America

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich fell into handcuffs after alledgedly conspiring to "sell or trade" Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat. He may beat these charges in pre-trial or trial. The trial may affirm the charges: he attempted to misuse his constitutional powers.

The point of this essay is to highlight that a governor of one of the nation's economic power-houses can be accountable in a nonviolent way. (A disturbing amount of Roman Emperors were killed in action; guys like Robert Mugabe refuse to leave without being nudged away by a crowbar.) While people in other nations live in such conditions that suicide bombing seems attractive, Americans resort to lawsuits because the process is reasonably successful and fair. A well-run, and fair legal system is a primary barrier between order, and chaos (see Afghanistan, where many areas lack regulated law enforcement agencies, and even law enforcement has been accused of abusing prisoners).

Political corruption is like a bad milk stain on the carpet. It won't leave, despite calls to a common sense of decency, and attempts to scrub corruption out. For instance, three other Illinois Governors have landed in jail since 1973, for charges such as tax evasion, bank fraud, and treating favorites to state contracts. Should the current Governor be found guilty, it would seem that more must be done to prevent corruption. The point of this little memo, however, is to remind us that his indictment is a success in regards to cleaning up the stain, if failing prevent it. In America: No one, we hope, can get away with the abuse of power, even politcal power.

That is our country, or, at least, it's political philosophy. So to speak, everyone is accountable to everyone else. You to me, me to you, us to them, them to us.

Who The Superheroes Would Vote For

I can't help but write this:

- Captain America: First off, Steve Rogers would never use his identity as the Sentinel of Liberty to campaign for any politician ever. It has been established that he won't even consider running for public office, even though he is aware that people would sure as hell gravitate toward him as a leader. Captain America is a symbol for the nation. This means keeping politics away in lieu of coloring the symbol in a divisive slant. Now...personally, though, he would lean toward Ron Paul. If he were even alive. He would appreciate Paul's candor, and constant, open championing of the consistitution. Stable societies rest on fair rules, which every one respects.

Bucky, the new Captain America, is technically dead. So, too bad for him. He can't even vote.


- The Fantastic Four is divided on this one.

The Thing is definitely for McCain. Obama seems too much like a hotshot for him; a man who spent at least half of his Senate career running for president may have too big a head for the job. Anyway, The Thing likes that McCain promises to help people with their mortgages because it's the biggest problem that he sees.

The Human Torch knows nothing about politics. His eyes glaze over at the words "Habeas Corpus" and "dividends." But he remembers McCain's first appearance on SNL, where the Senator sang Streisand songs. He thinks that the man is f-ing awesome for that reason alone, and yet it is a great, great reason.

The Invisible Woman believes that it is important for women to keep their right to choose, so she leans toward Obama.

Mr. Fantastic really really likes Obama's 10-year, $15 billion dollar a year to get the US off foreign sources of energy. "Actually, I have some ideas..."


- Spider-Man's life is so hectic, he feels he knows way too little to make a choice he feels comfortable about. He saw Obama in the third debate, and thinks Obama has a very cool head. Besides, the Parkers are registered Democrats.

- The Punisher doesn't care, but his father voted for Barry Goldwater (McCain's predecessor in the Senate) in the 1964 election.

- Ms. Marvel is definitely up for aggressive, responsible military defense (read Mighty Avengers #1). Also, she cut her teeth in the Air Force. From a president, McCain, for sure.

- She-Hulk is a lawyer. Though she loves her superhero life more than her lawyer life, she respects Obama's temperment. She's been in enough universe-shattering events to appreciate a guy who sits back, digests a situation, then makes a responsible descision.

- Iron Man is totally torn on this one. The former Secretary of Defense is no war monger, but he respects and knows the need to maintain peace through force. But he knows it can cause just as many problems as if fixes. In any case, if Obama had been running against the John McCain of 2000, it would have been McCain, easy. But the McCain of today bothers him. McCain has flipped his opinion on Roe v. Wade, Bush Tax Cuts, and cozied up to certain constituencies not out of real interest, but to win votes. McCain has alienated Stark, and Stark, though trusting in McCain, is really not all that trusting of McCain.

****

- Wonder Woman dislikes both candidates' interventionist policies. But she wouldn't vote for Ron Paul, a noninterventionist, because she has the feeling that Paul is a coot, albiet lovable. Besides, she's not even a US citizen.

- Superman grew up in Kansas, baby. The friggin heartland. Smallville ain't seeing any meaningful federal assistance from nobody since...when?...but Clark Kent is putting his vote for Obama, for the man's promise to move out of Iraq.

- Now, I actually asked Batman who he was for. In Midtown Manhattan, on 1st ave, he had no mask on, calling for a taxi. I was in a white 1937 cadillac town car with some friends. This is a true story. I rolled down my window, and asked, "Is Batman for McCain or Obama?"

"McCain!"

Casting The Muppets/Sesame Street 2008 Presidential Campaign Movie

* Barack Obama -- Kermit the Frog

* John McCain -- Kermit the Frog, with a white wig

* Sarah Palin / Hillary Clinton / Cindy McCain -- Miss Piggy (Who else can do all three?)

* Joseph Biden -- Gonzo

* Ted Kennedy -- Fozzie Bear

* Bob Barr -- The Swedish Chef

* Fred Thompson -- Mr. Snuffleupaguses

* Pat Buchanan -- Statler

* Robert Byrd, Senator and former member of the KKK -- Waldorf

* Sean Hannity -- Bert

* Alan Colmes -- Ernie

* Bill O'Reilly -- Oscar the Grouch

* Al Franken -- Scooter

* Oprah -- Nanny

* various protesters -- Animal

A Brief Explanation: why this is the best campaign season ever.

McCain doesn't answer questions about how many how much property he owns.

He is a damn War Hero.

His appearences on SNL are classic.

Parent of a Columbia alum.


****

Obama kisses a white woman on the cheek, and NOBODY in the media freaks out.

The senator from Illinois has an interesting trait for a politician: he gives the air of truly considering an idea before making a decision on it.

Jeremiah Wright!

Fist bump!

His kids are endearing and hilarious.

Ms. Obama's appearance on The Colbert Report was classic.

***

Biden...is Biden.

His speech at the DNC was very heartwarming. His family seems really cool, and sincerely sweet.

***

Gov Palin is the ex-beauty queen who canceled the controversial Bridge to Nowhere.

Her husband, Mr. Palin is such a hardass that he won the Iron Dog Snowmachine Race four times, and once came in fourth place--having broken his arm the day before.

****

HILL! R! E!

Clinton, that is.

Bush Auctions Louisiana

WASHINGTON--Congress has passed a joint resolution that allows President Bush to auction the state of Louisiana. Proceeds will be used to reduce the federal government's $9.5 trillion debt.

Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal criticized the sale in a radio interview. "#$%@ Bush!" he said.

"Bidding will begin at $1 million," Bush said during the White House Rose Garden signing ceremony. The number symbolizes the original price of the so-called Louisiana Purchase, encompassing 15 current states.

Then-president Thomas Jefferson brought the land from Napoleon Bonaparte in 1803. Critics had disparged the move as an excessive use of executive power.

Bush called the auction a return to small government principles, and a sign of bipartisan cooperation on Capitol Hill. He hopes that the proceeds will signal to the rest of the world that the United States is committed to positive international relations.

He outlined his contingency plan to move current residents of Louisiana to neighboring states, in the event that the highest bidder enforces strict regulations on "aliens-to-be." Refugees would relocate to FEMA trailers.

Experts predict that follow-up auctions will occur, featuring such states as Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. Bush dismissed speculation.

"As of this moment in time, considering this unpresidented act, and the benefit this will have on families, we cannot say that we will not not rule out

another sale, depending on the result," he said. "You get me? We will definitely not not consider another auction. And that's the truth."

Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain praised the move, saying that the most pressing issue in America today is the economy.

He said that the residents of Louisiana could soon witness a transformation similar to the economic renassiance in Dubai, a popular vacation spot for millionaires, and location of a number of high-priced man-made islands. Much of Lousiana experienced extensive property damage in the 2005 hurricane season, and many remain homeless.

Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, also supported the auction. At a rally in Hanover, New Hampshire, Obama mused that auction proceeds could be used to support failing corporations. "What happened to Bear Stearns is unacceptable. We need to save our multibillion dollar corporations," he said.

Obama stopped mid-speech, and looked at his hands for several moments. "What have I become?" the Illinois senator said.

The audience roared its approval. Even men bared their breasts.

Representatives from the United Arab Emirates, France, China, Mexico, Iraq, and 20 other nations plan to attend the auction, to be held August 1st, at the lower 9th Ward of New Orleans.

***

But, seriously, the debt is really #$%@!

Comments on an Obama Bill -- S.2111

I figure the best way to know a candidate is to read their damn bills. (The bill mentioned in this note was written/Sponsered by Barack Obama, with the aid of Richard Durbin, Bernard Sanders, and Charles Schumer)

S.2111 Positive Behavior for Effective Schools Acts a proposed bill
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-s2111/text

- I agree with the bill on an idealogical and logical basis. Good to focus on certain, if not outright proven, methods of rearing students. Haphazard, instinctive methods, such as, say, yelling at the kids or threatening them with a referral or detention, simply makes the kids scream louder if they have no respect for school itself. And a number of students have little respect for school. This bill has guts in confronting the abstract, and psychological problems of education.

- Puts the ball in the hands of local educations and education officials. The overall effectiveness of this proposed bill is subject to the brillance and/or bumbling of those people. Which is unavoidable, since a Congress in Washington is hardly in the best position to decide what exactly is the best, precise way to educate children. In regard to expansive social programs, they probably best serve as delegators, as guidance. This bill serves to balance Federal support with appropriate Federal restraint about the exact details of such programs.

- The proposed Director in this bill sounds like a good peson to have around, since it institutionalizes accountability. It creates a chain of command in this. I am unsure about details of the interplay between Executive and Legisative branches, but I hope there are yearly, concrete reports to congress about how the program is carrying on. The more accountability among politicans and The People, the better.

- Potential problems in its executive implementation. since promises made are different than promises kept:
1 - if both the Director, and the Deputy Secretary of Education is incompetant, and both the Sec. of Edu. and the President do nothing (which sure is hell is possible, because of the expansiveness of the jobs of latter two), God Help Us All;

2 - who is the best authority on "Positive Behavior Support"? Science is exact, but also slow, and sometimes contradicts earlier findings. And using science to raise a child's mind?--don't even get me started. Don't think this bill will simply create a perfect world in one week. If it works, it will be an arduous process, with a lot of disagreements among implementers about what techniques will work best. Parents and teachers will need patience. The bill is only a first step.

3 - also, the issue of religious instruction in public schools is going to hover around this bill (if the bill is even passed), and cause a number of ulcers

I am unfamiliar with the the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, which this bill amends. That big bill, in its current form, will definitely have a lot of influence on how S.2111 would play out, and I definitely missed something that needs mentioning.

The Presidential Election

McNasty
http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/300071_john_mccain
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=300071

BarackStar
http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/400629_barack_obama
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=400629
Getting too political for my own good. Figure if I am going to vote, then I should understand these men as best I can. I read their policy notes in the websites. I've skimmed over McCain, and am on the first section of Obama's 'Blueprint for Change.' Obama has a much more specific plan than McCain (I like the Transperancy section). But, anyway, the websites show what they want people to see. I've shared these links to third party sites for the hell of it. I've read some of the laws, and want to better consider their activity in congress. Like not only how many bills they introduction, but how many that pushed, etc. (I hope you like law-readin'.)

Barack says he'll yada yada, but has he shown the ability to do it? I am leaning toward him right now, but I'll like a lot more evidence in his activity before I throw my vote at a man who I've never meet, and may never meet. It'd be nice to vote on something more substantial than expressed policy.

Anyway, I may just vote against McCain because, according to his website, he likes the judiciary to stick to the decisions of the legislative and executive branch. He says he will appoint judges "who respect the lawmaking powers of Congress, and the powers of the President." A president will tend to appoint judges after his/her own heart. Granted, and necessary. And those judges, after that president leaves office, may even become a thorn in the side of the new president. And that's how I like it. The judiciary should and must have the ability to become a sharp pain in the ribs of the legislative and executive branches. Checks and balances. The job of the judiciary system is to referree--using the Constitution as a guide--the laws that the other two branches may support. So, if that proves a stumbling block to congress or the president, too bad. Yes, I like an appropriate amount of friction in my government.

By the way: Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State? Hm.