Friday Odds And Ends
So Scooter Libby is soon going to be doing time. Unless President Bush decides to pardon him, that is. I wrote about this situation last week, and I have to say, coming on the heels of the Republican Party's open revolt on the immigration bill, that the possibility of Bush not pardoning Libby (further enraging his base) is likely going to be the gift that keeps on giving (politically) all summer long.
Hypocrisy Watch: Apparently the California Republican Party is hiring immigrants to do the jobs "Americans aren't willing to do." The state GOP just hired a Canadian as deputy political director. Even funnier, the guy that hired him (the state GOP's chief operations officer) is an Australian. The San Francisco Chronicle has the story, and The Carpetbagger Report blog has an extra-snarky commentary on the situation.
A 50-year time capsule was opened in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and a mint Plymouth Belvedere was unearthed. Amusingly, in the glove compartment was a "typical woman's handbag" containing (among other things) "a bottle of tranquilizers."
The AP story didn't specify what type of pills they were, but considering the date they were buried, a safe guess would be Miltown. The names change over the years -- Miltown, Seconal, Quaalude, Valium, Xanax, Prozac -- but the truth is, "Mother's Little Helper" has been part of American life for over half a century.
Meet The Press' Tim Russert appeared on Conan O'Brien's show a few days ago, and mentioned that he had been at Woodstock. Tim Russert? At Woodstock? There's a mind-numbing thought. He said he made some money selling Stegmeyer beer for 80 cents a six-pack, so I guess he was there to exercise free market capitalism. Or something.
And finally, nonsense from the other side of the pond (for a change) -- the BBC is reporting on a brand new "-ism" to add to the list of all the different ways to be a bigot: gingerism. I guess that's easier to say than "anti-redhead-ism." Maybe that's why Mrs. Dennis Kucinich left Merrie Olde England?
Thankfully, the article notes that it probably won't be appearing in America any time soon, noting "In other countries redheads will get teased at school but it stops when they become adults. If you are a woman you are fiery and alluring, beautiful."
Call me biased, but I would have to agree.
Dear Chris,
Just dropped by to check out your blog, "LOOKIN GOOD". Agape.
>Hypocrisy Watch: Apparently the California
>Republican Party is hiring immigrants to
>do the jobs “Americans aren’t willing to
>do.†The state GOP just hired a Canadian
>as deputy political director. Even funnier,
>the guy that hired him (the state GOP’s chief
>operations officer) is an Australian. The
>San Francisco Chronicle has the story, and The
>Carpetbagger Report blog has an extra-snarky
>commentary on the situation.
Correct me if I am wrong, but the beef with the Immigration issue is not with "immigrants" per se, but with ILLEGAL immigrants...
Now, if this Canadian or Australian are here in this country illegally, then I would think you have a case for hypocrisy...
>And finally, nonsense from the other
>side of the pond (for a change) — the
>BBC is reporting on a brand new “-ismâ€
>to add to the list of all the different
>ways to be a bigot: gingerism. I guess
>that’s easier to say than “anti-redhead-ism.â€
>Maybe that’s why Mrs. Dennis Kucinich
>left Merrie Olde England?
You know I have been trying to rack my brain for a word to describe a political "racist" or bigot. I was happy with the term "politicism" or "politicist". But one of your readers pointed out, "politicist" is defined as a Political Writer,
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Politicist
>Thankfully, the article notes that it
>probably won’t be appearing in America
>any time soon, noting “In other countries
>redheads will get teased at school but it
>stops when they become adults. If you are
>a woman you are fiery and alluring, beautiful.â€
>Call me biased, but I would have to agree.
I could not possibly agree with you (and the writer) more....
Michale.....
Michale -
You'd need to define "political racist" better (what you mean by that) to come up with an exact word, I think.
I've always used "ideologue" but it doesn't have the same punch as an "-ism." Or maybe "rabid partisan," but then I might not completely understand what you're trying to define, I fully admit.
dapper -
Welcome to the site! Glad to have you...
-CW
What I am looking for is the same connotation as "racist" except as it applies to politics..
Postulate that political designations are racial designations and then you would have a perfect idea of what I am trying to describe.
This also might provide some insight:
Beware the Bloggers' Bile
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1630004,00.html
The animosity and invective that political bloggers hurl at those who do not agree exactly with them is pure poison to this country..
Surely there MUST be a better way to make the political process work...
Michale.....
Hi Chris,
I guess I'll have to wear a wig next time I visit london!
Stan...