Here is the thing: these numerous Obama endorsements from the old Goldwater wing of the Republican party frequently claim that Obama himself is in the old-style conservative mode.
In truth, there are similarities.
1) Pragmatic, not ideological, approaches to problems. Aside from Civil Rights, the Democratic approaches to problem-solving in the 1960s too often lacked pragmatism.
2) Fiscally responsible. The 1960s Democrats sure didn't care about balanced budgets -- of course that was largely due to the feed-off-the-government-trough Dixiecrat contingent, who are now running the remains of the Republican party.
3) Prefers international cooperation to unilateral action.
Of course, there are also major differences between Goldwater policies and those of Obama:
* Goldwater was a warmonger. Ironically, he advocated the kind of warmongering policy in Vietnam that LBJ promised not to do, then did.
* Goldwater had more than a flirtation with Southern segratationists, although he later repudiated them.
* Goldwater was of the "let the poor suffer" mentality -- no Social Security, saw Medicare as a Socialist disaster, etc.
What I think has happened recently is that the Goldwater conservatives themselves have lost interest in warmongering, race-baiting, and have come to (grudgingly) accept a state role in things like social security.
Posted by Anonny at October 12, 2008 06:52 AMWTF? Today's Washington Post has NOTHING on troopergate in the front section. I didn't look through the entire paper yet, but someone at my synagogue was saying the inquiry found that Palin had broken no laws. I told him that wasn't true and looked through the paper to find it. Nothing there. I know it came out Friday, but you'd think they'd put something in the Sunday paper.
Posted by CG at October 12, 2008 08:38 AMCG,
What the report found was that she did abuse her power, which is against the ethics laws, but that she was within the law to fire Monegan.
See the difference.
It is like saying "Yes, the robber did steal from the bank, but he was found not guilty of speeding away from the scene of the crime, because there is no speed zone on that road."
It is bullshit.
She could be impeached for her actions, but no one is talking about that.
Posted by Anjha at October 12, 2008 08:56 AMFINDINGS:
Finding Number One
For the reasons explained in section IV of this report, I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) provides
The legislature reaffirms that each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust.
Finding Number Two
I find that, although Walt Monegan's refusal to fire Trooper Michael Wooten was not the sole reason he was fired by Governor Sarah Palin, it was likely a contributing factor to his termination as Commissioner of Public Safety. In spite of that, Governor Palin's firing of Commissioner Monegan was a proper and lawful exercise of her constitutional and statutory authority to hire and fire executive branch department heads.
Finding Number Three
Harbor Adjustment Service of Anchorage, and its owner Ms. Murleen Wilkes, handled Trooper Michael Wooten's workers' compensation claim property and in the normal course of business like any other claim processed by Harbor Adjustment Service and Ms. Wilkes. Further, Trooper Wooten received all the workers' compensation benefits to which he was entitled.
Finding Number Four
The Attorney General's office has failed to substantially comply with my August 6, 2008 written request to Governor Sarah Palin for infomration about the case in the form of emails.
What you notice, in finding number 4, is that once again the Republican culture of corruption has has participated in obstruction of justice.
By not making available her emails, she "threw sand in the eyes" of the investigator.
Sound familiar?
Posted by Anjha at October 12, 2008 09:09 AMBumper sticker of the day:
One Nation
Under Educated
Yes, I know the findings, but why isn't it in the Post? Very frustrating. She's another Cheney and the Post has nothing on it.
Posted by CG at October 12, 2008 09:33 AMAs mentioned by Turkana below:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14493.html
As part of a plan to reinvigorate his flagging campaign, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is considering additional economic measures aimed directly at the middle class that are likely to be rolled out this week, campaign officials said.
Among the measures being considered are tax cuts – perhaps temporary – for capital gains and dividends, the officials said.
“The market’s the focus,” a McCain adviser said. “You want to stop the fleeing.”
Doesn't suspending the capital gains tax encourage fleeing for those few people who might actually have any gains right now? What an idiot. I hope Obama is all over this on the trail and at the debate. Certainly erratic and irrational.
Posted by CG at October 12, 2008 09:38 AMYes, it was a late Friday Night news dump.
Trooper-Gate Report Finds Palin Abused Power in Firing Monegan.
Yet, in Palin's great mind she explains it this way, "Well, I'm very, very pleased to be cleared of any legal wrongdoing ... any hint of any kind of unethical activity there..."
Makes perfect sense to the republi-cons.
The reality we Democrats deal with!
Hockey fans not so fond of hockey mom Palin. What kind of mom is she: the bitch put her kid out there in an attempt to avoid the boos.
Fox also revealed: "The GOP Vice-Presidential nominee said at an earlier fundraiser that she would stop some of the booing from the rowdy Philadelphia fans by putting her seven year old daughter, Piper in a Flyers jersey. She said, 'How dare they boo Piper!'"
This is just so disgusting. How anyone could do that is beyond me.
Posted by Anjha at October 12, 2008 10:14 AMAmazing, this report on Palin is some 263 pages long. SCOTUS findings on both Gore v. Bush were both under 60 pages each. Florida Supreme's findings were both under 70 pages each. Yeah, the central points were on pages 65 through 71, but, 263 pages? WOW!
Impeachment again! Boy, you folks just slay me....That 'I' word's got to be the top of your list for throwing out there. You've got it on the brain. What a joke! Lol
Posted by peter at October 12, 2008 10:23 AMWhat a joke! Lol
Seems the GOP has the market cornered on "what a joke!" Just lookit their candidates.
The real joke is your "party" pants pisser...we are done with your corrupt lies asshole..where are your buddies these days scumbag?
What a joke! Lol
The joke is for Palin to be found unamiously in violation of ethics in her firing of Monegan... then to have the audacity to say, "Well, I'm very, very pleased to be cleared of any legal wrongdoing ... any hint of any kind of unethical activity there..."
But like I said, leave it to republi-con trolls to try and twist it into a positive.
Great explanation of McCain's so-called 'health care' plan.
Easy to get and should be passed along to those people who read those forwarded emails.
Posted by Anjha at October 12, 2008 01:15 PMIGNORE THE TROLL.
Posted by Anonny at October 12, 2008 01:55 PMWhen their 401k's, brokerage accounts, and house prices are taking a dive, Republicans decide that it is not fun and games anymore; it is time for the big boys.
Posted by bob h at October 12, 2008 03:53 PM