When I am wrong about something, I want to be corrected. I'm not saying I necessarily enjoy being corrected or that I wouldn't prefer to be right more of the time. However, I do want my mistakes brought to my attention so that I can correct them. This is essential to learning.
I figured it was high time I had a Twitter account for this blog, so you can now find me on Twitter at @rsprog. My plan is to keep the content focused on progressive politics (imagine that) and share some things that do not necessarily make it onto the blog.
Of course, what I like best about Twitter is the interactive nature of it. So, I hope to meet some of you there and chat about subjects of mutual interest.
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After facing a storm of criticism for his $150,000 donation to anti-gay Republican Tom Emmer, Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel apologized to employees of Target. That is a nice first step. I assume this apology will be followed by two additional actions. First, Steinhafel should apologize to the millions of Americans, gay and straight alike, who will be adversely affected by the anti-gay bigotry he has supported. Second and most important, Steinhafel should either rescind his donation or make a donation of equal size to a worthy gay rights organization.
These steps, combined with the new procedures he described in his letter to employees to be more careful about the political candidates he supports, should be sufficient to prevent any more negative publicity for Target.Subscribe to Red State Progressive
I have always made an effort to support local businesses, even if their prices are somewhat higher and their selection is often more limited than the national chains. Supporting the local businesses keeps more money in the local community, and helps to prevent the not so gradual "Walmartization" of America. I have also tried to choose businesses that support progressive causes whenever possible.
Unfortunately, it has been almost impossible to stick with this behavior here in Mississippi. Walmart has already chased away most of the local businesses, becoming a warped town center where some actually gather not just to shop but to socialize. For years, there were few other options. Then Target opened a store. Those of us who despise most of what Walmart stands for flocked to Target. Finally, we had an alternative!
Now I learn that Target has been funding anti-gay bigots. Yes, I am fully aware that the company claims they supported Minnesota's Tom Emmer because they think he is pro-business. But Emmer in turn has been funneling money to people who think gays should be executed. And even if that wasn't happening, I have no interest whatsoever in supporting Emmer's own right-wing politics.
If you have not already done so, please consider signing this petition to let Target know that you are not happy with their support for Emmer.
H/T to Atheist Oasis
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Sharron Angle is the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to understanding the modern conservative movement, offering many lessons for those who bother to listen. As Paul Rosenberg at OpenLeft recently pointed out, Angle has helped to provide a definition of the "liberal media" bias you hear so much about:
Anyone who asks a question that a conservative doesn't want to answer.Yeah, that sounds about right. Surprisingly, Angle has been fairly disclosing about her approach to the media (see TPM for more).
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Bloomberg is reporting that White House energy adviser, Carol Browner, claimed on CBS's Erly Show this morning that the "vast majority" of the oil BP spilled in the Gulf of Mexico is gone.
“The vast majority of the oil has been contained, it’s been burned, it’s been cleaned,” Browner said on CBS’s “Early Show” today. The remaining oil “will weather, it will break down naturally. Mother Nature will do her part.”Are we really expected to believe this? I suppose she may be right that the rest of the oil will break down over the next 10-20 years, but it seems a bit far fetched to think about it happening any sooner than that.
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This PSA from the Center for Inquiry is a great reminder that some of the most important ideas offended in their time. We have the right to free expression; nobody has the right not to be offended.
I may have been wrong to oppose the auto bailout. I thought it was a bad idea. It was not that I confused it with socialism like many Republicans seemed so desperate to do but because I lacked confidence in ability of the American auto industry to produce reliable automobiles that people want to buy. I saw this bailout as squandering tax dollars to prolong the inevitable. It is still too early to know with any certainty whether I was wrong, but there are encouraging signs that the bailout has at least helped the U.S. economy. At least in the short term, this may have been a wise decision after all.
President Obama has done some good things in office so far. He's also made some poor decisions and committed at least one catastrophic error in the form of his refusal to hold the prior administration accountable for war crimes. He has not turned out to be the president I had hoped he might be. But I recognize that this is more a function of my misplaced hope than on him changing in some way. He never was the progressive I wanted to lead America, and much of my disappointment comes from this fact.
As we near the 2010 mid-term elections, the Republican party will spin the elections as a referendum on President Obama. The Democratic party will deny this and continue to say that they are expecting losses because history shows that the incumbent party always loses seats in the mid-term elections. To some degree, both will be right.
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