Editing.

There's been an orgy of blame lobbed back and forth across the U.S. political spectrum since the horrible shooting in Arizona.  Commentators, bloggers, reporters, networks, organizations, and political parties have been tossing responsibility for Loughner's actions around like a hot potato.

I'm not going to blame anyone other than Jared Lee Loughner.  However, there are a few things we can do to be a more civilized society.

-Reinstate the ban on extended clips that Loughner used, which expired in 2004.
-Stop using violent rhetoric in our daily lives.
-Recognize that there are over 300 million people in this country, all with different opinions, backgrounds, and ideas.  Listen to each other, and recognize that no one in the political arena will get everything they want, when they want it.  Having principles and being able to compromise are two amazing personal traits, but only if you know how to win and lose graciously.
-Do no harm, and be glad that we live in a country where violence isn't necessary to change administrations or remove politicians from power.  Be active in your public life, be informed, listen, learn, and vote!!!

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While we are on the subject of the Gifford shooting, here are three major editing fails from two prominent public figures and a news channel:

-Apparently Glenn Beck thinks that Martin Luther King Jr. wanted us to buy from Goldline International:

-Whoever runs Sarah Palin's Facebook page has been editing nasty comments responding to her condolences for the shooting victims.  I'd test it out, but I'd have to become a fan of Sarah Palin on Facebook, and that's not going to happen.

-Apparently Fox News doesn't want to talk about Sarah Palin and Gabrielle Giffords either.

What I read today.

I just finished two very different, and very long, pieces on some major personalities in American politics.

Michael Joseph Gross of Vanity Fair's piece on Sarah Palin, while probably satisfying for most people who dislike her politics, lacks real sources.  It feels like a confidential kitchen rant over coffee, rather than a portrait of a national figure. 

On the other hand, Jane Mayer of The New Yorker nailed the subject of the Koch Brothers and the astro-turfing of the political landscape.  Even Clive McFarlane referenced her piece today!  (I expect a rebuttal from Robert Z. Nemeth sometime in January of 2012.)  ThinkProgress.org had two fun pieces on the Kochs combining their love of astroturf organizing and hypocrisy. 

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This piece made me see red.  By all means, former Senator Simpson- cut off funding for veteran's health care to balance the budget, and eliminate Social Security.  I wish you were still retired, along with your co-worker, David Cote.

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I will be attempting this recipe, this recipe or this recipe this weekend....but adding candied bacon and caramel.