Palin Still Not Ready

I try not to listen to the pundits. I really do. I watch the debates, check the facts (see below), and make my own decision. That said, the polls are in, and the pundits and bloggers are screaming: Biden won the debate, hands down. I would tend to agree with them.

In my last post, I opined that Palin killed it in the debates last night, and she did, but from a personal level only. She showed that she can coherently answer/dodge questions. However, as good as she did, it still felt like she was reading from a script. On a national and/or international level, I don’t think she could shoot from the hip if her life depended on it. I could be completely wrong, but it really seemed like both candidates got the questions in advance. We’re told they didn’t. Whatever. Palin may have been able to convince people that she doesn’t fold in the face of a relatively simple question, but she said nothing substantive, nothing that convinced me that she can lead the nation.

Let’s be clear: last night was just as much a job interview as the Presidential debates are. To remind us of this, Gwen Ifil brought up the “heartbeat away” question. Honestly, do you really think Palin can handle it? I think not. The thought of her asking Putin “can I call you Vlad?” makes my skin crawl.

Anyway, on to the facts. I’m a factcheck.org guy. Below is factcheck’s summary of the lies and half-truths from last night; click here for a full report.

• Palin wrongly claimed that “millions of small businesses” would see tax increases under Obama’s tax proposals. At most, several hundred thousand business owners would see increases.
• Palin mistakenly claimed that troop levels in Iraq had returned to “pre-surge” levels. Levels are gradually coming down but current plans would have levels higher than pre-surge numbers through early next year, at least.
• Biden incorrectly said “John McCain voted the exact same way” as Obama on a controversial troop funding bill. The two were actually on opposite sides.
• Palin repeated a false claim that Obama once voted in favor of higher taxes on “families” making as little as $42,000 a year. He did not. The budget bill in question called for an increase only on singles making that amount, but a family of four would not have been affected unless they made at least $90,000 a year.
• Biden wrongly claimed that McCain “voted the exact same way” as Obama on the budget bill that contained an increase on singles making as little as $42,000 a year. McCain voted against it. Biden was referring to an amendment that didn’t address taxes at that income level.
• Palin claimed McCain’s health care plan would be “budget neutral,” costing the government nothing. Independent budget experts estimate McCain’s plan would cost tens of billions each year, though details are too fuzzy to allow for exact estimates.
• Biden wrongly claimed that McCain had said “he wouldn’t even sit down” with the president of Spain. Actually, McCain didn’t reject a meeting, but simply refused to commit himself one way or the other during an interview.

Yep. It would seem that politicians lie. Whoulda thunk it? Well, all I can do is implore you to consider the facts, really think about the candidates, and decide who you think is best suited to exact real change. Because we need change.

Revolution: Change you can *really* believe in…

In the comments section of another post, I’ve been having a conversation with a woman about our collective ire over the whole bailout mess. She puts my thoughts into words better than I ever could, and, given she has more life experience than I, does it with a touch more clout. I wanted to bring her voice up from the comment level to a top level post. Hope you enjoy her insight. Her name is Shirley, and trust me, she’s a fighter. Says she,

I’m an old lady. I raised my family. I’m retired. I’m a true republican in some sense and a true democrat in others and until now I didn’t even know it. All my life, I’ve voted for who I thought would make the best leader, not by any party line.

We bitched back and forth a bit about the bailout, Wall Street, the apathy of Washington. Ultimately, the conversation turned to how we really feel. I’m including some of our comments here, hers will be indicated by the quote marks. Please try to take the anarchist revolution remarks in stride. I think I can speak for both of us that we love the country, and we hate to see it in such dire straits; we’re just at wits end thinking about it, and the word “revolution” is starting to have a nice ring to it.

In her first post, she said:

The gov’t needs to forget a bailout. The market will fix itself, eventually. But the wealthy, power-mongers that got this country into this mess need to be broken – especially financially. Let them get in line for the dole. Let them live on the other side of the street. No bailout, no more money, no FED(my parents were against it when it started and I see no reason to argue their logic now). Small government, people helping each other, better education, and less “I want to be rich so I’ll do it by not paying my employees squat so I can keep the profits” business management.

I questioned whether all the talk of “bailout or Depression” was real or just bureaucratic ballyhoo, and she responded:

You know, Anthony, I think it’s a little fear-mongering and a little truth. If some of the biggest financial corp.’s are allowed to crash and burn, so to speak, then yes, I think we will have another Depression. However, I also think that on the other end, the country will be better for it. The American Dream is a fantastic thing, but that dream has changed in my life time. It used to be own a home, have money in the bank, be able to live comfortably without having to pinch pennies. Now, at least in my view, the American Dream has little to do with living a comfortable life and everything to do with being Bill Gates. And the fact of the matter is that people have long voted with that concept in mind. Reality is that nary a percent of us will ever have Bill Gates wealth and we shouldn’t believe we will.

The only thing I see this bailout doing is acting as a stop gap measure. The whole mess is going to crash and burn and then we’ll have an unqualified Depression with the lead weight of a trillion dollars around all of our necks. Oh, wait, excuse me, around 95% of American necks. The rich will still be rich and still won’t care about Americans. Like Bill Gates, billions to Africa, a few million here. Disgusting.

I agreed, and responded, “If you want to know how I really feel about it, I’m starting to lean towards the idea that we need some kind of upending anarchistic event to reset the system, something that wakes us ALL up, and this bailout is 180 degrees in the opposite direction from that. A “Depression” would heap powerful suck, but maybe it would level the playing field a little and (after a time) bring us back to the American Dream you once knew. Seems we had to suck it up in the original Depression, ration and conserve during WW II, and things outright flourished in the 50’s.

If the government is going to engage in socialism, then they need to give it to the people that really need it, not the corporate scum that squandered away all that they had. Give the $700 billion to us. Now THAT would be a stimulus check. Let Wall Street burn.”

She agreed with me on that last point, “…let Wall Street burn”. We talked a bit about the bailout proposal; she went out and read it between comments. I’m including her final comments in their entirety. I think we should all read them and think about them a little…maybe tomorrow as we’re filling up for gas or going to the ATM.

I read through the bill, and it has a provision for payback [to taxpayers], though to be honest in all the congressional-speak I can’t actually say it’s actually beneficial to most tax payers (see CNN for a pdf of the bill).

Honestly, it’s more section 135 that really bothers me. If I read it correctly, and I’m pretty sure I did, it says the Fed Secretary can’t be held legally accountable for anything. Excuse me? Paulson is the first head that should be chopped off. He, the Fed, and all the other left overs of money/power bastards (Rothschilds, Rockefeller, etc. etc.) that screwed the US in the teens, twenties, and so on should be offed. Damn right they should pay the price, end of conversation.

As to an anarchist uprising, well Anthony, I don’t know that you are far off. It’s going to take the People rising up in the streets to change this crapshoot. I’m a little old to take up a war, but by god, I might look for some amphetamines to help me out in an endeavor like this, to take back this country.

Speaking of civil unrest, according to the Army Times (the official ‘paper’ of the US Army) and entire active-duty batallion is being recalled from Iraq and redeployed here, in the states, in order to be on hand for possible terrorist activity and civil unrest. What? Now when can you remember an active battle group of soldiers being recalled to the states during war time?

One final thought: it’s clear to me that  – despite Obama’s clear message of change – the only real change can come from us. I’m hoping that a simple vote in November is enough to do the trick, but if not, we might need to take matters in our own hands. Shirley’s ready, and so am I. Are you?

Obama will rattle cages. Bank on it.

Disclaimer: everything I’m about to type is based on the premise that the presidential candidates are telling the truth, or are at least sincere in what they say. If you want to tell me I’m an idiot for believing anything a politician says, go ahead, but at this point, we can’t afford to bicker over the sincerity of the elected. We have the Internet, so we can check facts, but let’s get beyond the pedestrian jokes of lying politicians. This November’s going to be real important, people. I hate the two party system about as much as I hate the Electoral College, but short of some sort of bloody Third Party Revolt, we’re stuck with it. So do your homework and vote your conscience.

I just watched the presidential debates, and I’m now officially in Obama’s corner, and I have a reason. But first, I’m going to attempt to provide here a complete list of my personal pros and cons of both candidates. I’ve been on the fence for a while, leaning as far towards Obama as I typically lean left, but the debates showed me tonight who’s ready for the job in January. The issues below are in no particular order, and limited to those I think are important now. Oh, sure, I have my ideas on the 2nd, 4th, and 9th Amendments, among others, as well as online poker and eminent domain and other such Libertarian causes, but I don’t think they matter right now. We’ve got bigger fish to fry. I’ll try to keep my thoughts to a minimum.

Obama

Pros

• Anti-lobbyists. ‘Nuff said.
• Right on the war. We need to get out of Iraq. Soon. Everybody’s talking about how much money we’re spending on our buddies on Wall Street, but we’re not talking about the price of the war like we used to. Furthermore, he seems to be committed to ramping up the pursuit of bin Laden, a task that has been overshadowed by the police action over there in Persia.
• Seems to have a pretty good handle on foreign policy. He seems open-minded to actually talking to people. Given the damage done to our reputation over the last 8 years, we need the world to see that we’re still reasonable. Also, it doesn’t hurt that Biden’s the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee. I’m told they don’t give that job to just anybody.
• Speaking of running mates, politics aside, I think Biden could step in if someone were to pull a James Earl Ray on Obama.
• If his economic plan is sound and true, I like the sound of tax cuts for 95% of America. If you make over $250K, I’m sorry. Time to suck it up and sell the Hummer. That said, I do wonder if his plan holds up in the face of a $1 trillion Wall Street bailout AND the rising cost of a war that we’ll be in for at least another couple of years.
• Is he really a candidate of change? If he is, I want to bear his child. I’m sick of the way things are in DC now, and I hope (no pun intended) that he can and will bring about the change he proposes.

Cons

• He’s all about alternative fuel, but nuclear power is not listed on his website. Strange. It doesn’t get more alternative than nuclear, kid.
• I’m concerned about his plans for small-business taxes. Is this because I’m tainted by the tax-and-spend, nail-companies-to-the-wall stereotype of Democrats? Factcheck.org says that McCain’s claim that Obama will raise taxes for small businesses isn’t true. I don’t know. We’ll see. I’m skeptical. Yeah, yeah, I’m wavering from my faith in political sincerity here, but this is the Democratic Party we’re talking about.
• We need to figure out to make sure we all have healthcare, the idea of a socialized and/or federalized healthcare system just scares the hell out of me. I think P.J. O’Rourke said, “You think healthcare costs a lot now? Just wait until it’s free”.
• If he is planning on shaking things up in DC to the extent he says, he’s likely going to run into a brick wall and get nothing done. Real change? Yeah, well, the only thing that changes when you bang into that brick wall is the shape of your skull.

McCain

Pros

• Pro nuclear power. I’m still not sure why Dems and tree huggers alike are anti-nuke. They think nothing of driving to the coffee shop with their petroleum-based laptops that suck coal-based electricity much like a Robert Earl Keen fan siphons a Tokemaster bong. Nuclear’s clean, baby. Let’s split some atoms.
• Good stance on foreign policy, although I’m concerned he may be a little aloof and quick to attack if provoked with the least bit of sabre-rattling. I’m not saying he’s a hot-head, but he is a big Beach Boys fan. Just sayin’.
• With the last point in mind, he has good military experience. These days, that could prove to be wicked important.
• Probably good for small businesses, tax wise.
• I like his $5000 credit for healthcare idea. Don’t know how he proposes to pay for it, but I like it a lot better than “socialized” medicine.

Cons

• Everyone on his staff seems to be a lobbyist. That can’t be good.
• He seems more than a little ambiguous about the war. I’m hearing a lot of “we need to be there until the job’s done to make America secure.” For the love of all that’s holy, will someone tell me what that means? I don’t think he has any plans to pull out anytime soon. In light of the Wall Street business, what’s that going to cost us?
• Sarah Palin. This really is the biggest thing for me, I think. Does anyone honestly believe that she’s ready to lead should McCain meet an untimely death? Oh, wait, he’s aged 72 years, and the average male lifespan in this great nation is 74 years. I guess if he died during office it wouldn’t be too terribly untimely after all. But seriously, convince me she’s got what it takes. Really. Talk me into it. I want real answers, not rhetoric peppered with “confidence” and “readiness” and “she won’t blink”. And for the love of Pete, seeing Russia from your house does not Foreign Policy make, nor does a whirlwind overseas photo op.
• He represents more of the same. He is the status quo. There’s no doubt about it, from where I stand. The “Maverick” talk is just a bunch of political rhetoric. Bush has really screwed things up, and McCain has voted with Bushco “90% of the time”. Do the math.

Well, it’s late, so I’ll sum up. I’m backing Obama because I believe that he will rattle some cages, in more ways than one, for good or for ill. Maybe he won’t get anything done, maybe he will, but it seems to me that he represents everything that our government fears. Maybe he’s the first step in obliterating the status quo that is so deeply rooted in our government.

I can’t quite put my finger on it, but as good as McCain did in this debate, I kept getting the feeling that he was sticking to the same old script we’ve heard before, or at least keeping it within reach. Obama, for what it’s worth, comes across as though he really wants to see things change for the American people. Maybe it’s all sunshine and unicorns, but maybe not. Indeed, I hope that it’s not.

Yeah, it’s time for a change, and Obama’s the one to bring it.

Thanks for your time and consideration. Did I forget something? Disagree with me? Time to light me up in the comments. If I’m wrong, convince me. Make me a believer.

–Ant.