I feel like I should explain myself.

By Matt Armstrong

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

The picture to the left is literally where I'm spending next weekend.

There has been a dearth of ideas flitting across my brain these past few weeks. It's frustrating, because frankly the dead gray pile of worms in my head usually acts as a spastic furnace of ridiculous ideas I will never follow through on, or can't find the time to flesh out with words or pictures. Usually I can peruse any number of alt news sites, or talk to my fiance for a few minutes and we can get a conversation up enough to publish something. But lately... lately, there just hasn't been anything. I don't know for sure, but I have a few ideas why I haven't had any, well, uh, ideas.

1. I'm sick of the news. Every major story developing right now isn't being reported from my, or at least an interesting, point of view. Everybody freaking out about how long the primary's are going? Acting like it's damaging the democratic party beyond repair? The situation is precisely the opposite. The democratic race is the presidential race this year, no more. The American people will not allow a Republican in office this time around, that is for sure. The terrifying part is, that we have a Democratic candidate that's as foolish and conservative as the foolish conservative, and then the other one spending all of his time withering his lead trying to defend himself against the pastor slings and elitist arrows of campaigning. However you look at it, the presidential race is over as soon as the democratic nominee is decided, or as I've called it, as soon as Hillary uses the nuclear option of legally influencing super delegates to her side.

I pray I'm wrong.

2. God dammit, stop saying that someone got, "Thrown under the bus". Please. It's a stupid cliche, birthed from the blogosphere. Plus, I'm more than a little concerned about how the bus metaphor come up during the first black presidential campaign.

3. The economy's tanking! AAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!! You know what? I rent and save, and that shit's controlled. I don't drive. I live in a fucking incredible city with my work, my life, my bars, my grocery store (more later), and my entertainment within walking and biking distance. It's like a village in Western Europe, with more cursing and Animal Planet! However, there are some employers that are starting to panic, and that's a true shame. But most of those employers were the ones that were undergoing uncontrolled growth in the first place (read:Starbucks, chain stores, box stores, etc.). So what, how's my life different? Not at all, really. Except for how expensive things are now, which leads to...

4. Food shortages!!!! AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!! No there aren't. Everything is more expensive because gas costs more, that's it. You think Orange Juice got expensive, try scoring drugs. Good news, though: this leads to a totally awesome side effect. Those hoidy toidy farmer's market veggies? Those hippie ass local meats, foods, and distributors? Guess what, that's the cheap stuff now, thanks to oil going beyond peak, the wild flailing of the companies price gouging their way into a safe retirement for the last generation. So, because of prohibitive fuel prices, we have to support local industry & farms, and save money in the process. Oh NOES!!! It just takes a little more interest in your shopping, finding the farmer's markets, joining the co-ops, meeting the people that kill your meat. You'll be fine, and your family will be better off for it.

5. Last one I promise. How is Iran a threat to liberty? Last I checked, there was a direct line between Saudi Arabian oil fields and the European trade routes we rely on to keep that cheap dino juice coming our way. That line passed from the Saudi's, through Iraq, into Iran, and then into Eastern Europe to us. Am I naive in thinking how transparent the war drive is, basically being a war with everyone that stands in the way of our oil?

Huh! Look at that. I had things to write about after all. I thought I was frustrated and/or depressed. Turns out I'm just pissed off! Hoo-ray!!!

-m@

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Posted by Shinta (anonymous) on May 13, 2008 at 2:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

1. It's still somewhat entertaining for me to see the media handle the yellow pantsuit nightmare. I suggest you supplement your news viewing with more Daily Show.

2. My favorite was the guy on Fox that was like "the Reverend Wright controversy will forever be hung around Obama's neck ... (then cringes) ... I mean, his feet ... I mean, anyway."

3. Go you

4. This one isn't really about the US. Myanmar for example though, is like catastrophically, record-breakingly fucked.

5. I feel the same way, but shit is going down and it doesn't look good. Lebanon is walking the tight rope between civil war and something else that sucks. Hezbollah is becoming more and more bold and have strong ties to Iran. The funniest part is that when we pull out of Iraq, which we absolutely have to, Iran will gain an even stronger position of power in the region; and no, if we stay it just delays the inevitable consequences of our colossal fuckup. Israel will flip the fuck out and we will back them no matter what. This is all a "what if" still but shit's happening that's not just make believe.

Posted by OtherJoel (anonymous) on May 13, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"The American people will not allow a Republican in office this time around"

I'm not so sure. McCain has come a long way since he started the primary, and now he's biding his time to pounce. The only reason the Dems are getting all the media attention is b/c there's nothing to report on McCain. Yet.

"or as I've called it, as soon as Hillary uses the nuclear option of legally influencing super delegates to her side."

Since her huge loss in NC and narrow victory in Indiana, it's not looking good for Clinton. Many of the superdelegates are moving to Obama's side, and even if she got the Michigan and Florida delegations seated, it would be very unlikely that she could win it.

I do think Obama will be the Democratic candidate (Russert called it, therefore it must be true), but while this once was the Democrats' race to lose, I do think it could get ugly in the fall. And I do think that this is a result of the nasty battle between Clinton and Obama. Americans have short attention spans. I fear Obama's momentum could fizzle in the coming months. He's already starting to look more vulnerable.

As for the other shit, I commute and own a home (that I hope to sell in the next year -- we'll see how that goes). So I'm probably fucked.

Posted by OnShakedown (Chris Tackett) on May 13, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

@matt, I've been hard-pressed to write anything lately, either. The Obama/Clinton stuff is just agravating as f*ck. Everything's been said anyhow. I'll hopefully figure out what I really think about all the other stuff soon and get something posted. Until then, here here.

Posted by matt (Matt Armstrong) on May 13, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Another thing that I forgot to offer up about Iran, and this is just food for thought, is that isn't Iran's relationship with China just like ours with the Saudi's? Why would we want to mess with that? Any action we take would limit their fuel capacity, which would drive the cost up in China, which would drive up their cost of goods sold, of which we're the primary consumer, thusly driving up prices here. Or am I totally off track here? I mean, I haven't had half the edumacation the president has, or the other hawks calling for war without stating their reason (Yellow Pantsuit, for example).

Also, I really hope that no one reads the comment about where and how I live and not being effected by the growing economic trouble as being better off or superior in any way. I just feel lucky to be in the situation I am in.

Posted by OtherJoel (anonymous) on May 13, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"I just feel lucky to be in the situation I am in."

Can't blame you there. I hope to be a cycling apartment-dweller in a new city in about a year myself, but a lot has to happen to get me there (mainly the home sale).

Posted by chewyfally (Falestine Afani Ruzik) on May 13, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"You think Orange Juice got expensive, try scoring drugs."

LOL!!
I just about fell out of my seat!

Posted by monkeywrench (Tim vonHolten) on May 13, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

henry adams said "there is no such thing as an underestimate of average intelligence." i swore people were smart enough not to allow bush in office again, and wow.

that being said, there has NEVER been a president that did anything that affected me in a positive way. EVER. politics doesn't allow altruism. it's like professional tennis—you don't get anywhere unless you start out with money.

Posted by md_pinks (anonymous) on May 14, 2008 at 12:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

NEVER....really?

Posted by monkeywrench (Tim vonHolten) on May 14, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

really.

Posted by monkeywrench (Tim vonHolten) on May 14, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

actually, there have been sporadic attempts at distraction, but no long-term benefits.

Posted by OnShakedown (Chris Tackett) on May 14, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

tim, you've got to be kidding. that's crazy if you actually believe that. GI Bill? Helped get my pops where he is, which helped me get where I am. Might not be your experience though...how about the National Park system? Interstate highways? Have made for some pleasant vacations for me. Not your thing?

are you taking a libertarian view and saying all that would have been accomplished even w/o a prez leading the way? perhaps, but as we sit today, you're benefiting from all that whether you realize it or not.

I feel like I should explain myself.

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