Here are some of the money quotes I didn't manage to get down last night.
Biden's response after Palin said she would welcome the VP position having more power:
Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we’ve had probably in American history. The idea he doesn’t realize that Article I of the Constitution defines the role of the vice president of the United States, that’s the Executive Branch. He works in the Executive Branch. He should understand that. Everyone should understand that.And the primary role of the vice president of the United States of America is to support the president of the United States of America, give that president his or her best judgment when sought, and as vice president, to preside over the Senate, only in a time when in fact there’s a tie vote. The Constitution is explicit. The only authority the vice president has from the legislative standpoint is the vote, only when there is a tie vote. He has no authority relative to the Congress. The idea he’s part of the Legislative Branch is a bizarre notion invented by Cheney to aggrandize the power of a unitary executive and look where it has gotten us. It has been very dangerous.
Palin on the same question:
"We have a lot of flexibility in there, and we'll do what we have to do to administer very appropriately the plans that are needed for this nation."
Biden on the use of nuclear weapons/Iran/Pakistan:
Well, they're both extremely dangerous. I always am focused, as you know Gwen, I have been focusing on for a long time, along with Barack on Pakistan. Pakistan already has nuclear weapons. Pakistan already has deployed nuclear weapons. Pakistan's weapons can already hit Israel and the Mediterranean. Iran getting a nuclear weapon would be very, very destabilizing. They are more than - they are not close to getting a nuclear weapon that's able to be deployed. So they're both very dangerous. They both would be game changers...
Palin on the same questions:
“An armed, nuclear armed especially Iran is so extremely dangerous to consider..."Nuclear weaponry, of course, would be the be-all, end-all of just too many people in too many parts of our planet, so those dangerous regimes, again, cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, period."
And finally, Biden on McCain's "maverick" status:
Can I respond to that? Look, let’s talk about the maverick John McCain is. And again I love him, he’s been a maverick on some issues but he’s been no maverick on things that a matter people’s lives. He voted four out of five times for George Bush’s budget which put us half a trillion in debt this year and over three trillion in debt since he got there. He has not been a maverick in providing healthcare for people. He voted against including another 3.6 million children in coverage of an existing health care plan in the United States Senate. He’s not been a maverick when it comes to education. He has not supported tax cuts and significant changes for people being able to send their kids to college, he’s not been a maverick on the war, not been a maverick on virtually anything that generally affects the things people really talk about around the kitchen table. Can we get mom’s MRI? Can we send Mary back to school next semester. We can’t make it. How will we heat the house this winter? He even voted against what they call LIHEAP, for assistance for people with oil prices going through the roof in the winter. So a maverick he is not, on the important critical issues that affect people at the kitchen table.
I'll leave it to you to decide.
But can we just be honest here regarding Sarah Palin? Let's just say it: If she were
a man offering last night's debate performance, she would have been roundly mocked and summarily shunned from political life. Please don't tell me she "rocks" (Michelle Malkin) or that "she articulated better than anyone I've seen recently" what our country needs to solve its problems (Lindsey Graham). Whatever your political views, can we at least agree that, while she did not embarrass the ticket, she hardly "rocked" or "articulated" anything. I laughed out loud when I heard Graham say that, since the one thing Governor Palin seems patently unable to do is articulate a single coherent thought on any matter beyond Drill Baby Drill.
My remarks may seem anti-feminist, but they are actually forcefully pro-feminist. Why? Because anytime someone allows a woman to deliver a subpar or passable performance and then leaps to say how fantastic! it was, that person is undermining women everywhere. As a feminist, I expect to be held to the same standards (no more, no less) than a man. So seeing the GOP rush to applaud what is clearly--clearly--a muddled and ill-informed debate performance just pisses me off on behalf of women. And that's not sexist to say. After all, Hillary Clinton could have (and already has in the primaries) answered those questions in an intelligent manner. You know--you know if you are honest with yourself--that if Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney or Bill Richardson delivered that exact same non-performance, that same shamelss refusal to answer questions, that same fallback to folksiness in the face of valid questions, we would all be having a wild time discussing their political self-immolation. They would have ZERO credibility, and we all know it. Instead, because she's a woman, Sarah Palin is being applauded for....basically, not destroying her ticket. THAT is sexist in the extreme.
And finally, I just have to discuss it again. The baby at the event--and believe me I'm holding Todd Palin accountable here as well. Michelle Obama was criticized for not attending the 9/11 memorial in NYC. She stayed at home in Chicago because it was her daughters' first day of school. She was criticized by the Right for being unpatriotic for not showing up. I was mystified at the time that the party of "family values" would be so upset at a mother for staying home to make sure her kids' first day of school went off okay. Obama's kids were not at the most recent debate--because they were kids and because they had school. Is it just me, or do I have my "family values" all backwards? How can you demand that your family be off-limits and then trot them out at all hours of the day and night at every event where you discuss your motherhood as a qualification for office? Believe me, being a mom qualifies me to do so many things I couldn't do before. But be Vice President? Even the self-aggrandizing E knows she ain't qualified.
And one final note: even after all my irritation at Palin, the sad truth for John McCain remains. That is, that John McCain's biggest hindrance is John McCain. His record, his temperament, his conduct of the campaign, his lack of integrity--and yes, his choice of Sarah Palin as the person who would potentially lead this country during these times of very serious crisis--all combine to tell me he is not the person we need in the Oval Office.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Debate-O-Rama
Okay, we're watching it on CNN simply because David Gergen is on that channel, and I quite frankly find him to be the most credible talking head on TV.
I'll keep posting and updating as the night goes on.
Immediate thoughts:
Biden is boring.
Palin is nervous.
CNN has that graph thingie tracking Ohio uncommitted voters, split by males and females. It's interesting to see the split.
Okay, she is not answering the questions. She's tracking huge talking about moms and dads on the sidelines of soccer games worrying about their finances, talking directly to the camera. Biden, making a huge error, is indeed answering the questions, and toward Gwen Ifill.
Oh my god, she has just said she is not going to answer the questions "the way you or the moderator want me to" because she is going to talk "directly to the American people." Wow. She has just gone balls out telling us that she does not plan to answer the questions! Holy mother of god!
Okay, back to the tracker graph. The uncommitted men of Ohio are sheep. They track high on hating deregulation, but also track high when she talks about getting the government off their backs. You can't hate and love the same thing, Ohio men!
I have no idea how this whole thing is going to play out. It's mystifying, to be honest, because she simply does not answer the questions, she simply pivots to her own talking point without even an attempt to answer even the general outline of the question. Oh yeah, Palin's got cojones, all right. But not the courageous kind; the chutzpah kind.
More to Come...
OH MY GOD! She gave a one word answer, "No" and then said, "now I want to talk more about my record." She's tracking huge talking about energy independence from foreign oil. Climate change? "I don't want to argue about the causes," the important thing is to figure out what we're going to do about it. Biden is tracking huge talking about clean coal. Palin just used the "Drill, baby, Drill" and thank god no one responded.
Okay, I've got to give it to Ohio men, they held steady as Biden said that there would be no distinction in an Obama administration between committed couples, whether gay or straight. However, they also went huge for not redefining traditional marriage.
On to foreign policy:
Biden is rocking the house with his line to have the Iraqis spend their own money and use their own troops. Palin is in the basement with her "your plan for Iraq is a white flag of surrender." Sweetie, no one is convincing Americans that ending this war is a bad thing. Not even you.
Regarding "funding for the troops," she just keeps repeating a lie, that Barack Obama voted against funding for the troops, failing to note that John McCain voted against that same bill. Biden keeps correcting her and she keeps repeating it.
Aha! She said nuk-u-lar! I was waiting for it. Republicans can't say nuclear, any more than they can remember that we are not the "Democrat Party." She has said "Ahmadinejad" about 12 times, perhaps thinking that if she says it enough we will think she has thought deeply about it.
Okay, now we're on to Israel. Two state solution, says Palin. Tries to link the holocaust with diplomacy toward Iran. Biden is just so far beyond Palin in his knowledge of this issue and our Israel policy. Whether that will matter to the average person, who knows? But Biden just knows his shit inside and out on this..as evidenced by his actual answers to Ifill's actual questions. Palin's answer? She applauds Biden's support of Israel.
Palin has yet to drool on herself, which will mean of course that the debate will be called in her favor, even though she has answered--actually answered--maybe two questions. She's calling out Obama for saying that we're bombing villages and killing civilians in Afghanistan. Biden corrects her.
More forpol coming up...
More program notes: Biden loves to point with his pen. Palin loves to smile and get all chatty-looking when she's saying something anti-Obama/Biden. She has a habit of winking too. I'm wondering if that's a turnon for male voters or a turnoff? It's a massive turnoff for me.
She just said that John McCain "knows how to win a war." Which war is that, now?
Ifill just "went there." If "the worst happened" and you ended up as President, how would your administration differ from that of the top of your ticket? What an ugly--but I suppose necessary--question. Palin is tracking high on her "Wasilla mainstreet" talk.
Oh my god. She just did a "shout out" to the kids in some school like she's on a radio call-in show. Again, will middle America find that endearing? I don't know. But it's not entirely comforting to me thinking of her as a potential president.
Another note: for all the drama about Gwen Ifill, IMHO she has done a perfectly fine job as moderator. Fair, no-nonsense and completely professional.
Biden just nails it when he disagrees with Cheney's definition of the office of the Vice President. I'm going to try to youtube it for you because it is so well said.
They were asked about their Achilles Heel as VP. Palin is now discussing her experience. She is saying "mom, special needs kid..." as her qualifications. Biden just spoke frankly about being a single parent when his wife and daughter died, leaving his sons critically injured. His voice broke a little, and I hope that doesn't hurt him a la Muskie. I hope we're in a different era. Palin is smart enough to leave that alone and just move on to her talking points.
Biden is just laying it out tonight: "John McCain, God love him, has not been a maverick on the issues that matter to people."
I really want this to end now. Is that wrong to say? I'm over this now.
The question is How Will You Change the Tone in Washington? Biden says he'll work as VP to return to the days of not questioning other people's motives but rather their judgment. Palin's answer is ... I don't know. She's talking about building infrastructure and cutting taxes.
Her final statement is "Proud to be American. Fight for our freedoms." Quoting Reagan.
Biden's final statement is about how he and Barack measure progress by how people can pay their bills, how America has credibility at home and around the world. When you get knocked down, get up. It's time for America to get up together.
More after the pundits get started...
Okay, just one question that will perhaps be considered terribly sexist. Why is a brand new baby up at 10:40pm?! In a university auditorium?! That poor infant! Can't they just let the kid go to sleep in a nice quiet place? I'm just wondering whether I would have taken my months-old baby with me to such an event, preferring instead to let her sleep at home or at least in a safe, quiet place.
More and better stuff than mine over at TPM: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/221584.php
Okay. Really. The baby is still up at 11:10pm, being held by his sister, having his little hand waved at the crowd. Somebody put this baby to bed! Oh my god! I know I'm stuck on this, but it is bugging me.
I'll keep posting and updating as the night goes on.
Immediate thoughts:
Biden is boring.
Palin is nervous.
CNN has that graph thingie tracking Ohio uncommitted voters, split by males and females. It's interesting to see the split.
Okay, she is not answering the questions. She's tracking huge talking about moms and dads on the sidelines of soccer games worrying about their finances, talking directly to the camera. Biden, making a huge error, is indeed answering the questions, and toward Gwen Ifill.
Oh my god, she has just said she is not going to answer the questions "the way you or the moderator want me to" because she is going to talk "directly to the American people." Wow. She has just gone balls out telling us that she does not plan to answer the questions! Holy mother of god!
Okay, back to the tracker graph. The uncommitted men of Ohio are sheep. They track high on hating deregulation, but also track high when she talks about getting the government off their backs. You can't hate and love the same thing, Ohio men!
I have no idea how this whole thing is going to play out. It's mystifying, to be honest, because she simply does not answer the questions, she simply pivots to her own talking point without even an attempt to answer even the general outline of the question. Oh yeah, Palin's got cojones, all right. But not the courageous kind; the chutzpah kind.
More to Come...
OH MY GOD! She gave a one word answer, "No" and then said, "now I want to talk more about my record." She's tracking huge talking about energy independence from foreign oil. Climate change? "I don't want to argue about the causes," the important thing is to figure out what we're going to do about it. Biden is tracking huge talking about clean coal. Palin just used the "Drill, baby, Drill" and thank god no one responded.
Okay, I've got to give it to Ohio men, they held steady as Biden said that there would be no distinction in an Obama administration between committed couples, whether gay or straight. However, they also went huge for not redefining traditional marriage.
On to foreign policy:
Biden is rocking the house with his line to have the Iraqis spend their own money and use their own troops. Palin is in the basement with her "your plan for Iraq is a white flag of surrender." Sweetie, no one is convincing Americans that ending this war is a bad thing. Not even you.
Regarding "funding for the troops," she just keeps repeating a lie, that Barack Obama voted against funding for the troops, failing to note that John McCain voted against that same bill. Biden keeps correcting her and she keeps repeating it.
Aha! She said nuk-u-lar! I was waiting for it. Republicans can't say nuclear, any more than they can remember that we are not the "Democrat Party." She has said "Ahmadinejad" about 12 times, perhaps thinking that if she says it enough we will think she has thought deeply about it.
Okay, now we're on to Israel. Two state solution, says Palin. Tries to link the holocaust with diplomacy toward Iran. Biden is just so far beyond Palin in his knowledge of this issue and our Israel policy. Whether that will matter to the average person, who knows? But Biden just knows his shit inside and out on this..as evidenced by his actual answers to Ifill's actual questions. Palin's answer? She applauds Biden's support of Israel.
Palin has yet to drool on herself, which will mean of course that the debate will be called in her favor, even though she has answered--actually answered--maybe two questions. She's calling out Obama for saying that we're bombing villages and killing civilians in Afghanistan. Biden corrects her.
More forpol coming up...
More program notes: Biden loves to point with his pen. Palin loves to smile and get all chatty-looking when she's saying something anti-Obama/Biden. She has a habit of winking too. I'm wondering if that's a turnon for male voters or a turnoff? It's a massive turnoff for me.
She just said that John McCain "knows how to win a war." Which war is that, now?
Ifill just "went there." If "the worst happened" and you ended up as President, how would your administration differ from that of the top of your ticket? What an ugly--but I suppose necessary--question. Palin is tracking high on her "Wasilla mainstreet" talk.
Oh my god. She just did a "shout out" to the kids in some school like she's on a radio call-in show. Again, will middle America find that endearing? I don't know. But it's not entirely comforting to me thinking of her as a potential president.
Another note: for all the drama about Gwen Ifill, IMHO she has done a perfectly fine job as moderator. Fair, no-nonsense and completely professional.
Biden just nails it when he disagrees with Cheney's definition of the office of the Vice President. I'm going to try to youtube it for you because it is so well said.
They were asked about their Achilles Heel as VP. Palin is now discussing her experience. She is saying "mom, special needs kid..." as her qualifications. Biden just spoke frankly about being a single parent when his wife and daughter died, leaving his sons critically injured. His voice broke a little, and I hope that doesn't hurt him a la Muskie. I hope we're in a different era. Palin is smart enough to leave that alone and just move on to her talking points.
Biden is just laying it out tonight: "John McCain, God love him, has not been a maverick on the issues that matter to people."
I really want this to end now. Is that wrong to say? I'm over this now.
The question is How Will You Change the Tone in Washington? Biden says he'll work as VP to return to the days of not questioning other people's motives but rather their judgment. Palin's answer is ... I don't know. She's talking about building infrastructure and cutting taxes.
Her final statement is "Proud to be American. Fight for our freedoms." Quoting Reagan.
Biden's final statement is about how he and Barack measure progress by how people can pay their bills, how America has credibility at home and around the world. When you get knocked down, get up. It's time for America to get up together.
More after the pundits get started...
Okay, just one question that will perhaps be considered terribly sexist. Why is a brand new baby up at 10:40pm?! In a university auditorium?! That poor infant! Can't they just let the kid go to sleep in a nice quiet place? I'm just wondering whether I would have taken my months-old baby with me to such an event, preferring instead to let her sleep at home or at least in a safe, quiet place.
More and better stuff than mine over at TPM: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/221584.php
Okay. Really. The baby is still up at 11:10pm, being held by his sister, having his little hand waved at the crowd. Somebody put this baby to bed! Oh my god! I know I'm stuck on this, but it is bugging me.
Tonight's VP Debate
I'm worried. Worried because of the collective "soft bigotry of low expectations" around Sarah Palin. All she has to do is not make an earth-crushingly stupid remark and she'll be considered a winner. Joe Biden has to play hardball while not looking like he's being mean to a lady. The consensus around Team Haggis is that Biden should err on the side of saying too little and let Palin hoist herself on her own petard. But brother also needs to watch his back because she's good at folksy stories (some true, some not) that "connect" with "average" Americans.
Argh. I want to watch the debate but I almost can't bring myself to, I'm so nervous about it. At the same time, it is required viewing. After all, when a VP candidate is asked to name any landmark Supreme Court cases that inform her thinking, and it is characterized by her campaign as a "gotcha" question, well, you know we need to hear more. Yeah I get it that not many people could name landmark Supreme Court cases they agree with, but you know what? We're not running for VP, are we? We're not asking a nation of people to elect us to the highest office in the land, if not the world, are we? So you'll forgive me for thinking that those seeking the office should at least have cracked a newspaper and thought about Brown v. Board of Ed once in a while.
Anyway. I'll be blogging during the debate. If I can stand it.
Argh. I want to watch the debate but I almost can't bring myself to, I'm so nervous about it. At the same time, it is required viewing. After all, when a VP candidate is asked to name any landmark Supreme Court cases that inform her thinking, and it is characterized by her campaign as a "gotcha" question, well, you know we need to hear more. Yeah I get it that not many people could name landmark Supreme Court cases they agree with, but you know what? We're not running for VP, are we? We're not asking a nation of people to elect us to the highest office in the land, if not the world, are we? So you'll forgive me for thinking that those seeking the office should at least have cracked a newspaper and thought about Brown v. Board of Ed once in a while.
Anyway. I'll be blogging during the debate. If I can stand it.
Registered to Vote? Best Double Check
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6453
A link to an article detailing a CBS News report on voter roll purges being done against federal law (ie, within 90 days of a federal election) in many battleground states. Think you're registered just because you've always been? Last election, the BBDD was told he was not registered, and if he hadn't been, shall we say, firm in his declaration of his right to vote, he'd have been just turned away. As it was, he filled out a provisional ballot after protesting, but how many people would just walk away not knowing they absolutely have the right to vote and to demand it?
Seriously, double check:
http://www.votersunite.org/info/RegInfo.asp
A link to an article detailing a CBS News report on voter roll purges being done against federal law (ie, within 90 days of a federal election) in many battleground states. Think you're registered just because you've always been? Last election, the BBDD was told he was not registered, and if he hadn't been, shall we say, firm in his declaration of his right to vote, he'd have been just turned away. As it was, he filled out a provisional ballot after protesting, but how many people would just walk away not knowing they absolutely have the right to vote and to demand it?
Seriously, double check:
http://www.votersunite.org/info/RegInfo.asp
Music Meme
I never do these memes, and I often feel bad about that. So here is one, from Utah, via Randal, from early September, wherein I am supposed to list my favorite 25 tunes on my IPod. I don't know that I've ever thought "these are my favorites" but they are apparently my most-listened-to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MhGcyXETlQ Italia, Gabriel Yared (Don't watch the video, just close your eyes and listen. You will find yourself in Italy living La Dolce Vita)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R1dtIf8LQM Dixie, Gettysburg Soundtrack (I wrote my senior thesis in college during all-nighters to this soundtrack; it sounds spare and tragic)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcCouVxagNw Change Your Mind, The Killers (This was my little conversation with God before and during my transplant, about whether I was going to live. "If the answer is no, can I change your mind?")
You You Zha, Beijing Angelic Choir (Bambina slept to this music during her first weeks at home, and it makes me ache in a good way to remember her as a wee baby). Okay, can't find that. Here is Lullaby, which will give you an idea of how truly angelic these kids sound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRE5oE00guY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_KY_d9MQv8 Sloop John B, Beach Boys (My Dad and I used to sing this at the top of our lungs on car rides, he being the huge Beach Boys fan)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7e80rBSzC0 Typewriter, Tip Tip Tip, Kishore Kumar and Asha Bosle (from the Darjeeling Limited; an awesome collection of retro Indian movie music)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGdMLux4FvE Take Me Out, Franz Ferdinand (Scottish boys who know how to write a hit with awesome guitars)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t7xE8yovw4 Ants Marching, Dave Mathews Band (Yes, I am in love with Dave Matthews. And not just because he writes chaotic and awesome stuff like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4T4I9DRGok Loch Lomond, Runrig (Again, makes me think of my Dad; and I love how they've "rockified" it)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vxVyaYuGYE For Once in My Life, Stevie Wonder (The song that always makes me think of my damn good luck to have the BBDD and Bambina. Jeremy Piven's Ari stole it from me in Entourage.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGjC0wbUXzk Canned Heat, Jamiroquai (Because nothing says it's a party like some Jamiroquai)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cALzoZh9PaM Flower of Scotland, The Clancy Brothers (Do I even need to tell you why? Scotland is Free!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R08q2wzGpzk Life is Wonderful, Jason Mraz (I love Jason Mraz; he's so quirky. I love this song because it sums up my worldview these days)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqBJFDbE2ZI Ave Maria, Andrea Bocelli (I have mentioned previously that Andrea Bocelli sings only to me, right? Especially, and ironically, all the sacred arias, which he sings more beautifully than anyone...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx9br5ISRpo Nightswimming, REM (Reminds me of college)
Kangding Qinggde, Old-Timey Music Party, Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet (Mixes traditional Chinese music with bluegrass. Awesome.) I can't find the YouTube for this, but here is Journey Home, another fantastic song in Chinese to American bluegrass music that makes me think of our time in China with Bambina [it gets really started around 1:54]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6PotFtbUaQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKQCwSzNE40 I Want Your Love, Chic (This is my childhood with my uber-cool uncle and aunt in England circa 1978, not to mention that this band knew that the bass is the sexiest instrument in the whole band)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHc6J5ZAy6M Fly Me to the Moon, Sinatra at the Sands (Francis Albert is my man...and this is a fun song)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGdwQf2a0W0 Mack the Knife, Sinatra (with Dino, this is one of the best)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj5GPOPXeJc Sit Down, James (Those who feel the breath of sadness, sit down next to me, those who find they're touched by madness, sit down next to me, those who find themselves ridiculous, sit down next to me).
Purple Rain, Prince and the Revolution (The anthem of my early adolescence)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g6kI0POZ5c High Lonesome Sound, Vince Gill (Nobody does it like Vince)
The Four Seasons, Summer; Vivaldi (This is what my parents played when I was a kid hanging around the living room)
Haneros Hallalu, Le'eyla (Adapted from a Hebrew blessing for Chanukah; it's usually sung quickly, but this song is slow and spare, evocative of a winter night)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5quPqeFvWAY Funkin' Around, OutKast (The first and only of their kind. I miss OutKast, even though I love Andre's solo stuff. It's time to bounce, rock, rollerskate!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MhGcyXETlQ Italia, Gabriel Yared (Don't watch the video, just close your eyes and listen. You will find yourself in Italy living La Dolce Vita)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R1dtIf8LQM Dixie, Gettysburg Soundtrack (I wrote my senior thesis in college during all-nighters to this soundtrack; it sounds spare and tragic)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcCouVxagNw Change Your Mind, The Killers (This was my little conversation with God before and during my transplant, about whether I was going to live. "If the answer is no, can I change your mind?")
You You Zha, Beijing Angelic Choir (Bambina slept to this music during her first weeks at home, and it makes me ache in a good way to remember her as a wee baby). Okay, can't find that. Here is Lullaby, which will give you an idea of how truly angelic these kids sound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRE5oE00guY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_KY_d9MQv8 Sloop John B, Beach Boys (My Dad and I used to sing this at the top of our lungs on car rides, he being the huge Beach Boys fan)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7e80rBSzC0 Typewriter, Tip Tip Tip, Kishore Kumar and Asha Bosle (from the Darjeeling Limited; an awesome collection of retro Indian movie music)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGdMLux4FvE Take Me Out, Franz Ferdinand (Scottish boys who know how to write a hit with awesome guitars)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t7xE8yovw4 Ants Marching, Dave Mathews Band (Yes, I am in love with Dave Matthews. And not just because he writes chaotic and awesome stuff like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4T4I9DRGok Loch Lomond, Runrig (Again, makes me think of my Dad; and I love how they've "rockified" it)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vxVyaYuGYE For Once in My Life, Stevie Wonder (The song that always makes me think of my damn good luck to have the BBDD and Bambina. Jeremy Piven's Ari stole it from me in Entourage.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGjC0wbUXzk Canned Heat, Jamiroquai (Because nothing says it's a party like some Jamiroquai)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cALzoZh9PaM Flower of Scotland, The Clancy Brothers (Do I even need to tell you why? Scotland is Free!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R08q2wzGpzk Life is Wonderful, Jason Mraz (I love Jason Mraz; he's so quirky. I love this song because it sums up my worldview these days)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqBJFDbE2ZI Ave Maria, Andrea Bocelli (I have mentioned previously that Andrea Bocelli sings only to me, right? Especially, and ironically, all the sacred arias, which he sings more beautifully than anyone...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx9br5ISRpo Nightswimming, REM (Reminds me of college)
Kangding Qinggde, Old-Timey Music Party, Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet (Mixes traditional Chinese music with bluegrass. Awesome.) I can't find the YouTube for this, but here is Journey Home, another fantastic song in Chinese to American bluegrass music that makes me think of our time in China with Bambina [it gets really started around 1:54]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6PotFtbUaQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKQCwSzNE40 I Want Your Love, Chic (This is my childhood with my uber-cool uncle and aunt in England circa 1978, not to mention that this band knew that the bass is the sexiest instrument in the whole band)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHc6J5ZAy6M Fly Me to the Moon, Sinatra at the Sands (Francis Albert is my man...and this is a fun song)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGdwQf2a0W0 Mack the Knife, Sinatra (with Dino, this is one of the best)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj5GPOPXeJc Sit Down, James (Those who feel the breath of sadness, sit down next to me, those who find they're touched by madness, sit down next to me, those who find themselves ridiculous, sit down next to me).
Purple Rain, Prince and the Revolution (The anthem of my early adolescence)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g6kI0POZ5c High Lonesome Sound, Vince Gill (Nobody does it like Vince)
The Four Seasons, Summer; Vivaldi (This is what my parents played when I was a kid hanging around the living room)
Haneros Hallalu, Le'eyla (Adapted from a Hebrew blessing for Chanukah; it's usually sung quickly, but this song is slow and spare, evocative of a winter night)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5quPqeFvWAY Funkin' Around, OutKast (The first and only of their kind. I miss OutKast, even though I love Andre's solo stuff. It's time to bounce, rock, rollerskate!)
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Miscellaneous Election Stuff
http://www.popehat.com/2008/10/01/100208-vp-debate-drinking-game/#more-2020
That's a link to a VP Debate drinking game, brought to you by Derrick at Popehat. He's right on target with the goals for each candidate. I love my Big Joe Biden, but Derrick is correct that his primary job tomorrow night is to avoid looking like a "gigantic douche." My fear is that Palin has such low expectations that all she needs to do is not totally melt down and it will be called a home run. Whereas if Joe Biden gets at all exuberant about something, he'll be bullying such a sweet lady.
Next up, a video of McCain with the Des Moines Register. Not only does he seem Just This Side of losing his temper, but he seems to genuinely subscribe to the view that non-factual statements are not lies, but simply alternate valid viewpoints. Like, he "respects the right" of the editorial board of the Register to think that Obama does not support classic sex education for kindergarteners, but he can show documentation that he does. Except for the fact that such "documentation" has been widely discredited.
And one last thought: When are we allowed to smack the next person who uses the totally beat phrase, "in the tank for..."? It's this quarter's "under the bus" and it needs to stop. Think of something else to say, Michelle Malkin and your ilk (all people who didn't feel so compelled to use the term when McCain was enjoying the friendly support of the media [whom he referred to at the time as his "base."]) Think of a more eloquent and creative way to say what you're trying to say without resorting to cliches like "under the bus," "the fix is in," or "playing the race card." All of these have been used today to discuss the manufactured controversy over Gwen Ifill's role as a moderator of the VP debate and author of an (as yet unwritten) book on the new black power in the "age of Obama." Malkin is hyperventilating that the McCain campaign did not know about the book and has therefore been duped by a left-leaning press. Okay. Or, you know, the crack team of experts running the McCain campaign could have looked on that very private and password-encryptedly inaccessible site called Amazon.com at some point in the past two months to see the blurb about the upcoming book. It's pretty sad when I'm sitting on my couch aware of a book by Gwen Ifill, and an entire presidential campaign apparently is not. But, as always, when confronted with your own dumbassness, best to blame the media.
And finally, the Obama Tax Cut Calculator, since everyone and their mother seems to still believe that Obama is going to raise their taxes. (John McCain, war hero, said it, so it must be true).
http://alchemytoday.com/obamataxcut/
That's a link to a VP Debate drinking game, brought to you by Derrick at Popehat. He's right on target with the goals for each candidate. I love my Big Joe Biden, but Derrick is correct that his primary job tomorrow night is to avoid looking like a "gigantic douche." My fear is that Palin has such low expectations that all she needs to do is not totally melt down and it will be called a home run. Whereas if Joe Biden gets at all exuberant about something, he'll be bullying such a sweet lady.
Next up, a video of McCain with the Des Moines Register. Not only does he seem Just This Side of losing his temper, but he seems to genuinely subscribe to the view that non-factual statements are not lies, but simply alternate valid viewpoints. Like, he "respects the right" of the editorial board of the Register to think that Obama does not support classic sex education for kindergarteners, but he can show documentation that he does. Except for the fact that such "documentation" has been widely discredited.
And one last thought: When are we allowed to smack the next person who uses the totally beat phrase, "in the tank for..."? It's this quarter's "under the bus" and it needs to stop. Think of something else to say, Michelle Malkin and your ilk (all people who didn't feel so compelled to use the term when McCain was enjoying the friendly support of the media [whom he referred to at the time as his "base."]) Think of a more eloquent and creative way to say what you're trying to say without resorting to cliches like "under the bus," "the fix is in," or "playing the race card." All of these have been used today to discuss the manufactured controversy over Gwen Ifill's role as a moderator of the VP debate and author of an (as yet unwritten) book on the new black power in the "age of Obama." Malkin is hyperventilating that the McCain campaign did not know about the book and has therefore been duped by a left-leaning press. Okay. Or, you know, the crack team of experts running the McCain campaign could have looked on that very private and password-encryptedly inaccessible site called Amazon.com at some point in the past two months to see the blurb about the upcoming book. It's pretty sad when I'm sitting on my couch aware of a book by Gwen Ifill, and an entire presidential campaign apparently is not. But, as always, when confronted with your own dumbassness, best to blame the media.
And finally, the Obama Tax Cut Calculator, since everyone and their mother seems to still believe that Obama is going to raise their taxes. (John McCain, war hero, said it, so it must be true).
http://alchemytoday.com/obamataxcut/
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Bambina Tovah, Dog Sameach
L'shana Tovah (Happy New Year), to my fellow Tribe members. It's Rosh Hashanah, and that means it's the new year. We went to temple today with Bambina. We were in the kiddie services where the leader was asking the kids in a lead-up to a song, "Is anyone bigger than God?"
Kids: "No!"
"Is anyone sweeter than God?"
Kids: "No!"
"Is anyone more loving than God?"
Kids: "No!"
"Is anyone faster than God?"
Kids: "No!"
Bambina (at full volume): "Yes!"
I turned to her (along with everyone else) and whispered, "Who is faster than God?" She looked at me very earnestly and said, "Me."
Then we went to Gram and Pop's house for dinner. While they were cooking, we were hanging out in the den with Cliff "The Sniff," the family big dog. Cliff has a funny practice of jumping around on the couch, knocking the cushions off, and generally acting like a canine hoodlum for about 3 minutes. Then he shakes himself off and goes on his way self-satisfied, having worked out his extra energy on the sofa while we all watch and laugh. Well, tonight Cliff did not disappoint. Only this time, he was packing heat. As he was jumping around I noticed that his doggie weiner was out. And I mean OUT. Like, I need to disinfect my eyes, out. Out. So far out that Bambina noticed it. She said, "What is that thing coming out of his bum?!" The BBDD and I looked at each other, like, who is gonna blink first and have to answer this question. BBDD weighed in with, "That's not his bum." Which of course is not an answer, so the question was asked again: "What is that coming out of his bum?" We stare each other down again. Oh for heavens sake, I'll do it: "Bambina, that is not his bum. It is his dog penis." The BBDD is now struggling to contain his laughter...and horror. And let me defend my use of the term "dog penis" by saying that I too was flailing around without a clue how to answer this very understandable query."
Bambina: "Dog penis?!!"
Me: "Yes. Like boys have penises, so do boy dogs. And that's his."
But wait, it gets worse. I apparently, in my shock and horror at having seen Cliff's family jewels OUT, followed that up with serious verbal diarrhea: "You know, how boys have penises and girls have vaginas. Well, Cliff has a penis because he is a boy dog; and girl dogs have dog vaginas." The BBDD literally could not contain himself and started laughing. In fact, he is still reminding me as I write this, that I used the term "dog vagina" in front of our kid.
In my defense, NO ONE should see a dog's penis OUT. Even my limited knowledge of animal husbandry tells me that even female dogs don't have to see it OUT. It just ain't right. BBDD and I are both feeling a little scarred by the experience, let alone the fact that our kid saw it too. And on a religious holiday, no less!
On the bright side, it looks like at least one member of the family's new year is off to a rousing start...
Kids: "No!"
"Is anyone sweeter than God?"
Kids: "No!"
"Is anyone more loving than God?"
Kids: "No!"
"Is anyone faster than God?"
Kids: "No!"
Bambina (at full volume): "Yes!"
I turned to her (along with everyone else) and whispered, "Who is faster than God?" She looked at me very earnestly and said, "Me."
Then we went to Gram and Pop's house for dinner. While they were cooking, we were hanging out in the den with Cliff "The Sniff," the family big dog. Cliff has a funny practice of jumping around on the couch, knocking the cushions off, and generally acting like a canine hoodlum for about 3 minutes. Then he shakes himself off and goes on his way self-satisfied, having worked out his extra energy on the sofa while we all watch and laugh. Well, tonight Cliff did not disappoint. Only this time, he was packing heat. As he was jumping around I noticed that his doggie weiner was out. And I mean OUT. Like, I need to disinfect my eyes, out. Out. So far out that Bambina noticed it. She said, "What is that thing coming out of his bum?!" The BBDD and I looked at each other, like, who is gonna blink first and have to answer this question. BBDD weighed in with, "That's not his bum." Which of course is not an answer, so the question was asked again: "What is that coming out of his bum?" We stare each other down again. Oh for heavens sake, I'll do it: "Bambina, that is not his bum. It is his dog penis." The BBDD is now struggling to contain his laughter...and horror. And let me defend my use of the term "dog penis" by saying that I too was flailing around without a clue how to answer this very understandable query."
Bambina: "Dog penis?!!"
Me: "Yes. Like boys have penises, so do boy dogs. And that's his."
But wait, it gets worse. I apparently, in my shock and horror at having seen Cliff's family jewels OUT, followed that up with serious verbal diarrhea: "You know, how boys have penises and girls have vaginas. Well, Cliff has a penis because he is a boy dog; and girl dogs have dog vaginas." The BBDD literally could not contain himself and started laughing. In fact, he is still reminding me as I write this, that I used the term "dog vagina" in front of our kid.
In my defense, NO ONE should see a dog's penis OUT. Even my limited knowledge of animal husbandry tells me that even female dogs don't have to see it OUT. It just ain't right. BBDD and I are both feeling a little scarred by the experience, let alone the fact that our kid saw it too. And on a religious holiday, no less!
On the bright side, it looks like at least one member of the family's new year is off to a rousing start...
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