Jakebnto's blog http://www.correntewire.com/blog/133/atom/feed 2007-04-15T09:37:43-04:00 Bush's Commerce Secretary and Irony http://www.correntewire.com/bushs_commerce_secretary_and_irony 2008-02-21T10:26:33-05:00 2008-02-21T10:26:33-05:00 Jakebnto Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary of Commerce, on the Diane Rhem show on Tues and speaking about Cuba. From his mouth to the Republican Party's ears: (paraphrasing)

"We support the people of Cuba and recognize that their economic position is dire, but we will not provide to the Cuban governnment the means to act against our interests."

So in the meantime people suffer but that's just too bad - America's geopolitical interests trump all.

Does this not sound like the Democrats position wrt Bush's effort to prolong the occupation of Iraq? Except, of course, that part where it is actually Republican interests that are served in Iraq, not American interests.

Come to think of it, that's probably true about Cuba as well.

Jake

]]> Feminists, controversy and privilege http://www.correntewire.com/feminists_controversy_and_privilege 2008-01-08T22:37:26-05:00 2008-01-08T22:37:26-05:00 Jakebnto I've been reading over at Feministing. I admit to being all but unlettered in Feminist history and thought. I have what I consider to be a grounding in basic humanity (we are all human beings, there are power issues, our experience of life is both singularly mysterious and completely shared) but that doesn't really qualify me to comment upon Jessica's call for essays to fill a new book she is preparing. I think the call itself is interesting, while the proposed title is confusing and awkward - so awkward that Jessica and Jaclyn have had their heads handed to them by whole hosts of self described feminist blogs.

]]> Ending the Bush regime http://www.correntewire.com/ending_the_bush_regime 2007-07-08T14:27:56-04:00 2007-07-08T14:27:56-04:00 Jakebnto I've been thinking about what to do with the leftovers of the Bush regime when that swinging door finally hits him on the ass on the way out. This

]]> What'd you say, Kermit? Are you smoking something? http://www.correntewire.com/whatd_you_say_kermit_are_you_smoking_something 2007-07-06T14:21:20-04:00 2007-07-06T14:21:20-04:00 Jakebnto Kermit (not that Kermit, Kermit Roosevelt, a professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania) in this Christian Science Monitor article says the Roberts court agreed with the public in this latest flurry of 5/4 decisions; that in fact, the court provides a "mirror" in which we can see ourselves.

]]> A soon to be dead woman http://www.correntewire.com/a_soon_to_be_dead_woman 2007-05-27T21:34:00-04:00 2007-05-27T21:34:00-04:00 Jakebnto Here you find a 29 year old Afghani woman who is not long for this world. She says she does not foresee a long life. I believe her.

Malalai Joya

]]> The Golden Compass, the sequel http://www.correntewire.com/the_golden_compass_the_sequel 2007-05-27T20:45:47-04:00 2007-05-27T20:45:47-04:00 Jakebnto Following after an earlier post by lambert.

Ok, so I read the trilogy - more thoughts maybe later.

For now:

]]> More thoughts on April spending and consumer credit http://www.correntewire.com/more_thoughts_on_april_spending_and_consumer_credit 2007-05-11T14:17:35-04:00 2007-05-11T14:25:04-04:00 Jakebnto Kevin Drum points out that "....Retail sales in April were down 2.4%, "the most wretched year-over-year showing by major retailers since the International Council of Shopping Centers began tracking the data in 1970," according to the LA Times."

]]> About young women and boob shots http://www.correntewire.com/about_young_women_and_boob_shots 2007-05-09T17:21:06-04:00 2007-05-09T17:21:06-04:00 Jakebnto Now that I have your attention, think about this from Time via Kevin Drum:

]]> NPR this morning http://www.correntewire.com/npr_this_morning 2007-05-08T09:33:37-04:00 2007-05-08T09:53:57-04:00 Jakebnto 2 thoughts -

1) April consumer credit is way up, the highest since Nov, and a total surprise to everyone who should know. Nov is right before Christmas, so that is naturally a high spot. What happens in April?

]]> Hate Speech from the pulpit http://www.correntewire.com/hate_speech_from_the_pulpit 2007-05-04T13:59:05-04:00 2007-05-04T13:59:05-04:00 Jakebnto Odd, this.

From the May 4 Daily Oklahoman, the OKC paper.

Fri May 4, 2007
Hate crime bill OK'd

Chris Casteel
Washington Bureau

]]>
 Who first brought "nazi" into current mainstream discussion? http://www.correntewire.com/who_first_brought_nazi_into_current_mainstream_discussion 2007-05-04T09:02:43-04:00 2007-05-04T09:02:43-04:00 Jakebnto I think it was Rush, with his "feminazi".

]]> Media Consolidation http://www.correntewire.com/media_consolidation 2007-04-26T09:40:57-04:00 2007-04-26T09:40:57-04:00 Jakebnto I've been reading Paul Starr's "Freedom's Power", and while I have a ways to go yet, one thing has already struck me forcibly - the rise of the authoritarian right was aided by media consolidation.

]]> I just KNEW that women have it better than men!!! http://www.correntewire.com/i_just_knew_that_women_have_it_better_than_men 2007-04-17T15:12:35-04:00 2007-04-17T15:12:35-04:00 Jakebnto SciAm has a blog article on sex and arousal. It seems that women are more or less equally turned on by images of men or women, without regard to their stated orientation.

]]> Isn't it really all about us white men? http://www.correntewire.com/isnt_it_really_all_about_us_white_men 2007-04-15T13:00:50-04:00 2007-04-15T13:00:50-04:00 Jakebnto I followed xan's link to Hecate's post about a Twisty post. Then I went to ilykadamen- Occasionally Conversations with my man are Instructive to read her discussion on men who get upset (or even pissed off) at being lumped in with the mother rapers, and the father rapers, and all the other occupants of the W bench.

]]> Was Pelosi's visit to Syria a public relations disaster? http://www.correntewire.com/was_pelosis_visit_to_syria_a_public_relations_disaster 2007-04-15T09:37:43-04:00 2007-04-15T09:37:43-04:00 Jakebnto Tom Bevan, Real Clear Politics, The Pelosi Effect?

writes that Pelosi's Syrian adventure was her first real public relations disaster. He then wonders if it will effect Clinton's race.

My question - was it really a public relations disaster? I am too biased - I don't believe anything the Bush admin says, and I don't believe ANY right wing opinionaters - so while I judge that Pelosi did well, it is entirely possible that my judgment is skewed. Did Pelosi piss off anyone other than the vrwnm?

Jake

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