Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Custom Fake News
Grandma! How could you say such things about me?
This video is a remarkable use of technology. And raises some questions about what we know to be 'true' and 'false' especially as seen through the internet.
I've already voted (or at least I think so - Arlington doesn't have a paper trail on its electronic voting). For those of you who haven't voted, please do. Or goodness knows how much of your tax dollars will end up in Palin's closet.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Why It Is Important to Understand the Meaning of Words Like Satire
Um. I don't think Sarah Lou understands satire. (Psst - they're not laughing with you, Guvna.)
She also doesn't understand the Constitution either.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
3d Presidential Debate (CNN) Live Blog
10:36 pm End scene. Everybody vote!
10:31 pm Bob Schieffer the best moderator of the bunch this year. Of course it's always easier when you go last and learn from your predecessor's mistakes, missteps and missed opportunities.
10:27 pm Who are McCain's friends anyway? I don't think I am in his clique.
10:20 pm McCain's solution to college education funding is more student loans? How about doing something that doesn't graduate an entire generation into debt? (Check out Davidson College, my alma mater - no student loans)
10:20 pm Obama said he was pro-charter schools at the top of the debate. Was McCain not listening?
10:18 pm I love the parent responsibility points. Yes, put away the television. Set aside the spectacle.
10:11 pm How about a not-so young woman facing that difficult decision? It's not just teenagers who are confronted by an unexpected pregnancy.
10:10 pm Yay! Lily Ledbetter mention. Totally bogus court decision by the way to deny her. Of course she is due back pay for doing the same job.
10:10 pm Yay! Obama trusts me to make decisions about my health and life. Senator McCain? Governor Palin?
10:09 pm McCain looks furious.
10:07 pm I think Roe v Wade was a great decision. A tough decision, for sure.
10:05 pm Senator Government? That is classic Freudian slip on McCain's part. What's the meta-narrative there?
10:04 pm That is true. Buying insurance on the open market costs a family $12,000/yr. If you're a single payer with a health issue: $10,000 at least. If you can get coverage that will also cover your pre-existing condition.
10:01 pm Is McCain making notes to his campaign staff chastising them for going after the made-up Obama health insurance fine on small businesses?
10:00 Zero? Zero!
10:00 Most employers do have wellness plans now. There is a huge micro-industry of HR education seminars on the topic.
9:58 pm I want a health plan like AARP Medigap but have to wait at least 25 years until I am eligible. No copays. No deductibles. Choice of doctors.
9:55 pm Last I checked Colombia was not a particularly wealthy country. They're supposed to balance our trade deficits???
9:52 pm Nice linguistic deconstruction by McCain - have to give that to him - "look at drilling" is not the same as drilling. Nor is it the same as drilling, baby, drilling. (Thank heavens BTW).
9:51 pm Who does McCain keep looking at off-camera?
9:46 pm Ugh. Energy. How many "Palin is an expert" type comments will McCain make?
9:42 pm INSERT EXPLETIVE! Palin is no role model for me! INSERT ANOTHER EXPLETIVE!
9:40 pm Oh snap! The battle of the running mate credentials is on!
9:31 pm Obama calls McCain out on Palin's non-silencing of her rally crowds shouting "Terrorist" and "Kill him" about Obama. Senator McCain?
9:29 pm Can we get a fact check on 100% negative ads from the McCain campaign? Is that so? Will have to research my campaign ad archives.
9:28 pm McCain passed. Senator Obama?
9:25 pm Bob Scheiffer invites them to sling the mud direct into each other's face. Hmm...I'm thinking they'll pass.
9:19 pm Talked to a top economist today. He was alarmed that McCain and Palin were talking about balancing the budget. Essentially he said a drive to balance the budget in this kind of fiscal climate drove us into the Great Depression. Not sure I understand the mechanics of that.
9:11 pm Honestly right now I think I'd trust Obama to spread the wealth around more than some unknown, unvetted Joe the Plumber.
9:09 pm Is Joe the Plumber aka Joe Sixpack?
9:05 pm Yes what about me? My house has lost value but apparently I will not be getting a check from the government for it. (Personally that's okay - that's what I signed up for in buying a home - taking on risk.) But I wouldn't turn away a check for $40,000.
9:04 pm I'll also be Twittering with The Fix on washingtonpost.com
9:03 pm Table format. Apparently there were complaints from McCain's campaign about McCain's camera angle. Thank goodness we're focused on the big issues.
10:31 pm Bob Schieffer the best moderator of the bunch this year. Of course it's always easier when you go last and learn from your predecessor's mistakes, missteps and missed opportunities.
10:27 pm Who are McCain's friends anyway? I don't think I am in his clique.
10:20 pm McCain's solution to college education funding is more student loans? How about doing something that doesn't graduate an entire generation into debt? (Check out Davidson College, my alma mater - no student loans)
10:20 pm Obama said he was pro-charter schools at the top of the debate. Was McCain not listening?
10:18 pm I love the parent responsibility points. Yes, put away the television. Set aside the spectacle.
10:11 pm How about a not-so young woman facing that difficult decision? It's not just teenagers who are confronted by an unexpected pregnancy.
10:10 pm Yay! Lily Ledbetter mention. Totally bogus court decision by the way to deny her. Of course she is due back pay for doing the same job.
10:10 pm Yay! Obama trusts me to make decisions about my health and life. Senator McCain? Governor Palin?
10:09 pm McCain looks furious.
10:07 pm I think Roe v Wade was a great decision. A tough decision, for sure.
10:05 pm Senator Government? That is classic Freudian slip on McCain's part. What's the meta-narrative there?
10:04 pm That is true. Buying insurance on the open market costs a family $12,000/yr. If you're a single payer with a health issue: $10,000 at least. If you can get coverage that will also cover your pre-existing condition.
10:01 pm Is McCain making notes to his campaign staff chastising them for going after the made-up Obama health insurance fine on small businesses?
10:00 Zero? Zero!
10:00 Most employers do have wellness plans now. There is a huge micro-industry of HR education seminars on the topic.
9:58 pm I want a health plan like AARP Medigap but have to wait at least 25 years until I am eligible. No copays. No deductibles. Choice of doctors.
9:55 pm Last I checked Colombia was not a particularly wealthy country. They're supposed to balance our trade deficits???
9:52 pm Nice linguistic deconstruction by McCain - have to give that to him - "look at drilling" is not the same as drilling. Nor is it the same as drilling, baby, drilling. (Thank heavens BTW).
9:51 pm Who does McCain keep looking at off-camera?
9:46 pm Ugh. Energy. How many "Palin is an expert" type comments will McCain make?
9:42 pm INSERT EXPLETIVE! Palin is no role model for me! INSERT ANOTHER EXPLETIVE!
9:40 pm Oh snap! The battle of the running mate credentials is on!
9:31 pm Obama calls McCain out on Palin's non-silencing of her rally crowds shouting "Terrorist" and "Kill him" about Obama. Senator McCain?
9:29 pm Can we get a fact check on 100% negative ads from the McCain campaign? Is that so? Will have to research my campaign ad archives.
9:28 pm McCain passed. Senator Obama?
9:25 pm Bob Scheiffer invites them to sling the mud direct into each other's face. Hmm...I'm thinking they'll pass.
9:19 pm Talked to a top economist today. He was alarmed that McCain and Palin were talking about balancing the budget. Essentially he said a drive to balance the budget in this kind of fiscal climate drove us into the Great Depression. Not sure I understand the mechanics of that.
9:11 pm Honestly right now I think I'd trust Obama to spread the wealth around more than some unknown, unvetted Joe the Plumber.
9:09 pm Is Joe the Plumber aka Joe Sixpack?
9:05 pm Yes what about me? My house has lost value but apparently I will not be getting a check from the government for it. (Personally that's okay - that's what I signed up for in buying a home - taking on risk.) But I wouldn't turn away a check for $40,000.
9:04 pm I'll also be Twittering with The Fix on washingtonpost.com
9:03 pm Table format. Apparently there were complaints from McCain's campaign about McCain's camera angle. Thank goodness we're focused on the big issues.
Live Blogging the 3d Presidential Debate
I will be live blogging the third presidential debate tonight. Still figuring out the technology so we'll see how this goes!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
A Moment For Country First
I have such mixed feelings about these video clips. McCain has for a moment done the right thing - finally - in saying that Obama is not an Arab and is not someone of whom Americans need be afraid. The problem is that McCain created this situation with his campaign ads, rallies, and the talking points of his campaign staff and surrogates.
It would seem that in his mind he constructed Obama as enemy so much that he went unconscious. McCain's expression betrays his shame. In this moment, he was confronted by the paradoxic desires of his personal and political aspirations.
Where has the McCain who will stand up to such vitriol been for the last few days, weeks and months?
Curiously his own crowd boos him when he calls for people to be respectful. This emotionality and irrational rhetoric makes me angry at the irresponsibility of this campaign and terrified at the state of our country.
It would seem that in his mind he constructed Obama as enemy so much that he went unconscious. McCain's expression betrays his shame. In this moment, he was confronted by the paradoxic desires of his personal and political aspirations.
Where has the McCain who will stand up to such vitriol been for the last few days, weeks and months?
Curiously his own crowd boos him when he calls for people to be respectful. This emotionality and irrational rhetoric makes me angry at the irresponsibility of this campaign and terrified at the state of our country.
David Gergin on McCain Campaign Anger
David Gergin is well respected by people on both sides of the aisle - he worked for Republican and Democratic presidents. He speaks to a growing concern about these emotionally keyed up McCain rallies this week.
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