A leather case of vintage Bingo and other board games at a French brocante. Chris Isaak sings about the only Wicked Game worth playing.
Pathetic. Is this what Hillary Clinton considers leadership - twisting and manipulating someone else's words, taken out of context - rather than come up with solutions for those people losing their jobs and homes? The ad - and Clinton's focus in her recent speeches - insults voters' intelligence. Oh and one of the so-called Pennsylvania voters in the ad is actually registered to vote in New Jersey."Bitter?" You betcha! Seriously, who isn't disappointed about what's happened to our country under George W. Bush (other than his rich and getting richer cronies)?
John Baer of The Philadelphia Daily News responds to Clinton's latest campaign tactics:
"Some thoughts on the latest diversion of Campaign '08, a campaign apparently hell-bent on keeping the nation mired in its own stupidity. As a native-born, small-town Pennsylvanian, a son of native-born, small-town Pennsylvania parents - one from the coal region, one from Lancaster County - let me assure you that the so-called offensive, condescending things Barack Obama said about the people I come from are basically right on target."Bitter" perhaps best describes my late mother, an angry Irish Catholic who absolutely clung to her religion. Dad, also a journalist, wasn't really bitter as far as I know, but he sure liked to hunt. So, despite carping from Hillary Clinton and annoying yapping from her surrogates (really, it's like turning on the lights at night in a puppy farm), I take no offense. What's offensive to me is suggesting that small-town, working-class, gun-toting and/or religious Pennsylvanians are somehow injured by a politician's words.
"Are you kidding me? They're injured all right, but the injury is long-term and from lots more than "just words." They've been injured from decades of neglect by political cultures in Washington and Harrisburg driven by special interests. They're injured by a system of isolated, insulated political leadership that protects itself and the status quo above all else.
"They've been harmed by a lack of political guts to fix a health-care system that works against the poor and forces middle-class families to pay more for less, while at the same time giving politicians the best coverage taxpayer money can buy.
"They've been taken for granted by political parties and candidates who stay in power by - and this was the apparent gist of Obama's remarks - forcing attention and debate on issues tied to guns, religion and race (precisely because such issues resonate) rather than real problems such as health care and the economy.
"They've been consistently made fools of by their own elected representatives who, year after year, pull fat salaries ($169,000 for every member of Congress; $150,000 in salary, perks and benefits for every state lawmaker) with automatic raises no matter how little gets done.
"A new Associated Press poll shows Congress' approval rating at 23 percent. And don't even get me started on the Pennsylvania Legislature. Insulting? What's insulting are the sizes of salaries and perks of politicians in a state where the median household income is $43,714. What's insulting is the ongoing failure of elected "leaders" to deal with long-term, working-class worries while insuring their own futures with hefty, over-rich pensions...
"...So the question is whether Obama effectively defuses this, as he did the controversy surrounding his former minister. And that remains to be seen. Just don't tell me that he insulted a state or, given his background, that he's an out-of-touch elitist. And I especially don't want to hear such arguments from a candidate who spent decades in the bubble of a governor's mansion, the White House and the U.S. Senate and under the blanket of $109 million income during the last eight years.
Pennsylvanians might cling to religion and guns. I hope they don't cling to stupidity."
Here are some excellent points about the disingenuous actions of both the Clinton and McCain campaigns and the media's unwillingness or inability to cover the stories.
In the end I will vote for whoever the Democratic party puts forth as their candidate. I have waited for 30 years (when I could first vote) for a woman to be President, though it is not looking good. I do think though all of you are putting way to much hope and confidence into Obama. Remember he is still a politician and when he actually takes office then we will see what he is made of. To me with his pro-christian attitude he might as well as been "born again" like Bush. AS for the comment that some people will simply not vote for a black man which is true but on the other hand I bet more people simply won't vote for a woman. In our country it is still better to be a man of any color or status than a woman.
Posted by: Gena M | 16 April 2008 at 15:53
*sigh* Chris Isaak - his voice is still dreamy...
and yes unfortunately the media can be biased on what they cover can't they? It's much the same here...
Posted by: Amy | 16 April 2008 at 01:47
I am observing all of this mud flinging carefully. I love the box, I play Dominoes.
Posted by: Yoli | 16 April 2008 at 01:18
The ad made me gag but the others made some excellent points!
Loved the games. ;) XXOO
Posted by: Tammy | 16 April 2008 at 00:06
Tara,
Though I have been moving house for the last month,I have kept up with your blog throughout this time, I could not agree with you more on the Clinton charade and the McCain drain, both appear like unsavory options for the USA-dynasties founded in the perks of power and greed! leaving the majority paying for the abuses-happy to say Barak is my man for president,finally some authenticity and clarity of vision,not to mention the gift of inspiring a very broken nation-from your Midi dancing doc- a healthcare refugee living in the Languedoc joy!!!
bethenais
do tell me when you might be in the south !!!
Posted by: betheanne | 15 April 2008 at 23:58
I'm so non political, because I just am. But I loved the game set.
Posted by: Mary T. | 15 April 2008 at 22:33
why doesn't the media cover this side of the story too? are they really so bought-out by clinton & mccain supporters so as to only cover one side of such multi-faceted stories?
Posted by: studio wellspring | 15 April 2008 at 22:12
Somehow reading the news and commentary on your blog makes it all a little easier for me to stomach. Thank you.
On a lighter note, we just saw Chris Issak on Clement Street a few weeks ago while we were eating ice cream at Toy Boat. I know how you like little SF updates!
xo
Posted by: tangobaby | 15 April 2008 at 22:01
Hi, Tara -- I'm back from Artiscape and didn't hear politics or anything much but art for three days! I ADORE the bingo case! That's a real treasure!
It's nice to check in -- will have to "backread" the Parfait!
Posted by: Jeanie | 15 April 2008 at 21:14