May 2009
April 2009
“Mr. Obama’s policies are less popular than his personality, [and] the pace of polarization with Republicans has proceeded faster than ever in history.”
—Hey, Rove — Jesse Jackson called, he wants his alliterations back.
Play
Chris Kelly running for California Attorney General →
paidcontent.org
Yep, he’s the Chief Privacy Officer for Facebook. Makes you wonder if the restoration of the old terms of service was politically motivated.
BTW, wouldn’t it be interesting if Facebook became a government contractor, taking millions to provide community organizing assistance to the California government? Like the way that Chris Hughes fellah built Obama’s campaign website. Might help with the bills.
AmEx canceling accounts by the truckload, for even the slightest hint of delinquency →
latimes.com
One incongruous thing about this: American Express is still the “founding sponsor” of the Tribeca Film Festival, which celebrates the art of financing an experimental arthouse movie with your credit cards.
“You’ve got to testify! Tell somebody about it. God is good! I pity the fool that don’t get it.”
—Mr. T, at jury duty, jibber jabbers for Jesus.
Why I Tweet
After reading Matt Bai’s piece in the New York Times Magazine yesterday, I’d like to explain why I tweet and post here on Tumblr. His thesis is that twitter is banal and superficial and therefore not a good fit within the context of politics and Congressional activity. Of the 100’s of tweets that my thumbs are responsible for, he chose to highlight a reply I made to someone who had asked about my favorite meal at Taco Bell. Admittedly, this is definitely not important stuff.
But – like many in Washington – he misses the point.
First, through Twitter, on a daily basis I post information on a public bulletin board about serious public policy issues. Short and sweet, these messages are intended to drive thought and discussion rather than provide a thorough analysis of the issue.
Second, as his bar graph showed, I tweet an average of 4 to 5 times a day. This has become a welcome discipline for me in Washington. As I am walking to a hearing, or riding the tram over for a vote, I think of what I want to tell the folks at home about my work or life. This, I believe, is a fairly decent way to stay connected. After all, I’m in Washington to work for them and this process reminds me of it several times a day.
Third, I use Twitter because no one can edit me. In a media world driven by an edited sound bite, and a Capitol Hill culture that parses, obfuscates, and works hard at saying nothing, we shouldn’t look down our noses at a few short declarative sentences. While this method of direct communication makes my staff nervous – they think it makes me look less “senatorial” — it is me. I’m a Midwesterner, and this short simple way of speaking is my native tongue.
Finally, it’s fun. Trust me when I tell you that part of the problem in Washington is that folks there take themselves way too seriously. As I tweet about my college basketball team, global warming, my kids, reverse mortgages, music, and tax policy, or as I Tumblr blog about rules of voting on the budget and my creamed spinach recipe, I’m staying connected, grounded, and I have a smile on my face.
Senator McCaskill, a one woman force against every cynical stereotype ever levied against American politics. Imagine, a public official doing something because it’s fun. Actually — I’m fairly certain Michelle Bachman has plenty of fun, involving leather and chains and all the accessories of the publicly repressed. Fight hard to keep that image from your mind.
“Act one of the Obama Era, I believe, should also be judged in terms of sheer showmanship, and by that criterion it’s been, to use a Variety word, downright boffo.”
—Peter Bart.
“Anyone who cares for the unique character of individual cities must see that the proliferation of advertising signs is an essential part of the character of Los Angeles; to deprive the city of them would be like depriving San Gimignano of its towers or the City of London of its Wren steeples.”
—Reyner Banham, Los Angeles: The Architecture of Four Ecologies, 1971
Tampa Bay Mug Shots: Index →
mugshots.tampabay.com
I don’t like this.
Wow, this is a whole new angle to the concept of Too Much Information. There’s a rule of law that requires a judge to reject the introduction of evidence into trial if he deems it too prejudicial. The same consideration should be at work here — a mugshot is the very definition of “prejudicial.” The website says that “those appearing here have not been convicted of the arrest charge and are presumed innocent. Do not rely on this site to determine any person’s actual criminal record.” But really, if an employer Googles a job applicant and sees this, it’s going to affect the tone of the interview.
Hey, I just exercised my right to peaceably assemble in protest of something bad the government did and got arrested in the process. Now I can’t get work because the Tampa police made me look like a child molester.
Also, those statistics are fun and all, but the only relevant one is the racial breakdown of arrestees, to determine whether the Tampa Police Department is engaged in profiling. That data is conspiculously absent. I doubt there’s a law enforcement body out there discriminating against tall people.
So yeah, Tampa — please remove photos, and please tell us how many black people you’re pulling over. thx
Gavin Newsom's problem:
Orange, Riverside, San Bernadino and San Diego counties, and the entire Central Valley. Plus, Christian Latinos in Los Angeles. And that’s just the political hurdle.
