Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Stephen Harper: Stand up For Canada

He made it to Keith Olbermann, and then things fell apart.

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Sarah Palin veiled

What was John McCain thinking when he picked Sarah Palin as his running mate? Maybe it was love at first sight because it does not look any proper vetting was done. Why did Palin not turn him down, as she was not ready for national scene. Maybe the temptation to become vice-president and hence president some day was too strong. However, whatever it was, it is backfiring. One feels sorry for Sarah Palin after watching her interviews with Charlie Gibson on ABC and Katie Couric on CBS. Palin does sound out of her depths, a deer in the headlights.

Now McCain is keeping Palin under wraps. She has made too many gaffes in a short time on the economy and on foreign affairs. McCain is supposed to liberate Afghanistan from the Taliban and set the women of Afghanistan free, but he seems to be practicing veiling his own veep from the media and the public. Now she is somewhere on McCain’s ranch in Arizona (one of his 12 houses) and next time she may be unveiled for a short time is for the vice-presidential candidate’s debate on October 2, 2008. All the best wishes to her.

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Monday, September 29, 2008

John McCain and his ghosts

Thomas Muthee helped Sarah Palin to get rid of any witchcraft or witches. Rev. John Hagee tried the same for John McCain but was not successful. The ghost of Bush refuses to leave John McCain. After all, McCain supported Bush 90% of the time, McCain can shake as hard he can but he cannot shake off the ghost of George W. Bush. Then of course the ghost of Sarah Palin joined in. Poor McCain has problems. Maybe he needs the help of Rev. Muthee who has more practice in removing evil spirits. Then may be no one can help John McCain. It's simply too late.

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Sunday, September 28, 2008

Sarah Palin and the Witch

Sarah Palin is all set to be the Vice-President and maybe President. Her Pastor, Thomas Muthee, got her all set for the path to the governorship and now VP and potentially President as well. He cleansed her of any witchcraft and witches. He has a special training in that field, you know ;)

You heard of voodoo economics under Ronald Reagan, now the US is all set for a Voodoo Vice President. Witchcraft gone and it is now between God and the US. God bless America.


Click here for the video.

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Saturday, September 27, 2008

Stephen Harper: Exit


Stephen Harper was going to speak to the media in Vancouver when his staff noticed a lit Exit sign above the podium. His staff covered the sign with black tape. Looks like sign was "on the wall", for Harper and his staff did not want him to see this ominous message ;) Oh well, how long will they hide from the public the truth, that it is time for Harper to fold up.

Vancouver Fire Service pointed out that covering a sign like that is illegal. Illegality, is this new for Harper operatives?

Harper said, "the fundamentals of the economy are strong" like his idol in the US, John McCain. John McCain has since gone into panic mode saying that the economy and Wall Street are headed for disaster. What is Harper going to do now? Also Merrill Lynch is saying that Canada may face a mortgage/housing crisis too and we may have similar problems as the US. Good time for Harper to take the exit now before the financial calamity and hurricane hits our shores and country.

I am hoping though, that with right policy and actions, that we will avoid a Wall Street-like calamity, but can Harper do it?

Click here to read the story.ledaro.blospot.caledaro.blogspot.ca

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Friday, September 26, 2008

John McCain: What's with him?

First he repeatedly said that "the fundamentals of the economy are strong" and that there was nothing to worry about. Early this week, it looks he suddenly woke up and indicated that the economy was in dire straights. Obama initiated a call that he and McCain should make a joint statement on the bailout plan. Next thing, the World knows that the Earth fell apart for McCain. He declared that he was suspending his campaign, also asking for the postponement of the Presidential candidates’ debate, and that he was headed to Washington D.C to find a resolution to the $700 billion bailout plan.

The House of Representatives and the Senate announced around 1 PM local time that a deal was reached. On McCain’s efforts, Bush invited both McCain and Obama along with congressional leaders to the Whitehouse, a meeting which started at 4 PM. It looks at that meeting the deal fell apart thanks to the "efforts" of John McCain because his fellow Republican Congressmen in the House of Representatives came up with new contentious conditions.

Now, after McCain's "will he or won't he" drama, he will attend the Presidential debate tonight. He will have to face some tough questions, though it was either that or cede the stage entirely to Obama. What a disaster thanks to the impulsiveness of John McCain. Can this man run the Whitehouse and face crisis? Look at this scenario, Russia threatens to attack the United States and a hurricane threatens to hit the Gulf Coast. He tells the Russian leader to wait for another day, or tells the hurricaine to hit tomorrow instead of today because he can't do two tasks at the same time.

Bad news all around.

Either McCain is a fumbling bumbling old man or maybe that is his main trait which is becoming startlingly obvious now. In either case, watch out American friends as it does not look good if, God forbid, he becomes your President.

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Thursday, September 25, 2008

Primping of the Prime Minister

Click here to watch the video.

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Sarah Palin interviewed by Sean Hannity of Faux News

What is going on between these two? Looks like a love-in. During the interview, the cameraman was panning their feet and legs repeatedly, it kind of looked intimate or flirting. He was throwing softball questions and she was having fun with it. Hannity seemed to be lost in her. It looked more like a first date than an interview.

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Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Sarah Palin, John McCain needs a nurse

Give some slack to John McCain that his running mate has no experience. He is 72 years old. He needed some comfort in his immediate environment. Someone like a nurse who would provide first aid when needed. That is the comfort Sarah Palin will give which no other running mate would have provided.

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Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Dow Jones, the World Casino of Wall Street.

All you need is $700 billion to play a game or two. Shock and Awe and best show since the 1930s. More exciting than the Iraq war which cost only $1 trillion in 5 years. This may be $1 trillion per bet, and there may be many surges.

World famous dealer Hank Paulson. Security provided by established cowboy George W. Bush and famous hunter Dick Cheney. It is open to all colours and creeds including Chinese, Saudis, Russian and any others. Once in a life time and once in a century event.

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Monday, September 22, 2008

Sarah Palin: Has the bubble burst?

During the Republican National Convention, Sarah Palin had became an instant celebrity and her notoriety somewhat ballooned. This celebrity lasted for a short time after the convention as well. But now, it looks that the air has gone out of that balloon:

- Trooper-Gate

- For the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it

- Her vindictive politics and Nixonian enemy list

- For/against earmarks. Higher earmarks per capita in Alaska than any other state in the union.

- Women finding out that she really does not stand for their rights. Decades of hard fought battles could be lost with Palin becoming a decision-maker at the national level.

Poor Palin has fallen flat for now.

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Sunday, September 21, 2008

Bernard Lord Francophone co-chair for the federal Conservative campaign - An ASSet, or a Liability?

Surprise, surprise, Bernard Lord of New Brunswick is co-chairing the federal Conservative campaign for the Francophonie side. It is quite a gift from Harper to Liberals in NB (and yes, that is not a typo, I meant "a gift to Liberals"). Currently Lord is a persona non grata in New Brunswick.

Lord was a rising star among CONS in 1999 but with his failed administration and poor showing in the 2003 NB election, his star started fading. By the time the 2006 election was called, his defeat was all but certain and it did happen. NBers saw an immature cry baby Bernie when news came out that he lost the 2006 election. Since then he joined the list of has-beens. I do not think Quebecers can be fooled by him either. Good luck Steve.

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Friday, September 19, 2008

The fundamentals of the economy are strong: The Pedigree

"The fundamentals of the economy are strong" - Those words were first uttered by Herbert Hoover circa 1929/30. All the students of history and the rest of us know what followed: The Depression of the 1930s and millions of people suffering as a result in the US, Canada and the rest of the World. Then, of course, the world was drawn into the Second World War and it took decades to recover from it. Is there something in those words which bode disaster? Or is it a wrong statement to make at the wrong time in history. However, that is where the pedigree of these words begin, with Herbert Hoover.

The US economy has been in trouble for a while now, with faltering housing markets and tumultuous financial institutions and markets. In that environment, John McCain uttered those words for the first time this year, 2008, in January and repeated them again according to some reports up to 20 times since.

On September 15, 2008 the Dow Jones tumbled by over 500 points, the biggest drop since 2001, and John McCain re-stated that "The fundamentals of the economy are strong." The same day the Toronto Stock Exchange took a similar beating and our "majestic leader" Harper reiterated those words, but he went a step further and came up with a TV ad repeating that sentence, "The fundamentals of the economy are strong."

Now we know where Harper's lineage and pedigree are from. Should Canadians be worried? The way our economy is taking a beating and also with its connection to the US economy, we should be worried. We have heard no economic plan from Mr. Harper to deal with the perils that our economy is facing. Moreover, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which Harper supports, are going nowhere but more and more there is burden on human lives and finances. I do not want to be the prophet of gloom and doom but we should look at Mr. Harper carefully and whether he is the right leader to lead our country at this juncture in our history.

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Thursday, September 18, 2008

Rudy Giuliani lost it

I wanted to do this picture during Republican National Convention (RNC) and then got busy. I think Giuliani did a good job in the aftermath of 9/11, but since then he has been exploiting it for political gain. That may be partially the reason he was not successful as a candidate for the President.

At the RNC I thought his speech was a disgrace. At times he punctuated his speech in a manner that sounded racist against Obama, especially his body language and eye-movement whenever he uttered Barack Obama's name. Then graphic pictures of 9/11 were shown behind him and he used 9/11 for making political points. How do the victims of 9/11 feel about it? There was considerable criticism by major networks for politicizing 9/11 at the convention. That is why one can say that Giuliani has lost it.

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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Sarah Palin and Richard Nixon

What do these two have in common you may ask? Richard Nixon, when in office, had an enemy list and so does Sarah Palin. When she became Mayor of Wasilla, she had that list and some were fired from City Hall. When she was elected Governor of Alaska, there was another enemy list and this time her former brother-in-law, Mike Wooten an ex of her sister, was on the list. Media reports are that she put pressure on the Chair of the Public Safety Commission, Walt Monegan, to fire Wooten and when he refused to fire, he got shafted and was fired himself.

She is not much of a pit bull but more of an Octopus with tentacles looking for prey, in this case her enemies. It looks her stories about Troopergate, the Bridge to Nowhere and cutting taxes are not matching up with realities. Troopergate is still under investigation, the Bridge to Nowhere she supported and only opposed it when she had no choice, as mayor she cut property taxes but then imposed sales taxes, and on and on it goes.

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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Harper has a new speechwriter?

Is this telepathy, or does Harper have new speechwriters... in particular, are these new speechwriters the same as McCain's? Up to recently, it used to be Bush speechwriters for Harper. Maybe now they share them and the source is still the Oval Office and Bush.

Yesterday when the Dow Jones plunged over 500 points, McCain said "All the fundamentals of the economy are strong." Simultaneously, the plunge happened in the Toronto Stock Exchange and Harper exactly repeated, "All the fundamentals of the economy are strong." This is quite freakish. It looks that the economy in both the US and Canada has taken a serious downturn thanks to Bushonomics. Where is it all going to end? Americans do not trust Bush anymore. How are Canadians to react to Harperomics whose main feed is Bushonomics? Fasten your seat belts, a rough economic ride is probably ahead.

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Monday, September 15, 2008

Stephen Harper and Danny Williams: The Duel of the Decade

These two are in a big duel. Let's see who wins. Will Danny Williams prevail with his ABC (Anybody But Conservatives), or will Harper's fight will bring the desired "fruit."

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Sunday, September 14, 2008

Stephen Harper, Elizabeth May, Gilles Duceppe, Jack Layton and Stéphane Dion Revealed

CNN aired specials called "Barack Obama Revealed" and "John McCain Revealed". More recently, Joe Biden and Sarah Palin were "Revealed." I thought I will try a Canadian version but in a much simpler way for my readers. I will "Reveal" the answer to, who do they aspire to be?

Stephen Harper:
Of course his master George W. Bush. If given the chance, he would change the nomenclature from Prime Minister to President and build himself a Whitehouse.

Elizabeth May: She would like to be her role model David Suzuki. Environmentalist and all green.

Gilles Duceppe: But of course René Lévesque, his role model. A separate nation and he is its Prime Minister or President, whatever the case may be. I wonder if Duceppe will take up smoking too ;)

Jack Layton: Barack Obama of course. He mimics Obama in his speeches and wants to be the leader of change. At times he sounds exactly like Barack Obama and even copies his gestures and mannerisms.

Stéphane Dion: If nothing else he will like to be Prime Minister for 10 years plus like Pierre Elliott Trudeau. He would also like to be like David Suzuki, but then it would complicate the picture a bit.

Good luck to them all.

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Saturday, September 13, 2008

Sarah Palin: Charlie, Charlie, Charlie

See 7.18 minutes into the video, she's in love with him ;)

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Sarah Palin and the other Veep candidates

People are wrong when they say that McCain took Sarah Palin in a hurry to be his veep. He and his campaign staff did a lot of ground work and vetting. You see, they wanted a celebrity. They also wanted someone who had alot of public relations and foreign travel experience. Thus, the first choice was Britney Spears and the second choice was Paris Hilton. Apparently these two had alot more experience in public relations and foreign travel, but they both turned McCain down. Only then did he turned to Sarah Palin. She said yes without any hesitation and McCain was very relieved, but she has alot less experience and she will be alot less fun than Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.

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Friday, September 12, 2008

Drilling for Sex

You must have heard a chant "Drill Baby Drill" at the Republican rallies since their Convention and wondered why there was so much hoopla. Recent stories shed more light on it.

For some, it is alot more than black oil. It is much more. Lots of good time and lots and lots of fun. You see there is always alot more than what you hear and see at the first instance. Dig and drill a little deeper and you may be surprised by what you may find.

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Thursday, September 11, 2008

Sarah Palin's Bridge to Nowhere

Is it possible that Sarah Palin's bridge to nowhere may become rough waters for the McCain-Palin ticket? They will have to navigate this one carefully - especially Palin lying about it, saying that she was against it repeatedly in her stump speech when, initially, she was all for it (that is until it became politically inconvenient to be for it). A pig is pig no matter how much lipstick you put on it – in this case Palin's abuse of the truth. Barack Obama is too nice to say "lipstick" "Palin" and "pig" in the same sentence, so I will say it for him.

Apparently swiftboating against Obama has begun with McCainiacs blaming him for sexist remarks when Obama said lipstick and pig referred to McCain's stand on policies (something which Senator Hillary Clinton and other prominent women in the Democratic Party confirmed).

Guess who started swiftboating on McCain's behalf – none other than Ms. Swift, former acting Gov. of Massachusetts and now working for McCain's campaign. How appropriate that Ms. Swift was chosen to lead this attack – not so swift Ms. Swift. However, there has been major backlash in the media as McSame himself has used Pig and Lipstick in the past in relation to the healthcare policy of Senator Clinton.

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Harper Gone Bananas

Harper was giving a press conference in a fresh produce store with a background of potatoes, cucumbers and many other vegetables. One reporter asked him if he would be a vegetable, then which vegetable it would be and why. Harper looked around few times and then said he'd rather be a fruit. So there you go. As far as running the country is concerned, Harper is more of a fruitcake. His fellow conservative Danny Williams of Newfoundland actually called him a fraud. So maybe Harper is a fruit, but rotten inside ;)

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Wednesday, September 10, 2008

9/11 Exploitation by the McCain Campaign - Special Comment by Keith Olbermann

It is sad how the Republicans are exploiting 9/11 for political gain.

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Stephen Harper: The Primping of the Prime Minister

Mr. Harper might have to let go his primping lady, but he got fairly good primping by the time the election was called. Let the pork barrel roll. According to some estimates, he rolled out announcements worth $18 billion – a pre-election potlatch as the Edmonton Journal called it.

Conservatives are supposed to be fiscal conservatives, but they still carry out a spending spree to win the next election – barrels of money totalling $18 billion. That is no bird dropping.

In conclusion Harper is all primped up and ready to go.

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Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Sarah Palin and Pork Barrelling

What is the difference between Sarah Palin (Hockey Mom) and Pork? Lipstick and a good pair of eyeglasses.

Sarah Palin claims to be new kind of politician, anti-establishment... now the reality. When she was mayor of Wasilla, she accepted millions of dollars in earmarks and pork barrel projects. When she ran for Governor of Alaska, she was all for the infamous Bridge to Nowhere. After she became Governor and the bridge project became very controversial, she was against it. Again she accepted millions of dollars in pork barrel projects. As Mayor, she also hired a lobbyist to get the optimum amount of pork barrel projects.

More recently, revelations are that she, her husband, and children travelled extensively on public expense during her short span of governorship and also accepted per diem expenses when she went nowhere according to MSNBC.

There goes more extensive pork barrelling.

Also, you heard that she fired her cook. It turns out she never did. The cook is cooking as usual at Governor’s office establishment. On and on it goes.

We cannot attribute her forgetfulness to age and senior moments. It looks she has been lying all along. Most politicians do exaggerate or bend facts, but to outright lie like Sarah Palin has, what's next?

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Harper’s Governing Philosophy

His first advice to his Cabinet and Caucus in 2006 ;)

Speak nothing: It is important to keep silent. Government secrecy is more important than Canada or its people. My office shall be issuing the appropriate muzzles. Moreover, there have been serious, possibly fatal, cases of foot in mouth disease. Use these muzzles on a regular basis, especially when you’re in public.

See Nothing: As demonstrated, you must see nothing. People have a habit of complaining and telling their sob stories, you must pay no attention. Appropriate blinders will be issued. Also use them in the Parliament when the opposition does its antics.

Hear Nothing: You as members of this august body called cabinet and caucus know best. People do not know what they want, only government knows what is best for them. You must stick to your ideology and agenda. Again, pay no attention to shouting and babbling by the opposition in Parliament. Best of the luck and happy governing.

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Monday, September 08, 2008

John McCain's Favourite Song ;)

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Jim Flaherty – Trust no more

There is a flyer being distributed by the Harper government claiming they have lowered income tax for seniors. Of course, no income no tax. Who are they fooling? Do they think that seniors will forget what was done to Income Trusts? That is an insult. By breaking their promise not to tax income trusts, Jim Flaherty caused havoc in the stock market. Canadian stocks on income trusts lost over $30 billion (yes "billion" with "b") and left many seniors deprived of their nest egg. Can seniors trust Harper, Flaherty and company again? I do not think seniors will forget that.

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Sunday, September 07, 2008

Stephen Harper’s awakening

After close to three years, Harper is finding out there are reporters and journalists in Canada. All this time he was hiding from them and the general public. After meeting the Governor General, he said to the media that he did not expect there were so many of them. He was so busy fitting himself into the derriere of George W. Bush that he hardly knew where Canada was. He was also fighting the war in Afghanistan for his master Bush and promoting other neo-CON policies. I hope he does not CON Canadians again.

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Muammar Gadaffi: Condoleezza Rice Joins His Harem

George W. Bush is desperate for oil. He will do anything. He is trying to squeeze any drop of oil he can anywhere and everywhere. Gadaffi of Libya, who was considered a pariah by the US up to recently, is now the darling of George W. Bush. Bush will draw the last drop of oil he can draw after drawing the blood of a million or so Iraqis with little success to take over their oil fields completely. Now that the Iraqi government is kicking out the US army, George W. Bush and John McCain have declared victory in Iraq. Oil's well which ends well. Bush and his Dick Cheney will stop at nothing. Now they're encouraging Condi to join the harem of Gadaffi to lure some oil out of him.

Click here to read the news-story on this.

Note: Now that Harper has called an election, maybe I should come back to Canada and do more pictures on Canada. I will try. Keep checking.

My predictions for the election, it will be a coalition government of the Liberals and the NDP.

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Saturday, September 06, 2008

Harper: Prison of his own making

Harper has trapped himself in his own follies.

The most recent is fixed-date-election-gate. He passes legislation for a fixed date and then violates that law by calling an election, which is expected to be called on Sept 7, 2008 for October 14, 2008.

Other scandals include,

Cadman-gate: An ongoing saga which could be a disaster for Harper. He wants to have a quick election prior to more revelations on this fiasco

Mulroney-gate and Karlheinz Schreiber-gate: an inquiry is underway and more revelations may be coming soon again, he wants a quick election prior to such revelations.

Afghanistan-gate: The situation has gone from bad to worse. Now the reports show that the enemy is even stronger than when Canadians troops started the aggressive role. After losing the lives of close to a hundred brave soldiers, what have we achieved? Even Karzai is not pleased and he has made public statements on that time and again. If, heaven forbid, Harper wins a majority, we might find our soldiers in Iraq too.


Then of course there was in-and-out-gate where the Conservatives tranferred money from the national party to the local riding association, only to transfer it back again (in an attempt to circumvent electoral finance laws).

A fellow blogger, Penlan, suggested that I do a picture of Harper showing him behind the ultimate-gate – the slammer-gate. If Harper ends up here, he will be in the good company of his friend Karlheinz Schreiber.

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Friday, September 05, 2008

McCain's Pain

Pictures from the Republican National Convention:


Who is Sarah Palin saluting? What was she thinking raising her hand like that?


A demonstrator being dragged away from the Convention Hall when McCain was giving his acceptance speech.


That same demonstrator giving a victory sign.


Iraq War Vet displaying sign at the Convention when McCain was speaking.


An "enthusiastic fan" constantly yawning during McCain's acceptance speech.

Unfortunately for McCain, he is boxed in. First, his association with the unpopular Bush administration. Second, the unpopularity of the Iraq War which McCain continues to support. Third, his age and lack of any new ideas. And fourth, his Vice Presidential candidate who is more of a liability than an asset.

Dissatisfaction with the Republican Party is intense. According to CNN, thousands of protesters were outside the convention hall.

As well, Democratic VP candidate Joe Biden has more foreign policy experience than McCain and Palin put together. If total experience equals ten, there this would be the break down:

Biden: 10
McCain: 6
Palin: 0

Finally, and most importantly, McCain is up against a very charismatic young leader, Barack Obama. Obama has put alot of meat and substance into his platform through concrete policies on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, energy independence, health, and the number one issue for Americans, the economy. This substance is lacking in the case of McCain, he has been mostly rhetoric and fear-mongering.

McCain is a war hero but as a Presidential candidate he belongs to an earlier era, not the 21st century. He would have made a great President a decade or two ago but now he is yesterday's man.

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Thursday, September 04, 2008

Harper the King

Would you buy a used car from this man? Close to the last three years at 24 Sussex Drive has been shrouded in secrecy, under the thumb of the PMO. Neither the media nor the public had any idea as to how and what decisions were being made. When those decisions did become public, the CONS showed their true colours, for example on Income Trusts.

His escalation in Afghanistan has been deadly for Canadian soliders, it is heartbreaking to see the coffins of these brave soldiers coming home. This war is not helping Afghanistanis either, even Karzai has now criticized the arial bombardments which are killing Afghan civilians.

If Harper can behave like a king in a minority situation, imagine what will happen if he has a majority? An attempt has already begun to fool the public again with election flyers sent by mail, and the public is footing the bill.

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Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Republican Convention: Gustav, Northern Winds and other blows


Gustav suffering from depression.

First it was hurricane Gustav who wanted to hijack the Republican National Convention. He tried and succeeded for a day. Now he is suffering from depression - tropical depression that is - as he did not succeed for all four days.

Then cold northern winds started coming from Alaska, Hurricane Palin. Its impact has yet to be assessed. Then there was rat Lieberman who wanted Democrats to stab fellow Democrats in the back by voting Republican. What was Al Gore thinking when he picked Lieberman as his Vice Presidential candidate in 2000? Maybe Al Gore would have won more decisively if the Lieberman factor was not there (Lieberman's conservatism and opposition to Bill Clinton during the Lewinsky scandal no doubt alienated many base Democrats). If Al Gore had won more decisively, then it would not have been possible for the Supreme Court to appoint Bush as President.

Then of course there was McCain being a POW (Prisoner of “W” that is) as he took some hits from Dubya who sent gales of wind all the way from the Whitehouse. Imagine if Bush were in Saint Paul at the convention centre, the damage would have been even greater.

After that was politician turn actor, Fred Thompson. You see, Reagan was a lousy actor and decided to become a politician and did fairly well. Fred Thompson is Ronald Reagan in reverse. He tried politics and was not so successful, so he went into acting. In his speech Thompson did some acting, implying that McCain was his own man and not McSame. Try and believe that! Though I have to admit, Thompson’s monologue was interesting.

CNN then reported that there were many demonstrations outside the convention hall. Many people were arrested during the day. In the evening, police used tear gas to disperse the crowds of demonstrators. One can understand the cause of the protesters, as they do not want another four years of the McSame.

All in all, McCain’s convention is not having much luck so far - not a good sign for someone like him who is reputed to be very superstitious.

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Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Sarah Palin’s baggage snowballing


Pregnant daughter on the right in green sweater.

I agree with Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama that a person’s family and children should be off-limits for political fights. However, in the case of Sarah Palin it is more than just that. It is her conservative credentials and holier than thou attitude. She lectured many times that abstinence only sex education is the best birth control, that it's a moral obligation. Ok, but it does not work. Not only are there unwanted pregnancies among teens, but also STDs such as AIDS. One reads about it daily. Therefore sex education and other protections are essential.

Now there is admittance by Palin that her teen daughter is pregnant. This is a living example of why abstinence only does not work, and could raise accusations of hypocrisy against the Palin family, especially in light of rumours that Palin's fifth child is actually her daughter's son. These rumours are not substantiated, but nonetheless raise questions in the public's minds about cover-ups in light of the recent announcement that Palin's daughter is pregnant. These accusations of cover-up would be further fanned if she has a stillbirth or miscarriage, people will say it is evidence of a cover-up even if it is not so.

Palin was also touted as champion of change and anti-establishment. Now it turns out she lobbied for millions of dollars in earmarks from Washington as a political favour for the small town Wasilla when she was mayor. This involved Senator Stevens, who is being investigated for corruption.

It looks that either no vetting was done or that it missed the mark, both of which raise serious questions about John McCain's judgment.

Could Sarah Palin turn out to be another
Thomas Eagleton, and have to resign from the ticket?

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Monday, September 01, 2008

Sarah Palin Who?

Sarah Palin unveilin'. What was John McCain thinking? Do Americans know this lady who is Mayor... um I mean Governor, of Alaska. It's hard to distinguish between Mayor and Governor as Alaska's population is hardly bigger than that of Metro-Halifax.

So is Palin ready to deal with all the challenges facing the United States, including Iraq, Afghanistan, the Russian invasion of Georgia, and nuclear weapons worries in Iran and North Korea? Especially as she has stated that, "I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq."

Has she got it? She's going to be only a heartbeat away from the Presidency, especially given McCain's age and history of cancer.

Palin is a totally unknown quantity with alot of baggage, including firing the Alaska Public Safety Commissioner, quite possibly on the grounds that he refused to fire her brother-in-law who was involved in a messy divorce with her sister. There is currently an investigation pending against her.
You can click here for a good write-up on this issue.

Then there was the notorious "bridge to nowhere", Palin was "for it before she was against it."

Also more recently, amid rumours that her fifth child is not hers but rather her teenage daughter's, Palin has revealed that, while this rumour is untrue, her unmarried teenage daughter is pregnant - this won't sit well with many social conservatives.

As times goes by there may be more revelations, as it doesn't look she was properly vetted. McCain's decision to pick her as VP was hasty and last minute. Quite the contrast to Barack Obama who went through a long and careful vetting process to pick Joe Biden, a respected and long-serving Senator.

It looks that McCain will do anything to win an election, even to the detriment of the country's interests.


UPDATE: The revelations about, and allegations against, Palin just keep coming in. Could she have addressed the 2008 convention of a group whose aim is Alaskan independence from the United States?

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LeDaro Gone Chinese

I was googling when I noticed that my blog has been translated into Chinese. I do not know how it works, but it looks interesting.

I do not understand Chinese characters and hence cannot read a word of it, but there it is. You can click here for the whole blog.

In the past, I've seen translations in other languages as well, including Japanese.

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