Jacki’s whereIstand Blog

Since we’ve clearly lost the "War on Terror" the GOP has declared a War on Fascism.  I suspect with a new brand name the product will fare much better in the market. 

whereIstand Tags

• RNC
• Is the U.S. safer from terrorism today than it was before 9/11?
• Has the invasion of Iraq been successful?
• Has the coalition forces’ military action in Afghanistan been successful?

Matt Yglesias over at TPM makes a solid argument supporting a peaceful approach to the negotiations with Iran over its nuclear ambitions. 

He has a point.  If Iran claims its nuclear development is for peaceful purposes, why can’t the global community believe Ahmadinejad?  Too naive for you skeptics out there?  Fine.  Even assuming Iran’s plans for uranium enrichment are for military purposes, why can’t Iran bolster its nuclear capabilities?  Pakistan can.  The U.S. can.  And so can pretty much any other nation that can afford to - unless the U.S. decides differently. 

As the UN Security Council’s deadline calling for Iran’s cessation of uranium enrichment approaches, the global community should step back and reflect on what it is we expect from Iran and why.

whereIstand Tags

• UN
• MahmoudAhmadinejad
• Should the U.S. go to war with Iran if it does not end its nuclear weapons program?
• What are the appropriate next steps that the U.S. should take with Iran?

If you have not yet seen Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism, it’s worth a watch.  It should not come as a surprise to anyone that Fox is not "fair and balanced" but what’s telling is the effect one biased television news channel can have on other networks.  Remember when Fox announced Bush won the state of Florida and the other major networks followed suit only to have the AP actually report that it was still too close to declare a winner?

Another reason to watch this documentary is that if you are like me and avoid watching Fox News at all costs, then you may enjoy being reminded of the fact that Bill O’Reilly is truly a madman.

whereIstand Tags

• BillOReilly
• Is the media politically biased?
• [open thread]

Ramsey killer not really the killer after all.  He sure did provide a nice distraction for the television media to focus on though.  Now, back to reality.

whereIstand Tags

• Is the media politically biased?

is summed up nicely here.

whereIstand Tags

• GeorgeWBush
• Will President Bush’s approval rating affect the way people vote in 2006?

Joe Biden’s plan for Iraq …

whereIstand Tags

• JoeBiden
• What should be the United States’ strategy in Iraq?

In alleging inconsistency among the left, Adam illustrates his failure to see how the two marital relationships are different because one falls on gender and the other upon number.

My point is when you compare the "validity" of same-sex marriage v. marriages including multiple spouses, you have only one common denominator - marriage.  One can believe that two people of the same gender can marry and also believe that multiple partners of any gender should not marry and still maintain consistency.

You see, people believe that men should not marry men for different reasons than they believe a man should not marry three women.  For instance, reproduction is at issue in same-sex marriage while parenting is the focal point in polygamy. 

The ultimate question in my mind is whether the government should regulate marriage.

I answer this question in the negative. I believe people can marry in any manner they choose.  Statutory rape and other human rights abuses are a separate issue.  Even assuming for a moment that these abuses were significant, the government should not have the authority to regulate marriage - a private interaction within families - simply because some people act poorly.  Allowing government control of that nature is defeatist and a foolish means of surrendering control over your own life.

Others might disagree with me and answer "yes, I believe the government should regulate marriage but I believe it should regulate polygamy because of X,Y,Z and not same-sex marriage because X,Y,Z are not at issue in those types of relationships."

It seems MisterE agrees with me that marriage should never be regulated while Carol and Adam believe it should be regulated - but for different reasons.

Interestingly, Adam’s reasoning leaves him in as equally an inconsistent position as he claims of the left. 

whereIstand Tags

• adamelijah
• Are there persuasive non-religious reasons to prohibit same-sex marriage?
• What legal rights to a relationship of consenting adults should be available for same-sex couples?
• [open thread]
• [open thread]
• [open thread]
• [open thread]
• [open thread]

I’ve changed my mind.  A couple of weeks ago I wrote that I felt that Joe Lieberman had the right to run on the independent ballot.  I did not want him to do it, for strategic purposes, but I supported his right to run as an independent candidate.  But now that the GOP is using him to gut his own party and he’s playing along with it, I just can’t get behind his choices anymore. 

The basic strategy out of the Lieberman camp is essentially this:

Since the Democrats that voted for Lieberman in the primary seem to stand behind Lamont in the general election, Lieberman is appealing to Republican voters in the state.  The GOP has all but endorsed Lieberman over their losing candidate, Schlesinger, because the party can only benefit in the House race by getting more Republicans to the polls on election day.

So Joe as a former resident of CT and a true Democrat here’s what I have to say:

You’ve lost the support of your party and your state.  Move on before you lose their respect as well.

whereIstand Tags

• RNC
• AlanSchlesinger
• JoeLieberman
• Should Joe Lieberman run on the Independent ballot?

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has accepted cease-fire deal …

whereIstand Tags

• [open thread]

It’s a campaign slogan.  It always has been.  The timing of the overnight raids in London and the subsequent heightened security measures (a.k.a. the "No blush in your carry-on TSA program") seem suspect to me.  I’ve read three conflicting reports on why authorities chose this week for the arrests and public announcement.

The morning of the raid I read that certain individuals under surveillance had vanished causing alarm to intelligence officials so they decided to raid the homes of the suspects.

Later in the day, I read that the suspects intended to carry out a "dry run" of their plot in the coming days.

Finally, I read last night that arrests in Pakistan precipitated the Wednesday night raids.

Well then.  Here’s why I think it went down this week:

Joe Lieberman lost to another democrat because of his support for the Iraq war and his ties to George Bush.  The GOP is losing its grip on the American people and this latest stunt seems like it might just do the trick in getting voters back in line. 

Not me.  I see it one of two ways.  If this threat is as "unprecedented" as everyone claims that it is, then I want the GOP out of office because they are fostering anti-American sentiment all over the world.  If this threat is your run of the mill orange, red, amber, starburst micky mouse terror alert, then please someone call it what it is:  A painfully self-serving attempt by the Republicans to maintain control of the country.

whereIstand Tags

• Is the U.S. safer from terrorism today than it was before 9/11?