Blogcritics Author: Media Lizzy

Selling Stepford: Mitt Romney's Perfect Candidacy

Media Lizzy — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:49:26 EST

With former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, more than a few insiders have found the perfect candidate.
Republicans love a safe bet. Wealthy, telegenic, well-connected and persuasive behind closed doors. They invoke former president Ronald Reagan because he was a winner, not because of policy.With former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, more than a few insiders have found the perfect candidate. No sticky personal issues. And he possesses the...

The State of Affairs

Media Lizzy — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 05:05:08 EDT

Maybe Condi Rice is just smarter than Cheney, Rummy, and Powell. Maybe.
Criticisms of the Bush Administration's performance in the aftermath of the Iraq invasion center on the lack of planning, political progress, and understanding of the cultural breakdown that occurred under the Hussein regime. Attacks on Vice President Dick Cheney and former Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld declare them "evil" tools...

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

Sex and Political Isolation

Media Lizzy — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 05:19:44 EDT

Republican Senator from Louisiana, David Vitter, is one in a long line of politicians exposed for extramarital misconduct. Before the ink was dry on his political obituary, another was being written. Florida legislator Bob Allen (R) allegedly offered to perform oral sex on an undercover cop for the paltry sum of $20. The last public restroom flap was former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey, who revealed he frequented rest stops on the New Jersey Turnpike for sex with strangers. That was followed by news of an affair with a longtime male staffer and the declaration McGreevey was a “Gay American.” Presidents Kennedy and Clinton were notorious for their sexual naughtiness. Speaker Gingrich resigned. His replacement, Bob Livingston, never made it to the big chair. Gary Hart lost his bid for the presidency after a little monkey business. Former Senator Bob Packwood had a reputation for chasing the ladies around his desk. Mayors Gavin Newsom and Antonio Villaraigosa issued apologies for their infidelities. They are not unique among their colleagues in the political class.The most remarkable fact: their wives coolly suggest the men alone are to blame. The countless divorces, the budding careers ending in a plane ticket home, and dumpster diving are now disturbingly commonplace. Sexual misconduct, infidelity, and deviancy inside the Beltway is almost pedestrian. Democrat offenders are commended, even congratulated for being virile enough to have a sexual exploit. Their pro-abortion, cradle-to-grave socialist approach leaves great latitude. They are rewarded for cold, emotionless, convenient sex. Republicans are drawn and quartered for their hypocrisy. Their advocacy for abstinence draws the bullseye. Their adamant opposition to gay marriage while being busted for soliciting gay sex turns on the klieg lights. Porn purveyor Larry Flynt finds pleasure in destroying these men, their marriages, and families. Our society has evolved past the hushed tones where offers of sex and compromised careers were quietly negotiated away. Now, there are staffers, wives, and consultants attempting to decipher the telephone records of the DC Madam, Deborah Jeane Palfrey. No doubt opposition researchers are masturbating over the gold they will find. I keep thinking there must be more to the story. There must be something driving these men out of the arms of their wives and mistresses. And into the arms of call girls and hookers. Into the parking lots of highway rest stops. The isolation of being a politician, a very high profile consultant, or a religious figure like Ted Haggard seems to breed not just hypocrisy but a need for sexual experiences that equal the "high" of their professional success. It is unsurprising that men so driven and ambitious have a hunger for intense, sexual satisfaction. Prostitution is a business of supply and demand. Call me impolitic, but wives forsaking their marital duties should expect their husbands to seek new lovers. Punishing a man by withholding sexual congress has never won any hearts, minds, or votes. The wives should remember they were once passionate creatures with sexual needs and desires of their own. Those longings for release do not disappear; they are merely masked by pride. Setting aside an hour or two, a few times a week, would prevent many of these bimbo eruptions. For any red-blooded man, or woman, to go without an orgasm day after day, is a recipe for disaster. Love between husband and wife does not evaporate in an instant, it melts away a little at a time. Scheduling is the bread and butter of public service. As a wife relinquishes her claim on her husband’s body, their sacred connection slips away. Intimacy, and the very body, should be considered territory worth protecting. Campaigns bring distance and demands for fundraising calls. And practicing speeches. Photo opportunities. Instead of nodding politely, each wife should whisper secrets breathlessly into her husband's ear, just as he takes the stage. Maintain the connection. Cede no ground to hungry political aides and advisers. Staff always needs just a few more minutes from the candidate. A few minutes turns into hours and passion is left amid the confetti, or in the arms of an eager young woman. Wives have as much responsibility to their political marriage as their husbands. The isolation of political figures begins with gatekeepers, and as gatekeepers take more and more territory, loneliness and paranoia set in. Our counterparts in the European Union are certainly more liberal when it comes to sex, marriage, and sexuality. The European Union Commission released a 45-second advertisement, provocatively titled “Let’s Come Together” on EUTube. The ad features moments, spliced together from many European films, of sexual climax – where two consenting adults are at their most intimate, most vulnerable. Yes, it is officially sanctioned by the EU27 to promote European filmmaking. I believe they could have left off any mention of cinema and utilized the advertisement for promotion of the troubled EU Constitution. Let’s come together should be a refrain ringing out in every marital bed. I found the openness refreshing, especially as it emanated from an official governmental body. With David Vitter in the moral cross-hairs, I wonder if his wife had spent more time focused on mutual satisfaction than threatening the essence of his masculinity, where they would be. Vitter, like many of us, enjoyed the thrill of not being caught. Sex became his vice. Now that he is caught, there is no time for headaches. Political careers should not be thrust into the trash heap over sex. Whether it is sex or making love or something rough and indescribable, the act itself is natural. It is the most natural, most honest communication between two people. Reckless sexual behaviors, however common, are not acts against the state. With round the clock news, the blogosphere, and YouTube, it is time to re-evaluate our environment. We all live in glass houses now.

Media Lizzy anchors Heading Right Radio at the streaming network, BlogTalkRadio. She hosts The Media Lizzy Show and the AOL Hot Seat show weekdays. She manages Media Lizzy and Friends at www.medializzy.com - where she and her diverse contributors are making a generational declaration of independence.

Gerald Ford: The Reluctant President

Media Lizzy — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 15:52:48 EST

As an officer of the United States Navy during World War II, where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander, Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. could not have known he would be a popular twelve term Congressman from Michigan, nor did he aspire to be the President of the United States. But Ford had an appointment with destiny and with history. Over time, his colleagues and political opponents came to describe Ford as a moral man of great integrity who possessed an unparalleled sense of duty.The “Accidental President,” was so named after he was sworn in following Watergate and numerous other scandals that rocked the Nixon Administration. With the conflict in Vietnam still costing thousands of American lives and revelation after revelation about corruption and political chicanery in the Washington Post, combined with the resignation of then-Vice President Spiro Agnew in abject disgrace, Nixon needed a man who could be confirmed by the Democrat-led US Senate. He needed a designated hitter to save America’s sense of self. Gerald Ford’s brief tenure as President was marked by pragmatism, realism and a moral and principled core. He managed America’s disgust with the Nixon administration and our grief over the Vietnam War. In a speech to the nation immediately following his swearing the Oath of Office, President Ford eloquently remarked: “My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works. Our great republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here the people rule. I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your president by your ballots. So I ask you to confirm me with your prayers.”Honesty, simplicity and modesty marked Gerald Ford’s life and career. Beginning at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, California, the State Funeral will reflect his career as a Congressman, as Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate, his personal sense of humility, as well as the military honors befitting a Navy Officer and Commander in Chief. Led by Military District Washington (MDW), the Joint Force Headquarters of the National Capital Region will coordinate logistics and render honors under the direction of Major General Guy Swan, III, Commanding General of MDW. The ceremonial units of the Honor Guard are comprised of the US Army 3rd Infantry Old Guard, the US Navy Ceremonial Guard, the US Air Force Honor Guard, the US Marine Corps from Marine Barracks 8th & I, and the US Coast Guard Ceremonial Guard. These units are permanent commands in Military District Washington, populated by expertly trained individuals whose presence guided the State Funerals of Presidents Eisenhower, Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and most recently President Ronald Reagan in 2004.The Honor Guard appears at all full diplomatic arrival ceremonies at the Pentagon and the White House. They presided over the State Funeral at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in 1984, when an unknown soldier’s remains were recovered from Vietnam and interred at the Tomb. Burials in Arlington National Cemetery of fallen members of the Armed Forces, and their qualified next of kin, receive military honors from the same units participating in President Ford’s funeral over the coming days. After departing Palm Desert, President Ford’s remains will be escorted by the Honor Guard, Mrs. Ford, and her family. Major General Swan and a Military Chaplain will escort Mrs. Ford and guide her throughout the State Funeral until it concludes in Grand Rapids, Michigan. On Saturday, December 30, after an arrival ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base just outside Washington, DC, the motorcade will travel through Alexandria, Virginia in remembrance of President Ford’s long residence in that city as a Congressman and as Vice President of the United States. En route to the US Capitol, the motorcade will pause at the World War II Memorial located on the National Mall at 17th Street, between Constitution and Independence Avenues. The motorcade will then proceed to the U.S. Capitol and be received at the East Steps to the U.S. House of Representatives. President Ford’s casket will proceed up the East House Steps on the East Capitol Plaza in honor of his 24 years as a U.S. Congressman. His remains will be met by a group of his former House colleagues. His casket will lie in repose at the open House doors honoring his time in Congress. The casket will then be carried through Statuary Hall. His remains will then move to the Rotunda for the Lying in State portion of the state funeral, where a Joint Guard of Honor will be at his side every moment. After which, President Ford’s remains will depart the Rotunda and rest at the closed Senate doors in honor of his service as the Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate. The motorcade will then proceed to the Washington National Cathedral, passing the White House en route. A national funeral service will then be conducted. Following the service, the motorcade will transport the casket from the cathedral to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, for a departure ceremony. President Ford’s remains will be received with ceremony at Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His casket will then be moved by motorcade to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum for a brief private service. During the service, wreaths will be placed at the casket by the presidents of Yale University and the University of Michigan in honor of President Ford’s law degree and undergraduate degree, from those institutions respectively. Following the service, President Ford’s remains will lie in repose. Finally, President Ford’s remains will depart the museum with ceremony and proceed to Grace Episcopal Church, with ceremony followed by a private funeral service for invited guests only. At the conclusion of the service, the remains will depart the church with ceremony and proceed to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum for a private interment service.President Ford, the reluctant president, surely would find comfort in sharing a team from the Honor Guard who also buries their comrades serving in today’s controversial war in Iraq. President Ford was a husband, a father, a patriot and a sailor. History will not record the names of the Casket Bearers, nor the firing party, nor the Joint Service Presidential Color Guard. But the men and women of the Honor Guard will share the stories of how they once buried a president, and were humbled more by his service as a member of the Greatest Generation than any political statements made in the wake of his death.For additional information, visit the official site of the State Funeral.

Hussein by Another Name

Media Lizzy — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 22:59:12 EST

Barack Hussein Obama. Recently he has been compared to John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and the second coming of a Democratic Governing Majority. Democrats, understandably, are aching for a clean politician to carry their mantle in 2008. They long for a leader who sounds hopeful, idealistic, and energetic. Never mind the hard stuff, let's feel good while listening to this good looking and affable man give a speech. Not since 2000 have I seen such outpouring of energy for one man. Barack Obama is attractive, has a great story, and is, by all accounts, a very bright man. Running for President is about credentials. Policy, campaign finance prowess, nationally known and respected staff, national security experience, and international connections are all key factors. Most Republicans felt the same way in 1999 and 2000. We were similarly fatigued by eight years of the Clintonista regime. Frankly, Republicans self-generated much of the drama beginning with the impossibly petty "impeachment" proceedings against then-President Clinton. Our prayers were answered with George Walker Bush. Circumstances today notwithstanding, Republicans in 2000 were ecstatic with support for our nominee.Before Obama ever faces the Republican electioneering machinery... he must demonstrate the ability to compete -- and beat -- all Democratic challengers. He possesses great ability in persuading media and the masses. Both of Obama's books are wonderful. He is a gifted speaker and clearly, his passion for public service is authentic. He appears to have harnessed raw ambition and changed it to fuel his drive all the way through November 2008.His chief competition, Senator Hillary Clinton, has enormous advantages. She has scooped up a lot of players but has also created a lot of enemies over the years. To defeat Hillary Clinton may be easier than withstanding the media's microscopic examination of his entire life. Once the honeymoon period is over, Obama must demonstrate he is a serious contender. He must secure resolute, motivated, and nationally respected fundraising operatives. Without thirty to forty million dollars in his presidential campaign account, Obama will be seen as a flash in the pan. Gravitas is about more than his national security creds. As an American, I think it’s high time we picked nominees from both parties who represent the best talent, best ideas, best character, and best leadership we have to offer. Doing what is best for our country used to be seen as an honorable thing. Perhaps Obama can facilitate the Audacity of Hope for more than a little media shine. Let’s get down to the issues at hand: Iraq, terror, equality, pay, healthcare, education.May the best man, or woman, win.

2008: Hillary Will Be Comin' Round the Mountain

Media Lizzy — Fri, 8 Dec 2006 18:37:13 EST

Politics is bloodsport. I love the game. I believe in picking sides and forcing detractors to reveal their paranoia, hysteria and weakness. The most successful politicians in the modern age are patient. They employ the trapdoor spider model of electioneering. Give a little, retreat a little. Let the enemy grow confident in their stride. Give ‘em a soft place to fall. Then eat their innards. Enter New York's junior US Senator Hillary Clinton, mistress of the Democrats Trap Door Spider League. Her entire life story was simply pretext to this moment. Hillary picked a winning horse from Arkansas, then rode him all the way through his turn at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. As US Senator, Hillary successfully played to her strengths while obfuscating her weaknesses. She's played hawk, dove and bow hunter on the Iraq War policy. She markets Bill as Husband-in-Chief and reminds her Democrat fans of the Two-Fer that was the first Clinton presidency. She emerges in poll after poll as the front runner for the Democratic nomination in 2008. The conveyance of an inevitability is critical to securing the nomination. In 2000, then-Governor Bush's folks never thought for a second that he wouldn't be elected. They engineered the conditions on the ground during the entire primary season. They convinced the press it was a done deal, even though they all enjoyed the open bar on McCain's Straight Talk Express. And time after time, John McCain fell victim to the trap door spiders. So it shall be with Hillary. Many Democrat insiders are already in her camp though not because of friendship. Many insiders owe Bill and Hillary Clinton for their professional success. Once you have been a presidential appointee, it's very difficult to give that up. If Hillary is elected President of the United States, expect that many loyalists still serving in Plum Book assignments will be promoted. Folks on the outside for the Bush administration will be assigned to positions with more prestige. Let the private parties at the Caucus Room begin.Herein lies the problem for Barack Obama. He may be brilliant, charismatic and the idealist Democrats have been waiting for, but he does not have the entrenched machinery to know whose turn it is for the cabinet and sub-cabinet jobs. I happen to think it would be a refreshing change for a President to be of the people, which Obama certainly is. Other challengers like Joe Biden, Evan Bayh and Bill Richardson are interesting but remain very establishment-oriented. With a glance, Hillary could turn their fledgling candidacies into pillars of salt. Two candidates on my watch list are John Edwards and Wes Clark. Edwards' populist message may struggle in wartime but as Americans yearn for a return to happier times, Edwards might fit the bill. Wes Clark is interesting. His intentions for 2008 are not yet declared. Clark has the right credentials to lead in wartime but has carefully avoided too close an association with the anti-war Generals like Shinseki. Clark worked in concert with the Clintons while maintaining distance from their failures. Clark managed to remain above the anti-war fray while starring in the most compelling ads of the 2006 election cycle for VoteVets. Ultimately, the personal vetting of any presidential candidate dictates end-strength on election day. Hillary's single greatest advantage: she has been vetted, vetted again and nearly vetted to death. Her challengers are certain to have a few skeletons. Hillary's team will deploy opposition research with surgical skill undetectable to the human eye. Hillary's single greatest weakness? Her shrill tone and high negatives may drive pragmatic Democrats to seek a different leader. Hillary is prone to have a Dean-esque "scream" moment.Then again, so are the rest of the Democrats. Enter the Republican Trap Door Spider League.

Bush and the Iraq Study Group: The Way Forward

Media Lizzy — Thu, 7 Dec 2006 04:03:30 EST

What an exciting day to begin my tenure at Blogcritics! From the Iraq Study Group to the confirmation of Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense, I find myself in a target-rich news environment. Before analysis comes observation. Secretary of State Condi Rice is absent from the discourse regarding the ISG findings. Outgoing Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld is a below-the-fold mention in passing, as the fallout from the leaked memo dwindles. The only news from Vice President Cheney’s office is a birth announcement for his daughter Mary and her partner, Heather Poe. There have been no glib statements from neocons this week. During the White House press availability this morning the burden of leadership could be seen and heard in the timbre of President Bush’s voice and in the deepening lines across his forehead. Gone was the man I campaigned for in 2000 and 2004. The idealistic chap who charmed and inspired has grown into the role of President, albeit with alternating moments of triumph and defeat. The Iraq Study Group outlined a snapshot of the war in Iraq. The bipartisan group of five Republicans and five Democrats offered a grave analysis. The seventy-nine recommendations will be debated for weeks, months and years to come. In January, the 110th Congress and the Bush Administration will face their first test. I hope the resounding cry for bipartisanship is heeded before a single hearing begins. During the Cold War, Republicans and Democrats were united through nine presidencies and more than eighteen sessions of Congress. The gravity of the threats Americans faced brought us together. Domestic policy differences weighed heavily during electoral contests. The preservation of our Constitution, the safety of our people and the importance of individuals freedoms were championed by both parties. Listening to James Baker I found myself wishing the words were coming from President Bush in an announcement of the resignation of Condi Rice, Stephen Hadley and all others who contributed the poor advice over the last few years. It is too late to re-fight the reasons we went to war. Political chicanery has NO PLACE in a fight for our very identity as a nation. Simply put, staff should never be hired to run the shop unless they are qualified. Being a former Cabinet official or having a Ph.D. should not be construed as an automatic qualification for a Cabinet Post. The idealism of hiring the first African American Woman Secretary of State is not enough to sustain Condi Rice’s legacy. Her inexperience led to failures, just as Rumsfeld’s obsession with transformation ruined his relationships with many current and former military brass. Newly confirmed Secretary of Defense Robert Gates must prove he has enough command presence to make a change. He must demonstrate independence and advocate for the boots on the ground. Neither President Bush, nor Speaker Pelosi have a mandate for anything but change. America is watching. The findings of the Iraq Study Group must be given strenuous consideration. The status quo is no longer an option. The one caveat is this: the proper identification of America’s enemies must inform our policy. If just five percent of the world’s Muslim population are violent extremists – willing to be a suicide bomber or jihadist for Allah - that is roughly equal to 60 million suicide bombers. There may not have been a nuke buried in the Iraqi desert, but 60 million suicide bombers - they ARE the Weapons of Mass Destruction.