The Dosquatch Says…

Obama has a great gift for oration. In style, in substance, in manner and delivery, he truly wields words with a deft tongue. He spoke to us at length, in both oral and written forms, of the Audacity of Hope. Of the promise of Change. Of the Better Way, and of moving forward.

His words were inspiration, and that inspiration brought out of the people the support that landed him in office. We voted for the inspirational leader, and Lord knows we were due one.

We do this – we vote this way – not for the novelty of 4 years of good speeches. We do this for the promise of dividends. An inspirational leader, presumably, brings us inspirational leadership. This is the promise, not the word or suggestion, but actual change.

We bought into the Audacity of Hope, but hope only goes so far in difficult times. It’s time for the Audacity of Action. It’s time that some of these things that have been said are actually done. Even if only the smallest, most insignificant of suggestions. Leaving Iraq. Closing Guantanamo. Health Care. Healed economy. Lower unemployment. Something. Anything.

Instead we mostly seem to have more of the same, but with better audio. The realities of Guantanamo remain obfuscated. We’re still in Iraq, we’re making a half-hearted escalation in Afghanistan, unemployment continues to rise, banks are still unregulated. I’ve seen kids fired from McDonald’s for slipping Mom a free cheeseburger, but the same jackasses that crashed the world economy are still in charge of these monolithic financial institutions, still doing the same stupid things, but now financed with our tax dollars. One could argue that as change, but I think we were all rather hoping for a change for the better.

Maybe I’m being unrealistic. Perhaps Obama is simply just another politician, and it was my foolishness to hold expectations for genuine change and leadership. Maybe that’s the real Audacity of Hope.

Politics Obama

Seriously? The rabid pundits have no bigger issues to hash out than whether or not we should show politeness in the manner of our host?

Aren’t these the same asshats who throw a fit if we don’t make a point of not showing the soles of our shoes to some muslim diplomat?

Can we take a deep friggin’ breath here and try to behave like adults?

Politics diplomacy, japan, Obama

There’s lies, damned lies, and then there’s taxes. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, there’s lies about taxes.

I understand the requirements of political debate. It’s sales. You sell on strengths, not weaknesses. So one side tries to make their package sound as sweet as possible. The other side tries to sour the milk. Fine, got it, go forth and do.

But when McCain’s attempts at repudiation are so easily shown wrong – when even Joe the Plumber, his chosen martyr, is saying “No, it really wouldn’t affect me,” – not only does it not accomplish the goal of souring the milk, it ultimately sours his own milk. It tags him as a liar, and makes it seem as if he doesn’t trust us voters and our ability to make a good judgement when given the truth.

And then it comes down to this, John. If you don’t trust us with the truth, how are we supposed to trust you?

Politics Joe the Plumber, McCain, Obama, presidential election, taxes

McCain choosing Palin is more of a marketing decision than anything.

When delivering speeches, Obama sounds exactly like Kerry, only interested.

It doesn’t matter who gets elected, it’s an improvement over the current administration.

I have developed a curious muscle spasm that causes me to punch the throat of anyone who says “maverick”.

You’d think there was a Karate Kid convention going on the way everybody is perched on polls.

I have never been simultaneously so amused and disheartened as when I realized that the SNL spoof of the Palin/Couric interview was lifted almost unedited from the actual interview.

When Palin hits her talking points and knows it, she vibrates like a little yippy dog. Take the time to rewatch the vice-presidential debate and see for yourself.

Politics Maverick, McCain, Obama, Palin, presidential election