Tinfoil Hats And Disability Cont’d

 Disability, Politics  No Responses »
Dec 042012
 

As expected, the Senate failed to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. While some Republicans voted for ratification (we’ll miss you, Senator Lugar!), the majority of the GOP delegation decided that the treaty posed an existential threat to American sovereignty and, for reasons only the far right can grasp, homeschoolers.

It’s a sad moment for the Senate and the disability rights movement. As I wrote previously, it’s unfortunate that the deepening collective psychosis afflicting the Republican party claimed this hard-fought treaty as a victim. I remain hopeful that the next Senate will eventually vote for ratification and restore the United States’ credibility as a world leader on disability rights.

The Nerd Advantage

 Politics, Tech  No Responses »
Nov 292012
 

Nate Silver observes that political contributions from employees at tech companies like Google and Apple overwhelmingly favored Obama in the most recent election cycle. He goes on to make a reasonable assumption that tech professionals willing to donate to a campaign are more likely to volunteer or work for that campaign. That’s not to say that nobody in tech votes Republican, but Democrats likely have a deeper bench of geek talent from which to draw upon when campaign season rolls around again.

If Republicans hope to stay competitive in the long term, they’d better figure out how to close this talent gap. They might start with rediscovering science and silencing the truly stupid know-nothings in their ranks. And while Democrats have established themselves as the masters of the data-driven campaign, they need to demonstrate that they can bring their geek fu to bear in mid-term elections.

Darn City Folk

 Politics  No Responses »
Nov 132012
 

Here’s Paul Ryan commenting on that out-of-nowhere defeat he and Romey suffered last Tuesday:

When we saw the turnout that was occurring in urban areas which were really fairly unprecedented, it did come as a bit of a shock.

Is Ryan conceding that the GOP base is limited to rural and exurban America? More specifically, white rural and exurban America? I’m not arguing the point. It’s just a little surprising to hear a Republican still in office be so candid about the demographic realities of conservative politics. Next thing you know, Ryan will be blaming the Jewish and atheist vote for his loss.

Second, any future attempts by Ryan to describe himself as a “numbers guy” must be met with snickers and guffaws. A quick glance at any number of reliable polling aggregators should have disabused Ryan of his near-certitude regarding a Republican victory. Let’s hope his inability or refusal to grasp simple math isn’t a hindrance when he returns to his day job of House Budget Committee Chairman.

How Data Crunching Won The Election

 Politics  No Responses »
Nov 082012
 

Time has a great article describing the critical role of the sophisticated data mining operation that identified potential Obama voters through e-mail, social media, and television advertising. The article highlights how data mining guided the Obama campaign’s decisions to have the President appear on Reddit and run ads during niche TV shows like The Walking Dead.

It’s inevitable that political campaigns would become much more data-driven enterprises and I expect Republicans will eventually learn to play the game with equal skill. But for now, Democrats and their geeks have mastered 21st century retail politics.

Forward

 Politics  No Responses »
Nov 072012
 

While Election Night in 2008 was exhilarating, last night’s big victories for Democrats and progressive causes felt more  satisfying and durable. A few thoughts:

  • With the President’s reelection, health care reform has cleared its final political hurdle and can be fully implemented. The United States will finally have something resembling a universal health care system. It will be a relief to work on implementation without wondering whether the whole thing will be unraveled by elected officials or the courts.
  • Obama’s reelection also keeps alive the possibility that legislation addressing climate change will eventually be enacted, assuming Republicans ever come to their senses.
  • Words alone cannot express my gratitude to the Tea Party. If not for their determination to nominate candidates with oddly positive views of rape, the Republicans may have captured the Senate.
  • Here in Minnesota, our local Tea Partiers began engineering their political collapse eighteen months ago when they passed two controversial ballot amendments on banning same-sex marriage and imposing voter identification requirements. As extra insurance, they oversaw a lengthy state government shutdown and, just to make sure their hypocrisy didn’t go completely unnoticed, a sex scandal. Voters defeated both amendments and handed total control of state government  to Democrats for the first time in two decades. Mission accomplished!
  • I’m proud to live in the first state to reject a ban on same-sex marriage. I look forward to a day in the near future when my gay and lesbian friends can enjoy true marriage equality.

Finally, thanks to the good friends who shared the evening’s excitement with me. The company of fellow travelers made the moment that much sweeter.

Crystal Ball

 Politics  No Responses »
Nov 052012
 

I’m pretty sure I’d be breaking some sort of Bloggers’ Code of Conduct if I didn’t post my predictions for tomorrow:

  • President: Obama receives 303 electoral votes to Romney’s 235. I’m giving Romney Florida and North Carolina, but Florida could go blue if turnout is high and people don’t have to wait seven hours to vote.
  • Minnesota Senator: Klobuchar had the good fortune to run against a Ron Paul acolyte who ran a completely amateurish campaign. I’d be surprised if Klobuchar’s margin is anything less than 25 points.
  • Marriage Amendment: I want to believe Minnesota will be one of several states to repudiate efforts to deny equality to our friends, neighbors, and family. It will be close, but I’m predicting defeat.
  • Voter I.D. Amendment: This will pass. My informal polling has found many people who have bought into the notion that voter fraud is a real problem. Expect lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the amendment soon afterwards.
  • Minnesota Legislature: Hang on, I have to flip a coin. Okay, Democrats will re-take the Minnesota Senate.

Your thoughts?

Reality Bites

 Politics  1 Response »
Nov 012012
 

If Obama wins Tuesday’s election, cognitive dissonance among Republicans will reach epidemic proportions. James Fallows notes that most conservatives still expect Romney to win, despite growing evidence that Obama holds small but consistent leads in several key battleground states. A Romney loss may give rise to assorted conspiracy theories involving voter fraud that won’t die anytime soon. Such denialism among conservatives isn’t anything new and perhaps the tinfoil hat freakout will hasten the re-emergence of the nearly extinct Republican moderate. But I worry about another two years of hysteria-fueled obstructionism.

To be clear, an Obama victory isn’t assured. Probabilities are not guarantees and Wednesday morning could find me gnashinng my teeth. But Romney supporters would be well-advised to steel themselves for disappointment as well.

Medicaid And The Election

 Health Care, Politics  No Responses »
Oct 292012
 

Paul Krugman provides a good overview of Medicaid and its success in providing quality health care to millions of Americans. He rightly points out that, should Romney become president, huge cuts will almost certainly be made to the program. And then there’s his threat to undo the Affordable Care Act, effectively taking away access to Medicaid for countless low-income individuals and families. Medicaid, more than any other entitlement program, is politically vulnerable should Obama lose the election. Republicans have exhibited deep hostility to the program in recent years as their ideology careens ever rightward and Medicaid has few potent allies.

Don’t give any credence to Republican claims to “reform” Medicaid and “give more power to the states”. Such high-minded language merely distracts from their true intent: to hollow out one of the nation’s most effective public health care programs.

Place Your Bets

 Politics  1 Response »
Oct 222012
 

Any predictions on the emerging memes from tonight’s debate?

First debate: Big Bird must die!

Second debate: binders full of ladies

Third debate: ???

I’m thinking about watching this one on my computer just so I can get in on the Tumblr action. Maybe I should set up a fake Ahmedinejad account on Twitter, just to cover my bases.

On The Beat

 Disability, Politics  No Responses »
Oct 192012
 

This weekend, I hope to watch the latest installment of How’s Your News? and its coverage of the recent national political conventions. How’s Your News? sends reporters with developmental disabilities to interview politicians, celebrities, and other newsworthy figures. The results can be sweet or funny, but they also serve as microcosm of society’s reactions to disability. Some interviewees are clearly uncomfortable and can’t wait for the encounter to end, while others are much more engaging. How’s Your News receives significant support from Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park, so the show’s tone is suitably irreverent and never mawkish.

The Election 2012 episode of How’s Your News? can be streamed or downloaded for $5. BoingBoing has more in-depth coverage.

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