In this questionably regular feature, I will express my thoughts on political classifications that I have made up. Although these classifications may resemble reasonable thoughts at times, I assure you that this result is purely coincidental.
Classification #1: West Wing Liberals
My Entry on this topic is one that is near and dear to my heart. You see, The West Wing is my favorite TV show of all time. Also, this classification is probably the one that best represents myself.
How you can spot them:
They tend to have Obama, decaying Dean, or possibly even "Bartlet for President" bumper stickers on their car.
They'll pine about the lack of impressive speeches from candidates, and lament the lack of "real" filibusters. In addition, they also are saddened whenever conventions don't become multi ballot slugfests.
They believe all it takes to win over the public is a wacky trip through central Indiana, resulting in hilarity and revelations of what the common man wants.
They are often comparing the President to Jed Bartlet, and wish Toby, Sam and C.J. were handling communications.
They are exceptionally upbeat about the country and its future, even when their more Ziegleresque friends start getting pessimistic.
They openly wish for a Republican party with people like Arnie Vinick, so long lost (and somewhat fictional) days of grand debate can reign once again.
Some can be spotted sitting and pondering whether the current Administration will be as good as The West Wing, or more of a Studio 60 type flameout.
Above all, they believe in the spirit of an ever improving nation, and the idea that government is a place where we can come together to solve problems. And that every year of the presidency should not end in a admission of a secret illness, an assassination attempt, or a kidnapping of the President's daughter.
Political Styles
Rely upon and love for teachable moments, eloquent oratory, and fresh honesty.
Tend to get disappointed when a candidate doesn't live up to point #1.
Believe that those who oppose you in politics may very well have legitimate ideas as well, and that they should be able to express those differences.
Love the tradition of process and ritual, particularly rituals grounded in the American Experience.
Admire those who take principled stands, even if you disagree with them. This doesn't apply when those principles are grounded in hatred or ignorance.
Can get professorial and possibly a bit too intellectual, which can open yourself up to attack from those who have more agressive political styles.
Avoid situations of smartassery and glibness, although you sometimes can resort to this when an opponent is needling you.
Strengths
Has the strongest ability to transcend traditional political boundaries, and build new coalitions.
Can develop consensus on major initiatives, making it easier to get the rest of the country on board with these efforts.
Can inspire optimism, innovation, and determination, resulting in better results regardless of the political makeup of the country.
Members of this classification tend to flock to others of this type, resulting in a solid and reliable political base.
Introspective and intelligent, these types tend to be willing to be held accountable for their actions and be willing to share in success.
Pragmatic to a fault, they can tend to find a solution to a mess, even if it isn't the favorite solution of everybody.
Weaknesses
May get caught up in civility when resistance and shows of power are necessary.
For the left, are some of the easiest to get caught up in American exceptionalism, resulting in the support of misplaced foreign policy.
Although they are well adept at building the middle, can inspire significant resistance on the edges of the political spectrum.
Are consistently in danger of supporting weak policies in the name of pragmatism, when stronger efforts could make better policy (while potentially alienating some people).
Usual Political Affiliations (US Only)
Usually trend Democratic, although would probably be willing to join a more thoroughly progressive or centrist third party, depending upon the circumstances.
Current Political Figure who Closely Resembles:
President Barack Obama
Historical Ideal:
Abraham Lincoln (Liberal Flavor), John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy
Less than Ideal:
Jimmy Carter, John Q. Adams
If the Winds of Change Shift...
As member of this group age (many are in their 20s and 30s), and they take the reins of power, they may shift to a more cynical progressive position such as Neoliberalism, or even a form of Neoconservatism. This is especially true if they back misplaced foreign policy, such as Hubert Humphrey and Vietnam.
Still others will move to left of the irritability scale, and get louder, more specialized, and more pessimistic. This will ultimately lead to be Perfectionist Liberals, Chicken Littles, or Fuck This Liberals.
A few will untether from the bounds of reality, and become Never Will Be Liberals, chasing Quixotic quests for causes that have little chance of success. Although noble to an extent, they will marginalize their ability to achieve any real change, other than maybe inspiring more realistic and pragmatic leaders.
However, many of this group will maintain at least a semblance of this classification throughout their life. This group tends to be a fairly intellectually honest group, and should be paid attention to if they start to change their mind on issues. A change in opinion is often a sign of ingesting new information, not a sign of being bought or a cynical maneuver.
Works Best With:
Clueless Wealthy Liberals (For connections and financial support), Grassroots Progressives, Thoughtful Moderates, and Realistic Conservatives
Doesn't Work Well With:
Authoritarian Conservatives, Fundamentalists (On both Sides), Perfectionist and Fuck This Liberals, and Cynical Toads.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
More on Health Care Later
I'll have more on Obama's big speech later, once I get it written.
For now, here is the page to contribute to Rob Miller, the opponent to Representative Joe Wilson. Joe Wilson was the person who found it necessary to call President Obama a liar during the speech, despite evidence to the contrary. If you feel that its time to send Representative Wilson a message, this is as good of a place as any. Especially since his website seems to be down.
For now, here is the page to contribute to Rob Miller, the opponent to Representative Joe Wilson. Joe Wilson was the person who found it necessary to call President Obama a liar during the speech, despite evidence to the contrary. If you feel that its time to send Representative Wilson a message, this is as good of a place as any. Especially since his website seems to be down.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
America's Health Care Götterdämmerung: Robert Reich Explains the Public Option
An excellent explanation from Mr. Reich about the oh-so-horrible public option that a majority of Americans support, despite what Max Baucus and Kent Conrad think.
Personal Responsibility = Socialism These Days
Prepared Remarks of the President
Oh man, that was truly a piece of islamofasciocommunhomomooslemish propaganda. How dare he expound on such pinko values like working hard and taking responsibility for your education. Doesn't he know that the only real american virtues are hating learning, drinking beer, and yelling loud about those fake Amurcans.
Yeesh.
Oh man, that was truly a piece of islamofasciocommunhomomooslemish propaganda. How dare he expound on such pinko values like working hard and taking responsibility for your education. Doesn't he know that the only real american virtues are hating learning, drinking beer, and yelling loud about those fake Amurcans.
Yeesh.
Friday, September 4, 2009
The F*** You Files: The Latest BS from the Right
(Enormous Sigh)
Once again, the reactionary ignorant folks on the right have gotten their underpants in a wad about the President giving a televised speech to American students. Apparently he is going to give a horribly slanted speech about those damned Socialist ideas of "working hard" and "staying in school". Like that horrible Marxist President George H.W. Bush before him, he plans on triggering the ACLA/GLBT/ACORN/Al Qaeda/Communofacist hypnotic suggestion chip hidden deep in all of our children's brains.
To this I have to say:
ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MINDS?
Do you honestly believe that Obama is going to get up there and suddenly start spouting passages from Das Kapital, or reading lines from the speeches of Stalin and Lenin? Do you think he will outlay his secret plan for using FEMA re-education camps to turn all of their parents into atheist vegetarian homosexual abortionists? Do you seriously believe he is going to get up there and say anything other than stuff I thought we all agreed on, like encouraging kids to do well in school and try hard?
Obviously our Educational system is in bad shape, because it spawned the likes of you. There is nothing wrong with the President making a speech that is addressed to the children of our nation. He is their president too, after all. Like the best time to reach adults is during primetime, it seems obvious the best time to reach students would be...wait for it....DURING SCHOOL. You know, when your kids are supposed to be there learning.
Why is it so hard for you to understand that Obama won, and won convincingly last November. Why is it also so damn hard for you people to understand that Obama is not some Manchurian Candidate, some secret Pinko plant meant to score a victory for the Soviet Union decades after it fell apart? Do you think we would have been up in arms about George W. giving a speech to children, despite the fact that us on the left were not fans of his? Of course not. Only the most clueless on the left would have babbled on about Bush trying to indoctrinate kids into a fundamentalist christian authoritarian police state. If I had kids, I would have no quibble with them listening to our President, whether I agreed or disagreed with him.
We are not your enemy, we wish no ill-will. Believe it or not, the vast majority of us on the left are not Communists either. Most of us find value in true conservative ideals of honoring tradition and pinching pennys. Although some of us can be as rigid and dogmatic as the most unswervable Dittohead, most of us see a value in other perspectives, in a belief that our way isn't the only way. Once you accept this fact, we will be glad to welcome you to the grownups table.
Now if you excuse me, I have a message to send to my progressive brethren.
---CODE ALPHA OBAMA BRAVO----THE PIG FLYS AT MIDNIGHT---THE BEAR RISES AT SUNRISE---OPERATION DUMBO DROP IS ON AT NOON 9/8/9---NAPOLEON WILL WIN HIS FARM---THAT IS ALL---
Once again, the reactionary ignorant folks on the right have gotten their underpants in a wad about the President giving a televised speech to American students. Apparently he is going to give a horribly slanted speech about those damned Socialist ideas of "working hard" and "staying in school". Like that horrible Marxist President George H.W. Bush before him, he plans on triggering the ACLA/GLBT/ACORN/Al Qaeda/Communofacist hypnotic suggestion chip hidden deep in all of our children's brains.
To this I have to say:
ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MINDS?
Do you honestly believe that Obama is going to get up there and suddenly start spouting passages from Das Kapital, or reading lines from the speeches of Stalin and Lenin? Do you think he will outlay his secret plan for using FEMA re-education camps to turn all of their parents into atheist vegetarian homosexual abortionists? Do you seriously believe he is going to get up there and say anything other than stuff I thought we all agreed on, like encouraging kids to do well in school and try hard?
Obviously our Educational system is in bad shape, because it spawned the likes of you. There is nothing wrong with the President making a speech that is addressed to the children of our nation. He is their president too, after all. Like the best time to reach adults is during primetime, it seems obvious the best time to reach students would be...wait for it....DURING SCHOOL. You know, when your kids are supposed to be there learning.
Why is it so hard for you to understand that Obama won, and won convincingly last November. Why is it also so damn hard for you people to understand that Obama is not some Manchurian Candidate, some secret Pinko plant meant to score a victory for the Soviet Union decades after it fell apart? Do you think we would have been up in arms about George W. giving a speech to children, despite the fact that us on the left were not fans of his? Of course not. Only the most clueless on the left would have babbled on about Bush trying to indoctrinate kids into a fundamentalist christian authoritarian police state. If I had kids, I would have no quibble with them listening to our President, whether I agreed or disagreed with him.
We are not your enemy, we wish no ill-will. Believe it or not, the vast majority of us on the left are not Communists either. Most of us find value in true conservative ideals of honoring tradition and pinching pennys. Although some of us can be as rigid and dogmatic as the most unswervable Dittohead, most of us see a value in other perspectives, in a belief that our way isn't the only way. Once you accept this fact, we will be glad to welcome you to the grownups table.
Now if you excuse me, I have a message to send to my progressive brethren.
---CODE ALPHA OBAMA BRAVO----THE PIG FLYS AT MIDNIGHT---THE BEAR RISES AT SUNRISE---OPERATION DUMBO DROP IS ON AT NOON 9/8/9---NAPOLEON WILL WIN HIS FARM---THAT IS ALL---
Saturday, August 8, 2009
An Open Letter to President Obama
Dear Mr. President,
I hope things are going well for you in your new job. From what I have seen, you have done many good things and begun erasing the stain of the previous administration. I congratulate you on the successful appointment of Justice Sotomayor, and hope that you can get some measure of relaxation on your upcoming vacation.
Starting with your famous speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, I have been a eager supporter of you. Your election as my senator in 2004 was a bright spot in an otherwise dark election day. I was ecstatic when you announced your candidacy for President on that frigid February day in Springfield. The moment when the networks declared you the winner of the election last November still remains one of my favorite memories ever.
For the most part I have been pleased by the things you and the members of your administration has accomplished. I hope you are still as committed to closing the national disgrace of Guantanamo as your Executive Order said you were. I wish you were more emphatic of your support of the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, and weren't so wishy-washy on the Honduras situation. However, for the most part these are just minor issues.
I wish you the best of luck as the fight for health care heats up as it heads towards floor votes in Congress. After all, this was one of the biggest, if not the biggest, part of your domestic plan during the campaign. Failure to create "Change We Can Believe In" will not only harm your political agenda, it will hurt many Americans who are already hurting far too much. I am sure you understand how important this issue is.
I assure you that real and lasting health care reform is very important to us Americans who elected you. It is why we assented to you welcoming Joe Lieberman back into the fold without any real consequences. After all, you have preached empathy and forgiveness, and the potential political capital doesn't hurt either. No action for the rights of our GLBT citizens? It will come, we rationalized, we need to focus on health care. Other important issues to the progressives who helped get you elected need to be delayed? No problem, we're going for health care first.
What has all that capital bought so far? Not all that much, as far as I can tell. All I read about are secret deals with the Pharmaceutical giants, pressure for any bill to be "bi-partisan", and secret negotiations by self-appointed "centrists" who seem adamant on making a bill that no one will like, especially the Republicans who are supposedly involved.
I understand the complexity of our government. I'm well aware that most of the country, yourself included, are more to the right of my ideas. Compromise, behind-the-scenes negotiation, and parliamentary machinations are a necessary and vital part of a representative democracy. As much as a large portion of us on the left would like to deny it, we have to be willing to work with the Blue Dogs. I believe in the ideas of congenial cooperation and consensus building.
What I don't agree with is completely selling out core principles of the plan. At many of your town halls, you have done an excellent job of debunking the ridiculous crap coming out the mouths of the Limbaugh/Beck/BillO/GOP brigade. You've also seemed very committed to a strong public option, a real choice that can compete with the bloated insurance companies. I would like to think those who are skeptical of reform would change their mind if they heard your words.
However, it appears that this supposed critical plank is being eroded. Senators such as Jeff Bingaman and Kent Conrad don't seem confident that the public option can get passed, despite a large percentage of Americans supporting this option. Instead, the talk seems to be shifting towards some weak-ass coop idea, an idea that seems like a chickenshit cop-out.
I am sorry for the passionate language in the previous paragraph. This issue means a great deal to me, and I can tend to get carried away. I just don't understand why you would be so bold as to state your strong preference for a public option to us, but clearly don't care about it when talking to your buddies in the Senate.
I just don't see the strategy in place here, unless it is a strategy meant to betray the American people. I mean, Senator Baucus seems intent on sacrificing CHIP, a program he seems to be very proud of if you view his website. What the hell kind of compromise is it if he is willing to remove care for children just to appease some Republican who would never vote for the bill? How exactly is this change we can believe in?
Your administration seems far too reactive in getting its message out. How is it that a party that controls the White House and both houses of Congress doesn't seem able to get on one page, or even come close to controlling the message on the issue? Why do you not feel it necessary to get out and take this message to the people in a big way. The town hall meetings are a good start, but it still doesn't seem like you are engaged as much as you should be.
I understand why you don't want to engage the lunatics that seem to be intent on disrupting the genuine discussion of ideas. Hopefully their misplaced anger will dissipate as August moves on towards September. Still it is unfortunate that it appears your chief of staff is more concerned with yelling at progressives than getting Blue Dogs in line or dealing with Republican falsities.
I don't offer my concerns out of dislike, or even disappointment. I only offer them out of genuine curiosity at what is going on. Its very possible that you have an excellent strategy in place, and we will really see it in action once Congress gets back from its recess. It wouldn't be the first time that you and your advisers instincts have been better than mine.
I still trust that my vote wasn't in vain, and that we will see some genuine progress and improvement in this country. We need real solutions, and elected you and your colleagues up the street to provide those answers. Universal Health Care has been an issue in this country since the early 20th century. It is time we finally join the 21st century in regards to health care.
Sincerely,
Andrew C. Tate
P.S. I apologize, but I am withholding any donations to you, congressional democrats, or the DNC until a real health care bill is passed. I hope you understand that I require an appropriate level of return before I invest any of my resources. Unless my donation allows me to discuss this situation one on one with you, Mr. Emanuel, Mr. Baucus, or any of your other colleagues, I figure my donation won't be much use.
I hope things are going well for you in your new job. From what I have seen, you have done many good things and begun erasing the stain of the previous administration. I congratulate you on the successful appointment of Justice Sotomayor, and hope that you can get some measure of relaxation on your upcoming vacation.
Starting with your famous speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, I have been a eager supporter of you. Your election as my senator in 2004 was a bright spot in an otherwise dark election day. I was ecstatic when you announced your candidacy for President on that frigid February day in Springfield. The moment when the networks declared you the winner of the election last November still remains one of my favorite memories ever.
For the most part I have been pleased by the things you and the members of your administration has accomplished. I hope you are still as committed to closing the national disgrace of Guantanamo as your Executive Order said you were. I wish you were more emphatic of your support of the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, and weren't so wishy-washy on the Honduras situation. However, for the most part these are just minor issues.
I wish you the best of luck as the fight for health care heats up as it heads towards floor votes in Congress. After all, this was one of the biggest, if not the biggest, part of your domestic plan during the campaign. Failure to create "Change We Can Believe In" will not only harm your political agenda, it will hurt many Americans who are already hurting far too much. I am sure you understand how important this issue is.
I assure you that real and lasting health care reform is very important to us Americans who elected you. It is why we assented to you welcoming Joe Lieberman back into the fold without any real consequences. After all, you have preached empathy and forgiveness, and the potential political capital doesn't hurt either. No action for the rights of our GLBT citizens? It will come, we rationalized, we need to focus on health care. Other important issues to the progressives who helped get you elected need to be delayed? No problem, we're going for health care first.
What has all that capital bought so far? Not all that much, as far as I can tell. All I read about are secret deals with the Pharmaceutical giants, pressure for any bill to be "bi-partisan", and secret negotiations by self-appointed "centrists" who seem adamant on making a bill that no one will like, especially the Republicans who are supposedly involved.
I understand the complexity of our government. I'm well aware that most of the country, yourself included, are more to the right of my ideas. Compromise, behind-the-scenes negotiation, and parliamentary machinations are a necessary and vital part of a representative democracy. As much as a large portion of us on the left would like to deny it, we have to be willing to work with the Blue Dogs. I believe in the ideas of congenial cooperation and consensus building.
What I don't agree with is completely selling out core principles of the plan. At many of your town halls, you have done an excellent job of debunking the ridiculous crap coming out the mouths of the Limbaugh/Beck/BillO/GOP brigade. You've also seemed very committed to a strong public option, a real choice that can compete with the bloated insurance companies. I would like to think those who are skeptical of reform would change their mind if they heard your words.
However, it appears that this supposed critical plank is being eroded. Senators such as Jeff Bingaman and Kent Conrad don't seem confident that the public option can get passed, despite a large percentage of Americans supporting this option. Instead, the talk seems to be shifting towards some weak-ass coop idea, an idea that seems like a chickenshit cop-out.
I am sorry for the passionate language in the previous paragraph. This issue means a great deal to me, and I can tend to get carried away. I just don't understand why you would be so bold as to state your strong preference for a public option to us, but clearly don't care about it when talking to your buddies in the Senate.
I just don't see the strategy in place here, unless it is a strategy meant to betray the American people. I mean, Senator Baucus seems intent on sacrificing CHIP, a program he seems to be very proud of if you view his website. What the hell kind of compromise is it if he is willing to remove care for children just to appease some Republican who would never vote for the bill? How exactly is this change we can believe in?
Your administration seems far too reactive in getting its message out. How is it that a party that controls the White House and both houses of Congress doesn't seem able to get on one page, or even come close to controlling the message on the issue? Why do you not feel it necessary to get out and take this message to the people in a big way. The town hall meetings are a good start, but it still doesn't seem like you are engaged as much as you should be.
I understand why you don't want to engage the lunatics that seem to be intent on disrupting the genuine discussion of ideas. Hopefully their misplaced anger will dissipate as August moves on towards September. Still it is unfortunate that it appears your chief of staff is more concerned with yelling at progressives than getting Blue Dogs in line or dealing with Republican falsities.
I don't offer my concerns out of dislike, or even disappointment. I only offer them out of genuine curiosity at what is going on. Its very possible that you have an excellent strategy in place, and we will really see it in action once Congress gets back from its recess. It wouldn't be the first time that you and your advisers instincts have been better than mine.
I still trust that my vote wasn't in vain, and that we will see some genuine progress and improvement in this country. We need real solutions, and elected you and your colleagues up the street to provide those answers. Universal Health Care has been an issue in this country since the early 20th century. It is time we finally join the 21st century in regards to health care.
Sincerely,
Andrew C. Tate
P.S. I apologize, but I am withholding any donations to you, congressional democrats, or the DNC until a real health care bill is passed. I hope you understand that I require an appropriate level of return before I invest any of my resources. Unless my donation allows me to discuss this situation one on one with you, Mr. Emanuel, Mr. Baucus, or any of your other colleagues, I figure my donation won't be much use.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Absolutely Moronic
Absolutely Fu**ing pathetic
Keep in mind that this nut would have been our Vice President had Senator McCain won last November. Yes, this crazy person would have been one heartbeat away from the White House. Granted, one big reason why McCain didn't win was because he nominated the Wacko from Wasilla as his #2. However, I shudder to think what might have happened had she been able to move into the Naval Observatory.
Last time I checked creating "death squads" to decided whether the mentally handicapped or the elderly lived or not wasn't part of the democratic plan. I've never seen any body suggest such a reprehensible plan. None of those "Socialist hell-holes" in Europe have these death squads, and their systems are far more comprehensive than any of the weak-ass solutions Harry Reid will squeeze out of the Senate. Considering the shit his mother went through with the private insurance companies as she fought cancer, tying the President to this nonsense is beyond insulting.
Why is it that far too often, I have to wonder whether some powerful member of the GOP is insane, criminally stupid, or criminally cynical. If she is as insane or stupid as this comment applies, the Republican party, and this nation is in trouble. But the far more dangerous alternative is that she is this cynical. Fortunately given her track record, I don't think she is smart enough to be that cynical of an operator.
Sensible Republicans, please take your party back. Conservative principles of frugality, responsibility, and tradition are real values, and have ideological merit. But ignorant authoritarianism, wrapping itself in the flag and carrying the bible, is not a valid strategy if you believe in democracy. I beseech you to ACT NOW, before the party of Lincoln and the Party of TR is completing covered in the shit started by Ronald Reagan and propagated by Ms. Palin.
Keep in mind that this nut would have been our Vice President had Senator McCain won last November. Yes, this crazy person would have been one heartbeat away from the White House. Granted, one big reason why McCain didn't win was because he nominated the Wacko from Wasilla as his #2. However, I shudder to think what might have happened had she been able to move into the Naval Observatory.
Last time I checked creating "death squads" to decided whether the mentally handicapped or the elderly lived or not wasn't part of the democratic plan. I've never seen any body suggest such a reprehensible plan. None of those "Socialist hell-holes" in Europe have these death squads, and their systems are far more comprehensive than any of the weak-ass solutions Harry Reid will squeeze out of the Senate. Considering the shit his mother went through with the private insurance companies as she fought cancer, tying the President to this nonsense is beyond insulting.
Why is it that far too often, I have to wonder whether some powerful member of the GOP is insane, criminally stupid, or criminally cynical. If she is as insane or stupid as this comment applies, the Republican party, and this nation is in trouble. But the far more dangerous alternative is that she is this cynical. Fortunately given her track record, I don't think she is smart enough to be that cynical of an operator.
Sensible Republicans, please take your party back. Conservative principles of frugality, responsibility, and tradition are real values, and have ideological merit. But ignorant authoritarianism, wrapping itself in the flag and carrying the bible, is not a valid strategy if you believe in democracy. I beseech you to ACT NOW, before the party of Lincoln and the Party of TR is completing covered in the shit started by Ronald Reagan and propagated by Ms. Palin.
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