Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Truth express....Indeed
The Real McCain has a fascinating collage of McCain contradicting himself time and time again. I am not suggesting that a person cannot change his mind but as you watch the video, the question is not one of changing opinion, it is that of saying what is convenient at that moment.
Friday, May 02, 2008
What's not to like about Hillary Clinton?
A few weeks ago, during the debate in Philadelphia George Stephanapoulous and Charles Gibson were having a field day muckraking and continuing to drag non-events on and on. Along the way, they fed Hillary Clinton with several chunks of yellow journalism and she ravenously lapped it up.
However, at one point, GS & CG gave Barack Obama a rare opening to attack Hillary Clinton. The topic was Hillary Clinton "misspeaking" about her trip to Bosnia time and time and time again. They asked Obama what he thought. After endless slanderous accusations against Obama up until then anyone would have excused Obama if he had keelhauled Hillary Clinton on this one. But he took a serious high road. Here's the relevant part of the exchange:
And off he went talking about policy issues! Wow! What a difference. That, to me epitomizes his campaign.
I know that both candidates are well rehearsed before they ever get in front of the camera for the umpteenth debate. However, Hillary Clinton's performance -- yes, performance -- at the debates is so choreographed, it is revolting. Her head nodding when she is listening to the question (especially from viewers) and the concerned look is nothing short of affectation. Every-time I see her doing that I am reminded of the episode from Everybody Loves Raymond where Ray pretends concern when he and Debra go to a marriage counselor.
Then, there is the latest holier-than-thou sermon from Hillary Clinton about repealing the gas tax for 3 months. That's like the "stimulus package" all tax payers are being given by George Bush. What good does that do? I'll tell you what good it does --- it helps Hillary Clinton's campaign that is counting on myopic voters. Obama again, took the principled high-ground at the risk of losing serious political capital. He called this gas tax gimmick for what it is -- a political, opportunistic stunt.
Hey look! Its Hillary Rodham from Illinois, no she's from Arkansas y'all; she's from New York, Yo! Naah she is from Scranton PA...she's super Hillary! Don't you know she's gone to 80 countries? She has 35 years experience.
In the past 20+ years when she wasn't in the Governor's mansion, she was in the White House and then lived as a senator. Last year the Clintons filed taxes for $10,000,000! And she wants to tell me she is one of us!!! I hope her supporters have been paying attention to how the tune of her song sheet has changed over the months and just how much she values "us".
However, at one point, GS & CG gave Barack Obama a rare opening to attack Hillary Clinton. The topic was Hillary Clinton "misspeaking" about her trip to Bosnia time and time and time again. They asked Obama what he thought. After endless slanderous accusations against Obama up until then anyone would have excused Obama if he had keelhauled Hillary Clinton on this one. But he took a serious high road. Here's the relevant part of the exchange:
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Senator Obama, your campaign has sent out a cascade of e-mails, just about every day, questioning Senator Clinton's credibility. And you yourself have said she hasn't been fully truthful about what she would do as president.
Do you believe that Senator Clinton has been fully truthful about her past?
SENATOR OBAMA: Well, look, I think that Senator Clinton has a strong record to run on. She wouldn't be here if she didn't. And you know, I haven't commented on the issue of Bosnia. You know, I --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Your campaign has.
SENATOR OBAMA: Of course, but --
SENATOR CLINTON: (Laughs.)
SENATOR OBAMA: Because we're asked about it.
But look, the fact of the matter is, is that both of us are working as hard as we can to make sure that we're delivering a message to the American people about what we would do as president.
Sometimes that message is going to be imperfectly delivered, because we are recorded every minute of every day. And I think Senator Clinton deserves, you know, the right to make some errors once in a while. I'm -- obviously, I make some as well.
I think what's important is to make sure that we don't get so obsessed with gaffes that we lose sight of the fact that this is a defining moment in our history. We are going to be tackling some of the biggest issues that any president has dealt with in the last 40 years.
And off he went talking about policy issues! Wow! What a difference. That, to me epitomizes his campaign.
I know that both candidates are well rehearsed before they ever get in front of the camera for the umpteenth debate. However, Hillary Clinton's performance -- yes, performance -- at the debates is so choreographed, it is revolting. Her head nodding when she is listening to the question (especially from viewers) and the concerned look is nothing short of affectation. Every-time I see her doing that I am reminded of the episode from Everybody Loves Raymond where Ray pretends concern when he and Debra go to a marriage counselor.
Then, there is the latest holier-than-thou sermon from Hillary Clinton about repealing the gas tax for 3 months. That's like the "stimulus package" all tax payers are being given by George Bush. What good does that do? I'll tell you what good it does --- it helps Hillary Clinton's campaign that is counting on myopic voters. Obama again, took the principled high-ground at the risk of losing serious political capital. He called this gas tax gimmick for what it is -- a political, opportunistic stunt.
Hey look! Its Hillary Rodham from Illinois, no she's from Arkansas y'all; she's from New York, Yo! Naah she is from Scranton PA...she's super Hillary! Don't you know she's gone to 80 countries? She has 35 years experience.
In the past 20+ years when she wasn't in the Governor's mansion, she was in the White House and then lived as a senator. Last year the Clintons filed taxes for $10,000,000! And she wants to tell me she is one of us!!! I hope her supporters have been paying attention to how the tune of her song sheet has changed over the months and just how much she values "us".
Pursuit of Happyness
I just watched this movie yesterday and boy, what a movie it was from various perspectives!
Firstly, it is a powerful story. A true story of perseverance against seemingly insurmountable odds. Yes, I realize it was a movie that was inspired by a true story; meaning that the screen-writer may have taken liberties. However, I have also read that it was pretty close to how it happened.
In this day and age where people feel entitled to everything, complaining at the first sign of trouble, trying to point the blame at the government, foreign workers, predatory banks -- in short, anything but the man in the mirror, Chris Gardner's attitude was inspirational. He could very easily have quit, gone wayward or taken any other easy route but persevered.
To top it off was Will Smith's performance. Bravo! What range! Over the years we have seen him in various larger-than-life personae. He was Fresh Prince the rapper, agent J the alien fighter of the MIB and the teflon fighter pilot Steve Miller -- again fighting aliens in Independence Day. What a switch for this movie. He was completely believable as the down-and-out, destitute Chris Gardner. His acting was very controlled and powerful. It's a shame he didn't win the Oscar.
In the off chance that you haven't seen the movie I won't go into specific details other than saying that you owe it to yourself to watch the movie. You will not be disappointed. However, you may go through some Kleenex.
Firstly, it is a powerful story. A true story of perseverance against seemingly insurmountable odds. Yes, I realize it was a movie that was inspired by a true story; meaning that the screen-writer may have taken liberties. However, I have also read that it was pretty close to how it happened.
In this day and age where people feel entitled to everything, complaining at the first sign of trouble, trying to point the blame at the government, foreign workers, predatory banks -- in short, anything but the man in the mirror, Chris Gardner's attitude was inspirational. He could very easily have quit, gone wayward or taken any other easy route but persevered.
To top it off was Will Smith's performance. Bravo! What range! Over the years we have seen him in various larger-than-life personae. He was Fresh Prince the rapper, agent J the alien fighter of the MIB and the teflon fighter pilot Steve Miller -- again fighting aliens in Independence Day. What a switch for this movie. He was completely believable as the down-and-out, destitute Chris Gardner. His acting was very controlled and powerful. It's a shame he didn't win the Oscar.
In the off chance that you haven't seen the movie I won't go into specific details other than saying that you owe it to yourself to watch the movie. You will not be disappointed. However, you may go through some Kleenex.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
2008 Democratic Primaries
I am convinced that Hillary Clinton is where she is in the race for the White House primarily because of her last name. Were it not for that, she would not have the muscle or the staying power for the campaign. Why I don't think she would even have run. I can't recall a memorable thing she has accomplished as a senator that would have suggested that she has the national recognition that would propel her in a presidential campaign.
No, I can't point to a thing Obama has done in the senate either, however, he energizes me when I read what he has written, he inspires me when he speaks. Barack Obama stands on his own merit. I strongly dispute Geraldine Ferraro's claim that melanin has a lot to do with his appeal & staying power. Let me present Iowa as exhibit #1. Exactly how many blacks are there in the corn fields?
I believe that Obama's campaign resonates with the population for he offers hope. If there is anything fortuitous for him it is timing. His message of hope, his exhortations are uplifting to the current American psyche that has been battered in more ways than one. Such a message would probably not have had the same effect in say 1988 -- for a country that was giddy with 8 years of Ronald Reagan.
But now in 2008, the headlines are filled with news of recession, the falling dollar, collosal climate changes, housing crises and we haven't even talked about Iraq, Afghanistan and terrorism. The title of Obama's second book "Audacity of Hope" epitomizes his message. Surrounded by doom and gloom he is audacious enough to offer...hope. And that is the job of a leader. To inspire, to lead, to guide.
That is not to say that he is a starry-eyed optimist seeing the glass as half full. He is not shy to call a spade a spade. He tells auto workers that their jobs aren't coming back. He talks of retraining. He acknowledges we have problems. That's the other thing that is refreshing about him. The honesty. His consistency. Not a message tailored for the campaign.
Hope and rah-rah chants alone won't ameliorate the problems, calls to keep hope alive only go so far. It does however inspire people, it is a call to action that energizes the population. The president alone cannot do much. In fact in reality, the president cannot do much at all. It is the Congress that has the power. The president is the head cheer leader and the coach that motivates and drives the team. It is the team that has to do the work.
His book (Audacity of Hope) shows a learned, educated man; a man who understands the constitution of this country. Hillary Clinton says she has 35 years of experience; that means, as George Will put it, every year since she was 25 counts as relevant experience. Experience is a good barometer of a person's mettle. However, the key measurement with that barometer is whether that person accomplished something with that experience. Given a choice between a person with decades of experience with nothing to show for it and one who is light on experience but made decisive moves during that short tenure, I would always go for the latter.
The US faces enormous challenges some cyclical and others not. We are not going to hear solutions during a stump speech any more than you are going to hear a game plan from a coach on ESPN. The point is, does you candidate have a plan and is it to your liking? I can't say I see eye-to-eye with every Obama proposal. It is however, superior to the other candidates'.
Another major distinction between the Hillary Clinton campaign and that of Barack Obama is that Clinton goes to great lengths to say why not to vote for Obama. Obama on the other hand spends most of his time with his stump speech and less lambasting his opponent. He seems to get into the fray only to dispute a Clinton claim. I know the campaign is only going to get dirtier, I just hope that Obama stays on the high horse.
No, I can't point to a thing Obama has done in the senate either, however, he energizes me when I read what he has written, he inspires me when he speaks. Barack Obama stands on his own merit. I strongly dispute Geraldine Ferraro's claim that melanin has a lot to do with his appeal & staying power. Let me present Iowa as exhibit #1. Exactly how many blacks are there in the corn fields?
I believe that Obama's campaign resonates with the population for he offers hope. If there is anything fortuitous for him it is timing. His message of hope, his exhortations are uplifting to the current American psyche that has been battered in more ways than one. Such a message would probably not have had the same effect in say 1988 -- for a country that was giddy with 8 years of Ronald Reagan.
But now in 2008, the headlines are filled with news of recession, the falling dollar, collosal climate changes, housing crises and we haven't even talked about Iraq, Afghanistan and terrorism. The title of Obama's second book "Audacity of Hope" epitomizes his message. Surrounded by doom and gloom he is audacious enough to offer...hope. And that is the job of a leader. To inspire, to lead, to guide.
That is not to say that he is a starry-eyed optimist seeing the glass as half full. He is not shy to call a spade a spade. He tells auto workers that their jobs aren't coming back. He talks of retraining. He acknowledges we have problems. That's the other thing that is refreshing about him. The honesty. His consistency. Not a message tailored for the campaign.
Hope and rah-rah chants alone won't ameliorate the problems, calls to keep hope alive only go so far. It does however inspire people, it is a call to action that energizes the population. The president alone cannot do much. In fact in reality, the president cannot do much at all. It is the Congress that has the power. The president is the head cheer leader and the coach that motivates and drives the team. It is the team that has to do the work.
His book (Audacity of Hope) shows a learned, educated man; a man who understands the constitution of this country. Hillary Clinton says she has 35 years of experience; that means, as George Will put it, every year since she was 25 counts as relevant experience. Experience is a good barometer of a person's mettle. However, the key measurement with that barometer is whether that person accomplished something with that experience. Given a choice between a person with decades of experience with nothing to show for it and one who is light on experience but made decisive moves during that short tenure, I would always go for the latter.
The US faces enormous challenges some cyclical and others not. We are not going to hear solutions during a stump speech any more than you are going to hear a game plan from a coach on ESPN. The point is, does you candidate have a plan and is it to your liking? I can't say I see eye-to-eye with every Obama proposal. It is however, superior to the other candidates'.
Another major distinction between the Hillary Clinton campaign and that of Barack Obama is that Clinton goes to great lengths to say why not to vote for Obama. Obama on the other hand spends most of his time with his stump speech and less lambasting his opponent. He seems to get into the fray only to dispute a Clinton claim. I know the campaign is only going to get dirtier, I just hope that Obama stays on the high horse.
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