Month: December 2008

Joe Klein doesn’t want Caroline Kennedy appointed:

If nothing else, Barack Obama’s transition demonstrates his intent to launch an era of Real Serious Governance. He has chosen well outside the standard political fast-food menu in some cases–…[Steven] Chu, the Secretary of Energy comes to mind. And I’d hope that Governor David Paterson might consider a similar sort of selection–an honorary, non-political (but Democratic) appointee, a person of real, world-class, distinction who would never normally serve in the Senate, to grace the seat until the next election–if he hasn’t already been bum-rushed into the Kennedy coronation.

Rick Warren will give the invocation at Obama’s inauguration. Warren is a man who believes my marriage removes his freedom of speech and cannot say that authorizing torture is a moral failing. Shrewd politics, but if anyone is under any illusion that Obama is interested in advancing gay equality, they should probably sober up now. He won’t be as bad as the Clintons (who, among leading Democrats, could?), but pandering to Christianists at his inauguration is a depressing omen. More evidence that a civil rights movement needs to realize that no politician can deliver for us what we have to deliver on our own.

Beefy body spray:

Burger King has released a limited-edition men’s body spray that evokes the smell of freshly broiled Whoppers … According to a press release, "The King is setting hearts ablaze for the holidays with his new scent of choice. FLAME™, a new men’s body spray by Burger King Corp., features the scent of seduction with the hint of flame-broiled meat.

… a blog starts up called "The Brokers With Hands On Their Faces."

… people are prepared to have their eye-lids tattooed by brands to earn advertizing dollars.

A video that shows immigration to the US from 1820 to 2007. Each dot represents 100 people. Maybe it’s because I’m an immigrant myself, but I found this simple graphic deeply moving. Whatever America’s faults, what other country draws so many for so long?

Immigration to the US, 1820-2007 v2 from Ian Stevenson on Vimeo.

"I’ve abandoned free-market principles to save the free-market system," George W. Bush. Just as he used torture to defend freedom. And occupied a country in order to liberate it.

A survey finds the U.S. moving toward Islamist countries on the question of evolution.

Jim Burroway chides Rick Warren:

This is unadulterated nonsense. First, a civil marriage law does nothing to impinge on what a pastor can preach. Divorce is very common, but you can waive all the divorce decrees and new marriage licences in front of a Catholic priest’s face and he’s not going to marry anyone unless the Vatican has granted an annulment. And he’ll be happy to explain it to the couple in his office, at the pulpit, on the Internet, or anywhere else. It’s not hate speech.

And what if it were considered hate speech? No problem there either because in the United States, hate speech is not against the law. And it can never be against the law as long as the First Amendment is in effect. We already have laws against discrimination based on race and religion, but even with those laws, Rick Warren can be as anti-Semitic and racist as he wants to be. He’s neither of those things, but if he wanted to be, he could. And the law would protect him.

My thoughts here.