F... Joe the Plumber

This is what drives me nuts about Republicans. The rich guy that owns a yacht and has a net income of $700K...I'm fine with him being a Repub. But this guy...Joe the Plumber...lies and misrepresents the facts to make his point. And it's a stupid point.

Joe the Plumber has:
1. a lien for unpaid personal taxes
2. not a real plumber since he's not licensed (#1 + #2 means lawbreaker, in my book)
3. doesn't make near $250K (I read $40K is more accurate)
4. doesn't own a business and couldn't afford to buy his boss's business
5. most importantly, Obama's tax plan would save him money!!!

Even under a hypothetical situation where all his bullshit is true (in his own mind), he'd have to pay $773 more per year in taxes. $773/year!! That's not enough to kill any job unless you're paying in Zimbabwe dollars!

The ends always justifies the means with these guys. He'd rather see a Republican win that costs him more money, than to see a Democrat win. So he's a liar and arguably, a law-breaker, who's willing to mislead the people. Maybe he should have been the Vice-Presidential pick. At the risk of repeating others, at least this douchebag has got the balls to give a press conference.

from: http://thinkprogress.org/2008/10/17/joe-the-plumber-obama-cut/

No more bull. This is the real John McCain

John McCain and his running mate have blatantly lied to the public and they should be called on it. Yes, of course, all politicians lie. But in this case, I am referring to Cheney/Bush/Rumsfeld sized lies that are intended to hurt the public and mislead voters. Between McCain playing political hop-scotch to a new philosophy of the day and Sarah Palin's pathological string of lies, these two should be polling somewhere in the 20 percent range. Why aren't they?

If it were any other politician, wouldn't the parallels of a candidate sitting on his hands during a current scandal that mirrored a scandal of the past be called out in every news outlet?? If Bill Clinton were caught with a second intern last week, would anyone be giving him any deference??? But yet, here we are, years after the S&L crisis and Keating 5 scandal, which stemmed from a failure and disdain for regulation, split on whether to elect a major player from that episode to the highest office! Yet we have not seen one major story on the Keating 5. John McCain is an alumni of that institution and the media is afraid to paint that picture. And if they aren't afraid, but feel that it's not relevant, than shame on them for being obtuse.

Should we really put aside the social/religious scrutiny about Sarah Palin and her husband? I mean, after Obama went through a public religious debate over Christianity in 2004 during his Senate run, the media still subjected us to rumors in 2008 that Obama was a Muslim (insert sarcastic "not that there's anything wrong with that"). Would Michelle Obama pass muster if she were in an secessionist political party? Would she be torn down if she had an unwed pregnant teenage daughter? Would either Obama be politically viable at this point if they had stonewalled, lied, evaded as much as the Palin's did? Obama sat down and did a full open interview with the Chicago Tribune in March on his ties with Tony Rezko. Just imagine what the media cycle would be if Michelle Obama had a history of stealing drugs? I'm not saying Cindy McCain should be raked over coals, but Michelle has received much harsher treatment during this election cycle when she should be hailed as role model.

Many have said that this John McCain is not the Straight-Talk Maverick of 2000. I argue that the 2000 McCain was never the real John McCain. Let's face facts. He was a crappy student who graduated 894th of out 899. He is an opportunist who capitalizes on his war record to this day by pointing to that time in his life as way to deflect scrutiny. He was a deregulator and got caught in one of the biggest financial market failings in history...20 years ago!!! He adopted the persona of a maverick reformer to fix his image. In the past 2 years, because it was politically necessary, he reversed his positions and his political philosophy and caved to the right-wing of his party. He has chosen an un-vetted running mate to play the Rove game with him, and has tried to steal his opponents mantra.
I hope that over the next 6 weeks, people will realize that the John McCain of the 2000 election was a fabrication. He was no more real than Sarah Palin's record as a reformer.

Inspired by this article in the NY Times.

George "Macaca" Allen to speak at Minority Rally in VA

George Allen must really have a way of words with minorities. Check out the video above from the 2006 Senate Race where he politely welcomed a minority in the crowd. He did so well then, that the GOP has decided to have him speak at a rally in VA for minority voters!!

Someone is really, really, really out of touch.

The Real Pig

Since the Republican National Convention, when John McCain did an about-face to become an agent of change, the media's election coverage has been a disgrace. It is the headlines that are the lipstick on the pig. After 8 years, you’d think the paper would learn to see through Rove/Schmidt tactics of distraction. They did the same thing during the Bush/Gore election of 2000, during the buildup of the Iraq War, and during the Bush/Kerry election. One week it’s the Palin daughter. Then sexism. The next it’s lipstick. I wonder how much you trying to compete with People Magazine?

I know, I know, I know. The media is just a cog in machine and a slave to eyeballs. But while you were devoting precious inches of real estate to lipstick, you robbed your readers of coverage on Barack Obama’s energy and education plans. On 9/11, there was a very informative forum with both of the lead candidates, where they each went into some detail on national service. For months and months, people have been asking Obama “What does `change’ specifically mean?” Obama answers it in Virginia, a local state, and it goes by you all like a fastball. I know...it wasn’t a plan split up into sound bites and 10-word quotes, so it will get buried on back page, below the fold.

The free press (which is an oxymoron these days) not only has an obligation to stay neutral, it has an obligation to seek the truth and to inform the people. Instead, the Post and much of the other mainstream media has been guilty of allowing themselves to be used as pawns in the most corrupt and divisive power plays in our country’s history. It’s only been in the last few days that the media has finally risen off of their tails to check independent sources and actually report findings, and I think it's only because Sarah Palin ticked you guys off by not granting interviews.

Kudos to Charlie Gibson for sidestepping talking points that a freshman college student could regurgitate!
The women of The View have lead the charge in questioning a candidate about obvious lies!
And God Bless Keith Olbermann for his stirring admonishment of the exploitation of 9/11.

And it only took 8 years to get to actually get back to the point where the press verifies whether what a politician says is true.

McCain derides Sarah Palin's experience

"I am prepared. I am prepared. I need no on-the-job training. I wasn't a mayor for a short period of time. I wasn't a governor for a short period of time." - John McCain, who also said his Vice-President needed to be ready on Day One.

From http://www.cnewmark.com/2008/09/john-mccain-att.html

To David Plouffe and the Obama Campaign

Please don't go after McCain on his age or computer literacy. Making fun of an old man is not admirable. I doubt most people in the swing states care that he can't send an email, and turn off older voters and blue collar workers that also aren't computer savvy.

Stick with the issues, judgment, and calling him a liar. If you wrap him up in his lies with hard proof (video evidence), he will have to double down on them or change his position, which makes him look weak. If you destroy his credibility, everything else he says will be irrelevant. Bush isn't hated because he was wrong...he's hated because he lied.

Enough! Go after McCain

John McCain has bankrupted any credibility or integrity. The way that he has run his campaign shows how he will run the country...with lies, deception, fear, and partisan politics. As this blog from Andrew Sullivan at Atlantic Monthly states, McCain deserves to lose any respect we once had for him.

I don't know that I buy he was ever really ethical. He has made some questionable civil rights decisions in his day and has flip-flopped entirely from his 2000 platform. I'm sure, to some degree, John McCain is about change...change for the worse.

We won't be fooled again

Speaks for itself

Dear Senator McCain:

Senator McCain,

I have to thank you for your service. You and Mrs. McCain have done more good than harm in this world. It's a shame your party didn't honor Senator Kerry's service as well 4 years ago.

I regret the crude interruptions you had to endure during your acceptance. I know it will be blamed on the Left, but I think most Americans think it lacked class. Maybe someone should have vetted the audience…

We know who you are. You've spent 3 nights telling us what you've done. I get that you have fought and suffered and labored for my freedom. You have great courage and dedication, but I don't think I want go where you want to lead.

The contrast with last night is stunning. You're trying to adapt, but I don't trust it. You were about experience and war last season, and now you're about "change." You want to reform? Reform against whom? The party that has ruined the last eight years? The party that forced you to pick a right-wing VP? You showed bad judgment by picking Governor Palin to be a heartbeat away, and too much is at stake. Your policies have been consistent with the Republican platitudes that have put your country in this domestic and foreign quagmire. You say "Maverick," but lobbyists and the base of your party has been pulling your strings for years.

Unfortunately for your campaign, I think there is a movement in this country that you can't stop. It's called progress. If it were 2000, things might be different. But eight long hard years have gone by and I've had enough.

You are a hero, sir, but I don't want you as my President.

The GOP Way

The Republican Party showed America their way this week. It's on video, and in their own words. And my hope is that this year, they have buried themselves.

They say global warming is liberal propaganda. Governor Palin doesn't believe it's a man-made phenomena. However, a 19 sq. mile ice sheet broke off in Canada today: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20080903/arctic-ice-shelf .

Their administration has run the country so well. (Heckofa job, Bushie.) Meanwhile, both he and Cheney are persona non-grata at their own Party. Three (or four) hurricanes are in US vacinity and the GOP was scared that people would remember the disgraceful handling of Hurricane Katrina. (Scientists also think hurricanes may be more frequent and violent due to global warming). Some prayed for floods in Denver during Obama's speech, and look what they got. You saw a video with Republican governors helping Republicans one day, and a homogenous cynical party the next day.

Some, not all, believe in legislating values. Anything from the flag to sex to marriage to education to life & death to religion to language is fair game. Anything but guns. How is all that legislation and enforcement smaller government? How is that live and let live? It certainly wouldn't be fiscally conservative to enforce it. There is both statistical and timely ancedotal evidence that their policies don't make sense and don't work.

Conservatives slammed the Obamas for exploring his roots, questioned his patriotism, and his faith. The Palins belonged to the Alaskan Independence Party (a party that wants Alaska to secede) and attended a church that threatened voters with damnation if they voted differently.

So the question I have, is why do they think there is only one way?
One way to worship.
One way to marry.
One way to educate.
One way to live.
One way to raise children.
One way to serve.
That is the epitomy of arrogance and elitism. They want it to be that one way. Their way.

But we know it's not that way, and we do not want it that way. The world isn't that way. The country isn't that way. For most of us, our neighborhoods aren't even that way.

We respect diversity and it makes us a stronger people for doing so. If that isn't the closest thing we have to an American way, I don't know what is.

Community Service

Unbelievable elitist and hypocritical. I think of all the attacks, that's the one I found personally offensive was this one. As someone who has volunteered my free time for the good of my community, I find myself full of hate for this personality that I don't even know.

Who the hell is Sarah Palin to say how I should serve my country and my fellow citizens? Who is she to belittle people that decide they want to give back?

Seriously, who is she and what glass house did she come out of? Sarah Palin's resume has more scandals than accomplishments.

http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/09/03/roland-martin-on-the-gop-degrading-community-organizers/trackback/

A house divided cannot stand.

Title from Lincoln.

We saw two conventions (with one more night to go). One seemed to be divisive. One seemed to be inclusive.

One seemed to honor and respectfully disagree with the other side. One seemed to slam and be unduly negative.

One had people of every color and race. The other had more cowboy hats than minorities.
One had statespeople. The other had campaigners.

I feel as if this country will be more divided than ever tomorrow morning. I did not feel this way last week. I saw the same thing 8 years ago with a charming, affable guy from Texas who had very bad ideas.

"USA! USA!"? "Drill baby, drill"? Really? The fighting goes on. No one wins.

Translation of Mitt Romney's 2008 RNC Speech

On the need to change the culture of government in Washington:

"We need change all right - change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! Forget that we have a liberal Washington because 6 years of a conservative one screwed us in the first place. We have a prescription for every American (with health insurance) who wants change in Washington - throw out the big government liberals and elect John McCain. Or me in 2012."

On why John McCain is best qualified to be our next president:

"The Right course is the one championed by Ronald Reagan 30 years ago, and by John McCain today. It is to reign in government spending and lower taxes, for taking a weed-whacker to excessive regulation and mandates, for putting a stop to tort windfalls, and to stand up to the Tyrannosaurus appetite of government unions. Show that you love your country by making it's leaders wealthier!"

"And at Saddleback, after Barack Obama dodged and ducked every direct question, John McCain hit the nail on the head (because he had the answers in advance): radical Islam is evil, and he will defeat it! Republicans prefer straight talk to politically correct talk! And when people don't agree with us, we prefer to either not show up or duck the questions!"

On the dangers of big government:

"Liberals would replace opportunity with dependency on government largesse. Do I need to explain what "largesse" means to you hillbillies? They would grow government and raise taxes to put more people on Medicaid, to work requirements out of welfare, and to grow the ranks of those who pay no taxes at all. Dependency is death to initiative, risk-taking and opportunity. It also raises my tax bill! It's time to stop the spread of government dependency to fight it like the poison it is! It's time for the party of big ideas, not the party of Big Brother! So we're finally going to get out of the lives of pregnant women and gays!!! Oh wait..."

On why the McCain-Palin ticket is the right choice for the future of America:

"Just like you, there has never been a day when I was not proud to be an American, especially since I'm white and rich. We inherited (stole) the greatest nation in the history of the earth. It is our burden and privilege to preserve it, to renew its spirit so that its noble past is prologue to its glorious future. To this we are all dedicated and I firmly believe by the providence of the Almighty Joseph Smith, that we will succeed. President McCain and Vice President Palin (her?) will keep America as it has always been - the hope of the world (excluding the 40-50 countries that hate us)."

More thoughts on Palin Family

It's like Cheney. It's okay for the Right to preach that the government should interfere in our personal lives and choices, until it happens to their family. Then they want their privacy respected.

Hopefully, all will work out well for all children involved and that this will cause the governor to rethink the hypocrisy of her social platform.

Sarah Palin's daughter is pregnant...that is all

Sarah Palin's 17 year old daughter is confirmed to be pregnant.

Is it any of the public's business, since it is not Sarah? Maybe. Maybe not. I tend to think the kid deserves her privacy, but I also think Sarah's portrayal of herself and her values deserves a little scrutiny. The age of consent is 16 in Alaska. There is a fine line with respecting the rights of a minor, and I do think that if there was no prevention, abstinence, or abortion, there is no hypocrisy (just failed parenting techniques).

However, the issue, for me (and hopefully you) is a) John McCain's judgment in picking this person and b) no one knows the square root of f*ck-all about Governor Sarah Palin. There are sooo many other reasons to be worried about a Palin Vice-Presidency.

Diddy to McCain...Diddy to McCain: You're nuts!

Palin-drone

Go ahead. Make the case why this woman, with no real national security or foreign policy experience, is ready on day one, as John McCain had said earlier, ready to become commander-in-chief.
- Wolf Blitzer

http://www.extrememortman.com/john-mccain/palin-drone/

Palin Laughs As Opponent Is Called "Bitch," "Cancer," Mocked For Her Weight (AUDIO)

I am very anti-Palin, but in the interest of fairness, I think she was being facetious on the VP question. McCain has said in the past that he thought the VP job was to attend funerals. And Palin was trying to imply she wanted a job, not a ceremonial title.



That said, I deplore, the choice of her as a potential VP. I think it shows terrible judgment on McCain's part and I think her social agenda would send the country back to 1955.



She should be exposed/brought down, but I think frivolous claims add to the noise and distract from real reasons not to vote for McCain/Palin. I think the radio show thing is in poor taste, but no where near as bad as McCain's use of the c-bomb (c*nt) or his Chelsea Clinton jokes.
About Sarah Palin
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Fooling the American people

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me thrice? Maybe shame on the media.

I am astonished that the mainstream media is not serving it's responsibility to the public by giving an accurate assessment of John McCain and his VP pick, Sarah Palin.
Here are two links to local Alaska papers that clearly make the case that Sarah Palin is barely qualified to be Governor, let alone Vice-President for a 73 year old man that has had cancer.

Daily News Miner: http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/aug/29/palin-unqualified-serve-\vice-president/

Anchorage Daily News: http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/story/510705.html

I would expect that Reuters, the AP, and the major news outlets (there are only 5 or 6) would have picked up on this sooner. Instead, they wish to continue with the "Maverick" and "Cinderella" storyline because it makes better drama. In addition, the partisan hackery that permeates our news makes it less likely that we are getting any objective opinions.

I don't expect the average voter to do deep vetting of Governor Palin (that was McCain's job). But for those of you that read this, and are concerned about the election and your country, please let your friends know about this dilemma. Let them know:

* Palin is as right-wing as it gets (she supported Pat Buchanan). This may be okay with some, but they should at least know.

* She has nothing in common with the issues that Hillary Clinton fights for.

* John McCain's "maverick" judgment should be called into question for passing over well qualified Republican women and men for Governor Palin.

Yesterday was not a great day for America. It should be a wake-up call that we need to hold our leaders accountable.

Greg Mitchell at the Huffington Post.

Sarah Palin: John McCain Introduces His VP Candidate (VIDEO)

I was so worried about the choices. Romney, Liebermann, Powell, Rice, Guiliani...even Bloomberg. If I were a cynic, I would be thrilled at the choice of Sarah Palin as I think it will sink McCain. However, I know there are some that will be eager to vote for a 72 year old cancer/Vietnam survivor and the self-described "hockey mom" with a gun. I am a little dismayed that America puts people with such bad judgment in positions of power (Can you say Harriet Miers?).
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost