Friday, December 19, 2008

Quick Hits

Its been a hellish week at work so I've hardly even had time to read anything online, never mind write anything...but here are some wuick thoughts about some things I've seen flash past my eyes of late:

• Caroline Kennedy has no business getting appointed to Hillary's Senate seat, and the thought of it happening fucking pisses me off.

• Barack Obama's selection / allowing / or even tolerating Rick Warren's participation at his Inauguration is terrible. I don't EVER support elevating the platform of asshats like Warren, but especially not in the wake of Proposition 8 and Warren's role in passing it. I understand Obama's call for unity and a desire to represent diveristy of viewpoint, but fairness dictates a like desire from the opponent. Warren is an intolerant asshole and has no intention of advancing a discussion on gay rights, controception, abortion or anything else. He cares only to advance his agenda. Obama's ceremony should not serve it.

• As bad as Warren is, at least he won't be delivering policy. Tom Vilsack will. I was against this guy a month ago, and nothing I've seen changes my opinion that this guy is a bad pick. Period. The best one can hope for is an aggressive Ag policy by Obama and that Vilsack is merely the best player to advance the ball. If that's the case, Vilsack needs to shut his cornhole in the huddle.

• I've completely lost track of the auto industry stuff.

10 comments:

Rickey said...

Caroline Kennedy has no business getting appointed to Hillary's Senate seat, and the thought of it happening fucking pisses me off.

A-fucking-men. If we're going to slam Palin for her lack of experience, we do need to keep it fair and balanced, do we not? Enough with stupid inbred political dynasties, how about some new blood for a change?

I've completely lost track of the auto industry stuff.

Last Rickey heard, the government will pay for their funeral. Not much else.

Bob said...

I am not so sure Caroline Kennedy has any less experience than H. Clinton did when she was elected.

One is the wife of a President, the other is the daughter of a President.

I also think comparing her to Palin is not really a valid comparison. Experience is much less needed in Congress than the Presidency. I would say that Palin - while a butthead - is qualified to be a Senator.

Noah said...

I would say that Palin - while a butthead - is qualified to be a Senator.

I laughed out loud at that, not because bob is wrong, but because it is pathetically true.

Bob said...

"I laughed out loud at that, not because bob is wrong, but because it is pathetically true."

You get it. My statement was not made in confidence in Palin, but in a complete lack of respect for the legisalture.

Caroline Kennedy is overqualified.

Jennifer said...

I live in New York, upstate New York and it pisses me off when these people just move to this State so that they can have a Senate seat. At least Hilary had some familiarity of upstate. That she wasn't all New York City.
Fucking Caroline Kennedy has never stepped foot in Syracuse, New York until the other day. WHATEVER. And I am even further UPstate than there. I'll bet she has never even heard of where I live.

No business here. Completely agree Mr. F.

steves said...

The fact that Michael Bloomberg supports Caroline is enough for me to not support her without even knowing much about her.

I don't think the Warren pick is all that offensive. Publius has some good points about Warren and the current divide among Evangelicals. Among other things, he notes the following:

Obama isn't going to cause evangelicals to start loving abortion rights or gay marriage. But what he could maybe accomplish is to help elevate a leader whose primary mission in life isn't defeating and vilifying Democrats. That's all Dobson and Perkins have -- they commodify outrages and liberal hatred, and that's what they sell (at a nice profit). Warren, despite his flaws, devotes more energy to doing good things -- things that secular progressives could even coalition with him on.

Personally, I'd rather see a greater chunk of evangelical money going to fight AIDS than to defeat Democratic candidates. Obama's courtship of Warren could make that happen. Also, if the evangelical leadership shifts, young evangelicals wouldn't grow up hearing how awful Democrats are. Instead, they would grow up hearing how important it is to do good in the world. And without that incessant demonizing, younger evangelicals might eventually drift over to the progressive camp, which is far more consistent with their views on poverty, the environment, etc.


Warren seems to be getting a little too political for my taste. I prefer my religious leaders to focus more on religious issues and not try to suck up to politicians or one of the major parties.

Kelly said...

obama isn't for gay marriage either. sheesh. rick warren isnt against gay people's civil unions, or partners rights, same as obama. what they are against is a redefinition of the word marriage, which for thousands of years has been between a man and a woman, and typically within a religion.

Mr Furious said...

Well, Kelly—if marriage is "within a religion" then it's got no place on the books of a secular government.

The state should not be in the marriage business—plain and fucking simple. Everyone gets a civil license and then takes it down to whatever the hell church they want and they can call it whatever the hell they want.

What two consenting, monogamous (or not) committed adults wish to do with their lives is none of Warren's, Obama's, your's or my business, and has exactly zero impact on any of our marriages.

steves said...

Mr. F, I agree 100% and have argued the same solution you present. The problem is that there has been a nexus between religion and the state in the area of marriage for a long time.

One possible solution is to amend the Constitution to create short-term benign dictatorship with me in charge. I can enact this and some other laws that would be hard to get though the legislature because people are resistant to change.

Bob said...

obama isn't for gay marriage either. sheesh. rick warren isnt against gay people's civil unions, or partners rights, same as obama. what they are against is a redefinition of the word marriage,

Yes, BUT Rick Warren did compare gay people to pedophiles a time or two.
I agree with the Publius post too. I also think an alliance with people like Warren may help get some of his economic reforms through the legisalture.

One possible solution is to amend the Constitution to create short-term benign dictatorship with me in charge.

Funny. Will everyone be handed a gun?