Sunday, January 20, 2008
A Note to Democrats
Obama is Your Reagan
I've been in DC for more that 14 years. I've seen hack politicians come and go. Like most of us on both sides of the aisle, I've been crushed and saddened about the divisiveness President Bush and Karl Rove have brought to our country. That's why I'm finding it a bit breath taking to watch Senator Hillary Clinton pretty much emulate the political tactics and strategies perfected by the Bush-Rove cadre. And it's funny to see all the liberal blogs I love so much, be a bit coy in addressing the issues of race baiting, voter suppression, push polling and just plain outright lying that the Clintons have been engaging in during their so-far ham-handed campaign.
What's even more stunning, is when I reach a speech like this. It gives me chills. At 16 I sat on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and listened to a recording of Martin Luther King Jr.'s, "I have a Dream" speech. It was that moment I knew I wanted to make my way back to this great city someday and work to make my country a better place. I had that feeling again today, when I read Mr. Obama's speech.
This man, regardless of his experience, has a message and a vision. One that gets even my cynical heart beating a little faster. Oh, I have nothing in common with him on the policy side of the equation, but I think he is by far, the type of leader we will need going into the troubled years ahead. He's your Ronald Reagan, a man that can make the left a relevant player in American politics and change the 'center' like Reagan did so many years ago. How great would it be to have a fall campaign with Senator Obama and Senator McCain debating beyond the orthodox, focus grouped sound bites of their lesser competitors?
After eight years of criminal mismanagement, I am so looking forward to voting against the Republicans. To tear down the party that I've hitched my wagon to in order to rebuild it as a party of limited government, social libertarianism and fiscal conservatism.
There is only one thing that can have me cast my vote for any of those candidates however and that's Senator Clinton. If you haven't noticed, she's George Bush in drag...same divisiveness, same 'you're either with me or against me' attitude, and the same appeal to fear. And if you haven't noticed, she's thrown the democratic African American community under the bus, just as her husband did to the gay community they courted so heavily back in 1992. They're opportunists and after four years of Bush-Cheney the voting public's BS detection skills are too sharp to be fooled by the liberal version of the Bush Dynasty.
I'd vote for Obama. In fact, I've sent money to him. I'm hoping that I have the choice in November of Obama against McCain, that would be one of the toughest votes to face.
For years my Democrat friends have been telling me that they can do better than the last eight years. It's time to step up and show me and my fellow elephants in exile that the left is in fact able to break this partisan war and to nominate someone who can change the game rather than extend it for four more years.
Labels: 2008 Elections, BS, Clintons
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Wholly Rotten
Healthy, Organic, Sleazy.
I'm a huge Whole Foods fan. One of the nice things about my new job is that it is directly across the street from a new Whole Foods store. What I like best is that Whole Foods seems to approach its business from a perspective that being a good corporate citizen and profits don't have to be mutually exclusive. It turns out that may not be the case.
Whole Foods CEO, John Mackey (Mmm-hay) has reportedly been secretly talking up Whole Foods and bashing competitor Wild Oats on yahoo investor forums. At the same time, his public persona espouses concepts of transperancy and accountability. Legal, perhaps, but definitely unethical and sleazy. I don't mind buying products from profit maximizing multinational corporations - Walmart doesn't try to sugar coat its agressive business model . When I shop at Whole Foods, I'm buying more than overpriced, organic, ethically raised products, I'm also buying into this espoused ethos, or at least I used to.
Perhaps this is just another in a long line of examples of broken institutions in this country we can put on a list with the Media, Congress, the Presidency and so on. But frankly I'm getting pretty tired of it. So bear witness as I slowly devolve into a ranting Granpa Simpson with this dispatch I just sent to Whole Foods investor relations.
Let's see what happens shall we. I'm tired of institutions like government, the media, corporations, etc. thinking that it's just about truthiness. Values mattter and if you can't walk the walk, don't talk the talk. Of course now that I've set off on this path I figure in about six months I'll be living under a bridge mutter to myself and training my army of stray cats. Either way it should be fun for you to watch.
I'm a huge Whole Foods fan. One of the nice things about my new job is that it is directly across the street from a new Whole Foods store. What I like best is that Whole Foods seems to approach its business from a perspective that being a good corporate citizen and profits don't have to be mutually exclusive. It turns out that may not be the case.
Whole Foods CEO, John Mackey (Mmm-hay) has reportedly been secretly talking up Whole Foods and bashing competitor Wild Oats on yahoo investor forums. At the same time, his public persona espouses concepts of transperancy and accountability. Legal, perhaps, but definitely unethical and sleazy. I don't mind buying products from profit maximizing multinational corporations - Walmart doesn't try to sugar coat its agressive business model . When I shop at Whole Foods, I'm buying more than overpriced, organic, ethically raised products, I'm also buying into this espoused ethos, or at least I used to.
Perhaps this is just another in a long line of examples of broken institutions in this country we can put on a list with the Media, Congress, the Presidency and so on. But frankly I'm getting pretty tired of it. So bear witness as I slowly devolve into a ranting Granpa Simpson with this dispatch I just sent to Whole Foods investor relations.
Dear Whole Foods:
I'm a daily shopper at your Alexandria, VA store. I enjoy Whole Foods for it's commitment to healthy living and the environment. I take pride in knowing I'm spending my money with a company understands corporate citizenship and profit are not mutually exclusive goals. Like a majority of your customers, I don't mind paying a little more to support that focus.
However, I find the reported actions by your CEO Mr. Mackey, in relation to postings regarding Wild Oats to be totally at odds with the values espoused by your corporation. Even if legal, Mr. Mackey's actions are sleazy, inappropriate and unethical. Mr. Mackey should be fired for his actions and an apology issued to customers and shareholders. Absent firm and harsh consequences, Whole Foods is simply Enron with a really, really nice meat and produce section. I certainly hope that the board of directors can find a means to resolve this issue consistent with the values the corporation claims to uphold, until that happens, I’ll be shopping elsewhere.
Regards,
Elephant.
Let's see what happens shall we. I'm tired of institutions like government, the media, corporations, etc. thinking that it's just about truthiness. Values mattter and if you can't walk the walk, don't talk the talk. Of course now that I've set off on this path I figure in about six months I'll be living under a bridge mutter to myself and training my army of stray cats. Either way it should be fun for you to watch.
Labels: BS, Green, Processed Food
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Spreading Democracy
Bush to extend call for global democracy
Great, good for him. Funny thing is that he seems to support democracy in all parts of the world save for his own back yard, DC. I guess perhaps that's because granting DC true representation in Congress doesn't involve hundreds of billions of dollars for war.
Great, good for him. Funny thing is that he seems to support democracy in all parts of the world save for his own back yard, DC. I guess perhaps that's because granting DC true representation in Congress doesn't involve hundreds of billions of dollars for war.
Labels: BS, Hot Air, Hype, President Bush
Monday, June 04, 2007
We will always have Paris
Schadenfreude
I'm not one to be proud of reveling in the "suffering" of others (at least not overly proud). But for what ever reason, I must admit that there is something rather poetic about Paris Hilton going to jail, even if it is for only 23 days.
Perhaps it's not her fault, and I'm sure there's a women's studies professor who can argue it is somehow my fault. But being famous for a homemade porn video, being rich, drunk and stupid isn't the kind of celebrity we should be celebrating.
Today's lesson: Act like jail bait, become jail bait
I'm not one to be proud of reveling in the "suffering" of others (at least not overly proud). But for what ever reason, I must admit that there is something rather poetic about Paris Hilton going to jail, even if it is for only 23 days.
Perhaps it's not her fault, and I'm sure there's a women's studies professor who can argue it is somehow my fault. But being famous for a homemade porn video, being rich, drunk and stupid isn't the kind of celebrity we should be celebrating.
Today's lesson: Act like jail bait, become jail bait
Labels: BS, Celebrities, Courts
Monday, April 23, 2007
She's got a point.
The Media and VT
Ever notice how quick the media elites are to jump on us common folk? The VT shootings are a prime example. Even before the ambulances have finished moving the injured and killed, they start the arm waiving on how the 2nd Amendment is the root of all evil and that the rights and responsibilities if affords us as citizens are ones we can't be trusted with.
Megan McArdle gets it about right in sub'ing for Andrew Sullivan.
Ever notice how quick the media elites are to jump on us common folk? The VT shootings are a prime example. Even before the ambulances have finished moving the injured and killed, they start the arm waiving on how the 2nd Amendment is the root of all evil and that the rights and responsibilities if affords us as citizens are ones we can't be trusted with.
Megan McArdle gets it about right in sub'ing for Andrew Sullivan.
"[Megan] In the wake of the Virginia tech murders, there has been a lot of editorialising about gun control and mental health interventions. But I haven't found a single editorial addressing one factor we know creates these mass murders: reporting on the mass murders."
I couldn't agree more. What the shooter wanted was the media infamy and NBC gave it to him on a silver platter. NBC's quest for ratings trumped any responsibility to the public they may have under the first amendment, and just a few days later we get another shooter in Houston. So we get a lenghty discussion on curbing my and millions of others liberty without any discussion on how NBC's self restrain could help prevent future shooting sprees.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Global Climate Change
Stop the Madness!
If you want me to be concerned about global climate change, then please stop having carbon spewing celebrities lecture me about it and put on sham concerts to 'raise awareness' of this issue.
Thanks
If you want me to be concerned about global climate change, then please stop having carbon spewing celebrities lecture me about it and put on sham concerts to 'raise awareness' of this issue.
Thanks
Labels: BS, Celebrities, Green
