Monday, January 28, 2008

Fair And Balanced

As a political junkie I was watching the cable news coverage of the President's State of the Union address. I saw our old friend Dick Morris being interviewed by Sean Hannity on Fox. Underneath Morris was the label: Former Clinton adviser. Now people who know about politics know this is true. Morris worked for Bill Clinton during the 1996 campaign. He worked for Bill Clinton right up until the time he was fired. And he was fired for letting a hooker listen in on his phone calls with the president in some random hotel room. This is common knowledge in politics. But to the casual Fox viewer they would just think hey man this guy is some sort of sympathetic Clinton supporter. Right? Well that's what Fox wants you to think. Cause they are fair and balanced.

Later I turned it back over to hear what looked to me like a drunk Chuck Norris stump for Huckabee. Now that was the best thing I saw all night.

Here's What The President Should Say Tonight

My fellow Americans, as you know I have less than a full year left in office. This year Americans are going to the polls to pick my replacement. And I don't mind telling you I know it's a good time to be running for office. Especially this office. When you are president you make $400,000 a year and you get free health care. I'm talking no deductible! You don't wait in traffic. You don't pay rent. You get free cable. And you can listen in on anybody's phone call you want. It's good to be the President, so long as you can be a dictator.

Now, during this last year I pledge to work with the congress to get a few legislative items passed. The most pressing is this: I need immunity from breaking the law. I know when I ordered people in our custody to be tortured I was breaking the law. And when I ignored the FISA court and spied on American cititzens I was breaking the law. So we got to get some legislation passed that will protect me from prosecution once I leave the friendly confines of the White House. Now sure, I broke the law but I meant well. And as President, laws don't really apply to me anyway. Now, I know that and many of you know that but I don't think many in Congress understand that. So we need to send them a message.

And for all you Americans with less than perfect credit who are struggling to make your mortgage payments every month. Let this be a lesson to you. Those adjustable rate mortgages are a real bitch. Now I'll be sending most of you a check this summer. It won't do you any good as far as you being able to stay in your house but you will be able to go out and get that iphone you've had your eye on for the last year.

Let me conclude by going over some of the themes of my presidency. Stem cells and steroids: Bad. Oil and corporate greed: Good. Thank you all and may God continue to Bless these United States of America.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Thompson "Quits"

You can't really quit something you never really began. I don't know what Fred Thompson was thinking. Nobody's going to be elected president with a campaign theme of "I don't really want to be here."

On the other hand, I'm pulling for John Edwards, who by the way has run a hell of campaign. But let's face it. The writing is on the wall for this guy too. But, I refuse to make any predictions for the duration of the primary season. It's too nutty and too much fun to watch.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Close Guantanamo Now!

It was six years ago today that the first prisoners were brought to Guantanamo. And in six years not one person has gone to trial for any crime for which they have been detained. What country does this?

If someone has committed a crime. Charge them and try them in a court of law. Present the evidence and allow them to defend themselves. That is the America I believe in.

775 people have been brought to this legal no mans land. 470 have been released without any charges. Including three British Muslims who were held for three years.

We should transfer them to the US and charge them with a crime. Or send them back to the country they came from. Only 5% of the detainees at Gitmo were actually captured by US forces on the ground in the war on terror. Most of the people were turned in for money, paid by the US, to villagers and local tribesmen settling old scores with rivals. That's how you go from 775 to 405. But this is not how America should behave. Colin Powell has voiced his displeasure saying "we have shaken the belief the world had in America's justice system by keeping a place like Guantanamo open and creating things like the military commission."

Even Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice favor shutting down Guantanamo.

It's been six years. Are we really going to have to wait for a new administration to come in and restore our shared American values? We are better than that.

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Damn Liberal Media

Chris Matthews had me BELIEVING Obama was gonna win in New Hampshire. I was believing it! Don't get me wrong I still wanted Edwards to win, or at least do well. But Obama had the big MO! It was his to loose.
I even called some of my Obama friends and told them I was excited. Edwards would be a better president in my book. And I will support Edwards until he drops out. But this is what it's all about for me. The horse race.
And the dems have a lot of good choices. As a matter of fact, the only Democrat I absolutely will not vote for even if they get the nomination is...Giuliani. (ba- dum-dum) Thank you very much.

Sunday, January 06, 2008

That's My Boy


No one works harder for you than this guy. Come on America! Come on New Hampshire!

Friday, January 04, 2008

Iowa

I guess I should have been more vocal for John Edwards in Iowa. I don't think very many people in Iowa read thedirtysouth. As a matter of fact, not very many people in the world read thedirtysouth. Of course I haven't blogged much lately in the first place and when I did I never came out full force for anybody this primary season. Did I? I tell the people in my real life who I am supporting. Most of those people have been supporting Obama. And congratulations to them and to him. I think Obama would be a fine president.

But no one has spoken out more eloquently or more passionately about the plight of the working poor in this country than Edwards. I got to see Edwards speak here in Memphis a few months ago and he reminded me of an old time country preacher. I know he's selling something. He's selling himself. But he's also selling the idea that to be great in America is not just to succeed in business. It's not just to build a huge mansion. (for which he himself has been derided for in the media and in blogland) It's not just to build an empire of far flung enterprises. It's the idea that helping others is just as important. That service to your community is just as important.

I agree with what Norman Soloman wrote about Edwards the candidate:

[ There have been good reasons not to support John Edwards for president. For years, his foreign-policy outlook has been a hodgepodge of insights and dangerous conventional wisdom; his health-care prescriptions have not taken the leap to single payer; and all told, from a progressive standpoint, his positions have been inferior to those of Dennis Kucinich.

But Edwards was the most improved presidential candidate of 2007. He sharpened his attacks on corporate power and honed his calls for economic justice. He laid down a clear position against nuclear power. He explicitly challenged the power of the insurance industry and the pharmaceutical giants.

And he improved his position on Iraq to the point that, in an interview with the New York Times a couple of days ago, he said: “The continued occupation of Iraq undermines everything America has to do to reestablish ourselves as a country that should be followed, that should be a leader.” Later in the interview, Edwards added: “I would plan to have all combat troops out of Iraq at the end of nine to ten months, certainly within the first year.”

Now, apparently, Edwards is one of three people with a chance to become the Democratic presidential nominee this year. If so, he would be the most progressive Democrat to top the national ticket in more than half a century.]

Now that would be awesome!

But right now, a respectable second in Iowa doesn't do anything for a candidate who has been trailing third consistently in national polls. But there is still meager hope.

Speaking of Hope. Another guy from Hope Arkansas is taking his party by storm. I'm from Arkansas and let me tell you, Huckabee is no Clinton. Amen!