The 2000 Election! Now a Major Motion Picture

Just a quick thought:

If I was going to make a movie about the 2000 election, here is the cast...

Bush - Jack Nicholson (heh, heh)
Cheney - Robert DeNiro (you talkin' to me?)

Gore - George Clooney (the perfect storm!)
Edwards - David Duchovny (sorry for the joke)

If you want to see a cool browser inside your current browser go to:
http://www.navigaya.com/main.php

Have we learned anything from Iraq?

Take a look at a world map in order to understand why Iran is a bit worried. They are practically surrounded by American troops. I don't think the Iranian people have anything against us as Americans. What I do think is that with American troops so close, it might be best to wave a saber like nuclear power to at least make them feel more substantial in our eyes.

And also keep in mind that their president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was elected by the people of Iran. But he is mostly a figurehead and the country, a theocracy, is ruled by the Supreme Leader. The president shares some degree of power with the Supreme Leader, but does not have the range of influence that presidents have in more democratic societies. So when Ahmadinejad shoots off his mouth, take it with a grain of salt.

That doesn't mean that Iran is any less of a threat, especially when it comes to influencing neighboring countries like Iraq.

But I certainly don't think threatening Iran serves them or us or the world any good. We should learn a lesson from the Iraq fiasco.

Metaphorically speaking...

Obama: iPod
McCain: 8-track
Biden: reel to reel
Palin: cassette

Obama: JFK
McCain: Nixon
Biden: Gerald Ford
Palin: Dan Quayle

Obama: Cubs
McCain: Yankees
Biden: Spitz
Palin: Phelps

Obama: Porsche Cayenne
McCain: H2
Biden: Volkswagen
Palin: Hyundai

Obama: Hot dog
McCain: Steak and eggs
Biden: Liver and onions
Palin: Lean Cuisine

Obama: Colbert Report
McCain: Fox News
Biden: Meet the Press
Palin: Today Show

Obama: Stevie Wonder
McCain: Three Dog Night
Biden: The Beatles
Palin: Spice Girls

Obama: Alexander Hamilton
McCain: Benjamin Franklin
Biden: James Madison
Palin: Dolly Madison

Obama: Hank Aaron
McCain: Babe Ruth
Biden: Bobby Riggs
Palin: Billie Jean King

Obama: Prince Charming
McCain: Shrek
Biden: Lord Farquaard
Palin: Fiona

Obama: Iron Man
McCain: Captain America
Biden: Mr. Myxaplx
Palin: Wonder Woman

Obama: Sponge Bob
McCain: Patrick Star
Biden: Mr. Eugene Q. Crabs
Palin: Sandy

Got some of your own? Comments welcome!

Roe v. Wade and Bristol Palin

Bristol Palin's pregnancy is big. It brings to light the issue of Roe v. Wade. Should McCain become president, I have no doubt that the Supreme Court will visit this divisive issue. Should McCain become president, and should one of the chairs become vacant, he would undoubtedly pick a pro-life justice to fill that seat.

But, pro-life vs. pro-choice is not really about abortion vs. anything. Pro-lifers would have us believe that if you are against "pro-life" you are for abortion. But that is not true. What if Bristol Palin had been a victim of rape? Should she not have the choice to terminate that unwelcome pregnancy? What if Bristol Palin had been a victim of incest? Should she not have the choice to terminate that unwelcome pregnancy? What if the pregnancy threatened her life? No choice there either? Are 17 year old girls and 18 year old boys prepared for what it means to be a parent? This isn't ice hockey or cheer leading. This is 24/7.

Why have some Americans decided that such a private life altering decision be left to the politics of those sitting on the Supreme Court of the United States? Why should a sitting president have the power to decide that his choice for a vacant Supreme Court seat could possibly influence a woman's life for years to come? Why would anyone in their right mind leave such a decision to John McCain? And Sarah Palin.

Just asking.

Family Values

It was interesting to learn that Barak Obama has declared Sarah Palin's family problems to be off limits. This would be in keeping with his need to avoid the tag of being "an angry black man." Obama certainly cannot risk middle American seeing him in this light. It is a tag that will not sit well with the majority of voters both black and white. I have heard him referred to as this generations Jackie Robinson. That may be quite accurate. One only has to think about what Robinson had to endure to equate it to Obama. It's the need to avoid conflict that will keep him from saying anything negative about Palin. It would only antagonize the neocons who are waiting to pounce at the first word from Obama's mouth. But the question is, in avoiding the subject does he let down those who are looking for some kind of statement concerning family values. This is a tough spot for Obama, and a very touchy issue. I suppose it may be a no win situation. But he best get used to it if he intends to occupy the Oval Office.

But expect to hear plenty from the opposition in reference to Bristol Palin. But it will not come from Obama.

My question is this: Why would the mother of a special needs infant want to be VP and basically spend the child's infant years away from him? Why would the mother of a pregnant 17 year old daughter basically spend the next years away from her daughter and her grandchild? Is this the family values that the neocons scream about? What values did she teach her daughter? And now we are getting the really outlandish excuse that the daughter told her mother that she would feel terribly guilty if her mother gave up the possibility of becoming VP just because her daughter is pregnant. Excuse me? What about deciding on your own, Mrs. Palin, that your family needs you and that being VP was a distant second to being a mother. Now the question will be, "If she was a man she wouldn't have to make this decision." No, in this case I would expect the father to make the exact same decision. We aren't talking here about a mother or father working eight hours a day at the office. We are talking about being a heartbeat from the presidency. We are talking stress, world affairs, 24/7.

I have no idea what type of person Mrs. Palin is. I'm sure she is a fine woman. She just was a bad choice, one of many by McCain who was undoubtedly pressured into this by the extreme right of the Republican Party. His choice was Lieberman from the start. But Mrs. Palin brings the donations from the extremists that Joe would be unable to do.

I doubt we'll hear much about family values from here on in. Let's remember this about McCain. He cheated on his first wife (a former model from Philadelphia), a woman who suffered serious injuries in a car crash, and was left permanently disfigured. She actually lost four inches of height from the accident. They had three children before he divorced her. Then he married Cindy McCain a month after his divorce. The second wife's family was quite wealthy, and in fact started McCain on his political trail. John and Cindy are worth in excess of $25 million. He stated that you are "rich" if you have more than, oh, $5 million. WHAT!

I wonder how much of a "hero" he is to his first wife. His campaign centers on two things: Being a war hero (remember wife #1) and American values ($25 million worth).

Say WHAT?

Dear Mr. Next President

A note to our next president:

Think of all Americans as your family. Your job as head of the family is to ensure their health and safety. How does the head of this family take care of their health? Think of this. If you have four kids and two are sick, that is quite a burden mentally and financially on the family. It becomes the focus point of the family. So taking care of our children should be a high priority for the next president. Free or low cost medical for every child under the age of 18 should be a priority, not just a dream. Be sure our children, the future, are healthy. A healthy body and a healthy mind makes for a healthy nation.

Next, the land. Everyone needs to recycle. Make it mandatory. Make it a high priority and not just a voluntary afterthought.

We need to think as Americans, as one people. What is good for one should be good for all. A fair tax system, a first class public education system, alternative energy sources, all of which are very easy to do if we have the leadership that wants it to get done. Is there money? Yes...

Let's stop sending our money around the world. First of all, we can't afford it any more. Foreign aide should be totally cut unless there is a disaster that calls for help. Second, giving aide promotes dependence. Dependence promotes intervention. Intervention equals imperialism. Stop all aide. Again, we can no longer afford it other than on humanitarian grounds. I don't know about anyone else, but I've never gotten a thank you card from any country that my tax money has gone to for supporting their US "friendly" government. They want our dollars but not our intervention. So just STOP! NOW!

Who? Hu?

McCain says his thinking and choices are not about him, they are about America. Well, in picking Sarah Palin as a running mate he has turned this thinking upside down. This is clearly a grab for the disgruntled Hillary clan and clearly panders to the neocons. Let's picture a day when McCain is gone (sorry, but you always have to think about this) and she becomes president. Does that scare you? It scares me to death, even if she is a fine woman, great mother, etc. Let's picture her on the telephone with Putin. "Hello, Mr. Putin. How are you? How is the weather in...uh, er...where you are?" Or better still, "Hello, Mr. Hu." Aside, "Who is Hu?"

Now compare that to Joe Biden.

This shows a lack of judgment on McCain's part. And being president takes judgment and the ability to look further than your nose.