Archive for September 2008
Get a load of this:
HH: Now Governor, the Gibson and the Couric interview struck many as sort of pop quizzes designed to embarrass you as opposed to interviews. Do you share that opinion?
SP: Well, I have a degree in journalism also, so it surprises me that so much has changed since I received my education in journalistic ethics all those years ago. But I’m not going to pick a fight with those who buy ink by the barrelful. I’m going to take those shots and those pop quizzes and just say that’s okay, those are good testing grounds. And they can continue on in that mode. That’s good. That makes somebody work even harder. It makes somebody be even clearer and more articulate in their positions. So really I don’t fight it. I invite it.
The rest of the interview focuses on the only reasons why she is even a topic - why she was selected. She is a young working mom who loves Jesus and family. It’s about Hillary, it’s about conservatives, and the “black man”. It’s about culture wars and hyperbole on this issues that continue to create polarization and resentment in our social order. That’s why she was selected; not because she will make a good VP.
We learn nothing of her aptitude to handle the global political arena, the current economic crisis, or other things that a VP does as a senior official in the White House and in the Senate.
She claims the current revision to the bailout plan which includes a hike in the FDIC cap was McCain’s idea.
So there again, John McCain’s got some great ideas on granting authority, for instance, to the FDIC, making sure that our deposits are insured. He wants to increase that deposit insurance cap of all of our money, our savings, from $100,000 dollars up to $250,000 dollars, so that families like mine, so that we don’t have to worry about our money being safe or not under FDIC.
Others will say it was Obama’s idea. What we do know is this:
Both presidential candidates proposed upping the federal insurance for bank deposits from the current $100,000 limit to $250,000, in an effort to make the $700 billion financial rescue package more palatable to House Republicans, who torpedoed the measure Monday.
Washington Wire - WSJ.com : Obama, McCain Urge Raising Insurance Cap on Bank Deposits.
So again, she is either lying for political expediency, or she is simply unaware of what’s really going on even in spite of the fact that she seems to read every publication.
Wait she must be lying.
“The presidential candidates’ support for increasing the FDIC cap is welcome news. Increasing the FDIC cap is a proposal put on the table by Roy Blunt and House Republicans but ruled out by Democrats during the negotiations that led to yesterday’s unsuccessful vote.
Republican Leader John Boehner | republicanleader.house.gov.
Those are not “pop quizzes”, they are follow-up questions in order to get a straight answer that is not canned campaign speak.
She should give more props to Roy if this is his baby too. His voting record would make Palin look rather liberal.
Before you get excited about this:
Wall Street snapped back Tuesday after its biggest sell-off in years amid growing expectations that lawmakers will salvage a $700 billion rescue plan for the financial sector. But the seized-up credit markets where businesses turn to raise money showed no sign of relief.
One day after the biggest point drop in its history, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 485 points, or more than 4.5 percent — the latest in a string of extraordinarily volatile days in the stock market. It was third-biggest point gain in the Dow’s history and the biggest percentage climb in the Dow in six years.
Stocks surge higher; credit worries persist: Financial News - Yahoo!
Finance.
The only thing that really happened today with the market bounce was this:
Apparently the fundamentals of the economy do not include housing, lending, credit, banks, loans, interest, job creation, or energy.
So what are the fundamentals then?
McCain adapted his speech, emphasizing he believes “the fundamentals of the economy” are American workers.
Workers are economy’s ‘fundamentals,’ McCain says - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
OK. I can go with that. But when he makes that very late step back from all of the stuff you hear above, he must not be thinking about the increasing number of people who are not actually working these days - a trend that has been consistently bad all year long.
The unemployment rate rose from 5.7 to 6.1 percent in August, and non-farm payroll employment continued to trend down (-84,000), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. In August, employment fell in manufacturing and employment services, while mining and health care continued to add jobs. Average hourly earnings rose by 7 cents, or 0.4 percent, over the month.
With all of that economic clout he still lies about Obama’s tax plan saying that he is going to raise taxes on the middle class with all of his liberal allies. These ads are running like diarrhea spewed from a spastic colon in Pennsylvania and have no factual truth - at all. His negotiating prowess did not help the current economic crisis either.
It turns out the rich evangelical millionaire was close enough this year that he was actually on the ball with his predictions.
You can see the whole thing here. Just skip past the stuff about the poor since we know he doesn’t give a rip about them anyway. Of course the alternative theory could be that all of this has been a conspiracy between right-wing Republicans and mega-church televangelists and “values voters” to exact the punishment of God on the heathen United States for turning back from God.
Scott reminded me of this with his Best Year Ever post.
Soma is that wonderful drug in Huxley’s Brave New World that allows one to go on holiday in one’s own little pod to a lala land of one’s choosing. It also has the feature of creating a world form the perspective of the drug taker that is drenched in blissful ignorance of reality. Why do I think some Palin supporters might be on soma?
The case against Gov. Palin is all about fear. Liberals are terrified that the first woman vice president will be a conservative, thus debunking the myth that liberal feminists represent the women of America. The truth is she really does represent this group, as a god fearing, country loving, common-sense mom who also has the strength and the ability to successfully run both a household and a state.
Unlike Barack Obama, she posseses a solid core of principles, and can generate a clear, concise thought on her feet. She is no puppet and would be an asset to her running mate and the country.
People of all places on the political spectrum are not afraid that she is a conservative woman. We are afraid of her ineptitude and her lies to cover up that ineptitude that McCain continually legitimates. Apparently this person has not seen any of her interviews. Enjoy your soma holiday.
Biden’s terms were screwed by the McCain camp here. This piece sums it up here. The audio by Palin is clear here.
So they don’t practice this “gotcha” journalism while Katie Couric does? Or do they really want to bomb Pakistan and Iran contrary to McCain’s patronization of Obama during the debate?
It’s a total crock! She is asked by a Philadephian if she would bomb them at the border and she said that if that’s what we have to do then we would. Exactly what McCain held Obama accountable for during last Friday’s debate - which was not true and irrationally diverted Obama’s argument by the way.
But what is more telling is body language. When Palin starts her address of the question, McCain gets nervous all over again. His hands work and his eyes look around almost searching for a line to deliver. And he tries to undermine the lie. This guy’s policy is pre-emptive strike and he has done nothing to offer an alternative to Bush’s failed policy of war first, peace second.
I believe now that with Obama we have a prayer and with McCain we will need to pray harder for peace as peace has nothing to do with his vision of diplomacy. He is about threatening as a method of diplomacy. Getting more upset at this crap and you should too.
Read this:
Sarah Palin’s credentials as a “reformer” are nothing but spin. She has sided with Big Oil, lobbied to increase pork spending and abused her public power to carry out personal vendettas. Here’s a guide to separating myth from fact.
And there are plenty other pieces like this about Sarah Palin’s hollowness, callousness, and nothingness as a political leader abole to protect the Constitution and uphold the support of the public good in the United States. She’s a prop used for political branding. What a joke. Remember that Andrew Sullivan has posted these lies before. But John McCain’s continued props to them is classic along with pretty pictures in the Rolling Stone piece.
Here are the lies:
- She has lied about the Bridge To Nowhere. She ran for office favoring it, wore a sweatshirt defending it, and only gave it up when the federal congress, Senator McCain in particular, went ballistic. She kept the money anyway and favors funding Don Young’s Way, at twice the cost of the original bridge.
- She has lied about her firing of the town librarian and police chief of Wasilla, Alaska.
- She has lied about pressure on Alaska’s public safety commissioner to fire her ex-brother-in-law.
- She has lied about her previous statements on climate change.
- She has lied about Alaska’s contribution to America’s oil and gas production.
- She has lied about when she asked her daughters for their permission for her to run for vice-president.
- She has lied about the actual progress in constructing a natural gas pipeline from Alaska.
- She has lied about Obama’s position on habeas corpus.
- She has lied about her alleged tolerance of homosexuality.
- She has lied about the use or non-use of a TelePrompter at the St Paul convention.
- She has lied about her alleged pay-cut as mayor of Wasilla.
- She has lied about what Alaska’s state scientists concluded about the health of the polar bear population in Alaska.
You cannot trust a word she says. On anything.
I don’t care if Sarah Palin is a lying prop. I care that John McCain chose her for political purposes alone, continues to lie about Obama’s tax plan, now sets Obama apart from being patriotic, and lies about Obama’s position on energy and the financial crisis after we heard from Obama what his plan is which is also available online along with his resume documenting his accomplishments in the Senate! McCain is both lying and character smearing for political gain whilst accusing Barack Obama of the same. He is the one at fault for his own criticism of Obama and that is sad.
He’s grubbing for this more than Obama. His demeanor at the first debate clearly shows his disdain that Obama would dare even compete with him. He is envious and covetous of this presidency bid. Obama is not the political whore as the McCain campaign paints him to be. McCain is who his ads say he is running against. That is disturbing and unconscionable. Don’t vote for this guy. He is more Bush. I do not want more Bush, do you?
Obama was wrong:
Obama predicted quick passage of the measure, which he said contained important consumer-friendly provisions he had supported. “Today, thanks to the hard work of Democrats and Republicans, it looks like we have a rescue plan that includes these taxpayer protections,” Obama said in remarks prepared for a Detroit rally. “And it looks like we will pass that plan very soon.”
Why “rushed” is a relative term as is “back to Washington”.
While McCain is not on a Senate committee involved with the financial crisis, he said Sunday he rushed back to Washington because he was not going to “phone in” his advice.
“I’m a Teddy Roosevelt Republican. I’ve got to get in the arena when America needs it,” McCain said.
McCain must move by horseback as Teddy did. But wait, at the debate wasn’t he a Reagan Republican? I’m getting more and more confused by what an “original maverick” is other than someone who is knee-jerk, erratic, and unpredictable. I think that his idea of “getting in the arena” is to get close, but then use the phone a lot.
“Some people have criticized my decision, but I will never, ever be a president who sits on the sidelines when this country faces a crisis,” McCain said today. “Some of you may have noticed, but it’s not my style to simply phone it in. ”
At a rally today, McCain then directly criticized Obama.
John McCain, Barack Obama spar about leadership - Los Angeles Times.
So what did he actually do?
Instead, the Arizona senator flew straight home to Washington, where he holed up in his suburban condo and campaign headquarters, making phone calls to fellow lawmakers who are trying to negotiate a financial rescue.
According to the campaign, McCain spoke with more than a dozen lawmakers Saturday, as well as President Bush, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke.
I’m a little disappointed that NPR uses the polarizing term “holed up” here. However, if he popped into his condo and then didn’t come out until he made his appearance in Columbus today, that’s kind of what the term means. But the ever witty Sarah Palin had something to say about it to clear it all up for us - finally I guess after everyone else on the campaign trail already registered their piece on Friday.
The Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, credited McCain with helping to ensure that the bailout plan protected taxpayers. Reporters were kept at a distance when she made a campaign stop in Philadelphia, although Palin took one question about the $700 bailout agreement.
“I’m thankful that John McCain is able to have some of those provisions implemented in that Paulson proposal,” she said. “I’m glad that John McCain’s voice was heard.”
Which means she is up to about, what, five unscripted questions from reporters so far? What will they say now? Oh it’s all the fault of the Democrats that it did not pass. And Obama not wanting to wedge himself into the process to politicize it is using the crisis for political advantage while McCain’s so-called campaign “suspension” then do business over the phone a lot in order to stay in the arena is not. I’m really confused now. Here is the final word from someone who is getting more erratic, more visibly angry and hostile, and more and more backed into a corner - play the unpatriotic card along with Pelosi who did the same today.
Lagging in the polls, Republican presidential candidate John McCain unleashed a blistering attack Monday on his Democratic rival, saying the race comes down to a simple question: “Country first or Obama first?”
In his first public appearance since Friday night’s debate, McCain said Democrat Barack Obama advocates tax-and-spend policies that “will deepen our recession,” and voted against funding for equipment needed by troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
John McCain says White House race boils down to question, ‘country first or Obama first?’.
So while Pelosi and McCain duke it out over the definition of what patriotic really means, Obama, even though he needs to save face over the clear bi-partisan failure of the bailout which is fine by me, stays on message and has avoided name-calling. That’s a sign of someone who is in control and not using a crisis for political traction.
One more piece to help Sarah Palin out becuase she needs it. Moreover, McCain should not be taking credit for oversight as much as he is. In the original agreement before the actually needed Republican wedge that McCain is also crediting himself with along with Ms. Palin, the need for oversight is mentioned. After all, the alternative plan was already worked up by the time McCain arrived in Washington during his campaign “suspension” political gamble - which is not paying off at all.
“We were simply trying to come up with a constructive solution to break an impasse,” said Rep. Paul Ryan (R., Wis.), who outlined the plan to Sen. McCain in a meeting Thursday.
So Mr. McCain clearly used this in a bold political stunt where he gambled a debate appearance in order look like a president rather than actually act like one should. He is the one who interjected campaign politics into the mess and it only disrupted the process rather than help the alternative plan to make a good argument.
Pelosi’s remarks were unhelpful. The McCain campaign’s retort even less helpful.
“Barack Obama failed to lead, phoned it in, attacked John McCain, and refused to even say if he supported the final bill.
“Just before the vote, when the outcome was still in doubt, Speaker Pelosi gave a strongly worded partisan speech and poisoned the outcome.
“This bill failed because Barack Obama and the Democrats put politics ahead of country.” — McCain-Palin senior policy adviser Doug Holtz-Eakin
McCain blames Obama for bailout defeat - Politico Staff - Politico.com.
So what did he actually do while there? Not much at all anyway so it’s a moot point. Of course, Obama phoned before McCain’s clear political stunt of so-called campaign “suspension”.
By mid-afternoon, Mr. McCain’s closest adviser, Mark Salter, told reporters that Mr. McCain would not go to Capitol Hill on Saturday but would make phone calls to try to push the deal along. “He’s calling members on both sides, talking to people in the administration, helping out as he can,’’ Mr. Salter said.
Asked why Mr. McCain did not go to Capitol Hill after coming back to Washington to help with negotiations, Mr. Salter replied that “he can effectively do what he needs to do by phone.’’
Mr. McCain’s running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, spent her day in Philadelphia in preparation for next week’s vice presidential debate. She had no public events scheduled for Saturday.
Back in Town, but Not on Capitol Hill - The Caucus Blog - NYTimes.com.
We know that the illustrious VP candidate was nowhere to be found after her awesome, nearly campaign crushing interview with Katie Couric. Rather than make a couple of comments about the crisis and answer a few questions, she began early debate preparations? That far out? Wow.
Now, the McCain campaign is pulling the patriot card which Pelosi did not help today. Apparently we would now be unpatriotic to vote for Obama. But McCain is the same guy who once said that he had to go to Washington because he was putting country first. Now it is suddenly OK to do all of that same business via phone even though we are clearly now in a deeper crisis than before the debate.
Seriously. Who was putting politics first here? And if he went to Washington just because Harry Reid asked him to, he’s not much of a maverick now is he? He is either a politicial first, or a wishy-washy conformist. What we do know is that he is inconsistent and erratic. Good presidential qualities.
And Sean Hannity is a pathological liar. Believe nothing that freak says. Seriously, don’t.
This picture says it all.
Not only did John McCain not make eye contact with his opponent or even turn his shoulder in that direction and at the request of Jim Lehrer (who was a fantastic moderator by the way), he fails to make eye contact here and stands in a posture of defiance - a “get me away from this guy” kind of gesture or at least an apathetic dismissal of him. The left hand below almost shows that this is something he would rather not do and he is telling Obama that it’s not his fault personally, but he simply does not deserve to be on the stage.
Obama on the other hand is looking right at McCain. Notice his left hand. In many cultures around the world it is clear here that the bracing at the elbow and the direction of the gaze is a sign of respect. He leans in without fear of his opponent and without any tone that he is somehow inadequate or lesser. The lean also indicates that Obama is the one in control here. He is forcing the relationship as McCain avoids it.
McCain does not like Obama because it is this young Senator from Harvard who is standing in his way from the one thing that he has looked up towards his entire political career. From McCain there is a sense of envy and covetousness that exuded from his demeanor last night. It was as if he was telling us that he should be elected not because Obama is not smart enough or tough enough to handle it, but that Obama just does not deserve it as much as he does. McCain was a patronizer who spoke at Jim Lehrer the whole time. Obama was seeking legitimacy so he spoke directly at McCain and looked directly at the camera as if to say that he is debating for two reasons, to challenge the person on my right, and to convince the voters that I am their president.
Now, think about McCain’s language regarding nations that are hostile to the US and think about how this clear lack of respect he has for an enemy will look strategically. It’s a paradox, but you have to respect your enemies or at least appear to. They don’t like you already, so why give them one more thing to hate you for? Which of these two images would you rather have in a meeting with the Ayatollah (e.g. Supreme Leader) of Iran, Ali Khamenei (who Obama rightly alluded to when he noted that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is not the main one in power)?
I can tell you that the posture of Obama alone would demand that he be taken seriously. The demeanor of McCain is something that deserves no respect from the perspective of an Ayatollah. It is that for which McCain is not prepared. The Islamists will never take McCain seriously because of his lack of respect to them. They will never meet his conditions because they will never feel a need to. He will add highly flammable toxin to an already toxic and volatile relationship built on mutual lack of respect. Think about it.
