http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2008/11/08/transition-team-wont-discriminate/
Apparently, the Obama/Biden transition team has announced or stated that they will not discriminate when selecting candidates for employment.
Specifically, Christopher Anders of the ACLU says, "As the new Administration gears up, it should be focused on hiring the best people for the job. By including sexual orientation and gender identity in its non-discrimination policy, the Obama-Biden transition team makes clear that it will focus on the relevant qualities that actually predict an applicant’s success on the job – professional experience, character, skills and education."
Now, I've been reading and listening to all my commie pinko leftist podcast and bloggy comrades, all either falling over themselves in praise and hosannas, or warning that the Bushes can still wreak horrible vengeance upon what remains of the Constitution, or even climbing the barricades to scream that Obama isn't left wing ENOUGH for their tastes, and sometimes I still have to remind myself that it really happened. That 200 years on, old Tom's bit about being entitled by our Creator to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness has been, far, far too late and not yet completely,but still, redeemed.
After hearing it, and hearing it, and hearing it, all day long, while I was supposed to be, y' know, working, this quote reminded me. It's over. Our long national nightmare, as my parents' generation used to say, is over.
We're actually going to start giving jobs to the people who deserve them. Imagine that. Not the person we went to school with, not the person who went to Liberty University, not the person who has no experience but was a good fundraiser. The person who can actually do the job, no matter what their personal life is. The person that will come in at 9 and leave at 5 and give the taxpayer value for their dollar. THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB, THE RELEVANT QUALITIES! Imagine, picking people on merit again!
No more "we won't do that because the last president did it and everything they did is yucky-ucky-poo-poo." No more "well, we locked them up because they're bad. And they're bad because we say they're bad. No, we can't let you see the evidence why they're bad, but trust us, they're bad." No more, "I'm going to sign this law, but I'm not really going to do what it says." No more, "Press conference? What business is it of yours what your government is doing?" No more of Chimpy McFlightsuit and his rotten, evil little smirk. No more of , in Ann Richards' glorious phrase about Bush Senior, being born on third base and thinking you hit a triple.
Now bear in mind, I'm exaggerating. I know full well that there will surely be legacy hires, and screwups, and goofballs, and money being wasted foolishly. I wasn't born yesterday. Lincoln had war profiteers too.
But I just get the feeling Obama won't be PROUD of it, the way the current president seems to be. Returning shame to government-what a gift!
BART: "What's the opposite of shame?"
HOMER: "Pride?"
BART: "No, not that far from shame."
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Blog Me A Secret!
http://newsomi.blogspot.com/2008/11/blogsecret.html
So here's the thing...everyone is going to submit secrets to this one blog. The secrets will be stripped of personal information and redistributed, where each participant will post a secret, not their own, on their blog.
How illicit!
So here's the thing...everyone is going to submit secrets to this one blog. The secrets will be stripped of personal information and redistributed, where each participant will post a secret, not their own, on their blog.
How illicit!
Ralph Predicts The Future!
"It seemed too rash, on a purely local reputation, to build so grave a trust in such anxious times."
Ralph Waldo Emerson, on the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for President.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, on the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for President.
Lightning Crashes
For the first time in a long bloody while, I have not posted, I believe, in two days.
I see the Internet got along ok without me.
My desktop PC has gone from being unreliable to downright annoying to DOA.
So as a new one makes its way to me from the fine folks at Dell, I am stuck on the laptop downloading podcasts now. Not exactly Stuck in Mobile with the Memphis Blues again, but what can I do?
I see the Internet got along ok without me.
My desktop PC has gone from being unreliable to downright annoying to DOA.
So as a new one makes its way to me from the fine folks at Dell, I am stuck on the laptop downloading podcasts now. Not exactly Stuck in Mobile with the Memphis Blues again, but what can I do?
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
This I don't get
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gaymarriage5-2008nov05,0,1545381.story
" "I think the voters were thinking, well, if it makes them happy, why shouldn't we let gay couples get married. And I think we made them realize that there are broader implications to society and particularly the children when you make that fundamental change that's at the core of how society is organized, which is marriage," he said."
In a word, uh, no.
What implications? Where? When? The same implications when we banned polygamy? Allowed interracial marriage? I was born in Massachusetts, and travel there several times a year. At no point has the presence of gay married couples affected me in any way. Ever.
I'm sorry, but I take this personally. There used to be laws that said I couldn't marry the person that I married. It offends me that we treat any group of Americans as second class citizens.
I only barely understand my own marriage, so I am hard pressed to pass judgement on anyone else's.
Why don't they just call it what it is: "Proposition We Hate Gay People"?
" "I think the voters were thinking, well, if it makes them happy, why shouldn't we let gay couples get married. And I think we made them realize that there are broader implications to society and particularly the children when you make that fundamental change that's at the core of how society is organized, which is marriage," he said."
In a word, uh, no.
What implications? Where? When? The same implications when we banned polygamy? Allowed interracial marriage? I was born in Massachusetts, and travel there several times a year. At no point has the presence of gay married couples affected me in any way. Ever.
I'm sorry, but I take this personally. There used to be laws that said I couldn't marry the person that I married. It offends me that we treat any group of Americans as second class citizens.
I only barely understand my own marriage, so I am hard pressed to pass judgement on anyone else's.
Why don't they just call it what it is: "Proposition We Hate Gay People"?
Zack and Miri Make A Porno
I saw Kevin Smith's "Zack and Miri Make A Porno" today.
I'm a fan, so I loved it. It's a perfectly enjoyable romantic comedy-plenty of cursing, and some scatological humor, and a little nudity, but as long as you can stand that, a fine way to spend an hour and change.
I'm a fan, so I loved it. It's a perfectly enjoyable romantic comedy-plenty of cursing, and some scatological humor, and a little nudity, but as long as you can stand that, a fine way to spend an hour and change.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Salt The Ground
It's Election Day.
I voted early this morning. I had to work today, so my window was small-if I didn't get out by about 10 of 9, I would have had to leave and would not be able to return. Our district moved its polling place, so once I found it, it went relatively swiftly. There was a line, but not an outrageous one.
It is almost 11pm, and according to news reports, it is an Obama tidal wave. I am pleased at this fact, as you may have gathered if you have read more than 3 or four paragraphs here.
I am confident he's up to the job, but I'm just as confident that it's a huge job-an enormous job. If anyone can do it, he can.
I am proud, seriously proud, that America was able to do this today. As Keith Olbermann said tonight, this is a choice we made together-which makes it different from other achievements African Americans have made in our country's history. We said no to hateful, divisive campaigning, and yes to hope and growth and progress.
Part of me hopes to salt the ground- destroy the Republican party, splinter it and drive it into the wilderness for 50 years. There is a temptation to do an end zone dance, mocking the end of an era. The triumph of the politics of people over the politics of organized selfishness.
It's not that simple. I think the Republican Party has taken a punch tonight, and hopefully the sensible members of that party can retake it from its loony fringe. There are Republican ideas that make sense-cost effective government, an end to handouts without reason, tax cutting to stimulate growth, welfare reform. Hopefully those ideas can come forth without the right wing baggage that used to come with them.
But for now, as hard as it is for me to believe it, Barack Obama is the President Elect.
God Bless America.
I voted early this morning. I had to work today, so my window was small-if I didn't get out by about 10 of 9, I would have had to leave and would not be able to return. Our district moved its polling place, so once I found it, it went relatively swiftly. There was a line, but not an outrageous one.
It is almost 11pm, and according to news reports, it is an Obama tidal wave. I am pleased at this fact, as you may have gathered if you have read more than 3 or four paragraphs here.
I am confident he's up to the job, but I'm just as confident that it's a huge job-an enormous job. If anyone can do it, he can.
I am proud, seriously proud, that America was able to do this today. As Keith Olbermann said tonight, this is a choice we made together-which makes it different from other achievements African Americans have made in our country's history. We said no to hateful, divisive campaigning, and yes to hope and growth and progress.
Part of me hopes to salt the ground- destroy the Republican party, splinter it and drive it into the wilderness for 50 years. There is a temptation to do an end zone dance, mocking the end of an era. The triumph of the politics of people over the politics of organized selfishness.
It's not that simple. I think the Republican Party has taken a punch tonight, and hopefully the sensible members of that party can retake it from its loony fringe. There are Republican ideas that make sense-cost effective government, an end to handouts without reason, tax cutting to stimulate growth, welfare reform. Hopefully those ideas can come forth without the right wing baggage that used to come with them.
But for now, as hard as it is for me to believe it, Barack Obama is the President Elect.
God Bless America.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Pre Election Jitters
I've been watching a lot of paranoid Youtube videos about the New World Order and how the coterie of bankers and elites control everything. I don't believe it, but I don't entirely disbelieve it, either.
But vote tomorrow.
Maybe it doesnt make a difference, I don't know.
But I have to believe that it matters. I think Obama is the better man. You're entitled to disagree. I think you're wrong, but you can disagree.
But vote.
Vote for the men who suffered and died in Valley Forge.
Just vote. It's too precious to throw away.
But vote tomorrow.
Maybe it doesnt make a difference, I don't know.
But I have to believe that it matters. I think Obama is the better man. You're entitled to disagree. I think you're wrong, but you can disagree.
But vote.
Vote for the men who suffered and died in Valley Forge.
Just vote. It's too precious to throw away.
Endangering the Shower
Being Election Eve and all, Bravo has apparently decided to endanger my chances of having a shower by running The West Wing all the way until 2pm. However, they are once again switching from the Alda/Smits election storyline back into the Rob Lowe era, so I will be able to comfortably miss part of one episode to take a shower and behave like a human being briefly.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Two Nice Pieces
...about universal health care in Massachusetts
http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/universal-health-care-in-america-massachusetts-first/article102083-1.html
...and about the "idiot wind" of the McCain campaign. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/30/AR2008103003244.html?referrer=digg
http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/universal-health-care-in-america-massachusetts-first/article102083-1.html
...and about the "idiot wind" of the McCain campaign. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/30/AR2008103003244.html?referrer=digg
It's Good to Be The King
http://tinyurl.com/67ol5u
Talk about your redistribution of wealth!
"The struggling Wall Street bank has set aside £7billion for salaries and 2008 year-end bonuses, it emerged yesterday.
Each of the firm's 443 partners is on course to pocket an average Christmas bonus of more than £3million.
The size of the pay pool comfortably dwarfs the £6.1billion lifeline which the U.S. government is throwing to Goldman as part of its £430billion bail-out.
As Washington pours money into the bank, the cash will immediately be channelled to Goldman's already well-heeled employees.
News of the firm's largesse will revive the anger over the 'rewards for failure' culture endemic in the world of high finance.
The same bankers who have brought the global economy to its knees seem to pocketing the same kind of rewards they got during the boom years."
That's Goldman Sachs, pocketing tax money that they "needed" to avert a global "catastrophe". If by "catastrophe" you are mispronouncing "missed boat payment".
Talk about your redistribution of wealth!
"The struggling Wall Street bank has set aside £7billion for salaries and 2008 year-end bonuses, it emerged yesterday.
Each of the firm's 443 partners is on course to pocket an average Christmas bonus of more than £3million.
The size of the pay pool comfortably dwarfs the £6.1billion lifeline which the U.S. government is throwing to Goldman as part of its £430billion bail-out.
As Washington pours money into the bank, the cash will immediately be channelled to Goldman's already well-heeled employees.
News of the firm's largesse will revive the anger over the 'rewards for failure' culture endemic in the world of high finance.
The same bankers who have brought the global economy to its knees seem to pocketing the same kind of rewards they got during the boom years."
That's Goldman Sachs, pocketing tax money that they "needed" to avert a global "catastrophe". If by "catastrophe" you are mispronouncing "missed boat payment".
The first Web site.
http://www.tinyurl.com/3apuu
This is the first web site ever, from 1991.
Pretty cool, huh?
This is the first web site ever, from 1991.
Pretty cool, huh?
USA! USA!
USA is running a James Bond marathon, in conjunction with the release of Quantum of Solace in two weeks. They are running little preview spots and commercials in between for the new movie, which looks deeply cool. Daniel Craig is much closer to the Bond in the books-cruel and vicious. But the movie marathon, even with commercials, is still deeply cool for a Bond geek like me.
Nanowrimo Word Count: 804
Goal: 50000
Nanowrimo Word Count: 804
Goal: 50000
In other news...
I overheard someone on the Today show this morning saying that Americans are following the presidential election because "it's like a reality show."
I don't think there's a more American statement than that.
I don't think there's a more American statement than that.
A Fraction of the Whole
I finished Steve Toltz' "A Fraction of the Whole" this morning, a novel about the Dean family-ubercriminal Terry, Terry's brother, pseudo philosopher Martin, and Martin's son Jasper, locked up for trying to illegally immigrate into his native Australia.
If that sentence makes the slightest bit of sense to you, then you may enjoy this story.
It is an affecting tale, ranging between narrators and across continents, while the central need to tell one's story-to order the events of your life so that you, if no one else, can understand them.
It is a little hard to follow, but Toltz has an absolutely unmistakable voice and a sardonic, Vonnegutian sense of humor. Funny, sad, and compelling-the comparisons made to Hunter S Thompson and "A Confederacy of Dunces" are apt.
I feel that usual sort of relief upon finishing a novel. In a sense, I'm glad its over, and in another way, I'm sad that it is.
If that sentence makes the slightest bit of sense to you, then you may enjoy this story.
It is an affecting tale, ranging between narrators and across continents, while the central need to tell one's story-to order the events of your life so that you, if no one else, can understand them.
It is a little hard to follow, but Toltz has an absolutely unmistakable voice and a sardonic, Vonnegutian sense of humor. Funny, sad, and compelling-the comparisons made to Hunter S Thompson and "A Confederacy of Dunces" are apt.
I feel that usual sort of relief upon finishing a novel. In a sense, I'm glad its over, and in another way, I'm sad that it is.
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