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December 25, 2007
Peace on Earth, Good Will towards men
Posted by Andrew at 09:18 PM | Comments (0)
December 19, 2007
The Democratic Platform
I've already decided who I will vote for in the 2008 election. This ad tells us exactly what Hillary's policy agenda is-- indeed it's the policy agenda of any of the Democratic candidates. We know that it is not the policy agenda of any of the Republican candidates. Some of the Democrats will be more effective than others. But all of them value things that are quite different than what the Republicans value. The issues are distinctly drawn.
Posted by Andrew at 08:41 PM | Comments (0)
Dear Religious people,
The whole reason we separated "Church" and "State" was to keep your folks from fighting over it. I know, I know, compared to us secular folks, your differences look so small that they're not worth mentioning. But when the apparatus of the American government becomes your plaything, those differences will magnify, blood will flow...
Think I'm wrong? Take something simple like the displaying of the 10 Commandments. A religious President and congress might well make it's display mandatory. There are 3 versions of the 10 commandments-- Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish. Which of the 3 should be the one officially displayed by the US government? Why would picking sides on that issue not inflame the losers?
Please do recall that religious warfare was the norm in Europe until the Europeans gave up religion. We'd like to prevent that in this country. We've been successful so far. Making America a "Christian nation" will undo that success...
Posted by Andrew at 05:33 PM | Comments (0)
December 18, 2007
Where have you gone old McDonald, The Nation turns it's lonely eyes to you...
So: Industry beef is bad, causing the FDA to be created. The FDA protects eaters consumers by making sure that food won't kill us. Some farms don't like this, and The Nation complains
The basis of the complaint seems to be that... some farms are special. I dunno. From where I am sitting I most certainly do not want any food to evade inspection on the say-so of the farmer. Here's the thing: if the government starts making exemptions for the non-corporate farms, how long does The Nation think it will be until corporate farms start demanding the same "fair" treatment? I'd guess about 5 minutes.
Keep the health and safety laws on the books and enforced. Special privileges for certain farms will quickly become general privileges wielded by the rich. And then people start dying again...
Posted by Andrew at 04:23 PM | Comments (0)
December 17, 2007
Has the surge worked?
Baghdad is certainly less violent than it used to be. It's also less ethnically mixed than it used to be.
Are we winning? It certainly does look like the Sunni are losing...
Posted by Andrew at 12:39 PM | Comments (0)
December 15, 2007
You know who you are...
Posted by Andrew at 01:09 PM | Comments (0)
December 14, 2007
Compare and contrast
The decision not to be a resister and the related subsequent decisions were the most difficult of my life. I decided to accept the draft in spite of my beliefs for one reason: to maintain my political viability within the system. For years I have worked to prepare myself for a political life characterized by both practical political ability and concern for rapid social progress. It is a life I still feel compelled to try to lead. Bill Clinton
If I'd have known then that I was going to run for president, and I was more interested in my political future than taking my job seriously and being responsible and operating with integrity, I wouldn't have ever -- I would never have done a clemency.Mike Huckabee
Bill Clinton used the mechanisms of the system to avoid A) military service and B) being known as a draft-dodger. Mike Huckabee used the mechanisms of the system in order to... let a rapist free because in doing so he was causing pain to Bill Clinton.
Mike Huckabee thinks causing Bill Clinton pain (and in so doing, letting someone get raped and murdered) is a sign of "taking my job seriously and being responsible and operating with integrity". Think the media will care? Perhaps they agree...
Posted by Andrew at 01:03 PM | Comments (0)
December 13, 2007
For the kitten or the dogs?
moar funny pictures
Posted by Andrew at 04:42 PM | Comments (0)
December 10, 2007
Vote American-- Vote Adams!
Posted by Andrew at 12:39 PM | Comments (0)
December 09, 2007
Sometimes I wonder...
So, 95% of Americans have sex before they get married. Yet a good many Americans want the State to teach their children not to have sex before marriage. Seems like a bit of a conundrum, eh?
Perhaps the logic goes something like: If my child is old enough to have sex, I am getting old. Therefore, if we can delay the time until my child has sex, I can put off my own death.
I don't think it's conscious, but I can't think of any good reasons not to bow to the inevitable of teenaged hormones and teach them to be safe...
Posted by Andrew at 12:31 PM | Comments (1)
December 07, 2007
It's like she's clairvoyant or something...
Thursday:
In conclusion, I wouldn't be at all surprised if, as soon as Friday, the AMPTP walks out of the talks with a news release in hand that it's all the WGA's fault. (Nikki Finke
Friday:
Your determination to continue to pursue these initiatives prevents us from making anymovement in any other area. Therefore, unless you advise us immediately that these proposals
are withdrawn, we see no purpose in continuing these talks. Variety
The big sticking point? The Writer's guild wants the right to sympathy strike when the directors and actors face this same set of issues in a couple months. 2008 is looking to be the year Hollywood died. Perhaps the actors, writers, and directors will migrate north to Silicon Valley and YouTube will get some original content. Who knows? As long as the money people are unwilling to pay the creative people, what's the incentive?
Posted by Andrew at 08:42 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 01, 2007
So wrong. So very wrong..
Posted by Andrew at 04:13 PM | Comments (0)