Hope 'em if you got 'em Friday, August 29, 2008
Preface: In our de facto two-party system, people are quick to assume that anyone who criticizes one candidate, supports the other. This is nonsense. It is also nonsense to suggest that if you give someone their due you have suddenly become a Koolaid-swilling devotee of the person you have complimented. If only we weren't so brainwashed with the idea that you just can't get any freer than you are in a two-party system perhaps we would learn to live with people with whom we take specific issue. So I'm for the parliamentary plan. I'm for pluralism. Unfortunately I'm in the United States so here's what I have to say about what happened in this country tonight. Pigeonhole me at your own peril.....
Do I disagree with Barack Obama on any number of issues? Absolutely. In particular, I can't abide his promise to increase military spending nor his assertion that Afghanistan requires an escalation of American martial involvement. I am unequivocally anti-nuke, he isn't. He is Chicago School of Economics, my views were shaped in Managua. I'm for single payer healthcare and he thinks the current profiteers just need some redirection. And I strongly disagree with his belief that humanity needs the USA at the front of the parade of nations.
All of that said, the now former presumptive Democratic nominee gave a speech tonight that provided a genuine grand finale for the 2008 Democratic Convention. The drama occurred before at least 70,000 howling partisans at Denver's Invesco Field. Millions more joined the jubilation via televisions, radios and computers that brought the proceedings to the United States and the rest of the world. The celebration came because after eight years of Reptilian bullying and bluster it was a gigantic relief to see someone take the stage and kick a doddering, mealymouthed GOP standard-bearer squarely in his shriveled, ancient testicles.
I was happiest when Obama said,"If John McCain wants to have a debate about who has the temperament and judgment to serve as the next commander-in-chief, that's a debate I'm ready to have."
That's right ya miserable old cur, he said "temperament." Hey, don't get mad at me, McCain, he said it.
That this speech was delivered by an African-American to a man who just recently felt a need to begin cloaking his bigotry only adds to the glee of the moment. I sure as hell am not going to be the one who defecates in that punchbowl. At least not tonight.
So enjoy yourselves. Hope 'em if you got 'em.
PS- Al Gore even mentioned civil liberties in his speech. There were plenty of devils in the details tonight but the only demons anyone noticed were members of the party of the pachyderm.
Trail Droppings: Tonight may not have just signaled doom for John McCain, it also could have been long overdue farewell to the Clintons. They knew enough to leave their royal box empty because once Obama got rolling, nobody cared if they were there or not.
Slogan you'll soon see: Pawlenty Isn't Enough!
NOTE: I am painting the house this weekend in hopes of freeing myself up for full-time duty observing the grand opening of Larry Craig Dance Academy in St. Pol next week. I may not post much until then. BC
Do I disagree with Barack Obama on any number of issues? Absolutely. In particular, I can't abide his promise to increase military spending nor his assertion that Afghanistan requires an escalation of American martial involvement. I am unequivocally anti-nuke, he isn't. He is Chicago School of Economics, my views were shaped in Managua. I'm for single payer healthcare and he thinks the current profiteers just need some redirection. And I strongly disagree with his belief that humanity needs the USA at the front of the parade of nations.
All of that said, the now former presumptive Democratic nominee gave a speech tonight that provided a genuine grand finale for the 2008 Democratic Convention. The drama occurred before at least 70,000 howling partisans at Denver's Invesco Field. Millions more joined the jubilation via televisions, radios and computers that brought the proceedings to the United States and the rest of the world. The celebration came because after eight years of Reptilian bullying and bluster it was a gigantic relief to see someone take the stage and kick a doddering, mealymouthed GOP standard-bearer squarely in his shriveled, ancient testicles.
I was happiest when Obama said,"If John McCain wants to have a debate about who has the temperament and judgment to serve as the next commander-in-chief, that's a debate I'm ready to have."
That's right ya miserable old cur, he said "temperament." Hey, don't get mad at me, McCain, he said it.
That this speech was delivered by an African-American to a man who just recently felt a need to begin cloaking his bigotry only adds to the glee of the moment. I sure as hell am not going to be the one who defecates in that punchbowl. At least not tonight.
So enjoy yourselves. Hope 'em if you got 'em.
PS- Al Gore even mentioned civil liberties in his speech. There were plenty of devils in the details tonight but the only demons anyone noticed were members of the party of the pachyderm.
Trail Droppings: Tonight may not have just signaled doom for John McCain, it also could have been long overdue farewell to the Clintons. They knew enough to leave their royal box empty because once Obama got rolling, nobody cared if they were there or not.
Slogan you'll soon see: Pawlenty Isn't Enough!
NOTE: I am painting the house this weekend in hopes of freeing myself up for full-time duty observing the grand opening of Larry Craig Dance Academy in St. Pol next week. I may not post much until then. BC
