Tag: politics (Page 4 of 6)

Required Reading – Vaccines

October 28, 2009 / DB

Below is a link to an article I think all parents should read. It addresses a very important subject I think many of us have some fears about.

An Epidemic of Fear: How Panicked Parents Skipping Shots Endangers Us All

To be clear, there is no credible evidence to indicate that any of this is true. None. Twelve epidemiological studies have found no data that links the MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccine to autism; six studies have found no trace of an association between thimerosal (a preservative containing ethylmercury that has largely been removed from vaccines since 20011) and autism, and three other studies have found no indication that thimerosal causes even subtle neurological problems. The so-called epidemic, researchers assert, is the result of improved diagnosis, which has identified as autistic many kids who once might have been labeled mentally retarded or just plain slow.

I link to it not just because it is interesting and informative. It’s also a fantastic piece of journalism. At some point, we journalists have let the non-journalist world redefine how we should do our job. Articles are supposed to be objective, which in the language of critics really means balanced, which really means it should be carefully leveled so that each side in a debate receives equal space, equal respect, and there is no judgement of their arguments.

That sounds fine, but all-too-often the sides in a debate aren’t equal. Take climate change, for instance. We can argue about the specifics, the causes, and the true long-term effects, but the overwhelming scientific evidence is that we’re in the midst of a profound change in our climate. An extremely small number of scientist disagree with this view, many of them building their arguments on evidence that is not scientifically provable. Yet it isn’t uncommon to see these unmeasureable, unverifiable views presented as equal to those views that are supported by the scientific record. All in the name of giving each side of a debate equal time to air their views.

That’s why I love this article. Amy Wallace gives the anti-vaccine lobby space to present their views, offer their evidence, and explains their methods for pushing their cause. Then she carefully, point-by-point, shows how their arguments are refuted by all currently available scientific data. She points out how their arguments against that data are flimsy, at best. She writes an objective, balanced piece that presents both sides of the debate, and fills that piece with evidence that overwhelmingly supports the pro-vaccine community.

I’m sure many in the anti-vaccine world will find fault with her conclusions, methods, etc. And who knows, perhaps five or 10 or 20 years from now we’ll learn that scientists were wrong about vaccines.* But based on what we know today, there’s only one way to describe Wallace’s work: excellent journalism.

(My natural inclination is to trust the scientists who insist that vaccines are safe. But I must acknowledge that my views are certainly influenced by being married to a pediatrician.)

I was struck by something else while reading this. For all the barriers it breaks, information it carries, and promise it holds, at times the Internet is the worst thing that could have happened to otherwise intelligent people. Knowledge previously available only to trained professionals is now in the public domain. We can research any subject, sift through gigabytes of data, and educate ourselves where in the past we were forced to rely on the opinions of others.

Problem is, we’re often not trained to digest and analyze this information. It’s often difficult to verify the veracity of data, especially when it is repeated across various blogs and news sites. And when you’re dealing with a child that has an unexplained illness, it is easy to grasp at any straws that offer hope to understand the illness and perhaps lead the way to a cure.

While I have little time for the anti-climate change lobby, I can completely sympathize with the parents of autistic kids who get sucked into the anti-vaccine movement. I don’t know that I could think rationally if I was in their shoes. But it seems to me to be a classic example of how information overload can be a bad thing, and people who otherwise delete the mass e-mails promising Nigerian riches or relaying dark political conspiracies will buy into theories that aren’t supported while ignoring perfectly reasonable, verified conclusions.

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Educate Yourself – The Five Minute Health Care Primer

August 26, 2009 / DB

I mentioned, in my State of the Blog post, that I was working on a draft about a controversial subject. It’s not a draft anymore. It’s a post bitches!

I have to admit: I’m part of the problem. Despite being a voter and someone who tries to keep up on what’s going on in the world, I don’t understand the current healthcare reform proposal at all. It’s not a lack of intelligence (I hope) or interest in the subject. It’s more a matter of devoting the time to understanding it. I don’t even understand my current insurance, so it’s hard to tackle a complex proposal of reforms.

I’m part of the problem because I think most people are like me. The evidence is overwhelming that people in this country are hungry for a complete overhaul of our healthcare system, from how we’re insured to how much care and meds cost, to how we balance providing care for all with maintaining a system that can still research the biggest, baddest health problems. I believe this is true of people of all political perspectives. We may disagree on how to overall the system, but there is agreement that a new system is needed. However, it’s hard work trying to figure out what’s going on in Washington, and people find it easier to spend time with their families and friends, watch entertainment and sports on TV, or just tune the Washington rancor out.

In general, I support the idea of overhauling our system. I’m very fortunate to have excellent health insurance that gives me access to the best care available. But I have relatives and friends who, because of bad luck or bad health, have no coverage. It’s hard not to be scared about what could happen to those people if a health emergency presents itself. I imagine most of my readers have family, friends, neighbors who are in the same situation.

Yet I still haven’t gotten into the details of what’s being proposed and counter-proposed. I can’t have a meaningful discussion about what’s going on because I don’t know what’s going on. And I think it’s people like me who are turning this into a circus, not the handful of nutjobs at the extremes who are getting all the attention. If the majority of people of all political views who want our system to be radically changed would speak up, those nutjobs wouldn’t be controlling the debate. The politicians wouldn’t be able to distort, demagogue, and rely on fear to motivate voters. Rather, they’d have to actually address the issues at hand.

That is where President Obama has done a poor job. I think he looked at the numbers, how they crossed political lines, and recalled from the campaign how important health care reform was to most voters, and expected those people to carry the debate. Thus, he stepped back and allowed the opponents of his plan to dominate the discussion. That quickly morphed from simple Washington partisan politics to the circus that has been taking place at townhalls across the country in recent weeks. Had he been more forceful sooner, I don’t know if the radical opponents would have seized control.

I don’t necessarily believe that his plan is correct. Remember, I don’t know all the details. But it’s been maddening listening to the debate be over things that don’t exist or matter – death panels and “keeping government out of Medicare” are two examples – rather than an actual effort to make our health care system better.

With that lengthy lead-in, I thought I would link to this rather basic overview of what is being discussed in Washington. I have a feeling most of my readers, whether conservative, liberal, or politically agnostic will benefit from reading it. I know I did. It may not change your view of what should or should not be done, but perhaps it will inform your opinion a bit.

<a href=”http://squashed.tumblr.com/post/166890864/pros-and-cons-of-the-healthcare-reform-proposal-s”>Pros and Cons of the Healthcare Reform Proposal(s)</a> –
<blockquote>Can someone explain to me, or point me in the direction of a website that can explain to me, in a clear, 10-yr. could understand, nonpartisan matter the elements, pros and cons of the proposed HealthCare reform?</blockquote>
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44

November 6, 2008 / DB

What follows are some meandering thoughts on Tuesday night’s events. I don’t promise that they’re particularly interesting or insightful, but they do represent how I feel about that historic evening. Oh, and way less then the 18,000 words I wrote four years ago!

The front page of Wednesday’s Indianapolis Star blared a one-word headline: HISTORY. I thought, couldn’t they have at least interviewed me if they were going to write about me?

That’s right, the vote I cast a week ago, unlikely as it may seem, was the first time my vote has counted toward a presidential candidate’s electoral college total. Each time before, I had either voted for the losing candidate, or voted for the winner, but in a state he lost. Thus, my ’92 and ’96 votes for Clinton in Kansas, my ’00 vote for Gore in Missouri, and my ’04 vote for Kerry in Indiana were meaningless.

But this time, thanks to a massive ground effort, Barack Obama picked off Indiana, a 44-year red state, on his way to the White House. I genuinely feel like my vote made a difference. It was a sure thing that he would roll up big numbers in the state’s handful of Democratic counties. Even with big totals there, though, it would still be difficult to win Indiana. That’s where I, and people like me, came into play. It would be easy for me to stay home on Election Day (or early Election Day, as it were). The odds of a Democrat winning Indiana are slim. The county I live in is basically a one-party county. Roughly half of the offices on the ballot here featured Republicans running unopposed. Few of the handful of Democrats running had a legitimate shot to win their race. So the easy thing to do is to stay home and hope the rest of the country picks up the slack. But enough of us showed up across the state to cut McCain’s margin in the red counties way down from those Bush ran up four years ago. The result was, as the final votes were tallied, an amazing upset.

My vote counted. Yes I Can.

It goes without saying that I was in a better mood when I woke up Wednesday than I was the mornings after the last two presidential elections. That’s saying something, because Tuesday night / Wednesday morning I was suffering from a massive sinus headache most of the night, we had a fussy baby and two big sisters who are still confused about the time change. But, as I was feeding L. at 4:00 AM, I got a text saying Indiana had gone blue, and the need for sleep dissipated.

Yes, I’m thrilled Barack won. I’m delighted at the margin of victory, the tilt of states from red to blue, and all of that.

But, I am humbled by the meaning of his victory. I’m not talking about party or policy or philosophy. I’m talking about a black man being elected to live in the White House. 20 years ago, I was sitting in my bedroom, reading the Autobiography of Malcolm X, listening to Public Enemy, and wondering why, 20 years after the civil rights movement, so many people I lived around and went to school with continued to see the world through a prism that automatically discounted people who had darker skin than us. As Jesse Jackson was mocked for running for the Democratic presidential nomination, the unspoken rule was that blacks need not apply to the nation’s highest office, no matter how much progress they were otherwise making.

That didn’t seem to change in the 90s, despite African American culture taking a place square in the mainstream of pop culture, as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Oprah became essential icons. As we moved to the 21st century, it seemed more likely we’d see a Hispanic president than an African American one. There were a handful of black senators and governors and cabinet members, but none seemed to have the national profile needed to make a run for the White House.

Yet here we are.

I was thrilled when Clinton won in 1992. That was my first election as a voter and my guy won. I thought the world was perfect. I was happy when he won in ’96, but it was more a feeling of relief. Despite being a Kansan and a Jayhawk, I didn’t want Bob Dole anywhere near the White House. I was devastated in both 2000 and ’04, partially because I underestimated the effects that the Karl Rove school of campaigning could have on a race. “Aren’t we better than this?” I thought each time.

But Tuesday night? I felt emotions I’ve never felt before on Election Day. Like a lot of people, I expected the win. When Ohio was called, I did some quick calculations, adding in west coast states that were sure to go blue, and saw the election was over no matter what happened in Virginia, Florida, Indiana, and Missouri. And still, when the clock struck 11:00 Eastern and David Gregory said they could now make the announcement that MSNBC was projecting that Barack Obama would be the next president, there was a flood of emotions I never expected. I wasn’t bawling like Jesse Jackson, but I have no trouble admitting there were some tears flowing.

Which might seem weird, for a white guy who grew up in the suburbs in a home first of modest means and later of more comfortable means, and who has only a couple African American friends. But since I became politically aware and adopted a system of beliefs, racial politics and civil rights have been at the core of my ideology. One of my core beliefs is that government exists to eliminate the barriers raised through history that prevent every person in this country from having an equal opportunity to succeed or fail.

To borrow a phrase that’s been used way too much the last two days, this was the mountaintop, although one I never expected to be scaled. While we will always have racial divides to bridge – people being people, there will always be some who point to the differences between us as an explanation for the troubles we face – as each year passes things get a little closer to the ideal. Barack Obama’s election is a massive step towards finally reaching that ideal. For at least the next four years, parents, teachers, and mentors can point to the White House and say “Anything is possible.”* It may be only a symbolic moment, but it feels much greater than that.

I kept expecting Kevin Garnett to come out on stage Tuesday and scream “Anything is possible!” as he did after the Celtics won the NBA title last June.
I do wonder if I could truly separate party and policy from accomplishment. Would I have had the same emotions had Colin Powell run, and won, in 2000 as a Republican? Probably not, although I believe I would have still been proud of the country and recognized it as a moment of massive change. But the same emotions? I doubt it.

And now the hard part. Despite being an early supporter, largely because of his stance on the war in Iraq, I did have some concerns about Barack’s readiness for office. Those concerns were addressed and satisfied over the course of the campaign, and I believe he is well prepared and suited to be a fine president. But capacity and readiness for office don’t necessarily make a great president, as events may conspire to wreck a presidency. He will enter office with a reservoir of good will and about 20 minutes of slack. Iraq is George Bush’s war. The economic meltdown is the responsibility of Bush and his economic team. But the first time something bad happens in Iraq or Afghanistan, or the first time the stock market plunges 500 points, Bush will be forgotten and the responsibility will rest with Barack. It’s a daunting time to take on that responsibility. I believe he’s up to the task. He better be, for all our sakes.

Best of all, no more political ads for awhile. Change we can all believe in!

Change Is Gonna Come

November 3, 2008 / DB

I guess there’s some big thing going on tomorrow (or more likely today, depending on when you’re reading this). All I know is I voted last week but for some reason I still won’t be able to buy beer tomorrow, which I think is garbage. This country might be a better place if you could get loaded before you voted.*

I think I use this line after every election.
I must say, early voting is the greatest invention since democracy itself. I’m not sure how conservatives like George Will and Fred Barnes can say, with a straight face, it’s a bad thing. Anything that gives eligible voters a greater chance to participate is a good thing. Because, you know, participation is the key element of democracy.

So, my sympathies to those of you who will be waiting in lines tomorrow.

I don’t know that I’ll be doing my 10,000 summation of election night as I did four years ago. I only had one kid then and it’s hard to find that kind of keyboard time these days. I do plan on connecting with a certain election party in Kansas City via iChat, so I may get to share my thoughts live with some of you.

Four years ago I made some bold predictions, based mostly on wishful thinking and belief that the movement the polls showed in the final days would be exaggerated on Election Night. Whoops.

This year, I don’t expect any big surprises. The polls at the national level have been steady for weeks. At the state level, there has been some tightening in a couple important states, but not enough to swing the election. Based on my most recent visit to 270towin.com, I have it at Obama 364, McCain 174. I think there’s one more state that could flip blue but I won’t call it.** I see Barack’s ceiling at 390, his floor at 278. At the popular vote level, I’ll go out on a limb and say Barack gets 52% of the vote to McCain’s 47%, with others grabbing the last 1%.

** I think Indiana stays red. Barely. But, if Barack does win here, the networks are going to lose a lot of viewers, because the race will be over early.

No matter who you support, or are against, I hope you have either voted or plan on getting out tomorrow.

It’s Over. Finally.

June 8, 2008 / DB

Finally, a little political talk.

(The Obamas sully the presidency, and demonstrate their hatred for America, with their offensive fist-bump.)

I have to admit, as interested and involved as I’ve been in the contest this year, I largely tuned it out following the Indiana primary last month. I was frustrated with the tone the Democratic race was taking, and fearful it would continue to get nastier and nastier, potentially sapping the eventual nominee’s strength for the fall. Also, I did not want to come out of the process hating the Clintons. A good friend of mine, who is a Republican, teased me a few weeks back by saying, “See, this is what we’ve been saying about them for years!”

Fortunately things have calmed down and Barack can now focus his energies (and Steve Jobs-like Reality Distortion Field – he is a Mac user, you know) on John McCain for the fall.

One thing struck me as I was reading wrap-up pieces last week that attempted to put Obama’s presumptive nomination in perspective: major historic changes almost always have their roots in smaller events that would seem unrelated when they occurred. I believe that Hillary Clinton would have cruised to the nomination had she voted against sending troops to Iraq in 2003. A move most viewed as an effort to insulate herself against charges that she was soft on military/security matters, and thereby making her a stronger presidential candidate down the road, ended up being the opening an up-start like Obama needed to get into the race and gain traction. And while their respective charismas certainly played a role in the final result, their stances on Iraq were the area in which they had the most pronounced policy differences. It remains to be seen how much Iraq, which has kind of become a forgotten war, is an issue in the general election. But it certainly was a turning point in determining who the Democratic nominee is.

Let’s talk about history for a minute. Regardless of you views and who you support, I think it’s a pretty big deal that a black man is one of the two finalists to be president. And had he failed, a woman would have been in his place. We can talk about the progress we’ve made, what still needs to be done, etc. all day. And we can talk about symbolic progress versus real progress. But there is no doubting that we’re breaking through some of the biggest barriers we have left. Soon, no child, regardless of their background, will tell their teachers that they want to be president one day and be laughed at because they are female/black/etc. You may scoff at the real value of that, but I think that’s a huge step in the right direction. When you can inspire kids like that, they may not end up being president, but the limits they put on themselves are raised exponentially.

Along those lines, I loved Barack’s comments over the last month that praised Hillary for making the world a better place for his daughters and giving them the hope that they can do anything they want. I’ve been behind Barack since he entered the contest, but there’s no doubting that statement. It’s easy to buy into the polarized viewpoints of Hillary. But, she has changed the world for all women, whether they are liberals or conservatives or political agnostics. The heat she’s taken over the years will make it easier for the next legitimate female presidential nominee to break through and get people to believe that she can lead the nation. As a father to girls, I’m pleased the gender-based glass ceiling is being chipped away a little more each year.

One thing that gives me hope (if it’s not redundant to say that) about Obama for the fall is that he has grown as a candidate through this process. I think you can make the argument that for all the ill-will generated in the primaries, the process will make him a stronger candidate in the fall. For all the talk that X% of Hillary’s supporters will never support Barack in the fall, I think the overwhelming majority of them will come back to his camp between now and November. Sure, her Appalachian voters, who apparently are the least comfortable people in America with having a person of color represent them, will never come around. And there may be some super bitter folks who decide to stay home. But, again, Clinton and Obama were extremely close on most policy issues. I don’t think you’re going to see him losing large blocks of the Democratic base in the fall.

So obviously I’m very pleased with the result. I’ve said all year that John McCain has a Bob Dole 1996 tinge to him. He’s not a bad man, in fact by many measures he’s an extraordinary man. But I think he’s beyond the window in which he would have been a good president. Especially given his closeness to President Bush. Despite those flaws, and a wealth of factors that seem to point towards an excellent year for Democrats, I believe Barack still has a lot of hard work to do. McCain’s experience argument is compelling. I think it can be countered, but it must be done in an equally compelling and forceful manner. Plus, I believe in our current political environment, voters tend to give the more conservative candidate more leeway. Change is scary, even in an age when the current administration can do little right in the eyes of most Americans. It will take hard work to connect with those voters who may not believe now, and may not be disposed to believing based just on lofty talk and promise for a better future.

I think Barack is up to it, though. Certainly more up to it than John Kerry was. And more up to it than candidate Al Gore was (Of course, regular guy Al Gore would be one of the great presidents ever. Unfortunately, Al Gore is genetically incapable of not tightening up and sabotaging himself as a candidate).

Election Day Wrap Up

May 7, 2008 / DB

Please note a more important post will be coming later today. Remember, we’re making a trip to the doctor this morning.

I did not stay up late enough to catch all the drama last night, but I followed some of it. Ironically I was thinking, before results began coming in, that there aren’t any surprises in politics anymore since 800 different polling groups are constantly surveying voters before each election. But last night was a surprise, and perhaps the effective end of the Democratic nomination race. Putting my political science degree to work, and stealing from other people on the ‘nets, I’ll say we’ve got two more weeks of going through the motions and this thing is put to bed after a big Obama win in Oregon on the 20th.

Even though Barack wasn’t able to pull off the win here in Indiana, I feel like my vote mattered. For the record, he did win Hamilton County. I thought the Rush Limbaugh factor might be especially important here. Have I mentioned that my podiatrist plays Rush loud enough for everyone through his entire office to hear? I always wonder how people, even those who agree with his politics, listen to Rush. What’s fun about listening to someone yell that much?

M. actually voted for me. I made all the selections and she pushed the big red button to register the votes. And she got a sticker.

As I stepped into the booth, I realized I had made a critical error. I had not spent enough time examining the two Democratic candidates in the governor race. I frantically tried to remember if either of them had any important endorsements or had made any especially interesting policy statements. I came up blank. So I ended up voting for the candidate who lost by 5000 votes. I guess now I can figure out if I like the woman who won or not.

Speaking of that race, the incumbent Guv wasted no time. I saw a commercial for him at 6:30 this morning. So much for a respite. Sigh.

Big Day

May 6, 2008 / DB

First off, happy belated Cinco de Mayo to you all. I hope you enjoyed a bag of Doritos or perhaps had some Cinnamon Twists to celebrate the occasion.

Oh, and happy birthday to the iMac, which was announced ten years ago today.

Well, the big day is finally here. Indiana, for the first time in 20 years, gets a real say in who our next president may be. While it appears Indiana is about as muddled as the rest of the country is and neither Barack or Hillary will end the day with a commanding victory in this state, it has been an interesting six weeks or so as the candidates have showered our fair state with attention and ad dollars. I don’t watch much regular TV, but when I do, there’s not much else other than ads for those two, for the Democratic US House primary in Marion County, the Democratic primary in the Governor’s race, and then a few for the Republican primary here in Hamilton County in which Dan “Two Handicap” Burton is being challenged. And the radio is ridiculous. Anytime I leave the house, I’m guaranteed to hear at least five political commercials. This must be what it feels like to live in Iowa.

And then there’s the phone. I’m getting at least five calls a day between my cell phone and the house phone. I assume they’re all political in nature, either campaigns or pollsters, but since I don’t answer and they rarely leave messages, I can’t be sure. Barack has left me a couple messages, or at least people speaking on his behalf have. The guy running against Burton left me a message, too. I’m waiting to get texts and IMs from them as well. Maybe they’ll get that element together for the general election.

The final indication that this is a crazy year in Indiana came Sunday when someone actually came to my house from the Obama campaign to see if I was A) voting today and B) voting for Barack. I’m surprised the police weren’t called out. Democrats roaming the streets in Hamilton County?!?!

After I talked to him, M. asked who he was. I explained that he was talking to me about voting. “What’s voting?” I said it is how we pick the president, mayor, and stuff like that, which I knew was a horrible answer for a three-year-old. Her response was a long pause, then “What?” I rephrased saying the people who make the rules. Not sure if that helped or not.

Anyway, it ends today. My polling place just happens to be at our church/M.’s preschool, so when I pick her up this afternoon, we’ll walk over to the main building and she’ll help me vote for the change America needs. Afterwards, we’ll go put on some Italian loafers, get a latte, and maybe test drive a Prius.

The pre-election polls are all over the place, but I would expect Hillary to win Indiana by a narrow margin. I mean, she’s going to end the gas tax! But, amazingly, my vote for a Democratic candidate in Hamilton County Indiana might make a difference this year.

Put On Your Rally Hats

March 18, 2008 / DB

The last time I attended a political rally was in 1992. I figured I was overdue, so I checked out Barack HUSSEIN Obama’s visit to Indianapolis Saturday. The Senator visited in advance of the May 6 Indiana primary, which given the closeness of the Democratic nomination race, is suddenly very important. Here are some observations and thoughts.

The event took place at a high school on the far west side of Indianapolis, near the airport, and was open only to people who had a ticket. I got one by being on the senator’s e-mail list. So nyah nyah nyah!

I ended up sitting by a woman in her late 40s, and since we had about two hours to kill, we talked a bit. Turned out she lives about three miles from me and is originally from St. Louis. We swapped stories about moving to Indianapolis, about her son and my daughters, and about what brought us to the event. Nice lady.

Just before Barack arrived, four African gentlemen took seats next to us. I know they were African because they mostly spoke French, and when they spoke English, they sounded like, well, West Africans. These guys were awesome. Think of when Prince Akeem goes to the Knicks game in <i>Coming to America</i>. At each applause line, all four jumped up, stomped their feet, and shouted, “YES!” They were feeling it!

Finally the Senator arrived and the place went crazy. The African fellows were really into the “Yes we can!” chant. I was seated about as far away from the stage as possible, although in the relatively small gym, I was probably 150 feet away. (Fuzziness in photo is from the distance and digital zoom.) It was interesting to see him in person after seeing him on TV so many times. Much of the stump speech was familiar to me. I always enjoy when politicians throw in lines for the local audience. As he was acknowledging the various labor unions present, he mentioned the boilermakers, which got a decidedly mixed response. He grinned, and said, “I was talking about the REAL boilermakers, but I know we have some Purdue folks here, too.” Pause for more mixed reaction. “But this is mostly IU country, right?” Huge cheers. I thought he was supposed to be a uniter!

After about a 15 minute speech, the floor opened up for a town hall style question session. I’ve heard often that he doesn’t do as well when he’s not working from a prepared text, and that was evident. It’s not he struggled, but you can see his mind working, making sure he’s hitting all his points. It’s also interesting to watch a politician answer a question by saying whatever he wants to say. That’s his job, after all. But I found myself thinking how a regular person would lose confidence at the end of such a response. “I don’t know if I answered your question or not,” is what many of us would say if we got away from the initial question. A politician, though, throws in an applause line and then moves on to the next question.

I went mostly to see him and be part of the event. I didn’t learn much that I didn’t already know. And given how sore my behind was from sitting on a wooden bench for 3.5 hours, you could say it was a monumental waste of time when I could have caught the highlights on the news. But I really wanted to be there. When you believe in a candidate, it’s easy to get swept up in the momentum of the campaign. I felt like it was important to be there, to show my support visibly. There’s an interesting energy at a political rally. You feel empowered. You feel a sense of community despite the wide diversity in the crowd. You wonder how anyone could think differently.

More than anything, I felt as though the rally was a refuge. I’m not living in a state where very many people share my mix of political views. Most Democrats here are rather conservative. I would characterize myself as a strong social liberal, which might as well make me a Marxist in Indiana (Which is ironic, since Marxism was extreme leftist economic policy, and I consider myself only slightly left of center on economic matters). I’m always reluctant to talk about politics outside a small group of friends and family who share my core beliefs. That isn’t because I prefer an echo chamber environment where my views are reinforced and validated, or because I can’t defend my views. Rather, it’s because I tend to see politics as akin to religion: if you believe strongly in something, it is deeply personal. While I have no problem lambasting conservative politicians and talking heads who are in the public eye, I do have a hard time arguing with friends, family, and other regular people who are on the opposite side of the political spectrum from me. I don’t want them telling me that I am wrong, when they know little about how I came to hold the beliefs I hold. So I certainly can’t feel comfortable criticizing their beliefs. Being around 2000 other people who shared at least a few core beliefs while hearing a man we believe can make our country a better place is tremendously empowering.

Leaving the rally, I was filled with an energy and excitement about the process. I’m not a bumper sticker person when it comes to politics, and I have a firm policy about not giving money to political candidates. But I’ve been thinking about making a small donation to the campaign after I get my next paycheck. As much as I liked Obama to being with, I like the fact that his campaign is largely fueled by small donors who are regular people like me. I figure I can sacrifice two albums on iTunes to make a tiny statement in support of what he’s doing.

Also, I saw a man at the rally who reminded me of Oscar Robertson, who is an Indianapolis native. He was the original Big O, you know. Oprah has endorsed Barack. Just think if Oscar, Oprah, and Obama were in the same room. I think we’d be a Greg Ostertag away from opening some kind of space-time portal.

Oh, one other tidbit. I was sitting right above the media area, so I could watch the row of TV cameras and mostly regional reporters working. Right in front of me though, was CNN’s <a href=”http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/malveaux.suzanne.html”>Suzanne Malveaux</a>. All I’ll say is I was surprised at how much I enjoyed watching her work.

Dancing In The Streets

March 12, 2008 / DB

That’s what is happening all over the Middle East this morning. Why? Because the terrorists have won again. Yes, Indiana’s 7th congressional district elected a Muslim – a MUSLIM! – to represent them in the US House of Representatives for the next ten months. It’s a well documented fact that every single Muslim in the world has the exact same world and political view (Muslims never, ever fight each other), so surely this means our enemies are taking over our government. Al Queda had extended its tentacles to just a few miles from my home. I woke up at 3 AM today and wondered who is looking out for me, who is answering the phone now that this travesty has occurred? Surely terrorists are pouring into the Indianapolis airport this morning so they can set up shop all over Marion county. If Barack is elected….well…we can kiss our American asses goodbye. Because he’s a Muslim, too. And his middle name is Hussein. HUSSEIN! *

(For those who don’t know me, this post is loaded with sarcasm. Think of Stephen Colbert, only less funny.)

Change

February 5, 2008 / DB

It’s Super Tuesday. Indulge me in a little politics.

It seems trite to say that I’m throwing the immense weight of the blog behind the candidacy of Barack Obama simply because he is campaigning on a promise to bring change to this country. After all. doesn’t every candidate claim to support change of one kind or another? Isn’t it more important to select a candidate that offers a platform or area of expertise that you believe best fits the nation’s needs? Or perhaps the candidate that will mean the most pork/tax breaks for your community/state/business?

Please don’t misunderstand or oversimplify my reasoning. I think Barack’s overall plan is excellent. He combines many of the things those of us who label ourselves and liberals/progressives want from government with the knowledge that you can’t govern with a rigid ideaology. But, I believe he gives the nation the best chance to move forward into a new age. Since at least 1993, we’ve been living in an era of hyper-partisanship, where Republicans and Democrats work together for the good of the country only as a last resort and see compromise as surrender. Politicians and those behind the scenes have been more interested in demonizing each other, and questioning the patriotism of those they disagree with, than finding common ground and getting things done. It is time for a new age, where those who are willing to listen to their opponents, thoughtfully consider different ideas, and then honestly and openly debate and in order to get policies that represent the interests of more than just 50% plus one regain control. Our nation deserves better than what the last 15 years have given us.

Make no mistake, Barrack will not change things overnight, nor will he eliminate the culture that dominated both Washington and the political punditry. If he manages to gain the Democratic nomination, the Republican money machine will spring into action, tearing him apart with half-truths and exaggerations, telling us he’s a Muslim, a drug dealer, in debt to black separatists, and who knows what else. But, if he can get elected, I honestly believe he will reach out to those who have different visions for our nation, both politicians and regular Americans, and work to bridge at least some of the artificial gaps that have been created during the Clinton-Bush years.

For the record, I think Hillary Clinton would make a fine president. However, I have no interest in reliving the scandals of the 90s. If she gets the nomination, we’re going to be subjected to six months of ads about everything that went wrong in the 90s, while she defends herself by telling us about everything that went right in the 90s. The fact that the next president will take office in 2009 will get lost in the noise. If elected, you know there is a host of congressional Republicans who will want to open every investigation that ended when Bill Clinton left office, and probably add a few new ones to the docket. And while Hillary has earned a reputation for being able to work with Republicans in the Senate, John McCain notably, I doubt the goodwill she’s built in her time in the Senate will carry over to the White House. In short, we’ll be subjected to at least four more years of zero-sum, slash-and-burn politics from both sides, with scandal and rumor taking precedence over policy. I also have trouble with the fact I don’t think she’s comfortable being herself. Everyone, even her detractors, say that she is much different in private than what we see in public. She’s warm, engaging, and interested in hearing out others. I have a hard time trusting someone who is afraid to be themselves.

I greatly admire John McCain. His service to this nation can not be questioned. This nation would be a much better place if others shared his ability to move beyond the Vietnam war and forgive people for their perceived mistakes 30-40 years ago. I admire some of his ideas related to public service, and his willingness not to cave on immigration reforms based on demonizing immigrants rather than considering all the costs of the problem. However, I think his reputation as a Maverick is overstated, and frankly am concerned about anyone who defends President Bush and the Iraq war as aggressively as McCain has done. I said this before, but he has a Bob Dole 1996 smell to him: the old war veteran who has put in his time, kissed and made up with those he’s crossed in the past, and sold his soul in order to become president.

I support Barrack for more than just change, though. He was brave enough to speak publicly against the Iraq war from the beginning, something that could have easily derailed his political career before the left the Illinois statehouse. Those of us who were also against the war in 2003 remember what a bad time that was, when anyone who dared speak out against the war was branded a collaborator with Al-Queda or hater of America. I believe Barrack is someone who will thoughtfully consider policy options rather than adhering to a rigid philosophy and refusing to adjust course when things don’t go as planned.

And, frankly, his candidacy excites me. You should base your vote on more than who generates the most excitement, but I look forward to what an Obama administration would mean for this country. I’m not excited about Clinton, McCain, or some mystery candidate (Bloomberg, Gingrich, Gore) taking office.

He may not be the perfect candidate, despite some of the mythology that is being created about him, but I think Barack Obama gives our nation the best chance to move forward.

So, that’s that. Most people expect Hillary to have the advantage today, but many feel if she can’t knock out Barack, he’s positioned very well over the next month of primaries and caucuses. He clearly has all the momentum at this point, it’s just a matter of whether than can be sustained through, at the surface, what may appear to many as a disappointing result today. We shall see. Unless Romney pulls multiple major surprises, I expect McCain to pretty much have the nomination secured after tonight.