If you want to understand "Idol," you need to understand American politics. And if you want to understand the workings of American politics, "Idol" isn't a bad introduction to the way political coalitions are formed and elections are won.

American Idol as microcosm of Election politics.

'IDOL' SPECULATION By JOHN PODHORETZ - New York Post Online Edition: postopinion

Why the anger? It can be summed up in one run-on sentence: We have lost two towers in New York, a part of the Pentagon, an important American city called New Orleans, our economic solvency, our global reputation, our moral authority, our children's future, we have lost tens of thousands of American soldiers to death and grievous injury, we must endure the Abramoffs and the Cunninghams and the Libbys and the whores and the bribes and the utter corruption, we must contemplate the staggering depth of the hole we have been hurled down into, and we expect little to no help from the mainstream DC press, whose lazy go-along-to-get-along cocktail-circuit mentality allowed so much of this to happen because they failed comprehensively to do their job.

George W. Bush and his pals used September 11th against the American people, used perhaps the most horrific day in our collective history, deliberately and with intent, to foster a war of choice that has killed untold tens of thousands of human beings and basically bankrupted our country. They lied about the threat posed by Iraq. They destroyed the career of a CIA agent who was tasked to keep an eye on Iran's nuclear ambitions, and did so to exact petty political revenge against a critic. They tortured people, and spied on American civilians.

You cannot fathom anger arising from this?

A fabulous rebuttal to Cohen's quite honestly absurd arguments from a few days ago.

William Rivers Pitt | An Open Letter to Richard Cohen

The letter was framed entirely in religious terms but also laid out a populist manifesto of anti-Americanism, offering illustrations of what has won the Iranian a following among many ordinary people throughout the Middle East. He presented himself as the defender not only of Muslims but of all oppressed people, including those in Africa and Latin America.

A good summary.

Why is it that the NYT has the U.N. version (from LeMonde) and the WSJ has the original? It seems to me the one I posted yesterday is exactly the same thing thing, just the actual PDF doc.

Iranian Letter: Using Religion to Lecture Bush - New York Times

The letter from the Pres. of Iran. Very strange read.

Dear President Bush...

Addressing the reporters, he said, "Let's review the rules. Here's how it works. The president makes decisions, he’s the decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Put them through a spell check and go home. Get to know your family again. Make love to your wife. Write that novel you got kicking around in your head. You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration. You know--fiction."

Colbert has balls!!!

Colbert Lampoons Bush at White House Correspondents Dinner-- President Not Amused?

There is a lively debate going on within MemeStreams on Illegal Immigration. First, thank you. One of the oft criticisms of MemeStreams is that its dominated by liberal perspectives. There is no architechtural reason for this. MemeStreams is supposed to be a place where people from different perspectives debate issues. Its not supposed to be dominated by one side of the fence. I'm glad to see an array of perspectives being offered in this debate, on an issue that is most near and dear to conservative hearts.

Having said all of that, I'm going to weigh in, and I'm going to say a bunch of stuff that is apt to make some of you angry. This is a touchy issue. Be prepared.

I'm a legal immigrant and a naturalized citizen of the U.S.. Most legal immigrants hate illegal immigrants. I don't. There are three things that separate my perspective on this from most people.

1. I think the Berlin wall was a great scar across the face of Europe, and a symbol of our collective primitiveness. I don't like governments drawing lines in the sand and shooting people who try to cross them. I don't like other walls for similar reasons. I think the wall in Isreal represents a great failure to communicate. I think a wall in the southern states would reflect poorly on America. Its an authoritarian reaction rooted in fear. To me it represents weakness rather than strength.

2. I think many Americans feel a sense of entitlement to the greatness of America. They wrap up our country's accomplishments, sprinkle on a bunch of stuff we didn't accomplish, pin it on their chest, and claim personal responsibility for it. They beleive that they are personally great because they are Americans and America is great. They don't want to share their oyster with others.

My grandfathers faught in World War II. I'm simultaneously proud of their accomplishments, grateful for their sacrifices, and in awe of their bravery. But I didn't do this, and I don't deserve any of their glory. The freedom they helped secure was not just for Canadians, but for the entire world. Its a freedom I still get to experience living now in America, and a freedom that my present countrymen's grandparents also faught for. But that freedom is not a privledge or an entitlement. It is not a property that we may own or that we may deny to others. It is a debt we owe to them, which we can only repay through our own accomplishments.

I don't feel personally responsible for anything that I didn't personally accomplish. The idea that other people can become Americans or live in America doesn't bother me. I don't think it makes them any better then if they weren't Americans. In part, perhaps, because I don't think Americans are inherently better then anyone else. Americans aren't great because America is a great country. It works the other way around. America is a great country because there are many great Americans. I tend to judge other people on their own merit rather then on the co... [ Read More (0.8k in body) ]

FOXNews.com - Immigrants Stage a Patriotic Protest

Oy, where to start. I've been locked out for two days through a cookie-related error of my own and now I'm back to face the (mariachi) music.

Hijexx wrote:
Not to beat a dead horse, but seriously, if you rent, try itemizing a portion of your rent on your income taxes as a property tax payment. ...Property taxes are paid by the property owner, not the renter. Said another way, a vacant house can generate property taxes.

By this reasoning, my friends and I do not pay property taxes either. Good to know. But I guess we still pay sales, social security and income? And I guess if they don't verify my ss card, then I would still get those taken out, I wouldn't just get a taxless check every week? And I also guess that means that every citizen I know that mows lawns (my neighbor), paints houses (old co-worker), or cleans houses (aunt) and gets paid in cash wouldn't pay any of those except sales tax? Geez, those taxless illegals. Ruining the tax-free life for the rest of us.

I'll share a study with you. ...
http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalfindings.html
This study was written by the Center for Immigration Studies.

When I read this, something in my head actually went "dun dun DUN!"
Its funny that you picked a John Tanton run org, and one where I have actually met one of the contributors! (Mark Krikorian.)

CIS is one of an umbrella of anti-immigrant organizations founded and funded by John Tanton. Let me tell you how excited I am you brought him up. (First some backround reading, if you care to. Tanton: http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=93 CIS and Tanton: http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?sid=72)

To make a long, white-supremacist-filled story short, Tanton and his cronies at F.A.I.R. do a great job of what you alleged I do: the good old bait and switch. You get lured in by their dislike of illegals, but then find out that, actually, they don't like legals! And more specifically, non-whites in general. They recieve $$$ from the Pioneer fund (you know, The Bell Curve?)share members with the Council of Conservative Citizens (check 'em out : http://www.cofcc.org/manifest.htm) and own a publishing house that is one of the best places to get The Camp of the Saints, a lovely book about Europe being over-run by mongrel minorities.

To hammer it in: this is why I don't trust stats from many places. When you follow the money, it gets a little scary. But anyhoo, you could come back with a rebuttal about SPLC and Morris Dees, but instead I hope we can save time and get off the numbers. (And if you don't like SPLC I actually have some ADL studies saying the same thing, let me know if you want them.)

....because no one is against LEGAL immigration here.

I know I know. But the whole "illegal" issue is such a nice gateway drug to more generalized eugenics, white su... [ Read More (0.6k in body) ]

RE: How can Illegal Immigration help our Homeless situation?

terratogen wrote:
But you can choose who crosses the border the same way you can the threshold of your families house. We can make our democracy stronger if we pick and choose than if we let just anybody in.
...........

Not a grade of humanity, but some people are more useful than others. Why should we encourage malaise?

Hmmm, reminds me of something. What was it again?

"Give me your tired.... your poor.... your, (what was it?) ...huddled masses yearning... to breathe free?"

Yeah, sounds like crap to me too. Sentimental bullshit.

From now on, only rich, smart, and sexy! In fact, why don't we make a reality show out of it? Immigrant Idol! If you don't have enough talent and appeal, its back to [insert third world country] you go!

Hmmm... kind of makes you wonder. Would your own ancestors have made it?

RE: How can Illegal Immigration help our Homeless situation?

terratogen wrote:

I feel bad for homeless people too, but i generally don't let too many live in my house (at least not lately).

Ummm... why does everyone keep comparing the U.S. to their house? Your house is a piece of property where you and whoever you select live together. A country is... oh wait, I'm not a fourth grade social studies teacher. We all know what a country is, right? And this country is a "democracy." Which makes is different from your house. Also differently than your house, who is let into the nation is not regulated by who you do and don't "feel bad" for. Luckily.

Additionally, why do people keep comparing homeless people to immigrants? "The bottom of the barrel?" How about the people who were brave and bold enough to cross an extremely inhospitable border, move to a new country with a new culture, language, and system, and find a job. Have you ever moved to a new CITY? Its rough, man. I wouldn't say that those peope are the 'bottom of the barrel'.

Of course, I wouldn't say that about any of my fellow human beings.

I also believe that you will find many individuals of great intelectual worth who come here legally and illegally. Some refer to it as "the brain drain."

RE: How can Illegal Immigration help our Homeless situation?

Yet for Amadou, who helps operate the robot the team built, success has come at a price. As the group prepared for the flight to Atlanta today, he was forced to reveal his secret: He is an illegal immigrant from Senegal, with no ID to allow him to board a plane. Left here long ago by his mother, he has no way to attend the college that has accepted him, and only a slim chance to win his two-year court battle against deportation.

Yep, those illegal immigrants. Awful criminals who come here to steal our taxes and ruin our culture.

Oh.... Wait.

Guess thats the argument of someone who has never met an illegal immigrant in his life.

(Or at least, doesn't know he has.)

Student's Prize Is a Trip Into Immigration Limbo - New York Times