On Sunday's NBC Meet the Press, Vice President Joe Biden hinted that Iran's election results last week didn't seem quite right... politicos shake their heads over the odor of corruption and huffing news outlets question their validity.
Of course, our own elections have been rife with questionable results.... think of the Supremes deciding the 2000 presidential contest.... while our hackable electronic ballot systems are nothing to brag about.
What we have here seems to be very wishful thinking, and an attitude of "do as I say, not as I do."
Americans want Middle East peace, they want President Ahmadinejad and his scary rhetoric shown the door.... just like we did to Bush/Cheney in 2004.... oh yes, we didn't do that to The Decider and Darth Dick. Instead, while the world held it's breath, we elected them to a second term, after they lied us into the worst foreign policy blunder in our nation's history, the war in Iraq.... the Middle-East-destabilizing war in Iraq.
Well, now we know how the world felt. According to the Washington Post, the rumors of Ahmadinejad's political demise were very premature. As reported by Ken Ballen and Patrick Doherty in "The Iranian People Speak," it appears the "election results in Iran may reflect the will of the people."
On what do they base such an outlandish statement.... on a scientific national poll conducted in Iran three weeks before the election. Ahmadinejad was the preferred candidate two to one, and those results reflect the election's results. The poll was "conducted by telephone from a neighboring country, field work was carried out in Farsi by a polling company whose work in the region for ABC News and the BBC has received an Emmy award." Oh.
That's not what we want to believe. Our instant-gratification conditioning hasn't the patience. But, closing our minds and living in a blame-game la-la land won't change the reality.... nor a system where all Iranian candidates are chosen by a non-elected supreme leader. Here is where the poll's results are very interesting, and encouraging. And, far from the expected safe answers one might expect in a country with an oppressive regime in power.
While preferring Ahmadinejad, for now, four out of five indicated in answer to the poll's questions that they wanted to elect the supreme leader, chose free elections and a free press as priorities, and 77 percent "favored normal relations and trade with the United States." Those weren't safe answers.
So, while choosing Ahmadinejad.... change is in the air. Isn't that what we should be talking about, and encouraging?
In Iran, there are now major protests by supporters of the opposing candidate. One thing all the ballyhoo has done is to evidently unsettle the supreme leader. He's now calling for an investigation into the election. But then, why not. He can't lose. He picked all the candidates.
Showing posts with label Joe Biden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joe Biden. Show all posts
Monday, June 15, 2009
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Dorian McGray's 2008 Portrait
If.... when, unless an unimaginable "October Surprise" surfaces.... John McCain loses the election, it appears he'll have no one to blame but the new McSame. The McCain of 2000 would have had a good shot at overcoming the toxic Bush years by the force of his Straight Talk persona.
But then, most noticeably in the 2004 race where he literally embraced Bush and then started his pandering courtship of the religious right, McCain started trimming his Straight Talk sails in favor of what he perceived to be the prevailing voter-base wind....the Karl Rove base.... culminating a month ago with his naming of the unfitted vacuous but well-packaged Sarah Palin as his running mate.
Now in angry desperation, as he sees his chances slipping away, "McCain Tries To Push Past Palin Backlash." (WaPo)
Even after it was discovered that the RNC spent $150,000 on Silly Sarah's clothes, hair and makeup, "his campaign dismissed the latest controversy over his running mate as coming from elitists and not representing the opinions of average Americans."
What is more elitist than cloaking your VP in Saks runway-knockoffs while pretending she's "just like us."
No matter how McCain tries to spin it, he started losing his bi-partisan broad-base following when he caved to the GOP hard right that he had campaigned against and repudiated in 2000. And with his choice of Palin "a majority of voters now say McCain's vice presidential pick reflects poorly on the decisions he would make as president, according to the Post-ABC News poll. Overall, 52 percent of likely voters said they are less confident in McCain's judgment because of his surprise selection of Palin..."
At a rally today longtime friend of McCain and Barack Obama's choice for VP, Joe Biden, said after stumbling over the name of McCain that he did so "because I don't recognize him anymore. I used to know him well."
McSame has become the political portrait of Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray. Dorian Gray bargained to retain his beautiful persona by having his ageing reflected only in his portrait. Untouched personally as his debauchery steals his soul, Gray's portrait turns into the disfigured, aging reflection of his true self.
The country has watched a similar ugly transformation in the portrait of McCain's campaign. Palin is but the latest cynical calculation of a candidate who traded his for-a-cause-larger-than-yourself instincts for political gain. Not a pretty picture.
November 4. Vote. It matters!
But then, most noticeably in the 2004 race where he literally embraced Bush and then started his pandering courtship of the religious right, McCain started trimming his Straight Talk sails in favor of what he perceived to be the prevailing voter-base wind....the Karl Rove base.... culminating a month ago with his naming of the unfitted vacuous but well-packaged Sarah Palin as his running mate.
Now in angry desperation, as he sees his chances slipping away, "McCain Tries To Push Past Palin Backlash." (WaPo)
Even after it was discovered that the RNC spent $150,000 on Silly Sarah's clothes, hair and makeup, "his campaign dismissed the latest controversy over his running mate as coming from elitists and not representing the opinions of average Americans."
What is more elitist than cloaking your VP in Saks runway-knockoffs while pretending she's "just like us."
No matter how McCain tries to spin it, he started losing his bi-partisan broad-base following when he caved to the GOP hard right that he had campaigned against and repudiated in 2000. And with his choice of Palin "a majority of voters now say McCain's vice presidential pick reflects poorly on the decisions he would make as president, according to the Post-ABC News poll. Overall, 52 percent of likely voters said they are less confident in McCain's judgment because of his surprise selection of Palin..."
At a rally today longtime friend of McCain and Barack Obama's choice for VP, Joe Biden, said after stumbling over the name of McCain that he did so "because I don't recognize him anymore. I used to know him well."
McSame has become the political portrait of Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray. Dorian Gray bargained to retain his beautiful persona by having his ageing reflected only in his portrait. Untouched personally as his debauchery steals his soul, Gray's portrait turns into the disfigured, aging reflection of his true self.
The country has watched a similar ugly transformation in the portrait of McCain's campaign. Palin is but the latest cynical calculation of a candidate who traded his for-a-cause-larger-than-yourself instincts for political gain. Not a pretty picture.
November 4. Vote. It matters!
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
McCain Stiffs His "Friends"
John McCain finally got the town hall format he's been whining about for months. He wanted many more. The message.... "I'm better than Obama at connecting with the voters.... let me at them."
He should thank his lucky stars that Barack Obama didn't take him up on that tactic. As Harold Meyerson said in his op-ed today about the debate, "In the town halls staged by his campaign, where the crowds are composed almost entirely of his supporters, McCain has been relaxed, and has been on the stage by himself. In Nashville tonight, neither of those particulars applied. Instead, as he and Barack Obama wandered around the stage, McCain overwhelmingly conveyed the impression -- not to put too fine a point on it -- that he’s old." (WaPo)
And has trouble expressing himself. At time speaking in loud whispers intended to convey..... danger, urgency.... he nevertheless appeared stiff and uncomfortable, explaining himself in incomplete sentences and thoughts with jokes that fell flat like his "hair transplant" jab obviously aimed at Joe Biden, Obama's VP choice.
In contrast, Obama looked and sounded presidential, in command of the subjects, speaking in complete sentences while precisely explaining his policies, and when allowed to, correcting the numerous McCain misstatements about his policies and record that are the stuff of McCain talking points.
As the New York Times lamented today in "Politics of Attack".... "It is a sorry fact of American political life that campaigns get ugly, often in their final weeks. But Senator John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin have been running one of the most appalling campaigns we can remember.
"They have gone far beyond the usual fare of quotes taken out of context and distortions of an opponent’s record — into the dark territory of race-baiting and xenophobia....
"Despite the occasional slip (referring to Mr. Obama’s 'cronies' and calling him 'that one'), Mr. McCain tried to take a higher road in Tuesday night’s presidential debate. It was hard to keep track of the number of times he referred to his audience as 'my friends.' ”
Therein.... in the "my friends" context.... lies the fatal flaw at the heart of McCain's campaign. We aren't his friends. That's just a lame senatorial-speak device used to gain time to think, and to make the listener feel he cares and connects with their problems. Talking the talk.
But McCain doesn't walk the walk..... he associates with, and employs in pivotal campaign and staff positions, the very lobbyists who crusaded for less government regulation, and tax cuts for big oil and big business.... his real friends are corporate CEOs.
Nothing could have highlighted that shallow "my friends" debating-device more clearly than watching what happened after the debate. Did McCain stay around to spend time with his "friends." No. After a couple of cursory handshakes with the town hall participants, he and glacial Cindy departed to rejoin his adoring coterie.
In contrast, Obama and Michelle stayed to talk with, and listen to, the participants. To answer questions, sign autographs and hang out.... treating them as friends.
This is one reason why a long campaign season has it's useful, even redeeming, aspects. It's hard for a candidate to keep up a false front with so much exposure in so many formats. So how is McCain holding up?.... bomb, bomb, bomb.
November 4.
He should thank his lucky stars that Barack Obama didn't take him up on that tactic. As Harold Meyerson said in his op-ed today about the debate, "In the town halls staged by his campaign, where the crowds are composed almost entirely of his supporters, McCain has been relaxed, and has been on the stage by himself. In Nashville tonight, neither of those particulars applied. Instead, as he and Barack Obama wandered around the stage, McCain overwhelmingly conveyed the impression -- not to put too fine a point on it -- that he’s old." (WaPo)
And has trouble expressing himself. At time speaking in loud whispers intended to convey..... danger, urgency.... he nevertheless appeared stiff and uncomfortable, explaining himself in incomplete sentences and thoughts with jokes that fell flat like his "hair transplant" jab obviously aimed at Joe Biden, Obama's VP choice.
In contrast, Obama looked and sounded presidential, in command of the subjects, speaking in complete sentences while precisely explaining his policies, and when allowed to, correcting the numerous McCain misstatements about his policies and record that are the stuff of McCain talking points.
As the New York Times lamented today in "Politics of Attack".... "It is a sorry fact of American political life that campaigns get ugly, often in their final weeks. But Senator John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin have been running one of the most appalling campaigns we can remember.
"They have gone far beyond the usual fare of quotes taken out of context and distortions of an opponent’s record — into the dark territory of race-baiting and xenophobia....
"Despite the occasional slip (referring to Mr. Obama’s 'cronies' and calling him 'that one'), Mr. McCain tried to take a higher road in Tuesday night’s presidential debate. It was hard to keep track of the number of times he referred to his audience as 'my friends.' ”
Therein.... in the "my friends" context.... lies the fatal flaw at the heart of McCain's campaign. We aren't his friends. That's just a lame senatorial-speak device used to gain time to think, and to make the listener feel he cares and connects with their problems. Talking the talk.
But McCain doesn't walk the walk..... he associates with, and employs in pivotal campaign and staff positions, the very lobbyists who crusaded for less government regulation, and tax cuts for big oil and big business.... his real friends are corporate CEOs.
Nothing could have highlighted that shallow "my friends" debating-device more clearly than watching what happened after the debate. Did McCain stay around to spend time with his "friends." No. After a couple of cursory handshakes with the town hall participants, he and glacial Cindy departed to rejoin his adoring coterie.
In contrast, Obama and Michelle stayed to talk with, and listen to, the participants. To answer questions, sign autographs and hang out.... treating them as friends.
This is one reason why a long campaign season has it's useful, even redeeming, aspects. It's hard for a candidate to keep up a false front with so much exposure in so many formats. So how is McCain holding up?.... bomb, bomb, bomb.
November 4.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Biden Rues "Beneath Us" Politics
It's clear from the tone of his remarks the last few days about Sen. Barack Obama.... John McCain is shifting into low and driving his Straight Talk Express down the muddy back-alleys of gratuitous political attack.
In "Roads, High and Low" (WaPo) Bob Herbert explores McCain's latest foray into the political lowlands.
When Obama criticized McCain over his unwillingness to support an increase in college tuition for returning vets, Herbert noted how "McCain responded angrily and gratuitously mentioned that Mr. Obama had not served in the military. (This is especially weird when you consider that Senator McCain is a fierce supporter of the war in Iraq, which was fanatically promoted by an entire barnyard of chicken hawks.)"
Defending Obama against the searing attacks by the Bush administration, McSame and Joe Lieberman.... Sen. Joe Biden said Friday on MSNBC, "I refuse to sit back like we did in 2000 and 2004. This administration is the worst administration in American foreign policy in modern history - maybe ever. The idea that they are competent to continue to conduct our foreign policy, to make us more secure and make Israel secure, is preposterous... Every single thing they've touched has been a near-disaster."
Becoming emotional, Senator Biden said it was tough for him because "John's been my friend for 35 years, and I'm disappointed. Because, as you all know, there is a difference between an ad hominem argument and a logical response....." and McCain's kind of behavior should be "beneath us."
Later that same day, Hillary Clinton made her reference to Robert Kennedy's assassination, as a rationale for staying in the race, swerving not only onto the political back roads, but down onerous byways that could involve harm to Obama.
"Comments that bring that fear to the forefront are incredibly cold-blooded and hurtful, more brutal even than Senator Clinton's comment about 'hard working, Americans, white Americans," Herbert lamented.
But, it seems nothing is beneath either McSame or Hillary. They have determined to take the low road.... decent Americans should refuse to follow.
In "Roads, High and Low" (WaPo) Bob Herbert explores McCain's latest foray into the political lowlands.
When Obama criticized McCain over his unwillingness to support an increase in college tuition for returning vets, Herbert noted how "McCain responded angrily and gratuitously mentioned that Mr. Obama had not served in the military. (This is especially weird when you consider that Senator McCain is a fierce supporter of the war in Iraq, which was fanatically promoted by an entire barnyard of chicken hawks.)"
Defending Obama against the searing attacks by the Bush administration, McSame and Joe Lieberman.... Sen. Joe Biden said Friday on MSNBC, "I refuse to sit back like we did in 2000 and 2004. This administration is the worst administration in American foreign policy in modern history - maybe ever. The idea that they are competent to continue to conduct our foreign policy, to make us more secure and make Israel secure, is preposterous... Every single thing they've touched has been a near-disaster."
Becoming emotional, Senator Biden said it was tough for him because "John's been my friend for 35 years, and I'm disappointed. Because, as you all know, there is a difference between an ad hominem argument and a logical response....." and McCain's kind of behavior should be "beneath us."
Later that same day, Hillary Clinton made her reference to Robert Kennedy's assassination, as a rationale for staying in the race, swerving not only onto the political back roads, but down onerous byways that could involve harm to Obama.
"Comments that bring that fear to the forefront are incredibly cold-blooded and hurtful, more brutal even than Senator Clinton's comment about 'hard working, Americans, white Americans," Herbert lamented.
But, it seems nothing is beneath either McSame or Hillary. They have determined to take the low road.... decent Americans should refuse to follow.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Iowa's Yepsen Floats Biden for VP
Iowa's most famous political tea-leaf reader, Des Moines Register columnist David Yepsen, has peered into the Democratic presidential brew and intoned.... "Consider Biden for No. 2 Spot."
What he wisely sees is that neither Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton are likely to pick the other for Vice President. Too many reckless charges have been flung about, especially from trash-talking Hillary even though it's almost a certainty that she can't.... and won't.... win the nomination.
Trash that is costing both Obama and Clinton support, support being diverted to GOP candidate John McCain who has shifted his "More Bush" road show into high gear.... unopposed.
What are Dems to do?
Turn to Senator Joe Biden, as the "perfect running mate for either Clinton or Obama".... acceptable and respected by both sides.... and McSame's nightmare road bump.
The seasoned Biden, while charming and charismatic, has the "grit and gravitas" that would cast him as the perfect campaign "pit bull." He could get in McSame's face over the war.... as the "chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee he knows the difference between the Shia and the Sunni."
Biden, an acknowledged Iraq war expert on both sides of the aisle, has a strategy for how to disengage responsibly from the deadly quagmire. He's long warned that the Middle East hot spot isn't Iraq, but the mountainous western border of Pakistan, where al-Qaeda holes up and feeds its revitalized terrorist tentacles.
'Bama and Biden '08.... the perfect blending of vision and veracity.
What he wisely sees is that neither Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton are likely to pick the other for Vice President. Too many reckless charges have been flung about, especially from trash-talking Hillary even though it's almost a certainty that she can't.... and won't.... win the nomination.
Trash that is costing both Obama and Clinton support, support being diverted to GOP candidate John McCain who has shifted his "More Bush" road show into high gear.... unopposed.
What are Dems to do?
Turn to Senator Joe Biden, as the "perfect running mate for either Clinton or Obama".... acceptable and respected by both sides.... and McSame's nightmare road bump.
The seasoned Biden, while charming and charismatic, has the "grit and gravitas" that would cast him as the perfect campaign "pit bull." He could get in McSame's face over the war.... as the "chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee he knows the difference between the Shia and the Sunni."
Biden, an acknowledged Iraq war expert on both sides of the aisle, has a strategy for how to disengage responsibly from the deadly quagmire. He's long warned that the Middle East hot spot isn't Iraq, but the mountainous western border of Pakistan, where al-Qaeda holes up and feeds its revitalized terrorist tentacles.
'Bama and Biden '08.... the perfect blending of vision and veracity.
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