A funny thing happened after the election

I just realized something. That is to say, that I just admitted something to myself that has been true for a long time.

I haven't watched network news since George W. Bush was elected. For the past 8 years I have gotten 100% of my news from the internet and cable television. Why? I couldn't stand to see or hear our President speak. There is some element in his voice that makes my arm instantly punch buttons on the car radio to get to the next station....any station that isn't giving him airtime. I actually wince when I am forced to look at him. I have never seen nor cared to hear a state of the union address, a press conference, a fireside chat, or an address to the country live. I knew that the next day the New York Times would summarize it for me without my ever having to see or hear that awful little man.

It all started in 2000 when I firmly believe GWB, his brother Jeb and the Supreme Court delivered Florida, a state he didn't actually win. There are some things I find inexcusable. Stealing a national election falls in that category. You never know when I'm going to have this reaction. For example, one of my fellow graduate students (on the first day I met him), walked up to a car in the faculty parking lot and ripped one of those Christian fish decorations off a very nice car and threw it in the weeds. When I asked him what the hell he was doing, he told me that people who believe in God are stupid. He didn't care that it was a very nice car and he may have damaged it. He didn't care that it wasn't his property. He didn't care that other people were entitled to opinions that differed from his. He was and remains in my mind a supreme asshole. I was done with that guy on the first day I met him. Despite having skyscraper respect for Rudy Guiliani following the 9/11 attacks, he threw away all that goodwill with his mocking comments about community organizers at the Republican National Convention. I could care less about anything Guliani has to say in the future. Not a damn thing any of them will ever be able to do to win back my allegiance.

I am convinced that Bush won again (much to my chagrin and utter disbelief) by capitalizing on the fear over terrorism and 9/11. I have no respect for the man. I never will. He has turned out to be exactly the kind of president that I anticipated. He's stupid. He's a bully. He may personally care about individual Americans, but he doesn't care about America. Mark my words, he will go down in history as the worst president we have ever had--a title formerly held by Ronald Reagan.

I know that Tom Brokaw retired, that Dan Rather was embroiled in some professional scandal that ended his career, and that Peter Jennings died. I have no idea who replaced them.

I find myself uninterested, although not reviled, by anything McCain has to say. I wonder if he wins if I will come to avoid him as well. I doubt it. Slimy as his campaign has been, it hasn't been in the same category as say Rudy Guiliani. I'm at least willing to give a President McCain a chance. Sarah Palin is another story. I think her campaign slogan should be "Oh no we won't".

In any event, I hope to be a regular viewer of some or all of the network news channels after the inauguration. One can hope. I gots hope.

The Best, The Worst, and the Utterly Perplexing from the 2008 Election

My best attempt at non-partisan commentary wrap-up on this election season. I'm sure there are other moments, but just a few I threw together while wasting time on a Sunday morning.

For those having trouble viewing video on my site, I'm going to always try to include url links to embedded video.

Simply The Best category:

Yes we can. Greatest speech by a political leader in the United States in the 21st Century. Certainly the greatest concession speech ever given. January 8, 2008. For the full video of the speech, go here.



From the Alaska Women Reject Palin rally in Anchorage, AK, on September 14, 2008. h/t Mudflats.


























You can't argue with the power of 18 million cracks. Despite what anyone thinks I think, I actually do think that Hillary exited this hard-fought race with dignity and grace.











"Senator Obama, I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago."
Video here.

Campbell Brown is my hero. Here she is giving her now famous "Free Sarah Palin" editorial.


Other clear winners in the media portion of this election cycle: Jack Cafferty, Rachael Maddow, and yes, Keith Olbermann. Jury still out on Chris Matthews. I have also been somewhat impressed by Pat Buchanan's ability to gain a broader, occassionally non-partisan view of reality. Jon Stewart's commentary didn't seem as biting this year as the folks on the legitimate news themselves.

Then there's The Worst. Who can forget these memorable moments? I get verklempt just thinking of these.

The hands-down winner? Or should I say the "hands-up" winners??

"Senator McCain....Do you believe in evolution?"

"Yes".

"I'm curious, is there anybody on the stage that does not believe in evolution?"

Question asked during the GOP primary debate.

For those of you scoring at home, from left to right that's Brownback, Huckabee and Tancredo with their stupidity showing hands raised. Video here.

"Our opponent … is someone who sees America it seems as being so imperfect that he’s palling around with terrorists who would target their own country." Sarah Palin stump speech, various locations.

The Ashley Todd racism incident that wasn't.

Who can forget the mocking of community organizing that went on at the Republican Convention?
This goes beyond offensive in my book. Rudy Guiliani is a dick.

Head-scratching Moments:

Video here.

KATIE COURIC: "You've cited Alaska's proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?"

SARAH PALIN: "That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and on our other side, the land boundary that we have with, uh, Canada. It's funny that a comment like that was kinda made to, char..., I don't know, you know... reporters."

KATIE COURIC: "Mocked."

SARAH PALIN: "Yeah. Mocked. I guess that's the word. Yah."

KATIE COURIC: "Well, explain to me why that enhances your foreign policy credentials."

SARAH PALIN: "Well, it certainly does because our..our next-door neighbors are foreign countries there in the state that I am the executive of."

I'd go on, but honestly, I find it too painful and I was trying to be non-partisan.

Pat Buchannan flip-flops on Sarah Palin selection. My favorite part is where he says "If I was a Republican I would have been disheartened going to my convention if they had chosen an good man, a nice guy, in Gov. Pawlenty, we wouldn't even be talking about this."

IF he was a Republican?