WTF??

After all this blustery "Country First," "Bi-partisan," "I'll be politically unpopular" rhetoric the McCain campiagn's been spouting, you'd think they'd stick to the story and put politics aside in their most recent announcement that he's going to debate:

The difference between Barack Obama and John McCain was apparent during the White House meeting yesterday, where Barack Obama’s priority was political posturing in his opening monologue defending the package as it stands. John McCain listened to all sides so he could help focus the debate on finding a bipartisan resolution that is in the interest of taxpayers and homeowners. The Democratic interests stood together in opposition to an agreement that would accommodate additional taxpayer protections.

Gee. Not partisan AT ALL. Glad to see McCain not only stood in the way of negotiations, but he's using this as yet another opportunity to blame Obama, blame Democrats (in reality, not the ones blocking the plan), and frame himself as the hero. It's really hard not be incredibly angry about this, but I'm trying.

The Economy

I'm not happy that the US economy is currently being flushed down the toilet, and I don't even know how Wall St works, but I will say this: when I was 18 and living in a dorm, I said that this would happen. I read a lot at the time about Clinton's deregulation, and at the rate everything's been ballooning since I came of voting age, it just intuitively seemed that kind of growth was unsustainable. You can't expand forever, unless you're the universe. All those shoddily built McMansions just seemed too apt a metaphor.

So not to say I told you so, but I told you so.

Rethinking my interests

I, like many people I know, am not happy about McCain’s nomination of Sarah Palin for VP. I’m scared of how fascinated I am by her—because if I, an ardent Obama supporter from the beginning who leans to the left of the Democratic party, pick up US weekly when she’s on the cover and follow her every move on CNN, then the GOP base and the centrist independents out there are sure-as-hell interested in her. It’s scary to suddenly see the possibility of a McCain presidency creeping up, in light of all that’s gone on in this country in the last eight years, but it’s even scarier to imagine her, all deer (or Moose) in the headlights as the massive Mac truck of the economy crashes into Washington. I’m scared of her, and most of all, I’m scared of her supporters: the overly religious, fear-motivated status-quo-loving zealots who elected and re-elected George Bush and who want someone “just like them” at a time when our country is worse off than I’ve seen it in my lifetime.

In light of all the news and gossip magazine coverage—in addition to all the time I now unwittingly spend pondering the woman—I think we Obamaphiles should get back to what we had going until the GOP convention: making a celebrity of our candidate. I’m coming to understand the fear that Republicans must have felt when faced with the onslaught that was Obama—the non-stop news coverage, ravenous fans, gorgeous smile—how could they beat it? I was worried at the time that celebritizing him with those Paris Hilton ads would somehow work, but now I think we should welcome the celebrity status. Because under scrutiny, he stood up. He made memorable speeches to deflect the criticism. And most of all, we were voting for someone, not against another, and I’ve been told more than a few times that that’s how you win elections. I recently spent some time on Obama’s site, and it reminded me that his policies, his persona and his confidence are worthy of all the gushing adoration. I’m moved by him, and I want that to be my focus for the rest of the campaign, not the g—damn Governor of Alaska.

Food Star

This is my new favorite show, probably because I know the guy on the far left. It's surprisingly captivating.

Where it all started

This is the video that taught me I need to visit Wolong before I die. Notice the squeaking.

Oh its too much

I look at a lot of cute things online. Especially kittens. But this just takes it. This guy might as well be animated he's that perfect. :24 through :28 is THE MOST PRECIOUS.

Heard John Bolton in a radio interview this morning because he's in the UK for the Hay Festival (never heard of it) and someone attempted a citizen's arrest on him for "war crimes." 

I guess I'm late to the game on this, but this guy is awful.  Though he acknowledged that it was mostly comic, he couldn't resist pointing out that "that is the point you move towards lawlessness and fascism" in reference to the arrest attempt.

Other than that he essentially said two things in the interview: Iraqis are better off now than pre-invasion, and the only options for a non-nuclear Iran are regime change or military force. Regime change supposedly as a result of a citizens' uprising. He refused, no matter what angle the interviewer presented, to admit to failures in Iraq or to allow that Iraqi life post-Saddam is more difficult for most. 

A BBC interview with Bolton from last Spring: 

And an Andrew Sullivan quote on the above: “What staggers me about this clip is Bolton’s point-blank view that the US had no responsibility to impose order after the invasion, and no responsibility for security within the country. Bolton actually says that the only error Bush really made was not giving the Iraqis ‘a copy of the Federalist papers and saying, “Good luck.”‘ Yes, he says he’s exaggerating for effect, but he is conveying the gist of the policy. The casual recklessness and arrogance of these people never cease to amaze. The world is theirs to play with — and the victims of predictable and predicted violence are left to help themselves.”