What you have in the following video are 3 republican leaders taking republican credit for scuttling legislation that a repulican president warns America needs, and doing so for the silliest reason I ever heard.
Afterwards, you will see one of the best put-downs likely to be found anywhere:
Republicans are starting to be incompetent at even politics. If the economy falters they just put a republican face on the problem, well three faces for good measure.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Be Careful What You Wish For?
In an earlier post I said, "Why should republicans favor a bailout? Don't they recognize a welfare corporation when they see one?"
I did not like Paulson's initial plan, which was a naked power grab and not much of a plan at all. I am still thankful Washington had enough sense to oppose the creation of a financial emperor.
However, Christopher Dodd then came forward with a plan that said, public money demands public scrutiny, and public money is not toilet paper for the irresponsible investor. It wasn't perfect, but it was an honest effort to fix the mess without ceding Congressional oversight. It was fast gaining bipartisan traction until John McCain arrived to "help", at which point it died a political death.
I also felt earlier that Congress should delay any bailout because Wall Street seemed like an addict that expected to publicly finance its' heroin addiction. Let them sweat a bit, I thought, then maybe they'll realize they could fail and will be less reckless going forward, and less demanding of their saviors. Maybe that is what is going on and explains Congress' upcoming holiday break?
I prefer doing as little as possible until a new administration arrives. The Bush administration is played out; they have no more credibility. Nobody wants to be their dance partner to the dance. But, historically accurate economists like Paul Krugman say we need to act soon.
I guess you must go to the financial market crisis with the leader you have and not the leader you want.
I did not like Paulson's initial plan, which was a naked power grab and not much of a plan at all. I am still thankful Washington had enough sense to oppose the creation of a financial emperor.
However, Christopher Dodd then came forward with a plan that said, public money demands public scrutiny, and public money is not toilet paper for the irresponsible investor. It wasn't perfect, but it was an honest effort to fix the mess without ceding Congressional oversight. It was fast gaining bipartisan traction until John McCain arrived to "help", at which point it died a political death.
I also felt earlier that Congress should delay any bailout because Wall Street seemed like an addict that expected to publicly finance its' heroin addiction. Let them sweat a bit, I thought, then maybe they'll realize they could fail and will be less reckless going forward, and less demanding of their saviors. Maybe that is what is going on and explains Congress' upcoming holiday break?
I prefer doing as little as possible until a new administration arrives. The Bush administration is played out; they have no more credibility. Nobody wants to be their dance partner to the dance. But, historically accurate economists like Paul Krugman say we need to act soon.
I guess you must go to the financial market crisis with the leader you have and not the leader you want.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sam Harris on Sarah Palin
When I talk about Sarah Palin I prefer to keep it simple. "She's dumb as a post", I say, or else, "I hope she talks in tongues during the campaign".
Sam Harris reminds me that there are artistic heights to aspire to and that there is satisfaction to be had in a job well done. I must tip my hat to his artistic use of insult.
Bent over Sam's knee
It is nice to see someone defending competence. It has been much maligned recently.
Sam Harris reminds me that there are artistic heights to aspire to and that there is satisfaction to be had in a job well done. I must tip my hat to his artistic use of insult.
Bent over Sam's knee
It is nice to see someone defending competence. It has been much maligned recently.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Up next, Afghanistan?
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.
- Albert Einstein -
Patriarchal religions foster mental communism. By this I mean the view that a knowledge deficit can be brought into balance by religious devotion to some creed, or a "belief" devoid of understanding. When you see a religious authority railing against one of the planet's foremost experts on biology or climate science you are seeing this intellectual communism in action.
Scientific progress and democratic progress rely on the same mother of invention, and it is no surprise that democratic societies tend to be technologically superior societies. A scientist gains influence based upon the usefulness of his ideas and a democratic society gains influence in the same way.
The Taliban in Afghanistan is a society that I would refer to as mental communists. The word of the theocrats is law, and those who object can be bathed in acid or have various body-parts removed until they see the wise point of view. I know that president Obama wishes to turn more American attention onto Afghanistan and I can't think of two more incompatible ideas than democracy and theocracy.
So what will we do there?
- Albert Einstein -
Patriarchal religions foster mental communism. By this I mean the view that a knowledge deficit can be brought into balance by religious devotion to some creed, or a "belief" devoid of understanding. When you see a religious authority railing against one of the planet's foremost experts on biology or climate science you are seeing this intellectual communism in action.
Scientific progress and democratic progress rely on the same mother of invention, and it is no surprise that democratic societies tend to be technologically superior societies. A scientist gains influence based upon the usefulness of his ideas and a democratic society gains influence in the same way.
The Taliban in Afghanistan is a society that I would refer to as mental communists. The word of the theocrats is law, and those who object can be bathed in acid or have various body-parts removed until they see the wise point of view. I know that president Obama wishes to turn more American attention onto Afghanistan and I can't think of two more incompatible ideas than democracy and theocracy.
So what will we do there?
Friday, September 26, 2008
Like I said...
Here is more ammunition to buttress my argument that Sarah Palin is as dumb as a post:
I think it is irresponsible of candidate McCain to chose to place someone this stupid this close to so much power. What was he looking at when he leaped?
I think it is irresponsible of candidate McCain to chose to place someone this stupid this close to so much power. What was he looking at when he leaped?
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Crashing and Burning
The McCain campaign just keeps getting worse.
After careless vetting he wound up with a running mate that is as dumb as a post, is ready to lie to American voters on day one, is mired in two republican-led Alaskan investigations, and has to be stage managed by handlers like a child celebrity.
Now, he is fumbling around with a silly stunt designed to make him look bold and leaderly on the economy. He is "suspending his campaign" to travel to Washington and "show leadership" on the "Cash for Trash" Bush proposal.
How much assistance is he likely to provide when he already admitted he doesn't know much about the economy?
The time for bold, wise leadership was when the horizon of this catastrophe was approaching. At that time Senator McCain thought it would be a great idea to slash regulations, and that would have made the current problem worse.
Candidate McCain is looking increasingly panicked and I think the American People are going to notice. They might vote for an incompetent, deceitful idiot twice, but they won't vote for someone that looks weak the way McCain does now.
After careless vetting he wound up with a running mate that is as dumb as a post, is ready to lie to American voters on day one, is mired in two republican-led Alaskan investigations, and has to be stage managed by handlers like a child celebrity.
Now, he is fumbling around with a silly stunt designed to make him look bold and leaderly on the economy. He is "suspending his campaign" to travel to Washington and "show leadership" on the "Cash for Trash" Bush proposal.
How much assistance is he likely to provide when he already admitted he doesn't know much about the economy?
The time for bold, wise leadership was when the horizon of this catastrophe was approaching. At that time Senator McCain thought it would be a great idea to slash regulations, and that would have made the current problem worse.
Candidate McCain is looking increasingly panicked and I think the American People are going to notice. They might vote for an incompetent, deceitful idiot twice, but they won't vote for someone that looks weak the way McCain does now.
Unhappy Letterman
John McCain canceled an appearance on Letterman so he could race back to Washington and save the US economy.
Only, what he really did was go see Katie Couric for an interview instead.
And Letterman found out about it.
And he had time to fill.
And this is the result:
Only, what he really did was go see Katie Couric for an interview instead.
And Letterman found out about it.
And he had time to fill.
And this is the result:
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Ron Paul, John McCain, and the Beach Boys
When asked to endorse John McCain Ron Paul wouldn't in this interview. Listening to what he said might give democratic strategists a clue as to what really troubles a deep conservative like Mr. Paul about candidate McCain:
ADDENDUM: George Will has written an extraordinary criticism of candidate McCain which you can read here.
I hope Barak's campaign looks closely at these two instances of conservative dissatisfaction for the keys that will swing their votes. Conservatives of the type that are guided by moral principal should be respected as sincere.
Perhaps a message supporting foreign policy realism, pay as you go, and abusing Rovian Republicans will do the trick?
ADDENDUM: George Will has written an extraordinary criticism of candidate McCain which you can read here.
I hope Barak's campaign looks closely at these two instances of conservative dissatisfaction for the keys that will swing their votes. Conservatives of the type that are guided by moral principal should be respected as sincere.
Perhaps a message supporting foreign policy realism, pay as you go, and abusing Rovian Republicans will do the trick?
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sour on Sarah
Reporters keep repeating that Americans like Sarah Palin and I am mystified by this. Here's why:
1. She is as dumb as a post.
2. She tries to hide this with arrogance, personal attacks, and high falutin' talk (clumsy sophistry).
3. One that wants to hurry Armageddon expecting to fly in the sky with Jesus is not responsibly trusted with power. I believe Sarah is not opportunistically (politically) committed to her cult. I think she is really a Pentecostal.
4. She has already lied a multitude of times to the American people and appears untroubled by this. I am troubled by this.
5. Sarah's children are named Bristol, Piper, Willow, Track, and Trig. I don't want to face a nation of copy-cats naming their children like circus horses.
I've given you my reasons for being unimpressed with Sarah Palin, but Bill Clinton would say that I am analyzing rationally a decision that isn't rationally made. People vote for all kinds of reasons, including gender association and litmus-test issues. In fact, here he is discussing how people vote on The View.
All I know is I don't like the woman one bit and I've given you my reasons.
1. She is as dumb as a post.
2. She tries to hide this with arrogance, personal attacks, and high falutin' talk (clumsy sophistry).
3. One that wants to hurry Armageddon expecting to fly in the sky with Jesus is not responsibly trusted with power. I believe Sarah is not opportunistically (politically) committed to her cult. I think she is really a Pentecostal.
4. She has already lied a multitude of times to the American people and appears untroubled by this. I am troubled by this.
5. Sarah's children are named Bristol, Piper, Willow, Track, and Trig. I don't want to face a nation of copy-cats naming their children like circus horses.
I've given you my reasons for being unimpressed with Sarah Palin, but Bill Clinton would say that I am analyzing rationally a decision that isn't rationally made. People vote for all kinds of reasons, including gender association and litmus-test issues. In fact, here he is discussing how people vote on The View.
All I know is I don't like the woman one bit and I've given you my reasons.
A simple question...
How stupid would Congress have to be to hand over a large pile of money to the people on Wall Street when they've just shown how irresponsible they are with it?
When a drowning man needs a life-jacket he shouldn't complain if there is a lifeline attached to it. Why not let the drowning see that there are sharks in the water that are very near?
In other words, why do anything until investors worry that irresponsibly run companies might actually go bankrupt in a free market? At that point if the government wants to toss a life-jacket overboard I believe there will be a fight for it, strings be dammed.
When it is your average Joe that can't make his mortgage payments because his kid got sick, Wall Street will talk about the character building experience of personal responsibility.
Why aren't republicans willing to "let the market work" when it builds corporate responsibility?
Why should republicans favor a bailout? Don't they recognize a welfare corporation when they see one?
ADDENDUM: Here is how Paul Krugman analyzes the situation, and he doesn't delve into metaphor the way I like to: Railroad Bill
ADDENDUM TOO: Josh Marshall analyzes the situation, but he does delve into metaphor the way I like to do. His metaphor? A man holding onto a cliff face by his fingertips
When a drowning man needs a life-jacket he shouldn't complain if there is a lifeline attached to it. Why not let the drowning see that there are sharks in the water that are very near?
In other words, why do anything until investors worry that irresponsibly run companies might actually go bankrupt in a free market? At that point if the government wants to toss a life-jacket overboard I believe there will be a fight for it, strings be dammed.
When it is your average Joe that can't make his mortgage payments because his kid got sick, Wall Street will talk about the character building experience of personal responsibility.
Why aren't republicans willing to "let the market work" when it builds corporate responsibility?
Why should republicans favor a bailout? Don't they recognize a welfare corporation when they see one?
ADDENDUM: Here is how Paul Krugman analyzes the situation, and he doesn't delve into metaphor the way I like to: Railroad Bill
ADDENDUM TOO: Josh Marshall analyzes the situation, but he does delve into metaphor the way I like to do. His metaphor? A man holding onto a cliff face by his fingertips
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Smiling Joe Biden
By exercising the "soft bigotry of low expectations", the McCain campaign is placing Sarah Palin into a debate kitchen. She will, presumably, be allowed to wear shoes when she debates Joe Biden in a format contrived to favor her lack of debating skills, inability to improvise, or poor knowledge of the issues:
Details here
That, my friends, is either sexism on display or an inappropriate choice of running-mate.
I hope Joe Biden ignores the likely forthcoming calls for less tenacity. I hope he knocks her block off with a smile. If he treats her as anything less than an opportunistic, arrogant, world-endangering, Rovian puppet I will be disappointed by his sexism. I want to see Sarah exposed as Dan Quale with lipstick for the American voters.
Republicans attacked Chelsea Clinton and I think Joe ought to remember that.
Details here
That, my friends, is either sexism on display or an inappropriate choice of running-mate.
I hope Joe Biden ignores the likely forthcoming calls for less tenacity. I hope he knocks her block off with a smile. If he treats her as anything less than an opportunistic, arrogant, world-endangering, Rovian puppet I will be disappointed by his sexism. I want to see Sarah exposed as Dan Quale with lipstick for the American voters.
Republicans attacked Chelsea Clinton and I think Joe ought to remember that.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Sarah Barracuda Brain
Sometimes it is better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you are stupid, then to open your mouth and let them know that you are:
Using fancy talk like "fungible" and "molecule" ain't enough to make ignorance sound like wisdom. Why, that there's like puttin' lipstick on a pig.
Using fancy talk like "fungible" and "molecule" ain't enough to make ignorance sound like wisdom. Why, that there's like puttin' lipstick on a pig.
John the Reregulator
John McCain has spent most of his career as an earnest deregulator. I would describe his dependable career-long fight against regulation as a man acting with the faith of an ideologue.
For instance:
In November of 1993 he took to the Senate floor and complained about "the tremendous regulatory burden imposed on financial institutions".
In July of 2003 he told CNN, "I am a deregulator. I believe in deregulation".
This spring John McCain told the Wall Street Journal, "“I am fundamentally a deregulator. I’d like to see a lot of the unnecessary government regulations eliminated, not just a moratorium."
So it is with a skeptical eyebrow raised that I now listen to the earnest reregulator candidate McCain.
Barak Obama has an eyebrow or two to raise too in this speech:
I like to judge People by their actions. John McCain has spent a career attacking the very safeguards that brought us both the S&L crisis and the current sub-prime loan crisis.
For instance:
In November of 1993 he took to the Senate floor and complained about "the tremendous regulatory burden imposed on financial institutions".
In July of 2003 he told CNN, "I am a deregulator. I believe in deregulation".
This spring John McCain told the Wall Street Journal, "“I am fundamentally a deregulator. I’d like to see a lot of the unnecessary government regulations eliminated, not just a moratorium."
So it is with a skeptical eyebrow raised that I now listen to the earnest reregulator candidate McCain.
Barak Obama has an eyebrow or two to raise too in this speech:
I like to judge People by their actions. John McCain has spent a career attacking the very safeguards that brought us both the S&L crisis and the current sub-prime loan crisis.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Parallel lines
"The fundamental business of the country, that is the production and distribution of commodities, is on a sound and prosperous basis."
Herbert Hoover
Oct. 25, 1929
Shortly before Black Thursday
"The fundamentals of our economy are strong"
John McCain in Jacksonville Florida
September 17, 2008
Shortly after 3 of the top 5 investment banks in America collapsed, and on the heels of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac socialization.
Read more here
Read even more here
Herbert Hoover
Oct. 25, 1929
Shortly before Black Thursday
"The fundamentals of our economy are strong"
John McCain in Jacksonville Florida
September 17, 2008
Shortly after 3 of the top 5 investment banks in America collapsed, and on the heels of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac socialization.
Read more here
Read even more here
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
On drilling
Rather than view off-shore drilling as a solution to America's energy problems, I like to think of it as an action which increases our dependence on oil if successful, and which diverts our focus from energy independence if unsuccesful. It is the same type of thinking that brought us to Iraq when we should have been pursuing Osama bin Laden.
Environmentalists must no longer squabble for their favorite projects but instead unite against our common enemy (carbon-emitting energy sources).
Global warming is real and the evidence is in our polar ice caps, in the strength of storms, in the tenacity of our wildfires, and in the science of chemistry. The technologies which will abate it exist in windmills, in solar panels, in carbon-free nuclear power, in geothermal power, in micro-hydro power, in tidal power.
To embrace petro-dictators in the face of what we now know is to embrace defeat for America. If not for us, then for our children or grand-children. It is to invite more foreign wars of occupation. It is to invite increasingly more polluted skies. It is to invite ecological catastrophe.
The flaw in societies that decay is to fail to see the promise which comes through change, and to cling in desperation to a way of life that has become self-destructive.
Think what it means for America if we can power our vehicles with electricity generated from non-polluting and renewable sources. Think what it means for the quality of our air. Think what it means for our economy. Think what it means to our foreign policy.
Why not envision American greatness? Why have our dreams become so small?
Environmentalists must no longer squabble for their favorite projects but instead unite against our common enemy (carbon-emitting energy sources).
Global warming is real and the evidence is in our polar ice caps, in the strength of storms, in the tenacity of our wildfires, and in the science of chemistry. The technologies which will abate it exist in windmills, in solar panels, in carbon-free nuclear power, in geothermal power, in micro-hydro power, in tidal power.
To embrace petro-dictators in the face of what we now know is to embrace defeat for America. If not for us, then for our children or grand-children. It is to invite more foreign wars of occupation. It is to invite increasingly more polluted skies. It is to invite ecological catastrophe.
The flaw in societies that decay is to fail to see the promise which comes through change, and to cling in desperation to a way of life that has become self-destructive.
Think what it means for America if we can power our vehicles with electricity generated from non-polluting and renewable sources. Think what it means for the quality of our air. Think what it means for our economy. Think what it means to our foreign policy.
Why not envision American greatness? Why have our dreams become so small?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
My Sirota
Earlier I mention that I thought it would be a good idea for Barak Obama to seek out the advice of David Sirota. Mr. Sirota made that a whole lot easier by going on CNN and saying exactly what he thought Obama had to do to take back the lead:
NAFTA and Iraq
Ask and the internet giveth.
NAFTA and Iraq
Ask and the internet giveth.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Realpolitik or Playground Populism?
Do you suppose all of the lying and dishonorable accusations flooding out of the McCain campaign are a tactic?
One hardly knew that Grandpa Jones and Daisy Duke were running until all the coverage of their insulting, playground populism started up.
Is McCain counting on Americans not to bother seeking out the Truth of his charges even though doing so would be easy-peasy?
Is everyone yelling at Obama to "fight back hard" adding pressure in the wrong direction? Won't uninformed Americans tune this out as, "I am rubber you are glue..."?
Maybe Obama just needs to be a little less wonky and call McCain out on his Rovian campaign. Better yet, let Joe Biden do it, since Joe Biden stood up for McCain when George Bush insinuated he fathered a black child in South Carolina and called his patriotism into question.
Here is what George Lakoff thinks Obama should do:
Make your own frames
Obama has to find a way to be in the news, without simply repeating McCain's charges because that will make them stick. Policy positions aren't going to do it, since people won't interrupt their dinners for that.
This is what on playgrounds might be known as the new experience, for instance making loud flatulent noises using only one's left hand and right underarm. Suddenly the kid pickin' at his nose and chewin' it, chewin' it, is old hat.
Well, that's what he needs to do metaphorically anyway.
Keep it simple Mr. Obama. Ask Bill Clinton to come up with something, since nobody can out-flank the master. Try to enjoy it too. It might be dumb, it might be ugly, it might detract from important conversations that you want to have, but you can talk all you want when you're president.
One hardly knew that Grandpa Jones and Daisy Duke were running until all the coverage of their insulting, playground populism started up.
Is McCain counting on Americans not to bother seeking out the Truth of his charges even though doing so would be easy-peasy?
Is everyone yelling at Obama to "fight back hard" adding pressure in the wrong direction? Won't uninformed Americans tune this out as, "I am rubber you are glue..."?
Maybe Obama just needs to be a little less wonky and call McCain out on his Rovian campaign. Better yet, let Joe Biden do it, since Joe Biden stood up for McCain when George Bush insinuated he fathered a black child in South Carolina and called his patriotism into question.
Here is what George Lakoff thinks Obama should do:
Make your own frames
Obama has to find a way to be in the news, without simply repeating McCain's charges because that will make them stick. Policy positions aren't going to do it, since people won't interrupt their dinners for that.
This is what on playgrounds might be known as the new experience, for instance making loud flatulent noises using only one's left hand and right underarm. Suddenly the kid pickin' at his nose and chewin' it, chewin' it, is old hat.
Well, that's what he needs to do metaphorically anyway.
Keep it simple Mr. Obama. Ask Bill Clinton to come up with something, since nobody can out-flank the master. Try to enjoy it too. It might be dumb, it might be ugly, it might detract from important conversations that you want to have, but you can talk all you want when you're president.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)