Clipmarks | graphictruth's 'politics' clips

Bleeding Heart Libertarianism

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 01:59:40 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: "Devil Take the Hindmost" is not libertarianism.

Nor is it freedom.

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

I confess freely that I might be accurately described as a "bleeding heart libertarian."

I believe that because I believe it to be rather obvious that my personal welfare and that of my neighbors and fellows are inextricably entangled, and that the only sure way to ensure my rights and to meet my needs is to be rather insistent about theirs not being infringed.

I believe in a free market, by which I mean a market in which all persons are able to participate on an equal footing, trading what they have for what they wish at a fair rate of exchange so that everyone involved feels as if they got the better end of the deal. If that sounds like an idealized and highly simplified description of capitalism, it is. It's also, you may note, an idealized description of Communism, in that it really is "from each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs."

Tags: elections. politics, ethics, liberty, morality

Another Breathtaking Bushism

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:04:12 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: George Bush, in his own person, is the single best argument against both intelligent design and an active and participant God of Justice.

I mean this quite seriously; this is the sort of thing that causes people to loose their faith - or at least, put the greater part of their faith into causes and ideals with more immediate payoffs.

After all, if there were such a god as the followers of Bush proclaim - the thirty-percenters, the name-it-claim it fringe of the ignorant, the stupid and the magical thinkers, bush would have been incinerated by a bolt of divine lightning as he uttered these words.

On the other hand, were that the case, we'd pretty much have to live with the idea of the Divine Right of Kings, so I suppose it's a wash. Not to mention being a huge relief to personal security personnel the world over.

Still, when a Bush president says they want to "help the people realize the blessings of liberty," that means everyone else hears a chorus of "Freedom's just anot

Clip Source: news.yahoo.com

HAVANA - An ailing, 81-year-old Fidel Castro resigned as Cuba's president Tuesday after nearly a half-century in power, saying he will not accept a new term when parliament meets Sunday.

Bush, traveling in Rwanda, pledged to "help the people of Cuba realize the blessings of liberty."

"The international community should work with the Cuban people to begin to build institutions that are necessary for democracy," he said. "Eventually, this transition ought to lead to free and fair elections — and I mean free, and I mean fair — not these kind of staged elections that the Castro brothers try to foist off as true democracy."

Tags: cuba, castro, impeachment, elections. politics, ethics, george bush, liberty, morality, politics, reform

An Odor of Sanctimony

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:33:28 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

Romney Drops Out of GOP Race - The Fix:

"'If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win,' he said. 'And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror.'"

Don't you just want to slap him until all the phony cracks and falls away?

Tags: mitt romney, elections. politics

Thoughts on Hillary and the Nation

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:20:06 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: a tiny excerpt from an unusually overlong post that is, nonetheless, well worth reading.

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

There is a yin and a yang, and from my perspective, Hillary's yang hangs to her knees, and anyone who's yang is shorter, or who's yin is wider is probably more welcome in polite company.

But "Polite Comany" and "world leader" don't usually go hand in hand, so don't think I'm saying this as a put down. I respect Hill enourmously. I'm just not sure she deserves (in either the usual or the ironic sense) to be President.

A big, long, knobby Yang ain't a bad thing for a US President - unless you are betting on her to act according to your particular preconceptions of gender-based solidarity. And I personally think it would be better in some larger and less immediate sense if she were assured enough in her own gender to not try to counter-program her own femininity.

Tags: clinton, ethics, evangelical christianity, politics, religion

Why does religion make people do bad things?

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:50:05 GMT

clipped by: walski69
clipper's remarks: RPK does some soul-searching, asking this interesting and important question.

Clip Source: www.malaysia-today.net

Religion is supposed to be good, not only Islam, but any religion for that matter. And that is what I went through during phase two, discovering religion. But if religion is good, then why are religious people bad? Why is it when I meet unreligious people or atheists, I see good people? And why when I meet orthodox religious people, I see bad people? Yes, that is what has been nagging me in this phase three of my life. If religion is good, then religious people should be good and unreligious people or atheists should be bad. But why is it the other way around? And this does not apply to only Muslims.

Tags: malaysia, isa, politics, religion

Huckabee - Theocrat wannabe

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:29:50 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: So, he's lying about his qualifications, and deluding himself that he knows what "this war on terror" is about.

AND he thinks fighting fire with fire is a good idea, too.

Clip Source: www.alternet.org

In November, Huckabee tried to claim the mantle of the GOP's leading terror fighter, arguing:

"I think I'm stronger than most people because I truly understand the nature of the war that we are in with Islamo fascism. These are people that want to kill us. It's a theocratic war. And I don't know if anybody fully understands that. I'm the only guy on that stage with a theology degree."

Apparently, Mike Huckabee knows a theocrat when he sees one.

Well, unfortunately Huck's campaign had to do some backpedaling because the rapist/murderer-releasing Baptist minister and former Arkansas governor doesn't have a theology degree -- he only spent a year in seminary.

Tags: religion, politics, political, christianity, ethics, evangelical, mike huckabee, morality

Those who are easily shocked

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 23:44:29 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: ...should be shocked more often.

I made this one JUST for Willhiem.

No, not really.

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

Mae West: Those who are easily shocked...
by

webcarve

Get this custom shirt
at Zazzle

Tags: mae west, shocked, ethics, morality, liberty, politics, pornography

Render Unto Ceaser

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:46:55 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: When people make their faith a reccomendation to the voters, it becomes important to review and consider their statements in light of the faith they claim and consider the implications that arise if we believe they are sincere - and also the implication that arise if we find their professed faith is in conflict with their ambitions.

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

I have a serious problem with the ultimate credibility of both Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, which has nothing to do with their politics. It's with what both claim to inform and shape their politics, their faith.

But if we are to praise men of faith who do their best to honor the words of Christ as they understand them in the world, we must heed Matthew 6:24 :

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

Which means, alas, that neither man should, in conscience, be running for political office, knowing full well that they cannot and must not serve two masters.

The only question is this: which one will they choose to betray?

Tags: optional. separate by commas., constitution, culture, ethics, mike huckabee, pro-life amendment, mitt romney

Huckabee Soft-headed on Crime

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:37:53 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: The more you look behind the smiling, nice guy, small town preacher facade, the more you realize you have met a plot device from a Steven King novel...

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

this is not about a governor carefully reviewing a case and finding grounds for reasonable doubt - in Huckabee's case, the process appears to be whimsical, insensitive and entirely inexplicable to the legal community.

When you talk to prosecutors around the state, many of them will tell you they're unhappy that Gov. Huckabee pardons criminals without letting law-enforcement officials or victims' families know why he's doing it, as he's required by law.
___ "He doesn't take giving clemency very seriously," complains Saline County Prosecuting Attorney Robert Herzfeld, who will push for new legislation next year to make the clemency process less secretive.

signally and contrary to the Arkansas state constitution, he refuses to explain his reasons for granting clemency.

Tags: mike huckabee, e, pardon, politics, rapist, rape, republican leadership, wayne dumond

You don't have to be a Libertarian to say things like this...

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:07:29 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: ...but if you say them frequently and loudly, you probably are.

But aside from probably being a Libertarian, you would also be correct.

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

The Constitution does not "grant" the right to bear arms or any other right, rather, it recognizes rights that exist whether authorities like it or not and restricts the extent to which Government can request a delegation of those rights in return for better results than individuals could manage for themselves.

Tags: constitution, government, politics, liberty, libertarian, 2nd amendment

Quo Bono Wankum?

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 02:05:34 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: Who does it benifit, that your teenager wanks off to this?

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

Pornography exists for the same reason as any other form of communication - to persuade you that some idea or another is worth your time, attention and donation of power and approval.

Most American porn exists to convince you that you do NOT have to think about the moral and ethical consequences of living and acting like a stereotypical asshole, uncaring of the consequences of one's desires upon others. Indeed, it exists to sexualize those consequences, to validate the harm done as both just and due those who are not heterosexual white protestant assholes.

That kink is not just out there, it's out there with corporate sponsors, jumping up and down with it's fake boobs bouncing, along with single-click access to army.com.

Tags: pornography, politics, culture

Blaming it on Bill Again....

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 01:21:53 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: Breathtakeinly stupid

Clip Source: www.sadlyno.com

The wingnut librarian (as some like to call her) joins the list of those who find new and creative ways to blame everything on the Clenis:

We know the Clinton years’ incompetencies lead up to the Iraq War[.]

If by “lead up”‘ she means “come before” — as in, the Reagan years lead up to 9/11 or the Jefferson years lead up to Hiroshima.

Tags: stupid bush tricks, bizarre, bush administration, politics

How To Talk To A Social Conservative (If You Really Must)

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:04:19 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: The article is worth reading too.

Clip Source: highclearing.com

Comment by B Moe —
October 25, 2007 @ 6:51 am

We know from multiple personal reports (and some public demonstrations) that Bush and Cheney take pleasure in humiliating others and forcing them into shows of submission.

Like getting them to crawl under the desk and suck their dicks? No, wait, that was the other guy.

Comment by Jim Henley —
October 25, 2007 @ 7:29 am

As a guy, I like getting blow jobs from chicks. I’d appreciate it if you would not make that harder by talking as if the act were something onerous and disreputable. Gives the ladies mixed messages.

Tags: christianists, cultural warfare, funny, government, politics

Sleep Deprivation key to understanding Congressional politics?

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 17:14:27 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: the video is quite worth watching.

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

Clinton, Giving and Naps.

The Daily Show really is becoming the way - one of the very few ways - that Americans get real news. It is to the 18 to 24 demographic what "Meet the Press" would have been (when it was relevant) if it had also been funny. I often did find it funny, but then I think watching a sitting member of congress sweating uncontrollably to be as funny as hell.

Well, Clinton didn't exactly sweat this interview - but we did see the famous duck and weave several more times than we would have on cable.

Oh, the other refreshing thing about the Daily Show - John Stewart never asks stupid questions. Outragious ones, funny ones, seemingly irrelevant ones - but never outright stupid questions. Don't expect that from Hannidy. Of course, this is the Faux News demographic.

Tags: clinton, congress, politics

Support our war-based economy!

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 22:54:10 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: You gotta blog this...

Clip Source: nataliedee.com

Tags: yellow ribbon, iraq war, activism, bizarre, bush administration, ethics, funny, politics