Friday, February 26, 2010
Healthcare Summit 2010 Part 1
My plan is to have a wider discussion with more video postings from the Healthcare Summit, but I wanted to kick off with this video clip from Fox News' Shepard Smith. I am not a huge fan of Fox News, but I have like Shepard for sometime, and feel of the personalities on Fox he tends to be the most fair. (I know that isn't saying much when it comes to Fox, but the it is what it is.)
Labels: Health care reform
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
WWII vet recalls harrowing moment over Nazi Germany
This article is being posted with limited commentary. I believe that the heroism involved speaks for itself.
I am glad he is being honored, and I am glad that his sons took the initiative.
Labels: Heroes
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Palin's speech at the Tea Party Convention
The transcript that I am working from is at Palin Transcript.
"It is just so inspiring to see real people." As usual she implies that people who have a difference of opinion with her are not 'real' people. I am really tired of this kind of bullshit. I as real of an American and as real of a person as any at the Tea Party, I just don't agree with Sarah's positions.
"So he stood up, and he decided that he was going to do his part to put our government back on the side of the people." This statement is about Scott Brown. I am not sure how the government is not on the side of the people now. Oh, right it is not being run by Republicans.
"... President Obama foundsome way to make this all about George Bush. You know, considering the recent conservative election sweep, it’s time that they stop blaming everyone else. When you’re O for three, you’d better stop lecturing and start listening." I am not sure what she is referring to about blaming George Bush, unless it was when the President made the statement that the same anger that swept him into office also swept Scott Brown into office. And the 0 for 3 suspiciously overlooks the Tea Party backed candidate in NY that lost his race and swept a Democrat into office for the first time in over 100 years in that district.
"Because from Virginia to New Jersey to Massachusetts, voters are sending a message up and down the East Coast and in good places like Nevada and Connecticutt and Colorado, Michigan, North Dakota, they got the liberal left—that establishment running scared." Yes, because the fact that more Republicans are not running for re-election in the fall really has the 'establishment' running scared. It once again overlooks the NY situation, and that her good friend John McCain is in trouble with his own re-election.
"And it’s a lot bigger than any charismatic guy with a teleprompter." Nice swipe, to bad it was from notes in front of her, and was made just a week after she tore the House Republicans apart with out notes or a Teleprompter. I doubt Ms. Palin could do the same if challenged.
"New terms used like “overseas contingency operation” instead of the word “war.” " Yes, because the Administration has never used the word war. Come on, let's at least be intellectually honest in the discussion. Well I guess I can't expect intellectual honesty out of an intellectual void.
"What followed was equally disturbing. After he was captured, he was questioned for only fifty minutes. We had a choice in how to do this. The choice was only question him for fifty minutes and then read his Miranda Rights." Yes let's continue the bullshit spin. First off, perhaps Ms Palin need to go back and look up Richard Reed (The Shoe Bomber) and how he was treated by the Bush Administration. Second perhaps she need to put down her ghostwritten book and perhaps follow current events. There were reports for the last 2 weeks how the FBI have continued to interrogate Mutallub and have gotten huge amounts of intelligence, verified from other sources, and that can now be acted upon. Of course, no torture was involved so it wasn't good enough for Sarah.
"...there are questions we would have liked this foreign terrorist to answer because he lawyered up and invoked our U.S. Constitutional right to remain silent" Perhaps if she followed the news she would realize they have probably been answered.
"...we’re going to bestow them on a terrorist who hates our Constitution and wants to destroy our Constitution and our country? This makes no sense because we have a choice in how we’re going to deal with the terrorists. We don’t have to go down that road." Perhaps Sarah, as the Constitutional scholar that she is, could explain where the Constitution states that it would not apply in this situation. I think in my readings of the Constitution. I have missed that.
"The events surrounding the Christmas Day plot reflect the kind of thinking that led to September 11th." Like the actual Pre-911 attitude that lead to the Bush administration ignoring the warnings and allowing 9-11 to actually happen?
"They know we’re at war. And to win that war, we need a commander-in-chief, not a PROFESSOR OF LAW STANDING AT THE LECTURN!" You mean like the Commander-in-Chief who took several months to actual figure out the best way forward in Afghanistan with the military commanders, as opposed to fire anyone in the upper chain of command who didn't tell him exactly what he wanted to hear. Or the Commander-in-Chief who fulfilled a long standing request for additional troops in Afghanistan, instead of letting it languish on his desk for months without paying attention to it like GWB.
"It’s that same kind of misguided thinking that is seen throughout the administration’s foreign policy decisions. Our president spent a year reaching out to hostile regimes, writing personal letters to dangerous dictators, and APOLOGIZING FOR AMERICA! " Nice talking point about apologizing for America, to bad its pure bullshit and isn't supported by anything but Right Wing delusions.
"Here’s what we have to show. North Korea tested nuclear weapons and longer range ballistic missiles." This is very good point, to bad most of the development of those missiles were done under the Bush Administrations 8 year tenure running our foreign policy.
"Plans for a missile defense system in Europe . . . they’ve been scrapped." Mainly because the military didn't want the systems, they were years behind schedule, billions over budget, and no workable system in sight, but let's not let reality get in the way of a good talking point.
"And around the world, people who are seeking freedom from opressive regimes, wonder if Alaska is still that beacon of hope for their cause. " Alaska? WTF? Even with a pre-written speech she didn't get that one correct. I think I will leave to speak for itself.
"The administration cut support for democracy programs, and where the president has not been clear, I ask, “Where is his clear and where is his strong voice support for the Iranians who are risking all in their opposition to Ahmadinejad?”" I just don't know what she expects the President to say to support people in a country that we have no intention of 'invading.' He has stated that he feels the government needs to make reforms. There is not much more to be said.
"Foreign policy can’t be managed through the politics of personality. And our president would do well to take note of an observation John F. Kennedy had made once he was in office: that all the world’s problems are his predecessor’s fault. The problems that we face in the real world require real solutions, and we better get to it, because the risks that they pose are great, and they’re grave." Yes because it's clear that this Administration is trying to manage through the "politics of personality," as opposed to Sarah who is all substance. Please, she is the definition of "politics of personality." And she is right, we are facing grave problems that require real solutions, not the bullshit political nonsense she has spouted.
Well hopefully Sarah will get torn apart for her stupidity, but by all means I hope the Tea Party and the Republicans continue to back her, I don't think she is electable. But then again, I didn't support Barack at the beginning either, because I wasn't sure he was electable.
Labels: Commentary, Obama Admin, Politics
Friday, February 05, 2010
Flags and political protest
Looking back at the past, I have always found the burning of flags as a political protest a bit odd. I understand the symbolism, just never understood the reasoning for doing it in many of the domestic situations.
The new things seems to be flying the flag upside down in the symbol of distress. I understand the thinking, 'I disagree with the direction the country is going.' I suspect a lot of the people who are feeling this way, were supporters of GWB in all his glory, and don't like the fact that a non-Republican is in the White House.
When I was in college, there was a girl on campus, who was into the punk scene at the school, who war a military field jacket with the flag patch upside down. Even then I felt it was a stupid thing, apparently I haven't 'grown' on this issue.
I am not suggesting that what people are disgusted/angry/upset/worried about is bad. I think there are a lot of things to be worried about in this country, but I am not really sure that these types of protests are going to really accomplish.
I do know one thing, we won't see anyone advocating a Constitutional amendment outlawing flying your flag in that position.
Labels: Commentary
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
New Leopard Species
The little beauty above is a newly identified species of Leopard known as the Borneo Clouded Leopard. As a fan of cats of all sizes I thought I would post this picture. The link below is for the National Geographic short article about the pretty kitty.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uX4SXw3Cs1_rEo3i4Xub_XyKhpIv0EGOkN81r_174C6qnXUoiPpe4QK2bLOr-nDkHkbepwYH3GE4XaPzGYGSWcWvDsn3yfQZ50aQqT9WH43Wk8kDO9luGdXIBbf5k19UHIstdptspcDegUnJqZXoqF=s0-d)
Labels: Cats
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Superbowl Ad Controversy
Just to be clear on this up front, I am not gay and I am not a woman. Therefore, I have no horse in this race.
While I haven't seen either of the ads in question I am interested in the situation that CBS has apparently put itself in. They have accepted the 'Focus on the Family' ad that discusses abortion, and stars College football star Tim Tebow's mother. The other ad in the situation for a gay men's dating website called Mancrunch.com.
I am not sure that the Superbowl is a good place for politically charged advertising. I have always enjoyed the entertainment value of the advertising during the Superbowl, and for the most part they have been interesting and creative. (The cat wrangling ad from several years ago still makes me chuckle when I think about it.)
To state clearly on both these issue. Abortion: I can't have one. I do believe that they should be legal in the US but I also believe that they should be rare. My instincts tell me that a good number of the abortions preformed in the US are for 'convenient' birth control and not for other medical reasons. Homosexuality/Gay dating: I have some friends from both high school and college that are gay. I really couldn't care less. On a religious basis I have a problem with the activities of homosexual men, but only on a religious basis. My religious feeling on the matter does not have an affect on the legal positions I take, they are based on what the US law says or should represent.
Having said all that I have. I really don't want to see either of these ads during the Superbowl. I have a problem with CBS accepting the 'Focus on the Family' 'Pro-Life' ad and rejecting the 'Mancrunch.com' ad. This shows a bias towards a particular political agenda which I don't feel should be a part of a major sporting events broadcast.
As an added note: this is not the first time that CBS has rejected ads that don't fit a certain political agenda for a Superbowl broadcast. While they have the right to broadcast what they wish, I don't think this is a good venue for them to be displaying a political agenda.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
It has been some time
I have been away for some time. I had some issues with my home internet connection, and my wife was with me in Buffalo for a period of time, but was not feeling well or getting comfortable in Buffalo.
She is at least temporarily back in Ohio with her parents, and is starting to feel a bit better. Hopefully she will get herself straightened around.
In other personal news. I am starting to settle a bit in Buffalo, and I am enjoying my job. I still have a lot to learn after 6 months, but the basics are under control.
Well that is a brief update, hope to be back soon.
Labels: Personal
