Another Catholic Being Awesome

Filed Under ao resources, current affairs, media, people, politics, race | 7 Comments

I’ve heard the questions the reporter poses - in some form or another, just change out some of the names if you want - my whole adult life (and longer). Father Phleger - who was dubbed a “black a** kisser” at one website I visited - has responses that I can only characterize as “real.” I love how his last words apparently stun the reporter into quickly ending the conversation. I guess the reporter just didn’t want to go there.

Everything Father Phleger has said, I’ve heard black people say growing up. Everything. It’s still incredible to me that there are millions of people out there who aren’t even familiar - they don’t have to agree - with these views.

Popularity: 62% [?]

Apr

18

Billy Joel Keeps It Real

Filed Under current affairs, music, nostalgia, people | 4 Comments

I can offer no explanation of my fondness for John Mellencamp’s music … years ago when I was a 15 year old I didn’t even know any adults who listened to him, but for whatever reason, there was a connection to this prickly Midwesterner’s songs. Well, John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last month, and he was introduced by another great American singer songwriter, Billy Joel.

Of course, being a native New Yorker, I couldn’t help but know about Joel, and oh … the days when you could actually hear him on the Top 40 radio station. Back when it was okay for a “pop star” to be in their 30s, or chubby, or balding, or singing things that would never play in a night club. But now I’m starting to sound like an old grump muttering about the “good ole days.”

Here’s an excerpt from Joel’s introduction; another reason why he and Mellencamp are all right in my book.

Don’t let this club membership change you, John. Stay ornery, stay mean. We need you to be pissed off, and restless, because no matter what they tell us - we know, this country is going to hell in a handcart. This country’s been hijacked. You know it and I know it. People are worried. People are scared, and people are angry. People need to hear a voice like yours that’s out there to echo the discontent that’s out there in the heartland. They need to hear stories about it. [Audience applauds] They need to hear stories about frustration, alienation and desperation. They need to know that somewhere out there somebody feels the way that they do, in the small towns and in the big cities. They need to hear it. And it doesn’t matter if they hear it on a jukebox, in the local gin mill, or in a goddamn truck commercial, because they ain’t gonna hear it on the radio anymore. They don’t care how they hear it, as long as they hear it good and loud and clear the way you’ve always been saying it all along. You’re right, John, this is still our country.

(transcription courtesy of Wikipedia.org; video available here - this excerpt is from the last 2 minutes of the clip)

Popularity: 42% [?]

Feb

5

What I Want, What I Expect, What I Need to Know

Filed Under current affairs, politics | 6 Comments

At last, I’ve voted in a presidential primary (my former state didn’t allow me to as a registered Independent). And for the first time, I’ve seen all of the candidates on television. Had no idea Romney was so handsome. What I expect: HRC’s people will start playing really dirty. I PRAY Obama and his folks can keep to the high road - and that they do more education among lower income, Asian, and Latino people. I’m curious about the Latino landslide for Clinton.

Rant: Why are voting places so random? We vote at least every two years - why do the locations change? That is some pretty oppressive crap right there. It puts the poor, elderly, and car-less at a real disadvantage.

Thank you, Cheezus, for the Romney/Huckabee split - and I hope it lasts so that McCain can easily secure the nomination. I wish Ron Paul had been more of a player; he was the Republican party’s Kucinich in the sense that they just pushed him to the side repeatedly. Unfortunate; of all the Republicans, I would have voted for him. I might have even voted him over Clinton. As it was, we didn’t even get to see his Super Tuesday speech to his supporters. No mention of him at all in any of the three hours of coverage I watched. What a pathetic state of affairs.

Other random points:

And I’ve told the LH that he needs to register to vote. Although he’s more informed about politics than I am, he has never voted in his life. If we’re going to have kids, we definitely need to be more involved in our local and state politics.
The touchscreen display used on CNN to show the tallies was pretty awesome.
It doesn’t surprise me that Obama is winning San Francisco - his tech plan is very good. He’s the only candidate that even has a tech plan. Creating a CTO position in the Cabinet, and putting all of the government’s budget information online (for free) is one of those “Doh!” things that no one else seems to think is relevant.
And now I’m remembering why I stopped watching tv news: it’s so unhelpful. This whole night there hasn’t been a single mention of when the votes from the other states (like mine) will be tallied and registered - they haven’t even mentioned which other states have yet to vote. What kind of weird oversight. This truly is “the news” - apparently I just have to “stay tuned” if I want to know what happens next in the presidential race. Way to be informative, CNN! (And Fox - where they commented on Clinton winning California despite the Kennedy endorsement of Obama, but failed to mention that California had early voting.)
Romney putting so much of his own money into his race was foolish - if people aren’t giving you their money, they aren’t invested in you; and you will hear less from them - clearly this guy was out of touch.

Popularity: 26% [?]

Feb

3

Another Question About Obama Supporters

Filed Under current affairs, humor, lil things, politics, questions | 6 Comments

Over at Making Chutney, Chance asks the question: why are so many UU bloggers for Obama? I have another question about Obama supporters, prompted by my (now third) viewing of the will.i.am video, “Yes, We Can.”

Why are they all so damned good-looking? I mean, have you seen the video? Hill Harper almost killed me, esp. with his adorably clueless Obama t-shirt - dude, do you realize that it looks like you’re wearing your OWN face on your chest?

And then they had to throw in Enrique Murciano from Without A Trace, all sulky with his Cuban eyes looking into mine as he emphatically whispers: “Si podemos.” Yes, we can, Enrique!!! And I want to!

Well, unlike Chance, I never have answers to my own questions. However, my devious imagination envisions some poorly lit and far-flung corner of our nation where every day, airplanes drop off confused loads of sartorially-challenged, lumpy headed people clasping tightly to their Obama ‘08 buttons.

Popularity: 34% [?]

Feb

3

NAACP Responses from Clinton & Obama

Filed Under current affairs, politics | 2 Comments

I haven’t watched any of the Democratic debates, and refrained from viewing any of the candidates (regardless of party) on television and video.* So this file (download below) of Clinton and Obama’s responses to questions posed by the NAACP was useful to me.

Link to PDF of Hilary Rodham Clinton and Barak Obama’s Responses to NAACP Civil Rights Questionnaire

*I’d prefer to read what the candidates views and plans are, and not be so influenced by things like on-camera appearance and demeanor.

Popularity: 35% [?]