Tasteless and Offensive or Politics at usual in America? This is the cover of The New Yorker magazine that comes out this week. The magazine's editor says that the cover is a satirical view of the way right wing conservatives try to paint the Obama's. The Obama campaign is not impressed and calls the cartoon "tasteless and offensive". 

The question comes to mind; Where were the political correctness police when cartoons comparing GWB to satan and a war hungry murder were floating around the mainstream press? I am sensitive to the idea that Obama is the the first African American to run for the Presidency and satirist need to be very careful when walking the line that makes them their living. That said, isn't it time for the Obama campaign to grow up and accept that you can't get upset and offended everytime that the the people across the aisle call you a name and make fun of you.  Satire is one of the oldest campaigning and advocacy tools for newspaper and magazines all over the country (although not very effective).  They have been around since the printing press allowed cartoonist to publish their work to the broader public. For Obama, this is the tip of the iceburg. If he doesn't want to be seen as childish and oversensitive he needs to continue to not comment on them, but also demand his staff to be able to laugh at one of the more enjoyable aspects of the campaign process. Humor 

Tags: obama, political

Lots of rumors running around the state today about Attorney General Troy King. It could lead to his resignation.

I'm not going to post links or even a run down of the unsubstaniated rumors, but if and when it comes, you heard it here first.

Tags: political

Anyone who has read this journal for any amount of time knows that I love politics, but today it is different. I have railed against the "liberal media" and those who are going after sound bytes and headlines rather than the truth. At the risk of looking cliche and like I am jumping on the bandwagon, I will say that I have always had a respect for Meet the Press and Tim Russert.  There is no doubt that he was teh best debate moderator I have ever seen. I have been very busy the last few days so I have haven't had time to sit down and really think about it and watch any of the coverage. I watched some of it online this morning and I cried. It is not very often that one of the good guys makes it in this world, let alone in political America. 

I feel like we are a weaker country because Tim Russert is gone.

Tags: political

This is an important article.

Why?  It is one of the first interviews where Bush is stopping and looking back on his Presidency. It is a signal that barring catastrophe his Presidency is over. Now it becomes about closing up shop, making the final rounds and beginning to prepare for a transition that is going to be tough, no matter who is elected.

Did you notice the tone change from Bush? It took 8 years, but the man who originally ran for President and the man who was such a successful governor of Texas finally returned. The George W. Bush who is talking in this article about his mistakes and his goals is the man that I voted for and is the man that I hoped would be a fantastic President. Rather than a President of rhetoric and tough talk that alienated and pushed Republicans and Democrats to the extreme, we again see the man who created the idea of "compassionate conservatism", a group who works for the middle class and poor while at the same time holding government responsible and demanding personal accountability. Only time will allow us to see why it is that Bush never became comfortable in the Presidency and why he continued to be dominated by advisers that pushed him further and further to the right, despite his success and belief that effective government executives govern from the middle and do it reaching across the aisle.

I started McClellan's book today and it gives an interesting look into the development of the Bush team. I'm not going to break the book down until I get all the way done with it. I don't believe everything that is in it, but it has helped me understand who some of the behind the scenes players are that have both crippled this administration, and who have helped it limp across the finish line.

Looking back I keep asking myself whether or not I would change my vote if I could go back. If I could go back and vote for Gore, would I? If I could go back and vote for Kerry, would I?  I'm not sure. Many of you know that I quit defending Bush in this blog long ago. Overall I have been dissapointed by the last 8 years, but I am not convinced that either Gore or Kerry would have been able to do any better than this administration has done. I don't think that Gore would have been able to rally America to respond and recover after 9-11. I don't think that Kerry had the ability or political power to follow through on his promise to completly withdraw in 2005.  Can you stop and imagine the Middle East right now if we had left the country three years ago to turn into a bloody politcal vaccum? I don't like us being there any more than you do at this point, but sadly it continues to be necessary that we right the wrong that we have done to that area by creating the best environment for those people to have a safe place to raise their children.

What do future Presidents learn from this administration? I hope that they learn that when the campaign ends it must end. You can't allow yourself to govern through the eyes of politics if you are going to be effective and do the things that need to be done for the American people. Sure you might win reelection by a larger margin and your approval rating might be higher, but you govern through the eye of politics at the expense of the American people. I also hope that future Presidents will realize the importance of saying, "I screwed that up." The American people are amazingly forgetful and forgiving as long as we feel like our leaders are aware of their mistakes and are moving forward. Congress is full of flawed men and women who continue to mess up and continue to be reelected because of hte respect they have garnered from their constituency. Surrounding yourself with aids and advisers who are going to encourage you to be self critical and open about government are essential to being a good leader. I think that Ronald Reagan embodied that as well as any President in recent memory. He never claimed to have all the answers or to be able to fix everything, but he was able to make the American people feel like he was going to be honest and give each issue his best shot. They were not always going to agree with is approach, but he was going to try to fix it. When we step away and when we really look at those that we elect, is there anything else that we can actually demand from them?

I will always wonder what this administration could have achieved if it had not been sidetracked by war and the division that it caused in a country that desperately was yearning for someone to rally around. Will we get that in 2009? We can only hope so. 

(Note: I'm working on a post about the Electoral College. Reasons for it, Reasons against it, Historical Importance, and Potential Strategies and Outcomes in this coming election. If you want your thoughts, opinion, and comments to be reflected, considered, and debated... then let me know. I'm not sure I am going to advocate a particular position as much as simply engage the issue. You should participate. It is going to be fun.  umcmatt@gmail.com

Tags: bush, political
Current Mood: calm

I am waiting on Amazon to deliver Scott McClellan's book so I can read it, digest it, then burn it... but until  then here is the response from one of the most respected statemen of our generation. A war hero that has been praised for his bi-partisan work and his dedication to public service, Bob Dole.

This is the original Dole e-mail:

Scott,

There are miserable creatures like you in every administration who don't have the guts to speak up or quit if there are disagreements with the boss or colleagues. No, your type soaks up the benefits of power, revels in the limelight for years, then quits, and spurred on by greed, cashes in with a scathing critique.

In my nearly 36 years of public service I've known of a few like you. No doubt you will "clean up" as the liberal anti-Bush press will promote your belated concerns with wild enthusiasm. When the money starts rolling in you should donate it to a worthy cause, something like, "Biting The Hand That Fed Me." Another thought is to weasel your way back into the White House if a Democrat is elected. That would provide a good set up for a second book deal in a few years.

I have no intention of reading your "exposé" because if all these awful things were happening, and perhaps some may have been, you should have spoken up publicly like a man, or quit your cushy, high profile job. That would have taken integrity and courage but then you would have had credibility and your complaints could have been aired objectively. You're a hot ticket now but don't you, deep down, feel like a total ingrate?

BOB DOLE

 

Tags: news, political
Current Location: Millport, AL
Current Mood: bored

http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=videolandingpage&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=832393&referralPlaylistId=949437d0db05ed5f5b9954dc049d70b0c12f2749


Where do I begin? Lets first begin my saying that I am offended. Secondly, I am embrassed for this idiot who comes on national television acting like everyone who eats beef is stupid, irresponsible, etc.

I planned on ranting and writing for at least an hour on this, but I can't. This has reached a level of absurdity that even I didn't see coming.  We now are saying that anyone who does not fit the societal mold of fitness is not only lazy, has no work ethic, and eats to much, but now we are saying that they are the reason for global warming. 

I can handle a lot of things. I can look past a lot of things, but pure ignorance is something I struggle to get past. This is one of them.  I don't have FoxNews on Tv anymore, but I am sending them a letter today to explain to them that I won't be watching H and C if they continue to invite guests on who are just being stupid. I don't mind bringing on alternate view points who have legitimate topics and points to talk about, but this woman was below what is exceptable even for a local channel to put on  TV.

Tags: global warming, political
Current Mood: shocked

Have I thought to mention to you that I think Global Warming might be the greatest hoax ever perpetrated against the world? I thought I had mentioned it.

Some of you might recall a post from April 19th after the NYT decided to tell their liberal minions that it was time we all switch to being vegetarians to solve global warming and end world hunger. Thats great, except for one small problem... reality. 

I have now run into 8 different people who have explained to my why they are better, more sensitive human being because they don't eat beef. 

*Note: Some of you who have a soft spot for cows might not want to click this cut.

In other news, Wallace has progressed one step closer to becoming a bonifide bird dog.



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Tags: fun, global warming, political, wallace
Current Location: America, or whats left of it
Current Mood: full

I know that you are all going to be shocked by this, but it seems that Mr. Gore is backing away from his support of Biofuel now that he and other Climate Alarmists have threatened the global food supply. Who would have ever thought that if you double the demand on a product the price would go up? Who would have warned against that? Anyone? Anyone? I won't say that I told you so. I won't say that I have tried to explain the way economics works. I won't say that I knew this was going to happen. I won't say that all the good intentioned libs around the world who have compared me to a Holocaust denier are now partially responsible for a global food shortage. That would be gloating, and well, I'm above that. At least today.

Tags: al gore, global warming, political
Current Mood: distressed

Is it a bad thing that I am sitting in my seminary class trying to figure out the most effective way to strangle one of my fellow seminarians? I think it is, but thats where I am at right now and there is no good in lieing about it. I have had it with this idiot. EVERY CLASS, at least 3 times a class he will interrupt the professor and say, "I don't mean to change the subject or get you off track, but there is a question I have always wanted to ask....." then he asks one of the most ridiculous questions in the history of mankind that is so far off what we are talking about that I can't think of an example that would adequately make you, my reader, understand. Most of the time the question takes 10 minutes to ask because we have to hear the story behind what triggered the thought in his mind, then we have to hear him set up a hypothetical... I'm over it. I think that from now on I am going to the Registrars office to see what he has signed up for before I agree to be in a class.

I went Turkey hunting this morning and I might have found another passion. I enjoy deer hunting, but this is totally different. I have killed a lot of animals of all shapes and sizes over the course of my life, but this morning I got an adrenylin rush I have not experienced in  years. I didn't shoot one, but even the act of the hunt really got my heart pumping. Turkey hunting is probably the most involved and quite honestly, sportsmanlike hunting I have ever done. I have till next Thursday before the season ends.

I can't begin to tell you how impressed I was with Sounds of Sumatanga. It was one of the Top 5 events I have been to at Sumatanga. It seemed like the Staff had a plan, and they did a great job pulling it off.  Wallace went with me and I was proud of him. He doesn't get in large crowds like that very often and he did well.  I think that I could have taken him off the leash all day and he would have been fine.There were only two small things that we need to work on before we get in another situation like that, but overall he did very well and I was proud.

I walked the lake trail for the first time (along with a Who's Who of the Camp Family) and it was a lot nicer than I had expected. The benches and swings were placed in some great places and the trail itself was very smooth and easy to walk. Kudos to those who made the decision. I'm still angry about the concrete ampitheater, but in 200 or 250 years it will break down and not be as visible. I'll just have to be patient.

Politics:
I can't believe Hillary Clinton did not drop out today. Even after her speech last night I really thought that with a night of sleep and with a clear view of the remaining contests she would be forced to see that she can't win the nomination without doing irrepairable harm to the Democratic Party. Evidently she really believes that she can win Indiana, make it close in North Carolina and then ride a wave of wins in West Virginia and Kentucky into the convention. Looking at the numbers I think that it is a real possibility and very interesting that she is going to win the popular vote. Why is this interesting you ask?

Lets rewind to 2000.. how many of you to this day like to remind people that Al Gore won the popular vote and should have been the President if it were not for the outdated Electoral College? Anyone? Anyone? If Hillary wins the popular vote, and you still support Obama for the nomination, then you officially need to never bring that up again.  But do I expect evenly applied ideas of fairness from the libs? Not a chance.

As an Republican, I am pulling for Hillary. I don't think that at this point she could rally support enough within the party to generate the money or grassroots effort she would need to beat John McCain who with every passing day is hoarding cash and more effectively orgainizing local officials to work for his campaign.

As an American, Barack Obama needs to win the nomination. As much as I disagree with the platform of the Democratic Party, the worst case scenario for the country right now is for the Party to split. If Hillary Clinton wins the nomination because the party elite take it away from the first legitimate minority candidate then there will be a revolution in the party. Even more important than the fact Obama is black is the fact that he has rallied young voters and those outside the normal group of political participants more effectively than any candidate in modern history. Him losing it at this point will push out voters that the Democrats will depend on to win not only the White House, but Congressional seats as well. Losing the already shaky confidence of the African Americans and Young Americans will cause a party implosion.  We (Americans) depend on the Democrats to keep us from going too far to the right, and vice versa. If there were a legitimate Third Party that could fill the vaccum, then I would be pulling for the split of the Liberals, but this is not the time.  That said, don't think I support them, I just think they make a GREAT minority party   :)    I think McCain will beat either of them at this point because of the damage done and the money spend by the Dems in the last month.

Update: My idiot friend here in class just spend 10 minutes of my life on his thoughts on the assasination of Kennedy and how the Beatles would not have come to America if Kennedy had not been shot. 

It's the last day.... and it hasn't come a moment too soon.

Tags: clinton, hunting, mccain, memphis, obama, political, seminary
Current Location: C 102 - MTS
Current Mood: apathetic

This was a reply to a comment on Lauren's journal accusing me of not supporting the Myth of Global Warming because Al Gore is a Democrat. I also reply to the NYT article and the week long liberal craze to become a vegetarian:

I'm not against Al Gore because he is a democrat, I am against Al Gore because he is a liar, and because he is attempting to profit politically and financially from something he can't prove. ABC did a story on 20/20 this week that showed that many of the images in his moview were computer generated (others were taken directly out of the move The Day after Tomorrow). All I am asking for is honesty. [I can't find a link, but I will alert you when I do]. Is it wrong to use computer generated images in movies? No, but it is a LIE to use them in a documentary about climate change that you are presenting as fact.

Many, MANY, MANY, legitimate scientists and weather experts continue to tell us that global warming is a theory that we can't prove. We can't even agree if the Earth is actually warming, much less who is causing it. Al Gore continuing to go around this country comparing those of us with questions to Holocaust deniers and the Flat Earth Society is the reason he is not President; he doesn't understand America or everyday Americans.

What makes me even more mad is seeing how the NYT and the left wing are begining to shift the debate.

That aside, lets move back to the beef. What most liberals this week are not realizing is that their new devotion to the vegetarian lifestyle will completely fail because the American people are not going to get behind this. Worse than that, their new found eating habits will actually HURT the fight against feeding the world. What do we use to feed the majority of the world? Wheat, Soy, Corn, and Rice. If you give up beef what will you eat more of? Wheat, Soy, Corn, and Rice. Laws of supply and demand show us that an increase in demand, but a unchanging supply create price increases. WHo can't afford these price increases? THE POOR. Where are the worlds poor? NOT IN AMERICA.  By eating more and more of these things, you are making less available for those who need to buy them at a lower price.

I know that for many they will feel much better and it will relieve their guilt if they don't eat meat, and that is fine. But reality says it won't help the planet, and it won't help world hunger.

Many of you are asking then, What will help world hunger? CUTTING MY TAXES SO I CAN GIVE MORE OF MY MONEY AWAY TO FEED PEOPLE. The most important word in the previous sentence? GIVE. Not take or tax, but GIVE.

Want to really help? Quit financing cars you can't afford. Quit buying houses that are too big and that you need 30 years to pay for. Stop shopping for crap you dont' need. Rather, BUY SOME FOOD and feed someone. Thats not enough? Do what Americans do and BE CREATIVE (www.freerice.com) and come up with a way to do it. The man who created Freerice.com has fed more people that anyone you know by harnessing the power of the internet and the generosity of the American business community.

Tags: al gore, global warming, political
Current Mood: irritated