Thursday, September 28, 2006
Habeas Corpus
The United States Constitution, Article I, Section 9:
There is no rebellion. There is no invasion.
Shame on every Senator who voted yes today.
The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
There is no rebellion. There is no invasion.
Shame on every Senator who voted yes today.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Dog Whistle Politics
Recently, George W. Bush made a rather odd remark about Iraq:
This seems both odd and offensive, until you realize that it's another example of "Dog Whistle Politics", a code phrase designed to be understood by his right-wing base, but not necessarily by anyone else.
According to The Agonist:
He did the same thing during the 2004 debates, using a reference to the Dred Scott decision as a code for Roe v. Wade.
Thanks to Avedon Carol of The Sideshow for posting the link, as well as a link to this illustration.
Someone should be keeping track of these things, and making sure that everyone understands what the President is really saying, whether he wants most of us to understand him or not. (Possibly someone already is.)
UPDATE: Bush is still talking about commas.
I like to tell people when the final history is written on Iraq, it will look like just a comma because there is -- my point is, there’s a strong will for democracy.
This seems both odd and offensive, until you realize that it's another example of "Dog Whistle Politics", a code phrase designed to be understood by his right-wing base, but not necessarily by anyone else.
According to The Agonist:
The phrase is: "Never put a period where God has put a comma." Which is to say - it ain't over yet, and God may well make it better. So Iraq's bad, but if we trust in God, he'll make it better.
He did the same thing during the 2004 debates, using a reference to the Dred Scott decision as a code for Roe v. Wade.
Thanks to Avedon Carol of The Sideshow for posting the link, as well as a link to this illustration.
Someone should be keeping track of these things, and making sure that everyone understands what the President is really saying, whether he wants most of us to understand him or not. (Possibly someone already is.)
UPDATE: Bush is still talking about commas.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
A bit of family history
North Dakota's Last Lynching.
Sheriff Syvert Thompson, who tried (and failed) to stop the lynching, was my paternal grandfather. He died before I was born.
Sheriff Syvert Thompson, who tried (and failed) to stop the lynching, was my paternal grandfather. He died before I was born.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Avast, me hearties!
Ahoy! Today be International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Celebrate it with someone ye love. Or someone ye loathe. Just celebrate it, ye bilge rats!
Aarrrrrr!!
Aarrrrrr!!
Monday, September 18, 2006
First post
Ok, here's the first post. Don't expect a whole lot here. Everybody else has a blog; I'm just surrendering to the intense peer pressure.
Why the name "Quarkhenge"? Two reasons: it's very silly, and nobody else was using it.
(I wanted to use "Occam's Chainsaw", but somebody else already had it.)
And no, it's not a reference to Armin Shimerman's character in Deep Space Nine.
Why the name "Quarkhenge"? Two reasons: it's very silly, and nobody else was using it.
(I wanted to use "Occam's Chainsaw", but somebody else already had it.)
And no, it's not a reference to Armin Shimerman's character in Deep Space Nine.
