space limitations
I have had a lot on my mind lately and haven't been on LJ for a while now, but today I am making an exception to post my thoughts on several political tidbits that have struck me in the last day or two.
First, with all the hubbub about Obama's rally I decided to look up how McCain planned on spending tomorrow evening and found this on The Moderate Voice:
(edited by me - read full story here)
Instead of appearing before a throng of supporters at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix on the evening of Nov. 4, the Republican presidential nominee plans to deliver postelection remarks to a small group of reporters and guests on the hotel’s lawn.
When asked for a reason, the campaign’s response was rather… unusual.
Aides said Thursday that the arrangement was due to space limitations and that McCain might drop by the election watch party at some other point.
Did you really say space limitations? You were printing out the tickets and forgot to save one for your candidate?
I ended it there because that's the punchline, but they are correct when further in the article that it makes it look like McCain is sure he is going to loose and doesn't want to concede in front of a large group of supporters. Still strange to let that info out ahead of time.
This tied into the story that NBC5 has on their website about preperations and money spent on Obama's rally in Grant Park. When I first saw this there were two comments: (note the name used in the earliest(2nd) post)
- 'Carm' Today at 12:14 PM FLAG COMMENT Are we supposed to be thrilled? It sounds like a Hitler rally.Are we supposed to be thrilled? It sounds like a Hitler rally.
- 'sugarcube' Today at 10:40 AM FLAG COMMENT what a waste of $$.osama will LOSE!
I am not sure if my comment will be posted on their site since I couldn't get either FF or IE to post it, so I contacted them. In the meantime I am posting it here. They have a character limit so I couldn't word things exactly as I would have liked, but I wanted to post it here the same as it will post on there in case it ever does:
All candidates throw parties in their home states. McCain may not have space to attend his own party(odd). Perhaps their coffers are a little light from other Republicans fleeing his and Palin's vile and slanderous campaign. Too bad. I used to admire McCain, though I never agreed with him.
Rallies, commercials, posters, stickers, staff, haircuts, professional services & yes, even wardrobe are typical expenses. Of course 150,000 is beyond extravagant for a wardrobe used for 60 days of campaigning, especially when you are attempting to sell yourself as the average small-town 'real' hard-working American. It doesn't matter to me either way. If you give your money to a candidate then you should expect them to spend it in whatever way their staff and advisers see as having the most impact.
I am so sick of the hate-mongering and fear tactics the far right feel they need to resort to. The difference between the rally for Obama and Hitler's rallies is coercion. If you don't go to Obama's rally nobody will care and nobody will imprison you or put you and your family in a death camp. The roughly million people they expect to show up will be there because they want to show their support and feel like they are a part of something wonderful. Not exactly an honest comparison to Hitler's Germany.
One of my co-workers was speaking to her aunt this morning. The aunt got completely hysterical and started shrieking that Obama eats little babies. I asked if she was a fundamental Christian since I was trying to make sense of her perspective. No she isn't even particularly religious. Honestly - perspective people!
You couldn't pay me to get into the mob in Grant Park, but my friends and I will be having our own boisterous celebration nearby. I don't begrudge one cent being spent on the rally. There is much reason to celebrate, and many more contributors who will share in the experience than those who's hard-earned contributions went to label-shopping and smear tactics.