Remember our invasion of Iraq without the moral or military support of our allies? Remember the Bush administration's snubbing and insulting our allies---one of them, Spain---because they would not kowtow to its dictates? Remember Bush's uncompromising, macho "you’re with us or against us."? Remember Rumsfeld's "Old Europe" insult? Remember, as a result of this … [Read more...] about McCain’s “No Hablo Español”
A Civics Experiment
Regular readers here know that I'm frustrated by the profligate waste and fiscal irresponsibility our Washington leadership has demonstrated. After many posts and comments (and a great deal of anguish), I decided to bring my concerns directly to the people running for office in my area. Call it a civics experiment. To that end, I spent the vast majority of last weekend … [Read more...] about A Civics Experiment
Unclog the Cash Pipe – Anyone Know a Good Plumber?
Credit is based on a cycling of cash. Banks lend and sell the loan. Sallie Mae buys it, bundles it and sells it to investment banks. They rate them, package them and sell them to investors. Investors trade them at the monthly auctions - - SCCREECH – wait the auctions are gone. “Hold one now, Mr. Columnist Guy. Are you telling me that I can sell my fake Gucci on eBay to … [Read more...] about Unclog the Cash Pipe – Anyone Know a Good Plumber?
Riding Google Trends to the Top
Michael Arrington says some sites are using Google Trends to guide editorials. Google Trends gives you a snapshot of what queries are hot right now. Arrington says he's hearing that more and more blogs, mainstream media sites, and others are tailoring their stories to the Google Trends daily summary to build traffic. Here's how it works: Let’s say I run a popular … [Read more...] about Riding Google Trends to the Top
You are Now Disqualified
Rumors were swirling mid-afternoon yesterday. The word was that the McCain camp would stop its slimy innuendo-izing against Obama. Those rumors now appear to have been little more than wishful thinking -- which prompted me to consider all of the people that might be disqualified from running for president, if the McCain forces get their way. Here's the list I've compiled so … [Read more...] about You are Now Disqualified
From Tiny ACORNs Grow… Rot?
Let me preface this post by saying that I still believe 100% in Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts. The more informed voters we have out there considering the issues and casting their votes, the better off we are. We, as a country, may make mistakes now and again, but hopefully we learn from them and move on more the wiser. But there is one group - specifically the Association of … [Read more...] about From Tiny ACORNs Grow… Rot?
Indictment in Hacking of Palin’s E-Mail
The indictment was handed down Tuesday and charges that Kernell reset the password on Palin's e-mail account to obtain access to it, then posted the password in a web forum. Wired: At least one other person successfully used that password to gain unauthorized access to Palin's account. The indictment does not identify that individual. The indictment says that once … [Read more...] about Indictment in Hacking of Palin’s E-Mail
Florida Registration Obstacles
The state's swinging toward Obama. Facing South points to some problems: Polls show that out of the three big Southern swing states -- Florida, North Carolina and Virginia -- Florida is the one that has most decisively turned in Obama's favor in the last three weeks. The state's 27 Electoral College votes also make it an especially coveted prize. But chronic problems with … [Read more...] about Florida Registration Obstacles
When The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game
There is little question that the presidential race will tighten as Election Day approaches. It always does. But absent an apocalyptic event, Barack Obama will cruise across the finish line ahead of John McCain in the most important election since Franklin Roosevelt beat Herbert Hoover in the depths of the Great Depression. I do not make that cross-generational comparison … [Read more...] about When The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game
Will Kim Jong-il Offer McCain an Election Gift?: Novosti of Russia
While the financial crisis has unfolded and the U.S. election had pummeled ahead, North Korea has broken the seals on some of its nuclear enrichment facilities and six-party talks have broken down. According to this sardonic op-ed article By Dmitry Kosirev of Russia's Novosti News Service, the regime of Kim Jong-il is up to its old tricks of manipulating the audience to best … [Read more...] about Will Kim Jong-il Offer McCain an Election Gift?: Novosti of Russia
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: IS THE ELECTORAL DAM BREAKING FOR OBAMA?
Larry J. Sabato on IS THE ELECTORAL DAM BREAKING FOR OBAMA? Crystal Ball Has Obama Over 270 for First Time--With Potential for Many More All season, political observers have been speculating when, if ever, the Electoral College and the state and national polls would reflect the basic pro-Democratic fundamentals of the presidential election year. Those fundamentals, … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: IS THE ELECTORAL DAM BREAKING FOR OBAMA?
Why McCain Won’t Play the Wright Card
One of the more disturbing trends at recent McCain/Palin rallies is the tendency of audience members to shout dangerous things, including "terrorist," "kill him," and "off with his head." The Ayers issue - played mostly by Palin - has deliberately stoked this sort of rage at Obama. And more and more those asked to introduce Palin have invoked Barack "Hussein" Obama, clearly … [Read more...] about Why McCain Won’t Play the Wright Card
The Importance of Bipartisanship to Me
We hear a lot about bipartisanship these days. A lot of people talk about it, but these days very few practice it. In some way, it's become a relic of a long dead past, something that old men talk about with a wan smile of good days long past. The days we live in are incredibly partisan. Democrats and Republicans look at one another as strangers and enemies. Being a … [Read more...] about The Importance of Bipartisanship to Me
Memo to Senator McCain
MEMO To: Senator John McCain From: Mark Daniels Re: Unsolicited Advice It's over, Senator. You know it and I know it. Karl Rove knows it and has fairly well admitted it. So does anybody who knows how to count. And the debate didn't help. Bitter as the pill is for you to swallow, it is over. In 2000, you were downed by the scurrilous Bush campaign. This year, you're being … [Read more...] about Memo to Senator McCain
Obama Leads McCain By 11 Points In Gallup Poll As Two Campaigns Refocus
In the wake of the second presidential debate between Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain, both campaigns now seem to be fine-tuning and refocusing, as a new Gallup Daily tracking poll now shows Obama has opened up an 11 point lead over the Arizona Senator. The poll comes in the wake of an accelerated McCain push to take the focus off the economic … [Read more...] about Obama Leads McCain By 11 Points In Gallup Poll As Two Campaigns Refocus
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: THIRTY DAYS AND COUNTING
Alan I. Abramowitz on THIRTY DAYS AND COUNTING: The Outlook for the 2008 Presidential Election in Early October With one month remaining in the 2008 presidential campaign, national and state polling data indicate that Barack Obama holds a clear lead over John McCain. In the past sixty days, despite a series of dramatic events including the Democratic and Republican … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: THIRTY DAYS AND COUNTING
Larry Flynt vs. Sarah Palin
I am no fan of Sarah Palin, but neither am I a fan of Larry Flynt. He has published some very distasteful articles (and photos) under the protection of the First Amendment and has been embroiled in numerous legal battles arising out of his publications. Perhaps his most memorable "brush" with the law was the Hustler Magazine vs. Falwell case. A case that went all the way … [Read more...] about Larry Flynt vs. Sarah Palin
No Point in Complaining that Credit Crisis ‘Isn’t Our Fault’: O Globo of Brazil
'THE RETURN OF FAITH' [Het Parool, The Netherlands] With finger-pointing over the global financial crisis rapidly spreading, William Waack of Brazil's O Globo warns that developing countries are in no way shielded from the effects - and that blaming others won't do a thing to help Brazil or the world emerge from the hole they are in. Waack writes in part: "'Contagion' … [Read more...] about No Point in Complaining that Credit Crisis ‘Isn’t Our Fault’: O Globo of Brazil
A Whole Lot of McCain-Palin “Little” Impressions—Not Good Ones
We all know, and probably agree with, the saying that "first impressions matter." I also believe that a lot of little impressions can matter a lot. We now have had three debates, two presidential ones and one vice-presidential, and most will agree that none of the candidates have made a single particular big or lasting impression on all Americans in any of those three … [Read more...] about A Whole Lot of McCain-Palin “Little” Impressions—Not Good Ones
Civil Rights Roundup: 10/08/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news A Federal judge has ordered the release of several Chinese Muslim detainees from Guantanamo who have been cleared of links to terrorism for several years. The judge demanded that the men be admitted to the United States immediately, and ordered that immigration services not interfere with them in any way. The US filed an … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 10/08/08