Political punditry-Monday morning quarterbacking-is an awesome job! Why? For the same reasons that being a meterologist is-the expectation of certainty is really quite minimal and there is no expectation that you will be apologetic if wrong, or even an acknowledgement that you were wrong. At least meterologist's predictions are based on some empirical evidence and so their predictions have a likelihood of being right.
So why are all the talking heads paid so much for knowing so little? Why do people continuously support the punditry and reiterate their opinions when they are wrong so often rather than read insightful scholarship and develop their own ideas and opinions, i.e. think for themselves? It looks like that is just what the majority of Americans did on 4 November 2008. Thank you Obama supporters for proving the irrelevance of the conservative political punditry.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/11/06/bad_prediction/
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Random Thoughts About The Election
I'm not. No, I am. No, I'm not. And so the internal conflict about whether to contribute my wholly unoriginal thoughts about the election and insuing outcome has come to fruition as evidenced by this post. As America enters uncharted waters I have the utmost confidence that our country, and her people, will prevail. Without further adieu, my thoughts:
1) Obama's victory is a positive victory. Let me explain: Obama won this election because his vision of what America can and should be like resonated with many, many people. People voted for Obama because they wanted to, and because they believed in his vision. Listening to conservative commentators claim that Obama's victory is a negative one by alluding that this election was McCain's to lose is damaging to this country and is more telling about the divisiveness the Republicans once counted on. Polls reveal that a rather large percentage of McCain voters didn't want to vote for McCain but did so because they couldn't vote for Obama.
2) After listening to McCain's concession speech I couldn't help but think where was this McCain over the course of the campaign. Perhaps if we saw more of that McCain the outcome may have been different.
3) Obama realized, and righfully so, that there is an entire generation of voters that the Republicans just didn't make any effort to connect with, those voters comprising the 18-30 year-old demographic. Either the Republicans really believed that apathy among that generation was a real phenomenon, or the more paternalistic and patriarachal of McCain's advisors really believed they do know what is better for young people, nevertheless it was a huge miscalculation. It is the kind of miscalculation that really smart and in-touch people just don't make.
4) Obama realizes that our 'culture' is evolving. The Republicans don't. Issues such as abortion just don't affect the younger people in the same manner as the baby boomers and pre-baby boomers that are still alive. Proof again that the Republican party is vastly out of touch. I am hopeful that Obama will work to end the culture war that the Republicans have been so adamant about fighting. If the Republicans really want to regain some viability they should put all the old white men out to pasture and begin cultivating young and energetic leaders that recognize when what was once an issue is no longer an issue. Voters continually and resoundingly defeat legislation that attempts to constrain abortion. Lose the 'moral majority' motif and maybe, just maybe, Republicans will emerge from the desert.
5) Where is Joe the Plumber? This is proof that the American public is not as stupid as the Republicans thought, and they got pummeled for it. The ham-handed attempt to politicize the plight of the 'average' American by hauling out someone that is not indicative of an 'average' American (whatever that may be) was shameful. The American people recognize gimmicks when they see them, and they saw right through this. McCain's advisors should never work in politics again after thinking that they could actually win a presidential election by hauling Joe out at every campaign event and have him talk about Israeli policy. I mean, did McCain hire a bunch of used car salesman?
6) Sarah Palin? Need I say more?
7) I am really enjoying listening to all the groveling among the conservative commentators. They are really beside themselves and are not happy with democracy right now. The majority of Americans spoke and the conservatives are a minority and are none too happy about it! Perhaps the Hannity's and Limbaugh's will finally develop a reality-based perspective on their relevance in the political discourse. One wonders if they have ever heard the expression, "Preachin' to the choir."
8) The Evangelical Right is not as powerful as it thought. Thank God! It is paradoxical that those who claim to follow Jesus' teachings most closely know little or nothing about Jesus' teachings.
Finally, we have a president that is thoughtful and capable of developing a deep understanding of complex issues.
1) Obama's victory is a positive victory. Let me explain: Obama won this election because his vision of what America can and should be like resonated with many, many people. People voted for Obama because they wanted to, and because they believed in his vision. Listening to conservative commentators claim that Obama's victory is a negative one by alluding that this election was McCain's to lose is damaging to this country and is more telling about the divisiveness the Republicans once counted on. Polls reveal that a rather large percentage of McCain voters didn't want to vote for McCain but did so because they couldn't vote for Obama.
2) After listening to McCain's concession speech I couldn't help but think where was this McCain over the course of the campaign. Perhaps if we saw more of that McCain the outcome may have been different.
3) Obama realized, and righfully so, that there is an entire generation of voters that the Republicans just didn't make any effort to connect with, those voters comprising the 18-30 year-old demographic. Either the Republicans really believed that apathy among that generation was a real phenomenon, or the more paternalistic and patriarachal of McCain's advisors really believed they do know what is better for young people, nevertheless it was a huge miscalculation. It is the kind of miscalculation that really smart and in-touch people just don't make.
4) Obama realizes that our 'culture' is evolving. The Republicans don't. Issues such as abortion just don't affect the younger people in the same manner as the baby boomers and pre-baby boomers that are still alive. Proof again that the Republican party is vastly out of touch. I am hopeful that Obama will work to end the culture war that the Republicans have been so adamant about fighting. If the Republicans really want to regain some viability they should put all the old white men out to pasture and begin cultivating young and energetic leaders that recognize when what was once an issue is no longer an issue. Voters continually and resoundingly defeat legislation that attempts to constrain abortion. Lose the 'moral majority' motif and maybe, just maybe, Republicans will emerge from the desert.
5) Where is Joe the Plumber? This is proof that the American public is not as stupid as the Republicans thought, and they got pummeled for it. The ham-handed attempt to politicize the plight of the 'average' American by hauling out someone that is not indicative of an 'average' American (whatever that may be) was shameful. The American people recognize gimmicks when they see them, and they saw right through this. McCain's advisors should never work in politics again after thinking that they could actually win a presidential election by hauling Joe out at every campaign event and have him talk about Israeli policy. I mean, did McCain hire a bunch of used car salesman?
6) Sarah Palin? Need I say more?
7) I am really enjoying listening to all the groveling among the conservative commentators. They are really beside themselves and are not happy with democracy right now. The majority of Americans spoke and the conservatives are a minority and are none too happy about it! Perhaps the Hannity's and Limbaugh's will finally develop a reality-based perspective on their relevance in the political discourse. One wonders if they have ever heard the expression, "Preachin' to the choir."
8) The Evangelical Right is not as powerful as it thought. Thank God! It is paradoxical that those who claim to follow Jesus' teachings most closely know little or nothing about Jesus' teachings.
Finally, we have a president that is thoughtful and capable of developing a deep understanding of complex issues.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Can't Israel Take Care of Itself?
Why all the fuss over American military intervention to aid an Israel under attack? Among the IDF's most notable qualities are, "the developer of the world's first high-energy laser weapon system capable of shooting down a rocket carrying a live warhead, and the pioneer of what is considered the world's most secure tank," and, "On the one hand, it is considered one of the world's most professional, elite and effective fighting forces. Its air force, Special Forces, intelligence and engineering units have pioneered and executed novel and innovative campaigns that are studied by military tacticians all over the world", also, "On the one hand the Israeli army is considered to be a front-runner in conceptualizing and developing state-of -the-art weapons systems. Its technological and research departments have contributed enormously to providing cutting-edge technology whose use is far wider than state-of-the-art weapons systems. Such units have made world-class breakthroughs in ballistic missile technology, electro-optics and other fields. Soldiers from these units are highly sought after in the hi-tech world and have gone on to adapt their experience from these units to use in household PCs, internet portals, wireless communication and even in cancer research."
For more on the IDF's excellent military capabilities follow the link below:
http://www.mahal-idf-volunteers.org/information/background/content.htm
For more on the IDF's excellent military capabilities follow the link below:
http://www.mahal-idf-volunteers.org/information/background/content.htm
The Newest Member of McCain's Foreign Policy Advisors
Meet the aforementioned newest member of McCain's foreign policy team:
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/28/joe-plumber-backs-claim-obama-bring-death-israel/comments/
Yikes!
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/28/joe-plumber-backs-claim-obama-bring-death-israel/comments/
Yikes!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Those Pesky Flies
In what was her first policy address Gov. Sarah Palin laid out the McCain administrations plans for special needs children and their families. She plans to exempt disability programs from the discretionary spending freeze the McCain administration plans to institute in its first year of office and fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, among other special needs programs. Both Palin and McCain have been very explicit about the importance of special needs children in their hearts; and no doubt they are. Palin has a child with Down Syndrome and a nephew with autism.
Enter Drosophila melanogaster. The fruit fly has been one of the most important tools in genetic research thus far-besides the researchers themselves-particularly in current research into autism. For more on the indispensable role of the fruit fly's importance in genetic research (if you know as little as Gov. Palin) see this: http://media.www.jhunewsletter.com/media/storage/paper932/news/2003/11/14/Science/Fruit.Fly.Study.Improves.Genetic.Research-2245662.shtml
Also, check out Gov. Palin's excellent grasp of science's contribution to special needs children while commenting about earmark spending:
"That's more than the shortfall to fully fund the IDEA," she said. "And where does a lot of that earmark money end up? It goes to projects having little or nothing to do with the public good -- things like fruit fly research in Paris, France, or a public policy center named for the guy who got the earmark. In our administration, we're going to reform and refocus. We're going to get our federal priorities straight, and fulfill our country's commitment to give every child opportunity and hope in life."
One more thing, the fruit fly research she needs to be concerned with is carried out in North Carolina and not Paris, France. Check out this because I couldn't have said it any better:
"Oooh, now ya see, that Sciency stuff is just Pork Dontcha know? Only god can make cures. *winkwink*," from a reply on Think Progress.org.
You think Sen. McCain is regretting his 'mavericky' choice for running mate? You betcha! *winkwink*
Enter Drosophila melanogaster. The fruit fly has been one of the most important tools in genetic research thus far-besides the researchers themselves-particularly in current research into autism. For more on the indispensable role of the fruit fly's importance in genetic research (if you know as little as Gov. Palin) see this: http://media.www.jhunewsletter.com/media/storage/paper932/news/2003/11/14/Science/Fruit.Fly.Study.Improves.Genetic.Research-2245662.shtml
Also, check out Gov. Palin's excellent grasp of science's contribution to special needs children while commenting about earmark spending:
"That's more than the shortfall to fully fund the IDEA," she said. "And where does a lot of that earmark money end up? It goes to projects having little or nothing to do with the public good -- things like fruit fly research in Paris, France, or a public policy center named for the guy who got the earmark. In our administration, we're going to reform and refocus. We're going to get our federal priorities straight, and fulfill our country's commitment to give every child opportunity and hope in life."
One more thing, the fruit fly research she needs to be concerned with is carried out in North Carolina and not Paris, France. Check out this because I couldn't have said it any better:
"Oooh, now ya see, that Sciency stuff is just Pork Dontcha know? Only god can make cures. *winkwink*," from a reply on Think Progress.org.
You think Sen. McCain is regretting his 'mavericky' choice for running mate? You betcha! *winkwink*
That Evil Mainstream Media
The Republican punditry (Hannity, Limbaugh, O'Reilly) make frequent references to the 'mainstream media' and its left-wing biases, all while sitting behind microphones owned by some of the largest media conglomerates in the world. This is laughable because-well, it just is-but also because Sean Hannity's books are published by HarperCollins which is a subsidiary of News Corp., Fox News Channel's parent company. To glimpse News Corp.'s media holdings check out their website. I am pretty sure News Corp. is one of the largest media conglomerates in the world; but, hey, Hannity's not part of the mainstream media, huh?
What about Limbaugh? His books are published by Pocket Publishing, a footprint of Simon and Schuster which is owned by CBS, the home of sweet little Katie Couric. Who knew Limbaugh and Couric were co-workers of sorts? Then there's Rush Radio which is broadcast on over 600 radio stations nationwide. But he's not part of the mainstream media either.
And Billo! Well, not only has he just renewed his contract with Fox News for a reported ten-million dollars per year (elitist scum) but his books are published by Broadway which is a subsidiary of Doubleday which boasts on its website about being the "worlds largest English language general book publisher." Alas, not part of the mainstream media either.
What about Limbaugh? His books are published by Pocket Publishing, a footprint of Simon and Schuster which is owned by CBS, the home of sweet little Katie Couric. Who knew Limbaugh and Couric were co-workers of sorts? Then there's Rush Radio which is broadcast on over 600 radio stations nationwide. But he's not part of the mainstream media either.
And Billo! Well, not only has he just renewed his contract with Fox News for a reported ten-million dollars per year (elitist scum) but his books are published by Broadway which is a subsidiary of Doubleday which boasts on its website about being the "worlds largest English language general book publisher." Alas, not part of the mainstream media either.
Where's the Consensus?
Just yesterday my students and I were talking about the economy and conjecturing about the various reasons for the current state of it. I noticed that the most salient feature of our discussion was the number of differing opinions the students held and the sheer lack of consensus. Now, most people develop their opinions about things like the economy from whatever newschannel they watch and the 'experts' being pimped by the network which in turn depends on the political leanings of the channel. But what is troublesome about this is the lack of consensus among those 'experts', even about the fundamentals of economics, and the obfuscation that has been injected into the public discourse due to partisan politics.
This lack of consensus leaches out into the public discourse so that everything becomes a matter of utter opinion, and "that's just your opinion" becomes the most prevalent argumentative catchphrase. I attribute this phenomenon to the Bush/Cheney administration and their campaign to cast as much doubt as possible on the scientific evidence supporting global warming, which was antithetical to their Big Oil mission.
I will post more about this when I do more research.
This lack of consensus leaches out into the public discourse so that everything becomes a matter of utter opinion, and "that's just your opinion" becomes the most prevalent argumentative catchphrase. I attribute this phenomenon to the Bush/Cheney administration and their campaign to cast as much doubt as possible on the scientific evidence supporting global warming, which was antithetical to their Big Oil mission.
I will post more about this when I do more research.
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