An Oscar for Global Warming

Much is being made of Al Gore's Oscar win for his movie An Inconvenient Truth. Conservatives, such as the always insensitive and narrow-minded Ann Coulter, claim that it's more liberal propaganda from a bloated hypocrite, that Hollywood just can't get enough of something that might kick Bush right in the testicles. Maybe. But it's striking to me how partisan some conservatives made that award, and how neutral those crazy Hollywood lefties kept it. There was no "Bush is a polluting devil" on Melissa Etheridge's slides.

I congratulate Gore. He's genuinely worried about an issue that may dramatically affect the world (granted, generations from now) and he's trying to do his part. When the vast majority of experts in the field of global warming are saying mankind is negatively impacting the environment, who the hell is Ann Coulter to refute that information? It's as if she, and those like her, seized on the few dissenting scientific opinions in order to justify another fight with liberal tree-huggers. Why should we immediately shun the information as liberal propaganda? At the very least, we ought to be acting like global warming is man-made until definitive proof comes out to the contrary. Why is that foolish and unreasonable? This is certainly an issue on which it's better to be safe than sorry.

Man With No Chin Drops From Presidential Race

That's about as much as anyone outside the state of Iowa knows about Tom Vilsack, who announced today that he's dropping out of the 2008 race. Shockingly, he cited lack of widespread recognition and lack of funds as the primary reasons. A man from Iowa who thinks he has a shot in hell campaigning against Clinton, Edwards, and Obama is far too naive to be president. Depsite lack of name recognition, he would have collapsed trying to run on a weak platform, focused mainly on alternative energy (admirable but trite). And his recent criticism of the Iraq War backed up by the oh-so-brilliant plan to cut funding would appeal to a minority of voters. The majority of Americans want to end the war and bring the troops home, but very few are willing to cut funding to our soldiers.

Fair and Balanced Moment of the Day

FOX News on Hillary and Obama...

"Presidential wannabees at war over Clinton's call for Obama to return contribution from David Geffen, former 'Friend of Bill'"

McCain's Flipping Will Flop

While campaigning for the GOP nom in 1999, Sen. McCain announced himself as a pro-life candidate, who told reporters "in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade.” Now, in an effort to curry the conservative vote, the Senator has decided against his earlier statement/feelings. At an event in South Carolina, he had this to say about the Supreme Court ruling, "I do not support Roe vs. Wade. It should be overturned".

If he truly had a change a heart, then that's his right. However, if he did it for political gain, then I disagree with his and his team's assessment of where most Americans stand on the issue. I think that after eight years of Bush, America is wary of anything resembling him, particularly a candidate who would keep moral debates at the forefront of politics. Bush's approval ratings are lagging for reasons beyond the Iraq war (although Iraq is certainly the largest component). Americans are tired of wasting time on moral issues the federal government should not be involved in. I think McCain is only hurting himself by announcing he would waste more time fighting something most Americans believe should be legal. I understand that evangelicals are key to the GOP primary, but to denounce Roe v Wade may be an unnecessary and ultimately fatal step.

New Jersey Accepts Gay Unions

I support New Jersey's efforts to show some respect to homosexuals. In a country where some cry out for the sanctity of marriage I have a hard time keeping a straight face. We are a country with a divorce rate of around 50%, where a person like Britney Spears is just a silly girl for getting married and divorced within a 24 hr period, and where hypocrites like Ted Haggard have a voice. I think it only fair that gay couples receive some of the entitlements married couples have.

I'm tired of listening to holier-than-thou Bible thumpers claiming it will be the end of this country to pass such laws. I'm tired of the utterly ridiculous hypotheticals that homosexual unions and marriages are compared to. Bestiality is my favorite. "Well if we allow this, then what's to stop a man from marrying a pig?". Everything, not to mention the fact that a pig cannot enter into a legal contract (i.e. marriage).

Marriage, in my opinion, is between a man and woman, but why should two gays who have been together for 15 years and who love each other deeply be prevented from receiving some of the same entitlements granted to two straight people who cheat on each other? Are we supposed to be afraid that by allowing unions we'll trigger a chain reaction of unstoppable homosexuality? That once it's allowed everyone will begin trying out for the other team? If so, it's an argument almost as ridiculous as the bestiality hypotheticals.

Those who cry out for the sanctity of marriage need to address the more pressing issue of accelerating divorce rates. The attitude among younger couples today who are weighing marriage is one of total ambivalence. If it works out, great. If it gets tough, we can always divorce. As a society we're taking the privilege of marriage for granted.

Worth a Thousand Words

This is a pic from the Rose Monday carnival parade in Mainz, Germany. This sort of irreverance towards Bush and the U.S. is unprecedented. We have never been held to a level of worldwide disregard such as we face today. This country has lost much of its standing atop the world.

I still believe this is the greatest nation, but no matter how great and powerful we are we still need other countries, whether it be China for cheap labor, the Middle East for oil, or Europe for political and military support against terrorist regimes like Iran. For example, the recent "evidence" of Iran's meddling in Iraq was immediately discredited as yet another fabrication by a war-mongering administration. Although Iran does have a hand in the current violence and is working towards a nuclear weapon, nothing short of a signed confession will sway world opinion. The leniency once granted the U.S. is fading quickly. The picture says quite a bit about where we stand and how far we have to go.

Tobacco Industry Finally Brought to Heel?

Bipartisan lawmakers are set to introduce a bill that would bring tobacco under the control of the FDA. This is a huge step from just a couple decades earlier when tobacco threw its weight around as it pleased, openly bribing legislators and targeting children. It's about time an industry that kills hundreds of thousands and costs the country billions in healthcare each year is held to standards and regulations.

I support a person's right to smoke. I take issue with the fact that the industry wielded so much power and clout over our government for so long that it was only recently that state and local governments have been successful at passing measures designed to limit second-hand smoke. For years, in spite of scientific research proving its health effects, non-smokers were forced to breath smoke in public places because essentially the smoker's rights were more important than the non-smoker's. I should be able to go into an enclosed public space anywhere in the country and not be subjected to someone imposing his or her deadly habit on me. It's hard to believe there was a time when one could smoke on planes or at work.

What's more, I often wonder how different our attitudes to marijuana might be if the histories of tobacco and marijuana were similar. In other words, if marijuana cultivation started out in colonial America and grew into a multi-billion dollar business with scores of lobbyists, would marijuana be legal and commonplace? I understand there are negative side effects to smoking weed, but none worse than the effects of smoking and drinking, yet those two are perfectly legal. I've never tried it, so this isn't meant to promote marijuana use. Just musing.