I understand some folks reading this might want to send a note of condolences. Thanks, but no need. It’s just grief. It’s part of life. If you want to, just take that energy and put it into hugging your own loved ones like you mean it. That’ll do more good.

BobHarris.com

Things I have learned during this campaign season:

In a race that includes a former First Lady of the United States and a multimillionaire Republican senator rumored to share up to eight residences with his wife, the black guy from Chicago is unforgivably elitist.

Racism in America is caused primarily by black Chicago preachers.

The guy who keeps getting confused over the relationship between Iraq, Iran, and al Qaeda is the foreign policy expert.

The guy who goes to campaign stops on his wife’s private jet aircraft is the most down-to-earth.

The guy who changed his stance on tax cuts, Roe v. Wade, immigration, gun control, the confederate flag, torture, public financing, and his own anti-earmark rhetoric is the “straight talker”.

People in the heartland don’t like it when you call them bitter, but they do like it when you explain to them that they’re too dumb to understand issues more important than whether or not they like to be called bitter.

Arugula is the measure of a man.

Bowling is the measure of a man.

Orange juice is the measure of a man.

Flag pins are the measure of a man.

Success in Iraq consists of any reduction in violence, except when violence increases that’s good too.

A recession is only a recession if you call it one.

Bill Kristol, Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly, Karl Rove, Maureen Dowd, David Brooks, David Broder, Charles Krauthammer and Bob Novak are all intensely interested in giving advice to the Democratic candidates because they just want to be helpful.

There are people in this world dumb enough to believe every one of these things.

I would add:

Television journalists are unapologetic, incessant gossips.

(Via Daily Kos.)

Some things aren’t meant just to be understood, but to be felt as well. It is called poetry, and comprehending poetry requires both intellect and soul. Consider: we are the change we are waiting for. If you try to interpret this literally, it’s nonsense. And anyone who is capable of responding to art, and poetry, who takes the moment of introspection and self-recognition it forces and realizes what it actually means, will recognize that that is exactly why it is inspiring.

When faced with poetry that they can’t understand, some people just admit they don’t understand it. Some might be troubled by it, fearing that there is something missing in themselves. Others, knowing that their soul is dead, might attempt to respond with poetry of their own — and come up with a poem which reminds us of nothing more than a shambling, flesh-dropping zombie ruining a sunny day.

I give you, then, the free-form poetry stylings of Karl Rove:

You know we are the change we’ve been waiting for,
I mean
wait a minute, wait a a minute.
We’ve been waiting for ourselves?
We’ve been late?
We’ve been keeping ourselves waiting.
The people who don’t want change
    are on time,
but the people who do want change
    are late.
I mean what is that?
I mean who is that.
I mean the time for that has passed.
Now is the time to spell it out.

Truly, words to rot your soul by.

Nonsense.

Let’s consider the track record of the venerable and respected political analysts at The Onion:

Bush: ‘Our Long National Nightmare Of Peace And Prosperity Is Finally Over’

JANUARY 17, 2001 | ISSUE 37•01

WASHINGTON, DC–Mere days from assuming the presidency and closing the door on eight years of Bill Clinton, president-elect George W. Bush assured the nation in a televised address Tuesday that “our long national nightmare of peace and prosperity is finally over.”

Boy, were they wrong there, huh?

But this one is my favorite — you really have to read it to understand just how prescient it is:

(point/counterpoint)

Point:

This War Will Destabilize The Entire Mideast Region And Set Off A Global Shockwave Of Anti-Americanism

George W. Bush may think that a war against Iraq is the solution to our problems, but the reality is, it will only serve to create far more.

This war will not put an end to anti-Americanism; it will fan the flames of hatred even higher. It will not end the threat of weapons of mass destruction; it will make possible their further proliferation. And it will not lay the groundwork for the flourishing of democracy throughout the Mideast; it will harden the resolve of Arab states to drive out all Western (i.e. U.S.) influence.

…

It may be that some types of humor hurt the dialectic, but the generalization is clearly and patently false — and I don’t need to read the book to know it.

                             % of vote  % for Obama
IN: People with college degrees  35       56
NC: People with college degrees  44       57

IN: First time primary voters    19       69        
NC: First time primary voters    22       60

IN: Independents                 23       54
NC: Independents                 19       45*

IN: Liberals                     39       56
NC: Liberals                     42       63

IN: Urban                        33       60
NC: Urban                        27       66

IN: White 17-29 year-olds        12       54
NC: White 17-29 year-olds         8       57

IN: All 17-29 year-olds          17       61
NC: All 17-29 year-olds          14       74

IN: 17-64 year-olds              86       52
NC: 17-64 year-olds              80       60

By way of Daily Kos.

McCain is absolutely gung-ho and certain that he’s right about whatever his position and ‘principles’ are at the given moment. But they change repeatedly.

I cite Thomas Jefferson: “In matters of fashion, swim like a fish. In matters of principle, stand like a rock.

(Via Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall.)

There’s a the subtext to the whole “God Damn America” thing. People aren’t really reacting to Wright’s “hatred” for America, when they hear “God Damn America” they feel like he’s saying “God Damn White people.” Which is why white preachers can get away with such things.

(Via Daily Kos.)

1. Government should treat everyone fairly.
2. Hard work should be rewarded.
3. Government should stay out of peoples private lives.
4. We should keep our promises.
5. We should leave our children a better world than the one we found.

From a random diary on dailykos:

There are three main reasons why I am a Democrat:

1. Compassion
2. Equality
3. Common sense

And there are three main reasons why I have issues with Republicans and their rhetoric:

1. Greed
2. Inequality
3. Lack of common sense