Friday, August 29, 2008
“If he (Obama) wins, the operative word is detachment..”
Gonzo gave his immediate reaction to Barack Obama’s speech late last night but it’s also worth reading Micky Kaus’ suitably sceptical take at Slate
“A little flat, and not just because of it’s now-required State-of-the Union laundry-list passages”
Meanwhile Máirtín points to an Irish Echo report from a couple of days ago on the reaction by some to Obama’s suggestion that a US envoy to Northern Ireland was no longer required - as previously noted by Brian.
“I’m Shocked, I really am,” veteran Democratic activist Brian O’Dwyer said. “The stupidity of it, that somehow the idea that it is all over (in Northern Ireland) and there is no need for an envoy; this of all things. Irish American is most proud of the fact that it obtained an envoy, O’Dwyer, a prominent supporter of Senator Hillary Clinton during the Democratic primaries, told the Echo. [] “It’s hard for me to fathom how anyone who knows anything about Ireland would say this. This is a signal that the U.S. government will detach. If he (Obama) wins, the operative word is detachment,” O’Dwyer said.
The US involvement here has been mapped out in detail previously and I added some thoughts on the wider view here. And in answer to Máirtín’s question about John McCain’s position on a US envoy to Northern Ireland
John McCain is committed to maintaining the special U.S. envoy for Northern Ireland and that commitment has been enshrined in the 2008 Republican Platform.
Of course, previously, McCain has intervened here personally.. And in related news “Senator John McCain has selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate, according to [US] Republican [Party] sources.” Reports here and here. And an Insta-note
Pete Baker @ 02:07 PM
I would hardly call it flat. Surely he managed to set up some nice message rebutting McCain and tie in with the average American better. Lets the polls decide.
Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 03:51 PMIt’s how Micky Kaus saw it, Jer.
Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 04:00 PMre US VP candidate Alaska Gov Sarah Palin:
I’ve felt up to now that the presidential race was too close to call. This is a brilliant choice by Sen McCain.
Palin is a Pentacostal (I love their rocking church music), believes that Creationism should be taught alongside Evolution (the DUP will love her), is anti-abortion (the RCs will love her) - and puts her money where her mouth is with four children, including a son headed for Iraq.
Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 05:23 PMOC
Second…
Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 05:44 PMOC ,
‘This is a brilliant choice by Sen McCain.’
It’s actually an admission of how desperate his candidacy is becoming . He knew that with Romney , Giuliani , or Pawlenty on the ticket he was a definite loser . This is a big ‘gamble ‘ for him . With McCain now 72 Americans will pay a little more attention to the VP pick than in recent elections . And when the choice comes down to a possible President Joe Biden or President Sarah Palin -even Republicans know who is going to win that one .
The ‘pentecostalism ‘ and her other views re abortion and gay marriage place her well outside the american mainstream apart from the south and parts of the West like Utah and Nevada , Idaho and her native Alaska.
No McCain -8 years is enough - and ‘trickle down economics ‘ does NOT work .
Sarah Palin will have her few days of fame and then it’ll be back to the economy , health care and the failure of the ‘compassionate conservatives ‘ of the neo con nut jobs who have led the USA into the present econnomic and foreign policy mess .Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 06:00 PMre Sarah Palin
I just read that she has FIVE children, the last born recently with Downs Syndrome.
Her husband is part Native American.
Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 06:00 PMGreenflag:
I still say that the race is too close to call, but if I was so sure of the results, I would have already placed my wager.
As to your tone, all I can think of is “Weaned on a pickle.” At least they are green.
Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 06:08 PMCan’t use the economy anymore greenie, the facts speak for themselves.
Say (and type) healthcare a million times...that’ll work.
McCain has shown that Obama has a lot to learn on many subjects, campaigning among them.Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 06:08 PMOC
‘I just read that she has FIVE children,’
Well what else would you expect from a part Fenian? :) Her mother’s name was Sheeran and she’qualifies as ‘irish -american ‘ and also admits to english and german ancestry .
She may have a future in USA national politics given that the Republicans will be routed in both the Senate and Congress in November . She’s young enough to be vying for the top spot for another 20 years . She will gain some national exposure this time out .
But at the end of the day both McCain and Palin are probably the best two picks the Republicans could have made to shore up their coming defeat from being a wipeout ! imo
Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 06:10 PMBfb ,
Mr John , ‘I voted against an increase in the minimum wage 19 times’ McCain’ is not going to win.
Bush is the most unpopular sitting President since Richard Nixon and McCain’s chance has evaporated after the last 8 years of mis management -poor decision making -reckless pursuit of war as foreign policy - and an unbelievably corrupt Bush administration . And on the very day of McCain’s nomination Americans will be treated to a very public court seesion for Jack Abramoff the now in jail Republican lobbyist who spilt the beans and had a four Republican aides and Republican Congressman/Senator outed and who is now preparing to spill some more beans in order to have his jail sentence reduced .
Compassionate ‘conservatives ‘ my arse . From Ken Lay to Haliburton to Blackwater to Jack Abramoff to Cheney’s hoodlums this administration is by far the worst in recent American history :(
Obama and Biden represent a better future for America and it’s people -and the people know it .
Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 06:27 PMIncreasing the minimum wage hurts the lowest income sector. Well known and proven. Open your mouth wider and see if you can get both feet in.
Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 07:15 PMThe media here is disgustingly biased in favour of Obama. McCains hardly mentioned at all. Its political correctness gone mad and a its a good thing no-one here will be voting for him.
Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 08:24 PMBfb ,
‘Increasing the minimum wage hurts the lowest income sector.’
And also ensures they can’t ever afford health. Keeps them poor - and the prisons full -now 3,000,000 and counting . Make sure they have to work at 2 or 3 jobs to make a living wage and that way not only will they have no time to find out who it is who is screwing them but with any luck they won’t have time to vote either .
Bush in his own words describes perfectly the Republican Party
‘Our enemies are innovative and resourceful , and so are we. They never stop thinking about about new ways to harm our country and our people and NEITHER DO WE ! ‘
Once the fundamentalist terrorists knew what they up against in George Bush they very soon realised that left to himself and his neo con cronies Bush , Cheney , Rumsfeld et al were only too capable of harming the USA worse than any Middle East fundie could ever hope to :(
Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 09:04 PM“It’s hard for me to fathom how anyone who knows anything about Ireland would say this.’
O’Dwyer is being melodramatic . In the ‘investment’ sense Northern Ireland will not benefit from an Obama win -in fact many multinationals may start to lose some of their ‘tax benefits’ from their overseas investments .McCain is more status quo on US overseas investments (and armies abroad to protect those investments ) rather than in the USA .
President Cheney will not be amused .
And now I read that the Iraqi Government (The USA’s only Mid East ally worthy of the name ) has signed a 3 billion dollar oil agreement with the Chinese.
Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 09:23 PMGreenflag
Rather than offering statements on your ideology, it would be more conducive to the discussion if you were to present an argument.
Preferably evidence-based.
Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 09:31 PMGreenie....
As soon as the minimum wage goes up..out with the high school kids in with the illegal mexicans.
It’s about time you agreed with me.Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 09:47 PMBfB,
Ah the old minimum wage classic “Don’t give the poor better wages it’ll only hurt them.” How about trickle up economics for a change? More people with more money buy more things and stimulate the economy. “It’ll never work” you cry, “it’ll eat into profits/share holder dividends for the top five percent of Americans well before the market is stimulated”. What will they do? How will they live?Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 09:49 PMKarlos,
Maybe because there’s nothing to say. Same old/Mc Cain oldPosted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 10:03 PMThese arguments are not grounded in fact.
You socialist, liberal, knuckleheads do not make the difference between facts and your blowhard, knowitall, opinions..Due to unintended effects, a law can achieve the opposite of its supporters’ intentions. The minimum wage is such a law. It is intended to reduce poverty, but it does not. Instead it encourages teenagers to drop out of school and reduces low-income workers’ future job prospects and earnings. Good intentions are not enough. Congress should not pass a destructive minimum wage hike that will harm the most vulnerable American workers.
The voices clamoring for a minimum wage hike are getting ever louder. Proponents argue that the current wage level does not provide an adequate incentive for work. Also, they argue that an increase in the minimum wage will have only a very minor impact on jobs. These arguments are not grounded in fact. The impact of raising the minimum wage has been studied since its inception. All credible research has come to the same conclusion: raising the minimum wage hurts the poor. It takes away jobs, keeps people on welfare, and encourages high-school students to drop out. Policy makers should be clear on the consequence of higher minimum wages.
BTW xMillions watched obie speech last night, as many as an American Idol final show. In fact the same people...how many voters do you think were in that crowd? <cackle>
Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 10:05 PMSo it’s nothing to do with fat-cat profits then BfB. I see now. Thank you. I’m officially no longer a knucklehead. You’re only trying to encourage the poor for their own good through low wages. Hunger’s a quare sauce and all that. I see now paying Americans a living wage will only encourage other Americans to move their businesses to China, so they should just be grateful and suck it up.
Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 10:19 PMfat-cat profits?
Deaf, dumb, and blind...useful idiot.
Facts, man..just the facts…
Buzz words and shiny, spinny things don’t work outside of mommys basement.....Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 10:26 PMI don’t see any facts BfB just assertions such as giving the poor more money will interupt their education. And of course there has been no corporate raping of America that’s why your useless idiot’s approval is so high. All you’ve got is assertions and name calling BfB which means ya got nothin.
Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 10:34 PMGF:
“Well what else would you expect from a part Fenian? :) Her mother’s name was Sheeran and she’qualifies as ‘irish -american ‘”
Just to show how much I’ve learned since finding this blog:
Is she a Catholic Fenian or a Protestant Fenian?
Posted by on Aug 29, 2008 @ 11:14 PMLatchee
My post #19 speaks for itself.
Continue to whistle up the drainpipe.
Your moonbat days are numbered.
Get that Bush lied Al Queda died t-shirt out for one last lap.Posted by on Aug 30, 2008 @ 02:27 AM“Increasing the minimum wage hurts the lowest income sector. Well known and proven.”
Neither “well known” or “proven”. Indeed nonsense.
“Is she a Catholic Fenian or a Protestant Fenian?”
Posted by on Aug 30, 2008 @ 03:06 AM
