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Archive for the ‘National Politics’ Category

Ted

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

By now, I’m sure you’ve heard the news of Senator Edward Kennedy’s passing. To me it came in the form of a facebook status, not too long after it happened. And while some may say, as a friend of mine did last night when I first heard the news, that he’s had terminal brain cancer for over a year, his passing still comes as a shock, at least to me. Hell, an article of his was featured in Newsweek just last month. An article that certainly resonated with me, and helped inspire me to get my ass out of the house and (try to) attend a town hall/community dinner on the subject. How could he be gone?

Senator Kennedy may have started out well before my time, but he was a man who was definitely in touch with the concerns of my generation. Healthcare was just one of the issues, though it was one he felt to be most important. He was also revered, even among his colleagues who didn’t agree with him on anything. Sheldon Whitehouse said at a Q&A session that after Kennedy returned to the floor after a medical leave, senators from both sides of the aisle rose, some with tears in their eyes.

Chappaquiddick notwithstanding, Kennedy was a respected man and public servant with a huge legacy, from a political family filled with mystique. His name will go down in the history books, just as his brothers’ names did.

On a much lighter note, let’s talk about some junk mail I received today. This piece is from a company called “Domain Renewal Group,” and they sent me a notice offering to transfer my domain, theamigan.net, to them for the “low” price of $30 for one year. Let’s recap here. I pay $9 a year from namecheap, the domain’s original and current registrar. Why the hell would I go through the trouble to pay more money? Why did they waste their time and money printing the notice? This is the type of garbage environmentalists should be hooting and hollering about; I rarely see more of an utter waste of trees.

That’s all.

Tags: junkmail, politics, rant
Posted in National Politics, Ranting | No Comments »

Nationalization

Thursday, March 5th, 2009

Today I will be writing about nationalization. Again.

But this time, it’s not about banks and insurance firms. It’s about automakers, specifically GM.

With news that Detriot could “potentially be forced to seek relief under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code” without further government help, nationalization is starting to look like the lesser of many evils to some.

I say go for it, if GM truly is so important to the economy (which it is). They’re using government funds. Why should we trust (mis)management of this money to the very people whose initial failure prompted the bailout in the first place? Like I said in my last post, at least the government is intrinsically accountable to the American people, though whether this is the case in practice is obviously up for debate. Really, one of the few obstacles to such nationalization is all the rednecks who will cry “Communism!” if it happens. But here’s a hint: just because Cuba did something to every company back in the 50s doesn’t mean that we can’t do it to monumentally mismanaged automakers whose survival is effectively a keystone of much of our economy.

This is about a government protecting its citizens from financial hardship which largely came about through no fault of their own. It’s not about any sort of doctrine, or any systematic overthrow of a government, or any of that bullshit. But it just goes to show you what happens when you put the mice in charge of guarding the cheese. The executives fucked up. This fucking up endangers the financial stability of millions of people. They should not be allowed to continue doing this, and especially not while taking home a pretty penny for it.

Think about it.

Tags: bailout, economy, politics, socialism, taxpayer money
Posted in National Politics, Ranting | No Comments »

Snow day!

Monday, March 2nd, 2009

We’ve gotten at least 8 inches so far, and it’s still coming down. RIC morning classes are cancelled, for one. This is something I am not entirely sad about.

In other news, AIG posted a record US corporate loss…and still is asking for a $30bn standby line of credit. AIG CEO Edward Liddy was on Today this morning and assured us that the insurance arm of his company was safe and sound. He further stated that his plan is to sell the insurance division of AIG to raise money to pay back the Federal Reserve.

It is the opinion of this blogger that all these so-called “bailouts” (which are more like “uses of taxpayer money that accomplish even more of nothing than usual”) need to stop, and it might even be argued that wholesale nationalisation of the firms in question would be a better option. If you’re going to do any of it, might as well go all the way. And besides, if there’s going to be misuse of taxpayer money, it’s better that the government does it rather than a private corporation (which isn’t intrinsically accountable to the American people).

Tags: bailout, economy, insurance, snow, taxpayer money
Posted in National Politics | No Comments »

Address to Congress

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

So here I sit watching the address Obama made last night (since I fell asleep). And one thing I notice, especially when he is talking about his tax cuts, is that he is actually sticking to campaign promises, almost to a T (like the whole under-$250k bit, which we heard about before he was elected). Obviously, he won’t be able to deliver on everything he talked about due to the current clusterfuck on our hands, but it is nice to know he is at least trying, rather than pulling a bait-and-switch on the American public. I am somewhat skeptical about his claim that we will be the most educated nation by 2020, but then again I am a pretty cynical person who has as much faith in the public’s ability to act intelligent as I do in God (which, if you know me, isn’t much).

Really, the only part of his address I took issue with was the claim that America invented the automobile. Because we didn’t. But other than that, I wish Obama the best in pulling together the shambles of what is left of our national pride after the Bush regime.

Tags: bush, economy, obama, politics
Posted in National Politics | No Comments »

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Wednesday, November 8th, 2006

The Dems now control the House, and we’re waiting on the Senate (damn you Virginia!).

Now, I’m not saying the Democrats are all little angels (indeed, one of my senators, Lincoln Chafee, was quite possibly one of the better politicians in Congress, and he was a Republican. More on this later.), but having a GOP House and Senate has proved to be nothing but disastrous. Obviously, Bush is quite possibly up shit creek without a paddle without a House and Senate backing his every move. Also, Rumsfeld’s resignation came as welcome news to many, including myself (though I have a feeling his replacement will prove himself just as inept).

In Rhode Island, the Senate race was shocking to some, myself not included. Around these parts, a mention of Linc Chafee usually invokes a sense of political integrity, and I for one am sad to see him go. He and Jack Reed made a good team when it came to representing our tiny state. His successor, Sheldon Whitehouse, doesn’t really give me a warm fuzzy feeling; I have a feeling he will, as the ads say, “do nothing”.

As for the RI house race, the representative for district 2 turned out to be ol’ Jim Langevin again, something I am not overly pleased about. Rod Driver seemed to be the better man in this race, but he (expectedly) only got 27% of the vote, being an independent.

As for the rest of the local politics, Carcieri is staying for another term as our dumbass governor. Not that Chhhhharrrrrrliieeeeee Fogarty would have been much better, but I think it’s time for a change of scenery up in the state house. Also, question 1 was struck down, so no casino for us. And question 2 was approved (yay!) so now parolees and probationers can vote. And that Haldeman guy that came to talk to my class, who proved himself to be an idiot, didn’t win.

So that’s it. Hopefully these changes will help to fix some of the crap that’s accumulated over the years.

Posted in Local Politics, National Politics | No Comments »

Jack Reed and stuff

Monday, March 6th, 2006

So, today Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) came in to talk to some of the Global Studies classes. It was largely a question-and-answer session, and he explained many issues quite well, as well as giving his take on recent happenings.

I asked him what he thought of the recent Guantanamo Bay prisoner name list release, and he said that it can’t harm the US; if anything, it would help us as it allows us to be a little more transparent, which is important when you’re holding lots of people for years at a time without any formal charges.

I also asked him of his thoughts on the PATRIOT Act and the recent renewal of some of its terms, and he said some of the same stuff that is in my speech that I wrote yesterday (and am due to deliver come Wednesday).

That’s it.

-Dan

Posted in International issues, Local Politics, National Politics, School | No Comments »

Oh no! It’s la befana!

Tuesday, December 13th, 2005

Where does the madness end? Today, I sent out the following email in response to being sent this:

Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2005 17:56:11 -0500
From: Dan Ponte <amigan@gmail.com>
To: afapetition@afa.net
Subject: get the facts straight before you act irrationally
Cc: elizabeth.burmaster@dpi.state.wi.us
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Delivered-To: amigan@gmail.com

Mr Wildmon:
"Labafana" (actually, it's "la Befana," ["befana" is Italian for
"feast of the Epiphany"]) is not a "Christmas witch," as you put it.
It is an Italian tradition that every year on 5 January, "la Befana"
visits childrens' houses much as St. Nicholas does in the US. ("Babbo
Natale," or "father Christmas" doesn't usually bring gifts).
So, please for the sake of your organisation's image, check the facts
before you spew nonsense. Personally, I am for the secularisation of
public institutions; religion has no place whatsoever in our schools,
and the Constitution has made it clear. Though, what with the
president (who you happen to endorse) thinking the Constitution has as
much value as a piece of toilet paper, I can see how you could make
such an oversight. If you're going to favour one religion, that is
worst of all.
Yours,
Dan Ponte

La Befana? “Christmas witch?” (don’t give me any of that crap, you pedantic shits out there; “witch” in this case refers to the occult) Gesu, what are these people thinking? You decide. Email me your thoughts.

-Dan

Posted in Antitheism, Idiots, National Politics, Ranting | No Comments »

Hurricane Katrina

Wednesday, August 31st, 2005

I’m positive that all of you have heard at least something about this tragedy. The loss that both Louisianians and Mississippians have experienced cannot be put into words. Many have lost their homes, their families, their businesses, or all three.

However, even in these times of desperation and distress, a select few individuals still take it upon themselves to steal and pilfer what is not theirs. As many of you know, there has been much looting and crime going on, especially in New Orleans, that the police are simply so tied up that they cannot restore order. These dumbasses think that because nobody is stopping them, it must be right to walk off with garbage bags full of stolen clothes, electronics, and other items.

I have a message for all shop owners who are experiencing this: shoot on the spot. That’s right. You heard me. Speed up evolution and take matters into your own hands. Maybe after a few injuries or deaths not caused by the hurricane, the rest of them will learn.

And to Signor Bush: you ought to be ashamed of yourself for not helping your own people. Take our troops out of Iraq and put our tax dollars where they are supposed to go: into our country. Send troops to help the affected areas, instead of causing trouble and more bloodshed in the Middle East.

My prayers and hopes go out to all those affected. You will pull through; everyone eventually does. That’s all I have to say.

Posted in Headlines, National Politics, Ranting | No Comments »

Physically Ill

Thursday, June 16th, 2005

So tonight I decided to turn on the AM radio. I tune it to 630KHz, and guess who’s on? Michael Savage and his bullshit radio show!

I listened to the show for a few minutes and it started to make me sick at the BS he was spewing. And now O’Reilly is on, and I want to find that man and tie him down while I beat him with a cluestick.

Right now, he’s grilling Durbin for some comments that he made. These people need a life; the man’s right: it is, as someone put it, “the gulag of our time.” The comment does no disservice to any soldiers; they abuse and mistreat detainees, they ought to have their asses punished for it. Just because you are in the military doesn’t mean you can do whatever the fuck you want without criticism.

Now Billy goat is talking about “propaganda channels.” As opposed to The Fair and Balanced Network. And he’s ranting about how “Durbin should go.” Listen fucker, Durbin will go when his voters feel it’s time. So I suggest you get back in bed with Bush and leave the thinking to the rest of us.

Right-wing dumbasses. And make no mistake; the left-wing extremists are almost as bad. But the right-wingers just have a knack for sounding like a bunch of tight-assed rednecks with an axe to grind.

Posted in Idiots, National Politics, Ranting | No Comments »

Thoughts on stuff

Thursday, April 21st, 2005

I finally got back from PA. While I was there, I read Moore’s The Official Fahrenheit 911 Reader. While doing so, I had some thoughts.

Most of the people in this country (including Republicans, whether they admit it or not) know that the current administration has lied about almost everything; I doubt that you could trust Bush to tell you the correct time of day. However, we, the American public, have continually gone along with it as if we were a bunch of lemmings (which isn’t far from the truth). Hell, we re-elected the guy!

Now, many have told me that there’s no use in continuing to be involved with this debacle, however I feel that even if he only has four more years to go (barring a Constitutional amendment), he’s still screwing the American public. Here it is, 2005 and hundreds of billions of dollars and thousands of lives later and we are still living with the repercussions of his reign.

And may I remind you that it’s not just Bush we have to worry about; crooks are all over the Republican party.

Not to say that Democrats don’t also have their fair share of blunders, however they are much more pronounced in the Republican party. Which is why I am a Libertarian.

I plan on doing an article on all of this (with some rudimentary investigative…err…reporting); stay tuned