What Don't You Know and How Will You Learn It?

I don't know Spanish and I will learn it by taking Spanish classes.

I don't know what tomorrow will bring and I can only learn it by being present tomorrow.

I also don't know why anyone wants to be president and I don't imagine I'll ever learn why they do.

I do know that there's no direct question that any politician will ever answer directly because then they're forced to take a position with which some people will disagree. I can live with that (as though I had a choice)—as long as they don't lie to me.

I also know that the last question in tonight's debate, while possessing a simple elegance and pleasing symmetry, is kinda dumb.

Comments Welcome (but Stick to the Topic)

This morning, someone anonymously commented on my post about The Tempest by providing a link to the American Family Association's Voter Issue Guide. For those who don't know about it, AFA is an evangelical Christian organization run by the reverend Donald Wildmon; to say that I strongly disagree with their position on every political and social issue is putting it mildly. While I've removed it as a comment on that post (it doesn't have anything to do with The Tempest—neither John McCain or Barack Obama was responsible for that production, so far as I know, and no one should hold it against either of them on election day), I've decided to create this post for the link. I have no problem with anyone suggesting alternative points of view on the Interlude as long as it's germane to the topic. Besides, the commenter really missed an opportunity: my previous post that day was about Palin Debate Bingo, which I think was a perfect place to start this discussion!

Truth or Consequences

I thought this post on the BBC's US election blog illustrates a big obstacle that the Democrats face, not just in this election, but overall: the fact that people who live in smaller communities just don't see social services and government programs the same way as those of us who live in cities. How do the Democrats address that? Should they address it? I know in Pennsylvania that there's a push in Philadelphia to get voters registered and to the polls because a high turnout there could push that state over into the red column. I'm sure there are similar plans in motion in Ohio and the other swing states.

I especially liked how the BBC blogger contrasted the man who said that he's "going to take personal responsibility" for himself with the man whom the community rallied around to save. To me, that disconnect highlights a big problem with fixing our system.

Barack Obama: Integrity

If you receive any e-mails condemning Barack Obama for attacking Sarah Palin or the Palin family, point them to this story on CNN. I've read several articles today in which McCain blasted Obama for things he's said about Palin when, in fact, Obama has said nothing at all. Do I smell damage control?

I almost made the subtitle of this post "Unequivocal Integrity" because I believe that's what Obama would like and I know that's what everyone I know wants. However, I see this campaign getting much nastier before it's all over and I don't want to see the Democrat bring a knife strong rebuke to a gunfight again....

McCain Goes PUMA Hunting

We're all thinking that McCain is obviously targeting the former Hillary supporters. I can't help but think he just might get them.

To my friends and family who are more conservative, this is great news—now their vote, too, will be a historic one (as though voting for the oldest rich white man ever to run for the office isn't historic enough). Sarah Palin may not be the poster child for the right wing, but she is pretty conservative. I think it's safe to say that she and Hillary Clinton don't agree on many social issues...

But to my progressive/liberal brethren who think this makes McCain more appealing (or at least slightly less revolting unappealing), I have two words: Supreme Court. Come that first Monday in October after the next justice decides they've done more than their fair share of staunching the "originalists" tide, you will definitely have "sent a message to the Democratic party": that your personal grievances are more important to you than the Constitutional rights of future generations.

Incidentally, I couldn't use this photo of Governor Palin for my post but thought I'd share it with you, nonetheless.

I, Barack Obama, Command You!

An ad from The New York Times' online. On the website, it was much larger—about the online equivalent of a half-page ad—and it completely overwhelmed the article on Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama at the convention last night.

They Call Him "Spinner" Murrow Now...

So Jon Stewart invited a bunch of journalists to an informal breakfast this morning before the DNC's convention begins. It sounds like the start of a joke, doesn't it? "So, a guy walks into a room and he says to the crowd, 'Why do I take this more seriously than you?'" On the "TRAIL BLAZER" blog of The Dallas Morning News (it must be important, it's IN ALL CAPS), this poster proved Stewart's point by completely missing the story altogether. FauxNews was able to Fox-ify the story (we don't just report the news: we are the news); CNN got the report right but do you think it'll appear on the air? (highlight spoiler: it won't be); The Washington Post seems more than a little gleeful that the print media got off lightly compared to its overpaid, blow-dried counterparts.

I Continue to Be Mystified by the Stupidity of People

From an article in the BBC today. I offer you two statements that defy explanation:

An AP/Yahoo poll earlier this year said that 8% of white voters it asked admitted they would be uncomfortable voting for an African-American candidate.

Even after the prolonged Obama media blitz, a Pew Research Centre poll last month suggested that only 57% of voters even knew he was a Christian. More than one in 10 still thinks he is Muslim.

I don't care if you disagree with him, I don't care if you don't vote for him: regarding the second statement, don't be a moron! The very least you can do as a voter is know the facts about the people vying to hold the most important job in our country, if not in the world.

On the first statement, I can't help but think of the old joke about not wanting to be judged by 12 people too stupid to get out of jury duty: who would want to lead a country if they have to appeal to 24 million people whose biggest concern is the color of a person's skin? (Yes, that number is 8% of the total U.S. population, so even given the statistical margin of error for a poll, many, many millions of people are indeed THAT bigoted.)

I'm a Big Boy Now...

We have a new Russian president... and he's not the guy at the podium. His inner monologue, based on this photo (and this Times account of the proceedings): "Can I still tend the rabbits, Vlad?"

Turn to the Right (Again)

It looks like it's all over now: Berlusconi is going to be Italy's PM again. The Italians seem to have twisted the old adage into "If it's broke, don't fix it." The BBC's coverage is a little more detailed with more links to information, if you want it.

What They Wouldn't Give for a Two-Party System...

I'm fascinated by the Italian elections—by Italian politics, in general. According to the BBC, the election this year is the 62nd is 63 years. The last election was less than 2 years ago, when Romano Prodi's center-left party eked out a victory over Silvio Berlusconi's center-right (yeah, right—he's a big time, multi-billionaire conservative) party. Prodi almost resigned less than a year into his term because he found that he couldn't effectively govern the 39 parties in the Italian parliament (158 when you add in the local parties); ultimately, he finally threw in the towel in February after a second vote of no-confidence in the Senate. A big part of the problem is that Berlusconi, before he left office, created a situation that leaves Italy virtually ungovernable. Now, of course, Berlusconi is running again for the office and it seems entirely likely that he'll win. It's a two-day election, ending tomorrow, so we'll see results some time midday EDT... stay tuned...