Oyster at Your Right Hand Thief has a post up today which explains the lack of visible Obamaphilia on his blog. I have to say that I had, indeed, noticed this lack. But I understand his reasoning completely.
I haven't been so reticent, especially during the primary season, in expressing my support for Obama; but over the past month or so, my Obamaphilia has also been a bit more restrained. My focus, like Oyster's, has been moreso in harping on criticisms of Obama's Republican rivals.
Like, Oyster, I also have some posts up in the draft queue on The Huck Upchuck that I have been just too gunshy to put up until after Tuesday.
I have noticed this cautious and guarded optimism on most of the progressive, pro-Obama blogs that I visit regularly these days. I think we liberals are all quite chastened by the past eight years of wandering in the wilderness and are very much aware of the disappointments that can come crashing down upon us at the very bitter end.
But I will say this, win or lose, the Obama campaign has been absolutely stellar from start to finish. If Obama loses, I think it will be due to the electorate's unreadiness for a man like Obama in the White House -- and I'd say unreadiness because of Obama's age and, yes, his race -- both of which are beyond his control and which he has been masterful in managing to the extent that this is possible.
I am and will be unambiguously proud of Obama and his campaign and will keep my head high come Wednesday morning, regardless of the outcome.
Day of the Dead in downtown New Orleans. Right outside the famed Cabildo, next to St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square in the French Quarter of New Orleans, a brave Tulane student dances with the Mariachi as part of the day's Dia de los Muertos festivities. In addition to Mariachi music, there is a fabulous Day of the Dead altar on display on the 2nd floor of the Cabildo. You can see the display tomorrow from 2-4pm -- and then get some Cafe du Monde beignets and cafe-au-lait afterwards. Here's a shot of the altar at the Cabildo:
The weather is absolutely glorious in the Big Easy these days. Get out to the "Quarters" and check it out!
Recommended by my sweet, 10-yr-old, Obama-supporting FIG (Freckly Irish Girl):
My favorite verse (starting at the 3:24 mark):
Now, you Hillary supporters, don't you vote for McCain, And a VP needs brains, so forget about Palin. With Cheney and Bush, they are all ignorama. There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama!
President: The clear choice for The Huckupchuck is the Obama/Biden ticket. In my mind, there is just no comparison about what is in the best interests of our country and U.S. citizens not only as it relates to domestic policy, but also as it relates to our reputation abroad. I just came back from a lecture with the Honduran Minister of Culture who pointed out that 76% of Latin Americans are more reassured by the prospect of an Obama presidency than a McCain presidency, even though many Latin American policymakers think that McCain probably knows more about the region than Obama. But my enthusiastic, unreserved, and unconditional support for Obama/Biden is no surprise. As for local races, here are some of my thoughts:
U.S. Senate: John Kennedy not only is a turncoat; he's not even a convincing turncoat. His whole campaign has been one big dud. I mean, he can't even do the conservative fear/smearmongering all that well. There is a reason why Landrieu is no longer even close to being a GOP pickup opportunity. And it's because Kennedy is such a horrible candidate. Frankly, I don't even know what Kennedy's true positions on the issues are. With Landrieu, though I sometimes don't like what I get from her, I can't say that I'm ever surprised by her. She's pretty clear on where she stands on issues. And I can at least live with that. So, The Huckupchuck gives a clear, unequivocal, though not fully enthusiastic endorsement for Landrieu in the U.S. Senate race.
Orleans Parish District Attorney: I have serious reservations about both candidates; but I tend to lean towards Cannizzaro over Capitelli. I have to say that it bothers me to no end that I almost without fail see yard signs for both of these guys next to yard signs for McCain/Palin in front of pretty big uptown mansions. And although, as Mrs. Huckupchuck often tells me, party identification in local races is much less relevant than the national races, it still disturbs me that folks who embrace a clear conservative ideology (and make no bones about expressing such preferences) also seem to feel pretty comfortable embracing either of the two DA candidates who claim to be Democrats. But I guess we need to have one of them. And though I supported Jason Williams in the primaries, and though Williams has endorsed Capitelli, I have had some direct, positive experiences with Cannizzaro that pulls me towards him as the lesser of two candidates neither of whom I consider ideal.
Louisiana Congressional District 1: For the first time in a loooooong time, Congressional District 1 has a real shot at a Democrat. From what I have seen from the Harlan campaign, he is about as good a Democrat as Congressional District 1 is ever likely to get. Of course, I'm not so keen on his social conservatism; but being a social conservative is simply a sine-qua-non for that district. And Harlan's social conservatism is not the angry kind. As for Scalise, he's just pure conservative Christianist Republicanism. Anyone would be better than Scalise (except, perhaps, for Tim Burns). And Harlan is not just an alternative; but the most acceptable alternative. So, The Huckupchuck gives a clear endorsement to Jim Harlan.
Louisiana Congressional District 2 (Democratic Party Second Primary Election): My district. A reliably Democratic district. And this year, the Democratic candidate choices in this Second Primary Runoff election (Helena Moreno and William Jefferson) are not only just weak, but also mostly unacceptable. I cannot and will not, as a matter of principle and conscience, endorse or vote for William Jefferson. True that he is technically innocent until proven guilty in a court of law; but I've been convinced in the court of my own opinion long ago that he's guilty, if not of criminal behavior under the law (which I think he is, anyway), then of being among the worst of the corrupt cynics in Congress. So, that leaves me giving my reluctant endorsement to Helena Moreno in this primary. As much as I think Helena Moreno is a Republican disingenuously wrapped in the clothing of a Democrat just for the sake of being elected in a Democratic district, she at least appears to be ethically above reproach. The general election is another thing altogether. And, regardless of who wins the Democratic Party nomination, I have to admit that I'm considering breaking party discipline and seriously looking at the other candidates. I'll have more to say about this after Nov. 4; and I think you might be quite surprised to hear what it is I have to say.
As for the rest of the races, I have nothing to say nor any endorsements to make.
Two octogenarian women, and life-long friends, start to blogging and the result is ... well ... you just have to read it to believe it. Here's a sample:
I cannot believe this is even close. How did America get so far off track that a week out from this election many still think it is too close to call?
It was either a few years ago or a few months ago… at my age it all blends together. But I remember it was all over the news and on the cover of all the magazines. One of those new ”starlets”… Paris or Brittney or Lindsey or Chutney or something like that - one of those starlets got caught getting out of a car without her under garments. That’s right. Photographers all around and her hoo-ha was out there for everyone and God to see because she forgot to put on a pair of panties.
I know you all know what I am talking about. It was all over the news. Scandalous they said. Out of control. She needs help. What is the world coming to? EVERYONE was shocked and EVERYONE was talking about it. How could she? What kind of a role model is she for young girls? I know you all remember it. If my scattered brain can remember it, I know you can. People didn’t have to be told how the cow ate the cabbage on that one. We all knew it instinctively.
Well imagine my shock and surprise today when I came across this little item. The latest polls show that only 55% of Americans think that Sarah Palin is not qualified to be President. 55%! FIFTY FIVE PERCENT! This about the woman whose best qualification for the job to date is that she can see Russia from her house. So what exactly does Sarah Palin have to do before the other 45% of this country is shocked enough to realize that she is a “whack job”? Please Lord don’t tell me she has to show her hoo-ha in public.
If, in fact, you are reading this blog and think that Sarah Palin is actually qualified to run the country… well I suggest you check and see if your panties are on because the joke just may be on you.
Here's what I think is the most relevant part of the endorsement:
But on balance, we believe that Sen. Obama's qualities as a leader equip him better to be the next president.
Running a campaign is similar to running an administration. It requires that the leader set the tone; that he manage a complex organization; that he chart a nimble course in the face of changing circumstances; that he choose subordinates judiciously; that he exercise good judgment under pressure. An effective campaign is the prelude to a well-run office.
Sen. Obama has acquitted himself superbly, masterminding a marathon run with focus, discipline and a knack for assembling a talented team. He communicates across lines of age, class and ethnicity. He listens and he learns. His ability to beat the Clintons, past masters of electoral politics, showed tough leadership and organizational qualities.
A president must navigate by an inner compass. Mr. Obama's steadiness and his ability to weather political storms bespeak self-confidence and a sureness of purpose. We are riding out a tempest, and he is, quite simply, even-keeled. He possesses expertise that should endear him to the New Orleans area.
I couldn't agree more. And I reiterate my completely anti-intuitive and exclusively gut-based, wishful-thinking prediction of a Louisiana shocker on November 4 with Louisiana's 9 electoral votes going to Obama at the end of the day.
Times-Picayune columnist Chris Rose appears to be in a sad downward spiral. For some, this is not surprising. Rose has been seen around Lusher school lately, during times when kids are in transit, looking disheveled and raising eyebrows with beer bottle a cup of what looked like beer and cigarettes in hand. This is tragic. Such a talented writer succumbing to his demons.
The Stone Center for Latin American Studies at Tulane University, Puentes New Orleans, and the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations LAVotes Campaign are co-sponsoring a Candidate Forum for Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 from 7:00-9:00pm at the Qatar Ballroom in the Lavin Bernick Center of Tulane University.
All six of the remaining candidates in this race were invited to this forum. Four of the six candidates have confirmed their participation: Helena Moreno (D), Joseph Cao (R), Jerry Jacobs (I), Gregory Kahn (L).
The forum will be a two-part moderated event. During the first part, a moderator from one of the sponsoring organizations will pose a series of questions (probably 5-6) to the candidates, each of whom will be allowed 3 minutes to respond. During the second part, select questions submitted by audience members to the moderator before the start of the event will be posed to the candidates. The forum will concentrate on issues of importance to the local Latino community. It is free and open to the public. Please plan to come to Tulane University this Tuesday and be a part of this event. And to the NOLAblogger community, bring your computers and live-blog the event!
If anyone has any questions about the event, just drop me an email or leave them in the comments section. I hope to see you at the Forum.
Apparently, since McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate less than three months ago, the RNC has spent a whopping $150,000 just to keep Palin well-dressed and well-coiffed. Let me put this into some perspective for you. In less than three months, the amount that the RNC has spent on Sarah Palin's fashion accessorizing could almost buy my 2800 square foot house outright. As for me, I had to take out a 30 year mortgage. Also, over that same time frame, my household has spent probably in the range of $300 on clothing, shoes, makeup, and visits to the barber/hairstylist -- and I'm talking about 4 people combined, 3 of whom are fashionable females.
This is supposed to be the campaign/party that eschews "celebrity," embraces Joe Sixpack the Plumber, and claims to exercise some kind of fiscal restraint and responsibility? Puh-lease!
To my conservative friends, relatives, and blog visitors, I have this nagging two part question that I would like for you to answer directly and honestly:
Part 1: Is Obama a terrorist?
Part 2: If not, is McCain trying to paint Obama as one?
They're simple "Yes/No" questions. So please, if you would, answer them accordingly. And after you do so, then you can add whatever qualifiers you want. I just want a clear, unobfuscated, simple, honest answer.
And, in exchange, I promise to answer honestly any simple "Yes/No" questions you migth want to pose to me.
I've been thinking more on McCain's desperate attempts to smear/fear his way into the White House. And the more I think on this the more I imagine that my friends and relatives who are decent conservatives must be simply mortified and embarrassed by the McCain tactics. If you want a good take on the final coup de grace in this despicable gutterball campaign strategy, just read this and this.
They'll go into the voting booths and pull the lever for McCain for honorable reasons; but they'll be doing so in the full knowledge that McCain's victory, if he gets it, is wrapped up not in the honorable reasons, but in the dishonorable ones. And they'll have to live with themselves if that comes to pass. Feh!
Even though Powell's endorsement is not all that surprising, what one can't help but admire is the measured, rational, and humane explanation Powell gives for his decision. It is a reflection of all that is good and pure about America and what can be great, instead of base, about its politics. What Powell laments is the loss of principled and human decency in the politics of what has become the modern GOP.
Contrast Powell's words, which should impress anyone, liberal and conservative alike, with this comment by a rabid rightwing blogger who, in responding to a posting by The Atlantic's Ross Douthat, another sane and humane conservative blogger, who offered up a mild criticism of conservatives in their irrational defense of the unpreparedness of Sarah Palin for the Presidency, not to mention her despicable gutterball tactics, wrote:
I have found some of my fellow conservative bloggers to lack the degree of intellectual suppleness with which I might enjoy interacting more. But -- what's his [Ross Douthat's] tactical point? It's two weeks and goal. Does he want to send Sarah Palin out to Professor Henry Higgins? She isn't going to pick up that masters from the Woodrow Wilson School between now and Election Day, and it would hardly matter if she did, would it?
She needs to pick up rocks, mud and pointed sticks. And do her worst with 'em. Because, Ross, that's what we're down to. And I ain't spinning you no silk here.
Colin Powell wants a modicum of decency. And the rabid rightwing wants blood at all costs, even if it destroys respectable conservatism in the process.
Lately, I've been wondering about something. Over the past three or four weeks, I've been wearing every now and then my Barack Obama T-Shirts or buttons. I've noticed that the only people in my town who seem to wear their politics on their sleeves, literally, are Obama supporters. I have seen a couple of McCain/Palin bumper stickers, but I haven't seen any McCain/Palin buttons or T-shirts around. So, I began to think ... is there something about Democrats that propels them to broadcast their political preferences in such public ways? Or do I feel comfortable doing this because I believe that I am in Obama-friendly territory? Or is it just a personality thing? The fact is that it gives me satisfaction and pride to project my political preferences during election time. It is, in fact, my little contribution to the Obama campaign. I don't feel anything untoward about it at all. Neither does my wife. Nor do my liberal friends. And even my conservative family and friends don't seem to be put out or bothered by it. Why aren't there any McCain/Palin advocates out there doing the same thing?
Now, New Orleans is, of course, a Democratic stronghold; but it is not exclusively so. After all, New Orleans is in Louisiana, which is a pretty conservative state for the most part. And liberal Democratic politics in New Orleans is a far cry from the the liberalism of the East and West Coasts. Furthermore, there are places I go in the suburbs, just 5-10 minutes down the road from where I live, that are about as conservative as they come. So it's not like I feel I am completely in Obama-friendly territory every where I go. Yet, even still, I don't think simply being in a conservative GOP stronghold would prevent me from wearing my Obama T-shirt. I've thought about it and I'm certain that I'd wear such political advertisements pretty much anywhere in the U.S. So what propels me to wear my politics on my sleeves? And why don't I see passionate conservatives doing likewise?
Is it that conservatives fear for their safety? Do conservatives consider such displays of preference to be tacky or uncouth? Or is it just the nature of conservative behavior to be reserved and private about such things?
I find it curious and puzzling.
I'd love to hear from anyone else who has noticed this phenomenon and has pondered the reasons for it.
I personally thought Obama won this clearly. He was smooth, convincing, composed, and knowledgable. McCain seemed desperate and petty. But I've checked out some conservative blogs and the folks there are living in a fantasy world. They think (for the third time, no less!) that McCain won this debate. And yet almost every survey of focus groups (even the FoxNews focus group) gave the debate to Obama. What kind of ozone layer do these people live in? Just goes to show you that we see what we want to see in these debates. I guess McCain spoke to his narrow base looking for something to cheer; and Obama appealed to folks like me who are already sold on his policies and his delivery style, which he provided in abundance tonight.
Best reaction to the debate, though, came from Mrs. Huckupchuck who said that McCain's performance can be summed up accordingly: "Grasping and Gasping" -- meaning Grasping at straws and gasping for air. I think that pretty much captures it in a nutshell.
We'll see what the next few days' polling reveals, but I'm going out on a limb and declaring: "McCain is toast."
In fact, I'll go one further: I think McCain is so toasted that I predict a Louisiana upset for Obama on election day. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!
You know, I haven't exactly been the kind of die-hard Reggie Bush fan as many have been; but I do have to say that anyone who puts up these numbers over a six week period has got to be doing something right. 8 TDs in six games, spread out fairly evenly over rushing TDs (2), receiving TDs (3), and return TDs (3), is pretty damn impressive, no matter how you slice it up.
I know Jeffrey can always find that trip up, that dropped pass, that fumble, etc., to try to suppress the real accomplishments of Bush this season; but that only gets you so far. I'd say that Reggie Bush is delivering this year in ways that just don't merit the criticism. One doesn't need to be a Reggie Bush fan to acknowledge this. What say you, Jeffrey? Care to give at least a grudging compliment to the Who Dats' Black and Gold #25?
Is being celebrated this Wednesday at the New Orleans Museum of Art, first with a press event at 11:30am. Later on that afternoon, from 5-7pm, at the same place (NOMA), there will be a reception in honor of El Misisipi, the first Spanish-language Latino newspaper published in the United States. Come out and join the celebration!
The rightwing fear-smear machine, via conservative blogger John Hawkins, goes there:
When I called this the most dangerous time for America since WW2, I was dead serious. Barack Obama with a large Democrat majority in Congress, an adoring media, and a big crisis to work will be nearly as dangerous to this country's future trying to "help" as Nazi Germany was trying to kill us. That's no exaggeration. They literally may be able to do damage that our country will NEVER recover from...
This morning, The Atlantic's Andrew Sullivan referencedHarper's Scott Horton’s puzzlement over the Palin email hacker incident. This sentence in Horton's piece caught my attention:
The hacker also helped establish a motive for the illegal conduct: Palin regularly involved her husband in official business, and it’s easy to understand why she did not want to leave behind evidence of her husband’s involvement.
Let me explain why I sat a bit more upright in my chair this morning when I read that sentence. I have often had conversations with my in-laws, who are people that Andrew Sullivan would identify as Christianist, as indeed they are. As such, they are biblical literalists and fundamentalists who I imagine support Palin for all the obvious reasons. [UPDATE: I should also say that my in-laws are wonderful people. I am very fond of them and they are extremely generous and good-hearted folks.] But I also remember having had a conversation with my in-laws one time about the proper relationship between husband and wife. For them, the biblical mandate that wives should submit themselves to the authority of their husbands was serious business. Here's what Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians (5:22-24):
22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
That made me wonder, knowing what we know about Sarah Palin’s Christianism, whether or not she and Todd ascribe to the same basic philosophy and theology. Since we apparently can’t ask them this, I think we simply have to assume that they do. And Horton’s comment about Sarah Palin using private emails to involve her husband in official business seems to confirm this assumption. What this means, though, outside of the fact that Sarah Palin was engaging in illegal activity, is that it is all the more imperative that we find out what we can, not only about Sarah Palin, but also about Todd Palin.
And though it is not the custom of secular American democracy to view spouses of candidates in this way, we are not really dealing with a candidate who embraces the values of secular American democracy.
So, please, let's find out who this Todd Palin is. One disturbing thing we do know about Todd Palin is that he belonged to the secessionist AlaskanIndependence Party. Here's what one of the founders of the Alaskan Independence Party, Joe Vogler, had to say about America (at about 1:42-1:50 in the audio clip):
The fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American Government, and I won't be buried under their damned flag.
And here's Sarah Palin addressing the Alaskan Independence Party Convention:
It is fair to wonder if Sarah Palin's Christianist submission to her husband might have anything to do with this. And it is also fair to wonder if Todd Palin's biblical authority over his wife might have more bearing on Sarah Palin's potential behavior and role as Vice President. My feeling is that Todd Palin is probably more important to understanding Sarah Palin, and what she is likely to do as Vice-President, than anyone has let on to date.
The anger, misinformation, and outright smears are legion.
It is so absurd it is almost cartoonish. It might even be humorous for its absurdity if it weren't so sad in its reality.
And McCain is encouraging such reactions, not attempting to mitigate them.
I believe that we will look back on this electoral campaign, and this particular moment in the election period, and be embarrassed for the GOP and for conservatism. What the GOP has done to itself is almost too painful to watch.
What is The Huck Upchuck? It's simple. The Huck Upchuck is quite literally my "spewing forth" on anything or any issue that strikes my fancy. You can email me by clicking HERE.
Posts
