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July 31, 2010

Candidate Fail

Phony "independent" Eliot Cutler takes second billing to Food Network star.

There were plenty of questions about her story and a handful about Cutler's positions on the environment, education and the economy.

But most of those who forked out $50 -- or $250 to attend a private reception with the two -- have, to put it charitably, clearly not begun to focus on the gubernatorial campaign.

"I'm a huge fan of hers and I don't know anything about Eliot Cutler, to be honest," said Jeremy Young of Freeport, clutching a "Barefoot Contessa" cookbook for Garten to sign. "Definitely, if it had not been for her, we would not have turned out for this."

Linda Knight of South Portland said she, too, was there more to hear Garten and get her signature on a cookbook than to consider policy options. But she promised to pay attention to Cutler to determine "if I spent my money wisely."

I'm no political consultant, but with only a few months before the election, I would think a serious candidate would schedule events where he and his policies were the draw. It looks like most of the people who attended this event were more interested in the celebrity than the candidate.

That seems...less than a win.

Posted by slublog at 09:05 PM | Comments (82) | TrackBack

July 13, 2010

Promises, Promises

I'm not trying to suggest that PolitiFact is wrong in their 'barely true' analysis of George Will, but...

President Barack Obama, February 10, 2009
Town Hall in Ft. Myers, Florida

The situation we face could not be more serious. We have inherited an economic crisis as deep and as dire as any since the Great Depression. Economists from across the spectrum have warned that if we don’t act immediately, millions more jobs will disappear, and national unemployment rates will approach double digits. More people will lose their homes and their health care. And our nation will sink into a crisis that, at some point, will be much tougher to reverse.

I didn't need Lexis for that one. Google was enough. Here's another, from January 8, 2009:

I don't believe it's too late to change course, but it will be if we don't take dramatic action as soon as possible. If nothing is done, this recession could linger for years. The unemployment rate could reach double digits. Our economy could fall $1 trillion short of its full capacity, which translates into more than $12,000 in lost income for a family of four. We could lose a generation of potential and promise, as more young Americans are forced to forgo dreams of college or the chance to train for the jobs of the future. And our nation could lose the competitive edge that has served as a foundation for our strength and standing in the world.

In short, a bad situation could become dramatically worse.

And then there's good ol' Joe Biden.

Charlie Rose Show
June 2, 2010

CHARLIE ROSE: As you know, the unemployment rate went up to 10 percent

JOE BIDEN - That`s right.

CHARLIE ROSE: Above 10 percent. There were predictions it would only go up to 8.5 percent.

JOE BIDEN -Right.

CHARLIE ROSE: The president and you have acknowledged you were wrong in those predictions.

JOE BIDEN : By the way, not only us. Every major blue chip index said that because we didn`t understand just how bad the economy we were inheriting was. I mean, I`m not -- We`re responsible. But that prediction was not a -- That was a consensus prediction of the blue chip measurements out there as to what would happen in terms of unemployment. It was higher.

Remember, though.

Those words are "projections" not "predictions."

Ahem.

We begin this year and this Administration in the midst of an unprecedented crisis that calls for unprecedented action. Just this week, we saw more people file for unemployment than at any time in the last twenty-six years, and experts agree that if nothing is done, the unemployment rate could reach double digits. Our economy could fall $1 trillion short of its full capacity, which translates into more than $12,000 in lost income for a family of four. And we could lose a generation of potential, as more young Americans are forced to forgo college dreams or the chance to train for the jobs of the future.

In short, if we do not act boldly and swiftly, a bad situation could become dramatically worse.

That is why I have proposed an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan to immediately jumpstart job creation as well as long-term economic growth. I am pleased to say that both parties in Congress are already hard at work on this plan, and I hope to sign it into law in less than a month.

Key words "if," "could," "why."

But, you know, he didn't explicitly promise, so clearly George Will spoke stupidly.

Cross-posted at Ace of Spades HQ

Posted by slublog at 10:36 PM | Comments (65) | TrackBack

July 01, 2010

A Brief Memo to Medical Marijuana Advocates

I understand your frustration and agree that in some cases, marijuana can and should be used as a treatment for various medical conditions.

However, if you want to be taken seriously as an advocate for your cause, it might help if you cut your hair, shaved the quasi-beard and took off the marijuana leaf t-shirt.

In short, try not to look like a stoner.

Might help.

Posted by slublog at 09:08 AM | Comments (182) | TrackBack