tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66248747656907149592024-03-13T11:32:06.716-07:00Maroon Tiger PoliticsJoin students from the Atlanta University Center (Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University) discuss the political issues of the day from the campus to the nation.
Let the voices of the AUC be heard on all sides.Ed Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074995996920065922noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-60932082107578077012008-11-15T20:01:00.001-08:002008-11-15T20:01:56.288-08:00President-elect Obama's First Saturday Radio/YouTube Address<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Zd8f9Zqap6U&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Zd8f9Zqap6U&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I'm not sure if it's me getting older and recognizing these things now or if this is just how information is spread in this internet era, but I didn't know there was an opposition radio response. I knew every Saturday, there was a presidential radio address. I didn't know the other side had one. I figure as many people heed it as those who listen to the opposition State of the Union address. Actually, less than that. Who listens to the radio?<br /><br />That's why this is sort of important. There are many who have said that President-elect Obama must work the same way President Franklin D. Roosevelt did during the Great Depression in the face of our economic crisis. Obama lacks the experience FDR did before reaching office. Obama got into the Senate and immediately started running for president. FDR was at least governor of New York.<br /><br />Still, both of these men know how to reach the people. FDR started his fireside chats over the radio as governor and continued them through his presidency. FDR was the president who garnered the radio age. In the same vein, I remember subscribing to then Sen. Obama's podcasts early on. Now the presidential radio addresses will be over YouTube.<br /><br />For once, I'm actually going to be looking out for the president's radio addresses because they aren't radio addresses. Radio has been a dying form for some time. Even it's successor is seeing <a href="http://news.cnet.com/sirius-xm-channel-merge-begins-next-week/?tag=mncol;txt">a rather rocky life</a>. Television has certainly thrived but the 24-hour news cycle has fed and, in a way, killed American politics. It will be interesting to see how the internet will continue to change this nation and how the Obama administration will progressively harness it to inform and involve the American public.Anthony Dean-Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06842798137683973917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-28671900426330945302008-11-04T23:27:00.000-08:002008-11-05T07:25:52.149-08:00"Let the new night bring you peace And the promise of tomorrow, Where we can wake to a new beginning"Those lyrics are from Against Me's <span style="font-style:italic;">8 Full Hours of Sleep</span>.<br /><br />Truer words never spoken.<br /><br />But I have to wonder...<br /><br />What happens tomorrow?<br /><br />How easy will this transition be? What happens in the months left that we still have a Bush Administration? Will the nation be more divided now that a black man is president? Is Sarah Palin going to start running for 2012? Is the G.I. Joe movie going to suck? Where did Waldo go after that latest book?<br /><br />I'm going to sleep after all these celebratory shots. My voice in hoarse after shouting for a couple of hours and my body weary from all the hugs I've given. <br /><br />i hope this isn't a dream<br /><br />I hope this isn't a dream.Relax and Aspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17788364979711739914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-27117194720661018842008-11-04T22:48:00.000-08:002008-11-04T22:54:37.702-08:00"... don't mean a thing to me!"This is the quickest that an election has ever been called during the time I've been of age to vote. <br /><br />This election was more than electing the first non-white to the highest office in the land. This election was also about whether or not my entire generation would believe in the political system of the US. Had Obama lost I don't think anyone my age, especially black people, would have voted at all in another election in our lifetime. <br /><br />Maybe, just maybe, my generation will take over and contribute finally.<br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7HTI76H0Ojc&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7HTI76H0Ojc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Relax and Aspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17788364979711739914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-56187034751805675952008-11-04T22:13:00.000-08:002008-11-04T22:30:44.254-08:00It's not all good news<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2008-06/39580730.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 354px;" src="http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2008-06/39580730.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Something has to be said that this is a bittersweet moment for the presumptive President-elect. The woman who basically raised him from age ten died yesterday. <br /><br />Moment of silence.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Homosexual people across the nation are weeping as their rights have been discarded wholeheartedly in all states with marriage rights amendments. <br /><br />I really had hope that California's Proposition 8 would not pass. As the night goes on it doesn't look like that will not happen. I kept my registration in California for a reason, and an NO on Prop 8 was that reason. It is a sad day for civil rights. <br /><br />The congressional races aren't where they should be either. Obama is going to have to live up to his bipartisan talk from his campaign, because Republicans still have filibuster power and looks like they will keep enough votes in both houses to challenge and stop the Democratic majority as far as legislation is concerned. <br /><br />We can celebrate tonight, but come tomorrow we will all have to face the reality of how much of the same is ingrained into our country.<br /><br />We may have elected a new leader, but have far from decided on a new path.Relax and Aspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17788364979711739914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-22939858537858592992008-11-04T22:03:00.001-08:002008-11-04T23:26:39.962-08:00"This is something different"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiVmtPga_lYKlWrk6fE2Rmgd4fwY8tMLQX0uxWnfRoerGuOsLCYQ4B9sb4uQp_rJAlpU54rn_tGL6z6ig-_ksp1gpB_5EPWIsBLVdgNxXDjz8GwK_WIG2YIHTscgJC2q9NSU_UzdkPEM/s1600-h/DSC04048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiVmtPga_lYKlWrk6fE2Rmgd4fwY8tMLQX0uxWnfRoerGuOsLCYQ4B9sb4uQp_rJAlpU54rn_tGL6z6ig-_ksp1gpB_5EPWIsBLVdgNxXDjz8GwK_WIG2YIHTscgJC2q9NSU_UzdkPEM/s320/DSC04048.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265071534755264194" /></a><br /><br /><br />Atlanta is really the place to be right now. Even with all the gunshots. I am glad i;m still here for once. <br /><br />Yes there are a lot of gunshots. It's the South, almost everyone has a gun. <br /><br />I'm getting calls and texts about the rest of the city. Atlantic Station is very live right now. Downtown is going craaazzy. <br /><br />It seems the world is celebrating.<br /><br />And my ride has collapsed on his couch, snoring hard. He celebrated hard and fast. His happiness tired him out.Relax and Aspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17788364979711739914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-38481681562543125972008-11-04T21:59:00.001-08:002008-11-04T22:01:52.748-08:00YEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!Of all the Rappers in all the world...<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Young Jeezy</span> is the soundtrack of the night. All Night. Guess what his new single is gonna be?<br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_ZAuY4ULNcE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_ZAuY4ULNcE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Relax and Aspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17788364979711739914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-63306666236444288532008-11-04T21:55:00.000-08:002008-11-04T21:59:06.950-08:00Text Messages and other thingsWhats going around the text messages world:<br /><br />"They have a sign up sheet for volunteers to help Bush pack his shit and get the fuck out, Nov 5th. I put us down for the 3-8 shift! Keep this going!"Relax and Aspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17788364979711739914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-24136912510342729332008-11-04T21:38:00.000-08:002008-11-05T07:26:32.524-08:00Thank You George Bush<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJAONSYrCWicojZNeBEzWtDWlEIBvBU8-xAhigS6OOcBGWcGILTNXsBYp2RDRQstYPEN1wNwuv-FDE_u1VYlsOtuDihyphenhyphenzApBGAjD_c-VRcLRPN5e6iQExiWSC3ufsXc14r5Np50rUmgU/s1600-h/DSC04043.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJAONSYrCWicojZNeBEzWtDWlEIBvBU8-xAhigS6OOcBGWcGILTNXsBYp2RDRQstYPEN1wNwuv-FDE_u1VYlsOtuDihyphenhyphenzApBGAjD_c-VRcLRPN5e6iQExiWSC3ufsXc14r5Np50rUmgU/s320/DSC04043.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265068417957318290" /></a><br /><br /><br />OBAMA YA'LL!!!!!<br /><br /><br />Anyone who has ever read the Maroon Tiger opinions column knows that the bulk of our writers are cynics. We keep on the negative cause that's the underlying feeling that everyone in the AUC is feeling. <br /><br />That's not the case tonight.<br /><br />When Obama won Virginia the bar erupted. Keep in mind it is mainly a G-tech bar, but the room jumped up, the waiters took shots in the kitchen and the dozen of us that were from the AUC went crazy.<br /><br />I haven't felt this good in a long long time.<br /><br />I still cannot believe it. I never thought that this early in my lifetime that a black man would be elected President of the United States.<br /><br />So after we celebrated with an extra pitcher at the college bar we headed down to Morehouse's campus to celebrate with the rest of the paper staff and the school. It turned out that everyone had woken up and was celebrating hard. <br /><br />I saw some of our more distinguished members with celebratory cigars outside. Inside Fredrick Douglass Hall we circled up and sang our college hymn. It was possibly the most beautiful moment I have ever been apart of. <br /><br />From there a bunch of us went to the Strip on Clark Atlanta's campus. If anyone awake is reading this now i urge you to go there now. You will never see any more of a positive atmosphere anywhere (except maybe Chicago) in the world.<br /><br />I can't believe this is happening in my lifetime.<br /><br />I can't believe this is happening at all.Relax and Aspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17788364979711739914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-6915043801245968112008-11-04T19:48:00.000-08:002008-11-04T19:52:29.182-08:00A Hologram? Seriously?I don't have a lot of time considering this dying battery but I have to say this. Earlier I asked the question of why Tavis Smiley was on NBC. That moment has been trumped in spades. Why on God's green earth is will.i.am on CNN in the form of a hologram. Is this Star Trek? Is Data about to embark on a hip-hop adventure? Is this Star Wars? Is R2D2 depicting the moments of this concert? This has reached a whole new level of ridiculous. I don't understand how exactly a 3D hologram is captivating television on a 2D screen. CNN is doing some serious pandering and if it wasn't so trustworthy (despite them calling states much later than all other networks) I'd almost be willing not to watch at the circus this network is.<br /><br />Also, what's up with no one calling Florida yet?Anthony Dean-Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06842798137683973917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-53032480367821821972008-11-04T19:08:00.001-08:002008-11-04T19:14:02.135-08:00Fat Commentators in a Little TableI seriously hate CNN's coverage. I know this is forbidden territory for me to say this in Atlanta, but there's just something that irks me about having cramming that many commentators on a tiny table. If you need to speak to Roland Martin, just talk to Roland Martin. Don't have him elbow to elbow with Paul Begala as though his merely being there is some boon to the integrity of "the most trusted name in news."<br /><br />In the fight between the news networks, it's clear to see what each channel is doing to attract voters. Some are calling the states earlier than others. ABC had George Stephenopolis give Charlie Gibson a whirl on the interactive map. NBC had Tavis Smiley on (I guess that was supposed to do some good). But CNN has since they put all this together crammed all these commentators into a tiny table with their matching laptops, praying for newsworthy content to fill all the time. <br /><br />It has to make due for all the bickering they do.Anthony Dean-Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06842798137683973917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-59637014017852040052008-11-04T18:58:00.000-08:002008-11-04T23:16:30.405-08:00Too much head on my drink (NSFA)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHyhus12NLXoFpm2y69wldtuBSUusXUIZX1F-uqxNIzu5y3CM8oHCndPADIgbQ9_Zcr_U029dI8rqXkVf5pKFAKAOzq1ErCkvOwX6aNOHBFAH7rld1rMhzzG0hukHxZhDH0HMypuUpCk/s1600-h/DSC04021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHyhus12NLXoFpm2y69wldtuBSUusXUIZX1F-uqxNIzu5y3CM8oHCndPADIgbQ9_Zcr_U029dI8rqXkVf5pKFAKAOzq1ErCkvOwX6aNOHBFAH7rld1rMhzzG0hukHxZhDH0HMypuUpCk/s320/DSC04021.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265068919196018818" /></a><br /><br /><br />I poured quickly and terribly in my happiness to watch them call New Mexico for Obama. Not quite a party foul but close.<br /><br />Now there calling Iowa for him. Looks like this'll be am early night cause the West is def going blue.<br /><br />And now I just correctly answered a trivia question involving porn star history. I believe in a well rounded education, it's why i go to a Liberal Arts school.<br /><br />They were showing a live feed on CNN of the school election party I am supposed to be at. I'm thinking that maybe my editors are happy I'm not there being my usual surly belligerent self.<br /><br />Some of the names of the trivia groups participating are as follows:<br /><br />Nailn' Palin Till She's Walin'<br />Team Meat<br />7-11 was an Inside Job<br />I've Been Wrist Deep In Half the Girls in this Bar<br />and Deez Nuts (who seem to be a staple at this trivia night)<br /><br />Obama is ahead 207-83 according to CNN, but the teevee screen is fuzzy.Relax and Aspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17788364979711739914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-88860327369892618792008-11-04T18:43:00.001-08:002008-11-04T18:43:48.343-08:00Tavis? Seriously?I don't really have much to say at this point but this:<br /><br />Why the hell is Tavis Smiley on NBC?Anthony Dean-Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06842798137683973917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-59436889953227110312008-11-04T18:32:00.000-08:002008-11-04T18:34:34.895-08:00Obama Wins Ohio; Likely Elected President of the United States<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2nVk4oB49WgbV_WoT1k5KxFbRSVFOmd5Hd7QcmiLP5vmFkp7uF3IFyQTAD4tFrIQEoIWHW5czvhiYqtJpLlIzIj8S6wBIgMBF7pLeF-EJqybbcHCmedufAc6bY90uQSYIF2Lxmo87aJf/s1600-h/obama-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2nVk4oB49WgbV_WoT1k5KxFbRSVFOmd5Hd7QcmiLP5vmFkp7uF3IFyQTAD4tFrIQEoIWHW5czvhiYqtJpLlIzIj8S6wBIgMBF7pLeF-EJqybbcHCmedufAc6bY90uQSYIF2Lxmo87aJf/s320/obama-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264996225288718082" border="0" /></a><br />Nearly all major networks have called the state of Ohio for Barack Obama, meaning that the Illinois senator has now likely been elected the 44th President of the United States. No Republican has ever won the presidency without also winning Ohio, and McCain now faces extremely limited pathways to victory. Networks will not call the election for Obama until he crosses the 270 electoral vote threshhold, which will likely occur when the polls in California close.Ed Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074995996920065922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-86897436345330063972008-11-04T18:23:00.001-08:002008-11-04T18:30:36.250-08:00Celebration at a Different VenueIt's fascinating following this at Rocky Mountain. Being near Tech's campus shows how essentially unimportant all this is to those who aren't devoted to the cause that is Obama. At least until Ohio was declared in the Obama column and the bar filled with uproarious cheers. But it's still worthy of note that unlike the AUC, Tech goes on. As Alex noted earlier, trivia night is still going. There are still quite a few televisions set on ESPN. Everything is on mute except the various conversations.<br /><br />The phone calls come in as the night wears on and this night is over. It would be nice to see the cheers of the AUC on this historic night but the AUC doesn't have beer.<br /><br />Still, it's going to be a short but celebratory night. I've done all I could through all this not to drink the Obama Kool-Aid but I just can't escape the hype. This is going to happen. This is going to happen soon. And I'm fairly certain I couldn't be happier.<br /><br />We'll I couldn't be happier after another beer or two and some whiskey. This is soon to be rectified.Anthony Dean-Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06842798137683973917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-82145997645101367532008-11-04T18:13:00.000-08:002008-11-04T18:18:13.549-08:00"My Vote Didn't Mean S#!t"The above quote was from my boy "Gerald" after we saw the 60% polling for McCain. He's a Georgia voter.<br /><br />My group of six finally found a bar to watch this election in. So now i am content with a cup of low grade alcohol in front of me and several teevees none of which i can hear over the bar's trivia night session.<br /><br />We just toasted drugs and the cultivator of marijuana, Jorge Cervantes (it was a trivia answer). All is right in the world for the time being.<br /><br />Election is polling at 174 -64 in favor of Obama.Relax and Aspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17788364979711739914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-66001678098992219562008-11-04T17:28:00.000-08:002008-11-04T17:38:49.731-08:00Seriously this is sillyI am Maroon Tiger Opinion editor Alexander P. Brown, aka the Ghost Editor, aka "Why weren't you at this meeting?"<br /><br />It is way too early to be blogging this election dammit.<br /><br />Nothing is really going to plan tonight for me. I should be in various states of intoxication as I watch the election news so i can either cry into my liquor or accept celebratory shots. None of that is happening right now. <br /><br />I am sober. Angrily sober.<br /><br />Wolf Blitzer's annoying blaring is starting to sound like a siren as he launches into a read off of the Senate and House seats. Obama is polling pretty good at 81 to 34 according to CNN. And I am surrounded by people who decided to get wasted before i could find and access my laptop.<br /><br />There is no justice.<br /><br />And right now I'm getting an IM from my homies in Cali asking whether or not my state will get it's act together, referencing the fact I live in GA right now. I don't vote in this state, I don't even like this state seventy percent of the time. And while it would be pretty awesome if Georgia went blue this year it doesn't mean my tuition will go down because of it. Maybe I'll get lucky and my professors will be too wasted from the celebrating to actually teach the rest of the week.<br /><br />Where is my whiskey?Relax and Aspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17788364979711739914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-72486634240590068552008-11-04T17:21:00.001-08:002008-11-04T17:25:25.563-08:00Longtime GOP Staple Lizzy Dole Defeated in NC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1W3_2Lst2X9PBLWaQ7gXP1DR1HAe2ulEQL_Zno68b4djChjHE_9ZJAsh252rkW092SitrWYvcIjROZTnhbzqKvW2JyYyOu9-P7Cn-UPgvYTXtEiRZ64CnzKJ_dQC1FXRihACjK6OGnvyu/s1600-h/1215819577-dolehagan_edited-1-400x300.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1W3_2Lst2X9PBLWaQ7gXP1DR1HAe2ulEQL_Zno68b4djChjHE_9ZJAsh252rkW092SitrWYvcIjROZTnhbzqKvW2JyYyOu9-P7Cn-UPgvYTXtEiRZ64CnzKJ_dQC1FXRihACjK6OGnvyu/s320/1215819577-dolehagan_edited-1-400x300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264978451273596210" border="0" /></a><br />In a shocking development few people foresaw just a month ago, Fox News has called the hotly contested North Carolina Senate race for Democrat Kay Hagan over long-time Republican Party staple Elizabeth Dole. Dole, the wife of former Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole, has served in the U.S. Senate since 2002 and considered running for president in 2000, but bowed out of the race in the face of Texas Governor George W. Bush's powerful campaign.Ed Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074995996920065922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-20605163918346074912008-11-04T16:48:00.001-08:002008-11-04T17:31:17.237-08:00OBAMA WINS PENNSYLVANIA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qbj4xtTX94vgDvOdwqboVauMEeSFpw5BaDTkd6TYimbq1wwqinRLcZ5q7OMukZJHjcuJ4PEcT9lFVV5ifNZuFkjYFqoC5Zc3KnK2bMOAz5QRIBIUXmYz80LYN2j8gYOufAtzPChMpGf1/s1600-h/pennsylvania-map.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qbj4xtTX94vgDvOdwqboVauMEeSFpw5BaDTkd6TYimbq1wwqinRLcZ5q7OMukZJHjcuJ4PEcT9lFVV5ifNZuFkjYFqoC5Zc3KnK2bMOAz5QRIBIUXmYz80LYN2j8gYOufAtzPChMpGf1/s320/pennsylvania-map.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264970022946674866" border="0" /></a><br />Polls have closed in Pennsylvania. ABC News, Fox News, and others have called the state for Obama, while CNN and others have not. Both candidates' paths to victory depend largely on the Keystone state. For McCain to offset Obama's incursions into red states like Colorado and Virginia, the Republican senator fought hard to peel away Pennsylvania's 21 electoral votes. A Pennsylvania victory would be a huge upset for McCain and allow him some breathing room if Obama does indeed win a formerly GOP state. Meanwhile, an Obama victory in Pennsylvania would be pad his electoral college votes and put him just one or two red states away from victory.<br /><br />A string of traditionally Democratic New England states have been called for Obama, including Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maryland, among others.Ed Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074995996920065922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-46439173420900752162008-11-04T16:07:00.000-08:002008-11-04T16:11:49.838-08:00Georgia Too Close to Call<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0mvtj-5Su-BMMbcVafnZ3vUWKCyrd4Xzsz9_bD080hllgGxneJN_tv2T2IrFdv4OHDLbFRNtbELWx30TDkcOjq0P0eCkmGJNzaV71PiokBVo6NuCOIBvfLbszeBvT6h61zMV481dgo9t/s1600-h/obama.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0mvtj-5Su-BMMbcVafnZ3vUWKCyrd4Xzsz9_bD080hllgGxneJN_tv2T2IrFdv4OHDLbFRNtbELWx30TDkcOjq0P0eCkmGJNzaV71PiokBVo6NuCOIBvfLbszeBvT6h61zMV481dgo9t/s320/obama.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264958404599575506" border="0" /></a>Polls have now closed in the state of Georgia and network news stations are reporting that the results are too close to call. Analysts will wait for more actual results to pour in before calling the state for either Barack Obama or John McCain. Republicans and Democrats did not initially expect Georgia, a solid red state, to be so close. Although McCain may still very well win the Peach State, the fact that the results are this close must be disconcerting for the GOP camp. Networks also have yet to call the heated contests in Virginia or Indiana.Ed Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074995996920065922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-2238062496419623502008-10-24T11:20:00.000-07:002008-10-24T11:25:58.404-07:00Briefly, On Hair and SpendingBecause nothing has been written here in a while, I just wanted to make a quick comment.<br /><br />I ran across this story about how much money the McCain/Palin campaign <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081024/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_money_19">has been spending on clothing and hair</a> for the Governor Palin and her family. Yes, it's ridiculous. But while I haven't seen any numbers about the issue, as a black man I can easily guess that Sen. Obama is probably spending at most fifteen bucks a haircut (minus tip, of course) every two weeks. This also includes the fact that some days his hair can look pretty rough. I cannot conceivably think of a situation in which anyone can charge a black man $300 like Sen. Edwards has done in the past. This could be another reason to vote for Obama: you know he won't be spending America's money on haircuts.<br /><br />Michelle is another story, of course, but who's going to ask a black woman about the details behind her hair? That's like a trade secret or something.Anthony Dean-Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06842798137683973917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-38738496441935357612008-10-07T14:20:00.001-07:002008-10-07T14:23:28.925-07:00The Maroon Tiger 2nd Presidential Debate Live Blog<iframe src="http://www.coveritlive.com/index2.php/option=com_altcaster/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=e2985d9150/height=550/width=350" scrolling="no" height="550px" width="350px" frameBorder ="0" ></iframe><br /><br />Tonight: Your favorite publication talking about what you're watching and hopefully talking with you, too. While you're yelling at your TV about how McCain keeps screwing up Obama's tax plan or how Obama is more aggressive about Pakistan than McCain, be here to yell at us at the same time. Tonight: 8:45 until...<br /><br />Editor-in-Chief Edward T. Mitchell, III<br />Managing Editor Donovan X. Ramsey<br />Opinions Editor Alexander P. Brown<br />Opinions Editor Emeritus Anthony Dean-HarrisAnthony Dean-Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06842798137683973917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-59973114371920071292008-10-02T17:49:00.000-07:002008-10-03T05:49:03.878-07:00The Vice Presidential Debate<span style="font-style:italic;">The Maroon Tiger</span>'s Editor in Chief Edward Mitchell and Opinions Editor Emeritus Anthony Harris live blogged the Vice Presidential Debate (talked on AIM through the whole thing). The discussion is as follows.<br /><br /><iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/27001471#27001471" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /><br />[20:50] I, sitting in far off Marietta waiting for staff members to show up online<br />[21:01:35] Opinions Editor Emeritus Anthony Harris: Finding staff members to take part in this thing is like looking for a needle in a haystack<br />[21:02:14] Anthony Harris: But I'm entirely willing to do this on my own<br />[21:03:01] Anthony Harris: At least until Editor-in-Chief Edward Mitchell arrives just as triumphantly as the candidates<br />[21:03:18] *** Edward Mitchell has been invited to the group chat.<br />[21:04:17] Anthony Harris: From the moment Gov. Palin and Sen. Palin walked in, I think they two spent as much time together as Sens. McCain and Palin did before he chose her has his running mate<br />[21:04:26] *** Edward Mitchell has joined the chat.<br />[21:04:39] Editor in Chief Edward Mitchell: no one here yet?<br />[21:04:44] Anthony Harris: It's looking bleak<br />[21:05:34] Anthony Harris: How many people who don't live in the suburbs attend soccer games?<br />[21:05:51] Anthony Harris: It bothers me that Gov. Palin chose this as the prime example as the barometer of the American people<br />[21:06:26] Anthony Harris: Gov. Palin is handling the first question well, albeit rigidly<br />[21:07:01] Edward Mitchell: Count this as the first proof that Governor Palin responds to specific questions with non-specific personal stories.<br />[21:07:58] Edward Mitchell: "Sidelines!" Turned it against her. Score one for Biden.<br />[21:08:24] Edward Mitchell: She hasn't stuttered or frozen yet. McCain's people are considering breathing a sigh of relief.<br />[21:09:29] Anthony Harris: It's interesting how many key stock phrases Gov. Palin can spout in 90 seconds<br />[21:10:10] Anthony Harris: What's interesting with this American economy is that while everyone is willing to blame the lenders...<br />[21:10:19] Anthony Harris: People still had to borrow this money<br />[21:10:28] Anthony Harris: No on is willing to say we are personally at fault<br />[21:10:30] Anthony Harris: Nevermind<br />[21:10:47] Anthony Harris: Gov. Palin actually says what I was told long ago<br />[21:10:53] Anthony Harris: If you can't afford it, you can't buy it<br />[21:10:58] Edward Mitchell: Wow. Was that another personal story? Thank you, Governor Palin.<br />[21:11:09] Edward Mitchell: Joe Biden is gaffe-free after 11 minutes. MADNESS!<br />[21:11:20] Anthony Harris: Keep going with this as much as you can<br />[21:11:25] Anthony Harris: I'm going on my third beer<br />[21:12:39] Edward Mitchell: You betcha. Darn right.<br />[21:12:44] Anthony Harris: Sen. Biden speaks with a personal anecdote about the gas crisis, possibly to counter Gov. Palin's anecdotes<br />[21:12:50] Anthony Harris: It's the war of logical fallacies!<br />[21:14:12] Anthony Harris: One interesting thing about this debate format:<br />[21:14:23] Anthony Harris: The two candidates do not directly address one another<br />[21:14:26] Anthony Harris: That is until now<br />[21:14:34] Edward Mitchell: Biden's discussing distractions like the truth, facts, and details. That's not the way to win a debate.<br />[21:14:46] Anthony Harris: I should have figured Gov. Palin would speak directly to Sen. Biden<br />[21:14:50] Anthony Harris: But only for a short while<br />[21:15:14] Anthony Harris: Ifill is quite good as a moderator<br />[21:15:18] Anthony Harris: She keeps a good bead on things<br />[21:15:32] Anthony Harris: Checking time limits, noting when questions aren't answered<br />[21:15:41] Anthony Harris: I think she should be a little more probing, though<br />[21:16:01] Edward Mitchell: Did anyone notice that subtle dig at Ifill by Palin?<br />[21:16:27] Edward Mitchell: The Drudge Report and the McCain campaign have been making hay over a book the moderator is writing about Barack Obama, accusing her of bias.<br />[21:17:23] Anthony Harris: I keep thinking about this argument over the contortion of tax plans<br />[21:17:46] Anthony Harris: CNN already set all this straight<br />[21:18:53] Edward Mitchell: Anthony, I'm an American. Don't send me lengthy articles with facts about candidates' actual tax positions. I'd rather believe what the attack ads say. Saves time.<br />[21:19:05] Anthony Harris: I find it funny that she mentions her husband Todd not mentioning the government not saving everything<br />[21:20:19] Anthony Harris: I think the reason why Republicans are so in favor of the McCain tax cuts because everyone wants to believe they one day can make more than $250,000 a year one day<br />[21:20:46] Anthony Harris: People vote in favor of these tax cuts in hope of a future American Dream<br />[21:20:52] Edward Mitchell: OH!<br />[21:21:10] Edward Mitchell: Did he just say 'bridge to nowhere?' AND DID THE AUDIENCE AUDIBLY LAUGH?<br />[21:21:23] Anthony Harris: That is the soundbite of the evening<br />[21:21:37] Anthony Harris: At least in the first 20 minutes<br />[21:22:06] Anthony Harris: You know what bothers me: the expression "slow up"<br />[21:22:16] Anthony Harris: Can Sen. Biden cut that out?<br />[21:22:18] Edward Mitchell: Nicely done, Joe. The man is on point. This must mean a really bad gaffe is coming.<br />[21:23:03] Edward Mitchell: Huh, Sarah?<br />[21:23:13] Edward Mitchell: Is she reading notes?!<br />[21:23:25] Anthony Harris: She's been writing stuff over there<br />[21:23:30] Edward Mitchell: Sarah Palin, the potential next vice president of the United States, is reading notes.<br />[21:23:39] Anthony Harris: She's taking notes<br />[21:23:42] Anthony Harris: She's attentive<br />[21:23:45] Anthony Harris: Don't count her out<br />[21:23:50] Anthony Harris: She's not a bad debater<br />[21:24:00] Edward Mitchell: I'm not. I have a feeling that polls will show her as the winner.<br />[21:24:10] Anthony Harris: She didn't get a laugh<br />[21:24:32] Anthony Harris: What bothers me is what she can do for states that don't produce energy<br />[21:24:44] Anthony Harris: What can she do for states like Utah?<br />[21:24:59] Anthony Harris: Rhode Island doesn't produce oil<br />[21:25:13] Anthony Harris: Can she give money away to them like she did for Alaska<br />[21:27:31] Edward Mitchell: Brilliant moment by Biden. Agreed with her.<br />[21:27:52] Edward Mitchell: And then said that McCain is the out-of-touch one who needs to agree with Biden/Palin/Obama on windfall tax profits.<br />[21:29:48] Edward Mitchell: This is amazing. She never responds to new points that Biden makes. She redirects the conversation back to her talking points on other issues. She appears unable to respond on her feet.<br />[21:30:01] Anthony Harris: Hey, there's a lot of wide open space in Alaska...<br />[21:30:15] Anthony Harris: Why can't they just cover a lot of land with windmills and solar panels?<br />[21:30:20] Anthony Harris: Why always the oil?<br />[21:30:53] Anthony Harris: Plaster Death Valley with solar panels and we'll assuredly be energy independent<br />[21:31:27] Edward Mitchell: How can you stop global warming if you won't address how it's caused?<br />[21:31:47] Anthony Harris: With fairy dust<br />[21:32:03] Anthony Harris: Or you have a pastor pray it away like witchcraft<br />[21:32:48] Anthony Harris: That witchcraft joke<br />[21:33:51] Edward Mitchell: Priceless.<br />[21:33:59] Anthony Harris: When will someone say there's no such thing as clean coal?!<br />[21:34:46] Anthony Harris: I think hearing "Drill Baby Drill" was one of the most chilling moments of the RNC<br />[21:35:40] Anthony Harris: I don't want to hear Gov. Palin say the word "rape"<br />[21:35:45] Edward Mitchell: And your response to Biden's contention that the oil you want to drill for won't come her for ten years is....?<br />[21:36:45] Anthony Harris: Isn't a constitutional standpoint and a legal standpoint the same thing?<br />[21:37:02] Anthony Harris: Or are all squares rectangles but not all rectangles squares?<br />[21:37:14] Edward Mitchell: And we have a gaffe!<br />[21:37:30] Anthony Harris: He held out as long as he could<br />[21:38:08] Anthony Harris: I have a "very diverse family" = my daughter shouldn't have slept with that boy, damnit<br />[21:38:30] Edward Mitchell: Very true. The Obama campaign is cringing right now and secretly thinking "Damn it Joe, did you just accidentally imply that we support gay marriage?!"<br />[21:39:21] Anthony Harris: Ifill is seriously good at this<br />[21:39:29] Edward Mitchell: Really? Think so?<br />[21:39:30] Anthony Harris: I can't tell her bias at all<br />[21:39:37] Edward Mitchell: I'm not impressed with her questions.<br />[21:39:44] Anthony Harris: I have heard better<br />[21:39:49] Anthony Harris: But she has good control of these two<br />[21:39:51] Edward Mitchell: Oh Tim Russert<br />[21:40:30] Edward Mitchell: He would have done quite a number on these two.<br />[21:40:52] Anthony Harris: I like how she says winning in Iraq will strengthen us in Afghanistan<br />[21:40:56] Anthony Harris: She admits the other conflict<br />[21:41:02] Anthony Harris: It'll be interesting to hear Biden's response<br />[21:41:04] Anthony Harris: Aha!<br />[21:41:08] Anthony Harris: She didn't have a plan<br />[21:41:21] Anthony Harris: Palin - Check<br />[21:41:24] Anthony Harris: Biden - Mate<br />[21:41:45] Anthony Harris: It's interesting hearing clearly what Biden studied for<br />[21:41:56] Anthony Harris: Obama and McCain voted similarly in key issues<br />[21:42:02] Anthony Harris: This is clearly an appeal to moderates<br />[21:42:32] Anthony Harris: Hearing a Democrat say this shows that it's the more inclusive, open minded party who can accept Republican ideas<br />[21:42:45] Anthony Harris: A Republican would rarely admit a Democrat is right<br />[21:42:48] Edward Mitchell: Looks like Joe Biden finally realized that he needed to look at the camera-i.e. the audience-and not Gwen.<br />[21:42:49] Anthony Harris: At least that I have heard<br />[21:42:59] Edward Mitchell: Whoa. Was anyone else afraid she was about to freeze up right there?<br />[21:43:40] Anthony Harris: Palin got a laugh!<br />[21:43:43] Anthony Harris: Albeit smaller<br />[21:44:41] Edward Mitchell: Whoa. "Let me say that again."<br />[21:45:42] Anthony Harris: Whoa Greece!<br />[21:45:48] Anthony Harris: Watch out for Pakistan!<br />[21:46:02] Anthony Harris: Sicily better not piss anybody off!<br />[21:46:26] Edward Mitchell: Uhhh haven't the Pakistanis been democratically electing people friendly to the United States? Or have I just been living in some sort of alternate universe?<br />[21:46:44] Anthony Harris: He can't get 'em all right<br />[21:47:14] Anthony Harris: Biden on Pakistan: that's where Bin Laden is and we will go after him?<br />[21:47:18] Anthony Harris: Aren't we doing that right now?<br />[21:47:32] Anthony Harris: It's something I'm actually in favor or President Bush doing rightnow<br />[21:47:33] Edward Mitchell: Nucular. She said nucular. NOT AGAIN.<br />[21:49:02] Anthony Harris: The other day, The Daily Show had a guest saying the power in Iran is largely with the Ayaollah<br />[21:49:09] Anthony Harris: Ayatollah*<br />[21:49:14] Anthony Harris: Not the president<br />[21:49:20] Edward Mitchell: That is true.<br />[21:49:29] Anthony Harris: Besides, the president of Iran is on his way out soon, anyway<br />[21:49:45] Edward Mitchell: "Ready to back ya up there<br />[21:49:46] Edward Mitchell: "<br />[21:50:08] Anthony Harris: I'm honestly not worried about Iran because the people of Iran think their president is just as crazy as the rest of the world thinks he is<br />[21:51:01] Anthony Harris: Beer # 4!<br />[21:52:06] Anthony Harris: We "have got" to assure them<br />[21:52:13] Anthony Harris: We have to assure them<br />[21:52:26] Anthony Harris: The grammar there just bothered me<br />[21:53:48] Anthony Harris: It would be interesting to see what Fareed Zakaria would say about this section of the debate<br />[21:54:09] Anthony Harris: This intricate talk about foreign policy is a little too detailed for me<br />[21:54:13] Anthony Harris: Either that or I'm drunk<br />[21:54:41] Anthony Harris: Of course, this really shows that Sen. Biden knows what he's talking about spending years on foreign policy<br />[21:55:09] Anthony Harris: And that's why Gov. Palin can merely "respect his opinion" and move back to the generality of the people being "tired of the ticket"<br />[21:55:52] Edward Mitchell: Sarah Palin says: I <3 Israel. So, please, Jewish voters, forget all that scary church witchcraft stuff.<br />[21:55:53] Anthony Harris: He's using repetition like he's going for call and response<br />[21:56:03] Anthony Harris: It's like he was waiting for an amen<br />[21:56:43] Edward Mitchell: Now I can't even tell if she's saying nucular or nuclear.<br />[21:56:57] Anthony Harris: How can Gov. Palin be against nuclear weapons for other nations but not our own?<br />[21:57:01] Edward Mitchell: Back to nucular.<br />[21:57:09] Anthony Harris: Is America that hypocritical on this issue?<br />[21:58:48] Edward Mitchell: Sarah Palin says America is not air-raiding villages and killing civilians in Afghanistan. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/27/world/asia/27herat.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss<br />[21:59:21] Anthony Harris: John McCain has opposed Republican bills?<br />[21:59:25] Anthony Harris: That's why he's a maverick<br />[21:59:40] Edward Mitchell: But then again, we all know the New York Times is run by liberals and therefore what they say is untrue.<br />[22:02:34] Anthony Harris: With the US Military as overextended as it is, is it really worth it for America to be interventionist?<br />[22:03:25] Edward Mitchell: How about we pull a Jed Bartlet and announce we will militarily intervene for humanitarian causes, not for issues relating to our personal aggrendizement (sp).<br />[22:04:28] Anthony Harris: Funny thing is, Gov. Palin is willing to gloss over the details of each bill and the explanations for rejecting bills while demanding politicians explain their reasoning for rejecting bills<br />[22:06:19] Edward Mitchell: This debate just got boring. It's clear by now that Biden isn't going to call Barack Obama a Muslim and Sarah Palin isn't going to start stuttering and slobbering on herself.<br />[22:06:21] Anthony Harris: I realize 66 minutes in, there hasn't been any astounding moments<br />[22:06:43] Anthony Harris: We came at the same idea at the same time<br />[22:06:50] Anthony Harris: Hopefully they get this too<br />[22:07:04] Anthony Harris: I need a "you are no Jack Kennedy" moment<br />[22:07:51] Edward Mitchell: Closest thing you're going to get to that was the 'bridge to nowhere' moment.<br />[22:08:00] Anthony Harris: The lost of President Obama is a question that is only not uncouth coming from a black woman<br />[22:08:57] Anthony Harris: This is the most important election since 1932?<br />[22:09:08] Anthony Harris: When did Geraldine Ferrarro run?<br />[22:09:15] Anthony Harris: Ferarro(<br />[22:09:23] Anthony Harris: Aw crap, I don't know how to spell it<br />[22:09:36] Anthony Harris: Ferraro<br />[22:09:39] Edward Mitchell: Uhh, John Kennedy, who helped avert the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Richard Nixon, who destroyed a generation's faith in government, would disagree<br />[22:09:49] Anthony Harris: I'll clearly fix this when I'm editing this before posting<br />[22:10:50] Anthony Harris: "Go to Home Depot with me where I spend a lot of time"?<br />[22:11:00] Anthony Harris: Joe Biden: builder of sheds<br />[22:11:14] Anthony Harris: Owner of a mean riding mower<br />[22:11:27] Anthony Harris: Knows his wood paneling<br />[22:12:02] Anthony Harris: Was Gov. Palin just brusque with Sen. Biden's late wife?<br />[22:12:11] Anthony Harris: Am I more offended at that because I'm possibly drunk?<br />[22:12:28] Anthony Harris: Or was that offensive overall?<br />[22:12:31] Edward Mitchell: His new wife is a teacher. And uh, is she honestly dismissing any mention of George Bush as the past? I thought he was still in office....<br />[22:12:47] Anthony Harris: Oh, thanks for elucidating my ignorance<br />[22:13:02] Anthony Harris: Because that "her reward is in heaven" thing really got to me<br />[22:13:57] Edward Mitchell: Oh yeah that would have been fatal<br />[22:14:05] Edward Mitchell: Uh, to the campaign, I mean<br />[22:14:21] Anthony Harris: I like that she had to answer what a VP does in this question<br />[22:14:40] Anthony Harris: When your ignorance is in question, it's best to lay that down when the time comes<br />[22:15:48] Anthony Harris: Joe Biden: Vice President in the post-Cheney age<br />[22:16:29] Anthony Harris: It's almost scary that another guy will be in the room, looking over the president's shoulder, watching every major decision<br />[22:16:47] Anthony Harris: And Palin will be the leader of two branches of government<br />[22:17:01] Anthony Harris: Not only has Cheney destroyed the vice presidency of the present<br />[22:17:05] Anthony Harris: But also of the future<br />[22:17:34] Edward Mitchell: You say Dick Cheney and all I think is quail-hunting.<br />[22:17:50] Anthony Harris: That's just what he wants you to think<br />[22:18:06] Anthony Harris: Laughable anecdote<br />[22:18:17] Anthony Harris: Not shadow emperor of the nation<br />[22:18:36] Anthony Harris: Beer#5!<br />[22:19:00] Anthony Harris: Every time she brings up her kid in Iraq, I say folks should bring up her pregnant daughter<br />[22:19:07] Edward Mitchell: "Hmm, my approval ratings are in the dump. People are onto my evil plan to destroy the Jedi and take over the universe. I know what I'll do! Shoot an old guy in the face."<br />[22:19:12] Anthony Harris: You don't get to pick the kid that helps you politically<br />[22:20:26] Anthony Harris: Oh!<br />[22:20:32] Anthony Harris: He played the widow angle!<br />[22:21:10] Anthony Harris: He plays the emotional angle!<br />[22:21:13] Anthony Harris: Wow<br />[22:21:16] Anthony Harris: That's a moment<br />[22:21:26] Edward Mitchell: JOE BIDEN JUST WON THE DEBATE<br />[22:21:36] Anthony Harris: I don't say this often<br />[22:21:39] Anthony Harris: Or at all really<br />[22:21:39] Edward Mitchell: And she just made a mistake by going back to politics.<br />[22:21:40] Anthony Harris: But<br />[22:21:42] Anthony Harris: lmao<br />[22:22:24] Anthony Harris: Lieberman: the Republican in Democrat's clothing<br />[22:22:25] Edward Mitchell: did it look like hw <br />[22:22:36] Edward Mitchell: *Did it appear as though Biden choked up there?<br />[22:22:44] Edward Mitchell: When he mentioned having a child that may not make it?<br />[22:22:49] Edward Mitchell: That clip will likely get replayed.<br />[22:22:52] Anthony Harris: It totally did<br />[22:22:56] Anthony Harris: I love that moment<br />[22:23:23] Anthony Harris: This is a great moment here<br />[22:23:37] Anthony Harris: Yeah, I know he voted for President Bush's initiatives 90% of the time<br />[22:23:45] Anthony Harris: But what specifically did he not help me with?<br />[22:23:56] Anthony Harris: Biden was saving this moment<br />[22:24:54] Anthony Harris: Five years isn't long?<br />[22:25:25] Anthony Harris: It took him five years on the Senate to learn not to approve inflammatory judges?<br />[22:25:39] Edward Mitchell: The debate is effectively over. Call it a draw. Sarah Palin succeeded by not falling apart. Biden was Biden-solid.<br />[22:25:45] Anthony Harris: The vice presidency is a four year job with an option for another four<br />[22:25:59] Anthony Harris: There isn't time for a five year learning curve<br />[22:26:28] Anthony Harris: How on earth did Sarah Palin get out of specificity for the majority of this debate?<br />[22:27:02] Anthony Harris: Knowing John McCain, he might actually be here<br />[22:28:10] Anthony Harris: She said "diverse family" again<br />[22:28:22] Anthony Harris: So your husband is half Inuit<br />[22:28:25] Anthony Harris: I got it<br />[22:30:02] Anthony Harris: How can Palin talk about the lack of the filter on the mainstream media when I'm watching this on CNN with a graph taking up a fourth of my TV?<br />[22:30:29] Edward Mitchell: Excellent point!<br />[22:30:37] Anthony Harris: What is Palin talking about?<br />[22:30:45] Anthony Harris: Is slavery coming back and I didn't get the memo?<br />[22:30:57] Anthony Harris: Is Bush repealing the 14th Amendment?<br />[22:31:00] Anthony Harris: I wouldn't put it past him<br />[22:31:50] Edward Mitchell: Oh even he's not THAT crazy.<br />[22:32:24] Anthony Harris: Biden: Folksy<br />[22:32:59] Anthony Harris: He goes to Home Depot, his mom and dad gave him advice, he knows you talk about stuff at the kitchen table, he takes the train<br />[22:33:33] Edward Mitchell: Underwhelming, but good debate.<br />[22:33:54] Anthony Harris: I still want my "you're no Jack Kennedy" moment<br />[22:34:09] Anthony Harris: Alrigiht, summation<br />[22:34:29] Edward Mitchell: Summation: Palin did what she needed to do. So did Biden.<br />[22:34:56] Anthony Harris: Gov. Palin stood her ground, proving she was eloquent and mostly not didn't ramble.<br />[22:35:22] Anthony Harris: Yet she didn't show herself to be knowledgeable on most issues of the day.<br />[22:35:28] Anthony Harris: Sen. Biden did.<br />[22:35:48] Anthony Harris: He managed to related to the American people in his auspice of being folksy<br />[22:36:00] Anthony Harris: But it's still indeterminate if he is actually folksy<br />[22:36:30] Edward Mitchell: He's not.<br />[22:36:35] Anthony Harris: Were his responses about visits to Home Depot and remembering the hard times in his family scripted?<br />[22:36:39] Edward Mitchell: But he came off that way, so all good for Obama's people.<br />[22:36:40] Anthony Harris: But well acted?<br />[22:36:46] Edward Mitchell: And yes, probably.<br />[22:37:13] Anthony Harris: Gov. Palin showed she can contort anything to a script<br />[22:37:20] Anthony Harris: She was cool headed and stayed on message<br />[22:37:49] Anthony Harris: In actuality, these attributes prove she'd be an excellent Vice President for the 21st Century<br />[22:38:14] Anthony Harris: Or really, her senior staffers would be an excellent Vice President for the 21st Century<br />[22:38:38] Edward Mitchell: Underwhelming debate!<br />[22:38:55] Anthony Harris: After I gave golden material, you give one sentence?<br />[22:39:08] Anthony Harris: Seriously EiC: blog for real here<br />[22:39:26] Edward Mitchell: I'm underwhelmed!<br />[22:40:13] Edward Mitchell: And that was not "golden" material<br />[22:40:22] Edward Mitchell: Those beers are getting to you.<br />[22:40:29] Edward Mitchell: Let's blog the pundits!<br />[22:40:34] Edward Mitchell: What channel are you watching?<br />[22:41:14] Anthony Harris: I switched to C-SPAN<br />[22:41:32] Anthony Harris: Well that and I just went to relieve myself<br />[22:41:43] Anthony Harris: You can't just keep drinking without breaking the seal<br />[22:42:19] Edward Mitchell: That is information that the bloggers and humanity at large did not need.<br />[22:42:39] Anthony Harris: I can edit this out<br />[22:42:46] Anthony Harris: Or not for humor's sake<br />[22:43:04] Anthony Harris: I'll try FOX News tonight<br />[22:43:14] Anthony Harris: Maybe I won't be so pissed off watching it if I'm drunk<br />[22:43:43] Anthony Harris: Fortunately, I haven't been making copious grammatical errors this evening because of it<br />[22:44:06] Edward Mitchell: Actually, I don't think I can handle the pundits tonight.<br />[22:44:23] Anthony Harris: Good enough<br />[22:44:30] Anthony Harris: I never watch the pundits afterwards<br />[22:44:33] Edward Mitchell: David Gergen is the only one worth listening to and he says everything he needs to say in the first few minutes.<br />[22:44:34] Edward Mitchell: OH<br />[22:44:38] Anthony Harris: I just read the articles the next day<br />[22:44:49] Edward Mitchell: CNN Insta-Debate poll coming in a few minutes.<br />[22:44:52] Anthony Harris: I don't care that much for punditry like I used to<br />[22:45:20] Edward Mitchell: CNN's focus group is about to sound off<br />[22:45:32] Edward Mitchell: Biden wins<br />[22:45:35] Anthony Harris: Funnily enough, the pollster on FOX is the guy I saw on C-SPAN a few weeks ago<br />[22:45:38] Edward Mitchell: According to the group<br />[22:45:43] Anthony Harris: He's actually pretty good<br />[22:46:12] Anthony Harris: I know he's a Republican pollster, but he's really good at what he does<br />[22:46:24] Anthony Harris: I still think this group is skewed, though<br />[22:46:35] Edward Mitchell: Frank Luntz?<br />[22:46:38] Edward Mitchell: Is that the pollster?<br />[22:46:46] Anthony Harris: Yeah<br />[22:46:59] Edward Mitchell: Yeah, he seems good<br />[22:47:21] Edward Mitchell: What does his focus group on Fox say?<br />[22:47:42] Anthony Harris: This debate will be influential in changing minds<br />[22:47:43] Edward Mitchell: People who are still undecided should be banned from voting.<br />[22:47:50] Edward Mitchell: Bunch of ignorant Hamlets they are.<br />[22:47:57] Anthony Harris: Gov. Palin appeals to the people on a basic level<br />[22:48:05] Anthony Harris: Etc. Etc. Etc.<br />[22:48:26] Anthony Harris: [to be said like Yul Brynner in The King and I]<br />[22:49:06] Edward Mitchell: Ha<br />[22:49:10] Edward Mitchell: Which I haven't seen<br />[22:49:16] Anthony Harris: CNN's group seems skewed as well<br />[22:49:28] Anthony Harris: You've never seen The King and I?<br />[22:49:37] Edward Mitchell: Nope<br />[22:49:41] Anthony Harris: One of the few musicals a straight man should actually see?<br />[22:49:43] Edward Mitchell: Or maybe when I was a kid<br />[22:50:02] Edward Mitchell: I did, however, see the Jodie Foster/Chow Yun Fat remake Anna and the King<br />[22:50:05] Edward Mitchell: THAT was epic<br />[22:50:11] Anthony Harris: It was<br />[22:50:18] Anthony Harris: But you need to see The King and I<br />[22:50:20] Anthony Harris: Totally different<br />[22:50:26] Anthony Harris: Still really god<br />[22:50:28] Anthony Harris: good*<br />[22:51:49] Anthony Harris: I'm about to post this in a minute<br />[22:51:54] Anthony Harris: Anything else you want to say?<br />[22:52:03] Edward Mitchell: UNDERWHELMED.Anthony Dean-Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06842798137683973917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-31415819081325853922008-09-05T11:12:00.000-07:002008-09-07T12:07:06.398-07:00John McCain's Acceptance Speech<iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/26552443#26552443" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>Anthony Dean-Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06842798137683973917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-36634583182866877202008-09-04T10:31:00.000-07:002008-09-04T11:59:52.298-07:00Palin Packs A Punchline<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7XOwa3TlVLY/SMAcFhBwnXI/AAAAAAAAAWo/zTX1SzZjsnk/s1600-h/picture1.jpg"><img style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; " src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7XOwa3TlVLY/SMAcFhBwnXI/AAAAAAAAAWo/zTX1SzZjsnk/s400/picture1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242220847349931378" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities."<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate."<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"But when the cloud of rhetoric has passed ... when the roar of the crowd fades away ... when the stadium lights go out, and those Styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot - what exactly is our opponent's plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish, after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet?"</span></span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">Last night, Governor Sarah Palin walked onto the stage of the RNC and was met with a standing ovation. She, then, opened her mouth and reminded us of how all of the applause was unnecessary. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In a time when her vetting process has been taking place on CNN and ABC, opposed to the McCain headquarters, maybe she should have talked more about herself and her experience. It seemed like days went by as she reminded us all that John McCain died for our sins in Vietnam (or something along those line) as he put our country first. What she failed to mention was our struggling economy and how the same working mothers- that she identifies so heavily with- can afford healthy foods for their kids and gasoline to go buy it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There, undoubtedly, were good lines delivered by Palin during her speech last night but that's all that is was; effective delivery. It seemed mostly full of one-liners and praise for McCain because it wasn't written by her. It was, most likely, composed by a group of McCain writers who all got their best Obama-bashing lines in and put small-town values in as filler. Meanwhile, no one in the country knows who she is and we're being asked to put her a heartbeat away from the presidency based on a distaste for Obama and the fact the fact that we all like mothers. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Moreover, what's been most evident to me is that Sarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton. It's been a week of, "just leave her alone" and cries of sexism. Now all of a sudden Sarah "Barracuda" Palin or the "pitbull in lipstick" (as she likes to call herself), is the champion of the Republican party and not just the token damsel in distress. Could you imagine Hillary Clinton allowing her party to make her out to be a victim? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Maybe I'm just annoyed. I know that I'm offended and most importantly, I'm impatient because I can't wait to see Joe Biden go hardbody on her without a script.</div><br /><br /><iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/26535823#26535823" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6624874765690714959.post-43795911329922453772008-09-03T20:40:00.000-07:002008-09-04T12:03:46.368-07:00Gov. Sarah Palin is Certainly an Orator<div style="text-align: justify;">Gov. Sarah Palin delivered an excellent speech this evening. I mean that. I mean that very truly, and very literally. This address was efficient at showing she has a body of work (albeit small), puts John McCain back in the limelight (as he should be), and shows she's competent enough for the job.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As she discussed energy policy, she spoke at length about various nations and their relations to the United States with oil trade, showing she "has knowledge" about foreign trade and policy. She showed she is open to other alternative energy sources. She also somehow showed she was a magical oil prospector by stating with certainty that there's enough oil in Alaska to save America without doing any actual drilling there, yet.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She spoke at length about the record of John McCain as a senator in relation to "her opponent" (more on this later) and rebranded him as the maverick America thought he was in 2000, which pales in comparison to the conservative panderer he's been in this campaign.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She compared herself to the average American with average American problems and painted the Democratic party as elitists, which played well with the crowd and could work on the national level. It's not like there isn't some validity in it. But what's disconcerting is that she played America as though it were a collection of small towns instead of a nation. While many in the media and her opposition feel that her background doesn't reflect the expertise to lead the nation, she rebuked this at length. It seemed appropriate, but America isn't a small town, as much as we like to think we are. Thornton Wilder wasn't exactly writing <span style="font-style:italic;">Our Town</span> with the idea that it represented a place that threatens Russia for using excessive force or needs to find some other place to put the mill because the neighboring town is fighting for the river.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But what bothered me the most, while I know what she was doing, was not referring to Sen. Obama by name. She called out Joe Biden. She even called out Majority Leader Harry Reid. But she just wouldn't give credence to Barack Obama. It's clear that even uttering his name gives him attention, but he should have attention: he's the other candidate. But saying his name also still draws attention to the fact that they're both young and relatively inexperienced. She could only hold off that claim so much and mentioning Obama wouldn't have helped that situation. Still, I'm reminded of an episode of <span style="font-style:italic;">The West Wing</span> in which Jed Bartlett was running for president the first time and had complaints about his staff recommending he not refer to his opponent by name. He thought it would make him look dotty and aloof. While Palin was successful in looking relatively competent, she still had an aura of not being all the way there.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And this is why I believe Sarah Palin "delivered" a great speech instead of "gave" a great speech. She proved she knows her way around a teleprompter, something Sen. McCain still needs work on and has very little time to learn that lesson. She proved she has an excellent speechwriter who can write for the big leagues and knows how to accentuate points well. This person knows the rule of three, comparisons, proper omission, and how to present the right evidence (while ignoring the evidence that doesn't necessarily help). Obama has been painted as elitist, epic and flashy without substance, and largely ignorant and irrelevant. For this, I praise Gov. Palin's staff and especially her speechwriter. But I still feel that due to her lack of experience and age, she doesn't know what she's talking about.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What leads me to believe this is her specificity. She has too much going on in a speech like this. Sure, Sen. Obama is extremely vague and his speeches make him sound like a messianic Santa Claus (and any Christian who knows me may smack me around a bit for that juxtaposition right there) but I can trust his vagueness. He really <span style="font-style:italic;">isn't</span> all that qualified, but I have faith enough that he would be capable of knowing how to govern on his own. Gov. Palin seems to be a spectator in all of this. She can deliver a speech of facts and plans in which she had no part because nothing in her experience prepared her for this. Someone is pulling strings here and I find that highly troubling.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">John McCain is old but capable, but he panders to his base too much in his later years. This could be to the detriment to the nation that really looks to a nation beyond partisanship. I recall McCain on Meet the Press years ago saying he wouldn't become an Independent because his is the party of Lincoln. Now it's the neo-conservative party of Reagan and he is transforming himself to appeal to these people. They are divisive and they are in some ways destructive. Now they have a head cheerleader running for vice president and she seems to know well enough to do as she's told.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Frankly, I find tonight just a little bit frightening at how well it went all because I could see behind this ruse. Hopefully others would see this with me.<br /></div>Anthony Dean-Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06842798137683973917noreply@blogger.com1