Category — Politics

My Postcasa plugin for WordPress for easily embedding Picasa slideshows in your blog has officially been accepted at the WordPress Plugin Database and will be hosted there from now on.

Of course, you can always access the latest information on my local Postcasa Page but you can also visit its official Plugin Page hosted at the WordPress Codex. Now that it is officially hosted there, you’ll also be able to automatically update the plugin from within WordPress as new versions are released. Pretty cool stuff!

Dang, how I love WordPress!

In a local restaurant my server had on a “Obama 08″ tie, again I laughed as he had given away his political preference-just imagine the coincidence. When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need-the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.

I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as I’ve decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful. At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient needed money more.

I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.

-Author Unknown

If The World Could Vote - Oct 21, 2008 1:08AM PST

It used to be that people from all over the world would flock to the United States to seek a better life.  Oh wait, its still that way!  Even as screwed up as we are, people are still beating down our doors in search of what they couldn’t find in their own countries.

They left their country to come here.  I don’t have time to research this, but I’d bet that the immigration phenomenon has been stronger to the US than in any other country in the world.  Call it jingoism if you’d like, but its all the folks from the rest of the world that are voting with their feet and trying to move here.

Speaking of voting, check out how the rest of the world would vote in our election.  I touched on this in a prior rant, and this new information seems to support my original point.

87.4% of the World would vote Obama.  Has there ever been a better reason to vote McCain?

People come here because it is (was) DIFFERENT than where they were.  Some would say, BETTER.  I’ll leave that question up to the large number of immigrants to our shores, as I’m unbelievably biased on the question.

If we continue to vote they way the rest of the world does, we will be just like them.  We are headed there already.  Obama will bring us that much closer.  If the world thinks this way, chances are we should be going in the exact opposite direction.  Being a citizen of the world sounds nice, but when you come down to it, I’d pick being an American any day.

Please: Remain American.  Vote McCain!

I really hadn’t given this much creedence until just recently.  While I disagree with Obama politically, I didn’t think that the connection to Bill Ayers would actually be true.  I figured it was just political mud slinging during a nasty election.

But, according to CNN, turns out the connections ARE true.  Disturbingly true.  Watch for yourself.

This is just one more example of how Obama will say anything to get elected.  Want more examples?

• Running against Nancy Pelosi for minority leader in the Republican lead congress, Obama played himself off as a centrist and someone willing to reach across the aisle.  He did this to differentiate himself from Pelosi who, as we all know, is extremely liberal.
• Running against Hillary in the primary, Obama played himself as the liberal choice and being more with the spirit of the Democratic party than Clinton was.
• Now, during the election, he is playing himself as the centrist again, trying to appeal to voters on both sides of the fence.

So Barack, which is it?  Centrist or Liberal?  Oh, depends upon the situation, right…  In selling, we call that the “spin” – the truth is as you “spin” it.

The sad thing is that this could have been so much simpler for Obama.  All he needed to say was, “Yes, I was associated with Bill Ayers.  He and I did a lot of good work together in Chicago.  I disagree with a lot of his philosophies, and certainly deplore the violence that he espoused, but also know that the man has done a lot of good in his life.  In politics, you don’t always have the luxury of choosing who you have to work with.  A lot of times, you end up working with folks that you disagree with.  That shouldn’t come as any surprise.  Ultimately what matters though, is how you handle that situation, and how you work to get something done DESPITE your differences.  I think my record shows that we did some good things there.  I disagree with a lot of my fellow legislators as well, but I’m willing to work together to get something done.  Next question…”

Why didn’t you just say that Barack?  If it was true, I’d think that he’d just say that.

The only other options are that he was actually very aware of Ayer’s background and agreed with more of his philosophies than he disagreed with them.  Or, the last possibility is that he just didn’t CARE about them.

My opinion is that it is the latter.  Obama is human and, like most people, he will overlook a lot in the face of his own personal gain.  Obama just didn’t care about Ayer’s past.  If Ayers could help him climb the ladder of success, it really didn’t really matter who he was or what he did.  The ends simply justifies the means.  Yup, that would be in keeping with his “say whatever it takes” to win attitude.

I’d bet that the truth of the matter simply kept them from being able to see a better way to spin the issue.

Another thing that disturbs me about this new information is the realization that the majority of Obama’s limited leadership role experience primarily consists of handing out other people’s money.  Oh great.

So, there is ample proof that Obama will say anything to get elected.  His past is riddled with very unsavory characters – first Jeremiah Wright, now Bill Ayers.  And, he’s tremendously inexperienced – even more so than SarahPalin.  The experience he HAS had, he’s been responsible for spending other pepole money.

Really?  This is who half of America (maybe more???) wants as president?  What the hell is wrong with us?

OK, this election has finally reached a level of utter ridiculousness that simply must be brought to light.

I was cruising around Facebook, when a small add appeared on the side that said “Canadians Vote Obama”.  I thought – “Figures…”  Then I more fully digested what it actually said.  CANADIANS vote Obama???  WTF?

So, I cruised on over to Canada Votes Obama, to see what it was all about.  Yup, its exactly as it sounds.

They describe themselves as “passionate and lively Obama supporters,” and say “sadly, we live in Canada [SIC] but cannot vote”.   Thank goodness!

One of the people giving them feedback, says

I think that what you are doing is WICKED. I tip my hat off to you. I am presently studying in NYC and have been able to attend different political speaking engagements and watch everything unfold. It is very interesting to say the least. I think that people have to look at this on a grand scale. It is not just America voting for a president, but their decision will reverberate throughout the world

Hmmm…  This commentary speaks quite loudly about the rank and file that are voting or would vote for Obama.  WICKED.

And lastly, this group actually has a forum entitled Why is Obama the right candidate for Canada? Yes, really.  Fortunately, as of this writing, no one has even posted there.

I realize that even calling attention to this site is potentially falling into the “any press is good press” pit, but I think that this is potentially one of the clearest examples of how this election has gone off track.  Why, you ask?  People who aren’t qualified to make the decision still have a vote.  Canadians aren’t qualified, yet they are actually advertising – PAYING – to get their message out.  Fortunately, in the case of this group and their website, the “vote” they have is more symbolic than real (again, thank goodness…).

You have to understand – I love Canada.  I’m part French Canadian.  I work for a Canadian company.  I’ve been there literally dozens of times.  If I had to pick a place outside of the US to live, Toronto would be in the top 3.  I LOVE Canada.  But…  Canadians vote Obama?  Really?  Big surprise there.  HELLO, you live in what is largely a socialist country!

Canadians Vote Obama. Has there ever been a better articulation of why Americans should vote McCain?  We are not socialists.  Most Americans, if asked the question, “Are you Socialist?” would emphatically answer, “No!”  Yet, their voting habits simply don’t reflect that.

While Canadians can’t vote in our election, this perfectly symbolizes the degree to which our elections have left the realm of being a serious issue and have instead entered the miasma of being a vocalized media circus.  People who can’t vote or even worse, aren’t qualified to vote are still partaking in the dialogue.  A media circus is a popularity contest.  Where are the facts?  Where is the UNDERSTANDING of the issues?

If I hear one more person say “Well, I just feel that, blah blah blah…”   You FEEL?  Hmm..  That’s an excellent basis for a decision, isn’t it?  Your feelings?  I FEEL like punching you, but fortunately, I’m conservative and don’t ACT on stupid, unfounded and destructive feelings.  I research, I understand, I debate and I decide.  That is how an important decision should be made.  Each time, and every time.

Lets just call this as it is.  If our election was anything BUT a simple popularity contest, Obama would never even have been a known candidate.  I mean absolutely no disrespect to the man by saying that.  At this point, he just hasn’t accomplished enough to warrant making him the most powerful man on earth.  Give it another decade or so Barack.  Get more experience.  I’ll still disagree with you politically, but at least I’ll know that you are qualified.  I won’t like it if you are elected, but I’ll be OK with that.  I don’t care if you are black, white, Christian or even Muslim.  You just aren’t qualified right now.

In this election Obama is being supported by a number of people who are just too caught up in the popularity contest to understand the ramifications of their vote.  In my book, that is an unqualified voter.  That leaves us with an unqualified candidate being supported by unqualified voters.  Can it get worse than that?

Yes, it can. You can have the Republicans doing the same thing!!

While I applaud Palin as a vice-presidential candidate choice in the face of the opposition, I don’t think she has enough experience to be president.  Fortunately, she’s the VICE PRESIDENTIAL candidate.  Hello Libs, the VP has no power.  She doesn’t have enough experience to have the power.  She has more than Obama, but not enough.  Why the hell do the Dems seem to be making this election between Obama and Palin?  Yes, if McCain dies, she will be President.  But, the Dems bemoaning this point?  How stupid!  Last I checked, Palin has a LOT more experience actually running things than Obama.  Remember, the only thing that Obama can come up with to demonstrate his leadership potential is his own campaign!

The Dems’ argument seems to be: “To avoid the possibility of an unqualified person becoming President in the unlikely event that McCain dies, we are going to elect Obama, ignoring the fact that he is KNOWN to be untested, unproven and even MORE unqualified that Palin.  Not only that, we are going to make it a focal point of our campaign to spotlight how unqualified she is and how bad it would be for her to be President (even though our candidate has LESS experience).”

As is so often the case, I’m largely confused by the Democratic idea of logic.

There, I’ve said my piece.  Oh, wait…  Just one more thing.

<RANT>

One of their contributors said, “People have to look at this on a grand scale. . It is not just America voting for a president, but their decision will reverberate throughout the world.”

Um, no we don’t.  Excuse me, but fuck the world – I don’t vote in their elections, so hands off mine.  I’ll vote for the candidate that, after careful consideration, research and debate, I’ve concluded is right for MY family and MY country.  Everyone else can piss off.  I don’t see Canadians picking their PM based upon who Americans LIKE.  Nor does anyone else…

So, please.  In this one thing, you crazy Canadians, SHUT YOUR DAMN PIE HOLES!

</RANT>

There, NOW I’ve said my piece.

One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he asks about his bill and the barber replies, ‘I cannot accept money from you.  I’m doing community service this week.’  The florist is pleased and leaves the shop.

When the barber goes to open his shop the next morning  there is a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to  pay his bill, the barber again replies, ‘I  cannot accept money from you.   I’m doing community service this week.’  The cop is happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a ‘thank you’ card and a doz en donuts waiting for him at his door.

Then, a Congressman comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to  pay his bill the barber again replies, ‘I cannot accept money from you.   I’m doing community service this week.’  The Congressman is very happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and many members of our Congress.