First Rate Soup

The actions of the anti-choice lunatic fringe are beyond the pale. We should recognize them for what they are.

Although mainstream antiabortion groups largely condemned Sunday’s shooting, Operation Rescue founder Randall A. Terry called Tiller a mass murderer who “reaped what he sowed.” Terry said the antiabortion movement is facing irrelevance and must use “confrontational” tactics and “highly charged rhetoric.”—Slevin, Peter. Slaying Raises Fears on Both Sides of Abortion Debate Washington Post. June 2nd, 2009.

Terrorism derives its limited utility from secondary effects. It is not the hijacking, bombing or shooting that furthers the extremists’ cause, but the way it is publicized, sensationalized and ultimately, how it is internalized by its targets. More centrally, terrorism is effective when it forces its intended audience to be affected by it. When we encounter it, however difficult, the only rational response is to refuse to be terrorized.

Certainly we disagree within our society. That we can exist alongside each other despite our differences, that we can, at our best, transcend tribalism and sustain institutions for the public good defines the progress of humanity. When we do disagree, we must hold ourselves within the bounds of civilization lest we lose it. The tactics used in public debate will vary in intensity and design and continue to evolve along with the shape of our society, but there are limits past which we can no longer claim to be human and beyond which we cannot allow ourselves to fall.

Resorting to barbarism and to terrorism are clear examples of this. The little minds who resort to them are drawn in by the outsize powers they promise. We should fight these threats to our little space ship by collectively denying and witholding the intended reaction. Instead, we should do the opposite. Fill city squares when they are threatened. Support groups targeted by radicals. Seek to respond to ignorance with education. Respond to the absense of hope from which these threats ultimately come and the corresponding underlying causes of radicalism by extending to the disengfranchised the benefits and responsibilities of society.

Equally important to how we treat terrorism, we must also be honest with ourselves about what constitutes it. Hate speech and fostering violence should be treated with contempt. Targeting assasinations of political enemies is terrorism. Systematic intimidation is terrorism. Recently, it seems that these labels are applied embarassingly little when the source does not conform to some alien archetype. Let us not be distracted by feigns, double-speak and other tired ploys as Mr. Terry has done here. Any difference in our response not based on the nature of the acts is a failure the world cannot afford.

So let’s be clear. The asassination of Dr. George Tiller was terrorism. Its encouragement by organized enemies of reproductive rights is terrorism. These interests should now be classified as terrorist organizations and treated as such. Any less would capitulate to the baser elements of our existence and impair our collective humanity.

Or – Law #6 of Boston Driving

When two drivers get into it at a light and it’s so cold that neither rolls down his window, the one who can curse in sign language wins.

Goodbye

It was never my intention in writing this blog to slag democrats. I am one and I abhor many of the planks in the Republican platform (though I have some sympathy for the almost-extinct old line true fiscal conservatives, not the know-nothings, zealots, haters, boogedy-boogedys, social warriors or the rest of the AM radio cavalcade).

So, I’m surprised that the news items that fire me up the most are ones about democrats. I feel like I should articulate a viewpoint that counters the failings of the lesser among us. In general, it’s not their politics that I disagree with, but their methods, arrogance and incompetence. I can’t stand Nancy Pelosi because she can’t look at a camera and explain her (or my) point of view. Of course I bemoan the soundbyte era along with everyone else. I wish we had a better level of discourse, but we don’t. Any professional politician, no less the speaker of the house of representatives should understand this. She gets that deer in the headlights look that makes even her own supporters nervous.

So why am I upset that Kennedy is apparently being considered for the post? She’s not a bad public speaker. She supports good causes and all, but beyond that, what are her qualifications? I have no idea if she’s qualified and neither do any of the citizens of New York. That makes her unfit for appointment by fiat to any post above mayor of Syracuse. She’s worked at the periphery of the party and stayed away from public life. That’s no disqualification from public office in my book, but it is for appointment to it with no resumé. Her name and legacy should count for nothing. We can be a party of dynasty but not of nepotism. Neophytes connected or not should have to prove their worth and face the electorate.

Andrew Cuomo is a hack and does not deserve the post either. Give me Harry Waxman, Robert Leahy or Diane Feinstein. Give me Paul Wellstone. Give me Russ Feingold.

I’ll settle for Caroline Maloney.

Edit: Updated. I replaced the title with the one I should have used from the start and removed an unfair swipe at our future senator.

Moving as far to the left as he dares during his presidential campaign, Barack Obama is returning to his ailing grandmother later this week.

While Sarah Silverman has enjoined us members of the tribe to visit Florida (yech!), Barrack Obama is en route to Hawaii.

What’s the over/under on Blinky and the Half-Wit accusing him of neglecting real Americans? Or attending super socialist hippie retraining? or… Surfing? Or…?

SNL writers, you just got one right over the plate…

Old John McCain just picked Sarah Palin, the mayor of the hockey rink at the end of the bridge to nowhere, to be his running mate.

Does anyone get this? Does he think it draws attention away from his age and illness? Does he think it makes him seem more in touch with those of us without outsize wealth? Is there some Republican rule about only picking individuals from disenfranchised groups if they sell out their values? Maybe all Republicans in Alaska are under investigation and the national party is trying to airlift them out? Maybe he wants to flank Russia, who knows…

Whatever the reason, he’s decided to emulate Dubya yet again by turning to his gut for a longshot hope.

It’s a shame, with Condi, he could have had stature if not sanity.
With Romney, we could have bolstered the strategic petroleum reserve by draining his hair.
Tim Pawlenty could have helped him lose Minnesota by fewer votes
Meg Whitman could have helped him sell a few of his houses.
Huckabee could have heaped on the honkies.

But nope… Sara Palin. Hockey Mom, PTA member, Transition lens spokesperson. Mr. Biden, you may begin.

PS Soundbite fans – check out the beginning of his intro speech – “twice is enough” – John McCain

Update: Those of you not dead have noted that this role has been taken by the erstwhile but elsewhere employed SNLer, Ms. Tina Fey. No doubt the role is hers at this point, but on behalf of Ms. Dratch’s abandoned career I say: C’mon Lorne – cut a gal a break!

Current Speaker of the US House of Representatives

Comes with:
- Considerable private wealth
- Inability to articulate democratic ideals
- Wide selection of smart pantsuits
- Large pearl earings
- Outsized ability to attract polarizing criticism
- No facility to respond effectively to said criticism

Nancy is in great working order (barring the above). She'd be a great party boss for your dinner parties.
For the actual House, we're looking for someone who would be sure an asset to the party.

Trades considered.
No deliveries.

Has anyone else heard that McCain is strongly considering putting Cheney on the ticket for Vice President? Apparently he wants continuity in the war efforts... Oh no.

Maybe we can put a prison at the end of this dirtbag’s bridge to nowhere. Just divert some of the work crews from the planned ANWR rigs. He can spend his time reading about how the intertubes work…

Corruption

It seems the Mars Phoenix lander (or at least some NASA public relations intern) has a Twitter account. You can follow along (almost live) with the progress of the mission. It’s written in the first person as if it were some Disney cartoon robot. The age of interplanetary social media has begun. Intergalactic Web 3.0 is surely around the corner.

I’d heard that the moon is a harsh mistress. Apparently Mars can’t shut up.

PS Do you know why Darth Vader can’t drink milk? (Answer posted at some point in the comments if no one beats me to it)

Remember Mitt Romney’s gaff on the campaign trail? Sorry – let me narrow that down for you…

Do you remember when Mitt replied to a reporter’s question on why none of his five sons were in the military service of their country? He said that they were doing their patronizing patriotic duty of helping their country by serving his campaign for the presidency.

Let’s chalk up the political idiocy of that statement to too-tight magic underpants. But it begs the question…

Romney’s campaign is done. According to General Petraeus, troop withdrawls are to be frozen. Our military is, even now by its own admission, strained under the load of fighting two wars. Why can’t they serve now?

Leave all the legitimate reasons that Jacoby Ellsbury should be starting in center field aside. Don’t think about his superior offense, his need for at bats, or the fact that Crisp is trade bait walking. Don’t think about it. Don’t think about Crisp’s anemic on base percentage either.

Tonight the Red Sox have the perfect opportunity to make a decision based on their new dogma, Marketing. Why is this night different from any other night? Wait for it… it’s Native American Night at Fenway. Yes Jerry Phlemy has informed his loyal accolytes that tonight the Red Sox are honoring Native Americans and they’ve got their own version of a reservation for their own Native American – The Bench.

If they’re not working off of stats or baseball insight, and they’re not working off of marketing, what in the hell are they thinking? Could someone explain this to me?

Go ahead and say Coco’s defense… See if you can do it with a straight face.

Memo to modern day directors: Get a fucking dolly already!

Ok. I feel better.

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