I've seen some opinion articles lately that run along a certain theme, that is that a purely anti-Barack Obama campaign by the Republicans won't get John McCain elected president.
From the liberal perspective, it's a warning against "smears" or "swiftboating." Any criticism of Obama is seen by the left as a smear. Any pointing out of the Democratic nominee-to-be's flaws is swiftboating, of course. They're not, and neither is criticism of McCain.
While the Democrats obviously want to short-circuit any damage that can be done to their highly vulnerable candidate, there's a larger point here that Republicans -- especially McCain's handlers -- will ignore at their own peril. McCain and the GOP need to come out with their own positive vision of what they will do in office. Merely calling Obama inexperienced, soft on national defense and too radical will not save Republican fortunes this year.
McCain needs to come out with a clear five-point plan that regular people can rally around. Elect me and this is what I will do. Obama is going around promising all kinds of things to all sorts of people. Don't tell me what your opponent can't do, tell me what you WILL do. McCain, other than saying I'll be tough against our enemies, really hasn't done this.
Let's go to energy, an issue that's being demagogued by both political parties. People smell that stuff out in a second now. They don't like the Democratic controlled Congress going after the "windfall profits" of oil companies nor their knee-jerk opposition to offshore drilling. Yet, Republican promises to drill our way out of the energy crisis doesn't score any points, either.
So let's get to a real plan. Drill, sure. Well off-shore. But you have to couple it with other things, such as an end to the disastrous corn-for-ethanol subsidy and re-regulation of the oil futures markets. Add tax incentives for continued efforts to develop fuel cell technology and figure out how to revive nuclear energy. We need everything on the table in order to build our energy supply back to where it should be and remove speculators from the market.
A good starting point that is apparently going to waste was publicized by Robert Novak in a column that you'll find on Monday's list of articles on Realclearpolitics.com. The reform plan by Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin has been dismissed by GOP House leaders and ignored by McCain campaign staffers, according to Novak. Not a good idea. Republicans need all the help they can get if they're going to win any elections at all in November.
While the campaign remains in its early stages, the spread between Obama and McCain in the polls has hardly budged the past two weeks. McCain needs a push. If he doesn't get one, Obama is going to trounce him and Democrats will dominate Congress.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Curious Opening to Calif. Same-Sex Marriages
My California county today began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in response to the state Supreme Court decision that overturned a voter-approved ban on such ceremonies. I covered the morning activities for my employer and found some things to be rather interesting.
1. I asked two just-married men, after they told me they'd had a commitment ceremony five years ago, why they felt being married was so important on top of the commitment they'd already made to each other. The one who answered actually said "Hmmm" and paused for several seconds before answering. One would think that since they wanted to take advantage of what they called a historic day, they'd have a good reason at the top of their minds. Uh, no. He finally said that now they get to be equal with everyone else. However, as someone else pointed out, with civil union laws, they already were equal.
2. A coalition of groups that support traditional marriage held a rally at the county building where most of the same-sex marriage licenses were being handed out. The people who rallied were outnumbered by the media. Add the gay curious who happened to walk around to the other side of the building where the rally was being held, the participants were far outnumbered. One television camera crew interviewed a gay couple in the middle of the rally. Considering that the overturned ban gained support of 62 percent of the voters, there really wasn't much opposition shown today.
Some other observations:
-- I had a discussion with an intelligent young woman who thinks that the large majority that supported the gay marriage ban in 2002 will be whittled down by young voters who have no qualms with same-sex couples, maybe to the point that a similar ballot initiative in November, that would overturn the Supreme Court decision, will fail. In a state that in recent years voted to allow children to have abortions without telling their parents, she might be right. There's no doubt that change is afoot in this election season in a number of ways.
-- For all the hoopla, only about 200 same-sex couples were expected to obtain marriage licenses on the first day, an amazingly small number for a county of more than 2 million people. San Diego has a lively LGBT scene (which produced Andrew Cunanan, sorry), so you would expect more of a rush and a much bigger number, but it didn't happen. There was never much of a wait in the clerk's office. County officials eased the process by taking appointments, but walk-ins were also welcome.
-- I still think any such couples who want to be married better do so before November.
---
How about we just keep the U.S. Open golf tournament in San Diego permanently, kind of like New York does for the U.S. Open tennis event.
---
With all the reaction to the death of NBC News personality Tim Russert, it was terribly sad how the death of retired sports announcer Charlie Jones was overlooked. The affable Jones also died last week of a heart attack. He was a good sports announcer and by all accounts a good human being who helped the careers of several people with whom I'm friendly. Jones should also be remembered, and recalled fondly.
1. I asked two just-married men, after they told me they'd had a commitment ceremony five years ago, why they felt being married was so important on top of the commitment they'd already made to each other. The one who answered actually said "Hmmm" and paused for several seconds before answering. One would think that since they wanted to take advantage of what they called a historic day, they'd have a good reason at the top of their minds. Uh, no. He finally said that now they get to be equal with everyone else. However, as someone else pointed out, with civil union laws, they already were equal.
2. A coalition of groups that support traditional marriage held a rally at the county building where most of the same-sex marriage licenses were being handed out. The people who rallied were outnumbered by the media. Add the gay curious who happened to walk around to the other side of the building where the rally was being held, the participants were far outnumbered. One television camera crew interviewed a gay couple in the middle of the rally. Considering that the overturned ban gained support of 62 percent of the voters, there really wasn't much opposition shown today.
Some other observations:
-- I had a discussion with an intelligent young woman who thinks that the large majority that supported the gay marriage ban in 2002 will be whittled down by young voters who have no qualms with same-sex couples, maybe to the point that a similar ballot initiative in November, that would overturn the Supreme Court decision, will fail. In a state that in recent years voted to allow children to have abortions without telling their parents, she might be right. There's no doubt that change is afoot in this election season in a number of ways.
-- For all the hoopla, only about 200 same-sex couples were expected to obtain marriage licenses on the first day, an amazingly small number for a county of more than 2 million people. San Diego has a lively LGBT scene (which produced Andrew Cunanan, sorry), so you would expect more of a rush and a much bigger number, but it didn't happen. There was never much of a wait in the clerk's office. County officials eased the process by taking appointments, but walk-ins were also welcome.
-- I still think any such couples who want to be married better do so before November.
---
How about we just keep the U.S. Open golf tournament in San Diego permanently, kind of like New York does for the U.S. Open tennis event.
---
With all the reaction to the death of NBC News personality Tim Russert, it was terribly sad how the death of retired sports announcer Charlie Jones was overlooked. The affable Jones also died last week of a heart attack. He was a good sports announcer and by all accounts a good human being who helped the careers of several people with whom I'm friendly. Jones should also be remembered, and recalled fondly.
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