Going beyond transition

Tag Archives: Politics

SNL’s Biden vs. Palin

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I had to put this in. I have to say that Tina Fey does an amazing job of mimiking Palin. Good for a laugh in an election that is just weird to me. Today (or was that from yesterday’s stumping?) Palin commented that Obama “is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect that he’s palling around with terrorists who would target their own country” (CNN). Apparently, fact checking isn’t a requirement for someone running for VP. Heck, even CNN was able to find out the details easily. Harping over and over on a falsehood shows poor form and leads to the potential issue similar to what Bush did: jump first and then look for sharp objects (Iraq, Al Qaeda and WMD).

Pondering the life of transitioning and politics

Posted on by Posted in Daily life, LGBTQ, Life, Politics, transgender, Traveling/Work .

So lots of things rattling around in my head this week. To start off with, I distinctly overheard some of my students comment on my “beard” (it’s barely a goatee but definitely visible and I’m still not fully passing). It was unnerving. But I do think they figured out quickly that I know my shit so beard or not they learned lots. This is a concern of mine. I kinda wished the company could keep me on online stuff for a while since that would make it easier to transition but I’ll have quite a few jaunts over to our NYC facility and at some point, will have to address it with them as the physical changes become more and more prominent. In fact, K commented recently about how much facial hair (mostly under my chin and below) is growing. It almost feels like it appeared overnight.

This is one of the bigger challenges to transitioning while on the job, particularly one that has a work visa hanging over. It introduces whole new challenges into the mix. I’d rather wait until I have my green card to change my name but I think I may have to do it in the new year as the changes are coming far faster than I had anticipated. It must be a gene thing that all the guys in my family, particularly on my mom’s side, be hairy everywhere but on top (male-patterned baldness is very evident but it’s ironic how hairy we are everywhere else — go figure, eh?). It isn’t going to stop me from being open about my choices but sometimes you have to know when to wage the battle. This past week was the first time that I felt I was in a hugely conservative room. It was rather surprising but it has to do with the environment I was in (major, major Fortune 500 company that has huge inter-office politics and maintains an “old boys network” it seems).

Anyways, I am glad the week is over and I get a chance to relax some. I’ve been working on a few blogs, writing more to get myself used to writing lots (I want to participate in the “Write a Novel in a Month” contest/writing thingy — it’s good practise and since writing is something I enjoy, it’ll be fun). I’ve been reading and watching the US political system and it’s still an interesting thing. Last night was the debate and I nearly laughed my ass off when I read the following from the NY Times:

But Mr. McCain’s talk of experience too often made him sound like a tinny echo of the 20th century. At one point, he talked about how Ronald Reagan’s “S.D.I.” helped end the cold war.

Bullshit. The Cold War, as someone who lived through it, was ended because communism, specifically USSR communism, ended. It wasn’t fear of SDI but economic woes and a changing climate. Let’s face it: they knew the economy that they had created wasn’t helping, there were more calls by citizens for free votes and they wanted to do what 99% of all people want to do: just live life, raise their family and enjoy it. Is it that hard to imagine? The US does many great things but it isn’t nor has it been the saviour of the rest of the world. If anything, it’s almost like that over-helpful relative that doesn’t know when to stop. Yes, it’s nice to receive that help but sometimes ya gotta let the rest of us do our own thing. I find it rather ironic that the US Republicans discourage big government at home and it’s involvement in day-to-day life of the average citizen but have no qualms of sticking it’s governmental nose into the activities of the day-to-day lives elsewhere.

Kettle meet pot.

Pot meet kettle.

Exciting, no?

They baffle me at times. I just want to shake them and go, “Uh.. hello?? Anyone home?” In my web searching this morning, I bounced around a variety of sites and hit upon “Lipstick of a Wing Nut” from The Nation. They have posted an op-ed piece about 10 questions they’d want to ask Palin. The last one is one I’ve always wanted to ask those that are on the far right. But I have to say, the 10 questions are certainly ones I’d love to hear answers to. Not the fluffy answers that the handlers will have her say but honest, concrete with substance answers. Novel concept I know. I leave you with the questions to ponder. Maybe God will show up and offer His insight one day. Now that’d be neat.

§ Suppose your 14-year-old daughter Willow is brutally raped in her bedroom by an intruder. She becomes pregnant and wants an abortion. Could you tell the parents of America why you think your child and their children should be forced by law to have their rapists’ babies?

§ You say you don’t believe global warming is man-made. Could you tell us what scientists you’ve spoken with or read who have led you to that conclusion? What do you think the 2,500 scientists of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are getting wrong?

§ If you didn’t try to fire Wasilla librarian Mary Ellen Baker over her refusal to consider censoring books, why did you try to fire her?

§ What is the European Union, and how does it function?

§ Forty-seven million Americans lack health insurance. John Goodman, who has advised McCain on healthcare, has proposed redefining them as covered because, he says, anyone can get care at an ER. Do you agree with him?

§ What is the function of the Federal Reserve?

§ Cindy and John McCain say you have experience in foreign affairs because Alaska is next to Russia. When did you last speak with Prime Minister Putin, and what did you talk about?

§ Approximately how old is the earth? Five thousand years? 10,000? 5 billion?

§ You are a big fan of President Bush, so why didn’t you mention him even once in your convention speech?

§ McCain says cutting earmarks and waste will make up for revenues lost by making the tax cuts permanent. Experts say that won’t wash. Balancing the Bush tax cuts plus new ones proposed by McCain would most likely mean cutting Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security. Which would you cut?

§ You’re suing the federal government to have polar bears removed from the endangered species list, even as Alaska’s northern coastal ice is melting and falling into the sea. Can you explain the science behind your decision?

§ You’ve suggested that God approves of the Iraq War and the Alaska pipeline. How do you know?

Politics: Bailout?? Is this a rowboat?

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It’s not surprising that I woke up to hear that the bailout may not quite go as planned. Yesterday I saw protesters near Wall Street chanting “No to the Bailout”, in reference to businesses getting the bailout and not the average consumer. What caught my eye this morning were two lines of reference in this NY Times article:

Point 1:

Mr. Boehner pressed an alternative that involved a smaller role for the government, and Mr. McCain, whose support of the deal is critical if fellow Republicans are to sign on, declined to take a stand.

And Point 2:

The aide, Kevin Smith, said Republicans revolted, in part, because they were chafing at what they saw as an attempt by Democrats to jam through an agreement on the bailout early Thursday and deny Mr. McCain an opportunity to participate in the agreement.

So before any serious discussions about the bailout had started, McCain put his campaign on hold and went to Washington because it seems impossible for him to do two things at once. I say this because my eyes were pleasantly impressed with the following:

Mr. McCain was at one end of the long conference table, Mr. Obama at the other, with the president and senior Congressional leaders between them. Participants said Mr. Obama peppered Mr. Paulson with questions, while Mr. McCain said little.

So while Obama didn’t put his campaign on hold he was able to also attend the discussions and even answer questions. The so-called “leader of the Free World” faces thousands of decisions a day and must be able to multi-task. Heck, even Reagan was able to do that and I’m not sure he was really there that often if it wasn’t for Nancy.

I’m also beginning to wonder who is really running for president: Palin or McCain. Since he refuses to talk or “take a stand” one way or another (i.e., lead his party as a presidential candidate should, right?!) then how can he be considered to lead a whole nation like the US. I don’t get it. I watched a few of the “townhall meeting”
videos and noticed that Palin talks over him (she’s taller than him I think) and is more eloquent than him.  Some of the political commentary suggests that the Republicans are having more of these because he is less likely to have foot-in-mouth-itis than when she’s not there.

But politics aside, the Bailout failed. At least, thus far it has. So the question remains as to whether the bailout would work or will work? Politicians really don’t have to worry right now because, well, they’ll likely be re-elected to the jobs they already have or get some board position. The average citizen, people like you and me, who earn a wage of some kind trying to eke out a living with massive debt (mortgage or credit card), are the ones who suffer under this. You want to fix the system try this: force banks to be responsible, reduce service fees for things that are extraneous, reduce credit card annual percentage points, reduce CEO salaries and keep the average workers — the ones that actually produce the product that others will buy — employed.

Let’s face it. Those that are wealthy only buy wealthy, extra things. These people make up 2-5% of the market.

Those that are middle-to-lower class buy things to help with day-to-day living (e.g., groceries, clothing, mass transit, etc.) make up the rest of the market.

The ones suffering are the ones that make up the rest of the market. It’s stuff like this that makes me want to chuck it all, grab K and become some raving mountain man. I’m beginning to see the appeal.

US Politics: Say what?!

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You know, I wonder sometimes when politicians (or their handlers) make claims that they don’t think about. My eyes went wide-eyed as I read the following from CNN:

Pressed to provide an example of what McCain had accomplished on that committee, Holtz-Eakin said the senator did not have jurisdiction over financial markets, then he held up his Blackberry, telling reporters: “He did this.”

“Telecommunications of the United States, the premiere innovation in the past 15 years, comes right through the Commerce Committee. So you’re looking at the miracle that John McCain helped create,” Holtz-Eakin said. “And that’s what he did. He both regulated and deregulated the industry.” — Sourced: CNN.com

Uh-huh.

Say what?! To make it even more incredulous, McCain can barely use a computer. I almost split a gut laughing so hard at how ridiculous all this was. If he was at least some computer geek, it’d make some sense but no, he was chair of Commerce Committee and thus, this apparently is how he created the Blackberry. I wonder if that is also how he figured that giving tax breaks of $5000 would improve health care? So I get to go broke first dealing with health issues and then perhaps, maybe, get a tax break. I probably wouldn’t need it since I’d be on welfare or worse at that point.

Anyways, the last time something like this happened was when Gore claimed he invented the internet. While McCain might have been part of the committee that made it easier for Blackberry to become persuasive in the US, he sure didn’t invent it. It is no wonder that people cannot trust politicians because they don’t seem able to be clear about the message they want to get across to their constituents. I mean, seriously, how hard is it?

As a Canadian I’m particularly irked about this since RIM (Research in Motion) is the company that actually created and invented the Blackberry. To me, this all smacks of the arrogance of McCain et al. Listening to him this morning, saying how taxing those with incomes over $200,000 isn’t necessary and that “40% of Americans aren’t paying taxes”. Really?! Then what’s coming off my paycheck, Mr. McCain??

Further, McCain went on to say that Obama’s plan would result in greater spending given his health plan and others. So, all that military spending isn’t hurting at over a trillion a year?! And this supports the middle-class and low-income workers? Taxing them more by McCain. Yes, Obama would be doing “income redistrubtion” but is that really bad? Why should only the rich have the right to buy food, health care and dream “the American dream”?

To me, McCain sounds no different than Bush. In fact, I had CNN on this morning while in the shower and as I walked out in the living room I thought it was Bush on TV (I couldn’t see who was on at the time). Quite honestly, McCain still seems to be promoting what Bush has been doing thus far and expanding it even further. To me, that will just destroy the lives of the average person and the average family. Blaming Wall Street for the recent stock market activities isn’t the answer. Helping teh average user out of this situation and given them a safety net to bet on that will be there so they won’t have to take risks let “betting” on the stock market, loans, credit cards and gambling at Hold ‘Em Poker Tournaments would be far better.

The best answer would be to remove the lies of who the average American is and who the average American isn’t. Then perhaps both candidates can really present and institute plans that’d work for all.

Now how’s that for a novel concept?

US Politics: Uh.. HUH?!

Posted on by Posted in Politics .

A long time ago, in a life far, far away, I was a conservative. Yes, I bow my head in shame on that now but eh, when your young and exploring life in university for the first time you’re open and vulnerable. In fact, they were the first to treat me as a person rather than a “fat chick”. It was a nice feeling. And granted, there were some things that I had believed in at that point: the reality that the present system just cannot support all the baby boomers about to retire, the independence of the individual and the avoidance of government forcing it’s will on others, the reality that all pay taxes (especially to support the previously mentioned baby boomers) and a few other things. I look back at it now and some things I didn’t have a clear view on. I did figure that being with the party in control would open the door into a life of diplomacy, something I believed in and still believe in. I also believed in Canada’s Peacekeeper role, where troops were often sent in-between two warring states to act as mediator (without guns sometimes) and help the locals with basic necessities.

Then life showed me how naive I really was and how a political life isn’t about making a difference. It’s about image, lies and personal gain, particularly for the status quo (to this day, this remains white males — an ironic fact that isn’t lost on me right now).

As a Canadian living in the US for the first time it’s been interesting watching the political process. I have to say that picking now to move to the US (well, actually last December but close enough) has opened my eyes some what. I’m still trying to understand it all but here’s what I get: each party elects a “leader” who will represent that party as a “presidential candidate”. That person selects their 2nd in command aka the “Veep”. This process takes almost 2 years and costs millions upon millions of dollars. It’s mind-boggling, actually. I rarely see ads here and yet, I remember seeing lots of US political ads when I was home (go figure). So, I get asked what I think about the process.

The one thing that I find fascinating is the lack of info that the average person gets. I mean, unless you actively dig at a politican’s website you won’t find out what they stand for outside of the news bites you get from CNN, Fox, et al. And let’s be real. That isn’t news. It’s just a form of advertising. There is no non-biased news that actually educates us on what the issues are, presenting both sides truly in a balanced method. That hasn’t existed EVER.

But what I found most interesting was the introduction of Sarah Palin as “Veep” for the Republicans and the “swarming” of former Democrat Clinton supports to her side.

Because she’s a woman.

Uh.. say what?! Hey, I don’t deny my past but I got a reality check that caused a major shift in the way I look at things. This isn’t the case. These women are voting for Palin (well, not really. They would be voting for McCain and he’s just bringing Palin along for the ride) because she’s a woman. That’s no better than voting for McCain because he’s a man.

Uh… this is the most important position, apparently, in this country. Shouldn’t you vote for someone who is going to do what they say and because they represent what you believe in??? I suppose it just highlights the white privilege in this nation and the desire to keep the status quo. Looking at the McCain website (or do what I did and visit here to see an abbreviated view of her views) and you can see she is a republican through-and-through: no to abortion (regardless of the reason for the pregnancy); belief in tying of religion and government (so much for separation of state, eh?); believes in Creationism and it should be taught in schools (kids go to school for an education, not religion — that should be a family thing at home); believes that global warming isn’t man-made (uh.. WHAT?! Must be them mooing cows from my last post); thinks polar bears aren’t endangered (right — we’re seeing less because they are on vacation in the Bahamas); supports NRA (just in case those endangered bears threaten, eh?); believes that health care should be market driven (compared to us “commies” up north where we get, at the least, basic health care that can be preventative); and.. well. I think you get the picture.

Add to this that you never really vote for the Veep. Now that is the thing that really gets me. Yes, McCain is old and could kick the bucket soon but I find that those that are cranky tend to have the longest lives because they have the most to bitch about (should mean I have a long life yet ahead of me). So many of Clinton’s supporters who are now switching their votes are doing so because they want to vote for Palin. But, uh, unless I’ve misunderstood something, you don’t really vote for the Veep. You vote for the Prez and they bring their running mate along.

I have no doubts that electing McCain (and thus, by proxy, Palin) would mean that I would be booted out fast (I’d imagine a few citizens would want to join me up in the land of the Snow, Hosers and Beer, eh?) since immigration and tightening of immigration seems on the plate, regardless of what one brings into the nation “founded” on immigation (let’s be real that it was founded on slavery, torture, genocide and other things but that is another blog entry for another day). And, given her views on same-sex partnerships, I have no doubts that my trans status would put me on a list of some sort to be rejected for a visa, although my being white may buy me some “grace period” or “favouritism”. I know that I wouldn’t go over as part of God’s plan (I’ve always wanted to ask someone how they know that this isn’t God’s plan but never got the opportunity).

So at this point, my view is that American politics are weird. You don’t really vote for your president and sure as hell don’t vote for your “Veep”. And it takes about 2+ years to get to here. Compare this to the 30-60 days it takes in Canada (and there you vote for your Member of Parliament, whose party may or may not be the overall winner). It’s a little more direct, IMO, compared to what’s here. At least in Canada, people vote a little more for reasons other than someone’s gender.

It’s definitely interesting to say the least from the view point of this armchair political analyst.

Verrry interesting..