The Era of the Lie

Michael Tomasky asks a simple question: How do you fight these people? I don't really think anyone, particularly the Obama campaign, has quite figured that out yet. It is absolutely stunning the role that dishonesty has played in the McCain campaign. These people just continue to lie. Even after they've been caught. It's utterly baffling! The obvious example is Palin and her lies regarding the Bridge to Nowhere and earmarks. However, it doesn't end there. Most of you have no doubt heard of the Fed's bailout of AIG. Everyone that is currently reading these words, is now a partial owner of AIG, as the taxpayers now own 80% of the insurance giant. Congrats...I guess. Of course as Tomasky points out, McCain (in light of this news) is talking about the need to fight corporate greed and enact a new, stronger regulatory framework. Unfortunately for McCain, he's always opposed regulation in the past. In fact the best label for his economic perspective (as limited as that may be) is that of a radical deregulator. Thankfully, the apparently revitalized Washington Post, has a front page story (brought to my attention by the Tomasky post) that details McCain's long held antipathy for government regulation of business. However, the McCain campaign is out again today, lying. They're claiming that McCain has always been a strong proponent of regulaton. Surprised? You shouldn't be! This is how the McCain campaign operates. Tomasky sums up the situation appropriately:

Imagine this happening in your own life. You knew your spouse was cheating, and she or he kept on denying it and called you despicable. Imagine that in a court of law, a plaintiff or defendant's attorney could lie, get caught, lie again and then get at least some members of the jury to believe that the allegations that he lied were just an elitist plot. That in business, one party could break a contract, lie about it, lie about having lied about it, charge that the other party's willingness to stand by the original terms of the contract showed only that the other party was weak and inflexible -- and still come out of the deal smelling sweet.

I couldn't of said it better myself. Thankfully, the media finally seems to be jumping off the St. McCain bandwagon. While the reporting of the McCain campaign's lies were initially just popping up in individual stories, it now seems that the MSM is beginning to create a narrative focusing on the campaign's outright dishonesty. However, it's aggravating that the MSM seems to be hesitant to utilize the word lie. When an individual makes a statement they know to be false. That's called a lie. It's spelled L - I - E. The present tense of the verb lie, is lying. Since the McCain campaign is actively and knowingly engaging in deception, they are lying. See MSM, it's easy! Anyways, I digress. While the MSM certainly plays a role, the onus is on John McCain, Sarah Palin, and their campaign. This overt reliance on the lie is unprecedented in a political campaign. While elements of the Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, and Bush II campaigns were deplorable; none of them really ever continued to lie after having been caught. John McCain is so bereft of honor and dignity that he outright refuses to stop. I used to hate John McCain, now I just pity him.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user captainleadbottom, September 9, 2008.

Turning on the Mac

I thought the day would never come where I sing the praises of the Washington Post editorial page! If I were to do such a thing, it would probably be in regards to either Eugene Robinson or E.J. Dionne (both of whom are actually great columnists). Perhaps maybe even a shout out to David Ignatius, whom occasionally writes a superb column. Surely Richard Cohen, of in-the-tank for McCain infamy, wouldn't garner praise from a big time mega-blogger like me. Alas! The day has come. Ok, enough with that. Richard Cohen has somehow managed to write a coherent column about how McCain has completely lost his way. Cohen even admits that he was on the McCain bandwagon. Fortunately, for himself and his readers, he has managed to exorcise himself of this particular demon. Cohen's definitive and comprehensive take down focuses primarily on the cynicism that McCain displayed in his anointing of noted moose hunter Sarah Palin as his protege. However, Cohen is also quite perturbed by the ease and frequency in which St. McCain engages in outright deception. For anyone interested in reading a chronicle of the divorce between John McCain and one of his most ardent supporters, Cohen's column is a can't miss.

Hitting Back

FINALLY! Barack Obama, it would seem, has gotten the message and is beginning to hammer John McCain. The McCain campaign is lying at a pace and frequency that is absolutely mind boggling. They have repeatedly claimed that Obama is planning to raise taxes on the middle class; when in actuality, his tax plan will lower the burden on 95% of the American people. Sarah Palin, even today, still claims that she was against the "Bridge to Nowhere" even though virtually ever MSM outlet has called them out on it. This is honestly stunning. McCain prided himself in 2000 as an honorable candidate that would not take the "low road" to the presidency. That John McCain is dead. He's been dead for sometime. The new John McCain is a man entirely devoid of principle. The new John McCain is a man that will say anything to get elected, even if that includes repeating outright lies, over and over and over again. The new John McCain is a man that makes George W. Bush look like the patron saint of nobility. The new John McCain is a man that has sold his soul. John McCain is a disgrace. He's a man that has stripped himself of every last shred of honor and dignity he once possessed. While his military service was honorable, past deeds cannot forgive the sins of the present. It's really quite sad, and you almost have to wonder how he looks himself in the mirror at night. However, at this point, any nostalgia-fueled allusions to the past are irrelevant and counter-productive. This man, this hollow shell of lies, is the candidate that Obama must spar with; and this ad signifies that he is at last congnizant of this new reality.

Sarah Palin Doesn't Know What the Bush Doctrine is!

Via Matt Yglesias, I found this telling clip from the National Security Network. It's a huge deal that Sarah Palin doesn't know what the Bush Doctrine is. For those of you who don't know, the Bush Doctrine is the policy of preemptive war. In other words attacking countries that the US perceives may cause a threat to our interests in the near future. If you don't know what the Bush Doctrine is, don't feel bad. You are most likely not running for the Vice Presidency of the United States. If you are, get with it!

Seven Years

I'm not very good a memorializing, but I feel I should at least say something. This is the 7th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. It's not a day any of us will soon forget. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those that were killed in the attacks, and those that died trying to save them.

Another Bond Trailer

I CANNOT FUCKING WAIT!

Metallica - The Day That Never Comes

Pretty decent. Guitar solo is a little long at the end though.