Some Observations About the Presidential Candidates and Their VP Picks

Here are links to some observations about the Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates. They are worth your time to read and think about.

"A Portrait of American Wisdom: John McCain" by Kyle-Anne Shiver

"Fully Invested in Your Misery" by Bruce Walker

"Sarah Palin and the Archetype of the American Frontierswoman" by J. R. Dunn

"Joe for Veep" by Kathryn Jean Lopez

Edited to Add: You ought to consider the information in the following blog post from a New Zealand blog:

"Obama File 30 Former Terrorists Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn Involved in Key Pro-Obama Organisation"

Thoughts on Politics, the Economy, and Other Things

This past week has seen the stock markets on a wild roller coaster ride, hasn't it? I am concerned about the government interference in the markets. Perhaps some of it was necessary to prevent the collapse of the American economy. I don't know. I am linking four articles about the economic crisis below. You can, of course, find many more columns/articles about this, covering all possible viewpoints.

"A Taxpayer Stickup" by Jim H. Ainsworth

"Wall Street Fat Cats Aren't at Fault This Time" by Jonah Goldberg

"Never Sell America Short" by Lawrence Kudlow

"Are We Headed Toward a New Collectivist State?" by Mark Skousen

It's pretty clear that the mess we are in today started when "the Clinton administration reinterpreted the Jimmy Carter-era Community Reinvestment Act to politicize lending practices" to quote Jonah Goldberg's above column. It snowballed from there. Now we have to deal with fixing the mess that government interference started, and I can't think that government interference to do that is the best solution, although it may be all we have at this point. However, it needs to be a temporary interference. A free market operates best when it is truly free.

Turning to politics and the presidential campaign, I find it worrisome that Barack Obama has started encouraging his supporters to get aggressive with their independent and Republican friends and neighbors. See Michelle Malkin's column "Obama Releases His 'In-Your-Face' Hounds". This sounds more like division than the unity Obama professes to be aiming for.

In other news, Mamoud Ahmadinejad returns to the UN. An article by Oliver North, titled "UN-American" discusses this. As he points out:

But certain institutions can also bring out the worst in people. For the professional peddlers of anti-Americanism, haters of free enterprise, and true believers in global government, there is only one place that it really pays to perform: the United Nations.

Here is one take on the "disinviting" of Sarah Palin to speak at an anti-Iran rally. "Democrats force anti-Ahmadinejad protesters to disinvite Palin". Any excuse will do, apparently. Americans really should be standing united against Iran and Ahmadinejad regardless of their political leanings.

I also have a couple of summary articles I am going to link to--one about Palin's impact on the campaign and one about what an Obama presidency might mean.

"The Palin Effect" by Noemie Emery

"Change to Think Twice About: What Obama Could Destroy" by Mona Charen

Do American voters really not think about the various influences that Obama has had in his life? Certainly the mainstream media has focused more on Sarah Palin's family than on questions about Obama's associates. The latter is far more important in "vetting" someone for the job of President of the United States of America.

"It's Obama's Viability, Not McCain's, That Should Surprise Us" by David Limbaugh

"Enduring Authenticity vs. Fleeting Charisma" by David Limbaugh

There are so many more topics that need attention in our world today. This will have to suffice for now.

More Governor Sarah Palin in the News

There is much discussion about Sarah Palin still, especially regarding her interview with Charlie Gibson of ABC. One thing being made much of is the "Bush Doctrine" question. Some seem to think it makes Gov. Palin look bad that she didn't know exactly what Charlie Gibson meant by the Bush Doctrine. For a perspective on that, see Charles Krauthammer's column at Townhall titled "Charlie Gibson's Gaffee". There is no one definition of "Bush Doctrine" and Gov. Palin was right to ask Mr. Gibson in what respect he was referring to.

Another problem some people have is with Gov. Palin saying she didn't blink when asked to be the VP candidate. They think it shows thoughtlessness. What they aren't understanding is that to many of us, it meant conviction and resolve.

Some just don't understand that what Sarah Palin stands for is American values--courage, conviction, belief in the American dream, family and religious values. She shows that people can succeed at whatever they put their minds and efforts to. She's a strong, intelligent individual. She was chosen for those things and not for being a woman. The latter was just frosting on the cake for the McCain campaign.

Not everyone is going to see Gov. Palin in a positive light. That is their loss. No one is perfect, including McCain and Palin. At least, however, they don't have the kind of un-American associations that Barack Obama does (Davis, Ayers, Dohrn, Wright, et al), or the strong radical influences (Alinsky, for one, in addition to the previously mentioned leftists). The fact that the mainstream media gives Obama a pass on those major influences in his life and the lack of any real accomplishment in his past while running headlines everytime Gov. Palin sneezes is ample evidence of the leftist bias of the MSM.

One question that I would like to have answered is whether or not Barack Obama is eligible for the necessary security clearances that a President of the United States would need to have to do his job. I certainly wouldn't clear him for those security clearances.

Think About This

Presidential Politics in the USA

My goodness, all the media have been busy reporting on Gov. Sarah Palin over the weekend! Well, we did need to learn more about her, but you have to be careful about what you believe. The best thing to do is read a number of articles from a variety of sources and that will give you an idea of what's true and what isn't. Also be aware that the Democrats and their liberal/leftist/socialist/Marxist (LLSM) friends will be trying to portray Gov. Palin in the worst possible light. Disclaimer: Bear in mind that I am a conservative Republican (as if you couldn't tell!) and so my sources are mostly conservative, but I have read articles from the MSM, which is mostly liberal and firmly in Obama's camp. Anyway, you won't have any trouble finding articles dissing Gov. Palin on the internet.

First off, here is a chart comparing Gov. Palin and Barack Obama: "Tale of the Tape: Sarah Palin vs. Barack Obama" at RedState. You may get a server error, but keep trying. It's apparently a very popular blog post. Some of you may say it isn't fair to compare a vice-presidential candidate with a presidential candidate, but when you consider that one of the Democrats' complaints about Gov. Palin is that she isn't qualified to be a heartbeat away from the presidency, it's rather telling that she is more qualified than the Democratic candidate for the presidency itself.

Another link: "The Coming Trials of Sarah Palin" by J. Robert Smith at American Thinker. A quote from this piece:

Since the Clarence Thomas nomination fight in 1991, conservatives and fair-minded Americans have learned a bitter lesson: for liberals, it isn't about promoting the advancement of all African-Americans, but only those in step with their ideology and aims. The same can be said of women. Liberals believe they own the franchise, and it doesn't allow for baby-making, gun-friendly, God-fearing women, who, not incidentally, fight for lower taxes, smaller government and a strong national defense. They certainly can't be Republicans.

That is a very important point. The Dems and the LLSM (who are often the same people) do not support all minorities, whether they be black, female, hispanic, or anything else. Those that are conservative and/or Republican are most definitely not supported.

Also at American Thinker is "Why Palin is a Bee in Dems' Bonnets" by Kyle-Anne Shiver. A quote:

Palin may come in a perfectly lovely, innocent-looking package, a bit like a bumble bee resting in the shade on a clover blossom, but when she sees professional politicians getting fat and rich at the public trough, she is immediately transformed into one threatening, buzzing, stinging machine.

Pompous, polished, under-performing Democrat pols meet down-to-earth, mom-of-five, rifle-toting, corruption-shredding, tenacious Governor Sarah, the taxpayers' best friend.

It is interesting that Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, emphasize that America has gone wrong, with the implication that only they can fix America. However, the things that are wrong with America are the things caused by the LLSMs: excessive welfare and entitlements and teaching people to expect something for nothing and to be cared for from cradle to grave--they urge a Nanny State government, in other words; liberal indoctrination in schools rather than actual education; making groundless self-esteem rather than self-esteem based on actual accomplishments the be-all and end-all of everything, leading to the dumbing down of America and the lowering of expectations; the criticism and financial punishment of those who actually do accomplish the establishment of successful businesses and successful lives; refusal to allow America to produce her own energy sources, which she has in abundance; insisting that global warming is real and is man-made and thus advocating crippling economic policies. I could go on and on, but you get the idea.

Naturally, they and all their supporters fear Gov. Sarah Palin, a smart and active woman with her head on straight.

For those who complain about Gov. Palin's lack of foreign policy experience, here's something to think about:

Commander of the Alaskan National Guard, Cont'd [Jonah Goldberg]

From Jimbo:

Hey Jonah,

Before you dismiss that Commander of the Alaska National Guard stuff. This came from a reader who plays the game and it jibes with my knowledge.

Alaska is the first line of defense in our missile interceptor defense system. The 49th Missile Defense Battalion of the Alaska National Guard is the unit that protects the entire nation from ballistic missile attacks. It’s on permanent active duty, unlike other Guard units.

As governor of Alaska, Palin is briefed on highly classified military issues, homeland security, and counterterrorism. Her exposure to classified material may rival even Biden's.

She's also the commander in chief of the Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF), a federally recognized militia incorporated into Homeland Security's counterterrorism plans.

Palin is privy to military and intelligence secrets that are vital to the entire country's defense. Given Alaska's proximity to Russia, she may have security clearances we don't even know about.

According to the Washington Post, she first met with McCain in February, but nobody ever found out. This is a woman used to keeping secrets.

She can be entrusted with our national security, because she already is.
Me: Oh I don't dispute that she has more national security bona fides than the press is making it seem. I thought I posted on this the other day, but now I can't find the link (posting from the car was not always successful and so history has lost some real brilliance!). Alaskan governors deal a lot more with international and national security issues than, say the Governor of Arkansas. There are all sorts of treaty issues, missile defense stuff, bases, etc up there. The military is a very big presence. Also, while I think there are political drawbacks to the fact that Alaska's government lives pretty much entirely off oil revenues, understanding of international energy markets requires a grasp of international affairs as well. My only point is that Commander of the Alaska National Guard sounds defensive and lame. It sounded defensive and lame when Bill Clinton bragged about his role as the Commander of the Arkansas national guard too.

For an MSM take on Gov. Palin and other issues, you can read the transcript for yesterday's Meet the Press show from NBC. There are comments both for and against her by the various guests and the host, Tom Brokaw.

I do know that the choice of Gov. Sarah Palin by Senator John McCain has energized the Republican party and the election in general. What had been a somewhat dull and tiresome campaign suddenly came to life. The next two months promise to provide a lot of information for voters who will pay attention and think seriously about the issues.