Friday, October 31, 2008

Rare mid-work blog

So, I'm sitting at work right now on my lunch break. Yeah, I leave work an hour after I get 'back' from lunch and I'm not eating, but I still call this lunch.

I was reading online, and I found a couple of things I wanted to note and comment on:

  • And again, another endorsement, this time from The Economist.
If anything, Palin has this exactly backwards, since one thing that the First Amendment does actually guarantee is a free press. Thus, when the press criticizes a political candidate and a Governor such as Palin, that is a classic example of First Amendment rights being exercised, not abridged.

This isn't only about profound ignorance regarding our basic liberties, though it is obviously that. Palin here is also giving voice here to the standard right-wing grievance instinct: that it's inherently unfair when they're criticized. And now, apparently, it's even unconstitutional.

According to Palin, what the Founders intended with the First Amendment was that political candidates for the most powerful offices in the country and Governors of states would be free to say whatever they want without being criticized in the newspapers. The First Amendment was meant to ensure that powerful political officials would not be "attacked" in the papers. It is even possible to imagine more breathaking ignorance from someone holding high office and running for even higher office?

And just for a certain former professor of mine:
"Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, or to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Okay, so I typed that from memory, and it wasn't as easy as it used to be. Did I get it close. Well, not an A+, but a passing grade. I screwed up several articles, messed up the punctuation and didn't capitalize government. Do I still pass Mr. Siebert?

Here is how it actually reads:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

  • I would like to see both McCain and Obama on SNL this Saturday. How great for a country could it be that these two men and come together, laugh with America (most likely at themselves) while shilling for those last few votes? At least McCain will be there, it seems.
Well back to work for me! Yay!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Is Obama buying the election?

Okay, so we've all heard the conversation turn to whether Barack Obama is buying the election. Now, looking past the fact that this talk started when the polls started showing Obama winning, lets talk about the money in his campaign.

First Obama decides to forgo public financing. And people are still talking about it, and I guess rightfully so. Maybe. As I see it (and of course, I'm bias), Obama said he would think about public financing. Then, making a political decision, he decided against it. But, when thinking about how to fund your political campaign, what other decision would you make other than a political one?

But when people hit on the topic on buying an election, I want to remind them of Mitt Romney. He spent a lot of money in Iowa and New Hampshire, but it didn't help him win either of them. Obama outspent Hilary Clinton in Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania, but Hilary won all three of those in the primaries.

But looking at Mitt Romeny and even Hilary Clinton who had to dip into their own pocket to pay for there campaign, no one talked about them trying to buy the election. But Obama gets $150 million in September alone off the strength of a $86 average donation, and he is trying to buy the election. With what? Money he got from...people who...freely gave it to them to...spend on his campaign. So yes, he is buying the election with money people (including me) gave him so he could buy the election. This is American politics and money equals power.

Money helps you get your message out, but if it isn't a good message or your message doesn't swing people away from your opponent, money isn't going to win you an election. I could even give you Ross Perot.

Speaking of Perot (and buying the election), we have Obama making his prime time solo debut. Now you have people, like Elizabeth Hasselbeck, blasting the idea of Obama having that 30 minute "infomercial" on TV tonight.
"Obviously both sides are trying to run and create image. So if we use this as, so they both have funds and are creating an image, making sure their candidates are where they need to be seen, as they need to be. I find it completely then repulsive to then - if we want to look at spending - see how Barack Obama now is going to spend what $3 million on two thirty minute ads that are going to run this week." - Elizabeth Hasselbeck
What I don't understand is why they are mad. Well, okay, not really. But it's Palin that wants to get around the "media filter" so why are they now kinda pissy about Obama going around the media? You have John McCain saying "No one will delay the World Series game with an infomercial when I'm president."

But I guess it is getting down to the wire. Even Barack Obama is calling out McCain's erratic message:
"Now, because he knows that his economic theories don't work, he's been spending these last few days calling me every name in the book. Lately he's called me a socialist for wanting to roll-back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans so we can finally give tax relief to the middle class. I don't know what's next. By the end of the week he'll be accusing me of being a secret communist because I shared my toys in kindergarten. I shared my peanut butter and jelly sandwich." - Barack Obama
So yeah, we are buying the election. How many peanut butter and jelly sandwich's you think it will take? Maybe he will ask for more peanut butter, jelly and bread. Then we'll win!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Damn fast bloggers

People, really, you have to stop posting blogs on topics I was planning on writing about. Now it's Matt Taibbi that be posting before me. God bless this man. I just bought his new book, The Great Derangement: A Terrifying True Story of War, Politics, and Religion at the Twilight of the American Empire. I am really looking forward to reading it.

But, the blog.

If, as expected, Barack Obama wins, we should all get ready for the emergence (one might say re-emergence) of a powerful new storyline in the right-wing media. There are going to be many stories circulated about the rise of Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann and other in-the-tank-for-BO media types. Complaining about media bias was already a national sport before this election season, but now that one of America's top TV commentators is an affable lesbian who rolls her eyes every time she reads a Republican talking point, you can expect the howls from the hills to be louder than ever.

It's started already and you can expect it to get worse. The basic theme is that Maddow and Olbermann are only the tip of the iceberg, symptomatic of a more broadly-ingrained media bias that infects the less obvious propagandists as much as or more than that notable twosome. This same complaint will be made in print and on the air roughly 500 million times between now and the next presidential elections, camouflaged in different forms.
The entire point has been bothering me for at least the last few days. So, I'm happy someone got out there. I only wish I could come close to making a better argument.

I just want to know where these people attacking the bias media four years ago? Where were they speaking out against FoxNews? Huh? Where?!

And speaking of Maddow, you all need to go check out her show. Cus it's great. And everyone should keep up on Rolling Stone, because Taibbi is a fucking great writer.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Quick little blog

I was listening to a podcast of the Ron Reagen Show today at work, that alone doesn't merit a blog post, but alas listening to that show, I started to cry.

Now, it's only a little less crazy than it sounds. Ron was talking with a guest about, what else, the election. They were going off about the crazy nut job questioning Obama leaving the campaign to see his ailing grandmother. Now, I've known about this for awhile, but it was when Ron mentioned that one of Obama's biggest regrets was that he didn't go see his mother in Hawaii before she died.

Now as a total mommas boy, this hit me hard. Then you also have to know, as much as I love my mother, I almost loved my grandma more. Now, she died from breast cancer in 1989 when I was 5. So, knowing the loss I still feel, thinking about anyone attacking anyone else for visiting an ailing grandmother after, after not visiting his mother when she was ailing and nearing death, it just hits me in the gut.

Left or right, can't we all respect a man who loves his late-mother and his ailing grandmother? PLEASE!!!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

A real "uniter, not a divider"

In a presidential election where both sides are all worked up, who is pulling off the "I'm a uniter, not a divider" shtick George W. Bush really couldn't? Barack Obama. Really, you have republican's flocking to him like he was the second coming of Reagan or something.

You want a list? I got a list for ya! (mucho gracias a The Jed Report)
  • William Weld - former Republican Governor of Massachusetts, "endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president on Friday, citing the senator's good judgment, 'deep sense of calm' and 'first-class political temperament.'"
  • Scott McClellan - former Bush aide and Bush press secretary, announced that he will be voting for Barack Obama.
  • Alison Goldwater - granddaughter of Arizonan and Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, early voted for Barack Obama, saying of John McCain, "I don't have respect for him." (John McCain has frequently called himself a "Barry Goldwater" Republican.)
  • Arne Carlson - former Republican Governor of Minnesota, endorsed Obama for president, saying "He has laid out for this nation a vision for a national purpose."
  • Colin Powell - former 4-star general, Reagan national security adviser, Bush Sr. chairman of the joint chiefs, and secretary of state, gave a full throated endorsement of Barack Obama and indictment of the McCain campaign and the Republican party.
  • Michael Smerconish - conservative Philadelphian radio talk-show host and cable news regular, endorsed Sen. Barack Obama.
  • Chicago Tribune Editorial Board - For the first time in the 161 year history of the Chicago Tribune, the paper has endorsed a Democratic presidential nominee: Barack Obama.
  • Christopher Buckley - son of National Review founder William F. Buckley, and columnist for the National Review himself, endorsed Barack Obama, saying "this campaign has changed John McCain. It has made him inauthentic."
  • Lilibet Hagel & Susan Eisenhower - Hagel, wife of Republican senator Chuck Hagel, appeared with Eisenhower, granddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower, to endorse Barack Obama, saying that this election is "not about fighting phantom issues churned out by a top-notch slander machine. Most importantly it is not about distracting the public - you and me - with whatever slurs someone thinks will stick."
Shocking isn't it? And those are just 10. For me, the only republican I care about is my mother. And she has been for Obama from day one. "We need change." And she understands she will be saving more money under Obama's tax plan. Almost $1000 more. Really! Even Al the Shoesalesman gets a tax cut.

And why are so many people starting to see Obama as a great choice for president?



And when Barack Obama speaks to the nation Wednesday, it may just be the start of a real watershed landslide. But that only means we need to work harder. Vote, vote and get out and vote!

Friday, October 24, 2008

Tom Harkin!

Now, for a list of crazy and wierd reasons I won't go into here, I've never been the biggest fan of Tom Harkin. He has been my senator since I was 2 years old. One of politicians I agreed with, but really didn't like. And for similarly weird reason, I like Chuck Grassley but disagree with him on many things.

But, Tom Harkin has won me over. I actually like the guy and look forward to voting for him along side Barack Obama. Why?

Another Vile Attack by Tom Harkin.

Now, lets first talk about having a senator that knows how to use the tools of the next generation to talk to his supporters. Daily Kos? Posting blogs? Facebook?!?! Go Tom Harkin, go!

And now to the substance of what Harkin said. He stood up and called BS on these attacks on him and other fine Democrats and Americans, including Barack Obama. And Harkin gets more points than I can count for calling out Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.

But he doesn't just use his pulpit to attack back and call out the "McCarthy" types coming out of the woodwork. Like in New York. Or in North Carolina. So Tom Harkin is one of the new Democrat with an actual backbone.

And I will be proud. To vote for Tom Harkin, Leonard Boswell, and Barack Obama. And to stand up for what I believe, willing to fight alongside my allies Tom, Leonard, and Barack for the America I love.

25 years down...

While some of the voices in my head are telling me to tie my 25 years in this world into politics, I will fight that feeling. Or at least try not to make it all about politics.

25 years ago, Ronald Reagan (R) was President. Terry E. Branstad (R) had just been elected to be Iowa's 39th Governor. Roger W. Jepsen (R) and Chuck Grassley (R) were the Senators from Iowa.

Now, 25 years later, while George W. Bush (R) is president, we have a African-American, Barack Obama (D), set to become the 44th President of the United States. Chet Culver (D) is the 41st Governor of Iowa. Tom Harkin (D) and Chuck Grassley (R) are the Senators from Iowa.

This is a great example of how much has changed in 25 years. Even if Grassley did have to be the one guy against change. (Ha! I kid; I deeply respect Grassley for many things.)

25 years ago cell phones made their way into America.

25 years ago Microsoft Word was first released.

25 years ago Nintendo Entertainment System was first launched in Japan.

Over the last 25 years, many different people, places, things, and substances have shaped the way I see the world and the way I act in it. Since I can't really name everyone or everything, I'm just gonna play it safe and not mention anyone. But you all know who you are. Much love.

Looking back there are millions of things I would have done differently if I could, but I do not in any way regret my decisions. Were some of them bad? Of course. But those decisions made me who I am today, and I can't really fight the fact of the person I have become is pretty awesome. Are there things about me I still need to change? Hell yeah. Even awesome people can still become more awesome.

It's funny though. Looking back, I like to think I grabbed the path of being a journalist and/or a writer, but it's just not true. Writing grabbed me. I was writing stories and scripts when I first learned to write. I have a fun read of a Get Smart script I wrote back, I think, in middle school.

I was recommended to the journalism class in high school. And while I did kinda work to get on the high school newspaper, once I was in college, I just kept falling into it. My advisor signed me up for the Reporting class. And when we did our first story for class, mine was picked to run in the college paper.

I was told by the then-Features editor I should sign up for the paper because I was a really good writer and reporter. So I did. And then at the end of that year she told me I should apply to be an editor because I would be great. So I did. And I got it. Features editor. Then news editor. Then, midway through my junior year, I fell into the design editor job. Then, actually showing some fight, became the Managing Editor my senior year. Then the paper won first place in general excellence at the Iowa College Media Association awards.

Now, coming up on being two-and-a-half years removed from college, I find my passion for life and writing continue. Why do I bring this up in my birthday post? Because I always followed my heart and mind. I have the feeling I should be writing more, but due to many reasons, I'm not sure of what path to take. So, for now, I am taking my own path. Writing as much as I can on my own, and in my own way, to become a better writer. And when my talent and the right time hit (and I'm always on the look out), I will shine like I always have when time and place meet.

Not many people can say they were at the right place, at the right time, with the right skill, doing the right thing. I already had one of those. My senior year of college. Now, I know I will have another one. But I'm not going to bitch and moan about a job I don't love 100%, or about my living situation not being what I wanted.

I am only 25. I have a good amount of time to make everything work. I wasn't really all that happy through my last years of high school and the first few of college. It was hard, it was lonely, and it was something I would never want to go through again. But those years led me to the door step of my perfect year; my senior year at Grand View.

So now, I'm not really all that 100% happy. It's a little lonely, but I have great friends. And while I would never chose to be tired, lonely and poor, I will take them on with pride if I am doing it in hope of the dream. It takes sweat and tears to make things change for the better.

Do you think it was easy for America to come from the time of Ronald Reagan to now be looking into the future with Barack Obama? Do you think it was easy for Democrats in Iowa to overcome a 30-year lock on the Governorship? Do you think it was easy to imagine and create cell phones, Microsoft Word or the Nintendo Entertainment System?

I'm personally looking forward to 2033 and waiting to see what the next 25 years will bring.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Socialism? Short post

Jon Stewart, you are a god and we only live with your greatness.



That is all. Really, that is all folks. Bye bye McCain!

I want someone who is smarter than a 3rd grader

So Mrs. Sarah "never a dull moment" Palin actually did an interview. I'm starting to see why she was better off not talking.


Q: Brandon Garcia wants to know, “What does the Vice President do?”

PALIN: That’s something that Piper would ask me! … [T]hey’re in charge of the U.S. Senate so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom.

Really?! Are you telling me that I got it wrong for the last 25 years I have been learning about government? My senior year of American Government in high school was wrong? My poly sci classes I took in college (including one on the Presidency) was wrong? Damn!

Article One, section three: "The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided."

Once again, I bow to the greatness of Keith Olbermann:



And Rachel Maddow:



I'm sorry to burst your bubble Governor, but I would like someone running for vice president that has an idea, based in reality and fact, of what their job might just be. Not to mention some depth and a real relationship with their running mate. Normally I would just post a passing hyperlink to this story, but I think it is TOO good not to really point out.

Go and read Jonathan Alter's piece where he talked to Biden. Biden’s Unified Theory of Biden. And not only does it touch on how Obama and Biden talked through what their professional relationship would be like, it was this that really caught my eye:

Biden says Obama reminds him of Bill Clinton in his "confidence, cognitive ability, judgment" and intellectual security—that he can listen and absorb advice without having to prove he's the smartest person in the room, a critical leadership skill. He says he experienced an "epiphany" during a recent conference call on the bailout bill with Bob Rubin, Paul Volcker, Warren Buffett, Paul O'Neill, Joseph Stiglitz, Larry Summers and Laura Tyson. "He [Obama] comes on the call and says, 'Well, folks, sorry I'm late. I've got four questions.' He was in total frigging command! Here's a 47-year-old guy in one of the most complicated economic dilemmas anyone has had to face since 1929 to '33. And it was like, 'Bang! Bang! Bang!' I called him afterward and said, 'You sold me, sucker!' "
I long for smart people to lead, but for those people also not to need to show off just how smart they are. I'm looking at you Al Gore.

So, Biden or Palin. Barack Obama or John McCain.

Lord, it's like asking a kid if he wants ice cream or liver and onions. You tell me what he's going to pick.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Michele Bachmann

After spending just a little too much time on a blog about Michele Bachmann, I just threw it out.

I echo Barack when I say, enough! ENOUGH!

Enough of this name calling. Enough of this demonizing the other side. Enough of questioning someone's love of country! Enough of this bullshit ripping America apart at the seams! Enough of calling for a clean campaign with one hand and throwing mud with the other!

Enough of the media just repeating each sides talking points and being sissies by letting the story plow over them. Enough of saying both sides are to blame for the negativity! Enough of this false-equivalence! Enough of the facts getting fucked by a self-interested media and partisan spin.

Enough already congresswoman Bachmann! You are not Joseph McCarthy.

I've had enough of this ripping at each other. And I for one will be voting for change, for unity, and for our next President, Barack Obama.

And because we are all "pro-America" I think everyone should take a trip over here and give what they can. Americans know how to express ourselves with money.

And we really know how use our vote.

-------

And a hint at a blog I am working on (and won't be throwing out), I think we may see 150 million people vote in this year's election. It's gonna be crazy!

Monday, October 20, 2008

Why I can never forgive John McCain

For all the good John McCain has done over his many years, I don't think I can ever forgive him for putting the national spotlight on Sarah Palin.

Now looking back at 2004, after Kerry lost many looked to Edwards to run. He was, for a short time, the party's front runner. Now he didn't keep that very long once everyone just remembered Hillary Clinton.

Now, looking at the landscape of the Republican party, there are only a few names already popping up to run in 2012, barring John McCain actually winning in 14 days. First, you have Sarah Palin, whom just debuted on SNL:





It was while I was watching the Weekend Update skit that I finally understood why she went on the show. It wasn't going to help her and John win the election, but it was going to have people talking about Sara Palin on SNL. And in a year, no one will remember what she did on SNL, but they will remember she went on and took the jokes to her face. That will make people like her. And she has several years to hit the books and bone up on every weak point she has. And I don't doubt she will do it. So, like most everything she does, her going on SNL was all about Sara Palin and little about McCain/Palin.

And with only Mitt Romney and maybe Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana to really likely to come out early, being where she is now gives Palin way too much time to mold her image with the party's base. Now, mind you this is saying that there is a Republican party in four years. I have great feelings that the party is coming apart, and someone needs to come forward to save it (McCain couldn't) before it gets too far gone.

Odds are not in Palin's favor for being the front runner for long, but her media coverage and message will shape the dialog forcing any other major challenger to at least deal with it. Her popularity with the Republican base is strong, and while she may become the head of a new, more conservative, party rising from Republican ashes, she now has her eyes set much higher than Governor of Alaska. And come February of 2009, Sara Palin will only be 45 years old. She ain't going anywhere, and she is going to spend most of those days thinking of ways to get into the White House herself.

If we, god help us, have to see Palin running against Obama in 2012 it will all be John McCain's fault. You can't even blame America for nominating her in my weird fantasy; America loves its redneck, straight-talkin' mavericks.

So, John McCain, I blame you. And I'm not sure I can ever forgive you.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Great Sunday (for me & for America)

I have personally been up in arms about the new John McCain attack line that Obama wants to "spread the wealth" and he is a crazy socialist. I have been forming a blog in my head attacking just this line of attack. I'd even done some research online for things to back up my arguments.

But then I find this: What's So Awful About "Spreading the Wealth"?

Damn you Jonathan Cohn! How dare you post a great blog about this before I could write one?

Well, I guess I just move on, humbled once again by the all-too-many voices not only getting to my talking points before me, but making those points better than I could have.

So, who seems to be raising record amounts of money? And who is attacking Obama for raising this much money from millions of Americans as destroying the campaign culture by leading to scandal?
Come on. Really? I understand the need for control of campaigns, but saying you shouldn't be able to tap into the people and their anger is just bullshit. I want to see Obama, if elected Nov. 4th, push for real campaign reform. He should call on both sides of the aisle, sit them down at a table, and finally let logic, reason, and common sense drive how we can create a campaign environment that is good for the real debate of issues, lets the campaign talk about what they see as important, but that also limits the negative and mean-spirited bullshit that fills all too many campaigns on both sides. And only with that much support, both with money raised and votes cast, can anyone actually get the job done.

Now, onto the great news this Sunday. Colin Powell backs Barack Obama.

Really, Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama (updated w/ video from ObamaYouTube):



Finally! Now, please please please fight the urge to call this just another black man endorsing a black man. Please! Tom Brokaw already went there (kinda). But the good news is all the clips being played are un-spinning the spin of Brokaw's line of questions.

Now, you say endorsements don't mean anything, right? Wrong! Well, as pointed out in that blog, Rasmussen found in one of their telephone surveys something noteworthy:
Out of a list of fifteen different public figures, publications, national associations and politicians, only one endorsement – Colin Powell’s – would have a significant net positive impact on voters. - Colin Powell: Most Valuable Endorsement
And not only does this seem (or seemed several months ago) to be a rare endorsement that actually does help with voters, it helps also helps blunt the attack line of the McCain/Palin attack machine to call into question his readiness to be Commander-In-Chief. All he has to do it say "But wait, General Powell thinks I am ready to lead." Check and mate.

And it doesn't help when the point I just made (just above, go read it again!) is being made by, wait for it, Newt Gingrich! Oops!

And then on top if it all, Fareed Zakaria Comes out For Obama. And yes, three Daily Kos links. Sorry, I just couldn't find any good sources on this topic. If you want more (all, um, none of you that read this) I'll find some when the pop up.

At this point, the only other prominent Republicans left are the Bushs. We've got 15 days left. When do you think W will just say, "Ah hell. I thing Barack should win. Hehe." or Daddy Bush say "Only Obama can clean up the mess my son left."?

So yeah, good Sunday. Great Sunday!

Edit 10/19/08 2:57 p.m.: Barack Obama hits back on socialism charge. Go Barack Go!


Editx2 10/19 4:21 p.m.: If Tom Brokaw hinted at it, Rush Limbaugh slapped you in the face with the "well of course Powell backs Barack; they are both black" line. I don't know why I'm shocked.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Sometimes, I have no words

I would love write up a great blog on this topic, but it has already been done.

First, the video (and another reason I LOVE Rachel Maddow):



Now, the blog I wish I would have written. Well, all I can do it say I thought most of the same stuff, so you should read and enjoy.

Blog link

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Obama and The West Wing







Amen! I have been working on a paper entitled "Brian, Bartlet & Barack: How three men shaped, reinforced & inspired my world view" and I hope to share it once I am done.

Crazy liberals! No really! Crazy!

Bill O'Reilly singlehandedly has more viewers than CNN, MSNBC and Air America radio combined on ANY given night. The radical liberal left can only hope for the "Fairness Doctrine" to be rammed through an Obama / democratic congress. They can't win with logic....as usual....and will revert to their normal underhanded, illegal and reprehensible behavior to force their warped logic upon the masses.

Rachel Maddow is a nobody....being pushed by MSM in hopes of making the slightest dent in the ratings charts. It will NEVER happen.

Liberalism truly is a mental disorder.

-
"Brainy Maddow holds her own in TV commentary arena" comment
This is a comment from a story (link above) about Rachel Maddow and her new show. It was a average story, well written and even some new facts even for me, but it is the last line in that comment that drove me to make this post.

Liberalism is a mental disorder? Really?

So start with the basics. What is a mental disorder? According to Wikipedia, Mental disorder (or mental illness) "is a psychological or behavioral pattern that occurs in an individual and is thought to cause distress or disability that is not expected as part of normal development or culture." And Wikipedia calls liberalism "a broad array of related ideas and theories of government that consider individual liberty to be the most important political goal." And it gives modern liberalism its roots in the Age of Enlightenment. Funny for a mental disorder to have roots in enlightenment. Ha!

So I care about making sure people have individual liberty and have the best interest of the whole group in mind when granting that liberty, and that makes me mentally unstable? I may be mentally unstable, but I don't think me being a liberal or progressive is the cause of that. Maybe only crazy people care about other people, so that would make liberalism a sign of mental illness, not a cause. Maybe. Crazy people can be smart.

Yes, conservatives like O'Reilly get good ratings. So there are more people who dislike change than those wanting to challenge the status quo? More people calling liberals insane than people calling conservatives stupid? More middle-school educated, average-joe six-pack conservatives than those Ivy-League educated, uppity elite liberals?

Yeah, I can buy that. But what do I know.

Now on to the topic of the "fairness doctrine" that it would seem, if you listen the the commenter's rant, Obama and those crazy liberals want to shoved down our throat. Well since it is the crazy liberal media run amok, you would think conservatives would like the idea.

But that is really here nor there. I have always been against the idea of a fairness doctrine, so label this liberal just a little less crazy. I have issue with many things the FCC is doing to push their values onto me telling me what I can or cannot hear on radio and TV. Funny how 'conservatives' rail against big government, but then love when the FCC fines a network millions over a fraction of a second of Janet Jackson's breast.

I have only heard the idea of liberals pushing the fairness doctrine on America from those who have a deep passion against seeing liberals in power. Not one news source, not one comment on the topic. Just crazies on the Internet trying to confuse, mislead and scare people into voting against what is in their hearts and minds. I don't think it will work.

But again, what do I know. People are crazy. And it seems so am I.

My name is David, and I have a mental disorder: liberalism.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

BRITNEY!!! & more music

Okay, this is where I become just a little bit crazy. One of my favorite musical artists? Britney Spears. You can laugh all you want, but I know what I like and I'm proud of it. So, why am I in a great mood?

This:



Now, again, say what you will, but Britney knows catchy pop/dance tunes and how to make a HOT video. And I enjoy it.

I totally can't wait for her album, Circus, to drop on December 2, her 27th birthday. I think it will be her best yet, and I truly hope she put a lot herself and her heart into this album. I mean, while I may long at some level for Britney to make an album like Cat Power's "Moon Pix" or "You Are Free" which is personal and strong, Britney is not Cat Power. But I do believe Britney can make a personal album like Cat Power, a dance album like Madonna while gluing it all together with her own voice.

Now, Britney has her album coming out at the same time as Christina and Pink. This will be a great time for great music; that is what I see happening.

Now, I am going to end this post with my Top 10 CDs of 2008 (so far...):

1. Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends - Coldplay
2. In Rainbows - Radiohead
3. Oracular Spectacular - MGMT
4. The Dark Knight Soundtrack - Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard
5. Circus - Britney Spears*
6. Jukebox - Cat Power
7. Real Emotional Trash - Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks
8. Overtones - Just Jack**
9. Hard Candy - Madonna
10. Do You Believe in Gosh? - Mitch Hedberg***

* Album hasn't come out yet, but I'm betting, based on the single, this is where it will land.
** Album came out in 2007, but I just found it this year, and this is my list, so yeah!
*** Comedy CD from one of the best. RIP Mitch.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Why you need to vote!

Voting is a bitch. It's a hard thing to do. Not the actual act of voting, but dealing with the idea of voting. Vote and win, you have to hold your candidate's feet to the fire. Vote and lose, and you feel totally robbed of your power to influence anything.

If there is anything that annoys actual voters, it is the endless bitching on every political policy of a current government coming from the mouths of eligible voters who never bothered to cast a ballot. If you don't vote it is like saying you don't care how your country is run, so if you don't care where do you get the idea that you can complain when something happens that you don't like?

Now, voting is also the power to get attention and gain more sway over the issues.
Old people are the most reliable voters. They have the highest percentage of voters of any age group. And because of that, old people get what they want. If you're running for public office, you better be protecting the interests of old people because old people will vote you out. On the other hand, young people don't vote in large numbers and it's not worth a politicians time to put a lot of effort in courting the young vote. Not that youth isn't important, but if politician A focuses on the young voters and politician B focuses on the old voters, politician B wins, because old people turn out. Turn out is very important because the people who turn out and vote are the ones that rule. If you don't turn out, you lose.

“Civic duty” and because “you should” are not reasons that will probably get you to want to vote. But it is your civic duty and, yes, you should vote. You need to vote.

Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed.”

In other words, government and its politicians only have power because we as a people give it to them through our collective consent. That’s what happens when we vote yea or nay.

So, you think your vote won't matter? You think you are in a safe state, so what good will your vote do? Well, again, what if everyone thought that? Now, if more people voted, the bigger the margin, the greater the mandate for the next president to get the job done.

But what if you vote for the guy who lost, either in your state or the country? Well, wouldn't you want your choice on record? At least you know you took a stand for what you believe. How is that ever the wrong thing to do?

There is nothing more powerful than voting. By voting you are saying 'Fuck you!' to all those pundits, nay-sayers, and the over-forty crowd who always say the youth vote will never turn out. So do what every red-blooded, authority-questioning American under 30 would do: challenge the status quo, piss off those nay-sayers, and go against the grain and do the unexpected. Keep them on their toes, shock them into the 21st century and get out and vote!

Saturday night on Thursday


God bless SNL.

Late Nights

It's like my witching hour, I swear. Between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. I can't sleep, there is nothing on, and no one to talk to, which just leaves me reading stuff online, listening to podcasts and finding videos on YouTube like this: 'Chicago Way'



Now all I can say about this attack (or these attacks; Rezko, William Daley [really?], and William Ayers) is the voters aren't going to like it. At least not the voters who aren't already voting for McCain. The economy will not stop tanking and the McCain campaign wants to talk about this?

Um? Bring it on? I mean, from my point of view, acting on advice from his base while also being hit not only from "Georgetown cocktail party" conservatives and Rush Limbaugh but everyone on left as well, only moves your poll numbers in one direction: down because the independent votes are once again turned off by a campaign gone full tilt negative.

Well at least my generation gets its own 1932 campaign. [sarcasm] It's what I've always wanted for Christmas. [/sarcasm]

Now we can have some fun. McCain has gone from McBush to McNasty. And playing dirty against the Obama while he is running on change and hope is only going to lead to a landslide -- for Obama.



So, yeah, I really need to find a way to get more sleep. Staying up and reading all this is only going to make me crazy.

Too late!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Hey, lets get this party started

Well well, welcome to my blog. It's almost fitting that as I write this, a McCain ad is running on TV calling Obama, dangerous. That's funny.

Popping the blog cherry is never an easy thing. Setting the tone, getting off to a strong start while also giving a great first impression. So, lets start off saying I am a total news/politics/random shit geek. I read WAY too much news every day, and I talk WAY to much about politics. So, welcome to my blog.

But I promise this blog isn't going to be 100% news and politics. I love to write. I majored in journalism in college and was editor of the college newspaper, but since my current job involved 0% writing, I really want to also use this blog to share stories and my writing.

Most of the time that will be just me 'talking' at length about topic I have the itch for that day. Other times, I hope it will be short stories and poems I have written, and even maybe something else. Why put limits on this, right? Lets have fun.

The idea of this blog came to me tonight as I was walking from work back to my car. My job has become the American job: check your brain at the door and just look forward to your next break. I don't want to complain too much about my job. I have a job, and in this clusterfucked scary economy, that is nothing to bitch about. But, that doesn't mean I would love a better job. I just don't know what I want to do. The one thing I do know is that I love to write.

So this blog is supposed to be my reason to write. I hope to update several times a week (if not every hour) just so I can put a smile on my face. I'm crazy and just love writing THAT much. And, I will apologize right now for any meandering (and there will be a lot) because writing is great for me to get everything out of my head.

If you want to get a good idea of who I am (for better or worse) all you have to do is read what I write when I'm just 'downloading' my brain. Though, I worn that may cause damage to your brain. I know it's damaged mine.

Okay. One down.