Presidential Debate 08

The most anticipated presidential debate in years, took place at the University of Mississippi which aired on Friday, September 26th. First in the blue corner, we have Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. Now in the red corner we have Republican nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona “The Presidential Debate of ‘08’”. It sounds like a heavyweight boxing match on pay per view. It was an event that people of America had to see.

The 2008 election is particularly notable because it is the first time in U.S. history that two sitting senators will run against each other for president, and because it is the first time an African American is a presidential nominee for a major party, as well as the first time both major candidates were born outside the continental United States - Hawaii for Obama and the Panama Canal Zone for McCain. With African American candidate Barack Obama, who is of mixed African and Caucasian parentage, as the Democratic Party nominee for President and John McCain's selection of female Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as the Republican Party nominee for Vice-President, the eventual winning ticket is very likely to have a historic context, as either the first African American will be elected President along with the first Roman Catholic as Vice President or the first woman will be elected Vice President.

Moderator Jim Lehrer questioned the candidates on the economic bailout plan pending on Capitol Hill before moving to the issues of Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. Conditions for meeting with foreign leaders and the next step for the war in Iraq were especially contentious topics.

With the anticipation of punches being thrown in the end, there were just love tapes. Both parties did well answering what they knew best; Obama on economic reform and McCain on foreign policy. Obama was a cool cat throughout - although I am reliably informed that GOP spinners are claiming the exact opposite. He seemed confident enough to stand up to McCain's challenges and in a deferential way. He seemed at times to go out of his way to agree with McCain when agreement was warranted, which the McCain campaign will surely point out. One impish moment: when Obama said "I have a bracelet too" after McCain movingly recounted his conversations with the families of deployed troops. And some of his early pivots back to "hard working Americans" seemed canned. But generally, he did not overspeak; he got to his points quickly, and he drew plenty of direct contrasts with McCain. As the candidates debated the bailout, it was McCain, not Obama, who sounded senatorial, and his obsession with earmarks presupposes an earmark pitchfork brigade that does not exist. McCain didn't even defend his tax plan; he simply returned to the comfort zone of earmarks. Where McCain was shaky in the first half of the debate, he was on much firmer ground as he navigated Jim Lehrer's broad foreign policy questions, particularly those questions which did not require McCain to defend his Iraq war. Obama agreed with McCain - and said so - almost as much as he disagreed. But he didn't topple or stumble. Thresholds are artificial, but both candidates seemed to meet them - although Obama's threshold was arguably higher. The press will probably conclude that McCain did not fundamentally change impressions tonight. And that Obama held his own.
Two focus groups, one GOP pollster Frank Luntz and another by Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg, both declare Obama the winner. Independents in the MediaCurves focus group "gave the debate to Obama 61-39. They also think he won every individual segment. Republicans gave the debate to McCain 90-10, Democrats to Obama 93-7."

The Breast is the Best

According to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) the "breast is the best." Last week Peta sent a letter to Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, better known as BEN AND JERRY of the famous natural ice cream. The letter asked the two to use human breast milk in the making of their frozen treats rather than cow's milk. The switch to the breast, according to PETA, would lessen the suffering of cows and their young and be better for human health. Why should people be drinking what is meant for baby cows when they can be consuming what is meant for their own young, not animal young?

PETA may have a point, and a restaurant owner in Switzerland may already be two steps ahead of PETA vowing to purchase mommy's breast milk to use in at least 75 percent of the restaurant's food.

Being a vegan myself I get where PETA is coming from, personally I'm good sticking with soy and almond milk. There is no doubt that breast milk benefits babies and could adults as well, but what if it came down to the improper use of having babies just to produce milk to sell to big companies? When the need and dependence for a living being's natural resource becomes so great and in demand it is never a good thing and it can always be abused in some way. So why start down that road. Don't add another living being's milk to the problem. Choose something else.

How about soy Ben and Jerry?

Fetus or no Fetus...

When I was in high school, I was TERRIFIED of getting pregnant. I researched every Planned Parenthood in the area and looked up the cost of abortion, with the decision that I would definitely get one if I ever found myself pregnant. I couldn't imagine being 15, a sophomore in high school, and dealing with anything - let alone a baby! I didn't pay bills, didn't cook for myself, and had no responsibilities but to get decent grades in my classes. It was a no brainer, why would I give up such an easy life for a baby?

During my senior year, one of my good friends found herself pregnant. It was exactly as I imagined; she panicked and decided that an abortion was the only way. I looked up abortion clinics and found one, but it happened to be an anti-abortion, pro-life clinic. After she took a pregnancy test to verify, we had to look at several cold plastic models of the fetus in different stages and she squinted her eyes at us over her glasses in distaste. Even when she was describing the help that they offered young mothers, I couldn't help but be turned off. She clearly looked down on us for even considering abortion, but I didn't see her, age 17, toting around a baby!

Now that I'm older and maybe wiser, I find myself in limbo with the abortion question- provided that I can even ask myself this question for much longer. What would happen if nobody had the option to get an abortion? Even now at 20, with a fairly decent job and an almost completed degree- would this be an even worst time to get pregnant? Would I have to drop out of college without potentially ever getting my B.A.? My job is okay to keep me in clothes and regular bills, but how would it ever be enough to support me and a baby? My boyfriend, the obvious father, has a job good enough to keep us in dinners and now-and-then vacations, but it still wouldn't be enough to support a family. Diapers, baby food, baby clothes, baby toys... I feel a panic attack coming!

Even though part of growing into womanhood is having a baby and becoming a mother, I just don't feel that my maternal side is ready to kick in yet. There are so many things that I want to see and do that I couldn't imagine being chained down to a family right now. I have a huge amount of respect for young mothers, especially single ones, who juggle a job, school, and kids because I'm not sure I'd ever be able to handle that kind of responsibility. Let's face it, I have practiced Catholicism my entire life but religion won't pay for everything that a baby needs in the end or let me be a good mother while trying to pursue my own goals right?

All women should have the choice of abortion available to them; if they feel that they can't take proper care of or aren't ready for a baby then that is up to them. Better for young women to prepare for life by going to college or pursuing a career so that they can build a stable future for the children that they will eventually have and love.

ABC's biased Palin "interview"

So Sarah Palin finally steps up to an interview with a real "journalist" and what do they do? Why, edit out key parts of her interview, including HUGE blocks where she goes into a deep response regarding how America should react to Russia invading Georgia. You can decide for yourself if she sounds like she knows what shes talking about by reading the entire UNEDITED version of the interview off of Mark Levin's website.

In all honesty I hope mainstream journalism keeps up this kind of shenannigans because I find it hilarious. It is soon going to get so outlandish that hopefully it will become completely segregated from actual reporting.

I also found a very interesting analysis of the Gibson's interview with Palin vs. his interview with Obama, ironically enough on a Hillary Clinton forum. And before any of you ask WHY I lurk on Clinton forums, you must remember that Sun Tzu said "If you know your enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the outcome of a hundred battles." Basically, I like to keep tabs on the people who are running our country (into the ground).

Discuss and dance with the devil. >:)

NYTimes.com Editorial: More Lipstick on Those Pigs

New York Times op-ed columnist Thomas Friedman has made some worthy points that I think have only been rivaled by the Lou Dobbs ridiculously long conversation on the economy during the Independent Convention segment. I'm not praising Dobbs or anything, but some thoughtful and provocative things were said that are definitely worth talking about. 

As any citizen, regardless of party affiliation, will be looking through articles, watching videos and downloading soundclips of candidates' speeches, many of them will be scanning through for the real solutions proposed for this mess of an economy. While the detailed answers are not readily available, Friedman makes a point of at least informing us who doesn't have them, or who is distracted by any new perceived attack rather than focusing on what actually matters. It's clear that Sen. John McCain has some placating to do and the column points out that he and his party are certainly not on the forefront of technology or tactics to help.

For example, Friedman dwells on the fact that McCain along with significant figures from the GOP are encouraging Americans to drill for oil and the columnist harps on the idea that this is a complete reversal of what we should do and what the party stands for. He uses a word that we have come to adore: change. Republicans, he says, who are the party of business, need to address and embrace change and find a way to create new jobs through investing efforts and money into researching new clean fuels and alternative energy. 

Friedman emphasizes the idea that a "real energy policy based on building a whole new energy infrastructure [is] the only way we can put steel back into America's spine." I may be biased because I do agree with his statement, but am furthermore persuaded because he goes on to strengthen his argument by one, discrediting McCain's stances and two, bringing in the more broad perspective that America dearly needs this energy solution for both Americans' cars and wallets.

It wouldn't be a surprise to hear that everyone is sick of this whole "lipstick on a pig" issue, but Friedman does mock the expression in a way that is fitting and congruent with the editorial.

Hartford Says the Curfew Works

And Mayor Perez is extending it.

9/11 Memorial

Excellent piece today in the Washington Post about the Pentagon Memorial dedication that began construction in 2006, by architects Julie Beckman and Keith Kaseman, the memorial will have 184 benches one for everybody who lost their lives in the attacks on 9/11, each bench is over a small reflecting pool that will glow from within at night.

This memorial sounds like it is very tasteful and has done well to memorialize all the people we as a country lost in the heinous attacks of 9/11. So today whether you are backing the John McCain and Sarah Palin ticket or the Barack Obama and Joe Biden ticket lets take a break from all of partisanism that is affecting the country today, because when the hijackers on those planes took over and crashed them, they were not crashing them because the people were Democrats or Republicans, but they were crashing the planes because the people on them were Americans and in the end that is all that matters.

Yes let's talk about it: RACE

I hate that this topic is such a hush-hush issue. Everyone walks around thinking things about one another and we never discusse it or take the time to learn about each other.

It was last semester at one of the many debate sessions that are held in the Center for Africana Studies, and we got on the topic of race. There were mainly students of the African Diaspora and about 3 Caucasian students.

The black students went on talking about racial tension on campus; I realized that none of the white students said a word. They all looked down to the floor making no eye contact. I started to feel a little bothered by the fact that they had nothing to say. Then I thought well maybe they feel out numbered and uncomfortable, so I decided to put it all out there and ask them why they weren't responding. They had every right to voice their opinions just like everyone else.

I said, "I wish you guys would stop making it such a big deal to talk about it. I'm not going to get mad at anything you have to say no matter how bad your comment will be because this is a learning experience and I am willing to listen to your opinions."

One of the Caucasian men responded, "Honestly the reason why we don't say anything is because sometimes you guys blow things out of proportion! "

When he said that I loved it; Every Caucasian person who had their head down suddenly looked up to see what reaction I would give.

Instead of reacting in a way that would be expected of me, I said, "Ok I can see why you would think that."

He looked at me surprised.

When someone is not in your shoes they obviously can't relate to how you view the world. Sometimes when minorities get upset about the discrimination that we face the reaction is typically expressed in an aggressive and angry manner. I think that it would help everyone if we would stop and listen.

Some minorities might disagree with me, but the more we take that anger (which we have every right to feel) and use it as a fuel to spark up knwoledge in people. then the better it will make us feel. Anger does nothing but kill the soul and keep people away.

If someone knows you're the type to blow up they're not going to be honest around you. They'll wait until they are around people who they relate to and express their opinions and views which isn't always good because then they'll never get to hear what the other side has to say.

It's just like someone asking me, someone who was born in Burkina Faso, West Africa, if people in Africa sleep with lions? My initial would be to tell them how stupid that question is, but you know what maybe all they have been taught about Africa is what the Discovery Channel has to offer, so it's my duty to explain that Africa is a large Continent with many different kinds of people who have different cultures and that what you see on the discovery channel is only a small representation of the millions of people who make up that continent.

There might be people too narrow minded to open up and see other perspectives and you know what? That's their choice, you can't waste you're time trying to get them to see the world in a different light. As the world grows more diverse having the knowledge of all the different perspectives of life is essential.

So with that said people. Lets stop being so up tight about racial issues and lets talk about it in a respectful and open minded manner.

Can Americans please do something to help the enviroment?

It is frustrating and absolutely dissapointing to me that Global Climate Change has become such a serious issue. Not one person can say they don't see the changing temperature, climate and overall enviroment. It has now gotten to the point where even animals' lives are being threatened because they cannot adapt fast enough to these rapidly changing conditions.
Along with shrinking glaciers, coral bleeches and rising sea level, there are even more changes that most Americans tend to ignore and assume their lives will remain content and undisturbed. What about the enviroment and the animals that are ultimately being tortured under the conditions we have contributed to change. What about the future? Will is be safe? Dangerous? Or will we, humans simply remain ignorant and rude to the suffering enviroment that has helped us survive since we arrived on Earth?

Is Sarah Palin Getting Treated Worse Than Any Newcomer Would Be?

I guess Sarah Palin is as good a place as any to start. Given her record on sex education and related issues, some find it hard to see how the media could ignore her personal situation completely. On the other hand,it's not fair to shed the spotlight on her teenager's life. There are also bigger questions than a knocked -up teenager to pursue when it comes to Palin's fitness for VEEP. But the McCain camapign doesn't seem eager for her to have too many media closeups. The Washington Post reports that the camapign is limiting the number of interviews Palin does with major media until the press starts treating Palin "with some level of respect and deference." Can they demand that, or do they need to meet the press halfway?

Let's Get Some Opinions Up in Here!

Have at it, All. Add links to the blogroll and other features if you please. Most of all, keep those opinions coming.