Obama Responds to Racist Tactics

President-elect Obama spoke to the New York Times today about racist tactics used during the 2008 presidential election.

More to follow...

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Another gem from the former Republican candidate for Vice President, in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer:

Sitting here in these chairs that I'm going to be proposing but in working with these governors who again on the front lines are forced to and it's our privileged obligation to find solutions to the challenges facing our own states every day being held accountable, not being just one of many just casting votes or voting present every once in a while, we don't get away with that.

If you were able to make it through that one, you'll probably need some of this.

President Obama

Palin Problems

Well folks, with every passing day we learn of more and more people who disapprove of Sarah Palin. Check out this link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/31/eagleburger-blisters-pali_n_139524.html
Lawrence Eagleburger is among the many even in the GOP who knows that this woman is utterly unqualified for office. The reason there is still a focus on her is because we know that the health of John McCain is in question. We don't have a clear picture of his health and some docs have said he may have stage 3 melanoma. The chances of a Palin taking over are pretty good.

People need to think seriously about this decision. The stakes are far too great this time, and although I didn't think it was possible to have someone in the White House who is as mentally dull as W, I think Palin surpasses Bush 43 in the stupidity category. Not what we need right now. Or ever.

Colin Powell Unplugged

The modern Republican party is dead.

When George W. Bush's promise of "compassionate conservatism" never materialized, Republicans flocked so far to the right that even Pat Buchanan had to turn his head. Bush, who promised to unite Americans following his farcical appointment to the White House by the Supreme Court, instead introduced a new brand of Republicanism fueled by fear-mongering, greed, and contempt for civil discourse.

John McCain sold out to those same politics of hatred in recent months, forever attaching his legacy to those of Rove and Cheney. And yesterday, under the bright lights of Washington's most influential television studio, America's most respected General sounded the death knell for his own party.

Colin Powell's appearance on Meet the Press was the most devastating indictment of the modern Republican party during this campaign. One of the most respected Republican figures over the past 100 years, Powell disowned the politics of McCain and Bush and threw strong support behind Barack Obama. He did it with the thought, substance, and wisdom you'd expect of a former Secretary of State, General in the U.S. Army, National Security Advisor, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The seeds for Powell's endorsement of Obama might have been planted in early 2003, when Powell was steamrolled by neoconservatives inside the Bush administration during their drumbeat into Iraq. Bob Woodward's bestseller on Bush's decision to invade Iraq, Plan of Attack, reveals why Powell was unable to continue to serve under Bush. The book provides a frightening look inside the Bush Republicanism of the past eight years, based on personal accounts of those inside the White House - including Bush himself.

Following his chat with Tom Brokaw yesterday, Powell stepped outside the NBC News building in Washington and continued his assault on the tactics of the McCain campaign:

President Palin, Do You Copy?

Here's what the first moments of a Palin Presidency might look like, according to Andrew Sullivan:

"My Friends, I'm Losing to THAT ONE"

Was it just an odd moment for America's crankiest politician, or something more?

Whatever it was, John McCain's use of "that one" to describe Barack Obama has become the most-discussed moment of the second Presidential Debate. Not exactly the game-changer for which many Republican strategists had hoped.

So while Governor Cruella works feverishly to scare Americans into thinking Obama is an Islamic terrorist, McCain puts on a characteristically awkward performance that does nothing to reassure voters about his ability to lead. And with four weeks remaining, it's bound to get even uglier.

In the meantime, we can always stock up on That One '08 election gear...

Sweet "street justice"

Looks like one man decided to give Dick Fuld part of what he deserved. Shortly after declaring bankruptcy, while working out at the Lehman Bros. gym, CEO Fuld took a beating from a fellow employee at the gym. http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20081006150152.aspx
Sadly, this will probably be the only punishment delivered to Mr. Fuld. I would also guess that whomever delivered this wonderful "street justice" will receive more in the way of punishment for throwing punches than this particular CEO will ever get for ruining his company and flying out on his golden parachute.

George W. Bush Quote of the Day

Time for the George W. Bush "Quote of the Day"

"I want to thank my friend, Senator Bill Frist, for joining us today...He married a Texas girl, I want you to know. Karyn is with us. A West Texas girl, just like me"
-Nashville, TN; May 27, 2004

Folks, simply calling yourself a "maverick" doesn't necessarily make you one. It is one thing to promise to cut wasteful spending when running for office and quite another to actually follow through with it. John McCain spends a lot of time talking about how he will stop wasteful pork barrel spending and limit "earmarks". The question you need to ask yourself if you truly believe that McCain is fiscally responsible is why did he vote in favor of this bailout bill? This bill contained approximately 150 billion dollars worth of wasteful spending. For example, section 325 provides tax breaks for the "wool research fund". Section 503 gives 6 million dollars worth of tax breaks to companies that make toy wooden arrows. Puerto Rican and Virgin Island rum producers get 192 million dollars from section 308. Certain TV and film productions get 10 million clams thanks to section 502. Thank God that under the provisions of section 317, motorsport racetrack owners will get big breaks. If you don't believe me, you can read the bill yourself at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:h1424enr.txt.pdf
Obama voted for this as well, and I disagree with him on this. But remember, it is John McCain who violates his own principles. I'm sure I sound like a conservative by now, spending too much time listening to Glenn Beck and Ben Stein, but think about this for a minute. This is not something a true maverick would have done; a true maverick would have demanded that we take our time and do this the right way. But alas, John "Maverick" McCain wasted an opportunity. This man stood up in front of our nation and told all of us that wasteful spenders will be stopped; "you will know their names; I will call them out". Well we know your name, John. This bill pandered to whomever it needed to in order to pass and it helps those at the top once again, while making those of us at the bottom pay for it. Make no mistake, our economy is in peril but McCain caved in to the fear fairies who were pushing the doctrine that if an immediate bailout didn't happen, our economy would instantly slip into depression. Horse Sh!t. The skillful use of fear works wonders once again.

The reason I personally oppose this legislation is that I still feel that it doesn't restrict CEO compensation severely enough. Lehman Bros. CEO Dick Fuld Jr. is an example of the corporate greed which needs to be snuffed out. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/06/lehmans-golden-parachutes_n_132258.html
The bill does not include provisions which make it possible to criminalize and prosecute CEO's who deliberately took advantage of people and made reckless decisions (credit default swaps). It doesn't bail out low-income senior citizens who have been forced into bankruptcy due to outrageous medical bills and doesn't do enough to help me out as a taxpayer (unless I get into the childrens wooden arrow business). Additionally, it is not clear that this plan will even work. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27049046#27049046

Unfortunately, it is obvious we need some sort of bailout, but not this one. This one is a stinking pile of hot garbage.

Again, speaking to my conservative friends - you can call yourself anything you want to if you think it will help you get elected. For those who are still kidding themselves that George Bush has been a great leader, allow me to post a link to a story revealing some of the wasteful spending conducted under W's watch. http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/21/bush-legacy-taxpayer-funds/

Last thought for now - looks like the McCain campaign is going to ramp up their smear campaign this week. The shear desperation has given birth to an all new batch of baseless attacks. The McBush camp would be well advised to reconsider this approach, as Mr. McCain and Ms. Palin are certainly not "lilly white" themselves. More on that soon....

Thrill of the Airborne Kill

Sarah Palin may not be able to name a Supreme Court case or a newspaper she reads, but she's had no trouble articulating her support of aerial wolf hunting.

In fact, the moose-eating beauty queen recently offered helicopter and airplane shooters $150 each for the severed front leg of a wild wolf (YouTube clip on Palin and aerial wolf gunnery here).

Governor Cruella mocks Barack Obama for passing up a Wall Street career to help poor people in Chicago, yet endorses legislation to enable animal cruelty. What a fine example for the third graders at Gladys Wood Elementary! (Extra credit, kids, if you can see Russia from your house...)

The Palin Debate Strategy

Courtesy of The Daily Dish.

Fit for Command

There was one president on that stage in St. Louis last night. Beside him was the mayor of a small town of 5,000 people.

Joe Biden would not only be a capable president, he'd be a great one. In his most important executive decision to date, Barack Obama displayed superb judgment and true love for his country by choosing Biden. The same can't be said of John McCain, whose running mate got through last night's proceedings with a series of winks, charming smiles, and total avoidance of substance on the issues.

Biden was calm, respectful, and in command. In a likable manner, he provided a clear glimpse into the depth of his knowledge and intelligence. He was in touch with both the American middle class and the complex issues of foreign policy. In a word, he was presidential.

I'd trust Joe Biden to run this country in a heartbeat.

As expected

"Maverick" "Reform" "Up there in Alaska" "Hockey moms" "Kitchen table" "Joe six-pack" "Reform" "Maverick" "Up there in Alaska" "Reform" "Joe six-pack" Maverick" "Reform" "Up there in Alaska" "Hockey moms" "Kitchen table" "Joe six-pack" "Reform" "Maverick" "Up there in Alaska" "Reform" "Joe six-pack" Maverick" "Reform" "Up there in Alaska" "Hockey moms" "Kitchen table" "Joe six-pack" "Reform" "Maverick" "Up there in Alaska" "Reform" "Joe six-pack" Maverick" "Reform" "Up there in Alaska" "Hockey moms" "Kitchen table" "Joe six-pack" "Reform" "Maverick" "Up there in Alaska" "Reform" "Joe six-pack" Maverick" "Reform" "Up there in Alaska" "Hockey moms" "Kitchen table" "Joe six-pack" "Reform" "Maverick" "Up there in Alaska" "Reform" "Joe six-pack"

Challenge for McCain supporters

George W. Bush's approval rating has reached an all-time low. 70 percent of Americans disapprove of the current administration. http://abcnews.go.com/PollingUnit/Politics/story?id=5920248&page=1
Let me take an opportunity to squeeze in a "George W. Bush quote of the day":

"Redefining the role of the United States from enablers to keep the peace to enablers to keep the peace from peacekeepers is going to be an assignment" - from an interview with the New York Times, January 14, 2001.

So my question is this: given that so many people disapprove of the current "regime", why is it that McCain, who would clearly be an extension of the current administration, continues to garner the support of between 45 and 48 percent of Americans polled? Given the continuous displays of ignorance and ineptitude by the Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, why do so many people continue to support this ticket?

It seems obvious that there are many people who believe that Bush has done a horrible job; they disapprove of the way he and his administration have conducted the last 8 years. However, there are many who are in this camp who believe that John McCain and Sarah Palin will be different. McCain/Palin will bring change to Washington; they have the ability to get our nation back on the right track. I don't see it this way. I see at least 4 more years of absent minded politicians making selfish, reckless decisions which are geared to help the rich and oppress the poor; in Palin's case, decisions made based on a narrowminded, distorted view of what she thinks God would want for this nation, regardless of consequence, logic or the desires of the American people.

So my challenge for those in this camp is to show me, explain to me how McCain/Palin are different and better than Bush/Cheney. What differences exist, what principles are different and what statements and/or behaviors do you see from McCain/Palin that lead you to feel that they will represent positive change for our country? What changes will McCain and Palin make that will lead to a high approval rating for their administration? Come on now, let me hear it! I want to know!

"Utterly Unqualified"

The fallout from Sarah Palin's trainwreck on CBS continues. Fareed Zakaria, editor of Newsweek International, takes McCain to task for putting Palin on the ticket:

Sarah Palin is utterly unqualified to be vice president...In these times, for John McCain to have chosen this person to be his running mate is fundamentally irresponsible. McCain says that he always puts country first. In this important case, it is simply not true.

Even hardcore conservatives are jumping off the Palin bandwagon. Kathleen Parker of the National Review is among several columnists calling for Palin to bow out for the sake of her country.

Giddy right-wingers shed tears of joy when McCain chose the moose-eating Barracuda. Those same people should now ask themselves whether it's patriotic to support lunacy, because that's exactly what McCain's choice has proven to be.

It's the most preposterous VP pick in modern history, and anyone who gleefully and blindly jumped on the Palin train without knowing the facts has disqualified themselves from being taken seriously in the future. So has John McCain.

Calling Eddie Murphy

The "777" we're seeing scroll across the bottom of the screen has nothing to do with news about Boeing's successful airliner. Instead, it represents the shocking hit the Dow took today following the failure of the bailout deal in Congress.

John McCain took credit for the legislation this morning. Will he also share the blame for its failure this afternoon?

It's one thing to be a maverick. It's another to be a lying, flip-flopping, out-of-his-league hothead whose utter lack of judgment has ruined his formerly respectable reputation.

The financial crisis continues to deepen. At this point, maybe we should send Wall Street gurus Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd to clean up the mess. They sure couldn't do any worse than the reckless, incompetent, and arrogant people who fed Wall Street's greed and got us into this crippling debacle.

Is America headed for the unthinkable? The chickens of the last eight years may be coming home to roost.

"Not to belabor the point..."

...but Senator Obama recently accepted an invitation from the journal Nature to answer 18 science-related policy questions in writing.  Given the same invitation, Senator McCain declined to participate.  The full text can be found here.

Debating the Debate

Was there a winner in the first presidential debate? If post-debate polling is any indication, Barack Obama may have come away with a slight edge.

A CBS News poll suggests that uncommitted voters favored Obama, with the senator from Illinois improving his image more than rival John McCain. The USA TODAY/Gallup poll shows a similar pattern, with Obama leading McCain 52%-35% when voters were asked which candidate offered the best proposals for change to solve America's problems.

I thought Obama was poised and thoughtful, McCain angry and forceful. Obama could have defended himself better, although he answered many of McCain's charges directly. And for the next debate, a couple fewer "John's right" lines might benefit Barack.

But what's with McCain refusing to extend the basic courtesy of looking at Obama? He didn't look Obama's way once the entire debate. It struck me about 30 minutes in, and I'm still stunned. Was he simply too angry? Or too insecure? One columnist thinks McCain's disrespect toward his opponent makes him look, quite simply, like a mean old man.

Image matters in politics. In the first televised presidential debate in 1960 (pictured), most viewers gave the nod to Kennedy, who appeared cooler and more charismatic than Nixon. Radio listeners, however, gave the nod to Nixon.

James Fallows of The Atlantic believes Friday's debate at Ole Miss may go down in history with that 1960 debate, the 1980 Reagan-Carter debate, and the 1992 Clinton-Bush debate:

"In each of those cases, a fresh, new candidate (although chronologically older in Reagan's case) had been gathering momentum at a time of general dissatisfaction with the "four more years" option of sticking with the incumbent party. The question was whether the challenger could stand as an equal with the more experienced, tested, and familiar figure. In each of those cases, the challenger passed the test -- not necessarily by "winning" the debate, either on logical points or in immediate audience or polling reactions, but by subtly reassuring doubters on the basic issue of whether he was a plausible occupant of the White House and commander in chief."

We'll find out in a few weeks whether Obama passed the test. And with two more presidential debates on the horizon, we'll also find out whether McCain will extend the basic courtesy of acknowledging the presence of his opponent.

Debate thoughts and oil questions

Okay, just a couple of quick thoughts here this afternoon. First of all, who won the debate? Well if you are a Republican then John McCain won decisively. If you are a Democrat, Obama probably had the edge. It's funny how this answer depends on who you ask. The conservative pollsters have McCain as the winner but CBS, CNN, and other polls have Obama ahead in this one. I really don't care who won or lost, I care about the facts.

McCain appeared to be very dismissive of his opponent, while Obama seemed relaxed and conversational. McCain's body language was very angry; he demonstrated crankiness which seems to be a continuous trait with him. After some morning research, it appears that many conservatives loved this, and thought that his grumpiness and refusal to even look at his opponent made him look "tough" and quite Presidential.

McCain railed on spending. He angrily spoke of some in Congress who spent three million dollars to study Bear DNA in Montana. He made it clear that this is an outrage. Very good, but he failed to mention that his running mate, Sarah Palin, requested 3.2 million dollars as part of a package to study the genetic makeup of harbor seals in Alaska. A conservative Republican would probably try to deny or explain away this truth, but it is fact and it is hypocrisy. Make no mistake - Obama and the Democrats are not the only ones guilty of wasteful spending. Anyone who truly believes that the Republican party does not waste significant amounts of money is delusional. Perhaps I will take some time later to detail some of the George W. Bush waste.

McCain, his supporters and most conservative Republicans believe that if we begin drilling for offshore oil in this country, we will have an immediate and significant reduction in the cost of gasoline and that this drilling is a key component to helping us reduce our dependence on foreign oil. What I would like is for someone to explain to me how this is so. I want the people who honestly believe that Obama wants to hurt people even more financially by refusing to drill offshore explain to me how this process will work. I want to know how much they expect to save at the pump, and how long it will take to see these savings. Do we get to keep 100% of the oil we find? How much of it would we keep and how much goes on the world market? I want the "drill baby, drill" crowd to answer "how much oil will we pump and where is it located, exactly?" How many new oil rigs and refineries will we have and what is the plan to overcome NIMBY (Not In My Backyard)? What will the ratio be between this new found oil and our middle eastern imported oil? T. Boone Pickens says that currently, 70 percent of our oil is imported. After we drill, what will that percentage be? I have heard a lot of screaming from conservative Republicans about drilling and how Obama's refusal to drill is proof that he hates the United States and wants people to suffer at the gas pumps. They scream about this offshore drilling, but I have yet to hear any of these people explain the details of the program or show any proof whatsoever that this idea will so dramatically improve the current situation.

Palin-Couric, Part II: "Our Next Door Neighbors Are Foreign Countries"

Part II of Katie Couric's interview with the Governor of Alaska accomplished the unimaginable - it topped Part I.

I'm beginning to wonder if Saturday Night Live shouldn't send a huge fruit basket to the Palin household. Or a few bottles of wine, maybe some Baked Alaska - something to thank the Governor for easing the workload at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

Here's Sarah Palin doing her latest Tina Fey impression:



I can almost see a hospital from my house. Literally Katie, just a few blocks away. I can perform open heart surgery...

In all fairness to Palin, I believe she might be slightly more free flowing if the McCain campaign didn't handcuff her with strict talking points. In some cases, you can almost see her trying to remember exactly what they told her to say (like yesterday's question on Rick Davis). But nothing explains this exchange on Russia. You'd think after a month of campaigning, the team would come up with something better than "there's a narrow maritime border...".

Thanks, Katie - We've Got Our Answer

Breaking news on CBS last night:  The reason the Governor of Alaska has yet to hold a press conference is that she knows nothing.

Katie Couric revealed the Barracuda's true colors without even scratching the surface of her track record of lies. Could this have been any more embarrassing for the McCain campaign? Or her answers more unsubstantive?

Drum roll please...

And now, the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States of America:



After seeing this trainwreck, McCain lied to David Letterman and scurried down the street to play damage control with Couric. Come on, Senator: you really think you could get away with lying to Dave?

The CBS interview comes just a day after CNN's Campbell Brown called on McCain to end his sexist treatment of his own running mate. Brown speaks the truth:

"By treating Sarah Palin different from the other candidates in this race, you're not showing her the respect she deserves. Free Sarah Palin. Free her from the chauvinistic chain you are binding her with. Sexism in this campaign must come to an end. Sarah Palin has just as much a right to be a real candidate in this race as the men do, so let her act like one."

Amen to Brown for giving us some real straight talk.

So thank you, Katie Couric, for letting Campbell Brown and the rest of us know why the McCain campaign has been hiding its prized pitbull. The national honeymoon is over for the moose-hunting mayor from Wasilla. No longer will Americans be fooled by cheap teleprompter attack lines, blatant lies, or Karl Rove talking points.

The incoming vice president will be a heartbeat away from staring down Ahmadinejad, fixing a broken economy, and getting American troops out of Iraq. Biden, Obama, and McCain have been held to the fire - so why not Palin? It's high time we all got to know the truth about the fourth candidate in this election - the real Sarah Palin.

Postpone, baby, postpone!!

Well crafted. I wondered if this was the angle, and now it is beginning to appear that my fears were true. Some reports are surfacing which strongly suggest that if the bailout package is not approved by tomorrow, McCain will simply not show up to the debate in Mississippi. His campaign will laud him as a hero for putting aside politics for his country. The truth is, his presence at this debate is what this country needs. Taking a few hours out for this debate is not going to make or break this bailout. If you think his presence in Washington as opposed to Mississippi is critical, then Sarah and I have a bridge to sell you. Furthermore, McCain is suggesting that next week's vice presidential debate be postponed. Now we're getting to the heart of the matter. One of the biggest goals of the fall campaign is to keep Palin out of the view of the public and certainly keep her from having to answer questions. It's a tall order but if they can somehow manage to get this V.P. debate canceled entirely, this would be a major victory. Sarah Palin doesn't know her a$$ from her elbow. She is clueless when it comes to the knowledge required to assume this office. She is simply and clearly unqualified and they know it. The longer they can keep her from having to face this job interview, the better. Here's a vid:

Saddleback over Science?

Forgive me for taking us back a few weeks, but since the Unit is in its infancy we have a lot catch up on. In particular, I want to talk about Rick Warren's Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency.

Let me begin by stating clearly that this is not a criticism of any one religion or any one person's religious beliefs. Rather, it is critique of the role that such beliefs have come to play in the American political process. This is a distinction that too often goes unnoticed, and one that has serious implications for the way in which we engage in democratic dialogue.

The most egregious aspect of our candidates' participation in this event does not, in fact, have to do with their participation. Instead, it is their failure to take part in a debate on issues that arguably have a greater, more tangible impact on the lives of Americans.

Science Debate 2008 is an organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of the candidates' policy positions on science, technology, and innovation. In addition to renowned scientists and engineers from across the world, the effort is supported by such prestigious institutions as the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.

That John McCain and Barack Obama chose to participate in a forum on the role of religion and values before one on science and technology speaks volumes about the nature of the voting public. America is strengthened, economically and militarily, through a dedication to math and science education. Our entrepreneurs flourish, in part, because they can capitalize on public investments in basic research and high-cost technologies. Americans become safer and healthier because of innovation in medicine. In every respect, America is better off when we dedicate ourselves to scientific and technological advancement.

Despite these clear realities, though, Americans don't vote based on policy positions, particularly when it comes to issues as poorly understood as science and technology. They vote on values. Consequently, politicians spend an inordinate amount of time and energy talking about things that are, at best, negligible in terms of their impact on our country. Granted, we need to make sure our future president is not a Nazi-sympathizer, but shouldn't we be equally concerned that he demonstrates active use of his gray matter? Does a candidate's personal feelings about his greatest moral failure really matter more than how he would handle investments in research and development? Does his propensity to suspend logic to accommodate the religious right really make him fit to be leader of the free world, or is his position on multinational technology partnerships more important?

This issue serves as a microcosm of what is perhaps the scariest, most disheartening truth about contemporary American politics: The issues upon which Americans cast their presidential ballots are too often fundamentally different from those that actually affect all of our lives. Every person is free to practice whatever religion he or she chooses, but when those beliefs begin to impact American science, technology, innovation, military prowess, economic competitiveness, education, and health care, they become fair game for objective evaluation and criticism. So when our presidential candidates choose to take part in a forum on religion and values before one on science and technology, let me be among the first to point out such insanity.

Please make an effort to support Science Debate 2008. It falls upon the reasonable among us to ensure that the most important issues of our generation are heard and understood.

Something stinks

I think Letterman nailed it last night...something doesn't smell right. So let me understand what Bush and McCain are saying. A month ago, our economy is basically good. The fundamentals are sound. Now, our economy is on the brink of disaster and oh, by the way, we need over half a trillion bucks to fix it. In just a few short weeks we can come this far? Things are so grave that we should cancel a presidential debate and put our campaigns on hold? I fail to understand how all this could happen so quickly. On McCain's part, this reeks of a man whose world is going too fast for him and is struggling to keep up. Explain to me how postponing the debate is going to help this crisis. I don't see the correlation. Too much happening at once, John? One wonders if Governor Palin even understands the economy at all. Hang on folks, the fun and games are just beginning.

A few things to think about

Just a few things to think about this afternoon. First, I think people need to overlook all of the hype over Sarah Palin for just a few minutes to really examine who she is. One of the big questions needs to be "why is Sarah Palin being so greatly shielded from the media; why does her campaign not want her speaking to reporters?" Great pains have been taken to keep her "rehearsed" and even yesterday during her meetings with Hamid Karzai and Henry Kissinger, her handlers only wanted photographers, no reporters. Why the secrecy and privacy here? My guess is she talked with Kissinger about how to get grass stains out of children's sports uniforms. Seriously though, I think the American people have a right to interview ALL of the candidates and ALL of the candidates should field tough questions from reporters not just of FOX News, but any agency. Clearly, there are people who do not wish to expose the governor to this process and that, my friends, is disturbing.

The next revolting thing on my mind has to do with the bailout plan drawn up by Sec. Paulson. From section 8: "Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency." Folks, this kind of attitude toward the spending of your money should frighten you. The Bush administration is pushing for a plan to spend 700 billion dollars without any contingency to help out people suffering from foreclosure or bankruptcy. Additionally, when this plan was first rolled out, Bush and friends were (and still are, at heart) against placing any kind of limits on executive compensation. If Bush and Paulson had their way, the poor taxpayers who are struggling as it is, would not only not recieve any assistance from it, they would be forced to help monetarily reward the poor performance of Wall Street executives. Another hasty, ill-conceived idea shoved down the throats of the American people without much thought for consequences. An idea sold by fear and threats of widespread financial ruin. The whole "shoot now and ask questions later" approach to this bailout sounds oddly familiar; kind of like another plan that Mr. Bush had a few years ago that had to do with war. Let me be clear that I think the bailout is probably (unfortunately) necessary, but it needs to have oversight, it needs to help Main St. as much as Wall St., and it needs to severly limit executive compensation for irresponsible actions. It needs to be carefully considered, and Mr. Paulson's wording of this plan (section 8) is certainly not anything except a demand for a blank check which only one man can cash and spend how he wants, with no input from anyone else. Not good. Let's hope that Congress will stand up to the demands of the rich for a change, and do something that makes sense for Wall Street as well as the people footing the bill.

It's Been Nearly a Month...

...and still no press conference from the Republican candidate for Vice President. Will this Revlon-wearing pitbull ever engage in American democracy? (No, an infomercial with Sean Hannity doesn't count!)

You'd think a tough, gun-toting, non-blinking moose hunter wouldn't have any trouble with the press. After all, she took on the good ole' boys up there in Alaska. Does she fear the press will ask about her propensity for blatant lying? Or total lack of understanding the core issues in this election?

Let's face it: On November 4, there's a good chance the moose population of Alaska will be more familiar with Sarah Palin than American voters will be.

It's time, Governor, to answer questions. This is beyond absurd. It's secretive, un-American, and just sounds too familiar.

"Pick Your City"

Halloween is still more than a month away, but it's not too early to be frightened - extremely frightened - by the American foreign policy that awaits the world under a potential McCain administration. Straight from the horse's mouth:



Isn't Lux Aeterna incredible background music? On second thought, maybe selections from Marilyn Manson or the Misfits would have been more appropriate.

Americans didn't vote for a reckless and manipulative foreign policy in November 2000. Nor did this country vote to send its history of strong global leadership into the deepest pits of hell. But that's what we got, in the form of ideological neoconservatism that stomped its cold feet on the core American principles of honor, trust, and dignity. This year, however, we've been given clear warning. McCain holds the same disastrous world view as W., and it might as well be on a neon sign attached to his head.

We might well experience a shower of diplomatic talk from McCain in the upcoming debates ("My friends, the use of force is only a last resort, as it always has been"). But can we really believe anything this man says?

It's Hot In Here...

Pass me a glass of ice water. Actually, call the fire department - this place is burning.

Can this be happening? We're coming down the home stretch of the worst political disaster in American history, and polls suggest it's an even money bet that we'll elect the biggest hypocrite and most dishonest hockey mom in history.

All in the midst of a war waged on a campaign of manipulation, an economy broken beyond imagination, and a political atmosphere poisoned by secrecy, cronyism, and corruption.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. We still have 43 days to go, and maybe this thing isn't over yet. And maybe we won't have to endure unbearable levels of capsaicin on the Scoville scale after all.

Welcome to The Scoville Unit.  It's a place for ideas and a place to vent.  Logic and reason are always welcome.  We'll see how it evolves, but we've got plenty of material to start - what else are First Dudes for?