Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Watch The DNCC At Your Own Pace

- Politics -

No need to follow every second of the Democratic National Convention stuck in front of the television.

Thanks to modern technology, each speech given on the DNCC floor can be accessed on-demand from a high-definition feed using your computer. Both the picture and sound qualities are superb.

The DNCC site streams the action live as well, helping those of you not by the TV, or for those who’d rather watch the speeches instead of the pundits battling amongst themselves.

Take a peek yourself.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Obama’s Excellent Choice of a Would-Be First Lady

- Politics -

Michelle Obama gives speech to the Democratic National Convention

Last night, in front of the Democratic National Convention and television audiences, Michelle Obama gave the best speech of the presidential campaign.

Along the way, Michelle did a wonderful job at eloquently telling her own great American dream story, the story of how she and Obama came to meet, and how in-touch she and Barack are with the everyday woes of Americans — all in an attempt to close the book on people saying they do not know who the Obamas really are.

I recommend you watch the speech and judge for yourself. (I went ahead and embedded the video below as well.)

But here is a series that stood out to me in her wonderful, eloquent, remarkable speech.

(I made lines I found particularly moving bold.)

I stand here today at the crosscurrents of that history - knowing that my piece of the American Dream is a blessing hard won by those who came before me. All of them driven by the same conviction that drove my dad to get up an hour early each day to painstakingly dress himself for work. The same conviction that drives the men and women I’ve met all across this country:

People who work the day shift, kiss their kids goodnight, and head out for the night shift - without disappointment, without regret - that goodnight kiss a reminder of everything they’re working for.

The military families who say grace each night with an empty seat at the table. The servicemen and women who love this country so much, they leave those they love most to defend it.

The young people across America serving our communities - teaching children, cleaning up neighborhoods, caring for the least among us each and every day.

People like Hillary Clinton, who put those 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling, so that our daughters - and sons - can dream a little bigger and aim a little higher.

People like Joe Biden, who’s never forgotten where he came from, and never stopped fighting for folks who work long hours and face long odds and need someone on their side again.

All of us driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won’t do - that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be.

That is the thread that connects our hearts. That is the thread that runs through my journey and Barack’s journey and so many other improbable journeys that have brought us here tonight, where the current of history meets this new tide of hope.

That is why I love this country.

Enjoy. Discuss if you feel so compelled to do so.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Gnarls Barkley’s “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul” Video

- Entertainment -

Friday, April 11, 2008

Longing For A Prolonged War To End

- News, Politics -

Do not direct your anger at the messengers, who many think are in charge in Iraq because they are given the impossible task of articulating the progress — or lack thereof — of the war in Iraq. Granted, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker are calling many shots in Iraq. But, by-in-large, the overall decision-making comes from the man upstairs — of the White House, anyway — President George W. Bush.

General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker brief CongressThe W. administration has Petraeus and Crocker stepping to the beat handed down from above. The reports given this week were merely rehashes of what the White House public relations department conjured up as to the best “spin words” to translate the “realities” (or fantasies) of war for public consumption.

(Think of this in terms of parents spelling out words as they argue back-and-forth, under the assumption their kid cannot spell and therefore cannot comprehend what they are really talking about.)

Far be it for W. to need to worry even further about Americans falling into a deep state of panic if they found out their beloved soldiers were fighting in a war that apparently cannot be won.

Does anyone know what would constitute an American “win” in Iraq? Unless I am mistaken, the “win” would consist of assisting the Iraqi people in establishing their own democracy with police and soldiers to protect and defend themselves. That would constitute the U.S. as official “liberators” (W.’s favorite word) of the Iraqi people and a victory parade would follow. Come to think of it, weren’t the Iraqi people supposed to be giving out roses and applauding all of the American soldiers’ valiant, hard-fought efforts, as Iraq was liberated from Hussein’s tyrannic rule? (Hear that one before, have you? Still applies.)

In both the long- and short-term viewpoints, the war in Iraq is doing more harm to Americans than W. and his administration will admit. Casualties are rising not only of our own American troops, but also citizens of Iraq. Their family members — those ones declining to hand American troops roses and smile everyday — will inevitably hold a grudge. Some will bury the hatred deep, taking it with them to their grave. Others will wear their hatred on their sleeve, seeking revenge for U.S. occupation.

When W. and the gang tell you the troops will be reduced “soon,” what they mean is that, figuring in the surge, essentially the numbers will be “less increased” than they really want.”

Here’s The Washington Post’s Eugene Robinson on the issue:

Here’s something solid: Early last year, before the surge, there were 130,000 U.S. troops in Iraq. In November, when Americans choose the next president, there are likely to be 140,000 U.S. troops in Iraq. The White House will blow a lot of smoke about how there’s a “pause in the drawdown” or some such nonsense. There’s no troop reduction; there’s been an increase.

No one should be surprised that Petraeus and Crocker asked our elected representatives for more time. That’s what George Bush always wanted, and he wasn’t about to be deterred by anything so inconsequential as the clearly expressed will of the American people. As Dick Cheney said of anti-war opinion polls: “So?”

W. does not care what Americans think. His veep told us straightforward, without any frosting or creme filling.

If W. cared what we thought, he would have resigned when his approval rating dropped to the low 30s. He would be back in Texas, on his ranch, obsessing about baseball, fishing and book deals. Instead, W. is in his ranch in Texas obsessing over baseball, his legacy (funny that he tries hard to spin his double-term into a positive in spite of record deficits and a war with no end in sight), and words with more than 2 syllables (low blow, I am slightly apologetic). Resigned, W. would only be in a seat at his house, flipping channels controlling a large-screen LCD television. In power, W. sits in the biggest, most important house in America, and as he flips “channels” (war in Iraq, American economy, China loan sharks, his potential successors), he unfortunately controls real lives with every button-press.

The Saddaam Hussein conundrum in drawing.W. did the Iraqi people a favor by taking out Saddaam Hussein. He was a tyrannical ruler, and has the blood of thousands of innocent Iraqi people on his hands.

W. did the Iraqi people a disservice by not understanding the complexity of the Iraq region, and the chaos and instability that would come from an entire people suddenly being freed from oppression.

Iraq is in the midst of a civil war and American soldiers are standing in the crossfire. And, just for standing on Iraqi soil in general, American soldiers find themselves in Iraqi crosshairs as well.

Green zones — those areas designated as “safe” for its zones where its inhabitants are supposed to be safe — are being attacked, Baghdad is a war zone, “splurge” would be considered both helpful and yet still yield very little for stability in Iraq. What can be concluded from the report this week from the top American general in Iraq is that while there have been gains in the war on terror in Iraq, those results are very instable, fragile and in as soon as a few days could be completely reversed. Bush is in complete “delegation mode” right now, pushing off this Iraq debacle to the upcoming commander-in-chief.

It is long past time for America to back out of the war they surged into with a purpose but no competent plan of exit.

Understandably, not everyone agrees on this war. Lives continue to be lost, and the last thing any of us want is for the soldiers who laid their lives on the line for this global war on terror to be lost in vain.

As Congress received the Petraeus and Crocker briefing this week, W. presented an award, posthumously, to a heroic Navy SEAL for his heroic efforts, saving the lives of his comrades:

Navy SEAL Michael A. Monsoor had fast thinking to do when a live grenade came out of nowhere to bounce off his chest: Take the clear path to safety that he had but his comrades didn’t, try to toss it safely away, or throw himself on top of it.

With barely an instant’s hesitation on that Iraqi rooftop, Monsoor took the last course, sacrificing his life to save the men around him. For that, President Bush on Tuesday awarded him the Medal of Honor.

Most Americans know of a family member or friend fighting in Iraq, or the Middle East. When on American life is lost, we all feel the pain. To steal the Edward R. Murrow quote: “We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty.” Speaking out against the war in Iraq does not mean Americans are un-American, as the current administration would have you believe.

Bush cries, handing Navy SEAL Michael A. Monsoor the Medal of HonorSpeaking of my own dissent against the war in Iraq, I think of Monsoor and those 4,000-plus casualties as I voice my disagreement with W. and his administration’s poorly planned, chaotic, indefinite occupancy in Iraq. The ideal number for casualties of war: ZERO. The sooner we average that per day, the sooner Americans will be better off.

So to those jokesters, ditch those quirky “Crock brought us a bunch o’ crock” and “Petraeus = be-tray” lines; they are aimed at the wrong targets.

Instead, dissent and blame should be placed solely on President George W. Bush and his inadequately brained, overcompensated power-filled administration. Keep the American casualties in mind as you disagree — they fight with weapons, so we can have the right to fight with words.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Dream Ticket: Obama-Pitt, Clinton-Jolie

- Entertainment -

Jolie and pitt

Now that Barack Obama is related to Brad Pitt, expect the ladies of America to flock towards the Illinois senator en masse, starting first in Pennsylvania, carrying on to Groupieville, U.S.A.We shall call it the “Pitt Bump,” though this sounds more like something you get from too much of living the lifestyle we assume Pitt lived before he settled down with his latest boo.

Who digs these things up?

Not to be outdone, Hillary Clinton is a distant relative of Angelina Jolie. If Clinton were to miraculously win the Democratic nomination, she could brush past Obama and tab Jolie as her running mate.

Foreign policy? Jolie has ADOPTED kids from more countries than Clinton has visited (80, if you believe her) and is a staunch believer in the sciences. Ask her former mate, Billy Bob Thornton, who assisted in a certain blood experiment years ago…

But seriously though, can the researcher who keeps linking famous people to famous people give back to the community?

Let me know I’m related to one of the Hilton’s so I can get PAID? We will call it the “Hilton Hump”…

Oops, Freudian slip! Meant to say, “Bump”. *aw baby*

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Obama Speech On Race

- Politics -

Obama’s site has the text and video available.

Follow-up incoming…

Monday, March 17, 2008

Heather Mills’ Tejada-esque Contract

- Entertainment, Sports -

Heather MillsOne would hope that having a billion dollar empire, the protection of one’s ass(ets) would be a priority. But, of course, hindsight is 20-20, and now Sir Paul McCartney has officially learned the hard way.

Losing more pennies than Charles Barkley after a weekend in Vegas, McCartney’s ex-wife, Heather Mills, officially gets $48.6 million per the divorce settlement officially ruled on today.

To marginalize the meaning of this marriage the way I know how — in sports terms — Mills ends up with a marriage contract worth the equivalent of $12 million a year. In local terms, she got as much as Miguel Tejada did with the Orioles up until they traded him to Houston this year.

All things considered — McCartney and Mills did have a 4-year-old together — pending further review into the numbers, Mills proved to be more productive for McCartney than Tejada for the O’s.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Sitting In the Driver’s Seat Of Your Own Fate

- News, Random -

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again:

You control the fate of your own ass; both literally and figuratively.

Sitting atop the list of the most odd stories of the fresh new year is the report that a 35-year-old woman in Kansas sat on a toilet for two straight years. During the prolonged, self-imposed sit-in, her extremely dedicated and most likely equally twisted boyfriend brought her food, water and changes of clothing.

My question to the ladies: Is this romantic enough for you?

As we know, no good deed can go unpunished, after the boyfriend called the authorities on February 27 to report his potty princess’s health issues, the sheriff who arrived at the scene is trying to place get charges filed.

Al BundyI have to side with the boyfriend on this case, as hard as it is right now, considering there’s more of this story to come out. He stood by his lady through a very traumatic, odd experience and finally called the authorities when he knew her life was in danger. His logic in maintaining his relationship, rather than “flushing it,” — so to speak — baffles me. But, nevertheless, he supported his “potty princess” through it all and should be commended.

People do crazy things when they’re in love. Why should we be so surprised two people were able to maintain a relationship in a bathroom?

This has to be the most disturbing relationships a person has ever had with their lady and toilet since Al Bundy.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Would You Stand By Your Wo/Man?

- News, Politics -

Silda SpitzerOne of the most intriguing figures in the now infamous “Spitzer Scandal,” is Governor Eliot Spitzer’s estranged wife, Mrs. Silda Alice Wall Spitzer.

During Gov. Spitzer’s apology, and subsequent resignation, Mrs. Spitzer could be seen in the background with her face pale and exhausted, assuming the same role as many wives of powerful men before her — standing by her man.

But is she doing more than just literally standing by her man?

What is the thought process going through her mind? Was she privy to his freelancing? Or, if not, how outraged is she at finding out about his infidelities by way of a media rainstorm?

One story in the New York Post has a family friend saying that, for now, Mrs. Spitzer will ride out this storm with her husband.

Can Gov. Spitzer pull a Kobe Bryant and rebound (pun intended) with his wife by purchasing some ignorantly large and expensive “bling” for his second-in-command? Would she even accept that, considering how far his “mighty” has fallen?

Even as the Spitzers drop back out of public life (as much as the paparazzi will let them) and attempt to iron out the many lumps in their marriage and family life, the prostitute from the scandal emerged and now has her 15 minutes of fame, a la Monica Lewitsky.

Spitzer's The New Jersey girl named as “Kristen” in the scandal, Ashley Alexandra Dupree, is a 22-year-old bartender/waitress/party girl. Her options now, given her newfound celebrity status, include choosing between Penthouse and Hustler magazine. Her latest cover on the New York Post is rather racy, and her status, looks and intrigue (choose one) earned her nearly 5 million hits on her MySpace page, where she promotes her musical aspirations. Her status and Spitzer’s long list of enemies combined to get her a free public defender who (surprise!) has a bone to pick with the ex-New York governor.

With “Kristen” cashing in on her moment in the sun, the “other woman,” Mrs. Spitzer, has to handle seeing her husband’s sins plastered all over the news. The three young daughters will ask questions and Mrs. Spitzer will be the one to try and explain why they are receiving extra attention, and why their daddy is unemployed now.

If your significant other admitted to a life of hypocrisy and wrongdoing, and jeopardized everything the two of you built together, would you stick around? Would you stand behind them as they denounce their own actions, or would you be far, far away, and less forgiving?

Ironically, we all know exactly what to do these difficult situations — that is, until it reaches our own doorstep.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Spitzer Joins Sad List of Politicians With Dark Past

- News, Politics -

Once touted as the second-coming of famous gangbuster Elliott Ness, and the “Who’s Now” of ethics-prosecutors, New York state governor Elliott Spitzer was implicated in a phone tap of a prostitution ring.

Here are a few links:

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