Red Diaper Baby

Santorum in the spotlight

2011-10-09T20:43:00.010-04:00

At first, I was incensed that Rick Santorum was still getting press coverage. Seeing as the nomination is pretty much Romney's to lose, unless Cain somehow rides the current wave of enthusiasm to victory (unlikely) or Perry learns to construct a coherent sentence in a recognizable form of the English language (even more unlikely), Santorum is pretty much dead in the water at this point. And yet, he still slithers his way back into public discourse, this time setting his homosexuality obsession on men showering together which is a completely normal topic to occupy the mind of a normal straight man with no hangups about sexuality, obviously.

I was incensed because here is this man basically soliciting donations from American cavemen hell bent on the belief that homosexuality somehow adversely affects their awful, hate-filled lives. Then I realized, fuck those people. These mouth breathers send their money to Santorum, and while it's infuriating that he pockets it and likely uses it to renew his Playgirl subscription (purely for research purposes), it's reassuring to know that every cent spent on the pipe dream of a Santorum Administration in the White House is a cent not spent supporting one of those other GOP lunatics.

So, thanks homophobes and bible thumpers! Your useful combination of poverty and ignorance came in very handy. Keep up the good work.

Obama, the one-term wonder

2010-12-07T20:25:00.006-05:00

The President lost the country today. He proved every pundit right. You know that tired old meme that Democrats have no spine? Today, it became painfully, evidently true, in a way that makes me sad and ashamed. I'm sad because I was lulled into loving Obama, and thinking that he was a transformational President, like an FDR for my generation. I'm ashamed because I should have known better.

Barack Obama inspired me to want to devote the rest of my life to public service. He's the reason I'm busting my ass in law school. I saw this eloquent and inspiring young senator and realized that it was time for me to start pulling my weight as a citizen again. He made me want to be a better American, a better citizen of the world, and a better person.

And now, I'm lost. If Barack Obama had been just another politician, it wouldn't matter. He would have gotten my default, non-Republican vote and I could be non-committal in my support, not being surprised when yet another Democrat shit himself in fear at Republican obstructionism. But he was supposed to be different. He was the man who was going to change the culture of Washington. He was the man who was going to revive decency and civility. He was going to give the rest of us a chance, after the rich had their way with this country for 8 years.

Well, it didn't pan out. Yet again, we were fooled by flashy oratory and promises he had no intention of keeping. We were fooled into thinking his election was OUR election. We were told we were a part of his victory. And that may be true. But once the party was over, it was back to business as usual.

At this point, I don't think there's anything he could do to win back his lost base. We were miffed about the watered-down health care reform. We were pissed off when he appointed the same Harvard cabal that helped ruin our economy to lead his economic team. We were also pretty steamed when he named a former Monsanto executive to the department of agriculture. Now that he's capitulated to the Republicans on yet another campaign promise, and this was a pretty big one, the overwhelming emotion I'm seeing isn't rage or incredulity. It's apathy. We just don't care anymore about this president, this party, or the fucking joke that is our federal government.

I'm sorry I had to see it happen. I thought I was going to see history get made with Obama in the White House. Instead, I get to see it repeated. If I cared anymore, I'd be sadder than I am. But I can't bring myself to care anymore. I guess that's what hurts the most. Obama made me care again, and then proved I shouldn't have bothered.

I hear Canada's nice.

Musings

2010-10-21T09:41:00.002-04:00

Nothing is more infuriating than watching political advertisements, which are now apparently the only advertisements airing on New England television. The thing I've noticed most is that of the commercials I've seen, only one of them actually told me to vote FOR someone. All the rest are ads painting every left-leaning politician as Nancy Pelosi's best friend, and how they're intent on destroying this country with their liberal, socialist, blah blah blah blah blah. They're presented with all the subtlety of LBJ's "Daisy Girl" ad from 1964, and they're all sponsored by patriotic sounding GOP front groups with cornball names like the "American Freedom Coalition" and "The Association of American Freedom Patriots" and "The Freedom Patriot Freedom America Liberty Justice Foundation."

I'm done. Our legislature has proven, no matter who's in power, that they have no interest in legislating in the interests of the American people anymore, and instead have become more brazen and unashamed about upholding the interests of their corporate puppet masters. Why even bother voting anymore? Save a few exceptions, no one in the legislative branch has a conscience anymore. Instead of principled and respectful debate, we get the impassioned rhetorical flash of Anthony Weiner or Michele Bachman. Sure, it plays well on television, but it is ultimately destroying any possibility of encouraging civil discourse among those with differing views, and in my experience that doesn't represent America. One of my closest friends is what I can only describe as a right wing kook (and he would probably describe me similarly), but when we discuss our politics and debate our respective positions, the first thing we do is try to find the common ground and build from there. That tactic is lost in modern discourse, and it's sad and frightening.

To bother finding someone to blame for this would only further fan the flames of this dangerous and divisive rhetoric. We just need to call a truce and start seeing how we can work together to improve the country instead of working separately to dismantle it.

Fuck you, Rep. Joe Barton

2010-06-17T14:13:00.003-04:00

First, see this article before reading this post, and it will make more sense.

Dear Rep. Barton,

Thank you for apologizing to BP over the unfair treatment they have received from the White House.

Here's a few other companies you should probably apologize to while you're at it:

- Comcast. Here they are trying to limit our access to the internet, and all we hear about are the advantages of so-called "net neutrality." Hey, if they want to turn the internet into an electronic caste system where some people get full access to the greatest democratic medium of our lifetime while others don't, so be it.

- Toyota. Their cars malfunctioned and hurt and injured people, and all we could do was give them a hard time about it. Hey, if they want to manufacture and sell deathtraps and people are dumb enough to buy them, I say it's the consumers' fault. You should probably get on that one soon.

- Blackwater/Xe. Now our private military contractors can't even kill innocent civilians without being charged with war crimes. We should apologize and just let them kill whoever they want on the taxpayer's dime.

- Union Carbide... oh never mind. We never did anything after this company killed thousands of people in Bhopal, India. No apology necessary there.

Anyway, keep up the apologies. I'm sure another oil company will find a way to further rape our environment, and I'm sure you'll be lining up to kiss their a** too so you can ensure yourself a nice cushy job when your constituents realize that you don't serve them, just your corporate puppet masters, and they vote you out. Then again, it's Texas, so your greed and right-wing duplicity are probably assets.

By the way, can you pass on tips on how you sleep at night? I'm a decent person who doesn't enjoy standing up for evil and greed, but I still have trouble sleeping. What's your secret?

The MA Special Election

2010-01-16T16:07:00.006-05:00

I know most of my liberal compatriots will be blown away by what I'm trying to say, but I'm gonna say it anyway. I kind of hope Scott Brown wins the special election in Massachusetts on Tuesday to fill the seat vacated by the late Ted Kennedy.

I didn't come to this decision lightly. In the primary, I was a big fan of Mike Capuano. I like his straight-talk, and I like how closely he engages with his constituents. I though Coakley would be more of the same in the Senate, a stuffy, uptight liberal with a few too many hands in her pockets.

Why do I kind of hope Scott Brown wins? Because it will make clear the real agenda of the Republican party, and in the long term can hurt them. That agenda? Obstructionism.

If Scott Brown wins, he has made it clear that he will vote against the health care reform bill (which is more of a giant giveaway to the insurance industry than anything, but that's another discussion). He has made it clear that he would be proud to be the 41st vote in the Senate, keeping the GOP in its position of fillibustering every piece of legislation that comes before them. He has made it clear he is also against reform of our financial industry. Neither of these positions are terribly popular among the moderates. They're bona fide teabag/Libertarian positions, but that's a political trend that will be (hopefully) dead by 2012.

If Scott Brown wins, the true colors of the Republican party will become clear to the everyday voter. Hey, middle America, remember how your house got foreclosed on because the GOP obstructed financial reform that would have allowed you to negotiate with your lender so you don't lose your home? Yeah, that was the GOP's fault. Remember how you wanted to see your insurance premiums go down, and the increased likelihood that you would get the treatment you needed without being dropped by your insurance company? Yeah, that was the GOP standing up for you by obstructing progress again.

Do you see what I'm getting at? The Republican brand is pretty broken right now, but it's only slightly more broken than the Democrat brand. If the GOP gets the opportunity to stand in the way of anything Obama tries to do to improve this country, they'll take it. Given that eventuality the Democrats should take that opportunity to try and get real reform, reform that will have popular support among the people, pushed through in Congress, only to see it languish at the hands of Republican obstructionism. It can be the position the Democrats can take into the 2012 election to say, "See? We tried to improve the country, but the GOP wouldn't let it happen because of something as trivial as ideological purity, and unbridled loathing for working with the other side of the aisle."

This is why, I, as a liberal, want Scott Brown to win this election. It's obvious that the Democrats have no interest in any real progressive causes anymore (as should be obvious by the castrated insurance company handout they're passing off as "reform"). Maybe the loss of a layup special election will be just the spur they need to start listening to their base again.

good point

2009-09-18T10:17:00.001-04:00

This has been forwarded around, and copy-pasted into various discussion boards, but this is the first time I've seen it, and I thought I should share it.

"I am a conservative.
This morning I was awoken by my alarm clock powered by electricity generated by the public power monopoly regulated by the U.S. Department of Energy.

I then took a shower in the clean water provided by a municipal water utility.

After that, I turned on the TV to one of the FCC-regulated channels to see what the National Weather Service of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration determined the weather was going to be like, using satellites designed, built, and launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

I watched this while eating my breakfast of U.S. Department of Agriculture-inspected food and taking the drugs which have been determined as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

At the appropriate time, as regulated by the U.S. Congress and kept accurate by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the U.S. Naval Observatory, I get into my National Highway Traffic Safety Administration-approved automobile and set out to work on the roads build by the local, state, and federal Departments of Transportation, possibly stopping to purchase additional fuel of a quality level
determined by the Environmental Protection Agency, using legal tender issued by the Federal Reserve Bank.

On the way out the door I deposit any mail I have to be sent out via the U.S. Postal Service and drop the kids off at the public school.

After spending another day not being maimed or killed at work thanks to the workplace regulations imposed by the Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health administration, enjoying another two meals which again do not kill me because of the USDA, I drive my NHTSA car back home on the DOT roads, to my house which has not burned down in my absence because of the state and local building codes and Fire Marshal's inspection, and which has not been plundered of all its
valuables thanks to the local police department.

And then I log on to the internet -- which was developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Administration -- and post on Freerepublic.com and Fox News forums about how SOCIALISM in medicine is BAD because the government can't do anything right."

Discuss.

As Sponsors Flee, The Glenn Beck Show Gets More And More Awesomely Bonkers

2009-08-29T22:25:00.002-04:00

The more I think about it, the more I realize that Glenn Beck is the PERFECT representative for the new Republican base. As fewer and fewer reasonable people give credence to his uninformed lunatic ramblings, the angrier and more paranoid he gets, much like the people who were blindsided by the overwhelming defeat of the GOP in '06 and '08. He IS the raving loony with a sign depicting Obama as Hitler. He IS the demented old coot screaming about how the guv'mint should get out of his Medicare. He IS the troglodyte screaming about long form birth certificates and falsified 48 year old birth announcements. These people's paranoia is now reinforced every time they tune into Fox News, and Beck is fanning the flames of their ignorance.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Limbaugh Congratulates Himself On Kennedy Death Prediction

2009-08-27T09:42:00.002-04:00

What happened to the Republican party that gave us Lincoln and Eisenhower?

For that matter, what happened to principled, intellectually honest conservatives whose beliefs were genuine instead of being the result of having to capitulate to a cadre of hillbilly fundamentalists? The left (of which I consider myself a proud member) needs an active and vibrant conservative party to temper it. Unfortunately, what we have now is this reactionary, intellectually bereft party that somehow believes that by appealing to a base that is shrinking by the minute, they will somehow regain their control over this country. I'd trade in one Glenn Beck for one William F. Buckley Jr, or one O'Reilly for one Barry Goldwater. While ideologically, I disagreed with both of these men, their beliefs grew out of their sincere dedication to making this country a better place, even if their means to that end differed from mine. The self-serving, moralistic conservative party of today will be gone in 5-10 years if things continue the way they are. Maybe this means the rise of a REAL progressive party in this country to counteract the centrism of the modern Democratic Party, with the Right Wing relegated to the status of an historical curiosity.
About Ted Kennedy
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Barney Frank FTW!!!

2009-08-19T07:20:00.002-04:00

This makes me proud to live in Massachusetts, where our politicians have the chutzpah to put these lunatics in their place where they belong. The right wing has lost this debate, and thankfully the Democrats finally realized they are the majority party and can get pass healthcare reform without the help of the obstructionists in the GOP. It's a good thing Obama thought to bring a spine to the party when he won the presidency.

Robert Novak, 1931-2009

2009-08-18T12:28:00.003-04:00

Good riddance.

Fuck that treasonous old shithead. When people like Bob Novak die, it makes me wish I believed in hell. But, I don't. So, I'll just celebrate his passing with glea and the belief that the world just got a tiny bit more decent.

2009-08-17T11:34:00.004-04:00

As I am now one week away from actually starting class, I want to try and update this thing as often as possible. As a public service, maybe my blog can help caution a few undecided people away from trying to work full-time while pursuing a J.D. degree, or maybe it can help to inspire one or two people to go into law themselves and try to make some positive change in their communities. Both of these assumptions work better when I assume someone actually reads this shit.

Still, look for a lot more updates in the near future as I begin my legal studies. I'm gonna have less time with my friends and loved ones for the next few years. I figure the least I can do is have some record of how I spent that time, and when I'm done, it will be fun to look back on the trials and tribulations of my time in law school.

Nothing worse than a sore loser

2009-08-13T14:27:00.003-04:00

As the right wing gets more marginalized, and increasingly frustrated with the idea of a black president, I keep hearing a lot more right-wing rabble-rousers bitching about losing "their country." It's always some old kook or some middle-aged mouth-breather, and they're always worried about losing their country to [fill in the blank from the following choices: socialists, gays, blacks, communists, the devil].

Maybe they don't really understand the way democracy works in the United States. They don't seem to understand that when a majority votes for a president, that president takes that as a mandate to push forward his or her agenda, which informed voters would have known about before casting their ballots. I pissed and moaned about Bush's policies for 8 years, but never once did I think I was losing "my country," although I did understand that it was now being led by a cabal of lunatic bible-thumpers and anti-intellectuals. So, for all the bitching these mostly monosyllabic troglodytes do about losing their country, they don't seem to understand that if there were more people on their side, they might have actually won the election. But they didn't. So, instead of trying to organize themselves into a party that doesn't look like a bunch of crybaby sore losers (and we didn't even have to steal the election) with an agenda that would have looked too extremely right-wing in 1953, they show up and shout down their opposition as opposed to being able to present any opposing ideas with any merit. Thankfully, the politicians are savvy enough to see through this nonsense, and understand that the silent majority is behind them all the way.

We are witnessing the last gasps of the Republican Party, and I'm warning everyone now that they will not go down without a fight. Rather than accept defeat, and accept that they are on the losing side of history, these people celebrate their ignorance, and rail against anyone they feel is an elitist (by which they mean anyone educated). They're right about one thing: "their" America is almost gone. But "their" America was a relic of a bygone era, and I think most of us are happy to see it getting smaller in the rearview mirror.

New England is better than your geographic region!

2009-05-06T15:20:00.002-04:00

So, today Maine joined the growing ranks of states that believe in marriage equality. I couldn't be happier for them. We've had gay marriage in Boston for several years, and guess what: the sky hasn't fallen, and straight marriages have not fallen apart. But, I suppose there's no reasoning with some people.

I really want to find that place in the Bible where Jesus condemns homosexuality as a sin. I'm sure it's buried in there somewhere amongst his teachings regarding loving our neighbor, treating all of mankind like brothers, and taking care of the less fortunate.

I really haven't updated this thing in a while. I've been so pre-occupied. I finished my law school applications, finally. Now, I just have to wait and see if I get in. I only ended up applying to the New England School of Law. I just liked what they have to offer their part-time students, and I like their track record when it comes to job placement for graduates. All I want to do is finish law school, and devote the rest of my life to public service. The indigent get shit on every day. I just want to be the one part of "the system" that works for the people who have lost their faith in it. I know that's idealistic, but I don't think it's naive. Someone needs to do it, and I am taking the initiative to be one of the folks who's trying his best to make his little corner of the world a better place. Wish me luck.

Thanks, Joe Rogan

2009-02-20T12:47:00.003-05:00

I thought the Michael Phelps firing was one of the stupidest things Kellogg's has ever done. But, nothing I could say about it would be nearly as funny as Joe Rogan's take on the situation, and his open letter to Kellogg's on his blog.

I'm not really that familiar with Joe Rogan's standup. If it's as funny as some of the stuff I've seen from him, he might be someone to keep on my radar.

Divide and Conquer

2009-02-13T14:34:00.004-05:00

Liberal. Conservative. Gay. Straight. Christian. Muslim. Atheist.

All labels, designed to keep us apart, to delineate the desirable from the undesirable. To determine who will be the big winner in the game of life, and who gets shit on by the victor. All in place to keep us under control.

Well, what would happen if we just decided not to give a shit anymore? What if we all decided that focusing on what makes us different is not as productive as celebrating all that we have in common?

This article tries to answer that question. And I think it makes some good points.

An Open Letter to President Obama About the Republicans (From a Former Republican)

2009-02-12T12:03:00.001-05:00

I think this pretty succinctly sums up the state of the modern-day GOP.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Talk about leading by example

2009-01-21T16:35:00.003-05:00

If you want the people to sacrifice, you should prove you're willing to sacrifice too.

And it's only his first day.

2009-01-20T10:44:00.002-05:00

I can't believe the day is finally here. I remember distinctly in 2004, after Bush somehow won his second term, saying to my friend Matt, "Do you realize that when Bush is finally out of office, I'll be 30?" I remember thinking that this seemed so far away, and that I'd be such a bitter, angry bastard by the time this nightmare was finally over. I remember thinking that we might not even make it to 2008, that somehow Bush's ineptitude would transcend the myopic and enter into the apocalyptic. But, I was wrong. Despite Bush's best efforts to ruin not only this country, but the world, here we are, still standing, bruised and beaten, but standing defiantly, marveling at the unimaginable stupidity and greed this country has endured to get to this incredible moment.

And I'm stuck home, sick. I've got a cough that makes my body rattle, and a sore throat that just feels like the onset of a terrible flu, with only a few hours left until my voice gives out on me, but here I am, watching MSNBC's coverage of a day I've been waiting for since January of 2001. I remember Bush's inauguration day a little too well. It was the day I took my comprehensive exams at Earlham. Here I was, analyzing this random, somewhat transcendental poem about a deer in some meadow, and thinking to myself that in 4 years, we may neither have wild animals nor meadows in which they could frolic. But, we pulled it off. We got the threshold of oblivion, and made it through. It's eight years later, and a better day is finally upon us. For one day, my cynicism gets a break. My skepticism is taking a day off. My rarely-used optimism gets a few days of work. I have no real expectations for the next eight years. A wizard with the powers of God and the brain of Steven Hawking would have a hard time taking on all of the challenges facing the Obama administration. Let's just hope he can scratch the surface of the problems facing this country in his first four years.

Best of luck to you, Barack Hussein Obama. You're going to need it.

Fuck "Joe" the "Plumber"

2009-01-16T15:29:00.002-05:00

Rick Sanchez really sticks it to "Joe" the "Plumber" in this segment.

I have to say, I've been pretty impressed with Rick Sanchez lately. Generally, I avoid the 24 hour news networks anymore, but Rick Sanchez is still doing a pretty kick ass job. Keep it up, Rick.

RIP Ricardo Montalban

2009-01-14T16:48:00.001-05:00

There's only one thing to say about this story.

KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!

I just have one thing to say

2009-01-12T10:27:00.001-05:00

GO EAGLES!!

That game was incredible.

Faith in politicians: slightly restored

2009-01-09T16:36:00.001-05:00

So, a few weeks back, I emailed my representative about his vote for the Emergency Economic Stimulus Act (EESA). I never thought I would hear anything about it. I was wrong. This showed up in my inbox a few minutes ago:

---
January 9, 2009

Eli Reusch
25 Brackett St.
Brighton, MA 02135

Dear Eli:

Thank you for contacting me with your concerns regarding the financial crisis. I sincerely appreciate hearing your views on this critical issue for our nation.

In response to the ongoing crisis, Congress recently passed The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (EESA) of 2008. The EESA provides up to $700 billion to the Secretary of the Treasury to buy mortgages and other assets that are clogging the balance sheets of financial institutions and making it difficult for working families, small businesses, and other companies to access credit. After much reflection and deliberation, I decided that the risk of doing nothing to stabilize the economy was far too great and, in the final analysis, I voted in support of the package. It is by far the most difficult vote I have cast as a Member of Congress.

For me, it came down to balancing the risk of voting yes and trying to save the economy for all Americans while incurring a potential cost to taxpayers versus the risk of voting no and watching the world economy collapse. I took what I thought was a smaller risk for my average constituent.

As I have reported before, many experts believe that this is the biggest economic crisis our nation has faced in decades. They have warned that we will encounter a major decrease in access to credit and that all Americans could be impacted in some way. The ability to obtain a mortgage, car loan, home equity loan or student loan has already been severely restricted. Losses in the stock market are not limited to Wall Street fat cats, but have also impacted private and public pension funds, college savings plans, and many others in recent months. Small businesses have already had difficulty obtaining loans to run or expand their business. Even states and municipalities are struggling to finance roads, schools, hospitals and other projects as the economy worsens.

I supported the EESA package because I was just not willing to risk putting the jobs, pensions and 401(K) plans of hard working Americans on the line while we waited for better legislation. If we waited for the perfect bill, we would never cast a vote.

Although the EESA package could have been much improved, there are a number of important protections in it: limits on executive compensation; help for qualified homeowners facing foreclosure; help for tenants living in foreclosed homes; an increase in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) limit of insurance coverage to $250,000; and deadlines on recommendations for additional necessary regulations on the financial industry.

While I am pleased that Treasury has begun to use these funds to make direct capital injections into financial institutions, I have raised concerns that banks should not be allowed to use these funds to pay for mergers, golden parachutes, or additional dividends. As a member of the House Committee on Financial Services, I will continue to be actively engaged in overseeing the implementation of the EESA.

In addition to the credit crisis, the Labor Department reported that another 240,000 jobs were lost in October and the unemployment rate is at a 14-year high. In a separate action last month, the House passed economic stimulus legislation that would provide additional unemployment compensation to help workers impacted by our struggling economy. It is my hope that the Senate will pass this bill when Congress reconvenes.

Thank you again for sharing your opinions with me on this critical issue. I hope you will continue to do so on every issue that is important to you. If my staff or I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Sincerely,

Michael E. Capuano
Member of Congress
---

Now, I'm no moron. I know it's probably a form letter he sent out to everyone who wrote him about the financial crisis, but it still shows he's at least listening to his constituents. I'm impressed, Congressman Capuano. Good on ya!

Burris Refused Senate Seat On Capitol Arrival (VIDEO)

2009-01-06T13:18:00.002-05:00

This is such a no-win situation for the Democrats. If they seat him, they risk the possibility that Burris paid Blagojevich for his seat, and the repercussions of that fact. If they don't seat him, and it turns out he has done nothing wrong except be appointed by a man accused of trying to sell that very seat, it looks like they're punishing the wrong guy for Blagojevich's indiscretions.

I'm starting to get the feeling these next 8 years aren't going to be all that much different from the last 8.
About Video On HuffPost
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

end of year reflections

2008-12-31T09:34:00.003-05:00

Here we are, only 14 1/2 hours away from the end of 2008, a year of incredible highs and incredible lows, both personally and on a larger scale.

The big decision I made in 2008 was that I want to go to law school. I've been putting off going for further schooling for years now, and I think it was a good idea. If I had decided to go to grad school a few years ago, I'd be a teacher today, or have a Master's in some obscure gibberish like Medieval Literature or Poststructuralist Criticism, both fine disciplines in their own right, but I never felt "the call" to study those things. I decided I want to devote the rest of my life to public service. Maybe it comes from working in philanthropy, seeing that when rich people want to do good, they plunk down some money for a scholarship, and wanting to be able to contribute in my own way. Well, I know I'll never be rich, but I wanted to feel like I was pulling my weight at a citizen, so it's off to law school and then off to the public defender's office for a few years. With any luck, I'll end up doing this in Philly, but if I end up staying in Boston, I can live with that.

In 2008, I rid myself of an awful friend. I'm not going to bother naming him, but he was a selfish, whiny, misanthrope who exists solely to spread misery and disgust to all in his path. He's gone now, out of my life, and I'm better for it. I'm no longer willing to tolerate shitty friends. The friends I still have, and they know who they are, are everything to me. They enhance my life and make me a better person. This unnamed friend did none of that, and I'm glad he'll never darken my doorway again.

In 2008, I also got out of a broken relationship. Of course, I was never willing to acknowledge that it was broken, but it was. I learned that devoting one's life and love to an insecure neurotic with parental abandonment issues will sap you of your joie de vivre and turn you into a barely functional, co-dependent pothead. To be fair, I was a pothead before I met her, but became more so in order to try to learn to be content living with and trying to love someone who would eventually cheat on me, take my dog, ruin my living situation and generally fuck my life up. Why did I stick around for so long? Because being loved, and being in love feels good. It feels really good. It feels so good that you're willing to overlook important things, like a glaring intellectual incompatibility. She's beautiful, I'll give her that. But when it comes to brains, I sure did settle this time. Live and learn, I suppose. In 2009, I resolve to keep my heart better guarded and not lower my standards just to be in love again.

Also, Barack Obama will be president in 20 days. This makes me happy to no end. The poor son of a bitch has his work cut out for him over the next 4 years, but I feel like the man's character will help to elevate the political discourse of this country beyond right vs. left and blue vs. red. I have a feeling that Americans may start actually taking an interest in their communities, and the foundations of those communities, inspired by the example set by the president. I feel like the government might realize that investing in social infrastructure, like social workers and community organizers, is preferable to punishing for life those whom society has failed. Maybe his administration will realize that teaching children how to survive in a global marketplace, as opposed to teaching them how to take standardized tests, is the only way America will ever stay competitive on a global scale. I have such high hopes for this administration that I can't help but expect disappointment. If there's one thing idealistic-sounding Democrats are good at, it's disappointing their supporters. Remember "don't ask, don't tell?" Remember how Bill Clinton promised universal health care? Needless to say, the achievements of the last Democratic president don't leave me with much hope. Then again, the Dems control both houses of Congress with a commanding majority, and the GOP is on the fast track to irrelevance. I'm just excited to see what's to come. I've been saying that Obama will either be the next FDR or the next Jimmy Carter. He will either fail or succeed, but whichever he does, he's going to do it in spectacular fashion. I have faith that he's gonna pull it off, but I also know it won't be easy.

Anyway, 2008 is almost over. I'm glad to see it in the rear-view mirror. My hope is that 2009 will be a year of growth, good friends, and the beginning of a wonderful life in public service. I think we can all drink to that.

musings

2008-12-29T10:27:00.003-05:00

I missed my family. I never realized it until I walked through the door of their Bethlehem Victorian house this Christmas eve, but there was this palpable feeling of contentment as I walked through the door.

They know about my relationship situation (I don't feel like going into detail here, so I'll sum up: she cheated on me, lied, tried to make me feel like it was my fault, lied some more, and now we're broken up), and were very comforting the entire time I was home.

It was easily the best Christmas I've ever had back in the Lehigh Valley. For once, leaving the Valley and going back to Boston actually kind of depressed me. I feel like my life in this city is pretty much over. Greg is gone (former roommate and former friend, and yet another story I don't feel like detailing right now). Kat is in the process of leaving, and she's taking the dog with her. I still have a lot of good friends here, but lately it feels like my job is the only thing keeping me here. If I get into either Temple or Drexel law, I'm gone. If I end up only getting into Suffolk or NESL, I guess I'll stay in Boston until I get my JD. But right now, I think I just need a change of scenery more than anything. I don't need to forget any of what's happened. I just need to learn from it and move on.

Philly is kind of a mess right now, but I want to go into public service to get my hands dirty. If there's any city where my help is more needed than anywhere else, it's in Philly. It's going to take idealists, intellectuals and a few hard workers to help make that city better, but I think it can be done. There is a certain "we're all in it together" feeling in Philly that is unlike other East Coast cities (at least from my experience, and the second-hand stories from friends). If I really want to work somewhere where my work will be both in need, and personally rewarding, I think Philly is where I am needed. And it's where I want to be.

Thanks to Shannon, Brett and Will for reminding me why I love the place so much. You guys make it easier for me to want to call it home.

money

2008-12-17T19:27:00.002-05:00

I consider myself a pretty bright guy. I'll never build a particle accelerator or design a spaceship, but I can at least consider myself to be above average. So, why don't I understand how money works. I know that I need it to pay rent, and buy booze, food and lottery tickets, but I just don't get where the hell it comes from. I just don't. I could more easily learn to speak Russian than ever be fluent in how the hell the economy functions.

So, where the fuck, in what I've been told are hard economic times, do we get a trillion dollars for "economic stimulus"? Right now, the liberals (allegedly, my people) are trying too hard to live up to their "tax and spend" reputation. Are they trying to counteract 8 years of ridiculous Republican extremism with ridiculous Democratic extremism? It's not going to work.

My letter to my Representative

2008-12-11T10:05:00.003-05:00

Dear Congressman Capuano,

I am writing to voice my concern with this upcoming, and now seemingly inevitable, auto industry bailout. I think this is an awful idea. These companies are bilking the American people, almost to the level of extortion, because the American people didn't want to spend their money on GM and Chrysler's atavistic fleet of gas-guzzling monsters. Now, to top it off, I find out that Chrysler is 80% owned by Cerberus, a company whose stake in Chrysler is only 7% of their total asset holdings. You're telling me that my money should go to help a shady company like Cerberus make sure it doesn't lose money on its myopic and idiotic investment in a failing company?

Mr Capuano, I am as liberal as they come. In general, I have no problem approving the use of my tax dollars for programs that will genuinely help the American people. This is a mockery of liberal principles, and the kind of decision that gives credibility to the argument that a liberal government will waste the taxpayers' money at any given opportunity. Please, be among the voices of reason in this debate and don't be fooled by the dog and pony show being peddled by these auto industry scumbags whose short-sightedness and lack of competent management skills doomed their companies to failure. I can't find a record of your vote on this bill, but I hope you were able to do the right thing.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Eli Ashley Reusch
Brighton, MA

A new day for America

2008-11-07T10:52:00.003-05:00

First of all...

HOLY FUCKING SHIT, BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA IS THE 44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To quote David Allen Grier, "America elected a black man with a brown name." I never thought I'd see the day. Now, even three days later, I'm still riding a momentous high as a result of the election.

Second of all, for a few months now, Kat (my girlfriend) and I have been talking about leaving Boston if and when I finish law school. Now, with our decriminalized pot, legal gay marriages, and most of the United States' best schools, I'm not sure we should be in such a hurry to leave. I think this may be the best place for a bleeding heart liberal to settle for life. Now I just have to convince Kat.

Democracy FTW!

2008-11-03T16:17:00.004-05:00

Why limit yourself to one of the two boring nominees for president this year when you have a litany of batshit insane nominees running as well?

Election Eve '08

2008-11-03T14:18:00.000-05:00

I remember talking to one of my close friends from high school (and lifelong Republican) back in 2000, and him saying that was the first time he ever voted for a Democrat because he just couldn't stomach voting for someone as dumb as George W. Bush. It got me thinking about the mess we're in today.

Honestly, I hope the GOP comes out of this a stronger, more intellectually astute party because real debate between the parties (not mudslinging and name-calling) can only make our democracy stronger. Their disdain for intelligence (or as they call it, elitism) really bothers me, and the fact that they are proud to pander to the dumbest, most hateful people in this country really kind of sickens me.

I don't think I remember a time in my life where one party wasn't painting the opposition as a group of evil, deluded shitheads. As far back as I can remember, I was told by my mother that Ronald Reagan was an evil, empty-headed crook (and I still believe that to this day). I marched on Washington for causes I couldn't possibly wrap my head around at such a young age, and I sure couldn't tell you where Nicaragua or El Salvador were.

Do I have faith that Obama can magically unite this country? The cynic in me says no, because how can one man heal so many years of bitter fighting with a few platitudes about there not being a red America or a blue America but a United States of America? But the idealist in me thinks he has a good chance to pull it off. I think he wants to welcome everyone to the table, and hear all ideas, whether he agrees with them or not. It's that kind of nuance that the McCain campaign is ignoring. Obama listens to his opposition, and he listens to people with a broad range of socio-political beliefs. McCain and his people would like you to believe that listening to people with whom one disagrees is tantamount to condoning that belief. I think it's essential to anyone who considers themselves a true intellectual.

George W. Bush promised to be a uniter, not a divider. He failed miserably. Let's all try this time to stop pointing fingers and stop the hatred and division that has torn this country apart for far too long. Let's stop implying that one side is more American or more patriotic than the other. Anyone who is willing to sacrifice their privacy, their money, and likely some small pieces of sanity to serve this country is a patriot. Anyone who serves in the US Congress is a patriot. Anyone who truly believes in the potential of this country is a patriot and a true American. It's time we all realized that, and work together to make this country better for everyone, regardless of their socio-political leanings, race, religion, or sexual orientation. It's time to stop branding one another with divisive labels. It's time to act like we're all in this together, because regardless of our petty disagreements, we are.

Iraq Vet Crushed by Police Horse at Presidential Debate

2008-10-24T15:12:00.001-04:00

Shocking video shows former Army Sergeant Nick Morgan at the moment his head is crushed to the sidewalk under the hooves of a police horse. Morgan lost consciousness immediately as bones shattered in his face. Visibly bleeding, he was tugged, dragged, arrested, and thrown in a police van, where other arrested veterans say he was denied medic...

read more | digg story

2008-10-24T14:16:00.000-04:00

This is the current state of politics in this country, people. Fucking embarrassing.

UPDATE: It was a hoax. Even Drudge is reporting it. Amazing.

enough with this "socialism" name calling bullshit

2008-10-24T11:41:00.000-04:00

The idea that raising the taxes of the wealthiest Americans is socialism is a complete farce, perpetuated by the right to pit the working class against the poor while the rich get richer and don't give a flying fuck about anyone below them.

Look at it this way. These CEOs with pay packages in the multi-millions could only have made this much money with the help of the American capitalist system. They couldn't have made these ridiculous wages in any other country, and they now whine because they may have to pay 5% more in taxes, which means they may occasionally have to choose Dom Perignon over Cristal. Excuse me while I break out my violin. These people benefited off of the way the American system is set up, and most of them avoid paying taxes anyway thanks to the help of tax loopholes that allow them to game the system in a way that is countless times more harmful than one or two of the right wing's mythical "welfare queens." To ask them to pay a larger share of an already vast fortune is far different than asking the working people of this country to shoulder the burden of higher taxes. This notion that the wealth will "trickle down" when we let the corporations and CEOs hold on to more of their money was a falsehood when Reagan and his puppet masters first uttered that gibberish almost 30 years ago, and it's even more so now. The effect higher taxes will have on the rich is unnoticeable on their balance sheets. For working people, it could mean the difference between sending a kid to college, or paying for the rising costs of health care and prescriptions.

What amazes me is that working class people still believe that the Democrats want to take their money and give it to "lazy poor people" as they like to characterize anyone who hits hard times and needs to swallow their pride and ask for government assistance, and their numbers are growing by the day. Of course there will always be those who will game the system by not working and continually living off of welfare, but to condemn the system because of the actions of a handful of individuals is no different than accusing all CEOs of being greedy crooks because of the actions of a few rogue robber barons. The fact is that some CEOs, and by proxy the GOP, have pulled the wool over the eyes of the working class, transferring their own indignation at helping the poor for whom they have so much disdain to working people who should have sympathy and understanding for the plight of people living on the margins of this precarious economy.

Meanwhile, the people who helped get us into this mess are being handed hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer dollars so they can try again. Not one of the people responsible for the mess we're in now will feel even a nanosecond of economic inconvenience or uncertainty as a result of their arrogant, uncontrollable greed. They get a second chance to make it right. The same chance should be given to all Americans when times get tough, and for anyone to argue against that, while arguing for the bailouts, shows a level of hypocrisy that shocks and sickens me.