classicBacsik

Soft White Conservatives in this New Century

In the last few years I've noticed something interesting that has me slightly baffled, i.e., many white guys in their 40s and 50s are suddenly rather sensitive about themselves and about their politics. Considering the source (me), you must have guessed that these are conservative guys. What is most interesting is that they are not historically thin-skinned.

I have two theories: 1) others are maturing faster than me; and 2) the American conservatism dominant during our entire adult lives is coming to an end. I readily acknowledge that I have matured later in all aspects of life when compared to the average white guy in America, so it's possible their brains are becoming mushier faster than mine. But, I'm betting on the second theory.

One long-time friend, let's call him Terry, ran away from all interaction between us without explanation (presumably because of an email wherein someone busted his balls about his politics) and another repeatedly scolded me for Facebook posts that skewered his favorite political team.

As someone who took a long time to escape the mental clutches of organized religion, I recognize that change is a slow process and I see that my right wing brethren are struggling to accept this new progressive era in America. I will endeavor to be more understanding, but because I'm a highly competitive ball-buster from NJ....NAH!

The Republican Playbook - Conservative Hubris

This is Michael Murphy, Republican consultant, who appeared on Meet the Press yesterday and discussed the recent midterm election results.  Specifically, he spewed the party line narrative about how the election was a referendum on conservative politics and that we Americans want conservatives to make the big decisions about our economy.

I will forgive Michael because his livelihood depends on making Republicans happy and his entire adult life has been spent in a conservative era.  However, the rest of the Republicans (and many Democrats) are fooling themselves right out of jobs. 

The most recent conservative era has run its course.  Bush 43 was drunk on the political capital that Reagan and his dad accumulated, and it has cost this country dearly.  The country is moving back toward the left and the rise of the Teabaggers and this last election were roars coming from the dead carcass of 20th century conservatism.  More specifically, why would the country want to install the same type of leaders who got us into the mess of the early 2000s?

During Michael's appearance he said several incorrect things about BHO in 2012: liberals are disoriented with BHO, BHO is took liberal to win, tieing Republicans to millionaires is a political loser, and the country wants conservative politics right now.  Here's what's true: elections are won in the middle, BHO is already sitting in the middle and that's why some liberals are disoriented, liberals will show up for BHO in 2012, and Sarah Palin (and her ilk) are pulling Republicans further and further to the right.   

BHO recognizes that the country has changed.  BHO has calmly and consistently called for bipartisanship, and refuses to play the usual game of shouting louder than the other guy.  He is poised to calmly use the word 'jobs' approximately 100 times each day for the next two years.  He will correctly state that he has tried and tried to work with Republicans, and that Republicans were in control of the House for two years while working only for millionaires.  When Sarah Palin drags the Republican candidate too far right to win, then BHO will be sitting there (in the middle) where over 40% of the country resides and he'll be ready to get re-elected.  Joe Scarborough gets it, but it's probably already too late for the rest of the Republican Party - but not for the rest of the country!

The Palin Factor

This is a simple post with a simple conclusion: Sarah Palin is in it for the money.

Apparently, most pundits and most Republicans are spilling a lot of ink about whether Sarah Palin will run for President.  The answer is: she will do everything in her power to stay in the limelight so that she can make easy money for as long as the country will let her.  If that means that she announces her candidacy, then she will do it.  What is the conundrum?  She is seizing the moment.

Here's the beauty of it all: Republicans are beating their heads against the wall regarding a Palin candidacy and she keeps the Republicans way too far to the right for independents.  Like Meg Whitman here in California, the primaries will force the Republican candidate in 2012 to tack too far to the right to get back to the middle and win.

Simple and beautiful for BHO in 2012.

Obvious Deficit Questions to Republicans

Despite all of the evidence from the Great Depression and the ill-advised rush in 1933 to reduce the deficit, all Republicans (and some Democrats) are posturing on their concerns about our current deficit.  It's almost as if the Republicans would love a double dip recession before 2012 so they can paint the problems all over BHO.  It's like their only goals are to defeat BHO and to give handouts to the wealthy.

Oh yeah, that's exactly what it is?

First question: why must extension of unemployment benefits be paid for yet the Bush tax cuts needn't be paid for?

Second question:  why can't you accept the fact that unemployment benefits are spent in real time on very tangible items (food, rent, etc.) and save hundreds of thousands of jobs because of this spending; and why must you insist that millionaires always create jobs with their windfalls?

Helping the unfortunate at Christmas - WWJD? He would do the exact opposite of what Republicans are advocating.  That cannot be disputed.

Obama's Unemployment Silence?

Why is BHO conspicuously silent on the extension of unemployment benefits?

The prevailing cable news view is that he is unable to adequately convey his priorities to us.  While I agree that he's not great at trumpeting his victories, I believe he has a plan (in conjunction with the Congress) to get the benefits extended before xmas and doesn't feel the need to make it a priority in the press.

I think it's a shame that it might be tied to extension of the Bush tax cuts for those above $250K, but keep an eye out for the deal that extends benefits to see what Obama priorities are also in there.  There's no way the Democrats go home for xmas without extending benefits.

Another Right Wing Conspiracy via Alan Keyes

This Alan Keyes clip requires little by way of introduction or explanation.  It's enough to point out: it's freakin' funny!!

How Are Jesus License Plates Selling in West Palm Beach??

I love these stories and I love ironic statements by politicians.  In response to a question of whether license plates with christian symbols, now available in Florida, violate the separation of church and state - Governor Crist said, 'if you don't want one, don't buy one'.

That's priceless.

How many times have progressives had a 'stay out of my personal life' conversation with conservatives where the progressive says, 'if you don't like it, don't get/buy/listen to what offends you'.

Most of the times when I've had that conversation, it was about a TV or radio program that some tight ass rightie objects to.  I wish I had a dollar for every time I told a rightie, 'turn the channel'.

Of course the christian license plates violate the church/state separation.  Undoubtedly, the State of Florida used public money and/or resources to make the plates - and regardless of what money they recover - they aren't offering other religious options. 

You're wrong, Governor Crist.

Now batting, number 60, Arlen Specter!

Arlen Specter defected to save his political skin, but his skin was threatened because the Republicans are clinging to an unpopular (i.e., ultra-conservative) ideology.  They're learning a hard lesson about denial.

It's no surprise that the right-wing portion of the Republican party, i.e., the only part of the Party that remains, is antagonistic and apocalyptic about Arlen Specter's defection to the Democrats.  Rush and his ilk say 'good riddance' because he hates anything moderate or in moderation.  Mitch McConnell thinks it's the end of the country as he knows it because it removes checks and balances from the Senate.

Tough break losers.

Most Republicans have still not accepted their political disfavor and isolation, and their reactions to this defection is another example of how little they grasp reality.  It's for the good of all of us that they stay in the dark and out of favor - at least until a lot of left wing cleanup can commence.

Historical swings are natural in democracy and we're in the throes of a swing to the left right now.  In a few years, the Democrats will enact something bold enough to turn a majority of moderate voters away from them.  It is then, and only then, that the Republicans will find an issue to rebound with.  Until then, enjoy the rantings and thank Arlen Specter for assisting the new progressive agenda.

Republicans - Are You With Us or Against Us?

In yesterday's NY Times, Frank Rich, summed up the Republican intransigence about the stimulus package with that question about patriotism - Are you with us or against us?

Republicans are currently unpatriotic, by their own post-9/11 definition.  They're against us and they've lined up behind their fuhrer, Rush Limbaugh.

Since 9/11, Republicans were very vocal about how unpatriotic it was to question Little Georgie's every move.  Yet, the Republicans in the House voted unanimously, goose stepping all the way, against the Obama stimulus package.

It is clear that the Republican party has nothing to stand for at the moment, so they choose to stick with the same tired conservative mantras that treated them well for most of the last 25 years.  Sooner or later they will realize that that most recent conservative era is over - just ask John McBush how dragging out all of the tired mantras worked for him?!

Rush will make a lot of money in the next eight years by railing against the establishment.  His lemmings (the faithful 29%) will always 'rush' to hear his latest soothing rants, but it will do them no good in the new liberal America.  It's time for the other 29% to get aboard this train (as we all did after 9/11) and worked toward recovery instead of hoping it fails. 

From Hero to National Joke

The Disingenuous Duo Strike Again!

This is from Governor MILF's interview with Charlie Gibson, who is Sarah Palin talking about here?

"Charlie, again, we've got to remember what the desire is in this nation at this time, It is for no more politics as usual and somebody's big, fat resume maybe that shows decades and decades in that Washington establishment, where, yes, they've had opportunities to meet heads of state."

If you guessed 'John McCain', I would have to give you partial credit. 

This little 30 second ditty from last year's Republican debates is quite amusing in it's own right.  McBush makes a clear distinction between his record and that of MAYOR Giuliani and GOVERNOR Mitt Romney while discussing his foreign policy experience.

No doubt it'll show up in a Democratic ad.  This shows, once again, that it's McBush first and country second.  He would endanger a country to win an election!

How about if we get the truth straight from the horse's mouth (btw, the horse's mouth reference is in no way a slur against McBush, the MILF, or any other Republican, living or dead!).  In just 11 seconds he admits that he's out of touch with the rest of us.

The Shrub, McBush, and Osama bin Laden - An October Surprise!

I want to expound on Keith Olbermann's comments on Countdown last night.  John W. McBush has been running around for almost a year claiming that he'd chase Osama bin Laden to the gates of hell and that he will catch him.  Here's the rub - if you know how to catch bin Laden, why won't you inform the current government of how to do it?

Practice what you preach, McBush.  You say that it's about country first, so stop blackmailing the electorate into making you President before you'll tell us how to catch him.

Osama bin Laden's death will be reported before the election and the Shrub will give partial credit to McBush and some phony intelligence that he provided.   In order to save some of his legacy, the Shrub will announce the October Surprise with McBush at his side.  It will have been crucial information that McBush passed along to the Shrub, presumably through his 'extensive' ties within the military while he was on a fact-finding tour of Afghanistan.

It won't matter how far fetched this story is, it will only matter that the message is: McBush will keep you safe.  Look for this circus on the White House lawn as soon as the lipstick comes off the pig that is Sarah Palin (aka The MILF).

The McBush Campaigns Wants Deference for the MILF

The McBush campaign pimps are being very careful with their prized money maker.  They are only planning to tramp her out for the big donors because that's where her extremist views are appreciated most.

But, are they really extreme views? No one has been able to ask her anything, so we don't really know for sure.  Perhaps the McBush campaign is slowly realizing that she is way too extreme for mainstream America?

To that end, the campaign announced that the MILF will meet with Charles Gibson of ABC at the end of the week.  However, the campaign demanded that the media treat her with respect and deference!!!

Are you kidding me? Will Putin treat her with deference? Will the Middle East leaders treat her with deference? Of course not.  There's a very real reason that they're avoiding letting us vet the MILF - they didn't do it properly!!!

The Shrill MILF and What She Prays For

The Shrill MILF video from this summer at her long-time Assembly of God church is certainly disturbing in one very scary way - re-igniting the religious fervor over Iraq as a Crusade.  The MILF says that the troops in Iraq are there to do God's bidding - actually, 'our national leaders are sending them out on a task from god'.  I'm not familiar with that particular god, but I don't understand how McBush could choose an unqualified, extremist candidate for VP. 

Oh, wait, HE DOESN'T GET IT!

This election is about change, not social issues.  The MILF is an extremist and her first real-life gaffe is coming soon.  Stay tuned.

McBush and the Shrilf Just Don't Get It!

After the dust settles, the Repugnicants will not like this speech by McBush tonight.  It was disjointed and poorly delivered, and it admitted fault for the last eight years. 

There was only passing reference to George W. Bush and only with the word, President, and it didn't look anywhere toward the future or any single problem facing most of us today.  McBush attempted to become the agent for change in this election by admitting the party's mistakes in great detail. 

McBush was told that he couldn't get his way and pick Lieberman as running mate because that wasn't conservative enough, so he took 15 minutes to vet the Shrilf to look like a conservative.  Similarly, he was told that this would be about change, so he took 15 minutes to write this speech and attempt to be the change agent.  Both forced decisions were necessary but fraught.

This election is not about the same, tired social conservatism wrapped in the prettier cover of the Shrilf or about a long-time Washington insider shedding his skin tonight - it is about real CHANGE and McBush and the Shrilf JUST DON'T GET IT!

McBush: Do As We Say, Not As We Do!

It's good 'ol Repugnican Family Values again tonight, and once again for the disingenuous duo, McBush and the MILF say one thing but do another. 

On Monday, the McBush team tried to bury the Bristol and the bastard child story, and then they told the world that the family should be left out of the equation.  We were told that the bastard's father's identity was closely guarded, so most of the world - particularly Democrats and Obama - stayed away.

YET THE REPUGNICANS COULDN'T HELP THEMSELVES, AND IN THE INTEREST OF FAMILY UNITY THEY ARE PARADING THIS HORNY LITTLE KID, LEVI JOHNSTON, TO THE CONVENTION AND OUT INTO THE BIGGEST MEDIA CIRCUS IN THE WORLD.

WHAT A COMPLETE CROCK OF SHIT. 

The Bastard's father is likely to be on his best behavior, but any stunned, confused look will only highlight the unnecessary pandering display we will see tonight.

Never mind the signs all over Minneapolis, for McBush it's 'Politics First'.

Devout Christian, Sarah Palin, Giggles At Mockery of Political Rival

This audio link is a heartless appearance by the MILF on an Alaskan radio show and it displays her egregious lack of christian concern for a female political opponent, Lyda Green (President of the Alaska Senate).  Like a giddy, little schoolgirl she revels in the mockery of a rival.

On a related note, the message from the Republicans about the MILF is: you're a sexist if you criticize the MILF's qualifications to be VP (I choose to use the moniker, MILF, in a positive, she's hot way.  Others may see it differently!).  Since the announcement of the MILF as John W. McBush's running mate, I have heard many Republican surrogates instantly revert to the 'sexist' card whenever someone challenges her qualifications. 

Will these same surrogates take offense to the MILF's giggling on behalf of Lyda Green and all women?  It's doubtful.

At one moment, the Republicans want us to look at her record and not her sex, but when a Democrat offers the opinion that her record is not sufficient for the Vice Presidency - sex becomes an issue.  Several female Republican congresswomen (e.g., Molinari) and a few Republican operatives (e.g., Bay Buchanan) have taken instant offense, as a woman, and on behalf of women everywhere.

The MILF is an Alaskan, a hunter, and a mooseburger eater.  If I declare that she is unqualified for the Vice Presidency, am I insulting those groups of people as well? Of course not.  This knee jerk response by Republicans is sexist in its own fashion because the respondents are not allowing someone to judge the MILF as a person.

McBush and the MILF Disingenuous about 'Bristol decided to keep the baby'

What? Another wholesome, Republican family is dealing with an unplanned, out of wedlock, pregnancy!!  Raging hormones don't seem to understand ideology.

It appears that the McBush campaign knew that, Bristol, the 17-year old daughter of the MILF-in-chief was 5 months pregnant, and she was not married.  They released this information today so as to avoid confusion in the media (not because Gustav was dominating the news).  But keep in mind, the irresponsible parents will be married soon - allegedly.

Unlike my right wing friends, I don't hold this information against anyone.  I don't care whether she keeps the baby and/or she marries the father.

Here's the big disconnect.  In the official press release, a McBush aide insisted a key point to keep in mind is that Bristol decided to keep the baby, and it's a decision "supported by her parents."

While those six words, 'Bristol decided to keep the baby' are factual and legally true - and we're thankful for that - they are disingenuous and off the mark.

Bristol's mother and her anti-choice ilk must remove these six words from any discussion about this bastard child.   Her rigid ideology forbids this option because, under their strict canons, she never really had a choice.  The MILF must be held accountable for these words uttered today, 'We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby...'

Either your pro-choice or your anti-choice! 

Interestingly, the head of the Alaska delegation to the Republican convention stated, in response to the news, that, 'life happens'.  This is the standard right wing response at times like these (remember Dan Quayle in 1988), but that doesn't square with their policies.  If you understand that 'life happens' and children don't always listen to their parents, then you must drop your antiquated policies and allow the rest of the 300 million Americans to enjoy the same freedom of choice.

The right wing and the McBush campaign must stop this disingenuous bull.  If you want to end 'choice' from all of our lives, then you can NEVER, EVER say those six words without losing all credibility on this issue. 

McBush and the MILF First; Country Second

Okay, this is what the Republicans wanted, so I'm giving it to them.  The perfect - we really care about people - photo op in advance of the storm tomorrow. 

Mississippi governor (and ex-RNC chair) Haley Barbour allegedly invited McBush and the MILF to Jackson for a 'briefing' (not to be confused with photo op) on the imminent storm.  Don't they look concerned and presidential???

Less than 24 hours from landfall, I'm sure that there is nothing better for the governor of Mississippi to be doing than escorting these three new BFFs around Jackson.  I'm sure that they couldn't have been briefed via conference call!!

McBush will be screaming 'Country First' for the next 65 days, but this photo op is really 'McCain First' when he shows up and has resources diverted to his photo op.  Don't forget that during the Iowa floods out of respect for the wishes of the governor of Iowa (no photo ops, please), Obama stayed away and McBush showed up.

McBush and the MILF: The Palin Pick is Irresponsible!

A crotchety old senator, with a penchant for beauty queens, is running for President.  The extreme wing of his party threatens a 3rd candidate will oppose him if he doesn't shore up his conservative credentials, so the crazy old senator selects an unqualified, but sexy, governor/mayor/hockey mom - who he's only met once - as his running mate.  They load into the campaign bus and the hilarity ensues.  See it this fall on the RNC network - McBush and the MILF. 

Hopefully it'll be cancelled after just eight weeks.

Full marks to Bill Maher for his hilarious moniker of the Republican ticket: the Maverick and the MILF!  But this blogger prefers not to distinguish John W. McBush as a maverick, ergo...the Republican ticket will be referred to herein as McBush and the MILF.  It would be funny if it weren't so serious. 

Sarah Palin is an amazingly irresponsible choice for VP.  When McBush is having surgery and Vice President MILF is in charge, and Vladimir Putin decides it's time to go into the Ukraine, do you want her to be answering the phone at 3am? Of course not.  Do you want her to be managing your military son or daughter? Of course not.  This is a reckless, clueless pick.

All day today, the Republican talking heads, in lauding the pick of Sarah Palin as McBush's running mate, are claiming that her executive experience trumps that of Barack Obama.

This is fundamentally unsound and foolish for three solid reasons:

1) If executive experience is the important factor and she's more qualified than Barack Obama, then she is also more qualified than John McBush;

2) George W. Shrub had executive experience; and

3) Barack Obama is a very intelligent student of the world.  He has studied local, national, and international issues his entire life.  He has been preparing for this job his entire life.

This story should not have to be told, but the Republicans will continue to hammer this experience message and the Democrats will continue to respond in some fashion in these three ways.  Hopefully.

The McBush Gimmick - Lightweight Sarah Palin

The happiest person in the world must be Dan Quayle.  At least Dan Quayle was a Senator with some national experience.

John McBush selected the governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, to be a heartbeat away from the most important job in the world.  She's been the mayor of a hamlet of 9,000 people, she been the governor of the 47th most populous state for 20 months, and she has recently said, 'I don't really know what's going on in Iraq because I've been concentrating on my state and my kids'.

Is this real?  This person should be the Vice President????

NO!  Of course not, this is ridiculous, desperate, and insulting.

Here's what a right wing, Republican talking head said about Sarah Palin's foreign policy experience.  This is truly all that they've got!!

A beauty contestant as a mate and as a running mate!  Thanks for giving America back to the Democrats and to the American people, John.

Unity: the Compelling Narrative is Complete!

The Democratic convention displayed a powerful consistent unity narrative from start to finish.  We saw an Obama (Michelle), two Clintons, and another Obama clearly demonstrate that the Democrats have one goal - defeat John McBush.  In the middle we got plenty of cohesion that spotlighted Joe Biden.  The four days flowed beautifully toward the knockout punch delivered by Barack.  It was fantastic political theater and a wonderfully ascendant narrative.

Many political pundits are calling the just completed Democratic national convention the most well orchestrated convention in history.  For me, it rivals the sense of cohesion I saw at both of Ronald Reagan's coronations.  One of the beautiful things about tonight is that it wasn't a royal coronation (like those of Reagan), it was a celebration of unity under Barack Obama.

Obama came onto the scene exploiting the non-war, unity niche.  We all realize that but for Hillary's one vote in 2002 to allow force against Iraq, she would be our candidate today.  Therefore, Obama has used his consistency call for unity, in the country as well as in his party, to get to this point.

I was ready for the 'why can't we all get along' speech but, for the first time in a while, we had a Democratic Presidential candidate who didn't step lightly around his opponent nor did he allow the Republicans to dictate the post convention spin (as they had throughout July and August).  Obama called McBush on his volatile temperament (you'll hear this word a lot), his lack of judgement, and his ideological ties to the Shrub.  He talked about his normal upbringing, and showed white America many images of his white family (mother and grandparents).  He referenced Martin Luther King glancingly, and only at the end of the speech. 

Barack Obama is qualified to be President and will roll through these last 67 days.

Wesley Clark Speaks a Truth about McBush

Wesley Clark made a simple point the other day that John W. McBush's experience in the military did not explicitly qualify him to be president (the comments are given below).  In their zeal to make news, some media outlets stated that Clark 'swift-boated' McBush. 

In fact, he merely made a point about serving in the military versus holding a position of responsibility for the lives of troops during war.  If Clark had been shortlisted for VP, the media will never let it happen now, and that's too bad.

Clark's comments:

BOB SCHIEFFER: How can you say that John McCain is untested and untried, General?

CLARK: Because in the matters of national security policy making, it's a matter of understanding risk. It's a matter of gauging your opponents and it's a matter of being held accountable.

John McCain's never done any of that in his official positions. I certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in the armed forces, as a prisoner of war. He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee. And he has traveled all over the world.

But he hasn't held executive responsibility. That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded—that wasn't a wartime squadron. He hasn't been there and ordered the bombs to fall. He hasn't seen what it's like when diplomats come in and say, I don't know whether we're going to be able to get this point through or not. Do you want to take the risk? What about your reputation? How do we handle this publicly? He hasn't made that calls, Bob.

SCHIEFFER: Well, General, maybe—could I just interrupt you?

CLARK: Sure.

SCHIEFFER: I have to say, Barack Obama has not had any of those experiences, either, nor has he ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down. I mean...

CLARK: Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.

I'm Voting Republican!

It's an amusing three minute video about what a vote for John W. McBush means: http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/

Much Respect for Hillary and Step One Toward Helping Obama

Hillary Clinton endorsed Barack Obama for president today.  It was a very good Step One toward Democratic unity for the next 5 months.  There are still some bitter Hillary supporters.  As a competitor and a fanatical sports follower, I understand the agony of defeat (notice a little shout out to the recently deceased Jim McKay!) that they feel, but they will come around in due time.  None of them will truly vot e for McBush. 

I realize that no concession speech is easy - even if it comes four days after the actual defeat.  But as we've discussed before, Hillary made her bowing out gracefully deal several weeks ago.  Now that she has wrapped her head around the loss, she will be an aggressive supporter of Senator Obama.  The next step is facilitating Obama's use of her resources. 

McBush and Illegal Wiretapping - More of the Same

Two articles on the front page of today's New York Times about Bush's lies and McCain's feelings about executive privilege arrive at the start of the Obama out-of-primary election season, and draw clear distinctions between the two candidates. 

First, the long delayed Senate Select Committee on Intelligence finally hit the streets and, like Scott McClellan's tattling, give us little more than we already knew.  The sad part of the report is that the committee does not recommend further action about the Bush administration lies leading up to the Iraq war, and thus we will have no further action. 

Second, with all of the well-known Bush lies we fully expect him to claim executive privilege in undertaking anything that he can't readily, and legally, sell to us.  In this matter, McBush would continue to circumvent the law whenever he deemed it in the nation's interest.  It was a McBush advisor who spilled the beans yesterday and the campaign did not refute them, even though they digress from previous McBush positions. 

The Republicans will always claim that Democrats are flip floppers and this year is no exception.  We see it every four years.  But, on the issue of illegal wiretapping of domestic spying on American citizens - Obama says 'he will uphold the law' and McBush panders to his conservative base and says 'no one is beyond suspicion'. 

This is a good starting point/talking point for the Obama campaign - McBush is trying to extend little George's reign for four more years.

Is Hillary Ready to be a Team Player?

First, congratulations to Barack Obama and to our party for an amazing five months of primaries.

So far, so good with respects to the Democrats fence mending and cohesion, but I'm a little concerned.

The action in the 2008 Democratic primaries has played out as I predicted several weeks ago in this space, so this is no time for Hillary to get fickle.  She signed the deal to get repaid, and to gain some leverage within the party and the Senate beginning in the fall.  In return, she'll allow Barack to talk to long-time Clintonite, Wesley Clark, as a potential running mate, so why the 'strong' indication that she'd accept the VP nomination if it was offered to her?

Earlier tonight, MSNBC was reporting that a source, very close to the Clintons, said that she'd accept the nod.  Hillary, sweetie, the deal was that you'd garner some additional clout, pay your bills, and work hard in the fall for Barack.  We all knew that you were not getting the VP call because Bill and you will shatter the entire concept of change.  But, most importantly: you voted for the Iraq war!

Hillary has been brave and strong throughout this primary season, and she would make an excellent president, but it isn't going to happen.  She needs to re-read the deal that was signed after the NC primary,  tell all of her supporters that she's 100% behind Obama, take a well-earned vacation, and come out fighting for the team in September.

Thankfully, McBush Keeps Tacking to the Right

It comes as no surprise that the critical difference for the Republicans between Barack Obama and John W. McBush in this year's election will be 'experience'.  McBush will use his experience card.  Obama will use his relative distance from the Shrub and McBush keeps making points that help Obama. 

McBush spoke before the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) today and sharpened the his distinction - the US should not, and he will not, sit down at the table with our enemies, particulary Iran (Obama will speak to the AIPAC on Wednesday).

A Gallup poll shows that 59% of Americans believe we should be talking with our enemies, so this number should bear out in the general election (barring any major, aggressive actions by the likes of Iran). 

Obama's speech on Wednesday will be an important one, but we all know that, when push comes to shove, our Jewish friends who vote will vote overwhelmingly Democratic.  Even the staunchest, American Jewish protectors will realize that Obama's election does not imperil Israel's existence.

Finally, Florida and Michigan Pay the Price for Subversion

Senator Hillary Clinton and her supporters were driven back metaphorically by the members of the Democratic National Committee rules committee today (and driven away literally by the Washington rain) when the committee voted to seat all Florida and Michigan delegates, but to give them only half a vote (the picture is of a vocal Clinton supporter at the public portion of the meeting).  The final tally was a 24 delegate gain for Senator Clinton.  She is still roughly 176 delegates behind Senator Obama with only three primaries left.

Senator Clinton was in Dade County, Florida today invoking all kinds of civil injustices in order to draw potential parallels to her plight.  Let's remember, when the DNC decided that Florida and Michigan had broken party rules and moved their primaries forward, both Senators Obama and Clinton were fully behind it (Obama never put his name on the Michigan ballot).  She was the frontrunner in those days and has ever since tried to move the primary race goalposts.  Today's vote was her last hurrah in that regard.  She can't claim she won the popular vote or any other metric in the race.

After Tuesday's primaries, I'll hold my breath to see if she graciously calls it a race and starts working toward victory in November - as promised by she and her husband - by uniting the party over the summer.  Let's hope the price of her concession is not nomination as VP.  I'm cheering for Jim Webb or Wesley Clark.  Either one of these guys should be the nail in John W. McCain's presidential coffin.

The McClellan book - 'So?'

Scott McClellan wrote a book criticizes the White House for, among other things, lying about the lead in the Iraq war.  In the immortal word of our slimey VP - 'so?'

If he had written a happy story about his blissful, right-wing life in the White House would Republicans buy the book? No.  Would any Democrats bother? Certainly not.  That left McClellan with one other option - tell everyone that Bush is a liar and Cheney is worse.  But seriously, so what?

Everyone on the planet knows that Bush lied about Iraq, that they covered up the Valerie Plame affair, and that they ran the White House as a continuous, partisan, political campaign.  We also know that this administration is filthy with scandal fleas.

I hope Scott is able to sell a few books to pundits and Democrats, and I hope he gets 15 minutes of mileage on the tak show circuit.  Perhaps it'll be enough money to keep him happy in his rocking chair for the rest of his life because why would anyone hire this guy?

Veterans might be Bushwacked on GI Bill

This administration (as well as John W. McCain) are shamelessly opposing the GI Bill, currently being worked through Congress, because the increase in higher education benefits might decrease enrollment (their warped view) and deny McCain (Bush 44) increased fodder for future wars.

Their rationale is based on a Congressional Budget Office prediction that re-enlistments would drop by 16% with the additional benefits, however, the same CBO predicts an INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT OF 16% BECAUSE OF THE BILL!

The good news for post-9/11 vets (with a minimum service of 3 years) is that the House has passed a veto proof bill (4 years of tuition at a public university) and the Senate bill was drafted by two Vietnam vets (Webb and Hagel).  This is just as generous as the post-WWII bill which is widely regarding as one of the most effective pieces of legislation in US history.  Call your Senators!

Kevin James: Right Wing Mouthpiece Jerk

How amazing was the loudmouth Kevin James' appearance on Chris Matthews' Hard Ball (see it here).  The new buzzword is 'appeasement' and Barack Obama is Neville Chamberlain.  That's how Kevin James was sent out in the world by the Republicans to tag Barack Obama in the wake of the Shrub's Knesset speech.  It signifies how deep into their bench of shills the Republicans have to go to get their talking points out to the world these days; James is clearly a minor leaguer who let his eagerness to get into the game ruin his big break.

This right wing mouthpiece jerk was caught like a deer in the headlights.  Chris Matthews correctly and firmly put him in his place and gave Obama the signature retort to all of this appeasement nonsense, 'every smart leader in history talks to their enemies.  only a weak leader appeases'. 

To be fair to poor little Kevin, his bio says that he was an entertainment lawyer.  Therefore, this isolated LA lawyer boy had no real chance against a national media figure.  He'll disappear from national view as quickly as he started, no doubt.

If you could shut up long enough to read this, Kevin, the Shrub has appeased the Iranians through his hubris in Iraq.  Shrub leaves office with his country and himself weaker in the eyes of the world - just like Neville Chamberlain did! 

Thank you, Mr. Worst President Ever

Today was a good day for Barack Obama.  Fresh off of John Edwards endorsement, he took the day off from campaigning and received a gift from our clueless President. 

The gift came in two forms: 1) as a not-so-veiled reference to Obama while the Shrub was speaking in front of the Israeli Knesset; and 2) his nonsense overshadowed John W. McCain's big speech on Iraq!

While marking the historic 60th anniversary of the state of Israel, Shrub likened 'some leader' to a Nazi appeaser in the US Senate (never mind that that Senator was a Republican!).  The concept was that Obama would appease the terrorists ('the false comfort of appeasement') by meeting with them.  His press secretary later said that it was not about Obama, but her credibility is as bad as Shrub's, so excuse me if I ignore Ms. Perino.

Are we clear about how ridiculous our President appears to the world? He marked a tremendous anniversary with a political dig against a politician who he 'isn't' even running against!  The gift is: now Obama can run against Shrub and make this point loud and clear - 'The worst president in history, who has made a collosal mess of the Middle East and still hasn't caught bin Ladin, disagrees with how I might handle the terrorist situation'. Can you see how that helps Obama - and it's not even his birthday!

It's conceivable that John W. McCain and the White House were in cahoots with the timing of events yesterday.  Though, I don't believe that Shrub's straw men are still working - it's his old tired 'soft about war' diatribe and the country is beyond that nonsense this year.

W. McCain (Bush 44) said that he believed the President was not referring to Obama, and his message to the world about his own Iraq policy (troops will still be there in Jan 2013) was drowned out.  Bush 44 took the 'soft on war' label once step further; he went on to liken the mysteriously-referenced person in Shrub's speech to the most infamous of appeasers, Neville Chamberlain (a conservative politician, by the way) in his response.  Bush 44 believes, like the Shrub, that power through might is the best course of action, and while that may sometimes be true (think Reagan in 1980), but this belies the current sentiment in the country where we're fighting two wars without any direction - why would he think we want another?  Peace and the ecomony are the buzzwords in '08, Mr. Bush 44.

Thank you, Mr. Worst President Ever.  We'll gladly put you front and center in this battle.

The Democrats Gleefully Plod Along Toward June 3

There are only three more weeks until the last Democratic primary and the coronation of Barack Obama as the presumptive nominee.  No one should begrudge Hillary for prancing around tonight in the wake of the West Virginia result.  Not after last week when, in the face of defeat, she bravely proclaimed that she still had a chance to win the nomination.  It would have been embarrassing for Obama if he lost last night to a non-candidate, so she did right by him and by the Democrats. 

Obama continues to concentrate on John W. McCain; McCain continues to concentrate on Obama; and Hillary continues to stay away from attacking Obama (while hoping for an October surprise before she cashes in).  It's a cozy little triumverate that will continue for three more weeks.  I'm sure there are still some pundits (and voters) who believe that she is sincere about winning, but most of us know that the deal has been struck.

As I've written before, Hillary's debts will be taken care of and she'll open the door for Obama to consider some of her allies as his VP candidates (e.g., Wesley Clark); there is no chance that she'll be on the ticket as VP.  All in the interest of party unity.

Mississippi Portends Bad News for the Republicans

Even Tricky Dick Cheney spent all of Monday in Mississippi (no, not shooting his friends with birdshot!) stumping for the Republican candidate in a special election, and it was to no avail!  The Republican lost in a district that voted over 60% for the Shrub in 2004; things have gotten pretty bad for the GOP when Mississippi turns its back on them.

The attached news story from Mississippi is a coy attempt at fairness to the Democrat, Travis Childers - it leads in with an attack ad linking Childers to Obama and therefore, Jeremiah Wright!!!  They suggest, as the Republican candidate does, that because Barack Obama's website asks for money for Childers that it's a full endorsement, but Obama and Childers are too smart to come out with a full endorsement in MIssissippi.  Instead, they ride the anti-Shrub bandwagon to victory. 

Tonight, Mike Huckabee acknowledged that the Mississippi defeat was difficult for the Republicans then he tried to paint John W. McCain as strongly independent of the White House, so as not to link the bad news with Bush 44, but it won't work.  Huckabee and everyone else who is listening to the primary season narrative knows that Obama will paint McCain as Bush 44 and his campaign as Bush's third term, and it will work.  After tonight's Mississippi result it is just a matter of the Republicans stopping the red state blood from flowing too freely!

Party Like It's 2008 - Obama and the Millenials

I've co-opted most of Frank Rich's Sunday Times headline (5-11-08) in this post's title because the article is a solid appraisal of the current presidential race (see the full article here).  A sidelight of his argument is that the millenials (those born after 1982) have been a key element of Obama's primary victories and could be the key ingredient in his general election victory, provided that they show up in equal numbers in November.  Those of us with a history of backing the same candidate as 20-somethings and 30-somethings know what it's like to be disappointed by these age groups (even when I was part of those groups), both in primaries and generals (e.g., Gary Hart, Paul Tsongas, Joe Biden, Mike Dukakis).

Mr. Rich suggests that 21st century activism lends itself to getting up and going to the voting booth.  Perhaps the mere act of writing about politics in your blog, webpage, and MySpace spurs additional thought and action (i.e., voting) than just talking about it at keg parties with your peers.  Perhaps it is this web exposure to all types of thinking (however crazy it can be!) that stimulates the brains of the age group that we like to condemn to lazy web-surfing and video-playing.

Whatever their motivation, we are glad to have them on board.  I will stop condemning their physically inactive interests and start praising their intellectual interests in the hope that this positive karma will spread to all of us come November!

The Dems Will Negotiate Their Way Out of This Race with 'Love'!

At the moment of this writing, the Indiana Democratic primary results are not final, but the race is over!  The Democratic powers-that-be will put on the big pressure tomorrow, but I believe that Hillary and Barack have already negotiated a cozy way out of this.

On the evening of May 20 after Hillary wins Kentucky and West Virginia, and Barack wins Oregon, the brokered deal will culminate in smiles and handshakes as each candidate goes out on a high note.  Barack will concede Florida and Michigan to Hillary, the superdelegates will have mostly weighed in, and we will have our candidate!

The last vestige of the political capital that Hillary can cash in on will be Barack's running mate, and it will be the guy that I've been rooting for all along - Wesley Clark!  Wesley Clark was too much a Clintonite to get the nod, even two weeks ago, but with the new dynamic that we witnessed after each candidate spoke tonight the path is open for this solid VP with immense defense credentials.

What a good looking winning ticket.  In the end, against even my predictions, Hillary's persistence will have one of the most positive effects on the race and our history come November.

The Wright Denunciation and What about Hagee?

I don't imagine that many people are surprised by Reverend Jeremiah Wright's recent egocentric ramblings in the spotlight.  He's merely grabbing his 15 minutes of national attention.  The cable networks will tire of him soon enough even though the Republicans will beat this story like a drum in the fall.  So be it.  Enjoy your retirement, Jeremiah.

Senator Obama painstakingly denounced his long-time friend in the interest of his political campaign, but who can blame him.  His 'friend' took to the airwaves like a fly to shit in order to bask in his own glare.

In the mean time, presidential hopeful John 'W' McCain, Jr. has said he is "glad to have" John Hagee's support and "admires" the leadership of the Texas pastor - who has declared God has cursed and doomed America. McCain, who has said he "admires" Hagee's leadership of the pastor's San Antonio-based Cornerstone megachurch, actively sought out pastor Hagee's  political endorsement. McCain has not disavowed Hagee's support regardless of growing public controversy over the pastor's speech and writing which has been characterized, variously, as anti-Catholic, anti-Jewish, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-gay, and misogynist.

The media light is fading on Rev. Wright personally.  It will be illuminated again by the mudslingers in the RNC (John 'W' McCain will distance himself from the ads that connect Wright with Obama).  But, by the time the campaign really heats up after Labor Day, Obama's beacon of light should drown out these little fireflies.

ABC 'Muderators' Embarassed Themselves with Dems Debate

After 30 minutes of last night's Clinton/Obama debate, I was clawing the chair and screaming at the TV.  I was seriously dismayed and embarrassed for my country.  Anyone on the planet, outside of the beltway, had to be aghast with the lack of substance and attention to trivial 'gotchas'.  Stephanopoulos and Gibson must have realized, with their ratings as low as they are, that no one was really watching it live, so let's extend the debate's shelf life through sound bite creation.

Even though there are very few policy differences between the candidates, there are more than enough real issues to discuss and flesh out details from the Dems.  In the end, it's George and Charlie who should be embarrassed as moderators, pundits, and Americans. 

MSNBC's Howard Fineman offered the only other plausible explanation for the vacuity of the moderators.   They, along with virtually everyone else, realize that Obama will be the nominee, so the debate was nothing more than practice for the Republican's inevitable negativity in the presidential race and debates in the fall.   I might suggest also, that none of the candidates are going to risk a new, sweeping policy statement at this hour of the campaign, so the 'muderators' will wait until the feathers start flying after labor day to inspire talk about substance (anyone who's ever watched recent presidential debates knows that that's unlikely also!). 

These are long shots and this was a farce.

It's not the first debate riddled with trivialities, but I'm ashamed for my country today. 

Bush on Climate Change........So!

Is there anything less relevant than George Bush discussing climate change? Scientist, please.

Bush's disingenuousness on the eve of the Paris summit of 17 industrialized nations, and in light of his rejection of Kyoto, is utterly laughable and sad.  An attempt to 'clean' up his environmental legacy and affect the discussion past his administration.  It won't.  We'll have a cap and trade-like system in place with the next Congress and President.

To the average person it may seem that Bush is part of the discussion, but nothing could be further from the truth.  In a statement entitled "Bush's Neanderthal speech," German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel said: "His speech showed not leadership but losership. We are glad that there are also other voices in the United States.

The climate negotiations have the delicate task of bridging the US on one side and the EU and developing countries on the other -- and Bush's critics said his speech had provocatively staked out old positions already blamed for prolonged stalemate.

"In effect, the US wants developing countries that already face huge poverty and development challenges to pay for what the US and other highly industrialized countries have caused over the past 150 years," South African Environment and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said.

"On this issue, the current US administration is isolated. It is them against the overwhelming majority of the world, developed and developing countries alike."

In Bali last year, the UN International Panel on Climate Control recommended 25-40% reductions in carbon emissions by 2020 (based on 1990 emissions levels).  Currently, the US is responsible for 25% of the world's emissions and we're 16% over 1990 levels.

Bush's Neanderthal approach is to allow emissions to peak in 2025 with no discussion of reductions.

Goodbye, Mr. Irrelevant.

Bitter Blue Collar America

“It’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or antitrade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

Senator Obama could have worded this better.  At minimum, he should have used 'angry' instead of 'bitter.  But the sentiment is basic and widely understood, so why the outcry? 

Hillary and her ever present sense of entitlement. 

Is Obama an elitist? Hardly and, in spite of her persistence, Obama is only 5% behind in Pennsylvania.  Hillary will not be able to make this one stick, not even with another crappy 3am commercial, and the superdelegates will do right by the voters in August. 

Petraeus Charade. So?

I could go on and on about the charade of Petraeus and Crocker (The Surge Twins according to Maureen Dowd!) in front of the Foreign Relations Committee, but everyone knows there was nothing of substance.  The presidential candidates got their photo ops and attempts at looking presidential, and the Bush lackeys verified that the war is now the next president's problem.  Wouldn't it have been easier to just roll the tape from last year.

Petraeus: "I recommended to my chain of command that we continue the drawdown of the surge combat forces and that, upon the withdrawal of the last surge brigade combat team in July, we undertake a 45-day period of consolidation and evaluation. At the end of that period, we will commence a process of assessment to examine the conditions on the ground and, over time, determine when we can make recommendations for further reductions." 

Hedge, hedge, defer, and hedge.

Just like the Iraqis, Bush is not standing up for his quagmire, but none of us ever thought that he would be man enough to admit he was wrong.  What a shameless display of photo opportunism (scheduling it so he could get side by side photos with Petraeus) Bush made at the medal ceremony for Michael Monsoor.  Why don't you visit some of the families of the dead soldiers, Chickenshit George?

Obama's 'racing' toward the finish line

As an Obama supporter, do I accept that his speech was amazing in its delivery, and therefore - great? No.  It was a clever and had the right tone.  Probably because it was written by the candidate himself, it was not a stump speech, i.e., there were no oratorical gems that turned into sound bites. 

For most living Americans, their politics have been spoonfed through television and the tone of a speech is rarely discussed outside of the beltway.  This speech, finally, treated us like adults.  Obama told us what we already knew, all races have issues with all other races and harbor some resentment as a result of those issues, and all races have economic and educational difficulties. 

So what? Well, the US is on the verge of electing a multi-racial candidate and even if he doesn't look like some of us, his tone was similar to many of us.  Twenty-somethings have little or no issue with race; many of their friends, and family, are multi-racial.  And, just like gradual acceptance of homosexuality in society (everyone knows or is related to a gay American), the rest of us interact with so many other people who aren't like us that the distinctions are blurred.

I found the speech to be honest and I'm excited that at least one candidate in my lifetime talked to me like a quasi-intelligent adult!  In light of the other problems that we face, Obama may not be able to initiate a national discussion on race but, it's a good place to re-start.  And as another generation of Americans grows up multi-racial, it will become less necessary at a national level. 

Obama's election will put another milestone behind us, once and for all!

Bush and Cheney Blindly Stump for the Failed War

I spent a fair amount of yesterday looking for references, discussion, and commentary from the right wing media regarding the 5 year anniversary of the war in Iraq and, guess what, they were conspicuously silent.  There were two notable exceptions - Tweedledee and Tweedledum.  By keeping their heads firmly fixed in the desert sand they could much more easily talk out of their asses.

Even reading the speech by our Cheerleader in Chief is painful (I can't imagine listening to his voice.  Something I haven't done for several years now, even if it's during a radio news segment) when you see how many times he trots out the old nonsense (e.g., Iraq and Al Qaeda connections before 9/11), but I found it amusing that he had the balls to use the word 'nuanced' in the speech.  Shrub, you wouldn't know nuance if it bit you in the ass.  Everything in your world is black and white.  Don't start trying nuance on us now - your nuance cred died a long time ago, Mr. With Us or Against Us.

Finally, in this speech and in his feeble little brain, Shrub finally got down to the heart of the matter in Iraq - MONEY and OIL.  He said, "If we were to allow our enemies to prevail in Iraq, the violence that is now declining would accelerate and Iraq would descend into chaos. Al Qaida would regain its lost sanctuaries and establish new ones, fomenting violence and terror that could spread beyond Iraq's borders with serious consequences for the world's economy".

As for Tricky Dick - "I think you cannot be blown off course by the fluctuations in the public opinion polls," he said in a segment of the interview broadcast Wednesday on "Good Morning America." WHAT FLUCTUATIONS IS HE TALKING ABOUT? The ones where a majority of Americans disagree with this war for over three years now? Those fluctuations, you buffoon?  He then went on to compare he and his little buddy to Abraham Lincoln.  Nice balls, Dick.

To quote Dean Wormer, "I hate those guys!"

(Rob Rogers cartoon to the right)

Hillary Clinton plays the Fear card

Since I became aware of the details of politics around 1980 (when we annointed his royal highness, King Ronald) I have known that negativity and it's stepson, fear, are valuable campaign tools.  I have taken great pride in endorsing, promoting, and voting for candidate who refrain from using fear.  Fortunately, most of these fearmongers have been Republicans, so my decision were not terribly difficult.

However, last week Hillary Clinton lost me forever.  Her unrepentant use of fear in her 3am phone call TV ad was unconscienable to me. 

One of the keys to Barack Obama's success has been his positive message.  I'm not naive enough to believe that he's going to waltz into the oval office, demand bipartisanship, and succeed wildly, but I have confidence that his victory will send a clear message to the Congress that we, the people, want positive action.  They will presumably give him a honeymoon period to spread this message and effect some change.

Even if Hillary manages to steal the candidacy at the convention, I cannot forgive her use of fear and cannot allow myself to vote for her.  She is dead to me.