I grew up in a family of Democrats in a very Republican neighborhood. For all of my life with my parents, I remember my mother going to the polls every election to be an election judge because there were only two families in our precinct who were democrats.
In thinking about politics today, what seems most significant in my memories from that era is that our Republican neighbors were people pretty much like us. We shared very similar ideals, although we disagreed somewhat on the ways to achieve them. Our relationships with our neighbors were downright friendly. The most notable Republican leaders in Illinois were for the most part intelligent, honorable, highly respected people - people like Ev Dirksen* and Chuck Percy and Bill Stratton. Everybody liked Ike, and nobody liked Nixon.
I like to think that those top Republican leaders of that time would have been absolutely horrified if they had learned that the American government had been conducting a clandestine torture program and regularly and widely reading the mail of American citizens without warrants. And had the Administration then dilly-dallied around about a thorough investigation of the torture and spying the people who planned and authorized it, there are a number of them who would have risen in Congress and not sat back down until a thorough investigation was begun.
Today, a friend who has contacts in some key congressional offices on both sides of the aisle reports that Obama's recent endorsement of the Nuremberg Defense for the people who carried out the torture sparked a nearly unprecedented amount of constituent support for the appointment of an independent special prosecutor to investigate and prosecute whenever appropriate.
One of the Republican staffers reportedly told our friend that her boss especially had been impressed by the "quality" of the communications -- meaning that he was hearing from a lot of old-line conservatives whom he considered the soul of his constituency.
I don't know if there's a Republican of that old principled party left in American Politics, but if there is, the Obama Administration's mishandling of the whole war crimes issue has presented them with a wonderful opportunity to stand up and demand a special prosecutor, and thus begin the process of returning their party to some level of credibility.
While this whole pile of post-Bush detritus is loaded with political implications, the issue at hand is one of criminality, not politics, and the first principled Republican to stand up and demand an investigation wins. (and I think, wins big)
*Yes, I know Ev Dirksen was a horrible hawk on Vietnam. That makes him wrong, not dishonorable. And yes, I'm aware that the CIA and State Department were committing horrible attrocities in Central- and South America on our behalf during that same time I'm so nostalgic for. Different times.
Oh, Really?
Sign the petition telling Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate torture here.
O'Reilly: I Take FULL Credit For Spain Backing Off Torture Prosecutions
I highly recommend you read the T-P article.
For me, the funny part was his claim that the unemployment rate in Spain is nearing 19%! Anybody who claims to know the unemployment rate in Spain is either a liar or delusional. There’s a huge black economy in Spain (some say as large as- and some say larger than the white one), and a whole lot of people earn their livings off the books.
I have a home there (where I sat out most of the Cheney/Bush years) and I can assure you there’s no question that the Spanish economy is in serious trouble, but that is equally true in France & GB, and to a somewhat lesser extent in the rest of the EU countries.
When I was in grade school in the 50s, we learned that one of the really evil things about the Soviet Union was that they locked up dissidents in mental institutions. Too bad they ruined that for us, ’cause from what I can see, most of what’s left of the right sure belong in one!
Tea Bags, etc.
Today's News-Gazette reports that several hundred people attended the tea party in West Side Park yesterday. The featured speaker was some ex-marine from Bellville who according to the story quoted every wingnut talking point Fox News has spouted in the last 3 months.
Some thoughts: These people don't seem to understand that the taxes they were protesting this tax day were were for 2008, when George W. Bush was president and set the budget and the tax rates (with congressional rubber-stamp approval). On April 15, 2010, they'll be filing their first "Obama" taxes, and all but a couple of them will be paying less taxes than this year, thanks to Obama having presented us with the biggest middle class tax reduction in the history of America. Commenter "mattstan" on the N-G website said it very well: "We obviously need to increase taxes. This 'movement' is pretty stark evidence of our failing education system."
But my favorite comment of the day was made by a reader who signs himself "BillD":
Good question, Bill. No, the demonstration was not about taxes, although that was their proffered excuse. What it was was an opportunity to bash Obama. I love the way the corporations manipulate the least educated, most poorly informed members of the working class to do their dirty work for them!
Some thoughts: These people don't seem to understand that the taxes they were protesting this tax day were were for 2008, when George W. Bush was president and set the budget and the tax rates (with congressional rubber-stamp approval). On April 15, 2010, they'll be filing their first "Obama" taxes, and all but a couple of them will be paying less taxes than this year, thanks to Obama having presented us with the biggest middle class tax reduction in the history of America. Commenter "mattstan" on the N-G website said it very well: "We obviously need to increase taxes. This 'movement' is pretty stark evidence of our failing education system."
But my favorite comment of the day was made by a reader who signs himself "BillD":
I have no problem protesting the way taxes are spent. I do have a problem with the way these protests are being organized and characterized. These "tea parties" are being pushed by partisan interest groups and sold through FoxNews and talk radio. The whole thing about "taxing those who make it to give to those who don't" is a load of crap. Most of our tax dollars go to corporate welfare and bailing out bigshots. Money is being sucked out of this country from the top. Check out the "L-curve" if you don't believe that. The only thing working in this country is the "divide and conquer" strategy employed by the left vs. right crowd. The sooner we all get on the same page, the better. I just don't know when the News Gazette is going to get on the side of people and off the side of moneyed interests.
Good question, Bill. No, the demonstration was not about taxes, although that was their proffered excuse. What it was was an opportunity to bash Obama. I love the way the corporations manipulate the least educated, most poorly informed members of the working class to do their dirty work for them!
More Random Grumblings
What Obama Doesn't See
Back in mid-March, I wrote this piece on what Obama saw that Hillary didn't, and promised a followup posting on what he doesn't see and what that might mean for the future. I am now so over the idea that I have any idea what Obama might see or not see.
Back sometime in the '70s, I read a novel the "message" of which left a lasting impression. I don't remember its title, and I've just discovered I don't remember its author either. I would have sworn it was by Paul Theroux, but I think that was because it was about railroads, since I can't find anything in his bibliography that comes even close to the story I'm thinking of.
In any case, the story line goes something like this: Guy invents time machine. Guy wants to be JPMorgan-rich. Guy travels back in time to before locomotive was invented with detailed plans for locomotive and enough gold to kick off development of first transcontenental railway. Meyhem ensues. As I recall, it was a decent read, and the lesson learned has stayed with me: There can't be a railroad until it's time for there to be a railroad.
In other words, change is a process and because of the interconnectedness of "it all," simple knowledge of a different (better?) way is insufficient without everything else being "ready" for the new way. Bearing this in mind, and having watched Obawan in action over the last few weeks, I'm now convinced I have no idea what he gets and doesn't get; sees and doesn't see.
My criticism of him has to do with my wanting him to go a whole lot farther than he seems willing to go in almost every program he's proposed. What's keeping my mouth closed about it most of the time is that I'm pretty certain that what I want him to be doing pretty much falls into the category of trains whose time hasn't come yet. Still, I do think he's being overly cautious, but we're coming off 8 years of no caution whatsoever, so Mr O can't be blamed for taking things very slowly.
Other Random Stuff
MSNBC rolled out its third player, Ed Schultz, in its nightly left-leaning trifecta of Olberman, Maddow and now Schultz. Schultz comes to MSNBC from talk radio and brings with him everything I hate about talk radio. If tonight was an example, he does it well, and while I'm not a part of his target audience, he's a welcome voice to MSNBC lineup.
Why do we call it "Adult Language?" And while we're at it, what about "Adult Content?" I'm an adult, and while I play host to an inner potty-mouth on a par with the very best, there's nothing particularly adult about him. He, along with everyone else who's titilated by "dirty" language and necked bodies, is every inch an adolescent and the only times the adult me lets him out is to add his shock value to the discussion. (He's also my resident expert at verbal shorthand when I'm feeling lazy and impatient.) Maybe I'm overly sensitive to this because I live on two continents and regularly see BBC programs first on the BBC and then on BBC America with all it's beeps and screen-fuzzying, but please America, it's time for us all to grow up!
Things About Me
The other day, I was filling out a registration form for a web site, and it got me thinking in lists. Here are some that I came up with that pleased me:
Some labels I wear with pride: Fundamentalist Civil Libertarian, Socialist, Progressive, Agnostic, Communitarian, Gay Rights Activist, and Realist
Some other labels I've worn with minimal embarrassment at various times and with varying degrees of success and accuracy: Son, Grandson, Student, Teacher, ADHD Patient, Friend, Enemy, Hippy, Auto Mechanic, Clerk, Secretary, Alcoholic, Paralegal, Radio Announcer, Journalist, Editor, Author, Educator (see "Teacher" + gravitas), Counselor, Mediator, Programmer, Boss, Employee, Landlord, Tenant, Victim, Perpetrator, Leader, Follower, Stage Manager, Director (theater, corporate, & charitable), Musician, Guru (lol), Author.
Some unarguable rules in my playground: 1) The U.S. Constitution means exactly what it says. No exceptions. 2) Each consenting adult being free to marry the consenting adult member of the opposite sex of their choice does not satisfy the equal protection requirements of the first section of the 14th Amendment. Each consenting adult being free to marry the consenting adult they love does. 3) "The Bible says . . ." is not a valid argument for any purpose. Neither are tradition, historical precedence, conventional practice, nor any other appeal to authority unless it has a firm constitutional foundation.
Not bad for a start, eh?
My apartment in Spain raised $4,200 for the Campus YMCA at its annual dinner and auction Friday night. One of the things that's been bugging me about the recession is that I've had to cut way back on my little efforts at philanthropy. Being able to do something like this with an asset that's just sitting there doing nothing feels really good!!!
Travel plans are in the works. I had been keeping the latter part of April and all of May open, hoping I'd get over to Spain for a few weeks this Spring. Now that I know that's not going to happen, I'm playing with plans for a road trip here in the states. For sure, I'm dropping down to Atlanta to meet the newest Snook once John's had time to recover from his little adventure. I'd like to visit the newest Klugs, too, but that's a lot of miles. We'll see.
Back in mid-March, I wrote this piece on what Obama saw that Hillary didn't, and promised a followup posting on what he doesn't see and what that might mean for the future. I am now so over the idea that I have any idea what Obama might see or not see.
Back sometime in the '70s, I read a novel the "message" of which left a lasting impression. I don't remember its title, and I've just discovered I don't remember its author either. I would have sworn it was by Paul Theroux, but I think that was because it was about railroads, since I can't find anything in his bibliography that comes even close to the story I'm thinking of.
In any case, the story line goes something like this: Guy invents time machine. Guy wants to be JPMorgan-rich. Guy travels back in time to before locomotive was invented with detailed plans for locomotive and enough gold to kick off development of first transcontenental railway. Meyhem ensues. As I recall, it was a decent read, and the lesson learned has stayed with me: There can't be a railroad until it's time for there to be a railroad.
In other words, change is a process and because of the interconnectedness of "it all," simple knowledge of a different (better?) way is insufficient without everything else being "ready" for the new way. Bearing this in mind, and having watched Obawan in action over the last few weeks, I'm now convinced I have no idea what he gets and doesn't get; sees and doesn't see.
My criticism of him has to do with my wanting him to go a whole lot farther than he seems willing to go in almost every program he's proposed. What's keeping my mouth closed about it most of the time is that I'm pretty certain that what I want him to be doing pretty much falls into the category of trains whose time hasn't come yet. Still, I do think he's being overly cautious, but we're coming off 8 years of no caution whatsoever, so Mr O can't be blamed for taking things very slowly.
Other Random Stuff
MSNBC rolled out its third player, Ed Schultz, in its nightly left-leaning trifecta of Olberman, Maddow and now Schultz. Schultz comes to MSNBC from talk radio and brings with him everything I hate about talk radio. If tonight was an example, he does it well, and while I'm not a part of his target audience, he's a welcome voice to MSNBC lineup.
Why do we call it "Adult Language?" And while we're at it, what about "Adult Content?" I'm an adult, and while I play host to an inner potty-mouth on a par with the very best, there's nothing particularly adult about him. He, along with everyone else who's titilated by "dirty" language and necked bodies, is every inch an adolescent and the only times the adult me lets him out is to add his shock value to the discussion. (He's also my resident expert at verbal shorthand when I'm feeling lazy and impatient.) Maybe I'm overly sensitive to this because I live on two continents and regularly see BBC programs first on the BBC and then on BBC America with all it's beeps and screen-fuzzying, but please America, it's time for us all to grow up!
Things About Me
The other day, I was filling out a registration form for a web site, and it got me thinking in lists. Here are some that I came up with that pleased me:
Some labels I wear with pride: Fundamentalist Civil Libertarian, Socialist, Progressive, Agnostic, Communitarian, Gay Rights Activist, and Realist
Some other labels I've worn with minimal embarrassment at various times and with varying degrees of success and accuracy: Son, Grandson, Student, Teacher, ADHD Patient, Friend, Enemy, Hippy, Auto Mechanic, Clerk, Secretary, Alcoholic, Paralegal, Radio Announcer, Journalist, Editor, Author, Educator (see "Teacher" + gravitas), Counselor, Mediator, Programmer, Boss, Employee, Landlord, Tenant, Victim, Perpetrator, Leader, Follower, Stage Manager, Director (theater, corporate, & charitable), Musician, Guru (lol), Author.
Some unarguable rules in my playground: 1) The U.S. Constitution means exactly what it says. No exceptions. 2) Each consenting adult being free to marry the consenting adult member of the opposite sex of their choice does not satisfy the equal protection requirements of the first section of the 14th Amendment. Each consenting adult being free to marry the consenting adult they love does. 3) "The Bible says . . ." is not a valid argument for any purpose. Neither are tradition, historical precedence, conventional practice, nor any other appeal to authority unless it has a firm constitutional foundation.
Not bad for a start, eh?
My apartment in Spain raised $4,200 for the Campus YMCA at its annual dinner and auction Friday night. One of the things that's been bugging me about the recession is that I've had to cut way back on my little efforts at philanthropy. Being able to do something like this with an asset that's just sitting there doing nothing feels really good!!!
Travel plans are in the works. I had been keeping the latter part of April and all of May open, hoping I'd get over to Spain for a few weeks this Spring. Now that I know that's not going to happen, I'm playing with plans for a road trip here in the states. For sure, I'm dropping down to Atlanta to meet the newest Snook once John's had time to recover from his little adventure. I'd like to visit the newest Klugs, too, but that's a lot of miles. We'll see.
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