Monthly Archives: August 2012

(Community Matters) profile in Bloomberg/Newsweek

(Community Matters) there’s the self importance we saw

Playbook:  CHRIS CHRISTIE held up nearly 1,000 delegates and guests trying to leave the convention last night for around 20 minutes while either his entourage or security detail shut down a key convention passage for his motorcade’s departure, a reliable tipster says.

(Community Matters) I need to understand why the plants drink so much water for three weeks in May, then again at the end of August

(Community Matters)  The University of Texas’ review of the gay parenting study cleared Assoc Professor Mark Regnerus of falsification of data, plagiarism and other serious ethical breaches which would have constituted scientific misconduct. As UT’s chief research integrity officer, Robert Peterson pointed out, they did not address errors, good faith differences or judgement of data, scholarly or political disagreements, good faith personal or professional opinions, or private moral or ethical behaviors or views. He noted that the soundness of the work was best left to the journal’s peer review. The journal’s preliminary review was scathing and the independent reviewer referred to the report as “bullshit.”

Gay Families Study – Academic Review Conclusion: “It’s Bullshit”

(Community Matters)

Politico’s Playbook: IS THE GOP FUELED BY HATRED? That’s what The New Yorker’s George Packer concludes after attending a Tea Party Patriots rally to honor the military. “When you go to these side events, the tent shows on the margins of the convention hall, you feel the true source of the Party’s energy this year,” he wrote in a blog post published Wednesday afternoon. “It isn’t about Paul Ryan, though he’s a favorite. Sarah Palin doesn’t get a mention. Rick Santorum got a big cheer before giving the most sanctimonious speech in convention history, but he’s already a has-been. Ron Paul has his hard core, and they are here, causing a bit of trouble, but he’s already gone off into the sunset. God knows it isn’t about Mitt Romney-no one’s name elicits a less hearty cheer on the floor of the hall. The energy is hatred-hatred of Barack Obama, and hatred of what the people here believe he’s done to their country, their principles, and their children.” http://goo.gl/4ZMie

(Community Matters) McDaffey on the Daily Kos in response to Ta-Nehisi Coates‘ in The Atlantic

DAILY KOS Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 11:12 AM PDT

Fear Of A Black President: A Reflection On Race And The 2012 Campaign

by MacDaffy

Even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American Dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: – ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’. — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The owners of this country know the truth: It’s called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it. — George Carlin

Ta-Nehisi Coates’s trenchant article, Fear Of A Black President, in this month’s Atlantic Magazine, is a pointed critique of President Obama’s leadership on matters of race. It was–by his own admission–written in anger. The inciting incident for Coates’s ire is the president’s remarks on the February shooting death of Miami teenager Trayvon Martin. Mr. Obama set off a firestorm of right-wing criticism by saying that “if I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon.”

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(Community Matters) Damn it, Stephen – you can’t tell him anything.

Colbert broke the story on LGBT manipulation of the weather, how we sent Hurricane Isaac to interrupt the Republican National Convention in Tampa:

“Hurricanes form from rising moisture created by hot steamy man action aboard a gay Caribbean cruise. When that sin gets high enough it makes the angels cry and those tears fall to earth in the form of massive precipitation because homosexuals are a vital part of the water cycle. That’s why the gay symbol is a rainbow!”

“So clearly the liberal gays out there planned the storm by gaying it up extra hard someplace.”

(Community Matters) I’m reading that Buckingham Palace is saying Prince Harry’s escapades in Las Vegas are his private business and the Prince has nothing to be ashamed about. Good for them! He’s a 20-something army guy for gosh sakes. He was naked playing pool with a bunch of friends. big deal

(Community Matters) The statements about President Obama dismantling the work requirement for Welfare are strong and I fear minutely persuasive – even though they are a complete lie. Two Republican governors were among the five who asked for flexibility – granted only under the condition that moving recipients to jobs remains a hard success metric.

Nearly every GOP convention speaker is further spreading the misinformation. As an earlier post noted, the GOP ticket seems to have topped out at less than 50% in the battle ground states with its economic arguments. The Welfare argument appears to be both code for race and an finger on the scale weighing the President’s commitment to accountability as well as his navigation of the economy. I doubt the former has any more play, but the latter is still a tricky assessment for the very few remaining undecided voters in battle ground states.

for background . . . five governors (including the Republican governors of Utah and Nevada) asked for flexibility w/ their welfare rules on alternative ways to achieve the law’s goal of moving recipients from welfare to work. The Administration offered to grant certain flexibilities but reinforced the requirements for a focus on jobs (not just focus but a performance evaluation metric of jobs).

(Community Matters) I watched some on television. Steven even watched with while swimming in the pool – nice weather & evening in Austin while Isaac was barreling toward shore.

My facebook posts during: Ted Cruz speaking now at GOP Convention. First time I’ve ever seen him speak. Unfortunately, he’s sorta laying an egg

The ABC/WSJ poll couldn’t have been right. Artur Davis obviously wasn’t contacted [if Mr Davis is authentic, he could be a player. Disturbingly charismatic]

[in response to why would I consider Cruz’ performance unfortunate] b/c he’s likely to be our next Tx US Senator. I’d like him to be a successful representative for our state

Ann Romney was spectacular – cool lady

Chris Christie was also a very good speaker, though I don’t get what sacrifice they’re asking of wealthy Americans in budget proposals. I do see the sacrifices asked of middle class & working poor. As to “the greatest health care system in the world” facts just don’t back that up. Access is a real problem. Healthcare statistics for Americans are significantly lower than many other developed countries.

There’s certainly a diversity of opinion about Ann’s performance  – Boston Globe & NYT say: electrified, bold, fiesty, electric.I was watching, imagining I was my or Steven’s parents. I suspect she convinced all four of them to consider voting for her husband.

As to the entire night, Steven and I noticed that there wasn’t thunderous applause or many audience slient moments outside of Ann’s speech. an interesting Politico blog post: “I want to tell you they marched out of the hall Tuesday night on fire for their side. But I was there and they did not. They walked out like people who weren’t quite sure what to think or how to feel but were hoping for the best.”

oh yeah, when I turned the convention on, Santorum was speaking – a rather out of body presentation. Strangely robotic

update: How Ann Sold Mitt in the Daily Dish

(Community Matters) National Organization for Marriage hosted it’s fifth annual college student conference in San Diego. As the blogger who attended incognito writes, NOM’s not only against same sex marriage, they’re very anti-gay.

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(Community Matters) Michael Barnes encouraged me and Jeff Lau to meet, which we finally did last week – though – I sheepishly admit, only after I stood him up on Tuesday (scheduling snafu).  Immediately liked the new Roddick Foundation executive director – already scheduled a hike & bike walk. Austin American Statesman profile.