Okay, I’m not going to lie, I did not watch much of CPAC this weekend. Really, I didn’t watch much of anything this weekend. I’m recovering from a nasty head cold and haven’t been in the mood for anything except sleep and SunnyD. For some reason that’s my drink when I’m sick. Must be the need for vitamin C. In any case, I did plop myself down in front of the TV about an hour before the coverage of Beck’s speech at CPAC was supposed to start and turned on Fox, planning just to watch the news till it began. Yeah, that didn’t work so well. For those who follow me on Twitter, you know that as soon as I woke up I had a rather royal hissy fit. I SLEPT through Beck’s speech. I fell asleep before it began, and didn’t wake up until an hour later. So, if you didn’t believe my sob story about a head cold before, I’m sure you do now, haha.
Eventually I did watch the speech as soon as the full video was posted at glennbeck.com. For those of you who also missed it, you can find it there. Ron Paul and others from this year's CPAC can be found on youtube. So far at three hours after it ended, Beck's speech doesn’t seem to have hit youtube. Apparently the bloggers haven’t started cherry-picking it for choice phrases. Yet.
Hopefully tomorrow or Monday I will post my reaction to the speech (I need a little more time to get over my head cold if you want something coherent and insightful). I’m going to try to avoid any commentary on it before then. I want to talk about the speech based on its merits, not anyone’s opinions.
So, Beck at CPAC. Tomorrow. Or Monday. Promise.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Mediator: Beck vs Maddow
Okay, some things reach a certain point of ridiculous, and the Beck vs. Maddow fiasco is one of them. Now, I may be a little biased in my assessment of this situation as I am both a Glenn Beck fan and not a believer in global warming, but the back and forth on this issue with Bill Nye, climate change, Al Gore, and lying is just a bit… well… ridiculous.
Firstly, Rachel Maddow did in fact cut Glenn Beck’s comments on Bill Nye short. She also did in fact use clips of conservatives who were for the most part joking. These people have made no secret that they believe climate change is a bunch of bull, however all of them know perfectly well that one storm doesn’t prove anything. They’re just using it as a great excuse to make fun of Al Gore, because let’s face it, he’s a fun target for conservatives. Most of us don’t like him, and never will. Get over it, Maddow.
Secondly, in Glenn Beck’s pod cast he edited it (in my opinion) more for time than content. Yes, he edited out the clips. He edited them out because the important part was what Maddow herself said and the issue of the clips had been addressed in an earlier episode of his radio show. He was not cherry-picking her comments. The pod casts are meant to be short blips about a topic, not the next great Hollywood blockbuster.
Thirdly, ENOUGH ALREADY. Okay, so Beck made fun of Bill Nye in the original radio segment. He did not say anything about Maddow herself or her views. Why, precisely, did Maddow then engage in this ridiculous he-said/she-said battle of the broadcasts? Being a confrontational person myself, I would probably have reacted to her attack the same was as Beck. However, I implore Beck to drop the Maddow topic, just because it isn’t worth responding. These people will never agree with you, even if you argue with them till you turn blue. Hell--- and most of the Atlantic--- will have to freeze over before they give in.
Finally, I think my biggest beef with Maddow’s comments is her wonderful little run-down of how she gets death-threats from Beck’s fans. Really? Seriously? I’m sure he gets nothing but warm, cuddly Hallmark greeting cards from your fans. (Oh, by the way, that’s a joke, for any of the liberals that happen to be reading this). There are nutcases out there. Every movement has its loonies and its fringe. However, I can assure you Ms. Maddow, that most of Glenn Beck’s fans and/or regular viewers, do not think he is the second coming.
This whole he-said/she-said debate is stupid. Conservatives are within their rights to make fun of global warming/climate change and yes, Al Gore. Liberals are within their rights to believe the conservatives are wrong and to make fun of them for it. However, for Nye to say either side is unpatriotic over this stupid, unproven theory is wrong. Whether or not you feel the need to save the planet has nothing to do with the love and loyalty you feel for your country, nor should it. End of discussion.
Firstly, Rachel Maddow did in fact cut Glenn Beck’s comments on Bill Nye short. She also did in fact use clips of conservatives who were for the most part joking. These people have made no secret that they believe climate change is a bunch of bull, however all of them know perfectly well that one storm doesn’t prove anything. They’re just using it as a great excuse to make fun of Al Gore, because let’s face it, he’s a fun target for conservatives. Most of us don’t like him, and never will. Get over it, Maddow.
Secondly, in Glenn Beck’s pod cast he edited it (in my opinion) more for time than content. Yes, he edited out the clips. He edited them out because the important part was what Maddow herself said and the issue of the clips had been addressed in an earlier episode of his radio show. He was not cherry-picking her comments. The pod casts are meant to be short blips about a topic, not the next great Hollywood blockbuster.
Thirdly, ENOUGH ALREADY. Okay, so Beck made fun of Bill Nye in the original radio segment. He did not say anything about Maddow herself or her views. Why, precisely, did Maddow then engage in this ridiculous he-said/she-said battle of the broadcasts? Being a confrontational person myself, I would probably have reacted to her attack the same was as Beck. However, I implore Beck to drop the Maddow topic, just because it isn’t worth responding. These people will never agree with you, even if you argue with them till you turn blue. Hell--- and most of the Atlantic--- will have to freeze over before they give in.
Finally, I think my biggest beef with Maddow’s comments is her wonderful little run-down of how she gets death-threats from Beck’s fans. Really? Seriously? I’m sure he gets nothing but warm, cuddly Hallmark greeting cards from your fans. (Oh, by the way, that’s a joke, for any of the liberals that happen to be reading this). There are nutcases out there. Every movement has its loonies and its fringe. However, I can assure you Ms. Maddow, that most of Glenn Beck’s fans and/or regular viewers, do not think he is the second coming.
This whole he-said/she-said debate is stupid. Conservatives are within their rights to make fun of global warming/climate change and yes, Al Gore. Liberals are within their rights to believe the conservatives are wrong and to make fun of them for it. However, for Nye to say either side is unpatriotic over this stupid, unproven theory is wrong. Whether or not you feel the need to save the planet has nothing to do with the love and loyalty you feel for your country, nor should it. End of discussion.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Going Part-Time
Term limits. I think this topic is rather timely, given a few recent events. It may be at subject that has been beat into the ground, dug up, and then pile-driven in again, but I’m going to dig it up one more time.
Senators are dying in office, and it isn’t because some far-out extremist with a 12-guage is gunning them down. Death is a natural part of life, and occasionally someone is going to die in office. It just happens. However, we have recently lost two senators, Murtha and Kennedy, both long, LONG time members of Congress. These men held their seats so long that the seats have become known by the senators, rather than the senators being known by the seats.
That being said, I have to applaud Evan Bayh of Indiana for stepping down at the end of his term. Very few politicians seem to do that these days, unless they are either sure of defeat at the voting box, or have been scandalized with some gross misconduct. Senator Bayh, as far as we know, had a solid chance at re-election, and no up-and-coming scandal. Rather than being pushed out by unpopularity, Bayh is giving up his seat of his own volition for apparently moral reasons. That is to be applauded in any politician, on either side of the aisle. According to the New York Times, Senator Bayh was more of a part-time senator than many of his colleagues, “popping in” for votes and making rare floor speeches, but still getting home for all the important family events. That is exactly the way it should be. I don’t know much of the man’s politics, but it seems that many of his colleagues could take a leaf out of his book.
Everyone in Washington should be going home on the weekend. Better yet, they should be home ALL the time, except for scheduled debates and votes. The people they represent are, guess what, at home. Then again, many of the politicians in Washington might get tar-and-feathered if they stayed home long enough.
Members of Congress, particularly senators, as they have six-year terms anyway, should have a limit on how many terms they can serve. I would recommend two for senators, maybe three or four representatives. They should be in Washington part-part-time, and spend the rest of their time in their offices back home, where their constituents can actually reach them. Perhaps the townhalls of this summer were a bit scary for the poor, sheltered congressmen, but they’ll have to get over it. People are demanding more respect and attention from their congressmen (oh, and congresswomen, too).
Would anyone in Congress (aside from possibly Senator Bayh) vote for a bill limiting their own term limits? Probably not. That’s about as likely as Congress giving itself a pay-cut. But that's another subject for another post.
Senators are dying in office, and it isn’t because some far-out extremist with a 12-guage is gunning them down. Death is a natural part of life, and occasionally someone is going to die in office. It just happens. However, we have recently lost two senators, Murtha and Kennedy, both long, LONG time members of Congress. These men held their seats so long that the seats have become known by the senators, rather than the senators being known by the seats.
That being said, I have to applaud Evan Bayh of Indiana for stepping down at the end of his term. Very few politicians seem to do that these days, unless they are either sure of defeat at the voting box, or have been scandalized with some gross misconduct. Senator Bayh, as far as we know, had a solid chance at re-election, and no up-and-coming scandal. Rather than being pushed out by unpopularity, Bayh is giving up his seat of his own volition for apparently moral reasons. That is to be applauded in any politician, on either side of the aisle. According to the New York Times, Senator Bayh was more of a part-time senator than many of his colleagues, “popping in” for votes and making rare floor speeches, but still getting home for all the important family events. That is exactly the way it should be. I don’t know much of the man’s politics, but it seems that many of his colleagues could take a leaf out of his book.
Everyone in Washington should be going home on the weekend. Better yet, they should be home ALL the time, except for scheduled debates and votes. The people they represent are, guess what, at home. Then again, many of the politicians in Washington might get tar-and-feathered if they stayed home long enough.
Members of Congress, particularly senators, as they have six-year terms anyway, should have a limit on how many terms they can serve. I would recommend two for senators, maybe three or four representatives. They should be in Washington part-part-time, and spend the rest of their time in their offices back home, where their constituents can actually reach them. Perhaps the townhalls of this summer were a bit scary for the poor, sheltered congressmen, but they’ll have to get over it. People are demanding more respect and attention from their congressmen (oh, and congresswomen, too).
Would anyone in Congress (aside from possibly Senator Bayh) vote for a bill limiting their own term limits? Probably not. That’s about as likely as Congress giving itself a pay-cut. But that's another subject for another post.
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