Obama '08

I was pretty sure I was in favor of Barack Obama, but I have fully decided to support him after reading this speech that he delivered at an anti-war rally in Chicago on October 26, 2002.

Good afternoon. Let begin by saying that although this has been billed as an anti-war rally, I stand before you as someone who is not opposed to war in all circumstances.

The Civil War was one of the bloodiest in history, and yet it was only through the crucible of the sword, the sacrifice of multitudes, that we could begin to perfect this union, and drive the scourge of slavery from our soil.

I don’t oppose all wars.

My grandfather signed up for a war the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, fought in Patton's army. He saw the dead and dying across the fields of Europe; he heard the stories of fellow troops who first entered Auschwitz and Treblinka. He fought in the name of a larger freedom, part of that arsenal of democracy that triumphed over evil, and he did not fight in vain.

I don’t oppose all wars.

After September 11th, after witnessing the carnage and destruction, the dust and the tears, I supported this Administrations pledge to hunt down and root out those who would slaughter innocents in the name of intolerance, and I would willingly take up arms myself to prevent such tragedy from happening again.

I don’t oppose all wars.

And I know that in this crowd today, there is no shortage of patriots, or of patriotism.

What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz and other arm-chair, weekend warriors in this Administration to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne.

What I am opposed to is the attempt by political hacks like Karl Rove to distract us from a rise in the uninsured, a rise in the poverty rate, a drop in the median income - to distract us from corporate scandals and a stock market that has just gone thru the worst month since the Great Depression.

That’s what I'm opposed to. A dumb war. A rash war. A war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics.

Now let me be clear: I suffer no illusions about Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal man. A ruthless man. A man who butchers his own people to secure his own power. He has repeatedly defied UN resolutions, thwarted UN inspection teams, developed chemical and biological weapons, and coveted nuclear capacity. He’s a bad guy. The world, and the Iraqi people, would be better off without him.

But I also know that Saddam poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States, or to his neighbors, that the Iraqi economy is in shambles, that the Iraqi military a fraction of its former strength, and that in concert with the international community he can be contained until, in the way of all petty dictators, he falls away into the dustbin of history.

I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a US occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences.

I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the middle east, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of al-Qaeda.

I am not opposed to all wars. I’m opposed to dumb wars.

So for those of us who seek a more just and secure world for our children, let us send a clear message to the president today.

You want a fight, President Bush? Let’s finish the fight with Bin Laden and al-Qaeda, thru effective, coordinated intelligence, and a shutting down of the financial networks that support terrorism, and a homeland security program that involves more than color-coded warnings.

You want a fight, President Bush? Let’s fight to make sure that the UN inspectors can do their work, and that we vigorously enforce a non-proliferation treaty, and that former enemies and current allies like Russia safeguard and ultimately eliminate their stores of nuclear material, and that nations like Pakistan and India never use the terrible weapons already in their possession, and that the arms merchants in our own country stop feeding the countless wars that rage across the globe.

You want a fight, President Bush? Let’s fight to make sure our so-called allies in the Middle East, the Saudis and the Egyptians, stop oppressing their own people, and suppressing dissent, and tolerating corruption and inequality, and mismanaging their economies so that their youth grow up without education, without prospects, without hope, the ready recruits of terrorist cells.

You want a fight, President Bush? Let’s fight to wean ourselves off Middle East oil, through an energy policy that doesn't simply serve the interests of Exxon and Mobil.

Those are the battles that we need to fight. Those are the battles that we willingly join. The battles against ignorance and intolerance. Corruption and greed. Poverty and despair.

The consequences of war are dire, the sacrifices immeasurable. We may have occasion in our lifetime to once again rise up in defense of our freedom, and pay the wages of war. But we ought not - we will not - travel down that hellish path blindly. Nor should we allow those who would march off and pay the ultimate sacrifice, who would prove the full measure of devotion with their blood, to make such an awful sacrifice in vain.

2007 Music Posts

So I was hoping to start a little discussion in the comments with the top albums of 2007 posts that I wrote. Are there any albums that I didn't include that you really liked? Is there anything on my list that you didn't like? What am I missing? Let me know what you think.

Top Albums of 2007: 10-1

10. Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals - Lifeline - This album might have the best production of the year for one simple reason. It was made completely with analog equipment in only a week. No computers or Pro tools, the programs that allows producers to help Britney sing, Rhianna "hit" a certain note, or Cher sound like a cyborg. The result is an album with a warm, classic sound that can't be replicated by modern digital methods. It isn't BHIC's best album, but it is a welcome alternative to the Nickelback and Hinders out there.

9. Okkervil River - The Stage Names - The sound of this album could possibly described as a mix of Spoon and the Kings of Leon (two bands on this list), with an extra helping of agony and heartache. Fortunately, the music steered clear of emo territory, and the album delivers solid passionate music.

8. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - Everyone rips on the title of this album, but I like it. One more "Ga" would have been excessive though. The solid, churning rhythm section of Spoon provide the base for the pomp and swagger of the guitar, vocals and other musical flourishes. Listen to this before heading out on the town to boost your feelings of self importance.

7. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver - I don't know what it is about this album, but it has really grown on me. The beats and melodies in each song are woven together extremely well and only the end of "Us V Them" is grating. "North American Scum" sounds like a glorious mixture of David Bowie, Lou Reed, and Fatboy Slim.

6. Feist - The Reminder - Unless you have somehow avoided listening to TV commercials or VH1 this year, you will know her song "1234". If you like the song, you will likely enjoy this album. If you don't like the song, there is still a good chance that you will like this album. The songs are quite diverse in style and pace with upbeat pop/rock, lovely ballads, and a crazily ecstatic cover of Nina Simone's Sea Lion Woman. I find myself selecting this album on my Ipod more than I consciously would expect.

5. The Shins - Wincing the Night Away - I have heard and read mixed reviews about this album, but The Shins have received so much post "Garden State" and "Chutes Too Narrow" hype that I think it was impossible to meet the expectations for this album. Yet, I still think it is a damn fine album, and if you like their past work, you will enjoy this album too.

4. The National - Boxer - Singer Matt Beringer's baritone provides a melancholy mood, and adds additional depth to the complexity of the songs, which feature subtle layers of horns, strings, and piano. The songs are well crafted, revealing a band that is extremely comfortable with their craft and knows exactly the sound they want to create. An very rewarding album.

3. Kings of Leon - Because of the Times - This album flat out rocks. KoL picked up a few things while opening for U2's Vertigo tour. They have expanded the range of their sound, but still have the fast paced drumming and catchy guitar riffs as their previous albums. You feel like you should be drinking Jack Daniels while listening to this album. And that is a good thing.

2. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible - This album is strangely uplifting. The lyrics are full of fear and paranoia and the music loaded with tension, however, an undercurrent of jubilation and vitality runs throughout the album...kind of like a Radiohead album...

1. Radiohead - In Rainbows - This was the best five pounds I spent all year. As you have likely heard, Radiohead released this album on their own via their website. Fans were allowed to choose how much they wanted to pay for the album. Of course, new bands don't have the power or fanbase to skip the record labels and (mass) release an album on their own, but Radiohead are in a position where they no longer need the label execs. Plus, they received more advertising pulling such a "stunt" than they would have otherwise received. As intelligent as their music.

Iraq Civilian Death Toll

Separate reports from the Iraq Health Minister and the World Health Organization put the civilian death toll due to the Iraq War at approximately 150,000. These numbers reflect violent deaths. These numbers do not include the increase in the mortality rate due to other effects of the war, such as regular power outages, a decrease in health care, and poor sanitation and drinking water.

Happy Birthday

I know how much Ali likes to read this blog, so I thought I would wish her a Happy Birthday. She normally surfs on over to WAIA between naps and checking out either doggie porn or her favorite cat chasing chat rooms. She had visit to the vet today after cutting her foot during a birthday bender last night. I think she drank a little too much Jack Russell Whiskey, and took advantage of our neighbor, Doogie Schnauzer. I thought the poor fella had been neutered, but that didn't seem to stop Ali. Rogan was a little jealous this morning, but I am sure he will get over it. It's not like he hasn't had his way with Doogie before. So Happy Birthday Ali! You are six years young!

Top Albums of 2007: 20-11

20. (tie) Panda Bear - Person Pitch and Caribou - Andorra - I grouped these two together, as they both have sounds reminiscent of the 60s (but with heavy, modern production techniques), both are named after animals, and both are drummers turned solo artists. Each have a few annoying moments that can be typical of electronica, but not too many. Andorra is immediately catchy, while Person Pitch takes a few extra listens to sink in, which makes me think that I may enjoy it more in the long run.

19. Peter, Bjorn, and John - Writer's Block - Swedish Indie Pop! PB&J have some great melodies, which you will find yourself unwittingly whistling or humming around the house. "Amsterdam" can be a little irritating, but "Young Folks" uses the whistled melody to meld the vocals and rhythm into a pop treat.

18. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights - This album features funk and soul music reminiscent of the 60s, however, Sharon and the Kings don't sound like someone trying to copy acts from that era. Rather, they sound like a group that plays great music with a vintage sound.

17. Eddie Vedder - Into the Wild - This is the soundtrack for the film "Into the Wild". The movie is based on the book of the same name by Jon Krakauer. I haven't seen the movie, but have read the book, which tells about the journey of Christopher McCandless to the wilderness of Alaska, and his eventual death. I have only listened to this album once through, and the music matches my memory of the story. The songs are fairly bare, which allow Eddie's voice to convey the emotion of the music (with only a few billy goat croons).

16. Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero - This a scifi concept album about a United States that is ruled by a totalitarian regime. While it has the beats and hooks that you can expect from a NIN album, this album returns to classic NIN form, as you actually believe the feelings and emotion of Trent Reznor's vocals. The "rage" of his past couple albums felt a little contrived. An album that topped my expectations.

15. Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew - Spirit If - Yeah, I don't get the whole "presents" labeling either. Basically, it is saying that this is almost a solo album by Kevin Drew, one of the core members of BSS, with lots of others involved. Drew still manages to write some gorgeous songs with lyrics that don't really fit the beauty of the music ("Tbtf"). Still, it somehow works, and he elicits various emotions throughout the album.

14. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank - Not as good as some of MM's previous albums, but I liked the addition of former Smith's guitarist Johnny Marr. Apparently they were searching for a guitarist who had a sound similar to Marr, when Marr contacted them to say he was interested in the job.

13. Jay-Z - American Gangster - Jay-Z viewed an advance copy of the movie by the same name, and was inspired to create this album. He played the movie on a constant loop in the background while recording the album. The album features some smooth seventies samples and eighties style beats. And Jay-Z's rhymes are back, making one largely forget about the crapfest that was his last album.

12. White Stripes - Icky Thump - This album is a nice blend of garage rock and the blues, with a touch of the 70's added. Jack and Meg continue to put out solid rocking tunes. Plus, they sound like they are having a good time doing it.

11. Bruce Springsteen - Magic - This sound of this album isn't that far from the albums that Bruce and the E-Street band put out in the 80s (maybe it is the sax), but the lyrics are all about today, with Bruce singing about his relationships and the state of America. This should probably be in the top ten, but I haven't had enough time to listen to it and fully appreciate the all of the songs.

Happy New Year!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year! I had a great break from work. We headed over to Meeker to spend a few days with Cherilyn's family. We ate tons, went sledding, and saw her brother preach. While in Meeker, we stayed with Ellen and Dan in their lovely home. We then headed to GJ to see my family. We ate more, watched Planet Earth and British comedies on Irwin's new TV, and had Christmas dinner with Shanks' clan. After that it was a few more days of rest and relaxation before my last day at Walsh. It was a little sad to say goodbye to so many wonderful people, but I am excited about starting something new. Things are going to be crazy for awhile with the new job, but I am a third of the way through a post on the best albums of 2007. I will try to write whenever I get the chance.