Chroma

Rose-tinted brilliance strikes against the sky,
while cool blue illuminates darkened buses.
Golden-burning stars stretch across the black,
while verdant greens drain from the surroundings.

As the shades and hues explode in our minds,
synapses connect and recall blushing memories.
Flashing lights and flaring intensity follow,
to the thumping backdrop of life's beat.

Warmth seeps from the atmosphere,
so goes the luster of your laughing cheeks.
Frames darken alongside prospects,
leaving one bleak outlook trapped to concrete.

A visionary's raised fist surrounded,
by fiery oranges, poignant grays, and stark whites.
Imaginative creations of what ought,
earth tones overtaking the brain's palettes.

Beautiful, dirt brown mixes with lost greens,
blooming yellows and reds remembered.
Pristine blues restore life to the flesh,
skins of every tint and tone all burst smiles.

So when the changing of the seasonal guard comes,
may the radiance of every color return.
Never to be cast away again at the smallest slight,
nor to lose their significance to the iris of all.

The Soundtrack

"There's something happenin' here, what it is ain't exactly clear."
As I stay in lockstep with the stop-and-go traffic down the broad commercial strip leading to the interstate, Buffalo Springfield plays poignantly in the background. Here I am, leaving the breakneck pace of my college lifestyle behind, and with it, the remains of yet another failed relationship. It is time for me to return home, to see friends and family on this holiday of Giving Thanks. Between the music and the gentle vibration of tires on the highway, you are almost lulled into believing that this long, strange tip is mostly out of your control.

"I'm feeling rough, I'm feeling raw in the time of my life."
Here I stand, facing oblivion. A strange gray film had settled down in front of me, blotting out the landscape ahead. I soon penetrated this weird fog, continuing my journey of hopping from one small town to the next. I could keep going down the interstate, surrounded by nothingness on either side, but I prefer the backroads. There is something about traveling through the various hamlets, with their close-knit daily lives laid bare for all passers-by to see.

"I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are."
I'm sitting in my car in front of a shopping mall, with the wind whistling about. This place is like a blown-up version of home, with rural community being supplanted by larger and larger commercial developments. I contemplate calling her. Maybe after dinner.

"It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one."
As Creedence tears into the opening chords of "Fortunate Son", I glide through the farmland surrounding yet another village. I see decaying farm equipment sitting beside rusting buildings. The closer and closer I get to home, the more everything changes from suburban corporate concrete to the collapsing rural setting I'm more familiar with.

Time for Change...To This Blog

I'm too busy and have put writing off for far too long, so I'm going to convert this blog into an outlet for all my creative writing, not just political thoughts that I don't have time for anymore. So with no further ado, here is the first installment of my new blog.

American Synthesis

Making love to the absurdist noise,
crying out in the fading street light.
The spectre looms as we sleep,
the sad-eyed posterchild weeping smeared tears.

To the heroin drama we give praise,
the intoxicated comedy we laugh in disbelief.
Breakbeats pounding in the boy's eardrums
leave a desire for rhyme and its riches.

Rhythm of flesh and breath give life
to a new being, a costumed freak god.
He/she rises above the pulsating crowd,
a Gypsy Baron/ess lording over the muddled mob.

Powpowpow, the righetous bring arms,
seeking a skirmish with the new scum.
The horde of angry eclectic electric soldiers
ensuring the fall of the indoctrinated.

Sorry for the Delay or...Still No New Post

Hey everybody (which probably means no one), sorry I haven't posted in a while. I was in a doozy (doozie?) of a car collision last week and I've been recovering. Also, I had to move back to Lawrence, so that took up some time.

A lot has happened since I left you. Karl Rove resigned, the multitude of presidential candidates all made some mistake, I'm sure. I really couldn't keep up with everything while I was in the hospital and moving my things.

I would like to turn this blog, if anyone reads it, into a discussion, so if anyone out there is reading...post away!

Tough on Terror or...Military Solutions Are Not For Pussies

Pakistanis were in an uproar over the weekend after remarks made by two '08 candidates, crowd favorite Barack Obama and Colorado's resident racist, Tommy Tancredo.

Obama's statement supporting a possible military strike against al-Qaida inside Pakistan's borders, IF the intelligence supported it, ignited anti-U.S. sentiments among Islamic groups. These were further inflamed by Tancredo's solution for deterring a nuclear terrorist attack against the U.S.: threaten to bomb Islam's two most holy cities, Mecca and Medina. This is not the first of Tancredo's ridiculous statements during the few short months since the campaign started. He also supports deporting ALL illegal immigrants as soon as possible, and referred to Miami as a third-world nation.

While yes, Sen. Obama's view on the issue of strikes within Pakistan are a slight misstep on his part, by itself it is out of context with the rest of his foreign policy. Earlier this week he was attacked by Hillary Clinton again for ruling out the use of nuclear weapons in the war on terrorism. Clinton claimed that "presidents never take the nuclear option off the table". Well they sure as hell should. If anyone fired a nuclear weapon, we would all be in a dire situation. America should lead the way to disarmament and be the first ones to take it off the table. Many could see Obama's hopes and goals as foolish and a pipe dream, but maybe thats what we need these days.

As for Tancredo. It is easy to understand, from his willingness to launch a strike against Mecca, that he is a nutjob. But it exposes a dangerous belief that is popular among the ignorant and the religious right. That is, that the actions of radical terrorist groups are rooted in the Islamic faith, that they hate America because we're a Christian nation, and that Muslims are our "enemy". All of this is fundamentally moronic. The actions of al-Qaida are politically motivated, admittedly fueled by a radical fundamentalist interpretation of Islam. Their goals are not actually to destroy America or kill Christians, they are to unite the region's Islamic nations under the rule of a single caliphate.

In fact, many views about the motivations behind violence in the Middle East are similarly erroneous. I have heard it said that the Sunni-Shi'a conflict is "all about religion", which if you think about it, is ridiculous. They aren't yelling about the Prophet's nephew's being the true source of guidance whilst firing their Ak-47's. No, the conflict is more akin to the Rwandan genocide, in that the Sunnis, a minority in Iraq, were in power for the years leading up to their "liberation", and they were a bit on the oppressive side towards the majority Shi'as. Now that they have a majority-rule "government", the Sunnis feel threatened. True true, there are about a million other factors, but what it all boils down to is this: power. Political power through control of the government, oil fields, killing fields, whatever. Power feels good. And they both want it.

Sunni's don't hate Shi'as because they follow Imams, they're afraid of their power. Just like Muslims don't hate "us" because we're Christians, but aren't too fond of us for invading their countries and killing their kin.

The Grand Ole' Party Line or...Woes in the Home State

Just the other day, the Kansas Republican Party announced the formation of "loyalty commitees" which would investigate and sanction Party officials that publicly suppport or contribute money to non-Republican candidates. Those found in violation of this new rule would be stripped of their office. The state's GOP executive director stated that, "The motive behind this is, let's make sure Republicans are supporting Republicans."

The Kansas GOP leadership is dominated excessively by conservative extremists, and these committees only serve to further alienate the disaffected Republican moderates. The idea of this "loyalty committee" is to enforce strict adherence to Party lines, which can only hurt our democratic process. This is continuing the trend of voting based solely on party loyalities instead of actual issues. However, it doesn't seem unusual in a party whose current incarnation is nothing at all like its traditional roots. The extreme Christian right is seeking to edge the traditional Republican moderates out of the party, so as to have control over the dominant party in Kansas. Dissenting party officials would be stripped of their positions, but so what? If their own party would do that to them, then maybe it isn't the place for them, as it has become warped beyond recognition. Any ousted Republicans, feel free to join the Democrats, or even become Independents. And start voting your conscience, not your party lines. Same goes for everyone else.

In other Kansas-related news, Senator and Presidential hopeful Sam Brownback was in Iowa yesterday, campaigning for the job he will never get. He told Iowans that their was a path to victory in Iraq, and that if we left there, it would become a haven for al-Qaida and a failed state. Moving words from an intelligent guy, if it wasn't what all the other Republicans were saying. There is nothing to make Brownback stand out from the rest of the herd, except maybe his naivete. Also, the Senator went to a firing range with some good ol' boys and shot off a few assualt rifles, saying that he would not allow our Second Amendment rights to be infringed upon. I think we've gone here before. Brownback said that no new gun regulations should be created, but the ones already in place should be enforced. Which ones Sammie? How about bringing back that Brady Bill that your Republican buddies failed to renew, giving potential criminals access to the kind of guns you went and shot off on your silly vacation?

See why Kansas gets represented the way it does?

Anyways, wrapping it up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a hopeful Gonzales impeachment.

Too Early to Call or...Why I Don't Like Hillary

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama continue their verbal sparring match this week, begun at last week's CNN-Youtube debate. After Obama pledged to meet with the U.S.'s "enemies" with no set preconditions during his first year in office, Clinton called his statements "naive" and "irresponsible". This goes to show that Hillary Clinton is more of what we do NOT need in Washington. She is by-the-books pure politician, devoid of necessary reforms to the way our government does things.

If we are not at war with Venezuela or Iran, whose leaders Obama would seek to meet with as president, they why are they considered our "enemies". Sure, our nations are ideologically opposed, but does that stop us from talking with them? They are, after all, major players in their respective regions and on the world stage. Would frank conversation not be better than traded threats and insults? Senator Obama is not naive for seeking this route, no. Rather, he is seeking to bring a not-so-new, but apparently forgotten approach to easing foreign relations. After all, did U.S. and Soviet leaders not meet during the Cold War?

Barack Obama's supposed inexperience in the political realm does not hurt his ability to lead as president, but rather helps it. Clinton is firmly entrenched in the political machinery of Washington, while Obama remains the driven newcomer to the stage. He is passionate, charismatic, and intelligent. Even though he is only a first-term Senator and does not have Clinton's experience, he has that instinctive knack for leadership. People will trust and follow him, much more so than with Hillary. She has many decisions to account for, such as voting for the Iraq War and being the largest recepient of health-care lobbyist money. Her public persona is delicately crafted, while his image is upfront and earnest. In short, Clinton is just another old politician, and Obama promises us something new: hope.

Maybe if enough of you take heed of this, the right person for the job will get the nomination.

Representing Kansas or...We Need A Lot of Help

Just the other day, Congress approved their latest annual spending bill, in which they fortunately restore Bush cuts to local law enforcement agencies. These were among the many cuts restored by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, most of which were beneficial. However, they did not go nearly far enough, as the so-called "Tiahrt Amendment" was still attached to the bill. Named for Kansas Republican Todd Tiahrt, it restricts the sharing of gun trace data among law enforcement. Apparently, Republican dogma is more important to Tiahrt than protecting communities and prosecuting criminals. He probably twists it into some kind of restriction on our 2nd Amendment "rights", which he and many others misconstrue greatly.

The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does NOT give the right to bear arms to citizens as individuals, that is not what it was meant for. The actual text states, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." This is talking about the right of the states to have armed militias, or what we now call the National Guard, or even the United States Army. Back then, a militia was necessary for the young to fight off any would-be invaders, such as Great Britain. Furthermore. the Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles defines the phrase "to bear arms" as meaning to serve as a soldier or do military service. The Second Amendment does not give each of us to own guns. Even if it did, Tiahrt is nearly incompetent if he believe sharing trace data from guns used in violent crime would infringe on that right.

Speaking of incompetent Kansas legislators, Senator Brownback, on his foolish quest for the Republican nomination for President, has resorted to the annoying automated phonecalls that so many of us hate. Brownback apparently does not understand that nothing will help him compete with the money and support of a Giuliani, a Romney, or even a Thompson. He is wasting our time and money by fighting a losing battle against these political giants, when he should be in Congress, voting on bills that may actually have some relevance. While I in no way support Brownback and his right-wing agenda, one good thing could be said about the man, and that is that he is big on the Darfur issue. Maybe if he were back in the Senate where he should be, something could be done about it. Give up on the presidency now Sammie, you can't play with the big boys yet.

Kansas needs some new blood in there, representing us. Remember that come next year.

In other campaign news, it would seem that Republican candidates are wary of the CNN-Youtube format that the Democrats were subject to this last week. Could they be afraid of the Youtube generation? The one thing that politicians dance around, Republicans and Democrats alike, is actually answering the questions posed to them. However, while the Democrats successfully did that during their Youtube debate, and managed to get very little said on how they would be different, the Republicans have got a lot more to answer for. Their support for the war and for the use of torture, their views on healthcare and the environment, people are going to be a lot more outspoken and angry with them.

Another Subpoena or...Let Us Hope They've Got the Gravitas

Ah, another day, another Congressional subpoena. This time, it's Bush's political adviser, Karl Rove. Not to necessarily namecall, but Rove is sneaky, slimy, and underhanded, and he's got this coming. If he goes the way of other loyal Bushies and ignores the Judiciary Committee, he should recieve the maximum punishment for contempt.

Mr. Rove has been called upon to testify on matters relating to the firings of nine Justice Department attorneys for political reasons. These firings, and the use of the Justice Department as a political tool, are among the many Bush abuses of authority that have been uncovered. While Attorney General Gonzales claims the firings were performance-based, a good majority in Congress believe otherwise. This is not a partisan issue either, as Republican Senator Arlen Specter has been very outspoken against Gonzales. Do Bush and the AG not realize that these attorneys represent nine families to support, or do they just not care? While these issues I'm sure have already been covered, as this saga started a good while ago, it is still very important to remember how and why the Administration is attempting to deceive the public.

I, for one, sincerely hope that Congress has the guts to do whatever is necessary to investigate the deceptions of the Administration, and to do something about it. They cannot be allowed to get away with things that would land others in jail. I want to see Alberto Gonzales behind bars, if not Bolten, Miers, and even Rove. Bush must not be allowed to intervene with the investigations either, because it is the duty and the responsibility of Congress to have oversight powers when the executive branch is acting illegally and against our Constitution. Checks and balances were created for a reason, lets use them.

Alberto Gonzales, what can be said about you that hasn't been said about members of the Nazi Party? The Attorney General is either stupid or naive enough to believe that Congress would not catch his lies and distortions. The things he has said and done during his time in this position are such that the public would rather have seen him out of a job than nine other U.S. attorneys, no matter their "performance". His statement calling the Constitution of the United States of America "quaint" alone would be reason enough to keep him out of government. Also, his plan to circumvent the Geneva Conventions by labeling those captured during our two wars "enemy combatants" is despicable and inhumane.

These sidesteps around our legal system and our human rights leads right into the travesty that is Guantanamo Bay. The prison there should be shut down, with any so-called combatants either placed in prisons within the U.S. if there is actual evidence against them, or if there is not, shipped back to their homes and given whatever we can to apologize. Many held there are guilty of no crime and have done nothing to harm the U.S. or its citizens, yet they are treated as less than human, put through "enhanced interrogation techniques" (torture) that if administered to any normal criminal here, would bring down a huge public outcry.

One man in Guantanamo, a Sami al-Hajj is guilty of nothing more than being Muslim, Arab, and a cameraman for Arab-language TV news station, al-Jazeera. Former Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and others within the Bush Administration have characterized al-Jazeera as a propaganda station, championing al-Qaida and demonizing the U.S. This is far from the truth. In fact, al-Jazeera is even less of a propaganda station than U.S. networks, especially Fox News. And lets face it, its hard to make the U.S. look good in a region where they are invading, bombing, and killing tens of thousands of civilians.

Anyways, back to the prisoners at Camp X-Ray, they should be afforded every protection in the Bill of Rights. Now I know some of you are going to say that they aren't citizens, and that they're the enemy, blah blah blah. The legal rights as defined in our Amendments do not extend only to citizens, but to all those under the authority of our justice system. That means those prisoners, even being foreign nationals have rights to habeas corpus, and to a fair and speedy trial. If we're so great and so morally strong, we can't just ignore the founding documents of our country. Otherwise, "the terrorists" have won.

First Day or...Bad Place to Start

Well, what a day to enter the world of blogging. There's a lot of things happening in this crazy, mixed-up world of ours. Hoping to help sort them out, and to find some creative outlet for myself, I have start this blog. I can't make any promise on how often I'll update, or even presume that it will be quality material. Doing my best, thats all I can do.

As you can tell from the title, I'm coming to you direct from the Mighty Midwest, Kansas to be exact. Yes, I am in a place where the average person still believes that Saddam Hussein was connected to the 9-11 attacks, and are proud to count themselves among the 30% still supporting our President.

Speaking of Bush and Iraq, the Commander-in-Chief attempt to rally the faithful around the war by trying to explain to us that al-Qaida and al-Qaida in Iraq are intimately connected, and that we should be in Iraq to fight those terrorists. Either he really is that ignorant or it is an attempt to decieve the American public. Really, either option there is a scary one. What President Bush said is a dramatic falsehood. Not only are the al-Qaida's two seperate organizations with two seperate command structures and resources, but al-Qaida in Iraq is, in reality, an incredibly small faction in the war-torn country. The statistics show that among the over 19,000 "insurgents" that U.S. troops have captured, only about 160 of those were members of al-Qaida in Iraq. The group's operational strength is estimated to be at about 1,200 foreign nationals, Arabs who were angry that America, under the Bush Administration and its various influences, would be presumptous enough to attempt to push its imperialist foreign agenda on one of their sister nations. That is opposed to the millions of Iraqi nationals, citizens of a sovereign nation, who want a violent, murdering invader out.

Now sure, much of the violence is factional, with various groups striving for political power. But those fighters that simply want the U.S. out of their affairs can't be blamed, can they? It would truly be better for all of us if the United States withdrew its troops from Iraq in a timely and mannered fashion. There are things we need to do before we leave, but nothing that is not managable. We are not going to do any "nation-building" in a country that doesn't want us even in their region of the world.

Whew. That was a tiring little rant. Sorry if I seem long-winded. There is actually some good news today...well, maybe. Josh Bolten and Harriet Miers, the members of the Bush Administration that refused to answer subpoenas from Congress are close to being held in contempt. The House Judiciary committee approved the motion, and it will go to a vote in among the whole House. The possible sentence for this crime is one year in prison and a $1000 fine. If you or I refused to answer a subpoena, you know we'd be doing time, so why should a member of the Administration be any different? Aren't they supposed to uphold our laws? Now, as with Libby, Bush would be likely to commute their sentences or pardon them, but if worse comes to worse, Congress should absolutely bring down the big I: impeachment. Too long have Bush and his ilk flaunted the Constitution and our laws. They should have to answer to them, just like any other citizen. The illegal actions of the Administration are numerous, and they should be held accountable.

I know you Bush-supporters would argue that other presidents have done the same, Democrat or Republican, but should past wrongs prevent us from punishing illegal actions now? Where would we be without our ideals of justice and responsibility? We cannot allow the Administration to get away with circumventing the very foundations of our government, just as much as you wouldn't let a murderer go free because someone in the past got away with it.

I must now bid you all a fond farewell. Good luck out there, and may we speak again soon.