uhm can we focus here? am i the only person terribly disappointed at the selection of vilsack for ag secretary. our country's food policy is basically dictated by iowa as it is and it's a policy that needs drastic overhauling.
@LibidinousSlut: I'm with you. I was hoping for Michael Pollan, or at least a similarly forward-thinking choice. I don't want the first thing on the agenda to be the promotion of biofuel (hello, climate change!) and efficiency. I want some change, dangit!
@LibidinousSlut: Yeah, I'm not enthused either, not least because the promotion of biofuel has so much more to do with America's subsidising of its corn industry than it does with producing efficient sustainable energy. Ethanol takes so much oil just to produce! Selling it as the next big thing in agriculture is just delaying the inevitable.
But then, I have serious issues with agricultural subsidies in both the US and Europe, so the idea of an Ag sec from Iowa kind of hurts me on the inside.
I'm curious about the placement of a dollar sign in the lower-right portion of the Time cover - that's the first place my eye goes whenever I see the picture. Who knows, maybe it's about his loaded campaign warchest.
Did anybody see the Obama pic that Drudge posted on his site? Stay classy, Matt chew-chew.
I have a thing about waste, especially human waste. That stuff smells really foul, and I don't think any amount of chemicals in a portapotty can handle 5 million people's waste. Especially if they are drunk and full of junk food. That is a MAJOR reason to stay indoors with a flushable toilet.
For all yall looking for an alternative to peeing in beverage bottles, look in to that thing David Sedaris tried using in "When You Are Engulfed in Flames." If memory serves, I believe it was called the Stadium Friend. According to David, the main drawbacks were walking around with a bottle of hot pee strapped to his leg, and that people knew something funny was going on. But as the big day is most likely going to be frigid, A bag of hot pee would provide some welcome warmth, no?
@J.D.Regent: I don't think so. Looks like a regular cig to me. It's just the way he's holding it that suggests something else. What's up with the ring on his left hand, though?
@J.D.Regent: duh, it's the national ring given to all people born in Kenya. he just doesn't wear it anymore because he's concealing his true identity now.
@elsbels: "you" was person of the year a few years ago. Clearly "you" ain't gettin it this year with all "your" failed IOAR mortgages, garaged SUVs, lack of employment, and general reluctance to spend "your" way out of it.
Vilsack and Salazar? Wow! good thing I voted for change but get an ag department run by an Iowan and an interior department run by a cowboy. How the Obama team is supressing the tide of change I do not know, but they are doing an excellent job.
Obama isn't even president yet and I'm as disillusioned as I was the day Clinton admitted that he lied about Lewinsky.
I kind of wish I had written in Kucinich on my Nov. ballot.
@Rofold: You're going to be disillusioned over those two picks? Why? Vilsack knows Agriculture, does he not? Salazar, not my first pick mind you, but I think fully capable of running Interior.
Look, "change" isn't as simple as changing all the faces. Obama did not promise he would not hire career politicians or party faithful. He did promise to find people capable of a) doing the job and b) following his lead. And you know what -- if they don't work out, he'll fire them and get someone else, just like every other President has done.
@Rofold: As governor of Iowa, Vilsack did a lot to develop the economy of Iowa, moving the state beyond just farm agriculture and spearheading a lot of efforts to bring and develop bioindustries in the state. Just because he's from Iowa does not mean it's more of the same.
@Ratinski: In my eyes, that would make him more than qualified for the job. He has a handle on what it's going to take for Agriculture to thrive in the 21st Century. He's not assuming that farmers can just raise crops and cattle.
@NefariousNewt: I guess my complaint is that I have some admittedly progressive political leanings and I felt there was more of a place for me at the table this time and it seems to be slipping away.
@Rofold: It is depressing, I agree, but Obama has been a no holds barred corn man since day one. It's that midwestern thing. I'm hoping worldwide starvation will force us to change our subsidy structure. Fun times.
@J.D.Regent: @PilgrimSoul: I'm not saying that he's not (you can't get elected in any of the corn belt states and NOT profess those, uh, ideals, frankly) but I do think he has some good ideas about how agriculture will have to change to be sustainable in the future. He's not a surprising pick to me, but I really do not believe it's the same shit, different administration.
@PilgrimSoul: Time was always, imo, crap. I did extemporaneous speaking for my high school's speech team, and thus spent all my free time in high school reading newsmagazines. None of the three majors were great, but Time was easily the worst of the lot.
But of course he is!!! Duh!!! I'm suprised People Magazine didn't make him the Sexiest Man Alive for this year...NOT!!!! That went to the right man. Don't get me wrong Obama is a very good looking man even though I didn't vote for him! Not really looking forward to January 20, 2009! I have no other choice but to give him a chance!! Lets see what kind of 'change' he is going to bring!!
@PilgrimSoul: Seriously, it took me two tries to get onto Gawker a couple of years ago. Apparently all it takes now it gratuitous use of exclamation points.
@PilgrimSoul: Just because someone doesn't agree with the majority about politics doesn't mean they're unwelcome. I don't see anything rude in this comment at all.
@DMD1976: Ah, another member of "Don't Blame Me, I Voted For McCain."
Please, spare us the faux outrage. Obama can certainly not do worse than Bush. If anything, he's already shown that he's gearing up for war by his cabinet picks. He's going to do whatever needs to be done to fix things, with no apologies to Washington, D.C.
@AthertonMerriweather: Oh, it's not rude. It's insipid. I mean, look, I know we are all nice around here and stuff and I personally don't mind dissent at all - clearly I have some kind of wish to die in an internet fight over abstract political/feminist questions given how much I'm here.
@PilgrimSoul: I think the above post in question was written by Hugh Jackman. The writer clearly has a thing about Sexiest Man Alive, and that is done through "People."
@AthertonMerriweather: Sorry, I'm commenting too much today, but I just wanted to say: it was sort of weird, but it's indicative to me that the Administration knows as well as anyone that there simply is no public appetite to bring these people up on war crimes charges. America doesn't want to feel more bad about itself than it already does.
@PilgrimSoul: Dude, they are getting away with some nasty crimes, but are smart enough to know the American people wouldn't be able to stomach going through actual war crime tribunals.
That's why everyone keeps thinking about unicorns and Obama. As if it will all just evaporate and go away.
I'm feeling torn about inauguration. The mall is so close, yet it's going to be so inconvenient and I don't know if I want to be surrounded by so much... humanity.
@pantsless economist: Home on my couch is my favorite place in the world. The only trouble is, I am most likely going to be hosting a friend from NYC who's coming in specifically FOR the inauguration, so I'd feel weird being like, "OK have fun out there!"
@SarahMC: this is why I have ultimately decided to stick to a long-held plan of saving my vacation days for a tropical vacation in March or so rather than attend Inauguration.
@rosasparks: To be sure, you are not the individual I was referring to (though you are certainly welcome to stay with me). A friend I don't even talk to on a regular basis is planning to come for the whole weekend and wants to stay with me. Maybe I'll feign illness or suddenly become a Republican.
@SarahMC: ...and you know you are welcome to stay with me because we discussed it before! Just don't want you to think I'm trying to get out of hanging out with you.
@rosasparks: I am conflicted! I don't know what to make of the situation; they keep saying on the news how it's going to be the most overwhelming, clogged-ass day in the history of the universe and I can see myself having a nervous breakdown. But I want to go so I need to brainstorm how to make it as easy and headache free as possible. I am also wondering if all D.C. area colleges are going to be closed that day because I think that's the day my class starts!! Wtf?
@SarahMC: I live at 12th and Massachusetts, so I'm pretty much in the center of everything anyway. My friends from Boston who are coming down know they're pretty darn lucky to be staying with me. I'll avoid the Metro and walk everywhere we'd possibly need or want to go -- my office, the White House, Dupont Circle, U Street. We may check out the Mall on the day of the inauguration as long as the whole thing isn't ticketed, but my apartment will only be a few blocks away if we need to seek refuge.
@SarahMC: I live in Arlington, so I'd have to metro or bus across the potomac...arrgh. I really want to go, but every time I think about the teeming mass of humanity I worry about being so crowded that I'm suffocated by tourist's puffer jackets (I'm short) and consider staying home with my cat instead.
@thelandlady: Are you subletting out? Because my roommates and I are off the Orange Line in Arlington and are planning on utilizing our living room. from like Friday to Wednesday or something. Anybody want to compare rates...?
@vamusical: I'm thinking 100 bucks a head per night and trying to fit it with a gaggle of college kids, like maybe 4 to 6. To make it to the Mall they'd have to get up pretty damn early, so I don't think charging ridiculous rates is in the cards. Plus they'd be sleeping on futons and shit.
@BearDownCBears: I think that's reasonable. Lots of people are trying to charge an arm and a leg, but I think there's really no one left who wants to spend that much money, considering everything we're now hearing about how insane it will be.
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But then, I have serious issues with agricultural subsidies in both the US and Europe, so the idea of an Ag sec from Iowa kind of hurts me on the inside.
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Did anybody see the Obama pic that Drudge posted on his site? Stay classy, Matt chew-chew.
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[www.time.com]
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Obama isn't even president yet and I'm as disillusioned as I was the day Clinton admitted that he lied about Lewinsky.
I kind of wish I had written in Kucinich on my Nov. ballot.
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Look, "change" isn't as simple as changing all the faces. Obama did not promise he would not hire career politicians or party faithful. He did promise to find people capable of a) doing the job and b) following his lead. And you know what -- if they don't work out, he'll fire them and get someone else, just like every other President has done.
Give the man a chance before you write him off.
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Obama isn't even president yet and I'm as disillusioned as I was the day Clinton admitted that he lied about Lewinsky.
Somebody believed Clinton wasn't lying about Lewinsky?
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I can't make out what they are saying because they talk over one another.
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*headdesk*
Is this what makes it past commenter auditions these days?
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Please, spare us the faux outrage. Obama can certainly not do worse than Bush. If anything, he's already shown that he's gearing up for war by his cabinet picks. He's going to do whatever needs to be done to fix things, with no apologies to Washington, D.C.
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I have some kind of wish to die in an internet fight over abstract political/feminist questions given how much I'm here
This is absolutely, completely, 100% what I love about you.
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That's why everyone keeps thinking about unicorns and Obama. As if it will all just evaporate and go away.
Just make them go away, really.
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@PilgrimSoul: It's all such a mess. It's actually REALLY depressing. Which is why I'd rather pee in a bottle and hug unicorns.
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I'm thinking Funyuns, guacamole-flavored Doritos, and chocolate bars. You supply the beverages.
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I'm having a solo adventure.
(ps I know it's not me, I'm not from NYC, at least not anymore....)
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I am also wondering if all D.C. area colleges are going to be closed that day because I think that's the day my class starts!! Wtf?
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