The Real McCain
Nice Deb is a real conservative. I may not be: I am, at my core, a libertarian. That makes me more of a Goldwater girl than anything currently on offer politically.
So we've each had huge problems with the idea of supporting McCain this fall. But the War on Terror is the biggest issue of our day, and McCain has the brains, the knowledge, the flexibility and the passion to execute it as few others could.
And then, there is this story about McCain taking time out from the campaign last summer to sit down and talk to a woman who lost her brother in Iraq. No reporters. Just John McCain, and Jimmy McCain the Marine—who would deploy to the sandbox soon.
We can do this, people. We can pull it together and vote for this man. We can even send him money and campaign for him.
Posted by: Attila Girl at June 01, 2008 10:03 AM (1q/ac)
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Thank you for the mention, AG.
That story put me over the edge. Despite all of our differences, I think I can actively support this man.
It scares me that there are still so many conservatives dead set against him, even favoring Obama, because they believe that McCain will "ruin the Republican party".
I hope and pray that isn't the case.
Posted by: Nice Deb at June 02, 2008 08:30 AM (7TjSG)
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McCain: Says that we need to get tough on the terrorists because they're trying to kill us.
Clinton: Says that we need to get tough on the terrorists because she can't get elected otherwise.
Obama: Can't figure out what to say about the terrorists.
The Name Notwithstanding . . .
I have a hard time thinking of John McCain as Irish. But I suppose it doesn't just show up in his wartime heroism: he is, after all, the only candidate with a sense of humor.
That's worth a lot.
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And no rest. Today Hillary reminded us that it's not over 'till it's over. Heck, who knows? Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June.
Hold on to hope, Hill. And good thoughts.
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/05/hillary_invokes_rfk_assassinat.php
Posted by: Darrell at May 23, 2008 03:58 PM (H8pwq)
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And some PsOTUS only last 30 days, 12 hours and 30 minutes (William Henry Harrison). I think we must change the presidential line of succession to include Hillary as the people's choice and thus first in line.
Posted by: Darrell at May 23, 2008 11:33 PM (0qGGv)
The author, writing under the pseudonym ‘Dir’a limen wehhed’ [‘A Shield for the Monotheist’], posted his ‘Brief Study on the Consequences of the Division [Among] the [Jihadist] Groups on the Cause of Jihad in Iraq’ on May 12 and it is being displayed by the administration of the Al-Ekhlaas website—one of Al-Qaeda’s chief media outlets—among its more prominent recent posts. He’s considered one of Al-Ekhlaas’s “esteemed” writers.
The author tallies up and compares the numbers of operations claimed by each insurgent group under four categories: a year and half ago (November 2006), a year ago (May 2007), six months ago (November 2007) and now (May 200
. He demonstrated that while Al-QaedaÂ’s Islamic State of Iraq could claim 334 operations in Nov. 06 and 292 in May 07, their violent output dropped to 25 in Nov. 07 and 16 so far in May 08. Keep in mind that these assessments are based on Al-QaedaÂ’s own numbers.
The author also shows that similar steep drops were exhibited by other jihadist groups [Â…]
So. What we have is jihadists virtually conceding defeat, while the leading Democratic candidate for president essentially campaigns on a way to turn that defeat into a victory by removing the obstacles to jihadi success.
To which I say, keep your chin up, al Qaeda in Iraq! After all, O! is promising hopeyness and changitude! — though for a while there, he had me convinced he was directing that message at the US electorate.
Instead, turns out he’s just pitching it toward our adversaries and the uninformed here at home — and of course, to those who feel that shows of US military strength are just part and parcel of an unsavory US international hegemony, one that needs to be thwarted so that we’ll learn our lesson about crass interventionalism (defined as interventionalism in our own national interests, rather than the kind that smacks of showy altruism); stick to ourselves, culturally speaking; and concentrate on important things, like how best to have the government regulate our thermostats, our medical care, our eating habits, etc., as well as how best to “put every American to work” in the service of the State — a small offering, if you will, to the Secular Godhead and His cult of personality.
So, Who's Lying? The Obama People, and Time.Michael Goldfarb has the video:
I can't say I'm surprised that Time magazine and the Obama campaign managed to miss this clip which completely undermines their shared narrative. But now we have a new narrative: Obama intends to meet with Ali Khamenei, the man with the real power in Tehran, because even though Obama pledged to meet with Ahmadinejad, and said it was a "disgrace" that Bush had not, he never had any intention of meeting with Ahmadinejad, and McCain is a liar for saying different.
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Jim G. on the Rules of Political Discourse:
According to Barack Obama—"when one of my political opponents uses a term, it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less."
The question is, which is to be master?—that's all.
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You're living in the past. Republicans would no more vote for Abraham Lincoln today than they would for Barack Obama. Byrd has apologized for his involvement in the Klan. In 1998 the Southern Poverty Law Center found 26 U.S. elected officials with ties with the white supremacist Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC), the vast majority of whom were Republicans.
Posted by: The Hipnerd at May 19, 2008 11:08 PM (XmFK6)
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HN:
Read the Jonah Goldberg book, and we'll talk.
Posted by: Attila Girl at May 20, 2008 05:43 AM (Hgnbj)
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The party in charge during Katrina? The party that used Willie Horton against Dukakis? The party that used push-polls about "illegitimate black daughters" against McCain in 2000? The party that allowed baby Sun Hudson to die while fighting for the life of Terry Schiavo?
I'm not sure you're on solid ground arguing that the GOP is the party most concerned with the rights and lives of African Americans.
Posted by: Rin at May 20, 2008 10:46 AM (bSHZa)
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Rin: N.O. and LA were in Democratic hands during Katrina.
PACs affiliated with both parties have used ugly push polls.
What most African Americans want is steady employment, economic growth, and low taxes.
I'd love to be a Libertarian, but I can't handle the isolationism of that party. I therefore vote--most often--with the party of Walter Williams, Larry Elder, and the one and only Thomas Sowell (smartest man in the world).
Posted by: Attila Girl at May 20, 2008 11:17 AM (Hgnbj)
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My sense has always been that the debacle of Katrina, including the underfunding of levee repair beforehand, the rife poverty on the ground, the failure to plan, the slow response when it went to hell, and the tone of the response itself (the blockading of good neighborhoods, the lack of supplies at the stadium, the appallingly slow repair efforts now) are largely to be laid at the feet of the federal government, FEMA et al.
A Democratic governor and mayor were nominally in charge, sure, but not so much in charge as the Feds who called the shots and didn't find the money.
Posted by: Rin at May 20, 2008 12:09 PM (bSHZa)
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Your "sense," Rin, was shaped by the mainstream media, which had two specific agendae to push: (1) whenever possible, anything bad must be laid at the feet of the Bush administration, and (2) when in doubt, anything that should be done must be handled at the Federal level, rather than the State level.
Blanco and Nagin diddled around and took no action. When the time came to formally request Federal aid, Blanco refused to do it, even when personally reminded to by President Bush.
To have FEMA violating the purview of the states by entering a state without a formal request from state officials would be very, very dangerous and destructive.
Compare Blanco to Schwarzenegger: he actually showed up for the wildfires, and requested help in a timely fashion. The municipal officials in CA took action, rather than waiting until all the schoolbuses were flooded and useless, as Nagin did.
FEMA may have made some mistakes in its response, but the corruption in LA and N.O.--combined with rumor-mongering on the part of the mainstream media, with no fact-checking and maximum yellow journalism--were more to blame for what happened in N.O.
Also worth noting: the states surrounding LA were hit just as hard, but didn't see the same degree of suffering that N.O. did. Why?
Posted by: Attila Girl at May 20, 2008 12:43 PM (Hgnbj)
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MYTH: "The aftermath of Katrina will go down as one of the worst abandonments of Americans on American soil ever in U.S. history."--Aaron Broussard, president, Jefferson Parish, La., Meet the Press, NBC, Sept. 4, 2005
REALITY: Bumbling by top disaster-management officials fueled a perception of general inaction, one that was compounded by impassioned news anchors. In fact, the response to Hurricane Katrina was by far the largest--and fastest-rescue effort in U.S. history, with nearly 100,000 emergency personnel arriving on the scene within three days of the storm's landfall.
Dozens of National Guard and Coast Guard helicopters flew rescue operations that first day--some just 2 hours after Katrina hit the coast. Hoistless Army helicopters improvised rescues, carefully hovering on rooftops to pick up survivors. On the ground, "guardsmen had to chop their way through, moving trees and recreating roadways," says Jack Harrison of the National Guard. By the end of the week, 50,000 National Guard troops in the Gulf Coast region had saved 17,000 people; 4000 Coast Guard personnel saved more than 33,000.
These units had help from local, state and national responders, including five helicopters from the Navy ship Bataan and choppers from the Air Force and police. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries dispatched 250 agents in boats. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), state police and sheriffs' departments launched rescue flotillas. By Wednesday morning, volunteers and national teams joined the effort, including eight units from California's Swift Water Rescue. By Sept. 8, the waterborne operation had rescued 20,000.
While the press focused on FEMA's shortcomings, this broad array of local, state and national responders pulled off an extraordinary success--especially given the huge area devastated by the storm. Computer simulations of a Katrina-strength hurricane had estimated a worst-case-scenario death toll of more than 60,000 people in Louisiana. The actual number was 1077 in that state.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST reminders from Katrina is that FEMA is not a first responder. It was local and state agencies that got there first and saved lives. Where the feds can contribute is in planning and helping to pay for a coordinated response. Here are a few concrete steps.
Think Locally: "Every disaster starts and ends as a local event," says Ed Jacoby, who managed New York state's emergency response to 9/11. All municipalities must assess their own risk of disasters--both natural and man-made.
Include Business Help: "Companies realize that if a city shuts down, they shut down," says Barry Scanlon, former FEMA director of corporate affairs. During Katrina, many companies coordinated their own mini relief efforts. That organizational power can augment public disaster management. "If 10 Fortune 100 members made a commitment to the Department of Homeland Security," says Scanlon, "the country would take a huge leap forward."
Prearrange Contracts: Recovery costs skyrocket with high demand during a crisis. Contracts with local firms must be signed before disaster strikes. "You know beforehand that everyone is ready to move," says Kate Hale, emergency management director of Florida's Miami-Dade County during Hurricane Andrew in 1992. "The government blows the whistle and the contractors go to work."
MYTH: "They have people ... been in that frickin' Superdome for five days watching dead bodies, watching hooligans killing people, raping people."--New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Sept. 6, 2005
REALITY: Both public officials and the press passed along lurid tales of post-Katrina mayhem: shootouts in the Superdome, bodies stacked in a convention center freezer, snipers firing on rescue helicopters. And those accounts appear to have affected rescue efforts as first responders shifted resources from saving lives to protecting rescuers. In reality, although looting and other property crimes were widespread after the flooding on Monday, Aug. 29, almost none of the stories about violent crime turned out to be true. Col. Thomas Beron, the National Guard commander of Task Force Orleans, arrived at the Superdome on Aug. 29 and took command of 400 soldiers. He told PM that when the Dome's main power failed around 5 am, "it became a hot, humid, miserable place. There was some pushing, people were irritable. There was one attempted rape that the New Orleans police stopped."
The only confirmed account of a weapon discharge occurred when Louisiana Guardsman Chris Watt was jumped by an assailant and, during the chaotic arrest, accidently shot himself in the leg with his own M-16.
When the Superdome was finally cleared, six bodies were found--not the 200 speculated. Four people had died of natural causes; one was ruled a suicide, and another a drug overdose. Of the four bodies recovered at the convention center, three had died of natural causes; the fourth had sustained stab wounds.
Anarchy in the streets? "The vast majority of people [looting] were taking food and water to live," says Capt. Marlon Defillo, the New Orleans Police Department's commander of public affairs. "There were no killings, not one murder." As for sniper fire: No bullet holes were found in the fuselage of any rescue helicopter.
NEXT TIME: "Rumors are fueled by a shortage of truth," says Ted Steinberg, author of Acts of God: The Unnatural History of Natural Disasters in America. And truth was the first casualty of the information breakdown that followed the storm. Hardening communications lines (see page 3) will benefit not just first responders, but also the media. Government officials have a vital role in informing the public. Ensuring the flow of accurate information should be part of disaster planning at local, state and federal levels.
http://www.origin.popularmechanics.com/science/earth/2315076.html?page=11
Posted by: Darrell at May 20, 2008 12:44 PM (kRqHl)
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As much as we try to prepare for catastrophic disasters and to reduce our risk from their devastation, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and other disasters still happen.
When they do, local and state officials are the first to respond. If the loss of life and property overwhelms this response, the federal government ... including FEMA ... is called upon to help.
Local First Responders (Arrive First at Scene) -->
Alert -->
Mayor/County Executive (Activates Local Emergency
Operations Center) --->
Request Aid From -->
Governor (Activates State Emergency Operations Center) -->
Requests Presidential Declaration
1. To the maximum extent possible, internal State and local resources should be used as the first line of support in response to a disaster. Intra-State and inter-State mutual aid can provide an additional option for timely and cost-effective resource support that can be executed prior to a Presidential disaster declaration. Mutual aid can be particularly useful in a disaster that depletes the resources of an individual State or community, but does not require a Presidential declaration.
Source: State of Louisiana website, Sept. 2005 Fluffy does not want link.
Posted by: Darrell at May 20, 2008 12:51 PM (kRqHl)
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How come the Feds are all about states' rights, except when a state wants to legalize medical marijuana or gay marriage?
(btw, I'm a bit more caffeinated than is really wise, today, so if my tone seems a little combative, it's not about you and it's not meant as an insult or dismissal of your positions or your right to have them... I'm just crabby)
;-)
Posted by: Rin at May 20, 2008 12:58 PM (bSHZa)
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THERE IS A CRITICAL DISTINCTION TO BE MADE between the dictates of normal Federalism (or states' rights) and the defense of Posse Comitatus, which prohibits the use of Federal forces for normal law-enforcement functions. That is a necessary protection to us . . . the actual PEOPLE in this country.
This is not a trivial matter; Blanco's failure to observe normal protocols should not deprive the rest of us from protection from Federal intrusions simply because one of the most incompetent state administrations in the Union was unable to perform its duties.
Posted by: Attila Girl at May 20, 2008 03:08 PM (Hgnbj)
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Seems to me that the Democrats and the Left let Sun Hudson die at that moment from thanatophoric dysplasia. Terri couldn't be saved from a death sentence handed down by a probate court judge for any amount of money. Several people offered Michael millions to drop his action. On the other hand, anyone could have taken Sun Hudson to another medical facility or another State just by showing up with a medical team and the proper documents. If just a fraction of the $millions the Dems had spent overthrowing the will of the Florida legislature (Terri's Law) was applied to Sun's care, we wouldn't be talking about this--even though the comparison is idiotic.
Food and water and a normal lifespan versus an incurable, irreversible, progressive genetic disease worsening with each day of growth and weight gain? C'mon.
Know what thanatophoric means? Death bringing. And by the way, the provisions in the Texas law on this subject predate George W. Bush. The Texas Advance Directives Act (1999) signed by Bush added patient protections and a "grace period" to code already in place.
Guess Democrats and the Left only care about scoring political points--not the actual lives of citizens being used as puppets for their cause. Just like with Blanco in Louisiana. Wonder if the NSA still has the recordings of the phone calls between Blanco and the DNC from that special satellite phone she was carrying around?
Posted by: Darrell at May 20, 2008 11:18 PM (lJn0q)
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Might as well deal with the Willie Horton nonsense too. Racism? Only if you can provide names and faces of all the non-African Americans that were purposely excluded from the ad campaign that committed crimes while on Dukakis's weekend furlough program while serving a life sentence without the possiblility of parole. Willie Horton-ing sounds a like like Swift Boating--using inconvenient truths or facts that counter the Dem candidate's spin and the MSM echoing of same.
Posted by: Darrell at May 21, 2008 12:14 PM (l06B9)
to start attacking my wife in a political campaign I think is detestable.
Hm. A lot of people feel that way about Michelle attacking the country and its values.
Look. I don't like people attacking the families of candidates; I'd love to see us get away from attacking Presidential offspring, in particular. But when a full-grown adult woman is making independent campaign appearances, she can probably take any criticism the media and campaign spinners want to throw at her. And to take the stance that she can dish it out, but not take it, is sexist and detestable.
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I noticed the sexism as well. He'll point out things Bill Clinton has said during the campaign, but everybody has to ignore what his wife has said? Interesting...
Posted by: Donnie at May 19, 2008 02:55 PM (my2hQ)
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It's a page from Bill Clinton's original playbook. When anything works for the Left you always see it again. Leftie women are supposed to swoon when Leftie men defend their life partners. I suppose because it's so different from their real life experiences.
With David Axelrod at the helm of the Obama campaign, expect to see a lot of tricks before election day--vandalism at Obama offices around the country, 'threats' on staffers and family, signs pulled from lawns, calls for international election monitors, reminders that the whole world is watching, claims that if Obama doesn't win the whole country will be a'rioting and a'looting and a'burning the next day. Etc., etc., etc. Good times.
Posted by: Darrell at May 19, 2008 08:15 PM (XWhkN)
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Speaking of having it both way (and since we can't comment on the farm bill) how about high commodity prices and record subsidies at the same time? Did every Democrat join Jim Jones cult?
Posted by: Darrell at May 19, 2008 08:19 PM (XWhkN)
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I just can't figure that one out. I can't even summon every liberal molecule in my body and figure out how theyrationalize those freakin' subsidies.
Sorry about the commenting problem, but I'm working on it. Progress has been slowed, however, because of the bias against women of shortness in the blogosphere. It makes me tired. Or not-proud. Or something.
Oh, hey--here's my husband! He'll explain it!
Posted by: Attila Girl at May 19, 2008 08:55 PM (Hgnbj)
Posted by: Darrell at May 19, 2008 09:19 PM (XWhkN)
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No dice. He's tired of my trying to hide behind his, um, tool-belt . . .
Posted by: Attila Girl at May 19, 2008 10:39 PM (Hgnbj)
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When a black woman criticizes her country, that's an attack. When a white woman criticizes her country, that's a thoughtful critique.
In response, McCain's wife said that she's "always been proud of her country." I wonder which moment was proudest for her:
A. When no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq.
B. When the federal government bungled Hurricane Katrina.
C. When George Bush stood on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier like a big hero, and announced the end of major combat operations in Iraq.
Yet, I see no mention of her inane statement in the main stream media.
Posted by: The Hipnerd at May 19, 2008 10:49 PM (XmFK6)
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Come on, now: you cannot suggest that it is reasonable for any upper-middle-class/wealthy person who went to law school and lives in a tony part of Chicago to suggest that she was never proud of this country until her husband became a real contender for the Democratic Presidential nomination.
That isn't criticism. That's large-scale condemnation.
Naturally, I'm curious about which white woman you had in mind. There are at least a few dozen of us in this country, and our approaches to civic involvement . . . vary.
Posted by: Attila Girl at May 20, 2008 05:50 AM (Hgnbj)
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You're right, her statement isn't reasonable--it's an exaggeration. I'm sure Mrs. McCain's statement is one as well.
However, if you're willing to ascribe Mrs. Obama's to some deep seeded hatred for the U.S.A., then Mrs. McCain's is jingoism, and deserves equal scrutiny.
Posted by: The Hipnerd at May 20, 2008 03:34 PM (mElWK)
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I actually do not see a contradiction between having pride in America and imagining that there aren't things that could be done better in the U.S.A.
So, no: I do not see Mrs. McCain's statement as problematic.
But I continue to see Mrs. Obama's statement as troubling, particularly in concert with some of the other outrageous things she has said.
If, BTW, you agree with Barack Obama that his wife should not be criticized in this campaign, do you see Bill Clinton in the same way? If not, why not?
Posted by: Attila Girl at May 20, 2008 03:39 PM (Hgnbj)
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She didn't say "I have pride in America." She said, "I've always been proud of my country." Big difference.
I didn't say I agree that Obama's wife shouldn't be criticized, I'm just pointing out the double standard in leaving out criticism of McCain's wife.
Posted by: The Hipnerd at May 21, 2008 06:31 PM (XmFK6)
Just When You Think You Despise Huckabee As Much As You Can, He Outdoes Himself.
What was NRA thinking in the first place, letting an idiot like Huckabee address its membership?
But if it's killed any chance of him being considered as VP, it might be worth the fact that the lefties will use this to malign gun owners.
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Who was McCain's first choice again? John Kerry? Maybe an Exorcism would help at this point. Look, John, by going after that magical 10% of swing voters, you are going to make your 40-something-% base stay at home until Wednesday, Nov. 5th. Can't you see that all those bridges you built with the Left are made of cotton candy? See anyone rushing from the Left looking to join the "Straight Talk Express"? Could you have picked a lamer name for your campaign? Are you trying to book an appearance on "Laugh-In" to seal the election? Get some professional help while you can.
Posted by: Darrell at May 16, 2008 08:58 PM (KKy19)
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we can only hope that this takes care of the huckaphony issue for veep. i throw up a little in my mouth everytime i think about it.
Yeah. When I Worked Graveyard at Ship's in Westwood,
a customer called me "Honey." Men need to be careful using terms of endearment with strange women. (And remember—most women are strange as hell . . .)
I didn't mind "I love women in uniform." Because, after all, who doesn't look great in an orange dress, nylons, a bun in one's hair, and white tennis shoes with salsa stains on 'em?
But I didn't like "Honey." I just peered up through my bangs, leaned on the counter and told the guy. "I'm the waitress. I call you 'Honey.' That does not mean you get to call me 'Honey.'"
That was, BTW, the best job I ever had: I got to work all night, eat silver-dollar pancakes at 4:00 a.m., get the breakfast rush started, and walk home to my apartment just off UCLA's sorority row to have a second breakfast with my roommates before going to sleep.
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Aww, c'mon, babe, you don't have to get all huffy, sugarplum.
After all, we mean them as compliments, sweetcheeks
---
Just remember, Attila;
"IT COULD BE WORSE!"
For example, I've heard some fairly strange (and I mean strange) terms of endearments headed my way. And then some. Ever had some strange woman come up and pinch your cheeks? Really disconcerting. Or my classmate who rubbed my beer belly in a strangely erotic way.
Sauce for the goose and gander, y'know? Not to mention sticks 'n' stones.
Posted by: Gregory at May 14, 2008 05:49 PM (cjwF0)
2Or my classmate who rubbed my beer belly in a strangely erotic way.
I hate that. I may look like Buddha, but I assure you that rubbing my beer gut does not bring good luck.
Posted by: I R A Darth Aggie at May 15, 2008 05:28 AM (1hM1d)
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In indiana, everyone is honey or hon, go get gas and the cashier will say that'l be $20 hon.
I learnt long time ago to look at the context before picking on words.
Posted by: azmat hussain at May 18, 2008 06:14 PM (+fapf)
Just No.
I've made my peace with the McCain candidacy, despite his rather colorful past with respect to the Bill of Rights.
But if Huckabee is added to the ticket, all bets are off. And I will join AllahP and write Hillary in. Gladly.
UPDATE: Sean Hackbarth, wearing his political consultant / stupid grownup hat, concedes that he's unenthusiastic about the prospect, but points out that "politically, itÂ’s not a horrible idea," and talks about the energy, optimism, and web-savvy the Hucksters might bring to the McCain campaign.
All I know is that as economic conservative, civil liberties nut and populism-hater, I would be livid. After all, the GOP has already told me to "fuck off" once in this election cycle; I don't really care to hear it twice. And the idea that I might ever—even theoretically, even if McCain were Certified Immortal—hear the phrase "President Huckabee" scares me down to my size-five shoes.
Furthermore: (1) I doubt I'm the only one who feels this way. Also, (2) the Immigration Militants make me look like a softy.
If the Republicans want people to stay home on Election Day, they are making all the right moves.
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After McCain's global warming speech, if he doesn't add some one with a lick of sense on the subject--like Fred Thompson--I may just join you.
Hey John, some say werewolves, chubracabras, and vampires are impervious to our current weapons. Why don't we spend $Trillions making everything silver based? Makes about as much sense.
Posted by: Darrell at May 13, 2008 01:52 PM (58jFo)
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Oh, come now. Having Huckabee on the ticket would provide the most amusing moment of the election evening, as we watched Utah, who went over 80% for George Bush in 2004 and hasn't been won by a Democrat since the New Deal, go overwhelmingly for Obama.
If they were to put Huckabee on the ticket, I could relax and enjoy the show as the Republican Party marginalizes itself into insignificance, because _I_ would no longer have any political views in common with the Republicans, therefore would not be bothered to see them go the way of the Whigs.
David
Posted by: David at May 14, 2008 03:07 AM (AoSNx)
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We just have to see how much the "anybody but Obama" factor figures into this.
Posted by: John at May 14, 2008 04:14 AM (bfnjv)
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David: it would be a lot more amusing if there weren't a war going on.
Posted by: Attila Girl at May 14, 2008 10:18 AM (Hgnbj)
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That is true, and I do agree it is an issue. But it is hard to get excited about this when the person supposedly the best on the war, John McCain, spends all his freakin' time worried about sideshows like global warming and campaign finance reform. Also, taking the VERY long view, if the cold war is any indicator, we are likely to see the end of this in our lifetimes, but shit like McCain Feingold and Global Warming caps and trades are going to have a greater impact. Think about it: At the end of the day, what was the legacy of FDR that had a greater impact on our day-to-day lives -- the way they fought WWII? Or social security? The Republicans in general and McCain and Huckabee in particular seem to be intent on foisting things on the American people that will have repercussions for generations. So, I am prepared to just wave them good-bye and take enjoyment as the go down in flames.
David
Oh-Bama!
Aw, come on. It's the same as G.W. Bush not being able to recall the name of Pakistan's President--even if he was able to give a brief digest of the man's rise to power.
And Chris swapped out his daily strip to accommodate this. I'm hoping he's going to run the one that was up earlier, though . . . I liked it.
And now someone is going to slam me on my numerical memory. Well, I don't usually conflate odd numbers with even ones. Though I did once compose a "sonnet" that was a full quatrain short, and in conversation at a party once in the middle of the night (and not the least bit tipsy), I suggested something about the "decade" between 1972 and 1980.
"Um. Aren't most decades ten years long?" I was asked.
"Not that one," I informed the questioner. "A lot was compressed into that particular one, so they cut it off by two years. No one wanted any more seventies than they absolutely had to put up with."
In my defense, I once knew a guy who balanced his checkbook in base-8. I feel that this was on the nerdy side.
UPDATE: Insty has a "57-gate*" roundup. We who cannot remember numbers are discriminated against! Though I do like the idea of someone asking him to name all 114 senators.
* "Fifty-seven-gate"? "57gate"? "57Gate"? LMA style generally uses words for numbers between one and nineteen, and numerals for 20 and larger. Except, of course, at the beginning of a sentence.
LMA style permits the vulgar use of -gate as a suffix for scandalous phrases. Its copy chiefs, however, have yet to reach an accord on whether these locutions should be hyphenated.
You know, my fierce OCD could be a powerful force if it were only used for good, instead of . . . compulsiveness.
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You are joking when you compare Bush's failure on his "gotcha" question to this dopyness, right? I have to ask, because I'm a stupid wingnut who has trouble figuring out when people are obviously joking, or so I've been told:
http://nicedeb.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/a-patriotic-lapel-pin-even-obama-would-love/
Posted by: Nice Deb at May 10, 2008 02:34 PM (U3seU)
2
When Obama has a brain fart, he doesn't fool around. Like his 10,000 dead in Kansas from that twister. Real number 12 (10 at the time).
Posted by: Darrell at May 10, 2008 08:20 PM (xzn0y)
3
I'm just trying to defend English majors; that's all.
Come on--ya gotta like that eight-year decade. That was the apogee of my absentmindedness--unless that was the time I put windshield wiper fluid in my radiator.
Or, um, the time I was driving from the Bay Area to Los Angeles, and rather dreamily got back on the 5 going north for a while after I gassed up. That's not as embarrassing as the fact that I had to drive by a number of fields of grapes before I thought, "hm. Wrong place for grapevines. Even so, it was still another 15 or 20 minutes before I focused enough to realize I was driving the wrong direction.
I'm always impressed with myself when I make mistakes that Scanmaster (the Nudist on the Late Shift) wouldn't make.
Posted by: Attila Girl at May 11, 2008 01:10 AM (Hgnbj)
. He demonstrated that while Al-QaedaÂ’s Islamic State of Iraq could claim 334 operations in Nov. 06 and 292 in May 07, their violent output dropped to 25 in Nov. 07 and 16 so far in May 08. Keep in mind that these assessments are based on Al-QaedaÂ’s own numbers.
Come on--ya gotta like that eight-year decade. That was the apogee of my absentmindedness--unless that was the time I put windshield wiper fluid in my radiator.
Or, um, the time I was driving from the Bay Area to Los Angeles, and rather dreamily got back on the 5 going north for a while after I gassed up. That's not as embarrassing as the fact that I had to drive by a number of fields of grapes before I thought, "hm. Wrong place for grapevines. Even so, it was still another 15 or 20 minutes before I focused enough to realize I was driving the wrong direction.
I'm always impressed with myself when I make mistakes that Scanmaster (the Nudist on the Late Shift) wouldn't make.
