The poll numbers are looking up again. Last time I paid close attention to the poll numbers things were not looking as well as they probably should have, given the recent news of Sarah Palin.
Fortunately for anyone against McCain, the presumptions of his folly in selecting Sarah Palin are slowly turning out to be more and more true. Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish outlines several the the lies that Sarah Palin has been telling.
On the ground the story you hear is more of the same. The same tired rhetoric that has been injected into the minds of many a Republican voter, the racist, the anti-liberal economic agenda (which I have tried to dispel to no avail given the obvious ideological contradictions), and anti-abortion religionists. Try as you may you will never be able to break the fortifications these individuals have built up against fact.
It seems to me that more than anything it has become a question of identity. As Bauman has previously asserted with regards to information societies, we are living in times that require constant consumption and disposal of not only material goods, but the information that is constantly being circulated around us. Personally I find it very difficult to conceive an existence that consists solely of my house, cars, family, work, and church, all situated within a relatively confined community to which I am relegated. For most people this is still the American dream.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Driving
Driving through the southwestern United States has always emoted a romanticized narrative of the American dream. While trudging along, one is inevitably reminded of horse drawn buggies and oxen laden wagons that strewed the streets of many a town within the relatively small scope that is American history, and there is something that elicits a sense of solitude in these thoughts.
There is also something inspiring about the red and blue and pale green pastiche of color that is illuminated by the rising or setting sun in this part of the country. To stand on the high plains and look up at the soaring mountains and plateaus being piercing by the rays of the sun over an uninhabited and pristine landscape is like no other feeling I have experienced.
Maybe this is what pits this country one against the other. There is something I will never be able to call my own and it is the feeling of riding up to the top of one of these plateaus and look out onto the vastness below me and the land that has permanently blistered my hands. Although I can appreciate this feeling, it will never be something that I can own. This feeling of looking out onto the land below and knowing that there is nothing between you and the land.
But at the same time, I have my own. Looking out onto suburbia and feeling complete isolation despite the purported bonds of community that associate most people. While not as romantic as the prior, there is still a profound sense of self satisfaction in knowing that even in the mix of it all, you still have time to find yourself completely engrossed in nothing more than yourself and a personal reflection on your place within your community. The same or something similar can be said for the city dweller.
In a word, introversion comes to mind. More than that, however, it is the sense of independence which is so important to us all as Americans. This will never be taken from the American psyche, but we must also acknowledge how we were able to come about this. As the old saying goes, you can't raise a barn with only one person. The collective is an inevitability. Individualism is not a right, it is a privilege.
As I was driving through the Southwest I took some pictures from a first person perspective. I wanted to document a small portion of the ride and some of the landscapes that truly impacted my impression of this country, if only the purely aesthetic side of it.
There is also something inspiring about the red and blue and pale green pastiche of color that is illuminated by the rising or setting sun in this part of the country. To stand on the high plains and look up at the soaring mountains and plateaus being piercing by the rays of the sun over an uninhabited and pristine landscape is like no other feeling I have experienced.
Maybe this is what pits this country one against the other. There is something I will never be able to call my own and it is the feeling of riding up to the top of one of these plateaus and look out onto the vastness below me and the land that has permanently blistered my hands. Although I can appreciate this feeling, it will never be something that I can own. This feeling of looking out onto the land below and knowing that there is nothing between you and the land.
But at the same time, I have my own. Looking out onto suburbia and feeling complete isolation despite the purported bonds of community that associate most people. While not as romantic as the prior, there is still a profound sense of self satisfaction in knowing that even in the mix of it all, you still have time to find yourself completely engrossed in nothing more than yourself and a personal reflection on your place within your community. The same or something similar can be said for the city dweller.
In a word, introversion comes to mind. More than that, however, it is the sense of independence which is so important to us all as Americans. This will never be taken from the American psyche, but we must also acknowledge how we were able to come about this. As the old saying goes, you can't raise a barn with only one person. The collective is an inevitability. Individualism is not a right, it is a privilege.
As I was driving through the Southwest I took some pictures from a first person perspective. I wanted to document a small portion of the ride and some of the landscapes that truly impacted my impression of this country, if only the purely aesthetic side of it.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Conspiracy Theories
In an effort to dispel some of the myths that are being circulated by conservatives through grassroots electronic methods such as those bogus emails many have become familiar with, Media Matters has released this flowchart outlining the origins of many of those surrounding Obama:
Librarians
It has been said countless times since the announcement of Governor Sarah Palin vice presidential nomination, she is not ready.
The Daily Show recently pointed out one of the many of the inconsistencies which plague the logic of conservative punditry. With regards to Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia, Mr. Rove has this to say:
So if that's the case, how are conservatives supposed to sell Governor Palin to the American people?
Last night was an excellent example of the lacking substance in the Republican's message this time around. This ex beauty queen was very well poised in her attempts to berate the Senator, but at least she was able to auto-designate one of the possible epithets which many could now assign to her. "You know they say the only difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is the lipstick."
I a sense, this works out great for both parties. The Republicans were able to energize their base, while further alienating the rest of America. Efforts to stress American unity by the Democrats were underscored by the divisive testimonies of most Republican speakers.
In the end, the ad homonym attacks on Obama are probably not going to do much to change the polls too much. However, it never ceases to be provide reason for disconcert and perplexity among most rational citizens who are forcibly exposed to such vitriol.
A great deal of the chatter coming off the convention floor as soon as it happened hearkened back to an earlier election, the 2000 presidential election which brought Bush to power. The word that kept being repeated aside from maverick was "character." As if character were enough to give you the fortitude to tackle the most important position in the world. We all known how well things went by going on that logic alone.
The interesting thing about this term is that it implies nothing about any of the concrete abilities we would like to see in one of the most important leadership positions. I personally like to see intelligence, charisma, wisdom, gentility, articulateness. Can all of these be lumped into the term character? For one, I don't think intelligence can be. Many intelligent people throughout history have lacked character. On a categorical basis, take computer nerds, for instance.
Furthermore, gentility goes into that as well. Gigolos behave like perfect gentlemen but may be dumb as a box of rocks beyond their knowledge of proper social etiquette when wooing a lady.
Where the hell am I going with this? Sluts. Sluts. Sluts.
Everyone is a slut; but especially conservatives.
The one thing I do appreciate about Sarah Palin is the sexy librarian look. Somewhere out there in the heartland there is some kid cultivating a librarian dominatrix fantasy, and its all thanks to John McCain.
The Daily Show recently pointed out one of the many of the inconsistencies which plague the logic of conservative punditry. With regards to Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia, Mr. Rove has this to say:
He's been a governor for three years...He's been the mayor of the 105th largest city in America...So if he were to pick Governor Kaine it would be an intensely political choice which would say, "You know what? I'm really not first and foremost concerned whether this person is ready to be President of the United States."
So if that's the case, how are conservatives supposed to sell Governor Palin to the American people?
Last night was an excellent example of the lacking substance in the Republican's message this time around. This ex beauty queen was very well poised in her attempts to berate the Senator, but at least she was able to auto-designate one of the possible epithets which many could now assign to her. "You know they say the only difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is the lipstick."
I a sense, this works out great for both parties. The Republicans were able to energize their base, while further alienating the rest of America. Efforts to stress American unity by the Democrats were underscored by the divisive testimonies of most Republican speakers.
In the end, the ad homonym attacks on Obama are probably not going to do much to change the polls too much. However, it never ceases to be provide reason for disconcert and perplexity among most rational citizens who are forcibly exposed to such vitriol.
A great deal of the chatter coming off the convention floor as soon as it happened hearkened back to an earlier election, the 2000 presidential election which brought Bush to power. The word that kept being repeated aside from maverick was "character." As if character were enough to give you the fortitude to tackle the most important position in the world. We all known how well things went by going on that logic alone.
The interesting thing about this term is that it implies nothing about any of the concrete abilities we would like to see in one of the most important leadership positions. I personally like to see intelligence, charisma, wisdom, gentility, articulateness. Can all of these be lumped into the term character? For one, I don't think intelligence can be. Many intelligent people throughout history have lacked character. On a categorical basis, take computer nerds, for instance.
Furthermore, gentility goes into that as well. Gigolos behave like perfect gentlemen but may be dumb as a box of rocks beyond their knowledge of proper social etiquette when wooing a lady.
Where the hell am I going with this? Sluts. Sluts. Sluts.
Everyone is a slut; but especially conservatives.
The one thing I do appreciate about Sarah Palin is the sexy librarian look. Somewhere out there in the heartland there is some kid cultivating a librarian dominatrix fantasy, and its all thanks to John McCain.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Polls and the Media
Has anyone been paying attention to the latest polls? Well, the major news networks have and apparently Obama and McCain are pretty much in a dead heat. If this is true, then why are the numbers saying otherwise. In an earlier post, I expressed my delight after observing an obvious shift in poll numbers, which by my understanding of polls and statistics, showed a significant shift in public opinion. CNN, however, didn't see that shift. If they didn't see it then obviously Fox News saw the opposite. So let's see what they saw...
On August 25 the Gallup Poll General Election Trial Heat showed Obama down by two points to McCain at 44 to 46. On the 26th however, the numbers shifted in favor of Obama to 45-44. OK, I can see that as a dead heat. However, since that date the number have been climbing steadily. From the 27th onward, Obama has enjoyed at least a 6 point lead up till now: 42-48, 41-49, 41-49, 42-48, 43-49, and 42-50 on September 1.
OK, fine, that's just one poll. However, the only contradictory information to come out since the Democratic National Convention that may support the claims of the major news networks is a CNN/Opinion Research poll that shows McCain at 48 and Obama at 49. I am forced to ask myself about the methodology of a poll that comes out with these results which every single other poll shows otherwise: Diageo/Hotline, 39-48; CBS News, 40-48; USA Today/Gallup, 43-50; and American Research Group, 43-49.
All of these numbers show that the Democrats have made huge gains as a result of their efforts at the convention. Why then, is there misreporting by CNN. It is to be expected by Fox, but everyone knows that most media is largely dominated by the ideological leftist elitists right? Well the numbers are right here people. I am only posing the question, the responsibility is yours to make up your own mind.
Poll numbers provided courtesy of PollingReport.com
On August 25 the Gallup Poll General Election Trial Heat showed Obama down by two points to McCain at 44 to 46. On the 26th however, the numbers shifted in favor of Obama to 45-44. OK, I can see that as a dead heat. However, since that date the number have been climbing steadily. From the 27th onward, Obama has enjoyed at least a 6 point lead up till now: 42-48, 41-49, 41-49, 42-48, 43-49, and 42-50 on September 1.
OK, fine, that's just one poll. However, the only contradictory information to come out since the Democratic National Convention that may support the claims of the major news networks is a CNN/Opinion Research poll that shows McCain at 48 and Obama at 49. I am forced to ask myself about the methodology of a poll that comes out with these results which every single other poll shows otherwise: Diageo/Hotline, 39-48; CBS News, 40-48; USA Today/Gallup, 43-50; and American Research Group, 43-49.
All of these numbers show that the Democrats have made huge gains as a result of their efforts at the convention. Why then, is there misreporting by CNN. It is to be expected by Fox, but everyone knows that most media is largely dominated by the ideological leftist elitists right? Well the numbers are right here people. I am only posing the question, the responsibility is yours to make up your own mind.
Poll numbers provided courtesy of PollingReport.com
UFN
Anyone remember Thursday? How about Glassjaw? OK, what about Converge?
Converge is a classic, but the previous two I can honestly had escaped my more recent musical repertoire. I was recently reminded of these late/post high school bands that dominated my stereo at the time by the news of a hardcore/screamo/grindcore supergroup. Word on the street has it that members of the three bands I just mentioned are coming out with a collaboration entitled, United Nations.
Glassjaw got overshadowed by the shifting trends in the scene that introduced Head Automatica, but news of a side project with a reinvigorated edge from Palumbo was definitely a welcomed surprise. Similar sentiments were aroused by news that Thursday frontman Geoff Rickley was in the mix as well. Despite my inevitable evolution in musical taste, there is still a soft spot in my heart for those dissonant sounds of discordant youth.
The timing for the release of this album seems to coincide perfectly with the allusion of the political undertones that the name of the band seems to imply. Upon preliminary listenings of some of their tracks and their names this allusion definitely seems to be validated; you can check out their album at their www.myspace.com/unitednations. The final lineup hasn't been revealed, but you can definitely hear the memorable vocals of Rickley. As for the rest, check them out for yourself and be sure to pick up the album when it comes out.
Converge is a classic, but the previous two I can honestly had escaped my more recent musical repertoire. I was recently reminded of these late/post high school bands that dominated my stereo at the time by the news of a hardcore/screamo/grindcore supergroup. Word on the street has it that members of the three bands I just mentioned are coming out with a collaboration entitled, United Nations.
Glassjaw got overshadowed by the shifting trends in the scene that introduced Head Automatica, but news of a side project with a reinvigorated edge from Palumbo was definitely a welcomed surprise. Similar sentiments were aroused by news that Thursday frontman Geoff Rickley was in the mix as well. Despite my inevitable evolution in musical taste, there is still a soft spot in my heart for those dissonant sounds of discordant youth.
The timing for the release of this album seems to coincide perfectly with the allusion of the political undertones that the name of the band seems to imply. Upon preliminary listenings of some of their tracks and their names this allusion definitely seems to be validated; you can check out their album at their www.myspace.com/unitednations. The final lineup hasn't been revealed, but you can definitely hear the memorable vocals of Rickley. As for the rest, check them out for yourself and be sure to pick up the album when it comes out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
