Biden looked like the boring stooge he is

By Chris Ingram

Just a few quick thoughts on tonight’s debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden.

But first, full disclosure: I’m a Republican, I like John McCain, and I like Sarah Palin more every time I see her unfiltered by the media.

That said, I’m no mouthpiece for the McCain campaign or the RNC. I prefer to take on the “leaders” of my party and tell them they’re full of crap when that’s what I think. This attitude hasn’t endeared me with a lot of party leaders or my peers who prefer to stick their noses up said party boss’s rear-ends. My point is I’m not speaking for the RNC here when I praise Palin.

In my opinion Sarah Palin won this debate. It wasn’t a knock-out punch that won it for her, more of a technical win. But a win is a win. And she won. Hands down. No ifs ands or buts. (more…)

If candidates spoke the truth they wouldn’t get elected.

By Chris Ingram

It is a sad but true state of American politics, but modern political campaigns tell us little about the beliefs of candidates. In fact, the lack of candor about problems and real solutions has only gotten worse. In today’s 24 hour news cycle which focuses more on sensationalism, gossip, celebrity, and “infotainment” why are we surprised that the media spends days covering whether or not Barack Obama called Sarah Palin a pig  while spending nary a column inch or 30 second blurb about the looming Social Security crisis or the cause of our crumbling economy?

Political Science 101 textbooks should start out with Chapter 1 reading: You cannot expect to win a political campaign at any level if you actually tell voters what needs to be done. You will lose. Voters don’t like to be told anything other than what you are going to do for them as individuals. People are selfish. No one cares about the collective good. (more…)

Looking for blame? Clinton comes to mind.

By Chuck Muth

The biggest problem I had with this bailout - other than the fact that it’s decidedly socialistic in nature and sets a horrible precedent for taxpayer bailouts of other industries down the road - is the rush to “do something” by President Bush and Congress.

After eight years of “compassionate conservatism” which gave us Homeland Security, the TSA, No Child Left Behind and Medicare prescription drugs, I’m automatically suspect of anything President Bush says about a “crisis” necessitating government action. In fact, my knee-jerk response is automatic opposition until proved otherwise. (more…)

The Speaker should go.

By Mark R. Smith

Yesterday, Congress took the position that Main Street, not Wall Street rules America through the votes of their elected officials. Led not by the Democrats but by the Republican minority and some conservative Democrats who listened to their constituents. Main Street rules. (more…)

What happened to the Straight Talk?

By Chris Ingram

In politics, there are no good political ploys, only stupid political ploys. The good ones you never know even existed because they are good because you can’t tell it’s a ploy. The bad ones you know about because the stooge who did it ends up walking around with egg on his face.

Today, John McCain was wearing some eggs because yesterday he got stupid. The “suspension” of his campaign appears to have backfired. (And by the way, just what does suspending one’s campaign mean? Are they no longer answering the phones at McCain HQ? Did they shut down the website? Are the bumper stickers I asked for last week no longer being sent to me?) I expect McCain will show up at the debate in Mississippi on Friday. An hour and a half of cameras focusing on his empty podium while “Mr. Slickspeech” rambles on about “change” only some moron could believe in would make for bad press that even Katherine Harris could recognize. (more…)

Are you mad as hell? What are you going to do about it?

By Michael A. Matteo

As I woke up this morning and read the news about what a mess Washington has made of our economy, I couldn’t help but think about the 1976 movie, Network, where the main character, news anchor Howard Beale (played brilliantly by Peter Finch), urged people to open their windows and shout, “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” 

If you don’t recall the movie, here are a few excerpts which seem more appropriate today than they were when Paddy Chayefsky wrote the screenplay over 30 years ago:

Beale: I don’t have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad. It’s a depression. Everybody’s out of work or scared of losing their job. The dollar buys a nickel’s worth; banks are going bust…We all know things are bad — worse than bad — they’re crazy… (more…)