We now come to my own home state and the biggest prize of electoral votes in the race for President. While it is not likely to be in play this fall the candidate are still going to spend some time in the state, if only for purposes of showing the flag. President: California has not voted for a Republican since Ronald Reagan was President and there is no chance that this will … [Read more...] about Election 2008: California
Enviromental Extremism Partly To Blame For Fires
For the past couple of weeks I have been spending more and more time inside as the air outside has gotten worse and worse. Looking into gray skies caused by literally hundreds of fires all over Northern California caused me to take a look at the causes of these fires. Of course the primary cause of the fires was a freak thunderstorm that produced hundreds of lightning … [Read more...] about Enviromental Extremism Partly To Blame For Fires
Georgia Supreme Court weighing mandatory sentence imposed on sex offender
Following up on yesterday's post about the Georgia Supreme Court considering proportionality in a sex offender case, there were some hopeful signs in the courtroom yesterday. Significantly, the court was asked to consider its ruling that freed Genarlow Wilson last year: The request was unusual in that it was made by both the prosecutor who wants the life sentence upheld as … [Read more...] about Georgia Supreme Court weighing mandatory sentence imposed on sex offender
From Der Tagesspiegel: Barack Obama Must ‘Take a Stand’
Is Barack Obama's honeymoon with Europe over already? After months of the most effusive and unrestrained praise for America's first serious Black presidential candidate, some of Obama's most energetic European backers - the Germans - are growing skeptical. Malte Lehming writes for Germany's Der Tagesspiegel: "In the end, a disappointment is a deceit. So it's for the … [Read more...] about From Der Tagesspiegel: Barack Obama Must ‘Take a Stand’
Obama and McCain: the necessity of rebuilding the nation
As Barack Obama and John McCain haggle over immigration and reasons for the energy mess, they are sticking their heads in the sand about the real problem. That problem is the growing loss of faith among Americans in their ability to face the future as they struggle with consumer debt that has risen to $14 trillion from $8 trillion during George Bush’s sojourn in the White … [Read more...] about Obama and McCain: the necessity of rebuilding the nation
Ex-Swift Boaters’ Donations and the ‘Swiftboating’ Connotation
In a USA Today story, “Price of Power: McCain accepts ex-Swift Boaters' donations,” we learn that Senator John McCain, who four years ago condemned the “Swift Boat’s” attacks on Vietnam veteran John Kerry as “dishonest and dishonorable,” has now accepted nearly $70,000 from the top donors of this group. According to USA Today, That's nearly four times the amount … [Read more...] about Ex-Swift Boaters’ Donations and the ‘Swiftboating’ Connotation
Khost, COIN, and America’s Forgotten War
Analyst Barnett Rubin has an eye-opening assessment of developments in Afghanistan. Well worth the read. He notes that despite optimistic accounts from the likes of Ann Marlowe and David Ignatius, the Department of Defense recently revealed that attacks have risen 40% in eastern Afghanistan over the last year. Even Khost province, what some have called the "crown jewel in the … [Read more...] about Khost, COIN, and America’s Forgotten War
Manufacturing a flip-flop
For the past week or so, Barack Obama has been accused nearly non-stop of "shifting positions", "moving to the center" (or to the right, depending on the source), and/or "flip-flopping". While there have indeed been a couple of shifts, there's also a massive amount of disinformation coming out about Obama. He was not, for example, sweepingly against the death penalty. … [Read more...] about Manufacturing a flip-flop
Huffington Wants Obama To Veer Left
In her article posted on Real Clear Politics, Arianna Huffington suggests that Obama should not tack to the center this fall but should instead move to the left. She claims that the her opinion is not based on her own progressive views but instead on real political considerations. However with all due respect I must dispute this claim. If you read between the lines there is … [Read more...] about Huffington Wants Obama To Veer Left
Progressive Voices of Reason
BooMan wants the blogosphere (espcially the progressive blogosphere) to "grow up." From his conclusion: Barack Obama doesn't want to discuss John McCain's military service. It is not a narrative that benefits him. He doesn't want his allies gratuitously attacking the military and its generals. That is not an association that helps him. It's nothing personal. It's strictly … [Read more...] about Progressive Voices of Reason
Merge the DLC and RLC
Steven Thomma wonders about the future of Centrists in the article Does Obama's rise mean less clout for Democratic centrists? They noted that while the Centrist Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) was meeting in Chicago Obama did not attend, even though he was home this weekend. While I favor a Democratic take over of Government in order to correct GOP negligence and … [Read more...] about Merge the DLC and RLC
Oh What A Reversal of Fortune: We’ve Met The Enemy & It’s Our Very Own Leaders
Remember when conservatives warned that dope-smoking hippies were going to destroy America? How ironic since it is our conservative leaders who are doing most of the damage. While those oh-so-liberal Democrats will no doubt have their own chance to screw things up and as it is have been feckless helpmates of the Republicans, the fallout from the 1994 Contract on America … [Read more...] about Oh What A Reversal of Fortune: We’ve Met The Enemy & It’s Our Very Own Leaders
When The Center Cannot Hold: A Moderate Democrat’s Thoughts on Obama’s Current Strategy
Many Democrats have had reason to comment lately on the conventional wisdom that Democrats must always tack to the center to win an election in this country. Count me among those who want to see more challenges to that conventional wisdom (which to me just means 'last year's assumptions'). While I understand the reasons why candidates do it, the fact is that eight years … [Read more...] about When The Center Cannot Hold: A Moderate Democrat’s Thoughts on Obama’s Current Strategy
The Campaign Fundraising Industry
The Boston Globe has this revealing profile of how a Firm gets big cut of campaign donations. Apparently the candidates realize only a modest percentage of the money raised in their name. So along with special interests trying to game our system of public policy we have the political operatives who make their money off of the current private campaign financing fiasco. I … [Read more...] about The Campaign Fundraising Industry
Talking Veepstakes (Guest Voice)
In this Guest Voice "Raging Moderate" political comedian Will Durst takes a look at the Vice Presidential sweepstakes in the Democratic and Republican parties. Talking Veepstakes by Will Durst This seems like a good time to talk about the race for the vice presidency. Not because of the overwhelming excitement involved in what is essentially a backstage safari. And … [Read more...] about Talking Veepstakes (Guest Voice)
Presidential fundraising from small donors enhances perceptions of candidate
So says a report covered here by the Center for Media Research. A new BYU/Harris Poll of 2,602 U.S. adults surveyed in May by Harris Interactive shows that small individual contributions which may limit the "corrupting" influence of large contributions, especially from PACs and lobbyists, could have a lasting impact with the voters. This latest study looks at candidates who … [Read more...] about Presidential fundraising from small donors enhances perceptions of candidate
Clark, Day, and a ‘Licence to Loathe’
Some of you chided me (in a friendly sort of "get-a-grip" way) for my last post. Therein, I confessed my revulsion at the "discovery" that our newest presidential aspirants are nothing more than the same old politicians, after all. To those who scolded, I can only say "point taken, lesson learned" -- which is precisely why I yawned at the maelstroms surrounding the … [Read more...] about Clark, Day, and a ‘Licence to Loathe’
I support the rights of states to choose, unless that doesn’t work out
I do not agree with all of the cases where opponents of Barack Obama have characterized him as "flip flopping" on various issues, and throwing various people or subjects "under the bus." (And no, I do not subcribe to "This Week in Bus and Driver") However, it certainly does appear that the Illinois Senator has once again taken up the issue of gay marriage and done a double back … [Read more...] about I support the rights of states to choose, unless that doesn’t work out
Disassociate
Eric Allie, Caglecartoons.com … [Read more...] about Disassociate
Memo To MoveOn: Tone It Down Or Move On
I don't suffer fools gladly, so I kept MoveOn at arm's length in 2004 and 2006, but after the General Betrayus ad controversy last year finally concluded that these trash talking and tone deaf so-called progressives are bound to do more harm than good as Barack Obama leads the charge to end the Republican hegemony in Washington. And so it was gratifying when the presumptive … [Read more...] about Memo To MoveOn: Tone It Down Or Move On