03.06.07
Posted in Politics at 7:51 am by JB
Why in the holy hell are we having presidential conversation 2 years out. This is ridiculous. You wonder that too ? I’ll tell ya why.
Everyone wants to be first. Every state wants the 500 news vans, because news vans have reporters and cameramen and sound geeks, and producers and all the rest. And those people need hotel rooms and late-night diners. That boosts the economy for New Hampshire and Iowa.
Someone call Brian Lamb and ask him what the C-SPAN budget for NH and IA are every year. I bet it’s more than every other budget thread they have.
Hell, they started doing “Road to the White House” in March of 2005 !!
Now all the states are trying to front-load the primary process. I don’t feel like looking at it now, but I looked at it a week or two ago. I think it was Feb 5.
By Feb 5 of next year 27 states will have had their primaries (don’t hold me to those numbers, but it’s close)
In other words, by this time next year we will know who the candidates are. And then begins the 8 months of interminable general electioneering, culminating in two weeks in late summer of the parties going to their respective cities to waste tax-payer dollars for… something.
And then more. Dull debates and mind-numbing commercials.
My good friend who shall remain nameless (here, I mean… his momma gave him a name) had an idea. The next time campaign finance rolls around, there should be a provision…. if you currently hold federal office, you cannot run for another federal office.
If you are a senator, you can’t file for president. If you are a congressman…. a secretary in the cabinet… an ambassador… if you have the ability to submit legislation at the federal level, you are ineligible to run for president. If you have the ability to affect policy at that level, you are ineligible. It is a conflict of interest at worst, and a pathetic opportunity for blatent political preening at best.
Seems like a simple enough rule, and I like it.
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Posted in Politics at 7:47 am by JB
And that wasn’t a typo. He never really finished being a senator, so he doesn’t deserve the title.
Here’s what the erstwhile and compassionate former VP loser said over the weekend:
“I think that Jesus would be disappointed in our ignoring the plight of those around us who are suffering and our focus on our own selfish short-term needs,” Edwards told the site. “I think he would be appalled, actually.”
Does this include Mr. Edwards recently built home that is over 20,000 square feet, at the cost of over 5 million dollars ? The home that has a tower, and a special space called “John’s Room” in the air-conditioned and heated barn ? Look, if the guy wants a palace, more power to him. He “earned it” in a fashion, no matter how much damage his ambulance-chasing ways had done damage to people and companies.
Here’s the part that really gets my proverbial goat…. “Our own selfish short-term needs”…. think about that. This guy built a house that is larger than most homes his “two-America” constituents will total added together for a generation. I grew up in a relatively large house…. I’d have to have 11 of them over the course of my life to equal what Johnny-Ed has built for himself…. and then, to top it all off, let’s talk about “short term”, because Edwards is a master of the short-term. He has absolutely no clue about the real world. His charade in New Orleans, but palace in the NC hills, and his constant and almost painful pandering.
Does he really think people will forget this kinda crap, day to day ? What could be more short-term than a 2/3 senator building a mansion, complaining about the tax bill, and then short-terming it by running for president before the sod is even laid ?
Expect Edwards to be running for prime minister of India soon, and speaking about the “two Indias” because the White House just isn’t big enough for him. It’s Taj Mahal time, baby !!
It is really hard to take someone seriously who has spent their entire political career been a loser, and seen as most Americans as a total joke. And spent their career before that screwing the very parts of this country that almost work.
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Posted in Politics, Unhinged, Democrats, Media Morons at 4:53 am by JB
It’s the smell of vapidity and nut-jobbery preparing to assemble in the Big Apple.
On behalf of People For the American Way and Political Clout Productions, we are proud to invite you to be present for an historic first. An extraordinary public servant, Valerie Plame, will be interviewed by a champion of the First Amendment, Keith Olbermann, host of MSNBC’s “Countdown.”
So let me get this straight. Keith Olbermann, who hasn’t said anything worthwhile since leaving ESPN is going to interview Plame-Wilson, who hasn’t done anything worthwhile in… who knows how long. She’s got a couple of kids, and so far (if only age 6) they haven’t knocked off a bank or anything, so that’s worth something I suppose.
This event, I’m afraid, will be worth exactly nothing.
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Posted in Politics, Unhinged at 4:40 am by JB
And then I’m done with Wacky Ann:
An Open Letter to CPAC Sponsors and Organizers Regarding Ann Coulter
Conservatism treats humans as they are, as moral creatures possessing rational minds and capable of discerning right from wrong. There comes a time when we must speak out in the defense of the conservative movement, and make a stand for political civility. This is one of those times.
Ann Coulter used to serve the movement well. She was telegenic, intelligent, and witty. She was also fearless: saying provocative things to inspire deeper thought and cutting through the haze of competing information has its uses. But Coulter’s fearlessness has become an addiction to shock value. She draws attention to herself, rather than placing the spotlight on conservative ideas.
At the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2006, Coulter referred to Iranians as “ragheads.” She is one of the most prominent women in the conservative movement; for her to employ such reckless language reinforces the stereotype that conservatives are racists.
At CPAC 2007 Coulter decided to turn up the volume by referring to John Edwards, a former U.S. Senator and current Presidential candidate, as a “faggot.” Such offensive language–and the cavalier attitude that lies behind it–is intolerable to us. It may be tolerated on liberal websites but not at the nation’s premier conservative gathering.
The legendary conservative thinker Richard Weaver wrote a book entitled Ideas Have Consequences. Rush Limbaugh has said again and again that “words mean things.” Both phrases apply to Coulter’s awful remarks.
Coulter’s vicious word choice tells the world she care little about the feelings of a large group that often feels marginalized and despised. Her word choice forces conservatives to waste time defending themselves against charges of homophobia rather than advancing conservative ideas.
Within a day of Coulter’s remark John Edwards sent out a fundraising email that used Coulter’s words to raise money for his faltering campaign. She is helping those she claims to oppose. How does that advance any of the causes we hold dear?
Denouncing Coulter is not enough. After her “raghead” remark in 2006 she took some heat. Yet she did not grow and learn. We should have been more forceful. This year she used a gay slur. What is next? If Senator Barack Obama is the de facto Democratic Presidential nominee next year will Coulter feel free to use a racial slur? How does that help conservatism?
One of the points of CPAC is the opportunity it gives college students to meet other young conservatives and learn from our leaders. Unlike on their campuses—where they often feel alone—at CPAC they know they are part of a vibrant political movement. What example is set when one highlight of the conference is finding out what shocking phrase will emerge from Ann Coulter’s mouth? How can we teach young conservatives to fight for their principles with civility and respect when Ann Coulter is allowed to address the conference? Coulter’s invective is a sign of weak thinking and unprincipled politicking.
CPAC sponsors, the Age of Ann has passed. We, the undersigned, request that CPAC speaking invitations no longer be extended to Ann Coulter. Her words and attitude simply do too much damage.
* Credentialed CPAC 2007 Bloggers Sean Hackbarth, The American Mind
* James Joyner, Outside the Beltway
* BoiFromTroy, Boi From Troy
* Joy McCann, Little Miss Attila
* Kevin McCullough, Musclehead Revolution
* Fausta Werz, Fausta’s blog
* Patrick Hynes, Ankle Biting Pundits
* Ed Morrissey, Captain’s Quarters
* Jane Stewart, See Jane Mom
* John Tabin, JohnTabin.com
* Ace, Ace of Spades HQ
* Alexander Brunk, Save the GOP
* Mark Harris, Save the GOP
Other Right-of-Center Bloggers
* Owen Robinson, Boots and Sabres
* N.Z. Bear, The Truth Laid Bear
* Michael Demmons, Gay Orbit
* Mark Coffey, Decision ‘08
* Russell Newquist, The Philosopher’s Stone
* Marshall Manson, On
Tap
* Glenn Reynolds, Instapundit
I didn’t include the links to all the signatories, but some are on the link list on the right, and the rest you can access by following the link to the original post.
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