Saturday, August 30, 2008
Palin and the Experience Issue
The Democrats seem thrilled to be able to pounce on the issue of experience with Sarah Palin, who has served as small town mayor, Ethics Commissioner of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and 2-year governor.
A couple of thoughts:
-No matter who McCain chose, there would be open avenues of attack (e.g. Romney fired people as a consultant, Pawlenty is boring and has no national experience, Lieberman is a turncoat or a shill for Israel, Ridge is pro-choice, etc.).
-Ms. Palin, though nationally inexperienced, has more executive leadership under her belt than all the candidates combined.
-It will be interesting to see how she stands up to Biden, who is smart, experienced, and savvy and the Dems now say the experience card is no longer McCain's to play, but let me pose this question: Let's say that McCain wins and then dies two years into office. Isn't it reasonable to say that her time as gov and two full years as VP would make her more experienced than Obama would be on day one of his administration?
In the end, if Palin removes the experience question and Biden invalidates the post-partisan change message from the debate, i'm fine with that. Let's get down to the real issue at stake here: do the American people want more overall government control and decision making in their lives or do they want to preserve and perhaps advance the cause of individual liberty? This is a serious philosophical question that I hope earns some serious debate.
A couple of thoughts:
-No matter who McCain chose, there would be open avenues of attack (e.g. Romney fired people as a consultant, Pawlenty is boring and has no national experience, Lieberman is a turncoat or a shill for Israel, Ridge is pro-choice, etc.).
-Ms. Palin, though nationally inexperienced, has more executive leadership under her belt than all the candidates combined.
-It will be interesting to see how she stands up to Biden, who is smart, experienced, and savvy and the Dems now say the experience card is no longer McCain's to play, but let me pose this question: Let's say that McCain wins and then dies two years into office. Isn't it reasonable to say that her time as gov and two full years as VP would make her more experienced than Obama would be on day one of his administration?
In the end, if Palin removes the experience question and Biden invalidates the post-partisan change message from the debate, i'm fine with that. Let's get down to the real issue at stake here: do the American people want more overall government control and decision making in their lives or do they want to preserve and perhaps advance the cause of individual liberty? This is a serious philosophical question that I hope earns some serious debate.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Sarah Palin for VP
As you know by now, McCain made a bold choice in selecting Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. McCain made the announcement at a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio. Right before he introduced her, I could only imagine how nervous this small state, young Governor must be as she waited to be unveiled to the world. Well, she smashed my expectations. I still know very little about her, but she impressed in her dynamic speech (which must have been hastily written).
This woman has more executive experience than Barack Obama, but she will be attacked by the Democrats for being too green. We'll see how she holds up under that scrutiny.
She made a strong case:
-Strong energy experience
-Western sensibility
-Hockey mom
-Fighter of corruption and government beauracracy
-Mother of an Iraqi soldier
-Former Miss Alaska
-Married to a United Steel Workers Union member
-Member of the NRA
-Potential first female Vice President of the United States
She especially knocked it out of the park when she thanked Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton for helping pave the road for a female candidate. She said, "Hillary left 18 million cracks in that glass ceiling, but the women of America aren't finished yet and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all."
This dark horse seems poised to be a strong VP choice, but in the coming days she'll be accused of being too inexperienced and she'll be questioned about how she can care for her children (especially a newborn with Down's Syndrome) and run at the same time.
One thing is for sure, the boring factor of the McCain campaign just seemed to vanish.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Home from the Democratic National Convention
Been crazed at my real job this week, but some thoughts on my couple of days at the DNC will come soon. I wasn't actually in the convention center, but i learned a couple of things just being there and talking to delegates, Democrats, and Denverites.
In the mean time, check out this classy (and of course, politically smart) spot by McCain that will run tonight during the convention.
In the mean time, check out this classy (and of course, politically smart) spot by McCain that will run tonight during the convention.
Monday, August 25, 2008
About to eat some Gumbo at the DNC
This is a pretty cool town. I was here about 8 or so years ago when a friend of mine got hitched. One of the early birds. I really only remembered two thoings from that trip (the wedding was, as it should be, a drunken blur): backpacking in the rockies at 10,000 feet ... and a hot gumbo joint called, well, Gumbo's.
Anyway, this town is starting to buzz pretty good. Though there are as many t-shirt vendors as there are delegates and visitors. The crowd is actually quite interesting. Saw a "rednecks for obama" contingent with proper signage as well as the to-be-expected pro-life folks with airhorn and accompanying high res late term abortion photos. The EVR is "limited" pro-choice, but seeing actual photos like that at least make me understand the pro-life perspective.
Woo hoo, the gumbo is here and I'm gonna scarf it while trying to lip read wolf blitzer in HD at the bar.
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The East Village Republican at the Democratic National Convention
What up y'all? The EVR is at the DNC for a couple of days and is going to try and live blog some of the goings on. I've got a non-political, job related reason for being here, so I'll do my best to find some time to fill you in.
Right now I'm just curious to see how all the dems are kickin it in Denver.
Re: VP, I think the Biden choice was smart ... But it opens a huge hole in Obama's change message. McCain and co. will now frame "change" as meaning "liberal change" and not post-partisan change, which I think was always a fairy tale anyway.
Another interesting point: 27 percent of Hillary supporters claim to be ready to vote for McCain. If J Mac chooses a lady for VP, it could be a game changer. Not sure he will, but it could be interesting. Anyone say Fiorina?
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Monday, August 11, 2008
And Obama's Team Also Gets It Right
The more Obama can make the "Third Bush Term" idea stick, the better he'll do in November:
McCain's Advertising Team Gets It Right
Is the the best ad ever? Nah, but McCain and team have picked an issue to go after and are hitting it again and again. Attacking Obama's strengths and weaknesses at the same time is just smart poker.
Judge for yourself:
Judge for yourself:
Sunday, August 10, 2008
East Village Republican vs. Billyburg Commie Pinko Liberal
Our latest debate over my last post:
BCPL:
the mccain campaign's press release for this ad confirms that all these quotes were pre-2006, when mccain's brand as a straight-talking bi-partisan maverick was still alive and well.
EVR:
Please, the accolades stopped because everyone knew he was going to run for president. Minus some recent (and slight) political maneuvering, McCain’s bi-partisan brand of governing is alive and well. See: Feingold’s latest praise.
This is in sharp contrast to your boy Obama who is second-to-none when it comes to Clinton-esque triangulation and can’t claim a single battle scar from choosing principle over popularity. This is why he lacks any significant across-the-aisle respect.
BCPL:
it's too bad he is in the process of reversing that image with his:
1. flip-flops (now supporting regressive bush tax cuts for the super-rich, now seeking political support of the christianist "agents of intolerance"),
EVR:
1) Looking at the entire picture, McCain’s original stance against the Bush tax cuts was due to his desire to have them accompanied by spending cuts. He’s been a supply-sider his entire career and has been as tough as anyone on fiscal restraint. He took a principled stand against the Big Government Conservatism that Bush brought to the White House, knowing that it could haunt him one day. He also rightly admits that at this point, repealing the cuts would be devastating for the economy.
2) The Bush tax cuts were incredibly PROGRESSIVE. The wealthiest 1% of the pop earn 19% of the income but pay 37% of the income tax. The top 10% pay 68%. The top 25% pay 85%. The bottom 50% pay 13%.
3) Can we please put the "seeking support of evangelists" complaint to bed? He needs these votes if he has any chance to win. Would I like him to denounce these crazies? Yes. Do I blame him for looking for their support? No. There is a stark difference between looking for evangelical votes (or votes from "agents of intolerance") and actively joining and participating in a church that is lead by a total religious nut case. For the sake of intellectual honesty, let's not equivocate on this one.
BCPL:
2. double-speak (erroneously offering off-shore drilling and a gas-tax suspension as a salve for high gas prices, falsely claiming "obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign"), and
3. political chicanery (blaming barack "paris/brittney" obama for high gas prices, claiming that obama snubbed wounded troops because he couldn't bring along cameras).
EVR:
Agree that the claim that Obama snubbed wounded troops was lame. But claiming that Obama is more deserving of a front cover on Entertainment Weekly than Congressional Quarterly is a fair argument. Second, I agree that the Dems would rather lose the war than lose their power. Their treatment of this war has been one of the most disgraceful things I've ever witnessed as an American. From Harry Reid declaring, prematurely, that the war is lost, to Obama's refusal to admit that the current stability in Iraq might be due mainly to the surge, it certainly appears that these positions have more to do with Democratic Party politics than a desire to see America achieve victory.
Regarding energy, off-shore drilling and a gas tax suspension would indeed lower gasoline prices at the pump. Drilling would drive prices down immediately (see: laws of supply and demand and global speculation) and the gas tax suspension is obvious. That said, the gas tax suspension is a quick fix political ploy and no substitute for sound, long-term strategy. Besides all the political maneuvering, the truth is that we need a comprehensive plan; one which includes both short term, environmentally sound drilling, and long term investment in renewables and nuclear. P.S. hasn't Obama actually recently reversed on drilling? Gosh, what a quandary for the Democrats! A candidate is actually making sense on energy! Also, Paris Hilton may be on to something on this issue.
BCPL:
much like these video quotes, i've always maintained respect for mccain and his message even while disagreeing with many of his policy positions. however, he has allowed this campaign to bring out the worst in him, and that respect is now in incredibly short supply.
and sorry, no uber-links this time. ;)
BCPL:
the mccain campaign's press release for this ad confirms that all these quotes were pre-2006, when mccain's brand as a straight-talking bi-partisan maverick was still alive and well.
EVR:
Please, the accolades stopped because everyone knew he was going to run for president. Minus some recent (and slight) political maneuvering, McCain’s bi-partisan brand of governing is alive and well. See: Feingold’s latest praise.
This is in sharp contrast to your boy Obama who is second-to-none when it comes to Clinton-esque triangulation and can’t claim a single battle scar from choosing principle over popularity. This is why he lacks any significant across-the-aisle respect.
BCPL:
it's too bad he is in the process of reversing that image with his:
1. flip-flops (now supporting regressive bush tax cuts for the super-rich, now seeking political support of the christianist "agents of intolerance"),
EVR:
1) Looking at the entire picture, McCain’s original stance against the Bush tax cuts was due to his desire to have them accompanied by spending cuts. He’s been a supply-sider his entire career and has been as tough as anyone on fiscal restraint. He took a principled stand against the Big Government Conservatism that Bush brought to the White House, knowing that it could haunt him one day. He also rightly admits that at this point, repealing the cuts would be devastating for the economy.
2) The Bush tax cuts were incredibly PROGRESSIVE. The wealthiest 1% of the pop earn 19% of the income but pay 37% of the income tax. The top 10% pay 68%. The top 25% pay 85%. The bottom 50% pay 13%.
3) Can we please put the "seeking support of evangelists" complaint to bed? He needs these votes if he has any chance to win. Would I like him to denounce these crazies? Yes. Do I blame him for looking for their support? No. There is a stark difference between looking for evangelical votes (or votes from "agents of intolerance") and actively joining and participating in a church that is lead by a total religious nut case. For the sake of intellectual honesty, let's not equivocate on this one.
BCPL:
2. double-speak (erroneously offering off-shore drilling and a gas-tax suspension as a salve for high gas prices, falsely claiming "obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign"), and
3. political chicanery (blaming barack "paris/brittney" obama for high gas prices, claiming that obama snubbed wounded troops because he couldn't bring along cameras).
EVR:
Agree that the claim that Obama snubbed wounded troops was lame. But claiming that Obama is more deserving of a front cover on Entertainment Weekly than Congressional Quarterly is a fair argument. Second, I agree that the Dems would rather lose the war than lose their power. Their treatment of this war has been one of the most disgraceful things I've ever witnessed as an American. From Harry Reid declaring, prematurely, that the war is lost, to Obama's refusal to admit that the current stability in Iraq might be due mainly to the surge, it certainly appears that these positions have more to do with Democratic Party politics than a desire to see America achieve victory.
Regarding energy, off-shore drilling and a gas tax suspension would indeed lower gasoline prices at the pump. Drilling would drive prices down immediately (see: laws of supply and demand and global speculation) and the gas tax suspension is obvious. That said, the gas tax suspension is a quick fix political ploy and no substitute for sound, long-term strategy. Besides all the political maneuvering, the truth is that we need a comprehensive plan; one which includes both short term, environmentally sound drilling, and long term investment in renewables and nuclear. P.S. hasn't Obama actually recently reversed on drilling? Gosh, what a quandary for the Democrats! A candidate is actually making sense on energy! Also, Paris Hilton may be on to something on this issue.
BCPL:
much like these video quotes, i've always maintained respect for mccain and his message even while disagreeing with many of his policy positions. however, he has allowed this campaign to bring out the worst in him, and that respect is now in incredibly short supply.
and sorry, no uber-links this time. ;)
Thursday, August 7, 2008
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