Archive for the ‘Mr. President’ Category
Merry Christmas
Elena Kagan
Oh, you, Ms. Kagan. I woke up this morning and there you were–everywhere. Nominated for the Supreme Court. NBD.
Some facts I learned:
- If confirmed by the Senate, she would be the youngest person on the Supreme Court at age 50.
- She would become the nation’s 112th justice.
- “Her presence would result in 3 female justices on a nine-member court for the first time in history.” (NPR)
- She would be the fourth female to serve on the court.
- She would be the first justice nominted to the court in 40 years without prior judicial experience.
- She was a domestic policy advisor for the Clinton administration.
- Both Kagan and Obama taught at the University of Chicago Law School.
- As Harvard Law dean, she signed a friend-of-the-court brief arguing that law schools did not have to allow the US Military to recruit on campus because of don’t-ask, don’t-tell.
- Lawrence Lessig argues that Kagan has the power to “make majorities,” and could persuade more conservative members of the court.
Chart of the Day: 4-9
Balance the Federal Budget you say? But how would you propose to do it?
The Economist asked Americans: “What is the best way to cut the deficit?”
5% said, “increase taxes.”
62% said, “reduce government spending.”
OK, said The Economist. “Here is a list of things the federal government spends money on. Which things should the government spend less on?”
As you can see in the chart above, over two-thirds of Americans don’t want to reduce spending on anything single category, except foreign aid. And as Mother Jones points out, foreign aid represents less than 1% of America’s total spending.
Beyond that, there were only four areas that even a quarter of the population was willing to cut: mass transit, agriculture, housing, and the environment. At a rough guess, these areas account for about 3% of the federal budget. You could slash their budgets by a third and still barely make a dent in federal spending.
The Economist – This Week’s Economist/YouGov Poll
Wait, so what’s costing so much money?
Daily Dose: 3-30
This time – an article. Read it all at Racialicious – Everything is Not (Not) About Race or the whole thing after the jump.
After reading an article recently claiming that Tea Party demonstrators, angered over the healthcare bill, were shouting out “nigger” at members of the Black Congressional Caucus, as a Black American, I felt compelled to weigh in. For the past two years, politicians, journalists, bloggers, and political pundits have debated the merits of whether demonstrations against Barack Obama are racially motivated. The fodder was fueled on at least two occasions when former President Jimmy Carter stated that an overwhelming portion of the bitter outcry is racially inclined. With all due respect, Jimmy Carter needs to go back to selling peanuts. Speaking out against a person of color does not make one a racist. Just as speaking out against a woman doesn’t make you sexist, nor does raging against Islam’s radical ideas make you xenophobic.
March Madness
This is Barack Obama’s NCAA Baracket. Take a look at it and see how it compares to yours. And then notice how he wrote “Nova” instead of Villanova. And then realize what an amateur you are. FYI, Kansas is in it to win it.
Vogue: Shape Up For Spring
To Do: 2010 Whitney Biennial
Let me start off by saying a biennial is something that occurs for two years or (as is the case with the Whitney) occurs every two years. Now that that’s out of the way, Jerry Saltz’s description of the small, managable Whitney Biennial exhibit makes me want to see it now.
The cover of the 2010 Whitney Biennial catalogue displays a picture of Barack Obama as a Dapper Dan cowboy. Inside, guest curator Francesco Bonami and co-curator Gary Carrion-Murayari call the president “the coolest artist of all” and say their show is about “innovative forms,” “new relationships,” and “personal modernism.” After two biennials devoted to dealing with “failure” and “darkness,” this catalogue speaks of “renewal” and “optimism.” Yes, it’s the Obama Biennial: alternately moving and frustrating, challenging and disappointing—and a big improvement on what came before.
It is also historic: For the first time, there are more women included than men. How thrilling and important this is shouldn’t be overlooked or treated cynically, because this biennial isn’t about women’s art, feminism, or affirmative action. Nor is it about painting, although there’s more nonphotographic, handmade two-dimensional work here than I recall seeing for decades. Instead, it provides glimpses of American strangeness, of pluralistic grassroots experimentalism. It is rich in surprises and new names, doesn’t follow too many trends, and deals with the self and aesthetics in fresh ways.
It’s an exhibit about Barack Obama (Change We Can Believe In) that includes more women artists than men. Here’s a little history from the KiptonART Blog:
Today, art world tongues are wagging at the Whitney Museum of American Art’s announcement of the artists participating in the upcoming Whitney Biennial, 2010 which takes over the Museum from February 25 through May 30, 2010. This is the 75th in the ongoing series of Biennials and Annuals presented by the Whitney since 1932, two years after the Museum was founded. On view will be a mix of well-known and new artists ranging in age from a 23-year-old photographer, Tam Tran, to the 75-year-old conceptual artist Lorraine O’Grady. For 2010, the Biennial includes 55 artists, down from 81 in 2008 and 100 in 2006.
The fifty-five artists were selected by curator Francesco Bonami and associate curator Gary Carrion-Murayari. Eleven of the artists have shown in past Whitney Biennials: James Casebere and George Condo in the 1980s, Suzan Frecon in 2000, Hannah Greely in 2006, Robert Grosvenor in the 1960s and 70s, Martin Kersels in 1997, Jim Lutes in 1987, Ari Marcopoulos in 2002, Josephine Meckseper in 2006, Charles Ray several times in the 1980s and 90s; Ray, who also had a solo retrospective at the Whitney in 1998, makes a departure from his previous work with his installation in 2010.
KiptonART – Whitney Biennial 2010, Artists Announced
See also: The Guardian – Whitney Biennial 2010: still flying the flag?
February 25-May 30, 2010. Friday nights from 6-9pm admission is pay-what-you-wish.
Obama at House GOP Conference
Two days after delivering his state of the union address, Obama appeared at the House GOP Conference in Baltimore for a riveting question & answer session. Covering issues such as the health care debate to the national debt, the President answered (and answered well, might I add) all of the questions thrown at him with sophistication and an obvious understanding of the policies and issues.
I encourage everyone (mom, hallie, abby–my only readers) to watch the video (at your leisure, of course) or to read the transcript, which the Washington Post has broken down by each lawmaker’s question and Obama’s response.
Of Color | Stylish Gifts – Hmm, Maybe Not New York Times
What to get those picky people of color? They are so hard to shop for. Why not get them hair products and gifts referencing President Obama and Justice Sotomayor? These are the gifts that the New York Times recommends. Now I am not so color-blind that I do not see the value in identifying gifts for people of different ethnicities and races but this seems a little extreme. Couldn’t they have featured these Somalian twin designers under women’s fashion? Couldn’t they have recommeded the Barack Obama educational video game and the Sotomayor book to all children? Why, New York Times, did you choose to identify these gifts as suitable only for people of color? I’m sure you meant no harm but I think this is poor, poor form.
A Thanksgiving Letter and a State Dinner
Being completely inspired by my friend Anna’s post, below is a portion of the Thanksgiving letter the President sent to Americans on his email listserv yesterday.
Only half of the letter is posted. You can read the rest at Anna’s blog.
[Name],
Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, Americans across the country will sit down together, count our blessings, and give thanks for our families and our loved ones.
American families reflect the diversity of this great nation. No two are exactly alike, but there is a common thread they each share.
Our families are bound together through times of joy and times of grief. They shape us, support us, instill the values that guide us as individuals, and make possible all that we achieve.
So tomorrow, I’ll be giving thanks for my family — for all the wisdom, support, and love they have brought into my life.
But tomorrow is also a day to remember those who cannot sit down to break bread with those they love.
The soldier overseas holding down a lonely post and missing his kids. The sailor who left her home to serve a higher calling. The folks who must spend tomorrow apart from their families to work a second job, so they can keep food on the table or send a child to school.
This is absurd. But really who could blame these party crashers? The event was supposedly the most coveted ticket in D.C. since the inauguration. The President of India is a vegetarian so the menu reflected his preferences.
First
Potato and Eggplant Salad
White House Arugula with Onion Seed Vinaigrette
2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Modus Operandi, Napa, California
Red Lentil Soup with Fresh Cheese
2006 Riesling, Brooks “Ara,” Willamette Valley, Oregon
Entree
Roasted Potato Dumplings
with Tomato Chutney
Chickpeas and Okra
or
Green Curry Prawns
Caramelized Salsify
with smoked Collard Greens
and Coconut Aged Basmati
2007 Grenache, Beckmen Vineyards, Santa Ynez, CA
Dessert
Pumpkin Pie Tart
Pear Tatin
Whipped Cream and Caramel Sauce
Sparkling Chardonnay, Thibaut Janisson Brut, Monticello, Virginia
Petis Fours and Coffee
Cashew Brittle
Pecan Pralines
Passion Fruit and Vanilla Glaces
Chocolate-Dipped Fruit
