She has just the right amout of "country" for East coast yankees like me to appreciate.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Berlusconi at the White House for Columbus Day
CNN reports on the Italian Premier's visit to the White House. The article describes a bizarre mishap that occurred.
In his haste to honor Bush, Berlusconi accidentally bumped the podium from which he was speaking in the crowded dining room. It fell apart, leaving the grinning Italian to advance on the president with just its top and attached microphones.
The crowd of prominent Americans, Italians, and Italian-Americans burst into appreciative laughter and applause.
The gathering was in honor of Columbus Day, a yearly celebration of all things Italian and Italian-American. Guests included Frankie Valli, who performed some of his best-known Four Seasons hits.
In addressing President Bush on the impending financial crisis threatening not only the United States, but Europe as well, Berlusconi said this:
"I am 100 percent sure and confident that we have the means and ways to prevent this from happening, and that the wealth of our citizens, the wealth that our citizens enjoy, will not be affected by this," the Italian leader said.
Does anyone else find something wrong with that? This is the richest man in Italy, or at least he was until earlier this year, and one of the 50 richest in the world talking to Bush, who is no pauper himself about the "wealth of our citizens." I find it absolutely infuriating to the point of Marie-Antoinette absurdity.
What do you think? Do these rich politicians have the good of the people at heart? Or are they impervious to the pleas of the masses and look only to enrich themselves?
Who is more likely to address this age old problem, McCain or Obama?
Let us have your opinion.
In his haste to honor Bush, Berlusconi accidentally bumped the podium from which he was speaking in the crowded dining room. It fell apart, leaving the grinning Italian to advance on the president with just its top and attached microphones.
The crowd of prominent Americans, Italians, and Italian-Americans burst into appreciative laughter and applause.
The gathering was in honor of Columbus Day, a yearly celebration of all things Italian and Italian-American. Guests included Frankie Valli, who performed some of his best-known Four Seasons hits.
In addressing President Bush on the impending financial crisis threatening not only the United States, but Europe as well, Berlusconi said this:
"I am 100 percent sure and confident that we have the means and ways to prevent this from happening, and that the wealth of our citizens, the wealth that our citizens enjoy, will not be affected by this," the Italian leader said.
Does anyone else find something wrong with that? This is the richest man in Italy, or at least he was until earlier this year, and one of the 50 richest in the world talking to Bush, who is no pauper himself about the "wealth of our citizens." I find it absolutely infuriating to the point of Marie-Antoinette absurdity.
What do you think? Do these rich politicians have the good of the people at heart? Or are they impervious to the pleas of the masses and look only to enrich themselves?
Who is more likely to address this age old problem, McCain or Obama?
Let us have your opinion.
Monday, October 13, 2008
The Old Double Standard - Revised and Edited
When posting this one last week, I had misread the original article I'd linked to. I thought Sarah Palin had made the quotes herself, but Graham was very clear. His point was that she is guilty be association with Joe Vogler, Founder of The Alaska Independence Party, who really did say them.
I'm absolutely embarrassed about this, but at least now I understand what you commenters were talking about.
I'd like to extend my sincerest apologies to Sarah Palin, first of all, and to anyone else who noticed and minded. Even though I want this to be entertainment and not journalism, what I wrote was unacceptable and won't require all that much research to avoid in the future.
*********************************************
On the wonderfully informative site called The Cognoscenti, Graham asks a very pointed question.
Why does Sarah Palin get a free pass?
This question is in reference to her membership in the Alaska Independence Party. I've read about this here and there, but frankly didn't pay much attention. But, while reading what Graham has to say about it, I realized there's a major double standard going on. Imagine if Obama had selected a VP running mate who had said the un-American things Sarah Palin has said? (here's where I went wrong) Do you think the Republican mud-slingers would have been so quiet about it? Examples:
"I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I've got no use for America or her damned institutions."
"And I won’t be buried under their damn flag. I’ll be buried in Dawson. And when Alaska is an independent nation they can bring my bones home.”
I'll answer my own question. If Joe Biden had ever said things like that, we would have been bombarded with it like there's no tomorrow. Look at what they've done with the Ayers business, the desperate, straw-clutching Republicans. The explanation is obvious. Obama must have instructed his advisors to try, as much as is possible in a presidential campaign, to maintain some dignity, to not stoop to using every low blow they could. And the reason for that is also obvious. He could afford to do it. He's the better candidate. People are ready for a change.
What do you think?
I'm absolutely embarrassed about this, but at least now I understand what you commenters were talking about.
I'd like to extend my sincerest apologies to Sarah Palin, first of all, and to anyone else who noticed and minded. Even though I want this to be entertainment and not journalism, what I wrote was unacceptable and won't require all that much research to avoid in the future.
*********************************************
On the wonderfully informative site called The Cognoscenti, Graham asks a very pointed question.
Why does Sarah Palin get a free pass?
This question is in reference to her membership in the Alaska Independence Party. I've read about this here and there, but frankly didn't pay much attention. But, while reading what Graham has to say about it, I realized there's a major double standard going on. Imagine if Obama had selected a VP running mate who had said the un-American things Sarah Palin has said? (here's where I went wrong) Do you think the Republican mud-slingers would have been so quiet about it? Examples:
"I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I've got no use for America or her damned institutions."
"And I won’t be buried under their damn flag. I’ll be buried in Dawson. And when Alaska is an independent nation they can bring my bones home.”
I'll answer my own question. If Joe Biden had ever said things like that, we would have been bombarded with it like there's no tomorrow. Look at what they've done with the Ayers business, the desperate, straw-clutching Republicans. The explanation is obvious. Obama must have instructed his advisors to try, as much as is possible in a presidential campaign, to maintain some dignity, to not stoop to using every low blow they could. And the reason for that is also obvious. He could afford to do it. He's the better candidate. People are ready for a change.
What do you think?
Barack Obama By a Landslide
I really know next to nothing about politics. This is due to the fact that I turned my back on it, figuratively speaking, after the Viet Nam period. Only about two years ago did I begin to get interested again, partly because I do read the news and feel the world is in terrible shape now, much worse than in the 70s, and partly because I heard Obama speak and thought he was the only credible sounding politician I'd ever heard.
I predicted Obama by a landslide. It was a bit tongue in cheek because of my near total ignorance on the subject. It was more wishful thinking than anything.
Today The Washington Post front page headline says Obama is 10 points ahead of McCain.
With just over three weeks until Election Day, the two presidential nominees appear to be on opposite trajectories, with Sen. Barack Obama gaining momentum and Sen. John McCain stalled or losing ground on a range of issues and personal traits, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
What's your opinion? Do you think this is exaggerated spinning on the part of a liberal newspaper?
I predicted Obama by a landslide. It was a bit tongue in cheek because of my near total ignorance on the subject. It was more wishful thinking than anything.
Today The Washington Post front page headline says Obama is 10 points ahead of McCain.
With just over three weeks until Election Day, the two presidential nominees appear to be on opposite trajectories, with Sen. Barack Obama gaining momentum and Sen. John McCain stalled or losing ground on a range of issues and personal traits, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
What's your opinion? Do you think this is exaggerated spinning on the part of a liberal newspaper?
California Inmate Found Dead in Cell
The Los Angeles Times reports on the apparent suicide of a convicted murderer who was on death row in San Quentin.
Suicide is suspected in the death of Edward Dean Bridges, 55, said Terry Thornton, a spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Bridges had been on San Quentin State Prison's death row since 1992 for the robbery and murder of William Seiler, an attorney who was kidnapped in Tustin and forced to drive to a remote area in Riverside County.
Whenever I read one of these fairly frequent reports, I wonder if it really was suicide. Prison can be a dangerous place. I'm sure there have been cases where the guards took matters into their own hands, either directly or by turning a blind eye.
As if to add fuel to my fire, the article continues:
In the 30 years since California reinstated capital punishment, 15 condemned inmates have committed suicide, exceeding the 14 who have been executed. Another 41 died from natural causes.
Suicide is suspected in the death of Edward Dean Bridges, 55, said Terry Thornton, a spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Bridges had been on San Quentin State Prison's death row since 1992 for the robbery and murder of William Seiler, an attorney who was kidnapped in Tustin and forced to drive to a remote area in Riverside County.
Whenever I read one of these fairly frequent reports, I wonder if it really was suicide. Prison can be a dangerous place. I'm sure there have been cases where the guards took matters into their own hands, either directly or by turning a blind eye.
As if to add fuel to my fire, the article continues:
In the 30 years since California reinstated capital punishment, 15 condemned inmates have committed suicide, exceeding the 14 who have been executed. Another 41 died from natural causes.
The plight of convicted inmates is certainly a bleak one. If there were no shenanigans taking place and all those suicides were just that, suicide, that's pretty bleak. If what I suspect happened in some cases, it's even worse. And the 41 who died from natural causes probably include some who received inadequate care or none at all.
I realize that each of these people caused damage in the lives of others. I don't for a second discount the plight of the victims of their crimes. But I think it's appalling what prisoners in America have to endure. I say they have not ceased to be human beings by committing crimes however despicable they might have been. As human beings they deserve better.
What do you think?
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Commenting Policy - Blog Regulations
My Commenting Policy is basically anything goes. My Blog Rules are none whatsoever.
In the five months or so that I've been doing this, I've not found it necessary to delete anything or restrict anyone in any way. I personally like profanity and welcome criticism and disagreement. I've described the attributes necessary to comment here as "having a thick skin and a quick wit." Those who can't take the heat just go away after one or two attempts.
Recently I've been criticized a couple times for "not checking my sources." Well, I am guilty of that and I have no intention of changing it. Beyond providing a link to the place where I get something, I don't really want to investigate any deeper. I'm not trying to pass myself off as the BBC or the CNN. In fact, my only criterion for including something in a post is if I like it, period. This has ranged from the purely satirical Sarah Palin and Amy Winehouse are Twins, to the polemical The Great Gun Survey Results and Conclusions, to the roundly criticized The Old Double Standard.
Usually, I pose what I think are provocative questions at the end of a post. Often I state my own opinion. I consider it entertainment not journalism.
In the five months or so that I've been doing this, I've not found it necessary to delete anything or restrict anyone in any way. I personally like profanity and welcome criticism and disagreement. I've described the attributes necessary to comment here as "having a thick skin and a quick wit." Those who can't take the heat just go away after one or two attempts.
Recently I've been criticized a couple times for "not checking my sources." Well, I am guilty of that and I have no intention of changing it. Beyond providing a link to the place where I get something, I don't really want to investigate any deeper. I'm not trying to pass myself off as the BBC or the CNN. In fact, my only criterion for including something in a post is if I like it, period. This has ranged from the purely satirical Sarah Palin and Amy Winehouse are Twins, to the polemical The Great Gun Survey Results and Conclusions, to the roundly criticized The Old Double Standard.
Usually, I pose what I think are provocative questions at the end of a post. Often I state my own opinion. I consider it entertainment not journalism.
Gun Sales Up - Reason: Barack Obama
Via Lawyers, Guns & Money, I came across this fascinating article on the Confederate Yankee site entitled Battleground State of Mind. It's the simple account of a man who goes into a busy pawn shop.
Of the 12 people in the shop when I was there, the 11 others were all looking at firearms. A CZ-58 and an AK-47 variant were on the counter in front of one pair of customers. An off-duty sheriff and his friend were picking up what I think was a DPMS LR-308 complete with scope and bipod. Another guy was looking at a used Polytech M-14, and the remainder were looking at handguns... mostly Glocks and CZ-75s.
The explanation as proffered by one of the gun buyers was a single word, "Barack."
Naturally this made me wonder if some of the usual commenters on this blog are right about Obama's ideas on gun control. In spite of some of his campaign speeches in which he claims to be a believer in the 2nd Amendment and will not take anyone's guns away, many seem to think his record speaks louder and it says gun control is coming.
What do you think? Is Barack Obama really in favor of gun control and lying when he says otherwise? Isn't it possible that he's changed on the issue, that in the past he's voted one way but now as Presitend he'll follow a different path, one more favorable to gon-owners?
Do you think the gun owners who are stocking up on weapons and ammunition are acting on a reasonably likely future scenario? Or are they simply paranoid?
Of the 12 people in the shop when I was there, the 11 others were all looking at firearms. A CZ-58 and an AK-47 variant were on the counter in front of one pair of customers. An off-duty sheriff and his friend were picking up what I think was a DPMS LR-308 complete with scope and bipod. Another guy was looking at a used Polytech M-14, and the remainder were looking at handguns... mostly Glocks and CZ-75s.
The explanation as proffered by one of the gun buyers was a single word, "Barack."
Naturally this made me wonder if some of the usual commenters on this blog are right about Obama's ideas on gun control. In spite of some of his campaign speeches in which he claims to be a believer in the 2nd Amendment and will not take anyone's guns away, many seem to think his record speaks louder and it says gun control is coming.
What do you think? Is Barack Obama really in favor of gun control and lying when he says otherwise? Isn't it possible that he's changed on the issue, that in the past he's voted one way but now as Presitend he'll follow a different path, one more favorable to gon-owners?
Do you think the gun owners who are stocking up on weapons and ammunition are acting on a reasonably likely future scenario? Or are they simply paranoid?
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