Sunday, February 21, 2010

Bipartisanship is a sinking ship...

Good riddance to Evan Bayh, Blue Dog senator from Indiana. Maybe other Blue Dog, insufferable centrists will throw in the "white flag" towel that they always wave anyway. They did enough damage to the health care reform proposal, by watering it down to please the Republican Party of No who, of course, couldn't be pleased because they didn't want any of it in the first place.

Here is my advice for the notion of bipartisanship: F-word it.

As liberal Arianna Huffington said on TV today, with the agreement of conservative George Will, the major issues of this nation have required strong political stands. She wondered what would have been the moderate position, to placate both sides, on the issue of slavery during Lincoln's time--to free half the slaves?

Bipartisanship is a bit like suggesting that everyone should be bisexual because that's some kind of "middle ground" between two definite but contrary approaches. No, I think people should be what they are and they should advocate strongly for their beliefs, on either side, without having to think that a strong stance must be turned into a soft appeasement in order to be best for America.

Progressive presidents should advocate for progressive measures, conservative presidents should advocate for conservative measures. The so-called middle already spoke when it helped to elect what people all recognized to be a choice between a progressive (Obama) or a conservative (McCain). With that mandate, then the progressives should lead. And the Blue Dogs and centrists should get out of the way. And the conservatives, who can be the loyal opposition as a minority, shouldn't expect their stances in politics and legislation to supersede the vote of the majority.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Nuclear energy is costly and dangerous...

Well, here we go again...

What in the heck is President Obama doing? Now he is supporting nuclear energy and pledging to waste billions of dollars on that nonsense, thinking it is a clean, quality energy source for America's future.

Nuclear energy is not clean, because it leaves waste that has to be managed for thousands of years. It is not safe. The first major Chernobyl-like disaster that occurs in America is going to be costly beyond belief, poison people with illness, and contaminate whatever region it is in for probably a century. And that's supposed to be quality?

I don't understand why Obama is bound and determined to chase away his progressive base--this time, environmentalists. My patience is wearing out.

The energy resources to develop should include wind energy, wave power, solar energy, and other truly good and safe sources. If every housetop in America had a portable wind power generator (just like homes have cable dishes) and solar panels, citizens would not only be able to cut their costs for utilities but also, in mass, reduce the need for other energy sources and help save the planet. If the Obama administration would fund that kind of portable equipment manufacturing, made in America PLEASE, and provide tax breaks, discounts or even reward in the way of food or product certificates for citizens in order to acquire the equipment, then there also might be some more jobs created for the American workers.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Quote about photography...

"A photo is like a stab of a knife. Painting is meditation."
--Henri Cartier-Bresson, photographer and artist

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Palin's palm...

So, politician Sarah Palin criticized President Obama for being a professor of constitutional law. Wow, being intelligent doesn't particularly seem to me like a disadvantage, particularly when it comes to America. On the other hand...

...There's that hand with the scribbles on it.

It was Palin who wrote inky notes on the palm of her hand for a recent speech. Now, I have known of junior high students who used notes on their hands in order to try to cheat at tests. I have known adolescents who have written phone numbers of potential dates on their hands. But what adult ever writes notes on his or her hands for a speech or an interview? Couldn't she afford a 65-cent package of note cards like debaters use? Or a note pad like reporters use?

Palin's inability to answer Katie Couric's questions about Supreme Court cases or magazines she reads was an insight that has haunted her. Her "death panel" remark was beyond stupid, into the zone of reckless. Now her silly hand memos. Stupid? Juvenile? Daffy?

Former Vice President Dan Quayle never overcame his "potatoe" moment. ("Potato" is the correct spelling.) I guess Palin will have some cover for her lightweight moments, since she's now working at the Fox network.