Pacific ViewsYou've been had. You've been took. You've been hoodwinked, bamboozled, led astray, run amok. - Malcolm X Fear not. - GodA Good Sign- June 28, 2008 One of the things that makes me sure I will vote for Obama rather than anyone else is his attitude toward the "accomplishments" of the Bush administration. He plans to review all Bush's executive orders and remove any that he thinks are unconstitutional. I hope this will mean that the first thing Bush did in office -- removing funding to family planning clinics overseas and here that also counsel abortions -- will finally be removed. It would be good to have all the money given to church...http://www.pacificviews.org/weblog/archives/003535.html Twittering Mars- June 27, 2008 I love Twitter. Certainly, I loved it until today, when I discovered that the archive seems to expire about three months back. V annoyed. Even though it allows me to follow the Mars lander's Twitter feed, which had these reports today: MarsPhoenix Some organisms on Earth thrive in extreme environments. Determining habitability of Mars is key to this mission, and this helps the puzzle. about 2 hours ago from web MarsPhoenix Asparagus and other plants would like this soil, but wouldn't grow on..http://www.pacificviews.org/weblog/archives/003534.html North Korea- June 26, 2008 Kevin Drum wonders why we are seeing such encouraging news from North Korea. Being cynical, I think I know. Two things are driving this news cycle. 1. Bush needs a foreign policy success and this has been designated as it. 2. If North Korea is no longer an "issue", then a whole bunch of objections about taking on Iran go away. Of course, I'm not someone who is hooked into the goings on, but I do know that Bush (and Condi) are desperately looking for some way to show they've been...http://www.pacificviews.org/weblog/archives/003533.html Framing the Issues- June 25, 2008 George Lakoff was on KQED's Forum today to talk about his latest book. He discusses how conservative metaphors are shaping the frame used our debates. He says we need to recognize that these metaphors are very strong in our culture and influence much of what the society can imagine is possible. From this week's Justice Department Inspector General's report about the way applicants for the DOJ were chosen under the Bush administration is an excellent example of Lakoff's thesis regarding...http://www.pacificviews.org/weblog/archives/003532.html Another Political Matrix- June 24, 2008 The other day I ran into another political matrix somewhat like Political Compass, but one that is morality based. So, what does it mean to be morality based The Moral Matrix has two Dimensions: 1. The Moral Order dimension defines your ideal view of the world. Achieving that ideal order is the goal of politics. 2. The Moral Rules dimension defines the rules you think are best to achieve your ideal moral order. Implementing those rules is the object of politics. In short, your...http://www.pacificviews.org/weblog/archives/003531.html Pennsylvania Politics: Resolved to Continue Bigotry- June 21, 2008 ... by Walter Brasche There should have been absolutely no controversy in a resolution presented in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives this past week. Speaker Dennis OBrien, a Republican from Philadelphia, wanted to honor the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which was holding its 60th annual national convention in Harrisburg. These resolutions are routine and almost always noncontroversial. The resolution pointed out that the organizations purpose was to increase faith and harmony and...http://www.pacificviews.org/weblog/archives/003530.html Call Today- June 20, 2008 Congress is voting today to let Bush and his administration get off scotfree in their illegal spying on Americans. It's time to make a fuss. Cujo359 provides a whole slew of things that you can do to fight for our rights. And Simon bloggasm interviewed some of the Strange Bedfellows who are backing the campaign to make the Congress aware that they are treading on dangerous ground if they carry through with this betrayal. Help raise the heat on Washington. Call your Congress critter...http://www.pacificviews.org/weblog/archives/003529.html Defending the Constitution- June 19, 2008 We elect people to represent us because we don't have the time and logistical ability to all get in the same room at the same time to hash out the laws and rules that we live under. Those who are elected to the national government take an oath to defend the U.S. Constitution. That means they are giving their word that they will do just that, including defending our rights especially those enumerated in the Bill of Rights. But the rot of George W Bush and his culture of fear and greed has...http://www.pacificviews.org/weblog/archives/003528.html Reforming Health Insurance- June 18, 2008 Dean Baker makes a very good point that our health insurance industry has to be the first target for reform. I particularly liked this analogy: The current law basically gives insurers a free hand to abuse patients. It is equivalent to handing over a $12,000 check to a contractor to repair the plumbing and electric in your house and then leaving it to the contractor to decide which repairs they want to do. A contractor that fixed a few pipes and then skipped out would be prosecuted for fraud..http://www.pacificviews.org/weblog/archives/003527.html |