posted by Thomas on Jan 20
After eight long years, the Bush nightmare is finally over. I almost can’t believe it. I hope that there is an inquiry into the abuses of power, but I’m not holding my breath.
It is now time for you to crawl under a rock George. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
posted by Thomas on Nov 5
Wow.
posted by Thomas on Nov 4
Really good
posted by Thomas on Nov 4
Just read a blog that has really wound me up.
I know Obama is not Jesus and that he can’t part the Red Sea.
I think I just mixed up my Biblical references.
Anyway.
I know Obama isn’t any biblical figure. I know that if he comes into office, I will disagree with him on some issues…
I am still proud to call him my candidate.
posted by Thomas on Nov 4
It’s been a long time since I voted for a canidate rather than against someone else. This is the first time however I have felt really passionate about who I am voting for. . . I thought I did in 1992, but my 22 year old self had no idea. She had no idea how the world would be so terribly different 16 years later. Reminds me of a Jon Stewart joke. . . Refering to George H.W. Bush he said, “Remember when we hated this guy?” Ahh, yes. Those were the days.
There’s something else I will be watching today… Prop 8 in California which is seeking to block same sex marriage. I hope it fails.
I know not all of you that read my raging against the light of day are on the same page as I am and that’s cool.
I’m going to be staying up all night tonight watching the returns. I’m not the praying sort but there will be a lot of nail biting. My joke status on twitter and Facebook right now is, “Nicole is trying to think positive but preparing herself for a broken heart. Sort of like the time she dated a drummer… but you know- different…”
I really will be a slight mess if my heart gets broken again, and it will be so much worse than four years ago. . .
posted by Thomas on Sep 3
AP/Matt Rourke The last image found in Matt Rourke’s camera before he was hauled off
Fantastic article in the Minn Post about Matt Rourke, the AP photographers arrest.
posted by Thomas on Sep 3
“Covering news is a constitutionally protected activity, and covering a riot is part of that coverage. . .Photographers should not be detained for covering breaking news.” David Ake, an AP assistant chief of bureau in Washington
I’d read about the round up of protesters that were planning marches in the days before the RNC. Did you catch that? PLANNING.My favorite was the family in the bus that was pulled over and had their bus impounded when they were just driving down the highway.
But I’ve hid away a bit from the news the last few days and I only just found out that they have been arresting reporters.
You got to be kidding me. Amy flipping Goodman, (are they high?!?) Producers from Democracy Now! Matt Rourke an AP photographer and Kentucky University student photographers Ed Matthews and Britney McIntosh and Kernel photo adviser Jim Winn.
There may be more I haven’t read about yet.
Why am I surprised?
posted by Thomas on Aug 29
I agree completely with Senator Schumer that McCain’s choice of Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate is a Hail Mary Pass, but it is going to make things very interesting. . . that said, I honestly don’t think they are going to be picking up a lot of women from Senator Clinton’s camp. As Senator Barbara Boxer said, “If John McCain thought that choosing Sarah Palin would attract Hillary Clinton voters, he is badly mistaken. The only similarity between her and Hillary Clinton is that they are both women. On the issues, they could not be further apart.”
For me, it has never been about wanting a woman or wanting someone of color. It has been about who has been the closest to what I am about and what I would like to see happen. Senator Clinton had never been my candidate. I would have supported her as I did Kerry four years ago even though he was not my first choice.
I’m happy that Senator Obama has the nomination. I’m happy that Joe Biden is his running mate. Is he perfect? No. Does he sometimes have a big mouth (yes- and I kind of like that actually) But I’ll stand behind someone with all of the foreign policy experience that he brings plus let us not forget he authored the Violence Against Women Act
Why has McCain (who has a dreadful record on women’s issues) brought Palin to the National Stage? Ann Friedman has a great article in The American Prospect.
It’s clear that Republicans believe that what made Hillary Clinton such a good candidate was her gender, not her political experience or positions on the issues. And McCain’s decision to pick Palin shows he took this message to heart and chose to add her to the ticket primarily because of her gender. In so doing, McCain has turned the idea of the first woman in the White House from a true moment of change to an empty pander.
Why is this a pander? Because Palin is not a woman who has a record of representing women’s interests. She is beloved by extremely right-wing conservatives for her anti-choice record (fittingly, she’s a member of the faux-feminist anti-choice group Feminists for Life). Palin supports federal anti-gay marriage legislation. She believes schools should teach creationism. Alaska is currently considering spending more on abstinence-only sex education. And when it comes to a slew of other issues of importance to women, such as equal pay, she’s not on the record.
Of course, I’m of the belief that more women in politics — across the ideological spectrum — is always a good thing. On a superficial level, nominating a woman to the Republican presidential ticket is indeed a milestone. But the real reason many women were excited about Hillary Clinton’s candidacy is that she was the whole package — a politician with a solid record on issues like choice and fair pay, and with a lot of experience, who was also a woman. Even feminists I disagreed with during the primary made the compelling point that it wasn’t just about Hillary’s gender. It was about her record, too
I really just don’t see a lot of people switching their vote simply because of gender. I hope I’m not wrong, because a McCain/Palin administration would not only be horrible the United States at home and around the world, it would be a disaster for women.
posted by Thomas on Aug 26
So, I am one of those people that actually watches political conventions. I’ll even watch as much of the Republican convention as I can before my head explodes.
I remember the first time I heard Obama speak was at the last convention and I thought, “Damn. He’s going to be a star.”
The New York Times has a fantastic timeline on the history of the Democratic National Convention that you can see here.
And if you are so inclined, Michelle Obama’s speech is kick-ass. It’s twenty minutes, but I think it’s worth it.
posted by Thomas on Aug 23
I’ve always liked Joe Biden. But I never thought he’d get picked for the VP slot.
I think it’s a good choice.
—————–
update
Funny. I’ve read a few blogs from people saying that they aren’t pleased and remember how he treated Anita Hill. I think maybe my memory is bad because I remember something else. I remember how he went after Thomas. That was when I was first aware of Biden and I liked him for it because I was so against Thomas. . .
How odd.
Anyway.
I think it’s a good choice and I am a feminist.