Over the past 100ish posts, I’ve had some fun weighing in on elections, news and entertainment. Here are some of my favorites:
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Punishing pedophiles
What's a suitable punishment for someone who would sneak into a neighbor's house, kidnap a 9-year-old girl, violate her, kill her and bury her in the yard?
On a week when Congress turned its attention to baseball's steroid shenanigans and Terri Schiavo's right to live or die, here is an issue worthy of their outrage.
---------------------------Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Who's looking at the man in the mirror?
Someone needs to give Michael Jackson a copy of his “Bad” album and tell him to listen to track #7.
There he’d be reminded of the syrupy yet preachy tune he subjected us to in the 1980s. You may remember, “Man in the Mirror.”Friday, March 25, 2005
A conversation on tough issues usually takes two
Maybe Bill Clinton took the last pair when he left the White House, but the Democrats have been unable to get their hands on any since then.
One of the most appalling developments during the national "conversation" on life, government and Terri Schiavo was the absence of any real debate. The religious right was vocal and aggressive in framing the issue as one about the sanctity of life. But the opposing view went almost without a sponsor.
There was the conspicuous absence of any compelling voice coming from the Democratic Party. Last Sunday when the debate reached the House of Representatives, Barney Frank was left to make the opposition's case practically alone. All of the so called leaders of the Democratic Party were silent.Monday, July 18, 2005
Bombs and stones may break our bones but our web-site...
Someone created a website, www.werenotafraid.com, as a response to the latest terrorist attack in London. Now do-gooders on both sides of the Atlantic are rushing to post pictures of themselves, their pooches, their parents and kids...all with the headline "We're not afraid."
I, too, paused with a sentimental, yet defiant smile until I thought about folly of this symbolic stunt. First, do terrorists really care if we post our pictures on a web site? Perhaps they will be hunkered down in their safe house, wearing their FREE SADAM t-shirts when they'll see the Jeanie Moss piece on CNN. They'll gasp in horror, pop open their laptops and log on (using their neighbor's wireless signal). They'll see pages and pages of defiant Brits and Americans boasting that they aren't afraid, curse Allah that the infidels have responded in such an unexpectedly strong fashion, and immediately convert to Christianity. Or... they'll chuckle and strap another five pound bag of fertilizer on the newest recruit and wait.Thursday, November 24, 2005
It's the course, Stupid
In the debate over the debate in Iraq, it's come to this: Americans must now choose between Stay the Course and Staid with No Course. Both sides vocal and venomous. Wrestling with the political and the patriotic. And not a reasonable plan in sight -- only the course.
Neither side can offer a reasonable plan forward because they are both looking backwards. And so rather than having an honest debate about the future, both sides justify decisions past and disguise them as visionary.Thursday, November 2, 2006
Yes, Red America, God does answer prayers
One evening in the West Wing, the mood was especially glum. The President's poll numbers were in the tank. In Iraq, his pet war was out of control, and re-cord numbers of troops were dying.
Across town in Congress, many allies he'd counted as reliable votes were leaving in disgrace and scandal. His domestic policy, stalled. His international agenda, botched.
The president's ears drooped. His eyes cast downward. Laura, sensing the enormous burden on her husband's shoulders, touched his arm, closed her eyes, and whispered a prayer.Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Obama: Some of my best friends make me unelectable
What does it mean when you have white people voting for the black candidate and black people voting for the white candidate?
That’s the situation news reports seemed to suggest last week. Barak Obama’s centrist appeal is drawing record numbers of crowds — of white people. Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, who have previously enjoyed support in black communities, are going back there to fight for the black vote — with good results.
At first blush, this development could be construed as a progress. This is the dream Martin Luther King Jr., spoke of, where a man can be judged not by the color of his skin but the content of his character. So why isn’t this news being reported or received that way?Friday, September 21, 2007
When ads attack
Let's get one thing straight. The moveon.org ad didn't kill more than 2,700 US troops in Iraq. It didn't injure the more than 27,000 others who left that country disabled. It didn't attract an active al qeda insurgency. It didn't mire the country in a civil war. It didn't cause acid rain, global warming and the decline of western civilization as we know it.
It doesn't even cause whiter teeth or fresh breath.
You'd think it did all those things if you listened to the rhetoric spewing from war supporters this week.Monday, December 17, 2007
Mitt wept when church ended discrimination
Let's all roll our eyes together.Saturday, April 5, 2008
We, too, sing America
I love America, and I agree with Reverend Wright. Whether or not the main stream understands or realizes it, I don't think I am different from many African Americans.
In fact, I'd argue that many African Americans experience a different kind of patriotism than our white counterparts because our history and experiences are so vastly different. This is what many people who scratch their heads at Rev. Wright fail to understand.
Generally speaking, African Americans don't wear flags on our lapels or post bumper stickers on our cars to display our patriotism. In barber shops and basements, we often speak harshly of this country. But we pledge allegiance, pay taxes, vote reliably and serve in our military. And when we see injustice, we forcefully speak out against it.Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Clinton needs help with her debt
Hillary Clinton has a new video out asking for donations. She's still $20 million in debt, about half of that to herself, and if she doesn't repay it by August she loses that money.
So all you little boys with bikes and video games, you older Americans with pensions, all of you Appalachians living paycheck to paycheck, go to hillaryclinton.com, and give her back her $10 million.STFU Award: Bob Johnson
Today I'd like to unveil a new award that I have been giving privately with my friends. It's time to introduce it to my blog.
The STFU award is given to an individual who says something so ridiculous, so inane, so utterly stupid, there is only one rational response.
Today's award goes to Bob Johnson, founder of BET.Thursday, May 15, 2008
STFU Lifetime Award: Keith to W
Last month, I unveiled the STFU award, and with Keith Olbermann's help, it is time to award it again. If you recall, the STFU award is given to an individual who says something so ridiculous, so inane, so utterly stupid, there is only one rational response.
Today's recipient has earned the award so many times over, I am tempted to give him a lifetime achievement. But first, the citation. I'll let Keith do the honors.Thursday, July 17, 2008
STFU Award: Jesse Jackson
Just when we thought we had recovered from Jesse Jackson's tasteless and crass comment about Barack Obama, he raises his outrageous behavior to an even more unacceptable level.
Last week we learned that Jesse Jackson was picked up on an open mic on the Fox News set whispering to another guest. Jackson was complaining that Barack Obama was talking down to Black people and Jesse wanted to cut Barack's nuts off. Jesse incredibly thought the microphone was off when he made the comments, violating what must be the must widely known rule in TV -- always assume the mic is on.
Once Jesse got word that Fox had recorded his comment, he immediately came out with a pre-apology. Before the piece even aired, there was Jesse Jackson groveling for any camera that would record him. He still loved Obama. It was the microphone's fault. Children are starving in Africa. OJ was framed. Geronomo Pratt was shafted. Anything to keep the conversation from going deeper than his apology and delving into why he felt the need to make the comment.
