Republican reactions to Palin

Saturday was the day that newspaper editorial boards across the country had a chance to make their first assessment of Republican Presidential nominee John McCain’s choice of vice presidential running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

Besides being stunned at the announcement, many express serious concerns about her qualifications — and that includes many newspapers that are staunchly conservative. The two largest papers in Alaska, who know Palin that most of us (including John McCain, reportedly) the Anchorage Daily News and Fairbanks News-Miner, are in this group.

She has never publicly demonstrated the kind of interest, much less expertise, in federal issues and foreign affairs that should mark a candidate for the second-highest office in the land. Republicans rightfully have criticized the Democratic nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, for his lack of experience, but Palin is a neophyte in comparison; how will Republicans reconcile the criticism of Obama with the obligatory cheering for Palin?…Most people would acknowledge that, regardless of her charm and good intentions, Palin is not ready for the top job. McCain seems to have put his political interests ahead of the nation’s when he created the possibility that she might fill it. It’s clear that McCain picked Palin for reasons of image, not substance. – Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

And it’s stunning that someone with so little national and international experience might be heartbeat away from the presidency. – Anchorage Daily News

But of course, here in Oklahoma, we have a paper run by that other kind of conservative Republican: so hardcore partisan, they can’t tell reality from spin. And, most important, not the least bit interested in actual governance. So their editorial, while actually hedging their reaction a bit (you just know they had columns already written with full-throated praise for McCain for selecting Romney or Pawlenty), was just another opportunity to slam the Democrats with thoughtless abandon and childish wit — their specialty.

Surprise!
McCain throws a curve with Palin

THE wisdom of Sen. John McCain’s selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as running mate — dousing the afterglow of Democratic nominee Barack Obama’s blockbuster speech in Denver — certainly has short-term benefits. The long-term verdict is still out.

No question, the McCain campaign played a tactical ace in presenting Palin to America so soon after Democrats broke camp at their convention. As expected, Obama gave a great speech, but Palin’s debut quickly dominated news coverage.

Her resume is thin, just two years into her first term. But Obama is hardly the one to criticize someone else’s experience. Palin is the only member of either ticket to be in charge of actually running something.

Palin’s value is in potential ties to so many critical constituencies, starting with women. She signals McCain believes women of middle-class, bluecollar and suburban households, many of whom voted for Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries, might be attracted by someone so much like them.

Palin is the mother of five and started in politics at the local PTA. Her husband is a member of the steelworkers’ union. It’s easy to see Republicans sending the hockey mom anywhere hockey is played but especially Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, all key to the election.

The risk in Palin basically is one evening this fall, when she meets Sen. Joe Biden in the lone vice presidential debate. If Biden makes her look small, her value to McCain will be small as well.
With high risk comes high reward — clearly the calculus McCain used in choosing his running mate.

The claim that “Palin is the only member of either ticket to be in charge of actually running something[,]” is laughable, seeing as how Obama has organized a historic campaign and movement that toppled the Democratic Party’s presumed candidate, who was supported by almost all the Party operatives and apparatus. If that doesn’t show executive skill, I don’t know what does.

But I think we could learn a lot about the rabid Right’s thought process (if you want to call it that) by seeing the Oklahoman editorial board’s pre-written and now unpublishable sceeds about the McCain-Romney and McCain-Romney tickets and all the wonders they would do for America. Ah, what might have been…

[apparently the link to the editorial at NewsOk.com is not available as of this writing. I guess the webmaster has Saturday off -- although every other major daily paper in the nation seems to have managed to get their text online. ]

Tammy Duckworth speaks for veterans

Tammy Duckworth’s speech to the DNC was awesome. I so wish every American could hear her indictment of the Bush Admin. on what “supporting the troops” really means. As a disabled vet, her voice is so powerful and authentic. I’m against war and the mission of the military (solving conflict with violence) on principle, but our treatment of veterans is unforgivable; if we send our young people out to fight, the least we can do is take care of them when they return, as we promise them to get them to go in the first place.

And now, John McCain wants to ration care. Under his plan, the VA will serve combat injuries, but everyone else gets an insurance card. Barack Obama and the Democrats have a different idea. Barack Obama will live up to their tradition of honor and sacrifice. Barack Obama will use war not as a first choice, but a last resort. Barack Obama understands that for a commander-in-chief to support the military, he needs more than a
“Mission Accomplished” banner, more than wearing a borrowed flight suit, and
definitely more than four more years of the same failed foreign policy. President Obama will restore the might of the military, invest in our troops and only send our sons and daughters to war if they have a clearly defined mission and the tools they need to succeed.

And now, John McCain wants to ration care. Under his plan, the VA will serve combat injuries, but everyone else gets an insurance card. Barack Obama and the Democrats have a different idea. Barack Obama will live up to their tradition of honor and sacrifice. Barack Obama will use war not as a first choice, but a last resort. Barack Obama understands that for a commander-in-chief to support the military, he needs more than a
“Mission Accomplished” banner, more than wearing a borrowed flight suit, and
definitely more than four more years of the same failed foreign policy. President Obama will restore the might of the military, invest in our troops and only send our sons and daughters to war if they have a clearly defined mission and the tools they need to succeed.

Transcript here.

Now I know what everyone’s raving about

This should have been the keynote speech.

OK Dems experience Denver light rail

Calvin Rees, one of the credentialed bloggers at the Democratic Convention  took a look at Denver’s light rail system, and wrote up something of a review of it.

We have been using light rail in Denver and trying to check out how it would work in Oklahoma City. I rode it to the Convention area in downtown Denver and back to the hotel which is located in southeast Denver.

It was an interesting experience even though I had experience when living in Europe. I talked to some locals and they said they are using it more because of the high price of gasoline but that it is not always convenient to where they want to go. Some of our Delegates liked it but some had to stand all the way to where they were going.

The price of the ticket was $3 for a round trip but a monthly pass is just $108 and $54 for seniors, Disable students aged 6 through 19.

Those who hear not the music …

… think the dancers mad.

I think tonight a pivotal moment occured in American culture and history. You can read the reaction to the sea change on the comment threads of liberal blogs across the internet, where reaction to Michelle Obama’s speech is taxing servers to their limits.

And you can see that in some quarters, observers of the same speech express sincere (I guess) belief that it was nothing special, and won’t make a difference.  Their senses have been dulled, in every sense, and that is very sad.

Booman really captured the moment perfectly, so I won’t test my more limited skills.

And watching a convention (on CSPAN) that was totally unapologetic and unembarrassed to display its liberal, urban, progressive, and, yes, African-American roots and culture? Damn that felt good to watch. From the music selections to the speakers to the issues (Katrina, Health Care) to the faces in the crowd to the celebration of Teddy Kennedy…it all felt good. For once we we’re not shy, we were not hidden, we were not ashamed. It wasn’t in-your-face. It was self-confident…for once.

There is a lot at stake. But anyone that can’t recognize the progressive revolution, the sea-change in culture, expressed in the first night of this convention has just set their standards too high.

Watch out, Bethany, we’re gonna ‘Rock Your Freedom’

Ron Marlett is running to unseat Sally Kern. If you care about justice for all Oklahomans, not to mention our global reputation , you need to get behind his campaign. Getting Sally Kern out of office would sent an extremely important message, and it’s an opportunity we can’t miss.

The concert, just for the music, sounds promising. I’ve seen the Electric Prima Donas, and they’re good. I’ve heard good things about Laci Stark. Don’t know about the rest.

Saturday, August 30 at Noon — be there or be square!

Google map for Lyon Park in Bethany, Oklahoma

Whether you can attend this event or not, donate to the cause.

Don’t know much ..

The diariest who posted this at Daily Kos called this tune “Don McLean-ish”. Ah, kids these days! It’s Sam Cooke’s “What a Wonderful World” made a hit in the 60’s by Herman’s Hermits.

Good ad though.

‘Oklahomans Taken For A Ride’ film screening on Sat. 8/2 in OKC

Don Grissom film, Oklahomans Taken for a Ride, to be screened Saturday, August 2, in OKC

The film Oklahomans Taken for a Ride will be shown 1 p.m. Saturday, August 2, 2008 at the Belle Isle Library in Oklahoma City . The film highlights the importance of protecting Oklahoma ’s rail infrastructure and putting it to better use.  The event is being sponsored by the Coalition to Save Union Station Railyard.

This film explores the extent to which Oklahoma City ’s transportation future is threatened by plans of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) to rip out the 12-track Oklahoma City Union Station railyard as a part of the I-40 Crosstown relocation.  The film details ODOT rerouting plans while also detailing efforts to fight the destruction of the railyard.  The video also shows how the facility could be reused as an Oklahoma multi-modal transportation hub.

The filmmaker, Don Grissom, is a graduate of Norman High School .  He worked in film and video production in Washington , D.C. for 28 years, recently returning to Norman in 2007 to continue his documentary career.  He has been involved in the production of One World Quest (Muheim Motion Pictures), Benny Andrews Route 66 Tour (Ogden Museum of Southern Art), Intel Wars (CNN Documentary), Extreme Makeover (ABC), Drugs (Frontline, Resolute Films), and many other films.

A discussion will follow the 24-minute film.

The film is free and the public is invited.

Belle Isle Library is located at 5501 N. Villa in Oklahoma City (on NW Expressway).

Senator No

by Steven D, originally published at Booman Tribune and reprinted here with permission.

It’s a sad fact, but Senator Dodd was unable to stop a very bad FISA bill, that even Bruce Fein, a former Reagan official at the Department of Justice claims is a gross violation of our civil liberties.  Majority Leader Senator Harry Reid wouldn’t let him.  Yet one man, one Senator, has been able to stop dozens of bills simply by saying “no” to Harry Reid.  Who is this all powerful Senator?  Why a Republican, of course:

. . . Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) has a large framed picture next to his desk that serves as a constant reminder of his political ideology. Inside the black frame and matting is a single word, in large white letters: “No.”Coburn has become best known as the lawmaker who says no — no to increased funding for unsolved civil rights crimes, no to creation of a national registry for victims of the disease ALS, no to more money for child pornography prosecutions. [...]

Most of the bills, including a child pornography law that passed the House 409 to 0 in November, are so noncontroversial that they would normally sail through on voice votes, with no roll call taken. [...]

Since January 2007, Coburn has used his senatorial “hold” to block more than 80 pieces of legislation, which means Reid knows that Coburn will object to unanimous consent on those bills.

Coburn is also the Senator who put a hold on extending additional protections to government whistleblowers, a bill that had already passed the House 331 to 84.  The same bill that would likely pass the Senate with a veto proof majority if it were allowed to come to a vote.

Does anyone wonder anymore why Congress has such a poor approval rating?  When Republicans held the majority they passed whatever the hell they wanted (or whatever Bush told them to pass) and Democrats were powerless, or at least they claimed they were.  Remember the Terry Schiavo legislation?  That passed even though a majority in the country opposed it because the Democrats in the Senate caved. Yet, now, when Republican Senators up for re-election are running scared and willing to back many Democratic proposals, Reid lets one yahoo nutcase like Tom Coburn put the kabosh on any and all legislation regardless of how beneficial it might be.  Need you be reminded of just how loonie Coburn is, take a peek at this:

(cont.)

At a Republican meeting this spring, Coburn warned: “The gay community has infiltrated the very centers of power in every area across this country, and they wield extreme power … That agenda is the greatest threat to our freedom that we face today. Why do you think we see the rationalization for abortion and multiple sexual partners? That’s a gay agenda.” [...]“I favor the death penalty for abortionists and other people who take life,” he told the Associated Press in July. Last week, he told the Hugo [Okla.] Daily News: “We need someone who will speak morally on the issues and not run from the criticism of the national press … We need to have moral clarity about our leaders. I have a 100 percent pro-life record. I don’t apologize for saying we need to protect the unborn. Do you realize that if all those children had not been aborted, we wouldn’t have any trouble with Medicare and Social Security today? That’s another 41 million people.” [...]

In 1999, after the massacre at Columbine High School in Colorado, Coburn opposed President Clinton’s proposal for making adults liable if they allow their children to buy guns and harm others. “If I wanted to buy a bazooka to use in a very restricted way, to do something, I ought to be able to do that,” said Coburn.

Yet this moron is allowed the privilege by Harry Reid to hold up any damn thing he wants, no matter how popular it is with his own Republican colleagues.  This ideologue and criminal, who illegally sterilized one of his Native American female patients without her consent and filed a fraudulent Medicaid insurance claim, is more powerful than Harry Reid.  You have to ask yourself — why?  Why does Reid allow this buffoon to run rings around him, and delay and deter desperately needed legislation?

Whatever happens in the Presidential election this Fall, Democrats are likely to retain their control over the House and Senate. And if there is one thing we’ve learned it is that our current Democratic Leaders, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have been a disaster for the Democratic Party.  They were not only dead wrong on FISA, but they have been ineffective across the board in promoting the Democratic Party’s stated agenda, from ending the Iraq occupation to increasing funding for the SCHIP program, which provides health insurance to uninsured children.  Reid allowed the Senate to pass the Lieberman-Kyl amendment which all but grants the Bush administration permission to attack Iran at its discretion.

Time after time Harry Reid has proven himself to be a gutless coward when it comes to standing up for  progressive policies which have the support of the majority of Americans.  When push comes to shove, he’s permitted President Bush to get whatever he wanted on the important issues of the day.  And now he has allowed one idiot Senator from Oklahoma to run rings around him in blocking the passage of needed bipartisan legislation.  It’s time for Democrats to just say no to Harry Reid’s continued tenure as Senate Majority Leader.  If he can’t out think and outfight Tom Coburn, he doesn’t deserve to lead the Senate.

Republicans are comedy gold in (non) impeachment hearing

You know what’s funny? Republican congressmen, staunchly pro-Bush despite everything (insert endless list of crimes and misdemeanors here), moaning and whining throughout today’s hearing, because the chair, or the witnesses, or the audience, weren’t following the rules.

That is the fucking most ironic thing I have ever heard.