by Japhy Grant on August 18, 2010
We’ve become a nation beholden to idiots and it’s about time we do something about it. America has a long and cherished history of anti-intellectualism. Sarah Palin’s exhortation to ‘Mama Grizzlies’ is not all that different from Davey Crockett’s folksy speeches made on the floor of Congress when he was a U.S. Representative. And both left office to pursue book deals.
The similarity ends there, however. Where Crockett’s earthy likability worked in the service of liberty and personal justice for minorities (he supported squatters rights, opposed Indian removal policies), our new national class of Dumb-Dumbs are pushing an incendiary nativism that has to be stopped. They represent a direct threat to democracy, security and personal freedom. In the past year, it’s become clear that the choice is not between left and right, but stupidity and knowledge. It’s time to decide which side you’re on. [click to continue…]
by japhy grant on June 16, 2010
Barack Obama on Tuesday.
There’s a giant glob of oil in my Kool-Aid.
Like many of the young voters who helped catapult Barack Obama to the White House, I have a growing sense that the President (my President) is hopelessly out of touch, no matter how many twitters, Facebook posts and email newsletters he sends my way. Minutes after the President’s first Oval Office address, like clockwork, I got my pep talk email from Mitch Stewart, Director of Organizing for America, subject line: ”Japhy, will you stand with the President?”
Mitch and I are great friends, even if the relationship is a bit one-sided. Mitch emails me every time the President has a major policy address or is about to pass some major legislation and he reminds me of how awesome Barack Obama is (“The President presented a vision of a future where we as a nation are not held hostage by our dependence on fossil fuels”) and then Mitch asks me if I’ll sign a petition saying, ‘Yes, I think Barack Obama is awesome.’ If I do sign the petition, I’m asked nicely if I’d like to donate to the DNC, which I never do because I’m poor and hate political parties.
But I like Barack Obama. Or, at least I used to. [click to continue…]
by japhy grant on March 22, 2010
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday. Charles Dharapak/AP
Who would have ever though that C-SPAN could rival ESPN March Madness in terms of crowds, angry team members and pure testosterone? There we all were last night, glued to the procedural votes and parliamentary procedure of the Health Care Reform Bill like a nation of first year debate team captains.
But when the air cleared and the last motions to recommit were defeated, the horserace of politics melted away as we all recognized the importance of this moment in the history of this country. That doesn’t happen much in politics anymore and more than anyone, it was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who made it all happen. Getting rid of Deem & Pass? Pelosi. The Stupak compromise? Pelosi.
Last night, we were treated to the sight of House Democrats pumping their fists in the air, shouting, ‘Yes, We Can!, Yes, We Can!’, but I imagine in the White House, Barack Obama was saying to himself, ‘Yes, She Did.’ [click to continue…]
