Economic Stimulus

Dave Barry explains tax rebates:

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidgen.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn’t that stimulating the economy of China?
A. Shut up.

This country is trillions of dollars in debt, and we’re handing out money like it’s growing on trees. Way to be fiscally responsible, politicians.

A Message to Pennsylvanians from Bill Clinton

Hope, Change, and Obama ‘08

via Matt Haughey

Elite

e·lite (noun) - representing the most choice or select; best

Doesn’t elite mean good? Is that not something we’re looking for in a president anymore? . . . Not only do I want an elite president, but I want somebody who is embarrassingly superior to me.

Why is the only sensible political commentary these days on Comedy Central?

This is the best we can do?

It’s hard to pick just one quote from this piece on TV pundits, politics, and orange juice:

There is no spin possible that turns “asking for orange juice” into an issue of elitism or snobbery: there is, in an infinite sea of alternate realities, not one in which asking for orange juice demonstrates an important negative aspect of character. It is stupid. It is aggressively stupid; it is soul-burrowingly stupid; it is mind-fuckingly stupid. It is the kind of stupid that seeps into the rug so that the entire building stinks of stupid for the next ten years whenever the air conditioning comes on. It is the kind of stupid that wounds all those who come into contact with it. It is a stupid that has been rendered physical: it leaves a scar.

. . .

It is difficult, after all, to do anything but just plain laugh at the political “experts” shoved in front of us, experts so incompetent and up their own esteemed asses, at this point, that they really can’t report on anything more substantial than orange juice stories. They can’t do it — it is not a matter of secret bias, they are just not capable. The top “pundits” of cable television weren’t hired for their smarts on the hard issues, they were hired to make ridiculous, off-the-cuff pronouncements on the petty trivialities of the day. They know no more about the concerns of small town Americans than they know about roping cattle or performing a colonoscopy, and yet they will sit on television, in suits costing more than some of the used cars the rest of us drive, and claim expertise on all three.

Read the whole damn thing, and then demand better.

Apollo Creed FTW

In a speech today Hillary Clinton compared herself to Rocky Balboa . . .

Um, senator…Rocky lost. To the black guy

Link

Dammit, Spitzer

Spitzer was one of the politicians I respected, because he did a lot of great work fighting corporations as Attorney General of NY. He had the stature to be a presidential candidate down the road. Then today, he got caught with his pants down.

Why in the hell would people with everything to lose take chances like this? I just don’t understand.

Obama wins Texas

(for some definitions of “win”)

Tonight wasn’t the knockout punch Obama supporters had hoped for, but it wasn’t all bad, either. Especially when you consider that Obama is likely to win the most delegates in Texas, despite losing the popular vote. In a situation reminiscent of Nevada, he’s won the caucuses and enough big-delegate districts to come out ahead.

Still, it looks like this thing will be going past Wyoming and Mississippi to Pennsylvania, where candidates will have well over a month to campaign heavily. (I’m getting tired just thinking about it).

The math is pretty foreboding for Hillary, though. She’ll have to win all the remaining states by wide margins to catch up in pledged delegates (nearly 20% margins, by some estimates). She also has to hope that Florida and Michigan get reinstated (possibly by re-voting) and that she does extremely well there. Lastly, she’s banking on superdelegates, but I can’t believe that the supers will go against the pledged delegate vote, as long as Obama has a solid lead. That kind of brokered convention is the Democratic party’s nightmare.

Nader running again

Ralph Nader is running for president again

Anonymous has a few choice words for Mr Nader.

(cross posted to Turning Texas Blue)

Clinton Rally in Houston

Today I saw the ex-president, and yesterday I saw the next president.

The turnout at UH was downright anemic, with less than 3,000 in a venue that seats over 10,000. The fact that a former president couldn’t even one-third fill the Pavillion has to be worrisome to this campaign. I agree that Obama’s rally yesterday had the advantage of better weather, and the actual candidate appearing, but this turnout was still just plain awful.

It was good for us though, because Mike was two rows (and about 10 feet away) from the Big Dawg, and I was just a little farther back. I had to run back to the car, because apparently umbrellas are a security hazard. Interestingly, security was much tighter at tthe Obama rally, and there were no metal detectors for Clinton’s speech.

As far as content goes, I was pretty upset with the Clinton campaign’s decision to trot out Florida Congressman Kendrick Meek, who called for the Florida primary delgates to be seated at the convention. I’ve explained why this is an unfair and harmful idea over at Turning Texas Blue. Additionally, attempting to undermine the DNC rules is not a smart move for someone who will need the establishment on her side should she win the nomination.

Bill Clinton’s speech was full of policy details, clearly designed to draw a contrast to Obama’s practice of speaking in broad themes. (more on this difference later) He was forceful and believable in his advocacy for Hillary, and he stuck to the major campaign talking points: that Hillary will be “Ready to start on Day 1″, and that “she offers more than inspiration”.

These days his hair is a little whiter, but the President looked fired up and happy to be back in front of a crowd. He’s a natural politician, and you can tell that he lives for this stuff. He stayed for almost an hour after his speech, shaking hands, signing books, and talking to people in the crowd. Mike was happy that he got his Clinton auto-biography signed, and wasn’t sure he’d ever wash his hand again after Bill shook it.

While it’s true that the Houston demographics favor Obama, the contrast between the rallies has convinced me. I don’t think it’s a matter of “if” Obama wins Texas, but a matter of how much he wins it by. There’s still some work to do, but as far as I’m concerned, the Clinton campaign is over.

Obama rally

I was at the Houston Obama rally tonight, and you can find more pictures and some thoughts about it over Turning Texas Blue.

A few things that I didn’t post over at TTB:

• We got there about an hour and a half before the doors opened, and got pretty good position in line. This was one of those times when being in academia gave us the flexibility to get there a little earlier than the people coming from their 9-to-5s.
• Due to our good position in line, we were able to get great seats. 5 rows from the floor, with a unobstructed straight-line view to the podium. Those were clearly the best seats I will ever have in the Toyota Center.
• Even though we were only maybe 200 feet away, it’s still hard to get a good picture with a regular digital camera. That old photographers maxim - get CLOSER - really is key. Ian had a video camera from the lab and a great camera with a big zoom lens, so I’m willing to bet he got some great shots. I’ll link to them once they’re up on the web.
• I’ve been to two major political rallies - tonight’s, and John Kerry in St Louis in 2004. The common theme for both of them was that there are several hours of boredom with little to do. You get there early to get a good seat and then wait in line for an hour. Then, you get inside, get your seats and wait for another hour or two.

  Both rallies did have a band playing for part of the filler time, and there were some quick reminders on how to vote (thanks to the crazy Texas two-step system). Even so, there was lots of dead time. Surely there were some local politicians that would have spoken on behalf of Barack, or local celebrities that would have gladly done the same. I suppose the campaigns already jump some impressive logistical hurdles to pull an event like this off, but I’d like to see them try to do a little more.

• Damn, that man gives a fine speech. Even though it was basically his usual stump speech, it was direct, honest, and inspirational. I only wish I had seen one of his truly exceptional speeches, like the one he gave in New Hampshire. Regardless, I came away happy with how I spent my Tuesday evening.
• Before leaving I changed my facebook status to say I was going to the Obama rally. When I came back, I had a ton of messages with variations of “I’m jealous”. Among young educated professionals, like my friends, Obama is already an icon.

Lunacy

This is as bad as Jesus Camp.

A) I don’t want a man that’s going to use the Koran to be sworn in as President instead of the Bible.”
. . .

Q) Where did you get this information that Barack Obama wanted to be sworn in on the Koran?

A) From one of our Church members that’s keeping up with what his comments are and you know he wouldn’t even do the Pledge of Allegiance. He refused.

Plenty more fundamentalist lunacy in the video. It’s too easy to forget that we’re up against people who really believe this stuff. It boggles the mind.

Simply Awesome

Science Debate 2008

No time to write this subject the entry it deserves, but I’ve been meaning to mention Science Debate 2008. We’re trying to get the presidential candidates to debate on issues of science and technology prior to the election (I signed on as a supporter). It’s a great idea with a lot of strong backers.

The pragmatist in me believes that it doesn’t have much of a shot, though. I mean, what campaign is going to let its candidate make an ass of themselves while trying to answer 6th-grade science questions?

Obama-rama

Barack Obama has raised 6.5 million dollars in just over 24 hours since the polls closed on Super Tuesday..

Contrast this to the 5 million dollars the Clintons just had to loan their own campaign. Ouch

Clinton needed a dominant showing on Super Tuesday to wrap this thing up and she just didn’t get that. In fact, it looks like Obama not only won more states, but garnered more delegates. Double ouch.

Update
A few more notes:

• Obama’s total is now upt 7.5 million in the last 36 hours.
• 90% of those donations were under 100 dollars. That’s remarkable,
• Many Clinton staffers are working without pay - that’s how bad they’re hurting.

Yes We Can

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.

Yes we can.

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.

Yes we can.

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.

Yes we can.

It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.

Yes we can to justice and equality.

Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.

Yes we can heal this nation.

Yes we can repair this world.

Yes we can.

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics…they will only grow louder and more dissonant . . . We’ve been asked to pause for a reality check. We’ve been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea –

Yes. We. Can.

Super Duper Tuesday!

Obama raised 32 million in January alone. Also notable: His campaign has over 650,000 donors thus far. That sounds like people-powered politics to me.

I Voted!

For those of you keeping track, that’s +1 absentee ballot for Obama in Missouri.

I haven’t been very vocal on my blog about the primaries, mainly because I’ve been feeling too burned out to write substantial entries on the site. I’ve been following the race very closely, though, and have been publicly supporting Obama for several months now.

I liked the policies of all the major candidates well enough, and will have no trouble pulling the lever for whichever one gets the nomination. However, I think that there are some strong reasons to support Obama over Clinton:

Divisiveness: It’s not that I don’t think Hillary will be a strong president, it’s just that I can’t understand why we’d want to field a candidate with such incredibly high negatives, before the real mud-slinging even starts. Years of bashing from right-wing sources have left a huge percentage of the country unwilling to even consider voting for Clinton. That’s a huge black mark, and frankly, I don’t want to take any chances this year. Eight years of being in the minority is enough.

Obama, by contrast, excels in reaching out to independents and young people and bringing them to the polls in exceptional numbers. The breakdowns of the primaries thus far have clearly shown that. Obama is capable of bringing new voters to the Democratic side and that’s something that can have consequences far beyond the presidential race. Do you think Democrats in rural states want to be down-ticket from a Clinton, given all the vitriol that has been spewed about her? That’s as bad as adding gay marriage amendments, in terms of rallying the conservative base.

Iraq: Does “I was for it before I was against it” sound familiar? I understand Clinton’s postion, but I also understood Kerry’s position. If we nominate someone who was against the war from the beginning, it will be a fantastic contrast to all of the “stay the course” bullshit that the Republicans are spouting.

Message:
Obama offers something new and fresh. He reaches across class, racial, and party lines and inspires damn near everyone with his speeches. The man’s gift for uplifting rhetoric even has conservatives impressed:

Barack Obama’s speech tonight was simply exceptional — and a reminder of why he is one of the most remarkable political talents in our lifetime. He was able to speak in ways that seem to rise above conventional politics, even as he was able to masterfully push back against the Clinton attacks of the last several weeks. His capacity to touch and stir authentic emotions is remarkable. And unlike Clinton and especially Edwards, the Obama message is about unity, not divisions; and hopes rather than grievances. If Obama wins the Democratic nomination, Republicans have a great deal to fear. He has tremendous break-out potential.

– National Review

Mostly though, I’m tired. I’m tired of winning or losing by a few highly contested votes. I’m tired of narrow victories being described as “mandates”. I’m tired of divisive politics that alienate half of the country. I’m tired of being unable to even speak to people on the other side of the aisle.

I want to believe in America again. I want a leader who speaks for everyone, and seeks solutions for the problems that affect us all. I want a leader who inspires the young and apathetic to care about politics. I want a leader who makes Americans proud of their country again, and who inspires them to work for a better tomorrow.

I believe that leader is Barack Obama.

Ayn Rand

Edited from a conversation with Joel:

Ever read Ayn Rand? I did fairly recently, and it explains a lot about libertarianism. You see, in America, it’s actually those honest corporation-owning americans who are being discriminated against. Why should they have to pay taxes to support people who didn’t have the same drive and work ethic as them? If those other people don’t own their own companies, it’s obviously their own fault - they should have worked harder! Class, education, and lack of social mobility are just excuses for the weak.

Also, Ayn Rand is a horrible writer (at least in Atlas Shrugged). Her allegories are paper thin, and the plot might as well not even be there. Once in a while she throws in an completely unbelievable love scene where they whisper sweet nothings about corporate profits and personal responsibility into each other’s ears. It’s awful.

Update - lots more discussion in the comments.

Update

Days the color-coded federal terror alert system has been in place: 2,103
Days spent at terror alert level Blue or Green: 0