Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
my friends on the Inauguration
"Just yesterday Ben and I were talking about how we didn't really believe this day would ever come, me because I thought the Bush administration (lead by Dick Cheney's top secret scientists, 'natch) would find a way to bend time so that 8 years lasted for all eternity, and the Bop because he assumed that the Bush administration would bring about a Mad-Max-style post-apocalyptic future in which we had no presidents and voters but simply warlord chiefs and outlaws. And Mel Gibson." --Shoshi
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Pictures from Election Night
In downtown Raleigh last Tuesday, right after CNN called the race for Obama, crowds converged at the intersection of Wilmington and Hargett Streets outside the bar where I was watching the returns.
Here are some pictures that Rachel and I took:
We returned to the bar to watch Obama's acceptance speech, while the rest of the crowd (Shaw University students and others) stormed the Capitol Building.
Here are some pictures that Rachel and I took:
We returned to the bar to watch Obama's acceptance speech, while the rest of the crowd (Shaw University students and others) stormed the Capitol Building.
Emory in the New York Times
Merle Black was quoted today in an interesting New York Times article about the new, more polarized, political South.
I guess North Carolina and Virginia no longer count as the South? More than a few of my family members will see you later today with their shotguns, N.Y. Times.
I guess North Carolina and Virginia no longer count as the South? More than a few of my family members will see you later today with their shotguns, N.Y. Times.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Why I Don't Regret Voting for a Republican Governor
Scroll down to the bottom to hear the Democratic candidate for governor's repulsively racist "chili con carne" ad ("Immigration Ad 2"):
From the News and Observer:
From the News and Observer:
Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue has launched two last-minute radio ads that Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory's campaign says are "racist" and "outrageous."
One ad features a narrarator who states that Perdue has a strong record against illegal immigration.
Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory is lying about Bev Perdue and illegal immigration. The word for "liar" in Spanish is "mentiroso."
The other ad features "Bill" and "Henry" who say that McCrory has let jobs go to illegal immigrants.
Bill: Hey Henry.
Henry: Hey Bill.
Bill: What you doin'?
Henry: Oh, about to have some lunch. Just opened a can of chili con carne. Care to join me?
Bill: Sure, a little Mexican sounds good.
Henry: Huh, maybe I should I invite that Pat McCrory over too. Have you heard what he said.
Bill: Oh, I know. I read about it. McCrory said it's good that illegal immigrants are here because they're building a lot of our buildings right now.
Henry: Does he think he's running for governor of Tijuana or something?
"This is an outrageous, personal and racist attack," said Richard Hudson, campaign manager for McCrory. "This is a despicable act of desperation by the lieutenant governor that marks a new low for North Carolina gubernatorial politics."
Perdue said Monday night that she was felt it was necessary to respond to ads launched by McCrory and the Republican Governors Association. One mailer by the RGA states that Perdue is rolling out the red carpet for illegal immigrants. One mailer showed up at her house in Chapel Hill.
"When it came to my own house, my own mailbox...enough was enough," Perdue said. "So we've set the record straight...It's an issue that's hard for the people of North Carolina. We want documented folks in North Carolina."
Immigration ad 1
Immigration ad 2
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Sarah Palin's Sarah Palin Impersonation Dead-On
On a totally unrelated note, yesterday I realized Claire Zulkey, A.V. Club writer, commented on my 90210 post back in September. I emailed her and she confirmed it! Too bad my post was less than flattering. If you've once again googled yourself and are reading this, Claire (can I call you Claire?), any malice directed towards you in that post was purely the result of envy. Hugs, girl!
Now on to the present.
I and the people with whom I watched last night's vice presidential debate tried our best to ridicule the event from the territory of citizenry obligation into that of mild entertainment, but even Palin Bingo can't make an hour-and-a-half windbag session very fun to watch.
Some things that helped:
--I know I'm stating the obvious here, but Sarah Palin is truly an absurd human being.
--Her bangs, however, looked really good.
--a phone call that kept me occupied for the last 25 minutes
--the way Joe Biden says "Bush's." Over and over again. There's a pitch that creeps in there that only dogs can hear.
--beer
--Halloween-colored M&Ms (did you know purple was a Halloween color? "Because purple is the color of witches," someone pointed out) that were used as Bingo counters but more often eaten
--the almost self-satirizing "spin" that immediately followed the debate
Not having cable (LOL I am SUCH an intellectual!!!!11 (read: "d-bag")) means that on the rare occasion that I catch a few minutes of television at the gym or the nail salon (never anything of my choice... usually ABC news or Rachel Ray) my defamiliarity is enough to render the experience totally absurd. I often feel like a pilgrim who's been transported to The Future and is all, "Why are there so many quickly-moving images of people acting silly on that box? And how come everyone's staring at them?"
For example, have you SEEN what newscasters look like? Have you heard how they talk? Shouldn't the studio audience be LOLing in the background? Not to mention the so-called "content" of local, and even national, news.
In the seconds following the debate last night, the ABC anchors tried desperately to hold onto viewers' attention by providing gripping "commentary." First they announced how many times Palin had uttered the words "Barack Obama" and how many times Biden had said "John McCain." (It was something like 18 and 48, respectively.) Then they told us, in minutes AND seconds, exactly how long each candidate spoke. Surprise! The times were nearly equal. Um, isn't that kind of the job of the moderator? (As you can see, the attention-grabbing worked -- not something I am proud of.)
Is this really what our nation's reporters do during a debate? Keep tallies? I mean, in high school my friends and I liked to count how many times my Calculus teacher said "oddball function" in a given period, but that was because we were BORED. And not adults.
Admittedly, I'm hyped up on coffee and this whole thing has turned into little more than a rant. But I promise there is something important I'm trying to get at. For starters, I'm reminded of one morning in 2004 when I glanced at a photo of George Bush on the cover of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and, for a second or two, assumed it was a joke. Even at the time that seemed like a historic moment.
And on October 3rd, 2008, if you didn't already know the faces of all the SNL actors you might think this NY Times photo of U.S. Congressmen was part of a comedy skit:
Look at that guy holding his chin! I didn't have to go past my web browser's home page to find something that looked like a joke but wasn't.
In the past few years, what was once a clear line between reality and the surreal -- between sincerity and satire -- has now grown nearly indistinct: a realization that fills me simultaneously with glee and terror.
So, Hollywood, I suggest you cancel the global warming storyboards; there's a new disaster in town, and I challenge you to show me how Will Smith can save the earth from this collision OF EPIC PROPORTIONS!
Now on to the present.
I and the people with whom I watched last night's vice presidential debate tried our best to ridicule the event from the territory of citizenry obligation into that of mild entertainment, but even Palin Bingo can't make an hour-and-a-half windbag session very fun to watch.
Some things that helped:
--I know I'm stating the obvious here, but Sarah Palin is truly an absurd human being.
--Her bangs, however, looked really good.
--a phone call that kept me occupied for the last 25 minutes
--the way Joe Biden says "Bush's." Over and over again. There's a pitch that creeps in there that only dogs can hear.
--beer
--Halloween-colored M&Ms (did you know purple was a Halloween color? "Because purple is the color of witches," someone pointed out) that were used as Bingo counters but more often eaten
--the almost self-satirizing "spin" that immediately followed the debate
Not having cable (LOL I am SUCH an intellectual!!!!11 (read: "d-bag")) means that on the rare occasion that I catch a few minutes of television at the gym or the nail salon (never anything of my choice... usually ABC news or Rachel Ray) my defamiliarity is enough to render the experience totally absurd. I often feel like a pilgrim who's been transported to The Future and is all, "Why are there so many quickly-moving images of people acting silly on that box? And how come everyone's staring at them?"
For example, have you SEEN what newscasters look like? Have you heard how they talk? Shouldn't the studio audience be LOLing in the background? Not to mention the so-called "content" of local, and even national, news.
In the seconds following the debate last night, the ABC anchors tried desperately to hold onto viewers' attention by providing gripping "commentary." First they announced how many times Palin had uttered the words "Barack Obama" and how many times Biden had said "John McCain." (It was something like 18 and 48, respectively.) Then they told us, in minutes AND seconds, exactly how long each candidate spoke. Surprise! The times were nearly equal. Um, isn't that kind of the job of the moderator? (As you can see, the attention-grabbing worked -- not something I am proud of.)
Is this really what our nation's reporters do during a debate? Keep tallies? I mean, in high school my friends and I liked to count how many times my Calculus teacher said "oddball function" in a given period, but that was because we were BORED. And not adults.
Admittedly, I'm hyped up on coffee and this whole thing has turned into little more than a rant. But I promise there is something important I'm trying to get at. For starters, I'm reminded of one morning in 2004 when I glanced at a photo of George Bush on the cover of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and, for a second or two, assumed it was a joke. Even at the time that seemed like a historic moment.
And on October 3rd, 2008, if you didn't already know the faces of all the SNL actors you might think this NY Times photo of U.S. Congressmen was part of a comedy skit:
Look at that guy holding his chin! I didn't have to go past my web browser's home page to find something that looked like a joke but wasn't.
In the past few years, what was once a clear line between reality and the surreal -- between sincerity and satire -- has now grown nearly indistinct: a realization that fills me simultaneously with glee and terror.
So, Hollywood, I suggest you cancel the global warming storyboards; there's a new disaster in town, and I challenge you to show me how Will Smith can save the earth from this collision OF EPIC PROPORTIONS!
Monday, September 29, 2008
obligatory political remark
Here's the deal. Whatever is currently happening in the national economy was not covered in Econ 101, and therefore sails way over my head. (If someone could draw the supply and demand curves, well then we'd be in business.)
Additionally, beyond the gas pump, I have experienced no more economic hardship than usual. I spent $42 on CDs yesterday, which for me is high-dollar spending.
Therefore I have no clue whether or not I support the bailout plan, which is why I'm reading news articles about it this morning and trying to figure out what on earth is going on. And lo and behold, there's George Bush to tell me what to think!
"Every American should keep in mind that a vote for this bill is a vote to prevent economic damage to you and your community," he said.
After my initial surprise that George W. Bush is still in charge of this country, I am reminded why the pressure behind my eyes thickens at the sight of him.
P.S. mad paint skillz, i no.
Additionally, beyond the gas pump, I have experienced no more economic hardship than usual. I spent $42 on CDs yesterday, which for me is high-dollar spending.
Therefore I have no clue whether or not I support the bailout plan, which is why I'm reading news articles about it this morning and trying to figure out what on earth is going on. And lo and behold, there's George Bush to tell me what to think!
"Every American should keep in mind that a vote for this bill is a vote to prevent economic damage to you and your community," he said.
After my initial surprise that George W. Bush is still in charge of this country, I am reminded why the pressure behind my eyes thickens at the sight of him.
P.S. mad paint skillz, i no.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
I'm coming to Atlanta!
It's official: I'm taking off work tomorrow, braving the Labor Day weekend traffic, uploading a few podcasts to my iPod, and spending a lot of money on gas in order to haul myself down to Atlanta. WOO!
I'll be staying with Seema Reddy, and you guys have my digits!
(Just to make things clear, this visit has nothing to do with wanting to see you all, and everything to do with H&M finally opening.)
----------------------------------------------------
In other news, two new polls just came out for North Carolina politics.
Both have Democrats ahead in almost every statewide race. Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling shows Bev Perdue leading 43% to 38% in the governor's race, while Republican-leaning Civitas reports a 43% to 41% lead.
In the race for U.S. Senate, Civitas shows Elizabeth Dole ahead of Democrat Kay Hagan 44% to 41% (probably within the margin of error). Elizabeth Dole gets under my skin in the worst kind of way, so fortunately for me Kay Hagan has $6 million in ads currently streaming from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. For the past few weeks the DSCC has been firebombing Dole with negative ads, and Dole has merely responded with a weak and boring positive ad. (And no, I don't know why every political ad in North Carolina stars old people.)
In the presidential election Civitas shows McCain leading Obama 46% to 40% in North Carolina. The results were published yesterday, so I don't know if the polling was done before or after Michelle Obama's speech at the DNC, which my boss thinks may have a significant effect on the 12% of undecided voters. Take into account both the DNC and Civitas's Republican bias (Public Policy didn't poll for any national races), and there's really no telling.
Sigh, politics.
I'll be staying with Seema Reddy, and you guys have my digits!
(Just to make things clear, this visit has nothing to do with wanting to see you all, and everything to do with H&M finally opening.)
----------------------------------------------------
In other news, two new polls just came out for North Carolina politics.
Both have Democrats ahead in almost every statewide race. Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling shows Bev Perdue leading 43% to 38% in the governor's race, while Republican-leaning Civitas reports a 43% to 41% lead.
In the race for U.S. Senate, Civitas shows Elizabeth Dole ahead of Democrat Kay Hagan 44% to 41% (probably within the margin of error). Elizabeth Dole gets under my skin in the worst kind of way, so fortunately for me Kay Hagan has $6 million in ads currently streaming from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. For the past few weeks the DSCC has been firebombing Dole with negative ads, and Dole has merely responded with a weak and boring positive ad. (And no, I don't know why every political ad in North Carolina stars old people.)
In the presidential election Civitas shows McCain leading Obama 46% to 40% in North Carolina. The results were published yesterday, so I don't know if the polling was done before or after Michelle Obama's speech at the DNC, which my boss thinks may have a significant effect on the 12% of undecided voters. Take into account both the DNC and Civitas's Republican bias (Public Policy didn't poll for any national races), and there's really no telling.
Sigh, politics.
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