2 takes on change.

I am so grateful this day has finally come. Goodbye, W. Good riddance.

2 takes on change.
Kunstler's myopic hope for Obama persists, though he has come off the high horse of late, nevertheless he's almost always a good read. It will be a very salutary thing if we stop even referring to ourselves as "consumers." This degrading moniker...

A grimmer view of impending "change" from Michael Ruppert: Civil unrest in Ohio could easily infect across state lines...

Train in vain

Is it odd to say it is nice to see so many happy people waiting for the Obama train (I saw pics at Noquarter. I will not be watching the "news"coverage of this "event".) while simultaneously feeling saddened by the whole thing? A friend told me last night "I'm sure now that he was selected and installed".

I agree, of course. But one can believe the entire election from before Iowa to this train ride was entirely above board, transparent and fair - and still be turned off. So little is likely to change on the ground. The implied promise is far beyond the coming reality. Those connected to reality who are also supportive of and joyous about Obama's "coming" are operating out of a contempt for Bush. There is a relief that a particular long, national nightmare is ending. I say good on 'em. I, too, have been so disgusted with Bush for so long just about anyone off the street could be sworn in Tuesday and I'd be at least happier. A neighbor told me the other day, "I know Obama is mostly an illusion, but I just want to be in the relief for a while." I can't find much fault with that sentiment. Still, I suspect Bush will be forgotten almost immediately.

Part of me is emotionally participating from afar. Yet, I'm tempered by just how much has transpired, by how daunting the next few years will be, and by how thickheaded and mean the Obots have been. It's a combustible mix.

As for that 25% or so that have deified the man beyond all sanity there is nothing much to add. Either they are having their last orgy of cultism right now and will go back home quietly. Or they will dig in and continue to disallow reality whenever it raises its relentless head - egged on by those with the big megaphones who have another agenda entirely.

The job of the rest of us is to stand firm and counter the nonsense from wherever we stand - the right, left, middle or anywhere else. Always remembering that skepticism of elected leaders is the norm in the United States. Deification is abnormal. And dangerous.

Finally, let me allow a little latent snobbishness to bubble forth. More than anything, I think the train ride and over the top inauguration is tacky. This is not a surprise. The Greek theater set was tacky, as was the pretend Presidential seal, and the request to speak at the Brandenburg gate. A reasonable celebration is in order. What we are witnessing is more Roman than American.

Team of rivals, my arse.

I want to kick every writer who calls Obama's emerging cabinet a "team of rivals"

in the shin...

hard...

...but I won't...

I promise...

This simply is not the case so far.

I am not an expert on Lincoln's Presidency - though I probably know more than most voters, which is hardly bragging - or hard. Nor have I read Doris Kearns Goodwin's book about Lincoln called "Team of Rivals". That said the "rivals" Obama has appointed include much of the previous Democratic administration, Senator Clinton, who is hardly an ideological opponent, Governor Napolitano, a vocal supporter all year, A Carter appointee, and one Republican. Whoop Dee Do. Reagan made his main primary opponent Vice President - no one said he had a "team of rivals". Nixon had a Democrat in his cabinet, as did Reagan and Bush 2.

The desperate need to graft past icons onto Obama is silly and pathetic. My take so far is that Obama is not inviting spirited debate so he can see all sides and then "stop the buck" with a decision. He is hiring a bunch of folks who will make him look good.

Finally dancing between Lincoln, JFK, and Jesus as apt comparisons to BHO is stupid. I see no civil war breaking out before the inauguration. I find no place in Obama's life in which he demonstrated the courage that comes from having one's life threatened in war - google JFK/PT 109 for background here. As for Jesus...these little verbal and visual (see Time) allusions that elevate Obama to messiah like status should be met with revulsion by the religious and the secular humanists alike. Choose your reasons: You are a Christian and find it offensive or you are a small r republican and believe kings, queens, figureheads, and cult leaders have no business being head of state. In the United States, we don't DO kings.

Yet.

P.S. The Lincoln/JFK/Jesus comparisons are also sick - for reasons that should be apparent. Barring impeachment and removal (or revelations about his birthplace) I want Mr. Obama around for 4 years. We might actually have the pleasure of seeing the media challenge him.

Holy Similarity, Batman!

Riddle me this. What's the difference between Bush supporters and most Obama supporters today (at least the ones who comment on blogs)?

Me: I don't support going into Iraq
Neocon: You aren't patriotic

Me: I don't support Senator Obama
Obama Supporter (OS) You aren't a democrat

Me: I support Al Gore because he is smart, capable and experienced
Neo: I want to have a beer with George Bush

Me: I support Hillary Clinton because she is smart, capable and experienced
OS: Obama gives me hope!

Me: I want to know about Bush and his national guard service
Neo: Liberal Media Liberal Media Liberal Media Dan Rather is a jerk

Me: I want to know more about Obama's connections with Ayers, Rezko and Wright
OS: No more debates. He's answered the question! Charlie Gibson is a jerk

Me: The press is in the tank for Bush and won't vet him
Neo: Al Gore created the interets

Me: The press is in the tank for Obama and won't vet him
OS: White Water, Monica, Travelgate

Me: I think it's disgusting that Bush called a reporter an asshole
Neo: He is!

Me: I think it's disgusting that Randi Rhodes called Senator Clinton a "fucking whore"
OS: She is!

Me: I want all the votes in Florida counted
Neo: Bush won!

Me: I want all the votes in Florida counted
OS: They broke the rules!

Add any answers that you wish.

Speaking of Dr. King and David Beckham..hmmm, interesting.

So it seems there is this game they play in my home town called "soccer". Hmmm. Curious. Though I love the gigantic mess that is L.A....
(But I AM a lefty on a jihad against the word "diversity" - which REALLY means "mediocrity" by almost everyone who says it. Try this thought game gentle reader: the next time you see some over baked 60's leftover ramble on about "diversity" replace "diversity" with "mediocrity" and the real meaning of the diatribe will emerge. Sort of like when GOPs talk about W's "leadership" they really mean "panic driven belligerence". In fact, GOPs say the opposite of what they mean so much it is a game for them. Also - "diversity" is actually NOT what Dr. King's I Have a Dream speech was about- at all, the speech imagined a colorful but essentially homogeneous culture.
We libs say the buzzword "diversity" so much it is now meaningless. Like my all time favorite nonsense phrase that the media could not stop repeating "Saddam's elite Republican Guard" a group soon proven to actually be "the part of Saddam's lame army that got better food". But the media peeps could not stop themselves from saying "elite"....hmmmm....I wonder why?)

...I do not know this game "soccer". I know there is a Staples Center - but now I come to find out that there is also a Home Depot Center in Los Angeles - but one cannot buy office supplies or caulk at either "center". And there is this bloke that every one on earth knows that plays this mystery game and he is married to a "spice" girl. Hmmm. What are these spice girls? Are they assistants to sous chefs? Who is David Beckham? Will Arnold's health plan cover him? What is this game "soccer" and why does it have so many moms? Is Candy spelling? Or just guessing at words...I love L.A.
And excessive use of "quotes".

Dodd is a good man.

Stepping back from the Bushcheney monster's apocalypse party for a moment - let me just say I think Chris Dodd would make a damn good President. I am glad he is running. If he hires the right people he is going to make some noise in the primaries.

And remember kids: Bush created the war with Iraq for no good reason. Bush
approved the idiotic strategy that any bone head with a Risk game could
have figured out would fail. Bush lost the war in Iraq. No one else.
Liberals were right all along. As usual.
I think we should increase troops level by two: Jenna and Barbara.

Bush and Arnold

Okay we all know Bush is a dangerous moron. He is probably going to send America over the edge with his stupidity. Until there are massive rallies in the streets of America against Bush's escalation of his "war for his EGO” the whole thing has become redundant. He will do what he wants. No one will stop him. Things will get worse. and on and on.

He is going to "apologize" for his lazy ass dumb ass, lethal, expensive, foolish policy so far. George, start with Cindy Sheehan, asshole.
It is too late, bud. You should have listend to the Liberals a long time ago. BUSH, YOUR JUDGEMENT IS FLAWED. WE CANNOT TRUST YOU - IT IS TOO DANGEROUS FOR US TO TRUST YOU. RESIGN NOW.

However all is not lost for us on the Left Coast: Arnold, as I predicted years ago, is governing to the Left of the man he ousted. Let the California secession movement begin! We, like Islam in the Dark Ages, will preserve all that was once great about Western Civilization that BGC (Bush, Greed, and Corporations) have destroyed.
But first we Californians must build a wall along our border with Nevada and Arizona to ensure that the hordes of Red Staters don't try to enter our homeland after the utter destruction of the U.S. is completed by Bush.

CALIFORNIA SECEDE!!!!