What's with the hooker boots? That's not conservative, Governor Palin! Tsk tsk
Thursday, October 23, 2008
New York votes to extend Mayor Term Limits
What does this mean for other cities all around the country? Of course, the fact that we live in a democracy says that we are for the people and supposedly ran by the people, but is this giving the "people" too much power? Or will this actually assist in the improvement of quality work of the officials in office? I believe it can easily go both ways... but with Bloomburg, it may actually be a positive change.
He will now have an opportunity to run for Mayor for the third time. Congratulations to him.
He will now have an opportunity to run for Mayor for the third time. Congratulations to him.
hehe...
A little boy goes to his dad and asks, "What is Politics?"
Dad says, "Well son, let me try to explain it this way:
I am the head of the family, so call me The President.
Your mother is the administrator of the money, so we call her the
Government.
We are here to take care of your needs, so we will call you the People.
The nanny, we will consider her the Working Class.
And your baby brother, we will call him the Future.
Now think about that and see if it makes sense."
So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what Dad has said.
Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check
on him.
He finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper.
So the little boy goes to his parent's room and finds his mother asleep.
Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny's room. Finding the door
locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny.
He gives up and goes back to bed.
The next morning, the little boy say's to his father, "Dad, I think I
understand the concept of politics now."
The father says, "Good, son, tell me in your own words what you think
politics is all about."
The little boy replies, "The President is screwing the Working Class while
the Government is sound asleep. The People are being ignored and the Future
is in deep shit."
Carpe Diem Takes Too Long...
Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly!
Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably,
and never regret anything that made you smile.
Dad says, "Well son, let me try to explain it this way:
I am the head of the family, so call me The President.
Your mother is the administrator of the money, so we call her the
Government.
We are here to take care of your needs, so we will call you the People.
The nanny, we will consider her the Working Class.
And your baby brother, we will call him the Future.
Now think about that and see if it makes sense."
So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what Dad has said.
Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check
on him.
He finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper.
So the little boy goes to his parent's room and finds his mother asleep.
Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny's room. Finding the door
locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny.
He gives up and goes back to bed.
The next morning, the little boy say's to his father, "Dad, I think I
understand the concept of politics now."
The father says, "Good, son, tell me in your own words what you think
politics is all about."
The little boy replies, "The President is screwing the Working Class while
the Government is sound asleep. The People are being ignored and the Future
is in deep shit."
Carpe Diem Takes Too Long...
Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly!
Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably,
and never regret anything that made you smile.
Incarceration
Did you know that 1 in 100 Americans are in prison? Yep.
Well, did you know that 1 in 9 African American men are also incarcerated?
Well, did you know that 1 in 9 African American men are also incarcerated?
Why Does Obama recieve so much positive coverage?
Well, I think this question can be answered quite easily. The Obama campaign has ran an honorable, respectable race! There haven't been rallies full of "boos" and signs depicting his opponent as a terrorist or an "anti-American", etc. The McCain campaign has been completely childish, tactless and idiotic. The audience seems to be present only due to their loyalty to the Republican campaign, not because it's the best choice for the White House. How many people of color or diverse groups have you seen at the McCain rallies? I'm just wondering.... I keep seeing one type of person, older white middle class people who are having an incredibly tough time accepting the mere fact that the US may have an African American man as President... and they're scared in there boots! How far have we really come? Seriously... and obviously, not far enough.
Why Does Obama Get More Positive Coverage?
Posted by James Poniewozik | Comments (10) | Permalink | Trackbacks (0) | Email This
I'm tempted to just post that headline and let the Comments section fill up by itself. But there's an actual news peg. The Pew Research Center has done a study of campaign coverage since September, and found that 36% of stories about Obama were positive in tone, 29% negative and 35% mixed. For McCain, it was 57% negative, 14% positive, the remainder neutral.
Pew lays out several explanations, though the most pervasive one is: Obama has gotten positive press because he's gotten good news. "[Candidate A] Moves Ahead in Latest Poll," after all, is a positive story for Candidate A and a negative for Candidate B. After the conventions—when McCain bounced to a lead in the polls, Obama's coverage started out negative; the count turned more positive as his polling did.
On the zillion-dollar question of whether the press simply wants Obama to win, Pew takes a pass, but makes some good points:
Is there some element in these numbers that reflects a rooting by journalists for Obama and against McCain, unconscious or otherwise? The data do not provide conclusive answers. They do offer a strong suggestion that winning in politics begat winning coverage, thanks in part to the relentless tendency of the press to frame its coverage of national elections as running narratives about the relative position of the candidates in the polls and internal tactical maneuvering to alter those positions. Obama’s coverage was negative in tone when he was dropping in the polls, and became positive when he began to rise, and it was just so for McCain as well. Nor are these numbers different than what we have seen before. Obama’s numbers are similar to what we saw for John Kerry four years ago as he began rising in the polls, and McCain’s numbers are almost identical to what we saw eight years ago for Democrat Al Gore.
What the findings also reveal is the reinforcing—rather than press-generated—effects of media. We see a repeating pattern here in which the press first offers a stenographic account of candidate rhetoric and behavior, while also on the watch for misstatements and gaffes. Then, in a secondary reaction, it measures the political impact of what it has reported. This is magnified in particular during presidential races by the prevalence of polling and especially daily tracking. While this echo effect exists in all press coverage, it is far more intense in presidential elections, with the explosion of daily tracking polls, state polls, poll aggregation sites and the 24-hour cable debate over their implications. Even coverage of the candidate’s policy positions and rhetoric, our reading of these stories suggest, was tied to horse race and took on its cast.
It's a worthwhile point about how the mediasphere works nowadays: a negative piece of news begets a negative piece of news analysis begets a campaign-trial story that views a candidates' actions as a reaction to the polls. (See here, especially, the interpretation of McCain's suspension of his campaign.)
A few good tidbits about the running mates as well:
Coverage of Palin, in the end, was more negative than positive. In all, 39% of Palin stories carried a negative tone, while 28% were positive, and 33% were neutral. Contrary to what some suggested, little of the coverage was about Palin’s personal life (5%).
Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden was nearly the invisible man. His had just one large moment, the vice presidential debate, which also offered his only positive or neutral contribution. Aside from that week, the limited coverage he did receive was far more negative than Palin’s, and nearly as negative as McCain’s.
***very interesting
This article was posted October 23rd on
Why Does Obama Get More Positive Coverage?
Posted by James Poniewozik | Comments (10) | Permalink | Trackbacks (0) | Email This
I'm tempted to just post that headline and let the Comments section fill up by itself. But there's an actual news peg. The Pew Research Center has done a study of campaign coverage since September, and found that 36% of stories about Obama were positive in tone, 29% negative and 35% mixed. For McCain, it was 57% negative, 14% positive, the remainder neutral.
Pew lays out several explanations, though the most pervasive one is: Obama has gotten positive press because he's gotten good news. "[Candidate A] Moves Ahead in Latest Poll," after all, is a positive story for Candidate A and a negative for Candidate B. After the conventions—when McCain bounced to a lead in the polls, Obama's coverage started out negative; the count turned more positive as his polling did.
On the zillion-dollar question of whether the press simply wants Obama to win, Pew takes a pass, but makes some good points:
Is there some element in these numbers that reflects a rooting by journalists for Obama and against McCain, unconscious or otherwise? The data do not provide conclusive answers. They do offer a strong suggestion that winning in politics begat winning coverage, thanks in part to the relentless tendency of the press to frame its coverage of national elections as running narratives about the relative position of the candidates in the polls and internal tactical maneuvering to alter those positions. Obama’s coverage was negative in tone when he was dropping in the polls, and became positive when he began to rise, and it was just so for McCain as well. Nor are these numbers different than what we have seen before. Obama’s numbers are similar to what we saw for John Kerry four years ago as he began rising in the polls, and McCain’s numbers are almost identical to what we saw eight years ago for Democrat Al Gore.
What the findings also reveal is the reinforcing—rather than press-generated—effects of media. We see a repeating pattern here in which the press first offers a stenographic account of candidate rhetoric and behavior, while also on the watch for misstatements and gaffes. Then, in a secondary reaction, it measures the political impact of what it has reported. This is magnified in particular during presidential races by the prevalence of polling and especially daily tracking. While this echo effect exists in all press coverage, it is far more intense in presidential elections, with the explosion of daily tracking polls, state polls, poll aggregation sites and the 24-hour cable debate over their implications. Even coverage of the candidate’s policy positions and rhetoric, our reading of these stories suggest, was tied to horse race and took on its cast.
It's a worthwhile point about how the mediasphere works nowadays: a negative piece of news begets a negative piece of news analysis begets a campaign-trial story that views a candidates' actions as a reaction to the polls. (See here, especially, the interpretation of McCain's suspension of his campaign.)
A few good tidbits about the running mates as well:
Coverage of Palin, in the end, was more negative than positive. In all, 39% of Palin stories carried a negative tone, while 28% were positive, and 33% were neutral. Contrary to what some suggested, little of the coverage was about Palin’s personal life (5%).
Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden was nearly the invisible man. His had just one large moment, the vice presidential debate, which also offered his only positive or neutral contribution. Aside from that week, the limited coverage he did receive was far more negative than Palin’s, and nearly as negative as McCain’s.
***very interesting
Monday, October 20, 2008
heeehee...
While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by
a truck and dies.
His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems
there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts,
you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."
"No problem, just let me in," says the senator.
"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is
have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose
where to spend eternity."
"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the
senator.
"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down,
down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle
of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in
front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked
with him.
Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him,
shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while
getting rich at the expense of the people.
They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and
champagne.
Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a
good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time
that before he realizes it, it is time to go.
Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises
..
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St.
Peter is waiting for him .
"Now it's time to visit heaven."
So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls
moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a
good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St.
Peter returns.
"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now
choose your eternity."
The senator reflects for a minute, then answers: "Well, I would never
have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I
would be better off in hell."
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down
to hell.
Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren
land covered with waste and garbage.
He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and
putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above...
The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. "I
don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and
there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar,
drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a
wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What
happened?"
The devil looks at him, smiles and says.......
"Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted."
a truck and dies.
His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems
there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts,
you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."
"No problem, just let me in," says the senator.
"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is
have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose
where to spend eternity."
"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the
senator.
"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down,
down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle
of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in
front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked
with him.
Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him,
shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while
getting rich at the expense of the people.
They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and
champagne.
Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a
good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time
that before he realizes it, it is time to go.
Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises
..
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St.
Peter is waiting for him .
"Now it's time to visit heaven."
So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls
moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a
good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St.
Peter returns.
"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now
choose your eternity."
The senator reflects for a minute, then answers: "Well, I would never
have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I
would be better off in hell."
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down
to hell.
Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren
land covered with waste and garbage.
He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and
putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above...
The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. "I
don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and
there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar,
drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a
wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What
happened?"
The devil looks at him, smiles and says.......
"Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted."
LAST DAY!
People, if you are an eligible voter in the state of California, TODAY was the LAST DATE to officially register to VOTE!! I hope you did it, not just so that you can vote for Barack (which I pray you do), but so you can contribute to this historic period in politics and actually play a part!
and then.
Now the critism of Colin Powell’s position is transpiring, and the fact that he is a black man completely dictated his decision to officially endorse Barack Obama. Lets think clearly about this people. Colin Powell has nothing to gain from endorsing Senator Barack Obama. Powell holds the prestigious role of Secretary of State with an impeccable history of experience and leadership. He considers himself a Republican, and therefore initially supported John McCain. If anything, this switch would cause me to ask the question of “Why?” Why would he switch positions? Well, he explained it clearly and succinctly in his interview. McCain’s campaign has taken a negative turn for the worse focusing on trivial things. In addition, his choice for Vice President is further reason to question his ability to lead a country in this tumultuous time.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Why are people so funny? Friends and foes alike are interestingly dissimilar due to the ways in which they communicate, participate and function. Apparently, I have a bit of an issue with choosing friends, not that I choose bad ones, but I don't necessarily choose the best of the litter. I tend to be quite accommodating and on top of that very agreeable (thanks D). I don't apologize or regret being this way with others, but I have now come to the conclusion that it makes for others creating a beneficial relationship with me, sometimes for short periods and others for long.
Either way, friends should have reciprocal relationships that are fulfilling in some way. The type of relationship determines the way in which both people treat each other, but it should be positive!! LOL, friends make each other happy, not sad.
Friday, October 17, 2008
The Black Conservative
Has anyone heard of a Black Conservative James T. Harris?
I am all for respecting all opinions and even agreeing to disagree. I just don't understand why people are against Barack Obama, black or not... it doesn't make logical sense to me!
I am all for respecting all opinions and even agreeing to disagree. I just don't understand why people are against Barack Obama, black or not... it doesn't make logical sense to me!
As far as Mr. Harris being called a "sell out" or "traitor", I can vibe with why people would call him this. I need to be honest, this election is so much more than a normal Presidential election. The outcome of November 4th will determine the rest of our lives... potentially and most definitely. People want to complain about this election being so racially divisive and/ or racially charged... have we forgotten what country in which we live? The USA was built upon racial division and a hierarchy was developed and had been continually maintained. Our country is over two centuries old, and we've yet to see a President who was not an older white man. There are countless ethnic groups that were on this land before and during the beginning of this nation, yet and still, they can't seem to make it to the white house...
All of that aside, I choose to vote for the candidate who is different. I choose to vote for a candidate who does not remind me of George W. Race or not, Obama is the better choice and to not be proud that one of our own has stepped into this new role is utterly unspeakable.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Femininity
Maxwell sings an incredible song that has blown my mind.
When a man chooses to incorporate thought and precision into his analysis of the female, I become completely encompassed in the words and therefore the meaning. What does it mean to be feminine? Is it the same as girly? Does it describe a woman who prides herself in being a female and therefore embodies gender stereotypes and roles? I'm not sure... but maybe.
To me, femininity is the act of embracing one's individuality. A woman who is proud of their characteristics and can flaunt it is feminine. This pride can focus on skin type and color, body shape and figure, and everything in between... hair, nails, eyes, lips and all other body types.
I'm proud of my femininity.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Food for Thought
Now, when I think of intimate relationships, I think of two people who care enough about one another to support, cherish and love the other. These responsibilities, if you will, should be effortless. Once the love is hard to come by, the support is no longer unwaivering and the act of cherishing is no longer existent, then what?
I believe relationships are the reason and the purpose of life. Without my daily interactions with others, I would have no direction, motivation or zeal for life. Relationships with boyfriends, with my sisters, with my mom, with my best friends are meaningful because these people bring (or are supposed to!!) joy and fulfillment, and hopefully I return it in a similar fashion; nevertheless, feelings change and people change and therein lies this confusing rabbit hole rationale on life.
I don't propose I understand it better than anyone else, but I am passionate in the belief that my life, nor others', could be meaningful and truly purposeful without the existence of others. This is why it hurts when a best friend betrays you. This is why a piece of your soul seems to have broken when you and your boyfriend don't make it. This is why we're human!
I believe relationships are the reason and the purpose of life. Without my daily interactions with others, I would have no direction, motivation or zeal for life. Relationships with boyfriends, with my sisters, with my mom, with my best friends are meaningful because these people bring (or are supposed to!!) joy and fulfillment, and hopefully I return it in a similar fashion; nevertheless, feelings change and people change and therein lies this confusing rabbit hole rationale on life.
I don't propose I understand it better than anyone else, but I am passionate in the belief that my life, nor others', could be meaningful and truly purposeful without the existence of others. This is why it hurts when a best friend betrays you. This is why a piece of your soul seems to have broken when you and your boyfriend don't make it. This is why we're human!
TRL has run its course...
So... I remember being in Middle School/ High School and getting excited to watch the top music videos of the day!
Well folks, November 16th is the last day for TRL... it's been on the air for 10 years and it's now closing it's book and MTV is moving on!
Well folks, November 16th is the last day for TRL... it's been on the air for 10 years and it's now closing it's book and MTV is moving on!
3rd and Last Presidential Debate
As we prepare to see the final debate between Presidential candidateS, Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain, new (yet, old) factors are now being discussed and are definitely effecting the mindset of the voting population. The countless racist, elitist, bigot-like rants have quadrupled in both their popularity and hostility and it's becoming rediculous. I can truly say and believe that this election is showing our true colors as a nation. Some say we've come a long way, that we've almost become a Progressive and prototype of what countries should look like, but I find myself at unease with the thought.
While driving home from work, I heard the most telling story of how our politics are effecting people throughout the world. A man was shot 3 times because he was wearing an Obama t-shirt. 3 times! He was shot in the jaw, hit in the shoulder and the third grazed his hand as he tried to shield his face. His name is Dubi Iguato and he is currently in treatment for his wounds that could have definitely been fatal. This person was not shooting to injure him, he was shooting to kill. Is this where we've come?
If anyone believes that this American election is not a world wide issue- dealing with race upfront, then I'm not sure what to say. More and more,we're hearing citizens speak out about their hesitancy in electing a Black man as President. People have had opinions such as "I don't think Sarah Palin and John McCain are the strongest ticket, but I'm just not comfortable with a Black man in the white house." These are our stories people! These folks live right next store!
My mother never believed she'd live in a time where a Black man or woman could potentially be running the White House, but I did. I actually thought it would me! Why is it so difficult for people to wrap their head around the idea of an intelligent, charismatic, powerful, unwaivering Black man to be President? Because we truly haven't come that far as a nation. The racism, the hatred, the prejudice is still very much alive in our schools, our churches, our offices, and everywhere... it's just been silent.
Hiatus
I haven't been writing on my blog because times are hard! Even though this is a very positive source for me to release and express my emotions freely, I had no motivation whatsoever to do so. I wonder if anyone truly reads this thing... if not, no fret, I still like writing. :)
Friday, October 10, 2008
Mother's is going out of business!
Do you remember when your mother would buy you cookies that looked like animals? The pink or white covered cookies with sprinkles, the chocolate chip cookies, the butter cookies, the peanut butter sandwiches, etc. etc.
The company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and now the nearly 100 year old company has come to an end. :( How incredibly depressing! This company has been going strong since 1914! I believe this is one of many long-lasting companies that possess this fate.
I'm gonna try to purchase some before they're completely off of the shelves.
What is Palin truly saying?
*The article below conveys a different perspective on Governor Palin's words and arguments which have been seen via interview, and most recently debate. I think he's absolutely brilliant and that he intelligently analyzed her words and thereby better understands her level of competency as well as the goals set by the Republican party.
Listening to Sarah
McCain's running mate reveals well the thinking that Republican strategists aim to insert into the American psyche, writes James Zogby*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Media commentators were breathless in anticipation of the vice presidential debate between Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Sarah Palin. Given Palin's repeated gaffes in television interviews, there was an expectation that she might self-destruct in this nationally televised event.
This did not occur. Instead, Palin followed a disciplined debate strategy: she did not answer most of the questions asked (at one point she announced, "I'm not going to answer the questions the way the moderator or my opponent would like me to") and, instead, delivered a series of prepared mini-speeches to fill time.
Palin was friendly and, somewhat disturbingly, flirtatious (with winks, etc) and folksy, sprinkling her answers with colloquialisms ("doggone," "you betcha," etc). Because her pat speeches had been prepared in advance, she didn't stumble into gibberish, as she had in her earlier interviews, and appeared overall to be competent enough to please her supporters. I had expected as much.
I had noted before the debate that in watching and evaluating Sarah Palin's debate performance, it would be important not to focus exclusively on what she doesn't know about critical foreign policy issues. More useful, I believed, would be filtering out what she does know.
Palin began this process with largely a blank slate on foreign policy. One could dismiss her claims of having learned about international affairs by living, as she does, between two foreign countries. The geography is undeniable; but living across the Bering Strait from the frozen wastelands of Russia's Siberia, or across a land border from Canada's Yukon, provides more a sense of isolation than it does foreign policy experience.
Similarly, Palin's sole foreign trip, last year, to US military installations in Germany and Kuwait (and stepping one quarter mile into Iraq) to visit with members of Alaska's National Guard may have helped the governor better understand the needs of her constituents deployed abroad but would not have left her better informed about Kuwait or Iraq. And it is questionable how much useful information she culled from her speed-dating exercise with world leaders in Manhattan (other than the sorry fact that some of them could be fawning or downright embarrassingly sexist).
In selecting Palin, McCain's operatives understood her obvious assets: solid "Christian" conservative credentials, unlimited ambition, effective stage presence and, yes, the fact that she is a woman. But recognising her equally obvious weaknesses (primarily a lack of policy -- especially foreign policy -- credentials), the McCain team sequestered their number two in an effort to give her a crash course in world affairs.
Led by arch neo-conservative and foreign agent lobbyist Randy Scheunemann (who was an ever-present chaperone during Palin's New York adventure), the team drilled their "quick study" in the ways of the world.
In the interviews that marked brief breaks in Palin's sequestration, the fruits of their labour have been on display. Much could be learned from her answers in three major interviews. Some of her answers were nearly unintelligible, to be sure, but sifting through the jumbled syntax and incoherent babble revealed her "talking points".
These answers deserve scrutiny, as do the prepared lines she delivered during the debate, because they provide a guide to the worldview of Palin's handlers, which they hope to advance through her.
Having no independently developed, experience-based foreign affairs knowledge of her own through which to sift this "received knowledge", Palin's recitation of her lessons revealed a raw and unfiltered neo-conservative view of the world. It is, at times, banal and oversimplified; but it is also, in many ways, perfectly clear.
It is absolutist and Manichean. There is good ("us") and evil ("them"). "We" stand for democracy and the "spirit of freedom that is found in every human heart". Since the clash between good and evil is both desirable and inevitable, "our" role is to bring "our values" to a waiting world and defeat evil. And in this conflict, "our" victory is preordained. Compromise with evil is unthinkable and so traditional forms of diplomacy are to be rejected as a sign of weakness and surrender. (In this worldview, diplomacy means working with those who agree with us, not finding ways to bridge differences with those with whom we disagree.)
Simple? Yes, but also dangerous. This was the worldview embraced by the current administration, especially during its first term. (It is the consequences of this disastrous course that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has worked diligently, if unsuccessfully, to correct.) And despite its many failures, it appears that this hardline neoconservative course is embraced by Palin's running mate and his advisors.
Now, Palin is no mere pawn. In many ways her Christian fundamentalism has prepared her for her role, since neo- conservatism is but a secularised version of her new faith's absolutism. But while the theology provides a fit, it is the language and its application to complex world affairs that is new.
And so, while the basic framework (good versus evil, etc) makes sense in Palin's mind, she is not yet comfortable with the new phrases that have been written on the previously near- blank slate. This is why I say that it is important to listen to what she does say, not how badly she says it. And don't make fun: be afraid.
* The writer is president of the Arab
He says "We Can Solve This Crisis"
Really? Can we actually do it? If we can do it, why hasn't it already been done? It's instances like these that make me feel like an ill-formed, uneducated American. The media in our country is completely subjective and therefore depending on the station, the channel, the political view of the boss, I may recieve a completely biased view of what's actually happening in the world, at large, as well as within my own country. President Bush is saying the anxiety and stress that people are placing upon this financial crisis is only making it worse... well, what do you expect when people have lost thousands of dollars within days?!!? What do you expect when people are told the opportunity for credit may decease? Expect panic, expect ignorant rants and raves, because this is the way of the American people. We've lived in a bubble, and we continue to do so, unfortunately, it takes traumatic events for many to truly question their daily activities and question whether they've made the best decisions for their own lives as well as those of their immediate families.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Britney Spears- confession
So... I'm not afraid to say that I was definitely a Britney Spears fan circa 2000. I enjoyed her performances, she may not be the most talented singer, but you gotta admit, the girl puts on a good show! Anyway, I just read that she plans to air a documentary in which she is completely candid about the trials and tribulations she's withstood over the past 2-3 years. She's preparing for the release of her new album, and definitely wants to come back. I don't know about you, but I'm kind of excited.
I love "womanizer". LOL
I love "womanizer". LOL
Santa Monica
So my friend and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather that's a happening in SoCal... to be honest, it's a bit too hot when ur ready for Fall, but I'll take it! We went to the Third Stree Promenade which is a street full of shopping, food, and everyithing else in between. We decided to have sushi (which I love) and the aftermath was so bad! LOL... lets just say, some of that raw fish wasn't so fresh! LOL... I know, TMI.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Wisdom Tooth #2
I just had my second wisdom tooth pulled... and it was extremely smooth! Thank God, I don't think I could've taken another week of pain! YAY!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Happy Halloween
What are parents planning to do with their children if the houses in their neighborhood are vacant? lol. some serious shit! I'm gonna cut my own Jack-o-lantern, and make another pumpkin pie!! yeeeahh!
Reunion !
So my weekend, although filled with pain, was also full of fun! My bestie, Steph, decided to throw an informal reunion for all the friends we had (and still have) from high school. Our high school class graduated in 2002... it's been a good 6 years since I've seen some of these people! She lives in a swank apartment in downtown SD, and it was a great time. It's amazing how some people change dramatically while others change just a little bit. I didn't know how I'd respond to some people who I hadn't seen for 5 years, but overall, it was a pleasant surprise. We had (have) a good group of friendds, and I hope we can keep in touch!
Monday, October 6, 2008
pain
I haven't been on my blog for 3 days or so because I've been going through IT! Since I had a wisdom tooth extracted, I've either been in an immense amount of pain, or on Vicodin. I had a really bad reaction, so my healing time has been extended, and I am so over hurting! Seriously, we never really know how much we use certain muscles and joints until we're limited in how we can use them. Simple pleasures like eating, speaking, putting on chapstick (my fave!) cause me pain! I'm just hoping it gets better... sooner than later. :)
Friday, October 3, 2008
VOTE!!!
This is a pretty awesome video of actors and actresses stressing the importance of voting... not voting for Obama, but simply voting. If you care about anything that can be effected by the government, register and VOTE dammit!!
Vice Presidential Debate
I have to say that I am a bit relieved the VP debate is over, yet, completely surprised at how... boring it was. There were moments of surprise, but overall, both candidates repeated what's been said by their ticket mates, or what they themselves have said in their own interviews. I wanted to be moved, and I surely wasn't... by either candidate. Biden had some great words at the end, but overall, he held his ground much greater than Palin.
Palin continued to give vague answers to questions that illicited specific examples and concrete strategy... no surprise there. Her hometown accent and colloquial speech stunned me. She's vying to be the Vice President, and ultimately the President, of the United States and she doesn't possess the professional, educated rhetoric necessary to command respect, dignity and prestige.
Biden seemed flushed in answers. In my opinion, he's been listening to the expectations and he acted accordingly. Commentators often said he's been condescending and a bit authoritative, he didn't show that at all last night. He was quite respectful and respectful of Palin and her shortcomings...
I don't know, I think I was disappointed because I wanted to hear something "new", but now that I reflect on it, I believe that Americans who watch these debates already belong to one party or the next. These debates don't necessarily switch people's stances (and thereby their vote), these debates rather strengthen or weaken your opinion on a given candidate. For those "undecided" voters, these debates are much more meaningful, but still, aren't enough to completely decide who the better candidate is. I hope people take the time to research and listen to more then one debate, but listen to and examine the actions of the candidates in one-on-one interviews, in rallies and when talking to citizens all around the country.
I can't wait until the next Presidential debate... those are much more telling.
PALIN quotables
"What, I've been at this for, what, 5 weeks?"
"Can I call ya Joe?"
"I've joined a team of Mavericks."
"I may not answer the questions the way that you or the moderator want to hear, but I'm gonna speak straight to the American people."
51% of pollers said Biden did better (CNN.com)
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
VP debates
People are saying "Don't underestimate Governor Palin." Are you serious? If you've followed her track record, she's pretty much burned herself! I will not expect her to magically appear poised, confident, competent or at all ready to become the 2nd in charge.
Anything that resembles intelligence and knowledge, strategy and foresight has been baby fed to her during the last few weeks... if not months. I'm afraid of people who aren't aware of her past, tune in Thursday night and are completely jaded at the sight of an attractive lady, with a funny accent, who seems to kinda know what she's talking about. NO!
Because people have such low expectations, maybe she'll surprise us all!!! ... but I doubt it.
Another point: Biden's been criticized of speaking from a condescending view point. He has an authoritative tone and with Palin, Americans may pay more attention to that than the actual issues... what kinda sense does that make?!? Yes, Palin, is a woman. Yes, she's been overly confident, all I need to say is, "Lady, you need to prove yourself!" Tone, appearance,etc. aside, both candidates need to bring it and I believe we'll be expectedly disappointed with Palin.
Anything that resembles intelligence and knowledge, strategy and foresight has been baby fed to her during the last few weeks... if not months. I'm afraid of people who aren't aware of her past, tune in Thursday night and are completely jaded at the sight of an attractive lady, with a funny accent, who seems to kinda know what she's talking about. NO!
Because people have such low expectations, maybe she'll surprise us all!!! ... but I doubt it.
Another point: Biden's been criticized of speaking from a condescending view point. He has an authoritative tone and with Palin, Americans may pay more attention to that than the actual issues... what kinda sense does that make?!? Yes, Palin, is a woman. Yes, she's been overly confident, all I need to say is, "Lady, you need to prove yourself!" Tone, appearance,etc. aside, both candidates need to bring it and I believe we'll be expectedly disappointed with Palin.
Political Update
RIGHT NOW, the battleground states (Florida, Nevada, etc.) are leaning towards the wonderful Barack Obama. With the current economic crisis looming and possessing the potential to hurt older, wealthier citizens, McCain is NOT holding his own.
The map favors Barack Obama... substantially!
The map favors Barack Obama... substantially!
Wisdom Tooth #1
Today, I had my first appointment to get my wisdom teeth extracted. The original plan was to remove two today and the last two next week because they aren't exposed and require a little extra work. What ended up happening is the first attempt at one was a bit difficult, so my dentist decided that when he finished that one, he'd save the rest for the next appointment.
Now, don't get me wrong, I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, but this was rediculous! I've been under the knife and everything, but nothing really prepared me for what this ish would feel like! Thank God my dentist is great for placing anesthesia well and making sure the patient feels no pain, but he failed to tell me how much it could hurt AFTER the anasthesia wore off!!! I went to my mama's house, because it's really close and decided to make myself some food.
Withing 25-30 minutes, I was in a different world! M mouth was throbbing with pain, and I had to stop any movement that involved the muscles in and around my mouth! After about 15 minutes of this surprisingly high level of pain, I had a bout of crying that lasted about 40 minutes and then I decided to stop my tears. (How sad!)
I decided to face it and let the pain killers do their magic, my emotions may have been preventing their effects! LOL, eventually they started to kick in,but it still wasn't 100% relief... I called my doctor about an hour and a half later, and he said take another Motrin and if that didn't work within a couple of hours, that he'd call in a new prescription of Vicodin for me...
Lets just say, I needed the Vicodin.
That was my first experience with Wisdom teeth, and I have 3 effin morE!!
pRAY FOR mE!!
Now, don't get me wrong, I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, but this was rediculous! I've been under the knife and everything, but nothing really prepared me for what this ish would feel like! Thank God my dentist is great for placing anesthesia well and making sure the patient feels no pain, but he failed to tell me how much it could hurt AFTER the anasthesia wore off!!! I went to my mama's house, because it's really close and decided to make myself some food.
Withing 25-30 minutes, I was in a different world! M mouth was throbbing with pain, and I had to stop any movement that involved the muscles in and around my mouth! After about 15 minutes of this surprisingly high level of pain, I had a bout of crying that lasted about 40 minutes and then I decided to stop my tears. (How sad!)
I decided to face it and let the pain killers do their magic, my emotions may have been preventing their effects! LOL, eventually they started to kick in,but it still wasn't 100% relief... I called my doctor about an hour and a half later, and he said take another Motrin and if that didn't work within a couple of hours, that he'd call in a new prescription of Vicodin for me...
Lets just say, I needed the Vicodin.
That was my first experience with Wisdom teeth, and I have 3 effin morE!!
pRAY FOR mE!!
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