To the surprise of few and the dismay of many, including your intrepid commenter, John Edwards has quit the race for the Democratic nomination for president. It is widely determined that the reason is that his concern for poverty just wasn't a deal-maker with the American people.
The big question, then, going forward is which way does a liberal populist swing his/her support?
If one believes in the power of inspiration, the direction is to Barack Obama. If the inclination is towards political experience and sheerpolitical assholery, the obvious choice is Hillary Clinton.
Both candidates will have to refine their positions to appeal to the 15% Edwards drew. For a decent analysis, read Ron Klain's blog here.
That being said, Edwards' voice of reason in the campaign will be missed. Rudy Giuliani, on the other hand won't be missed, save by those who looked to continue the Bush Doctrine of Fear.
Though the Democratic contest will (perhaps) be decided in next Tuesday's mass nominating frenzy, I will wait till the Texas contest is imminent to make an endorsement... though I have to say that if Texas was among the Super Tuesday states, I would have gone with Edwards.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Let them eat cake...
In keeping with his State of the Union pledge to get the country to a budget surplus by 2012, Bush's 2009 budget will include cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.
The begged comment here is obvious... if not for his ill-advised and illegal war in Iraq, there would likely not be a budget deficit to begin with. Various sources put the cost of the Iraq war at as much as 1 TRILLION DOLLARS. Once again, how many better ways could the money
have been spent?
Fortunately, it is true that Congress is not likely to cut the popular programs in an election, but this is yet more proof of the President's anti-compassion. Compassionate conservatism, my ass.
The begged comment here is obvious... if not for his ill-advised and illegal war in Iraq, there would likely not be a budget deficit to begin with. Various sources put the cost of the Iraq war at as much as 1 TRILLION DOLLARS. Once again, how many better ways could the money
have been spent?
Fortunately, it is true that Congress is not likely to cut the popular programs in an election, but this is yet more proof of the President's anti-compassion. Compassionate conservatism, my ass.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
What he should have said...
Madam Speaker, Vice President, members of the Supreme Court, members of Congress, esteemed guests,
The State of our Union is dire. My administration has failed our people, ignored and defiled the Constitution, and condemned our troops to die in an ill-advised and illegal war. We have consistently placed the greedy desires of a privileged few above the needs of the suffering majority of Americans. We have pursued policies that have contributed to the ruination of our environment, ignoring the solutions that are right in front of us. We have alienated our allies and increased the number and ferocity of the enemies of the United States. We have sullied the concept of government by, of and for the people. As an example of my gross ineptitude I will point out that I did not even give my staunchest supporters one thing I promised to do for them.
This will not be a long speech, because this august Congress will need some sleep as they have many long days and nights of work ahead to repair the damage my administration has done to America and American ideals.
(hands folder to Speaker Pelosi)
In short, I stand before you as truly the Worst President Ever, worse even than Nixon or Fillmore, guilty of international war crimes, treason, high crimes and misdemeanors. I have just given Speaker Pelosi a folder containing handcuffs and leg irons to slap on me without delay, as well as a document detailing my transgressions, naming all my co-conspirators in both government and business, and I humbly await whatever punishment this esteemed body wishes to dole out to me and co-traitor Cheney.
I cannot ask forgiveness of the American people, but I hope to someday stand before God and beg His forgiveness.
In the meantime, may Almighty God bless America and I pray that my future cellmates have at least some mercy on my pooper.
The State of our Union is dire. My administration has failed our people, ignored and defiled the Constitution, and condemned our troops to die in an ill-advised and illegal war. We have consistently placed the greedy desires of a privileged few above the needs of the suffering majority of Americans. We have pursued policies that have contributed to the ruination of our environment, ignoring the solutions that are right in front of us. We have alienated our allies and increased the number and ferocity of the enemies of the United States. We have sullied the concept of government by, of and for the people. As an example of my gross ineptitude I will point out that I did not even give my staunchest supporters one thing I promised to do for them.
This will not be a long speech, because this august Congress will need some sleep as they have many long days and nights of work ahead to repair the damage my administration has done to America and American ideals.
(hands folder to Speaker Pelosi)
In short, I stand before you as truly the Worst President Ever, worse even than Nixon or Fillmore, guilty of international war crimes, treason, high crimes and misdemeanors. I have just given Speaker Pelosi a folder containing handcuffs and leg irons to slap on me without delay, as well as a document detailing my transgressions, naming all my co-conspirators in both government and business, and I humbly await whatever punishment this esteemed body wishes to dole out to me and co-traitor Cheney.
I cannot ask forgiveness of the American people, but I hope to someday stand before God and beg His forgiveness.
In the meantime, may Almighty God bless America and I pray that my future cellmates have at least some mercy on my pooper.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Boiling in oil...
According to the Times, oil briefly reached a high of $100 a barrel today. While it is true that $100 is "just" a number, it is also true that once it's crossed the price is unlikely to fall back to anything a consumer would reasonably want to deal with.
Energy is, and will get, more expensive.
And so far, no presidential candidate has taken a real aggressive approach to the problem. While they have all blustered to some extent, no one is really offering the hard facts, the inconvenient truths, if you will, that consumers are going to have to face.
There are a few ways out of the energy mess, a carbon tax being the one with the most immediate returns. But as yet no candidate has offered what I have always felt was the only real solution to the problem: a Manhattan Project-style coordinated effort to improve the efficiency of, among other things, car mileage, battery life, solar energy, wind energy, and yes, nuclear energy.
(It goes without saying, but bears repeating, that the money and human capital we have wasted in Iraq could easily have bought the country energy independence.)
Until we, as a society, and as voter/taxpayers, really attack this issue, results, well, there will be no results, and we will end up boiling, if not in oil, in the sun...
That is, if we're not brought to our knees by the countries we give our energy money to, enemies and allies both. Incidentally, I use the term allies here with some trepidation. The fact is that Saudi Arabia, which the government has called "friend" for the last 50 years or so, is NOT our friend. We share little with that country other than our need for oil and their willingness to sell it to us at market price, which price is determined, for the most part, by other players, those we call enemies.
It takes a certain amount of guts to stand, as Barack Obama did, before a group of automakers and promise that if you're elected as president, the automakers WILL raise the efficiency of their cars. He may have written off the votes of Detroit and even Michigan as a whole in that speech.
But it takes more guts, and more than guts, for a people to stand up before its government and say, we demand solutions and we demand them now, without kowtowing to special interests and erstwhile allies. We demand INDEPENDENCE!
It is the only solution for America, and the truth is, it's the only solution for the world. Whether the world's oil lasts another 5 years or another 50, we do know that it is running out and it is causing damage to the Earth.
The Earth and The People deserve better from the politicians running for president.
Energy is, and will get, more expensive.
And so far, no presidential candidate has taken a real aggressive approach to the problem. While they have all blustered to some extent, no one is really offering the hard facts, the inconvenient truths, if you will, that consumers are going to have to face.
There are a few ways out of the energy mess, a carbon tax being the one with the most immediate returns. But as yet no candidate has offered what I have always felt was the only real solution to the problem: a Manhattan Project-style coordinated effort to improve the efficiency of, among other things, car mileage, battery life, solar energy, wind energy, and yes, nuclear energy.
(It goes without saying, but bears repeating, that the money and human capital we have wasted in Iraq could easily have bought the country energy independence.)
Until we, as a society, and as voter/taxpayers, really attack this issue, results, well, there will be no results, and we will end up boiling, if not in oil, in the sun...
That is, if we're not brought to our knees by the countries we give our energy money to, enemies and allies both. Incidentally, I use the term allies here with some trepidation. The fact is that Saudi Arabia, which the government has called "friend" for the last 50 years or so, is NOT our friend. We share little with that country other than our need for oil and their willingness to sell it to us at market price, which price is determined, for the most part, by other players, those we call enemies.
It takes a certain amount of guts to stand, as Barack Obama did, before a group of automakers and promise that if you're elected as president, the automakers WILL raise the efficiency of their cars. He may have written off the votes of Detroit and even Michigan as a whole in that speech.
But it takes more guts, and more than guts, for a people to stand up before its government and say, we demand solutions and we demand them now, without kowtowing to special interests and erstwhile allies. We demand INDEPENDENCE!
It is the only solution for America, and the truth is, it's the only solution for the world. Whether the world's oil lasts another 5 years or another 50, we do know that it is running out and it is causing damage to the Earth.
The Earth and The People deserve better from the politicians running for president.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
