Non-Fiction

The Genius of Impeachment, by John Nichols, New Press 2006, pp 230.

This is NOT a book Review. Although I did what should be done to make one. For example, discovering the background of the author, considering other books on the subject, and wondering what type of reader might be interested in it.

Since John Nichols is widely known for articles in the Nation online and has gained more recognition after appearing with Bruce Fein on Bill Moyers’ Journal on July 13, I really wanted to know what makes Nichols so interested. His editorials in Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin) were known to me. I found the one which defined the issue and the writer for me. It begins:
“John Nichols — 7/31/2007 10:21 am In 1957, a McCarthy-free morning in America
Fifty years ago today, Wisconsinites awoke to the end of the McCarthy era.” If ever there was a devious ploy in American politics that colored my future, it was McCarthyism. So it was refreshing to understand how someone felt about having Tailgunner Joe as Wisconsin’s Senator.

Books about impeachment are usually not about the process and beg clarity concerning its long history. This book covers both topics in such an interesting way that many could read it just to enlighten themselves. Surviving lengthy investigations for Nixon and Clinton impeachments, I wondered how (and also why) a full scale investigation of George W. Bush’s actions could come in time to reach resolution before the next presidential election. High crimes and misdemeanors are already evident. Nichols lays out how it could happen and explains that the instigating party gains from the attempt. His most salient reason (the why) is what led me to advocate for impeachment of the current President, Vice-President, and Attorney General if necessary.

Previously posted at barackobama.com

The sister, all of about 10 years old, marched right up to the folding table Andrew had set up near the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for cherry blossom weekend.

Standing rod straight in her rose-colored t-shirt, 3 inches of braids sticking out, one to left and one to right, and with her chin up, she demanded of us in a brassy, matter-of-fact tone, "What are you DOING, here?"

Her younger brother, about 7 years old, crushed up behind his big sister and peered around at us.

"We're registering people to vote", Andrew replied gently, looking eye-to-eye with his young inquisitor, who then declared to Andrew in the same clear brassy tone, "I can't vote". her statement wasn't wistful, not in the least, but rather in the vein of "So what use are you to me, then?".

Andrew said, "We are part of a group who supports Barack Obama for president".

Little Miss Brass, instantly: "Who's THAT?"

There was a substantial pause as Andrew and i contemplated how to describe our candidate to a 10 year old. I scrambled about, looking for Barack's image on something, found him atop a copy of the banner atop our website, a bit distorted from being stretched and thinned, and said, "This guy, right here".

Little Miss Brass braced herself with both hands on the table and leaned over toward me to make out our candidate's picture. A moment of silence ensued, as it registered that the candidate sported her same skin hue.

Convetional writers want to think of bloggers as amateurs or wanna-bes but nothing is farther from the truth.

First wave bloggers went to the net to publish what conventional media outlets would not allow them to make public. Publishing books is seen as a logical extension of their already professional vocation. Writing is writing, whether on a blog or a book and these bloggers prove the point; though writing a blog is not the same as writing a book.

I think it was Markos of DailyKos (and co-author of "Crashing The Gates") who told me once that writing a book was far harder than blogging on a daily basis. Both practices are not interchangeable.

The varied quality of the bloggers books on this list prove the point. Which is why "Crashing" will prove to most a better read than "Washingtonniene". Just saying.

So take a peek at some of the best books published by bloggers in the past years. Grab a couple or three as gifts and spread the blogospheric cheer.

My campus is sponsoring a national contest. Here are the details.

Fundamentally Speaking

A Contest

What are the fundamentals?

This academic year, speakers have come to the Cortland campus to talk about religion, politics, science, literature, and teaching. They have or will address the issue of “fundamentals” as anything from intractable law to literal truth to cold, hard facts.

But what is a fundamental(ist)(ism)?

We invite college students to explore the issue of fundamentalism in creative form, and offer prizes of $250 for each of three categories:

PROSE: Essays may be fiction or non-fiction. 2000-word maximum.

ART: Photography, painting, digital images, drawing, collage, cartoons. All “still” art media welcome. Please submit artwork on cd or as image file.

VIDEO AND ANIMATION: Original work only (no montages of copyrighted images). All moving art pieces welcome—Flash, Video, etc.

DEADLINE: MARCH 1, 2007

SUBMIT ENTRIES TO: neovox.submissions@gmail.com

Additional details available at Neo Vox

This contest is sponsored by ) NeoVox, the student online magazine and the SUNY Cortland Cultural and Intellectual Climate Committee.

Any college student is welcome to submit.

J.A.S. Collin de Plancy. Dictionnaire Infernal. Paris : E. Plon, 1863. Page 71.

Potential new freedoms often first become visible in practices within the ruling group itself. Since existing prohibitions are imposed by this group, its members are the first to violate those prohibitions when it suits them. That is one of the few freedoms reserved to a group whose relationship to other people is inherently perverse; it is marked by dominance just as are gender relations within the ruling group itself. Any freedoms appropriated by the ruling group must necessarily become perverse—to that extent, at least, its members remain human.

(Theweleit, op cit)

I know I'm supposed to be happy that the New York Times finally noticed that the Republicrats are not just against abortion, they actually hate sex, but the happiness is bittersweet. I feel like the crackpot who's been marching around the public square with the big sign that says, "The End is Near." And now, the fucking world is caving in and I'm proven right.

Or maybe I'm just taking myself way too damn seriously.

Pam has made me not only laugh out loud but also pay a visit to Ex-Gay Watch, not only one of my all time favorite political blogs, but one of the first blogs I reviewed back when I used to publish my TypePad metablog, the now defunct Typepadistas.

[via Ex-Gay Watch: "Vagina" A Dirty Word Over At Agape]:

A recent article over at the Agapepress about the Vagina Monologues did not once spell out the full word "vagina," instead substituting the letter "V" on every reference to the play. I was curious what other words might have slid past the AgapeCensors in past articles:

Sodomy, as well as Sodomize
Anal Sex
Vibrator
Orgy
Rimming
Penis
Sex Club as well as Bathhouse
"gay.com"
And lastly my personal favorite, Gay Bowel Syndrome

Go read the whole thing because all these words have links to other articles and Google searches. It makes for a fun read.