Politics 2.0

Have you ever wondered how much your one vote affects an election — even just a local, city election?

 Honestly, as an individual, not the much.

Unfortunately for Minnesota voters, Senatorial hopeful Al Franken has trivialized the state’s voting even more (take a look at one of Ann Coulter’s recent column for more info: http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=29768).

It’s people like this that polute the America’s political system. I find it funny that this leftist was able to do so much after the election was OVER. I hate to beat a dead horse, but what would happen if a conservative tried anything remotely like this (i.e. demanding recounts and “discovering” new votes).

Honestly, headlines would read “SORE LOSER,” “SCANDAL,” “FICTICIOUS VOTES SURFACE ACROSS THE STATE.”

I don’t bring this up merely to complain–I want to raise awareness. First, we need to make sure that when we do lose that we’re being good losers and looking to improve in future elections. Similarly, we need to keep those who are poor losers at bay, not letting them abuse the system like ambitious Franken has done.

And congrats Norm Coleman–I wish you the best during your term.

Along the same lines as Chuck Norris in a previous column, I want to offer President-Elect Obama my congratulations for his victory in November.

Though I admit, I was hoping he wouldn’t win, that’s now beside the point: it’s time for this country to pull together as a unified one.

And honestly, here I’m talking to conservatives. While they may not be happy about Obama winning, making uneducated claims or unpleasant threats–even in jest–are completely wrong.

I’ve heard of people actually making threats to leave the country or worse–things probably better left off the Internet.

Anyway, specific threats are beside the point. What really matters is that we strive to help our new president be the best that he possibly can be by sharing our conservative views, so he has a better grasp of what the country as a whole wants.

And President-Elect Obama, once again, congrats!

Well, this isn’t about politics, but I just want to let all my [possibly former] readers know that the semester is winding down, so while that means there’s little time left to post, I’ll have more time to devote to posting.

So, yeah.

Look for some posts coming soon!

I found this rather humorous — especially right before election day.

So, I thought I was ready to leave Joe the Plumber alone until I came across this article at HUMANEVENTS.com. It’s very straightforward, and I think a lot of rising American’s can relate to it:

How fair is it to take the money Americans make and spread it around so others don’t feel “left out.” This article brings up the following:

It’s a chronic problem with the media and the Washington establishment: they can’t understand an average American Joe. Plumbers like Joe are real people who the liberal elites – read Obama and Biden – just don’t relate to. To them, the “middle class” is a salary stereotype. You make a certain amount of money (under $250,000, for example). You shop at Wal-Mart, 7/11. Your kids work fast food and retail through high school. You don’t fly first class. You don’t count.

Joe the Senator doesn’t realize that even if you end up making more than $250,000, you often keep your middle class roots. You might still shop at Wal-Mart. Your kids don’t drive BMWs. And when someone says “arugula,” you raise your eyebrows and say, “What’s that? Sounds like something they’d eat in France.”

Joe the Senator doesn’t understand, or he’s forgotten, that being an “average American” is not about your current salary — it’s how you got there. No one handed you $250,000 on a platter. You, like Joe the Plumber, worked your way up from employee to company owner. You worked overtime, you didn’t order Iranian caviar via room service at the Waldorf-Astoria (ala Michelle Obama last Friday). You paid off your school loans (even those Ivy League ones). And now you want to enjoy the fruits of your labor and pass them on to your children. That’s the American dream. That’s quintessential America.

 I think a good point has been raised. Although it’s not completely true across the board, many of the average Joes out there who are just starting to get ahead because of the extra work and time they’ve put in are going to be penalized for it, in order to compensate for those who work a carefree 9 to 5 job.

Is that “fair.” Obama wants things to be fair, doesn’t he?

Thoughts?

I thought this was a very interesting piece by CNN, detailing “Joe the Plumber” vs. “Joe Six Pack” and who’s in danger of a recession. Take a look!

And might I add that I’m thankful to Joe for getting Obama to admit what he really is–a socialist who wants to take all our money.

That is all.

Embedded video from CNN Video

Catching up — sorry I’ve been out of the loop for so long!

Here are the clips from the third presidential debate. They make for some very interesting talking points.

Part 1
Embedded video from CNN Video

Part 2
Embedded video from CNN Video

Part 3
Embedded video from CNN Video

I got an interesting e-mail today, so I thought I’d post it. I’ve wanted to post all weekend, but the Edublogs platform has been down–oh well.

Here are some things to sift through. I thought some of Biden’s answers during the debate were rather convenient and had planned on doing some checking, but it looks like someone did the preliminaries for me!

Joe Biden Lies 14 Times During Debate…

Each time Senator Biden was on his heels, he looked directly into the camera and lied — more than a dozen times by our count. He lied about John McCain’s record, his own record, and Barak Obama’s dangerous policies. Governor Palin showed the American people tonight why a McCain-Palin Administration will bring real reform, leadership, and straight talk to Washington.” –Tucker Bounds, spokesman McCain-Palin 2008

1. TAX VOTE: Biden said McCain voted “the exact same way” as Obama to increase taxes on Americans earning just $42,000, but McCain DID NOT VOTE THAT WAY.

2. AHMEDINIJAD MEETING: Joe Biden lied when he said that Barack Obama never said that he would sit down unconditionally with Mahmoud Ahmedinijad of Iran. Barack Obama did say specifically, and Joe Biden attacked him for it.

3. OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING: Biden said, “Drill we must.” But Biden has opposed offshore drilling and even compared offshore drilling to “raping” the Outer Continental Shelf.”

4. TROOP FUNDING: Joe Biden lied when he indicated that John McCain and Barack Obama voted the same way against funding the troops in the field. John McCain opposed a bill that included a timeline, that the President of the United States had already said he would veto regardless of it’s passage.

5. OPPOSING CLEAN COAL: Biden says he’s always been for clean coal, but he just told a voter that he is against clean coal and any new coal plants in America and has a record of voting against clean coal and coal in the U.S. Senate.

6. ALERNATIVE ENERGY VOTES: According to FactCheck.org, Biden is exaggerating and overstating John McCain’s record voting for alternative energy when he says he voted against it 23 times.

7. HEALTH INSURANCE: Biden falsely said McCain will raise taxes on people’s health insurance coverage — they get a tax credit to offset any tax hike. Independent fact checkers have confirmed this attack is false

8. OIL TAXES: Biden falsely said Palin supported a windfall profits tax in Alaska — she reformed the state tax and revenue system, it’s not a windfall profits tax.

9. AFGHANISTAN / GEN. MCKIERNAN COMMENTS: Biden said that top military commander in Iraq said the principles of the surge could not be applied to Afghanistan, but the commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force Gen. David D. McKiernan said that there were principles of the surge strategy, including working with tribes, that could be applied in Afghanistan.

10. REGULATION: Biden falsely said McCain weakened regulation — he actually called for more regulation on Fannie and Freddie.

11. IRAQ: When Joe Biden lied when he said that John McCain was “dead wrong on Iraq”, because Joe Biden shared the same vote to authorize the war and differed on the surge strategy where they John McCain has been proven right.

12. TAX INCREASES: Biden said Americans earning less than $250,000 wouldn’t see higher taxes, but the Obama-Biden tax plan would raise taxes on individuals making $200,000 or more.

13. BAILOUT: Biden said the economic rescue legislation matches the four principles that Obama laid out, but in reality it doesn’t meet two of the four principles that Obama outlined on Sept. 19, which were that it include an emergency economic stimulus package, and that it be part of “part of a globally coordinated effort with our partners in the G-20.”

14. REAGAN TAX RATES: Biden is wrong in saying that under Obama, Americans won’t pay any more in taxes then they did under Reagan.

I hope everyone got a chance to watch the debates this evening. It was fascinating, so I thought I’d post some highlights from CNN.com. I weigh in with some of my thoughts throughout the weekend. Until then, let me know what you think–talking points are always welcome!

Ending the War
Embedded video from CNN Video

Health Care
Embedded video from CNN Video

The Economy
Embedded video from CNN Video

Gay Marriage
Embedded video from CNN Video

So I’m thinking and thinking to myself–mostly about an editorial I’ve written for The Collegian. I know I what my thoughts are (because I’ve been thinking). But I’d like to here yours.

In recent weeks the media has been bashing Sarah Palin for her daughter’s pregnancy (not to mention publishing numerous, ridiculous rumors). So here’s what I’m wondering–and would like to hear about from you: has the media handled this situation well? And please explain your answer!

I look forward to candid debate.