Witness

Let your light shine.

2008-11-17T08:06:00.008-05:00

Since I haven't posted in a while (busy with work and stuff), I decided to devote some time this morning to finding something witless-worthy to comment on--it didn't take me long.

The American Family Association--always a goldmine of anti-semitism, racial hate, homophobia, and on, and on--has outdone itself this Christmas season. For the small donation of just $81.85 (including shipping), you too can express your Christianity with your very own burning cross!

Why? In their words: "to remind your friends, family, neighbors, and all who drive by your home, office, or church of the real meaning of Christmas."

Sometimes its just too easy...back to work.

Not to Bum Your O High

2008-11-05T14:25:00.002-05:00

I think many of us are feeling genuine joy today with the knowledge that Barack Obama will be the 44th President of the United States. Last night I heard young liberals yelling, "Obama!" in the streets. My Facebook friends are leaving status messages such as:
"Ian is basking in the glow of a successful election!"
"Lizzy is proud to be an American today."
"Caitlin is actually proud of her country."
"Michael has new faith in people, the spirit of our country, and the future."

And in the office someone was actually going around and hugging everyone.

This is all lovely. And maybe I'm being a party pooper. But we have to remember this is just the first step. I remember being overjoyed when Bill Clinton won in 1992. Within days he was criticized for his transition.

New York Times from December 1992:
At a news conference where he named two more members of his Cabinet, President-elect Bill Clinton lashed out at women's groups who had been complaining about the pace of appointing women, calling them "bean counters" who were more interested in quotas than competence.

And after his inauguration, Clinton's honeymoon was bitterly brief. I believe it was all of 36 hours before the press was hounding him.

Now Obama has not shown himself to be the spiteful, divisive figure with a closetful of secrets that Clinton was. But do not forget it is part of the human character to despise the people we once exalted. Unless of course they are killed off before the ruin their reputations, e.g., JFK and MLK. As Harvey Dent said, "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." Yeah, I know that was in a movie about a superhero, but there is a point to that.

I guess what I wonder is that with such a groundswell of good feelings toward the Big O, the comedown may be quite sad. Maybe if we are aware of its possibility, it can me mitigated. Obama is only human. Let us all try not overload him with superhuman expectations.

Another Reminder...for today.

2008-11-04T13:00:00.001-05:00

remember?

2008-10-21T17:09:00.001-04:00

2004

same now? anyone listening?

Horrible

2008-10-21T17:03:00.002-04:00

But for some reason, I love it! In some way, maybe there is hope for us after all.

A Gamechanging Word

2008-10-17T11:52:00.003-04:00

What is it with this word "gamechanger"? Or is it "game-changer"? "Game changer"? WTF? The media is a gaggle of copycats. Or merely regurgitators. I’m guessing one of them once used this word, swiping to perhaps from the great lexiconic birthing chamber that is professional sports, or sme a politico's spin doctor, and then they all decided to use it, and it spread like a contagious disease, a pop culture meme that now seems ubiquitously used, like a long-lost cousin who suddenly appeared at Thanksgiving and everyone acts like he was the one who always brought the marshmallow-covered sweet potatoes.

The term is used to mean an incident that alters the direction in which things are currently moving. As in a game of, I don’t know, jai alai when, near the end of match, one of the winning players hurls the rubber ball and a giant lizard stands up from the bleachers and consumes the player in one gulp. Match direction altered. Game changed. So the term is used when events in the political arena suggest the possibility of things taking a new path, and it most often used, it seems, in the fact that the game was not changed. “This was not a game-changer.” “Not a game-changing speech.” “No game-changing today.” As in McCain's performance in all three of the Presidential debates as well as all the debates themselves.

What I find screwed up, at least in my own head, is that I can’t remember what term the media used before to mean the same thing. There must have been a term! Or did they just say, “Today’s debate altered nothing, Jim. Back to you in the studio”? I swear I don’t remember. The word itself, because of its ubiquity, has changed the game (does that make it an onomatapaiea??)(nah). Reporters use it as verbal shorthand to describe the importance of an event. More often than not, in a world of 24-hour media, a lot of what they report is not game-changing.

(It is, strangely enough, an interesting word to internalize personally, philosophically. You can wonder: Have you changed the game today?)

Prevaricating Truth Stretcher

2008-10-14T14:35:00.006-04:00

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, of The Rachel Maddow Show, does a glorious smackdown job of Sarah Palin regarding the Troopergate scandal. Watch this (mind the de rigeur commercial). This is not subtle commentary at all, but Palin's trangressions are writ too large for subtlety.

The Joke Could Be On Us

2008-10-03T15:29:00.005-04:00

One thing that worries me is the new sport of snarky Palin bashing. Mind you, I have no love lost for the governor and am not advocating not bashing her. But you have to be careful when you attack and belittle a opponent so much so that they become a cartoon, a caricature, a two-dimensional target. You will lose sight of the fact that this is a real person, and in Palin's case, a real person who has a genuine chance to be the Vice President of the United States, and, from there, just one failed defibulation from being the leader of the Free World. See, even I make fun. In fact, it it quite easy to make fun during the bizarre and almost-unreal turn of current events. Humor gives us comfort. Allows us to embrace something we are afraid of and bring it down to size, so that we feel in control. But we have to be vigilant. All those funny videos we send around, guffawing at her latest gaffe. Or the recent debate parties, where we have pizza and chortle at Palin's folksiness and question-evading. And to many of us it seems as if Biden won, handily, clearly. But Palin was not talking to us, not preaching to the unconvertible. She was preaching to a whole other audience, and winning them over with with "goshes" and "there ya go's." They think she won. And if they think she won, then she did. Make no mistake. Poke fun at her all you want. A lot of us made similar, put-down jokes about Dan Quayle and even with George W. Bush. They still got elected. Laugh all you want. But don't lose sight of your fear.

Embarassment

2008-10-02T09:07:00.004-04:00

This clip should be put in a time capsule and saved for all time. Thanks to TPM for the compilation:

McCain's record of (not)supporting veterans

2008-10-02T08:00:00.003-04:00

From VetVoice, a great summary of McCain's veteran/troop legislative record:

On Friday, September September 26, 2008, John McCain said the following:
"I know the veterans, I know them well, and I know that they know that I'll take care of them, and I have been proud of their support and their recognition of my service to the veterans, and I love them, and I'll take care of them, and they know that I'll take care of them."

This statement--made near the end of Friday's debate--immediately infuriated veterans across America and overseas. In fact, Senator John McCain has a very clear, long, and illustrious history of not supporting troops and veterans one bit.

Check out the list and use it often.

Everything you need to know about the subprime crisis

2008-10-01T10:25:00.001-04:00

I love these guys:

OK, I've calmed down now.

2008-10-01T08:44:00.002-04:00

I think digby nails it pretty well:

As my readers know, I believe that the Democrats should make an aggressive argument for progressive policies and liberal principles. I don't mind someone saying they can work with others, but I do object to saying Republicans have good ideas when they don't. The radical policies that have led us to this moment have failed but somebody needs to tell the American people exactly why and offer them a clear alternative. This crisis is an opportunity to spell that out so clearly that there will be no question for a generation that these ideas are as toxic as an adjustable rate mortgage.

Read the whole thing.

I still don't understand why Obama is pushing this bill so hard.

Entropy

2008-09-29T19:54:00.017-04:00

I love it... always have (def. from Merriam-Webster):

Main Entry:
en·tro·py
Pronunciation:
\ˈen-trə-pē\
Function:
noun
Inflected Form(s):
plural en·tro·pies
Etymology:
International Scientific Vocabulary ²en- + Greek tropē change, literally, turn, from trepein to turn
Date:
1875
1: a measure of the unavailable energy in a closed thermodynamic system that is also usually considered to be a measure of the system's disorder, that is a property of the system's state, and that varies directly with any reversible change in heat in the system and inversely with the temperature of the system ; broadly : the degree of disorder or uncertainty in a system
2 a: the degradation of the matter and energy in the universe to an ultimate state of inert uniformity b: a process of degradation or running down or a trend to disorder

Big fan...big fan.

That said, my thoughts:

Bad bill - all the way around. I am glad this failed. In the end, it was shit (probably started that way) and began (as is usual) with the big flaw: nobody in this country was involved. This was another push-through that people are either too preoccupied or stupid to be a part of. The people of this country should be ashamed. It has become way too easy for these fucks to fuck you. Are you listening?
Another give back to Bush because he (or his familiar) is soooo good at making this country afraid. I will never see that done again, no matter what the issue.
What happened to accountability? Man, this pisses me off. I was raised with the principle that I must be accountable for my actions. Shit, I should have cheated on my wife when I had the chances (back when I was beautiful) - the marriage turned to shit anyway. Kinda like this....

Mr. Hope is pissing me off. I can't stand that he is so... what: for it; neutral; critical? - whatever... He would have voted for this crap. Should I vote for him? Why don't people actually live what they mean?

I could rant all night... but on the bill:

The CEO compensation provision sucked: existing executives' deals should NOT be honored
The oversight provisions sucked also: the team includes the Federal Reserve chairman, the Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, the Federal Home Finance Agency director, the Housing and Urban Development secretary and the Treasury secretary. Same shit...
No equity for taxpayers - us.

and...on and on.

Let's just do the right thing: raise taxes on the richest. After all, they are the ones that benefited from this mess from the start anyway. Then THEIR money can pay THEIR companies what THEY need for THEIR bad decisions. No, no, that would be somehow wrong and would send the economy into a tail spin. What? But seriously, what about something like this?

So, let us all wait for the inevitable blame game: wherein the repubs blame the dems and the dems take it.

In my heart though, I do like it when the machine/organism breaks down because of the parasitic disease that is eating it. That is nature at its most sublime.

Reminds me of a poem that I once knew.

The First Debate - Part 2

2008-09-26T21:40:00.003-04:00

The lessons of Iraq:

McCain: We are winning the war because we have a great general. We are winning.

Obama: I said from the beginning that this was wrong. Spent almost a trillion, lost 4000 lives, Al Qaida is resurgent. Lesson is that we must use our military wisely - we didn't. [good]

McCain: Next president must know how we leave and when we leave. Obama was against the surge, which has worked.

Obama: Yes violence has been reduced. But that was a tactic to contain the damage that was caused by the previous years. You said the job would be quick and easy, it would be cheap, we would be greeted as liberators, etc. [needs to do a better job of answering the surge question]

McCain: Says the surge was a strategy not a tactic [he is wrong] Patriotic story about him being in Bagdad with the troops. Lies about funding.

Obama: debunks his funding lie. McCain is lying again...

Afganistan - Should there be more troops.

Obama: Yes, I have been saying that for years. Commanders have said we don't have the troops because of Iraq. He would send two more brigades. We have made a strategic mistake by taking our eyes off Afganistan. Also need to deal with Pakistan - we have given them money and they haven't delivered.

McCain: I wouldn't repeat the mistakes of the past - pulling out of Afganistan. McCain is not prepared to cut off aid to Pakistan. Says Obama would attack Pakistan [lies]. Need to obtain the allegiance of Pakistan people. Will be tough. But he is confident in General Petraus.

Obama: Nobody talked about attacking Pakistan. What he said that if we have BinLaden in our sights and Pakistani's won't act - he will. We have lost legitimacy in Pakistan over the past 8 years.

McCain: Talks about his voting record for past wars. Now another sentimental war story about a bracelet.

Obama: I have a bracelet too. [funny] We took our eye off the ball. We are having enormous problems in Afganistan because of Iraq.

McCain: We will win in Afganistan. But if we follow Obama's plan in Iraq we will also lose in Afganistan.

What is the threat from Iran:

McCain: If Iran acquires nukes, it is a threat to Israel. We cannot allow a second holocaust. Proposes a league of democracies that imposes significant sanctions on Iran that would have an effect. But have no doubt, they are continuing to try to build a nuke, and they are bringing IED's into Iraq to kill our troops.

Obama: The single thing that has strengthened Iran has been the war in Iraq. We can't tolerate a nuclear Iraq. We need tougher sanctions, but need the help of other countries beside democracies. We also need tough direct diplomacy with Iran.

McCain: Obama said he would sit down with them without precondition. That legitimizes them.

Obama: Without preconditions does not mean you invite them over for tea. There is a difference between precondition and preparation. [good point here] Even Kissinger (McCain adviser) has said these meetings would be productive.

McCain : talking about height of South Koreans. [what?] Says preconditioned meetings are dangerous.

Obama: John is Mis characterizing his position.

McCain: No I am not. [yes you are]

Russia - how do you see Russia:

Obama: Need to have a unified relationship. Need to affirm all in the region that we are supporting them. Need to make sure Russia understands that we have common interests. Need to make sure that we don't revert to a cold war mentality. Need to make sure that all regions that can be - should be provided a position in NATO.

McCain: Aggression is not acceptable. When he looks in Putin's eyes he sees "KGB." We need to support those areas that want acceptance into NATO. Need to make it clear that the Russians are violating their agreements.

Obama: Agree's in principal with McCain. But we need to have foresight to anticipate some of these problems. He warned about this in April. We need to have an energy strategy to deal with Russia effectively since they control a significant amount of oil. Energy - this is a big issue with regard to national security.

Likelihood of another 911 attack in the US

McCain: Much less than it was before 911 - but we have a long way to go. Talks about his record creating commission to investigate 911. Proud of his work on this. Need to make sure we don't torture. Need better intelligence. Still have a long way to go.

Obama: Safer in some way - but have a long way to go, in transit, in ports, etc. We are spending billions on missile defense but are spending far less on nuclear proliferation. Need to go at the root cause of Al Qaida. Need to restore our standing in the world.

McCain: If we fail in Iraq, it would embolden Al Qaida. If we follow Obama's plan this would happen.

Obama: Over the last 8 year this administration and McCain has focused on Iraq, ignoring all else, while Al Qaida has grown. We have damaged our standing in the world by viewing through this lens. No one is talking about losing this war, but we need a broader vision than what we have now.

McCain: Obama does not have the knowledge or experience. I love the veterans and I will take care of them. I have the ability to keep the country safe. [because I say so?]

McCain: When I came home from prison I saw how badly veterans were treated. I know how to heal the wounds of war.

Couldn't escape without a POW.

The First Debate - Part 1

2008-09-26T21:01:00.005-04:00

Financial Recovery Plan:

Obama - move swiftly and wisely - oversight; taxpayers get money back; none of the money goes to executives; help homeowners. Final verdict on failed policies promoted by Bush, supported by McCain. [keep tying McCain to Bush]

McCain - sad note about Ted in the hospital. We are seeing Republicans and Democrats sitting down to try to fix this problem. Package has transparency, oversight, loans can fail. He went back to DC and found house republicans not being represented. Have a lot of work to do. Eliminate dependence on foreign oil.

Obama: Optimistic and we need to solve this, but we need to see how we got here in the first place. Has been talking about this for 2 years. [keep pointing at why...]

McCain: Hopes to vote for the plan. Says he saw this trainwreck coming. Somehow we have lost the accountability of those who perpetuate these problems. He will hold people accountable.

Obama - John, you said that the fundamentals of the economy are strong. [first time he speaks directly to McCain - keep doing this]

Are there fundamental differences in approach to lead US out of this crisis.

McCain - got to get spending under control. Earmarking is a gateway drug. Repeated his line about Bear DNA and praternity. [this is all he's got?] He will veto every spending bill and "you will know their names" Repeating campaign rhetoric.

Obama: earmarks account for 18 billion. McCain is proposing 300 billion in tax cuts. What's more important! We need to grow the economy from the bottom up.

McCain: Earmarks have tripled in the last eight years. Obama wants 800 billion in new spending. [not true]

Obama: Don't know where John is getting his figures. 18 billion is important. But the fact is that eliminating earmarks alone is not going to get Americans back on their feet. Obama speaking directly to McCain.

McCain: Wants to cut business taxes to keep businesses in the country. And now, back on earmark reform. [here he goes again with the same BS]

Obama: 95% of you will get a tax cut. 250,000 and under will not see any increase. Goes at McCain about 5000 tax credit - employer will get taxed on healthcare. [good]

McCain: goes after Obama on Energy bill. They go back and forth.

What can you do after this rescue plan.

Obama: We may not be able to do everything I want right away, but: We have to have energy independence; we have to reform healthcare now; we have to make sure we are competing in education; we need to make sure college is affordable; we need to shore up our infrastructure. Eliminate programs that don't work. [didnt really answer the question]

McCain: We need to cut spending. Obama has the most liberal voting record in the Senate. Need to do away with cost-plus contracts in military spending. He knows how to do this. Examine every agency and eliminate waste.

Obama goes after lobbyists.

McCain wants a spending freeze on everything except Military, veterans, and certain essential programs.

Obama says we can't freeze spending. That's taking a hatchet to a job that needs a scalpel.

McCain talking about nuclear power. [still really not answering the question]

Obama: This crisis will effect our budgets. Going to have to make some tough decisions. If we are spending huge money on tax cuts to the rich and have a healthcare crisis, we need to make those decisions. [good]

McCain suggests that Obama cut some of the new spending programs he is proposing. Not raising taxes is the best way to have our economy recover.

Obama: John - this is your president that you said you agree with 90% of the time and that you voted with most all the time. [keeps combining Bush/McCain - good]

McCain: Tries to object that he hasn't. He's a maverick with a partner that's a maverick. [oh sheesh...]

The Future of Education? Hell, No!

2008-09-26T19:12:00.003-04:00

More from Douglas in our continuing series on education. Remember, the numbered points are the McCain campaign position, the rest is all Doug.

3. We will energetically assert the right of students to engage in voluntary prayer in schools and to have equal access to school facilities for religious purposes.

How does one even comment on this blatant disregard of our constitutional rights?

4. We call for a review of Department of Education programs and administration to identify and eliminate ineffective programs, to respect the role of states, and to better meet state needs.

The Department of Education was established during the Carter administration. Its existence was threatened during the Reagan administration through documented hostile pressure. The W. administration gave it unheard of federal power of punishment over the 50 states. Now, its existence may be threatened again. Ironically, the U.S. Constitution makes no mention of a federal system of education or even a federal role in education.

That Gentleman McCain

2008-09-26T15:42:00.003-04:00

Many pundits are noting that McCain's campaign suspension/saving the economy drama this week was weird and stank of something. As a hero-making maneuver for McCain it seems to have go nowhere and done the maverick no good atall. However, it did distract a lot of people from Palin's implosive interview with Katie Couric, in which she came off as not just ill-prepared but also as slightly pathetic. Could this all have been a desperate sacrifice fly on McCain's part? Or as the Atlantic's Ross Douthat suggests, "just effing brilliant rope-a-dope for the Biden debate."

And, in case you haven't heard, the debate is back on. So what indeed was really suspended?

You've Lost that Maverick Spirit

2008-09-26T13:49:00.003-04:00

Many of you may remember the old Maverick TV show, from which these lyrics are bastardized.

Who is the old, bent stranger there?
Maverick was his name.
He rode the trail to everywhere,
Sarah as his companion,
Politics was his game.
Bald as a well-worn welcome mat
Maverick was his name.
Tired as dear old lady's cat
Napping on a hat
now he has been lamed.

Washington, ring your bell,
Fare thee well, Straight Talk Express.
No more talking to the press.
Alaska to New Orleans
Calling on priests and moms
Maverick is a guy who needs a rest!

Speaking Alaskan

2008-09-26T08:45:00.003-04:00

Do they have a different version of English in Alaska? A version in which good English words that we use regularly have an entirely different meaning. I mean, what the fuck is she even talking about?

COURIC: Why isn’t it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries? Allow them to spend more, and put more money into the economy, instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?

PALIN: That’s why I say I, like every American I’m speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in. Where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy. Um, helping, oh, it’s got to be about job creation, too. Shoring up our economy, and getting it back on the right track. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions, and tax relief for Americans, and trade — we have got to see trade as opportunity, not as, uh, competitive, um, scary thing, but one in five jobs created in the trade sector today. We’ve got to look at that as more opportunity. All of those things under the umbrella of job creation.

Very, very frightening...

Yup--fewer regulations. That's the ticket.

2008-09-26T08:23:00.003-04:00

Consensus [UPDATED]

2008-09-25T13:13:00.005-04:00

The teevee tells me that, as of approximately 1:00pm, both chambers and both parties have come to agreement on a bail out plan. Saint John rode into town on his white horse at around noon. WOW -- he sure does work fast.

UPDATE: I spoke too soon. It seems St. John may have had a hand in slowing this down -- which is actually a good thing. I like Kos' take on this.

Letterman on McCain

2008-09-25T11:45:00.001-04:00

This is Letterman at his best--gracious and vicious at the same time.

Deer (or Moose) in the Headlights

2008-09-25T09:05:00.002-04:00

"I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to ya..." Seriously?

The sky is falling...[Updated]

2008-09-25T08:22:00.007-04:00

Is the McCain campaign coming off the rails? That's the only reason I can see for his announcement yesterday that he is suspending his campaign to go to Washington to work on the bail out bill. This is coming from the guy who missed 80% of the votes in the Senate in the past year. But, he is going to rush back there now and save the world? Does he live in the real world? And, can't he do more than one thing at a time?

Last week he said that the fundamentals of the economy are strong... This week the sky is falling? What changed between then and now? Nothing but his poll numbers.

This is going to come back and bite him in the ass. He suspends his campaign, wants to cancel Friday's debate - and the VP debate. Maybe he should try to cancel the election too.

UPDATE: Looks like a few economists agree that rushing into this plan may not be a very good idea.

Viva Obama!

2008-09-24T11:13:00.001-04:00

I used to worry about the Latino vote for Obama until I saw this.

"JUNEAU"

2008-09-24T10:59:00.002-04:00

Ripped off from the sappy yet effective song from Juno.

McCain: You're a hockey mother and my last ditch chance
The monkey on my back and my partner at this dance

Palin: I don't see you had any choice, in anyone else
But me

McCain: They shot down my plane and shocked me in the brain
They turned my hair all white, they set my balls alight
I wish I had another choice, in anyone else
But you

Palin: Here are our missiles and here is my gun
If the Russians get funky I'll get them on the run
I don't see you had any choice, in anyone else
But me!

McCain: The blue states like me, the evangelists like me
But oh god, now, I sure don't like me
I should've gone with Leiberman, or anyone else
But you

Palin: I just can't wait till I get to start
Then I just gotta wait till the quitting of your heart
You know you couldn't win, with anyone else
But me! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Both:
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doodoo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doodoo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doodoo doo

Former POW Tells It Like It Is about McCain

2008-09-24T10:23:00.001-04:00

He He

2008-09-24T09:38:00.001-04:00

Indeedy

Continuing our series on education...

2008-09-23T21:23:00.005-04:00

Here is more of the McCain platform:

2. We reject a one-size-fits-all approach.

And teh truth:

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is entirely based on one-size-fits-all ideology. The law mandates that ALL students demonstrate proficiency on the exact same tests. Furthermore, school districts must demonstrate Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) across several subgroups. This means that ALL students (black, white, economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities, and students with limited English proficiency) must meet the benchmark, or the federal government withholds funding. The test is one-size-fits-all, the standards are one-size-fits-all, and the curriculum is one-size fits all. What’s left?

tanks, Douglas

This is not going to be fun.

2008-09-23T12:21:00.004-04:00

I have been out of touch a bit over the past 4 or 5 days, so I am just catching up...and this bail-out plan really has me worried, from a political perspective. I agree with Kos that this could derail things both if/when Obama takes office, and as part of the campaign (depending how the Dems handle it):

Yet witness the Democratic leadership looking to enable this fiscal handcuffing of the next administration, scared into rash action because a crisis that has been ongoing for months -- and long-denied by Bush and McCain ("the fundamentals are strong!") -- is now so pressing that decades of mismanagement are supposed to be fixed in five days. Ridiculous.

Throw a few guys with suits and suitcases into a room with our Democratic leadership, and they wilt. Pathetic. It's up to the Democratic rank and file, and situational allies on the Right (even the crazy ones), to stop or dramatically reform this mess.

It worries me that the Dem leadership could help to destroy the election by pushing this legislation and joining Bush in this panic. Why, all of a sudden, do we need to rush into $700 billion in a few days (they won't use the money right away, anyway), instead of 5 months from now? Ed Kilgore, I think, has it about right:

Democrats are right to demand significant substantive concessions before offering their support for the Paulson Plan. But just as importantly, they need to demand Republican votes in Congress, including the vote of John McCain. If this is going to be a "bipartisan" relief plan, it has to be fully bipartisan, not an opportunity for McCain to count on Obama and other Democrats to save the economy while exploiting their sense of responsibility to win the election for the party that let this crisis occur in the first place.

Worrisome...

He's going to regret saying this:

2008-09-23T10:36:00.003-04:00

Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation.

This is from McCain's article in the current issue of Contingencies. So he wants us to believe that the best thing to do for healthcare in this country, is to deregulate the industry like he and his Republican colleagues did with banking. I guess that worked well - huh?

A new series: "The Future of Education? Hell, No"

2008-09-18T13:45:00.012-04:00

We are featuring a recurring series of articles on Education, in which my brother Douglas debunks the Republican Platform and offers insight into educational issues in general.

From the Republican Party Platform:

We renew our call for replacing “family planning” programs for teens with increased funding for abstinence education, which teaches abstinence until marriage as the responsible and expected standard of behavior. Abstinence from sexual activity is the only protection that is 100 percent effective against out-of-wedlock pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS when transmitted sexually.

The Truth:

The largest research study to date indicated no connection between abstinence-only education programs and the sexual behavior of teens. “Findings indicate that youth in the program group were no more likely than control group youth to have abstained from sex and, among those who reported having had sex, they had similar numbers of sexual partners and had initiated sex at the same mean age.” (Mathematica Policy Research Inc.)

_______________________________________________________________

BTW - So you know where this is coming from, here is a brief bio of Doug:

Dr. Douglas J. Fiore is the Director of the Ed.D. Program and an Associate Professor at Virginia State University . He received his Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Supervision from Indiana State University, and he currently holds a Virginia Postgraduate Professional License in Administration and Elementary Education, as well as a Virginia Superintendent’s License. A former teacher and principal, Dr. Fiore has worked as an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of West Georgia and at Virginia Commonwealth University. He has also served as the Director of Professional Practice with the Virginia Department of Education.

Dr. Fiore is the author of six educational books, two of which are bestselling textbooks that are widely adopted at colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. Additionally, Dr. Fiore has written over a dozen peer-reviewed articles, and he has served on several editorial boards. .Dr. Fiore is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences on issues related to school-family partnerships, leadership improvement, and communication in educational settings.

Wow, I never thought I'd see the day.

2008-09-18T13:45:00.005-04:00

The mainstream media appears to be growing a pair. Maybe the "very serious people" are starting to listen to us "dirty fucking hippies" for a change.

CNN goes after McCain's and Palin's Lies:

As does NBC:

And even ABC goes after him on his economic rhetoric:

The biggest corporation in the world

2008-09-17T10:11:00.004-04:00

The US Government. The government now owns the two companies that own or guarantee over 1/2 of all US mortgages and, as of today, a 79.9% equity stake in the largest insurer of mortgage transactions.

If this is not proof that the rich own this country... then I really don't know what else to say. I guess its ok to take unreasonable risks, when the results work favorably; but when it all goes to shit, these fat cats cry for the government. And the government bails them out, spanks their bottoms, gives them a lollipop (in the form of huge severance), and sends them on their way. What a bunch of babies.

So... its ok that the US government own and run these companies, but its not ok that the US government provide nationalized health insurance?

Some specifics

2008-09-17T08:30:00.002-04:00

McCain could never pull off an ad like this...

It actually contains some specifics and a link to a plan.

You can put lipstick on a...

2008-09-17T08:17:00.002-04:00

You can put lipstick on a big, fat, drug-addled, right-wing radio host, but its still a pig. On his radio program yesterday, discussing Palin's "Troopergate" problem, Rush Limbaugh told his audience:

This is pure sexism in Alaska on the part of these old boys trying to get rid of Sarah Palin, and she didn't put up with it, and she didn't bend over and let them have their way.

Can you just imagine the media outcry if anyone from the left said that?

This is really starting to piss me off!

2008-09-16T14:00:00.005-04:00

Have you listened to this man blabber on about the economy today? After telling us yesterday that the "economy is fundamentally strong," he tells us today that he knows how to fix it - and he will. How? He doesn't say...what a set of balls! He really must believe we are stupid. Here he is on ABC today - if you have the stomach.

Let's go to the facts, as the NY Times points out today:

But his record on the issue, and the views of those he has always cited as his most influential advisers, suggest that he has never departed in any major way from his party’s embrace of deregulation and relying more on market forces than on the government to exert discipline.

While Mr. McCain has cited the need for additional oversight when it comes to specific situations, like the mortgage problems behind the current shocks on Wall Street, he has consistently characterized himself as fundamentally a deregulator and he has no history prior to the presidential campaign of advocating steps to tighten standards on investment firms.

As Obama is saying: how can McCain be trusted to fix the problems that he and the Republicans created?

Of course, McCain won't tell us how - just that he will. Sounds familiar? He also said he knows how to get bin Laden, but again refuses to tell us how.

Thank goodness for John Stewart

2008-09-16T11:11:00.000-04:00

When you want the real news, watch the fake news...

Healthcare we can't believe in, my friends

2008-09-16T10:54:00.002-04:00

Ezra Klein has an excellent review of the recent Health Affairs papers that offer analysis of the candidates' health care proposals. The key take-aways:

McCain's health care plan would increase taxes on employer based health insurance and price 20 million plus Americans out of the coverage they currently rely on. In return, he'd give them a tax credit that is not indexed to health costs, and will become worthless as the years pass. He'd push them into the individual market, where higher administrative costs and underwriting practices mean that if individuals try to purchase the exact policy offered by their employers, they will pay $2,000 more per year. In addition, the sick can be turned away, and the state regulations that ensure some minimum level of benefits will be dismantled. All this will cost us $1.3 trillion over 10 years, and set the rules so that more of the expense falls on the sick and less rests on the healthy.

Read the full review here at the American Prospect.

That's his story and he's sticking with it.

2008-09-16T08:34:00.002-04:00

This morning on Morning Joe (MSNBC), John McCain was asked point-blank to respond to criticism that his ad characterizing Obama's support of Sex Education for Kindergartners (remember: Obama wants to teach sex ed before reading?) is a distortion of Obama's position - to say the least. McCain continued his lie, saying that the ad is factually correct.

This ad has been debunked as a lie widely by the media and watchdog groups; see here and here and here. Its not the lie that surprises me - I have long ago lost any respect I may have had for McCain as an honorable man - what gets me is how McCain can repeat the lie with a straight face, on national TV and just get a nod and "thank you" from the hosts of the program. That's what Joe Scarborough did... nodded and thanked the senator and moved on.

Not to be an alarmist...

2008-09-15T21:11:00.005-04:00

But maybe it is getting close to the time to stuff your cash under your mattress: the fed is relaxing rules that allow your deposits to be used to finance investment banking activities.

The Fed added that it was suspending a rule that normally prohibits deposit-taking banks from using deposits to help finance their investment banking subsidiaries to allow them to fund activities normally funded in the repo market on a temporary basis until January 30 2009.

Remember when commercial banks and investment banks were, by law, separate entities? Firedoglake has a good review of this development.

Oh no he didn't

2008-09-15T11:34:00.005-04:00

Yes, it appears he did. As large financial institutions are failing left and right, and the market is tanking, John McCain, in a speech this morning in Florida said that he feels the fundamentals of our economy are strong. I mean, really?

UPDATE: Oh, now I understand. McCain redefines the fundamentals of the economy at a later campaign stop as: "The American worker and their innovation and their entrepreneurship, the small business, those are the fundamentals of America and I think they’re strong." I get it now. Atrios notes that if you now say something is wrong with the economy, you are insulting workers.

She's back at it...

2008-09-15T09:52:00.001-04:00

From NBC/NJ's Matthew E. Berger
CARSON CITY, Nev. -- In her first solo campaign rally outside of Alaska, Gov. Sarah Palin drew an enthusiastic crowd at the Pony Express Pavilion Saturday and returned to a familiar refrain about the “Bridge to Nowhere.”

It's unbelievable to me that she can continue to say it with a straight face. LIAR!

Happy Monday, except on Wall Street

2008-09-15T08:30:00.004-04:00

Across the street from where I sit, the Merrill Lynch headquarters will soon be owned by Bank of America. Lehman Brothers filed for Chapter 11 yesterday and, probably the biggest story: AIG, the big insurer is seeking a loan from the fed to stave off downgrade of their credit rating. If that happens, experts are saying that the company may not be able to stay afloat for more than a few days.

Remember when Bush wanted to privatize Social Security and create personal accounts that would be invested in the market? That probably wouldn't have worked out all that well now, would it have? Oh, and John McCain agreed with Bush back in 2000, voted for the 2006 Bush plan, and said on the campaign trail in March: "I’m totally in favor of personal savings accounts… As part of Social Security reform, I believe that private savings accounts are a part of it—along the lines that President Bush proposed,” McCain told the Journal.[Wall Street Journal, 3/3/08.

My friends, that's not change we can believe in.

Sound familiar, again?

2008-09-15T07:42:00.001-04:00

From the NY Times:

WASILLA, Alaska — Gov. Sarah Palin lives by the maxim that all politics is local, not to mention personal.
So when there was a vacancy at the top of the State Division of Agriculture, she appointed a high school classmate, Franci Havemeister, to the $95,000-a-year directorship. A former real estate agent, Ms. Havemeister cited her childhood love of cows as a qualification for running the roughly $2 million agency.
Ms. Havemeister was one of at least five schoolmates Ms. Palin hired, often at salaries far exceeding their private sector wages.

Can you say "Heck of a job, Brownie?"

Excuse me while I whip this out!

2008-09-14T20:26:00.004-04:00

When you hear one of your wingnut friends repeat the McCain lie (and they will) that "Obama will raise your taxes," please just whip this out:

Or you can send them to the independent Tax Policy Center where they have a really clear comparison of the details of each of their policies.

Sound familiar?

2008-09-14T11:20:00.003-04:00

Eerily so (from the Sunday Times):

Interviews show that Ms. Palin runs an administration that puts a premium on loyalty and secrecy. The governor and her top officials sometimes use personal e-mail accounts for state business; dozens of e-mail messages obtained by The New York Times show that her staff members studied whether that could allow them to circumvent subpoenas seeking public records.

Rick Steiner, a University of Alaska professor, sought the e-mail messages of state scientists who had examined the effect of global warming on polar bears. (Ms. Palin said the scientists had found no ill effects, and she has sued the federal government to block the listing of the bears as endangered.) An administration official told Mr. Steiner that his request would cost $468,784 to process.

When Mr. Steiner finally obtained the e-mail messages — through a federal records request — he discovered that state scientists had in fact agreed that the bears were in danger, records show.

She doesn't know what the Bush Doctrine is, but she certainly models other areas of her administration after the most corrupt President administration in history.

Supply-Side

2008-09-13T10:31:00.003-04:00

Surprise, Surprise...based on a new study by the Center for American Progress and the Economic Policy Institute, it appears that supply-side economic theory doesn't work so well in practice. The authors compared the supply-side periods of 1981-1993 and 2001-now, with the period 1993-2001 when we had a respite from supply-side economics. Some of the things they found:

Real investment growth after the tax increases of 1993 was much higher than after the tax cuts of 1981 and 2001
Economic growth as measured by real U.S. gross domestic product was stronger following the tax increases of 1993 than in the two supply-side eras.
Average annual real median household income growth was greatest after the 1993 tax increases
Wage levels also did better after 1993.
Employment growth was weaker during the supply-side eras than during the post-1993 era.
Federal budget deficits and national debt increased during supply-side periods and decreased following the 1993 tax increases.

And, guess what? Some of the major tenets of supply-side theory: tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy, cuts in the corporate tax rate, and reductions in tax on dividends and capital gains are in McCain's economic plan (PDF).

The full report from CAP/EPI is here (PDF).

More Bush Doctrine

2008-09-13T09:39:00.002-04:00

National Security Network has an interesting video that explores the McCain/Palin support/understanding of Bush's doctrine of anticipatory self-defense.

And we though foreign policy would be her problem...

2008-09-13T09:21:00.002-04:00

During her interview with Charlie Gibson, Sarah Palin makes it clear that, not only is she unprepared to lead on an international relations and foreign policy front, she doesn't really know much about how the US government works. When asked whether she would be able to find savings in entitlement program, she completely misses and says that "I'm sure that there are efficiencies that are going to be found in all of these agencies." Charlie has to point out that agencies are not involved in entitlements like Social Security and Medicaid. McCain needs to send her back to school.

Think Progress has the transcript and video.

It's not inappropriate...anymore

2008-09-12T21:06:00.000-04:00

So now, in her interview tonight with Charlie Gibson, Sarah Palin finds that "it is not inappropriate for a mayor or governor to try to request and work with the congress to plug into the federal budget along with every other state.....for infrastructure." I am paraphrasing, so watch the video:

She was for that bridge story, until she finally got called on it. So if it is appropriate for states to try to get a portion of federal money for their projects, what happens when John McCain (as he said) vetoes any legislation that contains earmarks?

Thanks to Talking Points Memo for the video.

This might be too easy....

2008-09-12T20:22:00.002-04:00

Here we go. Today Senator McCain gets it all wrong on The View:

MCCAIN: Well, first of all, earmark spending, which she vetoed a half a billion dollars worth in the state of Alaska.
WALTERS: She also took some earmarks there.

BEHAR: A lot.

MCCAIN: No, not as governor she didn’t, she vetoed...

WALTERS: As Mayor.

MCCAIN: Well, look, the fact is that she was a reform governor.

Did he really mean that? He may have, but I don't think he should have said it. Truth is, as Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin sought about $750 million in earmarks from the federal government. Per capita, that is way above any other state in the nation. Here is the FY09 request from the Governor of the State of Alaska (PDF). Note, please, the requests for the study of seal DNA...remember when McCain used the study of polar bear DNA as a symbol of excessive pork?

Mission

2008-09-12T19:59:00.001-04:00

This blog will document the lies, obfuscations, distortions, and LIES of the McCain/Palin ticket, primarily; but also those lies spoken by the rest of the mess called the republican party today. Hopefully, I can pull this off with some humor (yea) and add some interesting commentary - but the reader can be sure that all statements and opinions will be properly sourced. I am really tired of the bullshit! ~c