August 2008

"Buy American, Vote Obama" is the new theme that the Obama campaign is rolling out in Pennsylvania this weekend. I am glad to see the return of "Buy American" in our political discussion. I remember back in the 80's people around here drove about an hour over to Indiana to buy American at a store that prided itself on selling American only products. That store? Wal-mart - the poster child of imported products.

It seems that we have really lost the pride we once had in American craftsmenship. It also seems like the Republicans love to promote this turn away from products made at home in their endless push in increase the global economy. Yeah we might save a few cents at the store, but the products aren't as good and we have become number 2 in the world when it comes to manufacturing, falling to China.

John McCain:

My friends, we have reached a crisis, the first probably serious crisis internationally since the end of the Cold War. This is an act of aggression.

McCain last month:

McCAIN: The fact is we had four years of failed policy. We were losing. We were losing the war in Iraq. The consequences of failure and defeat of the United States of America in the first major conflict since 9/11 would have had devastating impacts throughout the region and the world.

Of course Afghanistan doesn't even merit mention from McCain. More at Think Progress.

The blogosphere has been talking for days about McCain acting like he is President when it comes to the Georgia conflict. From having press conferences about the conflict, to sending a "delegation" to the embattled country, the media has acted like McCain was just doing the job of a candidate. No more. Today's Washington Post is finally taking note that McCain forgot who he really is - a candidate:

Standing behind a lectern in Michigan this week, with two trusted senators ready to do his bidding, John McCain seemed to forget for a moment that he was only running for president.

Asked about his tough rhetoric on the ongoing conflict in Georgia, McCain began: "If I may be so bold, there was another president . . ."

He caught himself and started again: "At one time, there was a president named Ronald Reagan who spoke very strongly about America's advocacy for democracy and freedom."

This has been another example of the so called "liberal media". When Obama spoke in Berlin, all the media outlets echoed the GOP talking point that "Obama was playing President". When McCain does the same, but in a situation that can have serious ramifications, the media goes silent. Perhaps now we will hear more about this.

John McCain is being sued by Jackson Browne for using Browne's song "Running on Empty" in a campaign ad without permission. This is trend among Republicans. Perhaps they need to be asked why they don't respect intellectual property rights.