Thursday, October 9, 2008
"When great evil occurs, great good will follow"
Written by Buddhist teacher Nichiren Daishonen over 600 years ago, it seems to capture what is happening this very week in the campaign. I do not mean to reduce McCain to the term "evil", because I think that is too reductionistic. But the McCain campaign is actively and vigorously appealing to the ugly underbelly of their party--yes, the bitter, angry, God-fearing, gun-toting rabble that Obama described once to the San Francisco "elite". These people are angry as hell and they are quickly transforming the McCain campaign into a mob, with an increasingly hostile mob mentality. Comments directed at Obama like "kill him!", "terrorist!" and "off with his head!" are being heard more and more frequently at McCain rallies.
McCain supporters have decided for the sake of convenience to brand Obama as their 21st century Salem witch, and have deemed him a worthy receptacle for all of their own personal ills, failures, fears, resentments and regrets. Obama burning in effigy is, no doubt, coming soon to a "Country First" rally near you.
To say that McCain has lost his way would be a gross understatement. To see him and his faithful female sidekicks stoke the fires, is the most blatant example of how and why he is NOT fit to lead. He is either allowing the mob to lead him, or he is encouraging the mob to take him and his country down into the sludge, for the sake of his own ego.
McCain's claim to have the "steady hand on the tiller" is an absolute farce. The only person on either side who has been steady throughout this entire campaign is Barack Obama. Even when surrogates in his own campaign begged him to get angry, get tough, come out swinging, Obama remained steady. He is as unflappable as any man I have ever seen under fire. He seems to proceed with the calmness of a man who has already arrived at the destination, when everyone else is complaining about the stones on the road in front of them. His ability to see and describe the "big picture" is the very thing the Republicans mock, but it is also the thing they cannot envision with their own candidate, and they know it. In a word, they are jealous, and their egos are as bruised as McCain's. And McCain's solution for these people? Get mad and get even.
Obama, on the other hand, continues to stay on the high road. When his campaign has flirted with the negative snipes in ads, thousands of supporters and bloggers like myself have contacted the campaign demanding cease and desist. And they have listened. They are not perfect. Nor is he. But the contrast between hope and despair is so apparent now, that I almost feel sorry for these angry masses as they swirl around the cesspool of their own making.
(Tip of the hat to JumpyPants for Daishonen's quote)
McCain supporters have decided for the sake of convenience to brand Obama as their 21st century Salem witch, and have deemed him a worthy receptacle for all of their own personal ills, failures, fears, resentments and regrets. Obama burning in effigy is, no doubt, coming soon to a "Country First" rally near you.
To say that McCain has lost his way would be a gross understatement. To see him and his faithful female sidekicks stoke the fires, is the most blatant example of how and why he is NOT fit to lead. He is either allowing the mob to lead him, or he is encouraging the mob to take him and his country down into the sludge, for the sake of his own ego.
McCain's claim to have the "steady hand on the tiller" is an absolute farce. The only person on either side who has been steady throughout this entire campaign is Barack Obama. Even when surrogates in his own campaign begged him to get angry, get tough, come out swinging, Obama remained steady. He is as unflappable as any man I have ever seen under fire. He seems to proceed with the calmness of a man who has already arrived at the destination, when everyone else is complaining about the stones on the road in front of them. His ability to see and describe the "big picture" is the very thing the Republicans mock, but it is also the thing they cannot envision with their own candidate, and they know it. In a word, they are jealous, and their egos are as bruised as McCain's. And McCain's solution for these people? Get mad and get even.
Obama, on the other hand, continues to stay on the high road. When his campaign has flirted with the negative snipes in ads, thousands of supporters and bloggers like myself have contacted the campaign demanding cease and desist. And they have listened. They are not perfect. Nor is he. But the contrast between hope and despair is so apparent now, that I almost feel sorry for these angry masses as they swirl around the cesspool of their own making.
(Tip of the hat to JumpyPants for Daishonen's quote)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
McCain Revealed
Tim Dickinson goes in depth to show a John McCain that few have heard or read about. His article in "Rolling Stone" is a must read:
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain
Thanks to KBR for the link!
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain
Thanks to KBR for the link!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
"That One!"
McCain accomplished much tonight. He solidified the suspicion shared by many that he has true contempt for Obama. He allowed the camera to age him significantly. He proved that his strongest statement of his qualifications always starts with "I know how to...".
On the radio he sounded snippy, petty and sophmoric. On HDTV he looked like someone who has pulled a tight rubber mask over his head, followed by two inches of pancake makeup.
Between the shameful McCain-Palin Smear Express and this bumbling, tottering, snarky performance by McCain, the answer for undecideds is becoming all too clear--Obama, er, that one.
On the radio he sounded snippy, petty and sophmoric. On HDTV he looked like someone who has pulled a tight rubber mask over his head, followed by two inches of pancake makeup.
Between the shameful McCain-Palin Smear Express and this bumbling, tottering, snarky performance by McCain, the answer for undecideds is becoming all too clear--Obama, er, that one.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Northside Implosion
Unbelievable. I was going to "live blog" the Cubs game but there was nothing "live" about them tonight. For the second year in a row, they have decided to go on vacation two weeks early. They forgot to tell the fans who loyally supported them for 165 games that the fans should go on vacation, too. No, instead, a million suckers like me out there are more faithful to the team than the players themselves.
If Lou doesn't light a fire under their Cubbie blue butts, fans will not forget this one. Last year was supposed to be an anomoly, not the highwater mark for post-seasons to come.
One hundred years.......unbelievable. Why do I have to love this team so much?
If Lou doesn't light a fire under their Cubbie blue butts, fans will not forget this one. Last year was supposed to be an anomoly, not the highwater mark for post-seasons to come.
One hundred years.......unbelievable. Why do I have to love this team so much?
Biden Rocks With A Strong Finish
He totally wiped the floor with her at the end. After it was over, she met Biden away from the podiums and her body language was that of a high school girl doing an "awe shucks, thanks" like she was greeting her debate coach for his grade of her performance.
I think Biden won on content and, in the end, on style. Palin did just fine in the first half, but her chirpiness was grating after a while. Guess that's a reflection of her lack of substance.
Buchanan said she was "phenomenal". Pat is a joke! How can Rachel Maddow sit next to him and not want to pull the last few strands of hair out of his dufus head!
I think Biden won on content and, in the end, on style. Palin did just fine in the first half, but her chirpiness was grating after a while. Guess that's a reflection of her lack of substance.
Buchanan said she was "phenomenal". Pat is a joke! How can Rachel Maddow sit next to him and not want to pull the last few strands of hair out of his dufus head!
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