Twelve Tribes of American Politics

The Atlantic Monthly has an interesting sidebar this month about political "tribes" in the United States.

I have stolen the following chart from their website so that it may be shared with the world.

What bubble do you fit into?



What I like about this analysis is that it attempts to account for the separate cultural and economic values that most people have. There's a reason even the most-popular politicians can only muster 50-60% of the vote. Some of us vote with our hearts. Some with our minds. And some of us just throw a dart at the wall.

Harriet, we hardly knew ye

Look, I know that the Bush administration's hallmark has been a stubborn refusal to acknowledge any semblance of logic when making policy decisions, but even they had to know that there was no good way for the Harriet Miers nomination to end, right?

(The author shuffles nervously.)

Right?

John Roberts Confirmation Hearing

Dahlia Lithwick is reporting from the John Roberts confirmation hearings on Slate.com this week.

Dahlia is one of my favorite writers for the webzine, as she makes me feel like I just might understand anything about constitutional law on a good day.

Since the overall vibe on the hill seems to be that Roberts will breeze through a Senate vote with little trouble, he is refraining from answering any questions that might evoke even a modicum of political thought.

As it seems to be a lost cause for the Democrats, I would submit the following question to Judge Roberts before I bowed out of the proceedings, were I a relevant member of congress:

Mr. Roberts. Do you like puppies? Thank you.

They want us to leave

Fred Kaplan at Slate writes an interesting article about a point that is too often overlooked in the "War on Terror."

They don't hate our freedom. They want us to leave.

Kaplan reviews three different studies of suicide bombers which all try to understand why they blow themselves up in the first place.

The overwhelming conclusion is that suicide bombers are motivated by "a specific secular and strategic goal: to compel democracies to withdraw military forces from the terrorists' national homeland."

None of this is to say the easy solution now is to just get out of Iraq and never look back. In fact, earlier withdrawals by the Reagan and Clinton administrations helped solidify the notion in these jihadist's minds that suicide bombings were a successful tactic.

Near the end of the article, Kaplan writes

The most vital lesson Americans can draw from this sorry saga, in retrospect, is that we shouldn't initiate foreign adventures unless they involve interests worth considerable sacrifice. But a more immediate—and regrettable—lesson is that, having blundered our way into Iraq, we can't hand these bastards a victory (which is what it would be) by giving in to their demands. It would only embolden them further the next time our interests clash.

It looks as though establishing a government with a legitimate Sunni presence may provide us with the best chance for a withdrawal that cedes little to the terrorists.

In the meantime, I think it would be refreshing if we didn't fall into the same cookie-cutter patriotic rhetoric whenever there is a terror attack. Our freedom means little to the radicals in the Middle East. In their minds, it's their freedom they're fighting for.

Good-bye, Sandy D

Fighting goes both ways, but right now, the ball is in Bush's court. Now is his chance to have an inclusive discussion with Democrats before nominating a Supreme Court Justice.

Ignoring the sentiments of half the country by nominating an ultra-conservative jurist and then spouting off about up or down votes will do nobody any good.

Some Thoughts

I've been quiet for a while, but wanted to throw out some random thoughts about the political stories of the day:

1. Bush's Speech - I agree that we should put the decision to go to war behind us and look for ways to make progress in Iraq, but whenever the president links 9/11 with the invasion of Iraq, it makes my blood boil. The war in Iraq was NOT the war on terror. I'll agree that it has become that, but only because we enabled it.
2. Dean's Antics - I think that Howard Dean going all Zell Miller on the Republicans is the perfect move for the DNC. It energizes the democratic base, and allows for those running for congress to set themselves up in relation to Dean. Are you a moderate senator from a conservative state? Then you rip Dean for generalizing all red-staters. Is your jurisdiction a little more liberal? Agree with Dean's intentions but express concern with the reckless way he made his remarks. Want to win in New York or California? Let it slip that Dean "makes some pretty good points." It's a win-win for everybody.
3. Exit Strategy - I think asking the administration and the military to set firm dates for leaving Iraq is a terrible idea. Regardless of how you feel about the monumentally stupid decision to go to war (I think you know how I feel), we are there now, and leaving would be an even bigger mistake. Setting a date gives the insurgents a goal to shoot for. Outlast the infidels and anarchy is yours. It's time to accept that there will always be a military presence in Iraq, just as there will always be bases in Asia.
4. Rove's Comments - It's difficult to respond politely to Karl Rove's comments about Democrats looking to fight the 9/11 attackers with "indictments and therapy," but I'll try. The White House keeps telling us that this is a war unlike any we've ever fought before (and they are right), but they keep trying to fight it like all the wars of the past (and they are wrong). Invading countries, locking up anybody suspect, pissing off most of Europe... none of this will eradicate terrorism. Understanding why somebody will strap a bomb to their chest and kill themselves in order to make the United States look bad is hard. But, that is what we need to figure out. Glossing over it by saying they "hate freedom" is ludicrous and counter-productive.

"It's good to be the king"

CNN.com - Swazi king waits two weeks for wife No. 12 - Jun 13, 2005

LA deputies to be punished over shooting

I think what frightens me most aboutthis story is that the police fired more than 120 rounds at the suspect and only managed to hit him four times.

I can't decide if those percentages make me feel more or less safe in Los Angeles.

Villaraigosa Defeats Hahn

Of my many New Year's resolutions, one of them was to vote in every election that I was eligible for -- state legislature, county clerks and even the local sanitation commissioner. While I made it to the first mayoral vote for Los Angeles, work kept me from casting a ballot in today's run-off.

One more failed attempt at being a better person, I guess.

As is usually the case with these campaigns, I ended up feeling distaste for both candidates by the time the polls opened up this morning. Villaraigosa won, for what it's worth, but since both men are Democrats, I doubt there will be a dramatic shift in the political landscape of the city.

There was low voter turnout, which isn't a surprise given the lack of a Red vs. Blue storyline for the press to latch on to, and I'm pretty sure the 70% of registered voters who decided to skip out on they're civic duty today would tell you the same thing I know from following local coverage: Jim Hahn is White and Antonio Villaraigosa is Latino.

After that, they're both politicians. Men with money and many character flaws. The people who were motivated cast their ballots, and the machine will keep chugging along.

Paranoia for Fun and Profit

A great look at how Disney and Michael Moore split up the money from Fahrenheit 9/11.

I want to write more about this, because I have a host of mixed-feelings regarding Moore's particular brand of filmaking. For now, I'll just say that this article sheds a little more light on the fact that both corporate giants and individuals can be less than sincere when politics and money are involved.

I'm hoping to have some more coherent commentary on this later in the week. Wanted to get the article out there for those who are interested to read, though.

Iraq, Afghan wars reportedly strain U.S. fighting ability

Still feeling safer with Bush in charge, all you Dubya fans?

Joe Friday could not be reached for comment

Do the people who report the news realize they don't have to reprint the administration talking points word for word?

From today's CNN.com article:

"More than 10,000 fugitives from justice have been captured in a nationwide, weeklong dragnet, law enforcement sources said"

Fugitives from justice? Who caught them? Batman?

"'We're really amazed. We had no idea we'd apprehend more than 10,000 bad guys,' said one federal law enforcement official who asked not to be identified."

If I was a grown man who used the phrase "bad guys" when discussing the arrests of murderers, gang members and sex offenders, I wouldn't want to be identified either.

In lighter news...

I just checked the news, and it looks like the Pope is still dead.

Okay, a bad joke. Anyway, I though I'd do a quick hit on a political decision concerning player playing cards that were given away at the Angels game Saturday Night. The following people had their headshot assigned to the following playing card values:

Wild Card - Brendan Donnelly
Ace - Vladimir Guerrero

Jack - Chone Figgins

Queen - Rally Monkey

King - Mike Scioscia

2 - Adam Kennedy

3 - Darin Erstad
4 - Kelvim Escobar
5 - Bengie Molina
6 - Orlando Cabrera
7 - Garret Anderson
8 - Steve Finley
9 - Bartolo Colon
10 - Francisco Rodriguez

I would love to know which of the remaining 10 players' agents stepped up and said they wouldn't allow their clients to be called a Queen.

Enter the Monkey.

Douglas County alone rejects ban

I often tell people that if God forsakes you to live in Kansas, then you want to live in Lawrence -- where it's close to Kansas City and features an educated, forward-thinking population.

Sadly, I can't say the same for the rest of the state.

The "Sanctity" of Marriage

Great story by Dahlia Lithwick on Slate today.

Basically, she discusses how the same Conservatives who used the sanctity of marriage to fearmonger their way back into office during the last election are now trying to eliminate the binding legality of 'legitimate' marriges in the Schiavo case.

From near the end of the story:

Without any strong federal constitutional claims on which to rest, the Schindlers come back to the same old argument they have been making for years: They should have guardianship over Terri instead of Michael. But the law disagrees. The law says that when one marries one takes on a whole host of legal rights and duties that trump your parents' wishes. Marriage is a sacred and intimate promise. And the very people who keep preaching about the sanctity of marriage when defending it from gay gatecrashers used to believe this more than anyone.

The Hassle of Privatized Social Security

A nice, non-partisan quote about the new Bush plan for Social Security:

"In real life, we ignore our Social Security. That's the glory of it. We have the freedom not to think about it. With all the time I have not to think about my "private" account, I can turn on the Cubs game."

The article is here.

Hey, "God" wrote another book!

Well, it looks like the Pope has just okayed a new wave of hate crimes.

Somebody told me the other day that since I was baptized Catholic, then I'm a Catholic for life, whether I like it or not. Is there anyone who knows this for sure? Is there some kind of soap I can get to wash this off?

Bush Square to Open in Baghdad... Sometime

Richard Perle had a shoe thrown at him during a debate with Howard Dean yesterday. The assailant was dragged out of the auditorium screaming "liar, liar." No word on whether he thought Perle's pants were on fire.

As for the debate, both sides made somewhat childish remarks that did little to move the conversation forward.

Dean used a tough line about defense being "a lot broader than swaggering around saying you're going to kick Saddam's butt," and Perle countered with an observation about the Democrats choosing "a physician to lead them."

As is usually the case, the best line came near the end of the story, mere inches away from the chopping block:

Perle added, "I will be surprised, yet again, if we do not see a square in Baghdad named after this president." He did not specify a time.

Perle, of course, was the one who promised the war in Iraq would be a cakewalk, in which the Iraqi people welcomed us with open arms and that the cost would be under $2 billion for the U.S. As such, he has learned to stop specifying timelines.

Is it just me...

Or has our administration stopped even trying to be deceptive?

"The next steps are in the offing."

So says Condoleezza Rice. She follows that with "And I think everyboyd understands what the 'next steps' mean."

I... um... wow....

Bushism of the Day

I know it's unfair to expect our president to speak straight to us, but this is a little ridiculous. I mean, has he even read his own plan on Social Security?