Author: Robert Barrimond

FactCheck.org: A New Stitch in a Bad Pattern

FactCheck.org: A New Stitch in a Bad Pattern:

“McCain’s new ad puts another stitch in what we’ve called his pattern of deceit on Obama’s tax plan. This one claims Obama and congressional Democrats plan to push forward ‘painful tax increases on working American families’ and that they will bring about ‘years of deficits,’ ‘no balanced budgets’ and ‘billions in new government spending.’ 
The ad is plain wrong about higher taxes on working families. In fact, Obama’s economic plan would produce a tax cut for the majority of American households, with middle-income earners benefiting most. As for ‘years of deficits,’ exactly the same claim could be made about McCain’s program. It’s unlikely either Obama or McCain would balance the budget, and both are projected to increase the debt by trillions.”

(Via FactCheck.org.)

I guess McCain learned Bush’s lesson political campaigns. He said in an interview, “If you tell a lie often enough, people will start to believe it.”

A-PUHLEASE!-ment

When you know GOP rhetoric is full of ish.

Chris Matthews really lays into this whole “appeasement” crap. The rhetoric only works if you are uneducated about history and basic vocabulary.
appease to pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their demands
How is that talking?
As for history, the quote he used was a Republican senator’s!!!

Builder, Strong

A new edition to the family:
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7 lbs. 4 oz. 20″

Sexual abuse victims describe frank meeting with pope – CNN.com

Sexual abuse victims describe frank meeting with pope – CNN.com:

“But McDaid said he came away from the meeting feeling that there was real hope that this time the problem would be addressed, with action to follow.”

(Via CNN.)

I pray to God it does.

Apple Just Makes Better PC’s Period

Mac vs PC – Benchmark and Speed Tests – PC versus Mac – Apple, Windows Reviews – Popular Mechanics:

“The Verdict: Apple
Mac: In both the laptop and desktop showdowns, Apple’s computers were the winners. Oddly, the big difference didn’t come in our user ratings, where we expected the famously friendly Mac interface to shine. Our respondents liked the look and feel of both operating systems but had a slight preference toward OS X. In our speed trials, however, Leopard OS trounced Vista in all-important tasks such as boot-up, shutdown and program-launch times. We even tested Vista on the Macs using Apple’s platform-switching Boot Camp software—and found that both Apple computers ran Vista faster than our PCs did. “

(Via Popular Mechanics.)

Abuse Victims Not Placated by Pope – New York Times

Abuse Victims Not Placated by Pope – New York Times:

“At a news conference in Boston organized by a victims’ group, Mr. Costello, who said he was abused by a priest in West Roxbury, Mass., starting when he was 10, said he was shocked that the pope would talk about his own suffering and that of the church while making no mention of the harm done to victims.”

(Via NY Times.)

This is what started the problem in the first place. The concern for the institution of the church, consisting of the clergy mostly, is the top concern. I’m sure that there are legal and fiscal reasons as well for his lack of empathy, but it also reveals how screwed up the priorities are in “the Church.” It’s shocking that still they violate Jesus’ edicts so glibly and frankly, so arrogantly. But my Church has not spared any effort in trying to shake my faith. This but the latest example. How they can demand faith in them is beyond me.

Using Back to My Mac… to Catch a Thief! — RoughlyDrafted Magazine

Using Back to My Mac… to Catch a Thief! — RoughlyDrafted Magazine:

“After a burglar broke into her truck and stole her iPhone and MacBook, a woman in Santa Cruz teamed up with a friend to use Mac OS X Leopard’s ‘Back to My Mac’ screen sharing feature to track and identify the thief for the police.”

(Via RoughlyDrafted Magazine.)

Amazing.

That Old Time Capitalism

I began reading John C. Bogle‘s The Battle for the Soul of Capitalism tonight. So far, it’s an interesting read.

I began reading John C. Bogle‘s The Battle for the Soul of Capitalism tonight. So far, it’s an interesting read. Here is a memorable quote (so far) rich with irony in today’s world:

My vantage point is that of an American businessman (and a lifelong Republican) who has spent his entire half-century-plus career in the financial field…For better or worse, my youthful idealism–the belief that any truly sound business endeavor must be built on a strong moral foundation–still remains today, at least as strong as it was all those years ago.

By the latter years of the twentieth century, our business values had eroded to a remarkable extent. Yes, we are a nation of prodigious energy, marvelous entrepreneurship, brilliant technology, creativity beyond imagination, and, at least in some corners of the business world, the idealism to make our nation and our world a better place. But I also see far too much greed, egoism, materialism, and waste to please my critical eye. I see an economy overly focused on the “haves” and not focused enough on the “have-nots,” failing to allocate our nation’s resources where they are most needed–to solve the problems of poverty and to provide quality education for all. I see a shocking misuse of the world’s natural resources, as if they were ours to waste rather than ours to preserve as a sacred trust for future generations, and I see a political system corrupted by the staggering infusion of money that is, to be blunt about it, rarely given by disinterested citizens who expect no return on their investment.

Wow. Small wonder why he isn’t all that popular with today’s so-called conservatives.

Print Story: Barack Obama’s counterpunching style on Yahoo! News

Print Story: Barack Obama’s counterpunching style on Yahoo! News:

“‘She’s running around talking about how this is an insult to sportsmen, how she values the Second Amendment, she’s talking like she’s Annie Oakley!’ he said at a stop in Pennsylvania. ‘Hillary Clinton’s out there like she’s on the duck blind every Sunday, she’s packin’ a six shooter! C’mon! She knows better. That’s some politics being played by Hillary Clinton. I want to see that picture of her out there in the duck blinds.’”

(Via Yahoo! News.)

Obama is a tough cookie!

Political Maneuvering and Condescension

Most of the articles I’ve read in the media put Barack on the defensive. Watching the video, I don’t get a sense of defensiveness although his opponents will twist his words. Word twisting is part and parcel of a campaign. But the reports I’ve read don’t seem to portray Obama’s demeanor at all.