Reaction: It's (almost) official: Thompson running

While it was really never a secret, it now is almost an official reality. Fred Thompson, a former Senator from Tennessee and actor extraordinaire, is expected to announce his bid for the Presidency around the 4th of July. I think Thompson will be a good candidate for the Republicans because he carries an image very different from that of Bush. He looks much more like a general than a man who just sits behind his desk and has been using the internet very well up to this point which should help boost his campaign and his popularity with young Republicans. His popularity has exploded since his internet shaming of Michael Moore and it seems like he's been playing the game pretty well up to this point. While he's surely a dark horse, it'll be interesting to see how he will affect and shape the other candidates as we get closer to the primaries.

Reaction: Only six senators read key war report

While everyone knows most members of Congress don't read the majority of reports and bills they vote on, it would be nice to know that they read reports with implications of going to war attached to them. Only six senators, which does not include Hillary Clinton or John McCain, read the National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq, a 90 page document. You can say all you want about how they have a staff who carefully read, analyze, and report their findings directly to the member of congress, but in my humble opinion, documents this important should be read by the members themselves. I especially feel this way if years down the road you are going to heavily criticize the war you approved without even properly researching.

Reaction: Rev. Jesse Jackson upset African-Americans not dominating MLK memorial contracts

Jesse Jackson is reportedly upset that there are not enough African-American artists being awarded contracts in the construction of the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial. He is particularly upset that a Chinese man has been awarded the contracts to two of the monuments more important sculptures, including the one of MLK himself. Well Jesse, you can't have your cake and eat it too. MLK stood for many things, but reverse-racism was not one of them. If you wanted to be treated as an equal, you have to be willing to treat others as equals. Why is an African-American any more qualified than a Chinese person to create these sculptures? I understand that MLK sought to better the lives of African-Americans the world over, but he also sought to acheive that through tolerance, peace, and understanding. Saying African-Americans should be the ones awarded the contracts is just as bad as saying African-Americans cannot be awarded the contracts.

Update: Arizona lawmaker calls for McCain's resignation

Echoing what I said in a previous post, an Arizona lawmaker is calling for John McCain to resign from his Senator's seat because he's not representing Arizona. McCain has reportedly missed over 50% of the Senate votes since the last election and is making no signs of improving on those numbers. He is getting paid over $150,000 a year and isn't even showing up to work. This is unfair to everyone in Arizona who is counting on him to represent them in the Senate and the fact he can even try to pretend he is representing them and that he does care is most sickening of all.

Reaction: Bush drives without his seatbelt

Big deal! First of all, it looks like he's on his ranch or some other private property in which case the seatbelt laws don't apply. The fact that it kicked off National Seatbelt Week is pretty awesome from a timing perspective, but otherwise there's nothing there. I'm more concerned about the fact he's driving that huge truck around that probably gets 10 mpg and he's not even pulling around dirt bikes or horses or something. As many of the inappropriate (but funny) comments on the YouTube page point out, if you hate Bush so much you shouldn't want him wearing his seatbelt anyways. Bottom line: Don't care, don't care, and don't care.

Reaction: Al Gore piles on the Bush criticism in new book

In Al Gore's new book, The Assault on Reason, he is said to brutally criticize the Bush administration on just about every issue under the sun. According to Daily Kos (via an ABC News article), Gore says Bush and Cheney are "...genuinely unfit to lead our nation." I think this is some pretty harsh criticism from a man who couldn't even beat Bush in the first place. I also think that it's a lot easier to criticize when you haven't been in the situations Bush and his administration have been in. I'd like to make it clear I'm not defending Bush's decisions, but I am saying it's hard to be so overcritical until you've had to make those decisions for yourself. I'd also like to say that I think Gore has done an excellent job remaking his image. Daily Kos is hoping he'll decide to run for President again, I'm hoping he'll decide to stick to his new image as a political watch dog and make his commentaries from outside the political arena. Who knows though, with his new found popularity he may be gung-ho to throw it all away again. If nothing else, at least the book sounds like an interesting read.

Reaction: McCain teaching us all the value of voting

According to the Washington Post, John McCain has missed his 42nd consecutive vote in the Senate. Instead of voting, he's out hitting the campaign trail trying to raise money for his presidential bid. Now I have a few problems with this. First off his campaign has said that it is nearly impossible to vote on all the issues AND run for President. So, let's try on this novel idea for size... don't commit to serving in the Senate before running for President if you can't handle it. What makes me even more upset is this statement by his campaign, "The Senator has not missed a vote where his vote would have affected the outcome, and he will make every effort to be in the Senate on the occasions when it would." So all these years where I've been told by my parents, teachers, and politicians alike that my vote always counts and I should never consider my vote insignificant or unable to change an outcome were apparently flat wrong. If a Senator's vote doesn't count for squat - mine sure as hell shouldn't be missed.

Reaction: MSNBC confuses satire for fact

I love when the news tries to race to get these stories out. Even during an ongoing interview, they are still trying to pull sources off the net. Classic. The problem with doing something that ignorant, to use this video as the perfect example, is there is no one to fact-check that source. You can use the internet to "prove" any point you're trying to make (in this case MSNBC is trying to show Jerry Falwell had a lot of influence on the Bush administration - which most sources indicate he did not), but that doesn't mean the "proof" you find is any more real than the claim you're trying to make. That is why these news agencies have these hoops you have to jump through so you're not releasing blatantly incorrect data to the entire world. The problem with jumping through these hoops is it is time consuming which means, from a news agency's point of view, you may not be the first one out of the gate with the story. But it sure feels better finishing the race in second place than breaking your horse's leg on the first jump.

Reaction: Prince Harry not going to Iraq

After several back and forth reports regarding Prince Harry's possible deployment to Iraq, a final decision has finally been made to keep Harry out of Iraq. Harry is reportedly upset with the decision, but thankfully isn't throwing a royal hissyfit about it. While I feel bad for Harry, I think it is definitely the right call to make. He is free to make a decision to put his own life in danger, but him being in Iraq makes his whole unit the #1 target. If he were to be captured it would be an international crisis and a huge morale booster to the enemy, much like it is for us when we capture or kill any of their major players. While I don't think anyone is too important to go to war, I think the fact that so many of our enemies will perceive him as more important than any other soldier will put all of the troops in greater danger than they are already in.

Reaction: Fred Thompson responds to Michael Moore's debate challenge

Ouch, Mike. That's gotta hurt. Talk about a witty reply to a stupid challenge put forth by Michael Moore. This video appears to be blowing up all over YouTube so you can bet this message is getting across loud and clear.

Reaction: Hidden Camera Jihad!

Move over America's Funniest Home Videos! Move over Kicked in the Nuts! Here comes the newest TV sensation, Hidden Camera Jihad! Al-Zawraa TV, in association with an Iraqi sattellite TV channel, has begun airing the episodes of the show which apparently shows attacks on US Troops dubbed over with comedic one-liners and sound effects. I'm not really one for censoring, but this sounds pretty heinous to me. If not heinous, certainly morbid. I have nothing against practical jokes or images of politicians stumbling over words (or feet), but showing real attacks on young soldiers, regardless of which side they fight for, seems immoral to me. I hope this doesn't see too wide an audience, but I have a very hard time believing it won't.

Reaction: Obama "drives" away support in Detroit (see what I did there? I said "drives" ...cuz Detroit ...nevermind)

What I guess could be chalked up as courageous came across as uninformed and ignorant when Barack Obama chastised the Detroit Auto Industry for its gas-guzzling cars this week. As if going into the heart of the American Automotive Industry simply to flame them isn't bad enough, Obama came armed with misinformation, apparently referring to Japanese carmakers' superior gas milage which he put, on average, around 45 mpg (the reality is around 30 mpg). So what else could have gone wrong for Obama in Detroit? Well, how about the fact that it has been discovered that his personal vehicle gets only 21 mpg. I'm all for reforming our auto industry to lower emissions and raise mpg, but I don't want a hypocritical politician leading the charge. It has to work both ways Obama.

Reaction: US Embassy staff to wear flak jackets, helmets to work

There is a new policy among workers at the US Embassy in Baghdad that requires workers to wear flak jackets and helmets anytime they are outside a "solid" building. This includes walks outside and in unprotected (I guess "soft") buildings. While some my criticize this new policy and use it to show things are not going quite as planned in Iraq, I am personally glad they are doing something about worker safety. The job has to be stressful enough as it is with all the mortar attacks constantly going on around you. And with the Green Zone far from impregnable I think it's a good policy to have in place. It really sucks these people have to be on the ground in that situation at all, but since there is little choice in that matter I think it's good they are at least protecting them as best as can be afforded in the situation.

Reaction: Gravel says gay love is "beautiful"

Didn't I tell you I liked this guy? He's unfortunately being branded the insane candidate and even the term "long shot" doesn't do him justice. But still! I think it's awesome how he tells it like he thinks it is and is completely unsympathetic. In New Hampshire he said that love between two women and two men is the most important thing and that our nation should be built on love instead of homophobia. Bravo! Finally someone gets it. You can be the most religious person in the world, but that is your personal choice. However, if you are gay and want to have the same benefits (financial and title) that right is denied to you. I don't see the difference or where it even begins to be controversial. If you want the respect of someone you have to be willing to give it to them.

Reaction: Another "Loose Change" 9/11 conspiracy video to be released

As if getting all their facts wrong three times wasn't enough, the dolts behind the "Loose Change" 9/11 conspiracy films are back at it again. Their fourth release of the film, titled "Loose Change: The Final Cut" will be released this year the weekend before September 11th. Let me just come out and say that I absolutely hate these guys because not only are they making up these wild conspiracies that aren't supported by any real facts, they're making money on it too. According to their blog, theaters are "clamoring for rights to show the film" and the whole world is excited about the release. Well personally since I've seen your entire film debunked a million times over, I'm not really interested in your wild conspiracies that just make it harder for the families of the victims to overcome the tragedy. The fact that you "filmmakers" are making money off of this is even worse than any of the politicians making money off of the Iraq War. Go peddle your conspiracies elsewhere because I'm not interested!

Reaction: Romney insults entire country of France

In this new internet revolution it seems that almost any slip of the tongue can knock you out of the race or even out of politics in general. As such, candidates are constantly watching what they say (on and off the record) and fact-checking everything before using it in a speech. Mitt Romney's camp must not have gotten the memo. Mitt recently spoke at Regent University, Pat Robertson's university for the uber-right. In addressing family values he expressed outrage at Americans straying away from starting families because they liked the single life. He then went on to say that we're moving towards this lifestyle created by Europeans. His cited evidence? "In France, for instance, I'm told that marriage is now frequently contracted in seven-year terms where either party may move on when their term is up." Well as it turns out, Mitt's credible source must enjoy reading science fiction novels. The seven-year French marriage term is a fictional creation by Mormon science fiction novelist Orson Scott Card. Talk about embarassing! First you lamblast the French people only to find out you've been quoting some weird sci-fi hooplah created by a member of the very religion you're trying to avoid talking about. That is rich... Seriously though Mitt, you have got to have a ton of interns hanging around - put some of them on Wikipedia or something.

Reaction: Fred Thompson a racist because he played one on TV

I consider myself a pretty imaginative person. I can see the truth stretched and the lines blurred pretty considerably before I start getting upset. But seriously, this is just ludicrous. Apparently some people are hitting out at Presidential hopeful Fred Thompson because in the late 1980s he played a racist on television. Some claim he played his role so convincingly that many people will believe he truly is a racist. Seriously?! One time in high school I made a video where I impersonated Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin and I thought I did a pretty good job. However, no one later thought I was Australian or was somehow able to wrestle alligators well. Just because the role is controversial doesn't make it somehow more applicable to real life. If so, imagine every poor sap that's played Hitler on TV and in film over the last sixty years.

Reaction: No safe exit from Iraq?

CNN.com ran a report today that argued there is no safe, responsible exit from Iraq. I completely agree with them on that note. As a direct result of our disastrous efforts in Iraq, we've merely created a safe-haven for terrorist training camps and as the U.S. General points out a "power vacuum." However, these issues can be resolved even with a time line for troop withdrawal. As I mentioned in a previous post, I think withdrawal is a bad idea (for many of the reasons outlined in this article), but withdrawal does not prevent these problems from being solved. I'd love to see President Bush respond to an article like this and explain (truthfully) what kind of progress we're making on these fronts. These are going to be some of the serious issues the Iraqi people face when we finally do decide to leave, so it's important to get started on them now.

Reaction: Bush vetoes Iraq spending bill, Sun rises in East

In a surprise move (insert sarcasm here) President Bush has vetoed the Iraq spending bill. While I hate to say this (is there a stronger word than "hate?"), I actually agree with George on this one. I think that setting a timetable for troop withdrawal is a bad idea. Then again, I think "staying the course" is an even worse idea. It's time to man up and make a decision. Either send a full compliment of troops to Iraq and do the job right with the correct amount of manpower to provide security while ALSO supplying living essentials such as food, clean water, shelter, electricity, gasoline, and jobs to the Iraqi people or get everyone the hell out. Your current plan hasn't worked up to this point, and it's not going to. So man up or give up but stop letting people die in this doomed plan.

Reaction: South Park upsets Britons

Although not as politically salient as some of my other posts, I found this video on YouTube and couldn't help but comment on it. What this news report fails to mention is that the episode was a spoof of the FOX television show "24" which often throws wild twists and turns into its plots. The episode was more focused on how we shouldn't always look at the usual suspects when investigating terrorist activities (Muslims and Russians) because you never know who is planning to attack next. England was only involved in the last 2 minutes of the episode and as I mentioned before was merely a spoof on a popular plot device "24" uses making a wild, unexpected jump from the show's course which had been fairly steady up to that point. So thanks ITV for your one-sided news reporting slandering our FICTIONAL television ENTERTAINMENT (ie: not real).