It's painful to watch the Republican National Convention. Not because of the march of the penguins (Romney, Guiliani, Thompson) or even the snide remarks of their Alaskan bait-and-switch operator("I'm just like Hillary, really"). The most painful part to watch was John McCain. It's because he's the most likeable and was the most honorable, and he's now sold himself to the people who took part in his destruction 8+ years ago.
Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal suggested the solution to Ireland's social and economic problems by fattening up poor children and .... well... you'll have to read it. John McCain proposes that we solve the problems in government by sending in a man who couldn't stand up to his own party, and a women who panders to the worst elements of his party. Swift was using satire; McCain 2008 believes his own BS. The McCain of 2000 (if he's still in there) probably has an ulcer.
John McCain 2000: The Swiftboaters' First MissionSee the section labeled -- Turning McCain's record into a liability - how they did it.
Bring back the real McCainHawkish foreign policy, irresponsible tax cuts, more talk about religion and abortion: all this sounds too much like Bush Three, the label the Democrats are trying to hang around the Republican’s neck. We preferred McCain One.
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12009710
Johnny, We Hardly Know YeWhen it was pointed out that McCain's pronouncements on the economy often do not conform to his official positions, the candidate's chief economic adviser indicated that we should pay attention to the authorized version -- despite the fact that McCain "has certainly I'm sure said things in town halls" that might deviate.
The Risk of the ZingerMcCain likes zingers. We've all seen that mischievous look -- just before he shot a quip or sarcastic one-liner at GOP rivals such as former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. It's one of his appealing qualities, but in this case it worries me. Zingers don't make good foreign policy. They embolden friends and provoke adversaries -- and in the Georgia crisis, that has proved to be a deadly combination.
Palin's nomination was such a shock, not because she was a woman, but because she was a woman with slim qualifications. What did McCain hope to gain by picking this particular woman? Most pundits agree that it was a political strategy aimed to provide him with 3 things: a woman (to get those disgruntled Hillary voters), a pro-life/creationism believer (to get those like-minded Evangelicals), and an historic "first" (in this case, a woman in the White House). Now those Republicans who couldn't come up with a good reason to vote Republican, can now point to these three things and feel just a little more warm and fuzzy about their decision.
But let's get real for a second. What's the point in making history, if the woman we elect takes us back 20 years on women's issues?
Gender discrimination and legalized racial segregation are issues that LIBERALS addressed -- and fought against -- consistently. And I'm not talking about 20-30-40 years ago. I'm talking about issues that are being decided TODAY. For example, Lilly Ledbetter is a former Goodyear Tire and Rubber employee in Alabama who filed a landmark gender pay discrimination suit that went all the way to the Supreme Court. She spoke at the Democratic Convention, but you probably didn't see her unless you were watching C-Span. Her story is compelling and it's even more reason WOMEN should pay close attention to the false rhetoric coming from the Republican party.
Over the past few weeks, I've been talking to a lot of folks about what they're concerned about going into this election. One big topic that keeps coming up is taxes and the economy. I've collected some articles and research over the past few weeks...Here's a quick guide...
Obama's Economic Plan (See section on Middle Class Americans Tax Relief)
FINANCIAL MAGAZINE COVERAGE
CNN/Money: See where the presidential candidates stand on the major economic issues.
CNN/Money: What they'll do to your tax bill
Obama and McCain Tax Proposals
INFO FROM NON-PARTISANS GROUPS
Overview of tax issues from the Tax Policy Center, a joint venture of the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution.
Summary of the Presidential Candidates’ Tax Plans from The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax research group based in Washington, D.C.
EDITORIALS AND OP EDS
All the evidence in the world won’t stop Republicans from claiming, as they always do, that Democrats are going to impose a crippling tax burden on ordinary hard-working Americans. But it just ain’t so.
Economy Is History Siding With Obama’s Economic Plan?
Rich Man’s Burden
Mr. McCain seems to be pretty proud of his "Paris" ad. Or at least the folks who update his website are "stoked". Recently, the McCain website is touting a new Washington Times article that brags: "McCain Takes Lead on YouTube Hits."
Now ask yourself, what's the point of all this? Is McCain really interested in tapping into that YouTube fan base? You bet. Take a minute to look at McCain's website and see what he thinks is important to portray to the world. McCain's site devotes an entire page to his youtube ads against Obama. Take a look at the ones entitled "The One" or "Celeb" and "Family".
Compare McCain's to the multimedia section on Obama's site: http://www.barackobama.com/tv/
Is Obama making fun of McCain's supporters? Insulting their intelligence?
This is about more than just how these men are using the technology to get their message across. As I reviewed different videos from the McCain site, I was surprised and saddened at how cynical he was. In a sense, he's not just making fun of Obama, he's making fun of the hope, progress, and ideas that so many of us are cheering for. What's even more troubling, is that there may be something more insidious behind all of these ads...
Flashback for a moment to June 2001, to a little meeting between Putin and Bush, where the question was asked -- Can we trust Russia?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I will answer the question. I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. We had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul; a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country. And I appreciated so very much the frank dialogue. There was no kind of diplomatic chit-chat, trying to throw each other off balance. There was a straightforward dialogue. And that's the beginning of a very constructive relationship. I wouldn't have invited him to my ranch if I didn't trust him. (Laughter.) (Press Conference by President Bush and Russian Federation President Putin June 16, 2001)
And now, here we are. Do you get the feeling that we've been "played"?
If you've been noticing that gas prices have gone down just a little, don't get complacent and think that this crisis has been resolved. It may be that we have a small reprieve just before it gets really bad. You see, Bush's friend Putin in Russia is getting greedy, and McCain seems to think that we can play hardball, when they have the ball! Instead of trying to find a country/ocean to drill for oil, why don't we break this addiction and try for something else? It is possible to respond to a crisis with a plan for energy independence.
See the recent coverage of energy topics from the Daily Mail (UK) and the NYT.
2008 Voter's Guide with voting information and links to find precinct/polling locations
Information about early Voting in PBC
For those who are looking for more information, the following pages from the website give a good overview of Mr. Obama's policies. To me, they make sense and give an indication of a down to earth, thoughtful plan.
From Senator Obama's Democratic Radio Address: "The Iraqi government now has a $79 billion budget surplus ... And while this Iraqi money sits in American banks, American taxpayers continue to spend $10 billion a month to defend and rebuild Iraq."
Obama's Blueprint for change: A 33-page overview of his policies. Topics include: ETHICS | HEALTH CARE | ECONOMY | Education | Energy | Fiscal | WOMEN | Immigration | Poverty. Each section provides highlights, an at a glance section with coverage of the Issue, Obama's Plan, His Record, and links for more information.
REPORT: THE IMPACT OF THE OBAMA ECONOMIC PLAN FOR AMERICA’S WORKING WOMEN
Booklet: Proposals to support women and families
For more: Women for Obama home page
----> HEARD ANY GOOD GOSSIP LATELY? For those of you who have heard rumors about Obama, or have heard unflattering news reports or sound bites on the news (stop listening to Limbaugh!), here is a place that you can check the facts.
Know-nothingism — the insistence that there are simple, brute-force, instant-gratification answers to every problem, and that there’s something effeminate and weak about anyone who suggests otherwise — has become the core of Republican policy and political strategy.
Your Money: McCain vs. Obama: See where the presidential candidates stand on the major economic issues.
10 things to know about McCain
McCain’s Green-Eyed Monster Not since Iago and Othello obsessed on the comely Cassio, not since Richard of Gloucester killed his two nephews, not since Nixon and Johnson glowered at the glittering J.F.K., has there been such an unseemly outpouring of boy envy.
John McCain spent 5½ years in captivity as a POW in North Vietnam. His first-person account of that harrowing ordeal was published in U.S. News in May 1973.
2008 Florida Voter Registration and Voting Guide
Keep printouts on hand to pass out to new voters or people who need to update their address.
THE GUIDE: http://election.dos.state.fl.us/publications/pdf/2007-2008/2008VoterRegisVoteGuide.pdf
THE APPLICATION IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH:http://election.dos.state.fl.us/voter-registration/voter-reg.shtml#voterApp
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Since my last post our man Obama has returned home to ads comparing him to Britney and "she who shall not be named".
Really. Is that the best they can come up with?
Granted, it was painful to watch McCain grocery shop, hold hands with the Dalai Lama and hang out with the common folk in front of a fudge shop. I hear he's even started looking into the internet.
I respected him in 2000. Now he's had a taste of the W. kool-aid, and methinks he likes it.
Who's been guiding Mr. McCain's ad campaign? Can you say swift vote? In 2004, McCain called these tactics dishonest, and defended Kerry. Hmmm. Wonder what's changed?
On July 3, news reports said Senator John McCain, worried that he might lose the election before it truly started, opened his doors to disciples of Karl Rove from the 2004 campaign and the Bush White House.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/opinion/30wed1.html?hp
http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/obama-britney-paris-the-low-road-express-goes-lower/
Read on for more about McCain's record on women's equality. Also, an editorial that addresses education.
I've been watching from the sidelines for the past two elections, and this time I can't sit idly by -- I'm ready for a change. Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting links to interesting articles and let you know about upcoming events in the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida area.
Today's interesting reading:
