The Choice - Barak Obama

Exerpts from this thoughtful endorsement:
Introduction -
Never in living memory has an election been more critical than the one fast approaching—that’s the quadrennial cliché, as expected as the balloons and the bombast. And yet when has it ever felt so urgently true? When have so many Americans had so clear a sense that a Presidency has—at the levels of competence, vision, and integrity—undermined the country and its ideals?

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On temperament -
In Washington, the craze for pure market triumphalism is over. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson arrived in town (via Goldman Sachs) a Republican, but it seems that he will leave a Democrat. In other words, he has come to see that the abuses that led to the current financial crisis––not least, excessive speculation on borrowed capital––can be fixed only with government regulation and oversight. McCain, who has never evinced much interest in, or knowledge of, economic questions, has had little of substance to say about the crisis. His most notable gesture of concern—a melodramatic call last month to suspend his campaign and postpone the first Presidential debate until the government bailout plan was ready—soon revealed itself as an empty diversionary tactic.
By contrast, Obama has made a serious study of the mechanics and the history of this economic disaster and of the possibilities of stimulating a recovery. Last March, in New York, in a speech notable for its depth, balance, and foresight, he said, “A complete disdain for pay-as-you-go budgeting, coupled with a generally scornful attitude towards oversight and enforcement, allowed far too many to put short-term gain ahead of long-term consequences.” Obama is committed to reforms that value not only the restoration of stability but also the protection of the vast majority of the population, which did not partake of the fruits of the binge years. He has called for greater and more programmatic regulation of the financial system; the creation of a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank, which would help reverse the decay of our roads, bridges, and mass-transit systems, and create millions of jobs; and a major investment in the green-energy sector.
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On the Supreme Court -
McCain cites Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, two reliable conservatives, as models for his own prospective appointments. If he means what he says, and if he replaces even one moderate on the current Supreme Court, then Roe v. Wade will be reversed, and states will again be allowed to impose absolute bans on abortion. McCain’s views have hardened on this issue. In 1999, he said he opposed overturning Roe; by 2006, he was saying that its demise “wouldn’t bother me any”; by 2008, he no longer supported adding rape and incest as exceptions to his party’s platform opposing abortion.
But scrapping Roe—which, after all, would leave states as free to permit abortion as to criminalize it—would be just the beginning. Given the ideological agenda that the existing conservative bloc has pursued, it’s safe to predict that affirmative action of all kinds would likely be outlawed by a McCain Court. Efforts to expand executive power, which, in recent years, certain Justices have nobly tried to resist, would likely increase. Barriers between church and state would fall; executions would soar; legal checks on corporate power would wither—all with just one new conservative nominee on the Court. And the next President is likely to make three appointments.
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On Palin and the VP pick -
Perhaps nothing revealed McCain’s cynicism more than his choice of Sarah Palin, the former mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, who had been governor of that state for twenty-one months, as the Republican nominee for Vice-President. In the interviews she has given since her nomination, she has had difficulty uttering coherent unscripted responses about the most basic issues of the day. We are watching a candidate for Vice-President cram for her ongoing exam in elementary domestic and foreign policy. This is funny as a Tina Fey routine on “Saturday Night Live,” but as a vision of the political future it’s deeply unsettling. Palin has no business being the backup to a President of any age, much less to one who is seventy-two and in imperfect health. In choosing her, McCain committed an act of breathtaking heedlessness and irresponsibility. Obama’s choice, Joe Biden, is not without imperfections. His tongue sometimes runs in advance of his mind, providing his own fodder for late-night comedians, but there is no comparison with Palin. His deep experience in foreign affairs, the judiciary, and social policy makes him an assuring and complementary partner for Obama.

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Conclusion-
We cannot expect one man to heal every wound, to solve every major crisis of policy. So much of the Presidency, as they say, is a matter of waking up in the morning and trying to drink from a fire hydrant. In the quiet of the Oval Office, the noise of immediate demands can be deafening. And yet Obama has precisely the temperament to shut out the noise when necessary and concentrate on the essential. The election of Obama—a man of mixed ethnicity, at once comfortable in the world and utterly representative of twenty-first-century America—would, at a stroke, reverse our country’s image abroad and refresh its spirit at home. His ascendance to the Presidency would be a symbolic culmination of the civil- and voting-rights acts of the nineteen-sixties and the century-long struggles for equality that preceded them. It could not help but say something encouraging, even exhilarating, about the country, about its dedication to tolerance and inclusiveness, about its fidelity, after all, to the values it proclaims in its textbooks. At a moment of economic calamity, international perplexity, political failure, and battered morale, America needs both uplift and realism, both change and steadiness. It needs a leader temperamentally, intellectually, and emotionally attuned to the complexities of our troubled globe. That leader’s name is Barack Obama.

McCain's Last Stand

The above story is an interesting take on McCain. I cannot very the accuracy of the information but this has been published in the Rolling Stone magazine.

The US vice presidential debate

Sarah Palin did not embarrass herself on the national stage in any major way – like an obvious gaffe a la Tina Fey! I must confess that her likable personality resonates well but that is all that she has going or her. However, the election is not a personality contest and this I hope is understood by the American electorate.

First off, Governor Sarah Palin rambles on incoherently most of the time; her language was atrocious – I am being charitable here! Instead of answering the questions posed by Gwen Ifill, she launches into a moronic dissertation that was filled with clichés and punch lines and little substance. It is evident that she clearly did not grasp any of the questions or rather had no capacity to internalize the questions and produce answers. This woman did not know what she was talking about and perhaps just concentrated on talking about nothing. It was clear that she was merely reciting prepared scrip, ad nauseam.

On the other hand, Senator Biden demonstrated superior abilities and as such addressed the questions as they are meant to be addressed. He is clearly very knowledgeable on a wide number of topics and this was on display throughout the debate. It is obvious that he has had many years of experience in government and he knows what governing is about and can debate issues, policies, ideologies and the challenges that face the American people. He was also very gracious, as was Palin, and resisted the urge to correct Palin on the many occasions where she failed to answer the question or got the commanding general’s name incorrect.

Secondly, Biden was too professorial at times; he lapsed into “senate speak” that clearly made the point e was trying to convey muddled and hard to understand. On the flip side, Palin employed quite a colloquial style that was charming and evidently her. That being said, her “shout out” and “callout” were immature and sophomoric!

It is evident that this woman is ill prepared to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. With McCain already having one foot in the grave, the choice is an easy one. This is a gamble of impossible proportions and Plain should have never been picked to be the vice presidential candidate. She really knows nothing!

Some of Governor Palin rambles are as follows (this list is long….this is an excerpt):

Instead of general McKiernan, she said general Mc Cullen or something to this effect
She will not only deny Iran nuclear weapons but also nuclear energy – I thought the entire stand off was about weapons!
When address the issue of climate change (was a true and false question and she never got this either), she launched into her prepared points on energy – and discuss the love of the climate and “drill baby drill….as if it is funny!
She is of the opinion that the US uses nuclear weapons as a deterrent – really now?? Are we at a sage where we are using nuclear weapons as a deterrent?

Palin vs. Clinton

Saturday Night Live....so funny!

Father of Bristol Palin's baby speaks

DISCLAIMER - Content of video and source not verified!
http://www.blackbottom.com/watch.php?v=WdBJd9b9i8A

This concerns Bristol Palin and the child she is currently carrying. If this gentleman is thinking that his video will help Barak Obama, then he is misguided. I think that this may do more harm than good. This is all based on the premise that this story is not true and is a publicity stunt created by a publicity seeking youth. This could be shocking propaganda; if it is, this man is in serious trouble!!However, if this young man is the father of Bristol's child, in a few months time, it will be obvious. This is crazy....crazy stuff....

The 2008 American elections is getting crazier and crazier by the minute.

Palin’s Teen Daughter Is Pregnant; New G.O.P. Tumult

It is commendable that Bristol will be taking responsibility for the situation that she is in; however, is the father of the child willing to take responsibility and marry her or is he being forced and pressured into this union? This is interesting, in light of the Governor’s alleged brute force tactics with the ex-husband of her sister. Someone should tract how long this marriage will last…

Further, it is the height of hypocrisy for the social conservatives to be so thrilled with this anti abortion VP nominee but gloss over the fact that her daughter is pregnant - at 17 years of age and is unmarried. What did Jesus say about premarital sex? It is a downright sin is what the Christian right will say...I wonder at their reaction now? How will they "spin" this? Who can they blame…the liberal media?

The beauty of the liberal view is that government has no place in legislating morality or the sex lives of individuals or the choices that people make with their bodies! However, the conservative view is opposed to this notion of liberty and as such, vehemently opposes liberal policies like abortion. The reality is that most of these very conservative people are having sex and having abortions and are enjoying having sex!!! If they are not, how do we end up with young women pregnant at 17, even when their parents are so socially in tune with the virtuous values of the right? Who are the numerous people who are accessing abortion services? Are the liberal leaning citizens the only ones who fall into this category? I think not!!!

It is just the bigotry that surrounds the conservative view on these issues that is appalling....

Two shot dead by Guyana police

I am not sure if this is the correct approach to take with the criminal elements, though the police may not have a choice in the matter. In the past, engagements with criminals always yield dead bodies; as a result, many of the perpetrators are never brought to justice through the courts of law. It is highly regrettable that this is the only form of “justice” that can be produced. This serves to desensitize the citizenry and all at large to death and is becoming all too common an occurrence. It is understandable that this may be unavoidable, but it is nonetheless troubling…

Senseless Murders - Guyana

With impunity, a gang of demented individuals went on a murderous rampage, slaughtering eleven innocent individuals; how can the nation comprehend the murder of children while they sleep? The actions of these individuals and the reported motivations share an eerie resemblance to inter-tribal conflicts, much like the senseless killing that is occurring in places like Kenya today; murderous mobs slaughtering innocent people, creating mayhem and destruction in their path. There can be no justification of such actions! To reach a state characterized by the wanton disregard for life and the violation of the sanctity of children cannot be more troubling. It is a colossal failure of those charged with protecting the innocent and the weak: the state and its respective organs. Far too long the country has been allowed to slip into a state of anarchy where brutal mobs are allowed to operate with impunity, as a state within a state. The authorities seem incapable, or the relevant personnel disinclined to address the situation.

Empathy and words will offer little succor to those who have lost family in this senseless tragedy. How devastating it must be for those parents who have survived the death of their children. Can we really understand the suffering of these people? Is it a wonder that the political masters and the security forces were unwelcome? Rather that being proactive, the authorities seem to be in a perpetual reactionary mode. This slaughter should never have occurred. Have we learnt nothing from the Agricola massacre?

Even more troubling is the increasing number of former law enforcement officials that are openly associated with these nefarious gangs. This has undoubtedly thrown up questions on how we assess potential applicants with aspirations to take charge of the security and protection of the citizens of Guyana. It also paints a dismal picture where the public has lost faith in the moral stock and integrity of those charged with their security. This is not a new phenomenon; Guyanese have always been leery when it comes to the army and police.

The overriding dilemma is this lack of trust and faith in the security establishment and in the Government’s ability to protect its citizens. How can the nation stem the decline in character and moral rectitude of its security personnel? That the jobs of the police and the armed forces are thankless, there is little doubt. Coupled with the dismal remuneration, it leaves a lot to be desired. However, the fact that a conscious choice was made to serve in these establishments, with the full knowledge of their deficiencies, behoves its officers to act in the best interest of the state and that of its citizens. They must set the standard of acceptable behaviour in performing their noble duty. The security forces and the governing authorities failed those children who died in Lusignan and those who were orphaned. Clearly, the country is at a crossroads; the actions taken by those charged with maintaining security, and the leadership demonstrated by the government will determine whether there will be many more ‘Lusignans’ to come.

The law enforcement agencies and the government must be held accountable for their failures; business cannot continue as usual. Communities and individuals that provide safe haven for these criminals must also be held accountable; the people should demand no less.