McCain/Palin On Their Merits: Not The Smart Choice

From a friend:

What if the candidates lives were reversed? What if John McCain were a former president of the Harvard Law Review? What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class? What if McCain were still married to the first woman he said "I do" to? What if Obama were the candidate who left his first wife after she no longer measured up to his standards? What if Michelle Obama were a wife who not only became addicted to painkillers, but acquired them illegally through her charitable organization? What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard? What if Obama were a member of the Keating-5? What if McCain were a charismatic, eloquent speaker?

If the above questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are? This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.

You are The Boss... which team would you hire? With America facing historic debt, 2 wars, stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high prison population, mortgage crises, bank foreclosures, etc.

Educational Background:

Obama: Columbia University - B.A. PoliticalScience with a Specialization in International Relations. Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

Biden: University of Delaware - B.A. inHistory and B.A. in Political Science.nbsp; Syracuse University College of Law - Jurist Doctor (J.D.)

versus

McCain: United States Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899

Palin: Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester, North Idaho College- 2 semesters - general study, University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism, Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester, University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism

Now, which team are you going to hire?

PS: What if Barack Obama had an unwed, pregnant teenage daughter...

Yet another dump on Democracy...

From the NY Times Today:

"The Obama and McCain campaigns have agreed to an unusual free-flowing format for the three televised presidential debates, which begin Friday, but the McCain camp fought for and won a much more structured approach for the questioning at the vice-presidential debate, advisers to both campaigns said Saturday."

In the article, there seems to be some "wrangling" over debates. Please Mr. McCain, yet another pile of shit on democracy? Hell, you've been prattling on about town halls and Obama for the last 4 months. Why would you be so afraid to have you and Sarah Palin debate like the rest of your colleagues before you? Afraid of Joe Biden? Afraid of Barack Obama?

Why the fear?

Marc

Politics In America: A Nation Of "C" Students

Here is Michael Moore commenting on the selection of Sarah Palin as the Republican VP candidate. But he is really saying much more about the average American, the people who make up a large part of the electorate; the same people that elected George Bush twice...and the same people that could possibly elect McCain-Palin:

"But before everyone gets all smug and self-righteous about the Palin selection, remember where you live. You live in a nation of gun owners and hunters. You live in a country where one out of three girls get pregnant before they are 20. You live
in a nation of C students. Knocking Bush for being a C student only endeared him
to the nation of C students. Knock Palin for having kids, for having a kid who's having
a baby, for anything that is part of her normalness -- a normalness that looks very familiar to so many millions of Americans -- well, you do this at your own peril. Assuming she's still on the ticket two weeks from now, she will be a much tougher opponent than anyone expects. You live in a country that voted for Dan Quayle."

It's scary, isn't it? We live in a country heavily populated by uneducated, unsophisticated people who can be easily manipulated by right wing demagogues on talk radio and right wing politicians waving the flag, praising God, and demonizing gays and immigrants.

This is why the Democrats, who should be a cinch to win the white house this year after eight disastrous years of Dubbya Bush, are in danger of losing the presidency in November. Bill Clinton won by becoming more like Republicans...moving to the right, and "triangulating" (being all things to all people.)

Obama is not that type of Clintonesque unprincipled politician, I don't think. He and Biden need to make a strong case that they will best serve the interests of the average American rather than the rich; that America can once again be great in the eyes of the world; that diplomacy and alliances are more valuable than "go it alone" military force; and that all Americans should have jobs and health care. Obama and Biden need to hammer home small "d" liberal democratic values, not Democratic Leadership Council centrist claptrap. Maybe then they'll will be able to convince Moore's "nation of C students" to vote Democratic.

Jim

Biden Is A Good Choice

...because he shore up the Obama candidacy where it is weak. He has great credentials and has been around for a long time. Plus, he's not afraid to respond forcibly to political attacks, something Obama doesn't do. Lastly, he's just plain preferable to the other possible names, especially anti-gay bigot Sam Nunn.

The VP debate may be more fun to watch than any of the three presidential contests.

Jim

The Wide Open Presidential Race

It seems as though none of the presidential candidates, Democrat or Republican, have caught on to the degree that they can claim a commanding lead. Hillary used to be the "inevitable" winner on the Democrat side, but she has lost that status in recent weeks. None of the Republicans seem to be able to inspire their own rank and file. The fact is, the American public seems to not be too thrilled with anyone running for president this time around. All of the Republicans are running as if Dubbya Bush was a successful president, which he wasn't, and the Democrats with any real experience and principles (Dodd, Biden, Kucinich) are way back in the polls. Here's columnist David Brooks analysis of the race from today's New York Times:

My guess is that this race has a few more twists and turns. Something
terrible could happen in the world, in which case the wartime mentality would be
back in spades. Obama and Huckabee could beat Clinton and Romney,
respectively, in the early states, only to fall victim to their own weaknesses
later on. You laugh, but this thing could still spin into the lap of Fred
Thompson or John McCain, Chris Dodd or Joe Biden.

Actually, that would be refreshing. It's time to really shake up politics in this country. However, none of these candidates (Thompson, McCain, Biden, Dodd) represent the kind of change that we need.

PHOTO: The beautiful holiday tree at Philadelphia's "Love Park."

Jim