Politics

I’m running for Lt. Governor!

March 5, 2010 by Dave!

Well, since the Democrats in Illinois are taking on-line applications for the open spot on the ballot, I’m not really running for Lt. Governor. But I did submit my on-line application for the ballot spot. Here’s what I said in my application:

I hereby pledge that if chosen to run and if elected by the People of Illinois to the office of Lieutenant Governor:

I will resign on my first day of office, which means under the Constitution of Illinois that the office will remain vacant until the next election.

This will provide time for the legislature to organize a Constitutional Amendment to eliminate the office.

I will not take a salary for the office of Lt. Governor.

I will not staff the office of the Lt. Governor.

I will not spend a single dollar of the taxpayer’s of Illinois hard earned money on an unnecessary elected office.

* The FY2008 cost of the office of Lt. Governor was approximately $2.4Million.

* The FY2009 cost (enacted) was $2.1 Million.

* The recommended FY2010 cost is $1.35 Million.

* Over a term of four years, I will save the citizens of Illinois over $5 Million dollars.

Although the Lt. Governor’s duties include chairing several committees, I am quite confident that those committees may be served well by other members who may step up to fill the vacant chairmanship. As for succession, upon my resignation, the Attorney General would succeed the Governor should the Governor be unable/unwilling to serve.

——————————–

Yes, I’m doing this to make a point. I think it’s a bit odd that the Democratic Party is taking applications for the nomination on-line. I also think the office of Lt. Governor is pretty unnecessary, given the extremely limited duties of the office and what it costs to run a governmental office that does so little.

But I’m also 100% serious.

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Illinois, Lt. Governor, politics

Yes… We Did!!!

November 4, 2008 by Dave!

First, I am absolutely giddy… not just because “my candidate” won the election, but because this is an historic milestone in the history of a great democracy.

Second, my wife and I had the pleasure of meeting President Elect Obama at a backyard barbecue fundraiser for his Senate campaign. It was a great experience and I need to give my wife credit… after we left that afternoon, she said, “Someday he’s going to be President.” She called that one…

Third, Obama probably voted for my wife! She was on the ballot in Cook County… unopposed.

Updates:

The Speeches. I thought John McCain’s concession speech was magnanimous and very sincere. It’s the first sincere thing I’ve heard come out of his mouth since the primaries. If he had been that open, that honest during his campaign, instead of pandering to the religious right with the Palin Pick, and launching his negative attack ads, etc. this might have been a very different election. Or at least a lot closer. Palin was a pit bull, all right, but America wanted candidates who could speak to the issues, not just parrot attack talking points. I also thought it was telling that when McCain mentioned Obama, the crowd booed… but not Obama’s crowd when he mentioned McCain. I hope the vitriolic supporters of McCain take heed in this election: *America* is tired of hateful, divisive politics. Keep up the hate mongering, and you’ll destroy your own party from within.

The Grand Old Party. Republican’s have some real soul searching to do. The core of the party are white, conservative, evangelicals… not exactly a growing demographic. On NPR this morning, a Republican strategist noted that the fastest growing voter demographics in America are blacks, latinos, and young voters–all of who overwhelmingly supported Obama. Not good for the GOP future. Maybe it’s time to return to a Republican party of old: the one that was less concerned with what women did with their bodies and more concerned with not inflating the national deficit. McCain’s Palin pick was clearly targeted to deliver the base, which it did, but this election showed pretty clearly that the Republican base ain’t all it’s cracked up to be… you can’t win an election in America without the center.

Hoosiers!! CNN hasn’t called it yet, but with 99% of precincts reporting, Obama is up 50% to 49% (by about 23.5k votes). Hooray for Hoosiers!!

North Carolina. Liddy Dole learned what hateful, untrue attack ads get you: booted. Congrats to Kay Hagen. Another lesson for the Republican party: American’s are tired of the B.S. and want some politicians who address the issues instead of attacking the opponents.

Minnesota. According to CNN, with 100% of the precincts reporting, Coleman is only beating Al Franken by 572 votes?! Wow… Recount anyone? I am disappointed that bat-sh*t crazy Bachmann didn’t lose her race. After her McCarthy-esque comments, I wanted to see her go down.

Alaska. Are they nuts up there? Seriously, Alaska, you’re making Florida look downright reasonable these days. Are your brains frozen?? With 99% of the precincts reporting, it looks like Alaska may have elected a *convicted Felon* to the Senate. I think ice must be clogging Alaskan’s brain tubes.

Finally, I was *really* disappointed that not a single person who was featured using CNN’s new “hologram” technology said, “Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi; you’re my only hope.”

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Politics McCain 2008 Obama Presidential Election

Joe, the plumber?

October 16, 2008 by Dave!

Like many of you, I suspect, I thought both McCain and Obama’s constant invocation of “Joe the Plumber” to be rather gimmicky. However, there are some important issues that have come up since, related to Joe, which kind of make Joe the Plumber look a little questionable:

1. He’s not a plumber. Turns out, he’s not even a licensed plumber in the State of Ohio, or the county, or city where he works. I think Joe just made a lot of enemies from actual, licensed plumbers in Ohio. And probably some customers.

2. Joe’s taxes would only have gone up $900. I would also add that frankly, if Joe is making $250-280k per year, *I* would consider that to be doing quite well and I think he could afford another $1k in taxes. That is, if he were actually a plumber. John McCain can take his smarmy “You’re rich, Joe” comment and shove it. In these uncertain economic times, I know a whole lot of people who’d be very pleased to be making $250-280k.You know who *is* rich? John McCain. So stop with the feigned indignation, Senator McCain.
It seems to me to be quite clear that what Joe really needs isn’t McCain’s tax plan. He needs an accountant. I would be willing to bet that if he’s figuring his own taxes, given his failures to obtain a plumbing license, he’s probably overlooked some valid deductions, and that a good accountant could probably erase that $900 increase… maybe even _lower_ his taxes. That is, if he were actually a plumber.

Disclosure: I have a plumber in my extended family. A *licensed* *union* plumber.

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Politics McCain Palin 2008 Obama Presidential Election Debate

Who won the debate, my friends? That one.

October 7, 2008 by Dave!

Dear Sen. McCain:

With all due respect, I’m not your friend. I’m a voter. Every time you say, “My friends” I think you’re trying to sell me something I don’t want to buy. It gets a little sleazier each time you say it.

I don’t want you to be my friend and I don’t want to be yours. I don’t want you to attack the opposition and dance around questions: I want to hear about *your* policies, and I think most American’s do, too. It would appear you’re all out of ideas and since the Straight Talk Express went over the cliff some time ago, all you’ve got left is a bottle of vitrol you’re trying to sell us as a campaign.

Please, give it a rest, my friend.

-Dave!

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Politics McCain Palin 2008 Obama Presidential Election Debate

Bailout? Shmailout.

October 7, 2008 by Dave!

Wait a minute. So you mean to tell me that, even though jackasses in the media insisted that the bailout was necessary to save us all from doom and that our puny middle class brains couldn’t understand the gravity of the situation. Or that even though jackasses in the administration insisted that without the splurge our economy was in the crapper. And even though the fools in Congress bought into it all, and against the will of their constituents, passed a fundamentally flawed piece of garbage “bailout” bill, that -we weren’t greeted as liberators!?- the market is still tanking?!?!

God, what is the world coming to, when I’m starting to think _Lou Dobbs_ makes a lot of sense.

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: bailout, politics, splurge

Fools Rush In…

October 2, 2008 by Dave!

So, the Senate approved the “Splurge” last night… 74 to 25. Now it’s the House’s turn… what will they do? I suspect they’ll turn tail and pass it. Sad.
Look, I am a middle class guy, living in a middle class suburb, working a middle class job. I *understand* the nature of the “crisis”. I understand the importance of credit markets. I understand something must be done. But I also understand this is an ill-conceived, rushed solution and that there are other alternatives that should be considered and offer a better solution to the American people.
I can hardly believe it, but Sen. Shelby said it best:
“Many around here are finding comfort in the notion that ‘something is better than nothing.’ I believe that is a false choice. The choice we faced was between pursuing an informed response or panic. … Unfortunately, we chose panic.”
All of our elected officials seem to be running around like Chicken Little, crying about the falling sky. We don’t need “bailout” plans with little to know accountability which need $150 Billion of additional pork in order to “entice” Representatives to vote for it. We need our elected representatives to sit down, gather expert opinions and formulate a rational response. I know, I’m a dreamer. Instead, we get a bad piece of legislation, so bad that one house of our Congress essentially has to bribe the other into supporting it.
Disgusting.

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: bailout, politics

Questionable Music Choices…

September 4, 2008 by Dave!

Okay, so I watched both the DNC and the RNC… and I have to wonder who the idiots who program the music are??

Seriously, I know her nickname is “Sarah Baraccuda” but c’mon. I mean, the lyrics to the song include:

If the real thing dont do the trick,
No, you better make up something quick,
You gonna burn burn burn burn it to the wick,
Ooooooohhhh, barracuda.

Um, not on message. And the Democrats weren’t any better. With Melissa Etheridge out there, singing “Born in the USA”… it’s like no one ever listens to the lyrics to that one either:

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I’m ten years down the road
Nowhere to run, ain’t got nowhere to go
I’m a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A.

Although, while both choices are plainly stupid, nothing could be as bad as that “Raisin’ McCain” song. I think I threw up a little in my mouth.

Filed Under: Music, Politics Tagged With: DNC RNC Music Politics

Palin Problems

August 29, 2008 by Dave!

Okay. Let’s set aside the facts she is pro-life, a lifetime member of the NRA… Palin is a disaster of a choice for vice president. Here’s why:

1. Does McCain really think Palin will appeal to Hillary voters? Seriously?? It’s ridiculous for someone who really believed in Hillary to support McCain in the first place. If you believed in Hillary’s policies, McCain is not your man. But Palin? See my first sentence. She’s a pro-life (and doesn’t even support rape/incest exceptions) and lifetime member of the NRA. How on Earth does that appeal in any way to someone who supported Clinton??! When Palin gave her line about the glass ceiling, my wife turned to me in disgust and said, “That is such blatant pandering. How stupid do they think we are?”

2. I think there is some (not a lot, but surely some) validity to the argument that Obama lacks experience. However, Palin was the Mayor of a city with a population of less than 6,000. She’s the Governor–only for two years–of a state with a population of less than 700,000. Palin was elected Governor after receiving 114,697 votes. Last February, my wife won her primary election here in Cook County with 302,347 votes. My wife got nearly three times as many votes in a _local_ election. With no disrespect to Alaskans, I’m not saying the Governor of Alaska isn’t an important job, but it cannot be compared with serving as a Senator for the fifth most populous state in the United States.

3. The experience thing is a big deal. I wish John McCain no ill will, but we have to acknowledge that he is 72 and will be one of the oldest presidential candidates in history. I think it’s even more critical that his vice president choice is someone who can readily step into the role of President. Sarah Palin is not even close. Obama might have “little” foreign policy experience–Palin has none. She doesn’t even have any _national_ policy experience.

4. Did McCain really only meet her in person once??! That, to me, is even worse than her lack of experience. I’m sorry, I’m a pretty good judge of people, but I don’t hire _systems administrators_ without two or more interviews. He met her _once_?? You can talk all you want about her status and her accomplishments, but if it is true that McCain only met her once in person before making this decision then McCain definitely doesn’t have the judgment to be President.

Here’s the other problem–I can’t believe no one has mentioned it. Everyone defending her seems to be saying, “Oh, but it doesn’t matter that she’s not experienced. She’s an outsider! She’s not some good ol’ boy with 30 years in politics.” I even heard one of McCain’s spokespeople say that he chose a reform minded outsider while Obama chose a typical Washington insider. But, um, what is _McCain_??? He’s been in Washington for 26 years. He’s not *that* much of a maverick–he’s a rich, old, white guy who has been in Washington for decades. I’m sorry, you can’t have it both ways.

I will be very interested in seeing how Palin performs on a national stage. I think the national press and the pressure of a national presidential campaign are going to eat her alive. Of course I could be wrong, but this choice has really left me scratching my head.

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Politics McCain Palin 2008 Obama Presidential Election

Clinton: A Fundamental Misunderstanding of Voters

April 8, 2008 by Dave!

I don’t think it’s a secret I’m an Obama supporter. However, recently, I’ve crossed over to being a Hillary opponent. If Hillary is the nominee without winning the popular vote and pledged delegates, I will not support her run for president. And here’s why…

I can forget her desire to stay in the race for the nomination, even though it’s looking mathematically less and less like she has a chance.

I can forgive her “misstatements” which keep piling up at an alarming rate, to the point where we she’s almost going to have rally chants that contain the words “pants on fire”.

But her contempt for the democratic process I cannot forgive or forget. Today on All Things Considered (NPR), she was asked about suggestions from her campaign that pledged delegates should change sides–even though those delegates are chosen by the voters based on their promise to support a particular candidate. Here’s what she said:
“There is some fundamental misunderstanding of the way this whole nominating process works,” Clinton says. “Every delegate has the right to choose whom they will vote for. … At the end of the day, there is no requirement that anybody do anything other than make their own best judgment.”

No, Hillary. When I, and millions of other voters across America went into the voting booth to vote in this primary season, we voted for delegates who had pledged to support you, Obama, Edwards, etc. You can be damn sure we, the American voters, expect thoe delegates to keep their word, and not “make their own best judgment.” Clinton grouses excessively about the voters of Michigan and Florida being disenfranchised, yet, when it suits her own political goals, she’s willing to disenfranchise every voter in the Democratic Party in every state.

Each and every day, Hillary is demonstrating to me that she merely wants to win at all costs, no matter if the Democratic Party is decimated in the process. I expect a certain amount of double talk and politics in any campaign. I understand rhetoric and campaign promises. But Hillary is becoming a routine liar, showing nothing but contempt for the process, the party, and the American people.

I think Hillary Clinton has a fundamental misunderstanding of the way this whole nominating process should work, and the way the American voters expect it to work. We expect that the candidate who wins the popular vote and the most pledged delegates (even should that turn out to be her) should be the party’s nominee for President of the United States.

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: politics, Presidential Race

Presidential Experience

March 18, 2008 by Dave!

I like McCain–I do give him credit for being an independent thinker (for the most part) and I don’t think *all* of his campaign platforms are unreasonable.

But in my mind, the choice for president is quite clear. On one hand, we have an eloquent speaker who is intelligent and experienced enough to understand and articulate the subtleties of racial relations in America–and who isn’t afraid to talk about the issue. While on the other hand, we have a career politician who–while on a trip designed to showcase his foreign policy experience–fails to grasp even the most rudimentary facts in a region that will dominate foreign policy issues for at least the next several presidential terms.

One is a politician–and maybe a decent one–but the other one is clearly a leader.

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: McCain, Obama, politics, Presidential

I’m running for Lt. Governor!

Yes… We Did!!!

Joe, the plumber?

Who won the debate, my friends? That one.

Bailout? Shmailout.

Fools Rush In…

Questionable Music Choices…

Palin Problems

Clinton: A Fundamental Misunderstanding of Voters

Presidential Experience

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