The Prodigal Senator?

So, the wussies are back.  No, I'm not referring to the Swiss Army Command, the deluge of cheesy family-friendly Holiday television specials, or even the Cleveland Browns.  I'm not even talking about those kids that played hopscotch or Magic the Gathering at recess.  I am referring to that upper echelon of weenies, that nose-bleed section of wimps, the Coward Club of Mt. Everest.  Yes indeed, the Democrats of the late 20th Century and the first eight years of the 21st Century are BACK!  (And only two weeks after they vanquished Washington.)

Yesterday, the Democratic caucus in the United States Senate held a secret vote on the fate of Senator Joe Lieberman from Connecticut. The Senator had not only endorsed the Republican candidate John McCain for president (because he's his friend?), but had viciously campaigned AGAINST his party's candidate, Barack Obama.  So because of his dissent, the vote could simply oust the Senator from his committee position, from the entire Senate, or completely approve of his performance in both.

Nevermind the fact that Lieberman has already broken a pledge to his Connecticut constituency by declaring himself an Independent. Nevermind that he co-chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, and has failed to provide a single instance of oversight, or ANY evidence of cajones against the current extremely right-falling president. Nevermind the fact that Lieberman has turned out to be quite possibly the most hawkish Democrat in history (barring LBJ himself).  Uh, nevermind alllllll that...I'm sorry, I can't keep a straight face - MIND ALL OF THESE THINGS.  Senator Joe Lieberman has time and time again proved himself to be utterly useless to the Democrats, and generally useless to the call of progress.

So it's pretty obvious that this joker should go, right?  What was the outcome of this obvious vote, you ask?  42-13, Lieberman stays in the Senate with his chairmanship intact!  Really?  REALLY????  Wow, that takes some serious anti-balls.

Let's get one thing straight: I am the last person to tell people to fall in line with a particular party. I am an Independent myself. I happen to be very left-leaning, but there are things that the Democratic Party does that I severely disagree with. I happen to think both parties are corrupt, broken, and even wrong in many instances. This isn't about that. This, ladies and gentlemen, is about the nature of forgiveness.

I'm sure already the pundits are thinking up some sort of metaphor to Jesus Christ's parable of the Prodigal Son in the Gospel of Luke (chapter 15: 11-32)...which I guess I just did.  I find the story to be uplifting, and I believe it teaches a valuable lesson about - among many things - humility, repentance, and forgiveness.  I believe the story also gives us a model of how rebellion and atonement can play out in a natural and life-changing fashion.

I can appreciate the comparison, but there is one large incongruity between the two.  The real-life situation doesn't follow the model.  In the parable, the father immediately forgives his son upon seeing him return wearily into his arms.   Sure, both the son and Lieberman did things that require forgiveness.  The son was selfish and wasted what was so graciously given to him, and Lieberman...well, was...selfish and wasted what was so graciously given to him.  However, forgiveness must be requested, and the detractor must have changed his or her defecting ways.  The son came back on his knees, imploring his father to employ him as a worker, and to no longer call him his son.  Lieberman, however, was not so repentant.  He was more or less UNrepentant.  His public statement after the 42-13 vote leads me to believe that he not only never asked for forgiveness, but that he doesn't even intend to change his actions.  This is where this instance drastically differs from the Prodigal Son.

I'm not naive. I understand the reasoning behind the decision. The Democrats - along with President-Elect Obama - want a chance at a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, and that rests on Lieberman being brought back into the fold. As of now, with Lieberman back, the Democrats have 58 Senators with two more races still undecided (60 is the magic number).  So, the decision is purely political.  I get it. However, I believe Lieberman may cause more trouble in the future than that much-envied majority is worth. This is particularly true if Lieberman continues on his path of unapologetic warhawk-ness, and if he truly believes his own anti-Obama rhetoric.  (He said that Obama is all talk, that he voted to cut off funding for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, blah, blah, blah, lies, lies lies.)

I believe that without punishment, we don't grow. In the end, we are animals. If nothing has happened to us to break us of a habit, then the habit will continue, because there is no incentive to stop it. Similarly, repentance and its resulting growth will not come about without some sort of punishment. The Prodigal Son was punished by having to live with the pigs, and grovel at his father's feet.  The Senate Democrats have afforded no such punishment. Joe Lieberman will still retain his status in the Homeland Security Committee, he will retain his good standing among Democrats. In fact, all parties involved have passive-aggressively put on a smile and pretended like everything is just peachy.

So, in conclusion, all I have to say to the Senate Democrats, is that I hope they're satisfied with they're decision. Because, from where I sit, they may have created one more thorn in the side of real lasting change that Barack Obama can and will create with the right support in the Senate.

Sources: 

The Rachel Maddow Show, November 18, 2008

Countdown with Keith Olbermann, November 18, 2008

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/11/19/lieberman/?source=newsletter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prodigal_son

Proposition 8

This is a civil rights issue. In no way does this issue affect my life directly, and yet it is extremely important to me. The fact that citizens of California didn't simply reject a bill that made gay marriage legal, but UPHELD a bill that BANNED it, is outrageous, hateful, inhuman. Something must be done about this mindset in our society. Stop creating barriers to happiness! I couldn't say it any better than Olber the Mann:

True Justice In this World?

There is a whisper of justice in the wind.  Hear it?  Ffffffffffffffff.  There it is.  It's faint, but slowly waxing loud.

Lady Justice, for the past 8 years, has had 20/20 vision when it looks on those who define it.  Yes, I'm referring to the Bush Administration's Department of "Justice."  And the true justice to which I am referring, will be dealt toward those individuals that comprise the very Administration that spat in her face.

Torture, Non-Habeas Corpus, Indefinite Detention, and Rendition (aka fear tactics - sound a lot like terrorism?) will soon end in this country.  But what will become of those who approved of them in defense of a sadly comic War on Terror? (What's next, War on Joy, War on Reticence, War on Levity?)  Well, some are suggesting the Obama Administration has plans for them.  Not only has President-Elect Barack Obama publicly declared that closing Guantanamo Bay is a top priority, but there are even rumors of an investigative commission on the horizon.  I feel like a giddy schoolgirl simply considering that!

However, many think that criminal prosecutions are unrealistic, due to the very perpetrators' passing of the War Crimes Act in 2006, making prosecution more difficult (How can those who are so absurdly stupid be so fucking brilliant at times?).  Also, if done too soon, prosecutions would trigger the worst and most brutal partisan battle we've seen in this generation.  I agree, which is why the commission started by the Obama Administration will likely be bipartisan - even NONpartisan.  This is a journey that must be trod lightly and precisely.

I think the reason this possibility excites me so, is not the fact that a small group of power abusers are getting what's coming to them.  I am never one to rejoice in someone else's misfortune.  It's more the symbolic victory that Justice as an idea will gain.  If these people - who seemed utterly immune to any repercussions - can be brought to justice, than anyone who seems equally as immune and deserving can.  Terrorists, dictators, arms dealers, oil tycoons, bank CEOs, you name it!  I've said it before: It's an exciting time to be alive!

My Christmas Wish List this year contains one item: the remote control that Adam Sandler's character had in that AWFUL film, "Click."  If only I could fast forward to the peaceful ousting of George W. Bush, and the beginning of the ever-hopeful presidency of The Barack.  If only such a thing existed.  Oh well, I guess I'll just have to wince my way through the next two months.

Let's do something about this.  I say we do what we can to pressure President-Elect Obama and Congress into fast-tracking an indictment of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove and all their cronies involved in the decisions made on the issue of torture and the likes.  This country needs closure on the disastrous past eight years.  Otherwise, what was it all for?

Sources: 

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/11/13/torture_commission/?source=newsletter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism

My God, It's True!

It is true that this country is indeed what I thought it was.  Lord, God Almighty, I can be proud to be an American!  I truly can look on my waving flag with a sense of pride and dignity, and no longer with cynicism and embarrassment.

Last night was quite the emotional night for me, as it was obviously for many other people in this country.  The reason for this, although details can't be put into words, is that America finally in my lifetime has lived up to its name and reputation.  Up until last night, it was only an empty mission statement that America was the land of opportunity, and some lingering memory that it was a beacon of light in the world.  I feel that it was once a beacon of light, but not in my lifetime and certainly not during my adulthood.  Now parents from all walks of life can finally say without feeling as though they are lying to their children, "Honey, you can be anything that you want to be."

Another reason for my newfound pride, is that I woke up to a different country this morning.  People were more polite, the sun shone brighter, colors in the autumn sky were more vibrant.  I had woken up to America the Ballsy.  America the Pragmatic.  America the Progressive.  America the Principled.  I could go on like this for hours.  The point is that I finally feel at one with my society.  It tend to hold myself to a very high standard, and in turn expect others to reciprocate...unreasonable, yes I know.  But, I guess what I mean is that I don't have to feel like such a freak anymore simply because I have ideals.

And so I come full circle back to my first sentence: it is true that I can feel proud of a country willing to throw out all the rules and do what it truly believes is best for its own well-being.  I guess I didn't trust my country enough to believe that maybe it was idealistic, too.  I've been wrong before, and I hope I continue to be surprised.

Make Daddy Proud, USA!

Today is Election Day!  FINALLY!  It is a sort of dual emotion I am feeling right now.  One of complete excitement and anticipation, and another of melancholy.  I'm not sure what I can talk about now that this behemoth election that has consumed my thought in the last 4 months or so is finally coming to a close.  It came at not a moment too soon, though.  I was starting to think I was losing it.  I have gained hectares of peace of mind simply by knowing this monstrosity is over.  So all I have to say in this uncharacteristically short-winded post is:

GO OUT THERE AND MAKE ME PROUD, 'MERICA!

(Otherwise, I'm not sure if I have much use for you anymore.)

Fox the Hound, OR Angry Middle-Aged WASP News

*sigh* Fox News - 

Unless you've been living with your head buried in the sand for the last 10 years or so, you've heard of it, and I would guess that with most of you the very name conjures up some intense emotion.  People will go to great lengths to either defend to the death, or fervently lambast, the news giant that once proclaimed itself "America's most-watched cable news channel."  Well, the same would apply to me, I would say.  I love the freedom of choice with which God blesses us all - and I choose to lambast.

A relatively small part of the media juggernaut NewsCorp owned and run by Australian-born mogul Rupert Murdoch, Fox News seems to be quite the point of contention among news-junkies and the politically minded.  For many, Fox News has an extreme conservative bias.  For example, during the buildup to the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, all of the newspapers owned by Murdoch - as well as Fox News - favored the folly.  Also, I cannot turn on Fox News without hearing some derision against either the Democrats, Hollywood, or "Barack Obama and his liberal allies."  However, Fox News and Murdoch himself have perpetually denied the allegations of conservative bias - or any bias at all, for that matter.  (They call that covering one's ass.)  For others, Fox News is the only channel that is FREE from bias, and the others all have a liberal bias.  Fox's slogan, "Fair and Balanced," is obviously aimed at distinguishing itself from all the others.

I can easily say that, from my point of view, Fox News is the MOST biased mainstream news source in the United States that consistently claims to be otherwise.  What frightens me, however, is that people buy it.  Intelligent, rational, compassionate people.  Many members of my own family - maybe even most of them - fall into this category.  These are wonderful people, whom I am blessed to call my relatives.  But I hate to see them fall for such a blatant hoax.  I cannot even begin to understand why so many people believe this to be a legitimate news source.  Not only that, but Fox News has successfully brainwashed people into believing that the OTHER GUYS are the biased ones, usually angrily and adamantly.  I've even heard CNN referred to as the Clinton News Network!  Now that's just funny.

I will say that I actually believe there to be some worth to Fox News yet - if only to figure out where in the hell conservatives are coming from.  As a good friend of mine pointed out to me, tolerance is about striving to understand those who are different from yourself.  Well, I guess then that Fox News is a great place for me to start doing some research.  The channel is also pretty hilarious.  I think it's a shame that "The O'Reilly Factor" and "Hannity & Colmes" lost the Best Comedy Emmy to "30 Rock" four years in a row!

There is another side to this coin, however.  This is where it gets tricky.  Murdoch was reported to have hosted a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Democratic Primaries.  He also has said in an interview, in regards to his New York Post's endorsement of Barack Obama, that he did have something to do with the endorsement.  "He is a rock star," he said.  "It's fantastic.  I love what he's saying about education.  I don't think he will win Florida...but he will win in Ohio and the election.  I am anxious to meet him.  I want to see if he will walk the walk."  Well, that's confusing.  Also, many of the media outlets under the umbrella of NewsCorp. are very progressively-minded - dare I say liberal - companies.  These include Fox Broadcasting Company and all its subsidiaries, 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures, FX, National Geographic and its myriad subsidiaries, and much more.  Oh, what a tangled web we weave.

Perhaps the other side of the coin is a little something we in the media call RATINGS (yes, I realize I just lumped myself in with the media, haha).  I don't think that this factor is considered enough.  Is it possible that Fox News is just tailoring to its own niche in news, and gets consistently high ratings by perpetuating the farce?  Is it possible that the farce is continued simply to get a rise out of people both from the left and the right?  Maybe so, because it doesn't seem to me like Rupert Murdoch necessarily has a personal conservative bias.  His politics seem to be quite the opposite.  Maybe he is an amoralist with no agenda except getting more dough in his pocket, playing both sides against each other and laughing the entire time.  Whoa, that's quite the accusation, Ryan.

If people actually held cold concrete proof of Fox News's bias in their hands, I would like to believe they would flee from Farce News very quickly.  But, I don't think that's the case.  I could be wrong, but for these people ignorance is bliss, and they'd much rather have a news network that tells them what they want to hear, and what they already believe to be true.    Any news source who tells them otherwise...has a liberal bias.  I mean, who wants their whole construct of reality to be turned on its head?  Not me.  I certainly don't desire growth or progress...none is needed.

At this point in the 'blog, I hope that you (the audience) know when I'm laying on a thick schmear of sarcasm.  Remember: I report, you decide...but if you disagree with me, you are Anti-American.  :)

Hypotheticalculus

There have been a few questions - mostly political and philosophical - surfing around in my head recently.  These questions are purely hypothetical - designed to make one think.  Some of them are as enigmatic as, "What is the meaning of life?" or "Does God have feet?".  In no way do I know the answers, or presume to know the answers.  If I hint at an answer, please discount it and come up with your own.  I accept hate-email as well.  :)  As always, thanks for reading.

1) Why is it that, by and large, those who are more educated, more experienced in living around those who are different than themselves, and/or more well-traveled, tend to lean more to the left politically?

2) Is it possible to create a culture of 100% tolerance of one another?  To clarify my meaning, I have noticed that many liberals talk about tolerance, but are utterly intolerant of conservatives.  In my opinion, this is a hypocritical double standard.

3) What is meant by the adage, "if you are young and conservative you are heartless, and if you are old and liberal you are brainless"?  Why is this saying so widely used?

4) Is there a point when it's deemed acceptable to sacrifice ones ideals for practicality?  For example, does an ideal such as altruism have to be at the disposal of one's own well-being?

5) Why is it that many Americans defend democracy at all costs as the absolute "best form of government"?  (This question can also apply to such "American" values as capitalism and the free market economy)

Real brain-busters, right?  Well, you're answers are as good as any gem I can come up with.  Good luck, and may the best contestant win...er, this isn't a contest.

My Barack Obama Pitch

Soooo, there are only 20-some days until we bid this tumultuous election season adieu.  I think it's high time I stop bitching about the enemy, and start talking about why I like the hero of this story.  It's too late for me to make a criticism sandwich, so I guess this one will be an open-face sandwich.  Bad metaphor, I apologize.  Anyway, here's what I think of The Barack, beyond his eloquent speeches and youth-inspiring charisma:

His economic plan is brilliant, yet so simple:

1) Rebuild our infrastructure and poverty-stricken areas, creating more jobs and eliminating a "no hope" mentality in some of these areas;

2) Invest in new energy technologies, also creating more jobs, and taking money out of the pockets of oil-wealthy dictators that pose a national security threat, AND helping the environment;

3) Sell these technologies abroad, so that we make money off of our ingenuity, and even further help the environment;

4) Invest more into important things like education, so that we can actually compete in the global economy and stop being a country of idiots (this one also includes ousting the RIDICULOUS [mathematically impossible] No Child Left Behind Act, as well as guaranteeing that everyone can afford college, so long as they are willing to volunteer and serve their country.

Hmmmm...SMASHING!

Where's all this money coming from, you ask?  Well, I'll tell you.

1) Tax loopholes for companies that (unpatriotically, in my opinion) cut American jobs to send them abroad will be closed, creating millions in tax revenue.  However, more money will NOT come from the indispensable middle class.  He will NOT...I repeat: HE WILL NOT increase taxes for a vast majority of people in this country (unlike what Fox News likes to tell us), but will close those corporate loopholes, and increase taxes to the wealthiest 5%.  Oh, and no whining, rich-as-fuck people.  I think you can spare it for the country that made you so stinking rich.  We've scratched your back for long enough, I think it's our turn.  Trickle-down economics and faux laissez-faire do NOT WORK, and we have seen evidence of this in the last year;

2) The hundreds of millions (yes, millions) we spend every day in Iraq will go to something PRODUCTIVE as we get the hell out of there and force the Iraqis to take control of their own destiny.  It's sooooo obvious that this farce has gone on long enough while Al Qaeda gets stronger in Afghanistan, global starvation is at its historical peak, and our economy crumbles.  This one is a no-brainer, and Obama is going to do something about it;

3) I'm sure there's more that I can't think of right now.  I'm on deadline here, people.  I'll get back to you.  :)

As for national security:

1) The aforementioned energy investments, which is also a no-brainer - STOP PAYING OUR ENEMIES FOR A PRODUCT THAT HURTS THE ENVIRONMENT...ahem, sorry;

2) Rebuild our ruined European alliances and our abysmal global reputation;

3) Speak with the leaders of these so-called "rogue nations," (which was done by Kennedy, Nixon, Reagan, etc.), allowing us to actually communicate with these people that we don't understand, and whom don't understand us.  To kill two birds with one stone, it also throws the world for a loop by not appearing stubborn and self-righteous - need I say, jingoist and xenophobic.  Any others, folks?  So many adjectives, so little time.  I cannot for the life of me figure out why the hell people think this is such an insane idea.  It really just makes sense.  I always forget where I live, though.

I guess the final quality I admire of The Barack, is that he has an open mind.  Recently I received an email from a beloved but right-leaning (or falling) relative.  It was criticizing Obama for reading a book titled, "The Post-American World," allegedly written from an Islamic point of view.  Now, there's no real evidence that it is written from a fundamentalist/extremist Islamic point of view, but let's assume for the sake of argument that it is.  What better way to learn about those who want to do us harm then to read a book by one of them, about US?  I think it's requisite for a president to have an open mind to those ideals which differ from his or her own.  I'd be willing to bet that there were American leaders during WWII that read Mien Kamf (sp?), simply to figure out where Hitler was coming from.  Did it make them Nazis? Of course not!  This is pure speculation, obviously, but a reasonable one in my opinion.  I believe that he is reading this (if he is actually reading it, and it wasn't Photoshopped into the photo) to LEARN.  Funny...reading to learn.  What a smart person!

Well, that was my pitch for now.  I'm sure there will be more as the election nears.  I gave it all I had.  I am very passionate about the idea of change in this country, and I am lucid about my ideals.  Criticize them, analyze them, destroy them if you will.  I shall shun you if you do.  :)

Be well.

Hodge-Podge of Musings Politicos

I thought I would continue my discussion on John McCain and Sarah Palin vis a vis their ludicrous campaign, just to shake things up a little bit.  :)  I promise other topics will be discussed in the future.  It's the topic on my mind now, and it's my blog.  :)

So a top McCain aid has publicly stated that if McCain continues to talk about the economy, he will lose...hilarious.  That's the nose-bleed section of embarrassment right there.  I can imagine McCain telling his advisors: "Nothing is FUCKED???  The Goddamn plane has crashed into the mountain!!!"  Yeahhhh, that campaign is an epic disaster.  I think he has some soul-searching to do, in order to figure out how on Earth he ever thought he was the least bit presidential...sorry, little guy, but those cookies are for NEVER.  My question to the Republican Party is: this is your best and brightest?  Erratic, angry, irritable, robotic, condescending, reactionary...this is your candidate, GOP.  I know for a fact that most Republicans are rational, balanced, respectful, tempered people, but you really aren't representing yourself very well.  We want a worthy adversary.

As for Sarah Palin - whoa, boy.  I could write War and Peace II on this woman.  I was recently asked is she understands the concept of answering questions, to which I reply: only if the question matches what was written (by someone else) on her index cards.  Then she's fine if she "reads it good."  If not, McCain told her to either say "maverick" repeatedly, or say something uber-cheesy Midwestern like "You Betcha," or "Doggoneit."  Way to choose a legally retarded running mate, old man.  Okay, I admit that went a little far.  But don't you think we should be holding our potential elected officials to a higher standard?  None of this "he/she is just like me" baloney.  I happen to believe that that attitude is setting the bar waaayyyy too low, and quite frankly, pretty narcissistic.  I certainly don't think that I'M qualified for the job.  Yikes.  No, I want my country to be lead by someone EXTRAordinary.  But maybe I just haven't noticed mediocrity as the latest American fad.

McCain's and Palin's continual avoidance of the issues - which has been replaced by a completely nonsequitous discussion on Obama's past "associations" - is becoming laughable.  I'm literally LOLing while the McCain campaign keeps groping for larger shovels, thinking it'll do the trick in the 1,000-foot deep quarry they've already delved.  These connections of Obama's, while not gold stars on his record, are completely moot when considering the man AND the myth.  We've all made mistakes in our past, including not necessarily hanging with the best crowd.  We've learned from these mistakes.  I see someone like The Barack making far better judgement calls in the RECENT years than McCain, (even IF he has butted heads with his own party) on every issue across the board this election.  You name it, Obama displayed better judgement.  This is the conversation that should occur between the candidates, not one about the creepy anarchist guy who lived down the street from Obama's elementary school!

As a dear friend pointed out to me, when McCain panicked and "suspended" his campaign to tackle the financial crisis and appear presidential, the campaign still ran over 13,000 advertisements on television and online.  Hmmmmm.  So...you suspended...the campaign???  But still ran your ads?  I'm sorry, what does suspend mean again?  When I was suspended from school, I wasn't really aloud to continue going to class, or to even enter the building.  That's odd.  I guess when you're running for president, you're aloud to reinvent terms.  Boy, do I have a lot to learn!

In conclusion, this year I'm registered to vote in the state of Missouri, which is in the same category as my home state, Ohio: Class 2 - Backward, but with Enough Forward-Thinking Citizens to Make Things Interesting/Frustrating.  So, as a former right-leaning voter who (please don't kill me) voted for Bush-Cheney in 2004...in the state of Ohio (ouch), I must say that I will repent by helping another swing state get the fate of this nation back on the track of progress by electing an EXTRAordinary senator from Illinois - The Barack!

...more on this subject and many others henceforth...

P.S. Obama said knock you out!

Utterly Shameful / Oh yeah, Welcome to My 'Blog!

First of all, this is my first post on this weblog, and instead of singing songs of praise to the first amendment or the ability of man to think, I'm ranting.  But I couldn't help myself.  This election is too precious of a human nature specimen to go un-commentated.

I'm just trying to rack my brain in order to figure out what has become of the modern person, when an "honorable" candidate in an election commits such fallacies, misnomers, and blatant slanders.  These recent ads and libels slewed by the McCain campaign make me physically upset.  Not because they're smearing "my boy Obama," or anything like that.  I'm as aware as the next person that anyone who puts themselves into the spotlight is going to have to deal with this crap.  It's the fact that the McCain campaign assumes, time and time again, that the American people are stupid enough to swallow this malarkey.  They give people absolutely no credit and trust not in those who think for themselves and form rational opinions, basing their opinions on those things called "facts" and "reality."  I don't know, perhaps the campaign is right, and this country will disappoint me once again.  I hear London is nice this time of century.

The consistent depiction of Obama's "connections" as displays of his character and "American-ness" is ludicrous - whether it's by "Fair and Balanced in the GOPocket" Fox News, through Sarah Palin's nonsensical ravings ("John is a maverick, Moscow is in my backyard, oh yeah John is a maverick"), or by John McCain himself.  

The fact is that Bill Ayers was Obama's neighbor when he was 8 years old - guess that means Obama is a terrorist sympathizer.  I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to be judged based on who lived down the street from me on 8th Street in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.  Also, in the latest McCain ad blunder, McCain implicitly and racist-ly suggests that Obama is connected with a former CEO of Fannie Mae (a black man), and thus making him a posterchild for Wall Street greed and excess - which makes NO SENSE!  McCain also likes to tell the American people that he led the march to the financial bailout, and that is simply not true.  There's no other way I could say it - NOT TRUE!  I could probably base a true-false test for history and political science students on the statements made by the McCain campaign.

I guess in the end, I shouldn't be surprised.  McCain and his campaign are groping for something (anything) that will gain them numbers in the polls.  Maybe they wised up and tailored themselves to the racist and ignorant base that made the GOP powerful.  (It's a grand old party, indeed.)  Plus, this whole "put people down to raise yourself up" thing has been quite the trend in American society.  I suppose that McCain is really just an 8-year-old boy telling another popular 8-year-old boy that he smells like tuna fish.  Ewwwwwwww.

This rant was written angrily, nonpartisanly, and clearly by Ryan, not necessarily a liberal and definitely not a conservative - just one who thinks the world is slightly more important than our our own ethnocentric, jingoist interests lead us to believe.  Empires crumble all the time.  As Kurt Vonnegut once said, "So it goes."  It happens.  Maybe we ought to start thinking of what we'll do when that happens.  But then again...

maybe I'm naive.  :)

Do yourself a favor, read this:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/kamiya/2008/10/07/republican_smear_tactics/index.html