The Illuminaughty

Is the "Success" of the Surge a Hoax?

2008-10-03T22:37:00.005-05:00

Bob Woodward just said that the surge is not the reason things in Iraq have changed on Real Time With Bill Maher. He claims that the real reason things have "improved" in Iraq is due to "top secret" tactics/techniques, etc. He didn't really specify what exactly it was, but quipped that we'll know in 15-20 years. Imagine that. Woodward's new book The War Within apparently details this to some extent.

All Eyez on G

2008-10-01T17:32:00.002-05:00

Free Market Principles Should Be Applied to Political Candidates

2008-09-22T10:54:00.002-05:00

This post is directed to my free-market friends. A while back I wrote a post about abolishing the two-party political system in America. The rhetoric may have been a little too 'revolutionary' for those of you with a more conservative approach.

The two major political parties are essentially entrenched monopolies that are exclusive and act as conservative engines. In free-market democracy anyone should be able to run for office, not just the uber wealthy and connected. By limiting ourselves to two parties we are effectively distorting the market for politicians. The entire process should be more open-source and bottom-up than top-down.

The Obama movement and to a lesser extent the Ron Paul movement have shown us how effective grass-roots can be. This approach should be taken further and the process should be opened up, instead of allowing two brands that are both out of touch with the harsh political realities of the 21st century.

Let the market decide who the best candidates are.

Palin Offended by 'bush' Doctrine

2008-09-15T16:48:00.003-05:00

I figured out why Palin had that deer in the headlights moment when Charlie Gibson asked her if she supported the Bush doctrine. She thought Gibson was referring to her stance on pubic hair. As a social conservative is Mrs. Palin anti-bush?

Top 10 Reasons College Students Should Vote McCain Palin

2008-09-08T18:14:00.006-05:00

10.McCain is a great public speaker.
9. If McCain is elected you won't have to ever see the White House on an episode of MTV Cribs.
8. The McCain administration will outlaw abortion. Congrats bro, you won't have to pay for your one night stand's abortion.
7. McCain will eliminate the death tax. Bro, your trust fund is secure!
6. If McCain dies and Palin steps in, no big deal, you're already used to being told what to do by your mother.
5. New cabinet position: Secretary of Cougars
4. Isn't McCain the guy that starred in all those Vietnam movies?
3. John McCain's wife owns a BEER distributorship. Dude, did you say BEER?
2. Palin rhymes with nailin...nuff said.
1. McCain is a maverick, just like Tom Cruise in Top Gun.

Putin Allready Killed Tiger, Says 'Cougar' Palin Next

2008-09-06T13:57:00.007-05:00

As Vladimir Putin sat in his satin smoking jacket, puffing on a cigar, and sipping on a glass of straight vodka and watching the RNC on satellite he probably "pu-ted" in his pants after hearing John McCain talk about Russia invading Georgia. He probably muttered something along the lines of "You bunch of cowboys...I told you touch nothing."

McCain had the gusto to say that Russia invaded a smaller nation (Georgia) to secure its oil future. Apparently the bobble-heads at the RNC didn't see a shred of hypocrisy in that statement.

Putin, who by the way killed himself a bear when he was only three recently shot and killed a runaway tiger to send a message to John McCain that he won't be intimidated by a cougar like Palin.

Alert: Putin Hired by Sigfried and Roy

2008-09-01T14:11:00.001-05:00

Following Putin's recent heroics involving a tiger Sigfried and Roy have decided to hire him full-time.

A Neo-Libertarian Platform

2008-09-01T13:11:00.002-05:00

The weakness of the current two political parties is becoming more and more apparent each year. Each party has its share of good and terrible ideas and positions. It is difficult to support one party or the other because half of each platform sucks.

This has led me to create the Neo-Libertarian platform. To give you an idea of what the Neo-Libertarian movement/party would come from I will give you a run-down of the platform's answer to the most talked about election issues of the day.

The most important thing to Neo-Libertarian's is freedom.

Abortion-The state has no right to tell a woman what she can or cannot do with her own body. The female sex did not choose to be the bearers of children, they were simply born with that gift/curse depending on how you choose to look at it. Men do not have to endure the physical responsibility of pregnancy and all that goes along with it. Also, banning abortion makes criminals of our wives, sisters, and mothers.

Immigration-Secure the borders to keep us safe from terrorism, but also make it easier to legally immigrate to the US. Mexico is a cesspool of corruption and lawlessness. Go with the free-market on this one. Legal immigrants will bring new ideas and culture which will only better serve us in the global economy and they will be able to contribute to the tax base. Illegal immigration burdens state and federal budgets by forcing illegals to be paid in cash.

Economics-Like it or not, the Free-market is the fairest approach for a society. In the global economy capital will go where the least amount of regulation exists. We should stop distorting markets with unnecessary subsidies and crony capitalism. There are simply too many variables involved in the global economy for anyone to comprehend successfully. Central economic planning simply will not work because no one is smart enough to do it.

However, we must also realize that you cannot choose what economic situation you are born into. We should seek to provide education and etc. in order to give everyone a chance to compete in the global economy. Children from poorer income families are at a severe disadvantage in this regard. This distorts the labor and other markets.

Defense-Even the RAND corporation admits that armed conflict/force is increasingly less effective. Stop spending untold billions on defense. We have the largest defense budget in the world by far and that is just the numbers that actually get reported. Who knows how many trillions of dollars we spend on defense.

We need to realize that Western Europe, parts of Eastern Europe and Australia are important allies. We need to work together to promote free societies as opposed to bickering. We should work together with these allies and build a coalition if we hope to survive the rise of the East.

We should protect ourselves and our interests, but not unilaterally. We are behind in education and our infrastructure is crumbling. We should spend at least a few billion on those issues instead if we hope to compete in the global economy.

Gun Control-Prohibition of firearms ensures two things, a dangerous black market for guns and that criminals will have guns and ordinary citizens will not. I'm not suggesting passing out guns like condoms. Criminal background checks and waiting periods are ok to maintain public safety. Not to mention we are guaranteed this right in the 4th amendment.

The Drug War-A huge waste of money and manpower. Our drug problem destabilizes entire countries (ex. Colombia) and the blackmarket drug trade finances our enemies (Taliban). Treat drug use as a medical issue instead of making them criminals. Our prison are severely overcrowded with drug offenders.

The Death Penalty-The state should not have the authority to take a human life. The legal system is unfair to the poor and minorities.

How many innocent people have been vindicated through DNA evidence? How many innocent people were executed before DNA? Being imprisoned for a crime you didn't commit would have to be one of the worst things that could happen to a person.

These are just a few of the pillars of the Neo-Libertarian platform. Stay tuned for more.

Palin Will Probably Cost McCain the Election

2008-09-01T12:54:00.003-05:00

Following Obama's capitulation on FISA, I became increasingly disillusioned with his campaign. Even though I voted for him TWICE, once in the Texas primary and once during the caucus I have since decided not to vote for him in the general election.

In the ridiculous circus that has become American politics I do believe that Biden is a better veep pick for the general election. This by no means signifies that I personally endorse the choice.

Even in the early days of the Democratic primary when I thought Obama might actually be a worthy candidate I still maintained that McCain would probably win the election. I held that belief until I heard he picked Palin as veep. I'm still slightly leaning towards McCain winning (not an endorsement), but he certainly made the wrong choice.

All McCain had to do to win was settle for Pawlenty since he couldn't go with the person that would cement his victory (Lieberman). Appealing to the Republican base and hoping to court those rabid PUMAS was a desperate gamble that is almost certain to fail.

If Obama's "lack of experience" is such an issue why choose someone like Palin? McCain is a lot more likely to take ill or to be blunt, die than Obama. I doubt anyone wants a staunch social conservative with little experience to be running things if McCain kicks the bucket.

If McCain had only gone with his gut this election would be wrapped up nicely for him with Lieberman by his side. Now, Obiden's chances suddenly looks a lot better.

Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan: All Part of the Plan?

2008-08-28T13:42:00.002-05:00

Today I came across a Washington Post article: U.N. Finds Airstrike Killed 90 Afghans Most of Fatalities In U.S.-Led Attack Said to Be Children.

The most telling quote from the article is

Kai Eide, the top U.N. official in Afghanistan, said local officials and residents in the western province of Herat corroborated reports that 60 children and 30 adults had been killed in an Aug. 21 military operation led by U.S. Special Operations forces and the Afghan army.

Of course, most Americans will never even hear about this tragedy. Even if they did, nobody would raise an eyebrow because "its all part of the plan." We wonder why the Muslim world despises us. If the Afghans killed 90 Americans we would retaliate swiftly and decisively. The best military money can buy ends up killing 90 innocent people and no one even bats an eye.

Does anyone else see anything wrong with this picture? Aren't we supposed to be winning hearts and minds, not destroying them.

Of course, in today's insane political climate bringing such tragedies to light and asking logical questions about our actions only makes one a tin-foil hat wearing communist/terrorist supporter that probably harvests stem cells from aborted fetuses.

This really underscores the amazing power of idealogy to engineer a false consciousness or some other mechanism which allows injustice and murder to persist. Divide and conquer tactics have successfully rendered the American public immobile.

Even though the government has repeatedly shown it cannot be trusted (Iraq anyone?), just go shopping, watch tv and play video games. While innocent people die turn your back and shut you eyes and ears. Americans have bigger concerns than 90 dead innocents, like the price of gas or the latest celebrity scandal.

Don't worry Americans, "its all part of the plan...even if the plan is horrifying."

Comment on 911

2008-08-21T22:23:00.003-05:00

Personally, I am skeptical of conspiracy theories, but I am also skeptical when it comes to the US government. They are certainly not above lying, withholding the truth, and spin. That said it becomes impossible to know what to believe these days and maybe that is the point. The following comment on an article on the NIST explanation for the collapse of building 7.

This is the true smoking gun.

If you wanted to know how the people you blame on an incident carried it out, you would investigate every possible means. However, if you had some part in making sure those people succeeded because you had an agenda, you would ignore the means that you used to make sure the terror attacks shocked and awed the american people. You never investigate anything that you already know you were involved in, and if you aren't very sophisticated, or believe the people aren't that sophisticated, you immediately push some other explanation in order to deflect attention from the method used, since you know you're the guilty party.

I mean, nobody thinks the government actually planned the attacks. But it is obvious that they planned to make sure it gave them the golden ticket to enact their plans.

They even said "The process of transformation is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event—like a new Pearl Harbor.”

So if you want to shock and awe everyone, what better way than to show the two tallest buildings in NYC collapsing. Everyone knew, pre-9/11 that kerosene wouldn't cause a building to collapse, and that both towers were built to withstand TWO impacts of 737s, each (because the architect remembered that a B25 hit the empire state building in 1945 during a heavy fog).

So they had to lend a few hands.

You know how some people cite "occams razor" and say the official explanation is the simplest explanation? Well, obviously this change in the story proves it wasn't the simplest explanation. And what about NORAD's first failure in its history to respond to any anomoly in flight status? The simplest explanation, according to people who want to maintain their faith in our political system is that they fucked up and just simply failed. But the true simplest answer is that a plan was in place to ensure the terrorists were not allowed to fail.

No, the government didn't plan the terror attacks. BUT, there was an ideological plan to make sure that the terror attacks became the reason to embark on the "On Rebuilding America's Defenses" plan (you know... “The process of transformation is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event—like a new Pearl Harbor.”)

Do Corps. Really Not Pay Taxes?

2008-08-13T13:23:00.002-05:00

The blogosphere has been abuzz recently with articles claiming that the majority of U.S. corporations do not pay taxes. Part of me finds this hard to believe, but then again the reality of the world economy is that capital will go to places where the least regulation exists. The crony capitalism of the recent GOP also makes me think this could actually be accurate. Hell, I'm thinking of incorporating myself. Incorporation seems like the easiest way to skirt the law. Food for thought.

Jimmy Carter Confused by Russian Attack on Geogia

2008-08-12T18:28:00.003-05:00

Poor Jimmy Carter probably had a heart attack when he read headlines that Russia is at war with Georgia. Carter assumed Putin was after those much heralded Georgia peaches.

Putin vs. Stalin's Home!?!

2008-08-12T18:26:00.003-05:00

How ironic is it that Russia(which has been ruled by thugs, gangsters, and ex KGB strongmen) is attacking Stalin's home country of Georgia?

Americas New Slogan?

2008-08-10T22:54:00.002-05:00

'The United States, we spend more on things that kill people than any other country in the world.'

Awesome Dark Knight Comment: Must-Read?!?

2008-08-10T20:52:00.003-05:00

This brilliant comment was totally buried on Digg, but it's pure genius. I wish I knew how-to get in touch with the guy to get his permission to post this, but oh well its a public forum. So whoever you are Clak from Digg I salute you.

2 hr 26 min ago

Below viewing threshold. Hide

THE DARK KNIGHT: Abridged.
By: Film School Snob

FADE IN:
EXT. OFFICE BUILDING
A couple of thieves wearing CLOWN MASKS rappel down a steel cable like DELTA FORCE COMMANDOS, to a bank across the way. They have the BIGGEST SET OF BALLS in Gotham history.

CLOWN FACE #1
So why do they call him the Joker?

CLOWN FACE #2
Don't you think we have more important things to talk about? We're robbing a mob bank in broad freaking daylight!

Clown Face #1 shoots Clown Face #2 in the back and races down to the vault.

Meanwhile...

INT. BANK OF GOTHAM
A bank manager named WILLIAM FICHTNER, who looks suspiciously similar to a bank manager in MICHAEL MANN'S HEAT, chases after another group of bank robbers with a SHOTGUN.

WILLIAM FICHTNER
This is a fucking mob bank! Do you have any idea who you're fucking with?

THE LEADER of the bank robbers, CLOWN FACE #4, shoots Fichtner and continues to steal his money.

WILLIAM FICHTNER
Well shit, this is exactly what happened to me in Heat!

CLOWN FACE #3 shoots CLOWN FACE #2 after he opens the vault and turns his gun on CLOWN FACE #4.

CLOWN FACE #3
I'm guessing the Joker told you to kill me, right?

CLOWN FACE #4
No, I'm supposed to kill the bus driver.

CLOWN FACE #3
What bus driver?

CLOWN FACE #4
Could you move back a little bit? That's it. A little more to the right, now stop. Perfect.

A SCHOOL BUS CRASHES through the WALL OF THE BANK, crushing Clown Face #3 at EXACTLY the right moment. This is NOT CORNY AT ALL. In fact, it looks REALLY COOL.

Clown Face #4 shoots the CLOWN BUS DRIVER and loads the money.

WILLIAM FICHTNER
Michael Mann is so going to kick your ass for stealing the plot of his best movie.

CLOWN FACE #4, who is actually HEATH LEDGER in disguise (surprise!), takes out a SMOKE GRENADE and shoves it into Fichtner's mouth for ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD REASON.

CLOWN FACE #4
I believe that whatever doesn't kill you makes you stranger.

A line of basement dwelling fanboys, sitting in the front row of the theater, spray their pants on cue.

INT. ULTRA SECRET MOB BUILDING
Heath Ledger walks into a meeting of Gotham's three biggest mobsters: ERIC ROBERTS, brother of Julia, RITCHIE COSTER and MICHAEL JAI WHITE.

HEATH LEDGER
Like the suit? I bought it with your money.

MICHAEL JAI WHITE
Did you pay off our guards too? Jesus Christ, I mean how the hell did you just walk in here? We're like the biggest 3 mobsters in Gotham City and you just made our vast array of ruthless killers look like kindergarden Rent-A-Cops!

HEATH LEDGER
Why so serious?

MICHAEL JAI WHITE
What's to stop me from sending my boy to stomp in your face or even better, shooting you in the kneecaps from across the room, which would make a hell of a lot more sense, since we could then torture you to tell us where the money is?

HEATH LEDGER
How 'bout a magic trick?

The HEAVILY ARMED mobsters allow Heath to place a PENCIL on the table where they sit. Michael Jai White dispatches a LARGE HOOD, who manages to STOMP over to Heath without disturbing the pencil's perfect balance.

Heath drives the MAN'S HEAD into the pencil, killing him.

HEATH LEDGER
Ta-Da!

MICHAEL JAI WHITE
Wow. What a great magic trick. I will now calmly listen to what you have to say and without firing one of the many guns in my jacket or even the guns of the heavily armed men around me.

HEATH LEDGER
I've got one piece of advice for you. Kill the Batman.

MICHAEL JAI WHITE
That's what you risked your life to come here and tell us? A telephone, motherfucker, have you heard of it?

HEATH LEDGER
Why so serious?

Meanwhile...

EXT. HONG KONG
CHRISTIAN BALE, the forgotten hero of this movie, has captured the mob's accountant, CHIN HAN, on the top of a skyscraper. A large C-47 TRANSPORT PLANE swoops down out of the sky, snagging Christian Bale and Chin Han up and away.

Several fanboys in the front row instantly spray themselves a second time.

INT. GOTHAM COURT HOUSE
Using Chin Han to build their case, Gotham's District Attorneys, AARON ECKHART and MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL, begin to arrest a bunch of criminals not yet killed by Heath Ledger in highly improbable bank robberies.

ERIC ROBERTS
I guess we're going to have to hire this crazy Heath Ledger character to kill Batman for us.

EXT. GOTHAM CITY
Heath Ledger proceeds to kill the POLICE COMMISSIONER and a FEMALE JUDGE and goes searching for Aaron Eckhart at Christian Bale's Penthouse party.

FILM SCHOOL SNOB
Why the fuck is Heath Ledger killing these people? I thought he was hired to kill Batman?

INT. BALE'S PENTHOUSE
Christian Bale hides Aaron Eckhart in a broom closet (don't ask) and confronts Heath Ledger dressed as Batman, but Ledger escapes by throwing Maggie Gyllenhaal OUT THE WINDOW and instead of deploying a SUPER COOL GADGET while in free fall, Christian Bale cushions their impact by landing on the roof of a FUCKING TAXI and gets up without so much as a scratch.

CHRISTIAN BALE
My bat armor is almost like magic!

EXT. GOTHAM CITY
In response to this new threat to the residents of Gotham City, the mayor decides to hold a speech in an OPEN SQUARE surrounded by TALL ABANDONED BUILDINGS.

For reasons no one can explain, the police FAIL TO INSPECT a room DIRECTLY ABOVE the mayor's stage.
Shockingly, Heath Ledger attempts to shoot the mayor but kills the newly appointed Commissioner, GARY OLDMAN, instead.

FILM SCHOOL SNOB
Holy shit! He was only commissioner for like two days!

INT. BALE'S PENTHOUSE
Christian Bale watches Heath Ledger on television.

HEATH LEDGER
I will continue to kill innocent civilians unless Batman is delivered at my feet.

CHRISTIAN BALE
Oh shit, I obviously need to turn myself in. Where's my coat?

INT. POLICE STATION
Christian Bale goes to a news conference to turn himself in, but Aaron Eckhart confesses to being Batman instead and is immediately arrested.

EXT. GOTHAM STREETS
The police transport Eckhart in a SLOW MOVING POLICE VAN to an undisclosed location along a HEAVILY POPULATED ROUTE in the middle of Gotham City.

FILM SCHOOL SNOB
Why the fuck don't they just transport him in a helicopter? Wouldn't that be safer?

Heath Ledger kills a bunch of HELICOPTER PILOTS, several cats, puppies, twenty-five POLICEMEN and enough INNOCENT CIVILIANS to fill a SOCCER STADIUM.

FILM SCHOOL SNOB
Oh shit, never mind.

Christian Bale chases Heath Ledger in the Batmobile and launches the vehicle just as Heath Ledger attempts to hit the police van with a rocket launcher.

The Batmobile is slightly damaged, which gives Christian Bale an excuse to TRANSFORM it into an ultra cool BAT MOTORCYCLE.

DARK KNIGHT FANBOYS
Fuck yeah!

FILM SCHOOL SNOB
When the hell did Michael Bay start directing this movie?

Christian Bale proceeds to FLIP Heath Ledger's truck, forcing him into the street where Gary Oldman, who is NOT really dead at all (surprise!), proceeds to arrest him. Christian Bale lamely crashes his Bat Motorcycle, thereby robbing us of the epic battle promised in The Dark Knight trailer.

INT. POLICE STATION
Christian Bale interrogates Heath Ledger with some well placed KARATE CHOPS to the head. Convinced by the Bad Cop/Bad Cop routine, Heath Ledger reveals that Eckhart and Gyllenhaal have been taken to opposite sides of the city and placed in two identical ABANDONED WAREHOUSES rigged with explosives, which are far enough apart that Bale does not have time to save both of them.

FILM SCHOOL SNOB
Holy shit, this little plot twist was stolen directly from Spiderman, which was stolen directly from Richard Donner's Superman. What's next? A Gene Hackman cameo?

EXT. GOTHAM STREETS
Christian Bale speeds off to save Gyllenhaal, while Gary Oldman goes after Eckhart. However, Heath Ledger has SWITCHED the locations (surprise!), sending Bale after Eckhart and Oldman after Gyllenhaal.

The buildings BLOW UP simultaneously, scarring half of Eckhart's face (surprise!) and KILLING the not-so-delicious Maggie Gyllenhaal, to the RELIEF of fanboys stroking to photos of Katie Holmes.

INT. POLICE STATION
With the help of a BOMB placed in a CELL PHONE in the belly of a HOMELESS GUY (don't ask), Heath Ledger escapes with Chin Han in tow.

EXT. GOTHAM STREETS
Heath Ledger pokes his head out of the window of a police car and makes an iconic pose, which generates a WAVE OF APPLAUSE throughout theaters around the world.

FILM SCHOOL SNOB
When the hell did Heath Ledger become the hero of this movie?

INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE
Heath Ledger burns Chin Han and a large PYRAMID OF MOB MONEY while Ritchie Coster watches.

RITCHIE COSTER
Why the fuck are you burning all our money?

HEATH LEDGER
I'm a man of simple tastes. I like gunpowder... and dynamite... and gasoline! Do you know what all of these things have in common? They're cheap!

RITCHIE COSTER
Have you checked the price of gas lately?

HEATH LEDGER
You see, money means nothing to me.

RITCHIE COSTER
Which is why you rob banks for a living, right? Makes perfect sense.

INT. GOTHAM GENERAL HOSPITAL
Eckhart is driven to MADNESS over the loss of Gyllenhaal, to the DISGUST of fanboys stroking to photos of Katie Holmes. After threatening to BLOW UP A FUCKING HOSPITAL, Heath Ledger, the HERO OF THIS MOVIE, sneaks inside to talk to Eckhart, who has conveniently been abandoned by the police evacuating Gotham General.

HEATH LEDGER
Hi there, Eckhart, I killed your girlfriend and burned your face. Wouldn't you like to get back at the guys who helped me?

AARON ECKHART
Why wouldn't I just kill you?

HEATH LEDGER
You don't want to kill me. You should kill that mobster played by Julia Robert's brother and Gary Oldman for not stopping me from killing your ugly girlfriend. So whadaya say? Let's kill some people.

AARON ECKHART
That's the lamest excuse for motivation in the history of lame motivations!

HEATH LEDGER
Why so serious?

EXT. GOTHAM GENERAL HOSPITAL
Heath Ledger walks outside into the BROAD FUCKING DAYLIGHT and DETONATES the hospital into a fiery mushroom cloud, EXACTLY as he warned the police only minutes ago.

THE COPS, who for some reason have set up perimeters MILES AWAY, do absolutely NOTHING to stop Heath Ledger, who gets into an ultra fast SCHOOL BUS and drives away, SLOWLY.

EXT. GOTHAM CITY
Two-Face Eckhart proceeds to kill Julia Robert's brother and a CORRUPT COP, while speaking menacingly with an ANNOYING VOICE that's usually reserved for BATMAN.

Heath Ledger, the ONE MAN CLOWN ARMY, threatens to BLOW UP the bridges and tunnels leading out of Gotham City, but instead of calling in the NATIONAL GUARD, the MARINES, the AIR FORCE or even SUPERMAN, the police arrange to transport Gotham City's residents on two ferries, which are loaded with HUNDREDS OF BARRELS of explosives.

For some reason, no one NOTICES THIS before leaving.

Halfway across across the lake to Michigan, the electrical systems on both Ferries are shorted out by the PINCH DEVICE from Ocean's Eleven. Ledger promises to spare whomever decides to trigger the bombs on the other boat.

A large SCARY BLACK GUY on one of the ferries, which is full of convicts, does the RIGHT THING by throwing the detonator off the boat. This is supposed to show the fortitude of the American spirit or something.

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN
Isn't it great that you can find such great values in a ludicrously violent popcorn movie, starring a man who dresses up like a bat?

FILM SCHOOL SNOB
Hey, why the hell is Deebo in this movie?

Meanwhile...

INT. BALE'S PENTHOUSE BASEMENT
Christian Bale shows Morgan Freeman a gigantic multiple screen computer, which rivals the Architect's digs in Matrix Reloaded for PURE AWESOMENESS.

CHRISTIAN BALE
These monitors are patched into every cell phone in Chicago, uh, Gotham City. We can use your sonar technology, which I've somehow embedded into every phone in the city, to track Heath Ledger.

MORGAN FREEMAN
This sonar device, which I invented, is a total breach of privacy.

CHRISTIAN BALE
But I've locked the computer thingy using your name as a password.

MORGAN FREEMAN
Why?

CHRISTIAN BALE
You're Morgan-Fucking-Freeman. You played the president of United States and God—twice! If anyone in the audience is going to trust someone to violate the rights of hypothetical citizens in a non-existent city, it's you. So will you please do me this one favor?

MORGAN FREEMAN
Absolutely not!
(pause)
Okay.

Freeman activates the device that would NEVER EXIST in the REALISTIC world set up by Christopher Nolan in Batman Begins and tracks Joker to an ABANDONED BUILDING overlooking Lake Michigain.

INT. ABANDONED BUILDING
Christian Bale finds Heath Ledger staring out a window.

CHRISTIAN BALE
Your plan has failed, Heath Ledger, give up!

HEATH LEDGER
Do I look like a guy who makes plans?

CHRISTIAN BALE
Well now, let's see. You robbed a dangerous mob bank in broad daylight, killed a judge, the police commisioner and attempted to shoot the mayor while surrounded by the entire Gotham City police force and snuck into a hospital, also in broad daylight, while wearing clown makeup. You also loaded thousands of barrels of explosive chemicals on 2 ferries, yet again, without the police noticing. So yeah, I would say you look like a guy who makes plans.

HEATH LEDGER
Why so serious?

Bale fights a BUNCH OF DOGS (I kid you not) and somehow Heath Ledger manages to throw himself out of THE WINDOW. Christian Bale saves him with an IMPOSSIBLE SHOT from his grappling gun, ending any possibility of the EPIC FIGHT we were promised in The Dark Knight trailers.

HEATH LEDGER
Why the fuck did you save me?

2 hr 25 min ago

CHRISTIAN BALE
Because I'm a good person, just like the convict on the ferry.

HEATH LEDGER
Then why the hell didn't you save Liam Neeson at the end of Batman Begins? Shit, man, I killed the love of your life like two days ago and you fucking saved me!

CHRISTIAN BALE
Shut up. You're almost as annoying as that Film School Snob. Besides, we obviously need you for the sequel.

HEATH LEDGER
There's a slight chance I might be unavailable.

Bale leaves Ledger and the SWAT TEAM dangling (don't ask) and somehow learns that Eckhart is holding Gary Oldman and his family hostage.

INT. ABANDONED BUILDING
Bale throws Eckhart off another FUCKING ABANDONED BUILDING, thereby saving Oldman's son, but then proceeds to FALL FIVE STORIES without a PARACHUTE.

CHRISTIAN BALE
Good lord, this armor really is magic!

GARY OLDMAN
Despite the fact that he tried to kill my family, we have to protect Eckhart's good name.

CHRISTIAN BALE
Yes, we wouldn't want people to know that he was walking around shooting dangerous mobsters and corrupt cops. Why don't you just blame it all on me instead?

GARY OLDMAN
What a great idea! Unsolved cases are bad for morale.

CHRISTIAN BALE
Yes, we wouldn't want the public to think that the Gotham Police are a bunch of morons. After all, you guys did protect the police commissioner from being assassinated and Gyllenhaal and Eckhart from being kidnapped. Oh wait a second, no you didn't. How the hell are you guys going to manage without me?

GARY OLDMAN
Dude, we'll answer that question in the next movie. Now get to stepping.

Bush Should Be Grounded, Not at the Olympics

2008-08-09T20:42:00.001-05:00

How is it that this guy gets to go to the Olympics and I get to stay here and work all week for peanuts? Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

Is Anyone Suprised Oil Man Bush Wants to Drill?

2008-07-25T20:33:00.002-05:00

Am I just an idiot or suffering brain damage? I only ask because I'm the only one not putting it together that Bush and Cheney and their significant ties to big oil don't have a stake in drilling offshore.

George W. Bush: Great F* Up or the Greatest F* Up?

2008-07-24T13:26:00.002-05:00

Its frighteningly staggering when you add up the screw-ups of the last 8 years. Who would have thought that you could do so much damage in only 8 years.

TX Sen Cornyn Response to My Call on FISA

2008-07-24T12:24:00.001-05:00

Dear Mr. Cherry:

Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA). As you know, FISA passed the Senate on July 9, 2008, and I appreciate having the benefit of your comments.

Gathering communications intelligence is one of America’s front lines of defense in the war on terror. As you may know, Congress passed the Protect America Act in August 2007, modernizing FISA to give intelligence professionals the tools they urgently need to gather information, while still protecting the civil liberties of Americans. Senator John Rockefeller introduced the FISA Amendments Act of 2007 (S. 2248) on October 26, 2007, to continue this vital work. S. 2248 creates an expanded role for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, empowering the court to have more scrutiny over surveillance procedures and acquisitions. Additionally, this legislation increases congressional oversight by strengthening reporting and auditing requirements by the Inspector General.

The changes to FISA under S. 2248 also provide civil immunity for communications carriers that assisted the government with surveillance in the past, as well as creating civil immunity for future assistance. Communications carriers are currently facing billions of dollars in lawsuits for their role in assisting the National Security Agency’s Terrorist Surveillance Program instituted after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. This program worked to thwart future terrorist attacks by intercepting communications between suspected terrorists overseas and potential operatives within the United States. Though acting without a court warrant, the program was conducted under the President’s broad authority to protect and defend the nation. Communications carriers provided invaluable assistance, relying on official assurances about legality. While the process of litigation is integral to our system of laws, I believe it is unfair to punish the communications companies for patriotic compliance with the government’s war on terror.

Providing prospective civil immunity for communications carriers that assist government surveillance in the future is important to ensuring effective collection of intelligence. Communications technology has become so complex that our country needs the voluntary cooperation of carriers. Without it, our intelligence efforts will be severely debilitated. Providing immunity guarantees the needed cooperation of communications carriers who can rely on official assurances about necessity and legality. It is important to note that S. 2248 does not grant immunity to government officials.

S. 2248 overwhelmingly passed in the Senate Intelligence Committee, by a bipartisan vote of 13–2, and was passed by the Senate on February 12, 2008, by a bipartisan vote of 68–29. Unfortunately, this bipartisan Senate compromise was rejected by the House of Representatives, allowing FISA to expire on February 16, 2008, and leaving our nation’s intelligence community in the dark for a critical period of time.

In June 2008, the House of Representatives passed the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 (H.R. 6304), and on July 9, 2008, the Senate approved H.R. 6304 by a bipartisan vote of 69–28. I was pleased to see that members of Congress can work together in a bipartisan manner to improve our national security. H.R. 6304 currently awaits further consideration by President George W. Bush.

As a member of both the Senate Armed Services and Judiciary Committees, I am committed to ensuring that we appropriately balance our national security needs and the protection of our civil liberties. I believe that the amended FISA bill, including the immunity provision for communications carriers, strikes this much needed balance. I appreciate the opportunity to represent the interests of Texans in the United States Senate, and am thankful for your comments about this important legislation.

Sincerely,

JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator

517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-2934
Fax: (202) 228-2856
http://www.cornyn.senate.gov

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TX Senator Hutchinson Response to My Call Regarding FISA

2008-07-23T12:09:00.002-05:00

Dear Mr. Cherry:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. I welcome your thoughts and comments on this issue.

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978 provides the basic framework for the use of electronic surveillance in the context of foreign intelligence gathering. Over time, FISA has been amended to expand intelligence gathering to physical searches and access to certain business records. Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the USA PATRIOT Act made significant changes to some FISA provisions in order to aid in the capture of suspected terrorists.

On July 11, 2008, the President signed into law H.R. 6304, the FISA Amendments Act of 2008. This bill updates FISA to close a critical gap relating to the surveillance of suspected terrorists and to address limitations on surveillance created by a 2007 FISA Court decision. The bill also includes important safeguards to protect privacy and civil liberties, including procedures to prevent the dissemination of information about U.S. citizens that has been collected incidentally during certain surveillance activities. H.R. 6304 passed the Senate with my support by a bipartisan vote of 69-28.

One contentious provision in the bill allows a federal district court to rule on whether there was “substantial evidence” that electronic service providers who may have cooperated with the federal government in its warrantless surveillance program after 9/11, received written assurances that the program was legal and authorized by the President. If the court rules that there was substantial evidence of assurances, the existing class action lawsuits that many of these companies face will be dismissed. It is important to note that FISA has provided for many years that suits against electronic communications service providers cannot be maintained if there is a court order authorizing the surveillance or the companies received written certification that their cooperation in surveillance activities was legal. Because the federal government asserted its executive privilege in the pending lawsuits in order to protect sources and methods of intelligence collection, the companies' ability to provide evidence to defend their alleged conduct has been limited.

I recognize that some oppose liability protection, but I believe that it is untenable to allow lawsuits to proceed at the same time that we limit the ability of the defendant companies to produce evidence critical to their defense. The potential liability awards that might result could be catastrophic, negatively affecting the broader economy and signaling to these companies, and to other private entities that we may need to rely upon in the War on Terror, that their cooperation carries major risks.

Please know that I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to safeguard the security of our nation while upholding our personal privacy rights and civil liberties.

I appreciate hearing from you, and I hope that you will not hesitate to keep in touch on any issue of concern to you.

Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison
United States Senator

284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5922 (tel)
202-224-0776 (fax)
http://hutchison.senate.gov

"Its all part of the plan..."

2008-07-22T12:04:00.002-05:00

Nobody gets upset because its all part of 'the plan'.

Dark Knight Review

2008-07-18T21:45:00.002-05:00

Let me start out by saying that the only way to see this film iMax. The iMax experience is definitely worth the extra money.

Overall, I feel a little indifferent to the film. Ledger nearly hit a home run as the Joker, but he's not on screen with Bale enough. There are tidbits of intensity between the two here and there, but a lot of the screen time seems like filler when waiting for intense verbal exchanges between the ultimate comic book villain and Batman.

Aaron Eckhardt did a great job as Harvey Dent/Two-Face, but the cgi effects used on his face were a little too over the top and could have been done far more realistically. Its a shame because Eckhardt would have been great in a sequel. He would have been a real asset to a follow-up.

Bale seemed to be very plastic and reminded me of his performance in American Psycho. He lacks a lot of emotional range. I guess a film like this has to cut out more of that kind of character development to please the wider audience.

All of that said, the film is definitely a must-see. I give it a B+.

Free 3G iPhones for Congress in Return for FISA Capitulization?

2008-07-14T11:07:00.005-05:00

I finally figured out why Congress caved on the president's FISA requests. The answer: free 3G iPhones for all those who voted for FISA courtesy of AT&T. Incidentally, John McCain requested a rotary dial iPhone.

Next time you see your favorite Congressman cruising the beltway they will be doing it in style. God Bless America.

What Ever Happened to Single Earner Households?

2008-07-14T10:55:00.002-05:00

The Fifties seem like a golden age in America. Perhaps I am guilty of giving too much credence to the popular memory, but at one time didn't most families have only one working parent? If you want a clear barometer of how the economic landscape of the U.S. has changed it would certainly seem logical to speculate that it would be almost impossible for most families to survive on one income.

How did such a shift occur and how did it occur so rapidly? The results have to be detrimental in terms of the socialization and development of children. The dual-income household which is now the standard has given rise to a whole host of problems. These certainly may include health and education.

The dual-income reality means that parents are less likely to make home cooked meals and instead opt for take-out on the way home from the daily commute. The dual-income household also gave rise to latch key kids.

Gee Wally, how the hell did mom and dad do it?

Million American March?!?

2008-07-13T18:18:00.002-05:00

I want to start building the momentum for a million American march on Washington to demand responsible government. We need to get past all of the partisan nonsense that has been used so skillfully and successfully to divide and conquer the American people. We are so busy bickering about things like abortion, gun rights, and gay marriage that we allow ourselves to be manipulated by people who have blind ambition and cunning. While we fight over these issues they are taking our civil liberties, fiddling with the economy(poorly), and turning us into nothing better than the 21st century version of share-croppers.

Spread the word, the clamor of a million voices in Washington crying out for change cannot be ignored by those who have sullied the name of this great nation. God bless America!

FISA Passed 69-28

2008-07-09T15:11:00.001-05:00

Words cannot begin to describe the feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. Hillary out of nowhere came out and voted against cloture, and I threw my vote away on Obama.

FISA Isn't the Only Threat

2008-07-07T13:16:00.001-05:00

freedomworks.org — Help stop this legislation! Hidden deep in the Senate housing legislation is a sweeping provision inserted by Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) that affects the privacy and operation of nearly all of America's small businesses. There is a good chance that we can still stop this, but not without everyone's help.

http://freedomworks.org/petition/grassley/index.html

The Audacity of Hype

2008-07-05T19:39:00.004-05:00

Am a an idiot for having the audacity to hope that Barack Obama was a different kind of politician. He certainly had me going for awhile.

The New York Times wrote today:

"The new Barack Obama has abandoned his vow to filibuster an electronic wiretapping bill if it includes an immunity clause for telecommunications companies that amounts to a sanctioned cover-up of Mr. Bush’s unlawful eavesdropping after 9/11."

I began this primary season as a Ron Paul supporter, but after McCain grabbed the nom early on I reluctantly switched to Obama and even voted for him in the Texas Democratic primary and caucus.

The campaign finance flop didn't really bother me all that much, though it did bring his integrity into question. It would have been a foolish maneuver for Obama to accept public financing given his ability to raise money on the web.

His flip-flop on FISA however is a deal-breaker for me. If he refuses to come out against FISA I will refuse to vote for him in the general election. Not to say I would cross-over and vote for McCain, who is even worse. I can't vote for Bob Barr either due to his voting track record.

If only I was old enough to write myself in.

Corruption or Coincidence?

2008-06-30T11:03:00.005-05:00

Any discussion of President Bush or his administration is sure to become a heated debate among conservatives and liberals. It is difficult to have an apolitical position, but when faced with the turmoil of the last 7-8 years I am reminded of a quote from The Godfather.

Don Corleone:

I never wanted this for you. I worked my whole life, I don’t apologize, to take care of my family. And I refused to be a fool dancing on the string held by all those big shots. I don’t apologize, that’s my life.

If you look at the main players and countries involved in the events of the last 8 years or so a distinct pattern emerges.

Principal players:
George H.W. Bush-Former oilman and Former President.
George W. Bush-Former oilman and Former President.
Dick Cheney-Former Haliburton CEO and Current vice president.
House of Saud-Control largest oil reserves in the world.
Osama Bin Laden-Saudi expatriate, leader of Al Qaeda, 9/11.
Bin Laden Family-wealthy Saudi family with business ties the the Bush family.

Principal Countries:
U.S. -formerly number one consumer of petroleum.
Saudi Arabia-Largest oil reserves in the world, 18 of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudis.
Iran-2nd largest oil reserves in the world.
Iraq-3rd largest oil reserves in the world, U.S. led regime change removed Saddam Hussein from power.

Miscellaneous-Oil prices at all-time high, war with Iraq continues, murmurs of war with Iran

I don't necessarily think there is a nefarious conspiracy being perpetrated. When you look at just the details it becomes difficult for those who lean towards the liberal perspective to not say "wait a minute here." Its not that it doesn't add up, its that it all does seem to add up to something. The question is whether this is corruption or coincidence. Is our collective milkshake being drank?

Kudos to Lloyd Doggett for Voting NO on FISA

2008-06-25T19:52:00.006-05:00

I received the following email from Congressman Lloyd, the house rep. for Texas' 25th congressional district. Keep up the good work Congressman.

June 25, 2008

Dear Cooper:

Thank you for expressing your concerns about amending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). I agree. Last week, I voted against the alleged "compromise," which I believe grants the Administration most of what they wanted including effective immunity for telecommunication companies that helped in conducting unauthorized surveillance.

While some of my colleagues point to some of the improvements that were made in this FISA legislation - such as a provision reaffirming that FISA is the exclusive means by which foreign intelligence surveillance may be conducted in the United States -- such improvements are nothing that cannot be undone by a Presidential signing statement and they certainly do not balance out the negative aspects of the bill.

Over my opposition, this measure was approved by a vote of 293 to 129.

I will continue my efforts in Congress to protect our freedoms. Please keep me advised of any federal matters on which I may be of assistance.

Sincerely,
Lloyd Doggett

Dodd and Feingold to Filibuster Telecom Immunity

2008-06-24T21:01:00.005-05:00

Thank god, but what cellular carrier will be willing to have the two senators as customers after this. I wonder if countrywide will be providing Senator Dodd with free coffee from Starbucks, which would of course be delivered by specially trained barristas riding segues. Look out beltway boys here they come. The rest of the Senate is out shopping for new pj's as we speak.

Top 10 Concept Albums

2008-06-24T12:46:00.013-05:00

1. Pink Floyd-Dark Side of the Moon
This album should be considered high art. It captures the insanity of modern living so well and set the standard by which all concept albums are measured. There is not a moment of weakness in the entire album. Us and Them is about as moving and dead on as any song. Most recognizable album cover in history.
2. Tool-Lateralus
Hand's down Tool's most accomplished album. The theme of the album deals with spirituality and transcending our earthly shackles. The title track is amazing as are most of the other songs. Probably the coolest album art work ever.
3. Pink Floyd-The Wall
Roger Waters' lyrical masterpiece. The double album is Waters at his darkest and most self-indulgent. Hey You and Comfortably Numb are the highlights of this brilliantly executed album. Another great album cover.
4. David Bowie-The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust
The album that launched Bowie and glam. The album was Bowie at his best. The live cuts of this album give them a bit more of a rock/metal feel. The title track is the best song on the album.
5. Rush-2112
My favorite song on the album is A Passage to Bangkok.
6. NIN-Year Zero
Reznor captures the paranoia and the angst of the post 9/11 landscape. Year Zero could be considered the Ziggy Stardust of the 21st century. Reznor certainly borrows aspects of Bowie's album and updates them for the new millennium. Me I'm Not and The Great Destroyer are anthems for the new age revolution. The Warning is another standout track that is reminiscent of Ziggy Stardust.
7. King Crimson-Court of the Crimson King
Epitaph and Court of the Crimson King are epic and incredible. Eat your heart out Jethro Tull.
8. Queensryche-Operation: Mindcrime
Always present in any discussion of the best concept albums of all time.
9. A Perfect Circle-Thirteenth Step
A pun on 12 step programs this is a complete album. The Package has a sexy baseline and tribal rhythms that make it the standout track.
10. Metallica-...And Justice For All
The last real Metallica album hinted at where the band could have gone if they hadn't wanted to broaden their appeal. What a shame because ...And Justice for All and One sound like classical music at times. Harvester of Sorrow is one hell of a scorching metal track. If only they had stayed on this evolutionary path they could have been the greatest.

Speculation Driving Up Value of Civil Liberties

2008-06-22T16:58:00.006-05:00

Are our civil liberties worth more today than they were eight years ago? The price of nearly every commodity in the marketplace has risen sharply over this same time span, ie. oil and food. Civil Rights are traded on the Standard and Poor Index.

Over the past eight years our supply civil liberties have been eroding. The Patriot Act and other legislation and non-legislative steps the Bush administration has taken to "protect" us from another group of "ists" has lowered the supply of available civil liberties. With Friday's passage of the FISA upgrade, that supply is even lower no thanks to the Lame-o-crats.

Many are speculating that these measures will heavily increase the value of remaining civil rights. Civil rights are a finite resource and are being done away with faster than we can replenish the supply. Have we reached "peak civil rights"?

If so, we are in luck because this should cause the value of our remaining rights to rise exponentially if I am capable enough to understand complex economic jargon like supply and demand. I wonder how well what's left of my privacy will trade on Monday. A big thanks to Democrats for helping the value of my remaining civil liberties skyrocket.

Obama Credibility Slipping

2008-06-21T20:43:00.003-05:00

With his refusal of public financing and support for the FISA fiasco Barack Obama is rapidly losing credibility with this observer. Change we can believe in?

I felt so strongly about this issue that I called several congressmen and left voicemails urging them not to vote for this nasty piece of legislation. I called Obama, Pelosi, and my local house rep Lloyd Doggett. A lot of good it did since they had already caved to political fear mongering before the bill was even voted on.

No bid deal, just another bloody footprint on the Constitution.

Test

2008-06-19T17:49:00.000-05:00

Technorati Profile

Abolish the Two-Party System Part II

2008-06-19T17:30:00.002-05:00

Just in case you thought I was some fringe nut job the cowardly Democratic controlled congress goes and destroys any credibility they may have had. This article from Wired discusses how they agreed to expand domestic spying and give telecoms immunity. Thanks once again to the do-nothing Democratic congress. Grow a spine! Both parties are ruining this great nation.

Abolish the Two-Party System

2008-06-17T12:00:00.003-05:00

Republicans=Fascists Democrats=Communists/Socialists Both =Authoritarian

Government has become so ineffectual, corrupt, and insulated from actual America that we need to dump our current two-party system. The political spectrum is far too complex to reduce all voters into two parties as well. Its like being to root for the Yankees or Boston even if you are a Cubs fan.

The two parties have monopolized politics in America by making themselves the only game in town. The parties are an entrenched bureaucracy that keeps many candidates like Ron Paul and Ralph Nader on the sidelines. In many states, third-party candidates can't even get on the ballot. Texas, for example makes it almost impossible to get on the ballot as a third-party candidate.

Neither party is truly the party of liberty, freedom, and justice. Both parties serve collectivist and monied interests. Dems want to control your pocketbook and Republicans want to control your personal life ex. gay marriage and the war on drugs. Both parties think they can make better decisions for individuals than the individuals themselves. They would both like the government to control you, but they can't agree on exactly how that control should be carried out.

Kudos to Ron Paul for attempting to truly change government. More people need to realize that the two-party system is broken and needs to be scrapped. If we slip into another great depression it is likely that at least one of the current parties will be demoted, and lets be honest its more likely that the Dems will flounder. Hopefully people are ready for a real change before the U.S. collapses on itself.

Until then I am forced to try and decide the lesser of two evils between McSame and Obamanible snowman.

Lakers Guaranteed to Win Tonight

2008-06-17T11:48:00.002-05:00

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guarantee that the Lakers will win tonight's game. All the recent former NBA ref drama has convinced me that my long held belief that referees decide the majority of NBA contests. The NBA knows they can make a lot more ad revenue from a game 7 than if the series were to end tonight. Any takers?

Speculating on Speculators

2008-06-16T12:15:00.002-05:00

Everyday it seems a new scapegoat for rising gas prices gets bandied about the blogosphere. The latest being oil futures speculators, who are charged with creating artificial demand due to hedging themselves against inflation.

I have hear a number of arguments and there seems to be no clear solution. Speculators are an integral part of the trading community and do provide some necessary functions. Indeed, anyone who makes an investment is speculating whether the price of said investment will rise or fall.

However, it doesn't make sense that supply and demand alone can account for a 400% increase in gas prices since 2000-2001. While China and India's economies are booming it seems highly unlikely that prices would spike to such a degree so rapidly. One would assume that prices would certainly be on the rise, but the pace would not be so rapid as we have recently witnessed. Increases of 50-80 cents in a matter of months do not seem like they could realistically be tied to increased demand.

Ethanol has taken a lot of the blame for rising food costs, but many farmers receive subsidies to not grow. Increased demand for corn should mean that more farmers would enter the corn market to take advantage of the higher price they can get for corn thereby increasing supply and lowering the cost.

Many have argued that we should ramp up domestic production to increase supply. Not only is this a short-sighted supply side approach, but why would domestic corps. sell their oil cheaper than what they could receive on the open world market.

Its interesting that this issue has reached such a point that the Saudis are concerned enough about this situation to increase production.

Great Depression II

2008-06-16T12:03:00.004-05:00

Due to recent instability in the U.S. economy some are saying that we could be on the verge of slipping into the precipice of another "great depression." It does seem that the Fed has been pretty ineffectual in its attempts to manage inflation by lowering interest rates and many have said that they may actually have to raise them. The rapidly declining dollar combined with skyrocketing commodities and the housing market are going to wreak havoc on the U.S. economy for some time to come.

Is it time to start stockpiling canned goods, water, and other commodities or is this just part of the natural business cycle? I can't imagine the dollar going anywhere but down until the inauguration of the next president. Either way its quite disconcerting for someone like myself who will be attempting to enter the workforce in a year.

What would happen if we slipped into another great depression?

Primary Colors

2008-06-02T17:25:00.002-05:00

The race for the Democratic nomination has been one of the strangest and most contentious in the history of the U.S. From all reports, it appears that it will soon be coming to a close (thank god). Kudos to Hilllary for conducting a great campaign aside from the relentless attacks of the recent months.

I find it ironic that the Obama and Clinton's narratives have nearly completely reversed since super tuesday. Clinton has taken Obama's spot as the underdog and seemingly picked up support, albeit in places such as West Virginia, Kentucky, and Puerto Rico. With all due respect to Hillary, Obama is a better candidate and will match up much better against McSame in the general election, despite the current round of polling showing Clinton fairing better against McSame.

Is the Generation Gap Excellerating?

2008-05-19T19:15:00.002-05:00

The World Wide Web and related information technologies have revolutionized culture in monumental ways. Those who did not grow up or at least adapt to the rise of personal computing and the Internet are living in a different century than those who have been fortunate enough to be born during the last 30 years.

The amount of information required to successfully negotiate the suburban American lifestyle has increased so much in those 30 years that it has significantly widened the gap between generations. The key features of the World Wide Web are its most basic functions, free access to unlimited information and instantaneous communication. Our views are becoming less and less shaped by mass media due to increasing audience fragmentation and niche marketing.

The newest generations are active consumers of information as opposed to passive television audiences of previous decades. With the rise of the information age and the global economy, change is happening at an accelerated pace. If you are not equipped with the tools to navigate the new economic and cultural landscape you are at a serious disadvantage. We are no longer only competing for jobs regionally but increasingly on a global scale. The playing field is requiring people who are familiar with its technological roots and the importance of its communication potential.

Neither of my parents attended college, and they simply have no basic understanding of the world I have grown up and experienced. Even if they had they would still be behind the times due to accelerating change. Instantaneous global communication is the driving force behind this change. The question I pose is if our parents are 20 years behind, how many years behind are their parents?

Bushwhacked Again!

2008-05-16T19:32:00.004-05:00

Let me apologize in advance for the ensuing attack on lame duck President Bush. As an American I am outraged that the president had the gall to make the comments he made about so-called "appeasers" in front of the Israeli parliament. Let me qualify my position by stating that my anger at W's actions goes well beyond partisanship. I feel bad for heaping even more criticism at the beleaguered commander-in-chief, but for the love of god he just keeps asking for it, and especially this time I must oblige him.

Whether or not the president was calling out Obama or other democrats, or even Ron Paul, he should not have made such politicized remarks in front of the governing body of another nation even though Israel is our staunch ally. It would be cowardly enough to make the same old tired Rovesque stateside, but when the president of the United States of America goes overseas and makes a fool of himself and the country by attacking American people(Obama according to msm) while standing in foreign soil I find myself struggling to grapple with the psychology of such a man.

How can a man whose own foreign policy blunders are the stuff of legend find himself in the position to make such an attack from half-way around the globe? Answer: the same man who decided to invade Iraq pre-emptively while we were already at war in Afghanistan; this is the same man who is brazen enough to label others as being on equal terms with Nazi "appeasers." I find this deeply offensive and am saddened that we have drifted so far from the American way.

Did Racism Give Hillary a Boost in West Virginia?

2008-05-14T18:19:00.004-05:00

Is anyone actually surprised that Hillary won West Virginia last night? Weren't the media predicting exactly what happened? Let's address the elephant in the room and acknowledge that a certain amount of West Virginia voters did not vote for Obama because he is black. Its impossible to know what percentage of voters let race determine their vote, but it is most assuredly higher than exit polling suggests.

As a white male who is the son of a father who works in a muffler plant, and hails from a small, rural community in central Texas I think I'm entitled to a voice my opinion on this matter. I can tell you that in my experience among blue-collar white working class people, race does matter whether people are willing to admit it or not. They may not use the n word, but at the subconscious level it has influence.

The race will continue with Obama losing by a significant margin in Kentucky for essentially the same reasons he lost West Virginia, but winning Oregon and the rest of the primaries to follow.

Does America Owe the Dixie Chicks an Apology

2008-05-07T00:38:00.004-05:00

With President George W. Bush having a 26% approval rating, is America obligated to spend a small portion of their economic stimulus check on Dixie Chicks songs on iTunes? In case you forgot, the Chicks were harshly criticized and there were even demonstrations where people ran over their cds with a steamroller for well...for lack of a better term criticizing President Bush. If I remember correctly Natalie Maines (spelling?) said she was ashamed that President Bush is from Texas. Read a Fox News report detailing the controversy. Now, my question is how many Americans are ashamed President Bush is from the United States? It might help you feel better if you spend 99 cents on a Chicks single, and you may even forget what country the president is from.

Shocker: McCain Didn't Vote for Bush in 2000!!!

2008-05-06T11:15:00.002-05:00

According to this post by Arianna Huffington, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/what-john-mccain-told-me_b_100183.html , McCain and his wife didn't vote for G.W. Bush in 2000. Of course, considering the source I can understand why some may be skeptical. However, Huffington does point out the growing trend of McCain flip-flops. I have noticed McCain flip-flopping more than John Kerry on a trampoline, which is why I have come to the conclusion that if Obama does not get the Democratic nod I may end up doing something I swore I would never do and vote for Hillary Clinton.

Its about time someone took McCain to task on all his flip-flops. The mainstream media certainly has ignored a whole series of McCain errors to go unchecked. The lack of support among the Republican base is the root cause of McCain's teetertottering. Huffington is correct, the straight talk express has hit an oil slick, flown off a cliff, fallen 10,000 feet and exploded on impact.

Who Hates America More?

2008-05-01T15:35:00.005-05:00

The Reverand Wright controversy has brought back into conversation that that "liberals" or "the left" hate America. I would like to look at these accusations to see whether there is any truth to this argument.

First, let me state that I'm sure that there are some people who get labeled as left wing or liberal actually do hate America, but I think this is a very small minority of individuals. The majority of people with liberal views actually love America and want to see the country evolve beyond some of its less than stellar past mistakes. Everyone needs to acknowledge that the Unites States has erred many times in its history. Primary and secondary history courses often paint an idealized portrait of the U.S., without acknowledging that we have made terrible mistakes that have even cost innocent people their lives. I challenge anyone to make a credible argument that the U.S. government has not been responsible for the death of innocent people. Would conservatives have us celebrate this achievement, or dismiss it as an anomaly of our allegedly superior system? The purpose of dissent and criticism is to change and improve, not to destroy. If we do not admit our failures, how can we have any chance at improving ourselves?

Yes, the U.S. market approach may be the best system in the world currently. There is a certain degree of opportunity, though we are not as much of a meritocracy as many believe. We are relatively free from government interference in our daily lives. When you compare the U.S. to the chaos of say parts of the African continent or parts of Asian, then the U.S. does appear to be a beacon of freedom and justice. The U.S. has done a lot of great humanitarian work throughout the world, but does being the best house on a bad block mean that we should become complacent.

Rev. Wright Round II

2008-04-29T13:39:00.005-05:00

I defended Reverand Jeremiah Wright in a recent post, and was happy to do so. His antics yesterday however, were certainly bizarre in terms of motivation. To use a term Howard Cosell used when interviewing Muhammad Ali, Wright behaved rather truculantly. Wright has done himself, the black church, and Barack Obama a disservice. His behavior has played directly into the hands of those who would dismiss the legitimacy of his pulpit and his message of dissent, not to mention the candidacy of Senator Obama. Wright deserves our respect for serving in the military and the work he has done in the south-side of Chicago, and it therefore saddens me that he has behaved so recklessly.

Nevertheless, I was not outraged at what Wright said, but more by the manner in which he conducted himself, which was contrary to the ideal vision of a pastor. His conduct at the national press club was arrogant, but also hilarious. I particularly enjoyed his dancing and when he threw his hands up much like a football player after answering a particular question with a strong sense self-satisfaction.

Obama Not Quite Outfoxed?

2008-04-27T18:55:00.004-05:00

Barack Obama finally appeared on Fox News in an interview with Chris Wallace today, ending the 772 day Obama watch. Obama did pretty well in the interview, which was surprisingly "fair and balanced". I don't think anyone would consider the majority of Wallace's questions to be softball. You can check out the transcript and see for yourself. In the post interview coverage Brit Hume made pretty astute calls on Obama skating by a few of the questions, but praising the overall effort. I often hear Fox decried as being a bastion of horrendous journalism, but I don't know if that's always the case.

Obama should have appeared on the Fox long ago, or at least when the first rumblings of the Jeremiah Wright controversy began to stir. I think this interview will certainly help Obama attract some of those white middle-class voters. It took a lot of guts for Obama to go on Fox News, especially the way things have transpired in the last month or so.

Goddamn America!

2008-04-26T12:15:00.004-05:00

Bill Moyers sat down with Jeremiah Wright for a much needed discussion last night. Click on the following links if you have not had a chance to see what the man has to say.
Bill Moyers & Jeremiah Wright part 1
Bill Moyers & Jeremiah Wright part 2
These are direct links to the PBS page, which are better than trying to watch the interview on YouTube. Of course Newt Gingrich blithely dismissed Moyers as a far-left fringe supporter and apologist. After hearing what Wright has to say I can only explain the controversy surrounding his now infamous sermon, I can only conclude that America has a problem with people who tell the truth, especially if they are black. The "chickens have come to roost" comment is surely no worse than what Pat Robertson and Jerry Fallwell had to say following 9/11, yet no one is drudging up those comments and attaching them to McCain even though he has received their support in his bid for the presidency. Last time McCain ran for president he denounced Falwell as an "agent of intolerance," but he has since reversed his position. I will concede that the principal difference is that McCain is not a member of either Robertson or Falwell's church.

America's chickens have come home to roost. We have murdered innocent people and propped up oppressive regimes all across the globe, but apparently the American people don't want to face these hard facts. Our government has committed atrocities, and we need to acknowledge these and move on to create a better government and world.

We have been lied to and manipulated. Does anyone consider the Vietnam War a just war? We were lied to about the Gulf of Tonkin incident. We were lied to about WMD, we we lied to about links to Al Qaeda, we were lied to about liberating the Iraqi people, we were lied to about oil. If you aren't outraged, you simply haven't been paying attention. We were lied to and now we have gotten ourselves into a giant Chinese finger trap with no end in sight. Has our presence in Iraq made us safer? Has our presence in Iraq weakened terrorism?

Hillary Needs to Chillary Allready

2008-04-14T20:21:00.003-05:00

The race for the Democratic nomination is perhaps the most spirited political race of the century. I think it is a great thing for the Democratic party to have two "outstanding" candidates to choose from, at least if you ask Democrats.
I find the amount of attacks that the Clintons are leveling against Barack Obama to be a bit on the extreme side. For the love of god, do they not realize that they are both Democrats. John McCain has been less vociferous in his attacks on Obama than Hillary and I find that shameful. I have more respect for the McCain campaign than for the Clinton campaign. The Clintons are letting McCain off of the hook drastically and making themselves look pathetically desperate in their quest to win the nomination.
Let me qualify my remarks by saying that I do not buy into the media hype that this race is tearing the Democratic party apart, but I do think the Clintons should be chastised for their negative campaigning. Do they not realize that their credibility is rapidly dissolving, at least among those of us paying close attention. Obama's has amazingly been able to stay above the fray, but how long can he keep on the defensive? The fact that Obama has eschewed negative campaigning (certainly in comparison to the Clintons) only bolsters Obama's appeal in my mind. If the Clinton's only successful strategy is mudslinging shouldn't that provide them and Democratic voters that they are desperate and will resort to any tactic they feel will gain them a percentage point. Say what you will about Obama; he may be a politician, but at least he's good at it.

It Will Go Wrong at the Worst Time

2008-04-12T13:26:00.002-05:00

I came across this article on Digg http://www.null-hypothesis.co.uk/science/spoof/articles/sods_law_mathematical_proof_humour that confirmed what many of us allready know. If something can go wrong it will go wrong, and at the worst possible instant. Now there is mathematical proof that our lives are tragically determined by of all things a mathematical equation. The universe is ultimately comprised of an infinite number of dice being rolled for every possible outcome. Hoorah for free will.

HBO John Adams Mini-series

2008-04-09T17:59:00.001-05:00

I have recently started to watch the HBO mini-series based on David McCullough's book John Adams. Five episodes into the series I am very impressed with the writing, acting, and most of all the cinematography. The visual style is very surreal and incorporates Dutch angles frequently. This combined with excellent set design and costuming makes the viewer feel as if we are being transported to a strange alternate universe where the political climate seems eerily similar to our own.

Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney star in the series, but the cast is ripe with ensemble appearances by many fine actors. Tom Wilkinson as Ben Franklin and Danny Huston as Sam Adams deliver excellent performances, but the standout performance in my opinion is Stephen Dillane as a very aloof Thomas Jefferson.

Giamatti's performance is excellent, but I think the likability of John Adams diminishes some of the appreciation of his performance. Linney really shines as Abigail Adams.

I highly recommend the series.