The Unknown Candidate: Politics

Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts

Saturday, August 07, 2010

Poem in Mourning

Weary as an old plow,
dulled blades from too many rotations,
rusty red,
Death looms on every channel.
Don't they ever tire of the swords?
Slicing brains like so much red meat,
cleaved in the womb,
No blood, just catsup, to give it that
all American flavor.
Savor It
is what we have made it, gourmet
sushi,
served with
bitter herbs and ginger,
under headstones
made of ash.

ⓒ 2010 The Unknown Candidate

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Two Cheers for Rod Blagojevich

Frank Rich | NYTimes.com:

"ROD BLAGOJEVICH is the perfect holiday treat for a country fighting off depression. He gift-wraps the ugliness of corruption in the mirthful garb of farce. From a safe distance outside Illinois, it’s hard not to laugh at the “culture of Chicago,” where even the president-elect’s Senate seat is just another commodity to be bought and sold.

But the entertainment is escapist only up to a point. What went down in the Land of Lincoln is just the reductio ad absurdum of an American era where both entitlement and corruption have been the calling cards of power. Blagojevich’s alleged crimes pale next to the larger scandals of Washington and Wall Street. Yet those who promoted and condoned the twin national catastrophes of reckless war in Iraq and reckless gambling in our markets have largely escaped the accountability that now seems to await the Chicago punk nabbed by the United States attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald...." Continue Reading.

Photo Credit: Frank Rich. (Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times)

Technorati tags: Rod Blagojevich, Frank Rich, New York Times, Frauds, Corruption, Subprime Mortgage Crisis, Politics, Government, United States, op ed

Monday, November 03, 2008

The man for the moment: Hillary Clinton makes the case for Barack Obama

Hillary Clinton writes:

"On Tuesday, New Yorkers and Americans have a big decision to make. Do we continue to pursue the policies of the past eight years or do we chart a new course? I believe we can and we must chart a new course led by President Barack Obama...."

Continue Reading.

Photo Credit: (UPI Photo/Matthew Healey)

Technorati tags: Endorsements, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, 2008 Election, Politics

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Chomsky: In swing states vote Obama

People should vote against McCain and for Obama - but without illusions

Chomsky says while it's true that the two parties are essentially like factions of one party - the party of business - the differences do matter to ordinary people. If you are living in a swing state, there is nothing wrong with picking the lesser of two evils.

The Real News Network:

Noam Chomsky: Current crisis demonstrates anti-democratic nature of financial system

In part two of their interview, Paul Jay asks Prof. Noam Chomsky to weigh-in on the dominant subject of the day, the economic crisis. While Prof. Chomsky agrees that the current crisis is a very serious one that will have broad implications for the broader society, he points out that the foreseeable Medicare-induced economic crisis will "dwarf" the current one in magnitude. Furthermore, Prof. Chomsky develops his contention that democracy is hindered by unrestrained free markets. While on the other hand, state-restricted markets are democratic by design in that they allow people take control--through their government--of financial institutions to force them to include externalities and risks to the broader population in their decision-making. These factors are such that profit-seeking enterprises will not accommodate them when left to their own volition, given that free markets do not put a price on these externalities.

Bio:

Noam Chomsky has written and lectured widely on linguistics, philosophy, intellectual history, contemporary issues, international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. His works include: Aspects of the Theory of Syntax; Cartesian Linguistics; Sound Pattern of English (with Morris Halle); Language and Mind; American Power and the New Mandarins; At War with Asia; For Reasons of State; Peace in the Middle East?; Reflections on Language; The Political Economy of Human Rights, Vol. I and II (with E.S. Herman); Rules and Representations; Lectures on Government and Binding; Towards a New Cold War; Radical Priorities; Fateful Triangle; Knowledge of Language; Turning the Tide; Pirates and Emperors; On Power and Ideology; Language and Problems of Knowledge; The Culture of Terrorism; Manufacturing Consent (with E.S. Herman); Necessary Illusions; Deterring Democracy; Year 501; Rethinking Camelot: JFK, the Vietnam War and US Political Culture; Letters from Lexington; World Orders, Old and New; The Minimalist Program; Powers and Prospects; The Common Good; Profit Over People; The New Military Humanism; New Horizons in the Study of Language and Mind; Rogue States; A New Generation Draws the Line; 9-11; and Understanding Power.

Technorati tags: 2008 Election, President, Barack Obama, Noam Chomsky, John McCain, Economy, economic crisis, endorsement, video, Real News Network

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

A License to Kill

More lies. More character assassination. More swift-boat tactics from a supremely desperate, ethically-challenged John McCain campaign:

FactCheck.org:

A new anti-Obama group runs a bunk-filled ad implying he'd give a driver's license to Mohammed Atta.
Summary
An upstart group calling itself the "National Republican Trust PAC" mixes a pile of false claims and the image of 9/11 mastermind Mohammed Atta to create one of the sleaziest false TV ads of the campaign.
The spot falsely claims Obama has a "plan" to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. In fact, Obama has said quite specifically, "I am not proposing that that's what we do."

The ad implies such licenses would enable terrorist attacks. In fact, Atta wouldn't have needed one to carry out his attacks.

It claims that Obama's health care plan will apply to illegal immigrants. But Obama has stated quite clearly that his plan "does not" cover illegal immigrants.

The ad falsely claims that Obama's plan "gives illegals Social Security benefits," which is also flatly untrue.

More Here.

The Vet Who Did Not Vet

A Dr. Seuss style telling of the McCain and Palin tale.

Trouble viewing this video? CLICK HERE

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Palin Unhinged

Palin: Obama's Tax Plans Could Mean Nightmare Communist State:

"Sarah Palin had a few memorable moments during her campaign stop in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday. But the most eye-opening of them all came, it would appear, when the Alaska Governor somehow drew a connection between Barack Obama's tax policy and an encroaching, nightmarish, communist government. The Illinois Democrat, she hysterically suggested, would, through his proposals, create a country 'where the people are not free.'"

More Palin:

AP INVESTIGATION: Palin pipeline terms curbed bids:
"Gov. Sarah Palin's signature accomplishment _ a contract to build a 1,715-mile pipeline to bring natural gas from Alaska to the Lower 48 _ emerged from a flawed bidding process that narrowed the field to a company with ties to her administration, an Associated Press investigation shows.

Beginning at the Republican National Convention in August, the McCain-Palin ticket has touted the pipeline as an example of how it would help America achieve energy independence...."
Think Progress | Palin Claims The Vice President Is ‘In Charge Of The U.S. Senate’

Lieberman On Palin: "Thank God She's Not Gonna Have To Be President From Day One":
"Sen. Joe Lieberman on Friday skirted a question on whether vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is ready from day one to be president, saying 'thank God' she won't have to be."

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Hey Sarah Palin

MC Howie goes political with Julie K in this oh-my-god-how-hilarious song, to the tune of "Hey There Delilah".

Trouble viewing this video? Click here.

Sunday, October 05, 2008

Examining The Candidates | The Economist

Examining America's presidential candidates | Examining the candidates | The Economist:

"In our special report on the election we analyse the two candidates’ economic plans. Here, we ask professional economists to give us their views

AS THE financial crisis pushes the economy back to the top of voters’ concerns, Barack Obama is starting to open up a clear lead over John McCain in the opinion polls. But among those who study economics for a living, Mr Obama’s lead is much more commanding. A survey of academic economists by The Economist finds the majority—at times by overwhelming margins—believe Mr Obama has the superior economic plan, a firmer grasp of economics and will appoint better economic advisers...."

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Reality Check: Debate Debunking!

Funny thing about facts. You can't debate your way out of them, but that doesn't keep John McSame from trying.

Sunday, September 07, 2008

Sarah Palin's Churches and The Third Wave: Video Documentary

MUST SEE. MUST READ.

New video documents Sarah Palin's two and a half decade church, Wasilla Assembly of God, as part of a rapidly growing, "underground" church movement aimed at achieving Christian political dominance which seeks to eliminate crime and addiction by driving out "territorial demons" and holds that "curses" can be transmitted down family lines.

Bruce Wilson (Huffington Post) reports:

"Sarah Palin's churches are actively involved in a resurgent movement that was declared heretical by the Assemblies of God in 1949. This is the same 'Spiritual Warfare' movement that was featured in the award winning movie, "Jesus Camp," which showed young children being trained to do battle for the Lord. At least three of four of Palin's churches are involved with major organizations and leaders of this movement, which is referred to as The Third Wave of the Holy Spirit or the New Apostolic Reformation. The movement is training a young "Joel's Army" to take dominion over the United States and the world.....

Continue reading.

Also See:

Palin's Churches and the Third Wave
"Sarah Palin has refused to acknowledge belonging to any specific denomination or any particular religious stream. However, it is now well documented that she spent her youth in an Assembly of God church and has regularly attended another AoG church, as well as two Independent Churches. At least three of four of these churches have close ties to prominent organizations and leaders in the Third Wave movement, also known as the New Apostolic Reformation.

This is a worldwide movement so completely ignored by the press that there is no single accepted term that has been coined for the identification for the group. In addition to Third Wave and New Apostolic Reformation, it is also referred to by the names of some of its more extreme theologies, such as Joel's Army and Manifest Sons of Destiny. Its roots are in a revival of the manifestations and beliefs of the New Order of Latter Rain which has been repeatedly condemned by the General Council of the Assemblies of God since 1949...."

Technorati tags: Sarah Palin, Church, Jesus Camp, Master's Commission, Third Wave, Wasilla, Wasilla Assembly of God, Politics, 2008 Election, news

The Mirrored Ceiling

Judith Warner (NY Times) reports:

"...Republicans, very clearly, believe that real people are idiots. This disdain for their smarts shows up in the whole way they’ve cast this race now, turning a contest over economic and foreign policy into a culture war of the Real vs. the Elites. It’s a smoke and mirrors game aimed at diverting attention from the fact that the party’s tax policies have helped create an elite that’s more distant from “the people” than ever before. And from the fact that the party’s dogged allegiance to up-by-your-bootstraps individualism — an individualism exemplified by Palin, the frontierswoman who somehow has managed to “balance” five children and her political career with no need for support — is leading to a culture-wide crack-up.

Real people, the kind of people who will like and identify with Palin, they clearly believe, are smart, but not too smart, and don’t talk too well, dropping their “g”s, for example, and putting tough concepts like “vice president” in quotation marks.

“As for that ‘V.P.’ talk all the time … I tell ya, I still can’t answer that question until somebody answers for me, What is it exactly that the ‘VP’ does every day?” Palin asked host Lawrence Kudlow on CNBC sometime before her nomination. “I’m used to bein’ very productive and workin’ real hard in an administration and we want to make sure that that ‘V.P.’ slot would be a fruitful type of position.”

And, I think, they find her acceptably “real,” because Palin’s not intimidating, and makes it clear that she’s subordinate to a great man.

That’s the worst thing a woman can be in this world, isn’t it? Intimidating, which appears to be synonymous with competent. It’s the kiss of death, personally and politically.

But shouldn’t a woman who is prepared to be commander in chief be intimidating? Because of the intelligence, experience, talent and drive that got her there? If she isn’t, at least on some level, off-putting, if her presence inspires national commentary on breast-pumping and babysitting rather than health care reform and social security, then something is seriously wrong. If she doesn’t elicit at least some degree of awe, then something is missing...."

Technorati tags: Judith Warner, The New York Times, Sarah Palin, Feminism, Republicans, Republican Party, John McCain, 2008 Election, Conservative, Politics, op ed

Friday, September 05, 2008

McCain Ally Moves to Curb Probe of Palin

Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball (Newsweek) report:

"Key Alaska allies of John McCain are trying to derail a politically charged investigation into Gov. Sarah Palin's firing of her public safety commissioner in order to prevent a so-called 'October surprise' that would produce embarrassing information about the vice presidential candidate on the eve of the election.

In a move endorsed by the McCain campaign Friday, John Coghill, the GOP chairman of the state House Rules Committee, wrote a letter seeking a meeting of Alaska's bipartisan Legislative Council in order to remove the Democratic state senator in charge of the so-called 'troopergate' investigation.

Coghill charged that the senator, Hollis French, had 'politicized' the probe by making a number of public comments in recent days, including telling ABC News that Palin had a 'credibility problem' and that the investigation into the firing of public safety commissioner Walter Monegan was "likely to be damaging to the administration" and could be an 'October surprise'....""

Technorati tags: Michael Isikoff, Mark Hosenball, Sarah Palin, Republicans, Alaska, Politicians, Investigation, Probe, Troopergate

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Jon Stewart Hits Karl Rove, Bill O'Reilly, Dick Morris On Sarah Palin Hypocrisy

Wednesday night on "The Daily Show," Jon Stewart hit Karl Rove and Bill O'Reilly with damning evidence of their hypocrisy regarding Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

While Rove recently praised Palin's experience as the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, Stewart showed video of Rove trashing Virginia Governor — and former Richmond Mayor — Tim Kaine's executive experience, listing all the cities that are bigger than Richmond and calling such a pick "political."

Then, after recent video of O'Reilly describing Bristol Palin's pregnancy as a family issue, Stewart showed a clip of the Fox News host blaming Jamie Lynn Spears' parents for her teenage pregnancy.

Finally, after showing video of Dick Morris complaining about the rampant sexism in the media coverage of Sarah Palin, Stewart unveiled a clip of Morris saying that Hillary hides behind the sexism defense, and that anytime "the big boys" pick on Hillary, "she retreats behind the apron strings."

"In Dick Morris' defense," Stewart said, "he is a lying sack of sh*t."

Watch:

Thanks to Huffington Post.

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

McCain Was Against Palin Before He Was For Her

"...Long before McCain focused the national spotlight on Palin as his Veep pick, he was making her famous as a dedicated feeder at the pork barrel trough...."

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Must See: Naomi Klein on Obama

Klein speaks about Obama and the intellectual and political integrity of the progressive movement:

Bio:

Naomi Klein is an award-winning journalist, syndicated columnist and author of the international and New York Times bestseller The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. Klein's previous book No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies was also an international bestseller. Klein is a former Miliband Fellow at the London School of Economics and holds an honorary Doctor of Civil Laws from the University of King’s College, Nova Scotia. For more information on The Shock Doctrine visit http://www.naomiklein.org/main

Technorati tags: Naomi Klein, Barack Obama, John McCain, Corporations, 2008 Campaign