Adventures in My Mind
 |
 |
 |
 |
Apr 25, 2005
US Christian Conservatives Take Aim at Filibusters
Christian Conservatives were urged by Christian radio and television over the weekend to let their senators know that they favor the so-called "Nuclear Option" of removing the filibuster challenge from senate protocol. This would remove the last roadblock that Democrats could put up against radical conservative nominations for Federal judges.
Republicans and their Christian Conservative supporters will tell you that it is the only way that they will be able to get on with the nations business and fill critical spots on the federal bench. They will say that the filibuster is only good for derailing W's agenda - an agenda they say was supported by a "mandate" in last November's election. They will say that it is the right thing to do for the oppostition to role over and play dead. It is majority rule, after all.
I will tell you that it is a despicable plan to remove the last vestiges of democracy available to the minority in the face of the tyranny of the majority. It is true that the filibuster is a desperate act. And whether you believe it or not, these are desperate times. Desperate because we have a weak electorate that has once and for all given all of its individual authority and critical thought to the sound byte and the cravens who rule in D.C. Desperate because America has decided that good/moral = Christian = Republican agenda.
For more perspective see Duquesne University professor Bruce Ledewitz's End of American Democracy.
I am guilty of falling into the opposition camp and believing, just like the majority, that there is no room for compromise. Democracy must be preserved and the Republican agenda has precious little to do democracy. I would sooner see this country torn in half than to see Constitution shreded for the sake of what is politically expedient.
Democracy is hard. There will be disagreement. You will not get what you want sometimes. That doesn't mean, however, you have the right to change the rules so that you can. We must preserve the ability of the minority to stand up to the majority.
Do not allow senate Republicans to change the filibuster rules regarding judicial appointments. You may currently agree with Republicans, but remember this: one day you will be in the minority and the filibuster your only tool to avoid a certain railroading by the majority. Unfortunately, you may still not care, but you should. You most certainly should.
Please contact your own senators and tell them to avoid the "nuclear option". You can find them at Senate.gov.
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 1:40 PM
Apr 15, 2005
Friday's Fun Link
Post-Modern 70's Synth Cowboy Rock
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 9:21 AM
Apr 8, 2005
In Legislature we mistrust
In case you haven't heard, Pennsylvania legislators have come up with the grand idea of putting the phrase "In God We Trust" in every single school room in the state of Pennsylvania. Yes, that's right. Every single room. Classrooms. Auditoriums. Gynasiums. Bathrooms. Cafeterias. Etc.
Agenda-driven, rural Republicans are attempting to hide their intertwining of religion and politics by saying that the bill, which would also require an explanation of the motto's origins, is their contribution to a well-rounded civics education. The bill states that "a proper understanding of United States history and government is essential to good citizenship."
I couldn't agree more. But since when does religious jingoism equate with good citizenship? Oh, I remember now: ever since that fateful day in Septemer when being a good citizen suddenly required you to also be a good Christian.
To further highlight the duplicitous nature of this so-called "National Motto Display Act", the bill's prime sponsor State Rep. Tom Creighton, R-Lancaster, has also submitted legislation that would enable school boards to permit the teaching of "intelligent design" whenever the Theory of Evolution is also taught.
For those of you who haven't been graced with the ultimate pseudo-science, "intelligent design" is simply a dressed up version of creationism. At its heart it states that the universe is so gosh-darned complicated that it could not have happened by accident - that there must be some prime mover, read God (and make no mistake, they mean a Christian God), who is responsible for it all.
I know that I went to a Pennsylvania public school that suffered greatly for its lack of In God We Trusts everywhere the eye could see, but I can add 1 + 1 and get a rightwing Christian agenda when I see one.
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 1:48 PM
Apr 4, 2005
Not to be left out of the media feeding frenzy:
Posthumus Papacy Packs Punch
A Special Report by Adventures in My Mind
For the 5.25 billion others on this planet who are not Catholic, there will be no further mentions of Karol Wojtyla on this site. PopeTV, uh ... I mean CNN, has exhausted just about everything there is to say.
Everything that is except how the Knights Templar, the Rosicrucians, and the Masons have secretly hidden away the Arc of the Covenant and the secret bloodline of Jesus Christ. Don't believe me? Just ask Dan Brown.
Anyway... It's up to you to decide if he lived up to his current press. I will not speak ill of him.
But ...
Enough already!!
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 8:54 PM
