Wednesday, January 07, 2004

 

Here's to the NEW year...
same as the OLD year?

Arnold has spoken. He’s still replacing substance with rhetoric, but everyone out here was listening. I don’t know why we expect so much from these “State of the _____” addresses. It’s just another opportunity to spread it on thick.

Still… eventually he has to produce solid figures on how he intends to right the ship. That day will apparently come on Friday, when he produces his proposed budget for the coming year. It’s already being reported in the paper… “When he announces his 2004-05 budget Friday, Schwarzenegger will include deep cuts in social services and health programs for the poor and elderly.”
To the surprise of no one, the cuts must come from the bottom. Why upset the campaign contributors? Those greedy disabled NEVER contribute to the political machinery in this State… they spend it all on themselves!

The next part of this grand plan calls for government contracts to privatize services. These contracts will invariably go to these same major political contributors. Then, in an effort to reduce the cost of doing business in California, he demands that worker compensation be reduced. If not, he threatened to mount a public referendum to get it done! Like I said…he’s cutting from the bottom dwellers in this effort to reclaim a 15 billion dollar deficit.

Oddly enough, his star power plus the rampant stupidity already displayed here during the recall debacle could probably convince enough of the very same people it will eventually hurt to vote for it. The outcome will be a cheaper way for corporations to lay off workers!

I started listening to the address over the radio, but listening to his voice kept conjuring up images of the character, “McBain” from “The Simpsons”. Black leather jacket and wrap around shades. So I had to tune in the T.V. to get the full picture. I eventually went back to the radio because it was funnier.

On the national scene…. The 3 douchbags who could’ve said something strong against the Bush policy of a pre-emptive war while they were “serving” in the Senate…Gephart, Kerry and most of all, that big mouth Leiberman…are ripping away at the present favorite, Howard Dean, in an effort to gather some steam of their own. All they're actually doing is supplying the Republicans with ammunition to use against them. Their probing questions are getting WAY more coverage than Dean’s appropriately given answers! I can’t count the times I’ve seen Kerry ask Dean, “ What were you thinking of when you said Osama hasn’t been proven guilty yet?” Only ONCE did I see Dean’s response, which basically demonstrated the calm decorum expected from “The Leader of the Free World” while also stating that he hoped he is put to death for his crimes. Not he should be put to death. Hoped. I’ve also seen countless examples of Leiberman opening up a mouth. My open message to him: Shut up, you dufus! If ANYONE has less of a friggin’ chance of beating Bush it’s YOU! You really expect America to elect an Orthodox Jew at this time? We’re trying to be a credible intermediary in the Middle East. Do you think that will play well in Peoria…to say nothing of Palestine? Face it already Joe… you’re probably the reason Bush was elected in the 1st place! Gore couldn’t even carry his home state of Tennessee… and unfortunately, your Jewishness probably sealed the deal for Bush there. It’s time to be the big man and give it up now, before you continue to do damage to the rest. Throw your support to the one you deem to have an outlook most like your own…for the sake of party unity. You’re done.

My apologies to those who've arrived here via the Jewish Blog Ring... but I must speak the truth...even though many would deny it and would even prefer it not be said out loud!

But Dean looks like a typical Democratic nominee from 20 years ago…. as in the image of Mondale or Dukakis. Being reasonable will only get you so far in this country. Especially now, in the age of instant visual communication. To paraphrase some anonymous jackass…. “ You don’t sell the steak…you sell the sizzle.” You could have a higher SAT score than Steven Hawkins. If you come off as bland, fegetaboutit.
With that in mind, I started to give the General, Wes Clark, some play. It stands to reason that Bush & Co. will continue to push the security button whenever and wherever possible. They’re holding the Republican convention in NY the week before September 11th for Christ’s sake (or so they’d have you believe it WAS for Christ’s sake). They will ride this issue all the way home against these wimpy girlymen. I’ll include John Kerry in that category of girlymen too, despite his Vietnam service. I keep seeing him on TV wearing a leather jacket with service patches on it in an attempt to toughen up his image and appeal to the young vote. But to me he just looks like a tall order of rough trade standing outside a Polk St. bar.

The only viable answer the Demos have to the security issue is to run a General against them. I would accept him in the 2nd slot, but apparently he’s stated that he wouldn’t. So…let’s throw Dean in the VP spot, where he can gain the national exposure to succeed Clark after his term(s).

It’s not just image either… I’ve recently seen two interview with Clark…one printed, the other on TV. During the TV interview (which I only saw clips of) he stated the same thing I’ve been saying all along concerning our efforts in Afghanistan. WE HAD Osama & Co. boxed in at Tora Bora and neglected to cut off his escape route. It’s very simple actually. Anyone who’s been in so much as a snowball fight is familiar with this strategy. If you just want to throw a bunch of snow, go right ahead. But when you’re ready to go in for the kill, cut off the exits! It’s reassuring to know that the former Supreme Commander of NATO agrees with this assessment, often used on the streets and playgrounds of Vanderveer in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The print interview sits well with me also. (Washington Post- some general questions may need to be answered to view it. No personal info required)

“NASHUA, N.H., Jan. 5 -- Retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark delivered his strongest appeal yet to working- and middle-class voters Monday, saying he would seek to eliminate federal income taxes for families earning up to $50,000 and implement cuts for families making up to twice that amount…

"When you work so hard -- in the wealthiest country in the world -- you shouldn't be struggling to get by. That's not right, and that's not fair. But that's the reality of George Bush's tax system and his vision of America."

…According to Clark campaign officials, under his plan a family with two children earning up to $50,000 would save as much as $1,583 in federal income taxes. A family with two children earning $85,000 would get a $975 reduction. In total, Clark said, the tax bill of a typical family with children would decline by $1,477.

…Clark also vowed to simplify the tax filing system, saying that the current complex sheaf of paperwork would be replaced by a three-line form. Most families, he said, would not need to file any tax forms.

~* Truth be told…It’s most likely a bunch of unrealistic and undo-able bullcrap. But like I said…sell the sizzle. It’s an issue that I believe should resonate throughout the vast “middle class” economic strata. However, don’t be surprised if the Bush team is able to convince these same people that they’d be better off giving tax breaks to the top 1% and let it trickle down like urine through a sewer.

Then the General gets tough!…. but he directs his anger in the right direction.

Clark never mentioned his Democratic opponents, instead aiming his attacks at Bush and even the president's chief political adviser, Karl Rove. "Karl, I want you to hear this loud and clear," he said. "I am going to provide tax cuts to ease the burden of 31 million American families. If that makes me an 'old style' Democrat, then I accept that label with pride and dare you to come after me for it."

~* Go get’em General! Finally someone with some fire in his belly! I think he’s the only way to avoid disaster. As of now…the Brahma is throwing his support to a potential Clark/Dean ticket. whatayasay? Hmmm?

posted by ~Brahma 2:24 AM