08/30/08 08:42 - 72ºF - ID#45514

Vacation

We took fabulous two week vacation a couple of weeks ago and I'm just now getting around to sharing some pics. I'm lazy, so I'm only going to share the photos of Drew and I sailing in the Chesapeake Bay with my Brother, his girlfriend and the family boat.

Permalink: Vacation.html
Words: 61
Location: Buffalo , NY

08/30/08 09:06 - 68ºF - ID#45507

I need a running partner

Anyone interested in running the Linda Yalem Safety Run? It's a 5k. I don't really want to go by myself. (e:drew) can't do it because it's on a Sunday.

Let me know if you're interested. Here's the info on it:

Permalink: I_need_a_running_partner.html
Words: 49
Location: Buffalo , NY

08/29/08 01:10 - 69ºF - ID#45497

The election just got interesting to me

I am thoroughly interested in McCain's announcement of his Vice Presidential Candidate, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska.

Commentators are already noting the irony that Obama with his Change America campaign has picked a politican who's been around the block in the Capitol City. McCain on the other hand has picked a little known woman Governor whose life in Alaska represents the American spirit in a way that will resonate with a lot of Americans. One more red flag in my head for Obama.

Governor Sarah Palin isn't enough for the McCain-Palin ticket to win my vote, but a review of her Wikipedia entry has me fascinated.

In Drew Style, I'll do a post on the 10 things (in no particular order) that I already like about Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin.

1. She embodies the spirit of feminism.

2. She is secure enough to be a feminist and a Republican.

3. She is secure enought to be a feminist and Pro-Life.

4. As a Republican, she was willing to tackle unethical behavior among her fellow Republicans.

5. She has the Alaskan Frontier Spirit.

6. She has the spirit of the Green Party wrapped up in a Republican body.

7. She hunts, snowmobiles, eats moose, ice fishes and has posed for Vogue fashion magazine.

8. She has shown that a woman can be a mother to five kids (one with downs syndrome) and a successful politican ... not that anyone ever questions male politicians ability to be fathers and politicians.

9. She's my sister in faith.

10. Like me, she played a wind instrument and was point guard for her basketball team.

janelle writes at 02:56:34 08/31/08 - Comment #38399: I guess this is the fundamental misunderstanding between us so far, I never said I supported Palin.

ajay writes at 02:09:03 08/31/08 - Comment #38398: (e:janelle) , I'm just trying to have a dialog here, and to get some understanding.

Consider abortion. Palin is vehemently opposed to abortion.

The Green Party says, and I quote, "Women's right to control their bodies is non-negotiable. It is essential that the option of a safe, legal abortion remains available."

One would think that "non-negotiable" basically means, non-negotiable and not open to interpretation.

Do you, as a member of the Green Party, support a woman's right to abortion?

On drilling for oil: the Green Party is strongly opposed to all new drilling, anywhere (hence the name "Green Party", I guess). She wants to drill all over the North Slope. Is there some room for nuance here? Aren't these two diametrically opposite?

And on Global Warming: the Greens believe that humans are mostly responsible for global warming, and have called for Bush's impeachment for trying to suppress the science :::link::: . But Palin agrees with Bush and doesn't think so.

I guess I'm trying to figure out why a GP member would support Palin at all, if almost everything she stands for goes against the core GP principles ? A "litmus test" is usually 1 issue, and I agree that you can't decide everything on just 1 issue; but I've listed 3 (out of many) different core issues above.

I'm not questioning your support; you are free to support anybody. I'd just like to know the rationale behind it; maybe you're seeing things that I'm not. No harm in a little dialog....

janelle writes at 01:43:05 08/31/08 - Comment #38397

link* not *like*

janelle writes at 01:42:00 08/31/08 - Comment #38396: Ajay, I already said that I agree she doesn't align with the Green Party, so why are you still pushing the issue?

My second point was that the Green Party is more nuanced than, "Pro-this" or "anti-that" and you can't use such things as a litmus test for who's a Green Party member.

I'd like to think that as someone who identifies with the Green Party and who has a brother heavily involved in Green Party politics in Maryland that I don't need you sending me a like explaining my party's stand on the hot button issues. Thanks, anyway.

ajay writes at 12:37:07 08/31/08 - Comment #38391: (e:janelle) , here's a link to the Green Party's stand on most of the 'hot button' issues: :::link:::

You'd be hard-pressed to find someone more diametrically opposite to their platform than Palin.
Examples: She's anti-choice; GP is pro-choice. She's anti-gun-control; GP is pro-gun-control. She's anti-gay-marriage; GP is pro-gay-marriage. She's pro drilling for oil; GP is opposed to that. And so on . . .

janelle writes at 08:09:11 08/30/08 - Comment #38375: (e:Ajay), My initial impression of her based on the wiki page I linked to was that she emphasized grass roots democracy and decentralization, two key principles of the Green Party.

As more and more comes out about her, I would agree, she doesn't fit into the Green party as well as I had first hoped.

However, I would hardly consider drilling in the ANWR or gay marriage to be a litmus test for the Green party, Ajay. In fact, the Green Party takes more nuanced views on these hot button issues than Republicans or Democrats who often stand on opposite sides.

ajay writes at 06:55:15 08/30/08 - Comment #38374: "Spirit of the Green Party wrapped up in a Republican body" ?!??!? Wow... we must be reading a different biography.

She's for drilling all over the ANWR. She's against making Polar bears an endangered species. She's against gay marriage. Need I go on?

I got a chuckle out of this: :::link:::

Lol... I'm still ROTFL at the Republicans trying so hard to justify her selection. Ever seen a guy in a straightjacket, struggling hard to get out? Republicans are acting like that. Only more insane.

metalpeter writes at 03:13:22 08/30/08 - Comment #38372: I think a monkey could be president look at George W., HA. Seriously though I think she could and here is why. She would learn the job as she goes along and watches what is done. The second reason is that presidents have all kinds of advisers from what I hear. You listen to them and then decide what is best.

james writes at 08:22:16 08/29/08 - Comment #38348: On point 4: her administration is already plagued with the trooper-gate scandal.

But it certainly is a more interesting choice.

janelle writes at 04:08:04 08/29/08 - Comment #38339: (e:Drew), your affirmative comment is a cheap shot at Republicans. It's not affirmative action at work; it's pandering to a demographic audience - all part of the world of politics. Democrats do it too.

drew writes at 03:36:00 08/29/08 - Comment #38338: It's funny that Republicans are against affirmative action, but seem to be practicing it.

Seriously, would a short-term governor of a small state (population-wise)with little other experience get considered if she wasn't a woman?

Lauren, I'm with you on the pro-life thing. Very few people in this world are pro-all-life (isn't that sad?)

I'm not going to say whether she is a feminist or not. It's not mine to say.

But here's the more important question: can she be president? McCain in no young man. If he's elected, she has a higher chance than most VPs of serving.

Regardless, I agree with almost all ten things, even though I think McCain would be more likely to win with Romney on the ticket. Phil Graham, with all that he has been wrong on recently, would still have been a better choice. If he really wanted to pick a woman, Condi Rice is better prepared to be president.

Personally, I think more than one person said no before she got the invite (no evidence, though)

dcoffee writes at 02:10:56 08/29/08 - Comment #38333: She's no Hillary Clinton. I like Obama's abortion platform "We may not agree on abortion, but surely we can agree on reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country." I don't realy think she's qualified, she was mayor of a town/city of 8,000 people, Buffalo is 250,000, and she's been governor for under 2 years. Also, predictably, she wants to drill in ANWR.

I can also relate though Janelle. Very interesting that the Republicans chose a somewhat independent minded woman. She did get elected on the idea of getting rid of corruption, and bringing transparency to the government. I think it's a testament to how pissed off Americans are at the status quo.

jason writes at 02:06:00 08/29/08 - Comment #38331: I look forward to chatting with you and (e:Drew) about this pick!

janelle writes at 02:02:55 08/29/08 - Comment #38330: (e:brit) I was thinking more along the lines of being a Republican or Democrat but not feeling constrained to act according to traditional Republican or Democrat standards. The ability to think through an issue and come to an independent conclusion that might take you outside of party lines. The reason some people like Obama is that he does seem to see outside of the Democrat party line.

A more personal example for me would be that I am a Presbyterian Christian who through studying my faith has come to conclusions different than most Presbyterians, but I still overall consider myself Presbyterian.

joshua writes at 02:00:18 08/29/08 - Comment #38329: Anyway, I think Sarah Palin was a surprise pick that was astute and clever. It wasn't going to be Romney - the two do not get along. I thought it would be Pawlenty.

There are millions of Hillary fence sitters (50% of all Hillary supporters) and Palin represents the one demographic where Obama is getting crushed - women 40 and older. I expect the left wing ladies to attack her. Personally I think this might add another dimension of intrigue to the debates. Regardless of what is coming out of her mouth, people are going to be paying a lot of attention to how Biden treats her in a debate setting. Let's face it, I love Biden but the guy is boorish and clumsy at times. I can't imagine him stomping all over her - it would look devastating on television.

The Obama campaign has already criticized her lack of experience sharply, perhaps not realizing that both Palin and Biden are technically more qualified for the office than Obama is. It isn't a credible criticism and it will be thrashed. She also has genuine reform credibility within the GOP, which I think will appeal to a lot of people. Additionally, she is exactly what the conservative base wanted and it was those people that McCain had to satisfy first. People are already calling the pick a game changer - we'll see. I think it does absolute wonders for the McCain campaign. They were in desperate need of a vibrant personality.

I think the only question left relates to how many Hillary votes she will take from the Democrats. This stuff about party unity is ludicrous, otherwise we would not be having half of Hillarydom looking for a good excuse to jump ship.

brit writes at 01:56:22 08/29/08 - Comment #38327: claiming a category then not letting your 'conscience' be dictated to by that category? I choose pacifism.... except when violence is called for of course

brit writes at 01:49:42 08/29/08 - Comment #38326: hey, I am just saying feminism has traditionally fought for women's bodily and reproductive rights. Maybe she is a feminist in all but that case...good for her....

lauren writes at 01:47:49 08/29/08 - Comment #38325: Maybe you were expecting this from me but, so it goes...just one issue that i will pull out of the many to choose from...this is a quote from your wiki link:

"Palin is strongly opposed to abortion and supports capital punishment"

I am sorry but calling someone "pro-life" just because they are against abortion does not work for me. if you are so pro-life, why do you support human beings killing other living, fully developed, already born human beings while being so adamently against abortion? If women don't have the right to choose whether or not to give birth, then how is it ok to give the right to choose if a life is to be taken or not? This makes no sense to me. I might be a little more sympathetic to people who consider themselves so pro-life if they were equally as adament agaist the death penalty.
I won't get into the who gets to be a feminist debate, but i will say that just because a woman does things that are not expected of women does not make her a feminist, not even by a long shot.

joshua writes at 01:40:13 08/29/08 - Comment #38323: (e:brit) the answer is yes - the NARAL/NOW crowd doesn't own license regarding the definition of feminism, nor do they have the right to construct a litmus test for anybody who wants to use the term. The implication is that you cannot be a feminist without supporting abortion, which is a fallacious statement.

janelle writes at 01:37:46 08/29/08 - Comment #38322: Obviously, yes, I think a person can be a feminist and pro-life.

My point in listing it is mainly that I appreciate people who can claim a category of being yet not allow their conscience to be entirely restrained by that category. I think it's an incredibly important characteristic for politicians.

I'm not particularly interested in arguing whether someone can be a feminist and pro life in regards to my comment, but it would be an interesting comment if someone else wants to run with it.

brit writes at 01:27:12 08/29/08 - Comment #38321: can you really be a feminist if you are willing to 1) Give up your control over your body to the government 2) Work to force other women into the same headlock?

Permalink: The_election_just_got_interesting_to_me.html
Words: 275
Location: Buffalo , NY

08/20/08 03:14 - 72ºF - ID#45379

My supervisor

makes me cry.