I am surprised (and somewhat pleased) by all of the positive press Michael Jackson has gotten since his death. I think the media has done a good job in balancing the genius of his career with the oddness of his later years.
They don't really have to remind us of what a weirdo he was; the picture of his face will do that. They only real fault you can find with the media is the amount of coverage has been enormous.
The next year or so will be the biggest lawyer party since the death of Elvis, a comparison that could be relevant in several other ways.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Obama in the middle east
It's going to take more than one speech to make peace with the Muslim world, but this might be a good start.
What a lot of conservatives fail to realize is that we have done a decent job fighting the extremists, but we have done a terrible job of building bridges to the overwhelmingly moderate Muslim population. When Osama Bin Laden is considered an admirable leader by otherwise moderate muslims, this shows how much needs to be done.
A good example is Indonesia. The Indonesians are moderate and tolerant, but identify themselve as Muslim. We have done almost nothing to build bridges to these people, and as a result, and Arab Wahhabist ideology (which should be completely alien) has made inroads into a relatively secular Indonesian society, through the rhetoric of "Muslims everywhere are under attack".
Lets hope Barack can start a (long) process of reconciliation.
What a lot of conservatives fail to realize is that we have done a decent job fighting the extremists, but we have done a terrible job of building bridges to the overwhelmingly moderate Muslim population. When Osama Bin Laden is considered an admirable leader by otherwise moderate muslims, this shows how much needs to be done.
A good example is Indonesia. The Indonesians are moderate and tolerant, but identify themselve as Muslim. We have done almost nothing to build bridges to these people, and as a result, and Arab Wahhabist ideology (which should be completely alien) has made inroads into a relatively secular Indonesian society, through the rhetoric of "Muslims everywhere are under attack".
Lets hope Barack can start a (long) process of reconciliation.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tax credit
We are going to try to take advantage of the tax credit for energy efficient windows that you can use in 2009 and 2010.
You can get a tax credit of 30%, up to $1500 for installation of approved energy efficient windows. That means we can get $5000 worth of windows for $3500.
A lot of the windows in our house are pretty drafty, especially the 4 big windows in our north facing bedroom. It gets very cold in winter and the windows rattle in the wind. We even use plastic sheets over the window frame all winter long.
We are going to try to do this in both years, and save $3000 on windows.
You can get a tax credit of 30%, up to $1500 for installation of approved energy efficient windows. That means we can get $5000 worth of windows for $3500.
A lot of the windows in our house are pretty drafty, especially the 4 big windows in our north facing bedroom. It gets very cold in winter and the windows rattle in the wind. We even use plastic sheets over the window frame all winter long.
We are going to try to do this in both years, and save $3000 on windows.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
American Idol
I have been watching this nonsense lately because my 7 year old loves it and it is a good family bonding type TV show.
Last nights finale really summed up everything I dislike about AI.
1. 2 hours and 10 minutes of filler. A really cynical manipulation to milk every last advertising minute.
2. The performers are no good. The final 2 contestants are both in their 20's, been trying to make it in show biz for a long time, and have had no success. There is a reason for this: they suck. The finalists are only good in comparison to the others. Seeing these contestant paired up with Rod Stewart, Cyndi Lauper, Lionel Ritchie and Kiss really just points out how awful their voices are. I had to go and download "Every Picture Tells a Story" to remind myself of what a brilliant performer Rod Stewart once was.
3. The judges are buffoons. None of the judges has ever said anything helpful or insightful to any contestant. I know they are all in the music business, but they do not appear to be able to express a coherent thought.
4. Every arrangement sounds like the singer is doing a Broadway show tune. Even the Kiss number sounded like "Kiss on Broadway". Kris (the winner) has a passable voice, but Adam sounds like a kid who spent too many years singing along with "Rocky Horror Picture Show" at the local theater every weekend.
Last nights finale really summed up everything I dislike about AI.
1. 2 hours and 10 minutes of filler. A really cynical manipulation to milk every last advertising minute.
2. The performers are no good. The final 2 contestants are both in their 20's, been trying to make it in show biz for a long time, and have had no success. There is a reason for this: they suck. The finalists are only good in comparison to the others. Seeing these contestant paired up with Rod Stewart, Cyndi Lauper, Lionel Ritchie and Kiss really just points out how awful their voices are. I had to go and download "Every Picture Tells a Story" to remind myself of what a brilliant performer Rod Stewart once was.
3. The judges are buffoons. None of the judges has ever said anything helpful or insightful to any contestant. I know they are all in the music business, but they do not appear to be able to express a coherent thought.
4. Every arrangement sounds like the singer is doing a Broadway show tune. Even the Kiss number sounded like "Kiss on Broadway". Kris (the winner) has a passable voice, but Adam sounds like a kid who spent too many years singing along with "Rocky Horror Picture Show" at the local theater every weekend.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Shantaram
I finished this interesting book called "Shantaram" recently. It is about an Australian guy who escaped from prison and made his way to India, where he eventually became part of the Mumbai mafia. He learned how to make fake passports, smuggle weapons and lots more.
The story is a novel, but based on events in the life of the author. The story is currently being made into a movie starring Johnny Depp.
The story is a novel, but based on events in the life of the author. The story is currently being made into a movie starring Johnny Depp.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Layoffs
Layoffs almost seem inevitable now. I did get a raise and bonus this year, but I think it is quite likely that there will be layoffs at my company within the next few months.
Executives hate to be the only ones at the club who can't brag about how many people they have cut. So few of them can think for themselves that it is always safer for them to follow the herd, even if they don't have to.
Executives hate to be the only ones at the club who can't brag about how many people they have cut. So few of them can think for themselves that it is always safer for them to follow the herd, even if they don't have to.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Hudson river plane crash
Everyone has seen the pictures of that plane that crashed into the Hudson River yesterday.
An amazing scene, to see all those people standing on the semi-submerged wings of the plane. Kudos to the pilot, who happens to be an expert in the psychology of flight crews in emergency situations.
I still can't understand why the plane didn't sink. The cabin doors and emergency exits were open, and some people said the plane did take in water. I really wonder what kept it from sinking like a rock.
An amazing scene, to see all those people standing on the semi-submerged wings of the plane. Kudos to the pilot, who happens to be an expert in the psychology of flight crews in emergency situations.
I still can't understand why the plane didn't sink. The cabin doors and emergency exits were open, and some people said the plane did take in water. I really wonder what kept it from sinking like a rock.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Vacation
We just came back from 8 days in Siesta Key Florida, our new favorite vacation spot.
We had a nice second-floor one bedroom condo right on the beach, and we watched the sun set over the gulf every night from our patio. The weather was sunny and 75-80 all the time. Really perfect weather.
We really had such a nice time, building sand sculptures (a whale and a fish this time), collecting sea shells, and playing in the ocean.
We only ate out a few times, for a lunch and some breakfasts. We spent a lot of money on the place but not much on airfare and rental car.
We had a nice second-floor one bedroom condo right on the beach, and we watched the sun set over the gulf every night from our patio. The weather was sunny and 75-80 all the time. Really perfect weather.
We really had such a nice time, building sand sculptures (a whale and a fish this time), collecting sea shells, and playing in the ocean.
We only ate out a few times, for a lunch and some breakfasts. We spent a lot of money on the place but not much on airfare and rental car.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Auto Czar
Here's my pick for Obama to name as the new Czar of the Auto Industry:
Mitt Romney
This is the right choice for several reasons:
1- Bolsters Obama' non-partisan credentials.
2- Auto Industry will respect him, since he is pro-business Republican.
3- Track record of success in business.
Romney is a team player and will work hard for Obama. Obama needs to set a strong direction for a rapid move away from cars that run on liquid hydrocarbons to to plug in hybrids.
Bill Clinton has no business experience, and his personality would overshadow the job. Ditto for Rudy Giuliani.
Appointing an ideologue from either party is the wrong move. Romney is pragmatic and forceful. Give Mitt a chance....
Mitt Romney
This is the right choice for several reasons:
1- Bolsters Obama' non-partisan credentials.
2- Auto Industry will respect him, since he is pro-business Republican.
3- Track record of success in business.
Romney is a team player and will work hard for Obama. Obama needs to set a strong direction for a rapid move away from cars that run on liquid hydrocarbons to to plug in hybrids.
Bill Clinton has no business experience, and his personality would overshadow the job. Ditto for Rudy Giuliani.
Appointing an ideologue from either party is the wrong move. Romney is pragmatic and forceful. Give Mitt a chance....
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Auto Industry
So yes we will bail out the auto industry in one way or another.
And not for the right reason.
These companies know full well the distribution of auto related jobs across the country and they that fact works for them.
This is the same reason why weapons systems are so hard to vote down. When a new fighter jet is being made, the companies make sure that hundreds of congressional districts have some small amount of manufacturing supplying parts. They make sure hundreds of congress members have at least some local economic stake, and they use those numbers to their advantage ("Congressman, cancelling the XYZ bomber would eliminate 123 jobs in your district"). Most congressmen would vote to spend billions if it means they cannot be accused of destroying jobs.
Autos are the same way. The biggest point we hear is that it is not so much the direct employees of the big three, but the parts suppliers and ancillary industries.
I think we should bail them out, but the reason should be that we need to use the auto industry as a springboard into the future of reduced dependence on imported oil.
Bail out the companies, with the condition that all R&D going forward is dedicated to producing plug in hybrids exclusively within 10 years. No more cars made in the USA should burn oil as their primary fuel. There is a lot of electrical generating capacity in the US, especially at night, when most hybrids would be recharging.
That is the right reason to bail them out.
And not for the right reason.
These companies know full well the distribution of auto related jobs across the country and they that fact works for them.
This is the same reason why weapons systems are so hard to vote down. When a new fighter jet is being made, the companies make sure that hundreds of congressional districts have some small amount of manufacturing supplying parts. They make sure hundreds of congress members have at least some local economic stake, and they use those numbers to their advantage ("Congressman, cancelling the XYZ bomber would eliminate 123 jobs in your district"). Most congressmen would vote to spend billions if it means they cannot be accused of destroying jobs.
Autos are the same way. The biggest point we hear is that it is not so much the direct employees of the big three, but the parts suppliers and ancillary industries.
I think we should bail them out, but the reason should be that we need to use the auto industry as a springboard into the future of reduced dependence on imported oil.
Bail out the companies, with the condition that all R&D going forward is dedicated to producing plug in hybrids exclusively within 10 years. No more cars made in the USA should burn oil as their primary fuel. There is a lot of electrical generating capacity in the US, especially at night, when most hybrids would be recharging.
That is the right reason to bail them out.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Obama
We've had a few weeks to let the election news sink in. How much more can be said about the historic nature of this election? I'll leave it to Oprah to think up something new to say.
I do think it is worth noting that even with the most unpopular president in history, a cratered economy, and 2 wars in progress, that Obama still did not win with a popular vote landslide.
I cannot help but think that Hillary Clinton would have achieved a much higher popular vote.
I do think it is worth noting that even with the most unpopular president in history, a cratered economy, and 2 wars in progress, that Obama still did not win with a popular vote landslide.
I cannot help but think that Hillary Clinton would have achieved a much higher popular vote.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Craigs List
I do not understand Craig's List. It is the biggest mess I have ever seen, like some teenager's MySpace page.
I just don't understand what is so cool about Craig's list. Seems like most of the postings are spam - the kind "Make Money Fast" junk your email filters are built to kill.
I don't get it.
I just don't understand what is so cool about Craig's list. Seems like most of the postings are spam - the kind "Make Money Fast" junk your email filters are built to kill.
I don't get it.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Sickening
I just read an article that describes how the senior management of AIG, after securing a government bailout, took a spa vaction for themselves at a high end resort.
They spent over $400,000 on their getaway.
Doesn't this piss you off?
They spent over $400,000 on their getaway.
Doesn't this piss you off?
Friday, October 3, 2008
Great book
I just finished reading a great book called "A Vietcong Memoir: An Inside Account of the Vietnam War and Its Aftermath" by Truong Nhu Tang.
The author was one of the founders of the South Vietnam revolutionary movement, of which the VietCong was the military arm. Truong was never a warrior; he was a member of the Saigon aristocracy, French educated and destined for a great future.
He became politically aware while in France and returned to Vietnam to fight for independence. He operated undercover as a senior member of the NLF, while outwardly serving as a senior executive with the national sugar exporting company.
Eventually he was discovered and imprisoned, ultimately being released in a prisoner exchange, and spent 8 years in the jungle and became a member of the PRG, a government in waiting, allied with the North Vietnamese. He was named Minister of Justice for the government they assumed would take over control once the war was won.
The book describes in detail living in the jungle, the horrors of the B-52 attacks that killed many compatriots, and the political machinations and tension between the southern revolutionaries and the northern communists.
One thing I found very interesting was the description of how aware the PRG officials living in the jungle were of the American political scene and how important the US antiwar movement was to the the NLF and PRG.
Another interesting fact: the Vietcong hiding in the jungle were given forewarning of B-52 attacks, by receiving reports from Russian spy ships in the Pacific that tracked bombers taking off from Guam. They would compute the flight paths, and radio the information to Hanoi, which relayed likely target areas to the VC so they could move away from the target areas. This saved many lives over the years, and it is not clear if the Americans ever realized this was happening.
The book ends quite sadly when it becomes more and more obvious that the northerners never intended to share power with the southerners. Immediately after the war, the southerners were edged aside in favor of rapid socialization. Many people were rounded up and put in reeducation camps. In one very tough event, the author drives his own brother to a prison camp, assuring him it would be only 30 days of reeducation. 9 years later the brother was still imprisoned.
Eventually Truong engineered an escape from the country and has lived in exile in France ever since.
I found this book extraordinarily interesting, opening complex aspects of the war I had never realized.
Link to Amazon
The author was one of the founders of the South Vietnam revolutionary movement, of which the VietCong was the military arm. Truong was never a warrior; he was a member of the Saigon aristocracy, French educated and destined for a great future.
He became politically aware while in France and returned to Vietnam to fight for independence. He operated undercover as a senior member of the NLF, while outwardly serving as a senior executive with the national sugar exporting company.
Eventually he was discovered and imprisoned, ultimately being released in a prisoner exchange, and spent 8 years in the jungle and became a member of the PRG, a government in waiting, allied with the North Vietnamese. He was named Minister of Justice for the government they assumed would take over control once the war was won.
The book describes in detail living in the jungle, the horrors of the B-52 attacks that killed many compatriots, and the political machinations and tension between the southern revolutionaries and the northern communists.
One thing I found very interesting was the description of how aware the PRG officials living in the jungle were of the American political scene and how important the US antiwar movement was to the the NLF and PRG.
Another interesting fact: the Vietcong hiding in the jungle were given forewarning of B-52 attacks, by receiving reports from Russian spy ships in the Pacific that tracked bombers taking off from Guam. They would compute the flight paths, and radio the information to Hanoi, which relayed likely target areas to the VC so they could move away from the target areas. This saved many lives over the years, and it is not clear if the Americans ever realized this was happening.
The book ends quite sadly when it becomes more and more obvious that the northerners never intended to share power with the southerners. Immediately after the war, the southerners were edged aside in favor of rapid socialization. Many people were rounded up and put in reeducation camps. In one very tough event, the author drives his own brother to a prison camp, assuring him it would be only 30 days of reeducation. 9 years later the brother was still imprisoned.
Eventually Truong engineered an escape from the country and has lived in exile in France ever since.
I found this book extraordinarily interesting, opening complex aspects of the war I had never realized.
Link to Amazon
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
The market
is lurching back and forth, down 777 yesterday, up 300 today.
Very scary for those of us who dream of retiring with our hard-earned 401k money sometime in the next 10 years.
Very scary for those of us who dream of retiring with our hard-earned 401k money sometime in the next 10 years.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Website work
I did a lot of website work this weekend and sent out our September newsletter (just in time).
We are doing the Michigan Bead show again this coming weekend, last year was pretty good, this year we have a lot more Seed Beads so I hope it will be even better.
We are doing the Michigan Bead show again this coming weekend, last year was pretty good, this year we have a lot more Seed Beads so I hope it will be even better.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
New lawn
I stripped and replanted the grass in my front yard over the last few weeks. I finally sowed the grass seed and threw down straw last night.
What a big job that was! First I sprayed the grass with Roundup and then about 10 days later I started stripping off the sod. I went out and bought this thing called an Italian Grape Hoe, that is like a regular hoe on steroids. It has a large heavy head and works great to slice off a layer of sod. That took several evenings and a couple of weekend days, and filled up about 30 yard waste bags (halfway so they weren't too heavy).
Next I had to regrade the yard, as there was a real high spot and several dips. I borrowed my neighbor's rototiller which made it a lot easier to bust up the dirt under the sod. I moved a lot of dirt around, building up the area nearer to the house and trying to add a gentle slope toward the street. This was probably the hardest part, trying to get the grade right.
Next I used an ancient concrete roller to compact the soil, and kept going over it with a yard rake to get a nice looking grade.
Next I got 3 yards of screened topsoil (and a bale of straw) delivered and spent a couple hours spreading the soil around on top of the grade. Having the yard graded out made that a lot easier, I just had to rake out the soil evenly.
The I added some hydrated lime, starter fertilizer, and then the seed. I used a sun/shade mix from a local garden center. Then I added a thin layer of ground peat moss, and ran a leaf rake across the whole mix to get the seed mixed in with the soil. I followed that with a thin layer of straw, which I then secured down with several lengths of twine, to keep it from blowing away.
Finally I put up some posts and tied more string between them and tied lengths of rags all the way around to keep people off the new lawn. Then I turned the sprinkler on and watered for about 30 minutes, which I will do twice a day until the seeds sprout.
One smart thing I did was save about 10% of the grass seed so I could fill in any thin areas later on this fall or in the spring if I need to.
Several people walking and driving by stopped by to comment on what a great amount of work it was and how good it was looking.
Hope I can say the same thing in a few weeks when the grass is nice and green!
It probably cost me about $250 in materials (hoe, fertilizer, seed, lime). The hoe was $45, but I can definitely reuse that thing, anytime I need to do some serious sod busting. I have no idea how much it would have cost to have a professional landscaper do it, or if they would have taken as much care in re-grading the yard.
Removing the sod was really hard, especially after the one full day I spent on it. The next day I felt like I had been in a car accident; all my muscles and joints hurt. I still have a huge bruise on my right arm, but I do not know how it happened.
What a big job that was! First I sprayed the grass with Roundup and then about 10 days later I started stripping off the sod. I went out and bought this thing called an Italian Grape Hoe, that is like a regular hoe on steroids. It has a large heavy head and works great to slice off a layer of sod. That took several evenings and a couple of weekend days, and filled up about 30 yard waste bags (halfway so they weren't too heavy).
Next I had to regrade the yard, as there was a real high spot and several dips. I borrowed my neighbor's rototiller which made it a lot easier to bust up the dirt under the sod. I moved a lot of dirt around, building up the area nearer to the house and trying to add a gentle slope toward the street. This was probably the hardest part, trying to get the grade right.
Next I used an ancient concrete roller to compact the soil, and kept going over it with a yard rake to get a nice looking grade.
Next I got 3 yards of screened topsoil (and a bale of straw) delivered and spent a couple hours spreading the soil around on top of the grade. Having the yard graded out made that a lot easier, I just had to rake out the soil evenly.
The I added some hydrated lime, starter fertilizer, and then the seed. I used a sun/shade mix from a local garden center. Then I added a thin layer of ground peat moss, and ran a leaf rake across the whole mix to get the seed mixed in with the soil. I followed that with a thin layer of straw, which I then secured down with several lengths of twine, to keep it from blowing away.
Finally I put up some posts and tied more string between them and tied lengths of rags all the way around to keep people off the new lawn. Then I turned the sprinkler on and watered for about 30 minutes, which I will do twice a day until the seeds sprout.
One smart thing I did was save about 10% of the grass seed so I could fill in any thin areas later on this fall or in the spring if I need to.
Several people walking and driving by stopped by to comment on what a great amount of work it was and how good it was looking.
Hope I can say the same thing in a few weeks when the grass is nice and green!
It probably cost me about $250 in materials (hoe, fertilizer, seed, lime). The hoe was $45, but I can definitely reuse that thing, anytime I need to do some serious sod busting. I have no idea how much it would have cost to have a professional landscaper do it, or if they would have taken as much care in re-grading the yard.
Removing the sod was really hard, especially after the one full day I spent on it. The next day I felt like I had been in a car accident; all my muscles and joints hurt. I still have a huge bruise on my right arm, but I do not know how it happened.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
The financial crisis
Well, everyone else is talking about it, why shouldn't I?
Once again I feel we are experiencing the true legacy of Ronald Reagan. Reagan convinced everyone that government was the enemy, and regulations were just handcuffing the creative and entrepreneurial forces of the American people. The market was rational; bad players and corrupt practices would be weeded out by the the power of market based control.
Are we de-regulated enough yet?
I also place a lot of this on peoples unconstrained greed. Everybody thought it was great when speculative bubble after bubble arose and Wall street guys were making multi-million bonuses for doing things none of understood (derivative "swaptions" what the hell are those things).
Nobody was calling for regulation while the party was going and Joe Homeowner was refinancing his house and spending the money like it was free. Nobody was calling for corporate oversight until the market crashed and it was obvious that crooks like the guys at Enron were running the show at some major corporations.
The only way regulation can work is for people to realize that to prevent the bad times the good times have to be tempered as well. You cannot have these market run ups and esoteric financial products that appear to make you rich and expect to regulate them after the fact.
I'm not sure what people want is a more disciplined economy. I think most people want the bad stuff to go away and what they really want is another bubble.
Just like the old Texas bumper sticker: "Please God, give us just one more oil boom, and we promise not to screw it up this time".
Once again I feel we are experiencing the true legacy of Ronald Reagan. Reagan convinced everyone that government was the enemy, and regulations were just handcuffing the creative and entrepreneurial forces of the American people. The market was rational; bad players and corrupt practices would be weeded out by the the power of market based control.
Are we de-regulated enough yet?
I also place a lot of this on peoples unconstrained greed. Everybody thought it was great when speculative bubble after bubble arose and Wall street guys were making multi-million bonuses for doing things none of understood (derivative "swaptions" what the hell are those things).
Nobody was calling for regulation while the party was going and Joe Homeowner was refinancing his house and spending the money like it was free. Nobody was calling for corporate oversight until the market crashed and it was obvious that crooks like the guys at Enron were running the show at some major corporations.
The only way regulation can work is for people to realize that to prevent the bad times the good times have to be tempered as well. You cannot have these market run ups and esoteric financial products that appear to make you rich and expect to regulate them after the fact.
I'm not sure what people want is a more disciplined economy. I think most people want the bad stuff to go away and what they really want is another bubble.
Just like the old Texas bumper sticker: "Please God, give us just one more oil boom, and we promise not to screw it up this time".
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Obama
will most probably lose this election. I am quite unhappy about this for a number of reasons.
I am a strong liberal Democrat, and I think republicans have been visiting chaos on our economy and social fabric since 1980.
However, I am just as angry about this because I am confident that if Hillary Clinton had been the nominee (my choice) then this election would be essentially over. The Palin choice would have been neutralized (probably would not have happened) and she would be fighting back like mad.
It seems like Obama is on the verge of pulling a John Kerry: failing to attack. Where are his proxies like Biden and Clinton who should be out there savaging Palin and McCain?
Karl Rove telegraphed a long time back that this election would be about personality not issues. Did Obama's people really think that the adoring crowds of Democrats who propelled him through the primaries would somehow magically win him the general election?
If the Democrats lose this election they have noone to blame but themselves. The economy is as bad as it has been in 50 years, the sitting president is profoundly unpopular, yet somehow the Republicans have been allowed to shift the momentum to the point where the press is focusing in stupid remarks and Sarah Palin's "likability".
This should be like shooting fish in a barrel. The right candidate was passed over, and if Obama loses the whole party owes Hillary the biggest apology in history. If she ever consents to running again for president, the party needs to embrace her 100%.
There is no point in blaming the media for its shallowness. The GOP learned a long time ago that the key to getting elected was to manipulate the media's power to distract people with triviality and lurid stories designed to evoke an emotional response.
Sadly, this is how elections are won. Just another indication that we are becoming a 3rd world country, both in our economic structure and our approach to democracy.
I am a strong liberal Democrat, and I think republicans have been visiting chaos on our economy and social fabric since 1980.
However, I am just as angry about this because I am confident that if Hillary Clinton had been the nominee (my choice) then this election would be essentially over. The Palin choice would have been neutralized (probably would not have happened) and she would be fighting back like mad.
It seems like Obama is on the verge of pulling a John Kerry: failing to attack. Where are his proxies like Biden and Clinton who should be out there savaging Palin and McCain?
Karl Rove telegraphed a long time back that this election would be about personality not issues. Did Obama's people really think that the adoring crowds of Democrats who propelled him through the primaries would somehow magically win him the general election?
If the Democrats lose this election they have noone to blame but themselves. The economy is as bad as it has been in 50 years, the sitting president is profoundly unpopular, yet somehow the Republicans have been allowed to shift the momentum to the point where the press is focusing in stupid remarks and Sarah Palin's "likability".
This should be like shooting fish in a barrel. The right candidate was passed over, and if Obama loses the whole party owes Hillary the biggest apology in history. If she ever consents to running again for president, the party needs to embrace her 100%.
There is no point in blaming the media for its shallowness. The GOP learned a long time ago that the key to getting elected was to manipulate the media's power to distract people with triviality and lurid stories designed to evoke an emotional response.
Sadly, this is how elections are won. Just another indication that we are becoming a 3rd world country, both in our economic structure and our approach to democracy.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Politics
I haven't paid much attention to the RNC convention. It seems like the GOP is really in a defensive position, trying not to lose too badly. I do not think Obama is a guaranteed win, but I do think (hope?) the Democrats have enough momentum to win some of the key states up for grabs, like Ohio, maybe Florida, Colorado and New Mexico.
Just enough to win the Electoral College, but probably not a landslide. Which is disheartening in a way. With all of the fiascoes that the Republicans have presided over in the last 8 years it seems like the Democrats should just run away with the election.
My take on the Palin choice: I think the GOP did not want to waste their first string choices on an election they think they have a good chance of losing. This reminds me of when the Democrats nominated Walter Mondale to run against Reagan in 1984, knowing it would be a blowout loss. Or when the GOP ran Bob Dole against Bill Clinton in 1996; who gave him any chance at all?
I suspect that guys like Romney and Huckabee want to keep their powder dry to run against a likely Obama presidency in 2012, and again in 2016.
Just enough to win the Electoral College, but probably not a landslide. Which is disheartening in a way. With all of the fiascoes that the Republicans have presided over in the last 8 years it seems like the Democrats should just run away with the election.
My take on the Palin choice: I think the GOP did not want to waste their first string choices on an election they think they have a good chance of losing. This reminds me of when the Democrats nominated Walter Mondale to run against Reagan in 1984, knowing it would be a blowout loss. Or when the GOP ran Bob Dole against Bill Clinton in 1996; who gave him any chance at all?
I suspect that guys like Romney and Huckabee want to keep their powder dry to run against a likely Obama presidency in 2012, and again in 2016.
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