The Spencerian

Political Newsclippings, Issue 15, Vol III: Run Dick Run, Empires, Climate, and More

I strongly encourage this: Dick Cheney in 2012. 

"The 2012 race for the Republican nomination for President will be about much more then who will be the party's standard bearer against Barack Obama, the race is about the heart and soul of the GOP," said Christopher Barron, one of the organizers of the Draft Cheney movement. "There is only one person in our party with the experience, political courage and unwavering commitment to the values that made our party strong – and that person is Dick Cheney."

God speed, Christopher Barron.

Hey, go ahead and run, Dick Cheney.  Run for President of the United States.  Run as hard as you can, and spend every waking minute reminding Americans of just exactly how much damaged you caused our country -- and our world -- during the eight years you crooks were in charge.  Run, Dick, run.

Hell, the only thing that'd make it any better would be if he'd pick Sarah Palin as a running mate. 

Sure, the old man says "not a chance," but this isn't the first mention of your evil Uncle Dick running for president in 2012: his own daughter has already floated this idea. 

Cheney has been criticizing Obama almost since Day One.  I don't know if he's going to run for president.  But it sure doesn't look like he's going away.

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And speaking of empirical rule, check out the decline of empires: a visualization.  Did I just miss the "America" bubble...?

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Health care reform: if Charles Krauthammer hates it, it must be great for America.

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Hey, if Krauthammer hated health care reform, he'll absolutely despite what Obama does with the climate.

Now Obama is at the point where he feels on the verge of a breakthrough, based on the kind of talks that don’t get covered by reporters obsessing about state dinners. “He had extensive conversations with President Hu specifically on climate and conversations with the prime minister of India,” said one senior White House aide. “So he has been building momentum for a political agreement to be brokered at Copenhagen.”

That was the backdrop for Wednesday’s White House announcement of specific targets to reduce emissions “in the range of 17% below 2005 levels in 2020.” The next day, on Thanksgiving, China announced its own bargaining position to slow the growth of carbon emissions by 2020. Using a different standard from the US – measuring carbon intensity (relative to its own economic growth), China is offering a 40 to 45% cut below 2005 levels.

Environmental groups have criticized both the American and Chinese targets as too low. But the criticism was much sharper when it looked like President Obama might not attend Copenhagen. Now the White House says Obama believes he can be a decisive factor in turning the talks into a success. “He feels he can be a catalyst for getting a political agreement in place,” says one senior aide.

A "catalyst for political agreement" -- sounds familiar, right?

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Congratulations to Jason on finishing off his MPH.  I find his capstone presentation to be a fascinating subject: policy alternatives to engaging the antivaccination community. 

Again, good work and congratulations, Jason. 

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Help elect Jennifer Salmon to the Gulfport City Council in Ward 3 (she's lives right down the road from us!)

Have a Safe and Enjoyable Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, dear readers.

Thanks To You

A lot of people consider Thanksgiving to be a time of reflection.  Look back on all you have and be thankful for it. 

Not me.  At least not this year.

I love Thanksgiving.  It's my favorite holiday.  But I've always looks at Thanksgiving a little different than everyone else.  I consider this a time of year for reflection, sure, but also a time for looking forward.  For what we know we will be thankful for.  I have much to be thankful for in the future.

But my point of view on this wasn't developed because I'm going to be a father.  I think it was developed in the political arena.  Say what you will about politics, it's nothing if not always forward-looking.

And so I am thankful that through hard work and diligence on the part of good Democrats and progressives, we were able to elect a thoughtful, intelligent leader, we were able to give him the tools -- a strong Congress of the same party -- to do the many jobs he needs to do.  I'm thankful for the good local leaders we have here in Florida as well.  Lord knows we need them and many more like them.

I find myself thankful not just for the year past, but for thankful for the chance to advance even more change, in Tallahassee at all levels, in Congress, locally.

The president is set to announce his plan for Afghanistan soon.  It sounds like it's going to amount to a troop increase, though if I were to guess -- and it's only a guess -- I'd say it's a necessary increase to support a large-scale withdrawal.  I could be wrong, and if I am, I'd say that I'm thankful for the opportunity to work with my progressive brothers and sisters to advocate for peace.

And let me say, finally, that I'm thankful for you.  I do this blog not because I'm the best political blogger out there (if I'm the best political blog you read, then you need to read more blogs).  In the past, I've said I publish this blog to improve my writing, and that's true.  But it's also for the handful of you -- literally a handful -- that come by and see what I have to say.  I'm grateful for that, and I say thank you. 

So have a safe and good Thanksgiving, and in between courses allow yourself to reflect on the past and all the great things that have happened to you this year.  But don't forget to give a little thought to the future -- and be thankful it's there to fight for. 

Free Political Talking Points: The Food, Glorious Food Edition

You disgust me.

Sitting there with your perfectly moist turkey, covered in thick, delectable gravy, your heaps of creamy white potatoes drowning in fresh-drawn butter.  The crisp green beans, steaming out of a roiling tub of ham hock juice.  The fluffy, buttery bread, the carrots soaking in all manner of brown sugar.  The can of cranberry sauce.

Are those lima beans with salt and pepper?  Brussel's sprouts?  There's squash to be had? 

Don't try to cover that slice of ham with your napkin.  I see it.  

All that, and you're going to help yourself to a piece of pie the size of your head, aren't you?

All washed down with a glass of that twenty-two dollar a bottle Pinot Noir.    

And just what did you have for a snack when the game came on before dinner?  It was that cold leftover pizza with extra cheese from the night before, wasn't it?  

You ought to be ashamed of yourself.  

Instead of a scrumptuous Thanksgiving meal, you should treat yourself to Free Political Talking Points for Political Hacks Who Love Food, Glorious Food.

 -- The Fruit of the Month is plantains.  Let's incorporate this healthy choice in to our Thanksgiving dinner! 

 -- Cook that turkey at 165 degrees -- minimum!

 -- Be thankful you only have to feed yourself today.  By 2050, you have to feed nearly 10 billion... did you make enough for everyone?  (And if you think this doesn't effect the climate, you're crazy.)

 -- Wash your hands, cook stuff the right way, don't cross-contaminate food, and keep stuff chilled properly: there are more than 76 million cases of foodborne illnesses annually!

 -- You've remembered to eat healthy, cook the turkey at the right tempurature, you've set the table for 10 billion people, you've scrubbed everything from top to bottom, and now you're ready to eat: yeah, there's an app for that.

 -- You're probably going to eat too much.  But remember...

 -- ...there are 49 million hungry Americans.  Let us take a moment to truly be thankful for all we have.  

Cross posted at the Florida Progressive Coalition.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends and neighbors.