CuriousgeminiBlog

Snow Job

2007-03-08T12:33:00.001-08:00

Did Tony Snow once work for the Soviet era Provda?
"I assure you comrades, that wheat harvests were good despite rumors spread by the decadent capitalists of the Western Imperialists."
According to Bush's supporters 70% of Americans are aiding and abetting the enemy. Gotta love the right's "Pro-American" worldview

Right Vs. Truth

2007-03-08T12:32:00.000-08:00

Right wing blogger once again (surprise) got their fact wrong:
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/9880.html

They’re goal is to smear liberals, not to be truthful. They have become just as self-deluding as the tone deaf wannabe’s on American Idol.

GOP puts Corporate Interests Above Security

2007-02-07T17:11:00.001-08:00

More on the GOP’s commitment to keeping this country safe:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/art-levine/dick-cheneys-dangerous-s_b_40695.html

Who's aiding and abetting terrorists again? Will the dems in Congress do anything to stop this guy?
Are people like this really interested in protecting America or in the Almighty buck?

Right's Hatred Speaks For Itself

2007-02-07T17:11:00.000-08:00

I think the right has paid a price for associating itself with far-right hatred: it make liberals seem more reasonable by comparison. The Democrats have become the voice of reason and moderation in the minds of many Americans.
If the GOP wants to embrace such extremists, let them. It will only hurt them in the long run.

Conservatives Don't Know "Jack" Or "Battlestar Galactica" for that Matter

2007-02-07T17:10:00.000-08:00

Many conservatives have praised the new "Battlestar Galactica." But like "24" it not a really a partisan show. Both "24" and "Battlestar" has villains and heros on both the right and the left. In fact, what both shows have in common is their moral greyness, which is the antitheses of the right's world view. And they both happen to be my favorite shows.

Are Conservatives Funny?

2007-02-07T17:08:00.001-08:00

The only genuinely funny conservative I know of is PJ O Rourke. Dennis Miller could occasionally be funny when he had is own show on CNBC, but he was canned.
But, it nothing compared to Cobert & Stewart,,

Besides, C & S do make fun of liberals, too, sometimes. (David Cross sometimes appears on Cobert as a stereotypical liberal)
Most of the humor from the right tends to be unintentional.

"cockroaches"

2007-02-07T17:08:00.000-08:00

It should be noted that several other Right wingers besides Rush have called liberals "cockroaches." Haven’t these idiots seen "hotel Rwanda." Or did they see it and get some ideas?

Will Bush Bomb Iran?

2007-02-07T17:07:00.001-08:00

I don't think Bush will really bomb Iran. Even he must realize his presidency is hanging by a thread. (what's his popularity, minus 5 or something?) Unless Cheney stages a Coup d'état and declares himself "president for life", (fortunately, with his weak heart, that won't be too long)

The Dutch Paradox

2007-02-07T17:07:00.000-08:00

Nice post about the Netherlands:
http://www.bakelblog.com/nobodys_business/2007/02/sodom_and_holla.html#comment-28839864

I don't think the Dutch have many gay-bashing preachers who see male prostitutes and buy meth. Or many priests who preach against birth control and premarital sex only to molest alter boys.
It should also be noted that the Netherlands also have one of the lowest levels of church attendance. And look at the lower rates of STDs, Teen, Pregnancy, and most shocking to the Theocrates, lower rates of abortion too. A real "goddless" nation, huh?
The Netherlands is a huge embarrassment to social conservatives everywhere.
In my home state of Ohio, the man who wrote the draconian anti-gay marriage initiative has been divorced three times and has admitted to a porn addiction.
When of the most religious parts of the world is the Middle East, where people have been blowing their brains out for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Gotta love that "old time" religion, right?

Creationists Devolving

2007-02-05T17:02:00.000-08:00

It should be noted that the evidence of evolution is increasing. This is something that creationists ignore. In fact, creationists have been in retreat for the last century. The scopes trial was about allowing schools to teach evolution. Now, just getting equal time for creationis and Intelligent Design has proved a near impossible goal in most industrialized nations. In the global scientific community, creationists can't even get their foot in the door.

Plenty Of Room For Blame in Iraq

2007-02-05T17:01:00.000-08:00

There was indeed potential for civil war long before the US invasion. But, the US made it worse by disbanding the Iraqi army and firing many of Saddam's bureaucrats.

Not My Father's GOP

2007-02-05T17:00:00.000-08:00

My father was a rational, libertarian "old school" Republican. Fiscally conservative but tolerant and pro-science. My sister had an openly gay male friend which she brought over to my house sometime. And he had no problem with him at all.
He loved jazz, even watched MTV with me and my sister. He went to church but was hardly a jealet.
Most conservatives like him have either become members of the Libertarian party, registered independent or blue dog democrats like Jim Webb of Virginia or Casey of Pennsylvania.In his dying days, Barry Goldwater lamented on the Christian Right takeover of the GOP.
They certainly don't make Republicans like they used too!

Thoughts On Islam And Personal Freedom

2007-02-05T16:59:00.000-08:00

I don't think the problem is with Islam as a whole. I think the problem is that th fundamentalists in Modern Islam simply more power and influence than in other religions. Over seven hundred years ago, Christianity also was dominated by intolerant and violent fundamentalists who weren’t much better than present day Jihadists. They didn’t call it the "dark ages" for nothing.
This being said, there is no justification for being hypersensitive to Muslim sensibilities. Freedom of speech and personal autonomy are non-negotiable, period.

No "Prince"

2007-01-28T13:35:00.001-08:00

Erik Prince Calls himself a "devout Christian" I'm sure Jesus, the prince of peace would love a guy who can "kill you before you even knows he's in the room"
I'm no expert on the bible, but does it say "blessed be the mercenaries?"
I think Prince would make a great villain for "24".
Erik Prince is a big funder of the far right. Are they planning on cluster bombing of abortion clinics and Berkley?

Outsourcing Bloodshed

2007-01-28T13:35:00.000-08:00

Privatizing food service and laundry is one thing, but private mercenaries with almost no accountability, on the taxpayers tab? Isn't America better than that?

Thoughts On God And The Bible

2007-01-28T13:34:00.000-08:00

God is the ultimate "tabula rosa". He is a blank canvas on which the believer can paint anything he or she wishes. Because most beliefs about God cannot be disproved. (Barring historical and scientific facts verified through evidence.)
There are countless opinions and writings about the nature of God. People point to the Bible. The Bible was written my many people and edited by committee. Is it the "word of God" or simply the whim of its individual writers and the people who edited it?
The Bible has many different versions, some which exclude certain texts. To complicate things more , the bible has been interpreted into hundreds of different languages. Most translation of any book arn’t literal. The interpreted often takes liberties with text in order to make it more readable. So, the bible read by someone in India might not really be the same bible read in the US. So, are some versions of the bible more "Godly" then others? And who decides this?

Christian Mercenary

2007-01-28T13:32:00.000-08:00

Erik Prince founder of the mercenary outfit Blackwater is yet another self-described "Christian" who seems to be almost "anti-Christian" in the way he behaves. Jesus, after all, preached against war and the lust for money, and advocated tolerance. Things which Mr. Prince and his ilk have not concept of. Their use faith in a very self-serving and egocentric way, not as a means of humility and selflessness.

Freedom On The March?

2007-01-26T17:22:00.000-08:00

It seems that the defense department is still spying on anti-war groups:

http://www.bakelblog.com/nobodys_business/2007/01/more_peacenik_s.html#comment-28313135

The last time I checked, Al Queda wasn't into non-violent social change. And, when was the last time a peacenick engaged in a suicide bombing in the middle of a crowed street?

Obscene Talk

2007-01-25T13:19:00.000-08:00

If Radio stations can be fined by the FCC for bad words and sexual content, why can't they be fined for violent talk? Who decides what's "obscene" anyway?

The Failure of The Religous Right

2007-01-25T13:18:00.000-08:00

I still can't figure out how going after bad words, banning stem cell research, banning abortion, banning gay marriage is supposed to "preserve the family" or "change the culture."
The Eight-hundred pond Gorillas in the room is that the Religious Right has failed in virtually all its goals, despite the unprecedented access they had the last six years to the hall of power.
Could it be the American people are getting fed up with the religious right? In the last election. issues such as gay marriage barely produced a ripple.

Dem's Dream Candidate..

2007-01-24T16:46:00.000-08:00

I'm really hoping Brownback gets the GOP nomination. He's so extreme, Dems wouldn’t even have to campaign against him! He Would go down in history as a right wing George McGovern

What Have Pro-Lifers Really Done To Really Reduce Abortions?

2007-01-24T16:45:00.000-08:00

Women have abortions because of unplanned pregnancy and/or they can't afford them. What have most of the pro-lifers done (other than promoting abstinence) to lesson the need for abortion? Many pro-lifers are against real sex education, against birth control and belittle the effectiveness of condoms. And many of these pro-lifers don't seem too worked up over cuts in government programs for needy children.
Their "anti-abortion" crusade is surprisingly oxymoronic. Instead of focusing on outlawing abortion, they should do more to take care of babies AFTER they are born. Being "pro-life" should extend after a person is out of the womb.
And take a look at Europe, which has lower infant mortality and lower teen pregnancy. This makes all the heavy handed preaching from far right ring quite empty.

The BIggest (and most unfair) Smear Against Liberals

2007-01-24T16:44:00.000-08:00

One of the biggest smears the right has unleashed is to call liberals "moral relativists" or that the "are trying to undermine morality" Really? Is being against war and injustice a sign of immorality? Is it really "moral relativism" to be for tolerance, equality and non-violence? To accuse liberals of immorality is the right’s way of not dealing with the the issues the left is brings up.
Most human beings, be they liberals or conservatives have at least a semblance of morality. There are indeed some people who have no sense of right and wrong. They are called "socialpaths" or more scientifically speaking, they have "antisocial personality disorder." These are people who have no empathy for other people and no remorse at all for their actions. Such a person is hardly "liberal" in their nature. In fact, the most common complaint is of liberals having too much empathy and thus being "bleeding hearts".
In the late sixties and early seventies, there was indeed a faction of the left which had an "anything goes" mentality. But, this faction has become pretty much been marginalized by mainstream liberalism.
This is not to say liberals are perfect. The NEA, for instance, has made it virtually impossible to fire any teacher, even, in some cases, they have committed a crime. And, they seem to be more concerned with the welfare of teachers than the students.
But, to accuse them of "promoting immorality" to children is completely without basis.
The two biggest factors in the psychological makeup of a child is the family, the church they attend and the peer group he or she is associated with. The curriculum and policy of the schools the least significant influence.
This is the big fallacy of "abstinence only" and anti-drug programs. There are complex and ubigutous social forces in this society which can’t be blunted by a one hour a day(at the most) program in the schools. Because neither program has the capacity to really change long term values. Similarly, it is implausible that teaching comprehensive sex education, with information about condom and birth control is going to undermine the values of students.

A Truly Obscene Post

2007-01-19T17:13:00.000-08:00

The problem with the term "obscene" is that its very subjective term. It has a different definition all the time. Personally, I think the FCC is pretty obscene!

Condi's Folly

2007-01-17T16:57:00.000-08:00

The impression I get from Condi Rice is of a very brilliant and wise women who is reduced to carrying the water for a an incompetent and out of touch administration. Sad, Really.

Leberman has drunk the neo-con coolaid

2007-01-16T10:26:00.000-08:00

Leberman claims "we're fighting the same enemy in Iraq as we did on 9/11" Not quite. Most of the violence is sectarian. Most reports indicate that Al Queda is involved in less than five percent of the attacks in Iraq.

No stopping the inevitable

2007-01-16T10:25:00.001-08:00

There is nothing the US can do to stop the Middle East’s inevitable slide into chaos. The whole region has been a powder keg for years. The US didn’t create the kindling, but we did light the match. And there is no way the genie can be put back into the bottle. There are forces at work in that part of the world which is beyond the control of the United States. We are a powerful nation, but we are not Godlike. And, the sooner we all wake up to that fact, the better.
Instead of trying to solve the unsolvable in a distant land we barely understand, we need to beef up domestic security, take control of our border and develop renewable energy and promote conservation.

Un-re-elected

2007-01-16T10:25:00.000-08:00

There is still an open question as to whether Bush was legitimately elected in 2000. And there is also evidence that may not have legitimately re-elected. Bush may go down in history as the first President to be both un-elected and un-re-elected!

Bush's approval higher than it should be

2007-01-16T10:24:00.000-08:00

If more people in this country were really paying attention, Bush’s approval rating would be in the single digits. It is only ignorance, ideological loyalty, right wing propaganda, fear and religious fundamentalism which gives Bush what little support he has now.

Bush and Cheney vs, Democracy

2007-01-16T10:22:00.000-08:00

Democracy is based on the rule of the people, not its leaders. What Bush and Cheney are doing is subverting the very concept. They have gone completely over the deep end in terms of insolation, unlimited executive power, corruption, incompetence and secrecy.

Bush Could Be Impeached Many Times Over

2007-01-15T12:28:00.000-08:00

If Congress were to apply the same threshold for impeachment with which they went after Clinton, they could probably impeach Bush about thirty or forty times over. To say the right has a double standard would be a profound understatement.
Bush doesn't care about Congress, the will of the American people or America's standing in the world. If Congress would at least threaten him with impeachment, maybe, just maybe, he might start rethinking a few things. Do we take the rule of law seriously in this country or don’t we?

Right Blames America First

2007-01-12T16:30:00.000-08:00

Jerry Falwell blamed the 9/11 attacks on homosexuals, femanist and secular humanists. Ann Coulter mocked victims of 9/11. Now a pundit has blamed "social liberalization" for terrorism. Isnt' this another form of the "blame America first" mentality sometime found on the left? And like the far left, they are out of the mainstream of American society.

Just Enough Troops To Fail

2007-01-11T12:42:00.000-08:00

In theory, Iraq may not be lost. If the US were to send three hundred thousand troops and stay in the country for thirty years, we might have a chance of turning things around. But, where would we get all those troops? In order to do so might require a draft(which would be unpopular) And, it may cost over several trillion dollars. If the United States is not willing to take such drastic steps, we need to get out as soon as possible. Wars are either won or loss, there can be no middle road. The only exception to this rule is an armistice. But, how can you sign and such an agreement with a hundred different tribes as well as thousands of insurgents and terrorists?
Like Vietnam, we are in a shadowy "half-way" war where victory and defeat are difficult things to measure. This is the worse sort of conflict since it makes stratigizing very difficult, and such a conflict can go on indefinitely. In Iraq, this is complicated by the fact that they are in a de-facto civil war. This means the US is at war with two rival factions.
From the beginning, the complications and difficulties of the Iraqi war were undersold. In the built to war, the neo-cons made it seem like a cakewalk. They were ether delusional or outright deceitful.
Meanwhile as all our resources and attention goes to Iraq, the Taliban are launching more attacks on Afghanistan from bases in Pakistan. The President says he doesn’t want Iraq to become a safe haven for terrorist. Yet, the Eastern provinces of Pakistan are indeed a safe haven for the Taliban and Al Queda! Pakistan has no real control of these areas, despite the Billions in aid and military hardware we’ve given them. If Pakistan can’t bring order out of Chaos, the US should.
Pakistan should simply declare the Eastern Provinces independent, so if the US were to invade them, it really would be and attack on Pakistan itself.

Enemy Of The States

2007-01-09T15:47:00.000-08:00

Sean Hannity, in his eternal "wisdom" has a new segment called "Enemy of the State.".
If one were to use the title "enemy of the state" it makes more sense of apply the title to Osama, North Korea or the current president of Iran. But, Sean Penn? Penn got in a boat after Katrina and tried to save survivors while Bush and FEMA were doing "a heck of a job".
And remember that the Romans considered Jesus to be an "enemy of the state."...

Beyond Ironic, Pt. 2

2007-01-09T15:43:00.000-08:00

Many corporate sponsors seem to have no problem supporting rightwing nutjobs:http://mediamatters.org/items/200701090004

Air America went bankrupt because they couldn't find enough sponsors. So much for the "liberal media".
Many on the right serve up hate and fear because they have nothing else to offer. In the end, all they hate may backfire on them, hopefully before one of their listeners goes on a shooting spree against "godless liberals", homosexuals and Muslims.
Of course, many of the same wingnuts blame the media and rock music for violence. And with no hint of irony, either.

Beyond Irony

2007-01-09T15:42:00.000-08:00

The Soviet Military banned Homosexuals... In fact, being gay in Soviet Russia could get you put in jail. Odd that the Christian Right hated the communist...

Constantine: Christianity's Corrupter

2007-01-07T12:19:00.000-08:00

Constantine is remembered as Christianity’s champion. But, in reality, he was its corrupter. Constantine perverted the message of Jesus in the name of imperialism and warmongering. He opened the door to holy wars blood shed in the name of God. This twisting of Christianity haunts us to this day.
Before Constantine, Christianity was more peace loving and less materialistic. The Emperor may have spread the Christian Religion, but at the cost to its very soul. Without Constantine, Christianity might not be as widespread, but it would be truer to it roots.
Jesus himself said he had no "Earthly Kingdom", and ruled an empire "not of this Earth".

Best Mac Commerical Spoof

2006-12-31T10:09:00.000-08:00

Apple: for those with trust funds and too much free time.

http://www.ifilm.com/efp" quality="high" bgcolor="000000" name="efp" align="middle" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" flashvars="flvbaseclip=2751590&">

Undermining Muslim Hearts And Minds

2006-12-28T12:29:00.000-08:00

There have been many right wing Christians who have attacked Islam.
All that this does is enforce the perception in the Arab world that The US is out to destroy Muslims. And, undermines the war of hearts and minds in the war on terror.
The more Muslims think we are in a modern Christian Crusade, the more we the war on terror is undermined. To denounce Islam is to help Bin Loudin and his ilk. People like Goode are giving aid and comfort to the enemy.
This is not to say the US is somehow soley responsible for the rise of terrorism. However, we must build trust with Muslims if we are to keep our country safe.

"Victory" in the culture war.

2006-12-28T12:28:00.000-08:00

I'm sure attacking Postcards from Buster has done much to improve the deplorable situation in inner city schools, improve skills in math and science and stop high divorce rates. Mission Accomplished!
But, what about all those cartoon characters who don't wear pants!!!

Mel Gibson's "family values"

2006-12-28T12:27:00.000-08:00

Its strange how Mel Gibson has become the symbol of "family values" to the right, yet, his films are laced with so much death, blood and carnage. Yeah, stuff for the whole family, indeed..

Old Time Religion..

2006-12-28T12:23:00.000-08:00

It is beyond ironic that the most holy sights in world in the mid-east is the most violent and divided area on Earth. This area turns religion itself into a farce. Gotta love that "old time religion", right? There is a lesson to be learned from this. This illustrates how wallowing in blind tradition and dogma undermines the future itself. Evolution and new beginnings are what free us.
Those societies which are willing to experiment, grow and change almost aways function better than those which don’t.
The right thinks that the "traditional family" is the key to a more moral society. Really? Most of the Nazis came from a traditional family and before World War II Church attendance in Germany was fairly high. And yet they engaged in one the greatest acts of evil in history. Both sides in the Middle East conflict have strong families and faith in God yet they are blowing each other brains out. Iraq is a deeply religious society yet the Sunnies and The Shia’s seem determined to wipe each other out.
And one of the world most secular societies on earth, the Netherlands, has one of the lowest murder rates in the world. Go figure.
It looks like the Christian and Moslems in that country finally have common ground. In their hatred of something people do in their own bedrooms. As if the people Nigeria have nothing better to worry about..

Culture of Life Revisited

2006-12-28T12:22:00.000-08:00

There are some right wingers who are trying to belittle the tyranny of Pinochet;
http://the-reaction.blogspot.com/2006/12/excusing-pinochet.html
Fighting Left-Wing totalitarian with Right wing totalitarianism. Isn't there a contradiction in there some place?
And I like the way many of these same right-wing supporters claim to support a "culture of life" You just can’t make this stuff up.

A Real Turn-Off

2006-12-28T12:21:00.000-08:00

Its looks like we all need to be more careful about what turns us on:
http://www.bakelblog.com/nobodys_business/2006/12/nurse_curse.html#comment-26461598

Makes Me Want to Gag..

2006-12-28T12:20:00.000-08:00

Bush’s gag rule has had some unintended consequences:
http://the-reaction.blogspot.com/2006/12/bushs-gag-rule-500000-deaths-year.html
So countries (the rest of the industrialized world) which are "ungodly" in the eyes of many Conservative Christians actually having LESS abortions... And many of these countries also have also *gasp* legalized same sex marriage.
Christianist aren’t really anti-government, they just want the government to work for them. They big lie has been revealed.
A wise writer:
http://curiousgawker.blogspot.com/2005/07/why-god-doesnt-care-who-you-bang.html

The Decline and Fall of Social Conservatives In America

2006-12-28T12:19:00.001-08:00

Social conservatism, as a political movement, is dying. In the last election, some of the greatest losses were by candidates supported by the religious right. America is slowly becoming more socially liberal, and unless the GOP embraces tolerance, they will continue to lose many elections to come.
The younger generation, especially, seems to be more liberal about sexual matters, stem cell research, etc.
While there might be some conservatism in this country on national defense and law enforcement, most people don’t like the government to tell them what than can and can’t do with their own bodies.
The right is more out of touch of the American mainstream on moral issues more than ever.
There are indeed a small cadre of leftist who hate America. But, at least they don't try to pass themselves off as "patriots" like America-bashers on the right do.

Another Late Post

2006-12-28T12:19:00.000-08:00

It looks like Chavez (surprise) has won re-election.
Yet another "liberator" who really only wants power. Some of the blame for his popularity is the fact that few politicians were trying to help the poor.

Short Review

2006-12-28T12:18:00.000-08:00

The movie "The Cooler" was very good character study. It was like a modern day fable.

Another Victim of Post 9/11 Hysteria

2006-12-28T12:17:00.000-08:00

Orson Scott Card is the latest victim of post 9/11 hysteria:
http://nitpicker.blogspot.com/2006/11/instapundit-praises-author-who-blames.html
Like Dennis Miller, Card is a brilliant man scared by 9/11 into going farther to the right. The irony is he, like many on the right, seems to agree with the Islamic fundamentalists that we are "decadent". They are, in fact, blaming America first, as well as giving comfort and justification to our enemies. And then the say how "patriotic" they are.. This is beyond self-parody!

GOP Has Gone South (literally)

2006-12-01T16:49:00.000-08:00

The Only States which The GOP managed to hold onto were in the deep south.
They Should Call Themselves the "Dixie Theocratic Party" Or DTP. (Sounds like the name of an insecticide)
And we should all yell "Y'all Don't come back now, Ya'hear"

Just Say No To Abstinance Only

2006-11-27T15:23:00.001-08:00

Info on the farce which is abstinence only education can be found here:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/11/26/133251/89
If teens are told that condoms are unsafe, in all probability they will have sex without condoms. And many teens are just having oral sex instead.
Saying that teens who don’t abstain from Sex "deserve" to have consequences is not so far removed from the "honor killing" which occurs in some parts of the Arab world. (Especially in light of AIDS) What the right fears is not the consequences of pre-marital sex, but rather pre-marital sex with NO consequences. They have a stake in risky sex, because it re-enforces the concept of Abstinence. Putting them in charge of sex education is clearly the wolf guarding the hen house.

Terrorists?

2006-11-27T15:23:00.000-08:00

There Were some Muslims detained at an Airport for saying prayers before they got on a plane. If they were terrorists, why would they pray BEFORE they got on the plane?

The Righty Show?

2006-11-27T15:21:00.000-08:00

Fox is producing a right-wing version of the Daily Show.:
http://sadlyno.com/archives/4320.html

The Daily Show doesn't come out and say "we're liberal" and they do make fun of the left sometimes too. Ideology kills humor.
And the clips on "Sadleyno" arn’t that funny.
Like the way Julia Gorin Jokes about Nuclear Annihilation. Yeah, If Bush had been pres, we would have nuked Cuba, Alright! And she laughs at herself a tad to much.

Slave To Abstraction

2006-11-20T11:32:00.002-08:00

Sometimes, there seems to be no escape from Religion. More so in the Arab world than here. The power of something so purely abstract shouldn’t be so powerful. Belief is smoke. Only books and buildings give any reality to it. To give substance to that which has no substance. And what is organized religion but a political organization devoted to the manipulation of both behavior and the mind?
The need for external restrictions of behavior is a the result of a lack of backbone and self-control. To seek self-improvement and the betterment of society for its own sake is the purist motivation. To embrace goodness just because God is going to "get you", is contrived and childish. Both the believer and the addict are looking for escape from the inevitable pain of exsistance.
Belief can give credence to the most unlikely of things. Eternal life with no pain? That is asking far too much of the universe. And eternal suffering for people you arn’t worthy of such a thing? How could a loving God do such a thing? This is pure Orwellian double speak.
Some people believe they are destined to win the lottery, or otherwise "hit it big." Some people think they can abuse their bodies and not pay for it some day. Others believe there is a God who loves them. Same thing, in all cases.
And what of "God’s will"? Its whatever the believer wants it to be.
And society gives such special rights and privilege for people who believe such things.
Belief, at best, is a set of training wheels for people who have yet for find their balance.

Do We Need Belief?

2006-11-20T11:32:00.001-08:00

As Bad As Going Blind

2006-11-20T11:31:00.000-08:00

Bush just appointed his latest nutjob to oversee control of federally funded family planning. And to a man who apposes contraception, no less. He olso thinks that to much pre-marital sex can cause the depletion of a brian hormone., With no proof to back it up. ( Does masturbation cause Oxytocin depletion. (if is does, I'm in serious trouble)
Oh wait, that just causes blindness, right?
The trouble with using such scare tactics, is that fear doesn't improve self-control or make a person more moral. That’s why abstinence only programs tends to fail in the long term.

Transcendance

2006-11-20T11:27:00.000-08:00

Could the human species be creating something which is "more than the sum of its parts"? I there a grand scheme for us? Is it being run by something else or simply our own doing? We may never truly now the answers to these questions, though perhaps we might sneak glimpse now and then. And the name for these glimpses is "hope."

Another Late Post

2006-11-20T11:25:00.000-08:00

Gambling is an insipid foolish, and wasteful practice. The odds are stacked against the average gambler. And the biggest winners tend to be those who run and invest in casinos. So, one might assume I’m against issue 3, right? Wrong.
Gambling is an individual choice. It is not up to the government to tell people how they should spend their money. If people are foolish with their money, they don’t deserve to have it to begin with. There are plenty of other ways a person can squander their money. Such as internet porn, stock schemes, work at home scams, Ebay, ect.
Opponents of issue 3 seem oblivious to the fact that many Ohioans already go to Detroit and Windsor to gamble. And isn’t the lottery also a form of gambling?
And if people are going to gamble anyway, why shouldn’t the state receive tax revenue to support education?
So, this Tuesday, support individual choice and education. VOTE YES ON ISSUE 3!

A Follower Of Stalin, Not Reagan

2006-11-20T11:24:00.001-08:00

How can people like Malkin claim to believe in freedom? She is a follower of Stalin, not Reagan or Goldwater.
Besides, most of these chicken hawks wouldn't last five seconds in a battlefield.

The Prison Of The Mind

2006-11-20T11:24:00.000-08:00

Belief is the prison of the mind. Preconceptions only take us away from both truth and freedom. To believe in nothing is to see reality, and also too set the mind free.

Dueling Imperialists

2006-11-20T11:23:00.000-08:00

The two greatest forces of imperialism in the world today is the West and the Islamic world. Those who truly believe and freedom and liberty should reject both. Its odd the way some on the left denounce the West and Christianity(not to mention Israel) for being oppressive, warmongering and patriarchal yet soft-petal the oppressive nature of Islam. How can one denounce one type of oppression and not denounce another form of it?

A Muslem Takeover?

2006-11-20T11:20:00.000-08:00

Some pundits have warned of a "Muslim takeover" of Western Europe. Many Muslims in Europe have indeed failed to integrate and thus many Muslims ghettos have become essentially "another country." But, Muslims comprise less then five percent of the population of most European countries. And, there are the beginnings of a significant backlash against immigrants from Muslim countries. Internment camps and deportation will accur long before Europe turns Muslim. Despite all the talk of Europe’s "political correctness" "moral relitivism" Europe still has a strong undercurrant of Xenophobia and Nationalism which seems to be on the increase. While the elites of Europe seem to be promoting tolerance, the citizenry of Europe are fearing and hating Muslims more than ever. After a few more terrorist attacks, and this will only increase.
And much of the Muslim world is very backwards in terms of economic, technological and scientific power. On top of this, Muslims societies have high birth rate which will create more shortages of food and water, and farther economic stagnation..
Some European countries indeed have a "birth dirth" but this can be counteracted by tax breaks for child-bearers, promoting foreign adoption and immigration from non-Muslim countries.
The irony of this fear of a Muslim takeover is that belittles the values and resiliency of the West. In essence, a point of view shared by many Muslims! And many right-wing conservatives are against sexual freedom, religious tolerance and gay rights. Does that sound familiar?
The two greatest forces of imperialism in the world today is the West and the Islamic world. Those who truly believe and freedom and liberty should reject both. Its odd the way some on the left denounce the West and Christianity(not to mention Israel) for being oppressive, warmongering and patriarchal yet soft-petal the oppressive nature of Islam. How can one denounce one type of oppression and not denounce another form of it?

Rush Not A "Journalist"

2006-11-20T11:19:00.000-08:00

Rush is a propagandist, not a journalists. The problems is, many of his listeners don't seem to realize that.
Some people have compared Michael Moore to Rush. Both Moore and Rush are re-enforce the preconceptions of their audiences. But at least Moore is using his camera to explore the outside world(albeit with a highly edited view) In this respect, Moore is the opposite of Rush, who lives in a very isolated environment. Moore, therefore, has more guts and is more willing to confront the people who disagree with him.
The bitter irony is that the right has long accused the left of being "pie in the sky". But, who’s out of touch now? Perhaps the right in general has gotten so good at taking control of "the message" they have forgotten about reality. And that’s why they’re in trouble.

2006-11-20T11:18:00.001-08:00

Rumsfield also has shown his true colors, too. He literally told a reporter "not to worry." This is what the right has become. They are not truly "anti-government," only anti-accountability. The message seems to be, "don’t worry, we know what we’re doing." After 9/11. Bush’s message was "go out and shop." I.E. "Go ahead, buy what you want, but don’t really question what the government is doing." They want the American public to be complacent grazing animals, not lions who fight for democracy.
He may be gone, but his mentality continues.

As Bad As Her Husband

2006-11-20T11:18:00.000-08:00

Lynne Cheney was recently interviewed on CNN and showed her true colors. She doesn’t really believe in questioning the authority of the government or freedom of the press. Most illuminating is her claim that "the government isn’t broken." In other word, don’t worry, the government needs no accountability.

Captain John Reilly (Not to be confused with Bill O)

2006-11-20T11:17:00.000-08:00

The story of Captain John Reilly is compelling one of survival, hope and friendship. Its an overlooked event in history with wide-ranging consequences.

Fuck You, I'm Going to Heaven

2006-11-20T11:16:00.000-08:00

The "Left Behind" series is based on the gospel of "I'm getting mine, so fuck you". It's about finding a magic ticket to heaven, not giving a damn. Faith should something more that reward and punishment.

Beginner's Mind

2006-11-20T11:15:00.000-08:00

Buddists speak of the "beginner’s mind" in which a person lets go of preconceived ideas. The goal is to approach the universe with the wonder of a child, but with the wisdom of an adult. There is not formula or dogma or a particular way of life in which this can found. Everyone can only find it on their own. Enlightenment and harmony cannot be forced., Art, science and feeling can all be one. Everything in the world and the universe is laryed out before us, We must only open our eyes and awake to it. It is possible to have spirituality and rationality in the same moment. This is how we live to our true potential.
To be honest and unmittigated towards oneself and the world is the first step. And a sense of order, without narrow-mindedness, also must be put into play. This may not lead to perfection, but something close to it.
Harmony with the universe and other people cannot be found without harmony within one’s self.

Bi-Polar to No-Polar

2006-11-20T11:14:00.001-08:00

We have gone from a bi-polar world, to a uni-polar world and now to a multi-polar world. There no longer is only a few "centers of gravity" in the world. What we have now is a world in which many regional players with a divided influence over the world. The world is emerging into a kind of "quasi-anarchy" in which the old "powers that be" are losing influence and power. This is an inevitable side effect of an interconnected, global economic and political systems. This is the dark side of Tolkin’s third wave.
The cold war may have been a time of imperialism, but, at least there was some restraint. Not so now.

800 Pound Bible Thumper

2006-11-20T11:14:00.000-08:00

The 800 pound Gorilla in the room is that religious organizations in this country actually have more rights than secular ones.
The Problem with faith-based programs is one of who decide which religious groups are worthy of funding? This administration only funds evangelical groups.

Needs More Outrage

2006-11-20T11:13:00.000-08:00

I think there wasn't more outrage over the new anti-terror law because most Americans are either ignorant about it or feel it won't effect them personally. But, it few more innocent people are kidnaped and tortured, it just might produce a backlash.

Bush's Information Police

2006-11-20T11:12:00.001-08:00

Looks like Bush has his own "ministry of information". Well, he already has secret prisons and the ability to declare anyone he wants an "enemy combatant". Now, all he has to do is declare himself President for life and America is an authoritarian state.
Freedom on the march, indeed...

The Real Radicals

2006-11-20T11:12:00.000-08:00

The Republican were radical while Clinton and most Democrats were trying their best to be centrist. Sure, some on the left thrive on division and bile(especially in the 60's), but the right in this country has mastered the art of division, ignorance and hate.

An Assult On Freedom

2006-11-20T11:11:00.001-08:00

There are time when the far right and the far left seem virtually indistinguishable. Recently, Britain proposed a law to ban "ridicule or intolerance of any religion." A Conservative Christian group then threatened to stop a production of "Jerry Springer". This is both irony and poetic justice. Given the all too common tendency to use religion for political gain and to insight hatred and narrow-mindedness, the ability to actively critique and ridicule religion is vital to maintain a society which is truly free. Freedom of speech especially, cannot exist if people cannot actively question authority, be it secular or religious. In a free society, religion deserves no special treatment.

Late Post

2006-11-20T11:11:00.000-08:00

Rove says he has an October Surprise. He's really an alien and war with Iraq was an insidious ploy to weaken the US military before the invasion. They attack on Halloween night..
BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

A RUSHed Erection

2006-11-20T11:10:00.000-08:00

What was Rush doing recently with a bottle of viagra in the Dominican republic, a country well known for its rampant prostitution?

"Thinkers" On The Right

2006-11-20T11:09:00.000-08:00

Many "thinkers" on the far right have started to associate liberalism with Nazisim.
The Nazis believed in racially and ethnically superiority, were very much against multi-culturalism and left-wing activists. So much like today's left, right?
The right used to associate liberals with communists. This is a stretch, but at least there might be a few ideological similarities between the commies and the left.
And I notice that the government in Iran is railing against "liberals and secularists". Why doesn't the far right in this country move over there?

Asking For It

2006-11-20T11:07:00.001-08:00

Bill Donahoe recently said that "..why didn't you just smack the clergyman in the face? After all, most 15-year-old teenage boys wouldn't allow themselves to be molested. So why did you?"
Once again, a "conservative" who talks about "personal responsibility" and "self-control" blames the victim of a sex crime rather than the perpretrator.
So, according to Mr. D, any 15 year old who doesn't fight off a would be raper is "asking for it."
I just love the "faith and values" this man has.
There is not conceivable "defense" of someone who commits a genuine sex crime.

We're all a little bi-sexual

2006-11-20T11:07:00.000-08:00

The Right assumes an absolute line between "gay" and "straight". But, heterosexual men can have homosexual desires and vice versa.
Most men in prison, consider themselves "straight" even though their sexual behavior isn't.
And, there is not evidence that those who have homosexual desires are less moral than heterosexuals. And that’s where it gets really hypocritical!

Tortured Logic

2006-11-20T11:06:00.000-08:00

Many nations who denounce the US human right record are hypocrites. What it the human rights record of Castro’s Cuba, for instance?
But, for the US to suspend habeas corpus for foreign nationals, to kidnap people and hold them without charges indefinitely and to "outsource" torture to undemocratic countries only emboldens those who hate the US.
When thing torture is effective at is making people talk. But, it does nothing to increase the probability of them telling the truth. Why, for instance, did the US government send out so many warnings that turned out to be false? And why did so many in the government think their were WMD’s in Iraq when there, of course, weren’t?
This policy is torturous for our foreign policy, our reputation and our ideals.
Advocating torture is not really about finding the truth, but giving the appearance of "getting tough" and "making the bastards pay." Its about vengeance and politics, not national security.

Moral Irony

2006-10-16T17:11:00.001-07:00

What's bitterly ironic is that the US has the highest level of abortion and unplanned pregnancies in the industrialized world. And the other industrialized nation don't seem to have such a moralistic debate about sex education and birth control.
What the right in this country wants to do is to micro-manage people's sex life. They really don't believe in personal autonomy, especially in matters of sexuality. They denounce the left for engaging in "social engineering, yet are trying to do their own version of it.
But, they are fighting a losing battle. They've only succeeded in putting abstinence only programs in schools and reduce some federal funds for birth control. They don't want to admit they've already lost the "culture war".
Most American are slowly finding a balance between sexual freedom and sexual responsibility on their own. Our sexual morals are slowly becoming more like the rest of the industrialized world. And, its about time.

Dying to Write This

2006-10-16T17:11:00.000-07:00

"Dead Like Me" has a human quality to it. Its funny, caustic and endearing in equal measure.

Future Schlock

2006-10-16T17:10:00.001-07:00

Reading about "Idiocracy" reminded my very much of the story "The Marching Morons" by Cyril M. Kornbluth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Marching_Morons
This idea could be called "liberal" because it denounces consumerism and "conservative" because talks about the lack of personal responsibility. Hey, its a fair and balanced satire!
Satire, at its best, should make people a little uncomfortable, and God forbid, make people think.

The Path too...YAwn...

2006-10-16T17:10:00.000-07:00

I think that the path to 9/11 didn't sway opionion because it basically sucked. I wasn't just highly partison, but also slow moving didactice and well, just plain boring!
Its just like the old "red scare" movies of the 50's

The Two Bill Clintons

2006-10-05T14:20:00.000-07:00

Bill Clinton is really two people. Call them "Dr. Clinton and Mr. Bubba."
On the one hand, there is Dr. Clinton, I wise, intelligent and thoughtful man who tries to build consensus and promote compassion.
Then, there is Mr. Bubba, an impulsive, moody redneck who never met a Big Mac or a fat bimbo he didn’t like.
To say Clinton compartmentalizes is an understatement.
In a nutshell, Bill Clinton is just like America itself.

A Tortured Myth

2006-09-19T15:06:00.001-07:00

The link between torture and finding the truth is a myth which must be dispelled. This ultimately means that torture does nothing to keep us safer.

America Or Amerika?

2006-09-19T15:06:00.000-07:00

This is still America, right? Or should we now call it Amerika?
Glen Greenwald argues :
Do Americans want to be a country that kidnaps people without charges, tortures them, lies to its allies about it, and then, when it turns out they were completely innocent, blocks the Government officials who are responsible from being held accountable? That's the country we've become under this administration and its blindly loyal servants in Congress.
The Soviets had gulags, and the US its gulags

WWJT (Who Would Jesus Torture)

2006-09-19T15:05:00.000-07:00

Some members of the Christian right have attacked those who appose torture.
Who would Jesus torture? If he truly was loving and kind, no one. These "Christians" only worship power.

Tell me again, who can't tell good from evil?

"I wish I were in a land of hatred"

2006-09-19T15:04:00.001-07:00

Romanticizing the southern plantation is much like romanticizing Nazi Germany. In fact, slavery might seem a bit worse than the holocaust, because, at least the Nazis put their slaves out of their misery at some point.
The leaders of the confederacy were guilty of sedation and treason and should have been tried and executed for these high crimes.
In the present day, those who engaged in slavery could be charged with crimes against humanity.
It should be remembered that the American South had the least enthusiasm for the American Revolution. And their social structure was based on the backwards European accstocracy. In the Civil War, the North fought for the future, the South for the past. The South contributed little to American society. They were a backwards and stagnant agrian culture. And to this day, the south is one of the most socially and intellectually backwards parts of the country.
The north wasn’t too harsh with the South, they weren’t quite harsh enough. Any part of the world which bases it economy on slave labor deserves no mercy.
In recent years, the same backwards confederate mentality has seeped into American politics in the form of the Religious Right and much of the Republican Party. Much of the leadership of the Republican Party is Southern and seem to have pro-Confederacy leanings.

The Value Of College

2006-09-19T15:04:00.000-07:00

College is more than just training for a job. It equips students to become more thoughtful and to be more skeptical towards leaders.

Conservative With Balls

2006-09-19T15:03:00.001-07:00

Bush wants to re-write the very geneva convention the US has historically championed. This only undermines our image in the world even more. It's good to see, however, all the Republicans standing up to Bush on this. They don't all think like Rush or Ann Coulter, it seems.

Hitler Undermined Human Evolution

2006-09-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

It should be noted that evolution is advanced by an increase in genetic diversity. This is allows for a wider variety of traits to to improve chanced of the survival of a species. What Hitler wanted to do would actually undermine the genetic fitness of our species.

The Irony Of Terrorism

2006-09-19T15:02:00.000-07:00

The Irony of Muslims committing acts s of terrorism is that it ends up hurting the reputation of Islam.(the very faith the claim to be defending) And thus fuels more prejudice against Muslims.

ABC is in Deep S H I T

2006-09-19T15:01:00.001-07:00

I just read recently that even arch-conservative Bill Bennet has denounced it. ABC is really in deep shit now.

Drug Warriors On Drugs

2006-09-19T15:01:00.000-07:00

My mom once worked at local resort and she said the most rowdy, hard drinking, heavy smoking groups they hosted was a bunch DEA agents. Apparently the "war on drugs" doesn’t include alcohol or nicotine.

FBI Goes After XXX

2006-09-19T15:00:00.000-07:00

I think the fact that The FBI is focusing on porn in the middle of the war on terror is well, obscene!

Oil War?

2006-09-19T14:59:00.000-07:00

It would be simplistic to think that the invasion of Iraq was only about oil. But, if they didn’t have one of the worlds largest reservoirs of oil, would we be as willing to go to war with them?
Has our military been reduced to being mercenaries for oil? Anyone who hasn’t at least considered this possibility is paying attention.

Beyond Thier Wildest Dreams

2006-09-19T14:58:00.000-07:00

If someone like Bin Loudin ruled the United States, he would have incinerated most of the world right now. Religious extremists in the US might not seem as harmful as their Muslim counterparts, but, if they were to take over America, they would have access to technology that could do millions of time more damage than Bin Loudin and his rag-tag group of thugs could ever dream of.

Terrorists Less Capable Than Nazis and Communists

2006-09-19T14:56:00.000-07:00

There is problem with associating Islamic Terrorist with Nazis. In the late 1930's, Germany had the most powerful military in the world, with the most advanced weapons and a highly trained military. They also had one of the worlds strongest economies.
Comparatively, the military and economic capacity that the terrorists have is almost laughably anemic and backwards. They are bunch of pathetic renegades who use the scraps of the modern world in an ineffectual attempt to destroy it. They may indeed be morally equivalent too the Nazis, but, there capacity for destruction is much more limited.
The Nazi air force destroyed hundreds of buildings in London and slaughted over six million Jews.
The 9/11 hijackers destroyed just a few. And with planes they had to hyjack. It was indeed the most extreme terrorist ever witnessed, but compared with WWII, Korea, or Vietnam it was minor squirimish.
They can indeed make life harder, disrupt the global economy and kill quite a few innocent people. But, they really don’t have the capacity to destroy our civilization.
This is not to belittle the threat, and we must to everything necessary to reduce possibility of terrorist attacks. But, we also much not lose perspective, either.

GOP Neglected Terror Threat

2006-09-19T14:54:00.000-07:00

At Dailykos I just read a post about ABC's new "docudrama" which shows Clinton doing nothing to fight terrorists. Apparently, it was written by a close friend of Rush Limbaugh.
In reality, is was Republicans who dragged their feet on this issue in the 90's. It was destroying Clinton, not fighting terrorists which was the main priority for the GOP back them.
Tom Delay once denounced the Clinton’s bombing of Afghanistan as "violating their sovereignty"
I think if Clinton had gone after the Taliban and Bin Louden in the 90's all the Republicans would have apposed it. Hell, they would have impeached for it. (However the only thing they could pin on him was lying about a blow-job)