Pointless Man

...that is, if its waves in Egypt, Yemen, and perhaps elsewhere unsettle the current governments, I predict future Republicans will praise George W. Bush for bringing Democracy to the Middle East. They will be wrong, in many ways, but it won't stop them. They might even Reaganize him. How weird would that be?

Sarah Palin recently released a video striking against those she claimed had committed ' blood libel ' (by saying violent, martial rhetoric and a vitriolic political atmosphere fostered by Palin and her ilk had contributed to physical violence, as in the case of the recent shooting in Tuscon, AZ ). At first, I thought this was the sort of write-first-ask-questions-later, gut-reaction I've become used to seeing in Palin's reported tweets. Then I heard quotes from the release, and watched it myself. It didn't have the diction of the governor's extemporaneous remarks, but instead sounded and looked highly prepared. Palin almost assuredly did not write this speech herself, or decide to release it without consulting professional advisers. Thinking so, I wondered what political aim her team might have in avoiding the three more obvious, standard, and palatable routes of respectful silence, a brief statement offering sympathy and prayer, or a call for a sort of rhet...

To be trimmed and sent to pundits and democratic strategists: Last week, we saw popular and just legislation for 9/11 rescuers and civil rights in the military stymied by cynical Republicans in Congress.  For the last two years, they have been stonewalling progress on every front for their own political gain.  Republican politicians have been crying, "Things are terrible," while banking on the situation getting worse, so they can run on Obama and the Democrats not fixing things. Times _are_ tough, but we, as a people, have always known ours will be a better tomorrow. We share this faith. Nevertheless, in fighting aid to workers, small businesses, first responders, and our armed services; in refusing to work on health care, energy, and immigration reform; in constantly stalling, saying 'no', and hoping for the worst, Republican in Congress have bet against America.  They are wrong.  Every one of us knows, you don't bet against the American people, and you don...

Joe Lieberman is making noise about pushing through a stand-alone repeal of 'Don't Ask Don't Tell', alongside Senator Susan Collins (Republican of Maine).  He claims to have the votes.  If he can get this done, he'll have a nice liberal feather in his cap for his 2010 reelection.  Considering that he had roughly 25% job-approval ratings in his home state at the beginning of the year, he'll probably need it.  Just being able to claim he co-wrote this, the most significant federal civil rights bill in recent memory, would be a major victory for him in Connecticut, and do a lot to mend fences with Democrats, many of whom have come to revile him for his hawkishness and anti-health-reform views.  If it passes, he may even end up a hero.

In Mixed Martial Arts' current unified rules (used by almost all promotions and athletic commissions in the United States and Canada), fighters are scored on are effective striking, grappling, aggression, and cage control.  I would suggest dropping 'aggression', and instead focusing on penalizing fighters who stall. Points should not be given for effort, but for effectiveness. This would encourage competitors to fight smarter and more technically, while discouraging them from merely defending themselves or finding a position to rest in and staying there.  This would make for better fights and easier judging.

Recently, some poll or other concluded 55% of likely voters think the President is a socialist or can fairly be described as one.   Secretary Robert Gibbs' derision of the "professional left" is probably intended to create vocal response from liberals to show Obama is anything but a socialist.  I doubt this is really about anger at liberals for not giving this administration its due, but by offering that as the narrative, Gibbs has given the press a nice package, which will include this White House's accomplishments while implicitly arguing against the notion that Obama is too liberal. Do liberal pundits like playing along while their emotional buttons are pushed?  By playing the game as though there were no game, they offer their tacit approval of just that.

It is easy for a TV series to lose me.  When House became more interested in poorly written interpersonal relationships than silly practical jokes and Holmesian medical mysteries, I stopped watching.  When Burn Notice focused several episodes on its incredibly talented spy lead (who had handled murderers, con men, gangs, the FBI, and a host of foreign operatives) having trouble because a cop was harassing him, it took me a year to decide to give it another chance.  When Dexter botched its second season, killed its best character, and then opened its third with Dex acting like an idiot for the convenience of the writers, I dropped it.  When Madmen slowed down in the middle of the third season, I simply lost interest.  These are shows I loved at one point. A lot of people won't just let go of such things.  Even those sympathetic to my reactions will usually have just kept watching.  I've been trying to figure out why my reaction is different for a ...