I cannot say that I was in need of a bucket of rocks tonight to hurl at the TV as I watched the ABC/Yahoo Republican Debate, that would have been overkill...and expensive.
Overkill like Rick Santorum scolding Mitt Romney for using the term "middle class". Or like Jon Huntsman coming up with a new name for Wall Street and other wealthy interests (i.e. corporations) which have robbed us blind forever in this country, the "creative class". Perhaps even Rick Perry's assertion of a "war on religion" in this country which is under-covered by the media.
(Perhaps Mr. Perry failed to notice that he uttered those words from the stage of a Catholic Benedictine College as he was running for the job of being President of the United States. Certainly this escaped the notice of famed Constitutionalist Ron Paul.)
And expensive like so many of the candidates pushing for "Right to Work" status for our states. If you haven't lived in a RTW state you wouldn't understand, but basically this is the practice of taking all the (few) rights of the workers away so that the companies might "prosper". And you wonder why all our major professional athletes are in unions? We hear that Boeing is told it shouldn't open up shop in South Carolina because it is a right to work state but hear nothing when they want to (and do) close operations in "fair-pay" states unless we happen to tune ourselves in to non-corporate media outlets.
In a nutshell folks, the game is rigged. The OWS movement has tapped into this and after a Wall Street bailout, corporate tax loopholes, and lobbying going mad, they should. The only way to begin to make headway against so many of our challenges at present is to get the SuperPacs and other forms of "big money" out of our politics. Then we need to make corporations responsible. We are always told that it is our fault as the (dare I say it) "middle class" whenever our country is in a recession because we ask for too much: pension percentages, a raise once every few years, a decent benefits package. Yet we continue to be the ones bailing everyone else out. If you want to have one class "war" on the other, simply continue to tell us that we don't want those poor, downtrodden "job creators" to bear the brunt of equality in the tax code, we want to expand the tax base so that all of that half of us who are in or near poverty can "pay their fair share". Give it a rest.
President Obama has done some pretty great things this past week; he's flexed his muscle so to speak. He made a whopping four recess appointments (just look at the number made by previous administrations if you want a good laugh, or cry) but to important positions: Richard Cordray at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, plus three appointments to the Labor Relations Board, he has vowed to trim the military's budget, and he has taken steps to make it harder for I.C.E. to separate families of those seeking green cards. One could argue that he is only doing these things to win re-election, but I would ask you to consider one thing with that dose of skepticism: Just imagine what he could accomplish for our nation in a second term with no election to reign him into a political jail. Then consider what any of the Republican candidates would do in his stead.
President Obama is making overtures, putting a down payment on our trust in him. I intend to help him earn the dividends of his investment.
Besides, I don't want to have to buy four years' worth of rocks and a bucket.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
SURVIVOR: IOWATU--Tribal Caucus Talent Competition
(Dateline: Java Joe's, Isle of Des Moines, Iowatu)
If it's Caucus Eve, it's the return of "Morning Joe" to Java Joe's on the Isle of Des Moines. And though time and taste did not allow MSNBC to show it, here is your insiders' look at the final challenge before we kick someone off this island, the Candidates' Concertina, the Runners' Rhapsody, the Viers' Vocals: the big pre-caucus SING-OFF!!
In taped footage we see Mr. and Mrs. Romney making some bizarre hand gesture, as if they are in mid-wave toward the crowd. But no, it's not that...it's the CHICKEN DANCE:
"I don't wanna be a loser, not so sure I'll come in first, so I'll stake my claim," Mitt intones.
And when one Rick admits to calling on the lord to help out another Rick during a recent debate debacle, the pitied one, Mr. Perry, reminds the other that though they both hate the gays and in school want to pray:
"Don't pray for me, Rick Santina!"
Next to take the stage, and in high island style go for the classic Buffett reference, Mr. Paul croons:
"I blew out the flip-floppers, but stepped on a hot topic, showed my fangs tried to hang onto third."
And though it often seems she's more the old woman who lived in the shoe, Mrs. Bachmann turned on her "Iron Lady" persona:
"I'm Margaret Thatcher, corn caucus crasher, watching polls slide by."
Next up was Mr. Gingrich who made sure to cry and pout as he complained with these strains:
"Swiftboated on the TV today, watchin' my surge roll away, sittin' out in old I-O-Way, wastin' time."
But the crowd was waiting for the man of the hour, and he did not disappoint. Google master, Mr. Santorum, laid out the velvet pipes taking a page (and a lot of tea) from Bachmann's Man-turner Over-ride:
"I am by far the best man, I am your sweater vest man, I'm a conservative, on this I will not give, I am your man-hating man!"
Now, natives of Iowatu, their fates lie in your hands. You must decide who will live on to sing in another state and who should be kicked off the GOP side of "the isle".
Come on, caucusers: Who's Got Talent??
If it's Caucus Eve, it's the return of "Morning Joe" to Java Joe's on the Isle of Des Moines. And though time and taste did not allow MSNBC to show it, here is your insiders' look at the final challenge before we kick someone off this island, the Candidates' Concertina, the Runners' Rhapsody, the Viers' Vocals: the big pre-caucus SING-OFF!!
In taped footage we see Mr. and Mrs. Romney making some bizarre hand gesture, as if they are in mid-wave toward the crowd. But no, it's not that...it's the CHICKEN DANCE:
"I don't wanna be a loser, not so sure I'll come in first, so I'll stake my claim," Mitt intones.
And when one Rick admits to calling on the lord to help out another Rick during a recent debate debacle, the pitied one, Mr. Perry, reminds the other that though they both hate the gays and in school want to pray:
"Don't pray for me, Rick Santina!"
Next to take the stage, and in high island style go for the classic Buffett reference, Mr. Paul croons:
"I blew out the flip-floppers, but stepped on a hot topic, showed my fangs tried to hang onto third."
And though it often seems she's more the old woman who lived in the shoe, Mrs. Bachmann turned on her "Iron Lady" persona:
"I'm Margaret Thatcher, corn caucus crasher, watching polls slide by."
Next up was Mr. Gingrich who made sure to cry and pout as he complained with these strains:
"Swiftboated on the TV today, watchin' my surge roll away, sittin' out in old I-O-Way, wastin' time."
But the crowd was waiting for the man of the hour, and he did not disappoint. Google master, Mr. Santorum, laid out the velvet pipes taking a page (and a lot of tea) from Bachmann's Man-turner Over-ride:
"I am by far the best man, I am your sweater vest man, I'm a conservative, on this I will not give, I am your man-hating man!"
Now, natives of Iowatu, their fates lie in your hands. You must decide who will live on to sing in another state and who should be kicked off the GOP side of "the isle".
Come on, caucusers: Who's Got Talent??
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Shite I've Been Thinking
Come along and sing this song and join the F-A-M-I-L-Y,
M-I-T T-R-O M and N-E-Y...
There's something good in NEARLY everyone.
Is it IRONY when Cee Lo Green catches crap for re-IMAGINING the lyrics for "Imagine"?
The GREEK GODS yougart is the absolute best thing in all the world, it just is!
I hate BUICK because there's some subliminal message that tells all old people they must possess one, and their Xmas envy commercials are "Land of the Unwanted Toys" depressing.
The nation of Samoa changed itself right across the International Dateline, skipping last Friday altogether. What will be the fallout from this Samoan Skipday? Will this coming February 29th even things out there? Is this what the Mayans warned us about?
Why am I the same age as Gene Chizik and Sean Hannity? More importantly, why does this bother me so?
Matt K. Lewis offered up the notion that the Broncos might make the Super Bowl this season. But as Shannon Sharpe observed (and he ought to know), the Denver Donkeys will no doubt blow it in their first post-season contest. Thanks anyway, Raiders. But what Mr. Lewis, my Twitter pal, fails to understand is that this theory of his would upset the whole applecart here in Coloradoland. Lookit, John Elway had to struggle through years of hardship before sliding that first oversized ring onto his finger, if Tebow does it first time outta the box, well, then it's worse than Samoan Skipday, it's Tebow Skipcareer. Not to go all Garrison Keillor on your arses, but it just can't be that easy. Where's the pain? Where's the monumental Sisyphus cautionary tale? Sorry but the price just isn't right. We'd rather lose.
And finally, is the problem a government that is too big or simply a large and unwieldy population? Think of it this way: What if the federal government was, say, the Wal-Mart. You walk in and there are no greeters--I'm okay with that part. Then you mill around the aisles unassisted, which is fine in most cases. But there are no "price-checking stations", no cashiers, and no predictable and informative queues in which to make your purchases. You're on your own. You must use your imagination--unless you're Cee Lo Green, of course. Now IMAGINE the parking lot... I'd rather not. There are a buttload of us and like all cattle we need corralling. Back in the federalist days when there were three people in this nation of ours and they all knew each other, they could do without taking direction. Now it's a matter of public safety. We need our lines, paths, and plans just as much as we need our teachers, air traffic controllers, and paramedics. We are numerous, we are boisterous, and somehow we manage to do some pretty amazing things even with a "system of government". Government isn't "too big" though often it is too wealthy, old, and white. Government can be too reactive rather than proactive, but that's no reason to chuck the whole thing. (I'm looking at you, Ron Paul.) In the likely words of Patrick Henry, "Give me Rollbacks and Express Lanes or give me certain death!"
Back to the Clubhouse, Mitty!
M-I-T T-R-O M and N-E-Y...
There's something good in NEARLY everyone.
Is it IRONY when Cee Lo Green catches crap for re-IMAGINING the lyrics for "Imagine"?
The GREEK GODS yougart is the absolute best thing in all the world, it just is!
I hate BUICK because there's some subliminal message that tells all old people they must possess one, and their Xmas envy commercials are "Land of the Unwanted Toys" depressing.
The nation of Samoa changed itself right across the International Dateline, skipping last Friday altogether. What will be the fallout from this Samoan Skipday? Will this coming February 29th even things out there? Is this what the Mayans warned us about?
Why am I the same age as Gene Chizik and Sean Hannity? More importantly, why does this bother me so?
Matt K. Lewis offered up the notion that the Broncos might make the Super Bowl this season. But as Shannon Sharpe observed (and he ought to know), the Denver Donkeys will no doubt blow it in their first post-season contest. Thanks anyway, Raiders. But what Mr. Lewis, my Twitter pal, fails to understand is that this theory of his would upset the whole applecart here in Coloradoland. Lookit, John Elway had to struggle through years of hardship before sliding that first oversized ring onto his finger, if Tebow does it first time outta the box, well, then it's worse than Samoan Skipday, it's Tebow Skipcareer. Not to go all Garrison Keillor on your arses, but it just can't be that easy. Where's the pain? Where's the monumental Sisyphus cautionary tale? Sorry but the price just isn't right. We'd rather lose.
And finally, is the problem a government that is too big or simply a large and unwieldy population? Think of it this way: What if the federal government was, say, the Wal-Mart. You walk in and there are no greeters--I'm okay with that part. Then you mill around the aisles unassisted, which is fine in most cases. But there are no "price-checking stations", no cashiers, and no predictable and informative queues in which to make your purchases. You're on your own. You must use your imagination--unless you're Cee Lo Green, of course. Now IMAGINE the parking lot... I'd rather not. There are a buttload of us and like all cattle we need corralling. Back in the federalist days when there were three people in this nation of ours and they all knew each other, they could do without taking direction. Now it's a matter of public safety. We need our lines, paths, and plans just as much as we need our teachers, air traffic controllers, and paramedics. We are numerous, we are boisterous, and somehow we manage to do some pretty amazing things even with a "system of government". Government isn't "too big" though often it is too wealthy, old, and white. Government can be too reactive rather than proactive, but that's no reason to chuck the whole thing. (I'm looking at you, Ron Paul.) In the likely words of Patrick Henry, "Give me Rollbacks and Express Lanes or give me certain death!"
Back to the Clubhouse, Mitty!
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