Judges. The economy. Low taxes. Missile defense system. All good reasons to vote Republican.
Terrorism. The best reason to vote Republican.
If Iraq were another Vietnam-like quagmire, a case could be made that we should withdraw. After all, we lost in Vietnam and still won the Cold War against Communism. Right?
Sure, it was just that easy. Never mind that millions were killed in Cambodian genocide by the Khmer Rouge. And that our country was still struggling with a tarnished self-image and post-Vietnam malaise when Iranian militants took Americans hostage at the embassy in Tehran from 1979 until 1981. Or that it took a conservative Republican, Ronald Reagan, to reawaken our national pride and institute the policies that won the Cold War.
Iraq isn't Vietnam. The Vietnamese never attacked the U.S.A. When we withdrew our troops from Southeast Asia, those who followed us home were refugees fleeing Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia for American sanctuary.
Iraq is the primary front in the war on terror by the choice of the terrorists themselves. The so-called insurgents inside Iraq who ambush and slaughter innocent Iraqis and American soldiers share common cause with the jihadists who attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Where can we withdraw to safety? They will bring the war back to New York, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, Virginia, Massachusetts, Maine, California, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Minnesota. My town. Your town. There is no place left in the world where they will not try to kill us.
Clearly it is more than a lucky coincidence that the U.S. has not suffered another terrorist attack on our soil since 9/11. If the Democrat party takes control of Congress, the NSA wiretap program that has protected us for over 5 years will surely be dismantled.
Dick Morris and David Bossie of Citizens United created the ad below.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Pretzel Logic: Andrew Sullivan Twists in His Own Wind
I have a jukebox in my head that is easily triggered. Today, as I was listening to Hugh Hewitt try to interview Andrew Sullivan about his new book, The Conservative Soul, the Steely Dan song Pretzel Logic repeated on a continuous inner loop that only I could hear.
Sullivan is one of our founding blogfathers and a prodigiously gifted writer. If weblogs are the most personal form of modern public writing, Sullivan is in large part responsible for breaking down barriers between blogger and reader. I used to be a daily visitor to his site, subscribed to his Weekly Dish and corresponded with him to voice my support. Then came Lawrence v. Texas, the imminent possibility of legally sanctioned gay marriage, and President Bush’s advocacy of a constitutional amendment to protect the marital status quo. With a swiftness that gave mental whiplash to loyal readers like me, Sullivan reversed himself on well documented, long held positions, such as his support of the Bush administration’s Iraq policy.
Sullivan soon turned to empty Clintonesque word games and the absurd pretense of being politically undecided during the 2004 election campaign until he endorsed John Kerry. The breathtaking candor that defined his pre-Lawrence writings has been overtaken, to my regret, by intellectual dishonesty. His blog has become so incoherent and colicky that it depresses me to read it. He seems to value controversy over consistency. I suspect he prefers to be the resentful outsider, a literary sniper taking potshots at those whose standing he begrudges.
Certainly Andrew has delighted in "Fisking" – one of his memorable additions to the bloggers’ lexicon – hypocritical figures elevated by the old media. Likewise I coined my own Sullivan-inspired phrase: to sully. Andrew has been spoiling for a fight with Hugh Hewitt since 2003 and today finally appeared on Hugh’s radio show with a different agenda than book promotion – to Fisk Hewitt as a “Christianist” apologist for the Bush administration. I have not read Sullivan’s blog for many months, but I am astonished that his aim is now so false.
Hugh is an essentially decent man and, in his misguided smear, Andrew draws unflattering comparisons upon himself. Hewitt is the hub of the center-right new media network and uses his considerable influence to serve humanity beyond the political realm. He relishes a well-matched debate and defends his philosophy wherever it is challenged without resorting to inflammatory rhetoric.
Since his ideological U-turn, Sullivan can be seen only in the public company of “yes men” like Chris Matthews and Bill Maher, who never require him to justify his positions – and Andrew’s self-imposed isolation has improved neither his debating skills nor his disposition. Varifrank offers a humorous recap of today's interview.
I feel sorry for Sullivan and assume that anyone so quick to scorn others probably loathes himself enough for both of us. He has carved out a new niche as the preeminent stalker of the conservative blogosphere, throwing rocks at his erstwhile friends’ windows and mistaking them for glass houses.
Meanwhile, my inner jukebox keeps playing these lyrics from Pretzel Logic.
They tell me he was lonely, he's lonely still
Those days are gone forever
Over a long time ago, oh yeah
Sullivan is one of our founding blogfathers and a prodigiously gifted writer. If weblogs are the most personal form of modern public writing, Sullivan is in large part responsible for breaking down barriers between blogger and reader. I used to be a daily visitor to his site, subscribed to his Weekly Dish and corresponded with him to voice my support. Then came Lawrence v. Texas, the imminent possibility of legally sanctioned gay marriage, and President Bush’s advocacy of a constitutional amendment to protect the marital status quo. With a swiftness that gave mental whiplash to loyal readers like me, Sullivan reversed himself on well documented, long held positions, such as his support of the Bush administration’s Iraq policy.
Sullivan soon turned to empty Clintonesque word games and the absurd pretense of being politically undecided during the 2004 election campaign until he endorsed John Kerry. The breathtaking candor that defined his pre-Lawrence writings has been overtaken, to my regret, by intellectual dishonesty. His blog has become so incoherent and colicky that it depresses me to read it. He seems to value controversy over consistency. I suspect he prefers to be the resentful outsider, a literary sniper taking potshots at those whose standing he begrudges.
Certainly Andrew has delighted in "Fisking" – one of his memorable additions to the bloggers’ lexicon – hypocritical figures elevated by the old media. Likewise I coined my own Sullivan-inspired phrase: to sully. Andrew has been spoiling for a fight with Hugh Hewitt since 2003 and today finally appeared on Hugh’s radio show with a different agenda than book promotion – to Fisk Hewitt as a “Christianist” apologist for the Bush administration. I have not read Sullivan’s blog for many months, but I am astonished that his aim is now so false.
Hugh is an essentially decent man and, in his misguided smear, Andrew draws unflattering comparisons upon himself. Hewitt is the hub of the center-right new media network and uses his considerable influence to serve humanity beyond the political realm. He relishes a well-matched debate and defends his philosophy wherever it is challenged without resorting to inflammatory rhetoric.
Since his ideological U-turn, Sullivan can be seen only in the public company of “yes men” like Chris Matthews and Bill Maher, who never require him to justify his positions – and Andrew’s self-imposed isolation has improved neither his debating skills nor his disposition. Varifrank offers a humorous recap of today's interview.
I feel sorry for Sullivan and assume that anyone so quick to scorn others probably loathes himself enough for both of us. He has carved out a new niche as the preeminent stalker of the conservative blogosphere, throwing rocks at his erstwhile friends’ windows and mistaking them for glass houses.
Meanwhile, my inner jukebox keeps playing these lyrics from Pretzel Logic.
They tell me he was lonely, he's lonely still
Those days are gone forever
Over a long time ago, oh yeah
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
I Love the 90s: Lloyd Cole
The first time I saw Lloyd Cole was with his 1980s band the Commotions in the video for Perfect Skin. He had a baby-faced look like Tim Finn but lacked the Finn brothers' overtly self-mocking humor. Cole was so sensitive that he seemed perpetually on the verge of tears.
Lloyd Cole was also a literate songwriter of very personal odes to romantic angst. His first two solo albums, the eponymous Lloyd Cole (1990) and Don't Get Weird on Me, Babe (1991), contained gems reminiscent of Lou Reed, Jimmy Webb and Chris Isaak, including She's a Girl and I'm a Man.
My personal favorite is No Blue Skies. Why this song failed to catapult Lloyd Cole into megastardom, I'll never understand.
Lloyd Cole was also a literate songwriter of very personal odes to romantic angst. His first two solo albums, the eponymous Lloyd Cole (1990) and Don't Get Weird on Me, Babe (1991), contained gems reminiscent of Lou Reed, Jimmy Webb and Chris Isaak, including She's a Girl and I'm a Man.
My personal favorite is No Blue Skies. Why this song failed to catapult Lloyd Cole into megastardom, I'll never understand.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Building a New Life
As you can see if you have visited before, my blog has a new look. I'm trying on new colors and, as is my prerogative, may continue to redecorate as Beta Blogger allows. I am in the process of restoring my old links and adding new favorites.
I haven't blogged much since American Idol ended, but the timing is strictly coincidental. Last June I began to undergo months of tests on my left hip and leg. Richard, my deaf brother who lives with us and belongs to the same medical group, had months of tests that resulted in surgery. As his sign language interpreter, I had to accompany him to every appointment and took a week off work to stay with him in the hospital. I immediately went from being an Elliott Yamin “groupie” to a medical groupie.
As my pain grew in severity, using my laptop computer became an act of masochism. What would I have written anyway? I would like to think I would have described my situation with as much grace and as little self-pity as Dean Barnett, who posted so touchingly of his battle against cystic fibrosis. But it is too easy, I have found, to become negative, impatient and self-absorbed when living with chronic pain. Humility comes with every wince, but optimism takes hard work, faith, and a sense of humor.
October 18, 2006 was my sixth wedding anniversary to the wonderful Luis – and the date I received confirmation that my breast cancer has spread to my hip.
I will have more to share as I begin this next phase of life. For now, I thank God as always for Luis, my family, my friends, and their support. I am truly blessed.
I haven't blogged much since American Idol ended, but the timing is strictly coincidental. Last June I began to undergo months of tests on my left hip and leg. Richard, my deaf brother who lives with us and belongs to the same medical group, had months of tests that resulted in surgery. As his sign language interpreter, I had to accompany him to every appointment and took a week off work to stay with him in the hospital. I immediately went from being an Elliott Yamin “groupie” to a medical groupie.
As my pain grew in severity, using my laptop computer became an act of masochism. What would I have written anyway? I would like to think I would have described my situation with as much grace and as little self-pity as Dean Barnett, who posted so touchingly of his battle against cystic fibrosis. But it is too easy, I have found, to become negative, impatient and self-absorbed when living with chronic pain. Humility comes with every wince, but optimism takes hard work, faith, and a sense of humor.
October 18, 2006 was my sixth wedding anniversary to the wonderful Luis – and the date I received confirmation that my breast cancer has spread to my hip.
I will have more to share as I begin this next phase of life. For now, I thank God as always for Luis, my family, my friends, and their support. I am truly blessed.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Free from 19E! Free from BMG!
Today is the date long awaited by Yaminions, E-Trainers and, I imagine, by the man himself -- Elliott Yamin Independence Day! From this day forward, Elliott is no longer contractually obligated to 19E and BMG. He is a free agent who can determine his own musical destiny.
Clive Davis, who recognized early greatness in Carlos Santana, Janis Joplin, Barry Manilow and Bruce Springsteen, took a pass on Elliott. His loss.
Therefore, I declare that August 25, 2006 is also Freedhem Day for Mr. Davis. You've seen the ad for FREEdHEM hemorrhoid cream tacked onto the end of that annoying Head On/Activ On commercial, haven't you? It's the cheapest cure for recording executives suffering from a swollen ego and schmidt for brains.
FREEdHEM. Apply directly to Clive's forehead. FREEdHEM. Apply directly to Clive's forehead. FREEdHEM. Apply directly to Clive's forehead.
Clive Davis, who recognized early greatness in Carlos Santana, Janis Joplin, Barry Manilow and Bruce Springsteen, took a pass on Elliott. His loss.
Therefore, I declare that August 25, 2006 is also Freedhem Day for Mr. Davis. You've seen the ad for FREEdHEM hemorrhoid cream tacked onto the end of that annoying Head On/Activ On commercial, haven't you? It's the cheapest cure for recording executives suffering from a swollen ego and schmidt for brains.
FREEdHEM. Apply directly to Clive's forehead. FREEdHEM. Apply directly to Clive's forehead. FREEdHEM. Apply directly to Clive's forehead.
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