Help end the 8-year fiasco with a resounding vote for Barack Obama.
While we don't know much about where the candidates stand on food issues, nicely pointed out here by Jeff Houck of the Tampa Tribune, we do know that Obama's stances on all important issues, including his not raising taxes on the vast majority of Americans, are indeed intended to reverse the appalling course set by the Bush administration. Here is the NYTimes editorial page endorsement of Obama, or better, read Thomas Friedman's commentary today that endorses neither candidate but instead asks voters to consider the qualities we want in our president.
PS: Just been informed by a reader that the excellent jason kottke has linked to a Joe Klein interview in which Obama mentions the Pollan article.
casacaudill
Did you get a chance to see Obama and Bruce Springsteen in Cleveland today? My sister texted me from the event and said there were people EVERYWHERE. Sadly, here in CA the politicos have abandoned us since it's a lock.
Charlotte
Voted for Obama last week -- there's huge excitement in Montana -- Ron Paul's still on the ballot, there aren't any hotly contested local races, and all the kids are fired up. McCain's only polling about 4 points ahead, and Ron Paul beat him in the primary. We're all working feverishly to flip this big piece of real estate to blue. We got Tester (an organic farmer) into office by about 2000 votes the last election -- here's hoping we can do the same for Obama.
Tags
-
A new president isn't enough.
We need to strengthen the congressional overhaul we started in 2006.
More specifically, we need more guys like Tom Harkin in the Senate & House of Representatives to fight the agribusiness blockades against food policy progress.
Rhonda
Hi all.
Luis, who is a regular poster here mentioned that he met Matt Damon in his restaurant last Thursday who was telling everyone to "make sure and vote next Wednesday". Perhaps it would be prudent to say that the election will be on Tuesday. I know this sounds simple but....
Mike
You know it's a good candidate when the best thing you have to say about him is that he won't RAISE taxes.
McCain will make sure the country is secure, has actual relevant experience, and would continue the wildly successful Republican tradition of cutting taxes to increase economic activity. But none of that's important, as long as you have a guy who sounds good. What does it matter that he's reneged on so many promises and has zero legislative accomplishments?
Rachel
I happily voted for Obama in Columbus OH about 2 weeks ago.
Though we don't know about Obama's food policies necessarily, he does understand that mega farms and mega foods are not healthy for the American economy or waistlines. He proposes limits on farm income and subsidies that will benefit small farmers while making corporate farms less profitable. See http://www.barackobama.com/issues/rural/#economic-opportunity He also wants to toughen up rural pollution penalties, which will result in cleaner water and cleaner food.
Alex Baillieul
Michael,
Rock on. Good to see you are on the right side of the issues here. Bush has been an unmitigated disaster, and it is too risky to let one of his cronies take the reigns of power. And don't let anyone kid themselves, McCain is a Bush man through and through. He's supported the man continuously over the last eight years with almost no deviance. He sold out his maverick leanings in order to appease the radical right and get the Republican nomination.
Obama's inexperienced? So what. So was Kennedy, and he worked out pretty well. Bush was very experienced (supposedly) at governing when he was elected. Look what that got us.
On food issues, I don't know where either candidate stands. However, I can only judge Obama's policies to be more sustainable and friendly to the environment, economy and society as a whole. I have confidence this will translate to food issues as well.
We're ground zero here in Ohio. I'll be out working for the Obama campaign in a GOTV effort Tuesday. Everyone needs to get out and vote if you haven't already. Take a friend or two if you can.
Best Wishes.
joanie
To quote Arnold, McCain spent more time in a POW camp than Obama spent in the Senate. Scary.
And in today's world, experience DOES count. This is not 1960.
You may know what Obama's "promises" are, but you know what they say:
PROMISE THE FOOLS ANYTHING. And only a fool will believe it.
lux
Way to go Ruhlman. I knew there was a reason I liked you. 🙂
After the unmitigated catastrophe of the last 8 years, Obama is the clear choice if you want someone who is going to be a smarter, more thoughtful president.
I'll be proudly casting my vote for him when the polls open Tuesday AM.
Judy
Only a fool would vote for four more years of failed and disastrous policies.
Obama got my vote three weeks ago. He's intelligent, forward-thinking, fair-playing, and open to possibilities.
Skawt
Yep, that good old experience. Too bad it only applies when your experience leads you to make good decisions, instead of flailing around like a "maverick".
claudia (cook eat FRET)
i did i did
not thrilled
but i did
tw
Used to think you were a smart man...
carri
Thanks for putting yourself out there on this one...my only worry is that if Obama wins then we get Sarah back here in Alaska...but it's a worry I'm willing to stomach so that she doesn't end up in the Whitehouse! Obama is just what we need right now!
FoodPuta
Obama: Nuts and Berries for all.
Luke
Ruhlman,
I love your blog but really think you should stick to Veal Stock and mis en place and leave out the politics. If you belive that Obama is going to stick with his proposed tax plan then your crazy.
Fork N Knives
Im 25 and I sure am voting (write in) for Ron Paul, not surprised though that so many people "think" they know the issues, remember Obama was the lawyer who sued Freddie Mac and Fannie May which forced them to give out those bad loans. But whatever my generation will be paying a long time for you greedy, crybaby, TOTAL lack of responsibility Boomers and X'ers
and to think you guys have the nerve to call us the Me Generation. Whatever sell out America some more with the Socialist Obama and the Neo-Con McCain. Fools
Adele
Way to go, Michael!
I first became eligible to vote in 1968, and this election was the only time I have felt truly good about casting my presidential vote. Barack's from Chicago and so am I, so I have few illusions about politics, but I left the early voting precicnt smiling.
I'm having an election night get together on Tuesday -- making jambalaya, sweet potato pie (Barack's favorite), a salad of some kind, and probably some black-eyed peas, since they're a good luck food. The decor will be blue. Any bloggers have any other suggestions for symbolic food. I thought about Spam as a tribute to Barack's time in Hawaii, but I loathe Spam.
Andrew Martin
Done and done!
Another Ohio family for Obama, too bad it is going to take at least four years (optimistically) to fix the systematic damage of the Bush adminsitration
Barry
Thanks, but no thanks. I don't need any help distributing my wealth. Such as it is.
ruhlman
I'm going to address this once then stay out of it. Barry, if you have an adjusted earned income of 250K plus, then you can afford to pay a little more in taxes. i don't, but if i did, i don't think it would kill me. friedman is right. we're all in the same boat. everyone i know who voted for bush, and they were all pretty well fixed, did so because they thought they'd have more money in the end. this is a terrible reason to cast your vote. i believe a vote for obama will increase your bottom line. sadly, it's going to take some time no matter who wins on tuesday.
vote.
Dana
I really think that folks should keep their opinions to themselves. I like your blog, I look forward to it, I don't like reading about who you think I should vote for... I tend to think less of you. I used to be a huge Springsteen fan, even met him and framed his autograph, until he opened his big fat, uninformed political mouth. Now, not so much.
Different Mike
McCain will make sure the country is secure, has actual relevant experience, and would continue the wildly successful Republican tradition of cutting taxes to increase economic activity. But none of that's important, as long as you have a guy who sounds good. What does it matter that he's reneged on so many promises and has zero legislative accomplishments?
Only an idiot would believe that McCain would be anything more than a raging disaster. He is a fool of the first water, and has made nothing but terrible decisions for a long time. HIs experience is that of an intellectually deficient, self-centered frat boy. The best thing that could happen to this country would be for him to be consigned to the footnote in history that is the most he deserves.
No one who votes for McCain is capable of good judgment.
TexanInMissouri
Thank you Michael! I've been so busy volunteering for Senator Obama here in Missouri, that I've not been checking anything on the net but the news and the polls. I decided to take a break and check in here. It was so great to see the headline!
We can do this!
Josh
Barack Obama is not going to raise income taxes for most people in this country is true. He's taxing the people that are paying most people's salaries. That will cause their bosses to fire people, cut costs and lower benefits.
With a Universal Health Care plan in this country we will adapt a similar program to Canada and the UK. Everything will go up in price and be double taxed.
His lack of experience as a leader and also never having a real job until he became Senator of Illinois makes me question his decision making. Not to mention that he has voted the least amount of times in the Senate.
Don't forget that his running mate said that he is not fit to be President and that our country will be tested in the first 6 months he will be President.
Do you really want him to be President?
Erica
Do you really want him to be President?
You betcha!
Thanks for posting this Michael! I'm very excited to cast my vote for Barack Obama on Tuesday.
luis
I don't see how Obama will lead us out of this mess. If he wins I wish him and us well.
I say the old guy McCain has earned first shot. You Obama guys don't forget to vote on Wednesday....
jennie Cesario is Jennie Tikka
I'm happily voting Obama myself. Maybe just maybe he can repair the damage done to all the progress made with FDR's New Deal. Big Business and the Republicans have carefully repealed all the progress made for workers and we're back to the Upton Sinclair/The Jungle days we thought were gone.
And I'm not exaggerating when I say we're back to the same things Sinclair decried decades ago. People forget that that book also decried not only conditions in slaughterhouses and food production, but also with the mortgage industry in Chicago in those days. There were adjustable rate mortgages back then, too - and large numbers of people defaulted on their homes.
johnmark7
You're a fool. And you, your money, and freedom will soon be parted if you elect that Marxist, racist, anti-American piece of crap.
JBL
McBama it is then! Is there even a fundamental difference between these two besides Obama's messianic complex?
Frankly I feel that the Obama craze is proof that, in this day and age, media can select a president; as even otherwise intelligent people willingly gobble-up spoon-fed media omissions, flat-out lies and rhetoric.
Between the lesser of evils I choose none of the above; this election I shall exercise my right to NOT vote.
JBL
"Only an idiot would believe that...."
This is known as The Argument From Intimidation.
"To dare is to challenge someone to perform an action as proof of his
courage. This is the behavior of a pitiful little creature with the
aspirations of a tyrant but without the power to compel. Since you do not
have the power to compel, you attempt to swindle him into the acceptance of
your goals and the use of your judgments as the standard for his actions.
You trick him into performing the action by impugning his character. This is
a form of the Argument from Intimidation.
"
Knuckles
Wow, Ruhlman, I'm impressed that you were willing to stick your blog out there like this. You see the level of commenting you attract with this sort of endorsement, and it makes me wonder why any non-political writer would do so. I applaud your action, and cast my vote for Obama last week. However, I cast my vote in Washington, a state that's been in the bag for the Democrats since before the last vote was counted in 2004. Now, I can only hope my family in Ohio has followed your lead. Here's hoping the haters and wingnuts don't spam the comments too badly.
Johnson C.S. Reynolds IV
Good for you Michael.
I applaud your right to exercise the First Amendment.
Some partisans will probably not like you anymore Michael but who cares. Even though it is 100% American to express your opinion like you are doing, some rabid people will immediately consider you the enemy. Good people who disagree with your position should respect it though.
Soul lacking drones only can vote for 1 party their entire life are our own version of the Taliban. Only a someone who is un-american would hate 50% of their fellow citizens over their choice for leadership.
Or think someone voting for the other person is a sign of stupidity.
Hey Partisan hacks - how about putting ALL Americans first for a change and not wallowing in negativity and hatred. My grandfather and his brother didn't die in the Pacific in World War II for freedom just so negative idiots can spread a web of lies and deceit. For shame. People who are Partisan and blind make me sick.
I may not agree with Obama, and be voting for John McCain but I have the honesty to admit that Barack Obama is one hell of an American that I am proud of. He has talent, drive and is smart. I think on Tuesday we all will win and we can start repairing America.
Greg Turner
Nice!
I voted for Obama for a number of reasons, not the least of which is his intellectual curiosity and vigor, which enabled him, for example, to grasp quickly the relevant points of Pollan's article on the American food system.
McCain seems like a fine person (when he's not being directed by Bush-appointed campaign staff), but it doesn't seem as if he's capable of understanding how policies affect one another. Plus, nearly every policy he's outlined seems to favor big business over small, and the wealthy over the middle class.
Healthcare, energy, diplomacy and foreign relations, rights of individuals, the foresight to have a transition team already in place. All these things helped form my opinion and support for Barack Obama.
Art
You're a consommate chef. Leave it at that. Keep your friggin' political opinions to yourself.
Joe
Because you can cook, you can tell me for whom I'm to cast my vote? I don't think so. Keep it in the kitchen - not the voting booth.
Budd Tuggley
Vote for change? Vote for hope? All good and fine, but change to and hope for what??? I'd rather vote for experience and proven leadership. Vote McCain!
cherylk
Johnson C.S. Reynolds IV, well said. And three cheers for you Michael Ruhlman for stating what you believe in. If you don't think McCain is allied with Bush, just look at who he's allowed to run his campaign. My son is paying 9% on his college loans,GWB did that and McCain has no plan to fix it. Exxon posted it's biggest profit in history, 14 million dollars! You can bet GWB has a hand in that by driving up the price of crude. Someone earlier said we shouldn't be discussing this in a public forum but you're wrong. We need to discuss this, we need to stand up for what is right and good. Someone earlier made reference to the fact that "this isn't the 60's". No it's not and thank God. You speak as if there were no problems then. There were plenty and sadly one big one still exists. And to the young man who made reference to this generation screwing things up, you're right but my statement to you is this; rather than pointing the finger and assigning blame, do something about it. How many of the folks posted here are even registered voters?? My 17 year old can't vote yet but she's working the poles and she's had doors slammed in her face as she stumped for Obama. VOTE, make a difference, this country needs to heal and prove why we are still the greatest nation. God save us all if we can't get our shit together this time around.
Laurence
Michael,I come here to ESCAPE from politics, not to see it screaming on my RSS reader. Thanks for peeing in the oasis. Booo!
kabocho
AMERICANS SHOULD VOTE OBAMA AS THIER PRESIDENT TO PROVE TO THE WORLD WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN, THEY CAN ALSO PRACTISE, EQUALITY. IMAGINE OBAMA'S MATERNAL SIDE IS PURE WHITE & HIS PATERNAL SIDE IS TOTAL BLACK. HIS MUM WAS CHRISTIAN WHILE HIS DAD WAS MUSLIM. THEN MUM MARRIED IN INDONESIA AND BORE A GIRL, OBAMA'S HALF SISTER. OBAMA AS PRESIDENT HE SHALL HAVE IN MIND EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLS DUE TO HIS RELATIONSHIP.
gfweb
Come on Ruhlman, keep it on food. I have to listen to sports radio ( the lowest form of radio) just to escape the constant election barrage.
jacqueline
Cheers to you Michael. Anyone who buys the race baiting, fear-mongering of McPalin's campaign is in for more of what we've got now. And, they're falling to the lowest common denominator not aspiring to our best selves.
The "I've got mine, screw the rest of you" policies of the current regime are what got us into the mess domestically, and abroad. From our food safety, to the future of our children's health, the economy...
there is no such thing as the "non peeing part of the pool" people ....we are smarter than that and can be better than what McCain expects of us.
Peace,
Jacqueline Church
chadzilla
Not to pull to any side here, but to give perspective on the election from a swing state (Florida) early voter...
I waited for 7 1/2 hours in line to vote in Broward County south Florida. The longest wait I have heard from any news story was 6 hours which indicates the even higher number of recorded early voters.
Judging from the vibe and conversations going on in the crowd (7 plus hours sparks quite a number of discussions), I'd say that at least 80% (of even possibly upwards of 90%) of the voters in line were pulling for Obama. I realize that every area has a different demographic, but this number was unbelievable in a state with a supposed 2 point difference at the polls.
With my "I Voted" sticker and my T-shirt tan from standing in the sun, I feel great. I hate to admit that I haven't fulfilled my voting obligation in the past election, but I will never miss another. What an amazing thing to be a part of.
ricardo
c'mon michael vote for whomever you want but keep your site on food just as obama probably won't talk about how to confit a duck if he had a blog! as for me i am 'goin GOP!
Seth Haynes
I voted for Obama a week ago.
Ruhlman thank you and everyone for getting the word out to vote. Voting is your right and rights go away if you ignore them.
OMARI A.K.
I fail to understand why in USA HEROES and chest thumpers are from the military only. Are there no heroes who have traversed this world seeking, saving or assisting humanity in other issues apart from wars, conflicts and fightings ? I dont find it ok for Mcain to impress on his POW record as a catapult to lead America. Americans assist to educate, treat deceases and many many other humanitarian aids, Those are the the real heroes and heroines. Idol washiping the Military leads to unecessary deaths to US young military conscripts and those from other areas of the world eg IRAQIs, Afghanis and others.
MessyONE
Thank you Michael.
I'm not allowed to vote, which sucks (I only have a Green Card). Judging by what various media are saying (Canadian, English, French), Obama is the candidate of choice for most of the rest of the world. No one outside of the U.S. has any respect for Bush and the Bush administration and they see McCain as more of the same.
A lot of people here in Chicago are waiting for the rioting to start. If there's any question about the results (a la Florida), the city will explode. If/When Obama wins, everyone's expecting the city to celebrate in the streets. Different outcomes, same problem.
Dave Valentine
While I respect your right to believe and vote for whomever you wish, I am very disappointed that you chose to use your blog to discuss politics. Just like others have posted, this blog has been a nice place where I could escape from all the political bullshit.
faustianbargain
(to joanie)i dont know how time in a POW gives a person experience to run a country. just wondering.
as someone who lived in a country where a marxist party came to power in three states of the 20+, i think that those who dont know the definition of marxism probably shouldnt be using the word...
i suppose those who give away their freedoms for a few hundred dollars a year in tax rebate deserve the govt they get...
Jaxie Waxie Woo
If "experience" is the only thing to go by when gauging someone's qualifications for a position, then I guess that means I'm ready to take over the kitchen at The French Laundry. After all, I have 30+ years of experience cooking.
Granted, odds are the vast majority of patrons will all suffer terribly debilitating food poisoning as a result since I'm such a lousy cook, but fortunately for me, that doesn't matter as we seem to be focusing only on quantity of experience rather than quality of performance.
VOTE OBAMA!!!
Johnson C.S. Reynolds IV
It is called the first amendment - one post won't kill people - despite your own political feelings and disappointment about Michael's post you shouldn't require everyone to shut up if their opinion is different than yours. Or be disappointed. That is what Stalin used to demand of everyone.
Obama is not a Marxist or a socialist - learn what those words mean before you use them. It just sounds ignorant. The last 8 years have shown that the ultra rich has gotten very favorable treatment in tax policy while the middle class have gotten the shaft. Obama wants to do the opposite of this and is somehow a socialist? That is a very odd conclusion.
Full disclosure - Republican policies benefit me a lot as a member of the actual elite, but I still think the middle class deserve a break and some fairness so they can recover.
I have grown far richer in the last 8 years. But I recognize a crisis of the middle class: outsourcing of jobs, vanishing 401K's, real estate paper profits and quality of life are melting away for many people...
I don't think Wal-Mart can hire that many aging baby boomer greeters when they are working through their retirement.
The US has borrowed trillions of dollars in the last 8 years and this bill will need to be paid somehow. Both McCain and Obama have talked about various spending programs - both will not simply happen due to the last 8 years of hyper spending and the biggest government expansion since World War II into private industry.
To fellow Republicans who are so partisan - I respectfully submit that you start looking at reality. Saying someone is Marxist or Socialist is weaksauce without backing those words up with facts.
Trying to insinuate that Obama is a socialist is simply not true, not by any stretch. You can dislike the Democrats policies but you don't need to manufacture reality (lie) to prove your point. For shame. You make republicans look bad, but luckily I know my fellow Republicans are honest about things and this party can be rebuilt, despite partisan hacks.
Other countries universal health care system is half the cost - let me repeat - half the cost of our US system on a per capita basis. It provides superior care for the entire country, not just the fortunate. It is more efficient in many ways. Not perfect, but more efficient and people don't live in fear of someone in their family having a serious disease and losing everything to save that persons life. There is something to be said about that.
For a capitalist like myself, more efficient systems should be looked at closely and not thrown away just because HMO lobbyists have programmed us all to think "ooooh socialism = bad" which limits our ability to actually analyze other systems. The current health care system allows HMO's and insurance companies to decide if you live or die. That is immoral.
Ultimately - partisan politics have helped made a once proud America a cynical and jaded place which is slowly killing the American dream.
rockandroller
I'll be so glad when this election is over. I can't stand all the anger and conflict it's causing. I do think people should NOT talk about this at work, I had to listen to my co-workers and a customer having a political conversation this weekend that absolutely made my blood boil and if I didn't need the 2nd job so bad, I would have just quit, it's that irritating.
This being Michael's blog, I think he can blog about whatever he wants. He doesn't have to "stick to talking about food" or any other particular topic if he doesn't want to, if you ask me. If you don't agree with his viewpoint, getting into a blog post argument about who is stupider or who knows better is about as worthwhile as spitting into the wind.
Justin
Thanks for posting this Michael, in the face of the inevitable "Write about food and only food and definitely not politics even when the politics are directly related to the food!" comments. And thanks everyone else for not feeding the trolls.
Anyway, it's exciting to know that Obama is actually aware of Pollan's ideas. That said, his deep ties to big corn are one of the (very) few issues that make me a bit less ecstatic about an Obama presidency. Can't win Iowa without them, though, so here's hoping!
RB
Michael,
Stick to cooking issues, not politics. Your naked partisanship is best saved for friends, family and the voting booth. It does not belong in a food blog.
Roland B.
milo
Bravo, Michael. It's your blog and you have the right to voice whatever opinions you want.
I contributed to Obama and will be voting for him tomorrow. Frankly, I don't buy the whole "lack of experience" thing since he has held political office about as long as Bush, Clinton, or even Lincoln for that matter did before they became president. And it makes zero sense to me that anyone obsessed with the whole experience thing would turn around and say that Palin has enough experience to take over if something happened to McCain.
Obama is younger and hasn't been in politics as long (funny, when the GOP has that on their side they praise the "washington outsider"), but he has the intelligence, the temperment, and the good judgement that makes experience a moot point. McCain has years under his belt (which he bashes in the case of Biden), but it is years of bad judgement, very little positive things accomplished, and he's basically promising to keep doing the things Bush has been doing that haven't worked. Honestly, I never seem to hear any arguments in favor of McCain that aren't the hollow talking points - even McCain himself finally admitted that he doesn't consider Obama a socialist.
"the wildly successful Republican tradition of cutting taxes to increase economic activity"
The eight years of prosperity under Clinton and the eight years of disaster under Bush beg to differ.
I'm so glad Obama read that article, that's fantastic and hopefully he'll take at least some of it to heart.
latenac
A lot of blogs I go to have recently been making pro-Obama posts or at least please go out and vote posts and the posts are then followed by a lot of republicans, a lot who never even post on the blog complaining about the blogger talking about politics. It's amusing actually.
But thank you for encouraging people to go out and vote. I wish Obama actually were a socialist or at least more of a socialist than McCain (hint both candidates support progressive taxes which McCain is now defining for Obama as "distributing the wealth" but doesn't use that term to define his own very similar tax policy.) But I truly respect Obama who is curious, listens, reads, thinks of all sides of an issue and then makes a decision rather than someone who goes with the gut and never looks back. We've had 8 years of "The Decider" already we don't need his doppleganger.
On average lately less than 25% of the people eligible to vote determine who wins an election and personally I think any election that causes a bigger turn out regardless of who wins is a great thing. So go out and vote even if it's for McCain, Obama, Bob Barr or Nader, if everyone voted the way they really felt and actually voted you would see change.
ntsc
Yes, Illinois tends to send inexperienced lawyers to Washington.
They did that once and got a guy with no experience in the White House and the fool freed the slaves. And he was a Republican too.
And Bush has stimulated the economy, the wrong direction to be certain, but it is certainly active.
Today is the first Monday in over 40 years that I haven't either been on strike or getting paid for the day. So much for 'a rising tide'.
On the good side however is that Saturday I picked up two whole fresh hams which once Thanksgiving is over and they get out of the bottom of the freezer will cure and hang. One for 6+ months, one for 18 (on the advice of Bob DelGrosso
So Disappointed
You are obviously entitled to your opinion, and it is your blog. But I can't adequately express how disappointing and tiresome it is to have someone whose work I've enjoyed presume to tell the masses, including me, how to vote. And then you compounded it by responding on the tax issue -- even though, just in the last week the Obama campaign and its surrogates have lowered the number drastically from $250,000. That's not the point, though. The point is that you have no, zero, none, nada expertise on poltics and tax issues beyond anybody else's; you are a fine and insightful food writer. That's it, and that should have been good enough.
Don't forget: You -- presumably -- want my money, and so far you've gotten all of it that you can (since I own all of your books.) I don't have any interest whatsoever in you as a political adviser or commentator, however, and I can choose to spend my money, and give my page views, elsewhere. It is evidently worth it to you to alienate, let's suppose, the 45 percent of the populace who will support McCain and fear Obama; and it might be that your readership skews so far to the left that it won't make any difference for you to be identified as a partisan. As I said, you are entitled to your opinions, just like I am, but everything that is true doesn't need to be said on your blog. You don't post movie or general book reviews, though you presumably have opinions about those, too. Your politics are equally relevant to this blog, which is to say, they're irrelevant.
So you have alienated me with your smug and shallow postings on politics. I expect you don't care, but your own self-interest and neighborliness tells me that you should. I'll finish where I started: It's very disappointing and tiresome.
Pavlov
I come here for the food portion of your blog Michael. You being super-rich and because of the success of your books and career over the last 8 years, I'm sure you won't mind sending the middle class folks money directly over the next 4... or will the money have to go to the Politburo first Comrade? Let's please get back to talking food.
So Disappointed
You are obviously entitled to your opinion, and it is your blog. But I can't adequately express how disappointing and tiresome it is to have someone whose work I've enjoyed presume to tell the masses, including me, how to vote. And then you compounded it by responding on the tax issue -- even though, just in the last week the Obama campaign and its surrogates have lowered the number drastically from $250,000. That's not the point, though. The point is that you have no, zero, none, nada expertise on poltics and tax issues beyond anybody else's; you are a fine and insightful food writer. That's it, and that should have been good enough.
Don't forget: You -- presumably -- want my money, and so far you've gotten all of it that you can (since I own all of your books.) I don't have any interest whatsoever in you as a political adviser or commentator, however, and I can choose to spend my money, and give my page views, elsewhere. It is evidently worth it to you to alienate, let's suppose, the 45 percent of the populace who will support McCain and fear Obama; and it might be that your readership skews so far to the left that it won't make any difference for you to be identified as a partisan. As I said, you are entitled to your opinions, just like I am, but everything that is true doesn't need to be said on your blog. You don't post movie or general book reviews, though you presumably have opinions about those, too. Your politics are equally relevant to this blog, which is to say, they're irrelevant.
So you have alienated me with your smug and shallow postings on politics. I expect you don't care, but your own self-interest and neighborliness tells me that you should. I'll finish where I started: It's very disappointing and tiresome.
stephanie
Bravo, Michael! I'm with you and voting Obama tomorrow.
Everyone can have their own opinions, but make them count people. VOTE!
Go O!!! 🙂
ruhlman
look folks, this is my lawn and if i want to stick an obama or a mccain sign in it, I'm going to. if you don't agree, fine. don't get mad at me because you disagree with my politics.
this post resulted from an email from a reader asking why i was quiet on the issue. so i decided not to be.
I'm not presuming to tell anyone that I know better than they whom they should vote for. It's personal. And had it not been for the fiasco four years ago this month, I might have said nothing.
so there it is. vote. pay attention. that's all.
Doodad
Your site and your right Michael. But, I don't care to mix politics with a purely social interaction of strangers. Too divisive and I do not allow it on my forums for many reasons.
Take care and good luck to you.
Micah Inchoate
I like Blue! Go Blue! Wait. This is in Ohio. Woowee! McCain arms are too short. I'm voting for the long-Armed one. He of the shins.
MI.
Angela
Thanks for putting yourself out there with an
endorsement for Obama. For those that say, let's just keep it to food, that's silly. There's no more political issue than food. Our ability to get the good food that we all love to eat, cook, and see Ruhlman blog about all depends upon a number of policies that are determined in Washington (i.e., Farm bill, climate change, energy policy, school food, etc).
It's going to be a tough road ahead, but let's take the first step by voting for Obama tomorrow.
Cameron S.
Originally Posted by Fact check:
Obama, Biden 'creeping down' on who gets tax cuts?
The Facts
Obama has said throughout the campaign that families making less than $250,000 a year will not see a tax increase. Those making less than $200,000 will get a tax cut, he says. "If you make less than a quarter of a million dollars a year, you will not see a single dime of your taxes go up," Obama said during an October 7 presidential debate in Nashville, Tennessee. "If you make $200,000 a year or less, your taxes will go down."
The campaign ad McCain refers to, titled "Defining Moment," does have a graphic appear on the screen that says, "Families making less than $200,000 get tax cut." Obama says, "If you have a job, pay taxes and make less than $200,000 a year, you'll get a tax cut," which is, again, consistent with the plan he has laid out.
Biden was speaking Monday, October 27, in an interview with WNEP in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He said, "(An) $87 billion tax break doesn't need to go to people making an average of $1.4 million. It should go like it used to. It should go to middle class people — people making under $150,000 a year." Biden never says that tax breaks should "only" go to such people. The Obama campaign says he was merely using that figure as an example and that the statement does not represent a change in policy.
The Verdict: False. What McCain is doing here, in part, is comparing apples and oranges. He compares two different aspects of Obama's tax plan as if they were the same. And Biden never said people making less than $150,000 are the "only" people who would get a tax cut under Obama's policies.
Mark
I'm not voting tomorrow, but come Wednesday we will see socialism in this country like never before. What Johnson did will pale in comparison to what will happen. Hard work will no longer be rewarded. Just think of these words, "we need to spread it around." Scares the hell out of me.
redredsteve
I love this blog; hate this post.
I come here because you have your thumb on the pulse of the culinary world. I love reading about trends, books, cooks, etc... I hate it when a personal political opinion (and yes, that's all that it is) unexpectedly slaps me in the face. It's not upsetting that you have a political opinion or that you express that on your site...
I know it's Ruhlman.com so you're free to say what you want, but you also have the tag line that reads "Notes from food world" so how about starting another blog for posts like this? You said yourself, "While we don't know much about where the candidates stand on food issues..."
And finally, since you hit me with your opinion, here's mine: higher taxes, further economic crises, etc.? I'll take them all to protect unborn children. Other countries hate America? Americans hate America? That's fine, but its no coincidence that we haven't been attacked again since 9/11. Want to chit chat with an extremist and radical gov't who hold religious beliefs that teach them that if they kill Americans they will get to heavan? Go for it, I'm sure a little sit down with Hitler would've worked too. Sure, many things are wrong and it's always easy (and often accurate) to blame the current leader, but I fear for America if/when Obama is elected.
Sorry Ruhlman, was just a bit disappointed that you would go this route with your blog.
Pavlov
Well put Michael, and if you want to alienate some portion of your readers, BRAVO for you. You should have that right to dismiss logic, reason and possible book sales for the sake of a plug for the other "Big O" (although I see by the number of swooning suporters, they may be one in the same) you go Michael! Go stick it... your sign ...uhh... in your... errr... lawn.
pavlov
BTW... I'm with redredsteve on this. Love Ruhlman, hate this post.
chefgaree
Way to go Michael. For all of the responders who are telling you to stick to cooking, fooey on them. I got most of my pre-voting/politcal experience at my dinner table every night, listening to my parents discuss politics and current events. Food goes with everything! Talk on brother! Love your blog.
Camusman
Dude, thanks for taking a stand!
Ignore the haters!
Tags
-
If you want all food all the time, go to eater.com.
This is Ruhlman.com
all Ruhlman, all the time.
The man has written about wooden boats, boys schools, pediatric cardiac surgeons, and now
2 days before the election
he makes an endorsement.
Get a clue or get a grip.
Jumada
Thank you, Michael!
Those of us who have been appalled by the last 8 years and are wanting change (and are enthusiastic Obama supporters) appreciate your voice.
It should be considered patriotic of all Americans to inform fellow citizens how we think the country can be changed for the better, and who we feel would be the best person for the job. It doesn't mean that everyone has to agree, but that's what's great about America – we can all have a voice.
milo
"I'm not voting tomorrow, but come Wednesday we will see socialism in this country like never before. "
Why aren't you voting? And even McCain himself has backed away from the whole "socialist" thing, he even admitted he doesn't believe Obama is one. Obama is just proposing returning the top tax rate to what it was under Clinton. And from what I remember those eight years were a hell of a lot better than these past eight - opinions aside, just look at the economy stats.
Kevin
If Obama wins he'd better get something done in the first 100 days - a lot of promises with literally no track record to get things done. If McCain wins, he'll be spending that first 100 days suppressing riots.
You should stay out of politics. You just pissed off half of your audience. Have a nice life.
Natalie Sztern
Yesterday a Montreal radio station got hold of Palin, actually was able to reach her (?) and pulled a prank that had all of the city laughing not with her but AT her.
That says it all. OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA
JBL
We already have socialism in this country ("mixed economy" is only a euphemism).
And now partisan politics:
"McCain promises to "respect the collective will of our democratic allies," as if America has no moral right to defend her citizens according to her own best judgment; and he promises to finish the "mission" of making Iraq "a functioning democracy" even if it takes "one hundred years," as if the U.S. government has a moral or constitutional right to sacrifice American soldiers to spread democracy abroad.1
Obama promises to uphold the idea that "America's larger purpose in the world is to promote the spread of freedom. . . . dignity, and opportunity," as if we have a moral responsibility to minister to the uncivilized and the unfortunate across the globe; and he promises to negotiate with jihadists who chant "Death to America," as if Americans will be safe from these lunatics when the lunatics give Obama their word.2"
-- 2008 Presidential Elections: McBama vs. America
by Craig Biddle
doxie mama
I come to this site to learn about food and escape the partisan b.s. and less than civil discourse that seems to have taken over our country lately. Through my lurking it seems that the posters here are an intelligent and informed group. Consequently, there will be differing views. Let's just agree to disagree and get back to the reason we all come here - well prepared, thoughtful food.
BTW, I did.
So Disappointed
You are obviously entitled to your opinion, and to hang any yard sign you want.
It's not in your interest, however, just to reach out and alienate and insult a substantial portion of your readership.
If you want to say something controversial on food or cooking, go for it. That's what people come here for. But nobody -- and I mean nobody -- comes here for politics (or toy boats or boys schools, which last I checked, aren't particularly hot button issues.)
milo
It really surprises me that people haven't figured out that if Ruhlman (or anyone else) makes a blog post that you're not interested in, you can choose not to read it.
It's really not that hard - it's obvious from the post that it's not about food, so if you don't want to read off-topic posts, just don't read them. It's also fishy to see responses saying he's going to lose his readers coming from usernames that have never responded to his blog before.
szg
Michael:
Thank you.
Thank you for caring enough about your country to promote your choice for President.
Not everyone will agree with you. That's ok.
Some have even taken offense that you not only have an opinion, but that you actually wrote about it.
They are wrong. The only way out of our current mess is if more people engage in the political process, regardless of what they believe. That process does not end on election day. In many ways, election day is only the beginning.
Michael Pollan has already started the post election discussion on what he believes needs to get done. I am sure many others in the food world have thoughts as well. Developing those ideas into a cohesive agenda is the next step to bringing about real change.
Since its inception, your blog has provided information on not only how to be a better cook, but has helped me become more informed on food issues of all kinds -- many of which have political ramifications. The fact that some of your readers have never made that connection is a sad commentary on the state of our union and its citizens.
Michael
I've been waiting for your book Reach of a Chef to arrive via mail. You've taken the joy out of waiting to read the book. Don't we get enough bipartisan bickering through normal media channels?
Although you are entitled to your own opinion on politics, and it is YOUR blog -- as with so many other readers of your material I tune in to your website and read your books for your insights on cooking, not politics.
I'm disappointed, and I am sure you risk loosing readers because of your willingness to alienate readers who don't share your views.
JustMike
Why the political endorsement? We did not need to hear YOU weigh in on things political. I read your books and blog because you are a good food writer and relatively entertaining. You have zero credibility in politics and government but I wasn't asking for that, I read you for things food. Now that you have entered the fray I would guess I will not be jumping to buy your books (often pre-ordered in advance) not because of your politics, but because you presumed that your endorsement meant something to your readers... Sadly an egotistical overreach.
cHEERs
Rhonda
Hi Natalie.
I am Canadian(?) as well, and I was disappointed by the Montreal DJ's "pranking" of Sarah Palin. I personally, think she is a F*%$ing DISASTER but that doesn't excuse bad behaviour on our part.
This is history in the making and having Canadians in the press this way is not cool.
faustianbargain
oh dear...'mixed economy' is an euphemism?
[begin cut and paste]
Modern U.S. economy
The U.S. is considered a mixed economy. Some examples of this include:
* People can own their own businesses, but political leaders make policies concerning these.
* The government controls the mail system.
* The government controls most of the road networks.
* Waste collection and treatment are usually provided as a service by the local government.
* The government has a virtual monopoly on the provision of policing.
* Intercity passenger rail (Amtrak) is a nationalized industry, as are almost all local trains.
* All American airports are government operated but all American airlines are private.
* The government tells manufacturers what to make if something is in need during war time.
* The FDA bans certain drugs.
* The government has created a minimum wage law.
* The government provides social welfare payments to some citizens.
* The majority of pre-college education is government-provided and a large part of tertiary education is run by state governments.
[end cut and paste]
if you'd spout your 'knowledge' to any other civic minded/educated person from *any* part of the world(except america), they'd laugh on your face and roll over giggling.
also, i'd like to know what it is that bails out wall street millionaires with the common man's money? please..i'd seriously fucking like to know.
Charlotte
Geez oh Pete people -- it's Ruhlman's blog -- he can write about anything he pleases. So he endorsed someone that some of you don't like -- it's still his sandbox and he can do whatever he likes in it.
JBL
At the risk of wagering a Faustian Bargain with faustianbargain..on second thought..nevermind (something about casting pearls to swine).
dan s.
@ So Disappointed
You do not speak for everyone. I was first made aware of this site because of Mr. Ruhlman's other written works, Walk on Water, to be specific. I come to this site to hear his views/opinions. Whether they pertain to cooking, agriculture, politics, his family, whatever. I enjoy his writing. If you do not approve of his endorsement, then when you saw the header you should have just closed out of the site and come back another day.
faustianbargain
edited to add: mixed economy BY DEFINITION means that it incorporates aspects of both capitalism AND socialism.
seriously...what does it mean...'its an euphemism" and that 'we already have socialism'? i used to teach kids about this and you burns me..how old are you? 5?
(ntsc said)Yes, Illinois tends to send inexperienced lawyers to Washington.
They did that once and got a guy with no experience in the White House and the fool freed the slaves. And he was a Republican too.(end quote)
what a beautiful coincidence that both lincoln(my favourite american president after jefferson) and obama are from Illinois...lincoln wanted to send the freed slaves back to africa and obama is half african. it is destiny!
JBL
Beware the FaustianBargain! No feeding the FaustianBargain!
redredsteve
Again, I know who's site this is and he is entitled it to use it how he wishes... I just found it disappointing because of how down my throat it was. Yes, I can choose not to read it but I came to a blog that I frequent because of it's usual train of topics related to food. Today, I read in big letters someone telling me to vote for Obama. Yes, there are huge connections between food and politics (or anything/everything, for that matter) but that wasn't what was posted. Instead, what was posted is a simple, straight-forward, down my throat personal political opinion, without any real attempt to tie it to anything I would normally expect to find here. That's all I'm saying.
It's like I had a friend who's house I went to once a week for dinner and conversation. Although we've disagreed on things in the past, we've always had a great time and enjoyed our talks. Then, one night, I head over like I have so many times in the past and upon entering I get hit in the face with a blatant and unexpected statement that my host new would cause some upset. It isn't presented in a way to open discussion.
And here's the real kicker: I express that I am disappointed in the way my host has presented his opinion and the response I get is to leave the house if I don't like it and that I shouldn't have come in the first place. What happened to the host/friends and the free, open, and respectful discussions we once had?
KP
keep politics out of food
Scotty Harris
This will be the ninth Presidential I have been eligible to vote, and this will be the third time I have been able to take my daughters (now 8 and 9.5) with me. My winning record is slim - only twice in the past 32 years. I am the proudest I have ever been to cast my vote this year. It will be for Barack Obama. He brings a fresh new voice to a Country that desperately needs one. To understand that we have, as one of the two people in contest for the highest office in the land, a man who could have been held as property under the first sixteen Presidents makes me prouder than ever to be an American.
Yes, this is Michael's blog and he can write on any topic he chooses. However, those of you who who would limit him to discussions of food miss the point. Read "House" or "Wooden Boats" or "Walk on Water. He fills all with a meticulous, studied intelligence, which makes his food writing all the more to be considered.
Agree or disagree with his choice, be sure it was well-considered.
Here endeth the lesson.
Connor
I, too, was surprised when I saw your post, not so much because you posted it, but because you called youself a libertarian awhile back. And even though I don't know many libertarians, I suspect not many of them are voting for Obama!
EC
Michael,
It takes a lot of courage to dip your toes in the political waters these days. I admire that you did. Oh yeah, and I look forward to casting my vote for history and return to rational thought in Washington tomorrow.
Obama 08!
diego
I would have to say that I am a bit saddened by the anger in these comments. We all have our political views and biases but there is There is no need to harass Michael about this post. This is HIS blog that he takes the time out of his busy life to write for YOU. It's kind of silly that some of you are so angry about a simple political endorsement.
Frankly, a simple I disagree would suffice. We all obviously have some common ground and are a small section of the population and It's just silly that there would be all this animosity between a group of people that is usually so tight nit
cherylk
Red Red Steve wrote:
I'll take them all to protect unborn children. Want to chit chat with an extremist and radical gov't who hold religious beliefs that teach them that if they kill Americans they will get to heavan? Sure, many things are wrong and it's always easy (and often accurate) to blame the current leader, but I fear for America if/when Obama is elected.
Steve, it makes me sad that you would, like so many others, assume that pro-choice means pro-abortion, it doesn't. It means the right to choose, period. Your comment about countries and religions is also lumping all people into one category. Do you know any Muslims? I know quite a few and each of them are peaceful people as torn up about 9/11 as anyone. Just like any religion, there are extremeist factions and if you don't think those exist in the good old US of A, try listening to AM radio. Rod Parsley and John Hagee preach hatred from their pulpits all the while living lavishly and taking every tax exemption the government will give them. Perhaps this isn't the perfect venue for the discussion, but like the other voices here, I applaud Michael for putting it out there. You don't want to read it, click it off, it's free country, for the moment.
outofwork
thank you, Michael. Please no matter what side of the fence you are on, vote. (though if you're on the Obama side, there are cookies)
been unemployed since June, business went under, things have got to be better...
Jon
Connor... neither major party candidate is a libertarian. Obama is far too much of a big-government guy, reaching for a new program to fix anything that ails the country. McCain seems likely to keep up with the current administration's policies of cutting freedoms in exchange for the feeling of security, and ignoring human rights when convenient.
Libertarians need to weigh what's important to them, and vote accordingly. Some, like Andrew Sullivan, will undoubtedly fall in the Obama camp.
ruhlman
I'm surprised by the number of comments. I am not surprised by the passion of them nor, generally, by the quality of the language. What writer isn't grateful to have passionate articulate readers? I'm glad for every comment. Blogs are still in an awkward experimental stage. These comments help me to understand what they mean to people. Thank you all who have commented.
redredsteve
cherylk
You know, the more I post in this forum I have to admit I'm changing my mind about the post itself. I guess I shouldn't be upset about it being where it is and honestly, if it were an endorsement for McCain I would likely be commending Ruhlman, like so many of the Obama supporters here are doing. My earlier posts were, I suppose, a knee-jerk reaction. I was just taken off guard.
About your other comments... hmm... Well, yes. I do know some Muslims and have wonderful conversations with them about many things. You're right, most Muslims are not extreme and believe 9/11 to be a tragedy. Ahmadinejad is not one such Muslim. You want to talk about preaching hate, read his addresses on the West.
Abortion... again, hmm... hard to discuss in this format, and perhaps not entirely appropriate. It has always been the deal breaker for so many voters, though, including myself. My opinion? To be pro-choice is not a stance, it's a side step. If it's wrong then it's wrong for everyone, no matter the circumstance. If it's right, then it's right. Obama is playing both sides and tempting both political parties with his stance on the issue. I'd rather have a little backbone.
Natalie Sztern
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/01/masked-avengers-prank-cal_n_140023.html
Copy and paste so everyone can hear the conversation....what you have to listen for is when he speaks in french it is a mumble and his english accent is not parisian, it is a slang Quebecois...he tells her he wants to go helicopter shooting so they can kill 'les babies phoques' pronounced baby fucks which are baby seals but she doesn't ask one question of him....maybe you have to be french canadian...listen to how he describes making love to his wife on the phone!!!
Hysterical
faustianbargain
to be pro-choice is to say that one respects a woman enough to let her take care of her uterus and all that it may or may not want to hold.
as a woman, i am appalled that anyone would tell me what i should or should not do with my body.
my body, my choice.
its a stance.
Tom
I respect your right to voice your opinion as you see fit, but given that this election cycle has basically been going on for the last four years, I (and more than a few other Americans) are just a skosh burnt out on it. Unless Barry has a revolutionary new recipe, please stick to food.
MessyONE
Rhonda, Rhonda, Rhonda......
I see you've lost your Canadian sense of humor. For those that don't know what she's talking about, a Montreal-based comedian made a telephone call to Sarah Palin yesterday (?) and convinced her that he was Nicolas Sarkoczy (sp?).
She bought it. She bought it so fully that he had her convinced they needed to go rabbit hunting together, that she was a stylish darling (leading to her making comments about Ms. Bruni that could be taken as either envious or catty), and that she would make a great President. She swallowed it all, for a good five minutes.
In fact, as the comments he made got more and more absurd, she kept on believing every word he said. He finally had to TELL HER who he was and what he was doing. After that, an aide took the phone and hung up on him with no further comment.
It was hilarious and disturbing at the same time. Hilarious because, well, if you don't get it, I can't explain it. Disturbing not only because she accepted every absurdity at face value, but because both she and her aide were completely unable to see the humor in the situation.
This particular comedy troupe has been doing things like this for years. They are never rude, they never get nasty and when the target of their phone call gets the joke, no one finds it too upsetting. Then again.....they don't usually have to be told that they're being pranked.
sean
To all of you who have been impugned by ruhlman's endorsement, please remember that our government is representative and that it is all of our duties to be aware and to be made aware of our obligation. To claim ruhlman should not have made this post is preposterous.
milo
"If it's wrong then it's wrong for everyone, no matter the circumstance."
That's your position, many people simply don't agree. It's one thing to disagree with people, it's another to dismiss their views as "not a stance".
Personally, I feel it's an option that shouldn't be taken lightly, but it's an option that should be available, particularly in cases of rape, incest, and the life and health of the mother. I think Obama has a much more nuanced take than you usually find in politics, which I find refreshing.
It seems odd to me that opposing choice is supposedly the "conservative" position when it's the side of the issue that has the government meddling and invading people's privacy. Same goes for gay marriage.
I guess "smaller government" is only applied where it's convenient.
Rhonda
Thanks MessyONE.
I know. My Canadian humour (notice the "u" & RICK MERCER IS A GOD), is lacking at this time. Perhaps I will find this funny next week. Perhaps, not.
I just felt it was bad timing on our part. I also do not think that it is in good form to pick on retarded people. Ok, THAT was funny!
All the best,
Rhonda
Lisa
Thanks for reminding everyone to vote!
I voted early, about 2 weeks ago, for Mr. Obama, and I am glad to say that I finally got my non-voting husband to register and actually vote this year, too. Politicians are not all the same, and elections do matter.
redredsteve
faustian bargain
I agree, it's your body and do with it what you will. So long as it only affects you, I'm with you, it's your choice. I believe that in the case of abortion that it isn't only your body, however.
Oh so sticky a topic, and I'm not trying to offend anyone or disregard your beliefs. The way I see it is if a woman isn't allowed to harm her children AFTER birth then why should she be allowed to before? It comes down to a discussion of embryonic developement, fetuses, etc. But if you believe the child in the womb to be exactly that - a child (homo sapien) then I don't see the validity of a pro-choice stance.
faustianbargain
on a completely different note, blog.ruhlman.com is also running an ad on the front page asking us to 'protect traditional marriage' by 'voting yes on prop 8'...which,btw, i think is wrong and unfair. prop 8 will be voted in california and am wondering why ruhlman from ohio cares...
ruhlman?
Natalie Sztern
MessyOne are u saying Rhonda is Canadian?
And she couldn't find that audio tape funny?
Sarah was so excited to talk with President Sarkozy that the Vice-Presidential Candidate
lost all her conscious intelligence and became a blubbering idiot - I mean, even the republican believers have to see it.....
faustianbargain
redredsteve, i understand your discomfort in discussing such a sensitive issue. put aside any notion that you'll be offending me because i want to hear your pov too.
i believe that a fetus is not a child. a fetus is a 'viable life'. a fetus may or may not become a child even if it is carried to full term is there are medical issues.
* if i had been raped and didnt want to have a rapist' child, should i be asked to raise a child of rape?
* if i am carrying a child of incest, should i be burdened with the responsibility of raising a child that will be my son who might also be my nephew...maybe a daughter who is also my sister?
* if i am physically abused by my husband/boyfriend, should i bring a child into this world where he/she will too be subjected to abuse?
* if i cant afford to raise my child, can i sleep well knowing that the state will take care of us?
* if i am a drug abuser, should i have a crack baby?
i am putting *myself* in each of the examples because i want you to know that it IS personal for millions of women who are pro-choice.
sarah palin and her daughter are pro-choice too. they exercised their right to have a down's syndrome baby and what would be a teen pregnancy because this country supports their rights. but sarah palin wants to take away MY(or any one else's) right to not have a challenged baby or a child of rape.
redredsteve
And so we reach where this discussion always adjourns... rape, incest, etc. If these were the only instances that we would consider abortion to be a medical practice we would be having a very different conversation. We would talk about social ills, sexual education, abstinence, abolition of pornography, I could go on... The fact is, however, that abortion is most often used as a form of birth control and most women who get abortions are not in such a situation as you discribe. In fact, most women getting abortions have had one before.
I'm a little confused about your opinion of the fetus/child definition. If a fetus becomes a child at birth, barring medical issues or what have you, then couldn't you say the same of a young child with a medical condition that would prevent them from further developing into adulthood? Would be alright to kill that child should his/her existence burdent the parent/s? It's a level of development. Are there people who are alive but do not have (or will ever have) mental or physical capacities or developments that would cause you to not consider them human and deserving to live?
milo
Assuming abortion is mainly used as a form of birth control, then wouldn't the logical conclusion for someone unhappy with that be to encourage women to use OTHER forms of birth control, thus reducing the number of abortions?
Greely
Michael,
One of the greatest things we have in the United States is Freedom of Speech. We also have the freedom to disagree with each other. I don't think that when we do disagree with each other we should start name-calling.
Obama is not the best candidate for office. I would also agree that McCain isn't either. It's basically the lessor of two evils.
Both are lacking in certain decisive area's that make a good President. The fact that you put up the link to Thomas Friedman's article says you appreciate there is neutral side and I admire you for that.
However, I have issue's with a candidate who accepted earmarks and then said he would do so no longer. Yet, his running mate (Biden) has approximately 330 million dollars of earmarks for his state in FY 09.
Obama also said a year or two ago, he didn't have the experience to be President. Also, when he said he was running for office, he would only use government funds to run. How quickly that changed.
Obama also has an aunt in the United States illegally. She lost her request for asylum in 2005 and is living in public housing in South Boston.
Biden slammed Obama during the primaries saying he doesn't have the experience but now thinks he's able to be President. He also said on October 19th that during the first six months Obama would be tested with a major international crisis and the decision made might not be the best one. Think this is wrong?
Fact, when Kennedy was thought to be weak and inexperienced, he was tested by the Russians with the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Berlin Wall. He also made wrong decisions with the Bay of Pigs invasion.
Fact, when Reagan who the Iranians thought was a cowboy became President, they released the hostages because they were worried about what he would do.
Fact, the first month in office, Clinton had the first World Trade Center bombing.
(Sidebar Fact; Clinton signed NAFTA into law which started the outsourcing trend as well as signed the deregulation of the financial industry back in 1999.)
Fact, 9 months into office, George W. Bush had the second World Trade Center incident which was planned during the Clinton Presidency. Bush had pretty high approval ratings but tanked them. Only time will determine if his decision to go into Iraq was the right one or not.
Personally, as a military veteran of almost 13 years service, I think it was. The planning and manpower was not done correctly but the decision to invade (faulty intelligence withstanding) was the correct one.
What are some of the upsides to this? Qaddafi in Libya stopped being a problem. The 10 years of Hussein thumbing his nose at the United Nations and the US about inspections and the no-fly zone are over. The people have more freedom and rights than the did.
Before anybody says the negative, loss of life for our military servicemembers, I agree. I work at a VA Hospital and encounter veteran's from all era's on a daily basis. I too am also a veteran as well and served during the first Gulf War.
History needs to be studied. History shows that Democrats cut the military. The problem with that is after every military downsizing, there is almost always some type of crisis or war where our military has to be brought back up to strength.
Sadly, the old phrase, "Soldier's and dogs keep off the grass" comes to mind.
After World War I, the military downsized and about 23 years went by and then World War II. We built the military up during WWII only to downsize it after the war and five years later came the Korean war. The US built back up and then again downsized afterwards. In 1965, we deployed combat units to Vietnam though advisor's had been in that country for year's already. After Vietnam ended in 1975, the military was downsized again and was not built up until Reagan became President. This increase in US military strength is part of what helped cause the downfall and collapse of the former Soviet Union.
Before, you vote, take the time to look. Don't just vote because you've always voted Democrat or Republican. Vote for the best person for the job. Examine the history of each candidate and see if they have been consistent on issue's all of the time. Have they changed their mind on anything substantial and why did they change it?
It's funny how watching old reruns of The West Wing, that some of the issues in the debate between Santos (Smits) and Vinnick
(Alda) are still here today. Also, that during the fictional deploying of troops to Kazakstan, President Bartlett (Sheen) tells the two candidates he doesn't have an exit strategy so they better start thinking.
History can be considered dull and boring for some. Yet, history can also help give us the answers to the future by helping us avoid the mistakes of the past.
Vote. Vote for the best person. Vote for the one will make a difference in the future and who has the experience and wisdom to lead us into a better future.
"No hope for those who fear"
redredsteve
Milo-
My personal opinion is to gravitate towards a mode of abstinence, not birth control.
J
anyone find it ironic that people in this thread feel the need to express thier opinion when the opinion they are expressing is "keep your opinion to yourself" ?
Thanks for saying something Rhuls(so glad I agree with you)I will now go purchase the books of yours I do not own at a drastically reduced price on Amazon today!
Kate in the NW
"Stick to food, not politics?" Food IS politics. Did no one else watch the Chautauqua thing?
Has no one read the first amendment?
And what of civic responsibility - we don't have the luxury of silence. Too much rides on what happens tomorrow. If voter turnout is 85% as predicted, this could usher in a new age of participitory democracy. Wouldn't THAT be nice? Something to be grateful for no matter who endorses whom or how things turn out. [closes eyes, crosses fingers, chants "Obama, Obama, Obama..."]
As for those who say "you can cook, you can tell me for whom I'm to cast my vote? I don't think so. Keep it in the kitchen - not the voting booth."
Gee - where have I heard that before? Oh yeah - it was said to anyone who openly supported the 19th Amendment. If you substitute "work" for "cook and "fields" for "kitchen", it was said a generation or two before that to anyone who openly supported the 15th Amendment. Apparently by people who failed to read the 1st Amendment (see above).
I also find it interesting that the commenters most critical of your topic here are the ones who have most readily become political themselves in past posts.
I applaud not only your choice of candidates, but also your willingness to stick your neck out and make this statement, which stands by everything else you've written, as far as I can tell.
Mark
Oh Mr. Ruhlman. My condolences on the loss/alienation of so many "loyal readers", though I found most of the parting shots a bit weak for my taste. "Have a nice life"? Come on, people...you guys sound like my dad. Oh, right: you're McCain voters. Regardless, see if you can come up with something remotely 21st century if you're going to be mean.
Obama 08
Chris Walker Versus
I didn't vote for Obama and I still enjoy Ruhlman's books and blog. Having a difference in opinion - especially considering something like politics - shouldn't alienate readers. I pity those who are so close-minded.
jscirish27
If nothing else this thread has been educational as to what is wrong with this country: we divide ourselves along the lines of our differences; the haves versus have nots; republicans versus democrats; liberals versus conservatives; caucasians versus non-caucasians; instead of embracing our similarities and common good. It is sad. Maybe we should sit down with people and have dinner more often, sharing life instead of living in our angry solipsistic Ipod/digital/sound-byte worlds. I think something went dreadfully wrong when we stopped having dinner together.
FoodPuta
Comon folks, you act like Michael just agreed with Knowlton or something.
donkeyphant
Vote Freedom! Vote NeoCube! http://www.theneocube.com
ExFlexitarian
Glad to know that you're an Obama supporter as well! According to NY Mag's electopedia, Obama has a pretty diverse palate, however, i'd hold off on serving him a beet root and chevre salad.
http://nymag.com/news/politics/encyclopedia/diet/
Connor
As always, the back-and-forth here is interesting.
I respect Michael's point of view -- and respect it regardless of who he's voting for tomorrow.
I guess what didn't sit the best with me is that he's telling ME (and his other readers) how to vote. That's very different than telling someone whom you're voting for and why. To me, this post wasn't as thoughtful or carefully framed as it could have been, especially given that Ruhlman is venturing into uncharted territory here. And that's something I typically love about Ruhlman's writing -- it's thoughtful and engaging.
Anyways, no harm done -- just bring on the food posts pronto! Many of us need some distraction from politics, especially those of us living inside the Beltway.
cherylk
RedRedSteve ~ let's find our common ground, we both love our country, we both love the fact that we can disagree so openly and I applaud your civility. We know we both love food or we wouldn't have found this blog, so we agree to disagree, may the best man win in tomorrow's election and peace to you and yours.
bob
Oh crap... and here I thought there would be some places I could get away from this election crap.
well... it does have TONS to do with gastronomy - not.
Good job. Removed from my favorites and killed links to your blog on all my web pages - dingus.
I read this to get perspectives on cooking... not politics. YOU FAIL.
Rhonda
I just checked in with this Blog and am very disturbed by the comments.
There seems to be some people who are finding their way to this Blog for the first time and the discussion happens to be political. They, apparently, are not happy by this.
99.99% of the time, the topic is on gastronomy. However, there is an election taking place tomorrow that will set the climate for the US and the world economic system. Everyone is watching. We, as a group, regularily discuss food and politics. What happens tomorrow has bearing on the future -- for everyone -- worldwide. This is BIG!
For Michael to discount the Elephant in the living room (no, I am not referring to a particular political party) would be to disrespect his readership. It is on all of our minds.
Bob, please check back in a week or so when the smoke has cleared. You will learn many wonderful things, not only from Michael, but from the Master Chefs who also follow and contribute to this Blog.
Your timing is unfortunate. Please give our group another try later on.
MessyONE
Natalie...
It sounds like Rhonda's Canadian - I'm pretty sure she is, anyway. I suspect her objection was the timing of the broadcast - just a couple of days before the vote and all. Still, when better to do it? Palin was screamingly funny. It was almost like the comedian was the straight man in the scenario fercryinoutloud!
I see the "discussion" has degenerated to abortion, general spouting off and pouting. Too bad. I run into so many Americans who take everything seriously that they take offense at everything. That's gotta get boring after awhile, don't you think?
Kelly
Please, please, go to the polls tomorrow, if you haven't already, and vote for Obama. Michael, you still have all of your fans here in the upper left of the U.S.! We love you in our little blue bubble of Seattle.
faustianbargain
redredsteve: so what? why does it matter to you if women have consecutive abortions? an abortion is an abortion is an abortion. it happens because the potential child is not wanted. it is as simple as that.
the woman does not want to carry a fetus for nine months and be burdened with the responsibility of raising a young person. why is that so wrong?
if abstinence worked, there wouldnt be so many pregnant teens in this country. it doesnt help that sex education is considered scandalous. if this country was like saudi arabia, then perhaps abstinence would work. a permissive society that allows teens and pre teens to date should not be preaching abstinence.
re the fetus/child thing..i am not going to thrash it here(and now), but as long as a fetus acts like a parasite(its not a deragatory term..i just cant think of another word to fit the description of a being that cannot survive on its own and feeds off the host biologically) and lives off the mothers' resources, it has no rights. thats where i stand. unless i am growing a baby in a vat that resides in your pantry instead of inside my body, i get to choose what to do with my physical real estate.
Marlene
For those who would say they would not buy Michael's books because they disagree with a blog post, I say, by all means, cut off your nose to spite your face. You will miss books to come yet, from a gifted writer, knowledgable and passionate about food and cooking.
So be it, your loss. I am sorry that you will miss out on this.
I was, I admit, somewhat surprised to see such a post on Michael's blog, which is predominately about food, but it is his blog.
We recently had an election here in Canada, where we didnt'really have much of a choice, and frankly, I don't envy Americans their choices tomorrow.
At the end of the day, as a friend of mine on facebook wrote, "tomorrow, half of the country will be disappointed. Let's all try to remain civil".
Thank you Michael, given the stresses you've been under lately, for continuing to try to come here and share your thoughts with people.
gazer
Michael's just too humble to promote his own ticket:
Cleveland Foodie - Ticket
Marlene
I happen to be Canadian as well, and I am glad to know I am not the only one appalled at our comedians.
It's interesting to watch Americans sometimes. You who are so passionate about free speech and the right not only to you opinions, but the right to voice them where ever and whenever you want.
But let someone post something on a blog that you disagree with, and suddenly, it's all over? You're not going to read, contribute, play anymore?
Personally, I can only imagine what the billons of dollars raised in this two year election process could have done to feed the poor in your country, or help towards education or healthcare.
Rhonda
O CRAP.
I guess I have to address this or it will get out of control. Yes, for all intrinsic purposes, at this time, I am Canadian.
Thanks for "Outing" me. You should know that I was born in Canada and shortly thereafter lived all over the world (including the US) and now, I happen to find myself back in Canada. Am I Canadian? I don't know and subsequently posted question marks after my last post. I have been lucky and privileged enough to live and relate to almost any person or culture on this planet. In fact, I defy you to come up with something that I cannot find in common with you.
Is that not what a Canadian is, after all?
Yes, I pulled our (Canadian) politeness card because although this election will affect us greatly, we do not have a direct say in it.
I think we were inconsiderate and insensitive to the extremity of the situation by airing the Comedians rant, even though it may be funny.
Nate
I have deleted your bookmark.
Joanie
faustianbargain - time as a POW does NOT give someone experience to govern. I was just using that comparison to show how little time Obama has spent in the Senate. Less time than McCain spent as a POW.
Jaxi, how can there be quality of performance when there has been so little TIME gaining experience? Obama has done nothing. No one can point to any of his accomplishments in the Senate because he has none. He has NO track record.
Ryan68
In the Comments section Ruhlman said:
"I'm not presuming to tell anyone that I know better than they whom they should vote for."
Yet, that is exactly what the original post did presume.
I mean, the title of the post was:
VOTE OBAMA
And it certainly is his right to post whatever he wants. Just like Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon can say whatever they want when presenting an Oscar.
But, it is highly disingenious and not a very classy move.
Ruhlman went down a few notches in my book too. Hope is was worth it.
Cameron S.
Hah - people deleting the blog bookmark - you only can read things that you 100% agree with. That cracks me up.
Check out some of the blogs about Josef Stalin and Chairman Mao, they would agree with you on that kind of lockstep ideological culture warrior crap.
Grow up, and learn to be able to critically analyze different points of view without getting so outraged that someone would have their own opinion about their country that they love.
The horror, the horror.
Elizabeth
I find it amusing when Repubs whine about celebrities voicing their political opinions, but only if those opinions happen to oppose their conservative views. The SNL sketch where McCain poked fun at Barbra Streisand was cute, but now he's trotting around Joe the Plumber as the latest trick in his dog and pony show (that is, when Joe actually decides to show up). Also nice zinger from Palin when she claims Stephen is her favorite Baldwin. I don't care that Jon Voight and Donald Trump are out there supporting their candidate, so why should you anti-Obama people be jumping all over Ruhlman?
the girl that left her truffle oil at your house Saturday night
ah may dear friends agree to disagree. there is nothing like old friends, fabulous food and good wine (fine wine all the better)let the games begin. but let us never forget what is important. michael you and i know... to quote bob dylan all along the watch tower. intellectual discourse and sea salt- what two better things for a saturday night dinner. bring it on. tissues and white burgundy to the loser wednesday. xo oh and here's to turnips that aren't bitter
Frank M
I prefer my food blogs politic free.
Lucy
Makes sense, an amateur, flunkie "food writer" and "chef" smuggles his way in to the American consciousness on the coat-tails of Bourdain and then supports a Marxist who is sneaking into the White House as a vehicle for change.
Michael Obertone
I have worked with Michael and think that his personality leads him to believe that his statement of voting for Obama is ego taking control. His post of "Vote Obama" was truly meant to sway people who have not yet made up their minds. Like many elitists, Michael presumes he knows what is best for the general public and is trying to tell us what is best for us and the country in general. Anyone who can remember Kennedy and his first 100 days in office will know that we can ill afford an inexperienced president in the dangerous times in which we live. I am truly concerned for the world my daughter will have to live in.
MessyONE
Rhonda, it's ok to be happily and proudly Canadian. After all, it was Pierre Burton who said that a Canadian is someone who knows how to make love in a canoe. What greater (or more difficult) accomplishment do you want?
Canada gave the world insulin, basketball, hockey, and the Royal Canadian Air Farce, not to mention the League of Nations, which later became the United Nations. Wayne Gretzky, Pamela Anderson (ok, that's one not all of us are particularly proud of), Michael J. Fox, Peter Jennings, and John Roberts (of newsdesk fame) the Kids In the Hall, John Candy, Mike Myers and many others - all Canadian. The entire world listens to CBC news.
Canadian chefs? Among the best. Anyone who's eaten at Sook Harbour House, Canoe, The Hardware Grill, Au Pied du Cochon, Trevor Kitchen, and many others can tell you that. Best below-street level bar? Why that would be C'est What? in Toronto, right (Gotta love those veggie chips)?
Canada as a country is nothing to sneeze at. Why, we haven't had an election in the last 40 years that lasted more than ONE day! Yes, that was a bit of a dig. I still don't get why American elections are so complicated. Ah, well....
We are renowned for our sense of humor, our light-hearted attitude (except in Quebec, sometimes), and our capacity for strong drink. The world LIKES us. What many mistake for being overly polite, we know is merely the reserve that comes with a "live and let live" philosophy that requires that we DON'T tell others what to think and do.
So Rhonda, don't just concede to being Canadian, embrace it! We're among the most fun nationalities in the world (it's the beer). We like everyone. We accept anyone. No one messes with us! What else could you ask?
Janet Nelson
Me, I'm voting for the smartest guy in the room. Anyone that can
ramp up those community organizing skills to create the most effective
campaign ever can run my country any time.
jscirish27
It is quite disingenuous that so many of these commenters are bashing Michael for exercising his First Amendment rights; would you feel the same way if it was someone stumping for your candidate? I don't know Michael except through his writing, but it is obvious he is a pretty passionate guy. He also has a family who he cares about. Thus, if he honestly believes that Obama is going to be the best choice for his family and the country, I begrudge him nothing. This is his blog btw, and last time I checked we can agree to disagree in this country.
parkbench
Congratulations on being "Dixie Chicked," Michael! Wear it as the badge of honor it is.
I will be voting Obama tomorrow and, being in California, supporting Prop. 2 which, quoted from the Yes on 2 campaign, is "a modest measure that stops cruel and inhumane treatment of animals, ending the practice of cramming farm animals into cages so small the animals can't even turn around, lie down or extend their limbs that will set standards for humane treatment of farm animals."
http://www.yesonprop2.com/
--parkbench
b.barnett
This is the most important election in over a century. I voted for Obama.
kananifong
It's his blog, he can say whatever he wants. We do have a lovely document called the BILL OF RIGHTS.
hannah friedman
On this the eve of the election, I'd like to capture my thoughts before America either elects a president who its first 26 presidents could have legally owned, or brazenly subverts the very ideals it was founded upon by manipulating numbers in a final embarrassingly overt goosestep towards corporate totalitarianism.
I am nervous. And not night-before-the-swim-test nervous or even night-you-lose-your-virginity nervous, it's a low rumbling primal panic which I can only liken to Star Wars panic. Disney panic. The edge-of-your-seat-terror that makes you wonder if Skywalker's doomed after he refuses to join Darth Vader and drops down into the abyss, if the wicked octopus or grand vizier or steroid-pumping-village-misogynist is going to wed/kill/skin the dashing prince and then evil people in dark funny costumes are going to take over the world... if it wasn't a movie of course.
And tonight it's not. It's not a movie and yet I feel like Obama might as well be wearing an American flag cape while a decaying McCain, in a high-tech robotic spider wheelchair wearing an eyepatch and stroking an evil cat, gives orders to a sexy scheming Palin who marches back and forth through their sub-terranian campaign lair in four inch thigh-highs and full-body black leather catsuit bossing around the evangelical ants with a loooooong whip... umm... is this just me?
Anyway, the point is that things feel weird folks. I have friends who have peed in waterbottles to keep from interrupting a Halo-playing marathon who got off their asses/couches to volunteer for the Obama campaign not once, but many times. Friends so cheap their body content is at least 1/3 Ramen Noodle who donated a good deal of their hard-earned cash to the campaign. People have registered to vote in record numbers, and yet, something just doesn't feel right. I think we should stop congratulating ourselves for just voting. To vote is a privilege which people have died for, and I think there's a whole lot more to be done for the country than to simply help win an election every 4 years.
Hundreds of millions of dollars, hundreds of thousands of man-hours spent on both sides by good-intentioned people who want to make a difference in an historic election, so many resources and voices and energies devoted to a single day. After tomorrow, half of that is going to have been a waste. And I can't help but wonder what could have happened if all that muscle had been put towards something else, and what will happen to its momentum after the election has come and gone. Shouldn't we be donating our money to good causes whenever we can? Helping people who don't have? Dedicating some of our time to contribute to making the country which provides for us a better place? Of course a power shift is a hugely significant step on the path to great reform, but worrying about this election has been a wakeup call for me:
Even if Obama wins, we have not "won." This isn't a movie and we can't toss every greedy lobbyist oil fatcat bigot down a reactor shaft. I think if we dedicate ourselves to the ongoing welfare of the country as much as we have to the outcome of this election, we'll have a much better shot at coming closer to the overwhelming good the liberals hope Obama will usher in, but which no mere mortal could fully realize alone.
Which brings me to the other side. I've heard a lot of people claim that if McCain wins, they're leaving. I heard the same thing about Bush's reelection, and his unelection before that, and nobody seems to be leaving. And that's fine. Because as much as I complain about certain political happenings, atrocities, etc., I really do like it here and I suspect most other people do too. We have New York and Hollywood, purple mountain's majesty and sea to shining sea, we created jazz and country music and baseball and cars and lightbulbs and computers and that movie with hundreds of animated singing Chihuahuas! I mean who among the shivering Plymouth pilgrims ever imagined ordering hundreds of animated singing chihuahuas onto a magical box from an invisible information superweb?
The point being, if things don't turn out the way I want tomorrow, I feel compelled, as a college-graduated adultish-type-person, to take a stand. And if I'm going to leave I'm going to leave. But if I'm going to stay I'm not going to sit around whining like I have for the past 8 years. It's like when I don't clean my room because it's dirty and then I blame the dirt. So in my very indecisive way, before you and your screen, I'm declaring my intention to make some kind of stand in the event of -(Ican'tevensayit)-, and encouraging you to consider making one too...
Jump the ship or grab a bucket?
-Sigh-
Wasn't everything so much easier back when the worst possible affront to your values was a PB&J sandwich cut diagonally with crust?
Anyways, I guess what I'm saying is that if we're going to stay on board, we should probably be generous with our time and resources when times are tough even more than when the hero saves the day. Because what if he doesn't? And what if he can't?
Yours Nervously,
Hannah Friedman
http://www.writinghannah.blogspot.com
Mark
Well, "I deleted your bookmark" and "FAIL" certainly are 21st-century parting shots. And yet...that's not quite what I meant. I guess I'm saying: at least make your readership seem worth losing, you can do that, right?
Kirk
I wonder how many people who objected to you stating your political position would have objected if you'd agree with them.
Kirk
Viva Voltaire.
Laurence
Please, to all you people running around with the Bill of Rights in your hand, screaming "First Amendment!". You only show your abject ignorance. The First Amendment is about GOVERNMENT limiting speech, which is clearly not the case here. If you don't know that basic fact, you don't deserve to be taken seriously. You can express your opinion freely, but you diminish your credibility.
Secondly, kudos to Michael. While I posted above that I don't think this site is a place for politics, he has not deleted posts critical of him for doing so AFAIK. But the shrillness from both sides makes my case. Sad.
Now go out and vote or your candidate, and whoever gets elected, let's try and rally round behind him. This country has lots of problems that need solving.
David Dombroski
Mr. Ruhlman:
I am disappointed in seeing with a political endorsement on this website. "Notes from the Food World" is in the banner for this site and is the reason why I visit here.
Dave
Christa Glennie Seychew
Food is a political issue, folks. Anyone who cares deeply about our national food system, food safety, food security for the poor, and the environment can tell you that the objectives of our nation's next leader have tremendous impact on all of these issues. It would be foolish to think otherwise.
So, while Michael may be "only" a blogging chef/food writer to some of you, he is also a man who cares tremendously about our food future in this country and is thus qualified and justified in airing his opinion regarding today's election.
What surprises (and worries) me is how many of you fail to see that.
Dot
All I say is no matter how long the lines, the wait is worth it. I finally became an American citizen after 33 years in the US ( I was adopted ) After paying over $600.00, the wait for paper approval and the citizenship test I am more than proud that I can now vote...it's a honored privilege that many take for granted.
Dave
Michael's site = Michael's rules = Michael's decision to do what he damn well pleases. I disagree with his choice, and will be voting for McCain, but should Obama win he will be my president and command from me the respect the office deserves.
Mary
OH GAWD..There you go, ya have to inject politics in to a food blog. WHY? Why is it the celebrities and such have to do this? WHY? Why do we have to be subjected to politics ALL the time? I come to this site to learn about food, not your personal beliefs. Sorry Ruhlman...ya just lost a fan. See ya.
Dave
Michael's site = Michael's rules = Michael's decision to do what he damn well pleases. I disagree with his choice, and will be voting for McCain, but should Obama win he will be my president and command from me the respect the office deserves.
redredsteve
faustianbargain
Abstinence doesn't work in America simply because it isn't practiced. That's why there are so many teen pregnancies, etc., which logically implies that abstinence WOULD work.
Please don't take offense of my reference to the statistic of women who get abortions having already had one or more in the past. I only pointed this out because you argued the classic rape and incest angle. If those were the only instances in which abortion was practiced then our conversation would be of a different nature (as I said before).
The fact is that our society does not believe in a person being responsible for his or her actions. Sexual activity is rampant, so pregnancies are rampant, so legalized abortion is rampant. Pass out condoms in high schools because hell, they're going to have sex anyways and they may as well not be held responsible for that. I disagree. I was a virgin (yes, by choice - go ahead and poke fun) when I got married at the age of 28. It certainly is possible and doable, although difficult and not popular. And don't get me wrong, the solution won't/can't come from goverment, it has to come from family. But then we have our current, shattering divorce statistics, and so on and so forth.
Now, about a fetus being a parasite: I understand what you're saying. You don't mean it in a derogative way and I get that part. However, by your reasoning, a new born baby would still be classified as non-human(parasitical). Babies rely on their mother/parent for survival in every way. They cannot perform a single action on their own and the effects of this are very taxing on that babies caretaker. I'm still failing to differentiate your classification... Are babies not human?
Again, there are (what I would call) adults who also cannot survive of their own volition. Physical and mental incapacities cause them to rely on the care and expense of others. Now - are these also parasites to be considered non-human, who may be executed by those who care for them? Are we moving this discussion towards euthenasia?
redredsteve
I disagree with you Ruhlman, but I am glad for this post (unlike what I said in my first response). It has started some great discussion between those who aren't resorting to name calling, shutting down, or deleting bookmarks.
NObama
Sorry Michael, what respect I had for you has just evaporated - much like my paycheck will with an Obama presidency. I could have lived with a Clinton presidency no problem - but Obama is such a far-left, America-hating Marxist - it is simply astounding to me that people are drinking the kool-aid.
Can you say "Manchurian Candidate?"
Was nice knowing you.
Cybil
I have been on vacation and just now got a chance to catch up on all things Ruhlman. I was suprised to see the post about the election. I should qualify that and say happily surprised. My happiness is not only because I agree with Mr Ruhlman - but happy becuase he was willing to take a risk and happy that he keeps encouraging people to vote. He is not saying in his responses to comments - vote like me - but saying vote. Far too few of those eligible have in the past not exercised their voice. Hopefully with the 2008 election more people are choosing to exercise their voice. I applaud Mr Rulhman and his efforts to speak his mind on issues dear to my heart - both food and the direction of our country.
I felt a great chill this morning as I voted - feeling that my vote may actually count this year and that I was doing something historic with my vote (Indiana is a toss-up state that hasn't given a democrat an electoral college vote since the 60s.)
Tags
-
Vote Obama
Continue the congressional overhaul
Vote Yesh! for animals
http://muttscomics.com/news/index.asp?idnews=700&newsCat=news
Frances
Michael, I voted this morning. I've never been so excited about a candidate and about voting in my life. Having voted in every presidential election since 1980, I will be very happy if Virginia goes blue this time around.
Rather than criticize you for stating your political POV, I want to thank you for giving us an opportunity to vent.
Jaxie Waxie Woo
Joanie - I was referring to the McCain/Palin ticket's lack of "quality of performance".
McCain's voting record has him siding with Bush 90% of the time... NINETY PERCENT! Thanks, but no thanks to more of that "experience".
Rebecca (Oh so hungry)
Thank you, Michael for standing up to be counted.
Claudia, I did, I did. And I have never been so proud to vote.
Kate in the NW, what can I say, except ditto and you rock in my world.
latenac
"Babies rely on their mother/parent for survival in every way. They cannot perform a single action on their own and the effects of this are very taxing on that babies caretaker. I'm still failing to differentiate your classification... Are babies not human?"
There's a big difference.
Parasite: An organism that lives in or on and takes its nourishment from another organism.
Despite a baby needing help, it doesn't fit the definition of a parasite. A baby doesn't have to rely on an actual parent or mother for survival it just needs someone who will take care of it and feed it, etc. A fetus however does fit the definition. It needs the uterus inside the mother in order to survive. There's a difference between being a parent and hosting a parasite. Also being a parasite doesn't preclude one from being human.
Katy Kafantaris
Bravo Michael!.. Jimmy and I voted for Obama yesterday (early voting--that was the way to go this year with all the lines!)..it's nice to see all the excitement about the election here in Cleveland and so many people out there voting! Let's hope we get a win and it's a fair one----these last 8 years have been hell in my opinion >:O..change is GOOD! 🙂
-Katy K.
DeFlater Mouse
Wow, you should really stick to commentary on food and leave the politics aside. How can an educated person like yourself really support a tax and spend socialist like Obama, who pals around with domestic terrorists like Bill Ayers and wackos like Jeremiah Wright?? Are you serious????
sarah
Voted in Chicago this morning when the polls opened. As you can imagine there is quite a bit of excitement and fervor in Chi Town today! I have never seen so many people out to vote at 6 am. It really shows that many people are hungry for change in this country. Very exciting! Go Barack!
Obama Mama
JBL
Mr. Ruhlman,
Would you object to the redistribution of your kitchen equipment pictured on http://www.Ruhlman.com? How can you afford that and make less than 250k household?
milo
"how can there be quality of performance when there has been so little TIME gaining experience?"
To get back to the topic of this blog, can't the same question be asked of an amazing younger chef and a mediocre older one?
I don't get the assumption that age/experience is automatically a guarantee of better performance.
"Makes sense, an amateur, flunkie "food writer" and "chef" smuggles his way in to the American consciousness on the coat-tails of Bourdain and then supports a Marxist who is sneaking into the White House as a vehicle for change."
This election season, it has become really hard to tell which posts are serious and which are satire. Perfect example.
"At least you're not filtering anti-Obama comments like Shuna at eggbeater. Apparently she doesn't believe in free speech, just freedom of gay marriage."
"Free speech" is a government issue - on a private website or blog the owner can do what they want, which includes removing responses that they don't want there for whatever reason.
Here things have been pretty civil, but I have seen some horrible things posted on some sites, not to mention lots of spamming. I can't say I really blame mods for removing the worst posts, especially when ones that are disagreeing but civil are left.
Nick
Thought I would add my 2 cents to the mix.
Michael, I think you have every right to voice your opinion on politics. I love your view on food, but ultimately this is YOUR website and your forum. Post whatever you like. I would say this regardless of my personal political affiliation.
Much like I'm curious to know what kind of food Obama eats, I'm curious to know how you feel about certain major social issues and I would consider this a major social issue.
Thanks,
Nick
Bummie Obama's angel
HI HATERS!!!!
wait a min...were you forced to visit this page? no right?
so if you're not happy with "PRESIDENT OBAMA" then leave!
He's an intelligent man with a good heart and that's why he got my vote this morning. hahaha
BYE HATERS!!!!
faustianbargain
redredsteve: i have heard many anti-pro-choice arguments before and i have seldom been able to convince a non-believer to see where i come from...it is a frustrating exercise in futility.
perhaps, one day, you'll see where the other side comes from and why we are fighting for *personal* freedoms. or maybe, you wont. regardless, i am bowing out of this discussion.
that's all.
brandon_w
Wow, you should really stick to commentary on food and leave the politics aside. How can an educated person like yourself really support a tax and spend socialist like Obama, who pals around with domestic terrorists like Bill Ayers and wackos like Jeremiah Wright?? Are you serious????
Posted by: DeFlater Mouse | November 04, 2008 at 11:24 AM
^^^^
Wow. Listen to Rush a little more.
I'd comment on more, but the right wing tools just make my brain hurt.
Stephen Green
Not that I think the outcome of the election is much in doubt, but I come to sites like yours because I'm tired of politics and would like to read about my other great love -- food.
Please, Michael, leave the politics aside here.
Kansas City rube
This discussion has left me speechless. I am without speech.
So much bitterness. So disappointing.
Love the blog, Ruhlman. You're a good man.
Christine in the 'Nati
Ruhlman,
Bravo for taking a stand and sticking with it, despite the haters--and that's what it is...hate. The level of discourse in this thread is, frankly, disappointing. People are seriously going to "unbookmark" this page because a political opinion has been rendered? Guess what? People--all people--are multi-dimensional, and have varied interests. So this blog is predominantly about food. Does that mean NOTHING else is fair to post about? This is, based on my following, not the first time Ruhlman has dared to post about something other than food.
If this were a dispute about an opinion/issue in food, I have no doubt the conversation (for the most part) would be spirited, educational, enlightening, and civilized. Why, then, can the same courtesy not be extended here? Ruhlman has his opinion, I have mine, and you have yours. Don't like what you read? Fine. But why all the hate?
This is, personally, why I'm thrilled it's election day, and this will all be over soon. Maybe then people will collect their manners and sensibilities, and realize that a difference of opinion is no reason for name-calling and vitriol.
Peace.
Clifford
Wow.
It doesn't bother me that you vote for who you think would do the best job. But uninformed irks me to no end.
Presidents can only do what Congress tells them to do. It's in the constitution.
If our budget deficit is out of control, Congress passes the budget. Democrats and Republicans.
If Iraq is a mess, Congress approved our war. Democrats and Republicans.
While your candidate may not raise taxes for a majority of us, which I don't believe, he will definitely raise your taxes Ruhlman.
Of course what is amazing is Politicians always break their promises. That's why they are politicians. What makes you think any of them are going to keep their promises?
Take care. Time to bid you adieu.
Chris Walker Versus
Ruhlman,
While I'm obviously not bothered by your Obama endorsement I really wish you would have said something about California's Proposition 2, as I'm sure you have a ton of California readers. I think that initiative is just as important as the presidential election.
In retrospect, I should've said something sooner. Oh well. Hopefully enough people in California decide to do the right thing.
faustianbargain
and i'd like to know why you wont run blog ads for prop 2 when your side bar thinks that your readers need to know that 'voting yes on prop 8 will save traditional marriage.
prop 8 is for california. when you get your butt down to my beautiful city by the bay, you can tell some of its gorgeous gay citizens why they dont deserve respect and also explain to them how they are 'destroying traditional marriage' by getting marriage.
are you aware that your side bar runs 'yes on prop 8'? why do you care if gay people in california want to get married? writing a blog entry on national elections is one thing and running ads about another state's affairs is totally different.
altho' you can clear all this by stating that you dont support gay marriage and stick it on your lawn. the suspense is killing me.
DeFlater Mouse
Wow, you should really stick to commentary on food and leave the politics aside. How can an educated person like yourself really support a tax and spend socialist like Obama, who pals around with domestic terrorists like Bill Ayers and wackos like Jeremiah Wright?? Are you serious????
Posted by: DeFlater Mouse | November 04, 2008 at 11:24 AM
^^^^
Wow. Listen to Rush a little more.
I'd comment on more, but the right wing tools just make my brain hurt.
Posted by: brandon_w | November 04, 2008 at 01:40 PM
* * * *
1. I don't listen to Rush at all.
2. Just to clarify, you didn't really comment at all, and you certainly did nothing to refute my initial comment. Plaese, please, please explain to me how the company Obama keeps does not matter or how Ayers and Wright are really good people at heart.
YOD
Thanks Ruhlman! I agree with what many have said--your blog...your rules. I actually stopped reading all the comments about a third of the way down. The name calling and insults got old quick. With that, I bid you adieu as I am off to my polling place! May the best man, woman and issue win today. God bless America!
Michelle Venorsky
He got our vote this morning and plenty of support from me along the way!
JBL
I love Rush; Moving Pictures is an awesome album!
redredsteve
latenac:
"A baby doesn't have to rely on an actual parent or mother for survival it just needs someone who will take care of it and feed it, etc." So it's WHO the baby relies on? Not the fact THAT it relies on another?
"Parasite: An organism that lives in or on and takes its nourishment from another organism." What if the definition read: an organism that takes its nourishment from another organism? Wouldn't it then also accurately describe babies as well. So, "in or on" is the differentiating part, which describes location. Is that right?
So now we have WHO is caring for and WHERE the caring is being given defining a fetus as a parasite. These are exterior circumstances beyond the inherent nature and dependencies of the fetus, which again, are the same as a babies.
"Also being a parasite doesn't preclude one from being human." Correlation doesn't prove causation. The fact that a fetus and other parasitical organisms share characteristics does not, in my opinion, conclude that a fetus IS a parasite. We might be debating from the same side of the fence, but I think these are important distinctions.
faustianbargain:
My point isn't to sway your opinion and I hope yours isn't to sway mine, we both know that likely won't happen. But that isn't why I debate. Discussion and debate are healthy. They help us understand what we believe and WHY we believe it. We learn from talking about our differences (views, beliefs, experiences, etc.) This was my only aim and I'm sorry if I offended you. I ask a lot of questions about what people believe, why they believe it, and then I try to apply my own perspective. It is a rough subject, though, so it's all good. I'll quit hounding you. 🙂
faustianbargain
redredsteve: i am not offended. i just find it tiresome because i want to know how my support for terminating unwanted pregnancies by the person who is carrying the baby has anything to do with you or anyone else.
it baffles me. you wont be taking care of my kid or contribute free babysitting, pay for school and all that. but still there are people out there who think that a woman...a faceless nameless one at that..a complete stranger, as it were..should lose her rights over her own body. i dont get it. i just dont. abortions are not inflicted upon anyone..this isnt red china. anti prochoice folks want to hijack other people's reproductive rights. big difference there.
once again, i am not offended..just sad. i also wish people were more compassionate towards sentient animals that live, feel and breathe rather than parasitic fetuses. i also am devastated that a civilised country wants to fry its prisoners, but i find that the passion to go pro-life there is severely lacking.
JFitzhugh
This country cannot afford MORE socialism. A vote for Obama is a vote to further erode our individual liberties and empower the government. STICK TO FOOD!
adkim
higer corporate tax rates will kill the economy. companies will cut jobs, consumer spending drops, prices inflate, panic erupts. taxing (punishing) oil companies even more = less R + D, higer gas prices, which hurts the lower and middle class even more, and has a trickle down effect--higer transport fees, higer food costs, etc. and lets not forget what the price of high oil can do to the airline industry...higer taxes = lose, lose
milo
"he will definitely raise your taxes Ruhlman."
How do you know how much Ruhlman makes?
"please, please explain to me how the company Obama keeps does not matter"
Sure. I don't consider attending a meeting with someone to get specific business done "palling around". And I don't think it's fair to judge someone on a comment their preacher makes. If we're going to get into guilt by association, nobody would pass that test.
As for the abortion issue, it mainly comes down to a disagreement about whether or not being a person starts at conception. Most people seem to agree that a fetus at 8.5 months is a baby - the other end is the tricky part, whether an embryo after one day with twenty cells is considered a baby, and if not at what point does that happen. There's even debate about if it's ethical to dispose of unused frozen embryos or use them for research, whether that is "abortion".
"A vote for Obama is a vote to further erode our individual liberties and empower the government."
You do realize that things like the patriot act over the last eight years have been the biggest erosion of individual liberties this country has seen in a long time, right? And that things like making abortion and gay marriage illegal are also erosions of individual liberties?
milo
"higer corporate tax rates will kill the economy."
If that were true, why did the economy do so much better under Clinton (the same slightly higher top rate that Obama is proposing) than under Bush? We just saw eight years of "trickle down" completely failing to work. And quit ignoring that Obama is proposing lowering taxes on the middle class, which will hopefully increase consumer spending (and help those companies make more profits and employ more people).
JBL
"How do you know how much Ruhlman makes?"
Dude-- have you even SEEN his kitchen at ruhlman.com? Marble counters? Viking Range? You KNOW he's got a SubZero! 😉
dave_c
Wow! Obama gets the "socialist" tag while McCain wants to buy distressed mortgages (with government money) to help refi homes.
Who pays for it?
The people that planned, saved and bought what they could afford.
Why does McCain/Palin wants to reward the stupid while punishing the thoughtful?
Isn't this the ultimate redistribution of wealth?
Another confusing point is the haters/Republicans are so adamant about you keeping your opinions to yourself.
I guess the US Constitution and your freedom to post you opinion on YOUR blog just isn't acceptable when Republican haters don't agree with you... And the haters claim OBama is a Socialist and anti-American????
milo
"Marble counters? Viking Range? You KNOW he's got a SubZero! ;-)"
Yeah, and since he can justify those all as business expenses, he can deduct them all.
No question he's doing well, but you really KNOW he's making more than 250k AFTER all deductions? Seems pretty presumptuous to me.
twubs
Michael - thank you for publicly supporting Barack. I could agree more about the last 8 years and my wife and I are hopeful for an intelligent, well spoken leader. Whoever wins will have my support because the country has serious challenges and we need citizens more than partisans.
parkbench
Re: the Yes On 8 ads.
Don't beat up on Ruhlman for the Yes on 8 ads. Those are targeted ads placed by Google, and the Yes on 8 campaign made a huge buy of Google Ads. My company has Google Ads on its web site, and all our California readers got hit with them yesterday, too, and without our previous knowledge.
Once it came to the attention of the owners, the Yes on 8 ads were blocked and replaced with ads for Elton John's "Red Piano" shows in Vegas!
And again, for Californians who haven't hit the polls yet, please consider voting YES on 2 against factory farm cruelty. Remember Smithfield.
--parkench
faustianbargain
i am not hitting him with yes on prop 8. if thats his stance, then its his stance. i want to know if he knows what prop 8 means and if he is aware that it shows up on his sidebar.
if google ads is throwing up yes on prop8 without prior consent, i have a fight elsewhere. i just want to know how blog ads work. i just want to know for evidence. money is pouring in from outside for a yes vote on prop8.
if you know more about how this works, can you please let me know if you feel like throwing some light on this.. not here, my email is my username at gmail. thanks.
Kate in the NW
Okay, let's get back to food here on election night...
Is it just me (glued to CNN), or is Soledad O'Brien the Rachel Ray of cable news?
;-P
Hope we can all just get along from now on...
applehome
Looks like Ohio went blue - good for you - all of you.
Ruhlman - no matter what happens, no matter what side anybody is on, don't shut up - about this or anything else. The only truly unpatriotic people here on this site and elsewhere are the ones that tell others to shut up. That's about as unAmerican as you can get.
Food is political - it's going to get more political as resources dwindle. Whether you believe that Americans have to do their part as citizens of the world, or that we can continue with our Manifest Destiny, and just use up the world's resources as we please, we're going to have to face some real issues with food, as we are with oil. Everything you've done and said to date has been to keep us thinking - no matter what side of the dialectic. So don't stop now.
Lamar
Congratulations, President OBAMA!!!
Signed. Sealed. Delivered.
Simply amazing.
carri
JBL- are you freeking kidding?
davis
Michael- What a relief that Republican rule is finally over. I've gotta say that it was pretty ballsy of you, a public figure, to state your support for President-elect Obama. Republicans can get pretty vicious against those who have a different point of view.
shuna fish lydon
Dear "Say My Name,"
This is your comment:
"
Hi Ruhlman,
At least you're not filtering anti-Obama comments like Shuna at eggbeater. Apparently she doesn't believe in free speech, just freedom of gay marriage.
I happen to be for both."
1. When did you see or hear me support gay marriage? Please quote a post.
2. Did you leave anti-Obama comments on eggbeater? Because I never saw any. And I never erased any. Last time I checked, I was the Only Administrator of Eggbeater. Yes, I moderate my comments. I do not allow anonymous comments where I believe the person is only choosing anonymity to veil their cowardice.
3. Apparently I don't believe in free speech? Excuse me? I blog under the name my mother gave me. My byline for print media is the same. Some of my best friends alter billboards and wheat-pasted ad campaigns.
Both my parents are writers. Both father and mother wrote radical pieces from the '60's on, and spoke out against injustices. My mother used to joke that the only rebellion I could have shocked anyone with would have been to become a Republican.
While I believe in free speech, eggbeater is an extension of my home and in both I do not allow defaming graffitti to be sprayed in the livingroom by cowardly, fearful bullies. Alternative opinions are always welcome.
Feel free to meet me in the street with the name your parents gave you and we'll discuss the rest there.
ihop
Ah, I love how anyone who dares to express a political opinion on a blog that's not entirely political always ends up crapped on by the opposition -- how dare someone express thoughts on such an impolite topic as the next leader of our nation!
But now that we've got our President Obama for real -- in an election that wasn't even close -- I guess the real fun will start: watching people whose real after-tax incomes increase under sound economic policy whine about "wealth-spreading" and "socialism" and Bill Ayers long into Barack's second term.
Oh, the next few years are gonna be good.
luis
It's over, Obama seems to have won and McCain lost. The agenda has been set by Clinton years and continues with Barrack. Bush kept Alan Greenspan on and that was his biggest mistake. The only change we get is a socialist president in Barrack.
Don't kid yourselves the agenda continues through and through and the race to the bottom is real and uninpterrupted. All that said, lets see how Barrack plays it. It's his ballgame now. He has been spouting breaking with the agenda and taking us in a new direction. I hope he is sincere about that.
No drilling, no nukes,.... no coal... no energy for us. But I am happy that Michael's next book will pay for my gas.... redistribution baby is coming towards us.
Karin (Grew up in Cleveland and miss it in VA)
I trust you and this space for knowledge and insight on what you do and know best. That is why I come here to learn more about what I love, food and it's realm.
Personal politics have a place and your commenters bring it up often.
Next time, leave the fray to them and take the highroad.
JBL
To Carri and Milo,
I guess the little winkie icon escaped you guys?
JBL
@milo,
Question: Does "deduct" mean get reimbursed?
latenac
redredsteve: I was using the actual scientific definition of what a parasite is. You appear to be going for emotions. A baby is a whole entity that actually technically can survive without its host. A fetus can't hence why it's technically a parasite. Faustianbargain actually explained my view very well. I don't really understand why it's anyone's business but the person who has to carry a fetus. Getting pregnant has lifelong effects on a woman's body and her future medical needs not even taking the child that is the end product into account. But it's an argument that can't be won. I can only persuade those that agree with me as you can only persuade those that agree with you.
Congratulations to Obama! Let the socialism begin! 😉
Camusman
In celebration of Tuesday's wonderful accomplishment by the people of Ohio, I am adding a bookmark for this site.
milo
JBL, I think we both know what "deduct" means.
milo
Slightly off topic, but someone here probably knows...
Can anyone recommend a site or organization involved in advocacy/lobbying for farming and food policy reform?
I plan to write my representatives about various issues, but I'd like to find a source to stay informed about farming and food specifically since it doesn't often make the news.
Any recommendations? Thanks in advance.
JBL
@Milo,
We may both know what "deduct" means but we may need clarification as to "what exactly" is being deducted (taxes on purchased items? total cost of purchased items? Net or gross?).
milo
The law allows deducting the full cost of purchased items that are business expenses. For a professional chef and food writer, any kitchen gear is a cost of doing business.
From the IRS:
What Can I Deduct?
To be deductible, a business expense must be both ordinary and necessary. An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in your industry. A necessary expense is one that is helpful and appropriate for your trade or business. An expense does not have to be indispensable to be considered necessary.
Is there any doubt that a range and other kitchen gear is both ordinary and necessary for a chef and food writer?
JBL
So you still PAY FOR IT but you don't get TAXED ON IT (i.e.: subtracted from GROSS income).
I still say that in the spirit of "wealth redistribution" I am "entitled" to some or all of it (if you're consistent you have to agree).
😉
milo
Yes, it's called adjusted gross income, the amount of income that is taxed is after subtracting things including business expenses.
So to get a tax increase, someone needs to make over 250k AFTER all deductions are made. Actually, buying things for your job is a common way to lower your tax burden.
So anyone know a good website/blog on farm/food legislation issues?
casa
Um, well...
GO OBAMA!!!!!!!
I think that say's it all, lol. I love my country much more today than I have in a long, long, long time.
GO BARACK!!!!!!!
Sorry for yelling.
StevenA
I voted for Obama, but I wish you would stick to food...
amused
wow Ruhlman was gonna tell you how much of a prick you came off on the last iron chef,offal but you cemented it with the obama endorsement.I still think the blog is great as you are an excellent food writer.I just dont understand how you can be an unbiased next iron chef judge when you wrote a book about Symon,who I like as well,actual iron chef judges could be anyone kinda like hollywood squares for foodies.Just seems you sell out more every day.My humble opinion not knocking you just messing your hair a bit
SKM
Mr. Ruhlman, thanks for speaking your mind and congratulations on helping to turn Ohio blue (!!!!) I got to cast my vote in PA, so I was pretty psyched too.
Yes we did!
Tags
-
Milo
here are some websites addressing farm/food issues
http://www.factoryfarm.org/
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
http://www.iatp.org/
http://www.thefoodtrust.org/
Agribusiness Accountability Initiative
http://www.agribusinessaccountability.org
http://www.foodfirst.org/
http://www.sourcewatch.org/
Marion Nestle
http://www.whattoeatbook.com/
redredsteve
latenac
"Getting pregnant has lifelong effects on a woman's body and her future medical needs not even taking the child that is the end product into account." - I agree, so how about not getting pregnant than? If a person thinks this may be an issue, wouldn't it make sense to avoid pregnancy? (and I'm not talking about rape, incest, or the slim minority of women who get pregnant while on birth control). Again, I vote for a mode of abstinence. This doesn't just throw back to religion, it makes sense to me. I see how it would solve/avoid so many issues. We're so concerned with giving up our "freedoms" that we're willing (as a society/people) to pay the penalties of doing whatever we want. And again, I think we're a society that largely teaches that people don't have to be responsible for their actions or decisions. I disagree.
"Faustianbargain actually explained my view very well. But it's an argument that can't be won. I can only persuade those that agree with me as you can only persuade those that agree with you." - Like I said to faustianbargain before, I'm not trying to "win" an argument. I enjoy debating things like this because it increases knowledge and perspective. It helps me to really know what I believe and why I believe it. I wasn't try to persuade anyone. I'm just debating for the sake of debate and if you don't want to join then you don't have to respond. I'm not out to anger anyone by speaking my view, just as Ruhlman was not out to anger anyone by endorsing Obama. It seems like the more important a subject is then the more it is considered taboo. Or maybe its just not important to people. Eitehr way, I wish we could talk openly about these types of things without bitterness, disrespect, or dissention.
redredsteve
faustianbargain
I do have a right to speak against abortion and here's why: I believe that a "parasitic fetus" IS human and has rights. These rights are not taken into account and nobody defends these "sentient living" beings who cannot defend themselves. I an not debating it for the sake of oppressing a womans rights, but for the sake of upholding a childs. This is why the destinctions between baby and fetus are important. This is why clarification of our definitions are important. And that's why I'm discussing them. You feel sad about me expressing my view because I suppose it is oppressive, but I'm am deeply, deeply saddened by death rates of humans that far exceed the Halocaust. So we're both sad but on very different ends of the spectrum. This is why I believe it is important to debate and strive to understand eachother and, perhaps more importantly, ourselves.
And as far as the death penalty goes... You are talking about those who have lived and CHOSE to commit horrendous acts against others. What did these parasitical fetuses ever even have a chance to make a choice about?
davis
Like many Americans, I used to be politically apathetic, but thanks to the job the Republican party has done the past 8 years, I have grown to have a healthy amount of hatred for them. To all these guys who are railing against Obama, all I can say is, bang up job YOUR guy did the past 8 years!
milo
"I believe that a "parasitic fetus" IS human and has rights."
And that's exactly where the difference is. As long as people don't agree on that, there's not much else to discuss.
It all comes down to where you believe human life begins - some religions even believe the egg and sperm are already potential babies and forbid birth control for the same reason as abortion. Generally it seems like just about everyone agrees that life begins at some point before birth (hence the general agreement that late term abortions are to be avoided except when medically necessary), it's just quibbling over where to draw the line.
faustianbargain
redredsteve: you wouldnt tell your neighbour's wife or daughter to her face that she should abstain from sex, but if she does and gets pregnant, she cant terminate her pregnancy. would you?
its like this problem i have...i cant make killing animals and eating meat illegal in this country. what you can do is tell people to temper their appetites and eat only humanely raised meat. i can possibly..possibly being the key word here...make cruel animal husbandry illegal and those who practice it can be subjected to a fine. but i cannot track down everyone who ate a piece of tortured meat and insist that we pump their stomachs until we get that tortured meat out.
so if you think pregnancies of women is a state issue, try passing a law that says that every man and woman should sign a legal contract that they'll not attempt to terminate a pregnancy if it happens and this contract has to be signed before they have sex. in the absence of said contract, the sexual union will be considered illegal. this way, we can police the private lives of american citizens more effectively. we can also have patrols walking on the streets and schools to ensure that abstinence is practiced by young boys and girls. how about punishing the parents if their sons and daughters want to do the old in-and-out routine? the possibilities to straighten this crooked, immoral country are mind boggling! who knows..perhaps, america can export its morals to other countries too...its not just mcD and starbucks and GM crops...we can make A DIFFERENCE in this world by crushing the reproductive rights of every woman in this planet. what a capital idea!
Guy Anderson
Wow - I think it funny that you are once again getting called a fool a couple of typos in your book and they are ready to flog you and now because you are an AMERICAN that allows you to speak freely - if you don't agree with the right you are un American - yeah well - - I guess I am too M. The thing is I did not call people names because I voted for a candidate that lost the last election. While I and more left than right I have to say you right wingers need to get over yourselves - quit being so freakin nasty. I am an American and I have a right to vote or believe what I want and if you call me names then you need to get over yourselves and suffer like the rest of us did for 8 long terrible years. Clinton did not take your guns away, taxes did not seem to hurt me all that much and we went from an in the red budget from the first Bush to a surplus with Clinton only to watch it be given to the friends of big business and oil. Hey love in the White House! - seems like if Bush/Cheney would have had more Monicas they would not have all the hate for the world it would not have been so bad. Did Bush bail out the small restaraunts going under all over the country - nope - to fat cats that caused the problem and it was because of Bush policy on deregulation 9let business police themselves) -- enough about that ponder this
Ponder the following:
What if the Obamas had paraded five children across the stage, including a three month old infant and an unwed, pregnant teenage daughter?
What if John McCain was a former president of the Harvard Law Review?
What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class?
What if McCain had only married once, and Obama was a divorcee?
What if Obama was the candidate who left his first wife after a severe disfiguring car accident, when she no longer measured up to his standards?
What if Obama had met his second wife in a bar and had a long affair while he was still married?
What if Michelle Obama was the wife who not only became addicted to pain killers but also stole them through her charitable organization that was to help poor African hospitals with medication?
What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?
What if Obama had been a member of the Keating Five? (The Keating Five were five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s.)
What if McCain was a charismatic, eloquent speaker?
What if Obama couldn't read from a teleprompter?
What if Obama was the one who had military experience that included discipline problems and a record of crashing seven planes?
What if Obama was the one who was known to display publicly, on many occasions, a serious anger management problem?
What if Michelle Obama's family had made their money from beer distribution?
What if the Obamas had adopted a white child?
What if Michelle wanted to NOT be part of the United States of America, because - Alaska is just too far from the US Mainland?
You could easily add to this list. If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are?
Consider the candidates’ educational backgrounds:
Barack Obama:
Columbia University - B.A. Political Science and International Relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude
Joseph Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)
John McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899
Sarah Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism
Education isn't everything, but this is about the two highest offices in the land as well as our standing in the world.
So we are on this blog about food and we all have a love for it whover is in the White House.
redredsteve
faustianbargain:
I would, and do, promote abstinence. I volunteer a lot of my time to be with Jr. High students and this is exactly what I tell them. I myself, believe it or not, was a virgin until I was married at the age of 28 (and yes, it was by choice :P). I believe that all levels of a couples relationship should be aligned. I believe that their physical relationship should be on the same level as their emotional relationship, as their commitment to eachother. Hence, I believe the highest act of intimacy a couple can share physically (sex) should be paired by the highest commitment (marriage). I really don't think that it's that far fetched of an idea, though I'm not naive enough to think that it would be a feasible concept to adapt for all Americans in the near future, given our current socially accepted philosophies. Honestly, it really wasn't that long ago that abstinence and other such behaviors were preached and practiced, and I don't think it's coincidence that the issues we have that stem from rampant sexual activity barely existed back then. We've seen a staggering, exponential growth of sexual behavior. Okay, so I'm a prude. I know, I know, whatever. I'm not saying that everyone should refrain from sex before marriage (although I wish I could say that), I'm just saying that if people took it more seriously then we would all be a lot better off. Instead, we make it easier to avoid responsibility and consequence. We tell everyone that they can do whatever they want. Don't tell me how to live my life, it's my life... right?
Now, as far as passing a law that requires a contract, etc, etc... Well, if you really want to, we can start a debate on the separation of church and state. I don't believe government is the answer. Government cannot provide values, only uphold them. I believe that the change has to come from within us as a people. I'm talking about families. I'm talking about dinner table discussions, about real relationships that pass on real values snd respect, respect for ourselves and for eachother.
If you want to, look at it the other way. Are you totally against law, or what do you see it's purpose as being? Is it just to keep bad people from hurting good people? Is it meant to keep people from hurting themselves?
There's more I'd like to say, I always want to keep typing, but these posts get way longer than I intend them to be... fire back.
faustianbargain
i think you should keep your morals in your house...thats all.
is it too much to ask the law, the govt, the church and the odd neighbour to mind their own business and get out of my uterus?
redredsteve
Again, I'm sorry but I thought we were have a debate; a discussion, not an argument. And to repeat myself yet again, if you don't want to discuss it then stop responding. Morals come from the home and the individual but they shape society. I'm not "in" your uterus, if you really must keep saying that. How come it is we can talk about Obama all we want but not abortion? It doesn't just affect you (or the person involved), not the way I see it. If we all live our own lives according to our own desires and just keep our eyes to the ground, ignoring what others do whether we agree with them or not, then we are breeding dissention, not avoiding it. The more we talk about our differences, whether they be stances on abortion, religion, politics, or what have you, the more we can understand and bond. That's right, I'll come right into your home and talk to you about anything, if you'll let me. I'll do it respectfully and without condemnation. I'll do it because I want to conncect with people, not distance myself due to differences of opinions or views. I think it pays you more respect because I trying to understand you (and myself) more.
MSChicago
I come to this blog for great writing on food, and I get this garbage? Michael, while it is your blog, and you can write whatever you wish I really don't care about yours (or another other "celebs") opinions on politics. You even reinforce that you had no idea of either candidates views on food issues - making your political view that much more irrelevant. Stick to the food, please.
Different Mike
The Argument From Intimidation.
No, I was not making an argument: I was making a judgment, and that is that anyone who voted for McCain is too stupid or treasonous to be trusted in anything.
lisa r
Wow - Wow, this is...just WOW. 😉
I read blogs from all kinds of people, on all kinds of topics. Many have posted this year about their electoral choices, and while I might disagree with them, if they know their main subject, that's enough for me to keep reading them. One of my favorite techology writers was voting McCain, and posted it about it. Luckily, is politics didn't decrease his tech knowledge, so I still read him.
Even if you had voted McCain, I'd still read your blog. I'm just happy that you supported Obama, considering the positions in other issues, food related, that you've expressed in the past. It's consistent.
I suggest you think of the commentary here as a way of separating the wheat from the chaff *grin*.