Asymmetric

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Barack Obama: Lay off my wife
2008-05-19 17:05:00
"But I do want to say this to the GOP. If they think that they're going to try to make Michelle an issue in this campaign, they should be careful. Because that I find unacceptable," he said. Here. Two points: 1. The last time, Obama complained about context, he didn't come out looking so good. 2. I'm sympathetic with a man wanting to protect his wife- that's his job. If, however, Obama uses his wife as a campaign asset and has her make speeches on his behalf, he should expect some scrutiny.Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Barack Obama , Wife , Barack

Some people are still oonfused about Obama and terrorists.
2008-05-19 00:20:00
To assist some logical holdouts, I thought of an analogy to explain how high-level meetings confers legitimacy upon a nation or entity. Remember when leftists cheered the Democratic candidates after the candidates refused to appear on Fox news? Why did they do that? Well, because by going on Fox, Obama , Clinton, and Ravel would have beeen saying, in effect, that Fox News isn't the journalistic equivilent of Star Wars' Mos Eisley Cantina ("wretched hive of scum and villainy"). Anyways, it's nice to know that the left thinks more highly of Hamas than Fox News. Fox News commissary- to the left.Powered by b2evolution.
More About: People , Terrorists

Some people are confused about Obama and terrorists
2008-05-18 21:09:00
OK. Some people who are otherwise pretty smart are confused about why Bush and McCain won't negotiate with terrorists. Fact: The United States government is talking to Iran as you read this. Fact: Official, high-level talks confers respectability to a nation or regime. It also provides photo-ops. A picture of FDR, for example, hugging Hitler could have been used against him. Obama , Hamas, and Iran prove that official, high-level negotiations are prestigious simply because they desire them. Why would Obama make a point of "negotiating with enemies" if he thought that official negotiations were no different from what we're doing now? Why would Hamas and Iran want them? What McCain should say if Obama continues to demagogue this legitimate policy issue is something like, "Well, apparently Obama doesn't mind legitimizing terrorists. In fact, I rememeber that some of his best friends are terrorists." McCain would be referring to unrepentant William Ayers (below, standing on Ame...
More About: People , Terrorists

Another lie from the Huffington Post on McCain and Hamas
2008-05-17 06:38:00
Wow, what kind of man clips out the last seconds of a McCain quote to twist his true meaning? Howard Dean's DNC did it with McCain's "100 years in Iraq quote" and now Jamie Rubin does it with a McCain interview. Does the Huffington Post apologize for promoting this lie? No, it doubles down and finds some other, probably out-of-context quotes to "keep lies alive." This is getting sad and I don't find the lies interesting. I just put them up so that you guys can be aware in case one of the lied-to works with you or something. All: Today, Jamie Rubin made a charge against John McCain. Every one of your news organizations put him on the air and covered his charges that John McCain flip-flopped on engagement with Hamas . Now we know that Jamie Rubin didn’t tell the truth.As the entire video — just posted on SkyNews — clearly shows, John McCain absolutely did not advocate unconditional engagement with Hamas. Indeed, Rubin conveniently cut off his follow-up qu...
More About: Huffington Post , The Huffington Post

Peggy Noonan and an Asymmetric view of Republican troubles.
2008-05-17 03:09:00
Peggy Noonan took Republican s to task, piling on the evidence that the Republican "brand" is tarnished. Perhaps the Republican troubles go deeper than a little tarnish and only some Democratic rust will shine the Republicans up. Explanation: When do you feel more conservative: When money's low and your neighbors are acting up or when you live off your fathers trust fund in his gated mansion? Likewise, good times prompt Democratic victory, as the populace grows weary of improvement and just wants to relax. To put it another way, people will only vote for Republicans, the "course-righteners" in times of danger or perceived Democratic malfeasance. The "malfeasance" manifests itself in the "giving away the store" idea, or, the belief that Democrats have or will irresponsibly damage society to benefit the object of their pity du jour. On social issues, this means affirmative action, gay marriage, sex education in kindergarten, etc. In economics, look at California where, after Gr...
More About: Asymmetric , View , Peggy Noonan

Huckabee and Obama comment
2008-05-17 02:40:00
Reason number one why people will never elect a comedian to high office: During a speech to the National Rifle Association convention in Louisville, Kentucky Friday, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee joked to the audience that an offstage noise was Barack Obama avoiding gunfire. "That was Barack Obama, he just tripped off a chair, he's getting ready to speak," Huckabee said. "Somebody aimed a gun at him and he dove for the floor." The line was met with laughter. What a dummy. I'm sure he didn't mean anything bad by it, but it's not good when a candidate is making jokes instead of just "having a sense of humor."Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Comment

Obama's college tuition plan
2008-05-16 22:58:00
Barack Obama wants to give undergraduate students $4000.00 tuition. In a time of virtually free information and the ability to distribute learning digitally or through teleconferencing at a low cost, college tuition continues to increase faster than the rate of inflation. Some schools have billion-dollar endowments (Harvard's is 35,000,000,000.), but the reason that colleges charge so much, according to this article, is simply because they can. Now, setting aside that singles and the majority of parents with children who won't attend college will be subsidizing children who are probably better able to pay; the dubious proposition that the United States needs more sociologists; and that by adding some fraud magnet, BS service requirement, the program will be much more inefficient and costly; why wouldn't universities simply increase tuition by $4000.00? It's not like most of them are under-enrolled. The left equivalent of gas tax holiday- or worse, it's a difficult thing t...
More About: College , Plan , Tuition

McCain 2013 ad and Biden's response.
2008-05-16 17:03:00
Despite it almost drifting into Obama-like utopianism, I liked the speech. It sure was different- the kind of thing that makes an impact- perhaps a lasting one. Such ads tend to be ripe targets for satirists, but you can't be scared of that. They also create conversation. Here's Joe Biden feigning even more ignorance than he already has: In his speech, Senator McCain says that by 2013, "the Iraq war has been won." How? What's the strategy? Ever heard of the surge? Here's the full text of the ad.Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Response

Prince Caspian review coming up later today
2008-05-16 17:02:00
I don't have time for a full review right now, but the second Narnia film was fantastic and that's not just an affinity opinion! Go see it and then tell me what you think. Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Review , Today , Prince , Prince Caspian , Caspian

California supreme court overturns the will of the people on homosexual ma
2008-05-16 05:30:00
California Supreme court judge listens to arguments before issuing his decree. Apparently, the California constitution guarantees that men can marry other men. Asymmetric thoughts: 1. Patriarchy/ traditional marriage-phobes might be cheering, but only because their side won- not because the California Supreme Court did any justice. They will say the CASC just wanted to apply the law equally to everyone. Since homosexuals had as much right to marry somebody of the opposite sex as anybody else, the issue obviously had nothing to do with equal protection. Yet, my untraditional brothers and sisters will dismiss the California electorate as wrong and in need of "education." Those unwilling to succumb will face worse. Some will mention Martin Luther King and blacks. What does this minority want? They want the traditional structure of society to fail. Why? One, it helps foster the kind of chaotic social situations that cry for government intervention. Two, it deals another blow t...
More About: People , California , The People

Chris Matthews and Kevin James
2008-05-16 05:15:00
Oh, that Huffington Post. They're so clever! They propose that Matthews "eviscerated" Kevin James (who isn't my favorite talk show host). Besides the fact that the HuffPo's get all giddy to what was essentially a "gotcha" argument (Why didn't Matthews simply tell James what he meant?), the whole scenario is a big burst of dishonesty. 1. If they had no hope of being appeased in some way, why would our enemies negotiate? They're going to surrender unconditionally? Why would they attend a meeting where they'd be dictated to? 2. Mark Green is against analogies? Obama's whole campaign strategy is an analogy (McCain is like Bush). Does that mean the left will never bring up Iraq (if Obama manages to lose it) or Vietnam whenever they oppose a future conflict? Ridiculously dishonest.Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Chris

Navarrette on illegal immigration: making Hispanics look bad
2008-05-15 19:07:00
What are the qualifications to write for CNN? Ruben Navarrette proves that even the most banal PC drivel can make it onto a major network. His ten points: SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) -- In a recent commentary, I wrote that, as a Mexican-American, the ugliness of the immigration debate offends me -- not as a Mexican, but as an American. The topic: the immigration debate and what she called a wave I of hate sweeping the land -- one that isn't limited to illegal immigrants, but which is now affecting all Hispanics regardless of where they were born, what language they speak or what flag they salute. Hispanics sometimes say this, but when I ask for examples, they more often can't come up with one- it's more like a theoretical oppression like, "Considering the history of the United States, Americans are probably oppressing us somewhere." Let's not lower the bar for problematic "hatred" so much that it includes legitimate policy discussions. The way Murguia sees it, immigrat...
More About: Illegal Immigration , Immigration , Illegal

Cliques or groups at Huntington Park High School 2008
2008-05-15 02:27:00
Some of you may know because you're parents and some of you may remember from your own educational experience that all students play together through grammar school, i.e., if Osama bin Laden had met George Bush in grammar school, they’d have traded puddings during lunch and then have played a game of "Crusaders and Jihadis" during recess. In middle school (Jr. High for the mature set), things change and kids break up into different cliques or groups. The process continues until retirement when once again they all play together again in Vegas or Branson. This post describes the different groups or cliques from my beloved place of employment, Huntington Park High School . Now, as I describe these groups, some of you may become alarmed, but it’s not my intention to cause parents or culture-watchers concern, and while some consternation may be warranted, much will be excessive, for the vast majority of students outgrow their strangeness. Even many of those who hold on to t...
More About: High School , Groups

Avert your eyes lest you turn into a pillar of salt
2008-05-14 07:46:00
Actual illustration accompanying Willamette Week’s endorsement via Slog Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Eyes , Salt , Turn

Asymmetric car-buying experience
2008-05-14 07:19:00
When I figured out that the savings from a doubling of my gas mileage would pay for a new fuel efficient vehicle, I decided to dump the old Isuzu Trooper and buy a small car. Auto thoughts: 1. Amazingly, I decided this all on my lonesome! I didn't need CAFE mandates, tax rebates, or Al Gore public service announcements (Don't tell him; he might get angry.) to convince me. Not only could I (and thousands of other independent Americans) choose to help the environment (and my wallet) without help, I, an often "bitter," sometimes "victimized" minority also negotiated with the "predatory" and "greedy" dealer for the price of the car with no government representative looking over my shoulder. Well, not quite: The government does have rules to assure a transparent transaction (which is a legitimate government function). Californians don't stop at the necessary, however: Each car in California has a sign saying: WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of Californ...
More About: Buying , Asymmetric , Car Buying , Experience

Obama the Christian
2008-05-14 04:50:00
As John McCain goes for the environmentalists, Obama goes after this bitter constituency: Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Christian

John Hagee and Bill Donohue reapproachement
2008-05-14 01:23:00
John Hagee sent a letter to Bill Donahue: “After weeks of meeting with various Catholic leaders, and accessing scholarly literature on Catholic-Jewish relations, Pastor John Hagee has demonstrated an improved understanding of the Catholic Church and its history. In his letter to me, Hagee says, ‘I want to express my deep regret for any comments that Catholics have found hurtful.’ He specifically cites his emphasis of ‘the darkest chapters in the history of Catholic and Protestant relations with the Jews,’ and has pledged to provide a more complete and balanced portrayal going forward that will not reinforce mischaracterizations of the Catholic Church. And while he stresses that his invocation of terms like ‘apostate church’ and the ‘great whore’ were never meant by him to describe the Catholic Church, he acknowledges that anti-Catholics have long employed such language. “The tone of Hagee’s letter is sincere. He wan...
More About: John

Barack Obama get 90% of the black vote.
2008-05-13 02:23:00
I'm surprised that 10% would vote for Hillary. Why?Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Barack Obama , Barack , Obama , Black , Vote

Newsweek and the GOP onslaught- McCain response
2008-05-12 17:16:00
Man! Obama sure is lucky that he has more money and academia, most major newspapers, and almost all of the television networks on his side. He's going to need it when he goes against the vicious GOP attack machine this fall. Poor guy. In more evidence that I have, in fact, entered an alternate reality, Newsweek claims that the Republican attack machine, not theirs, is the scarier monster. Have they ever heard Howard Dean? Daily Kos? Huffington? How about using this Newsweek attack piece to preempt any McCain criticisms of Obama? I think this whole "GOP is meaner than us" is catching on amongst the easily self-deluded and self-righteous left. Here's the original Newsweek article. Below is the McCain campaign response by Mark Salter: Dear Jon, A useful way to read the piece would be to try to imagine you were a Republican reading it. The characterization of Republican presidential campaigns as nothing more than attack machines that use 527s and other means to smear opponent...
More About: Response

Have you noticed that everyting Democrats say sounds stupid...
2008-05-12 17:15:00
...until they say "and the disastrous policies of the Bush administration" as in, "High taxes on oil companies will lower prices, and Iran wants peace, and we should fight Al Qaeda in Pakistan but not in Iraq, and high taxes creates jobs and...ummmm...McCain wants to continue continue Bush's disastrous policies."Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Democrats , Sounds , Stupid

Henry's Pajamas Media Article
2008-05-12 03:03:00
Blogging buddy Henry Gomez of Babalu blog has something on Pajamas Media today. He'd make a great addition to Pajamas Media. The banners might bother him- Babalu has one of the most functional blog designs out there. What is the position of the Cuban community towards post-Castro but Communist Cuba? What if things get a little better on the human rights front like in..., well..., no Communist country ever, but Cuba could be the first. Or, it could mix in a dash of capitalism like Vietnam and China. What then? Will productive people immigrate into Cuba like in the first half of the century? I'm pessimistic myself. I think Cuba as the second, third, or fourth best place to live in the Americas is a past it may never reclaim for a variety of reasons which I won't go into now. My thoughts at the time of the last Castro death "scare."Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Article

Does double down mean lower taxes
2008-05-11 19:16:00
Democrats are still under the impression that lower taxes are what caused the mild, fully employed slowdown this year. How, exactly, will raising taxes while spending more help the economy? I don't mind being "on my own" if the one I throw my lot with is the federal government. And, I'm not on my own, if you think about it. I have my family, friends. Change means thousands out of your pocket to give to whomever Obama thinks is worthy. Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Taxes , Double , Lower

Happy Mothers Day!
2008-05-11 19:00:00
I appreciate the great things you've done. I'm glad I have a mother who took her responsibility seriously and did her best to raise me. I love you.Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Mothers Day , Happy , Mothers

Democrats continue Bizarro energy talk- economics quiz
2008-05-10 21:15:00
From here. The statement below is beyond bizarre. Maybe I fell into some Slider alternate reality. Sliders - The First and Second Seasons "Now it is a crisis for every American family," the Michigan senator said in the Democrats ' weekly radio address. She called the current energy situation "a crisis that doesn't just affect us at the pump, but also raises the prices of groceries, increases our home heating bills and squeezes small businesses trying to keep their heads above water." Oil rose above $126 a barrel for the first time Friday and gasoline prices rose above an average $3.67 a gallon at the pump. "Republicans want more drilling, more consumption and more tax giveaways for the big oil companies," she said. "Democrats say that those are exactly the policies that got us into this mess to begin with." She promoted the Democratic proposals for changing energy policy. Those call for: • Ending billions of dollars in tax breaks for big oil companies. • Forci...
More About: Quiz , Economics , Energy , Talk

TV Lost losing me
2008-05-10 02:19:00
Sawyer is one of television's great characters. The first season of Lost ranks with the best television. The second and third were also good, if not as fresh. Lost's small screen achievement is even more impressive when one considers that Lost could have been a seaside Falcon Crest with jungle love triangles, islandic scandals, and shore "tensions;" a claustrophobic MacGyver action show; or (shudder) a socio-political allegory (How about the islanders standing up to a McCarthy-like leader?). Instead Lost producers reached higher, combining elements of the previously mentioned genres and adding ladles of sci-fi, medium-heavy universal philosophical depth, brilliant use of sophisticated storytelling-fashback sequences, and, now, flash forwards. Their characters have fascinated- from the semi-Survivor-derivative Locke to the compelling and original Sawyer and Hurley. Sometimes, however, a story collapses under its own ambition (Matrix) and I have the feeling that Lost is swimming ...

Shill-proofing Asymmetric: Criticizing McCain:
2008-05-09 16:33:00
McCain isn't my "lesser of evils." I actually like and respect him; he's a good guy and one with whom I generally agree. But, I don't like being part of a drumbeat so I'm purposefully criticizing McCain: Generally: McCain has a sincere speaking style, but sometimes trips over his words, reminding us, to the detriment of McCain's campaign, of the difficulty our current commander and chief has with impromptu speaking. He's reduced his use of "friends" in speaking, but for a while, it was almost a verbal tick. McCain sprinkles his sentences with "breakers" like "I believe" or "if you will." He repeats jokes often. Specifically: McCain responded to Obama's "losing his bearings" comment by accusing Obama of slyly bringing up his age. Now, I believe this. Unless it's something that Obama says regularly, somebody gave him a phrase that denotes "meandering" and connotes dementia. However, it's not good for McCain to worry about "intentions" or hidden insults. Doing so makes ...
More About: Asymmetric

Cuban Solidarity Day: May 21
2008-05-08 17:47:00
Help support your Cuban brothers and sisters. Babalu Blog has a post on Cuban Solidarity day. Check it out.Powered by b2evolution.

Obama participates in opposite day.
2008-05-08 04:25:00
Even dumber than Obama saying that Republicans, whose leader didn't want anything to do with legitimate issue, Wright, play dirty politics. Even more of a stretch than Republicans being the "divisive" ("two Americas? tax breaks for the rich?) party is the idea that Democratic policies would lower the price of gasoline. It's like putting Britney Spears in charge of a youth group because the girls are too slutty. Exactly how is "going after" oil companies going to lower the price of gas? How is restricting drilling in Alaska, the gulf, and everyplace else going to lower gas prices? Truly Bizarro. Prager has a good commentary on the speech. Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Opposite

Hulk: The worst superhero ever.
2008-05-08 03:16:00
The fact of the matter is that the Hulk has never been an interesting superhero. The main reason, I think, is that the Hulk is, essentially, a super-strong raging drunk. He doesn't have any control over himself. That means: No clever escapes; no plotting; no electrocuting robots with an overhanging power line- just "smashing." Hence, the pathetic lineage: The comic book (except for Hulk 451, which was brilliant): The "hugely" popular cartoon that nobody remembers and looks like it was animated by the Hulk himself: The awfully repetitive television show: The first Hulk film: A movie so bad, they had to make it twice: Finally, the next sure-to-be clunker. Let me guess: A conflicted, anguished scientist; the amoral, military-industrial complex; an "epic" battle between two similarly-matched supers. It's enough to make me wish for a Hawkman movie. Hawkman, please.Powered by b2evolution.
More About: Superhero

Turn out the lights, The party's over- for both Hillary and the GOP
2008-05-08 01:47:00
Well, it was fun while it lasted, but the 2008 Democratic primary is now over. Some thoughts: 1. In-fighting did hurt the Democrats- that's what I mean by "party over" for the GOP; it was a once-every-forty-year gift (1968) from the Dems to the Republicans. The fraction of my life that cares about politics is both nervous and slightly down at the Dem primary's resolution. Nervous because we have to really go at it now- with a zeitgeist disadvantage for the GOP. Down because I won't get to read liberals attack other liberals. 2. I think Obama's win had something to do with Democrats wanting the contest to be over. If the primaries started over again and Hillary didn't lie about Bosnia, Hillary would be the favorite. 3. The Democrats have begun their devious, dishonest attacks (It's a Stalinist who suggests that only Republicans have an attack machine [below]). For instance, Obama attacked McCain "for running a sleazy campaign based on 'fake controversies' and 'distract...
More About: Lights , Turn