He Came To His Senses

That Republican Senator Obama picked to become Commerce Secretary has withdrawn his name from consideration. Obama grabbing the Census to be overseen by his own office was just too much. I think the guy realized that Obama was going to use him as cover for this naked power grab.

Mostly True

President McCain basks in 78 degree Oval Office (you could grow orchids in there!)and dines on $100 a pound beef while 750,000 Kentuckians freeze in the dark without power. FEMA is a no show. The media is outraged.


Tax cheat Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner stands by as President Bush expresses his opinion that now is not the time for profits and bonuses. The media is outraged.

President McCain's Commerce Secretary (correction: Health and Human Services Secretary) nominee Tom Daschle says he is "disappointed" that he failed to pay income taxes on a large part of his income. The media is outraged.

President McCain calls waterboarding "torture" but preserves the practice of rendition. The media is outraged.

Except for the name of the President and the media outrage, the above stories are correct.

Have You Seen This Man?

Seven days and counting.

Also missing: Joe Biden.

So You Thought Sarah Palin Was Unqualified?

Get ready for SENATOR Caroline Kennedy. Really, nostalgia should only be allowed to go so far!

Told Ya

Bill Ayers sets the record straight. He and Obama were family friends and he did help launch his early political career.

So Obama lied. Who cares.

Catch 22

This defies logic:

I've made the observation in the past that high income voters are overwhelmingly in support of higher taxes and Democrats--as the 2004 pre-election polls showed. One of the reasons that Republicans can't hold onto power is that their policies promoting economic growth and low income tax rates--especially in the higher brackets--end up creating vast swarms of highly paid, undertaxed voters--who reward Republicans for this by voting Democratic. Democrats can't hold onto power because their tax policies wipe out many of these highly paid, undertaxed voters--and middle class voters (those making under $100,000 a year) start to predominate again.

Loose Lips

The details of yesterday's meeting between President Bush and President-Elect Obama are being leaked to the media. Apparently the incoming group is unaware that these meetings are traditionally off the record.

The interim between an election and an inauguration of a new president is a tricky time, exacerbated by the animosity that exists between the two parties. This makes it dangerous for the country, as a spiteful outgoing president and administration might not feel especially like being helpful as the jubilant newcomers move in. We had already heard how brutal the Obama campaign staff was to the Clinton wing of the party after he won the nomination.

By all accounts, President Bush has been very welcoming and has directed his staff to help the Obama people in any and every way. At least that's how he started. If he sees these leaks to the press as an attempt to undermine or embarrass him in the remaining days of his administration, might his cooperation turn cold?

When the Clinton team arrived from Arkansas in 1992 to begin the transition, they thought they already knew it all and treated the outgoing administration with contempt. That lead to a lot of blunders in the early days and to a Republican congress two years later. If Obama's people aren't aware of that history, someone should tell them.

A Bit Of Balance

I'd just like to take this opportunity to say I think John McCain is a disgrace for allowing the anonymous bashing of Sarah Palin by campaign insiders to go unchallenged. This is a man who bent over backwards to chastise his supporters whenever they unfairly characterized his opponent, such as using his middle name or calling him a Muslim. Where is he now when Gov. Palin is being smeared again, this time by his own people. What a disappointment he turned out to be.

Meeting With Terrorists

So what was Obama's position on Hamas again?

Throughout his campaign Obama’s official line was that he would “only talk with Hamas if it renounces terrorism, recognizes Israel’s right to exist, and agrees to abide by past agreements.”

According to Yousef in the Al-Hayat interview, the Obama-Hamas talks were already ongoing during the U.S. election campaign: “We were in contact with a number of Obama’s aides through the Internet, and later met with some of them in Gaza, but they advised us not to reveal this information as it may influence the elections or become manipulated by McCain’s campaign.”

A clash between Obama’s public, anodyne, mainstream statements and behind-the-scenes activities of a different nature would confirm the fears of those concerned about Obama’s history of association with radical people and ideologies.

Just so you know. He lies.

Why Congress Is An Alternate Universe

Cutting back on planned spending is counted as a spending cut.

There Goes The Constitution

2nd Ammendment first.

...an insider DC tip that his people are seriously considering a federal ban or restriction on "right to carry" laws. Exactly where the constitutional power to enact such a measure is to be found is less than clear to me.

It is hard for Canadians to understand, but the right to bear arms was put in the Constitution by the founders for this reason: they were mindful that governments have a way of becoming tyrannical and they wanted the population to retain a way of resisting tyranny.

It isn't just the gun issue; this is an issue of protecting the constitution. If one guarantee can be taken away, what's to stop the government from taking them all away?

And By "Change" We Mean

recycling. Hacks from the Clinton years apparently still have a shelf-life and many many names coming up for consideration to fill spots in the new administration are oddly familiar.

As names are bandied about for possible cabinet appointments (including the truly odious Jamie Gorelick, who has presided over not one, but two, disasters), I am reminded of an old, unfunny joke that runs "if rape is inevitable, lie back and enjoy it."

There's something oddly liberating about looking on from the sidelines as a slow motion train wreck happens. It's sad, a tragedy even, but you aren't driving the train, you didn't hire the engineer, you even pointed out that he had never driven a train before, but it's all out of your hands now. And though you might be hit by some debris, you will survive.

There's even some wry amusement at watching others cry in dismay, "this wasn't the change I had in mind" or "don't disappoint me so early." But no satisfaction in saying I told you so. There's no satisfaction to be had.

Republican Is The New Gay

...at least in Hollywood, according to Gay Patriot

I had to smile when I read that, given that for the better part of my first five years in Los Angeles, I kept pretty tight-lipped about my politics, yet have been pretty open about my sexuality. I mean, until 2004, all my friends here knew I was gay. Only a handful knew I was a Republican.