You can read it here. There are many things in it with which I agree. Even so, it is arguably the most right-wing platform in our history.

[Tags: politics mccain obama republicans ]

1 Comment »

I missed John McCain’s speech entirely, since he was rude enough to give it at 4AM in Austrian time (I’m at the Ars Electronica festival), but I had a good laugh when I woke up and checked the coverage: The headline in the NY Times is:

John McCain Vows to End ‘Partisan Rancor’

Of all the themes to pick after the intensely partisan ads and speeches, and the night after nominating a self-described “pitbull in lipstick”! I do appreciate McCain’s gracious ad congratulating Obama on his nomination, but even that ad noted that it was a momentary lull (“We’ll be at it again tomorrow”) in a firestorm of partisan negativity.

Maybe the headline was just due to the Times’ impish sense of humor.

[Tags: politics mccain obama ]

4 Comments »

(From my Blackberry. Pls forgive the typos and abbrevs.)

I watched the Rep conv from my hotel room in Norway. It was 4:30 am when Polin came on. I saw ten mins, enough to see that she’d become a cultural stand-in. She is now not what she is but a symbol in our ugly, perpetual cultural war. (As Jay Rosen has said.)

Then I had to get into a cab, so I watched the rest via twitter on my phone. Fascinating. A play that consisted solely of reactions. The O fans were reacting to her content, as if this weren’t about the Reps hatred of the media and distrust of intellectuals. (And, yes, I believe there’s some racial stuff going on as well, at the archetpal level. What do I mean? Even if I knew, I couldn’t type it on a bberry.)

I experienced the conv in another alienated way: Among Europeans, to whom SP looks like the ultimate US joke on itself. We make a B movie star into a prez, and now we tell ourselves that absolutely anyone can be president. You’re a model citizen? Great, go bring peace to the Mideast. Oh, and here are the launch keys.

But I hope the O campaign continues to steer clear of attacks on SP. That’s the cultural war game the Reps are playing. Instead point out that the Rep ticket is now more conservative than Bush or Goldwater. Stick to the issues. Let the bloggers surface the cracks in SP’s pose…

Well, I guess I’ll press the Send button, athough a jetlagged, frightened person typing on a bberry should never be allowed to post…

I haven’t been able to view the video, but the write-up of this Jon Stewart segment on the hypocrisy of Rove, O’Reilly, and Dick Morris makes it sound quite satisfying to those of a certain ilk.

7 Comments »

I’m sorry to say that I think Jay Rosen’s analysis of how the Sarah Palin candidacy will be played by the media, and how the media will be played by the Republicans, is right on the money. [Tags: politics sarah_palin mccain obama ]

1 Comment »

RealClear Politics has an electoral map that shows you who’s leading where. You can also use it to create your own map.

[Tags: politics ]

2 Comments »

Jennifer Ouellette at Cocktail Party Physics posts a long post comparing the science policies of Obama and McCain, including Obama’s answers to the excellent 14 science questions posed to both of the candidates; McCain has not answered yet, but he has said that he will. She does not find herself torn. (Neither do I.)

[Tags: politics obama mccain science jennifer_ouellette ]

2 Comments »

Zogby reports that McCain’s insulting selection of Sarah Palin has given his campaign a bounce back up to equivalency with Obama’s. But Slate reports that Obama continues to lead in the right states, so that his electoral count remains strong.

I do not understand America. Seriously. Never have. Apparently I never will.

[Tags: politics mccain palin obama polls bewilderment ]

12 Comments »

Sarah Palin seems to be an upstanding citizen. A model citizen, even. She’s worked hard, she’s fought some entrenched interests, she’s taken the initiative, she’s maintained her values…all while raising what seems to be a fine family. Welcome to the national stage.

I only put in the weasel “seems” word because I know so little about her. So: She also seems to be the least qualified vice presidential candidate in modern history. Her lack of preparation to assume the office of the presidency shows an abysmal lack of judgment on John McCain’s part, and a reckless putting of his campaign ahead of his country.

The Wikipedia the Sarah Palin entry is informative, but the discussion page is and even better source of information…the best source of info on her I’ve seen so far.

[Tags: sarah_palin john_mccain vice_president republicans obama wikipedia politics ]

12 Comments »

Two weeks ago, Stuart Shepard of Focus on the Family put out a light-hearted video urging McCain supporters to pray that there be a sudden burst of rain just as Obama came on stage for his outdoor acceptance speech.

I took him up on it, suggesting that we take the presence or absence of rain as a sign of divine political preference.

It was a beautiful, clear night in Denver.

That should be enough to settle the issue. But, just in case there were any lingering doubts, it looks like the higher power will unleash upon the Republican convention a torrential rain.

Case closed.

[Tags: stuart_shepard divine_preference obama mccain politics ]

3 Comments »

Those who are not convinced won’t be convinced.

Those who are convinced are struggling to remember similar moments.

[Tags: obama dnc08 politics ]

Voices without Votes aggregates the reaction from bloggers around the world.

5 Comments »