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.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
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...)
McCain: why so negative??
Come to find out - it was a change of tactics because they weren't getting the press than Obama was.. The only time the Republican nominee would make the headlines was whenever he did one of his infamous gaffes..
So - bring out the mud....
Interesting look at McCain's "straightless talk express..."
So - bring out the mud....
Interesting look at McCain's "straightless talk express..."
Qualified?
Great for oil companies and gun nuts ....
... but clearly an eye for cronyism ... (just look where that got us the past 8 years...)
a rather extensive look at the Republican governor and veep nominee..
... but clearly an eye for cronyism ... (just look where that got us the past 8 years...)
a rather extensive look at the Republican governor and veep nominee..
...and what about all that foreign policy experience?
Now it seems that just being close to Russia is enough for her to execute a foreign policy, but she doesn't even know what Bush's policy is?? more...
Next -- the McCain camp is coming off the ascertain that she even went INTO Iraq.. She never did except for going to the Kuwait/Iraqi border.. read more...
Now it seems that when she's floating her foreign policy credentials to places like Canada and Mexico -- it was for vacationing.. So snorkeling improves your foreign policy credentials?? The Republicans have successfully lowered the bar of acceptance even LOWER (as if that was humanly possible after Shrub) than before..
*sighs* How wonderfully blissfully ignorant we have for our Republican vice president nominee...
Next -- the McCain camp is coming off the ascertain that she even went INTO Iraq.. She never did except for going to the Kuwait/Iraqi border.. read more...
Now it seems that when she's floating her foreign policy credentials to places like Canada and Mexico -- it was for vacationing.. So snorkeling improves your foreign policy credentials?? The Republicans have successfully lowered the bar of acceptance even LOWER (as if that was humanly possible after Shrub) than before..
*sighs* How wonderfully blissfully ignorant we have for our Republican vice president nominee...
R.I.P. "Straight Talk Express"
"AP's Babington writes, "Even in a political culture accustomed to truth-stretching, McCain's skirting of facts has stood out this week. It has infuriated and flustered Obama's campaign, and campaign pros are watching to see how much voters disregard news reports noting factual holes in the claims. McCain's persistence in pushing dubious claims is all the more notable because many political insiders consider him one of the greatest living victims of underhanded campaigning. Locked in a tight race with George W. Bush for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, McCain was rocked in South Carolina by a whisper campaign claiming he had fathered an illegitimate black child and was mentally unstable."
More...
...
Let's just fudge the numbers a bit to make us look better:
"In recent days, journalists attending the rallies have been raising questions about the crowd estimates with the campaign. In a story on Sept. 11 about Palin's attraction for some Virginia women voters, Washington Post reporter Marc Fisher estimated the crowd to be 8,000, not the 23,000 cited by the campaign."
but...
"``Since day one, this campaign has been consistent that we're not going to win or lose based on crowd size but the substance of John McCain's record,'' Bounds said."
Whoa whoa wait... Crowd size isn't going to win or lose, but the substance of John McCain's record?? Perhaps Mr. Bounds needs to go back to civics 101 because the person with the most votes traditionally wins and has very little to do with the "substance of [insert your candidate's name] record..."
But then....
"Until Palin, 44, joined him on the campaign trail, McCain, 72, had limited his political events to smaller town hall meetings and rallies of a few hundred people. His Democratic rival, Barack Obama, an Illinois senator, routinely draws thousands of people to his speeches, a phenomenon McCain has tried to use to his advantage by labeling Obama, 47, a celebrity."
Maybe that's because more people support Barack Obama than the 72 year old Arizona Senator perhaps.... hmmmmm....
More...
...
Let's just fudge the numbers a bit to make us look better:
"In recent days, journalists attending the rallies have been raising questions about the crowd estimates with the campaign. In a story on Sept. 11 about Palin's attraction for some Virginia women voters, Washington Post reporter Marc Fisher estimated the crowd to be 8,000, not the 23,000 cited by the campaign."
but...
"``Since day one, this campaign has been consistent that we're not going to win or lose based on crowd size but the substance of John McCain's record,'' Bounds said."
Whoa whoa wait... Crowd size isn't going to win or lose, but the substance of John McCain's record?? Perhaps Mr. Bounds needs to go back to civics 101 because the person with the most votes traditionally wins and has very little to do with the "substance of [insert your candidate's name] record..."
But then....
"Until Palin, 44, joined him on the campaign trail, McCain, 72, had limited his political events to smaller town hall meetings and rallies of a few hundred people. His Democratic rival, Barack Obama, an Illinois senator, routinely draws thousands of people to his speeches, a phenomenon McCain has tried to use to his advantage by labeling Obama, 47, a celebrity."
Maybe that's because more people support Barack Obama than the 72 year old Arizona Senator perhaps.... hmmmmm....
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The R's lies finally catch up with them....
The only thing that remains is the "media victim card" to be played next....
It must be really hard when the media actually starts holding you RESPONSIBLE for the stuff one spews: Gutter Politics: McCain Campaign Called Out For Half-Truths
And nearly every other major media outlet also calling out the campaign:
- The New Republic
- Mark Halperin
- The Washington Post
- The McClatchy Papers
- Time
- CBS
- ABC
- The Atlantic
- Salon
- MSNBC
- AP
- Paul Begala
- David Corn
- Atlanta Journal Constitution
- The Chicago Tribune
- Slate
- The American Prospect
- Politico
.......
And as if THAT wasn't enough -- there's the little diddy that'll be circulating that McCain told the press in a news conference today that he regrets the negative campaigning: "if only Obama would've agreed to having Town Square forums across the nation" then it wouldn't have to be this way..
What kind of petulant 4-year old hissy fit is this?!?! He condones this type of political bullcr*p when things don't go his way!??!!? This doesn't show that McCain is a better leader -- it proves that he's a much sorrier loser when he doesn't get his way..
Kinda sounds familiar from the administration who pouts when they don't get their way -- or when they condemn the Dems from trying to TALK to our adversaries instead of thumbing our noses at them like only an out of control child would do..
Frightfully sickening that those people who support a candidate and his pageant winner -- when he clearly doesn't get the concept of leadership by way of example than by running the dodge and smear campaigns that has been run..
It must be really hard when the media actually starts holding you RESPONSIBLE for the stuff one spews: Gutter Politics: McCain Campaign Called Out For Half-Truths
And nearly every other major media outlet also calling out the campaign:
- The New Republic
- Mark Halperin
- The Washington Post
- The McClatchy Papers
- Time
- CBS
- ABC
- The Atlantic
- Salon
- MSNBC
- AP
- Paul Begala
- David Corn
- Atlanta Journal Constitution
- The Chicago Tribune
- Slate
- The American Prospect
- Politico
.......
And as if THAT wasn't enough -- there's the little diddy that'll be circulating that McCain told the press in a news conference today that he regrets the negative campaigning: "if only Obama would've agreed to having Town Square forums across the nation" then it wouldn't have to be this way..
What kind of petulant 4-year old hissy fit is this?!?! He condones this type of political bullcr*p when things don't go his way!??!!? This doesn't show that McCain is a better leader -- it proves that he's a much sorrier loser when he doesn't get his way..
Kinda sounds familiar from the administration who pouts when they don't get their way -- or when they condemn the Dems from trying to TALK to our adversaries instead of thumbing our noses at them like only an out of control child would do..
Frightfully sickening that those people who support a candidate and his pageant winner -- when he clearly doesn't get the concept of leadership by way of example than by running the dodge and smear campaigns that has been run..
Big Oil + Republicans??
Further proof that this administration is in LOVE with Big Oil....
"WASHINGTON — Government officials handling billions of dollars in oil royalties engaged in illicit sex with employees of energy companies they were dealing with and received numerous gifts from them, federal investigators said Wednesday.
The alleged transgressions involve 13 Interior Department employees in Denver and Washington. Their alleged improprieties include rigging contracts, working part-time as private oil consultants, and having sexual relationships with _ and accepting golf and ski trips and dinners from _ oil company employees, according to three reports released Wednesday by the Interior Department's inspector general.
The investigations reveal a "culture of substance abuse and promiscuity" by a small group of individuals "wholly lacking in acceptance of or adherence to government ethical standards," wrote Inspector General Earl E. Devaney."
Is this change you can believe in??
Where's McCain's outcry against this kind of abuse??
Where's Palin's?? Oh, except that Palin has her hands wringing in oil -- having been rather intimate with the oil industry in her state.....
Whoops...
"WASHINGTON — Government officials handling billions of dollars in oil royalties engaged in illicit sex with employees of energy companies they were dealing with and received numerous gifts from them, federal investigators said Wednesday.
The alleged transgressions involve 13 Interior Department employees in Denver and Washington. Their alleged improprieties include rigging contracts, working part-time as private oil consultants, and having sexual relationships with _ and accepting golf and ski trips and dinners from _ oil company employees, according to three reports released Wednesday by the Interior Department's inspector general.
The investigations reveal a "culture of substance abuse and promiscuity" by a small group of individuals "wholly lacking in acceptance of or adherence to government ethical standards," wrote Inspector General Earl E. Devaney."
Is this change you can believe in??
Where's McCain's outcry against this kind of abuse??
Where's Palin's?? Oh, except that Palin has her hands wringing in oil -- having been rather intimate with the oil industry in her state.....
Whoops...
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
She Can't Handle the Truth....
Palin's latest hissy fit is nothing short of contemptible..
"Associated Press reporters were not on the plane, but an aide told the journalists on board that all Palin flights would be off the record unless the media were told otherwise. At least one reporter objected. Two people on the flight said the Palins greeted the media and they chatted about who had been to Alaska, but little else was said."
Only want the plant questions I bet ... where's that "straight talk express" bullcrap again??
"Associated Press reporters were not on the plane, but an aide told the journalists on board that all Palin flights would be off the record unless the media were told otherwise. At least one reporter objected. Two people on the flight said the Palins greeted the media and they chatted about who had been to Alaska, but little else was said."
Only want the plant questions I bet ... where's that "straight talk express" bullcrap again??
More obfuscation??
Why is it that when a Republican screws up -- "we just need to make this go away" but when it's a Democrat ... oh ... we must hang them from the tallest flagpole.. At least the R's are consistent here ... No sense of anything relating to justice..
Republicans try to throw Democrat from Palin investigation into "TrooperGate"
Chalk this one up for republican hypocrisy dot org...
Republicans try to throw Democrat from Palin investigation into "TrooperGate"
Chalk this one up for republican hypocrisy dot org...
The Surge?
Bob Woodward of "All the President's Men" fame has a new book coming out in which he portrays the effects of the "Surge" as not quite being the successful juggernaut as we've all heard about time and time again.. In fact, the Surge did help at least in part -- but as Bob correctly displays there were two other major components that went into the success of downward violence in Iraq:
1.) Redeploying did help quell the surge in parts of Iraq
2.) The Anbar Awakening movement which called for Sunnis to turn against Al Qaeda
3.) Al Sadr calling for a halt to violence by his Mahdi army
So while the White House spin-meisters try to say that the surge enable the other two parts from happening .. again .. shows of their gross incompetence to understanding the volatility of the region and what the absence of power in Iraq has done to the Middle East..
The fact that there is a very prominent Shia population remains un-noticed is incredibly unfortunate.. Al Sadr is not done yet -- nor will Iran remain idle during this process.. But you can thank the Republican machine for screwing up the balance in the Middle East.. Way to go boys....
I guess that's why it's important to have someone like Palin in the Veep chair when she touts that she really hasn't paid attention to what has happened in Iraq.... Yeah, that's experience we need {end of sarcasm....}
1.) Redeploying did help quell the surge in parts of Iraq
2.) The Anbar Awakening movement which called for Sunnis to turn against Al Qaeda
3.) Al Sadr calling for a halt to violence by his Mahdi army
So while the White House spin-meisters try to say that the surge enable the other two parts from happening .. again .. shows of their gross incompetence to understanding the volatility of the region and what the absence of power in Iraq has done to the Middle East..
The fact that there is a very prominent Shia population remains un-noticed is incredibly unfortunate.. Al Sadr is not done yet -- nor will Iran remain idle during this process.. But you can thank the Republican machine for screwing up the balance in the Middle East.. Way to go boys....
I guess that's why it's important to have someone like Palin in the Veep chair when she touts that she really hasn't paid attention to what has happened in Iraq.... Yeah, that's experience we need {end of sarcasm....}
Cause and Effect....
The "R's" just flip when this happens: government intervention that actually positively affects the stock market....
"NEW YORK — Stocks rallied Monday as investors placed bets that a recovery in the financial and housing sectors is more likely to occur following the U.S. government's move to bail out mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Dow Jones industrials gained nearly 300 points."
Link here
So to all the nay-sayers that believe that government intervention is bad -- now is time for you to take your medicine..
"NEW YORK — Stocks rallied Monday as investors placed bets that a recovery in the financial and housing sectors is more likely to occur following the U.S. government's move to bail out mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Dow Jones industrials gained nearly 300 points."
Link here
So to all the nay-sayers that believe that government intervention is bad -- now is time for you to take your medicine..
Monday, September 08, 2008
GOP: Politics as usual....
In the party of hypocrites:
"President Bush plans to keep the number of U.S. troops in Iraq near the current level through the end of the year and will pull home about 8,000 U.S. troops by February, when the next president will be in charge of wartime decision-making."
I thought this administration was convinced we had to be there 100 years...
....
"John McCain and Sarah Palin criticized Democrat Barack Obama over the amount of money he has requested for his home state of Illinois, even though Alaska under Palin's leadership has asked Washington for 10 times more money per citizen for pet projects."
Oh - how convenient...
....
So - to follow the same Karl Rove philosophy of American politics, it's fine to criticize your opponent, but you're going to play every card in the deck when it's unfair for your candidate..
Once again -- instead of debating the issues the only thing you can do is run your typical smear and cry political policy??
....and the blind will continue to follow them to the ends of the earth and watch them fall off....
"President Bush plans to keep the number of U.S. troops in Iraq near the current level through the end of the year and will pull home about 8,000 U.S. troops by February, when the next president will be in charge of wartime decision-making."
I thought this administration was convinced we had to be there 100 years...
....
"John McCain and Sarah Palin criticized Democrat Barack Obama over the amount of money he has requested for his home state of Illinois, even though Alaska under Palin's leadership has asked Washington for 10 times more money per citizen for pet projects."
Oh - how convenient...
....
So - to follow the same Karl Rove philosophy of American politics, it's fine to criticize your opponent, but you're going to play every card in the deck when it's unfair for your candidate..
Once again -- instead of debating the issues the only thing you can do is run your typical smear and cry political policy??
....and the blind will continue to follow them to the ends of the earth and watch them fall off....
McCain and Palin - together in perfect harmony...
Some are calling John McCain's speech at the Republican National Convention to be the worst since Jimmy Carter back in 1980.. Anytime I hear this man speak -- I want to gouge out my ear drums.. The fake smile bit along side that pitiful giggle snort that reeks of someone who simply tries way too hard or someone who doesn't seem to grasp the qualities of delivering one of the most important rallying speeches you could..
Then you bring in the pageant princess -- who apparently couldn't settle on a college (having gone to 5 different colleges in a 6-year span.. She's now trying to thaw the ice that has been developing between her and the media.. It's a bit self-serving to want to try to guide the media outlets to your own ends if no one can criticize your experience the way that the media has done for every other candidate that's rolled down the pike..
But if anything ....
and this is the real sad sad thing ....
It proves that it simply doesn't matter.. It doesn't matter how flat your speech is.. It doesn't matter if you're brimming in scandal, inconsistency and full of a bunch of hot air..
What matters ... simply ... is that you're a "D" or you're a "R.."
Because the majority of Americans want change and yet -- the "R" side of the issues.. Regardless of the mannequin that stands on the podium .... regardless of the scandals they are rooted in or the "flip flopping" that has riddled their campaign from the word GO!
Regardless of ALL of that ....
Folks on the "R" side of the aisle will only vote for those who blithely support a heavily flawed candidate because they want their issues to win..
So when it comes down to it -- any Republican who even DARES to punt using the "character" card is absolutely full of it.. It's a shining sight of their hypocrisy and their never-ending fear of actually having REAL change you can believe in .... take office of the Presidency come January 2009..
Then you bring in the pageant princess -- who apparently couldn't settle on a college (having gone to 5 different colleges in a 6-year span.. She's now trying to thaw the ice that has been developing between her and the media.. It's a bit self-serving to want to try to guide the media outlets to your own ends if no one can criticize your experience the way that the media has done for every other candidate that's rolled down the pike..
But if anything ....
and this is the real sad sad thing ....
It proves that it simply doesn't matter.. It doesn't matter how flat your speech is.. It doesn't matter if you're brimming in scandal, inconsistency and full of a bunch of hot air..
What matters ... simply ... is that you're a "D" or you're a "R.."
Because the majority of Americans want change and yet -- the "R" side of the issues.. Regardless of the mannequin that stands on the podium .... regardless of the scandals they are rooted in or the "flip flopping" that has riddled their campaign from the word GO!
Regardless of ALL of that ....
Folks on the "R" side of the aisle will only vote for those who blithely support a heavily flawed candidate because they want their issues to win..
So when it comes down to it -- any Republican who even DARES to punt using the "character" card is absolutely full of it.. It's a shining sight of their hypocrisy and their never-ending fear of actually having REAL change you can believe in .... take office of the Presidency come January 2009..
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
This Is Gonna Hurt....
The R's are being more whiny than usual..
So when McCain senior adviser Steve Schmidt pouts: "This nonsense is over" it absolutely REEKS once again that the R's refuse to take responsibility or to aptly defend their myopic slant of the world when it shines in their faces...
....but it's okay to rake Obama over the coals, yet you don't hear "This nonsense is over" from the D's side..
Maybe Steve Schmidt ought to grow a backbone because it's only going to get worse by trying to shove Palin out on stage when you met her but 5 minutes before the show was about to start..
Americans deserve better than a party that cowers at a relatively mild form of scrutiny, but it's okay for them to lash out against Obama and the whole Muslim angle.. Yeah -- I'm not feeling one damn bit sorry for the R's today.. In fact, I'm relieved because we're finally getting to see their true colors and most Americans seem to be seeing this as well..
So when McCain senior adviser Steve Schmidt pouts: "This nonsense is over" it absolutely REEKS once again that the R's refuse to take responsibility or to aptly defend their myopic slant of the world when it shines in their faces...
....but it's okay to rake Obama over the coals, yet you don't hear "This nonsense is over" from the D's side..
Maybe Steve Schmidt ought to grow a backbone because it's only going to get worse by trying to shove Palin out on stage when you met her but 5 minutes before the show was about to start..
Americans deserve better than a party that cowers at a relatively mild form of scrutiny, but it's okay for them to lash out against Obama and the whole Muslim angle.. Yeah -- I'm not feeling one damn bit sorry for the R's today.. In fact, I'm relieved because we're finally getting to see their true colors and most Americans seem to be seeing this as well..
Media Criticized for vetting Palin...
I had to laugh this morning.. Former mayor Rudy Giuliani came out against the media for being "unfair" and "indecent" about how they are vetting Republican Veep nominee Sarah Palin..
Well considering that she wasn't INTERVIEWED until the DAY BEFORE she was announced to be the Veep nominee, I'm not quite sure the R's successfully vetted Alaskan governor successfully before McCain's incredible gaffe of nominating her in the first place.. The Washington Post article goes on to say that The McCain camp didn't even KNOW that her teenage daughter was pregnant out of wedlock until the LAST INTERVIEW, the day BEFORE McCain announced her..
Plain and simple: The R's dropped the ball HUGE with Palin and now they're playing every "sexism" card or "unfair" and "indecent" swipe that they can.. Forget the fact that they probably should've spent more than 3 minutes considering the "Number 2" position as some are calling: "one heartbeat away from the Presidency..."
Way to go R's.... It's no wonder you guys have been floundering around quite a bit over the last several years -- at least now we know why.. If the R's gave as much consideration of the will of the people, listening, and asking the tough questions before they acted -- I doubt very seriously they'd be in this muck..
They brought it upon themselves though -- better for the Democrats, no so much for the Republicans..
Well considering that she wasn't INTERVIEWED until the DAY BEFORE she was announced to be the Veep nominee, I'm not quite sure the R's successfully vetted Alaskan governor successfully before McCain's incredible gaffe of nominating her in the first place.. The Washington Post article goes on to say that The McCain camp didn't even KNOW that her teenage daughter was pregnant out of wedlock until the LAST INTERVIEW, the day BEFORE McCain announced her..
Plain and simple: The R's dropped the ball HUGE with Palin and now they're playing every "sexism" card or "unfair" and "indecent" swipe that they can.. Forget the fact that they probably should've spent more than 3 minutes considering the "Number 2" position as some are calling: "one heartbeat away from the Presidency..."
Way to go R's.... It's no wonder you guys have been floundering around quite a bit over the last several years -- at least now we know why.. If the R's gave as much consideration of the will of the people, listening, and asking the tough questions before they acted -- I doubt very seriously they'd be in this muck..
They brought it upon themselves though -- better for the Democrats, no so much for the Republicans..
Monday, September 01, 2008
A cautionary tale of sexism...
Laura Bush recently touted that Democrats should be careful in how they treat Palin -- under veiled threat: "The other side will have to be particularly careful," Bush said in an interview on Fox News from St. Paul, "because that’s something we all looked at."
Oh really....
That's nice since you don't seem to speak out against all of those Muslim attacks on Barack ... or the questioning of his patriotism ... or the attacks on a pastor who wants to speak his mind that this is not the same America he recognizes anymore..
What unmitigated gall the first lady has for even trying to make this a clean race ... perhaps she should spend some time with Johnny boy and tell him he needs to clean HIS act up before trying to pull the "sex card.."
Oh really....
That's nice since you don't seem to speak out against all of those Muslim attacks on Barack ... or the questioning of his patriotism ... or the attacks on a pastor who wants to speak his mind that this is not the same America he recognizes anymore..
What unmitigated gall the first lady has for even trying to make this a clean race ... perhaps she should spend some time with Johnny boy and tell him he needs to clean HIS act up before trying to pull the "sex card.."
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Palin's Foreign Policy is confounding...
"Alaska Business Monthly: We've lost a lot of Alaska's military members to the war in Iraq. How do you feel about sending more troops into battle, as President Bush is suggesting?
Palin: I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments, and while I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place; I want assurances that we are doing all we can to keep our troops safe. Every life lost is such a tragedy. I am very, very proud of the troops we have in Alaska, those fighting overseas for our freedoms, and the families here who are making so many sacrifices."
...
Haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq?? Is she going to be baking cookies and making lemonade for the boys because it's becoming pretty clear that if you don't have any knowledge (which to her credit she readily admits) then what are you doing becoming the veep nomination for the little guys running around with little "R's" on their shirts??
Palin: I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments, and while I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place; I want assurances that we are doing all we can to keep our troops safe. Every life lost is such a tragedy. I am very, very proud of the troops we have in Alaska, those fighting overseas for our freedoms, and the families here who are making so many sacrifices."
...
Haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq?? Is she going to be baking cookies and making lemonade for the boys because it's becoming pretty clear that if you don't have any knowledge (which to her credit she readily admits) then what are you doing becoming the veep nomination for the little guys running around with little "R's" on their shirts??
Cindy McCain quotes now....
"You know, the experience that she comes from is, what she has done in government -- and remember that Alaska is the closest part of our continent to Russia."
That's like the old joke stand up comedian joke by Jeff Foxworthy: "I've seen it on the map ... it's purple...."
That's like the old joke stand up comedian joke by Jeff Foxworthy: "I've seen it on the map ... it's purple...."
and now ... the baby
First off - I'd like to make clear that the rumor surrounding Sarah Palin and Trig are currently nothing more than rumor, but there's mounting and compelling things that can give one some doubt of the validity that her youngest son actually belongs to her. So while a substantial amount of GOP die-hards would like to bury the story as though it didn't exist ...
...think about that...
Protecting someone who may have LIED and DECEIVED the public about the birth of a child.. It says a lot coming from the party dedicated in the pursuit of "pro-life.."
The most compelling evidence thus far actually came from Palin herself:
- She did a speaking engagement 7 or 8 months into pregnancy
- Her water broke
- She consulted with her doctor in Alaska
- The same doctor that apparently said it was okay for her to make the 9-11 hour jaunt from Dallas, Texas back up to Alaska
Never mind the fact she's in a high risk pregnancy..
Never mind the fact that her amniotic fluid had been draining for hours during the speech..
Never mind the fact that the fluid draining was happening a full MONTH before the expected delivery..
Never mind the fact that NO ONE ONE BOARD the plane even noticed that she was going into labor.....
What doctor would give the consent of a woman who had been going into labor hours BEFORE she got on the plane -- to take another 9-11 hour jaunt (with a layover mind you) from Dallas to Anchorage??
Certainly Dallas has proper medical facilities that could've treated Sarah as she was on the onset that her labor was starting..
Things don't add up..
You can dismiss the photographs ... you can dismiss the observations made by her own staff, by the airlines, by film producers, by the press ... but when the rationale flies south like this ... no self-respecting doctor would ever allow a woman in the middle of delivering her baby during an already established high risk pregnancy to fly back home when prevailing medical care was readily available where she was at..
So when she got off the plane - she went immediately into the nearest hospital in Anchorage to be checked out, right??
No.... She drives 45 minutes away to another medical center located near the small village she used to govern where she used to govern..
*sighs*
Whatever comes out of this -- and I hope the rumor is merely just a rumor -- but it doesn't bode well for someone who is going to be asked to make real tough decisions when she clearly doesn't act in the best interest of her children by putting her life and the life of her unborn child at risk by clearly ignoring all of the well established risks of pregnancy -- of a NORMAL pregnancy much less a high risk one..
...think about that...
Protecting someone who may have LIED and DECEIVED the public about the birth of a child.. It says a lot coming from the party dedicated in the pursuit of "pro-life.."
The most compelling evidence thus far actually came from Palin herself:
- She did a speaking engagement 7 or 8 months into pregnancy
- Her water broke
- She consulted with her doctor in Alaska
- The same doctor that apparently said it was okay for her to make the 9-11 hour jaunt from Dallas, Texas back up to Alaska
Never mind the fact she's in a high risk pregnancy..
Never mind the fact that her amniotic fluid had been draining for hours during the speech..
Never mind the fact that the fluid draining was happening a full MONTH before the expected delivery..
Never mind the fact that NO ONE ONE BOARD the plane even noticed that she was going into labor.....
What doctor would give the consent of a woman who had been going into labor hours BEFORE she got on the plane -- to take another 9-11 hour jaunt (with a layover mind you) from Dallas to Anchorage??
Certainly Dallas has proper medical facilities that could've treated Sarah as she was on the onset that her labor was starting..
Things don't add up..
You can dismiss the photographs ... you can dismiss the observations made by her own staff, by the airlines, by film producers, by the press ... but when the rationale flies south like this ... no self-respecting doctor would ever allow a woman in the middle of delivering her baby during an already established high risk pregnancy to fly back home when prevailing medical care was readily available where she was at..
So when she got off the plane - she went immediately into the nearest hospital in Anchorage to be checked out, right??
No.... She drives 45 minutes away to another medical center located near the small village she used to govern where she used to govern..
*sighs*
Whatever comes out of this -- and I hope the rumor is merely just a rumor -- but it doesn't bode well for someone who is going to be asked to make real tough decisions when she clearly doesn't act in the best interest of her children by putting her life and the life of her unborn child at risk by clearly ignoring all of the well established risks of pregnancy -- of a NORMAL pregnancy much less a high risk one..
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Let the Palin quotes begin....
"It's great to see another part of the country"
*sighs*
Yeah.... there are parts of the country beyond Alaska dear.....
*sighs*
Yeah.... there are parts of the country beyond Alaska dear.....
The Pandering Selection...
What a whirlwind 36 hours it's been in the political arena.. After Hillary's outstanding speech, we had the Presidential moment when Barack Obama took his message to the people.. More people tuned in for his acceptance speech than watched the Olympic opening ceremonies.. He delivered on his promise of installing a message of hope and change..
Needless to say when we went to bed that night - we were feeling pumped!!
And then yesterday happened..
In what is clearly a pandering choice, McCain selected Sarah Palin as his nominee for vice president.. And the moment he did that, the tires came deflated for every argument that he attempts to cast about the "inexperience of Barack Obama.."
The selection is riddled by the fact that Susan Palin comes out against women's rights issues.. She's pro-business, she's pro-life, and she's pro-home school -- which isn't really going to play well when she expects you to be "barefoot and pregnant" with the Democrats..
It's a pandering choice because how can you seriously know "she's the one" when you've seen her a maximum of two times??
It's a pandering choice because aside from a stint as a mayor for a hamlet .... what real governing experience does she have??
It's a pandering choice because what real experience does she have about the international playing field?? Oh, she's been to Kuwait?? And that makes her more qualified than a man who has chaired the Foreign Relations committee??
It's a pandering choice because the selection is nothing more than an errant attempt to solidify the base with a selection that will be serving in name only.. A puppet to the republican nominee.. How do we know this?? She's said as such:
"I'll tell you, I still can't answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day?"
Excuse me ... you just accepted the role of vice president, but you have no idea what the office of the VP does??
...and this is the *best* John McCain could do??
No wonder many are considering Palin to be worse than that "other vice president" Dan "Tomatoe or Tomato" Quayle..
Her issues are heavily rooted in the red column: she wants to drill, she wants to kill polar bears, she loves fur, she believes in creationism for our schools, she doesn't believe in global warming and she's heavily vested in big oil (her husband had a nice cushy job with BP) and lastly she wants to take away a woman's right to choose.. She thinks she's more qualified to tell a woman what to do with her body than you do..
But it gets even more interesting when you hear Alaskans talk about Palin.. She wasn't exactly the angel being portrayed thus far -- and she has a little problem with the law apparently as she's under investigation for her own "Trooper-gate" issue.. Alaskans are thrilled that they've been cast into the limelight, but even they are scratching their heads on this one.. They have at least two other more capable, more experienced Alaskan women McCain could've chosen for the Veep slot -- so why go with her??
Was it her looks?? Her smarts?? The fact she instills youth to an old decrepit campaign?? Probably a little bit of all of this.. But I've seen the announcement played over ten fold ... and I noticed something.. Right after McCain announces her as Veep, they exchange a couple of glances and the looks that come from that are very foreboding.. He looks like a giddy-like old fart who just scored a date with Cindy Crawford ... and her expression is that same look when a pretty girl rolls her face (not just her eyes) in condemnation of some pervert checking her out....
She might be experiencing some buyer's remorse here in a bit.. Especially since they haven't quite figured out the physical: "well do I hug you, or do we just shake hands" kind of thing.. At least when you see Obama and Biden embrace one another -- you know it's real.. They smile genuinely ... they laugh genuinely ... they are very solid in their relationship and what they are going to do together..
Now - re-watch that introduction and observe then try to tell me this isn't the "pandering selection" at all..
Needless to say when we went to bed that night - we were feeling pumped!!
And then yesterday happened..
In what is clearly a pandering choice, McCain selected Sarah Palin as his nominee for vice president.. And the moment he did that, the tires came deflated for every argument that he attempts to cast about the "inexperience of Barack Obama.."
The selection is riddled by the fact that Susan Palin comes out against women's rights issues.. She's pro-business, she's pro-life, and she's pro-home school -- which isn't really going to play well when she expects you to be "barefoot and pregnant" with the Democrats..
It's a pandering choice because how can you seriously know "she's the one" when you've seen her a maximum of two times??
It's a pandering choice because aside from a stint as a mayor for a hamlet .... what real governing experience does she have??
It's a pandering choice because what real experience does she have about the international playing field?? Oh, she's been to Kuwait?? And that makes her more qualified than a man who has chaired the Foreign Relations committee??
It's a pandering choice because the selection is nothing more than an errant attempt to solidify the base with a selection that will be serving in name only.. A puppet to the republican nominee.. How do we know this?? She's said as such:
"I'll tell you, I still can't answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day?"
Excuse me ... you just accepted the role of vice president, but you have no idea what the office of the VP does??
...and this is the *best* John McCain could do??
No wonder many are considering Palin to be worse than that "other vice president" Dan "Tomatoe or Tomato" Quayle..
Her issues are heavily rooted in the red column: she wants to drill, she wants to kill polar bears, she loves fur, she believes in creationism for our schools, she doesn't believe in global warming and she's heavily vested in big oil (her husband had a nice cushy job with BP) and lastly she wants to take away a woman's right to choose.. She thinks she's more qualified to tell a woman what to do with her body than you do..
But it gets even more interesting when you hear Alaskans talk about Palin.. She wasn't exactly the angel being portrayed thus far -- and she has a little problem with the law apparently as she's under investigation for her own "Trooper-gate" issue.. Alaskans are thrilled that they've been cast into the limelight, but even they are scratching their heads on this one.. They have at least two other more capable, more experienced Alaskan women McCain could've chosen for the Veep slot -- so why go with her??
Was it her looks?? Her smarts?? The fact she instills youth to an old decrepit campaign?? Probably a little bit of all of this.. But I've seen the announcement played over ten fold ... and I noticed something.. Right after McCain announces her as Veep, they exchange a couple of glances and the looks that come from that are very foreboding.. He looks like a giddy-like old fart who just scored a date with Cindy Crawford ... and her expression is that same look when a pretty girl rolls her face (not just her eyes) in condemnation of some pervert checking her out....
She might be experiencing some buyer's remorse here in a bit.. Especially since they haven't quite figured out the physical: "well do I hug you, or do we just shake hands" kind of thing.. At least when you see Obama and Biden embrace one another -- you know it's real.. They smile genuinely ... they laugh genuinely ... they are very solid in their relationship and what they are going to do together..
Now - re-watch that introduction and observe then try to tell me this isn't the "pandering selection" at all..
Thursday, August 28, 2008
McLame...
It's mightily convenient for someone who touted that he was going to run an honorable campaign against the Democrats to do everything but run an honorable campaign against Obama..
Typical....
Typical....
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
The DNC so far
I've been trying to keep up with everything that's been going on with the Democratic National Convention.. I did get a very small taste of things when I was in Denver briefly yesterday - and it's something to take in.. The protesters were near my meeting place and they were behaving.. The police were riding their SUV sleds dressed in their riot gear..
"Anarchists" as they are being called .... have confronted police a couple of times already.. As has been reported in the press already, 100 of them have been arrested already.. But it's crazy how these folks are protesting things that they would actually come in agreement with the Democratic party on.. War for instance.. Oil for instance..
Then there's the plot by the four folks being held on wanting to shoot Obama and I found this to be particularly sad and I'm outraged.. Here we're supposed to be a civilized society and yet -- we have the riff raff like these four idiots who simply don't want Obama to be President because of the color of his skin???!?!? Don't believe me?? Here's the quote:
"He don't belong in political office. Blacks don't belong in political office. He ought to be shot"
It's folks like this that really need the re-education of what America is all about.. It's folks like this that shouldn't be allowed to vote because we shouldn't reward the privilege to vote to those who are ignorant and prejudiced.. It's folks like this that don't believe in the American dream -- except those that just happen to be the same shade of skin..
That outrages me..
That upsets me to the point where I want to send their pathetic collective asses out of the country because they represent the antithesis of progress.. Anyone who can't look beyond the shade of someone's skin or ethnicity to see what they can bring to the table -- are inherently UN-American.. So I'm not sure where these idiots get off thinking that "blacks don't belong in political office" when clearly they think we're living back in history when it was considered acceptable to enslave an entire race..
If we're widely considered to be a civilized country -- then maybe it's time to ship these folks off our island so that they can take their petulant approach to civilization and create another race of individuals like the Nazis tried to do last century.. How these folks can live with their intolerant attitudes while holding a Bible in their hand seems incredibly convenient and self-serving..
"Anarchists" as they are being called .... have confronted police a couple of times already.. As has been reported in the press already, 100 of them have been arrested already.. But it's crazy how these folks are protesting things that they would actually come in agreement with the Democratic party on.. War for instance.. Oil for instance..
Then there's the plot by the four folks being held on wanting to shoot Obama and I found this to be particularly sad and I'm outraged.. Here we're supposed to be a civilized society and yet -- we have the riff raff like these four idiots who simply don't want Obama to be President because of the color of his skin???!?!? Don't believe me?? Here's the quote:
"He don't belong in political office. Blacks don't belong in political office. He ought to be shot"
It's folks like this that really need the re-education of what America is all about.. It's folks like this that shouldn't be allowed to vote because we shouldn't reward the privilege to vote to those who are ignorant and prejudiced.. It's folks like this that don't believe in the American dream -- except those that just happen to be the same shade of skin..
That outrages me..
That upsets me to the point where I want to send their pathetic collective asses out of the country because they represent the antithesis of progress.. Anyone who can't look beyond the shade of someone's skin or ethnicity to see what they can bring to the table -- are inherently UN-American.. So I'm not sure where these idiots get off thinking that "blacks don't belong in political office" when clearly they think we're living back in history when it was considered acceptable to enslave an entire race..
If we're widely considered to be a civilized country -- then maybe it's time to ship these folks off our island so that they can take their petulant approach to civilization and create another race of individuals like the Nazis tried to do last century.. How these folks can live with their intolerant attitudes while holding a Bible in their hand seems incredibly convenient and self-serving..
Saturday, August 23, 2008
It's going to be Biden....
I love Joe...
I think he's going to make a great vice president..
I've said this before, Hillary was not the right choice.. That's not saying that this country isn't ready for a female president -- this nation IS ready for a female president .... not this woman, however.. I would love to see her in the cabinet - but I think her ego is too big to be a cabinet secretary.. I would've loved to see Kathleen Sebelius as his vice president.. She has the "can-do" attitude down pat..
There's been a lot of fervor with this announcement ... and it's going to get a lot of airplay in the next few days.. And this is going to make it harder for McCain to catch up..
I think he's going to make a great vice president..
I've said this before, Hillary was not the right choice.. That's not saying that this country isn't ready for a female president -- this nation IS ready for a female president .... not this woman, however.. I would love to see her in the cabinet - but I think her ego is too big to be a cabinet secretary.. I would've loved to see Kathleen Sebelius as his vice president.. She has the "can-do" attitude down pat..
There's been a lot of fervor with this announcement ... and it's going to get a lot of airplay in the next few days.. And this is going to make it harder for McCain to catch up..
Thursday, August 21, 2008
The Disaster called McCain....
I've been amazed by McCain thus far..
In 2000 he stood out as the Maverick of the Republican party.. Of course that didn't play well in the neo-con world and he subsequently lost to the ol' Shrub.. But he's been an advocate throughout his political career of elevating the political discussions when he's run campaigns .... taking the high road as it were..
So then imagine everyone's shock when he took his proverbial gloves off and started sparring with Obama -- who -- has repeatedly encouraged McCain to stop with the personal attacks and debate the core issues.. But it seems that John has no desire to or ... simply can't..
Most recently - he called out Obama as being an elitist who can't possibly understand the plight of American families and what they have to go through -- yet when he's called upon to answer a very simple question: how many homes do you have, McCain freaks out and quickly dodges the question so that a staffer can look it up for him because HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW MANY HOMES HE OWNS!!!
....and Obama is an elitist....
For the record -- he owns 10 homes.. A far cry from what most Americans get by with (one at most, sometimes two if you're lucky enough to have a summer home..) Oh, and Obama even has one home -- granted, a nice million dollar mansion -- but McCain's home values total over $13 million...... *laughs*
And this is but one small sliver of the pie that has been re-directed back at the Republican hopeful.. Because it seems like the moment he tries to do something that would score points against Obama ... it inevitably smears him ten-fold.. He's doing more damage to himself than he's afflicting on his competitor..
...while forgetting that pledge of running a clean campaign...
Lastly -- there's been several off-mainstream comments about the rage and anger McCain has.. Clearly someone who can fly off the handle when even the most simple buttons are pushed ... and this is someone who sings "Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran" and it's not cause for worry..
We've already had a president who clearly lacks the fortitude to understanding sacrifice ... we clearly don't need another to follow suit..
And while that sounds like I'm disrespecting McCain's service to our country -- it is not.. Because the character of a man is measured in yardsticks and miles which says nothing of the fact that you do not need to have had military experience in order to be considered the President of the United States.. A lot of fine men and women have served a lot more distinctively than McCain who is running a flawed campaign that not only lost their focus, but it's not John's style..
He's had to flee back to the right -- stepping on toes and tripping in the process while completely running in every direction by the one that touches his soul the most.. That's because if the "real McCain" would be running this show -- there wouldn't be very many differences between he and Obama.. But John has committed his ship down this path and it's apparent no one is at the controls..
McCain is a bad choice for Americans, but from a Democratic point of view -- this self-sabotage is paying off with big dividends for the Democrats .... until they go and do something stupid that ends up shooting themselves in the foot as well....
At least we're getting closer..
In 2000 he stood out as the Maverick of the Republican party.. Of course that didn't play well in the neo-con world and he subsequently lost to the ol' Shrub.. But he's been an advocate throughout his political career of elevating the political discussions when he's run campaigns .... taking the high road as it were..
So then imagine everyone's shock when he took his proverbial gloves off and started sparring with Obama -- who -- has repeatedly encouraged McCain to stop with the personal attacks and debate the core issues.. But it seems that John has no desire to or ... simply can't..
Most recently - he called out Obama as being an elitist who can't possibly understand the plight of American families and what they have to go through -- yet when he's called upon to answer a very simple question: how many homes do you have, McCain freaks out and quickly dodges the question so that a staffer can look it up for him because HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW MANY HOMES HE OWNS!!!
....and Obama is an elitist....
For the record -- he owns 10 homes.. A far cry from what most Americans get by with (one at most, sometimes two if you're lucky enough to have a summer home..) Oh, and Obama even has one home -- granted, a nice million dollar mansion -- but McCain's home values total over $13 million...... *laughs*
And this is but one small sliver of the pie that has been re-directed back at the Republican hopeful.. Because it seems like the moment he tries to do something that would score points against Obama ... it inevitably smears him ten-fold.. He's doing more damage to himself than he's afflicting on his competitor..
...while forgetting that pledge of running a clean campaign...
Lastly -- there's been several off-mainstream comments about the rage and anger McCain has.. Clearly someone who can fly off the handle when even the most simple buttons are pushed ... and this is someone who sings "Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran" and it's not cause for worry..
We've already had a president who clearly lacks the fortitude to understanding sacrifice ... we clearly don't need another to follow suit..
And while that sounds like I'm disrespecting McCain's service to our country -- it is not.. Because the character of a man is measured in yardsticks and miles which says nothing of the fact that you do not need to have had military experience in order to be considered the President of the United States.. A lot of fine men and women have served a lot more distinctively than McCain who is running a flawed campaign that not only lost their focus, but it's not John's style..
He's had to flee back to the right -- stepping on toes and tripping in the process while completely running in every direction by the one that touches his soul the most.. That's because if the "real McCain" would be running this show -- there wouldn't be very many differences between he and Obama.. But John has committed his ship down this path and it's apparent no one is at the controls..
McCain is a bad choice for Americans, but from a Democratic point of view -- this self-sabotage is paying off with big dividends for the Democrats .... until they go and do something stupid that ends up shooting themselves in the foot as well....
At least we're getting closer..
Gee ... imagine that....
Much like what I've been saying for a long time now: Iraq doesn't want us there any longer than humanly possible..
Fortunately the administration finally realizes this as well..
But there's a line from that story that is very telling -- and very much a stepping stone in the direction I thought this was heading:
"This decision (agreement) is a sovereign one and Iran and other neighboring countries have the right to ask for clarifications. ... There are clear articles (that) say that Iraq will not be used as a launching pad for any aggressive acts against neighboring countries and we already did clarify this."
Why is this relevant?? Because the whole principle behind the "100-year base agreement" issue was to be exactly this: a launch vehicle for the United States against neighboring countries.. Foreign Minister Zebari singled out Iran which is very telling -- there's no shrouded words there -- he's saying: don't worry..
Which is important because?? Iraq and Iran will eventually become close allies..
The country we liberated will side with the axis of evil.....
How's that for a legacy??
Wrong country, wrong war, wrong enemy -- remove enemy -- watch country join larger enemy....
Fortunately the administration finally realizes this as well..
But there's a line from that story that is very telling -- and very much a stepping stone in the direction I thought this was heading:
"This decision (agreement) is a sovereign one and Iran and other neighboring countries have the right to ask for clarifications. ... There are clear articles (that) say that Iraq will not be used as a launching pad for any aggressive acts against neighboring countries and we already did clarify this."
Why is this relevant?? Because the whole principle behind the "100-year base agreement" issue was to be exactly this: a launch vehicle for the United States against neighboring countries.. Foreign Minister Zebari singled out Iran which is very telling -- there's no shrouded words there -- he's saying: don't worry..
Which is important because?? Iraq and Iran will eventually become close allies..
The country we liberated will side with the axis of evil.....
How's that for a legacy??
Wrong country, wrong war, wrong enemy -- remove enemy -- watch country join larger enemy....
Monday, August 18, 2008
Chess
I realize it's waaay too much to even ask this President anything about chess.. But this is where our commander in chief doesn't have a clue that when you do something - there are repercussions for what you've just done.. Cause and effect... Causality..
And that's something Bush hasn't had to account for too much.. Because anytime he's made a decision about Iraq -- there's been no one to really tell him what the repercussions are.. He has been incredibly spoiled in that regard, but it's apparent that luck is going to give way to his legacy..
IRAQ: The Shia problem.. Yep - he got his boy Saddam out of power - but not one conservative out there has the foresight to understand the Shia problem or have any idea or concept how to resolve it.. Iran is predominantly Shia.. Iraq has a very healthy Shia population.. As things continue to develop between Iran and the rest of the world (who, by the way has a major backer in Russia on their side whom we'll talk about here in just a few) who does Bush think Iraq is going to support when the Iran issue explodes??
And therein lies Bush's first cause and effect problem: the moment he took Saddam out, he immediately destabilized an incredibly complicated and fragile balance of power in the region.. Saddam -- as big as his bark has been -- had nothing.. Why?? Because Saddam had to do what he could to keep Iran at bay.. That's why he fought with the weapons inspectors, that's why he made it seem like he was really a bad dude because otherwise - he had no protection if Iran started pouring their shared border..
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria -- all have interests not to see an expanding Iran.. So - once again: what does Bush think Iraq is going to do when Iran becomes center stage?? We're going to see a true "test" of our alliance with the newly established Iraqi government.. We don't have to look very far - because Iraqi people don't want to see Americans there anymore than they have to.. The whole "hundred year lease" debacle is evidence of that.. It's not unrealistic to expect that at *best* our Iraqi "allies" are going to forbid us access within the borders of their country.. At *worst* they'll take up sides with the Iranians and thumb their collective noses at us..
You don't think that's realistic?? It very much is and that's why Bush and McCain have such a failed view of how the rest of the world operates.. This is why they're playing checkers when they should be playing chess..
RUSSIA
The latest Russian incursion into Georgia is another failed Bush agenda.. Putin made it clear that under no uncertain terms was he happy with the agreement the United States made for the missile defense shield that is right in their backyard.. There was no negotiation, no discussion, we just did it because this administration has a habit of doing things and fail to see the causality of their actions..
Am I suggesting a correlation between the two?? Yes I am.. Because if you remember the justification for the missile shield in the first place -- it wasn't directed at Russia -- oh no -- it was meant for "the other guys.." Never mind the fact that if Russia had done the same thing in Cuba -- you'd expect the same knee jerk reaction by this administration if it was somehow going to affect our sovereignty..
Again - Bush is playing foreign policy using checkers when there's a very clear cause and effect going on as one would expect if they were playing chess..
OTHER ISSUES:
North Korea -- threatened them and eventually relented the moment we discovered that the North Koreans were more interested in maintaining the agreement they had under Clinton -- which brought food into their country -- than being completely disrespected by this administration .... only to arrive back at the place where they wanted to be in the first place..
India -- giving them the nuclear bomb -- then a good deal of our tech jobs by encouraging our companies to relocate their businesses over there ... yeah ... that worked out really well for us.. Pakistan didn't like us that much when we marched into Afghanistan to find Bin Laden ... but they were REALLY unhappy with us when we gave India the bomb.. But once again, this administration doesn't have any foresight muscle in their brains to figure out that they've contributed so much to the decay and destabilization of the region..
So -- let's pull this together.. Instead of planning your strategy 10 moves ahead like chess players do ... we have a foreign policy that is predominantly guided by the checkers mentality of "action, reaction.." That's deeply troubling in a world where we're not going to be the powerhouse we have been.. In fact, many suggest that with the Olympics going on right now, this is China's way of saying: "we're right behind you..."
And the scary thing is: they are..
So instead of leading the league of nations that look to us as a major superpower, we floundered and squandered incredible opportunities that would've kept us ahead for years to come.. In the whole host of issues we face as a nation -- our handling of our world relations is even more important now that we have to correct the wrong doings of this administration..
Exactly how many free passes does this man get??
And that's something Bush hasn't had to account for too much.. Because anytime he's made a decision about Iraq -- there's been no one to really tell him what the repercussions are.. He has been incredibly spoiled in that regard, but it's apparent that luck is going to give way to his legacy..
IRAQ: The Shia problem.. Yep - he got his boy Saddam out of power - but not one conservative out there has the foresight to understand the Shia problem or have any idea or concept how to resolve it.. Iran is predominantly Shia.. Iraq has a very healthy Shia population.. As things continue to develop between Iran and the rest of the world (who, by the way has a major backer in Russia on their side whom we'll talk about here in just a few) who does Bush think Iraq is going to support when the Iran issue explodes??
And therein lies Bush's first cause and effect problem: the moment he took Saddam out, he immediately destabilized an incredibly complicated and fragile balance of power in the region.. Saddam -- as big as his bark has been -- had nothing.. Why?? Because Saddam had to do what he could to keep Iran at bay.. That's why he fought with the weapons inspectors, that's why he made it seem like he was really a bad dude because otherwise - he had no protection if Iran started pouring their shared border..
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria -- all have interests not to see an expanding Iran.. So - once again: what does Bush think Iraq is going to do when Iran becomes center stage?? We're going to see a true "test" of our alliance with the newly established Iraqi government.. We don't have to look very far - because Iraqi people don't want to see Americans there anymore than they have to.. The whole "hundred year lease" debacle is evidence of that.. It's not unrealistic to expect that at *best* our Iraqi "allies" are going to forbid us access within the borders of their country.. At *worst* they'll take up sides with the Iranians and thumb their collective noses at us..
You don't think that's realistic?? It very much is and that's why Bush and McCain have such a failed view of how the rest of the world operates.. This is why they're playing checkers when they should be playing chess..
RUSSIA
The latest Russian incursion into Georgia is another failed Bush agenda.. Putin made it clear that under no uncertain terms was he happy with the agreement the United States made for the missile defense shield that is right in their backyard.. There was no negotiation, no discussion, we just did it because this administration has a habit of doing things and fail to see the causality of their actions..
Am I suggesting a correlation between the two?? Yes I am.. Because if you remember the justification for the missile shield in the first place -- it wasn't directed at Russia -- oh no -- it was meant for "the other guys.." Never mind the fact that if Russia had done the same thing in Cuba -- you'd expect the same knee jerk reaction by this administration if it was somehow going to affect our sovereignty..
Again - Bush is playing foreign policy using checkers when there's a very clear cause and effect going on as one would expect if they were playing chess..
OTHER ISSUES:
North Korea -- threatened them and eventually relented the moment we discovered that the North Koreans were more interested in maintaining the agreement they had under Clinton -- which brought food into their country -- than being completely disrespected by this administration .... only to arrive back at the place where they wanted to be in the first place..
India -- giving them the nuclear bomb -- then a good deal of our tech jobs by encouraging our companies to relocate their businesses over there ... yeah ... that worked out really well for us.. Pakistan didn't like us that much when we marched into Afghanistan to find Bin Laden ... but they were REALLY unhappy with us when we gave India the bomb.. But once again, this administration doesn't have any foresight muscle in their brains to figure out that they've contributed so much to the decay and destabilization of the region..
So -- let's pull this together.. Instead of planning your strategy 10 moves ahead like chess players do ... we have a foreign policy that is predominantly guided by the checkers mentality of "action, reaction.." That's deeply troubling in a world where we're not going to be the powerhouse we have been.. In fact, many suggest that with the Olympics going on right now, this is China's way of saying: "we're right behind you..."
And the scary thing is: they are..
So instead of leading the league of nations that look to us as a major superpower, we floundered and squandered incredible opportunities that would've kept us ahead for years to come.. In the whole host of issues we face as a nation -- our handling of our world relations is even more important now that we have to correct the wrong doings of this administration..
Exactly how many free passes does this man get??
Sunday, August 17, 2008
The REAL price for oil...
We keep hearing over and over how much we have to drill drill drill so that we can get the price of oil under control.. I've long since been of the belief that the supply and the price has been relatively unchanged during the last 7 years ... but before you think I need to be bopped over the head with a 2 x 4 or something -- let's postulate that the value of the dollar has been the leading cause for the high cost of energy..
So this afternoon when I came across this article that actually talks about the reality that a sinking dollar is largely to blame for our current energy prices..
To put it even more succinctly: no matter how much we drill and find tomorrow -- the cost for oil is going to be the same because the market decides how much oil is going to sell for.. Until the value of the dollar improves -- we can drill in every nook-and-cranny and squeeze every droplet of oil from the ground -- it's not going to make one iota's bit of difference if our dollar value continues to tank..
The "drill drill drill" mindset is nothing more than one giant red herring set out by those who have a concealed interested in the profitability of drilling in ANWR or on the outer continental shelf.. At its absolutely optimistic *PEAK* we may get as much as one fifth of our daily consumption.. With little or no change in the value of the dollar -- the only ones that clearly benefit from this are the ones setting record breaking profits at the moment..
We need to make a considerable investment in the exploration of hydrogen energy, we need to build more nuclear energy plants and take control of the sun, the wind and the water as much as we can.. We can't base our "energy strategy" to be loosely conceived by a couple of guys running to Vegas and hope they break the bank..
It has to be more solid and realistic..
It needs to happen soon..
So this afternoon when I came across this article that actually talks about the reality that a sinking dollar is largely to blame for our current energy prices..
To put it even more succinctly: no matter how much we drill and find tomorrow -- the cost for oil is going to be the same because the market decides how much oil is going to sell for.. Until the value of the dollar improves -- we can drill in every nook-and-cranny and squeeze every droplet of oil from the ground -- it's not going to make one iota's bit of difference if our dollar value continues to tank..
The "drill drill drill" mindset is nothing more than one giant red herring set out by those who have a concealed interested in the profitability of drilling in ANWR or on the outer continental shelf.. At its absolutely optimistic *PEAK* we may get as much as one fifth of our daily consumption.. With little or no change in the value of the dollar -- the only ones that clearly benefit from this are the ones setting record breaking profits at the moment..
We need to make a considerable investment in the exploration of hydrogen energy, we need to build more nuclear energy plants and take control of the sun, the wind and the water as much as we can.. We can't base our "energy strategy" to be loosely conceived by a couple of guys running to Vegas and hope they break the bank..
It has to be more solid and realistic..
It needs to happen soon..
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Diving in the Vitriol
I've had it with the political forum I'm on..
There was an exchange on a list I'm on where some idiot actually stated that he SUPPORTED the notion of "blood for oil.." Then, in his act of inhumane cowardice he had the gall to call me the hypocrite for wanting despots like Saddam Hussein to be in power so that I could enjoy cheap gas..
I was livid..
I was beyond livid..
I went straight to enraged..
I was angry not because of his incredibly off-base comment about me -- as much as he's supporting the belief that it was okay to send our troops into harms way .... for oil.. He reiterated his stance which made me even more angry.. Why??
He has a daughter that's getting into the military and could end up in Iraq..
So I went into a full-blown global thermonuclear explosion how he could be in support of the concept of "blood for oil" while his daughter will be in harm's way.. I can't see how a sane person can blindly support the incredibly stupid concept of "blood for oil" when their loved one is overseas risking their lives just so that HE can enjoy a couple pennies less in his fuel tank..
It's people like this that really make me wonder how much of the kool-aid has been consumed by the other side.. It's people like this that really make me wonder how is it that we got this far with this President under this incredibly greedy endeavor when the basic tenets and preservation of our existence rests on idiots who believe that protecting our corporate profits supersedes the sanctity of one American life..
Expect many more posts on here -- as I've had it with the incredibly stupid..
There was an exchange on a list I'm on where some idiot actually stated that he SUPPORTED the notion of "blood for oil.." Then, in his act of inhumane cowardice he had the gall to call me the hypocrite for wanting despots like Saddam Hussein to be in power so that I could enjoy cheap gas..
I was livid..
I was beyond livid..
I went straight to enraged..
I was angry not because of his incredibly off-base comment about me -- as much as he's supporting the belief that it was okay to send our troops into harms way .... for oil.. He reiterated his stance which made me even more angry.. Why??
He has a daughter that's getting into the military and could end up in Iraq..
So I went into a full-blown global thermonuclear explosion how he could be in support of the concept of "blood for oil" while his daughter will be in harm's way.. I can't see how a sane person can blindly support the incredibly stupid concept of "blood for oil" when their loved one is overseas risking their lives just so that HE can enjoy a couple pennies less in his fuel tank..
It's people like this that really make me wonder how much of the kool-aid has been consumed by the other side.. It's people like this that really make me wonder how is it that we got this far with this President under this incredibly greedy endeavor when the basic tenets and preservation of our existence rests on idiots who believe that protecting our corporate profits supersedes the sanctity of one American life..
Expect many more posts on here -- as I've had it with the incredibly stupid..
Monday, May 26, 2008
Memorial Day .... saying good-bye
I found this image this morning in my internet travels this morning and I found myself with so many emotions.. As much as I want to lash out at the Shrub administration -- I know it will do no good as they really don't care..
And that's the tragedy in all of this..
When the Commander in Chief believes that by giving up GOLF, he's sacrificing too ... makes me look at the image once again and want to punch a hole through my monitor.. He has no concept, no idea, not even a scintilla of a clue as to what it means to sacrifice.. Not when his own military record remains spotty.. Not when he conveniently hides behind his vested oil interests.. Not when he marched into Baghdad like a bull runs through a china shop......
So pardon me for being a little upset at the fact that over 4k of America's finest paid the ultimate sacrifice when it's becoming increasingly apparent that the Shrub has led us into the wrong war in the wrong country.. Nevermind that the Shrub apologists continue to fatally defend the policies in this seemingly endless conflict.. Nevermind the fact that McCain doesn't really have much of a policy from one moment to the next..
That's why I'm glad to see that the GOP realize that they're in trouble..
That's why I'm finally glad to see that the GOP woke up from it's 7 year SLUMBER to realize: "hey, this guy is a moron..."
Maybe if only they had the guts to do something about it long before now -- we wouldn't have to say as many "good-byes" as the image depicts..
And that's the tragedy in all of this..
When the Commander in Chief believes that by giving up GOLF, he's sacrificing too ... makes me look at the image once again and want to punch a hole through my monitor.. He has no concept, no idea, not even a scintilla of a clue as to what it means to sacrifice.. Not when his own military record remains spotty.. Not when he conveniently hides behind his vested oil interests.. Not when he marched into Baghdad like a bull runs through a china shop......
So pardon me for being a little upset at the fact that over 4k of America's finest paid the ultimate sacrifice when it's becoming increasingly apparent that the Shrub has led us into the wrong war in the wrong country.. Nevermind that the Shrub apologists continue to fatally defend the policies in this seemingly endless conflict.. Nevermind the fact that McCain doesn't really have much of a policy from one moment to the next..
That's why I'm glad to see that the GOP realize that they're in trouble..
That's why I'm finally glad to see that the GOP woke up from it's 7 year SLUMBER to realize: "hey, this guy is a moron..."
Maybe if only they had the guts to do something about it long before now -- we wouldn't have to say as many "good-byes" as the image depicts..
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Hillary again....
I remarked back in March that Hillary has lost my respect, now she's starting to lose what little credibility she has left.. She recently invoked the "RFK" assassination quip as though she's hanging around in case something happens to Obama..
Excuse me??
Hanging around for someone to be assassinated so that you can become the Democrat contender in November??
This was really the last gaffe she has left her in bag of tricks.. Even the non-apology she gave wasn't much of one -- especially in light of the incredibly difficult prognosis for Ted Kennedy and his brain tumor..
It proves to me once and for all that she lacks the fortitude and respect to earn the position of being President of the United States.. Right, wrong, accidental or not -- how can you invoke the assassination quip as the BASIS for staying in the race?? That's inconceivable and utterly reprehensible..
At a time when we should be focusing on enacting real change for the direction of the country, we're left with this incredibly horrific insight that Obama will be assassinated before he wins the nomination on behalf of the Democratic party..
I don't see how she can sleep at night -- having this much negativity in her soul to actually have the audacity to invoke the "RFK" history as a basis for her to stay in the race.. It goes beyond poor sportsmanship, it transcends into the depths of being forever the stain in our humanity..
Shame on you Hillary..
Excuse me??
Hanging around for someone to be assassinated so that you can become the Democrat contender in November??
This was really the last gaffe she has left her in bag of tricks.. Even the non-apology she gave wasn't much of one -- especially in light of the incredibly difficult prognosis for Ted Kennedy and his brain tumor..
It proves to me once and for all that she lacks the fortitude and respect to earn the position of being President of the United States.. Right, wrong, accidental or not -- how can you invoke the assassination quip as the BASIS for staying in the race?? That's inconceivable and utterly reprehensible..
At a time when we should be focusing on enacting real change for the direction of the country, we're left with this incredibly horrific insight that Obama will be assassinated before he wins the nomination on behalf of the Democratic party..
I don't see how she can sleep at night -- having this much negativity in her soul to actually have the audacity to invoke the "RFK" history as a basis for her to stay in the race.. It goes beyond poor sportsmanship, it transcends into the depths of being forever the stain in our humanity..
Shame on you Hillary..
Thursday, May 15, 2008
McCain is not the answer....
I know it's very disheartening for Republicans to admit this, but McCain is simply not the answer for the next 4 years..
I will do no disrespect to his honored duty to the country, as long as he does not make it the issue at hand.. I qualitatively administer that comment because we're faced with the following propaganda by the Conservative Right: "if you haven't served in Vietnam, you are not fit to be the commander in chief.."
Nevermind the fact that the generation that fought in Vietnam is approaching the geriatric hurdle of life ... we simply can't use that as an effective barometer for who our commander in chief should be.. It's not as though I don't admire what McCain has been through -- I do from an honor perspective, but from a role of leadership -- he's waaaaay out of touch..
Let's not forget that this was the the man that paraded around the "streets of Baghdad" and proudly declared that it was safe to walk the streets of Iraq.. That was utterly false as the two Cobra helicopter gunships circled overhead while he had the platoon that walked step for step with the Senator.. Maybe if every Iraqi had the same type of escort, they would feel safe as well..
But then there's the flap about us being in Iraq for the next hundred years.. McCain actually had the gall to compare the likes of Iraq with Germany and Japan.. Notwithstanding the fact that Iraq is *NOT* at all like Germany and Japan -- but after, John was a POW and we should maybe cut him some slack.....
But no...
We cut Bush a great deal of slack for his entire Presidency.. We cut Bush slack because he can't form a cohesive sentence without the teleprompter enunciating his words correctly.. We cut Bush slack and nearly forgave him for invading the wrong country after the 9/11 attacks..
I think America is done cutting SLACK to imbeciles who consider themselves Presidential material.. And yet it's amazing how many Bush apologists there are in the world.. Carefully manipulating the sound bytes of the day into their own diet of what America is about.. And that my friend, is the problem..
The conservatives of today have made a huge strategic error: they chose the wrong leader to rally behind.. "Shrub" is nothing more than a pineapple on a cherry tree.. Republicans made the catastrophic error by following every failed policy "lock, stock and barrel" behind their flawed commander in chief..
And now it's starting to catch up to them... Three highly touted Republican seats have been upset in their 3-way loss recently.. At some point Republicans have got to face the music: "stop following the Shrub.. He's dragging you down....."
Which is the fundamental reason why McCain is not the answer -- the campaign has been fighting within itself to decide how much they want to stay in Shrub's shadow....
....and Americans are ultimately fed up with the Shrub -- which should've been the first clue for the Republicans....
...but no one every said they were an intelligent bunch....
I will do no disrespect to his honored duty to the country, as long as he does not make it the issue at hand.. I qualitatively administer that comment because we're faced with the following propaganda by the Conservative Right: "if you haven't served in Vietnam, you are not fit to be the commander in chief.."
Nevermind the fact that the generation that fought in Vietnam is approaching the geriatric hurdle of life ... we simply can't use that as an effective barometer for who our commander in chief should be.. It's not as though I don't admire what McCain has been through -- I do from an honor perspective, but from a role of leadership -- he's waaaaay out of touch..
Let's not forget that this was the the man that paraded around the "streets of Baghdad" and proudly declared that it was safe to walk the streets of Iraq.. That was utterly false as the two Cobra helicopter gunships circled overhead while he had the platoon that walked step for step with the Senator.. Maybe if every Iraqi had the same type of escort, they would feel safe as well..
But then there's the flap about us being in Iraq for the next hundred years.. McCain actually had the gall to compare the likes of Iraq with Germany and Japan.. Notwithstanding the fact that Iraq is *NOT* at all like Germany and Japan -- but after, John was a POW and we should maybe cut him some slack.....
But no...
We cut Bush a great deal of slack for his entire Presidency.. We cut Bush slack because he can't form a cohesive sentence without the teleprompter enunciating his words correctly.. We cut Bush slack and nearly forgave him for invading the wrong country after the 9/11 attacks..
I think America is done cutting SLACK to imbeciles who consider themselves Presidential material.. And yet it's amazing how many Bush apologists there are in the world.. Carefully manipulating the sound bytes of the day into their own diet of what America is about.. And that my friend, is the problem..
The conservatives of today have made a huge strategic error: they chose the wrong leader to rally behind.. "Shrub" is nothing more than a pineapple on a cherry tree.. Republicans made the catastrophic error by following every failed policy "lock, stock and barrel" behind their flawed commander in chief..
And now it's starting to catch up to them... Three highly touted Republican seats have been upset in their 3-way loss recently.. At some point Republicans have got to face the music: "stop following the Shrub.. He's dragging you down....."
Which is the fundamental reason why McCain is not the answer -- the campaign has been fighting within itself to decide how much they want to stay in Shrub's shadow....
....and Americans are ultimately fed up with the Shrub -- which should've been the first clue for the Republicans....
...but no one every said they were an intelligent bunch....
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