Friday, February 27, 2004
Ann Coulter Sleeps through the '90's, Misses Labor Reform
What if you only had three issues to worry about for the past ten years? Ann Coulter states that the AFL-CIO has lobbied Congress on only three issues of any importance to workers since the early 90's.
Some of the issues not included in her short list are:
Amnesty for undocumented immigrants living in the US
An indexed benefit increase for Workmans Compensation (which has remained the same since 1992)
Paid Family Leave
An increase in child care funding
Workplace Safety Standards through OSHA Regulation
Affordable housing for workers living in urban areas
What if you only had three issues to worry about for the past ten years? Ann Coulter states that the AFL-CIO has lobbied Congress on only three issues of any importance to workers since the early 90's.
Some of the issues not included in her short list are:
Amnesty for undocumented immigrants living in the US
An indexed benefit increase for Workmans Compensation (which has remained the same since 1992)
Paid Family Leave
An increase in child care funding
Workplace Safety Standards through OSHA Regulation
Affordable housing for workers living in urban areas
Thursday, February 26, 2004
U.S. Soldier Returns from Iraq and Plans His Future
Conventional wisdom suggests that the Military/Industrial Complex Front that is known as the Republican party has a boss's stranglehold on the support and votes from the armed forces. There certainly is a logic for the military to not "kill the goose that lays golden eggs" in the next presidential election. But here's an interesting story about uncounted casualties from the Iraq war, and quotes a recently wounded solider, who states, "I was a Republican ... I'm going to be incredibly active in the Democratic Party once I get out."
Is this a widely-held opinion among returning veterans? Probably not- most soldiers will support the military institution whether they have doubts concerning its methods, choices, or rationale. However, there will no doubt be a vocal populace returning from the recent war efforts that will, if not bite, at least call into question the hand that feeds it. With their on-site experieces contrasting the official line from the Administration, perhaps their opinions will make a difference.
Conventional wisdom suggests that the Military/Industrial Complex Front that is known as the Republican party has a boss's stranglehold on the support and votes from the armed forces. There certainly is a logic for the military to not "kill the goose that lays golden eggs" in the next presidential election. But here's an interesting story about uncounted casualties from the Iraq war, and quotes a recently wounded solider, who states, "I was a Republican ... I'm going to be incredibly active in the Democratic Party once I get out."
Is this a widely-held opinion among returning veterans? Probably not- most soldiers will support the military institution whether they have doubts concerning its methods, choices, or rationale. However, there will no doubt be a vocal populace returning from the recent war efforts that will, if not bite, at least call into question the hand that feeds it. With their on-site experieces contrasting the official line from the Administration, perhaps their opinions will make a difference.
Sunday, February 22, 2004
New Mission: Target Ann Coulter
If you've followed right-wing attack politics in the past year, you've heard of Ann Coulter. She's the strident blonde author of books called Treason and Slander, which, while intended to directly attack liberals, seem to be more accurately described as contents true to their one-word titles. The argument that her books are little more than deceptive opinion pieces is discussed at the Spinsanity website.
She's irritating, and nearly every time I see her on TV or read her articles, I find some glaringly obvious stupidity that she seems gleeful in demonstrating, like a evil clown.
So, ever since Rush Limbaugh has dropped from the radar as a hypocritical drug addict demanding the civil services and liberties that he has campaigned against for many years, Ann has blipped onto the screen. As I digest her weekly diatribes, I'll point out the insanity that she spews, strain through the hate she bubbles in her cauldron, and generally lay out her laundry from the perspective of an investigating progressive thinker.
Let's start with her most recent op-ed piece: She replies to the many senators and journalists who have called a recent column of hers a lie. Now, anybody who has the skills of piling deceptions upon deceptions like she does knows the basic trick of plucking your favorite straw man from an opinion piece, and arguing that this one item is, in fact, no lie. That way the author of a piece doesn't have to fight the relevant battles- she may simply include at least one true statement, like, "Bush's National Guard service is the most thoroughly investigated event since the Kennedy assassination", err... wait, let's not use that as an example of truthfulness, maybe, "When Bush left the National Guard in 1973 to go to business school, the war was over", oh rats, this is a lie too (the Vietnam War ended in 1975), hold on, maybe this: "Cleland lost three limbs in an accident during a routine noncombat mission". There! A true statement, that she can now present as the target of misguided liberal accusations. Never mind that the entire rest of the column hurls insults and unsupported accusations all over the place, including a completely disproved myth that Al Gore received the "special dispensation" of military duty that Bush is accused of.
Well that's it for Week One. I'm sure the opinion pieces by Coulter will continue to entertain in their own unique way, and I hope my review has done as much.
If you've followed right-wing attack politics in the past year, you've heard of Ann Coulter. She's the strident blonde author of books called Treason and Slander, which, while intended to directly attack liberals, seem to be more accurately described as contents true to their one-word titles. The argument that her books are little more than deceptive opinion pieces is discussed at the Spinsanity website.
She's irritating, and nearly every time I see her on TV or read her articles, I find some glaringly obvious stupidity that she seems gleeful in demonstrating, like a evil clown.
So, ever since Rush Limbaugh has dropped from the radar as a hypocritical drug addict demanding the civil services and liberties that he has campaigned against for many years, Ann has blipped onto the screen. As I digest her weekly diatribes, I'll point out the insanity that she spews, strain through the hate she bubbles in her cauldron, and generally lay out her laundry from the perspective of an investigating progressive thinker.
Let's start with her most recent op-ed piece: She replies to the many senators and journalists who have called a recent column of hers a lie. Now, anybody who has the skills of piling deceptions upon deceptions like she does knows the basic trick of plucking your favorite straw man from an opinion piece, and arguing that this one item is, in fact, no lie. That way the author of a piece doesn't have to fight the relevant battles- she may simply include at least one true statement, like, "Bush's National Guard service is the most thoroughly investigated event since the Kennedy assassination", err... wait, let's not use that as an example of truthfulness, maybe, "When Bush left the National Guard in 1973 to go to business school, the war was over", oh rats, this is a lie too (the Vietnam War ended in 1975), hold on, maybe this: "Cleland lost three limbs in an accident during a routine noncombat mission". There! A true statement, that she can now present as the target of misguided liberal accusations. Never mind that the entire rest of the column hurls insults and unsupported accusations all over the place, including a completely disproved myth that Al Gore received the "special dispensation" of military duty that Bush is accused of.
Well that's it for Week One. I'm sure the opinion pieces by Coulter will continue to entertain in their own unique way, and I hope my review has done as much.
Sunday, February 01, 2004
The Annual Influx of In-Laws
My wife's parents arrived two days ago for their quasi-annual visit from Pennsylvania to Florida. This morning, I was treated to my father-in-law performing two treasured skits:
1. The "Where's the Coffee?" skit, where he assigns demerits to me based on my tardiness in preparing his morning coffee.
2. The "Check Out My New Shirt!" skit, where he saunters around the kitchen, wearing a shirt he grabbed from my closet, while asking everyone how they like "his" new shirt.
Goodness, but these chestnuts never get stale, do they?
Last evening we all attended Visions 2004, an art show featuring works from local artists. Some of the art pieces were very impressive, but for real-life, out-on-the-sidewalk exhibits, you should see these chalk sidewalk drawings; (1. Seal), (2. Sony Vaio), and (3. Chalk Artist)
My wife's parents arrived two days ago for their quasi-annual visit from Pennsylvania to Florida. This morning, I was treated to my father-in-law performing two treasured skits:
1. The "Where's the Coffee?" skit, where he assigns demerits to me based on my tardiness in preparing his morning coffee.
2. The "Check Out My New Shirt!" skit, where he saunters around the kitchen, wearing a shirt he grabbed from my closet, while asking everyone how they like "his" new shirt.
Goodness, but these chestnuts never get stale, do they?
Last evening we all attended Visions 2004, an art show featuring works from local artists. Some of the art pieces were very impressive, but for real-life, out-on-the-sidewalk exhibits, you should see these chalk sidewalk drawings; (1. Seal), (2. Sony Vaio), and (3. Chalk Artist)
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