The Big Three – Congress, Let’s Make the Most of It

Here I am, and I’ve commented on this numerously; yet, I’ve not written anything here on my blog. Detroit, what to do with you? Congress, why would you ever dare squander this opportunity?

Obviously, one could spend forever writing this, but that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for your or my time. Congress – loan them the money for which they are asking, but put them under receivership. In short, now is the time Congress to ensure that the Big Three all live up to real CAFÉ standards.

It’s quite simple, mandate greater fuel efficiency standards that match the most efficient cars in the world, those coming out of Japan. Ensure the Big Three, if they don’t already have the technology, knocks off the designs via reverse-engineering these foreign automobiles. In addition, ensure that idle assembly plants partner with someone making alternative energy products, e.g. Wind Turbines or Solar Panels.

In all of these instances, we have an experienced labor force, well trained about the construction of automobiles. We have plants and assembly lines well tooled and equipment for two of the three above products. Lastly, for the one errant out-of-the box component, there could be retraining and retooling, or there could be the usage of the infrastructure to package and distribute, cutting the costs right out of the production.

Detroit’s issues for the past thirty years have been the result of bad management. It’s not as though the labor force is lesser than elsewhere in the world. Detroit, in both design and materials, has gone for cheap, shoddy quality and inefficiency in favor of faddish wants of car buyers at a given moment. Off the top of my head, I cannot think of one car designed by a Detroit automaker that makes me think twice about heading to the dealers.

In short, Congress has kowtowed to Detroit on emissions for far too long. They did so when Detroit, between the UAW and the Big Three execs, leveraged its weight on both sides of the political spectrum. Now is the time to make them change, while they are down; keep people employed, and keep millions with health insurance until a decent health plan comes about for our country’s people.

Australia - a new film...

This last week, with my family, I saw “Australia.” I don’t quite know what to make of the movie. It was entertaining, and it had all of the romantic and epic elements of a 1950’s-era film, including the gallant rugged horseman, the aristocratic lady, and the spiritual native boy. Rather than those elements being injected for the sake of camp, I think the filmmaker, Baz Luhrmann, genuinely works within these conventions out of sincerity.

Provided we live in an age of taking previous conventions from the Modern-era, and we turn them on their head or turn them inside out, for me, it was hard to make whether or not “Australia” was a high-camp rendition on past conventions. Of course, then I thought of it, and there was no irony injected along with these ancient conventions. For example, looking at the film poster, there is no sense of irony to it.

Quite simply, “Australia,” a long narrative, could have been made in 1958 with James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor. Of course, they both would have had to acquire Aussie accents; nevertheless, that was the feeling I had leaving the film. It’s a palatable rendition, but for my money, it certainly was nothing new or thought-provoking. Moreover, I don’t like Luhrmann’s continuous injection of music—particularly Judy Garland sung songs from “The Wizard of Oz.” To me, it seemed as though this was projected towards three very specific audiences: women, children, and Judy Garland fans.

Delinquencies

I’ve been out for almost a couple of weeks, and I had meant to write a review of my trip back to the Quad Cities. It was a delightful time, and one with a good number of interesting observations—not coming from Chicago but from Boise.

What was most important, arriving home in Moline/Fyre Lake was seeing my beloved family, including my sister, and then seeing my friends. I had a good number of runs on seem neat routes, which made the runs at home neat. The two eight-milers I ran were different: one went from 24th Ave, down to the Mississippi, off to East Moline, and then back. The other run went around Fyre Lake, back up to the Corner Mart, and then back to my folks’ house. They were fun runs.

Of course, what was also quite delightful was returning back to Boise, where I’ve bought and moved into a house. I bought the house back in October—closed on the 30th. Then, I took possession on the 31st. I moved in over subsequent weeks, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the house.

You’ll have to forgive the organization or cleanliness, as the pictures were taken following my return from a week of vacation. It’s not that I live messily, but that I still have not had a chance to finish unpacking. In addition, I had not unpacked from being away for the week of Thanksgiving.

Here are pictures:

That’s where I am, and I look forward to having visitors to Boise. It will be too much fun to have friends and loved ones come to Boise to visit.





http://picasaweb.google.com/matthewcurtisjohnson/MattSHouse113008#

Iraq boots out the Americans

http://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12650224

It’s amazing to me that we have a “withdrawal agreement” with Iraq, and it’s not been broadcast throughout the media. Of course, right now, we have the big three automakers asking for money from Congress. Nevertheless, this is pretty damn big news, in my humble opinion. Moreover, it is particularly amazing is that we’ve not had this announced via televised Presidential Announcement.

There was a quote in this article that struck me: “This is a big moment for America and Iraq, yet the Iraqi government was more regretful than jubilant, calling the deal the best it could achieve after more than a year of negotiations. The Bush administration, now in its last weeks in power, made several concessions.”

Is it me, or is it a far cry from the US being greeted as “liberators” that the above had to take place under those circumstances?

Those items are less of a concern, now that the Office of the President is being relieved of its most incompetent administration. What is more concerning, from my perspective, is the dichotomy between the Sunni and Shiite. This potential sectarian strife is not limited to Iraq, but the vacuum created by a US withdrawal, done poorly, has the potential to result in a civil war, all too easily funded by the Sunnis in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, etc… and the Shiites in Iran. I don’t know. I am hopeful and anxious to get our troops out of Iraq, but I certainly hope that the government in Iraq is well enough constructed that it can withstand those tensions.

Without the Presidential Campaign, It’s Tough to Write

My friend Martha today was curious as to why I hadn’t posted anything as of late. It’s interesting why I haven’t. I had to think about it a bit. Realizing that I’ve not had anything viciously political on which to write, I’ve been left with little to write.
Is that the case? Am I not doing anything? Of course not; truthfully, I’ve been quite busy being a new homeowner, and with a vacation back to Illinois starting Friday afternoon, I’ve not had a lot of interesting stuff to write.

In short, while I would be self-conscious about writing about just me, writing about the minutia of what I am right now doing is just not that interesting.

However, I can write about the following: Here in Boise, I have a dear friend, Betty. Betty is noteworthy because of what a great friend she is. Betty and I met at our church about a year ago. Betty is also known as “GiGi” to her great-grandkids. Betty knows me well, and a few Sundays ago, asked me what had me fidgety. I explained that I was in the process of moving, was going to try to meet up with a friend for coffee, and I had to clean a bunch at my old place.
From there, Betty insisted on helping me move my kitchen supplies. What a dear friend! Betty came over to my place, and was an absolute help! For Betty to just come over and keep me company; that would have been enough, but she packed so much of my flatware, silverware and dishes! Because I had bought brunch a few Sundays before hand, Betty insisted that Sunday of doing the same! I know. I know. I was having the hardest time accepting, and not stealing the check; however, I know better than to mess with my friend Betty. Betty is not to be messed with, so I relented!

This past Sunday, without having any signs of being fidgety, again, Betty insisted on helping me clean. I already had the majority of my cleaning done, and just a little bit to move out. Nevertheless, Betty came by and helped! As I am leaving a few days from today, I wanted to see Betty prior to leaving for Thanksgiving, so I could take her something nice.

Last week, after the first Sunday, I took Betty some potted begonias; provided that, I was going to bring her something else. As I went over to Betty’s to say “goodbye” prior Thanksgiving, I dropped by my PO Box. There I was, at the post office, and I saw in my PO Box an envelop with Betty’s return address. There I was, about to take this dear friend a gift for helping me more than she already had, and I was receiving such a lovely card.

From there, I went over to Betty’s, and she had made a nice dinner for us. I seldom, if ever, eat prior my evening runs. In this case, I was more than happy to dine with this dear friend, and the gesture itself was ever so generous and wonderful. Betty is truly a great and dear friend, and I am fortunate to have her as a friend.

It’s such a wonderful thing, friendship. I was concluding a conference call I organized with some engineering students at the University of Illinois yesterday and Village Hope, the charity with which I am working to put irrigation in Sierra Leone, and I noted that what we were doing was far from being zero-sum. That’s the amazing component with great friends and family, all wonderful people; it is quite far from zero-sum. Great family and friends are instances of “win-win” – truly great things.

The Palin Industrial Complex Redux

Following the election, aside from Obama, the person we are hearing the most of is Sarah Palin. You and I both know it. Governor Palin is receiving more press than George Bush, Dick Cheney, John McCain or Joe Biden all put together.

What can I say? You heard it here first! http://mattyjohnson.blogspot.com/2008/10/britney-industrial-complexis-it-now.html

I am telling you – there will be a massive offer for Sarah Palin to be featured in all of these various ways. When a scandal hits her due to Trooper-gate, we’ll not have heard more on one subject from Greta or Nancy since that little girl in Florida went missing. Like it or not, you can thank the GOP for sticking us with Caribou Barbie. The upside? Well, Saturday Night Live is once again funny, and we get Tina Fey in costume. We always need to see the sunny side up, I suppose.

As I wrote that, I just thought about how my normal five mile Tuesday night run is different than it used to be from Boise’s North End—surreal…

Out of Pocket

Hey Readers, I hope you are doing well. Apologies for the delay in posting, I have been in the process of moving to my new home. I was reticent to write about the process of moving into a home I bought—what, without pictures, but it’s what I’ve been up to. Please know that the pictures are forthcoming. I have not yet had a chance to take too many pictures, largely because I am in the process of settling in.

Alas, were it not for our families, most specifically our Mothers or Sisters, and imminent visits—you’ll note I am speaking from a bachelor’s perspective, we would not settle in to things as quickly as we should. What’s amazing about home ownership, as most of you know, is that it takes us back to the Problem of Universals.

In short, there is an idea of how one’s home should be, but that idea of a home in stateful perfection, while conceivable, is something that can never quite be obtained. I suppose that could fall back to one of the first rules of economics, which is to say, “Human wants are insatiable.” Of course, the second rule to accompany that is “resources are limited or finite.”

Right now, I couldn’t be happier with my home, and I don’t have too much in the way of projects. I have a few minor projects, like correcting a tree’s growth, from slightly meandering to perfectly vertical, and doing some caulking in a few little spots prior to winter. None of these things are terribly intimidating, nor am I too hurried in dealing with them. Of course, the counterbalance to completing these two minor tasks is cleaning up my old apartment, and completing the last of my move.

My move is done, with the exception of the cards and drawings hung on my refrigerator—those things and my cleaning supplies at my old place. Other than that, moving those remaining items and cleaning up after a year’s worth of living, then I’ll be free and clear. Of course, then I’ll start on the aforementioned projects, and whatever other little ones I have outside. At the same time, I have pictures, which still need to be hung or framed, and I have friends for whom to cook. Indeed, I am little homeowner/homemaker Matty, and I am having a ball.

If this is the first you are hearing about my move to buy a house and move into it. It’s been to long since we’ve spoken or corresponded. I am sorry for that. Sometimes I feel quite disconnected from many friends back in the Midwest or elsewhere. I do have guest bedrooms, so please plan a visit to Boise. I look forward to seeing you sometime soon.

I hope you are all doing well.

The Wall Street Journal's Opinion Page has always been Right Wing - The Deconstruction of a Disgraceful Plea

A dear friend forwarded me the below editorial yesterday, and as one would expect, I vehemently disagreed with Mr. Shapiro’s position. I am prone to deconstruct the essay, which one can find by clicking on the picture.

For Mr. Shapiro’s first point, the San Francisco sewage plant, it was a proposition in San Francisco. One could find that a city permitting a gay pride parade or another commemoration classless. Perhaps the citizens voting for that “classless and disrespectful” measure learned something from those dismissing exculpatory evidence during Whitewater? In this instance, they had a sense of humor about what to name something that removes waste. I enjoy how Mr. Shapiro uses the phrase, “many Americans,” lest we not forget this is a democracy. Our first questions should be about where and who descended our politics to this level in the first place, something over which we should all stop to think. President-elect Obama cited those immature in their dissent from persons’ political positions in his speech. How did we arrive at this level of immaturity?

“Mr. Bush has endured relentless attacks from the left while facing abandonment from the right.” Relentless attacks from the left? Yes, well I suppose when one has been at the helm of a ship driving into an iceberg, perhaps they deserve dissension. I don’t have the time or space for concision to lay out all of the ways this President and his administration have governed so poorly, but putting us into a war under false pretenses might be a one-off that one could mention.

Particularly, I enjoy the non sequitur used with the following passage:
“During his 2004 victory speech, the president reached out to voters who supported his opponent, John Kerry, and said, "Today, I want to speak to every person who voted for my opponent. To make this nation stronger and better, I will need your support, and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust." Those bipartisan efforts have been met with crushing resistance from both political parties.”
I am beginning to detect a theme from this essay. He uses simply the words of the man, not his actions to support his point. In this case, Mr. Shapiro uses the President’s words subsequent an election, and speaks as though his administration “worked to earn our support,” or “did all it could to deserve our trust.” What evidence does Mr. Shapiro provide to support that President Bush has done these things, and has been mistreated otherwise? He provides no supporting evidence.

Mr. Shapiro in his next paragraphs mentions a litany of political failures by the Bush administration; however, he does nothing but highlight areas where Bush has miserably failed. Reading this is laughable, and is being published in a paper purchased by the same individuals who own Fox News. I can continue to write over this, but would ask that you look at any one of these qualitative propositions, and tell me where I am wrong. This essay is perhaps the ultimate in the Right’s insults to our intelligence.

Mr. Shapiro, One reaps what they sow...



The Treatment of Bush Has Been a Disgrace
What must our enemies be thinking?
By JEFFREY SCOTT SHAPIRO
WSJ—November 5, 2008

Earlier this year, 12,000 people in San Francisco signed a petition in support of a proposition on a local ballot to rename an Oceanside sewage plant after George W. Bush. The proposition is only one example of the classless disrespect many Americans have shown the president.
According to recent Gallup polls, the president's average approval rating is below 30% -- down from his 90% approval in the wake of 9/11. Mr. Bush has endured relentless attacks from the left while facing abandonment from the right.
This is the price Mr. Bush is paying for trying to work with both Democrats and Republicans. During his 2004 victory speech, the president reached out to voters who supported his opponent, John Kerry, and said, "Today, I want to speak to every person who voted for my opponent. To make this nation stronger and better, I will need your support, and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust."
Those bipartisan efforts have been met with crushing resistance from both political parties.
The president's original Supreme Court choice of Harriet Miers alarmed Republicans, while his final nomination of Samuel Alito angered Democrats. His solutions to reform the immigration system alienated traditional conservatives, while his refusal to retreat in Iraq has enraged liberals who have unrealistic expectations about the challenges we face there.
It seems that no matter what Mr. Bush does, he is blamed for everything. He remains despised by the left while continuously disappointing the right.
Yet it should seem obvious that many of our country's current problems either existed long before Mr. Bush ever came to office, or are beyond his control. Perhaps if Americans stopped being so divisive, and congressional leaders came together to work with the president on some of these problems, he would actually have had a fighting chance of solving them.
Like the president said in his 2004 victory speech, "We have one country, one Constitution and one future that binds us. And when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America."
To be sure, Mr. Bush is not completely alone. His low approval ratings put him in the good company of former Democratic President Harry S. Truman, whose own approval rating sank to 22% shortly before he left office. Despite Mr. Truman's low numbers, a 2005 Wall Street Journal poll found that he was ranked the seventh most popular president in history.
Just as Americans have gained perspective on how challenging Truman's presidency was in the wake of World War II, our country will recognize the hardship President Bush faced these past eight years -- and how extraordinary it was that he accomplished what he did in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
The treatment President Bush has received from this country is nothing less than a disgrace. The attacks launched against him have been cruel and slanderous, proving to the world what little character and resolve we have. The president is not to blame for all these problems. He never lost faith in America or her people, and has tried his hardest to continue leading our nation during a very difficult time.
Our failure to stand by the one person who continued to stand by us has not gone unnoticed by our enemies. It has shown to the world how disloyal we can be when our president needed loyalty -- a shameful display of arrogance and weakness that will haunt this nation long after Mr. Bush has left the White House.

Words not Meeting their Requirements

Admittedly, I was largely reticent to even begin writing about last night, 4-November’s events. While I could talk or write about it endlessly, I’ll try and keep my words to a minimum. I don’t think I have the time or concision to keep my thoughts on yesterday’s events well enough edited to keep my audience reading.

I’m sitting down today refreshed; refreshed, because my confidence in this country is still in tact. A friend and I emailed yesterday, and we were both nervous about the day’s events. Of course, we had hope, but the consequences of the contrary were too frightful to rest easily.

I digress. I was going to keep this somewhat concise; largely, because I didn’t think I could put together something worthy of our new direction.

First, as McCain had mentioned in his gracious concession speech, what an historic achievement for this country and our integrity for equal protection and equal rights, for all people. I watched young women and men in Spellman College, in Atlanta, dancing and tearful at their hopes and dreams finally coming to reality. In addition, to all of that, to see Oprah and Jesse Jackson in Grant Park, also with tears of joy and solace in their eyes, was simply majestic. Quite clearly, I cannot begin to imagine what the election of an African-American President must feel like to a race of people who have dealt with oppression, in some fashion, since our continent was settled; nevertheless, I have to imagine it was quite reconciling, a final triumph over Jim Crowe.

Secondly, as I was watching the shots from Spellman and Chicago’s Grant Park, I saw a camera shot of young white men and women, jumping around and dancing; also, as though they were in a frat house. I suppose that goes back to something I wrote about some time ago; quite simply, Obama is meta-racial—some refer to it as post-racial, but since I called it “meta-racial” I am sticking with it for consistency’s sake.

Of course, speaking to what a diverse group of young men and women were dancing about, all at the same time as a largely African-American group were dancing down in Atlanta, it was not only change in the face of the races of those that hold the White House. No, right now, our country has finally decided to overwhelmingly depart from the politics of this administration and the politics of the boomer generation’s “liberal vs. conservative.”

When Obama spoke last night, he gracefully mentioned those who will immaturely mock the efforts to progress this country, moving it back from these horrible eight years of Republican Rule. We have so much work to do, and it is going to be difficult; however, we are in the process of correcting things, only to make them better for us and our children. Even having to get up from a comfortable night of sleep this morning, I was comforted by the fact that I can now look at the outcome of this election with satisfaction about its outcome. It’s been time for too long now, and we can rejoice that someone intelligent and right headed is heading back to the White House.

A Wonderful Letter - Please Read

I Didn't Vote For Obama Today
November 4, 2008, 9:37AM

I have a confession to make.

I did not vote for Barack Obama today.

I've openly supported Obama since March. But I didn't vote for him today.

I wanted to vote for Ronald Woods. He was my algebra teacher at Clark Junior High in East St. Louis, IL. He died 15 years ago when his truck skidded head-first into a utility pole. He spent many a day teaching us many things besides the Pythagorean Theorem. He taught us about Medgar Evers, Ralph Abernathy, John Lewis and many other civil rights figures who get lost in the shadow cast by Martin Luther King, Jr.

But I didn't vote for Mr. Woods.

I wanted to vote for Willie Mae Cross.
She owned and operated Crossroads Preparatory Academy for almost 30 years, educating and empowering thousands of kids before her death in 2003. I was her first student. She gave me my first job, teaching chess and math concepts to kids in grades K-4 in her summer program. She was always there for advice, cheer and consolation. Ms. Cross, in her own way, taught me more about walking in faith than anyone else I ever knew.But I didn't vote for Ms. Cross.

I wanted to vote for Arthur Mells Jackson, Sr. and Jr. Jackson Senior was a Latin professor. He has a gifted school named for him in my hometown. Jackson Junior was the pre-eminent physician in my hometown for over 30 years. He has a heliport named for him at a hospital in my hometown. They were my great-grandfather and great-uncle, respectively.But I didn't vote for Prof. Jackson or Dr. Jackson.

I wanted to vote for A.B. Palmer. She was a leading civil rights figure in Shreveport, Louisiana, where my mother grew up and where I still have dozens of family members. She was a strong-willed woman who earned the grudging respect of the town's leaders because she never, ever backed down from anyone and always gave better than she got. She lived to the ripe old age of 99, and has a community center named for her in Shreveport.But I didn't vote for Mrs. Palmer.

I wanted to vote for these people, who did not live to see a day where a Black man would appear on their ballots on a crisp November morning.

In the end, though, I realized that I could not vote for them any more than I could vote for Obama himself.

So who did I vote for?

No one.

I didn't vote. Not for President, anyway.

Oh, I went to the voting booth. I signed, was given my stub, and was walked over to a voting machine. I cast votes for statewide races and a state referendum on water and sewer improvements.

I stood there, and I thought about all of these people, who influenced my life so greatly. But I didn't vote for who would be the 44th President of the United States.

When my ballot was complete, except for the top line, I finally decided who I was going to vote for - and then decided to let him vote for me. I reached down, picked him up, and told him to find Obama's name on the screen and touch it.

And so it came to pass that Alexander Reed, age 5, read the voting screen, found the right candidate, touched his name, and actually cast a vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Oh, the vote will be recorded as mine. But I didn't cast it.

Then again, the person who actually pressed the Obama box and the red "vote" button was the person I was really voting for all along. It made the months of donating, phonebanking, canvassing, door hanger distributing, sign posting, blogging, arguing and persuading so much sweeter.

So, no, I didn't vote for Barack Obama.

I voted for a boy who now has every reason to believe he, too, can grow up to be anything he wants...even President.

SPAM from McCain the Morning of an Election?

I woke up in the middle of the night last night, and had a hard time falling back to sleep. As such, I got up from my bed, and went to check email. I know, this is starting out like an exciting post...

Anyway, as I was looking at my email, I found a damned bit of SPAM from John McCain! Let's line this out together:

1. I hate spam, which makes me dislike those who sent it to me


2. I've not received any spam from Obama


3. Like so many others in this country, I've already voted


4. I don't think a whole lot of McCain's decision making capabilities, predicated on the fact he picked Sarah Palin as his running mate...


5. I can only assume he bought my email address from the same people that sold it to the Viagra, Enhancement, Meet Local Women, cheap Rolex's, or Pharmaceuticals folks that spam me...

Here's the spam, sans graphics...

My Friend,
From the time I entered the Naval Academy at age seventeen I have been privileged and honored to serve my country.
Throughout my years of service, I've been faced with challenges where I could have taken the easy way out and given up. But I'm an American and I never give up. Instead, I choose to show courage and stand up and fight for the country I love. Today, I am asking you to stand with me and to fight for our country's future.
Our country faces enormous challenges and our next president must be ready to lead on day one. My lifetime of experience has prepared me to lead our great nation. I'm prepared to bring solutions to our economic challenges, bring our troops home in victory and improve our nation's healthcare system.
Time and time again, my country has saved my life and I owe her more than she has ever owed me. I have chosen to show my gratitude through a life of service to our country and tomorrow, you will have a choice before you.
I humbly ask you to make the choice that will allow me to serve my country a little while longer by casting your vote to elect me as your next President of the United States.
Finally, I ask that you never forget that much has been sacrificed to protect our right to vote. We must never forget those Americans who, with their courage, with their sacrifice, and with their lives, have protected our freedom. It is my great hope that you will exercise your right to vote as an American tomorrow.
I thank you for your kind support, your dedication to our cause, and most importantly I thank you for your vote.

With sincere appreciation,

John McCain

You lost me there Senator...

Remiss and Good People

As of late, I’ve been feeling remiss about not writing more than I have. I don’t know that I can articulate very well my feelings of neglect on posting to my blog, but I suppose I’ll take a stab.

If you read this very often, you know that I just joined facebook this last weekend. In doing so, I’ve been rewarded with a compliment on this blog by my dear friend Wendy. Wendy is a wonderful and quite down-to-earth woman, for those of you that do not know her. Receiving a compliment on my postings was both flattering, and for me, it highlighted that it has been a bit since I last posted. On that note, I should dedicate this blog to my dear friend Wendy. To further that, I should note, Wendy, Idaho is full of people from Wisconsin.

The bar near where I currently live, it flies a Packer flag on Sundays. In addition, there is a great young family at my church, both the mother and father are officers in the Air Force, and are around our age. Anyway, they have two children, one of whom is a little girl between three-and-four. The little lady came to church a few weeks ago in a dress modeled after a Green Bay Packers’ Cheerleader’s outfit. It was undoubtedly precious. The father is serving off in the Middle East, which must be so challenging to care for the two kids with her husband being far off; nevertheless, like a good Wisconsin woman, the mother brings those two kids to church every Sunday.

In addition to that, another means of motivation for writing today was the pleasure that I had in running with my friend Jenny Stinson last night. You can see Jenny’s blog up, just to the right of this posting “Runny4yourlife.” Jenny and I ran the trails by where I live, which are a lot of fun, but they are continuously challenging. I admitted to Jenny last night, the trail I run for my Wednesday 8-miler, “Lower Hull’s Gulch,” has two-and-a-half miles of substantial uphill. That uphill is marked with rocks, and it definitely builds up one’s soleus muscles, ankles, and gastrocnemius. In any event, it’s a great run, which always reminds me that no matter how much I run, or how strong I am, challenges are always out there, and I can always improve my running.

I guess that’s the sort-of-meta thing I think about running, right? It’s a sport in which progress is so immediately quantifiable. I suppose one could say the same thing about swimming, cycling or golf, but the act of running is something so minimalist, it is ultimately reduced to two areas: physicality and mentality. The simplicity and determination of the sport are two things I absolutely adore about it.

I digress. Running with my friend Jenny was a terrific Wednesday-night run, and Jenny, right now, is training for a 50k. A 50K is thirty miles, which is four more than a marathon—err, 3.8. Anyway, it’s a 50k trail run, which is why Jenny thought of being a rare improvement on the enjoyment of my Wednesday night run. Beyond that, Jenny flattered me by noting things I had said in my blog.

It’s tough to express just how flattering it is to speak with a friend about something random, like having met a lovely woman in a coffee shop, by the coffee shop’s specific name, and for the friend to ask a question citing a past blog post. In this case, Jenny was spot on, which was quite flattering. My friend Jenny, a fellow Chicago transplant, is a dear friend of mine to have here in Boise. Not only are Jenny’s daughter, son-in-law and Grandson Marshall terrific people, but she has lovely friends, current Chicagoland residents, with whom I had the pleasure of dining before the City of Trees Marathon, and her beautiful golden Fremont. In short, Jenny keeps great company, has a wonderful family, and a great puppy dog.

Lastly, I should conclude with what a pleasure it is to have my friend Ben in town this week. Ben was in Eastern Idaho with other friends for the end of last week and beginning of this week; they were there hunting elk. Ben is here in my place until Sunday, about which I couldn’t be happier. In coming days, I’ll probably post something, which will further indicate why it is all the more fun and important to have a dear friend in town.

I guess on that note, I should be off to take care of some things for the remainder of the working week. In any event, I wanted to ensure I put up a good post, and noted some of the most immediate joys around this week.

Facebook and Detachment

I love writing for my blog, if for no other reason than expressing that which I’ve felt over a given period. One cannot deny the experience is not quite like a journal, which I’ve never been as good at keeping as corresponding with friends. As I am writing that, I am thinking of what had me write the above title. At the prompting of several friends over the past year, I’ve finally joined Facebook. Having done so, I am experiencing this incredible sensation predicated on my geographic and lifestyle changes.

Before I write further, I should preface this by saying I’m not regretting my move, nor am I regretting my aforesaid lifestyle changes. Of course, if you don’t know me well, the move was from Chicago to Boise, Idaho. From the lifestyle change perspective, we are speaking of my having traded working hard/playing hard for working well/living well, including doing a lot of running, all of that post-trauma.

Back to my point, joining Facebook has provided me a reconnection to many with whom I’ve not kept in touch. In so doing, I am realizing just how dynamic my friends’ lives have been. Being a human, like many of us, I tend to be rather self-centered. With that self-investment, it’s too easy to lost track of time and years gone by.

A few examples, browsing the page of one lady I knew, back at Illinois, I saw pictures of a friend of mine who went to Iowa. My friend, I’ve known him for twenty-plus years, and the girl, I knew as a younger classmate who worked at a sister bar to the one at which I bartended. Seeing the two of them in pictures, I asked my friend Paul if they were or had been dating. It turns out they have been dating for approximately four months. That’s a rather small example, but the point is that the little city of Chicago I left behind didn’t keep people from intermingling and meeting one another.

Of course, steps taken even further have been to see another woman, whom I one knew well, now married, looking as lovely as ever. In short, I always had a crush on this woman, and to see that she is now married, it leaves one thinking of years past. Of course, the last time I saw her was at Oasis playing UIC Pavilion back in 2005, when I had a girlfriend with whom I was enamored. The point is to say though that seeing these progressions leaves me feeling a bit intimidated about how fast life moves not just for me individually, but for everyone else. It’s the feeling that one doesn’t disagree with, hearing someone speak about it. Rather, it is all too easy right now to say, “No kidding, Sherlock? Everyone’s lives change? Surprise!”

With all of that said, however, it does not keep one from noticing it more vibrantly with this new medium through which it comes. It’s rather surreal, to say the least. It makes one miss those who are back in places of yore, be it Sherrard, Champaign, Memphis, or Chicago. Nevertheless, I do love having moved to Boise, the natural wonders are too nice to refuse.

Owyhee Lake - close to Boise

PS - I don't think I can / I am making it a rule to not access Facebook at work. If you send me a friend connection, and I don't confirm straight away, it's because of that. It will be later in the day.

"Joe the Plumber" the Poor Man Is Frought with Issues

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/16/joe-the-plumber-is-it-see_n_135211.html

Long and short, Joe would receive a tax cut under Obama, as his business makes lees than $250,000 per year. Moreover, Joe has tax paying issues. In short, Senator McCain, your utilization of this man was poor judgement. Perhaps not as poor as picking Sarah Palin, but your consistency gives reason to fear your success in the coming election.

Pictures, Songs, Haircuts and Fashion, How They Evoke bygone Times

This morning, I was visiting http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/, reading about one of my favorite band’s album’s reissues being postponed. In doing that, I see this picture—the one off to the right, and am struck with this wave of nostalgia and passed time. For me, it’s quite amazing to see haircuts, colors, and photo components none of which would be considered part of contemporary fashion. At the same time, because of what has since occurred, those items seem all the more out of time.

Since this photo was taken, for bands in Pavement’s genre, recollection of 60’s and 70’s garage rock meeting dive bar aesthetics has been dominant. Beyond that the styles of college-aged kids, even those revolting against their contemporaries’ affluent aesthetic, have changed substantially. I realize this is a bit meandering, but in how cyclical fashion aesthetics are, it’s hard to write about it without a flow chart. The ebb and flow are interesting.

I digress. Seeing this photo brought me back to thinking of just how much time has passed since this photo was taken for this no broken-up band, at the same time, how much time has since passed for me. The year this photo was taken, I was either concluding my freshman year at Illinois or starting my sophomore year. I was quite into being a fraternity boy, and working on enjoying the fruits of my labor during pledgeship. It all seems quite long ago, and evokes this time about which I seldom think. I think about later years in University, but seldom back specifically to the year of 1997.

Of course, sometimes I wonder if that is because 1997 was one of the easy and comfortable years of Clinton pax-Americana. Because the events of the Balkans and Africa were quite far removed from college students out having a good time, and none of my friends were subject to having their reserve duty called up, thinking about the world stage at that point wasn’t a question. I wonder now how nineteen-year-olds find themselves in those similar circumstances.

I guess that begs a great question: is it better to live in days of Halcyon or days of concern, which keeps one focused on the world’s events?

Sarah First

Governor Palin, are “pro-America” places just like the place in your home where a member of the Alaskan Independence Party lives?

Everybody’s Gotta Make a Living – Vanity Redux and Old Folks

Are we a culture obsessed with Vanity and Desperation?
You’ve probably seen me write about SPAM before, and read my thoughts about “Truth to Market.” To sum it up, we see spam about erectile dysfunction, male organ size, pharmaceuticals and clothing all the time. Spammers have one clear objective, of course, which is to make money. As such, they spam on the aforementioned topics with the hope that will grab as many desperate folks as possible. By the same token, the one liners, as here demonstrated, are overly pervasive on the Internet. It’s as though late night/early morning ad buyers have found they can penetrate a broader demographic via the Internet than through their former medium.

What does this say about our culture? Again, I think I am only stating something at which we all nod our heads, but it’s probably one of the greater flaws of our culture. By that I mean the guise of “having it all.” We are a nation that has waged a war, at the same time telling people to “spend, spend and spend,” does our Government sell the same delusions? Clearly, in the process both the citizens and the Government of the United States have run up a bundle of credit card debt.

My point is simply that we have cultural issues that we need to repair from our grassroots. It’s evident by what is marketed to us. I could probably spend more time writing on this, but for now, work is more of a priority.

Good News in the Morning

I woke up this morning, and was delighted to hear Colin Powell endorsing my candidate for President. Powell is a respected and intelligent man; moreover, he was betrayed by the current administration, which gives him all the more cause to fight for Obama’s campaign. Let’s be frank about something, John McCain, while he is angered at the allegation, does not represent a shift in policy from the current administration—probably the worst President in our history.

I digress. I was delighted to see one more component fall to Obama’s favor, and glad to see it was someone whose support could silence one of the many attempted criticisms of Obama. Over the next few weeks, we’ll see McCain and his surrogates clutching at straws, attempting to find something that works against Obama. It will be obnoxious and annoying, but it’s the cost of doing business.

Out of respect for John McCain, after he hopefully loses, I hope he returns to the Senate, and will end his campaign. McCain’s campaign and his erratic behavior in it have changed my opinion of the man and his faculties. It’s too bad, but he doesn’t care what I think, so it simply is what it is.

Working on a Saturday, and all the Thoughts that Come into One’s Head

It’s funny, I don’t know if I am into writing about thoughts as much as I am thinking about the various websites I’ve been visiting today. Right now, my Shuffle is playing “Check Your Ride,” by Tribe Called Quest, but I was last reading an article about Memphis-rocker Jay Reatard—that’s how he spells it.

Anyway, as I was reading about Jay Reatard’s latest album on Pitchfork, I was thinking to myself, third-person, “Wow, what is Matt doing right now, but sitting for his twelfth hour on a Saturday, at his work desk.” Of course, admittedly, I did run seven miles from about 7:30 to 8:35, plus the time back at my place to shower and change. That involved leaving work where I was earlier and coming back. That’s my Saturday, and of course, because I had to open a conference bridge and run this morning, I went to bed wicked early last night.

Apologies, I’m not trying to whine. My point in writing that is to note, I’ve had a lot of time to think. Of course, seemingly, I always have time to think. I live alone, run alone, and do most everything else alone. For some reason, however, being at the office alone has provided ample time with fewer distractions to update myself on media.

Of course, if you read this blog ever – bless your heart, you probably know that I spent the bulk of my time reading http://www.economist.com/, http://www.cnn.com/, http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/, http://www.espn.com/, http://www.slate.com/ or http://www.salon.com/. Yeah, politics, tunes, or sports, I am an action-packed man—a man of action.

As an aside, I thought of something as I wrote that. Thursday night, I went running in the dark, which meant I didn’t run the trails, instead I ran Hill Road, here in Boise. Hill is a great road, with a nice long sidewalk and a great amount of bike trails on it, both of which make it a safe and easy run, particularly in the dark.

I took Hill from Harrison Boulevard to 28th Street. I loved running down 28th Street! What was quite lovable about it was how running down it immediately took me back to both Memphis and Chicago. At times, it looked like running in the North part of Memphis’s Midtown. In the case of Chicago, it reminded me of my runs this last fall between Lincoln Square and Ravenswood.* Between the dark, the cool fall temperature, the age of the houses and buildings, and the era in which the street was expanded to what it is, I was reminded of these different areas.

28th St. Boise

Nostalgia is such an amazing feeling, isn’t it? Certainly, different senses initiate different components of nostalgia, but above and beyond that, once one experiences it, they then have the cognitive processing that takes place. For example, in this case, I was immediately reminded of Memphis and Chicago, but then I went into my knowledge of things and analyzed why I was so reminded of those two different places.

I guess that’s what one thinks of while they’re sitting at their office on a Saturday.


*For those of you that don’t know, Ravenswood, in a way, envelopes Lincoln Square on the East and West.

Matty’s Life…

There may be those of you wondering, “Matt, what are you going to do after this election?” I imagine most of you are probably thinking about such things. As for what I have going on, post-marathon, outside of work, etc… well, there isn’t a lot too interesting at the moment, that I am quite ready to disclose to the public. Let’s just say that I am working my way into something a little more “homey.” In the meantime, I am just working, etc…

Of course, there is something else about which I can speak… Obviously, I go to CNN.com pretty regularly, and I have a bit of an obsession with a woman in a Chevron banner ad. Hello – she’s a babe. I wonder if she lives in Boise. Yeah – that’s about what I have going on right now – dreaming about a woman helping Chevron market themselves under the guise of cleaner energy. Yeah – clearly, I have a lot going on…

Joe the Plumber—What Happens When the Economy Falls out from under Him?

Senator McCain,

You performed better last night than you did in previous debates. Of course, our friend (the guy over here to the left), he can’t afford to provide his family healthcare, send his kids to college or to pay for his fleet of trucks’ gas. Why? How can he not? Let me give you the quick and dirty:

1) Your healthcare plan is horrible. No one in their right mind, when studying it, will give it the time of day. It’s poor. While you speak about competition and deregulation, in concert with a $5000 tax cut, which will nullify existing employer-based healthcare, you are forgetting one thing: healthcare needs regulation to protect the sick and poor huddled masses. If you weren’t in the Senate and didn’t have a job, because you’ve had skin cancer, you couldn’t go out to get your own private plan. Insurance companies are in a numbers game; therefore, they do not like folks who have reoccurring conditions—cancer-survivor? Living with lupus? Have multiple sclerosis? Sorry, tough luck. Your healthcare plan promotes exactly the opposite of health.

2) College under you, well you’re offering nothing different. Moreover, your economic policies show no substantive difference to that of the preceding President. If our buddy to the left can’t afford it now, he sure won’t tomorrow. Ergo, continuing on the downward spiral—strike two.

3) Gas? Drill baby drill? No – that won’t work either. As Senator Obama has stated on more than one occasion, we have 5% of the world’s resources and use 25%. Math and economics might not be your strong suit, but seriously, play that out over five-ten years. Yeah – that doesn’t work. Meanwhile, because of the continuation of Republican not “tax and spend” but “run-up-debt and spend,” our US Dollar is worth even less against the world currency market. In short, your planned continuation of this imbecile’s administration, well, it’s just not going to work.

In short, in case you haven’t figured it out, we’re stuck with a problem, and you’re not offering anything distinguishable. Watching you last night, you could have done something revolutionary. Right during your rant about not being George Bush, you could have laid out a point-by-point list of things that separate you from him. Oh yeah, that’s right, you didn’t.

Sincerely,

Matt

Graciousness and Allowing Things to Fold over on Their Own

I’ve been a bit out of the news cycle as of the past few days, but I was unsurprised by the outcome of Pain’s “Troopergate.” In addition, of course, I did see news footage showing McCain’s delusional claim, “We have him right where we want him,” to a group of supporters. It’s entertaining and sadly ironic how McCain, his team and the RNC are losing this campaign all on their own.

Like our current President, McCain and his team haven’t seemed to garner lessons history teaches us. Since their Convention bubble, burst by the economy’s misfortune, they’ve spent all of their time speaking negatively about Barrack Obama. Ironically, when Hillary’s campaign fell into its dregs, it did the same thing. I say “ironically,” because that was only five-six months ago the wheels fell off the Clinton’s bus, campaigning against Barrack Obama.

What is quite amazing, aside from the shear number of “Hope” stickers one sees around any given city, is that Obama and his campaign are legitimately campaigning through a means of “New Politics.” In Obama’s case, in spite of character assassination attempts by his opponents, he’s kept his cool. In all of these cases, the man has simply brushed this proverbial “shit” off his shoulder.

It delights me to see that Obama has simply stood back, allowing McCain to lampoon himself. Obama has played it quite clean, and has done little quid-pro-quo with the character assassination components. Outside the advertisement acknowledging McCain being one of the Keating Five, outside of speaking to it during speaking engagements, he has spent little time being bothered. It’s quite delightful to see a campaign and its surrogates allow their opponents to self-disintegrate.

Perhaps I am blinded by my bias? If I am missing something, please comment on this, because I am quite interested in anything Obama has done on par with the Ayers/Wright/Rezko nonsense, none of which are new, nor have the past relationships received “unethical” status from any bodies of Law.
For my Conservative friends and family, I cannot imagine the embarrassment you must have over Sarah Palin. I can now see why I heard her too easily dismissed back in June, during that VP-speculation period.

Class Warfare and How the Republicans Have Turned into What They Are

I cannot do David Brooks' essay justice today, so I'll simply provide the link. Brooks is a conservative, and represents the intellectual-side of the party: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/opinion/10brooks.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

Desperado – This Is Damned Absurd

McCain and Palin’s campaign as of late evokes the words of “The Eagles:”
Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?

You been out ridin’ fences for so long now

Oh, you’re a hard one

I know that you got your reasons

These things that are pleasin’ you

Can hurt you somehow

Desperado, oh, you ain’t gettin’ no youger

Your pain and your hunger,

they’re drivin’ you home

And freedom, oh freedom well,

that’s just some people talkin’

Your prison is walking through this world all alone

The absurdity of their attempts to re-tread the Ayers component is absurd. Of course, there is a strategy behind it, make no mistake. The point behind bringing this up again, in conjunction with trying to make Obama’s campaign looks suspicious (contributions information), and continuing to call him by his full name, including middle name Hussein, leaves me thinking just how desperate McCain’s campaign is.

Economy? Iraq? Anything that is pertinent to the American psyche these days? No – on those components, they lose. McCain’s policy positions are absurd, just like his “surprise” buy up bad mortgages plan “unveiled” during Tuesday’s Town Hall.

McCain’s campaign right now is losing, and it’s not getting better for them. Their last ditch effort is to get as dirty as possible, which McCain was to have been above. Clearly, out of desperation, he and his campaign have sunk to new lows. One can tell that by the forwards that come into our Inboxes these days. Funny—how come these brilliant nuggets of “Truth” about Obama aren’t carried by the news? No – instead they come to a select few, and are forwarded out. Being deceitful or casting false assertions wasn’t acceptable in the first grade. How the Right Wing has continued playing just as dirty as ever; it’s shameful.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/09/campaign.wrap/index.html

A Momentary Lapse of GOP-Backing Responses

While I’ll occasionally receive a forward about Obama being a suspect alien, I’ve not heard a thing of substance arguing against Obama in weeks. Have Obama supporters, like me, made so many good points that these friends now see the light? Is the campaign that far gone for those rooting on McCain? Have McCain and Palin done so horribly that those supporting them no longer have the strength or desire to continue doing so?

Sincerely, you know who you are. If you at one point were supporting McCain, why has the conversation ceased? I’m trying so hard to figure out why none of my GOP-backing friends are telling me about Obama’s middle name, how he is just too “Liberal,” or how McCain is so much the better American.

Is it the VP pick, in the face of what has turned out to be the worst economic crisis since our grandparents were children? If I were a McCain advocate, I would have lost my marbles on the Palin pick with the economy in its dire straights. McCain has Mitt Romney for all of his flaws, who was a successful businessman; moreover, he fits most of the Right’s plank positions. Why didn’t McCain pick Mitt Romney?

Let’s back that up a bit, perhaps Romney could have been McCain’s golden goose. Why not? For one, we know that McCain hated Romney, so much so that McCain couldn’t face him during their debates. Senator McCain, that sounds like a temperament issue. Okay, that to the side, even if that was not an issue, what else is there? Oh – I get I, Romney is a Mormon. In part, because of Mike Huckabee’s mid-primary efforts, Romney’s religion would have likely kept many in the South sitting on their couches on 4-November. At least that was the GOP establishment, ala Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, et al, were probably saying—underground, at least.

For Senator McCain, we have a downward trending economy—we’ll call it that; although, it’s an understatement. In addition, we have an uninspired pick for Vice President, for which the following nicely sums up: http://www.salon.com/opinion/keillor/2008/10/08/palin/. Friends and countrymen, I know it must suck advocating on behalf of a party and candidate continuing George W. Bush’s incompetence right into the next campaign. I feel bad for you. I don’t think anyone will smugly laugh at you if you just concede that it’s about time for genuine change in Washington.

Feelings on Reproductive Rights - Either Way, the Verdict Is for Obama

I received the following from the Matthew 25 Network, and thought I would share. In spite of your opinion on Reproductive Rights - please read the following from Douglas W. Kmiec:

Can you be pro-life and support Senator Obama? The answer - upon even a moment's reflection - is "unequivocally yes."

Please visit our new online resource Pro-Life, Pro-Obama created for those in the Pro-Life community that may be considering support for Barack Obama for President.

Learn the facts to share with your friends, family and faith community members. I hope you will visit today at: ProLifeProObama.com

We are all called to build a culture of life - but there's more to it than just hoping that the next Supreme Court justice somehow deals with Roe v. Wade. A bad economy is threatening to human life. Women facing the moral tragedy of abortion - are facing it, now, today - and they need a supportive community and tangible help, not condemnation.

As Ronald Reagan's legal counsel and as a dean and professor at Catholic University and Notre Dame, I have worked to put the law on the side of life.

But after 35 years, a new approach is needed. Barack Obama's strengthening of support for prenatal care, health care, maternity leave, and adoption will make the difference. Studies confirm it.

We are but a few weeks away from a new beginning in America.


I am inspired by what Senator Obama calls "the promise of America -- the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation in the fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper. That's the promise we need to keep."

That is the change we need right now. And it is within our grasp.

Thank you for visiting the site and we look forward to being in touch,

Douglas W. Kmiec
In Partnership with the Matthew 25 Network

Listen to our latest radio ad featuring Douglas Kmiec and his message of support for Senator Obama. Help us run this ad in key battleground states by making a donation today.
Douglas W. Kmiec holds the endowed chair in Constitutional Law at Pepperdine University. Prior to that, he was dean and St. Thomas More Professor of Law at Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He also served as Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Legal Counsel under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He is author of the new book, Can A Catholic Support Him? Asking the Big Question About Barack Obama.

* The views and statements expressed by Professor Kmiec are personal and are not intended to represent the views of Pepperdine University or any other institution.

The Britney Industrial Complex—Is It now the Palin Industrial Complex?

Earlier this year, there was a great deal of discussion around “The Britney Industrial Complex.” Both NPR and the Washington Post did articles/segments on the subject, after an article by Portfolio Magazine: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/21/AR2008012101691.html

The point was simple, to quote from the Post:
“Portfolio's Britney Industrial Complex illustrates the economy's need for celebrities. Vast amounts of money can be made by manufacturing ones who appeal particularly to the young. Spears was once one of those, although at age 26 she has leaped that demographic boundary. Still, the breadth of her drawing power cannot be fully estimated. Portfolio's concoction does not, for instance, measure her worth to the morning television shows -- "Today," etc. -- which on any given day are mere adjuncts to the fan magazines. Nor can it measure what she is worth to us as a topic of common interest for our communal water-cooler moments. Even this column has, in a sense, exploited her.” You can see the Portfolio article here: http://www.portfolio.com/culture-lifestyle/culture-inc/arts/2008/01/14/Britney-Spears-Career-Analysis

Recalling back to the beginning of the year and the end of last year, there is a strident similarity between John McCain’s Vice Presidential nominee and the woman who acquired a faux British accent just prior shaving her head. The point is simple, there parallels are too consistent; moreover, the judgment is ridiculous.

Our media plays to a market, and our market has truth to it, which is to say that if Palin didn’t sell magazines or bring back SNL’s popularity, they wouldn’t make a thing out of her. Taking a step back, and reading myself write about this woman, I am only a reflection of the society from which I come, I am only reiterating the same bit of media. The point is, McCain will most likely lose this election, but even after 4-November, we’ll have a new celebrity over which to fawn. With that new celebrity and celebrity family, perhaps we’ll even have reality television shows. The media potential is limitless, and when you are finally suffering Palin-overload, come two more months, you can thank John McCain for introducing her Wasilla-Hillbillies to the US.

Conversations with the Senator

I’ll not go back over all of the outstanding components from yesterday. Rather than do that I’ll simply say, let’s keep it clean. For one, you’re not looking well, which doesn’t encourage people to vote for you. Please disregard that; that was not substantive.

While your campaign has gone negative, in the light of the economy going badly, perhaps you need to discuss how you are going to change things. We need to cooperate on this, because I cannot think of areas where you want to deviate from the current Administration.

Wait! I know, we can talk about how you’re a maverick! Shoot, you’re right; Governor Palin already beat that one to death. Okay, let’s go back to the Economy, you are going to disproportionately cut taxes for those making less that $250,000 a year! Oh, that’s right; you’re not going to do that. I am mixing you up with your opponent.

What is it then you’re going to do? BINGO! Your plan is now to get rid of health insurance for everyone who receives it through their work! Senator, I don’t think that’s a winner. Why are you doing that?

Wait! Competition and Deregulation? Wasn’t that the justification for eliminating regulation around banks and the financial industry? Doesn’t that open up the door for more sick people being poorly covered by some sort of “discount” health plan? That too is pretty nasty.

Let’s backup a step and recap. Right now, you are continuing the same economic and foreign policy components as the Bush Administration. In doing that, you are going to reduce controls over healthcare? No wonder you’re so far behind in the polls. Yikes.

It’s a good thing you have that Governor from Alaska. She really knows her stuff, right?

Poll of Economists from the Economist

http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displayStory.cfm?source=hptextfeature&story_id=12342127

Random Thoughts on a Monday – Adjunct from Yesterday’s Conversation with Audrey

Yesterday, I was sitting at Java, doing work on my PMI Presentation for later this month. I saw Audrey, a woman I met late last month, come through the door. Audrey is pursuing her RN, and I’ve run into her studying once or twice. I was speaking her, and asked her what she was studying. Audrey responded with “oncology.”

That took me in a new direction, and I asked her where they were finding causes for cancer. Largely, to fix a problem, one needs to find its causation. Of course, the second I asked her this, I thought and quickly changed my perspective. “Causes of cancer are like the weather, aren’t they? The systems are so complex and multi-dimensional, predicting cancer in someone is like predicting the weather a year later.” The point is to say that, like the weather, there are no linear causes for things that happen with our bodies. If there is one thing running has taught me, there is nothing so easily reduced to linear causation.

Our human minds, while incredibly intelligent, always strive to find linearity to things, when they are so much more complex and multi-dimensional than that. Quite simply, our systems are so dynamic, both with the economy, politics, weather, our bodies, etc… is there ever a way to understand root causation to such components? I am sure “Tipping Point,” by Malcolm Gladwell probably discusses this—I haven’t yet read that book. Ultimately, as we exist over expanses of time, like a Universal Field Theory for the Universe’s physics, perhaps such things we are never to know or fully understand. However, it is quite amazing, and always something to keep us continuing to try to figure it out.

Of course, as I type this, I am beckoned to Book Lambda of the Metaphysics, by Aristotle. If you’ve not read it, or don’t have the time, look it up sometime on Wikipedia. It’s tough to get around unity and oneness. What a wonder it is in which we exist.

Smearing the Good Guys – How My Relationship with the Right Wing Has Forever Been Damaged

If you have email, and you go to the Internet, undoubtedly, you’ve received email forwards. Beyond that, undoubtedly, you’ve received something akin to: “I love John Adams, and the ghost of John Adams wrote something you can’t argue with. 5 Facts about Obama!

1. He’s a closet alien
2. His father, not from Kenya, is from Mars
3. Obama is one of the Decepticons
4. Obama has been known to say, “ more than meets the eye.”
5. Even though Obama calls Chicago home, he likes Hawaiian food!

The point is, the Right Wing, from Swift Boat Veterans for Truth to the latest and greatest smear-whisper Internet forwards, does nothing but play dirty.

Note: immediately, they will cite Democrats who were in trouble back in the 1980’s, with the House’s post office scandal. Duly noted; however, for ever line item of corruption the Democrats had twenty years ago, Jack Abramoff’s GOP has done just as bad, if not worse. Going beyond that, one doesn’t see too many forwards about Republicans. Why is that? My goodness, could it be that while the Right claims to have moral superiority, they use that to justify shady political tactics? Maybe I’m missing great examples from the other side of things; however, I’d love to hear about them. Because unlike forwards I get about Obama’s middle name being Hussein, etc…, I seldom receive anything short of the facts from Democrats. Whose side do people want to be on, those with honor and dignity or those who play dirty? I am not down with dirty politics; it simply leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

The GOP—Taking Pride in Stupidity? Say It Ain’t So…

It seems quite obvious that there is something endearing to listening to one with whom we could see ourselves having dinner or grabbing a drink; however, it seems as though there could be a limit to this. I don’t expect this blog posting will be written before we hear out of the GOP the words “Joe6Pack” or “HockeyMom.” That’s unfortunate. For the sake of likeability, in the past eight years, the GOP has nominated tickets with the intellectually incurious.*

I recently saw an article, which stated that this began with Dan Quayle, but I think its roots are farther reaching than that. Let’s backup a minute. Right now, we can say that appealing to “Joe6Pack” or “HockeyMoms” is similar to trying to being a populist. “Populism,” for the GOP to continue down this road takes a great deal of chutzpah. This is quite something for a party that has provided for the largest and most disparate gap of wealth in recent history. One could reduce this to “what’s the matter with Kansas” thinking.

Ultimately, where this finds its roots is with the 1968 Republican Convention and its nomination, where Richard M. Nixon and Kevin Phillips successfully devised his “Sothern Strategy.” In a 1970 New York Times article, Phillips said:

“From now on, the Republicans are never going to get more than 10 to 20 percent of the Negro vote and they don't need any more than that... but Republicans would be shortsighted if they weakened enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. The more Negroes who register as Democrats in the South, the sooner the Negrophobe whites will quit the Democrats and become Republicans. That's where the votes are. Without that prodding from the blacks, the whites will backslide into their old comfortable arrangement with the local Democrats” (Boyd, James (May 17, 1970). "Nixon's Southern strategy: 'It's All in the Charts'", The New York Times, pp. 215.)

This was the strategy of the GOP back in the 1970’s, and it’s what then worked well for them. Since, the Democrats have only been able to successfully elect two Presidents, both of whom were from the South.

I would argue, thus far, the Southern Democrats have been the exception, largely because aesthetically they relate best to those the GOP began to attract as its stronger base following the 1970’s Southern Strategy. The continuation of the Seventies’ Southern Strategy was the “Reagan Democrats” in the 1980’s. At that point, due to both the Soviet Union’s menace and a bad economy from Carter’s term, Reagan was able to successfully appeal to blue-collar union folks. Due to escalating the Cold War, Reagan made himself the only option come 1984, as we were then ruled by the politics of fear. Ironically, one could cite the same strategy in 2004—fascinating.

I digress—apologies. Right now, we’ve witnessed two Republican administrations in the past thirty years utilizing the remnants of the “Southern Strategy,” by utilizing populism with a twofold attack.
Quite simply, the Republican Attack can be reduced in two components: One, attack the opponent’s character, highlighting a perceived disconnection with values of the larger portion of the population; two, demonstrate and embellish fear of that opponent’s capabilities against enemies of the United States.

Over the past twenty years, they did this by appealing to the wedge issues around abortion, social welfare, marital infidelity, and the Middle East. When Democrats—Bill Clinton, won, they did so because the economy hits bottom following long Republican terms in office; moreover, there is a reduced air of insecurity, which allows voters to focus on the economy. In this case, following the Bush Administration’s atrocious eight years of office, we have the former, and the latter’s strategy has been massive enough to call that component into question as well.

Quite simply, with John McCain (security) and Sarah Palin (“value”-identification/photogenic), right now, are in front of us. As such, with Palin’s limits to values/photogenic appeal being transparent, in the face of her Bush-like incompetence, even the Reagan Republican Swing Voters know better. Of course, this is why McCain’s ticket’s numbers are as low as they are. Ergo, we are going to see a blitz of character assassination in the coming weeks, which will be the only thing their party’s horrible platform can conjure. It’s unfortunate that we have to suffer. Fortunately, it’s been so transparent leaving Bush and Cheney in office for this length of time.

I have one last favor to ask: please when receiving forwards about the candidates, go to http://www.snopes.com/. Even for McCain-Palin, please go to the website. It’s non-partisan. It simply exists to provide dimensions of truth to the Internet and forwards.







*One could take that even further, and mention Dan Quayle, but for the sake of brevity, I thought I’d keep it to this millennium.

Being a Hack, here in America, That’s Politically Fashionable

My friend Robert asked a question this morning about why it is that Americans and politicians find it so much more agreeable to be “Joe6Pack” or “HockeyMoms” than to be educated or “elite.” It’s a terrific question, and one that too many have spent a lot of time pondering. Call me an elitist or whatever you care to, but I am tired of Hacks being elected.

The current President of the United States is an intellectual hack, who staffed his White House with minions from Dick Cheney. That President’s intellectual incuriosity has cost our country thousands of lives. Last night, even though she cutely accused Obama-Biden’s campaign of looking backwards rather than being about change, Sarah Palin daftly only confirmed that. Governor Palin certainly did demonstrate she can repetitively use the word “maverick,” but she didn’t clearly answer questions nor did she respond to any statements Senator Biden made about her ticket’s being four more years of the same rubbish.

As I wrote about over the past few days: her bar was so low, all she had to do was not stumble over her talking-points. Fair enough, but this was what put her performance, in many people’s opinion, to bed: "Let's talk about the maverick John McCain is," Biden said. "And, again, I love him. He's been a maverick on some issues, but he has been no maverick on the things that matter to people's lives ... He's not been a maverick on virtually anything that genuinely affects the things that people really talk about around their kitchen table."

Sound Bites and Talking Points Are What They Are—Is It Not Recursive to Use Clichés with Them?

One wonders how Tina Fey can get such laughs by quoting the governor verbatim, case and point:

"I think they're just not used to someone coming in from the outside saying, 'You know what? It's time that normal Joe Six-Pack American is finally represented in the position of vice presidency,' and I think that that's kind of taken some people off-guard," she said in a radio interview with conservative host Hugh Hewitt. "

Because that was this week, we’ll have to wait for SNL to play it this weekend. My point, however, is that this woman has said nothing of substance. I make the joke by posting the BINGO card on the blog. Seriously though, I cannot hear one person arguing the contrary on this woman’s contribution to the campaign. In short, she’s photogenic, young, and a governor in Alaska, that’s enough to get her a VP spot for an already dead on its feet political campaign.
I could go on ranting about McCain’s performance yesterday with the Des Moines Register. Rather than do that, I’ll simply let them continue to Implode their campaign. I’m looking forward to this evening’s debate, if only to truly play the BINGO game—just absurd.

PS: Gov. I sure do not want “Joe Six-Pack” represented in the position of “Vice Presidency.” I would prefer he or she have some substantive qualifications that go beyond anything we’ve thus far seen from you—disgraceful.

Setting the Bar Too Low?

Tonight, as we all know, is the Vice-Presidential Debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden. Leading up to the debate, the press, following four interviews, has thrown a great deal of analysis and conjecture at Palin’s qualifications. Quite simply, with all of this recent analysis and abhorrent performances, I am concerned the bar has been set so low, her not calling for a bombing of China or a Supreme Religious Cleric leading the Federal Government would be considered a “Win.”

Watching her two tête-à-tête interviews with Couric were quite painful; the same with Charles Gibson’s. Moreover, the third interview with Katie Couric, where McCain sat next to her, and spoke on behalf of her qualifications, to me, seemed like a young woman’s father assisting his daughter during a college entrance interview. In short, the lead up has been rough, and the press, having been held off of her, cannot get enough of the stuff.

In short, here are my thoughts on the strategies of the two campaigns—the quick and dirty. For Obama and Biden, I believe with the economic turmoil and war, their strategy has been to lie low allowing the news to do most of their work for them. The Bush Administration and Republican Party have done so horribly in the past eight years, taking a step back will do nothing to damage the brand. In short, the country knows the DNC’s plank, and Obama’s supporters know where his campaign stands on things. Obama was doing most of his work this summer, and right now, his campaign is allowing the GOP fruit to eat itself.

For the McCain campaign, they went a surprise direction selecting Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska for VP Candidate. Governor Palin plays the part of being a Governor from the more “Libertarian” West with religious credentials to enliven the Religious Right, with which McCain has always struggled. Beyond that, she, like Bush, is an affable and photogenic candidate with youth on her side. In short, she makes up for what McCain is not.

However, there is a problem with Palin; she is as intellectually incurious as George W. Bush. Watching her on the Couric interviews and with Charles Gibson, one could liken her answers to questions like a doe in the headlights. Quite simply, our country has been duped twice by electing someone for whom study, foreign policy, and intellectualism are not interesting or worth knowing. With a current President who has only been duped by any and every policy salesperson with whom he has spoken, we cannot be ready to elect someone on a ticket making that same mistake again. Those are my hopes.

Of course, with their mastermind strategies, as is evidence with Wall Street deregulation and Neo-Conservative Middle Eastern policies, maybe just maybe, the McCain Campaign has been engineering the expectations for Palin to be incredibly low! “This here is a woman who can spit clichéd talking points ad nauseum! Just watch her resort to them every time she’s asked something to which she doesn’t know the answer!

#1 Problem with McCain

http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/apr2008/db20080429_854428.htm

I would love for my friends and family, who support John McCain’s candidacy, tell me I am wrong on this topic. This is the biggest issue I take with John McCain from a policy position. Tabling the lackluster decision for a VP candidate or his temper, on just a nuts and bolts policy, I cannot understand how anyone in the middle class with good conscience supports a candidate advocating for the following: do away with the employer-based tax exemption and a tax credit to individuals to help them buy their healthcare.

Right now, as per the link: “Kaiser Family Foundation survey released last year found the average annual premium of an employer-based insurance policy is $12,000, of which employees pay about one-third.”

Taking this a step further: “McCain's plan is meant to encourage individuals to purchase their insurance and free companies from the heavy cost of providing coverage. His theory is that employees would take their tax credit and flock to the open market, where they could shop around for the plan that best meets their needs. Insurance companies would have to become more competitive to win their business.”

Here is the last premise I know to be a component of his plan. To this, McCain is proposing the following: “Instead, he would give a $2,500 annual tax credit to individuals, and $5,000 to families, to purchase their own coverage.”

Let’s add this up in classic logic:
The annual premium of employer-based insurance policy is $12,000 (I know the “conservatives” will argue the free-market will change that, but no one can dispute that companies don’t already pursue competition for their best rates; moreover, they buy in bulk). Therefore $12,000 is hopeful, but let’s stick with that for argument’s sake - $12,000
McCain’s plan offers $2,500 to individuals, and $5000 to families for their own coverage purchased
As it stands, if I have a family, and I am fortunate enough to get health coverage for $12,000, I am left with a $7,000 bill.

Now, I know that people can speak to the “Open Market,” which will encourage price competition. All that is doing is relegating folks with less money to be forced to buy poorer “discount” health insurance plans. We all know that there will be different levels of insurers, many of whom will offer plans with overly skimpy coverage.

Senator McCain, look at what took place with the Sub-Prime mortgages! Take uneducated poorer folks, and throw competition at them! Of course, under the assumption that they’ll not be duped by discount insurance salespeople, this works fine. This is the most inept bit of healthcare planning I have ever seen. I’ve not heard nearly enough discussion around a plan this daft. Heaven-forbid horrible things happen to people, but when they do, under this plan, how easily they’ll be deficient of coverage or in Chapter 11. This healthcare plan is morally irresponsible and incredibly short-sighted. At best, it just leaves the average working middle class tax payer with a $7000 increase in bills—good idea!