Category Archives: US Politics

Baracknophobia

Posted on 10 April 2009 by | Leave a comment

Vodpod videos no longer available.

This is one of the funniest Daily Show segments I’ve seen in ages. And seemingly so true. Crazy and divisive politics these days…

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Posted in Culture, Media, US Politics

Hail to the chief

Posted on 1 April 2009 by | Leave a comment

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Nerak and I had a chance to go to a Meet and Greet with President and Mrs. Obama last night. The event was held in the gymnasium at the American School in London and was attended by 400 or so Embassy employees and their family and friends. The President spoke for a few minutes and then went about shaking hands with a few people at the front of the room. Unfortunately neither of us got close enough to shake his hand, but it sure was exciting to be in the same room with him!

I managed to get a few pictures, but the crowd was going crazy, so it was difficult to keep anything in focus.

[Click here, or here for media coverage of the event]

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Posted in London, US Politics

HOPE

Posted on 20 January 2009 by | Leave a comment

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The world changed today and something different is in the air. Better. Can you feel it?

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Posted in Culture, US Politics

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Election 2008

Posted on 9 November 2008 by | Leave a comment

Relief! The Presidential Election is finally over and it turned out well!

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Posted in US Politics

How to Spin Global Warming

Posted on 11 October 2008 by | Leave a comment

Here’s something I’ve always suspected: the same people who engaged in ‘pseudo–science’ to cast doubt on the real scientific evidence of the harmful effects of smoking (and delayed the passage of meaningful legislation regarding the issue), have now turned the same strategy to global warming. Same tactics, only now the money comes from big oil instead of big tobacco.

[via the American News Project]

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Posted in Media, Science, US Politics

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55 days and counting

Posted on 10 September 2008 by | 1 comment

I agree completely with Nerak’s post below, the Republicans are up to their tired old trick of pandering to the extreme right. Extremism is dangerous on both right and left! Palin’s nomination, blatant appeals to women voters and her attempt to turn the election into a class war, all smack of desperation. Playing into the hands of the Republicans by electing McCain/Palin this November will not result in change, and claims to the contrary are completely disingenuous.

I can’t imagine why anyone would want to elect someone who doubts the effects of human activity on global warming despite 90% world–wide consensus to the contrary; who is affiliated with the NRA, the biggest lobby of them all; and who would support the teaching of creationism in a science class! Plus, I sincerely doubt that someone who has lived only in Alaska all their life would have the perspective necessary hold the office of Vice President, much less President (should McCain have any more health problems). I’ve lived in Alaska, it is unlike the rest of America in many ways.

Well, so much for my resolution to stay away from the topic of politics for a while. And with only 55 more days to go until the election, I’m sure I’ll feel the urge to rant again.

Interesting op-ed on Liberalism

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Posted in US Politics

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My thoughts after the Republican Convention

Posted on 7 September 2008 by | 1 comment

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I do not like Sarah Palin. At all. And my question is why should I care that she is a hockey mom? How is that relevant at all in this election campaign? It’s got nothing to do with the job she’s vying for. Listening to her, it seems as though she’s trying awfully hard to convince us that she’s just like your average next-door neighbor. However, I don’t want my average next–door neighbor serving as President. Or Vice President. I would like to be inspired and assured by the intelligence and experience of our leader. I want he or she to be uncommon, not common.

It also baffles me that Republican campaigners would mock Obama for being a community organizer in a large city and for being well educated. Why would you ever mock someone for being well educated? Suddenly, anyone with an advanced degree and a taste for arugala becomes an elitist.

Anyway, it’s the policy positions that are the most important to me in determining who I want to vote for in this election. I don’t want to see her silly right-wing ideals touted and being put into practice from the White House. And as a sidenote, anyone with an itching to ban books should be nowhere near the Oval Office.

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Posted in US Politics

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Post–partisanship

Posted on 30 August 2008 by | Leave a comment

One could read the previous post and come away with the notion that I’ve become a partisan. This is not the case. I’m feeling excited about a particular candidate, not his political party.

In fact, I’ve never found myself to be satisfactorily represented by, or even in agreement with, the platform or values of any political party, Democrat, Republican, or other. Indeed there have been candidates for many offices over the years on each side that have been truly abysmal. Our government works best when there is balance—something we have had very little of these past 8 years. And look where that has got us: embroiled in a war on the basis of deception; billions of dollars in debt, where 8 years ago there was surplus; a floundering economy enabled in part by overzealous deregulation, and the neglect of the middle class; an administration that actually denies the urgency of global climate change despite worldwide scientific consensus to the contrary; and worst of all, a president that has supported illegal torture, and has tried to subvert the system of checks and balances in order to strengthen his office…need I go on?

I believe that blind partisanship, single issue voter mentalities (focusing on abortion, gay marriage, gun advocacy to the exclusion of every other issue), and a lack of honest and thoughtful debate in favor of obscene punditry in the national dialogue (thank you 24-hour news cycle) have brought us here. If I sound angry, it’s because frankly, I’m fed up. We simply cannot afford to travel this path, based on a false ‘conservative’ ideology, for 4 more years. America can do better.

PS My next post will be much less strident, I promise.

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Posted in US Politics

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‘Tis the season for politics

Posted on 29 August 2008 by | Leave a comment

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I saw 2 great speeches today—one given by Al Gore, and the other given by Barak Obama (due to the time difference I was asleep in the UK well before the close of the Democratic National Convention yesterday evening). In fact, I watched Obama’s speech twice, once online in the morning before work, and then again on the BBC with Nerak this evening. If you haven’t seen it yet:

watch it here

Needless to say, I was extremely impressed. This is a man with the vision, judgment, and intelligence to restore balance and reason to Washington, and pull us away from the failed policies of 8 disastrous years of Bush/Cheney and the Neo-conservatives. The speech was exceptional: substantial and policy-laden and although—like all candidates—he made a lot of promises that are unlikely to be fully kept, his vision and desires are dead right (after all, the American president is not a dictator who can simply legislate policy at whim). Obama is the man for our times. It was a great moment.

It’s pretty telling that the McCain camp’s main criticism of Obama so far is that he’s too popular.

The other speech I mentioned viewing at the beginning of this post was by Al Gore. For some reason, he seems to attract nothing but hatred and disdain from certain quarters, but I’ve become a real admirer of his beginning with his efforts to create global awareness about climate change. His is one of the most informed public voices out there, and the speech he gave at the convention just reinforced that fact.

watch it here

Never in the past have I been so energized and excited about a presidential candidate. It’s time for a new generation of leadership. (McCain doesn’t even know how to surf the web enough to read this blog—talk about being out of touch, how is that even possible in this era!) I’m looking forward to November, I’m looking forward to CHANGE. Nerak and I have agreed, half-jokingly, that if McCain is elected (ugh) we won’t be moving back to the states for at least 4 more years (and then we’d have to see). Seriously though, to quote from Obama’s speech, ‘…in this election, the greatest risk we can take is to try the same, old politics with the same, old players and expect a different result.”

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Posted in US Politics

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Why McCain’s energy policy is a farce—and why drilling is not the answer

Posted on 13 August 2008 by | Leave a comment

It is exasperating to hear or read about someone (particularly from the political right—who have made this an issue) who is pushing to drill for more oil, offshore and otherwise. It’s a fallacy to claim that this will make any difference to our current energy situation. And this has been shown, time and time again, by many different experts (including those at the EPA); it’s just unbelievable that this issue is getting any traction. This is a huge politically driven distraction, and an insult to the American people. We deserve better than this. The rest of the world will be moving on to the next great economic boom—renewable energy, while the US will still be captive to an absurd energy policy that only serves to enrich corporations. The US can no longer depend on the interests of US corporations being the same as those of the country or it’s people.

Regarding John McCain, he has never cared about energy policy, he only cares about winning this election. We are reminded of this fact by the New York Times.

Our country needs to come to terms with the fact that things have fundamentally changed and cheap fossil-fuels are no longer a reality. To the ignorant folk who fear a ‘diminished quality of life like the Europeans have,’ here’s some news for you, Europeans have a great lifestyle! Since coming to Europe, Nerak and I have experienced absolutely no decrease in our quality of life, only change and some minor adjustment. Which will be necessary for all Americans in order to live a sustainable lifestyle.

That’s enough venting for today.

The Future of Suburbia

On a related subject, there was also a recent discussion on the Freakonomics blog about the future of suburbia, love it or hate it. Some of the predictions are undoubtedly a bit radical, but very interesting to consider in the context of our current economic woes.

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Posted in Urbanism, US Politics

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