Category Archives: The Contrarian

Standing The Ground of Progress

http://gradsgate.com/terms-of-use/ I’m seeing a lot of hand-wringing on the intertubes about the electability of Kamala Harris, the 11th-hour campaign strategizing necessary, and whatever Agent Orange is belching about.

http://offsecnewbie.com/2018/06/28/oscp-journey-part-5/?amp=1 Fuck all that. The Dems have finally staked the right moral ground. It might not make a difference, but that’s the difference.

Progress would have been a tougher claim under Joe, that he was 2024’s agent of change —when it was uncertain he could even compete another term.

Now he really is that agent, albeit through transition. That he accepted that role (and, in doing so, became only the sixth president to willingly serve just one term) illuminated a blindingly stark difference with the GOP.

A difference we needed. It matters, what ground you choose to stand on.

Donald Trump might waltz back into the Oval Office, not despite his circus acts, but because of them. His Bible-thumping flag hags have anchored themselves so firmly to their gospel-laden, star-spangled narrative that reality has become an inconvenient afterthought.

Trump’s base is unwavering in its devotion. They see him as a savior, not a symptom. Their loyalty is both his greatest strength and the country’s greatest threat.

Democrats can now stand for more than just “not Trump.” They can offer candidates who actually represent citizens of this nation; not just the white, well-fed and penised.

Not that anything actually changes. The Supreme Court essentially ruled on the election their last term. And six of the Justices were blatantly clear: they love them some white penised backwater. Democracy be damned.

Sometimes, though, standing for change is all you can do, even if it means taking another fall.

Hey Joe


Joe Biden’s decision to exit the presidential race is nothing short of profound, the rare relinquishment of American power that not only kept the implied promise he made four years ago, but offers a true alternative to the GOP’s loathsome sausage party.

The decision stunned because it was selfless, a trademark of a president who spent his life in public service.

Though he never publicly declared it, Biden’s role as a transitional president was evident, and stepping aside now reaffirms his dedication to that mission.

Whaddya, know, a president who was true to the pledge.

Biden’s term has been marked by achievement: The unemployment rate has fallen to 3.6%, a robust recovery from the pandemic-induced economic crisis. His administration saw over 200 million Americans fully vaccinated against Covid.

On the legislative front, Biden oversaw a Recession recovery that led all developed nations, as well as a bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. Plus, he kicked Trump’s fat ass in 2020, a highlight for any human being.

Most important, Biden was a president we need not be embarrassed by.

That probably won’t be the case in November, as Trump and his slackwits try to celebrate his ear piercing to high office. And America has shown, again and again, how far it will go to NOT elect a woman as president.

But, finally, high ground has become visible.

By choosing to step down, Biden diffuses some of the bile that has become American politics.

And we could all use some diffusion.

Biden has honored his implicit promise to be a bridge to the future. We stand on that bridge now, and his decision to step down now is a final act of service to the nation he loves.

Thank you for your service, Mr. President.

Our Progressive Cosmos


As the Republican National Convention cheers the end of democracy and it’s apparent deformed ascendancy into a Confederacy of Feudal Dunces, a cry in the dark for liberalism, which will ultimately prevail.

Because we are all star stuff, born from the hearts of ancient suns. And in that cosmic heritage, we find a profound truth: the universe itself resonates with liberal ideals.

Consider the vastness of space and time. In its 13.8 billion year journey, our cosmos has never ceased to change, to grow, to become more complex.

From hydrogen atoms to rocky worlds, from simple cells to conscious beings – the arrow of cosmic evolution points towards progress. It is a story of constant transformation.

The quantum world shimmers with possibility. At the smallest scales, nature embraces uncertainty, creating a tapestry of diversity that extends to the largest structures in the universe.

Galaxies dance in gravitational embrace. Stars forge elements in their cores, then seed space with the building blocks of life. The universe thrives on interconnection.

Life on our pale blue dot tells a similar tale. DNA, that ancient molecule, experiments endlessly. Natural selection favors adaptability, not rigidity.

In the drama of evolution, cooperation often trumps competition. From the mitochondria in our cells to the intricate ecology of a coral reef, life finds strength in symbiosis.

We are a way for the cosmos to know itself. And as we gaze out at the stars, we recognize a reflection of our highest ideals – progress, diversity, interconnectedness.

To be liberal, then, is to be in harmony with the fundamental nature of reality. It is to recognize our place in the grand cosmic story.

So take heart in the madness of now. We are all connected; to each other, biologically. To the Earth, chemically. To the rest of the universe, atomically.

This is not philosophy. It is physics.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​