Pickles enjoying the sunshine.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
The second debate.
I think McCain gave a highly energized performance at last night's second Presidential Debate.
McCain played more offense, obama more defense. I think while McCain was succesful at labeling obama as a fiscal liberal, and partisan, obama was successful at labeling McCain as a deregulator, which is hardly a good thing to be known as today. Frankly, the only new information I acquired was that we paid three million dollars for a projector in Chicago ...... and I think Staples would have been a better deal for the folks in the windy city.
In McCain I saw a higher level of passion last night. He took every opportunity to show the juxtopositions between himself and Obama on everything from taxes to nuclear power. in point of fact, Obama was rather low key last night in comparison, which was an irony.
At exactly ten o'clock McCain may have won the debate when he said, "we don't have time for on the job training", this after a very poetic statement about world affairs. "A cool hand at the tiller" was another great line he interjected a few minutes later on the subject of when to employ the military forces of the United States.
Actually, there was indeed something new....relatively new....McCain supporting 300 billion dollars to basically buy down mortgages so that people can keep their homes. I think that grabs a lot of people and its certainly a revolutionary position for a gop standard bearer.
Obama wasn't eviscerated last night, but McCain had a better town meeting debate in that he showed some real fire in his belly.
And don't jump on the bandwagon of conventional wisdome. The polls showing an Obama steamroller are far from realistic. This race isn't over.
McCain played more offense, obama more defense. I think while McCain was succesful at labeling obama as a fiscal liberal, and partisan, obama was successful at labeling McCain as a deregulator, which is hardly a good thing to be known as today. Frankly, the only new information I acquired was that we paid three million dollars for a projector in Chicago ...... and I think Staples would have been a better deal for the folks in the windy city.
In McCain I saw a higher level of passion last night. He took every opportunity to show the juxtopositions between himself and Obama on everything from taxes to nuclear power. in point of fact, Obama was rather low key last night in comparison, which was an irony.
At exactly ten o'clock McCain may have won the debate when he said, "we don't have time for on the job training", this after a very poetic statement about world affairs. "A cool hand at the tiller" was another great line he interjected a few minutes later on the subject of when to employ the military forces of the United States.
Actually, there was indeed something new....relatively new....McCain supporting 300 billion dollars to basically buy down mortgages so that people can keep their homes. I think that grabs a lot of people and its certainly a revolutionary position for a gop standard bearer.
Obama wasn't eviscerated last night, but McCain had a better town meeting debate in that he showed some real fire in his belly.
And don't jump on the bandwagon of conventional wisdome. The polls showing an Obama steamroller are far from realistic. This race isn't over.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
The race for president.
Obama and McCain are both rolling in the mud, but there’s still hope.
by Kevin John Sowyrda
contributing writer
Wednesday Sep 17, 2008
The only way the presidential election could become more surreal would be for MSNBC to replace deposed election anchor Keith Olbermann with Rod Serling, the deceased host of the iconic Twilight Zone television series. Yeah, it’s getting that creepy.
Hence my disappointment. The "different" campaign I was promised by the senator from Illinois and the "honorable" and "end to divisive politics" approach I was also promised by Senator McCain have been discovered to be commodities about as bankable as the holdings at Lehman Brothers. It’s become a dreadful and ’B’ rated sci-fi series, frightening for its dark undertones, and ineffective because this is the year voters will not embrace the same old, sardonic and down-right nasty advertising tactics which were the successful staple of yesterday’s presidential aspirants.
The messages, sadly, haven’t been different; but this election remains nonetheless unique from the perspective of the electorate, which is in a very different mood than just four years ago. It’s like Joe and Mary Voter trotted to Walgreens and got a prescription of serious meds. Amidst economic news that would put F.D.R. into the fetal position, everybody is looking for something pretty serious in this election, which excludes the same old finger-pointing and cheap-shot ads.
Barack Obama proved that his "different" campaign often resembles the dusted off playbooks of his predecessors when he decided to put his legally required seal of approval (remember that annoying ending to the ads, "my name is such and such and I approved this ad") to one TV spot that’s high on the incredulous chart. Yeah, John McCain doesn’t use a computer; the reason being that about half a decade’s worth of broken bones make it less than easy for the former P.O.W. to type. That ad is not worthy of you, Mr. Obama.
But not to be outdone by a fellow negative politico, Mr. McCain takes a quick, headfirst dive into the compost pile and runs an ad suggesting Obama wants to basically take kindergarten kids on a colorful tour of advanced sex ed. As Mike Dukakis would have said, "That’s bologna!" According to factcheck.org the bill did "not support explicit sex education for kindergartners" and contained an "age appropriate" proviso. That ad is not worthy of you, Mr. McCain.
So as the financial markets are imploding, is this juvenile, bipartisan rhetoric the best we can get as political consumers? I mean, it’s like showing up at Lock-Ober and finding grilled cheese on the menu. And the anxiety of it all is beyond just financial for members of the gay community. McCain, himself an outspoken opponent of gay marriage, has recruited a running mate who’s conceivably even more hostile to the principle concerns of gay voters. On gay rights issues Governor Palin makes former Governor Romney look like a member of the Gay Pride Committee.
Accordingly, one might imagine that Obama is still the candidate of choice for readers of this space, which begs the imperative inquiry, what is he doing wrong (key polls show McCain with a slight lead in the race) and what can he start doing right, while still being loyal to the left?
First, Obama needs to pretend Sarah Palin’s parents never consummated their marriage. Her name should never leave the Obamian lips again, and if it does his campaign staff should administer water boarding. He’s running against the guy with white hair, not the lady who looks like she popped out of a Lens Crafters ad.
Second, as Boston’s best political consultant Dan Payne told me in an interview last week, Obama must focus his stump speeches even further on the argument that McCain’s election is a de facto third term for George Bush. I agree.
Third, Obama needs to look in the mirror and realize that he’s got a serious and fundamental problem on his hands. In an economy as precarious as this one, Barack should be riding a cozy ten-point lead. It’s Politics 101 that swing voters tend to see the Democratic Party as the foxhole of choice during an economic storm. But it ain’t playing out that way, and the reason is because Obama is still, if you’ll pardon me, not Hillary Clinton. You’re telling me she wouldn’t be croaking McCain by about ten points in this particular environment right now?
Obama’s compensation- - other than jumping back in time to Aug. 23 to pick Hillary as his running mate, as he should have done -- is to hit hard on the economy with a barrel of appetizing specifics, including proposals to extend and increase unemployment insurance and revise the so-called COBRA law so as to reduce rates the unemployed pay to retain their health plans.
Meanwhile, the clock ticks loudly till the first debate. In a few days you’ll see what no one has seen before; a person of color debating the Republican nominee at the first presidential debate. The juxtaposition is huge and Obama must seize the moment with substance and avoid the negative. In other words, if McCain’s not going to keep his word to run a positive campaign, at least Obama can keep his word.
The electorate should then reward him for that noble deed.
by Kevin John Sowyrda
contributing writer
Wednesday Sep 17, 2008
The only way the presidential election could become more surreal would be for MSNBC to replace deposed election anchor Keith Olbermann with Rod Serling, the deceased host of the iconic Twilight Zone television series. Yeah, it’s getting that creepy.
Hence my disappointment. The "different" campaign I was promised by the senator from Illinois and the "honorable" and "end to divisive politics" approach I was also promised by Senator McCain have been discovered to be commodities about as bankable as the holdings at Lehman Brothers. It’s become a dreadful and ’B’ rated sci-fi series, frightening for its dark undertones, and ineffective because this is the year voters will not embrace the same old, sardonic and down-right nasty advertising tactics which were the successful staple of yesterday’s presidential aspirants.
The messages, sadly, haven’t been different; but this election remains nonetheless unique from the perspective of the electorate, which is in a very different mood than just four years ago. It’s like Joe and Mary Voter trotted to Walgreens and got a prescription of serious meds. Amidst economic news that would put F.D.R. into the fetal position, everybody is looking for something pretty serious in this election, which excludes the same old finger-pointing and cheap-shot ads.
Barack Obama proved that his "different" campaign often resembles the dusted off playbooks of his predecessors when he decided to put his legally required seal of approval (remember that annoying ending to the ads, "my name is such and such and I approved this ad") to one TV spot that’s high on the incredulous chart. Yeah, John McCain doesn’t use a computer; the reason being that about half a decade’s worth of broken bones make it less than easy for the former P.O.W. to type. That ad is not worthy of you, Mr. Obama.
But not to be outdone by a fellow negative politico, Mr. McCain takes a quick, headfirst dive into the compost pile and runs an ad suggesting Obama wants to basically take kindergarten kids on a colorful tour of advanced sex ed. As Mike Dukakis would have said, "That’s bologna!" According to factcheck.org the bill did "not support explicit sex education for kindergartners" and contained an "age appropriate" proviso. That ad is not worthy of you, Mr. McCain.
So as the financial markets are imploding, is this juvenile, bipartisan rhetoric the best we can get as political consumers? I mean, it’s like showing up at Lock-Ober and finding grilled cheese on the menu. And the anxiety of it all is beyond just financial for members of the gay community. McCain, himself an outspoken opponent of gay marriage, has recruited a running mate who’s conceivably even more hostile to the principle concerns of gay voters. On gay rights issues Governor Palin makes former Governor Romney look like a member of the Gay Pride Committee.
Accordingly, one might imagine that Obama is still the candidate of choice for readers of this space, which begs the imperative inquiry, what is he doing wrong (key polls show McCain with a slight lead in the race) and what can he start doing right, while still being loyal to the left?
First, Obama needs to pretend Sarah Palin’s parents never consummated their marriage. Her name should never leave the Obamian lips again, and if it does his campaign staff should administer water boarding. He’s running against the guy with white hair, not the lady who looks like she popped out of a Lens Crafters ad.
Second, as Boston’s best political consultant Dan Payne told me in an interview last week, Obama must focus his stump speeches even further on the argument that McCain’s election is a de facto third term for George Bush. I agree.
Third, Obama needs to look in the mirror and realize that he’s got a serious and fundamental problem on his hands. In an economy as precarious as this one, Barack should be riding a cozy ten-point lead. It’s Politics 101 that swing voters tend to see the Democratic Party as the foxhole of choice during an economic storm. But it ain’t playing out that way, and the reason is because Obama is still, if you’ll pardon me, not Hillary Clinton. You’re telling me she wouldn’t be croaking McCain by about ten points in this particular environment right now?
Obama’s compensation- - other than jumping back in time to Aug. 23 to pick Hillary as his running mate, as he should have done -- is to hit hard on the economy with a barrel of appetizing specifics, including proposals to extend and increase unemployment insurance and revise the so-called COBRA law so as to reduce rates the unemployed pay to retain their health plans.
Meanwhile, the clock ticks loudly till the first debate. In a few days you’ll see what no one has seen before; a person of color debating the Republican nominee at the first presidential debate. The juxtaposition is huge and Obama must seize the moment with substance and avoid the negative. In other words, if McCain’s not going to keep his word to run a positive campaign, at least Obama can keep his word.
The electorate should then reward him for that noble deed.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Who the heck is Ed O'Reilly
For those of us who have no life, we were glued to the Sunday morning - 8:30 am start time - debate between veteran U.S. Senator John Kerry and his who the heck are you challenger Ed O'Reilly, who instantly reminds me what a Kennedy child would look like if one parent were from the venerable clan and the other parent was Yoda from Star wars.
But less I digress, John Kerry did not beat the former Gloucester City Councilman Ed Reilly. John Kerry ate Ed O'Reilly for breakfast - proving my theory that the only mistake the Kerry people made was agreeing to a debate scheduled at a time and date that facilitated a zilch audience - for had most citizens watched this episode of the awkward neophyte attacking the seasoned legislator, Kerry's inevitable September 16 Primary win would be over 80 percent, instead of just above a mere 70.
For every bomb tossed Kerry's way from a very unpolished O'Reilly, Kerry shot back with a Nuke. O'Reilly's vagueness and broad strokes were left circumspect when placed against the calculated specificity and lengthy list of accomplishments which could be put on the debate table by the unflappable Kerry. Bottom line - O'Reilly debating Kerry made me realize what it would look like if I played golf with Tiger Woods.
If there was a Seminole theme to the debate - which gave even the motley crew of Hillary Clinton fanatics reason to vote Kerry even though (in my humble can't prove it opinion) they put O'Reilly on the ballot as pay back for Kerry being an early Obama supporter - it was O'Reilly's lame attempt to diminish Kerry's tenure in the senate because; from O'Reillys Cape Anne view-point the senator's committee appointments are paltry. With another nuclear response, Kerry listed a plethora of impressive committee assignments and reminded his shaky opponent that Massachusetts has received more than half a billion for small businesses thanks to Kerry's role on the small business committee in D.C.
Predictions on this race are as easy as reviewing the menu at McDonalds. Kerry bests O'Reilly in a seventy-thirty shellacking, and after ridding us all of the ridiculous tirades of his nominal G.O.P. opponent, the man from Louisburg Square either returns to the senate as part of a solid Democrat majority, or if Mr. Obama pulls off the big win, becomes a likely pick for secretary of state - a job he'd excel at.
But less I digress, John Kerry did not beat the former Gloucester City Councilman Ed Reilly. John Kerry ate Ed O'Reilly for breakfast - proving my theory that the only mistake the Kerry people made was agreeing to a debate scheduled at a time and date that facilitated a zilch audience - for had most citizens watched this episode of the awkward neophyte attacking the seasoned legislator, Kerry's inevitable September 16 Primary win would be over 80 percent, instead of just above a mere 70.
For every bomb tossed Kerry's way from a very unpolished O'Reilly, Kerry shot back with a Nuke. O'Reilly's vagueness and broad strokes were left circumspect when placed against the calculated specificity and lengthy list of accomplishments which could be put on the debate table by the unflappable Kerry. Bottom line - O'Reilly debating Kerry made me realize what it would look like if I played golf with Tiger Woods.
If there was a Seminole theme to the debate - which gave even the motley crew of Hillary Clinton fanatics reason to vote Kerry even though (in my humble can't prove it opinion) they put O'Reilly on the ballot as pay back for Kerry being an early Obama supporter - it was O'Reilly's lame attempt to diminish Kerry's tenure in the senate because; from O'Reillys Cape Anne view-point the senator's committee appointments are paltry. With another nuclear response, Kerry listed a plethora of impressive committee assignments and reminded his shaky opponent that Massachusetts has received more than half a billion for small businesses thanks to Kerry's role on the small business committee in D.C.
Predictions on this race are as easy as reviewing the menu at McDonalds. Kerry bests O'Reilly in a seventy-thirty shellacking, and after ridding us all of the ridiculous tirades of his nominal G.O.P. opponent, the man from Louisburg Square either returns to the senate as part of a solid Democrat majority, or if Mr. Obama pulls off the big win, becomes a likely pick for secretary of state - a job he'd excel at.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Obama-Biden get tough
I don’t know that I buy the argument from Citadel Obama that the VP choice was made a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. I think Obama’s Praetorian guard knows how poorly their Saviour performed at the Saddleback Church event on all things religious held on August 16, when the Illinois senator could not answer the question that any step rep candidate would know to be prepared for; namely, when does life begin. Obama’s shocking response what that the answer was above his pay grade (by the way, senators make $154,700 a year with sweet benes).
As Republican Peggy Noonan just wrote in the Wall Street Journal, "Everyone who ever bought a pack of condoms knows when life begins."
So suddenly, the Obama campaign knew that just as voters were re configuring their radar from scanning the sand dunes to, instead, surveying the political turf, Obama blew it big time and I think the Great One's handlers decided a heavy weight, seasoned, bare knuckled partisan had to be the Democratic vp choice - and that’s exactly who Deleware Senator and former presidential aspirant Joe Biden is. He’s brash, he’s blunt, he’s smart, even though he’s more often wrong than right, and in politics he doesn’t take prisoners …he eats them.
This choice signals a big switch for the guy who was going to bring us a gentler and kinder campaign. Look for the Obama Biden ticket to start hurling nuclear tipped missles at the GOP starting with Monday evening's spin fest in Minneapolis.
If you thought the Primary season was harsh; you ain't seen nothing yet.
As Republican Peggy Noonan just wrote in the Wall Street Journal, "Everyone who ever bought a pack of condoms knows when life begins."
So suddenly, the Obama campaign knew that just as voters were re configuring their radar from scanning the sand dunes to, instead, surveying the political turf, Obama blew it big time and I think the Great One's handlers decided a heavy weight, seasoned, bare knuckled partisan had to be the Democratic vp choice - and that’s exactly who Deleware Senator and former presidential aspirant Joe Biden is. He’s brash, he’s blunt, he’s smart, even though he’s more often wrong than right, and in politics he doesn’t take prisoners …he eats them.
This choice signals a big switch for the guy who was going to bring us a gentler and kinder campaign. Look for the Obama Biden ticket to start hurling nuclear tipped missles at the GOP starting with Monday evening's spin fest in Minneapolis.
If you thought the Primary season was harsh; you ain't seen nothing yet.
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