Now, we still don't like the idea of having her in the cabinet, but have heard some convincing rationale for doing so:
Well, it means that Hillary Clinton has just moved from having an independent power base in the Senate to being in effect an employee of Barack Obama. And not just any employee, but one who has had to open her files to Barack Obama.
Just imagine the scene of the Obama people going through the Clinton files and saying, "Wow, this could be embarrassing if anybody ever found out about it. Don't worry, it's safe with us."
He has just cemented his enormous power over her, and the sentimental idea out there that he's reaching for a rival and padding the dust off her and bringing her into a Cabinet to be his rival -- no, he's putting her into his Cabinet in order to control her. It's a pretty impressive display of tough politics.
--David Frum on CNN
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Anti-Christmas
With all these folks thinking that Obama is the Antichrist, we proposed, within our own family, to celebrate Anti-Christmas this year. Wethinks this might start a trend...
Spread the wealth around, people!
Spread the wealth around, people!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
What's With the Rubber Boots?
We see lots of young co-eds sporting them these days. As for us, they bring back unpleasant memories of blisters and chafing in the jungles of northern Peten, Guatemala. Maybe we are just out of touch-- we are, after all, twice as old as some of them now.
(Gulp.)
Or, in an interrelated possibility, maybe we are at the point where we actually look at women's feet. We never used to make it that far down.
(Editor's note-- like everything else, this appears to be more about... us)
(Gulp.)
Or, in an interrelated possibility, maybe we are at the point where we actually look at women's feet. We never used to make it that far down.
(Editor's note-- like everything else, this appears to be more about... us)
... or the Rolled-Up Pant Leg on Slightly Effeminate Males?
with low-cut Chuck Ts? Saw two of 'em this morning in the university co-op. Not exactly gangsta.
What to do With This Lieber Man?
At first, we thought Obama should stay out of the fray and let the Congressional Dems flay him as they may. But now, we see an opportunity. President-elect Obama should see this as a prime opportunity to show his willingness to reach across (and back around) the aisle AND demonstrate magnanimity (thanks, dictionary.com) in victory.
What better way to set the tone for his administration? It will seem brilliant in hindsight.
What better way to set the tone for his administration? It will seem brilliant in hindsight.
Leaning Towards Gommorah
Is it our imagination, or is "our" president leaning to the left here... towards socialism?
Or is it just that ol' magnetic pull of Big Oil?
First State Mate
Word on the street is that Hillary is under consideration for Secretary of State-- while we appreciate the reaching-across-the-steaming-cauldron here, we'd advise again' it. The word "power-hungry" comes to mind, even before you factor in the spouse. In the words of the irascible John Bolton, who usually only offers tone-deaf angry blasts of neo-conservatism:
“Obama should remember the rule that you never hire anybody you can’t fire, especially as secretary of state.”
“Obama should remember the rule that you never hire anybody you can’t fire, especially as secretary of state.”
instead,
he should choose Bill Richardson (though this may be seen as another finger in the Clinton eye).
(Editor's note-- "Clinton Eye"... hmmm, we should get Tina Turner to sing the theme song)
(Editor's note-- "Clinton Eye"... hmmm, we should get Tina Turner to sing the theme song)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Choosing Your Next Cabinet-- Unsolicited Advice for the President-Elect
1. Avoid IKEA... even with the free breakfast.
2. As far as the Treasury goes, skip on Summers... some people (read: Hillary supporters) aren't going to forget his comments on women, math, & science. Stay with the generation thing, and further separate yourself from the Clintonistas-- by going with someone like the prez of the Fed Reserve bank in NY, Timothy Geitner, for instance.
It might make sense to hold onto Gates, too-- amidst all the smoke and mirrors, Bush & co. have actually developed some sensible policies that shouldn't be swept away.
3. Hold off on the drapes for now.
2. As far as the Treasury goes, skip on Summers... some people (read: Hillary supporters) aren't going to forget his comments on women, math, & science. Stay with the generation thing, and further separate yourself from the Clintonistas-- by going with someone like the prez of the Fed Reserve bank in NY, Timothy Geitner, for instance.
It might make sense to hold onto Gates, too-- amidst all the smoke and mirrors, Bush & co. have actually developed some sensible policies that shouldn't be swept away.
3. Hold off on the drapes for now.
Good Cop, Bad Cop
In other words, President-elect Obama has chosen Rahm Emanuel as chief of staff... which shows his practical side. We were never impressed by Emmanuel's ability to put words together, but his comments on accepting this job have given us some faith. The fact that he's another young skinny guy with an ethnic-sounding name doesn't hurt either.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Flashback
December 30, 2007
While we are a little uncomfortable with the way we closed our argument that a black man should be president with a basketball analogy, our position still stands. We suppose, however, that our mention of Joe Biden doesn't constitute an endorsement of him as VP.
(original post here)
The Case for Obama
With the caucuses (cauci?) only a few days away, we figured we'd better make our endorsement official. Our reasoning is as follows:
1. Hey, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy...
(Editor's note-- wait a minute-- we don't want to plagiarize Joe Biden (of all people). Let us give it another shot-- we promise not to use the word "articulate")
1. Comes in without baggage or allegiances (read: no fathers/husbands to avenge, family legacies to polish, Vietnam War experiences/lack thereof to explain, Civil Rights experiences to retaliate for)
2. Admitted he inhaled because "that was the point."
3. Best arguments are the ones most criticized (would talk to enemies, would care for victims of terrorism before bombing random Arab country).
4. His obligatory follow-ups in which he is forced to say that he would bomb some country into sand in retaliation can be taken as just that, and not as his "gut reaction."
5. Only major Democrat with any credibility on the War in Iraq, having opposed it from the beginning.
6. His face alone would send a huge message to the rest of the world about who/what America is (and isn't).
7. His name might further confuse terrorists.
8. Doesn't come across as a used-car salesman
9. Presumably his haircuts cost less than $400 (see above)
10. Doesn't sound like Suze Orman (read: doesn't shout at you... unless the vibe calls for it)
(also see above)
11. That Monday Night Football ad (DUN-DUN-DUN!), and the fact that he only roots for one city.
12. Has got "game," at least according to the Sports Illustrated columnist over whom he drained a jumper after being told it was "for the presidency."
Oh, and the fact that as a black man, believe it or not, he bears a better chance of winning the undecideds/independents than a woman who is disdained by women who make the cookies... and those who disdain them for it, and a white Southerner who has reinvented himself as a populist taking on Wall Street... while living in a 28,000-square-foot mansion.
(Editor's note-- We do realize that our values might not coincide with those of the average Iowan...)
While we are a little uncomfortable with the way we closed our argument that a black man should be president with a basketball analogy, our position still stands. We suppose, however, that our mention of Joe Biden doesn't constitute an endorsement of him as VP.
(original post here)
The Case for Obama
With the caucuses (cauci?) only a few days away, we figured we'd better make our endorsement official. Our reasoning is as follows:
1. Hey, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy...
(Editor's note-- wait a minute-- we don't want to plagiarize Joe Biden (of all people). Let us give it another shot-- we promise not to use the word "articulate")
1. Comes in without baggage or allegiances (read: no fathers/husbands to avenge, family legacies to polish, Vietnam War experiences/lack thereof to explain, Civil Rights experiences to retaliate for)
2. Admitted he inhaled because "that was the point."
3. Best arguments are the ones most criticized (would talk to enemies, would care for victims of terrorism before bombing random Arab country).
4. His obligatory follow-ups in which he is forced to say that he would bomb some country into sand in retaliation can be taken as just that, and not as his "gut reaction."
5. Only major Democrat with any credibility on the War in Iraq, having opposed it from the beginning.
6. His face alone would send a huge message to the rest of the world about who/what America is (and isn't).
7. His name might further confuse terrorists.
8. Doesn't come across as a used-car salesman
9. Presumably his haircuts cost less than $400 (see above)
10. Doesn't sound like Suze Orman (read: doesn't shout at you... unless the vibe calls for it)
(also see above)
11. That Monday Night Football ad (DUN-DUN-DUN!), and the fact that he only roots for one city.
12. Has got "game," at least according to the Sports Illustrated columnist over whom he drained a jumper after being told it was "for the presidency."
Oh, and the fact that as a black man, believe it or not, he bears a better chance of winning the undecideds/independents than a woman who is disdained by women who make the cookies... and those who disdain them for it, and a white Southerner who has reinvented himself as a populist taking on Wall Street... while living in a 28,000-square-foot mansion.
(Editor's note-- We do realize that our values might not coincide with those of the average Iowan...)
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Winning in Dixie
er, DixVILLE-- Notch, that is, in New Hampshire... the first Dem to do so since 1968.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Give McCain Credit--
In the end, he would rather lose the election than lose all his dignity (and exploit racial fears), as witnessed by his refusal to exploit the Rev. Jeremiah Wright as a campaign issue. In PA, they aired an ad that could have been the central thrust of his campaign-- but now, on the heels of Ayers and the Palestinian Prof, seems like a last, desperate appeal. At least before the economy redefined the campaign, the issue could have ultimately been the game-changer with the undecided independents who, while not "racist" in the traditional sense, are wary of black over-entitlement.
link to CNN article on PA Republican Party ad
In the end, McCain has lost a lot of his gravitas, but this point should-- nay, must-- be remembered.
link to CNN article on PA Republican Party ad
In the end, McCain has lost a lot of his gravitas, but this point should-- nay, must-- be remembered.
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