I am sick of bank presidents and CEO getting (read stealing) millions of dollars for basically running their companies into the ground. However, on the other end of the spectrum I watched a piece on NBC this weekend about Mr. Thomas Cousins of Atlanta.
He is a fabulously wealth CEO (retired) of his own real estate company. They own the East Lake Golf Club which annually hosts the PGA Tour Championship. Look up the Thomas G. Cousins East Lake Community Foundation and see private people do what government cannot do.
Incredible story, incredible success.
Not all rich, successful people are thieves and selfish bastards who steal from you and me. Some use their incredible talent and belief in the human spirit to make something fabulous happen. This is why Republicans think that people will always do better at helping others than will the government. Unfortunately, the last 8 years has taught us that the Thomas Cousins of the world are far, far outnumbered by the Richard Fulds of the world (Lehman Brothers thieving ex-CEO).
Mr. Cousins - you Rock!!!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Paul Newman - Totally Reasonable
Paul Newman has died. For my generation he represented the older but hip actors of the 70's. Sort of the Nicholson or De Niro of today. His "Newman's Own" company has raised more than $200 Million dollars to help kids in the U.S. His politics aside, he did something to make a difference in thousands of people's lives.
I remember on the old show "Cheers" - Normie and the others are debating the "sweatiest movie of all time." I think they settle on Cool Hand Luke. Newman was Luke.
Actors only say what is written for them, but sometimes they deliver the lines in such a great way. I liked this from Paul Newman, playing lawyer Frank Galvin in The Verdict:
(Frank is giving his summation to the jury) "You know, so much of the time we're just lost. We say, "Please, God, tell us what is right; tell us what is true." And there is no justice: the rich win, the poor are powerless. We become tired of hearing people lie. And after a time, we become dead... a little dead. We think of ourselves as victims... and we become victims. We become... we become weak. We doubt ourselves, we doubt our beliefs. We doubt our institutions. And we doubt the law. But today you are the law. You ARE the law. Not some book... not the lawyers... not the, a marble statue... or the trappings of the court. See those are just symbols of our desire to be just. They are... they are, in fact, a prayer: a fervent and a frightened prayer. In my religion, they say, "Act as if ye had faith... and faith will be given to you." IF... if we are to have faith in justice, we need only to believe in ourselves. And ACT with justice. See, I believe there is justice in our hearts."
No failure to communicate here!
I remember on the old show "Cheers" - Normie and the others are debating the "sweatiest movie of all time." I think they settle on Cool Hand Luke. Newman was Luke.
Actors only say what is written for them, but sometimes they deliver the lines in such a great way. I liked this from Paul Newman, playing lawyer Frank Galvin in The Verdict:
(Frank is giving his summation to the jury) "You know, so much of the time we're just lost. We say, "Please, God, tell us what is right; tell us what is true." And there is no justice: the rich win, the poor are powerless. We become tired of hearing people lie. And after a time, we become dead... a little dead. We think of ourselves as victims... and we become victims. We become... we become weak. We doubt ourselves, we doubt our beliefs. We doubt our institutions. And we doubt the law. But today you are the law. You ARE the law. Not some book... not the lawyers... not the, a marble statue... or the trappings of the court. See those are just symbols of our desire to be just. They are... they are, in fact, a prayer: a fervent and a frightened prayer. In my religion, they say, "Act as if ye had faith... and faith will be given to you." IF... if we are to have faith in justice, we need only to believe in ourselves. And ACT with justice. See, I believe there is justice in our hearts."
No failure to communicate here!
The Crux of the Bisquit
This just in - (gleaned in whole from Congressional Quarterly material)
After McCain lamented (correctly) about bloated U.S. government spending, we got this in the debate:
Sen. Barack Obama attempted to tie Republican opponent Sen. John McCain to President Bush. "John, it's been your president, who you said you agreed with 90 percent of the time, who presided over this increase in spending," he said.
Get the facts!
The Facts:
According to an analysis by Congressional Quarterly, McCain has voted for bills favored by President Bush 90 percent of the time. The nonpartisan publication, which has analyzed voting by members of Congress since 1953, said the report took into account all legislation that Bush had taken a clear position on. It spans from the beginning of Bush's term to Congress's recess in August.
In the 100-member Senate, 14 current members — all Republicans — voted with Bush more than 90 percent of the time, according to the report. Six others have a 90 percent rating like McCain's. The report shows Obama voting with Bush 40 percent of the time and his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, voting with Bush 52 percent of the time during the course of his presidency.
Verdict: True
After McCain lamented (correctly) about bloated U.S. government spending, we got this in the debate:
Sen. Barack Obama attempted to tie Republican opponent Sen. John McCain to President Bush. "John, it's been your president, who you said you agreed with 90 percent of the time, who presided over this increase in spending," he said.
Get the facts!
The Facts:
According to an analysis by Congressional Quarterly, McCain has voted for bills favored by President Bush 90 percent of the time. The nonpartisan publication, which has analyzed voting by members of Congress since 1953, said the report took into account all legislation that Bush had taken a clear position on. It spans from the beginning of Bush's term to Congress's recess in August.
In the 100-member Senate, 14 current members — all Republicans — voted with Bush more than 90 percent of the time, according to the report. Six others have a 90 percent rating like McCain's. The report shows Obama voting with Bush 40 percent of the time and his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, voting with Bush 52 percent of the time during the course of his presidency.
Verdict: True
Clowns to the Left, Jokers to the Right
Stealer's Wheel (one hit wonder perhaps) sang the following line in the song, Stuck in the Middle with You:
Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, here I am, Stuck in the middle with you.
Politics in America has totally fallen apart. A fine debate was held last night. I learned a little about what each candidate thought. If you can learn something new each time, it is worth watching. Listening to the pundits (Clowns and Jokers) on the other hand is just unreasonable at best. Actually, the lawyer dude on CNN, Jeff Toobin, actually said as much before the debate began. He stated that the media is becoming too much of the story.
Of course then CNN and Fox and everyone in between started talking. If the pundit is a die hard on either side, then they agree with everything that their guy said and that is it. Bill Bennett, the former Secretary of Education and conservative talk show host criticized Obama for appearing to try to solve problems by trying to find common ground. CRITICIZED. Isn't that what we need? Isn't that what his candidate is calling for in this election?
Some liberal hack who's name escapes me criticized John McCain for being a "name dropper" in his discussions about foreign policy. Isn't he supposed to know their names? UNREASONABLE.
I watched on CNN the debate. They had this meter which was measuring a focus group's real-time response to what each candidate was saying. When McCain talked the Red Republican line went up, indicating approval, and the Blue Democrat line went down and visa versa when Obama spoke.
What was interesting was the Green Undecided line. It seemed to go up and down very little, except when the name George Bush was used. Apparently they are still undecided.
Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, here I am, Stuck in the middle with you.
Politics in America has totally fallen apart. A fine debate was held last night. I learned a little about what each candidate thought. If you can learn something new each time, it is worth watching. Listening to the pundits (Clowns and Jokers) on the other hand is just unreasonable at best. Actually, the lawyer dude on CNN, Jeff Toobin, actually said as much before the debate began. He stated that the media is becoming too much of the story.
Of course then CNN and Fox and everyone in between started talking. If the pundit is a die hard on either side, then they agree with everything that their guy said and that is it. Bill Bennett, the former Secretary of Education and conservative talk show host criticized Obama for appearing to try to solve problems by trying to find common ground. CRITICIZED. Isn't that what we need? Isn't that what his candidate is calling for in this election?
Some liberal hack who's name escapes me criticized John McCain for being a "name dropper" in his discussions about foreign policy. Isn't he supposed to know their names? UNREASONABLE.
I watched on CNN the debate. They had this meter which was measuring a focus group's real-time response to what each candidate was saying. When McCain talked the Red Republican line went up, indicating approval, and the Blue Democrat line went down and visa versa when Obama spoke.
What was interesting was the Green Undecided line. It seemed to go up and down very little, except when the name George Bush was used. Apparently they are still undecided.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Safety in Numbers
This "documentary" (link at the bottom of the page) is going around. What is interesting is that we are supposed to forget that George Bush ignored the statements of the inspectors who were on the ground in Iraq and clearly and loudly said all of these people, and George Bush, were wrong. There were no WMD in Iraq. None. There were no Al Qaeda, no Taliban, no WMD, just a crazy dude with crazy kids. The world is filled with leaders just like Saddam and we cannot go get them all.
So, as a Republican, I find this stuff ridiculous because it attempts to defer blame. This is Bush's war for which he has mortgaged our children's futures. They will pay for this fiasco war, along with the greed of Wall Street CEOs, and for ordinary citizens taking out loans they couldn't afford for the next 30 years. We need to acknowledge this and work to encourage true Republicans to step up and run for office. That isn't going to happen if we are bent on saying like little kids, "its not my fault - Billy did it!"
Until we work as Americans, and not Republicans or Democrats, to solve real problems, we are screwed. I absolutely resent that the President of the United States of America cannot say, "I was wrong." That all of these others were wrong only means that the President and all of these people were wrong. Didn't their mothers teach them that 15 wrongs do not make a right? 4,000 dead kids, a blackeye even with decent countries, and a diminished capacity to lead the world in what is right and wrong is the cost.
http://www.bercasio.com/movies/dems-wmd-before-iraq.wmv
So, as a Republican, I find this stuff ridiculous because it attempts to defer blame. This is Bush's war for which he has mortgaged our children's futures. They will pay for this fiasco war, along with the greed of Wall Street CEOs, and for ordinary citizens taking out loans they couldn't afford for the next 30 years. We need to acknowledge this and work to encourage true Republicans to step up and run for office. That isn't going to happen if we are bent on saying like little kids, "its not my fault - Billy did it!"
Until we work as Americans, and not Republicans or Democrats, to solve real problems, we are screwed. I absolutely resent that the President of the United States of America cannot say, "I was wrong." That all of these others were wrong only means that the President and all of these people were wrong. Didn't their mothers teach them that 15 wrongs do not make a right? 4,000 dead kids, a blackeye even with decent countries, and a diminished capacity to lead the world in what is right and wrong is the cost.
http://www.bercasio.com/movies/dems-wmd-before-iraq.wmv
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Seven
Do you recall the movie "Seven" with Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt? A murderer uses the 7 deadly sins as his road map to mayhem. These are apparently rooted in Catholicism, but I am not sure as I am not a Catholic. In the movie the eloquent Gwyneth Paltrow loses her head - literally. I digress.
The 7 Deadly Sins are:
superbia, avaritia, luxuria, invidia, gula, ira, acedia in Latin. (yes, I had to look up the Latin)
Let us look today at avaritia or greed. Seems like an appropriate subject.
Greed (or avarice, covetousness) is a sin of excess. Greed is applied to the acquisition of wealth in particular. "Avarice" describes many other examples of greedy behavior including disloyalty, deliberate betrayal or treason especially for personal gain, for example through bribery, theft and robbery, especially if by use of violence or abused authority.
Abused authority seems to be the key factor here for me. CEOs, CFO, Senators, Congressmen, and the President. While they are ripping of their customers, followers, constituents, etc. they are probably proclaiming their strong faith and belief in God and their love of their fellow man.
Creeps.
As my lovely wife said this morning, "how many millions does one really need?"
Don't get me wrong, I want to provide for my family, I want to travel, I would like to have a nicer car, etc. but, I can honestly say I wouldn't abuse authority and steal from others to do it. I couldn't sleep at night.
I suppose I will never be CEO of Bear Stearn......oh yeah, there is no Bear Stearn.
The 7 Deadly Sins are:
superbia, avaritia, luxuria, invidia, gula, ira, acedia in Latin. (yes, I had to look up the Latin)
Let us look today at avaritia or greed. Seems like an appropriate subject.
Greed (or avarice, covetousness) is a sin of excess. Greed is applied to the acquisition of wealth in particular. "Avarice" describes many other examples of greedy behavior including disloyalty, deliberate betrayal or treason especially for personal gain, for example through bribery, theft and robbery, especially if by use of violence or abused authority.
Abused authority seems to be the key factor here for me. CEOs, CFO, Senators, Congressmen, and the President. While they are ripping of their customers, followers, constituents, etc. they are probably proclaiming their strong faith and belief in God and their love of their fellow man.
Creeps.
As my lovely wife said this morning, "how many millions does one really need?"
Don't get me wrong, I want to provide for my family, I want to travel, I would like to have a nicer car, etc. but, I can honestly say I wouldn't abuse authority and steal from others to do it. I couldn't sleep at night.
I suppose I will never be CEO of Bear Stearn......oh yeah, there is no Bear Stearn.
This From Nicholas Kristof
This would be almost funny if not so tragic. One example.
"Are you capable of taking a perfectly good 158-year-old company and turning it into dust? If so, then you may not be earning up to your full potential.
You should be raking it in like Richard Fuld, the longtime chief of Lehman Brothers. He took home nearly half-a-billion dollars in total compensation between 1993 and 2007.
Last year, Mr. Fuld earned about $45 million, according to the calculations of Equilar, an executive pay research company. That amounts to roughly $17,000 an hour to obliterate a firm. If you’re willing to drive a company into the ground for less, apply by calling Lehman Brothers at (212) 526-7000."
Shall we apply?
"Are you capable of taking a perfectly good 158-year-old company and turning it into dust? If so, then you may not be earning up to your full potential.
You should be raking it in like Richard Fuld, the longtime chief of Lehman Brothers. He took home nearly half-a-billion dollars in total compensation between 1993 and 2007.
Last year, Mr. Fuld earned about $45 million, according to the calculations of Equilar, an executive pay research company. That amounts to roughly $17,000 an hour to obliterate a firm. If you’re willing to drive a company into the ground for less, apply by calling Lehman Brothers at (212) 526-7000."
Shall we apply?
Maybe We Should Elect Barack and Sarah
Joe Biden thinks that Franklin Roosevelt talked to the nation via television during the depression. Idiot! 30 plus year in the Senate - McCain and his AIG cronies 20 plus years in the Senate. They both need to be fired along with the rest of them.
Do we really want "Congressional Oversight" on this bailout? Aren't they the ones who allowed this to happen?
Do we really want "Congressional Oversight" on this bailout? Aren't they the ones who allowed this to happen?
Monday, September 22, 2008
Government Bailouts
Once again I am staggered by the amount of money that George Bush and his cronies are proposing for bailout. Wow. That is $2,000 per man woman and child in this country. Talk about a huge tax increase. The president from the "low taxes" group is sticking us with a huge bill. There is really no choice but to have these bailouts, but it cannot continue. We must tell him to stop.
Here is the deal folks - we cannot bailout AIG, Fannie and Freddie, Bear Stearn, etc. and cut taxes. That is equivalent to you as individuals giving your 4 best friends money to pay for their boats and then not paying your mortgage and your boat payment.
It cannot be done. When John McCain and Barack Obama talk about cutting taxes, they are telling us all loud and clear that they are OUT OF TOUCH - both of them. John McCain cutting taxes on the rich to stimulate the economy will not work unless you want to completely mortgage our children's futures. Barack Obama cutting taxes for those making under $250K and raising the rest sounds very Utopian, but is not going to work either.
I hate taxes. We are stuck with our President's mortgage of the USA. We will have to pay it or China, India, and for sure Saudi Arabia will "call the note." They must raise taxes to legitimize the repayment. They must shrink the government ala Ronald Reagan. They must quit paying for the delinquency and mismanagement of a bunch of rich old men who have fleeced Wall Street and everyday investors. They must put those men (and some women) in jail for the theft. They stole from you and me.
If you think we are not paying for the huge deficit and can absorb these bailouts, please comment and tell me from where the money is coming? I, for one do not have $8K that I can dedicate to be given to the CEO of Freddie, AIG, or Fannie.
If you don't either, vote like it!
Here is the deal folks - we cannot bailout AIG, Fannie and Freddie, Bear Stearn, etc. and cut taxes. That is equivalent to you as individuals giving your 4 best friends money to pay for their boats and then not paying your mortgage and your boat payment.
It cannot be done. When John McCain and Barack Obama talk about cutting taxes, they are telling us all loud and clear that they are OUT OF TOUCH - both of them. John McCain cutting taxes on the rich to stimulate the economy will not work unless you want to completely mortgage our children's futures. Barack Obama cutting taxes for those making under $250K and raising the rest sounds very Utopian, but is not going to work either.
I hate taxes. We are stuck with our President's mortgage of the USA. We will have to pay it or China, India, and for sure Saudi Arabia will "call the note." They must raise taxes to legitimize the repayment. They must shrink the government ala Ronald Reagan. They must quit paying for the delinquency and mismanagement of a bunch of rich old men who have fleeced Wall Street and everyday investors. They must put those men (and some women) in jail for the theft. They stole from you and me.
If you think we are not paying for the huge deficit and can absorb these bailouts, please comment and tell me from where the money is coming? I, for one do not have $8K that I can dedicate to be given to the CEO of Freddie, AIG, or Fannie.
If you don't either, vote like it!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Babs for Obama
Barbara Streisand is supporting Barack Obama. Yuck. I wonder if he even wants that endorsement? It is equivelant to McCain having George Bush proclaim him the next greatest President.
AIG
Tough decision, but I guess we had no choice but to bail AIG out. Did you notice that one day John McCain said no to bailing them out and the next he said we had to. Is that flip flopping or changing one's mind? If it is changing one's mind, then let's extend that graciousness to all 4 candidates and quit worrying about waffling.
McCain, also said the takeover must not assist managers and investors "who created this mess.'' He said Wall Street executives must answer for their "reckless management.''
Sounds good John, but that makes this even more interesting:
Harvard economics Professor Martin Feldstein, whose advice has been sought by McCain, is on the board of directors (read "reckless management") of AIG.
One of McCain's top fundraisers, Wayne Berman is registered to lobby for AIG, House records show. The company has paid Berman's firm, Ogilvy Government Relations, $100,000 during the first six months of the year.
McCain's congressional liaison, John Green, formerly lobbied for AIG at Ogilvy. He has taken a leave of absence from the firm to work on the McCain campaign.
McCain, also said the takeover must not assist managers and investors "who created this mess.'' He said Wall Street executives must answer for their "reckless management.''
Sounds good John, but that makes this even more interesting:
Harvard economics Professor Martin Feldstein, whose advice has been sought by McCain, is on the board of directors (read "reckless management") of AIG.
One of McCain's top fundraisers, Wayne Berman is registered to lobby for AIG, House records show. The company has paid Berman's firm, Ogilvy Government Relations, $100,000 during the first six months of the year.
McCain's congressional liaison, John Green, formerly lobbied for AIG at Ogilvy. He has taken a leave of absence from the firm to work on the McCain campaign.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Keating 5
Does anyone remember the Keating 5? Charlie Keating was the big shot at Lincoln Savings and Loan. It is interesting that this hasn't reappeared in the media more recently. While McCain was ultimately not charged with any crimes in regard to the savings and loan debacle of the late 80's, he was criticized for using bad judgement. 3 of the senators were guilty of interfering in the investigation, thus aiding Charlie Keating.
Charlie Keating took billions of dollars from retirees and invested it in risky and ultimately failed real estate transactions. He went to prison despite being a wealthy man. He was a very bad man. He was friends with John McCain as his family invested dollars and took vacations on Mr. Keating's nickel.
To be sure, McCain was the junior Senator from AZ at the time and Dennis DeConcini (the senior senator from AZ) was one of the 3 that clearly helped Charlie fleece his own constituents. Who really knows how much McCain had to do with it? Only Ol' Charlie and John McCain. I wonder how those thousands of old folks, or their heirs, feel about McCain running again for president. He has too many houses to keep track of and they are eating cat food or are missing their inheritance.
For his part, McCain has said, "The appearance of it was wrong. It's a wrong appearance when a group of senators appear in a meeting with a group of regulators, because it conveys the impression of undue and improper influence. And it was the wrong thing to do." Charlie isn't talking.
Charlie Keating took billions of dollars from retirees and invested it in risky and ultimately failed real estate transactions. He went to prison despite being a wealthy man. He was a very bad man. He was friends with John McCain as his family invested dollars and took vacations on Mr. Keating's nickel.
To be sure, McCain was the junior Senator from AZ at the time and Dennis DeConcini (the senior senator from AZ) was one of the 3 that clearly helped Charlie fleece his own constituents. Who really knows how much McCain had to do with it? Only Ol' Charlie and John McCain. I wonder how those thousands of old folks, or their heirs, feel about McCain running again for president. He has too many houses to keep track of and they are eating cat food or are missing their inheritance.
For his part, McCain has said, "The appearance of it was wrong. It's a wrong appearance when a group of senators appear in a meeting with a group of regulators, because it conveys the impression of undue and improper influence. And it was the wrong thing to do." Charlie isn't talking.
The Most Important Election Since 1980
This 2008 election is the most important since 1980 when Jimmy Carter was running for re-election. This country's economy was in the tank, home ownership was out of reach, and we were mired in a ridiculous international incidence with a middle eastern set of wackos.
Sound familiar?
Luckily we elected Ronald Reagan who quickly restored order. Even if you didn't like Ronnie, you have to admit that the Iran Hostage situation ended about 1 minute after he took office, that he was instrumental in breaking up the Soviet Union and bringing down the Berlin Wall. Ronnie shrunk the government. We could use a dose of that as well. It has boomed, along with the deficit under another Republican - George Bush - the George Bush who enjoyed a Republican majority in the congress for the first 6 years of his presidency.
It is critical that we get this one right, just as it was in 1980. Unfortunately for us Republicans there is no Ronnie.
Sound familiar?
Luckily we elected Ronald Reagan who quickly restored order. Even if you didn't like Ronnie, you have to admit that the Iran Hostage situation ended about 1 minute after he took office, that he was instrumental in breaking up the Soviet Union and bringing down the Berlin Wall. Ronnie shrunk the government. We could use a dose of that as well. It has boomed, along with the deficit under another Republican - George Bush - the George Bush who enjoyed a Republican majority in the congress for the first 6 years of his presidency.
It is critical that we get this one right, just as it was in 1980. Unfortunately for us Republicans there is no Ronnie.
One of Those Things
If after watching these videos your arguement is that Barack Obama would have the same problem, I might agree. However, please don't let that mitigate the severity of this problem. If the same can be done to Mr. Obama, then we simply have twice as big a problem, not a problem to ignore.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioy90nF2anI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c
John McCain is too old to be president of the Unites States - it is the world's toughest job.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioy90nF2anI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c
John McCain is too old to be president of the Unites States - it is the world's toughest job.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Pigs - Lipstick - The Beat Goes On
So much for the agents of change. Instead of worrying about things like a collapsing banking industry, housing issues, health care, education, etc. the candidacies are "outraged" etc. about pigs and lipstick.
McCain used the line two times in 2007 and now Obama has used it. In the end, who cares? Solve some problems fellas!
This will be a long two months - totally unreasonable.
McCain used the line two times in 2007 and now Obama has used it. In the end, who cares? Solve some problems fellas!
This will be a long two months - totally unreasonable.
Freddie and Fannie
Is it any surprise that we are going to pick up the huge risk and tab for the ridiculous loan situation? Freddie and Fannie's bosses will be put out of their jobs, but here is betting they are put out with way more money than us working folks will make in a lifetime.
It would only be reasonable for them to be in Jail for theft. We paid our mortgage and now we get to pay others' also. Totally unreasonable.
It would only be reasonable for them to be in Jail for theft. We paid our mortgage and now we get to pay others' also. Totally unreasonable.
Sarah Palin
Time magazine, a notoriously liberal magazine, presented a nice analysis of Sarah Palin. What seems clear is that John McCain's running mate has had a more positive effect than Barack Obama's choice. The Republican bounce cannot be ignored.
It also seems unlikely that Joe Biden will compete very well with Sarah Palin in a debate. She so far has taken some of the momentum from the Obama campaign.
In the end, can her record stand up to the scrutiny that will continue to be sent her way? She clearly has strong political chops. But she accepted hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks while stating that she wouldn't. McCain doesn't take them here in Arizona so he is certainly more pure on this matter. She has ethics issues in her wake, so again, she seems a little hypocritical to me.
None-the-less, McCain or the party seems to have made a good choice as they shift their message to change, thus emulating Barack Obama. It is unreasonable for McCain to call himself an agent of change, just as it is for Joe Biden. They are the establishment, the beltway insiders.
Sarah Palin continues to deserve to be viewed with an open mind. To be sure, I don't like her stance on Abstinence Only education, I don't like that she asked a librarian how to go about banning books, and I don't like her snooty anti-choice position. But I continue to believe that she is an outsider to Washington and if we get stuck with the 3rd Bush administration, perhaps she can make McCain really be the agent of change he claims to be.
It also seems unlikely that Joe Biden will compete very well with Sarah Palin in a debate. She so far has taken some of the momentum from the Obama campaign.
In the end, can her record stand up to the scrutiny that will continue to be sent her way? She clearly has strong political chops. But she accepted hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks while stating that she wouldn't. McCain doesn't take them here in Arizona so he is certainly more pure on this matter. She has ethics issues in her wake, so again, she seems a little hypocritical to me.
None-the-less, McCain or the party seems to have made a good choice as they shift their message to change, thus emulating Barack Obama. It is unreasonable for McCain to call himself an agent of change, just as it is for Joe Biden. They are the establishment, the beltway insiders.
Sarah Palin continues to deserve to be viewed with an open mind. To be sure, I don't like her stance on Abstinence Only education, I don't like that she asked a librarian how to go about banning books, and I don't like her snooty anti-choice position. But I continue to believe that she is an outsider to Washington and if we get stuck with the 3rd Bush administration, perhaps she can make McCain really be the agent of change he claims to be.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Bush-Less
In the last entry I discussed McCain's speech which I thought was excellent. However, he didn't mention George Bush by name, either one of the Presidents for that matter. Not once. Interesting, isn't it? He couldn't say Bush. He has an aversion to the word apparently.
So here is a speech we will never hear McCain give:
My fellow Americans I stand before you today to say I understand your frustration with the Bush League President, and I don't want to be like the liberal press and be a Bush-whacker, but I get that he is out of touch. Ol' George couldn't see your problems with the best pair of Bush-nells made. I can. I get up in the morning and think about country and God first. I see the flag and I think about bible stories - like the one about the burning Bush.
I know that you want to have a President that understands your frustrations. You would like to be able to enjoy the simple things in life like having friends over for a backyard barbecue where you would serve burgers, Bush baked beans, and a frosty cold one from Anheiser - Bush (apologies to the Busch family.) But you can't do this because food is too expensive, what with the cost of a Bush-el of wheat. You would like to take your kids to Bush Gardens (same apology), but cannot because of gas costs. Perhaps you would like to visit the Bush in Alaska - home to the next VP of the United States - but alas you can't.
So my friends, let me not beat around the Bush any more - I understand that we need change and that the unknown of my opponent might be appealing. I will beat the Bushes to deliver change, and at least you know me from nearly 100 years of public service. Thus I leave you with this wise old saying - better to have one in hand than two in the Bush.
That was fun. (And, okay, I am taking a little literary license because he did utter Laura Bush, but lets ignore that - he sort of whispered.)
So here is a speech we will never hear McCain give:
My fellow Americans I stand before you today to say I understand your frustration with the Bush League President, and I don't want to be like the liberal press and be a Bush-whacker, but I get that he is out of touch. Ol' George couldn't see your problems with the best pair of Bush-nells made. I can. I get up in the morning and think about country and God first. I see the flag and I think about bible stories - like the one about the burning Bush.
I know that you want to have a President that understands your frustrations. You would like to be able to enjoy the simple things in life like having friends over for a backyard barbecue where you would serve burgers, Bush baked beans, and a frosty cold one from Anheiser - Bush (apologies to the Busch family.) But you can't do this because food is too expensive, what with the cost of a Bush-el of wheat. You would like to take your kids to Bush Gardens (same apology), but cannot because of gas costs. Perhaps you would like to visit the Bush in Alaska - home to the next VP of the United States - but alas you can't.
So my friends, let me not beat around the Bush any more - I understand that we need change and that the unknown of my opponent might be appealing. I will beat the Bushes to deliver change, and at least you know me from nearly 100 years of public service. Thus I leave you with this wise old saying - better to have one in hand than two in the Bush.
That was fun. (And, okay, I am taking a little literary license because he did utter Laura Bush, but lets ignore that - he sort of whispered.)
McCain
I thought John McCain gave an excellent speech. He is not a great orator naturally, but he did discuss what he thought was important. There were two important parts to the speech - first, to chastise and warn both parties that change is coming. I think he truly believes that. That would be wonderful because the extremes have got nothing done over the last 8 years.
The other part was his telling why he is for "Country first." He lives in AZ and has been fairly visible here, but I have never really heard him recount his POW story quite so poignantly. He was rolling at that point in the speech and clearly he is a dedicated American.
The question is - how will he get it done as President when he couldn't get it done in nearly 30 years in the Senate? There is a reason that sitting Senators have a problem getting elected. Not since John Kennedy (nearly 50 years ago) has a Senator been elected. We will get one this time.
Maybe the Presidency can be a "bully pulpit" once again. I guess I hope so regardless of which guy wins.
The other part was his telling why he is for "Country first." He lives in AZ and has been fairly visible here, but I have never really heard him recount his POW story quite so poignantly. He was rolling at that point in the speech and clearly he is a dedicated American.
The question is - how will he get it done as President when he couldn't get it done in nearly 30 years in the Senate? There is a reason that sitting Senators have a problem getting elected. Not since John Kennedy (nearly 50 years ago) has a Senator been elected. We will get one this time.
Maybe the Presidency can be a "bully pulpit" once again. I guess I hope so regardless of which guy wins.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Family Matters
Governor Palin I imagine has espoused the value of abstinence education only. Apparently it didn't catch on with her own daughter. Perhaps Mrs. Palin will see that even intelligent teenagers could be sexually active teenagers.
Abstinence should be discussed along with all other possibilities in order to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies. To do anything less is unreasonable.
Hopefully the daughter's pregnancy is a non-issue in this campaign season. There are too many important issues.
Abstinence should be discussed along with all other possibilities in order to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies. To do anything less is unreasonable.
Hopefully the daughter's pregnancy is a non-issue in this campaign season. There are too many important issues.
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