Republican Debate

A much better analysis of the Republican Debate.

The one thing that Americans of all political and idealogical stripes can agree on: Wolf Blitzer is a douche bag.

Republicans

Watched the Republicans debate. CNN's performance improved a bit but Wolf Blitzer is still a douche bag.

Tancredo and Paul are the two I found most interesting.

I'm concerned about the language in which the health care issue is being framed. Health care is being equated with insurance. It limits solutions. Most of the candidates speak of making sure that every American has insurance coverage but the problem is access to health care not insurance.

The Great Debates

Just some quick thoughts on the debate between the Democratic candidates for President, some relevant to the candidates, some about CNN's presentation.

Wolf Blitzer is a douche-bag. A well-groomed, articulate douche-bag but still a screaming, self-important, douche-bag. Wolf Blitzer: Douche-Bag for CNN


Set design: Looks like aesthetics trumped utility. The sound problems with the journalists would not have made a difference if they were not seated at the end of a long triangle that stretched almost across the floor section of the auditorium. What the @#$! was going on here? This was a presidential debate, a set looking like something out of Star Trek (1960's Trek) was not necessary. I bet the cameramen cursed the set designer as he had to work around that damn triangle monstrosity while filming.

Wolf Blitzer is a douche-bag.

Camera work: Distracting. All the competent directors on vacation? Couldn't borrow one from MSNBC, C-SPAN, FOX, the local public access cable station?

Wolf Blitzer is a douche-bag.

As for the candidates - my opinion who did the best, in order: Biden, Kucinich, Obama, Clinton, Gravel, Richardson, Edwards and Dodd. Biden for his willingness to speak truthfully and his passion about Darfur - he might know something of just war theory, Kucinich for questioning basic assumptions about health care reform, Obama for not only addressing questions but understanding the larger concerns behind the questions, Clinton for her willingness to not to play hypothetical question games and her good humor in dealing with the question of her husband's role, and Gravel for giving all of them hell. Richardson, Edwards and Dodd just didn't do anything for me. I'm feeling quite a bit more positive about Clinton.

I liked the format of the debate and the voter questions. I got something out of it despite CNN's best efforts. I hope CNN ditches the stupid ass set design, poor direction and Wolf Blitzer, who is a douche bag, for the Republican debate.

Beware Evildoer!

I've enjoyed my adventures in the UU blogosphere so far. I find the great "brown bag" debate amusing. Ms. Theologian has links to the original articles and responses here. (Thank you for putting it in one convenient place).

I'm more in the "this silliness diminishes serious anti-oppression work" camp. I wonder if all oppression were eliminated what would the anti-oppression people do? I support removing oppression and racism and discrimination but the thing missing from all these eradication plans are benchmarks. What does a world without these evils look like? I can imagine it but is my vision the same as anyone elses's? How will we know when we get there?

Aside from those musings, this image popped into my mind while watching the conversation:

I can see a costumed crime fighter shouting, "Halt, evildoer! or I shall smite you with my BROWN BAG O' JUSTICE!" Imagine the voice of Patrick Warburton (Brock Samson from Venture Brothers) or maybe Charlton Heston. Just for fun shout it to a co-worker with a sense of humor or to your partner while in the bedroom.

I have found that progressive types do not react very well to my attempts at levity. I'll see what happens.

Random Thoughts

I did not update last night because I worked on church business instead. Some of the Board members are night owls. It all business leading to a couple of meetings. I do other things at church besides meetings and preparing for meetings. I will update tonight.

Is Mrs. Brownback a puppet? I need to look at the video of the interview again to see where Sen. Brownback's right arm was located. She looked very uncomfortable next to her husband during the post-debate interview.

Is it me or does anyone else see a resemblance:

Mitt Romney on the left, Lyle Waggoner circa late 1970's on the right.

I hope Fred Thompson joins the race. This would force Tommy Thompson to use "I'm not the Law and Order guy" as a campaign slogan. Would Fred Thompson be allowed to use the Law and Order "donk-donk" sound effect in his commercials?

(Sound effect from http://blog.rickbreslin.com/blog/law_and_order_doink_doink_sound.asp)

I had a confrontation with one of the dumbbell hogs at the gym. It was polite. I simply asked if I could do a quick 12 reps with the 10 pound dumbbells while she did her walking lunges with the 20 pound barbell? I did my 12 reps, put the 10 pound dumbbells back near her stuff and picked up another set of weights before she finished her walking lunges. I hope she learned a lesson that sharing does not have to interrupt your workout. As for the trainer hogging the weights - I think a letter to the manager is in order.

When did candor in a debate become equated with comic relief? No wonder politicians don't speak honestly; stupid people (journalists) analyse their statements and draw wrong conclusions.

Debates

I watched the Democrats debate on the web. Tonight, I plan to catch the Republicans live. I anticipate hearing from Ron Paul. Maybe he will stand out like Mike Gravel did among the Democrats.

I'm somewhat familiar with Ron Paul's voting record and writings. Paul is the most "libertarian" of the Republicans. Paul voted against the war in Iraq. More information about Ron Paul can be found on the Internet

Maybe Americans could have a real choice: Gravel vs. Paul.

A woman can dream.