Cold War: Round 2

Recent discussions between the United States and Russia concerning the democracy in Russia have led to increased tensions between the two countries. Condoleeza Rice said that the "Kremlin's consolidated power endangers democracy." The U.S. alleges that the president of Russia has too much power and that when any president of any country is given too much power, it becomes dangers for the democratic state of the country. These tensions are not even under the surface. Everyone who was present at the meeting between dignitaries from the U.S. and Russia saw the body language and expressions on the faces of the opposing sides. With these increasing tensions, it only leads one to wonder how much longer it will be until all that has happened between the U.S. and Russia in the last twenty years or so comes undone. These issues have not been forgotten by either side, it might not take much more than a spark to start that fire again.

I don't even know what to say...

Ann Coulter recently appeared on the MSNBC show "The Big Idea" with host Donny Deutsch to promote her book If Democrats Had Any Brains They'd Be Republicans. During the conversation, Deutsch asked her what her perfect world would look like. Coulter replied that it would look like New York City during the Republican National Convention. She went on to say that everyone would be happy, tolerant, and Christian, because that's what it's like at the RNC. Deutsch then asked if everyone would be Christian, and she said yes. Deutsch, pressing the issue, asked Coulter if she wanted to be "like the president of Iran" and "wipe Israel off the earth?" Coulter replied, "No, we just want Jews to be perfected...That's what Christianity is." SERIOUSLY?!?!? I am fully and totally ashamed to be included in a grouping with a person who spews such hate for God's chosen people. I am a Christian and I believe all that that entails, but never, EVER would I have the audacity to tell another person that it was my job as a Christian to perfect them. Ann Coulter is possibly one of the most hateful people I have ever heard in my entire life. Deustch, who is Jewish himself, gave Coulter a chance after the commercial break to explain what she had said, and she only dug her hole even deeper. My favorite part was at the end of the interview when Deutsch said that Ann Coulter had a new book out called If Democrats Had Brains They'd Be Republicans and, "if Ann Coulter had any brains, she wouldn't say that Jews need to be perfected." Thank you, Donny. This website has the transcript from the show and the entire video interview: http://mediamatters.org/items/200710100008?f=h_top.

P.S. On October 4th, Coulter said, "If we took away women's right to vote, we'd never have to worry about another Democratic president." Wow.

Religious Left

This past Sunday, Senator Barack Obama attended a traditionally evangelical church in the traditionally conservative Greenville, South Carolina. During the service, Senator Obama told the congregation that he wished to be "an instrument for God" just like they were and that he knew that they could build a "Kingdom right here on Earth." Following the service, Obama pointed out to reporters that the time of the Republicans owning faith and values were over. He said that this was no longer the nineties when Democrats were afraid to talk about faith and Republicans promoted a specific type of faith that pushed people away. He went on to praise several recognized, evangelical ministers for their work with social issues such as AIDS and poverty, items that have not really been addressed in the evangelical community in the past. I appreciate Sen. Obama addressing this sentiment. I think it is past time that people realize that you don't have to be a Republican or a Democrat to believe in God or be a virtuous person. I'm extremely tired of, upon learning that I do go to church, people assuming that my political views lie on the right side of the spectrum. This is the type of stereotype that greatly hinders the political system. With such notorious Congressmen such as Larry Craig and Mark Foley on the Right, I'm not sure how people can continue to assume that Republicans have the hold on all that is good and pure. Maybe in years to come people will begin to see that your political stance does little or nothing to determine whether or not you have strong religious views or moral values.

Good Ol' Boy

One of Fred Thompson's main platforms when he comes to the Southern states is that he, being from the South, shares both a literal and figurative closeness with people living there. His campaign says not only does he understand what Southern voters want, but he also shares their values. I feel like we as people living in the South are being used by Fred Thompson as a political ploy. He knows that the Southern states are important because they pretty much hold his political future. He doesn't really have as much hope winning in either Iowa or New Hampshire. Because of this, he really needs to win over voters in South Carolina. Now don't get me wrong, it's okay for Fred Thompson to talk about where he's from in his campaign speeches. But just because he's from here, doesn't mean I agree with him or he knows what I'm thinking. He's perpetuating the stereotype that all Southerners think alike and that these thoughts reside strictly on the right side of the political spectrum. I do not appreciate this. I think that Fred needs to realize the even though some if not many people agree with him and his beliefs, by saying that just because he's from here he knows what Southerners think, he is alienating a large section of his base that could be very vital come time for the South Carolina primary.

Ethnocentrism

I was mortified today to find that there are 3200 gold miners trapped in a gold mine about 50 kilometers outside of Johannesburg in South Africa. The most mortifying fact about this, in my mind, is the fact that it hasn't really been covered in our media thus far. It has been mentioned in most of the news reports I've heard, but mostly as a byline. If 3200 of our (and I use that word against my better judgement) miners were trapped approximately 1.3 miles underground, there would be never-ending coverage on every single news station. Now I know that our news channels can't cover everything that happens everywhere in the world, but I personally would think that 3200 souls trapped and possibly about to die would be newsworthy. It just goes to show how much we as Americans are only worried about ourselves. This may just be me being obsessed with South African news because my sister lives there, but I feel like the fact that we glaze over such stories is very upsetting. 3200 people is a LOT of people. It doesn't matter where they live. Those are still people who are trapped, scared, hungry, thirsty, and tired. If we as a country cannot take five seconds out of our day to worry about three thousand people just because they live in another country, then we have some serious problems that we need to face.

MIA

As I watching Meet the Press today, an interesting point was brought up. The panelists were discussing the presidential candidates, and Tim Russert commented on the fact that these presidential candidates seem to be shying away from the media. None of the candidates have really made appearances at anything that wasn't sponsored specifically by their campaign (other than debates). There really haven't been any appearances on Meet the Press, The Today Show, Face the Nation, etc. The only the shows that the candidates have appeared on have been ones that would favor their specific political leanings. Barack Obama appeared on the Daily Show and the some of the Republican candidates have gone on Sean Hannity's show. It seems that they all seem to be shying away from the hard hitting questions. This makes me wonder if we will be allowed to hear what these candidates really think before time for the primaries or if we will only hear what their campaigns want us to hear. Hopefully, the debates will give us enough chances to hear the candidates' political platforms since none of them really want to put themselves out there otherwise.

Really?

"Childrens do learn." -George W. Bush. If you would like to see the clip, check out the Daily Show page on Comedy Central.