Not much to post here. But this is too perfect to pass:

united states, politics | No Comments »

In a really despicable turn, the Clinton campaign has started distributing pictures of Obama wearing native Kenyan garb. He was in Kenya at the time, and his dad’s from there. I guess it makes him look a bit like a terrorist muslim. For myself, I have no problems with somebody looking like a muslim, or even looking like a windswept has-been for that matter.

clinton, obama, united states, politics | No Comments »

Library Chronicles has a long post today which breaks down the landscape of U.S. politics and the current election runup, focusing on the ideas of Obama, hope, and Martin Luther King.  This is a must read!  The essay elegantly puts into words so many of the thoughts and feelings I’ve had lately about the players, the process, and the broader society.  I can’t go into even a fraction of the well executed insights presented, so please take the time to read it.  As a teaser, here’s the essay’s summary:

Barack Obama represents a slightly less offensive alternative to Hillary Clinton and, if he becomes the nominee, will similarly represent a slightly better choice than John McCain (whose new video is out, I see). Given the choices, there isn’t necessarily anything horribly wrong with casting a vote his way. But the a-historical cultists would have us believe that there is something inescapably right about doing so. In making their case, the cultists have invited comparisons between their candidate and some of the giants of the 20th century. Such comparisons find their man laughably inadequate.

Because Obama is too timid to speak clearly about poverty and class, because he is not committed to rolling back American imperialism, because he lacks the courage of Martin Luther King who challenged Americans to reexamine their values (even at the expense of his own personal safety and ultimately his life no less), Obama does not deserve to be compared with a leader like King. Democrats need to get their heads out of the clouds and go to war (in multiple senses of the phrase) with the candidate they actually have.

obama, united states, politics | No Comments »

Music is so evocative.

http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2008/02/02/william-says-yeswecan/

So manipulative.

I’m fighting to stay cynical.

Even though I have a lot of practice…it’s hard.

united states, politics | 3 Comments »

If anyone had any doubts about which country poses the most significant threat to world peace, this should settle them. I’m stunned.

united states, politics | 2 Comments »

Some good news to kick of the new week.  Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has resigned.  He apparently tendered his resignation Friday.  In keeping with their longstanding policy of lying, however, the administration denied this as recently as yesterday.  Also typical is the handwringing: the NYT quotes an unnamed DOJ official as saying “The unfair treatment that he’s been on the receiving end of has been a distraction for the department,”.  Unfair, I love it.

Bush hasn’t named a replacement, but apparently will soon.  Lets just say I’m not getting my hopes up.

Link to NYT article 

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Never thought I could laugh at something like Ray Nagin claiming that NOLA’s violence has the upside of “keeping the New Orleans brand ‘out there’” , but this cartoon is very, very funny. Sad…but funny.

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I just watched this beautiful video clip from a 1994 interview with Dick Cheney. “Gulf War I : Desert Storm” had just concluded and he was asked to defend the Father’s decision not to take it to Saddam. He responds eloquently, presenting a case which is well thought out and entirely correct. Basically, he has two main points:

1. There’s nothing good to do with Iraq once you’ve deposed Saddam, and the country will collapse and be dismembered ultimately by regional forces. (he actually uses the term quagmire, which I thought was nice)
2. Americans have no appetite for the additional casualties which would ensue. The salient quote being:

“[The question was] how many additional dead Americans was Saddam worth? And our judgment was not very many. And I think we got it right.”

Touching.

Boing Boing | Video

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The BBC is reporting on a 1933 conspiracy to overthrow the FDR government and align the US with the growing fascist movements in Germany and Italy.  Right out of the pages of Roth’s “Plot Against America”, this coup was put together by a group of right-wing fat cats.  Furthermore, Prescott Bush, the founder of the current Bush dynasty, was a member.

One more time: the Bush dynasty has its roots in a plot to overthrow the US government and align America with the Nazis.

bush, united states, politics | No Comments »

Worth reading is this magnificent post about Bush and Libby on Cosmic Variance. Lovely contrast between Bush’s behaviour here with his earlier refusal to help death row inmates.

bush, libby, united states, politics | 2 Comments »