Sometimes a girl's just got to write... and sometimes she doesn't. Distracted Mind is the home of one such "girl". Feminist, woman, wife, artist, mother; there's a lot of different hats worn around here and things get busy. Somehow I always seem to come back.
Just a simple weapon against mindless talking points for all: ask a question.
_Bush can eavesdrop on private telephone calls and emails because it’s in the Constitution._ Ok, I’ll bite… _where?_
_Trickle-down economics works for even those at the lowest rung of the economy._ Alright, _how?_
Just a few examples. It’s time to start making people think about the answers.
_Live blogging this, so please excuse the free-form train of thought writing_
_Removed some of the opinion from liveblog–it’s more important to hear what the President says, not to have knee-jerk reactions to it that detract from the statements that I was able to get down._
**Update:** Full text of the press conference is [here](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051219/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_text;_ylt=Aj0CBbt_HOnYrgmmgJq9icAGw_IE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-).
Our President had to open his mouth and let noise come out of it. I wish I could be calm about our President, but I just wonder why we allowed this man to have power _again_. This man has the _gall_ to talk about how our government has spent our money wisely in the past year! _Excuse me?_
I can’t even begin to talk about how absolutely _wrong_ he is about all of the impingements on civil liberties that he has encouraged with his cheerleading of the Patriot Act and his authorization of phone surveillance of private citizens.
_Answering questions now:_
My God, the man can’t even keep the names straight. He just Freudian-slipped Osama Bin Laden for Saddam!
Bush claims that he has the legal authority to do unauthorized surveillance through the constitution. I wonder if he’s read it lately.
Now answering a slow-pitch question regarding elections in Iraq and the possibility of civil war.
Quotes from the answer: “It’s gonna take a while….” _Encouraging action as quickly as possible._ “Opportunity to amend the [Iraqi] constitution” “Involvement doesn’t mean telling the sovereign government what to do… it means giving them advice….” “They have gone from tyranny to an amazing election….” _Now quoting himself from previous speeches._
**Next question:** “What was the biggest mistake in your Presidency?”
**Answer:** Bush pretends to be candid, but still addresses the Iraq war and why it wasn’t a mistake. “History will judge”
**Next question:** “Why, in the four years after 9-11, has your administration not attempted to change the law instead of bypassing it?”
**Answer:** Bush claims that domestic calls aren’t monitored, only incoming international calls. _Just a thought–I wonder if they’re also monitoring Skype and Vonage?_ “An open debate about law would say to the enemy ‘Here’s what we’re going to do’ and the enemy would adjust”
**Next question:** if the threat is so great, why _not_ monitor domestic calls?
**Answer:** we will, under FISA laws. “If there is a need, based on evidence, we’ll take that evidence to court.”
–just lost a whole bunch of text. _wonderful._ To sum it up, reporter just asked questions regarding intelligence credibility (entire answer was about Iran, nothing actually answered specifically), another question about executive powers running unchecked in wartime (actual verbage), which was not liked _at all_ and was answered somewhat angrily.
Now talking domestic policy–not really answering anything, talking about people finding hope and optimism. Talk about “Achieving some big goals.”
Now addressing “Artificial timetables for withdrawal.” Really flippant answer ending with “Nice try, end of your try.”
_Addressing partisan politics in Congress:_
“A democracy in Iraq is vital, in the long run, to defeating terrorism.” _Huh? _ “They were dangerous _before_ we went into Iraq.”
_NOTE (opinion): Now understanding the purpose of this press conference–to attempt to take the wind out of the Patriot Act fillibuster’s sails. He keeps chastising Congress and the “minority” of congresspeople who are fillibustering._
**Question:** What planned attacks were thwarted through this surveillance? Also, in 2006, what are you giving to the US in regards to race?
**Answer:** Addressing race first–addressing “Bush doesn’t care about African Americans” statement first. “We’re all equally American and the American opportunity applies to you as much as it does to anyone else.” _Appears to forget the first part of the question and make jokes…._ Refuses to answer first part of question regarding thwarted attacks. “If the enemy knows about it, it adjusts!”
**Question:** lowered approval rating–has this affected your performance as President? (paraphrase)
**Answer**: Listing everything that he’s accomplished, but not actually answering the question: “My job is to lead.”
_End of conference_
This time I may have to. President Bush will be holding a live press conference at 10:30 AM and I want to hear this one. It’s an unexpected press conference (a rarity in this administration) and there are rumors that something’s up. What that _something_ may be, I don’t know, but I want to hear this as it’s happening, even if that means that I have to turn Social Distortion down and listen.
For anyone else wanting to listen live, this is the only link I was able to find with the promise of a live feed: [http://1010wins.com/topstories/local_story_353091134.html](http://1010wins.com/topstories/local_story_353091134.html). If anyone else knows of a different, non FOX related live feed, please feel free to let me know.
_Updated: [CSPAN](http://www.c-span.org) has live, streaming coverage as well._
A picture is worth a thousand words… unless it’s this one. Then the value skyrockets.
The AP photo is by Kathy Willens and accompanies the article Murderous Santa display outside Manhattan mansion draws stares. All I can say is “Ho-ho-horror.” Truly inspired work by footsoldiers of the resistance.
My daughter’s daycare teacher pulled us aside Monday morning to have a serious talk. She wanted to tell us about an incident last week, where my daughter had a temper tantrum and stopped breathing. Of course the breathing resumed, but needless to say, this righteously freaked out the teacher. My daughter, she has these episodes where she holds her breath. They’re not that often and they’re not serious, but what they lack in severity they make up for in pure scariness.
Then later, while I was at work, I got *The Call.* If you’re a working parent, you know what I’m talking about. Daycare called to say that my daughter, while peacefully eating her afternoon snack, passed out. Her eyes rolled back in her head, she stopped breathing, she fell out of her chair, and then she came to and was absolutely fine. My husband and I were there within the hour and took her to the emergency room at Lakewood Hospital.
Now, Lakewood Hospital is fine for big people, but the technicians there ain’t exactly perfectly equipped to deal with a temperamental toddler. We figured this out fairly early and followed our doctor’s advice to transfer to a hospital that specializes in children. Since we live in Northeast Ohio, we were able to choose a different hospital. It’s great to live somewhere with so many _good_ different hospitals. Just another one of the benefits to living in Cleveland.
My daughter was admitted to Rainbow Children’s hospital for observation and saw four different doctors, four neurologists and two pediatric cardiologists, one of which was the head of cardiology. She had tests, charmed the entire floor, and was discharged with a clean bill of health. She’s sleeping now with her Homer Simpson doll, blissfully snoring away. Like I said before, I thank every single hair on the head of Our Lord and Savior™ that we live in Cleveland.
Many Northeast Ohio bloggers have already read Dick Feagler’s little rant on bloggers, blogging, and the recent press coverage of the Wikipedia and it’s erroneous information on John Seigenthaler. Many of those Northeast Ohio [bloggers](http://www.coolcleveland.com/wordpress/?p=197) are, quite justifiably, [pissed](http://www.brewedfreshdaily.com/2005/12/11/dick-feagler-facts-a-hassle-blog-them-away-in-just-seconds/) [off](http://www.buckeyepolitics.net/2005/12/11/pds-feagler-dont-read-blogs/). While Feagler’s column was a snarky, somewhat humourous and fairly insulting look at weblogs, he mixes terminology like a college-town bartender and waters down current events and trends like dollar-fifty Long Island iced teas on a Tuesday night. The man needs a tech tutor and he needs one now. Because of this, I’ve decided to do our dear old Dick a favor and give him a bit of a brief primer.
#### Blogs and Wikis: Similar, but Different
Weblogs, or blogs, are similar to wikis in that they are methods of self-publishing. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a weblog as “a Web site on which an individual or group of users produces an ongoing narrative.” [Wikis,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Overview_FAQ#What_is_a_Wiki.3F) however, are websites that visitors can edit and post information to in a “democratic” fashion. The Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of a wiki as “a Web site that allows collaborative editing of its content and structure by its users” shows a bit of a difference between the two media. Weblogs are a form of personal publishing where wikis are a method of collaborative information-sharing.
The [Seigenthaler incident](http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/departments/online/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001612397) illustrates how dangerous a democratic approach to information sharing can be to an individual, but the [identification of the culprit](http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/11/business/media/11web.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1134399395-0LoRmfk17B31rbn6TPZeNw) shows that even those who deliberately provide false information will be dealt with. To sum it up, blogs and wikis are different animals. Got it, Dick? _Good._ Read the rest of this entry »
I’m feeling a bit bitchy this morning. Perhaps I just didn’t get it all out in therapy last night, perhaps my happy pill just hasn’t kicked in yet, or perhaps I just need more coffee. I don’t know, but the little things, they are pissing me off.
First off, this whole Christmas versus Holidays thing. You people give me blisters in uncomfortable places. Seriously, take your lips off the crack pipe and listen for a moment–you know who you are. I don’t give a chocolate-covered, deep fried shit what Fox news tells you, Christmas is not in any danger. If you feel that strongly about the holiday, go to church, pray about it and do something Christ-like: serve a meal at a shelter or knit a hat for a kid going through chemo.
Just quit bitching about whether or not the cashier at Target wishes you a merry Christmas or a happy holiday. There are people dying everywhere, people freezing to death on the streets of Cleveland, and you’re concerned about what a low-wage employee of your favorite discount retail establishment says as an apathetic farewell after you’ve shelled out cash for some twee little dancing santa? Cut me a fucking break. Read the rest of this entry »
Ohio isn’t exactly known for being gay-friendly, and for good reason: it really isn’t. Ohio voters showed that last year when they voted for discrimination and they show it every day by tolerating bigotry from elected officials who say they don’t believe in gay marriage.
Why am I writing this, as a straight, married and Christian person? Because I have something at stake. I have family and friends who are afraid of having even more rights taken away, yet they stay in Ohio because that’s where their roots are and where their paychecks come from. They stay, knowing that the next governor may take even more rights away, because it’s their home and they’ll fight to make it better. I’m tired of being afraid that the next election will take more rights away from my family and I’m tired of hearing that it’s ok that my family members have to put up with this sort of crap every day.
One of the ways to fight discrimination is visibility. Many of the people who voted for discrimination in 2004 don’t think they have gay friends, or family, or even acquaintances. They see gays as the stereotype, not as flesh and blood. The only way to change this is to be _visible_. I have a gay sister and I’m extremely proud of her. She’s a mother, a partner, and a damned decent person. Should she live as a second class citizen because her partner is a woman?
I have gay friends–they’re wildly creative, outspoken, intensely spiritual and, in so many ways, better people than I am. They’re kind-hearted and sweet, not the type of people you’d expect from the propaganda that James Dobson and his ilk push. They would never _choose_ to be gay, because it’s a more difficult life and who wants a life full of discrimination and harsh words?
These are people who need to be seen for what they really are: people with family and friends. Those straight and supportive friends and family need to speak up and be “out” as well, because being out and being visible exposes people who may otherwise stay in a rigid, prejudiced mindset.
There, I dropped the F-Bomb _and_ the A-Bomb right there in the title. Cleveland Plain Dealer, can you hear me cackling maniacally as I further my pinko liberal agenda? It’s blog entries like [this one](http://www.faggotyassfaggot.com/mt/archives/000425.php) from [Faggoty Ass Faggot](http://www.faggotyassfaggot.com/) that get my blood boiling and keep my body all warm on this cold winter day. I can tell it’s keeping other angry bloggers warm as well, judging from the response at [Brewed Fresh Daily](http://www.brewedfreshdaily.com/2005/12/08/faggoty-ass-faggot-dropping-the-f-bomb/).
The Cleveland Plain Dealer can’t quote Brian Thornton because of his blog’s URL. _Really._ If they’ve loved what he’s had to say so many times, get him to blog for the Cleveland Plain Dealer on his perspective of life in Cleveland instead of saying “We really think you’re great… but you’ve got a pottymouthed URL so we can’t quote you.” Great PR for all… if Brian wanted the gig.
Now Brian has a [cleaned up URL](http://www.theFAF.com), which will undoubtedly comfort and placate potential readers until they realize that (Oh!) he’s a homosexual (!), and he uses words like faggot (hide the children!) and ass (cover their ears!). I hope to read excerpts from his blog on cleveland.com now, since that _objectionable_ web address issue has been taken care of.
We’ve all heard about Blackwell, whether we wanted to or not. Most of us have witnessed (some in abject horror) the new Petro commercial (”I’m Jim Petro! Yay God!”). We’ve started to hear about Strickland. How many of us have heard of [Bill Peirce?](http://peirceforohio.com/)
It’s important to know as much as we can about _all_ of the candidates, and that includes the “third-party wackos”. While I may not agree with Peirce’s entire platform (and I _really_ don’t), I think that he’s entitled to just as much exposure as any of the other candidates.
If you’re curious about libertarians, if you want to educate yourself on _all_ the candidates (and I think it’s vital that you do), or if you just want to see what a third party candidate looks like, please go [visit his site](http://peirceforohio.com/) and read up on him.
Heck, he even has a [blog](http://peirceforohio.com/blog/) (though he doesn’t have comments enabled… what’s up with that?), a [flickr pool](http://www.flickr.com/groups/peirceforohio/), and a [group on upcoming.org](http://upcoming.org/group/155/). Now he’s just missing a meeting with [MTB](http://www.meetthebloggers.net/). I wonder if his campaign manager knows about them…. If for nothing else, take a look at [Peirce's website](http://peirceforohio.com/) to see what a digital candidacy uses.