Welcome to the People's Republic of America

Okay, America if this is what you want, then I hope you’re happy. I for one, will be stuffing my mattress with money and stocking up on those MRE’s and survival gear. If you think the last eight years was bad news I don’t think you’re prepared with what will be coming our way over the next four (my prediction). Apparently, all it takes to become president of this once great country, is to put on a helluva campaign. I wonder if I could become CEO of GM after 13 months of selling cars in their backlot. (Heck maybe I could even run for Prez, once the implosion happens.)

I know a lot of you out there, love this man and I have never really been able to figure out why – but I hope the love affair continues – but I have my doubts. Serious ones.

Oh well, at the very least it should be good for some blog fodder, providing political descension is still Constitutional come January – there’s always Grit’s farm I suppose.

Congrats to those who wanted change – I just hope it’s the kind of change we all want. Somehow I doubt it and I’m certainly not holding my breath. Anybody got change for 10 Euronote? I need a drink.

Wake Me Up When It's Over…

Okay, so the ‘big election’ that apparently is going to make history is in just a few days. And in honor of that I am stepping just inside the lines of a political post… To say this has been the weirdest fricking election I’ve seen in my lifetime doesn’t begin to describe how I feel about this whole miserable ball of wax. Sorry folks, but as far as I’m concerned, neither side has even come close to getting it right, from the issues to the candidates it has been in my humble opinion one big fucking joke.

To say I’m pissed about the whole damn thing doesn’t begin to cover it. I’m pissed that we’ve been offered the choices (if you can call them that) we have and that stupid shit like universal healthcare, gas costs and gay marriage seem to be the most important things on the agenda this time out. When the hell did we stop caring about things that really fucking matter? Have we really just completely spiraled into total apathy and stopped giving a damn about anything real? Anything?

No matter what happens it won’t be good for any of us or for the country. I simply can’t drink the cool aid for the right, the left or the middle. They are all a bunch of losers and we have only ourselves to blame for letting people like this get anywhere near the Oval Office. Believe me, we will all live to regret it. I only hope we’re still alive to regret it. I’m not joking here, not at all.

I have a friend who keeps saying the only hope for this country is a clean slate. That literally the country needs to implode and I guess we’re talking revolution here – for things to right themselves. I’m beginning to think he may be right. We are so far afield of anything the Founding Fathers wanted for this country and its citizens and forget the Constitution because clearly our representatives have no clue what it says much less what it means.

My advice? Stock up on MRE’s, warm clothes and survival gear. iPods and cell phones aren’t going to be of any use and you might as well start weaning yourself off Starbux too. Meanwhile, I’ll be looking for a private island for me and my friends. Maybe we’ll be able to wait it out.

So…no matter who wins, we all lose. Wake me when it’s over. And please God, can it come soon!!

Is Hillary Still Gasping for Air or is She Dead in the Water?

I read this article today. It’s mild and a bit bitchy, true. But I have to wonder why it was written at all, if there is no real threat perceived. I know for months many have subscribed to the view that an Obama(nomi)nation is inevitable and frankly, Hillary wasted all that money and those black pant suits for nothing. Apparently she was only there to make it look like he had competition, right?

Hmm…here’s the thing, we all know Hil and she isn’t a quitter. Far from it. I mean the woman who coined the phrase “vast rightwing conspiracy” has always had many tricks up her sleeves and I doubt we even know the half of them. She stuck it out with Bill through 2 or 3 dreary govenortarial terms in Arkansas, then the campaigning, that tacky Fleetwood Mac soundtrack, Monica-Gate, Impeachment, parsing over the meaning of the word is – White Water, the Rose Law Firm, Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Vince Harris and lots of bad hairdo’s, so now when her lifelong dream is actually on the table, she’s gonna nod, pat Barack on the fanny and say, you go, guy? Doesn’t sound like Hillary to me. Seriously, does it sound like Hillary to you?

The Dem rules for their convention and nomination process are so complex and contingent on such a wide range of variables that I doubt most scholars could even understand them, much less know when they are being violated. And there is this whole super-delegate thing which apparently (start biting your nails, folks) we won’t know the result of until the actual convention (and when the hell is that?). Conceivably, they could all decide they are going to vote for her. Many of them are not telling who they plan to vote for and since they’ve now decided that Hil will somehow be part of the nomination process, who the hell knows what might happen?

Sure, the Obama camp seems cool and not worried but the fact that they just keep repeating that makes me think they aren’t so cool and could be worried. Plus there are a lot of very bitter Hil supporters who might just want to teach somebody a lesson.

Since you all know I have no vested interest in either candidate because I’d rather extract my own teeth than vote for either one, I just find this an amusing and interesting proposition. Having watched Hil over the years manage to skirt prosecution, jail time and a much needed makeover, I have a very hard time believing this is just going to go clippity clop. Actually, secretly, I’m hoping it doesn’t if for no other reason than this has been the boringest presidential season I have ever witnessed in my entire life. The candidates on both sides couldn’t be more predictable, nor more boring if they tried.

Anyway, I’m wondering what y’all think – any opinions, does the Barack-man have it in the bag or will we be witness to some bizarre out of left field smashdown the likes of which we’ve never seen before? I hope so, I have a lot of popcorn and diet coke waiting and there’s nothing on television worth watching.

And as a bonus sidenote – Grit has got a wailing good tale to tell, which dovetails with this in a twisted nice way.

UPDATE: For a much harder hitting piece with well researched info and abundant links go see what Ange has to say on Mr. Obama. Spoiler: did you know that Obama pays his bloggers? What’s up with that?

Why Dead People Should Vote

With the upcoming election looming before us, I started thinking about alternative voting blocs. Ask any poller for a run down of voter profiles and they will rattle off a list of demographics and sub-demographics that is longer than a guest list for a royal wedding. Apparently, there is a demographic for every walk of life and quirky behavior – or is there? I wondered if some voting blocs had been left out in the cold? Dead people came to mind as a seriously under-represented group. Just because someone is dead doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have a voice in who will lead the country over the next four years, does it?

Dead people should be able to vote because:

1. No American should be disenfranchised in the voting process. (No matter how bad their complexion is.)

2. They represent a vast silent majority. (If you exclude the night time banshee-like moaning.)

3. There is currently no lobby for body decay. (Mary Kay? Avon? Anybody?)

4. They don’t care what has happened to the social security and medicare funds and therefore won’t hold it against Congress. (Particularly those running for re-election.)

5. The Republicans need a larger voting bloc. (And besides, the dead will do jobs that living Americans won’t do.)

6. The Democrats need a larger voting bloc. (And besides, the dead will do jobs that living Americans won’t do.)

7. They have gone back to nature and therefore are totally green and should be able to cash in their carbon credits. (Soylent Green is people.)

8. Life has gone on without them and it’s just not fair. (I smell a lawsuit coming on.)

9. Without dead people the whole mortuary business would go belly up. (And do we really need that kind of pressure on the economy right now?)

And finally, and perhaps best reason why dead people should be able to vote is….. (drum roll, please…)

10. They already drive cars and shop at Walmart – and some even have careers on Wall Street and in politics.

As always, feel free to add to the list.

Why You Should Vote in the Presidential Election

This election cycle has seen quite a bit of apathy among the electorate and really who can blame them? None of the candidates are exciting, interesting or even slightly different from the steady crop we’ve had over the last couple of decades. In fact, in some cases, there is quite a bit of anger and frustration on the part of the electorate over which candidates managed to get to the top slot(s) – and many suspect the ‘fix is in’ . They may be right.

However, we are stuck with those who have been selected for us and I’m all for looking on the bright side and coming up with some reasons why we should all vote – and since I’m pretty sure that there are plenty of lists around for all the reasons we shouldn’t vote, this seemed like a good idea. Although many things seem like good ideas and fail miserably but that’s another story….

You should vote in the Presidential Election because:

1. Tuesday is typically an off day and there really isn’t much else to do.

2. You might end up on the evening news as an interviewee in the exit polls. Naturally, you’ll have a much better chance if you draw attention to yourself through the use of costumes and/or picket signs. The media loves cheap and cheesy.

3. We haven’t had a chad count in a long time.

4. The sooner a new president is elected, the sooner the media can get some raw meat to feast on and it’s been a paltry feasting season so far. Note: The media apparently require vast amounts of fresh carrion, ah…er..protein to survive.

5. There is nothing good on television that day.

6. There are sure to be protest demonstrations for whichever Dem candidate got cheated or shafted, thereby increasing your chances of appearing in the evening news.

7. November is a boring month and the autumn leaves you’ll see on your walk to the polls will be about as good as it gets.

8. You can delude yourself into believing that your vote counts.

9. Since it is a federal law that your employer must give you up to two hours to vote (without penalty) you will have an extra 1 hour and 45 minutes to screw around before you go back to work.

10. We need a new list of conspiracy theories, new blood in the Whitehouse will help to spawn same.

11. I’m dying to see if Bill Clinton will be our first male First Lady.

12. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can start looking forward to the next presidential election.

13. Due to global warming it may be your last chance to vote before it is proven that voting is destructive to the planet.

14. Since you’ve probably spent the last ten years of your life in front of a computer screen, doing something more exertive could be dangerous for your health.

15. It’s cheaper than putting gas in your car.

16. You may luck out and be witness to voter fraud and/or disenfranchisement and be able to sue somebody later, thereby facilitating an early retirement.

17. It’ll be fun to see what Florida does to screw it up this time.

18. This may be your only chance to vote for your dog.

Okay, well that’s my list. What’s yours?

Can You Say- Snoozefest?

You know, I’ve was looking forward to 2008 for one reason and one reason alone – the presidential race. Certain that Hillary was going to run, I was overjoyed at the prospect of some real Hall of Fame Gaffs on her and her opponent’s part. Not to mention the fact that I really wanted to see one of those think pieces done by 60 Minutes, up close and personal with Bill and how he looked forward to being the first male First Lady.

I had my popcorn ready, my scorecards, my blank dvds for recording and several megs of space reserved just for all the fun. I was writing posts in my head with glee. In a phrase, I was into it.

Then it happened. The most boring, snoozefest primary cycle I have ever been witness to. That Hillary and Obama would be the last two standing was always a forgone conclusion – and unfortunately, for the Pubbies, so it seemed a forgone conclusion that Citizen McCane would get the nod. After all, he’d waited lo these many years to be paid back for supporting W (well, sorta) – but we were all hoping for something better. Rudy fell so flat as a candidate I’ll admit to being surprised, Ron Paul (the froot loop of the Universe – sorry Paul fans, the man should be on 24 hour watch and have his meds adjusted daily), Fred (I’m so bored wake me when it’s over) Thompson, Mike Crapabee who may still be able to get his preacher job back and then a bunch of other dudes who I never really heard of -Romney was but the one gleam of light (at least in my opinion) lleft for the pubblies. But no, they had to take the NYT to heart and listened to all the pollsters who by the way are awfully wrong a lot of the time. Bummer. Yawn, yawn, and yawn. The yawns just Kept on coming.

So, now we’re down to the wire and the pubbies have their guy but the dems, not so much. Thanks to the ever so bizarre and complicated rules that were rewritten a few years back – it seems that Hillary could still get the nod. Despite the fact that Obama is the second coming of Christ, is proof that we are no longer a seriously racist country (unless you ask Jeramiah), the best thing since sliced bread and apparently has a whole new angle on a platform “CHANGE” – yeah that’s original. Sorry folks, but I just don’t get the thing with Obama. Though he is highly educated I never heard a politician ah and er his way through so many sentences – his speeches are poorly recycled King speeches (who was the dude who really rawked), all fluff – like so much meringue. What’s there to love? Oh yeah, and for a guy who has a heart so filled with love, what’s up with the seriously scary and mean wife of his? The bottom line is on Hillary vs Obama the only difference is that he’s a he and she’s a she – they are both far left, want universal healthcare, to raise everybody’s taxes, except those who are on the dole and then they get everything for free, give driver’s licenses to illegals who sneak across the border and to revamp Nafta so we’ll pay even more for gas because we’ll lose our preferential treatment with Canada and Mexico. But hey, WTF do I know?

They all talk about how they are going to give us a break on gas taxes this summer. Big whoop – the oil companies will simply add that to their profit. And sorry folks, nope, you don’t get to blame the pubbies for that because they all wanted to drill in Anwar, with the latest, high tech, doesn’t disturb the enviornment methods – you shut them down – they wanted nuclear power and ah…nope, you won’t let them do that either. So, you can blame the libbies who blather about global warming on the steps to their private jets for that one. Oh and by the way, if we went to Iraq for oil, then why the frick are we paying $4 a gallon? I’m just saying, there is some flaw in logic there. And that’s just one example.

Once upon a time, I had an idea for a book where there was an election and nobody came – who knew I would be so prophetic? I’m wondering if anyone besides the candidates, the press and the pollsters are coming out for this one. If you ask me, it’s a snoozefest we can all see once it comes out on video.

WC

It’s a Taxing Situation…

You know, rather than discuss the candidates per se – let’s look at an issue for a change. There has been, over the years, a lot of rhetoric about taxes – good and bad.

The Dems are fond of saying that the Pubbies, particularly Bush, only want to give tax breaks to the rich. While I think that most of us realize that at best, this is an exaggeration – I think a little actual information is a better way to consider things.

And as they say, the truth shall set you free. Honestly, I didn’t realize myself that there was such a difference – I did notice my taxes have been lower for the last several years, but since I’ve never really made much money, I guess the change didn’t really hit me.

But I do think it is noteworthy. The following information came from here, if you want to check it out.

Taxes under Clinton 1999 Taxes under Bush 2008
Single making 30K – tax $8,400 Single making 30K – tax $4,500
Single making 50K – tax $14,000 Single making 50K – tax $12,500
Single making 75K – tax $23,250 Single making 75K – tax $18,750
Married making 60K – tax $16,800 Married making 60K- tax $9,000
Married making 75K – tax $21,000 Married making 75K – tax $18,750
Married making 125K – tax $38,750 Married making 125K – tax $31,250

It is interesting when you consider that many people believe that Bush is not giving them a break tax wise, and that Bill Clinton was the one who was looking out for them. That Clinton had such a great economy and Bush ruined it. The truth is, that the unemployment rate has been consistently lower under Bush than it ever was under Clinton, the stock market has reached all time highs under Bush and despite the trillions of dollars that 911 cost us, we have thrived. Part of the reason for this is the tax cuts.

Both Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama have said they intend to end the Bush tax cuts, if elected. So, if that comes to pass, instead of paying 15%-25% of your income – you will be paying 28%-31% of your income – providing they go with the previous Bill Clinton levels. However, knowing politicians as we do – they will likely justify even higher rates based on inflation, cost of living and cost of all their new programs – so we may well see tax levels closer to 40% on the high end.

Yep, I’d have to agree – they surely do want change. The question are you willing to pay for it?

WC

(H.T. to Ger for passing on the info. )

This is a graph for Grace and connects to my response to her comment. WC

Barack Obama: Savior or Socialist?

I know we’ve been having some fun swapping barbs about political candidates, lately. But I’d like to actually speak in earnest about Senator Barack Obama. I know that there are a lot of people out there who think he is really something – that maybe he is a shining beacon of hope for this country.

Given his charm, good looks and eloquence as an orator, I am not surprised that many feel that he is a breath of fresh air. That perhaps we have someone special in our midst’s. But I’m going to ask you to strip away all those lovely attributes and actually look at what he stands for. Not the poetic language he uses to couch it in, but the actual issues.

Would it surprise you to know that his platform and his ‘to do’ list is almost identical to Hillary Clinton’s? Yes, it really is. Free college, free , pull out the troops, stop funding the military, raise taxes, pour more billions into a the broken educational system, more entitlements, driver’s licenses to foreign nationals who reside illegally in this country. Yep, he’s for all that. Same as Hillary, except moreso. So, for those of you who love Barack but hate Hillary, I’d have to conclude that it is a matter of personality, not issues.

Sure, he likes to use the pretty words, change, peace on earth, what America could be…starry eyes, presidential poses, a preacher’s passionate fire – but those are just words. They are not accomplishments, they are not actions, they are just dressing up the issues that both he and Hillary share. He simply doesn’t have the baggage that Hillary has. Think about it – if Hillary were a junior senator from the midwest, who was an unknown quantity and didn’t have a record or the spouse she currently has – you’d see very little difference between the two. The fact that she has all that ’stuff’ and it’s been published for years in books, newspapers and television shows just means you know who she really is. In Barack’s case, not so much. He’s just a nice, clean-cut guy from the midwest, energetic, intelligent, blah, blah.

Well, there are a couple of things that I’d like to share about him. First of all, there is this little gem – is it impossible to believe that maybe Mr. Obama would agree to some of these ‘goals’ from such avid supporters? I don’t know about you, but my religion has never been able to demand that federal buildings carry certain items on the menu of their cafeterias or provide time/places for which I may pray. Seems a little one-sided doesn’t it?

Then there is this

Yes indeed, a Che Guevara flag donning Obama’s Texas campaign office. When asked about it, Obama’s people said it maybe was ‘inappropriate.” Excuse me? Inappropriate? The man refuses to wear an American flag lapel button but this is okay? Does he know who/what Che was? If not, let me give you some highlights:

Guevara joined Castro’s revolutionary Cuban army in 1956 as a top commander and Castro’s personal physician. He helped Castro topple the regime in Havana in 1959.
As Castro’s right-hand man he ordered the execution of hundreds of people while in charge of the La Caba prison. He said about the mass killings of innocent people,

“To send men to the firing squad, judicial proof is unnecessary. These procedures are an archaic bourgeois detail. This is a revolution! And a revolutionary must become a cold killing machine motivated by pure hate.”

another memorable quote:
“Hatred as an element of struggle; unbending hatred for the enemy, which pushes a human being beyond his natural limitations, making him into an effective, violent, selective and cold-blooded killing machine – this is what our soldiers must become.”

and:

“Blind hate against the enemy creates a forceful impulse that cracks the boundaries of natural human limitations, transforming the soldier into an effective, selective and cold killing machine. A people without hate cannot triumph against the adversary.”

I find it difficult to believe that a man who was educated in an Ivy League school would be unaware of Guevara or his political stance – but maybe he doesn’t. But if he doesn’t, should he be in a position to lead the free world?

Then there is the matter of the global poverty act. Sounds impressive doesn’t it? Sounds altruistic and humane? Yeah, it sounds good, until you stop to consider the following:

It would demand that the president develop “and implement” a policy to “cut extreme global poverty in half by 2015 through aid, trade, debt relief” and other programs.

When word about what appears to be a massive new spending program started getting out, the reaction was immediate.

“It’s not our job to cut global poverty,” said one commenter on a Yahoo news forum. “These people need to learn how to fish themselves. If we keep throwing them fish, the fish will rot.”
Cliff Kincaid (Accuracy in Media) published critique of the plan stated, the adoption (of global poverty act) could “result in the imposition of a global tax on the United States” and would make levels “of U.S. foreign aid spending subservient to the dictates of the United Nations.”

Kincaid said the legislation, if approved, dedicates 0.7 percent of the U.S. gross national product to foreign aid, which over 13 years he said would amount to $845 billion “over and above what the U.S. already spends.”
The plan passed the House in 2007 “because most members didn’t realize what was in it,” Kincaid reported. “Congressional sponsors have been careful not to calculate the amount of foreign aid spending that it would require.”

The bill institutes the United Nations Millennium Summit goals as the benchmarks for U.S. spending.

Mr. Obama has said of the bill:

“With billions of people living on just dollars a day around the world, global poverty remains one of the greatest challenges and tragedies the international community faces,” Obama said. “It must be a priority of American foreign policy to commit to eliminating extreme poverty and ensuring every child has food, shelter, and clean drinking water. As we strive to rebuild America’s standing in the world, this important bill will demonstrate our promise and commitment to those in the developing world.

“Our commitment to the global economy must extend beyond trade agreements that are more about increasing profits than about helping workers and small farmers everywhere,” he continued.

“It is time the United States makes it a priority of our foreign policy to meet this goal and help those who are struggling day to day,” a statement issued by supporters, including Obama, said.

Now, I’m a little confused – I thought we weren’t supposed to be the babysitters of the world. It’s not our business that Saddam Hussein and the Taliban were executing people, torturing people, and all their other many violations of human rights. Yet, somehow now it’s our job to feed the world and he wants a law that will require the United States to take nearly 1% of its Gross National Product to feed the rest of the world, above and beyond what we already give to foreign aid. This country gives more aid, financial and otherwise than any other country in the world – not to mention private charities to which millions of Americans give to daily. Yet, now our taxes (which will likely have to be raised to pay for this and many other programs) must go toward more of this?

So, which is it? Are we to stay out of things and mind our own business or take care of the whole world. Oh and making the United Nations an integral part of this is even better, don’t you think? They’ve been wanting to dictate what America can and cannot do for years now – and soon they’ll be running the country if this sort of thing comes to pass.

And last but not least, there was that statement that Mrs. Obama made a few days ago in which she stated that it was the first time in her adult life where she felt proud of her country. Okay, excuse me? The first time? Really? I mean, there is nothing, absolutely nothing that she could have been proud of before her husband, gave all these people ‘hope.’ And while we’re on the topic – are we hopeless? When did Americans become hopeless. I think that Americans are the most hopeful, positive people in the world but apparently, I’m wrong and we’re all filled with despair and longing for someone to come along and make us feel safe and loved. And apparently that person’s name is Barack Obama.

It’s making me a bit uncomfortable to realize that I am beginning to see parallels between the Obama’s and the Clinton’s. The husband is charming and charismatic, the wife is strong, angry, controlling, assertive. While Mrs. Obama has more finesse than Hillary ever did – she really still does remind me of her. The power couple, poised for success, poised for national stardom. It’s a little spooky.

But I have to ask – what exactly has this man done – period? I mean what accomplishments does he have that even give anyone an idea that he could lead the country? Truly, what are they? I’ve heard people asked about this several times and no one seems to be able to point to anything. Not one accomplishment – he’s a first term senator who thinks he’s ready to lead the country. Based on what? Giving everybody hand outs and placebos to make them believe that their lives are somehow better by having the government even more involved in their daily lives? Who would hope for that?

Personally, I think he is a socialist who comes in a nice, trendy package. But no matter how pretty wrapping might be – what’s inside isn’t any better than what Hillary has to offer. And if you believe otherwise, I’m afraid you are kidding yourself, my friend. I really do.

Is a Vote for Huckabee a Vote for McCain?

Wow, I just saw this on Drudge. If it’s true – it’s pretty creepy. I don’t know much about Huckabee but I wouldn’t put it past McCain. He is so maniacal about being the candidate and never got over losing the nomination from Bush, I’d be willing to bet he made some sort of deal. Huckabee might not mind being part of a McCain cabinet.

What really sucks about this is the Huckabee supporters, if it is true are being screwed. If they are voting for Huckabee in good faith, should their candidate be donating their votes to McCain. It would piss me off anyway.

I’ll keep you posted.

WC

Super Tuesday

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t absolutely obsessed with politics right now. I am. Poor me, because really the long and short of it is, what will be will be. Not that I’m fatalistic really, but I do realize that all I can control are my own actions – not those of others and I suppose we will see what in fact, the American people really want.

While all of the candidates leave much to be desired, some are much worse than others.

Since most of you know that I am a conservative, it’s not likely I would vote for a liberal and if I were a liberal I would cringe at my choices. Hillary is like coffee, either you love it or you hate it. And while Barack Obama scores high marks in the personality department and the presence department and the intelligence department – he still has a nearly identical platform as Hillary. If you removed the personality factor – in terms of the issues there really isn’t much difference. And while I know that there are those who feel this is a very important election because it may result in either the first woman or the first African-American to hold the office – I honestly don’t believe that is a significant enough reason to vote for either of them. That being said, I would vote for Barack, if he were a conservative – I actually like the guy and think regardless of what happens has a definite future in politics in a big way.

As to my side of the aisle – I haven’t been excited about any of them very much. Except McCain and that is in a bad way. Read this. Frankly, I don’t understand why he isn’t running against Hillary and Barack right now -because if you close your eyes – again one doesn’t see much difference.

But now that the field has thinned considerably for the conservative side I am on board with Romney. While he has things that don’t thrill me – he is intelligent, well mannered, has proven track records in management, turning deficits into surpluses and something else I can’t really put my finger on. There is something about the man that makes me feel he can be trusted in the important issues. I don’t know why – perhaps it is the fact that he is even tempered, seems virtually unflappable and seems presidential. Or maybe it’s something else. At any rate – I can’t vote for McCain, Huckabee is a poor imitation of Clinton and Ron Paul is just to loopy to take seriously. So there you have it.

Who are you pulling the lever for on Tuesday and why? I’d really like to hear people’s thoughts on this if you care to share.

WC