Dear NBC, Your entertainment show "Stars Earn Stripes" treats war as sport. This does us all a disservice. We ask that you air an in-depth segment showing the reality of civilian victims of recent U.S. wars, on any program, any time in the coming months.
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Friday, August 17, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Spreading Santorum
Santorum defined here. I've extended the usage to mean any stray bits of fecal matter so I can use the word more, as in “Before I sit down on a public toilet I like to wipe the seat to remove any santorum I may or may not have noticed.”
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The Irreplaceable Senator
Ron Silliman has posted a nice anecdote about the late Edward Kennedy. Though Senator Kennedy was not without his flaws, there's no denying that America has lost one of its great champions of justice . Given the current state of affairs, the antagonism in this country to anything remotely progressive, which is typically drummed up behind the scenes by well-heeled corporate lobbyists and PR officers, it's sadly safe to say that Senator Kennedy is irreplaceable.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Connecticut gets with the times, legalizes same-sex marriage
Yesterday was a good day to be a Connecticut resident as our state supreme court stood up against bigotry. From Daniela Altimari's report for the Hartford Courant:
The state Supreme Court on Friday delivered gay and lesbian couples the validation they have long been seeking — the right to marry.
In a 4-3 decision, the court ruled that same-sex couples cannot be prevented from marrying — and that civil unions, those marriage-like legal arrangements that Connecticut has offered to gay people since 2005, are not an acceptable substitute.
"Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the ... same-sex partner of their choice," Justice Richard Palmer wrote. "To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others."
The 85-page ruling means that thousands of gay couples soon will be able to marry in Connecticut, perhaps as early as next month. It also provides fresh fuel to opponents of same-sex marriage, who are pushing for a mechanism that would permit them to amend the state constitution to prohibit same-sex unions.
[ . . . ]
UPDATE: That last sentence quoted above is kind of scary. I just emailed State Senator Andrew Roraback and urged him to oppose any such "mechanism." Yea for me, huh?
The state Supreme Court on Friday delivered gay and lesbian couples the validation they have long been seeking — the right to marry.
In a 4-3 decision, the court ruled that same-sex couples cannot be prevented from marrying — and that civil unions, those marriage-like legal arrangements that Connecticut has offered to gay people since 2005, are not an acceptable substitute.
"Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the ... same-sex partner of their choice," Justice Richard Palmer wrote. "To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others."
The 85-page ruling means that thousands of gay couples soon will be able to marry in Connecticut, perhaps as early as next month. It also provides fresh fuel to opponents of same-sex marriage, who are pushing for a mechanism that would permit them to amend the state constitution to prohibit same-sex unions.
[ . . . ]
UPDATE: That last sentence quoted above is kind of scary. I just emailed State Senator Andrew Roraback and urged him to oppose any such "mechanism." Yea for me, huh?
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
How is it . . .
How is it that every time a politician says something inarticulate someone chops it into lines and calls it poetry?
And how is it that just this year Sarah Palin offered her support to the Alaska Independence Party—a party whose UN bid to recognize Alaska as an independent nation was sponsored by Iran—and the mainstream media doesn't care a lick about it? Reminder: vice president = second in command. Kind of important to have someone in the position who exercises exceptional judgment—not poor, and not even average. And important, too, to let the voters have any information that might be relevant.
And how is it that just this year Sarah Palin offered her support to the Alaska Independence Party—a party whose UN bid to recognize Alaska as an independent nation was sponsored by Iran—and the mainstream media doesn't care a lick about it? Reminder: vice president = second in command. Kind of important to have someone in the position who exercises exceptional judgment—not poor, and not even average. And important, too, to let the voters have any information that might be relevant.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Charles Bernstein's political placards
Charles Bernstein has made a separate location for the political placards he has been posting this election season. Here's another good one:
Friday, October 03, 2008
Speaking of paling in comparison . . .
Instead of a sharp, analytical woman VP candidate we get Sarah Palin. Why so down on Palin? It ain't because of her good looks—no way that wasn't a contributing factor for McCain in choosing her: it's no accicent that MSNBC's Pat Buchanan last night mentioned the attractiveness (his word choice not mine) of her performance in the debate last night, and it ain't every politician that gets parodied by Hustler Video.
How much does Palin pale in comparison to a truly competent politician? Here's a clip of Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), someone who can think through an issue for herself and articulate a strong, intelligent position on it. But of course anyone with this much principle and critical acumen ain't likely to get any further than my main man Dennis Kucinich did:
Hat tip: Linh Dinh
How much does Palin pale in comparison to a truly competent politician? Here's a clip of Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), someone who can think through an issue for herself and articulate a strong, intelligent position on it. But of course anyone with this much principle and critical acumen ain't likely to get any further than my main man Dennis Kucinich did:
Hat tip: Linh Dinh
Palin in comparison
What was with the media's overwhelmingly positive spin following Sarah Palin's performance in the debate last night? I've never seen so much praise heaped on a politician who constantly ducked the questions at hand. She didn't even do so gracefully, as she bluntly, often awkwardly returned to her talking points, about which she generally offered no specifics. When she did try to get into specifics she tended to be incoherent or, at best, disingenuous, as when she talked about McCain's health care plan as something that would be good for (and god I'm coming to hate this phrase more than I can say) us “people on Main Street.”
On one channel she was lauded for telling America her story, her background as Mayor and Governor and about her areas of expertise (I must have blinked during that part), while on another channel she was given props for not focussing on herself but on McCain while Joe Biden was criticized for talking too much about himself. Again, not sure what these people were watching, Biden had the typical balance between talking about O'Bama's policy plans and his own take (and record) on the issues. Isn't it still important to hear the VPs' takes on things since they're going to be second in command and all?
At one point it was as if Palin thought she was an over-the-top version of Subliminal Man (“old” Kevin Nealon character on SNL) as she “slipped” the word “maverick,” in reference to her or/and McCain, into seemingly every other sentence. Sorry, maverick is a label not an argument; labels not only lack substance, but when used so much in self-reference, they should call into question the true intent of the person using them, like when someone repeats over and over how they're not a racist, it can be a pretty good indication that they are. The pundits (by a count of two-to-one based on the spin I watched last night ) were also impressed with her folksiness, with all of her practiced “Gosh darn its” and her aw shucksist style, it was almost Lynchian.
On my local news coverage, people were impressed with how she came across as an average American, someone who understood—oh yes—us people on Main Street, someone you could really sit and down and enjoy talking to. Sorry, haven't we already been saddled with eight years of someone elected largely because of his “average guy” appeal, because he's someone many voters saw as like them, someone whom they might sit down next to in a bar, have a beer and shoot the shit with? Anyway, none of this is, or should be at least, particularly insightful, but judging by what I saw on all of the channels last night, it's over the heads of most of the pundits.
On one channel she was lauded for telling America her story, her background as Mayor and Governor and about her areas of expertise (I must have blinked during that part), while on another channel she was given props for not focussing on herself but on McCain while Joe Biden was criticized for talking too much about himself. Again, not sure what these people were watching, Biden had the typical balance between talking about O'Bama's policy plans and his own take (and record) on the issues. Isn't it still important to hear the VPs' takes on things since they're going to be second in command and all?
At one point it was as if Palin thought she was an over-the-top version of Subliminal Man (“old” Kevin Nealon character on SNL) as she “slipped” the word “maverick,” in reference to her or/and McCain, into seemingly every other sentence. Sorry, maverick is a label not an argument; labels not only lack substance, but when used so much in self-reference, they should call into question the true intent of the person using them, like when someone repeats over and over how they're not a racist, it can be a pretty good indication that they are. The pundits (by a count of two-to-one based on the spin I watched last night ) were also impressed with her folksiness, with all of her practiced “Gosh darn its” and her aw shucksist style, it was almost Lynchian.
On my local news coverage, people were impressed with how she came across as an average American, someone who understood—oh yes—us people on Main Street, someone you could really sit and down and enjoy talking to. Sorry, haven't we already been saddled with eight years of someone elected largely because of his “average guy” appeal, because he's someone many voters saw as like them, someone whom they might sit down next to in a bar, have a beer and shoot the shit with? Anyway, none of this is, or should be at least, particularly insightful, but judging by what I saw on all of the channels last night, it's over the heads of most of the pundits.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Bailout bill ridiculousness
So basically the Senate's version of the bailout bill is the House bill with a handful of bones thrown in that have NOTHING TO DO with us so-called “Main Street” people. Temporarily raise the FDIC insurance cap to $250,000 from $100,000? Thank you, Senators! Like we have five-figure savings accounts let alone six? And from the like they weren't going to do this anyway at some point department: relief for another year from the Alternative Minimum Tax! Not that I would qualify anyway, but here's a better idea: just fix it already so that it affects who it was intended to affect in the first place and you can stop wasting time "relieving" it every year or two—adjusting for inflation: not an advanced concept. But wait, there is one add-on that is almost a progressive measure: “extend[ing] a number of renewable energy tax breaks for individuals and businesses, including a deduction for the purchase of solar panels”—because we the good people of Main Street can afford solar panels! Yeah, right.
No, our wonderful Senators can't give us a bill with a single progressive addition that would truly benefit we the little people of Main Street. Regulate the financial industry? We can't have the government meddling so (which is totally different than seeking a $700,000,000,000 handout—like totally). How about a provision to make the minimum wage an actual living wage? Or even just a little raise? Oh no, that would mean fewer jobs because, you know, small business owners would either not hire anybody and do all of the work themselves or else close up shop, give up on their business, and get a middle management job working for someone else. Nevermind that good-paying jobs are what give us the money to buy the small business owner's goods or services, and give us the ability and security to get the credit our good Senators so want to be there for us. Or better yet: tie this bailout to the introduction of a maximum wage where a company's executive salaries are tied to a percentage above their employees' median wage. Oh—no, no, no—let's be serious.
No, our wonderful Senators can't give us a bill with a single progressive addition that would truly benefit we the little people of Main Street. Regulate the financial industry? We can't have the government meddling so (which is totally different than seeking a $700,000,000,000 handout—like totally). How about a provision to make the minimum wage an actual living wage? Or even just a little raise? Oh no, that would mean fewer jobs because, you know, small business owners would either not hire anybody and do all of the work themselves or else close up shop, give up on their business, and get a middle management job working for someone else. Nevermind that good-paying jobs are what give us the money to buy the small business owner's goods or services, and give us the ability and security to get the credit our good Senators so want to be there for us. Or better yet: tie this bailout to the introduction of a maximum wage where a company's executive salaries are tied to a percentage above their employees' median wage. Oh—no, no, no—let's be serious.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Keep Internet Radio Alive & Well
The telecommunications evil that is Clear Channel & friends is re-asserting itself by pressuring lawmakers to kill a bill that would help keep Internet radio alive and well. If you're in CT's fifth district you can email Congressman Chris Murphy and ask him to support H.R. 7084, the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008. If you're in another district (or a different state) you can search for your rep's contact info here.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
The mornings shot out
The mornings shot out one after the other like bullets from a Gatling gun some invisible hand keeps cranking away. Shot into the day, stepping down the stairs, forward into the kitchen—every action an object, every object like a metaphor for something more—but not. Heart to Heart and Silk. Subways underwater in New York City. Airstrikes in Iraq leading to the same overwhelming question they always lead to: civilian casualties? U.S. reports "No." Iraqis point and say, "Yes." Falling into the words of the sick collage poem of the day. Who wouldn't want to climb back into bed, get some more shut-eye? Me now I know I'm sleeping even when I'm not. Most of the time. Most of the time. Most of the time. Dervishes. Whiplash. Static. Words. Fly. Filter. "Flicker, flicker, flicker, flam—pow. / Stairways scared and death rules there." Slippery curves under the swerves of a consciousness. Abstract brooding. "Boring officials" the news reports. "Boring officials." As if. An outrage. Who wouldn't want to climb back into bed? What is your Everest? What is mine? Vaughn tugging on my arm. "Can we play a game now?" She has setup a picnic on a colorfully spotted blue quilt in the green-and-brown living room. She serves me "strawberry black tea" in a plastic white cup. I alternate sipping at that and sipping at the English Breakfast Tea in my real brown mug. She wants me to eat the hamburger and chicken and corn on the cob. The chocolate muffin, the carrots, and even the French fries—or else I won't get my blueberry cobbler. Sitting with her on the floor, back still sore from taking my old dresser out of the house and to the dump two days ago, mind returning to the news of the war. If one more child dies by our mistake—our government's mistake is all of our mistake—fear some miracle will shake all of our beating hearts to fall out of our asses to the earth. Isn't that the way zombies are born? Or a heroic age, perhaps? Meanwhile, I've brought my empty mug to the sink, sat down to type this out. Vaughn in the living room singing to her mom, "To-gether / for-ever. / To-gether / for-ever." Over and over in her beautiful little voice as yet untouched, for the most part, by the ways of the world.
—•—
Re: "collage poem of the day": a collage poem of mine from this morning has been posted over at 3by3by3.
—•—
Re: "collage poem of the day": a collage poem of mine from this morning has been posted over at 3by3by3.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Woken up before ready
Woken up before ready to wake. Woken up by small voices, then a Harley rumbling by outside. Step downstairs, into the morning routine, Heart to Heart and Silk. News is horror stories of the bridge collapsed over the Mississippi River. Reactions here and abroad to Barack Obama's "tough talk," meaning air strike talk, regarding terrorists hiding out in Pakistan. I don't believe Obama's really likely to approve bombing, but any candidate with a realistic shot at being the next president has to prove himself to be "tough enough" for macho-wacko middle America. Pacifists are pussies. August 4, 2007: if he hadn't drowned so young, Shelley would be 215 today. And atheists have no morals. The good people of the U.S. of A. love their morals. Through the south windows, see the morning sky's already bright and even the leaves on the maple trees look lazy from the humidity, under the broad thumb of sunlight. Vaughn is after me to "play something," to "stop typing on [my] computer." I'm checking out typographica.org's favorite fonts of 2006, but Vaughn's getting restless and I don't want to ignore her anymore, so I wander into the living room. A wasp shadow bounces against the curtain as the wasp bounces against the window outside. I sit down with Vaughn and my mug of black tea, finally. We take out the United States puzzle from a shelf in the TV cabinet. Is it yesterday or today? She places Texas with its cowboy hat and boots and yellow star. I ask her for the state with an eagle on it and she correctly hands me Minnesota. KC comes in from outside where she was watering the plants. I get up and bring my empty mug to the kitchen sink. Vaughn announces that mommy has brought in strawberries from the front yard. A fresh, hose-rinsed snack for Vaughn. KC goes upstairs and I sit back down to our puzzle. Before long we have it completed, except for Pennsylvania. "Where in the world can Pennsylvania be?" I ask. And Vaughn sings the question over and over, drawing out "beeeeee," as we wander from room to room, wandering through the same three-and-a-half rooms. We look under the furniture and we look on top of everything, searching low, searching high. Vaughn asks if maybe the Pennsylvania piece walked outside over night. "I don't think so," I say. A new wasp shadow bounces against the curtain in the living room. Finally I suppose maybe the piece did leave in search of the real Pennsylvania, where it would set itself down, like a flat little jar. Vaughn picks up the football from the wicker basket near the door, says "Let's play that game where you say 'It's my ball, it's my ball,' and you try to get it from me." I crouch like a linebacker with poor technique and snarl at her all silly like. "I'm going to hold the ball like Tiki Barber," she says, "like you taught me." But we won't completely forget the puzzle piece any time soon. We'll look for it again later. And we'll look for it today, which was tomorrow. And we'll look for it tomorrow. And many tomorrows more.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Bush cedes power to Cheney— temporarily?
Dubya's colonoscopy is big news because he will temporarily be ceding power to Dick Cheney. How does a story like this get reported without irony? It barely seems possible. Is there anybody out there who doesn't believe Cheney has been pulling the strings all along? Seriously, and partisan politics asisde, the Republican party should offer some kind of apology to the voters duped into thinking they were voting for Dubya-Dick, not Dick-Dubya.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Sunday, August 13, 2006
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