It's beyond laughable that the Reps insist on comparing Palin to Obama (ok, so I've been dying to use the "pale in comparison" pun ever since she came on the scene). She's hardly qualified to be VP, and they claim Obama does not have any experience to be president (O those haunting refrain of "Zero, zero, zero"!). It's also ridiculous how the media are now fawning all over her barely mediocre speech of no substance or content. And there's no doubt where the "fair and balanced" mouthpieces stand: see Politico article Media swoons over Palin's fiery speech. An AP article even has the headline, "Palin delivers star-turning performance at RNC". To be sure, there's no substitute for low expectations. Giuliani even said the presidency is decided not by the elite or Hollywood celebrities but by the American people. The elite and celebs who live in this country are not Americans? Yet another example of infrahumanization by the Reps. America doesn't want some Ivy League-educated president? That should've disqualified the entire Bush family by default. The Reps love to bash the liberal elite and the Hollywood celebs, but they love a lying political performance even more.
It was difficult to watch the typical elite-hating, media-bashing, liberal-baiting, flag-waving circus the Reps like to put on. I did love the part where she took credit for Alaska's budget surplus (boy, that's feat in pipeline country) and how she put the state jet for sale on eBay (this here Internet is somethin' else). As I've heard other people say, we are the laughing stock of the world. But, hey, the GOP will never apologize for America! Yeah, good luck with that.
At the Politico site above, I particularly enjoyed this rundown of RNC myths vs. facts by a Democratic responder:
PALIN: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending ... and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere."
THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a "bridge to nowhere."
PALIN: "There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform _ not even in the state senate."
THE FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.
PALIN: "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars."
THE FACTS: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama's plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain's plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded. Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families. He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise.
MCCAIN: "She's been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of America's energy supply ... She's responsible for 20 percent of the nation's energy supply. I'm entertained by the comparison and I hope we can keep making that comparison that running a political campaign is somehow comparable to being the executive of the largest state in America," he said in an interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson.
THE FACTS: McCain's phrasing exaggerates both claims. Palin is governor of a state that ranks second nationally in crude oil production, but she's no more "responsible" for that resource than President Bush was when he was governor of Texas, another oil-producing state. In fact, her primary power is the ability to tax oil, which she did in concert with the Alaska Legislature. And where Alaska is the largest state in America, McCain could as easily have called it the 47th largest state _ by population.
MCCAIN: "She's the commander of the Alaska National Guard. ... She has been in charge, and she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities," he said on ABC.
THE FACTS: While governors are in charge of their state guard units, that authority ends whenever those units are called to actual military service. When guard units are deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, for example, they assume those duties under "federal status," which means they report to the Defense Department, not their governors. Alaska's national guard units have a total of about 4,200 personnel, among the smallest of state guard organizations.
FORMER ARKANSAS GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE: Palin "got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States."
THE FACTS: A whopper. Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor's election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.
FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY: "We need change, all right _ change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington _ throw out the big-government liberals, and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin."
THE FACTS: A Back-to-the-Future moment. George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, has been president for nearly eight years. And until last year, Republicans controlled Congress. Only since January 2007 have Democrats have been in charge of the House and Senate.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John McCain...is this the best the fascists on the right can do?
That last line is from the blogger, not me. It's the same ol' negative campaigning from the right. How could it be anything else, regardless of what Obama and even McCain try to do to keep it on the issues? Oh, right, I forgot:
"This election is not about issues," Davis told The Washington Post this week. "This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates."
It's time for "It's the economy, stupid", part II.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Beware of Rove-ellian Trojan Horse
Here's a very interesting article from The New Republic I found. As I have mulled over the Palin pick in my head over the last few days, I believe the Dems and liberals are falling over themselves into the Rove-ellian political trap:
The Case Against the Case Against Palin
The article ends with this:
"Sarah Palin is a living reminder that the ultimate source of political power in this country is not the Kennedy School or the Davos Summit or an Ariana Huffington salon; even now, power emanates from the electorate itself. More precisely, power in 2008 emanates from the working class electorates of Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Sooner or later, the Obama camp will realize that the beauty pageant queen is an enormously talented populist in a year that is ripe for populism. For their own sake, it had better be sooner."
The McCain camp has managed to re-define the theme of this election once again by re-invigorating the Culture War: Palin reignites culture wars
This is why they picked someone like her. She represents a lightningrod, a liberal flystrip, if you prefer, that will make all those left-wing liberals who attack her look like they're elitists alienating the working-class, heartland 'Mericans. Obama camp had better watch out and step around this political excrement-in-a-flaming-paper-bag that the Rove Sith-apprentices have put down on their doorstep. This is like "Bob Roberts" politics where an assassination (a character assassination in this case) is faked, and liberals are all too easy targets to fall for it.
Palin symbolizes the return to "God, guns and gays" political game at which the Reps are experts. This is a Simpsons' episode where the townfolk chant "Monorail!" in the Music Man cadence; a South Park episode where the townfolk misplace their anger shouting, "Dey took 'r jobs!" The Dems cannot compete in this game because the 'Merican public will never accept liberals as the defenders of their beliefs, values or culture. And don't forget the good ol' conservative whipping boy, the liberal media. McCain camp knows this and knows that this is the only way that the Reps can stranglehold the presidency.
It is truly despicable that they are going down this road again, but will the third time be the charm? I can officially declare that I have zero respect for McCain. Maverick? Hardly, just another opportunistic politician who will do and say anything to be president. Maverick McCain died a quick death prior the 2008 election season. It is also quite sickening to see the Reps pat themselves on the back for putting Palin on the ticket, as if they have accomplished something new and progressive, as if she somehow can even be a torchbearer for the "18 million cracks in the glass ceiling" that Hillary created.
The best course of action for Obama-Biden is to stay away from the culture war trap (as I saw Biden say repeatedly on C-SPAN tonight, "Children are off-limits!"), and let Palin be Palin. Looks like she's got a lot of political loose ends with which to fashion a noose for herself: See Campaign money hurts Palin's outsider image. I realize it'd be highly unlikely and a political suicide, but I'll go out on a limb to say that Palin's VP nominee days may be numbered.
Plus, the latest Gallup poll says Obama has hit the 50% mark. Mere post-convention bump perhaps, but thank the Lord at least half of the country is able to see through the Rove-ellian politics-as-usual smokescreen.
The Case Against the Case Against Palin
The article ends with this:
"Sarah Palin is a living reminder that the ultimate source of political power in this country is not the Kennedy School or the Davos Summit or an Ariana Huffington salon; even now, power emanates from the electorate itself. More precisely, power in 2008 emanates from the working class electorates of Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Sooner or later, the Obama camp will realize that the beauty pageant queen is an enormously talented populist in a year that is ripe for populism. For their own sake, it had better be sooner."
The McCain camp has managed to re-define the theme of this election once again by re-invigorating the Culture War: Palin reignites culture wars
This is why they picked someone like her. She represents a lightningrod, a liberal flystrip, if you prefer, that will make all those left-wing liberals who attack her look like they're elitists alienating the working-class, heartland 'Mericans. Obama camp had better watch out and step around this political excrement-in-a-flaming-paper-bag that the Rove Sith-apprentices have put down on their doorstep. This is like "Bob Roberts" politics where an assassination (a character assassination in this case) is faked, and liberals are all too easy targets to fall for it.
Palin symbolizes the return to "God, guns and gays" political game at which the Reps are experts. This is a Simpsons' episode where the townfolk chant "Monorail!" in the Music Man cadence; a South Park episode where the townfolk misplace their anger shouting, "Dey took 'r jobs!" The Dems cannot compete in this game because the 'Merican public will never accept liberals as the defenders of their beliefs, values or culture. And don't forget the good ol' conservative whipping boy, the liberal media. McCain camp knows this and knows that this is the only way that the Reps can stranglehold the presidency.
It is truly despicable that they are going down this road again, but will the third time be the charm? I can officially declare that I have zero respect for McCain. Maverick? Hardly, just another opportunistic politician who will do and say anything to be president. Maverick McCain died a quick death prior the 2008 election season. It is also quite sickening to see the Reps pat themselves on the back for putting Palin on the ticket, as if they have accomplished something new and progressive, as if she somehow can even be a torchbearer for the "18 million cracks in the glass ceiling" that Hillary created.
The best course of action for Obama-Biden is to stay away from the culture war trap (as I saw Biden say repeatedly on C-SPAN tonight, "Children are off-limits!"), and let Palin be Palin. Looks like she's got a lot of political loose ends with which to fashion a noose for herself: See Campaign money hurts Palin's outsider image. I realize it'd be highly unlikely and a political suicide, but I'll go out on a limb to say that Palin's VP nominee days may be numbered.
Plus, the latest Gallup poll says Obama has hit the 50% mark. Mere post-convention bump perhaps, but thank the Lord at least half of the country is able to see through the Rove-ellian politics-as-usual smokescreen.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Who is Sarah Palin?
Hey check this out.
Dear MoveOn member,
Dear MoveOn member,
Yesterday was John McCain's 72nd birthday. If elected, he'd be the oldest president ever inaugurated. And after months of slamming Barack Obama for "inexperience," here's who John McCain has chosen to be one heartbeat away from the presidency: a right-wing religious conservative with no foreign policy experience, who until recently was mayor of a town of 9,000 people.
Huh?
Who is Sarah Palin? Here's some basic background:
- She was elected Alaska's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience.1
- Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest.2
- She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000. 3
- Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.4
- She's doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change.5
- She's solidly in line with John McCain's "Big Oil first" energy policy. She's pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewables won't be ready for years. She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species—she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska.6
- How closely did John McCain vet this choice? He met Sarah Palin once at a meeting. They spoke a second time, last Sunday, when he called her about being vice-president. Then he offered her the position.7
This is information the American people need to see. Please take a moment to forward this email to your friends and family.
Friday, August 29, 2008
McCain-Palin Ticket
I'll give McCain one thing; I didn't see this pick coming AT ALL! I only heard of her last night on C-SPAN as they ran down a list of speakers at the RNC. I think he's really going out on a limb.
First thing I mentioned to Michelle when I heard the pick: They want to make Biden look like he's attacking women when they get in a debate.
Second: Does this really woo the unhappy Hillary supporters or women in general?
Third: The ol' "heartbeat away from the presidency" question. If the Reps think Obama is inexperienced, does Palin have the creds to backup a 72-year-old presidential nominee? Major stumbling block here, I think.
Fourth: I guess the evangelicals and conservatives like Palin's stance on issues, but anti-abortion isn't the way to get the women vote.
Forces some tactical adjustments for Obama-Biden in the short term (I bet they didn't see her coming, either), but in the long run VP picks end up being neutral. However, Biden backs up Obama much, much better than Palin does McCain. She seems hollow, token and purely a move in political campaign terms, not at all about how qualified she is to lead the second-in-command position. Too bad for Mitt Romney, but Hillary didn't get the VP nod, either.
First thing I mentioned to Michelle when I heard the pick: They want to make Biden look like he's attacking women when they get in a debate.
Second: Does this really woo the unhappy Hillary supporters or women in general?
Third: The ol' "heartbeat away from the presidency" question. If the Reps think Obama is inexperienced, does Palin have the creds to backup a 72-year-old presidential nominee? Major stumbling block here, I think.
Fourth: I guess the evangelicals and conservatives like Palin's stance on issues, but anti-abortion isn't the way to get the women vote.
Forces some tactical adjustments for Obama-Biden in the short term (I bet they didn't see her coming, either), but in the long run VP picks end up being neutral. However, Biden backs up Obama much, much better than Palin does McCain. She seems hollow, token and purely a move in political campaign terms, not at all about how qualified she is to lead the second-in-command position. Too bad for Mitt Romney, but Hillary didn't get the VP nod, either.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Obama-Biden Ticket
The VP gauntlet has been dropped from the Dem side, so what do you all think? I think it is a good and perhaps safe pick. McCain camp has already started to spin on the lack of foreign policy experience and going against the change agent message of Obama, but I think Biden is a good bulldog against Rep attacks. McCain camp is also courting seriously the disaffected Hillary voters, but those (some say up to 25% of her supporters who would now vote for McCain), I would argue, were not really core Dems, mostly independents and maybe some Reps who are Bush-haters.
Anyway, let's chime in, as the Dem convention is now rolling...
Anyway, let's chime in, as the Dem convention is now rolling...
Monday, August 11, 2008
Fwd: Continuing on Edwards et al.
From BRM via googlegroups...
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Brian Menard" <brian_men...@hotmail.com>
Date: Aug 11 2008, 1:06 pm
Subject: Continuing on Edwards et al.
To: AMoMaI Group
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Brian Menard" <brian_men...@hotmail.com>
Date: Aug 11 2008, 1:06 pm
Subject: Continuing on Edwards et al.
To: AMoMaI Group
Glad we agree, and that's with bipartisan culpability. (My beef with
Larry Craig is not the orientation of his activity, but the hypocrisy
factor. As for Gingrich, I respect the heck out of his great brain,
diagnostic ability, and strategizing, but he'll never be President
because he can't - or at least couldn't - keep his pants on. To his
credit though, he admitted things and resigned where others have not.)
As for Europe, I would argue that in fact, there IS a big difference
in moral expectations between the USA and Europe, not only with public
figures, but perhaps BECAUSE there is so much more toleration of such
things in many European cultures generally. Religion does figure in,
but not in the sense of right wing control of U.S. politics; I believe
it's more a matter of religion NOT playing so much an active part in
European culture.
As for damning politicians for sleeping around, I think John Edwards
said it best himself when he finally started to admit to a teeny-
weenie little part of what I suspect he will ultimately have to admit
to despite continuing to deny it (as he lied with a straight face just
a few months ago about the fact that any infidelity at all took
place). In his ABC interview, he said essentially that there is a
hubris that comes from a sense of invincibility and all-powerfulness
that seduces one into thinking that he can do anything that he wants
without culpability. THAT is very dangerous in public office,
especially the most powerful office in the world.
BRM
Saturday, August 9, 2008
RE: Politics: Edwards Admits Affair to ABC News
Well, he's definitely a huge heel here, but I think we can also all agree that neither party has the upper hand in matters of virtue, morals or family values. :)
MLB
From: brian_menard@hotmail.com
To: b.adamson@comcast.net; misterb_46@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com
CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
Subject: Re: Politics: Edwards Admits Affair to ABC News
Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2008 10:22:54 -0400
And, I would add, also a shame that Edwards took such advantage of his wife's health circumstances for political gain while he was otherwise involved with extracurricular activity. Any agree?
BRM
MLB
From: brian_menard@hotmail.com
To: b.adamson@comcast.net; misterb_46@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com
CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
Subject: Re: Politics: Edwards Admits Affair to ABC News
Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2008 10:22:54 -0400
And, I would add, also a shame that Edwards took such advantage of his wife's health circumstances for political gain while he was otherwise involved with extracurricular activity. Any agree?
BRM
Re: Politics: Edwards Admits Affair to ABC News
And, I would add, also a shame that Edwards took such advantage of his wife's health circumstances for political gain while he was otherwise involved with extracurricular activity. Any agree?
BRM
BRM
----- Original Message -----From: Young H. KimCc: amomai blogSent: Friday, August 08, 2008 7:20 PMSubject: Fw: Politics: Edwards Admits Affair to ABC News
Well, well, the other shoe drops...but no admission of fathering the child. Boy, he's learned a few things from Clinton, I suppose. What a shame that I have to admit that Fox and the Enquirer were right. Ugh!
Young
--- On Fri, 8/8/08, NYTimes.com <nytdirect@nytimes.com> wrote:
----------------------------------------
The Caucus
Edwards Admits Affair to ABC News
By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE
In an interview, former Senator John Edwards said he had an
extramarital affair but did not father a child out of
wedlock.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/08/abc-news-edwards-admits-to-extramarital-affair/index.html?nl=pol&emc=pol
Friday, August 8, 2008
Fw: Politics: Edwards Admits Affair to ABC News
| Well, well, the other shoe drops...but no admission of fathering the child. Boy, he's learned a few things from Clinton, I suppose. What a shame that I have to admit that Fox and the Enquirer were right. Ugh! Young --- On Fri, 8/8/08, NYTimes.com <nytdirect@nytimes.com> wrote: ---------------------------------------- The Caucus Edwards Admits Affair to ABC News By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE In an interview, former Senator John Edwards said he had an extramarital affair but did not father a child out of wedlock. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/08/abc-news-edwards-admits-to-extramarital-affair/index.html?nl=pol&emc=pol |
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Fwd: Response to Young's Carter comment
From BRM via googlegroups...
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Brian Menard" <brian_men...@hotmail.com>
Date: Jul 30 2008, 5:30 pm
Subject: Response to Young's Carter comment
To: AMoMaI Group
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Brian Menard" <brian_men...@hotmail.com>
Date: Jul 30 2008, 5:30 pm
Subject: Response to Young's Carter comment
To: AMoMaI Group
From my end of things, Carter had good reason to be defensive. The
"misery index" that he created to lambaste Ford in '76 had grown to a
double-digit albatross hanging around his own neck by '80. Foreign
affairs were a disaster. And things were a mess at home. Worst of
all, there was DISCO! Can't we blame that on Carter as well? BA, I
won't touch the ABBA thing; I know that wasn't your fault despite an
ethnic affiliation.
BRM
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Re: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
You mean his new "documentary".
BRM
BRM
----- Original Message -----From: Brian AdamsonCc: amomai blogSent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 11:07 AMSubject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
I'd not considered that T. Boone Pickens might join the Obama camp. Yeah, that would be a brilliant PR move. Actually, I'm hoping Oliver Stone's new movie "W" will have a greater influence. Talk about a master propagandist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg7vwicPx98
BA
Just curious: Does anyone else think that the T. Boone Pickens push
of the last couple weeks will be a brilliant and strategic free
advertisement for Obama when Pickens ultimately endorses Obama during the
general campaign? I agree with the need for developing renewable energy
resources beyond (not in place of) expanding current energy efforts, but I won't
be surprised when Pickens outs himself in the Obama camp.
RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Might want to check-out the Mayhill Fowler's piece on the Huffington post - not entirely positive- seemed fair and balanced to me.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mayhill-fowler/baracks-berlin-gamble_b_115312.html
BA
________________________________
From: misterb_46@hotmail.com
To: brian_menard@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; b.adamson@comcast.net; briada@hotmail.com
CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
Subject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:11:18 -0700
OK, but the guys on Fox & Friends (according to a clip on the Daily Show last week) showed Obama in front of German monument and wasted no time comparing his location and speech to that of Hitler back in the day.
Like a lot of folks these days, I only get my national news from the Daily Show and the Colbert Report. :)
MB
________________________________
From: brian_menard@hotmail.com
To: yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; misterb_46@hotmail.com; b.adamson@comcast.net; briada@hotmail.com
CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
Subject: Re: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:17:02 -0400
Actually, your dear friends at Fox News (real news portions, not opinion shows, and not Obermaneque "opinion pretending to be news" shows) did the best job of covering Obama on the trip (while also getting digs in at their ABC/CBS/NBC rivals for their giddy fawning coverage) with actual reporters reporting what happened, with whom he met, what was discussed, and what reactions come from it all. I agree that the European coverage, by and large, was more focused than the Americans' star struck coverage. That included telling about how his German crowd got pretty quiet when Obama said Europe needed to step up and do their part in Afghanistan (for which I give him great credit). Didn't catch much of that here, but maybe I missed it in my channel surfing between the "big three" majors, CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, and FOX.
RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Let's face it - Obama screwed up by not visiting the hospitalized soldiers in Germany. One can only wonder what his true motivations were? Downer, little scary, perhaps he didn't want to face the reality of sacrifices made for a war that he did not start? Who knows... Can't defend Obama on this one. I think he made a mistake that will haunt him.
BA
From: brian_menard@hotmail.com
To: yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; b.adamson@comcast.net; briada@hotmail.com; misterb_46@hotmail.com
CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
Subject: Re: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:57:18 -0400
BA
From: brian_menard@hotmail.com
To: yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; b.adamson@comcast.net; briada@hotmail.com; misterb_46@hotmail.com
CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
Subject: Re: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:57:18 -0400
That could be what really happened, though my understanding tweaks a little differently: the Pentagon told him HE was most welcome to come but the media entourage had to stay out, at which point the campaign chose not to put him one-on-one with the soldiers in the hospital. Two versions of the same story? How could it be in our blessed media age?
----- Original Message -----From: Michael BusickCc: amomai blogSent: Monday, July 28, 2008 10:09 PMSubject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Actually, I'm tired of reading how the media is in favor of either of them over the other.
There's no convention in sight and we still have three months to go so it seems like the media is grasping for any story they can find. This Europe trip. That biopsy. This magazine cover. That trip to Pennsylvania.
As I understand Obama's aborted trip to Germany, the Pentagon asked him not to do it. Wherever he goes, he's going to have cameras whether he wants them or not (Wailing Wall for example) so I don't see how he really has to ask for them.
Enough already -- until the conventions.
RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
OK, but the guys on Fox & Friends (according to a clip on the Daily Show last week) showed Obama in front of German monument and wasted no time comparing his location and speech to that of Hitler back in the day.
Like a lot of folks these days, I only get my national news from the Daily Show and the Colbert Report. :)
MB
From: brian_menard@hotmail.com
To: yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; misterb_46@hotmail.com; b.adamson@comcast.net; briada@hotmail.com
CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
Subject: Re: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:17:02 -0400
Like a lot of folks these days, I only get my national news from the Daily Show and the Colbert Report. :)
MB
From: brian_menard@hotmail.com
To: yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; misterb_46@hotmail.com; b.adamson@comcast.net; briada@hotmail.com
CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
Subject: Re: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:17:02 -0400
Actually, your dear friends at Fox News (real news portions, not opinion shows, and not Obermaneque "opinion pretending to be news" shows) did the best job of covering Obama on the trip (while also getting digs in at their ABC/CBS/NBC rivals for their giddy fawning coverage) with actual reporters reporting what happened, with whom he met, what was discussed, and what reactions come from it all. I agree that the European coverage, by and large, was more focused than the Americans' star struck coverage. That included telling about how his German crowd got pretty quiet when Obama said Europe needed to step up and do their part in Afghanistan (for which I give him great credit). Didn't catch much of that here, but maybe I missed it in my channel surfing between the "big three" majors, CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, and FOX.
----- Original Message -----From: Brian AdamsonCc: amomai blogSent: Monday, July 28, 2008 10:52 PMSubject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Brian M.
"Though I'm buried with reading and writing for a class, I can't sit out any longer on all the "media are for McCain" comments. Are we really in such different worlds that you guys think the media are shilling for McCain when Obama just did his superstar world tour with the three major network anchors and their accompanying entourages in tow? In my world, all their attention gave him a nice poll bump, though he somehow seems to have managed to lose much of it again in just a couple days despite all the fawning media efforts to help him any way they can."
Sorry, but I've got to comment on the above topic.
Yes, we really are in different worlds... Because, left-wingers are focusing on the story around the story. The story as told by the corporate media was Obama as "Rock Star" - - McCain criticizes Obama for not going overseas and then criticizes him for going overseas - - Looks like grandpa is the flip-flopper.
The media story was about the media covering the story. What is enlightening though is how little the media actually covered Obama, what Obama did and what Obama said. Instead the media was the message. The story was all about how big the story was. So, we're all left with the knowledge that Obama went to Europe and took an entourage of media with him to cover his big trip? What did we actually learn about that trip? What was actually covered? Just the story about how big the story was? How bizarre. Look at how Obama was covered in Europe. In Europe Obama was the story; In America the medias coverage of Obama was the story. Remember, Neil Postmans landmark book on television, "The medium is the message."
Brian Adamson
RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Since Pickens had a lot to do with the financing of the Swiftboating of Kerry in 2004, I'd like to think he's trying to make up for that now. :)
If Pickens is serious about his energy ideas -- and it sounds like he is -- I believe he'll support whichever candidate is more in line with his goals.
MB
From: brian_menard@hotmail.com
To: briada@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; b.adamson@comcast.net; misterb_46@hotmail.com
CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
Subject: Re: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:05:46 -0400
If Pickens is serious about his energy ideas -- and it sounds like he is -- I believe he'll support whichever candidate is more in line with his goals.
MB
From: brian_menard@hotmail.com
To: briada@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; b.adamson@comcast.net; misterb_46@hotmail.com
CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
Subject: Re: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:05:46 -0400
Just curious: Does anyone else think that the T. Boone Pickens push of the last couple weeks will be a brilliant and strategic free advertisement for Obama when Pickens ultimately endorses Obama during the general campaign? I agree with the need for developing renewable energy resources beyond (not in place of) expanding current energy efforts, but I won't be surprised when Pickens outs himself in the Obama camp.
----- Original Message -----From: Michael BusickCc: amomai blogSent: Monday, July 28, 2008 10:38 PMSubject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Yeah, what should Obama's group work on first: bringing the worst of this current administration to "justice" (we all know at worst it will be vacations in white-collar prisons) or trying to fix an economy stalled in 20th-century thinking (forget pre-9/11 thinking nonsense) while the rest of the developed world catches us and passes us?
The America of the good old days would seize on a chance to show the world how we can lead on wind and solar power innovations, but this administration (and McCain because he doesn't seem to know any better) whines and stomps its feet when it can't just dig bigger holes in the ground and sea whenever it wants to -- like it used to.
I don't mind more research into safer nuclear power (does that mean this administration wants to finally stop picking on France), but it's beyond time to look for more places to drill for oil and dig for coal and oil shale. Wind, water, and solar power will be around a lot longer than anything else and (IMHO) it doesn't look as bad when we try to build things to take advantage of wind, water, and solar power.
MB
RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
I'd not considered that T. Boone Pickens might join the Obama camp. Yeah, that would be a brilliant PR move. Actually, I'm hoping Oliver Stone's new movie "W" will have a greater influence. Talk about a master propagandist.
BRM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg7vwicPx98
BA
Just curious: Does anyone else think that the T. Boone Pickens push
of the last couple weeks will be a brilliant and strategic free
advertisement for Obama when Pickens ultimately endorses Obama during the
general campaign? I agree with the need for developing renewable energy
resources beyond (not in place of) expanding current energy efforts, but I won't
be surprised when Pickens outs himself in the Obama camp.
BRM
Re: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
One other element about the story being about the story, though, is that there is actually something important for voters to know in what the media are doing in this election. Voters need to understand that the "facts" reported on Oberman and O'Reilly and Hannity and Dobbs and Courick are the chosen frosting and not the core essence. That can't come from 17 seconds of coverage in a story or 90 seconds of rant. When major media refuse to print the op-ed of a presumptive presidential nominee or focus coverage during one candidate's trip abroad on his opponent's concentration on domestic issues then blatantly cast coverage of the other's first significant trip abroad as the pre-beginning of the Presumptive President's administration instead of like Dorothy emerging in deep awe from her black-and-white house into the full-color world of OZ, there is a story there that voters should know.
BRM
----- Original Message -----
BRM
----- Original Message -----
From: Brian AdamsonCc: amomai blogSent: Monday, July 28, 2008 10:52 PMSubject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Brian M.
"Though I'm buried with reading and writing for a class, I can't sit out any longer on all the "media are for McCain" comments. Are we really in such different worlds that you guys think the media are shilling for McCain when Obama just did his superstar world tour with the three major network anchors and their accompanying entourages in tow? In my world, all their attention gave him a nice poll bump, though he somehow seems to have managed to lose much of it again in just a couple days despite all the fawning media efforts to help him any way they can."
Sorry, but I've got to comment on the above topic.
Yes, we really are in different worlds... Because, left-wingers are focusing on the story around the story. The story as told by the corporate media was Obama as "Rock Star" - - McCain criticizes Obama for not going overseas and then criticizes him for going overseas - - Looks like grandpa is the flip-flopper.
The media story was about the media covering the story. What is enlightening though is how little the media actually covered Obama, what Obama did and what Obama said. Instead the media was the message. The story was all about how big the story was. So, we're all left with the knowledge that Obama went to Europe and took an entourage of media with him to cover his big trip? What did we actually learn about that trip? What was actually covered? Just the story about how big the story was? How bizarre. Look at how Obama was covered in Europe. In Europe Obama was the story; In America the medias coverage of Obama was the story. Remember, Neil Postmans landmark book on television, "The medium is the message."
Brian Adamson
Re: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Actually, your dear friends at Fox News (real news portions, not opinion shows, and not Obermaneque "opinion pretending to be news" shows) did the best job of covering Obama on the trip (while also getting digs in at their ABC/CBS/NBC rivals for their giddy fawning coverage) with actual reporters reporting what happened, with whom he met, what was discussed, and what reactions come from it all. I agree that the European coverage, by and large, was more focused than the Americans' star struck coverage. That included telling about how his German crowd got pretty quiet when Obama said Europe needed to step up and do their part in Afghanistan (for which I give him great credit). Didn't catch much of that here, but maybe I missed it in my channel surfing between the "big three" majors, CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, and FOX.
BRM
BRM
----- Original Message -----From: Brian AdamsonCc: amomai blogSent: Monday, July 28, 2008 10:52 PMSubject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Brian M.
"Though I'm buried with reading and writing for a class, I can't sit out any longer on all the "media are for McCain" comments. Are we really in such different worlds that you guys think the media are shilling for McCain when Obama just did his superstar world tour with the three major network anchors and their accompanying entourages in tow? In my world, all their attention gave him a nice poll bump, though he somehow seems to have managed to lose much of it again in just a couple days despite all the fawning media efforts to help him any way they can."
Sorry, but I've got to comment on the above topic.
Yes, we really are in different worlds... Because, left-wingers are focusing on the story around the story. The story as told by the corporate media was Obama as "Rock Star" - - McCain criticizes Obama for not going overseas and then criticizes him for going overseas - - Looks like grandpa is the flip-flopper.
The media story was about the media covering the story. What is enlightening though is how little the media actually covered Obama, what Obama did and what Obama said. Instead the media was the message. The story was all about how big the story was. So, we're all left with the knowledge that Obama went to Europe and took an entourage of media with him to cover his big trip? What did we actually learn about that trip? What was actually covered? Just the story about how big the story was? How bizarre. Look at how Obama was covered in Europe. In Europe Obama was the story; In America the medias coverage of Obama was the story. Remember, Neil Postmans landmark book on television, "The medium is the message."
Brian Adamson
Re: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Just curious: Does anyone else think that the T. Boone Pickens push of the last couple weeks will be a brilliant and strategic free advertisement for Obama when Pickens ultimately endorses Obama during the general campaign? I agree with the need for developing renewable energy resources beyond (not in place of) expanding current energy efforts, but I won't be surprised when Pickens outs himself in the Obama camp.
BRM
----- Original Message -----
BRM
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael BusickCc: amomai blogSent: Monday, July 28, 2008 10:38 PMSubject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Yeah, what should Obama's group work on first: bringing the worst of this current administration to "justice" (we all know at worst it will be vacations in white-collar prisons) or trying to fix an economy stalled in 20th-century thinking (forget pre-9/11 thinking nonsense) while the rest of the developed world catches us and passes us?
The America of the good old days would seize on a chance to show the world how we can lead on wind and solar power innovations, but this administration (and McCain because he doesn't seem to know any better) whines and stomps its feet when it can't just dig bigger holes in the ground and sea whenever it wants to -- like it used to.
I don't mind more research into safer nuclear power (does that mean this administration wants to finally stop picking on France), but it's beyond time to look for more places to drill for oil and dig for coal and oil shale. Wind, water, and solar power will be around a lot longer than anything else and (IMHO) it doesn't look as bad when we try to build things to take advantage of wind, water, and solar power.
MB
Re: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
That could be what really happened, though my understanding tweaks a little differently: the Pentagon told him HE was most welcome to come but the media entourage had to stay out, at which point the campaign chose not to put him one-on-one with the soldiers in the hospital. Two versions of the same story? How could it be in our blessed media age?
BRM
BRM
----- Original Message -----From: Michael BusickCc: amomai blogSent: Monday, July 28, 2008 10:09 PMSubject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Actually, I'm tired of reading how the media is in favor of either of them over the other.
There's no convention in sight and we still have three months to go so it seems like the media is grasping for any story they can find. This Europe trip. That biopsy. This magazine cover. That trip to Pennsylvania.
As I understand Obama's aborted trip to Germany, the Pentagon asked him not to do it. Wherever he goes, he's going to have cameras whether he wants them or not (Wailing Wall for example) so I don't see how he really has to ask for them.
Enough already -- until the conventions.
From: brian_menard@hotmail.com
To: yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; misterb_46@hotmail.com; b.adamson@comcast.net; briada@hotmail.com
CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
Subject: Re: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:01:55 -0400Though I'm buried with reading and writing for a class, I can't sit out any longer on all the "media are for McCain" comments. Are we really in such different worlds that you guys think the media are shilling for McCain when Obama just did his superstar world tour with the three major network anchors and their accompanying entourages in tow? In my world, all their attention gave him a nice poll bump, though he somehow seems to have managed to lose much of it again in just a couple days despite all the fawning media efforts to help him any way they can. The decision to cancel the hospital trip in Germany because he couldn't bring the cameras with him to exploit the wounded soldiers in a "Look how ready I am to be Commander in Chief" ad was a mistake that hurts him a little now, but I expect it will hurt him more as we get closer to election day. Meanwhile, McCain, despite not running a good campaign at all and despite the media alternating between ignoring him (such as when he went on his own international trip a few weeks ago) and hitting him, somehow remains competitive in the race.
Monday, July 28, 2008
RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
http://www.alternet.org/election08/92942/frank_rich%3A_how_obama%27s_trip_abroad_turned_him_into_the_acting_president/?page=1
MB
From: b.adamson@comcast.net
To: misterb_46@hotmail.com; briada@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; brian_menard@hotmail.com
CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
Subject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:10:58 +0000
From: misterb_46@hotmail.com
To: briada@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; brian_menard@hotmail.com; b.adamson@comcast.net
CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
Subject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:38:18 +0000
Yeah, what should Obama's group work on first: bringing the worst of this current administration to "justice" (we all know at worst it will be vacations in white-collar prisons) or trying to fix an economy stalled in 20th-century thinking (forget pre-9/11 thinking nonsense) while the rest of the developed world catches us and passes us?
The America of the good old days would seize on a chance to show the world how we can lead on wind and solar power innovations, but this administration (and McCain because he doesn't seem to know any better) whines and stomps its feet when it can't just dig bigger holes in the ground and sea whenever it wants to -- like it used to.
I don't mind more research into safer nuclear power (does that mean this administration wants to finally stop picking on France), but it's beyond time to look for more places to drill for oil and dig for coal and oil shale. Wind, water, and solar power will be around a lot longer than anything else and (IMHO) it doesn't look as bad when we try to build things to take advantage of wind, water, and solar power.
MB
> From: briada@hotmail.com
> To: misterb_46@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; brian_menard@hotmail.com; b.adamson@comcast.net
> CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
> Subject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
> Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:16:27 +0000
>
>
> Michael, Wow! "One reason Obama might be the next Carter is because of the mess left behind by the previous president. There's no way it will get fixed in one term. There should be progress in the right direction if Obama wants another term, but Carter faced the same economic issues (inflation, high gas prices, recession) that Bush would be facing if he was running again." I believe that you really pointed-out our worst fears and perhaps our biggest dilemma. We need a liberal democrat with almost dictatorial powers. We need an FDR for our age. We don't need to compromise on the big issues and we don't need another preacher - - like Jimmy Carter, who asked Americans to sacrifice, turn down the heat and drive slower. Instead, we need a president that will investigate and pursue criminal charges against those neo-cons and others that have broken the law. We need a president that will demand new CAFE standards and implement a new energy policy that goes beyond drilling more wells.
>
> The next Democrat has a mess to clean and worse, most Americans probably have no concept of how big, or bad that mess has become.
>
> George "Hoover" Bush and Family have taking the largest creditor nation on earth and transformed it into the largest debtor nation the world has ever seen. Our stock market is down, our dollar is weak, our trade surplus is non-existent. In fact, we have become what we used to make fun of. The classic definition of a third world nation is one that exports raw material and imports finished "value-added" products. Free trade and neo-con economic policies have made the United States weaker and more vulnerable today than at perhaps any other time in recent memory.
>
> BA
MB
From: b.adamson@comcast.net
To: misterb_46@hotmail.com; briada@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; brian_menard@hotmail.com
CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
Subject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:10:58 +0000
One of the big three stories on Obama's trip to Europe was how poorly Americans would perceive his popularity in Europe. Again, the story was about the story. "That's not change we can believe in my friends."--Forwarded Message Attachment--
BA
From: misterb_46@hotmail.com
To: briada@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; brian_menard@hotmail.com; b.adamson@comcast.net
CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
Subject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:38:18 +0000
Yeah, what should Obama's group work on first: bringing the worst of this current administration to "justice" (we all know at worst it will be vacations in white-collar prisons) or trying to fix an economy stalled in 20th-century thinking (forget pre-9/11 thinking nonsense) while the rest of the developed world catches us and passes us?
The America of the good old days would seize on a chance to show the world how we can lead on wind and solar power innovations, but this administration (and McCain because he doesn't seem to know any better) whines and stomps its feet when it can't just dig bigger holes in the ground and sea whenever it wants to -- like it used to.
I don't mind more research into safer nuclear power (does that mean this administration wants to finally stop picking on France), but it's beyond time to look for more places to drill for oil and dig for coal and oil shale. Wind, water, and solar power will be around a lot longer than anything else and (IMHO) it doesn't look as bad when we try to build things to take advantage of wind, water, and solar power.
MB
> From: briada@hotmail.com
> To: misterb_46@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; brian_menard@hotmail.com; b.adamson@comcast.net
> CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
> Subject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
> Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:16:27 +0000
>
>
> Michael, Wow! "One reason Obama might be the next Carter is because of the mess left behind by the previous president. There's no way it will get fixed in one term. There should be progress in the right direction if Obama wants another term, but Carter faced the same economic issues (inflation, high gas prices, recession) that Bush would be facing if he was running again." I believe that you really pointed-out our worst fears and perhaps our biggest dilemma. We need a liberal democrat with almost dictatorial powers. We need an FDR for our age. We don't need to compromise on the big issues and we don't need another preacher - - like Jimmy Carter, who asked Americans to sacrifice, turn down the heat and drive slower. Instead, we need a president that will investigate and pursue criminal charges against those neo-cons and others that have broken the law. We need a president that will demand new CAFE standards and implement a new energy policy that goes beyond drilling more wells.
>
> The next Democrat has a mess to clean and worse, most Americans probably have no concept of how big, or bad that mess has become.
>
> George "Hoover" Bush and Family have taking the largest creditor nation on earth and transformed it into the largest debtor nation the world has ever seen. Our stock market is down, our dollar is weak, our trade surplus is non-existent. In fact, we have become what we used to make fun of. The classic definition of a third world nation is one that exports raw material and imports finished "value-added" products. Free trade and neo-con economic policies have made the United States weaker and more vulnerable today than at perhaps any other time in recent memory.
>
> BA
Obama in Europe
One of the big three stories on Obama's trip to Europe was how poorly Americans would perceive his popularity in Europe. Again, the story was about the story. "That's not change we can believe in my friends."
BA
RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Brian M.
"Though I'm buried with reading and writing for a class, I can't sit out any longer on all the "media are for McCain" comments. Are we really in such different worlds that you guys think the media are shilling for McCain when Obama just did his superstar world tour with the three major network anchors and their accompanying entourages in tow? In my world, all their attention gave him a nice poll bump, though he somehow seems to have managed to lose much of it again in just a couple days despite all the fawning media efforts to help him any way they can."
Sorry, but I've got to comment on the above topic.
Yes, we really are in different worlds... Because, left-wingers are focusing on the story around the story. The story as told by the corporate media was Obama as "Rock Star" - - McCain criticizes Obama for not going overseas and then criticizes him for going overseas - - Looks like grandpa is the flip-flopper.
The media story was about the media covering the story. What is enlightening though is how little the media actually covered Obama, what Obama did and what Obama said. Instead the media was the message. The story was all about how big the story was. So, we're all left with the knowledge that Obama went to Europe and took an entourage of media with him to cover his big trip? What did we actually learn about that trip? What was actually covered? Just the story about how big the story was? How bizarre. Look at how Obama was covered in Europe. In Europe Obama was the story; In America the medias coverage of Obama was the story. Remember, Neil Postmans landmark book on television, "The medium is the message."
Brian Adamson
RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Yeah, what should Obama's group work on first: bringing the worst of this current administration to "justice" (we all know at worst it will be vacations in white-collar prisons) or trying to fix an economy stalled in 20th-century thinking (forget pre-9/11 thinking nonsense) while the rest of the developed world catches us and passes us?
The America of the good old days would seize on a chance to show the world how we can lead on wind and solar power innovations, but this administration (and McCain because he doesn't seem to know any better) whines and stomps its feet when it can't just dig bigger holes in the ground and sea whenever it wants to -- like it used to.
I don't mind more research into safer nuclear power (does that mean this administration wants to finally stop picking on France), but it's beyond time to look for more places to drill for oil and dig for coal and oil shale. Wind, water, and solar power will be around a lot longer than anything else and (IMHO) it doesn't look as bad when we try to build things to take advantage of wind, water, and solar power.
MB
> From: briada@hotmail.com
> To: misterb_46@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; brian_menard@hotmail.com; b.adamson@comcast.net
> CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
> Subject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
> Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:16:27 +0000
>
>
> Michael, Wow! "One reason Obama might be the next Carter is because of the mess left behind by the previous president. There's no way it will get fixed in one term. There should be progress in the right direction if Obama wants another term, but Carter faced the same economic issues (inflation, high gas prices, recession) that Bush would be facing if he was running again." I believe that you really pointed-out our worst fears and perhaps our biggest dilemma. We need a liberal democrat with almost dictatorial powers. We need an FDR for our age. We don't need to compromise on the big issues and we don't need another preacher - - like Jimmy Carter, who asked Americans to sacrifice, turn down the heat and drive slower. Instead, we need a president that will investigate and pursue criminal charges against those neo-cons and others that have broken the law. We need a president that will demand new CAFE standards and implement a new energy policy that goes beyond drilling more wells.
>
> The next Democrat has a mess to clean and worse, most Americans probably have no concept of how big, or bad that mess has become.
>
> George "Hoover" Bush and Family have taking the largest creditor nation on earth and transformed it into the largest debtor nation the world has ever seen. Our stock market is down, our dollar is weak, our trade surplus is non-existent. In fact, we have become what we used to make fun of. The classic definition of a third world nation is one that exports raw material and imports finished "value-added" products. Free trade and neo-con economic policies have made the United States weaker and more vulnerable today than at perhaps any other time in recent memory.
>
> BA
>
________________________________
> From: misterb_46@hotmail.com
> To: briada@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; brian_menard@hotmail.com; b.adamson@comcast.net
> CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
> Subject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
> Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:19:45 -0700
>
> McCain's ads may be sharp, but he himself, is far from it -- other than repeating the same, tired right-wing and neo-con talking points. That's going to be more widely-known later on than it is now.
>
> One reason Obama might be the next Carter is because of the mess left behind by the previous president. There's no way it will get fixed in one term. There should be progress in the right direction if Obama wants another term, but Carter faced the same economic issues (inflation, high gas prices, recession) that Bush would be facing if he was running again.
>
> Obama is OK, in my opinion, staying above the fray until the debates or the convention. Let McCain dig his own political hole by appearing yet again to sell out the very things that made him so popular across the spectrum in 2000.
The America of the good old days would seize on a chance to show the world how we can lead on wind and solar power innovations, but this administration (and McCain because he doesn't seem to know any better) whines and stomps its feet when it can't just dig bigger holes in the ground and sea whenever it wants to -- like it used to.
I don't mind more research into safer nuclear power (does that mean this administration wants to finally stop picking on France), but it's beyond time to look for more places to drill for oil and dig for coal and oil shale. Wind, water, and solar power will be around a lot longer than anything else and (IMHO) it doesn't look as bad when we try to build things to take advantage of wind, water, and solar power.
MB
> From: briada@hotmail.com
> To: misterb_46@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; brian_menard@hotmail.com; b.adamson@comcast.net
> CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
> Subject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
> Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:16:27 +0000
>
>
> Michael, Wow! "One reason Obama might be the next Carter is because of the mess left behind by the previous president. There's no way it will get fixed in one term. There should be progress in the right direction if Obama wants another term, but Carter faced the same economic issues (inflation, high gas prices, recession) that Bush would be facing if he was running again." I believe that you really pointed-out our worst fears and perhaps our biggest dilemma. We need a liberal democrat with almost dictatorial powers. We need an FDR for our age. We don't need to compromise on the big issues and we don't need another preacher - - like Jimmy Carter, who asked Americans to sacrifice, turn down the heat and drive slower. Instead, we need a president that will investigate and pursue criminal charges against those neo-cons and others that have broken the law. We need a president that will demand new CAFE standards and implement a new energy policy that goes beyond drilling more wells.
>
> The next Democrat has a mess to clean and worse, most Americans probably have no concept of how big, or bad that mess has become.
>
> George "Hoover" Bush and Family have taking the largest creditor nation on earth and transformed it into the largest debtor nation the world has ever seen. Our stock market is down, our dollar is weak, our trade surplus is non-existent. In fact, we have become what we used to make fun of. The classic definition of a third world nation is one that exports raw material and imports finished "value-added" products. Free trade and neo-con economic policies have made the United States weaker and more vulnerable today than at perhaps any other time in recent memory.
>
> BA
>
________________________________
> From: misterb_46@hotmail.com
> To: briada@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; brian_menard@hotmail.com; b.adamson@comcast.net
> CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
> Subject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
> Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:19:45 -0700
>
> McCain's ads may be sharp, but he himself, is far from it -- other than repeating the same, tired right-wing and neo-con talking points. That's going to be more widely-known later on than it is now.
>
> One reason Obama might be the next Carter is because of the mess left behind by the previous president. There's no way it will get fixed in one term. There should be progress in the right direction if Obama wants another term, but Carter faced the same economic issues (inflation, high gas prices, recession) that Bush would be facing if he was running again.
>
> Obama is OK, in my opinion, staying above the fray until the debates or the convention. Let McCain dig his own political hole by appearing yet again to sell out the very things that made him so popular across the spectrum in 2000.
RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Michael, Wow! "One reason Obama might be the next Carter is because of the mess left behind by the previous president. There's no way it will get fixed in one term. There should be progress in the right direction if Obama wants another term, but Carter faced the same economic issues (inflation, high gas prices, recession) that Bush would be facing if he was running again." I believe that you really pointed-out our worst fears and perhaps our biggest dilemma. We need a liberal democrat with almost dictatorial powers. We need an FDR for our age. We don't need to compromise on the big issues and we don't need another preacher - - like Jimmy Carter, who asked Americans to sacrifice, turn down the heat and drive slower. Instead, we need a president that will investigate and pursue criminal charges against those neo-cons and others that have broken the law. We need a president that will demand new CAFE standards and implement a new energy policy that goes beyond drilling more wells.
The next Democrat has a mess to clean and worse, most Americans probably have no concept of how big, or bad that mess has become.
George "Hoover" Bush and Family have taking the largest creditor nation on earth and transformed it into the largest debtor nation the world has ever seen. Our stock market is down, our dollar is weak, our trade surplus is non-existent. In fact, we have become what we used to make fun of. The classic definition of a third world nation is one that exports raw material and imports finished "value-added" products. Free trade and neo-con economic policies have made the United States weaker and more vulnerable today than at perhaps any other time in recent memory.
BA
________________________________
From: misterb_46@hotmail.com
To: briada@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; brian_menard@hotmail.com; b.adamson@comcast.net
CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
Subject: RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:19:45 -0700
McCain's ads may be sharp, but he himself, is far from it -- other than repeating the same, tired right-wing and neo-con talking points. That's going to be more widely-known later on than it is now.
One reason Obama might be the next Carter is because of the mess left behind by the previous president. There's no way it will get fixed in one term. There should be progress in the right direction if Obama wants another term, but Carter faced the same economic issues (inflation, high gas prices, recession) that Bush would be facing if he was running again.
Obama is OK, in my opinion, staying above the fray until the debates or the convention. Let McCain dig his own political hole by appearing yet again to sell out the very things that made him so popular across the spectrum in 2000.
RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Actually, I'm tired of reading how the media is in favor of either of them over the other.
There's no convention in sight and we still have three months to go so it seems like the media is grasping for any story they can find. This Europe trip. That biopsy. This magazine cover. That trip to Pennsylvania.
As I understand Obama's aborted trip to Germany, the Pentagon asked him not to do it. Wherever he goes, he's going to have cameras whether he wants them or not (Wailing Wall for example) so I don't see how he really has to ask for them.
Enough already -- until the conventions.
MB
From: brian_menard@hotmail.com
To: yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; misterb_46@hotmail.com; b.adamson@comcast.net; briada@hotmail.com
CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
Subject: Re: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:01:55 -0400
There's no convention in sight and we still have three months to go so it seems like the media is grasping for any story they can find. This Europe trip. That biopsy. This magazine cover. That trip to Pennsylvania.
As I understand Obama's aborted trip to Germany, the Pentagon asked him not to do it. Wherever he goes, he's going to have cameras whether he wants them or not (Wailing Wall for example) so I don't see how he really has to ask for them.
Enough already -- until the conventions.
MB
From: brian_menard@hotmail.com
To: yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; misterb_46@hotmail.com; b.adamson@comcast.net; briada@hotmail.com
CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
Subject: Re: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:01:55 -0400
Though I'm buried with reading and writing for a class, I can't sit out any longer on all the "media are for McCain" comments. Are we really in such different worlds that you guys think the media are shilling for McCain when Obama just did his superstar world tour with the three major network anchors and their accompanying entourages in tow? In my world, all their attention gave him a nice poll bump, though he somehow seems to have managed to lose much of it again in just a couple days despite all the fawning media efforts to help him any way they can. The decision to cancel the hospital trip in Germany because he couldn't bring the cameras with him to exploit the wounded soldiers in a "Look how ready I am to be Commander in Chief" ad was a mistake that hurts him a little now, but I expect it will hurt him more as we get closer to election day. Meanwhile, McCain, despite not running a good campaign at all and despite the media alternating between ignoring him (such as when he went on his own international trip a few weeks ago) and hitting him, somehow remains competitive in the race.
Re: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Though I'm buried with reading and writing for a class, I can't sit out any longer on all the "media are for McCain" comments. Are we really in such different worlds that you guys think the media are shilling for McCain when Obama just did his superstar world tour with the three major network anchors and their accompanying entourages in tow? In my world, all their attention gave him a nice poll bump, though he somehow seems to have managed to lose much of it again in just a couple days despite all the fawning media efforts to help him any way they can. The decision to cancel the hospital trip in Germany because he couldn't bring the cameras with him to exploit the wounded soldiers in a "Look how ready I am to be Commander in Chief" ad was a mistake that hurts him a little now, but I expect it will hurt him more as we get closer to election day. Meanwhile, McCain, despite not running a good campaign at all and despite the media alternating between ignoring him (such as when he went on his own international trip a few weeks ago) and hitting him, somehow remains competitive in the race.
Brian M.
Brian M.
----- Original Message -----From: Brian AdamsonCc: amomai blogSent: Monday, July 28, 2008 8:20 PMSubject: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Watching the Sunday morning talk shows was a little more than just disconcerting. Obama appeared on the defensive and brought back memories of Jimmy Carter during the Iran hostage crisis. Obama was unable to steer the conversation, or questions away from neo-con talking points. As a result, Obama like Jimmy Carter, was being manipulated by the media, not manipulating and controlling the medium. For example, he was defending his trip to Europe; defending his decision not to drill offshore; and defending his position against the surge in Iraq - - even to the extent of refusing to admit in hindsight that his position against the surge may have been incorrect. On the other hand, McCAIN appeared strong and on the offense. McCain was not asked any questions about his votes against veterans, or the fact that he voted (with Bush) for the war to begin with. In fact, the corporate-media has spent an inordinate amount of time confronting Obama with right-wing talking points. What's interesting is Obama's sheepish response to them. One wonders if Obama realizes that he and most American are being manipulated by master right-wing propagandist. McCains political ads are clear, sharp and visible. In fact, ads have already appeared to characterize Obama as anti-veteran, and anti-troops. Where are the Obama attack ads? Where is the Democratic response? Obama has a better record on veterans issues than does McCain. McCain voted against the new G.I. bill, for example.
The corporate media is pro-McCAIN. Is Mr. nice guy: Obama going, to define the issues, or let right-wing talking heads define Obama and his political agenda?
Worse, left-wing radio continued the attack against Obama. "Where are the attack ads?" One wonders why Obama has chosen to campaign against McCain in much the same way that he campaigned against Hillary. It's a different show now. Does Obama assume that Americans "get it" and see through the negative advertising, right-wing talking points and spin? He's in a fight for his political life here, and I don't believe he fully comprehends the gravity of his situation. We've got roughly 100 days to get the message out - - and it is not happening.
RE: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
McCain's ads may be sharp, but he himself, is far from it -- other than repeating the same, tired right-wing and neo-con talking points. That's going to be more widely-known later on than it is now.
One reason Obama might be the next Carter is because of the mess left behind by the previous president. There's no way it will get fixed in one term. There should be progress in the right direction if Obama wants another term, but Carter faced the same economic issues (inflation, high gas prices, recession) that Bush would be facing if he was running again.
Obama is OK, in my opinion, staying above the fray until the debates or the convention. Let McCain dig his own political hole by appearing yet again to sell out the very things that made him so popular across the spectrum in 2000.
Mike
> From: briada@hotmail.com
> To: yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; brian_menard@hotmail.com; misterb_46@hotmail.com; b.adamson@comcast.net
> CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
> Subject: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
> Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:20:55 +0000
>
>
> Watching the Sunday morning talk shows was a little more than just disconcerting. Obama appeared on the defensive and brought back memories of Jimmy Carter during the Iran hostage crisis. Obama was unable to steer the conversation, or questions away from neo-con talking points. As a result, Obama like Jimmy Carter, was being manipulated by the media, not manipulating and controlling the medium. For example, he was defending his trip to Europe; defending his decision not to drill offshore; and defending his position against the surge in Iraq - - even to the extent of refusing to admit in hindsight that his position against the surge may have been incorrect. On the other hand, McCAIN appeared strong and on the offense. McCain was not asked any questions about his votes against veterans, or the fact that he voted (with Bush) for the war to begin with. In fact, the corporate-media has spent an inordinate amount of time confronting Obama with right-wing talking points. What's interesting is Obama's sheepish response to them. One wonders if Obama realizes that he and most American are being manipulated by master right-wing propagandist. McCains political ads are clear, sharp and visible. In fact, ads have already appeared to characterize Obama as anti-veteran, and anti-troops. Where are the Obama attack ads? Where is the Democratic response? Obama has a better record on veterans issues than does McCain. McCain voted against the new G.I. bill, for example.
>
> The corporate media is pro-McCAIN. Is Mr. nice guy: Obama going, to define the issues, or let right-wing talking heads define Obama and his political agenda?
>
> Worse, left-wing radio continued the attack against Obama. "Where are the attack ads?" One wonders why Obama has chosen to campaign against McCain in much the same way that he campaigned against Hillary. It's a different show now. Does Obama assume that Americans "get it" and see through the negative advertising, right-wing talking points and spin? He's in a fight for his political life here, and I don't believe he fully comprehends the gravity of his situation. We've got roughly 100 days to get the message out - - and it is not happening.
Brian A.
One reason Obama might be the next Carter is because of the mess left behind by the previous president. There's no way it will get fixed in one term. There should be progress in the right direction if Obama wants another term, but Carter faced the same economic issues (inflation, high gas prices, recession) that Bush would be facing if he was running again.
Obama is OK, in my opinion, staying above the fray until the debates or the convention. Let McCain dig his own political hole by appearing yet again to sell out the very things that made him so popular across the spectrum in 2000.
Mike
> From: briada@hotmail.com
> To: yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; brian_menard@hotmail.com; misterb_46@hotmail.com; b.adamson@comcast.net
> CC: yhkpenguin.amomai@blogger.com
> Subject: Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
> Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:20:55 +0000
>
>
> Watching the Sunday morning talk shows was a little more than just disconcerting. Obama appeared on the defensive and brought back memories of Jimmy Carter during the Iran hostage crisis. Obama was unable to steer the conversation, or questions away from neo-con talking points. As a result, Obama like Jimmy Carter, was being manipulated by the media, not manipulating and controlling the medium. For example, he was defending his trip to Europe; defending his decision not to drill offshore; and defending his position against the surge in Iraq - - even to the extent of refusing to admit in hindsight that his position against the surge may have been incorrect. On the other hand, McCAIN appeared strong and on the offense. McCain was not asked any questions about his votes against veterans, or the fact that he voted (with Bush) for the war to begin with. In fact, the corporate-media has spent an inordinate amount of time confronting Obama with right-wing talking points. What's interesting is Obama's sheepish response to them. One wonders if Obama realizes that he and most American are being manipulated by master right-wing propagandist. McCains political ads are clear, sharp and visible. In fact, ads have already appeared to characterize Obama as anti-veteran, and anti-troops. Where are the Obama attack ads? Where is the Democratic response? Obama has a better record on veterans issues than does McCain. McCain voted against the new G.I. bill, for example.
>
> The corporate media is pro-McCAIN. Is Mr. nice guy: Obama going, to define the issues, or let right-wing talking heads define Obama and his political agenda?
>
> Worse, left-wing radio continued the attack against Obama. "Where are the attack ads?" One wonders why Obama has chosen to campaign against McCain in much the same way that he campaigned against Hillary. It's a different show now. Does Obama assume that Americans "get it" and see through the negative advertising, right-wing talking points and spin? He's in a fight for his political life here, and I don't believe he fully comprehends the gravity of his situation. We've got roughly 100 days to get the message out - - and it is not happening.
Brian A.
Is Obama Really That Bad?
Brian M. Your comments on Obama make me believe that you are truly disenfranchised with Obama. While sympathetic, I wonder if the problem is with Obama, or with the rest of us (democrat/republican) when we consider Obama's rhetoric. Certainly, Obama is a bit of a litmus test for us all. We tend to see in him what we want to see - - At least until the charisma wears thin. I still believe that Obama is a new kind of politician, though a politician, nevertheless. Obama has remained more or less consistent to his rhetoric? As of late, he has disappointed the left-wing base of his party for some of his political compromises. Why then do Republicans also believe that Obama is misleading them?
Brian, writes "...What you see is what you get, let's all work together to solve the problems of our nation and our world. After months of checking him out with interest through the fall and winter of '06, my criticism since January '07 - when he finally started filling in some details to this "let's all pull together" rhetoric - is that there's nothing new here; he's really pushing the same left-wing agenda that has been pushed for a long, long time. He just does it much more smoothly, charismatically, and effectively than so many of his predecessors in the political limelight. The real message is, "To all you folks who support Republican policies and oppose my liberal agenda, we would all be better off, could have political harmony, and could solve important problems if you would just get out of our way let us do what we're trying to do." That's not post-partisan, that's hyperpartisan delivered with a friendly smile..."
Okay, fair enough, however, Obama's campaign has not been revolutionary in its honesty, purity, forthrightness, and positive tone?
Brian M., What in particular has led you to the following conclusion? "All the things that were supposed to set him apart from his Democratic (and Republican) competition. If he were the Real Deal, someone truly interested in bringing everyone together (instead of just bringing his opposition over to his side through whatever deceptive and insincere empty rhetorical means he and his campaign can muster), he would have much to offer despite having a relatively light record of accomplishment during his brief time on the national stage. Instead, he has shown himself to be just another politician willing to say and do whatever is necessary to get elected."
In other words, what makes Obama deceptive and insincere? Also, is it possible for any politician to win national office without some lack of full-disclosure as to their actual rather than perceived planned political agenda? For instance, how many Republicans are actually aware of Rev. Moons connections and influence with Republican political elites? http://www.gorenfeld.net/book/ Nevertheless, everyone knows about Obama's former pastor.
BA
Brian, writes "...What you see is what you get, let's all work together to solve the problems of our nation and our world. After months of checking him out with interest through the fall and winter of '06, my criticism since January '07 - when he finally started filling in some details to this "let's all pull together" rhetoric - is that there's nothing new here; he's really pushing the same left-wing agenda that has been pushed for a long, long time. He just does it much more smoothly, charismatically, and effectively than so many of his predecessors in the political limelight. The real message is, "To all you folks who support Republican policies and oppose my liberal agenda, we would all be better off, could have political harmony, and could solve important problems if you would just get out of our way let us do what we're trying to do." That's not post-partisan, that's hyperpartisan delivered with a friendly smile..."
Okay, fair enough, however, Obama's campaign has not been revolutionary in its honesty, purity, forthrightness, and positive tone?
Brian M., What in particular has led you to the following conclusion? "All the things that were supposed to set him apart from his Democratic (and Republican) competition. If he were the Real Deal, someone truly interested in bringing everyone together (instead of just bringing his opposition over to his side through whatever deceptive and insincere empty rhetorical means he and his campaign can muster), he would have much to offer despite having a relatively light record of accomplishment during his brief time on the national stage. Instead, he has shown himself to be just another politician willing to say and do whatever is necessary to get elected."
In other words, what makes Obama deceptive and insincere? Also, is it possible for any politician to win national office without some lack of full-disclosure as to their actual rather than perceived planned political agenda? For instance, how many Republicans are actually aware of Rev. Moons connections and influence with Republican political elites? http://www.gorenfeld.net/book/ Nevertheless, everyone knows about Obama's former pastor.
BA
Is Obama Another Jimmy Carter?
Watching the Sunday morning talk shows was a little more than just disconcerting. Obama appeared on the defensive and brought back memories of Jimmy Carter during the Iran hostage crisis. Obama was unable to steer the conversation, or questions away from neo-con talking points. As a result, Obama like Jimmy Carter, was being manipulated by the media, not manipulating and controlling the medium. For example, he was defending his trip to Europe; defending his decision not to drill offshore; and defending his position against the surge in Iraq - - even to the extent of refusing to admit in hindsight that his position against the surge may have been incorrect. On the other hand, McCAIN appeared strong and on the offense. McCain was not asked any questions about his votes against veterans, or the fact that he voted (with Bush) for the war to begin with. In fact, the corporate-media has spent an inordinate amount of time confronting Obama with right-wing talking points. What's interesting is Obama's sheepish response to them. One wonders if Obama realizes that he and most American are being manipulated by master right-wing propagandist. McCains political ads are clear, sharp and visible. In fact, ads have already appeared to characterize Obama as anti-veteran, and anti-troops. Where are the Obama attack ads? Where is the Democratic response? Obama has a better record on veterans issues than does McCain. McCain voted against the new G.I. bill, for example.
The corporate media is pro-McCAIN. Is Mr. nice guy: Obama going, to define the issues, or let right-wing talking heads define Obama and his political agenda?
Worse, left-wing radio continued the attack against Obama. "Where are the attack ads?" One wonders why Obama has chosen to campaign against McCain in much the same way that he campaigned against Hillary. It's a different show now. Does Obama assume that Americans "get it" and see through the negative advertising, right-wing talking points and spin? He's in a fight for his political life here, and I don't believe he fully comprehends the gravity of his situation. We've got roughly 100 days to get the message out - - and it is not happening.
Brian A.
FOXNews.com - Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum
Posting thread to our blog...
--- On Sat, 7/26/08, Michael Busick <misterb_46@hotmail.com> wrote:
From: Michael Busick <misterb_46@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: FOXNews.com - Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters - Politics Republican Party Democratic Party Political Spectrum
To: "Brian Menard" <brian_menard@hotmail.com>, "Young Kim" <yhkpenguin@yahoo.com>, "Brian Adamson" <briada@hotmail.com>
Date: Saturday, July 26, 2008, 8:27 PM
Well, I can tell you that the way I looked for them, I found a lot more than I left behind. You all may hear about a few duplicates this year, but I can almost guarantee they will be newly-created (thanks to the way Diebold sets up their database searches) or older ones that would've had to have been found specifically (name changes that I would've had to have run across).
I did three different database searches on each list of voters under the same birthdate (from 11/2/86 -- youngest you could be and vote in November of 2004 -- back to sometime in 1919 -- I still have the spreadsheet I used). By last name only (catching easy dups), then by house number of residential address (catching similar names who didn't move), and then by first name (catching women -- mostly -- who got married and then moved). I was starting to run out of people (not many around born before 1919) and then I would only find more that were new ones because the voters decided to go by their middle name this time around instead of their given name or first name. I tried for years to widen the search parameters so that more people would pop up as possible duplicates (only first initial of first name in common instead of first four, for example) and got the IT guys to open it up to two letters. Now, at least, the folks in Olympia are running their own searches (faster than I can), so a lot more are being caught automatically before I found them.
And, personally, I think what the right was able to do in Florida before the 2000 election constitutes voter fraud. Voters should not be surprised to find out on election day that their registrations have been cancelled. In Washington state, if your registration is inactive (due to returned mail, etc.) and you don't vote in two consecutive federal elections, you can be cancelled without knowing about it, but in Florida in 2000, voters were cancelled instantly (skipping the inactive stage) because their names were close to those of felons.
If even just one GOP councilperson showed, I wouldn't still be upset about it. He wouldn't even have to talk to us. :)
From: brian_menard@hotmail.com
To: yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; briada@hotmail.com; misterb_46@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: FOXNews.com - Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters - Politics Republican Party Democratic Party Political Spectrum
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:48:07 -0400
It seems to me that Obama gets criticized for moving left AND moving to the center. I think he should just do what he wants to do, not give a damn about the polls and let the votes fall where they may.
It would certainly keep him in high regard with me -- unlike McCain's selling out since he ran in 2000.
First McCain's camp (and/or others on the right) criticized Obama for not going overseas enough and then when he does, they criticize him for either going to the wrong places (Brandenburg), not following through on his original plans (Germany to visit troops), or not campaigning at home.
Heck, Barack can't even privately visit the Western Wall without the media getting involved and everyone taking sides about what happened.
I'm glad presidential campaigns only happen once every four years -- even though they seem to start about halfway through the interim period.
As for the discussions, it's just easier for me to respond here rather than visit a blog. Plus, when the blog got started, I was working a job with a hellish commute (Bothell-Renton and back again) and now I'm not, so maybe I'd have more time now.
BTW, when I left the elections job in June, I was given a Certificate of Appreciation (signed by the elections director and the county executive) because of the 8,500 duplicate registrations I found on my own (in my spare time before and after my shift and sometimes at the end of my lunch period) in my three years there. A few of my co-workers there knew I was obsessed about finding as many as I could, but I didn't know I would get something like that because other people have worked there longer and left with nothing -- other than a signed card.
Of course, so many on the right would (might) see that and say, "Gee, if you found that many, I wonder how many there really are?" And the rest of us would (might) say, "I guess it's not just the right that seems to care about potential voter fraud." :)
A couple of years ago, the King County Council (5 Dems and 4 Reps) gave the elections office folks free pizza for lunch one day and hung around to talk to us. Only the Dems showed up. That's pure bullshit. No one in the elections office cares (or even knows) what party people choose. I'm very disappointed not one Republican could show up as even a token effort to congratulate us for doing a better job than we had been.
From: brian_menard@hotmail.com
To: misterb_46@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; briada@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: FOXNews.com - Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters - Politics Republican Party Democratic Party Political Spectrum
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2008 12:56:54 -0400
----- Original Message -----
--- On Sat, 7/26/08, Michael Busick <misterb_46@hotmail.com> wrote:
From: Michael Busick <misterb_46@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: FOXNews.com - Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters - Politics Republican Party Democratic Party Political Spectrum
To: "Brian Menard" <brian_menard@hotmail.com>, "Young Kim" <yhkpenguin@yahoo.com>, "Brian Adamson" <briada@hotmail.com>
Date: Saturday, July 26, 2008, 8:27 PM
Well, I can tell you that the way I looked for them, I found a lot more than I left behind. You all may hear about a few duplicates this year, but I can almost guarantee they will be newly-created (thanks to the way Diebold sets up their database searches) or older ones that would've had to have been found specifically (name changes that I would've had to have run across).
I did three different database searches on each list of voters under the same birthdate (from 11/2/86 -- youngest you could be and vote in November of 2004 -- back to sometime in 1919 -- I still have the spreadsheet I used). By last name only (catching easy dups), then by house number of residential address (catching similar names who didn't move), and then by first name (catching women -- mostly -- who got married and then moved). I was starting to run out of people (not many around born before 1919) and then I would only find more that were new ones because the voters decided to go by their middle name this time around instead of their given name or first name. I tried for years to widen the search parameters so that more people would pop up as possible duplicates (only first initial of first name in common instead of first four, for example) and got the IT guys to open it up to two letters. Now, at least, the folks in Olympia are running their own searches (faster than I can), so a lot more are being caught automatically before I found them.
And, personally, I think what the right was able to do in Florida before the 2000 election constitutes voter fraud. Voters should not be surprised to find out on election day that their registrations have been cancelled. In Washington state, if your registration is inactive (due to returned mail, etc.) and you don't vote in two consecutive federal elections, you can be cancelled without knowing about it, but in Florida in 2000, voters were cancelled instantly (skipping the inactive stage) because their names were close to those of felons.
If even just one GOP councilperson showed, I wouldn't still be upset about it. He wouldn't even have to talk to us. :)
From: brian_menard@hotmail.com
To: yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; briada@hotmail.com; misterb_46@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: FOXNews.com - Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters - Politics Republican Party Democratic Party Political Spectrum
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:48:07 -0400
Mike:
As an election official for several years, and as a (now lapsed) political scientist, I offer you my heartfelt congratulations and appreciation for your service. That's a LOT of dups you found. Not as a Republican, but as a former Head TA for Larry Sabato (author of "Dirty Tricks," about the dark side games of American politics) and in "in the trenches" politico for the last 38 years, I do have to wonder how many more are out there. That's not a reflection on you; one person can do only so much, particularly when, as you point out, others in the office much longer than you have left without such accomplishment. But I also would be the first to say that it's not just the Right that cares about voter fraud, or that it's not just the Left that perpetrates it. Dirty Tricks haunt our system from all sides. (Just look at what was done to McCain in the 2000 primary season.) Kudos to you for all you did to clean things up in King County. BTW, the GOP councilors missed an opportunity by boycotting the pizza event; King County politics may be highly partisan, but that falls into the category of official duty.
BRM
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Busick
Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2008 9:23 PM
Subject: RE: FOXNews.com - Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters - Politics Republican Party Democratic Party Political Spectrum
It seems to me that Obama gets criticized for moving left AND moving to the center. I think he should just do what he wants to do, not give a damn about the polls and let the votes fall where they may.
It would certainly keep him in high regard with me -- unlike McCain's selling out since he ran in 2000.
First McCain's camp (and/or others on the right) criticized Obama for not going overseas enough and then when he does, they criticize him for either going to the wrong places (Brandenburg), not following through on his original plans (Germany to visit troops), or not campaigning at home.
Heck, Barack can't even privately visit the Western Wall without the media getting involved and everyone taking sides about what happened.
I'm glad presidential campaigns only happen once every four years -- even though they seem to start about halfway through the interim period.
As for the discussions, it's just easier for me to respond here rather than visit a blog. Plus, when the blog got started, I was working a job with a hellish commute (Bothell-Renton and back again) and now I'm not, so maybe I'd have more time now.
BTW, when I left the elections job in June, I was given a Certificate of Appreciation (signed by the elections director and the county executive) because of the 8,500 duplicate registrations I found on my own (in my spare time before and after my shift and sometimes at the end of my lunch period) in my three years there. A few of my co-workers there knew I was obsessed about finding as many as I could, but I didn't know I would get something like that because other people have worked there longer and left with nothing -- other than a signed card.
Of course, so many on the right would (might) see that and say, "Gee, if you found that many, I wonder how many there really are?" And the rest of us would (might) say, "I guess it's not just the right that seems to care about potential voter fraud." :)
A couple of years ago, the King County Council (5 Dems and 4 Reps) gave the elections office folks free pizza for lunch one day and hung around to talk to us. Only the Dems showed up. That's pure bullshit. No one in the elections office cares (or even knows) what party people choose. I'm very disappointed not one Republican could show up as even a token effort to congratulate us for doing a better job than we had been.
From: brian_menard@hotmail.com
To: misterb_46@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com; briada@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: FOXNews.com - Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters - Politics Republican Party Democratic Party Political Spectrum
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2008 12:56:54 -0400
Brian:
You just laid out in clear terms my disenchantment with Obama. The general claim from Obama/supporters to bring independents and Republicans into his camp is that he is post-partisan, pure and true, no political games, what you see is what you get, let's all work together to solve the problems of our nation and our world. After months of checking him out with interest through the fall and winter of '06, my criticism since January '07 - when he finally started filling in some details to this "let's all pull together" rhetoric - is that there's nothing new here; he's really pushing the same left-wing agenda that has been pushed for a long, long time. He just does it much more smoothly, charismatically, and effectively than so many of his predecessors in the political limelight. The real message is, "To all you folks who support Republican policies and oppose my liberal agenda, we would all be better off, could have political harmony, and could solve important problems if you would just get out of our way let us do what we're trying to do." That's not post-partisan, that's hyperpartisan delivered with a friendly smile. Obama's campaign has not been revolutionary in its honesty, purity, forthrightness, and positive tone...all the things that were supposed to set him apart from his Democratic (and Republican) competition. If he were the Real Deal, someone truly interested in bringing everyone together (instead of just bringing his opposition over to his side through whatever deceptive and insincere empty rhetorical means he and his campaign can muster), he would have much to offer despite having a relatively light record of accomplishment during his brief time on the national stage. Instead, he has shown himself to be just another politician willing to say and do whatever is necessary to get elected. From public financing of his campaign to his prognostications on the Surge strategy, political expedience seems more and more clearly to be what drives his campaign. I think this has the potential to be his Achilles heel in the campaign, for if more people snap out of his charismatic trance and shift from awe at his rhetorical skill to resentment over his doublespeak (more damaging because the doublespeak claims he won't do exactly what he is doing wit his doublespeak), this choice in how to conduct the campaign could damage his candidacy critically. Right now he's still got momentum, and if he stays ahead of the general public's awareness by distracting them with new lines to keep them from realizing the old lines were just lines, he'll win in November by anything from a squeaker (like Kennedy over Nixon in 1960) to a landslide (like Johnson over Goldwater in 1964). If, on the other hand, his rhetorical web starts to unravel, should his "Vote for me because I'm not like all those other politicians you dislike for their empty promises" cover be blown he has nothing to fall back on other than an empty record in the Senate boasting only the "most liberal senator" rating. In the interest of fair and objective analysis, I'm not saying McCain is without fault; but, if folks question McCain's sincerity about bringing people together, at least he can point to a long record of working with folks on the other side of the aisle in clear and direct contradiction of his own party's positions, even to the detriment of a President from his own party.
BRM
P.S. Young (et al.): Does this exchange of e-mails mean we are back on? Should we move back over to the blog? Or are we more successful at trading e-mails?
From: Brian Adamson
Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2008 12:05 PM
Subject: RE: FOXNews.com - Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters - Politics Republican Party Democratic Party Political Spectrum
Hmmm, well said. I'm hoping Obama is doing what he needs to, to get elected. Then, perhaps if we are lucky, he will govern as a Liberal. The jury is still out, but I'm still very hopeful.
-B.
"...I see you Mary in the garden
In the garden of a thousand sighs
There's holy pictures of our children
Dancin' in a sky filled with light
May I feel your arms around me
May I feel your blood mix with mine
A dream of life comes to me
Like a catfish dancin' on the end of the line
Sky of blackness and sorrow ( a dream of life)
Sky of love, sky of tears (a dream of life)
Sky of glory and sadness ( a dream of life)
Sky of mercy, sky of fear ( a dream of life)
Sky of memory and shadow ( a dream of life)
Your burnin' wind fills my arms tonight
Sky of longing and emptiness (a dream of life)
Sky of fullness, sky of blessed life ( a dream of life)..."
-Bruce Springsteen, the Rising
________________________________
From: misterb_46@hotmail.com
To: briada@hotmail.com; brian_menard@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: FOXNews.com - Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters - Politics Republican Party Democratic Party Political Spectrum
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:39:52 -0700
The way I heard it, the right was going to get Obama on the FISA bill regardless of which side he was on. Despite all this nonsense about a liberal media, the right still dictates who is more patriotic and/or concerned about America's safety.
He votes for it and it looks like he's against privacy rights.
He votes against it and it looks like he's against fighting the war on terror.
I had also read that voting for the FISA bill still gave him a chance to come back later and charge the telecoms with some kind of lawbreaking.
________________________________
> From: briada@hotmail.com
> To: misterb_46@hotmail.com; brian_menard@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com
> Subject: RE: FOXNews.com - Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters - Politics Republican Party Democratic Party Political Spectrum
> Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:00:56 +0000
>
> Say, what's up with Obama, these days? Mr. "nice guy" has me really concerned. Perhaps, Young was correct, early on, when he suggested that Hillary would use her experience and anger to really fight the Republican challenge. Sorry, Young , if my paraphrasing did not capture the spirit of your remarks, months ago?
>
> Anyway, Obama better become an attack dog and quickly, or he will not beat McCain in the swing states and most assuredly, will lose the election in November.
>
> Where are his attack ads? Why doesn't he point-out McCAIN's character flaws? McCAIN has consistently voted against veterans, for example.
>
> Also noteworthy, is Hills vote against F.I.S.A. Wondering, if we-all supported the wrong Democrat?
>
>
> -B.
> ______________________________
> I would've been very surprised if Edwards would've accepted the invite from McCain, given how John has sold out any independents that would've voted for him in 2000.
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: brian_menard@hotmail.com
> To: fossriver@comcast.net; jmenard@u.washington.edu; johanna.menard@gmail.com; briada@hotmail.com; misterb_46@hotmail.com; YHKpenguin@yahoo.com
> Subject: FOXNews.com - Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters - Politics Republican Party Democratic Party Political Spectrum
> Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:45:23 -0400
>
> Oops...guess Edwards is off Obama's short list now.
> http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,391426,00.html
-B.
"...I see you Mary in the garden
In the garden of a thousand sighs
There's holy pictures of our children
Dancin' in a sky filled with light
May I feel your arms around me
May I feel your blood mix with mine
A dream of life comes to me
Like a catfish dancin' on the end of the line
Sky of blackness and sorrow ( a dream of life)
Sky of love, sky of tears (a dream of life)
Sky of glory and sadness ( a dream of life)
Sky of mercy, sky of fear ( a dream of life)
Sky of memory and shadow ( a dream of life)
Your burnin' wind fills my arms tonight
Sky of longing and emptiness (a dream of life)
Sky of fullness, sky of blessed life ( a dream of life)..."
-Bruce Springsteen, the Rising
________________________________
From: misterb_46@hotmail.com
To: briada@hotmail.com; brian_menard@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: FOXNews.com - Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters - Politics Republican Party Democratic Party Political Spectrum
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:39:52 -0700
The way I heard it, the right was going to get Obama on the FISA bill regardless of which side he was on. Despite all this nonsense about a liberal media, the right still dictates who is more patriotic and/or concerned about America's safety.
He votes for it and it looks like he's against privacy rights.
He votes against it and it looks like he's against fighting the war on terror.
I had also read that voting for the FISA bill still gave him a chance to come back later and charge the telecoms with some kind of lawbreaking.
________________________________
> From: briada@hotmail.com
> To: misterb_46@hotmail.com; brian_menard@hotmail.com; yhkpenguin@yahoo.com
> Subject: RE: FOXNews.com - Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters - Politics Republican Party Democratic Party Political Spectrum
> Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:00:56 +0000
>
> Say, what's up with Obama, these days? Mr. "nice guy" has me really concerned. Perhaps, Young was correct, early on, when he suggested that Hillary would use her experience and anger to really fight the Republican challenge. Sorry, Young , if my paraphrasing did not capture the spirit of your remarks, months ago?
>
> Anyway, Obama better become an attack dog and quickly, or he will not beat McCain in the swing states and most assuredly, will lose the election in November.
>
> Where are his attack ads? Why doesn't he point-out McCAIN's character flaws? McCAIN has consistently voted against veterans, for example.
>
> Also noteworthy, is Hills vote against F.I.S.A. Wondering, if we-all supported the wrong Democrat?
>
>
> -B.
> ______________________________
> I would've been very surprised if Edwards would've accepted the invite from McCain, given how John has sold out any independents that would've voted for him in 2000.
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: brian_menard@hotmail.com
> To: fossriver@comcast.net; jmenard@u.washington.edu; johanna.menard@gmail.com; briada@hotmail.com; misterb_46@hotmail.com; YHKpenguin@yahoo.com
> Subject: FOXNews.com - Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters - Politics Republican Party Democratic Party Political Spectrum
> Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:45:23 -0400
>
> Oops...guess Edwards is off Obama's short list now.
> http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,391426,00.html
Monday, May 12, 2008
Barr seeks Libertarian pres nomination
Finally, a potentially significant third party candidate? Former Rep Bob Barr is seeking the Libertarian presidential bid. Problem for McCain or for Obama? Barr's stated objectives are not exactly in line with GOP, and could take votes from Obama as well. Still early yet, but this could have interesting repercussions.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/12/AR2008051200889.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/12/AR2008051200889.html
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
It's the economy AND the war, stupid!
America's apathy toward foreign affairs is still alive and well, as her sensitivity toward pocketbook pains is much greater than the lives and money lost in a war of choice. Obama must hit these issues hard and go after McCain. Imagine the economic state that this country would be in had billions of dollars not gotten wasted on the Iraq invasion and occupation. This point must be hammered home to the voters. Can we afford a third-term of Bush? A McBush administration? Now Obama can focus his attention on November.
It's Obama vs. McCain
Just a short one to declare that Hillary is done. Stick a fork in it! It's only a matter of time before she unplugs her campaign, and Obama will be the nominee. Hallelujah! I said to Michelle last night that a big win in NC for Obama and a narrow victory for Clinton in IN are two losses for Hillary.
Now let's really get down to some Dem vs. Rep, liberal vs. conservative talk. BRM, I know it's been really quiet, but you have yet to respond to my earlier questions about what the conservatives have achieved for America. I refer to the Feb 28 post entitled, "Opportunity to come together?"
Obama '08! All the way to the White House!
Now let's really get down to some Dem vs. Rep, liberal vs. conservative talk. BRM, I know it's been really quiet, but you have yet to respond to my earlier questions about what the conservatives have achieved for America. I refer to the Feb 28 post entitled, "Opportunity to come together?"
Obama '08! All the way to the White House!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Waaaaaaay Too Quiet...
Gentlemen: As there has been zippo activity - and I don't mean of a lighter fare (sorry, but if things are going to be this quiet, bad puns will happen to fill space) - I pose the following two questions for your consumption, mastication, and regurgitation. Should you accept the challenge, to make this more fun (at least for me as I read your responses), I seek thoughtful responses grounded in objective analysis, not merely personal opinion.
1. I doubt Hillary Clinton spends many nights losing sleep while ruminating on the classic Clash question, "Should I Stay Or Should I Go?" However, plenty of prognosticators have done plenty of ruminating on the question for her. I turn it over to you: Should Hillary continue her quest, or should she get out of Barack Obama's way? In either case, what is the impact of her doing so?
2. Is John McCain using well this time of a seemingly never-ending battle between Democrats for the right to compete against him in the general election? What else could/should he be doing to improve his chances in November?
Discuss...
1. I doubt Hillary Clinton spends many nights losing sleep while ruminating on the classic Clash question, "Should I Stay Or Should I Go?" However, plenty of prognosticators have done plenty of ruminating on the question for her. I turn it over to you: Should Hillary continue her quest, or should she get out of Barack Obama's way? In either case, what is the impact of her doing so?
2. Is John McCain using well this time of a seemingly never-ending battle between Democrats for the right to compete against him in the general election? What else could/should he be doing to improve his chances in November?
Discuss...
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