Enjoy the following snippets from this great NYT article about using books to gauge the long-term romantic potential of a future partner-in-reading-crime:
Judy Heiblum, literary agent: "When a guy tells me [Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance] changed his life, I wish he’d saved us both the embarrassment.”
James Collins, author: "I know there were occasions when I just wrote people off completely because of what they were reading long before it ever got near the point of falling in or out of love: Baudrillard (way too pretentious), John Irving (way too middlebrow), Virginia Woolf (way too Virginia Woolf).”
Marco Roth, editor of n+1: "I think sometimes it’s better if books are just books. It’s part of the romantic tragedy of our age that our partners must be seen as compatible on every level."
But I did take pause when I read this description of one Sloane Crosley, an interviewee for this article who is, "a publicist at Vintage/Anchor Books and the author of “I Was Told There’d Be Cake,” essays about single life in New York..."
Now, I've watched Sex & the City and Will & Grace, and I'm sure there are enough essays about being single in Manhattan to fill an entire bookstore. But still, it's depressing that there are. As Augusten Burroughs says in the article, "Manhattan dating is a highly competitive, ruthlessly selective sport."
So indulge me as I channel my inner Carrie for a moment, cause I don't ordinarily do this...
In any athletic competition, there is a winner and a loser. But not all competitions are the same. There's a big difference between the small-town Idaho middle school volleyball championship and the World Series, and in the dating world, Manhattan is the World Series. Like a good athlete, a single New Yorker puts on his uniform, enters the arena, sizes up the competition, and looks to score.
But I couldn't help but wonder: How do you ever win in the game of love if the very nature of games is a battle between one winner and one loser?
I thought about this as I went to meet Miranda for a quick lunch at the Gramercy Tavern...
Monday, March 31, 2008
100 Amazing Posts!!
Wow kids. We got this far! We made it to 100 posts! When a tv show makes it to its 100th episode, they get a big cake. So in honor of BINEL's 100th post, enjoy this sumptuous treat:
Friday, March 28, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
This Experience Is (at least partly) Her Imagination
I've been trying to post these videos since yesterday, but had some technical difficulties, so forgive the tardiness. You've probably already seen the story, but I can't get enough. Keep watching the videos-- lets rack up the hits on these you tube gems.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Brooks and the 5%
Some great snippets from David Brooks' NYT column today:
Last week, an important Clinton adviser told Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen (also of Politico) that Clinton had no more than a 10 percent chance of getting the nomination. Now, she’s probably down to a 5 percent chance.
Five percent.
Let’s take a look at what she’s going to put her party through for the sake of that 5 percent chance: The Democratic Party is probably going to have to endure another three months of daily sniping. For another three months, we’ll have the Carvilles likening the Obamaites to Judas and former generals accusing Clintonites of McCarthyism. For three months, we’ll have the daily round of résumé padding and sulfurous conference calls. We’ll have campaign aides blurting “blue dress” and only-because-he’s-black references as they let slip their private contempt...
The policy debates between the two have been long exhausted, so the only way to get the public really engaged is by poking some raw national wound...
Meanwhile, on the other side, voters get an unobstructed view of the Republican nominee. John McCain’s approval ratings have soared 11 points. He is now viewed positively by 67 percent of Americans. A month ago, McCain was losing to Obama among independents by double digits in a general election matchup. Now McCain has a lead among this group.
For three more months, Clinton is likely to hurt Obama even more against McCain, without hurting him against herself. And all this is happening so she can preserve that 5 percent chance.
When you step back and think about it, she is amazing. She possesses the audacity of hopelessness.
Why does she go on like this? Does Clinton privately believe that Obama is so incompetent that only she can deliver the policies they both support? Is she simply selfish, and willing to put her party through agony for the sake of her slender chance? Are leading Democrats so narcissistic that they would create bitter stagnation even if they were granted one-party rule?
The better answer is that Clinton’s long rear-guard action is the logical extension of her relentlessly political life.
For nearly 20 years, she has been encased in the apparatus of political celebrity. Look at her schedule as first lady and ever since. Think of the thousands of staged events, the tens of thousands of times she has pretended to be delighted to see someone she doesn’t know, the hundreds of thousands times she has recited empty clichés and exhortatory banalities, the millions of photos she has posed for in which she is supposed to appear empathetic or tough, the billions of politically opportune half-truths that have bounced around her head.
No wonder the Clinton campaign feels impersonal. It’s like a machine for the production of politics. It plows ahead from event to event following its own iron logic. The only question is whether Clinton herself can step outside the apparatus long enough to turn it off and withdraw voluntarily or whether she will force the rest of her party to intervene and jam the gears.
Last week, an important Clinton adviser told Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen (also of Politico) that Clinton had no more than a 10 percent chance of getting the nomination. Now, she’s probably down to a 5 percent chance.
Five percent.
Let’s take a look at what she’s going to put her party through for the sake of that 5 percent chance: The Democratic Party is probably going to have to endure another three months of daily sniping. For another three months, we’ll have the Carvilles likening the Obamaites to Judas and former generals accusing Clintonites of McCarthyism. For three months, we’ll have the daily round of résumé padding and sulfurous conference calls. We’ll have campaign aides blurting “blue dress” and only-because-he’s-black references as they let slip their private contempt...
The policy debates between the two have been long exhausted, so the only way to get the public really engaged is by poking some raw national wound...
Meanwhile, on the other side, voters get an unobstructed view of the Republican nominee. John McCain’s approval ratings have soared 11 points. He is now viewed positively by 67 percent of Americans. A month ago, McCain was losing to Obama among independents by double digits in a general election matchup. Now McCain has a lead among this group.
For three more months, Clinton is likely to hurt Obama even more against McCain, without hurting him against herself. And all this is happening so she can preserve that 5 percent chance.
When you step back and think about it, she is amazing. She possesses the audacity of hopelessness.
Why does she go on like this? Does Clinton privately believe that Obama is so incompetent that only she can deliver the policies they both support? Is she simply selfish, and willing to put her party through agony for the sake of her slender chance? Are leading Democrats so narcissistic that they would create bitter stagnation even if they were granted one-party rule?
The better answer is that Clinton’s long rear-guard action is the logical extension of her relentlessly political life.
For nearly 20 years, she has been encased in the apparatus of political celebrity. Look at her schedule as first lady and ever since. Think of the thousands of staged events, the tens of thousands of times she has pretended to be delighted to see someone she doesn’t know, the hundreds of thousands times she has recited empty clichés and exhortatory banalities, the millions of photos she has posed for in which she is supposed to appear empathetic or tough, the billions of politically opportune half-truths that have bounced around her head.
No wonder the Clinton campaign feels impersonal. It’s like a machine for the production of politics. It plows ahead from event to event following its own iron logic. The only question is whether Clinton herself can step outside the apparatus long enough to turn it off and withdraw voluntarily or whether she will force the rest of her party to intervene and jam the gears.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Chris Goldberg in Philadelphia
I'd like to welcome Chris Goldberg to the site as our first guest blogger. 
He's an incredibly bright and articulate comrade not just in the entertainment 'biz' but also in the quest to help elect Obama to the White House. Chris worked on Kerry's presidential campaign in 2004 and spent this last weekend organizing for Obama in Philadelphia. So glad he agreed to share his thoughts about his trip. I hope he'll write again soon!
He's an incredibly bright and articulate comrade not just in the entertainment 'biz' but also in the quest to help elect Obama to the White House. Chris worked on Kerry's presidential campaign in 2004 and spent this last weekend organizing for Obama in Philadelphia. So glad he agreed to share his thoughts about his trip. I hope he'll write again soon!Hi everyone. Josh asked me to write about our experience registering voters for Barack this Saturday in West Philly. He said he wanted to give his readership "a sense of the sights and sounds and flavor of life on the street." Well, that’s ambitious - but here some of my observations:
Barack’s people were organized. It was easy. All we did was call the Philly headquarters and they sent us an email with the address of the staging ground – which was in a McDonald’s parking lot. We were worried we’d get there too late, but they had people there all day with maps, putting groups of volunteers together and sending them to assigned places. We were spread out in strategic locations and pretty much saturated the area. Several people told me they registered that day only a few blocks from where we were – but I still managed to find unregistered people. I came back wishing I’d gotten more, but they told us that across Philadelphia as a group we got thousands of new Pro-Barack registrations that day. When we handed them in, there was even one girl getting in her car to go chase down “incompletes” – people who hadn’t filled out the forms all the way. This level of detail was impressive! I was also happy that they gave us little slips with the Election Day info and the phone number and website so that people could call and make sure they were on the rolls and confirm their voting location. I know that with a lot of people that’s half the battle, and these slips were VERY helpful.
The excitement is still very high. In 2004, I quit my job to become a canvass director for the Democratic Party during the Kerry campaign, where I spent a year going door-to-door in South Florida . Sure, there was a lot of anger toward Bush, and a lot of people motivated to get him out of office,
but there was little-to-no excitement about the idea of a President Kerry – especially in the black community. I had a feeling it would be very different this time around and I wasn’t disappointed. Barack is someone that people really take pride in (and we will all be proud when he’s our nominee!) As you can see from the picture, they were selling Barack t-shirts on the streets and the vendor was saying things like: “Obama shirts ten dollars. History in the making!”
But that’s not to say people were naïve – and as a rule, black voters are the least naïve people I’ve encountered in politics. (Obviously a long history from Jim Crow to Florida 2000 produces a healthy dose of skepticism.) One guy expressed the concern I’ve heard from a lot of people that Barack will simply get shot. Another guy said that even though Rev. Wright didn’t bother him at all, he worried that the debacle would hurt Barack with white voters. Some were even surprised that my friend and I – two white guys – were working for Barack at all.
Regardless of the number of registrations we got (and we did well!) I think it was healthy for us to just be a presence there smiling with our Obama pins. We interacted with hundreds of people and the reaction was overwhelmingly positive and upbeat. Looking at the other volunteers – who were a very diverse crowd across ages, genders and races – I felt great. That’s what Barack’s campaign is all about.
Registration is now over, but I urge people to go to PA in the coming weeks to volunteer for Get-Out-the-Vote. The electorate is more aware and more energized than I’ve ever seen, but as I said, getting people information like their polling location is half the battle. It’s also important to remind people of their rights. For example, many people don’t know that they don’t physically need their voter card. If they’re on the rolls, they can just show up with a photo ID to the right place and their vote will count. These are the type of things that a good Get-Out-the-Vote volunteer can get the word out about. It can make the difference between someone voting or not. Primary Day is April 22. Please contact me if you are thinking about organizing a trip. ChrisGoldny@gmail.com
Barack’s people were organized. It was easy. All we did was call the Philly headquarters and they sent us an email with the address of the staging ground – which was in a McDonald’s parking lot. We were worried we’d get there too late, but they had people there all day with maps, putting groups of volunteers together and sending them to assigned places. We were spread out in strategic locations and pretty much saturated the area. Several people told me they registered that day only a few blocks from where we were – but I still managed to find unregistered people. I came back wishing I’d gotten more, but they told us that across Philadelphia as a group we got thousands of new Pro-Barack registrations that day. When we handed them in, there was even one girl getting in her car to go chase down “incompletes” – people who hadn’t filled out the forms all the way. This level of detail was impressive! I was also happy that they gave us little slips with the Election Day info and the phone number and website so that people could call and make sure they were on the rolls and confirm their voting location. I know that with a lot of people that’s half the battle, and these slips were VERY helpful.
The excitement is still very high. In 2004, I quit my job to become a canvass director for the Democratic Party during the Kerry campaign, where I spent a year going door-to-door in South Florida . Sure, there was a lot of anger toward Bush, and a lot of people motivated to get him out of office,
but there was little-to-no excitement about the idea of a President Kerry – especially in the black community. I had a feeling it would be very different this time around and I wasn’t disappointed. Barack is someone that people really take pride in (and we will all be proud when he’s our nominee!) As you can see from the picture, they were selling Barack t-shirts on the streets and the vendor was saying things like: “Obama shirts ten dollars. History in the making!”But that’s not to say people were naïve – and as a rule, black voters are the least naïve people I’ve encountered in politics. (Obviously a long history from Jim Crow to Florida 2000 produces a healthy dose of skepticism.) One guy expressed the concern I’ve heard from a lot of people that Barack will simply get shot. Another guy said that even though Rev. Wright didn’t bother him at all, he worried that the debacle would hurt Barack with white voters. Some were even surprised that my friend and I – two white guys – were working for Barack at all.
Regardless of the number of registrations we got (and we did well!) I think it was healthy for us to just be a presence there smiling with our Obama pins. We interacted with hundreds of people and the reaction was overwhelmingly positive and upbeat. Looking at the other volunteers – who were a very diverse crowd across ages, genders and races – I felt great. That’s what Barack’s campaign is all about.
Registration is now over, but I urge people to go to PA in the coming weeks to volunteer for Get-Out-the-Vote. The electorate is more aware and more energized than I’ve ever seen, but as I said, getting people information like their polling location is half the battle. It’s also important to remind people of their rights. For example, many people don’t know that they don’t physically need their voter card. If they’re on the rolls, they can just show up with a photo ID to the right place and their vote will count. These are the type of things that a good Get-Out-the-Vote volunteer can get the word out about. It can make the difference between someone voting or not. Primary Day is April 22. Please contact me if you are thinking about organizing a trip. ChrisGoldny@gmail.com
Scary! So Scary!
Ack, Hillary, watch out for flying snipers! Oh no! Be careful! You might be attacked with Chelsea and that other eight year old girl! Eesh! Lookout!
Check out the video of Hillary's brave and courageous trip to Bosnia in 1996.
Check out the video of Hillary's brave and courageous trip to Bosnia in 1996.
You Know What They Say About Big Hands
Must be a slow news day when this story merits a feature on Yahoo news. Still, big people are kind of amazing...(By the way, the "small" hand in the photo belongs to someone who is 5 ft 9)
Check it out here.
Boys, Pay Attention: This is NOT Sexy
Ok, ladies, back me up here.There is nothing less appealing than a naked man standing in his black dress socks. Ew.
Either he has some strange sock fetish, which is gross.
Or he has such disgusting feet he doesn't want you to see them, which is grosser.
Or it just didn't occur to him to take his socks off, in which case, his mind is not exactly keyed into what sexiness is all about.
Needless to say, Elliot Spitzer likes to play with his black dressy socks on. The juicy (and bile-inducing) details continue to emerge. (He also liked to watch live sex shows. Hot!)
I have a feeling Silda will never look at a pair of dressy blacks the same way again (insert sad frowny face).
April is Poetry Month (Get Ready, Bitches)
Next month is my very favorite month of the year: poetry month. I will be posting great poems all the time, like at a constant, blinding, speed-of-light pace. If you have a poem you'd like me to consider broadcasting to my enormous readership, send it in.
All entries will be considered. Only good poems will be published.
All entries will be considered. Only good poems will be published.
He's Got A Point
"The Huffington Post has learned that Bill O'Reilly -- who claims to love America -- spent Sunday at a "church" run by a former Hitler Youth named Joseph Alois Ratzinger. Ratzinger has gone to elaborate ends to hide this connection, including taking on the absurd pseudonym "Pope Benedict XVI." Which, even if it doesn't prove anything, certainly makes you think.
This shocking revelation comes only a week after Barack Obama admitted he attends a church formerly run by Jeremiah Wright, who talks smack about America, although probably less than Goebbels did. "
-Chris Kelly, Huffington Post
This shocking revelation comes only a week after Barack Obama admitted he attends a church formerly run by Jeremiah Wright, who talks smack about America, although probably less than Goebbels did. "
-Chris Kelly, Huffington Post
Friday, March 21, 2008
Against Her Private Will
"On NAFTA, he took the New York Democrat to task for claiming a career opposition to the measure when recent White House schedule disclosures show that she attended a meeting in 1993 to push for the bill's passage. The Clinton campaign has stressed that she did this only once in five such meetings and against her private will. "
-Sam Stein, Huffington Post
Obama's campaign is saying Hillary is un-electable when more than half the nation believes her to be untrustworthy, according to the latest Gallup Poll.
Forget untrustworthy. If the above is the best defense the Clinton camp can come up with for why she does one thing and claims to believe another, then they're S.O.L.
And besides, who wants a President who willingly admits that her actions do not reflect her beliefs? Isn't she the one who said it's not about words, it's not about what you say, but what you do?
Uh huh.
-Sam Stein, Huffington Post
Obama's campaign is saying Hillary is un-electable when more than half the nation believes her to be untrustworthy, according to the latest Gallup Poll.
Forget untrustworthy. If the above is the best defense the Clinton camp can come up with for why she does one thing and claims to believe another, then they're S.O.L.
And besides, who wants a President who willingly admits that her actions do not reflect her beliefs? Isn't she the one who said it's not about words, it's not about what you say, but what you do?
Uh huh.
Bill, Welcome...
Bill Richardson is endorsing Obama today. Maybe Bill Clinton should have watched the superbowl with Al Gore.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Stand By Your Man
Sing it, Tammy.Check out this great historical photo gallery of the women who have stood by, from NPR. You'll need to scroll down to the middle of the page.
What Are You Hiding?
Hey Hillary, what are you hiding? You've already been vetted, so what's the point of concealing anything from the public? Let us admire all that amazing experience for ourselves...
"The more than 10,000 pages, released by the National Archives in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, purport to be the New York senator's daily schedules for her entire eight-year tenure as First Lady—the first major "document dump" from the Clinton Library in Little Rock.
But the documents include only Hillary Clinton's public schedules, not her private calendar. And even those appear to be heavily redacted to exclude almost anything that might be of interest to historians and the inevitable posse of "oppo" researchers. The January 1996 records show Hillary Clinton appearing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and numerous other TV and radio shows to promote her just-published book, "It Takes a Village." But they show no meetings whatsoever about the Rose Law firm billing records, no sessions with her lawyers to prepare for her grilling by Starr. The calendar for Jan. 26, 1996—the day crowds of reporters and TV cameramen gathered at the courthouse to watch Hillary Clinton enter and exit the grand jury—is totally blank. "NO public schedule," it states simply, wiping out any reference to one of the more embarrassing public episodes of the First Lady's days in the White House."
Read more about it here.
"The more than 10,000 pages, released by the National Archives in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, purport to be the New York senator's daily schedules for her entire eight-year tenure as First Lady—the first major "document dump" from the Clinton Library in Little Rock.
But the documents include only Hillary Clinton's public schedules, not her private calendar. And even those appear to be heavily redacted to exclude almost anything that might be of interest to historians and the inevitable posse of "oppo" researchers. The January 1996 records show Hillary Clinton appearing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and numerous other TV and radio shows to promote her just-published book, "It Takes a Village." But they show no meetings whatsoever about the Rose Law firm billing records, no sessions with her lawyers to prepare for her grilling by Starr. The calendar for Jan. 26, 1996—the day crowds of reporters and TV cameramen gathered at the courthouse to watch Hillary Clinton enter and exit the grand jury—is totally blank. "NO public schedule," it states simply, wiping out any reference to one of the more embarrassing public episodes of the First Lady's days in the White House."
Read more about it here.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Russia, My Motherland
Men's figure skating just got a whole lot more exciting. Read about it in today's NYT."Weir takes great delight in flaunting his personal eccentricities. He owns at least 10 fur coats, did a magazine fashion shoot wearing six-inch heels, and calls Russia “my motherland” despite being from Pennsylvania Amish country. "
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The Death of A Great Filmmaker
Shocked and very saddened to learn that Anthony Minghella has passed away at the age of 54. Perhaps best known for his Oscar-winning film The English Patient, he will 
forever hold a spot in my heart for his underrated and breathtaking masterpiece, The Talented Mr. Ripley, the story of a man unravelled after seeing how a life could be lived more fully and erotically and thrillingly, and ultimately succumbing to that most human of desires: envy.
forever hold a spot in my heart for his underrated and breathtaking masterpiece, The Talented Mr. Ripley, the story of a man unravelled after seeing how a life could be lived more fully and erotically and thrillingly, and ultimately succumbing to that most human of desires: envy.You can read more about Anthony Minghella here.
This is a tragedy indeed. I suppose we can only daydream about the exciting cinematic journies we are now denied with his passing, and take some comfort in the great work he has left for us to enjoy.
Where Perfection Begins
A transcript of the speech Obama will deliver today on race. Worth reading, my friends. Worth reading. Here's one snipet:
"For we have a choice in this country. We can accept a politics that breeds division, and conflict, and cynicism. We can tackle race only as spectacle - as we did in the OJ trial - or in the wake of tragedy, as we did in the aftermath of Katrina - or as fodder for the nightly news. We can play Reverend Wright's sermons on every channel, every day and talk about them from now until the election, and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathize with his most offensive words. We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she's playing the race card, or we can speculate on whether white men will all flock to John McCain in the general election regardless of his policies.
We can do that.
But if we do, I can tell you that in the next election, we'll be talking about some other distraction. And then another one. And then another one. And nothing will change.
That is one option. Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, 'Not this time'."
"For we have a choice in this country. We can accept a politics that breeds division, and conflict, and cynicism. We can tackle race only as spectacle - as we did in the OJ trial - or in the wake of tragedy, as we did in the aftermath of Katrina - or as fodder for the nightly news. We can play Reverend Wright's sermons on every channel, every day and talk about them from now until the election, and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathize with his most offensive words. We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she's playing the race card, or we can speculate on whether white men will all flock to John McCain in the general election regardless of his policies.
We can do that.
But if we do, I can tell you that in the next election, we'll be talking about some other distraction. And then another one. And then another one. And nothing will change.
That is one option. Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, 'Not this time'."
Monday, March 17, 2008
She's Gonna Be A Star
Check out my dear friend, Nicole Lederman, who made it to Indiewire.com today! How exciting. She was in Texas promoting her film at South x South West. You can read about her visit here.The documentary which she produced, Flying On One Engine, is not one I have seen, but one I would very much like to see! Read more about it here.
Black Jews
I always wanted to be an Italian Jew (matzah pizza!), but now, I'm thinking this looks even cooler (gospel hamotzi!). Too bad you can't change your race.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
How Many Diamonds Are You? A Fun Game to Play With Friends!
This is a fun game to play at parties, in front of the watercooler at the office, or even just with your folks around the Thanksgiving table. While Dad's carving the turkey, ask him: How many diamonds am I?
The Emporer's Club, where frmr. NY Gov E. Spitzer (please refrain from the spitz, don't swallow jokes) got his gals, rates its ladies on a scale of 1 to 7 diamonds, 7 being the best, and although 1 is the worst, it's still a diamond from the Emporer Club. It's like coming in 6th place at the Olympics-- you lose, but you're competing against the world's finest.
So play it with your friends. How many diamonds are you worth? And make the criteria whatever you like: sex appeal, ability to peel fruit, fruitiness, loch-ness-monster-ness...
It's a great way to build up your self-esteem and a totally fun way to develop relationships (You two-diamond whore! Totally).
Read more about the real club here.
Dishonorable Honor
"In my view there are two options: Honor the results or hold new primary elections. I don't see any other solutions that are fair and honor the commitment that two and a half million voters made in the Democratic primaries in those two states. Whether voters are clamoring for solutions to the challenges that we face or not, or whether people are coming out in droves to be heard, we have a basic obligation to make sure that every vote in America counts.
I hope that Senator Obama's campaign will join me in working to make that happen. I think that that is a non-partisan solution to make sure that we do count these votes."
-Hillary Clinton
Ok, let's get this straight. I mean, let's really, really get this straight. Clinton's team is proposing 2 options for Florida and Michigan: honor the results of the primary, or have a re-do...
I'm sorry, has everyone lost their minds about this? There were rules. The DNC warned any state that if they disobeyed the rules, their votes would be disqualified. Florida and Michigan disobeyed the rules. Their state parties are to be held accountable for disenfranchising voters. But it was their choice, made with eyes wide-open and full awareness of the consequences.
So where is the justice here? If you break the rules which were clearly established, you're exempt from suffering the consequences?
That's issue number one. Number 2: how DARE Hillary Rodham Clinton even think for one second that the delegates should simply be seated. Obama's name wasn't even on the ballot in Michigan!!! So that's an option? I'm sorry, I'm baffled.
Someone explain this to me. Please.
Hillary actually believes that the ethical thing to do is to seat delegates earned in a disqualified primary in a state where her opponent wasn't even on the ballot?
Is this for real?
I feel like I'm living in some South American country where voting is being introduced for the first time.
And where was Hillary's outrage BEFORE the primary season began? Back when she was the inevitable choice, I don't recall her being quite so concerned about every Floridian vote counting.
This is the height of absurdity. Because of course, Obama cannot say that he opposes a new vote. He'd look like a pussy. The Clinton's would say he opposes the vote because he knows he'll lose. And he probably would, though not by enough to give Hillary the nomination.
What can we learn from all this? Well, we shall soon find out who does better: those who play by the rules (Obama), or those who bend the rules to suit their needs when it is most opportune for them (HRC & Co.).
Let's hope integrity prevails.
I hope that Senator Obama's campaign will join me in working to make that happen. I think that that is a non-partisan solution to make sure that we do count these votes."
-Hillary Clinton
Ok, let's get this straight. I mean, let's really, really get this straight. Clinton's team is proposing 2 options for Florida and Michigan: honor the results of the primary, or have a re-do...
I'm sorry, has everyone lost their minds about this? There were rules. The DNC warned any state that if they disobeyed the rules, their votes would be disqualified. Florida and Michigan disobeyed the rules. Their state parties are to be held accountable for disenfranchising voters. But it was their choice, made with eyes wide-open and full awareness of the consequences.
So where is the justice here? If you break the rules which were clearly established, you're exempt from suffering the consequences?
That's issue number one. Number 2: how DARE Hillary Rodham Clinton even think for one second that the delegates should simply be seated. Obama's name wasn't even on the ballot in Michigan!!! So that's an option? I'm sorry, I'm baffled.
Someone explain this to me. Please.
Hillary actually believes that the ethical thing to do is to seat delegates earned in a disqualified primary in a state where her opponent wasn't even on the ballot?
Is this for real?
I feel like I'm living in some South American country where voting is being introduced for the first time.
And where was Hillary's outrage BEFORE the primary season began? Back when she was the inevitable choice, I don't recall her being quite so concerned about every Floridian vote counting.
This is the height of absurdity. Because of course, Obama cannot say that he opposes a new vote. He'd look like a pussy. The Clinton's would say he opposes the vote because he knows he'll lose. And he probably would, though not by enough to give Hillary the nomination.
What can we learn from all this? Well, we shall soon find out who does better: those who play by the rules (Obama), or those who bend the rules to suit their needs when it is most opportune for them (HRC & Co.).
Let's hope integrity prevails.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Spitzer's Sorrow
Some thoughts:
1) Silda, why'd you stand next to Elliot during that speech? Unless you stood next to him when Kristen was in the room, don't stand next to him now. It's his bed, he needs to whatever it. I hate that.
2) Legalize prostitution. Spitzer may have disappointed his family, but he wouldn't have broken any laws if our laws weren't nearly so puritanical. If an adult wants to pay for a sex, and another adult freely wants to sell it, who are we to say they can't, just because we think it's morally reprehensible? As Salt N Pepa said so wisely, it's NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!
3) This is so, so sad.
4) Does this hurt Hillary? Does a NY Sex Scandal splashed across the nation's papers and all over our news shows dredge up memories of what captivated our nation and diverted attention from, you know, the solutions?
1) Silda, why'd you stand next to Elliot during that speech? Unless you stood next to him when Kristen was in the room, don't stand next to him now. It's his bed, he needs to whatever it. I hate that.
2) Legalize prostitution. Spitzer may have disappointed his family, but he wouldn't have broken any laws if our laws weren't nearly so puritanical. If an adult wants to pay for a sex, and another adult freely wants to sell it, who are we to say they can't, just because we think it's morally reprehensible? As Salt N Pepa said so wisely, it's NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!
3) This is so, so sad.
4) Does this hurt Hillary? Does a NY Sex Scandal splashed across the nation's papers and all over our news shows dredge up memories of what captivated our nation and diverted attention from, you know, the solutions?
Monday, March 10, 2008
This Divorce Is Sponsered By
Come on, y'all. You know you are shocked that this one didn't last. And apparently some people think Al is gay? Really? Does Star Jones really seem like the type to attract a closet case? Wow. Wow. What I want to know is, who's going to sponsor the divorce?
It's wrong to take pleasure in other people's pain. Oops.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Monstrous Indeed
"Samantha Power has actually lived the sort of life that Hillary Clinton's campaign staff has, for public consumption, invented for its candidate. Though not quite 40 years old, Power has spent no time on any Wal-Mart boards but has rather dedicated her entire adult life rather tirelessly to championing humanitarian causes. She has spoken up when others were silent. She took great personal risks during the Balkan wars to witness and record and denounce the carnage (She reported that Bill Clinton intervened against the Serbs only when he felt he was losing personal credibility as a result of his inaction. "I'm getting creamed," Power quoted the then-President saying as he fretted over global consternation over his own hesitation to act).
We gave Power the Pulitzer for exposing the, well, monstrous indifference of the Clinton administration as it stared unblinkingly and immobile into the face of massive horror. But we give her a kick in the backside and throw her out the door when she has the temerity to publicly restate all that in one impolite word. Monstrous, indeed."
-Marc Cooper, Huffington Post
We gave Power the Pulitzer for exposing the, well, monstrous indifference of the Clinton administration as it stared unblinkingly and immobile into the face of massive horror. But we give her a kick in the backside and throw her out the door when she has the temerity to publicly restate all that in one impolite word. Monstrous, indeed."
-Marc Cooper, Huffington Post
1000 Words
A powerful image from the recent attacks in Jerusalem. Whatever your politics, whatever your beliefs, this photo has to make you feel something.When will we ever learn...
Thursday, March 6, 2008
It's a Great Day to Be For Obama
Sleep off that depression last night, kids? I hope so. We have the lead in delegates, the lead in the popular vote, more states-- we're on the path.
Now, all eyes turn to Wyoming. Don't brokeback this mountain, cowboys.
"Finally, let's remember that the base of the Republican Party -- cultural conservatives -- is not so wild about McCain. They are accepting McCain with about as much enthusiasm as children take cough medicine. They know they need him, but they really aren't happy about it. The one thing that could energize the Republican base is their inveterate hatred for Hillary Clinton. Clinton would mobilize right-wing base voters the same way that hatred for Bush motivated Democrats in 2006. Why should we help galvanize the Republican base by nominating Hillary Clinton when we have another great choice? "
-Robert Creamer, Huffington Post
Now, all eyes turn to Wyoming. Don't brokeback this mountain, cowboys.
"Finally, let's remember that the base of the Republican Party -- cultural conservatives -- is not so wild about McCain. They are accepting McCain with about as much enthusiasm as children take cough medicine. They know they need him, but they really aren't happy about it. The one thing that could energize the Republican base is their inveterate hatred for Hillary Clinton. Clinton would mobilize right-wing base voters the same way that hatred for Bush motivated Democrats in 2006. Why should we help galvanize the Republican base by nominating Hillary Clinton when we have another great choice? "
-Robert Creamer, Huffington Post
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
2 More Thoughts
1) Let's not forget: Hillary had major, major leads in Ohio and Texas just a few short weeks ago. She can spin this as a comeback from behind, but let's be real (as she likes to say): she held on. And just barely in Texas, which was where she first told Barack to come meet her. Well, he met you, and brought you down to 3 points, when you had been up in the double digits. Spin this anyway you want, but that's not a comeback. Not in my book.
2) If Hillary says one more goddamn time that she is not about speeches but solutions I'm going to throw my tv out the window. Hillary, get it straight: you cannot say you aren't all about speeches when you are MAKING A SPEECH. If you're serious, then get off the campaign trail and start making solutions. Seriously. Don't make another speech again. Don't waste your time. You're about solutions, not speeches. Get off the campaign trail and solution. Go. Have fun. God Bless. Lots of Luck.
2) If Hillary says one more goddamn time that she is not about speeches but solutions I'm going to throw my tv out the window. Hillary, get it straight: you cannot say you aren't all about speeches when you are MAKING A SPEECH. If you're serious, then get off the campaign trail and start making solutions. Seriously. Don't make another speech again. Don't waste your time. You're about solutions, not speeches. Get off the campaign trail and solution. Go. Have fun. God Bless. Lots of Luck.
Cheer up, Buckaroos!
Here are some posts that should help you keep the bile down:
"After the confetti is swept and the champagne bottles are tossed a more sober reality will take hold. Not just that her net gain of delegates this week will be, at most, in the single digits. But worse. There is no plausible scenario in which Clinton can win the nomination. At least not democratically."
-Marc Cooper, Huffington Post
(Since when did Hillary want to win this thing democratically?)
"By some calculations, Clinton would need to win more than 60 percent of the vote in the dozen contests remaining between now and June 7 to catch Obama in pledged delegates -- a steep challenge given that, so far, she has won that much in only one state, her onetime adopted home of Arkansas. Even in New York, where she is a sitting senator, she won 57 percent of the vote. She won 55 percent in Michigan, where Obama was not even on the ballot."
-Peter Baker and Anne E. Cornblut, Washington Post
"But Hillary's spin, and the media adoption of that spin, will do little to change an even starker reality this morning: Hillary Clinton cannot win the Democratic nomination...Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee. And if Hillary's lasting contribution to the party is hurting his chances for victory, she will have done nothing more than shown herself to be a selfish liability: the new Mike Huckabee. "
-Dylan Loewe, Huffington Post
"After the confetti is swept and the champagne bottles are tossed a more sober reality will take hold. Not just that her net gain of delegates this week will be, at most, in the single digits. But worse. There is no plausible scenario in which Clinton can win the nomination. At least not democratically."
-Marc Cooper, Huffington Post
(Since when did Hillary want to win this thing democratically?)
"By some calculations, Clinton would need to win more than 60 percent of the vote in the dozen contests remaining between now and June 7 to catch Obama in pledged delegates -- a steep challenge given that, so far, she has won that much in only one state, her onetime adopted home of Arkansas. Even in New York, where she is a sitting senator, she won 57 percent of the vote. She won 55 percent in Michigan, where Obama was not even on the ballot."
-Peter Baker and Anne E. Cornblut, Washington Post
"But Hillary's spin, and the media adoption of that spin, will do little to change an even starker reality this morning: Hillary Clinton cannot win the Democratic nomination...Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee. And if Hillary's lasting contribution to the party is hurting his chances for victory, she will have done nothing more than shown herself to be a selfish liability: the new Mike Huckabee. "
-Dylan Loewe, Huffington Post
Yay Hillary!
Well, you did it, Hill. You proved the impossible. You did what I, for one, certainly didn't think was possible. You showed us that if you act like a Republican, you can win like a Republican.
That was your intention, right? That's why you ran that scary red phone ad, right? You wanted to scare us, just like Bush did in '04. Vote for Hillary, or death to America. Close up on innocent babies asleep.
Well my friends (as McCain says at the start of every single sentence, which is beyond annoying), all I can say is:
Ugh.
The fight goes on. But as Hillary looks forward, I hope we will all look back on these last few days and remember what she did to stay alive. She played the Republican card-- and it worked.
Obama can beat McCain, because Obama doesn't play that game (at least, he hasn't so far). But if Hillary thinks she can out-Republican the Republicans, well, good luck. She's certainly not who I want representing me.
If I want a Republican in the White House, I'll vote for a Republican. Not a wolf in sheep's skin.
I won't forget this.
And I won't vote for Hillary. Not now, not ever.
That was your intention, right? That's why you ran that scary red phone ad, right? You wanted to scare us, just like Bush did in '04. Vote for Hillary, or death to America. Close up on innocent babies asleep.
Well my friends (as McCain says at the start of every single sentence, which is beyond annoying), all I can say is:
Ugh.
The fight goes on. But as Hillary looks forward, I hope we will all look back on these last few days and remember what she did to stay alive. She played the Republican card-- and it worked.
Obama can beat McCain, because Obama doesn't play that game (at least, he hasn't so far). But if Hillary thinks she can out-Republican the Republicans, well, good luck. She's certainly not who I want representing me.
If I want a Republican in the White House, I'll vote for a Republican. Not a wolf in sheep's skin.
I won't forget this.
And I won't vote for Hillary. Not now, not ever.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Some Info About Tonight From the NY Times
"Pre-election polls point to a lopsided race in the state with the earliest poll-closing time, Vermont. That could produce good news for Mr. Obama soon after its polls close at 7 p.m. Polls in Ohio, where Mrs. Clinton has led, close 30 minutes later. Rhode Islanders will vote until 9 p.m. Eastern time."
Read more here.
WWJD?
Big day today, America. What will the American people do? Can Obama seal the deal? And if so, what does that look like? Will Hillary hold on? Stay in the race? If she wins one state, is that enough? What if she wins Texas and Ohio? Or what if she loses both? What would be enough for her to make a claim for sticking around? Polls are all over the place, and they certainly haven't been accurate at predicting outcomes thus far. So what's an amateur pundit to do?
I think the best we can do, the most we can ask today is, frankly, what would Jesus do?
Monday, March 3, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)