Clipmarks | ouyangwulong's 'america' clips

BLOW YOUR MIND: They are just now checking Sarah Palin's background

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:37:36 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: Now, the Republicans will jump to the defense of Sarah Palin and her family, because she is one of their own. However, if they were liberals, these kind of disclosures would be used to crucify them. That sad reality is more than a little depressing. For instance, Obama is repeatedly accused of "not loving America," but unlike Sarah Palin, he never joined a party who's goal was succession.

But the thing that really shocked me is that McCain seems to not be taking this seriously at all. Apparently, according to this article, they are just checking into her background NOW, after they put her on the ticket.

Is this the kind of judgment we want in a President? Honestly, although I am still a McCain fan, this shocked and disappointed me that he didn't have enough wherewithal to have all his ducks in a row.

It seems like he doesn't take running for President that seriously at all, which is too bad for America.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

On Monday morning, Ms. Palin

issued a statement saying that their 17-year-old unmarried daughter, Bristol, was five months pregnant

it was learned that Ms. Palin now has a private lawyer in a legislative ethics investigation in Alaska into whether she abused her power

she was a member for two years in the 1990s of the Alaska Independence Party, which has at times sought a vote on whether the state should secede

Aides to Mr. McCain said they had a team on the ground in Alaska now to look more thoroughly into Ms. Palin’s background. A Republican with ties to the campaign said the team assigned to vet Ms. Palin in Alaska had not arrived there until Thursday, a day before Mr. McCain stunned the political world with his vice-presidential choice

Tags: mccain, obama, palin, marijuana, sex, naked, hypocrisy, experience, judgment, hates america

I support Obama on Issues, not because of the Cult of Personality

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:08:45 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: I don't worship Barak Obama. I don't think he's a savior, or even an angel. Although the novelty of him being a "black" president is entertaining, I don't really care about that either. (Honestly, it seems a little strange that we are so self-congratulatory over 'voting for a black man,' as if that should be really impressive somehow.)

Why do I support Barak Obama? Because of all the people running for President, I believe he has the best ideas on what direction our country needs to take. I would like to see much of his platform made into reality, and because of that, I will vote for him.

I don't want to waste all our time arguing of personal slights and vauge rumors. Let's get to the issues. Here is why I support Barak Obama:

Clip Source: www.barackobama.com

Renewing American Diplomacy

Talk to our Foes and Friends: Obama is willing to meet with the leaders of all nations, friend and foe. He will do the careful preparation necessary, but will signal that America is ready to come to the table, and that he is willing to lead. And if America is willing to come to the table, the world will be more willing to rally behind American leadership to deal with challenges like terrorism, and Iran and North Korea's nuclear programs.

Clip Source: www.barackobama.com

Restore Our Alliances

Organize to Help Our Partners and Allies in Need: An Obama administration will expand humanitarian activities that build friends and allies at the regional and local level (such as during the response to the tsunami in South and Southeast Asia), and win hearts and minds in the process.

Tags: obama, president, issues, serious, philosophy, experience, patriotism, iraq

Three White People Who Won't Be Voting For Barak Obama

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:46:53 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: People still keep talking about how racism among "working class whites" (that's media code for "po' white trash") will not vote for Obama because he is black.

I'm getting seriously tired of this. Working class people in America aren't any more racist than the class of Americans who are too wealthy to work.

Sure, there are some people who are racist and won't vote for him, and that shocks people so it gets a lot of attention. But seriously, look at these three guys: do you think they vote AT ALL? (remember, something like 60% of America doesn't!)

Nobody is talking about all the working class whites who had trouble voting for John Kerry or Al Gore. If Obama loses, it will be because of the pathetic Democratic Party itself, not because he is black.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

From left, Shawn R. Adolf, Tharin R. Gartrell and Nathan D. Johnson were arrested Sunday on drug and weapons charges.

“We’re taking it very seriously,” said Troy Eid, the United States attorney for Colorado, at a news conference on Tuesday. But he said the racist rants that the men made after their arrests on Sunday — all three for possession of methamphetamine, and two of them on weapons charges — had not risen to the level of a “credible threat” that would have allowed federal charges of threatening Mr. Obama to be filed.

Tags: obama, methamphetemines, drugs, conspiracy, assassination, white working class voters

Hillary's Own Sexism

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:44:09 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: Although there is a lot of talk about sexism, and how it is to blame for Hillary's defeat, I think people are barking up the wrong tree.

Obama never campaigned against Hillary on the basis that as a woman she would be "unelectable" because conservative "swing voters" would never elect a woman. On the other hand, she did make that case against Obama on account of his race.

In fact, nobody ever questioned Hillary's ability to lead the country, as a woman or otherwise. The should have: her foreign policy is scary and ignorant.

But the most sexist person in the race was Hillary herself. Her campaign, with the pant-suits and tough guy attitude (especially on Iran) seemed to reflect her own belief that if a woman was going to win, she had to convince people that she was "one of the guys."

I think almost anyone who would vote for Obama would also vote for a woman - if it was the right woman. What I'm not willing to do is vote for any woman simply for the sake of making history.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Racism is deeper, but sexism may be wider in America today.

In polls, more Americans say they would be willing to vote for a black candidate for president than for a female candidate, and sexist put-downs are heard more publicly than racial ones.

We aren't always aware of our own biases.

Some of Clinton's supporters are sure that she was defeated by misogyny, while those who voted against her invariably are dismissive:The reason I didn't vote for her isn't that she's a woman. It's that she's a dynastic opportunist who voted for the Iraq war and...

Tags: hilary, misogony, pant suits, obama, sexism, america, election

Small Claims Court for Countries

Sat, 24 May 2008 02:54:10 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: It's interesting how well the international system works when people aren't busy sabotaging it.

Malaysia and Singapore just settled this international dispute in court, and everyone seems happy.

I think the main reason that countries such as the US or China don't support international courts and authorities is because they don't want to be held responsible for the transgressions they know they've committed.

You have to admit, America has come to demand a certain kind of exceptionalism, placing ourselves above the law by virtue of our own self-aggrandizement. Restoring America's international reputation will begin with ending this repugnant double standard that we hold for ourselves and the rest of the world.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

World Court awards contested island of Pedra Branca to Singapore

THE HAGUE, Netherlands: The International Court of Justice on Friday awarded Singapore sovereignty over a disputed island hosting a strategic lighthouse at the eastern entrance of the Singapore Straits.

It ruled in favor of Singapore's argument that it had exercised sovereign powers over the rock since the Horsburgh lighthouse opened 1851, with no protest from Malaysia until 30 years ago.

Both sides said they accepted the ruling.

"It is a good example to the region of how such disputes can be resolved in a peaceful and amicable manner," said Singapore's deputy prime minister, S. Jayakumar.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Rais Yatim called it a win-win ruling since each side won a partial victory. Resolving such disputes through the rule of law, he said, "will make the world safer."

Tags: malaysia, singapore, international, courts, diplomacy, law, order

The Way the Race Card Plays...

Fri, 16 May 2008 14:29:42 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: For all the (disturbing) talk about how being black is bad for the Democratic party, nobody seems to be noticing that it also has its good sides.

I mean, people worry about Obama's abilty to capture the working class white vote, but why doesn't anyone worry about Hillary's (rapidly diminishing) ability to capture the black vote?

After all, by campaigning on the idea that a black man can't represent America, isn't she destroying her ability to get the black vote? (Not to mention white votes, like mine, that are really frightened by that kind of rhetoric?)

What I love about an Obama McCain election is that it scrambles the map. Some blue states would definitely prefer McCain, while some red states are certainly leaning towards Obama.

At last, we have a chance to break down America's polarization.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Yet one sure lesson of the surprising Congressional result from northern Mississippi is that the use of Mr. Obama as an electoral tactic — Republicans resorted to it heavily in the contest — is at best a double-edged sword. At worst it is a guillotine for Republican candidates in areas with substantial black populations, like the Mississippi district won by Mr. Childers, where 26 percent are African-American. Indeed, Tuesday’s Mississippi vote emerged as a case study in the effects and consequences of focusing on Mr. Obama.

“We realized the Republican machine was on the attack,” said Mr. Buck, the state representative who helped Mr. Childers. “They wanted to say he was tied to Barack Obama. The question we asked was, What’s wrong with that? We wanted to prove to them that there’s nothing wrong in Mississippi with a person being tied to Barack Obama.”

Tags: obama, clinton, red states, south, president, election, racism, the man, keeping us down, blue states

The Verdict on Bush's Reganomics: Guilty as Charged

Thu, 15 May 2008 09:28:05 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: There were those who were critical of Bush's economic policies, who said it would lead to disaster. We were dismissed as not understanding economics. We were accused of being anti-business. Well, a few years later, whaddya know...

One of the central tenants of the resurgent Republican Revolution, among the GOP leadership ascendant in the mid-to-late nineties, was the idea that Regan's "trickle-down" economics worked, and that lowering taxes on the rich and encouraging rapacious spending would somehow develop an economy despite nagging social problems in the lower strata.

This "well, I guess I feel rich..." approach was a lie everyone wanted to believe, because they didn't want the party to end.

Now, though, even before Bush's term is over, we see a stunning economic crisis, for which he has no one to blame but himself, and which was clearly created, gift-wrapped, and delivered with flowers by the GOP's bizarre and destructively delusional view on economics.

Clip Source: www.atimes.com

Somewhere along the line, America got the idea that the buck generated from financial services, from manipulating money, from passing it from hand to hand, was equivalent, or even superior to

the same buck made actually making and sustaining something - such as the great brand Sears once was.

Here is the actual core of the current crisis of American overconsumption. The music has stopped, the dance is over, the great credit and money creation machine of the past few years has shut down. As the dust settles, we see that, for all the money, and supposed wealth, created over the past few years, very little of actual value, of real worth remains. As does now Lampert's, as does now America's, and its dream of endless wealth created through little or no actual work, phantasms still dance into and out of our world with the pages of a calendar, and only the very foolish mistake their ever-vertiginous presence with reality

Tags: bush, economy, colapse

Democracy Saves America's Reputation

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:21:40 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: The great thing about America is not that we are a perfect country, but that we are always a redeemable one.

We have a certain mercurial charm (not to mention idiosyncratic way of doing things) that somehow manages to bring us back from the brink.

The world will never truly hate us, because we can and do change. And somehow, America has a knack for putting its best foot forward at just the right crucial moment.

Roger Cohen, also, is a shining example of editorial journalism in an age of glib semi-literate rants. He takes in the whole world, and manages to make sense of it, noticing all the right details.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Roger Cohen: Europe blue, Asia red

By Roger Cohen

Published: April 9, 2008

Europe's America is blue-state America. The rest is a discomfiting blur of churches, cowboys and electric chairs.

But in Asia, there's a different view.

At a deeper level, they've felt comfortable enough with a United States playing power politics, while that strut-your-stuff style has appalled consensus-driven Europeans.

I don't mean the Iraq invasion pleased Asians. It didn't. But China and India rising see the world more in terms of classic balance-of-power equations, driven by the might and self-interest of nations, than through the post-sovereign European prism of international institution-building and soft power.

Democracy at work is riveting. In Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain, America has produced three remarkable candidates. It's not surprising that a recent BBC World Service global survey showed positive views of the United States increasing for the first time in years.

Tags: america, democracy, asia, europe, international, relations, roger cohen

Losing Hearts and Minds; Empowering Extremism

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:36:01 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: Before anyone asks why we aren't winning the War on Terror yet, consider these sad headlines.

All around the world, reasonable people are being dragged into the slipstream of extremism. The cause is blatant moral bankruptcy.

Greed, corruption and exploitation, fortified behind the twin bastions of ignorance and righteousness, are discrediting the institutions that are instrumental in overcoming extremism, intolerance, and global violence.

Particularly America remains the store house of the world's hopes and dreams. We are not merely a nation but an ideal, and we must live up to our promise.

Obama and McCain are both men of admirable morals and transparent character. Meanwhile, as Hillary obfuscates over her finances, we must realize she lacks the moral authority needed to restore America's international credibility.

Being Righteous is not nearly as important as being Right.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Islamists gain ground in Somalia

The trouble started when government soldiers went to the market and, at gunpoint, began helping themselves to sacks of grain.

Islamist insurgents poured into the streets to defend the merchants. The government troops got hammered, taking heavy casualties

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Israel's Supreme Court upheld a plea bargain on Tuesday under which former president Moshe Katsav will avoid rape charges or jail time

Clip Source: www.iht.com

A top aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was caught at a border crossing with 3,000 contraband cell phones in his car, bringing embarrassment for an administration already struggling with sagging popularity

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Bush aide quits because of alleged improprieties involving grant money

Sixto is the second White House aide to resign under a cloud in less than a month.

Tags: hilary, obama, mccain, bush, katsov, diplomacy, islam, extremism, corruption, war on terror

Canada Apologizes for Saying America Tortures Prisoners

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:09:12 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: Somebody sounds like they are afraid of getting water-boarded!

Seriously, does this sound like a valid way of conducting foreign policy? America is doomed by our intolerance of criticism. No matter how many pictures are published of Americans torturing prisoners, America still expects everyone to look the other way.

Kinda weird. Hopefully our next president won't be so bizarre when it comes to flaunting our morals while at the same time proclaiming them.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

OTTAWA: The Canadian minister of foreign affairs, Maxime Bernier, said he had ordered officials to rewrite an internal government manual that listed the United States among countries that potentially torture or abuse prisoners.

"I regret the embarrassment caused by the public disclosure of the manual used in the department's torture awareness training," Bernier said Saturday in a statement. "It contains a list that wrongly includes some of our closest allies. I have directed that the manual be reviewed and rewritten."

Tags: canada, torture, us, guantanamo, human rights, propaganda, bush

A Positive Political Process

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 13:02:02 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: Frank Rich, in an op-ed I don't feel like clipping (too glib), declared the GOP Platform to be Dead on Arrival.

I beg to differ. Although McCain had a dark period of pandering, he seems to be back to saying what he thinks, and playing clean. He's the Boy Scout of Electoral Politics, and he's got my respect. (Not something I give out often to candidates.)

But the really interesting thing is that Huckabee, who was always a nice guy, seems to have become more insightful and philosophical as the campaign goes on.

His observations on political process I thought were exactly what America should be. We'll put him on my "provisional respect" list.

Although his last bizarre bit about the Confederate flag will probably cost him the Hootie and the Blowfish vote, I'd bet they were already going to vote for Hillary anyway.

Now if only the losers like Thompson and Giuliani will take a hint: sharpen up, start thinking, or drop out.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

In his concession speech, Mr. Huckabee praised Mr. McCain for running “a civil and a good and a decent campaign” and vowed to battle on.

“The reason that I want to encourage you tonight is to remind you that politics — and particularly this year, more than perhaps any other — this is not an event,” he said. “It is a process. And the process is far, far from over.”

Mr. McCain had predicted that he would win the primary here, and, although many polls were close in the last week, he campaigned as if he were the strong front-runner, pressing his twin issues of military strength and fiscal conservatism. He never disparaged or engaged Mr. Huckabee, even in the face of a spate of phone calls and radio advertisements attacking him by independent groups supporting Mr. Huckabee.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Mr. Huckabee also dove into the murky waters of Southern cultural identity politics

when he said that it was not his business whether the state chose to fly the Confederate battle flag over the Capitol.

Tags: america, politics, election, good, gop, republicans, mccain, huckabee, fred thompson, south carolina

Sinister Socialist Conspiracy Afoot in Spain

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:15:10 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: You got to love Spain's conservatives. It's like they are being run by Colonel Ripper, protecting their "Purity of Essence"!

"No Gays! No Girls! And no filthy Catalans! Viva Espagne! Down with Barcelona!"

But in the end, isn't this also what Americans fear? That some liberal will screw up our country by protecting "gays" and "working women" and "illegal immigrants"? Are we really any different?

On the whole, and interesting article, though. This is a process that China has yet to go through, although I think the situations are extremely analogous.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Zapatero's conservative critics say he is using identity politics, akin to the moral values debate in America, to promote a social agenda that includes defending the rights of homosexuals, transsexuals, women and Catalans.

Tags: gays, women, transsexuals, catalans, spain, socialists, zapatero, conservatives

Bush: Out of Touch, and Out of his Mind

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 05:18:36 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: At a certain point I fail to understand what our President thinks he is doing. It would seem he is newly possessed with an urgent desire to invade Iran, regardless of the circumstances.

Apparently, he doesn't understand the game he's playing. He's confirming America's stereotype as a global villain in they eyes of the rest of the world.

Bush led the push to attack and isolate Iran because of their nuclear weapons program. When that allegation was firmly contradicted by our own intelligence community, he didn't miss a beat.

He's going on as if the NIE never even came out, still talking about nuclear weapons as if nothing had changed.

Now Iran agrees to answer questions and open up to the IAEA, as well as fulfilling other obligations to the UN. As they do, Bush keeps cheer leading for war.

Doesn't he realize that he's impeaching what little credibility America has internationally?

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Iran poses threat to global security, Bush says

ABU DHABI: President George W. Bush urged wary Gulf allies Sunday to rally against Iran "before it is too late," even as the International Atomic Energy Agency announced that the country had agreed to answer outstanding questions about its nuclear programs within four weeks.

"Iran's actions threaten the security of nations everywhere," Bush said. "So the United States is strengthening our longstanding security commitments with our friends in the Gulf and rallying friends around the world to confront this danger before it is too late."

The announcement about Iran's pledge of cooperation on its nuclear program, however, could undercut efforts to build international support against Iran.

Iran agreed to carry out its pledges, made last year, to resolve suspicions about its nuclear programs, though Iran's state news agency said that it expected the UN Security Council to drop its sanctions in return

Tags: bush, iran, diplomacy, manipulation, propaganda, lies, idiocy, stupid, anti-americanism

Conflict in Iran: Symbiosis between Bush and Ahmadinejad

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:46:03 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: I've stitched together three very interesting articles over the last week, which become much more interesting when you read them in sequence. Look carefully at what is happening.

If there is anything that lays bare the role of the Bush Administration's jingoistic belligerence in the Middle East, it is the recent conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.

With the international pressure off Ahmadinejad, he starts taking heat in Iran for the shortcomings of his leadership. Without fear, his belligerent and isolationist politics lose their appeal. In order to defend his world view, and preserve the source of his power, he needs America as an enemy...

So some Iranian boats play around with one of our convoys, Bush comes out with some insane saber-rattling press conference, and, Ahmadinejad is back in business, courtesy of the Bush administration.

If you desire war, you need an enemy.

If you need an enemy, you desire war.

Bush needs Ahmadinejad.
Just like Ahmadinejad needs Bush.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Ahmadinejad loses favor with Khamenei, Iran's top leader

In the past, when Ahmadinejad was attacked by political opponents, the criticisms were usually silenced by Khamenei,

But that public support has been conspicuously absent in recent months.

"Now that Iran is not under the threat of a military attack, all contradictions within the establishment are surfacing,"

"The biggest mistake that Americans have constantly made toward Iran was adopting radical approaches, which provided the ground for radicals in the country to take control."

Clip Source: www.iht.com

In a confrontation in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, five armed Iranian boats approached three U.S. Navy warships in international waters, taking aggressive actions

Clip Source: www.iht.com

"We viewed it as a provocative act," Bush told reporters

"Iran was a threat, Iran is a threat, and Iran will continue to be a threat

"And so I'm looking forward to, you know, making it clear that the United States of America sees clearly the threats

Tags: iran, bush, ahmadinejad, conflict, nuclear, diplomacy, symbiosis, politics, terrorism, propaganda

Karen Hess on Food, Faith, and that "Dithering Idiot" Julia Child ...(Orgasm)

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:31:33 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: I have a soft spot for cantankerous Americans with borderline personalities. Probably because I am one myself. In this regards, Karen Hess is a true blue, red-blooded American original.

She called Julia Child a dithering idiot!

But I think it is interesting, the characteristics of the classic American crank:

Surly iconoclasm
A hate for anyone up on top of the hill
A pastoral nostalgia for the past
A mania for the rustic and natural
And a certain "messianic fervor."

It is interesting that what is true of Hess' thoughts on food is also true of many other Americans on many other subjects.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

It was 1977 when Karen Hess and her husband, John, hurled “The Taste of America” at us with the gleeful abandon

like other zealots in America’s long history of food reformers, from Bronson Alcott to Adelle Davis, they preached a vision of lost Eden with the messianic fervor of born-agains.

they also advised us: “Buy the best butter you can find — we make ours, but decent cream is getting more and more difficult to find. . . . As for the fish, catch it.”

As despoilers of America’s promise, all were fair game to the Hesses. “If one is making enemies,” the Hesses said, “one might as well go whole hog.”

what H. L. Mencken called the “booboisie”: America’s middle class, always hungry for the phony and pretentious.

To the Hesses, anyone famous was phony.

she called Julia Child a “dithering idiot,”

She helped make food history in America a subject worth studying and created a canon of colonial foodways by publishing recipe collections in facsimile, with fulsome scholarly comments

Tags: orgasm, food, natural, organic, rustic, original, american, history, julia child is an idiot, faith