And plugging the CNN blog-line further, there is this blurb about Biden's tax returns and how he is comparatively poor amongst Senators. I don't really care about that, but I do like this nugget:
Lovely. First, they keep her holed up in Alaska to avoid the press (saying that she will talk to the press when the campaign is ready), and now they are going to release tax documents "on their own timeframe." And Obama is the elitist? "Rest, ye peasants! The Court of McCain will hear your questions upon His Majesty's convenience." Charming.
What are they so afraid of? Oh, that's right, her apparently complete lack of knowledge regarding foreign policy--to include the Bush Doctrine. Do I think she is stupid? Of course not. But I don't think she has much interest or curiosity on the subject. Certainly not enough to know about the very doctrine that put us into Iraq, anyway--which is rather important, I should argue, since she is running to be, you know, the next in line for President of the United States and stuff.
And I wonder what else she might have no knowledge or opinion about like, say...the trade deficit, budget deficit, national debt, plummeting dollar, inflation on food and energy, Sino-Indian relations, nuclear arms in N Korea and Pakistan, Burmese unrest (call it "Mee-an-mar" and I'll kick you in the face), immigration, the political/security situation in Mexico, unfunded liabilities, anything. ANYTHING! Just give me an opinion. Show me that the thought at least crossed your mind. I don't have to agree, just know that you have an opinion. And please show me one before you were nominated, not the rehersed party line.
But, of course, I'm an elitist because I do things like...read, and have a small amount of knowledge about the world around me. And here is the scary part. The McCain campaign has taken a cynical--and potentially winning--bet. That Americans really are that dumb. That they expect, and react well to, patronage. That talking about pick-up trucks and football and Jesus is enough to win.
Maybe their calculation is correct, but their premise is wrong--I'm convinced. Sure, many don't give a hoot in hell about Burma, but I bet they would if they were told what the situation was. They may not really know the impacts of massive trade deficits, but they could know them in about 5-10 minutes and would certainly have an opinion about the subject thereafter. And many of them actually do read and keep up on things. And therein lies the challenge for Obama.
He's great about getting people filled with the religion of reform and change and happy days, but I should think his real challenge is to go to blue-collar America and tell them what the GOP's cynical bet really is. Tell them that the GOP thinks you are stupid. That if a candidate talks about something other than pickup trucks and God and 5-point bucks in the woods, he's an elitist. And then challenge them to ask questions from both sides that would expose just how versed they are on the subjects. Show them that they are not simpletons with no interest in anything 5 minutes past their noses. That they can, and do, care about a number of things. And, most importantly, that they want to have a leader that challenges them to do so vs. a Kindergarten teacher telling them how proud they are of us for being 'regular Americans' (whatever that means).
Biden is actually better suited for that. But Obama might be able to pull it off too. Guess we'll see.
A McCain aide told CNN Friday the campaign would release Palin's documents, but on their "own timeframe."
Lovely. First, they keep her holed up in Alaska to avoid the press (saying that she will talk to the press when the campaign is ready), and now they are going to release tax documents "on their own timeframe." And Obama is the elitist? "Rest, ye peasants! The Court of McCain will hear your questions upon His Majesty's convenience." Charming.
What are they so afraid of? Oh, that's right, her apparently complete lack of knowledge regarding foreign policy--to include the Bush Doctrine. Do I think she is stupid? Of course not. But I don't think she has much interest or curiosity on the subject. Certainly not enough to know about the very doctrine that put us into Iraq, anyway--which is rather important, I should argue, since she is running to be, you know, the next in line for President of the United States and stuff.
And I wonder what else she might have no knowledge or opinion about like, say...the trade deficit, budget deficit, national debt, plummeting dollar, inflation on food and energy, Sino-Indian relations, nuclear arms in N Korea and Pakistan, Burmese unrest (call it "Mee-an-mar" and I'll kick you in the face), immigration, the political/security situation in Mexico, unfunded liabilities, anything. ANYTHING! Just give me an opinion. Show me that the thought at least crossed your mind. I don't have to agree, just know that you have an opinion. And please show me one before you were nominated, not the rehersed party line.
But, of course, I'm an elitist because I do things like...read, and have a small amount of knowledge about the world around me. And here is the scary part. The McCain campaign has taken a cynical--and potentially winning--bet. That Americans really are that dumb. That they expect, and react well to, patronage. That talking about pick-up trucks and football and Jesus is enough to win.
Maybe their calculation is correct, but their premise is wrong--I'm convinced. Sure, many don't give a hoot in hell about Burma, but I bet they would if they were told what the situation was. They may not really know the impacts of massive trade deficits, but they could know them in about 5-10 minutes and would certainly have an opinion about the subject thereafter. And many of them actually do read and keep up on things. And therein lies the challenge for Obama.
He's great about getting people filled with the religion of reform and change and happy days, but I should think his real challenge is to go to blue-collar America and tell them what the GOP's cynical bet really is. Tell them that the GOP thinks you are stupid. That if a candidate talks about something other than pickup trucks and God and 5-point bucks in the woods, he's an elitist. And then challenge them to ask questions from both sides that would expose just how versed they are on the subjects. Show them that they are not simpletons with no interest in anything 5 minutes past their noses. That they can, and do, care about a number of things. And, most importantly, that they want to have a leader that challenges them to do so vs. a Kindergarten teacher telling them how proud they are of us for being 'regular Americans' (whatever that means).
Biden is actually better suited for that. But Obama might be able to pull it off too. Guess we'll see.
