Kicking Ass

What Most of You People are Not Understanding

Rob-33704 — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:08:18 EDT

What most of you aren't understanding is the depth of the anger on the right and left of the electorate in this country.

That is what John McCain is hearing at his rallies and you are seeing on CNN. Democrats don't hear it at their rallies because the left long ago discarded the democratic party.

This anger is not something that will somehow evaporate and just go away. The right is just now discovering how much they have been misled and betrayed.

Taking care of the needs of the citizens is not PANDERING - it is what ruling classes do to stay in power.

Hate followed by HOPE...

Gretchen — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:32:31 EDT

This video brought tears to my eyes... The horror and the hate that the McCain/Palin has stirred up followed by the HOPE Obama brings...

Please watch this-- It brought tears to my eyes...

http://complainjane.wordpress.com/

Palin Refuses to Sign National Coming Out Day

Pirrettel — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:50:41 EDT

Shows loyalty to pipelines, wrecking environment, but no loyalty to peoples feelings...like gay rights? How can one discriminate so blatantly? What is it that bothers her? Is she afraid it would attack her own marriage? Narrow minded and blinders on. http://www.bentalaska.com/

McCain Is Now Claiming Barack Obama is...

Pirrettel — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:38:59 EDT

committing voter fraud? LOL On MSNBC Chris Matthews...Hardball, right now. Even Pat Buchanan even says McCain is schizophrenic and fails to

McCain is pulling negative ads...the negativity and hitting Obama in a tone of lying, YANKING ALL ADS!!

Wow, so pull the ads, but call him a voter fraud (double registrations?). Here we go again. He's LOST this election, he should just send Sarah home and let her face her own music before it taints his campaign and causing his ratings to dive...

Anchors awayyyy! Worse person in the worrrrrrllldd!

You Are Giving Socialism a Bad Name.

Rob-33704 — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:33:40 EDT

Could some of you PLEASE talk to your friends in the news media and get them to stop referring to this as a "Socialist" bailout?

You know, I know, and they know that is not true.

Thanks for you help.

State is Reviewing Palin's Per Diem Payments to Stay HOME

Pirrettel — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:07:02 EDT

So much for taking on the good ole boys (that's a lie too), but taking paying to stay home and then not pay taxes on them, certainly doesn't seem like transparency, or reforming corrupt government, just sounds like more of it in a witch hat. Get Busted like the others, Sarah and Todd! (others means Bill Allen, Ted Stevens, Ben Stevens, Frank & Lisa Murkowski, Corrupt Bastards of AK, did I leave anyone out? cheesch.?

State to review Palin per diem payments The state finance director will review whether future per diem payments to Gov. Sarah Palin for nights she stays in her Wasilla home should be considered income.

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/548647.html%20http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/548647.html http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/548647.html

PALIN IS A CANCER[Palin] represents a fatal cancer to the republican party. When I first started in journalism, I worked at the National Review for Bill Buckley. And Buckley famously said he'd rather be ruled by the first 2,000 names in the Boston phone book than by the Harvard faculty. But he didn't think those were the only two options. He thought it was important to have people on the conservative side who celebrated ideas, who celebrated learning. And his whole life was based on that, and that was also true for a lot of the other conservatives in the Reagan era. Reagan had an immense faith in the power of ideas. But there has been a counter, more populist tradition, which is not only to scorn liberal ideas but to scorn ideas entirely. And I'm afraid that Sarah Palin has those prejudices. I think President Bush has those prejudices."
Brooks added that Palin is "absolutely not" ready for national office.
Conservative columnist David Brooks on Palin: "a cancer" (Washington Monthly)
Pit bull with lipstick now dubbed "McCain's mean girl." Sarah Palin's campaign role as political attack dog - linking Obama to terrorists - is drawing criticism from many corners, including conservative columnist Kathleen Parker in the Washington Post. Parker called her Palin the Impaler.
Democrats and other critics distracted by her winks may have missed the message, but Palin's target audience heard it loud and clear. She is like the high-pitched whistle only dogs can hear. While Democrats heard non-answers, superfluous segues and cartoon words -- shout-out, I'll betcha, doggone, extra credit -- Republicans heard God, patriotism, courage, victory.
It's called code, and Republicans are fluent.
McCain may want to call off his pit bull before this war escalates.
This morning, Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden told the Associated Press that Palin "is injecting fear and loathing" into the campaign and called the tactic "mildly dangerous."

(MILDLY dangerous???)

there's more...

263 Page Abuse of Power Report Will Be Released Shortly

Pirrettel — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:59:40 EDT

The Alaska Supreme Court has cleared for possible release to the public today the Legislature's highly anticipated investigative report on whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power.
The court Thursday rejected an attempt by a group of six Republican legislators to keep the report into the so-called Troopergate affair from being made public. That made way for members of the bipartisan Legislative Council, which ordered the investigation, to go ahead and pick up their copies of the report. The legislators signed confidentiality agreements promising not to show anyone, including their staff.
The Legislative Council is expected to vote sometime today whether to make the 263-page report public. The legislators will first meet behind closed doors, starting around 9 a.m. this morning,

Palin's Kind of Patriotism & Why Elite Women Hate Her

Pirrettel — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:40:00 EDT

> Palin's kind of patriotism (Thomas Friedman, The New York Times) And please also don't tell me she is an "energy expert." She is an energy expert exactly the same way the king of Saudi Arabia is an energy expert - by accident of residence. Palin happens to be governor of the Saudi Arabia of America - Alaska - and the only energy expertise she has is the same as the king of Saudi Arabia's. It's about how the windfall profits from the oil in their respective kingdoms should be divided between the oil companies and the people. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/opinion/08friedman.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

> Why elite women hate Palin (Ann Marlow, Forbes.com)
It's as though Palin were an average girl from their boarding school class--or, frankly, from the public school down the road--who unexpectedly won a big prize. "Why not me?" is the subtext, and it's one I've never heard from men talking about male politicians. Many New Yorkers hate George Bush, for instance, and say similar things about his and Palin's lack of intellectual capability and curiosity about the wider world. But they don't view him as a personal rival.
People who become writers and intellectuals and artists tend not to want power that badly or pursue it that obsessively, which is what makes us interesting and fun--and makes few of us household names. Success at the Palin level in politics or business takes a level of blinkered self-confidence that comes mainly to (a very few) men. A lot of the people with this quality are annoying to be around. Maybe they aren't very happy with themselves. But it's not a surprise that a vice presidential nominee should be one of them.
The lesson of Sarah Palin for privileged women is to try harder. And that may be the toughest one to hear
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/newsreader/story/549497.html

McCain's "Mean Girl"

Pirrettel — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:26:14 EDT

'Pit bull with lipstick' redubbed 'McCain's mean girl' Sarah Palin's campaign role as political attack dog - linking Obama to terrorists - is drawing critical commentary from the left and the right. http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/newsreader/story/549497.html

Today: Palin's "looks" are discussed more than her policies Studies of women candidates dating back to 1992 show that print media spent more time talking about what a woman looked like and what she wore than they did about their male counterparts; analysts say Palin understands and capitalizes on it. http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/newsreader/story/551897.html

Palin Who? Mrs. Nobody Know-it-All

Pirrettel — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:16:02 EDT

The Russians are scratching their heads over Palin. That "Putin rearing his head" remark seems to have gotten attention in his homeland. An international law grad student surveys reactions in the Russian media on the Washington Post
Another highly unflattering article in the daily Moscow paper "Pravda" was even more scorching in its discussion of the Alaskan governor, calling her "A Mrs. Nobody Know-it-All" and classifying her threats of initiating war with Russia as "the most irresponsible thing anyone could do at this moment in time."
When Katie Couric confronted Palin in what became a proverbial interview, about Palin's claim to understanding Russia, Palin's response was vague and elusive: "We have trade missions back and forth."
That kind of elusiveness, if it continues, will only exacerbate a powerful wave of outrage and sarcasm that Alaska's close neighbors -- the Russians -- have been exhibiting lately.
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/sais/nexteurope/2008/10/russians_palin_who.html
By Maria Stoyadinova
Americans aren't the only ones smirking at Sarah Palin's claims of ...

An Outsider's Take.

Ernie — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:01:46 EDT

An interesting article from a foreigner who still awes, rhetoric agape, at his northern neighbor's economic primacy.

My inner-Republican doesn't think he can be trusted. After all, the original article was written in a foreign language; if this guy doesn't admire the United States enough to learn English, how sincere can he be?

We have nothing to fear but fear itself.

Ernie — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:51:55 EDT

This is leadership.

This is not.

Coming Undone

Ernie — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:38:39 EDT

Does the presidential nominee from one of America's two major political parties really want to be associated with death threats against the opposition?

John McCain's silence on the subject is, as the cliche goes, deafening.

The Secret Service has looked into death threats against Barack Obama. Specifically, the shout of "Kill him!" that issued from some anonymous knuckle-dragging type, no doubt giving voice to the frustrations of the audience, and Republican Party, as a whole, as the reality that their candidate is going to lose in November begins to sink in.

The psycological immaturity that would prompt such an outburst is telling. Conservatives are looking for a patsy for the implosion of Wall Street, and the usual suspects, liberals, are in their cross hairs.

For the time being, those cross hairs remain metaphorical.

Palin' with Sexism

Tim — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:26:34 EDT

This has been an historic election already, a real push for social progress in this country. In the campaign alone, we have had an African American man successfully compete for the highest political office in the country, a woman successfully complete for the highest political office in the country, and a woman compete for the second highest political office in the country.

I've been recently asking myself, yet again, whether my feelings towards Sarah Palin can be interpreted as sexist. Outside of the baby eating rumor, I have made jokes to my friends about her sex life with her husband Todd. Of course, I always tell myself that it is policy before personal. On policy, Palin would pain America extremely.

I know in the past I have writtten posts that combat sexism towards Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi as well as other women on my political side of the spectrum. After all, I know how hard it is to be a woman in power and not afraid to be passionately assertive in the process. But, I can't imagine how hard it is to be a woman in power in a political party that hates you, like Sarah Palin.

I can say that the rumors I heard when she was announced VP upsetted me, and the fact that even in my humor, the thought that they could be interpreted as preferential sexism upsets me. I should know better.

But, it is a challenge, because Sarah Palin is far from pro-woman in regards to her politics. She doesn't believe in the free reproductive choice for women as I do. She doesn't believe that women are just as capable as a man in everything that doesn't require a penis. And, this is only the crust of the disagreements I have with this person, not to mention the fact that she was chosen by John McCain just to pander to women voters, especially those still upset about Clinton.

In my sociology class today, someone who is obviously a Republican (" I know I'd rather die than defend Hillary Clinton") said that Palin and McCain have been oppressed in this campaign too. That got me fired up because society favors the fact that they are rich and white, and with McCain, the fact that he is white,rich, and male. She was saying how Biden talked down to her during the VP debate as if she had no clue what she was saying, which, in credential perspective, she didn't. I don't consider my criticisms of her credentials to be sexist, because if she was a man, they would be the same. I can't simply take someone seriously politically when asked about what she feels her credentials about foreign policy are with the response : "I can see Russia from my house!" I can see the Cleveland Clinic from my dorm room, but that doesn't mean I'm qualified to be a doctor.

Now, part of me wonders whether if Palin is milking the dumb beauty pageant contestant to satisfy the expectations of what the Republican Party expects of its women. But, I know that Hillary Clinton wasn't milking her passion for the Presidency that led her to tears, so I guess I might have a double standard.

What do you think? I'd really appreciate some advice.

The United States of America should declare a Year of Jubilee - the "forgiveness of all debts."

Rob-33704 — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:51:54 EDT

The United States of America should declare a "Year of Jubilee" - the "forgiveness of all debts." The requirement for a Year of Jubilee is clearly established in chapter 25, verse 10 of the of the Old Testament/Torah Book of Leviticus. Verses 28, 40, 50, 54, of the 25th chapter and verse 24 of the 27th chapter clearly require the forgiveness of all debts by all believers every 50 years.

This is a requirement, it is not an option. This is why in Chapter 6, verse 12, of the New Testament Book of Matthew (The Lord’s Prayer) Jesus prayed, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."

McCain pisses off some more folks

Pale Rider — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:50:30 EDT

Evidently, John McCain is determined to alienate as many folks as he can by virtue of his mouth shooting off his foot.

The Palin A &W

Tim — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:39:59 EDT

AS most of you read and some of you heard, the Republican Party is using what it has left now to try and win this election, the fear card. McCain and Palin want to milk that cow no matter how little America cares for it now. Of course, to the some Americans who do care and will only respond, vote, and live in the constant influx of fear the Bush Administration has been handing out and manipulating us towards for the past 8 years, without fear they aren't secure. Shame, because Americans shouldn't be afraid anymore or ever. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

We have done very bad things when we fall into fear's hands. In the late 40s and 50s, we blacklisted people we thought were Communists just because we were told to be afraid of Communists. Many innocent lives were stripped of their dignity during that time period. In the 60s and 70s, social innovators like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Angela Davis, Jane Fonda, Dolores Huerta, the Chicago 7, and many more were wiretapped because people were told that the change they were bringing was bad. Many innocent lives were stripped of their dignity during that period in time too.

And, now, we have McCain and Palin playing the fear card similarly to that effect in the last months of this campaign for President, with talk of Obama's "terrorist connections" and his "pastor problems." In fact, at a rally the other day, they stood by and stood silent when people were shouting " Terrorist!" "Treason!" "Kill him!" and even told an African American cameraman to "sit down boy." Is this preparation for Bill O'Reilly's "lynching party" the right-wing is planning when and if Barack Obama is elected president?

Fear makes people ignorant of facts that challenge, rebut, and disengage fear. Palin may speak of Ayers and Wright, but here are facts and clarifications they are too ignorant and fear-based to consider:

1) Ayers, though identified as an American terrorist, was taken off the list in 1989.

2) Barack Obama was only eight when Ayers was identified as and did do terrorist actions to get his point across.

3) Ayers, now a college professor, words about what he did were taken out of context to scare the population into voting Republican and screwing this country over for 4 more years.

4) Barack Obama was distanced himself from Rev. Wright. Though a hard choice to make, the fact that he distanced himself is honorable on his part. Just because one's pastor is angry doesn't mean the congregation member is. That would be just like saying that just because when I was little and had a homophobic priest, that I must be homophobic too.

5)Rev. Wright is historically justified in his anger because America hasn't really been all that great to Americans of African descent in the past 228 years of our existence.

6) Compare: Jerry Falwell blaming gay Americans for 9/11 versus Rev. Wright blaming Americans for 9/11 in general and look particularly at the media covering those events. Do you see a double standard?

Take these points into serious consideration. Look at the way the Republican Party is manipulating these to create unpatriotic fear in American citizenry.

Sarah Palin says she "worries that Barack Obama doesn't see America as you and I see America." Translation: Sarah Palin is scared to death that an American of African descent can achieve that amount of political power and become the president, and will say anything to demean, degrade, and discourage his potential. Also, "you and I" means "white America" and "rich America." I can just picture her asking " how can we preserve our assets when someone we've been trying to repress success from climbs over our shoulders and achieves it? He needs to be put in his place, which is polishing my shoes at the Wasillia Mall."

The Republican Party and the McCain/Palin '08 campaign is on its last legs if they keep holding themselves up to this.

The Best Dollar of the Campaign

Wattree — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:47:12 EDT

I hope you don't mind, but I'm posting this one to the Democratic site. Somehow I think Obama will view this as the best $25 he's collected during the entire campaign:

"That one" (14+ / 0-)

My husband, blue collar white guy, truck mechanic,
flag outside on the front porch, not a political junkie at all (basically, someone Sarah Palin would condescendingly describe as "Joe Six-Pack"), called me a little while ago to tell me he sent $25 to Obama's campaign. (With no prompting at all from me, BTW.)

It was his first political contribution in the 20 years I've known him. You know why he did it? Because McCain called Obama "that one." He yelled at the screen when McCain said that, and couldn't stop venting about it all through the debate.

I can't exactly describe his reaction -- it wasn't just "how dare he insult the candidate I'm voting for." It was as if it was his patriotic duty to help stand up for Obama and stop McCain.

So yeah, I think he sees Obama as his President.

From Daily Kos

A Footnote to Posterity

Wattree — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:43:22 EDT

BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE

A Footnote to Posterity

As I watched the second presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain, my mind drifted off to when I once watched a Space Shuttle landing. All the drama of the mission was over, and the space walk had been completed successfully. Now all that was left to complete a perfect mission, was to bring the bird in for a landing.

As the shuttle grew larger over the horizon, I remember being overwhelmed with pride over this marvel of engineering, and for the thousands of ordinary people who had come together to accomplish its mission. Then as we continued to look out over the horizon, the sound of unabridged competence suddenly crackled forth as the commander of this magnificent vessel spoke to ground control: “Landing gear down, and all systems online. Glide path and descent, five by five.” Then after several seconds of awestruck silence, and as we watched the majestic bird descend, the commander’s voice chimed in once again, with that matter-of-fact tone, as though he was pulling his car into the driveway. “Thirty seconds to touchdown.”

As impressed as I was over the feat of engineering that went into the space shuttle and its mission, I found myself even more fascinated by what must have gone into building the kind of man with the competence, intelligence, and cool professionalism that could command such a vessel--and I had that very same feeling as I watched the cool professionalism of Barack Obama’s performance last night. I felt privileged to bear witness, to the very best this nation has to offer.

QUESTION RE: Austan Goolsbee

Rob-33704 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:40:59 EDT

Do we know where Mr Goolsbee studied as a Fulbrigth scholar?????

From Mr Goolsbee's CV:

HONORS AND AWARDS

Fulbright Scholar, 2006-2007

Named one of the Young Global Leaders, World Economic Forum, Switzerland, 2005

Named one of the 100 Global Leaders for Tomorrow, World Economic Forum, Switzerland, 2002

Lumina Award for Pioneering Research in E-Commerce (with co-author Jeffrey Brown), Global Reinsurance, Monte Carlo, 2001