Wednesday, 31st December, 2008
LSU is On My List...
Alright, so I'll be the first to admit that LSU just outplayed us in the Peach Bowl (err, I mean, the Chicken Bowl). Their quarterback played exceptionally well, and they didn't make many mistakes. We had some stupid play calls in special teams and just looked bad all in all. I'll also admit that I'm far from unbiased here. But why in the hell would you call a fake punt leading 38-3 with 9 minutes left in the game? There's absolutely no legitimate reason to do that; it is nothing more than just a complete lack of honor and respect for the other team. Shame on you, LSU.
I used to actually like LSU, but after that, they are now on my list. You know, that list that has Florida, Miami, and teams like that that deserve no respect and that I root for anyone who plays them. As long as Les Miles is coaching the Tigers, I will wish LSU to lose every single game from now on. Unless they play Florida - then it's just the lesser of two evils.
Anyway, happy New Year all!
Monday, 1st December, 2008
Home for the Holidays... Sort of
Okay, so it's almost Christmas time (that's right, Christmas - not the incredibly generic and not so descriptive "holidays" that some overly sensitive people call it). Which means it's time for my annual diatribe on that famous Perry Como song Home for the Holidays. I can hear the sighs from all of my friends that have heard this before, hoping that I would forget all about it so they wouldn't have to hear it yet again. But fear not! I'm probably the only person in the entire world that is humored by this, but I'm still going to talk about it!
I'll admit I don't usually pay that much attention to lyrics. I know it's probably strange, but I tend to focus more on the instrumental aspects of music more than what is actually being said. Occasionally, after I've heard a song a hundred times, I'll catch a phrase or two and try to make sense of what it means. Incidentally, this is exactly what happened a couple of years ago. I was driving to work one morning and Home for the Holidays came up on my MP3 player. I picked up on some of the lyrics that he's singing, thinking to myself how nice and jolly the tune is. Then I came across one particular phrase:
From Atlantic to Pacific,
Gee, the traffic is terrific.
Now I'll admit that this might be the result of a generational gap. After all, I'm sure the word "terrific" held some sort of a slang meaning back when this song first came out. However, I can't help but wonder exactly what Mr. Como is saying here. Taken literally, he is simply saying that the traffic is great, which would of course mean that there's not much traffic. But to me, there's just a bit of a sarcastic tone to the phrase - I mean after all, who would ever describe traffic as "terrific"? So given a sarcastic tone, the phrase would mean the traffic is actually terrible and he's stuck in it.
I found this rather odd, so I decided to replay the song and make a conscious effort to listen to all the words. What I found gave me a whole new perspective on this holiday classic. Here's a couple of phrases to analyze:
I met a man who lives in Tennessee,
He was headin' for,
Pennsylvania, and some home made pumpkin pie.
From Pennsylvania, folks are travelin'
Down to Dixie's sunny shore,
From Atlantic to Pacific,
Gee, the traffic is terrific.
Which is immediately followed by the chorus:
Oh there's no place like home for the holidays,
Cause no matter how far away you roam,
If you want to be happy in a million ways,
For the holidays,
You can't beat home, sweet home.
Now given the title, I had assumed the song would be about spending Christmas at home and all the wonderful things there. However, the lyrics are almost all about traveling - people taking buses, trains, airplanes, driving, etc. So I have to conclude that there is a sarcastic overtone to the entire song. It's almost as if Mr. Como is poking fun at all those people who travel so that they can "go home" for the holidays, when if they really wanted to "go home" for the holidays, they wouldn't be traveling!
Anyway, whether you travel to "go home" or "go home" to avoid traveling this holiday season, Merry Christmas!
Friday, 14th November, 2008
Sometimes I'm Ashamed to be Associated with Certain Christians...
Priest: No communion for Obama supporters
Now let me get one thing straight first and foremost. I am not a fan of abortion, and the only time I would find it acceptable in my personal life would be if the mother's life is in danger. However, I also do not believe it is the right of the government to legislate based on a moral issue. Although the United States is predominantly Christian, one of the fundamental principles that our country was founded on is religious freedom and the right to not be judged/persecuted for our beliefs. Because of this, I cannot in good conscious support legislation regarding morality, as the definition of one's morality is largely defined by the perception of one's religious views.
I do understand the stance that some people take in saying that, by defining a fetus at any stage of development as a human life, abortion is technically murder. And yes, the government's job is first and foremost to protect its citizens. However, it really depends on your definition of when a human life begins, which is (at least at the moment) a purely subjective discussion. For me, I honestly just don't know, and because I don't know, I err on the side of personal choice. I actually have a very similar stance to how Obama feels on this subject:
"Q: Do you personally believe that life begins at conception?
A: This is something that I have not come to a firm resolution on. I think it's very hard to know what that means, when life begins. Is it when a cell separates? Is it when the soul stirs? So I don't presume to know the answer to that question. What I know is that there is something extraordinarily powerful about potential life and that that has a moral weight to it that we take into consideration when we're having these debates."
Source: 2008 Democratic Compassion Forum at Messiah College Apr 13, 2008
Let me also make the point that, to the best of my knowledge, there is currently no precedence in government or in the private sector for defining a life as beginning at the time of conception. You can't get health insurance for a fetus. You can't claim a fetus as a dependent on your taxes. You can't start making contributions to a government college savings plan for a fetus. So it shouldn't be that big of a surprise that, on the issue of abortion, the government doesn't consider a fetus as a human life.
But putting the issue aside, in my opinion, it is really sad that we have come to a point where some churches feel it is their right to judge people based on their personal beliefs. This church is specifically saying that you don't have a right to commune with God if you voted for someone with whom the church disagrees on one particular issue. Now I know the Catholic Church has a different perspective and a different way of practicing religion than I personally agree with, but isn't this going just a little bit too far? Here's an idea: how about if we leave the judgment calls up to God, and instead simply pray for those with whom we disagree?
Oh but wait, apparently abortion should be the single most important issue:
"During the 2008 presidential campaign, many bishops spoke out on abortion more boldly than four years earlier, telling Catholic politicians and voters that the issue should be the most important consideration in setting policy and deciding which candidate to back."
Yeah, obviously being in a huge economic crisis, where millions of Americans' livelihoods are at stake, isn't as important of an issue as abortion is. Obviously continuing a war with Iraq that has no end in sight and that puts many American and Iraqi lives in danger isn't as important of an issue as abortion is. Obviously the thousands of Americans who can't afford to pay for medical bills that are necessary for their health isn't as important of an issue as abortion is. Who cares what the other candidate would do on such minor issues, as long as he/she opposes abortion right?!
One final quotation for examination:
"'I don't understand anyone who would call themselves a Christian, let alone a Catholic, and could vote for someone who's a pro-abortion candidate', said Ted Kelly, 64"
Well Ted, hate to tell you, but I'm a Christian and I voted for Obama. Maybe it's because I understand the difference between church and state...
I honestly pray for that priest.
Wednesday, 5th November, 2008
President-Elect Barack Obama
As I was watching the returns come in last night, I felt like somewhat of a spirit floating inside an ethereal plane, as if I were living in a dream world that didn't actually exist. The entire night just seemed unreal to me. Although I was cautiously optimistic for an Obama win based on the polling numbers, I also knew how little polls really mean and was quite nervous that we were in for a surprise. But being able to watch Obama win the presidency, a rather convincing win at that, is an experience I will remember and cherish for the rest of my life.
For me, this election was never about race. The first time I saw Barack Obama was at the Democratic Convention in 2004. Among my initial observations I of course took notice that he was African American, much the way you would notice the color of a car that passes you on the road. But as soon as he started speaking, the whole matter of race completely left my mind. I have given no credence either for or against Barack Obama for his race; my support for him has been entirely due to respecting who he is, what he believes, and what he is fighting for. I can honestly say that when I cast my ballot for Obama, race was not a factor at all in my decision.
That to me is what made this election such an historic event. Obviously the fact that we have chosen to elect the first African American president in United States history is a powerful testament to just how great a country we live in. But even more powerful in my mind is the fact that we did it without making this election about race. I'm sure there were those for whom race was a primary motivator in voting for Obama, just like there were those for whom race was a primary motivator for voting against Obama. But I honestly believe that, for the vast majority of people, this election was not decided one way or the other on race (despite what Limbaugh might say to the contrary). We have gotten a glimpse of a future where things like race, gender, etc. just don't matter in our society, and that is the way it should be. That is why this is so historic to me, and why I am so proud to be an American citizen today.
Barack Obama will become the first president in my lifetime that I honestly respect, the first president I really believe in, and the first president I have faith in following regardless of whether I agree with him on all issues or not. Because in my eyes, he's not your typical politician. I believe in him to fight for the middle class, the hard-working citizens that have made America what it is today, and not just the wealthy and the corporations with the strongest lobbyists. I believe in him to re-establish the United States as a world leader and not just the country with the strongest military force in the world. I believe in him to always do what he thinks is in the best interest of the people of this great country. In my opinion, there is something real with Barack Obama; he is an inspirational figure, and I sincerely hope he will make a great president.
I pray for the health and safety of the President-Elect and his family. I pray that he will not fall into the same political trap that has befallen the vast majority of our government, but instead rings true on his promise to change the way Washington serves its constituents. I pray that he will not ignore Republican and conservative voices, but rather call on them consistently for their ideas and opinions to open his mind to the ideology of others. And I pray that God will give him the strength and the wisdom needed to always do what is in the best interest of the people.
May God always bless our next president, as He continues to bless all the great citizens of the United States.
Monday, 3rd November, 2008
Redistribution of Wealth
One of my relatives sent me a story that has absolutely sickened me. I have no clue as to the truthfulness of the story, but if it is indeed true, it really makes me question the values that some people have.
"I heard a story of a man who was waited on in a resturant by a student putting himself through school. The waiter student had an Obama pin on. The man ate his dinner and then when the check came, he said to the waiter student (who worked hard and did a nice job) that since the waiter student was in favor of Obama, and wealth redistribution, he was going to withhold his tip and redistribute it to the poor (a pan handler outside of the resturant). The Waiter student got really upset. The man left, gave it to the pan handler, who promptly dropped his sign that said "out of work and hungry" and went accross the street to the liquor store to by a bottle of booze."
This is getting absolutely ridiculous. If you listen to the McCain rhetoric (i.e. lies), you'd think the only people who would benefit from an Obama administration are the extremely poor and homeless! Look, no one wants to take money from the middle class and give it to poor people - that's not what Obama has been fighting for. If that's really what he wanted to do, he would have been run out of town before his campaign got started. When Obama talks about redistributing wealth, he isn't talking about taking from people making $100k a year and giving it to people making $20k a year. He's talking about taking from people making over $250k a year and giving it to people making less than $200k a year. He's talking about taking a small portion of the wealth from the rich, who can afford to pay a little extra in taxes, and using their money to pay for necessary government programs instead of expecting the other 95% of Americans, the ones who are actually suffering in this economy, to pay for it.
If your'e really interested in the facts, I urge you to go to the Obama-Biden Tax Calculator and see for yourself. You'll see that if you make between $75k and $100k and are married filing jointly with 2 dependents, you'll get an average tax cut of $1000 a year, compared to $120 a year under McCain's plan. You'll see that if you make between $150k and $200k and are married filing jointly with no dependents, you'll get an average tax cut of $500 a year, compared to no tax cut under McCain's plan. You'll see that if you make between $50k and $75k and are single with no dependents, you'll get an average tax cut of $500 a year, compared to no tax cut under McCain's plan.
This is really getting out of hand in my opinion. The people in McCain's camp want to scare everyone into believing that Obama is going to raise taxes for the middle class, even though he has disputed that time and time again and anyone with half a brain who took the time to research his tax plan would know that's simply not true. They want to scare everyone into believing that Obama is a socialist because he supports certain social programs, instead insisting that privatizing everything is clearly the answer, even though a private company cares about your well being only as far as is absolutely necessary. And the icing on the cake is that they have spent almost all of their time the past couple of weeks criticizing Obama's plans of action, while not spending any time discussing what exactly they would do to help solve the serious issues we face today.
Please, get the facts people before you start believing this nonsense.
Monday, 20th October, 2008
Obama/McCain Tax Comparison
It's time to settle all the propaganda over who would raise taxes for whom. Here is a simple overview on how Obama and McCain would change taxes for the American people, originally from Jake Tapper on Good Morning America:
Salary - $18,725
McCain cuts $65
Obama cuts $567
Salary - $37K - $66K
McCain cuts $608
Obama cuts $1,118
Salary - $66K - $110K
McCain cuts $1,487
Obama cuts $1,264
Top 1% - $602K - $2.8 million
McCain cuts $109,214
Obama would raise $121,689
Thursday, 9th October, 2008
Dirtiest Campaign in History
Fresh on the heels of Cindy McCain claiming Obama is running the "dirtiest campaign in American history", I bring you this interesting read about what's going on in the McCain campaign:
Absolutely sickening. I don't care if McCain and/or Palin are involved or not, they absolutely shouldn't allow that sort of behavior in their rallies. Do we really want someone that allows this kind of violent talk to be our next President of the United States?
Cindy McCain
I find it incredibly funny that Mrs. McCain is accusing Barack Obama of running the "dirtiest campaign in American history". Her husband has been using the past few weeks to step up personal attacks on Obama's character, trying to link him to various individuals (such as Bill Ayers), which is absolutely ludicrous. Meanwhile, Obama has been continuing to focus on the issues at hand that actually matter. I guess maybe focusing on such ridiculous concepts as the economy, health care, education, and alternative energy is considered running a dirty campaign.
It's also pretty ironic that she makes this accusation a day before continuing the McCain campaign's policy of lying and misleading the American people. She again brought up Obama voting against an emergency war-spending bill last year. What she and her husband continually fail to mention is why Obama voted against it - because it did not include a timetable for withdrawal of troops from Iraq, something that I imagine a mother of a member of the military would be extremely interested in. So somehow I don't really believe her when she talks about how upset she was about Obama voting "not to fund my son when he was serving". If I were her, I'd be much more concerned about her campaign's position that we should continue to endanger American lives (including her son's) instead of asking Iraq to start taking responsibility for their country.
But then again, the McCain campaign is clearly the one that is more respectable and dignified. Obviously. Talking about issues and responsibility is just dirty.
Friday, 3rd October, 2008
Obama Voted For Higher Taxes?
You know, I'm getting really freaking tired of these false claims that Barack Obama has voted numerous times to raise taxes for the middle class while serving in the United States Senate. I know McCain and Palin are trying to discredit Obama - I mean we've seen this all before, Republicans always try to make elections about who is going to cut taxes and who is going to raise them. But I really would have expected McCain and Palin to show a bit more class and not try to manipulate the voters. I think this just shows how far we can trust either one of them.
So for anyone who believes these untruths, I urge you to read Fact Check: Did Obama vote 94 times for higher taxes?. Just in case the article disappears or someone is too lazy to click it, I will quote the most important part:
- 23 were against proposed tax cuts.
- 7 were "for measures that would have lowered taxes for many, while raising them on a relative few, either corporations or affluent individuals."
- 11 were to increase taxes on people making more than $1 million a year, to help fund programs such as Head Start, school nutrition, or veterans' health care.
- 53 were votes on budget resolutions or amendments that "could not have resulted by themselves in raising taxes," though many "were clear statements of approval for increased taxes"
Monday, 29th September, 2008
Thank You, John McCain
John McCain finally did it. He has done something so completely unbelievable and sickening that I am forced out of blogging retirement to comment on it. I am of course referring to McCain and fellow Republicans' accusations that Barack Obama and fellow Democrats are to blame for the failure of the bailout bill today.
Now let me start by saying I have mixed opinions on the bailout bill. On the one hand, there is something unsettling about injecting $700 billion of new money (since we all know Bush has left us with the largest deficit in American history) into the economy and asking taxpayers to pay for it. In the short term, this will end up devaluing the dollar even more, as well as putting additional strain on the wallets of an already overburdened middle class. On the other hand, we are in one of the largest financial crises in our entire history, so a large part of me says that we need to do something to help curb the bleeding and bring some stability back into the markets for both the short term and long term. Ultimately, we are stuck between a rock and a hard place, but in my opinion to do nothing would be the worst mistake we could make right now.
However, for Republicans to blame Democrats for the failure of this bill is completely outrageous. Let's get the facts straight here. 140 Democrats voted in favor of the bill, while 95 voted against. 65 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 133 voted against. So that's almost 60% of House Democrats voting in favor of the bill, compared to only 33% of House Republicans. And this was after both House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader John Boehner both expressed support for the bill late Sunday night after a long weekend of bipartisan work. Now I'm not going to say that Republicans are to blame for the defeat of the bill, but to blame the Democrats is just plain wrong.
In addition, for McCain to blame Obama is simply mind-boggling and disgraceful. "Barack Obama failed to lead, phoned it in, attacked John McCain and refused to even say if he supported the final bill. ... This bill failed because Barack Obama and the Democrats put politics ahead of country," a McCain senior policy adviser said. Maybe I was watching a different debate, but neither one of the candidates endorsed the bill Friday night. In fact, they both said they hoped they could vote for it. And interestingly enough, McCain only agreed to the debate at the last minute because he felt considerable progress had been made on the bill. I guess maybe it wasn't enough progress after all...
So Obama is urging people to be patient and not to panic, to let lawmakers do their job and continue to work on a bill, so that the markets don't crash as a result of public panic. Meanwhile, McCain is pointing fingers at Obama and blaming him for the failure of the bill. It reminds me of that line from An American President: "We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them. And whatever your particular problem is, I promise you Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving it. He is interested in two things, and two things only: making you afraid of it, and telling you who's to blame for it." Right now, the only thing I see McCain doing throughout his entire campaign is throwing blame around. That is not what leadership is.
But honestly I don't know why this should surprise me. The McCain camp has stooped to all sorts of political lows with their outrageous claims and utter lies all throughout this campaign. I especially loved when one of his campaign correspondents told CNN after the debate Friday night that Obama plans to raise taxes for the majority of Americans, which unless the majority of Americans make more than $250k a year is a blatant lie. Or when McCain himself claimed that Obama voted to raise taxes for people making $42k a year twice this year. In fact, he voted for Senate budget priorities through 2013 that assume the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 will expire during that time, which they will unless altered by further legislation. In other words, McCain's claims are extremely misleading and dishonest.
So really this shouldn't come as any surprise. Time and time again we have seen McCain throw blame around, claim Obama doesn't know anything, and then try to back it all up with lies and deceit. I honestly respected John McCain before this year, but he has shown himself to be just another politician who only cares about getting elected. Frankly, I'm tired of that attitude, and thankfully I know there are millions of other Americans that are as well. I'd love to see him put aside all the bullshit partisanship for just a moment and have a real debate with Obama, one that talks about the issues but does so in a respectful and constructive manner. But then again, I wouldn't expect McCain to know how to carry on such a debate.
Oh and by the way, what the heck does the height of North Koreans vs. South Koreans have to do with anything?!