Why Does McCain Hate Ole Miss?

Most interesting.  So, McCain has decided that the AIG bailout is so important that he must stop campaigning for president and return to Washington, thus needing to reschedule the debate.  No other issue to date necessitated the stoppage of tacky, misleading ads, countless stump speeches, or Palin’s grueling one-interview-a-month schedule. (She has the easiest job ever.)

Let’s see.  What issues have arisen since McCain began running for president in 2007?

The first subprime mortgage implosion that cost lenders approximately half a trillion dollars.

The failure of Bear Stearns.

The North Korean nuclear threat.

The Iranian nuclear threat.

The constant deterioration of Israel’s relations with its neighbors.

The Russian-Georgian conflict.

The almost-real discovery of Bigfoot.

The continuing, yet unaddressed, health care crisis.

Oil/gas prices reach unheard of highs.

Billions of dollars spent on a war in Iraq.

2000, no, 3000, no 4000 U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq.

No, the boys and girls back in D.C. have a handle on these things, or they can wait.

But AIG needs money?  Holy crap!  Stop the campaign.  We’ve got corporations to rescue.

Don’t get me wrong. I think some sort of federal intervention is necessary now. Like Iraq, the government has screwed up another situation or, in this case, has allowed a crappy one to happen.  In other words, we’re in too deep; we have to do something.

But does McCain really need to skip a debate?  Considering how important this election is, I’d like to see how well he and Obama handle the pressure of what could be the most watched debate in history.

Now I read that McCain will not attend the debate unless there’s a deal in place by Friday.  So the debate is held hostage by a bailout deal.  Let’s dwell on that for a second.  How much do you want to bet that McCain’s endorsed plan will end up including more money for the corporations than the other side is willing to give?

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Obama, Put Hillary Clinton In Your Cabinet

I understand that many Clinton supporters feel bitter about this nomination process. I don’t necessarily agree with that bitterness, but I know it’s real. (I flat out don’t agree with PUMAs a/k/a Rove’s minions.) Whether you like Clinton or not, there’s no denying that she’s a dynamic figure who is smart. She does possess intellect that is above average.

Because she’s an extremely capable attorney, why not make her the Attorney General? And better yet, why not announce it now and start winning over some of those Clinton supporters? Obama needs them if he is to have any hope of winning in November.

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PUMAs: We’re Making Our Party (GOP) Proud

Take a look at this video. I wonder how much Karl Rove and crew are paying these people. FYI, after I asked one PUMA webhost if she would like to come to my site and explain what they are all about, she banned me.

If you can’t take a little scrutiny from a pea-brain like me, your position is beyond untenable. Read my post here for a fuller description of my thoughts on PUMAs.

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PUMAs: Who Are These People?

PUMA stands for People United Means Action or Party Unity My Ass. This “movement” is supposedly made up of Clinton supporters who feel that the media and the Democratic National Committee cheated Hillary Clinton out of the nomination. However, if you take a stroll through the blogosphere, you’ll see that the PUMAs lay the vast majority of the blame for Hillary’s failure to secure the nomination at the feet of Barack Obama.

I didn’t realize that Obama owns the media or controls the Democratic National Committee. When I asked some PUMAs if they could provide support for these positions, I was either outright insulted or directed to links connected to the PUMA movement. This is hardly the way to bring about support for your movement. Regardless, I asked one PUMA, “If you really care about our country, and you feel that Clinton was the best candidate for the presidency, how could you not support Obama considering his positions are more closely aligned to those of Clinton than McCain’s positions?” I was then told that Obama is really a Republican and McCain is no one to be worried about. It then hit me that I was either talking with a colossally naïve person or perhaps this movement is just another Karl Rovian political tactic.

Think about it. There is no question that many Clinton supporters feel like they got the shaft in the nomination process. However, even Hillary Clinton herself does not want her supporters voting for McCain–at least that’s her public position. Just last night, I listened to an interview with her campaign chairman. He unequivocally stated that Obama was the best choice for president. I simply cannot believe that the PUMA “movement” — to the extent it is a movement — is anything other than some Republicans using the palpable bitterness of some Clinton supporters as a tactic to heap vitriol and venom on Obama.

Take a gander at some PUMA websites. From what I can tell, most of them are nothing more than a rallying point for Obama hate speech. There is simply no way that I will ever believe that sincere, earnest Clinton supporters would go to such great links to tear down their party and their party’s candidate when that candidate’s positions are not that far from Clinton’s positions. It is inconceivable that someone would identify with Clinton through the nomination process, but then vote for McCain in November. To do so would mean that either they went through a political transformation or they are cutting off their nose to spite their face.

If there are any PUMAs out there, feel free to set me straight. I’m always eager to learn.

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Biden Is The Running Mate

Obama has chosen Biden as his vice-presidential running mate. I think this is a great choice. Biden was actually my 2nd choice, ahead of Obama, for the Democratic presidential nominee. Biden has great intellect, is solidly middle class in his thinking, knows foreign affairs backwards and forwards, and is a straight-shooter. He is not politically correct and I’m sure Republicans will take advantage of that (just like Democrats take advantage of Republican gaffes).

I’m very interested to see who McCain will choose as his vice-presidential running mate.

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The Chain-Email-Of-Lies Assault Continues Against Obama

(FURTHER UPDATED: Boy, check out McCain’s shenanigans in my post here. And all the facts are in an email, so it has to be true.)

(UPDATED: Snopes is now using the video I linked to last night to demonstrate that this email is one of many such attempts to discredit a candidate’s patriotism. Snopes also includes purported (I have no idea if they’re true or not) communications from other troops that paint an entirely different picture of Obama than the one in Porter’s email.)

The latest incarnation of the chain email of lies against Obama is one purportedly from a Captain Jeffrey S. Porter. Just so I’m not accused of selective editing, here’s the entire email:

Hello everyone,
As you know I am not a very political person. I just wanted to pass along that Senator Obama came to Bagram Afghanistan for about an hour on his visit to ‘The War Zone’. I wanted to share with you what happened. He got off the plane and got into a bullet proof vehicle, got to the area to
meet with the Major General (2 Star) who is the commander here at Bagram. As the Soldiers were lined up to shake his hand he blew them off and didn’t say a word as he went into the conference room to meet the General. As he finished, the vehicles took him to the ClamShell (pretty much a big top tent that military personnel can play basketball or work out in with weights) so he could take his publicity pictures playing basketball. He again shunned the opportunity to talk to Soldiers to thank them for their service. So really he was just here to make a showing for the American’s back home
that he is their candidate for President. I think that if you are going to make an effort to come all the way over here you would thank those that are providing the freedom that they are providing for you.

I swear we got more thanks from the NBA Basketball Players or the Dallas Cowboy Cheer leaders than from Senator, who wants to be the President of the United States . I just don’t understand how anyone would want him to be our Commander-and-Chief. It was almost that he was scared to be around those that provide the freedom for him and our great country.

If this is blunt and to the point I am sorry but I wanted you all to know what kind of caliber of person he really is. What you see in the news is all fake.

In service,
CPT Jeffrey S. Porter
Battle Captain
TF Wasatch
American Soldier

I can understand the notion that this is one man’s opinion, but here’s the problem. This thing is spreading like wildfire. And here’s the bigger problem: it’s not true. At best, it’s a misconception. Check out this video (it’s on the right side of the web page).

Now, unless those are bushes and trees (camouflage) interacting with Obama, the video clearly shows him talking with the lower ranking soldiers, eating breakfast with rank and file soldiers, and note that the gym is filled with soldiers. Also, note that after he makes his basketball shot, he takes a microphone so he can talk with those soldiers. Further, this video was shot by the Department of Defense, so no one can claim this is Obama election spin. Captain Porter may have seen a snippet of Obama’s trip and not been impressed, but this video makes clear that Obama was not haughty, was not aloof, and that he DID meet with the rank and file members of our armed forces. He sure wasn’t “scared” of them.

I’ve posted before that you can be for McCain all day long, but be for him based on the facts — not lies or misconceptions.

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Obama Is Not A “Liberal” Just Because You Say He Is

Here in the reddest of the red states, white folks are torn over Obama.  Is he the crazy nut black liberation theology Christian or is he the closet Muslim secret operative for Al Qaeda? (Curious, are there separate closets for gays and Muslims or do we “normal,” good Christians just shove them all into one?)  Regardless, one thing is for sure — for sure, dammit — he’s a liberal.  The sun rises in the east.  Nothing is sure but death and taxes.  Urinating into the wind is never a good idea.  Obama is a liberal.  It’s just a given.  Right?  Wrong.

Here’s a picture of Obama’s economic policy director. What a freaking pot-smoking, long-haired, hemp-loving, sandal-wearing, peace sign-flashing, Deadhead, tie-dyed shirt wearing guy this is, huh? Damn, did he just come out of the Kremlin or what, friggin’ liberal commie.

That other bastion of “liberals,” the unions, don’t like this guy too much.  Guess why?  He’s too “conservative.”  That’s right.  Obama, that “most liberal senator in the Senate,” has an economic policy director that’s too conservative. Gosh, it sucks when these darn little facts just keep getting in the way of perception.

A recent article, states, “Labor union leaders criticized the move, and said that ‘Rubinomics’ [named after Robert Rubin, who is no “liberal”] focused too much on corporate America and not enough on workers.”

The article touches on some of Obama’s other liberal wacko ideas like balancing the budget (gasp) and free trade agreements.

In all sincerity, I’m not trying to convince anyone to vote for Obama.  I’m simply saying get your facts straight when you criticize him. Don’t rely on labels. I’ll do the same for McCain. It makes the discourse run a little smoother.

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In Defense Of Hillary Clinton

Before I begin, let me state unequivocally that I’m for Obama for president. But, all the flak about Hillary’s latest comments concerning Robert Kennedy’s assassination are blown way out of proportion. (Keith Olbermann, who I admire, please take a Xanex). There is no way that you (the understood “you”) are going to get me to believe that Hillary Clinton was saying that she wanted to wait until June before she gave up her presidential bid because Obama might get shot. That’s simply ridiculous.

Should she have apologized or clarified her statement? Sure, which she’s done. But you’ve got to be pretty damn out of your head if you really think that she was saying that she’s waiting out the primary season to see if Obama takes a cap in his ass.

This is why I’m Tina Turner and politics is Ike. I’m a political junkie who can’t quit reading the news and analysis of the news, but I’m sick of the interpretations and what the talking heads tell me I should think.

Anyone with half a brain should know that Hillary Clinton is not hoping for a bullet to enter Obama’s head. Petty jokes aside, this story has gotten everyone in a fluster and they all need to calm the f*** down. (I just censored myself.)

Think about it for a friggin’ nanosecond: if she quit the race and Obama later took a bullet, she could then re-enter the race. Given that, why in the hell would she allude to his assassination? No reason. Exactly. She was merely saying that sometimes primaries take a long to draw out.

Is everyone covering politics on the national stage like the O.J. jury — distracted by smoke and mirrors? “If the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” “Ooh, I like that. A rhyme must mean that O.J. didn’t kill those people.”

“Hillary said, ‘Robert Kennedy is dead. So, Obama’s taking one in the head.'” This is what so many people that I admire, and some that I don’t like, are taking from Clinton’s comment. All of y’all need to shut the hell up and cover what this country really cares about: whether Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, or Miley Cyrus have put out new nude or naked pictures.

Damn. I can’t believe this country has lasted as long as it has.

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Obama and my deepening cynicism

Two days ago, Barack Obama gave one of the best speeches I’ve heard on any topic by any candidate on any subject. Despite a brutally candid and honest speech, written mainly by him, and oftentimes very personal, I’m still hearing the same, worn-out criticisms of him that I would hear of any Democratic candidate, e.g., he’s just a tax-and-spend liberal, etc. Anyone who listened to this speech — all of it, not sound bites — would have to admit that this is a different tone and a different level of substance from that which we normally get from political candidates. And the fact that he was willing to give this speech, in which he at times sounded like Bill Cosby (many of the problems in the black community can’t be blamed on anyone but the black community) and at times sounded like MLK (poor folks whether they be black or white have more in common than they think they do), speaks volumes about his willingness to take on issues most politicians avoid like the plague. I didn’t expect the American voting public to rally behind him because of one speech, but those who are still supporting McCain or Clinton should at least give credit where credit is due. Race is something that has needed serious consideration for decades. And for people to write Obama off as “just another liberal” makes me cynical. It makes me wonder whether people even listen anymore or whether they just look at whether there’s a D or an R by a candidate’s name and vote accordingly. George Washington admonished us to not get caught up in political parties and, of course, we have failed him. We’re worse off for it.

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McCain Wins Republican Nomination

If only this were the headline in 2000 rather than 2008. How much better off we’d be if only that were the case. I don’t know that Gore would have beaten McCain, but I do know that the world, and especially America, would be better off had McCain won the nomination in 2000. It’s amazing to me that a man who has pandered to the ultraconservative religious base is still too “liberal” to be embraced by the Republican talking heads. Fortunately, for all of us, the Republican voters didn’t listen to the Coulters and Limbaughs of the world. If we’re going to end up with a Republican president, I’m glad that it will be John McCain. But I can’t help but reiterate that he should have been the nominee in 2000.

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