You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them. - Ray Bradbury
I am a native eastern Oregonian, and have lived here 50 of my 62 years. I left at 20, but was back by age 32 to be near my parents to help them in times of need. I don't fit in politically here because I view things from a decidedly left wing perspective... but that's o.k. because I love the people, I love the area and for the most part I like living here. I enjoy family time, listening to music, reading books, traveling, bird watching, hiking, backpacking, watching movies, keeping up on politics, watching sports, sitting at the computer so much I get sores on my ass, and playing music... if you need a band for your party or celebration, let me know; I play keyboards and sing for a rock and roll band, and we do mostly "classic rock". (I also like to play guitar and bass and other instruments, but those are for my private enjoyment only!) I am mainly an agnostic/skeptic, but would consider myself spiritual. I work in schools and in clinical settings as a speech/language therapist. It is enjoyable work and it pays some of the bills. I have a rather unpredictable sense of humor, which can get me in trouble at times, but hey, is life worth living without laughter? I think not!
 |
16 Comments:
Which testicle did he get removed, maybe that would flavour his political leanings.
(Yeah, yeah I went there, yes Lancie is a kick ass athelete, and yes cancer is a serious, serious issue). Did I mention he's a great sports person.
Any legit democrat runs, I'll vote him or her. Has to be a legit democrat though, not one of these dempublicans that sometimes run on the democratic ticket.
Isn't that guy Kinky Friedman running? Or is that a spoof?
First, sheryl, I only wish the Kinky Friedman thing were a spoof, though his chances of actually winning or making it on the ballot are thankfully about nil. I have no interest in seeing another major state gain an embarrassing governor. Of course, I am referring to former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura and current California Governor Ahnold Schwarzenegger.
The former was elected mainly due to first-time voters who capitalized on that state's laws that allow registrations up to the last day before the election. Otherwise, he would have barely qualified as a footnote and one of the other two guys would've won it.
The latter was elected on basically, for want of a better term, a revolutionary's platform. But as Lech Walensa taught the world, there's more to becoming an effective leader than running on a platform of "Anyone other than (insert name here)." The bigger question is what happens after you are successful. Walensa and Schwarzenegger didn't have clear ideas, and that's ultimately why they failed after their victory, while Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and company succeeded, though they didn't get it right on the first try. There was that Articles of Confederation snafu that took a few years to correct. But at least they kept thinking and had a rough idea of what they wanted and how to accomplish it, and more than enough intelligence and political ability to pull it off.
Well, our current governor is a complete bullbag. It could get worse, but it would be hard.
mandelbrot wrote: "The former was elected mainly due to first-time voters who capitalized on that state's laws that allow registrations up to the last day before the election."
As someone who lives in the great state of Minnesota, let me correct you on one small thing. People here can register to vote on election day, and that's a good thing.
I didn't vote for Ventura. I thought he was a joke when he was running. In office, he didn't know what he was doing and could always dish it out, but could never take it.
Regarding Lance Armstrong, the fact that he won his bicycle races in the hated France - the antithesis of all that is red-blooded American - would disqualify him from holding any political office in the USA.
First, Sheryl, have you heard Kinky Friedman speak? It wouldn't be hard at all for him to be worse. He said something to the effect that his "spiritual advisor" told him that anyone who doesn't believe in Jesus can go to Hell.
Second, Christopher, actually, that was one thing that endeared a lot of people to him. Sure, his story is truly and deeply inspiring, and he overcame odds worse than a coin toss just to survive his cancer. But also, for seven years, he pissed off the French in a way no one has before, something for which I'm deeply grateful. But my disliking of the French dates back to World War II, long before I was born, though their recent actions haven't helped. Also, their institutional stance on civil liberties would actually make Bush look like a moderate in many ways. Furthermore, their President is a prick, but I guess we don't have much room to talk there.
Having read a number of Kinky Friedman's books, I can't imagine he would be serious if he says "his 'spiritual advisor' told him told him that anyone who doesn't believe in Jesus can go to Hell." The last I noticed, anyway, Friedman was Jewish. His books also tend to speak of conservatism in a disparaging manner from time to time. I should probably do more research on Kinky Friedman, but I'm sure he would at the least be an "independent".
I would like to think Armstrong is a lefty. I'm hoping so, anyway, because I doubt he will be able to resist the pressure which he will be put under to run for office. Maybe Sheryl Crow will have a good liberal influence on Lance. Anyone know what her political leanings are? (Although being married to Maria Schriver didn't do much to change Schwarzenegger, and James Carville and his wife haven't changed each others' minds too much on political matters...!)
I agree, Phil. I don't look at Lance Armstrong as a politician, because he isn't one yet. I look at him as a great athlete who has overcome hardship and who has continued to excel.
The only reason I posted the question was as a way of saying that if he enters politics, I hope he's going to run for the left side, because I think that given our media-driven pop culture, he would stomp anyone he ran against. According to some Texan bloggers, that might be a good thing for Texas if that state had more Democrats in office.
I agree that it is time to look at people based on their experience and philosophy, not fame. Arnold Schwarzenegger seems to me like a great example of people voting for a concept, i.e. "The Terminator", instead of looking at the experience and philosophy of the candidate. Although I don't think his election was as much a result of a "cult of personality" thing as Arnold's was, Ronald Reagan is another example of an actor entering politics.
I'm with Snave. At this point, the number one criteria should be electability. Yexas is a one party state ruled by big business. That has to end.
Texas, I mean. Man, I can't type anymore!!!:-(
I've been trying to find some reason...any reason...to use the phrase "Tour de Pants", possibly even throwing in the name "Pants Armstrong" for good measure. This post will have to do. I apologize.
Damien, that is funny, yet sad.
Sheryl Crow. The woman looks like she would be a Democrat.
I think Armstrong is a Republican, he just looks like one.
I know that is not a good way of determining political affiliation.
Here I found this:
http://forums.sptimes.com/Forums/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=15&t=014147
" 'Even Sheryl, whose politics Armstrong describes as "way out Left' says that it's hard to meet Bush and not like him. I had assumed, because he and Bush were Texans and I'd seen pictures of them laughing and joking in the Oval Office, that Armstrong was a Republican. But he says his politics are 'iddle to Left'.He is 'against mixing up State and Church, not keen on guns, pro women's right to choose'. And very anti war in Iraq."
First, Phil, Ronald Reagan was president of the Screen Actors' Guild. Second, yes, he was a modestly popular actor but considered a B-list actor, though on several occasions, he stole the spotlight from some A-list leading men. I honestly don't know about his political career before he became governor of California, but when he took office, he inherited a financial nightmare and successfully turned the state around, by raising taxes at first to alleviate the budget shortfall while using the time bought to fix systemic problems in the state budget, and after those changes were enacted, lowered the taxes to a rate below the original rate. This is something Governor Riley (R-AL) attempted to do with our state, through means that would have actually alleviated the tax burden on the poorest citizens of Alabama. The state legislature Democrats, before the plan was unveiled, promised to support the governor in his attempts to get this passed in a statewide referrendum. But once the large corporations started to attack using fuzzy logic and intentionally bad math, they wilted. A single person should not have to start paying taxes on all income after about $5500/year; yet since the failure of that referrendum back in September 2003, that remains unchanged except for adjustments for inflation. And trust me when I say that the standard deductions in state income tax for families and married couples are among the lowest in the nation, which puts an inexcusable burden on the poor. The reason the statewide referrendum was needed was because, instead of being able to be passed in the state legislature like most other states, this would have required an amendment to our excessively bloated state constitution. I know our 700th amendment to the 1901 Constitution was many years ago, making it easily the longest constitution in the world.
Some of you may wonder why I have deep misgivings about both major political parties. This is but one example of many, and unlike other stories, this one didn't end in anyone getting jailed or indicted.
Post a Comment
<< Home