Real Kato Blog: 2008 November

This is my second post about a politically controversial topic: this time it's about abortion. The first post, concerning gay marriage, can be found here.

The point of both of these posts is that although some religious conservatives have taken very hard lines on these political issues, these positions are not backed by Biblical texts as they might claim. So, perhaps it would behoove us all to separate the religious arguments from the political ones, and perhaps then these issues wouldn't be so divisive.

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Posted by Ken in: commentary, politics

Controversy 1: Gay Marriage

Friday, 2008 November 14 - 4:39 pm

Sometimes I wish that we didn't pay so much attention to divisive topics like abortion and gay marriage. There are so many more important issues to discuss, and so many ideas in which we can find common ground... why devote such energy to wedge issues like this?

But with what's happened with Prop 8 in California, I think I have to say something. That will make me as guilty as anyone of fueling the fire of debate, but so be it.

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Posted by Ken in: commentary, politics

Las Vegas 2008

Tuesday, 2008 November 11 - 10:37 pm

Last weekend, I went to Las Vegas for my annual trip with The Guys. You may remember Las Vegas from such trips as Las Vegas 2005, Las Vegas 2006, and Las Vegas 2007.

I think we're right in the sweet spot of our trips, where we've been doing this long enough that we've established traditions, but not so long that it's become merely routine. Sometimes our banter is so smooth you'd think we rehearsed it. There are inside jokes that play off of other inside jokes. At one point while playing blackjack, Alan remarked, "that hand just won't quit!" To explain the layers of inside-jokiness that went into remark that would take HOURS.

A few photos after the jump...

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Posted by Ken in: life, travel

Behind the Scenes

Tuesday, 2008 November 11 - 10:03 pm

I'm not quite done talking about the election. The more I read, the more fascinated I am by how it all turned out. Newsweek has a great seven-part behind-the-scenes story on the Obama and McCain campaigns.

Barack Obama: How He Did it
John McCain: Back From the Dead?
The Long Clinton-Obama Siege
McCain Camp Retools, Targets Obama
McCain Gambles on Palin
Battling it Out in the Great Debates
The Final Days

Someday, I hope this turns into a documentary... or at least, a made-for-TV movie.

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Posted by Ken in: politics

Blue State

Thursday, 2008 November 6 - 10:06 am

North Carolina voted for Barack Obama.

Oh, and we also elected a Democratic Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Senator. And 8 of our 13 House representatives are Democrats.

It's good to be in a blue state again.

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Posted by Ken in: politics

Tables Turned

Wednesday, 2008 November 5 - 8:32 am

I was very curious to see how various facets of the Republican party would react to this election. Some have been gracious, including McCain and his staff; many recognize the historic nature of the election and profess hope that Obama's promises come to fruition.

And then, there are the people who comment on Republican web sites and blogs.

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Posted by Ken in: politics

Live Blog

Tuesday, 2008 November 4 - 8:48 pm

... as well as I can do this from my phone.

Pennsylvania goes to Obama, Kay Hagan poised to win the Senate seat in North Carolina. More updates in the comments section; feel free to contribute.

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Posted by Ken in: politics

Voted

Tuesday, 2008 November 4 - 8:35 am

And now we wait. Other than the Presidential race, I'll be closely watching the fortunes of Kay Hagan (D-NC), Al Franken (D-MN), and Proposition 8 in California.

One thing I will miss, if Obama wins: Tina Fey's impersonations of Sarah Palin. Those were pure gold.

*Edit: This is not my actual ballot. Apparently you can't take pictures of your real ballot in this state... and if you do take a picture, you can't post it on the Internets. So, instead, I've posted this highly accurate reproduction.

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Posted by Ken in: politics

And By the Way

Monday, 2008 November 3 - 8:40 pm

Here are things that I will not miss about this election:

Guilt by Association. I think "William Ayers" is the new "Willie Horton" in Republican presidential campaigning. It's sad how the McCain is reduced to raising FUD about vague associations in Obama's past, in a desperate attempt to tarnish his reputation. To McCain's supporters, let me ask you something: would it be fair to judge you using the history of everyone you've ever worked with, had a drink with, or shook hands with?

The worst example is right here in North Carolina: Elizabeth Dole is running an ad attempting to link Kay Hagan with an atheist PAC called "Godless Americans", because they donated to her campaign. Not only shouldn't that matter, but Kay Hagan was a SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER. I mean, really.

The term "RINO". For those of you who aren't familiar with this, it stands for "Republican In Name Only", and is a derogatory term for any Republican who dares to speak out against the party line. That term was applied to McCain for much of his career. Now, it's being used on notable moderate Republicans like Colin Powell, or D Magazine editor Wick Allison (who posted this thoughtful article). If folks like this are RINOs, then only people left in the "real" Republican party must be right-wing extremists. No wonder the party is adrift.

Joe the Plumber. If there was ever a stupid theme for this election, it's the idea that some Republican voter heckling Obama about taxes would be held up as the archetypical American. He was never an undecided voter. He's not even a plumber. And his taxes aren't going to go up. The whole thing is just ridiculous.

Animals Choosing Elections. Finally: can we please end the practice of using domestic or barnyard animals to predict the results of elections?

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Posted by Ken in: politics

Your Liberal Elite Voting Guide

Monday, 2008 November 3 - 7:55 pm

It's last minute, I know, but here are my personal voting guides for Wake and Johnston counties.

• Wake County 2008
• Johnston County 2008

Sorry, I don't have time to do Durham, Chatham, and Orange counties this year. You'll have to make do with the Independent Weekly's endorsements, which pretty much fall in line with my own.

I'm sure all my regular readers know that I'm unabashedly liberal when it comes to politics, so take my endorsements with a grain of salt. Whether you're Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Green, or independent, I encourage you to do your own research and make up your own minds. But most importantly, vote. It makes a difference.

Here's to a better tomorrow.

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Posted by Ken in: politics

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