I'm sorely disappointed in your campaign. You didn't make a serious effort to negotiate with the Republican opponent regarding campaign finance. You just decided not to bother and frame it as being about the big, bad Republican machine.
Why not make more of an effort...a public effort...at that? You chose against public financing so you could take advantage of your major difference in campaign donations.
You put practicality over principles. That's not how reform is accomplished; that's how one gets corrupted by the system they swore they'd reform. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Open Letter To The Obama Campaign
(below is a copy of what I've just submitted to the Obama campaign via their webform)
I am disappointed that the campaign would heap praise upon Clinton as she finally bows out. She didn't run a good campaign; she ran a campaign that was often nasty and played upon the misconceptions regarding Barack's faith and character.
Praising her as having run a great campaign despite some of the slimy tactics employed by her and her family is PLAYING THE POLITICAL GAME. The same game of politics that this campaign indicated it wouldn't play and the same game it has indicated it wants to abolish.
The more I think about it, I can't say for certain I'll be able to support a candidate who has started betraying their campaign promises before getting elected. I can tell you for certain, however, that if Clinton is put on the ticket, I'll be voting for Ralph Nader or abstaining from the vote altogether and will do my best to encourage others to do the same. While I'd still rather have a game-playing Obama in office rather than a McCain, I wouldn't be able to vote in good conscience for a candidate who would have, in that event, so clearly lied to their constituents.
I am disappointed that the campaign would heap praise upon Clinton as she finally bows out. She didn't run a good campaign; she ran a campaign that was often nasty and played upon the misconceptions regarding Barack's faith and character.
Praising her as having run a great campaign despite some of the slimy tactics employed by her and her family is PLAYING THE POLITICAL GAME. The same game of politics that this campaign indicated it wouldn't play and the same game it has indicated it wants to abolish.
The more I think about it, I can't say for certain I'll be able to support a candidate who has started betraying their campaign promises before getting elected. I can tell you for certain, however, that if Clinton is put on the ticket, I'll be voting for Ralph Nader or abstaining from the vote altogether and will do my best to encourage others to do the same. While I'd still rather have a game-playing Obama in office rather than a McCain, I wouldn't be able to vote in good conscience for a candidate who would have, in that event, so clearly lied to their constituents.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
I Swear To God...
Hillary needs to drop out. If she somehow manages to find her way on the ticket, I'm voting Nader.
She's been so fucking slimy and shameful in this campaign that I wouldn't touch a lever associated with her. If there's even a hint that Obama will put her in his cabinet, Nader gets my vote, still.
She's been so fucking slimy and shameful in this campaign that I wouldn't touch a lever associated with her. If there's even a hint that Obama will put her in his cabinet, Nader gets my vote, still.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Ummm...Did Hillary Just Concede?
Anyone who watched Hillary's speech tonight in Indiana really saw two speeches.
One seemed to claim victory in Indiana when it is still too close to call and told the crowd that it was on to West Virginia and all the way to the White House.
When that faded, she began thanking everyone who had helped her campaign. Thanking her husband and daughter for all their work during the campaign. Reading between the lines, it really sounded like a concession speech. Heck, analysts have pointed out that Bill's disinterested behavior behind her seemed to suggest he sees that the end has come as well.
Dear God, I hope she's finally caught a clue and gets out so that the Democrats can seal this up and get Bush and his third term zombie as far away from the White House as possible. And I mean out. If she gets a VP spot, I'm voting Nader, dammit.
One seemed to claim victory in Indiana when it is still too close to call and told the crowd that it was on to West Virginia and all the way to the White House.
When that faded, she began thanking everyone who had helped her campaign. Thanking her husband and daughter for all their work during the campaign. Reading between the lines, it really sounded like a concession speech. Heck, analysts have pointed out that Bill's disinterested behavior behind her seemed to suggest he sees that the end has come as well.
Dear God, I hope she's finally caught a clue and gets out so that the Democrats can seal this up and get Bush and his third term zombie as far away from the White House as possible. And I mean out. If she gets a VP spot, I'm voting Nader, dammit.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Much Ado About Nothing
I'm rooting for Obama. Let me get that across right now.
But isn't this whole passport thing a whole lot of drama for no good cause?
They accessed records of where he has BEEN, not where he is GOING. I don't see it as a great security risk. I don't see how this should be such a drastically bad thing when likely no attention would be given to your or me if our records were accessed for no good reason.
Reporters are saying that Obama should have received a direct call from Condi Rice about his records being accessed.
Please.
If they accessed the information, they had clearance to access it. If we have a problem with it, the problem should be that contractors were granted this sort of access to anyone and everyone across the country.
I had an ex that worked for PNC Mortgage back in the day. She walked out the door with photocopies of loan documents for one of Robert DeNiro's baby-mommas that he co-signed for. Hell, when the loan for Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance's home in the Los Angeles area came across my desk to purchase the loan for PNC Mortgage, I got a little starstruck (but never went so far as to carry documents home). Finding something like that leads you to occasionally punch in a famous person's name into the system to see if they are there. It's just curiosity.
That's likely what happened here.
But isn't this whole passport thing a whole lot of drama for no good cause?
They accessed records of where he has BEEN, not where he is GOING. I don't see it as a great security risk. I don't see how this should be such a drastically bad thing when likely no attention would be given to your or me if our records were accessed for no good reason.
Reporters are saying that Obama should have received a direct call from Condi Rice about his records being accessed.
Please.
If they accessed the information, they had clearance to access it. If we have a problem with it, the problem should be that contractors were granted this sort of access to anyone and everyone across the country.
I had an ex that worked for PNC Mortgage back in the day. She walked out the door with photocopies of loan documents for one of Robert DeNiro's baby-mommas that he co-signed for. Hell, when the loan for Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance's home in the Los Angeles area came across my desk to purchase the loan for PNC Mortgage, I got a little starstruck (but never went so far as to carry documents home). Finding something like that leads you to occasionally punch in a famous person's name into the system to see if they are there. It's just curiosity.
That's likely what happened here.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Let's Start The Guessing Right Here
Did Keith Olbermann duck out of his own program in the middle of the show last night so he could avoid doing a WORST PERSON that would have highlighted Barack Obama's reverend? Or possibly Barack Obama?
Friday, March 14, 2008
Doug Stanhope Alleges He Did Coke With Nick Lowry & Bubby Brister
While on the Opie & Anthony Show this morning, Doug Stanhope recounted a tale of doing cocaine back stage with Nick Lowry and Bubby Brister. He, also, alleged that Jim Norton was present but didn't partake (as he had gone sober long before). The shows hosts made sure to clarify that they weren't taking a position on the comment and that it didn't represent the show. They, also, jokingly offered the accused players equal time to deny the allegations.
On repeats of the show in the afternoon and evening, the names of the alleged players were bleeped out due to apparent slander concerns.
On repeats of the show in the afternoon and evening, the names of the alleged players were bleeped out due to apparent slander concerns.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Minimum Wage: Only for the ignorant masses...
Before anyone thinks to skewer me for that title, I'm just speaking of how Republicans seem to see it.
To them, the minimum wage is for the ignorant masses. If you're working a job making that, then you're not that bright and not that skilled. Heck, you likely don't vote. But many who do vote want that wage increased, so they play and pander to that segment of voters during election time and do a piss poor job acting like they want the wage to increase.
They say that raising the minimum wage would increase unemployment and inflation. 12 states that have a minimum wage higher than the federal wage are proof positive that the Republicans are full of hot air on those accusations.
To them, the minimum wage is for the ignorant masses. If you're working a job making that, then you're not that bright and not that skilled. Heck, you likely don't vote. But many who do vote want that wage increased, so they play and pander to that segment of voters during election time and do a piss poor job acting like they want the wage to increase.
They say that raising the minimum wage would increase unemployment and inflation. 12 states that have a minimum wage higher than the federal wage are proof positive that the Republicans are full of hot air on those accusations.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Olbermann Is A Big Fat Hypocrite
I've been a big fan of Keith Olbermann. I watch the show regularly, TiVo-ing it to avoid missing it. Many nights, you'll find me at my computer that is just around the corner from the TV, listening to his reporting of the days events. We share the same viewpoint on many topics, so I trust his show to catch some of the inconsistencies from elected officials that I'd be most interested in hearing about.
But he can often be a bit of a hypocrite when it comes to political correctness and free speech. He was off base when it came to Don Imus, especially given his appearing to be a fan of Howard Stern during his coverage of his transition to Sirius Satellite Radio. He is, also, off base here. Wildly so. More so than he has been in the past.
He condemned David Shuster's comments about the Clintons pimping out Chelsea to help their chances at getting the Democrat nomination. He chooses to ignore the context and its current place in the American vernacular to score points with the Clintons, again. To brown nose. To be, ironically, pimped out for PR by his MSNBC bosses, since the statement wasn't made on his show and he was under no obligation to offer an apology.
Why is he a hypocrite, though? Because he's used the phrase himself on his own show. He said that George Bush was pimping out General David Petraeus with the Iraq report some months ago. The gender may be switched, but the contextual use of the word is the same. Yet, he calls Shuster's comment "indefensible"?
Have you no backbone, sir? Will you be doing a Special Comment calling yourself out for owing America an apology? Glad to see how quickly you turn on your colleagues when the heat is on.
But he can often be a bit of a hypocrite when it comes to political correctness and free speech. He was off base when it came to Don Imus, especially given his appearing to be a fan of Howard Stern during his coverage of his transition to Sirius Satellite Radio. He is, also, off base here. Wildly so. More so than he has been in the past.
He condemned David Shuster's comments about the Clintons pimping out Chelsea to help their chances at getting the Democrat nomination. He chooses to ignore the context and its current place in the American vernacular to score points with the Clintons, again. To brown nose. To be, ironically, pimped out for PR by his MSNBC bosses, since the statement wasn't made on his show and he was under no obligation to offer an apology.
Why is he a hypocrite, though? Because he's used the phrase himself on his own show. He said that George Bush was pimping out General David Petraeus with the Iraq report some months ago. The gender may be switched, but the contextual use of the word is the same. Yet, he calls Shuster's comment "indefensible"?
Have you no backbone, sir? Will you be doing a Special Comment calling yourself out for owing America an apology? Glad to see how quickly you turn on your colleagues when the heat is on.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Much Ado About Nothing
Really, people?
Is David Shuster a bit of a smarmy ass at times? Sure.
Was he actually trying to imply that Chelsea Clinton is turning tricks? No.
He's pointing out there being something weird about the way the Clintons are handling their daughter to further their campaign. They generally won't let her be interviewed. They tried to shelter her early and often before Hillary's run. Now, they have her calling super-delegates at their express behest, but won't grant requests for interviews to the media.
There is something off about that. There is something weird about it. There is, certainly, some manner of using going on there...and even, possibly, creating an artificial demand for her by trying to control who can and can't hear her speak.
And the idea that MSNBC is in the hip pocket of the Obama campaign? Ridiculous. Months ago, Olbermann practically fellated Bill Clinton on a regular basis and was a Hillary apologist any time something popped up. I'd say the first time he started being objective when it came to her campaign was when he was the only on-air personality there to point to the fact that she didn't skip a beat after crying in New Hampshire to launching into an attack on Obama. He alluded to it appearing to be calculated, while no one else working on their primary coverage seemed to even acknowledge the possibility.
The Clinton campaign thinks that any reporting of their work that doesn't read directly off the script they provide to the media is biased and out to get them.
Is David Shuster a bit of a smarmy ass at times? Sure.
Was he actually trying to imply that Chelsea Clinton is turning tricks? No.
He's pointing out there being something weird about the way the Clintons are handling their daughter to further their campaign. They generally won't let her be interviewed. They tried to shelter her early and often before Hillary's run. Now, they have her calling super-delegates at their express behest, but won't grant requests for interviews to the media.
There is something off about that. There is something weird about it. There is, certainly, some manner of using going on there...and even, possibly, creating an artificial demand for her by trying to control who can and can't hear her speak.
And the idea that MSNBC is in the hip pocket of the Obama campaign? Ridiculous. Months ago, Olbermann practically fellated Bill Clinton on a regular basis and was a Hillary apologist any time something popped up. I'd say the first time he started being objective when it came to her campaign was when he was the only on-air personality there to point to the fact that she didn't skip a beat after crying in New Hampshire to launching into an attack on Obama. He alluded to it appearing to be calculated, while no one else working on their primary coverage seemed to even acknowledge the possibility.
The Clinton campaign thinks that any reporting of their work that doesn't read directly off the script they provide to the media is biased and out to get them.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Israel Vs. Hezbollah?
Now...I'm not saying that everything this guy is saying is the Gospel truth...but what I am saying is that there is probably a lot of truth to what he says that never gets the appropriate media coverage in the Western world...and gets laughed away when it is Al-Jazeera reporting it...
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
C'mon Ride That Train...
The train is leaving the station....
Let's see...Andy Card left...now Scott McClellan is leaving (you know...the guy that does the idiot dance with the White House Press Corps daily)...and Rove is reducing his responsibilities even more (apparently to spend more time with his succubi and not have to get those expensive treatments that allow him to come out in the daylight, have his reflection show in mirrors, and be able to tolerate brief splashes of holy water and garlic).
It will still be until January 2009 before we have a chance to utter that Poltergeist line: this house is clean.
Let's see...Andy Card left...now Scott McClellan is leaving (you know...the guy that does the idiot dance with the White House Press Corps daily)...and Rove is reducing his responsibilities even more (apparently to spend more time with his succubi and not have to get those expensive treatments that allow him to come out in the daylight, have his reflection show in mirrors, and be able to tolerate brief splashes of holy water and garlic).
It will still be until January 2009 before we have a chance to utter that Poltergeist line: this house is clean.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
McCain Tosses The RNC's Salad Regularly
Wow. If this doesn't just crush any hopes I had that there's anyone on the Republican side that is genuinely trying to help this country. At this point, Senator Specter is the best Republican I can think of off the top of my head...and he's not without his sizable flaws, too.
Which makes another quote from Mr. Fournier's article so apropos:
From AP Political Writer, Rob Fournier:Later, the senator outlined his position on the Senate immigration debate, saying tougher border enforcement must be accompanied by guest-worker provisions that give illegal immigrants a legal path toward citizenship.
Murmurs from the crowd turned to booing. "Pay a decent wage!" one audience member shouted. McCain curtly threatened to cut the speech short, which quieted the crowd.
In the speech, McCain also argued that withdrawing U.S. troops prematurely from Iraq would turn terrorists loose on the United States.
That's when one audience member unleashed the barnyard epithet.
McCain got another laugh when he finished the speech and asked whether anybody had "questions, comments or insults." One audience member obliged with a pointed question on his immigration plan.
McCain responded by saying immigrants were taking jobs nobody else wanted. He offered anybody in the crowd $50 an hour to pick lettuce in Arizona.
Shouts of protest rose from the crowd, with some accepting McCain's job offer.
"I'll take it!" one man shouted.
McCain insisted none of them would do such menial labor for a complete season. "You can't do it, my friends."
Wow. Does he actually believe the BS he spouts? Does he earn so much a year these days that $50/hr seems like a pitance? Does he not know that it roughly would be $100k/yr if it was a year round employment and if it was only a season it would still be more than many people make in a year?
McCain is out of touch and he's been sacrificing way too much of what made him an appealling candidate in order to appeal to the mainstream RNC constituency. He's supporting Bush more and more. He's supporting the guest worker program. He's supported Governor Schwarzenegger. McCain made all sweet and friendly with Jerry Falwell, for Christ's sake (pun/irony intended).Which makes another quote from Mr. Fournier's article so apropos:
Arnold SchwarzeneggerIt began with a chorus of boos when McCain mentioned his support of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a fellow Republican. Shrugging off the reaction, McCain said somebody came up to him at the Schwarzenegger event and said:
"Do people tell you look like John McCain?"
"Yes, they do."
"Doesn't that make you madder than hell?"
You know...at this point...I'd deck anyone who said I look like John McCain. He went from hero to insult...and all, ironically, in an attempt to try to broaden his appeal. Serves him right...because no sellout deserves better, no matter what they may have done for their country in the past.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Can Everything Be Done Just As Well From The Western White House????
I hate George Bush
How can you justify how slow our government was to respond to the mayhem in New Orleans? How can you justify how our federal government did virtually nothing to prepare to aid New Orleans even in the face of the fact that an evacuation of the entire city had been ordered?
Should we not have had people ready to get down there to aid these people? To be ready to stop the looting (and the quickly descend into more disturbing lawlessness as people realize there is no one to stop them...the violence, the rape, the horror). To be able to feed the hungry. To be able to care for the sick and injured.
More importantly...shouldn't we have had people ready to get down there to save the children? The dying children. The children that have died from dehydration. BABIES!!!! The child who's mother was on MSNBC showing how the child could not maintain consciousness and was becoming more and more difficult to wake up each time...this child that is dying slowly before his mother's eyes...
I can't deal with it. I'm fighting my testosterone to type the words to tell you that I broke down crying while watching the footage on COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN. I couldn't help myself...just as I can't help those down in New Orleans, I imagine...and that's where the tears start...because if news crews can brave it down to so many sections there and not be shot at...where the hell are the people with the power and authority to save those survivors???????????
How can you justify how slow our government was to respond to the mayhem in New Orleans? How can you justify how our federal government did virtually nothing to prepare to aid New Orleans even in the face of the fact that an evacuation of the entire city had been ordered?
Should we not have had people ready to get down there to aid these people? To be ready to stop the looting (and the quickly descend into more disturbing lawlessness as people realize there is no one to stop them...the violence, the rape, the horror). To be able to feed the hungry. To be able to care for the sick and injured.
More importantly...shouldn't we have had people ready to get down there to save the children? The dying children. The children that have died from dehydration. BABIES!!!! The child who's mother was on MSNBC showing how the child could not maintain consciousness and was becoming more and more difficult to wake up each time...this child that is dying slowly before his mother's eyes...
I can't deal with it. I'm fighting my testosterone to type the words to tell you that I broke down crying while watching the footage on COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN. I couldn't help myself...just as I can't help those down in New Orleans, I imagine...and that's where the tears start...because if news crews can brave it down to so many sections there and not be shot at...where the hell are the people with the power and authority to save those survivors???????????
Monday, June 20, 2005
Why Am I Sitting Here?
Well...I left Dendrite International about a month ago. It was one of the best things that could have happened to me (even if the parting could have gone better), because Dendrite had become one of the worst places I've worked due in no small part to the manager running my old group. There are so many great people working there, though...good friends of mine...so I was finding it hard to stay motivated enough to really dedicate myself to finding a new place to work. Part of the lack of motivation can, also, be attributed to the artificially depressed wages in the area due to a lot of active and retired military that can afford to take lesser paying jobs since it isn't their only source of income.
I normally don't have much of a hard time finding a job when I'm really motivated to find one. Truthfully, that is part of why I'm still sitting here right now.
I'm not that motivated. My inheritance is there in the bank account to take care of me during this time. I don't want to live off of it, but I just can't find any inspiration to jump into a job that I won't enjoy...plus I needed a few weeks to try to purge the feelings of disgruntledness left over from my stewing at Dendrite.
I don't know if I want to hang around the Hampton Roads area, either. I've been in southeastern VA for about 3 years now. Nothing wrong with the area (other than the depressed wages in many of my areas of interest), but the only thing in the world that truly tied me to this area was a job I no longer have. I have friends and family in the NY/NJ area. Living in North NJ gives you the whole "city that doesn't sleep" benefits of being near NY with less of the drawbacks. Being a night owl, that's a pretty nice attraction for me.
But it isn't as if my wanderlust is focused only on NJ. I've lived in Chicago and Los Angeles previously and there is a part of me that wouldn't mind trying those places again...or trying a move to someplace I've never lived before and have no friends or family in. It would be interesting, to say the least. A fresh start...just sounds nice right now.
I normally don't have much of a hard time finding a job when I'm really motivated to find one. Truthfully, that is part of why I'm still sitting here right now.
I'm not that motivated. My inheritance is there in the bank account to take care of me during this time. I don't want to live off of it, but I just can't find any inspiration to jump into a job that I won't enjoy...plus I needed a few weeks to try to purge the feelings of disgruntledness left over from my stewing at Dendrite.
I don't know if I want to hang around the Hampton Roads area, either. I've been in southeastern VA for about 3 years now. Nothing wrong with the area (other than the depressed wages in many of my areas of interest), but the only thing in the world that truly tied me to this area was a job I no longer have. I have friends and family in the NY/NJ area. Living in North NJ gives you the whole "city that doesn't sleep" benefits of being near NY with less of the drawbacks. Being a night owl, that's a pretty nice attraction for me.
But it isn't as if my wanderlust is focused only on NJ. I've lived in Chicago and Los Angeles previously and there is a part of me that wouldn't mind trying those places again...or trying a move to someplace I've never lived before and have no friends or family in. It would be interesting, to say the least. A fresh start...just sounds nice right now.
Monday, June 13, 2005
Islam, Voting, and Muslim Electibility
Or "If JFK Thought He Had Doubters..."
Back in the pre-JFK days, the conventional wisdom said an Roman Catholic/Irish Catholic could not get elected to the highest office in the land even if he got everyone laid. OK...I added the laid part. But the sentiment still stands: Catholics were deemed unelectible for the office of the President.
The logic at the time was that Catholics were so beholden to the Pope that we'd become the United States of the Vatican. All decisions would be made based on the Catholic faith in general and the coaching of the Pope specifically.
Of course, history shows us that JFK couldn't keep his dick in his pants long enough to ponder "What Would Jesus Do" let alone hit the Pope up for advice. Though, it shouldn't have taken JFK as an example to disprove the concept; sadly, it should have already been public knowledge that anyone who can be in a position to get elected to our highest office is self-centered and ego-driven. The fatal flaw in democracy within a republic, IMHO, is networking and reciprocal politics (you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours...with the occasional knife being jabbed into said back). Since that flaw was in place well before JFK developed a Boston accent, the concerns of papal influence never should have made its way into common political thought.
Now, I don't know if you could so easily dismiss my theory:
Muslims are very nearly unelectable for any national office...and will remain so for decades.
This is of great importance to me because I happen to be a muslim. Not your garden variety, either: I converted to Islam after being raised in a (not-so-practicing) Irish Catholic family. Being born to that Irish Catholic family, I look more like Larry Bird than Magic Johnson. Lest you miss the point due to ignorance of American sport history, I'm a muslim who happens to be a caucasoid.
Can a muslim win a local election? Sure. It is much easier to have a higher signal-to-noise ratio in such an election (meaning a candidate's message and meaning can play more prominently than just their choice of religion).
Can a muslim win a state election? It is possible...but not probable. The noise dilutes the message a little more here...which hurts their chances of combatting the ignorance about Islam or if/how it might effect how the candidate does their job in office.
A national election? Give me a break. There are so many things already working against any Tom, Dick, or Harry that wants to win an election that throwing in the fact that the opposition will say the muslim prays to the same god as Osama. Nevermind that the opposition likely prays to the same god as Osama, seeing as how God and Yahweh are just some of the many names of Allah. Nevermind that Christians pray to the same god as David Koresh, by the logic many of them apply in drawing comparisons between your average muslim and Bin Laden.
Let's be plain: much of the American public is ignorant of issues that face nation and too apathetic to undertake any research that would cure them of their ignorance, uncover the facts, and lead them to form an educated opinion.
Given that this is a FACT...a harrowing fact, but nonetheless indisputable truth...how can a muslim anticipate they will have the opportunity to both dispell the anti-Islam prejudices they will face from voters AND get their actual political message out?
Since I was young, I wanted to serve this country in federal elected office. OK...I wanted to be the President...I was a kid, sue me. In 1984, I was 9 years old. You know what I did in late October/November? I made pro-Mondale signs with my cousin. Part of a school project, you ask? No...somehow, I just wanted to do it and roped my cousin into it. I don't believe we finished our signs until the Thursday after the election. Since no one had the heart to point out it was too late and Mondale already had the snot beaten out of him, we still got to post the signs in our front yards.
When I got to high school, I was a member of our Model Congress and Model UN extracurricular programs. I went after school to work with others who had an interest in the political process. I travelled the country for my passion. This was the only school activity that really fired me up.
Around the same time, I converted to Islam. Shortly after my conversion, I was told that muslims can't be lawyers or politicians because it would be haram (sinful) to participate in a non-Islamic government. I was crushed. I moved my focus on to going to school for Political Science and then getting certified to teach American History to high school students. The thought was that maybe helping to get the next generation of American kids to be passionate about their country and about helping their fellow Americans lead better lifes would be the closest I could get to a life in politics.
But...as I said...I was crushed. My inspiration gone, I took a full ride scholarship I had received to Montclair State University and pissed it away. Don't get me wrong; their were many other bad decisions and negatives going on in my life that contributed to it as well, but I didn't have the fire burning in me to push through it all due to the loss of my dream.
I've since learned that whether or not participation in non-Islamic government is haram is a matter still up for debate, with many more seeming to think that it is halal (good) or at least not haram than the opposite. For a period of time, I got excited again. I felt the fire in my belly...the drive to do something. It is a fire that has come and gone.
First I worried that I didn't really fit the profile of a successful politician. Many of the elected officials I've met in my life were veterans or successful business owners. I regretfully missed my opportunity to enlist in the American military, as the only branch I can still join might mislead me on my options and wind up sticking a gun in my hand to have me shoot other muslims (not a desirable position for me). I really don't have a business that I have a desire to start, which would certainly make it difficult to be successful at one.
But no sooner as I put those concerns aside have I been faced with the realization that, as a white muslim who converted from Catholicism/Christianity, I'm about as electable as a convicted pedophile in this country.
Wait...that's a bit of unintended irony there...the Catholic priest pedophilia epidemic didn't cross my mind until AFTER I typed that, I swear.
My brother thinks I have a defeatist attitude. That I'm just killing my dreams before they have a chance to live. That I need to adopt the whole "shoot for the moon and, if you miss, at least you're amongst the stars" philosophy.
But how do you muster the effort and courage to shoot for the moon if you're not certain that your rocket won't explode on the launch pad?
Back in the pre-JFK days, the conventional wisdom said an Roman Catholic/Irish Catholic could not get elected to the highest office in the land even if he got everyone laid. OK...I added the laid part. But the sentiment still stands: Catholics were deemed unelectible for the office of the President.
The logic at the time was that Catholics were so beholden to the Pope that we'd become the United States of the Vatican. All decisions would be made based on the Catholic faith in general and the coaching of the Pope specifically.
Of course, history shows us that JFK couldn't keep his dick in his pants long enough to ponder "What Would Jesus Do" let alone hit the Pope up for advice. Though, it shouldn't have taken JFK as an example to disprove the concept; sadly, it should have already been public knowledge that anyone who can be in a position to get elected to our highest office is self-centered and ego-driven. The fatal flaw in democracy within a republic, IMHO, is networking and reciprocal politics (you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours...with the occasional knife being jabbed into said back). Since that flaw was in place well before JFK developed a Boston accent, the concerns of papal influence never should have made its way into common political thought.
Now, I don't know if you could so easily dismiss my theory:
Muslims are very nearly unelectable for any national office...and will remain so for decades.
This is of great importance to me because I happen to be a muslim. Not your garden variety, either: I converted to Islam after being raised in a (not-so-practicing) Irish Catholic family. Being born to that Irish Catholic family, I look more like Larry Bird than Magic Johnson. Lest you miss the point due to ignorance of American sport history, I'm a muslim who happens to be a caucasoid.
Can a muslim win a local election? Sure. It is much easier to have a higher signal-to-noise ratio in such an election (meaning a candidate's message and meaning can play more prominently than just their choice of religion).
Can a muslim win a state election? It is possible...but not probable. The noise dilutes the message a little more here...which hurts their chances of combatting the ignorance about Islam or if/how it might effect how the candidate does their job in office.
A national election? Give me a break. There are so many things already working against any Tom, Dick, or Harry that wants to win an election that throwing in the fact that the opposition will say the muslim prays to the same god as Osama. Nevermind that the opposition likely prays to the same god as Osama, seeing as how God and Yahweh are just some of the many names of Allah. Nevermind that Christians pray to the same god as David Koresh, by the logic many of them apply in drawing comparisons between your average muslim and Bin Laden.
Let's be plain: much of the American public is ignorant of issues that face nation and too apathetic to undertake any research that would cure them of their ignorance, uncover the facts, and lead them to form an educated opinion.
Given that this is a FACT...a harrowing fact, but nonetheless indisputable truth...how can a muslim anticipate they will have the opportunity to both dispell the anti-Islam prejudices they will face from voters AND get their actual political message out?
Since I was young, I wanted to serve this country in federal elected office. OK...I wanted to be the President...I was a kid, sue me. In 1984, I was 9 years old. You know what I did in late October/November? I made pro-Mondale signs with my cousin. Part of a school project, you ask? No...somehow, I just wanted to do it and roped my cousin into it. I don't believe we finished our signs until the Thursday after the election. Since no one had the heart to point out it was too late and Mondale already had the snot beaten out of him, we still got to post the signs in our front yards.
When I got to high school, I was a member of our Model Congress and Model UN extracurricular programs. I went after school to work with others who had an interest in the political process. I travelled the country for my passion. This was the only school activity that really fired me up.
Around the same time, I converted to Islam. Shortly after my conversion, I was told that muslims can't be lawyers or politicians because it would be haram (sinful) to participate in a non-Islamic government. I was crushed. I moved my focus on to going to school for Political Science and then getting certified to teach American History to high school students. The thought was that maybe helping to get the next generation of American kids to be passionate about their country and about helping their fellow Americans lead better lifes would be the closest I could get to a life in politics.
But...as I said...I was crushed. My inspiration gone, I took a full ride scholarship I had received to Montclair State University and pissed it away. Don't get me wrong; their were many other bad decisions and negatives going on in my life that contributed to it as well, but I didn't have the fire burning in me to push through it all due to the loss of my dream.
I've since learned that whether or not participation in non-Islamic government is haram is a matter still up for debate, with many more seeming to think that it is halal (good) or at least not haram than the opposite. For a period of time, I got excited again. I felt the fire in my belly...the drive to do something. It is a fire that has come and gone.
First I worried that I didn't really fit the profile of a successful politician. Many of the elected officials I've met in my life were veterans or successful business owners. I regretfully missed my opportunity to enlist in the American military, as the only branch I can still join might mislead me on my options and wind up sticking a gun in my hand to have me shoot other muslims (not a desirable position for me). I really don't have a business that I have a desire to start, which would certainly make it difficult to be successful at one.
But no sooner as I put those concerns aside have I been faced with the realization that, as a white muslim who converted from Catholicism/Christianity, I'm about as electable as a convicted pedophile in this country.
Wait...that's a bit of unintended irony there...the Catholic priest pedophilia epidemic didn't cross my mind until AFTER I typed that, I swear.
My brother thinks I have a defeatist attitude. That I'm just killing my dreams before they have a chance to live. That I need to adopt the whole "shoot for the moon and, if you miss, at least you're amongst the stars" philosophy.
But how do you muster the effort and courage to shoot for the moon if you're not certain that your rocket won't explode on the launch pad?
Friday, December 17, 2004
Republicans Still Hate Democracy
Three Weeks Off, But They Still Haven't Changed
A momentary digression:
If there is ANYONE reading this blog...well...I love you with all my heart and want to get to know you better. Seriously...after taking three weeks off due to holidays, personal life matters, and an addiction to World of Warcraft...I can't see why anyone would still be reading my blog. I'm back though...hopefully regularly and for good.
Now...back to democracy-hating Republicans...
Washington state's King Country found 723 ballots that have not been counted because workers mistakenly rejected them. To make this clear: the votes had been rejected due to the mistakes of the workers, not through any fault of the citizens counting the vote.
Should be clear that the votes should be counted, right?
Wrong. King County goes to count them...and the Republicans sue to block them from counting them (since they are afraid they will decide the gubenatorial election) and, at this moment, have succeeded.
Score one for the people with the heads so far up their anuses when it comes to democracy that...well...beyond saying they have their heads physically up their butts on this...I don't have much to say. I'm extremely pissed.
I haven't seen anyone question the validity of the ballots.
The judge...who I'm certain still stinks of fecal matter when he removes his head for public appearances on his bench...had the following quote attributed to him in the AP story:
"From reading state law and state Supreme Court decisions, "it is clear to me that it is not appropriate to go back and revisit decisions on whether ballots should or should not be counted," Pierce County Superior Court Judge Stephanie Arend said. "
Wow...I'm sorry...no matter who the victor...our vote is much more important than this judge seems to take it.
EVERY VOTE IS SUPPOSED TO BE COUNTED. EVERY VOTE NEEDS TO BE COUNTED. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR LEAVING ANY VOTE UNCOUNTED.
Republicans, largely, don't seem to get it. Our system needs to be overhauled. We spend more money on so many less important things than this. It is clear that we need a national system and/or national standards to be firmly applied across the country.
It is, also, clear that we need people in positions of power that will work strongly at avoiding making decisions that are influenced by partisanship.
A momentary digression:
If there is ANYONE reading this blog...well...I love you with all my heart and want to get to know you better. Seriously...after taking three weeks off due to holidays, personal life matters, and an addiction to World of Warcraft...I can't see why anyone would still be reading my blog. I'm back though...hopefully regularly and for good.
Now...back to democracy-hating Republicans...
Washington state's King Country found 723 ballots that have not been counted because workers mistakenly rejected them. To make this clear: the votes had been rejected due to the mistakes of the workers, not through any fault of the citizens counting the vote.
Should be clear that the votes should be counted, right?
Wrong. King County goes to count them...and the Republicans sue to block them from counting them (since they are afraid they will decide the gubenatorial election) and, at this moment, have succeeded.
Score one for the people with the heads so far up their anuses when it comes to democracy that...well...beyond saying they have their heads physically up their butts on this...I don't have much to say. I'm extremely pissed.
I haven't seen anyone question the validity of the ballots.
The judge...who I'm certain still stinks of fecal matter when he removes his head for public appearances on his bench...had the following quote attributed to him in the AP story:
"From reading state law and state Supreme Court decisions, "it is clear to me that it is not appropriate to go back and revisit decisions on whether ballots should or should not be counted," Pierce County Superior Court Judge Stephanie Arend said. "
Wow...I'm sorry...no matter who the victor...our vote is much more important than this judge seems to take it.
EVERY VOTE IS SUPPOSED TO BE COUNTED. EVERY VOTE NEEDS TO BE COUNTED. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR LEAVING ANY VOTE UNCOUNTED.
Republicans, largely, don't seem to get it. Our system needs to be overhauled. We spend more money on so many less important things than this. It is clear that we need a national system and/or national standards to be firmly applied across the country.
It is, also, clear that we need people in positions of power that will work strongly at avoiding making decisions that are influenced by partisanship.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
I'm Thankful For Many Things
None of which include thankfulness for the results of Election Day
I'm thankful that:
- I have great family and friends.
- There are many groups trying to hold election officials accountable for the errors and issues with the process.
- That the groups from #2 kinda sorta maybe include Kerry and the Democratic Party (though that is by no means certain).
- That I live in a country where I can title a blog post "McCain Did It For The Reach Around", even if that means I regret the crude humor days later.
- That I don't absolutely need a second job (for now).
- That I have the time to sit down and post stuff like this.
- That I can piss away a few extra dollars trying to bring readers to the blog that I waste my time on.
- That, even though there is more I could list, I am able to say I'm calling it a night.
It's that time of year...the holidays. I'll be making every effort to provide some updates...especially if I get some interesting recount news.
Monday, November 22, 2004
Open Letter to Fareed Zakaria
Or "Gee, I wonder if there isn't a little bias to your extolling the virtues of student visas"
The title of this post links to Mr. Zakaria's opinion piece that garnered this response, as does this sentence.
"To: comments@fareedzakaria.com
Subject: Your visa overreaction
If we stop allowing corporations to fill high tech positions with cheaper foreign workers, those corporations will have to go back to paying a competitive American wage. With the restoration of that wage, you will see more Americans training for the positions that you remark have widely filled by foreigners.
Americans, unfortunately, don't do one thing or the other for anything more than the money involved. If you paid the average landscaper $200k/year, you'd find a lot of people flocking to the field...and a good deal of those people working hard to do the job not because they love landscaping, but because they take pride in their work.
We're not talking landscaping jobs here, but that's a line of work that is probably less desirous than any scientific field...which is my point: we go where the money is.
Don't give me the line about the damage this will do to our scientific advancements while waiting for people to flock to these fields. If waiting for the shift in economic dynamic is fine for those who lose their jobs to outsourcing, then it is fine for us to fall back a little bit for the greater good.
Though, I am sad at the lessening of opportunities to convince foreign students that America is a great place of freedom. That sadness will be tempered with the knowledge that less tax payer dollars are being used to educate foreign students that don't pay into the tax system.
And here I thought that you'd be a little more objective on this issue...try to see both sides...but obviously I overestimated your ability to remain impartial.
I do admire much of your other work (including your DAILY SHOW appearance), but strongly disagree with you on this.
Regards,
Kevin Huxford"
The title of this post links to Mr. Zakaria's opinion piece that garnered this response, as does this sentence.
"To: comments@fareedzakaria.com
Subject: Your visa overreaction
If we stop allowing corporations to fill high tech positions with cheaper foreign workers, those corporations will have to go back to paying a competitive American wage. With the restoration of that wage, you will see more Americans training for the positions that you remark have widely filled by foreigners.
Americans, unfortunately, don't do one thing or the other for anything more than the money involved. If you paid the average landscaper $200k/year, you'd find a lot of people flocking to the field...and a good deal of those people working hard to do the job not because they love landscaping, but because they take pride in their work.
We're not talking landscaping jobs here, but that's a line of work that is probably less desirous than any scientific field...which is my point: we go where the money is.
Don't give me the line about the damage this will do to our scientific advancements while waiting for people to flock to these fields. If waiting for the shift in economic dynamic is fine for those who lose their jobs to outsourcing, then it is fine for us to fall back a little bit for the greater good.
Though, I am sad at the lessening of opportunities to convince foreign students that America is a great place of freedom. That sadness will be tempered with the knowledge that less tax payer dollars are being used to educate foreign students that don't pay into the tax system.
And here I thought that you'd be a little more objective on this issue...try to see both sides...but obviously I overestimated your ability to remain impartial.
I do admire much of your other work (including your DAILY SHOW appearance), but strongly disagree with you on this.
Regards,
Kevin Huxford"
Bill Bradley...Please Come Back
Where have you gone? Oh where have you gone!
I don't have a lot to put up on this topic right now. The hour is late and I want to put something together with a lot of love and care regarding my favorite Senator to ever have served this great nation of ours: Bill Bradley.
He is an idealist and a realist, in my eyes. I know the two labels seem contradictory, but they only SEEM that way.
Required reading, whether you like him or not: Bill Bradley's Vietnam
I don't have a lot to put up on this topic right now. The hour is late and I want to put something together with a lot of love and care regarding my favorite Senator to ever have served this great nation of ours: Bill Bradley.
He is an idealist and a realist, in my eyes. I know the two labels seem contradictory, but they only SEEM that way.
Required reading, whether you like him or not: Bill Bradley's Vietnam
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