"This election is not about issues" (Jack Bog's Blog)

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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on September 4, 2008 8:39 PM. The previous post in this blog was Major, major loss to the Oregon blogosphere. The next post in this blog is Disgrace. Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

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« Major, major loss to the Oregon blogosphere | Main | Disgrace »

Thursday, September 4, 2008

"This election is not about issues"

At least, that's what the Republican Party wants.

Posted at 8:39 PM | Permalink

Comments (9)

The Republican platform is now very clear: Vote for us and we promise to end Republican rule in Washington.

Posted by Bill McDonald | September 4, 2008 10:04 PM

Someone -- say, a popular curmudgeon blogger -- ought to point out that if you look up "Welfare State" in the encyclopedia the entry on that page is just a map of Alaska and a table showing how much money those sturdy Libertarian yeoman of the snow get from THE GOVERNMENT every year.

Posted by George Seldes | September 4, 2008 10:53 PM

They are the masters of it.

Posted by Jack Bog | September 4, 2008 10:58 PM

I was listening to a political historian during the primaries. He pointed out then that every since presidential debates have been televised that elections have been shifting from issue driven to personality driven events.

Posted by Darrin | September 5, 2008 7:32 AM

I agree with your disdain for the fact this Presidential election has become a popularity contest, not a debate of substantive issues.

However, I would be careful when you start claiming that the Republicans are to blame for this.

It started when the mainstream media made Barack Obama into a "celebrity"; ignoring the content of his speeches in favor of his "charismatic delivery".

They have focused on his messianic ascent to the position of the Democratic nominee and refused to ask follow-up questions about how he is going to enact his "reforms" or how he will pay for them.

It should come as no surprise that the GOP has followed suit. Ever see any of those "man on the street" interviews with "undecided voters"? It's downright embarassing for the rest of us politicos.

I agree with your disgust, but the problem is with our educational system and the consumeristic tendencies of the culture.

As an unapologetic capitalist, I can't help but be a little sad that 70% of Americans can tell you who "Clay Aiken" is, but can't point to Iraq on a map.

TV is to definitely to blame, bur more importantly, we are. It's our responsibility to take control over our lives and convince our friends and neighbors why the nation's energy policy is far more important to them than who wins next year's American Idol.

Posted by Tim Trickey | September 5, 2008 9:42 AM

Whether it was Giuliani lamenting the fact that the Democrats rarely mentioned 9/11 during their convention, or that over the top 9/11 tribute, the repubs are clearly trying yet again to scare everyone into voting for them.

McCain only sees service to one's country as military. This is evident from Palin's mocking of community organizers, the rank militarism of the McCain bio video, and the unbelievable number of times he mentioned his POW years. It's pathetic, and it inspired me to give money to a political campaign for the first time in my life. And it felt good, I just hope Obama puts it to good use; we can't afford another four years of this.

Posted by SD Sims | September 5, 2008 11:38 AM

On virtually every issue, the country is not behind the Republicans. What else can they campaign on?

Posted by Mike Austin | September 5, 2008 1:28 PM

Well, if it is about issues, I cant wait for either campaign to start discussing them instead of stirring up crap about the other party.

Posted by Jon | September 5, 2008 4:13 PM

we can't afford another four years of this.

Until "we the people" overthrow the stupid partisan system, we will have "this" forever.

Posted by Jon | September 5, 2008 4:17 PM

In Vino Veritas

Charamba, Douro 2008
Horse Heaven Hills, Cabernet 2010
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills Pinot Grigio 2011
Avignonesi, Montepulciano 2004
Lorelle, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011
Villa Antinori, Toscana 2007
Mercedes Eguren, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Lorelle, Columbia Valley Cabernet 2011
Purple Moon, Merlot 2011
Purple Moon, Chardonnnay 2011
Abacela, Vintner's Blend No. 12
Opula Red Blend 2010
Liberte, Pinot Noir 2010
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Indian Wells Red Blend 2010
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2011
King Estate, Pinot Noir 2011
Famille Perrin, Cotes du Rhone Villages 2010
Columbia Crest, Les Chevaux Red 2010
14 Hands, Hot to Trot White Blend
Familia Bianchi, Malbec 2009
Terrapin Cellars, Pinot Gris 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2009
Campo Viejo, Rioja, Termpranillo 2010
Ravenswood, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2010
Waterbrook, Reserve Merlot 2009
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills, Pinot Grigio 2011
Tarantas, Rose
Chateau Lajarre, Bordeaux 2009
La Vielle Ferme, Rose 2011
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio 2011
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir 2009
Lello, Douro Tinto 2009
Quinson Fils, Cotes de Provence Rose 2011
Anindor, Pinot Gris 2010
Buenas Ondas, Syrah Rose 2010
Les Fiefs d'Anglars, Malbec 2009
14 Hands, Pinot Gris 2011
Conundrum 2012
Condes de Albarei, Albariño 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2007
Penelope Sanchez, Garnacha Syrah 2010
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2007
Atalaya do Mar, Godello 2010
Vega Montan, Mencia
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2009
Portuga, Rose 2011
Revelation, Chardonnay, Pays d'Oc 2010
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 2005
Monte Alto, Tinto Reserva 2005
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cabernet, Indian Wells 2009
Espiral, Vinho Rose
Vin-Koru, Pinot Gris 2011
14 Hands, Hot to Trot Red 2009
Rodney Strong, Cabernet, Sonoma 2009
Abacela, Vintner's Blend #11
Portuga, White 2010
La Bourgeoisie, Red 2009
Januik, Red 2009
Three Rivers, River's Red 2008
Kirkland, Alexander Valley Merlot 2008
Muga, Rioja Rose 2010
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007

The Occasional Book

Neil Young - Waging Heavy Peace
Mark Bego - Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul (2012 ed.)
Jenny Lawson - Let's Pretend This Never Happened
J.D. Salinger - Franny and Zooey
Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol
Timothy Egan - The Big Burn
Deborah Eisenberg - Transactions in a Foreign Currency
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. - Slaughterhouse Five
Kathryn Lance - Pandora's Genes
Cheryl Strayed - Wild
Fyodor Dostoyevsky - The Brothers Karamazov
Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
Colum McCann - Let the Great World Spin
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
David Sedaris - Holidays on Ice
Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 21
At this date last year: 52
Total run in 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269