Journal of Post-Ralphaelite Thought

Thanksgiving has nudged out Christmas as my favorite holiday. Maybe it has something to do with the Christmas displays appearing in stores before Halloween. Just to make it a Triple Colbert week, here's the cast of the Colbert Christmas Special singing Elvis Costello's (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding -- that's Elvis in the bear suit. I can't think of a better holiday message. The Colbert Report Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c A Colbert Christmas: Peace, Love and Understanding Colbert at Christmas Colbert Christmas DVD Green Screen Bill O'Reilly Interview

If you've not seen the Stephen Colbert Christmas Special yet (shown on Comedy Central) you owe it to yourself to catch it next time it's shown. Or pony up $19.99 and buy the DVD (a portion of the proceeds benefit Feeding America ). Brilliantly cynical and cheery all at the same time. Here's a preview! The Colbert Report Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c A Colbert Christmas: Another Christmas Song Colbert at Christmas Colbert Christmas DVD Green Screen Bill O'Reilly Interview

This is probably going to be my last political screed for a while, which affects only the 2 or 3 people who actually read this drivel. But before I drift into discussing things like technology and the folly of everyday life, I wanted to offer up a few final thoughts on the 2008 election. Amongst my friends and associates of various political persuasions are several Libertarians: all extremely bright, intellectually curious people who are passionately interested in politics. I have a lot of respect for them. I don't necessarily agree with them. Here's why. There is a broad range of political beliefs that fall under the designation of " Libertarianism ," all of which (to perhaps over-simplify) focus on the elevation of individual liberties and negate the power of the state. To restate: they believe in social freedom and economic freedom without interference and regulation from the government. Sounds good, no? The problem is, this ignores the reason all that regulation a...

I'm a little late in linking to this, but here is Dave Barry's plan for national unity. Martinis . I did my bit: after the networks called the election for Obama, I made a round of martinis and brought them to my down-hearted Republican neighbors next door. "Celebrate or anesthesize: your choice," I said. We all relaxed as Obama gave his acceptance speech, sipping the sweet waters of forgetfulness and munching on olives. The future seemed to brighten even as our eyes lost the ability to focus. Postscript: going home afterwards, I entered the kitchen and tripped over the cat, launching the empty glasses into the air where they shattered in the darkness.

The election of Barack Obama has already jump-started one part of the economy: gun sales . Wild-eyed gun enthusiasts -- fearing the worst, have been busily adding to their personal arsenals since Election Day, according to the Dallas Morning News . Should gasoline prices spike upwards again this will give them something to pawn next time they need to fill up their pickups.

It's after 1:oo AM and the election coverage is dying down. Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States of America. A little while ago, John McCain gave his concession speech. It was generous and classy -- the kind of speech the "old" McCain used to give. Ironically, it may have been the best speech he gave this campaign. The man's no fool -- in his heart of hearts he must have seen the writing on the wall weeks ago. Surely he's glad it's over. Obama's acceptance speech in Chicago's Grant Park reminded us of why so many were inspired by his campaign. Rather than being triumphant, it was inclusive. It never avoided the fact that there are daunting issues to confront, and indeed he made the point we will all need to work together as a nation to solve them. At times, he evoked Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech but now the dream was for all Americans: black, white, brown, old, young, gay or straight. (---After a good ni...

I was going to write one of my whining, witless screeds and happened to read the following by Andrew Sullivan: Obama for President . It is one of the most rational and chilling indictments of the criminal administration about to pass that I have run across. Sullivan leads by recounting the horror of the 9-11 attacks seven years ago and then makes the case that a far more insidious, damaging attack on our nation has taken place at the hands of George W. Bush and his cronies: their cynical disregard of the rule of law and contempt for the constitution. The biggest task Obama faces (should he win) will be to restore the unequalled damage to our nation and institutions done by the hands of the Bush, Cheney, et. al. It's recognition of this Katrina scale devastation that has caused so many thoughtful Republicans and conservatives to come out for Obama. Read the article -- then go vote if you have not already.

Let's take a break from the mind-numbing election cycle to note the passing of a giant. Louis "Studs" Terkel was classic progressive-liberal whose career stretched from the New Deal to the eve of one of the most historic elections in our nation's life. He passed away peacefully at home on Halloween, after taking a fall earlier in the month. Born in New York to Jewish immigrant parents, his family moved to Chicago when he was 8. After getting a law degree from the University of Chicago, he worked for the WPA writing and performing on radio. Though best known now for his oral histories (a format he pioneered) of ordinary people in such books as " Division Street: America ," " Working ," " The Good War " (for which he won a Pulitzer prize), and " Coming of Age ," during the 1940's and 50's he starred in "Stud's Place," an unscripted TV show produced in Chicago. His politics made him a target by the House Un-Am...