Slog
News & ArtsWednesday, May 23, 2012
2
@1 Not quite sure why you posted this here, but as long as you did...
You know? With more stable, loving, potential-adoptee couples in our society, it is possible that some pregnant girls or women who can't afford to keep or raise another child might very well choose to carry their fetus to term so it can be adopted into a household that can give it a chance at a successful life. (But, we should never take away their option to terminate.)
That's where these two issues intersect.
You know? With more stable, loving, potential-adoptee couples in our society, it is possible that some pregnant girls or women who can't afford to keep or raise another child might very well choose to carry their fetus to term so it can be adopted into a household that can give it a chance at a successful life. (But, we should never take away their option to terminate.)
That's where these two issues intersect.
4
This is quasi related, but there were a fair number of churches in my area who addressed Obama's support in their Mother's Day sermon. None to my knowledge went all electric fence like that dude in North Carolina that I know of. But, a dialog has begun where people from the most pro discrimination churches are coming out and opposing their church's position. It's lovely to see. It reminds me of this passage from 'Huckleberry Finn'.
“Whenever I think of the word “empathy,” I think of a small boy named Huckleberry Finn contemplating his friend and runaway slave, Jim. Huck asks himself whether he should give Jim up or not. Huck was told in Sunday school that people who let slaves go free go to everlasting fire.” But then, Huck says he imagines he and Jim in “the day and nighttime, sometimes moonlight, sometimes storms, and we a-floating along, talking and singing and laughing.” Huck remembers Jim and their friendship and warmth. He imagines Jim not as a slave but as a human being and he decided that, “alright, then, I’ll go to hell.” - This I Believe, 172
And, yes, I know most of you sloggers think irrational weak fools when your being kind. So, this won't warm your hearts as it does mine. I'm looking towards the future that unwrites the evil that was written into our state constitution and we can use all the voters we can get.
Take care.
“Whenever I think of the word “empathy,” I think of a small boy named Huckleberry Finn contemplating his friend and runaway slave, Jim. Huck asks himself whether he should give Jim up or not. Huck was told in Sunday school that people who let slaves go free go to everlasting fire.” But then, Huck says he imagines he and Jim in “the day and nighttime, sometimes moonlight, sometimes storms, and we a-floating along, talking and singing and laughing.” Huck remembers Jim and their friendship and warmth. He imagines Jim not as a slave but as a human being and he decided that, “alright, then, I’ll go to hell.” - This I Believe, 172
And, yes, I know most of you sloggers think irrational weak fools when your being kind. So, this won't warm your hearts as it does mine. I'm looking towards the future that unwrites the evil that was written into our state constitution and we can use all the voters we can get.
Take care.
5
Amazing- the POTUS acknowledging, supporting and fighting for our equal rights as American citizens who happen to be GLBT. Simply amazing.
Thanks, Dan.
Thanks, Dan.
6
Obama's Record on Civil Liberties:
[from Alternet] How Obama Became a Civil Libertarian's Nightmare
By Steven Rosenfeld, April 18, 2012
Despite vows to increase transparency, the president has made the government ever more authoritarian and intrusive
[from The Guardian] Obama's abysmal record on civil liberties
By Mehdi Hasan, December 23, 2011
By signing the 'anti-terror' bill the president could end up being worse than his Republican predecessor on civil liberties
[from LA Times] Obama: A disaster for civil liberties
By Jonathan Turley, September 29, 2011
He may prove the most disastrous president in our history in terms of civil liberties.
[video] Civil Liberties Under Obama
Glenn Greenwald speech at 2011 Socialism Conference, July 3, 2011
"Suffice to say, it is acknowledged and recognized across the political spectrum that Barack Obama has continued virtually all of George Bush and Dick Cheney's once controversial terrorism civil liberties and policies."
[from Alternet] How Obama Became a Civil Libertarian's Nightmare
By Steven Rosenfeld, April 18, 2012
Despite vows to increase transparency, the president has made the government ever more authoritarian and intrusive
[from The Guardian] Obama's abysmal record on civil liberties
By Mehdi Hasan, December 23, 2011
By signing the 'anti-terror' bill the president could end up being worse than his Republican predecessor on civil liberties
[from LA Times] Obama: A disaster for civil liberties
By Jonathan Turley, September 29, 2011
He may prove the most disastrous president in our history in terms of civil liberties.
[video] Civil Liberties Under Obama
Glenn Greenwald speech at 2011 Socialism Conference, July 3, 2011
"Suffice to say, it is acknowledged and recognized across the political spectrum that Barack Obama has continued virtually all of George Bush and Dick Cheney's once controversial terrorism civil liberties and policies."
7
@6 erratum:
"Suffice to say, it is acknowledged and recognized across the political spectrum that Barack Obama has continued virtually all of George Bush and Dick Cheney's once controversial terrorism and civil liberties policies."
"Suffice to say, it is acknowledged and recognized across the political spectrum that Barack Obama has continued virtually all of George Bush and Dick Cheney's once controversial terrorism and civil liberties policies."
8
2012 Presidential Debate Of Alternative Parties
[watch here]
Debating:
Rocky Anderson
Justice Party nominee
http://www.voterocky.org/
Roseanne Barr
Green Party candidate
http://roseanneforpresident.com/
Stephen Durham
Freedom Socialist Party nominee
http://www.socialism.com/drupal-6.8/
Peta Lindsay
Party for Socialism and Liberation nominee
http://pslweb.org/votepsl/2012/candidate…
Dr. Kent Mesplay
Green Party candidate
http://mesplay.org/
Dr. Jill Stein
Green Party candidate
http://www.jillstein.org/
[watch here]
Debating:
Rocky Anderson
Justice Party nominee
http://www.voterocky.org/
Roseanne Barr
Green Party candidate
http://roseanneforpresident.com/
Stephen Durham
Freedom Socialist Party nominee
http://www.socialism.com/drupal-6.8/
Peta Lindsay
Party for Socialism and Liberation nominee
http://pslweb.org/votepsl/2012/candidate…
Dr. Kent Mesplay
Green Party candidate
http://mesplay.org/
Dr. Jill Stein
Green Party candidate
http://www.jillstein.org/
10
Whoa, hijacked thread! Anti-abortion BS? Roseanne for President? Yeah, that'll solve our problems. I know she has a nut farm and all now, but my guess is that a national anthem crotch grab amounts to an electability issue, among other things. Haven't we elected enough actors?
On topic, kids! Can you imagine the press GLBT+ community would be getting now under a McCain administration? NONE. DOMA and DADT would remain firmly in place. Say what you want, but Obama's stuck his neck out in an election cycle for what's right. C'mon! Props!
On topic, kids! Can you imagine the press GLBT+ community would be getting now under a McCain administration? NONE. DOMA and DADT would remain firmly in place. Say what you want, but Obama's stuck his neck out in an election cycle for what's right. C'mon! Props!
12
2
if only....
you've never tried to adopt, have you.
It isn't a lack of families willing and eager to adopt
that leads women to kill their babies.
if only....
you've never tried to adopt, have you.
It isn't a lack of families willing and eager to adopt
that leads women to kill their babies.
14
4
This issue really is separating the sheep from the goats.
Moral people will see which "churches" are wishy washy relativists without moorings and which are morally firm and true.
Burning away the phony dross leaves the metal precious and pure.
This issue really is separating the sheep from the goats.
Moral people will see which "churches" are wishy washy relativists without moorings and which are morally firm and true.
Burning away the phony dross leaves the metal precious and pure.
15
I don't think most LGBT folks would support a president who is droning kids on the other side of the planet just because he supports for their right to marriage.
18
@15 Because the Republicans totally won't drone even more people. Sometimes you've got to go with the lesser of two evils.
21
Look Ipso (if that is your real name), fine, point taken. Obama's good on some things (gay rights) and bad on others (terrorism-protection overreach, medical marijuana, etc.). But this is something he's good about. That's all. No one's saying he's perfect.
22
@6-8, Ipso Facto:
You know, computers and smart phones contain animal products. I thought you were a vegan?
What's up with that?
You know, computers and smart phones contain animal products. I thought you were a vegan?
What's up with that?
23
I think of how Obama has been a disappointment in a lot of ways. But then, I think about what the alternative might have been like - McCain/Palin.
Folks ranting about the failings of the POTUS would do better to focus electing the alternate parties to lower level govt. posts - senators and congressional reps at the state levels as well as the federal.
And pay attention to the judge elections, and the local school board. Make sure you aren't electing someone to the school board who thinks science is a dirty word and abstinence education is the way to go - and don't elect someone who uses "boy scouts" and "hands-on approach" in the same paragraph. Your votes at the local level make a lot more difference than who you cast your vote for in a POTUS election. And people who are in govt at a more local level gain experience for higher level positions.
Folks ranting about the failings of the POTUS would do better to focus electing the alternate parties to lower level govt. posts - senators and congressional reps at the state levels as well as the federal.
And pay attention to the judge elections, and the local school board. Make sure you aren't electing someone to the school board who thinks science is a dirty word and abstinence education is the way to go - and don't elect someone who uses "boy scouts" and "hands-on approach" in the same paragraph. Your votes at the local level make a lot more difference than who you cast your vote for in a POTUS election. And people who are in govt at a more local level gain experience for higher level positions.
24
@1, Nobody identifies as "pro-abortion" you nitwit. Unless we can get a retroactive abortion for your mother. In that case, I would be pro-abortion.
25
@1, Nobody identifies as "pro-abortion," you nitwit. Unless there's some way your mother can retroactively abort you. I'd be pro-abortion in that case.
26
@20: Compare and contrast the number of American soldiers sent to die in Vietnam by Barack Obama and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
27
@21 (Lance Thrustwell)
<<No one's saying he's perfect.>>
But that is exactly the picture of Obama presented in The Stranger/SLOG. I can't remember the last time I read a vaguely critical description of Obama in these (web) pages.
Sure, Obama should be credited for his positions on LGBT rights. You're right, this is a watershed moment for the LGBT movement and I understand why so many were thrilled by his remarks. But we need to remain mindful of the broader context of his overall record.
As long as The Stranger keeps pushing these campaign ads and writing love letters to Obama, and generally acting as an arm of the Obama reelection campaign, many readers are simply not getting that full perspective.
So yes, let's commend Obama on his achievements. But we'd damn well better hold him accountable for his failures and betrayals. Two Salon bloggers recently commented on the subject:
David Sirota:
Glenn Greenwald:
More...
<<No one's saying he's perfect.>>
But that is exactly the picture of Obama presented in The Stranger/SLOG. I can't remember the last time I read a vaguely critical description of Obama in these (web) pages.
Sure, Obama should be credited for his positions on LGBT rights. You're right, this is a watershed moment for the LGBT movement and I understand why so many were thrilled by his remarks. But we need to remain mindful of the broader context of his overall record.
As long as The Stranger keeps pushing these campaign ads and writing love letters to Obama, and generally acting as an arm of the Obama reelection campaign, many readers are simply not getting that full perspective.
So yes, let's commend Obama on his achievements. But we'd damn well better hold him accountable for his failures and betrayals. Two Salon bloggers recently commented on the subject:
David Sirota:
We’ve been reminded of this constantly during Obama’s term, as the American Left is now dominated by those who will angrily chastise a Republican politician for advocating atrocious tax, trade, war and civil liberties policies and then cheerily praise a Democratic president for advocating the exact same policies, or worse. Essentially, many liberals are desperate to see liberalism in their president, even if it’s not there. And so on an issue such as gay marriage, Obama deftly plays to that vanity with terms like “evolve” — promising-but-meaningless words that prompt his base to insist that he has a stealth scheme to make gay marriage legal — and that any pressure to force his hand somehow undermines the overall cause.
Glenn Greenwald:
As David Sirota explained today, this demonstrates why it is so vital to always apply critical pressure even to politicians one likes and supports, and conversely, it demonstrates why it is so foolish and irresponsible to devote oneself with uncritical, blind adoration to a politician, whether in an election year or any other time (unconditional allegiance is the surest way to render one’s beliefs and agenda irrelevant). When someone who wields political power does something you dislike or disagree with, it’s incumbent upon you to object, criticize, and demand a different course. Those who refuse to do so are abdicating the most basic duty of citizenship and rendering themselves impotent.
29
@27: "I can't remember the last time I read a vaguely critical description of Obama in these (web) pages."
HAHAHAHA stopped reading there.
HAHAHAHA stopped reading there.
30
@28: Um, no. Neither. And no smokescreens, just a bad joke. You're the one piping smoke into my nephew's bar mitzvah and yelling about female circumcision. Sure, we have problems, and a 2 party system has some serious drawbacks, but the current situation very easily could be much worse. You're at the wrong party.
31
@29
[Correction to that sentence: "I can't remember the last time I read even a vaguely critical description of Obama in these (web) pages."]
Oh, you think that statement is hi-laaaarious, do you? In other words, you believe that The Stranger regularly presents criticism of the Obama administration. Then of course you'll be more than happy to provide a list of, let's say, the last five posts by The Stranger writers offering a critical perspective of the Obama presidency.
Surely The Stranger ran articles and/or SLOG posts critical of Obama's signing of the 2012 NDAA, his flip flop on Super PACs, and Attorney General Eric Holder's justification of assassination by drone?
And of course they must have run a report on the recent judicial ruling declaring the indefinite detention provision of NDAA unconstitutional, right?
I'm sure you'll have no trouble at all producing those articles. Don't worry, we'll wait.
[Correction to that sentence: "I can't remember the last time I read even a vaguely critical description of Obama in these (web) pages."]
Oh, you think that statement is hi-laaaarious, do you? In other words, you believe that The Stranger regularly presents criticism of the Obama administration. Then of course you'll be more than happy to provide a list of, let's say, the last five posts by The Stranger writers offering a critical perspective of the Obama presidency.
Surely The Stranger ran articles and/or SLOG posts critical of Obama's signing of the 2012 NDAA, his flip flop on Super PACs, and Attorney General Eric Holder's justification of assassination by drone?
And of course they must have run a report on the recent judicial ruling declaring the indefinite detention provision of NDAA unconstitutional, right?
I'm sure you'll have no trouble at all producing those articles. Don't worry, we'll wait.
32
@30
<<You're at the wrong party>>
Hmm. Nope.
The "Rah! Rah! Obama can do no wrong!" party is exactly the right place to share this information.
<<You're at the wrong party>>
Hmm. Nope.
The "Rah! Rah! Obama can do no wrong!" party is exactly the right place to share this information.
33
Principle: A fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.
My system of belief tells me not to vote for presidents who drone children to death on the other side of the planet or pretend that voting will change a system which normalizes such behavior.
My system of belief tells me not to vote for presidents who drone children to death on the other side of the planet or pretend that voting will change a system which normalizes such behavior.
34
Linda, don't you see a benefit in at least voting for an alternative party candidate? Or even writing in a name?
How can we identify non-votes as acts of protest versus simple apathy?
At least voting for an alternative party candidate will enhance the viability of alternative parties -- and a multiparty system -- for future elections. One of the biggest reasons people cite for obstinate commitment to Democrat or Republican nominees is that no other candidate "has a chance" (pointing to previous elections where few voted for alternative parties). So if we do vote for an alternative party candidate, we will bolster their legitimacy in the minds of many other voters.
How can we identify non-votes as acts of protest versus simple apathy?
At least voting for an alternative party candidate will enhance the viability of alternative parties -- and a multiparty system -- for future elections. One of the biggest reasons people cite for obstinate commitment to Democrat or Republican nominees is that no other candidate "has a chance" (pointing to previous elections where few voted for alternative parties). So if we do vote for an alternative party candidate, we will bolster their legitimacy in the minds of many other voters.
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