Bright Creature

I have a new Blog

2008-09-19T13:19:00.002-05:00

I have a new home. For the few who actually read this blog, just follow the link here to get to my new blog!

The Nature of Evil

2008-09-17T01:35:00.002-05:00

I've been thinking of evil and of what it is and even if it is. Tonight, I'm toying with the idea that evil isn't inherent. It's not what someone is but it's what someone does. Case in point; most of the fundamentalist Christians i run across are the happiest, most caring people, you would ever hope to come across. They are genuinely good people.

However, when they get into positions of authority they most often pass the most (sorry) God awful policy it's ever been our sorry fortune to witness. Hate against sexual minorities, hate against a woman doing with her own body and life as she chooses, weird ideas about taking government out of our lives in all the ways it can best help people with, and on and on.

These are times in which a large section of our country view the other sections as evil. That's extreme, but extremity in and of itself isn't what's evil. What's evil is acting on that extremity without regard to Jesus' commandment to 'do unto others as you would have done unto yourself.'

Evil is a verb, not a noun.

Little Bright Creatures

2008-09-16T23:06:00.001-05:00

I just created a blog where I'll be putting what I've learned about economics into. I wouldn't expect much, but if it helps me learn I'll be worth it !

The Loose Cannon Mavericks

2008-09-14T00:44:00.002-05:00

The lies the McCain camp are telling are wrapped their cloak of the "I'm a reformer image" and they press that image so hard that i would suggest that it's too difficult to try to fight it. Instead, we should do a little political ju-jitsu and agree with the McCains. Yes, they ARE mavericks. Who else but mavericks would reuse the same discredited lies? They are such mavericks that they are loose cannons that will destroy this country in their wild stampede to power. If the O's get on that one message and beat it to death I think before long maverick would equal loose cannon.

PS. I sent this as an email to Talking Points Memo. Just in case we never see hair of this again I put it up here.

Be Careful With Your Vote

2008-09-13T23:35:00.002-05:00

McCain may be sending odd absentee ballots to people who live in battle ground states. Be sure you know who you're voting for !

2 tricks

V oter Caging

F ake Ballots

Voter turnout is high for Democrats this year (or should i say democrats?) so one tactic that will be employed by the Republicans will be in challenging those registrations and votes. Like in my fake ballot example, if everything isn't perfect on the absentee ballot it will be rejected. So make sure check that you're a eligible voter AND that your ballot even has a check box that you can check. It's a bogus requirement but voter suppression has long been a tactic in US politics and those little details get many every year.

No Game, No How

2008-09-12T21:20:00.002-05:00

After Sarah Pailin accepted the nomination, all hell broke loose. Republican were now energized. The Dems were now scared and wide eyed and pleading with their candidate to make some move to counter the R attack. What was happening? Why did it all go so badly so fast? What was the world coming to????

Only, it was all gas.

There's no there there. Peel away Sarah Pailin's appeal to the fanatic faithful and what do you get? Nothing. OK. She's bright. But, there's still nothing there. She has had up til now no interest in the larger world around her. Until recently, in fact, she was a member of an Alaska successionist movement. In short, the R's have nothing.

Everything since the nominations.... all the mud flying, all the innuendo, all the lies, the frenetic attacks and assaults this week, and what? This week we see them repositioning on global warming; Sarah never meant to say that global warming was a myth (even though you could tell by her face she knew it was a lie as she was saying it to Charlie Gibson).. and i predict you will see much much more repositioning in the weeks to come. Why?

Because they have nothing. They have no positions and they said it themselves that they were running on character. Well, that only goes so far. You see, LAST election and the election before that they ran on character. However, the last two elections they also had simple and easy positions to defend.

They had tax cuts, gay marriage, and the usual host of conservative talking points which have mostly been cut out from under them this season. You see, in the past even, when they ran on character, they still had some platform. This year they have nothing but smoke and fun house mirrors. They have distraction and spectacle.

Yes, they have the conservative religious base, and that means that they have more numbers with them than they would have otherwise. But, it's not enough and they need to keep the excitement of the easily swayed undecideds. They have to keep those fickle voters that go with whoever they think is a winner or who reminds them of who they are. Would you stay with someone who changes positions quickly and who all of a sudden has most of the position sof his opponant?

Would you support a man who consistently and provably lies and distorts? Many will.. but the peopel they need will abandon him and go for Obama. Or stay at home and sit on their hands.

NO Blinking!

2008-09-12T12:25:00.002-05:00

NO second guessing Israel! They are completely in charge here, ya hear? No blinking!

So, our foreign policy would basically become an international game of "chicken."

The one that that doesn't charge blindly forth heeding Israel (who's interests are we guarding anyway, theirs or ours? O.o) loses.

Featherweight

2008-09-11T21:16:00.008-05:00

Wow. She really is a lightweight. Sarah Pailin didn't know what the Bush Doctrine was ( h/t TPM) You can see her struggling with her talking points and it'spainfully obvious that she doesn't have a clue.

I'm frankly beginning to see why they've been keeping her closeted for so long. Progressives should start hammering the press for more interviews. Seriously. If she doesn't improve soon we might not have much to worry about.

Also, is it just me or does anyone else want to smash the chalkboard when she calls Charlie Gibson "Charlie" ? For example, right after that first question on the Bush Doctrine she asked, "In what respect Charlie?" She just sounds so insincere to me.

UPDATE: See Joan Walsh's take on the interview. She nails it here. <3

"What a mockery Palin made of all that. I'll get criticized as sexist for saying this, but I would say the same thing about a man who sounded this ignorant: Talking to Charles Gibson tonight, Palin sometimes reminded me of poor Miss South Carolina, who, asked why many Americans can't find the U.S. on a map, famously said: "I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some people out there in our nation don't have maps. And I believe that our education, like, such as in South Africa and the Iraq, everywhere, like such as, and I believe that they should, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., or should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future for our children.""

McCain's Campaign to Nowhere

2008-09-09T01:05:00.002-05:00

If's funny how these things just write themselves. McCain has bet on Pailin's stalwart courage in striking down the bridge to nowhere this last week. Only.. they are lying. Pailin was for it before she was against it and simply following the herd (the maverick is apparently a lot more social than we were led to believe).

As more and more papers point out the lies surrounding her reformer image McCain and Pailin will have to forge a new path for their campaign to follow, because their current goal is going down that "bridge no nowhere."

You have to love life's little ironies.

h/t TPM

Nixon All Over Again

2008-09-06T14:03:00.002-05:00

From Newsweek, not minor news mag.

Key Alaska allies of John McCain are trying to derail a politically charged investigation into Gov. Sarah Palin's firing of her public safety commissioner in order to prevent a so-called "October surprise" that would produce embarrassing information about the vice presidential candidate on the eve of the election.

It really does smell of Nixon, all over again. They gotta win, so what do they do? They move at all costs to cover up and delay.

Will the news pack keep braying and loping after the scent?

Obama's Reaction To Last Night's RNC

2008-09-05T02:00:00.002-05:00

From his website:

It's as I said before. Attack is all the Republicans have. If Barack keeps up the ju jitsu "use the McCain camp's attacks against them" political art, I think we'll be ok.

This Sums Up McCain

2008-09-05T00:08:00.002-05:00

beautifully

John Bush!

RNC Finally Over

2008-09-04T22:53:00.003-05:00

Thank goodness.

Now we can see what kind of bounce/thud mr lime green backdrop POW-reformerwithstaleoldpolicies- gets out of this in the polls and move on. Yep, it's going to be a slug-fest from here on out and I think we can expect a really nasty campaign of name calling. If you don't hear anything about policies from the Republicans, no worries. It's all going to be "we're great, you suck."

It's all so sad, really. There shouldn't be any need for partisan feelings. We should all just be Americans. Lately, however, we've all been divided against each other and things just look like they're going to get worse from here on. Even if the Democrats do take the Whitehouse things wont calm down. Remember the Clintons? When Bill took the WH it was nonstop fake scandal since he first took office 'til he walked out the door.

If Obama wins things will likely follow the predictable pattern.

Those Shell Shocked Republicans

2008-09-03T20:32:00.002-05:00

Howard Kurtz talks about how McCain's campaign seems to be gearing up into war mode over the press' coverage of Sara Pailin, McCain's October surprise running mate.

He was absolutely furious as he unloaded on the journalistic community for, in his view, unfairly savaging Sarah Palin.

Sure, it is in his interest to try to get the press to tone things down. But Schmidt -- a hard-headed, no-nonsense, on-message strategist -- really sounded shell-shocked. And so he was saying things on the record that senior aides usually say only under a cloak of anonymity.

My own pet theory is that the Republicans have become so extreme and the press has let them get away with whatever they like for so long that when finally confronted with something that hurts them many of them are starting to throw tantrums. Their message isn't very rational in the first place, so when they get to a point where they can no longer rationalize their bad choices away, the gloves come off and it's WWF night in Washington.

Democratic Elitists

2008-09-03T18:45:00.009-05:00

Apparently, Democrats hate "the litle people" now ->

Palin To Suggest Her Dem Opponents "Look Down" On Small Town America

This really doesn't deserve a response but, no. Pailin, we don't look down on you because you're from a small town. We look down on you because you act like you're trying to upstage the people on the Jerry Springer show.

The Fly on The Wall

2008-09-03T16:33:00.002-05:00

How do these politicians and pundits -really think?

in the vein of "viral" blogging..From Talking Points Memo

Chuck Todd: Mike Murphy, lots of free advice, we'll see if Steve Schmidt and the boys were watching. We'll find out on your blackberry. Tonight voters will get their chance to hear from Sarah Palin and she will get the chance to show voters she's the right woman for the job Up next, one man who's already convinced and he'll us why Gov. Jon Huntsman.

(cut away)

Peggy Noonan: Yeah.

Mike Murphy: You know, because I come out of the blue swing state governor world: Engler, Whitman, Tommy Thompson, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush. I mean, these guys -- this is how you win a Texas race, just run it up. And it's not gonna work. And --

PN: It's over.

MM: Still McCain can give a version of the Lieberman speech to do himself some good.

CT: I also think the Palin pick is insulting to Kay Bailey Hutchinson, too.

PN: Saw Kay this morning.

CT: Yeah, she's never looked comfortable about this --

MM: They're all bummed out.

CT: Yeah, I mean is she really the most qualified woman they could have turned to?

PN: The most qualified? No! I think they went for this -- excuse me-- political bullshit about narratives --

CT: Yeah they went to a narrative.

MM: I totally agree.

PN: Every time the Republicans do that, because that's not where they live and it's not what they're good at, they blow it.

MM: You know what's really the worst thing about it? The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical.

CT: This is cynical, and as you called it, gimmicky.

MM: Yeah.

Go to the TPM link to check out the video with the live mics. If only these guys would mess up more often!

As the Palin Turns

2008-09-03T14:41:00.003-05:00

OK. So, Palin's not out yet. They probably cannot turn her out now since to do so would be to admit defeat and bad choices. But, it can't escape our notice that the campaign has taken on a SOAP quality. Just today the McCain camp went on record to ask the press to stop picking on poor Palin and her preggo unwed daughter. Also just today McCain staged a huge press conference featuring himself conferring his mighty touch upon the boyfriend of said daughter.

I guess since it's hands off of the daughter, it's still OK to lay hands on the boyfriend

Palin's Painful Flameout

2008-09-01T19:14:00.006-05:00

The Republican vice presidential nominee is flaming out so spectacularly today, she could easily be confused as a part of last weeks Democratic fireworks display held at the end of their own convention.

From TPM:

On the same day that the Republicans were forced to dramatically cut back their convention activities, the Palin Meltdown unfolded with extraordinary speed. It's worth pondering the totality of what happened today, in a mere half day...

So much of this came out in just half a day, today, that it can't plausibly be considering anything but a true flame out in the most partisanly gratifying way (for the Dems, of course). I read somewhere that if McCain and Pailin lose the election that Pailin will be forgotten as most VP nominees are.

Not True.

She is going as she came in - with a bang.

Pailin and McCain

2008-08-30T19:38:00.002-05:00

it's 'beyond the Pailin'
What's Pailin' you, John McCain?
On his choice for VP pick, he's Pailin badly
Pailin down on the job.
He has a shovel and a Pailin hand

OK, that's all i have for now :)

Sara Palin

2008-08-29T13:25:00.000-05:00

The WTF heard round the world.

Obama's Speech

2008-08-28T22:23:00.002-05:00

After watching the convention and Barack's nomination acceptance speech, i have to say i think they nailed it on this one. If the Dems can get the themes and messages behind this convention out to the mainstream they will nail the Presidential election. Barack Obama touched on his critics charges as well as outlining what we have to do as a nation... and he spoke of uniting the nation instead of continuing along the same tired old partisan lines.

The Democratic Convention

2008-08-26T23:49:00.002-05:00

While i watched the Democratic Convention i enjoyed myself. However, PBS insisted on ruining my experience by their running play by play commentary by Mark Shields and David Brookes. I kept wondering why they felt they needed to spruce up the evening by spoon feeding us their "analysis." If they are so objective, so trusted by Americans, it boggles that they don't just let us decide for ourselves whether the Democrats had a good night or not.

This just goes to show that PBS' Newshour may the the most trusted American MSM source but these days the bar for them is incredibly low.

Obama 2.0

2008-05-21T11:56:00.002-05:00

This post by Robert Creamer sounds a bit like an ad for a new gadjet, doesn't it?

Excerpt:

The long primary has forced the Obama campaign to develop organizations in all 50 states. Generally, presidential campaigns develop organizations in a few primary states and then go on to develop organizations in the few "in-play" general election states. By forcing Obama to create organizations in every state, the long primary season has helped enormously to broaden the general election playing field. This year, there will be strong, experienced Obama organizations in every state in America.

The battle has hugely increased Democratic registration. In-play states like Nevada that started the year with a majority of Republican registrants, now have a majority of Democrats. The New York Times reports that well over half of new registrants in Oregon were 30 or younger, and that of the 83,000 voters who changed parties this year, a large majority switched to Democratic.

The long primary fight has battle-hardened the Obama organization. Most of Obama's top field people have now been through four or five tough primary contests. That experience has taught even the greenest organizer to "think like a political organizer." It has taught thousands of organizers and volunteers the nuances of political organizing that are only learned through practice.

and it just keeps going on in pretty much the same vein. Now, I hope Robert is right about all of this... but i can't help but note the sales pitch!

Seel it Robert, sell it <3

SO Lazy

2008-04-09T22:46:00.002-05:00

Yes, I am. I should be posting more but instead I'm off gallivanting around and reading and playing games or what have you. Like a rogue but honest lover I wont tell you that I'll reform. I 'll only promise to give my best!

Lately I've been hitting up the library for DVDs. I've found that they are good at having all of those obscure but good flicks that the rental places just wont touch. HINT: If it's a Criterion film it's usually there. So basically, Akira Kurosawa and other "avant garde" stuff like Brazil makes it into the stacks.

For books I'm hittign up Sophie's World again and trying to read a few more classics so I'll be high school substitute teacher worthy. Of course, I'm also doign my usual fantasy reading.. and becoming a decent Tolkienite <3

Why Hillary WHY

2008-03-30T17:44:00.003-05:00

I think Nora Ephron sums up my attitude toward Hillary perfectly at this point. There was a time when i agonized over Obama or Hillary. Now, I just wanna "get on with it." Selfish selfish - but there you are.

But the point is that it doesn't matter why Hillary lied; what matters is that I'm hooked on Hillary and on the Rorschach process that defines my relationship with her: she does something, I spend far too much time thinking about it, I superimpose my life and my choices onto hers, I decide how I feel about what she's done, I bore friends witless with my theories, and then, instead of moving on, I'm confronted with yet another episode of her behavior and am forced to devote more hours to developing new theories about her behavior. I don't have time for this.