Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
December 16, 2009
October 15, 2009
Lessons on Hearing Questions
The differences between being a Republican and a Democrat in Congress seems to be that fine line between being simple and being stupid. I would say that as a general rule, Republicans misrepresent complex issues by over simplifying while Democrats grasp issues better but fail to communicate or address them properly because of stupidity.
Case in point, here is Rep. Alan Greyson (as previously seen on this blog) doing his best to catch Federal Reserve General Counsel Scott Alvarez in a gotcha statement (Spoiler! he fails miserably.)
Ok. I know that Greyson has become a kind of progressive internet hero for his willingness to ask "tough questions." I will also agree with the broad idea of questioning the role of the Fed and its goals with regard to the US economy. Still, Greyson stumbles over his own incompetence when he first assumes that attorney client privilege has any bearing on Alvarez's role as legal council and then when accuses the Fed of "market manipulation," a term that has specific legal implications that Greyson seems to know nothing about. Alvarez is absolutely on the money when he states that questions about market manipulation are over broad. Generalized charges of manipulation are the equivalent to accusing the NIH of causing disease or the Pentagon of murdering people. These charges are so broad that they almost have to be true when applied to such large institutions with broad mandates. What Greyson really should be doing is asking about the effects or outcomes that specific policies are designed to have.
In contrast, here's Sen Al Franken asking some pointed questions of Mark de Bernardo regarding the alleged sexual assault of Jamie Leigh Jones. Is Franken grandstanding? Probably. But, at least he knows what he's doing.
UPDATE!
Greyson redeems himself in my eyes with this.
Case in point, here is Rep. Alan Greyson (as previously seen on this blog) doing his best to catch Federal Reserve General Counsel Scott Alvarez in a gotcha statement (Spoiler! he fails miserably.)
Ok. I know that Greyson has become a kind of progressive internet hero for his willingness to ask "tough questions." I will also agree with the broad idea of questioning the role of the Fed and its goals with regard to the US economy. Still, Greyson stumbles over his own incompetence when he first assumes that attorney client privilege has any bearing on Alvarez's role as legal council and then when accuses the Fed of "market manipulation," a term that has specific legal implications that Greyson seems to know nothing about. Alvarez is absolutely on the money when he states that questions about market manipulation are over broad. Generalized charges of manipulation are the equivalent to accusing the NIH of causing disease or the Pentagon of murdering people. These charges are so broad that they almost have to be true when applied to such large institutions with broad mandates. What Greyson really should be doing is asking about the effects or outcomes that specific policies are designed to have.
In contrast, here's Sen Al Franken asking some pointed questions of Mark de Bernardo regarding the alleged sexual assault of Jamie Leigh Jones. Is Franken grandstanding? Probably. But, at least he knows what he's doing.
UPDATE!
Greyson redeems himself in my eyes with this.
April 28, 2009
Hooray!
The "left" is tingling with excitement at Arlen Spector's recent announcement that he would change his party affiliation from R to D. You all know what that means: we can all look forward to one more Democratic asshole parading around in the senate.
As if we needed any more proof that party affiliation is next to meaningless.
As if we needed any more proof that party affiliation is next to meaningless.
November 30, 2008
November 21, 2008
There's No Tear in My Beer
I've said it before and I'll say it again. I hope that Bush gets the full Nixon treatment.
And, color me impressed that CNN finally has the technological capacity to enter search terms into google. I just put the terms "CNN" and "boneheads" into the google and got 54,000 hits so what does that prove?
November 16, 2008
Oh Balls
“I am going to hang Saakashvili by the balls,” Mr Putin declared.
Mr Sarkozy thought he had misheard. “Hang him?” — he asked.
“Why not?” Mr Putin replied. “The Americans hanged Saddam Hussein.”
Mr Sarkozy, using the familiar tu, tried to reason with him: “Yes but do you want to end up like [President] Bush?”
Mr Putin was briefly lost for words, then said: “Ah — Touché.”
(via The London Times and Glen Greenwald)
Mr Sarkozy thought he had misheard. “Hang him?” — he asked.
“Why not?” Mr Putin replied. “The Americans hanged Saddam Hussein.”
Mr Sarkozy, using the familiar tu, tried to reason with him: “Yes but do you want to end up like [President] Bush?”
Mr Putin was briefly lost for words, then said: “Ah — Touché.”
(via The London Times and Glen Greenwald)
November 6, 2008
The Election's Over
I could hardly wait another day. I feel like I've had a bee trapped in my ears for two years straight. I've had enough unreasoned and ultimately false predictions, catty gossip masquerading as news, blatant double standards and grossly unnecessary technology to last me a long while.
So, here's a little for something for you sons of dogs in the media that milked every last ounce of human dignity out of the process.
(photo by Jesus Arellanes)
So, here's a little for something for you sons of dogs in the media that milked every last ounce of human dignity out of the process.
(photo by Jesus Arellanes)
October 9, 2008
Why Debates Suck
I think that this will be a two part post. Introducing part one I have a little Ralph Nader action.
That right. For those of you who don't remember, in the year 2000, Ralph Nader wasn't merely banned from the debate, he wasn't merely banned from entering the debate hall, he was banned from even watching the debate at an "alternative viewing site" on the campus. And there were several sizable protests that didn't make the news.
But, let's take a step to 1992 and Brian Springer's brilliant documentary "Spin." It consists of hundreds of hours of satellite news feeds that he personally harvested during the 1992 presidential election. Until recently, I had only seen bits and pieces of it. Now, thanks to the wonder of the internet, you can watch the entire movie online. It's a look behind the TV news facade that still feels fresh today.
Larry Agran, former mayor of Irvine who was boxed out of the '92 presidential race by the media. Although I didn't know much about him in '92, I do remember hearing about his policy to drastically reduce military spending and using some of that money to support urban renewal. If I had been old enough to vote, he probably would have been my choice. In some sense, there's a parallel between him and Dennis Kucinich in terms of platform and in terms of treatment by the media and political establishment. Comparing Agran with another former mayor and presidential candidate, Rudolph Guiliani is also interesting. Agran was a proponent of very progressive policies, had a good grasp of urban problems and displayed the solid leadership. Guiliani really only had one thing going for him and that thing can be summed up in 3 numbers yet he turned out to be both a media darling and extraordinarily unpopular with the general public.
So, why do the debates suck? One reason has to be the exclusion of voices such as Ralph Nader, Cynthia McKinney, and Ron Paul.
That right. For those of you who don't remember, in the year 2000, Ralph Nader wasn't merely banned from the debate, he wasn't merely banned from entering the debate hall, he was banned from even watching the debate at an "alternative viewing site" on the campus. And there were several sizable protests that didn't make the news.
But, let's take a step to 1992 and Brian Springer's brilliant documentary "Spin." It consists of hundreds of hours of satellite news feeds that he personally harvested during the 1992 presidential election. Until recently, I had only seen bits and pieces of it. Now, thanks to the wonder of the internet, you can watch the entire movie online. It's a look behind the TV news facade that still feels fresh today.
Larry Agran, former mayor of Irvine who was boxed out of the '92 presidential race by the media. Although I didn't know much about him in '92, I do remember hearing about his policy to drastically reduce military spending and using some of that money to support urban renewal. If I had been old enough to vote, he probably would have been my choice. In some sense, there's a parallel between him and Dennis Kucinich in terms of platform and in terms of treatment by the media and political establishment. Comparing Agran with another former mayor and presidential candidate, Rudolph Guiliani is also interesting. Agran was a proponent of very progressive policies, had a good grasp of urban problems and displayed the solid leadership. Guiliani really only had one thing going for him and that thing can be summed up in 3 numbers yet he turned out to be both a media darling and extraordinarily unpopular with the general public.
So, why do the debates suck? One reason has to be the exclusion of voices such as Ralph Nader, Cynthia McKinney, and Ron Paul.
July 28, 2008
Accusing the Powerful
Vincent Bugliosi spoke to a congressional panel on the limits of executive power on July 25 along with a number of other very interesting speakers.
July 7, 2008
Surveillance Bill
For some reason, the Democrats feel impelled to pass this "FISA bill" that most Americans find to be repulsive. Here's a good primer for what the bill is about:
The EFF site mentioned in the video has a decent script for the call but I would use a sightly different one. If you get a machine, say that you strongly oppose the bill in it's entirety. If you get a person, first ask what the senator's position is on the impending surveillance bill before saying that you thoroughly oppose it.
For more info critical of the bill, check out Glen Greenwald.
The EFF site mentioned in the video has a decent script for the call but I would use a sightly different one. If you get a machine, say that you strongly oppose the bill in it's entirety. If you get a person, first ask what the senator's position is on the impending surveillance bill before saying that you thoroughly oppose it.
For more info critical of the bill, check out Glen Greenwald.
July 1, 2008
It's All on the Table
Here's Ron Paul, making some observations that should be obvious. Unfortunately, this speech probably went over in congress about as well as showing a card trick to a pig.
June 30, 2008
Enfranchisement
Someone uploaded "Uncounted" to google video recently. I'll just post it here without comment because I would rather that people who are interested have the chance to watch it unframed by my opinions.
Here's a more complete version of the Princeton study:
I really can't stop myself, can I? It's the whole Curtis testimony.
Last one. Promise.
I want to mention something about conspiracy. No one has yet explained to my satisfaction the difference between a conspiracy and a long range business plan.-Teresa Hommel
I'm coming at this as an accountant and an auditor. Why would you make a machine that doesn't provide a paper trail and can't be audited?-Athan Gibbs
Here's a more complete version of the Princeton study:
I really can't stop myself, can I? It's the whole Curtis testimony.
Last one. Promise.
June 26, 2008
Snipes Line
I'm working on this script for a political thriller. Here's an excerpt:
This thing writes itself.
UPDATE!
As I originally wrote this joke, the climatic line reads. "Always bet on half white, half black." I thought that betting on black and white at the same time would almost guarantee victory. Yet, as KD quickly pointed out in the comments, roulette wheels actually have black and red pockets not black and white pockets. Obviously, I don't play roulette, even on occasion.
Leave it to me to spend an inordinate amount of time developing a luke warm joke that doesn't even make sense. Incompetence - 1, Theunbeatablekid - 0.
So, with that in mind, I've adjusted the joke. In parting, let me leave you with this piece of advise: Always bet on Kid Dammit!
We join our hero weeks before the November election. The rigors of the campaign weigh heavily on his face as he is wrapping up a difficult press conference. He wipes the sweat from his brow and points to a reporter in the front row.
REPORTER
Senator Obama, we've been circling this issue again and again. Do you really expect to compete in this election, trailing in the polls as much as you are? Why don't you just give up now?
Upon hearing the question, Obama's demeanor changes completely. He appears energised by some hidden force deep within his own psyche.
OBAMA
First, let me ask you a question. Ever played roulette?
REPORTER (a bit taken aback)
On occasion.
OBAMA
Well, let me give you a word of advice. Always bet on half black!
Barak leaps from the podium and punches the reporter directly in his fucking face. There's a flurry of fists and a whirlwind of action with the bodies of reporters flying from the melee like so many rag dolls. Obama emerges from the fray, rallies his base, figures out where McCain is holding the kidnapped Michelle, rescues her and goes on to win the election.
This thing writes itself.
UPDATE!
As I originally wrote this joke, the climatic line reads. "Always bet on half white, half black." I thought that betting on black and white at the same time would almost guarantee victory. Yet, as KD quickly pointed out in the comments, roulette wheels actually have black and red pockets not black and white pockets. Obviously, I don't play roulette, even on occasion.
Leave it to me to spend an inordinate amount of time developing a luke warm joke that doesn't even make sense. Incompetence - 1, Theunbeatablekid - 0.
So, with that in mind, I've adjusted the joke. In parting, let me leave you with this piece of advise: Always bet on Kid Dammit!
May 28, 2008
More Chalmers
Volume 4 of the "Speaking Freely" series of DVD's is featuring Chalmers Johnston. If you know me, you know that I think the world of this guy as a scholar and a person. Here are two clips from it:
May 26, 2008
The Alma Mater of Kings
An article in the Times yesterday points out that we've had 20 years of Yale grads for president. If Hillary ends up winning the whole thing, we'll have at least 24 years with two Bushes, two Clintons and all Yalies. So, why are all these media and political voices saying that the American people reject elite Ivy League eggheads as being unpresidential? Well, take a look at the tale of the tape -
Every US presidential election over the past 20 years includes at one or more Yale Grads and one or more Harvard grad as one of the people on the major parties' tickets.
Every US presidential election over the past 20 years includes at one or more Yale Grads and one or more Harvard grad as one of the people on the major parties' tickets.
May 21, 2008
Budget Balancer
Being the connoisseur of education video games that I am, I was somewhat ecstatic to find Marketplace's Budget Hero game. The game play is extraordinary simple: budget options are presented in the form of cards which the player can choose to play. The simulator then shows what would happen under your modified budget.
Even I was surprised at how effective my "eliminate tax cuts and boost social program spending" technique worked. It was a bit disappointing that single payer health coverage wasn't an option though.
Even I was surprised at how effective my "eliminate tax cuts and boost social program spending" technique worked. It was a bit disappointing that single payer health coverage wasn't an option though.
March 21, 2008
DMX is Rubbish
So, I just finished reading an interview between XXL Magazine and DMX. I have my own opinion, but would like to hear someone else's thoughts first. Here you go:
Are you following the presidential race?
Not at all.
You’re not? You know there’s a Black guy running, Barack Obama and then there’s Hillary Clinton.
His name is Barack?!
Barack Obama, yeah.
Barack?!
Barack.
What the fuck is a Barack?! Barack Obama. Where he from, Africa?
Yeah, his dad is from Kenya.
Barack Obama?
Yeah.
What the fuck?! That ain’t no fuckin’ name, yo. That ain’t that nigga’s name. You can’t be serious. Barack Obama. Get the fuck outta here.
You’re telling me you haven’t heard about him before.
I ain’t really paying much attention.
I mean, it’s pretty big if a Black…
Wow, Barack! The nigga’s name is Barack. Barack? Nigga named Barack Obama. What the fuck, man?! Is he serious? That ain’t his fuckin’ name. Ima tell this nigga when I see him, “Stop that bullshit. Stop that bullshit” [laughs] “That ain’t your fuckin’ name.” Your momma ain’t name you no damn Barack.
So you’re not following the race. You can’t vote right?
Nope.
Is that why you’re not following it?
No, because it’s just—it doesn’t matter. They’re gonna do what they’re gonna do. It doesn’t really make a difference. These are the last years [ what in god's name is he talking about]
But it would be pretty big if we had a first Black president. That would be huge.I mean, I guess….
What, they gon’ give a dog a bone? There you go. Ooh, we have a Black president now. They should’ve done that shit a long time ago, we wouldn’t be in the fuckin’ position we in now. With world war coming up right now. They done fucked this shit up then give it to the Black people, “Here you take it. Take my mess.” Right, exactly.It’s all a fuckin’ setup. It’s all a setup. All fuckin’ bullshit. All bullshit. I don’t give a fuck about none of that.
We could have a female president also, Hillary Clinton.
I mean, either way it doesn’t matter. I don’t care. No one person is directly affected by which president, you know, so what does it matter.
Yeah, but the country is.
I guess. The president is a puppet anyway. The president don’t make no damn decisions.
The president…they don’t have that much authority basically?
Nah, never.
But Bush pretty much…
You think Bush is making fuckin’ decisions?
He did, yeah, he fucked up the country.
He act like he making decisions. He could barely speak! He could barely fuckin’ speak!Can’t be serious. He ain’t making no damn decisions.
Well Barack has a good chance of winning so that might be something.
Good for him, good for him.
Are you following the presidential race?
Not at all.
You’re not? You know there’s a Black guy running, Barack Obama and then there’s Hillary Clinton.
His name is Barack?!
Barack Obama, yeah.
Barack?!
Barack.
What the fuck is a Barack?! Barack Obama. Where he from, Africa?
Yeah, his dad is from Kenya.
Barack Obama?
Yeah.
What the fuck?! That ain’t no fuckin’ name, yo. That ain’t that nigga’s name. You can’t be serious. Barack Obama. Get the fuck outta here.
You’re telling me you haven’t heard about him before.
I ain’t really paying much attention.
I mean, it’s pretty big if a Black…
Wow, Barack! The nigga’s name is Barack. Barack? Nigga named Barack Obama. What the fuck, man?! Is he serious? That ain’t his fuckin’ name. Ima tell this nigga when I see him, “Stop that bullshit. Stop that bullshit” [laughs] “That ain’t your fuckin’ name.” Your momma ain’t name you no damn Barack.
So you’re not following the race. You can’t vote right?
Nope.
Is that why you’re not following it?
No, because it’s just—it doesn’t matter. They’re gonna do what they’re gonna do. It doesn’t really make a difference. These are the last years [ what in god's name is he talking about]
But it would be pretty big if we had a first Black president. That would be huge.I mean, I guess….
What, they gon’ give a dog a bone? There you go. Ooh, we have a Black president now. They should’ve done that shit a long time ago, we wouldn’t be in the fuckin’ position we in now. With world war coming up right now. They done fucked this shit up then give it to the Black people, “Here you take it. Take my mess.” Right, exactly.It’s all a fuckin’ setup. It’s all a setup. All fuckin’ bullshit. All bullshit. I don’t give a fuck about none of that.
We could have a female president also, Hillary Clinton.
I mean, either way it doesn’t matter. I don’t care. No one person is directly affected by which president, you know, so what does it matter.
Yeah, but the country is.
I guess. The president is a puppet anyway. The president don’t make no damn decisions.
The president…they don’t have that much authority basically?
Nah, never.
But Bush pretty much…
You think Bush is making fuckin’ decisions?
He did, yeah, he fucked up the country.
He act like he making decisions. He could barely speak! He could barely fuckin’ speak!Can’t be serious. He ain’t making no damn decisions.
Well Barack has a good chance of winning so that might be something.
Good for him, good for him.
March 20, 2008
Multiple Choice
Question: When Senator John McCain says, "No nation in the world can be attacked incessantly and have it's population killed and intimidated without responding", what is he referring to?
a) the once popular desire to view the Iraq war as a response to 9/11
b) the way in which high profile rapes and murders committed by US service personnel against local citizens in Okinawa have resulted in decades of intense protest against US military bases there
c) the right of Israel to respond to Palestinian rocket attacks from Gaza which have resulted in an Israeli civilian's death this year
d) the right of Hamas to respond to Israeli military strikes against Gaza which have killed dozens of civilians this year
e) the intractable nature of the Iraqi insurgency
f) the history of colonialism (Chinese, French, Japanese and Americans) and resistance movements in Vietnam
g) all of the above
e) only the instances in which the United States and Allies are attacked (everyone else can go screw)
You can find the answer here.
-------------
boomp3.com
a) the once popular desire to view the Iraq war as a response to 9/11
b) the way in which high profile rapes and murders committed by US service personnel against local citizens in Okinawa have resulted in decades of intense protest against US military bases there
c) the right of Israel to respond to Palestinian rocket attacks from Gaza which have resulted in an Israeli civilian's death this year
d) the right of Hamas to respond to Israeli military strikes against Gaza which have killed dozens of civilians this year
e) the intractable nature of the Iraqi insurgency
f) the history of colonialism (Chinese, French, Japanese and Americans) and resistance movements in Vietnam
g) all of the above
e) only the instances in which the United States and Allies are attacked (everyone else can go screw)
You can find the answer here.
-------------
boomp3.com
February 25, 2008
Where's the Beef?
Trying to keep my mind off of presidential politics for the last year has been like trying to keep some awful catchy song out of my head. The media aren't making things any easier by milking each stage of the process for ratings. The whole process has acquired a sideshow feel to it. I'm not the only one who feels this way. Here are three people expressing similar sentiments (preceded by a brief summary).
1. Noam Chomsky - Without open discussion and accurate information about the issues the public cares about, elections in the United States can be considered free and fair in only a limited manner. Elections are public relations campaigns instead of information campaigns. Public opinion on most issues is eschewed in favor of public opinion about the candidates.
2. Chris Floyd - The candidates are like geeks at a carnival, grotesque and fascinating. The issue of military dominance of the world and a bloated military budget are not being put on the table by any of the major candidates.
3. Howard Zinn - The "sense of proportion" is what's really missing from media coverage of the candidates. People should keep in mind that voting is only one among many ways to get their voices heard.
1. Noam Chomsky - Without open discussion and accurate information about the issues the public cares about, elections in the United States can be considered free and fair in only a limited manner. Elections are public relations campaigns instead of information campaigns. Public opinion on most issues is eschewed in favor of public opinion about the candidates.
2. Chris Floyd - The candidates are like geeks at a carnival, grotesque and fascinating. The issue of military dominance of the world and a bloated military budget are not being put on the table by any of the major candidates.
3. Howard Zinn - The "sense of proportion" is what's really missing from media coverage of the candidates. People should keep in mind that voting is only one among many ways to get their voices heard.
January 18, 2008
Bill of State Rights
In 1833 the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Barron v. Baltimore that the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, were applicable only in protecting citizens from actions of the federal government. Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that the people of the United States established the US constitution for their government, not for the government of the individual states.
-From Mass Media Law by Pember and Calvert (07-08 ed.)
Strange that I never heard of that before. The application of the Bill of Rights to state governments seems to have been established almost 100 years after the founding of the country by way of the 14th amendment and it's statement that no state can infringe on its citizen's liberties of which the liberties granted in the Bill of Rights is presumed to include.
People jaw so much about the US constitution in this country that they forget all about their state constitution. I'm sure my brother knows a lot more about it than I do.
-From Mass Media Law by Pember and Calvert (07-08 ed.)
Strange that I never heard of that before. The application of the Bill of Rights to state governments seems to have been established almost 100 years after the founding of the country by way of the 14th amendment and it's statement that no state can infringe on its citizen's liberties of which the liberties granted in the Bill of Rights is presumed to include.
People jaw so much about the US constitution in this country that they forget all about their state constitution. I'm sure my brother knows a lot more about it than I do.
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