Motley Moose – Archive

Is the election of 2012 as simple as Obama the Human Capitalist vs Romney the Financial Capitalist? I caught a bit of the Martin Bashir show on MSNBC earlier this week. One of his guests was Jonathan Alter. I was not paying full attention, but something Alter said caught my attention and I rewound (thank FSM for Tivo) to hear it again. I liked what he had to say…the way he framed the contest between Obama and Romney. I liked it a lot.

Having now read his recent Bloomberg article (“Obama Versus Romney Offers a Clash of Capitalisms“), it is evident he was just touching upon the ideas presented there…but, imo, in a more succinct and clear manner. It has been running through my head now for days…so I figured I would put it out ‘here’ to hear your opinions on it.

Join me below to see/hear what caught my ear.

Since I came across this a couple days ago, I have been forwarding it to near everyone I know. I am now sharing it with all of you. Some of you may have seen it already, it really has spread like wildfire…and rightfully so. It is, quite simply, the best thing I have read in a very long time.

What I have been forwarding is a letter from one Jourdon Anderson to his former owner.

Yes, owner…Jourdon and his wife were both slaves.

The letter was written in reply to Colonel P.H. Anderson’s (note the last name) request that Jourdon and his wife return to Big Spring, Tennessee to work for him. Needless to say, heading back to the old plantation was not high on Jourdon’s list of things to do.

I found myself cheering for a man long deceased…cheering for his family and hoping that they lived long and prospered. Hoping that his fighting spirit and beautiful wit live on in his descendents.

Follow me below the fold to read Jourdon’s letter in full…let me know if you find yourself rooting for him as well. /grin

Greetings Moose. Let me first wish all of you, and all of yours, Happy Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza/Festivus/New Year/Birthday (I’m sure I’ve missed several) and the best of wishes for many more. 2011 was an interesting year for my family…both the highs and the lows will mark it as a memorable one.

I am beyond excited to be here in 2012…not only because even numbered years are my friend, but because we get to work to see Obama to another term. Thus far, it seems to me that the Republicans vying to be his opponent are helping further our cause more than anyone or anything else.  Have you ever seen such a circus??

Despite the boost that Obama and the Democrats have gotten from the Republican antics of late, we WILL have to fight to see that Obama is a two term President.

It was during the 2008 battle to see a Democrat elected to the Presidency that most of us met…and I hope to find many ‘old-timers’ resurfacing to take up the fight again.  

I want to see Old Moose and New Moose (and Lurker Moose!) engaged in the battle. I want to hear about ‘feet on the ground’, phone banking, door knocking, yard signs, and bumperstickers. I want to hear about donations and voter registration drives. I want to hear about the discussions held around the family dinner table. I want to hear what Moose feel is worth fighting for…and what is worth fighting against.

We have less than a year before we find ourselves in the voting booth again…I want to be pulling the lever (er, touching the screen?) with the confidence that I did everything possible to see an Obama victory.

I want us ALL to have that confidence.

And I want every step…every action…every frustration…every happy moment…and, ultimately, the joy of victory…to be shared here.

Any takers?

Just another Manic Lazy Monday Sunday. I was poking about on the intertubes and came across another of the comical Bad Lip Reading clips. The ‘victims’ chosen, this time it is Herman Cain, certainly add to the laughs.

Laughs on a Sunday? Perfect fare for an Open Thread.

Lately I’ve been thinking about forgiveness and atonement. This is perhaps due to circumstances in my personal life, or perhaps due to the upcoming Yom Kippur. No, I am not Jewish…however, it is my favorite holiday of all the major religions (at least of the holidays I know of). A day of forgiveness and atonement would probably serve every community well…no matter the faith.

Actually, I’ve given thought to writing a diary on my thoughts pertaining to Yom Kippur. In pondering such a diary, other things have come to mind. Sayings, teachings, thoughts, and beliefs…some held as truths by me, some only observed as truths held by others.

Thinking on this quote:

You are not obligated to complete the task (of building a better world), but neither are you free to desist from the effort. – Pirkei Avot 2:21

…led my wandering mind to another saying that I’ve long held close. Follow me below the fold and I’ll share it with you.

For as much as moose love to engage in serious political and philosophical debate, frivolity is a favorite pastime of ours as well. Longtime moose have always known this, and it looks like the newcomers have cottoned onto our penchant for silliness pretty quickly.

Since we’ve been waxing serious off and on the last couple of days, I thought it was time for a totally mostly pointless, completely bizarre, and unmistakably silly…

Open Thread.

Seems Moose are chatty tonight, here is another Open Thread/Open House to welcome our visitors and friends (both new and old).

Many of you are aware of the rather large group of Kossacks who have decided to abstain from the GOS for a week.

I want us to roll out the purple carpet, hide polish the silver, and put on our Sunday best (yes, fog, that means pants too) to welcome any boycotters who decide to stop by for a visit.

Whether it is for a week’s vacation, or as a permanent home, I want to give a heartfelt “Welcome, make yourselves at home” to those seeking a respite from the flamewars.

So, Hurricane Irene is headed our way. Virginia Beach appears to be in her direct path and we are preparing accordingly. As I have prepped these past few days, I have had another hurricane in my thoughts. More than the storm itself, it is the days and weeks that followed that have been in mind.

Please indulge me a bit as I ramble below the fold.

So, Hurricane Irene is headed for our coast. She is projected to hit ‘somewhere’ between FL and VA (most likely in the Carolinas) this weekend.

Since we no longer have Pat Robertson here in Virginia Beach to pray away the hurricanes, I always get a bit nervous watching them bear down on our coast. I was in Charleston, SC for Hurricane Hugo…I will be perfectly content to never contend with such a storm again.

I know that Puerto Rico got a good dose of Irene, I hope that the family of our resident Boricua (talkin’ to you Spiff) came thru unscathed.

While dealing with hurricanes is always a fun part of living on the East Coast…today we got to experience something new and exciting.

A freakin’ earthquake.

More rockin’ and rollin’ below the fold…