[Bamshackle's Blog]
My own personal forum on politics and life.Don't go on with Stephen Colbert if your a Dem?
2007-03-16
This is silly. Colbert is in touch with the youth of America. If you can survive his rediculious banter than you may very well win the votes of 18-24 year old voters who would not usualy vote.
True Colbert could get you into some strange debates, but overall its well worth the risk when you think of how many voters watch Comdey Central. Add to the fact that the youth of America tends to lean towards the left, and you have the formula for a Democrat victory in that area. Besides if you can't avoid Colberts swings than you have no bussiness in politics. He is just like Bill O'Reilly just can tell a joke or two, and is, in my opinion, more intelligent..... Burn!
Postive War-time news...
2007-03-15
Just a quick tidbit I 'd like to share...
Suspected Leader of 9/11 Attacks Is Said to Confess
By ADAM LIPTAK
Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, long said to be the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, confessed to them at a military hearing held in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, on Saturday, according to a transcript released by the Pentagon yesterday. He also acknowledged full or partial responsibility for more than 30 other terror attacks or plots.
"I was responsible for the 9/11 operation, from A to Z," he said.
In a rambling statement, Mr. Mohammed, a chief aide to Osama bin Laden, said his actions were part of a military campaign. "I'm not happy that 3,000 been killed in America," he said in broken English. "I feel sorry even. I don't like to kill children and the kids." [Excerpts, Page A23.]
He added, "The language of war is victims."
Everyone take a seat and prepare to be shocked. I am about to praise the Bush administration for something postive it has done. Finally we have a confession from the mastermind of 9/11. Bringing to justice the ones responsible for those horrid attacks was the first goal in the middle east for the United States, and they are well on there way.
Its good to see terrorists like Mohammed brought to justice. I'd like to thank the troops and the current administration for ridding the world of this vile man, and his evil ways. Good Job.
Lets make this the start of a major string of good news, and justice with in that region. at least for a few hours I approve of somethings President Bush is doing...
How to fix voting in America
2007-03-14
Hillary Clinton has proposed a bill that would make Election Day a federal holiday, and make it a crime to send misleading or fraudulent information to voters. She is also looking into a way to cut the length of some lines across the country.
I think that Hillary is onto something here. I hope this passes because it could improve election day turnout across the country. Voter rights also need a close look at because of the rise in voting crimes across the nation. The rights that many take for granite are in constant danger of being tampered with by individuals that have a total disrespect for our constitution. Ideas like the one above are a step in the right direction and are a welcome change in the political banter we here from Washington everyday.
Personally this is how I would change voting for the better....
1. Make Election day a national Holiday where polls all open at 6am and close at 10pm.
2. Standardize all voting methods and allow for secure internet voting at designated s in addition to current polling s. Doing so would dramatically decrease lines around the country.
3. Provide a tax break or credit for those who do vote. This could be in the range of 25 to 100 dollars. Remember we want people to vote.
4. Better inform citizens of the candidates and there stances. The more knowledge you have the more likely you are to make a choice. In other words inform the nation and voting rates will go up. Not everyone watches cable news. We must find a way to reach all of America in the political arena.
These are a few ideas I have thought of in just about 20 minutes. I hope that Congress can find away to motivate the Americans who choose not to vote. The day that Americans all go out and vote together will be the start of a better country for us all.
Is Cheney Betting On Economic Collapse?
2007-03-13
Just a quick link to an interesting story...
If you look at Vice Present Cheney's investments you will see how they tell the sad truth. Interest rates are going up. The middle class is struggling, and the poor can barely bring home enough to survive. Wages are at levels on par with 1973 when inflation is taken into account. America seems to be crumbling in the money sector and our current VP proves this with his investments or at least hes banking on it. Don't listen to the polictal banter about how the market is booming. Its not. We are headed for serious trouble if something is not done about this.
This reminds me of ENRON with the CEO cashing in before the market crashed leaving the little man with nothing. Cheny and Bush are the CEO's and seem to be using America as there own personal ENRON. I hope I am wrong because the little man has suffered enough....
Rant on Religion in Politics...
2007-03-13
Rep. Fortney "Pete" Stark, D-Calif., is the first openly "nontheistic" member of Congress, the Secular Coalition for America announced Monday, March 12.
In a statement, Stark said he is a "Unitarian who does not believe in a supreme being."
Only 45 percent of Americans said they would vote for a "generally well-qualified" atheist, according to a February Gallup Poll, ranking them lowest on a list that included Mormons (72 percent), candidates on their third marriage (67 percent) and homosexuals (55 percent).
Only three other elected officials agreed to be identified: a school board president in Berkeley, Calif.; a member of a school committee in Maine; and a town meeting member from Massachusetts.
"Atheists are the last group that a majority of Americans still think is OK to discriminate against," said Fred Edwords, director of communications for the American Humanist Association.
Story taken from http://www.beliefnet.com/story/213/story_21388_1.html
This article really makes me want to jump on the soapbox today. So here I go.
Religion in politics is a very touchy subject and not one many canidates will openly discuss. In reality who or what you believe in does not make you a better leader. Does it matter if you shape your polices around the Christian way? No it doesn't matter at all! It does however make you more likable, and more electable if you do go down that path. If you are a Christian than you'll win just about every "Red" state.
See the thing is people vote because of religious issues first and what is truly important second. Don't get me wrong I am not against religion or god. I just want people to wake up and realize that religion is not, and should not effect our government policies, and it should not decide the outcome of an election. If you notice in the article you see that Americans would not elect an openly atheist president into office. Why not I ask? Does it make them a bad person? All it means is that they may be open to ideas and polices that many leaders would be opposed to. Several of those leaders only support Christian beliefs because it wins them votes.
It's not just atheists that get the political shaft with voters. People of other religions get chastised in the media, and by the common American for there beliefs. I guess our country is only free for Christians. Its like were saying you can live in our country and pay taxes, but you can never lead our country because your beliefs make you inferior to the rest of the population.
I for one think its time for us to wake up and pay attention to what the 2008 runner's ideas are. Who cares if they are gay, straight, black, white, or atheist. This country is about equality. If we don't practice this than we don't deserve to vote, or even live in this great nation. Its time to grow up and open our closed minds to new ideas. Let's honor the rights of all our citizens and not just the ones who look to a higher being for answers. Remember that the person you elect is responsible for your life and the lives of the ones closest to you. Please don't elect another president without looking at everything they stand for. Just look at our country and its leardership now. "Strong faith based morals" don't always equal a good leader now do they?
Quick thought on the Iraq war.
2007-03-11
This morning I came to a sad concussion when thinking about the Iraq war. President Bush is so adamant with this whole troop surge that he fails to see that even this won't work. Sure it may work short term, but long term is where victory will be achieved. Now don't get me wrong. I don't wish for America to fail in this war. I do want it to end. I am not one of those liberals Bill O'Reilly talks about on The Factor. I am just thinking clearly, and I urge everyone to do the same. Its time to take our heads out of the sand and realize that we can't win this war on a long term scale.
These people may stop their attacks while the surge is ongoing. I mean heck you don't steal in-front of the police do you? So its no wonder that violence is going down in Iraq. Those people are not stupid. Why attack when your gonna get blown to bits by 1000 U.S. solders? The right wing media takes the reduction in violence as a sign that the United States is winning. This is all good news but we can't stay there forever. If we could stay there than yes we would win the war. IF we turned Iraq into an American territory than this war is winnable. But that my friends won't happen. Instead one day we will give the country over to its people.
What is going to happen when we leave? The attacks will go up ten-fold and America will be blamed. There is not one good thing that will come of this war except that Saddam was ousted from power. We did Iraq a great service with this but thats it. We have made a huge mistake in trying to stop terrorists that have been attacking the middle-east for over a thousand years. So be prepared for all the "We're Winning the War!" and "The Surge is Working" because enjoy it while you can. In a years time when we do leave Iraq and the attacks start again you'll all see what I was talking about. I just hope that I am wrong...
Gingrich had affair during Clinton probe...
2007-03-09
Former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich acknowledged having an affair during the scandal between President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Ironically it is the same scandal that led to a probe of the President headed by Gingrich himself. Gingrich made this shocking confession on the program Focus on the Family with Dr. James Dobson.
"The honest answer is yes," explained the Former Speaker of the House. "There are times I have fallen short of my own standards. There are times when I've fallen short of God's standards."
Now I know what most people must be thinking. You must be thinking that Newt is a hypocrite. How could this guy head the charge against Clinton when he was doing the same thing himself. But Newt has a way of adding his on spin to the matter.
"I drew a line in the middle that said, Even though I run the risk of being deeply embarrassed, and even though at a purely personal level I am not rendering judgment on a human being, as a leader of the government trying to uphold the rule of law, I have no choice except to move forward and say that you cannot accept perjury in your highest officials."
So you drew a line? I must commend you on not passing judgment. It was very noble of you. But how can you look at the American people and pretend you are so high and mighty when you are as guilty as Clinton was? Worse yet, it took him this long to come clean? We all knew he was doing something wrong after the two messy divorces in his past.
Still this news story is typical politics. Newt Gingrich is just another example of what's wrong with American politics. I mean really it's not a big deal. I didn't even care when Clinton cheated with Monica. Who cares if an official from our government had an affair. It's ok as long as it doesn't affect his judgment right? Let me say that again. It's ok as long as it doesn't affect his judgment. How can you be impartial during an investigation when you did the same thing? I don't think you can. Did Newt push for information so hard in order to some how clean up his own mistakes?
Perjury is a great crime and is worthy of impeachment, but it's not worth ignoring your morals and lying to the American people that elected you. This is what Newt did and by doing so he alienated the very citizens who elected them. You are not serving the greater good if you are part of the problem Newt Gingrich.
P.S. YOU WILL NOT GET MY VOTE IF YOU RUN FOR PRESIDENT. The last thing we need is another republican liar.
Vanderbilt
2007-03-08
Most people don't know this about me but I am a huge Vanderbilt sports fan. Vanderbilt is a small college in Nashville, TN. Tomorrow they start play in the SEC playoffs. Its really a pointless set of games since Vandy is already locked into the NCAA field of 65 teams that will play for the National Championship. Still It would be really cool for a school like Vandy, who puts grades above sports, to win a championship in the SEC. So if you like rooting for the little guys than keep an ear out for Vanderbilt during the month of March.
GO VANDY!
Dress Codes..
2007-03-08
I hate Thursdays because its the day before Friday. I work in a bank and have to wear business casual all week long. Its not to bad but wearing dress pants and tucking your shirt in gets old after four days straight. Friday and Saturdays we get to wear jeans. You may not understand why this is so important until you have to wear dress clothes all week long from 7 till 4, an sometimes from 9 till 6.
My problem with the dress code is that its part of a "code". I guess, on Thursdays, I am channeling my inner rebel. I want to stand up and change the system. As silly as it may sound wearing a belt all day can push you over the edge. So I think we need a revolution. That's right we should wage war on wearing dress clothes to work. I mean really I work at a bank drive-thru. People only see my upper half. I could come to work in my boxers and they would never know. (It might be a little strange and uncomfortable for my co-workers)
So here is the plain. One day everyone should go to work in there boxers, or underwear. That will stick it to the man. Its time khaki's and suits go by the way-side. We live in America the home of the free, so lets be free! Free of a world shackled by belts, and closed toe shoes! Lets use the voice that our people have fought so hard to protect!
American Idol Racist?
2007-03-07
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Frenchie Davis, dumped by "American Idol" in 2003 for lingerie shots posted on a Web site, moved on to Broadway success and thought she had buried a humiliating chapter of her young life.
That changed in the last few days after contestant Antonella Barba was allowed to stay on the top-rated Fox series despite the emergence of racy online photos that purport to be of Barba, but with no verification.
The first big controversy of the show's sixth season swelled Tuesday when fans and a civil-rights activist rallied to Davis' side, saying she was the victim of unfair and potentially biased treatment. Davis is black; Barba is white.
"We object to having one rule for black contestants and a different rule for white contestants who exhibit the same behavior," said Najee Ali, community activist and founder of Project Islamic H.O.P.E.
Davis said she is bewildered over what's happened with Barba, 20, of Point Pleasant, N.J.
"I don't necessarily think that (it's racism), but I can certainly look at this and understand why people would draw that conclusion," Davis said Tuesday from New York, hours before going on stage in the musical "Rent."
"I'm not bashing `Idol' or Antonella. She's a beautiful girl and she's young. I think it's great that she didn't have to go through what I went through," said Davis, 27, who suggested that the show's producers might have learned from how they treated her.
Davis would welcome a public apology from them as "a great start." But she said she is owed more for "the manner in which I was humiliated and the manner in which Antonella was defended and protected by the same people who humiliated me."
"Now they need to come to the table and see what we can do to make up" for her treatment, Davis said. She declined to say if she would seek a financial settlement or a record contract or other deal.
Belinda Foster, Davis' manager, took part in a small protest Tuesday with Ali outside the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles where "American Idol" tapes. She said there are stark differences in the treatment of the two contestants.
Foster noted the sympathetic comments of "American Idol" producer Nigel Lythgoe, who was quoted on Entertainment Weekly's Web site recently saying he was aware of the photos associated with Barba, but adding: "It's sad, isn't it, that your best friends are the ones that come forward with information that will go to Smoking Gun or put your photographs on the Web?"
Fox and the producers have declined further comment on Barba, who was to perform again Wednesday as the contestants are narrowed down this week to the 12 finalists. All the singers, including Barba, have been unavailable for interviews.
A source close to the show, who asked not to be identified because of the lack of authorization to comment publicly, said Fox and the producers believe seminude photos of Barba were posted without her consent and that racier shots, showing a sex act, were of a woman other than Barba.
Whether Barba posted any photos or allowed them to be posted is immaterial, Ali said.
"`American Idol' has first and foremost proclaimed it is a family show. ... No matter who made the photos public, it still speaks to her moral character and integrity, and certainly her silence speaks for itself," he said.
A fan group lead by Chris Tian, a singer-songwriter in Portsmouth, N.H., is calling on Fox to give Davis another shot at competing on "Idol."
Although she's wonderful in "Rent," Tian said, "a lot of Broadway artists don't get record deals. This could open up the path for her big record deal and big break."
The series has rarely managed a quiet year, with past issues ranging from voter complaints over overloaded phone systems to a contestant's allegation of an affair with judge Paula Abdul, which she denied.
The big-voiced Davis, on the verge of being voted a finalist by viewers in the year in which Ruben Studdard won, said she was honest with producers about posing for lingerie photos at age 19, five years before going on "American Idol."
In a statement Tuesday, Fox said, "We have never discussed the specifics of why Ms. Davis was eliminated, nor will we now."
The network said it had "no desire to revisit history and sully the reputation of Ms. Davis. She was removed from the show over four years ago and has gone on to a successful performing career."
That achievement has been a salve, of sorts, for Davis.
"I don't feel anything about the show. I haven't watched it. When `American Idol' comes on at 8 o'clock at night, I'm on stage," Davis said.
American Idol is not racist. Come on the two contestants where under completely different circumstances! For one, knowledge of Antonella Barba making money off of her photos has not been uncovered. This is in stark contrast to Frenchie Davis, who made money off of her photos. If anything its American Idol trying to boost ratings by keeping Antonella around. The producers may have thought that America would do there job for them. I don't understand how she survived the vote last week..
Still I feel I must repeat this is not racism! Its just American Idol making the right call by not kicking off Barba. She took pictures that should have stayed private. Somehow they made there way into the public and now we have a stupid mess. If American Idol is guilty of anything its that Barba is good looking and Frenchie is alittle on the "homely" side. Really the thought of Antonella naked isn't bad but Frenchie nude brings tears to my eyes.
Luckly I think this controversy will be short lived when America votes the talentless Barba off this Thrusday. American News should cover stories that matter instead of feeding stories that have little meaning and add fuel to the fire that is racism.
Bush Impeached?
2007-03-07
According to a new report in Esquire magazine, Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) has suggested that Congress may consider the impeachment of President Bush before his term ends:
"The president says, ‘I don't care.' He's not accountable anymore," Hagel says, measuring his words by the syllable and his syllables almost by the letter. "He's not accountable anymore, which isn't totally true. You can impeach him, and before this is over, you might see calls for his impeachment. I don't know. It depends how this goes."
The conversation beaches itself for a moment on that word - impeachment - spoken by a conservative Republican from a safe Senate seat in a reddish state. It's barely even whispered among the serious set in Washington, and it rings like a gong in the middle of the sentence, even though it flowed quite naturally out of the conversation he was having about how everybody had abandoned their responsibility to the country, and now there was a war going bad because of it.
Hagel isn't the only one frustrated. The desire for more accountability over Bush has led to increasing calls for impeachment from the Washington State legislature, the mayor of Salt Lake City, and town hall meetings in Vermont.
Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) said pushing for impeachment would be counterproductive because it would break off efforts to recruit conservative support for changing the course of the war in Iraq. "We're trying to get [conservatives] to vote against the war. They're coming around. You don't hear them singing the virtues of George Bush like they used to. But nothing will turn this into a partisan lockdown faster than impeachment." Inslee added, "Ending the war is what's important now."
Taken from http://thinkprogress.org
I ask you is this right? I am a hardline Democrat and even I feel that Bush doesn't deserve to be impeached. He may not be a great president but to even put the words Impeach Bush out there during a war is silly. If we want to win this war we have to trust the man and atleast give his idea one final chance. If it doesn't show progress than its time to go.
If this country can make it until 2008 it will be amazing. We need a change in leadership but through the propper channels and not through impeachement. lets give Bush another year and see if he can clean up his mess in Iraq. Than maybe we should find a way to show him the error of his ways...
Eve Onilne
2007-03-07
So my hunt for the best MMO is still ongoing. I have of course played World of Warcraft, Everquest 2, Starwars Galaxies, and now Eve Online. To me the best by far is WOW, but EVE offers a different kind of gaming experience and it warrants a few months play.
So installing EVE was easy but the new player tutorial is awful. It is boring and took me a good 4 hours to complete. Still that said the tutorial is a must do because the learning curve in EVE is step to say the least. Once you get going the game becomes a breathe of fresh air to seasoned MMO players.
The skill system rewards you even if your off-line since you can train skills on-line or off. So far I have played for half a month and like EVE very much. The player base is nice and very helpful. With 25,000 players online at any given time, 100,000 subscribers worldwide, you'll always find a person to chat with or group with. Also it should be noted that there is only one server and that downtime is very rare in this game. That means no more Tuesday morning forum trolls for you non-workers out there.
Of course I know it won't suck my soul in like WOW did and I guess that's a good thing lol. If your looking for a couple hours in space exploring, fighting, mining, or pirating than EVE could be the MMO for you. Just don't expect to be wowed because after all there is only one king of Online Gaming at the moment and 8 million people will back me up on this...
(edit)
Yes above I was talking about he 800 pound gorillia in the MMO market World of Warcraft. It has over 8 million players, and has done the best job so far of combining all MMO elements into one. But having played EVE abit more I think I may become a space explorer for the next few months or so. Its a great game with strong promise.
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