You know, the word "maverick" gets thrown around a lot these days, but what does it really mean? The American Heritage Dictionary has two definitions:
1. An unbranded range animal, especially a calf that has become separated from its mother, traditionally considered the property of the first person who brands it.
2. One that refuses to abide by the dictates of or resists adherence to a group; a dissenter
Since McCain and Palin seem to agree with the Bush administration and the Republican party most of the time, I'm guessing that the second definition is wrong.
The first definition seems much more appropriate.
November 4 can't come soon enough. I'll never be able to watch "Top Gun" again.
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Monday, October 06, 2008
BLOCKED!
No, not me. Someone else. Someone I thought was reasonably sane... until politics came up.
I actually blocked someone on my Facebook account.
I expressed my opinions about a certain candidate, as is my right to do, to have her reply, "Puh-leeese." Yes. "Puh-leeese." Much like an eye-rolling 14-year-old. A less than valid argument, I'd hazard to say. So I replied by providing validation for my beliefs. Another reply was given that hit yet another level of rude, sporting opinions that sounded as if they were gleaned from 1 minute of Bill O'Reilly sound bites.
Wanting to demonstrate that I actually make up my own mind based on multiple reputable sources, I refuted her unfounded claims and made a few valid arguments of my own, citing said reputable sources... and even quoting them.
Today, her reply had all the depth and weight of... of... well, the same uninformed rhetoric of the candidate she supports. My sources? Can't cite the New York Times! Can't cite CBS! Thery're left-leaning liberals patsys! Her sources? Guess she doesn't need them. Dirty political ads, frightenenly false email spam, and Rush Limbaugh seem to be proof enough.
So, I had two choices - keep up this ridiculous waste of time where I'd spend precious minutes of my life reading, researching and evaluating before sending back a measured and well thought out response...
... or I could lob one last volley and block this angry, intolerant, uninformed, and most of all rude former co-worker.
I chose the latter.
Bye!
I actually blocked someone on my Facebook account.
I expressed my opinions about a certain candidate, as is my right to do, to have her reply, "Puh-leeese." Yes. "Puh-leeese." Much like an eye-rolling 14-year-old. A less than valid argument, I'd hazard to say. So I replied by providing validation for my beliefs. Another reply was given that hit yet another level of rude, sporting opinions that sounded as if they were gleaned from 1 minute of Bill O'Reilly sound bites.
Wanting to demonstrate that I actually make up my own mind based on multiple reputable sources, I refuted her unfounded claims and made a few valid arguments of my own, citing said reputable sources... and even quoting them.
Today, her reply had all the depth and weight of... of... well, the same uninformed rhetoric of the candidate she supports. My sources? Can't cite the New York Times! Can't cite CBS! Thery're left-leaning liberals patsys! Her sources? Guess she doesn't need them. Dirty political ads, frightenenly false email spam, and Rush Limbaugh seem to be proof enough.
So, I had two choices - keep up this ridiculous waste of time where I'd spend precious minutes of my life reading, researching and evaluating before sending back a measured and well thought out response...
... or I could lob one last volley and block this angry, intolerant, uninformed, and most of all rude former co-worker.
I chose the latter.
Bye!
Thursday, October 02, 2008
After the Smoke has Cleared
The one and only vice presidential debate for 2008 is over. I didn't need time to parse any of it. Biden was clearly superior in his grasp of policy and articulate in outlining the Obama / Biden ticket.
Palin on the other hand... well... it was the aural and visual equivalent of cotton candy. Much too sweet and no substance.
And that's all I have to say about that.
Palin on the other hand... well... it was the aural and visual equivalent of cotton candy. Much too sweet and no substance.
And that's all I have to say about that.
In Palin's Name
(Many apologies to my Babylon 5-savvy readers out there for the title...)
Just a little progress report on the Palin Planned Parenthood phenomena from The Democratic Daily:
"As of Friday, Planned Parenthood had taken in $802,678 in donations from 31,313 people, said a spokesman for the organization, Tait Sye."
Freakin' sweet.
Just a little progress report on the Palin Planned Parenthood phenomena from The Democratic Daily:
"As of Friday, Planned Parenthood had taken in $802,678 in donations from 31,313 people, said a spokesman for the organization, Tait Sye."
Freakin' sweet.
Al Franken HATES PUPPIES!
The perfect political ad reply to the crap that Norm Coleman's campaign has been shoveling out to the airwaves:
I Pledge to Not be a Dumb-ass
My friend Teresa over at Anomalous Data posted this email she received from the AFA (American Family Association). If you'd like to see it for yourself, you can find it online. Here's the text:
Are you tired of the extremely bias reporting by ABC, NBC and CBS? Do something about it! Tell the networks you are fed up with their attack on conservatives. Join other Americans who are tired of these networks promoting Barack Obama and attacking Sarah Palin. Take the pledge to not watch ABC, NBC or CBS until after the November elections! When the networks lose viewers, they also lose money. If viewers aren’t watching their promotion of Barack Obama and their trashing of Sarah Palin, they are losing money!
Send a message! We are sick and tired of your bias reporting, and we are not going to watch it anymore!
We will keep you informed on the progress of The Viewers’ Pledge.
Results will be given to ABC, NBC, and CBS.
The Viewers Pledge’ simply states, "I pledge not to watch any news programs on ABC, NBC and CBS until after the November elections."
**************************
Brilliant. Let's encourage the voting populace to be sheltered and uninformed. While we're at it, let's tell them to put gum in their ears and stick their heads in the sand. They might as well keep them there after election day.
I made up my own pledge, anyone care to join me?
"I pledge to not blindly believe any more blatant lies or rampant speculation without performing due diligence by fact checking with multiple reputable sources to make up my own mind."
Are you tired of the extremely bias reporting by ABC, NBC and CBS? Do something about it! Tell the networks you are fed up with their attack on conservatives. Join other Americans who are tired of these networks promoting Barack Obama and attacking Sarah Palin. Take the pledge to not watch ABC, NBC or CBS until after the November elections! When the networks lose viewers, they also lose money. If viewers aren’t watching their promotion of Barack Obama and their trashing of Sarah Palin, they are losing money!
Send a message! We are sick and tired of your bias reporting, and we are not going to watch it anymore!
We will keep you informed on the progress of The Viewers’ Pledge.
Results will be given to ABC, NBC, and CBS.
The Viewers Pledge’ simply states, "I pledge not to watch any news programs on ABC, NBC and CBS until after the November elections."
**************************
Brilliant. Let's encourage the voting populace to be sheltered and uninformed. While we're at it, let's tell them to put gum in their ears and stick their heads in the sand. They might as well keep them there after election day.
I made up my own pledge, anyone care to join me?
"I pledge to not blindly believe any more blatant lies or rampant speculation without performing due diligence by fact checking with multiple reputable sources to make up my own mind."
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Best VP Candidate the Republican Party can Offer?
Can anyone in good conscience vote for Sarah Palin? Check out this quote from an Associated Press article in the Star Tribune.
***************************************************************
Asked what other Supreme Court decisions she disagrees with, Alaska's governor couldn't name any.
"Well, let's see. There's, of course, in the great history of America rulings there have been rulings, that's never going to be absolute consensus by every American," Palin said. "And there are, those issues, again, like Roe v. Wade where I believe are best held on a state level and addressed there. So you know, going through the history of America, there would be others but ...."
Asked again to name a decision she disagreed with, Palin replied: "Well, I could think of, of any again, that could be best dealt with on a more local level. Maybe I would take issue with. But you know, as mayor, and then as governor and even as a vice president, if I'm so privileged to serve, wouldn't be in a position of changing those things but in supporting the law of the land as it reads today."
***************************************************************
Wow. That many words to actually say, "I don't know squat about the judicial history of the United States."
Excuse me, Governor, is there any valid question to a possible future vice president for which you can offer an intelligent, articulate, straight-forward answer? She's one wrestling pose away from "Idiocracy".
***************************************************************
Asked what other Supreme Court decisions she disagrees with, Alaska's governor couldn't name any.
"Well, let's see. There's, of course, in the great history of America rulings there have been rulings, that's never going to be absolute consensus by every American," Palin said. "And there are, those issues, again, like Roe v. Wade where I believe are best held on a state level and addressed there. So you know, going through the history of America, there would be others but ...."
Asked again to name a decision she disagreed with, Palin replied: "Well, I could think of, of any again, that could be best dealt with on a more local level. Maybe I would take issue with. But you know, as mayor, and then as governor and even as a vice president, if I'm so privileged to serve, wouldn't be in a position of changing those things but in supporting the law of the land as it reads today."
***************************************************************
Wow. That many words to actually say, "I don't know squat about the judicial history of the United States."
Excuse me, Governor, is there any valid question to a possible future vice president for which you can offer an intelligent, articulate, straight-forward answer? She's one wrestling pose away from "Idiocracy".
Monday, September 29, 2008
Make Your Opinion on Palin Heard... and Do Some Good
Since Sarah Palin was picked to be McCain's running mate, I've met ONE woman who's expressed support for her. Every other woman I've spoken to has more or less had this to say, "Sarah Palin doesn't represent me!" Someone came up with the brilliant plan that I've agreed to pass along. It's a way of demonstrating our lack of agreement with Sarah Palin's "moral compass" while simultaneously supporting a great organization that Caribou Barbie opposes -- Planned Parenthood. Many thanks to MadBlonde for forwarding this to me! Read on below:
****************************************************************
Instead of (in addition to?) us all sending around more emails about how horrible she is, let's all make a donation to Planned Parenthood in Sarah Palin’s name for reminding us of the importance of protecting our rights for birth control, women’s health and reproductive choice. This is a brilliant idea for $10, or even $5.
And here's the good part: when you make a donation to PP in her name, they'll send her a card telling her that the donation has been made in her honor. Here's the link to the Planned Parenthood website online donation form. [Note from Geek Goddess: I verified that this is the Planned Parenthood donation form.]
There is a short form to fill out that requires your name, address, email address, the name & the address of the person in whose honour you are donating, and you will need a credit card (if you don't have one, or prefer to have the cost come from another source, don't forget that PayPal now can generate a one-use credit card number for you). You must fill out the complete form & be sure to check the "in honour of" box, rather than just using the "donate online" link. If you include her name & address, PP will send an "in Sarah Palin's honor" card to her to let her know of the donation. I suggest you use the address for the McCain campaign headquarters [Note from Geek Goddess: The address below is not "campaign headquarters", but it is the Mid-Atlantic Regional Headquarters in Virginia, which I added to the address.], which is:
McCain for President
[Mid-Atlantic Regional Headquarters]
1235 S. Clark Street, 1st Floor
Arlington , VA 22202
The minimum online donation is $5, but there is also a printable form that you can mail in with a check (for more or even less). C'mon, women (& men)! It's got to be worth a few minutes & a few bucks to make your opinion heard WHERE IT COUNTS.
PS: make sure you use that link above or choose the pulldown of Donate–Honorary or Memorial Donations, not the regular “Donate Online”.
(Please cross post! Email! Spread the word!)
****************************************************
Just so you all know, IT'S WORKING! Here's an article from the Rocky Mountain News in Colorado. This email making its rounds on the Web is making a difference. Donations are pouring in to Planned Parenthood! From the article:
"Sarah Palin is not only anti-abortion but opposes abortion even in the case of rape or incest, a point she hammered home in the 2006 Alaska governor's race by saying she would oppose her daughter getting an abortion if she were raped. She said this month that she wants to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion, but will work with abortion-rights activists to find common ground on reducing the number of abortions."
This is not a woman I want speaking for me or my daughter in the White House or anywhere else. If you value your rights, put a few bucks where your mouth is, join tens of thousands in peaceful protest, and VOTE, too!
****************************************************************
Instead of (in addition to?) us all sending around more emails about how horrible she is, let's all make a donation to Planned Parenthood in Sarah Palin’s name for reminding us of the importance of protecting our rights for birth control, women’s health and reproductive choice. This is a brilliant idea for $10, or even $5.
And here's the good part: when you make a donation to PP in her name, they'll send her a card telling her that the donation has been made in her honor. Here's the link to the Planned Parenthood website online donation form. [Note from Geek Goddess: I verified that this is the Planned Parenthood donation form.]
There is a short form to fill out that requires your name, address, email address, the name & the address of the person in whose honour you are donating, and you will need a credit card (if you don't have one, or prefer to have the cost come from another source, don't forget that PayPal now can generate a one-use credit card number for you). You must fill out the complete form & be sure to check the "in honour of" box, rather than just using the "donate online" link. If you include her name & address, PP will send an "in Sarah Palin's honor" card to her to let her know of the donation. I suggest you use the address for the McCain campaign headquarters [Note from Geek Goddess: The address below is not "campaign headquarters", but it is the Mid-Atlantic Regional Headquarters in Virginia, which I added to the address.], which is:
McCain for President
[Mid-Atlantic Regional Headquarters]
1235 S. Clark Street, 1st Floor
Arlington , VA 22202
The minimum online donation is $5, but there is also a printable form that you can mail in with a check (for more or even less). C'mon, women (& men)! It's got to be worth a few minutes & a few bucks to make your opinion heard WHERE IT COUNTS.
PS: make sure you use that link above or choose the pulldown of Donate–Honorary or Memorial Donations, not the regular “Donate Online”.
(Please cross post! Email! Spread the word!)
****************************************************
Just so you all know, IT'S WORKING! Here's an article from the Rocky Mountain News in Colorado. This email making its rounds on the Web is making a difference. Donations are pouring in to Planned Parenthood! From the article:
"Sarah Palin is not only anti-abortion but opposes abortion even in the case of rape or incest, a point she hammered home in the 2006 Alaska governor's race by saying she would oppose her daughter getting an abortion if she were raped. She said this month that she wants to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion, but will work with abortion-rights activists to find common ground on reducing the number of abortions."
This is not a woman I want speaking for me or my daughter in the White House or anywhere else. If you value your rights, put a few bucks where your mouth is, join tens of thousands in peaceful protest, and VOTE, too!
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
THANK YOU, SENATOR KLOBUCHAR!
Some of you may remember my post back in November 2007, "Your Papers, Please." I had discovered on a family trip that I'm one of the lucky, lucky people on the Department of Homeland Security's "Selectee" list. I regularly get the "special" screenings, can't print out plane tickets from home or from kiosks, get pulled from the airline gate for additional security checks... lucky me.
FINALLY, a politician is trying to fix it! Enter Senator Amy Klobuchar. I first heard about this on a Fox 9 news report tonight. (I know, I know... Fox News... but for this story, it was worth it.) Check out Senator Klobuchar's website to learn more.
I even wrote her and pointed her to my blog post from last year.
Oh, and apologized in advance for the occasional expletives from a very, very angry Geek Goddess.
FINALLY, a politician is trying to fix it! Enter Senator Amy Klobuchar. I first heard about this on a Fox 9 news report tonight. (I know, I know... Fox News... but for this story, it was worth it.) Check out Senator Klobuchar's website to learn more.
I even wrote her and pointed her to my blog post from last year.
Oh, and apologized in advance for the occasional expletives from a very, very angry Geek Goddess.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Vote Smart!
I've been doing my best to avoid the political brouhaha. We're down to, what? 17,000 candidates or so?
With elections less than one year away, I've finally decided to turn my attention to the fetid muck and mire that is our Presidential election process.
I don't want to have to wade through the hip-deep bovine feces spouted from candidates, supporters, the media, and pundits alike. So I looked online for a place to find non-biased, no-nonsense information. Just the facts. So I can make up my own mind.
I found Project Vote Smart, (www.vote-smart.org). It's non-partisan, takes no money from special interest groups, takes no money from corporations, PACs or any organization that supports or opposes any candidates or issues. 90% of the researchers are volunteers - receiving no pay - and the small staff receives minimal pay to cover living expenses.
They cover every candidate from local government up to President providing:
Voting Records
Biographical and Contact Information
Issue Positions (called the Political Courage Test - check out Pawlenty's rating here... ouch)
Interest Group Ratings
Public Statements
Campaign Finanaces
This isn't all. There's so much more.
So if you're weary, like I am, of trying to separate the political wheat from the chaff, check them out!
With elections less than one year away, I've finally decided to turn my attention to the fetid muck and mire that is our Presidential election process.
I don't want to have to wade through the hip-deep bovine feces spouted from candidates, supporters, the media, and pundits alike. So I looked online for a place to find non-biased, no-nonsense information. Just the facts. So I can make up my own mind.
I found Project Vote Smart, (www.vote-smart.org). It's non-partisan, takes no money from special interest groups, takes no money from corporations, PACs or any organization that supports or opposes any candidates or issues. 90% of the researchers are volunteers - receiving no pay - and the small staff receives minimal pay to cover living expenses.
They cover every candidate from local government up to President providing:
This isn't all. There's so much more.
So if you're weary, like I am, of trying to separate the political wheat from the chaff, check them out!
Friday, November 23, 2007
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