I'm a lousy liberal

Have I mentioned that before? Because I am. That doesn't stop me from really enjoying and agreeing with Shannyn Moore's latest blog entry.

I think you should go and read it.

I grew up with Shannyn. Her dad was my elementary school principal, her mom was the librarian at the other elementary school. I broke her younger sister Jeannie's front tooth at a Hallowe'en carnival in junior high (it was an accident! I still feel AWFUL about it 25 years later). Thanks to Shannyn's piano recitals I know every note to the Maple Leaf Rag.

Shannyn has been getting attention from the MSM, which is really cool. Even as a kid she was outspoken, driven, and very opinionated. Yes, there were times I hated her guts. We were kids. It looks like she's on the road to success with her chosen field, and I am so damn happy for her.

Go Shannyn!

Politics Quizzes

Everyone else is doing it...

This was the first quiz - no surprise on this one...





But then Jim over at Stonekettle Station came up with another quiz. Edit from original post - Hey, in preview it looked like I was over in the Totalitarian camp, which totally blew my mind. But apparently I'm not. Woo hoo! I'm not a jackbooted thug after all.

Yup. I'm apparently a big L libertarian. I'm really a little l libertarian, I think some social programs are ok and that some taxes are necessary and worthwhile.

You are a Social Liberal (78% permissive) and an... Economic Conservative (63% permissive) You are best described as a: Libertarian Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid.com: Free Online Dating Also : The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

VP Debate Wordle

Since Jeri suggested it....






I thought the word Maverick would be much more prominent.

Politics

I try to keep my opinions to myself, which is harder in some situations rather than others.

Disclaimer - I am a registered non-partisan and like it that way. I have issues with all the parties.

Usually Cindy and I watch major events together, and riff with one another. Well, someone was at work this evening, and I was all alone.

So my poor Twitter feed had to endure my abuse.

I don't agree with Sarah Palin on social issues. I loved her comments on projects she line item vetoed for FY08, stating that a number of them were not an appropriate use of state funds. Because she was right. I find her to be too straightforward and unsubtle to be an effective politician in sophisticated arenas (international relations, anyone?). I say this because I know that I'm that way myself. Sarah is a sports nut, so how's this for a metaphor? She's like a HS kid that has been picked to go to the Major Leagues without working her way through the farm system. While talented, she'd really get something out of the farm system without losing who she is.

I think Theresa says some of what I think and feel very very well. Then again, she's an actual professional writer, unlike myself. I'm still cogitating and trying to get to an articulate place rather than just an emotively responsive place.

RIP William F. Buckley Jr.

I loved watching Firing Line on PBS. A show where people were encouraged to think and discuss big ideas, in a civil manner. Wow! Even in the early eighties, we didn't see much of that in the MSM, and we sure as heck don't see it at all today.

Buckley's vocabulary - glorious.
Buckley's politics - for the most part, not my own.

Mostly, I like that he didn't take himself too seriously.

Thank you Mr. Buckley. You helped open the mind of a kid from backwoods Alaska, and I have always been grateful

NYT - William F. Buckley Jr. is dead at 82

Politics

Gods, but I love politics. Reading, discussing, analyzing. Why did I end up with all these obligations right now? For the next ten days I've barely got time to eat, much less read up on or comment on current events.

I like to read Scalzi's I hate your politics to keep things in perspective.

I know he's not all there, but I love Mike Gravel.

And Alaska overwhelmingly voted for Obama? Isn't that just grand?