http://leftfielder.org Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:11:01 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The primaries saw a plethora of debates; more than forty total if you add the debates of the two parties, between spring 2007 and summer 2008. Most of those debates had more than two candidates present, which complicated matters somewhat, but even given that they were horribly moderated. ... http://leftfielder.org/2008/10/06/everything-moderation/ The sad thing about this is that its true. I think it pretty much sums up why people are so sick of Washington and the mantra of "change" is so popular. Not that either candidate will be able to change the culture of adding ridiculous riders to important ... http://leftfielder.org/2008/10/06/bailout-riders/ Note: This post is insanely long, even by my standards. I wrote it mostly for my own edification, but I figured I'd post it anyway in case someone was interested. It's a question-by-question breakdown of what the candidates said, and a couple of my own thoughts. I ... http://leftfielder.org/2008/10/03/what-the-candidates-actually-said-last-night/ I had the best of intentions to do a live blog from the debate. That stopped quickly when I realized that my typing speed was not up to the task. So, now a dozen thoughts, not quite live, but close enough to after the debate that it may ... http://leftfielder.org/2008/10/03/thoughts-on-the-debate/ Politicians love to attack the media. It feeds their own egos to attack the messenger rather than to adjust the message. It also can make the public look more favorably upon you if they believe that you are being unfairly targeted by other people. This adage has ... http://leftfielder.org/2008/10/02/a-potentially-disturbing-accusation/ John McCain has repeatedly pledged to veto any bill that contains wasteful earmarks. He's been quite clear on that point. John McCain just attacked the Senate bailout bill for containing wasteful earmarks. John McCain voted for that bill. Why? According to his campaign the earmarks were "regrettable", but that ... http://leftfielder.org/2008/10/02/governing-is-harder-than-politicking/ I like Obama, don't get me wrong. But there are two things in particular that just drive me nuts every time he utters them. First, I hate the statement that "Iraq has a surplus, while we are in massive debt; they need to start paying more of the costs of ... http://leftfielder.org/2008/10/01/two-things-i-wish-obama-would-stop-saying/ Democracy is a great form of government--but it doesn't work for the reasons that most people seem to think it works. There is no inherent wisdom of the people; in fact, the people are pretty dumb most of the time. Study after study has been done indicating that ... http://leftfielder.org/2008/09/30/laws-are-for-legislators/ You know, you stop reading the news for a week to help your mother move, and the world goes to heck in a hand-basket. I saw in the paper this morning that the government was seizing WaMu (with a name like that it's no wonder they are having problems), ... http://leftfielder.org/2008/09/26/what-is-the-opposite-of-a-slow-news-day/ I just don't get how anyone, anywhere, could buy the whole "Country First" slogan that the McCain camp has been using since the RNC. For one thing, it's patently wrong as a governing philosophy. It is dangerous for any man, or even any president, to put the needs of the ... http://leftfielder.org/2008/09/17/country-first/