Archive for the ‘Splenetics’ Category
Corruption : A Culture of Dependency?
This article ("The Supreme Court Just Gutted Another Campaign Finance Law. Here’s What Happened.", by Andy Kroll) provides some useful background and short, clear analysis on today's McCutcheon v. FEC ruling from the Supremes. I'm surprised, frankly, that Republicans could look so favorably on allowing large contributions from single donors; don't they realize that it […]
In: All, Current Events, Splenetics
Getting a Job vs. Getting a Life
I was pleased to hear one of my senators, Barbara Mikulski, say nice things today about teachers: "This Teacher Appreciation Day, let’s thank the teachers preparing our students today for jobs tomorrow." But now I'm wondering about the attitude that seems so very prevalent today that the purpose of education, even the purpose of growing […]
In: All, Raised Eyebrows Dept., Splenetics
Was That "Passive"?
In his A Dictionary of Modern English Usage (1926, so not so terribly modern but still rather fun), Henry Fowler famously described the attitudes of people in regard to the split infinitive in English: The English-speaking world may be divided into (1) those who neither know nor care what a split infinitive is; (2) those […]
In: All, Splenetics, Writing
Do As He Says, Not As He Does
Newt Gingrich, lately infected with delusional notions that people want him to be president (yes, of the United States!), enjoys his sinning but apparently gets his sin-tickets fixed through his very special relationship with Jesus. Don't forget, however, that he finds the idea of marriage equality, well, unforgivable. So, I repeat the following just because […]
In: All, Current Events, Splenetics
Fiore's "Learn to Speak Tea Bag"
Well, gosh, word is (via Joe.My.God) that Mark Fiore's cartoon, "Learn to Speak Tea Bag", has caused some upset among conservative political extremists. Imagine! Is there, then, any better reason than that to do some viral spreading with this metaphorical blog sneeze? [YouTube link for those who don't see the embedded player.]
In: All, Laughing Matters, Splenetics
Rep. Joe Wilson: Republican VP Hopeful?
So we have the curious case of Representative Joe Wilson, Republican of South Carolina, shouting at the President during the latter's remarks to a joint session of congress last night. In the midst of reporting on that in today's press (e.g., the New York Times), some mention was made of the President's speech. As I […]
In: All, Current Events, Splenetics, Will Rogers Moments
Mozart Hated It–We Should Love It?
Somewhere in my top-10 of all-time vapid pieces of music is Mozart's concerto for flute and harp, K. 299, in c major. It is dull, totally devoid of inspiration, and defines the tedious listening experience. Virtually every radio announcer who introduces this playlist favorite will point out how much Mozart is reputed to have hated […]
In: All, Music & Art, Splenetics
Freedom to Choose a Doctor in the US
I find that I'm still thinking today about health-care matters and the train-wreck-in-progress in the US as "we" work towards health-care "reform". Possibly topping the list of the fear and doubt instilled in the minds of voters by the big health-insurance companies is that universal health-care (usually labeled "socialized medicine") could restrict one's freedom to […]
In: All, Current Events, Splenetics
Health Care: "Reform" = "Universal"
I've been reading and listening to talk about health care "reform" recently. As you will realize, for those of us in the US right now that's not a surprise, since it's the one thing all politicians are talking about while they try to figure out how to do nothing about it. The discussion right now […]
In: All, Current Events, Plus Ca Change..., Splenetics
Phony Moralizing
Earlier today I hear a news headline / story on NPR (see also, for one more example) that quoted Dick Cheney* as referring to objections to waterboarding# as "phony moralizing". I naturally presume that this is directed at liberals like myself, particularly atheistic moral relativists who don't believe that a god is necessary to account […]
That McCain-Palin Mob
Via virtually everyone comes links to these worthy videos at Blogger Interrupted that Tim Russo following a Sarah Palin rally: The McCain-Palin mob in Strongsville, Ohio; and McCain-Palin Mob Part 2 – Woman’s child says of Barack “you need gloves to touch him” (I link to his page so that you can see his commentary […]
In: All, Current Events, Raised Eyebrows Dept., Splenetics
The Correct vs. The Popular
Robin Tyler was one of the original plaintiffs in what became In Re Marriage Cases, for which the recent decision overturned prohibitions in California on same-sex marriages. In an article of personal reflections, she made these observations (obviously, among other interesting observations): In a Los Angeles Times article on May 18, Chief Justice George indicated […]
In: All, Faaabulosity, Splenetics
Local Primaries
Apparently one of the New England states had a local primary election yesterday, whose purpose was to choose a few delegates to go to a presidential nominating convention. The convention itself strikes me as a quaint curiosity, a vestigial bit of ceremony with no real use in the 21st century. The trill that people can […]
In: All, Current Events, Splenetics
Definitely Finite
WASHINGTON – The Bush administration now acknowledges it is trying to recover nearly $500 million from people who improperly received federal aid money intended to help victims of two deadly hurricanes, Katrina and Rita, along the Gulf Coast two years ago. It said the amount may increase further. “This is a moving target and not […]
In: All, Splenetics, Such Language!
McCarthy Reconsidered
I've been thinking some about the universal excuse conservatives use to exculpate their bad ideas and failed policies: "we didn't go far enough!" It comes with numerous variations, of course, like "we didn't give it a chance" (not far enough in time), or "he wasn't a true conservative" (not far enough ideologically). We've had plenty […]
Less than Permanent
Alas, the much-touted, and much-feared, "permanent Republican majority" of the twenty-first century seems to have become somewhat less than permanent, with chunks falling off every day. Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott's resignation announcement on Monday was the latest in a wave of retirements to hit congressional Republicans, making an already difficult 2008 electoral landscape even […]
In: All, Current Events, Splenetics
The Myth of Journalistic Balance
Andy* relates a little, but telling moment with Al Gore revealing some wisdom. He (Gore) was talking to some news-type person on some morning news-type program when she confronted him with an anti-global-warming editorial by a well-known global-warming critic/denier — well-known to the audience and tiresomely well-known to Gore. Here's the part of Gore's response […]
In: All, Current Events, Splenetics
My Larry Craig Strategy
Throughout this whole debacle with Larry Craig and his wide stance, the main theme seems to be blinding hypocrisy on virtually everyone's part. The observation would seem to be correct that he didn't actually do anything criminal, although he confessed to a misdemeanor after being pressured and implicitly threatened with exposure. Was it entrapment? Well, […]
In: All, Current Events, Splenetics
Deadline for Victory
I hear the soundbite of some Senator arguing against putting any sort of date for withdrawal from the Iraq quagmire. The claim: any sort of deadline would tell the "terrorists" just how long they have to wait us out. To my ear, the implications of that argument are two-fold: If we don't want them to […]
In: All, Current Events, Splenetics
The Dumbest & Most Intelligent
Throughout this past week I heard occasional news reports about yet another helicopter crashing in Iraq or Afghanistan, killing several troops. I don't like it, but it happens — it's a war, as Dear Leader frequently reminds us. Here's what I don't get: the unseemly rush by the pentagon to release word that none of […]