Supreme Court:"We are a Christian Nation"
Tue Dec 27, 2005 at 08:29:52 PM PDT
I read Harmonium's
diary and
Cedwyn's regarding
this ruling on the display of the Ten Commandments in a Kentucky County Courthouse. Then tonight, I read Wmtriallawyer 's
diary about demagogues. Fascinating stuff really.
Which brings me to my own diary tonight. It seems as though the echo chamber here is in full force and is, in some ways, the guiding principle. Afterall, any judge who declares that the "wall between church and state is tiresome" must be a wingnut who deserves impeachment! Any legislature that votes to dispaly the Ten Commandments is obviously under the evil spell of the Dark Lord Rove and out to destroy America!! And anyone posting at Dkos who doesn't see these simple truths must be an imbecile!
Well, maybe not....Maybe we are a Christian Nation afterall...
Starnge bedfellows, Andrew Sullivan & Kos
Sat Oct 22, 2005 at 05:40:26 PM PDT
You'd think that
this quote comes from one of our own, from a diary right here...
the detainee abuse issue is just such a concrete example of what I've just described to you, that 10 years from now or so when it's really, really put to the acid test, ironed out and people have looked at it from every angle, we are going to be ashamed of what we allowed to happen. I don't know how many people saw the "Frontline" documentary last night - very well done, I thought, but didn't get anywhere near the specifics that need to be shown, that need to come out, that need to say to the American people, this is not us, this is not the way we do business in the world.
...but you'd be wrong. Even some of those who have served in and/or supported the current administration are sick to their stomachs over the desecration of the Constitution and the ideals it embodies at the hands of Bu$hCo. This quote is from one such person and it wasn't posted here.
more below...
Without belief
Sun Apr 03, 2005 at 11:00:05 AM PDT
I know that it's been done already, so skip it if you must, but with all the talk of death, dying, living and resurrection in the world today, I thought I should take a moment to write down my own thoughts on god. I am not a theologian, philosopher or scientist. I'm just trying to sort things out.
I was born and raised a Catholic. I went to Catholic schools through the 5th grade, went to Mass every Sunday and every Catholic holy day until I was 10 or 11 years old. I began bible study when I was 16 and attended a Baptist church for a couple of years. I've considered myself an atheist for most of my adult life.
The problem with Gay Marriage
Sun Jan 30, 2005 at 04:17:47 PM PDT
Let me start by saying (again) that I support equality for all folks, gay, straight, bi, trans, whatever. You can read some of my thinking about it
here.
In that diary, I ask myself, and answer, some questions about gay marriage, and I think that my answers are all sound, with one exception. That's what this diary is about.
Let me also say that although I think that those who defend the unequal treatment of the GLBT community are wrong, I recognize that there are some folks that have thought long and hard about it and that they aren't all reactionary bigots.
So, if you's like to help me work through a problem with the gay marriage argument that I haven't solved yet, please read on.
I don't care what you believe....
Tue Jan 25, 2005 at 09:48:06 PM PDT
George Lakoff, despite what gets written here at DailyKos so often and ad nauseum, is not the only answer to all our problems.
Sometimes plain talk can be cathartic. Sometimes we need to speak the truth in words that easy to understand, even at the risk of pissing people off. I'm not talking about politicians speaking on TV, I'm talking about you and me around the water cooler, at the Little League game, at the mall having conversations with the other 51%.
These are trying times and they call for tough words. Or maybe I'm full of shit, read what follows. I report, you decide!
Not another diary on Abortion!
Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 02:15:17 PM PDT
Yes, I'm afraid so.
Read this article that is posted at AlterNet to read about the chilling effects of abortion policy in the state of Mississippi.
When people talk about seemingly common sense things such as a 24 hour waiting period or mandatory counseling, parent notification laws and 2nd and 3rd trimester limitations, remember what you read about Mississippi.
One of the most interesting things about laws is that while they have a stated purpose, such as reducing the number of abortions, they often achieve that goal with no regard to other consequences. Sometimes, as it seems in this case, the reduction of the number of abortions has done nothing to better the lives of women and children.
Go figure.
Some quotes from the article below the fold....
Bush gives up on Iraq
Thu Jan 20, 2005 at 05:22:14 PM PDT
www.whitehouse.gov :
Freedom, by its nature, must be chosen, and defended by citizens, and sustained by the rule of law and the protection of minorities. And when the soul of a nation finally speaks, the institutions that arise may reflect customs and traditions very different from our own. America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling. Our goal instead is to help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way.
This sounds, on first read, like a ringing endorsement of democracy and a statement of our commitment to it. But, remember, this is George "Doublespeak" Bush talking.
The translation follows....
Killing is okay with Americans.
Tue Jan 18, 2005 at 06:45:19 PM PDT
Killing is okay with Americans. Well, all right, sometimes killing is okay with almost all Americans; that's better.
Killing is okay with me and, most likely, it's okay with you. And I think that you know that what I'm saying is true. You might not want to admit it, but killing is okay with you.
"How the hell do you know that killing is okay with me, you f**king troll?", you're probably screaming at your computer monitor right now. Well, now that I have your attention, let's see where this is headed.
Same-Sex Marriage w/Poll
Sat Jan 15, 2005 at 05:29:27 PM PDT
I've spent some time thinking about what it means to be a Liberal, what it means to be a Democrat. There's a discussion that's gone on here about Gay Marriage and the role of the Democratic Party in ensuring the rights of all Americans.
What follows below the fold is my attempt at a "Point-Counterpoint" on the question of same-sex marriage.
I encourage and welcome everyone with an opinion to weigh in. I think that I know what I believe but I realize that my own naivete may cloud my vision.
So, in no particular order, submitted for your approval below, are some thoughts on same-sex marriage....
No politics, I just want to talk about my mom...w/Poll
Thu Jan 13, 2005 at 01:54:35 PM PDT
This is a story about my mom, Marie Gier. She is my hero, my inspiration and my hope...
One Sunday...
Funny how things happen, really. One day, everything is just as it ever was and then, the next day brings great change. This is a story about such a change.
One Sunday in August of last year, our family and friends gathered together for a memorial service for my brother's mother-in-law. She had died unexpectedly only days before. People who had not been together in years joined that day in a celebration of her life. It was sad, but it was also beautiful.
Social Security, Welfare & Me
Wed Jan 12, 2005 at 07:21:35 PM PDT
Please excuse the personal narrative nature of this diary (ironic, isn't it?). There aren't going to be any links to outside sources or cites of relevant data, there's just going to be a story about boy growing up in America.
I've thought about writing something like this for a little while now; the latest Frameshop post causes me too action.
Bear with me while I explain....
On Liberty w/ Poll
Tue Dec 28, 2004 at 06:33:53 AM PDT
This
web site, linked to at
The Volokh Conspiracy is an interesting flash video presentation called "The Philosophy of Liberty".
It will take you a few minute to watch, but it's worth the time. Call me a left leaning libertarian, or maybe a Federalist like James Madison was (not like the Federalist Society of today claims to be) but maybe we should talk about things such as...
Frame:'Right to Choose', Poll & Cudos to Frameshop
Sat Dec 18, 2004 at 03:54:15 PM PDT
I am really trying to get my head out of my ass and into the Frameshop, I swear I am. I've earned my living all my life selling things to people and training other people to sell things, so I fancy myself somewhat cognizant about the power of words and persuasion. Follow along, and tell me whether I'm making any progress.
I posted to an earlier diary today and thought about the "Right to Choose" as a FRAME and how that terminology may actually undermine what we're all about.
For background, I'll reprint a portion of my post, the response I got, and my response to it. Please tell me if I've missed the boat, and by all means, take the poll!
What is Liberty, and where can I find it?
Wed Dec 15, 2004 at 08:32:07 PM PDT
Suppose that a farmer has planted wheat in his own field. He has tended that field and reaped the crop. Suppose further that the farmer has also raised some livestock. Moreover, some of the wheat that he has grown he has fed to his own livestock, some of it has sold on the open market, and some of it he has kept for his own use.
Who among us would begrudge him that?
Has not the farmer engaged in the exercise of his own liberty? Hasn't he the right to determine the fruits of his own labor? Isn't that the very essence of the promise of America, to each according to his work?
Frames, shames and hyperboles
Sun Dec 12, 2004 at 12:22:14 PM PDT
I'm sorry, but I just don't get all the talk about framing. At first, when I heard the discussion I figured that it had to with Jimmy Carter, you know, Habitat for Humanity building houses and all that. Then I thought maybe it had to do with eyeglasses, maybe folks have figured out that those funny little half glasses that Teddy Kennedy wears give all blue staters a bad rap. Then I thought, it must about paintings, after all I just read the DaVinci Code, transparent drivel that it was.
But, alas, I was wrong. It's all about words, and words are all I have to take your breath away. So, I've been thinking about words.
I sell cars for a living. That makes me one step below Satan in the eyes of most of folks but that's okay with me `cause my daughters still love me, and my mom still takes my phone calls. Besides, at least I'm not a TV Preacher, fer chrissakes. Anyway.....
Activism:RESULTS from FL Sen Nelson
Wed Dec 08, 2004 at 10:02:29 AM PDT
Brian Nowhere posted this
diary this weekend.
I thought he had a great idea so I wrote to all my representatives. Senator Nelson is the first to respond; his email to me is below the fold.
A diary earlier today asked what the purpose of dailyKos is. A good case could be made this is type of action is a big part of it.
They didn't win, we LOST!!
Sat Nov 27, 2004 at 02:50:54 PM PDT
I wholeheartedly endorse the efforts of all concerned regarding an accurate vote count but, truth be told, we LOST this one. Hopefully, a thorough examination of the myriad reports of suppression, intimidation, manipulation, and, yes, even fraud, will cause the changes to come to pass that will ensure that a better process next time. Process, however, wouldn't have fixed this.
This should have been a Kerry landslide. Anything less would have been viewed as inauthentic by the oppostion.
The real question should not be "Why did we lose so narrowly?" but rather:
"Why didn't we win in a blowout?"
Too many K/E Volunteers!!!
Mon Nov 01, 2004 at 06:16:33 PM PDT
I stopped by the K/E 04 HQ in Gainesville, Florida tonight to work the phone bank to help in anyway they wanted, but there were so many people there, there was nothing to do!!
The parking lot was packed (in fact they had to tell us to move our cars because we might be illegally parked on the curbside), the building was overflowing, there were more volunteers than there were jobs to do!!
