Qualifications

Question for examination:

People say all of the time that Politician X is more qualified to hold Elected Office Y than Politician Z. Or that because of a Reason X, Politician Z is not qualified to hold Elected Office Y.

What do people expect those they elect to office to be? What set of qualities/experience/etc. should a person have in order for one to deem them "qualified" for an office?

And then more importantly, why don't the people demand that there be candidates reflective of those qualifications rather, than voting for the lesser of evils or letting candidates define what their expectaions should be?

One of those moments I really wish we had a vibrant following and comments section, like TNC.

Thanksgiving Meditations

Some thoughts of much wiser and wittier individuals than I. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues. ~Cicero

O Lord that lends me life,
Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness.
~William Shakespeare

Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds. ~Theodore Roosevelt

Stand up, on this Thanksgiving Day, stand upon your feet. Believe in man. Soberly and with clear eyes, believe in your own time and place. There is not, and there never has been a better time, or a better place to live in. ~Phillips Brooks

For, after all, put it as we may to ourselves, we are all of us from birth to death guests at a table which we did not spread. The sun, the earth, love, friends, our very breath are parts of the banquet.... Shall we think of the day as a chance to come nearer to our Host, and to find out something of Him who has fed us so long? ~Rebecca Harding Davis

I love Thanksgiving turkey. It's the only time in Los Angeles that you see natural breasts. ~Arnold Schwarzenegger

Sound of the Day

Really folks, if this isn't enough proof that it's time for another iteration of The Muppet Show, I don't know what is.

Video of the Day

(Hat Tip: Andrew Sullivan)

Where History and Obechi Collide

Via Andrew Sullivan:



UPDATE: It has been noted that this video is kinda boring. But I think if it were slightly faster and put to the tune of The 1812 Overture, this would be quite the blockbuster.

Colbert FTW

Via TPM:

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Word - Grand Old Pity Party
http://www.colbertnation.com/
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor U.S. Speedskating

Moneymaker

I need to get this down before someone steals it.

So this little blurb served as my Muse. My friend Elysse's G-chat status:

"If God had not intended us to eat animals, why did He make them out of meat?"
page 133 in Sarah Palin's new book

I want to create a website where people submit just absolutely absurd and ridiculous statements, which we on our site will then publish attributing it randomly to some page in Sarah Palin's new book, Going Rogue.

I think this is a cash-cow for the tapping, like FML and Texts From Last Night.

Any ideas for a site name?

Fearing the Myth of the Supermen

Alex Whalen does a great job collecting the thoughts of those across the web reacting to the news that the 9/11 plotters will face trial in NYC, and the fear-mongering the American Right thrives off of.

They're deranged men. That's all. They can't psychically attack us, they can't warp their metal cell bars with their minds, they don't have super-strength, they can't fly. If nothing else, they have an even weaker power of reasoning than we think because they believe the conspiratorial lies propagated to them to brainwash them into hating the United States and all those who don't agree with their perverted version of a beautiful, peaceful Islam. KSM is no bigger or better a man than Timothy McVeigh, the Virginia Tech killer, Nadil Malik Hasan, or Charles Manson.

Killing is a sign of weakness, not strength. KSM is a murderer. He should be forced to face what he's done. If he has no remorse, then fine - lock him away and let him be forgotten in the annals of time. But we are Americans, and we should act and represent what is good and orderly in this world. This man represents is Chaos, and there is nothing solid in Chaos but fear. If people want to be afraid of him, it is their right. But it is they who have let this terrorist win.

Thoughts you should keep to yourself.

Courtesy of correspondent for The Atlantic, Wendy Kaminer.

And to put it simply (and realizing such simplicity will result in great distortion, opening me up to ridicule):

I'd rather have them inside me than vice versa.

"Humorous" Health Care

It is rare that I will ever have any pity for Glenn Beck. But having no appendix of my own anymore, I sympathize. It's hard enough to take a licking form Jon Stewart in good health, but to kick Beck when he's down...

Kick harder Jon. Kick harder.

Via Andrew Sullivan:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The 11/3 Project
http://www.thedailyshow.com/
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Sign of the ESPN-ocolypse

Listen, I'm a big fan of ESPN's website devoted purely to Boston/New England sports. And I like that they are trying to integrate into the new media that relies upon niche news coverage. The new media is tough to transition to, but they're trying and I like it so far.

But not this.

Really, ESPN? You're gonna give me a game summary and box score for a CPU vs. CPU Madden game? I know it's a fun little simulation, but a SUMMARY and BOX SCORE? Like it matters? Football teams play once a week. I've gotten used to it. You don't need to try and supplement for me. Maybe you were trying to go for the World of Warcraft/lost in cyberspace crowd. But really, don't. You aren't being hip. Or cool. Stop whoring yourself out like you aren't the most dominant sports information institution out there. It's okay to just stick to giving me real sports highlights. Really.