Vapidity Rules

I'm listening to Sarah Palin doing a stump speech in Golden, Colorado -- and the vapidity is absolutely stunning.  There she goes, talking about the current financial turmoil -- and railing against the effects of all the financial deregulation that has been the mantra of Republicans for decades now. Of course, after mentioning that, she spent an equal amount of time celebrating sports figures who ply their trade in Colorado who have Alaska roots. At least.

It's amazing. Can anyone actually buy this nonsense? How long can the lies continue?

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

I know I am.

War is Peace. Slavery is Freedom. And more....

In my several decades of following the political scene (I got an early start on that one) I have never been moved to rage quite as quickly as has been the case over the last week or so. And I mean rage -- unbridled, vocabulary limiting, screaming rage. The abject lies and mischaracterizations that have been flowing from the newly anointed St. Paul duo have been just astounding. "Change!" they bellow. "Change!" What kind of change are they proposing?

We have an economy that's rapidly declining. Why? How could this possibly be the case when we continue to hear stories of how the productivity of the American worker keeps rising? Wouldn't that "rising tide raise all boats," as the three decade Republican mantra says? Well, no. Think of what "productivity" really means. It means that goods and services are delivered with less labor cost. Hmmm. "Less labor cost." In other words, people are getting paid less to do more. the increased number of overall dollars are being funnelled to fewer and fewer pockets. And we wonder why "the consumer" is tapped out?

Of course, at the same time, we've experienced a time when exactly the kinds of monies that are flowing into the fewer pockets are taxed at a lower rate than regular income.

Have they said word one about how they're going to change that? Well, no. Of course not. That's exactly the kind of thing they believe in. There will be much talk about "earmarks", with easy candidates like basic science ("three million dollars for studying the DNA of bears.....") -- and making the assumption that all earmarks are things like that.

One more point: In a speech by Gov. Palin, she says something along the lines of: "Our opponents say they will fight for you. Well, of the four of us, only one has truly fought for the American people...." alluding to Sen. McCain's military record. Fine. We respect his service. But "fought for me"? Dropping bombs from great height, many of which fell on innocents? All in the name of fighting a nationalist movement halfway around the world? No. I'm not buying that one either.

Celtics Win!!!

I am not a Celtics fan.

Back in the day, when I was growing up, you were either a Russell fan or a Wilt fan. I was a Wilt fan.

Then in the 'eighties, you were either a Bird fan or a Magic fan. I was a Magic fan. Besides, outside of his wonderfully arrogant artistry on the court, every time I see that white "33" on a green tank top, I think of the white guy in "Do the Right Thing" saying "I was born in Brooklyn!" (I was, too, by the way.)

But that embrace between Kevin Garnett and the aforementioned Bill Russell (who won his first championship 51 years ago) -- well, that was good stuff!!!

I do, however, continue to not be a Celtics fan...