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    Opinion,  Profile

    The obligatory political post of 2012

    Every four years we find ourselves back here, don’t we? Our TV’s spew angry ads and our radio’s hurl insults. Internet bloggers chortle with delight at the latest nominee faux pas or bristle at perceived slights. It’s a free-for-all of who can convince the most people that their lot in life is terrible – and it’s the OTHER guy’s fault. Most of the population ducks and takes cover for the 4-6 months preceding the November general election and I admit that’s my basic strategy, too. It’s not that I don’t care about the country — on the contrary, I really, really do. But I had a whole class on rhetoric in grad school and…

  • Opinion

    An Admitedly Early Holiday Celebration

    I was sitting on my couch enjoying my favorite at-home activity: browsing the web while watching TV, when I was distracted by the sound of my first Christmas commercial. Actually it’s my first Christmas anything, of the year (FYI it was the “Carol of the Bells” ad with the cash register lights but that’s not important). Anyway before I could even work up exasperation I found I was smiling. I should have been annoyed- it’s November 5th- but I’m a little impressed they made it past Halloween. I suspect I was also excited by the contrast between carols and candidate attack ads. So in case you haven’t heard your first…

  • Opinion

    Poli-ticked-off

    It’s politics season. Once every four years my favorite time of year (yeah, fall!) is marred by the Battle for the White House. Ok, “marred” might be too strong a term. I think it’s wonderful that we have a chance to select our leaders, locally and nationally. Even though the people I vote for almost always lose I recognize that this is an important process and take my vote very seriously. I always investigate my options and make my voting decisions based on the canidates records and their plans for the future. But I do think that your political opinions should be just that: opinions. If you want to share…

  • Opinion

    My $.02

    I’m not kidding myself that any of you really care how I feel about politics but I think I might enjoy re-reading this on, say, the first Tuesday in November. Or next January after the re-count. McCain – a morally righteous man with whom, I’m sorry to say, I disagree on a number of important issues.Obama – too soon to tell. I’m worried about his experience but everything I hear is good. Need to learn more about where he stands on the issues.Edwards – uninspired twerp who seems to feel entitled to the presidency.Huckabee – C-R-A-Z-Y. Can’t do that religion.Romney – dittoClinton – I’m glad a woman can compete; it’s…

  • General Information

    The Word is Re-Run

    After watching, and posting about, part of the MSNBC re-airing of the news on the morning of 9/11 (see the ‘As It Happened’ post) I found Stephen Colbert’s take on it particularly amusing.

  • General Information

    The Good Fight

    I’m not a very political person. I follow the news and investigate my options before I vote (and I do vote, in nearly every election) but I don’t go out and campaign for anyone, or read a candidates blog or even donate to either party. I am a registered Democrat, because I’m more socially liberal, however I’m in favor of the death penalty and a government that doesn’t regulate my personal life, which are more Republican attributes. I voted for Bush in 2000. I voted Libertarian in 2004 because I was not a fan of either candidate. Why am I saying all this? Because I don’t want anyone to misunderstand…

  • General Information

    ‘Tis the Season…

    Do yourself a favor and turn on ‘The Daily Show‘ or ‘The Colbert Report‘ this week or next. These are two show that were designed, built and now run on the most plentiful energy source in entertainment: political satire. And coming up to a week before an election these show are running like the hysterical, overly-lubricated, inappropriate engines of comedy they are.