Early Resolutions

While not all bad, 2013 was kind of a discouraging year for me. In fact, I've been in kind of a rut. So, I've decided to get a proactive jump on 2014 by carrying out my annual New Year's resolutions before Christmas.

The first resolution I've begun pursuing is my pledge to learn how to play guitar. I've taken several casual stabs of taking up the instrument in the past But this time, I have a certain fire in my belly. After going nearly three decades without plucking a string, I, along with my wife, decided to buy brand new acoustic guitars as sort of a Christmas present to ourselves. So far, I'm really delighted that I have.

I've also begun putting the needed pieces in place that will enable me to act on another resolution, putting together a podcast file I can send to broadcasters as an audition for on-air employment. I've downloaded an audio editing software program called Audacity, and have settled on buying a 'Yeti' USB microphone online. It comes highly recommended from some trusted broadcasting acquaintances.

I'm at a point in my life where I want to work at jobs that I'll really enjoy, and fortunately, I believe that I'm financially secure enough where I can be really picky. Broadcasting is where I want to be. I just need to learn the mixing and editing techniques needed for a decent audition podcast. It will take some resolve, but again, I think I have that fire in my belly.

It's Time for a New Moron!

The subject of ignorant and uninformed voters comes up often in the blogosphere. And invariably, bloggers writing posts about this topic utilize this unforgettable image to accompany their story:

Just today, in fact, I had a story appear with that same image in my Facebook news feed from Alternet.org. The post's written content is spot on and enlightening. But I ask, must we fall back so consistently on making use of the not-so-bright looking St. Louis Cardinals fan holding up a sign that misspells morons?

Now, don't get me wrong! The image is a laugh riot. But it's more than 10 years old! So, it's not exactly current. Moreover, as a St. Louis Cardinals fan, I cringe at the thought of what Mr. 'Moran' is doing to pigeonhole the Cardinal fan base, St. Louisans, and Midwesterners, as well. This dude is hardly representative of us. And, we don't need to hand out added ammunition to outsiders that affirms their already-held beliefs that we're a bunch of uneducated rubes and rednecks.

My post, now, is mostly tongue-in-cheek, and I realize that my beef doesn't really touch upon any of the world's most pressing problems...not even close. But this is my blog, and I say right up front that it's my place to rant! Moreover, there is no shortage of political morons in the country. Might I suggest using this dude as the new poster boy.

Where's the Outrage?

I just posted this Tweet. I thought I'd share it on my blog also.

Where's the outrage over this lie? #Votethemout2014 #doublestandards pic.twitter.com/cj4dCMzU2E

— Joel Wells (@animule) November 14, 2013

A True Equivalency

With the federal government shutdown now entering its fifth day, much of the mainstream media continue to frame the impasse in a false equivalency setting. This inaccurate portrayal appears in media reports complaining about "a failure of leadership", "partisan gridlock", or similar memes. John Darkow's political cartoon that ran in a recent edition of the Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune illustrates this widespread view quite nicely.

Fortunately, not all journalists are buying into this misguided effort to play the middle ground. MSNBC's Rachel Maddow reveals in her blog the absurdity of this false equivalency by creating a fictional situation where a true equivalency occurs.

Let's say President Obama, feeling good after winning re-election fairly easily, adopted an overly confident posture with lawmakers. He started boasting about the fact that his approval rating is four times higher than Congress' approval rating; his policy agenda enjoys broader public support than Republicans' policy agenda; and he decided it's time they start rewarding him before he considered engaging in basic governance.

"Sure," Obama said to Republicans in this imaginary scenario, "I'll sign the spending measures to prevent a government shutdown, but first you have to raise taxes on the wealthy. And end the sequestration policy. And pass comprehensive immigration reform. And approve universal background checks. The American people are with me, so I expect you to compromise and negotiate with me on these matters."

The president then said to GOP lawmakers, "And sure, I'll sign a bill to raise the debt limit, paying the bills you already piled up, but I'm not ready to sign a 'clean' bill. Instead, I also expect Congress to pass a cap-and-trade bill, a public option for the health care system, universal pre-K, and billions in infrastructure investments. If you refuse, I'll have no choice but to tell the public you refuse to compromise and negotiate."

-Rachel Maddow, The Maddow Blog

Maddow says reports claiming that Obama refuses to compromise or negotiate as if it were a legitimate debate point aren't just misleading, but "demonstrably silly". I agree. This isn't normal give and take. It's extortion. Part of the minority party is strong-arming the majority to get everything they want. To report otherwise is a failure of journalism.

Different Day, Same Drivel

This is really starting to sound like a broken record.

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The reason alleged gunman Aaron Alexis was able to kill 12 people last week in the Washington Navy Yard shooting was that “there weren’t enough good guys with guns” present, National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre said on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday.

“When the good guys with guns got there, it stopped,” he said.

-Andy Meek, Time Magazine

NBC might as well have placed a cardboard cutout of LaPierre on the set complete with word balloon answers from his noteworthy news conference following the Sandy Hook massacre last December.

MTP moderator David Gregory, to his credit, called out LaPierre saying the that the Navy Base did indeed have armed guards present when the gunman entered the facility.

But LaPierre reiterated his stance stating simply that more good guys with guns were needed, all the while overlooking the obvious: a background check would have prevented or, at the very least, impeded Alexis from getting a gun in the first place.

Every time members of the National Rifle Association trot this windbag out to speak, they are revealing further to the public and many responsible gun owners that they are nothing more than a corporate shill for the highly-lucrative gun industry.

The Unasked Question...

Today's question inside the beltway and on the mainstream media: "How was such an apparently mentally ill man was able to gain access to a secure military facility?"

Valid question, but the not being asked, it seems, is the other obvious question: "How was such an apparently mentally ill man able buy a gun?"

Maybe next time. And, there will be a next time.

Dude, Where's My War?

John Stewart is a national treasure. On the Daily Show last night, he struck again by calling out Fox News for sounding disappointed that Obama, who, for the time being, is giving diplomacy in Syria preference over military intervention.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
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Once again, Stewart hit it out of the park. Could we actually be seeing a new trend in the U.S. where life is getting a little more challenging for the warmongers and chickenhawks?