The Arrogant Ass: Blog of a Left-wing Conspirator

Two years... possibly four

2004-11-03T22:19:00.000-05:00

The Republicans are going to shoot themselves in the foot.

This is going to be radical, but hear me out. In two to four years the Republicans big guns are going to be off of the table. The Supreme Court will be overwhelmingly conservative and legislation will be passed effectively banning abortion. It is what the people wanted so it is what they will have.

Also, in two years gay marriage will be banned in every state where it is a possible issue. As we can see from yesterday the first bell has tolled on that and ever state remaining will have it on the ballot at the midterms.
That evens the playing field. Game on.

Look, there will be people not happy with it. Hell, I'm not happy with it, but standing against the tide has swept us away so horribly that the tide is going to pull the Democratic children of choice and equality into the surf gone until we get the right to go looking for them with us.

We have to bow to the people and do what every pundit is saying...get right with "God". We shouldn't have to scrape by having a 75% red (area) map of the United States!!! The values of everyday Americans are our values just like the Republicans, but they've used these two issues (that they are going to take out back and shoot in the head) against us. No more.

Oh... and if they don't then the backlash would be astounding so damned if they do damned if they don't.
Someday we'll grow as a society, but we chose to put our cement boots of humanism and compassion on the slippery slope of policy that the overwhelming majority of the United States was not ready for.
Look, I know people who WANT to vote for Democrats. They hate the violence of the Bush administration. They hate the spiralling defeceit. They care about their fellow man. They will not vote for a candidate who does not have conservative values.

It's over... let them have what they want and let us all instead of sniping and telling people they are wrong for their backward ways of thinking educate the nation that our liberty only comes through equality. The party of Lincoln indeed...

-The Arrogant Ass

"Craven" attacks on Mary Cheney

2004-10-15T16:45:00.000-05:00

Some on the hypocritical Right are calling John Kerry's comments about Mary Cheney during the third debate "craven". The only people who can see mentioning Dick Cheney's daughter as "craven" are homophobic biggots and also WAY too touchy.

1.) She's out of the closet. She's an admitted and open lesbian. She's not hiding anything and I didn't see the hypocritical right crying foul when John Edwards showed his admiration for the Vice President and his wife.

2.) She's part of the campaign. She has speaking engagements. She is trying to get her father's marionette a second term. She's a visible member of the president's cadre and not only that the only homosexual directly touching the campaign on either side. He could have said Rupert Everett or Elton John, but what do they have to do with the race!?

3.) If John Kerry or John Edwards had a gay son or daughter the Right would hammer them on it at every concievable turn. Don't deny it, you fascist hatemongers, you know you would. The campaign would be about their inability to lead because of their poor family values! See, this is all you know. All the entire Right knows... they only see homosexuals as scum and deviants.

Look, John Kerry could be gay America's JFK because honestly this is segregation redux. They can't block homosexuals from schools or the bathrooms or the main floor of movie theatres, but I'm sure DeLay wouldn't pass up a sexual identity exam requirement for federal service or anything involving anything. He'd probably start his own little hate group where instead of white bedsheets and hoods they'd wear flannel and not wash their hair or something. Oh...and the women would all wear sundresses.

Anyway, the whole issue just goes to show that the right (even the Cheneys) is full of hate towards people who never have and never will do anything bad to them... Kind of like poor people, most muslims, and anybody who isn't them...

-The Arrogant Ass

Baron Hill: IN-9th district representative

2004-10-12T14:44:00.000-05:00

I'm starting my volunteer hours for the Hill campaign tonight when I get off work. As a "blue dog" democrat, Congressman Hill is strong on fiscal issues, and being from this area realizes what is needed to win in the conservative (but democratic) Southern Indiana 9th district.

I know that cold calls and envelope stuffing doesn't sound that glamorous, but life isn't "The West Wing". I'm glad to be doing my part and I encourage anybody who reads this to do their part as well.

Wish me luck, and vote democratic.

-The Arrogant Ass

Things John Kerry should say...

2004-10-07T10:54:00.000-05:00

Before I start I want to apologize for the double post. I got an error message when I posted my first "God, guns, gays, and abortion" post and so I thought it didn't take. Guess it went through fine.

Now to the matter at hand...

Things John Kerry should say to the American people.
1.) I have been accused of "flip-flopping" on issues. These issues are complex and making such a simplistic ruling on such broad issues is the true downfall of this administration. It is by all accounts foolish to not have a reasoned and complex answer to such issues.

2.) George W. Bush and the Republican party would like for you to be distracted by issues that shy away from the truly desparate issues that this country needs to address. Where I would focus on social security, they would focus on gay marriage. Where I would focus on jobs, they would focus on putting fully automatic, military weapons on the streets. These are issues of concern for powerful lobbyists in Washington and not for serious people wanting to save this nation from itself.

3.) I am a decorated war-hero who has admittedly led a sober life of trying to do what I thought was best for the world. George Bush is a draft-dodger who, after coming out of a cocaine and alcohol induced haze ruined multiple businesses before relying on his father's powerful connections to blunder his way through a political career as a vapid "face man." Oh...and George, vapid means stupid.

Okay...so maybe that last one is a bit much, but tell it to all your friends and if they argue with you roll your eyes and chuckle at them demeaningly.

Peace,

-The Arrogant Ass

Guns, God, gays, and abortion

2004-10-06T16:58:00.000-05:00

[Repost from a lost post from Monday]

Guns, God, gays, and abortion. This is what the republicans always run on and by diverting attention from real issues to these trivial ones, it is also how they win elections. None of these things will feed your family, put a roof over your head, help you when you are sick and broke, or make the world respect us. They are issues that are only important for the most enfranchised and politically powerful.

That's right, I'm ripping on middle class (and up) Americans. I'm one, my parents are, most of my friends are, and we are the most powerful constituency in the United States. We have enough to live on and so we can focus on issues that, frankly, amount to a hill of beans in the overall scheme of things.

Why is this? Are Americans so greedy and self-centered that they can't realize that other people need other programs much more? I do not think so. We as Democrats do not challenge the republicans with the charges I am levelling and so the republicans can make a sideshow of the political process.

Guns: I believe that guns are intended to be in the hands of the people as per the Constitution. I think that rifles and shotguns are part of many family traditions and should not be regulated. I think that handguns are only meant for inflicting harm on others, but they are part of the subconscious fetishistic need for some people to feel empowered and taking them is a non-issue because they are so easy to get. Beyond those three areas, however, how in the hell can you make an argument that a reasonible person would accept as a valid point for legalization? Assault rifles? Roomsweeper shotguns? Body armor penetrating bullets (aka copkillers)? Ridiculous. These weapons should never be found on the streets unless they are in the hands of law enforcement and if they ARE found then the penalties should be severe (conspiracy to commit murder is a good start). People say that they feel safer with guns around, but in our nations history political figures were assassinated while guarded by the best trained bodyguards in the history of the world all carrying guns.

God: Are we for equality or not? If we are then keep things neutral. If you want to have God in politics then elect a Christian president... oh wait... they've ALL been Christians. This is such a inane issue. The church and the state are meant to be separate because when the church is overly involved in the state then persecution is the next step. Atheists, gays, muslims, jews, and many other groups would find themselves at odds with the very government sworn to protect their rights. They aren't hurting anyone and if a person can't handle having someone disagree with them then that is not only not Christian, but it is also unpatriotic! What Would Jesus Do I ask you all... Having lived in a state where the church ruled with an iron fist and religious disagreements led to real political repercussions (all of you harping on this issue saw The Passion).

Gays: This is the issue I understand the least. The Constitution and Declaration of Independence give rights to everyone. Period. Can you really not handle someone disagreeing with your world view? This is similar to someone saying vegetarians are evil because they do not eat meat when they are convinced in their heart that killing another living creature is evil. Gays aren't people indeed. I'm glad I'm in support of guns cause people this biggoted need to be shot.

Abortion: Abortion will always be legal. That's it. Everyone runs on the goal that abortions will be outlawed and stopped, but an amendment will never pass, and the Supreme Court won't overturn itself on this major issue no matter how crazy a judge is put on the bench. Here's a kicker for all those anti-choice people out there: Before Roe v. Wade thousands of women died or were permanently damaged by having "back room" abortions in horrible conditions, and rich people, Dubya's "base", sent their "wayward" daughters to other countries to have them. A ban won't stop abortions they will just send them underground where more people will die horribly and painfully.

Anyway, that's all for today. I'm copying this post before I send it so there isn't a similar issue as last time.

Peace,

-The Arrogant Ass

Guns, God, gays, and abortion

2004-09-29T13:46:00.000-05:00

Ahhh... the Right's bread and butter.

It's amazing to think it, but these are the issues every Republican candidate has won on for as long as they've been discussed in politics! Barring the metaphysical, none of these things feed a family, provide health care, help a child learn better in school, lift up the disenfranchised and downtrodden, or deal with the issue of world peace.

It's sad really that our electorate has been duped into believing that these issues (which the Republicans center on) are so very important over life essentials such as jobs, health care, education, civil rights, and foreign relations.

For those of you who watched Charlie Rose last night you probably can tell from where this blog entry is coming. Gov. Howard Dean was simply great last night on the show, and I saw for the first time why he was so popular before his Democratic competitors beat down on him and before his frustration with that attack got to him in Iowa.

Anyway, the true point of this blog entry is this. Are things so great for you that the welfare of your fellow citizens is inconsequential to you? You may have a good job, health care, and a good education. You may even be white and never encountered anyone from someplace in the world where a moment's gaze or a word of warning from the U.S. would make life better. Does that really justify the visciousness of ignoring those issues? We're very selfish people in the United States... that's the long and short of it... hmm... too bad the God of the Republicans represents hate and separation instead of love and compassion... Maybe that's even a key to their downfall.

Ahh whatever... I will say though that the candidate that attacks the Republicans on that issue could very well go a long way and maybe even take that second G away as an issue...

Until next time...

-The Arrogant Ass

Back from my hiatus

2004-09-29T13:44:00.000-05:00

All apologies to the one or two of you who read this blog. I had a personal explosion of things going off in my life. Work, play, and family all expanded and it has been wonderful, but the nagging thing in the back of my mind has been that I've been neglecting my blogging.

Well...I'm back. Here goes nothing!

-The Arrogant Ass

Work and Play

2004-08-17T12:42:00.000-05:00

My, oh my, what a flurry of activity I've had in the past week or so! I'm still busy as a bee, but I wanted to let my faithful readers (all one or two of you) know that I am indeed alive and will be returning to my posts after my upcoming vacation!

Wish me a bon voyage and I'll return soon enough!

Yours,

-AA

Busy weekend...

2004-08-08T21:57:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posts. I've had a busy weekend and not been able to get on here to post. I'll do better ;)

Peace,

-AA

Volunteerism

2004-08-05T23:29:00.000-05:00

I am happy to announce that I am planning on volunteering for Jon Jennings in the Indiana 8th. It is not my district, but if I can help oust one Republican from the House floor that will be well worth the effort.

I am also registering to volunteer for the Baron Hill campaign in my hometown (Indiana 9th). He's favored by the political oddsmakers, but our elected officials, with whom we agree, can always use the help.

This brief blog entry is just to put out the call to the few who read this to volunteer for a campaign. If it is only one day a month your work is valuable. It is important to the political process as volunteers are the metaphorical grease on the wheels of government.

Get out there. Choose your battles and candidates and do your part to put them in office. Lots of people complain, but do those people ever do anything to help their political representatives? Get out there and lend a hand...your representative will not forget it.

Once again sorry for the short entry, but I've had a long day and I'm going to bed!

They ran into the fire...

2004-08-04T23:20:00.000-05:00

(Suspending typical arrogant assitude)

Okay... so I was once again watching my favorite TV show, "The West Wing", and they were discussing a pipe bomb attack at a University swim meet:

"Three swimmers from the men's team were killed and two others are in critical condition, when, after having heard the explosion from their practice facility, they ran into the fire to help get people out. Ran into the fire. The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels tonight. They're our students and our teachers and our parents and our friends. The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels but every time we think we've measured our capacity to meet a challenge we look up and we're reminded that that capacity may well be limitless. This is a time for American heroes. We will do what is hard. We will achieve what is great. This is a time for American heroes and we reach for the stars. God bless their memory, God bless you and God bless the United States of America."

On hearing the emphasis he put onto the part in bold, I misted up. I just thought about those planes hitting the World Trade towers. They ran into the fire...

You know, the demagogues and extremists in the Middle East who send their pawns and minions out to murder under a banner of martyrdom and truth are so afraid of us because there are always those in this country who set out to prove them wrong. They run into the fire...

The true definition of a martyr after someone who dies before renouncing his or her religion (not applicable to these killers even under the most extreme circumstances), is that of "a person who sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle" (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary). Our principles are what the preachers of hate and divisiveness speak out against. Yes, there are popular culture bombs that go off that they don't approve of, but we have those same people here. Yes, we give aid to their perceived enemies, but there weren't any Russian terrorists in the same sense during the cold war. Our economic power dwarfs theirs and they feel slighted, but I don't know of any Mexican or South American terrorists intent on attacking us. It is our principles they fear. They preach of a utopia and a loving god, but they cannot allow their people to have freedoms. They send out their killers and thugs to harm us, but it will never work. We sacrifice our lives in order to save and not kill. We die protecting the principle that life is sacred and they die besmirching it. We run into the fire...

America is still the great experiment. More than two-thirds of the world faces governments that they see as opposed to them philosophically, economically, and socially. America is a magnificent place and it is our principles that can either make it shine or make it dull. We must not only hold these dear, but show them to the world. America is a beacon to everyone...at least it should be... I know that some who read this may disagree with the common interpretation of the day that we have lost that luster, but please... consider who we want to be and what we want to become. We can preach hate and fear that is all to common in the areas of the world where men have hated us for decades. We can become the darkness that the terrorists describe us as. We can even do it more effectively. When you are sitting there assured in the peace of mind that we did the right thing, remember that our shortcomings magnified have been turned against us by the extremist teachings of a very scared and hateful faction of Islam. This is the ammunition those who can see the world tell those who can't why they should hate us use against us. Why should we strive to be better? Because all around this country, since its inception, men and women have been the targets of hatred and the acts of evildoers and they ran into the fire...

Michael Moore is to the Republicans...

2004-08-04T12:25:00.000-05:00

Michael Moore is to the Republicans what almost every Republican politician is to the Democrats.

He's the guy who is like... "So wait... we're sitting here honorably with our swords and maces and so on... and those guys over there are toting around submachine guns. Hmm... pass me an AK"

Why do Republicans hate Michael Moore so much? They can't take their own medicine. Of course, even Michael Moore doesn't blatantly lie like a Republican politician. I even admit that he leaves things out sometimes, but Michael Moore has never lied. How do I know this you ask? Because you and I both know that if he had commited any slanderous or libelous acts he would have been brought up on charges before you could say John Ashcroft. That is the reason why people can still respect him.

Now... take the Max Cleland situation on the other hand. The "Honorable gentleman" from Georgia, Saxby Chamblis, ran an ad comparing Cleland, who fought for his country in Vietnam and sacrificed both of his legs and an arm for our freedom, to Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein! Shameful?: yes. Hateful?: yep. Unpatriotic?: definitely. Dishonest?: Absolutely.

Hmm... Those adjectives... they sound familiar... Oh wait! They are ones that were applied by conservative blindmen and fanatics about Fahrenheit 9/11!

Here's to another 150+ years

2004-08-02T23:44:00.000-05:00

I was looking around online today, and I read that the Indiana 9th District has voted Democratic for Congress since the Civil War.

Here's to another 150+ years!

If you are in the Indiana 9th be sure to vote for Rep. Baron Hill and I'll be sure to also.

-AA

P.S.-I'll post the link if I find it again. Don't worry. I'm not normally a person who ignores citation. Thank my years of study ;-)

Barack Obama

2004-08-02T10:19:00.000-05:00

Okay... I love this guy. I want to move to Illinois just so I can vote for him, and if a Democrat were in the White House and I wasn't living in near poverty I would contribute more than I have. It is my hope that Barack goes a long, long way in his political career (all the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave), and I hope you all agree.

As for what brought this on, I was reading Obama's Campaign Blog and came across this entry where Dick Durbin made a pretty funny joke about Obama's keynote address at the convention:

Here, Senator Durbin received the loudest laugh of the day with his account of the moments leading up to Barack’s Keynote address. To paraphrase:
“I walked into the hold room and there was Barack pacing back and forth. So I asked him, ‘Barack, what’s wrong?’
‘Dick, I just don’t know if the speech is good enough.’
‘What do you mean good enough?’
‘I’m just not sure if I’m ready, or if I worked on it long enough…I just don’t know.’
‘Barack, you’re my friend, you’re going to be my colleague, I owe you this much...Here, take my speech…Didn’t he deliver it well everybody?’”
And the crowd goes wild.

Heh... well... if you don't find it funny then maybe political humor isn't your thing... I found it hilarious.

Anyway, this will be my first of multiple posts for the day, but I wanted to post this one up since I had a break.

Peace,

-AA

The popular vote

2004-08-01T13:12:00.000-05:00

I realize that this is not an essay. I plan on writing one soon, but I wanted to write a post dealing with the feelings of an American (not just a Democrat) that has never seen a president or presidential candidate campaign in his state.

I am a strong supporter of an amendment to the Constitution eliminating the electoral college. The computer technology of today makes the logistics of this viable where 220 years ago nothing of the sort could be considered.

Don't misunderstand, this is not some "lefty's" ranting and raving about the last election. This is my concern as an American that the states and not the nation elect the President and that MILLIONS of votes are cast in vain. More should be expected of the American people and more should be expected of our politicians.

I welcome comments on this and someday soon I hope to have a well researched brief to post and send to my congressmen.

Peace,

-AA

Back in action...

2004-08-01T02:46:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the disappearance friends and countrymen. I know there aren't many (if any) reading my blog at the moment, but I still wanted to apologize for the unannounced hiatus. I'm back in town now and will be ranting and raving as soon as I catch some shut-eye and make my daily blog/news rounds.

Peace,

-AA

To get them to sing...

2004-07-30T10:23:00.000-05:00

Wasn't the Democratic National Convention great? From Bill and Hillary on Monday, Barak on Tuesday, "Pretty boy!" on Wednesday, and our next Commander in Chief on Thursday. I felt so inspired and I've started using my constitutional rights to free speech because of it.

Now as for delivery of the message, some watched Fox, some watched MSNBC, others watched CNN, but this year I was a CSPAN man. I can't tell you how disgusted I was when I would pop in on the other networks and hear all the "chatter". Bill Goebbel's...erm...O'Riley's show is pure drivel and I was almost sick from their neo-fascism.

The other networks were bad enough, but I do want to address something mentioned by at least ONE person on all of these networks...preaching to the chior. Every station said it at least once and while it is true, nobody followed it with the reason.

You preach to the chior to get them to sing.

For years, I was a fellow in the back of the Democratic choir just mouthing the words and turning the pages. Every three year break between elections was almost like the week in between Sundays. I'd imagine that it is this way with quite a few Democrats out there. We go to the polls on "Sunday" and do our part, but we're not bearing our convictions out there in the real world.

Not any more for me.

I guess this is what some in the comic community would call an "origins" glimpse. This is the reason I started this blog. I am tired of having ideas and no audience, I am tired of thinking to myself that nobody in Washington listens before kicking myself and noting that I'm not SAYING anything. Not anymore. Welcome to The Arrogant Ass and even if my "parish" is non-existant I am here to say that I'm singing for America and that I will never again be silent!

-AA

Wilkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome

2004-07-29T19:35:00.000-05:00

Hello, I am the Arrogant Ass.

Don't misunderstand. I am an opinionated new democrat. Now those of you who tend to walk with limp to the right you will probably make no distinction between one or the other. Well... this is not a blog for your ideas, but mine. So, in the words of our future first lady: "Shove it!"

That said, I would like to briefly introduce myself with a short (and my first) weblog entry:

-I am a Hoosier democrat. Almost a contradiction of terms, but there it is and here I sit.

-I also have some very extreme (as per my moniker) ideas that actually span the left and some of which follow that government circle (remember H.S. Government?) all the way past anarchy and into the near fascism of the "conservative base".

-As the days and weeks unfold and I become more comfortable with my new "voice", my goal is to post more and more of my "lefty" thoughts and sometimes, yes, rants. Discussion is very welcome, but just know that I argue like a radio talk show host... "Thanks for calling. *click*"

Anyway, I will most likely write much more later. The convention is on and our next Speaker of the House is laying it down.

Peace,

AA