Yesterday I blogged about someone I never heard of and never heard speak before.
But last night on the Rachel Maddow Show I got my first take on the former Illinois Attorney General.
Let's just say there was a bit of a let down...
*sighs*
All during the interview, Mr. Burris defended his credentials, his experience, dedication and service for the people of Illinois. What Rachel tried to point out in a very subtle way is that Roland seems to miss the fact that no one is disputing anything about him ... that the focus of the story was not on Roland himself, but on Mr. Blagojevich and the subsequent political and legal mess he's finding himself in.
Instead of being in the "Impossible Situation" as I mentioned yesterday -- Mr. Burris instead took the take head, bury head in sand, la-la-la-la-la approach to the problem. Seemingly blind to the fact that the appointment of ANY person, regardless of credentials is going to be met with absolute anger by the Senate of the United States.
As I was telling Darby last night -- it doesn't matter if it was Mr. Burris, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln or Jesus himself that Blago appointed -- no matter WHOSE name that gets put into that hat and tossed into the ring ... that person is going to be met with the angst of both parties because of the insistent calls by all parties concerned that Blagojevich must resign and tender the responsibility of appointing a replacement Senator in the hands of the people of Illinois.
If Mr. Burris has any inkling of responsibility to the people of Illinois - it rests squarely in the fact that the person who just appointed you is not serving the best interests of the people of Illinois by the appearance of impropriety by selling the seat to the highest bidder. Mr. Burris, your appointment is nullified by the nature surrounding the charges the governor is facing. Even in the light of virtually no (initial) impropriety done by Mr. Burris in the current situation -- the appointment is incredibly irresponsible.
The was but one proper course for the Illinois governor -- which would be to step aside and let the investigation complete itself. If in fact Mr. Blagojevich is innocent -- then the politically, socially and professionally responsible thing to do would be to let the process resolve itself until you are vindicated. The behavior we're witnessing is nothing short of calamitous to the sanctity of the high office of Governor. It's a dis-service to the people of Illinois to allow such behavior to continue unabated because at this rate - we have no idea if Roland Burris paid, not paid or otherwise made promises to Blagojevich with strings attached. Only a moron would've done such a thing -- but then Blagojevich has proven anything but being a smart person in this process.
He's taken a wrecking ball to his party and to the people of Illinois and for that Mr. Burris -- for you to stand there and condone the process -- as a former Attorney General -- you should know better. It speaks volumes of your foresight for the people of Illinois and that is truly sad. Everything you have built over the last couple of decades is now washed in the same pond water that Blagojevich has been swimming in since the victory of the President Elect.
I'm sorry I gave you the benefit of a doubt Mr. Burris, but after last night's barrage of opportunities missed ... you simply do not see the forest for the trees.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The Impossible Situation
As Blagojevich continues to shrug and disavow any potential wrong-doing ... he named a successor to President elect Obama's Illinois Senate seat: Roland Burris.
Let's keep in mind that Democrats and Republicans have been very animate towards Blago to resign and to relinquish any possibility he has to naming Barack's successor for the U.S. Senate -- which he refuses to even acknowledge. So while I can continue to blog about Blago -- I'm really feeling sorry for Roland Burris in this process.
We don't know much about Roland.
He was the Attorney General for Illinois and like so many people -- he gave Blago money when he was making his gubernatorial run. Roland and others clearly wouldn't have given Blago the time of day - much less invest in his future run for the Senate had they known how much of a crook he was going to be.
Hindsight is always 20/20.
But Roland is in the most impossible situation right now. He has come out against Blagojevich - publicly condemning the "seat for sale" approach to politics. And he now finds himself named for the seat any rational person would want in Mr. Burris' position. The seat has been tainted by Blago's antics and now Roland has to quietly walk away from the possibility of becoming the next Illinois Senator -- or he can choose to fight to keep what has been given to him on a heavily stained platter.
I have no doubt that Mr. Burris is a man of integrity - and that's why he has my most sincere condolences for being put in the position he's in. As Harry Reid pointed out -- this has nothing to do with Roland -- because it's entirely possible that Mr. Burris would have been the best possible choice to succeed the President Elect.
Blago has done everything he can to screw the Democrats in his state -- and the most likely scenario is that there would be a special runoff election being held -- and if that happens, the Democrats may find themselves in big trouble if they can't retain the seat because of one person's mired self-absorbed dreams of this mad man ... the effects could be felt nationally as well.
Instead of doing the right thing -- Blago continues to thumb his nose at the system while even self-admitting it was him in the recordings. This isn't what the democratic party stands for -- and Blago should be ousted as quickly as humanly possible. While I would expect this kind of nonchalant attitude from the Republicans ... I'm not afraid to call out the members on this side and telling them they need to step down.
And to Mr. Burris -- I'm deeply sorry for the situation you find yourself in. I do hope that it corrects itself and you can be the voice of reason for the people of Illinois.
Let's keep in mind that Democrats and Republicans have been very animate towards Blago to resign and to relinquish any possibility he has to naming Barack's successor for the U.S. Senate -- which he refuses to even acknowledge. So while I can continue to blog about Blago -- I'm really feeling sorry for Roland Burris in this process.
We don't know much about Roland.
He was the Attorney General for Illinois and like so many people -- he gave Blago money when he was making his gubernatorial run. Roland and others clearly wouldn't have given Blago the time of day - much less invest in his future run for the Senate had they known how much of a crook he was going to be.
Hindsight is always 20/20.
But Roland is in the most impossible situation right now. He has come out against Blagojevich - publicly condemning the "seat for sale" approach to politics. And he now finds himself named for the seat any rational person would want in Mr. Burris' position. The seat has been tainted by Blago's antics and now Roland has to quietly walk away from the possibility of becoming the next Illinois Senator -- or he can choose to fight to keep what has been given to him on a heavily stained platter.
I have no doubt that Mr. Burris is a man of integrity - and that's why he has my most sincere condolences for being put in the position he's in. As Harry Reid pointed out -- this has nothing to do with Roland -- because it's entirely possible that Mr. Burris would have been the best possible choice to succeed the President Elect.
Blago has done everything he can to screw the Democrats in his state -- and the most likely scenario is that there would be a special runoff election being held -- and if that happens, the Democrats may find themselves in big trouble if they can't retain the seat because of one person's mired self-absorbed dreams of this mad man ... the effects could be felt nationally as well.
Instead of doing the right thing -- Blago continues to thumb his nose at the system while even self-admitting it was him in the recordings. This isn't what the democratic party stands for -- and Blago should be ousted as quickly as humanly possible. While I would expect this kind of nonchalant attitude from the Republicans ... I'm not afraid to call out the members on this side and telling them they need to step down.
And to Mr. Burris -- I'm deeply sorry for the situation you find yourself in. I do hope that it corrects itself and you can be the voice of reason for the people of Illinois.
Friday, December 26, 2008
How did we miss it??
Thankfully someone did some more reading and actually caught this:
"7. 32 Important Words The Media Missed
Back when Henry Paulson wrote up the proposed $700 billion bailout package, it contained this part called "Section 8," whose thirty-two words basically precluded any or all efforts to hold anyone involved in the disbursement of these monies accountable:
"Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.""
link
WHAT?!?!?
You mean that Paulson actually managed to skirt around the wishes of the Democrats who called for oversight -- and snuck in this kind of language that all but guaranteed that he could do whatever he wanted with the funds??
I understand that the initial bill grew exponentially to get the attention of the Republicans who voted against the trimmed down -- just get to the facts part of the bill. It took a lot of "sweet sprinkles" before the GOP signed up -- being the wasteful electorate they are....
So how did Paulson keep in play? Especially now that we know that banks have refused to reveal how they're using it despite the fact that they were the ones begging for money for this supposed bailout.
Something stinks royally -- and it's coming from the Bush and his prized Paulson. This should've never been included in the final passage and whoever included it -- should be held completely responsible. I wish this got a lot more airplay in main stream media because someone lied in the process and it's OUR money and should have some say in it...
"7. 32 Important Words The Media Missed
Back when Henry Paulson wrote up the proposed $700 billion bailout package, it contained this part called "Section 8," whose thirty-two words basically precluded any or all efforts to hold anyone involved in the disbursement of these monies accountable:
"Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.""
link
WHAT?!?!?
You mean that Paulson actually managed to skirt around the wishes of the Democrats who called for oversight -- and snuck in this kind of language that all but guaranteed that he could do whatever he wanted with the funds??
I understand that the initial bill grew exponentially to get the attention of the Republicans who voted against the trimmed down -- just get to the facts part of the bill. It took a lot of "sweet sprinkles" before the GOP signed up -- being the wasteful electorate they are....
So how did Paulson keep in play? Especially now that we know that banks have refused to reveal how they're using it despite the fact that they were the ones begging for money for this supposed bailout.
Something stinks royally -- and it's coming from the Bush and his prized Paulson. This should've never been included in the final passage and whoever included it -- should be held completely responsible. I wish this got a lot more airplay in main stream media because someone lied in the process and it's OUR money and should have some say in it...
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Republicans and conservatives continue their spiral...
I came across an op/ed piece about the Sacramento Bee cartoonist who also capitalized on the shoe-flinging experience that Bush had in Iraq recently. (read here)
As Rob points out the comments were nothing more than humorous if not completely out of touch:
"Conservative readers have dropped it in droves. Young liberals don't read, and thus can't pick up the slack."
Young liberals don't read??
It's poison like this that conservatives continue to dish out, but have absolutely no basis for. Given that most conservatives are in those "red states" that have a lower education rate. Unlike the coward that posted such trash -- I can at least back it up with substance:
- Look at the top 10
- Look at the bottom 10
1.) Vermont (OBAMA)
2.) Mass. (OBAMA)
3.) Conn. (OBAMA)
4.) New Jersey (OBAMA)
5.) Maine (OBAMA)
6.) Virginia (OBAMA)
7.) Montana (MCCAIN)
8.) Wisconsin (OBAMA)
9.) Iowa (OBAMA)
10.) Pennsylvania (OBAMA)
as opposed to:
41.) Georgia (MCCAIN)
42.) Hawaii (OBAMA)
43.) New Mexico (OBAMA)
44.) Louisiana (MCCAIN)
45.) Alabama (MCCAIN)
46.) Alaska (MCCAIN)
47.) California (OBAMA)
48.) Mississippi (MCCAIN)
49.) Nevada (OBAMA)
50.) Arizona (MCCAIN)
So it would seem that our uninformed midget of a poster would rather mud-sling with lies and fact-less bull crap, than to address the reality that Bush deserves the tainted marks in history. This entire process of trying to make sure he can walk away unscathed is nothing less than criminal -- not after how the Republicans filleted and crucified Clinton for what he done. Oh no, my little elephant friends -- you don't get the pass you're trying to create.
Because the shoe flinging episode is completely appropriate given the symbolic meaning and social implication it carries in the Middle East. Now Republicans conveniently dismiss anything this President has done -- assuming that there's absolutely nothing wrong with killing innocent people in a baseless war in the wrong country. It's horribly unreasonable to have this President trying to re-write his own history that paints the world he wanted to leave, but simply couldn't because he messed it up so incredibly bad.
And that's what the Anonymous mouse doesn't understand or get. Instead of realizing the meaning behind the cartoon - and commenting on the validity of relevance of how this is going to be in history -- he would rather tout some phony line that "young liberals don't read" as some boldface lie in order to deflect and dodge the overriding issue.
It's the standard Rush Limbaugh approach to the conservative party -- and I'm thankful for Rush for having the lack of intelligence to see what it ultimately did to his party of choice. Americans are incredibly pissed off with Republicans and how they've guided our nation into one of the biggest messes most all of us have never seen. They've seen through his smear and factual irrelevancies to really see how much the Republican party cares about the nation.
They'd rather tend to their profits at the cost of American lives than see any of the resounding reasons that led us down this sordid path that we've been on. It started a lot earlier than the Democrats taking control of the Congress -- but that's not what your Republican Faithful will say. They seem to glaze over the fact that the economy was already in trouble with a skyrocketing national debt and unthinkable tax cuts for the rich having any effect except how much it was going to line their portfolios.
Look where that got us.
...and thankfully Americans saw the light as well.
I refuse to let this President "save face" so that any form of his legacy is protected. A real President, a real man -- doesn't care so much about his ego, but cares about every single decision he makes so that it serves his country at its best. That's what makes Obama much more appealing because you get the sense he really does care and can see the big picture.
Bush has been a failure - and he has a lot of fingers to point to -- but it has to start with himself and I don't see that happening anytime in the rest of his lifetime.
As Rob points out the comments were nothing more than humorous if not completely out of touch:
"Conservative readers have dropped it in droves. Young liberals don't read, and thus can't pick up the slack."
Young liberals don't read??
It's poison like this that conservatives continue to dish out, but have absolutely no basis for. Given that most conservatives are in those "red states" that have a lower education rate. Unlike the coward that posted such trash -- I can at least back it up with substance:
- Look at the top 10
- Look at the bottom 10
1.) Vermont (OBAMA)
2.) Mass. (OBAMA)
3.) Conn. (OBAMA)
4.) New Jersey (OBAMA)
5.) Maine (OBAMA)
6.) Virginia (OBAMA)
7.) Montana (MCCAIN)
8.) Wisconsin (OBAMA)
9.) Iowa (OBAMA)
10.) Pennsylvania (OBAMA)
as opposed to:
41.) Georgia (MCCAIN)
42.) Hawaii (OBAMA)
43.) New Mexico (OBAMA)
44.) Louisiana (MCCAIN)
45.) Alabama (MCCAIN)
46.) Alaska (MCCAIN)
47.) California (OBAMA)
48.) Mississippi (MCCAIN)
49.) Nevada (OBAMA)
50.) Arizona (MCCAIN)
So it would seem that our uninformed midget of a poster would rather mud-sling with lies and fact-less bull crap, than to address the reality that Bush deserves the tainted marks in history. This entire process of trying to make sure he can walk away unscathed is nothing less than criminal -- not after how the Republicans filleted and crucified Clinton for what he done. Oh no, my little elephant friends -- you don't get the pass you're trying to create.
Because the shoe flinging episode is completely appropriate given the symbolic meaning and social implication it carries in the Middle East. Now Republicans conveniently dismiss anything this President has done -- assuming that there's absolutely nothing wrong with killing innocent people in a baseless war in the wrong country. It's horribly unreasonable to have this President trying to re-write his own history that paints the world he wanted to leave, but simply couldn't because he messed it up so incredibly bad.
And that's what the Anonymous mouse doesn't understand or get. Instead of realizing the meaning behind the cartoon - and commenting on the validity of relevance of how this is going to be in history -- he would rather tout some phony line that "young liberals don't read" as some boldface lie in order to deflect and dodge the overriding issue.
It's the standard Rush Limbaugh approach to the conservative party -- and I'm thankful for Rush for having the lack of intelligence to see what it ultimately did to his party of choice. Americans are incredibly pissed off with Republicans and how they've guided our nation into one of the biggest messes most all of us have never seen. They've seen through his smear and factual irrelevancies to really see how much the Republican party cares about the nation.
They'd rather tend to their profits at the cost of American lives than see any of the resounding reasons that led us down this sordid path that we've been on. It started a lot earlier than the Democrats taking control of the Congress -- but that's not what your Republican Faithful will say. They seem to glaze over the fact that the economy was already in trouble with a skyrocketing national debt and unthinkable tax cuts for the rich having any effect except how much it was going to line their portfolios.
Look where that got us.
...and thankfully Americans saw the light as well.
I refuse to let this President "save face" so that any form of his legacy is protected. A real President, a real man -- doesn't care so much about his ego, but cares about every single decision he makes so that it serves his country at its best. That's what makes Obama much more appealing because you get the sense he really does care and can see the big picture.
Bush has been a failure - and he has a lot of fingers to point to -- but it has to start with himself and I don't see that happening anytime in the rest of his lifetime.
Monday, December 15, 2008
The GOP continue to disintegrate
The lull in posting here doesn't mean that I haven't been keeping up with the political pot stirring that has been going on. However, there hasn't been much stirring of the pot -- even with all of the news. How come? Because over 70% of Americans think that Obama is doing a great job and he's NOT even President yet!!!
When you cycle those numbers next to the current President dodging shoes in Iraq -- well, let's just say that the Republican Party continues its downward spiral.
Palin continues to try to take the headlines -- but when you read the quotes from other Republicans BESIDE HER and they really don't take her seriously. That's rather astounding when you consider that she almost became the Vice President -- "a heartbeat away" from the Presidency. Even McCain has been quoted recently as to saying that he's not going to automatically fall in line in support of her potential bid in 2012. It speaks volumes in a way - because while she may have been seen by some on the right as being their "savior" - she's proven that she doesn't have a lot of substance. Charisma gets you in the door, but if you can't make the pitch strong and clear -- people are still going to shut you out. She has 3 years to craft that -- and it would be very foolish to write her off.
The delusions by this administration continues to impress. The past couple of weeks have been marked by certain quotations that are supposed to be designed to solidify the legacy left by this Presidency. What makes this delusional is how both Bush and Cheney have declared that Obama has inherited a safer country and he will appreciate what we've done here ... all completely absent of reality. Unless there is some gigantic encyclopedia of classified info that we don't know about regarding the "successes" of this administration, I don't think their resumes are particularly strong. In fact, I think history is going to judge them extremely harsh in the coming years.
The last nail in this "legacy" talk has to be about the economy Bush let sour on his watch. It's convenient that he was one of the leading advocates that we need to further deregulate certain industries and businesses -- and yet we're witnessing a catastrophic collapse of our economy that enjoyed incredibly lax regulations and oversight. Even when the fabled "bailout" of the banks was approved -- the administration and the GOP balked at the idea of providing any sort of oversight into these bailout programs....
Well now it would appear that Bush actually sought to preserve the CEO spending sprees -- while thousands of workers are being forced from their jobs. Where does it make sense that CEO salaries should continue unabated, without oversight -- when hundreds of thousands of Americans are unemployed and businesses are having a tough time pulling it together.
It's ironic that the GOP casually blindly ignored that oversight over $700 billion, but are making such grand overtures about bailing out the auto industry for a paltry 3.5% of the total bank bailout -- where the banks are hoarding the cash instead of making loans like was intended to do in the first place.
Way to go GOP.... As if the sugar sprinkles weren't enough -- you should be ashamed of yourselves and exposed for the frauds you've become. If Americans are going to bailout anyone then sufficient oversight and FOLLOW-THROUGH isn't unreasonable. It's MY money and if they aren't going to be using it wisely -- then I want it back -- thankyouverymuch.
The hypocrisy of the GOP will be its eventual undoing. Obama's crest is just starting to emerge and he has a lot of momentum following him .... is this something you're really ready for, Republicans?
When you cycle those numbers next to the current President dodging shoes in Iraq -- well, let's just say that the Republican Party continues its downward spiral.
Palin continues to try to take the headlines -- but when you read the quotes from other Republicans BESIDE HER and they really don't take her seriously. That's rather astounding when you consider that she almost became the Vice President -- "a heartbeat away" from the Presidency. Even McCain has been quoted recently as to saying that he's not going to automatically fall in line in support of her potential bid in 2012. It speaks volumes in a way - because while she may have been seen by some on the right as being their "savior" - she's proven that she doesn't have a lot of substance. Charisma gets you in the door, but if you can't make the pitch strong and clear -- people are still going to shut you out. She has 3 years to craft that -- and it would be very foolish to write her off.
The delusions by this administration continues to impress. The past couple of weeks have been marked by certain quotations that are supposed to be designed to solidify the legacy left by this Presidency. What makes this delusional is how both Bush and Cheney have declared that Obama has inherited a safer country and he will appreciate what we've done here ... all completely absent of reality. Unless there is some gigantic encyclopedia of classified info that we don't know about regarding the "successes" of this administration, I don't think their resumes are particularly strong. In fact, I think history is going to judge them extremely harsh in the coming years.
The last nail in this "legacy" talk has to be about the economy Bush let sour on his watch. It's convenient that he was one of the leading advocates that we need to further deregulate certain industries and businesses -- and yet we're witnessing a catastrophic collapse of our economy that enjoyed incredibly lax regulations and oversight. Even when the fabled "bailout" of the banks was approved -- the administration and the GOP balked at the idea of providing any sort of oversight into these bailout programs....
Well now it would appear that Bush actually sought to preserve the CEO spending sprees -- while thousands of workers are being forced from their jobs. Where does it make sense that CEO salaries should continue unabated, without oversight -- when hundreds of thousands of Americans are unemployed and businesses are having a tough time pulling it together.
It's ironic that the GOP casually blindly ignored that oversight over $700 billion, but are making such grand overtures about bailing out the auto industry for a paltry 3.5% of the total bank bailout -- where the banks are hoarding the cash instead of making loans like was intended to do in the first place.
Way to go GOP.... As if the sugar sprinkles weren't enough -- you should be ashamed of yourselves and exposed for the frauds you've become. If Americans are going to bailout anyone then sufficient oversight and FOLLOW-THROUGH isn't unreasonable. It's MY money and if they aren't going to be using it wisely -- then I want it back -- thankyouverymuch.
The hypocrisy of the GOP will be its eventual undoing. Obama's crest is just starting to emerge and he has a lot of momentum following him .... is this something you're really ready for, Republicans?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Obama Upstaging Bush?? Oh, gosh no....
I was a bit tickled when I read this headline on Drudge:
"Mr. Co-President? Obama upstages Bush on economy."
Here's the link to the story.
Now -- when you read the headline, it really looks negative on Barrack. After all, he's not in the White House yet -- even though he's gotten MORE respect and notice from virtually everyone on the planet than the Lame Duck has. So the term "upstage" -- to draw away from ... is a curious adjective to describe Obama.
Consider the quote in the article: " The Democratic president-elect, who kept a low profile for three weeks after his White House win, has swung into action with a series of economic pronouncements and cabinet selections that have overshadowed President George W. Bush.
If financial markets are clamoring for more leadership, Obama got the message.
"There is a leadership vacuum. If Obama doesn't fill it, more panic will result in (the) short run, and the problem will become greater by the time he officially takes office," said Stephen Wayne, professor of government at Georgetown University."
.....
hmmmm....
There's a leadership vacuum. Financial markets are clamoring for more leadership.
This doesn't sound anywhere close to being an "upstaging" moment -- as much as it's a competence moment where the incoming commander in chief is sounding MORE presidential than our current commander in chief.....
Bush had his chance at trying to fix the economy. If anything, he's proven not only is he inept at it -- but willing to drive it into the face of the earth because it just doesn't matter to him. With some much that this President has done to our nation -- it's a shame that Obama can't go to work any earlier than what the Constitution allows.
"Mr. Co-President? Obama upstages Bush on economy."
Here's the link to the story.
Now -- when you read the headline, it really looks negative on Barrack. After all, he's not in the White House yet -- even though he's gotten MORE respect and notice from virtually everyone on the planet than the Lame Duck has. So the term "upstage" -- to draw away from ... is a curious adjective to describe Obama.
Consider the quote in the article: " The Democratic president-elect, who kept a low profile for three weeks after his White House win, has swung into action with a series of economic pronouncements and cabinet selections that have overshadowed President George W. Bush.
If financial markets are clamoring for more leadership, Obama got the message.
"There is a leadership vacuum. If Obama doesn't fill it, more panic will result in (the) short run, and the problem will become greater by the time he officially takes office," said Stephen Wayne, professor of government at Georgetown University."
.....
hmmmm....
There's a leadership vacuum. Financial markets are clamoring for more leadership.
This doesn't sound anywhere close to being an "upstaging" moment -- as much as it's a competence moment where the incoming commander in chief is sounding MORE presidential than our current commander in chief.....
Bush had his chance at trying to fix the economy. If anything, he's proven not only is he inept at it -- but willing to drive it into the face of the earth because it just doesn't matter to him. With some much that this President has done to our nation -- it's a shame that Obama can't go to work any earlier than what the Constitution allows.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Playing Chess
Obama came riding into history touting real change in Washington.
While I'm still an adamant Obama supporter, I don't blindly follow everything he's going to do. Unlike a lot of the Bush apologists out there -- I'm pretty reasonably educated and capable of some independent thought processes. So that's why I'm a little taken aback that the best person for the job of Secretary of State -- is turning out to be Hillary. And while that sounds like an ultimate "diss" on Hillary -- it's not. I come from a very well skewed view of foreign relations -- as I don't believe in Reagan's "cowboy diplomacy" or Bush's "Darth Vader" approach to the world stage.
Colin Powell had it.
Madeline Albright had it.
James Baker even had it at times.
There's a certain gravitas that they bring to the international community. Not trying to grab the international spotlight. Not trying to thumb their nose at their adversaries or behave in some sort of insolent manner, but you build alliances and solidify your friendships to reach your common goals. Bush has vigorously RIPPED those alliances to the point where no one considered the United States to be much of an ally.
All that changed the moment Obama was elected and the world leaders responded in kind -- even some that wanted to deal directly with him instead of the Lame Duck still quacking in the Oval.
If Hillary is his only choice -- then I really wished that he would've had Joe Biden tapped for Sec. of State instead. The man gets foreign policy and while I have every reason to believe Joe will do great things from the V.P. -- Hillary would've made a great V.P. as well, but not as good in Sec. of State. She's a bit too flamboyant for the job -- and the international scene may not take too kindly to that.
I do hope she proves me wrong. Because while I do believe that this position is one of those "highly heralded" type positions in any administration. It's a cornerstone in how you're going to interface with the rest of the world and it would've been wonderful to see the likes of a "no non-sense" position for Colin Powell, but I guess it wasn't meant to be. I can't blame Colin though - not after what he endured under this last regime.
Several critics have come out against Obama's choices for various positions citing that there's no real change coming if he keeps appointing from the "greatest hits" from the Clinton years. If Barack is listening (and I know he visits Spoonsrant all the time) -- "Americans demanded change, not a revisit of the 1990's."
While I'm still an adamant Obama supporter, I don't blindly follow everything he's going to do. Unlike a lot of the Bush apologists out there -- I'm pretty reasonably educated and capable of some independent thought processes. So that's why I'm a little taken aback that the best person for the job of Secretary of State -- is turning out to be Hillary. And while that sounds like an ultimate "diss" on Hillary -- it's not. I come from a very well skewed view of foreign relations -- as I don't believe in Reagan's "cowboy diplomacy" or Bush's "Darth Vader" approach to the world stage.
Colin Powell had it.
Madeline Albright had it.
James Baker even had it at times.
There's a certain gravitas that they bring to the international community. Not trying to grab the international spotlight. Not trying to thumb their nose at their adversaries or behave in some sort of insolent manner, but you build alliances and solidify your friendships to reach your common goals. Bush has vigorously RIPPED those alliances to the point where no one considered the United States to be much of an ally.
All that changed the moment Obama was elected and the world leaders responded in kind -- even some that wanted to deal directly with him instead of the Lame Duck still quacking in the Oval.
If Hillary is his only choice -- then I really wished that he would've had Joe Biden tapped for Sec. of State instead. The man gets foreign policy and while I have every reason to believe Joe will do great things from the V.P. -- Hillary would've made a great V.P. as well, but not as good in Sec. of State. She's a bit too flamboyant for the job -- and the international scene may not take too kindly to that.
I do hope she proves me wrong. Because while I do believe that this position is one of those "highly heralded" type positions in any administration. It's a cornerstone in how you're going to interface with the rest of the world and it would've been wonderful to see the likes of a "no non-sense" position for Colin Powell, but I guess it wasn't meant to be. I can't blame Colin though - not after what he endured under this last regime.
Several critics have come out against Obama's choices for various positions citing that there's no real change coming if he keeps appointing from the "greatest hits" from the Clinton years. If Barack is listening (and I know he visits Spoonsrant all the time) -- "Americans demanded change, not a revisit of the 1990's."
Friday, November 21, 2008
A bigger problem than Prop 8
Fundamentally -- I think Prop 8 is illegal.
When laws are created to specifically remove the rights of a group of people -- it's unconstitutional. It's a legal argument that will play out for a long time to come. In my mind -- religion has no place in the laws of man. The two should remain separate and I'm hopeful the courts follow that wisdom by making Prop 8 the unconstitutional law that it's become.
But while the courts wrangle with that elephant, there's a much larger problem in today's society that has gone relatively un-noticed and ignored for quite awhile now. Specifically, it happened in the 2000 and 2004 elections. A movement that was mentioned by name, but never really put under the glass of scrutiny. It's affectionately known as the religious right. A cascading tidal wave of politically motivated campaigns, propositions and referendums. Religion + politics. Oh, I don't think it takes that much of a thinker to see that there could be some real problems with that.
For instance: let's say that one day we get a real radical in the White House. All of a sudden he decides that his native beliefs of Mormonism should be the top religion in the United States. He might actually go as far as to say that all Americans should practice from the fundamentals of Joseph Smith and the other prophets. Would you be offended if he denounces your belief? Don't you think the Catholics may have a word or two to say about this?
That's the problem I have with the founders of Prop 8.
What gave the Mormons the *right* to cross that mythical boundary that separates church and state? Oh, they're just practicing their right to congregate and decide what issues are in their best interests, right? Says them. I don't think I need anyone making that determination for me -- nor do I think it's exceedingly prudent to have any one denomination -- even coupled together on like-minded issues making that determination for America.
Proposition 8 breeds intolerance at a time when it was met against a pretty significant historical precedent wherein the first African American -- despite the enormity of history against the plight of the black man -- was elected to become President of the United States. You'd think that the moment Barack Obama was elected -- the country had officially turned another corner. But when you look back to the west coast -- you've got to wonder what part of the caboose fell off its track.
When I would later learn that it was the churches INVESTING heavily on the California ballot initiative -- my mind went back to 2000 and 2004 all over again. It was the ugliness of the religious right spewing its intolerant hate-filled agenda for the masses to be afraid of the gay man or the gay woman. Who - in this land - has become the likes of God - telling people who they can or can't associate with? Please explain this.
It's the fanatics of the right fringe that thought it was a good idea to try to force feed an initiative in Colorado to determine when the moment "life" began. Even some REPUBLICANS came out against the moment a sperm came in contact with an egg because even THEY realized that this was completely stupid and nuts.
And if anything -- it solidified for me the single premise that religion has a place in our lives -- OUR PRIVATE LIVES -- but it has absolutely no business being in the world of politics. No Church in this land was threatened by homosexuals because there was NO LAW that would mandate every church to marry a gay or lesbian couple in the confines of their sacred ground. No Church was being FORCED to conduct these ceremonies or even RECOGNIZE them within the context of their religious beliefs.
Legalizing gay and lesbian marriages gave basic, human, fundamental RIGHTS to those people who cannot get health care for their loved ones, cannot be by their bedside in their dying moments, cannot adopt children who aren't wanted by hetero-sexual couples and a lot of other basic rights. It had nothing to do with the Church, but the Church made damn sure it had something to do with gay and lesbian relationships.
If folks don't start realizing the problem with mixing religion and the government -- then this is just going to be the small apple on the tree. Unless I missed that day in social studies class -- we have the right in this country to practice our religious beliefs privately and without any such intervention from the government. But that changes when a religious sect (or major denomination) decides that their beliefs somehow stand above all others. Oh - Christians and Catholics may be on the same side of Mormons on this go'round ... but there's a reason why we have so many different forms of Christianity in this country. That's why there's so many different points of view in how the basic fundamental practice of God and Jesus in the lives of Americans will eventually cause that "unity of spirit" to be looked at with scorn and then we'll have a much bigger problem on our hands.
Just look at the "holy war" that goes on the moment you mention the phrase: "Merry Christmas." That's pretty darn offensive to the Jewish faith, no? Isn't that why they have at least extended the "Happy Holidays" greeting instead -- so that it doesn't tread on their belief structure? So then why are the likes of Bill O'Reilly and other religious fanatics say they are for Israel, but dammit - it's always going to be "Merry Christmas."
Oh - no one considers the big "problems" with religion and government. That's why we still have ongoing issues with school prayer, the 10 commandments and holiday displays that constantly tax our court systems. Already -- there's a lot of uneasiness between our various religious sects and this doesn't even begin to account for the incredible fear generated by the far right religious fanatics when they tried to invoke the fear of Islam with Obama during the recent Presidential Election. So you seriously can't believe that we're all living in peaceful, spiritual harmony from shore to shore.
The Mormons took it upon themselves to overturn a law that was voted in BY the people of California legalizing gay and lesbian marriages. I'm sorry -- but the moment a church -- any church decides that they have the "right" to politicize their agenda (ahem ... erm) beliefs on the rest of us -- resonates a clear and present danger to our democracy. What gave the Mormons the "right" to decide what MY belief should be? What gives the Mormons the "right" to create laws to govern how *I* choose to live my life?
From where I stand -- if a church wants to go ahead and start politicizing their points of view in the form of propositions and laws -- then I think it's time to taxing these churches for crossing a very visible line between church and state. The Mormons had every right to do what they did in California -- and we have every right to tax every single cent they bring in and make this a tax-revenue machine for our ailing economy. It's time that these religions realize that their "safe haven" status has officially ended the moment they got involved in the political process in this country.
When Churches have PAID STAFF to work the Proposition, or a candidate -- then they have done more than just "suggest" that their congregation support a cause or a person -- they've crossed that line by a few hundred miles by the looks of it.
Let's just hope that someone in the process has the courage to see it as well -- and finally do something about it.
When laws are created to specifically remove the rights of a group of people -- it's unconstitutional. It's a legal argument that will play out for a long time to come. In my mind -- religion has no place in the laws of man. The two should remain separate and I'm hopeful the courts follow that wisdom by making Prop 8 the unconstitutional law that it's become.
But while the courts wrangle with that elephant, there's a much larger problem in today's society that has gone relatively un-noticed and ignored for quite awhile now. Specifically, it happened in the 2000 and 2004 elections. A movement that was mentioned by name, but never really put under the glass of scrutiny. It's affectionately known as the religious right. A cascading tidal wave of politically motivated campaigns, propositions and referendums. Religion + politics. Oh, I don't think it takes that much of a thinker to see that there could be some real problems with that.
For instance: let's say that one day we get a real radical in the White House. All of a sudden he decides that his native beliefs of Mormonism should be the top religion in the United States. He might actually go as far as to say that all Americans should practice from the fundamentals of Joseph Smith and the other prophets. Would you be offended if he denounces your belief? Don't you think the Catholics may have a word or two to say about this?
That's the problem I have with the founders of Prop 8.
What gave the Mormons the *right* to cross that mythical boundary that separates church and state? Oh, they're just practicing their right to congregate and decide what issues are in their best interests, right? Says them. I don't think I need anyone making that determination for me -- nor do I think it's exceedingly prudent to have any one denomination -- even coupled together on like-minded issues making that determination for America.
Proposition 8 breeds intolerance at a time when it was met against a pretty significant historical precedent wherein the first African American -- despite the enormity of history against the plight of the black man -- was elected to become President of the United States. You'd think that the moment Barack Obama was elected -- the country had officially turned another corner. But when you look back to the west coast -- you've got to wonder what part of the caboose fell off its track.
When I would later learn that it was the churches INVESTING heavily on the California ballot initiative -- my mind went back to 2000 and 2004 all over again. It was the ugliness of the religious right spewing its intolerant hate-filled agenda for the masses to be afraid of the gay man or the gay woman. Who - in this land - has become the likes of God - telling people who they can or can't associate with? Please explain this.
It's the fanatics of the right fringe that thought it was a good idea to try to force feed an initiative in Colorado to determine when the moment "life" began. Even some REPUBLICANS came out against the moment a sperm came in contact with an egg because even THEY realized that this was completely stupid and nuts.
And if anything -- it solidified for me the single premise that religion has a place in our lives -- OUR PRIVATE LIVES -- but it has absolutely no business being in the world of politics. No Church in this land was threatened by homosexuals because there was NO LAW that would mandate every church to marry a gay or lesbian couple in the confines of their sacred ground. No Church was being FORCED to conduct these ceremonies or even RECOGNIZE them within the context of their religious beliefs.
Legalizing gay and lesbian marriages gave basic, human, fundamental RIGHTS to those people who cannot get health care for their loved ones, cannot be by their bedside in their dying moments, cannot adopt children who aren't wanted by hetero-sexual couples and a lot of other basic rights. It had nothing to do with the Church, but the Church made damn sure it had something to do with gay and lesbian relationships.
If folks don't start realizing the problem with mixing religion and the government -- then this is just going to be the small apple on the tree. Unless I missed that day in social studies class -- we have the right in this country to practice our religious beliefs privately and without any such intervention from the government. But that changes when a religious sect (or major denomination) decides that their beliefs somehow stand above all others. Oh - Christians and Catholics may be on the same side of Mormons on this go'round ... but there's a reason why we have so many different forms of Christianity in this country. That's why there's so many different points of view in how the basic fundamental practice of God and Jesus in the lives of Americans will eventually cause that "unity of spirit" to be looked at with scorn and then we'll have a much bigger problem on our hands.
Just look at the "holy war" that goes on the moment you mention the phrase: "Merry Christmas." That's pretty darn offensive to the Jewish faith, no? Isn't that why they have at least extended the "Happy Holidays" greeting instead -- so that it doesn't tread on their belief structure? So then why are the likes of Bill O'Reilly and other religious fanatics say they are for Israel, but dammit - it's always going to be "Merry Christmas."
Oh - no one considers the big "problems" with religion and government. That's why we still have ongoing issues with school prayer, the 10 commandments and holiday displays that constantly tax our court systems. Already -- there's a lot of uneasiness between our various religious sects and this doesn't even begin to account for the incredible fear generated by the far right religious fanatics when they tried to invoke the fear of Islam with Obama during the recent Presidential Election. So you seriously can't believe that we're all living in peaceful, spiritual harmony from shore to shore.
The Mormons took it upon themselves to overturn a law that was voted in BY the people of California legalizing gay and lesbian marriages. I'm sorry -- but the moment a church -- any church decides that they have the "right" to politicize their agenda (ahem ... erm) beliefs on the rest of us -- resonates a clear and present danger to our democracy. What gave the Mormons the "right" to decide what MY belief should be? What gives the Mormons the "right" to create laws to govern how *I* choose to live my life?
From where I stand -- if a church wants to go ahead and start politicizing their points of view in the form of propositions and laws -- then I think it's time to taxing these churches for crossing a very visible line between church and state. The Mormons had every right to do what they did in California -- and we have every right to tax every single cent they bring in and make this a tax-revenue machine for our ailing economy. It's time that these religions realize that their "safe haven" status has officially ended the moment they got involved in the political process in this country.
When Churches have PAID STAFF to work the Proposition, or a candidate -- then they have done more than just "suggest" that their congregation support a cause or a person -- they've crossed that line by a few hundred miles by the looks of it.
Let's just hope that someone in the process has the courage to see it as well -- and finally do something about it.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
How far have we really come?
I'm reminding myself of a blog entry by Wil Wheaton where he so desperately wanted to lash out at all of the Republicans like we had dished to the rest of us for the last 8 years. Yes there's a pretty solid feeling that you really want to finally throw your fists up in the air and declare victory after being ROBBED in 2000 and having a radical conservative agenda rammed down our throats that would only reward businesses and leave the 95% of other Americans left out.
But Wil's friend then said something rather profound: "They are home. We share this country, all of us, whether we like it or not.
“We voted against intolerance for people that don’t share ‘the right’ views because we and people we respect and admire have been the victims of intolerance for too long. We voted against hypocrisy and fear and hate. We voted for a chance to change."
Okay ... a very nice "high road" approach to Obama's victory.
But then I read things like this which really causes me a lot of anger and rage. It's an article citing how racial threats have seen a tremendous spike since Obama's win 11 days ago. Why does this anger me so much? Because of the incredible cowardice of Mr. "Country First" by playing the fear-mongering card that has riled up every crazy idiot out there because they "just don't trust Barack Obama," "they're scared for what he's going to do," "we have to buy our guns before Barack Obama takes office."
It's this kind of nonsensical BULLSHIT served to do nothing but invoke the fear of the unknown in a guy that has the greatest promise to America that has been seen for a very long time. This only padded the racial fervor across this country. So for all of those absorbed people that truly thought that there's no more racism left in this country -- take a nice long hard look at racism in the span less than 2 weeks time:
_Four North Carolina State University students admitted writing anti-Obama comments in a tunnel designated for free speech expression, including one that said: "Let's shoot that (N-word) in the head." Obama has received more threats than any other president-elect, authorities say.
_At Standish, Maine, a sign inside the Oak Hill General Store read: "Osama Obama Shotgun Pool." Customers could sign up to bet $1 on a date when Obama would be killed. "Stabbing, shooting, roadside bombs, they all count," the sign said. At the bottom of the marker board was written "Let's hope someone wins."
_Racist graffiti was found in places including New York's Long Island, where two dozen cars were spray-painted; Kilgore, Texas, where the local high school and skate park were defaced; and the Los Angeles area, where swastikas, racial slurs and "Go Back To Africa" were spray painted on sidewalks, houses and cars.
_Second- and third-grade students on a school bus in Rexburg, Idaho, chanted "assassinate Obama," a district official said.
_University of Alabama professor Marsha L. Houston said a poster of the Obama family was ripped off her office door. A replacement poster was defaced with a death threat and a racial slur. "It seems the election brought the racist rats out of the woodwork," Houston said.
_Black figures were hanged by nooses from trees on Mount Desert Island, Maine, the Bangor Daily News reported. The president of Baylor University in Waco, Texas said a rope found hanging from a campus tree was apparently an abandoned swing and not a noose.
_Crosses were burned in yards of Obama supporters in Hardwick, N.J., and Apolacan Township, Pa.
_A black teenager in New York City said he was attacked with a bat on election night by four white men who shouted 'Obama.'
_In the Pittsburgh suburb of Forest Hills, a black man said he found a note with a racial slur on his car windshield, saying "now that you voted for Obama, just watch out for your house."
Is this YOUR America YOU are proud of?
Is this YOUR party of choice that YOU are proud of?
I cannot conceptualize an America that stands behind bigotry, racism and such vile hatred to teach their children to chant "assassinate Obama" like it was some game or something. I cannot conceptualize an America that holds a "raffle" when they think Obama is going to be killed. I cannot conceptualize an America that has so much "red meat" that it wants nothing more than to execute someone before they even make one step in the White House.
So no --- I don't think it's too far out of the realm of rational comprehension to really ask the question: how far have we really come?
To Wil's friend -- I can only say that while you might have the greatest hope of humanity -- it takes the scourge and selfish bastards of the world to ruin that hope you carry. It doesn't matter how much you teach, how well you get them to understand -- the feeding by the McCain / Palin ticket did was only throw gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluid, jet fuel, and every other racial combustible thing they could find to cause Americans to now live in fear and prepare for Armageddon like it's the end of days.
It's stupid.
It's wrong.
It's entirely un-American and yet -- it's casually accepted and promoted by the conservative side of the aisle because it's THEIR side that continues to accept and promote such a purely idiotic ideology. How these cowards can exist in a country founded in the basic freedom of all men, created equal -- is entirely beyond me.
So while Wil's friend preaches that it's their "home" too -- from where I stand -- they don't deserve the air they're given because of the historical stain this country has bled for the last 200 plus years in the name of equality. By teaching and spreading such maleficence merely illuminates a much darker racial problem that can only be resolve through attrition.
The sooner we can remove the likes of these un-American assholes from our collective gene-pool, the better.
But Wil's friend then said something rather profound: "They are home. We share this country, all of us, whether we like it or not.
“We voted against intolerance for people that don’t share ‘the right’ views because we and people we respect and admire have been the victims of intolerance for too long. We voted against hypocrisy and fear and hate. We voted for a chance to change."
Okay ... a very nice "high road" approach to Obama's victory.
But then I read things like this which really causes me a lot of anger and rage. It's an article citing how racial threats have seen a tremendous spike since Obama's win 11 days ago. Why does this anger me so much? Because of the incredible cowardice of Mr. "Country First" by playing the fear-mongering card that has riled up every crazy idiot out there because they "just don't trust Barack Obama," "they're scared for what he's going to do," "we have to buy our guns before Barack Obama takes office."
It's this kind of nonsensical BULLSHIT served to do nothing but invoke the fear of the unknown in a guy that has the greatest promise to America that has been seen for a very long time. This only padded the racial fervor across this country. So for all of those absorbed people that truly thought that there's no more racism left in this country -- take a nice long hard look at racism in the span less than 2 weeks time:
_Four North Carolina State University students admitted writing anti-Obama comments in a tunnel designated for free speech expression, including one that said: "Let's shoot that (N-word) in the head." Obama has received more threats than any other president-elect, authorities say.
_At Standish, Maine, a sign inside the Oak Hill General Store read: "Osama Obama Shotgun Pool." Customers could sign up to bet $1 on a date when Obama would be killed. "Stabbing, shooting, roadside bombs, they all count," the sign said. At the bottom of the marker board was written "Let's hope someone wins."
_Racist graffiti was found in places including New York's Long Island, where two dozen cars were spray-painted; Kilgore, Texas, where the local high school and skate park were defaced; and the Los Angeles area, where swastikas, racial slurs and "Go Back To Africa" were spray painted on sidewalks, houses and cars.
_Second- and third-grade students on a school bus in Rexburg, Idaho, chanted "assassinate Obama," a district official said.
_University of Alabama professor Marsha L. Houston said a poster of the Obama family was ripped off her office door. A replacement poster was defaced with a death threat and a racial slur. "It seems the election brought the racist rats out of the woodwork," Houston said.
_Black figures were hanged by nooses from trees on Mount Desert Island, Maine, the Bangor Daily News reported. The president of Baylor University in Waco, Texas said a rope found hanging from a campus tree was apparently an abandoned swing and not a noose.
_Crosses were burned in yards of Obama supporters in Hardwick, N.J., and Apolacan Township, Pa.
_A black teenager in New York City said he was attacked with a bat on election night by four white men who shouted 'Obama.'
_In the Pittsburgh suburb of Forest Hills, a black man said he found a note with a racial slur on his car windshield, saying "now that you voted for Obama, just watch out for your house."
Is this YOUR America YOU are proud of?
Is this YOUR party of choice that YOU are proud of?
I cannot conceptualize an America that stands behind bigotry, racism and such vile hatred to teach their children to chant "assassinate Obama" like it was some game or something. I cannot conceptualize an America that holds a "raffle" when they think Obama is going to be killed. I cannot conceptualize an America that has so much "red meat" that it wants nothing more than to execute someone before they even make one step in the White House.
So no --- I don't think it's too far out of the realm of rational comprehension to really ask the question: how far have we really come?
To Wil's friend -- I can only say that while you might have the greatest hope of humanity -- it takes the scourge and selfish bastards of the world to ruin that hope you carry. It doesn't matter how much you teach, how well you get them to understand -- the feeding by the McCain / Palin ticket did was only throw gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluid, jet fuel, and every other racial combustible thing they could find to cause Americans to now live in fear and prepare for Armageddon like it's the end of days.
It's stupid.
It's wrong.
It's entirely un-American and yet -- it's casually accepted and promoted by the conservative side of the aisle because it's THEIR side that continues to accept and promote such a purely idiotic ideology. How these cowards can exist in a country founded in the basic freedom of all men, created equal -- is entirely beyond me.
So while Wil's friend preaches that it's their "home" too -- from where I stand -- they don't deserve the air they're given because of the historical stain this country has bled for the last 200 plus years in the name of equality. By teaching and spreading such maleficence merely illuminates a much darker racial problem that can only be resolve through attrition.
The sooner we can remove the likes of these un-American assholes from our collective gene-pool, the better.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Change
Last night - we were glued to our televisions right along side millions of people - waiting for what has felt to be inevitable, yet inconceivable.
As the 9pm hour chimed in ... NBC had called the race for Barack Obama.
They flashed it to Grant Park in Chicago where the crowd was absolutely electric.
And then ...
The music ...
Barack Obama's theme song "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" started playing -- and that's when the moment hit me. The place erupted. People hugging. People crying. People in celebration. In disbelief. In amazement. In excitement.
The nation had just spoken.
Change is coming.
The events of last night will take a very long time to realize. History was made. The sacrifice of hundreds of millions throughout this nation's history has finally the top of a seemingly unattainable mountain top.
Dr. King's dream has been fulfilled.
A dream that so many never thought could ever happen in their life time. A dream marred by an incredibly intolerable time in our nation's history. A history full of extreme hate, racism, violence and epic division that has stained our great nation and for what it stood for. What emerged last night from the dark blue panels in the expansive sea of people in Grant Park in Chicago was the culmination of the strides humanity has taken in the name of freedom and equal opportunity. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's dream is finally realized.
While the punditry continued to expound on what happened to the Republican Party, we have to look beyond what happened last night as we witnessed John McCain's gracious concession speech that was followed by him falling on his sword. Taking complete and personal responsibility for what happened. But that's not what happened. McCain is a piece of a larger process that has plagued the overriding failure of the Republicans long before the 2008 Presidential Election. When we examine the core reasons why people wanted change, it had very little to do with John McCain. It didn't even have anything to do with his bundle of energy running mate Sarah Palin. History could show us where the failings of the Republican party were and it does. Map the trend that started as early as two years ago when several Republicans were bested from their seats in the House and the Senate and therein we find the core problem with the Republican party:
The Republicans are seriously out of touch and Americans couldn't have been more plain: we want change.
Not just a change in the course direction of this country.
Not just a change in our policy in Iraq and abroad.
Not just a change in how the country handles its current economic crisis.
But Americans demand a change from our "red-meat" political process that perfected the way to slander your opponent without even offering a shred of platform or policy -- which comes straight from "The Architect's" consummate playbook. This "divide and conquer" mentality of the Republican party has given way to the "united we stand" mantra of Barack Obama and the Democratic party.
It's my hope that the way Barack Obama pledged his way to the White House will become a template of what the American Dream is about. It's not about flinging mud in the form of the Reverend Wrights of the world. It's not about trying to label your opponent as "palling around with terrorists." It has everything to do with substance. John McCain and Sarah Palin simply couldn't articulate a message of how they were different than their former leader: George W. Bush. John McCain and Sarah Palin played from Karl Rove's playbook -- which worked in 2000 and 2004, but failed miserably in 2008.
Americans caught on to that little ploy and could read through it.
No one cares about what an errant reverend said.
No one cares about what happenstance meeting may or may not have occurred with someone aptly labeled being a "terrorist."
No one cares about what labels you try to slap on like "redistributioner," "Socialist," "Marxist."
If you don't say anything of substance, nothing of policy and are reduced to merely flinging "red-meat" at your opponent ... then Americans demanded change from that disappointing Republican ideology.
Americans demanded change.
And they got it.
As the 9pm hour chimed in ... NBC had called the race for Barack Obama.
They flashed it to Grant Park in Chicago where the crowd was absolutely electric.
And then ...
The music ...
Barack Obama's theme song "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" started playing -- and that's when the moment hit me. The place erupted. People hugging. People crying. People in celebration. In disbelief. In amazement. In excitement.
The nation had just spoken.
Change is coming.
The events of last night will take a very long time to realize. History was made. The sacrifice of hundreds of millions throughout this nation's history has finally the top of a seemingly unattainable mountain top.
Dr. King's dream has been fulfilled.
A dream that so many never thought could ever happen in their life time. A dream marred by an incredibly intolerable time in our nation's history. A history full of extreme hate, racism, violence and epic division that has stained our great nation and for what it stood for. What emerged last night from the dark blue panels in the expansive sea of people in Grant Park in Chicago was the culmination of the strides humanity has taken in the name of freedom and equal opportunity. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's dream is finally realized.
While the punditry continued to expound on what happened to the Republican Party, we have to look beyond what happened last night as we witnessed John McCain's gracious concession speech that was followed by him falling on his sword. Taking complete and personal responsibility for what happened. But that's not what happened. McCain is a piece of a larger process that has plagued the overriding failure of the Republicans long before the 2008 Presidential Election. When we examine the core reasons why people wanted change, it had very little to do with John McCain. It didn't even have anything to do with his bundle of energy running mate Sarah Palin. History could show us where the failings of the Republican party were and it does. Map the trend that started as early as two years ago when several Republicans were bested from their seats in the House and the Senate and therein we find the core problem with the Republican party:
The Republicans are seriously out of touch and Americans couldn't have been more plain: we want change.
Not just a change in the course direction of this country.
Not just a change in our policy in Iraq and abroad.
Not just a change in how the country handles its current economic crisis.
But Americans demand a change from our "red-meat" political process that perfected the way to slander your opponent without even offering a shred of platform or policy -- which comes straight from "The Architect's" consummate playbook. This "divide and conquer" mentality of the Republican party has given way to the "united we stand" mantra of Barack Obama and the Democratic party.
It's my hope that the way Barack Obama pledged his way to the White House will become a template of what the American Dream is about. It's not about flinging mud in the form of the Reverend Wrights of the world. It's not about trying to label your opponent as "palling around with terrorists." It has everything to do with substance. John McCain and Sarah Palin simply couldn't articulate a message of how they were different than their former leader: George W. Bush. John McCain and Sarah Palin played from Karl Rove's playbook -- which worked in 2000 and 2004, but failed miserably in 2008.
Americans caught on to that little ploy and could read through it.
No one cares about what an errant reverend said.
No one cares about what happenstance meeting may or may not have occurred with someone aptly labeled being a "terrorist."
No one cares about what labels you try to slap on like "redistributioner," "Socialist," "Marxist."
If you don't say anything of substance, nothing of policy and are reduced to merely flinging "red-meat" at your opponent ... then Americans demanded change from that disappointing Republican ideology.
Americans demanded change.
And they got it.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Something never quite made sense...
During the Democratic National Convention -- there were a few arrests made by white supremacists that were conspiring to assassinate Barack Obama.
The U.S. District Attorney for Denver let the guys go.
Please read that again.... he ... let ... the ... guys ... go.
When I first heard that -- I was like: "you've got to be kidding!!"
The man has a Secret Service detail, even if they were "meth heads" as Troy Eid tries to portray them ... you don't have to be sufficiently organized to be prosecuted for threatening someone like a President or Presidential candidate. Look at how "organized" John Hinkley Jr. was -- and the courts found him LOONEY in the head -- so go figure.
The story always stuck in my craw and now it would appear that there's good reason why. Crooksandliars.com reports that Troy Eid has been under scrutiny by other legal experts who also didn't understand his decision not to prosecute. Crooksandliars track to the original findings as reported by RAW which said:
"Certainly when there's a state of mind requirement in a crime, 'knowingly,' for example, you could say as a logical matter that somebody can't do something knowingly while under the influence. But there are these other laws, sometimes in the form of statutes and sometimes in the form of case law, that will say, 'But voluntary intoxication is no defense.' And the Supreme Court many years ago upheld those laws as not being a violation of due process."
As a twist of fate this might be ... Mr. Eid as it turns out is a Bush/Rove appointee from that attorney mess.....
(...for what that's worth...)
The U.S. District Attorney for Denver let the guys go.
Please read that again.... he ... let ... the ... guys ... go.
When I first heard that -- I was like: "you've got to be kidding!!"
The man has a Secret Service detail, even if they were "meth heads" as Troy Eid tries to portray them ... you don't have to be sufficiently organized to be prosecuted for threatening someone like a President or Presidential candidate. Look at how "organized" John Hinkley Jr. was -- and the courts found him LOONEY in the head -- so go figure.
The story always stuck in my craw and now it would appear that there's good reason why. Crooksandliars.com reports that Troy Eid has been under scrutiny by other legal experts who also didn't understand his decision not to prosecute. Crooksandliars track to the original findings as reported by RAW which said:
"Certainly when there's a state of mind requirement in a crime, 'knowingly,' for example, you could say as a logical matter that somebody can't do something knowingly while under the influence. But there are these other laws, sometimes in the form of statutes and sometimes in the form of case law, that will say, 'But voluntary intoxication is no defense.' And the Supreme Court many years ago upheld those laws as not being a violation of due process."
As a twist of fate this might be ... Mr. Eid as it turns out is a Bush/Rove appointee from that attorney mess.....
(...for what that's worth...)
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Rocks in your shoes...
You're walking or hiking -- a pebble lodges itself between your shoe and your foot. It can be outright annoying and irritating. Eventually, the more rocks you get in your shoes -- the more likely it'll cause you to stop and turn around.
And that's the strategy for the McCain campaign....
We'll all find out on November 4th whether the attack ads worked for McCain or not. But when you consider exactly how incredibly sad it is that the long-term senator couldn't debate the issues and try to give Americans the type of discussion that we need to change the course out of the mess created by the Republican party. While I could rant all day long about every botched administration mishap (and the McCain rank-and-file approach to supporting 90% of this administration's mishaps) -- I want to talk about pebbles today.
No - not Pebbles from the Flintstones -- I'm talking about those annoying little rocks in your shoes -- or in this context, the little pebbles that the McCain/Palin ticket hope you get in your $2,000.00 Manolo Blahnik's that we all know Joe the Plumber wears from his closet.....
But whenever I've asked McCain supporters why they're supporting him -- it almost *never* has to do with his policies. In fact, most of the reasons why folks are voting for McCain have NOTHING to do with policy and has everything to do with why they think Obama shouldn't be President. Okay - as I play along with these misguided folks, I keep asking them for real reasons. It's in this exchange that you find the pebbles that stopped our faithful voter from seeing the light of day:
He lacks any governing experience. Well then so does McCain. So when we get the pageant veep candidate touting her governing experience as being relevant -- let's not forget this is the person who -- after four tries -- STILL can't figure out what the Vice President does. This is the same person who is currently under investigation for mis-conduct WHILE "governing" -- not to mention some of the other incredibly strange oddities like: a.) the whole wasteful $150k clothing spree, b.) denying having anything to do with the "bridge to nowhere" when she clearly did, c.) Trooper-gate which she actually called "Taser-gate" which may actually be problematic for her in the long-run, d.) claiming per-diem charges when she was living at home and e.) potentially being in a scandal about showing preferential treatment for a contractor who built an arena and just happened to give Sarah and her husband Todd a home for free..... Yeah - some governing experience.
He can't be trusted. This argument is clearly in the abstract because on what basis has Obama LIED about anything? Let's not forget the fact that McCain OVERTLY lied about his campaign manager not working with Freddie Mac for 2 years when he and his company were getting paid handsomely as recent as when the Macs went belly up. Let's not forget the fact that McCain still lies about Obama's tax plan because unless you make over $250,000 a year you will not see a tax increase. God -- what part of that statement doesn't McCain or his faithful understand? When McCain has made such outrageous accusations like how he claims Obama wants to teach kindergartners about sex education -- with such lies and distortions. When it comes down to being truthful, in the scheme of things -- McCain seems to have proven to be a bigger liar than even most Republicans are even comfortable with.
He's a terrorist -or- he "pals around" with terrorists. This ridiculous notion comes from the fact that Barack's middle name happens to be Hussein. Yeah, gosh - anyone who happens to have a same last name, same first name, same middle name -- yikes.... It's outright stupid to keep this pebble buried in your shoe because even McCain came out and said: "no, Obama is an American, we just disagree on things." Kudos to McCain for having the balls to do that -- even though he still doesn't repudiate the words of his running mate who spewed her unfounded statements ... merely trying to keep the pebble firmly lodged between your big toe your shoe because maybe this is all you need to be convinced that Obama simply can't be trusted. Despite the fact that Obama has been forthcoming with this stuff -- constantly refuting it -- constantly establishing the record to the contrary.
He's elitist, he's a celebrity Like this is a problem? Considering that McCain has 11 houses over a dozen cars -- the whole "elitist" argument just falls completely flat. When you have the "commoner" in Sarah Palin spending $150,000.00 on clothing in the last couple of months -- guess what? You've lost your elitist bragging rights.... (but nice try) As far as his celebrity "status" -- well -- he's been in the news quite a bit since fighting it out with Hillary for the last 20 months. In fact, McCain's rather easy time cutting through the Republican primary process made him a little less of a celebrity -- not really under the microscope as Obama and Hillary had gone under. But leave it to the McCain/Palin ticket to cry like a spoiled brat when the press doesn't enamor over every thing they utter. They merely pouted like insolent children and turned their back on the media..... *laughs* ("Note the McCain/Palin campaign: if you want to be a celebrity -- you need to do that thing with the press so that your mugs can get on the ol' 13 inch black and white telly.") How woefully pathetic....
He's a Socialist This is the most hysterical of all of the boneheaded reasons why folks keep their pebbles in their shoes. For one - those who claim that Obama is a socialist doesn't really know what a socialist is or what socialism is about. Two, McCain supported the exact same tax proposal or "redistribution of wealth" that got him in trouble in 2000 when he ran for President and was called out for it. Third, McCain pushed to "socialize" government ownership of our banking institutions. For someone who keeps chanting: "redistribution of wealth" in his speeches, he clearly suffers from some attention deficit disorder or else he'd see that his antics during the bailout are clearly "socialistic" in nature as well.
People seem to also forget the "Patriot Act" and how it's supposed to make us "safer" -- while promises were made that "we won't spy on Americans" only to find out that we are spying on Americans. The "Big Brother" approach to governing was particularly big with the socialists of the former Soviet Union -- as it is today in China. Oh, but we won't hear Palin or McCain come out against these little ditties because they want to have the ability to spy on Americans for the sake of protecting us from the "evil-doers" of the world.....
The entire "socialist" threat chant is nothing more than a conjuring up an "oldie but a goody" ruse dating back to the 70's and 80's -- during the Cold War. Putin's actions into Georgia have helped born out this "socialist" fear again -- but folks who keep this pebble in their shoe clearly don't understand what socialism is or even how much socialism they already have in their lives right now.
He doesn't have foreign policy experience. This is the one I just love. Not only does his running mate have really good foreign policy credentials, most of the policies that Obama has gone on record are either: a.) now becoming the "new" Bush doctrine, b.) recommended by heads of state around the world, c.) heralded by generals, former secretaries of state and those in the know about foreign policy.
But not having foreign policy - or rather, not following the same flawed foreign policy that got us into much of this mess to begin with doesn't distinguish you apart of the failed policies of the last 8 years. So merely being a former prisoner of war, having served your country militarily, all of that doesn't pile on one ounce of credible gets thrown out the window. Just because you were an all-pro quarterback doesn't mean you're going to be a great coach.....
McCain has done nothing to separate his foreign policy path than that of George W. Bush's. In fact, it's Bush's policies of a timeline and a gradual pullout of Iraq that sounds a lot like what a certain Illinois Senator said awhile back -- doesn't it.... And what did McCain say about this ....? It would be surrender ... it would be quitting ... Dare I even say that "Bush gets it???"
*sighs* This is supposed to be John's strong suit -- and yet it flounders more than fish out of water.
.........................
So if you want to keep the pebble lodged in your shoe and keep buying into the theatrics of the McCain campaign -- then you're simply not being honest with the reason why you don't want Obama in the White House in the first place. What policy decision do you disagree with? Tell me, because so far -- every McCain supporter who even pretends to have a valid reason why they don't support Obama -- has fallen for the pebbles in the shoe problem.
You're ignoring the reality of fact and you're simply trying to find a reason, ANY reason why you don't want Barack Obama to become the 44th President of the United States. Having such an opaque reason that defies the physics of nature clearly shows the Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity divide and conquer governing approach is the staple you live by. There's nothing UNITED about the Republicans skewed view of America -- and the Republicans are so desperate to invoke every single anger, fear-filled mantra to win the election by completely ignoring the issues of the land -- then it speaks volumes about the ineptness that the right brings to the table.
And that's the strategy for the McCain campaign....
We'll all find out on November 4th whether the attack ads worked for McCain or not. But when you consider exactly how incredibly sad it is that the long-term senator couldn't debate the issues and try to give Americans the type of discussion that we need to change the course out of the mess created by the Republican party. While I could rant all day long about every botched administration mishap (and the McCain rank-and-file approach to supporting 90% of this administration's mishaps) -- I want to talk about pebbles today.
No - not Pebbles from the Flintstones -- I'm talking about those annoying little rocks in your shoes -- or in this context, the little pebbles that the McCain/Palin ticket hope you get in your $2,000.00 Manolo Blahnik's that we all know Joe the Plumber wears from his closet.....
But whenever I've asked McCain supporters why they're supporting him -- it almost *never* has to do with his policies. In fact, most of the reasons why folks are voting for McCain have NOTHING to do with policy and has everything to do with why they think Obama shouldn't be President. Okay - as I play along with these misguided folks, I keep asking them for real reasons. It's in this exchange that you find the pebbles that stopped our faithful voter from seeing the light of day:
He lacks any governing experience. Well then so does McCain. So when we get the pageant veep candidate touting her governing experience as being relevant -- let's not forget this is the person who -- after four tries -- STILL can't figure out what the Vice President does. This is the same person who is currently under investigation for mis-conduct WHILE "governing" -- not to mention some of the other incredibly strange oddities like: a.) the whole wasteful $150k clothing spree, b.) denying having anything to do with the "bridge to nowhere" when she clearly did, c.) Trooper-gate which she actually called "Taser-gate" which may actually be problematic for her in the long-run, d.) claiming per-diem charges when she was living at home and e.) potentially being in a scandal about showing preferential treatment for a contractor who built an arena and just happened to give Sarah and her husband Todd a home for free..... Yeah - some governing experience.
He can't be trusted. This argument is clearly in the abstract because on what basis has Obama LIED about anything? Let's not forget the fact that McCain OVERTLY lied about his campaign manager not working with Freddie Mac for 2 years when he and his company were getting paid handsomely as recent as when the Macs went belly up. Let's not forget the fact that McCain still lies about Obama's tax plan because unless you make over $250,000 a year you will not see a tax increase. God -- what part of that statement doesn't McCain or his faithful understand? When McCain has made such outrageous accusations like how he claims Obama wants to teach kindergartners about sex education -- with such lies and distortions. When it comes down to being truthful, in the scheme of things -- McCain seems to have proven to be a bigger liar than even most Republicans are even comfortable with.
He's a terrorist -or- he "pals around" with terrorists. This ridiculous notion comes from the fact that Barack's middle name happens to be Hussein. Yeah, gosh - anyone who happens to have a same last name, same first name, same middle name -- yikes.... It's outright stupid to keep this pebble buried in your shoe because even McCain came out and said: "no, Obama is an American, we just disagree on things." Kudos to McCain for having the balls to do that -- even though he still doesn't repudiate the words of his running mate who spewed her unfounded statements ... merely trying to keep the pebble firmly lodged between your big toe your shoe because maybe this is all you need to be convinced that Obama simply can't be trusted. Despite the fact that Obama has been forthcoming with this stuff -- constantly refuting it -- constantly establishing the record to the contrary.
He's elitist, he's a celebrity Like this is a problem? Considering that McCain has 11 houses over a dozen cars -- the whole "elitist" argument just falls completely flat. When you have the "commoner" in Sarah Palin spending $150,000.00 on clothing in the last couple of months -- guess what? You've lost your elitist bragging rights.... (but nice try) As far as his celebrity "status" -- well -- he's been in the news quite a bit since fighting it out with Hillary for the last 20 months. In fact, McCain's rather easy time cutting through the Republican primary process made him a little less of a celebrity -- not really under the microscope as Obama and Hillary had gone under. But leave it to the McCain/Palin ticket to cry like a spoiled brat when the press doesn't enamor over every thing they utter. They merely pouted like insolent children and turned their back on the media..... *laughs* ("Note the McCain/Palin campaign: if you want to be a celebrity -- you need to do that thing with the press so that your mugs can get on the ol' 13 inch black and white telly.") How woefully pathetic....
He's a Socialist This is the most hysterical of all of the boneheaded reasons why folks keep their pebbles in their shoes. For one - those who claim that Obama is a socialist doesn't really know what a socialist is or what socialism is about. Two, McCain supported the exact same tax proposal or "redistribution of wealth" that got him in trouble in 2000 when he ran for President and was called out for it. Third, McCain pushed to "socialize" government ownership of our banking institutions. For someone who keeps chanting: "redistribution of wealth" in his speeches, he clearly suffers from some attention deficit disorder or else he'd see that his antics during the bailout are clearly "socialistic" in nature as well.
People seem to also forget the "Patriot Act" and how it's supposed to make us "safer" -- while promises were made that "we won't spy on Americans" only to find out that we are spying on Americans. The "Big Brother" approach to governing was particularly big with the socialists of the former Soviet Union -- as it is today in China. Oh, but we won't hear Palin or McCain come out against these little ditties because they want to have the ability to spy on Americans for the sake of protecting us from the "evil-doers" of the world.....
The entire "socialist" threat chant is nothing more than a conjuring up an "oldie but a goody" ruse dating back to the 70's and 80's -- during the Cold War. Putin's actions into Georgia have helped born out this "socialist" fear again -- but folks who keep this pebble in their shoe clearly don't understand what socialism is or even how much socialism they already have in their lives right now.
He doesn't have foreign policy experience. This is the one I just love. Not only does his running mate have really good foreign policy credentials, most of the policies that Obama has gone on record are either: a.) now becoming the "new" Bush doctrine, b.) recommended by heads of state around the world, c.) heralded by generals, former secretaries of state and those in the know about foreign policy.
But not having foreign policy - or rather, not following the same flawed foreign policy that got us into much of this mess to begin with doesn't distinguish you apart of the failed policies of the last 8 years. So merely being a former prisoner of war, having served your country militarily, all of that doesn't pile on one ounce of credible gets thrown out the window. Just because you were an all-pro quarterback doesn't mean you're going to be a great coach.....
McCain has done nothing to separate his foreign policy path than that of George W. Bush's. In fact, it's Bush's policies of a timeline and a gradual pullout of Iraq that sounds a lot like what a certain Illinois Senator said awhile back -- doesn't it.... And what did McCain say about this ....? It would be surrender ... it would be quitting ... Dare I even say that "Bush gets it???"
*sighs* This is supposed to be John's strong suit -- and yet it flounders more than fish out of water.
.........................
So if you want to keep the pebble lodged in your shoe and keep buying into the theatrics of the McCain campaign -- then you're simply not being honest with the reason why you don't want Obama in the White House in the first place. What policy decision do you disagree with? Tell me, because so far -- every McCain supporter who even pretends to have a valid reason why they don't support Obama -- has fallen for the pebbles in the shoe problem.
You're ignoring the reality of fact and you're simply trying to find a reason, ANY reason why you don't want Barack Obama to become the 44th President of the United States. Having such an opaque reason that defies the physics of nature clearly shows the Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity divide and conquer governing approach is the staple you live by. There's nothing UNITED about the Republicans skewed view of America -- and the Republicans are so desperate to invoke every single anger, fear-filled mantra to win the election by completely ignoring the issues of the land -- then it speaks volumes about the ineptness that the right brings to the table.
Monday, October 13, 2008
If the lies stick....
I don't get it.
The lies and distortions from the Republicans -- trying to get their own brand of "jello" to be nailed against the wall. What is it this week?
Believing that the basic fundamentals of the economy is strong... You'd think that John could get a better grasp on the situation. After this gaffe, he thought it was serious enough for him to suspend his campaign (even though he really didn't since most of the staff was still working, ads were being run, etc.) so that he can stay in Washington until a recovery plan was in place. When that little gambit didn't work -- he left Washington before any deal was hammered out -- only to resume his campaign -- and then the guys and gals in Washington secured the deal without him.
Well his latest gaffe simply put: "the economy has hurt us a little bit in the last week or two," ... Really John? How can a candidate for the single highest position in the land merely thinks we must've hit a speed bump in the road. No John ... 18% of the value of the stock market is GONE -- get it? World markets are collaborating their efforts to help thwart their own economies from systematically breaking down. So no - John - the economy hasn't hurt us a little bit it has hit us and the rest of the world like you would be hit by a speeding locomotive.
McCain has a big new plan for the economy that he would be introducing on Monday ... except that the rest of the McCain camp said there is no such policy.
Okay - so maybe there was just a little bit of mis-communication, no big deal, right?
McCain needs to check the "context" to see if there's any link between Obama and Bin Laden? Although John repudiates the the connection -- his spokeswoman came out and condemned the remarks as "not appropriate." But he still claims that Obama isn't being truthful with the Ayers situation. Yo John: "if you got something - say it -- enough drama...."
McCain thinks there's a connection between Iraq and 9/11?? This was a softball pitch -- merely asking to clarify:
"Asked by the host whether he agreed with Barack Obama that "the Iraq war had nothing to do with the terrorist attacks of 9/11," McCain replied:
"No. We invaded a country that every intelligence agency said was developing weapons of mass destruction. Think of Saddam Hussein in power with oil at 100 dollars a barrel, and all that entails with his commitment which when after he was captured, he stated categorically that he would acquire weapons of mass destruction, and he would use them wherever he could. Now, Iraq--"
"But he had nothing to do with 9/11," the hosted interjected.
"He had a lot to do with invading his neighbor Kuwait, and we had to go to war and fight there," McCain replied. "He had a lot to do with using weapons of mass destruction, he used them previously, so there's no doubt about his commitment to get them."
YOU'RE KIDDING ME!!
As if it's not bad enough that the desperate few WANT to believe the lies that Obama is a Muslim, Obama is a terrorist, Obama isn't patriotic -- but now we're going to dig in Bush's greatest hits and try to re-write history that Iraq was responsible for 9/11?!?
Even Bush *HIMSELF* said there was no connection YEARS AGO....
*sighs*
But when you look at the lies, distortions and mud -- I felt sorry for the lady who has been pulled into every sound-byte since last Friday -- believing that Obama is a Muslim -- because she represents the incredibly small minority of people who are still victim of the truth. She and the rest of the crowd doesn't know any better and they keep faithfully listening to Limbaugh, Faux News and the punditry that continually churns this meritless crap. But ultimately it speaks volumes for those who WANT to believe that it's true just so that they can somehow justify their support behind McCain.
Because at this point -- what else is there?!?
- There's no viable economic policy from John McCain.
- There's no McCain foreign policy that's any different than Bush's.
- There's no social agenda that is that un-different than the last 8 years of "moral superiority" which has done nothing for society except to make us more embolden against each other.
Look at the McCain stump speeches.
Even when he TRIES to say that he's going to fight for a new direction -- his RECORD proves otherwise. What new direction, John? What does it look like? Even when he gets TOP BILLING in a news story there's no "direction" except empty rhetoric. Oh he vows to fight for a new direction -- but it's Obama who is laying out specifics, calling for a 90 day moratorium on home foreclosures, two-year tax break on businesses, a $3k tax cut for businesses that hire full-time employees, and a $10k allowance for families to withdraw their from their retirement plans for the next two years.
It's called "specifics" John. But his campaign hasn't been about policy lately. It's either hearing for the 2 millionth time that he was a POW, followed by hallowed rhetoric that only serves as a placeholder - without specifics or his campaign has been about shelling out crap on your opponent.
And if the latter is what Republicans stand for -- then it's a sign of illness comparable to the likes of a vintage Karl Rove campaign. It's poison to the core -- and as has been reported in many senate races right now, it's affecting all Republicans across the board. It's the stain that doesn't wipe clean.
- Republicans have no direction.
- Republicans have lost complete touch with the 89% of America.
- Republicans think they have a moral compass, but really -- what kind of moral compass comes from a party that apparently celebrates "killing" and "bombing" the other guy just because you think he's a terrorist while re-writing history in a feeble effort to try to bolster your inept standing in the world?
- Republicans spend incredibly too much time blaming everyone else for the mistakes THEIR party has made.
- Republicans drink the poison they've created by the likes of Limbaugh, Hannity and O'Reily. Yet if the Republican smear machine is nothing more than a from for "moral superiority" then when the overwhelming number of Americans believe that this country is heading in the wrong direction -- then it's the touted few that continue to eat, breathe and sleep this mantra until it totally consumes them to the point of obscurity.
"Real Republicans" should be ashamed of their party -- and I'm glad to read that so many are openly responding to the Republican party, their candidate of choice and saying: "I don't know who invited this guy, but I don't agree with what he's selling." Americans are finally coming back around that it's the issues that matter, not the mud-slinging or the hypocritical "guilt-by-association" game that the Republicans have been running with. I'm glad to see that the majority of Americans are finally fed up with the likes of the Republican base that it's okay to rally behind the idea of "terrorist" and "bomb Obama" or "kill him."
There's a lot of poison on the right side of the aisle -- and I'm very glad to see and hear that Americans are sick of it. Americans are better without this incarnation of the Republican Party and it's my hope that we can restore our standing in the world and come together -- than continually find ourselves supporting those that only seek to divide us as a nation.
The lies and distortions from the Republicans -- trying to get their own brand of "jello" to be nailed against the wall. What is it this week?
Believing that the basic fundamentals of the economy is strong... You'd think that John could get a better grasp on the situation. After this gaffe, he thought it was serious enough for him to suspend his campaign (even though he really didn't since most of the staff was still working, ads were being run, etc.) so that he can stay in Washington until a recovery plan was in place. When that little gambit didn't work -- he left Washington before any deal was hammered out -- only to resume his campaign -- and then the guys and gals in Washington secured the deal without him.
Well his latest gaffe simply put: "the economy has hurt us a little bit in the last week or two," ... Really John? How can a candidate for the single highest position in the land merely thinks we must've hit a speed bump in the road. No John ... 18% of the value of the stock market is GONE -- get it? World markets are collaborating their efforts to help thwart their own economies from systematically breaking down. So no - John - the economy hasn't hurt us a little bit it has hit us and the rest of the world like you would be hit by a speeding locomotive.
McCain has a big new plan for the economy that he would be introducing on Monday ... except that the rest of the McCain camp said there is no such policy.
Okay - so maybe there was just a little bit of mis-communication, no big deal, right?
McCain needs to check the "context" to see if there's any link between Obama and Bin Laden? Although John repudiates the the connection -- his spokeswoman came out and condemned the remarks as "not appropriate." But he still claims that Obama isn't being truthful with the Ayers situation. Yo John: "if you got something - say it -- enough drama...."
McCain thinks there's a connection between Iraq and 9/11?? This was a softball pitch -- merely asking to clarify:
"Asked by the host whether he agreed with Barack Obama that "the Iraq war had nothing to do with the terrorist attacks of 9/11," McCain replied:
"No. We invaded a country that every intelligence agency said was developing weapons of mass destruction. Think of Saddam Hussein in power with oil at 100 dollars a barrel, and all that entails with his commitment which when after he was captured, he stated categorically that he would acquire weapons of mass destruction, and he would use them wherever he could. Now, Iraq--"
"But he had nothing to do with 9/11," the hosted interjected.
"He had a lot to do with invading his neighbor Kuwait, and we had to go to war and fight there," McCain replied. "He had a lot to do with using weapons of mass destruction, he used them previously, so there's no doubt about his commitment to get them."
YOU'RE KIDDING ME!!
As if it's not bad enough that the desperate few WANT to believe the lies that Obama is a Muslim, Obama is a terrorist, Obama isn't patriotic -- but now we're going to dig in Bush's greatest hits and try to re-write history that Iraq was responsible for 9/11?!?
Even Bush *HIMSELF* said there was no connection YEARS AGO....
*sighs*
But when you look at the lies, distortions and mud -- I felt sorry for the lady who has been pulled into every sound-byte since last Friday -- believing that Obama is a Muslim -- because she represents the incredibly small minority of people who are still victim of the truth. She and the rest of the crowd doesn't know any better and they keep faithfully listening to Limbaugh, Faux News and the punditry that continually churns this meritless crap. But ultimately it speaks volumes for those who WANT to believe that it's true just so that they can somehow justify their support behind McCain.
Because at this point -- what else is there?!?
- There's no viable economic policy from John McCain.
- There's no McCain foreign policy that's any different than Bush's.
- There's no social agenda that is that un-different than the last 8 years of "moral superiority" which has done nothing for society except to make us more embolden against each other.
Look at the McCain stump speeches.
Even when he TRIES to say that he's going to fight for a new direction -- his RECORD proves otherwise. What new direction, John? What does it look like? Even when he gets TOP BILLING in a news story there's no "direction" except empty rhetoric. Oh he vows to fight for a new direction -- but it's Obama who is laying out specifics, calling for a 90 day moratorium on home foreclosures, two-year tax break on businesses, a $3k tax cut for businesses that hire full-time employees, and a $10k allowance for families to withdraw their from their retirement plans for the next two years.
It's called "specifics" John. But his campaign hasn't been about policy lately. It's either hearing for the 2 millionth time that he was a POW, followed by hallowed rhetoric that only serves as a placeholder - without specifics or his campaign has been about shelling out crap on your opponent.
And if the latter is what Republicans stand for -- then it's a sign of illness comparable to the likes of a vintage Karl Rove campaign. It's poison to the core -- and as has been reported in many senate races right now, it's affecting all Republicans across the board. It's the stain that doesn't wipe clean.
- Republicans have no direction.
- Republicans have lost complete touch with the 89% of America.
- Republicans think they have a moral compass, but really -- what kind of moral compass comes from a party that apparently celebrates "killing" and "bombing" the other guy just because you think he's a terrorist while re-writing history in a feeble effort to try to bolster your inept standing in the world?
- Republicans spend incredibly too much time blaming everyone else for the mistakes THEIR party has made.
- Republicans drink the poison they've created by the likes of Limbaugh, Hannity and O'Reily. Yet if the Republican smear machine is nothing more than a from for "moral superiority" then when the overwhelming number of Americans believe that this country is heading in the wrong direction -- then it's the touted few that continue to eat, breathe and sleep this mantra until it totally consumes them to the point of obscurity.
"Real Republicans" should be ashamed of their party -- and I'm glad to read that so many are openly responding to the Republican party, their candidate of choice and saying: "I don't know who invited this guy, but I don't agree with what he's selling." Americans are finally coming back around that it's the issues that matter, not the mud-slinging or the hypocritical "guilt-by-association" game that the Republicans have been running with. I'm glad to see that the majority of Americans are finally fed up with the likes of the Republican base that it's okay to rally behind the idea of "terrorist" and "bomb Obama" or "kill him."
There's a lot of poison on the right side of the aisle -- and I'm very glad to see and hear that Americans are sick of it. Americans are better without this incarnation of the Republican Party and it's my hope that we can restore our standing in the world and come together -- than continually find ourselves supporting those that only seek to divide us as a nation.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
"That One..."
It came from the guy's mouth...
It's hard to refute the tape -- even the crowd winced when it was uttered, even the Brits across the pond went "whoa" .... how come? Because "that one" was sitting less than three feet away from John McCain and yet the best Republican that could be rounded up for the 2008 election came off as some hateful little man who would use the words "it" or "thing" to describe another human being.
Now for those who want to try to play it off like: "oh that's not what he meant" -- then you're not a real good student of history or at the very least when it comes to civil rights history when it was very common to refer to men and women of color in same manner. Look at the audience reaction - watch how they went: "oh my god, did he just say that?" This is Nashville, Tennessee -- rooted in the South -- racial inequality pretty prevalent in the 1960's along with most of the South.
So when you refer to another human being as "that one" -- remove race for a moment -- only impugns your character to the point of obscurity. Because McCain has no problems calling out Obama in his stump speeches over the last several days -- at least have the decency to refer to "that one" as "he" or "Senator Obama" or "him" or even "that dude." Because at point you've at least recovered the fact that you think Obama is actually human and happens to be running against you for public office. Anything less shows that you're at best "uppity" and at worst a racist.
Intended or not - it proves that McCain simply lacks the mental fortitude to conduct himself in a respectable manner without committing such a horrific insensitive gaffe. McCain may have just blasted through the door if this was the race card moment ... the crowed felt it, the Brits felt it -- a lot of people felt it.
Check the tape -- make sure he wasn't misquoted .... (hint: he wasn't.)
It's hard to refute the tape -- even the crowd winced when it was uttered, even the Brits across the pond went "whoa" .... how come? Because "that one" was sitting less than three feet away from John McCain and yet the best Republican that could be rounded up for the 2008 election came off as some hateful little man who would use the words "it" or "thing" to describe another human being.
Now for those who want to try to play it off like: "oh that's not what he meant" -- then you're not a real good student of history or at the very least when it comes to civil rights history when it was very common to refer to men and women of color in same manner. Look at the audience reaction - watch how they went: "oh my god, did he just say that?" This is Nashville, Tennessee -- rooted in the South -- racial inequality pretty prevalent in the 1960's along with most of the South.
So when you refer to another human being as "that one" -- remove race for a moment -- only impugns your character to the point of obscurity. Because McCain has no problems calling out Obama in his stump speeches over the last several days -- at least have the decency to refer to "that one" as "he" or "Senator Obama" or "him" or even "that dude." Because at point you've at least recovered the fact that you think Obama is actually human and happens to be running against you for public office. Anything less shows that you're at best "uppity" and at worst a racist.
Intended or not - it proves that McCain simply lacks the mental fortitude to conduct himself in a respectable manner without committing such a horrific insensitive gaffe. McCain may have just blasted through the door if this was the race card moment ... the crowed felt it, the Brits felt it -- a lot of people felt it.
Check the tape -- make sure he wasn't misquoted .... (hint: he wasn't.)
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Low-balling Sarah Palin; the new Republican game
Does playing the "low-expectations" game SO LOW for Sarah Palin become a detriment for McCain?
Think about it.
I had seriously considered that Palin has been playing possum so that she could come out and sting Joe Biden and help propel their campaign to the lofty sights of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. But if she's been "playing dumb" this entire time - being protected from the press - the whole gambit ... then why all of the reports of her inability to grasp the fundamentals of what we hope every American politican actually KNOWS.
If she is playing possum and actually is a smart cookie - who was "playing dumb" just to milk it before sticking it to Joe -- then it's a production, a ruse, a fabled lie about someone's capability. It would be the trademark of someone like "Rocky," an unknown, plain-spoken type who can "come in and rescue the day!"
It makes for good Hollywood drama -- but what would the electorate think?
If in fact this is the McCain/Palin ruse then it's all been an orchestrated LIE on the American people. The press would certainly NOT hold anything back considering she's already given several gaffes already -- so it would only paint her as being manipulating and unapologetic for duping Americans into thinking she was someone she wasn't just so that she could ramp up the debate on Joe.
Of course we have to presume that she's smart enough to develop this kind of ruse or have it bestowed upon her by the inordinate amount of staff that has been prepping the Alaskan governor.
All of this shouldn't be surprising given the party that brought us all: "Shock and Awe" and a conspiracy theory about Iraq's involvement in 9/11 that has precipitated in the Middle East rapid destabilization of the region and juvenile secrecy that this administration (and the pretenders who have protected the administration time and time again...)
Maybe the Republicans are set on playing games with the American people -- which is probably why their latest antics about being utter cry-babies about the Wall St. bail out is really not setting well with me. With their "games" at play, maybe we shouldn't be at all surprised if Palin comes out and connects a few times -- showing the nation that she's more than just the ditzy beauty pageant queen she's presented herself as. Blaming the press for your miscues, misstatements and utter incompetence resonates the fact that she doesn't have a point really....
Think about it.
I had seriously considered that Palin has been playing possum so that she could come out and sting Joe Biden and help propel their campaign to the lofty sights of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. But if she's been "playing dumb" this entire time - being protected from the press - the whole gambit ... then why all of the reports of her inability to grasp the fundamentals of what we hope every American politican actually KNOWS.
If she is playing possum and actually is a smart cookie - who was "playing dumb" just to milk it before sticking it to Joe -- then it's a production, a ruse, a fabled lie about someone's capability. It would be the trademark of someone like "Rocky," an unknown, plain-spoken type who can "come in and rescue the day!"
It makes for good Hollywood drama -- but what would the electorate think?
If in fact this is the McCain/Palin ruse then it's all been an orchestrated LIE on the American people. The press would certainly NOT hold anything back considering she's already given several gaffes already -- so it would only paint her as being manipulating and unapologetic for duping Americans into thinking she was someone she wasn't just so that she could ramp up the debate on Joe.
Of course we have to presume that she's smart enough to develop this kind of ruse or have it bestowed upon her by the inordinate amount of staff that has been prepping the Alaskan governor.
All of this shouldn't be surprising given the party that brought us all: "Shock and Awe" and a conspiracy theory about Iraq's involvement in 9/11 that has precipitated in the Middle East rapid destabilization of the region and juvenile secrecy that this administration (and the pretenders who have protected the administration time and time again...)
Maybe the Republicans are set on playing games with the American people -- which is probably why their latest antics about being utter cry-babies about the Wall St. bail out is really not setting well with me. With their "games" at play, maybe we shouldn't be at all surprised if Palin comes out and connects a few times -- showing the nation that she's more than just the ditzy beauty pageant queen she's presented herself as. Blaming the press for your miscues, misstatements and utter incompetence resonates the fact that she doesn't have a point really....
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Evaluating Palin's Economic knowledge & more...
From Couric's interview:
COURIC: Why isn't it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries; allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?
PALIN: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the—it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we've got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.
Link
---------
huh?
You know what -- I'd love to give Sarah the benefit of a doubt here -- but there's no more benefit to be given unfortunately. So assuming she was trying to articulate the common GOP/Republican mantra here: "we gotta give it to the rich so that it can filter down to the middle and lower class..."
Trickle down economics would be fine if it worked ... except that it doesn't. Moreover, if a full-blown Republican government couldn't make it work -- what makes us think that John McCain is selling anything different? But let's take a look at the tale of the tape for proof that McCain/Palin's economic policy is nothing more than a farce. Because when we look at when things were supposed to be at their "best" (dare we even utter that) -- things were still *WORSE* than they were under the Bush regime:
a.) Unemployment has never gotten close to what Bush inherited
b.) Salaries have actually DROPPED to what Bush inherited
c.) GDP may have risen, but the dollar has tanked thanks to the Bush presidency
d.) Our debt has DOUBLED in eight years after Clinton managed to score a budget surplus towards the end of his Presidency
e.) The cost of energy, the rising cost of our goods and services continue to out pace our salaries and wages
By Sarah's measure -- the economy should've been robust, exciting and lots of jobs, raising salaries and a lot of growth confidence..... oh, but it hasn't been like that for the middle and lower class, has it? It was great for the upper class with their fancy schmancy golden parachutes, obscene profits to shareholders while forgetting about the employee who watched their job go 'bye bye' overseas. Oh -- life was purdy for those folks. But it's evident that the Republican mantra simply sides with big business so that they can squeeze the average person out of the equation. Trickle down economics -- clearly only works if you're at the top of the heap and not shoveling it up from the bottom. It simply doesn't work and yet this ticket seems to think that all we need to do is hand over $700 BILLION and all smile for the camera.
The $700 BILLION also isn't going to change a damn thing. Not unless there's a drastic change in how we regulate and oversee the markets. This is why Republicans are adamant against closing provisions like the Enron Loophole. It's why the likes of McCain's adviser Lindsey Gramm (and his wife) slipped in the measure to remove the regulation processes that were installed after the Great Depression.
Why is the American taxpayer being asked to bail out those that have made it their practice to greedily take their money and run when they've failed to self-govern, self-report, and self-regulate as McCain wants them to do? Why is the American taxpayer responsible for those who continue to exploit every loophole and continually shrug off any attempt at self-responsibility or accountability so they can secure their hefty profits that inevitably screw the the rest of us? Why is it that the Republican nominee has surrounded himself with the corrupt folks responsible for this mess to begin with?
It's painful to constantly watch McCain talking out of both sides of his mouth because of the house he currently holds. It's painful to think that Bush saw this coming months ago and that's why they started working on a "PLAN" back then. If Bush had the audacity to craft a plan months ago -- THEY KNEW this was coming and did nothing to stop it. McCain "warned us" and yet continued to vote against regulations that would've kept the markets at bay. If he was "warning us" back then -- where is that legislation he put out there that could've nipped this all in the bud? Hell, I can predict that we'll reach $4.00 a gallon for gasoline -- but that doesn't mean I'm prophetic or anything.
It's really tough to trust anything having to do with his message.
Especially when he employs 7 top advisers who were operating in the THICK of this crisis -- who PERPETUATED this crisis -- and even LIES about their "alleged" involvement in the collapse of these markets. It's AMAZING that he just doesn't get the IMPROPRIETY that poisons his campaign. How the hell are we supposed to TRUST and BELIEVE this from someone who adamantly defended his campaign manager as having NO TIES to the failed Freddie Mac for the last 2 years .... only to reveal that not only was Rick Davis getting benefits from Freddie Mac as recently as a month ago .... come to find out he is *still* getting benefits from them for the foreseeable future!!
It's a single issue -- where we find the McCain/Palin wheels just coming off the bus -- one after another. It's indicative of someone who has played the politics of Washington for the last 25 years and who can't deliver the promise of change that over 80% of Americans demand while supporting the policies of a failed president over 90% of the time.
This is why John can't stay on point - it's why John can't debate the issues - it's why John has to make up facts and hope at least some of them stick because he has nothing else. It's tragic in a way - because it could've really brought out the "Maverick" approach to what he was back in 2000. The campaign is utterly confused what its message is because it has no viable policy to cling onto that can't hold any water.
If John was given a "do-over" for his Veep nod -- he probably should've chosen someone who has a working tub of knowledge about economics -- instead of locking in the beauty queen who has the beauty queen answers for everything locked down pat. Unfortunately, the vice president has to be able to lead the country instead of trying to muddle through it like we all expect it to "snap into place" come January.
Tune in folks ... Palin has to score large in order to re-write some of her most potent gaffes to date, but at least we know why she's been kept in the closet this entire time. She can undermine the message and even inadvertently back the message of their opponent.....
The ship is in trouble John...
COURIC: Why isn't it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries; allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?
PALIN: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the—it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we've got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.
Link
---------
huh?
You know what -- I'd love to give Sarah the benefit of a doubt here -- but there's no more benefit to be given unfortunately. So assuming she was trying to articulate the common GOP/Republican mantra here: "we gotta give it to the rich so that it can filter down to the middle and lower class..."
Trickle down economics would be fine if it worked ... except that it doesn't. Moreover, if a full-blown Republican government couldn't make it work -- what makes us think that John McCain is selling anything different? But let's take a look at the tale of the tape for proof that McCain/Palin's economic policy is nothing more than a farce. Because when we look at when things were supposed to be at their "best" (dare we even utter that) -- things were still *WORSE* than they were under the Bush regime:
a.) Unemployment has never gotten close to what Bush inherited
b.) Salaries have actually DROPPED to what Bush inherited
c.) GDP may have risen, but the dollar has tanked thanks to the Bush presidency
d.) Our debt has DOUBLED in eight years after Clinton managed to score a budget surplus towards the end of his Presidency
e.) The cost of energy, the rising cost of our goods and services continue to out pace our salaries and wages
By Sarah's measure -- the economy should've been robust, exciting and lots of jobs, raising salaries and a lot of growth confidence..... oh, but it hasn't been like that for the middle and lower class, has it? It was great for the upper class with their fancy schmancy golden parachutes, obscene profits to shareholders while forgetting about the employee who watched their job go 'bye bye' overseas. Oh -- life was purdy for those folks. But it's evident that the Republican mantra simply sides with big business so that they can squeeze the average person out of the equation. Trickle down economics -- clearly only works if you're at the top of the heap and not shoveling it up from the bottom. It simply doesn't work and yet this ticket seems to think that all we need to do is hand over $700 BILLION and all smile for the camera.
The $700 BILLION also isn't going to change a damn thing. Not unless there's a drastic change in how we regulate and oversee the markets. This is why Republicans are adamant against closing provisions like the Enron Loophole. It's why the likes of McCain's adviser Lindsey Gramm (and his wife) slipped in the measure to remove the regulation processes that were installed after the Great Depression.
Why is the American taxpayer being asked to bail out those that have made it their practice to greedily take their money and run when they've failed to self-govern, self-report, and self-regulate as McCain wants them to do? Why is the American taxpayer responsible for those who continue to exploit every loophole and continually shrug off any attempt at self-responsibility or accountability so they can secure their hefty profits that inevitably screw the the rest of us? Why is it that the Republican nominee has surrounded himself with the corrupt folks responsible for this mess to begin with?
It's painful to constantly watch McCain talking out of both sides of his mouth because of the house he currently holds. It's painful to think that Bush saw this coming months ago and that's why they started working on a "PLAN" back then. If Bush had the audacity to craft a plan months ago -- THEY KNEW this was coming and did nothing to stop it. McCain "warned us" and yet continued to vote against regulations that would've kept the markets at bay. If he was "warning us" back then -- where is that legislation he put out there that could've nipped this all in the bud? Hell, I can predict that we'll reach $4.00 a gallon for gasoline -- but that doesn't mean I'm prophetic or anything.
It's really tough to trust anything having to do with his message.
Especially when he employs 7 top advisers who were operating in the THICK of this crisis -- who PERPETUATED this crisis -- and even LIES about their "alleged" involvement in the collapse of these markets. It's AMAZING that he just doesn't get the IMPROPRIETY that poisons his campaign. How the hell are we supposed to TRUST and BELIEVE this from someone who adamantly defended his campaign manager as having NO TIES to the failed Freddie Mac for the last 2 years .... only to reveal that not only was Rick Davis getting benefits from Freddie Mac as recently as a month ago .... come to find out he is *still* getting benefits from them for the foreseeable future!!
It's a single issue -- where we find the McCain/Palin wheels just coming off the bus -- one after another. It's indicative of someone who has played the politics of Washington for the last 25 years and who can't deliver the promise of change that over 80% of Americans demand while supporting the policies of a failed president over 90% of the time.
This is why John can't stay on point - it's why John can't debate the issues - it's why John has to make up facts and hope at least some of them stick because he has nothing else. It's tragic in a way - because it could've really brought out the "Maverick" approach to what he was back in 2000. The campaign is utterly confused what its message is because it has no viable policy to cling onto that can't hold any water.
If John was given a "do-over" for his Veep nod -- he probably should've chosen someone who has a working tub of knowledge about economics -- instead of locking in the beauty queen who has the beauty queen answers for everything locked down pat. Unfortunately, the vice president has to be able to lead the country instead of trying to muddle through it like we all expect it to "snap into place" come January.
Tune in folks ... Palin has to score large in order to re-write some of her most potent gaffes to date, but at least we know why she's been kept in the closet this entire time. She can undermine the message and even inadvertently back the message of their opponent.....
The ship is in trouble John...
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
I've Ranted, I've Raved, but....
Anyone who knows anything about me, knows that I have a love and thirst for politics. I minored in it when I was in college and I've paid careful attention to the world around us ever since. I guess that's why I get so passionate about the direction of the country and who I think is best to lead.
Regardless if you agree or disagree with my particular political viewpoints -- you play an integral part in the future of this country. Even though it would disappoint me if you subscribe to the R-point-of-view, your participation in the process is far more important and crucial to the success of the freedoms we have been granted over the last 200 years. Your participation is reflective of the sacrifice of the men and women who have paid dearly to defend this country to preserve that freedom. To turn your back on the process negates that fight of everyone who dedicated their lives and who invested every ounce of their being towards protecting our freedom of choice, our freedom of speech and our freedom to elect who we believe is the best candidate to lead us into the future.
If you sit idle - and do nothing, not only do you lose your right to complain about how bad things are, but you scorn the memory of those who fought to give you that right in the first place. Don't take it for granted.
That's why I call upon YOU - to get involved in the process and to register to vote. Registration deadlines are quickly approaching and there's a place online you can go to see if you are registered. Click here. Yes, I realize it takes you to an Obama site, but they don't collect your information and you don't have to worry about getting littered with Obama stuff. It checks the national registry to see if you're registered or not.
Go register and then on November 4th go vote. If you're Republican - your day to vote is November 5th .... (okay okay, just kidding....)
Regardless if you agree or disagree with my particular political viewpoints -- you play an integral part in the future of this country. Even though it would disappoint me if you subscribe to the R-point-of-view, your participation in the process is far more important and crucial to the success of the freedoms we have been granted over the last 200 years. Your participation is reflective of the sacrifice of the men and women who have paid dearly to defend this country to preserve that freedom. To turn your back on the process negates that fight of everyone who dedicated their lives and who invested every ounce of their being towards protecting our freedom of choice, our freedom of speech and our freedom to elect who we believe is the best candidate to lead us into the future.
If you sit idle - and do nothing, not only do you lose your right to complain about how bad things are, but you scorn the memory of those who fought to give you that right in the first place. Don't take it for granted.
That's why I call upon YOU - to get involved in the process and to register to vote. Registration deadlines are quickly approaching and there's a place online you can go to see if you are registered. Click here. Yes, I realize it takes you to an Obama site, but they don't collect your information and you don't have to worry about getting littered with Obama stuff. It checks the national registry to see if you're registered or not.
Go register and then on November 4th go vote. If you're Republican - your day to vote is November 5th .... (okay okay, just kidding....)
Another Memo to McCain...
John, John, John.... Whoa....
Advice: Next time you try to come clean that no one in your campaign had any involvement in something ... you may actually want to double-check and make sure they don't...
McCain on 60 Minutes touted that his campaign manager "had nothing to do with Freddie Mac since 2005..."
This "Whoops" moment is brought to you by the New York Times and Newsweek: "One of the giant mortgage companies at the heart of the credit crisis paid $15,000 a month to a firm owned by Senator John McCain's campaign manager from the end of 2005 through last month, according to two people with direct knowledge of the arrangement. The disclosure contradicts a statement Sunday night by Mr. McCain that the campaign manager, Rick Davis, had no involvement with the company for the last several years. Mr. Davis's firm received the payments from the company, Freddie Mac, until it was taken over by the government this month along with Fannie Mae, the other big mortgage lender whose deteriorating finances helped precipitate the cascading problems on Wall Street, the people said..."
I forget ... how many lies is Johnny Mac up to now?? And the Republicans continue to support this kind of fraud blindly?? *sighs*
Advice: Next time you try to come clean that no one in your campaign had any involvement in something ... you may actually want to double-check and make sure they don't...
McCain on 60 Minutes touted that his campaign manager "had nothing to do with Freddie Mac since 2005..."
This "Whoops" moment is brought to you by the New York Times and Newsweek: "One of the giant mortgage companies at the heart of the credit crisis paid $15,000 a month to a firm owned by Senator John McCain's campaign manager from the end of 2005 through last month, according to two people with direct knowledge of the arrangement. The disclosure contradicts a statement Sunday night by Mr. McCain that the campaign manager, Rick Davis, had no involvement with the company for the last several years. Mr. Davis's firm received the payments from the company, Freddie Mac, until it was taken over by the government this month along with Fannie Mae, the other big mortgage lender whose deteriorating finances helped precipitate the cascading problems on Wall Street, the people said..."
I forget ... how many lies is Johnny Mac up to now?? And the Republicans continue to support this kind of fraud blindly?? *sighs*
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Nice spin by the Treasury Secretary...
I find it ironic that Treasury Secretary comes out today and says:
"Taxpayers should be protected. This should not be a handout to Wall Street. It should be structured in a way that maximizes the ability of taxpayers to recoup their investment."
Whoa whoa whoa whoa WHOA!
The American tax payer isn't INTERESTED in "INVESTMENT" in the incredible debacle on Wall Street. I'm absolutely appalled that Paulson could have the nerve to call this an "investment" for the American taxpayer. That notion implies that all of us somehow WANTED to bail out Wall Street as opposed to being told we ARE going to bail out Wall Street to keep the market from collapsing.
That's not an "investment" -- they call that a LOAN.
The only thing is: you and I will never see any "dividends" from our "investment"... hell, we'll be lucky if that money even gets re-paid to us.
So that's why I think Obama is right here: if we're going to bail out Wall Street -- then it's time to also bail out Main Street. Bush and McCain seem comfortable letting CEOs and Big Oil score incredible profits -- hand over fist ... but when they screw up, then it's up to the American taxpayer to bail THEM out when they spent foolishly and made incredibly poor business decisions.
I don't want to see the market crash and all of us suffer -- but I'm not satisfied how the American taxpayer is going to be able to "cash in" after Paulson's comment. Let's see what the flip-flopper has to say about this....
"Taxpayers should be protected. This should not be a handout to Wall Street. It should be structured in a way that maximizes the ability of taxpayers to recoup their investment."
Whoa whoa whoa whoa WHOA!
The American tax payer isn't INTERESTED in "INVESTMENT" in the incredible debacle on Wall Street. I'm absolutely appalled that Paulson could have the nerve to call this an "investment" for the American taxpayer. That notion implies that all of us somehow WANTED to bail out Wall Street as opposed to being told we ARE going to bail out Wall Street to keep the market from collapsing.
That's not an "investment" -- they call that a LOAN.
The only thing is: you and I will never see any "dividends" from our "investment"... hell, we'll be lucky if that money even gets re-paid to us.
So that's why I think Obama is right here: if we're going to bail out Wall Street -- then it's time to also bail out Main Street. Bush and McCain seem comfortable letting CEOs and Big Oil score incredible profits -- hand over fist ... but when they screw up, then it's up to the American taxpayer to bail THEM out when they spent foolishly and made incredibly poor business decisions.
I don't want to see the market crash and all of us suffer -- but I'm not satisfied how the American taxpayer is going to be able to "cash in" after Paulson's comment. Let's see what the flip-flopper has to say about this....
Saturday, September 20, 2008
The issue no one wants to talk about....
Even though nearly every Obama opponent denies it -- it would appear that race is going to be a determining factor in the 2008 election. Now before anyone gets all huffy puffy about it, let me make something perfectly clear: if you're finding yourself in support of McCain after being misled on the facts about Obama and/or his policies -- then you haven't been truthful about the reasons why you don't support Obama or you're not being truthful with yourself.
I say that because the most idiotic reason people have been saying why they aren't voting for Obama is the obliquitous thought that he's Muslim. It's false. An all out lie. An utter distortion and malfeasance by the right-wing designed to do but one thing: to smear, to capitalize on the fact that his last name happens to be close to our malicious evil foe: Osama..... Bin Laden. So for those that want to believe that Obama is a Muslim -- then you're merely looking for a reason why you don't want to vote for him.
At the very core of your honor -- you should at least pick a rational explanation why you don't support him instead of hiding behind the lie and making that your self-anointed justification for not supporting the man.
The Muslim shtick is just one in a long line of Karl Rovian political tactics that are approved by John Sydney McCain III. Which is exactly what happened most recently when he touted that Obama was advocating for sex education to be taught to kindergartners -- a bold face lie. For anyone with partial brain function can figure out that Obama's plan was set forth to educate school children who might not KNOW they had been sexually assaulted or touched inappropriately. That's why Obama's plan is to set out guidelines for teachers to conduct AGE APPROPRIATE education in the matter of sexual assault.
It's utterly and completely morally reprehensible that we even NEED to teach our very young children the dangers of sexual predators -- but this is the REALITY we live in. But "this message is approved by John McCain" was sent out instead to the fear-laden parents, scaring them into thinking that Obama wants to teach your kindergartner what contraceptives are for. It worked in 2000 and worked again in 2004. You'd hope that America was smarter than that. Oh -- they are smarter than that, but it's clear some need an Oprah moment to clear away their conscience a bit and start healing from whatever racial wrongs they think they've endured.
The Karl Rovian tactics are designed to do one thing: to put rocks in your shoes. In your mind, all you need is a single reason why you don't want to support Obama. That's why when you're asked why you don't support him, your reason settles on the Muslim tactic -- then you were merely looking for a reason, ANY REASON that would satisfy your little universe. It's unfortunate really. Because whatever malformed opinion you have of the Democratic nominee for President - the tragedy here is it's the basis of the color of his skin that matters most of all. The fact he's black supersedes any concern you must have about our standing the world, the economy and the growing problems we face. It's tragic that it's the hue of his skin - not the man, the soul behind the policies and causes of hope sought to inspire Americans to step up and do something about the tragic mess the Republicans have made for us.
I only ask that you at least have the guts to show up and stand up to say THAT is your real reason. Then that way the discussion can end because it would be overly apparent that someone who can't look beyond the color of one's skin -- doesn't deserve anymore dialogue to be had. Because no matter what counter-sources I can find to deflate your little Muslim antics -- it's never going to matter because at the end of the debate ... Obama is still a black man.
If only I could get you to look beyond your inner racism ...
....deep down, I think you want change.
Because deep down I don't think America wants another 4 years of the last 8 years. Deep down, I don't think America is really satisfied with the"progress" failures of this administration. Deep down, I don't think you feel John McCain is the "best" the Republican Party could offer. Deep down, I don't think you support the incessant flip-flopping, throwing every sail in the wind to catch a break - McCain - because this is what you're going to get when you vote for him.
Look at the headlines in just the last week alone....
- He was against regulations before he was for it despite having a rather illustrious history in his 26 years in the government adamantly opposing any regulation measure that crossed his desk (see: The Keating Five for more information)
- He was against bailouts before being for it, then against it again.
- Now he wants to make health care to be as de-regulated as our banking market right now -- despite the fact we're going to have to suck up and pay $1 TRILLION to clean up the mess that his trusted adviser Phil Gramm crafted in the early 1990's.
- But let's trust that the "economy is fundamentally sound" before retracting it under a heavy spray of water that "oh, what he really meant was...."
So while I will continue to hear your every bone-head excuse from "uppity" to questioning his patriotism ... then at least have the guts to come out with your real reasons and stop continuing to spread the lies just to hide your layers inner prejudice.
And if you're willing to find some REAL reasons why you can't support Barack Obama -- let me know. I want to hear what you have to say.
I say that because the most idiotic reason people have been saying why they aren't voting for Obama is the obliquitous thought that he's Muslim. It's false. An all out lie. An utter distortion and malfeasance by the right-wing designed to do but one thing: to smear, to capitalize on the fact that his last name happens to be close to our malicious evil foe: Osama..... Bin Laden. So for those that want to believe that Obama is a Muslim -- then you're merely looking for a reason why you don't want to vote for him.
At the very core of your honor -- you should at least pick a rational explanation why you don't support him instead of hiding behind the lie and making that your self-anointed justification for not supporting the man.
The Muslim shtick is just one in a long line of Karl Rovian political tactics that are approved by John Sydney McCain III. Which is exactly what happened most recently when he touted that Obama was advocating for sex education to be taught to kindergartners -- a bold face lie. For anyone with partial brain function can figure out that Obama's plan was set forth to educate school children who might not KNOW they had been sexually assaulted or touched inappropriately. That's why Obama's plan is to set out guidelines for teachers to conduct AGE APPROPRIATE education in the matter of sexual assault.
It's utterly and completely morally reprehensible that we even NEED to teach our very young children the dangers of sexual predators -- but this is the REALITY we live in. But "this message is approved by John McCain" was sent out instead to the fear-laden parents, scaring them into thinking that Obama wants to teach your kindergartner what contraceptives are for. It worked in 2000 and worked again in 2004. You'd hope that America was smarter than that. Oh -- they are smarter than that, but it's clear some need an Oprah moment to clear away their conscience a bit and start healing from whatever racial wrongs they think they've endured.
The Karl Rovian tactics are designed to do one thing: to put rocks in your shoes. In your mind, all you need is a single reason why you don't want to support Obama. That's why when you're asked why you don't support him, your reason settles on the Muslim tactic -- then you were merely looking for a reason, ANY REASON that would satisfy your little universe. It's unfortunate really. Because whatever malformed opinion you have of the Democratic nominee for President - the tragedy here is it's the basis of the color of his skin that matters most of all. The fact he's black supersedes any concern you must have about our standing the world, the economy and the growing problems we face. It's tragic that it's the hue of his skin - not the man, the soul behind the policies and causes of hope sought to inspire Americans to step up and do something about the tragic mess the Republicans have made for us.
I only ask that you at least have the guts to show up and stand up to say THAT is your real reason. Then that way the discussion can end because it would be overly apparent that someone who can't look beyond the color of one's skin -- doesn't deserve anymore dialogue to be had. Because no matter what counter-sources I can find to deflate your little Muslim antics -- it's never going to matter because at the end of the debate ... Obama is still a black man.
If only I could get you to look beyond your inner racism ...
....deep down, I think you want change.
Because deep down I don't think America wants another 4 years of the last 8 years. Deep down, I don't think America is really satisfied with the
Look at the headlines in just the last week alone....
- He was against regulations before he was for it despite having a rather illustrious history in his 26 years in the government adamantly opposing any regulation measure that crossed his desk (see: The Keating Five for more information)
- He was against bailouts before being for it, then against it again.
- Now he wants to make health care to be as de-regulated as our banking market right now -- despite the fact we're going to have to suck up and pay $1 TRILLION to clean up the mess that his trusted adviser Phil Gramm crafted in the early 1990's.
- But let's trust that the "economy is fundamentally sound" before retracting it under a heavy spray of water that "oh, what he really meant was...."
So while I will continue to hear your every bone-head excuse from "uppity" to questioning his patriotism ... then at least have the guts to come out with your real reasons and stop continuing to spread the lies just to hide your layers inner prejudice.
And if you're willing to find some REAL reasons why you can't support Barack Obama -- let me know. I want to hear what you have to say.
new look - getting ready for the last surge!
Many thanks to Darby for updating my blog look here.
My twitter feed is on the left hand side so that you can easily find out what I'm reading during the day. A lot of news out there and instead of dedicating a full blog entry to it -- I'm twittering it instead.
We're almost 40 days away from the November 4th election. Buckle up, don your hard hat -- you're going for a ride.
My twitter feed is on the left hand side so that you can easily find out what I'm reading during the day. A lot of news out there and instead of dedicating a full blog entry to it -- I'm twittering it instead.
We're almost 40 days away from the November 4th election. Buckle up, don your hard hat -- you're going for a ride.
Posting a response....
(I'm posting the full response to a friend of mine who had a comment left in her Facebook about McCain and the current economic mess. Suffice to say, I think we're going to disagree...)
With all due respect -- our GDP was soaring pretty good in the 1990's. Our unemployment was lower than what this administration has accomplished. Our energy prices was significantly lower than what we face today. We had a very strong dollar and we even had a budget surplus of a true sign of things to come.
So when you're claiming that "raising taxes isn't going to help this economy" there's a surprising disconnect between what was accomplished in the 90's and today. The Democrats want to restore taxes to the levels they were in the 1990's -- which -- by the measures I've already indicated, still functioned incredibly well in a perfectly fine flourishing economy.
Yet when you compare the national spending over the last 30 years it would seem that the economy did better under Democratic leadership and not that from the Republican party. Reaganomics may have jolted the economy, but at the expense of an explosion of our national debt -- something that Bush 41 and Bush 43 has continued to pile on.
Bottom line: Trickle down economics hasn't benefited the American economy -- in fact, the spigot is looking pretty dry at the moment. Not when jobs are going overseas and our work force has to shell out more money for education so that they can support their families. Not when salaries continue to stagnate or even start to dip.. Not when the average tax-paying American family can barely keep up with the rising cost of living, cost of health insurance while enduring a substantial spike in energy prices. You can forget the entire notion of investing because most families are simply trying to make ends meet. Trickle down economics seeks to preserve the incredibly obscene profits that CEO's and stockholders who stand to benefit at the expense of the hard working American worker.
If you inject the American tax-payer more money -- they will spend more. Look at the comparison of rising salaries and consumer spending. So why not put MORE money in the hands of the consumer while re-instating our taxes back to a period of time that actually worked.
However, I am in agreement that borrowing from other nations is an exceptionally horrid problem -- but when we have Republicans cutting taxes and willfully spending to their fingers break off -- then I'm dumbfounded how you can support the likes of John McCain.
Especially after his chief adviser is Phil Graham -- who orchestrated the extensive deregulation process when he was Senator. Especially after McCain has come out completely in favor of deregulation that we currently have -- as well as FUTURE deregulation when it comes to his health care plan. He wants to make the deregulation efforts of the banking industry to become the template for his plan for health care!
We also can't forget that McCain's own association and portrayal during the entire Keating-Five scandal should lay a pretty significant precedent to his thoughts on deregulating the markets and letting them crumble as they have. Taking a laissez faire approach to the economy -- letting them sort things out -- is the kind of inaction that got us in this financial mess in the FIRST PLACE!
I'm also a little shell-shocked of the apparent approval of our foreign policy. Why do you think other nations look at the United States with a sense of scorn and dis-taste? Why do you think the world doesn't really take us seriously right now? When you thumb you nose at the world, do whatever you want to do (invade whatever country you want to invade), and then sit and stay quiet like some petulant child who didn't get their way ... that's not a well established foreign policy.
Iraq will falter - because this administration has refused to address the Shia problem. Our agreement with North Korea appears to be falling apart. We stoked the incursion of Russia into Georgia by calling for the deployment of a missile shield in Turkey. We are currently in a stand-off with our "ally" after trying to go after Al Qaeda and the insurgents in the mountain ranges between Afghanistan and Pakistan. All the while we've let Al Qaeda grow back to pre-9/11 levels by not addressing the existence of their camps in northern Africa and Southeast Asia. Oh - and we continue to sit idle and let the genocide to continue in the Sudan.
And for someone (McCain) who has continually supported the decisions of this administration -- foreign and domestic -- if you're absolutely sold on the idea that we need another 4 years of the last 8 years -- then that makes absolutely no sense. If you believe that we don't need any change -- if you believe we don't need to regulate our markets or to continue this perverse approach to being a world leader by unilaterally bombing countries who had no linkage to 9/11 .... and if you think we don't need change .... then .... then .... what else can I say, but I'm shocked.
With all due respect -- our GDP was soaring pretty good in the 1990's. Our unemployment was lower than what this administration has accomplished. Our energy prices was significantly lower than what we face today. We had a very strong dollar and we even had a budget surplus of a true sign of things to come.
So when you're claiming that "raising taxes isn't going to help this economy" there's a surprising disconnect between what was accomplished in the 90's and today. The Democrats want to restore taxes to the levels they were in the 1990's -- which -- by the measures I've already indicated, still functioned incredibly well in a perfectly fine flourishing economy.
Yet when you compare the national spending over the last 30 years it would seem that the economy did better under Democratic leadership and not that from the Republican party. Reaganomics may have jolted the economy, but at the expense of an explosion of our national debt -- something that Bush 41 and Bush 43 has continued to pile on.
Bottom line: Trickle down economics hasn't benefited the American economy -- in fact, the spigot is looking pretty dry at the moment. Not when jobs are going overseas and our work force has to shell out more money for education so that they can support their families. Not when salaries continue to stagnate or even start to dip.. Not when the average tax-paying American family can barely keep up with the rising cost of living, cost of health insurance while enduring a substantial spike in energy prices. You can forget the entire notion of investing because most families are simply trying to make ends meet. Trickle down economics seeks to preserve the incredibly obscene profits that CEO's and stockholders who stand to benefit at the expense of the hard working American worker.
If you inject the American tax-payer more money -- they will spend more. Look at the comparison of rising salaries and consumer spending. So why not put MORE money in the hands of the consumer while re-instating our taxes back to a period of time that actually worked.
However, I am in agreement that borrowing from other nations is an exceptionally horrid problem -- but when we have Republicans cutting taxes and willfully spending to their fingers break off -- then I'm dumbfounded how you can support the likes of John McCain.
Especially after his chief adviser is Phil Graham -- who orchestrated the extensive deregulation process when he was Senator. Especially after McCain has come out completely in favor of deregulation that we currently have -- as well as FUTURE deregulation when it comes to his health care plan. He wants to make the deregulation efforts of the banking industry to become the template for his plan for health care!
We also can't forget that McCain's own association and portrayal during the entire Keating-Five scandal should lay a pretty significant precedent to his thoughts on deregulating the markets and letting them crumble as they have. Taking a laissez faire approach to the economy -- letting them sort things out -- is the kind of inaction that got us in this financial mess in the FIRST PLACE!
I'm also a little shell-shocked of the apparent approval of our foreign policy. Why do you think other nations look at the United States with a sense of scorn and dis-taste? Why do you think the world doesn't really take us seriously right now? When you thumb you nose at the world, do whatever you want to do (invade whatever country you want to invade), and then sit and stay quiet like some petulant child who didn't get their way ... that's not a well established foreign policy.
Iraq will falter - because this administration has refused to address the Shia problem. Our agreement with North Korea appears to be falling apart. We stoked the incursion of Russia into Georgia by calling for the deployment of a missile shield in Turkey. We are currently in a stand-off with our "ally" after trying to go after Al Qaeda and the insurgents in the mountain ranges between Afghanistan and Pakistan. All the while we've let Al Qaeda grow back to pre-9/11 levels by not addressing the existence of their camps in northern Africa and Southeast Asia. Oh - and we continue to sit idle and let the genocide to continue in the Sudan.
And for someone (McCain) who has continually supported the decisions of this administration -- foreign and domestic -- if you're absolutely sold on the idea that we need another 4 years of the last 8 years -- then that makes absolutely no sense. If you believe that we don't need any change -- if you believe we don't need to regulate our markets or to continue this perverse approach to being a world leader by unilaterally bombing countries who had no linkage to 9/11 .... and if you think we don't need change .... then .... then .... what else can I say, but I'm shocked.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
McCain's Economy...
Headlines from The Huffington Post says it all:
"ECONOMICS IS NOT SOMETHING I'VE UNDERSTOOD AS WELL AS I SHOULD"
'AMERICANS ARE BETTER OFF NOW THAN THEY WERE EIGHT YEARS AGO'... "WE'RE WORSE OFF THAN WE WERE FOUR YEARS AGO"... "THE FUNDAMENTALS OF OUR ECONOMY ARE STRONG"...
WE'RE IN A "TOTAL CRISIS" CREATED BY WALL STREET "GREED"...
MAJOR SUPPORTER: MCCAIN COULDN'T RUN A COMPANY...
Coming from the guy who just the other day said: "our economy is fundamentally sound...."
Banks going bankrupt...
Housing mortgage crisis...
Unemployment on the rise...
Gas prices TRIPLED in the last 8 years...
Energy prices skyrocketed...
Wages down...
Commodities, goods and services steadily rising...
Dollar suffering...
Stocks collapsing...
Trillion dollar budget deficits...
Doubling the national debt...
Sucked into an 6-year war spending BILLIONS each month...
Fundamentally WHAT?!?!?
Exactly what planet is he from!?!?
"ECONOMICS IS NOT SOMETHING I'VE UNDERSTOOD AS WELL AS I SHOULD"
'AMERICANS ARE BETTER OFF NOW THAN THEY WERE EIGHT YEARS AGO'... "WE'RE WORSE OFF THAN WE WERE FOUR YEARS AGO"... "THE FUNDAMENTALS OF OUR ECONOMY ARE STRONG"...
WE'RE IN A "TOTAL CRISIS" CREATED BY WALL STREET "GREED"...
MAJOR SUPPORTER: MCCAIN COULDN'T RUN A COMPANY...
Coming from the guy who just the other day said: "our economy is fundamentally sound...."
Banks going bankrupt...
Housing mortgage crisis...
Unemployment on the rise...
Gas prices TRIPLED in the last 8 years...
Energy prices skyrocketed...
Wages down...
Commodities, goods and services steadily rising...
Dollar suffering...
Stocks collapsing...
Trillion dollar budget deficits...
Doubling the national debt...
Sucked into an 6-year war spending BILLIONS each month...
Fundamentally WHAT?!?!?
Exactly what planet is he from!?!?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Palin bubble goes "pop"??
"The polls reflected the early success of her strategy. In the three days after Palin joined Team McCain--Aug. 29-31--32 percent of voters told the pollsters at Diageo/Hotline that they had a favorable opinion of her; most (48 percent) didn't know enough to say. By Sept. 4, however, 43 percent of Diageo/Hotline respondents approved of Palin with only 25 percent disapproving--an 18-point split. Apparently, voters were liking what they were hearing. Four days later, Palin's approval rating had climbed to 47 percent (+17), and by Sept. 13 it had hit 52 percent. The gap at that point between her favorable and unfavorable numbers--22 percent--was larger than either McCain's (+20) or Obama's (+13).
But then a funny thing happened: Palin lost some of her luster. Since Sept. 13, Palin's unfavorables have climbed from 30 percent to 36 percent. Meanwhile, her favorables have slipped from 52 percent to 48 percent. That's a three-day net swing of -10 points, and it leaves her in the Sept. 15 Diageo/Hotline tracking poll tied for the smallest favorability split (+12) of any of the Final Four. Over the course of a single weekend, in other words, Palin went from being the most popular White House hopeful to the least.
What happened? I'd argue that Palin's considerable novelty is starting to wear off. In part it's the result of a steady stream of unhelpful stories: her unfamiliarity with the Bush Doctrine during last Thursday's interview with Charles Gibson (video above); her refusal to cooperate with the Troopergate investigation; her repeated stretching of the truth on everything from earmarks to the Bridge to Nowhere to the amount of energy her state produces. That stuff has a way of inspiring disapproval and eroding one's support. (Interestingly, Palin's preparedness numbers--about 50 percent yes, 45 percent no--haven't budged.) But mostly it's the start of an inevitable process. Between now and Nov. 4, voters will stop seeing Palin as a fascinating story and starting taking her measure as an actual candidate for office. Some will approve; some won't. It remains to be seen whether Palin's recent slide will continue, or hurt John McCain in the polls. But it's hard to argue that the journey from intriguing new superstar to earthbound politician--a necessary part of the process--doesn't involve a loss of altitude.
Just ask Barack Obama."
full article here
But then a funny thing happened: Palin lost some of her luster. Since Sept. 13, Palin's unfavorables have climbed from 30 percent to 36 percent. Meanwhile, her favorables have slipped from 52 percent to 48 percent. That's a three-day net swing of -10 points, and it leaves her in the Sept. 15 Diageo/Hotline tracking poll tied for the smallest favorability split (+12) of any of the Final Four. Over the course of a single weekend, in other words, Palin went from being the most popular White House hopeful to the least.
What happened? I'd argue that Palin's considerable novelty is starting to wear off. In part it's the result of a steady stream of unhelpful stories: her unfamiliarity with the Bush Doctrine during last Thursday's interview with Charles Gibson (video above); her refusal to cooperate with the Troopergate investigation; her repeated stretching of the truth on everything from earmarks to the Bridge to Nowhere to the amount of energy her state produces. That stuff has a way of inspiring disapproval and eroding one's support. (Interestingly, Palin's preparedness numbers--about 50 percent yes, 45 percent no--haven't budged.) But mostly it's the start of an inevitable process. Between now and Nov. 4, voters will stop seeing Palin as a fascinating story and starting taking her measure as an actual candidate for office. Some will approve; some won't. It remains to be seen whether Palin's recent slide will continue, or hurt John McCain in the polls. But it's hard to argue that the journey from intriguing new superstar to earthbound politician--a necessary part of the process--doesn't involve a loss of altitude.
Just ask Barack Obama."
full article here
Another round of wonderful news...
...brought to you by the Republican Party...
Palin Fundraises With Ohio CEO Of Company Behind Job Losses
McCain's Very Bad Day
"McCain's campaign has been all over the place today - from the economy, to his criticism of morning show anchors, to whether he invented the BlackBerry and on Sarah Palin's inability to run a company. And to make matters worse, conservative pundits are turning against McCain.
The biggest flub came this morning when McCain slammed Wall Street "fat cats" even though his single biggest donor is Merrill Lynch. After denouncing the very people that help pay for his campaign, McCain suggested the government set up a commission to look into what went wrong."
Less than comforting reviews for the Republican Vice President nominee...
Palin Fundraises With Ohio CEO Of Company Behind Job Losses
McCain's Very Bad Day
"McCain's campaign has been all over the place today - from the economy, to his criticism of morning show anchors, to whether he invented the BlackBerry and on Sarah Palin's inability to run a company. And to make matters worse, conservative pundits are turning against McCain.
The biggest flub came this morning when McCain slammed Wall Street "fat cats" even though his single biggest donor is Merrill Lynch. After denouncing the very people that help pay for his campaign, McCain suggested the government set up a commission to look into what went wrong."
Less than comforting reviews for the Republican Vice President nominee...
Biden goes after McCain and his sudden shift on the economy
""It seems like John's had an epiphany. Nine o'clock yesterday morning, John thought the economy was going great guns and the Bush administration was doing well, and today he thinks it's in crisis," Biden said on CBS' "The Early Show."
Biden said the Democratic presidential campaign's solutions for the economic crisis include giving middle-class taxpayers a substantial tax break, putting an end to Bush administration tax cuts that favor the wealthy, investing in infrastructure, and changing bankruptcy laws to help people facing foreclosure.
"My lord, take a look at what — who got us in this hole, whose policies," Biden said. "This has been a Republican philosophy of letting Wall Street do what they want and the middle class be damned. It's about time we change it. If I sound like I'm angry, I am fighting mad for middle-class people who have been the scapegoat of this economy because of the policies of the McCains and the Bushes.""
more here
Biden said the Democratic presidential campaign's solutions for the economic crisis include giving middle-class taxpayers a substantial tax break, putting an end to Bush administration tax cuts that favor the wealthy, investing in infrastructure, and changing bankruptcy laws to help people facing foreclosure.
"My lord, take a look at what — who got us in this hole, whose policies," Biden said. "This has been a Republican philosophy of letting Wall Street do what they want and the middle class be damned. It's about time we change it. If I sound like I'm angry, I am fighting mad for middle-class people who have been the scapegoat of this economy because of the policies of the McCains and the Bushes.""
more here
Monday, September 15, 2008
McCain Lie number ....?
Oh - so NOW McCain says that Obama didn't call Palin a pig....
"Did he call her a pig?" McCain was asked. "No, I but know that he chooses his words carefully, and it was the wrong thing to say," he responded."
Flippity Floppity
And this is what the R's have for integrity in the White House?? A guy whose camp touted: "They were offended, they said, because it was a slam against Palin, who told a joke involving lipstick at the Republican convention."
"The charges were incendiary enough to shift the discussion, forcing Obama off message, and into a defensive posture. By week's end, he had declared his intention to run a more aggressive campaign. But in the meantime, Obama had to defend himself against charges of sexism at a Virginia library appearance that was originally designed to increase his appeal among women voters. It almost did not matter that McCain had prompted a backlash from the press who repeatedly pointed out that both claims were wildly misleading."
read more here...
Once again I ask -- is this the BEST that Johnnie Mac can do??
Because if all he's capable of doing is lying and pouting like some insolent child -- then he doesn't even qualify to being considered for the CHEF of the Commander in Chief test....
What an absolute JOKE!!
"Did he call her a pig?" McCain was asked. "No, I but know that he chooses his words carefully, and it was the wrong thing to say," he responded."
Flippity Floppity
And this is what the R's have for integrity in the White House?? A guy whose camp touted: "They were offended, they said, because it was a slam against Palin, who told a joke involving lipstick at the Republican convention."
"The charges were incendiary enough to shift the discussion, forcing Obama off message, and into a defensive posture. By week's end, he had declared his intention to run a more aggressive campaign. But in the meantime, Obama had to defend himself against charges of sexism at a Virginia library appearance that was originally designed to increase his appeal among women voters. It almost did not matter that McCain had prompted a backlash from the press who repeatedly pointed out that both claims were wildly misleading."
read more here...
Once again I ask -- is this the BEST that Johnnie Mac can do??
Because if all he's capable of doing is lying and pouting like some insolent child -- then he doesn't even qualify to being considered for the CHEF of the Commander in Chief test....
What an absolute JOKE!!
The R's have officially lost any backbone...
You know it's bad when your party's presidential nominee can't defend anything when he goes on The View.. It's interesting to read Cindy McCain's epitaph where "they picked our bones clean" when clearly the R's simply have gone on waaaaay too long without any level of accountability..
Here's what Cindy had to say about the way her husband John was treated on the View:
"In spite of what you see …in the newspapers, and on shows like The View — I don't know if any of you saw The View yesterday, they picked our bones clean — in spite of what you see, that's not what the American people are saying and what they are believing," said McCain, in a recording obtained by ABC News. "They are now seeing a clear difference with these candidates, and they are seeing who is going to make the best president, and that's why we're pulling ahead."
read more here
Here's what Cindy had to say about the way her husband John was treated on the View:
"In spite of what you see …in the newspapers, and on shows like The View — I don't know if any of you saw The View yesterday, they picked our bones clean — in spite of what you see, that's not what the American people are saying and what they are believing," said McCain, in a recording obtained by ABC News. "They are now seeing a clear difference with these candidates, and they are seeing who is going to make the best president, and that's why we're pulling ahead."
read more here
Obama .... awesome!
We just got done today chasing Barrack Obama throughout the Grand Valley -- pictures to come.. It was exciting - watching his plane pulling in - the escort - the buzz of people - and here's Obama: talking on his phone :)
I say it playfully because I'm sure he's got a lot going on all the time - so when he's not in the air, he's catching some time on the phone with whomever.. Of course it could've been Michelle or some other staffer.. The news of the day where McCain clearly doesn't GRASP the "basic fundamental of our economy..."
Still - it was exciting, it was fun - and it was nice having Obama here..
Thanks Barrack!
I say it playfully because I'm sure he's got a lot going on all the time - so when he's not in the air, he's catching some time on the phone with whomever.. Of course it could've been Michelle or some other staffer.. The news of the day where McCain clearly doesn't GRASP the "basic fundamental of our economy..."
Still - it was exciting, it was fun - and it was nice having Obama here..
Thanks Barrack!
Market in Chaos...
Two major brokerage firms are on the verge of collapse at a time when numerous banks have been bailed out by the government ... why??
It seems that when you continually protect the likes of "Big Oil" -- and turn your attention completely away at the notion that a constant spike in energy prices is going to affect the health of the economy....
Oh - NOW the Republicans get it.....
No matter how much you try to reason with them, when it's THEIR portfolio suddenly in danger -- oh, they're going to start paying attention...
....and they want to privatize social security with investments handled with the likes of these brokerage firms....
Yeah -- I'd have to say the R's don't have much to stand on anymore.. I'm sure if they can spin this towards Clinton -- they soon will...
It seems that when you continually protect the likes of "Big Oil" -- and turn your attention completely away at the notion that a constant spike in energy prices is going to affect the health of the economy....
Oh - NOW the Republicans get it.....
No matter how much you try to reason with them, when it's THEIR portfolio suddenly in danger -- oh, they're going to start paying attention...
....and they want to privatize social security with investments handled with the likes of these brokerage firms....
Yeah -- I'd have to say the R's don't have much to stand on anymore.. I'm sure if they can spin this towards Clinton -- they soon will...
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Palin's Religious Problem...
...and we think Jeremiah Wright was bad??
Funny how we don't hear about her denouncing 3 out of 4 of her churches that promote the startling "Jesus Camp" approach to religion...
Oh - I guess we're just picking on the Republican Veep nominee, aren't we...
(ironic how all of those critics about Obama's pastor are seemingly silent about militarizing teenagers to fight on behalf of the Lord...)
Funny how we don't hear about her denouncing 3 out of 4 of her churches that promote the startling "Jesus Camp" approach to religion...
Oh - I guess we're just picking on the Republican Veep nominee, aren't we...
(ironic how all of those critics about Obama's pastor are seemingly silent about militarizing teenagers to fight on behalf of the Lord...)
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