9/25/08: There's too much going on to pick just one thing...

Timouts and multitasking. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS7UBpwhRy8&feature=related

I can see Russia from my house! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv6CRObROV0

9/22 - 9/24

9/24/08: More lobbyists, more lies.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/us/politics/24davis.html?hp

9/23/08: Photo op or covert op?  Both!
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/23/1436401.aspx

9/22/08: Think of the fishies!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIdeaexFKag

9/19 - 9/21

9/21/08: Vote early if you can.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080921/ap_on_el_pr/early_voting;_ylt=AlzeOHTW1.Z6nZnigUgbPelsnwcF

9/20/08: Cool election projection website.http://www.fivethirtyeight.com

9/19/08: Transparent government, except when I'm under investigation, in which case subpoenas need not be heeded.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/19/palin.investigation/index.html

Ben

9/18/08: Spain inflicts pain on McCain, apparently from Latin America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIcEa1CLhc8

9/17/08: Oy vey!  Tell all your Jewish grandmothers!
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13516.html

9/16/08: Very interesting article on political parties and economic growth.
http://tlrii.typepad.com/theliscioreport/2008/07/presidential-ec.html#more

9/15/08: Friend or foe, only this is no game show.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/politics/14palin.html

Grist

Grist election guide:

http://www.grist.org/candidate_chart_08.html?source=most_popular

9/14/08: If we elect these two, I will have lost faith in humanity, not just America.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/13/1393986.aspx

Note: the full memo, in all its glory, can be found here:

http://thepage.time.com/obama-camp-memo-on-the-straight-talk-express/

The New York Times editorial on Sarah Palin

The interviews made clear why Americans should worry about Ms. Palin’s thin
résumé and lack of experience. Consider her befuddlement when Mr. Gibson
referred to President Bush’s “doctrine” and her remark about having insight into
Russia because she can see it from her state.

But that is not what troubled us most about her remarks — and, remember, if
they were scripted, that just means that they reflect Mr. McCain’s views all the
more closely. Rather, it was the sense that thoughtfulness, knowledge and
experience are handicaps for a president in a world populated by Al Qaeda
terrorists, a rising China, epidemics of AIDS, poverty and fratricidal war in
the developing world and deep economic distress at home.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/opinion/13sat1.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin

Ben

9/13/08: Does it refer to trees and the enviroment?http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/americandebate/The_Bush_doctrine_Whats_that.html

9/12/08: It takes a talk show to ask these questions? Really? Is that what the media has come to?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyQpmN-nH64

9/11/08: The truth about taxeshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtJ95Raif9E

the interview

I won't repost the Charlie Gibson interview. If you really want to see it, it's readily available on youtube. You can tell that Charlie Gibson is really trying to be tough, but he still comes off as a nice guy and a pushover. I wish that this interview had been done by Tom Brokaw, or in an ideal world, Tim Russert (my he rest in peace). But regardless, here are my thoughts:

• Sarah Palin said that she is willing to go to war with Russia (in the context of saying that Ukraine and Georgia should become part of NATO and then if they are attacked, we would have to defend them). She didn't even mention attempting to find any other solution aside from war. I think that is dangerous and will be potentially devastating for the country.
• That line about referring to Abraham Lincoln's "we pray not that we are on gods's side but that he is on ours" line when addressing the church about the Iraq war last year is complete BS. She was clearly instructed on how to answer the inevitable questions on that topic, but I don't think it flies.
• Her waffle on global warming was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. She would not answer Charlie's question, which was legitimate. You can't address global warming unless you have an actual idea of what is causing it. Her response on this topic was indistiguishable from Bush's.
• ANWR...We have been fighting for years to protect this area. It is a small area of land within a larger preserved area, but it is a crucial area, and the only area that Caribou are able to breed. Destroy this, and destroy the caribou population. Not to mention the indigenous groups that would suffer from loss of land and livelihood.
• She actually used the "Alaska is near Russia line" and went further to say that you can actually see Russia from Alaska. I see sailboats in the Charles River almost everyday on my way to and from work, but that doesn't make me know how to sail.
  

I have to give her a little credit though:

• She is confident. But, it seems to me to be cocky confidence, not the humble confidence of a true leader. She is so certain in her own beliefs, I just don't have faith that she would listen to other sides on an issue.
  

More from Ben

9/10/08: Pucker up!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RftxKMHGRf0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w33YL4RwkwE

9/9/08: Today you get a killer one-two punch. Against pork, eh?http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090803088.html?hpid=topnews

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBtbG5xjFBY

Lies and the lying liars who tell them

The truth about the bridge to nowhere:

http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/9/17276/22954/358/592555

http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/9/122714/3353/711/592202

Even the Wall Street Journal agrees:

"We need to come to the defense of Southeast Alaska when proposals are on the table like the bridge," Gov. Palin said in August 2006, according to the local newspaper, "and not allow the spinmeisters to turn this project or any other into something that's so negative." The bridge would have linked Ketchikan to the airport on Gravina Island. Travelers from Ketchikan (pop. 7,500) now rely on ferries.

A year ago, the governor issued a press release that the money for the project was being "redirected."

"Ketchikan desires a better way to reach the airport, but the $398 million bridge is not the answer," she said. "Despite the work of our congressional delegation, we are about $329 million short of full funding for the bridge project, and it's clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge between Ketchikan and Gravina Island. Much of the public's attitude toward Alaska bridges is based on inaccurate portrayals of the projects here. But we need to focus on what we can do, rather than fight over what has happened."

On Monday in Missouri, Gov. Palin put it this way: "I told Congress thanks but no thanks for that bridge to nowhere. If the state wanted to build a bridge we would built it ourselves."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122090791901411709.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

What do you say when you have nothing to say

I've noticed the McCain campaign using this line twice now, and I have a feeling that I'm going to be hearing it a lot more.  Obama or Biden wil attach McCain or Palin on a substantive issue, and the GOP response will be something along the lines of "that's just a desparate attack".  This is clearly the politics of avoidance.  They have nothing to say, so the best thing they can do is belittle any reasoned argument.

(CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama on Tuesday detailed his plan to strengthen the education system and charged that the Bush administration's "failure to act has put our nation in jeopardy."

Sen. Barack Obama talks education in Riverside, Ohio, on Tuesday.

1 of 2

"Our kids and our country can't afford four more years of neglect and indifference. At this defining moment in our history, America faces few more urgent challenges than preparing our children to compete in a global economy," Obama said at a campaign event in Riverside, Ohio.

Obama also charged that Sen. John McCain hasn't done "one thing" to improve public education.

Obama's speech came as his campaign released an ad that said McCain's economic plan would divert funds from public education. McCain's campaign called Obama's allegations a "desperate attack."...

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/09/campaign.wrap/index.html

Here's another example.  Anyone who understands anything about science and medicine know that stem cells, while not a sure cure, are our best hope at finding cures for numerous diseases and yes, helping special needs children.  You can still disagree on policy or moral grounds.  But, when Joe Biden discuses this, he is called "desparate".  This is such a ridiculous distortion.

McCain camp says Biden 'sunk to a new low'

Posted: 04:44 PM ET

From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

Was Biden referencing Palin in his comments about stem cell research?

(CNN) — John McCain's campaign hit back hard at Joe Biden Tuesday after the Democratic VP candidate appeared to suggest Republicans who do not support stem cell research — like GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin — are lacking in their support of children with disabilities.

“Barack Obama’s running mate sunk to a new low today launching an offensive debate over who cares more about special needs children," McCain-Palin spokesman Ben Porritt said. "Playing politics with this issue is disturbing and indicative of a desperate campaign."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/09/mccain-camp-says-biden-sunk-to-a-new-low/

http://mediamatters.org/items/200809090004?f=h_latest

Words

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/09/04/us/politics/20080905_WORDS_GRAPHIC.html?nl=pol&emc=polb2

Change, economy and health care vs. business, economy, taxes, and god

Liberals

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/opinion/09herbert.html?hp

Political Dementia

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94386579

its ok if rich girls get pregnant

To follow up on that Bill O'Rielly quote that was in the John Steward clip, about how its a private matter if a teen gets pregnant, as long as society doesn't have to support them:

Pretty much he's saying that it's OK if rich girls get pregnant or if girls with strong family networks get pregnant. But, if a poor girl, or a girl that can't rely on her parents to bail her out gets pregnant, then its a moral outrage. Pulease.

4 months old

When was the last time that anyone with a 4 month old child ran for president or vp?

I also <3 Ben

No matter how frustrated I get with all ridiculous political spin, I can't completely despair. Ben, has started a daily political ticker, and it is great. I'll add his links to this blog as they come:

---

This is totally out of character. I hate politics. But we can't let the Republicans have another four years to ruin our country. Check back every day for a new link. Spread it around. This time, we all need to fight.

9/8/08: Recent voter registration trends. Keep fighting the good fight!http://edgeofthewest.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/change-in-voter-registration/

9/7/08: Exxon-Mobil tax breaks (minute 6 onward)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l304a7nGk44

9/6/08: They must think you're stupid!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZHjRBeOC8s

9/5/08: Community organizers and responsibilityhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpniuotfpR8

Lies, damn lies, and the Republican'ts who tell them. (And some democratic fibs and whoppers of their own. I do, after all, hate all politicians.)http://factcheck.org/

I <3 John Stewart

If you haven't already seen this, it is amazing:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=184086&title=sarah-palin-gender-card

this happens every election

This happens every election. The GOP is afraid of the student vote, because they know that the young people of this country want change.

Late last month, as a voter-registration drive by supporters of Senator Barack
Obama was signing up thousands of students at Virginia
Tech, the local registrar of elections issued two releases incorrectly
suggesting a range of dire possibilities for students who registered to vote at
their college.
The releases warned that such students could no longer be
claimed as dependents on their parents’ tax returns, a statement the Internal
Revenue Service says is incorrect, and could lose scholarships or coverage
under their parents’ car and health insurance.

Ridiculous.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/education/08students.html?ref=politics

Who is Sara Paylin?

Shortly after McCain announced his runningmate, a friend of mine posted a funny/disturbing away message: "Sarah Palin doesn't care about white bears." Clearly an allusion to Kanye West's infamous "George Bust doesn't care about black people." Since then, the more I read about her, the more I want to pull my hair out because of her blatant hypocrisy (claims to oppose earmarks while she worked tirelessly to get as many earmarks as possible for her small Alaskan town...portrays herself as a reformer while there is an open investigation into her ethics while she was governor...claims to be an energy expert, but things we can drill our way to energy independence...preaches abstenince only sex education while her 17 year old daughter is pregnant).

The truth is, no one really knows anything about her. So, either we dig into her past to find all the nitty gritty details, or we accept the storyline that the GOP is feeding to the American people. The role of media in a democracy is supposed to be the watchdog, so I think the media has every right, and even an obligation, to find out everything they can about her.

The next thing I hear is that she refuses to talk to the media. She'll only give stump speeches, and it seems like she is not really even responding to audience questions at those campaign events. It fits with her whole: "Here's a little newsflash for those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this great country" persona. But here's a news flash to Palin...I'm an American too. I found that line to be the most offensive in her whole speech, which was to start out with one of the most divisive and mean spirited speeches that I have ever heard. I can't even fathom why people, after hearing that speech, came away liking her. I want a politician who will rise above that vapid, uninspired, hateful tone and actually address the real issues that "the people of this great country" are facing everyday. But, it seems clear that she has no intention of doing that. Instead of talking about issues that matter to all Americans, that speech was tailored to the needs of only a fraction. Sarah...is that really the best foot to start out on...you know you made just as many enemies that night as friends. But, that was the intention, wasn't it...to rally the base. Well, it worked. And it's nothing new...just a page out of the GOP playbook. But, if you ever do make it to a position of power (which I pray don't...yes people in Boston pray too) you're going to have a hard time getting anything done.

Throughout the whole GOP convention I heard the same theme over and over...the U.S.A. chanting, cowboy hat wearing, small town raised, community organizer denegrading, gun toting, moose hunting people are the real Americans. But, people from Boston, and New York, and San Francisco, and Seattle are just as much Americans. To say, or even imply, otherwise, is the most unpatriotic thing you can do. We're a big family, and sometimes we hate eachother and denounce eachother, but we'll never be rid of eachother, because really, what we are together is so much more than what we are by ourselves. So Sara Palin, being American is not about being a mindlessly hawkish "U.S.A." chanter. It's not about saying viscious and spitful things about the people you disagree with. It's about recognizing the huge difference between us, and working to get along and make compromises and love eachother anyway.

So, no, I don't hate Sarah Palin. But, it scares me to death that she could be our vice president one day. For the good of this country and everything it has ever stood for, I hope I never have to see that day.