Obama: Presidential Bid at Times Insane
Bush Compares Iraq to Vietnam
Predictably, Historians Question Bush's Comparison of Iraq to Vietnam
This One is for Kyle, Everybody's Favorite Gerontology Minor
David Ignatius Argues that Obama is Controlling the Foreign Policy Debate
The GOP Can't Count
Schwarzenegger Doesn't Like CA Dems Healthcare Plan
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Thought I Would Share This
In the spirit of Kyle's great dot connecting post he just made. I thought I should post an op-ed written by Theodore C. Sorensen in Monday's Des Moines Register."Those Democratic contenders who, as U.S. senators, voted to authorize the most disastrous blunder in U.S. foreign-policy history - the mindless, needless invasion and endless occupation of Iraq - are trying now to regain ground not by stopping the continuing tragic loss of American blood, billions and moral authority in Iraq, but by questioning the foreign-policy credentials of the one serious candidate who opposed the war even before its launch - Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois....
...Obama is not the first young senator running for president to discomfort the Washington foreign-policy establishment by
speaking frankly on a subject displeasing to an American ally. Fifty years ago this summer, a 40-year-old first-term senator, John F. Kennedy, called on the Senate floor for the U.S. government to pressure its French ally into halting its war against Algerian independence."
Read the whole op-ed here.
TNR Takes Obama's Blog to Task
Douglas Wolk has some rather interesting criticisms of the writing on Barack Obama's campaign blog. It's no secret that I'm a huge Obama fan. Maybe that is why I enjoyed Wolk's critique so much. He poses an excellent overarching question: why does Obama--a man who is a terrific writer--have such a poorly written blog?
In fairness, I suppose it is due in large part to the fact that he is not the person writing it. Nonetheless, it's still a pretty good question.
In fairness, I suppose it is due in large part to the fact that he is not the person writing it. Nonetheless, it's still a pretty good question.
Another Reason Why Edwards Should Stop Portraying Himself as an Angry Populist
Admittedly, this is an old story, but I think it still has some significance and pertinence to my criticism of John Edwards’ posturing as an “Angry Populist.”
Last week, Politico’s Ben Smith and other media critics pointed out that Harper Collins—which media mogul Rupert Murdoch owns—published Edwards’ latest book, Home. Of course, this seems a little hypocritical given Edwards strong public criticisms of media consolidation in the wake of Murdoch’s purchase of the Wall Street Journal. Edwards doesn’t seem to think it’s all that hypocritical since he donated “every dime” of his $500,000 advance to charity. However, he was also given an operating budget of $300,000 to write the book, every penny of which went to his daughter Cate and his political aide Jonathan Prince. If you put that together, you get a sum of $800,000 to purchase a book that has sold hardly any copies. That’s not chump change by any stretch of the imagination, especially considering that Simon & Schuster—who published his memoir Four Trials—turned down Home in spite of the fact that they maintained the option of publishing his second book.
Murdoch’s Harper Collins often offers politicians incredible book deals. For instance, they offered Newt Gingrich $4.5 million to write a book when he was Speaker of the House. It appears as though they offered Edwards a similarly great deal. Other publishers are quoted in Smith’s piece saying they wouldn’t have offered the former Vice Presidential candidate half as much money for his book.
This reeks of the same kind of corporate influence peddling that Edwards decries in his stump speeches and debate appearances.
The candidate might have former Deaniac Joe Trippi in his corner, but his record is simply not consistent with the “Angry Populist” image he is trying so desperately to project on the campaign trail. If he wants to be seen as a serious candidate for President of the United States, then he needs to come up with a campaign narrative that isn’t laughable.
Last week, Politico’s Ben Smith and other media critics pointed out that Harper Collins—which media mogul Rupert Murdoch owns—published Edwards’ latest book, Home. Of course, this seems a little hypocritical given Edwards strong public criticisms of media consolidation in the wake of Murdoch’s purchase of the Wall Street Journal. Edwards doesn’t seem to think it’s all that hypocritical since he donated “every dime” of his $500,000 advance to charity. However, he was also given an operating budget of $300,000 to write the book, every penny of which went to his daughter Cate and his political aide Jonathan Prince. If you put that together, you get a sum of $800,000 to purchase a book that has sold hardly any copies. That’s not chump change by any stretch of the imagination, especially considering that Simon & Schuster—who published his memoir Four Trials—turned down Home in spite of the fact that they maintained the option of publishing his second book.
Murdoch’s Harper Collins often offers politicians incredible book deals. For instance, they offered Newt Gingrich $4.5 million to write a book when he was Speaker of the House. It appears as though they offered Edwards a similarly great deal. Other publishers are quoted in Smith’s piece saying they wouldn’t have offered the former Vice Presidential candidate half as much money for his book.
This reeks of the same kind of corporate influence peddling that Edwards decries in his stump speeches and debate appearances.
The candidate might have former Deaniac Joe Trippi in his corner, but his record is simply not consistent with the “Angry Populist” image he is trying so desperately to project on the campaign trail. If he wants to be seen as a serious candidate for President of the United States, then he needs to come up with a campaign narrative that isn’t laughable.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Only Iraq War Vet In Congress Endorses Obama
Rising star Patrick Murphy set to endorse fellow freshman Obama.
"I think he's absolutely our best chance to change the direction of our country," Murphy said, emphasizing the words "our best chance" in a way that seemed to imply Obama might be the most electable candidate. "I'm inspired by his call to action to change how it's done — the business in Washington."H/T tpmcafe.com
The Daily Show Goes to Iraq---No, Really
Daily Show Correspondent Rob Riggle will actually report from Iraq in a series of two-minute dispatches that he filmed while on a recent USO comedy tour.
Check out the story.
Check out the story.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Quote of the Day: Reagan
"a moment I've been dreading. George brought his ne're-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the political one who lives in Florida. The one who hangs around here all the time looking shiftless. This so-called kid is already almost 40 and has never had a real job. Maybe I'll call Kinsley over at The New Republic and see if they'll hire him as a contributing editor or something. That looks like easy work."
-- Ronald Reagan in his recently published diaries; May 17, 1986.
(c/o Gabe)
-- Ronald Reagan in his recently published diaries; May 17, 1986.
(c/o Gabe)
Returning to Westwood via LAX?
It may be more than a few weeks before everyone starts returning to UCLA for Fall Quarter, but it is never too early to be a good Democrat and plan an environmentally friendly way to get from the airport back to UCLA. Oh yeah, and a cheaper way too.
Unveiled this summer, the FlyAway program which offers direct service from LAX and various places around LA has been expanded to include UCLA. Our station is at Lot 32 (the corner of Weyburn & Kinross), and you can take any of the city busses or the free campus shuttle from Lot 32 to wherever you have to get to in the Westwood area.
The service runs from 5am to 1am and runs every 30 minutes in both directions, and leaves from LAX at every terminal's bus stop and goes directly to Lot 32. It costs only $4, which is much less than a Super Shuttle.
Read more about it here and here. Can't wait to see all you Bruin Democrats next Fall!
Obama not a fan of Obama Girl
It may have been done in jest, but the YouTube video depicting a girl's love for presidential candidate Barack Obama isn't quite so funny to his family. Apparently it has raised some challenging questions from his daughter.Read more about this here.
Though he didn't outright condemn the video, Obama nonetheless doesn't seem to be embracing it. He is reaffirming his commitment to family, which he hopes will show the American public that he is a good person and that Democrats also have morals (even if we have Clinton, JFK, Villaraigosa, etc). Though I personally don't think it is enough compared to her experience, this aspect of Obama's personality may be just what he needs to beat Hillary.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Friday, August 10, 2007
Republican Party values
Here's a video made by a blogger from DailyKos that shows the extent of Republican corruption. So many corrupt Californians in that mix.
Quote of the Day
"It's a choice."
-Governor Bill Richardson, in response to a question about whether homosexuality is a matter of biology or choice. Read more about the Human Rights Campaign/LOGO Candidates Forum.
-Governor Bill Richardson, in response to a question about whether homosexuality is a matter of biology or choice. Read more about the Human Rights Campaign/LOGO Candidates Forum.
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