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Moving and Chia Obama

It's been a while since I've posted in this space, mainly due to a relocation in early July to Miami. Miami is quite a different place from NY, and I've been wondering if I could do something fun on the blog about the transition but so far, I haven't really had the time to even work on the blog.

But I just saw a commercial for Chia Obama... It comes in two forms - "Happy" and "Determined!" I guess everybody is trying to cash in. What better way to honor the President?

Obama's Honorary Degrees

People associated with Notre Dame are upset that the school honored Barack Obama with an honorary degree because of his views on stem cell research and abortion. Similarly, the Daily Show recently featured a story where Arizona State University students also were upset about conferring an honorary degree to the President.

Aren't honorary degrees sort of a silly formality anyway? It's not like it changes anything about the honoree. Do we call someone "doctor" if they get an honorary doctorate? Ultimately who cares?

Furthermore, aren't there going to be pro-choice students getting actual degrees at Notre Dame this year? Based on this logic, they should be prevented from getting their actual degrees?

Finally, I saw an article where the President was referred to as "the worst baby killer in the nation." Do we really need all the exaggeration? Last I checked, the President does not perform abortions, have the power to make laws about abortion or have the power to overturn abortion legislation.

Is Pepsi Using Obama's Popularity for Marketing?

I noticed at the inauguration that a number of people had bags from Pepsi, with the word "Hope" on them. The "O" on these bags was replaced with the Pepsi logo. No big deal, right? Then I saw a commercial on television for Pepsi, with the same logo and words like "Hope" and "Joy" and the Pepsi logo replacing the O. Again, not a big deal. But in that same commercial, was a "Yes You Can" with the Pepsi logo replacing the O. I realize everybody is jumping on the Obama bandwagon trying to market their products but isn't this extreme? It also seems to me that the new Pepsi logo and the Obama logo from the '08 campaign look very similar. Judge for yourself.

Inauguration

A crazy cold day, but pretty cool. Here's President Obama being sworn in from my view yesterday. He's the blurry thing next to the blurry thing in gold (Michelle Obama).

Obama-Mania

Or is it Obamania?

Whichever it is, I got my Inauguration ticket today. I'm pretty excited to be there but I'm in "Silver Area" which looks REALLY far away from the ceremony. Maybe it's closer than it seems. (It is not for sale)


Today at the comic store there was a mob because the latest issue of Amazing Spider-Man featured a brief story with Barack Obama. Now, this is the first issue of Amazing Spider-Man I've purchased since the "One More Day" disaster and I'm a bit ashamed I did. I only bought it out of pure speculation. But I never thought this kind of appearance would generate such excitement. It was pretty surprising how many people wanted this issue. I don't think the same thing would have happened had George W Bush appeared in a comic. I guess this just goes to show how excited folks are for Obama. Strangely enough, Barack Obama has already appeared in Savage Dragon, and also his own comic book, but neither one generated the same excitement as Spider-Man has.

Tested? How has John McCain Been Tested?

John McCain says, "America will not have a president who needs to be tested. I’ve been tested my friends.”

How exactly has McCain been tested? He's never had to make any decisions that affect the lives of millions of people? Obama hasn't either but he's not claiming to have greater experience in this arena than his opponent, just better judgment.

Town Hall Debate

The most disappointing thing to me about the "town hall debate" that occurred last Tuesday is the fact that it seemed no different than any of the other debates that have happened up to now. All we get are the same questions (this time, just posed by "regular people") and the same answers (that don't necessarily answer the posed question). The candidates just echo and parrot their usual schtick with no original material.

Certainly questions on the economy are important at this time, but it seemed like the same old thing - apparently both candidates will have the right tax cuts for me, while the other will not.

I was also shocked when John McCain said it would be easy to "fix" Social Security. The entitlements have been a supposed problem for years that nobody's been able to fix. If it was so easy, then why hasn't he fixed it in his 26 yrs in the Senate?

I Am So Frustrated By John McCain's Apparent Success

Since the DNC is starting today, I thought I would vent about John McCain.

He's doing well in the polls but for the life of me, I can't seem to figure out why. But let me vent about a few things.

1) Military experience - I've been thinking about John McCain's military experience. In what way does it make him suitable to be the President? Of course, he was a POW, and that's horrible. But his highest rank in the Navy was Captain. He could run a ship, but he never made it to Rear Admiral or Admiral (the highest ranks). Point is, the most distinguishing feature of his military career is that he was captured by the enemy!

2) As Paul Krugman points out in today's NY Times, all the "bad things" about John Kerry, also apply to John McCain! "Sugar daddy wife?" Check. Military service record available for distortion? Check.

3) Hillary Clinton supporters who are backing John McCain have to determine why exactly they are voting for Hillary Clinton, and why exactly they have decided to follow McCain instead of Obama. They clearly are not voting based on political platform, as Obama and Clinton are much more similar than Clinton and McCain. So if you're voting for another reason, what is it? Disrespect? Anger? Sadness? Are these reasons to vote for a candidate? Doesn't anger lead to hate, and hate lead to suffering?

4) I wonder if calling Barack Obama "arrogant" is code for calling him "uppity." What has he done to be arrogant? Went to Harvard and Columbia? The same things that make him "elitist" or "arrogant" are things that nearly every parent would wish their child would accomplish. Not to mention the last 3 Presidents went to Yale and the one before that was a movie star! By the way, apparently being a "huge celebrity" is not good if you're Obama, but fine if your name rhymes with Reagan.

5) Experience - a completely imagined qualification for President. Maybe the only relevant experience would be that of being some sort of executive or head of an organization. As Bill Clinton said recently, "You could argue nobody has the experience to be President." It's probably true. Some can handle the job better than others but how can we predict this? Our current President was a CEO and a governor and basically horrible. He has the most "experience" anybody could want and has been a failure. So why is experience important?

6) Finally, I guess the credit has to go to the Republican machine, which continues to perpetuate the myth that the media is "liberal" (see all of talk radio, Fox News and corporate ownership as counter-examples), and that somehow John McCain, whose economic policies will clearly benefit the rich, is better for lower income voters. It's making me really angry. Like "Hulk Smash" angry. Thanks for letting me vent.

Can You Smell What Barack Is Cooking?

I know candidates pander all the time to voters, but can you believe what happened the other night on WWE Raw? The three remaining Presidential candidates all were invited to give statements, and they all contained horrible horrible puns.

HORRIBLE. Can you smell what Barack is cooking? Hill-Rod? McCainiacs? Really??


Clinton:
Hi, I’m Hillary Clinton. But tonight, in honor of the WWE, you can call me Hill-Rod.

This election is starting to feel a lot like “King of the Ring.” The only difference? The last man standing may just be a woman.

The truth is, this election is so important. The next president will face a stack full of difficult challenges right from the opening bell… to fix the economy, bring our troops home from Iraq, and make college more affordable. You need a president who will go to the mat for you. And that’s exactly what I’ll do.

I’ve been knocked down, but I’ve always gotten back up. And I know how to take a hit for the American people. And if things get a little tough, I may even have to deliver the “people’s elbow.”

Because this country is worth fighting for.

Now, I promise to stick to the political arena. So don't worry Randy Orton you're safe… for now.

When it comes to standing up for the American people though, I am ready to rumble.

Obama:

Hey WWE fans - I hope you're all enjoying the program tonight. You know, this is a historic time for America. It's not just that the reign of Randy Orton may soon be coming to an end. It's that at this moment, in this election, we have a chance to finally end business-as-usual in Washington. For a long time now, we've had a politics where our leaders go after each other like they're competing to become King of the Ring instead of coming together to provide universal health care, fix our economy, and solve our other problems. That's what I'm running for President to change. So to the special interests who've been setting the agenda in Washington for too long - and to all the forces of division and distraction that have stopped us from making progress for the American people - I've got one question: Do you smell what Barack is cooking?

McCain:
"Looks like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama want to celebrate their differences in the ring," McCain says. "Well, that's fine with me, but let me tell you: If you want to be the man, you have to beat the man. Come November, it'll be game over. And whatcha gonna do when John McCain and all his McCainiacs run wild on you?"

Super Tuesday

Politics here - I am becoming increasingly worried that if John McCain wins the Republican nomination, he will win the Presidency. I don't like the prospect of putting the "first" woman or "first" African-American to the Presidency in a time of perceived crisis - we are involved with two wars and the economy is tanking. I have a feeling that most people will gravitate to the more traditional "old white man."

Also, it's very interesting to me how McCain is portrayed as "such a liberal" yet supports many conservative positions. At the same time, the conservative talk machine is completely against McCain and Huckabee. I don't really understand why or how all this came about, but I do find it interesting to see people assail Huckabee for not being conservative despite the fact that he has a huge following among Evangelical Christians.

Two items

The blog is due for a massive update - almost no updates in June so far. I do have a ton of Yankee updates. Before this, I can't let these two brief stories pass by.

First item
As seen on the Daily Show, Barack Obama ringtones. Ringtones?? Yes, they are soundbytes of Obama speeches mixed to techno music!

Second item
Larry King had the Beatles on the other night and called Ringo "George."

I saw the original article on Rollingstone.com, but here is the transcript as well.

KING: Where were you when — when John passed?
MCCARTNEY: When John passed I was in Sussex, at my home in Sussex. That’s where I was.
KING: Did somebody call you?
MCCARTNEY: Yes, my manager at the time called me. And it was just the shock of all shocks, you know?
KING: George, where were you?
MCCARTNEY: George!
KING: Ringo.
MCCARTNEY: No, this is Ringo here.
KING: Ringo, where were you?
STARR: I was in the Bahamas.
KING: I was getting to (INAUDIBLE) George.
STARR: I was…
MCCARTNEY: No, you weren’t, Larry. You said his name wrong.
STARR: Shut up, it’s my turn.
MCCARTNEY: I know, but he got your name wrong, Ringo, on national television.
STARR: I know. Give him a break.
MCCARTNEY: We can’t cut it. It’s live.
STARR: Anyway, I was in the Bahamas and the kids called and they said we’ve heard something, like John has been hurt.