Liars! Hypocrites!

The people opposing the government option of health care reform talk of "death squads" (Sarah Palin, at her comedic best) and unfair competition to private insurers. Excuse me? Aren't these the same people who denigrate government programs as wasteful, inefficient, unresponsive, and bureaucratic?

So they are worried that the wasteful, inefficient government programs would drive out the private insurers? How could this be? Are the private insurers so greedy, demanding so much in profits, that they would discontinue private insurance?

Cmon people, get real. That means you too Sarah.

Half Empty or Half Full?

Pundits everywhere have been rating the Obama presidency since he passed one hundred days in office.

Politics is the art of the possible, and it is not possible to advance all the agendas that people hope(d) Obama would push. Nor is one hundred days much time to implement policy changes.

In addition, Obama has had a full plate with stabilizing the financial system, reforming health care, and reforming the financial regulatory system.

I liked his speech to the Muslim world, and his approach to both the Middle East and to Afghanistan seems sound.

Let's not expect everything to happen in the first few months.

Thank you, Iowa

Last week, the Iowa Supreme Court issued a ruling that legalized gay marriage, in effect recognizing that marriage bestows a series of rights (such as inheritance, hospital visitation, and so on) that should not be denied to gay couples.

To those people who do not support gay marriage: don't marry a person of the same sex. But don't deny others that right.

Thank you, Iowa!

Torture is not acceptable

Americans should not ever torture, and thankfully one of President Obama's first actions was to order a halt to the use of torture on suspected terrorists.

We cannot close the prison at Guantanamo fast enough. The inmates there need to either be prosecuted in the normal court system (like we did with the first bombing of the World Trade Center; those terrorists were convicted and are in prison) or released. It is inconceivable that they have been held for seven years without trial.

If we torture, and confine people without trials, what makes us any different from the terrorists?

Great Sign

A New Beginning?

Let's hope that the gracious speeches by both John McCain and George W. Bush congratulating Barack Obama on being elected mark the end of the raucous partisan feuding that has so consumed Washington since the 1990s.

Certainly, the challenges we face with the economy merit a bipartisan approach. Let's hope that the speeches mark a new beginning. As Obama said many times during the campaign, we can disagree while respecting each other.

The End is Near!

The EverReady bunny is a wimp compared to the duration of the presidential election. Thankfully, it is finally nearing its conclusion.

It looks like turnout will be heavy, which is wonderful in a republic (although we tend to use the term democracy). Hopefully, the precincts will have adequate numbers of workers and machines.

Time slows when you're waiting. I think I'll bring entertainment! (A book, video game, or whatever). :-)

McCain, the FUD Candidate

McCain is attempting to plant Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (FUD) about Obama to persuade voters that McCain is a better choice. Calling Obama untested, unproven, and inexperienced, McCain asks if Obama is the right person.

Hillary also tried this tactic with her television commercial asking who would you rather have answering the phone at three am to deal with a crisis.

I think McCain will be as successful with his use of the tactic as Hillary was. The voters are voting for change, for non-partisanship, and for leadership on the economy. And McCain undercut his FUD tactic when he picked Palin as the vice-presidential nominee. Palin has less experience than Obama yet McCain continually proclaims her qualified to be president.

Using this tactic only underscores the desperation of the McCain campaign. The election results are most likely going to be bad if you are a right-wing republican. The real question is how many senate seats will change from republican to democrat. Keep your fingers crossed!

Lackluster Picks

Lackluster best describes both vice presidential picks. Of the two, Joe Biden is the best qualified to step in as president.

Although charismatic, Sarah Palin is not qualified to be president.

Habeous Corpus

The writ of habeous corpus is one of the oldest rights in western civilization, dating back to medeval England. Roughly, it means that the government must show to a judge why someone is being held in jail. If the government cannot show a reasonable amount of evidence, then the person is freed.

The Supreme Court in a split decision (5-4) ruled that the prisioners at Guantanamo are entitled to habeous corpus hearings.

Most of these inmates have been jailed for years without any trial; it's high time that the government prove its case or to release the individuals.