There are three ways you can succeed with a political stunt: 1) The people don't realize it's a stunt and you look selfless on the face of it. 2) The attention given to the event at issue actually helps a substantive problem get solved. People see it as a stunt but one that "raises awareness" of an important issue and gets things done. 3) The opponent overplays his hand … [Read more...] about Assessing the Stunt
Debates, and the Law of Unintended Consequences
I'm really saddened by my reaction to McCain's maneuver statement that he's suspending his campaign in favor of rushing off to lead the country into the sunrise. I've discovered a truly deep well of cynicism about all things political lately. And he wants the first debate postponed until the "crisis is over"? LOL! The elections could very well be over before we're through … [Read more...] about Debates, and the Law of Unintended Consequences
(Updated) McCain: I Be Presidential, So Grab A Bucket & Help Me Bail, Barack My Man
As noted here, last week was the game changer in the 2008 presidential campaign and that finally seems to have sunk in this afternoon as John McCain announced that he was suspending campaigning to help fix the economy, urged Barack Obama to do the same and, oh, wants to hold off on that first debate. The McCain-Sarah Palin campaign is imploding. After campaign spokesmouths … [Read more...] about (Updated) McCain: I Be Presidential, So Grab A Bucket & Help Me Bail, Barack My Man
McCain’s Attendance Record
Here's why I can't view McCain's plan to suspend his campaign and return to Washington until the economic crisis is fixed with anything but cynicism: He hasn't voted in the Senate since April 10, more than five months ago. To be fair, Obama has missed a lot of votes as well. But McCain has missed 64% of votes in the 110th Congress to Obama's 46%. And while the current … [Read more...] about McCain’s Attendance Record
All I Need to Know About the Economy, I Learned from Ikea.
Okay, not really Ikea, but the land where Ikea was born: Sweden. Bruce Strokes has an interesting article on how Sweden faced a similar crisis to what the US is facing now back in the early 90s. You need to read the whole thing, but here is a peek: In the early 1990s, Sweden experienced the worst financial crisis suffered by any industrial country since the Depression. … [Read more...] about All I Need to Know About the Economy, I Learned from Ikea.
Quote Of The Day: On McCain Suspending Campaign And Calling For Debate Postponement
The political Quote of the Day comes from The Politico's Ben Smith on GOP Presidential campaign John McCain's dramatic announcement that due to the economic crisis he is suspending his campaign, heading back to Washington and wants rival Democratic. Sen. Barack Obama to do the same and to postpone Friday's debate: McCain suspends his campaign, and asks to postpone Friday's … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: On McCain Suspending Campaign And Calling For Debate Postponement
A Better Solution Than Bailouts
Paulson and Bernanke would have us believe that there's no alternative to giving banks $700 billion in public funds. That unless we do so, individuals and businesses will be starved of needed cash. But in fact there is a much better solution to our current financial crisis. One that gets money directly to the people who need it, people who will use it for the right purposes, … [Read more...] about A Better Solution Than Bailouts
Outrage Fatigue and Publicly Funded Elections
One of the few remedies I have found for "outrage fatigue" is to offset bad news by giving my time and money to candidates and movements I believe are part of the solution. One of my beliefs is that otherwise pragmatic candidates are influenced by money from special interests and one of the solutions is publicly financed campaigns that allow candidates to run without … [Read more...] about Outrage Fatigue and Publicly Funded Elections
America’s Final Downfall? We Had Better Hope Not!’ – Die Zeit
Is the current financial crisis the latest bit of evidence that the final collapse of American power is at hand? If these weren't the fears of Joschka Fischer, a former German foreign minister that knows the debt that Europeans owe the United States, one could perhaps more easily dismiss these sentiments as 'schadenfreude' [taking pleasure in the pain of others]. For … [Read more...] about America’s Final Downfall? We Had Better Hope Not!’ – Die Zeit
McCain To Suspend Campaign To Focus on Bailout, Urges Obama To Join Him
In a story just breaking over the wires Senator John McCain has announced he is suspending his campaign in order to return to Washington to focus on the bailout legislation. He has also called for Friday's debate to be postponed. So far the Obama campaign has not responded although unofficial word is they may reject the call, at least with regard to the debate. A statement … [Read more...] about McCain To Suspend Campaign To Focus on Bailout, Urges Obama To Join Him
Fox News Poll: Obama Leads McCain 45 To 39 Percent
A new Fox News poll has Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama leading rival Republican Sen. John McCain 45 to 39 percent -- with McCain losing some of the independent voter support he had gained immediately following the Republican convention in a political climate where the economy dominates political discussion: As majorities of each party's faithful back … [Read more...] about Fox News Poll: Obama Leads McCain 45 To 39 Percent
Bill Clinton’s Obama Unenthusiasm Raises More Eyebrows Again
Former President Bill Clinton is back in the political news again, raising eyebrows in various venues. He has raised more eyebrows in Campaign 2008 than a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon.... The latest eyebrow raiser: he says he can't campaign for Democratic Presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama right now because of the Jewish holidays. (Someone needs to inform John McCain, … [Read more...] about Bill Clinton’s Obama Unenthusiasm Raises More Eyebrows Again
McCain Campaign Says Poll Showing Obama With Lead Is Because Poll Is Flawed
As we've noted on this site for the past four years, when a poll shows one side slipping, the partisans sometimes reply by saying that poll is wrong, and the methodology is flawed. And that's just the argument now being made by GOP Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain's campaign: On the heels of a new Washington Post-ABC News poll that showed Barack Obama leading John … [Read more...] about McCain Campaign Says Poll Showing Obama With Lead Is Because Poll Is Flawed
When WILL We Optimize Road Traffic?
OPTIMIZATION ERROR!! You really ever look at how you drive your car to a destination? Not necessarily how you handle the vehicle but how you handle the situations going from point A to B. I know I'm a one-hand eater/driver in my car. I'll set up a bag of fresh onion rings (yes FRESH) in the passenger seat, send the ol' right hand into the bag, and pop the tasty fried … [Read more...] about When WILL We Optimize Road Traffic?
The 2008 Economic Crisis: Consequences And Fix (Guest Voice Part II)
This is the second of three special Guest Voice posts on the present Wall Street economic meltdown by Mikkel Fishman, a TMV reader and frequent writer in our comments section who is also an author and computer scientist. The 2008 Economic Crisis: Consequences And Fix (Part I of III) by Mikkel Fishman In my previous post, I discussed what I believe is the root cause … [Read more...] about The 2008 Economic Crisis: Consequences And Fix (Guest Voice Part II)
Conservative Doubts About the New McCain
With the struggle for his political soul between the Religious Right and Reagan Republicans settled by the choice of a running mate, there are increasing qualms about the new John McCain by traditional voices in his own party. "Under the pressure of the financial crisis," writes conservative icon George Will, "one presidential candidate is behaving like a flustered rookie … [Read more...] about Conservative Doubts About the New McCain
Palin and the Mystery of the Bubble-wrapped Barbie
How did she end up in such a fix? A (very little) bit of commentary here. … [Read more...] about Palin and the Mystery of the Bubble-wrapped Barbie
Behind the Palin E-Mail Hack; No Charges Yet
Ars Technica is reporting that while a grand jury is investigating the Palin e-mail hack, there are no charges yet: The ongoing investigation into the hacking of Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin's Yahoo e-mail account now appears to center on the son of a Democratic state legislator in Tennessee. A federal grand jury convened Tuesday morning in Chattanooga to … [Read more...] about Behind the Palin E-Mail Hack; No Charges Yet
It’s About Time Congress Acted Like Congress
In the context of the proposed massive bailout for our ailing financial system and its troubled actors, I'm thrilled to see members of Congress -- Republicans as well as Democrats -- pushing back on the Executive Branch's proposed plan. If members of Congress, regardless of party, had upheld their constitutionally-prescribed powers five years ago, we might have never invaded … [Read more...] about It’s About Time Congress Acted Like Congress
Police Officer Patrick McDonald (1978-2008)
The murder of any police officer is an outrage, but when Highway Patrol Officer Patrick McDonald yesterday became the fourth Philadelphia cop to be gunned down in 11 months, the financial crisis and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, let alone the presidential campaign, seemed ever more like abstractions. McDonald, a star athlete in high school and eight-year veteran of the … [Read more...] about Police Officer Patrick McDonald (1978-2008)