This blog was pointed out today, not sure where it is written from.
Oaksong's Nemeton
And here is a post from today, The Mysterious Case of the Missing Northern New York Democrats, strange, heard a similar theme somewhere before, oh that is right, click here.
Later Add
The blog is local.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Fred Thompson Was Unequivocal
What is the difference in a week?
People like Fred Thompson standing up at the podium of their convention and unequivocally expressing who they support and why, quite different from Hillary Clinton's speech a week ago.
Thompson began by expressing support for Sarah Palin and an interesting description of John McCain's time in captivity and how that defines John McCain's character today. Here is Fred Thompson's conclusion to his remarks on McCain's character.
on McCain,
People like Fred Thompson standing up at the podium of their convention and unequivocally expressing who they support and why, quite different from Hillary Clinton's speech a week ago.
Thompson began by expressing support for Sarah Palin and an interesting description of John McCain's time in captivity and how that defines John McCain's character today. Here is Fred Thompson's conclusion to his remarks on McCain's character.
"Now, being a POW certainly doesn’t qualify anyone to be President.
But it does reveal character.
This is the kind of character that civilizations from the beginning of history have sought in their leaders.Thompson referred to John McCain's hope by saying,
Strength.
Courage.
Humility.
Wisdom.
Duty.
Honor.
"We hear a lot of talk about hope. John McCain knows about hope. That’s all he had to survive on."Thompson drew very distinct differences between McCain and Obama with this
on McCain,
"He has been to Iraq eight times since 2003.
He went seeking truth, not publicity.
Or this line,
When he travels abroad, he prefers quietly speaking to the troops amidst the heat and hardship of their daily lives."
"The respect he is given around the world is not because of a teleprompter speech designed to appeal to American critics abroad, but because of decades of clearly demonstrated character and statesmanship."And then this on Obama,
"History making in that he is the most liberal, most inexperienced nominee to ever run for President. Apparently they believe that he would match up well with the history making, Democrat controlled Congress. History making because it’s the least accomplished and most unpopular Congress in our nation’s history.Fred Thompson illustrated his shared experience with McCain in Congress.
"What I remember most about those years is sitting next to John on the Senate floor as he led battle after battle to change the acrimonious, pork barreling, self serving ways of Washington."Thompson accurately defined John McCain last night and made a good case for his Presidency, something Hillary Clinton did not do for Barack Obama. Thompson clearly pointed out some of Obama's proposals and what they would mean for people.
"Now our opponents tell you not to worry about their tax increases.
They tell you they are not going to tax your family.
No, they’re just going to tax “businesses”! So unless you buy something from a “business”, like groceries or clothes or gasoline … or unless you get a paycheck from a big or a small “business”, don’t worry … it’s not going to affect you."
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Define Vetting
There is a lot of chatter from the media class on whether or not Sarah Palin was properly vetted or not.
The question the media should ask is; does their definition of a vetting process differ from the McCain's campaign definition?
Media outlet after media outlet are reporting on:
Fishing permit violation,
Husband's DUI,
Teenage daughter's pregnancy,
Child custody battle of a relative.
That is what appears to be the vetting process of the media and / or the opposition.
Perhaps possibly the McCain campaign put more emphasis on her governing capabilities and background, which is what should really count.
Everything else just shows her family experiences real life struggles just like many other average families. Many Americans will be able to relate to her life, as opposed to the political elite of other candidates.
For the moment, the opposition has acheived its objective; to divert attention from the campaign issues where McCain had clearly pulled even with Obama, to other less important issues.
The question the media should ask is; does their definition of a vetting process differ from the McCain's campaign definition?
Media outlet after media outlet are reporting on:
Fishing permit violation,
Husband's DUI,
Teenage daughter's pregnancy,
Child custody battle of a relative.
That is what appears to be the vetting process of the media and / or the opposition.
Perhaps possibly the McCain campaign put more emphasis on her governing capabilities and background, which is what should really count.
Everything else just shows her family experiences real life struggles just like many other average families. Many Americans will be able to relate to her life, as opposed to the political elite of other candidates.
For the moment, the opposition has acheived its objective; to divert attention from the campaign issues where McCain had clearly pulled even with Obama, to other less important issues.
Bounce
Obama's convention bounce appears to be nil. Real Clear Politics has Obama up by an average of 4.5 points.The specific polls results:
CBS News - Obama +8
CNN Tracking - Obama +1
Gallup Tacking - Obama +6
Rasmussen Tracking - Obama +3
Zogby is reporting
The latest nationwide survey, begun Friday afternoon after the McCain announcement of Palin as running mate and completed mid-afternoon Saturday, shows McCain/Palin at 47%, compared to 45% support for Obama/Biden.
McCain's announcement muted the after effects of Obama's in the media and took away some of the convention bounce. Typically candidates come out of their conventions with double digit leads. Maybe the McSame message is not resonating?
Monday, September 1, 2008
Palin Really Is A Regular Mom
In a not so uncommon occurrence of modern days Sarah Palin announced her 17 year old daughter is pregnant. This is just more proof that Sarah Palin is a professional and everyday "hockey mom" who faces and relates to life's challenges.
And apparently these decisions are not above Palin's pay grade either.
Her statement:
A Democratic attack on this issue will surely backfire.
Obama's remarks:
He is correct.
And apparently these decisions are not above Palin's pay grade either.
"We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us,' the Palins' statement said. 'Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support."Does it hurt her campaign? It should not!
"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi's privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."
A Democratic attack on this issue will surely backfire.
Obama's remarks:
"I have said before, and I will repeat again: People's families are off-limits. And people's children are especially off-limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance as a governor or her potential performance as a vice president. So I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories. You know my mother had me when she was 18, and how a family deals with issues and teenage children, that shouldn’t be a topic of our politics."
He is correct.
He's Baaaaaack
Reverend Wright has returned just in time for the general election! Here is what he had to say at a talk yesterday in Houston.
"The Lord turned the ordinary into the extraordinary. Y'all just saw it this past week. It was on national television," Wright said to applause. "This ordinary boy just might be, come November, the 4th, this ordinary boy from a single parent home with a daddy from Kenya and a mama from Kansas. This ordinary boy just might be the first president in the history of the United States to have a black woman sleeping at 1600 Pennsylvania, legally."
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Further Breakdown of the Obama Poetry
This is a snippet of the analysis from Politico.com. on points Obama made in his DNC speech the other night
I will cut taxes — cut taxes — for 95 percent of all working families. Because in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle class.
The “95 percent of all working families” formulation is new, and a nice turn of phrase. It contains, though, one of those lawyerly caveats Obama often slips into his speeches, this one (“working”) allowing him to boost the percentage who’d benefit from his proposal for a permanent $500 tax break for workers — not so much greater than Bush’s $300 rebate checks, which he has derided as insufficient.
Also notable in its absence was any mention of his proposal to undo the Bush tax cuts.
I'll help our auto companies retool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America. I'll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars.
There’s also a dog-whistle to Michigan voters in “I'll help our auto companies retool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America.” While most listeners keyed in on "fuel-efficient cars" — Obama first promised automakers $4 billion in tax credits and loan guarantees while insisting on dramatic increases in fuel efficiency in a tough-love speech in Detroit — those staked to the auto industry just heard “I'll help our auto companies retool.”
Now is the time to finally keep the promise of affordable, accessible health care for every single American. If you have health care, my plan will lower your premiums. If you don't, you'll be able to get the same kind of coverage that members of Congress give themselves.
The Obama campaign says the plan will save a typical American family up to $2,500 a year and will cost $50 billion to $65 billion a year (about $200 per American) once it’s up and running. The Tax Policy Institute estimates his plan will cost $1.6 trillion over 10 years — while stressing that’s their best guess based on what is, after all, campaign poetry, not governing prose.
Now is the time to finally meet our moral obligation to provide every child a world-class education, because it will take nothing less to compete in the global economy. Michelle and I are only here tonight because we were given a chance at an education. And I will not settle for an America where some kids don't have that chance. I'll invest in early childhood education. I'll recruit an army of new teachers and pay them higher salaries and give them more support. And in exchange, I'll ask for higher standards and more accountability. And we will keep our promise to every young American: If you commit to serving your community or your country, we will make sure you can afford a college education.
Few items here have specific dollar amounts attached to them (how large the “army of new teachers” would be, for instance, isn’t clear).
As with almost all politicians, the how-I’ll-pay-for-it bit is understandably less verbose than the what-I’ll-buy-you list.
And, business groups would add, changing laws to increase revenue amounts to a business tax hike by another name.
Finally, two other notable omissions: His speech made no mention of his call to eliminate tax breaks for oil and gas companies or to create a new windfall profits tax for them.
I will cut taxes — cut taxes — for 95 percent of all working families. Because in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle class.
The “95 percent of all working families” formulation is new, and a nice turn of phrase. It contains, though, one of those lawyerly caveats Obama often slips into his speeches, this one (“working”) allowing him to boost the percentage who’d benefit from his proposal for a permanent $500 tax break for workers — not so much greater than Bush’s $300 rebate checks, which he has derided as insufficient.
Also notable in its absence was any mention of his proposal to undo the Bush tax cuts.
I'll help our auto companies retool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America. I'll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars.
There’s also a dog-whistle to Michigan voters in “I'll help our auto companies retool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America.” While most listeners keyed in on "fuel-efficient cars" — Obama first promised automakers $4 billion in tax credits and loan guarantees while insisting on dramatic increases in fuel efficiency in a tough-love speech in Detroit — those staked to the auto industry just heard “I'll help our auto companies retool.”
Now is the time to finally keep the promise of affordable, accessible health care for every single American. If you have health care, my plan will lower your premiums. If you don't, you'll be able to get the same kind of coverage that members of Congress give themselves.
The Obama campaign says the plan will save a typical American family up to $2,500 a year and will cost $50 billion to $65 billion a year (about $200 per American) once it’s up and running. The Tax Policy Institute estimates his plan will cost $1.6 trillion over 10 years — while stressing that’s their best guess based on what is, after all, campaign poetry, not governing prose.
Now is the time to finally meet our moral obligation to provide every child a world-class education, because it will take nothing less to compete in the global economy. Michelle and I are only here tonight because we were given a chance at an education. And I will not settle for an America where some kids don't have that chance. I'll invest in early childhood education. I'll recruit an army of new teachers and pay them higher salaries and give them more support. And in exchange, I'll ask for higher standards and more accountability. And we will keep our promise to every young American: If you commit to serving your community or your country, we will make sure you can afford a college education.
Few items here have specific dollar amounts attached to them (how large the “army of new teachers” would be, for instance, isn’t clear).
As with almost all politicians, the how-I’ll-pay-for-it bit is understandably less verbose than the what-I’ll-buy-you list.
And, business groups would add, changing laws to increase revenue amounts to a business tax hike by another name.
Finally, two other notable omissions: His speech made no mention of his call to eliminate tax breaks for oil and gas companies or to create a new windfall profits tax for them.
Has it dawned on the Democrats?
The more they make the correlation between their perception of Sarah
Palin's inexperience and Obama's inexperience, then they are actually
recognizing and validating his inexperience at the top of their ticket!
They validate Obama's inexperience with remarks such as yesterday when
Ohio Rep Sherrod Brown warmed up the crowd for them and said "Obama
showed better judgment by choosing Biden" as if it meant, hey he
didn't have the experience but he chose someone who does.
As Governor, she actually has executive experience.
Obama with his inexperience is at the top of the ticket versus the
second slot.
Obama has spent half of his time (2 out of almost 4 years) in the
Senate campaigning for President.
Clinton, Clinton and Biden have all acknowledged Obama's inexperience
during the primary and Bill even as recently as last week during his
speech with his mention that Biden adds experience to the ticket.
Obama is smart enough not to get into the experience debate, by taking
a different tone on the Palin selection than his campaign staff.
That should tell you something!
Palin's inexperience and Obama's inexperience, then they are actually
recognizing and validating his inexperience at the top of their ticket!
They validate Obama's inexperience with remarks such as yesterday when
Ohio Rep Sherrod Brown warmed up the crowd for them and said "Obama
showed better judgment by choosing Biden" as if it meant, hey he
didn't have the experience but he chose someone who does.
As Governor, she actually has executive experience.
Obama with his inexperience is at the top of the ticket versus the
second slot.
Obama has spent half of his time (2 out of almost 4 years) in the
Senate campaigning for President.
Clinton, Clinton and Biden have all acknowledged Obama's inexperience
during the primary and Bill even as recently as last week during his
speech with his mention that Biden adds experience to the ticket.
Obama is smart enough not to get into the experience debate, by taking
a different tone on the Palin selection than his campaign staff.
That should tell you something!
Friday, August 29, 2008
Just How Much Were The Democrats Caught Flat Footed
A LOT!
This is a shot of the DNC home page labeled "The Next Cheney."
Oh look closely, not even a bit of speculation on Palin. You know for McCain being 71 years old, he just put a move on Democrats that, might we say, left them lacing up their sneakers. How do you like the 'ol man now? He is quick, smart and aiming for change!
Here is there list and click here for the link.
Bobby Jindal
Mitt Romney
John Thune
Tom Ridge
Tim Pawlenty
Carly Fiorina
Charlie Crist
Fred Smith
Eric Cantor
This is a shot of the DNC home page labeled "The Next Cheney."
Oh look closely, not even a bit of speculation on Palin. You know for McCain being 71 years old, he just put a move on Democrats that, might we say, left them lacing up their sneakers. How do you like the 'ol man now? He is quick, smart and aiming for change!
Here is there list and click here for the link.
Bobby Jindal Mitt Romney John Thune Tom Ridge Tim Pawlenty Carly Fiorina Charlie Crist Fred Smith Eric Cantor
More Feedback On Palin
Former Vice Presidential Candidate and Democrat Geraldine Ferraro had this response to Sarah Palin.
This Might Do It for McCain
By Geraldine Ferraro
Former Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate/FOX News Political Contributor
It’s going to be a very interesting campaign. I must say that several months ago I said that it would be great if there was a woman on the ticket — that I felt that John McCain would have to pick someone, especially if Hillary was the nominee. But without Hillary being the nominee it’s really quite equally as important because people are looking for a smart campaign and I think this might do it.
There are a lot of women who are disaffected by how Hillary was treated by the media, by how she was treated by the Obama campaign, by how she was treated by the Democratic National Committee — [Democratic party chairman] Howard Dean not speaking up when sexism raised its ugly head in the media. They’ll be looking to see what happens now.
Former Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate/FOX News Political Contributor
It’s going to be a very interesting campaign. I must say that several months ago I said that it would be great if there was a woman on the ticket — that I felt that John McCain would have to pick someone, especially if Hillary was the nominee. But without Hillary being the nominee it’s really quite equally as important because people are looking for a smart campaign and I think this might do it.
There are a lot of women who are disaffected by how Hillary was treated by the media, by how she was treated by the Obama campaign, by how she was treated by the Democratic National Committee — [Democratic party chairman] Howard Dean not speaking up when sexism raised its ugly head in the media. They’ll be looking to see what happens now.
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