I’ve about given up blogging on politics here for the next few days, because the odds are that any lingeringly uncommitted voters aren’t popping by to see what Lex thinks of our democratic processes.
Still, as an active student of the human condition, there are some things that, well: Amuse me.
Despite having quite possibly the thinnest public record of a presidential aspirant since Chester Arthur fleeted up to fill the shoes of an assassinated James Garfield, we are on the brink of electing Barack Obama president of these United States. Which is all well and good, I guess – history will be made, bridges to the future built, our European betters placated, and so on – and the Republic will no doubt endure.
Democrats, many so-called “centrists” and almost all Europeans are nearly agog at the prospect. A diminishing number of self-identified Republicans, meanwhile, find all that enthusiasm deeply mystifying. Perhaps because most of them aren’t feeling particularly enthusiastic themselves.
Still, girding themselves for one more press into the breach, a series of rather unimpressive attempts at an “October Surprise” have emerged. “Joe the Plumber” received a rather surprising answer about Obama’s plan to redistribute national wealth, and is subsequently subjected to government directed inquiries into his antecedents before media gatekeepers and their wanabees determined the whole thing an illegitimate source of discussion. Who cares about some working class guy named Joe? Who’s probably a neo-Nazi skinhead anyway. What with his Carhartt jeans and work boots.
A suitably chastened person anonymously collected further evidence of Obama’s frustration with the US Constitution’s limitations when it comes to redistribution of personal wealth, and is roundly dismissed.
The President-select’s Aunt is discovered to be living – rather informally, from a legal standpoint – in Boston public housing and contributing, once again informally, to his campaign. But the focus of The Chosen One’s digital Praetorians is to say that the real story should not be sainted Aunt Zeituni’s problematic legal status, nor yet her poverty amidst such familial bounty, but rather the suspicious provenance of those pushing the story. Because the story is most assuredly not the story, comrade, and McCain had that divorce, that one time. These days, it seems, telling the truth about a candidate is less important than who might benefit from that knowledge.
Because Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia.
There’s an interestingly rough asymmetry here: A private citizen has had government bureaucrats digging through his antecedents because a presidential candidate stopped on his door stoop and asked an question, but the Praetorians find that story uncompelling. On the other hand the revelation that the relative of a wealthy presidential candidate is living here illegally (in poverty, while donating campaign funds, again illegally) – is sufficient reason to weave conspiracy theories based on suspected governmental involvement on the other.
It’d truly be keen to have a open public discourse about the nature of the candidates aspiring to lead our country in trouble times, as well as the nature of their proposals, using their public records to evaluate how the former might influence the latter. But apparently it’s not to be tolerated. We don’t talk to one another anymore, nor even past each other. We’re having separate conversations.
All of which serves to heal our divisions, apparently.
Today’s example is only the most absurd. Someone has uncovered yet another damning audio file of the President-select expressing his opinions aloud, and the whole right wing smear machine has had the audacity to talk about it. Once the rough outlines of the case are made – Obama expresses an intention to make coal-generated electricity cripplingly expensive – it’s only passingly interesting to see GOP boosters flog the story. What’s really interesting – to me, at least – is the absolute unwillingness of the Praetorians to talk even talk about it.
Or nearly. When everyone else has got their fingers firmly planted in their ears, you can nearly always count on some “diarist” from the Daily Kos to explain that it’s all stuff and nonsense. That Obama never said any such thing.
Except that, you know: He did.
Eh, what? Two more days?
Vote early – vote often!
Don’t worry Lex, Obama will address all those questions at his press conference on wednesday.
Nicely said, Lex. As always.
Cheers,
Patrick
The whole situation just gets more bizarre daily. It’s like a badly written horror novel, only we get to participate.
Vote Wednesday?
No, it’s always the first Tuesday in November. I believe Craig is talking about Barack’s acceptance speech.
Although, you’re maybe on to something there. Vote Wednesday. Yeah. That’s the ticket.
Well, the outcome should bode well for us other than gifted golfers.
THE USGA WOULD LIKE TO INFORM ALL GOLFERS
There is a possibility of MAJOR rule changes to the game of golf, this may occur sometime after November 4.
This is only a preview as the complete rule book is being written now.
Here are a couple of basic changes.
Golfers with handicaps:
– below 10 will have their green fees increase by 35%
– between 11 and 18 will see no increase in green fees
– above 18 will play for free and even get a check from the club/course played
The $ amount put in for bets will be as follows:
-for handicaps below 10 an additional $10
-between 11 and 18 no additional amount
-above 18 you will receive the total amount in the pot and you do not even have to play.
The term “gimme putt” will be changed to “entitlement”
and will be used as follows:
-handicaps below 10, no entitlements
-handicaps above 11 to 17, entitlements for putter length putts
-handicaps above 18, if on green, no need to ever putt, just pick it up
These entitlements are intended to bring about fairness in scoring so
that the final scores of all players will be about the same.
In addition, a Player will be limited to a max of one birdie and/or six
pars, any excess must be given to those fellow players who have not yet
scored a birdie or par. Only after all players have received a birdie or
par from the player making the birdie or par, can that Player begin to
count his score again.
The current USGA handicap system will be used for the above purposes but
the term “net score” will be available only for scoring those players
with handicaps 18 and above.
This is intended to “redistribute” the success of winning by making sure
that in every competition the above 18 handicap players will post only
“net score” against every other player’s gross score.
These new Rules are intended to CHANGE the game of golf. Golf must be
about Fairness Only, it should have nothing to do with Ability.
Lovely plan of the Big Zero to “bankrupt the coal industry.” Roughly 50% of our electrical generating plants are currently run on coal. More and bigger power outages, I guess, are scheduled. No new offshore drilling. No US coal being mined. And, of course, the greenies don’t want us to have nuclear power. What’s left to power our lights, our cars, our trucking industry. The Great Wind bloviating from Washington?
Marianne
Actually, I was referring to a blog post by ABC’s Jake Tapper, wherein he reports that upon asking Obama a question after a campaign stop today about the fund rasing stories eported by ABC, National Journal and others, Obama wouldn’t answer. When pressed by Tapper, Obama said not to worry he’s having a press conference on wednesday.
And a magazine I’ve read for a few years now and that I used to respect for its relatively balanced view – has endorsed Obama on the cover of their recent issue.
The Economist.
And their reason? Because while the fulfillment of his potential remains to be seen, Obama deserves it.
That said – do we?
Kris, we do deserve it. Good and hard, as H.L. Mencken wrote. I do intend to engage in contraventile micturition on Tuesday, and will and shall vote for Sarah and that old guy if I have to crawl to the polling place with a busted femur.
[...] Weekly Standard,, DBKP, Democrat=Socialist, Ed Driscoll.com, Neptunus Lex, Macsmind, Jules Crittenden, Right Wing Nut House, Political Byline, Michelle Malkin, Wizbang, [...]
Reminds one of 1932. This time the Brown Shirts are the internet thugs, Kos klowns et.al. . There is no intolerance like the Left’s Intolerance.
Coal industry, spreading the wealth, fund raising scandals don’t give me pause. I’ll tell you what McCain should have been hammering, and what gives me the greatest FEAR (capital F) are BHO’s views on the Constitution.
He said the U.S. Constitution “ reflected the fundamental flaw of this country that continues to this day.”
He also said, “To that extent, as radical as I think people try to characterize the Warren Court, it wasn’t that radical. It didn’t break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution.”
If he raises his hand on a Bible and swears to uphold and defend the Constitution, which he obviously distains, he will be committing perjury.
I fear for the Constitution or a disregard for it by an Obama Supreme Court. It is the fundamental fabric of our Republic, and without it we cease to be the America we all love.
God help us.
Unfortunately BHO will probably win, I do believe however. that Biden was right in BHO being tested and soon…for fun we should have a pool (not unlike the anchor pools we had when I rowed in Sam’s canoe club) as to when the test begins…Inaugration nite seems like a good date. Millions have made up their minds on the vote without knowledge of economics or government (we have 11 Trillion in unfunded Social Security and 55 Trillion in unfunded Medicare liabilities) my two children have large targets on their backs for being hard working and successful citizens.
The GOP needs to purge itself of Rinos. Millions are joining Geri Thompsons “team palin”. It’s a good beginning.
Tuesday morning I will vote. Thence to the fields of eastern Jackson County (Michigan, that is) perchance to bag a ring-neck or two. It should be quite the day, one devoid of TV or Internet or AM radio.
Come Wednesday, we can all reap whatever we have sown.
The situation with the O’s Aunt is so out there it is really hard to get one’s brain around it… An official deportation order was placed against her 4 years ago! Her amnesty was rejected and she was asked to leave the country. She is mentioned in one of the O’s memoirs and… the MSM is just finding out about it 4 days from the election. Riiiiight…
Contrast that to Joe the Plumber. It wasn’t 36 hours from his encounter with the O that I was made aware of the fact by the MSM that he got a speeding ticket in Alaska for $76 in 1993.
There is something wrong with this picture, scary wrong… If you are a rational being presented with these two scenarios you must agree that something is terribly wrong with the media and the electorate in general.
In addition, considering the fact that this fugitive relative attended the O’s swearing in ceremony to the U.S. Senate, you would think he would have cleaned up his family ties well before now. Does ANYONE actually think the O campaign didn’t know this woman was out there living on the dole in public housing? Which brings up a whole other set of issues regarding redistributing MY WEALTH to HIS FAMILY MEMBERS. The O is way more wealthy than I am…
You would think he would have “cleaned up” his family long before now.
The only logical conclusion one can reach is that the media has been so in the tank for the guy that the O campaign thought they could just ignore it… They could have easily sent her back to Kenya to live in a hotel for a few months and then petitioned for her asylum after the O gained office.
This speaks more poorly of our news organizations than anything else. This worries me terribly.
In conclusion, just one more depressing thought to end your weekend; the McCain campaign won’t touch this with a ten foot pole even though an overwhelming majority of Americans of all stripes are sick and tired of the illegal immigration into our country. O’s Aunt is a poster child for these feelings; a person here illegally, with a deportation order against her, living on welfare and in public housing? It couldn’t get any worse than this unless, of course, she murdered someone while driving drunk!
I predict a run on all things George Orwell if the O makes it into office…
Considering the state of my golf game, there may be something in an Obama win–the only damn consolation I’ll have.
On the other hand, I can go down to the beach at Santa Monica and see the ocean lay flat–never to rise again. Hard on surfers; maybe good for seasick sailors.
Makes you wonder what would have happened if Tom Ridge had been the VP nominee as he should have been?
The Republican party has presented absolutely no alternative to vote for. John McCain was left out there by himself, and that was after he spent the last two years running into the dark embrace of a once proud party’s unholy embrace.
So Skippy – You say Tom Ridge would have saved us?
I can’t imagine what dirt the MSM would have dragged out on him because, well because, he wasn’t chosen…
We have now cycled through moose hunting, clothes, procreation, challenged children, adolescent sex education, speech syntax, Eskimo husbands. Did I leave anything out?
If (as is likley) McCain loses despite the collective exertions of intelligent and patriotic Americans, then we need to grab the Republican party by the nether parts and do some serious butt kicking to get rid of the RINO elements and “go along to get along” moderates. They can all go kiss The One’s anatomy where they choose, since they are cloer to him than to traditional Republican, let along conservative values.
I want to be an active, contributing, paying member of a Republican party in the mold of Reagan, led by conservatives like Paliln, Jindahl, even Newt and Fred. To take back this country, restore freedom, capitalism, self reliance and patriotism, smaller government and lower taxes and less government spending.
Next time give voters a tru Republican conservative choice, and give them straight talk, not Senatorial collegial courtesy. Call socialists what they are. Tell the stories that need to be told. Tell the media to go canoodle itself, and we wont get any worse, more partisan or less truthful coverage than we did this time.
Quit subscribing to worthless fishwrapper media. Quit giving to support NPR and Public TV.
Give early and often to individual candidates with real conservative values, and not a dime to the gutless RINO enablers of the RNCC and RNSC.
Much more will need to be done, of course, but the first step is to stop being a willing victim, either to the media, the opposition, or even the brownshirt goons to be sicced upon dissenters under the Most Merciful One’s iron fist.
BTW Skippy – Do you know if Tom Ridge got a speeding ticket in Alaska in 1993?
That Kos diarist went down the memory hole!
re “will no doubt endure”
The question is: Endure what?
Oh..BTW, the party of Lincoln will endure too..We shook out the toe-tappers, the fat cat Navy fighter pilots turned extortionists and soon all RINOs and conservative disbelievers and aged pundits……Then perhaps, just maybe, all the “independent” (snicker) Independents (rymes w/barflys) will find something too, falling off one side of the fence or another….Perhaps landing in the Paul-McKinney-Barr camps…
Like the Phoenix the Republicans will arise again.
Skippy- you are a human fly lingering over a pile of dung.
John- Right on-Right on..power to the people!
b2
The “kill of all the RINO’s” idea is a recipe for disaster. Either the Republican party becomes one big tent again or it goes in to minority status for a long time. This is what happens when you shut out the moderates.
John,
You bring up a good point, I believe we are seeing the real BHO with the expulsion of the reporters off the Obamination Campaign jet. I think we have yet to see the magnitude of the Empty Shirt’s intolerance of dissent and opposition. Be prepared for an abuse of power by government agencies a la Joe the Plumber for anyone becoming a real irritant to his Regime. And it will be a Regime if he is elected. Beware One Party Rule as history is replete with examples. Don’t be naive and think it can’t happen here. Get the right people in the courts and the Attorney General’s office and the nation is your oyster. You can rule merely by a refusal to uphold the Constitutional rights of the individual. Can you say, “Dred Scot”?
‘You can rule merely by a refusal to uphold the Constitutional rights of the individual. Can you say, “Dred Scot”?’
And we all know how the Dred Scott case turned out.
I sit out here in Europe and see it from a distant perspective, and I find it very unsettling. Opposition will be grist for the mill, and it will be ugly. Let us be clear–we are about to elect a man who cannot, or will not, prove that he was born in the United States of America, and not a word about it in the press. We have throughout our political order a thoroughly developed fifth column that has no respect for the Constitution, and is determined to disregard it wherever it impedes their will to power. Think hard about the resources a new demagogue and his sycophants now have available to them in our new databased age. The potential for tyranny is tremendous.
I’m old enough to remember the Carter years. This will be nothing like them. What they will be like, I hesitate to say aloud…
Glad to see I ain’t the only paranoid one.
Not that anyone asked … but I’m going to take a couple of Midol…kick back and enjoy the rest of today and tommrow…as for Wednesday…I’ll deal with it then. Best
Having already voted, and thus using the mute button guilt-free, I would note that all those Euros who are agog with Senator Obama would never vote for him to run *their* countries.
I’ve lived among them, for many years, and will brook no pointing fingers regading racism.
Skippy, if you and I were working on a common definition of RINOs, I’d tend to agree with you. But it isn’t that we need to kick out the moderates. What is the problem with the current Republican party is that they have adopted a de facto platform of “Just like the Democrats, only less!”
There is no rallying cry of fiscal discipline, restraint of the federal government, attempt to restore the ability of an individual to succeed or fail on his or her own merits.
If there is no difference between the parties, why shouldn’t Joe Voter cast his ballot for the Democrats? They at least offer him a bribe.
Good people, you need not despair.
The MSM’s strategy has been to depress the conservative vote, and that strategy has been quite effective. The polls have consistently been off by the manner that they weight their response data. I for one don’t buy it. All the anecdotes I’m reading point to a McCain / Palin victory in this election.
Regardless of what you hear in the media, make the effort to vote, and if possible, do what you can to get others to fulfill their civic responsibility as well- vote! Make your voice, and your choice, heard.
Forget the media. Ignore the media. Do the right thing: VOTE.
Best regards, Peter Warner.
Peter,
Has not the weighting of polls been off on both sides?
Not to fear though-I will be standing in line to vote tomorrow. Alabama expects its largest turnout ever. Since they don’t have early voting here it ought to be fun.
There may be at least one good thing to come from an Obama win. Never again can inexperience be a sole disqualifer for a presidential candidate. The Republican party bears much of the responsbility for a failed run, not just John McCain. I’ve asked myself for years why it is that of all the great men and women in this country, we are forced to choose from a less then adequate pool.
With an Obama win, we can now proudly and confidently promote just about anyone we want. In this we can follow their model. Next time. Watch though, we probably won’t. But Peter W. has it right, the vote has to be recorded, otherwise, hold the observations.
Lastly, tomorrow is my new bride’s first exercise of this nation’s greatest responsibility and privilege. I linked to the MicroVote Infinity machine instructional video we’ll be using in Indiana tomorrow to show her how it works. Though I don’t vote a straight ticket, I found it interesting that the procedures show the Democrat party at the top of the example list being selected. The Republican party? Pretty much missing altogether. Guess it got kind of. Clipped. Cropped. Edited. Out.
Let the games begin, and let history be written. Blood on the streets, indeed. Where have we gone?
The MSM’s strategy has been to depress the conservative vote, and that strategy has been quite effective.
The republican strategy has been to depress the conservative vote. At least this conservative. Everytime I look at Obama and think, “OK, better vote for McCain” and then I see a campaign run by a bunch of K Street lobbyists in a manner that abused McCain in 2000, and I look at the right wing base sop of an amazingly embarrassingly unknowledgeable Veep pick, I think that they just don’t deserve it. They had it for 8 years, and had the executive and legislative both for many of that, and didn’t get it done. And I helped vote them in.
Four years in the wilderness will do them some good.
geo6, it ain’t paranoia if they’re really out to get you.
Could just be a mite of out-of-sort-ness, what with it being dark here (in the Mediterranean, of all places) by 1700 or so. My normal ray of sunshine personality just hasn’t been holding up to the “republican strategy to depress the conservative vote.” I’ve got a case of pale ale, part of a six-pack of Guinness (for strength), cuppla cases of wine and just as many of Mirto to get me through the next few days. Might have to make a resupply run, though.
Taxi1, with respect, your sentiments perfectly illustrate how discouragement is self-defeating.
Do you realize that there have been elections decided with the final vote difference averaging out to just ONE vote per voting precinct? Don’t ever let yourself think that your vote doesn’t make a difference. It does, if only to prevent regretting not making the personal effort.
Please consider voting for a good candidate, rather than withholding your support in waiting for a perfect candidate.
Best regards, Peter Warner.
Taxi1wire-
re”Four years in the wilderness will do them some good”
So, just whereTF do you think you’re gonna be during that time….? Do you have a job? Do you care about the future of this country? Do you want to win against the Islamo-Facists? Take that wilderness of yours and put it where the sun don’t shine!
I just heard Obama on the radio news (WTOP) in Jacksonville, FL saying “we are one day away from (his exact words)- “changing” the United States of America”. Be afraid- be very afraid Taxi1.
You better go vote and I highly recommend you vote from Fear….Fear is good when you roll up on the cat at night and also when the vote for our future is on the line….IMO, conservatives will break our own records for voter turnout.
Snake- Recommend a chaw and a smooth drinking bourbon vice Midol. It’s gonna be a long night in the dugout. It might last until next June! If’n we lose the game, and the numbers show we will, anybody who curls up in the fetal position and takes up drugs will get nothing but a kick-in-the-a$$ from me!
b2
Never again can inexperience be a sole disqualifer for a presidential candidate.
You’re assuming (incorrectly, IMHO) that the goal posts won’t move.
Exhibit One: Sarah Palin, Governor of the great state of Alaska, with a resume for more appropriate to the job, is called “too inexperienced” to be VICE President, while a blatant resume-padder/credit thief is fully qualified as president.
Exhibit Two: John Kerry “reported for duty” in front of a credulous press that lauded his service and went on and on about how said service made him the preferred candidate over some dude that just flew F-106s. And it’s not just F-106s that don’t provide an meaningful experience; it appears to be A-4s as well. Both vastly simpler to operate that the massively complex Swift boat, or so it would seem.
See? The goalposts can be moved in the same game depending on who’s got the ball. Just imagine how they will be moved next time around when their guy is the incumbent.
Something ate my last response to Taxi1 which was that, in this conservatives’s eyes, the collateral damage done by an Obamination Regime is too great to sit back and watch someone get their perceived just deserts. One Party Rule worked fine in the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. For those in power, once achieved. Historically in this county, the Right tolerates the Left when they are in power and plays by the rules. What we are seeing is a sea-change on the New Left in the level of vitrol and hatred for the Right which they will not relent until they get power. Once in power, in order to dominate the debate they will do everything they can to either marginalize the opposition or silence it. Can you say, “Fairness Doctrine” anyone?
As stated above the 5th column is alive and well established in this country and well entrenched in the print and television media, not to mention NPR. They OWN it.
Do you realize that there have been elections decided with the final vote difference averaging out to just ONE vote per voting precinct? Don’t ever let yourself think that your vote doesn’t make a difference. It does, if only to prevent regretting not making the personal effort.
Oh, I plan to vote. Not voting is pussified.
Historically in this county, the Right tolerates the Left when they are in power and plays by the rules.
Bush won with a plurality and governed as if he had a majority. The “Uniter, not a Divider” marginalized the dems like he’d had RR’s electoral numbers. I admire his chutzpah and tactical prowess in doing so, but don’t think it was ultimately in our best interests.
What we are seeing is a sea-change on the New Left in the level of vitrol and hatred for the Right which they will not relent until they get power.
I expect they will be like the dog that catches the car. Now what? They will do what they always do, let power corrupt, overplay their hand, etc. A strong Dem prez will be followed by a weak Dem prez followed by a strong Repub. The circle will be unbroken.
Hey fellers and L-babes! There are some rays o’sunshine out there:
http://www.politickerpa.com/alexroarty/2481/marine-vet-russell-rally-murtha-fat-little-bastard
“Fat little boo-stard”. LOL.
b2
>> here illegally (in poverty .. donating .. again illegally) We’re having separate conversations
Separate conversations indeed, Captain! That ‘limited’ Obama Constitution has been doing a fine job of keeping its hands off Auntie (or it soon will). As well as extending habeas corpus – if not out right liberties – to enemy combatants.
(No person is illegal!)
How about we conduct “Predict the most significant change in military policy as a result of the presidential election of 2008″ maneuvers on Wednesday or Thursday?
My home county’s registrar (L.A.) may have screwed with my neighborhood’s voting by making us vote with mail ballots (in my opinion to the dumpster), but not with me.
We will no doubt be surprised this election season (both at state and federal levels) no matter the outcome.
“…It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace — but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! …..Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
– Thomas Paine
March 23, A.D. 1775
Lex, great website; keep posting!
Jay Season- Correction: the only illegal person in their eyes is an unwanted unborn child.
[...] you’re looking for something a tad more sophisticated then might I suggest Lex, I’m out of [...]
Lex,
While Oceania and Eastasia are indeed still at war, the good news is that food crops are up and the chocolate ration has been increased.
Any more moodiness and I think a visit to Room 101 might be on the agenda. Just imagine being strapped to the room’s chair, watching those thousands upon thousands of gallons of Guinness being poured straight from the keg into the drain.
Taxi1,
Four years in the wilderness will do the SCOTUS no good. The constituion will be a “living document” and we will all be the worse for it.
Cheers!
ChrisP
Should O-Bummer and Boo-Boo get the nod on Tuesday, I’m dearly going to look forward to the day when the Clintonistas and Putsy Pelosi get thrown under the bus by the Chosen One. These folks endorse the most gracious one thinking that they’ll be able to manipulate him!
News Flash, Gang! Can you say disappear in the night? These folks have zero freaking idea what they’ve done to themselves, let alone the rest of us.
Pray God for the miracle. Bring on Caribou Barbie and the old guy with white hair!
BTW, I wonder how Katie Couric is going to like her new tax bracket?
Joseph, regret those words aren’t from Thomas Paine, but from Patrick Henry to the Virginia House of Burgesses. Words in which Henry stated that the colonies were not declaring war on England, but that the King of England was already at war with the colonists. It is the same argument Jefferson was to limn in the Declaration of Independence. Noble words to recall, at any time.