Weakness vs Good Manners

Doesn't it seem like a good thing that our new president hasn't yet been burned in effigy by foreign protestors? I guess they're leaving that up to Fox News.

I've listened to all the invective directed at the President for his too-friendly handshake with Hugo Chavez, his acceptance of an America-bashing book by Chavez, and his attendance at an angry speech given by Daniel Ortega on American Imperialism.

I can't say that Hugo Chavez is my favorite political leader. He's probably not Obama's, either. Regardless, our American president was attending the summit of the Americas. It wasn't a social occasion - it was a political summit. Some people believe in being polite even to people who they don't really care for. And when the leader of a country offers you a book in public, I can't see how it would be anything other than completely rude to refuse to take it. Why create an international incident over such a small thing? President Obama probably had not even read the book, so he had no idea of the contents. In any case, he is not responsible for the contents of any books other than his own.

Again, President Obama was sitting in the audience during a speech given by Daniel Ortega, the president of Nicaragua. Daniel Ortega is certainly not my favorite political leader. He's had his own accusations of corruption in his government and doesn't have his hands clean either. But when you attend a convention, isn't it ok to listen to points of view that are different from your own? Obama wasn't putting his stamp of approval on the guy. He was just exhibiting good manners. A good thing.

Who Would Jesus Torture?

I understand some of the debate about torture. The idea that someone who is in custody has information who could save people's lives would make you want to get it out of them, one way or another. I also understand those who say that torture weakens our stature in the world and serves as a great recruiting tool for the loonies who hate us.

But what I have trouble understanding is why Christians on the right are so quick to embrace torture. Isn't the definition of Christianity to be Christ-like? I read nothing about Jesus that would lead me to believe that he would support torture.

Maybe I missed the gospel that explains why Jesus is pissed about taxes, pro death penalty, and insists on the right to buy semi-automatic weapons. I am a big fan, both of Jesus and of Christians. But I don't understand the conflict between the actual teachings of Jesus and the political positions that most self-identified Christians favor.

Don't Exit, Texas!

Last week I thought I must be having some kind of weird flashback to 1860, when the crazy people started talking about not wanting to be part of the United States.

Much to my astonishment, there really was a presumably sober adult talking about secession. This person was none other than Rick Perry, current governor of Texas!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5xTxcFA398

I can't help but wonder if he is fully knowledgeable about what happened the last time Texas seceded from the United States. Four year civil war. About a million deaths. Decimated economy.

I've heard people try to explain away his nutty remarks, including him. But the fact remains that he mentioned secession as a real alternative, only three months after a new president has been inaugurated. Does anyone else see any irony between the 1860 secession because of the issue of slavery, and the current secession talk arising so soon after the election of the first African American president?

Nah, me neither. This secession is all about taxes. Just like the first one was all about states' rights.

Cheering for Roland Burris

You really gotta love this guy. I mean, he obviously wants to be a U.S. Senator and isn't afraid to show it.

Here's a 71-year-old guy who probably thought he'd gone as far as he was going to go in his political career. And its been a pretty good one. Illinois Comptroller and Attorney General are quite weighty offices. And then . . . boom. Yeah, I'm sure he'd rather have been nominated by someone who hasn't just been outed as a crook and a creep. But still. U.S. Senator. Very cool for him.

I think the main reason that I like him is that he's obviously so delighted and thrilled by the idea of being a Senator. We like to see that, right? We like to see people who appreciate the opportunities that they have or the honors that they're given. Has anyone really forgiven Jennifer Connelley for her lackluster reaction to winning an Oscar in 2002? Whatever her personal irritation or grief at the time overrode any kind of joy or excitement over WINNING AN OSCAR. Even though I think she's very talented, I can't help my reaction every time I see her. Hmph. You ain't THAT great.

Roland Burris is no Jennifer Connelley. He wants the job. He's happy over the very idea of being a Senator. It is a very cool job. I'm rooting for him.

Let's Face It: Evangelicals Are Nuts

And I mean that in the most loving way possible.

You see, the reason I feel I have some credibility here, is that I was raised as an evangelical fundamentalist. I was taken to my first church service at the local Assembly of God when I was about a week old. I continued my participation in the denomination for about 25 years.

I know everyone's upset about the Jeremiah Wright comments from the pulpit and elsewhere. Boy, is that guy a loony. The problem is that I have heard stuff that was just as crazy from the pulpits where I sat and listened. The culture of the evangelical church is such that you are not even supposed to say anything to contradict the pastors, much less get up and leave. There's a Bible verse (I Samuel)that says "touch not God's annointed." I have heard entire sermons about the dangers of bothering, harassing, annoying or even mildly criticizing the ministers of the church. Seriously.

Evangelicals tend to believe that the Bible is the literal truth sent directly by God, that Revelation is all literally true and coming to pass even as we speak, and that anyone who is in a different religion is headed straight for eternal damnation. And when I say different religion, I don't mean Buddhism or the Muslim faith. You have to wonder about whether Lutherans and Methodists are really headed in the right direction (if you know what I mean).

Some of the statements and teaching I've heard sitting in the Assembly of God:

* Mardi Gras is a celebration of Catholics killing the Christians

* Catholics are taking over the world and will start persecuting the real Christians

* Every month after a woman's period, there's a profound emptiness there which explains why so many women are kleptomaniacs.

* Every girl should do everything she can to get a man to marry her and not be too picky because she could end up 40 and alone

* Jews are God's chosen people and you better not do ANYTHING against them in any way (God will get you!)

* Jews are just confused at the moment but will eventually accept Jesus as their savior and will take their rightful place as God's chosen people

Those are just a few of the evangelical's top hits. There are many, many other examples.

I have to feel sorry for Barack Obama because I'm sure he tried to be a good church member after his conversion and now he's getting hit by every nutty thing that is said in his church. Note to self: Don't Run For Office!

There are many wonderful people who are evangelicals, who practice what they preach, raise great families and do tremendous good in the world. Even John Ashcroft, who drove me crazy when he was Attorney General, took a stand against the excesses of the extra-legal reach of the Bush administration. I have no doubt that part of what fueled his determination to do what he believed to be right were his religious beliefs.

Dead or Alive, Clinton's Staff Claims Support

I have seen some sketchy speed freaks in my time, but Terry McAuliffe is the King. I'm not saying he's actually a meth head, but he acts like one. Its starting to weird me out. He's displaying all the signs of long-term use - disconnected from reality, twitching, goofy inappropriate smile, nods along simultaneously as if approving the bullshit he's spewing, and giving every sign that he's not getting any sleep.

On Sunday, he really went over the top on Meet the Press with Tim Russert. Tim was trying to get him to acknowledge some aspect of reality, and in his haste to escape any brush with it, he went off on this bizarre tangent about his dad and Tim's dad being up in heaven, swilling scotch and watching the primary. Only problem is, as Tim pointed out, that his father isn't dead.

Any normal person with a functioning brain would have melted right there on the spot, strictly out of embarassment. McAuliffe didn't even miss a beat with his non-stop patter, just speeded right along with his next nonsensical point.

The other day I heard him claim that the primary votes in Puerto Rico could be used as part of the justification that Clinton won the popular vote. And when someone questioned the validity of counting the popular vote in Puerto Rico as they are not able to vote in the general election, Terry said "Why do you hate Puerto Rico?" Seriously. This moron actually said that to a real human being, I think it was the unfortunate David Schuster, who always seems to get singed by the most surreal situations.

Yeah, Terry, we're all up in heaven, watching Hillary Clinton win the primary while we're hating Puerto Rico with all of our hearts. You might want to ease up on the pharmaceuticals.

Why I'll Miss Don Imus

It was mostly morbid curiosity which made me rest on MSNBC while I was working late at night. I had heard some truly idiotic things from Don Imus over the years, but there he was, on in the middle of the night here in California, a convenient backdrop to whatever task was at hand.

Honestly, I don't know how it happened, because I am an overweight, liberal female and he is a basically conservative asshole whose favorite epithets are fat, fat-assed, and various other rude and unkind cracks against people of size.

Over time, geez, I'm more than a little embarrassed to admit it, he started to grow on me. His surliness I could deal with, and his generally dark view of the world. Mine's pretty dark too, most of the time. I listened to him struggling to breath some mornings, and found myself rooting for the old goofball.

I was impressed despite myself at his charitable work even while I winced at some of the things he said. Do I think he's racist? Yeah, absolutely. He's the epitome of the type person who looks down on Jews with the exception of his best friend, Ed Weinstein who isn't like any of those other Jews. He generally pooh-poohed the idea that any special consideration was needed for the civil rights or feelings of blacks, but he was the staunchest supporter of Harold Ford Jr. for Senate, and repeatedly decried the racism he felt was the only reason that Ford lost the election.

So he was a walking contradiction. Mixed points of view in the same person. Welcome to the human race.

I admired the way he supported McCain for President, for the same reasons that I admire McCain. Yet he took shots at him too, when he disagreed with his views or felt he was pandering to the religious right. I found myself agreeing with him so many times that it surprised and alarmed me.

I was riveted by the guests Imus had on and the lively debates. It was wonderful to listen to those normally acting as questioners be grilled by Don and the gang. Sometimes I actually taped the show when I was about to be overcome with sleep so that I wouldn't miss the upcoming guests and conversations.

I remember when Gerald Ford died and I felt very sad and terrible, watching the nonstop coverage of the speeches and the funerals. Imus started out in the same vein, but then he commented on the Ford quotes that Bob Woodward released after his death: "He didn't
even wait until they got him out of his jammies!" I laughed until I cried. It wasn't the only time I laughed while watching that stupid show. Yes, there were hundreds of dumb, flat bits and I got very bored and tired of listening to the Clinton slams. But God, were they funny sometimes. A running joke on the show was how much they were all looking forward to Don's death. I'm sure the humor is lost on anyone who didn't hear it directly, but it truly was very funny - only because he laughed harder than anybody.

I loved it that his wife came on the show and gave him hell. I still smile when I remember the morning when she revealed the source of his bad mood was that he had trouble blow-drying his hair. I loved it that I was exposed to music that I wouldn't normally have been listening to. I loved it when he would let some political pundit go on and on about something, and then flatten him instantly by saying "that's got to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard." More often than not I agreed with him.

Even before all this nappy-headed ho stuff hit the fan, I often wondered what it was about that idiotic show that I found so compelling. And I finally figured it out - beyond all the rudeness and cynicism and crankiness and wrong-headed conservatism, the man has a good heart. It allows me to look past his irritating slander against my (fat) people and others, and focus on his real and true humbleness, the millions he raises for important causes, and his talent, humor and wit.

Yes, I agree, he should never have said such a terribly mean thing about the Rutger's women's basketball team. He was a moron, but it was very early in the morning and he's an old man with breathing problems - plus he understands and recognizes that he was a moron.

I think the outcome of this whole debacle is that racism and hate and intolerance will still flourish in this country. The unfortunate thing is that this will probably hinder his ability to raise millions - MILLIONS! - of dollars for children and soldiers, of all races. I can't help but wonder if any of those demanding he be fired will be raising any money for the causes he regularly - and generously - funded. Research for autism, Sudden-Infant-Death Syndrome, the Imus Ranch for kids with cancer and other diseases, and the rehab facility for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes. Believe me, I'm no flak for Don Imus. I only know about his support of these causes because he constantly yammered on and on about them. They were obviously on his mind, and clearly in his heart.

Personally, and this is just me, I'd let anyone in the world call me any damn thing they wanted, if they were doing that much good in the world. But I'm a deeds-not-words kinda gal. I'm far more impressed with what people do than what they say. If you weight the results of his show's obnoxious behavior against the results that the money has done in the world, I think the good would win out.

And this is not a shot at those beautiful, strong, incredible women at Rutger's. They're hurt and they're pissed, and boy, do they have a right to be. I cannot believe that they will allow the ignorant slurs of one man to destroy their lives. So what happens now? They roll on to be the shining beacons of womankind that they were already on their way to being, but what about everyone else? As for me, I'm going to miss the cranky old bastard and his outrageous, colorful show in the mornings. And I'm REALLY going to miss seeing his on-going version of making racial amends. That promised to be highly entertaining on a variety of levels.