Politicalamity


Palin continues to fail on Russian connections
September 26, 2008, 9:40 am
Filed under: Election 2008, Republican, Sarah Palin | Tags: , ,

Couric/Palin Transcript:

COURIC: You’ve cited Alaska’s proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?

PALIN: That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and on our other side, the land– boundary that we have with– Canada. It– it’s funny that a comment like that was– kind of made to– cari– I don’t know, you know? Reporters–

COURIC: Mock?

PALIN: Yeah, mocked, I guess that’s the word, yeah.

COURIC: Explain to me why that enhances your foreign policy credentials.

PALIN: Well, it certainly does because our– our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They’re in the state that I am the executive of. And there in Russia–

COURIC: Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?

PALIN: We have trade missions back and forth. We– we do– it’s very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where– where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border. It is– from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to– to our state.

I am hopeful that the majority of people watching realize just how irrelevant these responses were.  She claimed to have “trade missions” with Russia.  Well one can easily check this out and see that is completely untrue.  Well to be fair, there have been Russian “trade missions” from Alaska:

All of these missions were conducted well before Palin became governor and it doesn’t appear that any new trade missions are on the books.

The amount of trade exported to Russia is something to consider, but doesn’t seem to include any updates about the inroads made by the Palin administration. The document even mentions the connection between Russian Federal Security’s North-Eastern Coast Guard Department and the U.S. Coast Guard’s 17th District, which “promotes safe and legal operations in convention areas and their regular exchanges on fisheries-related situations are part of successful management of the North Pacific and Bering Sea.”

You would think that would be an easy talking point to keep, but she goes off on vagaries and invokes Putin, a leader she hasn’t and probably never will meet.

I could continue on but this is truly getting tiresome and a bit too easy to find new faults to harp on about.

But aren’t you reminded of this video when watching these answers?

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Democracy in Action
September 16, 2008, 10:31 am
Filed under: Election 2008, John McCain, McCain, Palin, Republican, Sarah Palin | Tags: , , , , ,

I was really sickened by this expression of sheer lack of respect for the American public and the media.  To claim that you can only ask direct questions of Sarah Palin when she is shown “respect and deference” by the media, is beyond narcissism.  Frankly, it borders on populist elitism.

As a responsible citizen and moderately informed voter, I demand to hear the positions of each candidate.  Though it may have been true in the past, that a Vice President had limited political influence; the current administration has changed that.  Even if Governor Palin reverts to settling ties in the Senate, meeting foreign dignitaries, attending funerals, fund raising, and advising the President on issues; I would like to know where her political affiliations fall.  If she is merely going to repeat the platform lines and blindly support the policies of Bush/Cheney, I question whether she has the ability to understand and formulate her own policies and stances.

I feel that we have seen less of that lipstick wearing pit bull and a bit more of a perfume wearing parakeet.  “Palin wants a platform.  Squaaak.”

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Not really a maverick
September 16, 2008, 9:10 am
Filed under: Barack Obama, Election 2008, John McCain, Karl Rove, McCain, Obama, Republican, Sarah Palin | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

After more and more questionable practices arise to complicate the “reform” image of Sarah Palin, I began to wonder if the McCain campaign forgot to check their dictionaries. By that I mean that Palin isn’t really a maverick, but a bit more of a renegade.

maverick: an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party

renegade: an individual who rejects lawful or conventional behavior

As was reported in the New York Times, Palin practiced an amzing amount of cronyism once becoming Governor and allegedly abused her executive position to punish those that did not bend to her political will. So in this she may not be too far removed from the current administration, but introducing such activity en masse into an already overspent and questionable government system, doesn’t make you a maverick.  It would be fair to say that it doesn’t make you a renegade either, but when a politician runs on a platform or reform and moral veracity; actions such as these show your character as nothing more than a thin veil of campaign rhetoric.

Economically speaking, Palin and the McCain campaign continue to uphold the fully debunked story of the “Bridge to Nowhere.”  They also continue to tout her “sweeping” cuts of the budget, including the elimination of wasteful earmarks previously requested by her predecessors.  Where it may be true that she eliminated a number of wasteful line items, Alaska remains what some would call a Welfare state.  For a population so small (less than 700k people) they receive an unbalanced amount of funding.  So much so, that the government routinely supplies over $3500 worth of federal aid per capita, making Alaska number one in government handouts.  So once again, perpetuating this type of government sponsored handout system doesn’t make her a maverick of the Republicans, but more of a Renegade Republican (some would even call a Democrat).

So we are back to weighing her “maverick” status when it comes to transparent government.  Something that fueled her motives regarding earmarks and to begin the slow rise of the new Populist-right rhetoric.  Before she was a VP candidate, Palin was already under investigation for allegations of political bullying and misuse of power.  When confronted about this investigation, Palin assured the public that she would cooperate with the non-partisan committee to settle this issue.  However, the political machine that is the McCain campaign has declared this state sponsored investigation “tainted” and stated that Palin will not answer their questions.  So much for good will and transparent government.  Then again I guess you don’t have to worry about transparent statements if you refuse to speak at all.  It seems I have heard this dance before.  As this fiasco continues, Palin has even gone so far as to point the finger at Barrack Obama for contaminating her pristine political refuge.  Scary how this “maverick” continues to go along with the paranoid Right wing conservative stance that the world is out to get us.  One would think the conventional behavior in being investigated would be to cooperate and prove your innocence.  To obstruct that process by misleading the public and parlor theatrics is not only unethical and par for this administration’s course, but dare I say it being a renegade against law abiding citizen standards.

I could continue, but writing this is making me almost as depressed as realizing how many in the public seem to be ignoring the facts laid out before them.  Being a tough talking mom, who goes to church and can memorize a series of carefully crafted scripts doesn’t qualify you for that “new reform candidate”; it makes you the lead in a community theater production of the King and I.    Let’s face it, if she was ready to lead would the campaign be so keen on hiding her from the public?

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Oops.
September 15, 2008, 9:27 am
Filed under: Election 2008, Republican, Sarah Palin | Tags: , , ,

Summary of the Palin/Gibson interview.

Did you ever have someone sitting next to you in class, that spent all night memorizing the notes you let them copy from the class they skipped all semester, find themselves being asked to apply the facts they just learned?

Yeah it felt like that to me too.

We may soon forget the phrase, “sounds like a broken record;” due to the I-pod era, but Palin’s public image seems to rely on repeating the same facts (whose validity continue to be under scrutiny).  True she may have been caught off guard by the “Bush doctrine” question, but there were many moments from which she veered away from the question that was asked and steered directly into Highway Stump Speech, Exit 08.

Let’s hope that Joe Biden sends his notes to their campaign before the debate.  That way they can at least give her one or two zingers to make it entertaining.

Or they can just go with something like this.

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McCain ad on Education
September 10, 2008, 12:42 pm
Filed under: Election 2008, John McCain, McCain, Obama, Republican | Tags: , , , , ,

This ad features a number of statements on Barrack Obama’s track record on education. I wanted to analyze each claim and vet the validity of their message.

1. Education Weekly 3/7/2007, “Hasn’t made a significant mark on education.”

Analysis:This statement was in regard to Obama’s legislative history in Illinois. The surrounding article also speaks to Barrack’s early involvement in a project to improve and assess student achievement in low-income public schools. Though the project failed to improve the standardized testing scores, it seemed to educate Obama on where the focus may better be need, in more quality faculty and administration. Unfortunately, his subsequent legislation introduced before Congress were never shown the light of day thanks to a formerly Republican controlled majority.

Comment: They may not have been misquoting the source, but without the context of where this applies and what he has done since, it seems a tad misleading.

2. Washington Post, 7/7/2008, “Elusive”

Analysis: The full paragraph is:

Encouraging Mr. Obama and his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain, to debate these questions is a laudable aim of the group. Education was backstage during the primaries, and a clear picture has yet to emerge of either candidate’s positions. Mr. McCain has not been forthcoming with any detailed plan; he is said to be preparing one for the fall. Mr. Obama as the New York Times’ David Brooks recently observed, has promised dozens of crowd-pleasing programs but has been elusive on such thorny issues as teacher tenure and school accountability.

Comment: I guess David Brooks speaks for everyone on his level of satisfaction with teacher tenure and accountability but it is hard to compare plans when McCain keeps his ideas until he thinks we are ready for them. I wonder if it is better to be elusive or secretive when trying to make changes in education policy.

3. Chicago Tribune, 7/20/2008. “Staunch defender of the existing public school monopoly”

Analysis: In this op-ed piece, Steve Chapman outlines why he feels Obama and McCain differ on education plans. I grew suspicious when he described McCain’s voucher plan as, “new and daring.” Unfortunately, the voucher concept has been around for some time and has yet to be seen as successful.

4. SB99. “Comprehensive sex education”

Analysis: The hook in this is that the bill set guidelines for any school who had a sex education program. In doing so they covered K-12 and the spin doctors morphed that to mean that Obama wants to teach your children about sex before they can read. The unfortunate part of this is that Arizona’s guidelines are equally as welcoming to sex education for K-12 and go so far as to outline what percentage of the class time can be allowed.

Comment: This jab is not only misleading but pandering to the “cultural core” of voters who equate sex education with something vile and immoral. Personally speaking, having been educated in a public school, I didn’t have a formal sex education session until 8th grade. Granted I had been taught rudimentary biology and anatomy, the curriculum was not as detailed as one would hope. It is of note to see that abstinence is featured as the most effective form of prevention in both Arizona and Illinois. Not to be fickle but the McCain campaign should be rather careful treading on the moral high ground regarding sex education with the recent unexpected teen pregnancy looming so close to their platform.

On a side note, I really wish McCain would dust himself off from this morality dive that he has plunged headlong into.  The religious right’s ability to demonize the human body and sexual acts not fitting into their definition of spiritual is clouding the ability of the public to rationally make decisions on their actions.  i laughed at a European friend’s reaction to the AT&T commercial in which an American family is shocked by the lewd Spanish beaches and the nude bodies.  This is a fair comparison to the tangential issue bending which the RNC and Karl Rove have made their new “act.”  This sort of pandering is childish and should be looked upon with shame.  It’s sad that the Republican party can feel pristine joy in nonchalantly using the victims of 9/11 to empower their convention and party line but turn their noses up at the thought of  dealing rational about educating children on their own bodies and personal responsibility…

…never mind I think I just answered my own question.

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Lipstick Politics
September 10, 2008, 9:27 am
Filed under: Barack Obama, Election 2008, John McCain, McCain, Obama, RNC2008, Republican, Sarah Palin | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

It’s funny how easy it is to demand apologies for rhetoric used in campaign speeches. No one demanded apologies for McCain suggesting that we bomb Iran, for calling a young voter a “jerk“, or when he allowed disturbing 9/11 footage to be shown during the Republican convention.  It is also embarrassing to count the alarming number of ads sponsored by McCain that feature outright lies and misleading statements about his opponent.  I guess if you are going to propagate lies in your campaign speeches it is reasonable that you should keep them the same in your ads.  I guess some politicians will do anything to win except look inward.

From CNN it was reported that McCain wants an apology from Obama for relating an eerily similar quote about pigs and lipstick, that was previously used by McCain to address a proposal by Hillary Clinton!  Once you read the full quote from Obama it is clear that the saying is not intended as an insult to Sara Palin, anymore than questioning someone’s patriotism for not wearing a superficial pin on their lapel.

This seems to fit right in with the Republican short-term memory loss syndrome.  They have also forgotten that their “anti-lobbyist” maverick has had around 60 Washington lobbyists participating in the McCain campaign. The mavericks are trying to spin a campaign of change but have forgotten that in order to change it is their own policies that have served them the last 8 years that need to be changed.  And to forget that the maverick “Pit bull” took taxpayer money for not only an infamous bridge to nowhere specific but has also fleeced the pockets of hard working Americans in an unethical practice of charging per diem rates to Alaska for staying in her own home, is rather despicable.

The Alaskan legislators went so far as to wear buttons asking “Where’s Sarah” in honor to her rather common absence from the day to day executive business of her position. I wonder how much it would cost to have her charge per diem rates for staying at home in Alaska as Vice President?  I mean we wouldn’t want to interrupt her ability to remain untouchable and still plan those hockey mom dinner parties.    Then again there was a fair amount of brush clearing being done in Texas during this administration.

For McCain to scream “Rat” at this point is childish and stinks of despair.   Frankly, if you look at the pork barrel trends commonly acted upon by Republican politics and most specifically Palin, is it so far from the truth to use a reference to a porcine species?  What’s that other phrase, “You can’t make a silk purse from a sow’s ear.“  Well the Republicans are getting close with this side show of a campaign.

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Mic Check 1, 2 Check 1, 2
September 8, 2008, 5:01 pm
Filed under: Election 2008, McCain, Republican, Sarah Palin | Tags: , , , ,

No seriously media, tells us how you really feel…

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Roland Martin on Palin’s Speech
September 4, 2008, 10:45 am
Filed under: CNN, RNC2008, Republican, Sarah Palin | Tags: , , , ,

But will someone tell her, just what does a community organizer do anyway?

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Palin’s acceptance speech. RNC 2008
September 4, 2008, 12:45 am
Filed under: RNC2008, Republican, Sarah Palin | Tags: , ,

After listening to her speech, I had a few thoughts on why I really don’t much care for Governor Palin as a Vice Presidential choice. One of the McCain camps biggest selling points is that America will love her because she is a firecracker that is just like everyone else. Meaning, the average man/woman will relate to her and feel a connection that will equal a vote. But frankly, I don’t want my leaders to be just like me. I don’t want to see their faults. Making them human begins to make me uneasy that they will do something utterly studpid while on my watch. I don’t want a leader who thinks that average is the goal. There isn’t anything wrong with being of the elite, if that estimation doesn’t include a negative view of those beneath that person.

It is funny to read the transcript from her speech and pick out the rhetoric, which is something Governor Palin is most critical of regarding her opponents, and realize just how much of it is taken directly from the mouths of the far right conservative platforms. At some points I wondered if she hired Bill O’Reilly to write her speech… Talking about things such as “making government bigger” or “taking your money” or “giving orders from Washington” or “reducing the strength of America in a dangerous world.” On each point it is rather difficult to see how McCain/Palin would do much different, perhaps the degree of each point is most key. Yes Democrats have had a history of “bigger” government, but is McCain truly a traditional Republican in the sense of less “big” government. Frankly I don’t think so. As for Obama taking your money, the “you” that Palin was talking to; at least I hope, was aimed at the average American. Under Obama’s plan there were significant tax cuts for workers, education credits for college degrees, health care options, and more efficient use of government support. Under McCain’s plans big industries benefit most, health care is once again capitalized, education is made into a voucher based business for competition, and retirement funds are to be made into a more complex investment portfolio-like model. So maybe the government won’t take your money, but the corporations sure will. And who would support them most, McCain.

The giving orders from Washington is a moot point as any President gives orders from Washington. I mean they could do it from Alaska, but what if a moose knocked over the satelite station? The really annoying statement was concerning our national security. How can Sarah Palin seem to know so much about international affairs when only a few months ago she barely knew enough about the position she was up for to not make a total fool out of herself. Insinuating that Obama’s plan for withdrawl is contrary to the impending victory in Iraq is not only foolish but insulting. There is no victory to be won in this war, the war that never should have been. I still can’t believe someone can hope to achieve victory in a war on terror, when terror is an abstract concept hinging on personal paranoia. Then again, Palin did support a church whose pastor honestly believed that God spoke to him directly and that anyone who didn’t support the President was destined to go to hell.

She concluded her speech with a section of John McCain’s past in which he was tortured. She used his perseverance to point out how his fighting spirit is the key to his success. Though this may show temerity and heart, I fail to see how this actually adds to any leadership abilities. Survival under extreme conditions doesn’t equal executive skill. That is almost as illogical as supposing that a Vice Presidential candidate can glean foreign affairs experience from mere proximity to a major world player. (No, not you Canada.)

Maybe I am wrong about Sarah Palin, but from all that I have seen and heard, her “fiesty” attitudes may end up making it hard for her to walk home to Alaska come November; what with both her feet squarely planted in her own mouth. I suppose that it may be true that “only in America” could a former beauty queen, with only a BS in Journalism, go from Mayor of a extremely small town to being in line to lead one of the world’s predominant free nations. It saddens me that short of public service in politics, I have a higher level of education, equal parenting capabilities, am married, have family who are veterans, and have been to more foreign countries than Governor Palin. Then again, I don’t look that good with a bun. :)

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