2020
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
More Economic Woes Predicted
Economists Warn Anti-Bush Merchandise Market Close To Collapse
Somehow I think no one will be too sad to see this market collapse, though...
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Prop 8 - The Musical
See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die
I've been collecting lots of links and thoughts about California's Proposition 8's passage... it was a dark shadow on"Obama Day" joy for me, and much worse for so many of my friends who are in the GLTB Community. I've been thinking about what to write, what to say about this... then I saw "Prop 8 - The Musical"! Ha! Say it with humor - that's the ticket!
What it comes down to, for me, are a few key points:
- It's an issue of equality, not sexuality - equal rights under the law for all people
- Most of the opposition to gay marriage comes from religion, and we have a separation of church and state in this country
- Even if you feel it is wrong, based on your religion, you do NOT have the right to legislate your religion, to enforce YOUR religious beliefs on those who don't share them (or even on those who do)
Here is a collection of serious articles which emphasize these points, some of which I've shared before, but which bear sharing again:
Why churches fear gay marriage | Salon News
Richard Rodriguez' thought-provoking article -
"While conservative churches are busy trying to whip up another round of culture wars over same-sex marriage, Rodriguez says the real reason for their panic lies elsewhere: the breakdown of the traditional heterosexual family and the shifting role of women in society and the church itself. As the American family fractures and the majority of women choose to live without men, churches are losing their grip on power and scapegoating gays and lesbians for their failures."FiveThirtyEight.com: Electoral Projections Done Right: Prop 8 Myths
This is interesting - I trust Nate Silver's take on statistics, and it looks like prop 8's passage may be more generational than race/religion-related. I mean, of COURSE it's religion-related, but within same race/religion groups, voters over 65 voted more for and younger voters voted more against. That makes more sense to me. And is, in a way (as stated in the article), more hopeful for the future of equality.
YouTube - The West Wing - bible
President Bartlet totally PWNS the "Dr. Laura" character, Jenna Jacobs, on Old Testament Biblical Law. Awesome. Homosexuality is an abomination, and also... death is the punishment for working on the sabbath, selling your children into slavery is condoned, the punishment for planting two different crops side by side is stoning, mixing two types of thread into one fabric is punishable by burning, etc, etc - just awesome.
Utah Legislators Call Mormon Leadership’s Bluff on LGBT Rights
This will be interesting. But even if they DO support "equal" rights in these areas - haven't we learned? Separate is NOT equal.
Gay marriage is a question of love - Countdown with Keith Olbermann- msnbc.com
This is powerful, and I have to say that I like ~reading~ Olbermann much more than watching him. There is a link to a video, too, if you like watching/listening better. It's all about honoring LOVE. Honoring commitment. HONORING marriage for what it ~should~ be.
Why Gay Marriage Was Defeated in California - TIME - Annotated
In this case, fear, unfounded fears fanned by propaganda of religion-based beliefs, won out over hope and fairness. So sad, and so ironic that African Americans, who voted in record numbers for a candidate that gave them hope, also voted against equal rights for another group, crushing ~their~ hope.
- a remarkable story about Rick and Pam Patterson, a Mormon couple of modest means — he drives a 10-year-old Honda Civic, she raises their five boys — who had withdrawn $50,000 from their savings account and given it to the pro-8 campaign. "It was a decision we made very prayerfully," Pam Patterson, 48, told the Bee's Jennifer Garza. "Was it an easy decision? No. But it was a clear decision, one that had so much potential to benefit our children and their children."
- It is my fervent hope that at least one of their children, who they think they are benefiting by taking away the rights of others, IS gay, and someday wants to marry their same-sex soul mate. Only then might people like this see the error of their ways through the blinding veil of their dogma. - post by naturegeek
- African Americans voted against marriage equality by a wide margin, 69% to 31%
- So, African Americans, who finally have realized a dream with this election, vote for others to have their dreams deferred. This is painful. - post by naturegeek
- The irony. Ugh. - post by naturegeek
- David Paterson, is one of the nation's most eloquent pro-marriage-equality representatives. He is also, by the way, African American. Perhaps he can help bridge the gap between gays and blacks that widened on Nov. 4
- Let's hope so! - post by naturegeek
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Not Shopping For a Better Future
I hope you all enjoyed celebrating Buy Nothing Day - I know I did. If you don't know, Buy Nothing Day is on what retailers call "Black Friday." Yeah, the day of the biggest sales of the year, the day we are all supposed to go out on massive shopping sprees and buy all sorts of crap we don't need or buy other people all sorts of crap THEY don't need in a grand celebration of American Consumption! No Thank You.
The worker trampled to death by bargain-frenzied crowds at a Wal-Mart (Wal-Mart? Come ON people - WTF?) and the shootout at the toy store are two horrible, ugly stories that came out of Black Friday, but they are not why I celebrate Buy Nothing Day. Buying more than we need, buying things for the wrong reasons, buying things we can't afford are all part of what's gotten us into the current economic mess - I don't think we're going to be able to shop our way out of it.
We need to make the shift from conspicuous consumption to conscious consumption. Yes, we need to buy things to live, but we must learn to separate need from want, function from fashion, and smart choices from marketing - we have been fed this idea that part of the "American Dream" is that if we want something, then by god, we should have it! "Mastercard, I'm bored" sums up the essence of this idea. Can't afford something? Nonsense! Buy on credit! Pay nothing until 2010! Living above our means has become the norm rather than the foolhardy object lesson it should be. We've been taught personal accounting based on Ponzi Scheme economics - as our homes' values ballooned ever higher, we went further into debt because we had these "assets" - not thinking that balloons burst when inflated too high, and assets based on those balloons evaporate just as surely.
Good people out there in organizations such as the Center for a New American Dream have for many years been advocating conscious consumption, and other groups, such as the Compact, advocate for as little consumption as possible. It turns out that not only is reining in our consumptive culture better for our personal finances, the environment, and our health, people find they enjoy life more when the focus is less on things and more on what matters to them.
Living in under 250 square feet of space for almost two years now has certainly had an impact on my personal relationship with stuff. It's very easy to be overwhelmed with too much stuff in a small space, and also very easy to see how little we actually need. We do have a storage unit, and we are shopping for a house - one we can afford, and I wonder how I'll feel when we unpack that storage unit and see all the things we have not needed for two years? I'm thinking some things are going directly to Freecycle. I hope we can retain the lessons of living small when our quarters expand, but I know how easy it is to accumulate stuff when you have room for it. At least, maybe, it will be sustainable stuff - eco-friendly, healthy, stuff that is built to last and not throw away, stuff we use, stuff within or below our means not purchased on credit. That's ~my~ "American Dream."
Here is some more reading from my bookmarked websites on the topic - enjoy!
The worker trampled to death by bargain-frenzied crowds at a Wal-Mart (Wal-Mart? Come ON people - WTF?) and the shootout at the toy store are two horrible, ugly stories that came out of Black Friday, but they are not why I celebrate Buy Nothing Day. Buying more than we need, buying things for the wrong reasons, buying things we can't afford are all part of what's gotten us into the current economic mess - I don't think we're going to be able to shop our way out of it.
We need to make the shift from conspicuous consumption to conscious consumption. Yes, we need to buy things to live, but we must learn to separate need from want, function from fashion, and smart choices from marketing - we have been fed this idea that part of the "American Dream" is that if we want something, then by god, we should have it! "Mastercard, I'm bored" sums up the essence of this idea. Can't afford something? Nonsense! Buy on credit! Pay nothing until 2010! Living above our means has become the norm rather than the foolhardy object lesson it should be. We've been taught personal accounting based on Ponzi Scheme economics - as our homes' values ballooned ever higher, we went further into debt because we had these "assets" - not thinking that balloons burst when inflated too high, and assets based on those balloons evaporate just as surely.
Good people out there in organizations such as the Center for a New American Dream have for many years been advocating conscious consumption, and other groups, such as the Compact, advocate for as little consumption as possible. It turns out that not only is reining in our consumptive culture better for our personal finances, the environment, and our health, people find they enjoy life more when the focus is less on things and more on what matters to them.
Living in under 250 square feet of space for almost two years now has certainly had an impact on my personal relationship with stuff. It's very easy to be overwhelmed with too much stuff in a small space, and also very easy to see how little we actually need. We do have a storage unit, and we are shopping for a house - one we can afford, and I wonder how I'll feel when we unpack that storage unit and see all the things we have not needed for two years? I'm thinking some things are going directly to Freecycle. I hope we can retain the lessons of living small when our quarters expand, but I know how easy it is to accumulate stuff when you have room for it. At least, maybe, it will be sustainable stuff - eco-friendly, healthy, stuff that is built to last and not throw away, stuff we use, stuff within or below our means not purchased on credit. That's ~my~ "American Dream."
Here is some more reading from my bookmarked websites on the topic - enjoy!
'Buy Nothing Day' a sign of the times? | Crave - CNET
This article is a good synopsis of Buy Nothing Day and other ways to fight rampant, senseless consumerism
Op-Ed Contributor - Dying of Consumption - NYTimes.com
"...there is a deeper, potentially positive, meaning to all this: Consumers are now abandoning the asset-dependent spending and saving strategies they embraced during the bubbles of the past dozen years and moving back to more prudent income-based lifestyles."
This is right on! The "MasterCard, I'm Bored!" mentality has got to change - we have come to believe that we are entitled to anything we want, even if we can't afford it. That is NOT the "American Way" as some people seem to think.
Zakaria: A More Disciplined America | Newsweek Business | Newsweek.com
Excellent article by the brilliant Fareed Zakaria - serious and yet very hopeful at the same time. We have the chance to go back to being ourselves - our best selves, and that is a good thing.
Forget commercialism! The new realities of consumption and the economy.
"Spending our way to prosperity? Not this time around.
As a “New Dream” economist, I am asked all the time: won’t consuming less hurt the economy? When there’s less spending, people get laid off, their incomes fall and businesses, especially small ones, go bankrupt. This question is especially urgent today, given that the recession is deepening and spreading. George Bush was widely (and rightly) criticized for suggesting shopping as the patriotic response to 9/11. Would Barack Obama be wrong if he suggested the same?
Short answer: Yes. But with this topic, there’s rarely a short answer. So here’s the longer one."- Let’s remember, first, that the economic crisis wasn’t caused by a decline in consumer spending. It was triggered by the bursting of the housing bubble, Wall Street excesses, and some other factors. Consumers are cutting back now, but the decline in spending is one of a series of falling dominos—more an effect of recession than a cause.
New Dream Blog » Blog Archive » Holiday shopping–just don’t
"We can find better ways to support one another than funneling our money through giant multinationals in hopes that some trickles down to its employees."
- For the last two decades, the U.S. has been a consumer-driven economy. Bursts of spending have lifted us out of a series of short, not-too-painful recessions. And consumers are well aware of their “heroic” role. They’ve been told over and over that their spending is the basis for our economy. (Less discussed is how the consumer binge led to our gaping trade deficit.)
- While some consumers have been on a debt-fueled binge for quite awhile, apparently they haven’t forgotten how to sober up. And fast. They’re acting smart and cautious. That’s a good thing. Scaling back on gifts and holiday spending this year suddenly seems like the socially acceptable thing to do. Spending liberally can feel unseemly.
- Roughly a quarter of annual spending, garbage and ecological impact occurs between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.
- We can find better ways to support one another than funneling our money through giant multinationals in hopes that some trickles down to its employees.
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Obama's Thanksgiving Day Message
Link to this video on YouTube
Transcript:
Good morning.
Nearly 150 years ago, in one of the darkest years of our nation's history, President Abraham Lincoln set aside the last Thursday in November as a day of Thanksgiving. America was split by Civil War. But Lincoln said in his first Thanksgiving decree that difficult times made it even more appropriate for our blessings to be - and I quote - "gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people."
This week, the American people came together with families and friends to carry on this distinctly American tradition. We gave thanks for loved ones and for our lasting pride in our communities and our country. We took comfort in good memories while looking forward to the promise of change.
But this Thanksgiving also takes place at a time of great trial for our people.
Across the country, there were empty seats at the table, as brave Americans continue to serve in harm's way from the mountains of Afghanistan to the deserts of Iraq. We honor and give thanks for their sacrifice, and stand by the families who endure their absence with such dignity and resolve.
At home, we face an economic crisis of historic proportions. More and more Americans are worried about losing a job or making their mortgage payment. Workers are wondering if next month's paycheck will pay next month's bills. Retirees are watching their savings disappear, and students are struggling with the cost of tuition.
It's going to take bold and immediate action to confront this crisis. That's why I'm committed to forging a new beginning from the moment I take office as President of the United States. Earlier this week, I announced my economic team. This talented and dedicated group is already hard at work crafting an Economic Recovery Plan that will create or save 2.5 million new jobs, while making the investments we need to fuel long-term economic growth and stability.
But this Thanksgiving, we are reminded that the renewal of our economy won't come from policies and plans alone - it will take the hard work, innovation, service, and strength of the American people.
I have seen this strength firsthand over many months - in workers who are ready to power new industries, and farmers and scientists who can tap new sources of energy; in teachers who stay late after school, and parents who put in that extra hour reading to their kids; in young Americans enlisting in a time of war, seniors who volunteer their time, and service programs that bring hope to the hopeless.
It is a testament to our national character that so many Americans took time out this Thanksgiving to help feed the hungry and care for the needy. On Wednesday, I visited a food bank at Saint Columbanus Parish in Chicago. There - as in so many communities across America - folks pitched in time and resources to give a lift to their neighbors in need. It is this spirit that binds us together as one American family - the belief that we rise and fall as one people; that we want that American Dream not just for ourselves, but for each other.
That's the spirit we must summon as we make a new beginning for our nation. Times are tough. There are difficult months ahead. But we can renew our nation the same way that we have in the many years since Lincoln's first Thanksgiving: by coming together to overcome adversity; by reaching for - and working for - new horizons of opportunity for all Americans.
So this weekend - with one heart, and one voice, the American people can give thanks that a new and brighter day is yet to come.
Yes. We Can. And We Will.
Obama Family Thanksgiving
President-Elect Barack Obama & Family Honors Our Country
Link to YouTube if embedded video won't play for you
From the YouTube page sidebar:
Happy Thanksgiving!
Link to YouTube if embedded video won't play for you
From the YouTube page sidebar:
The Obama family went to work at a food bank on the day before Thanksgiving, to exemplify the meaning of the holiday, especially when so many people are struggling.
This is Barack Obama's 4th year visiting to show support. Malia and Sasha joined their parents to give holiday wishes to hundreds of people who had been lined up for hours at the food bank on Chicago's south side.
The family handed out wrapped chickens to the needy in the chilly outdoor courtyard of the St. Columbanus Church. People in line also received boxes with potatoes, oranges, fresh bread, peanut butter, canned goods, oatmeal, spaghetti and coffee.
The president-elect told reporters that he wants the girls "to learn the importance of how fortunate they are, and to make sure they're giving back" and have "an understanding of what giving and Thanksgiving is all about."
Truly a community organizer thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Things to be thankful for
Here's a little video to give you some Thanksgiving cheer, and remind you of something we all are very thankful about.I am so thankful that this is not our VP-elect!
I'm also thankful I'm not a turkey. :)
Being an omnivore, I'm not at all grossed out by turkeys being slaughtered, but it's pretty humorous that someone set this interview shot up with that happening in the background.
Be sure to also check out the funny humor piece from the Borowitz Report, Palin Offers Thankfulnesses!
Be sure to also check out the funny humor piece from the Borowitz Report, Palin Offers Thankfulnesses!
Happy Turkey Day!
Oh, poor Sarah, can't catch a break! What TV person set up this shot? After she did a fun publicity visit to a local turkey farm to officially "pardon" a Thanksgiving turkey, sparing its life, she did this interview, where turkeys are being slaughtered in the background! Oh the irony. Actually, the turkey slaughtering is the most interesting part of the video...
This is so funny! :)
So many things to be thankful for!Top 10 Sarah Palin Excuses For Turkey Slaughter (VIDEO)
Yay - here's follow up to the turkey slaughtering interview - several of Letterman's top 10 excuses made me laugh out loud :)
Friday, November 14, 2008
Post-Election Thoughts: On Race
My friend Anita asked:
"So I was reading some stuff in your blog earlier...and I was just wondering what your opinion is about a question I have. Do you think educated people like yourself in ANY way, shape or form vote Obama because he is partly black? And if so, to what degree?"
My Answer:
Interesting that you asked that, because I was thinking of writing a post-election analysis type blog about that.It’s complicated, but yes, I do think there is a little of that – only as in “the icing on the cake” or “cherry on top” kind of thing, though. Because I know what it would mean for so many African Americans in this country – how the simple fact of electing a black president shows the best of American democracy in action, and of the power of redemption for our society’s past sins. But by no means was it a primary reason – electing a woman would have had a similar power, but then, women aren’t minorities. Many countries in the world ~have~ elected women leaders, but would not be able to elect a member of a minority as a leader, so that made me proud of my country that we could and did.
But I know I still would have voted for him if he were white. Because of the issues, because of his campaign and his temperament during the campaign, because of Sarah Palin being so clueless and scary and extreme in her views as the VP choice of an older president. I used to like McCain, and at the beginning of the election felt that I’d be happy if either won, but during the campaign that changed quite a bit, and especially after Palin. McCain started “playing to the base” of the GOP and that is a huge turn-off, because they are the antithesis of what I stand for.
So, yes, race was important, but not more important than the candidates’ stands on the issues and on my perception of their ability to be good leaders and bring the country together. With McCain/Palin, I saw more disenfranchisement of those who disagreed with him, like Bush saying you are either for us or for the terrorists. Stupid. With Obama, I saw someone who can actually listen to the other side and even find common ground (like all those times in the debates where he said he agreed with McCain) which is the sign of a strong and fair leader in my mind.
Obama’s tax plan, his health care plan, his focus on investing in technology and support of good science, his energy plan (ahem – not “drill, baby, drill”!), and all of it I liked better than McCain’s. I think McCain’s health care plan would have been disastrous. And all the anti-science crap that kept coming out of the McCain campaign pissed me off!
In other words, if their races were switched, I DEFINITELY, no question, would still have voted for Obama. I just think it’s nice, for the country, that he also happens to be black.
I don't think Obama's race helped him win, as some conservatives say. I think Obama's race, along with an incredible amount of groundwork by dedicated volunteers, helped a lot of people in this country put aside any lingering racism when they cast their ballot. And THAT, my friends... that is a victory worthy of celebration by everyone.
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
So, yes, race was important, but not more important than the candidates’ stands on the issues and on my perception of their ability to be good leaders and bring the country together. With McCain/Palin, I saw more disenfranchisement of those who disagreed with him, like Bush saying you are either for us or for the terrorists. Stupid. With Obama, I saw someone who can actually listen to the other side and even find common ground (like all those times in the debates where he said he agreed with McCain) which is the sign of a strong and fair leader in my mind.
Obama’s tax plan, his health care plan, his focus on investing in technology and support of good science, his energy plan (ahem – not “drill, baby, drill”!), and all of it I liked better than McCain’s. I think McCain’s health care plan would have been disastrous. And all the anti-science crap that kept coming out of the McCain campaign pissed me off!
In other words, if their races were switched, I DEFINITELY, no question, would still have voted for Obama. I just think it’s nice, for the country, that he also happens to be black.
And more thoughts:
The fact of Obama's race is obviously important - but ESPECIALLY to African-Americans, and also to all minorities in America. There have been so many wonderful, touching stories that have come out because of his election, and so much hope welling up, that it feels the transformation has already begun. (see the links below for just a few of those stories) Parents honestly able to tell their children they can be ANYTHING they want when they grow up, even president, is one "side-effect" that we will feel the effects of for years to come, as the "Obama Generation" grows up. A young child of a Twitter friend said, on election night, "We've never had an African American president? That doesn't make any sense.… I hope Obama wins." That's "the Obama generation." Kids that will grow up and know a new "normal."I don't think Obama's race helped him win, as some conservatives say. I think Obama's race, along with an incredible amount of groundwork by dedicated volunteers, helped a lot of people in this country put aside any lingering racism when they cast their ballot. And THAT, my friends... that is a victory worthy of celebration by everyone.
Related Links
YouTube - Colin Powell on Obama Victory - Emotional Reaction
A Butler Well Served by This Election - washingtonpost.com
White House butler - since Truman - has seen a lot of changes. Grab a hanky...
A day I never thought I would see
Read with a tissue - very moving
Commentary: My father, George Wallace, and Barack Obama - CNN.com
Moving article by George Wallace's daughter - who voted for Barack Obama.
Will a Black President Really Heal the Racial Divide?
President for ALL Americans
- As Barack Hussein Obama places his brown hand on that black Bible and takes his oath, it will not make him merely the President of blacks who admire him nor leave him indebted to whites who assisted him. He cannot acquiesce to the liberals who support him nor vilify the conservatives who don't. He must remain a philosophical centrist who garners our best and brightest from both sides of the aisle.
Daughter of slave votes for Obama
Amazing.
A Portrait of the Teacher as a Young Racist | Beyond School
Very thoughtful, honest article about evolving attitudes about race, from a personal perspective yet gracefully translated to a national perspective. I love this blog.
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
New Yorker Cover Commemorating Obama's Election
"I've been fortunate enough to do a number of New Yorker covers, but being chosen to create the cover that commemorates Barack Obama's historic election as the first African-American President of the United States is not only flattering, it's beyond humbling."
-- Bob Staake, Illustrator
Order a Print of this Cover
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Obama - the Aftermath
HAHAHAHAHAAHA!
hahaha ha ha sigh... HAHAHAHAA ha ha giggle... HAHAHA *snort* haha ha ha
I can't stop laughing at this!
Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are
hahaha ha ha sigh... HAHAHAHAA ha ha giggle... HAHAHA *snort* haha ha ha
I can't stop laughing at this!
Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
HAPPY OBAMA DAY!!
I am filled with "unyielding hope" for a better future. But at the same time, sad about California's prop 8 apparently passing. It's a mixed up world, when we can elect one minority for president and take away the rights of another minority group on the same day.
I would rather have both, but if I was forced to choose one, I would have chosen the Obama win. No... that doesn't make the passage of prop 8 any less bitter? Well I thought I'd give it a try. Still, the Obama victory, and not just by a slim margin, is sweet, so sweet!
There is much work to be done! Time to roll up our sleeves and get busy.
YES WE CAN!!!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
President-Elect Barack Obama's Acceptance Speech
Transcript:
Hello, Chicago.
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.
It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and always will be, the United States of America.
It's the answer that led those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day. It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment change has come to America.
A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Senator McCain. Senator McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him; I congratulate Governor Palin for all that they've achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.
I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton, and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.
And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years, the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady, Michelle Obama.
Sasha and Malia, I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the new White House.
And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother's watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight. I know that my debt to them is beyond measure.
To my sister Maya, my sister Alma, all my other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that you've given me. I am grateful to them.
And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe, the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best -- the best political campaign, I think, in the history of the United States of America. To my chief strategist David Axelrod, who's been a partner with me every step of the way. To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics. You made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.
But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you.
I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy, who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep. It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth. This is your victory.
And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime -- two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage or pay their doctors' bills or save enough for their child's college education.
There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you: we as a people will get there.
There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years -- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.
What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change.
And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.
Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers. In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people.
Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity. Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.
As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.
To those -- to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.
That's the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.
She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons -- because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin. And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America -- the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.
At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.
When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.
When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.
She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can.
A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.
Yes we can.
America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves -- if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.
Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.
Election News for the Obsessive Compulsive
Five Thirty Eight dot com: Electoral Projections Done Right. Nate Silver Rocks. Quoting @vmarinelli, who I follow on Twitter, "When Obama wins, I will stop compulsively refreshing http://fivethirtyeight.com."
Check the sidebar - the Daily KOS Electoral Map should update automatically as electoral results come in. Click the orange "enlarge" button at the top to open it full size in a new window! Here it is a little bigger:
Google has a mashup 2008 Elections Map, too. Oddly, since Blogger is owned by Google, I couldn't get it to scale properly for embedding, so you'll have to go there by clicking the link.
I found the last one from this article: Where to Get Election Day results from C|net with links to several good resources.
Okay, gotta go hit refresh on fivethirtyeight... and check the maps... OCD FTW!
Check the sidebar - the Daily KOS Electoral Map should update automatically as electoral results come in. Click the orange "enlarge" button at the top to open it full size in a new window! Here it is a little bigger:
Google has a mashup 2008 Elections Map, too. Oddly, since Blogger is owned by Google, I couldn't get it to scale properly for embedding, so you'll have to go there by clicking the link.
I found the last one from this article: Where to Get Election Day results from C|net with links to several good resources.
Okay, gotta go hit refresh on fivethirtyeight... and check the maps... OCD FTW!
Voting Stories
The start of a collection of inspirational stories from my favorite American experience - Democracy In Action in the voting booth:
A story connecting this election to the future:
I Didn't Vote for Obama Today
This one made me cry (in a good way)
And a story connecting it to the past:
109 year old daughter of a slave votes for Obama
Talk about "living history"! Truly amazing.
And some campaign stories:
Barack Obama is a Muslim
Wonderful story about truth overcoming fear fed by lies and misinformation on the campaign trail
We are perhaps better than we thought.
I hope to add more stories as I find them - send me yours, or others you found inspirational!
A story connecting this election to the future:
I Didn't Vote for Obama Today
This one made me cry (in a good way)
And a story connecting it to the past:
109 year old daughter of a slave votes for Obama
Talk about "living history"! Truly amazing.
And some campaign stories:
Barack Obama is a Muslim
Wonderful story about truth overcoming fear fed by lies and misinformation on the campaign trail
We are perhaps better than we thought.
I hope to add more stories as I find them - send me yours, or others you found inspirational!
Life Imitates Art - or is it the other way around?
Update: Life Imitates "The West Wing"
If you notice some uncanny similarities between the 2008 presidential campaign and the final seasons of "The West Wing," there's a good reason. Torie Bosch explains.
Beautiful Obama Photos
I really liked this image in particular, about which the photographer said,
"Senator Obama was doing press interviews by telephone in a holding room between events. Sometime later as he was getting ready to begin his event, he asked me if I was photographing his shoes. When I said yes, he told me that he had already had them resoled once since he entered the race a year earlier. Providence, R.I., 3/1/2008."
Be sure to click the "Show More Images" at the bottom each time - there are many wonderful, inspiring, beautiful photos that give insight into the kind of man our next president (barring a miracle or a crime) is.
Digital Journalist - Callie Shell's Obama photos
ROFLMAO-CGU*
I dedicate this song to YOU, my Liberal Friends!
Link: To Be A Liberal (in case embedded video doesn't work for you - issues reported)
I love Roy Zimmerman.
Don't bruise your nose hugging a tree on the way to the polls today, Liberal Friends!! :)
*rolling on the floor laughing my ass off - can't get up!
Link: To Be A Liberal (in case embedded video doesn't work for you - issues reported)
I love Roy Zimmerman.
Don't bruise your nose hugging a tree on the way to the polls today, Liberal Friends!! :)
*rolling on the floor laughing my ass off - can't get up!
VOTING DAY!!! You can vote however you like...
Thank you to Helen for sending this out!! Fills my eyes with tears of joy - I LOVE DEMOCRACY!!
The kids from the Ron Clark Academy performing live "You Can Vote However You Like," a parody to TI's "Whatever You Like". Atlanta Georgia Ron Clark Academy.
Lyrics:
Interview with the students - wow, what a GREAT bunch of kids!!
You Can Vote However You Like
The kids from the Ron Clark Academy performing live "You Can Vote However You Like," a parody to TI's "Whatever You Like". Atlanta Georgia Ron Clark Academy.
Lyrics:
Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah
Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah
(McCain supporters)
McCain is the man
Fought for us in Vietnam
You know if anyone can
Help our country he can
Taxes droppin low
Dont you know oils gonna flow
Drill it low
I'll show our economy will grow
McCain's the best candidate
With Palin as his running mate
They'll fight for gun rights, pro life,
The conservative right
Our future is bright
Better economy in site
And all the world will feel our military might
(Obama supporters)
But McCain and Bush are real close right
They vote alike and keep it tight
Obama's new, he's younger too
The Middle Class he will help you
He'll bring a change, he's got the brains
McCain and Bush are just the same
You are to blame, Iraq's a shame
Four more years would be insane
Lower your Taxes - you know Obama Won't
PROTECT THE LOWER CLASS - You know McCain won't!
Have enough experience - you know that they don't
STOP GLOBAL WARMING - you know that you won't
I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA
Stick with McCain and you're going to have some drama
We need it
HE'LL BRING IT
He'll be it
YOU'LL SEE IT
We'll do it
GET TO IT
Let's move it
DO IT!
Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah
Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah
I'm talking big pipe lines, and low gas prices
Below $2.00 that would be nice
But to do it right we gotta start today
Finding renewable ways that are here to stay
I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA,
Stick wit McCain you gonna have some drama
MORE WAR IN IRAQ
Iran he will attack
CAN'T BRING OUR TROOPS BACK
We gotta vote Barack!
Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah
Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah
Interview with the students - wow, what a GREAT bunch of kids!!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Why Vote for Barack Obama?
Election Eve... and I'm thinking I should post reasons why we are voting for Obama, following Obama's own example in the "Obamamercial" which focused on what he will do as president, on where we will go as a country, and in which there was no mention of McCain/Palin. It was refreshing and inspiring, and if you haven't seen it, definitely take the time to watch it.
One interesting thing about Obama's speeches in general, is that they are not easily reduced to sound bites and talking points, and, as this Newsweek article from way back in April points out, that is deliberate.
As much as the opposition tries to paint Obama as a radical, extremist, socialist, Marxist, and even terrorist sympathizer, he is winning because he is not any of those things, and in fact, he's a centrist. Of course, when you are looking into the middle from the extreme fringe, like many that try to paint him with those labels, it looks like the opposite extreme. It's all about your perspective.
People in the Middle recognize Obama for what he is, though: http://www.peopleinthemiddleforobama.org/
I think the real strength of his candidacy is that he does speak for the middle – which is to say, the bulk of Americans. Some of us are more left than he is, more green than he is, etc, but I think we feel he will listen to our side, AND he’ll listen to the other side, and he’ll likely make some compromise. I HATE the idea of “clean coal” for example. But I love the idea of investing for the future in clean tech, and really supporting moving in cleaner, greener, more energy independent directions. So there are going to be some things that I disagree with Obama on, but I still think he will make the best decisions as a leader for the whole country, not just the left or right, but all of us.
Not only is Obama the best choice for the bulk of Americans in the middle, he's also favored by the bulk of the rest of the world:
Why Obama is better for the US – and the World
Here is an excellent (and longer) Time article on why Obama is winning. The part about Obama's meeting with General Petraeus was especially telling. He is a leader, and a decision-maker, but also a respectful listener and one who not only knows strategy from tactics, but is a strategic, big picture thinker, which we sorely need in charge. Very good article, with excellent insights into Obama's character and leadership qualities:
Why Barack Obama Is Winning
I’m sure you’ve heard that along with most major newspapers in the nation, the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska’s largest newspaper, has endorsed Barack Obama!
http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/story/567867.html
And other reasons we are voting for Obama...
What Bill Clinton said:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/10/bill_clintons_speech_at_obamas.html
And... what Colin Powell said:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27266223/
And... what The Economist said:
http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12516666&source=features_box_main
And... what Ronald Reagan said (and a former Reagan ad maker):
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/10/are_you_better_off_rev_2.php
And... what Tim O'Reilly said:
http://radar.oreilly.com/2008/10/why-i-support-barack-obama.html
And... what Linus Torvalds said: (yeah, that Linus - the Linux guy)
http://torvalds-family.blogspot.com/2008/11/black-and-white.html
(the last two are examples of why techies favor Obama by a very large margin)
Lots of great, clearly spelled out, thoughtful reasons why people support Obama. If he's so extreme, why would so many moderate Conservatives endorse him? He has taken the high road, again and again, telling his crowds they don't need to boo McCain, they just need to vote, for example. Not rising to the various bait that McCain's campaign has dangled repeatedly in front of him, accusing him of first this, then that - he has remained respectful, thoughtful, intelligent, careful yet strong, cool and calm, unflappable, implacable, "no drama Obama" and that, "my friends," is presidential.
Now Get Out And VOTE!
(The nerdy guy in the shirt and tie is my hero, Roy Zimmerman, backing up Laura Love on her song, "Yes We Can.")
One interesting thing about Obama's speeches in general, is that they are not easily reduced to sound bites and talking points, and, as this Newsweek article from way back in April points out, that is deliberate.
As much as the opposition tries to paint Obama as a radical, extremist, socialist, Marxist, and even terrorist sympathizer, he is winning because he is not any of those things, and in fact, he's a centrist. Of course, when you are looking into the middle from the extreme fringe, like many that try to paint him with those labels, it looks like the opposite extreme. It's all about your perspective.
People in the Middle recognize Obama for what he is, though: http://www.peopleinthemiddleforobama.org/
I think the real strength of his candidacy is that he does speak for the middle – which is to say, the bulk of Americans. Some of us are more left than he is, more green than he is, etc, but I think we feel he will listen to our side, AND he’ll listen to the other side, and he’ll likely make some compromise. I HATE the idea of “clean coal” for example. But I love the idea of investing for the future in clean tech, and really supporting moving in cleaner, greener, more energy independent directions. So there are going to be some things that I disagree with Obama on, but I still think he will make the best decisions as a leader for the whole country, not just the left or right, but all of us.
Not only is Obama the best choice for the bulk of Americans in the middle, he's also favored by the bulk of the rest of the world:
Why Obama is better for the US – and the World
Here is an excellent (and longer) Time article on why Obama is winning. The part about Obama's meeting with General Petraeus was especially telling. He is a leader, and a decision-maker, but also a respectful listener and one who not only knows strategy from tactics, but is a strategic, big picture thinker, which we sorely need in charge. Very good article, with excellent insights into Obama's character and leadership qualities:
Why Barack Obama Is Winning
I’m sure you’ve heard that along with most major newspapers in the nation, the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska’s largest newspaper, has endorsed Barack Obama!
http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/story/567867.html
And other reasons we are voting for Obama...
What Bill Clinton said:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/10/bill_clintons_speech_at_obamas.html
And... what Colin Powell said:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27266223/
And... what The Economist said:
http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12516666&source=features_box_main
And... what Ronald Reagan said (and a former Reagan ad maker):
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/10/are_you_better_off_rev_2.php
And... what Tim O'Reilly said:
http://radar.oreilly.com/2008/10/why-i-support-barack-obama.html
And... what Linus Torvalds said: (yeah, that Linus - the Linux guy)
http://torvalds-family.blogspot.com/2008/11/black-and-white.html
(the last two are examples of why techies favor Obama by a very large margin)
Lots of great, clearly spelled out, thoughtful reasons why people support Obama. If he's so extreme, why would so many moderate Conservatives endorse him? He has taken the high road, again and again, telling his crowds they don't need to boo McCain, they just need to vote, for example. Not rising to the various bait that McCain's campaign has dangled repeatedly in front of him, accusing him of first this, then that - he has remained respectful, thoughtful, intelligent, careful yet strong, cool and calm, unflappable, implacable, "no drama Obama" and that, "my friends," is presidential.
Now Get Out And VOTE!
(The nerdy guy in the shirt and tie is my hero, Roy Zimmerman, backing up Laura Love on her song, "Yes We Can.")
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Anti-Intellectualism and Anti-Science in America
Anti-Intellectualism
We have seen ample evidence of the McCain/Palin campaign being "anti-science" and I am going to share just a few here. But first, the idea of anti-intellectualism. It's apparent in the language used by conservatives - Obama isn't well-educated and smart, he's "elite" which translates in people's minds as "elitist." I've never understood why you'd want your drinking buddy instead of the smartest guy in school to be leader of the free world, and apparently, neither does the rest of the world:How these gibbering numbskulls came to dominate Washington
The degradation of intelligence and learning in American politics results from a series of interlocking tragedies
Way back in August, before I started blogging about this, I read a great op-ed by Charles Krugman, Know Nothing Politics Recall, this is before Palin. Also before Krugman won a Nobel Prize in Economics. Yeah, take that you anti-intellectuals! My favorite Op-Ed writer for the New York Times is also a Nobel Prize winner. In Economics. Yeah, that thing that nobody else seems to understand these days. AND he's a liberal! Touche! Okay, enough gloating (for the moment). Here's a quote from the article, and since adding Palin to the ticket, it's only gotten worse, as you may have noticed!
"...know-nothingism — the insistence that there are simple, brute-force, instant-gratification answers to every problem, and that there’s something effeminate and weak about anyone who suggests otherwise — has become the core of Republican policy and political strategy. The party’s de facto slogan has become: “Real men don’t think things through.”Or, in other words, it can all be boiled down into talking points and slogans.
When searching for that article, I came across two others on the same topic with slightly different perspectives, but both compare the current state of the G.O.P. to the Know-Nothing Party:
How the Republicans went from a party of dissident intellectuals to a party that disdains the educated class as a whole: The Class War Before Palin
And this one with a historical perspective from the Daily KOS, comparing modern-day Republicans to the "Know-Nothings" of Lincoln's era: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/11/152556/66/710/622713
I think, I hope, that people are starting to wake up to this. Intelligent and decent Republicans have been crossing party lines quite publicly to endorse Obama, from Christopher Buckley, son of William F. Buckley and (former) editor of the National Review, to Colin Powell, to one of McCain's campaign advisors.
Anti-Science
The Anti-Science crowd are a sub-group of the anti-intellectual crowd. As a science educator, I am embarrassed by them, and the failure in science education that they represent. They don't understand the process of science, the very basics of testable hypotheses, and complain that "scientists are always 'changing their minds'" anyway. That's because science is NOT dogma, people! Science is constantly examining itself - peer review, reproducible results, and testing with new and better tools all the time. Here are a few examples of the anti-science sentiments from McCain and Palin:Famous "Overhead Projector":
This:
Not This:
McCain and his earmarks obsession: we've gone over this before, but all of the examples of bad spending bills that McCain has brought up have been science-related!
Planetaria as "foolishness"
Before this one, McCain criticized another earmark that was studying Grizzly Bear DNA. Okay, just about ANY DNA study can provide benefit - we share a lot of the same genes, even with bears. And this is to help wildlife managers study the habits and ranges of grizzlies they have to manage in National Parks and other areas like Yellowstone, where understanding behavior and territory of these magnificent beasts is essential to people's health and welfare who visit, live, work and ranch in the areas where they live.
And Palin... oh wow. There is just TOO much material here!
Most recently, though, is her failure to understand High School Biology. Memo To Palin: Fruit Fly Research Has Led To Advances In Understanding Autism
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/10/24/palin-fruit-flies/
And a whole lot more about that same thing:
In Case You Weren't Scared Enough: Palin on "Fruit Fly Research"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/todd-palmer-and-rob-pringle/in-case-you-werent-scared_b_138089.html
Beyond the Palin:
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/25/beyond-the-palin/
Sarah Palin: Ignorant and anti-science
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/10/sarah_palin_ignorant_and_antis.php
Of course, her belief that The Flintstones is based on fact (seriously - she thinks dinosaurs and humans walked the earth together - is a young earth creationist), her opposition to scientists' findings on listing polar bears and beluga whales as endangered, and her denial of the huge amount of scientific evidence for human-caused global warming all add to this picture.
I can't help but feel that if we elected McCain/Palin, we would be starting (or continuing what the Bush administration started) down the path of a new dark age of scientific reason.
UPDATE: an even better article about the anti-science positions of the McCain/Palin ticket - this article goes into more detail about the Grizzly DNA study as well:
The GOP ticket's appalling contempt for science and learning. - By Christopher Hitchens - Slate Magazine
Accusations, Smears, Misinformation, and the Politics of Language
The McCain campaign and the right wing have been engaging in a lot of loose talk lately, as you may have noticed. Accusations of socialism, Marxism, communism, voter fraud that "threatens democracy," terrorist pals, are over the top and ridiculous, but the sad thing is, people believe this crap. Critical thinking is our most precious endangered species in this nation, though reason seems to be winning out this time - barely.
THIS is rich:
Here is a very insightful look at the language used in the campaign, specifically by Palin, while throwing out these outrageous accusations and smears: What Sarah Palin is Saying. He makes thought-provoking points about Palin’s choice of language and its danger. The “code-switching” argument makes SO much sense, and it has made me start to think that Palin isn't as dumb as she sometimes acts, but far more dangerous. Excellent post!!
On "Socialism"
Conservatives have been raising the specter of socialism for many decades - any time anyone comes up with a good health insurance plan, for example, it's "Socialized Medicine" - oooooh. Scary. And why is it scary? Hard to say, actually. Especially since most plans have been a pretty far cry from actual socialism. But people are not very bright, and they equate socialism, a type of economy, with communism, a type of government. They forget there are lots of very successful social democracies, and that socialism doesn't threaten democracy. And they forget there are many gradations of hybrid systems between pure free market capitalism and socialism, and our current brand of capitalism is one. Here are some more thoughts on this...
"We're set up, unlike other states in the union, where it's collectively Alaskans own the resources. So we share in the wealth when the development of these resources occurs."Wow. Just wow. That sounds a LOT more like “socialism” than any mundane progressive tax plan by a democrat. The Collective owns the resources and shares the wealth. Yeah....
- Gov. Sarah Palin, quoted by the New Yorker, a few weeks before she was nominated for vice president.
(and, I’m not sayin’ I think that’s a BAD thing, I'd like it if I lived in Alaska, I’m just sayin’, you know, Palin is pretty ballsy to talk about Obama wanting to “share the wealth” and “sounds like socialism” for his TAX plan – sheesh.)
And, comparing tax plans, there’s not a whole lot of difference, except McCain’s HUGE tax breaks for the wealthy, and Obama’s bigger (yet still moderate) tax breaks for the middle and lower income folks:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/11/news/economy/candidates_taxproposals_tpc/index.htm
And even Alan Greenspan has lost faith in pure free market economics (and also realized Ayn Rand is dead... and a novelist):
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/24/BUI513N8QM.DTL
And, comparing tax plans, there’s not a whole lot of difference, except McCain’s HUGE tax breaks for the wealthy, and Obama’s bigger (yet still moderate) tax breaks for the middle and lower income folks:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/11/news/economy/candidates_taxproposals_tpc/index.htm
And even Alan Greenspan has lost faith in pure free market economics (and also realized Ayn Rand is dead... and a novelist):
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/24/BUI513N8QM.DTL
On "Voter Fraud"
Everyone heard John McCain say in the last debate that ACORN
"is now on the verge of maybe perpetrating one of the greatest frauds in voter history in this country, maybe destroying the fabric of democracy."This is a pretty ridiculous statement, considering all ACORN is doing is registering people to vote. There are much greater threats to the "fabric of democracy" which result in actual votes being uncounted, such as voter suppression, faulty machines, not to mention the dreaded "hanging chads" type of issue. Thousands of registrations that don't quite match up to identity information may be discarded - because of things like one using a middle initial, and the other not, or transpositions, etc. Disenfranchisement, to my mind, is a much greater threat to democracy that some poor schmuck who wanted to make a few extra bucks off of registering voters turning in registrations for entire football teams and the like. ACORN itself flags suspicious registrations, but is required to turn them in. Because it is helping by turning in large numbers of flagged registrations, it is now a threat to democracy? I think not.
On the other hand, anonymous fliers posted in poor neighborhoods, warning people not to vote "for their own protection" (because they might be arrested for unpaid parking tickets, etc), constitutes voter suppression, and that IS a threat to democracy. Using foreclosure lists to deny those with a foreclosed home listed as their address the right to vote is also voter suppression, and was rightly discarded as a tactic recently. Who do you think those foreclosed upon homeowners and poor people in blighted neighborhoods are likely to vote for? The guy who wants to give huge tax breaks to the wealthy? I think not. None of them ever saw any good from "trickle down" economics before, and they don't expect to this time, either.
Donna Brazile again, on ACORN:
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/27/brazile-acorn-issue-a-republican-hype/
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/27/brazile-acorn-issue-a-republican-hype/
Speaking of language used, McCain calling ACORN a "threat to democracy" is so over the top and ridiculous - a cynical tactic to enflame right wing fear, in my opinion. See my previous post on ACORN and how they, themselves, flag all suspicious registrations but are required to submit them. These so-called "fraudulent" registrations do not represent actual voters that will turn up at the polls - who's going to risk a 10 year jail sentence for a vote? Most are mistakes (people not sure they are registered, so they registered more than once), many are from over-zealous people registering voters - some just encouraging multiple registration (to be sure), and some trying to make extra money by turning in more registrations.
Slate has a great article from 2 weeks ago about this: Nuts About ACORN. They get to the heart of the matter in the second paragraph when they say,
I heard Jonah Goldman, of the non-partisan voting group National Campaign for Fair Elections, talking about this on NPR/Fresh Air yesterday – it was great to hear it being discussed rationally. There have been accusations of voter fraud on both sides, with the right wing targeting ACORN, a community activist voter registration organization, and the left shouting about voting machine conspiracies and voter suppression. Being on the left, I'm more worried about the latter, but they do have a voter hotline set up to help secure voters' rights on Nov. 4: 866 Our Vote.
"Evidence of voter-registration wrongdoing is no more a sign of widespread, Obama-sanctioned vote fraud than evidence of minorities being misled and intimidated on Election Day is a sign of official, McCain-sanctioned vote suppression. What's the real point of turning voter-registration shenanigans into "one of the greatest frauds in voter history"? The object here is not criminal indictments. It's to undermine voter confidence in the elections system as a whole. John McCain wants to build a better bogeyman, and he needs your help to do it."
I heard Jonah Goldman, of the non-partisan voting group National Campaign for Fair Elections, talking about this on NPR/Fresh Air yesterday – it was great to hear it being discussed rationally. There have been accusations of voter fraud on both sides, with the right wing targeting ACORN, a community activist voter registration organization, and the left shouting about voting machine conspiracies and voter suppression. Being on the left, I'm more worried about the latter, but they do have a voter hotline set up to help secure voters' rights on Nov. 4: 866 Our Vote.
And TerroristS
If you haven't read it yet, READ the article on Palin's language mentioned above, What Sarah Palin is Saying - it is very good. Notice she always says "terroristS," plural, when they are only talking about one guy, William Ayers (college professor, education reformer, on charitable boards funded by the conservative Annenberg with conservatives on the board, but Obama's "pallin' around" with him is equivalent to consorting with terrorists). And she also doesn't use the word "domestic" with terrorist - which heightens that sense of "other" and risk she wants to promulgate among her supporters. Her language is treachery, and I can only hope it does not lead people to take what they see as the law into their own hands at our country's great expense.
So, we know about Ayers, and we know about Palin and the Alaskan Secessionist party, and McCain and G. Gordon Liddy, who he is proud to call a friend, but what about those domestic terrorists near and dear to Ms. Palin's conservative fundamentalist anti-choice heart? Yes, I'm talking about those who bomb medical establishments where, among other things, abortions are performed, and kill or maim doctors, nurses, patients and bystanders in the process. What does Ms "Pallin' Around With Terrorists" think of them? Well, she sure couldn't bring herself to call them domestic terrorists:
Is an abortion clinic bomber a terrorist under this definition?
http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/10/i-dont-even-know-what-to-say-anymore.html
Is an abortion clinic bomber a terrorist under this definition?
http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/10/i-dont-even-know-what-to-say-anymore.html
There are good comments on this post as well! Two of my favorites:
A couple of things immediately come to mind...mainly from bumper stickers..."How can you be Pro-Life and Pro-War?" and "Against Abortion? Don't have one!" I still don't understand how the Republican party consistently, not only blends but, flaunts the overlap of church and state in everything they do. I think that it should be mandatory to read and understand the constitution and the bill of rights before being allowed to cast any votes for anyone on any issue or to run for office.
and, on another topic:
RE: mouse's comment about the media asking Palin tough questions about conservative issues...etc
1. She's totally unknown, so more questions are asked. And she's been in hiding from the media, so every interview is highly scrutinized.
2. The questions are asked because SHE goes there, and the natural follow up is "More information please?" I.e. "Oh, I get my world view from books and other media" the natural follow up would be "well, what specifically,"....It's her problem if she can't answer with ONE name of a newspaper. When SHE makes the claim that Obama is palling around with terrorists, it makes sense for a reporter to say "well, let's revisit the definition of a terrorist when you're talking about domestic bombings."
3. She's way more conservative than McCain, and she's unapologetically vocal about it, so the questions go there. Especially roe v. wade questions, something people want to know in light of the stats that a large majority of American do NOT want roe overturned.
Which brings me to another "-ism": Sexism
Conservatives are crying foul and sexism when the media asks Palin "tough questions" (like what magazines do you read - huh?). I think this is the opposite of sexism - a good candidate, male or female, should be able to answer tough questions, should be able to state their position clearly, should be able to back up their claims, and should be informed on the issues. That is the least we should expect! Palin is asked questions about ridiculous claims she's made, like she has foreign policy experience because Alaska is across the Bering Strait from Russia (huh?), and that she has stronger experience than Obama as mayor of a tiny town and governor for less than 2 years., and that Obama "pals around with terrorists," among others.
I also don't think it's sexist to talk about the $150,000 wardrobe budget, even though I do agree there IS a double standard when it comes to what is considered acceptable for men's and women's clothing. I don't care too much about it, but it's just a little inconsistent with the "Hockey Mom" and "Joe Six Pack" image she promotes, besides being 3 years' salary for many middle class voters. I mean, they could have found better deals, ya know? But, dang, she looks good, doesn't she? Yeah... um, conservatives with "I'm voting for the hot chick" buttons aren't sexist, though.
You know what I think is sexism? The cynical way the McCain campaign picked her for VP - it did a disservice to much better qualified women everywhere and smacks of tokenism and mere political strategy, hardly the "country first" rhetoric of the campaign. But don't take my word for it - I have links in previous posts from Gloria Steinem, NOW, and many other feminists who feel the same, some of them conservatives.
Satire: Great Moments in Election Year Blogging
I'd like to end with another kind of language: satire.
Warning: Satire worthy of his namesake!!
http://jonswift.blogspot.com/2008/10/great-moments-in-election-year-blogging.html
(for those who may not know, Jonathan Swift was a great satirist, wrote Gulliver’s Travels as political satire, and also “A Modest Proposal” about how the solution to the Irish problem is to have them eat their young... He was the Stephen Colbert of his day. Jon Swift, the author of this blog, follows closely in those footsteps. As an example, I give you the author's first paragraph:
http://jonswift.blogspot.com/2008/10/great-moments-in-election-year-blogging.html
(for those who may not know, Jonathan Swift was a great satirist, wrote Gulliver’s Travels as political satire, and also “A Modest Proposal” about how the solution to the Irish problem is to have them eat their young... He was the Stephen Colbert of his day. Jon Swift, the author of this blog, follows closely in those footsteps. As an example, I give you the author's first paragraph:
No matter what happens in this year’s election, the conservative blogosphere deserves to win a collective Pulitzer Prize for its election-year coverage. While the mainstream media has given Americans a very distorted picture of Barack Obama, portraying him as a thoughtful, intelligent, unflappable, decent family man who has the temperament and judgment to be President, the conservative blogosphere has been the only place where you can get the real story. Hampered by quaint, old-fashioned rules of journalism that require citing evidence and reputable sources, the mainstream media has failed to report a number of important stories about Obama and the conservative blogosphere has had to step up and do the media’s job for them. As a public service I have collected some of the most important of these stories in one place. Pulitzer Prize judges, take note!
Guffaw! But really, reading this is not for the faint of heart, or the high of blood pressure, or the easily outraged. In fact, I didn't read it all myself. I couldn't stand it. See if you can do better!
Race and Politics Redux
In spite of recent disturbing events, there have been a number of wonderful articles lately examining current issues with cool heads and thoughtful perspectives, and I'd like to share a few today.
First, the sad case of Ashley Todd, the McCain campaign volunteer who is so afraid of an Obama presidency that she faked a mugging and scratched a backwards "B" into her own face. Lots has been said about her, but I don't think I've seen anything as thoughtful and constructive in terms of perspective on the event as this post from The Kitchen Table. This is an excellent article, and ends with a positive note. Two Princeton professors who are African American women started this blog as a conversation with each other about race, politics, religion, popular culture – not surprisingly, they have some great insights:
http://princetonprofs.blogspot.com/2008/10/mccain-supporter-lies-about-attack.html
http://princetonprofs.blogspot.com/2008/10/mccain-supporter-lies-about-attack.html
Next, a different perspective, from a former southerner, who examines the racism with which he grew up in light of some recent events surrounding Obama's candidacy. It is a wonderful, thoughtful article on racial attitudes in this country, from a personal point of view:
http://beyond-school.org/2008/10/28/race-and-voting/
http://beyond-school.org/2008/10/28/race-and-voting/
Wonkette, on the other hand, wasn't so gentle! Here's her post, "A Children’s Treasury of Wingnut Reactions to Cut-Nut Ashley Todd Confessing Her Racist Fantasy" making fun of the right wing reaction to the story. If you're tired of all the thoughtfulness of the previous two posts, enjoy! http://wonkette.com/403804/a-childrens-treasury-of-wingnut-reactions-to-cut-nut-ashley-todd-confessing-her-racist-fantasy
And of course, the Twitterati, Twitterverse, Tweeple, whatever - folks on Twitter, were merciless. That's why I love them. Tweets Give Race-Baiting Hoaxster a 'B' for Effort
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)