What Election?
There’s only one word for it, and I wish it were more eloquent, but clusterfuck is it.
The US Presidential race has been hijacked by the financial crisis, there’s no questioning that. John McCain wants to delay the upcoming Presidential debate because of it and Obama doesn’t. How their disagreement will play out in the minds of voters is anyone’s guess. There is no doubt that the American public has been so consumed by fear over the last week and a half that delaying a Presidential debate might seem acceptable to many. If it does occur, Wall Street will have succeeded in screwing over the American public twofold – once financially and once democratically.
The focus on the financial crisis has also helping to limit the damage caused by the McClain campaign’s latest blunder…
“Sarah Palin met her first world leaders Tuesday. It was a tightly controlled crash course on foreign policy for the Republican vice presidential candidate, the mayor-turned-governor who has been outside North America just once.”
[…]
“Before Palin’s first meeting of the day, with Karzai, campaign aides had told reporters in the press pool that followed her they could not go into meetings where photographers and a video camera crew would be let in for pictures.
Bush and members of Congress routinely allow reporters to attend photo opportunities along with photographers, and the reporters sometimes are able to ask questions at the beginning of private meetings before they are ushered out.
At least two news organizations, including AP, objected to the exclusion of reporters and were told that the decision to have a “photo spray” only was not subject to discussion.”
No questions – that’s understandable being that I probably own t-shirts that have a better understanding of the current geopolitical landscape than she does (not to mention ones that are more well traveled) - and she’s running to be the Vice President of the United States.
But that’s of little concern. She’s got a whole month to be coached by some of the best Republican foreign policy minds out there - and look at what a terrific job they’ve done over the last seven and a half years.
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September 24th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Im curious as to if I’ll ever live to see you utter something even remotely positive about the Republicans.
You rail and rail about how Sarah Palin is unfit for the job, yet you seem to overlook the fact that Obama is in the same boat, if not worse off. He’s had zero executive experience, while Palin at least has that. As for foreign policy, they both have about the same level of experience; and hes running for PRESIDENT, not the Vice Presidency.
September 25th, 2008 at 12:00 am
considering the actions of the republican party over the last 8 years, i don’t think there is much positive to say about them.
September 25th, 2008 at 12:03 am
Fair enough. However, my comment was directed towards the current election and the people running for office rather than the current administration.
September 25th, 2008 at 12:05 am
“I probably own t-shirts that have a better understanding of the current geopolitical landscape than she does (not to mention ones that are more well traveled)”…
Your t-shirts could probably do a better job too.
September 25th, 2008 at 12:10 am
my comment still stands, mccain is running a shady campaign and won’t let the press near palin.
biden has had 80 interviews since he was picked for the vp slot, palin has had 2 and it is VERY clear from both that she is not ready to be anywhere close to the white house.
September 25th, 2008 at 12:13 am
[quote comment="66369"]Im curious as to if I’ll ever live to see you utter something even remotely positive about the Republicans.
You rail and rail about how Sarah Palin is unfit for the job, yet you seem to overlook the fact that Obama is in the same boat, if not worse off. He’s had zero executive experience, while Palin at least has that. As for foreign policy, they both have about the same level of experience; and hes running for PRESIDENT, not the Vice Presidency.[/quote]
It amazes me when people talk about things when they haven’t bothered to look into.
Obama’s experience…
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
In truth, he has vastly more experience, is far more travelled, and is far more educated than Palin. Perhaps not McCain, but McCain has been in Washington far longer - not to mention the fact that McCain’s foreign policy positions are just as dire as those of the current administration. With regards to Obama, you don’t become the editor of the Harvard Law Review if you’re an idiot. Obama possesses just as much experience in foreign relations as JFK did when he entered office, more than Ronald Reagan did, and far more than George Bush did.
September 25th, 2008 at 3:43 am
If there’s one thing the republicans have done well it is the promotion of Palin.
She’s everywhere, be it good or bad publicity, you see here face everywhere. She even has her own action figures… http://www.theimproper.com/Images/Art/sarah palin action figure doll.jpg
To be perfectly honest, with all of this coverage of Palin, and possibly due to the early hour and lack of coffee, I can’t even recall the name of Obama’s running mate. Not at all. Just drawing a blank here.
September 25th, 2008 at 3:45 am
ooops, that link was
http://www.theimproper.com/Images/Art/sarah palin action figure doll.jpg
My brain just melted there for a second.
September 25th, 2008 at 3:46 am
Ah, screw it, just google it. Or don’t. I need a smoke.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:37 am
Sometimes I look at all the US election stuff and wonder if we’re all being punked.
McCain’s attitude over wanting to cancel the debate because of financial crises is telling, methinks. Clusterfuck truly is the only word for it.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:10 am
This is just me talking, but I think McCain’s pushing for a delay of the debate & suspending his campaign for two reasons…
1) They’re utterly unprepared for the debates and they know it.
2) He’s gambling that suspending the campaign in favour of handling the financial crisis will in some way appear patriotic and unselfish. However, as a recent CNN quick vote shows (sorry, can’t seem to link to it), most people are seeing right through that ploy.
I think this will blow up in his face, as much of the rest of his campaign has.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:36 am
[quote comment="66369"]Im curious as to if I’ll ever live to see you utter something even remotely positive about the Republicans.
You rail and rail about how Sarah Palin is unfit for the job, yet you seem to overlook the fact that Obama is in the same boat, if not worse off. He’s had zero executive experience, while Palin at least has that. As for foreign policy, they both have about the same level of experience; and hes running for PRESIDENT, not the Vice Presidency.[/quote]
McCain/Palin aren’t nazis. There, a positive thing said about the Republican ticket. And one of the few positive things any person with sense can say about them, sadly.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:46 am
I suppose McCain is SUCH a brilliant mind that they can’t possibly get the economy back on track without his full and undivided attention.
(I bet Palin meeting world leaders feels the same way I felt going into one particular summer internship interview years ago: “Holy CRAP, but I hope they don’t realize how unprepared I am…” I wouldn’t have wanted reporters in there, either.)
September 25th, 2008 at 5:46 am
Watching CNN last night it was great to hear that he American public is finally starting to question the way things are run. It was good to hear that McCain’s little ploy to win the American patriot was seen through and that Bush’s “We’re going to fix this” speech was seen through by the American public. It’s about time. Everyone wants to talk about this devastating market crash, no one wants to offer any solutions. Has anyone seen “Zeitgeist” even if you haven’t, You tube the part about the Bank of America, this seems a little to convenient.
September 25th, 2008 at 6:07 am
Clusterfuck indeed.
September 25th, 2008 at 6:44 am
The decision on McCain’s part to bail on the debate is ridiculously transparent. What I’d like to see is Obama call his bluff–fine, let’s go back to Washington… and while we’re at it, let’s have the debate there instead. They won’t be discussing the bailout issue all the time, and debates are scheduled for prime-time anyway. There’s no way the Senate would be in session at 8 PM.
In fact… maybe it’s time to send a couple emails suggesting that…
September 25th, 2008 at 8:01 am
[quote comment="66369"]Im curious as to if I’ll ever live to see you utter something even remotely positive about the Republicans.
You rail and rail about how Sarah Palin is unfit for the job, yet you seem to overlook the fact that Obama is in the same boat, if not worse off. He’s had zero executive experience, while Palin at least has that. As for foreign policy, they both have about the same level of experience; and hes running for PRESIDENT, not the Vice Presidency.[/quote]
It is the Republicans who brought the culture wars into politics starting in 1994. It is the Republicans who put America into two wars while winning an election in 2004 because they focused on Abortion and destroying the reputation of a Vietnam veteran. So why do we see so much push back and anger toward the party you support; hate. McCain/Palin promote the same hate that caused so many Americans to be labeled as unpatriotic during the first three years of the Iraq War. Now, if you do not support McCain’s way, you do not put Country First implying again you are unpatriotic. The way they are running their campaign, McCain shows he’s a man of the 20th century, not this century. I’m not saying that the Democrats have conducted themselves well in the past decade or have all the answers but I know McCain will not be able to change his party. He too has a history of hating and not forgiving. If he is elected, the Republicans will go on doing what they have been doing over the last 15 years. Maybe I would have some confidence in the McCain campaign if they would show some respect of Obama’s accomplishments. Instead, Republicans incite hate into the campaign anyway they can. I want a third party in America so badly to clean our system of both parties but dealing with reality, one must choose. You will choose McCain, I will choose Obama. We can argue, call each other names and protest. This openness is what makes Democracy so great. I hope after the election in over, Americans will be less ideological and more practical. But having a place like Matt’s site to vent is so important. Their is a reason the World is so mad at America. Their is a reason Americans so are mad. So try to understand why so many are rising up to speak/write their thoughts.
September 25th, 2008 at 8:27 am
[quote comment="66384"]Watching CNN last night it was great to hear that he American public is finally starting to question the way things are run. It was good to hear that McCain’s little ploy to win the American patriot was seen through and that Bush’s “We’re going to fix this” speech was seen through by the American public. It’s about time. Everyone wants to talk about this devastating market crash, no one wants to offer any solutions. Has anyone seen “Zeitgeist” even if you haven’t, You tube the part about the Bank of America, this seems a little to convenient.[/quote]
I need to focus- I meant Central Bank.. not bank of America LOL
September 25th, 2008 at 8:41 am
Ok, so maybe my brain’s a little soft, but why prohibit the print media and then allow camera and video crews into their meetings? It seems to me that video can showcase blunders and foolishness just as well as print media. Maybe even a little better. Am I just naïve? Can someone help me out with this?
September 25th, 2008 at 8:50 am
[quote comment="66396"]Ok, so maybe my brain’s a little soft, but why prohibit the print media and then allow camera and video crews into their meetings? It seems to me that video can showcase blunders and foolishness just as well as print media. Maybe even a little better. Am I just naïve? Can someone help me out with this?[/quote]
Palin is used to cameras and video. She uses limited, scripted and carefully practised dialogue which makes it easier for her to look and sound somewhat intelligent. Put her in at the mercy of reporters, who are like pack dogs in front of a raw bone, throwing questions at her which she is unprepared and unqualified to answer, and she would make a total fool of herself!
September 25th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Stephen Harper’s pulling a few of his own tricks out of the bag:
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g6YesTXAYfsanGLSDxXgDxHF_vWw
September 25th, 2008 at 9:03 am
mccains strings (as well as those of his party) are being pulled by bigger powers behind the curtain; presumably the same powers that are trying to keep wall street afloat, so it only makes sense that they would suggest something like this…
i say fuck it…prepared or not, the shows gotta go on…
September 25th, 2008 at 9:36 am
[quote comment="66392"] McCain/Palin promote the same hate that caused so many Americans to be labeled as unpatriotic during the first three years of the Iraq War. Now, if you do not support McCain’s way, you do not put Country First implying again you are unpatriotic. [/quote]
This drives me crazy. To quote Keith Olbermann, who was in turn quoting Edward R. Murrow: “We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty.”
September 25th, 2008 at 9:40 am
[quote comment="66369"]Im curious as to if I’ll ever live to see you utter something even remotely positive about the Republicans.[/quote]
Is that what we are reduced to? A party is qualified to govern the US if someone can think of something “remotely positive” to say about them?
The US has real problems that affect real people–private health care, crumbling infrastructure, teenage stoners in prison, Iraq, etc. The US deserves a leader who will actually address those, not more establishment shills.
September 25th, 2008 at 9:41 am
[quote comment="66400"]Stephen Harper’s pulling a few of his own tricks out of the bag:
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g6YesTXAYfsanGLSDxXgDxHF_vWw/quote
Best line in that story: “But is it within the RCMP’s mandate to stop the media from doing its job?”
September 25th, 2008 at 9:44 am
I don’t know what’s worst, that political leaders in supposed democratic nation are ready to throw out the very basic institutions of democracy at the first sign of strong wind, or that people believe them when they say its necessary….
The mere fact that McCain can get away with this obvious political theatre shakes my conscious to its core…
A democracy is not measured on how it functions during ideal situations but how it functions when the chips are down, and really this economic turmoil is not even remotely similar to many more challenging situations where democracies didn’t abdicate their basic beliefs.
I could rant all day about this… but it comes down to my basic fear that people will flock to “strong” leaders who will take away the limited choices they have the minute a challenge faces their society… and if this is the case, what hope do we have?
September 25th, 2008 at 10:04 am
[quote comment="66406"]
Best line in that story: “But is it within the RCMP’s mandate to stop the media from doing its job?”[/quote]
Exactly. It’s a pathetic state of affairs when that question is even asked rhetorically, let alone in all seriousness.
September 25th, 2008 at 11:56 am
The link below is a post & youtube video with David Letterman’s take on McCain ceasing his campaign. He brings up a REALLY good point. Why isn’t the campaign being put in the hands of his running mate while he helps deal with the economic crisis? Hmmm… perhaps because he knows she can’t pull it off. This is the possible VP of the US and her own running mate is admitting by his actions that he thinks she’s in way over her head. That’s fucking terrifying.
http://repliderium.com/political-crap/david-letterman-on-mccain-halting-campaign/
September 25th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
“Sarah Palin met her first world leaders Tuesday. It was a tightly controlled crash course on foreign policy for the Republican vice presidential candidate, the mayor-turned-governor who has been outside North America just once.”
I posted a link to this the other day in our Yukon News, but in fact Ms. Palin has not only rarely ventured outside of North America, but also rarely outside the comforts of her homestate of Alaska. While governor, her only official experience dealing with a foreign diplomat / couterpart was a trip over the border to visit Premier Dennis Fentie (Yukon Territory). To put things in perspective ; that sort of trip is hardly a massive excursion - the border is 2 hours from Whitehorse and, hockey teams, fisherman, and shoppers make the trip several times a week.
I guess you don’t get around much when you are busy trying to ban books in your public library - like children’s books such as “Daddy’s Roommate” which is basically helps children understand issues like divorce and homosexuality. Copies of “Guns ‘N Ammo” are totally OK though.
To me her “experience” - including her chairperson role with AOGCC, cannot be compared to Obama’s experience on 3 Senate Committees.
September 25th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
What I like is that CNN, who was supplying TV coverage for the other networks, protested the ban by refusing to attend at all.
It always surprises me when people complain of a “liberal media.” Of course the media is liberal. With the way the Bush administration has manipulated, bullied, and punished news networks over the past eight years (and looks like the McCain camp is all too willing to carry on that tradition), it’s clear Republicans would eradicate freedom of the press if given the chance. Media has to be liberal for the sake of self-preservation!
September 25th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
This is scary
http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?video_id=PdJUCU1UH2w&rel=0&eurl=http%2
September 25th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
[quote comment="66369"]Im curious as to if I’ll ever live to see you utter something even remotely positive about the Republicans.
You rail and rail about how Sarah Palin is unfit for the job, yet you seem to overlook the fact that Obama is in the same boat, if not worse off. He’s had zero executive experience, while Palin at least has that. As for foreign policy, they both have about the same level of experience; and hes running for PRESIDENT, not the Vice Presidency.[/quote]
I don’t think you’ll find people here who will create a fake sense of balance, like the MSM, just so they can claim to be objective. Your absolute ignorance of Obama’s history tells me you would not acknoledge it if it were tattooed all over your body. If you want sunshine blown up your ass while your hair is on fire, go to foxnews, NRO, hate-wing radio or invite ann coulter over for tea.
September 25th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
I prefer the term orgy. I’m sure Palin can score a few votes by body over brains (that was some ad). I can’t even imagine where this all might lead, no matter which road is taken.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
It’ll be interesting to watch the polls in Mississippi to see if Obama gains any ground because of McCain’s threats to back out…
September 25th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
IT’S THE YEAR 2000 AGAIN!!!
September 25th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
It’s called “multi-tasking” McCain.
I would think as a man who wants to be President he should probably get used to doing so… or will he shut America down everytime something “comes up” so he can deal with one thing at a time???
Clusterfuck is right.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Well, I feel I must step up here and report on Joe “the bonehead” Biden. Whilst being grilled on this “Fiscal Meltdown’ he stated that the American Public needed to be kept informed by a responsive, articulate and intelligent President like Obama and his own self. As an example, he told of how when the stock market collapsed in 1929, President Roosevelt went on television and gave his famous ” fireside Chats ” to keep up the morale of his citizens. Not one of the mainstream media there picked up on, or reported that Roosevelt wasn’t elected until 1932, and the Chats were delivered by Radio as broadcast television was not in existence in 1929.
Now, I like Joe, I think he’s an earnest and honest man; but believe me. if Governor Palin had said that, the media would still be talking about it! Sorta like when Obama complained about being tired after visiting 57 states and still had 3 to go! If George Bush had uttered that gaffe, people would still be talking about how stupid he was. They wouldn’t have treated it as the slip it was.
There are two trains of thought concerning these politicians and no one will give the other side any credit. That’s just the way it is.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:17 am
[quote comment="66398"][quote comment="66396"]Ok, so maybe my brain’s a little soft, but why prohibit the print media and then allow camera and video crews into their meetings? It seems to me that video can showcase blunders and foolishness just as well as print media. Maybe even a little better. Am I just naïve? Can someone help me out with this?[/quote]
Palin is used to cameras and video. She uses limited, scripted and carefully practised dialogue which makes it easier for her to look and sound somewhat intelligent. Put her in at the mercy of reporters, who are like pack dogs in front of a raw bone, throwing questions at her which she is unprepared and unqualified to answer, and she would make a total fool of herself![/quote]
Wow, holy shit. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. Thanks, Mad!
p.s. See - I told you my brain is soft.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:39 am
By magic, Heath Ledger as the Joker ridicules the real Joker in the Oval Office:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1X6RQLZtoA
September 27th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
[quote comment="66522"]Well, I feel I must step up here and report on Joe “the bonehead” Biden. Whilst being grilled on this “Fiscal Meltdown’ he stated that the American Public needed to be kept informed by a responsive, articulate and intelligent President like Obama and his own self. As an example, he told of how when the stock market collapsed in 1929, President Roosevelt went on television and gave his famous ” fireside Chats ” to keep up the morale of his citizens. Not one of the mainstream media there picked up on, or reported that Roosevelt wasn’t elected until 1932, and the Chats were delivered by Radio as broadcast television was not in existence in 1929.
Now, I like Joe, I think he’s an earnest and honest man; but believe me. if Governor Palin had said that, the media would still be talking about it! Sorta like when Obama complained about being tired after visiting 57 states and still had 3 to go! If George Bush had uttered that gaffe, people would still be talking about how stupid he was. They wouldn’t have treated it as the slip it was.
There are two trains of thought concerning these politicians and no one will give the other side any credit. That’s just the way it is.[/quote]
Could not agree with you more. There is a major media bias when it comes to these things. Palin is still getting hammered on her personal beliefs while everyone has seem to forgotten all about the church that Obama attended for 20 some odd years.