Archive for September 1st, 2008

Posted on Sep 01 2008

harmony

I’ve elected (forgive the pun) to post an Elton John song today; Harmony, a nice cover of the Rocket Man by Jesse Malin. I do so that you may listen as I share just some of the disconcerting facts about the GOP’s vice-Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin. It’s all meant to offset the political anxiety and support the visualization of recovery, the sense of peace and hope and yes, even the pride (haven’t said that in awhile) that the thought of change brings. We must remember though, that things are so very screwy that nothing is going to come fast and easy, and that even in the face of these… situations, we cannot assume anything (and now that we’ve had one, we can never discount (wow, a 2-for-1) the possibility of another chad debacle, but lets not go there). We must simply get out and rock that vote. Speak your peace. Feel the pride. Visualize change. Let’s make it all a reality - do we really have a choice?

Okay, before I really get going, let’s get some music going:

I’m going to preface the following list with a few of my own observations… a) shouldn’t the mother of a four-month-old child with Down Syndrome be… not necessarily home with her child every waking moment - but not necessarily on the campaign trail every waking moment, giving her every attention (one would hope) to learning everything she possibly can about foreign policy, domestic policy and everything else that her lack of experience would command that she learn asap via the hard core cram? b) shouldn’t the mother of a pregnant, unwed 17-year-old child be rethinking her priorities, even if the 4-month-old with special needs hasn’t managed to spur that on? c) Thanks for the bone, Mr. McCain, but we don’t need your token puppy smashing our glass-ceilings, anymore. If the Hilary supporters that were going to vote for you just because they were mad that Hil didn’t get the Democratic nod still haven’t heard Mr. Obama, then there priorities are as effed up as Mrs. Palin’s, and finally d) McCain sure has a penchant for beauty queens!

Lastly, and in follow up to my last (Radiohead) post, I have to say that last week coincidentally contained two (back-to-back) of the most inspiring occasions on my personal recent record. They were very different, but both brilliant. The first was the Radiohead show. Pure genius. Mesmerizing. Stunning. The next night was Barack Obama’s already historic acceptance speech of the Democratic nomination for President of the United States of America, delivered to an audience of 38 million plus. I got chills. I got misty. I got conviction.

Okay, back to business; courtesy of MoveOn.org, a few of the cold, hard Palin facts:

  • She was elected Alaska’s governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience. 1
  • Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest. 2
  • She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000. 3
  • Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools. 4
  • She’s doesn’t think humans are the cause of climate change. 5
  • She’s solidly in line with John McCain’s “Big Oil first” energy policy. She’s pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewables won’t be ready for years. She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species—she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska. 6
  • How closely did John McCain vet this choice? He met Sarah Palin once at a meeting. They spoke a second time, last Sunday, when he called her about being vice-president. Then he offered her the position. 7

1. “Sarah Palin,” Wikipedia, Accessed August 29, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin

2. “McCain Selects Anti-Choice Sarah Palin as Running Mate,” NARAL Pro-Choice America, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17515&id=13661-8065754-X4T89Ox&t=1

3. “Sarah Palin, Buchananite,” The Nation, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17736&id=13661-8065754-X4T89Ox&t=2

4. “‘Creation science’ enters the race,” Anchorage Daily News, October 27, 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17737&id=13661-8065754-X4T89Ox&t=3

5. “Palin buys climate denial PR spin—ignores science,” Huffington Post, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17517&id=13661-8065754-X4T89Ox&t=4

6. “McCain VP Pick Completes Shift to Bush Energy Policy,” Sierra Club, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17518&id=13661-8065754-X4T89Ox&t=5

“Choice of Palin Promises Failed Energy Policies of the Past,” League of Conservation Voters, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17519&id=13661-8065754-X4T89Ox&t=6

“Protecting polar bears gets in way of drilling for oil, says governor,” The Times of London, May 23, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17520&id=13661-8065754-X4T89Ox&t=7

7 “McCain met Palin once before yesterday,” MSNBC, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=21119&id=13661-8065754-X4T89Ox&t=8

In case you missed it, I’m proud to offer you (through YouTube, of course) the opportunity to witness for yourself this stirring, celebrated speech. It’s the stuff of which history is made. Do have a harmonious day, and do be prepared to fight for your rights, and to then say hello to a new nation and a new administration.

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