Ok guys, while I admire Obama and did chose to vote for him.. one has to wonder what he is thinking. Our president-elect and his advisers are formulating planes to close Guantanamo Bay and bring all the prisonors to the U.S.
The worst part? Many of the detanees would just go free. That's it. No more time in jail for whatever they did that was bad enough to get them sent to Cuba instead of the U.S. I think my biggest problem with this is that Obama and his advisors plan on creating a seperate legal system for the "new" Guantanamo Bay when they rebuild it somewhere in the U.S.
The The American Civil Liberties Union is behind all of this nonesense. While I don't agree with all the crazy stuff that happens over in Cuba, I do think that shipping the bad guys over to the U.S. may not be the best way to go about things. While some of the practices are inhumane and unfair, (disclaimer: I don't agree with torture, but I thought this was amusing) do we really want these guys in a maximum security prison? They need more than that to hold them back, I think. I do feel that the military who sends guys over to Guanatanmo need to have more concrete evidence, we can't argue that they are sent there for no reason either. Most of the records are classified, so who knows whats going on? We need more rules, and for the people who work there to follow the rules (rather than just beating the prisoners), not to close down Guantanamo, but to make it more livable.
So, what do you all think of this?
Monday, November 10, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Election Day 2008
It’s over. The longest and most expensive presidential campaign in U. S. history ended last night with Barack Obama’s clear victory, both in the electoral and popular vote. His victory did not come easy; he had to outfight formidable opponents in Hillary Clinton and John McCain and persuade Americans that he had the ability to lead them in tough times. But the precision and professionalism with which he and his advisors ran his campaign made him the decisive winner and gave America its first African American president. It was a stunning moment, especially for people like me who vividly remember that less than fifty years ago, segregation was legal in the South and de facto segregation was pervasive in the North. Barack Obama’s victory does not mark the end of racism in the United States, but I think that it marks the beginning of the end.
This election galvanized voters of all parties. Everywhere I went yesterday, people sported “I Voted” stickers and were eager to discuss the election. My husband and I went to West Springfield High School at 7:15 AM to vote and found that the line was already snaking its way out of the building. But despite the early hour and the long line, people were upbeat and talkative, energized (in part) by the coffee and baked goods volunteers were selling outside, but mostly by a keen awareness that we were taking part in a historic election. Our long line moved swiftly, and in less than an hour, my husband and I were inside the school and voting. The use of scannable paper ballots made it possible for more people to vote at once, and this new voting method kept the line moving and frustration low. What about you? What happened when you went to vote?
On Mason’s campus, the weather was dreary and damp, but spirits were high.
Student Government ran vans to the Woodson High School polling place, and volunteers promoted this service by becoming “human advertisements.”
Rain apparently, does not damper revolutions!
This guy stole my heart!
Our university was not without its own drama. Yesterday morning, a hacker broke into the Provost’s email account and sent out a fake message announcing that the election had been moved to November 5th. Rumors circulated that Mason students who voted could lose their financial aid.
But such lame attempts proved ineffective against the smart and savvy youthful voters who went to the polls in record numbers. Your demographic – voters between the ages of 18 and 25 – voted overwhelmingly for Obama and helped power him to victory. Now it’s your turn to act upon that mandate and consider how you will help him guide our nation toward economic recovery, energy reform, and improved security both at home and abroad.
How will you meet the challenge Obama made to all Americans in his victory speech last night that change can’t happen without “a new spirit of patriotism, a new spirit of sacrifice?” How has this election influenced your outlook on the future and the role you will play in it as a working professional?
This election galvanized voters of all parties. Everywhere I went yesterday, people sported “I Voted” stickers and were eager to discuss the election. My husband and I went to West Springfield High School at 7:15 AM to vote and found that the line was already snaking its way out of the building. But despite the early hour and the long line, people were upbeat and talkative, energized (in part) by the coffee and baked goods volunteers were selling outside, but mostly by a keen awareness that we were taking part in a historic election. Our long line moved swiftly, and in less than an hour, my husband and I were inside the school and voting. The use of scannable paper ballots made it possible for more people to vote at once, and this new voting method kept the line moving and frustration low. What about you? What happened when you went to vote?
On Mason’s campus, the weather was dreary and damp, but spirits were high.
Student Government ran vans to the Woodson High School polling place, and volunteers promoted this service by becoming “human advertisements.”
Rain apparently, does not damper revolutions!
This guy stole my heart!
Our university was not without its own drama. Yesterday morning, a hacker broke into the Provost’s email account and sent out a fake message announcing that the election had been moved to November 5th. Rumors circulated that Mason students who voted could lose their financial aid.
But such lame attempts proved ineffective against the smart and savvy youthful voters who went to the polls in record numbers. Your demographic – voters between the ages of 18 and 25 – voted overwhelmingly for Obama and helped power him to victory. Now it’s your turn to act upon that mandate and consider how you will help him guide our nation toward economic recovery, energy reform, and improved security both at home and abroad.
How will you meet the challenge Obama made to all Americans in his victory speech last night that change can’t happen without “a new spirit of patriotism, a new spirit of sacrifice?” How has this election influenced your outlook on the future and the role you will play in it as a working professional?
Thursday, October 30, 2008
They spent how much?
So lets face it, our girl Sarah Palin has done it again. Or should I say "her people" have done it again. People are now referring to her "wardrobe of the stars," as a joke, which it pretty much is.
The Republican National Commitee has reportedly spent more then 150,000 at Nieman Marcus and Saks on a campaign makeover, whoa...you could buy many families entire wardrobes with that amount.
I don't know about you guys, but when we are in an economic crisis, somebody had to really not be paying attention when that information leaked. It all comes to down to the fact that: I'm sure they all spent vast amounts of money on thier campiagn attire BUT why could'nt Palin's camp keep it under wraps?
My question is...Did people find this out because it was heavily investigated because we can all honestly say our nation has an unhealthy obesssion with Sarah Palin and exposing her every wrong move. (Not saying its right or wrong) Or could this be due to someone's mishandling of information? You decide.
Call me crazy, but I know I have never heard the amount of any candidate to dates expenditures on clothing...So whats going on here? Are we obsessed with making fun of her every move or is she just making so many that we can't possibly stand to ignore?
Sarah Palin: A Timeline:
In the beginning she did'nt wear many clothes at all...
Then she decided to put them on...and start looking a bit more "governer-ish"...but still "hockey mom-esk," if you will, and I hope you will.
She took the kids home from hockey...made some dinner, glanced out back at 
Russia and went to bed. She woke up and put on her "governer outfit," and she was out the door!
Russia and went to bed. She woke up and put on her "governer outfit," and she was out the door!Today...shes looking super pulled together...WAY
TO GO GIRL....But at what cost???
TO GO GIRL....But at what cost???You be the judge.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Does she deserve it?
Oh, Sarah Palin... she has done it again! She's sparking up new controversy, since the skeletons in her closet have been brought up to surface. According to Perez Hilton, Sarah Palin has had a history of lies. I always had a gut feeling that behind her innocent and perfect smile, laid a past that's somewhat shady. Sure, no one's perfect, but really Sarah? In the past, she's criticized other government leaders for doing shady things, which shows that she's a bit hypocritical, to say the least. Some risque things that she's done are:
- taking free trips, thanks to the city
- accepted money w/o letting anyone know (but now we know!)
- hooked her friends up with jobs (aw...)
and so on and so forth.
Even with all this bad press, do you think she deserves the bad media attention? Do you think that the media's being a bit harsh? Even with all her mistakes, I kind of wonder if they're being too difficult on her. She's only human, but I would sympathize more for her if she hadn't accused other politicians of not doing the right thing. Heck, you're not perfect either, Sarah!
Here's some videos I ran across, that you may find hilarious, harsh, or neither.
Getting boo'd at a hockey game! So much for being a hockey mom...
One of my favorites. Lucian Piane's "Sarah Palin remixed". haha!
controversy over her un-retouched NewsWeek cover.
So what do you guys think? Do you think that she's being attacked? Or does she deserve the bad media attention?
- taking free trips, thanks to the city
- accepted money w/o letting anyone know (but now we know!)
- hooked her friends up with jobs (aw...)
and so on and so forth.
Even with all this bad press, do you think she deserves the bad media attention? Do you think that the media's being a bit harsh? Even with all her mistakes, I kind of wonder if they're being too difficult on her. She's only human, but I would sympathize more for her if she hadn't accused other politicians of not doing the right thing. Heck, you're not perfect either, Sarah!
Here's some videos I ran across, that you may find hilarious, harsh, or neither.
Getting boo'd at a hockey game! So much for being a hockey mom...
One of my favorites. Lucian Piane's "Sarah Palin remixed". haha!
controversy over her un-retouched NewsWeek cover.
So what do you guys think? Do you think that she's being attacked? Or does she deserve the bad media attention?
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Yes Senator McCain I do care about what the bears are doing in Montana!
I never really thought of my self as a "tree hugger" but then I watched the documentary An Inconvenient Truth. This documentary really made me think, then I went to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks last year. This was an eye opening experience for me to actually be able to see these things first hand. I spent a lot of time talking to park rangers, locals, and reading literature that the park publishes on climate change and I really began to worry about the damage we are causing. Yellowstone had five forest fires burning and the water levels were at an all time low. The park had to restrict fishing because the water temperature was too warm and too low.
When we drove from Yellowstone to Glacier National Park the smoke from the fires at both parks cast a haze all around and ashes floated through the air. The evidence of climate change at Glacier National Park is easier to see. The park will soon lose all of the glaciers it is named after. The glaciers will all be gone by the year 2030 but some park rangers think they will all be gone before then. The rangers are also worried about the affect this will have on the animals as well. The animals are having to come closer to trails, towns, and other rural areas for food and water. One ranger told us a story about a bird that changes colors to protect itself, it turns white in the winter and grey in the spring. The color change happens by the amount of sun light not temperature so the bird is turning white before the first snow (since it is coming later and later every year) making itself vulnerable to predators. There are tons of stories just like these.
I hope that our candidates for president McCain and Obama really take a look at this issue and work to slow down the effects. If France can get almost all their energy needs from nuclear power and be able to out source some to neighboring countries why cant we? There are other choices as well like wind, natural gas, and solar power. I am not asking everyone to change their lifestyle just reduce your carbon footprint. Because if everyone just did one little thing it would make a huge difference.
I never really thought of my self as a "tree hugger" but then I watched the documentary An Inconvenient Truth. This documentary really made me think, then I went to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks last year. This was an eye opening experience for me to actually be able to see these things first hand. I spent a lot of time talking to park rangers, locals, and reading literature that the park publishes on climate change and I really began to worry about the damage we are causing. Yellowstone had five forest fires burning and the water levels were at an all time low. The park had to restrict fishing because the water temperature was too warm and too low.
When we drove from Yellowstone to Glacier National Park the smoke from the fires at both parks cast a haze all around and ashes floated through the air. The evidence of climate change at Glacier National Park is easier to see. The park will soon lose all of the glaciers it is named after. The glaciers will all be gone by the year 2030 but some park rangers think they will all be gone before then. The rangers are also worried about the affect this will have on the animals as well. The animals are having to come closer to trails, towns, and other rural areas for food and water. One ranger told us a story about a bird that changes colors to protect itself, it turns white in the winter and grey in the spring. The color change happens by the amount of sun light not temperature so the bird is turning white before the first snow (since it is coming later and later every year) making itself vulnerable to predators. There are tons of stories just like these.
I hope that our candidates for president McCain and Obama really take a look at this issue and work to slow down the effects. If France can get almost all their energy needs from nuclear power and be able to out source some to neighboring countries why cant we? There are other choices as well like wind, natural gas, and solar power. I am not asking everyone to change their lifestyle just reduce your carbon footprint. Because if everyone just did one little thing it would make a huge difference.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
what celebrities have taught me about politics.
So I guess a huge secret about me is that I'm kind of obsessed with celebrities. In most of my free internet time I'm usually found somewhere between TMZ and The Superficial. It's an unhealthy habit and it will probably kill me one day, but it's like a terrible, horrible car wreck and try as I might I have to slow my car down and crane my neck out the window. I just can't look away.
Just like everything, celebrities have a lot to say about the election. We all know and also care very much that Speidi are endorsing John McCain (famous for what?!) and we've all seen the "Yes We Can" video (I won't even mention Obama Girl).
To me, it seems that McCain has picked a celebrity vice presidential candidate. She's on the covers of magazines in the grocery store! She's all over TV! She has intruded into, I would say, most American thoughts for the past few weeks that she's been around. I definitely do have to hand it to McCain since Obama's campain seems hidden in Sarah Palin's huge shadow. No one could have done the job better. There is no one that could have been a greater threat to the cult of modern womanhood than Sarah Palin. What a terrifying choice! I've already decided that when I graduate and we have a president Palin or McCain I will be moving out of the country in protest.
All interjecting with my personal views aside, what I'm really interested in are the celebrities views. They have some great things to say about this vice presidential hopeful who doesn't even know what the VP does (around 1:55 and 2:50). I feel like they are becoming a loud voice for those of us who feel kind of powerless and voiceless in the hugeness of the country and the anonymity that comes along with it. They are saying things that I am feeling in my heart of hearts about Sarah Palin ranging anywhere from Pamela Anderson's seemingly uninformed "She can suck it, quote me" to Matt Damon's vision of the "really bad Disney movie" where McCain dies and the hockey mom becomes president with all access to the nuclear codes (I am so terrified). Diddy's video blog 16 is probably one of my personal favorites:
I feel like he really brings up some valid points, and a lot of my fears.
And who can ignore Tina Fey doing a completely spot on impression of this crazy lady?
So the lady is nice, she's cool, but who wants someone to lead us who can't even bear to make fun of herself and swears she watched the above clip with the sound down and found it funny? Really, where is the humor in that? It also furthers the idea that all women's brains aren't created equal, contrary to republican belief. Hillary's been on SNL, and Sarah can't even watch a satire of herself ("I can see Russia from my house!" resonates between my ears when I look at a picture of her now).
It's only September, but I will be so thankful for November to cast my Green Party vote for the first time in a presidential election and cross my fingers that the celebrities did their jobs and have somehow deported Palin back to where she came from (Russia. Circa 1860. yes, she reminds me of totalitarianism. snap.) with their witty banter and super informed ideas. I am so serious about moving to Spain.
Just like everything, celebrities have a lot to say about the election. We all know and also care very much that Speidi are endorsing John McCain (famous for what?!) and we've all seen the "Yes We Can" video (I won't even mention Obama Girl).
To me, it seems that McCain has picked a celebrity vice presidential candidate. She's on the covers of magazines in the grocery store! She's all over TV! She has intruded into, I would say, most American thoughts for the past few weeks that she's been around. I definitely do have to hand it to McCain since Obama's campain seems hidden in Sarah Palin's huge shadow. No one could have done the job better. There is no one that could have been a greater threat to the cult of modern womanhood than Sarah Palin. What a terrifying choice! I've already decided that when I graduate and we have a president Palin or McCain I will be moving out of the country in protest.
All interjecting with my personal views aside, what I'm really interested in are the celebrities views. They have some great things to say about this vice presidential hopeful who doesn't even know what the VP does (around 1:55 and 2:50). I feel like they are becoming a loud voice for those of us who feel kind of powerless and voiceless in the hugeness of the country and the anonymity that comes along with it. They are saying things that I am feeling in my heart of hearts about Sarah Palin ranging anywhere from Pamela Anderson's seemingly uninformed "She can suck it, quote me" to Matt Damon's vision of the "really bad Disney movie" where McCain dies and the hockey mom becomes president with all access to the nuclear codes (I am so terrified). Diddy's video blog 16 is probably one of my personal favorites:
I feel like he really brings up some valid points, and a lot of my fears.
And who can ignore Tina Fey doing a completely spot on impression of this crazy lady?
So the lady is nice, she's cool, but who wants someone to lead us who can't even bear to make fun of herself and swears she watched the above clip with the sound down and found it funny? Really, where is the humor in that? It also furthers the idea that all women's brains aren't created equal, contrary to republican belief. Hillary's been on SNL, and Sarah can't even watch a satire of herself ("I can see Russia from my house!" resonates between my ears when I look at a picture of her now).
It's only September, but I will be so thankful for November to cast my Green Party vote for the first time in a presidential election and cross my fingers that the celebrities did their jobs and have somehow deported Palin back to where she came from (Russia. Circa 1860. yes, she reminds me of totalitarianism. snap.) with their witty banter and super informed ideas. I am so serious about moving to Spain.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Have the culture wars returned?
If your email exercise responses are any indication, the overwhelming majority of you believe more Americans identify with Barack Obama's story of multiculturalism, compromise, and change than with John McCain's story of duty, heroism, and tradition. But I wonder how people who live in small towns across the United States, towns with populations that share the same race and religion, might have responded. Do you think they would agree with your opinion?
Reconsider your response. How much of it was influenced by your personal history and by living in a multicultural, largely urban region? Sarah Palin's acceptance speech last night offered a lively and determined defense of small-town conservative values, and the buzz in the media hints that she may have ignited a culture war between liberal, urban cosmopolitanism and conservative, rural conservatism. Given the positive reaction to her speech, can we continue to argue that her embrace of tradition, duty, and heroism represents only a minority of Americans?
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