Quotes is quotes

As much as I'd LOVE to just post the whole thing, doing so would force me to discuss, debate and defend parts of Obama's Inaugural Address that were directed at people other than me. I didn't expect to love every moment of it, and I didn't. As with any political speech, there was unnecessary pandering and such. For the most part though, I found it to be a moving and evocative address that spoke to many of the concerns that Washington has been blatantly ignoring for (at least) the past 8 years. What follows are SOME of the passages that I found particularly important.

From Obama's Inaugural Address:

"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met."

"On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics."

"... We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do."

"... a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous..."

"... to all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more."

"... With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you."

" We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers."



"To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy."

"To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."

"... to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it."

Okay... super-importance spoiler-alert here!! This next paragraph says a lot... so PAY ATTENTION!

" Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship."

For those who don't recognize it through the eloquence and politi-speak -- what President Obama (just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?) is saying is that Americans will be sacrificing in the years to come. That in order to fix the mess we currently find ourselves in, there is no other option. So when he demands sacrifice of you... I don't want to hear cries that he wasn't clear about his intentions. He said it within moments of taking office. Suck it up and DO for your country!

Vadrum meets the Barber of Seville & Tenacious D

He's Baaaack... I just had to find more of the ringtone drummer guy. Thankfully, he's all over youtube. Apparently his name is Andrea Vadrucci, but he calls himself Vadrum. He's Italian, and seems able to compose a rock drum track for any piece of music available.

The next clip is him playing along with "The Barber of Seville". You might think you won't recognize it, since you're not an Opera fan, but if you've ever watched Bugs Bunny cartoons - you'll be right at home with this one. Absolutley amazing. I could watch this guy all day.



And here's another great (and funny) one. A clip of him playing along with Tenacious D's version of a Bach piece - including PIP of TD up in the corner.

Drummer accompanies ringtone medley

There is just something about watching a good drummer. The economy of movement, the seeming effortless speed and precision. And as this clip shows... it doesn't even matter what they're playing along with. This guy is amazing. Watch and see if you don't agree. Those in the know will get a kick out of the way he's set up his kit.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Palin's "Monkey Man"

Among the seeming HOURS of fearmongering and racism I've seen one clip at a time over the past few weeks in footage from McCain/Palin rallies - the Monkey Man takes the cake.

In the first clip, we see him proudly showing off his Curious George doll with an Obama bumper sticker wrapped around its head.

"This is "Little Hussein"... Little Hussein wanted to hear some "truth"." He says.

Monkey Man appears from 1:31 to 1:48 in the following clip.



Seems pretty proud of himself, right? As though he has no consideration that he's doing anything immoral or negative, right?

But then he's caught by another camera inside the rally. Perhaps a camera that he doesn't see as being "friendly" like the first one?

Watch him writhe and wriggle. Watch him try to casually remove the bumper sticker. Watch him finally hand-off the doll (now sans sticker) to a toddler in the row in front of him.

These are the people that McCain/Palin are attracting like moths to a flame. Do you really want to be one of them?

Fellow POW speaks out against McCain

Did you know there is a group called "Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain"?

I'm not really surprised that they exist - every voice has a group these days.

I'm just surprised that in this world of the so-called "Left-wing, liberal media" we don't hear from this particular group more often.

Call me naive, but I'm surprised that I actually stumbled across them while searching for information (trivial info at that) about Sen. McCain's arms. I've heard several different explanations about the limited mobilty he has in his arms and wanted to see if I could learn the real story.

In so doing, I came across a link that brought me to the VVAJM (my achronym, don't know if they use it or not) and the following video - which I believe says a lot that those of us who can't claim the title of War Hero have long wanted to say about John McCain. Only this time it's coming from a classmate of his. One who graduated in the top 25% of their class, rather than near the bottom like McCain. And one who had been a POW for over 2 years by the time McCain was captured.

I don't know about you, but I consider this man's opinion to be very important - not the be-all-end-all necessarily - but surely worth listening to. Watch the following clip and see if you don't agree.

Obama & McCain at the '08 Al Smith Dinner in NYC

It took me far too long to post these clips, but I just haven't had much time lately.

As tradition demands, McCain and Obama recently attended the Al Smith Dinner and put partisan politics aside (for the most part) to roast themselves and each other - and to make the obligatory tender-moment comments.

I thought both of them did a great job, and I laughed out loud during both speeches.

I hope that one day, whoever wrote their speeches is given due credit... and a job offer from the Daily Show.

In the spirit of the event, I'll recuse myself from offering an opinion.

If there has ever been a time when I really needed to see the candidates with the gloves off (even for just one night) it is this campaign. And to see them clearly enjoying themselves... letting their hair down, so to speak - was refreshing.

So here they are, in order of appearance:



---> I haven't been able to find the very end of McCain's speech - but this was pretty close, if memory serves.





If I had to pick my favorite line from each candidate, off the top of my head, right now?

McCain: Obama "has a pet name for me, too... George Bush."

Obama: "My greatest weakness... It's possible that I'm a little TOO awesome."

Me again on Poliblogger

There's a guy on Poliblogger who calls himself "Western Man". In my opinion he's pretty much a blowhard. He repeatedly reminds everyone that he's a lawyer (which is surprising, since the GOP has taken to calling the Democrats the "Lawyer Party").

And he makes no bones about the fact that he thinks Obama is a HORRIBLE candidate, while McCain/Palin are virtually pure as the driven snow.

It would take entirely too long for me to recount the entire thread which preceded the response I am about to post, so I encourage you to check it out here

http://www.poliblogger.com/?p=14271

before reading any further. It has been 27 hours since I posted the following, and mine remains the final comment.

"Western Man ~

I suspect we’ll have to start by agreeing to disagree about the candidate’s performances.

You saw a debate in which Palin “swallowed Biden whole”.

I saw a debate it which she failed to specifically answer a single question.

She took her time on that stage to present prepared speeches, rather than respond to the moderator. So of course she did well; she was in her element. And she was also entertaining, in her own way.

I personally don’t tune-in to a political debate to be entertained, or to hear canned one-liners. I tune-in to hear the candidates respond to the questions as the questions relate to their policy. To see how they perform while thinking on their feet.

Being asked one question and speaking to a totally seperate topic shows me neither of these. In fact, it suggests to me that the candidate is unsure. Not of what she thinks about the question, but what the campaign wants her to say. So instead she just stuck with the areas she knew would score points with their base. Which as I’ve pointed out previously was a mistake… they already have their base sewn-up. It’s Independents and Undecideds who she was supposed to appeal to that night - and she failed.

As far as your claims that the media interviews have held “traps”; I would’ve thought you were joking, but you’ve already answered that point. For an adult person - politician or not - to be unable to name a single newspaper or media outlet that they get their news from is assinine.

And please explain to me how expecting someone who might one day be called upon to appoint SCOTUS Justices should have some grasp of the court’s history is akin to expecting that person to preside over the court. There are high school students who could’ve answered that question. And you claim it was a left-wing trap? C’mon, man.

I’m also interested to know whether you’ve heard the invitation to Palin from Keith Olberman and Rachel Maddow of MSNBC to do a live, unedited, hour-long interview with either one or both of them. I’m sure you’re not a fan of theirs - but even FoxNews wasn’t willing to extend such an invitation. I think it would be an excellent way to gauge whether your POV on the unfair editing and “trap” questions is accurate. Perhaps the campaign could swing a similar interview from Bill O’Reilly or Brit Hume to even the score from the Right side?

But you know as well as I do, it’ll never happen. As others have already posited on this thread, other than being window dressing and an attack dog in this new round of last-ditch attacks on Obama’s character - Palin is “back in the box” until after the election.

As far as Ms. Ifill’s book goes; you have the title right, but seem to be misguided in the rest of your statements about it. The book is actually touted as “a thought exercise on the “black political structure” of the civil rights movement, and outlines how that struggle led to today, where we’re moving toward racial equality.”

It includes Colin Powell(R), Newark Mayor Corey Booker(D), Alabama Congressman Artur Davis(D), and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick(D) as well as Obama. There is little doubt in my mind that if Powell were the one running for President - the subtitle would include his name instead of Obama’s.

Prior to the debate, Journalists from both sides spoke out on Ifill’s professionalism and credibility. In addition, both campaigns approved her as moderator. And as you yourself have said, she proved them right by her performance.

And I can think of no reason why her book would sell better if Obama is elected than if he isn’t. In fact, I suspect it might sell better if McCain wins. In either case, the same people would be buying it. The only way I would expect it to sell better with an Obama victory would be if people like yourself bought a copy in the hopes of figuring out why you lost. Otherwise, people who want to read it will buy it regardless of who wins the election. And as someone (I believe it was Dr. Taylor) pointed out - the release date was most likely chosen by the publisher, not the author.

Anyway… glad to have found your voice WM. We’ll probably have a tough time finding common ground, and you’re awfully angry for someone who’s been on the winning side for most of my lifetime - but you’re concise and articulate with your venom - which is a welcome change these days."