In what has to be the most thin-skinned overreaction by a politician since Napoleon retired to St. Helena, John McCain said earlier this week that Barack Obama should "repudiate" and "cut loose" General Wesley Clark because -- in McCain's mind -- Clark had "smeared" McCain's military service. In a nutshell, what Clark said about McCain that was so horrible begins with: "I certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in Armed Forces as a prisoner of war." I'm assuming McCain was okay with that part, but then General Clark had the gall to suggest that McCain's experience as a fighter pilot and POW didn't necessarily qualify him to be President of the United States.
I've been feeling very unproductive the whole month. I've been procrastinating too much on things I usually do with no problem.
I've been uncomfortably numb, burdened by the double whammy of clinical depression and working a third shift.
But I was able to put that aside. Using my anger at the way things are in my life, I was able to bottle 4 gallons of beer. I don't know how I did it but I did. The bottles were ready for bottling over one week ago. I just never was able to do it until now.
I hope this is a sign that I can break these shackles that have bound me for a whole month. Life is going to take some pretty dramatic turns (mainly for the better) within the next few months.
I recently posted this statement as a comment in the diary regarding Sen. Feingold's announcement of a planned filibuster.
It was intended to help explain why I, and many of my fellow Obama supporters, could be so angry at his recent announcement of support for the FISA bill. It is a fine line that we walk, and I am sure that some view us as never truly being supportive of his candidacy.
Beyond any other expectation I may have for Sen. Obama, the foundation of my support is based on his honesty. I do not mind being told something I do not want to hear, as long as it is the truth. A simple comparison of his recent statement.. and the truth.. should help explain my emotional response. If it doesn't, nothing else will.
I searched the other day for the cheapest gas in town and finally found a station. I waited my turn and refrained from yelling at the old lady that stole my spot in line. "Hey that's okay. Go right ahead!", I mouthed and waved a friendly bobble wave.
While your anger is fresh please put it to good use!
A number of computer rights, civil rights and human rights organizations (as well as others) have worked long, hard and fearlessly to help America confront her domestic enemies, enemies of the Constitution, enemies of the rule of law.
There is no better time than now to give them your support (that check you’re determined not to send to your favorite political candidate can help one of these organizations help America).
With an ever-present sense of incredulous disbelief I have watched over the past three weeks as Telecom immunity for FISA lawbreakers has somehow been reborn in the House. President Bush feloniously chucked the FISA statue down the toilet, telecoms broke four more statutes to heinously take America into the habits of dictatorship, they got caught before the election but were enabled by the New York Times, and ever since Congress has beat back attempts to change the law and let the telecoms off the hook.
In Cliff Schecter's "The Real McCain," there is a well-documented story about John McCain losing his temper in a way guaranteed to further alienate the female electorate.
I could tell you about it, but I think these guys do a heck of a job...h/t Firedoglake. (WARNING: WAAAAAY not safe for work, there's a censored version in theresmoreville).
Hilariously, if you go to the youtube page, there's (usually) a McCain ad that pops up right next to it. Way to go, McCain camp targeted marketing geniuses!
digg it here. (It's already nearing the top of the Digg rating list for today, let's help it along).
In the post-primary debate about what Obama needs to do to win over Clinton supporters, I keep seeing women writing about their willingness to vote for McCain or not vote at all because of their anger at Obama.
It doesn't matter that all their claims of sexism are based on the words and actions of others, not Senator Obama or anyone officially associated with him. For some reason, he is supposed to apologize to all the offended women for what others have done. It also doesn't seem to matter that Clinton was quite comfortable accepting the votes of racists and stating that the fact of some entrenched racism is one reason she's more electable. It doesn't matter that she fanned the flames of the racist use of Reverend Wright by further trying to associate Obama with Farrakhan.
But worst of all, it doesn't seem to matter that John McCain has publicly stated that he would like to overturn Roe v. Wade. How can any feminist use any excuse for helping put this man into office? Imagine the scenario below:
It's been a tough campaign. I've been upset and angry with how Clinton and her supporters have handled things quite a few times.
But, we won. Obama is a gracious man. Many of his supporters are gracious too. But, many are not. It's understandable. But, it is not right.
Joan Walsh was on Hardball Wednesday. She had not quite distilled her thoughts. But, today in a Salon article she laid out a well-thought-out case for what Obama and his supporters need to do.
(http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/06/05/obama/)
Obama is already taking care of business. His speech did a fine job giving respect to Hillary. The meeting in Minnesota after the speech he had with Clinton supporters is another excellent example of Obama showing the way.
Too many of his supporters are still in fight mode vs. Hillary. That's wrong.
This diary takes that position that we Obama supporters should talk to Hillary supporters. I don't now how to do that effectively when speaking to the hard-core Hillary-ites. So, that's why I listened to Joan. She would know. How good is the advice she has given? Is she asking too much of Obama supporters and not enough of Clinton supporters?
Everything can be used
except what is wasteful
(you will need
to remember this when you are accused of destruction.)
--Audre Lorde, 1984
In perusing MyDD.com last night, I found myself thinking a lot about Audre Lorde's famous essay "The Uses of Anger." Written twenty-four years ago, her words seem prophetic for this historical moment, and I lay in bed wondering what Lorde--as a "black, lesbian feminist" (in her own words)--would have thought of this moment in history.
(The following is a passage from a novel that's been in my head for a while. I am numbering them for the sake of reference, but they will appear in no particular order. For info on the birth of this novel read here.)
Dirty Work
Everything is a big question now. Did Tommy Meese leave the country to disappear? Or was he disappeared? Rachel can't bring herself to voice the creeping thoughts in her head, but I can hear them. They are like the bittersweet in your garden. The roots never give up and they network under the soil. You pluck one out, but more keep emerging. That weed will spread from her mind to others. They'll all be asking themselves. After all, Rachel's only connection to that man is the compost that I delivered to her garden. It's only natural for them all to be wondering if I did something to him. I can sense the complex confusion of emotions. That's my curse. I sense these things.
We may have discussed this to death, but I have a thing to say that hasn't been said before as far as I know.
I watched the Hillary supporters yesterday expressing rage inappropriately, really making fools of themselves. That kind of behavior seemed unfathomable and worthy of the strongest condemnation.
This morning, I remembered myself after the 2000 Florida debacle. I had that same rage and it lasted for a long time. Some of it still remains though time ameliorates all wounds. There was a period when I was cursing strangers with Bush/Cheney bumper stickers on their cars. I never spoke to these people or let them hear any invective but I was angry enough to imagine it.
That anger was obsessive. It was unreasonable and harmful. I cannot imagine how I would have acted if I were socially connected to others who were of the same mind or if Gore had fed and encouraged my sense of outrage. Some of the HRC supporters who acted so badly do seem unbalanced and irrational. Some will harbor these feelings for a long time. We cannot talk them out of it.
We can back off and be understanding and let the healing process take its course. I can honestly say to them, "I know how you feel."
Am sorry for the brevity and lack of links.
In 2008, no American should have to concern themselves with placing "Obama for President" bumper stickers on their cars. Unfortunately, my instincts told me otherwise. In recent months, my family has suffered three separate incidents on two cars - two flat tires and a broken driver's side mirror. And, of course, the removal of the stickers.
I stand resolute in my convictions that Barack is the answer to so many of our nation's ills - racism especially - but the hatred, the anger and the racism - as my peronal experiences will attest - can prove unsettling.
I have personally experienced the result of the polarization of national political bickering with friendships I have held for many decades. And it's truly unfortunate.
(The following is a passage from a novel that's been in my head for a while. I am numbering them for the sake of reference, but they will appear in no particular order. For info on the birth of this novel read here.)
Gorilla Warfare
When she explained whose ring it was, it brought back so many memories and evoked painful political struggles. No one was sure what to make of it. What was his ring doing in this woman's garden? When she found it, she saw that it seemed unique and was sure it must be valuable to somebody. It was simply a sense of compassion that compelled her to find out who it belonged to. She had imagined a joyful reunion full of "saudadé", those melancholy feelings that come with warm remembrances of the past. That sense of gratefulness to have such experiences along with the grief that they are past. She certainly hadn't expected this. When two different jewelers explained to her how valuable it was, she knew she couldn't sell it or give it away without notice. Her conscience kept her from burying it back into the ground. She felt obligated to bring it to the authorities. It didn't take long for them to trace it's ownership.
Prompted by a comment exchange with jwestfield (story here and our comments here), I have decided to post passages of a murder mystery novel that is in my head. Today, I'll explain the origins of the novel. Then I'll start posting random passages. My hope is that by finally pouring some of this out of my brain and into the light of day, I might actually produce all the pieces parts for a whole story. (And, perhaps, I'll get a little feedback along the way.)
So, here's the birthing story:
Update: I'm going to figure out a system for editing the writing. If you have ideas about how to do this while preserving the process, I'd appreciate the input. Thanks!
I have noticed an uptick in the anger level of John McCain lately. He is no longer as measured and controlled as he was before. He is the perfect candidate to run aginst. If he is this angry this early in the campaign he will only explode later as he is continually "lectured" by Obama in the heat of the General election.
I've stocked up on popcorn and added a pillow to my easy-chair, "Let the games begin!" Follow me over the jump...
My office is in downtown Portland, a few blocks west and north of the Willamette River waterfront, site of yesterday's massive Obama rally. From walking these streets on a daily basis for several years now, I encounter all variety of working folks and young activists, but mostly the homeless, and sadly, the same homeless people who never seem to find a way out.
For the past few weeks (especially the last week), and also from the vantage point of my office near Powell's City of Books, I've encountered/seen many supporters/volunteers of both Senator Obama and Clinton walking up and down SW 10th Avenue.
I just got back from getting coffee at the Peet's at SW Broadway and Washington, where I had a less-than-pleasant encounter with a Hillary Clinton supporter.
