To Bail or Not to Bail out?

First of all, I'm still waiting for the government to bail me out from my $x0,000+ worth of student loan debt. Don't worry, I won't hold my breath.

With this latest proposed bail out for the auto industry, I don't think it's as easy as just saying "No! They f'd up." Yea, Detroit should definitely have been adapting existing technology for fuel efficient cars. That's poor corporate leadership.

Where I'm stuck in this is whether the workers and their families should suffer because their bosses suck. And I can definitely see the GOP using this as a ploy to end labor unions. It's not like the GOP asked too many questions when they gave the banks tons of money with no stings attached.

But then I come back to... if the banks get a bail out, and Detroit gas-guzzler producers get a bail out, when do I get a bail out?

Obama, Bill Richardson, Wen Ho Lee, and my Chinese American-ness

President elect Obama just announced his nomination for Veterans Affairs - Eric Shinseki. Cool, the first Asian American nominee, but my mind is still stuck on the Bill Richardson nomination, the only Latino nomination so far.

There's a petition going around and campaign to protest Richardson's nomination to Commerce. The group details their reasons for opposing the nomination, but I'm left asking as an organizer: What do you want? What are your goals? What is a "win" for you? Are you looking for a Richardson apology? Because that is not a very clear demand in your statement, and for any successful campaign, you must have a clearly stated demand. It shouldn't be buried. Also, Dr. Lee and his family want nothing to do with this campaign. So... I'm very conflicted on this campaign. I guess I'm just ambivalent about it.

As much as I like Bill Richardson, when he was running in the primaries, I said I could never vote for him because of Wen Ho Lee. But now he's not running for president. At the convention, I thought he was good people.

Anyway... I guess my mind is still kinda all over the place on this. Shouldn't I be backing Wen Ho Lee... a Chinese American? Well... he's not even backing this campaign. Why am I totally ok with Richardson's nomination? Is it because I'm not critical enough of Obama? Am I uncomfortable with having a campaign against the lone Latino nominee? Not sure.

I'm leaning more towards the thought that I may have just forgiven him. Forgiveness doesn't need an apology to happen. Plus, whatever Richardson did as Secretary of Energy under Clinton, he was still *under* Clinton, acting on behalf of President Clinton and their team. Strangely, in primary season despite IRA-IRA, "workfare", and Wen Ho Lee, Asian Americans supported Clinton. Are we scapegoating Richardson? Do we really know how much he was acting independently or as a representative of the Clinton administration?

We may never know. I'm going with forgiveness, peace, and moving forward.

Grassroots videos

I'm currently diggin' on 2 videos made by regular folks.



8 years ago these guys made a classic Budweiser commercial with just a couple simple words. "WASSSSUP" and "True". Irony here is that Cindy McCain's family owns Anheuser, which owns Budweiser, which made the original 8 years ago. And now the original actors are back 8 years later with a sobering look at where we are now.



This video - A message to Sarah Palin - is also made by ordinary citizens. Very powerful stuff with regular girls talking about the inroads we American women have made. True Palin is a woman, a working mom, and even a good looking one at that, but check her policy record. Her policy stances and record send shivers down my back.

Crrraaaaazy! White Devils be crraaaazy!

I gotta say that Saturday Night Live has been on fire this election year. The Obama Variety Show skit has been one of my favorites. The parody of Gnarls Barkley's song Crazy is awesome.

Speaking of white devils being crazy...

YES WE CARVE!

This is what I love about Obama. He's inspired something so much bigger than himself. People have really taken it upon themselves to be amazingly creative in utilizing their talents to encourage people to vote... and of course, vote for OBAMA-BIDEN '08!

Yes We Carve!

those are some damn hot boots!

Wow Sarah, where'd you get those boots? Got this picture from the Huffington Post. $150,000 spending spree for the Palins. But seriously! Those are some HOT F' me boots!

Hey White Women! Watch this!

You know you bought those hundred dollar tickets to go see the NKOTB reunion tour! Now check out BoyBama in Battleground for your Heart.