Twitter used to combat limited press freedom in Iran
Scoop Jun 21 2009 8:42PM GMT
Source: c.moreover.com
Palin's honeymoon ends
Republican Chuck Hagel provided a scathing--but valid--commentary on Palin when it comes to foreign policy:
"She doesn't have any foreign policy credentials. ... You get a passport for the first time in your life last year? I mean, I don't know what you can say. You can't say anything."
"It's a stretch to, in any way, to say that she's got the experience to be president of the United States." Source
Palin's performance during the Gibson interview, particularly on the topic of foreign policy, was quite weak. At one point, she attempted to change the topic to energy policy in a desperate effort to avoid discussing a weakness and hit a talking point.
Not surprisingly, the honeymoon period seems to be over for Palin. Her positive ratings are down and her negative ratings are up. The Gibson interview revealed her weaknesses. She remains a good pick (for McCain) as it has clearly invigorated McCain's campaign, but with that and the polls showing Obama regaining the lead, the honeymoon is over. With the economic troubles, the focus returns to topics of substance.
Source: brettdalypolitics.blogspot.com
Barack Obama's New Book
Barack Obama finished The Audacity of Hope a little while back. I've gotten around to taking the book out of the library, and I must say I'm extremely impressed with his understanding of the current situation and his vision moving forward. Here's a really great quote from the book, one I really believe is right on the money:
Republicans are fighting the last war, the war they waged and won in the eighties, while Democrats are forced to fight a rearguard action, defending the New Deal programs of the thirties.
Neither strategy will work anymore. America can't compete with China and India simply by cutting costs and shrinking government--unless we're willing to tolerate a drastic decline in American living standards with smoke-choked cities and beggars lining the streets. Nor can America compete simply by erecting trade barriers and raising the minimum wage--unless we're willing to confiscate all the world's computers.
But our history should give us confidence that we don't have to choose between an oppressive, government-run economy and a chaotic and unforgiving capitalism. It tells us that we can emerge from great economic upheavals stronger, not weaker. Like those who came before us, we should be asking ourselves what mix of policies will lead to a dynamic free market and widespread economic security, entrepreneurial innovation and upward mobility. And we can be guided by Lincoln's simply maxim: that we will do collectively through our government, only those things we cannot do as well or at all individually or privately.
In other words, we should be guided by what works.
He then prescribes a number of realistic fixes. Well, perhaps not realistic with all of the special interests in our political system. But, fiscally, they are realistic. I'll let you take the book out of your library instead of trying to summarize it in a precious few sentences. Ultimately, I've found a potential presidential candidate that I can really get behind.
Source: brettdalypolitics.blogspot.com
Sobering United States Healthcare Statistics
Strategy + Business has two interesting health care articles in the spring issue. The article titled "Does Health Care Have a Future" summarizes points from eight different books. I really think the opening paragraph is telling:
It is no secret that health care in the U.S. is in crisis. Americans share a sense of impending catastrophe, and for good reason. Health care in the United States consumes some $2 trillion per year — 16 percent of the GDP, and four times the expenditure for national defense. Yet U.S. health care’s performance is ranked 15th globally by the World Health Organization; American life expectancy ranks 22nd in the world, and infant mortality ranks 39th. The U.S. spends more on health-care insurance than any other nation, yet 46 million Americans do without — a number that increases every year. The out-of-pocket costs of those who have insurance have nearly tripled in the last six years, as health-care premiums continue to rise at nearly three times the general inflation rate. Unpaid and unpayable health-care bills account for the majority of all personal bankruptcies in the country. (Flower & Knott, 2007)
One of the suggested solutions is to make health care costs and quality more transparent. It cites that those parts of the industry that must really compete for the health care dollar--like plastic surgery and laser eye surgery--generally perform better. It's a valid insight. I may give my opinion on the other article in the business blog as it discusses a retail system.
Source: brettdalypolitics.blogspot.com
Palin's Punches
Listening to Sarah Palin take shots at Obama because he's inexperienced was borderline comical. She took those shots right after she tried to defend her "experience" in Wasilla--a town of 6, 715 residents. Student government presidents in colleges often have to govern more constituents than she did. She also threw a few punches that implied Obama is simply good at giving speeches.
Hmm, so the GOP is trying to frame Obama as being good at speech delivery, but light on experience. Doesn't that sound an awful lot like Sarah Palin? Of course, they highlighted how it's good that she's an outsider. So, why isn't that a strength of Obama's? You just can't have it both ways.
Frankly, I think the GOP erased their primary talking points with Palin. Obama doesn't have enough experience? Nor does Palin, and with McCain's age, the VP nominee is that much more important. The digs tonight seemed highly hypocritical.
But, don't worry, she's a reformer. Oh, wait, she supported the "bridge to nowhere" until she decided to use--not return--federal funds for other projects. She left that out of tonight's speech. Oops.
Source: brettdalypolitics.blogspot.com
An All New York Presidential Race?
As I read this article about Michael Bloomberg leaving the GOP and potentially entering the presidential race as an independent, it got me thinking about the possibility that the three leading nominees (Republican, Democrat, and Independent) for president in 2008 could have received their most recent political experience in New York. Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton is one of New York's representatives in the United States Senate, Rudy Giuliani is New York City's previous mayor, and Bloomberg is New York City's current mayor. While I haven't looked into it, I have to believe that would be a first.
Of course, Clinton and Giuliani have lots of work ahead of them. Clinton still holds a solid lead and I expect her to emerge, but I think Barack Obama is a strong candidate too. Giuliani might be a bit "too liberal" to get through the GOP's primaries, although he still holds a narrow lead according to most polls. Thompson, a long-time lobbyist, seems to be gaining ground. I'd be a little surprised if Rudy survives the smear tactics that are sure to occur to him due to his beliefs on gun control and abortion.
Source: brettdalypolitics.blogspot.com
The Politics of Fear
With McCain's current poll numbers, his campaign has turned negative. It's difficult to blame them, as negativity has worked before--and who knows--it may work again. However, it's having frightening consequences among his base. People are going as far as yelling "off with his head." McCain is actually getting booed while trying to calm his misinformed (as much of what they're stating against Obama has been debunked long ago) down. This campaign has resorted to scare tactics by stating "dangerous, " "dishonorable, " and "risky" in their ads. However, these scare tactics may backfire if the result is numerous out-of-control rallies with supporters mentioning things that even McCain has to debunk. This sort of thing makes his supporters seem out-of-touch, and quite frankly, frighteningly radical. And that, I believe, is a poor way to try to appeal to those undecided voters that are in the middle of the political spectrum.
Source: brettdalypolitics.blogspot.com
The smear campaign continues
If you can't beat them on the issues, try to destroy your opponent's name by attempting to scare voters into voting for you. That seems to be the McCain campaign's strategy. Sadly, I'd never bet against that strategy. The Democrats have lost on it twice before, and we'll see if it happens again. Will they regret not pulling out every skeleton in McCain and Palin's closet? Strategically, the Obama campaign seems far superior to Kerry and Gore, but still, negativity can be very effective. The polling continues to look good for Obama, but this race is pretty unprecedented, so we'll have to wait until Tuesday/Wednesday to see if they hold any water. It'll be interesting, to say the least.
Source: brettdalypolitics.blogspot.com
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