“What would have happened had the young couple in question engaged in youthful sexuality in Arizona? There the young man would become both a “father-to-be” and a felon at the same time. Any sexual act by an 18-year-old and a 17-year-old is a felony in Arizona, even if the girl’s mother is running for vice president of the United States”

-a “gotcha” on the Bristol Palin pregnancy scandal.

Of course, McCain would spin it into a states rights issue, saying that each state should decide how to regulate relationships. However, the flip side of this is he would essentially be saying that we shouldn’t care about crimes committed in other states.

And of course the wider question behind that, (that would not get asked): Why should such behavior be legal in one state but illegal in another? What is the underlying rationale for the inconsistency? I think the knee jerk answer to this is “state’s rights” or “federalism!” but of course this is never actually discussed because that would require the American public to have a working knowledge of civics.

Of course, the fact that an 18 year old boy could be prosecuted for sleeping with his 17 year old girlfriend is another level of ridiculousity but it can and does happen.

And not that I think Bristol Palin’s pregnancy should be National news in the first place, but her stupid mother opened the door for that. Poor girl. (People will of course say she was stupid/irresponsible in getting pregnant but…these things happen. Of course, her mother also carried about a campaign of abstinence only education, so who knows if they were using protection, but even if they were, These Things Happen. And you’re not going to stop teenagers from having sex. And this isn’t my business anyway, and yet I can devote paragraphs to it.)

And I feel REALLY sorry for the guy who knocked her up. I am sure that Palin’s people got to him and were like “Ok. This is what you’re going to do. This is what you are going say.” Kid is trapped. Again, not that he doesn’t need to take responsibility for his actions, but there are ways to take responsibility that do not involve marriage.

Is the press beginning to exact revenge for mccain campaigns attacks?

McCain seems close to forming an unstoppable media narrative…which happened with Kerry (flip flopper) and Gore (exaggerator/liar).

(So says Kevin)

He also maintains that people will start to realize just how outrageous Palin is within the next couple weeks and that all Obama has to do is ignore her and run his own campaign. I agree with that, but I feel like for most of the campaign, Obama has been on the defensive….which he shouldn’t have to be. Plus his campaign managers are probably not as smart as us. (naturally)

Kevin: McCain wants new agency to fix crisis. wow what a maverick and warshington outsider… proposing a commission and a new agency. lol

Me: mccain is a true new dealer. did you  see what i just did there?

The real reason that McCain cannot be president: 4 years of “Warshington”

Is this the first of hopefully many backlashes from the GOPs attacks on the press?

http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1839724,00.html

According to Nicole Wallace of the McCain campaign, the American people don’t care whether Sarah Palin can answer specific questions about foreign and domestic policy. According to Wallace — in an appearance I did with her this morning on Joe Scarborough’s show — the American people will learn all they need to know (and all they deserve to know) from Palin’s scripted speeches and choreographed appearances on the campaign trail and in campaign ads.

I just have no words anymore. Do you think if we ignored her she would go away? I just don’t even know how Obama campaign can even possibly respond. I mean the lies and hypocrisy are just…it’s not even…I can’t even put into words how screwed up the whole thing is.

If I had started this blog 10 days earlier, you would have been treated to me getting all swoony about Barack Obama. Although I am a jaded former political junkie, the DNC did it’s job: it made me actually want to vote for Barack Obama.

This is strange, I suppose, when you consider that I am a Libertarian. 

I attribute this lapse to the fact that I was raised “Democrat good, Republican bad.” What I mean by the DNC “worked’ is that I was able to get swept up in the exciting rhetoric in the speeches of Michelle Obama, Bill & Hillary, and Obama himself. And I watched this FULLY AWARE that I was being maniuplated. The 2004 DNC has a similar effect on me: it made me believe (albeit briefly…maybe an hour) that if John Kerry was elected change was possible, even though the well-informed, political junkie knew this was a fabrication. But even as a rational Libertarian woman, Bill Clinton’s speech in 2004 made me swoon, just as Obama’s did this year. It’s polish and PR, but it works, even though the type of change Obama wants me to believe in is not the kind of change I want.

So no, I’m not going to vote for Obama.

The RNC has the opposite affect. It makes me vehermently despise McCain and co. even more. (And Sarah Palin. It was either Julian Sanchez or Dave Weigel who said in their facebook status 

I am fully capable of coming to my own political opinons. (Trust me. My parents were not thrilled when I discovered a name for my latent libertarian leanings, and even less thrilled when I joined the young republican club just to find people I had SOMETHING politically in common with on my ultra liberal college campus.

All of this is a long way of saying what everyone even the least bit politcally savvy already knows: the conventions won’t change anyone’s mind; they’re just there to make you feel better about voting for the party you’ve already choosen, and maybe, making you believe. If only for a minute.

McCain will ditch Palin and pick a new VP “for the good of the party” and then everyone will laud him for being so maverick-y.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential nominee who revealed Monday that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, earlier this year used her line-item veto to slash funding for a state program benefiting teen mothers in need of a place to live.

In addition to being a mayor and raising four children, Sarah Palin found time for another venture in her Wasilla years — she was part-owner of an Anchorage car wash.

…

On April 3, 2007, the state went further and issued a “certificate of involuntary dissolution” because of the car wash’s failure to file its report and pay state licensing fees.

It’s Harriet Miers redux. I still think its hilarious that she owed a car wash. Has anyone ever changed VPs in the middle of a campaign?

This doesn’t even make any sense:

“I can do my part in working really, really hard to get a natural gas pipeline, about a $30 billion project that’s going to create a lot of jobs for Alaska. … [but] I think God’s will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that,” she said. “I can do my job there in developing our natural resources, in doing things like getting the roads paved and making sure our troopers have their cop cars and their uniforms and their guns, and making sure our public schools are funded. But really that stuff doesn’t do any good if the people of Alaska’s hearts aren’t right with God.”

The Bridge to Nowhere

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26486063/

-she’s a flip flopper. Just like John Kerry!

-Bristol Palin, the 17-year-old daughter of Sarah Palin, is pregnant and will keep the baby and marry the father, a senior aide to Sen. John McCain confirmed to CNN Tuesday.

(I’m not sure that’s actually scandalous. I mean, perhaps there is a portion of the country that still find teen pregnancy scandalous, but they are probably also the same people who will laud her decision to keep the baby instead of having an abortion. McCain campaign claims that he knew, but I’m not sure about that. Actually, it’s a pretty horrible thing for a mother to do – she accepted an extremely public position, knowing that her daughter was pregnant and that a lot of attention would be focused on her. Can that count as child abuse? Yes, girl (well, girl and her boyfriend) have to take responsibility, teen pregnancy is pretty much a bad idea and such, but that doesn’t mean she deserves to have it plastered all over the news.)

-Palin’s name is listed on 2003 incorporation papers of the “Ted Stevens Excellence in Public Service, Inc.,” a 527 group that could raise unlimited funds from corporate donors.

My initial reaction to the McCain VP pick was outrage, followed by more outrage, followed by “WTF?” followed by “did he just seal his victory?”

Because I tend to have doomsday reactions to any and all political news, since the last time I attempted to be optimistic (2000) we got Bush.

Anyway, Kevin pointed out that it kind of undercuts the whole argument McCain has been making about Obama’s inexperience.

Additionally, she’s really very conservative, which undercuts his “maverick” act.

Apparently he only met her face to face once before picking her, but that could be rumors. She did say in an interview a few weeks ago that she really doesn’t know what the VP does.

So I don’t know. On the surface this looks like a stunningly stupid move by McCain – since already the media has dug up 50+ things on her. Most of them are little, but if the media decides it doesn’t like her they will fixate on this.

But on the other hand, I can’t help thinking that there’s NO WAY the McCain campaign could be this stupid, and that this is some brilliant, manipulative political move.

I hate her already.

For the record, I am stating here that I don’t think Obama will win.

I was raised “Republicans BAD, Democrats GOOD” some part of my subconscious still buys into that, and thus I’m suseptible to the emotional manipulation of the convention. I don’t know what it is about Obama, but when he and his people speak, I want to believe what they’re saying, even though much of it is ideologically repulsive. So I guess I have a better understanding of why stupid polls like “would you rather have a beer with Bush or Kerry?” are telling. I watch this knowing I’m being manipulated, and it’s still almost working on me.

Re: Biden

My initial response was to swear loudly in a manner unbecoming to a lady such as myself. I mean, Biden? Really? Really?

Of course, this is my typical reaction to things, as I am inclined to think anything the Obama campaign does at this point will only go poorly, because technically the election is his to lose even though the Dems have been on the defensive the entire time. (Which is another rant all together)

Realistically, I just wanted the VP to be someone “exciting” (as if Obama himself was not exciting enough already) but someone “exciting” would have to be someone totally outrageous and that would just be bad. I think I just like media craziness.

Anyway, it matters not. Bob Barr for president!

Me: I want to marry Barack Obama. That’s totally wrong.

David: How so? He’s a handsome cat

Me: He’s not a libertarian! But he’s all well educated and well spoekn and when he speaks, I swoon.

David: That’s because he’s a politician with a normal haircut, which is rare.

Me: I already posted about this, about how I really can’t give a detailed political explanation (at least one that would be acceptable to Libertarians) on why he is better than McCain, but god I want him to be prez more than McCain

David: McCain is a pruned up old warmonger. War costs a lot of money. That money has to come from somewhere. That’s enough.

Me: Oh, true. I remember at Skidmore they had up a poster “What would you do with 87$ billion for everyone to write their suggestions.

David: Hookers and blow

Me: I don’t think that costs $87 billion.

David: High class hookers and blow.

Quote: Maybe I’m too cynical, but it”s all gotten to just be noise to me. Barr’s the most libertarian candidate…I am a libertarian, therefore I will vote for Barr and sleep soundly at night. 

Courtesy of one of my favorite libertarians:

NO! THE BOMB IS TICKING AND YOU MUST CUT ONE OF THE WIRES!

If you cut the blue wire, YOU WILL BLOW EVERYTHING UP! AND YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE!

If you cut the red wire, YOU WILL BLOW EVERYTHING UP, BUT EVEN MORE! AND YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE!

If you cut the gold wire, YOU’RE JUST THROWING YOUR VOTE AWAY! THE GOLD WIRE DOESN’T DO ANYTHING! EVERYTHING WILL STILL BLOW UP! AND YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE!

And if you refuse to cut ANY of the wires, EVERYTHING WILL BLOW UP ANYWAY! AND YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE! BECAUSE YOU DID NOTHING!

Also, YOUR MISTAKE WILL BLOW UP NOT JUST YOU, BUT EVERYONE ELSE TOO!

Good luck. We’re all counting on you.

Quote:

Maybe I’m too cynical, but it”s all gotten to just be noise to me. Barr’s the most libertarian candidate…I am a libertarian, therefore I will vote for Barr and sleep soundly at night.

 

NO! THE BOMB IS TICKING AND YOU MUST CUT ONE OF THE WIRES!

If you cut the blue wire, YOU WILL BLOW EVERYTHING UP! AND YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE!

If you cut the red wire, YOU WILL BLOW EVERYTHING UP, BUT EVEN MORE! AND YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE!

If you cut the gold wire, YOU’RE JUST THROWING YOUR VOTE AWAY! THE GOLD WIRE DOESN’T DO ANYTHING! EVERYTHING WILL STILL BLOW UP! AND YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE!

And if you refuse to cut ANY of the wires, EVERYTHING WILL BLOW UP ANYWAY! AND YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE! BECAUSE YOU DID NOTHING!

Also, YOUR MISTAKE WILL BLOW UP NOT JUST YOU, BUT EVERYONE ELSE TOO!

Good luck. We’re all counting on you.

I’m no Obama acolyte. But McCain MUST BE STOPPED. At all costs. If you think Bush is bad, wait until you see what a war with Iran and a full-frontal assault on what liberties we have left will do. I will probably still vote for Barr because NJ will never be a swing state. But a fellow Libertarian started a discussion about why Obama really is the much lesser of two evils in this election. I personally didn’t need convincing, but we had a good discussion.

To an extent HRC was off my radar for a couple of years. I thought of her in the vague sense of ‘yeah she’ll probably run for President in 2008′ but I didn’t give much serious thought to her prospects. My Hillary Hate didn’t really pick up until Primary Season.

I’d never say she was anything less than 100% politician before the primaries even picked up. I have even said in the past that she is a very good politician; I have no doubt she is cutthroat and would do whatever she had to do to get what she wants. I just think she’s slipped up.

As for the anger, there was Angry Hillary at the 2004 DNC, who was kind of awesome. That woman is very, very tough, but even nerves of steel start to crack at some point. When I was watching the last Hillary/Obama debate, I no longer saw as blazing-angry-politician. It was more of a “If I were Obama, I’d be afraid that Hillary would try & kill me in my sleep.”

Anecdotally, it would be interesting to see her really snap, but she’s too together for that to actually happen. Also, if Obama eventually wins the nomination, will she support him or fade into the background?

Last night just made me hate Hillary even more. She was all “considering my opponent outspent me 4:1, I would say this is a pretty great accomplishment.” And, in regards to Obama, and why she’s still campaigning, she said something along the lines of ‘Well the question everyone should be asking is ‘why can’t he close the deal’?” Shut up.

I hope her botox fails and her face winds up looking even more demented.

I don’t think it’s offensive, just illogical, (although to expect logic from anyone at this point is hoping for too much) and filed under “Thing Hillary said that annoyed me today.” I haven’t followed the primaries as closely as I did in 2004, but if I had, I’m sure I could be equally annoyed by things Obama has said that are part of campaign blah blah blah.

Part of the reason that Hillary comes off so poorly (to me) is that I think she fell victim to some of the same things Al Gore did in 04. She had a whole team of people telling her how she should act, and what Americans allegedly wanted to see, and so she became even more of a character/politician than she already was. Plus, I think she does a poor job of hiding her anger. I really don’t think she expected Obama to do as well as he has in general, and it probably makes her furious, because this was supposed to be HER political moment.

I still predict that if Hillary wins the nomination, it will delay the election of a female president by another 50 years.

The thing about hillary is we know she’s going to “let us down.”

I think people like Obama because he lets us pretend that he’s not going to let us down.

So it’s officially McCain and it’s officially going to be a stupid election.

I predicted yesterday that Hillary will take the Democratic nomination and delay the election of a female president by at least 50 years. (Of course, someone responded with “especially if she wins”) I don’t understand women who say that they’re voting for Hillary because it’s time to get a woman in the White House. I mean, I understand it, I just don’t respect it. I don’t think having Hillary as president would break down any new barriers. Hillary is a rich, white women. Most white women have it pretty good. The lives of the disadvantaged women will not change solely because there is a woman in the White House. Being female does not make her uniquely qualified to handle “women’s issues” nor is it a guarentee that she’d pay any attention to these alleged special issues.

I don’t like Hillary and I don’t like the people she surrounds herself with.

Republican John McCain said Thursday that as president he would
appoint Alan Greenspan to lead a review of the nation’s tax code —
even if the former Federal Reserve chairman was dead.

“If he’s alive or dead it doesn’t matter. If he’s dead, just prop him
up and put some dark glasses on him like, like ‘Weekend at Bernie’s,”‘
McCain joked. “Let’s get the best minds in America together and fix
this tax code.”

Too bad mccain wont be in this past February.