Category: Politics

Cheney: House is undermining the troops – Yahoo! News

Cheney: House is undermining the troops – Yahoo! News:

“Cheney called it a myth that ‘one can support the troops without giving them the tools and reinforcements they need to carry out their mission.'”

(Via Yahoo! News.)

I agree. Providing body armor at the outset of the war would have been nice. Funding proper medical facilities for the wounded after they’ve sacrificed limb. They went to war with “the army you have.” And this is when the administration had a blank check. Actually, this administration has done far more to undermine the troops than the hand-wringing, rubber-for-backbone Dems have ever done. But then again, what else should we expect from a Dick whose every prediction turns out to be wrong?

Why I’m not a Conservative

Facts. They are a show stopper! Ignorance mixed with a touch of condescension and a complete lack of self-knowledge make for a very strong common pattern among these so-called conservatives: they come off like sophomoric fools. The recent interview by Jon Stewart of John Bolton on a recent episode of The Daily Show is a grand example of this common pattern. Bolton’s comment, “[Officials in the administration] should be judged on their performance,” is particularly poignant. By that standard alone, Bush’s presidency is a near-complete failure. (To those who think that the lack of a major terrorist attack in the US is proof of competence, I have one word: Katrina.)
Bolton interview (about 9 minutes):

And the recap setting the record straight (about 5 minutes):

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” –Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Black like Me

I recently read an article about Barack Obama that got me incensed. All I could think was “Player Hater!” After calming down and looking over a post + comments on the Barbershop Notebooks, I came across a great comment by “Afrikabelle.”

Comment on “Barack Obama – Professional Bulls***er?” Article:

“Here, Obama stands, with the potential to single-handedly brush the 450-year old chip off the African-American shoulder, destroying whatever venom lives in little Black boy psyches, whispering to them that their kind could never be president. And yet, all the talented tenth men and women want to do is to hop on big media and use Obama as an excuse to hear their own selves sound intelligent.”

(Via The Barbershop Notebooks.)

Politics in a well functioning democracy is about the art of the possible, the art of compromise. Al Sharpton has as much chance of becoming president as Ralph Nader. Yet that’s what all too many black folk expect in the first black president. My father-in-law (a man who had to drive around with a gun in the South) said something to me about Bush I won’t soon forget, “He [Bush II] forgets that he’s president of all the people.” Not everyone in this country is a card carrying pro-Lifer or communist. In fact, no one is “red” or “blue.” I’m pro life, pro gay rights/marriage, pro business/entreprenurship, pro worker rights, pro affirmative action/civil rights, and pro environment. What does that make me? Your typical voter.

Continue reading “Black like Me”

The Few, The Proud, The Organized

Non-profits do have the responsibility of representing the interests of their clients. If that means political action, then so be it. But outrage? I think not. That’s the job of the polity. Non-profits lobby, but don’t vote. You and I do.

One of the truths of politics in a democracy is that a small, motivated, organized minority can (and does) exert its will over a large, less motivated, and far less organized majority. Witness the overwhelming support for sensible, common sense gun control, e.g. the ban on assault weapons, and the power exerted by the NRA.
My good friend, Marc Hill, recently wrote, “Non-profits have the responsibility of outrage when government policy creates and exacerbates misery: Charities need to speak up and demand that Congress get Washington’s foreign policy and its financial priorities in order.” Non-profits do have the responsibility of representing the interests of their clients. If that means political action, then so be it. But outrage? I think not. That’s the job of the polity, political parties, PACs, etc. Non-profits lobby, but don’t vote. You and I do.
Non-profit, charitable organizations could exert more political power, but would they? Like their for profit brethren, non-profit organizations compete for a limited amount of charitable money, low interest loans, and grants. These competing interests limit organizing in a fashion most efficient to exerting power in a democracy: building coalitions based on common interest. Competition in many dimensions drives them apart.

Biden’s Reservoir

I’m sad to say that Joe Biden not only stepped on his tongue, but he spilled some of his racial beans as well. I won’t comment on the offensive nature of his remarks since others have already done such a good job. I will say that Biden’s remarks are much like those of Michael Richards or Isaiah Washington in that they come from a deep reservoir of cultural sentiment (or should I say resentment?) towards black and/or gay folk. It doesn’t matter what his intentions were. In fact, I have no doubt that Biden’s intentions were generally benign, but that matters little when he opened his mouth merely to find a place for his political foot.
UPDATE: My man got on to speak on the O’Reilly Factor.

Disagreeably Agreeing

Here, a good man was taking a position that as he understands it, is of God. Yet, many of us saw sanctimony, arrogance, even hatred. The arguments are so pitched and positions so entrenched that they can cause hard feelings among the closest of friends. (Even I fell victim to my emotions getting ahead of my judgment.) I knew that the debate was important, but there had be a better way.

Recently, I had a long email conversation with some friends about an article on gays. Naturally, differences arose and one particular guy voiced his strong opposition to it on the grounds that it is “against God.” I took exception to this. At one point, he made some very personal disclosures and his experiences with “working with gay men” and relatives dying of AIDS. Not exactly trivial stuff or glib commentary.
He rooted his entire argument on the grounds of the dictates of his faith, dictates whose very nature are unyielding and absolute. I knew this to be a powerful means for living a sanctified life “apart from the world”, but very, very dangerous when operating in it, esp. the public square. His arguments elicited accusations of “holier-than-thou” sanctimony and the like, which upon reflection were unfair but typical in today’s political environment of acrimony and bitter suspicion. Here we have a good man taking a position that is God’s as he understands it. Yet, some of us saw sanctimony, arrogance, even hatred in his words. The debate is so pitched and positions so entrenched that they can cause hard feelings among the closest of friends. (Even I fell victim to my emotions getting ahead of my judgment.) I knew that the debate was important, but there had be a better way.

Continue reading “Disagreeably Agreeing”

Fuzzy Math

I’ve long been a fan of Robert Kiyosaki and the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series of books and was surprised to come across this gem of an article. Not for the writing, but for the statement on our leaders inability to even adequately manage this country’s vast wealth. This applies esp. to Bush who has borrowed into the stratosphere. And let’s not forget that in the midst of repealing the so-called “death tax” that only 1 in 37,000 of us will actually pay. More of the burden for repaying this debt will fall to our children long after those who are responsible for it have left the scene.

What Ails GM and America?: Why the Rich Get Richer – Yahoo! Finance:

“I would say that what’s good for GM and for America is to treat workers and investors fairly. Tell us the truth. Admit incompetence. Stop pretending. Stop the fuzzy math. Of course, telling the truth will mean being thrown out of office, but that might be a good start for an economic recovery.”

I’ve long been a fan of Robert Kiyosaki and the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series of books and was surprised to come across this gem of an article. Not for the writing, but for the statement on our leaders inability to even adequately manage this country’s vast wealth. This applies esp. to Bush who has borrowed into the stratosphere. And let’s not forget that in the midst of repealing the so-called “death tax” that only 1 in 37,000 of us will actually pay. More of the burden for repaying this debt will fall to our children long after those who are responsible for it have left the scene.

Dealing with the Devil?

Print Story: US sweetens offer to Iran: diplomats on Yahoo! News:

“The United States is proposing ‘lifting sanctions partially, not only waiving sanctions but actually lifting them,’ in an agreement to be worked out in multilateral talks that would start once Iran suspended uranium enrichment, said a senior Western diplomat, who requested anonymity.”

I think we have some final proof of the failure of Bush’s preventative war doctrine. We are dealing with the Axis now. So much for cowboy diplomacy.

It’s Not What You Know

The Harvard Crimson :: News :: Bush’s Personal Aide To Enroll at Business School:

“A 26-year-old college dropout who carries President Bush’s breath mints and makes him peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches will follow in his boss’s footsteps this fall when he enrolls at Harvard Business School (HBS). “

After reading this article, I was a bit dumbstruck for adequate words. However, my good friend Taalib was not so afflicted:

I don’t wanna hear a damn thing about how Affirmative Action “let’s in” unqualified blacks and trumps qualified whites. People accept who they wanna if they have the power. Former HBSers should be in an uproar!
T (“Merit is still worth something to me,” DA!)

Ousted CIA No. 3 Is Target of Raids

Ousted CIA No. 3 Is Target of Raids:

“Federal agents yesterday searched the CIA offices and Northern Virginia home of Kyle “Dusty” Foggo, the spy agency’s No. 3 official who was forced to resign this week amid a widening criminal investigation into allegations of government corruption and bribery.”

Live by the sword. Die by the sword.