Slam
As long as I'm hyping up Obama, here is a liberal slam of Bill and hence, Hillary.
Quote:
"Every sentient being knew that the October 2002 vote was a vote for war. And on that critical battle – the only one that ever really mattered – both Clintons lined up with Longshanks."
This is true. And so did I.
The thing is...even though I know it's stylish to critique the neoconservatives, were they really wrong? I'm actually quite serious about this. I know American aggressiveness is ugly. I know it makes us less popular in the world. I know utilizing the military the way we did in Iraq is a turn-off. I see how it makes us look like a country with ambitions for power and empire and basically hubristic assholes. Believe it or not, I understand all that...and yet...look at the world today. Look at North and South Korea. There is a single historical difference between the two countries. In one, our military intervened to support a weak central government from being overrun by a retarded military dictatorship. Granted, North Korea still poses a threat to the world...and maybe our military being on the border has exacerbated it (although let's be honest here - it's just a kooky dude in power over there)...but South Korea is one of the most developed and exciting countries in Asia. I've been there. It's fucking awesome. And I'm sorry if it hurts everyone's feelings to say that the reason it's awesome is because the US military provided a bulwark against Communism way back in the 1950s, even though in hindsight maybe containment and our fears about a world Communist takeover were exaggerated.
Japan? Germany (east vs. west)? Come on folks, can we be honest here. The US military provided stability in specific countries post WW2 and those countries developed into world economic powerhouses. I understand Iraq was/is different. I get it. I know they didn't start a war with us. I know all the arguments against invasion. I understand the critique of the Bush Administration's handling of the war. I know many of our best and brightest minds think Iraq is the single worst US Foreign Policy move in our history (although for the best and brightest, I doubt they are that saavy about US history...Mexican American War, Spanish American War, WW1. Come on, when you think about it Iraq is hardly the first dumb war.)
Point being...we've learned from Iraq and will continue to learn. If we stick around and help usher in relative stability there in 25 years will Iraq look like South Korea? I sure as hell hope so. And frankly, I don't see why it is totally out of the question. Could it descend into hell on earth? Sure. But then, pray tell, what was it before the US invasion?
But one thing is for sure, the US won't be getting involved in another Iraq. It's been too hard and too divisive and we're over it. It just isn't worth it. And maybe our disinterest in foreign lands will help give rise to the next threat to democracy (who woulda thunk Islamic Fundamentalism would be more than a shit stain on our trousers in the 1960s-1970s?) but we'll just play catch up...again...and figure out our role in things.
I'm drunk.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Westside Intelligence Report
One of the cool things about moving is finding all the new local spots. I've made a few thus far...
1. Furaibo - Excellent. Phil calls it Japanese Tapas. It's basically a mix of Japanese and Korean bites. Sapporo is $10.50 for a big pitcher and you can order snacks, beer, and sake. Not too expensive. Fun atmosphere because you are seated close to lots of other people. The type of place you end up chatting with the folks around and getting more drunk than expected. We went on a Thurs nite at 9:30 and had to wait for a table.
2. Rae's Diner - also excellent. Cheap, greasy, diner off Pico. One of those old timey Americana style places where they probably film a lot of commercials. The good was good, tho, and I should I find myself awake in the early AM with time to kill or nursing a hangover, it's the first place I'll drop by.
3. Omelet Parlour - On Main St. Nice interior and looks like it would be great, but I don't know if it's because I don't like omelette's or the way they tend to get made in restaurants, but I found the food pretty mediocre, especially for how overpriced it is. One of the neat things is that the omelette's are half price between 6am and 7am, but I don't see how I'll ever be able to take advantage unless I've been up all night. The coffee, however, was unbelievably good.
4. [Place Where I Watched Monday Night Football Last Night] - Sucked my ass. There was a dart league that showed up and played darts while a bunch of other sausages watched Monday Night Football. There was a happy hour with half off appetizers and beers, and the bill for two was only $30 for 4 beers, 2 apps, and a burger. Not bad, now that I think about it. But the food was gross, will make you fat, and there was exactly one female in the bar the entire night and she was married and in the dart league, if that gives you any sense of what we're talking about.
5. Renee's - I work there. I practically live there. I like the ambiance. The lunch menu is better than the dinner menu. Regular price, the drinks are a total rip. $14 + tip for a Budweiser and Nob Creek. Not like the old broadway bar $5 deal for a shot of whisky and beer, eh? Waitresses are consistently cute although I don't ever make progress with them. Decent place all around.
5. Bay Cities Deli - best place on earth.
6. Wild Oats Grocery Store - weird place. I got a lot to buy supplies for our office and it's so close, I end up getting lunch there a lot. And breakfast. They have great blueberry muffins. The deli is okay. Overpriced and not very good and bad service. The meatball hoagie is not bad. The soup menu is okay. Once they had a green vegetable soup that was awesome. The rest of the time, split pea is okay, chicken noodle is too spicy, the red vegetable soup is gross. The best item is the LaBrea sourdough bread crunchy toast things which I love for their subtle Parmesan flavoring.
7. Panera - Fairly priced and all around decent. Bad coffee, but I never get it because we made coffee in the office that tastes better. Secret: Sparklett's water and Peet's Grounds. Good combo. Panera has a good deal on the everything bagel with cream cheese and tomato - only costs $2.50 and is a good breakfast. They have these new egg souffle things that are good, but a bit overpriced. Chocolate croissants and the rest of the pastries are fine, average overall.
To Be Continued.
One of the cool things about moving is finding all the new local spots. I've made a few thus far...
1. Furaibo - Excellent. Phil calls it Japanese Tapas. It's basically a mix of Japanese and Korean bites. Sapporo is $10.50 for a big pitcher and you can order snacks, beer, and sake. Not too expensive. Fun atmosphere because you are seated close to lots of other people. The type of place you end up chatting with the folks around and getting more drunk than expected. We went on a Thurs nite at 9:30 and had to wait for a table.
2. Rae's Diner - also excellent. Cheap, greasy, diner off Pico. One of those old timey Americana style places where they probably film a lot of commercials. The good was good, tho, and I should I find myself awake in the early AM with time to kill or nursing a hangover, it's the first place I'll drop by.
3. Omelet Parlour - On Main St. Nice interior and looks like it would be great, but I don't know if it's because I don't like omelette's or the way they tend to get made in restaurants, but I found the food pretty mediocre, especially for how overpriced it is. One of the neat things is that the omelette's are half price between 6am and 7am, but I don't see how I'll ever be able to take advantage unless I've been up all night. The coffee, however, was unbelievably good.
4. [Place Where I Watched Monday Night Football Last Night] - Sucked my ass. There was a dart league that showed up and played darts while a bunch of other sausages watched Monday Night Football. There was a happy hour with half off appetizers and beers, and the bill for two was only $30 for 4 beers, 2 apps, and a burger. Not bad, now that I think about it. But the food was gross, will make you fat, and there was exactly one female in the bar the entire night and she was married and in the dart league, if that gives you any sense of what we're talking about.
5. Renee's - I work there. I practically live there. I like the ambiance. The lunch menu is better than the dinner menu. Regular price, the drinks are a total rip. $14 + tip for a Budweiser and Nob Creek. Not like the old broadway bar $5 deal for a shot of whisky and beer, eh? Waitresses are consistently cute although I don't ever make progress with them. Decent place all around.
5. Bay Cities Deli - best place on earth.
6. Wild Oats Grocery Store - weird place. I got a lot to buy supplies for our office and it's so close, I end up getting lunch there a lot. And breakfast. They have great blueberry muffins. The deli is okay. Overpriced and not very good and bad service. The meatball hoagie is not bad. The soup menu is okay. Once they had a green vegetable soup that was awesome. The rest of the time, split pea is okay, chicken noodle is too spicy, the red vegetable soup is gross. The best item is the LaBrea sourdough bread crunchy toast things which I love for their subtle Parmesan flavoring.
7. Panera - Fairly priced and all around decent. Bad coffee, but I never get it because we made coffee in the office that tastes better. Secret: Sparklett's water and Peet's Grounds. Good combo. Panera has a good deal on the everything bagel with cream cheese and tomato - only costs $2.50 and is a good breakfast. They have these new egg souffle things that are good, but a bit overpriced. Chocolate croissants and the rest of the pastries are fine, average overall.
To Be Continued.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Bad Day To Miss
Well, I missed what was probably the Forty Niners best offensive game of the season and missed the mighty New England almost get beat by the Eagles. That game appears to be like the end of the second round of Rocky IV when Rocky clocks Drago and the announcer goes beserk, "He's hit! The Russian is hit!"
Well, I missed what was probably the Forty Niners best offensive game of the season and missed the mighty New England almost get beat by the Eagles. That game appears to be like the end of the second round of Rocky IV when Rocky clocks Drago and the announcer goes beserk, "He's hit! The Russian is hit!"
Men And Work
It used to be, before women entered all arenas of the workplace, that any man who could hold a conversation could get a middle class job at a corporation and hold onto it for life. He didn't have to work too hard, excel at his job, or do much other than what was asked of him - sell wigits, process orders, whatever. He could get away with chatting up sports, just be one of the guys, go home, raise his family and that was that.
Back then, over qualified women were teachers and nurses and secretaries.
Now those average performing men can't get work because they are booted out of their jobs by more high performing women. Is this good? Sure. It proffers all the benefits of capitalism and competition - women who excel can move ahead. Corporations are better off because they have better, higher performing workers. The glass ceiling for women are for the most part removed. Competent women snag jobs from less competent people - men and other women.
So all these great jobs women are holding aren't created out of the ether. They are all jobs once held by men - arguably men of less competence. What happened to all these guys? I suspect they are middle class men, who raise families and help out around the house. I suspect they are probably all around decent fellows whose wives bring home the bacon. They retire early or get pushed out for younger folks who work better with computers.
Smart women, who once would become great public school teachers or nurses, now work it whatever they choose. I suspect this is a large reason why both the healthcare and education sectors of our economy are suffering to this day. Because historically, both sectors were benefiting from having a cheap supply of overqualified labor - women.
It used to be, before women entered all arenas of the workplace, that any man who could hold a conversation could get a middle class job at a corporation and hold onto it for life. He didn't have to work too hard, excel at his job, or do much other than what was asked of him - sell wigits, process orders, whatever. He could get away with chatting up sports, just be one of the guys, go home, raise his family and that was that.
Back then, over qualified women were teachers and nurses and secretaries.
Now those average performing men can't get work because they are booted out of their jobs by more high performing women. Is this good? Sure. It proffers all the benefits of capitalism and competition - women who excel can move ahead. Corporations are better off because they have better, higher performing workers. The glass ceiling for women are for the most part removed. Competent women snag jobs from less competent people - men and other women.
So all these great jobs women are holding aren't created out of the ether. They are all jobs once held by men - arguably men of less competence. What happened to all these guys? I suspect they are middle class men, who raise families and help out around the house. I suspect they are probably all around decent fellows whose wives bring home the bacon. They retire early or get pushed out for younger folks who work better with computers.
Smart women, who once would become great public school teachers or nurses, now work it whatever they choose. I suspect this is a large reason why both the healthcare and education sectors of our economy are suffering to this day. Because historically, both sectors were benefiting from having a cheap supply of overqualified labor - women.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The Wire
This show is so good I can't believe it exists. I'm barely awake at work today because I couldn't stop watching episodes last night. They accomplish what any sane person in the industry would say can't be achieved on television. It is smart, humanizing, enormous and small at the same time. Joyous and sans flash. Wikipedia entry on it is really good and long.
Except:
I'm only in season 1, but I can't stop thinking about it. The scope of what HBO is doing with it's shows goes way beyond what can be accomplished in Cinema. I'm not the first to say it, but they are writing 19th century novels...
UPDATE: And then there's the New Yorker article on the show. I haven't read yet, but I just printed it for the plane ride.
This show is so good I can't believe it exists. I'm barely awake at work today because I couldn't stop watching episodes last night. They accomplish what any sane person in the industry would say can't be achieved on television. It is smart, humanizing, enormous and small at the same time. Joyous and sans flash. Wikipedia entry on it is really good and long.
Except:
Simon has stated that he originally set out to create a police drama loosely based on the experiences of his writing partner and former homicide detective, Ed Burns. Burns, when working on protracted investigations of violent drug dealers using surveillance technology, had often faced frustration with the bureaucracy of the police department, which Simon equated with his own ordeals as a police reporter for the Baltimore Sun. Writing against the background of current events, including institutionalized corporate crime at Enron and institutional dysfunction in the Catholic Church, the show became "more of a treatise about institutions and individuals than a straight cop show."
I'm only in season 1, but I can't stop thinking about it. The scope of what HBO is doing with it's shows goes way beyond what can be accomplished in Cinema. I'm not the first to say it, but they are writing 19th century novels...
UPDATE: And then there's the New Yorker article on the show. I haven't read yet, but I just printed it for the plane ride.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Stats on Terrorism
Interesting little article on terrorism.
Even though the conclusion seems to be: we worry too much about terrorism, I still hate those bastards.
Interesting little article on terrorism.
Even though the conclusion seems to be: we worry too much about terrorism, I still hate those bastards.
Hollywood Blacklist
A writer-producer is brought up in front of a WGA Disciplinary Committee to prove he wasn't working. What a goofy world we inhabit...
a) Imagine going to a disciplinary committee to prove you were in fact, not doing your job.
"I have proof here sir - on my computer server - that I spent the hours 10am-noon perusing the internet and writing personal emails and not, as you claim, re-writing the dialog as I was being paid to do."
b) In Hollywood, it is a social faux pas to rat on writer's participating in Communist activities...a worldwide movement who can claim more deaths to it's credit than the Nazis (when you combine Stalin's purges, Mao's Cultural Revolution, and Cambodia's Killing Fields) and yet one SHOULD rat on writer's who write during a strike designed to bump up residual payments. Hmmmmm.
c) And I basically agree with it.
A writer-producer is brought up in front of a WGA Disciplinary Committee to prove he wasn't working. What a goofy world we inhabit...
a) Imagine going to a disciplinary committee to prove you were in fact, not doing your job.
"I have proof here sir - on my computer server - that I spent the hours 10am-noon perusing the internet and writing personal emails and not, as you claim, re-writing the dialog as I was being paid to do."
b) In Hollywood, it is a social faux pas to rat on writer's participating in Communist activities...a worldwide movement who can claim more deaths to it's credit than the Nazis (when you combine Stalin's purges, Mao's Cultural Revolution, and Cambodia's Killing Fields) and yet one SHOULD rat on writer's who write during a strike designed to bump up residual payments. Hmmmmm.
c) And I basically agree with it.
No Country
Been talking a lot about this movie lately and will likely re-watch it in the theater. Bill Simmons backs me up about being confused by the ending.
I don't agree with extremity of the Norv Tuner bit. I think they were going for something, but I think it got mixed up philosophically...stated here.
Been talking a lot about this movie lately and will likely re-watch it in the theater. Bill Simmons backs me up about being confused by the ending.
Bears (+5.5) over SEAHAWKS
I know, I know ... Rex on the road. But if this Seattle team has proven anything over the past few years of the Holmgren Era, it's this: Just when you think you can count on them to cover a game, they'll shoot 200 mph of air into your head like Anton Chigurh in "No Country for Old Men." And you won't see it coming, either. All of the sudden, there's just a hole in your head.
(By the way, if somebody has a good explanation for the last 25 minutes of that movie, I'd love to hear it. Everyone at my theater applauded when it was over, like something special had just happened. Meanwhile, I was sitting there going, "Wait, it's over? What the hell just happened?" Without spoiling it, from the moment we see a hotel pool for the first time, the wheels come off so fast that it's like Norv Turner took over for the Coen Brothers. So frustrating. If you see one movie this year, go see "Michael Clayton," George Clooney's movie about a second-year NFL receiver who kills more than 200,000 fantasy teams. Just kidding. It's fantastic.)
I don't agree with extremity of the Norv Tuner bit. I think they were going for something, but I think it got mixed up philosophically...stated here.
Lumet
A bullshit, kiss ass review of Lumet and The Devil Knows You're Dead.
Let me say this: Lumet has some great movies - Network and Q & A. Some very good movies - Dog Day, Serpico, 12 Angry Men. He's a famous movie director, wrote a book, is old and still working. But it wouldn't surprise me if DKYD is the worst movie I see this year. It felt 6 hrs long. Interminable is what I said when I walked out the theater.
Let me say this about Lumet and forgive me for being harsh and maybe wrong. But I suspect, by looking at his body of work, the man is all technique and no soul. There is a place for it, when he has great source material, ie Network. But you also risk TDKYD.
Ps- Marisa Tomei is still ridiculously hot. How can Lumet believe she would be married to Philip Hoffman in this movie? Come on.
A bullshit, kiss ass review of Lumet and The Devil Knows You're Dead.
Let me say this: Lumet has some great movies - Network and Q & A. Some very good movies - Dog Day, Serpico, 12 Angry Men. He's a famous movie director, wrote a book, is old and still working. But it wouldn't surprise me if DKYD is the worst movie I see this year. It felt 6 hrs long. Interminable is what I said when I walked out the theater.
Let me say this about Lumet and forgive me for being harsh and maybe wrong. But I suspect, by looking at his body of work, the man is all technique and no soul. There is a place for it, when he has great source material, ie Network. But you also risk TDKYD.
Ps- Marisa Tomei is still ridiculously hot. How can Lumet believe she would be married to Philip Hoffman in this movie? Come on.
Strike Rumors
Buzz on the street is back channels are talking again. Now the street prediction is it'll be resolved by Christmas.
Cooler heads are prevailing. I think everyone on both sides thought about it and realized how big the ramifications of a long term strike would be and thought to themselves: this is not good. Really not good.
Buzz on the street is back channels are talking again. Now the street prediction is it'll be resolved by Christmas.
Cooler heads are prevailing. I think everyone on both sides thought about it and realized how big the ramifications of a long term strike would be and thought to themselves: this is not good. Really not good.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Are the Studios Committing Suicide?
Assume the writer's strike lasts for way longer than anyone wants - say 6 months. Is that enough time for crafty producers with access to money to start making material exclusive for the internet? Will audiences start to watch new material on the internet as a primarily source vs. a promotion? Will cell phone downloads become of sufficient quality that audiences will start paying to watch stuff on download?
From the creative standpoint, it's going to be the same story. Good ideas, well executed will be watched. The creative process will change very little, I imagine. It'll still be about story, performance, set pieces, humor, etc, etc.
What if the studios miss out on this game? What if different media companies get smarter, figure out a profit model, and woo the talent and creatives away from the studios. What do the studios offer to creatives? A system to monetize their talent through relationships with advertisers, theater chains, and dvd rentals/sales. It is a fairly good system.
But what happens when someone else offers a competing business model for creatives? What if it works better and makes more money? The studios are left with a library of old material, which is incredibly valuable, but what about the new material?
This is how the studios could be punished. The writer's are already being punished by losing wages and the consequent uncertainty afterwards...will they get hired again? Will the gains (if there are any) on residuals outweigh the lost wages?
Strikes very rarely benefit either side - they are a lose-lose proposal. This is coming from my dad who is a labor lawyer and represents unions and has seen strikes before. Couple that with the uncertainty of the internet impact on the movie and tv business and none of this bodes well...for anyone...except the competition.
Assume the writer's strike lasts for way longer than anyone wants - say 6 months. Is that enough time for crafty producers with access to money to start making material exclusive for the internet? Will audiences start to watch new material on the internet as a primarily source vs. a promotion? Will cell phone downloads become of sufficient quality that audiences will start paying to watch stuff on download?
From the creative standpoint, it's going to be the same story. Good ideas, well executed will be watched. The creative process will change very little, I imagine. It'll still be about story, performance, set pieces, humor, etc, etc.
What if the studios miss out on this game? What if different media companies get smarter, figure out a profit model, and woo the talent and creatives away from the studios. What do the studios offer to creatives? A system to monetize their talent through relationships with advertisers, theater chains, and dvd rentals/sales. It is a fairly good system.
But what happens when someone else offers a competing business model for creatives? What if it works better and makes more money? The studios are left with a library of old material, which is incredibly valuable, but what about the new material?
This is how the studios could be punished. The writer's are already being punished by losing wages and the consequent uncertainty afterwards...will they get hired again? Will the gains (if there are any) on residuals outweigh the lost wages?
Strikes very rarely benefit either side - they are a lose-lose proposal. This is coming from my dad who is a labor lawyer and represents unions and has seen strikes before. Couple that with the uncertainty of the internet impact on the movie and tv business and none of this bodes well...for anyone...except the competition.
Bonds
Interesting takes...Bonds was used. The minute he starts to suck is when the steroid probe gets serious.
The lesson for kids: while you're on top you can get away with anything, but when you come down there's a comeuppance.
Interesting takes...Bonds was used. The minute he starts to suck is when the steroid probe gets serious.
The lesson for kids: while you're on top you can get away with anything, but when you come down there's a comeuppance.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
This Just Proves It
Like most blacks, I believe my economic prospects will be worse than my parents and that individual failings contribute more to lack of economic progress than racial prejudice.
I just wish I started lower on the economic ladder - then I'd have more opportunity to exceed parental expectations.
Like most blacks, I believe my economic prospects will be worse than my parents and that individual failings contribute more to lack of economic progress than racial prejudice.
I just wish I started lower on the economic ladder - then I'd have more opportunity to exceed parental expectations.
Bring Me the Head of Osama Bin Laden
A theory on what's going on in Pakistan.
Wishful thinking? Perhaps. But as I said before, we've finally got some momentum on this WOT and it's time to take advantage. If Musharraf can strike a death blow (Seinfeld movie reference) to AQ, give the man a medal!
A theory on what's going on in Pakistan.
Wishful thinking? Perhaps. But as I said before, we've finally got some momentum on this WOT and it's time to take advantage. If Musharraf can strike a death blow (Seinfeld movie reference) to AQ, give the man a medal!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
This Is What the World's Come To
Today at lunch, a retarded guy made fun of me.
At Wild Oats, a mentally handicapped guy works as a bagger. I brought up my lunch selection, a piece of pizza, pasta salad, and an apple. He gazed at the pizza and shouted, "What kind of pizza did you get?"
"Mushroom and goat cheese."
He looked at me like I was retarded and rolled his eyes.
"Goat cheese?" (this is where he was making fun of me)
"You don't like it?"
"I like pepperoni and regular cheese." (him thinking: you retard)
"I like pepperoni too." (me: defensive)
"But goat cheese..."
"Have you ever tried it?"
"I like regular cheese."
"Well there's regular cheese on a goat cheese pizza too."
"Really?"
"Have you tried goat cheese." (me: going on the attack)
"No."
"You should, it's good."
Him = skeptical.
Today at lunch, a retarded guy made fun of me.
At Wild Oats, a mentally handicapped guy works as a bagger. I brought up my lunch selection, a piece of pizza, pasta salad, and an apple. He gazed at the pizza and shouted, "What kind of pizza did you get?"
"Mushroom and goat cheese."
He looked at me like I was retarded and rolled his eyes.
"Goat cheese?" (this is where he was making fun of me)
"You don't like it?"
"I like pepperoni and regular cheese." (him thinking: you retard)
"I like pepperoni too." (me: defensive)
"But goat cheese..."
"Have you ever tried it?"
"I like regular cheese."
"Well there's regular cheese on a goat cheese pizza too."
"Really?"
"Have you tried goat cheese." (me: going on the attack)
"No."
"You should, it's good."
Him = skeptical.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Is It Time To Grow Up?
Wow. Just getting into Andrew Sullivan's cover story in the Atlantic this week about "Why Obama Matters."
The entire article is about getting past the Baby Boomer generation's cold civil war between those who served and those who didn't in Vietnam. Our internal politics, he argues, have been hamstrung by this issue since the 1960s culture wars and reignited when the Baby Boomers came to power in the Bill Clinton era. Our entire political culture - to this day - is shaped by it. And the Hilary Clinton-Rudy Guiliani race anticipated by big media will be the latest manifestation of it.
Obama, he argues, offers a truce.
I'm only halfway through, but it offers something more to my generation: A wake up call to adulthood. I commented on this blog awhile back about seeing Obama on Jon Stewart and thinking, "Gee, he looks and walks like my friend," as opposed to seeing Hilary or Rudy or GW or Al Gore who feel like my parents. Obama is my generation even if technically, he's on the very end of the Boomer generation.
One of these days, it will be time to pass the torch from the Boomer's to their children. The question is: when? Should Obama somehow surge it would be an indication this transition is coming sooner rather than later. Are we ready?
Wow. Just getting into Andrew Sullivan's cover story in the Atlantic this week about "Why Obama Matters."
The entire article is about getting past the Baby Boomer generation's cold civil war between those who served and those who didn't in Vietnam. Our internal politics, he argues, have been hamstrung by this issue since the 1960s culture wars and reignited when the Baby Boomers came to power in the Bill Clinton era. Our entire political culture - to this day - is shaped by it. And the Hilary Clinton-Rudy Guiliani race anticipated by big media will be the latest manifestation of it.
Obama, he argues, offers a truce.
I'm only halfway through, but it offers something more to my generation: A wake up call to adulthood. I commented on this blog awhile back about seeing Obama on Jon Stewart and thinking, "Gee, he looks and walks like my friend," as opposed to seeing Hilary or Rudy or GW or Al Gore who feel like my parents. Obama is my generation even if technically, he's on the very end of the Boomer generation.
One of these days, it will be time to pass the torch from the Boomer's to their children. The question is: when? Should Obama somehow surge it would be an indication this transition is coming sooner rather than later. Are we ready?
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