Some of us think that a person who lies in order to gain office, will continue to lie after gaining the office. For instance, such a person may start a needless war that costs thousands of American and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives. So if a candidate lies repeatedly in his (or her) campaign, and in unapologetic when caught lying, that alone ought to be the issue that causes us to not elect him (or her).
People (like me)who think that way are perplexed that a candidates lying doesn't seem to faze others -- millions of others.
But maybe I've figured it out.
Historically (recently, anyway), most of the lying and distortion has been done by Republicans. Republicans, of course, are the believers in unfettered capitalism, in the free market, in de-regulation. Competition, they argue, will lead to the greatest good for the most people.
Well, I think they are applying that to political campaigns. Why should capitalism be limited to economies? If, say, allowing hamburger manufacturers to compete freely and without restriction has led to the best possible hamburger, why should we be denied choice in Truth? Will choice not lead to the greatest Truth?
For instance. Say something costs $3.00. In a Republican's left hand is $1.00, and in his/her right hand is $1.00. In the restricted, regulated world of elitist math, 1=1+2 and the Republican is a dollar short. If, however, we subscribe to the competing view that 1+1=3, then things work out the way we want them to, and the Republican can buy the $3.00 product.
For Republicans, competition solves everything! Regulating Truth (demanding, for instance, that 1+1=2) punishes those for whom Truth is inconvenient. By de-regulating truth, all competing views on a subject get their chance to prove their value. It is simply capitalism, which has been the basis for the most successful economy in history; it follows (to Republicans) that it will lead to the most successful Everything Else in history.
So: that Sarah Palin supported the Bridge to Nowhere cannot be the only Truth allowed on the field; a competing truth is justified, because competition allows Sarah Palin to not be a lying sack of fertilizer, and that is the desired outcome. Likewise, the desired outcome in November is for John McCain to be president. For that to happen, it would help if the truth that Barack Obama did not teach sex to 5 year olds were not the only truth promulgated; ergo, the lie that he did want to teach sex to 5 year olds must be allowed onto the field.
That's my theory, anyway: it's just a free marketplace of ideas.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
How Has Sarah Helped Kids in Alaska?
I work for the flks who Medicaid in a Republican state, so I understand that Republicans are no friends to Medicaid. That made me wonder about Ms. Palin's statement that parents of specdial needs kids would have a friend in the White House. The NYT did the story for me Here.
(Been having trouble with links, so if that one doesn't work, cut and paste this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/us/politics/07needs.html?ex=1378526400&en=2ceb8d1d0cd95388&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
Cut funds for the Special Olympics? Really, dear Friend in the White House?
This is the party, remember, that declared war on the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that all concerned agreed was successful and necessary.
(Been having trouble with links, so if that one doesn't work, cut and paste this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/us/politics/07needs.html?ex=1378526400&en=2ceb8d1d0cd95388&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
Cut funds for the Special Olympics? Really, dear Friend in the White House?
This is the party, remember, that declared war on the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that all concerned agreed was successful and necessary.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Culture War! What is it good for?
Krugman in today's NYT here,
And here's Judith Warner:
I was particularly struck by this observation from Ms Warner:
"Because the Republicans, very clearly, believe that real people are idiots. This disdain for their smarts shows up in the whole way they’ve cast this race now, turning a contest over economic and foreign policy into a culture war of the Real vs. the Elites."
IMHO, the Dems ought to run a series of commercials using the GOP convention as a backdrop. One would have people who are community organizers relating what they've done, inter-cut with Rudy and Sarah laughing at the thought of "community organizers". How will it look when Joe Organizer says "I helped a father of six get a job" is followed by one of those schnooks mocking the concept?
Another would show the clever sniping at the "elites" and the media, then an average guy going "Ha ha, good one", then he looks around and says, puzzled: "But it didn't help me afford college for my kind" or "It didn't help me get a job."
I think if they want to fight a culture war, the thing t do is to keep it focused on the economy, and in fact contrast the culture war to what really matters.
And here's Judith Warner:
I was particularly struck by this observation from Ms Warner:
"Because the Republicans, very clearly, believe that real people are idiots. This disdain for their smarts shows up in the whole way they’ve cast this race now, turning a contest over economic and foreign policy into a culture war of the Real vs. the Elites."
IMHO, the Dems ought to run a series of commercials using the GOP convention as a backdrop. One would have people who are community organizers relating what they've done, inter-cut with Rudy and Sarah laughing at the thought of "community organizers". How will it look when Joe Organizer says "I helped a father of six get a job" is followed by one of those schnooks mocking the concept?
Another would show the clever sniping at the "elites" and the media, then an average guy going "Ha ha, good one", then he looks around and says, puzzled: "But it didn't help me afford college for my kind" or "It didn't help me get a job."
I think if they want to fight a culture war, the thing t do is to keep it focused on the economy, and in fact contrast the culture war to what really matters.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Remove the "L" and It's "McCain-Pain"
"Palin shows star power to match Obama", says Newsweek, here:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/156994
All the major news websites are gushing over Sarah Palin's acceptance speech. A grand slam. Brilliant. Effective. Watch out, Joe Biden.
Might I disagree?
Comparing Palin's speech to Obama's is like comparing a nipping, biting dog to Lassie. When she wasn't downright lying (Obama's legislative record, her own relationship to "earmarks", etc) she was appealing to the small and narrow in our nature: name calling, innuendo, bravado towards the paper tiger that is the media. In comparing her Americanism to Obama's, she is, in effect, saying "His family is, you know, that other race, wink wink." Her speech was cynical, mean, closed.
You may not like Obama's outlined policy proposals. But you can't argue that his acceptance speech was in any way like Sarah Palin's, i.e., small and cheap. His rhetoric soars, he appeals to the best of our nature, he speaks to the concerns of the most vulnerable, the least represented, the middle class. His speech was inclusive; hers was mocking.
After spending days telling everyone to leave her family alone, up they came, Okay, that's fine. But how about asking that special needs mother what the Republicans did to CHIPS? What does the GOP do for sex education to prevent teen pregnancies? Oh, I forgot -- teenm pregnancy is now a GOOD thing.
And, by the way, what was that gluttonous chanting of "Drill, baby, drill!"??? It was embarrassing, watching the Republican base slobbering over the thought of destroying the environment for money.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/156994
All the major news websites are gushing over Sarah Palin's acceptance speech. A grand slam. Brilliant. Effective. Watch out, Joe Biden.
Might I disagree?
Comparing Palin's speech to Obama's is like comparing a nipping, biting dog to Lassie. When she wasn't downright lying (Obama's legislative record, her own relationship to "earmarks", etc) she was appealing to the small and narrow in our nature: name calling, innuendo, bravado towards the paper tiger that is the media. In comparing her Americanism to Obama's, she is, in effect, saying "His family is, you know, that other race, wink wink." Her speech was cynical, mean, closed.
You may not like Obama's outlined policy proposals. But you can't argue that his acceptance speech was in any way like Sarah Palin's, i.e., small and cheap. His rhetoric soars, he appeals to the best of our nature, he speaks to the concerns of the most vulnerable, the least represented, the middle class. His speech was inclusive; hers was mocking.
After spending days telling everyone to leave her family alone, up they came, Okay, that's fine. But how about asking that special needs mother what the Republicans did to CHIPS? What does the GOP do for sex education to prevent teen pregnancies? Oh, I forgot -- teenm pregnancy is now a GOOD thing.
And, by the way, what was that gluttonous chanting of "Drill, baby, drill!"??? It was embarrassing, watching the Republican base slobbering over the thought of destroying the environment for money.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Time Out
Maybe it's just the usual GOP exaggerations about the media, but they are accusing various liberal websites and/or bloggers of insinuating that Bristol Palin is the real mom of the Governor's 4 month old son.
Look: If Bristol is 5 months pregnant, do you think she could have had a baby in April? September3rd -- 5 = April3rd. Bristol didn't have a baby in April.
Dumb thing to be accusing her -- them -- of. There are enough legitimate concerns without inventing impossible - and I'm sure, hurtful -- crises.
Look: If Bristol is 5 months pregnant, do you think she could have had a baby in April? September3rd -- 5 = April3rd. Bristol didn't have a baby in April.
Dumb thing to be accusing her -- them -- of. There are enough legitimate concerns without inventing impossible - and I'm sure, hurtful -- crises.
Maver Icky
McCain Campiagn: Ooo bugga klor puft.
Media: Yup, yup, okay, yup.
Current headline at CNN.com: "Palin's Maverick Trail".
Here:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/03/palin.track.record/index.html
" the 44-year-old became known in Alaska as a popular maverick" . . .
"Some similarities between Palin and McCain were clear Friday -- both have been termed mavericks and both have taken on the GOP establishment at times."
She's a maverick. He's a maverick. Every Republican is a maverick!
What is she a maverick from?
Here's my favorite:
"On Fox News Sunday, McCain said Palin knows what it means to lead troops.
'She has been commander-in-chief of the Alaska Guard,' McCain said."
I wonder where she led them? Was there some horrible crisis in Alaska that I missed? Did Sarah Palin scoff at the pleas of her aides that she command from the safety of her command tent, and go out to the front lines to lead the troops to victory? Was it victory against all odds?
Another thing: I thought it was only some Fox chowder head that opined that she's good at foreign policy because Alaska is the closest state to Russia. I was wrong: Cindy McCain said it too. Colbert nailed that one last night - said Mt McKinley is closest point in America to outer space, so Palin's an expert on space exploration.
Media: Yup, yup, okay, yup.
Current headline at CNN.com: "Palin's Maverick Trail".
Here:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/03/palin.track.record/index.html
" the 44-year-old became known in Alaska as a popular maverick" . . .
"Some similarities between Palin and McCain were clear Friday -- both have been termed mavericks and both have taken on the GOP establishment at times."
She's a maverick. He's a maverick. Every Republican is a maverick!
What is she a maverick from?
Here's my favorite:
"On Fox News Sunday, McCain said Palin knows what it means to lead troops.
'She has been commander-in-chief of the Alaska Guard,' McCain said."
I wonder where she led them? Was there some horrible crisis in Alaska that I missed? Did Sarah Palin scoff at the pleas of her aides that she command from the safety of her command tent, and go out to the front lines to lead the troops to victory? Was it victory against all odds?
Another thing: I thought it was only some Fox chowder head that opined that she's good at foreign policy because Alaska is the closest state to Russia. I was wrong: Cindy McCain said it too. Colbert nailed that one last night - said Mt McKinley is closest point in America to outer space, so Palin's an expert on space exploration.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
More cool hypocrisy
Here's a Bloomerg News report, quoting McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt on how poor John is getting some bad press:
" `It used to be that a lot of those smears and the crap on the Internet stayed out of the newsrooms of serious journalists,' Schmidt said at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota."
He could have said "It used to be that a lot of those smears and the crap on the Internet stayed out of the newsrooms of serious journalists until we Republicans encouraged it against any Democrat anywhere in the country."
But he didn't.
" `It used to be that a lot of those smears and the crap on the Internet stayed out of the newsrooms of serious journalists,' Schmidt said at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota."
He could have said "It used to be that a lot of those smears and the crap on the Internet stayed out of the newsrooms of serious journalists until we Republicans encouraged it against any Democrat anywhere in the country."
But he didn't.
To be, or not to be, a hypocrite
I have to agree with Obama, and I'm glad he said it: families sghould be off limits in political campaigns. Faced with the reality, though, that an opponent I hope gets blitzed has got a family problem, it's hard to lay off. But, as I say, Obama is right, and I feel good adhering to a principle.
The kid's pregnancy is just tangential to this, then. Can the Republican base refrain from flushing principles down the toilet?
From cbsnews.com (a story on GOP delegate reaction to the Palin pregnancy)(http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/01/politics/main4405552.shtml):
" 'Like so many other American families who are in the same situation, I think it's great that she instilled in her daughter the values to have the child and not to sneak off some place and have an abortion,' said Louisiana delegate George White."
"Said Madison, Mississippi delegate Walley Naylor. 'Not that it's right, but it doesn't reflect badly upon her. I think that it’s great that even though young children are making that decision to become pregnant they've also decided to take responsibility for their actions and decide to follow up with that and get married and raise this child.' "
So, according to these folks, teen pregnancy is a wonderful thing, as long as there's no abortion. It's "great" that "young children" who "make the decision (!)" to pregnant stay pregnant. Let's hear it for the "values" of teen girls getting prgnant and staying pregnant! Go teens!
Is it principles these people lack, or brains? It's quite a conundrum. If you think about it, it's kind of sad that this is major political party - let alone the one that has dominated our country for 8 years.
As someone said: "Enough!" Don't you think?
The kid's pregnancy is just tangential to this, then. Can the Republican base refrain from flushing principles down the toilet?
From cbsnews.com (a story on GOP delegate reaction to the Palin pregnancy)(http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/01/politics/main4405552.shtml):
" 'Like so many other American families who are in the same situation, I think it's great that she instilled in her daughter the values to have the child and not to sneak off some place and have an abortion,' said Louisiana delegate George White."
"Said Madison, Mississippi delegate Walley Naylor. 'Not that it's right, but it doesn't reflect badly upon her. I think that it’s great that even though young children are making that decision to become pregnant they've also decided to take responsibility for their actions and decide to follow up with that and get married and raise this child.' "
So, according to these folks, teen pregnancy is a wonderful thing, as long as there's no abortion. It's "great" that "young children" who "make the decision (!)" to pregnant stay pregnant. Let's hear it for the "values" of teen girls getting prgnant and staying pregnant! Go teens!
Is it principles these people lack, or brains? It's quite a conundrum. If you think about it, it's kind of sad that this is major political party - let alone the one that has dominated our country for 8 years.
As someone said: "Enough!" Don't you think?
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