Talk about an illegitimate dig ... today Sarah said 'we need a leader who isn't afraid to use the word victory'.
Meanwhile, in Early September 2008 General David Petraeus claimed that victory in Iraq is not possible.
I guess we passed that threshold a long time ago.
What we are actually dealing with now is mitigating this disastrous Bush McCain foreign policy blunder.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Who Counts The Votes?
Last Thursday I thought I would get a jump on things and cast my early ballot to avoid any lines at my voting station.
This was after all a moot point because I live in a fairly well to do Republican stronghold called Naperville Illinois, and because we enjoy such stature, I have never had any complications on election day.
We always have plenty of voting facilities, and I never once had to wait on a line to cast my ballot. Unlike the more urban communities who don't have enough voting booths to accommodate the population.
But, that's okay, they are mostly lower income communities who always vote Democrat anyway, so as we know from past reports on past elections, most have to wait in line for hours to cast a vote, and if a number of them can't vote, well they're most likely Democrats anyway and we don't need their votes that favor liberal concepts like fair economics. Or so Grover Norquist likes to think.
When I arrived at the city center I was surprised that early voting meant I had to use a voting machine.
So I decide to wait until election day to cast a paper ballot.
Why would I decide such a thing?
I have been an Information Technology professional for about twenty two years now. Currently a systems analyst, but in the past I have been a programmer, project manager, account manager, and quality assurance manager.
The voting machines indeed have problems. This has been illuminated in news programs and documentaries. A few have explicitly displayed a person touching a Democratic candidate while the Republican candidate received the vote. Funny how it works out that way isn't it? I've never seen an incident of a person touching a Republican vote that turns Democrat.
Being an IT professional, I know that if I release a system into a production environment it better work. Yet, there are occasions where malfunctions occur and we call these malfunctions 'bugs'.
When a system is implemented and a bug is encountered, the first thing we do is gauge the risk ... severity. If risks are identified during the development process, when mitigation plans could be put in place to capture and correct any foreseen risks, then things are usually sound.
If a risk is big enough to generate a serious integrity issue, and there is no sound mitigation plan in place, then the system must be pulled from production. These are the parameters I must live within as a professional who is accountable for any compliance violations in a product I am responsible for.
Compliance with voting machines would be as simple as providing a paper printout of the transaction so the voter can view this transaction and approve. Those paper printouts can subsequently be used for any recount. Some recounts are mandated by state law within certain tolerance margins. Simple enough right? But, if a recount is mandated in a district that utilized these voting machines, then no recount is possible, therefore subverting the State constitutions that mandate such recounts.
To be fair, some machines have been equipped with such a function, yet these machines are by far the minority of voting machines out there.
Better yet; the source code of the programs can be audited by compliance enforcement before they are ever even issued. Such a precaution will still not guarantee a hack proof solution, but at least the processes of oversight may negate such indiscretion.
Yet, these companies like Diebold will not permit auditing of source code referring to intellectual property breaches. In this case the position of Diebold is not valid because our tax dollars pay for these machines so the 'intellectual property' belongs to the American people. We have every legal right to audit these machines. We, the American taxpayers own these machines. We, the American taxpayers own the software. Why then, are we stripped of the right to audit these artifacts?
This begs the question; why are these machines are being built by private corporations instead of the Federal Government?
Well, the unbridled free market loonies don't want government bureaucracy, and there are huge lobbyists, and that's just the way it goes. Just look at the global economic situation that we are dealing with right now and you might deduce why this philosophy is in essence a conflict of interest.
I state again, these machines are paid for by our tax dollars, we have every right to audit these machines, but the lobby laden lunatics running our government don't seem to allow this. The risks are indeed great, and there is no sound mitigation plan... why are these machines not being pulled from production right now? There is a lot at stake.
Because we own these machines, we should demand that they work in a pristine fashion. Wouldn't electronically stealing votes in an election be a considerable compliance violation?
Why are they allowed to get away with this?
Because Americans, for the most part, care more about their television viewing habits, than they do about the stability of our Democracy.
The power lies not within those who cast the votes, the power lies within those who control the votes.
Sleep well America, I hear the new fall season of television programs have fine production quality.
This was after all a moot point because I live in a fairly well to do Republican stronghold called Naperville Illinois, and because we enjoy such stature, I have never had any complications on election day.
We always have plenty of voting facilities, and I never once had to wait on a line to cast my ballot. Unlike the more urban communities who don't have enough voting booths to accommodate the population.
But, that's okay, they are mostly lower income communities who always vote Democrat anyway, so as we know from past reports on past elections, most have to wait in line for hours to cast a vote, and if a number of them can't vote, well they're most likely Democrats anyway and we don't need their votes that favor liberal concepts like fair economics. Or so Grover Norquist likes to think.
When I arrived at the city center I was surprised that early voting meant I had to use a voting machine.
So I decide to wait until election day to cast a paper ballot.
Why would I decide such a thing?
I have been an Information Technology professional for about twenty two years now. Currently a systems analyst, but in the past I have been a programmer, project manager, account manager, and quality assurance manager.
The voting machines indeed have problems. This has been illuminated in news programs and documentaries. A few have explicitly displayed a person touching a Democratic candidate while the Republican candidate received the vote. Funny how it works out that way isn't it? I've never seen an incident of a person touching a Republican vote that turns Democrat.
Being an IT professional, I know that if I release a system into a production environment it better work. Yet, there are occasions where malfunctions occur and we call these malfunctions 'bugs'.
When a system is implemented and a bug is encountered, the first thing we do is gauge the risk ... severity. If risks are identified during the development process, when mitigation plans could be put in place to capture and correct any foreseen risks, then things are usually sound.
If a risk is big enough to generate a serious integrity issue, and there is no sound mitigation plan in place, then the system must be pulled from production. These are the parameters I must live within as a professional who is accountable for any compliance violations in a product I am responsible for.
Compliance with voting machines would be as simple as providing a paper printout of the transaction so the voter can view this transaction and approve. Those paper printouts can subsequently be used for any recount. Some recounts are mandated by state law within certain tolerance margins. Simple enough right? But, if a recount is mandated in a district that utilized these voting machines, then no recount is possible, therefore subverting the State constitutions that mandate such recounts.
To be fair, some machines have been equipped with such a function, yet these machines are by far the minority of voting machines out there.
Better yet; the source code of the programs can be audited by compliance enforcement before they are ever even issued. Such a precaution will still not guarantee a hack proof solution, but at least the processes of oversight may negate such indiscretion.
Yet, these companies like Diebold will not permit auditing of source code referring to intellectual property breaches. In this case the position of Diebold is not valid because our tax dollars pay for these machines so the 'intellectual property' belongs to the American people. We have every legal right to audit these machines. We, the American taxpayers own these machines. We, the American taxpayers own the software. Why then, are we stripped of the right to audit these artifacts?
This begs the question; why are these machines are being built by private corporations instead of the Federal Government?
Well, the unbridled free market loonies don't want government bureaucracy, and there are huge lobbyists, and that's just the way it goes. Just look at the global economic situation that we are dealing with right now and you might deduce why this philosophy is in essence a conflict of interest.
I state again, these machines are paid for by our tax dollars, we have every right to audit these machines, but the lobby laden lunatics running our government don't seem to allow this. The risks are indeed great, and there is no sound mitigation plan... why are these machines not being pulled from production right now? There is a lot at stake.
Because we own these machines, we should demand that they work in a pristine fashion. Wouldn't electronically stealing votes in an election be a considerable compliance violation?
Why are they allowed to get away with this?
Because Americans, for the most part, care more about their television viewing habits, than they do about the stability of our Democracy.
The power lies not within those who cast the votes, the power lies within those who control the votes.
Sleep well America, I hear the new fall season of television programs have fine production quality.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Fruit Flies, Bush Slams, and Flat out Lies
Today Sarah Palin was presenting her plans and desires to fund assistance for special needs children. A very admirable thing to do.
She plans on paying for this funding by eliminating earmarks, and specifically mocked earmarks for research of fruit flies in Paris France.
The problem is; the research of fruit flies has actually identified a genetic characteristic that could potentially lead to a cure, or advancements in the treatment of, autism.
Every time she opens her mouth she succeeds in either showing how little she knows or demonstrating how poorly prepared she is. It's getting embarassing to watch.
------------------------
On a brighter note, John McCain has been crushing the Bush administration with criticism of the Bush policies and the performance of the Republican congress. He's made some fairly scathing remarks that made me think for a fleeting moment he was campaigning for Obama.
But I guess it's just McCains own way of propogating the bumbling idiot routine. He must have a lot of faith in this bumbling idiot routine of his. He uses it quite a lot.
You see, it's nice to see McCain take Bush and the Republicans to task for the damage they have done to this country. The problem is, McCain was major part of the whole thing. So I guess he's blasting himself for doing such a lousy job.
-------------------------
And last ... the lies ... A six foot four African American Obama supporter attacked a McCain campaign worker and carved a backward letter 'B' on her face her just because she had a McCain sticker on her car.
Oh, wait! That was a lie. Kind of like that whole Joe the Plumber lie thingy, only this one wound up with a perp-walk so the press to photograph this young woman being arrested.
You see, this lie was much worse than the Joe the Plumber lie, because this type of lie is called race baiting and it is a disgusting display of how desperate the McCain camp is. I'm not sure if it's illegal, I would assume it is. She definitly did something illegal, she was perp-walked in handcuffs after all.
Race bating will now be forever connected to the McCain campaign.
------------------------
By the way, did you see the stock market again today? And how about those global markets, huh?
These economic policies have put a big hole in our ship and it is sinking. There is no question we need to change these existing policies, and there is no question that John McCain will not deliver the necessary change.
You see, McCain was always proud of his banking deregulation, just ask the other four of the Keating Five. Think back to how Phil Gramm so smugly said we were just a nation of whiners because of this 'mental recession', how can anyone in their right mind vote for McCain?
She plans on paying for this funding by eliminating earmarks, and specifically mocked earmarks for research of fruit flies in Paris France.
The problem is; the research of fruit flies has actually identified a genetic characteristic that could potentially lead to a cure, or advancements in the treatment of, autism.
Every time she opens her mouth she succeeds in either showing how little she knows or demonstrating how poorly prepared she is. It's getting embarassing to watch.
------------------------
On a brighter note, John McCain has been crushing the Bush administration with criticism of the Bush policies and the performance of the Republican congress. He's made some fairly scathing remarks that made me think for a fleeting moment he was campaigning for Obama.
But I guess it's just McCains own way of propogating the bumbling idiot routine. He must have a lot of faith in this bumbling idiot routine of his. He uses it quite a lot.
You see, it's nice to see McCain take Bush and the Republicans to task for the damage they have done to this country. The problem is, McCain was major part of the whole thing. So I guess he's blasting himself for doing such a lousy job.
-------------------------
And last ... the lies ... A six foot four African American Obama supporter attacked a McCain campaign worker and carved a backward letter 'B' on her face her just because she had a McCain sticker on her car.
Oh, wait! That was a lie. Kind of like that whole Joe the Plumber lie thingy, only this one wound up with a perp-walk so the press to photograph this young woman being arrested.
You see, this lie was much worse than the Joe the Plumber lie, because this type of lie is called race baiting and it is a disgusting display of how desperate the McCain camp is. I'm not sure if it's illegal, I would assume it is. She definitly did something illegal, she was perp-walked in handcuffs after all.
Race bating will now be forever connected to the McCain campaign.
------------------------
By the way, did you see the stock market again today? And how about those global markets, huh?
These economic policies have put a big hole in our ship and it is sinking. There is no question we need to change these existing policies, and there is no question that John McCain will not deliver the necessary change.
You see, McCain was always proud of his banking deregulation, just ask the other four of the Keating Five. Think back to how Phil Gramm so smugly said we were just a nation of whiners because of this 'mental recession', how can anyone in their right mind vote for McCain?
Thursday, October 23, 2008
The 'S' Word ... Socialism
Recently Grampy McSame and Bible Spice have been pumping a new word into their repertoire.
Socialism.
Doesn't that mean collecting taxes from the wealthy to 'spread the wealth' to others in the society?
Then what do you call it when Sarah Palin taxes the wealthy oil companies in Alaska to cut a check for each and every resident in Alaska.
Isn't that socialism?
Ever wonder why she WAS such a popular Governor? ('Was' being the operative word) ... They loved her because she was using a Socialist practice to elevate her popularity. Tax the rich and share the wealth, that is exactly what she has been doing. Exactly! And, please let us not forget, the total population of Alaska is about six hundred thousand. That is hardly enough to be considered a city in the lower forty eight.
And while we are on the topic of 'spreading the wealth'?
How about the hefty incentives that the Federal Government has been giving to the wealthy oil companies under the secret Cheney Energy Plan. It's interesting how this plan was initiated right after the Clinton administration left us with a $6,000,000,000,000.00 (that is six trillion dollar) projected budget surplus.
Isn't that welfare? You bet your ass it is, it's called Corporate Welfare. But this administration isn't giving the oil companies money we have on hand, this administration is irresponsibly burdening our already overburdened debt to provide this corporate welfare.
The Republicans may have their rhetoric, their lies, their smears, but that's okay ...
Republicans; you can say what you want about Obama. Call him a Muslim when he's not. Call him a socialist when your own VP is in her own way practicing socialism. Call him a traitor, when your own VP is sleeping with a bonafide member of an American secessionist organization (yeah, that's patriotic!) ... talk is just talk ... and hypocrites can talk ...
Actions speak louder than words ... Actions like the one taken by a group of McCain supporters who just shot a bear cub in the head, draped him in Obama campaign material and dropped the dead bear cub at a university. Nice one assholes. Hate much?
Actions! We simply have to take a brief gander at John McCain and Sarah Palin to know what kind of idiots they are.
Better yet, look at John McCain, and Sarah Palin, then look at George Bush and Dick Cheney, and one can not help but deduce, that the Republican Party of 2008 must consist of a bunch of idiots! It's almost comical, but it is really quite sad.
Actions! ... Well, just take a look at what a complete idiot John McCain has very recently demonstrated himself to be!!! Go ahead click the you tube link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLVSURlFoQs
Aaahhh that was fun! Viva La YouTube ...
I challenge anyone to find anything nearly a stupid as that spewing from Obamas mouth. I can't believe some people actually trust this idiot John McCain to run our country. Worse yet, Sarah Palin; a very feasible scenario being that McCain is showing some serious signs of disengaging from his faculties. If you doubt this, just watch the clip of him addressing a campaign rally with the unforgettable words 'my fellow prisoners', and on this instance he didn't even correct himself.
Yes this is the elephant in the room again ... maybe, just maybe, John McCain (at seventy two years old) is just a wee bit too old to consider a career change into the most powerful single position in the world. My Dad is seventy five and, hell no I wouldn't want him to be President, heck he retired about ten years ago. That leaves us with Palin as President. Comforting? I think not!
Or maybe Ron Paul, Ralph Nader,Cindy McKinney, or Bob Bahr? Do any of you even know who their respective running mates are?!
Back to topic...
While we are on the topic of Socialism; hear me out ... this will be quite hard to articulate.
When the wealthy need a war to increase the wealth of the corporate royalty, then it's an honor for the working people to send their sons and daughters into harms way to honorably sacrifice life and limb so scummy people like Dick Cheney can grow in wealth.
But other than that, the corporate royalty does not want to give anything back to the working class, otherwise it's considered Socialism? What kind of logic is that?
John McCain did not vote for the recent GI Bill which increased benefits to the GI's serving this country.
The reason he didn't want to give the GI's a better shot at life is because he does not want them to leave the military. If you give them too many benefits, they may very well be able to leave and start their own lives.
Nice sentiment coming from a blue blood militarist who dumped his first wife after a disfiguring car accident so he can marry a much younger heiress to a considerable fortune. But, that's John McCain for you.
Funny; even though McCain refused to vote for the GI bill because he was fundamentally against it; George Bush still had to sign it (even though he didn't want to), because this is an election year. As Bush signed the bill, he thanked John McCain for bringing this bill to us.
Huh? What the? Did he just say what I think he said? Do you mean our President lied to us? Again?
Not only did McCain not vote for the GI bill, he tried hard to keep the bill from being voted upon, and Bush thanked him for this bill. Hard to believe, but it's true.
This is during war time 'my friends'.
To the wealthy corporate royalty; socialism is just fine when it comes time to send young poor kids into war for profit, or increase their political popularty, just don't let them have any of the profit!!!
That profit belongs to the wealthy corporate royalty (also known as fascists). Halliburton, Bechtel, KBR, Blackwater (the private army of the corporate royalty, that we the tax payers pay for), and the whole Carlisle Group.
Good Night. Sleep well.
Socialism.
Doesn't that mean collecting taxes from the wealthy to 'spread the wealth' to others in the society?
Then what do you call it when Sarah Palin taxes the wealthy oil companies in Alaska to cut a check for each and every resident in Alaska.
Isn't that socialism?
Ever wonder why she WAS such a popular Governor? ('Was' being the operative word) ... They loved her because she was using a Socialist practice to elevate her popularity. Tax the rich and share the wealth, that is exactly what she has been doing. Exactly! And, please let us not forget, the total population of Alaska is about six hundred thousand. That is hardly enough to be considered a city in the lower forty eight.
And while we are on the topic of 'spreading the wealth'?
How about the hefty incentives that the Federal Government has been giving to the wealthy oil companies under the secret Cheney Energy Plan. It's interesting how this plan was initiated right after the Clinton administration left us with a $6,000,000,000,000.00 (that is six trillion dollar) projected budget surplus.
Isn't that welfare? You bet your ass it is, it's called Corporate Welfare. But this administration isn't giving the oil companies money we have on hand, this administration is irresponsibly burdening our already overburdened debt to provide this corporate welfare.
The Republicans may have their rhetoric, their lies, their smears, but that's okay ...
Republicans; you can say what you want about Obama. Call him a Muslim when he's not. Call him a socialist when your own VP is in her own way practicing socialism. Call him a traitor, when your own VP is sleeping with a bonafide member of an American secessionist organization (yeah, that's patriotic!) ... talk is just talk ... and hypocrites can talk ...
Actions speak louder than words ... Actions like the one taken by a group of McCain supporters who just shot a bear cub in the head, draped him in Obama campaign material and dropped the dead bear cub at a university. Nice one assholes. Hate much?
Actions! We simply have to take a brief gander at John McCain and Sarah Palin to know what kind of idiots they are.
Better yet, look at John McCain, and Sarah Palin, then look at George Bush and Dick Cheney, and one can not help but deduce, that the Republican Party of 2008 must consist of a bunch of idiots! It's almost comical, but it is really quite sad.
Actions! ... Well, just take a look at what a complete idiot John McCain has very recently demonstrated himself to be!!! Go ahead click the you tube link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLVSURlFoQs
Aaahhh that was fun! Viva La YouTube ...
I challenge anyone to find anything nearly a stupid as that spewing from Obamas mouth. I can't believe some people actually trust this idiot John McCain to run our country. Worse yet, Sarah Palin; a very feasible scenario being that McCain is showing some serious signs of disengaging from his faculties. If you doubt this, just watch the clip of him addressing a campaign rally with the unforgettable words 'my fellow prisoners', and on this instance he didn't even correct himself.
Yes this is the elephant in the room again ... maybe, just maybe, John McCain (at seventy two years old) is just a wee bit too old to consider a career change into the most powerful single position in the world. My Dad is seventy five and, hell no I wouldn't want him to be President, heck he retired about ten years ago. That leaves us with Palin as President. Comforting? I think not!
Or maybe Ron Paul, Ralph Nader,Cindy McKinney, or Bob Bahr? Do any of you even know who their respective running mates are?!
Back to topic...
While we are on the topic of Socialism; hear me out ... this will be quite hard to articulate.
When the wealthy need a war to increase the wealth of the corporate royalty, then it's an honor for the working people to send their sons and daughters into harms way to honorably sacrifice life and limb so scummy people like Dick Cheney can grow in wealth.
But other than that, the corporate royalty does not want to give anything back to the working class, otherwise it's considered Socialism? What kind of logic is that?
John McCain did not vote for the recent GI Bill which increased benefits to the GI's serving this country.
The reason he didn't want to give the GI's a better shot at life is because he does not want them to leave the military. If you give them too many benefits, they may very well be able to leave and start their own lives.
Nice sentiment coming from a blue blood militarist who dumped his first wife after a disfiguring car accident so he can marry a much younger heiress to a considerable fortune. But, that's John McCain for you.
Funny; even though McCain refused to vote for the GI bill because he was fundamentally against it; George Bush still had to sign it (even though he didn't want to), because this is an election year. As Bush signed the bill, he thanked John McCain for bringing this bill to us.
Huh? What the? Did he just say what I think he said? Do you mean our President lied to us? Again?
Not only did McCain not vote for the GI bill, he tried hard to keep the bill from being voted upon, and Bush thanked him for this bill. Hard to believe, but it's true.
This is during war time 'my friends'.
To the wealthy corporate royalty; socialism is just fine when it comes time to send young poor kids into war for profit, or increase their political popularty, just don't let them have any of the profit!!!
That profit belongs to the wealthy corporate royalty (also known as fascists). Halliburton, Bechtel, KBR, Blackwater (the private army of the corporate royalty, that we the tax payers pay for), and the whole Carlisle Group.
Good Night. Sleep well.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The Drama and Mismanagement of McCain
I received another one of those viral emails. This time it came from a Republican friend.
Now I have to actually spend time debunking lies (again) so he can understand that Obama didn't receive hundreds of millions of dollars from terrorist organizations.
I should bill a consulting rate to each and everyone who sends me these viral emails.
Since I have to spend time debunking lies about Obamas campaign financing, I feel like I've earned the right to bring up a McCain campaign finance management true fact.
Before the Republican primaries were over, McCain just about bankrupted his campaign.
In fact he had to use the public funding pool as collateral to obtain loans (which was a bit dodgy and raised some eyebrows in the F.E.C., even talk of ethical improprieties).
So; here's a guy named McCain, who admits to the nation he doesn't quite understand economic issues, proceeds to mismanage his campaign budget to near bankruptcy, is the champion of the deregulation that brought the credit markets to their knees, is a champion of putting social security into the stock market, wants to deregulate the health insurance industry to conform to the banking model he purports, then tells the nation that the fundamentals of the economy are strong while the coal mine canaries are gasping their last breaths, throws out a dozen knee-jerk erratic ideas to revive the coal mine canaries, then as the coal mine canaries don't respond, starts mob-rallies that generate expressions like "kill him" "terrorist" "bomb him" ...
It occurs to me that, even with all of McCains experience, his judgement is quite weak. It seems any issue that McCain has to deal with, he deals with in an irrational knee jerk manner. McCain handles every situation like some big drama, and this leads him to rush to unacceptable conclusions and failed strategies. Just look at Palin for proof positive.
We just had eight years of a moron named Bush, does this country really need another four of a different sort of blundering idiot, one with a nasty temperment and a penchant for the dramatic.
Well, now I have to spend my time again proving to my Republican friends that Obama didn't receive hundreds of millions of dollars from terrorists.
As if they can't figure it out on their own. Are they just acting this stupid?
Now I have to actually spend time debunking lies (again) so he can understand that Obama didn't receive hundreds of millions of dollars from terrorist organizations.
I should bill a consulting rate to each and everyone who sends me these viral emails.
Since I have to spend time debunking lies about Obamas campaign financing, I feel like I've earned the right to bring up a McCain campaign finance management true fact.
Before the Republican primaries were over, McCain just about bankrupted his campaign.
In fact he had to use the public funding pool as collateral to obtain loans (which was a bit dodgy and raised some eyebrows in the F.E.C., even talk of ethical improprieties).
So; here's a guy named McCain, who admits to the nation he doesn't quite understand economic issues, proceeds to mismanage his campaign budget to near bankruptcy, is the champion of the deregulation that brought the credit markets to their knees, is a champion of putting social security into the stock market, wants to deregulate the health insurance industry to conform to the banking model he purports, then tells the nation that the fundamentals of the economy are strong while the coal mine canaries are gasping their last breaths, throws out a dozen knee-jerk erratic ideas to revive the coal mine canaries, then as the coal mine canaries don't respond, starts mob-rallies that generate expressions like "kill him" "terrorist" "bomb him" ...
It occurs to me that, even with all of McCains experience, his judgement is quite weak. It seems any issue that McCain has to deal with, he deals with in an irrational knee jerk manner. McCain handles every situation like some big drama, and this leads him to rush to unacceptable conclusions and failed strategies. Just look at Palin for proof positive.
We just had eight years of a moron named Bush, does this country really need another four of a different sort of blundering idiot, one with a nasty temperment and a penchant for the dramatic.
Well, now I have to spend my time again proving to my Republican friends that Obama didn't receive hundreds of millions of dollars from terrorists.
As if they can't figure it out on their own. Are they just acting this stupid?
Thursday, October 9, 2008
No Need To Say Anything
I haven't posted a blog in a couple of days. I haven't had to.
Palin and McCain have been behaving in such a disturbing manner, we can all just sit back and watch them self destruct.
With Grampy and Sarah acting the way they've been lately, it gives us bloggers some time to rest.
The McCain - Palin ticket has to be the most desperate, disgusting, and disgraceful ticket to ever run for the offices of President and Vice President.
They are not only an embarrassment to the Republican party, but an embarrassment to America.
The mob action campaign rallies are really alarming.
Thanks to John McCain and Sarah Palin; hateful ignorance is beginning to look like the true cornerstone of the Republican party.
If I were a Republican, I'd seriously start thinking about the malfeasance with which John McCain has managed the privilege of being your party candidate.
Seriously!
McCain and Palin ought to be ashamed of the tactics they've been employing.
Palin and McCain have been behaving in such a disturbing manner, we can all just sit back and watch them self destruct.
With Grampy and Sarah acting the way they've been lately, it gives us bloggers some time to rest.
The McCain - Palin ticket has to be the most desperate, disgusting, and disgraceful ticket to ever run for the offices of President and Vice President.
They are not only an embarrassment to the Republican party, but an embarrassment to America.
The mob action campaign rallies are really alarming.
Thanks to John McCain and Sarah Palin; hateful ignorance is beginning to look like the true cornerstone of the Republican party.
If I were a Republican, I'd seriously start thinking about the malfeasance with which John McCain has managed the privilege of being your party candidate.
Seriously!
McCain and Palin ought to be ashamed of the tactics they've been employing.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Obama McCain Debate Number Two
I wouldn't be a respectable blogger if I didn't go to sleep without commenting.
I honestly think it was a good debate. I didn't like McCain referring to Obama as 'that one', it was kind of juvenile, but more so, he was in a moment of almost losing his temper again.
I think they both have it wrong when it comes to Russia.
I think Obama was very poised, knowledgeable, comfortable, and at ease with his answers.
I think McCain looked uncomfortable in his own skin.
I feel justified in believing Obama proved himself more capable.
McCain is scary.
I honestly think it was a good debate. I didn't like McCain referring to Obama as 'that one', it was kind of juvenile, but more so, he was in a moment of almost losing his temper again.
I think they both have it wrong when it comes to Russia.
I think Obama was very poised, knowledgeable, comfortable, and at ease with his answers.
I think McCain looked uncomfortable in his own skin.
I feel justified in believing Obama proved himself more capable.
McCain is scary.
The Negatives of Negativity
It’s been discussed in so many articles by so many pundits that it is embarrassing to watch.
Why is the McCain Palin campaign resorting to attack politics with ammunition that failed in March when Hillary used it?
By now, we have all seen the clip from 2000 where McCain denounces negative campaigning as an indication that a candidate has no vision or substance.
Yet he persists with this embarrassing tactic.
By now we all know that Obama has a cache of yet to be used negative bombs against McCain and Palin. One would assume that McCain would display some sense of self preservation and not attack, especially with the old lies and half-truths he has been using.
Yet he persists with this embarrassing tactic.
We don’t have to look far to see why McCain and Palin are engaging in this self destructive behaviour. We only have to look at John McCains own words. McCain said in 2000 "if all you run is negative attack ads you don't have much of a vision for the future, or you're not ready to articulate it."
Are McCain and Palin telling us they have no vision for the future? Or, are they simply telling us that they don’t know how to articulate it?
McCain has no ground to stand on. The policies he purports are abject failures. The past eight years of Republican leadership have left this nation with the most precarious exposure since the great depression. McCain even uses phrases reminiscent of Herbert Hoover pre-Depression reasoning when he says ‘I believe Americas best days are ahead of us’. Hoover said the same while the economic ship was sinking.
In fact, I personally believe Americas best days are ahead of us, but only under the guidance of the intelligent leadership offered by Barack Obama, not in the erratic machinations of the McCain Palin ticket. This nation can’t survive four years of the bad judgement and knee jerk predicaments that have come to symbolize the McCain Palin campaign.
As far as McCains latest flip flop; negative campaigning; Barack Obama said it well. “We don’t throw the first punch, but we’ll throw the last’.
Why is the McCain Palin campaign resorting to attack politics with ammunition that failed in March when Hillary used it?
By now, we have all seen the clip from 2000 where McCain denounces negative campaigning as an indication that a candidate has no vision or substance.
Yet he persists with this embarrassing tactic.
By now we all know that Obama has a cache of yet to be used negative bombs against McCain and Palin. One would assume that McCain would display some sense of self preservation and not attack, especially with the old lies and half-truths he has been using.
Yet he persists with this embarrassing tactic.
We don’t have to look far to see why McCain and Palin are engaging in this self destructive behaviour. We only have to look at John McCains own words. McCain said in 2000 "if all you run is negative attack ads you don't have much of a vision for the future, or you're not ready to articulate it."
Are McCain and Palin telling us they have no vision for the future? Or, are they simply telling us that they don’t know how to articulate it?
McCain has no ground to stand on. The policies he purports are abject failures. The past eight years of Republican leadership have left this nation with the most precarious exposure since the great depression. McCain even uses phrases reminiscent of Herbert Hoover pre-Depression reasoning when he says ‘I believe Americas best days are ahead of us’. Hoover said the same while the economic ship was sinking.
In fact, I personally believe Americas best days are ahead of us, but only under the guidance of the intelligent leadership offered by Barack Obama, not in the erratic machinations of the McCain Palin ticket. This nation can’t survive four years of the bad judgement and knee jerk predicaments that have come to symbolize the McCain Palin campaign.
As far as McCains latest flip flop; negative campaigning; Barack Obama said it well. “We don’t throw the first punch, but we’ll throw the last’.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
I Want My Constitution Back
There is something fundamentally wrong with the current political and governing landscape that is difficult to put into words.
This country used to have real reasons to feel proud.
This country used to be the real world leader.
Because of the Patriot Act and the Bush Cheney execution of the unitary executive provisions, nine out of our ten first amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, have been dismantled without the American populace even being aware that this has happened.
As long as the President can declare any citizen and enemy combatant to this conveniently unwinnable war, called ‘The War on Terror’, each and every American is at risk of having every right stripped from them at the whim of the President without the grant of habeas corpus. Without being told why they are being punished. Without having any family, friends, associates, or acquaintances being told that this person has been incarcerated. Without seeing a judge. Without luxury of council. The unitary executive could render anyone he wishes to be sent to another nation for torture. No one would ever know.
This is what George Bush had attempted to do to the United States.
Fortunately, the United States Supreme Court interfered and required trials for the enemy combatants in custody. (What about those who were never 'in custody'?)
I have to add; this is a Republican controlled Supreme Court, and George Bush is a Republican president. This speaks volumes about the abuses the Bush Cheney administration had intended to perpetrate.
It seems we may have escaped a true totalitarian dictatorship by the skin of our teeth.
Yet, what still bothers me is the total disregard for judicial responsibilty displayed by the Republican Party under the leadership of George Bush.
Their refusal to answer subpoenas is criminal, yet they get away with it. The commutation of Libbys sentence protected the Bush administration due to a loophole that would keep Libby from being further questioned in regards to other Bush malfeasance. And, yet, they get away with it.
The fact that Dick Cheney can commit a blatant treasonous act by exposing an active covert CIA agent working for a brass plate front company investigation nuclear weapon activity in the very region we are at war, thus jeopardizing the lives on an unknown quantity of collateral persons, and walk away free and clear, so he can subsequently shoot a companion in the face and be driven home (thus avoiding any engagement with law enforcement), until he could sleep off whatever buzz he was under when he was holding the loaded weapon, is an embarrassment to this nation. Yet, he gets away with it.
The fact that the Bush administration was illegally tapping any and every telephone conversation in America is even more outrageous considering the fact that he was doing this even BEFORE 9/11. Does anyone remember Watergate? The wire taps were to be used for political advantage or extortion. Bush was doing this very thing before 9/11. The fact that Bush did this is a disgrace to any form of freedom.
During a February 1st 2004 speech in Buffalo New York George Bush said “any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires a court order" and that "when we're talking about chasing down terrorists, we're talking about getting a court order before we do so ... We respect the constitution."
What a lying sack of garbage this man is!
Back to point; if someone fell asleep in say, 1979, and just woke up today, I believe they would be appalled at the condition of our government. I believe this person would ask “how did this happen?”
I guess I would offer some explanation as to how, with the corporate controlled massive media, an economy where most households need two incomes to survive, and people knowing more about the cast of ‘Survivor’ than the machinations of their own government, I guess we were distracted and allowed ourselves to be scammed in a huge swindle that killed many and enriched a very select few.
This is not a conspiracy theory, this is a substantial factual case.
We owe it to ourselves to be more vigilant as to the goings on of our government. We need to understand the stakes and the mistakes. We need an honest form of government where this massive corporate owned media can’t sway average people with propaganda. We need the 'fairness act' back! Reagan took that protection away from us and I wholly believe that was a tremendous mistake.
If we don’t all start holding this government accountable; our constitution as we’ve known it will disappear forever.
That would be a shame, because I really do want my constitution back.
The government works for the people of the nation, not the other way round.
This country used to have real reasons to feel proud.
This country used to be the real world leader.
Because of the Patriot Act and the Bush Cheney execution of the unitary executive provisions, nine out of our ten first amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, have been dismantled without the American populace even being aware that this has happened.
As long as the President can declare any citizen and enemy combatant to this conveniently unwinnable war, called ‘The War on Terror’, each and every American is at risk of having every right stripped from them at the whim of the President without the grant of habeas corpus. Without being told why they are being punished. Without having any family, friends, associates, or acquaintances being told that this person has been incarcerated. Without seeing a judge. Without luxury of council. The unitary executive could render anyone he wishes to be sent to another nation for torture. No one would ever know.
This is what George Bush had attempted to do to the United States.
Fortunately, the United States Supreme Court interfered and required trials for the enemy combatants in custody. (What about those who were never 'in custody'?)
I have to add; this is a Republican controlled Supreme Court, and George Bush is a Republican president. This speaks volumes about the abuses the Bush Cheney administration had intended to perpetrate.
It seems we may have escaped a true totalitarian dictatorship by the skin of our teeth.
Yet, what still bothers me is the total disregard for judicial responsibilty displayed by the Republican Party under the leadership of George Bush.
Their refusal to answer subpoenas is criminal, yet they get away with it. The commutation of Libbys sentence protected the Bush administration due to a loophole that would keep Libby from being further questioned in regards to other Bush malfeasance. And, yet, they get away with it.
The fact that Dick Cheney can commit a blatant treasonous act by exposing an active covert CIA agent working for a brass plate front company investigation nuclear weapon activity in the very region we are at war, thus jeopardizing the lives on an unknown quantity of collateral persons, and walk away free and clear, so he can subsequently shoot a companion in the face and be driven home (thus avoiding any engagement with law enforcement), until he could sleep off whatever buzz he was under when he was holding the loaded weapon, is an embarrassment to this nation. Yet, he gets away with it.
The fact that the Bush administration was illegally tapping any and every telephone conversation in America is even more outrageous considering the fact that he was doing this even BEFORE 9/11. Does anyone remember Watergate? The wire taps were to be used for political advantage or extortion. Bush was doing this very thing before 9/11. The fact that Bush did this is a disgrace to any form of freedom.
During a February 1st 2004 speech in Buffalo New York George Bush said “any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires a court order" and that "when we're talking about chasing down terrorists, we're talking about getting a court order before we do so ... We respect the constitution."
What a lying sack of garbage this man is!
Back to point; if someone fell asleep in say, 1979, and just woke up today, I believe they would be appalled at the condition of our government. I believe this person would ask “how did this happen?”
I guess I would offer some explanation as to how, with the corporate controlled massive media, an economy where most households need two incomes to survive, and people knowing more about the cast of ‘Survivor’ than the machinations of their own government, I guess we were distracted and allowed ourselves to be scammed in a huge swindle that killed many and enriched a very select few.
This is not a conspiracy theory, this is a substantial factual case.
We owe it to ourselves to be more vigilant as to the goings on of our government. We need to understand the stakes and the mistakes. We need an honest form of government where this massive corporate owned media can’t sway average people with propaganda. We need the 'fairness act' back! Reagan took that protection away from us and I wholly believe that was a tremendous mistake.
If we don’t all start holding this government accountable; our constitution as we’ve known it will disappear forever.
That would be a shame, because I really do want my constitution back.
The government works for the people of the nation, not the other way round.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Biden Palin Debate
I'll try to say this in as concise a manner as possible.
Joe Biden drove his points home with authority and with reference to facts. Joe Biden had presented sound stipulations of plans supporting the impending changes that are needed for this nation.
Without offering a discernible plan, Sarah Palin offered the empty rhetoric of "McCain and I will change Washington". No stipulations to any change in policy that would differ from the Bush agenda. There were little or no reference to any facts, just the old "trust us we'll change things" rhetoric. No plan whatsoever. Given McCains long history of deregulation, this only falls flat considering deregulation is what brought the financial and credit markets to their knees.
John McCain stole Obamas mantra of change out of necessity as the populace has become more and more exposed to the Republican policies leading this nation down a dangerous path.
McCain has nothing tangible to offer in respect to change.
Any credibility to the 'Maverick" label he has given himself had been sold to the neocon right-wing agenda a long time ago.
Had John McCain not sold out to the right wing neocon agenda, he would not be the Republican Party candidate today. It is as simple as that. McCain is no maverick.
Bush and Cheney ENDORSE John McCain!
That is all that need be said to discredit McCains interpretation of 'change'.
Joe Biden drove his points home with authority and with reference to facts. Joe Biden had presented sound stipulations of plans supporting the impending changes that are needed for this nation.
Without offering a discernible plan, Sarah Palin offered the empty rhetoric of "McCain and I will change Washington". No stipulations to any change in policy that would differ from the Bush agenda. There were little or no reference to any facts, just the old "trust us we'll change things" rhetoric. No plan whatsoever. Given McCains long history of deregulation, this only falls flat considering deregulation is what brought the financial and credit markets to their knees.
John McCain stole Obamas mantra of change out of necessity as the populace has become more and more exposed to the Republican policies leading this nation down a dangerous path.
McCain has nothing tangible to offer in respect to change.
Any credibility to the 'Maverick" label he has given himself had been sold to the neocon right-wing agenda a long time ago.
Had John McCain not sold out to the right wing neocon agenda, he would not be the Republican Party candidate today. It is as simple as that. McCain is no maverick.
Bush and Cheney ENDORSE John McCain!
That is all that need be said to discredit McCains interpretation of 'change'.
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