Obama vs. McCain, it officially begins: Clusterfuck to the White House

[abasuto]

McCain said the way we treat our veterans is a "disgrace".

Yet, he doesn't support a bill pending in the Senate that would increase benefits to veterans.

Veterans should do what McCain did. Dump your wife for the first younger woman you meet who's worth 100 million. Then have her help fund your rise into politics.

 

[Segata_Sanshiro]

McCain said the way we treat our veterans is a "disgrace".

Yet, he doesn't support a bill pending in the Senate that would increase benefits to veterans.

I'd give him the benefit of the doubt on this as well - does the bill have the dreaded z0mg pork?

It's easy to send someone a bill that has two clauses:

1. Everyone gets a congillion dollars
2. Everyone and their family gets raped. Pets included.

And then when the politician doesn't vote for/vetoes the bill in question (because he's fond of his pets), the opposition trumpets "OMG HE VOTED AGAINST YOU HAVING A CONGILLION DOLLARS" in irritating TV ads prior to the election

That's why some think a line item veto is a good thing

 

[IMTheWalrus]

I'd give him the benefit of the doubt on this as well - does the bill have the dreaded z0mg pork?

It's easy to send someone a bill that has two clauses:

1. Everyone gets a congillion dollars
2. Everyone and their family gets raped. Pets included.

And then when the politician doesn't vote for/vetoes the bill in question (because he's fond of his pets), the opposition trumpets "OMG HE VOTED AGAINST YOU HAVING A CONGILLION DOLLARS" in irritating TV ads prior to the election

That's why some think a line item veto is a good thing

The pork issue is overblown. You can't vote against a significant bill if a few million in pork is in it. I understand the principal, but pork is a totally separate issue from veterans benefits. You also have to keep in mind that pork is a very subjective thing. I'm sure you would probably agree with some of the "pork" spending. Obviously there is a big difference between the bridge in Alaska to nowhere and a worthy infrastructure improvement, but both could be considered pork by some standards.

Constitutionally speaking, a line item veto is bad. It basically allows the executive even more power to enforce the parts of a bill that he likes, and disregard the rest. The president is only supposed to have the power to sign or veto bills that come to him, not create legislation, which is what a line item veto accomplishes.

I actually see some of these McCain inconsistencies hurting him come the fall. The tax cuts, his position on the war, his feelings on social conservatives (specifically Falwell and Robertson), etc. all hurt his credentials as being consistently conservative to please the Republican base as well as the moderates he is trying to sway as the "maverick" candidate.

Excuse the long post. It's been awhile since I've made one

 

[Loopz]

I'd give him the benefit of the doubt on this as well - does the bill have the dreaded z0mg pork?

It's easy to send someone a bill that has two clauses:

1. Everyone gets a congillion dollars
2. Everyone and their family gets raped. Pets included.

And then when the politician doesn't vote for/vetoes the bill in question (because he's fond of his pets), the opposition trumpets "OMG HE VOTED AGAINST YOU HAVING A CONGILLION DOLLARS" in irritating TV ads prior to the election

That's why some think a line item veto is a good thing

Fact is, as much as the GOP is railing about pork NOW, while they controlled Congress, levels of pork just kept on climbing. All that shit in the Contract With America about reform and changing the way Washington does business...horseshit.

McCain is just as guilty as anyone else for the conditions at Walter Reed and the generally poor treatment of veterans. You're gonna tell me someone of his stature couldn't have proposed a bill to increase spending on the VA, given the militaristic environment since 9/11 with a Republican President and control of BOTH houses of Congress?

Bullshit. This is why the GOP emperor has no clothes on the issues of the military.
They're all for defense spending...as long as it goes right into the pockets of obscenely wealthy defense contractors.

 

[evil wasabi]

McCain was more marketable in 2000 because he was marketed as a maverick republican. It's 2008, and I don't think people care if you're a moderate republican or not. McCain is still pretty much unmarketable, and will get his fair Dole in November.

 

[abasuto]

McCain threw all his eggs into the war and patriotism, Rudy threw everything into 9/11, Romney threw everything into his hair and Huckabee the bible.

It's kinda amazing how all the major GOP hopefuls were all so one sided. They all threw a hail mary.

Winning the GOP nod seems simple. Winning the Democratic nod requires tackling multiple issues and winning over voters.

 

[Kazuki Dash]

If anyone caught this bit of info yesterday, do they have any idea what they were trying to do making such a strange analogy?

link

 

[Nesagwa]

People are bad at analogies.

 

[norton9478]

People are bad at analogies.

Worse was when some prominent McCain Supporter tried to liken John McCain to JFK.

 

[PopeCuervoLime]

Worse was when some prominent McCain Supporter tried to liken John McCain to JFK.

Or Obama to JFK which kind of ticked me off. No one will ever be as cool or inspirational as JFK.

 

[Lagduf]

Or Obama to JFK which kind of ticked me off. No one will ever be as cool or inspirational as JFK.

or ineffective?

LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON FTW!

 

[Loopz]

BARACKY.

Too good!

 

[aria]

BARACKY.

Too good!

I admit I was hesitant (I find most political vids to be annoying), but that was actually quite amusing (and done well technically)

 

[norton9478]

It's 2008, and I don't think people care if you're a moderate republican or not. .

At least the phrase "Compassionate Conservative" is dead.

 

[Kazuki Dash]

Looks like the whole "bitter" controversy isn't necessarily being received as such an outrage, at least not by everyone.
Maybe it helps to have someone point out how silly it is to be overanalyzing the wording used as opposed to considering the actual issue being mentioned.


As for the issue of White House officials signing off on torture as Nesagwa mentioned in this thread, I was surprised to see one of the presidential candidates actually willing to address the issue:
link

 

[Hidden Character]

BARACKY.

Too good!

I enjoyed that, Loopz.

 

[jethrek]

Looks like the whole "bitter" controversy isn't necessarily being received as such an outrage, at least not by everyone.
Maybe it helps to have someone point out how silly it is to be overanalyzing the wording used as opposed to considering the actual issue being mentioned.


As for the issue of White House officials signing off on torture as Nesagwa mentioned in this thread, I was surprised to see one of the presidential candidates actually willing to address the issue:
link

It isn't clear what the fallout of the remarks is yet, but if it had none then Hillary might be in trouble, because Obama's response ad definitely takes the issue right back to her. She's already been painted as an exaggerator, between her trip to Bosnia, and now her "hunting childhood" (both McCain and Obama are having a field day with that). Worst of all, the entire "controversy" feels drummed up just to get superdelegates to switch sides, and it could have a backlash effect.

 

[DevilRedeemed]

It isn't clear what the fallout of the remarks is yet, but if it had none then Hillary might be in trouble, because Obama's response ad definitely takes the issue right back to her. She's already been painted as an exaggerator, between her trip to Bosnia, and now her "hunting childhood" (both McCain and Obama are having a field day with that). Worst of all, the entire "controversy" feels drummed up just to get superdelegates to switch sides, and it could have a backlash effect.

for once a politician does some straight talking, treats adults like adults, does not simply say what he is ment to say, shows his personality and expresses a seemingly sincere point of view, and Hillary and McCain jump on it like the seasoned politicians they are. it shows contrast - on the one hand a man with a vision, and on the other, 2 contenders just interested in winning the belt (lol Rocky).

Hillary is so bloody irritating!

 

[jethrek]

for once a politician does some straight talking, treats adults like adults, does not simply say what he is ment to say, shows his personality and expresses a seemingly sincere point of view, and Hillary and McCain jump on it like the seasoned politicians they are. it shows contrast - on the one hand a man with a vision, and on the other, 2 contenders just interested in winning the belt (lol Rocky).

Hillary is so bloody irritating!

Oh, let's be honest, Obama's just playing politics... just on a different level. His frank-ness is very like early Bill Clinton, as is his habit of turning the tables on opponents using attack tactics.

Hillary actually is not much like her husband. She doesn't understand that her own cutthroat nature makes her vulnerable. So far, her attempts to undermine Obama using "scandals" have strengthened him, because she's playing to a central theme in his campaign! It really puts both her and McCain at a disadvantage. Moreso to the Republicans, it already appears that "swift boat" tactics won't gain much traction with him.

This leaves the playing field open for some actual political discussion.

 

[Loopz]

Jon Stewart said it best on last night's Daily Show.
Every commentator, using the term 'elitist' when referring to Obama's 'bitter' remark, shows how dumb our political discourse has become, in that 'elitist' is seen as an insult. Isn't elitism a good thing? Don't you want the absolute best and brightest for a President?

Fuck yeah, I know I do.

I don't want some dunderhead who I would "feel comfortable having a beer with", I want someone whose knowledge and intellectual acumen completely obliterates my own. I don't want an average guy, especially one whose privileged background got him to where he is thanks to a famous name, old money and a Yale legacy admission. Fuck all that, give me a guy who never should have gotten to the top but did because they were dedicated, ambitious and brilliant.

 

[DevilRedeemed]

Oh, let's be honest, Obama's just playing politics... just on a different level.

100% agreed, that's why I reffered to him as a politician, and distinguished between what he was offering, and the typical political approach of his rivals.
no doubt the remarks have an element of gamble and calculated risk - he has to pull away from Hillary, make headlines and get people to listen and pay attention. which is good for him because he knows how to get his point across.

in any case, this current 3 way race kind of flies in the face of bipartisanship. it's funny but November sort of came early. 3 contenders - the 2 most formidable supposedly of the same party.































Jon Stewart is the man btw.

 

[norton9478]

Jon Stewart said it best on last night's Daily Show.
Every commentator, using the term 'elitist' when referring to Obama's 'bitter' remark, shows how dumb our political discourse has become, in that 'elitist' is seen as an insult. Isn't elitism a good thing? Don't you want the absolute best and brightest for a President?

Fuck yeah, I know I do.

I don't want some dunderhead who I would "feel comfortable having a beer with", I want someone whose knowledge and intellectual acumen completely obliterates my own. I don't want an average guy, especially one whose privileged background got him to where he is thanks to a famous name, old money and a Yale legacy admission. Fuck all that, give me a guy who never should have gotten to the top but did because they were dedicated, ambitious and brilliant.

I don't know what Eleitst means...

Son and Grandson of a navy Admiral whom married into money?
Someone with "Rodham" as a maiden name?

PS:

I'd love to have a beer with W... I hear that he is a riot. He is even so Jovial at press conferences and shit. Unfortunately, it is about his only redeeming quality. If he wasn't such a fuckup, I'd love him.

 

[Kazuki Dash]

BARACKY.

Too good!

...and also coming to a theater near you:

Bosnia and Back Again

Love the dramatic musical score.

 

[Segata_Sanshiro]

Forecast for tomorrow: Clinton by double digits

 

[Loopz]

Forecast for tomorrow: Clinton by double digits

Nah. I say she wins by seven. This clusterfuck is gonna keep on and on...

Stupid hoe.