Random Thoughts from a Relatively Smart Guy

2008-04-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

Obama flips off Hillary:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pNO58WdUptU
Is this the behavior of the next President of the United States? I sure hope not (Unlike some manufactured things, I think he's really flipping her off here - the crowd reacts - they know what he's doing)

Vultures of the Left

2008-04-12T07:45:00.000-07:00

Vultures of the Left
Another interesting article - I have noticed this phonemena as well - it's almost like a little cheer goes up among the partisan left when bad news comes out of Iraq. I think Lieberman was funny (but true) the other day when he said Democrats have become the party of "see no progress, hear no progress, speak no progress" about Iraq. C'mon folks. We can have disagreements, but be reasonable - we're dealing with tough issues - let's debate, not point fingers - let's look at the facts today and make decisions about going forward.

Obama risks making bad name for himself :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Steve Huntley

2008-04-11T06:12:00.000-07:00

Obama risks making bad name for himself :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Steve Huntley
This article sums up all the recent stuff being thrown at McCain...

NBC10 - Politics'08 coverage - definite Obama bias

2008-04-10T21:13:00.000-07:00

For whatever it's worth, I just sent this note to the NBC10 newsteam here in Philadelphia:
"What was with tonight's Politics'08 coverage? Is it so hard to keep biases from covering the news? Your piece about Chelsea Clinton ended with a negative image of students either disinterested or in a defensive pose (why was that image even there?). Your piece about McCain ended with a negative comment about how much his homeowner protection plan would cost. But your coverage of Obama was packed with a full 27 seconds (by my rough count) of people clapping and cheering and otherwise showing their strong support for him (no negatives). I know lots of people are excited about Obama, but it's disheartening state of affairs for our democracy when "news" coverage seems so biased."

RealClearPolitics - Articles - Obama Wins 'Petraeus Primary' for Best Use Of Senate Iraq Hearing

2008-04-10T14:06:00.000-07:00

RealClearPolitics - Articles - Obama Wins 'Petraeus Primary' for Best Use Of Senate Iraq Hearing
Now this is an interesting piece in these times - a piece that is not particularly pro or con anyone...

McCain not yet golden in California - Roger Simon - Politico.com

2008-04-10T06:40:00.000-07:00

McCain not yet golden in California - Roger Simon - Politico.com:
When his competitors try to differentiate themselves, Obama sometimes does an"embrace". He did it with Hillary's healthcare plan ("our plans are almost the same") and he's doing it here with immigration (“My position [on immigration] has been very similar to John McCain’s,”). He tries to minimize key differentiation (100% coverage for Hillary's plan and driver's licenses for illegals in CA) and get people to focus on what he wants to talk about... (hope, change, unification, etc.)

Going where Republicans fear to tread. - By John Dickerson - Slate Magazine

2008-04-09T21:55:00.000-07:00

Going where Republicans fear to tread. - By John Dickerson - Slate Magazine
Interesting story about McCain's strategy - to create town-hall meetings, even among "hostile" crowds. It's also interesting how the Republicans plan to paint Obama as a "phony". As I've been watching this, that's the conclusion I've been coming to myself - Obama talks about a) "change" and talks about b) "bringing the country together", but he a) operates alot like every other politician and b) is one of the most liberal members of congress - how can someone so far to a side unite?

Qaeda planner linked to UK plots dies: U.S. official - Yahoo! News

2008-04-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

Qaeda planner linked to UK plots dies: U.S. official - Yahoo! News
I thought we were too focused on Iraq to go after AQ? What? Our nation can focus on more than one troublespot at once?

Report: Iran installing 6,000 new centrifuges - USATODAY.com

2008-04-08T06:26:00.000-07:00

Report: Iran installing 6,000 new centrifuges - USATODAY.com
Iran scares me - they are no-doubt trying to develop nuclear weapons capabilities (I would be if I were them). What is the world going to do? What is our leadership going to do?

Obama's illusions on foreign policy | Philadelphia Inquirer | 04/06/2008

2008-04-06T20:51:00.000-07:00

Obama's illusions on foreign policy Philadelphia Inquirer 04/06/2008
I was surprised to read this anti-Obama piece in today's Philadelphia Inquirer. In it, Joseph Wilson (husband of Valerie Plame, now a supporter of Hillary Clinton), takes issue with Obama's foreign policy credentials, and wonders how different or special it is compared to Hillary. It's fascinating to see the Democrats just shoot each other during the primaries. Ouch. It's also interesting to see that it was printed in the Philadelphia Inquirer, where just a few weeks ago, the entire Sunday editorial page was filled with fawning stories about Obama...

The Press Botches Basra

2008-04-04T16:55:00.000-07:00

The Press Botches Basra
Interesting article. Of course, most portrayals of the fighting in Basra were that the Iraqi government botched it up (as described in this article). Interesting to see some of the follow-on, about the numbers, about the other towns, etc.

Candidates court black vote on King anniversary - Yahoo! News

2008-04-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

Candidates court black vote on King anniversary - Yahoo! News
I just saw video of McCain talking in Memphis in front of a.... well... not partcularly warm audience. While it's kinda painful to hear the booing of a candidate I like, I am impressed that McCain was willing to get up there and speak (as opposed to Bush, who seems only to speak in front of crowds that he knows will cheer for him). If Hillary can only get 14% of the black vote, I don't think McCain really has any hope of getting much from them. I think he was doing it to, well, do the right thing...

Contractors gone wild - Yahoo! News

2008-04-04T06:57:00.000-07:00

Contractors gone wild - Yahoo! News
Okay, here's a subject I know something about: program management.

While we're all frustrated by projects that go over budget, but to automatically put 100% of those into the category of "excess" and "abuse" is wrong. Despite best efforts, projects sometimes do take longer than expected, especially when they're dealing with cutting-edge technology (such as the coastal combat ship mentioned in this article). In fact, the current administration has actually pushed hard for better program management practices. The office of management and budget (OMB 300) has put more stringent performance reporting requirements on projects than have ever existed before.

It seems this opinion piece has an agenda - of course Iraq was brought into the subject.

And not much was said about the BIG ELEPHANT in the room - entitlement and benefit programs, which are all scheduled to go bankrupt right around when I would start getting them...

McCain hammers "dishonest" Obama on national security - Yahoo! News

2008-04-03T20:27:00.000-07:00

McCain hammers "dishonest" Obama on national security - Yahoo! News
Yay, finally McCain is calling a spade a spade (or whatever the saying is). In my opinion, Obama and Hillary *are* lying when they spread this "John McCain wants us in Iraq for 100 years!" distortion. I expect a "spirited" debate for the general election, but lying shouldn't be part of it, especially those who say they want to change politics as usual.

Clinton says she will defend gay rights - Yahoo! News

2008-04-03T20:23:00.000-07:00

Clinton says she will defend gay rights - Yahoo! News
Though you may think from my positings that I'm a conservative, this is an example where I'm socially liberal - Frankly, I'm fine with consenting adults doing whatever they want together, as long as it doesn't hurt others. Not that it's for me, mind you, but I recognize that other people choose different things in this journey of life... (BTW - I know that Iran in particular executes homosexuals. That's not right.)

ON DEADLINE: McCain snared in Bush trap - Yahoo! News

2008-04-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

ON DEADLINE: McCain snared in Bush trap - Yahoo! News
Okay, here's another article about McCain's "confession" (again, one that the WSJ in 2005 said was "refreshingly blunt", a positive that has now turned negative). What economic background do the Democratic candidates have? And what are the economic theories behind raising taxes and limiting trade with our neighbors?

Zimbabwe opposition offices raided - Yahoo! News

2008-04-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

Zimbabwe opposition offices raided - Yahoo! News
Mugabe is just plain bad. He's a bad dictator who has done nothing for his people except economic ruin. If you remember, he came to power by promsing the "veterans" free land. Where was he going to get the free land? From the mostly-white farmers (from families that had been in Zimbabwe for generations) who ran one of the few bright spots in the economy. Once the "veterans" took over the farms (sometimes by killing the farmers), the farms went to shambles. No food. He also literally bulldozed the homes of people who opposed him, sometimes bulldozing entire towns. No wonder they have 1,000% inflation in Zimbabwe. He needs to go.

Republicans feel good about Obama match-up - Yahoo! News

2008-04-03T13:20:00.000-07:00

Republicans feel good about Obama match-up - Yahoo! News
Nice article that summarizes a number of recent observations about a November election between Obama and McCain.

Obituaries | William G. Hall, 38, gave wise counsel to all | Seattle Times Newspaper

2008-04-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

Obituaries William G. Hall, 38, gave wise counsel to all Seattle Times Newspaper
Sad. We are losing good people in Iraq. All I can do is thank and pray for the men and women (and their families) who are sacrificing in so many ways.

FactCheck.org: Substance Abuse

2008-04-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

FactCheck.org: Substance Abuse
Another interesting analysis by Factcheck.org.

FactCheck.org: Obama's Oil Spill

2008-04-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

FactCheck.org: Obama's Oil Spill
Interesting article - Here in Pennsylvania, we've been inundated with Obama's new ad, and the closing comment about not taking money from oil companies did catch my attention. Nice to see that factcheck.org did the legwork in calling that out...

CJR: The U.S., Iraq, and 100 Years

2008-04-02T09:54:00.000-07:00

CJR: The U.S., Iraq, and 100 Years
Another good article on the "100 year" lie Democrats want to use through November...

Obama and the 'L' Word - WSJ.com

2008-04-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

Obama and the 'L' Word - WSJ.com
I really like this article, as it's something I've been mulling for a while.

Here's the deal: When I hear Obama supporters say things like "Only Obama can bring this country together", I choke a little and get tense, because it sounds good, but it's not based on reality. On many, many positions, Obama on the left side of issues - not a moderate. How can electing someone so on one side "bring together" this country? It's like the Obama supporters are saying "we'll all agree as long as you agree with Obama". When I listen to Obama and study his positions, I'm hard pressed to find something I agree with....

I believe there are valid philosophies on both the left and the right. That's why I favor McCain, who seems to be a moderate has many conservative philosophies (reduced government spending) with some liberal ideas (immigration reform, global warming, etc.). I definitely don't agree with all of McCain's positions (anti-abortion, for one), but I agree with many of his views.

If anyone can bring the country together, isn't it more likely to be someone in the middle, not someone from one of the sides?

FOXNews.com - The 'Recession' Is a Media Myth - Opinion

2008-04-01T13:34:00.000-07:00

FOXNews.com - The 'Recession' Is a Media Myth - Opinion
Nice article. Since consumer spending accounts for 70% of the U.S. economy, consumer sentiment plays a big role in the economic health of the country. When one is selling change (Obama), you want to remind them again and again how BAD things are now. If individuals are constantly bombarded with messages about how bad things are, they are naturally going to become more pessimistic. thus, all the negative messages about the economy become self-fulfilling. Nice....

Global View - WSJ.com

2008-03-31T21:49:00.000-07:00

Global View - WSJ.com - "Does Obama Understand Defeat?" This is an interesting article...

RealClearPolitics - Articles - The 100 Year Lie

2008-03-28T13:13:00.000-07:00

RealClearPolitics - Articles - The 100 Year Lie
Excellent article. Isn't it a bit hypocritical to promse to change the way things are done in Washington while promoting a lie to get there? Sounds like politics as usual.

Obama would have left if Wright stayed - Yahoo! News

2008-03-27T19:48:00.000-07:00

Obama would have left if Wright stayed - Yahoo! News
Okay, so let me get this straight - he stayed for 20+ years at this church, but NOW, only after it's become a big issue, is he saying that he would've left if Wright stayed? Sounds like he wants to retroactively change his position. Nice....

U.S. military suspends Afghanistan ammunition deal - Yahoo! News

2008-03-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

U.S. military suspends Afghanistan ammunition deal - Yahoo! News
This makes me quite angry - as if a $300m contract was not enough - the 22! year old owner of this company seems to have skimped by supplying cheap old chinese ammunition. Shame on him. I'm also angry that our government paid so much without doing thorough quality checks. Shame on them.

Meghan McCain has offbeat campaign blog - Yahoo! News

2008-03-27T19:18:00.000-07:00

Meghan McCain has offbeat campaign blog - Yahoo! News
Hmmm... seems like all the cool people are doing blogs now...

Clinton would have left Obama's church - Yahoo! News

2008-03-25T14:45:00.000-07:00

Clinton would have left Obama's church - Yahoo! News
It's just fun to watch the DCFS (Democratic Circular Firing Squad). Clinton says something about Obama's pastor, and the Obama camp immediately attacks with the Bosnia debacle. I think what Clinto is saying is what alot of "typical white americans" are saying: "Why didn't Obama leave such a biases and angry church?".

Also, while I credit Obama for speaking eloquently about race last week, what about the anti-American aspects of the pastor's beliefs? (AIDS, middle east, etc.). Is ALL of his anger based solely on racism? Or is there truly anti-Americanism in there too?

ON DEADLINE: Hillary's Flight of Fancy - Yahoo! News

2008-03-25T14:39:00.000-07:00

ON DEADLINE: Hillary's Flight of Fancy - Yahoo! News
Good story about credibility and politicians - note that Obama is mentioned for embellishing, but nothing about McCain. (I trust McCain is more humble in his words. Now wouldn't that be a nice change in Washington?)

Clinton says she erred on Bosnia story - Yahoo! News

2008-03-25T13:53:00.000-07:00

Clinton says she erred on Bosnia story - Yahoo! News
Hillary got caught in a lie, so she has no other choice than to admit it and try to move on. Ouch - definitely hurts her credibility (what other "white lies" may be floating around her?)

Iraqi forces fight Mehdi Army in Basra - Yahoo! News

2008-03-25T09:11:00.000-07:00

Iraqi forces fight Mehdi Army in Basra - Yahoo! News
To me, what is going on around Basra is a case study for what would happen if the U.S. quickly pulls out of Iraq en masse. The British pulled out of Southern Iraq last year, claiming victory and handing everything over to the Iraqi government. Since then, the different Shiite organizations have been jockeying for power. Now it's erupted into violence. While it's nice to say that Iraq needs to stand on its own, they seem simply unable to do that, especially with the meddlings of Iran among the different groups.

Democrats want contract fraud documents - Yahoo! News

2008-03-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

Democrats want contract fraud documents - Yahoo! News:
From the article: "The United States has spent more than $102 billion over the last five years to help rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan. In that time, the Justice Department has uncovered at least $14 million in contract bribes in those two nations alone."

Is it me, or does $14 million in contract bribes for $102 billion total seem like a VERY small number? It's only a fraction of 1%. Of course, I don't want any corruption, and I think it's okay to check on why this loophole is back in the rule, but the way the article is worded makes it seem that $14 million is a huge number.

Obama eyes active role in oil markets - Yahoo! News

2008-03-20T07:25:00.000-07:00

Obama eyes active role in oil markets - Yahoo! News
There's no doubt that big oil companies are making recording profits in the billions... BUT, it also costs billions and billions for them to find oil in ever-harder-to-reach places, extract it from the ground, transport it, refine it, and then sell it. If you think a corporation is making too much money, don't complain - INVEST in them!

Here's an ECON 101 concept: If you want prices to come down, increase the supply. Creating DISINCENTIVES (in the form of higher taxes), is not how you attract the new capital needed to increase supply.

And while it may be politically easy to say Big Oil should pay an extra"windfall tax", which other companies may be subject to "windfall taxes" in the future? Google? Microsoft? Microsoft has been opening offices in India, they make lots of profits, let's PUNISH them!

What I find interesting, is that the Democrats have attacked McCain for saying economics was not his strongest subject. At least he has the humbleness to say so. Clinton and Obama have both shown through their proposals that they don't really understand it either...

Grannies and pro-war activists clash in Times Square - Yahoo! News

2008-03-19T20:18:00.000-07:00

Grannies and pro-war activists clash in Times Square - Yahoo! News
Yeah, whatever. War is bad. We know that. But sometimes, sometimes, it can bring positive change to places that have been oppressed for generations... (since before these ladies were around, even).

THROW GRANDMA UNDER THE BUS - Yahoo! News

2008-03-19T18:56:00.000-07:00

THROW GRANDMA UNDER THE BUS - Yahoo! News
To be honest, I've been turned off by Anne Coulter lately - she seems to be a mean-spirited right-wing extremist.... BUT, I think she raises a number of good points in this article. A day after hearing Obama speak, it's interesting to hear counterpoints to what all the commentators yesterday were saying was an "incredible", "extraordinary" speech, the most important since MLK's "I have a dream..." speech, etc.

Obama and McCain in crossfire over Iraq - Yahoo! News

2008-03-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

Obama and McCain in crossfire over Iraq - Yahoo! News:
Clinton says: "'We cannot win their civil war. There is no military solution...".
However, just because there is no military solution, doesn't mean the military shouldn't be PART of the solution. The Democrats' only position seems to be pull all troops out of Iraq as quickly as possible. That idea seems just as ill-conceived as believing that ONLY military force can solve the problems in Iraq. Instead, I believe the solution is a combination of diplomacy, economic, and, yes, military forces...

Obama's lead over Clinton narrows: Reuters poll - Yahoo! News

2008-03-19T12:22:00.000-07:00

Obama's lead over Clinton narrows: Reuters poll - Yahoo! News
Maybe the fact that Obama has fallen behind McCain has led to his bad mood/pettiness?

Obama belittles McCain for confusing extremists - Yahoo! News

2008-03-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

Obama belittles McCain for confusing extremists - Yahoo! News
Obama is treading really close to the "arrogant" line - I'm sure that McCain is fully aware of which group Iran is supporting, he simply mispoke. For Obama to "belittle" him for it at a newsconference is... so petty. For a guy that is supposed to be about change, I'm surprised and disappointed.

ON DEADLINE: Obama walks arrogance line - Yahoo! News

2008-03-17T07:22:00.000-07:00

ON DEADLINE: Obama walks arrogance line - Yahoo! News
Interesting article - I have noticed that some of Obama's comments seem a bit... aloof. It's all the more disconcerting, given his message of changing things (and repeated ad nauseum claims from Democrats that Bush is arrogant).

Honey, will you marry... Oh. Never mind... - Yahoo! News

2008-03-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

Honey, will you marry... Oh. Never mind... - Yahoo! News
OUCH - this hurts to read...

No link between Saddam and Al-Qaeda: Pentagon study - Yahoo! News

2008-03-14T08:56:00.000-07:00

No link between Saddam and Al-Qaeda: Pentagon study - Yahoo! News
No doubt about it - Saddam was a bad guy who sheltered international terrorists, including Abu Abbas, the leader of the Achille Lauro hijacking in which an American was killed. Saddam gave Mr. Abbas refuge in Baghdad...

Kidnapped Iraq archbishop dead: Church officials - Yahoo! News

2008-03-13T06:16:00.000-07:00

Kidnapped Iraq archbishop dead: Church officials - Yahoo! News
Another example of the type of people we are facing in Iraq - kidnappers and murderers of priests... pitiful example of humanity...

Severed fingers of 5 hostages delivered to U.S. officials in Iraq - Yahoo! News

2008-03-12T18:51:00.000-07:00

Severed fingers of 5 hostages delivered to U.S. officials in Iraq - Yahoo! News
Scary stuff - we're facing some bad people over there - that's all I have to say....

Mom faces trial for leaving child in car - Yahoo! News

2008-03-12T18:45:00.000-07:00

Mom faces trial for leaving child in car - Yahoo! News
Hmmm... I have to side with Mom here. It sounds like she was being reasonable, while the police were not. Yes, bad stuff happens when kids are "left alone" in the car. BUT, bad stuff happens when you take babies into snow and ice (mom can slip, they can catch a cold, etc.). Bad stuff also happens when mom stays in the car. In this case, the fact that mom was a few yards away does not seem to be a determining factor that would lead to "danger". Aren't there real criminals to pursue?

Admiral William Fox Fallon - US Central Command - Fallon's Military Strategies - Esquire

2008-03-11T13:41:00.000-07:00

Admiral William Fox Fallon - US Central Command - Fallon's Military Strategies - Esquire
Here's the article from Esquire magazine - interesting stuff. To be honest, I'm a bit unsettled that a free-thinking military leader is being forced to resign like he has today. My father-in-law met Bill Fallon recently at a Villanova alumni event - my father-in-law seemed really impressed with him - he was soft-spoken and so "normal" for who he was. It's situations like this that make me look forward to when Bush will be out of office. I don't like the way he seems to only want "yes-men" around...

Iraqis search for signs of change in U.S. election - Yahoo! News

2008-03-10T08:39:00.000-07:00

Iraqis search for signs of change in U.S. election - Yahoo! News
What a piece of biased reporting - the keyword for pro-Democrats is already in the headline: "change", and the first quote is again for change and against the current course (they quoted a university professor, an easy place to find anti-Republican viewpoints). Why don't they talk about the sheiks who have aligned themselves with the US and could be hung out to dry if the USA suddenly departs? (like many of our friends in Vietnam)?

Chuck Norris the only WMD in Iraq, say U.S. troops - Yahoo! News

2008-03-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

Chuck Norris the only WMD in Iraq, say U.S. troops - Yahoo! News
Funny stuff

Nicaragua breaks Colombia ties - Yahoo! News

2008-03-06T18:57:00.000-08:00

Nicaragua breaks Colombia ties - Yahoo! News: "
Chavez said: 'Never before has any country in Latin America reached the point of taking a pre-emptive attack doctrine or the doctrine of pursuing your internal enemies in every corner of the globe,' he said on Thursday in his latest criticism of Colombia."
My comment: What a bunch of bull-hokey! Colombia attacked the camp of an armed force that is actively killing and kidnapping its own citizens. The camp was about a mile into Ecuador - where the FARC thought they could have a safe haven. This was not "pre-emptive" and it was not in every corner of the globe. He's trying to put what Colombia did into his same twisted category as the Iraq War. He's full of it. Unfortunately, the leaders of other nearby countries are influenced by the leftist Chavez revolutionary rhetoric, or the Chavez money from Venezuela's oil...

Clinton wins. Now what? - Yahoo! News

2008-03-05T08:40:00.000-08:00

Clinton wins. Now what? - Yahoo! News
This is an interesting article, in the different ways it treats Hillary and Obama "attack ads". It calls Hillary's ads "hits" and "insde the beltway arguments" - both of which can be considered negative terms. As for his own attacks, this article calls them some of his "toughest critiques yet". Critique? Critique is a nice thing teachers do to a writing assignment. Why doesn't she say Obama is switching to "inside the beltway" arguments too? My bet is that this author likes Obama.

Thomas Moshang Jr., physician | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/29/2008

2008-03-02T13:05:00.000-08:00

Thomas Moshang Jr., physician Philadelphia Inquirer 02/29/2008
My wife worked with this doctor at CHOP. He also was the father of a friend of mine in Penn Army ROTC (Tom Moshang III). My wife, along with everyone else, says he was an excellent doctor.

One Last Thing: McCain is right about Iraq | Philadelphia Inquirer | 03/02/2008

2008-03-02T13:03:00.000-08:00

One Last Thing: McCain is right about Iraq Philadelphia Inquirer 03/02/2008
Good article - from the Philadelphia Inquirer to boot!

McCain tags Dems on trade treaty - Yahoo! News

2008-03-01T14:36:00.001-08:00

McCain tags Dems on trade treaty - Yahoo! News
Yet another case where I agree with McCain. There was an article last week about how Canada was getting concerned about all the talk of renegotiating NAFTA.

McCain tags Dems on trade treaty - Yahoo! News

2008-03-01T14:36:00.000-08:00

Mukasey refuses probe of Bush aides - Yahoo! News

2008-02-29T19:10:00.000-08:00

Mukasey refuses probe of Bush aides - Yahoo! News
I don't know about you, but I am so tired of partisan politics in Washington. Democrats' leading presidential nominee is preaching change - it doesn't seem that the congressional leadership is listening to the sermon. Boo.

Proposed mortgage aid would do harm: Paulson - Yahoo! News

2008-02-28T20:57:00.000-08:00

Proposed mortgage aid would do harm: Paulson - Yahoo! News
I agree with his comments - the federal government should not come to the aid of people and banks who pushed the risk envelope. To do so would simply encourage similar risky behavior in the future (because people will think the government will help them eventually, too). We are seeing an expected correction in what was a speculative housing market. It's normal and it needs to happen.

McCain: Citizenship a dead issue - USATODAY.com

2008-02-28T19:09:00.000-08:00

McCain: Citizenship a dead issue - USATODAY.com
As someone born to American parents on a US Army base in West Germany, I've sometimes wondered if I could be president (scary thought, huh?). It seems that I could, though, unlike Goldwater and McCain, I was not born in a US territory.

Pelosi wants Bush aides investigated - Yahoo! News

2008-02-28T19:06:00.000-08:00

Pelosi wants Bush aides investigated - Yahoo! News
Stuff like this is why Congress has an approval rating even lower than Bush. Pelosi wants to pursue misdemeanor charges? She is the third highest-elected official in our country. Shouldn't she be pursuing something more strategic for the whole country? I'm for accountability of the executive branch, but this Plame affair has run its course. Move on!

Obama Overtakes Clinton, Tied With McCain, Poll Says - Yahoo! News

2008-02-27T12:22:00.000-08:00

Obama Overtakes Clinton, Tied With McCain, Poll Says - Yahoo! News
Interesting stuff - I don't have any comments right now - read for yourself and make your own comments!

McCain mocks Obama's Iraq comments - Yahoo! News

2008-02-27T09:43:00.000-08:00

McCain mocks Obama's Iraq comments - Yahoo! News
Okay, Obama. We get it - you were against the start of the war in Iraq and you think al qaeda didn't exist in Iraq until the start of the war in Iraq. But that was 2003 - five years ago. What would you do NOW, given the current realities of Iraq? Al Qaeda *is* in Iraq now. So what will you do to address current reality?

New US submarines trade nukes for SEALs - Yahoo! News

2008-02-27T06:59:00.000-08:00

New US submarines trade nukes for SEALs - Yahoo! News
Another interesting article - this one addressing geo-political issues in the Pacific Rim. It's going to be an interesting century out there...

Photo gives face to Anne Frank's "one true love" - Yahoo! News

2008-02-27T06:57:00.000-08:00

Photo gives face to Anne Frank's "one true love" - Yahoo! News
Another interesting article this morning! I wonder when my 7 year old son will be ready to read the Diary of Anne Frank...

The Satellite Shootdown: Behind the Scenes - Yahoo! News

2008-02-27T06:54:00.000-08:00

The Satellite Shootdown: Behind the Scenes - Yahoo! News
Interesting article - it's amazing what they have been able to do. I'm always reminded that my friend Ken worked on the Aegis system many years ago. It's really brilliant stuff...

McCain disavows comments about Obama - Yahoo! News

2008-02-26T14:08:00.000-08:00

McCain disavows comments about Obama - Yahoo! News:
Okay, here's an interesting paragraph:
"Last fall, McCain faced criticism for initially not repudiating a voter in South Carolina who called Clinton a 'bitch.' McCain chuckled in response to the voter's question, but didn't embrace the epithet. A few minutes later, he said he respected Clinton, a New York senator and colleague."

I just watched the video on YouTube from last fall (click here). It wasn't "a few minutes later" until he said he respected Clinton - it was 49 seconds later. The point? The article above makes it seem that today is different than last fall. On the contrary, in both cases McCain quickly disassociated himself from negativity. I like that.

FactCheck.org: FactCheck Mailbag

2008-02-26T08:29:00.000-08:00

FactCheck.org: FactCheck Mailbag
I like the last question and answer on this video - What's the definition of "middle class"? According to this, 2% of people classify themselves as "upper class" while 7% say they are "lower class". That leaves 91% of people thinking they are "middle class" or "working class". So, when politicians say nice things about "middle class tax cuts", 91% of people think they are offering something to them. You don't really have to be a cynic to know there's something fishy with the numbers - there's only so much you can raise taxes on the top 2% in order to cut taxes and create programs for the other 98%. Somewhere in there, folks who consider themselves middle class are going to get caught in the "tax the rich" frenzy.

VoteVets.org | Donate Now

2008-02-25T14:49:00.000-08:00

VoteVets.org Donate Now
Here's a new attack ad against McCain - Now they're saying McCain wants troops in Iraq for 1,000 years. Why do they stop there? They might as well say "McCain wants troops in Iraq for a gazillion years, and wants to spend a trillion gazillion dollars!" (the actual quote is 100 years, and he said it in jest when someone said 50 - he made it clear that he meant in a peacekeeping role, not fighting.). Poor show.

Arsenal's Eduardo Da Silva suffers a serious leg injury ... - Yahoo! News Photos

2008-02-25T06:46:00.000-08:00

Arsenal's Eduardo Da Silva suffers a serious leg injury ... - Yahoo! News Photos
WARNING: Don't click on this picture link if you feel queasy at all - you will lose it. And who says Soccer is not a contact sport? (Last I heard was that this player suffered multiple broken bones and is out for at least a year).

Obama targets NAFTA but says supports free trade - Yahoo! News

2008-02-25T06:44:00.000-08:00

Obama targets NAFTA but says supports free trade - Yahoo! News
So, what is his position on trade agreements? It's hard to tell from this article. Does he only want "fair" agreements? I had a negotiation class back when I got my MBA. The first thing the professor said on the first day was "there is no such thing as fair when it comes to agreements" - "fair" is a perspective, value-based word. What is "fair" to one side may not be so to another. So, the word "fair" was removed from our lexicon - we instead used "equitable" and "agreeable". On the subject of economic/business background, what education/training/experience does Obama have again?

Many blacks worry about Obama's safety - Yahoo! News

2008-02-22T14:17:00.000-08:00

Many blacks worry about Obama's safety - Yahoo! News - Interesting story, though I hope their fear is outweighed by hope and appreciation when they see that most people in this country are willing to judge a man not by his color, but by his character (even in rural Iowa).

McCain says report on lobbyist not true - Yahoo! News

2008-02-21T08:47:00.000-08:00

McCain says report on lobbyist not true - Yahoo! News: In this article I find this sentence a little curious: "McCain wrote the letters after he received more than $20,000 in contributions from Paxson executives and lobbyists." The "more than" part of this sentence makes it seem nefarious. What if it instead said "less than $30,000" (or whatever the number really was). It would put things in the proper context and let us understand how much was actually contributed to McCain back then.

Iraq's Sadr expected to extend militia truce: sources - Yahoo! News

2008-02-21T08:25:00.000-08:00

Iraq's Sadr expected to extend militia truce: sources - Yahoo! News
This would be good news, if true. Sadr's milita standdown has been a leg in the three-pronged strategy to reduce violence: 1) US Troop surge, 2) Peeling away Sunni insurgents into joining against al qaeda, and 3) Sadr militia cease-fire. Now, if only the central government could continue reconciliation laws (they're currently on break for a month or so, after passing some key laws a few weeks ago) (unlike our government, which went into recess deadlocked)

Kitco - Silver Page

2008-02-21T07:35:00.000-08:00

Kitco - Silver Page
Have you seen the price of silver lately? It's setting new records (up 19% so far this year, and breaking new records every day) - (though, on an inflation adjusted basis, it's still way below 1980 levels, when those brothers tried to corner the silver market). On an economic level, there are some parallels between now and 1980 - inflation, slower growth (recession?), etc. With the weakness of the dollar continuing (making imports more expensive here), precious metal markets are reflecting continued inflation fears. Hmmm...

Sharper Image files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy - Yahoo! News

2008-02-21T07:27:00.000-08:00

Sharper Image files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy - Yahoo! News
Lillian Vernon (a catalog retailer) also filed for bankruptcy today. I stopped shopping at Sharper Image a few years ago after one of their devices (I think a shower CD player) stopped working after just a few months and they were not willing to make things right. For a company that charges a premium for their products, that was unacceptable, so I brought my business elsewhere (and bought a nice Sony shower CD player instead)

OpinionJournal - THE WEEKEND INTERVIEW

2008-02-20T09:07:00.000-08:00

OpinionJournal - THE WEEKEND INTERVIEW:
Great article from the WSJ (I've been looking for this one!). Note how the author says McCain is "refreshingly blunt" when he is honest about his economic background. Too bad that refreshing honesty is now being thrown back at him by the Democratic candidates (so much for changing the way things are done in Washington): Here's the quote: "He is refreshingly blunt when he tell me: 'I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated.'

FactCheck.org: Smear or Be Smeared?

2008-02-20T08:55:00.000-08:00

FactCheck.org: Smear or Be Smeared?
Related to the video right below - this one spells it all out - how the DNC plans to twist and smear. Argh.

FactCheck.org: Enter the Smear!

2008-02-20T08:18:00.000-08:00

FactCheck.org: Enter the Smear!
I've been getting a little peeved with some of the recent attacks on McCain (both of these were lead-off points in a speech Hillary gave this morning): 1) McCain says the war in Iraq should be 100 years! and 2) McCain admits he doesn't know much about the economy. Watch this FactCheck.org video to learn the truth (FactCheck is a neutral site related to the Annenberg Center).

Obama scores 10th straight victory - Yahoo! News

2008-02-20T05:34:00.000-08:00

Obama scores 10th straight victory - Yahoo! News: Obama says: "'I opposed this war in 2002. I will bring this war to an end in 2009. It is time to bring our troops home,' he declared." We all wish the war would end - we don't like seeing our soldiers killed and wounded. We don't like spending our money over there instead of over here. However, we just can't wish it away - bring everyone home and say "cya!". It's not "fear-mongering" to say that a rapid and arbitrary pull out would create a vacuum in Iraq, one that would be filled with bad people doing bad things. That's simply not right. Things are improving in Iraq. Let's make sure we get the job done.

Witnesses in Iraq death squad trial threatened: US - Yahoo! News

2008-02-19T08:52:00.000-08:00

Witnesses in Iraq death squad trial threatened: US - Yahoo! News

This one sends chill down my spine - it's amazing how there seems to be no bounds to the behavior of some in Iraq: using ambulances to kidnap people, killing patients and family members at the hospital, etc. What a bunch of baloney, by the way, when the head of the Sadr movement in Najaf says that the "all the accusations" ... "are baseless". Yeah, right.

Outposts help U.S. troops quell Iraq violence - Yahoo! News

2008-02-19T08:47:00.000-08:00

Outposts help U.S. troops quell Iraq violence - Yahoo! News

Interesting article - good to see how things are changing for the better after such a hard struggle. BTW: I am totally against an arbitrary withdrawal from Iraq. We need to make sure our friends and allies and, frankly, the common people of Iraq are taken care of...

Three recent political thoughts

2008-02-15T17:16:00.000-08:00

Okay, here are three recent political thoughts:
1) Obama says he wants to change Washington, which, given the polarized politics of the past 10 years (at least), seems to be a good thing. However, I also saw that Obama was recently rated *the* most liberal senator. To me, what would really change Washington is to have leadership that knows how to GET ALONG and GET THINGS DONE. Having a skewed-in-a-direction president is just politics as normal. We need someone who knows how to find the middle ground and work across the aisle. That would be a welcome change.

2) I hate how some politicians blame everything on the Iraq War. I heard a speech the other day by Obama where he said because of the Iraq War, we don't have money for schools, after-school programs, highway repairs, environmental research, universal healthcare, etc. etc. When the I-35W bridge collapsed in Minnesota, you even heard opportunistic/cynical politicians blame the Iraq War for it (it actually was because of extra weight due to a repair crew and a design flaw, if I remember correctly). To blame everything on Iraq is a false argument - people complained about not enough money well before Iraq.

3) Finally, McCain has been getting alot of flak recently for saying that economics was not his strength. After years of Democrats complaining about hubris and arrogance in the White House, here we have a candidate admit that he actually has a weakness (the original Wall Street Journal article said McCain's openness was refreshing), and now his opponents attack him for it. (So what do they want: arrogance or openness?) To me, it seems like old Washington politics to take a positive and make it into a negative. BOo to Obama.

These are a few of my favorite sites

2008-02-15T11:15:00.000-08:00

http://www.auctionstealer.com/ - Kinda like TiVo for ebay

http://www.slickdeals.net/ - lots of great deals available out there
http://www.fatwallet.com/ - Keep track of deals, and use Fatwallet Cashback to share click-through revenue. (I have received hundreds of dollars back...)

www.betterbidding.com - when combined with priceline, you can save lots of money on hotels (Remember to either donate or use their click through links!)

DEADLY DASH - New York Post

2008-02-15T11:12:00.000-08:00

DEADLY DASH - New York Post
Sad story I came across. My 7 year old son also has a pet lizard and fish and talks about wanting to become a veterinarian (a hard word to spell, btw). I can understand this boy trying to save his best friends... :(

Obama says US must end gun violence - Yahoo! News

2008-02-15T10:02:00.000-08:00

Obama says US must end gun violence - Yahoo! News
Echoes of John Kerry here, as Obama picks tries to weave bad news from the headlines into his "we need to change" message. However, he seems to want it both ways (as most politicians seem to do): He says we should do "whatever it takes" to eradicate gun violence ("Yayy!" cheer his liberal base), but then says he believes in the right to bear arms (trying to appeal to more "independent" types). He then suggests background checks. Note that the NIU shooter had no criminal background, so a background check would not have helped avoid the tragedy there. In the end, is he really saying anything? (other than to talk about current events)