I hope you and the crew had fun tonight. We at the Situation are all very proud of your accomplishment, and many of us hope to join your ranks very soon. Cheers! We look forward to celebrating with the entire clan come December.
A tribute:
Friday, October 03, 2008
Drop it Already
Andrew Sullivan is still calling for the McCain/Palin campaign to provide proof that Sarah Palin is Baby Trig's biological mother. I'm no fan of Palin, and I definitely recognize that she and McCain are big fat liars. And I think that a McCain/Palin administration would be disastrous for this country. And I hope and (almost) pray that voters recognize this. However, it is completely unacceptable for anyone to ask someone to prove his or her parentage of their children. Particularly when there is no solid evidence to suggest that she is not his mother--only speculation and judgment of her pre- and post-delivery activities.
That said, the fact that Palin exposed her teenage daughter to public scrutiny in a direct response to the Trig rumors is appalling. And it certainly provides further evidence that Sarah Palin is ambitious to a fault, and she will clearly do whatever she needs to do--whether that be outright lying or abusing her power or exploiting her children--to get ahead. Why is no one talking about this?
If the goal of questioning Palin's motherhood is to undermine her character, then there's really no need to go there. She offers plenty of alternative (and concrete) evidence that she has no ethics and no morals--and nothing that qualifies her for the job of Vice President of the United States.
That said, the fact that Palin exposed her teenage daughter to public scrutiny in a direct response to the Trig rumors is appalling. And it certainly provides further evidence that Sarah Palin is ambitious to a fault, and she will clearly do whatever she needs to do--whether that be outright lying or abusing her power or exploiting her children--to get ahead. Why is no one talking about this?
If the goal of questioning Palin's motherhood is to undermine her character, then there's really no need to go there. She offers plenty of alternative (and concrete) evidence that she has no ethics and no morals--and nothing that qualifies her for the job of Vice President of the United States.
Did we know this about Barack Obama and Joe Biden?
C and I watched the VP debate very closely last night, and while I was mostly impressed by Joe Biden, his statement about gay marriage really bothered me. To be honest, I hadn't done much research on Obama and Biden's stand on this issue. I did a little research today, and here is what I've learned. Obaman and Biden support civil union, not gay marriage. He is against Proposition 8 in California, the proposed legislation that would define marriage as between one man and one woman. In an interview with the Chigao Tribune Obama said "I'm a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman."
He did vote against a Federal Marriage Amendment and opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. And he has also said that he would support allowing individual state decide the issue. I have a serious, serious problem with that last statement, and here's allowing individual states to legislate issues like this hasn't worked well in the past. After all slavery was determined by individual states, and we all know how well that practice worked out for the U.S.
Finally, here is a clip of an interview Obama gave at the most Human Rights Campaign meeting.
I have to say this really, really bothers me.
He did vote against a Federal Marriage Amendment and opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. And he has also said that he would support allowing individual state decide the issue. I have a serious, serious problem with that last statement, and here's allowing individual states to legislate issues like this hasn't worked well in the past. After all slavery was determined by individual states, and we all know how well that practice worked out for the U.S.
Finally, here is a clip of an interview Obama gave at the most Human Rights Campaign meeting.
I have to say this really, really bothers me.
Friday Musical and Cinematic Tribute
A Double Feature. Both of these Scenes from Prairie Home Companion are replete with those good vibes necessary to a good life.
Streep and Tomlin go right for the core in "My Minnesota Home"
Lindsay Lohan tore it up, too, with "Frankie and Johnny"
Streep and Tomlin go right for the core in "My Minnesota Home"
Lindsay Lohan tore it up, too, with "Frankie and Johnny"
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Palin was her name-o
I encourage us all to play.
And by playing, at least there will be a way for someone to end the night with spin-free victory.
And by playing, at least there will be a way for someone to end the night with spin-free victory.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
"I'm Voting Republican Because"
This video has been floating around for months, but it seems to be picking up serious steam once again.
Board Members here, it would seem, have gotten so caught up in the minor aspects of Republicanism, we have forgotten the GOP's major accomplishments over the last 8 years, and the Profound aspect of their vision
(M, Harrogate is especially wagging a finger at you, here. You don't give Republicans nearly enough respect. [In what respect, Charley?])
Because remember. Not voting Republican this November, amounts to serious business.
Board Members here, it would seem, have gotten so caught up in the minor aspects of Republicanism, we have forgotten the GOP's major accomplishments over the last 8 years, and the Profound aspect of their vision
(M, Harrogate is especially wagging a finger at you, here. You don't give Republicans nearly enough respect. [In what respect, Charley?])
Because remember. Not voting Republican this November, amounts to serious business.
The Opposite of a Salute
Via the AP. Wag of the Finger
Los Angeles police are looking for a man who beat up a 16-year-old girl at a McDonald's counter after she complained about him cutting in line.
Speaking of Dolls....
BBC America is doing a documentary on "Unliving Dolls" and the women who collect them. This may be an example of the creepy dolls to which Megs-gh refers.
Wednesday Musical Tribute: Wild Man's pick
Wild Man and I heard this song for the first time a few days ago while driving home from the park. Now, Wild Man is choosy about his music. He often says "Off radio, Mommy" if he hears a song he doesn't like, and he also says "More song, Mommy" if he hears one he likes. With this song, he said "Shake bootie, Mommy" as he proceeded to shake his own little bootie in his car seat.
Black Like Me
Sweet J has become incredibly interested in the Lion Cub's (aka Kid B's) daily care. She's present--and helping--for every diaper change, bath, etc. She picks out the cub's clothes every day and helps to burp her. Last night she spent about ten minutes "burping" me. Solon and I have decided to bite the bullet and buy J her first baby doll.
So I'm online today looking at dolls at Toys 'R Us, trying to find a doll that doesn't petrify me. (Ever really thought about how scary dolls can be? Half of them look like prom queens or drag queens--fun, but not a good doll for feeding and diaper chages--and the other half are way too realistic, in a vaguely menacing sort of way.) I see a link for the You and Me African-American My First Doll and click to take a look. There's a separate link for the Caucasian version, but I'm thinking that a doll of a different race would be especially nice for J, particularly since the next G-H sibling will be adopted and there's a strong likelihood that he won't look like her.
Here's the thing that interests me: the You and Me African-American doll is about as black as I am... and I'm of light-ish to medium complexion, even in the middle of summer. I know there are some darker skinned dolls out there, but even they peak at cafe au lait. I'm really concerned about the message this sends to children of color who can't find a doll that looks like them. But I'm equally concerned about my blond and blue daughter, J. I hate that we live in a culture that idolizes her version of beauty at the expense of others. (The cub, for example, is shaping up to be a brown and brown, like her mama.) And I hate that this starts so young.
I'm in no way surprised at this finding, in general. Even a Pollyanna like me* is hip to the frequent shittiness of our culture. But take a look at the You and Me Doll. Even a cynic will find this one shocking.
* Shout out to Harrogate, who loves Pollyanna as much as I do.
So I'm online today looking at dolls at Toys 'R Us, trying to find a doll that doesn't petrify me. (Ever really thought about how scary dolls can be? Half of them look like prom queens or drag queens--fun, but not a good doll for feeding and diaper chages--and the other half are way too realistic, in a vaguely menacing sort of way.) I see a link for the You and Me African-American My First Doll and click to take a look. There's a separate link for the Caucasian version, but I'm thinking that a doll of a different race would be especially nice for J, particularly since the next G-H sibling will be adopted and there's a strong likelihood that he won't look like her.
Here's the thing that interests me: the You and Me African-American doll is about as black as I am... and I'm of light-ish to medium complexion, even in the middle of summer. I know there are some darker skinned dolls out there, but even they peak at cafe au lait. I'm really concerned about the message this sends to children of color who can't find a doll that looks like them. But I'm equally concerned about my blond and blue daughter, J. I hate that we live in a culture that idolizes her version of beauty at the expense of others. (The cub, for example, is shaping up to be a brown and brown, like her mama.) And I hate that this starts so young.
I'm in no way surprised at this finding, in general. Even a Pollyanna like me* is hip to the frequent shittiness of our culture. But take a look at the You and Me Doll. Even a cynic will find this one shocking.
* Shout out to Harrogate, who loves Pollyanna as much as I do.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Late Tuesday Night Musical Tribute
Such a soft touch. How distilled.
Phone's off the hook
No one knows where we are
It's a
long time since I
Drank champagne
The ocean is blue
As blue as your
eyes
I'm gonna take it with me
When I go
Phone's off the hook
No one knows where we are
It's a
long time since I
Drank champagne
The ocean is blue
As blue as your
eyes
I'm gonna take it with me
When I go
The Sarah Palin Chronicles: Idiocracy, Part Eternity
From the interview that keeps on giving, Sarah Palin with Katie Couric.
First, Couric asks Palin what newspaper she reads and Palin says, "all of them." When Couric follows up and asks, no really, I mean, "But what ones specifically? I’m curious," Palin responds with, "all of them." Here is the transcript:
Second, Palin and the Courts. At some point in the most mind-numbing interview ever, Couric asked Palin about the Supreme Court. Palin discussed Roe v. Wade, Surprise, Surprise, Surprise. When asked to discuss another significant case, and any case would have done, Palin did nothing. And I mean silence, not even a verbal gaffe. According to Politico,
Third, Grandpa Simpson to the rescue. When McCain bailed on Letterman, it seems that he did so in order to save Palin. Here McCain appears, out of nowhere, to sit down with Couric and Palin. Notice that Palin and Couric are in the same clothes as they were during the first interview, which means, sorry Dave, McCain needed to rush off and save the world, I mean, Palin needed to be saved.
This video is quite awkward, like the parent accompanying a child to an interview and answering all of the questions instead of the child. The best, really worst, part of the video is when Palin discussed how she refused to answer a voter's question, replying instead that she and McCain were going to do what they were going to do.
And one last point. If you watched the SNL clip with Tina Fey acting as Palin you should know that the answers Fey delivered acting as Palin were actual answers Palin gave to Katie Couric. All we have is a "copy of a copy of a copy."
If you need me, I'm going to Diz Knee Land.
The VP Debate is Thursday. I will be in Texas watching it. The expectations are so low for Sarah Palin that if she answers one question correctly she will win the debate. This may actually be bad for Joe Biden.
First, Couric asks Palin what newspaper she reads and Palin says, "all of them." When Couric follows up and asks, no really, I mean, "But what ones specifically? I’m curious," Palin responds with, "all of them." Here is the transcript:
COURIC: And when it comes to establishing your world view, I was curious, what newspapers and magazines did you regularly read before you were tapped for this — to stay informed and to understand the world?Alaska is a Microcosm of American, except with more small towns, less big towns, and no elites to tell us what to do. You can see the video here.
PALIN: I’ve read most of them again with a great appreciation for the press, for the media —
COURIC: But what ones specifically? I’m curious.
PALIN: Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me over all these years.
COURIC: Can you name any of them?
PALIN: I have a vast variety of sources where we get our news.
Second, Palin and the Courts. At some point in the most mind-numbing interview ever, Couric asked Palin about the Supreme Court. Palin discussed Roe v. Wade, Surprise, Surprise, Surprise. When asked to discuss another significant case, and any case would have done, Palin did nothing. And I mean silence, not even a verbal gaffe. According to Politico,
The Palin aide, after first noting how "infuriating" it was for CBS to purportedly leak word about the gaffe, revealed that it came in response to a question about Supreme Court decisions.
After noting Roe vs. Wade, Palin was apparently unable to discuss any major court cases.
There was no verbal fumbling with this particular question as there was with some others, the aide said, but rather silence.
Third, Grandpa Simpson to the rescue. When McCain bailed on Letterman, it seems that he did so in order to save Palin. Here McCain appears, out of nowhere, to sit down with Couric and Palin. Notice that Palin and Couric are in the same clothes as they were during the first interview, which means, sorry Dave, McCain needed to rush off and save the world, I mean, Palin needed to be saved.
This video is quite awkward, like the parent accompanying a child to an interview and answering all of the questions instead of the child. The best, really worst, part of the video is when Palin discussed how she refused to answer a voter's question, replying instead that she and McCain were going to do what they were going to do.
And one last point. If you watched the SNL clip with Tina Fey acting as Palin you should know that the answers Fey delivered acting as Palin were actual answers Palin gave to Katie Couric. All we have is a "copy of a copy of a copy."
If you need me, I'm going to Diz Knee Land.
The VP Debate is Thursday. I will be in Texas watching it. The expectations are so low for Sarah Palin that if she answers one question correctly she will win the debate. This may actually be bad for Joe Biden.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Monday Musical Tribute
Sean Lennon's 2006 Album Friendly Fire, Harrogate has only been listening to at least once a week for the last two years running. That's all. Other than that he's pretty uncommitted about the quality of the songs.
Here's one to accompany that afternoon cup of coffee.
Here's one to accompany that afternoon cup of coffee.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Who Won Last Night's Debate???
Ralph Nader's views were pretty clear.
That's right. Ye hear Bill Maher right. It was in reference to Ralph Nader that he said "This should be the voice of the Democratic Party."
Hmmmm. But not today.
But One Day. Hopefully during our Children's Lifetime. There will be a Party with real stroke, with real representation in Congress and with a real shot at the White House, that takes our Republic with the seriousness that it deserves.
Because we are not there yet, sad fact 2008. Is the only reason Harrogate can think of, not to vote for Ralph Nader.
In the end what we have, those of us worried about the corporate lockdown and who would rather not raise our children to die young, for reasons nobody can even articulate, let alone credibly defend, is the same ole lesser of two evils reasoning.
Yes, the Dems are a lesser evil, Obama is a lesser evil. And MUCH lesser. This is the argument to make against Ralph Nader's candidacy.
That's right. Ye hear Bill Maher right. It was in reference to Ralph Nader that he said "This should be the voice of the Democratic Party."
Hmmmm. But not today.
But One Day. Hopefully during our Children's Lifetime. There will be a Party with real stroke, with real representation in Congress and with a real shot at the White House, that takes our Republic with the seriousness that it deserves.
Because we are not there yet, sad fact 2008. Is the only reason Harrogate can think of, not to vote for Ralph Nader.
In the end what we have, those of us worried about the corporate lockdown and who would rather not raise our children to die young, for reasons nobody can even articulate, let alone credibly defend, is the same ole lesser of two evils reasoning.
Yes, the Dems are a lesser evil, Obama is a lesser evil. And MUCH lesser. This is the argument to make against Ralph Nader's candidacy.
Friday, September 26, 2008
"Look, it's Capital Barbie!"
Judith Warner's piece in the NYT offers a bit of sympathy to "Poor Sarah," who is clearly in over her head. I'm not inclined to feel sorry for Palin, but I did enjoy the comparison to Elle Woods. And I do think that McCain and Palin should put "Country First" and find a new VP candidate. Unless, of course, Americans are realizing what a disaster they represent and her name (or really, both names) on the ticket insures an Obama/Biden victory. In that case, keep her.
"Keep Talking": In Honor of Pink Floyd, Barack Obama, and a Media That Never Fell for McCain's Effort to Shut Up
Well, as ye all know by now, McCain will debate tonight in Mississippi. The link provided shows you how to spin these developments as evidence of McCain's heroism and leadership virtuosity. It seems McCain, whose level of expertise and gravitas on matters pertinent to this bailout, and to the economy generally, is clear to all Americans, was willing to "put politics aside" and "solve problems in a bipartisan manner," but Obama selfishly put his Presidential ambitions above eveything. That is the Spin you're going to see from the Right all day.
Still, it is a wonderful thing that the debate is on, regardless of how they spin it, and regardless of the outcomes. Harrogate therefore posts this song in honor both of Debate in Principle. And in Honor of Barack Obama. Because as Obama demonstrated in his strong response to McCain's FASCISTIC SUGGESTION that discourse be put off in the name of crisis management.
Yes, as he demonstrated in that response, one of Obama's best features is that he understands the life and death stakes of Talk.
Here are the lyrics to Pink Floyd's "Keep Talking"
Still, it is a wonderful thing that the debate is on, regardless of how they spin it, and regardless of the outcomes. Harrogate therefore posts this song in honor both of Debate in Principle. And in Honor of Barack Obama. Because as Obama demonstrated in his strong response to McCain's FASCISTIC SUGGESTION that discourse be put off in the name of crisis management.
Yes, as he demonstrated in that response, one of Obama's best features is that he understands the life and death stakes of Talk.
Here are the lyrics to Pink Floyd's "Keep Talking"
For millions of years mankind lived just like the animals
Then something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination
We learned to talk
There's a silence surrounding me
I can't seem to think straight
I'll sit in the corner
No one can bother me
I think I should speak now
I can't seem to speak now
My words won't come out right
I feel like I'm drowning
I'm feeling weak now
But I can't show my weakness
I sometimes wonder
Where do we go from here
It doesn't have to be like this
All we need to do is make sure we keep talking
Why won't you talk to me
You never talk to me
What are you thinking
What are you feeling
Why won't you talk to me
You never talk to me
What are you thinking
Where do we go from here
It doesn't have to be like this
All we need to do is make sure we keep talking
Why won't you talk to me
You never talk to me
What are you thinking
What are you feeling
Why won't you talk to me
You never talk to me
What are you thinking
What are you feeling
I feel like I'm drowning
You know I can't breathe now
We're going nowhere
We're going nowhere
The Transcript of Bush's September 24th Bailout Pitch
Wednesday night George W. Bush made his bailout pitch on a prime time, 15 minute address to the nation. Rhetorically it was necessary to try it, as every public opinion poll seems to be reflecting this sensibility: "Fuck no you can't have 700 Billion Dollars!!" The real problem now of course is that the GOP has "bailed out" on George W. Bush. Pelosi and others Dems have said that they will not let a Bailout Bill be branded as Bush+Congressioanl Democrats. If we are going to do this, it will have to get at least 100 Republican Congressmen to sign on.
And so part of the fascination is that for the second time ever (the first time being Bush's attempt at an Immigration Bill), we have the poster child for partisan polarization, George W. Bush, basically putting himself at the mercy of the Democrats, asking them to help him get something done at cross purposes with GOP sensibility.
Oh well. But enough parsing what is being parsed to death already. Here is the full transcript of the speech Bush gave.
Somewhere the ghost of Herman Melville laughed when W. said this:
Take that, free market ideologues!!!!! Perhaps now some of ye will be intellectualy honest enough to follow (GASP!) the President's lead, and admit that ye are ideologues who put every marble in the world into a doctrine that depends wholly on the good faith and CONFIDENCE of the people in the society.
That's right, Andrew Sullivan. Your smug little dismissal of Naomi Klein was the last straw for Harrogate, as far as you are concerned.
Sully, while Harrogate will be happy if your blog generates some votes for Obama, that is really where anything other than truly ill will ends. One of the most distasteful aspects of this whole election. for Harrogate, has been getting acquainted with the thought processes of a Randian zealot who is mad at the Republicans for not liking gay people and for neocon adventurism. In truth, ye do not see that all is interconnected. That the forces that allowed the corporate lockdown (which you want to roll around with naked) are interwed with the forces that encourage homophobia at home and push for imperialism abroad (which you denounce).
Ahhh!!! Human frailty. Such is betrayal of our Rhinestone Desires. Suffice it to say, on the level of public policy and social thought, and not to mention on the level of ART, it is people like you, Sully, who have been most exposed this week. Verily, ye forfeit your claim to three-dimensional human staus when your response to a problem like this is to quote Adam Smith.
For God's sake, Sully!!!! Be like (Gasp!!!!) George W. Bush and grow a third dimension into your thinking.
And so part of the fascination is that for the second time ever (the first time being Bush's attempt at an Immigration Bill), we have the poster child for partisan polarization, George W. Bush, basically putting himself at the mercy of the Democrats, asking them to help him get something done at cross purposes with GOP sensibility.
Oh well. But enough parsing what is being parsed to death already. Here is the full transcript of the speech Bush gave.
Somewhere the ghost of Herman Melville laughed when W. said this:
Under normal circumstances, I would have followed this course. But these are not normal circumstances. The market is not functioning properly. There has been a widespread loss of confidence, and major sectors of America's financial system are at risk of shutting down.
Take that, free market ideologues!!!!! Perhaps now some of ye will be intellectualy honest enough to follow (GASP!) the President's lead, and admit that ye are ideologues who put every marble in the world into a doctrine that depends wholly on the good faith and CONFIDENCE of the people in the society.
That's right, Andrew Sullivan. Your smug little dismissal of Naomi Klein was the last straw for Harrogate, as far as you are concerned.
Sully, while Harrogate will be happy if your blog generates some votes for Obama, that is really where anything other than truly ill will ends. One of the most distasteful aspects of this whole election. for Harrogate, has been getting acquainted with the thought processes of a Randian zealot who is mad at the Republicans for not liking gay people and for neocon adventurism. In truth, ye do not see that all is interconnected. That the forces that allowed the corporate lockdown (which you want to roll around with naked) are interwed with the forces that encourage homophobia at home and push for imperialism abroad (which you denounce).
Ahhh!!! Human frailty. Such is betrayal of our Rhinestone Desires. Suffice it to say, on the level of public policy and social thought, and not to mention on the level of ART, it is people like you, Sully, who have been most exposed this week. Verily, ye forfeit your claim to three-dimensional human staus when your response to a problem like this is to quote Adam Smith.
For God's sake, Sully!!!! Be like (Gasp!!!!) George W. Bush and grow a third dimension into your thinking.
Orwell Rolls Over in His Grave
Bush just changed his terminology on the Wall Street bailout.
It's no longer a bailout plan; it's a "rescue package."
And who wouldn't want to rescue something? I mean, a rescue is a heroic deed, where one saves an innocent victim from a dangerous situation.
Yeah, forget bailout. To many associations with poor decisions and criminal behavior. Who wants that?
It's no longer a bailout plan; it's a "rescue package."
And who wouldn't want to rescue something? I mean, a rescue is a heroic deed, where one saves an innocent victim from a dangerous situation.
Yeah, forget bailout. To many associations with poor decisions and criminal behavior. Who wants that?
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