Attempting Relevance

Sadly that could be about so many of our leaders but it happens to be about this:




I just had to use a screen shot of this dyslexic headline as it matches so well with Kerry's campaign (c'mon - I voted for it before I voted against it?).

Supposedly in the works for weeks, Kerry's endorsement was delayed because he wasn't sure how it would "affect the campaign" - so, he held of 'til after the New Hampshire Primary (because after that it should be a done deal and voters shouldn't have a say anyway).

Elections should be about the electorate and it really pisses me off when pols throw around their endorsements to influence the vote one way or another.

I was very disappointed in Al's coming out for Dean in 2004 and I don't know if Kerry's support is meant to tank his own running mate (I can't understand why we think of politics as crass) or derail Hillary but I hope it has the same effect as Gore's endorsement of Dean.

Maybe Kerry thinks if he endorses Obama before, say, a victory in South Carolina, it will make him relevant. It won't.

It's not good enough that the voters are extending this election in a more meaningful act of democracy - they can't keeps their hands off.

In the same article:

“Of all the candidates running, the easiest to rally around is Barack Obama,” Mr. Daschle said in an interview. “Because of his newness on the scene, he has not created the political opposition and enemies that come with extensive service in politics. He is a clean empty slate.”{my bad}

Who Can be Bought?

Iowa Democrats apparently - Iowa Republicans, not so much.

Obama spent 3 times what Edwards spent in Iowa; Huckabee spent 1/8 of what Romney spent.

But how is anyone considered a winner when more than 60% voted against the 'frontrunner' - with under 40% approval rating, aren't you considered to be 'tanking'?

Obama bought and paid for - and those kids didn't do the buying, you should be concerned about who did.

Unintended Profundity

Thursday I was reading the Paul Krugman article on whether after all of the rhetoric (which has been heard since Truman) health care would become a reality with a new administration -and this was at the end of the article:

The More Things Change ...

Russia: Still. Pathetic.

If a Blowhard Shits in the Public Square ...

will anyone notice? Not so much. What. A. Joke. It's kinda like the Marines - we're still looking for a few good men candidates.

The Gay Surge?

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Army general who was Joint Chiefs chairman when the Pentagon adopted its "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays says he no longer opposes allowing them to serve openly.

John Shalikashvili, who retired in 1997 after four years as the nation's top military officer, had argued that allowing homosexuals to serve openly would hurt troop morale and recruitment and undermine the cohesion of combat units. He said he has changed his mind after meeting with gay servicemen.

... His view could carry weight at a time when advocates of lifting the restriction on gay service members argue that the military -- under the strain of fighting two wars -- can ill-afford to exclude any qualified expendible volunteers targets.[emphasis mine]

Well, isn't that special - want to increase troop levels in Iraq but don't have any troops? We don't plan on asking 'cause it's still a sin and all besides being just plain icky but hey we'll even let you tell us because you too should be allowed the opportunity to give your life so that others can line their pockets. After all, if you're busy trying to stay alive or dying over in Iraq maybe you'll forget that whole same-sex marriage stuff.

Shalikashvili cautioned, however, against pushing for repeal of the ban early in the new Congress, which he said should be focused on urgent priorities like developing a better strategy in Iraq and healing divisions over the war.[emphasis mine]

I'm thinking it's one and the same thing if you want Repugnicans to support openly gay service - gotta be something in it for them. Fortunately with their level of incompetence it can't happen that quickly - gotta love the timing though.