For shits and grins (and it'll probably be a lot more shits than grins) here's my fearless forecast for tomorrow night's Iowa Caucus:
Democrats
Hillary Clinton wins a squeaker over Bernie Sanders. O'Malley is out of the race before the week is over.
Republicans
Donald Trump wins a close one over Ted Cruz. Marco Rubio finishes third. Jeb! Bush stays in the race waiting for South Carolina to put the final nail in his coffin. Christie and Kasich have put all their chips in the pot for New Hampshire so they live to fight another week. Fiorina stays in because the big money boys want a woman to stay in the race to bash Hillary because somehow in their small little minds that makes it seem fairer to the rest of America. Carson fights another week because he's delusional. Huckabee, Santorum, Paul, and Gilmore pull the plugs on their comatose campaigns.
Just remember when your preferred candidate does much better than my prediction you know who to thank....
Peace,
emaycee
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Friday, January 29, 2016
Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. LVII--Edwin Starr: War
Good God, y'all....
The first three 45s I ever owned were "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night, "Power to the People" by John Lennon, and "War" by Edwin Starr. I'd like to tell you I was quite the politically inclined twelve-year-old, but the truth of the matter is that I brought the three of them because so many of the kids in my school thought they were cool, and I wanted to be cool, too. Alas, that dream died a quick death, but the influence on me of "Power to the People" and "War" would be profound.
Written by Motown greats Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong (click on either link--the list of hit songs they wrote is quite impressive), the song was originally recorded by The Temptations. Fans clamored for it to be released as a single, but The Temptations were afraid of alienating their core fans so Edwin Starr stepped up and offered to record it. And when he did, he recorded a song that could arguably be called the greatest protest song ever.
Good God, y'all....
Edwin Starr's career began in the early 1960s (and right here in Detroit, Michigan, home of one Motown records). His first hit was "Agent Double-O-Soul" (and what a cool title that is, and also the epitaph on his gravestone). His biggest hit prior to "War" was "25 Miles" (fans of the movie Adventures in Babysitting may recall it). Released in 1970 on his War and Peace (if you're going to borrow a title, borrow it from the best), the song would go on to reach #1 (with a bullet!) on the Billboard Hot 100 and stay there for three weeks. Starr would eventually leave the U.S. in 1973 for greener pastures in England where he recorded and toured until his all too early death from a heart attack in 2002. The influence of "War" is still felt far and wide on televison shows, movies, and various other media as the quintessential anti-war song (Springsteen took a cover version of "War" to #8 in 1986, as well), For those counting at home, that's six uses of parentheses in a single paragraph which may be a Friday Night Jukebox record....
The thing that amazes me most about "War" is how much it sounds like, well, war. From the beginning drum roll that leads into an explosion of horns and percussion right before Starr's vocals thunder the words "War, huh yeah/What is it good for?/Absolutely nothing!" all the way to the end where Starr clamors again and again at the injustice of war (and if you listen closely you can hear the drums mimicking marching boots), the song reminds us of the hell that is war. Even when you listen to the music behind Starr's singing of the verses there's a cacophony to it that recalls helicopters and bombs exploding and gunfire and young men screaming in terror. The song is literally an aural music video (if that makes any sense) playing out the horrors of war. And Starr gives a truly great vocal performance with grunts and howls and an urgency that conveys the pain and heartache as well as the all too often utter senselessness of settling our disputes with guns. "...(W)ho wants to die?" he asks at the end, lamenting the age old existential quandary of watching too many young men and women die in battle and wondering what the hell for.
"Good God, y'all" indeed.
Enjoy:
Peace,
emaycee
The first three 45s I ever owned were "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night, "Power to the People" by John Lennon, and "War" by Edwin Starr. I'd like to tell you I was quite the politically inclined twelve-year-old, but the truth of the matter is that I brought the three of them because so many of the kids in my school thought they were cool, and I wanted to be cool, too. Alas, that dream died a quick death, but the influence on me of "Power to the People" and "War" would be profound.
Written by Motown greats Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong (click on either link--the list of hit songs they wrote is quite impressive), the song was originally recorded by The Temptations. Fans clamored for it to be released as a single, but The Temptations were afraid of alienating their core fans so Edwin Starr stepped up and offered to record it. And when he did, he recorded a song that could arguably be called the greatest protest song ever.
Good God, y'all....
Edwin Starr's career began in the early 1960s (and right here in Detroit, Michigan, home of one Motown records). His first hit was "Agent Double-O-Soul" (and what a cool title that is, and also the epitaph on his gravestone). His biggest hit prior to "War" was "25 Miles" (fans of the movie Adventures in Babysitting may recall it). Released in 1970 on his War and Peace (if you're going to borrow a title, borrow it from the best), the song would go on to reach #1 (with a bullet!) on the Billboard Hot 100 and stay there for three weeks. Starr would eventually leave the U.S. in 1973 for greener pastures in England where he recorded and toured until his all too early death from a heart attack in 2002. The influence of "War" is still felt far and wide on televison shows, movies, and various other media as the quintessential anti-war song (Springsteen took a cover version of "War" to #8 in 1986, as well), For those counting at home, that's six uses of parentheses in a single paragraph which may be a Friday Night Jukebox record....
The thing that amazes me most about "War" is how much it sounds like, well, war. From the beginning drum roll that leads into an explosion of horns and percussion right before Starr's vocals thunder the words "War, huh yeah/What is it good for?/Absolutely nothing!" all the way to the end where Starr clamors again and again at the injustice of war (and if you listen closely you can hear the drums mimicking marching boots), the song reminds us of the hell that is war. Even when you listen to the music behind Starr's singing of the verses there's a cacophony to it that recalls helicopters and bombs exploding and gunfire and young men screaming in terror. The song is literally an aural music video (if that makes any sense) playing out the horrors of war. And Starr gives a truly great vocal performance with grunts and howls and an urgency that conveys the pain and heartache as well as the all too often utter senselessness of settling our disputes with guns. "...(W)ho wants to die?" he asks at the end, lamenting the age old existential quandary of watching too many young men and women die in battle and wondering what the hell for.
"Good God, y'all" indeed.
Enjoy:
Peace,
emaycee
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Do they have an app for war criminals?
So far this week, George W. Bush administration Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has appeared on Charlie Rose, Stephen Colbert, and The View, ostensibly to hawk his video game app for "Churchill Solitaire," all the while appearing before crowds (except Charlie Rose) who are prompted to cheer at the introduction for a man who played an integral role in lying us into the Iraq War, which, by the way, resulted in the deaths of 4500 Americans and (by the most conservative of estimates) 150,000 Iraqis, the vast majority of whom were civilians.
Not to mention the three trillion dollar sinkhole it became for our budget, which President Obama has gamely been trying to help dig our way out of for almost eight years.
Am I the only one who wonders where our moral compass is when we celebrate a man largely responsible for such carnage? Or wonders how the wheels could have fallen so far off the track?
Is a dollar really worth that much?
Peace,
emaycee
Not to mention the three trillion dollar sinkhole it became for our budget, which President Obama has gamely been trying to help dig our way out of for almost eight years.
Am I the only one who wonders where our moral compass is when we celebrate a man largely responsible for such carnage? Or wonders how the wheels could have fallen so far off the track?
Is a dollar really worth that much?
Peace,
emaycee
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Hypocrisy, thy name is republicans
There just may be a God after all:
A Texas grand jury has decided not to indict a Houston Planned Parenthood clinic, finding no evidence that the clinic had done anything illegal. They did, however, decide to indict the two bozos who shot the film purportedly showing the clinic talking about profiting from the sale of unborn fetuses for tampering with government evidence, and one of the suspects for the illegal sale and purchase of human body parts.
Despite the fact that the grand jury found no evidence of wrongdoing, republicans, are absolutely apoplectic, continuing with their lies concerning Planned Parenthood and the selling of fetus parts and defending the two newly indicted defendants. Apparently, as long as you're pursuing the republican agenda, lying, cheating, and breaking the law are completely okey dokey.
I must have not gotten the memo--I didn't realize that lying, cheating, and breaking the law had become Christian virtues....
Peace,
emaycee
A Texas grand jury has decided not to indict a Houston Planned Parenthood clinic, finding no evidence that the clinic had done anything illegal. They did, however, decide to indict the two bozos who shot the film purportedly showing the clinic talking about profiting from the sale of unborn fetuses for tampering with government evidence, and one of the suspects for the illegal sale and purchase of human body parts.
Despite the fact that the grand jury found no evidence of wrongdoing, republicans, are absolutely apoplectic, continuing with their lies concerning Planned Parenthood and the selling of fetus parts and defending the two newly indicted defendants. Apparently, as long as you're pursuing the republican agenda, lying, cheating, and breaking the law are completely okey dokey.
I must have not gotten the memo--I didn't realize that lying, cheating, and breaking the law had become Christian virtues....
Peace,
emaycee
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
The schools of America's future, republican version
The above is a picture from a school in Detroit. Yes, those are mushrooms growing through the floor.
You know what scares me most about this picture? The complete and utter lack of caring that it is the result of. And make no mistake, this is what the republican party thinks those students who aren't trust fund babies are worthy of. They have sapped democracy in Michigan with their appointments of Emergency Managers who are only accountable to a governor who is only accountable to the wealthy few that control his puppet strings.
Oh, well, right? I mean as long as we train those kids well enough to be shelf stockers at Wal-Mart, it's all good, isn't it?
Republicans may not give a shit only about Detroit city schools now, but it's only a matter of time before they don't give a shit about your nice middle class schools, either.
Peace,
emaycee
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. LVI--The Angels: My Boyfriend's Back
I'm in love with some Jersey girls this week....
A few years back I was working at Kmart doing some bullshit far beneath my God given abilities task when "My Boyfriend's Back" by The Angels come on the piped in music over the PA system and about halfway through the song I thought to myself, "Has this song always been this good?" I moved so that I stood directly underneath one of the speakers so I could have an optimal listening experience, and sure enough, it was that good. Just to make sure, when I went home that night I downloaded it from iTunes and listened to it about ten times in a row, all the while wondering just how far my head had to have been up my fanny for umpteen years to have never noticed how utterly fantastic "My Boyfriend's Back" actually is.
The Angels actually began as The Starlets in 1961, with the sisters Phyllis and Barbara Allbut among others. The group would go through several incarnations in a relatively short period of time and fail to find a producer, after which the Allbut sisters would turn back to their education. Eventually one Gerry Granahan saw their potential and they released the single "Till" with Linda Jansen doing the lead vocals. Jansen would quit in 1962 and was replaced by Peggy Santiglia. Together the three Jersey girls would record "My Boyfriend's Back," with Santiglia on lead vocals, as a demo to be considered by the Shirelles, but--and thank heaven for small miracles--someone saw something in The Angels version and decided to release it as a single. It would go on to reach #1 (most assuredly with a bullet!) on the Billboard Hot 100. The Angels would never again reach such heights, but still perform occasionally to this day.
"My Boyfriend's Back" is basically the story of a young woman telling a rejected suitor who has spread lies about her love life that her boyfriend is back in town and he's going to open a can of whoop ass on him. Released in 1963 on the quite aptly titled My Boyfriend's Back LP, the song features Santiglia on lead vocals, with the Allbut sisters harmonizing after each of her throaty declarations the ever so cool "Hey-la, hey-la, my boyfriend's back" with all the buddy you are so fucked now swagger their hearts can muster. Throw in some subtle drums and electric guitars, replete with some rhythmically magical hand claps (courtesy of the Allbuts), and that alone would be enough to brand "My Boyfriend's Back" as a classic, but--yes, it gets even better--before the song fades out Santimiglia bursts into a buckshot scream crescendo, singing over the Allbut sisters repeated harmonies rat-a-tat-tatting pure euphoria at the rebuffed young man's comeuppance. And at that point "My Boyfriend's Back" shoots into another stratosphere of classic song.
At least it does for me--it is a true case of pop music lightning in a bottle.
O joy! O rapture! words: "If I were you I'd take a permanent vacation, hey-la, hey-la...."
Enjoy:
Peace,
emaycee
A few years back I was working at Kmart doing some bullshit far beneath my God given abilities task when "My Boyfriend's Back" by The Angels come on the piped in music over the PA system and about halfway through the song I thought to myself, "Has this song always been this good?" I moved so that I stood directly underneath one of the speakers so I could have an optimal listening experience, and sure enough, it was that good. Just to make sure, when I went home that night I downloaded it from iTunes and listened to it about ten times in a row, all the while wondering just how far my head had to have been up my fanny for umpteen years to have never noticed how utterly fantastic "My Boyfriend's Back" actually is.
The Angels actually began as The Starlets in 1961, with the sisters Phyllis and Barbara Allbut among others. The group would go through several incarnations in a relatively short period of time and fail to find a producer, after which the Allbut sisters would turn back to their education. Eventually one Gerry Granahan saw their potential and they released the single "Till" with Linda Jansen doing the lead vocals. Jansen would quit in 1962 and was replaced by Peggy Santiglia. Together the three Jersey girls would record "My Boyfriend's Back," with Santiglia on lead vocals, as a demo to be considered by the Shirelles, but--and thank heaven for small miracles--someone saw something in The Angels version and decided to release it as a single. It would go on to reach #1 (most assuredly with a bullet!) on the Billboard Hot 100. The Angels would never again reach such heights, but still perform occasionally to this day.
"My Boyfriend's Back" is basically the story of a young woman telling a rejected suitor who has spread lies about her love life that her boyfriend is back in town and he's going to open a can of whoop ass on him. Released in 1963 on the quite aptly titled My Boyfriend's Back LP, the song features Santiglia on lead vocals, with the Allbut sisters harmonizing after each of her throaty declarations the ever so cool "Hey-la, hey-la, my boyfriend's back" with all the buddy you are so fucked now swagger their hearts can muster. Throw in some subtle drums and electric guitars, replete with some rhythmically magical hand claps (courtesy of the Allbuts), and that alone would be enough to brand "My Boyfriend's Back" as a classic, but--yes, it gets even better--before the song fades out Santimiglia bursts into a buckshot scream crescendo, singing over the Allbut sisters repeated harmonies rat-a-tat-tatting pure euphoria at the rebuffed young man's comeuppance. And at that point "My Boyfriend's Back" shoots into another stratosphere of classic song.
At least it does for me--it is a true case of pop music lightning in a bottle.
O joy! O rapture! words: "If I were you I'd take a permanent vacation, hey-la, hey-la...."
Enjoy:
Peace,
emaycee
Thursday, January 21, 2016
You break it, you buy it
Predictably, republicans in Michigan have begun trying to find someone/anyone to blame for their utter ineptitude in response to the water crisis in Flint. They're trying to blame the Flint City Council (good luck with that--ninety percent of the journalists in Michigan covering the crisis have already refuted it--and the 10% who haven't are republican trolls). They're also attempting to blame the EPA, and while the EPA response was not perfect, the vast majority of the blame belongs to Gov. Snyder and his "team."
What interests me most about this is republicans all too familiar tactic of trying to deflect blame from their failed policies. They're all about personal accountability (especially with regard to America's social safety net) until it comes to themselves. Listen: if you preach and want limited government than fucking own it when your amateur hour worldview fails. And make no mistake, the republican failure in the Flint water crisis is a direct result of their limited government policies.
They wanted to save money and walk away, but it's not so simple when you poison children in the process.
Peace,
emaycee
What interests me most about this is republicans all too familiar tactic of trying to deflect blame from their failed policies. They're all about personal accountability (especially with regard to America's social safety net) until it comes to themselves. Listen: if you preach and want limited government than fucking own it when your amateur hour worldview fails. And make no mistake, the republican failure in the Flint water crisis is a direct result of their limited government policies.
They wanted to save money and walk away, but it's not so simple when you poison children in the process.
Peace,
emaycee
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
They really don't care
At the end of Sunday's Democratic debate, Hillary Clinton sent some serious (and deserved) venom toward Michigan Governor Rick Snyder's handling of the water crisis and the poisoning of children in Flint, saying that Gov. Snyder "...acted as though he didn't really care."
News flash: He isn't acting.
The candidate currently running third nationally in the republican primary circus, Marco Rubio, admitted that he hasn't been briefed on one of the nation's biggest stories of the past month, but was still pretty certain in his ignorance that the federal government should butt out.
And this is and has been the republican M.O. since Ronald Reagan was elected in the 1980's--an utter lack of empathy combined with a complete lack of understanding concerning ordinary Americans. And the poisoning of children in Flint, Michigan is just the logical outcome of their core philosophy.
If you aren't white and wealthy, they really just don't care about you.
Peace,
emaycee
News flash: He isn't acting.
The candidate currently running third nationally in the republican primary circus, Marco Rubio, admitted that he hasn't been briefed on one of the nation's biggest stories of the past month, but was still pretty certain in his ignorance that the federal government should butt out.
And this is and has been the republican M.O. since Ronald Reagan was elected in the 1980's--an utter lack of empathy combined with a complete lack of understanding concerning ordinary Americans. And the poisoning of children in Flint, Michigan is just the logical outcome of their core philosophy.
If you aren't white and wealthy, they really just don't care about you.
Peace,
emaycee
Monday, January 18, 2016
Captain oblivious
Ted Cruz yesterday claimed that if JFK were alive today, he would be a republican. Putting aside the fact that his claim is demonstrably false, you have to wonder exactly what the fuck Cruz is hoping to accomplish by making this claim.
Does he really believe Kennedy is the type of candidate the republican base is yearning for him to be? Or does he believe Democratic voters upon hearing Cruz' claim are going to conclude that Cruz is right and give him their vote?
Either way, you really have to question the qualifications for President of a man who is so obviously oblivious to political reality.
Peace,
emaycee
Does he really believe Kennedy is the type of candidate the republican base is yearning for him to be? Or does he believe Democratic voters upon hearing Cruz' claim are going to conclude that Cruz is right and give him their vote?
Either way, you really have to question the qualifications for President of a man who is so obviously oblivious to political reality.
Peace,
emaycee
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. LV--Waylon Jennings: Luckenbach, Texas
This week, I'm going for my shit-kicker cred....
Imagine that you're Buddy Holly's bass player (and that Holly has helped you record a couple of your own tunes), you're on tour in wintry Iowa, and Holly decides to charter a plane to Minnesota to beat the frosty conditions on the tour bus. The plane has room for three passengers, and you're scheduled to be one of the three. But, for altruistic reasons you decide to give your spot to one J,P, Richardson, a.k.a. The Big Bopper, because he has the flu. Hours later the plane goes down killing all aboard, and goes down in music history as the day the music died. Where do you suppose life takes you from there?
If you're Waylon Jennings, you go on to be one of the leaders of the Outlaw Country movement and eventually a Country Music Hall of Famer.
In the aftermath of the plane crash, Jennings went back to being a DJ for a time before returning to recording in the late 60's. Inspired by what Dylan/The Beatles/The Stones were doing with rock music, Jennings (along with Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash) began to bring both a return to country music's roots as well as a harder edge to the songs inspiring what later became known as Outlaw Country. Jennings would have a nice ride through the late 70's (including having a #1 country single of the years as well as winning numerous awards), but the remainder of his career would find him battling and eventually conquering cocaine addiction and never again quite reaching the heights he attained during the early years of his career. Still, at the time of his death in 2002 he'd had 54 albums (11 #1's) and 96 singles (16 #1's) that charted over the course of his career.
Released on his Ol' Waylon LP in 1977, "Luckenbach, Texas" would go on to be the country single of the year and the biggest hit of Jennings' career. For the record, Jennings himself admitted to hating the song and never once having been to Luckenbach (he did eventually play there in 1997). Also for the record, from what I can tell Luckenbach is little more than a hole in the wall 50 miles north of San Antonio with a music venue that occasionally features some name performers--i.e., Austin City Limits it ain't. It does, however, have a much better country music feel to it than say, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Be that as it may, "Luckenbach, Texas" is still one hell of a song. I'm not much of a country music expert (and a middling fan at best), but I know greatness when I hear it (e.g., Patsy Cline's "Crazy" or George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today") and this tune is certainly graced with it. Led by Jennings' remarkable baritone, it's the story of a couple whose fame has caused them more than a little pain and the singer's heartfelt request to get back to the simple life of love and good music (hear, hear!). It references the music of Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Hank Williams, and Mickey Newbury all the while a steel guitar, a soft drum, and a bass provide the ever yearning background music. The song closes with one more version of the chorus, this time with Jennings and his good friend Willie Nelson sharing the vocals, convinced that when you're listening to good music "there ain't nobody feeling no pain." And I can tell you it's certainly worked a time or two for me.
Truer words and all that: "I don't need my name in the marquee lights/ I got my song and I got you with me tonight...."
Enjoy:
Peace,
emaycee
Imagine that you're Buddy Holly's bass player (and that Holly has helped you record a couple of your own tunes), you're on tour in wintry Iowa, and Holly decides to charter a plane to Minnesota to beat the frosty conditions on the tour bus. The plane has room for three passengers, and you're scheduled to be one of the three. But, for altruistic reasons you decide to give your spot to one J,P, Richardson, a.k.a. The Big Bopper, because he has the flu. Hours later the plane goes down killing all aboard, and goes down in music history as the day the music died. Where do you suppose life takes you from there?
If you're Waylon Jennings, you go on to be one of the leaders of the Outlaw Country movement and eventually a Country Music Hall of Famer.
In the aftermath of the plane crash, Jennings went back to being a DJ for a time before returning to recording in the late 60's. Inspired by what Dylan/The Beatles/The Stones were doing with rock music, Jennings (along with Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash) began to bring both a return to country music's roots as well as a harder edge to the songs inspiring what later became known as Outlaw Country. Jennings would have a nice ride through the late 70's (including having a #1 country single of the years as well as winning numerous awards), but the remainder of his career would find him battling and eventually conquering cocaine addiction and never again quite reaching the heights he attained during the early years of his career. Still, at the time of his death in 2002 he'd had 54 albums (11 #1's) and 96 singles (16 #1's) that charted over the course of his career.
Released on his Ol' Waylon LP in 1977, "Luckenbach, Texas" would go on to be the country single of the year and the biggest hit of Jennings' career. For the record, Jennings himself admitted to hating the song and never once having been to Luckenbach (he did eventually play there in 1997). Also for the record, from what I can tell Luckenbach is little more than a hole in the wall 50 miles north of San Antonio with a music venue that occasionally features some name performers--i.e., Austin City Limits it ain't. It does, however, have a much better country music feel to it than say, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Be that as it may, "Luckenbach, Texas" is still one hell of a song. I'm not much of a country music expert (and a middling fan at best), but I know greatness when I hear it (e.g., Patsy Cline's "Crazy" or George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today") and this tune is certainly graced with it. Led by Jennings' remarkable baritone, it's the story of a couple whose fame has caused them more than a little pain and the singer's heartfelt request to get back to the simple life of love and good music (hear, hear!). It references the music of Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Hank Williams, and Mickey Newbury all the while a steel guitar, a soft drum, and a bass provide the ever yearning background music. The song closes with one more version of the chorus, this time with Jennings and his good friend Willie Nelson sharing the vocals, convinced that when you're listening to good music "there ain't nobody feeling no pain." And I can tell you it's certainly worked a time or two for me.
Truer words and all that: "I don't need my name in the marquee lights/ I got my song and I got you with me tonight...."
Enjoy:
Peace,
emaycee
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Nikki Haley will not be the republican nominee for Vice-President
In light of her well-delivered republican response to President Obama's State of the Union Address this past Tuesday, a number of pundits have begun mentioning South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley as a possible contender for the Vice Presidential slot on this year's republican ticket.
Nikki Haley will not be the republican Vice Presidential nominee in 2016.
Now you might think this is because of her Jindalesque handling of her state's economy or serious ethical issues (same link). You might also think it's because her foot in mouth discussions of her SOTU response with national media in the past few days prove she's not ready for prime time.
Nope.
Nikki Haley will not be the republican Vice Presidential nominee because she has twice been accused of having extramarital affairs (which she strongly denies).
Now before you jump on your high horse, know that as a previous Bill Clinton supporter it would be awfully hypocritical of me to to question Haley's credentials based on rumored sexual affairs. If I wanted to merely question her credentials, the previous paragraph listing her shortcomings would have sufficed. I am making the case as to why the republican Presidential nominee will not choose Gov. Haley--for one, I am certain that there are powerful people in the Democratic Party who wake up nights in a cold sweat imagining the colossal damage that would have been done to the Democratic Party had John Edwards won a primary or two in 2008 only to have his extramarital affair and love child later come to light. No one is going to take the chance that the alleged rumors are true. Second, it's become obvious that should Hillary Clinton win the nomination (no guarantee) part of the republican playbook to mute the war on women charges against republicans is to attack the less than discrete sexual habits of her husband. This becomes exponentially harder with Haley on the ticket and the possibility that she has a checkered sexual past as well. Finally, the media scrutiny of a governor's election in South Carolina is one whole hell of a lot less lethal than that of a national media scrutiny of a Vice Presidential nominee. Chances are if there is anything there, it will be found. Again, in an uphill battle, no republican nominee wants to take a chance on that.
In fairness to Haley (and it's not often you'll hear me say that regarding a republican), neither of the two men alleging to have had relations with her have shown a shred of proof, and neither of them is what I would consider a man of integrity. They both had something to gain (one was facing domestic violence charges and the other a DUI). And I have to admit to feeling sorry for Gov. Haley--allegations such as these are easy for others to make and hard for her to live down, and from what I've read, neither passes the smell test.
But fair or not, it's hard to imagine any republican candidate willing to gamble their political fortune on the veracity of the claims against her.
Peace,
emaycee
Nikki Haley will not be the republican Vice Presidential nominee in 2016.
Now you might think this is because of her Jindalesque handling of her state's economy or serious ethical issues (same link). You might also think it's because her foot in mouth discussions of her SOTU response with national media in the past few days prove she's not ready for prime time.
Nope.
Nikki Haley will not be the republican Vice Presidential nominee because she has twice been accused of having extramarital affairs (which she strongly denies).
Now before you jump on your high horse, know that as a previous Bill Clinton supporter it would be awfully hypocritical of me to to question Haley's credentials based on rumored sexual affairs. If I wanted to merely question her credentials, the previous paragraph listing her shortcomings would have sufficed. I am making the case as to why the republican Presidential nominee will not choose Gov. Haley--for one, I am certain that there are powerful people in the Democratic Party who wake up nights in a cold sweat imagining the colossal damage that would have been done to the Democratic Party had John Edwards won a primary or two in 2008 only to have his extramarital affair and love child later come to light. No one is going to take the chance that the alleged rumors are true. Second, it's become obvious that should Hillary Clinton win the nomination (no guarantee) part of the republican playbook to mute the war on women charges against republicans is to attack the less than discrete sexual habits of her husband. This becomes exponentially harder with Haley on the ticket and the possibility that she has a checkered sexual past as well. Finally, the media scrutiny of a governor's election in South Carolina is one whole hell of a lot less lethal than that of a national media scrutiny of a Vice Presidential nominee. Chances are if there is anything there, it will be found. Again, in an uphill battle, no republican nominee wants to take a chance on that.
In fairness to Haley (and it's not often you'll hear me say that regarding a republican), neither of the two men alleging to have had relations with her have shown a shred of proof, and neither of them is what I would consider a man of integrity. They both had something to gain (one was facing domestic violence charges and the other a DUI). And I have to admit to feeling sorry for Gov. Haley--allegations such as these are easy for others to make and hard for her to live down, and from what I've read, neither passes the smell test.
But fair or not, it's hard to imagine any republican candidate willing to gamble their political fortune on the veracity of the claims against her.
Peace,
emaycee
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
POTUS on the 2016 State of the Union: 60 Second Version
This is the last one....
Well, lookee here: despite all the republican sour grapes we've got 14.1 million new jobs, unemployment has been cut in half, the deficit is down, the number of people without healthcare has been reduced by 50%, and the auto industry, which I saved, just had its best year ever. Oh, and gay marriage is legal in all 50 states, you self-righteous pricks. And just to really burn your asses, Iran. And Cuba.
The future? An economy that works for all. Technology that works for all. Keeping you all safe from all the boogie men out there.
In conclusion--appeal to our better selves. Think of how far we have come as a nation, all that we have accomplished, and know that you--America's citizens, that's right, you--can continue it.
Highlight of the night? The Notorious RBG eschewing the Hollywood (Darling!) squeeze and giving the President a bear hug.
Lowlight of the evening? President Obama rightly proclaiming that we are still by far and away the most powerful nation on earth...and the republicans sitting on their hands. They can't be that fucking stupid, can they?
It's been a lovely ride, Mr. President.
Peace,
emaycee
Well, lookee here: despite all the republican sour grapes we've got 14.1 million new jobs, unemployment has been cut in half, the deficit is down, the number of people without healthcare has been reduced by 50%, and the auto industry, which I saved, just had its best year ever. Oh, and gay marriage is legal in all 50 states, you self-righteous pricks. And just to really burn your asses, Iran. And Cuba.
The future? An economy that works for all. Technology that works for all. Keeping you all safe from all the boogie men out there.
In conclusion--appeal to our better selves. Think of how far we have come as a nation, all that we have accomplished, and know that you--America's citizens, that's right, you--can continue it.
Highlight of the night? The Notorious RBG eschewing the Hollywood (Darling!) squeeze and giving the President a bear hug.
Lowlight of the evening? President Obama rightly proclaiming that we are still by far and away the most powerful nation on earth...and the republicans sitting on their hands. They can't be that fucking stupid, can they?
It's been a lovely ride, Mr. President.
Peace,
emaycee
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Those pesky kids
Paul Ryan this week criticized President Obama's executive actions on gun control, saying that his tears over twenty dead children were a distraction from what should be Obama's primary focus, ISIS.
Think about that for a second: Ryan thinks that twenty six and seven year old kids being shot to death by a madman is a "distraction."
Leaving aside the fact that it's down right psychopathic, Ryan has once again proven that the republican party doesn't give a good goddamn about any American once they've exited the womb.
Peace,
emaycee
Think about that for a second: Ryan thinks that twenty six and seven year old kids being shot to death by a madman is a "distraction."
Leaving aside the fact that it's down right psychopathic, Ryan has once again proven that the republican party doesn't give a good goddamn about any American once they've exited the womb.
Peace,
emaycee
Friday, January 8, 2016
Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. LIV--Glenn Miller: In the Mood
Going for my old fart cred this week....
This week's tune presents special challenges. For one, it's an instrumental, which pretty much takes away any oohing and aahing over vocals and lyrics. For two, I don't know jackshit about swing music, other than there was a dreadful swing revival in the late nineties (Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Squirrel Nut Zippers, et al) that was an opportunity for lame ass people to act even lamer. I mean I know what a saxophone or a trumpet or a trombone or a clarinet is, but when they're all playing together it's kind of hard to point one out and say, "Listen to that bitchin' trombone!"
Anyhoo, Glenn Miller was a big band leader and trombone player extraordinaire who enjoyed a brief burst of popularity in the late thirties and early forties. While there seems to be some disagreement among those who are experts on swing jazz as to his greatness, the world would never know: Miller joined the military in the early forties, ended up forming a band to play for the troops, and in December of 1944 the plane carrying him to a gig in Paris for his fellow soldiers disappeared over the English Channel and has never been found. Miller was 40 years old. His music, however, despite the rather short stay of the Glenn Miller Orchestra (1938-1942), has very much lived on and garnered a legion of fans.
Released as a single in 1939 (albums weren't to begin making headway until after the war) "In the Mood" is perhaps Miller's best known song though the depth of its popularity at the time will never be known--retail sales charts had yet to appear and the gold standard back in the day was sheet music sales (thank God that trend ended--the music business as we know it would have been long gone before I was born). "In the Mood" only got to #15 (one presumes with a bullet, but who knows?) on the sheet music charts but I'd be willing to bet there are a lot more folks who can just listen to music as opposed to those who can actually play it. The song would end up in the Grammy Hall of Fame as well as being inducted into the Library of Congress.
The best I can do as far as explaining the song is to tell you that whenever I hear it, the music enters through my fingers and toes, eventually invading my whole body, until I find myself bopping around as if I actually know how to bop around. It's a happy dance, feels so good, let's swing, shake shake shake you booty kind of song--if "In the Mood" doesn't put a smile on your face, you're probably in a coma.
Enjoy:
Peace,
emaycee
This week's tune presents special challenges. For one, it's an instrumental, which pretty much takes away any oohing and aahing over vocals and lyrics. For two, I don't know jackshit about swing music, other than there was a dreadful swing revival in the late nineties (Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Squirrel Nut Zippers, et al) that was an opportunity for lame ass people to act even lamer. I mean I know what a saxophone or a trumpet or a trombone or a clarinet is, but when they're all playing together it's kind of hard to point one out and say, "Listen to that bitchin' trombone!"
Anyhoo, Glenn Miller was a big band leader and trombone player extraordinaire who enjoyed a brief burst of popularity in the late thirties and early forties. While there seems to be some disagreement among those who are experts on swing jazz as to his greatness, the world would never know: Miller joined the military in the early forties, ended up forming a band to play for the troops, and in December of 1944 the plane carrying him to a gig in Paris for his fellow soldiers disappeared over the English Channel and has never been found. Miller was 40 years old. His music, however, despite the rather short stay of the Glenn Miller Orchestra (1938-1942), has very much lived on and garnered a legion of fans.
Released as a single in 1939 (albums weren't to begin making headway until after the war) "In the Mood" is perhaps Miller's best known song though the depth of its popularity at the time will never be known--retail sales charts had yet to appear and the gold standard back in the day was sheet music sales (thank God that trend ended--the music business as we know it would have been long gone before I was born). "In the Mood" only got to #15 (one presumes with a bullet, but who knows?) on the sheet music charts but I'd be willing to bet there are a lot more folks who can just listen to music as opposed to those who can actually play it. The song would end up in the Grammy Hall of Fame as well as being inducted into the Library of Congress.
The best I can do as far as explaining the song is to tell you that whenever I hear it, the music enters through my fingers and toes, eventually invading my whole body, until I find myself bopping around as if I actually know how to bop around. It's a happy dance, feels so good, let's swing, shake shake shake you booty kind of song--if "In the Mood" doesn't put a smile on your face, you're probably in a coma.
Enjoy:
Peace,
emaycee
Thursday, January 7, 2016
A nitwit is still a nitwit
Watching the republicans celebrate sending an Obamacare repeal to the President's desk so he can veto it faster than Flash Gordon can circle the globe is a bit like watching cows perform a ballet--it might make the cows feel good but it doesn't do jackshit for humanity.
And isn't doing nothing for America really what the republican party is all about?
Peace,
emaycee
And isn't doing nothing for America really what the republican party is all about?
Peace,
emaycee
Put a sock in it
While I have to admit there is a delicious irony to the whole rigmarole over whether or not Ted Cruz is actually an American citizen (what with all of the "birther" bullshit thrown at President Obama), one has to wonder just how hard up for news stories the national media is. I'm not a constitutional scholar, but the process is pretty simple: if you're born on foreign soil to a parent that has American citizenship, you're automatically an American citizen. Thus while Cruz is not qualified to be President, since he was born in Canada and his mother is an American citizen, he is imminently eligible to be the President.
It is a bit worrisome, though, that no matter how full of shit Donald Trump is, his words can turn what should be a non-starter into a major story.
Let's hope the voodoo only works on republicans.
Peace,
emaycee
It is a bit worrisome, though, that no matter how full of shit Donald Trump is, his words can turn what should be a non-starter into a major story.
Let's hope the voodoo only works on republicans.
Peace,
emaycee
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Who's fooling who?
President Obama today took some common sense executive actions to close some gun buying loopholes, keep guns out of the hands of criminals, and spend more money on mental health care. All of which are designed to keep the American people a whit safer.
Republicans, needless to say, are apoplectic, with screams of protecting Americans, protecting the Second Amendment, Obama's going to take our guns away, repealing the executive actions when elected President (good luck with that), ISIS, and even threatening to shut down the Justice Department. Genius Mike Huckabee said if President Obama was really concerned about American lives, that he would end abortion. Without explaining, unsurprisingly, that if Huckabee actually cared so much about American lives, why he wasn't calling for an outright ban on guns (30,000 Americans killed every year by guns).
Make no mistake, though, about who actually cares about Americans' safety. Republican politicians do not give a good goddamn about the American people or their safety and haven't for quite some time. The only thing they will be protecting is the undue influence of the NRA and the profits of gun manufacturers.
Because deranged people with guns repeating mass killing after mass killing, or another child shot by a stray bullet, or another troubled soul taking his or her life, or the shattered lives of the victims' families really do not much matter to them as long as the NRA keeps filling their campaign chests and the gun manufacturers keep making an extra nickel,
Peace,
emaycee
Republicans, needless to say, are apoplectic, with screams of protecting Americans, protecting the Second Amendment, Obama's going to take our guns away, repealing the executive actions when elected President (good luck with that), ISIS, and even threatening to shut down the Justice Department. Genius Mike Huckabee said if President Obama was really concerned about American lives, that he would end abortion. Without explaining, unsurprisingly, that if Huckabee actually cared so much about American lives, why he wasn't calling for an outright ban on guns (30,000 Americans killed every year by guns).
Make no mistake, though, about who actually cares about Americans' safety. Republican politicians do not give a good goddamn about the American people or their safety and haven't for quite some time. The only thing they will be protecting is the undue influence of the NRA and the profits of gun manufacturers.
Because deranged people with guns repeating mass killing after mass killing, or another child shot by a stray bullet, or another troubled soul taking his or her life, or the shattered lives of the victims' families really do not much matter to them as long as the NRA keeps filling their campaign chests and the gun manufacturers keep making an extra nickel,
Peace,
emaycee
Monday, January 4, 2016
If the shoe was on the other foot
I'll be the first to admit that the bozos who have taken over a Federal Wildlife Preserve building in Oregon aren't exactly Patrick Henry and Nathan Hale--hell, they're not even Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. Nonetheless, the facts are that the men they have stormed the building in support of have been convicted of arson, done to hide illegal hunting evidence, that the men occupying the building have taken it by force and are carrying dangerous weapons, and that they have threatened to kill anyone who should try to stop them.
Do you think for one moment the kid glove response toward this militia by the government, law enforcement, and republican Presidential candidates would have been the same had the Black Lives Matter movement used the same tactics in response to the Michael Brown murder, the Eric Garner murder, the Tamir Rice murder, or the Freddie Gray murder?
What the response does, though, is thoroughly validate the Black Lives Matter movement--their beliefs that their lives don't matter to far too many Americans are very real indeed.
Peace,
emaycee
Do you think for one moment the kid glove response toward this militia by the government, law enforcement, and republican Presidential candidates would have been the same had the Black Lives Matter movement used the same tactics in response to the Michael Brown murder, the Eric Garner murder, the Tamir Rice murder, or the Freddie Gray murder?
What the response does, though, is thoroughly validate the Black Lives Matter movement--their beliefs that their lives don't matter to far too many Americans are very real indeed.
Peace,
emaycee
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Happy new fear
Billionaires 'r' us:
How much better do you suppose they can eat?
Peace,
emaycee
- Apparently the Koch Brothers don't need the republican party--they're building their own. With over 1200 employees and 107 offices nationally, the Kochs are trying to emulate the NRA, one of the most successful political organizations in our lifetime. They're also emulating terrorist groups by preying on the poor with giveaways and proselytizing--here's a free turkey, ignore the man behind the curtain trying to kill the minimum wage and destroy unions.
- Sheldon Adelson, on the other hand, is buying newspapers (Las Vegas Review-Journal) and using his employees to write puff pieces that support his agenda and passing them off as "Investigative Journalism." Because what the republican base needs is one more faux media outlet pandering to its fears.
How much better do you suppose they can eat?
Peace,
emaycee
Friday, January 1, 2016
Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. LIII--The Dismemberment Plan: The Ice of Boston
If this is number 53 that means,,,yup, another year has passed.
The truest sign of its greatness is how easily "The Ice of Boston" could have devolved into little more than a novelty song, but didn't. It's basically the monologue of a very drunk and very heartsick young man detailing his lonesome yet defiant actions one New Year's Eve, interspersed with a rousing chorus. As the saying goes, from small things big things come.
Named for a throwaway line in Groundhog Day, The Dismemberment Plan formed in Washington, D.C. in 1993. They stayed together until 2003, reformed in 2011, released a comeback album in 2013, and along the way developed a devoted, though commercially small, following. Their live shows were considered high energy affairs, and they opened for Pearl Jam on a tour of Europe in 2000 (not a bad gig if you can get it) and co-toured with Death Cab for Cutie in 2002 (ditto).
Released on their The Dismemberment Plan Is Terrified album, "The Ice of Boston" is a tour de force of songwriting and performing. Lead singer Travis Morrison weaves the tale of a young man watching thousands of Bostonians celebrate New Year's Eve while he stays alone in his domicile while hinting at a love gone bad. Morrison speaks the lyrics with bravado and impudence over the quiet beat of a guitar, a bass, and some drums, before breaking into wailing the chorus, opening with an attention grabbing "Hey!" before telling us of the muddy ice of Boston. There are literally too many wondrous moments in the lyrics to pick out just one, but suffice it to say that they reference New Year's Eve, champagne, Boston, "Auld Lang Syne," his mother, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and their hit "Midnight Train to Georgia," and somehow it all melds into an opus of pathos and humor that you'll likely never forget.
Too easy this week: "Here's to another goddamn New Year...."
Enjoy (Part the first):
Bonus Video: For those of us who have spent an inordinate amount of our time devoting our lives to pop music, the following makes it all crystal clear why. I wasn't familiar with The Dismemberment Plan's live version before doing my usual half-ass weekly research for Jukebox, but apparently they do this regularly while performing "The Ice of Boston." Enjoy (Part the second):
Happy New Year,
emaycee
The truest sign of its greatness is how easily "The Ice of Boston" could have devolved into little more than a novelty song, but didn't. It's basically the monologue of a very drunk and very heartsick young man detailing his lonesome yet defiant actions one New Year's Eve, interspersed with a rousing chorus. As the saying goes, from small things big things come.
Named for a throwaway line in Groundhog Day, The Dismemberment Plan formed in Washington, D.C. in 1993. They stayed together until 2003, reformed in 2011, released a comeback album in 2013, and along the way developed a devoted, though commercially small, following. Their live shows were considered high energy affairs, and they opened for Pearl Jam on a tour of Europe in 2000 (not a bad gig if you can get it) and co-toured with Death Cab for Cutie in 2002 (ditto).
Released on their The Dismemberment Plan Is Terrified album, "The Ice of Boston" is a tour de force of songwriting and performing. Lead singer Travis Morrison weaves the tale of a young man watching thousands of Bostonians celebrate New Year's Eve while he stays alone in his domicile while hinting at a love gone bad. Morrison speaks the lyrics with bravado and impudence over the quiet beat of a guitar, a bass, and some drums, before breaking into wailing the chorus, opening with an attention grabbing "Hey!" before telling us of the muddy ice of Boston. There are literally too many wondrous moments in the lyrics to pick out just one, but suffice it to say that they reference New Year's Eve, champagne, Boston, "Auld Lang Syne," his mother, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and their hit "Midnight Train to Georgia," and somehow it all melds into an opus of pathos and humor that you'll likely never forget.
Too easy this week: "Here's to another goddamn New Year...."
Enjoy (Part the first):
Bonus Video: For those of us who have spent an inordinate amount of our time devoting our lives to pop music, the following makes it all crystal clear why. I wasn't familiar with The Dismemberment Plan's live version before doing my usual half-ass weekly research for Jukebox, but apparently they do this regularly while performing "The Ice of Boston." Enjoy (Part the second):
Happy New Year,
emaycee
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