“Watching President Obama address our nation — and feeling the pride that is in every American’s heart — it’s worth pausing to celebrate our nation’s achievements. Yet even as we mark this historic event, we recognize the deep problems that continue to face our nation. Republicans are eager to work with President Obama on the challenges he discussed, especially restoring fiscal responsibility and growing our economy.

“After last year’s State of the Union, then-candidate Barack Obama asked the nation to imagine a time when a President’s agenda would draw standing ovations from both sides of the aisle. That sort of bipartisanship is an admirable goal — and one that unfortunately continues to elude Washington. The Democratic leadership in Congress must be willing to work with Republicans to stop out-of-control spending, promote the creation of jobs, and to keep our troops properly funded.

“Now would be a good time for this young Administration to ask the Democrat leaders in Congress to actually consider working in a bipartisan way to solve the real problems Americans are facing.

“I am more confident than ever that the American people will stand up for the principles our nation was founded on and will hold their representatives accountable to overcome the challenges that this nation faces.”

I found much humor in the first 2008 Presidential Debate between McCain and Obama.  It was all about Jim Lehrer.  Here is a man that began his news career at The Dallas Morning News and Dallas Times-Herald, covering the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963 and a retired Marine.

Lehrer was considered an ‘Anderson Cooper’ of his generations.

He should have kicked debate ass!  But, he was all comic relief. Here are the reasons that Jim Lehrer,  the first 2008 Presidential Debate Moderator, made me laugh.

1. Treated McCain and Obama like a Gay Couple in Marriage Counseling

“I’m just determined to get you all to talk to each other,” Lehrer said. “I’m gonna try.”

Lehrer cut in: “Say it directly to him! Say it directly to him!”

Obama was the only one directly speaking to McCain and doing everything the counselor, Lehrer, suggest.  On the otherhand, McCain was the stubburd one. McCain did not turn his eyes or head towards Obama but did have the muscle control to look down at his notes sometimes with an added salty grin.

Lehrer even tried jump starting a conversation for them

“Do you have something directly to say, Senator Obama, to Senator McCain about what he just said? “

Apparently Lehrer wanted Bette Davis and Joan Crawford like characters for the television ratings.

2. Too Complimentary

It was a debate, I believe, a waste of time.  We know nothing more of either candidate except we now know how to time manage a debate. Lehrer wasted no time in complimenting them of their abilities to keep within their time limits.

LEHRER: I have some good news and bad news for the two of you. You all are even on time, which is remarkable, considering we’ve been going at it …

OBAMA: A testimony to you, Jim.

LEHRER: I don’t know about that. But the bad news is all my little five minute things have run over, so, anyhow, we’ll adjust as we get there. But the amount of time is even

Geez, take a compliment Jim!!!

Too passive.

3. Did not have control

Pet Peeve : When two people are talking at the same time.

Lehrer had no control . . . none.

LEHRER: We’re going to go to a new… (CROSSTALK)

LEHRER: We’ve got time for one more lead question segment. We’re way out of… (CROSSTALK)

LEHRER: Quick response and then… (CROSSTALK)

Obama even help Lehrer get control.

LEHRER: All right.

OBAMA: I’ve got to make this point, Jim.

LEHRER: OK.

OBAMA: He objects…

MCCAIN: I have voted for alternate fuel all of my time…

OBAMA: He — he — he objects…

(CROSSTALK)

LEHRER: One at a time, please.

OBAMA: He objected…

LEHRER: One at a time.

MCCAIN: No one can be opposed to alternate energy.

OBAMA: All right, fair enough. Let’s move on. You’ve got one more energy — you’ve got one more question.

Lehrer should have left his NPR persona at the studio and bring it on.

4. Treating the Audience like children

“We’re trying a new format here…it’s going to require my absolute concentration. I don’t want to worry about anyone cheering or hollering or making any noise behind me,” he said. “There’s going to be an understandable natural tendency to cheer, hiss, boo or whatever-don’t do it.”

“I don’t want to be difficult about it, but I will be hard about it,” Lehrer said, adding that pictures are forbidden and as for cell phones. “Turn them off!” he shouted. “This is not a competing pep rally.”

“This has to be a credible process, this has to be a credible debate,” he said, “It not only has to appear to be fair, it has to be fair, and it’s my job to do that.”

All he was missing, “If I hear one peep I am going to stop this debate. Do you want me to stop this debate? If I hear one single moan, wheeze, hiss, laugh or any sound, I am going to stop this debate. You won’t like it if I have to stop this debate.”

I personally want to hear the reaction from the audience. I really do, its just like a laugh track for a television sitcom . . . entertaining in itself.

5. He Assigned Chores to Candidate’s Wives.

Lehrer noted that John McCain’s wife, Cindy, and Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle, are seated on opposite sides of the hall and would help enforce the quiet policy.

I would have loved to have seen Michelle and Cindy to:

• Constantly do the “shhh”, like a possessed librarian.
• Go over to individuals and make ‘mother-like’ threats
• Move their chairs to face the audience to take their Lehrer assigned authorities seriously.

Final Notes

This was a very safe debate, old school NPR.  Besdies, it was just the two parties.  We need Nadar, Barr and Paul on stage for the future debates.  I need to see the real difference between the candidates. The candidates have moved too far into the middle to be different. As it stands Obama would be a great replacement for Palin.

“Government accountability is a two way street, and it’s time for all Americans to start walking the walk and making sure they really understand the big issues,” said Public Agenda Vice President Michael Hamill Remaley. “As long as we let them, most politicians will try to get by with slogans and easy answers to America’s big challenges. We can only force them to be honest about the real trade-offs of their policy positions if we understand the issues ourselves.”

The Voter’s Survival Kit issue guides are designed to help typical voters sort through the campaign rhetoric and make up their own minds about which candidates have the best ideas. The issue guides highlight fundamental facts voters need to know and explains more about the choices the country faces in down-to-earth, easily understandable terms, on the following topics:

• The Economy
• Iraq and Beyond
• Climate Change
• Health Care
• Immigration
• Taxes, Spending and Debt

Each issue guide includes a brief overview of the topic, an evenhanded review of possible solutions and the pros and cons of each approach, both on an interactive web platform and in a downloadable PDF format. The Voter’s Survival Kit also includes online discussion, links to candidate positions on issues and other sites with extensive information on issues, blogging opportunities, links to voting information sites, widgets and more.

]]> http://www.thecontemplation.com/index.php/2008/09/22/get-the-facts-decode-the-spin-and-make-a-choice/feed/ 0 http://www.thecontemplation.com/index.php/2008/09/18/2008-election-prediction/ http://www.thecontemplation.com/index.php/2008/09/18/2008-election-prediction/#comments Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:32:11 +0000 rhea http://www.thecontemplation.com/?p=1585

I do not think that Obama will take the southern US States, but will take the Northeast, Greater Lakes, West Coast and Colorado and New Mexico.

What is your 2008 Presidential Election prediction?  I used the NPR map.

Authors Wilbur O. Colom and James W. Parkinson have teamed up to write a new 104-page book that makes a fiscal and social argument on why conservatives should vote for Obama. Their book, “Turning Red States Blue: Obama’s Mission to Win the Republican Vote”. (read more . . . )

“Small town America is hurting and crying out for change,” said Colom, president of Genesis Press which is publishing the book. “For years conservative voters have been distracted with wedge issues like gay marriage and abortion, while their jobs are being exported away, killing the local economy.”

In the book’s introduction, the authors write, “The single most important reason we support Barack Obama is that he has emerged as a leader who can cast aside labels and focus on solutions rather than on partisan verbal assaults.” In another passage they write, “Sen. Obama understands that the ‘smallness’ of politics and making ‘cheap political points’ stops elected leaders in Washington from rolling up our sleeves and building a working consensus.”

Colom and Parkinson also want to dispel the myth that conservative white voters won’t vote for a black man to represent them, pointing out that Mississippi State Senator Eric Powell (D – District 4) won in rural Mississippi in an area that is 87 percent white, and Alabama State Representative James Fields (D – 12th District) won in a rural area that is 96 percent white.

They believe that Obama can do nationally what Powell and Fields have done locally in their rural cities.

“Fiscal conservatives and budget-watching Republicans who don’t believe that Jesus has a position on tax policy, climate change, or judicial appointments, find the current state of the Republican Party frustratingly off-track.” Added Colom, “Our larger goal is to address the issues that concern all Republicans and hopefully provide information and analysis that will lead them to cast their ballot, with pride, for Barack Obama in November.”

Will it be enough to win?  Forget the polls, forget the news, go to NPR for unbiased information. NPR has a map that is not based just on national polls and national media. The election 2008 map on NPR is connected to local politics and something to trust.  Also, you can see what happens if Pennsylvania, currently undecided, goes red or blue . . . it makes all the difference in the election and the world.

This screenshot is current, for this date. As you can see there is allot of yellow and it could go in any direction.  Although I would guess that if the election is an ethical election most would be blue.  But, if it is not, the GOP will win by unethical means, just like in 2000 and 2004.

But, I hear that many US citizens will be moving to Canada . . . and I would too.  Maybe a nice house boat on Lake Superior.