Teresa Heinz Kerry: Definite First Lady Material
In her few minutes at the podium, Teresa Heinz Kerry showed more savvy, smarts and personality than Laura Bush did in three and a half years. Since her husband entered the public eye, Mrs. Bush has succeeded in making herself look about as useful, intelligent and exciting as a potted plant.
We need a first lady like Mrs. Kerry--someone who could have an intelligent conversation with Hillary Rodham Clinton, who shows us how strong and brilliant women can be. Someone whose kids are articulate and interesting (as compared to out-of-control and silly, like the Bush twins). Someone who could hold her own with international guests. Someone who understands and enjoys politics. Someone with passion for her country.
Look, I have no beef with the current first lady. She seems like a nice enough person. I even sympathize with that accident she had as a teenager--must have been a horrible trauma to go through. But we don't need someone merely "nice" representing our country as a first lady. Let's face it--Hillary Clinton raised the bar on what first ladies could and should do, and Laura Bush is a huge step backward. Girls need role models, not eye candy. Role models other than Britney Spears, I mean.
Teresa Heinz Kerry could be that role model. She speaks five languages, has experienced other cultures, protested apartheid, speaks her mind about how women should have a larger role in the world. By contrast, what does Laura Bush know about anything? She didn't even bring up her daughters so they don't embarrass the family.
Maybe that's not fair--after all, girls will be girls. I can't hold Mrs. Bush completely responsible for her daughters' choices even though I can't help unfavorably comparing their spoiled lives with that of the very poised, intelligent Chelsea Clinton. But we live in interesting times, and we need interesting people to lead us. I'm sorry to say it, but Laura Bush is not an interesting person. She's so generic she blends in the background. There's nothing really wrong with her, but she's no asset to the country the way Teresa Heinz Kerry would be. No doubt about it.
Did I mention that Mrs. Kerry knows five languages? I don't know about Mrs. Bush, but I can tell you her husband seems to have trouble with just the one.
Vote for Kerry! And all that comes with him.
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Barack Obama Finally Gets What He Deserves!
Lately I've been feeling pretty down about politics. What with all the sniping, and the divisions, and the continuous stream of media reminding me how hopeless everything looked. It seems like we just continued to get mired in negative attacks on both sides. I didn't start watching the Democratic National Convention with any idea that I would feel rejuvenated and excited about my country and about the future. Until Barack Obama stepped up to the podium.
I have supported Obama since the primary; I campaigned for him in a snowstorm on election day. And every time I heard him speak or saw him anywhere, my respect for him has increased--which almost never happens with a politician. Long before tonight I knew he was a star, destined for great things. Now everyone in America knows it too.
I would hate to be the chairman of the Republican party in Illinois right now. Hey guys, you might as well give up. After Obama's brilliant, inspiring speech tonight, you'll just be wasting money and time if you put someone up against him for the Senate race. Let us have the seat; regroup; rethink. That would be best for you.
First black president of the United States? Here's the future as I see it. Kerry and Edwards win in 2004 and remain through 2012. Edwards, in 2012, running with Obama on the ticket as VP. Obama is already so much more articulate and charismatic than our current president, I think he could talk circles around Bush.
I felt like I was watching history being made tonight. And the accolades are well-deserved. Someone who can inspire the most jaded of us to hope again is exactly what our party needs.
Obama in 2004! He can represent me anytime.
Lately I've been feeling pretty down about politics. What with all the sniping, and the divisions, and the continuous stream of media reminding me how hopeless everything looked. It seems like we just continued to get mired in negative attacks on both sides. I didn't start watching the Democratic National Convention with any idea that I would feel rejuvenated and excited about my country and about the future. Until Barack Obama stepped up to the podium.
I have supported Obama since the primary; I campaigned for him in a snowstorm on election day. And every time I heard him speak or saw him anywhere, my respect for him has increased--which almost never happens with a politician. Long before tonight I knew he was a star, destined for great things. Now everyone in America knows it too.
I would hate to be the chairman of the Republican party in Illinois right now. Hey guys, you might as well give up. After Obama's brilliant, inspiring speech tonight, you'll just be wasting money and time if you put someone up against him for the Senate race. Let us have the seat; regroup; rethink. That would be best for you.
First black president of the United States? Here's the future as I see it. Kerry and Edwards win in 2004 and remain through 2012. Edwards, in 2012, running with Obama on the ticket as VP. Obama is already so much more articulate and charismatic than our current president, I think he could talk circles around Bush.
I felt like I was watching history being made tonight. And the accolades are well-deserved. Someone who can inspire the most jaded of us to hope again is exactly what our party needs.
Obama in 2004! He can represent me anytime.
Friday, July 09, 2004
A Letter To The Editor Defending "Fahrenheit 9/11"
Dear Mr. Loerzel,
In the last issue of the Pioneer Press newspapers you printed responses from conservatives who, naturally, hate Michael Moore's movie "Fahrenheit 9/11" because it expresses the feelings of a whole group of people who don't agree with them.
I'm not going to say that Moore's film didn't have a particular point of view--because it does. But for those of us who have been disaffected by the actions of the Bush administration ever since 9/11, it encourages a feeling we often don't get to express because we've been made to feel like we're American-hating lunatics. I'm a little bit tired of being treated in the media like I'm an idiot, a disloyal citizen, a Nazi, or whatever people want to call me because I think our country is going down the wrong path.
As a thinking human being, I don't blindly agree with everything Michael Moore postulated in the film. I'll even admit that he probably massaged a few facts to make his point. "Fahrenheit 9/11" does make some connections I'm not sure I fully believe (like between the Saudis and the Bush family). But I do read and watch and listen to the news every day, and Moore didn't exactly make up those facts--if the Washington Post, the New York Times, CNN, the Associated Press and other news outlets can be trusted. And let's face it--our president often looks bad without the help of Michael Moore.
But because I and Moore and others who believe as we do dissent with the current administration, we get called all sorts of bad names. Suddenly we're disrespectful, we're deceptive, we're manipulative, we're demented, we're "wide-eyed liberals" (heaven forbid!). Never mind the thousands of others who feel as we do. Never mind the crowds that filled the theaters on "Fahrenheit 9/11"'s opening night, and who stood up and cheered when it was over. Never mind that we turned out to be right about the fact that weapons of mass destruction were never found. Never mind that the people who have disagreed with the government's policies--Joseph Wilson and Richard Clarke, for example (heck, even Howard Stern)--have been attacked and harmed. Never mind that we feel, more than ever, saddened by those who would have us meekly follow a president who has taken us into a questionable war. Never mind the atmosphere of malicious unconcern that allowed prisoners to be abused at Abu Ghraib. Never mind how angry some of us are--and our anger came long before Michael Moore's movie did.
I love this country. I was born here, I will die here. I'm proud of our freedoms. I believe that the founders of this country wanted us to question, that they wouldn't want us to roll over and play dead when the future of America is at stake. It's just that I believe in a different future than the one George W. Bush has staked out for us. One that doesn't include corporations and big business getting all the breaks, one that doesn't include oppression under the guise of "terrorist threats." I could go on.
I wouldn't be so angry if I didn't care about my country.
I would also like to point out that Republicans put out propaganda all the time, and they have very effective outlets for it. Why, just look at Fox News and Clear Channel. They're the ones who put out the anti-America propaganda, because they keep spewing hate and fear at everyone and everything. I'm tired of being told that I should be afraid, that I should fall into line and not make waves. "Fahrenheit 9/11" tells me that I am not alone.
Dear Mr. Loerzel,
In the last issue of the Pioneer Press newspapers you printed responses from conservatives who, naturally, hate Michael Moore's movie "Fahrenheit 9/11" because it expresses the feelings of a whole group of people who don't agree with them.
I'm not going to say that Moore's film didn't have a particular point of view--because it does. But for those of us who have been disaffected by the actions of the Bush administration ever since 9/11, it encourages a feeling we often don't get to express because we've been made to feel like we're American-hating lunatics. I'm a little bit tired of being treated in the media like I'm an idiot, a disloyal citizen, a Nazi, or whatever people want to call me because I think our country is going down the wrong path.
As a thinking human being, I don't blindly agree with everything Michael Moore postulated in the film. I'll even admit that he probably massaged a few facts to make his point. "Fahrenheit 9/11" does make some connections I'm not sure I fully believe (like between the Saudis and the Bush family). But I do read and watch and listen to the news every day, and Moore didn't exactly make up those facts--if the Washington Post, the New York Times, CNN, the Associated Press and other news outlets can be trusted. And let's face it--our president often looks bad without the help of Michael Moore.
But because I and Moore and others who believe as we do dissent with the current administration, we get called all sorts of bad names. Suddenly we're disrespectful, we're deceptive, we're manipulative, we're demented, we're "wide-eyed liberals" (heaven forbid!). Never mind the thousands of others who feel as we do. Never mind the crowds that filled the theaters on "Fahrenheit 9/11"'s opening night, and who stood up and cheered when it was over. Never mind that we turned out to be right about the fact that weapons of mass destruction were never found. Never mind that the people who have disagreed with the government's policies--Joseph Wilson and Richard Clarke, for example (heck, even Howard Stern)--have been attacked and harmed. Never mind that we feel, more than ever, saddened by those who would have us meekly follow a president who has taken us into a questionable war. Never mind the atmosphere of malicious unconcern that allowed prisoners to be abused at Abu Ghraib. Never mind how angry some of us are--and our anger came long before Michael Moore's movie did.
I love this country. I was born here, I will die here. I'm proud of our freedoms. I believe that the founders of this country wanted us to question, that they wouldn't want us to roll over and play dead when the future of America is at stake. It's just that I believe in a different future than the one George W. Bush has staked out for us. One that doesn't include corporations and big business getting all the breaks, one that doesn't include oppression under the guise of "terrorist threats." I could go on.
I wouldn't be so angry if I didn't care about my country.
I would also like to point out that Republicans put out propaganda all the time, and they have very effective outlets for it. Why, just look at Fox News and Clear Channel. They're the ones who put out the anti-America propaganda, because they keep spewing hate and fear at everyone and everything. I'm tired of being told that I should be afraid, that I should fall into line and not make waves. "Fahrenheit 9/11" tells me that I am not alone.
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