (Funny sidenote about my "readers": It seems as though my counter has been steadily increasing with more and more traffic, but still I receive no comments? Please, if you dropped by, read my postings, and are inspired to either anger or adoration, share those feelings with me!)

So..WOW, what a 9 days it has been in the campaign of Barack Obama. I think anyone who follows politics, and who has followed closely this inspirational and improbable run of Obama's knew that February was going to be a good month. The states that hold contests this month, and the fact that most all of these states are "caucus" states, plays well into his campain's strengths. It was easy to look forward at the beginning of this month, and know that he had potential to win most, if not all, of the contests and close the overall delegate lead (thanks to the "superdelegates" that pledged way too eary!) that Sen. Clinton has enjoyed this entire race. That said, I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone, outside of maybe Sen. Obama's wife and kids, who thought he was going to do THIS well!

So far this month (not including the Super Tuesday in which he won 13 out of 21 races), he has won all 8 of the primary contests held around the country. On the 9th of Feb., he won in Louisiana, Nebraska, Washington and The Virgin Islands. The next day, he won in Maine. He followed those 5 wins up with 3 more yesterday in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. Looking forward to next Tuesday, you have to think (looking at the polls) that he will easily win in Hawai'i and decisively win in Wisconsin. That would be a string of 10 states, and a post "Super Tuesday" sweep of February! The impressive part of this run to me, is not merely the fact that he is "winning" these states (because, as we know, they are not winner take all contests, the second place finisher gets votes as well), it is the margains by which he is winning these states.

If you take an average of the margains of all the states won, you will see he is winning by an average of just over 30% per race! That is a clear and decisive margain. That is a margain which has allowed him to not only close the delegate gap with Sen. Clinton, but to leap past her in the total count, even when you factor in the large number of her superdelegates. That margain is displaying a "turn" or a shift in the Democratic party as a whole, away from the Clintons and the politics of the past, and towards a brave new future with the Obamas.

I don't want to get too far ahead of myself here. I know that there are still a lot of votes to be cast, a lot of delegates to gather, and a lot of states coming down the pipe that don't always favor Sen. Obama as much as the states of February have. I also know that Sen. Clinton is not likely to bow out of this race easily or gracefully in order to foster some sense of "Democratic unity" for the upcoming general election in November. My hunch is she will need to be pulled from this race, kicking and screaming (most likely screaming about Florida and Michigan!). But, I can't deny that something is happening here. I can't as easily hide behind my pragmatisism and just "know" that this is a nice run, but at the end of the day we will just have politics and politicians as usual. I can't help but start to feel that "Yes We Can" is becoming "Yes We Are"!

Thanks for reading! GObama!

OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA!!!

2008-02-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the "Super Tuesday" of the Presidential primary calendar. There are 23 states across the entirety of the United States that will be either pushing a button, pulling a lever, or getting together to caucus tomorrow. Their mission is a simple one, to vote for the candidate they feel best represents their ideals and is best suited to lead our country out of the darkness in which we currently find ourselves. The choice on the Democratic side is a rather simple one. Simple in the fact that there are basically only two candidates to chose from. On the Republican side, the choices are a little less clear as their remain 4 major candidates; two of them viable, the other two, not as much.

Being the big Obama supporter that I am, I could not pass up the chance to at least write a little something to make the case (to the very few readers of this blog) for supporting him and giving him your vote tomorrow. Basically, to me, the choice is rather clear. Here are a few reasons why:

Obama represents real change. I know that inherent in any new administration is change. There will be change from President Bush whether it is Sen. Clinton, Gov. Romney, or Sen. McCain. But I am talking about real change. The change from politics as usual. The change from corporate and lobbyist influence. And the change in racial dynamics and opportunity.
Obama represents unity. The speech that he gave at the 2004 DNC Convention, the speech that shot him from an unknown to a major political figure, was centered around unity. He described America as, not red and blue states, but a collection of purple states. A lot of politicians run on this unity message (remember Bush, the uniter, not a divider), not many of them follow through. Call me a sucker, call me a romantic, but I deeply and truly believe that Obama can and will follow through.
Obama represents hope. How many times have you seen Obama resort to negative campaigning or political "dirty tricks"? You don't. While it may have happened a time or two with a staffer of his (who is hopefully gone from the campaign now), the overall feel coming from his campaign is one, not of ugliness, fear mongering, smearing of the opposition (you know, the stuff we have been used to for 8 years of this current administration), it is a simple message of hope.
Obama represents youth. While some people (Clinton *ahem*) try and paint Obama's relative youth and "inexperience" as a bad thing, I see it completely the opposite way. He is not entrenched in Washington, and hence, is not beholden to special interests. He is young enough, and fresh enough to believe that government CAN and DOES make a difference in real people's lives. He is not tainted with the mindset that everything the government does has to come with a coporate interest sponsorship and seal of approval. Plus, his youth represents a changing of the guard from the Clintons and Bushs.
Obama represents America! I know, it sounds corny, but it is so true. We are not just a country of old white men (as has been represented in every one of our 43 Presidents so far). We are a country of whites, blacks, asians and latinos. We are a nation of multiculturalism. Obama's mother was white and from rural Kansas. His father was from Kenya. His step-father, and father to his sister, is from Indonesia. He once joked that his family reunions are like a U.N. convention. I can only imagine! Not only is he inheriently multicultural, he has also lived and visited these other corners of the world. In a country that is becoming increasingly hated and/or feared by the rest of the world for our disregard of their sovereignty, wouldn't it be nice to elect a leader who not only gets it, but has lived it?

So, there you have it. That is just a sampling of the many reasons to vote for this compelling political figure. If you need any more convincing, just listen to him speak and try to not get goosebumps or get caught up in the swell of emotion. Sen. Obama is the right man, at the right time, for the right job. Please, give him your support tomorrow, or whenever your primary elections might be.

Thank you...

Aloha!

2008-01-31T11:10:00.000-07:00

I didn't really announce this fact before I left (apparently too into Hillary's ruthlessness at the time *grin*), but I just got back from a week long trip to Hawai'i. Needless to say it was wonderful, the weather was fantastic, and the trip ended entirely too soon. I am slowly in the process of easing back into work and into the routine of life. With that said, it will be a couple more days until I write a proper blog on the events of the past couple weeks. I definitely want to weigh in with something, though, before the upcoming SUPER TUESDAY next week! ;)

Anywho, where are some links to keep you occupied for a while:

1. Get caught up on Lost before the season 4 premiere tonight!
2. Quite the powerful editoral on Hillary's shenanigans.
3. I had no clue before the Hawai'i trip the extent of its colorful history.
4. Do yourself a favor and go see this movie. (Note: those with motion sickness tendencies need not apply)
5. The Super Bowl is this weekend. Does anyone outside of the Northeast really care?

More soon! Aloha and Mahalo!

Oh, Hillary...

2008-01-14T11:36:00.000-07:00

I have not been able to blog since the day before the New Hampshire Primary, and as such, have not yet publicly weighed in with my view of the surprising results. This delay is by no means because I am a big Obama supporter and was devastated by the outcome (no, that devastation is reserved for the Indianapolis Colts' early exit YET AGAIN from the NFL playoffs yesterday!), nor is because I can't easily admit defeat. No, the reason why I haven't blogged to congratulate Sen. Clinton on her historic victory is that I have just been entirely too busy with other things in life. So, cheers to you Hillary! You deserve it!

Yep, that is all I have to say about that. A cop out? Maybe. I will leave it up to the experts to find the reasons why and how a state that was clearly going to Obama according to both the pre-election polls and the exit polls could switch at the last minute and go the opposite direction. I have absolutely no theories on that one. ;)

What I would like to get into, however, is the way in which Hillary Clinton is choosing to run this race for Presidency. I don't know if any of you have seen the movie Election (if not, do yourself a favor and watch it, great show!), but in it Reese Witherspoon plays a High School student whose ruthless campaign for the office of student body president leaves a wake of devastation in its path. Why am I so reminded of Sen. Clinton by the character in this movie? The obvious (and somewhat sexist) answer would be that they are both ambitious women, hellbent on obtaining their goals at any cost. The real reason goes a little deeper. In the beginning of the movie, you can clearly see that Reese's character is the best fit for the position. She is sweet, intelligent, seemingly compassionate and humble. These are the qualities Hillary exhibited in the beginning of this primary election as well. It is not until Reese's character in the film receives some real competition for the student body president position (from a handsome, popular, jock played by Chris Klien, no less) that her darker, less appealing side comes out in the form of smears, threats and dirty tricks. I won't spoil the ending, or who gets elected, but I will say the winner is determined by a single, stolen vote.

So, isn't this just "sour grapes" on my part? The media were all starting to act as though Obama was going to walk away with it, and that Hillary was all but finished before the stunning events of the New Hampshire Primary. Doesn't it seem now like I am just bitter that they are wrong, and that I was wrong, and that Hillary will still most likely win this thing in the end? Perhaps that is part of the reason here, but it is by no means the whole story. While I believe a candidate's job (and responsibility to his or her backers) is to do everything in their power to secure the nomination, I do think that there should be limits to how far they will go. For the longest time, the Republicans have talked about the "Clinton attack machine", and we Democrats have conveniently ignored it or down played it. In this Primary election season, she unfortunately is going about proving them all right. Here are some examples of the latest Hillary attacks that have ruffled my feathers:

1. Obama has no experience, is a "roll of the dice" compared to my 35 years of proven leadership: First off, I SO WISH Obama would go negative just this one time and ask her to really define that 35 years of experience she keeps talking about. Yes, she has been a Senator for 8 years (4 more than Obama), but previous to that she was: First Lady of the US, First Lady of Arkansas, on the board of Wal-Mart (lots of proven leadership there in helping out the middle and low income earners!), and a lawyer. Taking nothing from her life and accomplishments, seriously, she talks like SHE was the President for 8 years, or that SHE was the Governor for 12 years. Obama has experience as a State Rep. for 8 years and a US Senator for another 4. From my count, that equals 12 years of elected experience for Obama (and 4 elections won) vs. 8 years of elected experience for Clinton (and 2 elections won).
2. Ridiculous and hateful attack on Martin Luther King's legacy: Seriously, when is it ever a good idea to attack MLK? While the comments she made were not direct attacks at him personally, she did say that "it wasn’t hope that King inspired that made the difference but President Lyndon Johnson’s decision to fight for and sign the Civil Rights Act into law". Here she is so OBVIOUSLY trying to do two things at once. First off, attack Obama on this Hope vs. Experience mantra she is trying so hard to make stick (see point one). And secondly, pull the positive comparisons to MLK rug out from under Obama's feet. Come on, she could have just as easily cited the example of Woman's Suffrage and how it wasn't really Susan B. Anthony that got it done, but the legislature of 1920 that passed the 19th amendment. Why wouldn't she use that example? Oh yeah, it cites a powerful woman.
3. The hijacking of "Change": Really, Sen. Clinton, do you think we are not paying attention? You think that we do not see what you are doing? Are you really going to change your message around every time someone else's message is more effective than yours? Change is not you, and change is not the dirty tricks you are playing in this campaign.
4. Obama = Madrassa: I so hope this is not true. There are numerous reports out there that these awful, despicable emails that have been going around ever since Sen. Obama announcing he was running, concerning the fact that he is somehow a "Jihadist" in hiding, have either originated from, or are being propagated by the people in Clinton's campaign team. Truly reprehensible if that is the case.

Will Hillary Clinton be the Democratic nominee for President come November? Most likely. Will I vote for her if that is the case? Yes, because, even with the dirty tricks, she is miles better than anything the Republicans have to offer. Will she make a good President if she is elected? I have to think so, given the things she stands for and the people she will most likely add to her administration. I do not want to jump on the "Hate Clinton" bandwagon here (there are plenty of people already taking that trip!), nor do I want to add any more ammunition for those that hate her to use against her (not like they don't already know!); I just really wish that she would end this ruthless, relentless attack campaign on her fellow Democratic nominees. Save some of that ugliness for the general election. If she keeps this up, all she can accomplish is a division within the Democratic party. And that is the last thing that we, or the country needs right now!

Thanks for reading...

New Hampshire and the Big mOmentum

2008-01-08T10:48:00.000-07:00

Right now thousands of New Hampshirites (New Hampshirians? New Hamsalad?) are going to the polls to make their choices known for whom they would like to see lead their party to victory in November. If you believe the latest polls it is going to be a close race on the Republican side between Mitt Romney and John McCain, while on the Democratic side it is looking like a clear victory for Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton.

Of course, I couldn't be happier if these results hold up on the Democratic side as I am a big Obama supporter! You know though, I find it rather funny that these two states (Iowa and New Hampshire) that we pretty much ignore or forget come general election results time, play such a vital role in deciding who is going to be in that race for in all later this year.

Will it be over for Sen. Clinton tonight if she doesn't win? Mathematically, the answer is no. BUT, just like in sports, momentum is a powerful thing, and if Sen. Obama can deliver not only a win today in New Hampshire, but a convincing win, this thing could be all but over. With two consecutive losses, and decisive losses where the majority of the independent vote goes to Obama, it is going to be a harder and harder uphill battle for Clinton to struggle back from. The money sources are going to start to dry up or switch sides, the key figures (former Senators, Governors, Unions) on the Democratic side will start throwing their support behind Obama, the other primary candidates who fall out of the race will support the front runner, and the people who are still undecided in upcoming states will decide on the front runner as well.

It will be like dominoes starting to fall, and the first really big one could be pushed over tonight.

HOORAY FOR THE BIG O!

2008-01-04T14:56:00.001-07:00

So, naturally today I am ecstatic about Obama's win yesterday in the Iowa primary! As I mentioned yesterday, I know this win only represents a little more than 1% of the total delates that vote for the Democratic candidate later this year, but this is (to me) a huge symbolic victory and a great momentum boost that will hopefully carry over into New Hampshire next week and beyond. Watch his victory speech here.

Also, congrats to John Edwards and Hillary Clinton for their strong showings as well. Here are some interesting numbers on turnout yesterday (provided by the Daily Kos):

The Republicans produced around 115,000 voters - up from 87,000 in 2004. (32% increase)
The Democrats produced around 236,000 voters - up from 59,000 in 2004. (300% increase!)

Total Voter Turnout (approximate) 356,000
Percentage of total vote
24.5% Obama
20.5% Edwards
19.8% Clinton
11.4% Huckabee (R)

So obvious in those numbers, even in a mostly "Red" state like Iowa, the people of this country and energized and ready for a change! I can't wait to see what New Hampshire brings!!

Some Non-Iowa Links for Today

2008-01-03T14:18:00.000-07:00

While the media is being consumed by its coverage of the Iowa primary election today (and the 1% of national delegates that represents), let us not fail to keep track of the other, more substantive stories taking place in our world.

1. Want to impeach the current Prez and Vice Prez? Here is a page with any number of reasons to do so.
2. Raise your hand if you know who Jamie Leigh Jones is. No one? Ok, now raise your hand if you know who Natalie Holloway is. Thought so. Read about Ms. Jones here.
3. Oh yeah! What about that warming planet thingie? Guess we forgot about it since it has been so cold lately, huh? Watch this interesting argument from some guy who looks like a high school science teacher.
4. This sure seems like it should be a much bigger deal. I suppose when a Democrat is the President next year, things like this WILL be big deals again! Huzzah!
5. We don't need to go all the way back to 2000 to find evidence of a stolen election, here is a juicy story about the stolen election of 2004!

That is enough reading for today folks. Always remember, just because you watch the "news" on the telly-vision, does not mean you are staying informed on the news.

Iowa Eve

2008-01-02T14:31:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow blog readers! Happy New Year!!! Today is my first day back from a nice loooong Holiday Break from work. I will get back more seriously tomorrow into the blogging stuff.

Today I just wanted to send out a reminder that we are *finally* on the precipice of the first set of voting in the primary elections for the upcoming '08 Presidential election. My hope is that my favorite candidate for over a year now, Barack Obama, can win tomorrow in Iowa and use that as a spring board to start winning the other successive states and, in the end, secure the Democratic nomination. I would love nothing more than see a brighter new day in America dawning next January with Sen. Obama as our first rightfully elected President in 8 years.

What ever happens, it should at least be an entertaining ride for the next few months! Talk to you all soon..

2008 movies, here I come!!

2007-12-21T09:06:00.000-07:00

With the somewhat blah year of 2007 almost behind us, I am starting to already anxiously look forward to the excitement that 2008 is bound to bring! Think about it, we have the summer Olympics coming up in China, the Presidential elections going on throughout the year (finally bringing an end to the awful Bush regime), and we have (as I discovered early today) an amazing plethora of great movies coming to the big screen! After a disappointing year of film in 2007, this is great news to me.

As any of you out there with small children know, it is often difficult to head to the theatres. You have to find a sitter and pay the extra expense of that, or find a movie that the whole family can see and will enjoy. While, thankfully, we live in the era of Pixar's amazing films; having to go see only "kids shows" can leave you a bit wanting after a while. I have always been a huge movie buff and can think of few other activities I enjoy more than sitting in a dark theatre, munching on popcorn, and being entertained with a bunch of strangers by an amazing movie.

Given the fact that "grown up" movie going experiences become more infrequent and precious in the era of small children, it is crucial to make every movie selection count. There is nothing more disappointing than setting everything up for the care of the children, only to head out and see a crappy movie (e.g. Transformers!). For me, 2007 was relatively easy in this regard, as there were not too many films that piqued my interest enough to bother. 2008 on the other hand, looks like it is going to be a stellar year! Have a look at this page with a great snapshot look at a lot of the films due up next year.

Some of the films I am most looking forward to:

Be Kind Rewind: This is done by the guy who did Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and stars Mos Def and Jack Black!
Blindness: This was a great book that I struggled to make it half way through. I finally get to see how it ends! ;)
The Box: I LOVED Donnie Darko! Hopefully Richard Kelly, the director, can make a similar film here with an interesting sounding concept.
Burn After Reading: Coen brothers movie, enough said.
Choke: Finally another movie adaptation from one of Chuck Palahniuk's books! Fight Club is by far my favorite movie of all time.
Cloverfield: The trailer for this was amazing. This is the guy who does lost. How bad can it be?
Curious Case of Benjamin Button: David Fincher is the director of an F. Scott Fitzgerald story here. Fincher did Fight Club and Seven and is one of my favorite directors.
The Fighter: Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, Pi) is another of my favorite directors. The ladies will like this one for its starring of Brad Pitt and Marky Mark. ;)
The Happening: Love him or hate him, you have to admit that M. Night (Sixth Sense, The Village) is definitely a unique director.
Sex and the City: The Movie: I know, I know! I just LOVED this series, I'll admit it. I have to see what Carrie is up to next! ;)
Wall-E: Again, Pixar can do no wrong, and this one looks like it might end up being my favorite.
Where the Wild Things Are: A really kewl kids book adaptation, done by a really kewl director in Spike Jonze. Should be fun!

And those are just the highlights, there are sure to be even more in store! Again, check out the list here and get ready to eat lots of popcorn in 2008!!

Another Links Day...

2007-12-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

Today is yet another in a string of mostly busy days for me. That said, here are today's links!

1. This is an issue very near and dear to my heart. Bizarre times we live in today.
2. You HAVE to watch this video!
3. This is such an uplifting story about the power of community and the imagination of children.
4. This, however, is just a hilarious story!! ;)

That is all for today! See you back here tomorrow!

Is the Constitution the New Bible?

2007-12-11T09:43:00.000-07:00

Maybe it is the fact that I am in the middle of Naomi Wolf's The End of America: A Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot (read a synopsis here), or maybe it was the talk Lionel from Air America was having this morning with the authors of this book, or maybe it is just a rather disturbing gut feeling I am having about the state of our democracy; whatever the case, I am starting to feel as though the United States Constitution is the new Bible.

When I make the analogy above, I don't mean it in the way you may be thinking. I do not mean that people are reverent towards its words and message. I do not mean that people are reading passages of it in their homes on a Sunday afternoon. And I definitely do not mean that it is being treated with the same care and protection as one would demonstrate with their personal copy of the Bible. No, what I mean is that, similar to the "message" of the Bible, the "message" of the Constitution is becoming increasingly twisted, manipulated, and used for selfish personal and political gain. I think the people in this country who would want to rule with more power, rob the nation of its riches, and weaken our democracy are inherently limited in doing so by the powers of the Constitution. I think that, because of that fact, they misuse the Constitution as a shield for their actions. They hide behind it, saying things like "This is how the founders would have wanted it" or "I am a strict constructionist", and they take for granted the fact that the majority of U.S. citizens (including myself unfortunately!) do not really know what the Constitution says, and can't be bothered to look it up. They take for granted the fact that we have subleased our protection of our democracy to the "experts". We put all of our faith in the elected officials, or the law makers, or in anyone else who must be smarter than us to do the Constitutional homework, and make sure we stay the same strong democracy we have always been. Well, the obvious question this line of thinking leads to is, what happens when that small group of citizens we have put in charge of guarding our democracy have no real interest in doing so? What happens when we put the foxes in charge of the hen house?

It is similar to me to the way followers of the Christian faith have subleased their understanding of the Bible to the leaders of their church. The church that teaches its followers to be intolerant of those with alternative sexual lifestyles. The leaders who fall back on the simple logic "It is an abomination in the Bible". Well, so are a lot of other things that are not being emphasized or even mentioned. Did you know it is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord, according to the Bible, for people to eat shrimp? Why are there not Christians marching in protest outside of the Red Lobster? Isn't the message of Jesus about love, tolerance and compassion? Why are so many Christians taught to do the opposite to those they disagree with? Isn't it easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven? Then why do so many church leaders live extravagant lives and build mega churches? Think about it, and more importantly, read your Bibles people and decide for yourself! Do not let others do the critical thinking for you. This only allows them to subjugate the message and use it towards their own selfish ends.

I do not want to turn this blog into a Christian bashing sessions (especially so close to Christmas!), I just want to point out how, when you do not do your own homework, when you do not actually read and study the thing you claim to believe in, and when you allow others to do this work for you and accept the message they say comes out of it, you are only setting yourself up for a fall. The belief in Christianity, just like the belief in our democracy, can be and should be larger than the men who are currently in control of its distribution. It can only be that way if we, you and me and everyone we know, put in the work and dedication that both the founders of the Christian faith and the framers of our democracy expected us to do. If we don't, I am afraid both are doomed to fail.

Now, I should be off to read the Constitution!!

2007-12-10T10:54:00.000-07:00

It is Monday, it is snowy here in the great state of Colorado, we still have no TV at our house, I am busy with my last week of class (9 page paper to write!), and I am busy at work. Those are my updates for today. Here are some links for you to check out!

1. For those of you, like myself, who love Pixar movies and would watch them even if you didn't have kids, check out this link.
2. Today is Al Gore's big day in Oslo!
3. Great movie that the wife and I watched this weekend. Sure to win some Oscars!
4. Bush still doesn't get it, never will.
5. Oprah, on the other hand, does get it!

That is all for today. Hopefully some time this week I will have an opportunity to actually blog about something besides links!

Enjoy..

This has gone on way too long!

2007-12-07T14:47:00.001-07:00

WOW! It sure has been a while since I last posted anything on here, huh?! Life just seems to always get in the way of a good blog writing session. Well, for me at least! My wife seems to have no problem balancing the two! For me, I guess I am just too concerned with making every blog post a "winner" and hitting it out of the park every time, so to speak, that I worry before each aborted blog attempt that it will become too time consuming for that particular day and put it off..and put it off..and put it off..

I think in order to alleviate that cycle of no blogging (and I really do like blogging!), I am going to go with the short blogs and maybe some links type format for most days. That will leave the really long drawn out blogs for when I have time. Yep. That is the plan. That is the version 3.4.1 plan (I have blogged about this in the past, believe it or not!)

Today, being a somewhat busy day, I am going to leave you with some daily links to check out. Enjoy!

1. Can you believe some people want to put this guy on Mt. Rushmore?!
2. A good sign that the days of negative campaigning might be drawing nigh.
3. This guy's sidewalk drawings are amazing!
4. Here are some Green Gift Guides for the holiday season.

Be well! Until next time....

Why don't we have a Meritocracy?

2007-08-20T10:40:00.000-06:00

While perusing one of my favorite sites this morning (digg.com), I came across this gem of a link. It is a quote taken from the just released Reagan (as in former President Ronald) Diaries, in which he writes candidly about George W. Click here to read. I must say, there are many things I disagree with Ronald Reagan about, but in this instance, he definitely hit the nail on the head!

So, as so many things do, this got me thinking about the state of our politics in this country, and forced me to wonder why it is we can not have a meritocracy? For those of you who do not know the definition (and were too lazy to click on the link provided! ha!), a meritocracy is a form of government in which we basically force people who are the most intelligent and best qualified into the jobs that fit their skills. Now I know we can not force people into jobs in this country, and I know this form of government might have its own set of problems; BUT, at its core, it wants for the best people to form the best government. I for one do not have a problem with that.

What is wrong with us as a society, however, that we do not want for the best in our political leaders? We want the best teachers teaching our kids, right? We want the best doctors operating on our insides, right? We want the best mechanics working on our car, right? So, why do we not want the best (and when I say "best", see: smartest, most qualified, most well read, etc) person in the country's most important job, the President of the United States?? Why do we (and by we, I am talking the media which trickles down into our daily arguments) attack those who are educated, and who want to serve their country, as being snobbish, elitists, and other such pejorative terms? Why do we want a President who "talks like you and me"? A President who "we could have a beer with"? A President rolls up his shirtsleeves and unbuttons his top button, so as not too look to uptight or educated? Why are we not only accepting of, but desiring of an average citizen to become our "Commander-in-Chief"? Seriously, I do not get it and I demand an answer, folks?! ;)

If it were just this simple want for a common dude to be President, it would be one thing; but, it goes beyond just this want for a humble, average. We all know it, but this is the part we don't dare talk about for some reason. Yes our current President plays the role of the dumb commoner well (maybe he is not just playing a role?), but we all know that he came from a family of wealth and power. So, not only do we not have a meritocracy, what we really have in this country is a plutocracy mixed with some heavy doses of nepotism. Even though we mostly all in this country despise both of those things (power by wealth or connections), we are able to look past it when convenient and when we think we can "relate" to the person in question.

As we enter this new election cycle for President, I can only hope that, regardless of party, we look for and elect the best of the group and not just the guy who plays the dufus role better than the others.

Thanks for reading..

A thought for the weekend: "How to take down a giant?"

2007-08-10T08:40:00.000-06:00

A thought occurred to me on the way to work today and I thought I would share. There has been a lot of talk lately about the "browning of America", and about how illegal immigration is the biggest negative issue facing our country today. While most of the talk of illegal immigration, in my opinion, is stemmed from racist attitudes towards Mexican people, I do feel as though there is a much bigger issue to consider here and worry about than just "They are brown!" or "They don't speak no English!".

America is a "superpower" right? Actually, at this point, since we have to real nation state enemies, we are more of a "hyper power". We have the most technologically advanced military the world has ever seen, we have limitless amounts of wealth, and whether we use it right or not, we have the respect, admiration, and fear of most other nations on the planet. With that said, who would be crazy enough to take on this "giant" that is America head first? Even if someone was crazy enough to try, what more would they accomplish than to put a small dent in us, arise our sleeping anger, and sentence themselves to certain doom? You can not hope to take the giant on head first and win.

So, how to take down a giant? Well, we need to look no further than the battle between nature and our own homes for inspiration (hopefully not your ACTUAL home, or my ACTUAL home, but some one's home!). The termite is approximately the size of an ordinary ant. If Mr. Termite were to walk up to our front door one day and say "Hey buddy, I am taking down your home", we would chuckle, stick out our foot, and squish poor little Mr. Termite. Now lets say Mr. Termite had a bunch of friends who organized an Army to step up to the door and proclaim the same grandiose statement in his honor. Well, we might not be able to squish them all with our feet, but we would simply employ our technology and spray them all with bug spray. Now the termites are pissed as a species, but are smart enough to avoid the head on approach. So, what do they do? Sing along now. They infiltrate the structure of our house and start to slowly deteriorate it from the inside out. Before long, if this infiltration is left to go on unabated, the tiny little termite will be successful in bring down the house that dwarfs it on a magnitude scale of millions.

Before you cry foul, I am NOT comparing the Mexican people to the angry termites! I am merely pointing our an analogy that I think fits our current state of affairs. And I do not think that we are only being "eaten away from the inside" by the illegal immigrants from Mexico. We are so dependent on cheap goods and running unsustainable debt levels, that our economy is also being slowly rotted away by the Chinese. Now, unlike Mexico, if China wanted to take us on head first, they would probably stand a good chance of winning. But what they are doing (what we are allowing them to do!) is much more subtle. We probably do not even know at this point the damage to our nation that would occur if either; A) China stops exporting cheap goods to us, or B) China decides to collect on the $500 billion plus in loans we have due to them. Either scenario would destroy our way of life overnight. The same can be said for the illegal immigrants. If they were to all leave overnight, how do you think that would affect our economy and our way of life?

See, the problem here is that we Americans want things cheap, we want things now, and we do not care the costs to our country's sustainability or infrastructure to get them. And ignorance is no excuse. We have peeked behind the base boards and have seen the infestation of termites there. We have chosen to ignore it and continue to live in this house in hopes that it won't one day all crumble down on us. But, if we do not believe that this giant will fall without a serious effort to rebuild its infrastructure, well then, I suppose we deserve to have it crumble down on us.

Thanks for reading..

History was made last night!

2007-08-08T08:24:00.001-06:00

I want to take a break from politics today (I think things will progress just about the same in that world, regardless of what I would have blogged today) and instead point out and pay tribute to a major milestone in the world of sports that was accomplished last night.

As you may or may not be aware, Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants hit his 756 home run last night; and in so doing, moved into first place all by himself with most home runs hit in a career. The previous record holder was Hank Aaron who finished his career with 755 home runs. To put this record breaking event into context, the original record holder was Babe Ruth who finished up his career in 1935 with 715 home runs. This record stood for almost 40 years until Aaron broke it in 1974. Aaron's mark of 755 then stood for another 33 years until it was broken last night. So, really, we only get one of these type events every 30-40 years. Big deal, in my opinion.

Of course, if you know anything about Barry Bonds and the state of baseball today, you know this milestone was not without controversy. We have just exited from the sad era of steroids in baseball. While this made for some excitement, and some huge numbers for people watching and being interested in baseball (remember Sosa and McGwire going for the single season HR record, Barry breaking it a couple years later), it has also left a sour taste in the mouths of many baseball fans. While I have never been a big fan of Bonds (I have actually rooted against him much of his career), I find him a victim and a sympathetic figure in this whole mess. The problem with steroids in baseball is/was much bigger than just Bonds. To me it goes all the way up to the commissioner's lack of getting a hold of the situation before it got out of control (again, see the big numbers created in the 'steroid era' as motivation for not doing anything). I see the sports writers being responsible for turning a blind eye to the problem when it was convenient to write about the records being broken, and turning a laser beam focused light on the issue when it was convenient to throw all the players under the bus. I see all the players using steroids as cumulatively responsible for setting an artificial bar for everyone else to either follow or lose out in their careers. You can not put this all on the shoulders of Bonds.

Whatever the case, I still want to mention and honor this great achievement. I have always, and will always love the game of baseball. To me this era of steroid controversy was a black eye, but it is over. We should move on, ensure it doesn't happen in the future, and teach our kids to love America's 'great pastime'.

Thanks for reading..

I'm BAAAAACK!

2007-08-06T14:46:00.001-06:00

Hello there fellow mind readers. Did you miss me? No? Oh well!

So not much has happened since my absence right? HAHAH! Just bridges collapsing due to deteriorating infrastructure (due to never ending, 12 billion dollar a month wars; due to huge tax cuts to the wealthy and the oily; due to record deficits to China; due to, you know, all those 'fiscally responsible' conservative thingies). The war is still raging on. Do we even know or care anymore? I'm sure the families of those in harms way do. But the rest of us? What else, the White House is still playing a successful game of 'hide and seek' with all of its criminals, er, I mean Administration Officials. Is anyone ever going to have to own up to all the nefarious deeds? No, probably not. The media is still, well, the media. They continue to play their Jerry Springer version of the 'news'. WOW, DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS KIDNAPPING??! LOOK AT WHAT LINDSEY LOHAN IS UP TO NOW!! YOU MAY ALREADY BE A MILLION DOLLAR WINNER! (ok, that last one was from Ed McMahon)

Same ole, same ole really. Oh, I did want to share with the readers (are there any left? hello? is this thing on?) a cute little comment that was left for me in response to my last posting. The funny (AND IRONIC!) thing about this comment is that it was left in response to a posting about how awful certain people's words on the 'right' are, and how they are (in my opinion) ruining America. And that it is sad that *I* have to live in an America with them. Strange how that gets turned around on me in this comment. Again, just like Fox News says, "White is black and black is white. If you don't believe that, you are a TERRORIST!" (ok, they didn't REALLY say that, but you get the idea). The comment:

Anonymous said...
Shawn,

You are one sick " puppy". What a shame that
America has to have the likes of you living here.

Thanks for reading!

The Blog: Fair and Balanced

2007-06-12T10:59:00.000-06:00

In the past, since the inception of this blog, I have done a lot of unfair and unbalanced bashing of my friends on the "Right" side of the political spectrum. Today I would like to change things up a little and offer an olive branch of peace and reconciliation. Please, to my friends and readers on the Left, bear with me here while I perform this soul cleansing experiment.

So, I thought long and hard (for a couple minutes at least) on what I should do to try and make amends. Should I round up a bunch of monkeys in a marsh and have them appear to take on the image of Bush's head? Too complicated. Should I buy a huge truck and go hunt some illegals? Too time consuming. Or, should I just marry my sister and have offspring? Nope, too red state. (Over the line? Yeah, I thought so too.) What I decided to do instead was give the talkers on the "Right" a little free press. I know if there is one thing that people on the "Right" need and desire, it is for more people to hear their messages and contemplate the meaning of said messages.

So, without further ado, I present you with some of the best points the "Right" has to offer (in their own words of course):

Michael Savage (radio talk show host): "I want to puke when I hear about a woman married to a woman raising children because, frankly, I think that it's child abuse to do that to children without their permission. What does a child know? Ask them when they're 16 whether they want to be raised by two lesbians or two men."
Bill O'Reilly (radio and TV talk show host): "Secular progressives (ed. note: Democrats) are going to basically tell children to use drugs, to have indiscriminate sex, do what you want when you're 14 years old, never mind what your parents think."
Ann Coulter (man pretending to be a woman): "I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot,' so I — so kind of an impasse, can’t really talk about Edwards."
Rush Limbaugh (Oxycontin addict): "Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?"
"President" Bush (I'll go ahead and leave this blank): "If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator."
Dick Morris (slime ball): "You have to ask yourself, the first black man is running for president and no body's afraid of him, because every body's afraid of Hillary."
Sean Hannity (muppet): "I want you to stay home on Election Day because you must accept the fact that your party has abandoned you. You've gotta accept the fact that your vote doesn't matter anyway. So all you Democrats, stay home."
Jerry Falwell (Satan's new tennis partner): "(ed. note: talking about 9/11 attacks) I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say, 'You helped this happen.'"
James Dobson (Falwell's future doubles partner): "And in 1973, the Roe v. Wade decision, the Supreme Court labored forth and came to us with the abortion decision that all abortion is protected by the Constitution. And that has now resulted in 44 million deaths. The biggest holocaust in world history that came out of the Supreme Court."

OK, that is enough of the free airtime for you guys. I hope I have helped your causes in some small way and provoked deep thought in the readers' minds with your powerful words. I feel better now for having done this great deed. :)

Thanks for reading!!

'Lost' and Found....

2007-06-04T11:21:00.000-06:00

Even though the Iraq war still rages on, even though we are currently smack dab in the middle of a very crucial primary Presidential election season (click here for CNN's take on the Democratic debate they hosted last night), and even though there is still enough scandal investigations going around to fill SEVERAL blog pages, I want to take a small break from politics and get 'Lost' for a moment. Care to get lost with me?

So, I have know about this show 'Lost' on ABC since it's inception. I have followed it's enormous success, seen it win countless awards, and even experienced the affects it has on it's rabid fans. I have even watched an episode or two myself throughout the years, but this has all been done in the periphery. HAS been done peripherally that is, up until this past week when my wife and I got lost.

Since the summer is here now, and that means the prime time shows we watch are on hiatus until the fall (notable exceptions, 'Studio 60', which is a GREAT show and the upcoming season of 'Big Brother 8'), we were left with some time in the evenings to throw the 'Lost' DVDs on our Netflix queue and see what all the fuss is about. I must say, I am SO glad that we did! I know we are about 3 years too late on this, and I almost feel silly now for being so blind, but I am so glad we finally opened our eyes to the wonderment of this program. With so much crap on the television, being forced fed to us by the major networks, it is refreshing when something like this comes along and reminds us all of how good television could be, and should be. The production value on this is great, the writing is superb, and even the acting is admirable (have to admit, I have never been a big fan of Matthew Fox dating back to the 'Party of Five' days). I can see now that it is more than deserving of it's accolades.

Why, beyond it's writing and acting, has it become so popular? Well, without getting into too much psychology or philosophy (I don't take my philosophy class until next month!), I think the reasons are pretty simple. I think we all secretly have a desire in us to get lost. I think the idea of abandoning our hectic lives and our modern day 'conveniences' (that, more often than not, seem to work to enslave us) and returning to a more base level of humanity is appealing. I think we would all like to see what is inside of us, and how we would really respond to such a dramatic occurrence in our lives. We would all like to *think* that we would be a Jack, but maybe we are really a Sawyer. Or maybe we are one of the boring supporting cast members. Until we go through that experience, we will never know. All visual medium, such as movies and television, is a form of escapism, but the concept of 'getting lost' or stranded (as exemplified in the success of other things, such as 'Survivor' or 'Castaway') holds a special place in our hearts and minds. At least that is my take.

We are currently only 8 episodes into the first season, and anxiously awaiting the next Netflix arrival to continue the journey. Our hope is to catch up with the first 3 seasons before the 4th one kicks off, so we can enjoy the adventure, real time, along with the rest of you. In the meantime, while you are all waiting for season 4 and for us to catch up, here are some cool 'Lost' links I found (spoilers included!):

Thanks for reading (and for getting lost!)...

UGH!

2007-05-29T09:39:00.000-06:00

I just can not bring myself to talk about anything political at this moment. I, along with many other Democrats in the country and people with high hopes for these Democrats in Congress, took quite the 'Left' jab to the gut late last week when they decided to basically bend over and take one from the 'President' on this Iraq war funding bill debacle. There was very little compromise to be had for sure, as one side (Congress) wanted to pass a bill with timetables, and the other side (President) was determined to veto any bill with timetables. One side was going to have to back down and give the other side what it wanted. I just don't (and will never) understand why it had to be 'my side'.

The Democrats in Congress were sent a clear message last November when the people voted them in for a change in direction. The people voted them in to end this mess in Iraq. The people voted them in to stand up to this bully 'President' with the Constitutional powers invested in them. The people were behind their efforts so far to end the war through timetables for withdraw. The people are now left bitterly angry and confused about why the Democrats so easily backed down and abandoned the people who got them to the position of power they now enjoy.

So far this month there have been 113 deaths of US forces in Iraq, 1721 deaths of Iraqis in Iraq, 116 wounded US forces in Iraq, and who knows how many billions spent in Iraq (click here for up to date casualty rates). The Democrats say they want to pass this bill now, 'fund the troops' and resume the fight in the fall. Take all of those numbers listed above, multiply them by 5, 6, or 7 (amount of months until they take up the 'fight' again) and you'll see the results of their cowardice. It just makes me sick.

OK, so now I have talked a little politics I guess. Much more than I can stomach at this juncture I am afraid. Oh, and as a nice side note to this outrageous story; the Congress is currently on their Memorial Day week off. They will return next week. I guess they had to get to their vacations with a clean slate. I just wish they could have done so with a clean conscious.

Thanks for reading...

I LOVE this article! Please read!

2007-05-24T09:53:00.000-06:00

This is a great (if rather and necessarily spiteful) article on the *fingers crossed* death of the Hummer.

I'm back for a minute! What did I miss?

2007-05-24T09:05:00.000-06:00

To all of my loyal readers (both of you! ha!), I would like to apologize for the rather lengthy disappearance. As you may or may not be aware, I have resumed my seemingly never-ending, 14 year now adventure towards completing my bachelor's degree. I am choosing to jog out of the gates rather than sprint, as I am only taking one class this first semester. In the future, I plan on taking two classes per semester (still doesn't seem that fast, huh? luckily for me the semesters are only 8 weeks!). I am attending school at a local university, Regis University, am doing my classes online, am on track to completing my bachelor's degree in Computer Science, and am hopeful to be done in the next couple years. Anyway, working on that class is what has pulled me away from my regular blogging. I would like to change that and see if I can at least pull off one blog a week (making this the Weekly Mind Reader, huh?). Please bear with me and check back here at least that often for updates.

So what have I missed in my absence? Or rather, what have you the reader missed as I am too obsessed with the world of politics to miss much of anything. Let's make a quick list and recap some of the highlights (low lights?).

Alberto Gonzales is STILL the Attorney General. Wow, was I way off on this one! I thought he would be out by the end of March, then by the end of April, now I don't know if he will ever give up his post. There was talk earlier this week of a "no-confidence" vote in the House and Senate, not sure the latest status of that. In a twisted sense, it is almost better that he stays in at this point. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see him go down in flames, but his refusal to step down and the "President's" refusal to ask him to step down is making for a non-stop politically damaging show for the Dems to capitalize on. Every week, every day sometimes, there is a new and even more damaging revelation into this whole mess. Viva la Gonzo!!
The Iraq war still rages on with no end in sight. Is this really that surprising to anyone? I guess when Bush said there would be no end to this war (side note: I think we should stop calling this a 'war'. The war ended a few months after it began when we took out the leadership of that country as well as its Army. What we are in now is a protracted occupation, not a war.) while he was President, he meant it. The sad thing is that, in a representative democracy, with plenty of checks and balances on run away power, that nothing can be done to stop it. The majority of this country wants us out of the war, the majority of Iraq want us out of their country, and the majority of the troops want the war to end too, and we are still in this mess to 'spread democracy'? Does anyone else see the hypocrisy there? Anyone?
It is still getting warmer here, are we doing anything? Simple answer? No. Complex answer? No, nor should we, there is not enough science yet to prove that it is man made, changing our ways would ruin the American economy, Al Gore is a douche. You know the talking points, sing along! Thankfully we do have some common sense people in this country who are trying to inform us to change our ways. Leonardo DiCaprio, one of the finer actors of our time and an increasingly reliable voice in the global warming fight, is producing his own 'Inconvenient Truth' called '11th Hour'. Check it out when it comes around.
We have a new 'Idol', sort of.. Am I the only one who was a little let down with the final two on this season's Idol? I am, OK, well I will keep my opinions to myself. HA! No I won't! This is my blog, deal with it! I felt personally that the best two singers this year were clearly Melinda and Lakisha (with Lakisha holding the edge and a special place in my heart). I would have loved nothing more than to see these two divas battle it out at the end. Nothing against Blake (who I love and will buy his CD if/when it ever comes out) or Jordin (who was just a little too 'Disney cute' for me), they just weren't the best this year. Oh well, congrats anyway goes to Jordin.

OK, back to work for me. OH! One last thing I almost forgot. (not really, I was saving it for the end for dramatic purposes) I am PISSED at the Democrats in the Congress, and all of you should be as well. After the big 'battle' in the last few weeks over the supplemental spending bill they send the "President" that (how dare they!) had timetables attached, they are all set this week (maybe even today) to vote on and send him a bill free from restrictions. Yep, that is right, the 'Defeat-o-Crats, as the 'right' likes to call them, are living up to that moniker. This is an outrage on so many levels. Mainly I am pissed, and everyone who cares about this country should be pissed, because they were elected into office to fix this crap. They talked tough before and right after the election about how things were going to be different and they were going to end this mess. Now they are merely playing the enabler role that the Republican congress before them played. No, I do not suggest giving up on them, not voting, or heaven forbid, voting for Repubs. What I do suggest though, is that we turn up the heat on them. Find the email address, phone number, snail mail, or whatever other contact info on your local representative and harass the hell out of them. This is NOT right and should NOT be tolerated.

Here is the contact info for Ken Salazar:

U.S. Senator Ken Salazar
702 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-5852 main
(202) 228-5036 fax

Or click here to send him a 'friendly' note. Hurry before it is too late!

OK, NOW back to work. Thanks for reading!

2007-05-15T09:29:00.000-06:00

OMG of the Day!

2007-05-02T12:52:00.000-06:00

OMG, please don't tell me the "President" got caught on record yet again as being a hypocrite?! Please? Oops, he did.

Yeah, let's "Totally do that!"

2007-05-02T11:50:00.000-06:00

Well, well, well. Poor Georgie "had" to veto the supplemental funding bill for the Iraq yesterday. Apparently, the insolent little children in the Congress decided not to listen to 'Daddy's' warning and passed the war funding bill. (side note: If anyone is holding up the funding our troops so desperately need, it is the "President", not the Congress. They passed the bill!) 'Daddy' didn't appreciate the bill coming complete with guidelines towards withdrawing the troops by the middle of next year. How dare they? Who do they think they are? Oh yeah, the representatives of the American people performing the people's will. The fact is that the majority of Americans want us out of Iraq, the majority of the Troops want us out of Iraq and the majority of Iraqis want us out of Iraq. Of course, 'Daddy' doesn't listen to or govern by polls, he goes by his gut, or what God tells him to do.

So now we are ready for the "Big Showdown" over this bill. I don't know about any of you out there, but I just find it hilarious (in that dark, not so funny kind of way) now that the "President" thinks that the Democrats in Congress need to work with him to find some sort of compromise so they can get this bill passed. There are SO many things wrong with that stance, I am not even sure where to begin. First off, am I the only one who remembers how the Democrats were threatened, ridiculed and basically ignored for the past 6 years while this "President" and his rubber stamp Republican Congress did whatever they wanted? Now, all of the sudden, since the bullying and corrupt tactics of the Repubs during those last 6 years have blown up in their faces, resulting in a Democratic Congressional majority; the "President" is turning into that 'uniter, not a divider' that he promised us all he was when he initially ran back in 2000. So that is number one. Number two, there is no compromise with this "President", I am not even sure he knows the definition of the word. Seriously, how do you compromise with "The Decider"? The bill that Congress passed and sent to the "President" was so watered down in it's language towards ending this war, that it really only suggested time lines, not mandated them. Where do you go from there to a compromise? The bill was already compromised enough. No, the only 'compromise' this "President" will accept is his money with no strings attached. Thirdly, and lastly, how do you compromise with someone who is continually lying and misleading the American people? Bush states that one problem with this bill is the 'pork' in it, EVERY PREVIOUS SUPPLEMENTAL BILL HE HAS SIGNED HAD PORK IN IT! Bush states another problem with this bill is that it is taking too long, THE TWO PREVIOUS SUPPLEMENTALS THAT THE REPUB CONGRESS SENT HIM EACH TOOK LONGER! Bush states that the Generals should decide when we get out of Iraq and not the Congress, THE GENERALS ARE TELLING HIM TO GET OUT OR AT LEAST SERIOUSLY CHANGE DIRECTIONS! See, if you believe Bush and you believe the Mainstream Media, you are bound to believe that the Democrats in Congress are doing something awful and unprecedented here. So already, the Democrats *appear* to be on uneven moral ground with the "President". We just need to remind them that they have the will of the people on their side.

So how is this thing going to play out? Only time will tell. I just really hope that the Democrats in Congress stay as stubborn as the "President" on this issue, and that is why I suggest they say to him when he talks about compromise, "Let's totally do that!" (sarcasm inserted). The people are on their side and the Constitutional laws are on their side; let's just hope they continue to stand up to this bully for the last few months of his miserable Presidency.

Thanks for reading...

Happy Anniversary W!

2007-05-01T11:32:00.000-06:00

Today is exactly 4 years since W uttered his now infamous "Mission Accomplished" speech on the flight deck of the USS Lincoln. Here is a great summary of what has happened in the interim.

This land is your land, this land is my land.

2007-05-01T09:18:00.000-06:00

OK, so I have just been wondering lately who this land belongs to today? Don't we all know that great folk song by Woody Guthrie, "This Land is Your Land"? Can't we all sing along and feel proud about who we are as a nation and what we collectively stand for? If you need a refresher on the lyrics, please click here, I'll wait. *whistles* Back now? OK, then let us proceed.

So why am I feeling lately that this land is not our land? Before I get to that, let us briefly look back on some historical examples of when this land was our land. Let's see, I remember something from history class about a Tea Party that helped spark a revolution and free this land from an empire. I remember reading about a nation going to war and a President signing an Emancipation Proclamation when enough voices in this country had finally had enough of the injustice. I remember a great Western Expansion where the people's will and determination united our land from sea to shining sea. I remember the people struggling, and eventually prevailing, in the effort to allow women and blacks the right to vote. I remember the people uniting together, not once, but twice, to help fight the war on tyranny in Europe. And finally, I remember our country rallying behind the space exploration movement and (in some people's minds at least) putting a man on the moon. Of course this is not an all inclusive list, just a few of the bigger examples I can think of off the top of my head. These things have often been messy and have not been without their share of steps both forward and back. At the end of the day, though, each of these events represents a triumph for the will of the people truly making this our land.

Fast forward and contrast to more recent times. I remember a war dragging out in Vietnam for entirely too long and against the will of the people. I remember another war in Iraq that continues to drag on for too long and without the will of the people. I remember the beginning of possibly the greatest struggle of all time, Global Warming, going on in relative anonymity, regardless of the voices of the people. I remember a government that, in small and large ways, forces it's citizenry to remain fearful, loyal, unquestioning, and above all, not a Democrat. I remember the basic needs of the poorest amongst us becoming "expendable" at a time of huge deficits and an ever increasing financial drain in Iraq (see graphic above this posting).

Maybe I am just being dramatic because most of these things I cite in reference to this no longer being our land are currently going on today. Maybe future historians (or bloggers for that matter) will look back on this time and celebrate the actions of the people in ending senseless wars, or in changing our ways and reversing the warming trend, or in moving back more towards a country that helps out ALL of it's citizens. I certainly do hope so. For all of our sakes and the sakes of our ancestors, I certainly do hope so. For now at least, and for me, the words to "This Land is Our Land" just do not ring as true as I wish they could.

Thanks for reading...

Some Links for Thought

2007-04-27T11:05:00.000-06:00

First off, sorry for not blogging yesterday and for the half-hearted attempt at a blog today. Things are really picking up here at work lately, and in an effort to keep my job and my house and etc, I have been more focused on that.

I wanted to share some information and some links that I have discovered yesterday and today in an attempt to keep my handful of readers as up to date on the 'underbelly' of the news as I try to be. Oh, and by the way, the deFoxification is going well so far. I have removed it as a selectable option from both my XM radio and my personalized Google homepage. Only thing left to do is take it off of the Directv guide. Anyway, on to the links:

Here is a nice couple charts detailing the differences between Democratic and Republican Presidents of the last 70 years in regards to their spending habits. And somehow Democrats still get labeled as the big spenders. Makes no sense!
Here is a reflection of the "President's" latest (and lowest) approval ratings. I am actually surprised it is still this high.
Here is the most damning piece of evidence I have seen to date that the Presidential election of 2004 in Ohio was stolen. There is not much in the way of explanation here, but take a close look at who "owned" the servers responsible for the election up until the day after the election; Smartech, a company we might be hearing a lot more from in the near future.

Thanks for reading...

Heavy reading

2007-04-25T12:16:00.000-06:00

If you so desire, read up on Rep. Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment introduced formally today on his website. Or, just read the synopsis!

OMG of the Day!

2007-04-25T10:51:00.000-06:00

Rudy must be sad that no one seems to be talking about him anymore. He sure made headlines with this whopper yesterday. Disgusting.

Oh, and "my man" Barack Obama's retort today.

DeFoxifying my life

2007-04-25T08:54:00.000-06:00

I have finally had enough of the right wing propaganda machine. Of course, I had enough a couple years back, but for some sick reason I have felt it necessary to keep dipping my toes back into the cesspool. Maybe I was being masochistic, maybe I believed the whole "keep your enemies close" mantra; whatever the case, I have finally decided it is only doing more harm to me than good. So today is the first day on my deFoxification journey.

To be fair to Fox (fair and balanced, right?), they are not the only arm of the machine, merely the loudest and most visible. If my deFoxification is to be successful, I am also going to need to cut out all the other merchants of filth as well. No more Drudge Report for me. No more Rush Limbaugh (who by the way, makes Imus look like Martin Luther King Jr. by his playing of this song on his radio show), or Glenn Beck, or Michael Savage. And heaven forbid, no more listening to the screeching of Ann Coulter. I will miss them all like the heroin junkie misses the needle.

Some might say (nice Fox news tactic there, huh?), that cutting out this "other" side of the debate might leave me uninformed, uneducated and at the whim of whatever my "side" would indoctrinate me to believe. Well, I might reply to that by saying something like this, "If your side offered me something more in the way of actual, fact-based information relevant to the argument instead of just baseless, vile attacks on people, not their message, but on the people on my side, well then, they would be worth listening to and would add to the debate. Until that day comes, you keep your hate, your ignorance of the facts, and your attacks on me and my side, I'm good." Maybe I will try and search out an alternate source of Conservative information that is unlike what I am describing here and what has become so prevalent. It has to exist somewhere out there, just like Bigfoot.

Hopefully I will be able to pull this off myself and not be tempted back over to the 'dark side'. If I am not, I may require an Intervention! I am also hopeful that, just like following a detoxification process clears and invigorates the body, this deFoxification process with do the same for my spirits and my mind. I will keep you all up to date!

Thanks for reading...

OMG of the Day!

2007-04-24T11:34:00.000-06:00

This story may be the most OMG of the year! (Hmm, maybe I should do a weekly, monthly, yearly poll?)

NEWSFLASH!!

2007-04-24T11:07:00.000-06:00

The first Presidential primary debate for the Democratic Party will be held this Thursday evening from 7:00 to 8:30pm EST. It is taking place on the campus of South Carolina State University and will be broadcast live on MSNBC. (more info here)

Be sure and set your DVRs!!

Another sad reason to fly our flags at half staff

2007-04-24T10:30:00.000-06:00

After the Virginia Tech shootings of last week, the President issued an executive order for all flags to be flown at half staff. This order can be given by the President at any time of national grieving and has been proclaimed most recently after such awful events as Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, and the Tsunami in the Indian Ocean. This is done in a respectful manner and I believe it is an appropriate way to symbolically remember and honor those fellow citizens lost. As the Virginia Tech shooting was the worst such incident of violence in our nation's history, it obviously warrants such an honor.

With that said, however, this angry soldier's comments got me thinking yesterday. Why do we not fly the flag at half staff for the soldiers who die almost every day in Iraq and Afghanistan? Why do we not get an in-depth expose into their lives and their friends and their families like we are getting about the victims of the VT shootings? Why did the President say at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner this weekend, "In light of this tragedy at Virginia Tech, I decided not to be funny.", but had no problem the last 4 years being funny and even joking about "Where are the WMDs?" while our soldiers were dieing every day. The list of hypocrisies goes on and on.

Of course we couldn't logistically fly the flag at half staff for every soldier who was died in the past few years in these senseless wars, nor have we done so for soldiers who have died in wars past. If we did so, the flag would not have moved from the half staff position for over 4 years now. But, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing? Maybe we need a daily reminder of the human sacrifices that are being made in the name of..well, in the name of what? Maybe we should view these soldiers who have died, not as daily numbers, but as fathers and sons and mothers and daughters, just as we view the victims on the VT shootings. Just yesterday, 9 soldiers were killed in a suicide truck bomb in Iraq. I am sure some of those soldiers had kids, wives, husbands, moms and dads who's lives will never be the same.

So, while the flags fly at half staff for the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings; I will remember them and honor them, but I will also be thinking of the other victims of senseless violence and death.

Thanks for reading...

OMG of the Day!

2007-04-23T13:00:00.000-06:00

Wow, this posting on Craigslist is powerful stuff.

Top 10 reasons why I am a "Pro-Lifer"

2007-04-23T12:28:00.000-06:00

I wanted to quickly blog today about the top 10 reasons that I consider myself to be a true "pro-lifer". I hear that there is quite a large group of pro-lifers out there in the country and that sometimes they demonstrate outside certain buildings? Maybe I should put together some signs, highlighting the various reasons I am a pro-lifer and go hang out with them.

Anyway, to the list:

1. I respect the lives of all living creatures on this planet. Be they human, animal (in the more traditional sense), plant or otherwise, I think we should do all we can to protect the lives of the living. This is really just an all encompassing reason why I am a "pro-lifer".

2. I think war should only be a last resort. What kills more life than war? Well, maybe cancer, but that is beside the point. War should never be entered into lightly and without EVERY other single option being waged first: diplomacy, compromise, and acquiescence to name a few.

3. I believe everyone should have access to healthcare. Notice I didn't say "affordable" health care. For some, even low cost health care is not affordable. What are we saying to our citizens and to the rest of the world, when approximately 1 in 5 people do not have any health care coverage. "Good luck with that cough!"

4. I believe we are all our own personal shepards. I do not feel that the government or religious leaders or anyone for that matter, should be in our lives, making our decisions. If I choose to get a face lift, or if a woman chooses to abort a mistake, or if someone decides to use drugs in their own house, of if two guys decided to get married; as long as these decisions do not interfere with someone else's freedoms, who cares?!

5. I think everyone deserves a fair wage. Why is it so often in this country that the less you actually 'work', the more you get paid? Would we still need as many welfare programs if companies like Wal-Mart paid their employees a "living wage" as opposed to a "minimum wage"?

6. I think everyone deserves a good education. If we do not educate everyone fairly and equitably, we are creating a rigid class system. And if we do not educate certain people, we are sentencing them to a shorter life.

7. My mantra: "People with guns don't kill people. Guns kill people!" Can we please stop placating to the NRA members among us? We have a ridiculous number of guns in this country and if you think the Second Amendment *really* protects your right to have them, maybe you should reread it more carefully.

8. My other mantra: "Protect the Earth. It is the only one we have." How can you claim to love life if you drive a big SUV? Our actions today are shaping the world of our children and grandchildren. Are they not important enough?

9. My other other mantra: "Celebrate Diversity". I do not care what color you are, what your sexual preference is, or what your religious beliefs are; I will not hate nor discriminate based on something you could not even change if you wanted to.

10. My last mantra: "We only get one shot at this". Why go through your one precious life that you are given, hating others? Do you really hate them or do you secretly hate yourself? Think about it for a minute. ;)

Thanks for reading...

OMG of the Day!

2007-04-20T13:33:00.000-06:00

The "President" should never, repeat NEVER, speak "off-the-script". Read some of his rather amusing musings here.

After a week like this, only one thing to do...

2007-04-20T09:48:00.000-06:00

PLANT A TREE!! Sure, why not? After such a crazy week filled with violence (VT shootings), racism (Imus) and lies (Gonzales), how about we all go out and plant a tree? Trees symbolically represent a sort of rebirth and growth, which may be something we all need right now.

What got me thinking about this? Well, this Sunday is Earth Day! While sometimes the actions of the humans living on this planet don't make a whole lot of sense, we still live on a remarkably beautiful planet. (Don't believe me, watch the Planet Earth series on Discovery) While I believe, along with many others, that we should live every day like it is Earth Day; we should ALL definitely take a moment or two to do a little something for the Earth on her one special day.

Here are links with a few ideas:

Great list of the top ten things you can do.

Write a letter to the editor on climate change.

Pledge to change your light bulbs.

Sign a petition.

Visit this site to Count Down Your Carbons.

Consider buying a car from the Most Fuel Efficient Cars list.

Get the kids involved!

Bookmark this site and visit often.

There ya go! Just a little bit to get you started thinking of some things you can do this Sunday. Remember, big or small, it doesn't really matter. Every single little bit helps!

Thanks for reading...

OMG of the Day! (part 2)

2007-04-19T09:48:00.000-06:00

OK, after reading this article, I spoke too soon with my earlier OMG of the day. THIS is the real OMG of the day. Simply..unbelievable!?!

(Let me look at my watch real quick. Yep, still 2007. Thought for a second we were back in 1207)

OMG of the Day!

2007-04-19T09:27:00.000-06:00

Oh My God this is gross! No pictures here, but read this story if you dare!

Caution: Do not be eating your lunch when you read this!

"No recuerdo", digo a Torturador.

2007-04-19T08:51:00.000-06:00

Today, Attorney General Gonzales is finally testifying before a Senate committee to look into the scandal involving the firing of 8 US District Attorneys, and his subsequent misspeaking (read: lying) to the Senate and the American people regarding his involvement. (watch live) This has been a long day coming and he has been a 'dead man walking' for a couple months now, kept in his job by some scheduled and unscheduled delays. Unfortunately, he messed up my original prediction that he would be out of his office by the end of March. Now it is looking more like by the end of April. *fingers crossed*

I have wrote enough already in the lead up to this breaking scandal, so I will spare you all the details again. Now it is time to sit back and watch the show unfold. Let's just hope that he says something more substantive on his way out than "I don't recall" ("No recuerdo").

Thanks for reading..

On a MUCH lighter note!

2007-04-18T13:53:00.000-06:00

I saw this and had to share. It made me giggle.

OMG of the Day!

2007-04-18T11:23:00.000-06:00

The 'Anti-Choice' people, finally, after years of voting for Repubs and their broken promises, have a small victory to cheer about. Hooray for them! (Not so hooray for women's rights?)

Don't get me wrong here, but...

2007-04-18T10:16:00.000-06:00

The senseless shooting at Virginia Tech this week is awful and deplorable. That goes without saying. But, imagine if you will that a story involving the senseless deaths of 30 or so of your fellow citizens was a daily occurrence. Imagine living in a country where you would be thankful if it were only 30 people who had been killed that day. Imagine being consumed by constant fear of your own life and the lives of all your family and friends. Imagine living that way for more than 4 years and with no conceivable end in sight.

Of course, I am talking about Iraq. On the day that the Virginia Tech shootings happened, 60 plus civilians were killed in Iraq. More than half of their bodies were just found littering the streets. Today, 4 bombs killed 157 people and wounded a number more. Imagine that, 157 people, a majority of which are citizens, dead in a single day. This is happening every single day in Iraq. And that is not to even account for the 3,000 plus American soldiers who have been killed thus far. That number is 100 times the amount killed Monday at Virginia Tech.

I am not trying to take anything away from the tragedy of those shootings on Monday. I am just trying to bring back a sense of perspective and a feeling of indignation at the scope of the loss of life that is continuing to happen in Iraq. Do not let the fact that this "war" has been so protracted nor the fact that there is seemingly no end in sight, desensitize you and take away from the real human tragedy.

Thanks for reading...

OMG of the Day!

2007-04-17T11:43:00.000-06:00

Oh My God, people who watch the Fox Noise Channel are misinformed! Daily Show and Colbert Report viewers? Good Job! Story and chart here.

The Imus and Virginia Tech aftermath in an ADD nation

2007-04-17T10:33:00.000-06:00

Today I am still shocked, and saddened and disturbed by the images and stories coming out of yesterday's tragic shooting on the Virginia Tech campus. This was the worst shooting of this sort in our nation's history and my heart goes out to the families left shattered in the wake of these events. I can not imagine, as a parent myself, the grief that the parents of those kids are experiencing now, and will experience the rest of their lives. Truly awful.

At the same time I was thinking of this awful story last night and this morning, I still had in my mind the controversy surrounding Don Imus's racially bigoted and misogynistic remarks and his subsequent firing (mostly because of the Oprah episode my wife and I watched last night). The more I thought about these two issues in parallel, the more striking similarities I discovered. The biggest one to me is how these two stories seem to exemplify the 'other edge' of the double-edged sword of protecting our freedoms. After the Imus incident, we heard a lot of people using the 'freedom of speech' argument. As I have said before, I am a big proponent of this freedom; but we must remember that the unregulated, unmitigated protection of this freedom allows certain people who would misuse it, the opportunity to take away someone else's most basic freedom, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Imus saying what he did took away these girls' freedom to not be insulted in such a vile way, and to live their lives in relative anonymity. Compare that to the talk that is inevitably to come out of this shooting yesterday that we must protect the 'freedom to bear arms'. Again, protecting this freedom unregulated and without pause, brings with it an even harsher 'other edge', the consequence of taking some one's freedom to live.

So, what other similarities can be found in these two stories? How about the senseless and faceless disrespect and anger towards your fellow man/woman/human being that is exemplified here? Why is it OK in our society today to say such awful things about women, or gays, or blacks, or Mexicans, or old people, or young people? And what has generated such hatred and caused such desensitization towards life that, time and time again, people go on these murderous rampages and kill people they are not even connected to? We have become a nation so disconnected, so mistrusting, and so angry towards each other. This is seen reflected all over the place in pop culture. From gansta rap music, to crime shows on every night in prime time, to violent video games, you can see it every direction you turn. I do not blame our problems on these things as some do; I think more correctly they are just a mere reflection of the hate we are all expressing in little and big ways every single day. We hate each other for being a different color. We hate each other for voting for a different political party. We hate each other for driving SUVs or for caring about the environment. We hate each other on the highways when we get cut off. We hate too much.

One last similarity I would like to bring up, and this goes to why the ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) reference in the title of today's blog. All last week and this weekend our attention was focused, as it rightly should be, on an effort to clean up the airwaves that have become so corrosive (at least the conversation was beginning). This talk was spilling over into trying to clean up hip/hop music and any thing else that is currently profiting from the use of racially stereotyping language and themes. There seemed to be some real traction and momentum gaining finally on this, even though people have been speaking out in vain for years. Now, yesterday, a huge story comes along and dominates the headlines (as it should) and we forget about the conversation and progress we started making in regards to the Imus comments. Now we have the opportunity to have a national discussion about gun control and this cycle of hate that is spinning out of control as a result of yesterday's shootings; but chances are, it will be a short-lived and not fully followed through discussion. We will stay on this until the next headline grabbing story inevitably pulls us away. When that happens, little if anything will be done to fix the root causes of this, or the Imus issues. Don't believe me? Think of the outrage that lasted for a few weeks after the Columbine shootings; and think about how many guns laws have been added or beefed up in the 8 years since (hint: zero). Think about the outrage after Katrina and think about what has been done for that city since and what has been done in a broader sense to fight the systemic problem of poverty in America.

Admit it, we suffer from ADD in this country in dealing with the aftermath of these big headlines and outrages. I can only hope that this time will be different, but the realist in me is unfortunately doubtful.

Thanks for reading...

Too Sad to Rant

2007-04-16T11:08:00.000-06:00

I am going to take the day off today from ranting about politics. I was all set to write up a little something about the upcoming showdown between the "President" and Congress over the Iraq spending bill, but this sad story from Virginia Tech has taken the fire out of my belly momentarily. I have no connection to this kids or this university, but I just feel for their families left behind. I will be back tomorrow to blog something political.

Thanks for reading...

OMG of the Day!

2007-04-16T11:02:00.000-06:00

Wow, this is a really sad story. I wish I didn't have to ever post anything like this. :(

OMG of the Day!

2007-04-13T12:33:00.000-06:00

I almost forgot my OMG of the day. OMG, this is the funniest thing I have seen in a LONG time. I think I just squirted a little, I was laughing so hard! Try it out!

Let's all hope he is ok

2007-04-13T11:48:00.000-06:00

The Governor of New Jersey was in a pretty bad accident yesterday. Ironically enough he was on his way to go meet with Imus and the Rutgers women's basketball team. Poor guy, I sure hope he makes it through this.

Looks like Karl found that shredder

2007-04-13T11:45:00.000-06:00

Yep, Karl is resorting to the "dog ate my homework" excuse to try and remain out of trouble in this whole 'laptopgate' scandal. Classic!

Nappy Headed, Elitist, White Racists

2007-04-13T09:58:00.000-06:00

So yippie for Imus being fired and bringing a *touch* of decency back to the radio airwaves. He definitely got what he deserved, in my opinion, although it sounds like he should have been fired on many other occasions for similar racist remarks. Then again, there are numerous other radio blabbers who should also have been fired long ago since they find it necessary to make their points while denigrating women, minority, gays, democrats and the like. Media Matters has put together a good list of such offenses here.

Until every one of these people are held to account for their words, then we really are not yet even making a dent in this battle of raising the discourse. I can only hope that this controversy springboards the awareness and subsequent action to clean up this vile mess. Don't get me wrong here, I am all for freedom of speech and do not feel that the FCC or any such governmental organization needs to step in to regulate this kind of stuff; I just think a lot of this is bordering on hate speech and should not be tolerated by us, the listening public, from anyone. All hate speech does is generate hate, and we already have too much of that in today's world.

Thanks for reading...

You know, he makes some good points

2007-04-12T15:45:00.000-06:00

Now here is a Republican running for President in '08 that I could actually see myself voting for. Too bad he has NO chance! Maybe he will join the Unity Ticket?

Will someone PLEASE hold this flaming bag of poo?

2007-04-12T11:18:00.000-06:00

So the White House let it leak yesterday that they are searching for a "War Czar". Basically this poor fool would be in charges of the messes, er wars, in both Iraq and Afghanistan. They would oversee these wars while issuing commands to the Pentagon, State Department, etc. You might this of this person as a "Chief Commander" or better yet, a "Commander-in-Chief". That title has a nice ring to it don't you think? Now where have I heard that before? Hmm..

Anyway, as you can imagine, they are having quite the time finding anyone gullible, er qualified (I am so Freudian today!), enough to take on this noble task. They have asked a few retired Generals so far and have been summarily turned down. I can't imagine why no one would want this job? Just think, you get to be the ultimate scapegoat for one of the biggest failures in foreign policy of this country to date! Where do I sign?!

Undoubtedly, they will eventually find someone to fill this position. But think about that for a moment, do we really want some Gump who was like #163 down on the list of qualified candidates, having the lives of thousands of troops and billions of dollars at his or her disposal? Then again, probably anyone is an improvement on the guy who is currently filling the position of "Commander-in-Chief".

Thanks for reading...

OMG of the Day!

2007-04-12T11:16:00.000-06:00

Then there is this. Long rumored and whispered. Perhaps finally revealed?

OMG of the Day!

2007-04-11T13:13:00.000-06:00

My jaw is still on the floor after reading this story.

Way to go Maryland!

2007-04-11T11:50:00.000-06:00

Found this story interesting. Hopefully other states follow suit!

Do they make shedders for laptops?

2007-04-11T08:59:00.000-06:00

Karl, Karl, Karl (Rove of course), you never leave me wanting for some salacious scandal to blog about. I seriously am thinking more and more (to harken back to an earlier theory) that you are a liberal covert agent, working inside this Republic administration, to bring them down from the inside out. Nothing else makes any logical sense, seriously. Then again, nothing considering how this Iraq war mess has been handled the past 5 years has made any sense either. Maybe they are all this incompetent? *Shudder*

So what has Turd Blossom gone and done now? Well, apparently it appears the latest revelation of scandalous behavior centers around the use of laptops. You see, there is this little 'inconvenient truth' (that this administration refuses to acknowledge and/or adhere to) called transparency and congressional oversight. Every thing that a government official does or says is subject on some level to being recorded and possibly held up to scrutiny at a later date. Of course, to an honest and upfront government official, this would not pose much of a threat and would seldom need to be enforced. To Karl and the gang, who run the executive branch like the mafia, this presents a HUGE potential problem. SO, in order to get around this problem, senior level White House officials have been using two computer networks for the last 6 years. They have the official, GSA approved, computer system which is subject to being recorded and where they discuss 'above the board' business (as above the board as these people can stomach that is). AND THEN, they have the RNC furnished network of computers on which they *think* they can pull their dirty little tricks, free from scrutiny. Well, that HAD been the case, up until now!

Rep. Henry Waxman, who heads up the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and has been a champ in digging up all these recent Bush scandals and getting investigations rolling, is currently looking into the matter and will most likely have to subpoena the email records for these laptops. When these come to light (and granted, some may not and should not if they deal with national security matters), we are in for all kinds of good times! Already this 'secret network' has been linked in with the US Attorney firing scandal and the Jack Abramoff scandal. WHO KNOWS what else might be in there! I for one can't wait to find out! That is easy blogging material!

Thanks for reading...

Blah, Blah blah blah Blah!

2007-04-10T08:40:00.000-06:00

Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah, blah "blah" blah blah. Blah blah (blah blah blah) blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah, blah "blah" blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah (blah blah blah) blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah, blah "blah" blah blah. Blah blah (blah blah blah) blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah, blah "blah" blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah (blah blah blah) blah blah blah blah.

Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah, blah "blah" blah blah. Blah blah (blah blah blah) blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah, blah "blah" blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah (blah blah blah) blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah, blah "blah" blah blah. Blah blah (blah blah blah) blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah, blah "blah" blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah (blah blah blah) blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah, blah "blah" blah blah. Blah blah (blah blah blah) blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah, blah "blah" blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah (blah blah blah) blah blah blah blah.

Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah, blah "blah" blah blah. Blah blah (blah blah blah) blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah, blah "blah" blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah blah blah. Blah blah (blah blah blah) blah blah blah blah.

Thanks for reading...

Disembodied Balls and the Daddy Syndrome

2007-04-09T08:25:00.000-06:00

Politically speaking, things are kind of weird right now. The Congress is in the middle of it's two week spring break, the "President" is off pretending to be a cowboy and clearing brush on his Crawford Ranch, and I am left here to twiddle my thumbs until they come back to Washington and come back to blows. The only things we are currently getting is a whole lot of political posturing through the media. Frankly, I am more than a little bored with all of that and I am ready to get back to the meat and potatoes of a couple weeks ago: the investigations, the bills passed even with threats of veto, the subpoenas, the lights, the glamour! *Sigh* Soon enough.

While we wait, I just wanted to kill some time by doing a little psycho-analysis of my friends on the 'right', hence the title of today's blog. First off, what is up with the "disembodied balls"? That sounds kind of icky and gross, huh? Well, let me explain what I mean by that. Whenever I dip my toes into the often murky waters of political talk on the 'right' (mostly during the commercial breaks that Air America Radio takes), I invariably find some talking head blabbering on and on about this Iraq war. More often then not this "talk", as it were, centers itself around a certain level of misplaced machismo. If you have listened at all, you will know what I am talking about. It is the same stuff coming from the mouths of the Fox "newies" and of most members of the Administration. It is this chest pounding, tough talking, strong and proud talk about things like "we need to fight them there so we don't have to fight them here", or "we do not negotiate with terrorists", or calling the Iraqis "thugs, assassins, or (my new personal favorite) suiciders". So what is wrong with this talk? Why is it misplaced? Well, it is coming from the mouths of "tough guys" who never walked the walk. There is plenty of information out there on the internets (just google chickenhawks). I won't go into the details of that right now. Suffice it to say that the louder and tougher someone today is talking about Iraq, the more unlikely it is that he or she ever served, will ever serve, or would even let their children serve in the military. This "we" they talk about so often is, well, it is their balls detached from their bodies and firmly pinned to the backs of the brave young men and women (mostly from poorer families, I know, I was there) who are doing their dirty work.

And as for the "Daddy Syndrome"? I tend to think, from my somewhat limited observations on the matter, that the people on the 'right' (I am mostly talking hard 'right' here) need someone to follow blindly. They need a Daddy figure to tell them what to do, what to think, what words to say, etc. This Daddy figure is not to be questioned nor talked back to, and is to be emulated and praised at all cost, even when he is clearly doing something wrong. Whenever someone else talks bad about Daddy and points out his glaring mistakes, they must be attacked personally. It doesn't matter if what the attacker is saying might be true and should at least be debated, they attacked Daddy so they must die! If Daddy makes a 180 degree turn overnight in what he has been saying and what has been repeated and defended? Doesn't matter, Daddy obviously has a good reason for that, just defend this new position and deny that it totally contradicts what was said yesterday. SERIOUSLY, I mean come on. I can think of no other reason for why certain people are still following this "President" so nobly than to think they must have Daddy issues. Can you? I would like to hear an opposing viewpoint on this. Maybe I am way off base here. I don't know.

Anyway, here is to hoping this week ends soon so I can get back to the more meaty news of the day! Thanks for reading...

The Collapse of the Bush Administration

2007-04-06T13:21:00.001-06:00

I know, I am taking the cheesy way out today on the blog yet again. I just have so much going on lately here at work that I can find no time to write. Definitely check out this great essay from Time Magazine on why the ship is sinking on the Bush administration. Thanks!

read more | digg story

SO SORRY!!

2007-04-05T12:25:00.000-06:00

I had a nice idea for a blog brewed up today on my way to work, but NO time to write that today. I will have to try and remember the details for posting tomorrow. Please bear with me!

In the meantime, I wanted to quickly share with you something I did manage to have time to find and play around a little bit with today. It is a new feature on Google maps that allows you to create and share your own map with pictures and annotations of whatever you want. Pretty kewl I think.

Thanks for reading...

So little to talk about, so much time..WAIT, reverse that!

2007-04-04T09:57:00.000-06:00

My oh my! The fun and amusing world of political news (fun for me at least) just does not let up! Again, as I mentioned in an earlier blog, this pace makes it increasingly hard to keep up and keep focused! I really do want to get back into the Gonzales 8 thing (now is a convenient time to break as nothing new will be going on for another week). I want to break down why each of the three leading Repubs vying for the Presidency in '08 do not deserve any one's vote, but I am sure there will be plenty of time for that in the next year and a half. So, yet again, what to do. How about I just throw a bunch of crap against the wall today and see what sticks? Sound good?

First off, some exciting and breaking news to report! I am an Obama Backer to the end, so I was happy to learn (finally!) today his fund raising numbers for the first quarter of this year. For those of you who do not know; due to the sad state of our political process at the moment, the best way to tell a candidate's success in the campaign is through how much money they can raise. Hillary announced on Monday her record breaking take of $26 million. All of the other candidates announced on that day as well (big shock was Mitt Romney), with the notable exception of Barack. Well, he finally announced today that he brought in $25 million, right on track with Hillary. The bigger story here are the numbers behind the numbers. Barack was able to get his money from over a 100,000 donors, 50,000 of those coming from online, whereas Hillary's money came from half that amount. What that shows is twofold; Barack message is connecting with more people, and the donors he has are not as tapped out as Hillary's (an individual can only donate $4,600 by law). I have nothing against Hillary per se, and if she is the candidate coming out of the primary election, I will get behind her. I would just LOVE to see a bigger change in Washington than she can provide.

So this thing with Rep. Pelosi that the 'right' is ranting about, I know I probably don't need to say this anymore, but it is hypocritical, factually inaccurate, and just downright mean. What she is doing is taking the grown-up approach to diplomacy and talking (gasp!) with the President of Syria about ways in which we can solve this mess in Iraq that Bush has created. What the 'right' is accusing her of is tantamount to a treasonous act. What the 'right' won't tell you is that; A) the bipartisan Iraq Study Group included in their list of recommendations, "..direct US dialogue with Syria..", B) a Repub delegation is currently visiting Syria as well, and C) Syria is ready and willing to start this dialogue. No, the 'right' would much rather sink it's teeth into this "San Francisco Liberal" as a way to stir up the emotions of it's sheepish flock than to speak the truth.

Here is an interesting story that will not be reported on anywhere. It seems as though the US has decided to advise, encourage, and possibly fund a militant group (see: terrorists) from Pakistan (with ties to the Taliban no less) who's mission it is to cross the border into Iran, kidnap some soldiers and officials, and bring them back to Pakistan so they can be executed on film. Of course our involvement with this is all under the table so as not to draw any congressional oversight. This goes along with our other similar activities in the recent past such as; the funding of the Taliban to fight the Russians, the funding of Sadam and Iraq to fight the Iranians, the funding of the guerrilla fighters in Nicaragua resulting in the Iran-Contra affair, and on and on. When will they learn that this tactic never works out well in the end? And when will we all learn to make them stop? This latest activity in Iran goes along with our own kidnapping of Iranian officials (which resulting in the British sailors being kidnapped) in order to goad them into a war with us. Let's hope for all of our sakes they are unsuccessful this time around.

OK, so what is left sticking on the wall? Eww, I think, in fact, it all is. Great, now I have to clean that mess up. Til tomorrow.

Thanks for reading...

The Incredibly Shrinking Voices...

2007-04-03T10:07:00.000-06:00

I wanted to share with you all a bit of encouraging news that I found today. It is a twenty year trend in political values and core attitudes that the people over at the Pew Research Center put together. Full findings here.

The biggest news here is that the number of people, in the last 5 especially, that identify themselves as either Republican or Republican leaning is quickly eroding away. Of course there are many, easily identifiable reasons for this trend; a four plus year failing war, never ending Republican scandal and corruption, a fiscal strategy that is anything but conservative, a President who refuses to listen to the will of the American people, and so on. This shrinking number of identifiable Republicans is also in direct correlation to the shrinking number of people who think that Dubya is doing a good job as President. It is becoming more and more evident as the days, weeks and months of this failed Presidency drag on that former campaign aide, Matthew Dowd, was right in saying this weekend that Bush is "..secluded, and bubbled in." I think the bubble is now down to Bush, Rove, Cheney, Fox News and 30% of Americans who just won't let the dream die.

There are other encouraging trends to be found in this research as well. Namely on people becoming less sure that the way towards peace is through military strength and on peoples' views towards the governments role in helping out the poor vs. the governments role in shaping the religious views of it's citizenry. Of course, as these voices become fewer, they also tend to become louder. The ones who are left behind are feeling abandoned, vulnerable, and frustrated. They seem to think if they only shout louder, only insult the other side more, and only stick behind a sinking President more resolutely, then it should follow that their abandoners will eventually come back. I am afraid, for their sake, that is not going to be the case this time.

Thanks for reading...

Today is April the 2nd, and I am no longer crazy!

2007-04-02T09:06:00.000-06:00

OK, OK, I admit it, yesterday's "support" for the thrice married former governor of NYC, Rudy Giuliani, was meant as an April Fools day joke. If there is one candidate running for President in '08 that I oppose more, he has not declared yet. I can only hope that my little prank was not taken seriously by anyone and did not do more damage than good. In today's post I would like to take a minute and briefly outline the many reasons I am against Rudy and why I feel you the reader should be as well. I am sure this is only the first of many such anti-Rudy rants.

First off, I think it is fair to say that, no recent candidate that I can think of has benefited from such positive press and subsequent positive mythology than has Rudy. Of course the biggest reason for this is he was lucky enough to win the 'perception lottery' by being the Mayor of NYC on the day that changed America forever, September the 11th, 2001. One can only imagine that Rudy has it in his playbook to ride that 9/11 train all the way to the White House. We all need to make sure to look past this mythology, and take a critical look at the September 10th and before Rudy, as well as the September 12th and beyond Rudy. Any fair assessment of a man (and especially a political candidate) needs to be viewed in full. Remember this: even George W. 30% Bush had an 88% job rating in the polls right after September 11th.

OK, so what he is his 9/11 image to his advantage? What smart candidate wouldn't? What are the substantive reasons behind your dislike of this candidate? Well, I am glad I asked myself that question. First off there are the three marriages, and before I get attacked for being hypocritical of caring about his personal life and not the personal life of Bill Clinton, let me explain. I believe his fist marriage to his second cousin (for 14 years, thankfully no kids), his numerous reported affairs (was forced to move out of the Mayor's mansion during one), and his abandonment of two wives and two kids (no mention of them on his website) show some major character flaws. You can be critical all you want of Clinton and his moral misgivings, but when faced with adversity (self-inflicted no less) in his marriage, he was able to work things out and keep that marriage and relationship with his daughter together. Rudy on the other hand seems to me to be a person that, when faced with adversity, decides to run the other direction. That is also evidenced in his aborted 2000 run for Senator of New York when he was being beaten badly in the polls by the other Clinton, Hillary. I am not too sure this trait makes for a good leader of our country.

Why else do I not like him? Well, there is his early support from the crazy Neo-Cons of the world; James Dobson, Fox News, and the like. These are the same people who brought us Dubya. I think this shows he will just be nothing more than a continuation of Dubya. There is his connection to Citgo Oil. There is his failed attempt to cancel elections in NYC for Mayor after 9/11 so he could go on to a third term. There is his support for mafia-tied Bernark Kerik and current felon Russell Harding. There is his deplorable actions as Mayor of NYC leading up to and resulting in some of the failures on 9/11, as well as some major lapses in judgement afterwards (human remains possibly used in filling NYC potholes?!). There is his circumnavigation of participating in the Vietnam war. Again and again he has shown little reason to be worthy of the highest political office in our country. Then again, neither did Bush.

For lots more good information on Rudy, check out this leaked memo on thesmokinggun.com listing his vulnerabilities, or this book which aims to demystify the 9/11 Rudy, or just do a google search and find some stuff out on your own. Just please, whatever you do, don't blindly take the word of a political simpleton who says 'everyone loves Rudy', or 'Rudy is a liberal Republican', or 'Rudy is a proven tough leader', etc, etc, without first arming yourself with some facts.

Thanks for reading...

Giuliani is my new guy!

2007-04-01T10:07:00.000-06:00

So after a stimulating conversation this weekend with a Rudy supporter, and after doing some in depth research on my own, I have decided that I am going to back Giuliani in this upcoming Presidential election. I know I have said some things pretty harsh and critical of him in the past, but I think I was just speaking a little prematurely. He is a wonderful man, full of brilliant ideas and would make a great successor to President Bush.

What about Barack you might ask? Well, I still like him, but it is more like how you like your brother. I am in LOVE with Rudy, I only LIKE Obama. Sorry to break it to you this way Barack!

Anyway, if you would like to get involved with the Rudy campaign, please head over to http://www.joinrudy2008.com as quickly as possible. Let's take back this country the Rudy way!

Thanks for reading...

Chubby Fingers

2007-03-30T12:11:00.000-06:00

So I think I have found the obvious common thread in all of these recent political scandals. It is really not that big of a revelation, and is only relevant in relation to my floundering around in yesterday's post, trying to find my center of gravity while dealing with the dizzying pace of Bush Scandaldom '07. So what is it? What is the glue binding everything together? Turns out it is Karl Rove's chubby little fingers. As you probably know, Karl (turd blossom as he is affectionately referred to by Bush) is the Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush. He has also been referred to as "Bush's Brain". While we usually haven't heard an awful lot from a person in his position in past administrations (similarly to the VP of past admins), Karl is changing all of that by expanding and bastardizing the roles and powers of the President's top advisor.

Where can we find the taint left behind by these chubby little fingers? Let's look at the Valerie Plame incident. Karl was initially targeted as one of the first leakers of her name and status as an undercover CIA op to Time reporter Matthew Cooper. He was brought in on 5 separate instances to testify in order to clear up some 'inconsistencies' (read: lies) in his testimony. He was eventually cleared of any charges as his good buddy Scooter Libby decided to fall on the sword for the administration. More than one juror at the end of the case expressed his or her frustration in having to convict Libby and not Rove.

Let's see, where else? He is definitely in the middle of the Attorneygate scandal as the guy picking and choosing those attorneys loyal enough to Bush to stay and those who had to go. This investigation is currently still going on and it is uncertain right now whether or not the panel looking into it is going to be able to get Karl under oath or not. My guess is he will yet again find a way to weasel out of any trouble.

NEWSFLASH: Here is a new scandal that is brewing where, yet again, chubby Rove fingerprints are all over it. Apparently Karl thought it OK to violate the Hatch Act and use the General Services Administration (GSA) as a means to target 20 potentially vulnerable Democratic congressional candidates in the upcoming '08 election. The investigation into this one is really early on, so more details to come.

These are just a few examples of the current scandals all leading back to "Bush's Brain". I am starting to wonder if maybe Karl isn't a clever Democratic plant who is trying to take down the Republicans from the inside? No way could he be this dumb to think none of these scandals would come out. No way does he want to do this much damage, not only to his boss and long time friend Bush, but to the Republican party as a whole. Then again, he has been doing dirty tricks like these from the beginning of his political days. Examples? He bugged his own office during a governor's race in Texas and blamed it on the Democratic opponent. He took push polling to a whole new level by asking Texas voters if they would "be more or less likely to vote for Governor Richards if you knew her staff is dominated by lesbians?" or South Carolina primary voters if they would "be more or less likely to vote for Sen. John McCain if they knew he had a black child out-of-wedlock."

The unfortunate truth in all of this is that all of his sleazy tactics have worked out pretty much according to plan. He has also, unfortunately, been immune to any sort of criminal charges so far for his criminal activities. I can only hope that his day of reckoning is quickly approaching. I, for one, am tired of his chubby little fingers being all over my government.

Thanks for reading...

Hmm..What to Blog About

2007-03-29T08:51:00.000-06:00

It must have been so much easier to be a "Clinton Hater" back in the day than it is to be a "Bush Hater" now. Seriously, think about it. I know I was much younger and not as politically motivated as I am now, but I can remember fairly well, a good amount of the details from the various scandals. One of the reasons I think it would have been so much easier is that the Clinton scandals were kind of fun and silly. It would have been too easy to feign outrage at something as sinister as adultery (and I say *feign* because so many haters have since proven themselves hypocritical in their own actions). "My God! The Clintons sold land in Arkansas for a loss?! I hate them!" See, easy? The other big thing that would have made life easier for a Clinton hater is that typically the scandals only came to us one at a time. This timing thing in particular would have made things more convenient by allowing a hater to stay focused and dig deep into the scandal du jour. For Bush haters, especially of late, not so much the case.

That is where I find myself this morning, unable to pick one from the multitude of scandals. And that is why I am having such difficulty focusing on today's blog. The scandals just seem to be flying at us haters from every direction right now with a quickening tempo. It is like someone opened a secret Pandora's Box of Bush hating. And, again, unlike the Clinton scandals that came in a 'one dose, easy to swallow (no pun intended)' pill format with little side effects to the nation, these Bush scandals are drastically different. I wish that these scandals were coming in one at a time in order give them each the attention they deserve and to parse through the minutia of details. Instead of the 'gut reaction' scandals the Clinton haters got: Adultery = Bad = I hate him, we Bush haters have to deal with: The outing of a covert CIA operative to politically smear the operative's spouse in order to downplay the fake evidence used to sell the American people on an unjust war with a country that is posing no imminent threat = Bad = Wait, what were we talking about again? Do you see the difference? Subtle, I know, maybe you should look again. And the pace of these complex scandals is dizzying. Here, try this one out for size: The firing of selective US attorneys for partisan reasons to either stop investigations into Repubican members of Congress, or to investigate more vigorously Democratic members of Congress = Bad = Can you believe Sanjaya is STILL on American Idol?! See, even I can't stay focused anymore!

I know we owe a lot of the current pace of Bush scandaldom to the fact that the Democrats are finally now in a position to force Congress to do one of it's important jobs, oversight. I am by no means complaining that the facts are finally coming to light after 6 years of darkness, I just need to catch my breath for a minute! *In through the nose* *Out through the mouth* There, a little better. I promise to do better tomorrow and pick one of these thick, juicy scandals to sink my teeth into. Mmm, tasty!

Thanks for reading...

Three Cheers for the Dems!!

2007-03-28T09:35:00.000-06:00

Ok, so while the vote yesterday in the Senate to leave in the "President's" latest emergency supplemental spending request a non-binding timetable for the withdraw of troops from Iraq by the September of next year, is far removed from an actual end to the war, it is definitely cause for a little celebration.

(As a quick side note, I would like to discuss 'supplemental' requests: A lot is being made lately of the Dems in the house adding a bunch of 'pork' to this bill. Emergency supplemental requests are meant for just that, emergencies. Many of the things the Dems added, i.e. Katrina relief, relief for spinach farmers dealing with the latest ecoli outbreak, etc, easily fall into that category. What doesn't fall into that category is a war that has been 'planned' and been going on for over four years now. The "President" has routinely used these supplementals to ensure that the full cost of this war does not show up in his annual budget requests, hence allowing him to appear more fiscally responsible and keep us all in the dark. Anyway, back to the blog)

The 50-48 vote yesterday in the Senate, predictably, fell mostly along party lines similarly to the 218-212 vote in the House and now faces veto by the "President". This sets up an interesting games of high stakes chicken. With the veto, the bill goes back to congress for revision to find suitable language that the "President" will sign off on. While this back and forth goes on, the war still continues in earnest. The "President" has stated that this measure needs to pass or else funding will start to run out as soon as the middle of next month. So will the Democrats in congress maintain their opposition stance, or will they be forced to concede. Will the "President" relent and pass the bill even with the timetable to ensure the safety of the troops or will he remain bull-headed at their expense. Time will quickly tell.

I for one am just so happy that we are now (thanks to the Democrats in congress and the voters that voted them in) having an honest and open debate about the future direction of our country. For six years now we have all had to just sit hear quietly and deal with whatever misguided policies and corruptions the lock-step Repubs have enforced on us. A lot of these recent investigations and opposition bills are only small victories and incremental steps back to 'normalcy', but when you consider that the Dems have only been in control of the Congress for a little less than 3 months now (and that have the slightest margins of control), you have to be somewhat optimistic about our future as a country. At least I am, and that is saying a lot.

Thanks for reading...

Since Politics are Personal...

2007-03-26T09:39:00.000-06:00

Good morning all! I trust you all had a wonderful weekend? Spring is finally upon us; the weather is nice, the flower and fauna are starting to bloom and the subtle scents of grilled meats are wafting through the air, how could you have not had a wonderful weekend? I have one quick housekeeping item before I begin with today's post. Most all of the links over in the right hand column, "5 Likes and Dislikes", have changed, so be sure and check them out! I plan on changing those from time to time when the mood strikes. Now, on to today's post.

When I first started this blog, one of my first posts dealt with the fact that I would like to raise the bar in regards to what passes for 'political discourse' these days. I stick by the words I wrote then and still believe that we should all collectively work towards breaking out of this often nasty and typically unproductive cycle of partisan politics we currently find ourselves in. With that said, some of the things I write today may, at first glance, seem to run counter to this desire. In my defense (consider this my legal disclaimer), the things I am about to write are done with more of an intent to further point out hypocrisies in the media than they are to smear the 'good names' of those individuals named. (Can we just get on with the blog already?) Yes, here we go.

I am sure many of you heard the sad news recently relating to the health of John Edwards's wife. I am also sure that many of you are aware of Mr. Edwards's decision to go on with the campaign for President in '08. To the normal person (you and I) this seems like a very tough, but also very private decision that they have made together, nothing more. To the slime ball politicos out there (Rush Limbaugh and yes, Katie Couric), this move can be seen as nothing more than either a cold and calculated political move or as evidence of a disregard or denial of the seriousness of the situation. While we have grown to expect this sort of low ball attack from the likes of Limbaugh (and Coulter, and O'Reilly, and Savage, and Beck), it is somewhat surprising coming from the likes of Couric on the (mostly) non-partisan 60 minutes program. I just think this goes to show you the consequences of other networks trying to 'outfox Fox'.

First off there is Rush who had this to say, "And, you know, most people when told a family member's been diagnosed with the kind of cancer Elizabeth Edwards has, they turn to God. The Edwards turned to the campaign. Their religion is politics and the quest for the White House." That is funny for a man who, faced with back pain (not cancer, but back pain), turned to an addiction to prescription pain medicines instead of God. He also offered up this gem, "This is -- I'm telling you, this is to jump-start the campaign. This is to see if it'll jump-start the campaign." There is a special place for this man in hell.

On to Katie who interviewed the Edwards couple on 60 minutes last night and asked poignant questions such as; "Some people wonder if you are in denial.", "You're putting your work first, and your family second." and my favorite, "Some have suggested that you're capitalizing on this." Again, just as with Rush's hypocrisy, these are interesting questions coming from someone who continued to work towards advancing her career while her husband succumbed to his own battle with cancer. A couple memos to Katie: As you should know, people deal with these sorts of personal tragedies in different ways. And, please stop hiding behind the Fox News tactic of using "Some say..." , that is journalism at it's lowest in my opinion.

Might I suggest to Katie, Rush and the like, there are much more deserving candidates out there (deserving of your 'special' breed of journalism) with even more salacious stories to investigate than cancer. Why, off the top of my head I can think of quite a few dealing with Guliani alone! Let's see; he married his second cousin, he left two wives for mistresses, he got booted from the mayor's mansion and shacked up with a gay couple, he didn't attend his son's graduation, and so on. Right there, I have given you plenty of red meat to entertain you and your listeners/viewers for the next couple weeks. If you must resort to tabloid journalism, please consider practicing it on someone without terminal cancer. Please?

Thank you for reading...

Do we finally have the REAL sequel to Watergate?

2007-03-23T10:22:00.000-06:00

Whenever something big happens in this country, finishes up, and some time has been put between us and whatever it was, we seem to grow increasingly nostalgic. One way this nostalgia is expressed is through the search for the 'next whatever'. In sports we search for the 'next Jordan' or the 'next Montana'. In the virtual world of the internet, we search for the 'next Yahoo' or the 'next Google'. And seemingly each year around Christmas time we are awaiting the arrival of the 'next Tickle Me Elmo' or the 'next Cabbage Patch Kid'. I don't know exactly what accounts for this phenomenon. My best guess is that we desire to be a part something big so we can tell someone down the road "I remember when..".

The world of politics is no different. Sometimes we are searching for the next of something great, like the 'next Kennedy' or the 'next Lincoln'. More often than not, however, (and especially of late) we are searching for the 'next scandal'. In recent US political history, no scandal invokes this weird sense of nostalgia more than the Watergate scandal. In fact, we have cleverly dubbed subsequent scandals with the -gate moniker. Raise your hand if you remember any of these: 'Filegate', 'Travelgate', 'Coingate', 'Troopergate', 'Plamegate' and the classic 'Monicagate'. Unfortunately, more often than not (just like comparing Kobe to Jordan), the 'next' we were promised and tentatively excited about doesn't quite live up to our memories of the original and we are left yet again to search out for the ever elusive real, deserving 'next'. We actually were *so close* to having a scandal to rival, if not surpass the size, magnitude and impact of Watergate in the Iran Contra Affair (for some reason only occasionally referred to as 'Irangate'). Unfortunately, the Tower Commission robbed us all of that golden opportunity.

Why am I drudging up the past today? Well, I am starting to sense (maybe overly optimistically and definitely nostalgically) that we are right in the beginning stages, right on the cusp of opening up an investigation into a scandal that will truly be the deserving Watergate sequel. Of course I am referring to this little matter of the firing of the 8 US Attorneys. Maybe it is the citing of 'Presidential Privilege' that Nixon also tried to invoke pre-Watergate (and subsequently lost in this court decision). Maybe it is the missing 18 days of emails in this scandal, similar to the 18 minutes of missing audio from the Nixon tapes. Or maybe I just feel that this administration is run just as secretively and just as corruptly as Nixon's. And just as Nixon ultimately paid his due for all his evil doings through the narrow scope of the Watergate scandal, so too could this President pay for all of his through the narrow scope of this scandal. Break out your 70's disco gear and let's all get nostalgic!

Thanks for reading...