Thursday, September 30, 2004
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Debate?
Some of the rules for the "debate!"
This post is from Politics1, see website at your left.
A SUGGESTION FOR THE FIRST KERRY-BUSH "DEBATE." Instead of the 32-page list of rules approved by the Bush and Kerry campaigns -- restrictions so stultifying as to render Thursday's so-called "debate" into nothing more than side-by-side memorized monologues -- I have an idea to liven things up. Under the agreement, the two sides mandate camera angles, the before and after handshakes, who sits in the audience and where, podium height, allowable pens and paper for each candidate, bans props, prohibits the two men from addressing each other directly, imposes severe restrictions on the moderators, etc. So ... here's my idea to fix the problem. Since the debate is to be televised live -- and live TV is, well, LIVE -- what would happen if the moderator, with cameras rolling, says "Gentlemen, these rules are ridiculous. They don't allow for a meaningful exchange of ideas, so I'm simply going to set them aside and tell you how we're really going to do it tonight so that the American people can benefit from a real debate ...." And, while we're at it, I hope the TV networks break the restriction that prohibits them from unexpectedly filming either man while others are speaking while all this is going on.
This post is from Politics1, see website at your left.
A SUGGESTION FOR THE FIRST KERRY-BUSH "DEBATE." Instead of the 32-page list of rules approved by the Bush and Kerry campaigns -- restrictions so stultifying as to render Thursday's so-called "debate" into nothing more than side-by-side memorized monologues -- I have an idea to liven things up. Under the agreement, the two sides mandate camera angles, the before and after handshakes, who sits in the audience and where, podium height, allowable pens and paper for each candidate, bans props, prohibits the two men from addressing each other directly, imposes severe restrictions on the moderators, etc. So ... here's my idea to fix the problem. Since the debate is to be televised live -- and live TV is, well, LIVE -- what would happen if the moderator, with cameras rolling, says "Gentlemen, these rules are ridiculous. They don't allow for a meaningful exchange of ideas, so I'm simply going to set them aside and tell you how we're really going to do it tonight so that the American people can benefit from a real debate ...." And, while we're at it, I hope the TV networks break the restriction that prohibits them from unexpectedly filming either man while others are speaking while all this is going on.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Health Care
New Flash! The health care industry, notice I don't use the word system, is bankrupting the nation! Oh, this isn't a news flash?!
The Ground Game
Some analysis on the get out the vote efforts in Ohio and Florida.
I think the Democrats are in a panic and this is trying to make them feel better. I have also heard that registration is up but I would be very surprised if the turnout is 3 points higher than 2000.
I think the Democrats are in a panic and this is trying to make them feel better. I have also heard that registration is up but I would be very surprised if the turnout is 3 points higher than 2000.
Monday, September 27, 2004
Send Carter to Florida
This is probably one of the few instances that I would support the Carter group "observing" elections.
Demonstration Elections?
Will the January elections in Iraq be manipulated? Is that a rhetorical question?
Voting strategies in the upper mid-west
Where will future votes for the Democrats come from? Latino voters?
Legal battles or a program?
A. Cockburn on what a progressive left wing campaign should look like. I agree.
Friday, September 24, 2004
Live in a Craptown?
I know there is some class bias here but there is some fun to be had. Is your town a craptown?
Los Amigos
Los Amigos Invisibles have a new album. I have not heard it yet but their first three are amazing. Latin American disco that rocks!
Was it Emma Goldman?
"Wahhabism, the state religion in Saudi Arabia, and the inspirer of al Qaeda, is especially known for its hatred of music. In
Wahhabi theology, all music except for drum accompaniment to religious chanting is haram, or forbidden."
Is that where Tipper got her ideas about punk?
I don't know if this is true but it just makes me chuckle. The article was from a neo-con at the Daily Standard.
Wahhabi theology, all music except for drum accompaniment to religious chanting is haram, or forbidden."
Is that where Tipper got her ideas about punk?
I don't know if this is true but it just makes me chuckle. The article was from a neo-con at the Daily Standard.
September 11 and Iraq Revisited
Take a look at this dialogue between US stooge Alawi and Macleherror. Amazing!
JIM LEHRER: What would you say to somebody in the United States who questions whether or not getting rid of Saddam Hussein was worth the cost of more than a thousand lives now and billions and billions of U.S. dollars?
(notice he doesn't mention the Iraqi dead)!
PRIME MINISTER IYAD ALLAWI: Well, I assure you if Saddam was still there, terrorists will be hitting there again at Washington and New York, as they did in the murderous attack in September; they'll be hitting also on other places in Europe and the Middle East.
JIM LEHRER: What would you say to somebody in the United States who questions whether or not getting rid of Saddam Hussein was worth the cost of more than a thousand lives now and billions and billions of U.S. dollars?
(notice he doesn't mention the Iraqi dead)!
PRIME MINISTER IYAD ALLAWI: Well, I assure you if Saddam was still there, terrorists will be hitting there again at Washington and New York, as they did in the murderous attack in September; they'll be hitting also on other places in Europe and the Middle East.
How Democratic is the Constitution?
Robert Dahl, a longtime (he's 88) mainstream Political Scientist, wrote a book a couple of years ago, that I read this summer, on the anti-democratic nature of the US constitution. He particularly takes on the Senate and the Electoral College. Here's a good review.
Would Big States Rule?
I ran across the old argument about big states running rough shod over small states if we got rid of the Senate. See my comments at the blog.
Thursday, September 23, 2004
The Union Forever
A MESSAGE FROM JOHN GOLDSTEIN
Musicians Local 8 is fighting for a first contract at the Skylight Opera
Theater. The Musicians won a representation election in January of
2003. The employer has yet to agree on payments to the union pension
fund, a fair pay scale, and job security issues. Since January, the
management has agreed to only one face-to-face meeting with Union
negotiators.
Please support the Musicians by joining an informational picket line
(kazoos will be provided) on Friday, September 24 at 7 PM at the
Broadway Theater Center, 158 N. Broadway. That is opening night for the
Skylight production of Mozart's "Abduction from the Seraglio".
In addition, the Musician's need volunteers for help on the evening of
Wednesday, September 29. Please call Dave Lussier (332-5000 or
262-385-1862) if you can participate in that activity.
Musicians Local 8 is fighting for a first contract at the Skylight Opera
Theater. The Musicians won a representation election in January of
2003. The employer has yet to agree on payments to the union pension
fund, a fair pay scale, and job security issues. Since January, the
management has agreed to only one face-to-face meeting with Union
negotiators.
Please support the Musicians by joining an informational picket line
(kazoos will be provided) on Friday, September 24 at 7 PM at the
Broadway Theater Center, 158 N. Broadway. That is opening night for the
Skylight production of Mozart's "Abduction from the Seraglio".
In addition, the Musician's need volunteers for help on the evening of
Wednesday, September 29. Please call Dave Lussier (332-5000 or
262-385-1862) if you can participate in that activity.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
