Recent Entries
Convention Corner - Share Your Thoughts About the Par-Tay!
Just A Rambling Meandering Smattering of Almost-Completed Thoughts…
You Have To Serve Before You Can Lead
Seriously, Obama - Why In the World Southwest Virginia?
Monthly Archives
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
RSS Feeds
Convention Corner - Share Your Thoughts About the Par-Tay!
Aug 26, 2008I’ll never understand the hoopla surrounding the political conventions – it could all be done by email so easily, with billions of taxpayer dollars saved.
I like a party as much as the next guy, but c’mon.
Michelle Obama looked great last night. She’s a wonderful speaker, too. And she pretty much said what we all expected her to so no surprises there.
A brief backward comment on the VP choice, Biden. I just don’t get it. How is Biden supposed to win over the Hillary supporters? How is he supposed to win over anybody, for that matter? This is a guy who ran for President last year (and not for the first time, mind you) and nobody wanted him - not even close! So now Democrats are supposed to get excited about a guy they already soundly rejected?
I still think Obama made a huge mistake in not giving Hillary whatever it took to get her to sign on as VP. It was the only choice that would have made his election a shoe-in. I don’t get it.
Speaking of Hillary, she is up tonight and I for one am eager to hear her speak. Will she unite the party? Will her support of Obama be sincere, or be tinged with that subtle sarcasm she is famous for? Will she look as good as Michelle Obama did? (Blue is her best color - bet she wears it. Forgive my girlie lapse into fashion talk...)
Tune in tonight along with me and we’ll share comments. As a matter of fact, I’ll be checking in daily with thoughts on the convention and hope you will as well, and will do the same for the Republicans.
Has anybody seen ANYTHING interesting at the convention so far? Did I blink?
Jody
Posted by Jody Lee Just A Rambling Meandering Smattering of Almost-Completed Thoughts…
Aug 12, 2008Party officials say former President Clinton will deliver a speech on the third night of the Democratic National Convention before an address by the as-yet-to-be-named running mate for Barack Obama. (Put your best VP guess in on the blog following this one…)
Will the love affair never end?
Aside: Speaking of love affairs, what was John Edwards thinking when he decided he could get away “pulling a Clinton”? Did he really think the public and the media would extend the same fawning adoration to him that they afforded Clinton? What an ego!
The conventions are so much falderah and nothing more. A chance to pontificators to ponticate, for the peacocks to show their feathers, blah blah blah. The only possible excitement I see – and call me crazy if you must – but wouldn’t it be a FABULOUS piece of staging if, out of nowhere and totally unexpectedly, Hillary stepped up at the last minute and was announced as Obama’s running mate? I know, I know, it’s the longest of long shots, but my love of the dramatic can’t help wondering…
I think we’re all over the Obama/rock star comparisons, McCain. Everyone, that is, except your ad execs. Fire them. Your campaign should be a reflection of YOU. As much as I disagree with many of his policies, he nevertheless has plenty of achievements to be touted. Quit dancing around and do it.
The conservative talking heads have it right – this election (please, oh, please) is going to go with the candidate who has the best plan for making our country energy-independent. Our future depends on it, period. So far, neither candidate has stepped up to the plate with a doable plan. The only thing worse than having the candidate other than your own win the election would be having ANY candidate elected who didn’t have a viable plan for energy independence. Putting that off for another four years (or eight) would be disasterous.
Very Probably V.P.’s…
Aug 12, 2008And the probable nominees for the runner-up position – i.e. Vice President – are a yawn, as always. Take a look – who do YOU think should be awarded the VP position, or do you think it matters at all?
McCain is said to be eyeing Lieberman now. Please. You don’t run a moderate with a moderate, although I must say it would be interesting to see. I do tend to like Joe.
Nobodies like Tim Pawlenty and Rob Portman are said to be on McCain’s short list as well, but frankly, I think he’s nuts if he considers ANYONE other than Mitt Romney. Romney’s strong points are lesser ones for McCain and – like in a good marriage – it’s nice when a couple can fill in each others’ blank spots.
Obama’s choices are no more exciting. Can you BELIEVE that Tim Kaine is being considered? Please tell me it’s a joke. What a hypocritic bore. Just my opinion.
He is also reported to be looking over Joseph Biden and Chris Dodd. Yawn. Wannabes. A ticket touting “change” can hardly afford to have these two on board.
Obama’s most dynamic choice has to be Hilliary. Would she take it if it was offered? Only with a laundry list of gimmes and even then, it’s doubtful. Still though, talk about a dynamic duo!
Think I’ve got it all wrong? Feel free to set me straight…
Let’s Talk About Hate
Jul 29, 2008They call them “hate” crimes. The first time I heard the phrase, the irony struck me – as though a crime of violence could be anything BUT a “hate” crime. Duh. Obviously the perpetrator hates – hates the victim, hates society, hates his or her mother, hates people who wear Birkenstocks – hates something. Isn’t it pretty much a given that violence is a result of hate?
The media is reporting that the Sunday shootings at a church in Knoxville may have been a “hate” crime, which will up the ante when it comes to punishment. The reporters who are speaking of the possible “hate” crime put a more sinister spin on the heinous act than before the “hate” label started getting tossed around.
To me though, the most sinister thing about these latest reports is the reminder that legally, something called a “hate crime” even exists in the first place.
Think about it.
Three people were murdered and four people were seriously injured, and judging from the amount of ammunition that the shooter had on his person that he did not have the chance to access, the intent was far worse than the outcome. Murder was the crime, along with attempted murder, etc. – now explain to me why the motive matters.
Seriously. With the exception of self-defense or accident, why should it matter whether a murderer acted because his mother didn’t tuck him in at night, or his father didn’t show him enough affection as a teenager, or he hates a church’s liberal philosophy? I hold that the “why” should NOT matter, and the fact that it does is indeed kind of sinister.
Again, think about it. To kill someone is bad. But as it stands, to kill someone for reasons that the law find particularly egregious is worse. See, the big picture here begs that we consider the following – aren’t we ceding to the government the right to decide what is and is not acceptable thought?
While surely few would disagree that killing someone because you hate their race, sexual orientation, religion, etc. is horrible, in the eye of the law (that phrase is crucial here), why should it be worse than killing someone because they cheated you out of raise at work or wouldn’t go on a date with you? And given a power - ANY power - when has the government EVER reigned itself in? It hasn’t. It doesn’t. And with the door open on the idea of government deciding what is acceptable thought and what is not, can we really be naive enough to think it will stop here?
Two words that are even more ominous that “hate crime”?
How about “Thought Police”?
Bush Caves, We Pay
Jul 23, 2008Thanks for nothing, President Bush.
On Wednesday the House passed legislation to bail out 400,000 overextended homeowners facing foreclosure and prevent mortgage biggies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from going belly-up.
Chances are that the legislation will pass the Senate and become law within a matter of days.
Earlier the same day, President Bush dropped his opposition to the bailout.
Perfect. Just perfect. Heaven forbid we take responsibility for our own actions and our own lives. Isn’t it lucky for strapped homeowners who didn’t read the fine print or just plain bought more house than they could afford that this is an election year and vote-hungry politicians are falling all over each other to dole out mercy and compassion to folks who might otherwise have to declare bankruptcy.
It reflects a mindset that I have long held will be the ruin of our country if allowed to continue unchecked. It is bad enough when the government bails out companies to keep them afloat instead of letting the free enterprise system of business dictate survival of the fittest. But now they want to bail out private citizens, too.
Bush has nothing to lose at this point except self-respect – there was no political reason for him to cave. But he did. And now I have to go kick something.
Sigh. I’ll try to make it something inanimate.
