"You're putting out stuff that is unbelievable George, and it's got to stop … and your ads have got to stop."
Sen. John McCain addressing Gov. George W. Bush at a Republican Presidential Primary Debate in 2000.
Senator McCain was so stung by accusations attributed to the Bush campaign that he admonished the Texas governor: "I don't know if you can understand this, George, but that really hurts. You should be ashamed. You should be ashamed."
During the primary campaign for the 2004 election, there was a rumor that John McCain might become John Kerry's running mate. The possibility of a unity ticket was appealing to some Democrats. They respected Sen. McCain and were anxious to end President Bush's partisan reign. Reportedly, McCain was not interested.
Four years later, Sen. John McCain is waging a campaign that should give pause to Americans of every political party.
Thanks to TPMtv
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Four Women
Many have acknowledged Sen. Hillary Clinton's epic achievement of inspiring 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling. One could make a case for her being better qualified for the oval office than her husband was in 2000.
Decades before Sen. Clinton, 3 successful women made national political history. They were Sen. Margaret Chase Smith (R-ME), Rep. Shirley Chisholm (D-NY), and Rep. Barbara Jordan (D-TX).
In 1964, Sen. Chase Smith was the first woman to have her name placed in nomination for the U.S. Presidency at a major party's convention.
(Wikipedia)
Rep. Chisholm was the first black woman elected to Congress. In 1972, she became the first major party African-American candidate for President of the United States.
(Wikipedia)
Four years later, Rep. Jordan's keynote address to the Democratic National Convention defined eloquence for me. Her House Judiciary Committee Speech advocating the impeachment of President Richard Nixon is a lesson on a grave congressional process. Barbara Jordan was the first African-American woman to represent a southern state in the U.S. House. She was mentioned as a possible running mate to Jimmy Carter in 1976.
(Wikipedia)
Whether you agree with their politics or not, these women set a lofty standard for competence and qualifications for higher office. We can't afford to accept anything less in the upcoming election.
Decades before Sen. Clinton, 3 successful women made national political history. They were Sen. Margaret Chase Smith (R-ME), Rep. Shirley Chisholm (D-NY), and Rep. Barbara Jordan (D-TX).
In 1964, Sen. Chase Smith was the first woman to have her name placed in nomination for the U.S. Presidency at a major party's convention.
(Wikipedia)
Rep. Chisholm was the first black woman elected to Congress. In 1972, she became the first major party African-American candidate for President of the United States.
(Wikipedia)
Four years later, Rep. Jordan's keynote address to the Democratic National Convention defined eloquence for me. Her House Judiciary Committee Speech advocating the impeachment of President Richard Nixon is a lesson on a grave congressional process. Barbara Jordan was the first African-American woman to represent a southern state in the U.S. House. She was mentioned as a possible running mate to Jimmy Carter in 1976.
(Wikipedia)
Whether you agree with their politics or not, these women set a lofty standard for competence and qualifications for higher office. We can't afford to accept anything less in the upcoming election.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Post-Convention Wisdom
Was the volume of journalists covering the recent Democratic and Republican party conventions the best use of news gathering resources? If the objective was to provide citizens with information they need to cast an informed vote, they could have put their time to better use. That's the position of Jeff Jarvis, director of the interactive journalism program at the City University of New York's Graduate School of Journalism.
Jarvis recently wrote that "Politics is the opiate of journalism and it's time to go to rehab." Excerpt:
Four years ago, the Poynter Institute's Al Tompkins asked PBS News anchor Jim Lehrer "why, in these days of few surprises at national conventions, it is still worthwhile to cover them." Lehrer's answer might be summed up in this paragraph from his response:
More people watched the speeches by presidential candidates Obama and McCain, and vice presidential candidate Palin, than the finale of American Idol. Those numbers were swelled by low-information voters of both parties. The conventions told them who to cheer for, but many don't know enough about the candidates' policies to cast an informed vote.
The second of the "few 'shared' national political events" Jim Lehrer mentioned is the debates. It is crucial that the moderators elevate their game above the will you pledge tonight silliness that diminished the primary debates. If they don't, the candidates should assert themselves to make their positions clear.
Obama and McCain each have website pages that address many important issues. But, television is likely to guide more voters than the internet. Either way, I agree with Jeff Jarvis that journalists should invest more time covering the actions of our government. That would be one step towards making this the last most critical presidential election of our lifetime.
Jarvis recently wrote that "Politics is the opiate of journalism and it's time to go to rehab." Excerpt:
The attention given to the conventions and campaigns is symptomatic of a worse journalistic disease: we over-cover politics and under-cover the actions of our governments. We over-cover politicians and under-cover the lives and needs of citizens. . . .
Four years ago, the Poynter Institute's Al Tompkins asked PBS News anchor Jim Lehrer "why, in these days of few surprises at national conventions, it is still worthwhile to cover them." Lehrer's answer might be summed up in this paragraph from his response:
The political conventions are among the few "shared" national political events left. The others are the debates. Journalism organizations that say the conventions are not important are essentially saying the election of a president is not important. We are not in the business of making events, only in covering them.
More people watched the speeches by presidential candidates Obama and McCain, and vice presidential candidate Palin, than the finale of American Idol. Those numbers were swelled by low-information voters of both parties. The conventions told them who to cheer for, but many don't know enough about the candidates' policies to cast an informed vote.
The second of the "few 'shared' national political events" Jim Lehrer mentioned is the debates. It is crucial that the moderators elevate their game above the will you pledge tonight silliness that diminished the primary debates. If they don't, the candidates should assert themselves to make their positions clear.
Obama and McCain each have website pages that address many important issues. But, television is likely to guide more voters than the internet. Either way, I agree with Jeff Jarvis that journalists should invest more time covering the actions of our government. That would be one step towards making this the last most critical presidential election of our lifetime.
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