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From Fox News' Carl Cameron, the reporter who has been following the McCain campaign (please pick your jaws up off the floor - yes I watch Fox. Can't criticize if I don't ever watch.):
According to McCain staffers, Sarah Palin did not understand that Africa is a continent. She thought it was a country or a region or something.
Now it's time for me to pick MY jaw up off the floor. The person who John McCain wanted to be a heartbeat away from the presidency was so ignorant of the greater world beyond Alaska, she did not know basic geography. Man oh man did we all dodge a bullet!
She also didn't know what countries were involved in NAFTA. Otherwise known as the North American Free Trade Agreement. Not too many countries to choose from there...
UPDATED: Bill O'Reilly discussed this all a bit more on the O'Reilly Factor. (jaws up again, folks. Yes, I do sometimes watch The O'Reilly Factor. Can't counter the arguments if you don't know what they are.) Bill blew off the Africa thing and other failures by Palin to understand basic civic structure and assignment of responsibilities to branches and levels of government as "a knowledge problem" that was easily correctable. Bunk. Not knowing the particulars of an issue or piece of legislation would be a knowledge problem. But there are only 7 continents. Not knowing one of them points to an ignorance of the world that cannot be corrected during a 2 month presidential campaign. Not understanding the basics of federalism, the difference between municipal and state governments, or how the First Amendment operates renders one utterly and unarguably unfit for the highest (or second highest) office in the land. Please, Bill et al, stop making excuses for ignorance. Note I'm not calling Palin stupid, but these snippets we're hearing from the McCain camp definitely demonstrate an ignorance (a different thing from stupidity) that is simply unacceptable from a vice presidential candidate. Fortunately for us all, she was not on the winning ticket.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Suckers!
Ha! You fools really fell for it! You elected the America-hating, Muslim terrorist, Arab Anti-Christ, tax-raising socialist! So here's what's going to happen now.
First, Christmas is cancelled, obviously. Stores will have 48 hours to remove all displays and holiday-themed items.
Second, Korans will be issued to all American homes. Start studying as soon as you receive yours. There will be a test. Please don't ask what happens to those who fail. Failure is not an option.
Third, you will soon receive information about the new ownership arrangement of your personal property: homes, cars, boats, etc. You can all remain living where you have been living until further notice.
Fourth, Monday will be flag-burning day. Every American will be required to burn one American flag each Monday until they are all gone.
Fifth, we're still working on the name change. We're leaning towards the Socialist States of America. But there's a strong minority for United Socialist States of America. Don't bother letting us know which you prefer because you don't get a vote.
Further instructions will be issued on a need to know basis.
************
Are there really people out there who thought this was what would happen if we elected Barack Obama to the presidency? I'm not going to bother talking any of them down. I will just laugh delightedly and let them see on their own that the world really won't end. We survived 8 years of Bush; you folks can survive 4 (8???) years of this much smarter, more thoughtful guy!
First, Christmas is cancelled, obviously. Stores will have 48 hours to remove all displays and holiday-themed items.
Second, Korans will be issued to all American homes. Start studying as soon as you receive yours. There will be a test. Please don't ask what happens to those who fail. Failure is not an option.
Third, you will soon receive information about the new ownership arrangement of your personal property: homes, cars, boats, etc. You can all remain living where you have been living until further notice.
Fourth, Monday will be flag-burning day. Every American will be required to burn one American flag each Monday until they are all gone.
Fifth, we're still working on the name change. We're leaning towards the Socialist States of America. But there's a strong minority for United Socialist States of America. Don't bother letting us know which you prefer because you don't get a vote.
Further instructions will be issued on a need to know basis.
************
Are there really people out there who thought this was what would happen if we elected Barack Obama to the presidency? I'm not going to bother talking any of them down. I will just laugh delightedly and let them see on their own that the world really won't end. We survived 8 years of Bush; you folks can survive 4 (8???) years of this much smarter, more thoughtful guy!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Winning is so much better than losing!
I'd forgotten how good it feels to be on the winning side of one of these things. For the first time in many years, I don't have to stew. I don't have to fret about lawsuits or chads or anything. And I don't have to wonder about what the hell is wrong with my beloved country.
Instead, I can just drink champagne and go to sleep. And I can sleep well knowing that all is right with the world. Or at least, it's on its way back to being right.
Instead, I can just drink champagne and go to sleep. And I can sleep well knowing that all is right with the world. Or at least, it's on its way back to being right.
Who's psyched about democracy?
I am! What a great feeling. My wait in line was just long enough to chat with the woman behind me, whose first voting experience was also 1992. The fall air was crisp but not cool. And no one knew that underneath my innocent-looking KU fleece vest, I am wearing my Vote Obama shirt. It was all in all a delightful morning for democracy.
In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit this: I cried a bit while filling out my ballot. I'm a big ball of gooey cheese for the big, historical moments.
In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit this: I cried a bit while filling out my ballot. I'm a big ball of gooey cheese for the big, historical moments.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
One Day More
I'm a bit of a musical junkie. I love 'em. The classic ones, like "Oklahoma!", "The Sound of Music", or "The Music Man." I also love the new wave of Broadway musicals. The soundtracks of "Rent", "Miss Saigon", "Evita", and the greatest cold war musical of them all, "Chess" (music by the men of ABBA!) can all be found on my ipod.
My favorite of them all, though, has to be "Les Miserables." What can I say, I'm a sucker for revolutionaries.
The first act sets up all the drama for the upcoming student rebellion. It ends the night before the conflict will begin. The entire cast ponders how their own fates will change as the events of the next day unfold. Jean Valjean will have to face the consequences of his escape from justice, our new young lovers will be separated while sad, lonely Eponine will still be alone, our student leader dreams of revolution, and Javert dreams of the law triumphing. The song is "One Day More."
This song will be in my head all day tomorrow. One more day until this endless presidential campaign is over! One more day until the votes are counted and the winner declared (we all hope)! One more day until we can all put this behind us and move on, I hope just a little more united than we've been these past few years.
One Day More!
My favorite of them all, though, has to be "Les Miserables." What can I say, I'm a sucker for revolutionaries.
The first act sets up all the drama for the upcoming student rebellion. It ends the night before the conflict will begin. The entire cast ponders how their own fates will change as the events of the next day unfold. Jean Valjean will have to face the consequences of his escape from justice, our new young lovers will be separated while sad, lonely Eponine will still be alone, our student leader dreams of revolution, and Javert dreams of the law triumphing. The song is "One Day More."
This song will be in my head all day tomorrow. One more day until this endless presidential campaign is over! One more day until the votes are counted and the winner declared (we all hope)! One more day until we can all put this behind us and move on, I hope just a little more united than we've been these past few years.
One Day More!
Bad (sports) weekend
From a sports perspective, this weekend was pretty freakin' bad. True, the Kansas Jayhawks won their football game, but they did it at the expense of my increasingly-hapless Kansas State Wildcats. So hardly an outcome I was delighted by.
Then last night, the KC Wizards hosted the Columbus Crew in game 1 of their MLS playoff series. The Wizards took a one goal lead early in the second half on a fabulous header. But then with about 20 minutes to go, the dreaded red card came out, sending one of our players to the showers early. They did their best to protect their precious lead, but as so often happens when one team is down a man, eventually the Crew simply wore us down and scored the equalizer in stoppage time. With time slipping away and everyone waiting for the ref to blow the whistle at any moment, a Crew player fouled a Wizard _just_ outside the box. The crowd was begging for a penalty kick, but we had to settle for a tantalizingly-close free kick. After much build-up in the crowd, the free kick bounced right off the wall and ricocheted harmlessly towards midfield. The whistle blew with the game tied. The crowd was utterly deflated. Instead of going to game 2 of the 2 game series with a one-goal lead, we go in tied having to win to advance.
Then today the damn Chiefs got out to a 3 touchdown lead and still found a way to lose. It doesn't help that once again the refs helped out with a bad decision on a pass interference call. No hall of fame receiver has ever gotten more undeserved penalties called on him than Tony Gonzalez. Aren't the future hall of famers supposed to have the calls go their way? Not Tony, who routinely gets called for offensive pass interference just for breathing on his defender. Seriously refs, you don't get to call a penalty on Tony just because he's that much bigger than his defender. But you did and so we had to punt and let the Bucs have way too much time left in which to tie the game, which they did. And then they won the stupid coin toss so they won the stupid game.
On weekends like this, it's hard to remember what exactly it is that I like about sports. Because I REALLY don't like losing.
Then last night, the KC Wizards hosted the Columbus Crew in game 1 of their MLS playoff series. The Wizards took a one goal lead early in the second half on a fabulous header. But then with about 20 minutes to go, the dreaded red card came out, sending one of our players to the showers early. They did their best to protect their precious lead, but as so often happens when one team is down a man, eventually the Crew simply wore us down and scored the equalizer in stoppage time. With time slipping away and everyone waiting for the ref to blow the whistle at any moment, a Crew player fouled a Wizard _just_ outside the box. The crowd was begging for a penalty kick, but we had to settle for a tantalizingly-close free kick. After much build-up in the crowd, the free kick bounced right off the wall and ricocheted harmlessly towards midfield. The whistle blew with the game tied. The crowd was utterly deflated. Instead of going to game 2 of the 2 game series with a one-goal lead, we go in tied having to win to advance.
Then today the damn Chiefs got out to a 3 touchdown lead and still found a way to lose. It doesn't help that once again the refs helped out with a bad decision on a pass interference call. No hall of fame receiver has ever gotten more undeserved penalties called on him than Tony Gonzalez. Aren't the future hall of famers supposed to have the calls go their way? Not Tony, who routinely gets called for offensive pass interference just for breathing on his defender. Seriously refs, you don't get to call a penalty on Tony just because he's that much bigger than his defender. But you did and so we had to punt and let the Bucs have way too much time left in which to tie the game, which they did. And then they won the stupid coin toss so they won the stupid game.
On weekends like this, it's hard to remember what exactly it is that I like about sports. Because I REALLY don't like losing.
What's the rush?
So many people from all over the country are voting early this year, either sending in absentee ballots even though they will be at home and able-bodied on election day or heading to early voting locations. I have to say I don't get the appeal. I know I'm not exactly the most traditional person around, but on this, I'm old school. I'll be getting up early on Tuesday and walking to my polling location (less than a block from my house). I will wait in line as long as I have to, though I have a hard time imagining I will really have to wait too long. My last presidential election in this town, I only had to wait 20 minutes or so. Even if I have to wait 4 hours, it'll be worth it. I can't think of a better use of my time than waiting with my fellow citizens for my turn to have my say.
I cast an absentee ballot one time: 1992 when I was a college student living in Minnesota. At least I think I did. (P, if I voted in MN let me know. I might be confusing my primary vote with my general election vote.) But at the time, I was a sophomore in college and definitely still thought of myself as a Kansan so it made sense that I would want to vote in congressional elections of the state I still felt like a part of.
In every other case, I have gone to the polls on election day. There's just something about the vibe. Seeing all the other folks exercising their right. Feeling the power of democracy in action. I love it and I wouldn't miss it for anything.
I know that I have a job that will allow me to miss way more than 2 hours to vote, where others might not. And it surely is much less convenient to go to the polls for those who have small children. But for me, as long as I am physically able, I will always make it a top priority to head to the polls on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November. Filling out a ballot in the comfort of your own home and mailing it in days ahead of time may be satisfying to some and others may like going on a Saturday or some other off day to get their vote in and done with. But I think nothing beats getting my ballot on election day, going into that little booth and pulling the curtains shut behind me, and then personally putting my ballot in the ballot box.
Of course, in the end, it really doesn't matter whether you vote early, absentee, or on election day just so long as you vote.
I cast an absentee ballot one time: 1992 when I was a college student living in Minnesota. At least I think I did. (P, if I voted in MN let me know. I might be confusing my primary vote with my general election vote.) But at the time, I was a sophomore in college and definitely still thought of myself as a Kansan so it made sense that I would want to vote in congressional elections of the state I still felt like a part of.
In every other case, I have gone to the polls on election day. There's just something about the vibe. Seeing all the other folks exercising their right. Feeling the power of democracy in action. I love it and I wouldn't miss it for anything.
I know that I have a job that will allow me to miss way more than 2 hours to vote, where others might not. And it surely is much less convenient to go to the polls for those who have small children. But for me, as long as I am physically able, I will always make it a top priority to head to the polls on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November. Filling out a ballot in the comfort of your own home and mailing it in days ahead of time may be satisfying to some and others may like going on a Saturday or some other off day to get their vote in and done with. But I think nothing beats getting my ballot on election day, going into that little booth and pulling the curtains shut behind me, and then personally putting my ballot in the ballot box.
Of course, in the end, it really doesn't matter whether you vote early, absentee, or on election day just so long as you vote.
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