Former Vice Presidential Candidate John Edwards received an acquittal on one count, and a mistrial on others. Does this mean that he got away with what he did? At the same time, cheating on one's wife, especially when she is literally dying of terminal illness... is not a judicial crime (of course, the issue here was the illegal usage of campaign funds in order to cover up the affair, etc.).
I am close to some veterans of the U.S. Military, and my maternal Grandfather served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army; he was a veteran of the Korean War. I never met my Grandfather, for he passed away from complications due to diabetes in 1963. All I have left of him are very few photos taken of him, including that in his uniform, and some stories my late Grandmother told me. Stories I should never forget.
Sure, maybe it isn't Veterans Day, and there is that fine distinction between that day and Memorial Day. But in other words, all veterans, living or not living, should be considered and thought about every single day instead of semi-commercialized holidays that commemorates them.
Dear Readers... I haven't forgotten all about you.
There has been information overload, as usual, in the media- and a lot in my mind. Stay tuned for entries as I explore the Obama + Past Pot Use controversy, as well as "The Other Women" in political lives.
For now, enjoy (or be disgusted at) this comic, whose theme is the center of attention. Credit goes to Facebook Liberals for this.
There is another why I lust after HBO... this trailer released March 2012 should reveal it all:
I think many of us remember the 2008 elections like yesterday... and what a time it was! I found it to be a very exciting, almost-unpredictable time in history. There were fresh faces taking over the waves, with the unpopular Bush 43 nearly ending his term (and not without performing some bailouts right before the next Inauguration). Former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin was the trailblazer, the figure that people were curious about, the beautiful face that took over the screen before her remarks and lack of particular historical knowledge was displayed all over the world, especially in her debates with now-Vice President Biden. Hillary Clinton was not one who would go out without a fight, often reminding us about the 1990's that ended with a surplus left by her husband's administration, only to try to get out of his too-powerful shadow. Senator McCain was the military hero, the maverick that could also appeal to Democrats in the past, only to try too hard to fit into the Conservative game and have his team pick out a woman for the sake of looking like a modern candidate.
And then there was Senator Barack Obama.
In 2004, the Harvard Law Graduate and former Constitutional Law Professor gave a speech so mind-blowing that it became obvious he was a star.
In 2008, a type of culture began during the elections- this culture was represented by three infamous words: "Yes We Can!". Youth, especially college youth, were known for being the "Obama Generation", looking forward to "Hope" and "Change", looking at then-President George Bush's last two terms as a failure. His last two terms were deemed as a failure not necessarily because of his lack of speech skills (that was just the tip of the iceberg, and for comic relief), but also because of the War in Iraq, the questionable actions that occurred right after 9/11 devastated the nation- 9/11 not only a took blow to the Twin Towers, it also took a sharp stab into our culture and changed its psyche. The psyche was pessimistic, fearful- and the feelings still lingered in pocketed times of prosperity before the 2008 economic collapse. Youth and older generations wanted change, and many found it in the image of Barack Obama. Obama had a cool, calm, articulate demeanor in contrast to his counterparts, especially when it came to his predecessor. He was the One who change the nation, it would bring glory back to it, who would win back respect in the world and make everything better. Damned if he did, damned if he didn't, if he changed the world for the better, he would be dubbed a "Socialist" or "Communist", and if he didn't change the world for the better, he would be seen as a "Fascist".
An explosive wave of excitement happened when Barack Obama won the persidency in November of 2008. The video shown here, taken in Grant Park, couldn't display the excitement in a better fashion.
Excited myself, a pre-law student at Chapman University at the time, I was a member of the "Yes We Can" generation. As a matter of fact, in January 2009, without any tickets, I visited my best friend in New York City; we ended up being in a huge crowd of people in Washington D.C. Yes, I attended Barack Obama's inauguration.
Cut to over 3 years later.
Have we seen Change?
Do we still have Hope?
The movie "Ides of March" comes to mind; and if you can't watch "Game Change", watch this. The movie is about the psychological death of an idealist who once believed in the slogans and uprightness of a Presidential candidate.
The game change that remains the same is that people still fall for slogans and buy the product.
Politics is still a game. In this current election, the faces aren't brand new, unless you count Ron Paul as a unique and refreshing factor. The showdown is between an experienced businessman and governor whose overall intellect and appearance isn't considerably "Presidential", while the other one is a man who is still highly praised by some but now majorly criticized by many former supporters who originally thought that times would have been better. The game isn't as competitive, but the mud-slinging is still as dirty as ever.
If that blood sample undoubtedly contains Reagan's blood, it is not only a sample of someone's DNA, but also a sample of history. Images of a young Jodie Foster and a very trouble John Hinckley Jr. is his beyond-homely appearance comes to mind, even to that of a person who didn't necessarily have a very conscious life in the 1980's. Flash. Flash. Suddenly I think of the 1970's movie "Taxi Driver" as a reference, with Robert DeNiro played a 26-year-old disturbed man who suddenly wants to help society even with his detachment from it. Go back to 2012. I am a 26-year-old woman who didn't exist in 1981 and who spend pre-Kindergarten years in the remaining "Decade of Excess". Which brings me to the question, "Why Was Reagan a Good President?" (Or Was He?)
I currently live in a part of Southern California that contains many Conservative / Republican communities. I have often heard the discussions about, "Why can't the GOP go back to the days of Reagan?" while putting Reagan on this pedestal as this untouched pedigree that today's GOP couldn't touch. He was a tall, extremely handsome Hollywood actor with a speaking voice that was easy on the ears. He and his wife Nancy represented morality, with a perfect American image that makes me think of red gingham picnic tablecloths, apple pie, and sunshines by the lake (for some reason). Reagan, especially since his 100th birthday wouldn't have been too long ago, is nearly hailed as a demi-god in the realm of politics. It can be argued that his deregulation of Wall Street helped pave the way to Clintonomics, an age in which a country could easily be outraged over a stained blue dress from Gap instead of a noticeably dire unemployment rate and emptying shopping centers, and he did provide amnesty in 1986- but other than that, what would make him so great? There are many factors and facets of his two-term Presidency, but one part I would like to target... that tarnished his own image, was the "Just Say No!" campaign.
The War on Drugs is a very touchy subject that easily correlates to the Reagan Administration. Who can forget those simple, three words as an alleged answer to a deeply complex, layered problem? Even Mexican Congress contender Natalia Ruiz (seen in the blog entry right before this one) talks about legalizing drugs in her own nation, and while her own political issues in Mexico seemingly aren't linked to Reagan, they really are. I remember speaking to an older political activist in Downtown Los Angeles (not an Occupier, by the way) who lived through the 1980's, saying that, "Because of the 'Just Say No' campaign, Ronald Reagan helped build the image of the black 'Welfare Queen', when in reality, it is mostly (statistically) whites who are on Welfare". This same political activist who shared this information also happened to be white. Racial stereotypes were implemented, amplified. If drugs weren't so criminalized, the black market wouldn't be so vast, drug-related violence over the border would cease to exist or at least be lessened, and gangs would quickly diminish. In 2011, "A new report by the Global Commission on Drug Policy (argued) that the decades-old worldwide war on drugs has failed, with
devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the
world." (Reuters) Click here to read that report.
The legalization of drugs in the United States wouldn't necessarily bring more drug use to its society and culture- as a matter of fact, the opposite is most likely to happen. In 2009, Time Magazine did a feature on Portugal regarding its decriminalization on drugs: "Illegal drug use among teens in Portugal declined and rates of new HIV infections caused by sharing of dirty needles dropped, while the number of people seeking treatment for drug addiction more than doubled". In America's case, the same could happen- if only politicians were more open and aggressive about it. Drug addicts are often jailed and sent to prison for mere possession and usage- but if they lived in a society that made treatment more accessible and more effective, than there would be a lot less people in prison. There would be more focus and emphasis, I believe, on drug-related violence and those who inflict harm on other people- and even that would diminish if there was legalization and regulation. There may even be less prisons. Less tax money would be going towards prisons, and that is something that everyone in the Middle Class wouldn't mind having, even if they aren't using drugs whatsoever. That is a concept that Former First Lady Nancy Reagan, respectively, did not have, unless there was another motive altogether. Prohibition failed within the same century- and that should have been taken into account.
That is not say that the War on Drugs did not exist before Reagan, or that he single-handedly created it, because he did not- but his administration did worsen the situation altogether. The current administration, with its liberal views on some issues, doesn't help with the War on Drugs- who remembers the recent federal raids on marijuana dispensaries?
And don't get me started on why weed is federally illegal while alcohol is perfectly okay to buy when you're age 21 in the State of California. And why are cigarettes legal if they are known for its many carcinogens, second-hand smoke, cause of lung cancer, etc.?
Natalia Juarez teaches Philosophy at a university.
She also would like to represent her people-
But not without controversy.
The Congressional candidate for the Party of the Democratic Revolution stands in the middle amongst supporters.
According to CNN, " (The) caption above the women on the billboard reads: "I dare you to build a new project for a nation with no prejudices."
Juarez is quoted as saying, "Conservative people are never going to vote for me, never! Even if I dressed as a nun and carried a rosary and said that my
party was going to give away Bibles and rosaries, they wouldn't.
Conservatives are never going to vote for me."
Before completely taking on issues from a first-hand occupational standpoint, however, Juarez's image is still causing superficial controversy. But in a land (such as the United States) wear many violent movies are merely Rated R and sometimes PG-13 while movies containing sex and nudity are prone being easily NC-17, maybe we can open our eyes more and see what strong messages she is trying to convey without easily judging a book by its cover... and its billboard.
*Picture of Billboard taken from The Huffington Post.
Referring to my last blog, Gay Marriage is still a widely-debated topic- a moral issue turned into a highly political, polarizing one. The most extreme opponents of Gay Marriage, such as Representative Gipson of Mississippi, use religious texts such as the Bible in order to condemn people in the LGBT to severe punishments due to their sexual orientations and nothing else. The most common, cliche argument I have heard about Gay Marriage is that it ruins the "Sanctity of Marriage"- in order words, it just plain ruins Marriage altogether!
But who are we kidding?
As if Marriage was this exclusive, beautiful, wonderful, utopia-type of "thing" with a flawless foundation until the issue of Gay Marriage came along. As if Gay Marriage became a threat to something so allegedly holy. I am sure that former Republican Presidential Candidate Newt Gingrich, with his more "traditional" and "normal" sexuality, is the best example of family values in this Christian nation.
I am 26 years old. I am "Generation Y", a Generation that others see as lost, underemployed, spoiled, the type who eventually communicated with people over a screen instead of spending more precious time talking to people in person. To an extent, it is true. It is also true that in America, it is more accepted and less unusual to be a 30-year-old living at home. I have kept in touch with many contemporaries over the years only to see that many marriages have unraveled. Before age 25, many people I know (even the self-proclaimed church-attending ones) have already moved onto their second marriages, the newly-changed Facebook profile picture and shift from "Divorced" to "Married" (again) taking over the newsfeed and making people wonder in such a Hollywood tabloid kind of light. As someone who used to work in the financial industry, I have met too many early-twentysomethings with damaged credit and negative cash flow due to their divorces. This also contrasts with the many single women who don't know how to handle a relationship, and who have to use He's Just Not Into You as a their own alternative Bible; and the very young men who need stable jobs and who aren't ready for a lifelong commitment.
Now, don't get me wrong, because I still do know a handful of people who have successful marriages, including some people who married very young and who are still doing well today. But they are rarities in this entire cultural scope I am exploring here.
What exactly ruined the concept of today's marriage?
While I could come up with an argument, I would rather show you images that would say more than I ever could. I am also someone who grew up in the Protestant-Christian church and who attended Christian schools all my life, especially the stereotypical K-12 ones that only contained what seemed like only 4 students up to my high school years. But I also grew up in tolerant surroundings despite my still-belief in a Higher Power.
Besides referring to the Bible as the authority proclaiming that gays should be condemned to death, this is what Rep. Gipson stated:
This is what Rep. Gipson should also read before he imposes his Biblical beliefs upon civil liberties (and if you cannot read it, feel free to click on the image for the original, legible size!)
*Rep. Gipson quote courtesy of Huffington Post and Biblical Marriage image courtesy of Unicorn Booty at Upworthy.
It's hard to look up "Girls" on the internet without getting some results that are rather obscene. And sometimes there is this girl wearing a bikini who says she's "ready" for me and changes her "hometown" to whatever zip code I am at the time, the Photoshop obviously not working.
But when I look up "Girls" on the internet, there is one type I am looking for- the type that is on HBO, the series that debuted a little more than a month ago. It was created by none other than barely 26-year-old Lena Dunham, the writer/director/genius who gave us "Tiny Furniture", a film about a post-undergrad by the name of "Aura". Aura is twenty-something, not model-pretty, confused about her life, desperate to even nab a job as a restaurant hostess, a target of quirky young men who are confused and immature themselves while all living in New York City- sound familiar? The premise of "Girls" is about the same but expanded, with the storyline focusing on a group while than just the main character of "Hannah" (who is basically Aura to me, but a little smarter, in my opinion). The show is described as being realistic, with the very first scene opening with Hannah's parents announcing that they just cannot financially support her anymore.
I felt fortunate enough to watch the first episode for free on my iPhone last month. Now when I look for the same episode again on Youtube, all I get are brief clips of episodes instead of an entire show.
Yesterday, I made a call to my cellphone service and cable / internet provider in order to find out how I could make my bill, well, a little more condensed. The numbers were astronomical and I was basically paying over $100 a month for cellphone service alone that only provided 4 GB of data usage (without wi-fi obviously) before charging me an extra $10 per GB. This is without the large cable bill and the wi-fi in my condo. Did I mention that I am unemployed?
The service provider ended up changing my plans and gave me the best customer service, which I could not complain about, and I expect my bills to be cut in half for next month.
This is besides the mortgage and HOA fees, of course.
Did I mention that I am also a homeowner?
At age 25, I bought my own place in Southern California (can't deny- with the help of my mother), approximately 30 minutes away from Los Angeles County. I worked in a bank that time, had amazing credit, and a seemingly stable job until just a year ago.
I was the type of girl who easily went to the nail salon in order to get $50 pedicures, and before I bought my own two-bedroom place, I lived in my own one bedroom apartment. I felt very independent at the time, although I did bring over my college messiness and lack-of-cooking-skills lifestyle over to that apartment. Even though I did have a few pots and pans, it was so much easier to have microwaveable food that could've come from 7-Eleven. And if I wasn't eating microwaveable food, I was eating at Nordstrom's cafe at the local mall, feeling as if I was having Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Now I hardly even go to Nordstrom's, I think I went only twice this year instead of, uh, over three times a week in order to peek at the Chanel make-up and try on pairs of Gucci sunglasses, and that was only because I had a leftover gift card from last Christmas. That kind of luxurious lifestyle, or illusion (I was no bank manager either) isn't for me anymore. Instead of Chanel Fire, it's all about Essie from the shelves of K-Mart, or even No Miss cosmetics, for I have also gone for cheap, natural ingredients as of late. I have also become a better cook since then, with people telling me that I cook some amazing vegetarian burgers and soy chorizo burritos- a feat I thought I couldn't really do before (and being in a relationship also encourages this skill).
But I digress-
What is the conclusion of this blog? Well, due to the necessity of having a lower cable bill, I don't subscribe to HBO- and because of that, I can't access "HBO GO" in order to watch episodes online. I have tried to look at other websites but to no avail. I have searched on iTunes and all I find are podcasts on the show. It is still too early for it to release on DVD.
The Fox News screenshot featured here was directly taken from Russia Today. When they say "a picture is worth a million words", it is no exaggeration.
Now, I have nothing against women wearing low-cut clothing. As a woman myself, I believe every woman has the right to feel beautiful- for the most part, we are not forced to cover it all up in the United States (although we also can't just walk around naked on the streets, either).
“I see in the fight club the strongest and smartest men who've ever
lived. I see all this potential and I see squandering. God damn it, an
entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables, slaves with white
collars, advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we
hate so we can buy shit we don't need. We're the middle children of the
history man, no purpose or place, we have no Great war, no Great
depression, our great war is a spiritual war, our great depression is
our lives, we've been all raised by television to believe that one day
we'd all be millionaires and movie gods and rock stars, but we won't
and we're slowly learning that fact. and we're very very pissed off.”
A few days ago, SNL aired an opening sketch with Will Ferrell reviving his portrayal of Bush, and let me say that it did give me some memories of recent political history, especially election history (because Obama is responsible for everything and every single thing happening in America, as you know). Ferrell's portrayal is nothing short of entertaining, but it also reminds me of the image Bush 43 used to have: the image of the cool cowboy-voiced neighbor who would help you change your tires if he saw your truck stranded down the highway, the down-to-earth guy you had a burger with at a picnic- you know, the image of an average American eating a hot dog underneath a bright summer sky while grabbing a half-empty bottle of ketchup.
Oliver Stone's W. (2008) also has Bush in a very similar, if not the same light (minus the live audience in front of the stage), and a scene showing him meeting his wife Laura for the very first time is no exception.
It was the very same image that helped Bush obtain votes, at least in the 2004 election. Democratic Presidential Nominee John Kerry was seen by some as "too intellectual", "too East Coast" in the sense that one can easily conceive him vacationing privately in the Hamptons, his Ivy League diploma hanging off a wall of one of many owned properties. And yet, Bush and Kerry both attended Yale and were members of the very exclusive Skull and Bones fraternity, with Bush, no matter what, being a political scion and heir regardless of the image he seemingly cultivated: a man you can have a burger with and relate to.
Just like a cosmetics ad showing a model in pixie dust with a gemstone type of shine on her lips, the image of a Presidential candidate is definitely the same type of concept- the message going, "Buy this, buy this", for the product will change your life. "Yes We Can" is a very vocal example, the Obama movement rising up in 2008 with a slew of Generation X and Y members being heavily involved within its slogan. The aesthetic was more appealing than that of a Baby Boomer who represented the politics of old despite his so-called "maverick" image (becoming more Conservative in his 2008 campaign, with many forgetting about how he was for a type of amnesty for undocumented immigrants in early 2007), not to mention a former Alaskan unknown who became a caricature of herself rather than a Vice Presidential type of leader.
What does it mean to be Presidential, to look Presidential? People still judge not just by image, but also looks, state of attractiveness. Putting Bush and Burgers aside, the first Presidential debate aired on 1960 is a great example of contrast. While Republican hopeful Nixon spoke eloquently, his lack of make-up and slight tinge of nervousness didn't help him at all despite his ideas. JFK was cool, calm, and had a look on his face that looked very content about his presentation.
Proof that despite good ideas, image is still everything.
Before I share with you a nice slice of my political views (or delve into Lena Dunham's "Girls", which is deemed as a "Sex and the City" for angsty post-graduates who survived Love in the Time of Bush-era), I would like to talk about the actual Sex and the City- you know, the Candace Bushnell creation that came over out nearly 15 years on HBO. What would it be like if the ultra-glam, bar-hopping single ladies (for some of the seasons, anyway) were mere twenty-somethings in 2012 (a.k.a. the End of the World?). This is what I think they'd would be like in today's world if they were members of Generation Y.
Carrie: Writer who rents out room instead of her own apartment, with her
father paying half of the rent. Her sex blog is about to take off, but
she isn't paid enough for it yet. She owes $40.000 debt for her student
loan, not $40,000 "invested" in Manolo Blahnik shoes. Buys knock-offs
from Etsy instead and creates her dream outfits on Polyvore while
professing her love for shoes. Is clingier towards Mr. Big, whose firm
remained unscathed despite the economic turbulence that occurred in
2008.
Miranda: Lawyer who was just laid off from the law firm she
just worked for; sued law firm for discrimination due to her gender,
lawsuit pending- became headlines on the Huffington Post. MSNBC is
considering giving her a tv show of her own, but producers complain
about how "unfunny" she is, and encourage her to grow out her hair.
Still has savings so isn't completely broke, but she ends up moving in
immediately with Steve, a bartender.
Samantha: Samantha is
finding it increasingly difficult to finding more clients despite the
movie industry not going down, and ends up registering her own domain in
order to build her own online profile. Deleted her Facebook since too
many past lovers and suitors began stalking her, even cussing her out on
YouTube. Makes homemade cocktails for her friends so that they won't
spend too much at the bar. Moonlights as a stylist at Saks Fifth.
Charlotte:
Charlotte quits her job as an art curator, but suddenly regrets it.
Lives in an apartment she inherited from her family. Does not have time
to obsess over having a baby, and often hangs out with her gay guy
friends while discovering new artists in the New York scene. Is scouted
for being a model, but the major agencies think she is a few inches too
short.
