that's all I got y'all...
*high fives all around*
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Lincoln Endorses Obama
Or at least that's how the New York Times' web layout makes it seem. Read the endorsement here.Also, I welcome any other contributors to make endorsements known here, via linkage from other sources, or by writing your own. Especially if they're for lower-profile elections. I will make a couple right now, for readers from the great state of Washington: Gregoire for Governor, No on I-985, and Yes on the Sound Transit Light Rail package (Puget Sound voters only).
Friday, October 17, 2008
Como what? -- or, say it ain't so Joe (if that's your real name!)
Here are some thoughts by Joe the Plumber[-six-pack-truck-driver-gas-station-attendant-anything-just-not-french-software-engineer] as expressed in his interview with Katie Couric.
- "McCain was solid in his performance."
Completely unjustified qualification, but we'll let that slide.
- " 250,000 and you're rich...100,00 you're rich...I mean, where does it end?"
This is a ridiculous attempt at claiming Obama's measurement of who's rich could turn into a "slippery slope". B didn't just make up that number, its based on the understanding that only a couple percentage points of the US population make that much or more. To put things in perspective: a US Senator makes 170k/yr.
[http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/97-1011.pdf]
I don't claim that a graduated tax is ideal, but its unquestionable that people making more than $250,000 are WELL-OFF. Yes, inflation is real but its not like we're Zimbabwe.
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbabwe_dollar]
- "...I asked a question and still got a tapdance..."
Dear Joe, please define "tap-dancing" for us?
Obama explained in detail how he will be taxed, and the philosophy of why he will be taxed. The tax rate will be 36% on his income before 250k, and 39% on the margin between 300k and 250k -- which was the same rate under Clinton. In addition he'll get a health insurance credit for his small business. Perhaps he zoned out while Barack was breaking down the nitty-gritty to him.
- "I have opinions and that's it, but everyone has opinions."
No, just stop it. I'm tired of this culture of "everyone is entitled to their opinion" nonsense. That poison is dangerous. Opinions need to be supported by facts, especially when your opinions effect the world, as this election will.
One thing that gets me is how reporters have to restrain themselves during interviews to appear unbiased. The dangerous thing is when small-town Joe says something illogical, and Katie Couric doesn't call him out on it, it gives his point the veil of sanity.
I suppose its all in fairness because as Stephen Colbert once said, "reality has a well-known liberal bias".
This guy will be forgotten by Monday.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
She's got class!
Michelle Obama not offended by 'that one' comment
(CNN) -- The wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama told CNN's Larry King on Wednesday that she is not offended by a much-publicized comment made toward her husband in Tuesday night's debate.
Michelle Obama talks about Williams Ayers, Hillary Clinton and her husband's campaign on Larry King Live.
In the presidential matchup at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, GOP nominee John McCain criticized his Democratic rival for supporting the 2007 Bush-Cheney energy bill.
"It was an energy bill on the floor of the Senate, loaded down with goodies, billions for oil companies, and it was sponsored by Bush and Cheney. ... You know who voted for it? You might never know. That one," he said, gesturing toward Obama. "You know who voted against it? Me."
When asked whether McCain's reference to Obama as "that one" was offensive, simply said "No," adding that the issue has nothing to do with what's affecting average Americans hurting from the economic downturn.
"I think there are two conversations that have been going on throughout this whole election. There's the conversation that's been happening with the pundits ... and then there's the conversation that's been happening on the ground," she said.
She said Americans "right now are scared" and "nervous about the economy."
"They don't care about the back and forth between the candidates. ... They want real answers about how we're going to fix this economy and get the health care benefits on track so, you know, this is part of politics," she added.
Don't Miss
King asked Obama about the McCain camp bringing up her husband's ties to William Ayers. Ayers was a founding member of the Weather Underground, a 1960s radical group known for bombings of police stations, the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol.
Ayers is a university professor who lives on the South Side of Chicago, where Obama cut his political teeth.
Michelle Obama said her husband served on a Chicago education board with Ayers.
"I don't know anyone in Chicago who is heavily involved in education policy who doesn't know Bill Ayers," she said. "But, you know, again I go back to the point that, you know, the American people aren't asking these questions."
"You don't think it affects the campaign?" King asked.
"You know, I think that we've been in this for 20 months and people have gotten to know Barack. He's written a book, books have been written about him. He, like all of the other candidates have been thoroughly vetted. And I think people know Barack Obama.
"They know his heart, they know his spirit, and the thing that I just encourage people is to judge Barack and judge all of these candidates based on what they do, their actions, their character, what they do in their lives rather than what somebody [else] did when they were 8."
Michelle Obama was referring to the fact that Ayers allegedly committed his most radical acts when Barack Obama was a child.
McCain's running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, has lobbed some intense attacks on Barack Obama over the Ayers issue. "Our opponent is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to pal around with terrorists who targeted their own country," Palin told a crowd of supporters this week.
King played the clip and asked Michelle Obama if that statement made her "mad."
Obama replied, "I don't watch it."
"What do you make of her running for a vice president and having many kids and being a good parent and bouncing all the balls?" King asked.
"I think she provides an excellent of example of all the different roles that women can and should play," Michelle Obama responded. "I'm a mother with kids and I've had a career and I've had to juggle. She's doing publicly what so many women are doing on their own privately. What we're fighting for is to make sure that all women have the choices that Sarah Palin and I have."
At one point, King asked her if her husband likes McCain. "Do these two candidates, as has been reported, not like each other?" King asked.
"I can only speak for Barack, and I know that Barack has the utmost respect for Sen. McCain. He said so on so many occasions," she said. "I think this has been a long, tough fight. And politics sometimes leads to things said between the candidates. But again, what we found is that people are really focused on who is going to -- who has got the vision that's going to take us to the next level?"
She said campaigning is exhausting but she likes it more than she expected.
"When I'm tired, I get more energy coming out of a rally where I get the -- get hugs and I see people on the rope lines tearing up because they never thought they'd see this moment," she said. "I see kids who are focused and engaged in a way that I've never seen before. That gives us both energy."
Obama also talked about Sen. Hillary Clinton.
"Are you happy with the way she's supporting your husband?" King asked.
"She has been phenomenal. ...She has always been just cordial and open. I've called her, I've talked to her. She's given me advice about the kids," Obama said.
"We've talked at length about this kind of stuff -- how you feel, how you react. She has been amazing. She is a real pro and a woman with character."
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/08/michelle.obama/index.html
As the lone Southern Belle on this site, I recognize her class and grant her honorary Southern Belle status...Palin on the other hand may talk similar to me...but she aint't poo.
(CNN) -- The wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama told CNN's Larry King on Wednesday that she is not offended by a much-publicized comment made toward her husband in Tuesday night's debate.
Michelle Obama talks about Williams Ayers, Hillary Clinton and her husband's campaign on Larry King Live.
In the presidential matchup at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, GOP nominee John McCain criticized his Democratic rival for supporting the 2007 Bush-Cheney energy bill.
"It was an energy bill on the floor of the Senate, loaded down with goodies, billions for oil companies, and it was sponsored by Bush and Cheney. ... You know who voted for it? You might never know. That one," he said, gesturing toward Obama. "You know who voted against it? Me."
When asked whether McCain's reference to Obama as "that one" was offensive, simply said "No," adding that the issue has nothing to do with what's affecting average Americans hurting from the economic downturn.
"I think there are two conversations that have been going on throughout this whole election. There's the conversation that's been happening with the pundits ... and then there's the conversation that's been happening on the ground," she said.
She said Americans "right now are scared" and "nervous about the economy."
"They don't care about the back and forth between the candidates. ... They want real answers about how we're going to fix this economy and get the health care benefits on track so, you know, this is part of politics," she added.
Don't Miss
King asked Obama about the McCain camp bringing up her husband's ties to William Ayers. Ayers was a founding member of the Weather Underground, a 1960s radical group known for bombings of police stations, the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol.
Ayers is a university professor who lives on the South Side of Chicago, where Obama cut his political teeth.
Michelle Obama said her husband served on a Chicago education board with Ayers.
"I don't know anyone in Chicago who is heavily involved in education policy who doesn't know Bill Ayers," she said. "But, you know, again I go back to the point that, you know, the American people aren't asking these questions."
"You don't think it affects the campaign?" King asked.
"You know, I think that we've been in this for 20 months and people have gotten to know Barack. He's written a book, books have been written about him. He, like all of the other candidates have been thoroughly vetted. And I think people know Barack Obama.
"They know his heart, they know his spirit, and the thing that I just encourage people is to judge Barack and judge all of these candidates based on what they do, their actions, their character, what they do in their lives rather than what somebody [else] did when they were 8."
Michelle Obama was referring to the fact that Ayers allegedly committed his most radical acts when Barack Obama was a child.
McCain's running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, has lobbed some intense attacks on Barack Obama over the Ayers issue. "Our opponent is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to pal around with terrorists who targeted their own country," Palin told a crowd of supporters this week.
King played the clip and asked Michelle Obama if that statement made her "mad."
Obama replied, "I don't watch it."
"What do you make of her running for a vice president and having many kids and being a good parent and bouncing all the balls?" King asked.
"I think she provides an excellent of example of all the different roles that women can and should play," Michelle Obama responded. "I'm a mother with kids and I've had a career and I've had to juggle. She's doing publicly what so many women are doing on their own privately. What we're fighting for is to make sure that all women have the choices that Sarah Palin and I have."
At one point, King asked her if her husband likes McCain. "Do these two candidates, as has been reported, not like each other?" King asked.
"I can only speak for Barack, and I know that Barack has the utmost respect for Sen. McCain. He said so on so many occasions," she said. "I think this has been a long, tough fight. And politics sometimes leads to things said between the candidates. But again, what we found is that people are really focused on who is going to -- who has got the vision that's going to take us to the next level?"
She said campaigning is exhausting but she likes it more than she expected.
"When I'm tired, I get more energy coming out of a rally where I get the -- get hugs and I see people on the rope lines tearing up because they never thought they'd see this moment," she said. "I see kids who are focused and engaged in a way that I've never seen before. That gives us both energy."
Obama also talked about Sen. Hillary Clinton.
"Are you happy with the way she's supporting your husband?" King asked.
"She has been phenomenal. ...She has always been just cordial and open. I've called her, I've talked to her. She's given me advice about the kids," Obama said.
"We've talked at length about this kind of stuff -- how you feel, how you react. She has been amazing. She is a real pro and a woman with character."
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/08/michelle.obama/index.html
As the lone Southern Belle on this site, I recognize her class and grant her honorary Southern Belle status...Palin on the other hand may talk similar to me...but she aint't poo.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Texas Justice
This confirms something I've known for a longtime. If your greed robs the American people of their livelihood, you will probably be able to afford a lawyer to get you acquitted with a golden parachute, but it can't protect you from a sacred punch in the face - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/3150319/Richard-Fuld-punched-in-face-in-Lehman-Brothers-gym.html
Monday, October 6, 2008
It's Ayers vs Keating for the Presidency
We always knew it would come to this, right?
In 2006, if you wanted to nominate one Democrat and one Republican who together would produce a high-minded, respectful campaign, you might have chosen Barack Obama and John McCain. But clearly those days are long gone, and this campaign has been down in the mud for quite some time.
Now, with the McCain poll numbers falling, Obama surging in heretofore red states, and a month left to play, we see the Palin/McCain campaign resorting to the only thing they have left: questioning the American-ness of Obama. So out come our old friends Bill Ayers and Tony Rezko. McCain denounced the Rev. Wright mess, but don't be surprised if at least Palin gives a big wink to some independent smear groups to take up that charge, again.
This time though, Obama is unabashedly playing hardball as well. His campaign is hitting back hard, and for the first time, trying to bring the Keating Five scandal to public light. They just sent out an email promising a documentary soon at www.keatingeconomics.com. At least they're trying to tie it to current events to the current events of the financial crisis. In fact, it makes you wonder if they've been waiting on this particular line of attack for just such a moment.
So from here on out, it's Ayers vs. Keating for the Presidency. Watch as Change vs. Country First devolves even further to Guilt By Association vs. Cleared of Impropriety But Criticized for Poor Judgment. Oh, the joy.
In 2006, if you wanted to nominate one Democrat and one Republican who together would produce a high-minded, respectful campaign, you might have chosen Barack Obama and John McCain. But clearly those days are long gone, and this campaign has been down in the mud for quite some time.
Now, with the McCain poll numbers falling, Obama surging in heretofore red states, and a month left to play, we see the Palin/McCain campaign resorting to the only thing they have left: questioning the American-ness of Obama. So out come our old friends Bill Ayers and Tony Rezko. McCain denounced the Rev. Wright mess, but don't be surprised if at least Palin gives a big wink to some independent smear groups to take up that charge, again.
This time though, Obama is unabashedly playing hardball as well. His campaign is hitting back hard, and for the first time, trying to bring the Keating Five scandal to public light. They just sent out an email promising a documentary soon at www.keatingeconomics.com. At least they're trying to tie it to current events to the current events of the financial crisis. In fact, it makes you wonder if they've been waiting on this particular line of attack for just such a moment.
So from here on out, it's Ayers vs. Keating for the Presidency. Watch as Change vs. Country First devolves even further to Guilt By Association vs. Cleared of Impropriety But Criticized for Poor Judgment. Oh, the joy.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Announcement Lang!
Prepare yourselves for the smear campaigns! Please don't let this deter you from voting for Obama...you know how McCain/Palin do...lies and trickery...don't get caught up. Be above them and spread the good word.
[For those who aren't familiar with Filipino languages, "lang" means only or just. - ed.]
[For those who aren't familiar with Filipino languages, "lang" means only or just. - ed.]
Not to belabor the point, but...
As of this posting, it has been 11 days since Sarah Palin, under sexist fire from the super-liberal, freedom-hating, and just plain annoying Katie Couric, could not produce any additional examples of John McCain's support of more regulation. Palin told Couric, with a little extra flourish of moxie, "I'll try to find some examples and get back to ya'."
And still, to my knowledge, Palin has not done so. What, isn't there some low-level "GOP Party" staffer with just as much time on his hands as me that can look up some stuff and fax it on over? I guess not.
The Republicans seem to love countdown clocks -- like how many days has it been since Obama went to the Middle East, agreed on broad strategic plans with the leaders of Iraq and Afghanistan, and seemed extremely presidential? In that spirit, I'm starting a clock. (If anybody knows how to make a better-looking one, feel free).
WHEN WILL PALIN GET BACK TA' COURIC?
Palin photo taken from newsweek.com
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Billy Madison is McCain's VP
We are all dumber today after hearing that answer, Governor Palin. At no time did you answer the question, which asked about what you've learned from your mistakes. May God have mercy on your soul.
Nibb High (third grade class) rules!
Nibb High (third grade class) rules!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Travis's VP Debate Play-by-Play
Travis loves to make fun of Palin, but can't even manage to sign up for blogger, let alone field-dress a moose. Anyway, he asked me to post this for him:
Palin -- in her first real sentence of the debate -- brought up a kid's soccer game. What's next, Little League? Apparently, she's still running for Vice Hockey Mom. And staying true to her Republican roots talked about people being scared and of course FEAR.
Biden landed the first punch of the debate with this comment: supporting any or all of Bush or McCain (At this point they are in fact the same person. For proof, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa20q2s2BRs )
"I call that the ultimate Bridge to Nowhere." Which was greeted on my part with much rejoicing. [I think he was talking about the McCain health care plan, specifically. – ed.]
Next up, we talk about promises that you have made on the campaign trail that you will have difficulty keeping or will most likely break.
Palin- “How long have I been here? Like, five weeks. So, there haven't been a whole lot that I've promised." This was followed by the overuse of colloquialisms. Not just “darn”, she's said “Heck” many many times, along with “ummm” before almost every question she’s dodged (more on that later). That is some potty mouth she has.
Palin said she might not give the answers that Gwen (our question asker) is looking for. She's going to talk to straight to the people. That seems to have been a fancy way of saying "I'm not going to answer questions, and instead just say whatever I want." Kinda like my emails and such. Why would I speak or find the truth when I can just make stuff up?
Moving right along to the environment:
Palin- She doesn't want to care about the causes but she does want to reduce emissions? Why would she reduce emissions if she doesn't know what the causes are? This is followed by the statement, as the governor of Alaska we are the most affected state when it comes global warming... When was the last time her state was hit by a hurricane? How about FL or that other state down south... Katrina really did a number on Alaska. How many times has her state been affected by a dike breaking or a levy overflowing....
Palin - "Um, the quote is 'Drill, Baby, Drill!'" That's it, Sarah! Call that bastard out on the big issues girlfriend! Also, how can we clean up our dirty toxic planet by drilling holes in it? Maybe it's just like when I take a shower with my dipper, all the dirty water goes down the drain. Soooo if we drill big enough holes in the ocean maybe the all the pollution caused by man will just disappear.
Palin says that Obama called drilling raping the environment. Does she support paying for rape kits for the wilderness? [Zing! –ed.]
Palin- tolerant of gay people. Just wouldn't tolerate the definition of the word "marriage" being altered slightly.
Iraq is up next (Iraq is a quagmire if I've ever seen one), let’s see what your VPs have to say:
Biden- we need a plan to get us out, remove the troops, it’s costing us over 10 billion dollars a month to be there meanwhile, Iraq has a surplus of over 84 billion dollars. Time has come for Iraq to start helping paying that bill especially if they want us there.
Palin- fumbling on an Iraq plan. For a moment there, she was caught up in Couricville. Then said that a loss in Iraq would be very bad... Now if I remember right, didn't we already win that war? I recall W (our fearless president, also known as The Decider) dressed in a pilots suit standing on an aircraft carrier with a rather large banner behind him saying something about mission accomplished (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFijzDyJnVE . To see the pilot suit, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRRc4F9GKJI)
These evil dictators hate us for our freedoms! And our respect for women's rights! Kind of like Palin. Ummm…
"No one is a better friend to Israel than Joe Biden." Uh oh. Joe Biden is talking about himself in the third-person again. He's about to snap. And I don't blame him. But, the 3rd person has got to go and it was during this courting of the Jews I couldn't help myself but to think Wow! I haven't seen anybody go after the Jews this hard since the last time I logged onto J Date. [How'd that work out for ya? - ed.]
Palin foreign policy stance in seven words: Stop hatin' on America, you hatin' haters!
Biden replies with the old respect transitive policy: You respect McCain's feather-ruffling, and I respect you for respecting said ruffling.
Palin: Not even coming close to answering the question again, a theme seen all night. She's answering some other question asked of her. Possibly by Jesus.
"When can we nuke people?" She's talking all over the place about whatever. And now she's talking about Afghanistan.
Palin: Dropping bombs on innocent villagers in Afghanistan= fighting terrorism. This is kinda like fucking for virginity. [Wow, and you said Palin had a potty mouth! - ed.]
Essentially, her answer to when the U.S. can nuke people? was that Iran shouldn't be allowed to get “nucular” weapons.
Now for our VPs final comments:
Palin:
"I like being able to answer these tough questions without the filter of the mainstream media."
Yeah, MSN totally screwed up her fantastic Supreme Court dissertation.
“McCain is the only candidate who has really fought for us.”
Did you know that he was a POW?
Is it even possible for mavericks to form a team?
I loved the fact that Biden once and for all put this myth of a maverick talk to an end.
I'll end this post with things Palin didn't say:
“knocked up daughter"
"birth control"
"abuse of power"
"skanky looking glasses"
"evangelical end times"
"uppity"
"fighter jock"
"my husband is on the state payroll and has no job title"
"I have never cheated on my expense reports"
"do you think I could come up with all of these lies myself?"
"I made better money when I was a dancer"
If you're still confused about what Palin was trying to say, just see the post below.
-Travis Schultz
Palin -- in her first real sentence of the debate -- brought up a kid's soccer game. What's next, Little League? Apparently, she's still running for Vice Hockey Mom. And staying true to her Republican roots talked about people being scared and of course FEAR.
Biden landed the first punch of the debate with this comment: supporting any or all of Bush or McCain (At this point they are in fact the same person. For proof, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa20q2s2BRs )
"I call that the ultimate Bridge to Nowhere." Which was greeted on my part with much rejoicing. [I think he was talking about the McCain health care plan, specifically. – ed.]
Next up, we talk about promises that you have made on the campaign trail that you will have difficulty keeping or will most likely break.
Palin- “How long have I been here? Like, five weeks. So, there haven't been a whole lot that I've promised." This was followed by the overuse of colloquialisms. Not just “darn”, she's said “Heck” many many times, along with “ummm” before almost every question she’s dodged (more on that later). That is some potty mouth she has.
Palin said she might not give the answers that Gwen (our question asker) is looking for. She's going to talk to straight to the people. That seems to have been a fancy way of saying "I'm not going to answer questions, and instead just say whatever I want." Kinda like my emails and such. Why would I speak or find the truth when I can just make stuff up?
Moving right along to the environment:
Palin- She doesn't want to care about the causes but she does want to reduce emissions? Why would she reduce emissions if she doesn't know what the causes are? This is followed by the statement, as the governor of Alaska we are the most affected state when it comes global warming... When was the last time her state was hit by a hurricane? How about FL or that other state down south... Katrina really did a number on Alaska. How many times has her state been affected by a dike breaking or a levy overflowing....
Palin - "Um, the quote is 'Drill, Baby, Drill!'" That's it, Sarah! Call that bastard out on the big issues girlfriend! Also, how can we clean up our dirty toxic planet by drilling holes in it? Maybe it's just like when I take a shower with my dipper, all the dirty water goes down the drain. Soooo if we drill big enough holes in the ocean maybe the all the pollution caused by man will just disappear.
Palin says that Obama called drilling raping the environment. Does she support paying for rape kits for the wilderness? [Zing! –ed.]
Palin- tolerant of gay people. Just wouldn't tolerate the definition of the word "marriage" being altered slightly.
Iraq is up next (Iraq is a quagmire if I've ever seen one), let’s see what your VPs have to say:
Biden- we need a plan to get us out, remove the troops, it’s costing us over 10 billion dollars a month to be there meanwhile, Iraq has a surplus of over 84 billion dollars. Time has come for Iraq to start helping paying that bill especially if they want us there.
Palin- fumbling on an Iraq plan. For a moment there, she was caught up in Couricville. Then said that a loss in Iraq would be very bad... Now if I remember right, didn't we already win that war? I recall W (our fearless president, also known as The Decider) dressed in a pilots suit standing on an aircraft carrier with a rather large banner behind him saying something about mission accomplished (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFijzDyJnVE . To see the pilot suit, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRRc4F9GKJI)
These evil dictators hate us for our freedoms! And our respect for women's rights! Kind of like Palin. Ummm…
"No one is a better friend to Israel than Joe Biden." Uh oh. Joe Biden is talking about himself in the third-person again. He's about to snap. And I don't blame him. But, the 3rd person has got to go and it was during this courting of the Jews I couldn't help myself but to think Wow! I haven't seen anybody go after the Jews this hard since the last time I logged onto J Date. [How'd that work out for ya? - ed.]
Palin foreign policy stance in seven words: Stop hatin' on America, you hatin' haters!
Biden replies with the old respect transitive policy: You respect McCain's feather-ruffling, and I respect you for respecting said ruffling.
Palin: Not even coming close to answering the question again, a theme seen all night. She's answering some other question asked of her. Possibly by Jesus.
"When can we nuke people?" She's talking all over the place about whatever. And now she's talking about Afghanistan.
Palin: Dropping bombs on innocent villagers in Afghanistan= fighting terrorism. This is kinda like fucking for virginity. [Wow, and you said Palin had a potty mouth! - ed.]
Essentially, her answer to when the U.S. can nuke people? was that Iran shouldn't be allowed to get “nucular” weapons.
Now for our VPs final comments:
Palin:
"I like being able to answer these tough questions without the filter of the mainstream media."
Yeah, MSN totally screwed up her fantastic Supreme Court dissertation.
“McCain is the only candidate who has really fought for us.”
Did you know that he was a POW?
Is it even possible for mavericks to form a team?
I loved the fact that Biden once and for all put this myth of a maverick talk to an end.
I'll end this post with things Palin didn't say:
“knocked up daughter"
"birth control"
"abuse of power"
"skanky looking glasses"
"evangelical end times"
"uppity"
"fighter jock"
"my husband is on the state payroll and has no job title"
"I have never cheated on my expense reports"
"do you think I could come up with all of these lies myself?"
"I made better money when I was a dancer"
If you're still confused about what Palin was trying to say, just see the post below.
-Travis Schultz
Washington: Vote NO on I-985
The following paragraph applies to all initiatives written by Tim Eyman, just update the number in the title:
Voters in Washington State should not be fooled by the promises made by I-985. Its simple description is written in nice-sounding language that makes everything sound great. However, it's full of unintended consequences, promises to get something for nothing, is ill-informed, and will hurt the citizens of Washington.
To be more specific, I-985 will not make traffic congestion any better and hurts ongoing efforts by the Washington State Department of Transportation to reduce congestion. It should be clear to people by now that in the unique geography of Washington State, and especially the greater Seattle area, we cannot simply build our way out of congestion. Ever more roads are not the answer. Better use of our existing roads will be increasingly important. HOV lanes provide a benefit to all drivers, not just the ones in carpools, by providing faster service for buses. More buses = less cars. This measure would open up HOV lanes to everybody, except at certain "rush" hours -- but unfortunately, peak driving hours, and traffic congestion, spill out of the hours used in the initiative.
Don't be fooled by the provisions in the initiative. It has just enough sensible-sounding stuff that a well-intentioned voter who doesn't take time to learn about it might just vote yes. Some of the provisions, such as traffic light synchronization, are obvious best practices that most locales already do. But this initiative isn't the way forward. I am focusing on some of the traffic measures that I know most about, but understand that this initiative is more far-reaching, has adverse implications for the state budget, and that it is widely discredited. We must defeat it. And any transportation bill opposed by both the Association of Washington Businesses and the Sierra Club must truly be awful.
Educate yourself further, so you can tell other people. And vote NO on I-985!
LINKS:
Full Text of I-985 (25 page PDF, for the real junkies in the crowd)
Ballotpedia.org summary of the issues
Washington Policy Center analysis
NO on I-985 Coalition Website
Education League Comes out Against I-985
Tim Eyman is such an ass, honestly, do you really want to support this poppycock?
Voters in Washington State should not be fooled by the promises made by I-985. Its simple description is written in nice-sounding language that makes everything sound great. However, it's full of unintended consequences, promises to get something for nothing, is ill-informed, and will hurt the citizens of Washington.
To be more specific, I-985 will not make traffic congestion any better and hurts ongoing efforts by the Washington State Department of Transportation to reduce congestion. It should be clear to people by now that in the unique geography of Washington State, and especially the greater Seattle area, we cannot simply build our way out of congestion. Ever more roads are not the answer. Better use of our existing roads will be increasingly important. HOV lanes provide a benefit to all drivers, not just the ones in carpools, by providing faster service for buses. More buses = less cars. This measure would open up HOV lanes to everybody, except at certain "rush" hours -- but unfortunately, peak driving hours, and traffic congestion, spill out of the hours used in the initiative.
Don't be fooled by the provisions in the initiative. It has just enough sensible-sounding stuff that a well-intentioned voter who doesn't take time to learn about it might just vote yes. Some of the provisions, such as traffic light synchronization, are obvious best practices that most locales already do. But this initiative isn't the way forward. I am focusing on some of the traffic measures that I know most about, but understand that this initiative is more far-reaching, has adverse implications for the state budget, and that it is widely discredited. We must defeat it. And any transportation bill opposed by both the Association of Washington Businesses and the Sierra Club must truly be awful.
Educate yourself further, so you can tell other people. And vote NO on I-985!
LINKS:
Full Text of I-985 (25 page PDF, for the real junkies in the crowd)
Ballotpedia.org summary of the issues
Washington Policy Center analysis
NO on I-985 Coalition Website
Education League Comes out Against I-985
Tim Eyman is such an ass, honestly, do you really want to support this poppycock?
Speaking to "Joe 6-Pack"
I understand the need to speak to the average person in slightly simpler language than you might hear on the Senate floor, something Mr. Biden should learn. However, I imagine if there's one thing "Joe 6-Pack" doesn't like, it's being BS'd. If the mantra of a McCain/Palin administration is "straight talk," then what exactly do you call this string of incoherant talking points?
Pew-pew-pewing her way into our hearts
Yes, Republican Vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin is egregiously unqualified. Yes, her interviews with Katie Couric knock shooting a friend in the face a couple of rungs down on the gaffe ladder. And yes, she’s there, not because she can help lead the country out of dire straights, but because Senator John McCain decided to toss up a political hail mary.
But, you know what? She did a doggone good job at the debate today, as she might have put it.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a fan; Ms. Palin has a record of nepotism, backroom politics and veiled religious fanaticism. But the pundits burning her in a verbal effigy over some minor errors aren't accurately reflecting the evolving political situation nor do they give her credit for how far she’s come in a little over a month.
She did exactly what she needed to do tonight. The media had anticipated this debate like vultures following a three-legged, nearsighted water buffalo. They didn’t get their meal. Much like Senator Barack Obama was perceived to have held his own against the more experienced McCain, Ms. Palin held her own. Obviously, she was prepped—you could almost see her eyes running over a mental checklist: pronounce Ahmadinejad correctly; mention Kim Jong Il; pose with newborn. But she has finally managed to grope her way to the thing that has determined the last two elections—the benefit of the doubt.
Hardcore supporters of either candidate would not have been moved by Senator Joe Biden’s performance or Ms. Palin’s performance, no matter what happened. But this election is about the huge block of Americans sitting on the fence. The people who were bombarded with characterizations of a bumbling neophyte trying to deflect journalists’s pointed questions with a school-marm vernacular and a Miss Alaska smile. After today, the phrase “Maybe she’s not as bad as they say,” may well be going through many of those people’s minds.
Ask yourself, did the well-oiled machine that twice elected another folksy ‘regular joe’ with a knack for non-sequiturs really allow McCain to go in on someone they thought was a sure-fire loser? Or was it yet another calculated national mind game? Take some unsuspecting political mannequin and toss her into the fire. Have the nation watch as the media and the opposition burn her. Have her struggle and mature under duress, and maybe, just maybe, have voters feel a twinge of—subconscious or otherwise—sympathy for the underdog who’s trying to navigate a stage a little too big for her.
Don’t count Ms. Palin out. She may yet rear her head over election airspace. And Dick Cheney’s out of bullets.
But, you know what? She did a doggone good job at the debate today, as she might have put it.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a fan; Ms. Palin has a record of nepotism, backroom politics and veiled religious fanaticism. But the pundits burning her in a verbal effigy over some minor errors aren't accurately reflecting the evolving political situation nor do they give her credit for how far she’s come in a little over a month.
She did exactly what she needed to do tonight. The media had anticipated this debate like vultures following a three-legged, nearsighted water buffalo. They didn’t get their meal. Much like Senator Barack Obama was perceived to have held his own against the more experienced McCain, Ms. Palin held her own. Obviously, she was prepped—you could almost see her eyes running over a mental checklist: pronounce Ahmadinejad correctly; mention Kim Jong Il; pose with newborn. But she has finally managed to grope her way to the thing that has determined the last two elections—the benefit of the doubt.
Hardcore supporters of either candidate would not have been moved by Senator Joe Biden’s performance or Ms. Palin’s performance, no matter what happened. But this election is about the huge block of Americans sitting on the fence. The people who were bombarded with characterizations of a bumbling neophyte trying to deflect journalists’s pointed questions with a school-marm vernacular and a Miss Alaska smile. After today, the phrase “Maybe she’s not as bad as they say,” may well be going through many of those people’s minds.
Ask yourself, did the well-oiled machine that twice elected another folksy ‘regular joe’ with a knack for non-sequiturs really allow McCain to go in on someone they thought was a sure-fire loser? Or was it yet another calculated national mind game? Take some unsuspecting political mannequin and toss her into the fire. Have the nation watch as the media and the opposition burn her. Have her struggle and mature under duress, and maybe, just maybe, have voters feel a twinge of—subconscious or otherwise—sympathy for the underdog who’s trying to navigate a stage a little too big for her.
Don’t count Ms. Palin out. She may yet rear her head over election airspace. And Dick Cheney’s out of bullets.
Notes on the VP Debate
I just finished watching the debate. Due to my time zone, I had the unique experience of reading all sorts of news and punditry about the debate before actually viewing it, and I've just caught the CNN International replay. I'm anticipating an epic post by Travis regarding the intricacies and inanities found in the VP debate between Sarah Palin and Joe O'Biden, so like Katie Couric I won't beleaguer the point, but there were some things I wanted to point out.
- John McCain's "The fundamentals of the American economy are strong" comment has been subjected to some of the most ridiculous spinning I've ever seen. Does anybody honestly believe he was referring to the American workforce? If he was, it's so obvious that nobody would make that point, or cloak it in such vague terms. What would be the counterpoint? Yes... our banking, finance, and manufacturing sectors are extremely well set up and resistant to calamity, but these American workers are so damn lazy that we just might go down the tubes!
- Palin, in arguing against a national health care plan, said "Unless you're pleased with the way the federal government has been running anything lately..." You can't say that when your party is in the White House. I heard you might consider yourself a bit of a maverick (hey, you should use that!) but, again, who honestly believes that this team will bring about change? Almost everybody that Palin excites is already a huge Bush fan.
- The way Palin talks about energy independence is absolutely absurd. She said there are "domestic supplies of energy all over this great land, and instead we're relying on foreign countries." Therefore, the only way out of it is to drill, baby, drill (make sure you get it right, Joe!) Do they not understand that there is no "instead" about it, as long as we remain so dependent on petroleum? Or just she just not care, figuring that the American voter is too dumb to realize it? Thankfully, Biden called her out on this matter.
- Honest question: is Alaska more vulnerable to climate change than other parts of the country? I understand that ice caps may melt, but this affects the entire planet. I'm not saying it isn't true, but what is the science behind this? Please leave a comment if you know. If you, you know, trust science and all.
- The don't-talk-to-the-enemies crowd seems to think Obama wants to lacksidasically sit down and have a cup of tea with Ahmadinejad. Or, at least that's what they want you to think. Because to Palin, diplomacy is "hard work by serious people", unlike under a Democratic administration, where a bunch of screw-offs just wait for 5pm to roll around.
- Do you think Palin had heard of a no-fly zone in Sudan, or ever before considered the matter, before Biden conveniently said it right before she agreed that this was her policy, as well?
- Palin's winks (CREEPY!), facial tics, wiggles, nods, constantly talking with an inappropriate smile on her face, and general attempts at cuteness and spunkiness drive me crazy. It's like Ryan Seacrest going into politics. Biden looks a little weary, and his enormous smile can get a little creepy too, but at least he's not trying to out-cute everybody. Palin talks to the American public like we're in kindergarten.
- Palin harps on Biden's references to the Bush administration as dabbling in the past. Is she seriously trying to take the failures of the Bush administration off the table? I recall reading something once about those who don't understand the past are... wait, what was it? Eh, it was in the past, so must not be important. Onward!
- What was on the top of Palin's flash cards this week? I have a feeling it was "Greed and Corruption on Wall Street".
- Palin spoke happily of answering tough questions without a media filter. Except, she bragged early on that she might not answer the questions of Gwen or Joe, but would speak directly [and condescendingly] to the American people. So I guess she was answering the tough questions in her head. Since we don't know what they were, she probably answered all of them completely and directly.
- And finally, to both candidates, if you eat at the dining table instead of the kitchen table, does that make you an elitist?
How will the VP debate be judged?
Kausfiles -- the only blog I read with any regularity (sorry Craig in the Philippines) -- makes a good point about tonight's VP debate:
"In the debate, if it's close Palin won. It was close. In the overall campaign, if it's close, Obama won. It was close."
That said, I think "close" is a relative term -- so I'm not sure how close it was.
If it's measured against expectations, I think it was close. Both Palin and Biden exceeded my expectations. Palin did not have any long, rambling answers. She scored some good points, and only went off topic to avoid a subject a few times. This was the most time I'd ever spent watching/listening to Biden, and I came away much more impressed than I expected to be. I now feel like I relate to him a lot more than I would have expected.
But if the debate is measured against actual performance, hands-down it was a Biden victory. He clearly had an understanding and a well formed position on every issue that was discussed. He was also able to clearly differentiate his ticket from McCain on many key issues. He seemed confident, and ready to lead. Palin had short, unspecific answers, poorly framed attacks which Biden could easily refute, and tried too hard to make her experience in Alaska politics seem relevant to leading the country.
So, here's my point -- it will be interesting to see in the next couple days what the polls say about who "won" the debate, because I think it will show whether voters are judging the candidates performance based on their expecations or on the candidates' actual performance. If people say the debate was a tie (or a Palin win), that suggests expectations. If they favor Biden, it's actual performance.
If it turns out it's expectations, what does that mean for the actual election? Will undecided voters make their picks based on how the candidates stack up against their expecations (rather than the candidates' actual abilities)? What are the implications of this, given the makeup of the two tickets (each has an experienced senator and a relatively newbie)? I don't know, so I'm putting that question out their for the other contributors and (if we have any) non-contributing readers.
-fk
"In the debate, if it's close Palin won. It was close. In the overall campaign, if it's close, Obama won. It was close."
That said, I think "close" is a relative term -- so I'm not sure how close it was.
If it's measured against expectations, I think it was close. Both Palin and Biden exceeded my expectations. Palin did not have any long, rambling answers. She scored some good points, and only went off topic to avoid a subject a few times. This was the most time I'd ever spent watching/listening to Biden, and I came away much more impressed than I expected to be. I now feel like I relate to him a lot more than I would have expected.
But if the debate is measured against actual performance, hands-down it was a Biden victory. He clearly had an understanding and a well formed position on every issue that was discussed. He was also able to clearly differentiate his ticket from McCain on many key issues. He seemed confident, and ready to lead. Palin had short, unspecific answers, poorly framed attacks which Biden could easily refute, and tried too hard to make her experience in Alaska politics seem relevant to leading the country.
So, here's my point -- it will be interesting to see in the next couple days what the polls say about who "won" the debate, because I think it will show whether voters are judging the candidates performance based on their expecations or on the candidates' actual performance. If people say the debate was a tie (or a Palin win), that suggests expectations. If they favor Biden, it's actual performance.
If it turns out it's expectations, what does that mean for the actual election? Will undecided voters make their picks based on how the candidates stack up against their expecations (rather than the candidates' actual abilities)? What are the implications of this, given the makeup of the two tickets (each has an experienced senator and a relatively newbie)? I don't know, so I'm putting that question out their for the other contributors and (if we have any) non-contributing readers.
-fk
Italics
If I knew how to italicize words in a post title, this would have looked like:STOP IT with the ITALICS
A small (one might say petty) beef with the Obama website: almost every little title italicizes the middle word or word. Which, when displayed in their stylized, graphic-designed formats, looks alright from time to time. But when sections of the website are quoted elsewhere (as they are), people still tend to italicize, making the Obama campaign look silly and effete (something for Democrats to avoid.)
Examples:
Judgement to Lead
Watch the Video and Read the Plan
Register to Vote
Knock on Doors
Login to MyBO
With the possible exception of the last one, all of these phrases would be more declarative, decisive, and strong without italics. Smaller fonts can be used to de-emphasize linking words without making the statement look strange.
A tiny issue, to be sure. But then again, why bring unnecessary claims against yourself?
[You really should Register to Vote, though, if you haven't yet. Deadline is very soon. Rock the Vote is one of the many places you can do so!]
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Phone Home McCain
It's well documented that Obama foes, from Mark Penn to the McCain campaign, desperately seek to push the "Obama is different" line of thinking in order to scare the public into not voting for him. He's not white, he grew up in exotic places, he's elitist, etc. What if we did the same thing to McCain? That smile is a little creepy, after all. So here it is - I'm pushing the McCain-as-Alien meme. The theme song is "Phone Home" by Lil Wayne. [The voices of McCain and Lil' Wayne both sound remarkably alike, as well. -ed]
Sound ridiculous? So does almost everything McCain says about Obama.
Welcome to Hella Politics
One day, today, actually, I decided to create a blog with my friends in order to share our thoughts and further information about the world of politics. Just what the internet needs, right? Another blog with non-journalist digital pundits sharing their opinion on things. But it's mostly for our own entertainment, anyway. I wish I made this months ago, as it's obviously focused on the 2008 presidential campaign and may die a quick death in a month. However, it just might continue, too. I'll dispense with any sort of opening manifesto, except to say that I hope what gets posted here will be smart, funny, thoughtful, and/or entertaining.
WELCOME
To HELLA POLITICS!
[How was the name decided on? -ed.]
WELCOME
To HELLA POLITICS!
[How was the name decided on? -ed.]
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