May 21, 2008

further comment is unneccessary

David Weigel:

"Everyone except CNN calls Oregon for Obama. Bill Kristol informs Fox viewers that Oregonians are all "drinking lattes and sipping granola." I'm confused as to how this is a greater character flaw than the Kentuckyian trend of 'strongly disliking black people.'"

May 19, 2008

full-blooded 'muricans

Balko nominates this howler from Kathleen Parker for an "early lead in the 'most offensive right-wing column about Obama' competition".

Personally I don't find it offensive (I am pretty hard to offend) but it is tremendously, aggressively stupid.

"It isn't necessarily racist or nativist to worry about what these new demographics mean to the larger American story."


Racist, no, but opposition to immigration rooted in the concern that new arrivals don't reflect "American values" is pretty much the textbook definition of American nativism.

"They can spot a poser a mile off..."


Presumably, quintessential everyman George W. Bush was a rare slip-up...

"...their forefathers fought and died for an America that has worked pretty well for more than 200 years."


Sure, except for slavery for the first century, segregation for another century, and the genocide of, um, full-blooded Americans...

"And, the truth is, Mrs. Clinton's own DNA is cobbled with many of the same values that rural and small-town Americans cling to."


What was that part about posers again?

"That God, for instance, isn't something that comes and goes out of fashion."


A wide enough view of even American history suggests that religiosity absolutely does come and go out of fashion. This is, of course, completely irrelevant for the individual for whom faith is a cornerstone of their values, but since Ms. Parker is speaking about God in the context of some Great American Narrative I think this is a fair point.

"It is not necessary to repair antipathy appropriately directed toward people who disregard the laws of the land and who dismiss the struggles that resulted in their creation.

Full-blooded Americans get this."


Yes, because clearly people who are willing to risk an exceptionally nasty death crossing the desert, to endure separation from their family and friends, to leave everything they know behind...all for the opportunity to lay pinestraw, cook, clean, and care for the privileged spawn of people who will use them as political punching bags every time the economy hiccups...clearly they don't "get" America. And they certainly don't have any appreciation for struggle.

Some of the most fervent American patriots I have known didn't come from West Virginia or Pennsylvania or North Carolina. They come from Egypt, from Brazil, from India, and yes, from Mexico. I--a native-born American whose ancestors came over so long ago that in most cases we don't actually even know when they came over--am no more personally connected to what ancestors I may have had fighting in the American Revolution than I am to Alexander the Great. The struggle to create this country is a complete abstraction to me. This doesn't mean I don't appreciate it--I do--but to suggest that recent arrivals have less of an appreciation for what this country offers and is all about than I do is absurd.

And yes...perhaps even offensive.

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this is not an endorsement

A pro-empire Republican losing a presidential election and this loss being credibly attributed to the impact of an ex-Republican LP nominee who is essentially a Goldwater-style conservative would, in my humble opinion, be the best thing that has happened to the Republican Party since Nixon resigned.

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May 11, 2008

where spare time goes to die

We got a Wii this weekend. And Guitar Hero III.

Man I'm really glad I didn't get this while I was still in school.

May 9, 2008

A good blogfriend lost his sister yesterday in a terrible accident. If you know Gino (or even if you don't), please give him your support.

May 8, 2008

when you have 24 minutes to spare

Watch this:

May 6, 2008

resisting the urge to vote for mike gravel was tougher than i'd imagined

Activity in the Fighting 21st precinct was moderate and steady at 7:15 (no wait but most of the booths were occupied) and picking up 20 minutes later when I walked by with the dog. Between that and the line wrapped around the Board of Elections this weekend, turnout looks to be rather high...

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May 5, 2008

adventures in bike commuting, day 1



Apparently, $3.60/gallon is my tipping point.

Gorgeous spring weather and a quickly increasing need to diversify my cardiovascular exercise portfolio (knees and hips aren't too keen on running much these days) help, too.

Since I haven't pedaled this far (just under 12 miles, one way) in quite a while, I took it easy (just over an hour, door to door), but I'm pretty sure that time will fall if I make a habit of this. Also, I'm pretty sure I might have to start eating breakfast again...

The Durham Greenway is nice (I live south of the part that hasn't been paved in 30 years), and the American Tobacco Trail is lovely. The few blocks through downtown (Foster/Corcoran/Blackwell) between the two are a little dicey, but really not bad for an urban center. The rolling hills of Cornwallis Rd. going into RTP is by far my least favorite part, but at least the bike lane is nice and wide.

Of course, we'll see how I like it in reverse this evening...

PM UPDATE--A little tougher the second time out, naturally, but I made it in the same time (leading me to think that maybe my house is just a little lower than RTP). Caught a little rain, but it wasn't bad. Northwestbound commuters on Cornwallis, however, really need to chill out. The friendly woman on her bike offering encouragement as I slowly (very slowly) came up the hill by American Tobacco into downtown helped more than she knows.

This is definitely doable 1-2 times a week when I can afford the extra time and the weather cooperates.

Next day AM UPDATE--I am shocked by how not sore I am. The weather is supposed to nice again today, but I think I won't push my luck just yet.

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May 2, 2008



It wrecks me that this song is 20 years old.

Joyeux vendredi

Apr 30, 2008

thoughts on jeremiah wright and barack obama

In no particular order:

1) What happened on September 11, 2001 *was* a direct result of US foreign policy. Does that mean that your cousin/nephew/friend from college deserved to die in a pile of flaming rubble? Of course not...but let's not pretend that mucking about in the affairs of far-away lands doesn't have consequences, OK?

2) Black people in the US have a hell of a lot to be pissed off about. If you actually need me to elaborate on this point, I doubt I will change your mind, but there it is.

3) To believe that the US government engineered the HIV virus to wipe out black people requires both a profound overestimation of the competence of the US government and an equally profound ignorance of biology; each of which, sadly, are incredibly common among liberals and Christians, respectively.

4) Anyone who voted for George W. Bush has no fucking business criticizing Obama for his association with a pastor based on the wacky pronouncements of said pastor. (Shorter this: JERRY FUCKING FALWELL!!!)

All of that said, I share RW's frustration, and I agree with the spirit of Gino's remarks (if not necessarily the content), but the prize on this one goes to Thoreau:

Poor Barack Obama. He’s between a rock and at least 2 hard places when it comes to religion. For a while we were treated to right wing whispers about how his religious Achilles Heel would be found in an Indonesian mosque. Then his Christian minister was a liability. Then he found himself in trouble for being part of the allegedly secular elite, with his comment on “bitter” voters who “cling to religion.” Now his Christian minister is back in the news as a liability.

Not Christian enough, too Christian, not Christian enough, too Christian. Maybe those wacky deist Founders had a good idea about religion and public office ... maybe, just maybe, that “no religious test” clause is rooted in some deeper wisdom regarding religion and public office.

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