I Love this Woman

RIP Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick

Assvertising

For any of you teaching units on ad analysis (and actually reading this), you should definitely check out Shakesville‘s series on misogynist advertising, aptly dubbed “Assvertising.” They post ads and do what your students should be doing, at least on a micro level (and there are more than fifty entries).

Obama’s Weekly Address

I might be a little bit late coming to this, but did you know that you can watch Obama’s weekly address? That the White House has a YouTube page? Here you go–yesterday’s address.

The Wrong Place to Be Chronically Ill

Chronically ill Americans suffer far worse care than their counterparts in seven other industrial nations, according to a new study by the Commonwealth Fund, a New York-based foundation that has pioneered in international comparisons. It is the latest telling evidence that the dysfunctional American health care system badly needs reform.

Readers

Technologically speaking, I’m always a little behind the times (not to mention other facets of life). But I’m a recent convert to Google Reader. I love logging in to check out what people I’m interested in are saying, without all the clicks. Maybe laziness drives me? Probably. I’m just saying: Google Reader rocks.

Rich on the Big Victory

I think I’m on the outside when it comes to most progressives’ opinion of Frank Rich: I could take or leave him. His prose is a bit too jump-up-and-down-arms-waving for me. But the editorial in today’s Times really does it for me.

For eight years, we’ve been told by those in power that we are small, bigoted and stupid — easily divided and easily frightened. This was the toxic catechism of Bush-Rove politics. It was the soiled banner picked up by the sad McCain campaign, and it was often abetted by an amen corner in the dominant news media. We heard this slander of America so often that we all started to believe it, liberals most certainly included.

Myself, most certainly included. While I realize that nearly half of voters do fall into the group he describes, the fact that they are now in the minority means everything. While the election results do not reflect progressive thinking across the board, I think I can join a large group of people in saying that I am proud of my country for the first time in my adult life. I can actually say “my country” without cringing.

Endorsement: Sheriff

The Hamilton County Sheriff is running for re-election this year–unopposed.

To remind people of the kind of man he is, I’ll copy here his infamous 2005 speech on Fountain Square, which is fondly known as “Sheriff Leis vs. Satan.” (Note: My apology for the caps. The sheriff’s department released the speech that way and I’m not re-typing it.)

FORTY YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST BECAME A LAWYER AND ENTERED PUBLIC LIFE AS A PROSECUTOR, LITTLE DID I REALIZE, AS I SPEAK TODAY, I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A STAUNCH MORAL STANCE ON LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUES. OUR COURTS AT THAT TIME UPHELD THE RULE OF LAW, SUPPORTED LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND RECOGNIZED GOD AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF A LAW ABIDING SOCIETY. NOT ANY MORE.

SEALED UNDER GLASS IN WASHINGTON D.C., THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA, LULLS AMERICANS INTO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY, BELIEVING THAT NOTHING CAN CHANGE THE IDEALS AND INTENT OF ITS GOD-FEARING FRAMERS. MOST AMERICANS, BELIEVE THAT OUR CONSTITUTION HAS SURVIVED INTACT FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS WITHOUT ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE. NOTHING CAN BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, AFTER 150 YEARS OF BIBLE STUDY IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THIS COUNTRY, BANNED BIBLE READING AND PRAYER IN OUR PUBLIC CLASSROOMS, AND DECLARED STARTING IN THE 60’S, THE FOLLOWING PRACTICES TO BE VIOLATIONS OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT: THE RECITATION OF PRAYERS COMPOSED BY ANYONE INCLUDING SCHOOL OFFICIALS, BIBLE READING, RECITATION OF THE LORD’S PRAYER, AND PRAYERS AT PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATIONS.

SINCE THE FIRST OF THOSE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS, JUVENILE CRIME HAS SKY-ROCKETED, TEEN PREGNANCY AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES HAVE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY; VIOLENT CRIME (INCLUDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE) HAS RISEN 600% OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS; TEEN SUICIDE IS UP 300%; AND DEPRESSION AMONG CHILDREN IS UP 1000%. EVERY DAY, TELEVISION AND NEWSPAPERS INUNDATE US WITH HORRIFIC ACCOUNTS OF CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AS LAW ENFORCMENT OFFICERS WE CONFRONT THESE SITUATIONS EVERY DAY.

DAILY WE LEARN OF THE MASS KILLING OF STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS, SHOOTINGS TAKING PLACE IN DAY-CARE CENTERS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP. IS THERE ANY WONDER, WHY SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE COMMITTING SUCH HORRIBLE CRIMES AGAINST INNOCENT VICTIMS, WHEN WE PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF ATHEISTS, AND ABOLISH THE RECOGNITION OF ALMIGHTY GOD IN OUR CLASSROOMS?

THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ARE HARD WORKING, GOD FEARING PEOPLE BUSILY CARING FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, PAYING THEIR TAXES, AND TRUSTING PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO RUN THE DAILY BUSINESS OF THEIR GOVERNMENT IN THEIR BEST INTEREST, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT.

WHAT MANY FAIL TO SEE, HOWEVER, ARE THE FORCES OF MORAL CORRUPTION WORKING FEVERISHLY, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. THEY ARE OUT THERE EVERY DAY WALKING THROUGH THE HALLS OF CONGRESS, STATE LEGISLATURES, AND THE COURTS. THE GAY AND LESBIAN COALITIONS, RABID FEMINIST GROUPS, AND THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION ALL COMPETING FOR POWER. MANY USE THEIR POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE FUNDS, TO INFLUENCE ELECTED OFFICIALS, TO REPRESENT THESE PARASITIC GROUPS WHO PROSELYTIZE AND FORCE US UNDER THE PROTECTION OF LAW, TO TOLERATE AND ACCEPT THEIR DESPICABLE CONDUCT AND AGENDA.

THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION CONSTANTLY USE THEIR INFLUENCE TO PROMOTE THEIR OWN SELF-CENTERED PHILOSOPHY. ALL THE WHILE, THESE INDIVIDUALS MAKE CONCERTED EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT ANY PUBLIC REFERENCE TO GOD, PRAYER, OR FAMILY VALUES, REMAIN RELICS OF THE PAST. THEIR MEMBERS BECOME UPSET, WHEN CARING PARENTS SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE PERVERSION OF THE INTERNET, CYBER-PORN AND CYBER-SEX CHAT ROOMS, VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES, AND MUSIC VIDEOS, DESIGNED AND TARGETED TO COMPROMISE THE MORALS OF INNOCENT CHILDREN. WE ARE LOSING OUR VOICE IN AMERICA; WE HAVE ALLOWED SPECIAL INTERESTS AND LOBBYISTS TO CONTROL OUR GOVERNMENT.

SO MANY CONTRADICTIONS CONFRONT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WE STOOD BY SILENTLY AND WATCHED ATHEISTS ABOLISH SCHOOL PRAYER AND REPLACE IT WITH (THE ALL TOO FAMILIAR) YELLOW CRIME SCENE TAPE, METAL DETECTORS, AND DRUG-SNIFFING DOGS.

DAILY, WE WITNESS DEVIATE BEHAVIOR IN THE CLASSROOMS BECAUSE WE HAVE STRIPPED TEACHERS AND PRINCIPLES OF THE AUTHORITY NECESSARY TO DO THEIR JOBS. AS PARENTS, WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WE ALSO PLEDGE THAT WE ARE ONE NATION “UNDER GOD.” BUT TO SOME, THAT’S NOT TRUE, THANKS TO LIBERAL JUDGES WHO WAGE TYRANNICAL POWER AGAINST THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY. POWER HUNGRY POLITICIANS ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT BEING POLITICALLY CORRECT, THAN MORALLY WRONG, AND SELL THEIR VOTE TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER OR SUPPORT GROUP, WHO WILL RADICALLY DISTORT THE MANDATE OF OUR CONSTITUTION TO FIT THEIR AGENDA. HOW DO WE COMBAT THIS INSANITY?

AS CONCERNED CITIZENS AND CHRISTIANS, WE NEED TO DISPLAY AND READ IN OUR CLASSROOMS ONCE AGAIN, AND WITH PRIDE, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS – THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION OF OUR ENTIRE CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM OF LAW. WE NEED TO DISPLAY THEM IN OTHER PUBLIC BUILDINGS WITH AS MUCH PRIDE AS THEY ARE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES.

TO OUR DISGRACE AS A NATION, WE HAVE CAVED IN TO THE WISHES OF THE DEPRAVED, AND HAVE ALLOWED THEM TO SYSTEMATICALLY EXCLUDE GOD FROM OUR MIDST. ALL AT AN INCALCULABLE COST TO OUR VERY SURVIVAL.

LIKE YOU, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY. AS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS AND STRIVE TO REDUCE CRIME. I CANNOT HELP BUT WONDER: IS THERE A CORRELATION BETWEEN THE SICKENING MORAL BANKRUPTCY OF TODAY AND THE LIBERAL COURT DECISIONS THAT BEGAN IN THE ’60S? AS A PEOPLE, WE HAVE FAILED TO ACCEPT THE HARD EVIDENCE OF SUBTLE BUT DRAMATIC DESTRUCTIVE CHANGE THAT COMMENCED IN THIS COUNTRY WITH THOSE DECISIONS OF THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.

AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, THE COURT INTERPRETED ACKNOWLEDGING GOD, UNDER WHOSE PROTECTION WE PUBLICLY PLACE OUR NATION, AS A VIOLATION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT WHEN IT IS RECITED IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. FOR THESE REASONS, AND WITH AN URGENT CRY, I STATE, WAKE UP, AMERICA! AMERICANS ARE BEING LULLED INTO APATHY AND CARELESSNESS; BE AWARE, THERE IS AN INSIDIOUS SCHEME SUPPORTED BY THE MEDIA, AND WASHINGTON POLITICOS THAT ARE ROBBING US OF OUR TRUE RELIGIOUS HERITAGE AND CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOMS.

OUR COUNTRY IS IN GREAT PERIL, NOT FROM AN APPROACHING ARMY, BUT FROM A SATANIC PESTILENCE THAT HAS ALREADY INVADED OUR NATION, WITH A DRUG-INFESTED CULTURE, LITTERING OUR COUNTRY AND NEIGHBORHOODS WITH UNTOLD CORPSES, AND ITS COLLATERAL FAMILY DAMAGE. CRIME WILL CONTINUE AT A HIGH LEVEL, OUR PRISONS WILL BE OVERFLOWING, AND UNFORTUNATELY MORE OF OUR BRETHREN WILL BE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. IT IS THE UNITED STATE GOVERNMENT PROHIBITION AGAINST ALMIGHTY GOD THAT CONTINUES TO FEED THIS IMMORALITY AND INSULT HIS SUPREME MAJESTY.

UNTIL OUR NATION PUTS GOD AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS BACK IN OUR SCHOOLS AND THE WORK PLACE THIS MORAL DECAY WILL CONTINUE.

Taking this speech into account, I hereby offer my endorsement for Sheriff of Hamilton County to:

Timothy Olyphant, who played Sheriff Seth Bullock in HBO’s Deadwood. I’m writing him in–just as Sheriff Bullock, for short. How about you?

Who’s Endorsing Obama?

I have never…

…detested John McCain as much as I do right now. He is foolish, wrong-headed, and dangerous. There is nothing presidential about this man.

Shame, shame, shame.

In Sum…

I don’t know how to remain involved in politics without my blood pressure spiking. Here’s what’s happening:

• McCain supporters routinely shout “terrorist,” “traitor,” and other epithets I won’t mention here
• McCain supporters boo him when he calls Obama “decent” (because decent is a ringing endorsement)
• Palin was found to have abused her power as governor, in a Springer-worthy family dispute
• Fox and its wingnut followers are outraged that Newsweek didn’t make Palin look prettier

They’re losing, and they’re losing control. And the latter is a very worrisome thing.

But, to make myself feel better, I’m voting early this week. Tuesday or Wednesday. Then I’ll go to work on getting my mom to do the same. And pretend a large portion of this country isn’t rabid.

Obama in the ‘Nati, etc.

In other news, Obama was in the ‘Nati yesterday, along with about 15,000 people in Ault Park. I didn’t go because I had to work, but at 11:00 (his speech was at 3), people were already trekking up from MLS and HPS. I thought, naively, that the local news last night might have had some coverage, but they were too busy with Palin in Wilmington (Any idea what she was doing there? Does anybody really believe the GOP is going to fix the DHL mess? Shouldn’t they have run her out with pitchforks?), and interviewing people there like the guy who said “She should be president!” and woman who dressed up her little girls like Caribou Barbie (thanks, Veace’s mom) and made them imitate her–as flattery. For the Obama rally? Not a single person interviewed, no estimate of the number of people there; only a brief clip (and a rather stilted one) of his speech. I really should know better than to expect anything–ANYTHING–informative from the local news, but really. They should be utterly ashamed. 15,000 citizens were gathered in a public park to support a presidential candidate. Cover the fucking story.

Who’s Endorsing Obama?

Gene, a lifelong Republican who lives in Ohio.