mcdspot

This is probably the best response yet to the GOP’s tactic of blaming the media for daring to ask critical questions about Palin.

Yes, Palin has made quite a splash. Yes, she offers the GOP ticket a claim to history, by being the first woman vice-president. Yes, she can stand up and make a speech. But can she tell the truth?

Wow. The U.S. is giving a billion dollars to rebuild Georgia. While Dick Cheny certainly is gracious to have such a “deep and abiding interest in [Georgia's] well-being and security,” this is starting to sound a bit like another stage in America’s heroic struggle against the godless Stalinist oppressors. For another take on what’s happening in the Balkans, read this piece. The following article also sheds a little light on America’s sudden interest in Georgia:

“The ultimate prize in this contest is control over the flow of oil and natural gas from the energy-rich Caspian basin to eager markets in Europe and Asia.”

While I am inclined to agree with Republicans that Palin’s daughter’s pregnancy is a ‘private’ matter, wouldn’t the same be true if Palin’s family was facing abortion, gay marriage, euthanasia, or any other controversial family situation? Typically the Republican (or conservative) take on these issues is that they are not “private” issues because they have adverse effects on society–which justifies the need for invasive laws that restrict the choices Americans are allowed to make.

Well doesn’t teenage pregnancy bring a whole host of issues to the table? Doesn’t it create problems that affect the baby’s family and put burdens on schools, hospitals and society at large? The answer is yes. Teen pregnancies present the same sort of pervasive socials ills that, according to conservatives, warrant laws that restrict our private choices.

So while I agree that her daughter’s pregnancy is irrelevant to Palin’s (in)ability to lead the country, the hypocrisy must be acknowledged. Gay marriage, euthanasia, and abortion are equally private matters that should largely be left to individuals and families to decide. Are Republicans willing to extend the same respect for privacy to families dealing with these issues?

Why the hell not?

UPDATE: In another brilliant stroke of irony, it turns out that Palin took a stance against ‘explicit’ sex education programs in schools in 2006. What other kind of sex education is there? The kids are having fun with this one.

UPDATE 2: Read the New York Times article on the issue.

6 things Palin pick says about McCain. Most relevant is this observation, which acknowledges the ironic/hypocritical direction the GOP has taken.

The McCain campaign has made a calculation that most voters don’t really care about the national experience or credentials of a vice president, and that Palin’s ebullient personality and reputation as a reformer who took on cesspool politics in Alaska matters more.

2008: Year of the kithchen sink.

Why is the drinking age 21?

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

— Wendell Berry

A map of John McCain’s houses, just in case he forgets again.

Dean Lively reminds me of Norman Rockwell.

“People who make under $80,000 are too stupid to understand taxes anyway.”

–John McCain, at a private dinner last Friday

Note: This quote is hitherto unsubstantiated.

Again, however:

If you have been one of the unfortunate souls taken in by Jerome Corsi’s “The Obama Nation,” I suggest taking a look at Obama’s response to this sad GOP-fueled swiftboat attempt.

Interesting article on why Russia’s military involvement in Georgia is fully justified.

Looks like McCain is finally being called out on his politically expedient ‘no new taxes’ pledge. Plus, his ‘tax cuts’ aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, according to the Washington Post:

“According to a new analysis by the Tax Policy Center, a joint project of the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain are both proposing tax plans that would result in cuts for most American families. Obama’s plan gives the biggest cuts to those who make the least, while McCain would give the largest cuts to the very wealthy. For the approximately 147,000 families that make up the top 0.1 percent of the income scale, the difference between the two plans is stark. While McCain offers a $269,364 tax cut, Obama would raise their taxes, on average, by $701,885 - a difference of nearly $1 million.”

If you happen to have accepted any of the various claims that Obama’s approach to foreign policy is naive, I suggest reading this interview in which Obama explains what he wants to do as president and why he wants to do it. Then read his plan for Iraq in particular. Perhaps I’m naive, but these statements do not appear to me overly ‘Kennedy-esque’ or idealistic at all. In terms of comparison, they are a lot more concrete and realistic than McCain’s ‘vision’ of the future America (which fails to offer any actual plan for achieving that future). Obama may be a lot of things, but ignorant is not one of them.

Here’s a comprehensive tally of John McCain’s policy reversals. I’m sure Obama’s had several (such as his recent FISA statement) but sixty-one 180-degree switches?

If you haven’t heard already, the latest rumor has it that Alabama Attorney General Troy King was recently caught in bed with one of his male aides. There’s a breakdown of the rumors here. It’s too soon to verify anything, and there have been no official statements released. Apparently, an official denial has been issued from the AG’s office, but I haven’t seen it. However, if the rumor is true, it will merely confirm the new gay stereotype which has become one of the more ridiculous aspects of American society. King is of course an outspoken homophobe (in 1992 he called homosexuality the “downfall of society”), and lobbied hard to keep sex toys from being sold in Alabama, so it’s possible he fits the criteria. Hard to say, though. He’s got a lot of enemies in the state, some of whom I wouldn’t put past making up something like this. The jury is, as they say, out.

UPDATE: As of July 15th the rumor has not been verified, so I think we can officially declare it false. What a bunch of crap.

This man is not fit for global diplomacy.

“The American leader, who has been condemned throughout his presidency for failing to tackle climate change, ended a private meeting with the words: “Goodbye from the world’s biggest polluter.”

He then punched the air while grinning widely, as the rest of those present including Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy looked on in shock.

Mr Bush, whose second and final term as President ends at the end of the year, then left the meeting at the Windsor Hotel in Hokkaido where the leaders of the world’s richest nations had been discussing new targets to cut carbon emissions.”

From the website:

“Under the strong leadership of God’s President we’ve been safe for 7 years. But if we abandon God now, we could be hit again.

We don’t need to worry about the details, we just trust in God and vote our faith. When we step out in faith and leave the details to God, there’s no limit to what can be accomplished.”