The Filibuster: now painless and more convenient than ever!
From Daily Kos:
“So why aren’t the papers reporting on the Republican intransigence
in the Senate? Why aren’t they telling everyone how they’re ordering
troops stressed to the breaking point back into combat while they busy
themselves smoothing their pocket squares? Why aren’t they publishing
screaming headlines about the sheer gall of yesterday’s Republican
filibuster?
“Because there was no Republican filibuster. That’s why.”
Read the rest here. It’s pathetic.
Powered by ScribeFire.
September 21st, 2007 at 2:44 PM
I hope that there’s a big blank space in future history books covering this decade, with the phrase “Nothing noteable happened here.” It’s really the only thing that would make me happy.
September 22nd, 2007 at 5:32 AM
Dear Steve
I asked about your website because I like the green layout of it very much! It looks great.
I wanted to ask you in which word processor you type your work/stories. I read quite a few comic writer’s blogs constantly, yours, Mark Evanier and Len Wein’s, as much as I can, and it doesn’t strike me that the three of you provide me the most insigthful, interesting, witty and intelligent things I read as far as social commentary and thoughts on art and current life go.
We, comic book readers, always knew we are a special part of society! There is a steep price to pay, but I think its worth it!
I said that half joking, but its also true that people like me, who have grown up reading comics from the 70s and 80s have a different view of life.
I grew up in São Paulo, Brasil, reading comics that were written by you (and others) in the 70s, those were published in Brasil in the mid 80s (I was born in 77) and I definitely think that much of my view of the world has been shaped by the way your comics and the comics of your generation portraied and commented the world. I think you are a part of a special generation of artists that made different things with the comic book media and I think the readers of that era are also, because of you guys, people with a slight ‘strange’ view of the world. Just thinking out loud really, but it is an impression I have.
I also would like to ask what is your work process to actually outline your stories. Do you sit down and figure the whole plot in a large outline and then later your script it or do you type and build up the story as you go?
If you don’t have time to reply to these questions don’t worry at all. I understand.
Oh and Happy Birthday! Shame on your friend for not showing up and having the opportunity to have a coffee and speak with you, one of the most interesting and gifted writers comics have had, in my opinion at least!
Very best and speak to you soon, Steve!
Please forgive and english mistakes. As you know, it’s not my first language…
Joaquim
September 22nd, 2007 at 11:55 AM
Joaquim: Thanks very much for the kind words. You’ve raised a lot of interesting questions, so many that I’m not even going to try to answer them now, but rather ask for your patience, so that I can use your comment as the basis for a longer post sometime in the next couple of weeks.
I will say this, though: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY WRITER — EVER — FOR ANY REASON — SEEK TO EMULATE MY WORK METHODS!
I don’t even want to emulate my work methods!
September 22nd, 2007 at 12:15 PM
A leader who ignores the overwhelming disapproval of the American public, will not heed any criticism, fails to enforce the law, stubbornly refuses to change a discredited strategy that clearly isn’t working while Americans die needlessly, and who defines “victory” in ever more narrow terms with each new defeat — that’s Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi in a nutshell.
September 22nd, 2007 at 12:15 PM
P.S.: I’m deeply concerned I might be emulating your work methods without knowing it. Please describe said work methods to us in sufficient detail that we can take steps to avoid them if necessary.
September 23rd, 2007 at 9:10 PM
It’s simple: In America we have two parties, one that loves to fight, and one that gives up its lunch money on the threat of a fight. Even when they have the other team outnumbered. And the teachers are watching. And about 60% of the school says “We’ve got your back.”
September 24th, 2007 at 3:05 AM
There’s an argument to be made for the Dems not ending the Iraq war: namely, that it’s the role they were intended to play.
From the beginning there was no real intention of “winning” the war; if there had been, Rummy wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to throw out the Pentagon’s war plan — the one that actually accounted for all those contingencies that subsequently came to pass — and the so-called permanent bases they’re building wouldn’t currently be running the risk of going up in flames whenever someone runs the microwave in the kitchen.
No, the war was started simply to acquire the power that accrues to the executive in time of war, plus the money that accrues to contractors to replace destroyed equipment, with the narrative intent of blaming the Dems for “losing” it when they finally had the moral gumption to end it, thus allowing Republican recapture of the government in not more than four years. Politically it’s a no-lose scenario.
Thus it would make more sense for the Dems to pretend they don’t have enough votes to end the war, and let it play out to the collapse of the army at the hands of the Republican Party by 2012. Sure, they might lose control of the Congress again in 2008, but there’s no real down side to that: the minority party still gets stroked by lobbyists and doesn’t actually have to accomplish anything.
September 26th, 2007 at 3:55 AM
Want a gig doing Superman? Pitch a 6 issue “Superman Vs. Hitler” Miniseries. Its out of continuity so you could get away with a heck of a lot of stuff. Get back to his roots. Maybe even take a few shots at Dubya while you’re at it.
cheers!
Doc
September 26th, 2007 at 4:50 AM
As I often said I don’t understand the american goverment system but this sounds as if you have a bunch of lazy buerocrates as senators but that is something I can’t belive. There has to be another reason that there has been no real filibuster.