Only for Barack would I have dragged my ass out of bed at 5AM so I could be on line already when the polls opened at 7AM. Lucky for me, I don't live in a Battleground State, so the process was pretty smooth and fast.
During the short time I waited, though, I noticed that everyone seemed... happy(!) And full of friendly good-will towards their neighbors. It was really, really nice... you know? We all joked around, and laughed as we wondered if Bush Jr. would be allowed out of the bunker once the election's over. And the poll-worker got a good laugh out of how hard I was punching the pen into my ballot--to which I replied, "I have exactly two words for you: hanging chads. No way are my chads going to hang..."
Then I walked to Starbucks and got my reward: a free tall cup of coffee (just tell them you voted, and you can get one too). As I walked home, I thought about this: how lucky we would be to have a President who is, in the eyes of the world, like a JFK-meets-Mohammed Ali-meets-The Beatles. Seriously, he's that much of a global rock-star already. You've even got Chavez clamoring to get Obama's ear, saying "I want to get closer to the black man" (um, Hugo... you may want to stop incessantly referring to Obama as "the black man"--you dum-dum). Only in the United States, Jordan, and Pakistan do McCain's popularity numbers even begin to approach Obama's. And as we all know, there's great power in popularity.
Look, I generally find celebrity worship to be rather... distasteful, to put it mildly. But hey, I'm more than happy to let my President work his global celebrity status, if it helps him help us and our planet earth. America, we are on the verge of having as our President the world's most "money" Front-Man!! Just imagine... all the people sharing all the world--yes, John Lennon's song is playing in my head right now. What can I say, I'm a hippie-dippie at heart, and a hope(less/full) dreamer...
Go 'Bama!
Showing posts with label 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2008. Show all posts
04 November 2008
02 November 2008
Sundays with Sus--11/2
My sense of humor is coming back... and hopefully it's not of that slightly hysteria-tinged variety which precedes the nervous breakdown. Because I admit it, I'm on pins-and-needles about this election. But there are only two days left... and I've done about as much as is within my humble means and abilities to do. Except vote, that is.
And so I'm looking ahead to the future... and here's what's on my mind today:
1) What's your Superpower, America? As I see it, this clash of values unearthed by Election 2008 is largely about competing notions of what America's role in the 21st Century should be.
The collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War left America as the sole and reigning Superpower. Even though times have changed drastically, some in our country seem insistent upon clinging to that old role, because it suggests we are somehow safe from all threats, both military and economic--what do you think those hockey-game-esque chants of "USA! USA!" at the Republican National Convention were all about? Xenophobia and the Bush Doctrine of preemptive strikes play very much into that outdated notion of American supremacy.
I believe that America can maintain its role of Global leadership--in fact, I think most of the world is hungry for that. But it can't be based on military might (do y'all want to reinstate the Draft in this country? Because at the rate we're going, that's what it's going to take. And nobody likes a bully... do they). And our businesses can't continue to rest on their intellectually lazy (and lobbying) laurels, if they hope to truly compete economically with all these upstarts like China. It's going to take some vision, and all of us tapping into the greatest of America's truest resources: intelligence, creativity, boldness, and a concern for the common good.
John Cleese remarked recently on this paradox about American culture as it currently stands: In most of the world, resentment centers around wealth, and the have-nots envy and fear those who have. In our country though, it seems to be intelligence, rather than wealth, that's the seed of resentment separating the haves from the have-nots. Too many in this nation fear intelligence, and love to pooh-pooh the value of things like a high IQ and an Ivy-league education. How else could a man like Bush Jr. get elected, and twice (fer Chrissakes), simply because he was the guy everyone wanted to have a beer with. Because they were comfortable with him, because he seemed just like them...
But I, personally, don't want a President who's "just like me." He/she better be a hell of a lot smarter than I am! How else could a President possibly tackle these tremendous challenges facing us, and set the course and tone for the kind of complex policy initiatives our country so desperately needs to get us, and the world, back on track?
Because let me say this about McCain: he can be funny. Really funny. And I totally get why he was so popular once, on both sides of the aisle, as they say. He's also got this habit of being goofily honest and unguarded on occasion. A great trait in a person you have a beer with, but the kiss of death when it comes time to, say, negotiate with world leaders. Goofy does not command respect (trust me, I speak from personal experience here). Goofy ears, maybe. Goofy personality, no way.
So think on it: what's your Superpower, America? (My superpower of choice, personally, would be Invisibility--hardly a surprising choice among writers and filmmakers, who are a largely voyeuristic bunch at heart, believe me. See Hitchcock's Rear Window, for example.)
2) The winner of Election 2008 cannot say, in essence, F*ck You to the "Losers." Because the losing side will still get the vote of about 43% of the electorate, at the bare minimum. Nothing is going to get accomplished in this country if the "winners" effectively disenfranchise that 43+ percent. We need them. And our new President has to know how to get those people to the negotiating table, and set an example by accepting their 50% share of the responsibility to work together in brainstorming solutions.
That's the challenge in store for not only the next President, but for us all... when you really stop to think about it. Because the microcosm feeds the macrocosm, and the macrocosm feeds the microcosm, and so on and so on...
Enjoy your Sunday, everyone. Go have some laughs... That's what I'm going to do (which is why I'm on self-imposed no-cable-news lockdown today).
And so I'm looking ahead to the future... and here's what's on my mind today:
1) What's your Superpower, America? As I see it, this clash of values unearthed by Election 2008 is largely about competing notions of what America's role in the 21st Century should be.
The collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War left America as the sole and reigning Superpower. Even though times have changed drastically, some in our country seem insistent upon clinging to that old role, because it suggests we are somehow safe from all threats, both military and economic--what do you think those hockey-game-esque chants of "USA! USA!" at the Republican National Convention were all about? Xenophobia and the Bush Doctrine of preemptive strikes play very much into that outdated notion of American supremacy.
I believe that America can maintain its role of Global leadership--in fact, I think most of the world is hungry for that. But it can't be based on military might (do y'all want to reinstate the Draft in this country? Because at the rate we're going, that's what it's going to take. And nobody likes a bully... do they). And our businesses can't continue to rest on their intellectually lazy (and lobbying) laurels, if they hope to truly compete economically with all these upstarts like China. It's going to take some vision, and all of us tapping into the greatest of America's truest resources: intelligence, creativity, boldness, and a concern for the common good.
John Cleese remarked recently on this paradox about American culture as it currently stands: In most of the world, resentment centers around wealth, and the have-nots envy and fear those who have. In our country though, it seems to be intelligence, rather than wealth, that's the seed of resentment separating the haves from the have-nots. Too many in this nation fear intelligence, and love to pooh-pooh the value of things like a high IQ and an Ivy-league education. How else could a man like Bush Jr. get elected, and twice (fer Chrissakes), simply because he was the guy everyone wanted to have a beer with. Because they were comfortable with him, because he seemed just like them...
But I, personally, don't want a President who's "just like me." He/she better be a hell of a lot smarter than I am! How else could a President possibly tackle these tremendous challenges facing us, and set the course and tone for the kind of complex policy initiatives our country so desperately needs to get us, and the world, back on track?
Because let me say this about McCain: he can be funny. Really funny. And I totally get why he was so popular once, on both sides of the aisle, as they say. He's also got this habit of being goofily honest and unguarded on occasion. A great trait in a person you have a beer with, but the kiss of death when it comes time to, say, negotiate with world leaders. Goofy does not command respect (trust me, I speak from personal experience here). Goofy ears, maybe. Goofy personality, no way.
So think on it: what's your Superpower, America? (My superpower of choice, personally, would be Invisibility--hardly a surprising choice among writers and filmmakers, who are a largely voyeuristic bunch at heart, believe me. See Hitchcock's Rear Window, for example.)
2) The winner of Election 2008 cannot say, in essence, F*ck You to the "Losers." Because the losing side will still get the vote of about 43% of the electorate, at the bare minimum. Nothing is going to get accomplished in this country if the "winners" effectively disenfranchise that 43+ percent. We need them. And our new President has to know how to get those people to the negotiating table, and set an example by accepting their 50% share of the responsibility to work together in brainstorming solutions.
That's the challenge in store for not only the next President, but for us all... when you really stop to think about it. Because the microcosm feeds the macrocosm, and the macrocosm feeds the microcosm, and so on and so on...
Enjoy your Sunday, everyone. Go have some laughs... That's what I'm going to do (which is why I'm on self-imposed no-cable-news lockdown today).
VIDEO: Election 2008 In A Nutshell
Election 2008 has been a long and bumpy ride... which is why it was nice to see this one-minute recap of all the zany follies and foibles. I believe this is what the experts call "closure"...
Unless I wake up November 5th and hear some phrase that even remotely reminds me of that infamous phrase, "hanging chads"... In which case, this blogger just may end up matching a box of Fruit Loops, loop for fruity loop...
See the video recap here: http://politicalhumor.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.236.com/video/2008/watch%5Fpresidential%5Fcampaign%5Fin%5F9955.php
Unless I wake up November 5th and hear some phrase that even remotely reminds me of that infamous phrase, "hanging chads"... In which case, this blogger just may end up matching a box of Fruit Loops, loop for fruity loop...
See the video recap here: http://politicalhumor.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.236.com/video/2008/watch%5Fpresidential%5Fcampaign%5Fin%5F9955.php
29 October 2008
Lipstick On A Pig: A 2008 Campaign Quiz
Here's a fun little quiz from The New Yorker that you can take to see how just much you've "learned" in Election 2008. I've culled a choice few for you here:
4. How many times was McCain caught on camera during the first debate appearing to mutter "Horseshit" under his breath?
(a) Forty-seven.
(b) Ten.
(c) Six.
(d) Fifty-seven.
(e) Two.
(f) At least eleven.
9. Complete John McCain's boast about Sarah Palin: "She knows more about ________ than probably anyone else in the United States of America."
(a) Russia
(b) energy
(c) the Bush doctrine
(d) aerial hunting
(e) hiding a pregnancy
(f) lipstick
17. True or false: During a post-debate appearance on "Fox News Sunday," Senator Lindsey Graham (R.-S.C.) interrupted his pro-McCain spin and said, "It's Sunday, I'm tired. Senator Obama did well. Senator Obama helped himself."
(a) True.
(b) False
21. Who wrote a book relating an incident in which "Cindy playfully twirled McCain's hair and said, 'You're getting a little thin up there,' and McCain shot back, 'At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you c*nt'"?
(a) Levi Johnston.
(b) Chris Rock.
(c) Ed Koch.
(d) Cliff Schecter.
(e) Sarah Palin.
27. Who said about the original bailout legislation, "If I were a dictator, which I always aspire to be, I would write it a little bit differently"?
(a) John McCain.
(b) Representative Paul Broun (R.-Ga.).
(c) House Minority Leader John Boehner (R.-Ohio).
Take the quiz here: http://www.newyorker.com/humor/polls/slansky2008campaignquiz/01013sh_shouts_slansky
I only got 9 of the 29 correct. See if you can outdo your humble blogger.
4. How many times was McCain caught on camera during the first debate appearing to mutter "Horseshit" under his breath?
(a) Forty-seven.
(b) Ten.
(c) Six.
(d) Fifty-seven.
(e) Two.
(f) At least eleven.
9. Complete John McCain's boast about Sarah Palin: "She knows more about ________ than probably anyone else in the United States of America."
(a) Russia
(b) energy
(c) the Bush doctrine
(d) aerial hunting
(e) hiding a pregnancy
(f) lipstick
17. True or false: During a post-debate appearance on "Fox News Sunday," Senator Lindsey Graham (R.-S.C.) interrupted his pro-McCain spin and said, "It's Sunday, I'm tired. Senator Obama did well. Senator Obama helped himself."
(a) True.
(b) False
21. Who wrote a book relating an incident in which "Cindy playfully twirled McCain's hair and said, 'You're getting a little thin up there,' and McCain shot back, 'At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you c*nt'"?
(a) Levi Johnston.
(b) Chris Rock.
(c) Ed Koch.
(d) Cliff Schecter.
(e) Sarah Palin.
27. Who said about the original bailout legislation, "If I were a dictator, which I always aspire to be, I would write it a little bit differently"?
(a) John McCain.
(b) Representative Paul Broun (R.-Ga.).
(c) House Minority Leader John Boehner (R.-Ohio).
Take the quiz here: http://www.newyorker.com/humor/polls/slansky2008campaignquiz/01013sh_shouts_slansky
I only got 9 of the 29 correct. See if you can outdo your humble blogger.
You Can Peek Into My Voting Booth, California
This only applies to California residents voting on Propositions 1A through 12. Here's how I'm voting, along with a short tag-line explaining why.
1A: No--Not now...
2: Yes--You are what you eat
3: Yes--Do it for the kids
4: No--Laws can't make dysfunctional families communicate
5: Yes--"Just Say Yes" because we have enough "Wars" as it is
6: No--A 14-year-old is not an adult (no matter what they think)
7: No--Good Cause, Bad Law
8: No--Love is good. Period.
9: No--Too much grandstanding, too little change
10: No--Why don't you go home and ask Texas to foot your bill, Pork-y (aka T. Boone Pickens)
11: Yes--"We the People" say "Power to the People" (because clearly, y'all can't be trusted)
12: Yes--Supports our troops, costs us nothing
The one I feel most adamant about is actually Proposition 10. If I have any cred with you, please please please do not vote "Yes" on Prop 10. I want Clean and Sustainable Energy as much as anyone. But this is not the way--please trust me on this one. A man who believes people should pay for water (water!), and has bought up subsurface water rights in Texas for that very purpose, is not the one to help save our Planet.
1A: No--Not now...
2: Yes--You are what you eat
3: Yes--Do it for the kids
4: No--Laws can't make dysfunctional families communicate
5: Yes--"Just Say Yes" because we have enough "Wars" as it is
6: No--A 14-year-old is not an adult (no matter what they think)
7: No--Good Cause, Bad Law
8: No--Love is good. Period.
9: No--Too much grandstanding, too little change
10: No--Why don't you go home and ask Texas to foot your bill, Pork-y (aka T. Boone Pickens)
11: Yes--"We the People" say "Power to the People" (because clearly, y'all can't be trusted)
12: Yes--Supports our troops, costs us nothing
The one I feel most adamant about is actually Proposition 10. If I have any cred with you, please please please do not vote "Yes" on Prop 10. I want Clean and Sustainable Energy as much as anyone. But this is not the way--please trust me on this one. A man who believes people should pay for water (water!), and has bought up subsurface water rights in Texas for that very purpose, is not the one to help save our Planet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
