Multiple Personality

Barack Obama’s atypical and thoughtful remarks early in the campaign convinced me he was a candidate I could fully invest in. And now he has announced some key Cabinet selections. And one of his comments during the announcement reminded me of why I’m so hopeful:

“I assembled this team because I am a strong believer in strong personalities and strong opinions,” he said.

“I think that’s how the best decisions are made. One of the dangers in a White House, based on my reading of history, is that you get wrapped up in group-think and everybody agrees with everything and there’s no discussion and there are no dissenting views. So I am going to be welcoming a vigorous debate inside the White House.”

“But understand, I will be setting policy as president. I will be responsible for the vision that this team carries out, and I will expect them to implement that vision once decisions are made.”

I’m just freakin’ proud there’s a sane, thinking, centered person about to lead us, okay?

I know it seems unsportsmanlike to attack a moronic, narcissistic, corrupt, inept, drug-addled President while he’s down, but the current Time magazine has an impressive article by Joe Klein about Pres. Howdy W. Doody and his last days.

It’s not a long piece (I’m referring to the article, not to Bush — though that might explain why he’s made the decisions he has), so I encourage you to use the above link to read the whole thing. But here’s the especially good last paragraph (though I suspect it’s even better in context):

In the end, though, it will not be the creative paralysis that defines Bush. It will be his intellectual laziness, at home and abroad. Bush never understood, or cared about, the delicate balance between freedom and regulation that was necessary to make markets work. He never understood, or cared about, the delicate balance between freedom and equity that was necessary to maintain the strong middle class required for both prosperity and democracy. He never considered the complexities of the cultures he was invading. He never understood that faith, unaccompanied by rigorous skepticism, is a recipe for myopia and foolishness. He is less than President now, and that is appropriate. He was never very much of one.

Perhaps AIG could learn a thing or two from the Peer Bearing Company, owned until recently by the Spungen family. When their business was acquired by a Swedish company in September, the Spungens decided to give away $6.6 million in bonuses to the 230 employees.

I guess Rudy Giuliani would call that Socialism (I’m singling him out among the jerky hordes — or hoarding jerks — because I’m still mad at him about the “community organizer” thing). I guess I would call it people realizing we’re all in this together.

Thank you, Spungens. I didn’t get a penny from your bonuses, but I feel richer.

As is my annual (and apparently unbreakable) custom, I watched the brazen commercialism and bad camera work that is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. To my appreciative surprise, there is a “Keith Haring Heart Balloon” this year. I’m surprised because Haring died of AIDS, and was an outspoken gay activist; just looking at his distinctive style is practically a rorschach for words like “gay” and “equality.” I’d say it’s nice that an Institution like the Macy’s Parade isn’t afraid to include a message like that, however subliminal, to impact the kiddies.

At the other end of the spectrum of things that should be impacting the kiddies, there was a performance by a girl pop trio called the Clique Girlz. And they looked every bit as Heathers-attitudey as any high school clique that ever made all the poorer/different/less cute kids feel inferior to them. I thought cliquishness wasn’t an aspiration these days. Maybe High School Musical 4 is where they renege on that “everybody’s special” message. “Clique Girlz”….grumble…

But the good outweighted the annoying, as the Macy’s Parade actually did something…hip. Some kiddie-show float was in the middle of their musical number, and it was suddenly interrupted by — Rick Astley, singing “Never Gonna Give You Up.” They actually did some Rick-rolling! I love it.

A Miami judge just overturned Florida’s retarded ban against gay adoption.

Here comes the judge…Here comes the judge…

I’m sometimes asked about karma. For the record, karma is a construct that people use to monitor their behavior (and, pointedly, that of others). And, like so many other constructs with spiritual intentions, it can be used for judgment as well as policing. So instead of getting into a judgment loop of “good karma” and “bad karma,” why not just behave at your highest, just for the heck of it?

That being said, there are moments when it’s fun to look at things with the perception that someone’s karma just came up and bit them hard in the butt. From Page 6:

…although we didn’t think it would be possible to silence Ann Coulter, the leggy reactionary broke her jaw and the mouth that roared has been wired shut.

And here I thought “Silent Night” was reserved for that other holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

Guess what December 10 is? I gotta say, I LOVE this idea!

On December 10, you are encouraged not to call in sick to work. You are encouraged to call in “gay”–and donate your time to service!
(Note to my friends who are very gay: Not that kind of service.)

One of my favorite photos from yesterday’s marriage-equality demonstrations:

Today is a great day, as Americans pour to the streets nationwide to support everyone’s right to marry.

It looks like rights won’t be denied. I’m so proud of all my fellow Americans who are demonstrating, making their voices heard.

Let freedom ring, dudes.