Corner of Whatever

Just explain to me why we’re to blame for everything? Yes, we are to blame for bringing more instability to the Middle East with our asinine war in Iraq, but not in Afghanistan…that was justified (we just dropped the ball on that one). We are to blame for our unwarranted influence in some areas as well…but that’s because the current administration is simply unintellectual and wants to keep moving in a direction until they’ve ruined us all (which they’re pretty close to doing).

But in today’s news, the International Criminal Court has charged the Sudanese president of genocide against the people in Darfur. That’s a good charge and well warranted. But in a CNN.com article reporting on the news, the supporters of Omar Hassan al-Bashir held a rally and shouted “Death to America”. Why? Why is it that if something bad happens, you need to shout “Death to America” or blame America for it? We’re not the only country to charge that the Sudanese government is committing genocide. There are other countries that are doing this. Do you hear them shouting “Death to France”? No…it probably doesn’t have a good ring to it. But hell, when things go bad, why not blame those “meddling Westerners”, right? That’s absurd and people who continue to do this simply because they don’t know who else to blame are retarded and deserve to rot in jail or be in the current situation they’re in.

I’ll admit that we have a lot of problems going on in the world and America is probably a major influencer, but that doesn’t mean that we’re a scapegoat. The Bush Administration has completely f*cked up our foreign policy and changed it from one of peace and dialogue to one of “we’re arrogant and do whatever the heck we want”. Please don’t judge Americans from our stupid leaders in the big White House on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. They’re retards and we’re working to get rid of them come the next election and we’ll finally have some sense and sensibility in our government that’ll help move us away from armed conflict and bring peace back to the country and possibly the world?

Popularity: 62% [?]

News, Politics Darfur, George Bush, ICC, Sudan, White House

The fact that Al Gore was endorsing Barack Obama for the presidency was a shock if merely for the timing of the announcement. It wasn’t as if there was a primary election coming up. Aren’t endorsements worthless now? I suppose that Al Gore’s message was to the Clinton supporters and those who haven’t decided yet to help bring together the Democratic party and unite everyone against a common foe: the Republican Party. Yes, those GOP boys are causing trouble again with McCain running the show as the Bush surrogate for the next four years.

Interesting comparison (and I’m not saying this is right nor do I have any factual data/evidence to support this, but I think it’s funny) that McCain could (not saying he will) take over the Presidency for his “idol” George W. Bush compared to how Dmitry Medvedev took over the presidency of Russia from Vladimir Putin. So while Putin became the “Prime Minister” and Medevdev became a figurehead caretaker, will that result in McCain taking over the presidency as a caretaker and continuing to support Bush who’s the “real” leader of the GOP? Funny, huh?

But, luckily that won’t even come to light…Barack Obama has the movement and the “cult-like” following (although I hate to use the word “cult” because it’s not really a “cult”, it’s an impassioned movement). Al Gore’s endorsement was well received, but I’m afraid I wasn’t moved by his speech as much as John Edwards. It seemed to me that Gore’s speech was a little bit of a shot across Bush’s bow and he’s trying to get people to sympathize with him over his failed attempt back in 2000 by bringing back the rigged election and also the current socio-economic crisises that plague our country today: lead paint, tainted dog food, war, housing crisis, economy, gas prices, etc.

I’m kind of upset with the cable news networks too like CNN, FOX News, and MSNBC too because why would they show ONLY the segment where Al Gore makes his endorsement and not the speech given by the Governor of Michigan? Why not Barack Obama’s speech? It’s interesting also that there’s always the speeches by the Democrat endorsers, but no Republican ones. When will you see someone endorse McCain on cable network news? What happens if Chuck Hagel decides to endorse John McCain? Weill that make the news or a soundbite on the nightly news? If Dick Cheney decides…okay, nevermind, bad example. If Nancy Reagan decides to endorse someone, will her speech make the “breaking news” part of a broadcast? Fair and balanced, my ass…but that’s alright.

Anyways, did Al Gore’s endorsement move me? No. Did it inspire me? No. Did it make me want to vote for him again in the 2000 election? No. Why? Because he just can’t give good speeches. Lecturing on the environment or on other global issues and reaching out to world leaders…okay…but I think he’s lost his touch. That speech was slightly better than the one given by John McCain on the last primary election night earlier this month, but I just didn’t find it all that appealing.

Popularity: 27% [?]

Politics Al Gore, Barack Obama, Democrat, Endorsement, John McCain, Republican

Now an endorsement is probably only as good as your influence on others. For the presidential race of 2008, Barack Obama and more importantly the Democratic Party has taken a lot of guff over what’s going on with the primary elections. Yes, there are two awesome candidates: Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton. With the popular vote going to Clinton, the overall delegate count (including superdelegates) went to Obama and he secured the nomination.

First of all, why do we need to go into a delegate system where you’re awarded a specific number based on the proportion of votes? That only went to screw the Democrats even further in the general election. What the hell did it do to “unite” the party?

But let’s get back to the whole issue about endorsements for a second. There is a lot of things being said about how Clinton supporters will vote for McCain because their candidate didn’t win and how not all the votes were counted. Now wait a second, ALL votes were counted, but not equally. Why? Well that’s because a couple of rouge states in the primary elections decided to violate party rules and held their primaries early. Both Obama and Clinton announced they would not campaign there, but Clinton still had her name on the ballot. Now that she was losing the race, her supporters (NOT Clinton) were up in arms about it. Are these people seriously listening to themselves? They’re basically saying “Yes, we violated the party RULES and knowingly held our primary early and cast our vote and now we think the penalty not to have our delegates seated at the National Convention is unfair.”

WHAT?

You can’t have it both ways just to suit your needs. Yes, the Democratic party does need your votes, but let’s be reasonable. If you’re upset about it, then you should have talked to your state party leaders and convinced them not to schedule the primary election that early. That’s just disrespectful to the democratic system. Now that the DNC had finally resolved this mess, you’re still bitching about it? Well stop…it’s over!

Sure, vote for whoever you want, but let’s not vote based on who won your primary and you don’t like that party’s eventual nominee. If you’re going to vote for McCain because Clinton got screwed, then perhaps you were never really a Democrat to begin with. You’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Now go join the Republicans and be just like Joe Lieberman.

But if you care about how the system will be run for the next four years, then get on board and support the party’s nominee. It’s not about the PERSON that’s running, but their policies and how they’re going to shape our nation. So get over your petty issues and grow up.

Popularity: 25% [?]

Politics Barack Obama, Florida, Hilary Clinton, John McCain, Michigan, Primary Elections

So not surprising, Democratic Sen. Barack Obama has clinched enough delegates/superdelegates to win the party nomination for being president of the United States. Hillary Clinton has yet to concede and will continue to be doing some internal debate on where to go next.

CNN projects that Obama will have about 2,132 votes to Clinton’s 2,915, but you know what? He inspires me. Yes, that sounds cliche and there are pundits that are saying that Obama’s speeches bring up shades of Martin Luther King Jr. or perhaps even Ronald Reagan. That’s really deep. I always enjoy his speeches and he’s very passionate about what he’s talking about.

The Republicans have basically f*cked everything up over the past 8 years and I’m very happy to be a part of this monumental milestone in the country’s history. Obama is the first minority candidate to win the nomination of a major party and is on his way to be the NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

Yes, the primary season has been filled with bad news for both Clinton and Obama, but I’m sure that the Democrats can move past that. For now, I’m at least going to enjoy the ride. I’m supporting Barack Obama for President of the United States. Are you?

Popularity: 29% [?]

Politics Barack Obama, Democrat, Hillary Clinton, President of the United States

So I rather like Joe Biden…he’s knowledgeable when it comes to foreign policy. I don’t think he’s quite presidential material, but he’s great to have on your side when dealing with foreign politics because he’s connected and familiar with issues. Just earlier today, Biden made off like a bandit with his quick rebuttal of Bush’s comment to the Israeli Knesset about how Democrats are appeasing the terrorists by agreeing and wishing to negotiate. Who’s negotiating? We’re talking to these governments to find some common ground. Yes, the governments may be harboring terrorists and many people are led to believe that, but why not form some dialogue and at least help build some trust and then move towards peace?

Republicans are so war-mongering that they always want to isolate everyone and then b*tch and moan when they’re the ones being attacked and yelling at people because they think the US is now being isolated. Well no duh! Why shouldn’t countries isolate us now and act on it? Are we really a superpower anymore? I highly doubt it…because everyone is tired of the way we’re acting. I think there are many in the country that are thinking this same way…and that’s why I’m proud of Biden’s remarks. What were they?

Biden calls Bush comments ’bulls**t’

(CNN) — The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joe Biden, D-Delaware, called President Bush’s comments accusing Sen. Barack Obama and other Democrats of wanting to appease terrorists “bulls**t” and said if the president disagrees so strongly with the idea of talking to Iran then he needs to fire his secretaries of State and Defense, both of whom Biden said have pushed to sit down with the Iranians.

“This is bullshit. This is malarkey. This is outrageous…”

Nice, Biden…really nice…you got cajones on you, my friend. We need to be more blunt like that in the media. Stop sugarcoating things and being diplomatic. Tell people how you really feel.

Popularity: 55% [?]

News, Politics Joe Biden, Politics, President Bush