Politics Sunday

We missed out on Sports Saturday yesterday, but I didn't have too much to say. Basketball hasn't been particularly exciting this year (no real standout stars it seems to me), and we're still in the doldrums of spring training in baseball land. I will say this though: If everything goes right for the Cincinnati Reds, they have the chance to develop into a pretty fearsome team this year. Jay Bruce could start hitting again, Homer Bailey might have finally gotten his act together, Aaron Harang probably will win more than six games. And then, of course, there's the biggest unanswered question of all, which concerns what to do with Aroldis Chapman. If the power arm continues to pitch like he's been doing, I think he has to start the year in the majors. He can always be sent down later, which I know can be deflating, but something needs to be done to jump start the team, and what better to do it than a 100 mph fastball?

Comments?



Ok. Now onto the politics.

To follow up my diatribe from last week (Liz Cheney is a... something), look at this from uber-liberal and ex-theatre critic Frank Rich.

"For that matter, [Marc] Thiessen was challenged more thoroughly in an interview by Jon Stewart on “The Daily Show” on Tuesday than he has been by any representative of non-fake television news."

See. I told you Jon Stewart is a great American. Read the whole article (but beware. Frank likes to talk). http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/opinion/14rich.html?th&emc=th

Now onto something that's really got me burning right now.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/education/13texas.html?th&emc=th

So Texas schools want to rewrite the curriculum to highlight Republican accomplishments? Oh, no - sorry. I mean they want equal emphasis on Republican accomplishments in the textbooks that are supposedly written by the Liberal academia. Apparently, the idea that History will be the ultimate judge is just as quaint a notion as the tooth fairy or Jackelope.

Republicans are right that Academia leans to the left, but shouldn't that be expected in the same way that businessmen lean slightly to the right?

And when you think of great American accomplishments, what comes to mind? Civil Rights. The New Deal. Suffrage. The Emancipation Proclamation. Now, the fact these were all done under Democratic presidents (except the Emancipation Proclamation, which was done by Republican Abe Lincoln back when the parties were essentially reversed) is not what should be highlighted here, but rather the quality of the accomplishment. To me, the most important act in the history of America was the Civil Rights Act (many attempts at which were stymied by Republican filibusters [Boy, isn't it great to see what important causes the filibuster has protected? Extending health insurance for millions and ending segregation. Thank God we have that protection built into the Constitution.]), and there's no comparison between that and anything by any President (Democratic or Republican) that can be put on equal footing with it.

There is no accomplishment by Ronald Reagan that has equal weight when compared to the Civil Rights Act, so how can we possibly give equal emphasis to both parties?

And when you were in high school, did you really pay attention to which political party seemed to be the most accomplished in the history books? This whole "Fair and balanced" push is a product of the 24-hour news era. We like to think that since both Republicans and Democrats are equally intelligent people, their ideas must be equally worthwhile. History says otherwise, and it cuts both ways. The whole idea of Indoctrination in our schools is ludicrous, and is really meant as a way of demonizing a certain side of the political debate.

Though there is, of course, room for familiarization with both sides of the political spectrum, rewriting history is not the way to do it. An understanding of current issues and the debates within those issues is probably the better way to go.

I feel like that one kid from youtube. LEAVE HISTORY ALONE!!!


Ok. One more article. (Not from the NY Times. Who knew I read other things?)

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/lesbian-air-force-sergeant-jene-newsome-discharged-after-police-out-her/19397963?icid=main|main|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolnews.com%2Fnation%2Farticle%2Flesbian-air-force-sergeant-jene-newsome-discharged-after-police-out-her%2F19397963

This is painful to read. Don't Ask Don't Tell is a senseless policy in itself, and it's absurd that someone who plays by the rules can still be outed by a third party. And who were these cops that narc'd on this woman because they saw a marriage certificate. Is homosexuality really that abhorrent to you? These guys strike me like those kids who tattled on you at recess.

"Mrs. Finster, Mrs. Finster! Johnny just told me to go to H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks."
"Mrs. Finster, Mrs. Finster! I Jimmy's a queer."

Didn't everybody hate that kid?

Obama can end Don't Ask Don't Tell with a simple executive order. He should, and he will... just as soon as the midterms are over is my guess. By then, the only power he may have will be through executive orders. Sad sad sad.

And quickly.

HEALTH CARE WATCH

Looks like the Democrats are scrambling to find the votes in the House now. If it's not one thing it's the other. My guess is that they'll find the votes and trudge through a bunch of Republican roadblocks as they move to pass it... my guess is mid-April.

Here's hoping.