Category Archives: Politics

General, Politics, science fiction

On hiatus

Well, it has been a while since my last post. I’ve taken to drinking liberally, at least on odd Tuesdays. I also helped run a small SF convention.

In retrospect, I am not sure what I’ve been doing. I’ve discovered soduko, amazing how that will suck out your time.

Playing with the computer, trying to get MythTV working. More on that later in a geek posting.

Trying to get the books in order for income tax time.

Following the trials and tribulations of Teresa Nielsen Hayden. Sometimes the system can be so wrong.

And watching football playoffs, preparing forthe 2006 baseball season and trying to rip my music collection using MusicBrainz. Amazing how many CDs I have that aren’t in their database.

And now, it is off to a Linux Users Group.

Liberating Thoughts, Politics

What he said!

From Talking Points Memo via:

James Dobson: “If the nation’s politicians don’t fix this national disaster, then the oceans of gambling money with which Jack Abramoff tried to buy influence on Capitol Hill will only be the beginning of the corruption we’ll see. Some religious leaders want new ethics rules for Congress, but that’s only a band-aid fix. Politicians need to root out this infection. Gambling – all types of gambling – is driven by greed and subsists on greed. That makes it morally bankrupt from its very foundation. Gambling creates addicts, breeds crime and destroys families. We need courageous office holders who will begin the process of shutting down lotteries, casinos and other gambling outlets.”

I think he has a good basic theme here, let’s try that some other ways:
Continue reading What he said! →

General, Politics

Organized Relations

I notice that Bush declares it legal to wiretap Americans without a warrant:

So, consistent with U.S. law and the Constitution, I authorize the interception of international communications of people with known links to al Qaeda and related terrorist organizations.

from a Dec 19th, 2005 conference.

Evidently, Bush, sharp legal mind that he is, got this vetted by the same administration lawyers who think torture and inhumane treatment of prisoners is OK.

It is the last few words of the quote that worry me. Based on comments of the Vice-President, various administration officials and Republican lawmakers, over the past few years, I think the Democratic Party falls into the “related terrorist organizations” category, along with anyone who opposes the Bush and any of his policies. Good thing I’m not organized.

Politics

No, No, No, No, No

I heard Bush on the news last night saying that his job is to protect the American People. I believe he was saying this to justify spying on Americans without a warrant.

No, No, No, No, No!

Evidently Mr Bush wasn’t listening to himself when he took his oath of office.

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

You see, Mr. Bush? Your job is to protect the Constitution, not the American People. I think we can defend ourselves quite nicely, thank you.

If Mr. Bush doesn’t listen to himself, why should the rest of us listen to him?

I notice, from the text of a speech he gave this morning, that he is still confused.

Liberating Thoughts, Politics

Gary Hart Interview

From a BuzzFlash Interview (via Sideshow) I found this quote from Gary Hart to be memorable:

… the reason you can’t mix religion and politics is, religion is about absolutes, right and wrong, good and evil. Politics is about compromise. If you cannot compromise on issues that are not central to a person’s faith – and that’s about 99% of the issues our country faces – then the country doesn’t work. The government doesn’t work.

I think I will have to check out the essay, God And Caesar in America: An Essay on Religion and Politics, that spawned the interview.

Yeah, without compromise, this country doesn’t work.

Politics

Capitol Hill Blue: Bush on the Constitution: ‘It’s just a goddamned piece of paper’

Capitol Hill Blue: Bush on the Constitution: ‘It’s just a goddamned piece of paper’

An interesting commentary, if true. I ran a quick Google on some key words and phrases, like: Bush, constitution, “piece of paper”, and I couldn’t find anyone else reporting this. I would think this would be a major story for any main stream media org.

Of course the major give-away is Bush’s statement that the Constiution is a ‘piece of paper’. I’m not sure that he even knows that.

General, Politics

American Values

I am contemplating the current set of American Values. From what I have seen of current history, they would appear to be:

    Strike First and Strike Hard.
    Lie, Lie, Lie.
    Cruel and Unusual Punishment is OK.
    Kick a man when he is down.
    Win at any cost.
    The Ends justify the Means .*
    Compromise is for sissies.
    No need to support your neighbors in need.
    Spurn your friends who disagree with you.
    Don’t prepare for the future. Be a Grasshopper, not an ant.
    We will Protect you, at any cost, whether you like it or not.
    If you’re not with me, not only are you against me, you are for my enemies!
    Everyone is my enemy.
    The Individual is supreme (except when that individual interferes with corporate or governmental priorities.)

These are not the American Values I grew up with, not the Values I learned in my youth. Did I grow up in some warped, white-bread America where fair-play, level playing-fields, and the Bill of Rights were the guiding lights of American Values? Where self-reliance and self-determination were bulwarks of personal responsibility, but not the sole supports? Where compromise to reach common goals made society work and easy to get along with?

*I always have a problem with “The Ends justify the Means” value statement. Just what or when is the Ends? Is it when Mankind is extinct? Is it when Earth gets swallowed up by the Sun? Is it the Heat Death of the Universe? Is it “The Rapture”? Just when is the End?

There are other recurring American Values that still seem to survive, like:

    Feed at the Public Trough
    Share the wealth with your supporters.
    We’re #1! We’re #1! We’re#1!

Actually, those values seem to be universal and not just American. Americans just do it better!

General, Politics

Bring It On

I’m sure it was mentioned at the time, but, in my own oblivious way, I completely missed it. I didn’t realize that George Bush was a Nick Cave fan!

NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS LYRICS – Bring It On

So bring it on, bring it on
Bring it on
Every little thing
Bring it on
Every tiny fear
Bring it on
Every shattered dream
And I’ll scatter them into the sea

I heard this come around on my iRiver last night and I smiled.

Uh-oh. I checked around a bit and found out Bush said “Bring them on”, not “Bring it on”. Nevermind.