The random political thoughts thread

[scaeagles]

I often have brief political thoughts that I don't figure are worthy of a whole thread, so I figured I'd start a place to post such things.

Did Ted Kennedy skip the State of the Union address? I can't seem to find confirmation that he was there, and apparently he was not seen in one TV shot.

John Kerry said on the Today show that 53% of American children don't graduate highschool. What a moron. The actual number is about 13%. He's off by a factor a 4. What possible purpose could he have had to say something so outlandish and easily refutable?

Julian Bond as the leader of NAACP is a joke. "The Republican Party would have the American flag and the swastika flying side by side," he said. He also said Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell are/were "tokens."

CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) sent Bush a letter prior to the SOTU advising him it would not be good to use such terms as "Islamofacists" or "Radical Islamic fundamentalism" or anything that would link Islam to terrorism. Now why would anyone think terrorism is related to radical islamic fundamentalists?

On a related note, those peace loving fundamentalists are threatneing violence because European papers dared to print a satirical picture of Muhammed with a bomb as a headdress. Apparently printing images of Muhammed is taboo and not supposed to be done. I'm waiting for the National Endowment for the Arts to fund someone a la Maplethorpe who submerges a statue of Muhammed in a jar of urine. I would guess that would make them mad. (A French newspaper editor has been fired for daring to print the picture, by the way.)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Just commenting on your final paragraphs:

Isn't it interesting that the IRA has never been termed "Cathlofacists" or "Radical Catholic fundamentalists"? And what is Timothy McVeigh, exactly? Terrorists are terrorists, and while their religious and political affiliations are certainly pertinent to the details of how one approaches the effort to curb them, focusing on their religious affiliation is dangerous and encourages the growth of racism.

As for the depiction of Muhammed...in Islam, the depiction in art of ANY human form is forbidden (God created man in his image, therefore any depiction of man is a depiction of God, therefore any depiction of man for art's sake is akin to idolitry). So depicting their most important prophit is particularly insulting. Threatening violence is obviously ridiculous. But I am not in the least surprised by the outrage.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Terrorists are terrorists, and while their religious and political affiliations are certainly pertinent to the details of how one approaches the effort to curb them, focusing on their religious affiliation is dangerous and encourages the growth of racism.

As for the depiction of Muhammed...in Islam, the depiction in art of ANY human form is forbidden (God created man in his image, therefore any depiction of man is a depiction of God, therefore any depiction of man for art's sake is akin to idolitry). So depicting their most important prophit is particularly insulting. Threatening violence is obviously ridiculous. But I am not in the least surprised by the outrage.

Terrorists are certainly terrorists. However, I would suggest that the current terrorist climate is most certainly fueled by radical Islamists. This is the current reality.

I can understand the insult that they are feeling. I doubt, though, that a French editor would be fired for printing a photo of Maplethorpes crucifix in urine "art".

[SacTown Chronic]

I wonder why the warrantless wiretapping program is classified. What difference does it make to the evildoers whether you do or do not have a warrant to listen in on their conversations?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Terrorists are certainly terrorists. However, I would suggest that the current terrorist climate is most certainly fueled by radical Islamists. This is the current reality.

I don't necessarily disagree, but that's not a distinguishing feature that particularly matters. Islam no more caused Al Quaida than Catholocism caused the IRA. So why make that a point of focus when all it does is add fuel to the reactionary idiots who can't make the distinction between the vast majority of Muslims and the radical minority.

I can understand the insult that they are feeling. I doubt, though, that a French editor would be fired for printing a photo of Maplethorpes crucifix in urine "art".

No, but an Italian one might.

[Scrooge McSam]

More thoughts...

I think all congressmen should be able to pass a written test on all legislation before them. We could call it "No Congressman Left Behind".

It's a shame Shaddeg didn't get majority leader. He's less beholden to K street.

The recent Fitzgerald letter has me wondering about that 12 hour gap.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by SacTown Chronic

I wonder why the warrantless wiretapping program is classified. What difference does it make to the evildoers whether you do or do not have a warrant to listen in on their conversations?

The name of the strip escapes me (it was printed in the OCWeekly) so I can't link to it, but there was a strip with a little back and forth between two people. The last line was, "Whoever leaked this has completely undermined our effort to protect the country, letting our enemy know our tactics." To which the resopnse was, "Umm, don't you think Al Quaida kinda figured their conversations stood the chance of being tapped, leak or no leak?"

[Gemini Cricket]

Random thought:
You know, I like Hillary.

John Stewart last night said that Hillary gave Bush a look so mean during his State of the Union speech that he called it the 'where boners go to die' look.


Love it.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Scrooge McSam

It's a shame Shaddeg didn't get majority leader. He's less beholden to K street.

Was going to give you Shadegg mojo, but i recently gave you mojo. I know that typically people like their own representative, but I have found him to be a genuinely good guy.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Scrooge McSam

I think all congressmen should be able to pass a written test on all legislation before them. We could call it "No Congressman Left Behind".

More mojo worthy comments from Scrooge.