Wednesday, January 12, 2005
UN-Believable
You could see it coming from a thousand miles away. The US is no longer interested in what the United Nations has to say unless it's "Goodbye."
And, since there is no counter story, people have been buying the whole thing. Until the tsunami hit, people forgot that the UN are the real freedom fighters...er, but not in the Reagan-riding-on-the-back-of-a-nuclear-charged-burro kind of way. The UN is always the first to go into a big mess to try and create order whether it is the messy formation of a new nation or a natural disaster.
OK, so you may have also heard about the food-for-oil scandal and the, well, the exploitation of young girls in the Congo which are both inexcusable. In partial defense of the UN system, the international policing system is extremely weak. So much so that if the UN was aware of the bad behavior they wouldn't have the legal recourse to do anything about it. And, countries are not about to voluntarily give up their own laws for that of an international body, sovereignty is sovereignty.
-lobo
And, since there is no counter story, people have been buying the whole thing. Until the tsunami hit, people forgot that the UN are the real freedom fighters...er, but not in the Reagan-riding-on-the-back-of-a-nuclear-charged-burro kind of way. The UN is always the first to go into a big mess to try and create order whether it is the messy formation of a new nation or a natural disaster.
OK, so you may have also heard about the food-for-oil scandal and the, well, the exploitation of young girls in the Congo which are both inexcusable. In partial defense of the UN system, the international policing system is extremely weak. So much so that if the UN was aware of the bad behavior they wouldn't have the legal recourse to do anything about it. And, countries are not about to voluntarily give up their own laws for that of an international body, sovereignty is sovereignty.
-lobo
Monday, February 16, 2004
Prion-like Proteins Unable to Account for Missing Bush
-LOBO
Friday, February 13, 2004
A Quick Thought
If anyone tells you that Kerry is just like Bush, sock 'em.
-LOBO
-LOBO
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Who'll cry for the dark ones?
The kidnapping in Sarasota Florida is proof that evil exists in this world and that it often ends up in Florida. But why did we all find out about this particular kidnapping and murder? This case seems vaguely familiar - a young innocent girl kidnapped or missing. Polly Klaas [not sure of spelling], Jon Benet, that Smart girl in Utah, and Amber. We've heard about them and mourned their loss of life or loss of innocence.
The media loves to get involved when there is an abduction because it is always terrifying for the parents (unless they are the ones who offed the kids) and it tugs at our heart strings in a fundamental way. Oh, and the media must feel that if the little girl is Anglo-American that it will really tear us apart because that is all they ever show. Have you noticed that? If we look at our list of abductees you're not going to see a "Wei-chen", a "Chaniqua" or an "Angelita" because the media doesn't give a flying f--- if the kid is of color. Do they think we are too stupid to notice?
This isn't just a matter of media coverage, it's a matter of justice. If a little kid comes out on CNN because they are missing they are going to have a much better chance of being found (even if dead) and of finding the culprit as appears to have happened in Florida.
This rant is pointing out race issues but it's also about class issues. Many of these stories also come out because of the parents and their ability to communicate with the media. If you don't know how to work the media then nobody's going to listen to you.
-LOBO
The media loves to get involved when there is an abduction because it is always terrifying for the parents (unless they are the ones who offed the kids) and it tugs at our heart strings in a fundamental way. Oh, and the media must feel that if the little girl is Anglo-American that it will really tear us apart because that is all they ever show. Have you noticed that? If we look at our list of abductees you're not going to see a "Wei-chen", a "Chaniqua" or an "Angelita" because the media doesn't give a flying f--- if the kid is of color. Do they think we are too stupid to notice?
This isn't just a matter of media coverage, it's a matter of justice. If a little kid comes out on CNN because they are missing they are going to have a much better chance of being found (even if dead) and of finding the culprit as appears to have happened in Florida.
This rant is pointing out race issues but it's also about class issues. Many of these stories also come out because of the parents and their ability to communicate with the media. If you don't know how to work the media then nobody's going to listen to you.
-LOBO
Monday, February 09, 2004
North vs. South
In an earlier post I mentioned that to many voters John Kerry is like Abraham Lincoln in that he is a solid speaking, old hat politician. I think it was Bill Maher who compared him to the apple-throwing trees in Wizard of Oz. But the media seems to think that, and I'm starting to agree, Kerry is much more like Abraham Lincoln because he is a Northerner.
Is it true? Will white Southerners vote for Clark and Edwards because they are Southerners? If this is true then Kerry will come in third in Tennessee and have a tough time (not win) other Southern states as they cast their votes.
I know I make fun of them because they sleep with their relatives and their slow drawl makes them sound slow-witted but is the South still carrying a grudge over the Civil War? Gore wasn't able to win his own state of Tennessee in the last presidential election. I assumed that was because on the campaign trail he was as exciting as bingo for one. But maybe it was because the South turned on him after they realized that he was more Park Avenue than Tennessee.
This certainly explains Dean's earlier comments about getting votes from folks with confederate flags on their pick-up trucks. He wasn't only referring to rednecks, he was reaching out to all Southerners in his twisted way.
Look for this North/South issue to be the determining factor in who is ultimately selected for the Vice Presiden't slot on the Democratic party ticket.
-LOBO
Is it true? Will white Southerners vote for Clark and Edwards because they are Southerners? If this is true then Kerry will come in third in Tennessee and have a tough time (not win) other Southern states as they cast their votes.
I know I make fun of them because they sleep with their relatives and their slow drawl makes them sound slow-witted but is the South still carrying a grudge over the Civil War? Gore wasn't able to win his own state of Tennessee in the last presidential election. I assumed that was because on the campaign trail he was as exciting as bingo for one. But maybe it was because the South turned on him after they realized that he was more Park Avenue than Tennessee.
This certainly explains Dean's earlier comments about getting votes from folks with confederate flags on their pick-up trucks. He wasn't only referring to rednecks, he was reaching out to all Southerners in his twisted way.
Look for this North/South issue to be the determining factor in who is ultimately selected for the Vice Presiden't slot on the Democratic party ticket.
-LOBO
Thursday, January 29, 2004
New Hampshire Primary Review
Well I was dead on with my predictions for the New Hampshire primary, sort of. I predicted that Kerry would take it with an ample lead, that Clark and Edwards would duke it out neck and neck, and that Dean would start his short walk toward obscurity. Only I thought Dean would be 4th in the race. Apparently the media has decided that a second place finish for Dean means the end but Edwards is right on by coming in 4th.
I think the media is enamored by Edwards because of his young looks and because Kerry is old hat. Kerry is Abraham Lincoln and we already know about him, but Edwards is young and fresh. How could they have missed that Dennis Quaid smile for so long? The media knows that Bush will be on one side of the picture but why does Kerry have to be on the other side when they can have Edwards? Ratings baby, ratings. Could Bill Clinton with all his charisma have beaten Bush in this election? That can't happen so the media is going for the next best thing, a candidate with the same Clinton mystique but sans the blowjobs.
This is where the fine line between reality shows and politics will merge. Watch for the media to keep pushing for Edwards even if he blows (not in the Clintonian sense of the word) South Carolina. Why settle for the race for the Democratic party ticket when they can host The Candidate. It's like a spin-off of Average Joe -- a group of ugly guys vie for the attention of a beautiful woman and then they throw in the hunk at the end to prove how shallow we all are when we pick the hunk with the nice smile. I'd like to think that the American public is smarter than to fall for this media spin/spin-off but there are millions of people out there who snicker everytime they see can of Chicken of the Sea tuna. You know what I'm talking about, don't you.
I think the media is enamored by Edwards because of his young looks and because Kerry is old hat. Kerry is Abraham Lincoln and we already know about him, but Edwards is young and fresh. How could they have missed that Dennis Quaid smile for so long? The media knows that Bush will be on one side of the picture but why does Kerry have to be on the other side when they can have Edwards? Ratings baby, ratings. Could Bill Clinton with all his charisma have beaten Bush in this election? That can't happen so the media is going for the next best thing, a candidate with the same Clinton mystique but sans the blowjobs.
This is where the fine line between reality shows and politics will merge. Watch for the media to keep pushing for Edwards even if he blows (not in the Clintonian sense of the word) South Carolina. Why settle for the race for the Democratic party ticket when they can host The Candidate. It's like a spin-off of Average Joe -- a group of ugly guys vie for the attention of a beautiful woman and then they throw in the hunk at the end to prove how shallow we all are when we pick the hunk with the nice smile. I'd like to think that the American public is smarter than to fall for this media spin/spin-off but there are millions of people out there who snicker everytime they see can of Chicken of the Sea tuna. You know what I'm talking about, don't you.
Bush Brings Down Comedian
For some strange reason, Dennis Miller really likes George Bush.
Tonight, on CNBC, as I eagerly anticipated the encore airing of the Apprentice (which didn't come on) I watched the last painful minutes of the Dennis Miller show. There were 16 minutes left in the show and Dennis Miller, Martin Short, Naomi Wolfe, and some other fellow, were sitting around trying to figure out what to talk about because all the guests could think about was how Dennis Miller likes George Bush.
At the end of the show, Miller had on a chimpanzee which either unconsciously represented the "monkey on his back" and the scar on his career from liking an elected official or it literally represented his fondness for the simian-like president.
-LOBO
Tonight, on CNBC, as I eagerly anticipated the encore airing of the Apprentice (which didn't come on) I watched the last painful minutes of the Dennis Miller show. There were 16 minutes left in the show and Dennis Miller, Martin Short, Naomi Wolfe, and some other fellow, were sitting around trying to figure out what to talk about because all the guests could think about was how Dennis Miller likes George Bush.
At the end of the show, Miller had on a chimpanzee which either unconsciously represented the "monkey on his back" and the scar on his career from liking an elected official or it literally represented his fondness for the simian-like president.
-LOBO
Monday, January 19, 2004
Let the race begin
With 77% of the caucus votes in Iowa, Kerry and Edwards are the big winners and Dean may be left in the dust for good.
I've always respected Kerry and really like Edwards message about there being two Americas. It's a perfect message because when he talks about two Americas people think in terms of commonality as opposed to based on race or geographic location. The message brings up the idea of an underclass but without the socialist undertones and when people think about it, most folks are a part of this second America-- the one that is unemployed, struggling to access health care and attending dilapitated schools.
The question now is whether Lieberman and Gen. Clark placed themselves out of the race by skipping the caucus. Do New Hampshire folks care whether or not they skipped Iowa since they were there, kissing babies for the last week?
My political crystal ball predicts the following results in New Hampshire:
1) Gephardt will drop out tomorrow
2) Kerry will finish first with 40%
3) Edwards and Clark will duke it out for second around 25% each
4) Lieberman and Dean will flounder, neither getting no more than 7%
I've always respected Kerry and really like Edwards message about there being two Americas. It's a perfect message because when he talks about two Americas people think in terms of commonality as opposed to based on race or geographic location. The message brings up the idea of an underclass but without the socialist undertones and when people think about it, most folks are a part of this second America-- the one that is unemployed, struggling to access health care and attending dilapitated schools.
The question now is whether Lieberman and Gen. Clark placed themselves out of the race by skipping the caucus. Do New Hampshire folks care whether or not they skipped Iowa since they were there, kissing babies for the last week?
My political crystal ball predicts the following results in New Hampshire:
1) Gephardt will drop out tomorrow
2) Kerry will finish first with 40%
3) Edwards and Clark will duke it out for second around 25% each
4) Lieberman and Dean will flounder, neither getting no more than 7%
