Up to now I couldn’t have cared less about the US presidential election. It’s sad that the best we can do is Obama and McCain. There are a lot of great people in America who are far better candidates to lead this great nation but these are the two we get stuck with.
In an odd way the Obama campaign reminds me of the Internet Marketing. All style and splash. Pull back the covers and it’s all bullshit. But American people have been seduced by charisma over substance. McCain is a tired candidate from a tired party…until now. Oh how I am intrigued by the selection of Sarah Palin.
I had conversations a couple of months ago to my dad about the possibility of Palin being the potential running mate. It seemed like an interesting choice given that it looked like Hilary was going to be the Dems nominee. I really didn’t think McCain would have the balls to pull the trigger on that choice but I was interested in her story nonetheless.
Up until now I had decided I would vote Libertarian. It’s a throwaway vote, but it registers my displeasure at the status quo. No matter what Obama preaches about “change” it’s all bullshit. Have we forgotten that the Dems have held Congress for the last two years and promised change yet nothing seemed to get done? Nothing really got better despite the promises. They say that when the Messiah arrives in the White House things will change. I doubt it. He seems to want to implement a Socialist policy. That is not a change I’m all excited about.
So how does the choice of Palin as a running-mate change my mind?
- It shows that McCain has balls. He could have played it safe like Obama (and his pathetic Joe Biden pick) and made a choice like Mitt Romney. But he went outside the beltway. You want change? How about a ticket that at least has somebody (Palin) that is a change. The lady has never been in Washington. Oh and did I mention that she is a female?
- Palin is a Governor. A former mayor. It is my opinion that governing a State is by far better experience for running a nation than sitting in the Senate. As a Senator what do you lead? As a Governor she leads the State. As mayor she lead a town. And I will not stoop to belittling the fact she was a mayor like those asshole Democrat spokespeople.
- She has an approval rating of over 90% in the great state of Alaska. I have a feeling Alaska will be sad to see her go.
- I am pro energy. If there is oil in this country I want to go get it. I do not understand the Dems stand on this matter. She obviously understands that this country needs our own oil while we develop alternate fuel sources. I’d prefer to spend the money here in the US than send to it countries like Iran that hate us.
- There was a comment by the Obama camp that said “”Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency.” This is a quote from Bill Burton. Well heck, why don’t we go ahead and put a man with zero foreign policy in as president? Obama has been Senator for a couple of years. Yea, he’s ready. Bill is trying to spin her as being a mayor as a bad thing. Like no one has a history. That no one grows professionally. Seems like a reasonable stepping stone to me is to go from mayor to Governor. She may in fact not be ready to be President. Doesn’t mean that she can’t be ready within a year or so. And it’s not like she wouldn’t get experienced people around her to help. Right Obama? Or was that not the reason you chose Joe Biden to help you get elected?
- She’s young. She’s female. She’s a hellava lot more fun to look at than the three senators. It must gall the Obama camp that McCain chose Palin. She’s younger than he is. She’s never been in Washington. Hell, she couldn’t be further away. Obama talks all this change bullshit and he goes and gets a man that has been sucking on the government teet for 30 years. McCain walks the talk and gets Palin. You effing couldn’t have more change than that. You know, you keep hearing how attractive and vibrant Obama is and how old McCain is. Well McCain has a young and attractive wife. Palin has a young and attractive family. This choice pretty much neutralizes the “Obama is hot” crap as superficial as it may be.
I enjoy hearing and reading the tired rhetoric from the Democrats about how this candidate will continue the same “failed economic policies of Bush”. Nobody believes that either candidate wants the economy to continue to stumble. I for one am not a big fan of income redistribution. Buying votes is unethical yet seems to be the platform the Democrats continue to stump on. Let’s take away all that money the “rich” make. They don’t deserve it. I have a problem with government taking money from people. Particularly when they mis-manage what we already provide it. Rich people are far smarter with their money than the government would be.
The announcement of Palin the day after the Obama speech was brilliant. Nobody is talking about Obama and Biden today. As a matter of fact it kind of makes the choice of Biden look a little sad and pathetic. Now everybody is looking forward to finding out who this Palin lady is. She’ll be the face of the Republicans all week. She doesn’t make McCain look so old anymore.
I can work with this choice. Though I wish it was somebody else besides McCain. Maybe Colin Powell and Palin. That would have been interesting. Palin doesn’t change my mind that the choices we have been given suck ass. But it’s now something I can at least consider.
The next couple of months are going to be fun. Obama and the Dems will continue to pound home the point that they are the agents of change. McCain will detail how he is the experienced candidate. Biden is chomping at the bit to get to the VP debate so he can show up the young lady. Like Internet Marketing, people are going to make promises that won’t and/or can’t be kept. They will do or say anything to continue their government employment. If nothing else you can marvel at the peaceful change of power in the United States. We the people have the power to get someone new in 4 years if it doesn’t work out. It’s our right. And it’s a beautiful thing.
Sorry for the political post. I had to voice my opinion on this. Much like the hype of Internet Marketing, I’m sick of the Obama hype. Tons of voters have no idea why they like Obama except that he is pretty and says he is for change. That’s crap. It was time to jam a few sticks in the machine.
{ 63 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
BeauFla lots of truth in what you write but then again you can see glimpses of what type of person she is by how she governed Alaska. She took on corruption-in her own party, She took on wasteful federal spending. She balanced the budget and managed a surplus. There are a lot of good things there. I could regurgitate every flaw you see in Palin and do the same with Biden/Obama. I simply don’t care because there is nothing that anyone is going to say or do to change the mind of an Obama supporter.
I challenge anyone to tell me what the hell Obama has done. He is a member of his party’s majority held Congress. Yet they have done nothing for this country. Nothing. They blame the Repubs for everything yet they have stood by and done nothing. What exactly of their many promises in 2006 have they accomplished? Nothing that I can see. And certainly Obama has not risen to any occasion in the Congress.
I say again. NONE of the candidates that we have before us to lead this country are worth a shit. Out of all the great people in the country this is the best we can do? It is pathetic. It is sad. The issue that I am MOST worried about is finance. This country is broke and getting broker. And nobody cares. But I guarantee my children and their children are going to care. If we weren’t 10 trillion in debt maybe we could meaningfully reform health care. Or social security. Or education. Maybe we could develop a substantial energy policy. Obama or McCain will continue to tax and spend us to death and contribute to the downward spiral of this nation.
It pains me too to see people stand for someone that has no qualifications and has done nothing. I’ve quizzed numerous people online and off about why they want Obama. They give the party cheer “change!” Ask them what that means to them and they have no idea. They just know that they want change. That’s fine. But it has to mean something. Maybe Obama will the greatest president in history if given a chance. All I know is a lot of his rhetoric is about taxing and spending. On the face of it it won’t effect me until he manages to get a health care plan in place which will bureaucracize me going to the doctor. More government intrusion into my life. Why the hell do the politicians think they know better how to run my life? My money?
Both parties suck. I will not be a supporter of either. I will vote Libertarian like I generally do protesting against what will continue to be business as usual in Washington no matter which asshat happens to win. We all lose in this country no matter who wins.
—-
She took on corruption-in her own party,
—-
In my opinion palin’s corruption fighting credentials have been way over hiped. If she had truly taken on curruption in the Alaskan Republican party then Ted Stevens would not have been allowed to run for reelection as a member of the Republican party.
—
She took on wasteful federal spending. She balanced the budget and managed a surplus.
–
It is easy to balance a budget when you only have a population of 670,000, little relative crime — read geographic location — and most of the states income comes from a guaranteed source, oil revenue and oh ya Federal earmarks of which Alaska gets more per capita than any other state.
Palin’s economic and fiscal credentials just aren’t there.
—-
He is a member of his party’s majority held Congress. Yet they have done nothing for this country.
—-
this is marketing hype by the republican party. most major issues in congree require more than a simple majority to pass. Yes, democrats control committee chairs, which is a lot but their majority is very slim. Moreover, the Senate is the true accilies heal here. The house has attempted to do a lot…there is a commanding majority there. democratic control of the Senate is by one. and, that one is Joseph Lieberman….who it is obvious leans more republican than Democrat.
It takes both the Senate and House to pass a bill. So unless there is a clear commanding majority in both houses you cannot truly say that “Congress” is controlled by the Democrats. The reality is that Congress is split to a point of stalemate.
we have a republican president that is corrupt and has been taking advantage of this stalemate to work his own agenda.
where does control truly reside. believe it or not…it is with the Republicans. Why? Because the President of the United States can Veto any bill. A veto over ride requires a super majority (2/3 majority) vote in both the house and the sente.
So who really has power! The Republicans because they have the Presidential trump and with it are able to block most actions.
—-
I challenge anyone to tell me what the hell Obama has done
—-
I will try to do just that. Now i did not do this research myself but here are a few links for where this info cam from.
http://tpzoo.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/obamas-senate-accomplishments/
and
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/21/164117/783?new=true
and
http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Obama_s_accomplishments_as_Senator
now i guess I could try and find more academic level stuff but this only took me a few minutes. I’ll let those articles stand for themselves.
—-
Obama or McCain will continue to tax and spend us to death and contribute to the downward spiral of this nation.
—-
i can not answer to this as no one really knows what anyone will do when they enter the Presidency. But, the reality is that government is necessary and taxes are as well. what matters is how that money is spent. Of the last 4 presidents oly one has balanced the budget and that was a Democrat.
Does that mean because Obama is a Democrat that he will balnce the budget….uh…no. I just hate republican bluster about being fisically responsible. i as well believe we need a simplification of the tax code. i believe in a flat tax across the board zero loop holes. Simple and easy… to change the percentage would require a super majority of both houses. And changing the percentage taxed would be the only thing changeable….so there would be no more hiding of the little sneaky changes that occur.
—-
On the face of it it won’t effect me until he manages to get a health care plan in place which will bureaucracize me going to the doctor. More government intrusion into my life.
—-
you going to the doctor is already beaurcratized. Uh the insurance companies are worse than the government. I am not sure what a nationalized health care system would look like. But, we are the last western industrialized country to nationalize health care. I am not sure about this but i think Canadians are happy with their health system. I think Brits are happy with their health care system. We could ask just about any European from the tip of Finland down to Portugal and i think they would all say they would rather their health system than the American system
Do not fear change of the health care system. Do you really think that Americans would stand for the health care system becoming like the Iraqi health care system…maybe for a short while but not for long.
—-
All I know is a lot of his rhetoric is about taxing and spending.
—-
on both sides. But, you have to spend and earn. That is a fact of life…even for goverments….The question is whi is going to make the right decision of how to tax and where to spend. Would you prefer the top 5% of Americans to pay on avrage less than the bottom 20% of Americans or would you rather a system that more equal.
Do not be fooled by arguments of wealth transfer. This is a wealthy persons argument. When you tax someone that is poorer it is still a transfer a wealth just like it is with a rich person. Flat tax with no loop holesiIs the answer to that. Evens the tax playing field.
i agree both parties suck but Democrats at least do not want to invade my privacy, tell me how to think and which god i should worship!
—-
I will vote Libertarian like I generally do protesting against what will continue to be business as usual in Washington no matter which asshat happens to win.
—-
Voting libertarian is your choice and i commend it. But, consider one thing…we are truly at a crossroads both generationally, economically, and socially. this year’s vote will affect the rest of your life and your chidrens life and very likely your grandchildrens life
Let’s see:
Your opinion stands on the corruption. If it had been Obama I would imagine your opinion would not be so dismissive. Obviously I think it’s noteworthy.
“Only 670,000″. Democrats love to trot that one out. It sounds insulting. As far as more FEDERAL earmarks heading to Alaska, I don’t think Palin can control that. I believe federal money is doled out by the US Congress.
Congress not controlled by Democrats. Pelosi and Reid won’t even let the things they don’t want to vote on get to the floor. Better than 60% of Americans want to drill off shore. More than that want at least a vote. They won’t allow it. And there is nothing the Repubs can do about it.
“Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress.
Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005.”
Sure. Co-sponsoring is easy. Didn’t list how many he sponsored. Plus only one I believe was signed into law anyway. The Republic of Congo appreciates the effort.
Health care. I doubt any country would prefer their own health care to America’s. I have no facts about that but I have read that some Canadians choose to have procedures performed in the US instead of having to wait their turn in Canada. Though Americans are perfectly happy to give up their freedom for entitlements.
Obama promises me that my taxes will not go up under his system. I can believe that right? So what do I care?
I hope Obama will stop the interfering into my privacy. So far the Democratic congress has not done much in that regard. They will apparently hold majority and the Presidency from 2009 until at least 2012. Let us see what that gets us.
If this vote is so critical to the United States then why didn’t the people insist on getting qualified, experienced and great people to lead this nation? Each year that votes are cast affect the rest of my life and the nation we leave my kids and theirs. This is not different. And change is not going to happen IMO. I actually look forward to the next four years. It will be very interesting to see what promises were kept and what wasn’t. So far the dems haven’t done what they said they would in 2006. They will have NO excuses come January 20th. Let’s see if job growth returns. Gas prices are lower. The debt is lower. The deficit is lower. Credit markets repaired. The country at peace and safe. Those are the standards we should hold these people accountable. Maybe the Dems can achieve that. I just hope that if they aren’t successful that the sheep following their Messiah will recognize that better things are warranted than just empty promises. If change is promised then change should be delivered that improves this country.
i am not saying that Palin can control earmarks just that her so called “balanced budget” benefited from them.
—-
If this vote is so critical to the United States then why didn’t the people insist on getting qualified, experienced and great people to lead this nation?
—-
Well we are careening towards a new cold war with the same old hot spots of Russia, Iran, and north Korea…We are currently in two wars that are costing us 10B a month. We have 10 Trillion budget deficit that’s about 31K per person…we are facing huge challenges in foreign trade that were not there 8 years ago…etc. etc.
Uh the president only makes 300K a year. There are not many people willing to do the job for the price. i think if we offered a few million dollars a year for the salary we would get a lot more takers for the job.
—-
I have no facts about that but I have read that some Canadians choose to have procedures performed in the US instead of having to wait their turn in Canada.
—-
This is a very old argument. If this occurs it is statistically anomalous.
—
They will have NO excuses come January 20th. Let’s see if job growth returns. Gas prices are lower. The debt is lower. The deficit is lower. Credit markets repaired. The country at peace and safe. Those are the standards we should hold these people accountable.
—
Agreed.
just remember that some of the issues you mentioned such as the credit market fiasco and to some extent oil prices are due, in part, to deregulation that occurred under the Bush Administration of which Phil Gram and McCain were proponents.
—
If change is promised then change should be delivered that improves this country.
—
Agreed.
We will see what happens.
Obama/McCain. Tweedledum/Tweedledee. The most important issue is war and peace – real life and death, blood and guts stuff. Yet we see Obama trying to out tough guy McInsane on the issue. Both are surpasing the war criminal, Bush, in hostile rhetoric towards Russia, Iran, Pakistan.
The truth is the US had no legitimate business invading Iraq or Afganistan. (Nor does it have any business interfering elsewhere). Neither of those governments were involved in 911. Only Ron Paul, Kucinich and Gravel spoke the truth – the the US government is an imperial warmonger.
The demoncrats, with their control of Congress – which they do have – could have stopped this mass murder of mid-easterers simply by cutting off funds for Bush’s corrupt war. But they didn’t. And why? Because the same elite owners of the military/industrial/major media complex control both the elephant and the donkey party, and they make massive profits off war and other special interest legislation.
Splork, you’re comments on the debt that will destroy the future is a vast understatement. When future liabilities for US bread, war and circuses are factored in, experts who have studied the debt have come up with liabilities of about 100 Trillion – that’s 100 Trillion with a T. This debt will never be honestly paid off. All that can be done is appear to pay it off with the FED creating trillions out of thin air (which only Ron Paul warned about), debased currency, which means massive inflation, which means the savings of the average person will lose nearly all value, which means the impoverishment of most of the citizenry – who, nonetheless, will demand a strong leader to “do something”, utterly ignorant that strong leaders of the past are responsible for for the impending catastrophe.
BeauFla,
Glass-Steagall was repealed in 1999, under Bill Clinton and his SecTreas, Bobby Rubin. The full name of the act is Gramm-Leach-Bliley.
Rubin left to “help” Citi and Gramm is now at a Swiss Bank. Payoff? Oh, heavens no!
Rubin has collected $150,000,000 so far, and Citi is on the ropes due to the sub-prime and mortgage derivative mess, which he didn’t see coming.
You make some good points. Let’s see what happens and hope the people prosper, probably in spite of our leadership.
Barry
People are showing up to see Sarah Palin. It may or may not last. She may get hammered in the debates. She may grow old in the next two months. But people want to know more and she is bringing excitement to the Repub party. I talked to two ladies at the ballfield during practice today. They were beside themselves with excitement over this woman.
This is a quote from a random lady in the news:
“She’s the draw for a lot of people,” said Marilyn Ryman, who came to see her at the Colorado rally inside an airport hangar. “The fact that she’s someone new, not the old everything we’ve seen before.”
That should be scaring the shit out of Dems. Obama screwed up big time as he chose an insider who has hung around the Beltway for thirty years. If he wanted change he should have had the balls to go after it. As it is he is showing that he is just the same ol same ol politician with the same ol Democratic platform. Looks like the Repubs have tilted the change mantra to their side.
This is getting good.
Splork, thanks for reminding me why I don’t do political blogging or political forums anymore.
To quote from the movie Tombstone, “I’m not gonna fight you, Ringo. There’s no money in it.” There are plenty of other people out there who’ll say “I’m your huckleberry. That’s just my game.”
Yea, this is the last…here. I’ll go stir some shit up somewhere else though. The traffic is ridiculous. Does me no good on here except waste bandwidth. Hell, I don’t monetize Lost Ball effective, or at all really, with the 11 people who visit as it is. Crank up people with opinions and it’s a shame I can’t make something of it.
Thanks for your level headed honesty about Palin. The beat down of her character has gone beyond the “Pale” in terms of various New York Times articles, various other publications, and under assualt by feminists.
I have never seen any VP candidate receive the scorched earth treatment she has. I guess you are not a feminist if you are pro-life, pro-gun, or pro-family.
If Barry is elected, he will have the wind at his back in terms of the Congress. Forget about divided government, at least for his first term. Socialism in the form of wealth distribution is all but on it’s way.
I love the tag line for the Obama campaign that 95% of the people in the US will get a tax cut, and only those making 250,000 will get their taxes raised.
That is horse hockey. It won’t even begin to cover the billions of new spending he is proposing for his “goody bag” political promises.
There are not enough people in the so-called “rich” bracket to pay for it all. He will have to raise taxes on everyone – eventually.
I never understand taxing small businesses, corporations, or anyone who has means. Sorry, but don’t the rich create jobs? And what about incentives?
What happens if you want to be rich, knowing that Barry’s Raiders will have their hand out for over 50 percent of your money? Good buy to investment and job creation.
I am poor, so it is not my ox being gored. But, I still don’t want anyone to pay more then the current rate.
It should be lower still. The government wastes 50 cents of every dollar. Until they act responsibly, then they should ask us to sacrifice.
In the scheme of things, it will be business as usual in Washington. As you mentioned, promises will be made, and then broken.
This is a time in history were we need the 21st century equivalent of Washington type leadership, and an Edison type mind to (while we are drilling for oil) to find, marketable, realistic, alternative energy sources.
Unfortunately, no one like that is too be found in Washington.
Robert – The Wholesale Products Guy
Yea I watched that Gibson interview with Palin and it was amazing the utter contempt the man seemed to have for the lady. I like that she has energized the boring GOP. I like that she is scaring the hell out of the Dems. I like that the Dems continue to try make her out to be the same ol same ol yet the American people continue to reject that characterization. I like that she is different than the 30+ years each of Biden and McCain gov’t experience and the go along to get along leanings of the 2 year junior Senator Obama. I like that they try to make her out to be inexperienced yet their own guy has only been a federal senator for two years himself…something that every liberal media outfit likes to conveniently ignore. I like how the liberal females hate her because she is conservative. I like how average women speak highly of her wherever I start a conversation about her.
Interesting times.
Splork Writes..
“I do not believe that McCain/Palin will win. I actually look forward to four years of Democratic govern.
I think the Obama/Reid/Pilosi team will further the collapse of this great nation by even more tax and spend policies and over reaching entitlement programs.
The Dem’s will have their chance at “change” and will have no one to blame but themselves when they fail. They will try to blame others but they will have to suck on their failure.
“The Repubs had their chance and blew it. The nation is (stupidly) willing to give the Dems another chance.
I personally believe they will screw things up royally and maybe then the people will wake the eff up and realize that the Dems and Repubs have each ruined this great nation.
This country needs a revolution…within the boundaries of our constitution, of course.”
Robert Responds..
Just wanted to say, dam, Splork – your good. I could not have said it better myself. I would not even try.
The above post, without a doubt, puts an exclamation point on our future state of our governmental affairs.
I, too, do not think that McCain will make it. I want to see how the agent of change, the messiah of motivation, the pontificator of peace, will lead this country toward his vision of the promised land.
After all, he is the one we have been waiting for.
Today (Sept 17 08) Congress passed an offshore drilling bill. But, if truth be told, part of the bill will allow exploration 50 miles away from where the oil or natural gas is.
So, you can drill offshore, just not where the resources are. This bill is just designed to show the general public that democrats passed a bill, and Republicans rejected it. Once again, political power.
And, even if the Senate were to give it it’s blessing – it is then up to the states that have the oil and gas whether or not they want to drill. If the state is predominantly liberal, forget it.
And, if by devine interventions, states did take a bold step and allow drilling where the oil or gas is, they won’t share in the revenue. The Feds will get it.
Throw in the hard core “Enviro’s” and you won’t get anymore refineries.
Ah yes, the change, I have been waiting for..
Interesting times – indeed..
Robert..
Well, Osama got in. Sweet. we can only hope to live in interesting times. Voting in Osama has made things even more interesting than they were before.
Its cool he’s black. well, half black, anyway.
Tax tax tax baby!
America was fucked whoever got in. Ya see, the US is in just too big a dodo to ever get out of it. All ya can do is try and slow the certain slide.
it happened to rome, the british empire. now its the US’s turn.
might take a few more decades, but the US is toast baby.
but boy do ya dude’s know how to do a thrilling election campaign.
it was actually comical to see how slanted the media was with osama. and throwing all that money at advertising. wow.
don’t get me wrong. i like the guy., i just fucking hate his name. yuck. it reminds me of bid laden and saddam.
the next 4 years r gonna be totally awesome!:)
← Previous Comments