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TechnoratiPalin and McCain’s Shotgun Marriage
Sarah Palin makes John McCain look even older than he is. And he seemed more than willing to play that part on Thursday night. By the time he slogged through his nearly 50-minute acceptance speech - longer even than Barack Obama's - you half-expected some brazen younger Republican (Mitt Romney, perhaps?) to dash onstage to give him a gold watch and the bum's rush.
Still, attention must be paid. McCain's address, though largely a repetitive slew of stump-speech lines and worn G.O.P. orthodoxy, reminded us of what we once liked about the guy: his aspirations to bipartisanship, his heroic service in Vietnam, his twinkle. He took his (often inaccurate) swipes at Obama, but, in winning contrast to Palin and Rudy Giuliani, he wasn't smug or nasty.
The only problem, of course, is that the entire thing was a sham.
As is nakedly evident, the speech's central argument, that the 72-year-old McCain will magically morph into a powerful change agent as president, is a non sequitur. In his 26 years in Washington, most of it with a Republican in the White House and roughly half of it with Republicans in charge of Congress, he was better at lecturing his party about reform than leading a reform movement. G.O.P. corruption and governmental dysfunction only grew. So did his cynical flip-flops on the most destructive policies of the president who remained nameless Thursday night. (In the G.O.P., Bush love is now the second most popular love that dare not speak its name.)
Even more fraudulent, if that's possible, is the contrast between McCain's platonic presentation of his personal code of honor and the man he has become. He always puts his country first, he told us: "I've been called a maverick." If there was any doubt that that McCain has fled, confirmation arrived with his last-minute embrace of Sarah Palin.
We still don't know a lot about Palin except that she's better at delivering a speech than McCain and that she defends her own pregnant daughter's right to privacy even as she would have the government intrude to police the reproductive choices of all other women. Most of the rest of the biography supplied by her and the McCain camp is fiction.
She didn't say "no thanks" to the "Bridge to Nowhere" until after Congress had already abandoned it but given Alaska a blank check for $223 million in taxpayers' money anyway. Far from rejecting federal pork, she hired lobbyists to secure her town a disproportionate share of earmarks ($1,000 per resident in 2002, 20 times the per capita average in other states). Though McCain claimed "she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities," she has never issued a single command as head of the Alaska National Guard. As for her "executive experience" as mayor, she told her hometown paper in Wasilla, Alaska, in 1996, the year of her election: "It's not rocket science. It's $6 million and 53 employees." Her much-advertised crusade against officials abusing their office is now compromised by a bipartisan ethics investigation into charges that she did the same.
How long before we learn she never shot a moose?
Given the actuarial odds that could make Palin our 45th president, it would be helpful to know who this mystery woman actually is. Meanwhile, two eternal axioms of our politics remain in place. Americans vote for the top of the ticket, not the bottom. And in judging the top of the ticket, voters look first at the candidates' maiden executive decision, their selection of running mates. Whatever we do and don't know about Palin's character at this point, there is no ambiguity in what her ascent tells us about McCain's character and potential presidency.
He wanted to choose the pro-abortion-rights Joe Lieberman as his vice president. If he were still a true maverick, he would have done so. But instead he chose partisanship and politics over country. "God only made one John McCain, and he is his own man," said the shafted Lieberman in his own tedious convention speech last week. What a pathetic dupe. McCain is now the man of James Dobson and Tony Perkins. The "no surrender" warrior surrendered to the agents of intolerance not just by dumping his pal for Palin but by moving so far to the right on abortion that even Cindy McCain seemed unaware of his radical shift when being interviewed by Katie Couric last week.
That ideological sellout, unfortunately, was not the worst leadership trait the last-minute vice presidential pick revealed about McCain. His speed-dating of Palin reaffirmed a more dangerous personality tic that has dogged his entire career. His decision-making process is impetuous and, in its Bush-like preference for gut instinct over facts, potentially reckless.
As The New York Times reported last Tuesday, Palin was sloppily vetted, at best. McCain operatives and some of their press surrogates responded to this revelation by trying to discredit The Times article. After all, The Washington Post had cited McCain aides (including his campaign manager, Rick Davis) last weekend to assure us that Palin had a "full vetting process." She had been subjected to "an F.B.I. background check," we were told, and "the McCain camp had reviewed everything it could find on her."
The Times had it right. The McCain campaign's claims of a "full vetting process" for Palin were as much a lie as the biographical details they've invented for her. There was no F.B.I. background check. The Times found no evidence that a McCain representative spoke to anyone in the State Legislature or business community. Nor did anyone talk to the fired state public safety commissioner at the center of the Palin ethics investigation. No McCain researcher even bothered to consult the relevant back issues of the Wasilla paper. Apparently when McCain said in June that his vice presidential vetting process was basically "a Google," he wasn't joking.
This is a roll of the dice beyond even Bill Clinton's imagination. "Often my haste is a mistake," McCain conceded in his 2002 memoir, "but I live with the consequences without complaint." Well, maybe it's fine if he wants to live with the consequences, but what about his country? Should the unexamined Palin prove unfit to serve at the pinnacle of American power, it will be too late for the rest of us to complain.
We've already seen where such visceral decision-making by McCain can lead. In October 2001, he speculated that Saddam Hussein might have been behind the anthrax attacks in America. That same month he out-Cheneyed Cheney in his repeated public insistence that Iraq had a role in 9/11 - even after both American and foreign intelligence services found that unlikely. He was similarly rash in his reading of the supposed evidence of Saddam's W.M.D. and in his estimate of the number of troops needed to occupy Iraq. (McCain told MSNBC in late 2001 that we could do with fewer than 100,000.) It wasn't until months after "Mission Accomplished" that he called for more American forces to be tossed into the bloodbath. The whole fiasco might have been prevented had he listened to those like Gen. Eric Shinseki who faulted the Rumsfeld war plan from the start.
In other words, McCain's hasty vetting of Palin was all too reminiscent of his grave dereliction of due diligence on the war. He has been no less hasty in implying that we might somehow ride to the military rescue of Georgia ("Today, we are all Georgians") or in reaffirming as late as December 2007 that the crumbling anti-democratic regime of Pervez Musharraf deserved "the benefit of the doubt" even as it was enabling the resurgence of the Taliban and Al Qaeda. McCain's blanket endorsement of Bush administration policy in Pakistan could have consequences for years to come.
"This election is not about issues" so much as the candidates' images, said the McCain campaign manager, Davis, in one of the season's most notable pronouncements. Going into the Republican convention, we thought we knew what he meant: the McCain strategy is about tearing down Obama. But last week made clear that the McCain campaign will be equally ruthless about deflecting attention from its own candidate's deterioration.
What was most striking about McCain's acceptance speech is that it had almost nothing in common with the strident right-wing convention that preceded it. We were pointedly given a rerun of McCain 2000 - cobbled together from scraps of the old Straight Talk repertory. The ensuing tedium was in all likelihood intentional. It's in the campaign's interest that we nod off and assume McCain is unchanged in 2008.
That's why the Palin choice was brilliant politics - not because it rallied the G.O.P.'s shrinking religious-right base. America loves nothing more than a new celebrity face, and the talking heads marched in lock step last week to proclaim her a star. Palin is a high-energy distraction from the top of the ticket, even if the provenance of her stardom is in itself a reflection of exactly what's frightening about the top of the ticket.
By hurling charges of sexism and elitism at any easily cowed journalist who raises a question about Palin, McCain operatives are hoping to ensure that whatever happened in Alaska with Sarah Palin stays in Alaska. Given how little vetting McCain himself has received this year - and that only 58 days remain until Nov. 4 - they just might pull it off.
69 Comments so far
Show AllRemy, that sounds a lot like something R.W. Emerson once said.
I thought this was going to be an Obama landslide. OOOOh Weeee back in reality, this choice of Palin which Bush/Cheney/Rove made for John uh whats my last name oh yeah Mccain, was right on the money, and boy oh boy its producing the exact effect they wanted, she is their Britney Spears, or Lindsey Lohan, she is garnering all of the attention, and suddenly no one cares that the election is for president of the united states. no one cares about the issues, that McCain by his own admission knows nothing about economics, Does anyone remember that comment he made on the news? he has an advisor to handle that, Phil Graham the guy that fucked up the economy to begin with. people have forgotten all about that little episode on the tarmac where Lieberman had to whisper in Mcains ear explaining to him exactly who was fighting in Iraq. Remeber that one? Of course not, nobody does because all they care about now is little miss sunshine, do tell us all about your little trailer trash family will you honey? I know we cant say anything bad about you because then it'll be just because youre a woman.
I thought it was funny when Tom Brokaw asked Joe Biden what he did when he first found out about Palin, and Joe was like "well Tom, first thing I did was call my wife" Heh, heh.
So anyway, we know that if Joe Biden is VP and by some unknown act of fate, the President, a woman will still be calling the shots.
Anyone know anything about Joe's wifes credentials for president?
Actually, at first he said he didn't call anyone and then after some thought recalled he shared it with his wife. And the big deal about that? It isn't like it was a question of national security or restricted high clearance limited intelligence. He shared it with the person he may be closest to in his family--who he shares his thoughts and impressions with--yet you family values and gender-worshipping folk even seek to twist that into some failing. Pathetic. I'd like to see Palin stand up to one eigth of what they fired at Biden and pull it off with ease.
You know Vern, you represent a lot of people on this site that are soooooooo serious alllll the time that you just don't get something that is funny.
When we become so anal like this we miss a lot, a lot.
It was funny and I laughed, and laughter is often the best medicine and does wonders for stress and health.
If you or any man cannot admit that Joe calling his wife to get her input on Palin has a humorous side to it I don't know what to tell you except this.
Laugh and the world laughs with you,
Cry and you cry alone.
This old earth is in need of mirth she has plenty of woes of her own.
I totally agree. Vern needs to chill out. Yes the economy is bad, and were not laughing at them. People also need to take responsibility for their OWN actions. Mortgage lending and loans had to have been signed by someone. People took loans they couldnt afford. I thought it was hilarious, and I dont believe its a matter of Sex or anything. Your comment wasnt meant to be opinionated, more observation. Verns a tool
You think the current state of affairs is something light-hearted and fun--so much so that you can hardly contain your glee?
Yesiree, laugh right along with those losing their homes, their jobs, their standard of living, their hopes for the future, their childrens lives.
Don't worry, be happy and do your civic duty: Go shopping.
Wow vern, you are very discerning. How will I ever show my face again now that I am shown to be a gleeful troll?
Never underestimate the stupidity of the American people.
Can't say it enough.
Not that the Democrats-or the media- are capable or willing of exposing her fraud, but even so, regardless of the evidence revealed of her hypocrisy, folks will rally around her image as plain-speaking regular mom. Suckered just like they were with Bush, and besides, her pop culture 15 minutes is good for ratings-By the time her star fades it may be too late. That is what they are counting on and McCain can barely contain his cockiness-standing in her shadow. She will shovel the smug nasty barbs and the crowd will lap it up. When the Democrats oppose her or the media questions her, the crowd will defend her from the sexist Democrats and the liberal press. And when the stupid crowd wakes up from their feel-good fantasy and the real life nightmare resumes, guess what folks, we suffer too--those who saw through the sham, and saw the dark clouds gathering on the horizon of McCain continuing the failure of the past as opposed to Obama's promise of a future, will also suffer the consequences.
Those of you who would still vote third party with so much at stake, would do well to remember the record of American stupidity and gullibility when you enter the voting booth. With so much at stake, do you really have the luxury--because it may not be an ideal choice, but it is a whole hell of a lot better than the promise of the unspeakable dark days ahead under the proven failure of the Right.
Sara Palin is nothing if not an amazingly quick read. Under the tutelage of John McCain’s staff, she has mastered in just days the crisis management playbook the Cheney-Bush team spent years compiling. An excerpt from their manual:
“When caught in a bald-faced lie, with public scrutiny too intense, hit the bunker. Hide. Maybe it will all go away. If not:
1) Lawyer up.
2) Peek out periodically in micro-managed, highly-controlled events.
3) Avoid the media at all costs, allowing only spokespeople, fellow conservatives and Fox News to defend you.
4) Spend days doing nothing but refining your cover story.
5) Emerge from the bunker and state your story to a benign news reporter/organization.
6) Repeat your lies over and over and over again because ultimately, the media will give up and people will actually start to believe you.”
In just four days, Palin gave us Troopergate, her opposition to pork-barrel earmarks (except when she secured them), her opposition to the Bridge to Nowhere (except when she favored it), her opposition to a state secessionist party (except when she supported it), her staunch opposition to anything but abstinence-only sex education (except it didn’t work in her own household), her opposition to a woman’s right to choose (except when her daughter is afforded the right to exercise her choice) and a sarcastic disdain for the office of vice-president (except when she’s nominated for the position).
Palin may be a go-gettin’, straight-talkin’ governor but she remains a deceiving opportunist worthy of Bush and Cheney (who spent eight years lying straight out to the American people while abusing their power to generate absurd wealth for their corporate cronies). Contrary to the portrait being painted of a maverick reformer, she is—just as her boss— really more of the same from the Republican Party and this country simply cannot afford that
Barack Obama spoke at a town hall at the Siemans Hydro Power Plant in York Pennsylvania
http://www.wilypython.net/Obama%20Sept%204%202008.asp
1. On the vital issues confronting working people today, both Republican and Democratic Parties basically share a common corporatist platform and agenda. This is graphically illustrated on the Green Party website THE REAL DIFFERENCE:
http://www.therealdifference.org/issues.html
A more detailed explanation of each issue is found on the DETAILS page:
http://www.therealdifference.org/issues2.html
2. Why Vote for McKinney rather than independent individuals like Nader?
Nader, between elections, has done apparently little to build a political party that represents his views. An alternative party is needed to bring together and involve the thousands of activists and millions of protesters who have remained forever politically impotent because they are forever atomized.
3. With a 5% vote in November, the Green Party would become eligible for Federal Matching funds in future national elections. After the November election, regardless of who is elected, the Green Party could become an "umbrella organization" to unite single-issue groups and individuals. The Greens will need the know-how and activism of many to inform, educate, and organize future resistance to the unending war agenda, destruction of social institutions, the environment, etc.
4. We need the Green Party to organize and unite many committed people, not one heroic individual. Many candidates will be needed in future elections to run for office at all levels of government, school boards, etc. to remove the defenders of the status quo. (The Green Party has over 200 office holders!)
5. By voting for McKinney we promote the creation of a real alternative political party independent of Republican and Democratic parties, free of corporate money and agendas, with a platform that is reflects the needs of the majority of people and not the greed of the already wealthy and corporate profit.
I'm co-chair of the Green Party of Colorado -- and I am NOT supporting Cynthia McKinney.
Here's why: http://www.davechandler.us/2008/08/a-colorado-gree.html
So why not resign your position as "co-chair"? Wouldn't this be much better than to further undermine the ability of the Green Party to exist or grow?
The Green Party over the years has been severely crippled by GINOs (Greens in Name Only) who, for example, defer to the Democrats if it the incumbent is a "good Democrat" Henry Waxman is one such example. He has been in office for, I think, 19 terms! But he does not support impeachment of Bush, has voted for military budgets, etc.
The Democrats are really smart in running Obama! The progressive electorate is now mesmerized by
Obama, without discussing ANY of the critical issues we now face. Obama, Biden, Clinton, and the Democrats support unending wars (Obama wants to redeploy from Iraq to Afghanistan) Obama uncritically supports the Zionist state of Israel in it's murderous occupation of Gaza. Obama is
NOT for a single-payer health care system, etc.
The Bush regime, with complicit Democratic Party support, is on the verge of implementing a totalitarian police state. The Green Party may very well be our last chance at establishing a legal alternative party in opposition to the corporate (privatized) state.
See this latest post on Global Research in Canada.
Bush Extends 9/11 National Emergency Yet Again
by Peter Dale Scott
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=10065
If Senator McCain would only run gut-wrenching wind sprints like Governor Palin, he'd have no tummy at all and would look a little closer to her age. The problem is, Governor Palin could pass for 35 physically. She plays up McCain's known fondness for really young trophy wives.
baruchzed,
Well said.
The 'Change is Coming' Johnny
Wow a pretty pit bull celebrity hockey mom
just across the Bering Strait
from the ‘cain raising Johnny's’ prodded bear
thank god the presidential pair seek peace not war
say ain't that ‘new speak’ kind of like
‘we will rock the Washington status quo’
Johnny you are the status quo
though that status may quiver a bit
with your rabbling warrior queen
let’s hope she ain’t ‘underestimated’
Please keep her close to the teleprompter
But say you told us straight:
'Change is coming'
and it's going to be ‘to the beat of your own drum’?
Is that a Tom Tom Johnny?
Are you confusing a big stick with your poll Johnny?
Did your pole get a Palin boost Johnny?
but what about the dooms day clock Johnny?
Is it lookin pale in the moonlight as it moves to midnight?
The dogs of war are wagging Johnny.
Is it time to see the vet Johnny?
Who vets your speech writers Johnny?
You've got the world in a fright Johnny
It's not just your midnight Johnny
The human condition, being what it is, will not change if there were nine political parties, equally funded by every guardian institute of morality in this bleak landscape.
Even highway billboards for adult sex toys have more freedom of thought than the average CDer.
"By hurling charges of sexism and elitism at any easily cowed journalist...."
I wonder why the journalists are easily cowed? Anyone have any ideas?
Uuhh...I know teacher!
Because they have heads like cows!?
If this is your way of saying you are sorry, apology accepted.
I would never apologize for my humor.
I am waay to busy.
mmmmmmm, a joker.
stick w/ the truth, and stopped being sidetracked by ridiculous arguments of sexism. james carville hinted at this this morning on cnn...
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0809/07/le.01.html
"CARVILLE: Maybe I'm sitting somewhere else but I thought we were fighting three wars. I thought we had a looming fiscal crisis. I thought incomes had gone down $2,000. I thought we were in the biggest credit crisis that we've had since the Great Depression. I actually take a unique view. I think the job of the president of the United States is a very big job and requires people that understand that. I happen to think that Vladimir Putin is a dangerous man and it requires somebody that has been out of the country more than once to deal with it.
I think our dependence on Middle East oil has to be addressed immediately, I think global warming is real and I don't believe the earth is 5,000 years old. I don't know if that makes me an elite or what, but those are my beliefs."
barney frank (D congressman from MA) had a few thoughts about family values (presumably a discussion all americans including mothers and daughters would have feelings about).
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/09/07/playing_politics_with_fam...
"According to that right-wing social viewpoint, divorce, teen pregnancy, and other lapses in family values are the fault of liberals. According to this political movement, respecting the right of gay and lesbian people to formalize their relationships; refusing to censor the Internet, books, television or movies; supporting age appropriate sex education; and refusing to allow religion to be inculcated by official government means, are the causes of social dysfunction in America. And every indication we have is that Palin believes this viewpoint.
That is why the questions of divorce and teen pregnancy are relevant in discussions of the McCain/Palin ticket. The individuals involved in these cases deserve to be treated with compassion, but so do millions of other Americans who find themselves in similar situations. But, sadly, they are often met with criticism and hostile public policy formulated by those who now claim Palin as their political champion. Too often, people on the right seek to impose strict standards on others, and blame them for falling short, while making exceptions for those close to them. Respect and compassion should extend to all who find themselves in similar situations."
........"The glaring inconsistency between the social philosophy that blames liberalism for divorce and teen pregnancy and the facts of Palin's family life further underlines the serious shortcomings of that philosophy."
of course many americans are comfortable w/ these inconsistencies (war = peace, etc..), the underlying problem.
...peace...
Carville may be correct on the Republicans stirring up the culture wars all over again but he fails to mention that the Democrats have once again allowed themselves to be ill-prepared to deal with this pattern. Like 2004, they have the perfect, well even better this time, opportunity to stand up and fight on the economic and even foreign policy front and yet not only are they not doing so, the party or at least a great deal of it is pandering to the rightwing on just about every issue. Carville needs to spend more time making the Democratic Party more populist.
I mean this seems a very pertinent topic, the same charges flew that the media had been cowed, or endeared into favoring their darling Obama over Hillary. Was there any truth to that and how big of a worry is this for our future? Are the media cowed into focusing on the circus and ignoring folks like Nader or McKinney who would really make the changes we need as some claim? How big of a player is the media????
Thank you for acknowledging Nader and McKinney. They know the media won't give them a focus. The media is too warped with the two major parties to get in touch with reality anyway.
yw.
But they are warped why? This is a darn fascinating issue. What happened to the media, is there even a media or is it all just a facade?
My guess would be the deliberate hiring of incompetent, career-minded journalists whos idea of a respectable profession is a life-long cushy post in an air-conditioned office for a major media outlet, with minutes per day spent rehashing Govt. press releases and talking points.
hmmmmm...
Samski, good answer. The only thing I would add is that most of these journalists that work for the MSM and want to keep their life-long, cushy and well paid employment; want to keep their publishers and editors happy and know not to make waves, so that the American public is not given the truth or anything that resembles fair and balanced reporting that really informs rather than dumbs down the electorate.
'We pay your salary, you write what we tell you' seems to be the editorial attitude which is carried over in the corporate press.
At a higher level, the press must get this attitude from Govt. too. Or is it the other way around?
hmmmm, it seems like the more I hear folks here talk about reporters and journalists the more it sounds like they should hold public offices and get voted in, rather than hired by special interest. Though that might be just be getting public information out of the fire and directly into the frying pan.
Like I said,
Read the billboards.
'Fascinating' means you may be under the control of other beings who are the facade. I know it sounds paranoid and laughable, but people won't eat apples even today for fear of losing their innocence...
The Druids invented large screen T.V., and cloned it's programmers, long before modern science was finally released by the Catholic nuns, who were using it to abuse little boys who wouldn't change their diapers, socks and didn't lower the toilet seat in the nuns' bathroom.
Just imagine!
ahhhh, DogLeg, were you sleepy when you wrote that, I just don't follow, heh.
I posted this commentary for Mr. Rich's commentary in the NYTimes today...they wouldn't print it.
----
How is it that McCain, who was in a foreign country bombing civilians, then captured, is considered a hero for doing that?? It is well recognized that the Vietnam war was the disastrous result of greed and flawed policies (like the Iraq war) and yet still McCain is lauded as a hero. What nonsense. He was the pawn of a corrupt government which had no business being in Vietnam in the first place. Even some of the architects of that war have publicly stated the same.
McCain is not fit to be President. He is fit for the nursing home.
Sarah Palin, obviously being groomed to replace Bush as Pawn in Chief for the corporate masters (for McCain surely will not live past his first 6 months in office, if selected) is equally unfit for office. She is completely ideological in her rhetoric and in her actions. There doesn't appear to be an ounce of pragmatism, or empathy, or honesty, in Palin.
The Republicans have demonstrated that they are completely ruled by the oil companies, the chemical companies, and their own greed. It is clear that they will kill, abroad or at home, whoever they want to; men, women, children. They will poison the Earth, rob you blind, and pretend they are doing you a favor all the while. Hypocrites, liars, killers and thieves. I say, throw the bums out, investigate, indict, and imprison members of the Bush administration, and let's see if we can get the US back on track to being a cooperative member of the global community rather than a Nazi-esque expansionist imperial state.
Can't say I blame the NY Times. I am with you ideologically; you just need to learn to write to intelligently and succinctly and without name calling express your views.
GIA, can you be specific please? I am always interested in improving my writing skills.
As for name calling, did I use any adjectives that don't apply? At some point I feel it is valuable to stop being so PC and to name things for what they are. If you object to my use of the phrase "hypocrites, liars, killers and thieves" to describe the Republican administration, please show me another way to say the same thing. I am genuinely interested.
TIM 1234: I live among there rural white Christians and I agree... they are so indoctrinated to their "faith" that they do NOT question authority. If their "hell and damnation" minister tells them the Republicans are on God's side, they believe it. And they see the president as honorable, a man of God in spite of the carnage to a million Iraqis, the treasury robbed, the environment left like a roadkill, etc ad nauseum. Only the long arm of karma, universal justice can begin to clean up the mess. It will take more than the next generation... the indoctrination is TOO complete, lest someone come up with a consciousness raising device, a peaceful mass lobotomy alternative!
Yeah Sioux Rose, most of these church, hypocrite, bible thumpers, would vote for the devil if he was an evangelical Republican!
He is.
Maybe the Republican theme song should be: YOUR THE DEVIL IN DISQUISE!
Well I've been working on that conscious raising thing, but there seem to be too many stinky man diapers that need to be changed first.
A mothers work is never done!
Karma? you are religious too? Your post is ironic.
why ironic? religion is a drug, who needs it? actually, the problem is not the religion but the followers, just read Richard Dawkins The God Delusion.
AldoinSF
I see no irony. I understand Siouxrose's message.
Frank Rich and all the reporters who have this strange love for McCain have got it all wrong per usual. The idea that McCain wanted Lieberman as VP is a joke. They floated this idea to energize the zionist Jews who are Lieberman's fans. This will tear some Jewish votes from Obama. That and the thousands of emails that smear Obama as a Muslim etc.. That's all the Lieberman BS was about. Pure politics. The Republican party is made up of the following groups, greedy rich people making more than 100,000 a year who want to see income tax reduced on themselves (they are highly motivated pigs & will vote Republican every time), their children & and their corporations, zionist Jews who want perpetual war, more occupation of land by Israel and expansion into occupied areas by Israel in the middle east (they will vote for the candidate who will bring the bombs to Israel-certainly MCain-Palin as that ticket could in all likelyhood start a world war), Catholics who are one issue voters-abortion, & finally the base of poor, white, stupid, uneducated followers who want a strong leader to battle their made up enemies. (Their poverty has made it possible they will stay away from the polls and not vote. McCain does nothing for them. And you have to be even dumber than them to miss the fact that the country is going to hell). But 50 percent of America still believe the WMDs were found in Iraq!! How stupid can you be? With the economy in the tank the base of the poor whites is the key for the Republicans. All they have to do is get them to the polls and they win. Most of the poor whites are religious. 37 percent of USA says they are born again evangelicals. These are the people who helped make the Bush elections close. They were told in their churches that he was a man of God and to go vote for him. In return the churches got money. Not with Palin (who is one of them) on the ticket the same goes. Religious cults value their members and their church way more than they value non-members and the country. Mormans, born-agains, anti-abortion Catholics, are followers. They will do what they are told by anyone that they recognize as an authority from God to there own inner voice which they imagine is God. These folks will now all vote for McCain and work for him. There is no discussion of the issues, no debate, it comes down to "she is one of us". And that is enough for the 50% who are low information (AKA stupid) voters.
yes, and the remaining 50% low information (AKA stupid) voters will vote for Obama, McCain in disguise.
Tweedledee vs. Tweedledum.
What? You're not swearing up a storm today, tetti. Did CD editors say something?
TOAST: Thank you for the link, it's one I recommend all CD readers check out. This woman is dangerous, she's just as control-oriented, as much a "be loyal to me, your queen" type authoritarian as Bush, right down to the firings of those (Justice department in Bush's case) local "celebrities" who might make decisions of their own, and therefore not demonstrate sufficient homage.
Now that I see what could govern, maybe I will vote for Obama. Honestly, does the McCain-Pain (leave out the L) duo deserve anything more than being a spoof on Saturday Night Live? Is this how the military-industrial complex and the true deciders of public and foreign policy intend to place a smoke screen in the form of an ongoing comi-tragedy?
"We still don't know a lot about Palin...."
The Palin-McCain campaign shows its beginnings and foundational support... From a Seattle Times article posted today which is drawn partially from documents found in a National Archives warehouse in Seattle, and provides a little detail for the disaffected who insist upon "A woman, any woman... never mind the issues or qualification, just give us a woman!":
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008163431_palin070.html
Rocky the Lying Squirrel and Bullwinkle Kilmia Moose for President!
excellent link, thank you
Obama bin Biden = John Mad Kane
When will the idiots (including Frank Rich) learn that the only difference between McCain and Obama is the skin color?
(In the G.O.P., Bush love is now the second most popular love that dare not speak its name.)
That was good for a laugh. Speaking of Clinton, they were mentioned in the article, if a Mcsame ticket is elected for the first time ever a marriage between president and vice president would be possible. IOKIYR after all.
Or we could see the first assissanation by nookie. I can see Mcsame trying to have a bit of a frolic in the oval office with his vp leading to a massive heart attack. At least palin wouldn't have to go far to be sworn in as the 45th president...
In the immediate wake of the Palin selection, McCain now looks upon himself as the most brilliant politician of our times. What else can a Repimplican say about himself as he is poised to succeed the worst president in American history?, a member of his own party. Once he occupies the White House, he will change his name to Johnny Deep.
There was NOTHING "heroic" about John McCains's job or performance in Viet Nam, Frank.
It is beyond obvious that McCain just wants to be elected. It goes without saying that this woman is unqualified--- But, alas, she has ovaries. ...and not much else. Which is what truly matters.
Do Americans really care that the President is able to make rational decisions? ... If you haven't be hibernating the last eight years, it is clear that they don't. This is it. Americans swallow the Two-Party system with ease and comfort.
If McCain/Palin win in November, we will continue to be ridiculed around the world for our foreign and national policy.
...but as long as Americans have their entitled lives, they will be fine. They will drive their cars, feed their children shitty food, watch "sports" on T.V. (not many will play them mind you), eat shitty foods themselves and wonder why they are sick & fat, go to church to feel good about themselves, and then watch their Maverick on T.V. talk about how necessary war is. This is it folks. This is America. I for one and proud to not be proud. Keep 'em stupid and they will elect stupidity.
"Do Americans really care that the President is able to make rational decisions?"
The past two presidential elections were stolen, so the majority did care that attention be paid to the rest of the world; but the Democratic leadership was far too complicit with the war-state to contest the results.
The right wing continues to use voter-suppression tactics, which they would feel no need to use if they thought they represented the populace of the United States.
When we identify the traumatic-right as "Americans", we do so at the expense of our own claim to the name & the contradictory national heritage.
We are combatting cowards who pretend to be brazen but who have to conceal everything they are, and demand submission because they can't endure real confrontation.
I seriously don't think it's going to be much different with Obama/Biden. Countries normally calling the US stupid simply because it has a Republican administration will be no less disappointed when they find out that Obama/Biden is an equal let-down. This country and the rest of the world would be a hell of a lot better off with a 3rd/Independent party at this point.
They will question our sanity if the U.S elects who the left wingers on CD want to elect
No change there then.
Damned crazy Yanks.
[Heckled as such since as early as 1941]
Didn't say it would be. The article was refering to the possibility of a McCain/Palin 'victory'.
The GOP were going to do almost anything to distract the nation from the real issues and turn this election into a "culture" war which they never bother with after the election's over anyway. People who complain about Palin somehow being persecuted by the mythical "liberal" media or even the Democrats simply because she's a woman are nothing more than sexists. Now, I don't trust either the Republicans or Democrats and am heading to the Nader Camp (would have preferred Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich from the primaries by the way). To the folks (Thomas More, Leea, atheist, Snowwolf, etc ...) who keep claiming that the Democrats are being sexist against Palin despite the fact that they're pointing out the issues that are totally gender neutral, back up your statements with evidence. I know you people are upset that poor old Hillary didn't win the primary. But get over it. She was no different from Obama or Mccain and never will be. Even if she had won the primary, the GOP would have attacked her the same way they're attacking Obama. Neither one of those Democrats or for that matter Mccain are addressing the real issues that matter. America is in total catastrophe, the likes of which it has never experienced before. Hell, this decade makes even the 1970s look a little sane although the 1980s weren't any better for the most part except that we were borrowing oil from the Middle East and calling it "American capital". With the economy in the worst condition, the environment in devastated condition, healthcare costs rising all the while service reeks compared to every developed nation, foreign policy from Iraq to Pakistan to Russia to China showing major signs of total failure that used to be not too difficult to hide even in the 1980s and 1990s, WHAT THE HELL IS THE FUCKING MATTER WITH AMERICA ?!?!?
GOD IS SEVERELY PUNISHING AMERICA TO ETERNAL DAMNATION !!!!
A vote for Obama/Biden is a vote for Mccain/Palin.
A vote for Mccain/Palin is a vote for Obama/Biden.
Let's see who can tell me if you're better off now than you were 8 years ago and if so, explain how so from 2000 to 2008.
F.J.,
Your continuing challenge to readers doesn't draw many responses, lower case 'dude.' But, since I'm always up for a good laugh...
Crazed, placard adorned, soapbox screamers, reciting,
"GOD IS SEVERELY PUNISHING AMERICA TO ETERNAL DAMNATION !!!!"
have been removed from public and now reside in dark, damp attics with an internet connection.
I retired.
My wife now makes four times what I do.
I don't feel guilty when I read the comments here.
My three 'children' are now resourceful, self-reliant people, who can dance, laugh, drink wine, have sex, not be married, or have religious rites prior to orgasm. Bonus points for being healthy, minimum psychic damage from so much toxic propaganda, environmental overflow of damaged thought police, locked gas station bathrooms, bus station bathrooms, legislative bathrooms, surveillance bathrooms, Commie bathrooms, Republican bathrooms,
and this toilet of 'progressive' rant.
I am still able to alienate myself from my bothersome consciousness and conscience.
I still have my teeth.
My wife continues her love affair with my mutated existence of being a wart-ridden, homo sapien, eager for the red meat of humility.
I continue to refine my murderous instincts for 'self-improvement,' and spiritual access to the base instincts that define this wonderful species that eats its young.
How am I doing?
I should leave room for others to respond.
"My wife now makes four times what I do."
You wouldn't this arrogant and snobbish if she weren't paying for it obviously. I don't see that many families as luxurious as yours.
"My three 'children' are now resourceful, self-reliant people, who can dance, laugh, drink wine, have sex, not be married, or have religious rites prior to orgasm. Bonus points for being healthy, minimum psychic damage from so much toxic propaganda, environmental overflow of damaged thought police, locked gas station bathrooms, bus station bathrooms, legislative bathrooms, surveillance bathrooms, Commie bathrooms, Republican bathrooms,"
You can be a self-congratulatory dude pat yourself on the back but all this self-reliance shit has to come from somewhere. If it weren't for your wife being lucky to make the big bucks you brag about, I seriously doubt your kids would be "happy happy joy joy" or that you'd be sitting a retired dude by now. It's a shame that your wife is your welfare pit !
Of course we are not better off since 2000 when the Supreme Court stopped the counting in Florida, and the election of Al Gore was prevented. Do not pretend now that was no difference between George Bush and Al Gore. When Bush came into office there was a surplus beyond the horizon. Do you think that Al Gore would have ignored Arabs getting fly only lessons? There is at least a reasonable suspicion that a Gore Administration would have foiled the 9/11 plot.
Would a Gore administration have cooked the intelligence to take us into Iraq to replace the regime? Life in the United States has suffered because of the consequences of putting George Bush in office.
You may very well want to support Nader, because you don't get it about Obama. But don't pretend that you really don't care who becomes President. It is very important that Obama wins and McCain loses this election. Obama offers the most in terms of a different perspective by the leader of our country to have come along since FDR. Sure, Ralph, says more of what you want to hear, but he cannot be elected. If he had not ran in Florida in 2000, George would have spend the last eight years in Texas.
Don't blame God for the mess we are in. Blame George Bush. And if you vote anyone but Obama, then you can blame yourself for helping McCain win. A vote for Obama is a vote for Obama, a vote for anyone else is a vote for the policies of George Bush.
You can not compare Bush to the Al Gore we know today, eight years out from under the Washington thumb. Its also wrong to assume all of Florida's Nader voters would have voted for Gore, but you raise some interesting points.
Is it more important that Obama wins and McCain loses, or that the millions of energized citizens (Obama supporters or not) remain fired up for years to come, including the next term? If I read my history correct, FDR was not that "progressive" when first elected. It was the record turnout for the left parties(workers, socialist, farmers, etc.) in the '32 election and their continuing political pressure that resulted in the FDR we think of today. Can we build that kind of pressure? Does it mean as much if we don't show our commitment with our presidential election vote? Will Obama or McCain be more willing to listen to that pressure? McCain responded to the demands of his base(however backward), Obama seems to move away. Can either of them ignore the corporate powers that put them here?
No great changes will come to this counrty from the top down. As much as I'd like to think its a conspiracy, even the social momentum to the right is based on bottom up pressure.
a vote for McKinney is a vote for McKinney AND a vote for an eventual progressive majority; same with Nader. A vote against McKinney and Nader is a vote against an eventual progressive majority, for more of the same. I was listening to Obama's interviews this morning - this man simply should not ever ever be the president of the united states (same for McCain, but I don't bother listening to him anymore).
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds