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My apologies to Hook and Silverstein
Sep. 16th, 2020 08:43 am( unfinished political song parody that needed to get out of my head )
Suggestions for rhymes in the chorus appreciated.
Suggestions for rhymes in the chorus appreciated.
I don't give much credit to anybody who blames anything about Hillary or her campaign for Trump's election. Hillary would be preparing for the presidency today if a lot of people hadn't had the following thought process: "It's vitally important that Trump not be elected. The only way that can happen is for Hillary to win. But I can gain some small advantage for myself by making her job harder, and I'm sure that there won't be too many people who think like me. So I'll give Trump some help for my own benefit." Most of our national and local news organizations seem to have done this. A lot of leftists seem to have done this. And a whole lot of moderate Republicans have done this.
So I don't think it is at all appropriate for anyone, especially any of these people, to criticize the Americans who did the most of any of us to stop Trump before he was elected. If you are in this group, I don't need you to apologize (as much as Les Moonves in tears on prime time CBS may be warranted) but I do need you to step up. If you are a news professional, stop reporting Trump's lies and opinions and stratagems. Stand in solidarity with the news organizations he targets and ask their questions for them if needed. If you are a leftist, call your reps, help the Democratic Party organize against Trump, and hold them to stand firm. If you are a moderate Republican, the time has come to publicly break with Trump. If the rest of the GOP is unwilling to abandon him, change parties, especially if you hold elected office.
We can argue about policy once we're done dealing with fascists.
So I don't think it is at all appropriate for anyone, especially any of these people, to criticize the Americans who did the most of any of us to stop Trump before he was elected. If you are in this group, I don't need you to apologize (as much as Les Moonves in tears on prime time CBS may be warranted) but I do need you to step up. If you are a news professional, stop reporting Trump's lies and opinions and stratagems. Stand in solidarity with the news organizations he targets and ask their questions for them if needed. If you are a leftist, call your reps, help the Democratic Party organize against Trump, and hold them to stand firm. If you are a moderate Republican, the time has come to publicly break with Trump. If the rest of the GOP is unwilling to abandon him, change parties, especially if you hold elected office.
We can argue about policy once we're done dealing with fascists.
ACORN sting videos edited before release
Dec. 9th, 2009 10:38 amRemember that hidden camera footage that claimed to show that ACORN employees offered legal advice on prostitution and other illegal activities?
Doctored.
This is disgusting. I want to know who at Fox News knew that they were feeding lies to the public, and I want those people fired. I want public apologies and firings next time this happens, too.
From Digby. Full report.
Doctored.
The videos that have been released appear to have been edited, in some cases substantially, including the insertion of a substitute voiceover for significant portions of Mr. O'Keefe's and Ms. Giles's comments, which makes it difficult to determine the questions to which ACORN employees are responding. A comparison of the publicly available transcripts to the released videos confirms that large portions of the original video have been omitted from the released versions.
This is disgusting. I want to know who at Fox News knew that they were feeding lies to the public, and I want those people fired. I want public apologies and firings next time this happens, too.
From Digby. Full report.
There are plenty of people who argue that charter schools are unfair because they believe that charters use admissions tests to only take the smartest kids.
1. No, they don't. Charters (with very few exceptions) take all students that apply, and use a lottery to determine who gets a spot.
2. If you think that testing for admission to a public school is wrong, you're not arguing against charter schools. You're arguing against magnet schools and exam schools.
1. No, they don't. Charters (with very few exceptions) take all students that apply, and use a lottery to determine who gets a spot.
2. If you think that testing for admission to a public school is wrong, you're not arguing against charter schools. You're arguing against magnet schools and exam schools.
Massachusetts Senate Bill No. 1400
Sep. 24th, 2009 11:49 amAn Act establishing the number six as the official number of the commonwealth.
I suspect that Bert has something to do with this.
warning: Beginning of clip is a bit staticky.
I suspect that Bert has something to do with this.
warning: Beginning of clip is a bit staticky.
A Compromise on Health Care
Jul. 28th, 2009 07:20 amApparently there's talk about compromise on the health care bill, including on the public option. So here's what I think would be a reasonable compromise:
If a privately insured person dies after having a claim denied or being dropped from their insurance, the entire chain of people involved with the decision, especially the set of executives who make the company policies, is charged with murder. After all, if the private system works so well, then a jury should agree that the company acted morally.
"But that's unfair!" some might say. "A private company can't be expected to shoulder that kind of risk!"
What's that you're saying? The public option does make sense?
This is aimed at the world at large, not at my friends list.
If a privately insured person dies after having a claim denied or being dropped from their insurance, the entire chain of people involved with the decision, especially the set of executives who make the company policies, is charged with murder. After all, if the private system works so well, then a jury should agree that the company acted morally.
"But that's unfair!" some might say. "A private company can't be expected to shoulder that kind of risk!"
What's that you're saying? The public option does make sense?
This is aimed at the world at large, not at my friends list.
Quick Vermont facts
Apr. 7th, 2009 12:03 pmCongrats to Vermont for legalizing same-sex marriage!
What I could figure out with a quick check:
Text of the bill.
It goes into effect on September 1, 2009. A while to wait for Vermonters, but early Vermont September should produce some beautiful wedding photos.
Longevity prospects: Excellent. The Vermont constitution is really hard to amend, and cannot be amended by citizen initiative:
(From Wikipedia, but http://www.vermont-archives.org/govhistory/governance/Constitution/amending.html agrees.)
So the anti-marriage groups would need a significant legislative turnaround in both houses to repeal this.
What I could figure out with a quick check:
Text of the bill.
It goes into effect on September 1, 2009. A while to wait for Vermonters, but early Vermont September should produce some beautiful wedding photos.
Longevity prospects: Excellent. The Vermont constitution is really hard to amend, and cannot be amended by citizen initiative:
The Vermont General Assembly has the sole power to propose amendments to the Constitution of Vermont. An amendment must originate in the Senate, where it must receive a two-thirds vote. After passing the Senate, it must also receive a majority vote in the House. Any amendment that passes both Houses, must be repassed by majority votes, after a newly elected legislature is seated; again, first in the Senate, then in the House. The proposed amendment must then be passed by a majority of the state's voters at a referendum. Only every other Senate session may initiate the amendment process. Thus, Senates elected in off-year (i.e. non-Presidential) elections may initiate amendments, but not Senates elected during Presidential elections. (Vermont Constitution, Chapter 2, Section 72)
(From Wikipedia, but http://www.vermont-archives.org/govhistory/governance/Constitution/amending.html agrees.)
So the anti-marriage groups would need a significant legislative turnaround in both houses to repeal this.
Hi! I just wanted to point out the very readable summary of today's ruling from Iowa, especially pages 4-6 (of 6), where the court addresses the government's arguments in favor of a ban on same-sex marriage. Many of them take the form "whether or not X is a worthwhile goal, there's no evidence that excluding gays and lesbians from civil marriage would help X."
I haven't written huge amounts of text
this week, but unlike last year's Cnoocy, I
at least wrote something. I have spent the time
enjoying life with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lumpybeast. I will
say one more thing: I'm very proud to be
a friend oftablesaw. I wish that I
were half as good as he at standing up
to privilege, injustice, and the like.
this week, but unlike last year's Cnoocy, I
at least wrote something. I have spent the time
enjoying life with
lumpybeast. I willsay one more thing: I'm very proud to be
a friend of
tablesaw. I wish that Iwere half as good as he at standing up
to privilege, injustice, and the like.
(no subject)
Aug. 21st, 2007 01:14 pmUnder pressure from a growing group of people, the Anti-Defamation League has changed its position on whether the massacres of Armenians in the early 20th century were genocide:
http://www.adl.org/PresRele/Mise_00/5114_00.htm
There's certainly reasons to be dissatisfied with the statement, but it's a big change, which started a week or so ago in a town meeting in Watertown. The Boston Globe has been following the story. It's amazing to watch these things happen.
http://www.adl.org/PresRele/Mise_00/5114_00.htm
There's certainly reasons to be dissatisfied with the statement, but it's a big change, which started a week or so ago in a town meeting in Watertown. The Boston Globe has been following the story. It's amazing to watch these things happen.
Politics minirant
Apr. 1st, 2007 09:40 pmWhen one takes credit for getting non-combatants to conform to your ideological views with a campaign that includes death threats, one self-identifes as a terrorist.
