Month: September 2009

Gotta Love the Congressional Democrats

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

There’s absolutely no advantageous situation handed them that they can’t screw up.

Wilson made an idiot of himself. Even hardcore GOP reps shied away from his actions. He apologized to Obama. Obama seemed to be cool with it. That should be that.

Now the Democrats are insisting he apologize from the House floor. Wilson’s refusing to do so because–I dunno. Because perhaps he sees it as an enforced exercise in humiliation and groveling. Which it is. So now they’re talking about rebuking him.

To what end? So that he can be transformed from a loudmouth into a man of principle? So that the GOP can rally behind him? So that the public can hear “You lie!” over and over and over again and, as a result, remember only the accusation, which is what typically happens in these circumstances. That’s why, in a debate situation, you always reframe an accuser’s statement rather than repeat it, because viewers just remember the accusation.

He heckled the President. He apologized. The President seems ready to move on.  Move along with him  before Wilson is turned into a martyr or even a hero.  They’re supposed to be serving the public, and the public will be better served focusing on getting health care done rather than obsessing about a footnote in the debate.

PAD

For Those Residing in Brooklyn

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

I will be attending the Brooklyn Book Festival 2009 and participating on the following panel in the Comics track:

1:00 p.m. Marvel Writers. How do they do it? Some of Marvel’s hottest writers talk about their work on your favorite comics. Moderated by Jim McCann.

After that I’ll be joining the others in a signing from 2-3.

PAD

Spider and Jeanne Robinson

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

I received the following from Jan Schroeder and am passing it along with my strongest endorsements.

Jeanne Robinson had surgery for a rare and aggressive form of biliary cancer this past February. Her gall bladder, common bile duct and 3/4 of her liver was removed and if the cancer returns further surgery won’t be an option. Her options now are limited and expensive, even with the Canadian health system.

Some of her friends are holding a fundraising concert for her and I’ve been doing some Ebay auctions. It’s the writing community who have really come through for Jeanne. Harlan Ellison has just donated dinner for two at Ellison Wonderland, Joe Straczynski donated a set of the B5 script books, Diana Gabaldon and Allen Steele are donating books and DD Barant has put up a Tuckerization in his next book.

I was hoping you might do one of two things: Help me get the word out about the effort and how people can help by posting to your blog or perhaps you could donate an item for the Ebay auctions. Either or both would really be great.

More information about Jeanne’s condition and more ways to donate directly or help out can be found here and my auctions are eBay Seller: dreamforjeanneauctions: Collectibles items on eBay.com

Eight Years Ago Today…

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

…we found ourselves with a Joel Schumacher film come to life. My neighbor was worried that it wasn’t safe to send the kids to school while I was busy freaking out because I couldn’t get in touch with Kathleen.

For me, it’s just memories. For those who lost loved ones in the disaster, it left a gaping hole in their lives that will never be filled.

PAD

Obama Should Send Joe Wilson a Nice Fruit Basket

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

In case you hadn’t heard, Congressman Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina) did the President a tremendous service last night by mistaking the floor of the Senate for a town hall meeting and shouting “You lie!” during one point in his speech when Obama asserted that his health care plan would not cover illegal immigrants.

Supporters of Obama-care have been painting those in opposition as obstructionist, disruptive áššhølëš, and Wilson suddenly became the face of that. Everyone is used to the likes of Limbaugh assailing Obama on the radio, but a Congressman heckling a president on the Senate floor is simply unprecedented, at least in modern times (they probably gave John Adams a lot of crap if/when he swung by). Other Republicans are running from Wilson as fast as they possibly can for fear of being tarred with the same brush, but it may well be too late. When you’re basically saying that the opposition is acting like a bunch of jerks, and one of them then acts like a jerk under the most inappropriate circumstance possible, then your opposition has done you the service of lending support to your cause. It’s one thing to sit on your hands and refuse to applaud the President, but outright heckling…well, it may be SOP in England where face-to-face shouting matches with the Prime Minister are routine. But it doesn’t happen here. (Go watch Nancy Pelosi’s reaction during the video on CNN.  To say “If looks could kill…” is a cliche, but that expression on her face is what the cliche was first coined for.)

It was a breach of protocol, to say nothing of common courtesy: The President is basically a guest there, and you don’t shout “You lie!” at your guest (again, unless you’re Limbaugh or one of his ilk.) Wilson may have done more in his two second outburst to help Obama’s case than Obama did in his hour-plus speech.

PAD