How Do You See It?

Tags

culture, Humor, life in the foothills, lifestyle, President Obama, satire

 

 

I figure I’m pretty normal as normal goes. I figure I’m pretty unique too as unique goes. That brings us to zero. Sooo. What I mean to say is that I figure in the great scheme of things, most people are pretty much alike, but we have enough individuality to keep us from boring each other to death.

I spent a lot of evenings late at night with a glass (okay glasses, if you must) of wine thinking about how life would be in New Mexico. And pretty much most of it has come true. We are brimmingly happy here. We love our home, our locale, our new dog and life in general. I’m in a position to do the things I wanted to do. I feel productive. I sigh happily at the end of the day, figuring I’ve used it pretty darn well.

So, my question is this: are you a day planner kinda person or a let the day dictate itself kinda person? Are you scheduled or unscheduled? Are you a list maker or a surprise me human? How do you treat yourself–before, during or after the “should” part of your day?

Are you a routine lover or not?

I am. Routine lover that is. I just automatically start figuring out the order of my day. For instance:

• I walk every morning M-Sat, at 6:15 am until about 7:10 am. Diego joins me now, and loves it to death.
• I clean house on Monday and Tuesday following my walk.
• I swim on Wednesday and Friday at 9:15 until 10:15 am.
• I grocery shop on Wednesday after my swim.
• I try to read  a book (I read articles all day long) at least 30 minutes a day in the afternoon.
• I try to work on some craft at least 4 times a week.
• I try to meditate for 20 minutes ever day.
• I try to do yoga stretches about 4 times a week.
• I do laundry on Thursday and Saturday.
• I cook five meals a week, have left overs once, and let the Contrarian fend for himself on Sunday.
• I always attend the 7:30 am Mass on Sunday.
• We shower at 5:15 pm, and watch the PBS news hour until 6:30 and then Jeopardy.

Does that sound weird to you?

See, it seems normal to me, and well, I have no real way of knowing unless I ask. Or should I remain in the dark, thinking that I’m normal–in other words, let sleeping dogs lie?

The key is, I don’t feel very comfortable enjoying anything until the should list is done. The should part of the above are those things I do as opposed to those things I “try.” Am I anal? Am I in need of “intervention? Am  I crazy, mad, slightly warped, or just a crazy lady of the eccentric persuasion?

And, I’m not sure I care what you think, but I’m asking you anyway. Or better yet, share your own modus operandi for daily life.

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One reason we in the “West” seem to conflict with those in the “East” (think global kids) is our propensity to think that virtually everything good in the world erupted from our part of the world, and was disseminated over time elsewhere. We do have trouble seeing that lots of great things came from other parts of the world, and their worldview, customs and ways of thinking are every bit as “right”, normal and good as our own.

Ales Debeljak has a very good article on the idea of hybridity that you should read, and besides, you can impress your friends with quotes from Eurozine, the magazine it appears in.

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Niall Ferguson is one who thinks the earth would be a worthless place had it not been for the British Empire. He’s been raked over the coals more than once by the intellectual community for being shall we say, less than a heavy weight.

If you hadn’t heard, he wrote a piece for Newsweek which excoriated President Obama. The full weight of the intellectual community is coming down on him for his huge factual errors. Read a good one in the Salon by Alex Pareene.

Dang, I would write more, but it’s time for me to head off to the pool. I can’t be late you know,. . . .said the rabbit as it ducked down the hole. . . .

Related articles

• Is Niall Ferguson’s Newsweek attack on Obama ’embarrassing’ and ‘unethical’? (guardian.co.uk)
• Top Newsweek Cover Reactions (thedailybeast.com)
• Niall Ferguson Is a Sad, Strange, Deluded Little Man–and He Has Our Pity… (delong.typepad.com)
• Niall Ferguson Publishes Embarrassing Defense Of Newsweek Article (businessinsider.com)
• A Full Fact-Check of Niall Ferguson’s Very Bad Argument Against Obama (theatlantic.com)

 

Obama is Still “Other” to Too Many White Folk

Tags

"your boy" racism, GOP, Pat Buchanan, President Obama

I happened to be watching MSNBC, and Rev. Al Sharpton’s show when Pat Buchanan let his subconscious control his mouth. You can see the full video here, but the jist of it was this:

Buchanan referred to the President of the United States of America as “your boy.” Sharpton was quick to call him on it,  but Buchanan either was stupefyingly unaware of what he had said, or chose to ignore his racist innuendo.

Many of course would dismiss Buchanan’s stupid remark as the slightly dementia-driven meanderings of a marginalized “player” who is limited to being the honking GOP voice at MSNBC, but I found it shocking that MSNBC did nothing to repudiate Mr. Buchanan’s inappropriate remarks. Much more fuss has been made for far less when it comes to the increasingly thin-skinned media.

In any case, this is but one example. Buchanan’s remarks were wrong on two counts. First of course is the awful use of the term “boy” in reference to a black adult male. This is such a flag in the African-American community that nothing further needs be said. Buchanan shows that deep within his soul, he still “thinks” this way, whatever may be his public pronouncements.

As worse is the claim that President Obama is somehow “your” president and not “our” president. This is the second time this has happened within a week or so. Deadbeat Dad Joe Walsh (R-Il) also referred to President Obama as “your” President to Chris Matthews in their famous “hey Chris” interview.

What those who use this phrase fail to see, or perhaps see all too well, is that this is not some partisan reference, such as “you Democrats” or “you Republicans.” It is recognition that to some Republicans, the President is somehow illegitimate in their eyes. You can put that down to ideology but there is plenty of reason to put it down more to racism, acknowledged or subconscious.

When you add up all the attempts to marginalize this President as “other” you are left with the unsavory taste in your mouth that suggests that this is not politics as usual. No doubt there was plenty of hatred against Bill Clinton by the right. Perhaps then too, there were references to his being “your” president. But we have gone far beyond those paltry attempts to paint a president as evil.

Here we see a concerted effort on a broad base to define a president as not a citizen, not patriotic, not having the best interests of the country at heart, at being a plant to effect a Muslim caliphate takeover, as being a Socialist/Fascist/Nazi/Communist, even when all those things are basically contradictory to each other. Plenty of pundits give voice to the idea that this President is determined to “taking down this country” on behalf of past racial wrongs. This is an insanity that is so bizarre and so unreal that it bespeaks a deeply felt-knowing or unknowing visceral hatred of this man because of his skin color.

It’s just that those white people who feel such things are in the final respect utter cowards. If they truly believed in their rhetoric they would stand up proudly and proclaim their hatred of all things unwhite (however the hell you would define that). They would not need to hide behind a “majority” of fellow travelers. True ideologues are not afraid to buck the mainstream and stand up for what is “right.”

No, these fools know they are wrong, yet they are desperate to find a way to absolve themselves from the miserable state of their own lives. When you are told again and again that you can “be anything you want to be” in the great land of America, failure is not an option. And if you are not succeeding, if you are still that grease monkey in the local filling station after twelve years, well you need something to blame. And there are plenty of good folks you can depend on to feed your need to blame.

Pathetically these miserable folks don’t see that the likes of Rush and Sean and Glenn and all the rest of the vipers who make millions projectile vomiting their hatred, hate them as well. They sit over their three-hundred dollar meals with their fine wines and they laugh at the rabble that makes them rich. They no more care about your plight than they care about the poor moles killed by the lawn guy on their estate. You serve their purpose, short and long term.

Plenty of folks say that poor old Pat didn’t mean nothin’ by his “your boy” statement. He’s from another era, he had no clue. Well, screw that. He knew, or he should have known, and if he didn’t, then he has no business being given a public pulpit for his stupidity.

 It’s time to call things what they are, and stand up. Well, what do you say?

 

Related articles

• Pat Buchanan Makes VERY Dicey Comment About Obama (huffingtonpost.com)
• Pat Buchanan Refers To President Obama As “Your Boy” To Al Sharpton (alan.com)
• Racey Racey Racey RACIST: Debt Ceiling Edition (passthedoucheys.com)
• Buchanan clarifies ‘your boy’ (politico.com)
• The Rev. Al Sharpton Knocks Down Pat Buchanan’s Talking Points on Reagan Being a Tax Cutter (crooksandliars.com)
• Yeah, this will do it (firedoglake.com)

Well If That Don’t Beat All

Tags

Arizona, Art, birthers, climate change, Florida, gun laws, Herman Cain, high speed rail, Montana, President Obama, teabaggers, unions, Wisconsin

It’s not like I go out searching for this stuff. It just pops up before my ears with INCREASING REGULARITY.

It is my considered opinion, MY CONSIDERED OPINION, that the Tea Party will be defunct by 2012. The insanity emanating from these mostly uneducated, most STOOPID people is mind-boggling.

Normal folks are already beginning to see what hath teapartyism wroth. And it ain’t good.

We made mention of a few days ago, that Wisconsin’s Governor has re-introduced the concept of political cronyism by unilaterally dismantling the state’s collective bargaining rights of all state workers. Marches are occurring everywhere as we speak. The Governor has promised a swift response by the National Guard. Cuts have to be made he suggests, and it surely isn’t coming from the rich folk like himself. Similar measures are being looked at in Ohio and Tennessee, also run by Rethuglican governors.

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In Montana, farmer/volunteer fireman, and teapartier Joe Read, House Rep, introduces legislation to declare that global warming is not man-made AND is beneficial to the state. By fiat, all Montana’s troubling problems are solved. Read, who apparently doesn’t, consulted no scientists, but relied instead on his “experience.” He said “global science is an ideal, not a true science.” Whatever the hell that means. Like so many of his brainless brethren, he suggests we “follow the money”.  Apparently he misses the fact that the anti-climate change “money” comes directly from big oil and gas interests and all the other major polluters.

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Sen Ronald Gould (R-AZ) introduced a bill in his wacky legislature that would allow the carrying of firearms on college campuses and in all public buildings. Further, existing laws that make it a crime to not  respond “accurately” to a question about having a concealed weapon, would be changed to be “truthfully” allowing for “oops I forgot I had that!” Further, it would no longer to a crime to discharge a firearm in the city, but only if only if it could be proven that the person knew that the discharge could cause death or injury. (guns can kill? you lie!) And if you feel you’ve been unfairly harassed about your gun? You can sue, and if you win, you get a “municipal” vehicle as your prize.  

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Rick Scott, governor of Florida, teabagger and fraud expert, refused 2.4 billion in Federal funds for high speed rail development. This action, left the work in progress and will put hundreds at least out of work. Rep. John Mica (R) and Sen Bill Nelson (D) are scrambling to undo the damage caused by Scott’s dull thinking. Meanwhile, California and New York, both living in the 21st century, are hoping the funds might come their way.

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Chauncey De Vega has a scathing look at the darling of the crazy right-wing, Herman Cain. These, as I call them, house Negroes make a point of feeding the racism inherent in the uber right-wing, all the while providing them with their defense: themselves. Anyone with half a brain can see through the veil of course, but not the non-thinking Beckian hordes. No, Cain is perfect cover, allowing them to vilify all other African-Americans, especially the President, all the while claiming, “moi racist? surely you jest.” You are and we aren’t jesting.

***

If you hadn’t noticed, all GOPers use the same mantra in response to the question “do you believe the President is a citizen/Christian?” In unison, they report in robot-like fashion. “I take the President at his word.” If pressed, they say things like John Boehner, “It’s not my job to tell the American people what to think,” or like Michele Bachmann, “I think we have more important issues to address, like the budget.”

The reason why they leave this opened ended, which implies that the “jury is still out” on the President’s status, is simply this: polls suggest that the likely GOP primary voter tends to think the President is not either a citizen or a Christian. So, rather than come from a place of integrity, the GOP comes from a place, of protecting my personal ambitions and interests in higher office or re-election. That’s some kind of  leadership wouldn’t you say?

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Oh, and on a note of civility and pertaining to the arts, Google has a new site up that promises to allow the viewing of masterpieces from great museums all over the world, in beautiful up close levels. Do take a look: at the Art Project.

Related Articles

• Florida’s Scott joins the anti-rail crusade (washingtonmonthly.com)
• Republican Fl. Gov. Rick Scott angers Republicans over refusing to accept high speed rail money (crooksandliars.com)
• Video: Herman Cain’s speech to CPAC (hotair.com)

It’s Time to Stop the Enabling

Tags

DADT, editorial, gay rights, GOP, John McCain, Media, Politics, President Obama, tax cuts

Mr. President:

I finally have had to admit that I’ve been enabling you, and it’s got to stop. This won’t be easy, in fact it will be most painful, but it must be done. Things cannot go on like this.

There have been good and noble reasons for my stance as protector. You have been unfairly and maliciously attacked since it became most clear that you would win the election and become our President.

There is not doubt that those who attacked you have done so on no basis of any unfitness on your part. It has stemmed, rather, from a mixture of utterly foul racism, and perhaps even worse, a personal addiction to power on their part. There are few if any in the Republican party today who are not solely motivated to achieving political power, and they don’t care who is harmed. There are virtually only a miniscule who actually feel any desire to govern in the people’s interest.

There is not a semblance of interest in putting the country’s needs first. These GOP/TeaParty adherents dance to big business and its slush fund for politicians with an occasional nod to whatever base seems to scream the loudest and promise it’s vote to anyone who will agree to enact their sordid agenda of hate.

You have been subjected, as perhaps no other President in history, to a slanderous excuse for a press. One is shamelessly pushing its own agenda, and actively lies to pursue it. They trust that their uneducated and incurious followers will not check out their lies. The rest of the media is too lazy and also too beholden to big business to ferret out the truth.

You have been accused of everything, proven guilty of nothing. You have been assailed as a racist, a Muslim, a communist sympathizer, a fascist, a socialist, and a Kenyan.

You are in fact a great communicator.

But Sir, you are a lousy negotiator.

The GOP has stated directly and probably to your face that it intends only one thing: to get rid of you and resume control of the government. They have made it clear that they will stoop to any low to achieve this. They are children who have been in the midst of a temper tantrum since Nov 5, 2008. Most importantly: They are not going to change.

You cannot continue to try to be bipartisan. You issue a statement that your meeting with the GOP went well, and there are points of compromise on the horizon. They reply with a letter demanding a full capitulation on the Bush tax cuts or they will filibuster any other bill put forth, no matter how much it harms our domestic situation, economy, or foreign affairs. They do not care, they want their way.

You Sir, cannot continue to abide this behavior. You have the bully pulpit. You can take air time any time you wish. You can use charts (Ezra Klein has a great one on what the Bush tax cuts for the rich would do to the deficit. I’m sure he will lend it to you). You must state the case , again and again if necessary. You must plaster the airwaves with truth.

You campaigned on ending the tax cuts to the rich. You cannot compromise on this, especially when it is really just capitulation. Let them threaten, and let them filibuster. Let them shut down the country and then explain that to the millions who are now destitute without unemployment insurance. Let them try to explain why it is so important to protect the rich, while destroying 9/10’s of the population.

Let them explain why trickle down economics is the only way to create jobs, when the charts and numbers, show conclusively that not one job was created in eight Bush years under these policies.

On DADT, Sir, again you promised the end of the awful practice, that demeans millions of our citizens, those both serving, and not. It shames us all. I know you thought, after the election when you sat down with John McCain, that you were speaking to a principled individual. You thought he would stand by his promise that if the military was ready to end it, he would be onboard.

Sir, John McCain, and the rest of the GOP are not honorable people by and large. They are only out for themselves. And for whatever reason they are against you here even when the military is on your side. Some are homophobic, some just hate you, some just want power back, and a very few are wickedly misreading scripture.

On both these issues, the public is on your side. You have the ability, as did Harry Truman, to end DADT by Presidential Administrative Order. Harry integrated the Armed Forces with the stroke of a pen. You can too. Yes, I understand, the GOP can threaten to play with the budget. Let them. And then let them explain.

You have the  facts, morality, and truth on your side. When will you realize this? More importantly, as I said, you have good majorities in the electorate on your side as well. You haven’t yet made the case on how well the stimulus has worked. The figures are out there. Tell the people in simple but clear language. Use charts.

I can’t continue to defend you. I can’t continue to hope you have an ace up your sleeve that I’m not aware of. You don’t. You need to fire half your staff and find some folks who have some grasp of reality.

Time is running short. If you fail in these campaign promises, you will not be re-elected, and we will find ourselves in all likelihood with a dunce in the White House. You owe it to us, the public, not to let this happen. It is your moral duty to DO SOMETHING!!!

Related Articles

• John McCain’s Sad, Permanent Crusade Against Gays in the Military [Polidicks] (gawker.com)
• GOP Moves Goalposts on DADT, Dream Act (pinkbananaworld.com)
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• John McCain on DADT (pinkbananaworld.com)
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