Submitted to a Candid World

If the last eight years have taught us anything – a conclusion I assume, because the proof would be difficult – it’s that, if your argument can’t fit in one crawl of the Fox News ticker, or can’t be said by Rush Limbaugh without him having to take a codeine break, it’s too complex & elitist to be correct. Bringing liberalism to the masses, then, is this edition of Carnival of the Liberals: talking points edition, with each entry boiled into a sentence-sized blurb, for your mass consumption convenience! More explanations follow each, of course…

(Entries below the line, this one’s long – when I had just a few entries, I endeavored to create long summaries for each, a strategy which backfired when the deluge came… also, ranked in tenuous order of my favorites).

1. If you don’t read this next post, the terrorists will win. Fannie of “Fannie’s Room” has a simply superb run-down of the latest instances of the Republican/conservative tactic of “scaring up” votes. She’s started giving an award – the “Giu91an1 Award” (love it!) – to those who most egregiously play on our fears, and the competition for the first Giu91an1 award was fierce indeed. My favorite nominee by far, though, is her third example: the “Christian” pundits who argues that, if gay marriage is legal, it’s only a short step to criminalizing those who speak out against the gay lifestyle. I’ve never understood that argument, but it’s astonishingly popular, and I’m glad that Fannie took the time to mock it. Thanks Fannie, this post was one of my favorites.
2. Women for McCain – because we like staying in the kitchen just fine. Shadowcatdancing, a frequent commenter on this blog, explores in-depth the (hitherto unproven) allegation that McCain publicly berated his wife with one of the nastiest, most mysognistic insults out there. SDC concludes that McCain’s history with women makes it more likely than not. He’s willing to go one step farther too, and question how this reflects on a potential McCain presidency: “we have certainly had boors in the oval office in the past, and if he was just embarrassingly boorish, it would be one thing, but this attitude toward women and women’s issues is also clear in his policy positions.” Right on. Personal misogyny become political repression is a scary thing.
3. The GOP – because we know better than you do when you should get pregnant (i.e., now): SciBlogger GrrlScientist offers an extremely important look at the Bush administration’s latest attempt to meddle in women’s lives, by redefining “abortion” to encompass, essentially, birth control. I cannot over-emphasize the importance of this issue, especially because it’s not getting much media attention. I’ve covered it before, and so have other science bloggers. Go forth & spread the word, and thanks to GrrlScientist for doing just that.
4. We’re the party that has the same name of the Party of Lincoln! You don’t hate Abraham Lincoln, do you? Do you ever get tired of Republicans claiming “a continuity of political thought and philosophy from Lincoln, the country’s first Republican president, to the era of George W. Bush, the last”? If so, then you’re like me, and you’ll want to pimp-slap the losers at TownHall.com for continually making that argument. But good news, everyone! Someone’s beaten you to it. But the author (thanks Zeno!) isn’t content to stop there: he goes on to use that to attempt to extrapolate the meaning of “conservative” in the modern lexicon, in light of the fact that all recent Republican presidents have sent the national debt sky-high. …Just what are these guys conserving? Ah.
5. Good news, everyone! Bad news. Is the time ever wrong for a (second) Professor Farnsworth quote? I submit, no. Here to lighten our spirits in what’s been a dismal week for the Obama campaign is Dr. Biobrain (hence the Farnsworth quote seemed particularly appropriate). The good doctor thinks it’s not time, now or ever, for doom and gloom on the Obama campaign. I agree – I’m very fickle in my optimism for Obama, but I’m heartened by the Doctor’s prescription for optimism.
6. Spin here, spin now! An extremely important analysis of the rhetoric behind the GOP’s “brave” stand in Congress for offshore drilling, and what the issue’s really about. Hint: it’s not as simple as the GOP wants you to think. Caged & framed by the Philosopher’s Playground.
7. Conservatism – so simple it has to be right… unless it’s horribly, horribly wrong. Oh God. I have a great deal of respect for Bay-of-Fundie, and its mission of “keeping the religious right at bay.” This latest article – analyzing the anti-intellectual appeal of conservatism – doesn’t disappoint. It focuses on how conservatism’s catchall answer to complex solutions (”privatize, get the state out of the picture”) appeals to some peoples’ need for simple, intellectually appealing answers, while also avoiding the annoying problem of “thinking.” Before getting to its thesis, the poster spends quite a while paring down the definition of the “fundie” – the offensively overzealous fundamentalist – and that, along with a loooong discussion on the comments section, is well worth a read.
8. …With Liberty and Justice for most. Mr. Hamdan, Osama Bin Laden’s driver & the name that launched a thousand lawsuits (including one SCOTUS case) was recently convicted by a military tribunal… marking the US’ first experimentation with military justice for a detainee. “No Right Turn” evaluates… and disapproves. Just so.
9. Thinking is for sissies and liberals. Jason Buckley of “Washington Interns Gone Bad” praises Obama for his spot-on assessment of the modern GOP: “it’s like they take pride in being ignorant!” Personally, when Obama said that, I was terrified: I thought McCain & the pundits would finally run Obama out of town for that line. How sad is it, when we’re scared for our political candidates every time they speak up for intelligence in government?
10. The GOP puts family first – opposing other peoples’ families is our #1 priority. Turns out that homophobes don’t like being called that: hah! In California, opponents of newly legalized gay marriage try to mask the true impact their agenda would have – disintegrating newly formed families – in weasel words. Not that “limit on marriage” sounds particularly warm or fuzzy. Thanks to Ridger, FCD!
11. Go left, young man, and grow up with the country! Courtesy “JuniorPolitics,” a review of three things the Republicans get wrong: Reaganomics doesn’t work, America isn’t a Christian-only nation, and nation-building is a drain on the economy. Yes, yes, and yes! In point 2, we’re treated to the important point that it makes a mockery of separation of church and state to argue for governmental positions that find their only support in scripture, not in reason. Can anyone tell me a non-religious argument against gay marriage? Neither I, nor the fellows at YouthPolitics, have yet heard a compelling one.
12. Republicans don’t ever get involved in scandals – TURN THAT CAMERA OFF! Kudos to AtheistRevolution for asking an important question – why does no-one care about McCain’s affair? It was thirty years ago, but if we’re talking “character”…?
13. The Surge is working: vote McCain to clean up the mess that he himself helped create. From Omyma of “ThinkBridge” – you know how McCain claims that the Surge is working? Well, maybe, but not why you think – this post chalks the peace in Iraq up to brutal ethnic cleansing, not to more peacekeeping troops. There are plenty of reasons to doubt the Surge – I, for one, think that at most it’s just a temporary peace that’ll only last while our troops are there – but here’s another reason.
14. Wooing minority voters – ur doin it wrong. John McCain’s security forces booted the only black reporter from a major event, without explaining the reason. The reason – later explained – smacks of a post hoc justification. Setting this incident in its larger context, Omyma of ThinkBridge gleans the correct lesson: McCain is just as afraid of negative press coverage as Bush is (remember “loyalty oaths” to get into his speeches?). Bad news.
15. I for one welcome our new alien overlords. Alternate title: in praise of elitism. In what should probably be cross-posted at Dana Hunter’s excellent Carnival of the Elitist Bastards, “Born Fine the First Time” explains why we’re tired of American politicians feeling like they have to dumb themselves down to be electable. Can’t we be proud of our intelligence, for once? The same author then calls out McCain on some of his biggest mistakes yet: the hitherto-unspoken-of John/Cindy affair, while John was still married to his first wife, the Bomb Iran fiasco, and more. Worth a read.
16. Out of the fossil-fuel frying pan, into the nuclear fire. Taking a long-term view of “renewable,” Phil, of “Phil for Humanity,” doesn’t think nuclear plants are the option. I applaud someone for looking farther into the future than their next fill-up when considering energy policy.
17. Conservation – It’s not just for poor people anymore! Sure, Bush’s managed to ruin much of the American economy and send gas prices sky high. But let’s look at the silver lining on those thick, pollution-filled clouds – at least conservation is starting to look sexy & important (except to John McCain). The problem, of course, is that once the pressure to buy less gas is removed, the public’s interest in conservation may similarly evaporate. Time to roll out the electric cars (thanks to GreenRising).
18. Who would Jesus torture? Joseph Orosco, of “Conservations in Philosophy,” takes the torture issue in a different way, highlighting the philosophical background before asking a novel question: what of the torturers themselves? Doesn’t the commission of such dreadful acts deaden the torturer, as much as the tortured? In his opinion – and mine, he’s more than convinced me – torture is a lose-lose scenario, rendering the Bush administration doubly culpable.
19. Moving forward… into the past! A snarky run-through of the Bush years, and the years to come, courtesy Rickey Henderson of “Riding with Ricky.” A terrifying vision of things to come, including T. Boone Pickens & Jeb Bush coming close to the presidency. Shudder, twitch.
20. Because Kang & Kodos were wrong about third parties. Jay at Hotfix America explains why a vote for Nader in a non-controversial state – like our shared home, New York – might not be bad, and might actually be good, for the message it sends about the problem two-party system. While I disagree with the means, I wholeheartedly embrace the end (i.e., meaningful third parties). Jay and others who feel the same way might be interested to learn about the national popular vote initiative.
21. Dispatches from Nantucket: sure, the Edwards affair fiasco is sad. But it’s time to explore the comedic value. As Bender would say, “Comedy is dead… now tragedy? That’s funny!” Thanks to Mad Kane for a hilarious limerick on the issue. You may have a career in public radio – Wait Wait! Don’t Tell Me! desperately needs some better limerick writers.
22. Because scientists in the pay of oil companies can’t be wrong! Thanks to “Greener Pastures” for reviewing the manufactured controversy of global warming, and asking the crucial question – why is science debatable in the United States?
23. Spin yourself an election issue! An in-depth review, courtesy Prosper Australia, of how the Australian capital gains tax – and, indeed, capital gains taxes in general – are NOT what conservatives argue they are. The parties are advised to chill.
24. Thank God we solved racism back in the 1960s. Stephanie of “Life on the Road” evaluates a problem of no small concern… not only are the majority of (RV-dwelling, traveling) Southerners White… they’re racist, to boot. As a former Atlantan, I can speak for my region and say that her evaluation might be skewed by her sample, as she worries, but this is troubling news indeed. Outside of my Starbucks window, apparently not everyone is color-blind. Hmm.
25. A noble vocabulary embiggens the smallest man. Word-search: George W. Bush edition. Not recommended for children. Although it is a perfectly cromulent game.
26. Offshore drilling – America’s choice for solving the energy crisis, so long as no other options are presented. Surprise! I’ve decided to include a post from one of my favorite blogs sua sponte (legal Latin ftw!). It’s from “En Tequila Es Verdad,” and dissects what those polls showing near-universal support for offshore drilling are really telling us. It’s more than the usual degree of Republican mendacity, and thanks to Dana for blowing the lid on it. Must-read.

That brings to a close this edition of Carnival of the Liberals. I’m relatively new to the liberal blogs, and I want to say how great it is to be a part of such a big and well-knit community. You’re all great, and it’s been a pleasure seeing how many smart & active liberals there are out there.

I would like to close with a parting thought – riverdaughter’s “Confluence” & rabid Hillary PUMAs: enemy of all Democrats, or enemy of America? “Yes To Democracy” reports, you decide.

Next Carnival will be at “Washington Interns Gone Bad,” already featured in this issue. See you all soon!