And just 'cause I don't like the woman, today reminds me of this great clip: Sarah Palin pardoning a turkey, and then giving an interview right in front of the continuing slaughter. I love the look of the guy behind her..."Um, should I wait? Does she realize how incredibly ironic this is? Well, they aren't paying me to stand around..."
Showing posts with label Thankful. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thankful. Show all posts
Thursday
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I'm personally thankful for a lot of things...really too numerous to mention...but I think it can all be summed up thusly: I'm thankful for living in this nation, at this point in history, born into a position to help be an element for change.
Tuesday
The Miracle of Inauguration Day!
Today we swear in a new President of the United States. That's a big deal.
I don't mean it's a big in the the "Oh thank GOODNESS that bad man is out of the White House!" either. Getting a new head of state is a big deal, all on it's own. Regardless of how the last one was.
It's a big deal because it'll happen without civil war.
The fact that we in the United States get a new chief of state peacefully, through a series of rules and elections...is a miracle I don't think we ponder enough. We take it for granted. In the vast majority of the world, the idea of a sitting ruler just packing up and moving out of the Presidential Palace would be a joke.
Think of all the news stories you hear about dictators holding elections, being voted out of office...and staying in power. We don't have that here.
Think of all the times an opposition party loses an election, and then starts a civil war. We don't have that either.
It's one of the key elements that makes America great. Even when democracy is broken (think the 2000 Presidential election), we turn to the rule of law and then follow it. A judge, not a general, decided that Bush won the 2000 election. A ruling based on law was the deciding factor, not the level of firepower or brutality.
So amid all the hoopla today, take a few moments to think about how truly incredible it is that for the past 200+ years, Presidents have been letting go of their power without so much as a dirty look at their successor.
It really is a miracle.
I don't mean it's a big in the the "Oh thank GOODNESS that bad man is out of the White House!" either. Getting a new head of state is a big deal, all on it's own. Regardless of how the last one was.
It's a big deal because it'll happen without civil war.
The fact that we in the United States get a new chief of state peacefully, through a series of rules and elections...is a miracle I don't think we ponder enough. We take it for granted. In the vast majority of the world, the idea of a sitting ruler just packing up and moving out of the Presidential Palace would be a joke.
Think of all the news stories you hear about dictators holding elections, being voted out of office...and staying in power. We don't have that here.
Think of all the times an opposition party loses an election, and then starts a civil war. We don't have that either.
It's one of the key elements that makes America great. Even when democracy is broken (think the 2000 Presidential election), we turn to the rule of law and then follow it. A judge, not a general, decided that Bush won the 2000 election. A ruling based on law was the deciding factor, not the level of firepower or brutality.
So amid all the hoopla today, take a few moments to think about how truly incredible it is that for the past 200+ years, Presidents have been letting go of their power without so much as a dirty look at their successor.
It really is a miracle.
Wednesday
Day Before Thanksgiving
So here's another one...I'm thankful that there's finally some oversight happening in Washington. That's about all that's happening, since the Democratic Party has just as much trouble compromising as the GOP. But still, it's good that people are asking questions again instead of blindly submitting to the White House. I'd much prefer to have nothing happening in Washington than to have everything Bush wants happening. Eventually it'll break and compromise will HAVE to happen.
Now for Some News...
French Railway Sabotaged, Strike Talks Start, from BBC
Putin Calls Opponents "Jackals," from BBC
Bush blocked from Recess Appointments, from NPR
White House to Convene Mideast Talks in Annapolis, from NPR
Free Store Distribution Goes on Amid Power Outage, from WVXU
Metro Wants Fare Increase, from WVXU
Now for Some News...
French Railway Sabotaged, Strike Talks Start, from BBC
Putin Calls Opponents "Jackals," from BBC
Bush blocked from Recess Appointments, from NPR
White House to Convene Mideast Talks in Annapolis, from NPR
Free Store Distribution Goes on Amid Power Outage, from WVXU
Metro Wants Fare Increase, from WVXU
Tuesday
Tuesday Stuff!
I'm thankful today for the fact my sisters made it out this week...so just a quick one today.
Now for Some News...
New Stem Cell Research Could End Ethical Worries, from NPR
Rare National Buzz Help Obama Decide to Run, from NPR
Teachers and Civil Servants Join Transport Strikers, from BBC
Pulitzer Winning Photographer Accused of Terror, from BBC
U.C. Won't Get to Host Presidential Debate, from WVXU
County Workers May Not Get Raises, from WVXU
Now for Some News...
New Stem Cell Research Could End Ethical Worries, from NPR
Rare National Buzz Help Obama Decide to Run, from NPR
Teachers and Civil Servants Join Transport Strikers, from BBC
Pulitzer Winning Photographer Accused of Terror, from BBC
U.C. Won't Get to Host Presidential Debate, from WVXU
County Workers May Not Get Raises, from WVXU
Monday
Monday Monday Monday
So...it's a holiday week...so I plan to do a brief lil "Thankful" theme this week.
So...I'm thankful for...hrm...having real checks and balances in my government. As much as President Bush insists that he knows whats best for us, and that his administration is the only thing that will keep us safe from the terrorists, you don't see him contemplating a run for the Senate in order to hold onto power. No matter how much Bush wants to ignore the Constitutional rights of our citizens in the name of security and tap all their communications because there may be probable cause, you don't seem him simply suspending it and firing the Supreme Court.
I'm thankful the democratic process in the United States has enough juice left to keep the government from completely becoming one man's puppet.
And now for some news...
Musharraf Cleared for New Term, from NPR (With a stacked court, who's surprized?)
Bangladesh Cyclone Toll Hits 3100, from AP via NPR.org
Homeland Security Adviser Resigns, from AP via NPR.org
Fountain Square Busy, but Exact Number is Unknown, from WVXU
Millions Cut from Budget in City Manager's Recommendation, from WVXU
Israel to Release 450 Prisoners, from BBC
Kosovo Warned by EU on Independence, from BBC
So...I'm thankful for...hrm...having real checks and balances in my government. As much as President Bush insists that he knows whats best for us, and that his administration is the only thing that will keep us safe from the terrorists, you don't see him contemplating a run for the Senate in order to hold onto power. No matter how much Bush wants to ignore the Constitutional rights of our citizens in the name of security and tap all their communications because there may be probable cause, you don't seem him simply suspending it and firing the Supreme Court.
I'm thankful the democratic process in the United States has enough juice left to keep the government from completely becoming one man's puppet.
And now for some news...
Musharraf Cleared for New Term, from NPR (With a stacked court, who's surprized?)
Bangladesh Cyclone Toll Hits 3100, from AP via NPR.org
Homeland Security Adviser Resigns, from AP via NPR.org
Fountain Square Busy, but Exact Number is Unknown, from WVXU
Millions Cut from Budget in City Manager's Recommendation, from WVXU
Israel to Release 450 Prisoners, from BBC
Kosovo Warned by EU on Independence, from BBC
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