It reached 84º today at Philadelphia International Airport. I didn't know it was supposed to do this. Was it a surprise? Did they forecast this? (Not that I'd be surprised to find out the weather people screwed up! Is it just me or have they been absolutely atrocious since last fall?) Now it's 7:30 p.m. and it's still in the 80's. Yuck.
I am always surprised at how quickly these transitions happen. Two days ago, the low was 31º! Now we've spent hours and hours in the 80's. I mean, 84º: That's sickening. I'm going to Philly tonight and I half-expect to see those giant brown roaches running around the streets. (But I do know they don't show up until the humidity kicks in.)
The National Weather Service has issued a statement about "fire weather concerns." Fire! Apparently, we are really done with winter weather. (Actually, I don't remember the last time we had any winter weather. Maybe the whole deal is a thing of the past. Sad.)
Friday, April 18, 2008
Open letter to Hillary
Geoff Garin from the Clinton campaign sent a message to supporters recently asking for feedback about the campaign. I've been sending money instead of feedback--and I was sure Hillary wouldn't see my message anyway--so I didn't respond. Today, we got another e-mail from him which highlighted a few of the responses they've received. He also asked for more feedback. Here's what I sent:
After Hillary wins in Pennsylvania, it will have to be time to turn the screws on the super-delegates. As you know, the longer this thing drags, the shorter the fall campaign gets. It's well past the time that Hillary needs to be running for the presidency; not for the nomination. The polls ask questions of the uneducated masses: Truth is, we all know the GOP will tear Obama to shreds and that McCain will beat him handily. After Pennsylvania, please just do what needs to be done to end this. America can't stand--nor can she afford--another four years of this GOP dictatorship.
It's well past time to pick a candidate
Earlier today, a friend forwarded me a petition from moveon.org. The point was to voice our collective outrage with the inanity of Wednesday night's debate/debacle. Now, moveon.org scares me almost as much as al-Qaida so it's not like I pay much mind to their ramblings but they're not the only ones screaming about this. The entire country, it seems, is up-in-arms over it. Is this all we have to be up-in-arms about?
This whole uproar is pretty funny, in my opinion. I think the fact that they're still debating at all is much more ridiculous than the way the debate was handled. Clearly, after twenty debates, ABC decided to try something a little different. People obviously didn't like it. And personally, I didn't like it much either.
But it was, like, their twenty-first debate (or something like that). The fact of the matter is Americans already know where Clinton and Obama stand on the issues. Since issues are no longer what's driving the contest, it appears ABC was simply focusing on what the rest of the country is focusing on: Gaffes and hearsay. It's pretty much all we have left to help swing this thing!
This whole uproar is pretty funny, in my opinion. I think the fact that they're still debating at all is much more ridiculous than the way the debate was handled. Clearly, after twenty debates, ABC decided to try something a little different. People obviously didn't like it. And personally, I didn't like it much either.
But it was, like, their twenty-first debate (or something like that). The fact of the matter is Americans already know where Clinton and Obama stand on the issues. Since issues are no longer what's driving the contest, it appears ABC was simply focusing on what the rest of the country is focusing on: Gaffes and hearsay. It's pretty much all we have left to help swing this thing!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
"Hope you don't get shot!"
So Philadelphia has some controversial, new gun control laws. They are separate from the laws of the Pennsylvania because the city has a much higher murder rate than the rest of the commonwealth.
Although it's clear that stricter gun control is necessary, the NRA is naturally pissed off. They're suing the city, insisting Pennsylvania municipalities aren't allowed to create their own laws. According to the Associated Press, lawyer C. Scott Shields, says "The city has no basis to pass any of these gun control ordinances and they know it." ("And they know it"? In the true spirit of the NRA, this guy argues like a five-year-old who's been grounded by his parents.) The NRA, worrying only about money, apparently doesn't think it's basis enough that Philly's got a murder rate of about one-per-day.
It is appalling that there are organizations who make a good deal of their money by knowingly putting guns into the hands of murderers. Even more appalling is that they don't care. They fight any and all attempts to reduce crime and save lives by making it harder for criminals to get guns. Most appalling of all: As a result of the lawsuit, Common Pleas Judge Jane Cutler Greenspan has blocked Philadelphia from enforcing the new laws.
And get a load of this: In the news article, she's quoted as saying (partially under her breath), "Hopefully, nobody will be shot with a gun purchased [during the time she's stopping enforcement of the new law]." Cute. Instead of hoping no one will get shot--even though you know it's going to happen--how about not siding with the freakin NRA? Blocking the new law from going into effect was ridiculous.
Although it's clear that stricter gun control is necessary, the NRA is naturally pissed off. They're suing the city, insisting Pennsylvania municipalities aren't allowed to create their own laws. According to the Associated Press, lawyer C. Scott Shields, says "The city has no basis to pass any of these gun control ordinances and they know it." ("And they know it"? In the true spirit of the NRA, this guy argues like a five-year-old who's been grounded by his parents.) The NRA, worrying only about money, apparently doesn't think it's basis enough that Philly's got a murder rate of about one-per-day.
It is appalling that there are organizations who make a good deal of their money by knowingly putting guns into the hands of murderers. Even more appalling is that they don't care. They fight any and all attempts to reduce crime and save lives by making it harder for criminals to get guns. Most appalling of all: As a result of the lawsuit, Common Pleas Judge Jane Cutler Greenspan has blocked Philadelphia from enforcing the new laws.
And get a load of this: In the news article, she's quoted as saying (partially under her breath), "Hopefully, nobody will be shot with a gun purchased [during the time she's stopping enforcement of the new law]." Cute. Instead of hoping no one will get shot--even though you know it's going to happen--how about not siding with the freakin NRA? Blocking the new law from going into effect was ridiculous.
Obama: What a loser!
Oops. I meant to say he's a sore loser.
Barack Obama totally sucked it at the debate last night. Things were pretty subtle but when all was said and done, Hillary cleaned the floor with him. The debate itself was pretty shoddy. The moderators ribbed the candidates with trivial garbage for the first half of the event. Nothing of any substance--no topics that will matter a year from now--were brought up until the second half.
Particularly galling on the day after: Obama himself is one of the people publicly talking about how the debate was poorly executed. No sir, he didn't like it. Not one bit. Well, I guess not. He fuckin lost! Going out the next day and publicly squeezing his sour grapes isn't going to make his situation any better! In fact, drawing attention to his poor performance will likely make things worse. How unpresidential!
Barack Obama totally sucked it at the debate last night. Things were pretty subtle but when all was said and done, Hillary cleaned the floor with him. The debate itself was pretty shoddy. The moderators ribbed the candidates with trivial garbage for the first half of the event. Nothing of any substance--no topics that will matter a year from now--were brought up until the second half.
Particularly galling on the day after: Obama himself is one of the people publicly talking about how the debate was poorly executed. No sir, he didn't like it. Not one bit. Well, I guess not. He fuckin lost! Going out the next day and publicly squeezing his sour grapes isn't going to make his situation any better! In fact, drawing attention to his poor performance will likely make things worse. How unpresidential!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Americans are showing their stupidity again
I've said it before (2000 and 2004, for instance) and I'll say it again: The stupidity of Americans never ceases to amaze me. Forget about their bitterness. They're just plain stupid.
If you honestly think Barack Obama has more of the skills required to run this country than Hillary Clinton, you're an idiot. (If you believe John McCain is better, you're certifiably insane.)
The Pennsylvania debate starts in an hour. Due to this ridiculous work schedule, I won't be home to watch it. I just pray Obama's true colors (all shades of green, by the way) come through and Hillary gets in a good "one-two punch." America needs to wake the fuck up.
If you honestly think Barack Obama has more of the skills required to run this country than Hillary Clinton, you're an idiot. (If you believe John McCain is better, you're certifiably insane.)
The Pennsylvania debate starts in an hour. Due to this ridiculous work schedule, I won't be home to watch it. I just pray Obama's true colors (all shades of green, by the way) come through and Hillary gets in a good "one-two punch." America needs to wake the fuck up.
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