06 June 2008
05 June 2008
I can't believe that Handy beat me to this, but he just copped out with a link... I've taken a couple days to stew on this, and I've decided just how mad I am about this... After over a year of campaigning, Barack Obama finally sealed up the Democratic nomination for President. I can't begin to express how excited and proud I was to support him and I find great validation in his success.
Having said that there seemed to be but one person in America who didn't realize that he had won, someone who, perhaps, it should have been most obvious to: ol' Hilldawg Clinton herself.
Weeks ago Obama established a majority in the race for committed delegates. Graceful point of exit for Hillary's somewhat misguided and self-serving campaign, no? Apparently not.
On Tuesday, Obama crossed the delegate threshold for earning the Democratic nomination for president, but still, Hill couldn't bring herself to admit that she'd lost. It is beyond dispute, she cannot win under any legitimate circumstances, yet could not find the grace and intelligence to call it quits, not even for her party and her nation. In fact, she had the nerve to intimate that staying in the race was somehow better for party unity. Instead of conceding for the good of the Democratic Party, she said, and I quote, "Now the question is, where do we go from here, and given how far we've come and where we need to go as a party, it's a question I don't take lightly. This has been a long campaign, and I will be making no decisions tonight." There's no deciding, the Democrats of America decided for you; you lost, it just wasn't in the cards, even though you treated yourself as inevitable from the very beginning, and to be fair and honest, most people treated you the same way, so maybe not your fault, just maybe.
She even felt the need to throw in a 9/11 reference just to keep up with the en vogue politics of fear that the Republicans practice so well. Her speech, much like a majority of her candidacy, was duplicitous and utterly self-serving. It made me sick.
Obama's victory speech, while clearly intended to be a response to a consession speech, gave me the goosebumps. I thought he started soft, but was quite gracious to Hillary Clinton, giving her the credit she richly deserves (While I may seem inherently partisan in this conversation, a stance I won't deny, you have to give credit where it is due, you don't get to run for President by accident, you have to be a good politician if nothing else).
While his praise for Clinton was effusive, he then turned his sights on John McCain. With 20,000 inside the XCel Energy Center, and a further 15,000 outside, Obama stood on the same stage that will feature McCain's nomination and announced with a loud shot across the bow, that he was coming for him. By far the highlight was this quip, showing McCain that he's not afraid to play rough: "John McCain has spent a lot of time talking about trips to Iraq in the last few weeks, but maybe if he spent some time taking trips to the cities and towns that have been hardest hit by this economy—cities in Michigan, and Ohio, and right here in Minnesota—he'd understand the kind of change that people are looking for."
Two words: Oh. Snap.
Now, since I first started this post, Clinton has announced that she would suspend her campaign on Saturday. Two problems with this. One: Why wait so long? You lost on Tuesday, it ended then, you just don't get it. Two: Why suspend and not end? Do you need the vindication of people voting for you at the nominating convention, and thereby dragging out the process? Childish at best, dreadfully irresponsible at worst.
To weigh in on the Obama/Clinton "Dream Ticket," I'm not sure I care for Clinton to be the VP anymore. I think she guarantees Obama the presidency, but I think she blew it on Tuesday. While I would welcome whatever will help the Democrats retake the White House, I think Obama should look long and hard at people like Virginia's Jim Webb, and even Big Ed Rendell. If he plays his cards right, Obama can have this thing sewed up by my birthday.
Looks like things are going to be getting exciting... I'll try to keep up with all the fun right here, it's going to be a fun ride.
UPDATE: Text of the Obama speech, with one of the massively spine tingling moments:
"Because if we are willing to work for it, and fight for it, and believe in it, then I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on earth."
UPDATE #2: Since I'm still all hot and bothered about this, here's the kind of speech we could/should have heard from Hillary on Tuesday, courtesy of none other than Ted Kennedy himself, circa 1980. Say what you will about him as a person, he is a consummate politician and this speech is one of my favorites of all time. I mean, the man was a raging alcoholic at the time and still manages to get through a Tennyson quote at the end. Simply amazing.
"For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
Having said that there seemed to be but one person in America who didn't realize that he had won, someone who, perhaps, it should have been most obvious to: ol' Hilldawg Clinton herself.
Weeks ago Obama established a majority in the race for committed delegates. Graceful point of exit for Hillary's somewhat misguided and self-serving campaign, no? Apparently not.
On Tuesday, Obama crossed the delegate threshold for earning the Democratic nomination for president, but still, Hill couldn't bring herself to admit that she'd lost. It is beyond dispute, she cannot win under any legitimate circumstances, yet could not find the grace and intelligence to call it quits, not even for her party and her nation. In fact, she had the nerve to intimate that staying in the race was somehow better for party unity. Instead of conceding for the good of the Democratic Party, she said, and I quote, "Now the question is, where do we go from here, and given how far we've come and where we need to go as a party, it's a question I don't take lightly. This has been a long campaign, and I will be making no decisions tonight." There's no deciding, the Democrats of America decided for you; you lost, it just wasn't in the cards, even though you treated yourself as inevitable from the very beginning, and to be fair and honest, most people treated you the same way, so maybe not your fault, just maybe.
She even felt the need to throw in a 9/11 reference just to keep up with the en vogue politics of fear that the Republicans practice so well. Her speech, much like a majority of her candidacy, was duplicitous and utterly self-serving. It made me sick.
Obama's victory speech, while clearly intended to be a response to a consession speech, gave me the goosebumps. I thought he started soft, but was quite gracious to Hillary Clinton, giving her the credit she richly deserves (While I may seem inherently partisan in this conversation, a stance I won't deny, you have to give credit where it is due, you don't get to run for President by accident, you have to be a good politician if nothing else).
While his praise for Clinton was effusive, he then turned his sights on John McCain. With 20,000 inside the XCel Energy Center, and a further 15,000 outside, Obama stood on the same stage that will feature McCain's nomination and announced with a loud shot across the bow, that he was coming for him. By far the highlight was this quip, showing McCain that he's not afraid to play rough: "John McCain has spent a lot of time talking about trips to Iraq in the last few weeks, but maybe if he spent some time taking trips to the cities and towns that have been hardest hit by this economy—cities in Michigan, and Ohio, and right here in Minnesota—he'd understand the kind of change that people are looking for."
Two words: Oh. Snap.
Now, since I first started this post, Clinton has announced that she would suspend her campaign on Saturday. Two problems with this. One: Why wait so long? You lost on Tuesday, it ended then, you just don't get it. Two: Why suspend and not end? Do you need the vindication of people voting for you at the nominating convention, and thereby dragging out the process? Childish at best, dreadfully irresponsible at worst.
To weigh in on the Obama/Clinton "Dream Ticket," I'm not sure I care for Clinton to be the VP anymore. I think she guarantees Obama the presidency, but I think she blew it on Tuesday. While I would welcome whatever will help the Democrats retake the White House, I think Obama should look long and hard at people like Virginia's Jim Webb, and even Big Ed Rendell. If he plays his cards right, Obama can have this thing sewed up by my birthday.
Looks like things are going to be getting exciting... I'll try to keep up with all the fun right here, it's going to be a fun ride.
UPDATE: Text of the Obama speech, with one of the massively spine tingling moments:
"Because if we are willing to work for it, and fight for it, and believe in it, then I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on earth."
UPDATE #2: Since I'm still all hot and bothered about this, here's the kind of speech we could/should have heard from Hillary on Tuesday, courtesy of none other than Ted Kennedy himself, circa 1980. Say what you will about him as a person, he is a consummate politician and this speech is one of my favorites of all time. I mean, the man was a raging alcoholic at the time and still manages to get through a Tennyson quote at the end. Simply amazing.
"For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
15 May 2008
As noted by Handy, the California Supreme Court has struck down that state's essential ban on gay marriage. Score one for the good guys (and gals), as I for one tired quite easily of anyone denying anyone, anywhere, any of their rights.
On a more predictable front, we have good ol' Dubbya scoring points for all manner of hate, foolishness and ignorance the world over. Comparing the Democrats, and parenthetically Obama, to the pre-WWII European diplomats who appeased Hitler? Really? Um, wow. I have railed in this forum about the politics of fear, how tiresome it is, and how it needs to be done away with. What we have here today, ladies and gentlemen, is fear-mongering at its very very finest. I loathe this man, I did before today, but he's taken it to a whole new level. It's nearly criminal what he's done, and what he continues to do. It makes me want to puke.
Speaking of Dubbya and his cronies, at least there is hope for justice at some point down the road.
In a related note, at least there is someone out there who has the stones to stand up to Bush and speak in the kind of elementary school language he can understand.
Oh, and on the off chance that McCain beats the Democratic nominee (probably Obama at this point, right?), at least we'll be out of Iraq in time for my 30th birthday.
Ugh.
On a more predictable front, we have good ol' Dubbya scoring points for all manner of hate, foolishness and ignorance the world over. Comparing the Democrats, and parenthetically Obama, to the pre-WWII European diplomats who appeased Hitler? Really? Um, wow. I have railed in this forum about the politics of fear, how tiresome it is, and how it needs to be done away with. What we have here today, ladies and gentlemen, is fear-mongering at its very very finest. I loathe this man, I did before today, but he's taken it to a whole new level. It's nearly criminal what he's done, and what he continues to do. It makes me want to puke.
Speaking of Dubbya and his cronies, at least there is hope for justice at some point down the road.
In a related note, at least there is someone out there who has the stones to stand up to Bush and speak in the kind of elementary school language he can understand.
Oh, and on the off chance that McCain beats the Democratic nominee (probably Obama at this point, right?), at least we'll be out of Iraq in time for my 30th birthday.
Ugh.
07 May 2008
So, apparently I'm really bad at keeping blog-related promises. This is actually somewhat surprising, considering that I like to think of myself as a fairly dependable guy. I mean, I even have extra time on my hands now that classes are over, and I'm just studying for my comps. It would seem, however, that every time I make a promise of something funny in this here forum I fall into some random existential funk. Seriously, it's not cool. So rather than lay a big literary turd on all of you, I'm still working on getting the manifesto off the ground. Look for it soon-ish, I hope. Once I'm done dealing with my own shit, I'll get right to it. In the meantime, keep yourself entertained here, with a debate about friendship and the sexes, and here, because hey, everyone needs to know a little more about whiskey.
03 May 2008
Sorry guys, I know I've been promising something funny, and I was working on it , but then this happened earlier today.
A quick summary:
"A Philadelphia police officer was shot and killed with a military assault rifle late this morning when he confronted at least two robbers who had just held up a Bank of America branch at a Shoprite supermarket in Port Richmond.
"Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey identified the slain officer as Stephen Liczbinski, 40, a 12-year police veteran assigned to the 24th District in Port Richmond who recently had been promoted to sergeant. Liczbinski’s wife, Michelle, and their three children — Matt, Steven and Amber — were escorted into the hospital by police officials.
"Liczbinski ran into the robbers sometime after they fled the bank. Officials said the weapon used to kill him may have been an AK-47 style assault rifle, used by numerous armies and insurgent groups around the world."
After speaking with a 92nd District officer at work before I left tonight, I can confirm that the weapon used was an AK-47 and that Sgt. Liczbinski was shot 8 times as he got out of this patrol vehicle, executed before he even had a chance to be prepared to defend himself. I can't begin to explain how angry and upset I am over this... No public safety officer should ever have to face this type of incident... I understand that violence is a part of the job as a cop, especially in such a violent city as Philadelphia, but any officer should be able to rely on his or her bulletproof vest to protect them, but Sgt. Liczbinski had no such luck, and that's just wrong... I take some comfort in the knowledge that one of the three suspects was shot and killed in another confrontation with the PPD shortly thereafter.
There have been two legitimate executions of police officers in less than a year... One shot and killed when he walked in on a robery during his daily trip to Dunkin Donuts and now this. Maybe it's just that I don't understand the culture of violence, or if I'm just horribly out of touch, but this whole situation saddens, confuses and infuriates me. To be honest with you, I don't particularly care one iota if either of the two remaining suspects ever sees the inside of a jail cell... I hope that the PPD finds them and gives them the justice they deserve, which does not involve being housed and fed at state expense for the remainder of their life, if you understand what I'm saying.
RIP Sgt. Liczbinski... I hope you all will join me in praying for him and his family during this horrible time.
UPDATE: Closure before the funeral.
A quick summary:
"A Philadelphia police officer was shot and killed with a military assault rifle late this morning when he confronted at least two robbers who had just held up a Bank of America branch at a Shoprite supermarket in Port Richmond.
"Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey identified the slain officer as Stephen Liczbinski, 40, a 12-year police veteran assigned to the 24th District in Port Richmond who recently had been promoted to sergeant. Liczbinski’s wife, Michelle, and their three children — Matt, Steven and Amber — were escorted into the hospital by police officials.
"Liczbinski ran into the robbers sometime after they fled the bank. Officials said the weapon used to kill him may have been an AK-47 style assault rifle, used by numerous armies and insurgent groups around the world."
After speaking with a 92nd District officer at work before I left tonight, I can confirm that the weapon used was an AK-47 and that Sgt. Liczbinski was shot 8 times as he got out of this patrol vehicle, executed before he even had a chance to be prepared to defend himself. I can't begin to explain how angry and upset I am over this... No public safety officer should ever have to face this type of incident... I understand that violence is a part of the job as a cop, especially in such a violent city as Philadelphia, but any officer should be able to rely on his or her bulletproof vest to protect them, but Sgt. Liczbinski had no such luck, and that's just wrong... I take some comfort in the knowledge that one of the three suspects was shot and killed in another confrontation with the PPD shortly thereafter.
There have been two legitimate executions of police officers in less than a year... One shot and killed when he walked in on a robery during his daily trip to Dunkin Donuts and now this. Maybe it's just that I don't understand the culture of violence, or if I'm just horribly out of touch, but this whole situation saddens, confuses and infuriates me. To be honest with you, I don't particularly care one iota if either of the two remaining suspects ever sees the inside of a jail cell... I hope that the PPD finds them and gives them the justice they deserve, which does not involve being housed and fed at state expense for the remainder of their life, if you understand what I'm saying.
RIP Sgt. Liczbinski... I hope you all will join me in praying for him and his family during this horrible time.
UPDATE: Closure before the funeral.
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