Michael Steele Raises Eyebrows, Probably Not Funds (except funds for the Dems)

I signed up for the GOP for a laugh, and after the House Dems finally succeeded in passing Healthcare Reform into law tonight, Michael Steele sent out a typically-dishonest, fearmongering fundraiser e-mail in response. Here’s how that makes me feel:
(see below for original e-mail from the RNC)

Dear Mr. Steele,
Nancy Pelosi, and the rest of the Democrats who took a political risk and fought to pass Healthcare Reform on behalf of the American people certainly do reflect our will, and serve our common good. I, and many millions of others, voted the Dems into their majority in both houses of Congress and the White House, and this is just one of the things that they have promised and put effort into making a reality.

Do you remember, Mr. Steele, when you ran for Senate in Maryland? You didn’t get my vote. Do you remember what happened in the 08 election?

Palin’s “New-Clear” Energy Experience?!?

After watching Sarah Palin’s acceptance speech for the Republican party’s nomination for Vice President, I went to the RNC’s web site to try to find a video to review a couple points.  The video wasn’t up, but a full transcript of her speech was.  For such a seasoned “executive,” Palin seems to be fairly behind the curve in terms of some of the alternative energies.  Sure, she and her party love to “drill, baby, drill!”  But when it comes to the intricacies of nuclear power, Palin couldn’t even pronounce the name of the technology without a refresher in the form of phonetic spellings to help her out.

About 2/3 of the way through the transcript:

“Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we’re going to lay more pipelines … build more new-clear plants … create jobs with clean coal … and move forward on solar, wind, geothermal, and other alternative sources.”

Funnier still, if her speech writers and coaches were going to help her avoid misspeaking in the first place, they might have helped ween her off her concern for “eye-rack.”  Unless this is just one giant GOP conspiracy to distract the electorate, luring their eyes onto a nice rack, so that they can snatch the election.  So to speak.

Full text of the transcript:  “Remarks by Alaska Governor Sarah Palin” (from the RNC Web site, gopconvention2008.com)

Biden a Gamble? (No.) Hillary Amazing? (Yes.)

I typed most of this as comments under “McCain Picks Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin” (DCist).

Delaware might be a small state, but it still has more people than Alaska. Plus, look at how many national and even multinational corporations are incorporated in Delaware. Representing Delaware in the US Senate for 35 years is not experience that should be overlooked. Biden is not a gamble.

Some interesting stats:

Populations by area
Alaska – 683,478
Delaware – 864,764
City of Chicago – 2,833,321
Arizona – 6,338,755
Illinois – 12,852,548
(source: Wikipedia)

And as far as Hillary being an amazing candidate, yes…she was amazing. Both she and Obama energized millions of new voters to register and in many cases contribute their time to political advocacy and grassroots campaigning. And both of them have staked their entire careers on helping Americans everyday, and progressively reforming the government so that it can best serve the people.

BTW

There’s no way PUMAs ever truly supported either the Democratic Party or Hillary Clinton’s platform. They’re just republicans, sexist misandristic zealots, or both. And the media would do both campaigns a favor by dropping their shovels, and not stirring up so much shit on the matter. Only someone with their head far, far up into the obscure squalor within the deepest depths of their bowels oblivious to the basic facts would support Hillary and then turn around to vote for a ticket that includes someone like Sarah Palin.

Sarah Palin’s political positions
• anti-choice
  
• anti-healthcare

• anti-gay
• anti-environmental
  
• anti-public education

• anti-polar bear
  
• anti-social justice

• anti-religious freedom
  
• anti-civil rights

• pro-oil
• pro-creationism
• pro-homeschooling
• pro-gun
  
• pro-trickledown economics
  
• pro-religious & socioeconomic hegemony

That’s not standing up for Hillary, Democratic values, or women’s rights. It’s not good journalism, either. It’s Karl Rove style manipulative misinformation, and insults the voters’ intelligence.

Rachel Maddow is right…we’re becoming a “post-rational” society, Mad Hatters sipping slanderous cups of tea and turning our backs on leadership that actually makes sense.

Past Decisions…

I posted the following in response to comments on “McCain Picks Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin” (DCist)

erahk0 [commenter who suggested that Obama/Biden have yet to prove themselves in the office of Pres/VP], I realize that Obama and Biden are politicians. But they have free will in choosing what policies they support, and what words they use to promote them. Further, neither one agrees 100% along party lines, and it is up to them where to differ and where to agree. So assuming they’ll at least try to accomplish some of the items on their platform, Obama/Biden would start off in a much better direction than McCain. And I have faith that they, along with all those tens of millions of active supporters out there will keep the momentum through the election, and turn speech and ideas into action and change. Sure no candidate is perfect (except Colbert!), but at least I respect and appreciate most of what the Dems stand for. Whereas the Republicans like to treat gays, women, ethnic minorities, the poor, children, the middle class, the ailing, prisoners, and anyone who doesn’t ignorantly and hypocritically thump a bible around all like shit…and that discrimination extends from their platform through their speeches all the way into failed government.

And kelly5612 [another commenter who brought up the issue], I believe most of the misogyny in the comments is intended in jest…which might not necessarily be PC, but isn’t as bad as putting someone onto the ticket just because she is a woman.

Elitism, Education, Records of Reform, and Realization of Reality

More thoughts since McCain debuted his running mate, Sarah Palin:

How is it that education and learning have been attacked as weaknesses by the GOP this election cycle? Isn’t it a crucial part of the point of school to equip us to work better and make successful decisions in our careers? Education is not elitist. The exclusive access to education based on the wealth into which one is born, rather than individual potential and achievement, is elitist.

Further, education helps people lead the most successful, secure, and adaptable lives. Denying or limiting access to education robs people of this potential and ability to thrive, harming their livelihood. Instead of contributing even more to their families, communities, and country, these people are unjustly left unable to compete. Potential brilliance must not be extinguished, yet conservative politics does just that in order to maintain policies that favor them at the expense of the common good.

Here’s how our current tickets stack up:

Questioning Experience?

Obama was elected to the US Senate in 2004. Palin won the Alaskan Governorship in 2006. Both have been involved in community-based public service since the early 90’s. But the argument that either candidate has more experience than the other misses the point anyway.

Both Senators and governors serve in highly visible positions of great responsibility and influence. The question is not who has the most experience, but who has the right experience.