Garden of the Intellect

You're a Sly One Mr. Gingrich (Not so much Mr. O'Neal)

2012-01-21T17:34:00.001-05:00

Racism is subtle, it isn't just the words said, it's the way they are said, the look on the face, the roll of the eye, the local code words and the shared context of the speakers. Grim faced tolerance is not acceptance. If you have ever said to anyone 'wipe that look off your face' or felt discomfeted by someone's tone of voice you will know what I mean. If you are a person who claims none of these well documented human communicative cues matter than you've also got some well documented human disabilities or social skill problems. What is in your heart matters. Your lips can say 'I'm not racist' but the pictures in your head and the thoughts you run from tell a different story.

The Party of Mendacity

2011-07-30T22:15:00.000-04:00

John Boehner's debt ceiling plan reminded me of the comment a philosophy professor once made on an essay of mine "there's a lack of reality feel to the whole section of analysis" I was writing about the Platonic ideal - he's talking about money. If you wonder why what passes for conservative pragmatics sounds more like cheap talk, patter and jive consider the poster children for mendacity listed here:

Joe Walsh (R, IL) rants about how he won't allow his children's money to be wasted all the time he owes $117,000 in back child support, yet can take expensive vacations with his new girlfriend.

Rep. Stephen Fincher, (R, TN) This Tea Party farmer and his family, based in Halls, received more than $3 million in farm subsidies between 1995 and 2009.

State Rep. Kris Jordan, (R. OH) faces a misdemeanor domestic violence charge, won't give up his concealed carry license and begs for privacy related to the misdemeanor while sponsoring a bill that would make it illegal for a woman to have an abortion without the consent of a man.

Elsewhere in Kasichistan the Supreme Ruler and Koch Toady violates the state open meeting laws and then there's Mecklenberg....

Michelle Bachmann publicly eschews earmarks and subsidies while her family benefits.

Eric Cantor didn't think that Jim Ensign or John Sanford should resign...but Anthony Weiner had to...so can someone tell me why the text equivalence of phone sex is worse than real adultery? Oh, and what about Cantor's possible investments in a fund that shorts US Treasury long bonds?

Paul Ryan gave the President crap about including savings from stepping down troop levels in Afghanistan as real debt reduction, then used the same calculations in his plan.

The GOP cannot be trusted. Plain and simple.

Don't Vote While Drunk On Ideology

2011-04-17T12:02:00.000-04:00

In 2010 many voters seemed to go to the polls drunk on the slogans, emotion and ideology of the Tea Party and far right.

In the cold light of 2011, these folks have woken up with the job market stuck in a holding pattern, their governors waging war against their rights as employees and a nasty hot wing nut induced hangover.

The cool compress of reason, exemplified by folks like Rep. Joe Crowley (D) New York and his tour de force on the House floor or the explosive effort in Ohio to recall TP Poodle Governor John Kasich all speak to a growing disenchantment with the emotionally laden but reality light platform of the conservative extremists.

Case in point, the light turn out at Tax Day rallies across the US. From New Hampshire to the West coast, oh, pretty much across the US suggest we the people are coming to our collective senses about what it means to be a nation and to live in right relations with one another, economic justice.

GOP Supports Right To Die Young

2011-03-21T22:23:00.000-04:00

Among the budget cuts demanded by the GOP is $156 million to the Center for Disease Control's immunization and respiratory diseases programs. These are the programs that fund immunization programs for lower-income families who go to state and local health services and clinics instead of private doctors, evaluate which vaccines work and provide support during epidemics.

And the threat of epidemics other than influenza is on the rise. In 2010 a Whopping Cough epidemic in California killed 10 infants and infected 6,400 people. Epidemics aren't cheap - the management costs per case can add up to $10,000 a person. Steve Benen covers the details in a Washington Monthly article.

Can someone explain to me how reducing funding for immunizations is a pro-life position?

Malthusian Economics

2011-03-14T22:47:00.000-04:00

I've finally figured out the what drives the seemingly schizoid policies of the TP/GOP - you know, the politicians who want to reduce the size of government and promote an extreme Libertarian agenda while also increasing the size of government to police every fertile woman's uterus and vagina.

Anyone remember Rev. Thomas Malthus? That witty Anglican churchman who focused on population size and resource availability as the key to a nation's economic health?

According to Malthus positive or preventative keep a population within resource limits. Preventative checks are all things that raise the blood pressure of the right but lower the birth rate, things like birth control, abortion, celibacy, and gay marriage. Positive checks are things that energize Fox News pundits and raise the death rate: famine, disease, war and Hurricane Katrina.

Gov. Rick Snyder, (R) Michigan, is the latest in the hit parade of TP/GOP governors who are leading the class war. Feeling out done by Scott Walker of Wisconsin and John Kasich of Ohio, Snyder is going after Michigan's senior citizens and poor whom he believes are not '"sharing the sacrifice" with other citizens. His budget proposes a $1.8 billion tax cut for business and a $1.75 billion tax increase for everyone else. Snyder has also shoved through legislation that gives him martial rights over the state - he can suspend municipal governments and seize assets if he declares an 'economic emergency'. As you can imagine, there are a lot of people in Michigan who are plenty pissed - and who can blame them?

So, while the TP/GOP is busy legislating to keep the birth rate high, they are also busy creating a scenario ripe for public unrest, for more hungry people, for limited access to health care, for despair. The kind of thing that makes the huddled masses rise up and yearn to be free and those masses include every middle class American who hasn't swilled the TP/GOP/Libertarian Kool-aid.

So, will Wisconsin, Ohio or Michigan be the American equivalent to Tunisia? Which one of these governors will be the American Mubarek?

There Is Power In A Union

2011-03-12T00:39:00.000-05:00

An old song with some new lyrics.......

There is power in a democracy, power in the land
Power in the hands of a worker
But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand
There is a power in a Union

Now the lessons of the past were all learned with workers' blood
The mistakes of the bosses we must pay for
From the cities to the farmlands in the trenches full of mud
Cuz war has always been the bosses' way sir

The Union forever defending our rights
Let's fight the Right Wing, all workers unite
With our brothers and our sisters from many far off lands
There is power in a Union

Now I long for the time that they realize
Brutality and unjust laws cannot defeat us
But who'll defend the workers who cannot organize
When the GOP send their attorneys out to cheat us?

Money speaks for money, the Devil for his own
Who'll come speak for the skin and the bone?
What a comfort to widow, a light for the child
There is power in a Union

The Union forever defending our rights
Let's fight the Right Wing, all workers unite
With our brothers and our sisters from many far off lands
There is power in a Union

With social justice and equality
For every man and woman who wants it
There is power in a Union

I Stand With The 'Idiots'

2011-03-04T07:32:00.000-05:00

I'm used to being call an 'idiot' by members of the right, not so members of Ohio's State Police. Back in January Gov. John (proud Kochs**cker) Kasich was caught on tape describing a trooper as an 'idiot' for ticketing him. Not funny guv, especially after cutting state worker salaries, then giving pay increases to your elitist, TP cabinet.

Papers from the conservative Middletown Journal to the clearly wing nut Cincinnati Enquirer are coming down hard on Kasich - drawing attention to SB 5, the bill that revokes collective bargaining rights for police and fire workers, as well as all other public employees in the state. All this is based on the new Tea Party driven GOP's perceived mandate to strip away worker's rights and move Ohio back to the 19th Century. Ohio voters are experiencing mass remorse for their emotional outburst at the polls in November.

Obviously the view of Kasich and the TP driven State Senate and Assembly is that public employees are idiots and 'parasites' on the state taking away our money from us. Don't know about you, but I like paying for police and fire protection, and good universities and schools. Quality of life if you know what I mean.

So, I intend to stand with the idiots here in Ohio and across the U.S.because it is good for me in the long run. I suggest that the wing nuts in the Ohio Statehouse go back to their Adam Smith and read the section about enlightened self-interest, because right now they are acting out of greed for themselves and the special interests they represent.

Thank You US Supremes, You'll Love The Results

2011-03-02T12:31:00.000-05:00

The Supreme Court of The United States has ruled that the protest tactics of the Westboro Baptist Church are protected by the First Amendment so opportunity knocks for all of us outraged by the open association of Justices Scalia and Thomas with the Tea Party and Koch Brothers. The justices said Westboro's speech was protected because "the protests were on a matter of public concern, on public property and conducted in a peaceful manner." Now, with full support of our Judicial Branch we have vast new opportunities to go after every TP puppet and GOP buffoon, as long as we stay on public property or right of ways when we protest.

According to Justice Robert's "As a nation we have chosen a different course -- to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate." Goody. Let's take the effort to repeal Citizens United to the fringes of their private events and rites of passage. Be sure to bring Justice Thomas a warm can of Coke. Don't like the way John's Boehner panders to the cheap seats? Visit him on the golf course.

Justice Alito's dissent hinged on the filer's status as a 'private citizen' and his opinion that vicious verbal attacks that make "no contribution to public debate" are not protected speech when used to inflict "severe emotional injury on private persons at a time of intense emotional sensitivity." Since elected officials and political appointees are a more proper target within this line of dissent you can feel good about making your voice heard.

Some tips from the John Robert's approved protest game plan to help you get started:

Make sure that only the tops of your picket signs are visible to attendees driving to and from events
Don't interfere with the funeral, wedding or other event, just make sure that everyone attending feels as uncomfortable as possible

Humane suggestion - to make the TP/GOP and Kochs**ckers uncomfortable all you need to do is tell the truth, use the tactics of Westboro, just not their vicious language.

It's time to get loud folks, the SCOTUS has given us a go ahead.

They're Against It

2011-03-01T14:32:00.000-05:00

Here's a new example of the GOP solipsistic world view. Today Rep. Paul Ryan and other TP/GOPers are agog about a 2001 GAO report that identifies 'duplicated services and expenditures' This is evidently the new motivator for their slash and burn approach to economic development. Never mind that the report was available to President G. W. Bush, never mind that it took the GOP until 2011 to find it. Never mind that President Obama, in his January 25, 2011 State of the Union Address spoke specifically about reviewing government regulations to reduce barriers to growth (after all 10 years between reviews is a lot of time):

"To reduce barriers to growth and investment, I've ordered a review of government regulations. When we find rules that put an unnecessary burden on businesses, we will fix them. But I will not hesitate to create or enforce commonsense safeguards to protect the American people. That's what we've done in this country for more than a century. It's why our food is safe to eat, our water is safe to drink, and our air is safe to breathe. It's why we have speed limits and child labor laws. It's why last year, we put in place consumer protections against hidden fees and penalties by credit card companies, and new rules to prevent another financial crisis. And it's why we passed reform that finally prevents the health insurance industry from exploiting patients."

Paul Ryan has actually touched the report, it is in his mind and now....something....must.....be done. Mostly that something will be playing to the cheap seats and trying to deflect attention from the TP/GOP's state worker fiasco.

While we wait for the corn to pop, and the next outraged right wing talking head let's enjoy the opening act. I think this sums up how the TP/GOP collaborates:

Enlightened Self-Interest

2011-03-01T00:03:00.000-05:00

A New York Times/CBS poll shows that a majority of Americans think slashing state workers' salaries and benefits is not the best way to reduce budget deficits. The majority of Americans also supports the right of state workers to bargain collectively.

Thanks to widespread demonstrations and general public outcry the Kochs and their TP/GOP puppets may not get their way in the State of Wisconsin or elsewhere.

It seems that to make our voices heard the center and left will have to raise them, over and over. Next up, let's make a mighty noise about the GOP budget cuts and follow up with a rally in support of the Affordable Health Care Act.

Spring on the Mall anyone?

A Message To The Council On Jobs And Competitiveness

2011-02-27T19:05:00.001-05:00

The new TPGOP Governors would like us to believe that they care about us. Our feelings, how the world treats us, just what kind of shake we're getting. To prove it they say things like 'Why should state employees get things that other working people don't get." "Regular people don't get such good health care plans from their employers or such nice pensions, plus they don't get to participate in collective bargaining". To prove just how much they care the TPGOP Governors are going to make sure that state employees health care and retirement plans suck just as much as average American's do, freeze salaries and do away with negotiation in favor of a 'take it or leave it' style of management.

Personally, I don't feel good about someone else getting screwed. My sense of Schadenfreude is poorly developed. I think that the state employees are like canaries over the mouth of a hell we will all have to live with, but more on this in a moment.

The TPGOP state and Federal shock troops, er Representatives, are worried about us real American's too. They are busy working to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act (because it's better we be denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition than be exposed to a whiff of nationalized medicine), assure billionaires are taxed less than the rest of us, and privatize Social Security. The TPGOP ' agenda can easily be called the 'take it or leave it' style of politics.

Seems to me that if we let the Governors knock state workers down to size the 112th Congress will be able to work you and me over pretty well too. We can't fool ourselves into thinking that we will be untouched by these changes if we own a small business or are a first or second tier 'master of the universe': financial market smoke signals say the TPGOP agenda is bad for business. Goldman Sachs, who are at least honest about only being in it for the money, published a private memo this week telling their private customers that the "House spending cuts would hurt economic growth". The House is spending much more time on values based budget cuts than in exploring expansion of programs that would stimulate the economy for the long term. Creating an environment that encourages job creation or preservation seems to be the last thing on their minds, but is precisely what we need most from our Government, now and in the long-term.

During the recession Germany and Japan lost fewer jobs than the US. One reason cited by economists is the style of corporate governance practiced in those countries. Rather than corporate boards made up entirely of inside and outside 'C' level executives these countries follow models that include employees and/or citizens on boards, and in the case of Germany outside directors who are more genuinely outside. I want the Council on Jobs and Competitiveness to take a serious look at the American model of corporate governance if they are able to be objective. This is an area that can have a profound effect on the vitality of American business.

Now, back to taking joy in other's misfortunes. First off, let us agree that unions are neither all good or all bad, rather there are good contracts and poorly thought out contracts. At the summary level the purpose of collective bargaining is to allow employees to communicate a focused set of concerns to management for the purpose of good faith negotiations. What we lack in the US today, thanks to the war on labor Reagan began with the PATCO terminations and supply-side economics, is good faith. The TPGOP, not satisfied with creating an obscure class of real Americans we can aspire to be, wants us to hate our neighbors who are in unions because they are getting a better deal then we are. The question is, why don't we go out and get a better deal for ourselves and help our neighbors keep what they've got? It would undoubtedly be better for the long-term economy and better for our souls.

Will The Thought Police Work With The Vagina Police

2011-02-26T11:49:00.000-05:00

After spending a couple months on a rambunctious political discussion board I have become struck by conservatives shared ability to claim fealty to a platform point or value while espousing a course of action that logically contradicts it.

The TP/GOP is all about 'small government' yet in the past week alone we have seen conservatives at the State and Federal level putting forward all kinds of legislation to manage women's reproductive systems and their rights to manage them without outside assistance.

Georgia State Rep. Bobby Franklin, R-Marietta even wants to criminalize unauthorized vaginal bleeding This kind of vaginal oversight would require massive government agencies and all sorts of inspectors - they will need body armor and have to inspect in herds, because frankly if it comes to national crotch police these clowns will have one hell of a fight on their hands.

There's also something so un-Libertarian about wanting to privatize public infrastructure then go and make my privates public property.

More on conservatives logical contradictions later. The Bodhisattva supports weekend leisure.

Here's What Collective Bargaining Has To Do With It

2011-02-25T10:59:00.000-05:00

22 states have right to work laws which prohibit state workers from forming unions and from collective bargaining. The states include Texas, Arizona, Michigan and Mississippi - all of which have budget problems.

There is no logical connection between taking away the right to collective bargaining and balancing a state budget. The only justification Wisconsin's Scott Walker, Ohio's John Kasich and other newly elected TP/GOP governors have for their current battle is an ideological justification. The most conservative members of the right want to break unions in the US. Public Service unions (SEUI for example) are the largest contributors to the Democratic Party and unions are historically,not sympathetic to Libertarian and corporatist philosophy.

The TP/GOP supports their efforts in part by repeating the mantra 'why should state workers get what you don't get, a right to bargain' Well, why shouldn't employees across the board have a greater voice in the terms of their employment? At-will employment when practiced egregiously allows for the termination of an employee for no reason at all. Corporatists, Libertarians and others on the far right are surely not sympathetic to alternative forms of corporate governance which would include broad representation of employees and citizens on corporate boards. These styles of governance are the norm in Germany and Japan - countries whose employment rates suffered far less in the recession then the US.

Yesterday I sent this message to Governor Kasich; "Before you trample on the rights of the state employee citizens of the State of Ohio consider these words of Abraham Lincoln: "Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration." To request concessions in compensation during troubled times is not unreasonable. To make that request when you have raised the wages of your cabinet AND when you want to end workers' right to collective bargaining is disgusting.

The salarymen and women of America must join their peers employed by states in protesting for their own employment rights.

It's the Guns People

2011-01-11T09:44:00.004-05:00

America has a fascination with guns. According to a list in Wikipedia, as of 2007 there were 90 guns per person in the US. That's a lot of firepower. Now, consider the states with concealed carry laws, 47 out of 50 allow an adult to carry a concealed weapon. The primary reason given for the necessity of concealed carry laws is self-protection. Now, not only can you buy a high-powered hand gun designed for no other purpose than to kill humans; you an also buy accessories, like extended clips, so your gun can kill more humans faster.

Not only is America a land with many guns it is a country of generally poor impulse control, famously appetitive, where the siren call of advertising to 'buy it now, for a few dollars down' is well documented. (If you don't believe me consider the mortgage debacle and the low savings rate compared to average credit card debt.)

While America is rich in guns and malls, it is not so rich in mental health services. If you are the unlucky teacher, citizen, police officer, minister to identify someone in a world of hurt you may be hard pressed to know who to call to help depending on your community. What typically happens is you somehow get the individual out of your sight or building and hope for the best.

Let's add to this equation an political ideology that tags other citizens as traitors. A political speech so overheated that it recommends beatings, strangulation and 'second amendment' remedies. An ideology that takes advantage of a citizenry still traumatized by 9/11 by nurturing their old fears and creating new ones. What does it look like?

guns + mentally ill + poor impulse control + political fear = murders

Given the number of folks who consider the Second Amendment the pinnacle of the Constitution it would be unrealistic to call for a ban on hand guns, nor do I think that would totally solve the problem. My suggestions are more pragmatic. Let's make it a lot harder for mentally ill people to buy guns. Let's make it a lot easier for mentally ill people to get help and services. Let's make it harder for people to buy accessories for their guns that make it easier to kill more people faster.

One immediate way to help with services for the mentally ill is to stop trying to prevent implementation of the Health Care bill and instead fast track the changes in it that apply to mental health services.

Right Wing Spin Machine In Motion

2011-01-10T12:51:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, Rebecca Mansour spokeswoman for SarahPac told an interviewer that the symbols on the famous 'take a stand' map' were 'surveyors symbols and not targets'. Funny how SarahPac didn't explain that in March 2010 when Rep. Gifford commented on MSNBC; “Sarah Palin has the cross hairs of a gun sight over our district and when people do that, they’ve gotta realize there are consequences to that action.”

I expect the apologists for the far right to get even more creative and less in touch with reality over the coming weeks and months. Adding to the surreal air? These are the folks who believe personal accountability is the solution to all problems. So, how do they deal with the results of their speech - they put the blame for their violent invective on their opponents:

From Michelle Malkin's spew this morning: "And don’t let the media whitewash the sins of the hypocritical Left in their naked attempt to suppress the law-abiding, constitutionally-protected, peaceful, vigorous political speech of the Right." Positively Orwellian, that's not a compliment Ms. Malkin

On chat boards across the nation and world members of the right are claiming that President Obama brought it all on the left when he made his 'If they bring knives, we'll bring guns' comment at a fundraiser in Philadelphia back in June 2008, why this statement? Because there are far fewer examples of violent speech that could incites lawless behavior coming from the left that's why.

Why didn't you do something GOP?

2011-01-09T20:29:00.008-05:00

The far right hate machine really found it's voice during the Bush Administration:

Ann Coulter: "I think a baseball bat is the most effective way these days to talk to liberals" [FOX News Channel, DaySide with Linda Vester, 10/6/04]

Sean Hannity: "I'll tell you who should be tortured and killed at Guantanamo: every filthy Democrat in the U.S. Congress." [Hannity and Colmes 06/15/05]

Bill O'Reilly: "I just wish Katrina had only hit the United Nations building, nothing else, just had flooded them out, and I wouldn't have rescued them." [09/14/05 Radio Show]

Glenn Beck: ''I'm thinking about killing Michael Moore, and I'm wondering if I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it. ... No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out.'' [05/17/05 Radio Show]

Michelle Malkin: "So, let us hail the diversity of everyday Democrat donors: The pardon-pushing socialite. The Communist-coddling corporate sellout. The reckless Asian-American rainmaker. And the nicotine-stained heiress/almost-felon who keeps on giving." [07/07/04 Radio Show]

No one in the GOP said a word or distanced themselves, Karl Rove pandered to the base and here we are today. Since January 8 we've heard the usual public statements about sorrow from Boehner and Palin and elsewhere. Where were you 10 years ago? For those moderate members of the GOP - why didn't you speak up? I have more respect than ever for Arlen Spector for switching parties for his 2010 run.

I grew up hearing the expression 'you lie down with pigs, you smell like a pig' OK, conservatives how do you like the stench of violence? Is there anyone in the GOP who can stand up to the thugs and restore decency to their party?

More Violence From The Right?

2011-01-08T15:12:00.003-05:00

It's too soon to know what motivated the attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford (D - AZ). Could it be the violent invective of the Tea Party and far right? When will the GOP distance themselves from the hate and ideological blindness their marketeers have conjured.

Two questions about that bitchy-mocky thing

2010-02-09T13:48:00.003-05:00

Why would anyone with an iota of awareness and even a modicum of civility want to listen to Sarah Palin speak about vital issues of the day in language reminiscent of a sorority sister in a snit.

Why doesn't Palin's audience understand that she's talking down to them?

UUs and their ministers

2009-09-27T18:55:00.002-04:00

There has to be a discrete way UUs can share information about ministers. Congregational polity is local, but that doesn't mean we can't collaborate. There seem to be a few too many folks with control issues out there for my taste.

The good earth

2009-01-05T20:21:00.003-05:00

It's a new year, almost a new president and time to start back in with some observations on the world-at-large. And where to start? I think with a recommendation that folks read this op-ed from Wendell Berry and Wes Jackson: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/05/opinion/05berry.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Entitled A 50-year Farm Bill it is a succinct reminder of why locavorism is more than yuppies getting fresher arugula. We are of the earth whether we are willing to acknowledge it or not. Quality of life is dearly tied to quality of soil. What better way to preserve green space, use less energy to ship food and eat better than to energetically support smaller-scale local farming.

Voting The Bible

2008-10-29T21:01:00.003-04:00

Today I saw the bumper sticker "Vote The Bible" on a car. (a bright shiny Toyota Camry if you must ask) I've seen the slogan many times before, yet had never troubled myself to ask the question just what parts of the bible are supposed to guide ones' hand in the voting booth?

Old Testament or New? Smiting and stoning or Samaritans and saviors? Hopefully not Revelations.

I listened to Bishop C. Joseph Sprague of the Methodist Church speak last night. He was the addressing the crowd at the MARCC 40th anniversary celebration here in Cincinnati. Bishop Sprague took a moment to mention the election in passing. The essence of what he said was that the true Christian message of the Bible had nothing to do with gay marriage and abortion and everything to do with caring for the least of our citizens, being true stewards of the earth and creating an equitable and just society for all.

That would be a long message for a bumper sticker.

The Monster Rove Made

2008-10-11T16:34:00.003-04:00

I don't find the very recent efforts of the McCain-Palin campaign to rein in virulent outbursts at their rallys to be very credible. For one thing, the language used to admonish is tepid compared to what the mob is saying.

Yes, mob. McCain yesterday tried to head-off an ugly line of thought from a supporter in Lakeville, MN. When the senator described Obama as "a decent person" and "family man" he was booed. McCain must have a very high opinion of his persuasive powers if he thinks that those few honest words could change a point of view that has been built and tended carefully for 12 plus years by Karl Rove and the Fox News pundits.

If the McCain campaign is serious about running a positive campaign they need to do more than say 'tsk tsk' at a few partisan events. Withdraw the negative advertisements. Publically rebuke Sean Hannity and others of his ilk. Apologize and admit the lies you have told. But it won't happen.

McCain was booed for refusing to demonize his opponent. Rove made a monster and turned it over to the GOP. Anybody remember what the monster did to Dr. Frankenstein?

My question to John McCain

2008-10-10T16:16:00.003-04:00

This afternoon I posted the following message on the McCain campaign website:

The tone of your campaign has taken a very negative turn. The crowds who attend rallies are using violent language to refer to liberals, Democrats and Sen. Obama. This includes reference to 'kill'. This language scares me. In June of this year members of my religious denomination were murdered in Knoxville TN by a man who hated liberals. How can I believe that you and Gov. Palin are for all Americans when you encourage hateful and violent speech against persons who do not share your party affiliation?

I'll let you know if I get a response.

No use for America? - The Alaska Independence Party

2008-10-08T22:34:00.006-04:00

'No use for America' is part of a quotation from Joe Vogler the founder of the Alaskan Independence Party. I'm still trying to wrap my head around what I read on their website - they're for the US Constitution but demand a vote on secession because it was denied in 1958 when Alaska joined the union. The AIP wikipedia entry is less interesting for the contested content than the conversation on the talk pages about the content.

I've yet to read anything on the web that satisfies me that Todd Palin is no longer a card carrying member or that is trustworthy as to whether Gov. Palin spoke at a 2000 gathering.

Also of interest are the life and times of Joe Vogler. He was murdered, but executive of the AIP have suggested publically that there was a conspiracy to prevent him from testifying in front of the United Nations.

Waiting Until Next Year

2008-10-05T22:08:00.002-04:00

Oh woe. The Cubs lost last night, the glorious bid for a championship is gone. It makes me sad. I like baseball in general and the Cubs in particular. I like it played in the sunshine, on grass and best of all on weekday afternoons when one, strictly speaking, should be someplace else. I like baseball on the radio better than on TV.

This summer the Cubs gave me a break from quotidian concerns and the larger, nagging miasma of politics and environmental decay.

Baseball always makes me feel younger. That's what even two hours freedom from anxiety can do.

Ahmadinejad, Coulter, and the Culture of Hate

2008-10-03T22:23:00.003-04:00

In the debates both John McCain and Sarah Palin have quoted Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's comment that "Israel is a stinking corpse" as an exemplar of what is evil in the world today. If I understand their position, they claim that countries that promote violence towards other countries based on mere difference of faith or culture should be subject to isolation and censure by democratic nations, including the U.S.

If the GOP candidates are sincere in their belief that the censure of violent language is a significant step to promote diplomacy and achieve democracy abroad what is their position on the censure of violent language directed at American citizens by the writers and commentators Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage and Bill O'Reilly? Ms. Coulter has proudly declared; "I think a baseball bat is the most effective way these days (to talk to liberals)" Sean Hannity is well known for the statement "I'll tell you who should be tortured and killed at Guantanamo: every filthy Democrat in the U.S. Congress."

On July 27, 2008 a man named Jim Adkisson, his private demons fueled by the violent public language and writings of Hannity, Coulter, O'Reilly and Savage, murdered two members of a Unitarian Universalist congregation in Knoxville. The ostensive reason, because they were liberals.

In her acceptance speech Gov. Palin presented herself as being a servant of the citizens of this country. Sen. McCain invoked the Bill of Rights, that all Americans are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights. Last night, Ahamadinejad was again mentioned to highlight all that was evil in Iran, and all that was good in America.

I'm an American citizen, a Democrat, a liberal, a Unitarian Universalist and scared. As the GOP candidates demand that Ahmadinejad cease his threats and repudiates violent language to be included at the diplomatic table will they demand that public commentators stop spewing and fueling a culture of hate? This is America and unlike Ann Coulter I do believe in the First Amendment. Let them have their say. I also believe in the power of a traditional American practice: the power of the community to shun those whose behavior is a threat to the well-being of the whole. I call on the GOP candidates to demonstrate true leadership by establishing a respectful political discourse and turning their backs on the support of the pundits who are a threat to the safety of the nation's citizens.

Mean Barbie Does Politics

2008-10-02T22:06:00.000-04:00

Holy smokes! I'm listening to Gov. Palin pretend to debate. She is great at stringing together buzz words: average, soccer games, high taxes, doggone it, schoolteacher. Heaven help you if you don't embrace the 'shout out' to the third graders.

We haven't been exposed to such a well groomed, nasty woman since Phyllis Schafly or perhaps Anita Bryant.

The lame joke is the McCain and Palin ticket.