Now I Get It.

Finally I've put it together:

Sarah Palin: Republican + Motherhood = Unthinkable

Rahm Emanuel: Democrat + Fatherhood = Unquestionable

“You’re wasting your time,” Emanuel said. “I’m not going to say a word to you. I’m going to do this with my children. Dont do that. I’m a father. I have two kids. I’m not going to do it.”

Asked, “Can’t you do both?” Emanuel replied, “I’m not as capable as you. I’m going to be a father. I’m allowed to be a father,” and he pushed the reporter’s digital recorder away.

This is only the most recent example, Michelle wielded her kids like a club with the infamous, "You know, this conversation doesn’t help my kids." And it won't be the last example either.

This will be a fun four years yet. These people are beyond shameless.

Will Anyone Remember Obama's Computer Gaffe?

We've had literal years of ridicule for Bush misspeaking and saying 'the Internets' once. Is there an Internet2? Sure, but he had obviously slipped up on the common parlance. I doubt a day's gone by since then that Slashdot hasn't had a reference to it.

Same with Ted Stevens and the Internet as a series of 'tubes'. Again, while not technically that far off, and while a 'fat pipe' is often referred to for fast connections, this was grounds for endless scorn. Ted Stevens deserves scorn, but he deserves it for being a crook, not for a comment on 'tubes'.

So when Barack Obama, legendary Harvard intellect and orator without parallel says, "The same way the computer was originally invented by a bunch of government scientists who were trying to figure out, for defense purposes, how to communicate," will anyone even notice? Sure, maybe he slipped up. But this statement is far, far more egregious than either of the two above. Will it enter the mainstream? I doubt it.

Why not? Once again, it's never funny to criticize The One. In fact, the BBC is already painting it in the most favorable light possible. Again, the meaning is not what matters. I know what he probably thinks he meant. It's just no one notices that the guy can't speak without his prompter.

Was 'The Happening' Even Environmental?

I saw it last night, and I just didn't get as upset as I normally would by the subject matter. It was definitely presented in a more Twilight Zone manner than preachy one, and I found the focus of the movie to be more on the creepiness of visuals of mass suicides and on the relationship between the main characters.

As for the environmental message, I don't know. The plants totally blew away some of the most reliably blue-state states on the map, and then headed for Paris of all places. Maybe Nature was tired of being disrespected by environmentalists as not being able to take care of itself and decided to shut some of them up.



Here's a map, the 'event' didn't even touch any red states, it was New York, New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania. I didn't see any loggers going down, and the protagonists escaped in the most gas-hogging vehicle in the movie, a roughly 10 mpg, early 80s Jeep Grand Wagoneer. The plant-whisperer guy got taken out as well.

All of that is in jest obviously, but if you think you'd be irritated by any message in the movie, I would say just watch it to watch it and enjoy the 'what if' aspect of it. It's not great, but it's got some memorable moments.

To Republicans Not Voting For McCain

I am exhausted listening to 'pricinpled' conservatives, and the vast majority of talk radio, bad-mouthing the idea of voting for McCain. The reasons range from "he doesn't respect us" to "bring on the bad times, then blame the Dems." That charts out a territory roughly from 'hypersensitive' and 'immature' on up to 'idiot'.

The primaries are over. Were there perfect choices? Not really. Were there good ones? Yeah, in my opinion. Would I take all of the top ones over Obama or Hillary? Yes.

The thing about teaching the voters a lesson by electing Obama is, we've got to live through those 4-8 years. I'm not interested in paying higher taxes, in socializing medicine, in waiting out more liberal judges to retire. I'm not interested in the Obamas 'healing my soul'.

John McCain is reliably for lowering taxes and earmarks. For those that claim to care, he's pro-life and anti-gay-marriage. You want to throw those positives in the toilet? Have at it. But don't expect anyone to listen to your childish demands next time around, just go join Buchanan or the Constitution Party and take your tears and diapers with you. I'm interested in winning, in improving, and living.

Does it take a Carter to get a Reagan?

Short answer: No.

If you actually believe in limited government, in allowing people to reach their potential and keep their work's rewards, this argument is just ridiculous. In essence, you are saying that Reagan's (or general conservative/libertarian) ideas are only truly attractive when looked at from some of the worst years since World War II.

Needless to say, I don't think that's the case. Limiting government is attractive, both in a practical and idealistic sense, at any time, compared to any other form of government.

If you think Reagan's great only when compared to Carter, I don't think you really know the meaning of the word 'great'.