The World According to Me

On November 4^th when this country elected its first African-American president, many of us who supported Barack Obama were elated to say the least.  Finally, the politics of divisiveness and hateful rhetoric of one politically powerful group of people against a less powerful group of people would end, and all of us as Americans would be treated equally and with respect by those with whom we have entrusted our well being.  While I still feel this way, and thus far have been generally pleased with most of the decisions he has made thus far, the decision to invite evangelical pastor Rick Warren to open his historic inauguration is one decision with which I vehemently disagree.  This is a man who openly compares homosexuality to such crimes as pedophilia, bestiality, incest, and polygamy, and was a strong proponent of California’s Proposition 8, which stripped away the rights of same-sex couples to marry.  This is a man who does not deserve such a prominent place in history, and the decision to give him such a platform, regardless of the intention, is unequivocally, absolutely wrong.

That being said, a little perspective.  Blacks nationwide overwhelmingly supported Barack Obama for president.  Yet in California, 7 in 10 of these same Blacks voted FOR Proposition 8 (source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/06/AR2008110603880.html).  Further, a large majority of black clergy in this country, many of whom also support Obama, are against same-sex marriage, and carry many of the same views as pastor Warren.  Indeed, Obama’s own position on the subject is that marriage is between one man and one woman.  Now let’s flip the script here.  Obama has come out against Proposition 8, and has stated during the campaign that he would not support a constitutional ban on Gay marriage (preferring to leave the issue for states to determine).   He is also considering appointing the first openly Gay Navy Secretary (source: http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/poweringup/archive/2008/12/18/gay-man-for-navy-secretary.aspx), which could be a first step in eventually overturning “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” which he has also promised to do.  And contrary to Warren, Obama still supports a woman’s right to choose, stem cell research, and practical sex-education in schools with an emphasis on contraceptives.  Let’s take this further and look at it from Warren’s point of view.  So far he has taken a lot of heat from his fellow evangelists for accepting Obama’s invitation, with many on the right protesting just as loudly as Gays on the left.

One thing of which we can be reasonably certain is that this is not the emergence of an ideological pattern with Obama.  And despite the fact that this is about as boneheaded a move as barebacking at an orgy on a leper colony, I believe (perhaps naively) that Obama’s intentions were good.  The whole theme of his campaign was to open a dialogue with ALL Americans, not just the ones who voted for him or who are members of his party.  He’s pledged bring together diverse viewpoints, even when we do not necessarily agree with them.  And if this move opens up a civil dialogue with the religious right regarding Gay rights, then the backlash he’s feeling, along with the anger we all feel, may be worth it.  Besides which, we are coming out of an 8 year long tunnel of the most closed-minded, intransient, divisive administration since before the civil-rights era, and now is not the time for us to become like those we despise, rejecting people and viewpoints out of hand simply because we do not agree with them.  It is for this reason more than any I’m willing to reluctantly give Obama the benefit of a doubt on this one.  Note that I did not say “give him a pass”.  Indeed, if this is an indication of how he intends to govern with regards to the LGBT community, then it becomes our duty to fight him on it by any means necessary.

Besides, it could be worse.  He could have picked Jeremiah Wright.

I find it interesting how those on the right are very quick to accuse President-Elect Obama of lying, covering up, nepotisim, disregarding the constitution, etc.  What I find even more interesting is how they fail to see that these are the very same actions that were committed by our current President and his administration.  Throughout the past 8 years, starting with the stolen 2000 election, they proven themselves to be the most corrupt, unethical, amoral, deceitful, scandalous, unprincipled, and incompetent administration to ever lead this country into the abyss.  They lied to us about invading Iraq, lied to us about the ever-shifting motives of the invasion, lied and rationalized the tactics used on Iraqi prisoners (torture), rationalized their dismissal of any credible intelligence against the war, discredited anyone (including ordinary citizens) who openly criticized the war and their administration in general, paid news organizations (NBC and MSNBC included) for favorable stories about the war and the administration in general, used the constitution as toilet paper, used the SCOTUS as pawns, used congress as its personal playground, and generally bareback-raped this country and everything it stood for.  Yet the people who hate on Obama support this administration so vehemently that I can only conclude (IMO) that it’s largely out of GUILT.  These are people who likely voted for G.W.Bu–sh– in both 2000 and 2004, and likely voted for McCain as well.  Not out of any degree of objectivity or logical thinking, but out of blind party loyalty and blissful ignorance. 

They see an administration that supported and approved of torture, misled the public at every turn, insulated itself from any scrutiny, and not only failed miserably to protect this nation from harm on September 11, 2001, but unnecessarily sent hundreds of thousands of men and women INTO harm’s way for reasons having absolutely nothing to do with that fateful day, and that were as thin as rice-paper.  Faced with these facts and their indirect culpability in the deaths of over 4000 military personell and many thousands more in civilian deaths, not to mention the total degredation of this country’s international image, their reaction is not to apologize for their ignorance, but to transfer it.  They try to paint Obama with the same brushstroke and on the same canvas as the current president.  They figure that since the current administration is as corrupt as they come, the incoming administration must also be corrupt.  That way they can justify their gulibility and naievete by saying, “see, he’s just like Bush.”  And when their rationalization tactics like the current GBA (Guilt By Association) ploy regarding Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich don’t work, they become even more vehement in their support for their guy, and more defensive, and more angry.

Honestly, I feel quite sorry for these people.  Their party is in shambles, their president has lied to and betrayed them, and they don’t have the good sense that God gave a gnat to realize it.  They’ll forever wallow in the cesspool of their own ignorance, self doubt and guilt, hoping against hope that their ignorance, fear, desparation, or whatever their motives, will be justified by history.  Unfortunately, history can be very harsh in its judgements.  And while experience can be a good teacher, some will never learn from history.

The recent news regarding Rod Blagojevich putting the senate seat vacated by Barack Obama up for sale, and his subsequent arrest, has the GOP and their supporters (most notably RNC Chair Robert Duncan) creaming their pants with near-orgasmic bliss.  “Finally,” they exclaim, “we found something that we can hang on Obama.  Now we can show America how much they need us.”  Hate to be the pin in your balloon, GOP, but if you really look at what has come out about Obama’s relationship with Blago, and how Obama may have been instrumental in his downfall while he was senator, you’ll find that attaching Blago to Obama would be about as effective as trying to attach steel girders with Elmer’s Glue-all.

Even if you ignore Blago’s reaction when he realized that all he’d get from the Obama camp for appointing Obama’s suggested pick was a handshake and a smile (I believe the phrases used were “motherfucker” and “fuck him”), or that in the three months or so that Blago was bugged nothing was found (so far) that indicated anything nefarious between him and Obama, there is the New York Times story of a piece of legislation that Obama supported and urged the Illinois state senate to pass, which they eventually did.  According to the story, Obama placed a call to the president of the Illinois Senate urging passage of a state ethics bill which would curbe the influence of money in politics.  The senate president, Emil Jones Jr., was a critic of the legislation, and Blago ultimately vetoed it.  However, after Obama’s phone call, the senate overrode that veto.  Immediately, Blago started pressuring his state contractor friends for campaign contributions before the bill took effect on January 1st.  Apparently, this was what tipped off the feds, and the rest is history.  There are further reports (from a FOX news affiliate, no less) that it was Rham Emanuel who may have blown the whistle on Blago in all of this, which would seem to be a solid on his part.  Further, Patrick Fitzgerald has already indicated that Obama has nothing to do with any of it.

Clearly the GOP wants something, anything, to hang on Obama to somehow tarnish his image.  Given the failed guilt by association sleeze-balls they tried throughout the presidential campaign (Tony Rezko, Bill Ayers, Rev. Wright, Rashid Khalidi) one would think that they’d be reluctant to throw yet another one.  But if there is one thing that we’ve learned this year is that the GOP is nothing if not consistent.  Once again they throw some limp tired piece of spaghetti against the Obama wall hoping that it will stick.  Given the president-elect’s approval rating (see NBC/WSJ poll: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28163452) it’s clear that even if Obama has more than a terciary involvement in this, they’d be hard pressed to find anyone other than hard-core right-wingers that would do little more than tisk-tisk the whole thing.  Indeed, with what we’ve had to endure for the past 8 years (too numerous to put here), a little old-fashioned “pay-to-play” politics would seem quite tame.  In any event, the RNC’s time would be better spent trying to figure out what kind of party it wants to be in the future if they’re to have any chance of being allowed to sit at the grown-up table again.  For now, GOP, I can only say sorry.  Thanks for playing.  Enjoy your lovely parting gifts.

New York Times story refrenced here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/10/us/politics/10chicago.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2&partner=msnbcpolitics&emc=rss

You’ve probably gotten this one among the obligatory holiday jokes that wind up in your e-mail inbox every year.  I found it when looking through the flotsam that accumulates on my PC hard drive and found it uniquely appropriate in these tough economic times of cutbacks, bailouts, and recession.  Big 3 and Wall Street, take note.

The 12 Days of Christmas Cutbacks

Effective immediately, the following economizing measures are being implemented in the “Twelve Days of Christmas” subsidiary:

The partridge will be retained, but the pear tree, which never produced the cash crop forecasted, will be replaced by a plastic hanging plant, providing considerable savings in maintenance;

Two turtle doves represent a redundancy that is simply not cost effective. In addition, their romance during working hours could not be condoned. The positions are, therefore, eliminated;

The three French hens will remain intact. After all, everyone loves the French;

The four calling birds will be replaced by an automated voice mail system, with a call waiting option. An analysis is underway to determine who the birds have been calling, how often and how long they talked;

The five golden rings have been put on hold by the Board of Directors. Maintaining a portfolio based on one commodity could have negative implications for institutional investors. Diversification into other precious metals, as well as a mix of T-Bills and high technology stocks, appear to be in order;

The six geese-a-laying constitutes a luxury which can no longer be afforded. It has long been felt that the production rate of one egg per goose per day was an example of the general decline in productivity. Three geese will be let go, and an upgrading in the selection procedure by personnel will assure management that, from now on, every goose it gets will be a good one;

The seven swans-a-swimming is obviously a number chosen in better times. The function is primarily decorative. Mechanical swans are on order. The current swans will be retrained to learn some new strokes, thereby enhancing their outplacement;

As you know, the eight maids-a-milking concept has been under heavy scrutiny by the EEOC. A male/female balance in the workforce is being sought. The more militant maids consider this a dead-end job with no upward mobility. Automation of the process may permit the maids to try a-mending, a-mentoring or a-mulching;

Nine ladies dancing has always been an odd number. This function will be phased out as these individuals grow older and can no longer do the steps;

Ten Lords-a-leaping is overkill. The high cost of Lords, plus the expense of international air travel, prompted the Compensation Committee to suggest replacing this group with ten out-of-work congressmen. While leaping ability may be somewhat sacrificed, the savings are significant as we expect an oversupply of unemployed congressmen this year;

Eleven pipers piping and twelve drummers drumming is a simple case of the band getting too big. A substitution with a string quartet, a cutback on new music, and no uniforms, will produce savings which will drop right to the bottom line;

Overall we can expect a substantial reduction in assorted people, fowl, animals and related expenses. Though incomplete, studies indicate that stretching deliveries over twelve days is inefficient. If we can drop ship in one day, service levels will be improved.

Regarding the lawsuit filed by the attorney’s association seeking expansion to include the legal profession (“thirteen lawyers-a-suing”), a decision is pending.

Deeper cuts may be necessary in the future to remain competitive. Should that happen, the Board will request management to scrutinize the Snow White Division to see if seven dwarfs is the right number.
 

Tomorrow will be one month since the election of Barack Obama as president.  In that month I’ve seen criticism from both the extreme left and right on his cabinet picks.  Picks that moderates (and those who actually use their brains for thinking) on both sides of the aisle have so far praised as sensible and pragmatic.  Both are qualities that are needed in abundance in this time of national and international crisis.  Of course the no-information voters among us (again, on both sides) aren’t interested in pragmatism, and even less so in common sense.  The extreme left are disappointed that Obama hasn’t picked other extremist like themselves, and instant utopia hasn’t descended upon all of the land.  The extreme right are wagging their fingers going “I told you so”, while hoping feverishly for the ultimate terror attack to precipitate the coming rapture.  For both sides Obama has failed to live up to expectations.  Never mind that he hasn’t taken office yet, and as yet has no constitutional power whatsoever.

 What I’d like to ask this never ending parade of stupid is simply this.  What did you expect?  Did you somehow expect that Obama would wave a magic wand and all the trouble in the world would suddenly cease?  That somehow the world would change and we would all get along?  That we could instantly put issues like race, gender, and sexual orientation aside and at least pretend that we all live here together (have you seen the comments here lately)?  Or maybe you are among those hoping that terrorist would descend upon the
US like locust, attacking and killing everyone in sight.  Or maybe you’re hoping that the US would instantly become a third-world country, with everyone living in poverty.  Or maybe you’re one of the sickos who are hoping for a racial civil war.  That’ll show those liberals to vote for a nigger for president.

Well, as I mentioned before, for you guys Obama is batting zero.  However for me, he’s pretty much exceeded my expectations.  That is because I’ve let go of them.  I’m not expecting the world to become a paradise or a graveyard simply because we elected a new president, regardless of which party he’s from.  What I do expect is exactly what I’m seeing.  Decisions that are being made based on facts, not on ideology.  What I’m seeing is a president who is willing to entertain diverse viewpoints without being threatened by them.  I see an administration that doesn’t question the patriotism of those that may disagree, and that respects the rights of all people regardless of party.  I see an administration that is disciplined in its actions, focused in its message, and tuned into what’s best for the country.  That may not set well with the extremists out there with their single-issue mindset.  But after the last 8 years of the most extreme administration in presidential history, a centrist viewpoint is something I think I can live with.