Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Re-Elected: No Surprise

Iran's presidential election was a rousing success for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Over 80 percent of voters turned out, giving Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a landslide victory.

Officially.

Unofficially, it's not all that clear. Ahmadinejad's closest rival, Mir Hossein Moussavi, got about a third of the vote. For a candidate who had a great deal of popular support before the election, running against a sitting president who's gotten credit for making a mess of Iran's economy for the last four years, Mir Hossein Moussavi didn't do well at all.

Again, officially.

Oddly enough, Moussavi didn't even win a majority of votes in his own home town.

But:

"...Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameini apparently has released a statement calling the results 'final' and hailing the election as a legitimization of the regime and its elections...." (FOXNews)

Mir Hossein Moussavi is complaining about the results, but I doubt that Iran's courts will go against the stated wish of the Supreme Leader.

And it probably doesn't make all that much difference, who is president of Iran: except to Iranians.

Iran's chief of state is the Supreme Leader. That's been Ali Hoseini-Khamenei, since June 4, 1989. The Supreme Leader doesn't have to bother with elections. He's appointed by the Assembly of Experts, and holds the position for life.

With a setup like that, I don't think swapping out a president would make a big change in Iranian foreign policy.

Related posts:

• "Iran, Islam, 'Arrogant Powers' and 'Certain Expansionist Superpowers,' and Common Sense"
  (May 30, 2009)
• "Roxana Saberi Out of Iran, in Vienna: Islamic Mercy Followed Through"
  (May 15, 2009)
• "Iran Has Heavy Metal for Bomb, No Bomb: Yet"
  (March 1, 2009)
• "If You Liked Hanoi Jane, You'll Love AMPAS in Iran: Maybe"
  (February 28, 2009)
• "Iran Launched Satellite, Probably: and North Korea's Preparing for Launch"
  (February 3, 2009)
• "Ahmadinejad Wants America to Apologize: This is News?"
  (January 28, 2009)
• "Iran's Nuclear Program, Israel, Iraq, America, Bush and Obama: Simple? Not!"
  (January 11, 2009)

In the news:

• "Ahmadinejad wins landslide in disputed election"
  CNN (June 13, 2009)
• "Official: Obama Administration Skeptical of Iran's Election Results"
  FOXNews (June 13, 2009)

Background:

• "Iran"
  World Factbook, CIA (last updated June 1, 2009)

Manure Trailer Over the Top: Funny, but Over the Top

I'm all for free speech, and no supporter of Barack Obama, but this is over the top.

The Whitehall, Montana, Democratic campaign office has a trailer of manure parked across the street.

A construction and excavation company owner in Whitehall parked the trailer there, as a metaphor of his opinion of Barack Obama. Reaction has been mixed.

• "I think Obama's plan is just one big old poop sandwich and we're all going to have to take a bite"
  Terry Reed, the company owner
• "People in Whitehall were upset, they were outraged,... I don't think Whitehall should be represented as this podunk, ignorant community. There are lots of good people here."
  Suzanne Molyneaux, Obama campaign election team leader in Whitehall

Ms. Molyneaux also said that traffic was clogged, because people were stopping to take pictures of the manure trailer.

I think it's funny: but then, I live in another podunk,ignorant community (by some standards, anyway): one with active livestock operations within a mile of my home> I have a rather more neighborly relationship with manure than many city folks.

Still, that pile of manure is the visual, and olfactory, equivalent of name-calling. Which I don't think is a good way of expressing views.

In the news:

• "Man Parks Manure Near Democrats' Campaign Office to Protest Obama"
  FOXNews (November 4, 2008)

America 2008: A Fair, Well-Run Election, Mostly

Well, so far I haven't read about any polling places being blown up, or raided by guys in white sheets: so some of the worst-case scenarios haven't panned out.

Election 2008: Nothing to See Here, Folks

In a nation with hundreds of millions of citizens, and quite a few voters, a national election is bound to have a few glitches here and there

Intimidation? Ain't No Intimidation Here

A polling station in Philadelphia apparently had two Black Panthers standing outside: one with a nightstick. For some reason, a voter or two felt intimidated. By the time a reporter showed up, police had collected the guy with the nightstick - again, apparently.

Not to worry: the other Black Panther said that he was a certified observer.

Some of Our Voters are Missing

Lugoff, South Carolina, isn't having a good day. A Gregory Holden wrote: "Many people who have always voted in this precinct are all of a sudden not on the roll," and: "They only have five machines and there are about 300 people in line. People are so discouraged some are leaving," which I suppose could be seen as a sort of Darwinian 'survival of the stubbornist.'

These things happen. I had to fill in the ovals on two sides of a ballot with a ballpoint pen: which isn't as easy as it sounds.

Oh, Dry Up! No, Really: Dry Up

Water dripping from Virginia voters onto optical-scan ballots makes the ballots impossible to process - until they're dried out. The ballots, that is. A Virginia official recommended that voters in that state dry off before filling out the ballots. (I'm not making this up.)

Not to worry: the ballots will be dried out, and run through the scanner: later.

Attention Democrats! The Election's Been Delayed

I'd love to know if anyone believed this hoax: It seems that people in these states got text messages telling Democrats to vote Wednesday.

• Texas
• Missouri
• Mississippi
• Alabama
• Arkansas

For the record, Wednesday is tomorrow. The election's today. Tomorrow, it'll be too late to vote.

Attention, Republicans! Your Polling Place has Been Changed

Meanwhile, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, It sounds like Republicans are getting calls, telling them that their voting location's been changed.

Hey, no big? right?

A guy with a nightstick here, missing voters there, a wack text message: These things happen.

I wish they wouldn't, though.

In the news

• "Scattered problems reported in historic U.S. vote"
  CNN (November 4, 2008)
• "Broken Machines, Shortages Plague Voters Around the Country"
  FOXNews (November 4, 2008)

Planning to Vote Early and Often? Don't Try it in Seminole County, Florida

I like the way this guy thinks.

Seminole County, Florida, has a new supervisor of elections. Here's how he explained what he was doing last night: "I'm a former Army guy, and I know the best way to make things safe and secure is to guard it...."

Some over-eager citizens have already tried to vote early and often in Seminole County. And, got caught. As the 'former Army guy' put it: "We've noticed they've already voted. They remember, oh yes, I did actually. That's right."

Suspicious Officials, Information Technology, and the End of an American Tradition?

Over in Orange County, the election supervisor says that his computer systems will spot a person who's already voted right away. Even if they voted in another county.

This could spell the end of progressive voting: Starting out early in the day and traveling from county to county, casting a ballot for your favorite candidate at each stop.

Much as I like traditions, I can't say that I'm sorry to see this one go.

Whaddaya Know: Voting Twice is Illegal

Voting twice in the same election is a felony, I see. Wow. It's wrong, and illegal!

In the news:

• "Elections Official Sleeps With Ballots"
  FOXNews (November 4, 2008)
• "Election Supervisor plans to sleep with ballots"
  WOFL FOX 35, MyFox Orlando (November 3, 2008)

America will vote for Obama / Biden or McCain / Palin: Please: Think!

I've written about what I think of the American presidential candidates before. Using the Search function in the upper left corner of this page will get you to this blog's posts about Barack Obama, John McCain, Joe Biden, and Sarah Palin.

This blog is concerned with the War on Terror, but that's not the only issue I'm concerned with. I've started writing about other issues and the election in another blog, A Catholic Citizen in America. Today, I posted "Elections, Abortion, Voting, Conscience, and Other Troublesome Topics " (November 1, 2008): and plan to write more posts about my views and the elections, from a practicing Catholic's perspective.

An overview, and link list:

• "Obama, McCain, Life, Death, Abortion, Voting, and this American Catholic "
  A Catholic Citizen in America

Barack Obama's Redistributive Change

I think that national leaders should be in the same book, if not on the same page, as a nation's citizens.

Barack Obama said the lack of "redistributive change" was a tragedy of the civil rights movement, he preferred Marxist professors in college, and the Obama campaign blacklisted a Florida television station for asking an embarrassing question.

I hope that this reflects 'mainstream' attitudes in only a few spots in America.

This blog isn't political, but having a president who has some clue as to what happened between 1927 and 1991 is, in my opinion, extremely important.

More, at "Marxism: It Looks So Good on Paper" (Starting a Small Business Without Losing My Mind (October 28, 2008)).

Obama Campaign Blacklists Florida Television Station After 'Unprofessional' Interview

The Obama campaign let WFTV in Florida know that the television station wouldn't be getting any more interviews with them: at least until after the election.

I can see the Obama campaign's point.

WFTV's Barbara West asked Vice Presidential candidate Joe Biden the wrong questions. Quite a few of them. I wrote about it in another blog:

• "Biden Interview about Barack Obama Campaign: ACORN, Redistrubion of Wealth, Marxism, and Other Impertinent Questions "
  Starting a Small Business Without Losing My Mind (October 26, 2008)

There's an embedded video of the interview there, too. For now, at least.

Obama Supporter Carves McCain Volunteer's Face? Reports, Blogs, and Video Tape

Update (October 24, 2008) 1:20 p.m. Central time (18:20 UTC)
The news broke recently:

• "Report: McCain Campaign Volunteer Confesses to Lying About Political Attack"
  FOXNews (October 24, 2008)
  • "Police sources tell KDKA television in Pittsburgh that 20-year-old John McCain campaign volunteer Ashley Todd has admitted to lying to them about being mugged and attacked by a man who carved a "B" into her cheek after seeing a McCain bumper sticker on her car. Todd is expected to face charges for the false report, according to KDKA...."
• "Police: Campaign Volunteer Made Up Attack Story"
  KDKA (October 24, 2008)
  • "A Pittsburgh police commander told KDKA Investigator Marty Griffin that Ashley Todd confessed to making up the story & is facing charges
  • "PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Police tell KDKA that a campaign volunteer has now confessed to making up a story that a mugger attacked her and cut the letter B in her face after seeing her McCain bumper sticker...."

That didn't take long. (My reaction to the news: "Obama Supporter Carved Me: McCain Volunteer Comes Clean" (October 24, 2008))

---

Unless something very strange happens, either Barack Obama or John McCain will be president of the United States next year. Whoever is president will have a great effect on what happens in the War on Terror.

With all that's at stake, emotions are running high. Wild claims have been made: the latest one involves an enraged Obama supporter, a knife, and a mutilated young woman. Or maybe it's several enraged Obama supporters. The story is getting better as it gets re-told

Knife-Wielding Obama Supporter: This Story Seemed Too Good To Be True

From one point of view, at least.

A blogger titled a post "Obama Supporter Maims McCain Volunteer, Will Media Care?"

It's not quite front-page news, but: As of today, the answer is "yes." The story of Ashley Todd, a McCain bumper sticker, and what she said was an enraged Obama supporter, is pretty easy to find in the news.

What's happening to this horrific tale of a young woman brutally attacked and mutilated - just because of a McCain sticker - isn't likely to sit well with conservative bloggers, though.

Ashley Todd and the Pittsburgh Carver

The story, as it grew, is that this young woman was savagely attacked by a robber and Obama supporter. It seems he was enraged when he saw a McCain bumper sticker on her car.

One blog's headline starts with "Obama supporter attacks...." After what appears to be a screenshot of the Drudge Report, the post's first paragraph begins with "Obama supporters attacked...." Supporters. Plural.

The McCain volunteer's story isn't consistent, either, but it's dramatic:

"...'You are going to be a Barack supporter,' she recalled the robber saying before he sat on her chest, pinning both her hands down with his knees and scratched the letter "B" on the right side of her face using what she believed to be a very dull knife. Then the robber fled, she said in the police report.

"But Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Diane Richard told FOXNews.com on Friday that Todd later added to her tale, saying she was groped by the robber and lost consciousness during the assault. Neither of those details was in the original report.

"Richard said after a second interview, Todd also was not as definitive about the assault or the motives behind it, nor could she say for certain whether the robber took $60 from her as she initially reported but maintains is missing...."
(FOXNews (October 23, 2008)) [emphasis mine]

Even though the story Ashley Todd is giving police got 'better' as she went along, she seems to be sticking to the part about there being just one attacker.

Obama Supporter(s), a McCain Bumper Sticker, a Photo, Security Camera Video, and Facts

Here's what's getting to be a famous photo:

(From College Republicans via FOXNews, used without permission)

That backwards "B" on her face is the one that was "carved" yesterday.

I'm with the Pittsburgh police on this: it's more of a scratch than a carving. Still, it looks like she had a rough time, one way or another.

A fact: "(CNN) -- A Pennsylvania woman told police she was attacked at an ATM in Pittsburgh by a robber who became angry when he saw a John McCain bumper sticker on her car, a spokeswoman for the Pittsburgh Police Department said Thursday...." (CNN (October 24, 2008))

Her name is Ashley Todd, she seems to be from Texas.

The photo didn't come from the Pittsburgh police, but there's no reasonable doubt that she had a scratch on her face when she reported the robbery and, maybe, assault.

The different versions of her story, which were inconsistent enough to have the Pittsburgh police give Ashley Todd a polygraph test, might just come from her being upset.

A recording from a security camera shows the ATM where the alleged robbery and assault took place, but not the incident. It's possible that it happened off-camera. Fact is, though, the video does not show the events that the McCain volunteer says took place. There aren't any witnesses, either.

Ashley Todd may be a victim of robbery and assault - and the unluckiest woman in Pittsburgh. The police seem very interested in solving this case, and probably will ferret out what actually happened.

Maniac Obama Supporter Mutilates Young Woman! Or, Not

Quite a few bloggers particularly the more enthusiastic conservative ones, jumped into this story with both feet.

One post's title started with "Obama supporter attacks and mutilates...." The first paragraph starts with "Obama supporters attacked...." That blogger gets points for enthusiasm, if not internal consistency.

Although innocent victims have been known to change their stories and refuse medical attention, it's 'way too easy to see yesterday's story of the Obama supporter, the knife, and the helpless young woman as a sort of replay of the Duke lacrosse team fiasco. (Crystal Mangum, the woman who made the accusations, came out with a book that says 'did too!' - just in time for the election. (The New York Times (October 24, 2008))

Obama Supporter Knifes McCain Volunteer? Time to Calm Down

Whether or not one robber-turned-performance artist/political activist actually scratched that backwards "B" in Ashley Todd's face won't affect who I vote for in the presidential election. Both campaigns agree that the incident, whatever actually happened, was a bad thing.

And, I hope that Representative Alcee Hastings's wild warnings about Palin, hunters, Jews, and black people won't change anyone's mind.

It's not that I'm neutral. I'd just as soon that McCain be elected president.

I also like to get facts straight: and vote according to facts, not possibly-crazy stories.

There are plenty of reasons to vote for one candidate or the other, based on what they've said, and what their record is (or isn't). To be very briefly political, I see the 2008 American presidential election as a choice between

1. Obama, a charming young orator and
   • Very junior Senator who
     • Wants to "spread the wealth around"
     • Apparently thinks that taking money from potential employers will help those who don't get hired
2. McCain,
   • An experienced legislator who
     • Knows how to compromise
     • Has what I regard as a sensible understanding of human nature and the world situation

Both candidates say that they've got the best interests of America at heart, and I tend to believe them. I've been around long enough to realize that people of good will can disagree with each other.

---

Views:

• "America's imperiled democracy"
  Hal Lindsey commentary / WorldNetDaily (October 24, 2008)
• "Ashley Todd-Who Took The Picture?"
  Washington Scandal News and Views (October 24, 2008)
  [Most assuredly not a conservative blog]
  • "...NOW FOLKS, ask yourself a very SERIOUS QUESTION...this was a Presidential Campaign Volunteer STAFFER...."
  • [This bloger thinks the story's a hoax, and says so at great length.]
• "Breaking: Obama Supporter Attacks and Mutilates McCain Volunteer"
  wizbang (October 23, 2008)
  • "Is this the new strategy to get Obama elected? Vote Obama or we'll riot, mutilate people and destroy property?..."
• "McCain Supporter Mutilated & Robbed By Obama Supporter in Pittsburgh!! ...Update: Palin Speaks With Victim"
  Gateway Pundit (October 23, 2008)
• "Obama Supporter Maims McCain Volunteer, Will Media Care?"
  NewsBusters (October 23, 2008)
• "Obama supporter attacks and mutilates McCain volunteer in Pittsburgh"
  HillBuzz (October 23, 2008)
  • "Obama supporters attacked a McCain volunteer in Pittsburgh today — carving a 'B' for 'Barack' into the flesh of someone who doesn't support Obama...."
  • [Notice how the story is growing? This post says "supporters." Plural.
• "SHOCK: McCain supporter attacked and mutilated in Pittsburgh"
  Urban Conservative (October 23, 2008)
  • "...And they say that McCain supporters were harsh for calling Obama a terrorist?"

In the news:

• "Police say inconsistencies in McCain worker's story"
  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (October 24, 2008)
• "Woman says attack on her linked to McCain bumper sticker"
  CNN (October 24, 2008)
• "Cops Eye Inconsistencies in Alleged McCain Campaign Worker Attack"
  FOXNews (October 23, 2008)
• "Pittsburgh Police: McCain Worker Robbed, Attacked"
  CW 31 / CBS News (October 23, 2008)

News Media Tone and Obama, McCain, Biden, Palin: There's a Difference

First, the good news. The American news media isn't wildly for, or against, Barack Obama. Coverage of the Democratic candidate is, overall, rather even-handed.

Now, the not-so-good news. News media coverage of McCain is negative, about four to one.

That's bad news, not just for McCain supporters, but for people who would just as soon not have the American news media cheering for either side. I know: that's a little like hoping that I'll win the lottery. It could happen, but it's not likely.

I found an article about news media coverage of the American presidential election tonight: "Winning the Media Campaign" How the Press Reported the 2008 General Election (Project for Excellence in Journalism (October 22, 2008)).

The lead paragraph is a pretty good summary:

"The media coverage of the race for president has not so much cast Barack Obama in a favorable light as it has portrayed John McCain in a substantially negative one, according to a new study of the media since the two national political conventions ended...."

The article is a fairly detailed report of media coverage of the candidates, including how the data was gathered and evaluated.

It could be worse, but I'm not exactly happy about the tone that the news media has taken with the candidates:

Candidate	Positive	Neutral or Mixed	Negative
McCain	14%	29%	57%
Palin	28%	33%	39%
Obama	36%	35%	29%
Biden	33%	53%	15%

The problem, as I see it, is that if people are told something often enough, they're likely to believe it. Let's say we have a candidate with the -

• Reputation of the late President Kennedy
• Eloquence of James Earl Jones
• Charm of Barack Obama

If almost six out of ten news stories people heard and read about this wonder-candidate explained how poorly he or she was doing, and how unsuitable the candidate was for office: I wouldn't count on that candidate being elected.

When You Read the News, Think

It would be nice if the news media were as even-handed as they seem to think they are. That's not the way it is. So, responsible voters need to study the news, not just read it: think about what's being said, how it's said, and what's not being said.

And, if a seemingly trustworthy media figure makes a claim about, say, the National Review that just doesn't make sense: don't assume that the claim is true. Look it up.

Related posts:

• "Sarah Palin is 'incompetent, stupid, unqualified, corrupt, or all of the above' "
  (October 22, 2008)
• "The New York Times, Insularity, and Assumptions"
  (October 21, 2008)
• "(Some of) Sarah Palin's Exact Words"
  (September 12, 2008)

In the news:

• "Study: Media Portrays McCain in 'Substantially Negative' Light Compared to Obama"
  ABC News (October 22, 2008)
• "McCain's media coverage largely negative, Pew Research Center finds"
  Los Angeles Times (October 22, 2008)
• "McCain losing campaign media war: survey"
  AFP (October 22, 2008)
• "McCain's negative coverage up as numbers go down"
  Associated Press (October 22, 2008)
• "Winning the Media Campaign"
  Project for Excellence in Journalism (October 22, 2008)
• "Veep Debate, Palin Rule Campaign News"
  Project for Excellence in Journalism (September 29 - October 5, 2008)

Background:

• journalism.org
  Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism
• The Pew Charitable Trusts

Sarah Palin is "incompetent, stupid, unqualified, corrupt, or all of the above"

It must be true: we heard it on CNN.

Quotes Aren't Always Quotes

I don't know if a CNN interviewer's radical misquote of a National Review article was an honest mistake, or a calculated risk. I'd guess that not all that many CNN viewers read the National Review, and the article was available only in the print edition of NR. At first.

The National Review Said What?!

In an interview for Tuesday's Situation Room on CNN, Drew Griffin pointed out that conservatives were "being hard" on Sarah Palin:

• Drew Griffin:
  "...'I can't tell if Sarah Palin is incompetent, stupid, unqualified, corrupt, or all of the above.'"
• "Sarah Palin:
  "Who wrote that one?"
• "Drew Griffin:
  "That was in the National Review."

Here's what the National Review actually published:

• "Watching press coverage of the Republican candidate for vice president, it's sometimes hard to decide whether Sarah Palin is incompetent, stupid, unqualified, corrupt, backward, or — or, well, all of the above."

(Byron York, "How Palin Governed," National Review (October 22, 2008))

Same passage, as quoted by Griffin on CNN:

• "Watching press coverage of the Republican candidate for vice president, it's sometimes hard to decide whether Sarah Palin is incompetent, stupid, unqualified, corrupt, backward, or — or, well, all of the above."

(Drew Griffin, The Situation Room interview with Sarah Palin, CNN (October 22, 2008))

It could have been an honest mistake.

CNN must have liked that exchange, though. They used it in a promo for the interview:


(From http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/video.aspx?v=e4SUQuZukU)

ABC made a (mistake?) like this in September, 2008, when they outed the Alaska governor as a radical right-wing dangerously religious warmonger. That 'revelation' took chainsaw editing of something Sarah Palin said in a church.

Reality Check, Please!

I'm going to make this short:

• Barack Obama is not the Antichrist
• Sarah Palin is not a right-wing religious warmonger
• The National Review doesn't think Sarah Palin is stupid

The American Presidential Election is Coming: Please Think!

Things aren't true, just because some guy in a nice suit says it's so.

It's always a good idea to verify quotes and claims. That goes double for claims that the National Review thinks Sarah Palin is stupid.

And, thanks to the Internet, ordinary people can do their own research. I like the Information Age.

Related posts:

• "The New York Times, Insularity, and Assumptions"
  (October 21, 2008)
• "(Some of) Sarah Palin's Exact Words"
  (September 12, 2008)
• "DC Gun Ban, Online Censorship, Individual Rights, and Power to the People"
  (June 27, 2008)
• "On November's Ballot: The Anti-Christ?!"
  Excerpt from "A Presidential Candidate Named Hussein? Get a Grip!"
  (February 28, 2008)

News and views:

• "CNN's Drew Griffin Warps Quote From National Review in Palin Interview"
  NewsBusters / Media Research Center (October 22, 2008)
• "The Corner"
  More from MRC on that CNN Butchering of an NR Quote
  National Review (October 22, 2008)
• "How Palin Governed"
  National Review Online (October 22, 2008)

Sarah Palin's a Nazi: I Saw it on Television

I know: it's just a cartoon.

Sunday night's "Family Guy" episode included a scene where Brian (a talking dog, and arguably the only sane character on the show, apart from Lois) is in Poland while the the Nazis are invading.

He looks at a Nazi uniform and sees a McCain Palin campaign button.


(From FOXNews, used without permission)

You'll have to look for the video on FOX. YouTube postings of an excerpt from last night's show aren't there any more. "This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by FOX" is what YouTube says.

Friends Don't Let Friends Vote Crazy

I sometimes feel that there should be signs like that around poling places this election. With a 'radical Muslim' and a 'Nazi' on the ticket, it's been raining nuts under the tree of liberty ("Monkey Pirates, Jews, and Zionists? Get a Grip!" (October 14, 2008)).

For the Americans who read this blog

However you vote this election, I hope you think about your choice. There's nothing wrong with feelings: I have them all the time. But they're lousy for making decisions. Decisions more important than, say, 'I'll read Garfield instead of Zits,' that is. (I read both, by the way.)

There's plenty of facts and stated positions to make an informed decision in the presidential election. One candidate threatens to continue the policies which are marginalizing Al Qaeda in Iraq, the other wants to "spread the wealth around," and both assure the electorate that they have the best interests of America at heart.

There's more to each candidate, and the party positions, of course.

But please, vote because of something that exists in the real world: not because somebody said Barack Obama is a radical Muslin, or that McCain is a Nazi.

In the news:

• "Family Guy: McCain-Palin Ticket Appeals to Nazis?"
  Eonline (October 20, 2008)
• "Did 'Family Guy' Go Too Far With Nazi 'McCain' Pin?"
  FOXNews (October 20, 2008)

---

Updated (October 20, 2008)

In a way, I'm relieved to see that, so far, nobody seems to have realized that YouTube's acknowledgment of intellectual property rights could be packaged as part of the vast right wing conspiracy's attempt to cover up The Truth.

Obama Lawyer: FBI, Republicans, Conspire Against ACORN, Obama and Legitimate Votes

You can't make this sort of thing up.

There's more, at "FBI and Republicans in "Unholy Alliance" to Stop ACORN and Obama: Of Course! It all Makes Sense Now " (Starting a Small Business Without Losing My Mind (October 17, 2008)).

The plot is even wider than the lawyer, Mr. Bauer, claims. If Mr. Bauer is going to be consistent, he has to believe that the Lake Country Election Board in Ohio, which includes at least one Democrat, is in on the nation-wide conspiracy, too.

The Sign Says "Obama Half-Breed Muslin" - Freedom of Speech, Politics, Spelling, and Race

The sign in a Barefoot Bay, Florida, front yard reads, "Obama Half-Breed Muslin," and that's not a typo. The sign says that Obama is half-cloth, half-man.

I think the sign is a trivial thing by itself: outside Barefoot Bay. But, it does bring up some important issues.

The Story, So Far

Andy Lacasse, who put the sign up, is a Korean War vet and was a Democrat until Obama was nominated. Now he's stopped being a Democrat. He also likes his sign, and is ready to defend it: " 'If I see anybody touching that sign, I got a club sitting right over there.' " (Central Florida 13 News)

At least some people living in the neighborhood aren't too happy about the sign. " 'When you use words in that nature, people tend to discount anything you have to say,' said Steve Rice, who lives a couple streets away from Lacasse.

" 'If you're going to attract attention, at least make sure your spelling is right," Rice added, referring to Lacasse's misspelling of the word 'Muslim.'

"Rice said everyone is talking about the sign. He added he has no problem with free speech, but he does not think it is appropriate to bring race into the issue.

"Rice also said the sign was wrong, and that Obama is a Christian, despite many people thinking he is Muslim." (Channel 13 News)

Small Sign, Big Issues

Mind you, I don't think the sign, or the neighborhood controversy in Barfoot Bay, Florida, is of national significance. But, that "Obama Half-Breed Muslin" sign, and what one of the neighbors said, brings up some important issues.

Freedom of Speech

Freedom of Speech is fine, and Mr. Lacasse may have a legal right to keep his sign there. Offhand, I'd say that this isn't so much a matter of Constitutional rights as local zoning ordinances.

The town I live in lets people display plastic flamingos, why not that sign?

Besides, as a parent, I can see the message as a sort of 'teachable moment' for the kids.

Politics

As I've said before: "When elections shake the tree of liberty, quite a few loose nuts fall out."

With Sarah Palin on one ticket, and Barack Obama on the other, we've already seen some pretty wacky warnings:

• "Anybody toting guns and stripping moose don't care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks. So, you just think this through."
• Saran Palin is a radical right-wing religious warmonger
• Barack Obama is a Muslim: and you know what they're like
• Barack Obama is the Antichrist

Silly? I think so, but some people don't.

Spelling

Ouch. In a country where "Employee's Only" signs abound, I'm not surprised to see that someone spelled "Muslim," "Muslin." At least he got the capitalization right.

This is a good example of why spelling counts. One wrong letter, and instead of saying that Barack Obama is a Muslim, which some people might believe, you're saying that he's half cloth. Even front-page coverage on supermarket tabloids probably wouldn't sell people on that idea.

And there's the chance that someone who knows how to spell will see the sign, and assume that your ideas are as accurate as your spelling. Like it or not, howlers like that send the message, 'a ignernt purrsin lives heer.'

Race

I think Mr, Rice, the neighbor who was quoted in the news, was on the right track when he said:

• He doesn't think it's appropriate to bring race into the issue
• The sign is wrong
• Obama is a Christian
• Even though many think he is a Muslim

Channel 13 News almost made the point that race and/or ethnicity is one thing, religion is something else.

And that's important.

I've gotten the very strong impression that quite a few people think that Muslims are all Arabs, and that all Arabs are Muslims. Also, that Christians all have pale skin and pointy noses. Except for Catholics, who are all Italian and Irish, and aren't Christian anyway.

Not true? Of course. Being European or Arabic or whatever is determined by who your ancestors were. Whether you follow Islam or Christianity, something else, or your own musings, is a matter of choice.

I'm rather passionate about getting facts straight. Quite a few people who aren't Arabs are Muslims. A great many people whose ancestors weren't from Europe are Christians.

Besides, as I said in " Presidential Candidate Named Hussein? Get a Grip!" (February 28, 2008), where someone's ancestors came from isn't - or shouldn't be - an job qualification for being president.

Neither should the candidate's religious beliefs.

Unless a candidate is, say, a Lithuanian who really believes that his mission is to make America a Lithuanian protectorate, and make Americans work in grybai mines. Someone with goals like that wouldn't make a good president: or get many votes, for that matter.

It's Going to be a Long Month

We've got all of October, and a few days in November, before the American presidential election.

Until then, I'm pretty sure that more, and loonier, crackpot ideas will come up. If the stakes weren't so great, I'd enjoy the show a lot more.

News and views:

• "Which is scarier?"
  • "...or that the person that made this sign still gets to vote?"
  Pundit Kitchen (September 22, 2008)
• "Sign: "Obama is a half-breed muslin(sic)""
  • "...Crazy old coot pretty indicative of how I view old people and southerners...."
  The Noise Boston (September 12[!], 2008)
• "Obama Sign In Yard Stirs Up Neighbors"
  • "BAREFOOT BAY -- A sign in one man's front yard has stirred up a controversy in his community...."
  Central Florida News 13 (September 13, 2008)

Sarah Palin, Barack Obama, Voting, and Common Sense

There's a presidential election coming up in America. Americans who plan to vote are probably looking for information on the candidates, their history, character, and positions.

We can get an eyeful at the supermarket checkout, among the chewing gum, breath mints, tabloids, and celebrity magazines.

The Us magazine due to hit newsstands and checkout lines this week promises to outshine periodicals discussing Keira Knightley's fashion sense, Jessica Alba's cleavage, or Hulk Hogan's family problems.

The Us headline sets the tone: "John McCain's Vice President SARAH PALIN: BABIES, LIES & SCANDAL" - the last three words and ampersand in big, bright yellow letters.

In a way, Us is giving equal time for both tickets. The celebrity magazine did a cover on Barack and Michelle Obama back in June. The Obama coverage took a rather different approach, though.

June, 2008	This week
"Michelle Obama: Why Barack Loves Her She shops at Target, Loved Sex and the City, and never misses the girls' recitals. The untold romance between the down-to-earth mom and the man who calls her 'my rock.' "	"John McCain's Vice President SARAH PALIN BABIES, LIES & SCANDAL" Under attack, admits her daughter, 17, is pregnant "Investigated for firing of sister's ex-husband "Mom of five: New embarrassing surprises"

I don't dispute the general accuracy of either set of Us articles. But I do think that the magazine was rather careful in selecting what to write about the (wonderful) Obamas and the (scandalous) Palin.

America has freedom of speech, and Us publisher Jann Wenner is exercising that freedom. The editors of People magazine exercise that freedom, too, telling how she's managed a political career and five children: including one with Down syndrome. And now, her teenage daughter's pregnancy.

Which brings me back to the November election.

There are weird rumors about Barack Obama: that he's

• A radical Muslim
• The anti-Christ
• Endorsed by the KKK

They're not true.

Now that the Republican ticket has been established, I'm pretty sure that strange stories will be circulating about John McCain and Sarah Palin. Given the way Us has led the way, I think we can count on some along the lines of 'they're seen together so often - do you suppose there's something going on?!'

I know: Barack Obama has said 'hands off' the families. That was a classy statement. But I doubt that there will be any shortage of crazy stories about all the candidates.

This should be obvious, but let's remember: some magazines, newspapers, and news media tend to publish all the news they feel like printing. It's a good idea to collect all the facts: not just the ones from one set of supporters.

In the news:

• "Blurring of journalism lines in Palin story hurts public"
  Los Angeles Times (September 4, 2008)
• "Us Weekly Cover Blasts Sarah Palin, but for the Obamas It’s a Cakewalk"
  FOXNews (September 3, 2008) >

"sarah palin hot photos" and the American Presidential Election

With the American presidential election just over two months away, politics will rear its head from time to time, like a drowned muskrat breaking the surface of a pond.

While catching up on what terrorists, wanna-be terrorists, American politicians, and Middle Eastern governments have been up to, I ran into this search term:

sara palin hot photos

That gem made number 13 on Google's Zeitgeist page about an hour ago. That means it's towards the top of the current "100 most searched-for topics" on Google.

With: Iran confirming that it's got operational uranium-enrichment centrifuges (for peaceful purposes, we're told); Iraq signing a $3,000,000,000 oil deal with China (why not? it's their oil); Pakistan trying, and failing, to catch Al Qaeda's number-two man; what's the attention English-speaking world focused on?

sara palin hot photos

To be fair, there are other hot topics, including:

• 90210 cast (#10)
• confessions of a shopaholic (#6)
• amantadine (#1)

A few of them important.

But: sara palin hot photos?!!

Sure, I know what this is about: vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's daughter, 17, is pregnant.

I could be wrong, but many people posting on discussion threads seemed to greet this news with unbridled glee. Maybe the idea was that the Republican party, in the manner of the Stern Father in a Victorian melodrama, would cast Sarah Palin and her erring daughter into the swirling snow with a loud "never darken this doorstep again!"

Barack Obama, probably responding to this paroxysm of delight, said: "Let me be as clear as possible," today. "I think people's families are off-limits, and people's children are especially off-limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance as governor or her potential performance as a vice president." Hats off to Obama. That was a classy thing to say.

Turns out the McCain campaign knew about the Palin baby situation. And, apparently, decided that it wasn't a major problem.

A member of my family, hearing about Sarah Palin's daughter and the baby, said, "so what?!"

I agree. I've been described as "a conservative guy," but here's how I see the situation:

• It's 2008
• A 17-year-old woman is pregnant
• She decides to keep the baby
• She knows who the father is
• And plans to marry him

I think it's a good idea to get married first, and then start a family, but considering the culture that the younger Palin grew up in, I'd say she's doing pretty well. And, I wish the young couple and their child the best.

And, I agree with Barack Obama. Sarah Palin is running for Vice President of the United States: her daughter's domestic life has little or no bearing on national issues.

Americans make up a hefty chunk of people whose primary language is English, so I'm guessing that quite a few of the people Googling for sara palin hot photos are Americans. With matters of life and death - and the right to look for hot photos online - at stake, this is not the sort of behavior I'd like to see in the American electorate.

But, Americans are human beings, just like people all over the world. When the poles open this November, I hope that people who care about the issues, and have studied the candidates, vote.

And I hope that people whose interest in politics ends with sara palin hot photos stay home.

In the news:

• "Obama says Palin's family off limits"
  CNN (September 2, 2008)
• "After revelations, McCain gives assurances on Palin vetting"
  CNN (September 2, 2008)

My view on the getting out to vote:

• "Vote, or Stay Home"
  (February 4, 2008)

Democracy: Zimbabwe Style

The odds are pretty good that Zimbabwe's President Mugabe will be re-elected today. That's a photo of somebody at a voting booth in Zimbabwe. The chap to the right, in riot gear, is making sure that everything's done properly.

Opposition candidate Tsvangirai's name is still on the ballot, since Zimbabwe's electoral officials said that his withdrawal from the race on Sunday came too late.

That's a nice gesture of due process in the election.

I still don't think the dude in armor is there to guarantee a free and open election, though.

On a more positive note, today's voting has proceeded with no reports of dismemberment or live cremation. In Zimbabwe, that's impressive.

Zimbabwe's election in the news:

• "Voters led to polls in Zimbabwe election"
  Associated Press (June 27, 2008)
• "Zimbabwe Election Marked By Intimidation"
  CBS News (June 27, 2008)

More at:

• "War on Terror: Zimbabwe Has Trouble, Too"
  (June 23, 2008)
• "Terrorism: Still Not a Muslim Monopoly"
  (June 11, 2008)

Obama, Clinton, AIPAC, America, and Strength: Sounds Good

I heard New York Senator Hillary Clinton say something reassuring on television this morning.

For someone with my views, that doesn't happen very often.

She was speaking to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), after Obama had addressed the group.

I haven't been able to find a transcript of Clinton's remarks, so this paraphrase will have to do: 'America will be a strong supporter of Israel, but to do this, America will have to be respected in the world.'

She went on to say how alliances are important.

Sounds a great deal like Clinton's stand, as stated on her campaign's "Issues" page:

• "Restoring America's Standing in the World
  • "The next president's most urgent task will be to restore America's standing in the world to promote our interests, ensure our security, and advance our values. America is stronger when we lead the world through alliances. As president, Hillary will lead by the words of the Declaration of Independence, which pledged 'a decent respect to the opinions of mankind.' "

I had missed Barack Obama's speech to AIPAC, but apparently he pledged support for Israel, and believes that America's security is important. "Obama said Bush's decision to invade Iraq had enabled the hardliners in Iran to tighten their grip on power. 'And the United States and Israel are less secure,' he added."
("Barack Obama picks up fresh support from Democrats" Associated Press (June 4, 2008))

Obama also tried to straighten out some stories that have been doing the rounds. " 'They're filled with tall tales and dire warnings about a certain candidate for president. And all I want to say is -- let me know if you see this guy named Barack Obama, because he sounds pretty scary.'

"Rumors have been circulating at least since last year that Obama is a Muslim and does not support the Jewish state. He is a Christian and said at the conference he is a 'true friend of Israel,' earning applause."
("Obama addresses rumors at pro-Israel conference CNN (June 4, 2008))

Rumors, Words, Campaigns, and America

I've heard the word "alliance" used quite a bit. Generally, "alliances" are what the current American administration isn't making around the world.

It's 'well known' that America was 'going it alone' in a 'unilateral' invasion of Iraq: although "going it alone" and "unilateral" haven't shown up in speeches recently. That may be because someone found out just how many nations were involved in that "unilateral" action (More, at "Watch for Weird Words: Election's Coming Up!" (August 9, 2007).) A sizable fraction of the world's nations (around an eighth, by my count)¹ were in the coalition that freed Iraq from Saddam Hussein: from Alabania and Armenia to the Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

The way the terms are used in American politics, it sounds like "alliance" and "coalition" are two quite different things.

I looked up "alliance," and "coalition," and found these definitions:

• Alliance
  • confederation (the state of being allied or confederated)
  • bond (a connection based on kinship or marriage or common interest) "the shifting alliances within a large family"; "their friendship constitutes a powerful bond between them"
  • coalition, alignment, alinement (an organization of people (or countries) involved in a pact or treaty)
  • (a formal agreement establishing an association or alliance between nations or other groups to achieve a particular aim)
  • (the act of forming an alliance or confederation)
• Coalition
  • alliance, coalition, alignment, alinement (an organization of people (or countries) involved in a pact or treaty)
  • fusion (the state of being combined into one body)
  • coalescence, coalescency, coalition, concretion, conglutination (the union of diverse things into one body or form or group; the growing together of parts)

(Princeton University's WordNet)

So, according to that Princeton database, an alliance is a coalition, and a coalition is an alliance. There are subtle distinctions, of course, but the two terms mean almost exactly the same thing. One of the definitions of coalition is a little scary, at least from one point of view: "fusion (the state of being combined into one body)".

I think, though, that in terms of American politics, "alliance" is an agreement between countries which involves important nations like France, China, or Russia. A "coalition" is an agreement between countries which produces results, and is led by America.

Rumors are a part of the human experience, and the 2008 presidential campaign has seen its share. Recently:

• The purported Michelle Obama "Whitey" video
• Barack Hussein Obama being Muslim because of his middle name - disturbing, because some feel that his being Muslim disqualifies him in the presidential race

It's important to sort out rumors from fact, and use only facts when deciding who to vote for.

Finally, the usual statement: this blog isn't political, but politics decides who the next president of the United States will be, as well as membership in the House of Representatives, and - for thirty five states, who will be in the Senate.

The people elected to these offices will determine America's policy: and that will have a profound effect on the war on terror - and on all of our lives.

---

I didn't mean to give the impression that Clinton was the only candidate with something to say about American foreign policy. Barack Obama's campaign website has an "Issues" page, too.

• "Foreign Policy
  • "As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Obama has fought to strengthen America's position in the world. Reaching across the aisle, Obama has tackled problems such as preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction and stopping the genocide in Darfur."

And to round things out, here's what McCain's "Issues" page has to say:

• "National Security
  • "The most sacred responsibility vested in a president - the commander in chief - is to 'preserve and protect' American citizens. John McCain has the necessary vision and unrivaled experience to command the United States armed forces and adapt our nation's defenses to the demands of a changing and dangerous world.

In each case, there's a link to a longer discussion of the candidate's stand.

¹Just how many 'nations' are there? I did a quick count, and found 266 - including places like the Gaza Strip and Antarctica as "nations." If a territory has to be in the United Nations to be counted, that reduces the count to 192.

Michelle Obama's "Whitey" Video, Common Sense, and Michelle Malkin

It's in the news, sort of: Michelle Obama presumably called white people "Whitey" - a lot - during a church service. And got videotaped doing it.

News and Views:

• "Discuss: The Mysterious Michelle Obama "Whitey" Tape"
  WOAI.com (June 3, 2008)
  • "Michelle Obama may have called white people "Whitey" during a church service. Larry Johnson at the "No Quarter" blog claims to have four sources that have confirmed the video exists.
  • "The videotape purports to show Michelle Obama sitting on a panel with Louis Farrakhan at the then Jeremiah Wright-helmed Trinity United Church of Christ making racist remarks about white Americans, liberally employing the derogatory term ‘whitey’ while doing so.
  • "If this story turns out to be true it only brings to light that the Obama's believe the values system of the Trinity church. More to come on this story later in the week...."
• "Killing "Whitey" or Not? Rightbloggers React to Michelle Obama Rumors."
  Village Voice (May 27, 2008)
  • "Here's as fine an example of message discipline as you're ever likely to see: Michelle Obama is rumored to have spoken negatively on a videotape about someone named "Whitey" (perhaps the beloved Dead End Kid played by the late Billy Benedict). Google Michelle Obama plus variations on the phrase "railing against Whitey" and you get (at the moment) thousands of results. Keep hype alive!
  • "The rumor was promulgated by Clinton supporter Larry Johnson, but the response among online Clintonites has been disappointing: while some rose to the bait ("If it's true, I think the sooner it gets 'out there,' the better"), even at the large, and largely pro-Clinton, Talk Left the rumor was mainly restricted to reader comments.
  • "But that's okay—rightbloggers are better at this sort of thing anyway, and in a series of posts last week improvised such fanciful changes on the rumor as would make Thelonious Monk sound like a lounge pianist....

A video like that, unless it had been made before Obama's pastor's "God damn America" sermon went public, would be too good (or bad) to be true. Surely nobody connected with the Obama campaign would be stupid enough to make remarks like that - whether or not he or she was aware of a video camera.

Even Michelle Malkin seems dubious:

• "Where is the purported Michelle Obama 'whitey' video?"
  Michelle Malkin (June 3, 2008)
  • "Many readers are wondering why I have not written a single word about the rumored Michelle Obama 'whitey' video.
  • "Simple: Larry Johnson, the main source of the rumors, is not, not, not to be trusted.
  • "Moreover: The story keeps changing.
  • "First, the rumor-mongers claimed, Obama appeared on tape with Louis Farrakhan. Now, the rumor is that the tape comes from this event where she appeared with Mrs. Farrakhan at a Rainbow/PUSH conference in 2004 (via reader Bill):...

Maybe Malkin learned something from the Kaffiya SNAFU ("Rachael Ray, Dunkin' Donuts, Michelle Malkin, and Common Sense" (May 29, 2008)).

Again, my usual disclaimer: this blog isn't political, but American leadership is - and this country is going to decide who sits in the Oval Office for the next four years.

As I indicated before, I'd be surprised if this video actually exists. Aside from the rumor getting 'better' with each retelling, I have difficulty believing that anyone so closely connected with a presidential candidate could be quite that stupid and/or daft.

Straight from My Imagination: Another Twist to the Rumor

Since it's pretty obvious that my views are not strictly liberal, and that this is a blog, I must be a 'rightblogger' - at least, to those people who see the world in terms of right and left.

As such, I feel obliged to provide another (quite imaginary) twist to the Michelle Obama "Whitey" video rumor. Try this on for size:

Although the rumors are presumably from a Clinton supporter, why not say that they're from a sort of 'black ops' section of the Obama campaign? It actually makes sense: spread this wild rumor, get the opposition whipped up to the point where they're making obviously crazy statements, and then demonstrate that there is no such video with the polish and eloquence that Barack Obama is so famous for.

No, I don't believe that for a moment. Aside from having no evidence, I think a ploy like that would be insanely dangerous. Besides, how could Obama prove that the (purported) video didn't exist?

Obama: The Next American President?

It's official. "Barack Obama effectively clinched the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday, becoming the first black candidate to lead a major party into a campaign for the White House." ("AP tally: Obama effectively clinches nomination" Associated Press (June 3, 2008))

Or is it? "It's kind of exciting, right? Our first black party candidate! The next step in the 2008 election! A gloriously upstart campaign that broke all the rules! Except it's totally not over yet. The AP headline 'Obama effectively clinches nomination' (emphasis ours) includes a hedge that is not reflected in the tone of the article." ("The Associated Press Hands Obama the Nomination" (New York Magazine, June 3, 2008))

Again: This isn't a political blog, but America selects its leaders through a political process - so like it or not, politics will show up here.

Barring some colossal revelation, I won't vote for Barack Obama. It's not because of where some of his ancestors came from. It's what his perception of the world seems to be, and his abilities.

Barack Obama is a masterful orator, when he's had time to rehearse. When he hasn't, we find out what his beliefs are about aboriginal affairs are. An example is the time he tried to explain the natives of inner Pennsylvania to a group of sophisticated San Franciscans ("America is Picking a Wartime President: Please be Careful! (April 14, 2008)).

I'm not convinced that Barack Obama understands what sort a world we live in. He seems to think that talks - unconditional talks - with leaders of countries like Iran would be a good idea.

Talking is a good idea. I'm a great believer in communication and negotiation: whether it's a matter of last month's credit card bill, or controlling the spread of nuclear weapons.

But I don't think it's a good idea to start talking, officially, with a head of state who describes America as 'Satan,' without setting up a few rules first. Aside from wasting time, there's too much of a chance - as I see it - of the other government introducing a topic, or making a claim, that can't be addressed: and then stating, with a little truth, that America 'refused' to settle the issue.

Here's how I see it:

• Talk: Good idea
• Unconditionally: Really bad idea

Wait a minute! Obama's people says he didn't really say "unconditionally!

Reality Check: Obama and Unconditional Talks

The following appeared in a correction to a New York Times article ("On McCain, Obama and a Hamas Link" (May 10, 2008)):
"Correction: May 16, 2008
"An article on Saturday about Senator John McCain’s criticism of Senator Barack Obama’s Middle East policy incompletely described Mr. Obama’s position on negotiating with the leaders of countries, including Iran, with which the United States currently has little contact. While Mr. Obama and his aides have indeed described various conditions and limitations on such negotiations, Mr. Obama himself, in a Democratic debate in July 2007, also said he would be willing "to meet separately, without precondition" with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea."

---

UPDATE

This article surfaced while I was writing this post:

" Lawmakers: Clinton says she's ready to be Obama's VP"
CNN (June 3, 2008)

"Sen. Hillary Clinton on Tuesday told New York lawmakers she is open to being the running mate of Sen. Barack Obama, her rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, two of the lawmakers told CNN."

It's more likely, now, that Obama will be the Democratic Party's candidate.

And, with the still rather adulatory attitude that traditional American news media has toward him, I think the odds favor his being the next president of the United States.

An Obama presidency, no matter how it turns out, promised to be memorable and exciting.

Another Fortnight, and Still No Quagmires

Another two weeks has passed, and I still haven't heard "quagmire" come out of a politico or campaigner. With just a little over five months to go before the America election, that's a good sign.

I noted the campaign's quagmirelessness back in "Lies, Quagmires, and Straight Thinking" (May 14, 2008). There's a more detailed discussion of "quagmire" and political rhetoric in "Quagmire: Now and Forever, it Seems" (November 11, 2007), with links to earlier related posts. (I hope it's simply political rhetoric, and that the 'quagmire' people don't actually think in those rather dated terms.)