May 28, 2005

Freedom of Speech

Has been chilled to the point that MTV is apparently afraid of any sort of politically charged speech.

MTV said in a statement: "While we respect Nine Inch Nails' point of view, we were uncomfortable with their performance being built around a partisan political statement. When we discussed our discomfort with the band, their choice was to unfortunately pull out of the Movie Awards."

What was the big political statement?

"We were set to perform 'The Hand That Feeds’ [ a warning against blind acceptance of authority, including that of a president leading his nation to war] with an unmolested, straightforward image of George W. Bush as the backdrop" Trent Reznor said in a statement posted on the band's Web site.
Hat Tip: Avedon at Atrios
Comments:
Posted by Henry at 09:11 PM || Link to me || Category:: Freedom, Just Left On

Unable to say no?

Why is it that we seem, as a country, unable to avoid insisting that people shouldn’t be engaged in any activity which we deem inappropriate? As someone who is watching gay rights get flushed down the ‘moral’ toilet left and right these days, I can’t grasp why people I don’t know are so dedicated to trying and prevent me from living a life they disagree with. Or from watching what I want to on television.

Well, fortunately (or unfortunately), it’s not restricted to religion and gay rights and Janet’s nipple. Today the Chinese population in San Francisco (or at least their spokesperson) are up in arms over the ‘Universe Within’ display, which shows plasticized human bodies, exposing organs and what-not.

"Chinese culture has very strong beliefs about death," said Ma, who represents a heavily Chinese district. "Chinese people are very private and wouldn't want to have their bodies displayed for commercial purposes."

So of course, these people have decided to stay away from the exhibit, but understand that their reluctance to see the display should not be imposed on other people, who may choose to see it. Right?

Of course not. It’s much better to try and make it so nobody see it.

[S]he is working with city attorneys to draft legislation that will keep exhibits like "The Universe Within" out of the city unless organizers can verify the consent of people who donated the bodies or their families.

Now, certainly, I have no objection to insisting that the bodies on display should be there with some sort of permission, and need to meet health concerns – but there is no evidence that anything is awry with the presentation. This is being used purely as a way to enforce beliefs, not because someone has claimed that the bodies in the exhibit were somehow not obtained on the up and up.

Comments:
Posted by Henry at 09:02 PM || Link to me || Category:: Freedom, Just Left On

May 27, 2005

Law and Disorder

Yea, yea. They mentioned Delay’s name in association with an episode about someone killing judges and he’s ‘angry’.

Big deal.

However, It gives us a moment to shine the light on that ‘liberal media’. CNN explores both sides, on how angry DeLay was at his mention, and the Tv Execs response. Then they go in for the “kill”, pointing out that DeLay was angry with judges...

DeLay made angry comments March 31, the day Terri Schiavo, a severely brain-damaged woman, died -- two weeks after a court ordered her feeding tube removed at the request of her husband. The congressman argued that federal courts should have intervened to save her.

At the time, DeLay said, "We will look at an arrogant, out-of-control, unaccountable judiciary that thumbed their nose at Congress and the president."

No, I’m no journalistic expert, but it seemed that in the sea of DeLay quotes around judges, this seemed more appropriate to the story (and probably what L&O was thinking when they penned the script):

"The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior," said Tom DeLay, the Republican leader who moved the Florida case to the federal arena (Emphasis mine).
Comments:
Posted by Henry at 07:32 AM || Link to me || Category:: Media, Just Left on

May 25, 2005

I hate to say I told you so

but I told you so.

Comments:
Posted by Henry at 02:21 PM || Link to me || Category:: Bush and Co, Just Left On

May 24, 2005

Compromise

Let’s face it, the compromise on filibusters is, essentially, useless. As I was getting ready to write this, Frist essentially proved my point by stating that he’s not really bound by the compromise.

While I respect the people who got together try and find middle ground, the problem is that the compromise requires good faith from both sides, which really doesn’t exist.

The deal, essentially, is that the Republicans won’t do away with the filibuster, and the Democrats – essentially- promised only to use it against people they felt were really, really, extreme. (Though, if Pryor get a pass, I’m not sure who would fit into the ‘extreme’ category).

The rub is, of course neither side would agree to what the ‘extreme’ definition would be. As soon as the Dems threatened to filibuster, the GOP will claim that the Dems are breaking the compromise, and will initiate the ‘nuclear’ option. The other alternative is that the Dems simply not filibuster – but that’s no different than losing the filibuster, really.

I know, the Dem compromisers were thinking that the Supreme Court nominees would be the real fight, and hoped that the compromise and threat of filibuster might make Bush think twice about who he nominates – but this WH has never ever compromised on anything (even with their own party), and it’s silly to think that they would on Supreme Court nominees (as the religious right would lose their collective minds and declare Jihad on the GOP – at least until the next election).

So, what has happened, essentially, is that the Dems have swapped looking bipartisan for a free pass on some ugly nominees, and the hope that they’ll look better when they filibuster the Supreme Court nominees everyone knows is coming.

The GOP has, essentially, lost nothing as they will renege as soon as the first filibuster is attempted.

Comments:
Posted by Henry at 05:45 PM || Link to me || Category:: Politics, Just Left on

May 23, 2005

Roe v. Wade

COTUS is taking a tangential Roe case (parental notification laws), but could use this opportunity to either strengthen or weaken the Roe decision.

The fundies are hoping that there will be some sort of signal in this case as to the future or Roe. Which means, we should all be watching carefully.

Comments:
Posted by Henry at 12:45 PM || Link to me || Category:: Law, Just Left On

Attacking Marriage

Those crazy homosexuals, don’t they see that these things hurt straight marriage?

Modeled after laws in California, Hawaii and other states, the legislation would have granted nearly a dozen rights to unmarried partners who register with the state. Among those: the right to be treated as an immediate family member during hospital visits, to make health care decisions for incapacitated partners and to have private visits in nursing homes.

Of course, Ehrlich had to veto this bill. Not, apparently, because he is opposed to the above (must look conservative...must look conservative), but because the bill required people register as partners to get the above rights.

In his veto message, Ehrlich said he is "sympathetic to the needs of mutually dependent couples and [wants] to support compassionate efforts to expedite health-related decisions for Marylanders in need."

He said, however, that the bill's requirement that couples register as life partners "will open the door to undermine the sanctity of traditional marriage."

Apparently, if there was no need to document your relationship, Ehrlich would be all for it.


Comments:
Posted by Henry at 08:19 AM || Link to me || Category:: Gay Stuff, Just Left On
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