Alaska's Top Paper for Obama

The Anchorage Daily News has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for the US presidency and not the ticket included the states own Governor Sarah Palin.

While they point out the significance of the first ever Alaskan seeking high national office, they realise:

"The election, after all is said and done, is not about Sarah Palin, and our
sober view is that her running mate, Sen. John McCain, is the wrong choice for
president at this critical time for our nation. "

They see the Democratic nominee as the 'steady hand' that the country needs, displaying 'thoughtful analysis' and enlisting 'wise counsel'. All of which point to the rash decisions and promises made that Sen. John McCain took recently over banking issues.

US Presidential Candidate Earns Endorsement of Al-Queda Supporter

On the al-Hesbah website Muhammad Haafid, an al-Queda supporter, has stated his preference for the election in 2 weeks time.

He says one candidate, is the better choice is al-Queda want to exhaust the US militarily and economically. He even says that a terro strike on mainland USA before the election on November 4 could well ensure that his preferred choice wins.

So just who is that friend of terrorists?

Step forward John Sidney McCain.

McCain What Is He Good For...

Having spent the morning doing multiple tasks concurrently I decided to look at the focus of one task that Senator John McCain seems to want to have today. When he suspended his campaign on Wednesday he said:

"I am calling on the President to convene a meeting with the leadership from both
houses of Congress, including Senator Obama and myself. It is time for both
parties to come together to solve this problem. "

However, that's all well and good but when the President is on your side but it's your own party that is the stumbling block you're supposed to lead. So his credentials to govern one of the most powerful and complex countries in the world are surely taking a knock if he can't get his own party to fall in line especially if you do not feel that "the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands - and we are running out of time." If it were a Democrat in the White House coming up with this plan McCain would be the sole leader of his party at this time. Guess the Republicans in Washington are as sheep like as those from Alaska.

Here's hoping McCain doesn't suddenly get a resolution sorted out just in time to catch a plane to Mississippi for tonight's debate, or like Iain Gray we'll all know he's using this crisis for politics instead of as he insisted putting politics aside to get through this mess.

Lipstick on a Pig: The Porcine of the Species

Well neither Barak Obama nor John McCain were first to coin the phrase "putting lipstick on a pig" though both have used it it was first cited in the online Urban Dictionary as far back as August 10, 2004; when it was defined as:

A term used by many, generally in reference to someone who may be trying to make something or someone look appealing or attractive when it quite clearly will not work, or will only deceive the dumbest of people.

Although Time magazine ran a story ran a story on the history of the phrase and it first sprung from funding for an American football stadium in 1985.

"One of the oldest published quotes using the entire phrase appeared in
The Washington Post in November 1985. Asked by the San Francisco Board of
Supervisors to put his station's $20,000 fundraiser earnings toward the
renovation of Candlestick Park, KNBR personality Ron Lyons scoffed, "That would
be like putting lipstick on a pig."

Well there's no doubt this idiom survived the collision of two words and thoughts to conjure up a phrase that has a specific use and parlance. This evolution of language has seen the word survive and be fit to be used by both candidates during this election cycle. So why the brouhaha over it's use? Has it really become a term of sexist abuse as the latest attack ads on US TV would have us believe? Lets look into the context of how both Senator's use the phrase.

The first use was by the Senator from Arizona not as they may have you believe by the one from Illinois. It was actually made in the context of a female opponent. As CNN reports it was John McCain who first used the phrase:

In Iowa last October, McCain drew comparisons between Hillary Clinton's current
health care plan and the one she championed in 1993: "I think they put some
lipstick on the pig, but it's still a pig." He used roughly the same line in
May, after effectively claiming the Republican nomination.

Now look at the alleged sexist use of the phrase by Barak Obama on Monday in Virginia.

"John McCain says he's about change too, and so I guess his whole angle is,
'Watch out George Bush -- except for economic policy, health care policy, tax
policy, education policy, foreign policy and Karl Rove-style politics -- we're
really going to shake things up in Washington.'

"That's not change. That's just calling something the same thing something
different. You know you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig. You
know you can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change, it's still
going to stink after eight years. We've had enough of the same old thing."

Now maybe McCain spokesman Brian Rogers can tell me what he thinks is the "big difference" between the two references. He says:

"McCain was referring to a policy proposal. Obama was referring to [Alaska]
Gov. Sarah Palin. It's obviously disrespectful and offensive.

"Who has been talking about lipstick lately? It was obvious. The crowd
went crazy because of it."

Erm well lets take a careful look at those two paragraphs of text from Barak. He starts by stating he is talking about McCain, about his lining up with Bushes policy in Washington. Now as Sarah Palin who actually described herself (and all hockey moms) as a pitbull with lipstick, loves to remind us she isn't one of the Washington set. So clearly she cannot be lining up change in line with those policies i.e. putting lipstick on a pig.

He carries on after the first analogy with a second about fish in paper still stinking after 8 years again a reference to the Bush policies that McCain has supported. The context is complete on either side of the edit that is doing the rounds in republican circles and on the airwaves in the States. Fortunately as the Huffington Post points out many in the media are not so easily fooled or deceived like the dumbest people.

No where in what Obama said does he refer to, nor hint at, Governor Palin. Of course McCain only started talking about "change" after the Democratic candidates in the primaries got mileage from it. Surely instead of a sexism charge which has no foundation in truth a trades description violation should be levelled at the McCain camp.

One senator used the phrase "putting lipstick on a pig" in relation to a female opponent. But the female opponent in question Hillary Rodham Clinton didn't take offence at it, nor use it to turn the tables on the man who said it, because Hillary is more of a man about it that McCain, Brian Rogers or his campaign team are.

Facebook Seeking Experience

Well it hasn't taken long there is a Facebook group started for those who have more experience than Sarah Palin, John McCains running mate for Vice President. Whether that is being 6 years a counillors, one of which Mayor of a poulation that at the time had less than 6,000 people and 18 months as governor of the only US state with two international borders (one of them maritime with Russia) population less than 700,000 i'm not quite sure.

Though as someone who's had an used a passport for over 20 years I certainly have more foreign policy experience than Mrs Palin who acquired hers in 2007 to visit troops overseas. Heck I've even been behind the Iron current once before it rusted away and once after the holes appears but before it was totally torn down. More people also voted for me in 2005 than she governed as Mayor of Wallisa, where she was once pagaent Queen of, but I'll give her credit more people must have voted for her in the 2006 Alaskan Gubernatorial contest that have done for me at any stage.

Well Team McCain are certainly losing the opening rounds over Mrs Palin on the internet find out mre on LibDem Voice.

Which Slice of History for America?

Well one way or another this year's US Presidential Election is going to go down in history. Either we're going to see the first African-American occupant of the Oval Office in Barak Obama or we're going to have the first lady elected Vice President as John McCain has unveiled Alaska Governor Mrs Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Palin is only the second woman to feature on the big two parties tickets since Geraldine Ferraro was named as Walter Mondale's Democratic running mate in 1984, the same year the then Miss Sarah Heath was runner up in the Miss Alaska pageant. Alaska has been in the Red Republican came at every Presidential election since 1964 so he state, although being contested by Obama is no the reason for he presence. However, it is a cunning ploy to reach out to disheartened women voters after Hillary Clinton failed to secure the Democratic nomination. Also seen as a attempt to steal a little of Obama's thunder for a place in history.

She also has relative youth when compared with Senator McCain she 44 to him celebrating his 72nd birthday today, also making her three years younger than the Democratic Presidential nominee. However, seeing as McCain is attacking the inexperience of his opponent, is leaving someone with 4 years (1992-96) of service on Wasilla, City Council (population 5,470 in 2000), the last as mayor, and 2 years of Gubernatorial experience one heartbeat away from the Presidency going to cut his attacks on that tack? That will be interesting to see over the weeks ahead.

Obama Stands Up To McCain

Yeah I'll admit I had my figurative anorak on as I sat in my bathrobe in the early hours watching Barak Obama's speech accepting the Democratic Party's nomination last night. Boy did he hit it to John McCain on a number of fronts.

He reminded McCain that Rossevelt and Kennedy were Democrats neither of whom were soft on homeland or overseas security. He also reminded him that Democrats are serving on tours of duty and are as patriotic as their Republican colleagues.

He also after laying out the sacrifices his family members made to ensure he had a good education to get where he was as a change to hit out at the charges of being a celebrity that have been aimed at him. As well as tackling McCain's definition of the middle classes earning less than $5 million.

He also laid out just what he meant by change. Giving tax breaks to the lower pair, providing world class education and health care to all. He noted that over 90% of the time McCain had voted with Bush and his view of change was only a 10% chance and not on the big important issues.

All in all it was a message that was taking the campaign to the next stage, prepared to take on McCain and prepared to take charge from day one once he gets into the White House.

A Tale of Three Speeches

I'll admit that the political geek in me overcame the need for sleep last night to witness what promised to be an historic evening in American politics as it happened. Yes folk yesterday while South Dakota and Montana marked the end of the 2008 Presidential Primary season all eyes and cameras were focused on New Orleans, New York and St. Paul, for it was here that John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama were making their speeches.

McCain was first up to the plate and took his chance to try and reach out the the Clinton supporters who claim they would would not back Obama in November. He praised her and what she had brought to the campaign. He then tired to distance himself from President Bush, attacking his handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and environmental policy. Then it was time to lay into the Democratic nominee designate.

"You've known me longer than yesterday," he said, "which was when you started to get to know Senator Obama." The same old attack once more, while trying to advocate that he is actually the hand of change.

Next up was the Democratic winner in South Dakota from New York. She was introduced by her campaign manager Terry McAuliffe as the next president of the USA, was this a sign of what was hinted during the day about what she wouldn't say.

She started out thanking Obama, being grateful and honoured to fight in this race with him, asking her supporters to recognise what he had achieved. But then back on familiar sound bites she asked who was best and ready to take back the White House and govern from day one. Mention was made that she had won more Primary votes than any other candidate in history (this count does not include the caucuses), that she had won the swing states required to secure the 270 electoral college votes in the General Election. You could feel what was coming.

She wanted everyone of the 18m votes that were cast for her to be heard, honoured, recognised and counted. Still looking like she was looking for justice for the voters of Florida and Michigan. Then the big question. Where do we go from here? She said it was a question not to be taken lightly and that no decision would be made tonight. She encouraged supporters to tell her through her website what they thought she should do.

Then it was the turn of the first African American to win the nomination of a major party. He also thanked all the most talented, qualified field of candidates fielded against him. Noted that they are true leaders of the party and that Hillary has made history not just because she's a women but as a leader who inspired millions of Americans. He said that when universal health care came about she would be central to that victory.

Then his attack against McCain. This in not just an election about the change of party in Washington but about change in Washington. He acknowledged McCain accomplishment, then took a snipe at McCain, even he doesn't acknowledge mine. Then pointed out that 95% of the time he has been Bush's man so the distancing himself hasn't happened during the campaign. He said of the attacks on him not visiting Iraq if he'd made a few more trips to the hardest hit cities and towns by the economic recession he'd be more in tune with what change was really needed in America.