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Friday Roundup: Seals, Polls, Schools, RINOs, and More
- Filed under: Uncategorized
- Date: Jun 27,2008
Some stuff I have been meaning to discuss all wrapped up into one post on this Friday afternoon as the markets keep sinking on the prospects of Obama:
The Obama seal. Jim Geraghty thinks it could have been one of the moments we look back on that defined a candidate. Could be. I am not quite ready to go that far, but it does scream of arrogance. How could anyone have ever thought that was a good idea? "It was a one-time seal for a one-time event," an Obama communications man said. That is a clear lie - it backfired and they pulled it. In changing the Presidential seal, the Obama campaign continues to reveal its contempt for the office itself, not just George W. Bush. Shouldn't mess with it if you are some candidate. So I actually liked Obama's own presidential seal because it showed him to be the true power hungry politician he is. TheVote weighs in on the seal as well. Next up: The 57 star flag?
I like how so many Democrats are getting so excited about the recent polls by Newsweek and the LA Times showing Obama with huge leads. The LA Times was my favorite. Their sample of Republicans? 22%. That seems right. Less than one-fourth of voters this fall will be Republicans, according to the LA Times. Newsweek is Newsweek. I get ripped all the time for dismissing polls that produce results I don't care for. That is fine. I don't doubt Obama is up right now. But by 15%? Hell no. Sometimes I really think these places put out polls to try and depress the Republican base. John Fund today said it best: "Republicans shouldn't panic, but they should be worried."
"Slight" change to curriculum at North Carolina high school: Make it a Spanish speaking school. The school will just accommodate everyone by making them feel right at home! Don't make them learn English. That would take too much effort. Stories like this are so commonplace anymore that it just doesn't even phase people.
Gordon Smith of Oregon is an embarrassment to other Senate RINOs. Nice ad. Stiff. He isn't going to lose, but still, come on Senator. Just hold Ron Wyden's hand and go vote for Obama.
Another position change for Obama. By October I wonder if he will have any stayed constant on anything except being for abortion. Clarifying positions is becoming very commonplace for Obama and his staffers, or at least those who he doesn't blame for filling out questionnaires wrong. Don't forget, Obama wants to ban the sale of guns within 5 miles of parks or schools, or in other words pretty much everywhere.
Electoral College: Using current Census estimates, if they reallocated EVs before every election here is what would happen this year: Gaining votes- Texas +3, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah +1. Losing votes - Ohio -2, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania -1. Based on 2004 numbers (286 Bush, 252 Kerry), 2008 would start off as Republicans 296, Democrats 242. Doesn't really matter I suppose for 2008. Will matter in 2012.
Cleveland Shaw High School band plays at the Great Wall of China. Here is the back story on their story from WLST.
Special thanks to all the at the Nuthouse last night for helping me write today's piece. And when I say help me write it, I mean thank you for not allowing me to write it last night. Here is another tip for people: Don't try and tell DJ Larry windfall profit taxes on oil companies are a bad idea.
18 Responses for "Friday Roundup: Seals, Polls, Schools, RINOs, and More"
Ben - serious question for you: if being in charge and having all the influence anyone might need were no object, what would you do, what plan would you implement, to invigorate usual conservative and/or Republican voters? I wanted to say that you have to exclude using wedge issues like scaring people about abortion or illegal immigration etc., but I suppose if that's all you've got…still, what I'd really like to see is what you do think you have - without those issues - that could convince and persuade non-Democrats to vote and vote for a GOP candidate this year.
First off, I dont agree with the "wedge issue" premise. Democrats and liberals tend to use the term wedge issue for anything that is social and may not work to their advantage. If they think Republicans have an advantage, it is a wedge issue. Some people care about those issues. A lot. Anyways.
we are obviously running uphill, but the argument has to be made (correctly in my eyes) that Obama does not have enough expierence and that he is like any other politican, which he is. I think his economic plan would wreck the country, and some of that is built into the markets right now. He has no real plan to increase our oil supply. That is a big issue for voters…I wouldnt consider the Supreme court a wedge issue. GOP voters care about that. The argument can be made that an Obama win puts both houses of Congress + White House in Democratic hands. McCain is against govt pork - so are a lot of average people. Obama is for it. McCain wants to secure the border (he says now). And lastly, he doesnt want a quick pullout of Iraq troops and see the success of the surge disappear.
I realize the goal is to embrace diversity and make everyones life easier by accomodating the Hispanics when ever possible. We are headed towards a bi-lingual country and one that encourages the Hispnaic's to reatain their culture. What about all the other immigrants? Are we not discriminating against them by not offering the same level of support and comfort as their Hispanic brothers and sisters. I am surprised the well intentioned liberals as well as the Hispanics have not been more proactive in screaming racism and discrimination towards their oppressed brothers and sisters.
Okay, Ben - I suspected after I wrote that you might write what you first did - I really wanted to focus more on: how do you sell McCain? How do you sell Republicans of voting for him, not on scaring them off from Obama and Democrats?
I'm saying in a Utopian world, where Democrats too would focus on selling their candidate as opposed to scaring them off of McCain.
What would you do?
The reason I put it this way is because it's how I view candidates when I'm trying to choose and frankly, it's why I so rarely find anyone I like - because I don't go to vote so I can vote against something else. I feel strongly that we need to re-indoctrinate ourselves to expect the MOST from candidates, not simply expect that we can point out enough flaws in someone else in order to win.
Do you know what I mean?
I agree with Jill. McCain's betting Obama will scare enough people to vote Republican and Obama's betting enough people will vote against 'another four years of George Bush.' It's depressing.
Obama has a taste for propaganda and if he keeps it up with the weird iconology, McCain might have a chance. McCain needs to start hammering Obama on drilling, too.
Wow - that's fun, Larry - that we agree.
Seriously though - I know it might seem antiquated or even quaint, but I don't know how we can expect to get better leaders if we don't expect more from them, and from each other as voters. And yes, I really do wake up each day thinking that and wanting that - no matter what is on the cover of the papers. Or the blogs.
Jill, I think that is how I answered the question. I compared the two and I think McCain is on the right side of issues. Thats how I would sell him.
But Larry, you are right, that does seem to be his plan. He will need more to win the election than that.
daily tracking polls are showing a much closer race
Unfortunately, McCain seems to be of the opinion that he can constantly give conservatives “the finger” while pandering to every other group imaginable because Obama is so bad.
I am all for duel language schools. Students in Europe are spending half of their school day being taught in the "home" countries language and the other half being taught in a "foreign" language. Students in Asia are learning Korean, Japanese, Chinese and English in their elementary (or younger) schools. How is opening up the minds and communication abiliites of students a bad thing? The U.S. has all but stopped putting scientists and engineers into the workplace. In a global economy who is going to have a better shot at getting a job, someone who can speak only English, or someone who can communicate in 2 or 3 or more different languages?
With current demographic trends it only makes sense to teach Spanish as a second language, as you are more likely to run into someone legal, illegal or tourist who is a Spanish speaker. Also, the earlier you immplement a second language, the easier it is for a student to learn, thereby causing less frustration.
Wasn't it the Republican controled government that had a record number of pork projects? Seems like kind of a silly statement to me.
This debate isnt about second languages. This is about a school in North Carolina going to solely Spanish, not just including it.
How do you sell McCain? You focus on what he offers that Obama does not, which is why the experience factor is going to be focused on. Most of those who don't support Obama point to the lack of his record of achievement, his inability to stick to a position and his lack of experience.
You point to the fact that McCain will stand alone if necessary and use things like the recent FISA vote to show that Obama will fold. The flip flopper title worked to hurt Kerry and no matter how Obama's changes in position are justified, they will be used to show that he doesn't not keep his word.
Ironically, most of us are realistic enough to realize most electeds and candidates are less than honest, however we all want to pretend they are telling us the truth. By Obama focusing on how he was going to be different, he actually created a larger area for credibility attacks that I believe have more potential than trying to paint McCain as the third Bush term. People don't know Obama, they know McCain. What Obama is going to need to do to win, would be different…
obama up a few. nothing that is concrete
1. students learning two languages in school and that language having to be Spanish. Why Spanish?
1. spanish is not the the primary language of tourists to this country
2. why should you expect one to accomodate someone here illegally by learning their language.
3. if you are attempting to create a more competitive citizen spanish is neither the scientific language nor the future improtant language in the global economy.
If your argument is the melting pot concept is out of date and the the new goal is the Balkanization of America then I would support your spanish rant.
I see some of it in the end of your comment, Ben but the way Lisa Renee hit it was more what I was thinking about (that was a good answer Lisa Renee! I hope the McCain people in Ohio read this if they want free good advice).
Ben,
In the case of only teaching Spanish, I think that is as dumb as only teaching English.
a.c.,
1. Of the 50 most widely spoken languages in the world, Spanish is 3rd with 332 million people (Mandarin Chinese is 1st and English is 2nd). While it would make a lot of sense to have students learn Chinese as a second language, as far as practical application goes someone in the U.S. would likely have more opportunities to speak Spanish than they would Chinese. Heck, if we had more interaction with Quebec, I'd say French.
2. Studies show that if you only know one language, your ability to learn a second one decreases dramatically by around 13, which is when most U.S. schools start their second language programs. If however, you already know 2 languages by that time, learning a third or fourth langauge is that much easier.
3. Since when does only speaking Spanish = illegal?
4. Many economists see Brazil (I know, they speak Portuguese) and the rest of Latin America as becoming the next "China" within the next 20 years, so yes it will help citizens become competitive.
5. My comment about science had more to do with asking what skills will enable a U.S. citizen be competitive in in the future? With the belief that the more skill sets a worker has the more likely he/she will be to find success in the workplace. It will also help to hedge against changes in the job market.
[...] (Chorus of how we have to reveal all the poseurs and lies please enter now.) This was the crux of a comment on left at The Point over the [...]
what a pompous seal
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