Categories for Musings
MLK
It’s his day down here in the US, today. It feels sad. It feels like this country is being run by the son of a Klansman – and it is. That’s bad.
Then again – on the other hand – a year ago, my wife and our daughter were near the spot seen in the photo above, protesting the racist, sexist, extremist Unpresident. That’s good.
Educate your kids about the importance of Dr. King. In 2018, it will be more important than ever before.
New Dark Ages? What?
Spotted late last night on Apple iBooks. I didn’t expect to see it.
And, it immediately had the effect of panicking me about where I am on book three in the X Gang series (it’s a trilogy, for those who care).
The third book doesn’t have a title yet. But, like the first two, it’ll likely be another Bad Religion song title.
Pre-order now!
2018 in a tweet
You know it’s 2018 when hush money being paid to a porn star by the president of the United States is more damaging to the career of the former than the latter #USPolitics pic.twitter.com/poOfxAuaTW
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) January 12, 2018
Adler-Kinsella on minimum wages, town hall tours, and President Shithole
Seriously: is the United States of America even a country anymore?
Personally, I have doubts.
Kinsellacast episode one – second attempt!
Trudeau’s open mic tour takes guts
It just does. And I said so on Tasha’s show yesterday. Also on Brian Lilley’s show last night.
Stephen Harper never, ever did this unscripted, unscreened stuff. Few Prime Ministers have, in fact.
Also on, Tory Jamie and Dipper Anne – and they (sort of) agreed. Brian Lilley even (sort of) agreed!
Other stuff was discussed, here:
Justin Trudeau, up close and personal
On @am640 now with @TashaKheiriddin @jellerton @anneedawson and I'm the one defending @JustinTrudeau on his cross-Canada tour. It shows guts, frankly. #cdnpoli
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) January 10, 2018
Ten reasons why Oprah would be a great candidate
Besides the weather, it’s all anyone is talking about: her speech at that awards thing was a blockbuster.
Personally, I think it’s a cool idea. Here’s ten reasons why.
1. If a corrupt, evil, mentally unfit TV billionaire could win, then a principled, decent, smart TV billionaire could certainly beat him.
2. She would be a candidate at the precise moment when women are dominating the public and political agenda, and are looking for a candidate who will speak for them.
3. She uses her celebrity in positive ways – to oppose bullying thugs (cf. Trump) and to promote great leaders (cf. Obama, the anti-Trump).
4. The most motivated Democratic constituency – as we saw in Alabama – is African-American women. An Oprah candidacy would keep them motivated and involved.
5. She actually has a legislative record – cf. The Protect Our Children Act, an anti-predatory bill that became known as the Oprah Act. She gets stuff done, even as a private citizen.
6. She’s likeable and relatable, to say the least. She didn’t get millions upon millions of viewers, and build a communications empire, by being a repellant reality TV circus act – she did it by being a person average folks want to bring into their living rooms, every single day. As they did.
7. Does she have many years of political involvement? No, she doesn’t, and so what. In an era when many voters, on all points on the ideological spectrum (see: Trump and Sanders) are looking for atypical/outsider candidates, Oprah’s distance from Capitol Hill is a help, not a hindrance.
8. She may be a billionaire, but she comes from humble roots – the child of an unwed mother in Mississippi, a survivor of sexual abuse, she was an honours student who could recite Bible verses off the top of her head. She pulled herself up by her bootstraps. And, she’s Oprah, for Chrissakes.
9. She is unique, in that she is one of the few Weinstein-era celebrities who has retained her moral authority. At a time when America is turning its lonely/anxious eyes to a Joe DiMaggio, Oprah is Joe DiMaggio. She’s Poprah.
10. She can win. She can win. Whether Trump is there or not – felled by Mueller or resigning to head off a post-midterm impeachment – she can beat him, just as she can beat the unholy cabal of Pence, Ryan et al. She can win.
So, to those nay-sayers, objecting to my ten points here or on Facebook or Twitter, I say this:
If not Oprah, then who? Who is the Democratic alternative?