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.