Cheers to John McCain for refusing to budge on a proposed set of ads that would reignite the Reverend Wright controversy.
Although his top advisers and Sarah Palin have been pushing for him to light this fire, McCain has refused to allow the ads to run.
This is the John McCain so many of us loved in 2000 and even at the beginning of this election cycle - a man who welcomed the media, ran an open and transparent campaign, and competed fairly and honestly.
Perhaps if he had maintained such a moral discipline throughout, the poll numbers wouldn't be what they are today with Obama up 9 points according to Bloomberg.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
End the madness
As the election draws ever closer, the candidates are getting more and more aggressive. Actually, aggressive probably isn't the right word. Their behavior could be likened more to desperately starved hyenas approaching a recently deceased gazelle carcass soaked in A1 steak sauce. And the sad part is that people actually eat this shit up.
Looks like the latest catch phrase from the right is "career first, country second," referring to Obama's association with former weatherman Bill Ayers. Are you f@#$ing kidding me? Perhaps it wasn't the best move on Obama's part to launch a state senate campaign in the home of a former terrorist. That said, however, the man, Ayers that is, hasn't been involved in any shady dealings since the 60's. He's an distinguished professor at the University of Illinois and has received numerous recognitions for his contributions to the educational and local community.
But the most important aspect of these attacks to consider is the way they drive political discourse. Every political campaign has its share of crazies, racists and straight up lunatics. That's to be expected, particularly in an election as historic as this. However, the character assassinations put forth by McCain's campaign have taken these voices and brought them to the mainstream, evidenced by participants at McCain's rallies that are willing to say things like ""I can't trust Obama. I have read about him and he's not, he's not uh — he's an Arab. He's not — ". (McCain cuts off the woman).
What does that say about our country? How can democracy work effectively if that kind of unabashed ignorance holds sway in the political arena? Again, I can only blame McCain himself. Sure he cut off the woman (crazy nut ball) and actually defended Obama. But it was his campaign that allowed this kind of commentary to exist. It was his onslaught of attack advertisements and public smears that made it OK for the xenophobic idiots to hijack the limelight from thoughtful conservatives with a real point to make.
Readers might notice at this point that I've focused pretty much entirely on McCain. And yes, perhaps I am a bit liberal, but that's not to say that Obama hasn't upped his attacks. There is no doubt that the fire is coming from both sides. However, I do feel strongly that the attacks coming from the right are harsher and more damaging to character than the attacks from the left which seem to be primarily policy oriented - with exceptions of course.
Anyhow, I can only worry about the weeks to come until Election Day. Will the current political conversations set precedent for future political campaign? Will the Karl Rove politics, characterized by a total lack of respect or any shred of real evidence become the rule of the game? I guess we can only wait and see.
Looks like the latest catch phrase from the right is "career first, country second," referring to Obama's association with former weatherman Bill Ayers. Are you f@#$ing kidding me? Perhaps it wasn't the best move on Obama's part to launch a state senate campaign in the home of a former terrorist. That said, however, the man, Ayers that is, hasn't been involved in any shady dealings since the 60's. He's an distinguished professor at the University of Illinois and has received numerous recognitions for his contributions to the educational and local community.
But the most important aspect of these attacks to consider is the way they drive political discourse. Every political campaign has its share of crazies, racists and straight up lunatics. That's to be expected, particularly in an election as historic as this. However, the character assassinations put forth by McCain's campaign have taken these voices and brought them to the mainstream, evidenced by participants at McCain's rallies that are willing to say things like ""I can't trust Obama. I have read about him and he's not, he's not uh — he's an Arab. He's not — ". (McCain cuts off the woman).
What does that say about our country? How can democracy work effectively if that kind of unabashed ignorance holds sway in the political arena? Again, I can only blame McCain himself. Sure he cut off the woman (crazy nut ball) and actually defended Obama. But it was his campaign that allowed this kind of commentary to exist. It was his onslaught of attack advertisements and public smears that made it OK for the xenophobic idiots to hijack the limelight from thoughtful conservatives with a real point to make.
Readers might notice at this point that I've focused pretty much entirely on McCain. And yes, perhaps I am a bit liberal, but that's not to say that Obama hasn't upped his attacks. There is no doubt that the fire is coming from both sides. However, I do feel strongly that the attacks coming from the right are harsher and more damaging to character than the attacks from the left which seem to be primarily policy oriented - with exceptions of course.
Anyhow, I can only worry about the weeks to come until Election Day. Will the current political conversations set precedent for future political campaign? Will the Karl Rove politics, characterized by a total lack of respect or any shred of real evidence become the rule of the game? I guess we can only wait and see.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
HOLY CRAP! THE WORLD MIGHT END!
OH MY GOD! Iran is going to go APE SHIT and invade Israel. Yeah, it's going to happen. Seriously. That crazy/evil man is going to push the big red invade button and the whole middle east is going to fall into anarchy. Then China will invade Taiwan, Venezuela will take over South America, and Russia will retake the whole soviet block.
Right. More B.S. for the educationally challenged.
Right. More B.S. for the educationally challenged.
Evil Shenanigans
Russia is an Evil Empire. Really guys? Really? Evil? This isn't Lord of the Rings, there isn't some giant black tower with a glowing eye looking out over Moscow. Evil? Really? Grow up.
Fun Fact: $700 billion dollars can solve any problem in the world. Fact.
Solve economic crisis: $700 bil.
Cost to end war in Iraq: $700 bil.
Cost to send a man to Mars: $700 bil.
Cost to end genocide in Darfur: $700 bil.
Cost to cure HIV: $700 bil.
Cost to research and develop a T-1000 unit to go back in time and kill Hitler's mother thus preventing WWII: $700 bil.
Solve economic crisis: $700 bil.
Cost to end war in Iraq: $700 bil.
Cost to send a man to Mars: $700 bil.
Cost to end genocide in Darfur: $700 bil.
Cost to cure HIV: $700 bil.
Cost to research and develop a T-1000 unit to go back in time and kill Hitler's mother thus preventing WWII: $700 bil.
Cheap Gas for everyone!!!
I'm as much a fan of low gas prices as anyone, but really, as Tom Friedman would likely argue, we need jacked up gas prices to create incentives to develop alternate fuel sources.
You're just not getting it McCain. Or your pandering to the double-digit IQ demographic.
You're just not getting it McCain. Or your pandering to the double-digit IQ demographic.
Calling out Obama
Ok, I've gotta call shenanigans on Obama. He said just a few minutes ago that only a few small businesses make more than $250,000 per year, and thus, few businesses would be hurt by his tax plan.
I'll have to get back to you guys with some hard data later, but I feel like this has got to be inaccurate. While $250k might be a lot for a person to make in a year, or a household for that matter, I would guess that a significant amount of small businesses rake in significantly more than that.
$250k is basically five guys pulling in $50k a year - thats not exactly luxurious in today's world.
I'll have to get back to you guys with some hard data later, but I feel like this has got to be inaccurate. While $250k might be a lot for a person to make in a year, or a household for that matter, I would guess that a significant amount of small businesses rake in significantly more than that.
$250k is basically five guys pulling in $50k a year - thats not exactly luxurious in today's world.
Social Security is easy to fix
Really? Do I even need to address this one?
Oh yeah, Social Security, no problem whatsoever. Yeah. We know exactly what we need to do.
Oh yeah, Social Security, no problem whatsoever. Yeah. We know exactly what we need to do.
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