That pretty much sums up Obama. The candidate gave a speech today on his "plans" to fix the economy, all of which were in keeping with the Democrat principles of big government and more restrictions. The caption on MSNBC.com's lead story sums it up nicely, "Democrat calls for tougher regulations, but offers no specifics on exactly how the government should go about peering over the shoulders of bank executives." Three major tenets are the following:
1. Expand oversight to any institution that borrows from the government.
2. Toughen capital requirements for complex financial instruments like mortgage securities.
3. Streamline regulatory agencies to end overlap and competition among regulators.
This is typical. Blame capitalism for the economy's ills, promise lots of government regulation to make sure nothing bad ever happens again while giving no specifics on how government will achieve anything, and then watch it all fail. The last decade has certainly taught us that executives left to their own devices will skirt the system and that regulation is necessary, but people will always be looking for new schemes and ways around regulations. When you say "expand oversight to any institution that borrows from the government" it sounds a lot like broader versions of the Sarbanes Oxley regulations, which have increased costs for American corporations and driven them to delist from our exchanges.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Wright Makes Obama Wrong
The comments made by Rev. Jeremiah Wright at one of his sermons shortly after 9/11 exposes an ugly side of Obama that few supporters, particularly whites, are willing to accept. Supporters claim that the media is taking an isolated incident and painting an inaccurate and ugly picture of Wright, and they decry the statements as mere soundbites strung together. Obama of course wants to put this aside and move past the politics of race and unite and blah, blah, blah. No no. Pay no attention to what's behind the curtain. We need to move forward. Bullshit.
When a central theme of your campaign is unity and it comes out that your pastor of the last 20 years who has been a close friend, mentor, and advisor (both spiritually and on the campaign trail) is a racist firebrand, then you deserve every bit of scrutiny and we should pause to examine it a little closer. It doesn't matter what race you are. When your pastor says "God damn America" and compares the plight of al Qaeda to that of blacks, you leave and never come back, assuming you disagree. What people are totally ignoring is the fact that this was not an isolated incident. It was not a Tourette's moment many years ago. These statements go to the core of what Wright believes. Maybe the sermon was unusual, but you cannot honestly believe that such statements were never made in any other sermons. It is beyond naive to think that. It's just plain stupid.
What's more, Wright has a close relationship to worst racists like Farrakhan and Jackson. Am I to assume then that giving the keys to the White House to Obama means giving a greater voice to those who deserve none at all, particularly in light of Obama's constant unity message? Plus, based on what I've read about his wife, she seems to fit into the picture of the angry black church in Chicago. Her thesis in Princeton railed against white racism and yet in interviews she has no recollection of it, which is curious since a thesis usually requires an entire semester to write and typically reflects the culmination of what you've learned.
What is even more frustrating is the blind eye Obama's white supporters are turning to this issue. It's as if they're so desperate to vote a black into office, they'll ignore and shout down as racist any criticism that comes his way. As usual, he made an articulate speech on the issue that wrapped his white supporters one more time around his finger, but the comments and his relationship to the man who made them make this something to strongly consider when thinking about Obama.
When a central theme of your campaign is unity and it comes out that your pastor of the last 20 years who has been a close friend, mentor, and advisor (both spiritually and on the campaign trail) is a racist firebrand, then you deserve every bit of scrutiny and we should pause to examine it a little closer. It doesn't matter what race you are. When your pastor says "God damn America" and compares the plight of al Qaeda to that of blacks, you leave and never come back, assuming you disagree. What people are totally ignoring is the fact that this was not an isolated incident. It was not a Tourette's moment many years ago. These statements go to the core of what Wright believes. Maybe the sermon was unusual, but you cannot honestly believe that such statements were never made in any other sermons. It is beyond naive to think that. It's just plain stupid.
What's more, Wright has a close relationship to worst racists like Farrakhan and Jackson. Am I to assume then that giving the keys to the White House to Obama means giving a greater voice to those who deserve none at all, particularly in light of Obama's constant unity message? Plus, based on what I've read about his wife, she seems to fit into the picture of the angry black church in Chicago. Her thesis in Princeton railed against white racism and yet in interviews she has no recollection of it, which is curious since a thesis usually requires an entire semester to write and typically reflects the culmination of what you've learned.
What is even more frustrating is the blind eye Obama's white supporters are turning to this issue. It's as if they're so desperate to vote a black into office, they'll ignore and shout down as racist any criticism that comes his way. As usual, he made an articulate speech on the issue that wrapped his white supporters one more time around his finger, but the comments and his relationship to the man who made them make this something to strongly consider when thinking about Obama.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
The NY GOP
Republican state legislators are demanding Spitzer resign within 48 hours or face impeachment. I wonder what the deadline would be if he were a Republican. Conservatives must be so thrilled that the latest scandal didn't involve one of their own.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Those Studies That Shall Not Be Named
Comments made about gays by Rep. Sally Kern of OK at a small gathering are spreading across the internet. The comments would be laughable for their sheer stupidity and baselessness if they were not so appalling. She begins by saying that the "homosexual agenda" (one of the most hilarious titles I've ever heard) is "destroying this nation." She follows this with an absurd disclaimer that she is not gay bashing and then quickly proceeds to bash, really hard. She describes it as a deadly lifestyle, in which the followers have a "higher rate of suicide and are more discouraged" (could that be due to fear of the discrimination they face from society?).
"Studies show that no society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted more than, you know, a few decades".
Keep throwing in those "you know"s. It makes your reference to studies seem really legitimate. Maybe Oklahoma doesn't teach ancient history. The Greeks embraced homosexuality and lasted several years, you know, maybe even hundreds.
"I honestly think it's the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam, which I think is a big threat (refering to Islam specifically)."
This is where it veers into just plain stupid and ludicrous. Although some conservatives would have you believe there are roving gangs of gays raping innocent straights and terrorizing bewildered communities across the nation, there are studies that, you know, contradict that. Some studies, you know, show that terrorists like the 9/11 hijackers commit terrible atrocities. And then there are even more studies that, you know, show that few Muslims are fundamentalist militants.
"They're going after two year olds." The story turns laughable again.
Sally Kern, wife of a Baptist minister, has every right to think and say this, no matter how stupid, narrow-minded, and Bible-thumping (God made a short appearance at the beginning of the story) she sounds. And no, the gay lifestyle is not as healthy as the straight one. There are risks. But those risks are assumed by the practitioners. They're not spreading the risks to unwitting, straight individuals, unlike terrorists. And studies today show that, you know, AIDS is not easily transmitted. I bet she stays away from public water fountains. I'm also guessing she's a member of the 500 club. Stupidity like that tends to be attracted by even greater stupidity (kinda like barracudas but with stupidity instead of shiny things).
"Studies show that no society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted more than, you know, a few decades".
Keep throwing in those "you know"s. It makes your reference to studies seem really legitimate. Maybe Oklahoma doesn't teach ancient history. The Greeks embraced homosexuality and lasted several years, you know, maybe even hundreds.
"I honestly think it's the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam, which I think is a big threat (refering to Islam specifically)."
This is where it veers into just plain stupid and ludicrous. Although some conservatives would have you believe there are roving gangs of gays raping innocent straights and terrorizing bewildered communities across the nation, there are studies that, you know, contradict that. Some studies, you know, show that terrorists like the 9/11 hijackers commit terrible atrocities. And then there are even more studies that, you know, show that few Muslims are fundamentalist militants.
"They're going after two year olds." The story turns laughable again.
Sally Kern, wife of a Baptist minister, has every right to think and say this, no matter how stupid, narrow-minded, and Bible-thumping (God made a short appearance at the beginning of the story) she sounds. And no, the gay lifestyle is not as healthy as the straight one. There are risks. But those risks are assumed by the practitioners. They're not spreading the risks to unwitting, straight individuals, unlike terrorists. And studies today show that, you know, AIDS is not easily transmitted. I bet she stays away from public water fountains. I'm also guessing she's a member of the 500 club. Stupidity like that tends to be attracted by even greater stupidity (kinda like barracudas but with stupidity instead of shiny things).
Height of Hypocrisy
Eliot Spitzer, former NY attorney general and current NY governor, admitted today that he was a client of a high-end prostitution ring. Here's a guy who made a name for himself very publicly prosecuting criminals, including members of prostitution rings. Why is it always the most outspoken ones? How can you not realize it's going to come back to bite you? What's more, why do the wives always stand next to their husbands at these press conferences in a show of support? It makes them look pathetic, and it has to be humilitating. Ted Haggard's wife was laughable.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Texas and Ohio
Hillary had an incredible resurgence yesterday, capturing Texas, Ohio, and Rhode Island, states billed as must-wins for her. No matter the results, Hillary was bound to keep fighting all the way to Denver, as many believe that ultimately it will all come down to the super delegates. With record voter turnouts being widely publicized, the Democratic process is getting a much-needed boost. It's disgraceful how little interest and care Americans have historically had in the selection of the person for the most powerful office in the world. The race between Obama and Clinton is also helpful to McCain, as the two are sure to air each others dirty laundry, thus reducing the legwork for McCain's staff.
Divine Intervention
God finally told Huckabee to throw in the towel. Thank you God! Hopefully that's the last we hear from the ignorant, intolerant preacher, but I doubt it.
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