...cognitive dissonance is such a wonderful feeling, isn't it?
...my values are not the same as yours; in fact, they are superior.
...my responsibility is to my own interests only, and not my fellow Americans.
...the poor, sick, and disabled deserve neither my tax money nor my valuable attention.
...a guy whose middle name is "Hussein" has to be one of them evil Muslims who hate our freedom.
...waving flags, chanting "USA!", and singing patriotic songs demonstrates our superior patriotism.
...the war in Iraq must be won at any and all cost; to pull out now would be to surrender to the forces of evil!
...you're on your own, so shut up and quit expecting me to help you because it's not MY problem you are lazy and keep getting sick.
The Republican Party is a cult. Just like Scientology.
Obama/Biden '08/'12!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The moral depravity of the Republican Party is horrifying...how can so many Americans allow themselves to be fooled so many times that this country has become a laughingstock of the entire world? The string-pullers in the GOP are playing us for idiots, and it's worked because many of us REFUSE to think for ourselves or to think critically about our future.
We're better than this. McCain/Palin is Bush/Cheney III, plain and simple. They are different individuals, yes, and it's true that they may have bucked the Party line occasionally in the past. It doesn't make them, however, true "mavericks" like they claim. The evidence for the similarity between the two pairs is out there to be examined, and it's easy to find--if you're willing to look. The fact that Sarah Palin has more media exposure than Obama should have no bearing on whether she deserves your vote. The fact that she is a woman and that Obama did not choose Hillary Clinton as his running-mate should have no bearing on whether she deserves your vote. The election of the President of the United States is not American Idol--it's infinitely more than some superficial popularity contest, and it's exceedingly dangerous to treat what could be the most important election in our lifetimes as such.
For those who want to sit out: it's your choice, certainly, whether or not you want to vote. You may think that your one vote won't matter, but millions of people think this way. Millions of votes can make a world of difference in an election like the coming Presidential election, which is bound to be close (and shouldn't even be remotely close). The outcome of the election will affect you one way or another, and your vote is an investment into your future. Don't let the past discourage you.
Cynicism hurts everyone, though it's a natural fallout from 8 bleak years of Bush/Cheney. The U.S. can't afford any more cynicism from its voters--cynicism gets people elected who will perpetuate that cynicism through their heinous acts. It's a vicious cycle. It's defeatist. Our country and the world can no longer afford for anyone to be apathetic and self-defeating.
Why take the easy route and just refuse to vote? Why take the easy route and just believe everything you're told without a sliver of doubt? Why take the easy route and vote just for your own self-interest? Would you do something so willingly even if it would result in harm to yourself, your family, your friends, your neighbors, your community, and indeed everyone else on the planet?
Haven't people--shouldn't people come to your aid when you're down and can't get back up? Without each other, we can accomplish but little. Are we not our brothers' and sisters' keepers?
Heed Obama's message of hope and brother/sisterhood, and elect him the President. A strong nation is a nation unified.
We're better than this. McCain/Palin is Bush/Cheney III, plain and simple. They are different individuals, yes, and it's true that they may have bucked the Party line occasionally in the past. It doesn't make them, however, true "mavericks" like they claim. The evidence for the similarity between the two pairs is out there to be examined, and it's easy to find--if you're willing to look. The fact that Sarah Palin has more media exposure than Obama should have no bearing on whether she deserves your vote. The fact that she is a woman and that Obama did not choose Hillary Clinton as his running-mate should have no bearing on whether she deserves your vote. The election of the President of the United States is not American Idol--it's infinitely more than some superficial popularity contest, and it's exceedingly dangerous to treat what could be the most important election in our lifetimes as such.
For those who want to sit out: it's your choice, certainly, whether or not you want to vote. You may think that your one vote won't matter, but millions of people think this way. Millions of votes can make a world of difference in an election like the coming Presidential election, which is bound to be close (and shouldn't even be remotely close). The outcome of the election will affect you one way or another, and your vote is an investment into your future. Don't let the past discourage you.
Cynicism hurts everyone, though it's a natural fallout from 8 bleak years of Bush/Cheney. The U.S. can't afford any more cynicism from its voters--cynicism gets people elected who will perpetuate that cynicism through their heinous acts. It's a vicious cycle. It's defeatist. Our country and the world can no longer afford for anyone to be apathetic and self-defeating.
Why take the easy route and just refuse to vote? Why take the easy route and just believe everything you're told without a sliver of doubt? Why take the easy route and vote just for your own self-interest? Would you do something so willingly even if it would result in harm to yourself, your family, your friends, your neighbors, your community, and indeed everyone else on the planet?
Haven't people--shouldn't people come to your aid when you're down and can't get back up? Without each other, we can accomplish but little. Are we not our brothers' and sisters' keepers?
Heed Obama's message of hope and brother/sisterhood, and elect him the President. A strong nation is a nation unified.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
The tale of US Open 2008...
So there they were, in this fabled tournament of champions: the heavenly (yet earthly) King against the talented Court Jester*, and the valiant (though depleted) Knight** against the brilliant (but yet-unproven) Tactician***.
The King humbled the Court Jester, and the Tactician outsmarted the Knight.
Finally, the King met the Tactician in an epic duel.
Except it wasn't epic. The King's grace and power were too much for the Tactician, who fell in three straight sets despite a brave fight.
So the King continues his reign for one more year--his fifth--on the courts of Flushing Meadows. It had been a grueling year for him, having lost epic, bloody duels with the tenacious Knight at the courts of Wimbledon and Roland Garros after having survived a crippling disease which left him weaker. There were--and still are--those who doubted the King's ability and wanted to see him fall in defeat. But as he has proven in his latest victory, he is healed and ready to lead the Kingdom of Tennis once again with the talent and genius only he possesses.
May King Roger reign forevermore, in tennis and in our hearts!
----
I had way too much fun with that. Wasn't Roger amazing? He's BAAAACK!
----
*Novak Djokovic, known as the Joker. "Court" jester seems appropriate, right?
**Rafa Nadal. "Knight" seems to fit him pretty well. Grounded, unpretentious, tough, and athletic.
***Andy Murray. Roger himself called Andy a tactician...who am I to doubt his words?
The King humbled the Court Jester, and the Tactician outsmarted the Knight.
Finally, the King met the Tactician in an epic duel.
Except it wasn't epic. The King's grace and power were too much for the Tactician, who fell in three straight sets despite a brave fight.
So the King continues his reign for one more year--his fifth--on the courts of Flushing Meadows. It had been a grueling year for him, having lost epic, bloody duels with the tenacious Knight at the courts of Wimbledon and Roland Garros after having survived a crippling disease which left him weaker. There were--and still are--those who doubted the King's ability and wanted to see him fall in defeat. But as he has proven in his latest victory, he is healed and ready to lead the Kingdom of Tennis once again with the talent and genius only he possesses.
May King Roger reign forevermore, in tennis and in our hearts!
----
I had way too much fun with that. Wasn't Roger amazing? He's BAAAACK!
----
*Novak Djokovic, known as the Joker. "Court" jester seems appropriate, right?
**Rafa Nadal. "Knight" seems to fit him pretty well. Grounded, unpretentious, tough, and athletic.
***Andy Murray. Roger himself called Andy a tactician...who am I to doubt his words?
Monday, September 8, 2008
Okay, so...
Obama/Biden '08 wasn't exactly the "dream ticket" I (and no doubt many others) were hoping for back in primary season. It was Clinton/Obama '08, and it would have been a landslide.
It would have been the most historic major party ticket by lightyears, with the first serious female presidential candidate and the first serious black vice presidential candidate on the same Democratic ticket. People were so inspired by Hillary that many switched parties to vote for her or ignored their party affiliations to vote for her. People were so inspired by Obama that his speeches sent chills down their spines and made many cry. Imagine the sheer magnitude of the effect that ticket would have had on the American voters in November.
The reality now is that Hillary is NOT on the ticket, and a fair number of Hillary supporters are disillusioned or even angry. Women feel as if she had been shafted, and Palin's nomination is drawing some away. It's not that Biden is a poor VP choice; that's far from the truth. He appeals to the working-class whites and has more years of foreign policy experience than Palin has been in politics (correct me if I'm wrong).
We can't keep dreaming about what could have been and forgetting about the urgent fight happening now. The fact is, Obama/Biden is the necessary choice. Former Hillary supporters who say they are switching tickets are making a fatal mistake by choosing McCain/Palin solely on the basis of there being a woman on the ticket; these two, if elected, will enact policies which will shaft all women and bring further ruin to the U.S. economy and reputation. Making a rash decision based on raw, bitter emotional wounds will bring much larger, more devastating wounds in the long term, so it's essential that we give up the hurt and disappointment like Hillary and Bill implore us to do and fight for our common future.
It would have been the most historic major party ticket by lightyears, with the first serious female presidential candidate and the first serious black vice presidential candidate on the same Democratic ticket. People were so inspired by Hillary that many switched parties to vote for her or ignored their party affiliations to vote for her. People were so inspired by Obama that his speeches sent chills down their spines and made many cry. Imagine the sheer magnitude of the effect that ticket would have had on the American voters in November.
The reality now is that Hillary is NOT on the ticket, and a fair number of Hillary supporters are disillusioned or even angry. Women feel as if she had been shafted, and Palin's nomination is drawing some away. It's not that Biden is a poor VP choice; that's far from the truth. He appeals to the working-class whites and has more years of foreign policy experience than Palin has been in politics (correct me if I'm wrong).
We can't keep dreaming about what could have been and forgetting about the urgent fight happening now. The fact is, Obama/Biden is the necessary choice. Former Hillary supporters who say they are switching tickets are making a fatal mistake by choosing McCain/Palin solely on the basis of there being a woman on the ticket; these two, if elected, will enact policies which will shaft all women and bring further ruin to the U.S. economy and reputation. Making a rash decision based on raw, bitter emotional wounds will bring much larger, more devastating wounds in the long term, so it's essential that we give up the hurt and disappointment like Hillary and Bill implore us to do and fight for our common future.
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