Musings on the November 2008 Elections

This page contains random thoughts on the candidates for the November 2008 elections. It is non-partisan, and simply tries to present matters based on facts and many decades in national affairs. The writer of this page is non-partisan, and interested more in facts and what is in the best interests of the more honorable of the citizens of the United States.

Matters associated with Republican presidential candidate John McCain:

• His reported hero status. The facts:
   
  • Being shot down during the invasion of Vietnam after a few short flights does not meet the definition of a hero. Sympathy? Yes, but not hero status. And his five years as a captive in Vietnam does not make him any more of an expert on military matters. This writer is also a former Naval Aviator, and while the experience of years as a Patrol Plane Commander was valuable, it does not meet the definition of either a hero or a military expert. It is useful, however, in comparison with the general population.
     
• Dangerous war-mongering attitude that can results in most Americans being annilated in a nuclear attack.
   
  • McCain support for Georgia and talk of war with Russia.
     
  • McCain's support for the invasion of Iraq, the consequences of which include (a) the brutal deaths of a reported nearly one million Iraqis; (b) the deaths of over 4,000 American military personnel and maiming and injuries to over 12,000; (c)
     
• Lack of Integrity:
   
• • Few people today remember the Keating Five, of which McCain was a member. In the midst of the blatant frauds involving the savings and loan scandals of the 1980s, McCain acted to prevent an investigation and correction of the enormous financial frauds being perpetrated upon the United States and its people.
    
    
  • Abandoning his first wife, stricken with cancer, divorcing her during period of great need, and then marrying a rich widow, is hardly the type of person for any elected office. Certainly not the president of the United States.
     
• Campaigning on the simple issues of earmarks and lobbyists.
   
  • Earmarks are the least of the problems confronting the United States.
     
  • His campaign against lobbyists hides the fact that a large number of present and former lobbyists are in his election group.
     
• Propensity for blatant serial lying:
   
  • Like George Bush, relying upon the lack of knowledge of the average American, sputters a series of lies, insulting the intelligence of the people, or recognizing his ignorance on material matters.
     
  • Willing to put the welfare of the country at risk in order to win the election. He did this by selecting a thoroughly unqualified woman to be vice president, knowing that the selection will gain him large women votes.
     
• Bad Judgment:
   
  • Selecting an unqualified person as vice president, apparently thinking that enough women would now vote the ticket just to see a woman on it. This is not only poor judgment (except to win the election), but a contempt for the office and the United States, imposing upon the people and the country someone totally lacking in qualifications and with judgment that could easily put the United States into a devastating deadly nuclear war with Russia.
    
• McCain and the Housing and Financial Crisis
  
• McCain was always for removing regulations from the housing and financial firms, and pressuring regulators not to impose safety measures. McCain used as his financial advisor former Senator Phil Gramm, whose actions led to the excesses that today may yet bring down the entire U.S. financial system. And it was McCain, who pressured regulators not to act during the escalating corruption that brought about the savings and loan financial debacles. Think of just a few of his decisions that resulted in hundreds of billions in costs to the taxpayers, the loss of savings by milllions of people, including the life savings and retirement of thousands of people:
  
• Support for deregulation that anyone in the real estate field knew would result in the savings and loan frauds.
  
• Supported President George W. Bush's attempts to privatize Social Security, investing the money in Wall Street financial instuments. The present financial meltdown shows what would have happened, as anyone could have foreseen.
  
• Supported the invasion of Iraq, based on lies, that has resulted in several hundred thousand deadl Iraqi, 12,000 dead, maimed, or injured Americans, worldwide hatred for Americans, explosive growth of terrorists wanting to kill Americans, over a trillion dollars in debt that Americans will someday have to pay, and much more.
  |
• Supported deregulation under President George W. Bush that made the present financial debacle possible, with the loss of retirement and other savings by thousands of Americans.
  
• Supports military attack upon Iran, the results of which would be devastating for the United States and military personnel stuck in a Dunkirk-like situation.
  
• Selected for vice president a pathetically unfit person, showing to the world the pathetic level of intelligence by many Americans.
  
• As for McCain's bragging about being right in supporting the surge of troops into Iraq in 2007, keep in mind that:
  
• The change in the situation had already started with the U.S. paying certain groups not to shoot at U.S. military personnel.
  
• It was McCain who supported the serial lying that caused the Bush administration to start a war that has already killed and maimed over 10,000 U.S. military perosnnel, an estimated seveal hundred thousand Iraqis (infants, children, senior citizens and others), plunged the U.S. into debt that has yet to be paid for, increased the number of people wanting to kill Americans, and created worldwide hatred for the United States.
  
• If McCain became the president, a nuclear confrontation with Russia is a strong possibility. That means tens of millions of incinerated Americans.
  
• Other examples of poor judgment that has resulted in thousands of deaths in one area, and hundreds of billions of dollars of losses for America's taxpayers:
  
• Blocking corrective actions in the great savings and loan scandals of the 1980s. He was a key member of the infamous "Keating Five."
  
• Pushing for deregulation, which allowed outrageous abuses to occur by Wall Street firms, which resulted in the greatest housing and financial crisis since the great financial depression of the 1930s.
  
• Pushed to support President Bush's privatization of Social Security, which would have retirement funds put into Wall Street financial instruments, which today are almost valueless.
  
• Supported the serial lying that enabled President Bush to start the war with Iraq, with hundreds of thousands of Iraqi dead (children, senior citizens and others), over 12,000 dead or maimed GIs.
  
• Appointed a pathetically unqualified person to be vice president of the United States, who has the same lying habit of Preesident George W. Bush, thereby putting the nation at great peril.
  
• Believes in military action against Iran for attempting to develop nuclear power (that is being developed by nations throughout the world). Such a military action would have catastrophic consequences for the United States.

Matters associated with Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin:

• In response to a question asked of her about what the United States should do about the confrontation involving Georgia and Russia, Palin responded that the United States should go to war with Russia if Georgia is a member of NATO. This glib response, more than anything else, shows Palin's not only incompetency for any position in the White House, but also the catastrophic consequences if she was ever in that position.
   
  • Russia has over 6,000 nuclear missiles. Going to war with  Russia means having virtually every U.S. city wiped off the map, it's people incinerated, plus the long lingering and painful consequences of those who on the perimeter of the nuclear blasts manage to survive the initial nuclear explosion. for all practice purposes, that means the end of life as we know it in the United States.
     
  • Further, international media reports show that Russia was goaded into sending troops into Georgia. by its president; that George had invaded a neighboring country, ...., that  contained many Russians, causing Russia to come to its defense; that the United States was encouraging countries surrounding Russia, and a part of the former Soviet Union, to become members of the military NATO; that the United States was arming Georgia; that the United States was setting up nuclear missiles in nearby Poland.
     
  • A parallel provocation in reverse would include (a) Russia installing nuclear missiles in Mexico; (b) Russia arming Mexico with Russian military equipment and advisers; 
     
• Supported the U.S. invasion of Iraq because Iraq was associated with al Qaeda and was involved in the 9/11 airplane hijackings.
   
  • It has been well known throughout the world that Iraq had no al Qaeda, and that Iraq was an enemy of al Qaeda, or any other terrorist organization (that would have also been a threat to Iraq itself).
     
  • It has been well known throughout the world that Iraq had no role whatsoever in the 9/11 attacks.
• Pattern of lying by Palin, duplicating the lies of President George W. Bush. For instance:
   
  • "No, thanks," to federal funding for the infamous bridge to nowhere. She repeatedly stated that she was against it, despite overwhelming evidence that she supported the earmark, until it was obvious that it would not gain approval.
     
• Nepotism and replacement of professionals in government with friends.
   
• Pending investigation into her misuse of government offices.
   
  • Refusing to meet with investigators.
     
  • Instructing government employees not to meet with investigators.
     
  • Misusing government offices, firing competent people and replacing with family and friends, just as President George W. Bush had done. .
     
• Claims fit for dealing with foreign nations, stating she can see Russia from her home in Alaska.
  
• Approved going to war with Russia over the Georgia situation. Russia has over 6,000 nuclear missles aimed at the United States. Going to war with Russia insures the nuclear incincerations of hundreds of millions of Americans. Further, the head of Georgia provoked the actions by Russia, an action that even the United States would probably have taken if similarly provoked. And this woman would be in control of the destiny of the United States!! How insane!
   
• Other issues.
   
  • Praised here unmarried 17 year-old daughter getting pregnant, stating that it advanced her into adulthood. This implies that all 17-year-old girls should engaged in sex with someone so that the girls can become pregnant and advance into adulthood. No comments about who is going to support the unwed mother and pay for the health care of the two of them.
     
  • Ordered rape victims to pay for their own forensic test after being criminally attacked.
     
  • Another far-out religious freak that believes her actions would come from "God."
     
  • Avoiding interviews that would reveal more of her pathetic lack of qualification for the vice president or president's position, at or most any key government position.
     
  • Had to be groomed for days by a squad of GOP aides before her first interview with ABC's Charles Gibson, and then gave scripted answers.
     
  • Constant sputtering of lies, similar to McCain.
     
  • Billed the State of Alaska for staying at home instead of moving to the state Capitol.
    
  • Her husband, who she had relied upon for making decisions in Alaska, was a member of a group advocating secession fromthe United States; had at least one DUI conviction, and little formal education.

Matters Associated with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama:

While this writer would have preferred someone with more experience, his rhetoric shows more honesty, values, than McCain, by far. Since the only alternative is the McCain—Palin ticket, Obama is by far the least dangerous candidate.

Matters Associated with Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden:

Biden presents an appearance of presidential. He doesn't engage in serial lying. He has poise. And lots of experience in national and international affairs. He did support measures that he shouldn't have, but at least his shortcomings are not catastrophic.

Reflection Upon Those who Support McCain,
And Especially those who Support Palin

In light of the above, it reflects poorly upon those of support McCain, and especially those who support and even praise Palin.

What does it say about the intelligence of those people who support McCain, and especially those who think Sarah Palin would be suitable to be the vice president, and eventually the president of the United States. Their level of knowledge is so pathetically low that it is a travesty that they are even allowed to vote.


Practice of dumbing down a large segment of the American public. Or, is it catering to the already uninformed and dumb segment of the people!

So pathetically uninformed are most Americans on these matters, that they have only the canned rhetoric to judge the suitability of the candidate. What does this state about the intelligence of those who supported Senator John McCain!