Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Original reaction to Jim McGreevey's homosexual revelations.
as originally seen on the first incarnation of No1ofConsequence
Liberty and Prosperity
That's the motto of New Jersey. As I am sure you know, unless you have been living under a rock, Governor James McGreevey announced an affair with a male aide yesterday and resigned the governorship as of November 15. "I am a Gay American," was the soundbite. It was everywhere. I don't think he should have resigned, but I understand the DNC at least directed the strategy if it didn't set it outright. With a national election for the presidency on the horizon and the conservative leanings of the nation right now, downplaying a huge homosexual scandal is probably the best strategy.
If you take the national politics out of it though. We were ready. NJ was ready for a gay governor. He could have survived and flourished in NJ after the announcement. He could have turned NJ into an equitable, fair, and welcoming place for the gay community. He did that already to a certain extent. Without getting to far off the point though, we were ready.
A statement by his wife that she was never deceived by the governor, that he was open with her about his sexuality and she never felt betrayed by him in any way. Follow that up with the Governor talking about his homosexuality, that he is not ashamed of his feelings or who he is, and that he was sorry for deceiving the electorate of NJ, but he didn't believe that his sexuality was important to discharging his duty as Governor. Clearly the revelations and cowardly accusations of the lover scorned Golan Cipel, make his homosexuality relevant and for that reason alone he is disclosing. So he can fight this charge in the open, without fear, and prove to the citizens of NJ that he never harassed anyone and has done nothing but serve us with honor and integrity.
NJ is the definition of diversity. Out of our population of over 8.6 million a full 33% percent are ethnic minorities. We have some of the richest municipalities in the nation (Colt's Neck, Short Hills) and one of the poorest. (Camden) If you like raspberries or cranberries there is a 4-1 or 80% chance that the ones you are eating were grown here. Our corn is the sweetest and most delicious you will ever encounter. We are truly The Garden State. Our apples and tomatoes are known the world over.
In addition to growing everything there is to be grown we cure the world's ills. Almost every major pharmaceutical company in the world is headquartered in NJ. Some of the greatest thinkers in the world a to be found here in and around our very own Ivy League town of Princeton, NJ, the American home of Albert Einstein in his later years. We take care of our own too. Our poverty rate runs at 8.5% a whopping 4% lower than the national average. We are truly more prosperous, and the Statue of Liberty resides on our side of the bay! Liberty and Prosperity.
Our ports handle just about everything you buy, between Port Elizabeth and Port Newark. Our meadows house the Jets, Giants, Devils and Nets (for now). We have around 9 minor league baseball teams making at least 13 professional sports teams our population of 8.6 million supports with vigor. We entertain you, from Springsteen to the Sopranos, to Scrubs. The people you watch and listen to were born here. We have culture from the PNC, to the PAC, to the Liberty Science Center. Our beaches are the summer destination for millions of people who want to swim, surf or gamble. Our mountains are your winter destination if you want to ski or snowboard (I know this is a bit of a stretch, but aside from the west coast states where else can you ski and surf?) Our refineries produce the fuel for you cars. From agriculture to petrochemicals, from whites, to African Americans, Latinos and Asians we are the picture of diversity. Echoing locally in many ways what our national focus should be.
NJ and you, perfect together, a truly fitting slogan, because whatever you are, we already have some here. NJ was ready for you Governor McGreevey, Gay American. We were proud to have you as our governor and you served us well. We are sorry to see you go.
No 1 of Consequence
as originally seen on the first incarnation of No1ofConsequence
Liberty and Prosperity
That's the motto of New Jersey. As I am sure you know, unless you have been living under a rock, Governor James McGreevey announced an affair with a male aide yesterday and resigned the governorship as of November 15. "I am a Gay American," was the soundbite. It was everywhere. I don't think he should have resigned, but I understand the DNC at least directed the strategy if it didn't set it outright. With a national election for the presidency on the horizon and the conservative leanings of the nation right now, downplaying a huge homosexual scandal is probably the best strategy.
If you take the national politics out of it though. We were ready. NJ was ready for a gay governor. He could have survived and flourished in NJ after the announcement. He could have turned NJ into an equitable, fair, and welcoming place for the gay community. He did that already to a certain extent. Without getting to far off the point though, we were ready.
A statement by his wife that she was never deceived by the governor, that he was open with her about his sexuality and she never felt betrayed by him in any way. Follow that up with the Governor talking about his homosexuality, that he is not ashamed of his feelings or who he is, and that he was sorry for deceiving the electorate of NJ, but he didn't believe that his sexuality was important to discharging his duty as Governor. Clearly the revelations and cowardly accusations of the lover scorned Golan Cipel, make his homosexuality relevant and for that reason alone he is disclosing. So he can fight this charge in the open, without fear, and prove to the citizens of NJ that he never harassed anyone and has done nothing but serve us with honor and integrity.
NJ is the definition of diversity. Out of our population of over 8.6 million a full 33% percent are ethnic minorities. We have some of the richest municipalities in the nation (Colt's Neck, Short Hills) and one of the poorest. (Camden) If you like raspberries or cranberries there is a 4-1 or 80% chance that the ones you are eating were grown here. Our corn is the sweetest and most delicious you will ever encounter. We are truly The Garden State. Our apples and tomatoes are known the world over.
In addition to growing everything there is to be grown we cure the world's ills. Almost every major pharmaceutical company in the world is headquartered in NJ. Some of the greatest thinkers in the world a to be found here in and around our very own Ivy League town of Princeton, NJ, the American home of Albert Einstein in his later years. We take care of our own too. Our poverty rate runs at 8.5% a whopping 4% lower than the national average. We are truly more prosperous, and the Statue of Liberty resides on our side of the bay! Liberty and Prosperity.
Our ports handle just about everything you buy, between Port Elizabeth and Port Newark. Our meadows house the Jets, Giants, Devils and Nets (for now). We have around 9 minor league baseball teams making at least 13 professional sports teams our population of 8.6 million supports with vigor. We entertain you, from Springsteen to the Sopranos, to Scrubs. The people you watch and listen to were born here. We have culture from the PNC, to the PAC, to the Liberty Science Center. Our beaches are the summer destination for millions of people who want to swim, surf or gamble. Our mountains are your winter destination if you want to ski or snowboard (I know this is a bit of a stretch, but aside from the west coast states where else can you ski and surf?) Our refineries produce the fuel for you cars. From agriculture to petrochemicals, from whites, to African Americans, Latinos and Asians we are the picture of diversity. Echoing locally in many ways what our national focus should be.
NJ and you, perfect together, a truly fitting slogan, because whatever you are, we already have some here. NJ was ready for you Governor McGreevey, Gay American. We were proud to have you as our governor and you served us well. We are sorry to see you go.
No 1 of Consequence
Labels: Golan Cipel, homosexuality, Jim McGreevey, New Jersey
More 2004 Political Writing
originally seen in the first incarnation of No1ofConsequence
We live in dangerous times. Our current president and his administration have used national tragedy to push a religious right agenda. Faith based initiatives, abrogation of personal freedoms, legislative gay bashing are all things we have seen under this president. A concentrated attack on our personal liberties, intelligence services monitoring the reading habits of the citizenry, denying accused criminals due process, and the highest prison population, percentage wise, of any country on Earth are just a few of the things we have been forced to endure under George W Bush and his band of reknown. We need a change.
The country needs to be returned to the people. Freedom, the fundamental principle of America has become a muddled mess of misdirection and deceit. I have found it draining. I care about the country I live in. However, when pondering the immensity of the suffering of the people that live here I sometimes have to force myself to think about something else.
This week, my friends, we are forced to think about the state of our nation. We are forced to think about the future and we are forced to think about what will be best for America for the next four years. In the last two days we have been blessed with Some very inspiring speeches by the leaders of the Democratic Party.
In Barack Obama's (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040728/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_obama_text_1) speech last night there is a passage that is especially poignant:
"A belief that we are connected as one people. If there's a child on the south side of Chicago who can't read, that matters to me, even if it's not my child. If there's a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for her prescription and has to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandmother. If there's an Arab American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties. It's that fundamental belief — I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper — that makes this country work. It's what allows us to pursue our individual dreams, yet still come together as a single American family. "E pluribus unum." Out of many, one."
That is an understanding of collective responsibility, an understanding of making the problems of a nation of individuals the problems of a nation unified, and an understanding that unless government begins to focus on making the lives of the people it means to rule better we are all lessened as citizens of a fading nation. Also, it means we are all lessened as human beings struggling to make our way in the world.
Teresa Heinz Kerry had a well written speech. (http://www.dems2004.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=luI2LaPYG&b=130840&ct=159636)
Unfortunately she is not the world's greatest orator, but the ideas are what's important. This passage rings the bell for true freedom to be born again in our nation.
"That is why, as president, my husband will not fear disagreement or dissent. He believes that our voices—yours and mine—must be the voices of freedom. And if we do not speak, neither does she. In America, the true patriots are those who dare speak truth to power. The truth we must speak now is that America has responsibilities that it is time for us to accept again."
I forget who said it, but there is a quote about leadership that I think we should all take to heart. "Good leaders surround themselves with smart people, great leaders surround themselves with smart people who disagree with them." Listening to Teresa Heinz Kerry I am hopeful that President John Kerry will engage in and listen to spirited debate about issues before making a decision about the path of a nation. It makes me think President John Kerry will not be driven by his Christianity and personal agenda to the ill of all people in the world.
Here is the link to President Clinton's address to the convention. It is inspired, light at times as President Clinton makes fun of himself throughout, but with a serious, powerful message. Read the whole thing. It isn't very long. (http://www.dems2004.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=luI2LaPYG&b=130840&ct=158734) Pay particular attention to the passage where he speaks about shared responsibility and shared opportunity. It was an arousing speech by one of the great orators of out time. More later...
No 1 of Consequence
originally seen in the first incarnation of No1ofConsequence
We live in dangerous times. Our current president and his administration have used national tragedy to push a religious right agenda. Faith based initiatives, abrogation of personal freedoms, legislative gay bashing are all things we have seen under this president. A concentrated attack on our personal liberties, intelligence services monitoring the reading habits of the citizenry, denying accused criminals due process, and the highest prison population, percentage wise, of any country on Earth are just a few of the things we have been forced to endure under George W Bush and his band of reknown. We need a change.
The country needs to be returned to the people. Freedom, the fundamental principle of America has become a muddled mess of misdirection and deceit. I have found it draining. I care about the country I live in. However, when pondering the immensity of the suffering of the people that live here I sometimes have to force myself to think about something else.
This week, my friends, we are forced to think about the state of our nation. We are forced to think about the future and we are forced to think about what will be best for America for the next four years. In the last two days we have been blessed with Some very inspiring speeches by the leaders of the Democratic Party.
In Barack Obama's (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040728/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_obama_text_1) speech last night there is a passage that is especially poignant:
"A belief that we are connected as one people. If there's a child on the south side of Chicago who can't read, that matters to me, even if it's not my child. If there's a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for her prescription and has to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandmother. If there's an Arab American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties. It's that fundamental belief — I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper — that makes this country work. It's what allows us to pursue our individual dreams, yet still come together as a single American family. "E pluribus unum." Out of many, one."
That is an understanding of collective responsibility, an understanding of making the problems of a nation of individuals the problems of a nation unified, and an understanding that unless government begins to focus on making the lives of the people it means to rule better we are all lessened as citizens of a fading nation. Also, it means we are all lessened as human beings struggling to make our way in the world.
Teresa Heinz Kerry had a well written speech. (http://www.dems2004.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=luI2LaPYG&b=130840&ct=159636)
Unfortunately she is not the world's greatest orator, but the ideas are what's important. This passage rings the bell for true freedom to be born again in our nation.
"That is why, as president, my husband will not fear disagreement or dissent. He believes that our voices—yours and mine—must be the voices of freedom. And if we do not speak, neither does she. In America, the true patriots are those who dare speak truth to power. The truth we must speak now is that America has responsibilities that it is time for us to accept again."
I forget who said it, but there is a quote about leadership that I think we should all take to heart. "Good leaders surround themselves with smart people, great leaders surround themselves with smart people who disagree with them." Listening to Teresa Heinz Kerry I am hopeful that President John Kerry will engage in and listen to spirited debate about issues before making a decision about the path of a nation. It makes me think President John Kerry will not be driven by his Christianity and personal agenda to the ill of all people in the world.
Here is the link to President Clinton's address to the convention. It is inspired, light at times as President Clinton makes fun of himself throughout, but with a serious, powerful message. Read the whole thing. It isn't very long. (http://www.dems2004.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=luI2LaPYG&b=130840&ct=158734) Pay particular attention to the passage where he speaks about shared responsibility and shared opportunity. It was an arousing speech by one of the great orators of out time. More later...
No 1 of Consequence
Labels: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, community collectivism, Democracy, Freedom, John Kerry
Some 2004 Political Writing
originally seen on the first incarnation of No1ofConsequence
http://www.moveonpac.org/goreremarks052604.html/
If you haven't read it, this is a brilliant speech. Where was he when it counted? The hijacking of the election in 2000 via Florida was travesty enough, but I firmly believe it wouldn't have mattered if he had even remotely competent strategic advisers. He lost his home state. He lost Arkansas. If he had allowed former President Clinton to campaign for him in Arkansas where he is just north of a deity, he would have won it hands down and if he had spent some time in Tennessee he would have won that too, essentially negating the Florida/Bush advantage. Oh well, 4 years of tyranny, followed by 4 more if we aren't careful, then I guess they will run Jeb out there and if Christianity isn't the national religion by that point, maybe the American spirit is more alive than I think it is.
Today there was a West Wing marathon on Bravo and as I am a worshipper of all things Sorkin I spent parts of 11 hours in front of the television. The West Wing both inspires me and depresses me in the same moment. It demonstrates in all of its erudite glory that government can be beautiful, that government can be a place where ideas are exchanged and progress is made. It demonstrates that raising the level of debate on the issues is the only way to achieve advancement for the people in this country. The West Wing brings forth the notion that we shouldn't discount an idea because it wasn't conceived by other democrats, or if you are a republican discounting an idea because it wasn't conceived by a republican. We should be grateful there are people out there having ideas. It depresses me because real government in 2004 is a mutated cancer when measure against the orchestrated beauty of a television program and the beauty is what I long for.
"There once was a dream that was Rome. You could only whisper it. Any more than a whisper and it would vanish, it was so fragile."
-Marcus Aureleas, Gladiator
America was built on the dream of freedom. It was built on the promise of a free exchange of ideas. We are as far from those hopes now as we have ever been as a society. Our best and brightest no longer strive to lead us into the future, instead choosing the private sector and the riches therein. Scientific innovation is dragged down by special interest and the wedge between the haves and have nots is greater than it has been in the last 150 years.
No 1 of Consequence
Our government is moving further and further toward fascism:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Nine months after Congress shut down a controversial Pentagon (news - web sites) computer-surveillance program, the U.S. government continues to comb private records to sniff out suspicious activity, according to a congressional report obtained by Reuters.
Our civil rights are being hunted by elitist Christian fundamentalists the way they hunt pheasant in New England. The lives of American serviceman are being spent to cover the religious right agenda that is being forced down the throat of the people. It is a sad state we are all living in right now.
There is a doctrine I want to propose. Something I am going to explore in this space. Something I am going to drum on again and again until someone listens to me. The doctrine is called "Community Collectivism."
"By serving each other we become free" King Arthur
I will leave you with this idea. What would this country be like if we felt a collective responsibility, if not to country, then to each other? At 1:30 AM I don't have the energy to delve too much further into it tonight, but if you have ever considered leaving a comment, now is the time. What does "Community Collectivism" mean to you? How can you show responsibility for others on a day to day basis?
No 1 of Consequence
originally seen on the first incarnation of No1ofConsequence
http://www.moveonpac.org/goreremarks052604.html/
If you haven't read it, this is a brilliant speech. Where was he when it counted? The hijacking of the election in 2000 via Florida was travesty enough, but I firmly believe it wouldn't have mattered if he had even remotely competent strategic advisers. He lost his home state. He lost Arkansas. If he had allowed former President Clinton to campaign for him in Arkansas where he is just north of a deity, he would have won it hands down and if he had spent some time in Tennessee he would have won that too, essentially negating the Florida/Bush advantage. Oh well, 4 years of tyranny, followed by 4 more if we aren't careful, then I guess they will run Jeb out there and if Christianity isn't the national religion by that point, maybe the American spirit is more alive than I think it is.
Today there was a West Wing marathon on Bravo and as I am a worshipper of all things Sorkin I spent parts of 11 hours in front of the television. The West Wing both inspires me and depresses me in the same moment. It demonstrates in all of its erudite glory that government can be beautiful, that government can be a place where ideas are exchanged and progress is made. It demonstrates that raising the level of debate on the issues is the only way to achieve advancement for the people in this country. The West Wing brings forth the notion that we shouldn't discount an idea because it wasn't conceived by other democrats, or if you are a republican discounting an idea because it wasn't conceived by a republican. We should be grateful there are people out there having ideas. It depresses me because real government in 2004 is a mutated cancer when measure against the orchestrated beauty of a television program and the beauty is what I long for.
"There once was a dream that was Rome. You could only whisper it. Any more than a whisper and it would vanish, it was so fragile."
-Marcus Aureleas, Gladiator
America was built on the dream of freedom. It was built on the promise of a free exchange of ideas. We are as far from those hopes now as we have ever been as a society. Our best and brightest no longer strive to lead us into the future, instead choosing the private sector and the riches therein. Scientific innovation is dragged down by special interest and the wedge between the haves and have nots is greater than it has been in the last 150 years.
No 1 of Consequence
Our government is moving further and further toward fascism:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Nine months after Congress shut down a controversial Pentagon (news - web sites) computer-surveillance program, the U.S. government continues to comb private records to sniff out suspicious activity, according to a congressional report obtained by Reuters.
Our civil rights are being hunted by elitist Christian fundamentalists the way they hunt pheasant in New England. The lives of American serviceman are being spent to cover the religious right agenda that is being forced down the throat of the people. It is a sad state we are all living in right now.
There is a doctrine I want to propose. Something I am going to explore in this space. Something I am going to drum on again and again until someone listens to me. The doctrine is called "Community Collectivism."
"By serving each other we become free" King Arthur
I will leave you with this idea. What would this country be like if we felt a collective responsibility, if not to country, then to each other? At 1:30 AM I don't have the energy to delve too much further into it tonight, but if you have ever considered leaving a comment, now is the time. What does "Community Collectivism" mean to you? How can you show responsibility for others on a day to day basis?
No 1 of Consequence
Labels: christain fundamentalism, community collectivism, politics, strategy, voter fraud
