Obama's Wesleyan Speech

Obama took over for Ted Kennedy at the Wesleyan commencement ceremony this past weekend. He focused mainly on inspiring the graduates to pursue careers in public service and forget about "the big house and the nice suits and all the other things that our money culture says you should buy." Many on the right will try to vilify him for being hypocritical, just as they did with Gore and global warming. That's the easiest criticism and the one most likely to stick with people. He did a stint in public service, so I won't go there. The real discussion should address what he actually said.

The public sector is definitely in need of young, talented college graduates, but this country thrives on innovation from the private sector. You would never get that from an Obama speech, which is always laced with populist, anti-private sector rhetoric. Unlike some Democratic politicians, I think he actually believes in a populist agenda and that's scary. His economic policies are toally disconnected from reality. He talks about raising the capital gains tax to 28% from 15%. The last time this was done revenues declined. Interestingly, only a small fraction his portfolio is comprised of stocks. He has talked specifically about restricting entire industries. He wants to rein in big pharmaceuticals, the companies that account for our medicinal breakthroughs. He wants to impose a windfall tax on oil companies at a time when we need the oil companies to take those profits and invest heavily in infrastructure to increase production in order to meet rising demand from developing countries. I'm not a mathematical whiz, but I'm pretty sure that less incentives equals less innovation.

How can someone so smart be so stupid? It definitely speaks to his oratory skills that he can get so many people swallowing his "Yes We Can" bullshit without actually analyzing what he's saying. He's like a really great magician, one who can make you think about the mystery and not the science. This country is among the greatest innovators in the world. Under a president Obama that may change.

Lastly, Obama ended his speech with this gem, "At a time of inequality, we need you to work for opportunity." It sounds like Michelle got her hands on this. She likes to believe that racism is around every corner, but this is not the 60s and racism is not pervasive. After he told them "That's your task, Class of 2008" I'm sure everyone was ready to start chanting "Yes We Can" like a bunch of lemmings.

The Case for Gun Control

This headline is exactly why gun control is necessary...

"Florida Police Say 7-Year-Old Girl Accidentally Shoots Sleeping Mom Twice"

There are many incidents like this every year across the country. Obviously, some people are too stupid to take it upon themselves to ensure their own safety and that of thier kids. And while the small government side of me says to hell with the adults, we do have an obligation protect those too young to know better. The gun was on the nightstand for God sake. All the girl had to do was reach up and pull the trigger.

Petty Principal

South Carolina principal Eddie Walker quit rather than allow a gay-straight alliance club at Imro High School. This is ridiculously childish. God forbid gays and straights try to get along at a young age. Who knows, those immoral subhumans might try to recruit straight students to help achieve the "gay agenda".

Gay Marriage Ban

The California Supreme Court recently overturned a law banning same-sex marriages that had been approved by California voters. Opponents of the ruling, blinded by shear hatred of homosexuals, argue that the court had no right getting involved and overturning the will of the people. The simple counter is that by that logic the Supreme Court had no right ruling the way it did in Brown v Board of Education. After all, southern states had discrimination laws against blacks that were approved by voters. How are blacks any different than homosexuals? That may sound like an insult but seriously, they're all human beings and citizens of this country.

Why should two gay guys who have been in a committed, loving relationship for years be denied the same benefits as two straight people who have a terrible marriage and hate each other? What's more, why the hell is this an issue wasting tax payers' time and money? Don't we have at least a hundred issues more pressing? Some would say no. Some would say this is the beginning of the downfall of society, that the next steps are legalization of bestiality and pedophelia. Some are idiots.

There is no rational justification for the discrimination. People try to use religion to hide their personal bigotry but without success. Regardless, religion has no place in government. Admittedly, I have a slight bias against homosexuals. Seeing two guys kiss makes me cringe a little. But I'm capable of rationalizing that bias and understanding that it isn't reason enough to discrimante against them. This is a tide that can only be slowed, not reversed. It would be nice if more people realized this and moved on to more important issues.

Bush Shifts the Blame, Again

In the same interview in which he expressed his solidarity with soldiers' families (see below), Bush once again shifted blame for faulty intelligence to the many unnamed "intelligence communities all across the world." He conveniently leaves out his and Cheney's push for that faulty intelligence and their push even after entering Iraq to continue creating the intelligence necessary to justify the decision. What's sad is that after nearly eight years of complete ineptitude there are people so delusional and stubborn that they still swallow the crap Bush and the rest shovel out. And more frustrating, they are prominent people who affect others, like Limbaugh, Hannity, and O'Reilly.

War Hurting Bush as Much as Anyone

Turns out our fearless leader gave up golf back in 2003 because "I feel I owe it to the families [of the soldiers] to be in solidarity as best as I can with them". The comments came during a recent interview regarding the faulty intelligence that lead to the Iraq War. What do you even say to something like this? I'm sure the families of our fallen soldiers are comforted by the fact that our cowardly president temporarily gave up his hobby.

Always a master wordsmith, Bush also said that he "didn't want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf". "Some mom"? Damn some moms for spoiling all the fun. He'll have to play more of his second favorite game out of the public eye. Hide and seek with Spot. The guy is so completely out-of-touch with America it's obscene. If he gave a damn about the Katrina disaster I wonder what he would have done to show his solidarity with those families. Given up video games perhaps? Not finishing his vacation would have been a nice start. How is it that the greatest country in the world has twice elected such a stupid, callous, immature rube?

Clinton Should Drop

At this point there is virtually no chance Clinton could become the nominee. Obama has won a significant majority of the super-delegates and once-ardent supporters are switching to the his camp. There were many people on the fence who ultimately sided with Obama at the last second. I think her memory of this uncertainty among voters is now clouding her judgement at a point when nothing she does will reverse their decisions. If she hopes to get those votes when she runs again, she should try not to piss them, and the party in general, off. At this point, she's just helping McCain, which seems to be obvious to everyone but her.