Day: 9/6/2008

The Sarah Palin Watch Widget

Posted by on September 6, 2008 at 2:38 am. 17 Comments :

Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin burst on the scene from nowhere – Nowhere, Alaska, that is. You know, the place where they wanted to build that bridge to. And despite the fact that nobody in at least 49 states knew the slightest bit about her, she rocketed to stardom as the leading light of American conservatism.

Consequently, some Americans wanted to know more about the person who may become a 72 year old heartbeat from the presidency of the United States. They will be disappointed. The McCain campaign has sequestered Palin and will not permit reporters to interview her. They will allow no questions on the vetting process, or the abuse of power investigation that is currently underway. They refuse to clarify her positions on foreign policy or Congressional earmarking. There will be no direct examination of her record as governor or her fitness for national office. In short, the American people should shut up and be happy with whatever happy talk the campaign wishes to engage in via staged rallies and campaign ads. That is almost exactly what McCain spokesperson Nicolle Wallace told Jay Carney of Time Magazine.

I created the Palin Watch widget to record the elapsed time from her entry into the race, until she agrees to answer questions in a fair, independent, national media forum. There is simply no other way to assess her ability to perform the job she seeks. A candid give and take with probing journalists reveals more of a candidates knowledge and insight than a speech that was probably prepared by aides. The job she wants is far too important to give to an unknown quantity who arrogantly declines to open herself up to the people she would serve.

The Palin Watch was inspired in part by the Obama Watch, a device that Chris Wallace used to goad Barack Obama into appearing on his Fox News Sunday program. The difference is that I am not pimping my own show, or any show, so long as Palin makes herself available to press scrutiny.

Americans must rise up and demand that McCain free Sarah Palin. The time is now to come clean so that voters have sufficient information to make an informed judgment. Democracy is in a sorry state if political strategists can hawk candidates like soda pop without ever disclosing the ingredients.

Copyright Protection: Another McCain Weak Point

Posted by on September 6, 2008 at 12:59 am. NO Comments :

During the course of John McCain’s campaign, he has had a little trouble selecting music to accompany his public events. It seems that whatever he selects he ends up offending the artist who then objects to the use of the song and requests that McCain cease and desist. It has become such a recurring problem that I thought it would be prudent to begin to document it. So far, the following artists have publicly called on McCain to refrain from employing their refrains [updated 10/17/08]:

  • Bon Jovi – Who Says You Can’t Go Home
  • Foo Fighters – My Hero
  • Heart – Barracuda
  • Jackson Browne – Running on Empty
  • Frankie Valli – Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You
  • Owners of the Rocky Theme
  • Van Halen – Right Now
  • Orleans – Still the One
  • Tom Petty – I Won’t Back Down
  • John Mellencamp – Pink House and Our Country
  • Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode

Mike Myers also complained when McCain used a clip of his character from Wayne’s World. But perhaps the most pathetic misappropriation occurred when McCain used a photograph as a backdrop for his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention. The picture was of the Walter Reed Middle School in North Hollywood, California, whose administration was none too pleased at having their institution politicized. In all likelihood, McCain meant to use a picture of the Walter Reed Medical Center. For a candidate who is running on his military resume, he ought to know what the famous Army facility looks like.

In any case, the McCain camp may want to seek permission in advance the next time they hear a song they think will spice up one of their rallies. Maybe former senator John Ashcroft would let McCain use his signature tune: Let the Eagle Soar.