tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18246530.post7077277687448991473..comments2023-08-06T05:13:26.415-04:00Comments on Von Trapper Keeper: The VTK Year In ReviewDan Nolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13981886295607717368noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18246530.post-12353287289063732902009-01-06T17:05:00.000-05:002009-01-06T17:05:00.000-05:00But would Obama even have been in the picture on N...But would Obama even have been in the picture on Nov 4th if it wasn't for the left. The "base" that got him elected may have been a more centrist Democratic demographic, but he wouldn't have even been there in the first place - he wouldn't have won the primary nomination - if it weren't for the left wing of the party (those who weren't voting for Edwards or Kucinich that is). So yes, I do think it's reasonable to expect him to give some representation to that portion of his voters. As far as the Rick Warren thing goes, I don't really see that as a far left issue. The queer communities and pro-choice communities that he insulted with that pick are not confined to the far left - or even the left. That was non-partisanly fucked up.Dan Nolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13981886295607717368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18246530.post-5694987131689783802009-01-06T16:56:00.000-05:002009-01-06T16:56:00.000-05:00One of my New Year's Resolutions was to avoid vitr...One of my New Year's Resolutions was to avoid vitriolic political debate with friends. I can get carried away. But here is a genuine question (read: not attack). Does Obama owe his victory to liberals? I just think the base of the Democrats looks a lot more like Hillary Clinton than Ralph Nader. I think you do too which is why you have a love/hate/hate/hate relationship with the party. Voter turnout for the Democrats was essentially flat so it's not like the left supported Obama anymore than they supported Kerry or Gore. I understand your disappointment with his cabinet selections but I'm not sure Obama necessarily owed you or any of the hard left anything.Dewy24https://www.blogger.com/profile/10716643865474299323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18246530.post-91133822455849386812009-01-05T11:54:00.000-05:002009-01-05T11:54:00.000-05:00I look forward to seeing the new papercrafts :)I'm...I look forward to seeing the new papercrafts :)<BR/>I'm working on a line of originals myself, modeled after the characters from Pictures For Sad Children (www.picturesforsadchildren.com)<BR/>Shoot me a comment when you have the images up!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18246530.post-25465537455826042242009-01-02T11:37:00.000-05:002009-01-02T11:37:00.000-05:00Excellent, DC. Looking forward to your visit!Excellent, DC. Looking forward to your visit!Dan Nolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13981886295607717368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18246530.post-39527961419840905072009-01-01T20:30:00.000-05:002009-01-01T20:30:00.000-05:00Wow! Another mini post in the comments section. I...Wow! Another mini post in the comments section. It was a good year, VTK, and no need to feel bad about it. I'll be heading back to the states in a few weeks and hope to be in Boston soon (where I will purchase my autographed copy of bcsddb). Happy New Year!Dearest Cupcakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03275589762737583498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18246530.post-79741422605109184082008-12-31T11:05:00.000-05:002008-12-31T11:05:00.000-05:00Thanks, akb. Your participation in the comments s...Thanks, akb. Your participation in the comments sections of the 83 VTK posts this year has been a valuable contribution to the dialogue. I decided to postpone the cabinet report card because I didn't want to half-ass it. Also, a comprehensive analysis would have eclipsed the year in review post, which was already a little Obama-heavy. For good reason, I guess. And I knew that dewy24 would shred any unresearched analysis I did about the economic team.<BR/><BR/>Lastly, I have to say that immediately after writing this post, I perused <A HREF="http://www.democracynow.org/2008/12/29/headlines#5" REL="nofollow">the headlines on democracynow.org</A> and felt a little ashamed about calling it a great year:<BR/><BR/>- Over 310 Palestinians Killed in Israeli Attack on Gaza<BR/>- Israel: International Community Should Condemn Hamas<BR/>- Hamas Accuses Israel of Causing a Holocaust<BR/>- UN Calls for “Immediate Halt to All Violence"<BR/>- US Officials Back Israeli Attack<BR/>- Tennessee Coal Disaster Three Times Larger Than First Projected<BR/>- Pakistan Redeploys Troops to Indian Border<BR/>- 14 Afghan Children Killed in Suicide Bombing<BR/>- Somalian President Resigns<BR/>- Brazil to Arrest Rancher in Death of American Nun<BR/>- 19 States Make Cuts to Medicaid Benefits<BR/>- Abstinence Pledges Ineffective, Study Finds<BR/>- GOP Candidate Sends Out “Barack the Magic Negro” CD<BR/><BR/>With the exception of the abstinence study headline (which just makes me laugh), that's a pretty depressing round-up. Then remind yourself about the tanking of the global economy in 2008, the displacement/rape/murder/chaos in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the displacement of 1/3 of the population of Darfur, and the fact that the Yankees didn't make the playoffs. Sorry. Bad taste. But my point is that I got a wave of shame over proclaiming it a great year. Then I reminded myself of all the other conflicts and disasters over the past 20 years and concluded that you have to find happiness where you can and appreciate the good times. And for me, at least, these are good times.Dan Nolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13981886295607717368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18246530.post-30247930171709172162008-12-31T03:18:00.000-05:002008-12-31T03:18:00.000-05:00Nice post, VTK! I was expecting the rundown on th...Nice post, VTK! I was expecting the rundown on the cabinet nominations, but am not disappointed that you punted because the rest of the post was so good. I like reviewing the year through the VTK lens; it's so much more relevant than any other "year in review" I've read so far (well, the top ten animal videos of the year I found on HuffPost wasn't all that bad).<BR/><BR/>When you're doing the cabinet nomination post, pay some attention to the economic team (which I know you will). This is as right-wing a team as a Democrat could possibly assemble, unfortunately. Obama's got Krugman freaked out with these picks, but maybe that's just because of Krug's clear anti-Obama and pro-Hillary bias? (where are Dewy 24's comments on these latest columns?).<BR/><BR/>Go Celts!akboognishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12552719022086863177noreply@blogger.com