Analysis of 2 Speeches

McCain's speech was 54% about himself and 43% about our country.

Obama's speech was 15% about himself (and that includes talking about his grandparents, his wife and Joe Biden) and 85% about our country.

What does this say about the two candidates? Just who should be labeled "The One"?

Earmarks

Did your city, town or village do as well as Wasilla, AK?

Why Palin Must be Kept from the Media

Kevin Drum says it best:

Judging from his public statements shortly after he announced Sarah Palin as his running mate, John McCain thought she had opposed the Bridge to Nowhere. She hadn't. He thought she had sold the state's executive jet on eBay and made a profit on it. On both counts, she didn't. He thought she had cut taxes as both mayor and governor. She hadn't. He apparently thought she had fully explained her part in pressuring the state police chief to fire her ex-brother-in-law. She hasn't. He thought she was an enemy of earmarks and federal pork. In fact, she was a pioneer of both.

Kevin points out that because Palin wasn't properly vetted, the McCain campaign is now scared to death to let the press have at her. There is about 60 days til the election. How long will we have to wait until Palin is interviewed by objective journalists?

To Spell or Not to Spell

McCain was actually discussing adult literacy when the above McCain supporter held up his sign. Is good spelling elitist?

John McCain and Reform

Ok, by now we all know that John McCain intends to reform government. But other than getting rid of earmarks, McCain really hasn't said much about what he wants to reform or how it wants to reform it. Here is a great piece by Brad Plummer at TNR.

Okay, he hates congressional earmarks, and he's promised to veto the first pork-laden bill that crosses his desk. Except that, as Jon Chait pointed out, whenever McCain's been challenged on specific earmarks in the past that are actually popular, he's backed off—as when he met an ovarian cancer patient in Pennsylvania being treated in an earmark-funded clinical trial program. And his campaign has suggested he wouldn't even object to that much-mocked $3 million bear DNA project in Montana, as long as the "process" is clean. So he'll make veto threats against a few earmarks, the "bad" ones, which might affect less than 1 percent of the federal budget. (And even getting rid of all earmarks wouldn't necessarily save taxpayers any money, since it would just mean that federal agencies, rather than Congress, decide how the funds are allocated.)

There is more, read it.

Sarah Palin - More of the same

Quietly undermining Alaska ethics inquiry. More of the same crap we've had to put up with for almost the last 8 years.

The Sarah Palin Digest

One-stop shopping for everything you want to know about Gov. Sarah Palin's policy positions. Just go here.

As for the bridge to nowhere....did she or did she not support funding the bridge. She has twice said she did not. Last night a representative of the McCain campaign said it was a lie that Sarah Palin supported funding the "bridge to nowhere".

From an interview in the Anchorage Daily News:

Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?

Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now - while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist.

For God's sake, how hard is it to check on these things?

McCain's Acceptance Speech

So how did McCain do last night? Well...here is what the liberal media had to say:

Rachel Maddow on MSNBC: "Honestly it was sort of like a long term paper about Bush Republican economics.... But people aren't mad at Barack Obama about the economy people are mad at George Bush about the economy and he just proposed a lot of Bush's economic ideas. I think he really missed that."

Not too surprising coming from Rachel Maddow.
What did more conservative pundits have to say about McCain's speech?

Former Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson on MSNBC: "The policy in the speech was rather typical for a Republican. Pretty disappointing. It didn't do a lot of outreach to moderates and independents on issues that they care about. It talked, about issues like drilling and school choice which was really speaking to the converted. I think that was a missed opportunity."

Others had this to say about the speech.

Jeffrey Toobin on CNN: "I thought it was the worst speech by a nominee that I've heard since Jimmy Carter in 1980.... I personally cannot remember a single policy proposal that he made because they had nothing connecting them. I found it shockingly bad."

David Gergen on CNN: "It was mostly a rerun, retread of a lot of old Republican ideas that have brought us to where we are now. I think the country is looking for fresh answers."

Juan Williams on Fox News: "I don't think it worked very well at all."

And, from the floor of the convention hall....

New York Times Liveblog: "Sleepy? Our colleague Patrick Healy reports from the floor: There is a delegate in the Utah section and a delegate in Puerto Rico who are both drooping, eyes closed -- look asleep -- both are men."

Like Jimmy Carter, damn, for a Republican that remark has got to hurt.

Angry Conservatives

I think I've finally figured out why conservatives are so angry and have been angry at least since Ronald Reagan left office. It's because conservatives think the government should regulate morality - at least the conservative so-called family values. But at the same time conservatives supposedly want a smaller government. A government that minds its own business and keeps out of your business (except for what you do in your bedroom). Conservatives are so conflicted about these two contradictory stances that it drives them to give speeches ala Rudy Giulliani. Damn, he was almost as angry as old Zell Miller. What ever happened to old Zell anyhow?

Sarah Palin: Stupid or a Liar

Gov. Sarah Palin presented her red meat speech at the Republican National Convention last night. It's clear she has the right stuff to be the attack-dog VP candidate of the Republican party.

As for her speech, she made many "mischaracterizations". Did she do that because she is stupid or because she is just a liar. And not just a run-of-the-mill liar....she is an outright embarrassingly brazen liar. I don't think Palin is stupid. But I do think that Palin believes that most Americans are stupid and that she can get away with her lies.

You can read a dissection of her speech, complete with lies, here in a post called "Palin vs. Reality".

The funniest thing about Palin's speech, well actually all the speeches at the Republican National Convention is that they are seriously pretending that Republicans have not been in power for almost 8 years. Nope, ALL our problems are due to Democrats. Can't blame the Republican president, can't blame the 6 year long Republican congress, can't blame the conservative Supreme Court. Let's just pretend that Republicans had nothing to do with it. Republicans believe that the American people are stupid enough to believe those lies.

UPDATE: The NYT points out that if Republicans really believe in change, they need to run against themselves. Exactly what changes need to be made in a government that has been run by Republicans for almost 8 years? If it really needs changing, why didn't Republicans change it years ago?

Oh yeah, they also point out that the Mittster says

It’s time for the party of big ideas, not the party of Big Brother!

This from the party that brought us spying on Americans, torture and imprisonment without representation.

UPDATE: After listening to the Couric interview of Sarah Palin I have to change my mind. She is stupid.

Sarah Palin - Commander of Alaska National Guard

Well, maybe not so much. What has the Alaska National Guard done under Palins command authority?

Occasions in which Palin retains command authority over the 4,200-member Alaska National Guard are whenever the Guard responds to in-state natural disasters and civic emergencies, said Campbell, who also serves as the commissioner of the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Some examples?

"We've deployed individuals in state service all over the state under Sarah Palin," he said. “We had defense men down in Seward for the (Mount) Marathon run doing security.

"Out west and northwest we had erosion problems, and the National Guard was involved in some of the protection out there. About three days ago, the Army National Guard picked up a lady from Little Diomede (Island) . . . at the request of state troopers."

Want to see a classic example of political hackery, comparing Sarah Palin with Barack Obama (oops, excuse me Barack Hussein Obama)? Just go here. A post like that is done out of either desperation, ignorance, laziness, or just out and out lying.

Common Sense

We have a lot of conservative common sense going around since last Friday. It's just good, everyday, common sense that Gov. Sarah Palin is qualified to be vice-president. But, I am a bit confused as to why Karl Rove recently said Gov. Tim Kaine would not be qualified to be the Democratic nominee for VP. He was just too inexperienced. Kane is a short-time governor of a small state, Virginia, only 7.6 million people. Alaska has 670,000 people (2006 figures). Before being elected governor of Virginia, Tim Kaine was mayor of only a small city - Richmond, VA population 200,000, while Palin was mayor of Wasilla, population 7,000.

It really is interesting listening to all the conservative hacks explain to us what a great choice Sarah Palin is for VP. I use the word "hack" because I believe these people do not really think Palin is a good choice, but after tonight they are stuck with her. They have to make the best of a huge McCain mistake. Well, to be fair, McCain (the maverick) wanted Joe Lieberman to be VP, but the christian fundamentalist right put a fast end to that idea.

Wandering Eyes

Cindy better watch out. She may end up like McCain's first wife. McCain is already calling Palin his "partner" and "soulmate".

A Sample of John McCain's Judgment

We now have a sample of the type of judgment John McCain will use as President. He told us he was concerned about choosing a vice-president that will be ready from day one to be President. Then he chooses Sarah Palin to be his running mate. If Palin was vetted thoroughly, then McCain knew she abused power as mayor and governor, obtained millions in pork barrel funding (which McCain abhors), and enjoys belonging to fringe group political groups that feel Alaska should be first and not the USA. If she wasn't vetted thoroughly as McCain claims she was....McCain can't very well admit that he failed the country in finding a suitable running mate for VP. No matter which position you take on McCain's vp vetting process - McCain comes off looking pretty bad.

A Sample of John McCain's Judgment

We now have a sample of the type of judgment John McCain will use as President. He told us he was concerned about choosing a vice-president that will be ready from day one to be President. Then he chooses Sarah Palin to be his running mate. If Palin was vetted thoroughly, then McCain knew she abused power as mayor and governor, obtained millions in pork barrel funding (which McCain abhors), and enjoys belonging to fringe group political groups that feel Alaska should be first and not the USA. If she wasn't vetted thoroughly as McCain claims she was....McCain can't very well admit that he failed the country in finding a suitable running mate for VP. No matter which position you take on McCain's vp vetting process - McCain comes off looking pretty bad.

Sarah Palin - A Female George Bush

Another intelligent Republican - Sarah Palin in 2006.

11. Are you offended by the phrase “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not?

Sarah Palin: Not on your life. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, its good enough for me and I’ll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance.

At least now we know that with all of John McCain's experience - he still lacks judgment.

Saratoga Springs, NY

One Caroline Bistro is recommended if you don't mind loud music during dinner. Saratoga City tavern is five floors of bars with live music on the ground floor and an open rooftop bar on the fifth floor.

Saratoga Racing 08 Version

Another great year with a great group of friends. Good food, good walks, good talk and not so good gambling.

Albany Airport Art

A hanging of spools of colored thread.

But look through a golf ball-sized crystal and you see the farmer and his wife.



Check out the shadows on the wall. Wire art that looks like nothing until a light is shined on it at a certain angle.