Ewa Sowinska, government-appointed children rights watchdog, told a local magazine published on Monday she was concerned the popular BBC children’s show promoted homosexuality.
…she was quoted as saying: “I noticed (Tinky Winky) has a lady’s purse, but I didn’t realize he’s a boy.”
“At first I thought the purse would be a burden for this Teletubby … Later I learned that this may have a homosexual undertone.”
Parliamentary Speaker Ludwig Dorn said he had warned her against making public comments “that may turn her department into a laughing stock.”
I wish I lived in Minnesota so I could vote for this guy. I hope he wins in 08. I may contribute to his campaign. I hope he tells the penis on the forehead joke. I hope he remains real.
Reading Dean’s interview with Thomas B. Edsall is enlightening to say the least. Limbaugh, Hannity and Coulter - and other high energy anger peddlers - are explained in the context of what their role is in the GOP scheme of things. Interesting stuff. Edsall’s book is going on my reading list (the paperback is out this summer he says).
A: The Republican Party used many sophisticated data-mining and micro-targeting techniques - culling consumer lists, magazine subscriptions, polling and other information - to develop portraits of individual voters. The goal was to identify likely Republican voters and their “anger points.” Issues lending themselves to political manipulation - i.e., issues touching upon anger points — included gay marriage, welfare, spending for social services, taxes, abortion, and culturally permissive government policies, and government interventions viewed as favoring the interests of ethnic and racial minorities. The GOP found that anger is one of the best motivators for mobilizing political participation. [Emphasis Mine]
Shenanigans still. We vote in a new congresional crop and gain a slim Democratic majority. Has it done us any good yet?
Obviously the GOP did not get the message that we (the people) want something done about this war - and something done about this run-amok administration. The GOP blames the election on corruption and is still in denial about the vote for change in Iraq. An anti GOP / Bush vote if anyone cares to take notes.
2008 is going to be even more devastating than 2006 for the GOP if they do not get their act together and stop enabling this administration.
Chuck Hagel is excused from this criticism. He obviously has a handle on reality. One of the few in DC.
Yet Novak credits the Democrats’ tactic as sound and says that it was somewhat successful. “They tried to vote on the Iraq strategy, and Republicans stopped them,” he writes. “Given the war’s unpopularity, that is something of a Democratic victory.”
Novak adds, however, that Republicans “believe they would have been worse off had they been divided in a simple vote for or against” the President’s troop surge. “That would have been embarrassing to the entire Republican Party, as committed as it is now to success in Iraq,” he continues. “Republicans prefer to avoid such a vote altogether.”
Next time someone tells you what a wonderful democracy we have going here, you might want to mention that the Senate, our most important deliberative body, will not allow itself to consider the wisdom of escalating a ruinous war that virtually everyone in the world opposes, save the increasingly detached-from-reality-and-discredited-leaders who insist on continuing it.
It’s Iraq. People seem to think they can handle their own morality issues. Think about it.
NEWSWEEK Poll: Bush Hits New Low - Newsweek Politics - MSNBC.com
Presented with a list of factors that may have contributed to the Democrats’ success, 85 percent of Americans said the “major reason” was disapproval of the administration’s handling of the war in Iraq, 71 percent said disapproval of Bush’s overall job performance, 67 percent cited dissatisfaction with how Republicans have handled government spending and the deficit, 63 percent said disapproval of the overall performance of Republicans in Congress, 61 percent said Democrats’ ideas and proposals for changing course in Iraq. Tellingly, just 27 percent said a major reason the Democrats won was because they had better candidates.
The GOP and the Democrats are both being given an opportunity to cooperate and get something done.
Iraq. Iraq. Iraq.
A friend of a friend just lost a nephew in the war. The meaningless, senseless, irrational war in Iraq. What a waste. What a fricken shame.
National Debunker: GOP Can’t Get Any War Right: Losing The Culture War
Pluralism won out over the “battle of civilizations” this time around. Democrats won because the nation turned away from conservative ideas of cultural supremacy and turned toward progressive ideas of pluralism. The war on Latinos and Asians (the anti-immigration message), the war on non-Christians (which they called the war on Christmas), the war Muslims (which they call the war on terror), the war on the GLBT community, the war on poor African-Americans in New Orleans–this all failed for the conservative Republican base. Their general war on pluralism did not produce any sustainable backlash for them, but instead turned key, growing demographics towards Democrats. That not only played a key role in how Democrats won the 2006 elections, but in giving us momentum for many elections to come. If conservatives persist on running on a message that denounces the key demographic changes in this country, they can expect to quickly become reduced to a near-permanent minority in our national politics….
Tony “homosexual agenda” Perkins rants wildly today - this is not a nice man. Could it be possible Tony is miffed that he and his agenda lost some steam this week. Tony Attacks:
In the days following the election, Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s resignation has all but eclipsed the mainstream political analysis. Perhaps the media, like our new Democratic powerhouse, prefer it that way.
He Threatens:
After all, when pundits delve deeper they are likely to find evidence of two things: that the electorate is still driven by values and that those who hope to retain their jobs are beholden to act on them.
He Accuses:
This will certainly serve as an unpleasant reminder for Democrats who successfully peddled principle, but have no proven record of legislating on its behalf.
The GOP has virtue and God help us if we are “progressive” rather than regressive. Is it possible this guy can think about the war or the GOP corruption or the incompetence for a couple days at least. Does he really think moderate Republicans were voted out because they are moderate? Tony needs to read some exit polling. It was and is about Iraq silly boy.
On the GOP side, many whose virtue withstood Tuesday’s test are speaking forthrightly about returning the party to its core beliefs. The defeat of a number of the GOP’s veteran moderates and moderate names - including Nancy Johnson (CT), Jim Leach (IA) and Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ) - takes the steam out of arguments by liberal GOP interest groups that the party needs to become “progressive.” Their way proved to be the highway.
All of this so he can push for Bolten to be nominated and confirmed. And for maybe the first time in writing (that I have read) we find the potential true agenda for Iraq - international reform. Is this what the religious lobbyists are talking to the Administration about weekly?
…America also needs a steady hand abroad. As Ambassador to the United Nations, JohnBolton has upheld our values in an increasingly hostile environment. As our global envoy for international reform, freedom, life, and democracy, he has improved our credibility and visibility on the issues we hold dear. Since 2005, his bold approach has been criticized by liberals, who would rather seek global approval than reform. His nomination is now up for Senate renewal. We urge Congress to end the vacillation and give Bolton the affirmation he has earned.
The best advise the GOP can use is to run the hell away from Tony, Ted, Pat and their ‘ilk’s” pressure tactics. Two thirds of the country would like these holy rolling wingers out of our lives. Think small government - please.
Not surprising. The crowd in the White House seem to only care about 1/3 of the country. Guess they were afraid to have anyone ask them hard questions. Pathetic.
Radio Hosts Get Closer to the White House — if Only Physically - washingtonpost.com
Though a handful of liberals, such as Juan Williams of National Public Radio and Fox News, were allowed in the White House tent, others say they were shut out.Rachel Maddow, an Air America host, said the White House did not return her calls when she sought an invitation.
Delusions or defending oneself? BTW…we are all, “You know … reading a lot of history these days.” And - many of us have given up hoping that this president understands the challenges of “this” time. Sadly, we watch this president fail us and the world. Maybe he was right that the next president would have to fix the mess he and the neocons have gotten us in to. He can’t be wrong all the time, right?
PRESIDENT BUSH: It is interesting what’s happened to the Democrat Party. You know, I’m reading a lot of history these days. And, you know, I read about Franklin Roosevelt, who was strong in his confrontation of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. His strength of character, his vision help set the course for victory in World War II. Strong wartime leader.
It was a Democrat president, Harry Truman, who confronted the rise of Soviet communism, and he set the course for victory in — in the Cold War.
John F. Kennedy declared America’s commitment to, in his words, pay any price and bear any burden in the defense of freedom.
These presidents understood the challenges of their time and were willing to confront those challenges with strong leadership. And at the same time, they had great faith in the power of liberty and freedom.
Hmmm. Seems like someone has a plan for Iraq. Joe Biden has been talking about this for months - why do we not hear more about this in the media? Where are the influential bloggers?
Joe Biden has a plan - that is weird, he is a Democrat. You know those accused of “cutting and running” and “no ideas.”
Think we can all quit looking for gays in congress for a few minutes and deal with the real dangerous issues that face America right now? Tony ‘ homosexual agenda’ Perkins (and his friends) has distracted and divided this country for far too long.
The plan would maintain a unified Iraq by decentralizing it and giving Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis breathing room in their own regions - as provided for in the Iraqi constitution. The central government would be responsible for common interests, like border security and the distribution of oil revenues. We would secure support from the Sunnis - who have no oil — by guaranteeing them a proportionate share (about 20 percent) of oil revenues. We would increase economic aid, ask the oil-rich Arab Gulf states to fund it andtie all assistance to the protection of minority rights and the creation of a jobs program. We would convene a regional conference to enlist the support of Iraq’s neighbors and create a Contact Group of the major powers to enforce their commitments. And we would ask our military to draw up plans to responsibly withdraw most U.S. forces from Iraq by the end of 2007 - enough time for the political settlement to take hold.
Sean Hannity seems to be misusing even more gray matter than normal lately, verging on suspicions (on my part) of an unreported brain injury. There has been at least 3 guests this week who have looked at him like he was crazy or just plain ignorant during an interview. These guests supposedly are “conservative” as well. Reagan would turn over in his grave if he knew what Hannity was putting out there- supposedly as “Reagan Conservatve.” I don’t think Reagan would like Hannity or his brand of conservatism.
O’Reilly “interviewing” Bob Woodward this week: Few real questions - and when there was a vague semblance of a question - O’Reilly answered it himself. If he only knew the answers…sigh.
Six more thoughts:
I do not care if Foley is gay. I care that he - as an adult on the premises - apparently has not acted responsibly around young people. I care that he is escaping responsibility by going into rehab rather than facing the consequences. Cowardly. Good riddance.
Religion is personal, not a political agenda.
Kieth Olbermann may be risking his career every day to say publicly what many of us have be thinking for years. If this administration had their way he might be risking jail - for speaking.
The Republicans deserve to be the losers in 2006. In 20 years it will be the Democrats turn. If we are lucky neither party will control everything, ever again.
Hardball with Chris Matthews - is the best political show on television. Period.
Activist judges seem to be judges who do not agree with the religious right.
I just watched (and recommend) Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater. It is a fascinating documentary both on his life and his career. If today’s conservatives are not ashamed of their behavior these last few years - they didn’t know Goldwater. Honestly, there is strong doubt in my mind they knew Reagan either.
CC Goldwater:
It’s hard to speak for him, but I think he would be a little sick about the invasive government we have today.
Our government is in our lives, peeking into our purses, telling us what to do with our bodies, and just sticking its nose where it should not be. My grandfather was about the preservation of our own free liberties, and they are being threatened every day.
On HBO:
Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater
CC Goldwater was five when her grandfather, Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater ran for President in 1964. In this biographical documentary, illuminated by interviews with major public figures and never-before-seen home movies and photos, CC looks back on the man, his morals, his missteps … and his enduring legacy as “Mr. Conservative.” Read more.
