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RedditThis should be a big election about big issues. The greatest financial crisis since the Depression. Soaring global debt. Collapsing public infrastructure. A broken health care system. Gilded Age inequality. Two disastrous occupations and a failing "war on terror." Yet, until Wall Street imploded this weekend, it seemed as if no one could move the 24/7 mainstream media beyond the trivial. Tired of talking about swine and lipstick, moose and baby bumps? We are.
That's why The Nation's lead editorial this week calls for an end to gotcha journalism and the politics of distraction and diversion. It's time to say, Enough! Let's refocus this election on what's truly at stake. To that end, we're laying out a series of questions in the magazine and at TheNation.com that we believe should be asked of both candidates--not only in the upcoming debates, the first of which takes place just one week from this Friday--but by a mainstream media that seems, well, "hell-bent" on reporting on the election as if it's a new hit reality show.
Here are some of the questions we'd like to see asked of the candidates:
• The business-financial establishment and leading corporate-financed think tanks are leading a major lobbying campaign to cut people's benefits from Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Will you promise to oppose these efforts?
• The United States is hemorrhaging debt from its trade deficits - $700 billion a year - what is your plan to stop the bleeding?
• We're losing jobs at an increasing rate. States and cities are gearing up for deep cuts in construction, schools, and health care. The Federal Reserve has committed over $500 billion to backstop banks and investment houses, and the Treasury has just guaranteed 5 trillion in loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. What is your plan to help kick start the real economy?
• Do you agree with Defense Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen, Chair of the Joint Chiefs, who insist that the Pentagon budget must grow?
• Why would you promote NATO expansion as a security building policy considering that had Georgia been a member of NATO when it launched its attack on Southern Ossetia, under the Treaty's Article Five guarantee the US would now be at war with Russia?
• The US has the highest childhood poverty rate of any industrialized nation with 20 percent of children under age 6 living in poor families, costing about $500 billion dollars per year to the US economy, or 4 percent of GDP. What is your plan to reduce childhood poverty during your administration?
• According to the New York Times, in 1995 Senator McCain promoted a moratorium on federal regulations of all kinds, saying that excessive regulations were "destroying the American family, the American dream." Does the Senator still feel that way? And what kind of regulatory architecture is needed to prevent the fraudulent gimmicks that led to our current financial crisis?
The Nation is not alone in seeking a real debate about the big issues at stake this year. Today the Institute for America's Future (IAF) launches a seven-week ad series in the New York Times, encouraging Americans to demand a real debate focused on "seven national crises that won't wait." The first ad concerns the American Dream--how it is increasingly unattainable for more and more families. Other ads in the series will focus on our global debt and financial crises, health care system, public infrastructure, global warming, increasing Robber Baron corruption, the endless occupation of Iraq and the "war on terror."
"These issues are simply too important to be lost in the media frenzy and amid political distractions," said IAF's co-director Robert Borosage. "It is time to shelve the gotcha politics and the horse-race journalism of the past. We're urging the candidates to confront the major challenges facing our country and use the debates to focus on them." Americans, Borosage says, "deserve a debate worthy of a great nation in trouble."
The IAF also plans to launch an online petition challenging debate moderators to focus on the big issues. Today's ad is running on the Times op-ed page. You can check out the first two ads of the campaign here.
UPDATE: It's good to see readers offering questions for the candidates. Here are some that you have posted so far:
• Why do you think it is necessary to spend so many US tax dollars on the Pentagon, Department of Defense and on other nations' defense systems while people in this country are denied medical care, proper education, and care for our senior citizens?
• Why can't the US spend more of our hard-earned tax dollars on infrastructure used by American citizens?
• What is your plan to resolve the Iraq war disaster?
• Will the US require signing of the Non-Proliferation Treaty as a condition for allowing US-based nuclear power and materials corporations to do business with foreign countries interested in developing nuclear capabilities?
• Will you wield the same level of "executive privilege" as President Bush and Vice President Cheney?
•Will you give back to Congress the power to do its job?
Please keep the questions coming--we will feature them in a future post!
forget the "american dream," how about the norwegian dream?
Posted by darladoon at 09/16/2008 @ 12:58pm
Katrina, Thank you. Hopefully you can actually get to ask both of these candidates those questions in person.
Here's a couple of questions you might consider asking them that are related to yours.
1) Why do you think it is necessary to spend so much of the U.S. tax dollars on the pentagon, department of defense and on other nations defense systems while people in this country are denied medical care, proper education, and care for our senior citizens?
2) Why can't the U.S. spend more of our hard earned tax dollars on infrastructure used by American citizens? What is more imporatant to the U.S. government. Outspending other nations on defense systems or the well being of the citizens of the United States?
3) Please explain why the U.S. government listens to the needs and caters to lobby groups like AIPAC more than groups representing large portions of citizens who have worked their whole lives and paid taxes like folks in AARP.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/16/2008 @ 1:00pm
is anyone else secretly enjoying watching all these wall street hot shots panic in their pant suits?
Posted by darladoon at 09/16/2008 @ 1:02pm
But Obama won't do Town Hall Meets is what McCa says over and over again, it's all Obam's fault.
But found a perfect analogy gleaned from another blog:
"This is laughable. The McCain people have gone lower than dirt because Obama didn't agree to the number of town hall meetings they wanted? So it's Obama's fault?
If she weren't wearing that skimpy outfit I wouldn't of raped her."
The honorable McPOW campaign has so morphed into hsuB/cHeney admin that it's now the dishonorable McAWOL campaign.
Does that cover all the other 'real' issues?
Posted by hsuBfools at 09/16/2008 @ 1:03pm
is anyone else secretly enjoying watching all these wall street hot shots panic in their pant suits?
Posted by darladoon at 09/16/2008 @ 1:02pm
It's nice to see these jackasses walking out in disgrace with their box of personal belongings. Kind of makes them almost look like they live on the same planet as the rest of us...with the exception of the $1k suits.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/16/2008 @ 1:07pm
4) Will the US require signing of the Non-Proliferation Treaty as a condition for allowing US-based nuclear power and materials corporations to do business with foreign countries interested in developing nuclear capabilities?
Posted by Zero at 09/16/2008 @ 1:09pm
Zero, That's pretty much what I was leading too. Why don't we cut our defense spending by at least half if not 2/3rds. That would one hell of a long way towards reducing our defecits and could be used to invest in infrastructure which in turn would put Americans back to work on American owned projects, not overseas business ventures.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/16/2008 @ 1:14pm
So if you are really ready to print out some serious stuff, I'd love to see it. Like her or not, there's a lot more to this woman than you give credit for, and you guys know it.
Chip
Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 09/16/2008 @ 1:14pm
Chip, This woman you are defending isn't qualified to be VP of the United States. Do you think she could handle a stock market crash? With McCain's pick as an economists to help him out, we may very well have a total market crash under McCain. And, if McIdiot were to die in office, that would put Palin as president. The same Palin who ran the town she was mayor of into deficits. Ya, she's really qualified Chip.
McCain had a lot of people to choose from for VP, and he chose to make 28% of the nation happy by choosing a religious fruit cake out for the job. If she can't stand the heat, she should get the hell out of the kitchen. This lady should not be within stiking distance of being POTUS. Olympia Snow would have been a much better choice for McCain, but he wasn't concerned in actually finidng a qualified woman for the job. He was looking more for a playboy bunny / religious / neocon for the job to play politics with our nation. We need leaders to run this country, not two bit politicians like McIdiot and Palin.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/16/2008 @ 1:21pm
All this discussion is meaningless.
Until we have a Congress that is capable of finding 21st century solutions within the framework of the constitution, nothing significant will happen.
Unless Congress reduces not increases it's own impact on the economy we will continue to see these kinds of dramatic economic swings.
Until Congress abandons it's takeover of the authorities given to the individual states by the 10th amendment, we will continue to see this hodge podge of Federal bandaids. Either abolish the 10th amendment or live according to it.
If the Congress had done these things, we would not have been saddled with the huge debt that Social Security and Medicare have given us. A Debt that is growing exponentially because of the growing number of retirees.
If Congress had stayed out of trying to manipulate Financial markets, we could have had a true capitalism which would let the weak fail, mergers without the threat of "anti-trust" persecution, and the strong survive.
But Democrats and leftists want no part of this agenda and Republicans are only slightly better.
Posted by lvliberty1 at 09/16/2008 @ 1:22pm
Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 09/16/2008 @ 1:14pm
CHIP hates "partisanship"....which he defines as anybody on the Left criticizing anybody on the Right.
He like "objectivity"...which he defines as Fox News, The Weekly Standard, and Drudge....and me when I agree with him on some issue!
Posted by Maskdelta at 09/16/2008 @ 1:32pm
It's nice to see these jackasses walking out in disgrace with their box of personal belongings. Kind of makes them almost look like they live on the same planet as the rest of us...with the exception of the $1k suits.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/16/2008 @ 1:07pm | ignore this person | warn this person
The little folks with the boxes you saw on TV leaving likely aren't the problem but will be ocllateral damage and victims as just another example of a workforce that gets it bread and butter from the masters who deal with intangible financial services - thanks globalization. How much of our economy was tied to the housing industry, including mortage orgination, secondary markets, construction, realtors, title companies, etc? These little folks need sympathy. The crap at the top is what we should be cheering walking out with their boxes....but they will wait for the moving vans to move their palatial offices, and they likely have secured compensation packages over the heyday of selling junk mortgages that will ensure they never have to worry another day about a "job" for sustenance and survival.
Posted by OneVote at 09/16/2008 @ 1:33pm
Posted by lvliberty1 at 09/16/2008 @ 1:22pm
Essentially, Ms vanden Heuvel bemoans a return to the "Gilded Age"...and LVLIB would celebrate it.
He probably read "The Jungle" by Sinclair and every page said "Damn leftist meat packers, trying to get their socialist 'untainted meat' ideas promulgated!!!"
Back on-topic though, EVERY election cycle we go through this breast-thumping and rending of garments over "Let's get away from the trivialities and BACK TO THE ISSUES!!!!"...
and every election such cries fall flat.
2004- It was the Swift Vets.
2000- It was "Al Gore says he invented the Internet" (ironic, given the news about McCain's advisor and how Maverick "created the Blackberry")...or Dubya's lack of coherent sentences.
1996- It was Dole's age...but mostly nobody really could complain. The economy was good, the GOP were happy to have Congress, the Dems SOMEWHAT happy to have the White House.
1992- It was the economy, but also Perot's insanity, Bush looking at his watch, and Bill Clinton seeming like the first moderate Dem in years.
and so on and so on....
Posted by Maskdelta at 09/16/2008 @ 1:38pm
Here is a great article by Deepak Chopra that sheds light on the "shadow forces" that we see in the "fukUlibruls" post above:
http://tinyurl.com/5z4p55
Posted by Metteyya at 09/16/2008 @ 1:51pm
Sigh... I hate to do this, because I literally have only one person on my ignore list... correction, make that two. Bye, bye, ALLUDRA, or fukUlibruls, of whoever you are...
Posted by jorcheim at 09/16/2008 @ 1:59pm
Don't feed the "LIBZ"...
that means you too Ms vanden Heuvel!
Posted by Maskdelta at 09/16/2008 @ 2:20pm
is anyone else secretly enjoying watching all these wall street hot shots panic in their pant suits?
Posted by darladoon at 09/16/2008 @ 1:02pm
With a great big smile on my face, I actually made a pushing gesture towards the TV set, as in pushing the stockbrokers out onto the window ledge.
"Jump, jump!"
Posted by cka2nd at 09/16/2008 @ 2:28pm
here's some questions, katrina:
will you wield the same level of 'executive priviledge' as president bush and vice president cheney?
Posted by darladoon at 09/16/2008 @ 2:43pm
will you give back to congress the power to do its job?
will you stop employing the term 'legislating from the bench' with respect to only liberal supreme court judges?
will you stop employing the term 'liberal national media' to refer to CNN and the NYT?
Posted by darladoon at 09/16/2008 @ 2:44pm
Another great article by Katrina. Hopefully the polls are lying and Obama wins by a large margin. As a die hard Hillary supporter I will vote for Obama since this Palin woman scares the hell out of me with her ignorance and extremist views.
Posted by nursevic at 09/16/2008 @ 2:54pm
how do you really feel about socialism? why do you think it can't work in the united states?
Posted by darladoon at 09/16/2008 @ 3:12pm
>>>AMERICA IS NOT A MARXIST COUNTRY....SORRY
Posted by fukUlibruls at 09/16/2008 @ 3:08pm<<<
And it is NOT the selfish, "me, me, me and to hell with everyone else" country either!
Posted by Metteyya at 09/16/2008 @ 3:22pm
But Democrats and leftists want no part of this agenda and Republicans are only slightly better. Posted by lvliberty1 at 09/16/2008 @ 1:22pm
Uhhh, last I checked Republican's were in charge and now we are here.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/16/2008 @ 3:31pm
Let me be very clear... there has never been any lightness about this election for the millions of us who struggle everyday just to pay the bills and keep going...
The mainstream media is dealing with this election as if it's some big hide and seek game... playing with our lives as we watch these grown folks jumping on the most non-sensical, shallow issues....
This is about ratings for the media but it is also their job to discern what the majority of us are interested in as far as this election is concerned.... and believe me, this single mother does not give a hoot about pigs or pitbulls in lipstick....
I don't have insurance for my 11 yr. old son, so my keen interest is who will help me to pay for it and ensure that the FOUNDATION of this nation, the middle class are protected and not squeezed or taken for granted.
It is the media that needs to seriously grow up !!!!
Posted by nerakami at 09/16/2008 @ 3:52pm
Hi Darladoon, Socialism is alive and well in the US! As you know, much of our government is already very socialist. Our financial systems are centrally managed. Protectionist and corporate welfare programs abound. We have Medicare/Medicaid and social security. Our public education system is socialist. It's a long list.
Socialism here and abroad and throughout history can't work because of human nature. Socialism removes incentives, checks and balances needed to allow self interest to benefit the greater good. Socialism removes incentive, competition and therefore breeds waste and indifference.
Small experiment anyone can do. Two meetings in two different rooms. Room 1 the coffee is "free". In room 2 it is $1 for a cup of coffee. At the end of the day Room 1 has a high percentage of full or half full cups of coffee left behind and wasted. In room 2, very little waste is evident comparitively.
Obvious oversimplication, but the lesson is that if no cost is borne, corruption is bred. This is how congress manages our Social Security deposits.
Let me try to pose it a different way Darla: If every american had to write a check every month for their equal share of the war in Iraq, would US troops be there? How about to bail out Fannie Freddie?
But we won't have to cut those checks, will we Darla? We don't have to because socialism has won out over liberty. The government already takes our money and distributes according to the common good, right? And you want even greater government control over our lives?
Good for you. Yea Darla!
Posted by freiheit1 at 09/16/2008 @ 3:54pm
And it is NOT the selfish, "me, me, me and to hell with everyone else" country either!
Posted by Metteyya at 09/16/2008 @ 3:22pm
Really? I thought that was what got us into this mess! Deregulate an industry and what happens? Free market my a**! More like a free fire zone - on the middle class! Well just as long as the f****** neocons get their money and power, shit on everyone else...
You tell 'em Katrina! I LOVE it when they get mad!!!
Posted by ucnick at 09/16/2008 @ 3:58pm
Oh, and Darla, have you ever considered that the reasons you find Norway and Sweden such great examples of societies is that they don't have a multicultural fabric?
Or do you contend homogeneity is necessary for socialism? Hitler sure thought so. (Oh and please consult a dictionary before accusing me of being homophobic please.)
Yet another example of why I don't think "socialism" works in the US.
Posted by freiheit1 at 09/16/2008 @ 4:17pm
three months ago, mccain said on "meet the press" he didn't know anything abou the economy. At the time Iraq was the number one priority. Last month, he said he will suffer with americans in the foxhole or something to that effect. Yesterday, he said the economy is fundamentally strong...using what criteria?? since he already admitted he knows nothing about the economy...
"We believe this is a defining moment in the campaign. This is a crisis, and in crisis, leadership rises to the top," said Daniel Clifton of Strategas Research Partners, a firm that analyzes Washington for Wall Street. "So both candidates have the challenge of being able to, one, be a leader in a time of crisis, but, two, fashion a response that will make the American voter feel comfortable
how long will american voters tolerate platitudes from the mccain campaign without any definable solutions???
Obama has numerous realistic ways to get rid of the budget deficity which economists say are achievable...
mccain just wants to keep bush tax cuts for the rich....keep all profits for the oil companies, and not give any subsidies for any renewable energy...
then he starts modeling "change" copying obama....after voting with bush 90% of the time....
I saw a commercial last night about four times during a football game about how palin reduced taxes in ak, in a state with NO TAXES BEFORE SHE EVEN GOT ELECTED and where each resident gets several thousand dollars a year JUST FOR LIVING THERE and then one which said she stopped bridge to nowhere, she voted for it and supported it until it was defeated and mccain attacked her for it in 2001 AND palin supported publicly obama UNTIL she became VP...
the hypocrisy is astounding...
can americans PLEASE make a smart choice FOR ONCE???
Posted by jrs112 at 09/16/2008 @ 4:30pm
MASK, OLD BOY,
Are you stalking me around this thing?
I'm flattered!
Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 09/16/2008 @ 4:32pm
Liver, You truly are out in the clouds. Nobody has been regulating wallstreet or the banks and it's been jungle just the way you rethugs like it. Look at what happened with the banking industry and wallstreet running unchecked...very similar to Enron and the S&L business.
The federal government needs to regulate the value of the dollar and also regulate how much debt a bank can loan on. The ratio now is way out of whack...at least three economics professors seemed to think so.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/16/2008 @ 4:37pm
Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 09/16/2008 @ 4:32pm
Lighten up, Francis.
(100 blog-bucks* to who can name the reference)
(*Note: "blog-bucks" are completely fictional form of currency used to "pay off" Internet bets. Do not accept as legal tender!)
Posted by Maskdelta at 09/16/2008 @ 4:41pm
Posted by jrs112 at 09/16/2008 @ 4:30pm
How can you make a smart choice being as uninformed as your post indicates?
If you believe McCain doesn't know anything about economics, then you must certainly believe Biden said Obama should have chosen Hillary and that Obama called Palin a pig.
You don't need to answer for my benefit, but for your own. Do you really know for sure what the current "crisis" on Wall Street is fundamentally all about?
Your attempts to make it a partisan issue say to me you don't really. And that's sad for both of us because you unknowingly answer the question you pose: Why can't Americans make the smart choice?
Posted by freiheit1 at 09/16/2008 @ 4:43pm
How convenient to change the subject to issues and substance before you have carefully analyzed Obama's experience, financial dealings, and questionable mentors. You may try to pose as a responsible media outlet, but your bias is evident, and your credibility is as questionable as Limbaugh's.
Posted by magriet at 09/16/2008 @ 4:43pm
Lighten up, Francis.
Posted by Maskdelta at 09/16/2008 @ 4:41pm
Mask, Don't tell us that you are really uncle Hulka, our newest bestest buddy, and big toe!! Because we know what uncle Hulka plans to do with that big toe of his....
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/16/2008 @ 4:47pm
Lighten up, Francis.
Posted by Maskdelta at 09/16/2008 @ 4:41pm
That's from Stripes, right? can't remember which character says it to the psycho guy. it's right after he tells everyone he'll kill them if they touch his things. might have been the Drill Sargent who says it.
Posted by italiano at 09/16/2008 @ 4:48pm
I don't have insurance for my 11 yr. old son, so my keen interest is who will help me to pay for it and ensure that the FOUNDATION of this nation, the middle class are protected and not squeezed or taken for granted.
It is the media that needs to seriously grow up !!!!
Posted by nerakami at 09/16/2008 @ 3:52pm
Sorry about your predicament. This is Reaganomics/Bushonomics and pretty much Rethug policy 101. If you can't afford it, you don't deserve. That includes, food, water, housing, insurance etc. But, if we need to throw a few billion dollars at Iraq so some Oil companies can set up shop, that's another matter.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/16/2008 @ 4:50pm
That's from Stripes, right? can't remember which character says it to the psycho guy. it's right after he tells everyone he'll kill them if they touch his things. might have been the Drill Sargent who says it.
Posted by italiano at 09/16/2008 @ 4:48pm
Bingo. Any of you call me Francis, I'll kill ya. Any of you put your meet hooks on my stuff, I'll kill ya. Any of you homos touch me and I'll kill ya. Sounds kind of like a toned down Darth Cheney. Woops, Cheney wouldn't say he'd kill you, he'd have someone else kill ya, or I guess he'd shoot you in the face.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/16/2008 @ 4:54pm
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/16/2008 @ 4:50pm
Wolfgang, "if you can't afford it, you don't deserve it"?! You contend that's on the republican platform?
How sad. You are exactly where the powers want you to be. Confused, devisive and firing your blame away from where it belongs. You've rendered yourself no threat to the status quo.
What's happening economically in the United States today is not a partisan battle. But I know I won't change your mind.
Posted by freiheit1 at 09/16/2008 @ 5:00pm
You want a debate, but your candidate will not do town hall meetings with McCain. He is so unimpresive without his teleprompter that he is now bringing it with him so he can read Axelrod's words. Debate? There is no way to get Obama to debate because he is an empty suit. Go say you want the issues discussed. That would be great, but the Democrat party picked a guy who is not up to the task. Sorry to burst your bubble.
Posted by bizman at 09/16/2008 @ 5:02pm
I would think that KVH and many of the Nation's subscribers must actually be very pleased by the current state of things. What with new fiscal and social disasters being announced by the hour, can the great uprising of the oppressed masses be nearly here? Just yesterday, I submitted my new business plan to several VC's for consideration. I have obtained a license (exclusive of course) for a new line of Mao "suits" which will be required once the new socialist worker's paradise is mandated. I only hope I get a chance to manufacture and stockpile a sufficient number of suits to sell before my little company gets nationalized. After that. of course, the gov't will provide for all my needs.
Posted by sntauri at 09/16/2008 @ 5:04pm
What's happening economically in the United States today is not a partisan battle. But I know I won't change your mind.
Posted by freiheit1 at 09/16/2008 @ 5:00pm
freiheit, For once I agree with you. It's not a partisan battle. There are bought and paid for politicians on both sides of the isle. But, people voting republican are of two sorts. Those who have a lot of money and hide it, protect it don't pay taxes, and those who are stupid and don't realize they don't have any money but buy into the hot button issues the rethugs run on. They have no platform as you can plainly see by listening to McCain. What's his platform Freiheit? Red, White and Blue, wars, not taxes Amen. Not much of a platform.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/16/2008 @ 5:09pm
Progressives would be well served to ignore Palin and the whole Palin factor. Any discussion about her is a trap designed to turn this election into a character assignation competition. This is the bait that the right employs every election cycle, that the poor old Democrats fall for every time. Like it or not, rural folk, christian folk, "small town america" love(s) Palin - just like they did Truman, and Reagan. They see themselves in these simpleton politicians. Any attempt to discredit her enables the Republican establishment to go on Fox, etc, and play their favorite two cards:
(1) Ya see folks, them liberals are a bunch of elitist who don't want folk like you and me governin'. They sneer at ya'll because they don't really love America. (2) We're the real Americans - true Patriots through and through - just like yall (never mind that our tax structure smothers the American dream by making us owners richer and you workers poorer or that we are taking away you constitutional rights).
This transparent strategy is based the incompetence of their opponents, and astoundingly - it seems to works every presidential election (except for Carter and Clinton, two 'aw shucks' southerners who played up their own common folksiness).
Any argument about Palin being inexperienced or unqualified is exactly what McCain's team (Karl Roves best men) wanted all along because we just wind up comparing our presidential nominee to their veep nominee. So even when we win this obvious argument - we actually lose (votes).
Instead of complaining about the 'gotcha journalism', which sells more ads than the actual issues would - join an Obama phone bank. Call people in swing states and talk about Obama's plan to revitalize the economy by creating a green infrastructure, complete wi
Posted by Plato at 09/16/2008 @ 5:11pm
Name a single US company with a capitalization of, let's say, $500M or more, that would hire the divine Sarah as its No.2.
Go ahead, name one.
Now that that's settled, let's not merely move on, but flee to the Big Issues & stay there all the way for many years to come.
Otherwise, we are completely lost.
And this, alas, isn't hype.
Posted by sloper at 09/16/2008 @ 5:26pm
So if you are really ready to print out some serious stuff, I'd love to see it. Like her or not, there's a lot more to this woman than you give credit for, and you guys know it.
Chip
Allow me to re-enact a scene from the beloved TV-sitcom "Seinfeld." Just substitute the words "Sarah Palin" for "Newman."
Elaine: Maybe there's more to Newman than meets the eye.
Jerry: Oh no. There's less.
*bows
Posted by goddess1871 at 09/16/2008 @ 5:31pm
As it stands, it is about the biggest issue. who better represents America, Wall St. or Wasilla?
It comes out in lots of ways, as in:
Who is willing to cross aisles to achieve a better country (McCain), and who votes by the book? (Obama and Biden). Check the overall voting record (not some 22% of it as pubs like the Nation do)
Who actually actually puts his money where his mouth is with respect to equal pay for equal work? (McCain female staffers receive $1.04 for every dollar made by a male. Obama's female staffers receive just 83 cents. Of McCain's top 5 staffers by salary, 3 are women. Of Obama's, just one).
Which type of culture has done the most to harm America's future, Wasilla or Wall St?
Folks form Wasilla do silly things, like work for a living or run PTA's; folks from Wall St. do important, scientific things, like create complex derivatives and collateralized debt obligations, and then hope someone bails them out when they nearly bankrupt the country.
Go to a small town, most folks buy their houses/farms with 20% down and a fixed rate mortgage based on their current income. Wall St. generates adjustable rate morgages, suckers people into buying them, takes the money and runs. (and of course, makes Obama their biggest recipient by far - check out donations from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman's)
Faith is important to Americans. In small towns, faith is something to live by. In Obamaville, it's something that lasts as long as your church is politically useful, when it's no longer convenient, you toss it under a bus. (Though one can also Dowdlerize faith into something amusing for monied cronies - especially those willing to pay 28K for supper with the One).
The list of comparisons could go on.....
Posted by Halifax at 09/16/2008 @ 5:31pm
Oh, and Darla, have you ever considered that the reasons you find Norway and Sweden such great examples of societies is that they don't have a multicultural fabric?
Posted by freiheit1 at 09/16/2008 @ 4:17pm
Would you please explain what you mean by "multicultural fabric?"
Is this code for blacks and browns?
Does it include asians as well?
And where does your knowledge of Sweden's ethnic (or should that be "cultural?") percentages come from? Be careful here, even the CIA World FactBook doesn't list them. Tell me the population of Sweden and how many are foreign-born, i.e., how many have a different "culture" than native Swedes?
Posted by FLaim at 09/16/2008 @ 5:33pm
Tell me the population of Sweden and how many are foreign-born, i.e., how many have a different "culture" than native Swedes? Posted by FLaim at 09/16/2008 @ 5:33pm
About 15%, at least, of Sweden's population is not Scandinavian. They are foreign-born or the children of foreign-born.
Stockholm today, unlike the Stockholm of 30 years ago, is a city of many skin shades.
Oh, BTW, the majority of Swedes, in a country with an established church (Lutheran), are admitted atheists.
Posted by sloper at 09/16/2008 @ 5:39pm
FLaim,
I heard a lot about the white faces of the Republican Convention from the left, both in the media and all over this blog. What were your impressions of that accusation? did you agree, or were you careful?
I have visited both Norway and Sweden. From the official site of Norway in the US: "Norway is generally regarded as a homogeneous country with a small, scattered population who speak the same language and belong to the same culture. Nevertheless, - like almost every other country it has always consisted of an ethnic and cultural mix of peoples." It goes on to cite how >2% of the population is from immigration. In fact, immigration was illegal throughout much of the 70's.
My point to Darla was she consistantly boasts how much better life is in Norway than the United States. I think Darla, a self-proclaimed bi-sexual, pot addicted, wiccan black woman, might be surprised at the strain a million Darla's might have on the utopias of Norway and Sweden.
I'm proud a million Darlas exist in the US. She should be too.
Posted by freiheit1 at 09/16/2008 @ 5:50pm
Pride. Pride in our country, our kids, our jobs, our flag if you like. This is what will win for Obama. He must rise above just solutions, though his are the reality-based ones, and become an emotional force that makes people feel secure and comfortable. I know you folks at the Nation are right about how it all works. But many people can't concentrate. Call it exhaustion, lack of proper focus, lack of permission by your local peer group or in the case of younger people, lack of history book-learnin'. It is the better "feeling of confidence" that most people will most respond to when it comes down to voting.
Posted by hrayovac at 09/16/2008 @ 5:51pm
Posted by hrayovac at 09/16/2008 @ 5:51pm
Do you understand this "feeling" you describe is exactly what energized conservatives upon the choice of Sarah Palin?
Posted by freiheit1 at 09/16/2008 @ 5:58pm
Who made you and the rest of the lefties spend days and days on Palin? Stop blaming others for what you as a group did to yourself.
Posted by jimobr at 09/16/2008 @ 6:03pm
Katrina, Why are you liberals so clueless? You say we have a failing "war on terror". Please tell me how many attacks on America have there been since 9/11? That's right .. zero! I'd say President Bush has done a helluva job of fighting terror, no thanks to liberals like you who have tried to obstruct every effort along the way!
By the way, the "teleprompter boy' is going down hard come November. There has never been a less qualified candidate of a major party to be nominated to run for POTUS than Obama. His whole campaign is built on his tiring charisma and grandiose speeches. He is clueless about how to run this country, except to expand social programs and raise taxes. He's an empty suit with blind people following him like the pied piper. Americans are finally waking up to just how wrong for America and how utterly unqualified to run for president he truly is! The more we find out about him the lower his poll numbers. I see McCain winning by a pretty good margin and the Republicans gaining ground in congress.
Just keep looking at thing through your liberal blinders and keep writing your wrong headed articles!
Posted by Kirt at 09/16/2008 @ 6:12pm
I heard a lot about the white faces of the Republican Convention from the left, both in the media and all over this blog. What were your impressions of that accusation? did you agree, or were you careful?
Posted by freiheit1 at 09/16/2008 @ 5:50pm
Hmm. The only reference to the "white faces" at the RNC that I heard was on MSNBC, I think the KO show to be exact. And I take everything I hear on TV with a grain of salt. A massive grain.
But one million Darlas would be the equivalent of about 1/5 of the entire population of Norway, so your hypothetical isn't very realistic. And 1.2 million Swedes are foreign-born with about 17.3% either born abroad or have both parents born abroad. Out of a population of about 9.2 million.
And yet, the international rankings for Sweden are much better than the US in almost every category. Sweden currently leads the EU in statistics measuring equality in the political system and equality in the education system. Something we might learn from here.
Posted by FLaim at 09/16/2008 @ 6:20pm
Posted by sntauri at 09/16/2008 @ 5:04pm | ignore this person | warn this person
piffle
Posted by emile duBois at 09/16/2008 @ 6:22pm
Posted by Halifax at 09/16/2008 @ 5:31pm | ignore this person | warn this person
this just plain drivel. Ersatz David Brooks.
Posted by emile duBois at 09/16/2008 @ 6:26pm
Mr duBois:
What size Mao suit would you like? I have small and large. Of course it comes in nice shades of grey and gray!
Posted by sntauri at 09/16/2008 @ 6:29pm
Posted by hrayovac at 09/16/2008 @ 5:51pm "...in the case of younger people, lack of history book-learnin'."
Speaking of history (or re-written history), ever wionder why the DNC deleted 52 years of history from their website?
http://www.americanprowler.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13681
Posted by Halifax at 09/16/2008 @ 6:35pm
Posted by freiheit1 at 09/16/2008 @ 5:58pm
Do you understand this "feeling" you describe is exactly what energized conservatives upon the choice of Sarah Palin?
Yes, freheiti1, I do understand this. It is how most people respond when they don't spend time studying issues other than their own immediate monthly bills or responsibilties. People act on feelings and images. Our guy, Obama is for real and wants to save the country but cannot be Dennis Kucinich, putting the thoughts out there to be excoriated by them. He must maintain a level of descretion and diplomacy.
Posted by hrayovac at 09/16/2008 @ 6:43pm
Big Issues? Like McBush or other simpleton bumper stickers?
Posted by Dencal26 at 09/16/2008 @ 6:47pm
In a perfect world it's about the issues.
Wake Up People!!! You are underestimating how many women voters are unaware and irrational and you're doing it at Barack Obama's expense!
Women moved to the McCain camp in huge numbers after Governor Palin was announced as his VP. These women do not know that on most issue Palin is not an advocate for women! The environment, health care, tax cuts for single mothers, Roe v. Wade, endangered species, protected lands, gun laws, religion, separation of church and state are just a few of the issue that should be front and center concerning Governor Palin!
So you can just keep ignoring Governor Palin and telling yourself that it's all about John McCain while women continue to flock to the Republican camp!
You would think after all that we have been through in these last two elections that you would have figured out that many women vote with their gut and not their brain!
You can keep telling yourself that women will not vote for McCain only because his VP is female!
Every day that you do not define Governor Palin is another day that Barack Obama looses!
Posted by wifey03 at 09/16/2008 @ 7:19pm
Posted by wifey03 at 09/16/2008 @ 7:19pm
Naw, I think women are a lot smarter than that. The women flocking to Palin are already conservative. And they agree with Palin on the issues. Hillary's block will stay with Obama on the issues. If Hillary would maybe step up and say something!
Posted by freiheit1 at 09/16/2008 @ 7:27pm
"Please tell me how many attacks on America have there been since 9/11?"
since american troops, american companies and employees of american companies, american diplomats, and american interests exist outside of america, and in places like iraq and afghanistan, they too comprise "america" per se.
therefore, there are have been hundreds of attacks on america since 9.11, not to mention in bali, madrid and london (in which some americans died).
just because american domestic territory hasn't been hit doesn't mean that there haven't been any attacks on "america" per se....
america = americans, wherever they may be.
Posted by darladoon at 09/16/2008 @ 7:44pm
Katrina - always liked reading, watching and listening to you. Maybe the issues (and your questions) will come into play soon. I think the days of effectively deplying chaff are about over. Thanks.
Posted by cumchu at 09/16/2008 @ 7:50pm
I agree KVH!
Back before Palin we were talking about:
- who Oprah was supporting -if Obama wears boxers or briefs -how much the Obamas reminded us of the Kennedys -what a great speaker Obama is -how kool Obama walks -which network could praise Obama the most -how many people were at the rock concert in Germany with Obama -what a great speaker Obama is (again and again)
Yeah, I'm with you, lets get back to the IMPORTANT issues.
Posted by bleedingheart at 09/16/2008 @ 8:23pm
>>>SOCIASLISM HAS NEVER BEEN SUCCESSFUL ANYTIME OR ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD....UNLESS IT IS PROPPED UP BY CAPITALISM
Posted by fukUlibruls at 09/16/2008 @ 3:21pm<<<
You've got that BACKWARDS!!!
CAPITALISM HAS NEVER BEEN SUCCESSFUL ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD...UNLESS IT IS PROPPED UP BY A SOCIAL CONTRACT AMONG ITS CITIZENS.
Posted by Metteyya at 09/16/2008 @ 8:35pm
If you believe McCain doesn't know anything about economics, then you must certainly believe Biden said Obama should have chosen Hillary and that Obama called Palin a pig.-----Posted by freiheit1 at 09/16/2008 @ 4:43pm
There's a problem with your theory there, FREI....
McCain ACTUALLY said "Economics is not something I've understood as well as I should."--December 2007.
Which is more damning than what Biden said about Obama picking Hillary or the COMPLETELY made-up story about Obama calling Palin a name.
BTW....yes, it was "Stripes"....Warren Oates as "Sgt. Hulka" to "Psycho".
Blog-bucks payments will come with your McCain tax cut!
Posted by Maskdelta at 09/16/2008 @ 8:35pm
There has been a moratorium on federal regulation since George W took office. That is why we are now facing economic meltdown. Our economy is like our current political leadership...made up of smoke and mirrors. Instead of being based on the manufacturing and sale of durable goods our economy is now based on nebulous financial slight of hand; the sale and trade of debt obligations. If there had been proper federal oversight, financial institutions would have never been permitted to place themselves in such risky, bound-to-fail investments. The most heinous of these, as we all now know, have been the infamous sub-prime mortgage obligations. Again, with proper federal oversight, lenders would have never been permitted to make these loans. My vote will go to the candidate who commits himself to reigning in the disastrous behaviors of our corporations and financial institutions. If I ran my household the way these people have run the economy, I would have been living in a cardboard box on the riverbank long ago.
Posted by macdon1 at 09/16/2008 @ 9:10pm
Posted by SooHAPPY at 09/16/2008 @ 9:14pm
Yes, good thing you Righties don't think of ...oh...say....the GOP Veep nominee as "St. Sarah", huh?
Posted by Maskdelta at 09/16/2008 @ 9:22pm
Of course all of the problems that you outline have existed under both Republican and Democratic leadership - both executive and Congressional. The assumption that many liberals make is that if only the liberals controlled the whole shooting match - as they did in 1992 and 1976 - that magically, things will morph into utopia.
Not only do those two eras prove them wrong, the current era, which is seminally defined by the terrorist threat which we've beaten back so far, is not even acknowledged by liberals, nor did you hear any such thing mentioned at their convention.
What is a reasonalbe person to think of such things? You should vote based on competence, economic and political philosophy, and on who can do the better job of getting us out of the major dilemmas you outlined.
When Democrats controlled the Congress primarily for the past 77 years - the House from 1933 to 1993, except for 4 years, and again since 2006, and the Senate from 1933 to 1993 except for 10 years and again since 2006 they certainly did not prove that they were prudent users of the public funds. While screaming about public debt or the trade debt, as this author does, there is no explanation about how that huge amount of Democratic influence has not prevented us nor sheltered us from such difficulties.
Could it be that the Party of Government - really doesn't have the answers and really does not know how to effectively make things happen?
Vote out the fiscally imprudent Democrats, and the fiscally imprudent Republicans this fall.
Posted by SeattleBruce at 09/16/2008 @ 9:33pm
No one is more guilty of innoculating the political environment with lightness than The Nation, Katrina. This website has been full of just about nothing but Sarah Palin assassination pieces for about two weeks and you kvetch about lightness?
Allegedly a mouthpiece for progressive politics, The Nation, its editor and others associated with it increasingly have allowed themselves over the years the hubris of being sucked wholesale into that blackhole of vacuity, the Washington media scene. I'll believe you have something substantial to contribute to the national discourse when we stop seeing you on television together with Rich Lowry or Kookie Roberts, Katrina. You can stop cursing the darkness now.
Posted by john lowell at 09/16/2008 @ 9:52pm
Of course elections should be about big ideas. Too bad the American masses are so stupid that they are so easily seduced by things like Sarah Palin's "spunk" as a woman, or her sex appeal, or her special needs child, or her contempt for "elites," or whatever. Fortunately, the stock market's collapse may be forcing the ADD public to focus, for a change, on serious issues like the collapse of THEIR stocks and THEIR economy. And the Palin bubble may have already been burst by Tina Fey's evisceration of her ignorance and dumb, narcissistic overconfidence on SNL. Apparently, one poll shows her popularity having dropped ten points since Saturday. So if things get bad enough economically, maybe he normally stupid American masses will be forced to actually think about their economic future this year, and, as in '32, with their backs to the wall, they may actually have to overcome their dumb prejudices, like racism, and vote their economic interests for a change.
Posted by jeanrenoir at 09/16/2008 @ 10:02pm
Posted by john lowell at 09/16/2008 @ 9:52pm
Boy, you're going to be fun come November 5th.
If you stick around.
Posted by Maskdelta at 09/16/2008 @ 10:40pm
Hey you stupid cunt. Maybe the big issue is the big size of the federal government?
Posted by joedog at 09/16/2008 @ 11:39pm
Too little, too late. It is the press that has been negligent in not pursuing these questions up until now.
Now we are left with two candidates where neither one has any acceptable answers to any of these questions.
At the beginning of the primaries there were a whole bunch of people who may have had some responsible approaches to the problems facing us today. Ron Paul in particular has been offering sensible approaches to these very problems and especially the war and economy The press did nothing to demand serious response to these problems when there was a chance to pick someone who could help us. Now all of a sudden, when the selection is down to two politicians who have no new ideas to offer, the press is suddenly concerned with these problems and with getting answers. Wow.
Like I said, your concern now is Too Little, Too Late.
Posted by freewolf at 09/16/2008 @ 11:47pm
Vote Obma/ Biden in 2008 if;
1. you agree that a tax increase during a recession helps the economy ( Not one economist would) 2. If you think doubling the capital gains will stimulate investment or help my 401K 3. If you believe the 2nd highest taxed country should become the first. 4. If you think our businesses need any more hurdles. 5. If you assume that my employer will pay me more when Obama taxes him more.
MCain/ Palin have been talking about the issues from day one. Listen and you can avoid the stupid media sound bites. They'll veto, so much pork it'll heal many of our wounds in the first year, and maybe we can be like the only state to have a surplus (Alaska). Ask Sara how she did it, and you could learn something about political fortitude. McCain/ Palin are living reformers. Obama had a chance to change, but he decided to vote present in the Chicago BIG city machine. 20 Years in a racist church that's still full of divisive hate. Obama hides it well, but 20 years clapping in front of a racist makes you a racist.
Posted by Drizzit at 09/17/2008 @ 12:29am
Doesn't the election come down to who the people like the best? Regardless of issues? How many times have I known people who agree with one candidate or another on most issues, but decide to vote for the other candidate against their own interests because they like the other candidate more.
Face it, most Americans treat the election no differently than they do American Idol. The fact that W got a second term (I will NOT say won) is damning evidence that Americans do not vote on issues. Our disfunctional political/economic system is just what the people deserve.
For example, 'everyone' is mad about gas prices. Our energy policy should have been revamped nearly 40 years ago. But it wasn't. And Americans went and chose to drive gas guzzlers knowing the consequences. To build huge homes to flaunt what wealth they thought they had. Like the kid who got hurt for playing with fire, we deserve to get burned.
At root, one of the flaws of democracy is that people are highly illogical.
Posted by nau11 at 09/17/2008 @ 12:38am
"1. you agree that a tax increase during a recession helps the economy ( Not one economist would)"
"a tax increase" = a modest increase on those making more than $200,000 year
"a tax increase" = a modest increase on capital gains
all in all, obama's tax increases would still comprise a lower tax burden than bill clinton; obama would merely rescind the most egregious bush tax cuts.
can anyone (meaning: rich people) seriously complain about the clinton years?
Posted by darladoon at 09/17/2008 @ 02:18am
If Congress had stayed out of trying to manipulate Financial markets, we could have had a true capitalism which would let the weak fail, mergers without the threat of "anti-trust" persecution, and the strong survive.
The pastor likes the 'Law of the Jungle", so out the elderly, the sick, the mentally handicapped, and others, maybe you. What kind of caricature of Jesus do you believe in?
Posted by Frank42 at 09/17/2008 @ 02:23am
Wow, they are noisy & prolific. There is a card we have not played -- out of respect. i have suffered some of what M went thru. my therapist would advise against my running for dog catcher. therapist? right! completely private! our gov couldn't care less. i am sorely disillusioned.
Posted by rwlangbauer at 09/17/2008 @ 02:32am
Another bubble bursting... in our effervescent sea
A pyramid of thirsting... for a feeding frenzy spree
A sorrow in disguise... for fortune's mighty run
A truer plan is wise... replenish everyone
What global moguls fear... may be our greatest friend
Our self reliant peer... has far less need to spend
Economic indicates... can widely miss the mark
Wholesome living vindicates... when love provides the spark
Wealthy is as healthy does... to flex the human soul
Fresh horizons see what was... and share a common goal
And when we've come together... without the reckless greedy
Anticipate the weather... to lighten loads more needy
Market forces came and went... incentives bulled asunder
Forethought is more heaven sent... without the spills of plunder
Remake retake the spirit... our founders cast among us
Find the ears to hear it... and sing the songs they sung us
So reach across the aisles... and share some common ground
Lets shirk the wily riles... in brotherhood abound
Posted by ttr at 09/17/2008 @ 03:12am
If the American people demanded a more substantive campaign, the candidates would have to comply.
Americans have polled consistently that they think the country is going in the wrong direction. Things are bad in this country and I think that most Americans realize that it didn't have to be this way.
Bad decisions and bad policies led to one disaster after another for the last eight years.
There is a reason McCain is trying to float the absurd notion that he is the candidate of change.
Obama needs to stay on message. He needs to point out that McCain is part of the problem; McCain belongs to the party that did this.
Posted by koroviev at 09/17/2008 @ 03:55am
Are you electing a president of a king?
Posted by poop at 09/17/2008 @ 06:58am
A large minority of Americans hold fast to beliefs that are simply not true. (Obama is a Muslim; WMD's were found; homosexuality can be cured; etc.) They are primarily responsible for Bush's two victories. They often make the difference in close elections and their votes just might determine the presidency. What is your strategy for dealing with this demographic?
Posted by bookmanjb at 09/17/2008 @ 08:02am
My questions: 1. What would a McCain-Palin administration do to resolve the Indian Trust Fund issue?
2. Where do McCain and Palin stand on American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Eskimo economic issues (e.g., unemployment, poverty, etc.)?
3. What would a McCain-Palin administration have done differently from the Bush administration in the aftermath of the Myanmar cyclone?
4. Where do McCain and Palin stand on reinforcing energy (electricity, fuels) infrastructure in storm-prone regions like the Gulf states?
5. What concrete steps would a McCain-Palin administration take to require energy companies and other entities to pursue innovative solutions to reduce and eliminate our reliance on fossil fuels?
Posted by DSR20901 at 09/17/2008 @ 08:37am
Posted by darladoon at 09/17/2008 @ 02:18am
Darla...the rich are all for sacrifice. Sacrificing the poor on the altar of Mammon that is!
Posted by leftofcenter at 09/17/2008 @ 09:05am
Ms vanden Heuvel: There is a candidate who has been stressing the critical issues: Ralph Nader. If you and other editors were not blocking him out, McCain and Obama would be goaded into dealing with what matters.
In spite of an conspiracy-in-effect to keep him from the public, Nader has made the ballot in 45 states and is garnering 6-8% in many of them. In what appears a tight race between the majors, Nader's loyal voters will have, very likely, a decisive influence on the electoral college count in swing states. It is conceivable that he will force the election into the House, this November.
If the progressives, the Left, had supported Nader, he could have pulled the weak-kneed Obama back to the Left. Too late now! The best we can hope for is a president who will continue the imperialist, militaristic nature of our government. He will be pro-abortion, because he will be abort any "change" from the fascism that now characterizes US policies.
Posted by goedel at 09/17/2008 @ 10:01am
"Please tell me how many attacks on America have there been since 9/11?"
How about an attack yesterday on our embassy in Yemen?! Yep, W and company really have things under control and God and the whole world are on our side.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/17/2008 @ 10:11am
A large minority of Americans hold fast to beliefs that are simply not true. (Obama is a Muslim; WMD's were found; homosexuality can be cured; etc.) They are primarily responsible for Bush's two victories. They often make the difference in close elections and their votes just might determine the presidency. What is your strategy for dealing with this demographic?
Posted by bookmanjb at 09/17/2008 @ 08:02am
Getting people past the first grade thinking, which unfortunately is where about 28% of the voters are intellectually speaking. They vote the way their minister or pastor tell them to vote....otherwise, God will send them to hell and they'll burn in tar for eternity.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/17/2008 @ 10:20am
The left has consistently defended spies such as Hiss, the Rosenbergs and Sobell as victims of contrived frame-ups.
******
So how about KVH? Will The Nation offer a formal apology?
Posted by Darin_the_Troll at 09/17/2008 @ 09:32am
No Durwood, the left defends a persons right to a speedy trial. That a person has to be proven guilty in a trial. The burden of that proof of guilt is on the prosecution, not the defense. If you don't like that, you evidently don't like our criminal justice system that has been in place waaay before McCarthy decided he wanted to be someone.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/17/2008 @ 10:24am
What are candidates going to do about the massively failed 'war on drugs', which wastes taxpayers money to incarcerate nonviolent 'criminals' and disproportionately effects poor black families? We could be making money from taxing marijuana, not to mention allowing our grandmothers to smoke it so that they might retain an appetite during chemotherapy.
Posted by laurag at 09/17/2008 @ 10:27am
When private corporations fail, they take government welfare to stay afloat. Since they have proven that are incapable of running a successful business, why do we not *take them over*?
Posted by mtcove at 09/17/2008 @ 10:46am
Posted by laurag at 09/17/2008 @ 10:27am
You miss the point. The war on drugs is to the benefit of companies like Blackwater inc and companies that make surveillance equipment. Basically it's to sell arms to countries where the drugs come from, and install "forces to combat the drug czars" at tax payer expense. A few arrests are made, a bust here a bust there, but the drug trade will continue as will the war on drugs. There's too much money being made on both sides of the equation for it to stop. You are right, we are wasting money and resources on multiple stupide wars. War on drugs, war on terror. We need to start a war against stupidity.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/17/2008 @ 11:05am
I would love to ask the candidates how they interpret the separation of church and state--as outlined in the establishment clause of the first amendment--and whether or not they will allow their personal religious beliefs to color their judgement when making decisions that affect ALL Americans.
Posted by EllenBrown at 09/17/2008 @ 11:42am
Here's a question for senator McCain. He claims that he is all about change and wants to clean up D.C. The Bush administrations wire tapping issue has made many Americans furious while the Bush administration will not allow congress to investigate any of it's practices and has stonewalled or used executive privelege to withhold information from congress. On one hand, it's alright for them to eavesdrop on ordinary Americans, but it's not alright for Congress to oversea the executive branch. The arguement has been put forth that if someone isn't doing anything illegal on the phone or computer, then they don't have anything to hide or worry about.
The question is this, How can you say you are going to clean up D.C. when your vp selection is being investigated for an infraction as governor of Alaska and your campaign is sueing the state of Alaska to stop the investigation.
If Sarah Palin didn't do anything wrong, she doesn't have anything to fear from an investigation now does she? Why are you and your campaign trying to stop a state investigation that had bipartisan approval and that Governor Palin said she would cooperate in?
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/17/2008 @ 12:02pm
Congress to oversea ...sorry, should be oversee.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/17/2008 @ 12:02pm
Nader has made the ballot in 45 states and is garnering 6-8% in many of them. -----Posted by goedel at 09/17/2008 @ 10:01am
Would you please cite all the polls for all the states....
where Nader is "garnering 6-8%"?
Posted by Maskdelta at 09/17/2008 @ 12:36pm
Posted by GupDog at 09/17/2008 @ 12:57pm
The closest country to your ideals would be China. They pollute the atmosphere at will, don't give a rip about taking care of their poor, and just shoot people that piss them off too much. Sounds like a perfect place for such a humanitarian such as your self.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/17/2008 @ 1:04pm
If I were running for President or Vice-President, here are some answers to some of Katrina Vanden Heuvel's questions:
KVH question: "Why do you think it is necessary to spend so many US tax dollars on the Pentagon, Department of Defense and on other nations' defense systems while people in this country are denied medical care, proper education, and care for our senior citizens? "
Answer: Because if money is not spent on the nations's defense, a lot more of the people in this country will be dead to begin with, and not in need of medical care, education, or even live to be senior citizens. And besides, oftentimes government involvement in those issues makes things worse, not better, anyway.
KVH question: "Why can't the US spend more of our hard-earned tax dollars on infrastructure used by American citizens?"
Answer: If the states or the federal government managed thier money wisely then tehre would be more money available. However, in the process of funding it's own operations government wastes money like a sieve and it has been mentioned that there are cases where government has no track of what happened to money it had.
KVH question: "What is your plan to resolve the Iraq war disaster? "
Answer: Persevere and continue to fight the enemy until the enemy is defeated, keeping in mind this will be a long effort and will involve other places besides Iraq, most likely, including places we do not even know about today. But the key is to persevere and not give up, because that is what the enemy expects us to do and what we may have begun to do if John McCain and Sarah Palin had not been elected President and Vice-President on November 4th, 2008. (which will happen)
Posted by sjchermak at 09/17/2008 @ 1:09pm
While this article is a good starting point,the issues mentioned need more attention than these comments allow. Socialism has always existed for for whatever group controls the government. The first phase was royalty and the aristocrats that supported them. The Middle and Lower classes existed to support them. With the rise of commerce and industry, the upper middle class developed the economic power to control the government for their benefit. The lower middle class and the poor existed to support them. They were the new aristocrats. Though, Americans have made serious and successful attempts at making the government the servant of all the people. We have always floundered on the economic power of the new aristocrats of wealth. Using the separations of powers concept in economics, Progressives wrote the Sherman Anti-trust act that broke up monopolies to prevent too much power from residing in too few hands. For example, AIG failure was not an option because it was too big to fail and destroy many business and industrial firms around the world. If, under the Sherman Anti-trust act, it had been broken into smaller companies, the risk involved would have been dispersed and the failure of one company might not have caused the failure of the other companies. Unlike most countries, the blurring of class lines have prevented the Socialists parties from becoming effective political parties.However, this current attack on the Middle class lifestyle of the American worker through reduced wages and outsourcing of jobs are creating sharp class divides between the Aristocrats of wealth and ordinary people. Socialist or even Communist parties might become an option for ordinary people. The choice is regulated private enterprise or an eventual revolution from below.
Posted by P. J. Casey at 09/17/2008 @ 1:40pm
Which part do you disagree with there Wolfie?
Posted by GupDog at 09/17/2008 @ 1:08pm
If you were being sarcastic, I misread what your were saying and then must apologize. But, if you were in earnest about what you were saying here's what I disagree with.
1) Most of the illegal aliens in the U.S. work their asses off for very little money and no benefits. This is to the advantage of business owners who know that these workers have zero rights because they are here illegally
2)I didn't know it was U.S. policy to exterminate muslims.
3)The European Socialist Shitholes you were referring to wouldn't trade their medical care system for ours I can assure you.
4)Nuclear power plants require a high level of technical expertise to run. Would you like to have a nuclear power plant meltdown in your neighborhood?
5) How about we put an oil rig in your front yard. Of course youd don't have the oil rights to the oil on your property.
6)You think global warming is a scam? Keep that in mind while you watch the polar ice cap melting away. Now global warming may not be manmade, but whatever we contribute to it is only accelerating our own ending on this planet.
7) Obama hasn't lost yet. McCain and Palin have two more months to shove their feet into their mouths all of the way up to their thighs.
Like I said before, if you were being sarcastic, I apologize.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/17/2008 @ 1:49pm
Answer: Because if money is not spent on the nations's defense, a lot more of the people in this country will be dead to begin with, and not in need of medical care, education, or even live to be senior citizens. And besides, oftentimes government involvement in those issues makes things worse, not better, anyway.
Rebuttal: Complete bullshit. What nation has attacked us recently. I'm not talking about a 19 guys and a few airplanes. You can't justify the money we spend on the military based off that. It's quite lame.
Answer: If the states or the federal government managed thier money wisely then tehre would be more money available. However, in the process of funding it's own operations government wastes money like a sieve and it has been mentioned that there are cases where government has no track of what happened to money it had.
Rebuttal: I thought that the private market would provide according to your views. You can't make money off building roads unless you charge a toll. You don't make money off infrastructure, but it's a requirement of any idustrialized country. The infrastructure in and of itself doesn't make money, but the end result of it does. The citizens of the U.S. should be the first consideration of our government, not people of other countries.
Answer: Persevere and continue to fight the enemy until the enemy is defeated, keeping in mind this will be a long effort and will involve other places besides Iraq, most likely, including places we do not even know about today. But the key is to persevere and not give up, because that is what the enemy expects us to do and what we may have begun to do if John McCain and Sarah Palin had not been elected President and Vice-President on November 4th, 2008.
Rebutt: Define the enemy and victory.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/17/2008 @ 1:55pm
One doesn't have to be a rocket scientist to know that the polls are lying: Obama should be way, way ahead, and the close polls indicate that Diebold will allow another stolen election without anyone questioning a McCain "win".. Why on earth would it not? 34 states still allow the electronic voting machines to be hacked.For eight long years we are used to propoganda and lies.The American people have now lost confidence in our so called democratic voting system.We may as well be living in Zimbabwe.The silence is deafening.
Posted by mystic at 09/17/2008 @ 1:57pm
Ask them what year the world's last muslim will be exterminated.----Posted by GupDog at 09/17/2008 @ 12:57pm
Kinda curious, SJCHER never answered, maybe you can...
How EXACTLY do you plan on killing a billion people, spread over five continents?
Posted by Maskdelta at 09/17/2008 @ 2:05pm
Good story and great comments. darladoon, I like your comments best. Norway and Sweden are looking more and more attractive every day. What a mess we are in. Let us all hope that the end quickly comes into sight. Comparisons to 1929 are scaring the hell out of me.
-Kevin Mulligan Founder www.politicalNow.com
Posted by KMulligan at 09/17/2008 @ 3:04pm
What will you do to fix and reinforce the separation of church and state?
What will you do to bring back the proper checks and balances between the branches of the government, undoing the egregious harm that the Bush/Cheney administration has done to the constitution?
Will you close Gitmo?
It seems that a great way to get the U.S. off of it's suicidal oil dependency and to help the U.S. economy would be to invest heavily in U.S. resources innovating new green technologies for transportation, living, etc.; and giving tax breaks/subsidies to business that keep the manufacture of the new technologies in the U.S. Would you do this or something similar?
Posted by BristowRick at 09/17/2008 @ 3:04pm
Great column, Katrina. I would like to see the Dems get "real" about slamming McCain and Palin about Global Warming and the fact that we won't have any environment to be greedy "in" if we don't get serious concerning our addiction to fossil fuels and CFCs. Palin actually "disbelieves" in science (I thought the Age of Reason wars with the Church were over), and she shoots wolves from a plane and would like to wrestle polar bears (because that's what she'll be doing when they move into her 'hood). I love the Nation, and our nation has to return to seeing the reality of present-day economics and the environment, or we won't be long for this world--or even any after world--if you believe in karma (which I do).
Posted by efraimzgraves at 09/17/2008 @ 3:06pm
I appreciate your article and the fact that you refer to our ongoing military engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan as occupations and not wars. Too many pundits seem to think that there are equal sides in this conflict. Here is my question:
How are you going to set up a foreign policy that consistently promotes democratic reform in other nations even when not in the economic interests of the U.S., instead of the current policy which upholds despotic undemocratic regimes like Saudi Arabia to protect our short term economic interests?
Posted by gmiles38 at 09/17/2008 @ 3:19pm
1) They are called "illegal" aliens for a reason. They are here illegally. They must go.
Tell that to the republicans who employ them! 2)What's the difference between the muslim fanatics who blow up abortion clinics in the name of God? 3)Your friend evidently has plenty of coins to fly all of the way across the globe for medical care. Our medical system is great if you have great wealth to purchase the best care money can buy. It's not to damn good for people with average to less than average incomes. I can provide you with multiple stories of our system killing people like witch doctors. 4)Have you ever heard of radiation sickness? The U.S. may very well have the technology for nuclear power plants, but at present they are more expensive to build than they are worth. To keep those things running is a fortune....the very safety precautions you talk about makes them expensive. 5)I was just wondering how you'd feel about having an oil rig in your neighborhood. 6)Anybody driving around in an SUV now is either an idiot, rich or both. I agree that people bitching about fuel prices while driving using an 8 cylinder engine are morons....democrat or republican. 7) It ain't over until the fat lady sings. The debates are coming up. Another thing to keep in mind is that the polling doesn't include a lot of the younger voters and it doesn't include people who use cell phones which is a majority of our population. 8) McCain on vacation in November 2008 and Palin in court.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/17/2008 @ 4:04pm
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/17/2008 @ 4:04pm
I'd just concentrate on the "kill all the Muslims" thing, WOLF.
Even if the idiot BELIEVES that...get him to explain HOW he wants it accomplished!
He'll end up sounding like a Nazi or Omar al-Bashir!
Posted by Maskdelta at 09/17/2008 @ 4:14pm
2)What's the difference between the muslim fanatics who blow up abortion clinics in the name of God?
Sorry, meant to say what's the difference between muslim fanatics strapping bombs to themselves and Christian fanatics blowing up folks in abortion clinics in the name of God.
Also, my apologies for not putting spaces between the comments.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/17/2008 @ 4:14pm
He'll end up sounding like a Nazi or Omar al-Bashir!
Posted by Maskdelta at 09/17/2008 @ 4:14pm
Good point Mask. Then again, the jist of what he's says kind of tilts him in the direction of the Nazi way of thinking.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/17/2008 @ 4:17pm
KVH, re Georgia & NATO: "Why would you promote NATO expansion as a security building policy ..." ==== Georgia freely chose a democratic state, even if it came at great cost to themselves. From a financial/political POV, when we abandon them because it just might cost too much to support them, we open the door to further Russian expansion (particularly in the Ukraine), while encouraging the Russians to complete an axis with Iran, that cuts off oil flow to Europe, as well as the nearly complete rail line from China.
From a moral POV, the cost of abandoning Georgia is much more severe. It sends a clear message that the US will not stand up for those people who share the desire for liberty if it is not convenient. Remember Sudentenland.
Even David Ignatius of the WP is beginning to get this (in his usual roundabout way), as stated in the article available on RCP: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/09/petraeuss_miracle.html
He finally seems to understand that if America is seen as cowardly, then oppressors will have a field day:
Ignatius writes: "But the virtuous cycle that developed in Iraq would have been impossible without the signal of American resolve that President Bush sent in backing Petraeus and his strategy. Iraq was hurtling toward civil war in 2006 in part because Iraqis thought we were about to bail out; Petraeus and the surge changed that psychology."
A big mistake in the article however is reflected in the title ("Petraeus's Miracle"). It's not a general's miracle, but the result of the resolve of soldiers (and at least some) civilians, to defend what they believe to be right - including an America willing to defend itself and its allies in liberty.
Posted by Halifax at 09/17/2008 @ 4:26pm
It is quite strange, and somewhat depressing, to read how this blog and realise how many completely ignorant people there are, and who apparently want to remain so. Ignorance of course in itself is not a crime, but unfortunately the world over these days so many incredibly stupid and destructive things are done by ignorant people. The article at the top, whatever else it might advocate mostly advocates an end to ignorance, and desire to debate and inform ourselves by asking questions. Of course there are always many sides to a story, it is important for EVERYONE to remember this, not just the not so ignorant people.
Posted by marilynm at 09/17/2008 @ 4:39pm
big mistake in the article however is reflected in the title ("Petraeus's Miracle"). It's not a general's miracle, but the result of the resolve of soldiers (and at least some) civilians, to defend what they believe to be right - including an America willing to defend itself and its allies in liberty.
Posted by Halifax at 09/17/2008 @ 4:26pm
Halifax, The only problem with your reasoning is that when the Georgian soldiers had to fire on armed Russians the second time around they deserted their post and weapons and ran like frightened children. They were quite brave in round one when they were firing on unarmed Russian soldiers and civilians.
The Georgians are the cowards here. Not the U.S. nor the Russians. They deserved to have their asses kicked over their heads.
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/17/2008 @ 4:40pm
Tragically, like the question Gibson asked about the Bush Doctrine, the candidates will not be required to answer questions about things the public is totally unaware. In a perfect world, the candidates would have to fully disclose their positions about dozens of issues that have been totally ignored and/or relegated to distant memory. My top ten questions would a focus on the following:
1. The Military Commissions Act. 2. Presidential Directive 51. 3. Valerie Plame's outing as an operative of the CIA. 4, Dick Cheney's secret energy meetings. 5. Preventive.... not preemptive wars of choice. 6. The right to torture 7. The elimination of habeas corpus 8. The right to rendition prisoners for toture in other countries. 9. The creation of 'enemy combatants. 10. Using the Bible as the basis for Amerin law.
I could list dozens of other vital topics for anyone seeking the role of President or Vice President...but, no one will ask these questions. Trust me on that. We've asked them at http://tvnewslies.org for years. No one has answered them yet.
Posted by Reg at 09/17/2008 @ 10:18pm
KVH: ....the Treasury has just guaranteed 5 trillion in loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac..... ======= John McCain, May 25, 2005, speaking before the Senate:
Mr. President, this week Fannie Mae's regulator reported that the company's quarterly reports of profit growth over the past few years were "illusions deliberately and systematically created" by the company's senior management, which resulted in a $10.6 billion accounting scandal. (...) The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight's report goes on to say that Fannie Mae employees deliberately and intentionally manipulated financial reports to hit earnings targets in order to trigger bonuses for senior executives. In the case of Franklin Raines, Fannie Mae's former chief executive officer, OFHEO's report shows that over half of Mr. Raines' compensation for the 6 years through 2003 was directly tied to meeting earnings targets. The report of financial misconduct at Fannie Mae echoes the deeply troubling $5 billion profit restatement at Freddie Mac. (...) I join as a cosponsor of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, S. 190, to underscore my support for quick passage of GSE regulatory reform legislation. If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole.
========== (for more, visit http://corner.nationalreview.com/ and scroll down to the note titled "A Commercial, Anyone?" )
Fast forward 2 years, and we find that James Johnson, former CEO of Fannie Mae, and Franklin Raines mentionned above, have joined the Obama team as advisors.
How Wall Street; Barack Obama, America's greatest CDO.
Posted by Halifax at 09/17/2008 @ 10:44pm
Will you restore the rule of law in order to repair the damage done by the Bush-Cheney administration to the system of checks and balances that are provided for in the Constitutional amendments and The Bill of Rights?
Posted by LizMcC at 09/18/2008 @ 12:25am
What a stunningly nice day it's been. I love my country. Any other place they'd waterboard these neoconartists. And I oppose torture.
Posted by winyahn at 09/18/2008 @ 12:33am
Mr. McCain,
If you got a chance to star in "The US Constitution & Bill of Rights", would you be a... Bad Actor?
Posted by winyahn at 09/18/2008 @ 12:52am
Will you use signing statements, and for what purpose?
Do you think that everyone with or developing nuclear weapons should sign the Anti-Proliferation Treaty?
Would you and members of your staff be willing to take a battery of standardized tests at the beginning of you term, to assess your memory and other cognitive functions, to establish a baseline? Memory appears to deteriorate considerably in Federal service.
What is the first thing you will advocate with regards to global warming?
What will be your orders regarding Guantanamo and interrogation techniques that go beyond the Army Field Manual?
What will you do for American Indians, Alaska Natives and National Parks and Forests? Really...
Will you advocate for a federally financed election system to get the lobbyists out of the way?
Posted by Ceredwin at 09/18/2008 @ 03:37am
Here's a question:
The issue of Climate Change has not gone away, nor has the physics behind it changed. What are you going to do to reliably achieve the cuts in greenhouse emissions, and where will you get the money?
Posted by mikecope at 09/18/2008 @ 04:39am
Posted by mikecope at 09/18/2008 @ 04:39am
Or more simply, ask Palin if she agrees with MCCAIN, that GW is real and man-made.
Let her paint herself as a fringe...
on even her own ticket!
Posted by Maskdelta at 09/18/2008 @ 09:40am
After we kick Iran's and Cuba's and Russia's butt, should we then liberate them or make them into states?
Posted by winyahn at 09/18/2008 @ 10:33am
I've heard a lot of talk in the last month about how NATO would have had to intervene in the Georgia conflict if Georgia was a member. It isn't a very good argument. If Georgia had been a member, it's highly unlikely that Russia would have acted with such aggression. Medvedev (read Putin) was preemptively invading Georgia because he didn't want America and Western Europe to have a toe hold in the Caucasus. Arguing that this should rule out Georgian membership in NATO is playing into his hands, and doesn't take into account the very real fact that any Russian leader would be far less likely to invade a NATO member.
Posted by s-interns at 09/18/2008 @ 10:40am