Van Santos

Ah, Sunday… Usually Sundays are usually relaxing for me as they are the middle of my weekend (I have three day weekends) Monday, however, I have a 4 hour meeting that I need to attend in the office so it’s back to a two day weekend… and I feel the stress building up a bit.  Alas..

A second bailout?

I need to understand something that is currently be discussed in politics and business circles.  Why would a second stimulus bee needed at this point?  

I’m not suggesting that another stimulus would be needed in the future, but what action has taken place thus far was not even a stimulus.  It was a $787 Billion dollar black hole.  At this point, luckily, Nancy Pelois say that no second package is coming in the short term:

yesterday that a second economic stimulus package is not “in the cards” in the short term, disappointing those seeking another quick infusion of federal money into the struggling economy. 

I also believe that there would be no political support to pass a second package right now.  There is major public backlash with everything thus far (AIG, Banks), another bailout would enrage the public even more.

The press is giving Joe Biden a hard time over the “F” word?

I think people tend to focus on the wrong things in life.  Take this bit of “news” coming out of ABC.

At an event at Union Station today where Vice President Joe Biden was heralding the $1.3 billion in investments in rebuilding train stations and passenger rails, a microphone picked up one of the former senator’s myriad Senate colleagues addressing him, formally, as “Mr. Vice President.”

That met with Vice President Biden’s standard reply.

“Gimme a f*&$#ing break,” he said, apparently unaware that the microphone was on. 

The individual, while correct in addressing Mr. Biden as “Mr. Vice President”, is a long time friend of Biden.  This helps explains why Biden responded the way he did - there was a long time, personal, connection… they guys are friends. Let’s not focus on something that everyone has said at some point or another.  

Not important.  Not news.  Move on.

Sunday night viewing

I’m a fan of HBO’s Big Love but apparently Mormons are not.  

The episode that will air this evening is stirring up controversy as a sacred, closed door, Mormon tradition will be portrayed and people are unhappy about it.  Show writers stated the scene is done with respect, a good amount of research, and that no disrespect is intended.  Some followers of the religion still have issues, but I have an issue…

• Christian ceremonies (mass, the crucifixion, confession) are shown in all form of entertainment
• Jewish traditions are in movies
• Muslims are portrayed while praying behind closed doors

…yet no one complains about this.  Mormons are - and should be -no different.

What if, however, the issue is not about disrespect or misrepresentation? What if the complaint is linked to control?  

I believe that some organized religions have the potential act as controlling entities.  They have a strong desire to limit their followers, for whatever reason.  Any version of the truth regarding a “secret” ceremony presented the public eye raises conversation, if not questions, thereby threatening an organizations power.

Maybe that is really what some Mormons have an issue with.

I’m off, Enjoy your evening.

Leading into the VP debate I saw two things consistently - the press set expectations so low everyone expected Palin to fail and some of the public was claiming they could have done a better job in the debate (and the debate hadn’t even taken place yet).

Gone were the expectations that Palin was going to wipe the floor with Biden or that she was going to show off her expert political ability, no, most people were expecting a train wreck of James Stockdale proportions…. and that is why, it seemed, the majority of people were tuning in but it didn’t happen.  Frankly, not much of anything happened.  So what was the hour of talk all about then?

There was minimal sparring at best, neither candidate directly answered questions to any substantive degree, Biden came off as slightly arrogant while Palin had an appearance of acting too sweet, and there was nothing presented by either camp to advance their position.  All and all, a good waste of time.

I cannot see how the performance yesterday would have helped (or harmed) either party.  Biden didn’t look “Vice Presidential”, nor did Sarah.  Neither individual provided energy for the base, neither really swayed voters or pundits….   Yesterday was, truly, just “Ho Hum”

I have a fear - the Cult of Palin.

In the press, around the blog world, and in the streets people are talking about the performance of Sarah Palin. It seems that the Republican Party has a rock star of its own and now people are basking in the feeling.

Stop.

In less than a week Sarah Palin has been able to refocus and energize the Republican Party. The tone switched from despair to unbridled enthusiasm and, all of a sudden, it seems that anything is possible.

It is.

It is, only if you don’t lose site of the goal. My fear is the Party gets so wrapped up with Sarah that John McCain is lost in the background. Remember, this isn’t about electing her President.

What this really comes down to is translating the emotional, and political, capital gained from her speech Thursday night into votes. John McCain, Sarah Palin and the Party need to continue to show why they are the winning ticket and how they will provide change while doing so better than Obama / Biden would. Now McCain/Palin need to sell:

• Taxes, how the McCain Tax plan will impact the Average American vs. Obama
• Economy, specifically the small business owner
• Healthcare
• Personal Freedom (Second Amendment)
• Ethics

Take the enjoyment and focus it on the cause, winning the election.

Each election year, usually, has a hint of electricity in the air. This year doesn’t really seem to be the case. One could have reasonably expected to hear chatter about the conventions around the office, yet the only discussion I see taking place is where I would expect it - the media.

Yes, sure, Barack Obama provided the Democratic party with excitement and huge swell of support during the primaries but his political shine appears to be wearing a bit thing. There are a number of problems facing his campaign and they are beginning to hurt his chances. He has no real track record, he has started to move back on his word (FISA or Pubic Financing, anyone?), polls show that he is tied to McCain DURING HIS OWN CONVENTION, and people are starting to question if he is truly a candidate for change.

I mean, for Obama to say he will reform politics, move away from underhanded tricks, and be the voice of the next generation it is suspect to learn that this candidate won his first public election by having his opponents removed from the ballot due to technicalities, don’t you think?

Don’t get me wrong; John McCain isn’t exactly Mr. Excitement. He has been running a terrible campaign thus far. So bad, from my view, that this make Bob Dole’s 96 run look good.

Policies aside, McCain hasn’t been able to get his message to the masses, he is lacking broad base Republican Party support and, let’s face it… he’s old. Not that I believe this is a issue or a factor that prohibits McCain from being president but the sad fact is we are a youth based nation. Do the masses want what’s “flashy” or do they want their grandfather?

The vice presidential nominees aren’t helping much either (at this point).

Obama decided that Joe Biden, the Democrats answer to Dick Cheney, should be his running mate. It is true that he brings the political experience, especially on foreign policy, team Obama lacks and he can also play the role of politics pit bull, but beyond that he doesn’t bring much to the table.

Think about this for a moment: Biden is a guy who no one wanted as president. How does that help Obama?

McCain, on the other hand, hasn’t picked a VP candidate yet. Judging by the press, no one seems to care either. My guess is that camp McCain will try to steal the DNC thunder by announcing his running mate this Thursday. Currently, the three top choices appear to be Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty and Joe Lieberman.

So, what does that mean we have? Three VP choices that really don’t add any fuel to the Republican fire.

Romney dropped out of the presidential race when it became too expensive for him AND he has a problem because of his religion. Minnesota’s governor, Tim Pawlenty, could help McCain win the state during the election but the man doesn’t have name recognition. Finally, Joe Lieberman would irk the Democratic Party and alienate a large chunk of John McCain’s core supporters. As much as I respect Lieberman, making him the running mate is almost like accepting sloppy seconds from Al Gore.

I usually love this time in the political cycle but this year just isn’t doing it for me and I think a lot of people feel the same way. Maybe the gloves haven’t yet come off and the excitement will kick in, maybe the candidates are not engaging the public as they were months ago, or maybe the general public is burned out and tired of hearing about the election.

Bottom line, I want to vote for someone I believe, not vote simply because there are candidates to vote for. At this point, from what I have seen, I don’t think that will happen.