Cultural Cuisinart

Friends of mine know that for some time I've been rhapsodizing over a theoretical Obama-Webb ticket. Jim Webb, the senator from Virginia that I happily voted for in 2006, is an odd, but strangely appealing choice. I don't agree with all his points (and his Confederate spirit is a little concerning), but there's just something so... blunt and honest about him, that I can't help but like him, warts and all.

There's a post over at The Debatable Land making the case for Jim Webb and it's quite a read. I agree with all the points. You should definitely check it out. The speech quoted there is simply incredible. You want to know why Jim Webb opposed the Iraq War? Look no further than this passage to see what kind of leader he is:

There are at least two lessons for us to take away from such a day of remembrance. The first is one our leaders should carry next to their breasts, and contemplate every time they face a crisis, however small, which puts our military at risk. it should echo in their consciences, from the power of a million graves . It is simply this: You hold our soldiers' lives in sacred trust. When a citizen has sworn to obey you, and follow your judgment, and walk onto a battlefield to defend the interests you define as worthy of his blood, do not abuse that awesome power through careless policy, unclear objectives, or inflexible leadership.

He's an ideal candidate because he's such a perfect balance for Obama. He's the kind of running mate that can appeal to the working class white man out there, from West Virginia to Kentucky to Pennsylvania and beyond.

In other news, that fucking bastard Alphonso Jackson is resigning from his post as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Here's a list from Carpetbagger of all the various scandals that have plagued his tenure.

Lastly, for those of you who like to read, check out Wowio.com. You can get 3 free e-books a day from here. They've got a nice mix, including works from my favorite author Kurt Vonnegut (if you haven't read Slaughterhouse 5 or Breakfast of Champions you're missing out), as well as works from the greats such as Shakespeare, Jane Austin, etc. They also have a good collection of text books. In the interest of self-edification, I have downloaded several books on drawing, a few of the classics I've been meaning to read but haven't gotten to yet (i.e. Paradise Lost) and some random academic musing on American History and Ancient Greek society.