More Thoughts on Issues of the Day
More random thoughts on issues of the day:
- President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize today. While I am a supporter of his, what has he done to win this already? Keep in mind that the nomination deadline was 12 days after Obama took office (the deadline is February 1). I think there is a good possibility that Obama could earn this prize later in his term as president, but he doesn’t seem to have done much yet other than lay out some goals and set a tone.
- State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano was out of line yesterday. He yelled “You lie!” and “Kiss my gay ass!” to Governor Schwarzenegger yesterday during a speech the governor was making to a Democratic fundraiser in San Francisco. Apparently the governor was not expected. It was, after all, a Democratic fundraiser and Schwarzenegger is a Republican. But Ammiano was out of line. This kind of attack should have no place in American politics. It doesn’t matter if emotions are running high. That kind of thing is just not needed. The only (slightly) redeeming factor is that Ammiano’s outburst did not come during a joint session of Congress.
- Apparently the National Republican Congressional Committee thinks that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi needs to be “put in her place” and said as much yesterday. Do they not see how offensive that is? Do they not see how sexist that is? I’m not exactly a huge Nancy Pelosi supporter, but this just isn’t right.
- Charlie Rangel needs to resign. Now. Every day he doesn’t (and every day the House Democratic leadership continues to protect him), the chances grow that he’ll cost the Democrats in next year’s mid-term elections. “The Republicans did it, too!” (with Tom DeLay) is not a good defense. Sure, the Republicans are hypocritical in their posturing. So what? It only matters what Rangel did and the appearance of Democrats improperly protecting their own.
- Julian Bond is right on in his op-ed in today’s Washington Post. LGBT people still do not have equal rights in America. As he points out, our “…struggle is no less necessary, nor worthy, than a similar struggle fought by blacks several decades ago. Now, as then, Americans are denied rights simply because of who they are.” It’s past time we had equal rights. It’s also past time for Obama (and Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid) to actually do something to help get those rights passed in Congress
I think the Nobel thing is just an indicator of how hated Bush was in the rest of the world. They were probably so happy to see him gone they would have given it to McCain if he won.
Probably so, Alan. But Obama’s done nothing yet. It weakens the meaning of the prize, in my view. Jimmy Carter got his for DECADES of work. Obama gets his for 2 weeks work.
My reaction to the news was, ‘That’s nice, what’s for breakfast?’.