Mostly for me to remember: political rants etc

[la_belle_laide]

Anonymous said...

McCain picks Sara Palin as VP running mate

By STEVE QUINN and CALVIN WOODWARD, Associated Press Writers

JUNEAU, Alaska - In two short years, Sarah Palin moved from small-town mayor with a taste for mooseburgers to the governor's office and now — making history — to John McCain's side as the first female running mate on a Republican presidential ticket.
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She has more experience catching fish than dealing with foreign policy or national affairs.

Talk about a rocketing ascent.

In turning to her, McCain picked an independent figure in his own mold, one who has taken on Alaska's powerful oil industry and, at age 44, is three years younger than Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and a generation younger than McCain, 72.

August 29, 2008 3:53 PM
Blogger Kapunua said...

Anon, McCain is playing a cagey-ass game for sure. I was watching his speech (GUH! but you do have to know the other side) and I saw someone in the audience hold up a sign that said "Hillary's Supporter's For McCain" and I was like, WTF! WTF! WTMFF!

Okay, because first of all: One would hope that Hillary's supporters weren't supporting her just because she is a woman. People have to remember that Palin is anti-choice, and most importantly that McCain is going to follow policies that Bush has set. It should have nothing to do with gender--and indeed, nothing to do with your personal feelings toward the candidates at this point!--and everything to do with policies.

If you don't like Bush's policies, you have to vote them out, and that means voting for Obama even if you don't like the guy!

If you like Bush, if you like the way things are going now, then vote for McCain or don't vote at all.

Talk about cutting off one's nose to spite one's face, right?

And secondly, I think the person with that sign was planted there. How the hell did they know in advance to make up that sign to bring to his speech, huh? Yeah, that's right, they couldn't. Up until lats night McCain had a decoy dude pretending to pull all of his public appearances for today so that people would think it was him instead of her.

Cagey-ass game.

PLEASE let him lose.

August 29, 2008 3:59 PM
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Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think McCain would follow policies he sets just as Obama would follow his policies and not policies Clinton set. They are all individuals with their own ideas.

August 29, 2008 4:02 PM

Blogger Kapunua said...

4:02: McCain is a different person from Bush for sure, but his stance on most policies is similar, and don't forget that he voted in favor of Bush's policies at least 90% of the time. With McCain it would be more of the same.

There is a wider margin between Clinton and Obama because there is a relatively huge span of time between the two of them. Times have changed, policies have changed, and we've gone backwards instead of forwards. The 4th and 5th amendment are gone, most forward-thinking scientists have had to go abroad because of the Bush administration's stance on stem cell research, the environment has gone to hell (in no small part because of policies set by
the Bush administration,) and women are losing rights quicker than you can say "the morning after."

It is a different world; therefore the world-view that Obama has will be more vastly different from Clinton than the very similar world views held by both Bush and McCain.

Feel me?

August 29, 2008 4:10 PM
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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gallup Poll from March
Don't think she was a plant

If McCain vs. Obama, 28% of Clinton Backers Go for McCain
If McCain vs. Clinton, 19% of Obama backers go for McCain


by Frank Newport

PRINCETON, NJ -- A sizable proportion of Democrats would vote for John McCain next November if he is matched against the candidate they do not support for the Democratic nomination. This is particularly true for Hillary Clinton supporters, more than a quarter of whom currently say they would vote for McCain if Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee.

August 29, 2008 4:12 PM

Blogger Kapunua said...

Anon, I know about that stuff and it just galls me that people would vote out of spite like that. What about change? I would love to believe that people didn't simply want a vagina in the White House, that it was about change and not about gender.

The thing that makes me think that sign came from someone in the McCain camp was that this choice was such a surprise and he was playing the decoy game even up until late last night. Now I kept up with it until about midnight or a little after, which is when I went to bed, and there was no word on her then.

It could be that people brought blank signs along until they knew who was going to be his choice, but then why choose that phrase in that setting? It doesn't seem likely.

August 29, 2008 4:25 PM
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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Where the states stand

political dashboard the map

August 29, 2008 4:26 PM


Blogger Kapunua said...

It's going to be a sphincter-clenching few months, anon. We can't afford to lose this one.

August 29, 2008 4:57 PM
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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kapunua said...
It's going to be a sphincter-clenching few months, anon. We can't afford to lose this one.


The other half of the country is saying exactly the same thing. Their beliefs are just as strong as yours. Who is right and who is wrong? Who has the right to judge the beliefs of another and call those beliefs wrong?

August 29, 2008 5:03 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Who is right and who is wrong? Who has the right to judge the beliefs of another and call those beliefs wrong? She is just stating her opinion.She is not telling you who to vote for

August 29, 2008 5:06 PM
Blogger Kapunua said...

Well, anon, to me it's like this. On the liberal side you have people not wanting to stop certain groups of people from getting married / from having a personal choice / from segregating and further separating certain groups whether by color, gender, lifestyle, creed or what have you.

On the conservative side you have people telling homosexuals that they cannot marry, women that they cannot chose, (anon, I am not even talking about abortion here; I am talking about the Bush administrations MANY policies on birth control,) and policies that, while catering to large businesses, are destructive to the environment.

Personally, I draw the line at telling people what to do with their lives because YOU don't think it's right. Gay rights is a huge deal for me. Who has the right to tell you who you can or cannot marry? Conservatives think it is their right to tell you that.

Liberalism, well, you don't have to agree with it. You don't have to like homosexuals (even though IMO that makes you ignorant and ridiculous.) You don't have to like, enjoy, or agree with anything. But you must not try to stop other people from living out their chosen lifestyle. On the left, the idea is more like "Do what you want and harm none."

On the right, it's "You don't have the right to do what you want because..." and fill in your reason here. Often it is for religious reasons.

Church, state, separation, any of that ringing a bell to those people?

It's not a matter of right and wrong. It's a matter of human rights.

August 29, 2008 5:10 PM
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Blogger Kapunua said...

Who has the right to judge the beliefs of another and call those beliefs wrong?

This is why the liberal side makes logical sense to me. It's not just that it gets me all passionate; it's about logic.

You can think whatever you want! No one is forcing YOU to have an abortion or to marry someone of your own gender. If you don't want to, you don't have to. That goes without saying.

But it's the right--where the Bush administration and McCain are--who actually do tell you in no uncertain terms "You are wrong to want to marry that person. now we'll have laws that say you can't" and, "You're wrong to want goddamn effing BIRTH CONTROL, we are going to see to it that you don't get it."

See the difference?

August 29, 2008 5:12 PM
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Anonymous Anonymous said...

She's right on that. One side wants to stop you from doing certain things. One side doesn't. Its not really their business to tell you how to live.

August 29, 2008 5:15 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...

In the USA we are supposed to be free, but with the way things are going it doesn't seem so free,does it?

August 29, 2008 5:17 PM
Blogger Kapunua said...

5:15, thank you for putting so succinctly what I was struggling with. That's it exactly.

No, it doesn't, 5:17, and folks who really pay attention can see the deeper implications of this loss after loss after loss. It is full on terrifying.

August 29, 2008 5:18 PM
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Anonymous Anonymous said...

K, but conservatives think their beliefs are right as much as you liberals think YOUR beliefs are right.

August 29, 2008 5:19 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...

K, but conservatives think their beliefs are right as much as you liberals think YOUR beliefs are right.

Then they are happy the way the world is now. Many including my self are not.

August 29, 2008 5:21 PM
Blogger Kapunua said...

5:19, I get that, I do. I don't know how else to break it down. Lemme see.

Conservatives are entitled to their opinions on how the world should be run, but most of the time they do not stop at "opinion" and they call into law what their beliefs are--beliefs on how others should live.

When your personal beliefs tread on others' pursuit of happiness--you know, like in the Declaration of Independence?--that's where a line should be drawn.

Where does gay marriage tread on the rights of people who disagree with it? It doesn't.

I'm just using gay marriage and gay rights as a quick and easy example, BTW. There are many others.

August 29, 2008 5:22 PM
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Blogger Kapunua said...

I swear I would just up and overthrow this mahfah if I could, just start the whole thing over. Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness.

There is no logical reason for these to come at the cost of others' lives, liberties and pursuits of happiness. Here I am being all-inclusive: Gays, people of color, every gender and in between, every creed and belief. This should NEVER have come at the cost of the freedom and rights of the Native Americans.

It was a good idea that went to hell.

Separation of church and state? Ha, this is a full on theocracy.

August 29, 2008 5:25 PM
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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Conservatives are entitled to their opinions on how the world should be run, but most of the time they do not stop at "opinion" and they call into law what their beliefs are--beliefs on how others should live.
And we get stuck having to live by these laws and how does that make us a free country?

August 29, 2008 5:25 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Then people who are in love can't get married,it spills into the schools and they can tell us how to raise our children...

August 29, 2008 5:29 PM
Blogger Kapunua said...

^Exactly.

August 29, 2008 5:29 PM
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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Then our men are sent off to war, for what? For freedom? Where in the hell is it?

August 29, 2008 5:32 PM
Blogger Kapunua said...

Cenk Uygur on Why do white people dislike Michelle Obama?

In the latest NY Times/CBS News poll, I think one number has been over looked. Michelle Obama has a stunningly low approval rating with white people. Only 24% of white Americans have a favorable view of her.

That's George Bush-like numbers. That's almost in Dick Cheney territory. I don't get it. What did she ever do to anybody?

She seems like an exemplary wife and mother. She is a hard working and accomplished American. What is it about her that is so off-putting to white Americans? I am sincerely puzzled.

I have a terrible answer. It's an answer I can't quite believe is true -- and I don't want to believe is true. But I don't see a reasonable alternative explanation. Racism.

I hope I'm wrong. But I can't see what else it could be. What in the world is wrong with her? Absolutely nothing. Strong, smart, likeable, caring. Maybe she's too strong. I am sure there are people out there who want women who are less vocal. This might be the same crowd who hated Hillary Clinton.

And, of course, there are a variety of factors that go into any phenomenon like this. There are also the people who are offended by her out of context comments on how this is the first time she's proud of her country. That seems to make people really mad. Though they didn't seem that angered when John McCain made very similar comments.

Do we honestly believe that most Americans would question Cindy McCain's patriotism if she said the same exact thing as Michelle Obama? I think no one would have even noticed it. You can't question Cindy McCain's patriotism -- she's white, blond and has blue eyes. Obviously, she's a patriotic American. If you think that doesn't make a difference in people's perception, you're crazy or not being honest with yourself...



♥

I love Cenk so damn hard.

August 29, 2008 5:32 PM
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Blogger Kapunua said...

5:32, that is a good, and daring point. For the record, I agree. Sent off to a useless war by full-on war profiteers who are claiming that our "rights" are being protected.

What rights?

That "terrorism" is being stopped.

The terrorism is right here, at home.

August 29, 2008 5:34 PM
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Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with him. Sadly this older generation are not very open minded.I only hope the youth of tommorow will stand up and voice their opinion and make a change.

August 29, 2008 5:39 PM
Blogger Kapunua said...

5:39, but the frightening thing is that we were thinking that when I was in high school, like over fifteen years ago. That the upcoming youth would be forward-thinking enough to try to go forward instead of backwards.

But many of the people who voted Bush in for a first and then second term were of that same generation, and many who are now voting for McCain are of my generation. I'm ashamed! We did not collectively make any difference at all!

The answer isn't youth alone. It's not simple rebellion. Maybe it's living with your eyes open, but how the hell do you make other people do that?

I just don't know what the answer is, and it guts me, like, daily.

August 29, 2008 5:42 PM
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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Alot of our youths are looked down on, but i think they won't stand for having their rights taking away from them, and they will be heard.

August 29, 2008 5:42 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...

We can only hope that things will change, but me myself think that the whole system is corrupt.

August 29, 2008 5:44 PM
Blogger Kapunua said...

Oh, you were saying you agree with Cenk? Oh dude, I so often agree with Cenk that sometimes I look like a bobble-head doll when I'm watching his commentary or reading his posts. He is (usually) so goddamn logical.

And when you watch him on their show, he's so funny too. Sometimes he'll put up something that Bush has done and then he'll just sum up exactly how so many of us feel. He won't even go right into the logical rant either. He'll just sit there with his head in his hands going, "Oh my god. On my god. HOW DID HE GET INTO OFFICE? Wow."

August 29, 2008 5:44 PM
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Blogger Kapunua said...

5:42, but they will stand for it, because many of them will have been raised in households that have taught them that it is wrong to be gay, that it is wrong to have been born a woman or that women are somehow inferior. They will have this message drilled into their heads, not only by the goddamn religious right-wing, ultra-conservative nationalism, flag-waving, chest-beating jingoistic machismo masquerading as patriotism.

They will have these messages drilled into their heads by cultural icons, people who are supposed to be cool.

What's up, Gerard Way?

August 29, 2008 5:46 PM
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Blogger Kapunua said...

And when I use Gerard Way as an example I am using him as a very broad example of a cultural icon who has overthrown real forward-thinking values in favor of teaching young people who look up to him that it is all right to degrade women, that words like "f*ggot" and "n*gger" are funny etc. either by way of degrading those women himself or by way of supporting and promoting a band who exemplifies those, LOL, "values."

I would have used Jimmy Urine as an example, but no one listens to that dumb bitch aside from, well, Gerard Way.

August 29, 2008 5:49 PM
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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kapu.... .You're scary.

August 29, 2008 5:50 PM

LOL! He used to be a poster child against all of the stuff he now thinks is so cool!

August 29, 2008 5:52 PM
Blogger Kapunua said...

I'm okay with that, 5:50. :)

5:52, that's what so galling.

August 29, 2008 5:55 PM
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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Who is right and who is wrong? Who has the right to judge the beliefs of another and call those beliefs wrong? She is just stating her opinion.She is not telling you who to vote for

August 29, 2008 5:06 PM

And I am stating my opinion. Straight from the middle. Also not telling anyone who to vote for. Encouraging people to think for themselves and find the facts for themselves.

August 29, 2008 5:56 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kapunua said...
They will have this message drilled into their heads, not only by the goddamn religious right-wing, ultra-conservative nationalism, flag-waving, chest-beating jingoistic machismo masquerading as patriotism.

And not trying to belittle the beliefs of others by using hate speech and name calling.

August 29, 2008 5:59 PM
Blogger Kapunua said...

Anon, in this social climate, it's very hard to straddle the middle, because the middle either has a tendency to stand by and watch others' rights get tossed aside, (which is fine, no one is required to take up a cause on another group's behalf,) or occasionally tips over into treading on those rights themselves.

This is a very precarious time. We stand to lose so much.

The funniest aspect of what I'm saying--the true irony here?--is that most people think I'm so far to the left, so radical. In fact there are some places where I am firmly in the middle, too. For instance I'm very nearly fiscally conservative; it's safe to say that while I agree with general aid and stuff, it kills me that people I know can get away with being career criminals and/or living off the state while their privileged asses chill out and bitch on the computer all day. (Halfway includes self in that sweeping statement.)

I am criminally conservative, to the point where if I had the choice to carry out the death penalty myself on certain people--say, sex offenders--I'd be more than happy to, and I wouldn't be satisfied just pulling a silly little lever: we're talking blunt instruments and dull blades here, see?

I'm in the middle on weapons control, too. I like firing a gun. We do absolutely need gun control but you can't ban them entirely. Or I guess you could, but that is a hazy line for me as well.

Oh, the irony, it burns.

August 29, 2008 6:03 PM
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Blogger Kapunua said...

5:59, when those people are making it impossible for others to be free, then all bets are off. You know? If people act like a chest-beating, hateful fratboy and they have the means to stamp all over women's rights and gay rights or even support the means to do so, then hey: tit for tat, and I am wearing one fine-ass pushup bra from Joe Boxer.

August 29, 2008 6:05 PM



There is a huge gulf of logic between not agreeing with someone's beliefs and making it so that they are not able to live how they want. Give your opinion. I shall give mine. But I have not, to my knowledge, called into existance any laws that prevent you, or anyone, from living your life the way you want. Gosh, now that I think of it, I have not in any way ever prevented anyone from pursuing their choices or following their beliefs.

You are entitled to laugh at the things that I say, too. If my religion was to worship St. Looney Up The Cream Bun And Jam you would be well within your rights to laugh, call me foolish, to tell me that in your opinion my religion wasn't valid, that it shouldn't be on a dollar bill etc.

But the second you tried to take away my right to worship with Reverend Arthur Belling, you would overstep.


There is a difference between "disrespect" and "taking away someone's rights." It's called "hyperbole," anon.

Comments

[reanimated.livejournal.com]

why are people scared of michelle obama?

1. she's an intelligent, assertive, no-shit-taking woman. that's scary to insecure people.

2. on top of that, she's doing it while black.

the lady is pretty much all that i admire. :)

[la-belle-laide.livejournal.com]

I think she's fab. "Speaking out of turn" my ASS. And you gotta ♥ Cenk.

[rin-o.livejournal.com]

there's a couple of times where they almost go to "well, liberals have their right to let other believe what they want as much as we have our rights to have others believe what we want!"....

see, if it weren't for the fact they could be important people in the real world somewhere, i'd find them sad and funny.

as it stands, sad and creepy.

[la-belle-laide.livejournal.com]

That is exactly how it comes across.

Well, I'll tell you something about this particular blog. As much as I go there as a sort of semi-addiction as well as to talk with a FEW sane and good-hearted people there, most of the time people are completely bughouse, flipped out full on mad. I'm fairly certain I know who the person was who was arguing with me. No one of consequence for sure, but still annoying, pedantic, and typically bull-headed while stating that they are "in the middle."

The middle of the right wing, perhaps.

[skitty-kitty.livejournal.com]

...sometimes I think we're so alike it's like we share ONE MIND. 0_0 Like seriously, your political stances are almost 100% my own.

[la-belle-laide.livejournal.com]

I'm telling you, if we merged it would be like SUPERLIBERAL! :D

I' sure you can guess where this charade of anonymity occurred, yes? :/

[skitty-kitty.livejournal.com]

Where else but the fabulous land of Blog Believe? The half expect the Cheshire Cat to pop up and ramble off his famous quote when I peek in. ;)

[skitty-kitty.livejournal.com]

I half, I, not The.