Parliament of Funk tonight.
No, I will not apologize.
by John Cole| 51 Comments
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by John Cole| 77 Comments
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I have nothing to say.
by John Cole| 42 Comments
This post is in: Movies, Previous Site Maintenance
Sully links to this website which has a collection of tracking shots, but it oddly neglects what I think is one of the best ever- the school hallway scene from Donnie Darko:
Consider this your nightly open thread.
by John Cole| 25 Comments
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Just passed through. I have not seen it storm like this for years, and it knocked out the power for a good while. It will probably take a week to get Tunch out from under the bed.
This post is in: Election 2008, Previous Site Maintenance
Not sure if I am going to like this show as much- really not into the alien bit they are starting with, but I am looking forward to the David Crosby retrospective.
Meanwhile, in matters political, the continued intransigence of left-wing bloggers and liberal Democratic interest groups that make up part of the Democratic voting block remains completely and totally mystifying to me. The utter unwillingness to allow Obama any latitude in framing his positions on issues so that they are more palatable to independent voters, demanding that he adhere to strict and rigid positions with no room for movement or nuance, appears to me to be an unwitting sabotage of a candidate who has always been a center-left pragmatist. Any slight deviation from orthodoxy, real or perceived as we saw last week with Iraq or today with abortion, is met with derision, assaults on his integrity, and charges of flip-flopping. It is particularly vexing given that Obama is not going to pursue policies that run counter to the general positions that these folks demand and that the alternative, McCain, is completely on the “wrong” side of the issues.
The sum total of this behavior is to validate GOP frames that Barack is a flip-flopper and can’t be trusted (aided, of course, by a media establishment that loves a “gotcha” and is wholly in the tank for McCain), and watching these various interest groups daily hamstring Obama is going to give me an ulcer or high blood pressure or both. I can’t decide what is driving it, but it is maddening. Whether it is a need to feel relevant, the naivete of single issue voters, an unwillingness to recognize the demands of a general election, spite from former Hillary supporters, complete ignorance regarding Obama’s stated position on an issue (see his “flip-flop” on Iraq in which he said the same thing he has been saying for over a year- he will continue to refine his withdrawal policy as he gets additional information), or a desire for accountability after eight years of Bush, the end result is to force Obama into a box on many issues and refuse to allow him the flexibility he needs to win in November.
As I said, it is maddening, and I don’t want an ulcer or high blood pressure, so I think I am going to do my best to ignore it. The GOP and the right-wing bloggers, however, will not, and they will be eager to join you as you vent your spleen attacking Obama on your pet issue. Thanks for being a dupe, and spare me the nonsense that you are, unlike Republicans, just demanding accountability from your candidate. Just to be clear, you aren’t demanding accountability- you are knee-capping him. I never noticed this trait among Democrats when I was a Republican, now, it is crystal clear why Democrats have so much problem electing a President. Trying to unite a bunch of self-serving whiners, even after eight years of disaster, is near impossible (and now watch ten people accusing me of trying to stifle dissent or being a Rethuglican in disguise who just likes a new “dear leader.”).
Consider this an open thread.
PS- there were 2200 spam comments in the moderation queue, and it took 5 minutes for them all to load. If your comment was in there amidst the penis enlarger or cialis spam, it got deleted. I am cranky and not wasting a half hour sifting through several thousand comments to find your pearls of wisdom. My apologies.
*** Update ***
This is a spectacular idea:
So I think those of us who are less than thrilled with the Democratic presumptive nominee should make a rule that in every piece we write criticizing Obama, we conscientiously point out how much wronger and badder and more dangerous John McCain is in every respect.
I would also suggest that only criticizing him for flip-flopping when he actually flip-flops (FISA) rather than when it is alleged he has flip-flopped (Iraq, abortion) might make sense, as well.
by John Cole| 31 Comments
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About half a million people are expected Friday on the National Mall in Washington for the nation’s birthday celebration, but they may be shocked at what they see.
This gathering place known as America’s “front yard” stretches from the Capitol to the Potomac River and is home to the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials and Washington Monument, but it’s starting to look like “an old rundown, worn-out mall that looks like it was abandoned 30 years ago,” says Judy Feldman of the National Coalition to Save Our Mall.
Just a reminder, a Capitol Fourth will be on PBS in a little bit, in case you are in an area with really crappy weather. Personally, the Marine Corps Marching band alone makes it worth watching.
***Update ***
The Boston Pops 4th on CBS is better than the PBS one, for you west coast types.
by John Cole| 29 Comments
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Since I got cranky and spoiled all the other ones.