Has "1,000" ever felt so large?
I'm not going to rant and rave on the occasion of the one thousandth death of U.S. military personnel in Iraq. Instead, I'm going practice zen-like "less is more."
Below is the playlist that I'm listening to; the songs are not chosen with any particular agenda in mind. I hope you find a way to express your thoughts and thanks.
1. U2 - Stuck In A Moment (acoustic)
2. Finley Quaye - Even After All (from "Thicker Than Water" Soundtrack)
3. Muelle - Torn Down
4. G. Love & Special Sauce - This Ain't Living
5. Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
6. U2 - 40 (live)
7. Ben Harper - Waiting On An Angel
8. John Mayer - 3x5
9. Ben Harper - Forever
10. Muelle - Rain
I have several things I want to talk about but little time before I must leave for work. I'm making a list and checking it twice so that I can cover all items later.
I haven't had a chance to tell you, but I am boycotting the Republican National Covention. I refuse to watch or listen any of the convention itself or any coverage of the convention. I am, however, forced to read some commentary on the convention as it is mixed in with my daily reading list.
Included in that is an article by William Saletan. He responds to Gov. Arnold's speech last night which, evidently, informed non-Republicans that they are all Republicans. Saletan quotes the relevant portion of the speech and -- as I try hard not to vomit out of anger -- responds that he (Saletan) would fit that description yet there's no chance of him voting for our current President, a Republican (though not by Arnold's or any other conservative's definition).
Saletan does an excellent job explaining why Arnold's view of the defining characteristics of Republican-ship is cute and actually rings of a "big tent" but why it doesn't apply to this president. Sen. McCain, Giuliani, Arnold et al. do not represent the Republican Party. They are the ideological equivalent of "the gay/black friend" that a bigot keeps handy when legitimization is needed.
I speak as one who would likely (but not certainly) participate in a political party if the party itself followed a leader the likes of Sen. McCain. However, the Republican Party is the very reason that this nation was stripped of its opportunity to be led by Sen. McCain. This president's political machine and their base of financial, political, and social ideological support runs counter to Arnold's definition of Republican-ship; and it is this base and political machine that prevented Sen. McCain from gaining enough support within and without of the party to actually change the party itself. To believe that Arnold's definition of Republican-ship matters or is respected by Republican leaders and to believe that individuals like Giuliani and Sen. McCain actually will be allowed to determine the direction of the party (let alone the nation) is to forget that this president has proven that he (and his cadre) do not listen (let alone follow) to those who do not fully agree with them regardless of a person defines oneself.
We are not electing a political party; we are holding a referendum on the current president. Arnold's fictional Republican character is not on the ballot, however, a candidate quite to the contrary is on the ballot. And all the conventions in the course of time, all the "moderate" Republicans in the nation, and all the red-white-and-blue in the color palette of the world cannot change where we are as a nation and who brought us here.
