First off, I hope everyone enjoyed (or is enjoying) their respective holiday or celebration, be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, etc. Also, I’d like to take the chance to wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year.
As 2005 draws to a close, I think there is some consensus that it is a year we’d rather forget. While it had some high points, including revealing the generosity and powerful spirit of much of humanity, this was mostly the result of terrific tragedy. While the death toll for Katrina was significantly less than initial estimation, the death of over 1,000 Americans is tragic nevertheless. The earthquake in Pakistan took the lives of over 87,000 people, and the death toll from the tsunami that occurred in late 2004 has climbed to an estimated 216,000. This year saw the 2,000th American death in Iraq, and estimates of Iraqi dead are now over 30,000 and climbing every day. Starvation and murder continue in the Darfur region of Sudan. Indeed, the list of tragedy and violence goes on.
Here at home, bitter partisanship continued to prevail. From Social Security to Terri Schaivo, our leaders continued to show us how to be divided instead of united. We found out that our Vice President has no problem with torture, but that our Congress, at the very least, recognizes the stupidity of that position. We discovered that Social Security is still the “Third Rail” of American politics, stinging those who dare touch it and forcing them to retreat.
For Democrats, we should be proud that we blocked many of the Republicans more idiotic efforts in the past year; however, the our friends across the aisle are correct in one criticism of us - while 2005 may have been a year of opposition, 2006 must be a year of hope, originality, and progress. We have shown them that we will not be kicked while we are down, but now our leaders must find a way to work with Republicans to do the work of the American people. Ironically, I think it is only then that will we have a chance of prevailing come November 2006.
Overall, I’m a realist – my hope for next year isn’t “world peace” or any other cliché you can think of. It is simply this: that 2006 is a whole lot better than 2005. Assuming the good Lord (mother nature, if you prefer) cooperates, that hope, like so many others, is in all of our hands.
The Real War on Christmas
Unlike the one below, this one is an original, a product of me having too much free time...
Working class Americans liked Christmas a lot,
But the grinch-like Republicans in
Though cuts in vital programs may now be on hold,
It shan’t be long ‘till the poor are left in the cold.
For less medical care and students loans do they fear,
Losses that promise a difficult New Year
Meanwhile a Bridge to Nowhere Senator Stevens does take,
And a fake war on Christmas does Bill O’Riley make.
So why shall the poor have less for healthcare and classes
So that rich Republican donors can pay less in taxes?
While the Right may claim that God is on their side,
One can’t help but feel we’re being taken for a ride.
For “Blessed are the poor” Jesus did say,
Yet it’s more presents for the rich on this, his birthday.
But we shouldn’t be critical; they’re doing their best
To make their friends' Christmases merry, and to hell with the rest!
My Own Personal Blog
For those of you who enjoy (or even enjoy to be annoyed) by my posts, I have decided to create my own blog. Feel free to check it out, make comments, etc. My posting on this blog regarding Democratic issues will continue at least until my graduation, though I have moved home to student teach for the semester. At any rate, hope you all add my blog to your lists as well!
A Poem for the Season
Rep. John Dingell of Michigan's 15th District delivered the following on the floor of Congress in a debate over the "War on Christmas," and I thought it appropriate (as presented in the Washington Post).
Twas the week before Christmas and all through the House,
no bills were passed 'bout which Fox News could grouse.
Tax cuts for the wealthy were passed with great cheer,
so vacations in St. Barts soon should be near.
Katrina kids were all nestled snug in motel beds,
while visions of school and home danced in their heads.
In Iraq, our soldiers need supplies and a plan,
and nuclear weapons are being built in Iran.
Gas prices shot up, consumer confidence fell.
Americans feared we were in a fast track to ... well.
Wait, we need a distraction, something divisive and wily,
a fabrication straight from the mouth of O'Reilly.
We will pretend Christmas is under attack,
hold a vote to save it, then pat ourselves on the back.
Silent Night, First Noel, Away in the Manger,
Wake up Congress, they're in no danger.
This time of year, we see Christmas everywhere we go,
From churches to homes to schools and, yes, even Costco.
What we have is an attempt to divide and destroy
when this is the season to unite us with joy.
At Christmastime, we're taught to unite.
We don't need a made-up reason to fight.
So on O'Reilly, on Hannity, on Coulter and those right-wing blogs.
You should sit back and relax, have a few egg nogs.
'Tis the holiday season; enjoy it a pinch.
With all our real problems, do we really need another Grinch?
So to my friends and my colleagues, I say with delight,
a Merry Christmas to all, and to Bill O'Reilly, happy holidays.
Ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas.
Twas the week before Christmas and all through the House,
no bills were passed 'bout which Fox News could grouse.
Tax cuts for the wealthy were passed with great cheer,
so vacations in St. Barts soon should be near.
Katrina kids were all nestled snug in motel beds,
while visions of school and home danced in their heads.
In Iraq, our soldiers need supplies and a plan,
and nuclear weapons are being built in Iran.
Gas prices shot up, consumer confidence fell.
Americans feared we were in a fast track to ... well.
Wait, we need a distraction, something divisive and wily,
a fabrication straight from the mouth of O'Reilly.
We will pretend Christmas is under attack,
hold a vote to save it, then pat ourselves on the back.
Silent Night, First Noel, Away in the Manger,
Wake up Congress, they're in no danger.
This time of year, we see Christmas everywhere we go,
From churches to homes to schools and, yes, even Costco.
What we have is an attempt to divide and destroy
when this is the season to unite us with joy.
At Christmastime, we're taught to unite.
We don't need a made-up reason to fight.
So on O'Reilly, on Hannity, on Coulter and those right-wing blogs.
You should sit back and relax, have a few egg nogs.
'Tis the holiday season; enjoy it a pinch.
With all our real problems, do we really need another Grinch?
So to my friends and my colleagues, I say with delight,
a Merry Christmas to all, and to Bill O'Reilly, happy holidays.
Ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas.
The Senate Does Its Job
On a day when it was revealed that the NSA was allegedly given authority by the President to illegally spy on US citizens without a warrant or court order, the Senate refused to give into pressure to rush the reauthorization vote on the USA PATRIOT Act. For this, the Democrats and several Republicans in the Senate deserve accolades.
Unlike immediately after September 11th, when fear and anger drove the Senate to approve the measure without question, this time around they are raising the serious questions that such legislation merits, questions that reach to the heart of American democracy. Various provisions of the PATRIOT Act raise grave civil liberties concerns that must be properly addressed before the Senate rushes forward with the approval. Such careful consideration does not damage American security as some on the Right would allege, but protects the very principles of liberty that the terrorists wish to destroy.
Unlike immediately after September 11th, when fear and anger drove the Senate to approve the measure without question, this time around they are raising the serious questions that such legislation merits, questions that reach to the heart of American democracy. Various provisions of the PATRIOT Act raise grave civil liberties concerns that must be properly addressed before the Senate rushes forward with the approval. Such careful consideration does not damage American security as some on the Right would allege, but protects the very principles of liberty that the terrorists wish to destroy.
Positive Signs Out of Iraq
From the Washington
The voting appeared to split along sectarian lines as expected, with many Sunni voters in the Sunni-dominated far west saying they were voting for Sunni candidates. Long lines were reported among Sunnis, most of whom boycotted elections earlier this year or were frightened away by threats.
There were no boycotts this time and some insurgents were providing security at some polling places. In Ramadi, for example, guerrillas of the Iraqi Islamic Army movement took up positions in some neighborhoods, promising to protect voters from any attacks by foreign fighters.
This also raises serious questions about the notion of “the insurgency” as one mass – I think that we need to start making a distinction between insurgents and terrorists/foreign fighters. While that latter may be working to promote secretarian violence, I think the first group is being fueled by our presence there; this raises serious issues about the benefits of beginning a troop reduction in 2006. While it is crucial that we “get it right” inIraq
The voting appeared to split along sectarian lines as expected, with many Sunni voters in the Sunni-dominated far west saying they were voting for Sunni candidates. Long lines were reported among Sunnis, most of whom boycotted elections earlier this year or were frightened away by threats.
There were no boycotts this time and some insurgents were providing security at some polling places. In Ramadi, for example, guerrillas of the Iraqi Islamic Army movement took up positions in some neighborhoods, promising to protect voters from any attacks by foreign fighters.
This also raises serious questions about the notion of “the insurgency” as one mass – I think that we need to start making a distinction between insurgents and terrorists/foreign fighters. While that latter may be working to promote secretarian violence, I think the first group is being fueled by our presence there; this raises serious issues about the benefits of beginning a troop reduction in 2006. While it is crucial that we “get it right” in
Moderate Christians Speak Out
There is an interesting piece in the Washington Post today regarding a group that is usually quiet about their politics: moderate-liberal/mainstream Christians. Apparently, they’re not too happy about the massive budget cuts to anti-poverty programs passed in recent House legislation, and have decided to speak out about it. Certain people within the movement have also been quite critical of the Religious Right for not taking action:
Such conservative religious leaders “have agreed to support cutting food stamps for poor people if Republicans support them on judicial nominees,” he said. ‘They are trading the lives of poor people for their agenda. They're being, and this is the worst insult, unbiblical.”
In their own defense, Conservative Christians have argued that they do not feel it is the government’s job to care for the poor, but that such efforts should be left up to private institutions. Though I do not agree with it, I can respect the Conservative philosophy of limited government; however, those on the Religious Right, now claiming that government has no role in helping the poor, have no problem expanding the powers of the government to regulate their own version of “morality” within people’s private lives. This is the height of hypocrisy; they are essentially arguing that government should only be used to limit what many consider to be rights: when it comes to actually helping its citizens, forget it.
Kudos to those churches who have spoken out against the House budget cuts; you have managed to restore my faith in…well…people of faith.
Such conservative religious leaders “have agreed to support cutting food stamps for poor people if Republicans support them on judicial nominees,” he said. ‘They are trading the lives of poor people for their agenda. They're being, and this is the worst insult, unbiblical.”
In their own defense, Conservative Christians have argued that they do not feel it is the government’s job to care for the poor, but that such efforts should be left up to private institutions. Though I do not agree with it, I can respect the Conservative philosophy of limited government; however, those on the Religious Right, now claiming that government has no role in helping the poor, have no problem expanding the powers of the government to regulate their own version of “morality” within people’s private lives. This is the height of hypocrisy; they are essentially arguing that government should only be used to limit what many consider to be rights: when it comes to actually helping its citizens, forget it.
Kudos to those churches who have spoken out against the House budget cuts; you have managed to restore my faith in…well…people of faith.
On the Execution of Tookie
Crips founder and violent criminal Tookie Williams was executed around 3:10 am today. Ordinarily, this kind of story would only be a side note in the news headlines of the day – there was little debate regarding his violent, murderous past, after all. However, Tookie made the front page of CNN two days in a row, primarily because his execution raises serious questions about redemption and the rationale behind the use of the death penalty.
While in prison, Williams changed course – he essentially worked to “redeem” himself. By the time of his execution, he had produced several children’s books aimed at keeping young people out of gangs, vowing in 1997 to “spend the rest of my life working toward solutions” to end gang violence. This raises a very important question: what good did it do to execute this man?
In my last post about the death penalty on the eve of the 1,000th execution, I raised serious questions regarding this policy. When I did, I left one out: Is it justice or vengeance? To the families of those Tookie unsympathetically killed in 1979, the answer is probably quite simple – they are one in the same. However, as a nation, we must continue to ask ourselves that question and debate it openly. I personally have trouble seeing the justice in killing a man who is making a positive contribution to society. Then again, Alvin Owen, Thsai-Shai Yang, Yen-I Yang and Yee Chen Lin were deprived of that chance on the day they met Tookie Williams. In the end, this execution only further complicates the difficult issues surrounding the use of the death penalty in the American judicial system.
While in prison, Williams changed course – he essentially worked to “redeem” himself. By the time of his execution, he had produced several children’s books aimed at keeping young people out of gangs, vowing in 1997 to “spend the rest of my life working toward solutions” to end gang violence. This raises a very important question: what good did it do to execute this man?
In my last post about the death penalty on the eve of the 1,000th execution, I raised serious questions regarding this policy. When I did, I left one out: Is it justice or vengeance? To the families of those Tookie unsympathetically killed in 1979, the answer is probably quite simple – they are one in the same. However, as a nation, we must continue to ask ourselves that question and debate it openly. I personally have trouble seeing the justice in killing a man who is making a positive contribution to society. Then again, Alvin Owen, Thsai-Shai Yang, Yen-I Yang and Yee Chen Lin were deprived of that chance on the day they met Tookie Williams. In the end, this execution only further complicates the difficult issues surrounding the use of the death penalty in the American judicial system.
Let’s Not Become Like Those We Oppose
Recent comments by Connecticut Democratic Senator Joseph Lieberman have drawn the angst of many Democrats; indeed, while many in the party try to hash out positions on a strategy for withdrawal from Iraq
Instead, we should grit our teeth and be thankful that we have a good public servant such as Joseph Lieberman on our side; in all his years in the Senate and in his campaigns for national office, he has been nothing but a man of integrity, fighting for what he believes is right. To me, that is a much more admirable trait than the ability to toe the party line, again a characteristic I would like to think is more attributable to those on the other side of the aisle.
Since the inception of the war, we Democrats have called for pulbic debate and dialogue. Now that we’ve got it, let’s not become like those we oppose and attempt to silent voices with which we do not agree. The fates of our soldiers and of the Iraqi people are too important to become fodder for political infighting and bickering.
Instead, we should grit our teeth and be thankful that we have a good public servant such as Joseph Lieberman on our side; in all his years in the Senate and in his campaigns for national office, he has been nothing but a man of integrity, fighting for what he believes is right. To me, that is a much more admirable trait than the ability to toe the party line, again a characteristic I would like to think is more attributable to those on the other side of the aisle.
Since the inception of the war, we Democrats have called for pulbic debate and dialogue. Now that we’ve got it, let’s not become like those we oppose and attempt to silent voices with which we do not agree. The fates of our soldiers and of the Iraqi people are too important to become fodder for political infighting and bickering.
Dean Oversimplifies Democratic Feelings
As Ryan S. over at JokersToTheRight so kindly pointed out, Democratic Chairman Howard Dean has made a statement expressing his doubts about our potential to succeed in
However, as DNC Chairman, Dr. Dean should be more cautious expressing such views; you don’t declare a patient dead while he or she still has a pulse. Besides portraying the wrong impression to the voting public, his views also do not reflect those of many of our party leaders, including foreign policy experts such as Joe Biden.
Can we win in
What is crucial in this debate is open, honest dialogue, not propaganda or more “stay the course” rhetoric from the administration. No more attacks on patriotism, no more accusations of aiding the insurgency or demoralizing the troops by questioning administration policies. As for the Dems, we must realize that it is in the best interest of this country for us to succeed in
Learning from History
Theodore C. Sorensen and Arthur Schlesinger Jr., Kennedy's former special counselor and special assistant, respectively, have weighed in on the situation in Iraq. In a rare free article from the New York Times webpage, they begin:
It is an interesting piece on the whole. While I may not agree with them on the whole, I think they make several valuable points worth considering. A good read if you have time.
WHAT did we not hear from President Bush when he spoke last week at the United States Naval Academy about his strategy for victory in Iraq?
We did not hear that the war in Iraq, already one of the costliest wars in American history, is a running sore. We did not hear that it has taken more than 2,000 precious American lives and countless - because we do not count them - Iraqi civilian lives. We did not hear that the struggle has dragged on longer than our involvement in either World War I or the Spanish-American War, or that by next spring it will be even longer than the Korean War.
And we did not hear how or when the president plans to bring our forces back home - no facts, no numbers on America troop withdrawals, no dates, no reference to our dwindling coalition, no reversal of his disdain for the United Nations, whose help he still expects.
Neither our military, our economy nor our nation can take that kind of endless and remorseless drain...It is an interesting piece on the whole. While I may not agree with them on the whole, I think they make several valuable points worth considering. A good read if you have time.
