Saturday Musical Tribute

Happy Saturday, Readers!

To quote the same Ben Stiller line for the second time in two weeks, this here is "really a wonderful song." Yes, the triumphant jam at the end has been a source of joy for Harrogate, for as long as he can remember.

Assy McGee Award® for 10/17: The Right Blogosphere

Sure, you can call out all the usual suspects on the internet, those who scaffold people like the horrid woman featured in Solon's video, posted below. You know, the Little Green Footballs, the Urgent Agendas, the Red States, the Michelle Malkins, the Ann Althouses, the Powerlines, the Captains Quarters. Yes, they are all participating in the "he's an anti-American terrorist" meme, because that is all they have, and all they have had in this election. Four years ago they had homophobia, now they don't even have that.

But it's also the many little sites like this that do the groundwork of perpetuating lies, smears, scare tactics. Take a good look at this guy's site, Readers. Verily he deserves a shout out for participating in the great project of hate-filled political discourse.

If only Supa-T could vote...

Yesterday, I was at the mall with Supa-T and Harrogate's dad, and we passed by a kiosk at which t-shirts were sold. One of the displayed shirts had a picture of Obama's face on it. Supa-T pointed and said, "Bahk Omama."

Later, watching The Colbert Report (Supa-T goes nuts over Stephen Colbert), we saw a split screen image of Obama and McCain. Again, Supa-T pointed and said "Bahk Omama." Then, he said, "Who's that?"

Exactly.

Intellectually Bankrupt

This clip is from Hardball with Chris Matthews. It represents the end of a certain type of conservatism that is beyond intellectual bankrupt.



It just over two weeks, this type of politician will no longer be in position to greatly influence our political institutions.

"You Betcha": The Many Faces of Sarah Palin

Round about a week ago, there was flap over Newsweek's close-up cover shot of Governor Palin. FOX News Personae apparently have been squawking about this "unflattering" shot of Palin all week.

Critics have said the current affairs weekly was cruel to use the picture, which shows blemishes on the face of Mrs Palin, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, in sharp detail, with some accusing it of acting maliciously.

Interestingly, if ye go just a little further back to Newsweek Online, ye encounter this horizontal collage of Palins.

A little bit of humor, a little bit of politics

Tonight in Manhattan, Senator McCain and Senator Obama appeared at the Alfred E. Smith Dinner, which is a charity event that honors Smith, the first Catholic Nominee (Democrat) for President who lost to Herbert Hoover in 1928.

McCain delivered his speech first. It is a very good speech though it is odd. If this McCain were running for president, the election may look different. In this speech, you can see the ethos of McCain from 2000. But the questions remains, who is John McCain: is the real McCain the one from 2000, a man who possessed honor, or is the real McCain the McCain of 2008, the one who lost his honor when he won enough delegates to become the nominee. He delivers a very good tribute to Senator Obama at the end of his speech, even if that it sounds like a concession speech and he knows he cannot win the election.

But this leads to the following questions: how can he attack Obama after this speech? Is that just tired political theater: the empty repetition of political attacks to keep ratings high for the networks?

Obama's speech was also odd; subtle but odd. While McCain's speech may have been funnier throughout the speech, Obama's good lines were better. There is also an odd point where it seems that he may have gotten booed as he discussed the excesses of the dinner celebration, especially in reference to the corporate retreats of AIG. It is a very poignant remark though it was not well received by the audience, who seems to hate discussions of their excesses. At the end of the speech, he delivers a very important message about helping others, which fits in nicely with the current financial mess.

One interesting point: there are a few points in the speech when Obama seems to show that he does not like delivering this speech. Maybe because it is for "play." Maybe because of "history." But there is some tension, which develops in the AIG discussion.

Here are the clips. For Sanity's sake, they are worth watching, especially as they show how McCain can be a human being---- even if it is a human being who knows he will lose the election in 18 days.

These are both good epideictic speeches, even if they just remind you that democracy is just a game for elites.

A final note: this is another interesting point of non-verbal communication. Obama enjoys McCain's speech; McCain has trouble enjoying Obama's.

McCain, Part I


McCain, Part II


Obama, Part I


Obama, Part II

I was a Teenage Lipstick Vegan

Apparently, I spent a much of my undergraduate years as an accidental vegan.

Who knew?

PETA knew.

Cereal with no milk? Check.
Cheap Bac'n'Pieces? Check.
Sandwich cookies? Oh, check.
Brach's candy? Yep.
The list goes on.
(Please find your own favorite ostensibly meat-themed item which made the list).
They call it veganism, I called it "stoned" or "lazy" or "poor."

It seems only fit that, if McCain can call himself a renegade, if Palin can redefine herself as innocent, and a sometimes dismayingly Mo'R Obama can credulously be called a radical Arab, then it is time that I rebrand as well.

Ladies and gentlemen, based on the most authoritative and unbiased sources: I am a reformed vegan.

And you can't deny it, because what is "health" anyway?

Headline from CNN this morning

The Gloves Come Off: Candidates Butt Heads in Debates

Did they butt heads, or were they butt heads? Heh, heh.

The morning after....

This picture, from Reuters, best represents the McCain campaign with 19 days to go. Senator Obama will broaden his attacks in North Carolina, Indiana, and Missouri; Politico reports he will also go after West Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, and North Dakota.

Of course, this means that states such as Pennsylvania, Florida, and Michigan are no longer contestable for McCain and states such as Ohio, Virginia, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Iowa are moving away from being toss ups.

These states are not only important for the electoral college but for the down-ticket races as well. I am not sure if the democrats can handle winning sixty seats in the Senate.

Update: a Photographer from Reuters took this photo of McCain. The description of the context: "US Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ) reacts to almost heading the wrong way off the stage after shaking hands with Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) at the conclusion of the final presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, October 15, 2008. REUTERS/Jim Bourg (UNITED STATES) US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 2008
(USA)"

Tone and demeanor

Here is one thing to note: Obama's tone and demeanor rarely changes. This works to his advantage. He seems unflappable, but McCain easily loses his cool and gets irritated with Obama. Will he lose his cool in the White House?

Last 8 years

It is interesting how we need to change the direction the country's been going in for the last 8 years, considering the individual who makes those claims voted with the current administration for the past 8 years the majority of the time. How does that suggest that this individual is a "maverick" or a "reformer?"

Specifics, please

Here's the thing that McCain forgets--we want specifics. How do we reform head-start programs? Sure, I agree these programs need to be reformed, as does the D.C. school system. But how do we reform these programs? It's like reading an introductory composition paper. Here is my thesis: reform, reform, reform. But don't offer any evidence as to how you complete the reform. And then wrap up with a sarcastic comment.

Oh, we have?

I didn't know that. I didn't know we had achieved equal access to education. Thanks for telling me that, John McCain.

Pro-life

Can you really be a proponent of the rights of the unborn and mothers if you support cutting programs like those McCain supported cutting in Africa, which I blogged about last week?

Litmus Tests

How is summarily excluding a qualified candidate for the Supreme Court because of his or her Constitutional interpretation on Roe v. Wade not a litmus test?

Holy Crap...

They are discussing the Supreme Court. Wow, this is new.

McCain: No limit test. I'll call Bullshit. Or, does he know that he will face a Democratic Senate and will not be able to get a Justice in the line of Scalia and Alito (hey, a litmus test) on the Court.

Wait, he just contradicted himself. You need certain qualifications to be nominated. If you support Roe v. Wade, you are not qualified. But that is not a litmus test.

WTF is it?

Obama: No strict litmus tests. Roe v. Wade is hanging in the balance (i.e. women, vote for me). Women, it is your choice, but if the old one gets in, it will not be. Rights are not subject to popular votes and there is a tradition of the right to privacy.

Oh wait: Ledbetter. Women: who will you support? I support Justices that focus on the experiences of the common people; Abe Simpson wants his best friend John Jay, er. I mean friend Antonin Scalia.

McCain: Brings up an abortion related topic that has nothing to do with judges. Can you see that you are completely incoherent. Are you just trying to rev up the base with this comment?

Obama: Let's have a truce on the Culture War- let's prevent unintended pregnancies. McCain's head exploded.

State decisions

Um, historically, leaving decisions up to individual states has been such a good idea. Remember slavery, voting reform, and Civil Rights?

Perhaps

the size of government has grown 40% in the past 8 years because the current REPUBLICAN administration has involved us in 2 wars that have not, in fact, made our country any safer.

Who cares about Joe?

What about Jill? Barry? Sam? Sara? Parker?

I am Jack's complete and total sense of disappointment over this debate.

Coherence

I do not know who or what is less coherent: John McCain or the student paper I am reading?

I could say the same about straw arguments: who uses more?