Archive for Politics

Speaking of straws and grasping at same

The conservative mouthpiece network has totally run out of things to say.

They can’t answer Clinton on substance, because the least amount of research proves him right.

So they spent the first couple of days criticizing his style, as so wonderfully parodied last night by Jon Stewart.

I guess that got old, though, because now they’re deeply concerned about Mr. Clinton’s socks. The fact that I am not kidding makes this even funnier. Way funnier.

It’s Banned Books Week

Pandagon reminds me it’s Banned Books Week.

Here’s a reminder to conservatives: Allowing for the idea of banning books doesn’t mean that books will be banned in ways you approve of.

My step-father was not allowed to read the New Testament by his parents. Of course, he burned with curiousity and read it secretly. Despite his parents’ fears, he did not convert to Christianity as a result and remained a Jew until the day he died. Sometimes he even davened.

The Christian majority, of course, is so concerned with banning occult books that they forget it’s a two-edged sword. But freedom of thought benefits all of us, and there is no freedom without knowledge.

Big Dog gets hot

The transcript of the Clinton smackdown of Foxbot Chris Wallace is good, but if you want to really understand how awesome it was, watch the video.

Beautiful. Arousing, even. Oh, baby.

And if you’re not breathing heavy yet, watch Keith Olbermann’s “special comment” on it.

In the past few weeks I’ve despaired of posting anything political because I’ve been so aggravated at the lies, hypocrisy, justification of torture, and increasing racism that has become the norm in the Bush administration. But when the smart voices on the left speak up and speak strongly, well, I’m proud to be an American.

Pentacle Battle Continues

Also per Cosette, an extremely informative post about what’s going on in the battle for religious grave markers for Pagan veterans, and a list of things you can do to help.

You know what’s scary?

Having a blog and finding yourself with absolutely nothing to say. So, here’s a mini-linkfest:

I am outraged by this.

I found a blog dedicated to what may well become my favorite new show. What did I think of Studio 60 on Sunset Strip? Well, it was a very engaging way to introduce a series, but as an individual episode, it was not an act of genius. Can’t stand next to the pilot for The West Wing. I agree with the Sunset Strip blog; B+ seems about right. Bradley Whitford’s character is intriguing. Very. I wasn’t one of those Josh-crushy girls for West Wing, but Danny Tripp could definitely get crushy.

Jason at Wild Hunt has been knocking them out of the park all week. Four (count ‘em) posts on the complex relationship between Pagans and Unitarian-Universalism (start here) with lively comments, and then a smart look at the religious nature of Halloween, from both Christian and Pagan perspectives.

Lie by Lie

The current issue of Mother Jones has a timeline of administration lies and deceptions in the lead-up to war.

My stomach now officially hurts.

I knew 90% of it. I’ve been paying attention as it happens. But to see it all together is devastating. Devastating that the enormity of it just sits there, un-acted upon. Devastating that the American people paid so little attention that a lot of this surprises them. Devastating that our values as a country, as a people, have been so thoroughly trampled on by the criminals in the White House.

My instinct is to look away. But there’s one reason not to.

Read it, and now think again about what’s being said about Iran. Read how much was falsified about Iraq, and ask yourself how you can believe anything about Iran.

This is the Administration That Cried Wolf. Don’t get fooled again.

Five Years

I wrote the Monday Movie Review on Saturday. I have been trying not to think about today’s date. Of course, log onto any blog and boom, there it is. Five years. Five. Fucking. Years.

I can write for hours about the day, about the surrounding days, about the people who lost people, the people who were going to be there and then weren’t, the fear, the horror, the smoke.

I could write about my profound resentment at my city being used as a prop by a president who hates it and its values. How I can’t even stand to hear him pronounce “September the eleventh.”

But for me, this is a personal and painful day, a phantom limb that aches, and I’d just rather not.

Your Political Profile



Your Political Profile:

Overall: 10% Conservative, 90% Liberal
Social Issues: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal
Personal Responsibility: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal
Fiscal Issues: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal
Ethics: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal
Defense and Crime: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Sullying the Archetype

Here’s an absolutely terrific article about homophobia among a certain segment of Bond fans (whom the author amusingly terms “Bondamentalists”). (Hat tip to CBn for the find.)

The author rightly points out that a strong voice among Bond fans is disturbingly homophobic. I’d say they see Bond as an “ideal man” and they don’t want that “tainted.” (The anti-Craig freak out, by the way, is about an on-screen kiss between Craig’s straight character and another man.)

During the endless post-Die Another Day, pre-Craig chatter about casting a new Bond, the name Rupert Everett came up many times, and each time, a massive wave of homophobic diatribes was unleashed.

“I’m not homophobic,” they tend to say, “It’s just ‘not Bond’.” Except we’re not talking about Teh Gay on-screen, just in the private life of the star. Who is also, yo fanboys, ‘not Bond.’ So yeah, it’s homophobic. Different than ordinary run-of-the-mill, I’m a snotty teenager who says disgusting things and sometimes beats people up homophobia (which is, I think, mostly what John Ruch encountered on the homophobic anti-Craig site to which I will not link).

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More news from the dating wars

Personal ad sites try to show you ads that are matches when you log on. You say, “I’d like someone within 50 miles of my Zip, within 8 years of my age, with the following characteristics” and every time you log on they show you someone.

So okay, I got shown one that I didn’t like. The picture kinda creeped me, the text wobbled between smart, self-important, and bizarre, and the goal of the person was to create a poly group, which is something I’m not seeking.

Moving on, I see another ad. No photo, very brief text, but a little interesting, Wiccan, like that. I send a non-commital note: “It seems we have some things in common. What do you think?”

Guy writes back, saying he has two ads and suggesting I might like to learn more about him by reading the other. Sure enough, the other ad is the creepy one. So, polite note back, because after all, I’m the one who initiated contact: “Thanks, but this isn’t what I’m interested in. Best of luck to you.”

This is supposed to be the end.

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