Michael Gershon of the Washington Post has written a lovely little piece that you ought to read. I give you a blurb on his being both an Obama-skeptic and yet appreciative of the historical overtones of the election:
This presidency in particular should be a source of pride even for those who do not share its priorities. An African American will take the oath of office blocks from where slaves were once housed in pens and sold for profit. He will sleep in a house built in part by slave labor, near the room where Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation with firm hand. He will host dinners where Teddy Roosevelt in 1901 entertained the first African American to be a formal dinner guest in the White House; command a military that was not officially integrated until 1948. Every event, every act, will complete a cycle of history. It will be the most dramatic possible demonstration that the promise of America -- so long deferred -- is not a lie.
I suspect I will have many substantive criticisms of the new administration, beginning soon enough. Today I have only one message for Barack Obama, who will be our president, my president: Hail to the chief.
Indeed, indeed.
Now, since I am evil (and you know that I am), I cannot help but point out: Lincoln and TR were members of which politician party? I'm just sayin', is all.
You know, over the course of the election, I've heard all kinds of racially-based statements (most of them were stupid, such as the "if you don't vote for Obama, you're racist" meme or the grossly oversimplified "racist America" babblings in the international media).
But nothing I've seen or heard yet even comes close to this utterly unhinged, racist rant from Austria. Culprit: veteran journalist Klaus Emmerich.
BONUS: He still says Americans are racists. (So much for the idea that we should vote for Obama to "prove" that we're not racist. Vote for him, and we're still racist, apparently. Well, I didn't vote for him at all, so am I some kind of double-bad racist? Going on!)
DOUBLE BONUS: He is supposedly an expert on the US. I guess Mr. Emmerich didn't pay much attention to pieces of American history known as the abolitionist movement, the Emancipation Proclamation, the American Civil War, the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the civil rights movement, etc.
TRIPLE BONUS: he makes a sexist comment about Michelle Obama. She's just "a black, very good-looking woman."
Looks like Klaus just had his Dan Rather moment. It's a good thing Klaus is retired, I suppose! But it's sad, really, how after a long and solid career of journalism, he has to do something so revolting.
I was recently at the shopping mall (shoe-hunting, you will recall), and Christmas music was already in the air. We haven't even seen Thanksgiving yet!
The following little cartoon from 4-Block World very much amused me. In terms of media saturation, it has a point!
This came out on November 5, but I was saving it for the "Friday Fun Video" feature this week. This Onion satire is absolutely hysterical as it takes aim at the loudest and most obsessive of the Obamacolytes.
I posted a playful response yesterday, and I'm waaaaaay too busy at school right now to write up a full commentary, but I feel compelled to say a few things:
On the Good Side: ~Despite the intense feelings on both sides, despite all the insanity on the fringes, the actual democratic process itself went well and smoothly, and the peaceful, orderly transfer of power is a great mark of the American system. ~Maybe deep down I'm some sort of sappy romantic, but there's something really moving about watching millions of ordinary citizens go out to cast their votes. ~I am so happy that the entire election cycle is finally over! ~Both major political parties showed that they were willing, able, capable, and indeed even happy to "push the envelope" and field unconventional candidates for high office.
On the Bad Side: ~This time around the mass media proved itself in large part to be not reporters but active participants. In VDH's words, it turned into shameless advocacy media. When even "Saturday Night Live" (no friend of the Right at all) slammed the MSM for it, you know it's bad! ~The disgusting displays of publicly sexist garbage directed at both Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin from the Left hint at a real problem in that part of the political spectrum. (Wait, did I just defend Hillary Clinton? It's a brave new world.) ~The disgusting attacks on Sarah Palin from some so-called feminists from the far Left expose a troubling school of thought among those feminists who seem to believe that their conception of female behavior/values is the only one that's acceptable. Femi-fascists? ~There was not one single McCain-Palin poster on campus or even at my polling place that I actually saw with my own eyes, though other posters were everywhere. I know that I live in a liberal enclave, but the total absence of any opposition view whatsoever is deeply troubling. ~The utter media frenzy over "Joe the Plumber" was a low point indeed. In fact, I'll even say that the media gave him more scrutiny than it did its pet candidate. Also, if we've reached a day in which an ordinary American can't express himself without being harassed, then we're in big trouble.
On the Practical American Side: ~Barack Obama is the President-elect, and he should be congratulated on this achievement. ~It is now the duty of every American to give him a chance -- and also to support him in right decisions and to oppose (without rancor) the wrong ones. ~It is time for the GOP to get back to its roots. In many ways, it has lost its way amid its years in Washington, and it is time to go back to the things that made it great. I'm talking about small government, low taxes, and -- really -- the great libertarian ideas. ~A note to folks who didn't vote for Obama: we will NOT engage in Obama Derangement Syndrome, OK? Let us behave like adults, please. ~Also, for the people who are fearful about what Obama might do: getting elected is the easy part, and it's not easy. Governing is the hard part. Every president finds himself constrained by practical reality. It's one thing to babble happy platitudes and cheerful promises to make everyone feel good, but it's something else entirely when you're in the Big Chair and you are forced to make tough calls and hard decisions in real-world situations, and sometimes there are no good choices, and in every case, every decision has consequences. (UPDATE: Actually, this point is also for those extreme pie-eyed Obamacolytes who think that their Obamessiah can magically transform the world instantaneously into an earthly paradise of free cookies, ice cream, and hybrid cars. Hard reality will hit -- and soon -- and I can pretty much guarantee that you're in for some big-time disappointment when you figure out that your messiah is only a human being like everybody else. If you decide to throw a temper tantrum and turn a nuclear backlash on the One whom you previously worshipped because Obamessiah can't give you heaven on a plate and you can't figure out how to live in the real world like a sensible problem-solving adult, then that's not my problem.) ~Country first, not party or faction. Can we at least agree on that? It is in America's best interest that Obama be a good president, and I think he has potential to be so. He seems an intelligent fellow, so I shall hope that he will learn quickly about the practicalities of office. He seems a personable fellow, so I shall hope that he will take the high road and reach out to the other side of the aisle. ~The election is over. What now? It is time to get pragmatic.
I'll have more later -- maybe over the weekend. I won't do a thing about it tonight, though, because it's Thursday night, so TGIT and you know what Thursday nights mean for the Evil Enablers and me! Enough of politics; it is time for some salt and fire.
UPDATE: For more campus nerd analysis, see Lumpenscholar.
Take a look at this delightful video. It is wonderfully bipartisan, and I *LOVE* how the kids say that you can vote however you like! (Aren't you tired by now of people telling you how to vote?)
And yes, this angry, tired, pessimistic little libertarian citizen-taxpayer will go vote after class today! It won't make much numerical difference -- my state is full of leftists and I'm vastly outnumbered -- but I'll vote anyway because, well, it's my right, dang it, and it's my one little ballot saying "NO" to the tide of high-taxing neo-statism. I don't care how pretty its newest face is.
But anyway -- look at this darling video and enjoy!
Lyrics here:
Obama on the left McCain on the right We can talk politics all night And you can vote however you like You can vote however you like, yeah
Democratic left Republican right November 4th we decide And you can vote however you like You can vote however you like, yeah
(McCain supporters) McCain is the man Fought for us in Vietnam You know if anyone can Help our country he can Taxes droppin low Dont you know oils gonna flow Drill it low I'll show our economy will grow
McCain's the best candidate With Palin as his running mate They'll fight for gun rights, pro life, The conservative right Our future is bright Better economy in site And all the world will feel our military might
(Obama supporters) But McCain and Bush are real close right They vote alike and keep it tight Obama's new, he's younger too The Middle Class he will help you He'll bring a change, he's got the brains McCain and Bush are just the same You are to blame, Iraq's a shame Four more years would be insane
Lower your Taxes - you know Obama Won't PROTECT THE LOWER CLASS - You know McCain won't! Have enough experience - you know that they don't STOP GLOBAL WARMING - you know that you won't
I want Obama FORGET OBAMA Stick with McCain and you're going to have some drama We need it HE'LL BRING IT He'll be it YOU'LL SEE IT We'll do it GET TO IT Let's move it DO IT!
Obama on the left McCain on the right We can talk politics all night And you can vote however you like You can vote however you like, yeah
Democratic left Republican right November 4th we decide And you can vote however you like, I said You can vote however you like, yeah
I'm talking big pipe lines, and low gas prices Below $2.00 that would be nice
But to do it right we gotta start today Finding renewable ways that are here to stay
I want Obama FORGET OBAMA, Stick wit McCain you gone have some drama MORE WAR IN IRAQ Iran he will attack CAN'T BRING OUR TROOPS BACK We gotta vote Barack!
Obama on the left McCain on the right We can talk politics all night And you can vote however you like, I said You can vote however you like, yeah
Democratic left Republican right November 4th we decide And you can vote however you like, I said You can vote however you like, yeah
OK, I am sick and tired of Hollywood celebrities making their slick little political ads. They're all so serious, as if somehow the mere fact that a person is a famous entertainer makes him (or her) a moral authority on anything. Who are they to tell me what to do? Is there an Oscar for Best Condescension?
So, with great glee, I give you this video spoof: "Spider-Man Told Me to Vote!"
The writer basically accuses the people of the great state of Pennsylvania of being racists. If I were a Pennsylvanian, I think I would be insulted. Golly, I hope this is a satirical joke. But with political discourse being what it is these days, I frankly wouldn't be surprised if it weren't.
If the election were a movie, whom would you cast to play the different people? Here is an amusing look, even if the potshot at McCain is -- in my opinion -- unfair.
This is gloriously funny. Look at the photographic evidence of what one CNN analyst was doing instead of analyzing debates. Yes, he's checking Facebook and MLB.
I certainly don't blame the man, though. I really do think that televised debates are about showmanship and media, not actual policy or serious concerns. In the end, they're BORING. You remember that I preferred demon-hunting brothers to the VP debate, of course.
What does McCain have up his sleeve? Obama cuff links, that's what.
I think this is really amusing. If I had to award the "Sense of Humor" award to one campaign during this election cycle, I'd have to give it to Camp McCain. Its spoof-y potshots at the (you have to admit) occasional excesses of Camp Obama have often been hilarious.
Tonight is the vice presidential debate. Tonight is also a brand-new episode of "Supernatural." Hmmmm. What to do, what to do? Watch a political PR verbal slugfest or indulge in a shameful addiction to demon-hunting eye-candy?
You know what I'm going to do. Oh, yes, you know. I've had another hellish day at Nerdworld, and all I want to do right now is throw myself down on the living room carpet and DIE. I can't do that, though, since I have far too much work to do, so I'll opt for letting my brain slow down in front of the TV while I work on my laptop. I feel no guilt at all about choosing Winchesters over debate winners and losers. Actually, now I'm thinking that maybe I should feel guilty for not feeling guilty. What kind of responsible citizen am I, anyway? A tired and cynical one, that's what.
I should tell you, though, that I rarely watch political debates even when "Supernatural" isn't on. I want policy, not games of televised "gotcha!" Debates are about publicity and public image, not substance. Besides, I'm not convinced that a person's performance under the glare of the bloodthirsty media in a debate setting is an accurate reflection of that person's ability to do practical work in government.
Anyway, I can catch the debate later. I'll be watching "Supernatural" tonight as I did last Thursday -- watching and having a text-conversation with La Parisienne (that enabler!) about the show that we're watching together even though half the country separates us. Now that's what friends do.
One more note on the addiction: last night La Parisienne and I had an entire conversation about the motivations of Dean Winchester. Wanna be scared? It was a real and substantive conversation about character development. Even when Nerdettes aren't on campus, we just can't resist behaving like . . . Nerdettes.
"Supernatural" meets Nerdworld. See all those books? dingy surroundings, bad lighting, and the feeling of impending doom at the hands of inhuman foes? Welcome to my life.Minus cute demon-hunting brothers, that is.
PS: Alessandra was just on the phone, cracking jokes about my dreadful (and dreadfully funny) status as TV-junkie.
UPDATE: Text-fest with La Parisienne and Kamikaze Editor! Life is pretty darn good. Plus Skinner from "X-Files" back on TV!
Hmmm, interesting. The editorial is clearly biased in Taiwan's favor, but this excerpt raises questions about Obama:
Commenting on Ma’s election, Senator Barack Obama stated that the U.S. should respond by “rebuilding a relationship of trust and support” with democratic Taiwan. “The U.S. should reopen blocked channels of communication with Taiwan officials” said Obama.
. . . So months before Senator Obama stated that the U.S. “should reopen blocked channels of communications with Taiwan officials,” he had an opportunity to both co-sponsor and help push through his committee a resolution advocating for just such a re-opening of communication with Taiwan.
Actions speak louder than words. And Senator Obama’s failure to take action—even such symbolic action as a concurrent resolution-- to “reopen” blocked communication with democratic Taiwan makes his statement about “rebuilding a relationship of trust and support” with Taiwan seem like little more than campaign rhetoric.
The writer's talking about Senate Concurrent Resolution 48 (S.CON.RES.48), introduced by Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota in October 2007.
I have a message for the self-styled guardians of womanhood who have decided that Sarah Palin is public enemy No. 1 - please stop talking. You're embarrassing yourselves and women all over the country.
You are making otherwise thoughtful, careful, intelligent, tolerant and modern American women of every political bent look and sound ridiculous. As a woman myself, I'm begging you to stop. Put the pen down, close out the blog, push the E! microphone away. Your trash-talking is disturbing and humiliating. In fact, it's setting back the true cause of feminism - the advancement of women - far more than your imagined nemesis.
. . . Sarah Palin is of course fair game for critics - as a politician. Feel free to say what you will about her record and her positions. Feel free to arduously and passionately disagree with her. But to smear her as an embarrassment to women (nearly half the population) is, well, an embarrassment to women.
. . . Apparently, women like Sarah Palin don't have to worry about being slandered by men. Women are doing it for themselves.
Amen, sister. Can we please move past the stupid idea of "gender traitor"?
