Ford Street

That's Not What Democrats Do...

The following letter was written by a friend of  mine. 

Dear Sen. Biden-

I voted enthusiastically for you and Sen. Obama and would do so again in a heartbeat.

But I am concerned going forward about your support for the credit industry at the expense of working people. I am fine, but a very dear friend of mine is in deep financial trouble.

 

You see, she was in the process of a divorce from an abusive husband who had undergone extensive medical treatment for depression when he committed suicide in September. She is now faced with her own steep medical bills from rheumatoid arthritis, her ex-husband's medical bills and car payments and a mortgage on her home. She even has to pay off his credit card bill, which includes the gun her ex-husband used to kill himself.

 

She is in deep financial straits, yet she cannot declare bankruptcy because of the law you spearheaded to protect the credit card companies. You and Congress have found it in the country's best interest to bail out the banks that put us in this mess. Yet ordinary citizens who have been hit with more than their fair share of bad luck are suffering terribly in the meantime.

 

As a Democrat I reach out to you in your new position as Vice President of the United States--versus senator of a bank-friendly state-- to put the marginalized people of America at least on par with the banks you are striving to rescue. It's the Democratic thing to do.

It's Finally Election Day -- updated

Whew...

"We're all drinking out of the same fountain now."

-- Former NYC Mayor David Dinkins

How Not to Win an Election

I am astonished at the animosity thrown at the Obama/Biden ticket by supporters of McCain/Palin.  Now, I’m not naïve; I know that the reverse is true of some people.  But it seems to me that, in my world, I’ve seen nothing but hate tossed at Obama by Republicans. 

Anyone using his middle name as a way to scare people is just simple, and more to the point, that’s insulting to a potential audience.  You’re assuming that the people you’re talking to are stupid enough to cast doubt on a man because his middle name is Hussein. 

I’ve seen Obama referred to as “Hitler” which shocked me.  Hitler?  Really?

I know that Democrats, myself included, have been having a field day with Sarah Palin.  But I feel as though fear is motivating me, not hate.  I don’t know anyone who hates Sarah Palin.  The idea of her representing this country in general, or me in particular, scares the living daylights out of me.  So, yes, I laugh my head off at Tina Fey, but mostly I’m scared, because the SNL writers don’t have to work that hard at all to produce a sketch that is hilarious and ends up, for heaven’s sake, on Meet the Press!  I can’t remember ever seeing SNL discussed on Meet the Press.  And all of the moderators giggling like little kids.  That just adds to my fear. Yes, America, it would be a very scary thing to have Sarah Palin in the White House. 

I think Tina Fey is helping people realize exactly that.  We’re laughing here in New York, which I’ll admit is its own little bubble, but people are laughing all over the country, and as they’re laughing, or sending links to their friends, (hopefully) they’re thinking, this would be a mistake…a mistake…

Of course, the people watching SNL are likely liberals anyway, so we’re not exactly reaching the intended audience.  But still.  People forwarding links…word is getting out.  Those Katie Couric interviews…in a sane world, Palin would have been pulled off the ticket straight away.  Why leave her on the ticket when she’s turning your campaign into a punch line?  I am not a professional political operative, so I’ll just wonder.  And be scared. 

But anyway.  Back to the hate.  It has been suggested to me that people sling hate at Obama because they’re racist, and I don’t believe that either.  (Perhaps because I am ever the cock-eyed optimist, and choose to think the best about people.)  It has been suggested to me that I’m a racist, because Obama isn’t exactly ringing my bell.  I am not a racist; it’s just that he’s not my ideal candidate.  But he’s smart, and I want a President who is smart.  He’s capable of leading the country, and I want a president who is capable.  He does have a certain amount of gravitas, and I think that’s important as well.  I believe he’ll be a compassionate president, because of what he’s had to endure in his life, not the least of which is people calling him Hitler, or believing that he’s evil because his middle name is Hussein.  Or believing that he’s not capable because he’s black. 

Not many candidates have the amount of economic expertise that’s ideal, or the amount of foreign policy expertise, or the amount of any kind of expertise, for that matter.  Being President of the United States is purely on-the-job training.  You want someone who can expand, or contract, as the need arises.  I don’t want John McCain in the White House, and I don’t want Sarah Palin in the White House.  I don’t want to watch the debate tonight because I fear that it will be a contest to see who can debase the other fellow more efficiently.  I lose respect for candidates when they say things like, Obama is pals with a terrorist.  And I’m tired of hearing the word “Maverick” – especially from a tired old man.  He’s probably a very nice tired old man, but I don’t want him in the White House.

Here’s an apt quote from the movie “The American President” --

“We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them. And whatever your particular problem is, I promise you, [John McCain] is not the least bit interested in solving it. He is interested in two things and two things only: making you afraid of it and telling you who's to blame for it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you win elections. You gather a group of middle-aged, middle-class, middle-income voters who remember with longing an easier time, and you talk to them about family and American values and character.“

And you imply that a man named Barack Hussein Obama is a terrorist, because his background isn’t like yours. 

Maybe, if Obama wins, that will make us all a little more tolerant.  Lord knows we need it. 

Sarah Palin Debate Flow Chart

Kudos to this guy:

Blue Skies, Mr. Newman

I'm Sticking to My Guns on This

Well, I'm going to quote someone else again today. I'm sorry, I can't help myself. The following is from Maureen Dowd in today's New York Times; it's part of a (fictional) conversation between Sen. Barack Obama and… wait for it… Jed Bartlet! Clearly Ms. Dowd reads my blog, and knows where to find a President that gives one goose bumps…and clearly, I'd follow Aaron Sorkin to the ends of the Earth…

"Call them liars, because that's what they are. Sarah Palin didn't say "thanks but no thanks" to the Bridge to Nowhere. She just said "Thanks." You were raised by a single mother on food stamps — where does a guy with eight houses who was legacied into Annapolis get off calling you an elitist? And by the way, if you do nothing else, take that word back. Elite is a good word, it means well above average. I'd ask them what their problem is with excellence. While you're at it, I want the word "patriot" back. McCain can say that the transcendent issue of our time is the spread of Islamic fanaticism or he can choose a running mate who doesn't know the Bush doctrine from the Monroe Doctrine, but he can't do both at the same time and call it patriotic. They have to lie — the truth isn't their friend right now. Get angry. Mock them mercilessly; they've earned it. McCain decried agents of intolerance, then chose a running mate who had to ask if she was allowed to ban books from a public library. It's not bad enough she thinks the planet Earth was created in six days 6,000 years ago complete with a man, a woman and a talking snake, she wants schools to teach the rest of our kids to deny geology, anthropology, archaeology and common sense too? It's not bad enough she's forcing her own daughter into a loveless marriage to a teenage hood, she wants the rest of us to guide our daughters in that direction too? It's not enough that a woman shouldn't have the right to choose, it should be the law of the land that she has to carry and deliver her rapist's baby too? I don't know whether or not Governor Palin has the tenacity of a pit bull, but I know for sure she's got the qualifications of one. And you're worried about seeming angry? You could eat their lunch, make them cry and tell their mamas about it and God himself would call it restrained. There are times when you are simply required to be impolite. There are times when condescension is called for!"

So scared

   

There’s been so much I’ve wanted to say about the Republican ticket. 

SO much. 

But I’ll let Patti Davis, in the current issue of Newsweek, say it instead.  For now. 

(Written as a letter to Hillary Clinton)

“Many of us are frightened about the future of this country. You once said, with tears in your eyes, that running for president was very personal to you -- that where America goes from here was deeply personal. It's personal to us also. Please help us communicate that putting a woman on a presidential ticket is only a good thing if it's the right woman.  Certainly, those of us who watched the Republican convention saw a woman who knows how to throw zingers. But few of us, if any, were encouraged by that.  America is in trouble. We need hope, we need solutions, we need dignified, compassionate leadership. If we want zingers we'll turn on Comedy Central.”

Joe Biden and Paulie Walnuts

Separated at birth?

Bartlet for President

I want Jed Bartlet to be President. 

OK, I know this is complicated by the fact that he’s not a real guy.  But is the President ever a real guy?  He’s the face of the party he belongs to; so let’s bring in a face that’s comforting, recognizable, trustworthy and, well, Presidential. 

Aaron Sorkin could write all of the speeches.  Bartlet would win by a landslide, and we’d all feel good about the nation’s leadership again.  We’d sleep at night, and hold our heads up when we travel outside of the country. 

Clearly I’ve lost my mind. 

I want to love a candidate.  I want to wear a button.  Is that not possible any more?  Will any and every candidate be such a puppet of political correctness and political parties that we’ll never see a genuine person again?

I want a President who is smart, and decent, and heroic as all hell.  I want to believe in someone.  I want a leader.  My candidate should know how to resolve international disputes, chastise evildoers in Latin, cook an omelet and play poker.   

I want a President whose words and actions provide fodder for discussion, not fodder for Letterman’s monologue.

The person should command as much respect as the title does. 

Maybe in 2012?  I live in hope. 

Fun with Word Clouds

I made these using Wordle, a Web site that lets you insert text and create your own word clouds. 

This is the speech that Barack Obama made on the final primary night, June 3, 2008. 

And this is a speech that John McCain gave on the same day. 

Interesting, no?  I'll let you draw your own conclusions.