While Obama's choice of running mate presents with a number of unique constraints, McCain's decision is more of a crossroads. Up until this point, John 'Maverick' McCain has tread a fine line, attempting to attract both his supposed conservative base and the independents which he so desperately desires. McCain's strength is national defense, and all things experience. Thus, it would seem logical that he look to shore up his economic repetoire or perhaps further solidifying social conservative credentials. Let's break down the candidates:
Mike Huckabee- The former Governor of Arkansas, Huckabee is considered by many to be the foremost social conservative in the current Republican party. The problem for McCain (and America) is that while Huck can wax poetical on the intersection of government and faith, his economic stances ('specially the part where he authorized raised taxes in Arkansas) leave much to be desired. Plus, there is the thought that the former Governor is developing a bit of a cult of personality. Huckabee would be well liked by many social conservatives, who view him as one of their own.
Joe Lieberman- The Junior Senator from Connecticut, Lieberman is one of McCain's closest friends. While he calls himself an "independent democrat", the only two issues where Lieberman breaks with the Democratic caucus would be the War on Terror (including Iraq, as he was a large proponent of the surge) and support of Israel. While this is all fine and dandy, it doesn't necessarily qualify him to be on a Republican ticket. Social Conservatives want a pro-life choice and Lieberman is a large advocate of abortion rights. McCain selecting him would essentially be sticking a finger at the Conservative wing of the Republican party. Need I remind Mr. McCain that Lieberman was once selected by AL GORE as his running mate?
Tom Ridge- The inagural Director of Homeland Security and former Governor of Pennsylvania, Ridge would seem to bolster McCain's already staunch advantage in the security department. The problem with Ridge, is that like Lieberman, he is unrepentedly pro-abortion. Ridge also has had many lucrative jobs in the private sector and many question his motivation for the job.
Mitt Romney- The former governor of Massachusetts, Romney spent the most money of any of the candidates in the primaries and his major target was John McCain. Though there was ill will between the two men, Romney brings the best Economic credentials to the table. Having successfully run Fortune 500 companies, the 2002 Olympics, a Massachusetts that was saddled with unbelievable entitlements, Romney will bring instant credibility to the McCain campaign. There is, however, another caveat. As Mike Huckabee has pointed out on multiple occasions, Romney is a Mormon.
Rudy Giuliani- The former Mayor of New York City, Giuliani was at one time the presumptive Republican nominee. Giuliani, like Ridge & Lieberman, personally is in favor of abortion. Giuliani would seem to be more suited for a role like Attorney General or National Security Advisor. Plus, Giuliani's torrid personal life might open McCain to some unwanted scrutiny.
Tim Pawlenty- The current Governor of Minnesota, Pawlenty would seem to be a solid middle-of-the road pick. Picking Pawlenty would be solely designed to put Minnesota into play, but with Norm Coleman's surge in the open Senatorial race, that may not be necessary.
Charlie Crist- The current Governor of Florida, Crist is often considered a rising star in the Republican party. While Crist is popular with Hispanics (as is McCain) and does have critical ties to the battleground state of Florida, he probably will not be chosen due to how the Democrats would attack him. It has long been rumored that Crist is a homosexual and McCain is no advocate of gay rights. (Though, I would note, that Crist denies this vehemently)
Sarah Palin- The current Governor of Alaska, Palin has been rumored to be the top choice for the GOP undercard in 2012, but McCain may desire to bump up the timetable. Palin would bring energy to the campaign, and would help bring energy concerns to the forefront of the debate. Plus, on a purely aesthetic level, Palin would greatly aid the campaign. However, McCain would note that Palin is currently pregnant.
Bobby Jindal- The current Governor of Louisiana, Piyush 'Bobby' Jindal, would add a unique blend of American dream and tough economic rhetoric. Jindal was one of the early favorites for the role, but two things stand in the way. First off, Jindal is quite open about his desire to finish his term in Louisiana and is widely popular for his crackdown on corruption and lowering of taxes. Second, Jindal is a favorite of many conservative voices, including Rush Limbaugh, who do not want to see him advanced before "his time", which many view as 2012 or 2016.
Jeb Bush- While the former Governor of Florida has the requisite credentials, his last name is Bush. Need I say more?
Cody's Top 3 (in terms of how likely it is McCain selects him or her):
1. Romney
2. Pawlenty
3. Lieberman
Personally, I think Romney is the choice. I wouldn't mind Pawlenty, but I can't accept Ridge or Lieberman. Jindal or Palin would be a surprise and I want a Jindal/Palin ticket in the future, so let's hope he avoids picking either of them.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
VP Thoughts- Obama edition
Two weeks from now, both Obama and McCain will have selected their running mates. If you're anything like me, that seems like an eternity. Let's take a few lines to investigate who will and won't be chosen and why.
First, it's Obama time. The problem with Obama's decision is that he is looking for a very specific individual, who may or may not exist. He needs somebody whose credentials won't dwarf his own (that's a considerable difficulty, when you most often describe yourself as a 'community organizer'), who won't alienate the crossover independent and Republican voters he has attracted, and won't be viewed as a cop-out by his more liberal base.
Let's talk candidates:
Joe Biden- A six-term senator and failed presidential candidate, Biden brings a reputation as a top-notch foreign policy wonk. Biden is also considered to be on Obama's shortlist for SecState. The problem with Biden is that while he would help smooth over an Obama resume weakness, he is known for being bombastic and antagonistic to criticism. For a campaign built on public relations, Biden represents a rather unnecessary risk.
Tim Kaine- The first term Governor of Virginia, Kaine is a relative unknown. Kaine might help bring Virginia into play, which would go well with Obama's desire to contest traditional Republican bastions of power. Kaine has a reputation for being very liberal economically, while maintaining conservative social views. Kaine would not seemingly shore up Obama's credentials in a given area, but wouldn't pull attention away from him either.
Chuck Hagel- The soon to be retired Senior Senator from Nebraska, Hagel only makes the list because he's a Republican who opposed the War in Iraq and has been openly critical (an understatement for sure) of the Bush Administration. Hagel brings some actual defense credentials, but like Biden, is viewed as a tad angry, and really doesn't have much in common when it comes to policy with Obama.
Kathleen Sebelius- The two term Governor of Kansas, Sebelius represents the "liberal bound" of the political spectrum on this list. Sebelius is a democratic leader on abortion, education, and spending; a leader the party leadership under Howard Dean has been attempting to showcase for some time. The problem with Sebelius is two-fold, selecting a woman might offend Hillary supporters, and frankly, Sebelius is too liberal for crossover voters.
Evan Bayh- The former Governor and current two-term Senator from Indiana, Bayh is normally listed as a Clinton supporter. Bayh is reliably liberal on all issues save Israel and foreign policy, particularly Iran. Bayh's resume looks impressive, but it is widely speculated that he lacks the personality for higher office. In other words, the perfect safe choice for Obama.
Hillary Clinton- Does she need an introduction? The only reason why Clinton would get picked is if Obama thinks he's losing to McCain and needs to secure all of her previous supporters. Does this sound likely? Not to me...
Bill Richardson- The former Representative of New Mexico, US Ambassador to the UN, Secretary of Energy, and current Governor of New Mexico, Richardson looks the best of any possible Obama choice on paper. It's a shame that all that disappears when he opens his mouth and sounds like a whining spineless suck-up. Obama could spring for Richardson, who would help with the Hispanic vote and would in no way upstage Obama at functions.
Chris Dodd- The senior Senator from Connecticut, Dodd is another Democratic machine lifer (he even ran the DNC for a couple of years in the late nineties), who is well liked by the more liberal wing of the Democratic party. Dodd is almost as reliably liberal as Sebelius, and has some potential black marks on his record due to charges of corruption in relation to the Mortgage Crisis. The idea of Obama putting a very liberal senator who may or may not have received bribes in his position as the Chair of the Senate Banking Committee strikes me as awkward.
Jim Webb- The junior freshman Senator from Virginia, Webb was an early favorite for the VP role. Webb, a strong proponent of the military, who authored the new G.I. bill, would seem to add some National Defense credentials and fellow youth to the cause, but Webb has frequently stated that he isn't interested in the role. Dean has been grooming him as part of the new leadership in the Senate, so there may be something to the denials.
Cody's Top 3-
1. Tim Kaine
2. Evan Bayh
3. Bill Richardson
The Republican side will be up tomorrow.
First, it's Obama time. The problem with Obama's decision is that he is looking for a very specific individual, who may or may not exist. He needs somebody whose credentials won't dwarf his own (that's a considerable difficulty, when you most often describe yourself as a 'community organizer'), who won't alienate the crossover independent and Republican voters he has attracted, and won't be viewed as a cop-out by his more liberal base.
Let's talk candidates:
Joe Biden- A six-term senator and failed presidential candidate, Biden brings a reputation as a top-notch foreign policy wonk. Biden is also considered to be on Obama's shortlist for SecState. The problem with Biden is that while he would help smooth over an Obama resume weakness, he is known for being bombastic and antagonistic to criticism. For a campaign built on public relations, Biden represents a rather unnecessary risk.
Tim Kaine- The first term Governor of Virginia, Kaine is a relative unknown. Kaine might help bring Virginia into play, which would go well with Obama's desire to contest traditional Republican bastions of power. Kaine has a reputation for being very liberal economically, while maintaining conservative social views. Kaine would not seemingly shore up Obama's credentials in a given area, but wouldn't pull attention away from him either.
Chuck Hagel- The soon to be retired Senior Senator from Nebraska, Hagel only makes the list because he's a Republican who opposed the War in Iraq and has been openly critical (an understatement for sure) of the Bush Administration. Hagel brings some actual defense credentials, but like Biden, is viewed as a tad angry, and really doesn't have much in common when it comes to policy with Obama.
Kathleen Sebelius- The two term Governor of Kansas, Sebelius represents the "liberal bound" of the political spectrum on this list. Sebelius is a democratic leader on abortion, education, and spending; a leader the party leadership under Howard Dean has been attempting to showcase for some time. The problem with Sebelius is two-fold, selecting a woman might offend Hillary supporters, and frankly, Sebelius is too liberal for crossover voters.
Evan Bayh- The former Governor and current two-term Senator from Indiana, Bayh is normally listed as a Clinton supporter. Bayh is reliably liberal on all issues save Israel and foreign policy, particularly Iran. Bayh's resume looks impressive, but it is widely speculated that he lacks the personality for higher office. In other words, the perfect safe choice for Obama.
Hillary Clinton- Does she need an introduction? The only reason why Clinton would get picked is if Obama thinks he's losing to McCain and needs to secure all of her previous supporters. Does this sound likely? Not to me...
Bill Richardson- The former Representative of New Mexico, US Ambassador to the UN, Secretary of Energy, and current Governor of New Mexico, Richardson looks the best of any possible Obama choice on paper. It's a shame that all that disappears when he opens his mouth and sounds like a whining spineless suck-up. Obama could spring for Richardson, who would help with the Hispanic vote and would in no way upstage Obama at functions.
Chris Dodd- The senior Senator from Connecticut, Dodd is another Democratic machine lifer (he even ran the DNC for a couple of years in the late nineties), who is well liked by the more liberal wing of the Democratic party. Dodd is almost as reliably liberal as Sebelius, and has some potential black marks on his record due to charges of corruption in relation to the Mortgage Crisis. The idea of Obama putting a very liberal senator who may or may not have received bribes in his position as the Chair of the Senate Banking Committee strikes me as awkward.
Jim Webb- The junior freshman Senator from Virginia, Webb was an early favorite for the VP role. Webb, a strong proponent of the military, who authored the new G.I. bill, would seem to add some National Defense credentials and fellow youth to the cause, but Webb has frequently stated that he isn't interested in the role. Dean has been grooming him as part of the new leadership in the Senate, so there may be something to the denials.
Cody's Top 3-
1. Tim Kaine
2. Evan Bayh
3. Bill Richardson
The Republican side will be up tomorrow.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Cy-Fair College: the Walkthrough
So, where has Cody's blog been all weekend? Well, it's been two things: first, I've been dealing with my cousins who live on a farm in Nacogdoches and are the living definition of "don't get out much". That's a story for another day. Second, it has been storming on and off and something always seems to be down between the DSL over here, the power, or even the blogger application I use for this site. My apologies. Over the next few days, I will probably double post a couple of times just to catch up. I have thoughts on politics, I have to recap my weekend hijinks (and there were some good ones), and will give another Olympic update. But for now, let me show you my new academic home! And yeah, I can't get it off the underline nonsense...
Here are a couple of views of our stadium (used primarily for HS sporting events; usually playoffs of some sort) from the road, namely Barker-Cypress Road.
This is one of the artistic sculpture/structures littered all over the campus. Do I have any idea what it symbolizes? Heck no! I just think it looks cool...
For all you Hawaiians out there, try to think of this as a koi pond, minus the koi.
This is the main drive up to campus. Not quite as scenic as A&M, bit I'll take it.
This is the cafeteria, which has 4 separate stations, which isn't bad for facilities of this size. I doubt I'll be eating here, but it's always good to have options.
Hark! It's the only ATM on campus!
Hey, it's a fountain! Wow, gotta love all this scenic stuff.
The obligatory bookstore, which, in case you were wondering, isn't hiring at the moment.
Back to the fountain idea. Do you see the soccer fields in the background? They're there, as are basketball and tennis courts, all for public use.
Your humble correspondent.
Your humble correspondent, on the move style!
They call it Lake Lone Star. I'm in love.
Two of the largest buildings on campus, the Technology Center and the Learning Commons. If the seemingly unkempt greenery is bothersome, rest assured that it's intentional. They're going for "an accurate reproduction of the Katy prairie". Katy, for reference, is right next to Cypress, which is where the school is at, which is right next to my corner of Houston.
This is how picturesque the between-class walking can be. Jealous?
The theatre, stage view.
The theatre, house view
The art gallery
This is an example of the dedicated technical facilities that Cy-Fair College has. They also have programs ranging from CISCO Networking to Nursing to Advanced Carpentry.
You no smoke here!
You know what's refreshing? A campus with ample parking, rather than none to be had.
One of the covered walkways between buildings, complete with desert motif.
Yes, philosophy classes meet in the outdoor amphitheater.
The Center for the Arts, pretty obvious...
Oh, yeah, this is the Corolla.
More empty parking spaces, also known as the Corolla's personal playground.
Another initial walkup view.
Well, thus ends my first personal picture blog. Hopefully this gives you some idea of where I'm going to be operating for the near future.
Here are a couple of views of our stadium (used primarily for HS sporting events; usually playoffs of some sort) from the road, namely Barker-Cypress Road.
This is one of the artistic sculpture/structures littered all over the campus. Do I have any idea what it symbolizes? Heck no! I just think it looks cool...
For all you Hawaiians out there, try to think of this as a koi pond, minus the koi.
This is the main drive up to campus. Not quite as scenic as A&M, bit I'll take it.
This is the cafeteria, which has 4 separate stations, which isn't bad for facilities of this size. I doubt I'll be eating here, but it's always good to have options.
Hark! It's the only ATM on campus!
Hey, it's a fountain! Wow, gotta love all this scenic stuff.
The obligatory bookstore, which, in case you were wondering, isn't hiring at the moment.
Back to the fountain idea. Do you see the soccer fields in the background? They're there, as are basketball and tennis courts, all for public use.
Your humble correspondent.
Your humble correspondent, on the move style!
They call it Lake Lone Star. I'm in love.
Two of the largest buildings on campus, the Technology Center and the Learning Commons. If the seemingly unkempt greenery is bothersome, rest assured that it's intentional. They're going for "an accurate reproduction of the Katy prairie". Katy, for reference, is right next to Cypress, which is where the school is at, which is right next to my corner of Houston.
This is how picturesque the between-class walking can be. Jealous?
The theatre, stage view.
The theatre, house view
The art gallery
This is an example of the dedicated technical facilities that Cy-Fair College has. They also have programs ranging from CISCO Networking to Nursing to Advanced Carpentry.
You no smoke here!
You know what's refreshing? A campus with ample parking, rather than none to be had.
One of the covered walkways between buildings, complete with desert motif.
Yes, philosophy classes meet in the outdoor amphitheater.
The Center for the Arts, pretty obvious...
Oh, yeah, this is the Corolla.
More empty parking spaces, also known as the Corolla's personal playground.
Another initial walkup view.
Well, thus ends my first personal picture blog. Hopefully this gives you some idea of where I'm going to be operating for the near future.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Big Things Coming
Tonight's post will be REALLY brief, because I spent all the time I'm allowing myself for blogging on a daily basis getting ready to give you, my readers a pictoral tour of the Cy-Fair Campus which I will call home in less than two weeks.
I went up to Katy Mills mall, purchased Tom Clancy's Clear and Present Danger in cassette form (which I intend to bust out on long trips, as I have a tape deck, not a CD player in the Corolla), picked up a memory card reader for my grandfather's digital camera, and went to Booksamillion only to realize that my idea of working at a bookstore is just not a good one. 7 dollars an hour is too much of a step down from 11 an hour for full time with PLNI and 15 an hour for part time with Theatrix.
I ended up coming home and putting in two applications online: Verizon and Sprint. I guess I need to shelve my wanderlust and get back to telecom, where I have experience, and thus, a greater potential for more money. I would not mind working the floor at a retail store for 4-5 hours a day, and really I wanted to apply at a UPS store, because their gig sounded really sweet. They wanted you to work 5-10 PM M-Thurs, would pay at least 10 an hour and would give a 3000 dollar grant for college students. That is EXACTLY what I wanted. The only problem is that the closest location with an opening is 37 minutes away, which puts in downtown Houston, which makes it about 1.5 hours away, which just isn't going to happen.
The relatives from Nacogdoches come in tomorrow. Pray for me. I'll need it.
I went up to Katy Mills mall, purchased Tom Clancy's Clear and Present Danger in cassette form (which I intend to bust out on long trips, as I have a tape deck, not a CD player in the Corolla), picked up a memory card reader for my grandfather's digital camera, and went to Booksamillion only to realize that my idea of working at a bookstore is just not a good one. 7 dollars an hour is too much of a step down from 11 an hour for full time with PLNI and 15 an hour for part time with Theatrix.
I ended up coming home and putting in two applications online: Verizon and Sprint. I guess I need to shelve my wanderlust and get back to telecom, where I have experience, and thus, a greater potential for more money. I would not mind working the floor at a retail store for 4-5 hours a day, and really I wanted to apply at a UPS store, because their gig sounded really sweet. They wanted you to work 5-10 PM M-Thurs, would pay at least 10 an hour and would give a 3000 dollar grant for college students. That is EXACTLY what I wanted. The only problem is that the closest location with an opening is 37 minutes away, which puts in downtown Houston, which makes it about 1.5 hours away, which just isn't going to happen.
The relatives from Nacogdoches come in tomorrow. Pray for me. I'll need it.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Wednesday Thoughts
Tonight's post will seem a little bit scattered. I have a lot on my mind and feel that this would be a good place to get my mind straight on some issues.
Lunacy re: Georgia/Russia
I will quote Susan Rice, who is credited as Barack Obama's "chief foreign policy advisor": "We cannot act on the basis of ideology or preconceived notions. When this crisis began, Barack Obama, the administration indeed, and all of our NATO allies took a very measured and reasoned approach because we were dealing with the facts as we knew them. John McCain shot from the hip, very aggressive, very belligerent statement, and he may or may not have complicated the situation." Rice made these comments in an interview on Pennsylvania public radio. There are two disturbing elements to this statement. First off, if we "cannot act on the basis of ideology", upon what should we act? Taking Ms. Rice as an Obama mouthpiece, it seems as if Obama is advocating a purely pragmatic foreign policy. I'm a big fan of pragmatism, and I would agree that international situations are complex and difficult to analyze. However, this is not to say that they cannot be analyzed. Some things are just true (one example would be that no matter who certifies the result as fair, the Zimbabwean elections are rigged by Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF thugs) and some statements should be aggressive. Obama seems to be advancing the idea that there is no uniquely American perspective or interest that cannot be compromised in the course of international affairs. I, for one, and John McCain for two, simply WILL NOT stand for this lunacy. I hold religious freedom, democracy, and justice to be principles that should guide American policies. I WILL NOT allow myself to be sucked into this liberal culture of moral equivalency and you shouldn't, either. The second issue I have with this statement is the assertion that John McCain taking a pointed stance that was basically duplicated and furthered by the Bush Administration after a short period of time somehow "complicates" the situation. I'm sorry, Ms. Rice and Mr. Obama; McCain made the right call. It's not his fault that your naivete caused you to be a day late in articulating the right American position... Obama needs to keep his and his mouthpieces' mouths shut when it comes to scoring domestic political points over Russia/Georgia. The points have been scored, and the tally goes to McCain.
Olympics Update
Phelps is a beast- Michael Phelps is dominating every race he is entering (though my brother Carson claims that his performance in the 4X100 free relay was sub-standard) and is currently engaged in the greatest sporting performance of all time. Yes, I really did mean that statement. Every American should be celebrating Phelps' success. He carries himself with dignity and class and has shown himself to be the pentulmate teammate. I cannot think of anything more to ask of an American athlete.
I can't stand the Women's gymnastics team- Before you think I'm un-American, let it be known that I am a huge fan of the American men's team. Their story is uplifting, overcoming the injuries to their two star veterans (the Hamm twins) and obtaining one of the sweetest Bronze medals in Olympic history. Horton, Spring, Artemev, Tam, Bhavsar, and Hagerty seem like they trust each other as teammates and are genuinely excited when each other does well and supportive when they do not. None of this is true for the women's team. The women's team seems like it's Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson, and in the minds of the two previously mentioned stars, 4 losers that drag down the team. Alicia Sacramone clearly was rattled during the floor and the beam, and Marta Karolyi tried to calm her down; but really, that's a job for a teammate, the lack of one is probably what failed. Plus, Liukin and Johnson seem "constantly focused" according to announcers. I just call it cold and disinterested in anything other than their individual success. I'll admit; halfway through the Women's Team Final, I started unabashedly cheering for the Chinese girls (I defy you to call them women) and do not regret that decision in the slightest.
May/Walsh redefine domination- It seems like they're on primetime every night. I have no problem with watching Women's Beach Volleyball. It's one of my favorite sports to watch, if perhaps for all the wrong reason. But I tell you what; these women cannot be touched, period. It has been a joy to see them make a dastardly difficult game look like child's play.
Chinese diving is head and shoulders better than everyone- Everyone else should seriously go home. China has a stated goal of winning all 8 diving golds. When I first of heard of this, I thought this was either pure lunacy or home-field induced bravado. I was wrong. China isn't just winning golds, they're driving stakes into the heart of their inferior competition.
Greatest race ever- The men's 4X100 free relay is now one of my top 8 Olympic moments of all time. Go watch the race on youtube.com or nbcolympics.com. Even if you don't have time, do yourself a favor and go watch the pure, unadultured brilliance of Jason Leszak's inspired finish.
Euro bias re: Softball/Baseball- This is the last Olympics ('til at least 2016) for both Softball and Baseball and this saddens me. I love both sports and they have a rich history in the games. The reason given by the IOC is that it's not played enough worldwide. What they really mean is that it's not played well by Europeans. Practically all of Latin America and Asia plays the game, as does all of North America, not to mention Australia. All this leaves is Africa (where it's getting a start in South Africa) and Europe (where the Italians aren't embarrassing and the Dutch have enough Caribbean islands to win any European competition of note) as places that aren't warm to the sport. If this logic was applied elsewhere, I can't see how the Modern Pentathlon, Handball, Field Hockey, or even Rhythmic Gymnastics deserve to be Olympic sports. I don't want those sports to disappear at all. I just want the Games to be the World's games, not the Europeans' games.
The Job Hunt- Barnes & Noble isn't going to pay me more than 7.50 an hour and that isn't going to cut it. I go to Katy Mills mall and the Cy-Fair HEB to pick up more applications tomorrow.
Personal Standards- I'm through being overinvested in girls who show a mild interest in me. The woman who the Lord has for me will love me for who I am and that love will not vascillate like dust in the wind.
Coming Up Soon- Cy-Fair College, Reading/Gaming reviews. Expect posts on these topics over the next two days.
Lunacy re: Georgia/Russia
I will quote Susan Rice, who is credited as Barack Obama's "chief foreign policy advisor": "We cannot act on the basis of ideology or preconceived notions. When this crisis began, Barack Obama, the administration indeed, and all of our NATO allies took a very measured and reasoned approach because we were dealing with the facts as we knew them. John McCain shot from the hip, very aggressive, very belligerent statement, and he may or may not have complicated the situation." Rice made these comments in an interview on Pennsylvania public radio. There are two disturbing elements to this statement. First off, if we "cannot act on the basis of ideology", upon what should we act? Taking Ms. Rice as an Obama mouthpiece, it seems as if Obama is advocating a purely pragmatic foreign policy. I'm a big fan of pragmatism, and I would agree that international situations are complex and difficult to analyze. However, this is not to say that they cannot be analyzed. Some things are just true (one example would be that no matter who certifies the result as fair, the Zimbabwean elections are rigged by Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF thugs) and some statements should be aggressive. Obama seems to be advancing the idea that there is no uniquely American perspective or interest that cannot be compromised in the course of international affairs. I, for one, and John McCain for two, simply WILL NOT stand for this lunacy. I hold religious freedom, democracy, and justice to be principles that should guide American policies. I WILL NOT allow myself to be sucked into this liberal culture of moral equivalency and you shouldn't, either. The second issue I have with this statement is the assertion that John McCain taking a pointed stance that was basically duplicated and furthered by the Bush Administration after a short period of time somehow "complicates" the situation. I'm sorry, Ms. Rice and Mr. Obama; McCain made the right call. It's not his fault that your naivete caused you to be a day late in articulating the right American position... Obama needs to keep his and his mouthpieces' mouths shut when it comes to scoring domestic political points over Russia/Georgia. The points have been scored, and the tally goes to McCain.
Olympics Update
Phelps is a beast- Michael Phelps is dominating every race he is entering (though my brother Carson claims that his performance in the 4X100 free relay was sub-standard) and is currently engaged in the greatest sporting performance of all time. Yes, I really did mean that statement. Every American should be celebrating Phelps' success. He carries himself with dignity and class and has shown himself to be the pentulmate teammate. I cannot think of anything more to ask of an American athlete.
I can't stand the Women's gymnastics team- Before you think I'm un-American, let it be known that I am a huge fan of the American men's team. Their story is uplifting, overcoming the injuries to their two star veterans (the Hamm twins) and obtaining one of the sweetest Bronze medals in Olympic history. Horton, Spring, Artemev, Tam, Bhavsar, and Hagerty seem like they trust each other as teammates and are genuinely excited when each other does well and supportive when they do not. None of this is true for the women's team. The women's team seems like it's Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson, and in the minds of the two previously mentioned stars, 4 losers that drag down the team. Alicia Sacramone clearly was rattled during the floor and the beam, and Marta Karolyi tried to calm her down; but really, that's a job for a teammate, the lack of one is probably what failed. Plus, Liukin and Johnson seem "constantly focused" according to announcers. I just call it cold and disinterested in anything other than their individual success. I'll admit; halfway through the Women's Team Final, I started unabashedly cheering for the Chinese girls (I defy you to call them women) and do not regret that decision in the slightest.
May/Walsh redefine domination- It seems like they're on primetime every night. I have no problem with watching Women's Beach Volleyball. It's one of my favorite sports to watch, if perhaps for all the wrong reason. But I tell you what; these women cannot be touched, period. It has been a joy to see them make a dastardly difficult game look like child's play.
Chinese diving is head and shoulders better than everyone- Everyone else should seriously go home. China has a stated goal of winning all 8 diving golds. When I first of heard of this, I thought this was either pure lunacy or home-field induced bravado. I was wrong. China isn't just winning golds, they're driving stakes into the heart of their inferior competition.
Greatest race ever- The men's 4X100 free relay is now one of my top 8 Olympic moments of all time. Go watch the race on youtube.com or nbcolympics.com. Even if you don't have time, do yourself a favor and go watch the pure, unadultured brilliance of Jason Leszak's inspired finish.
Euro bias re: Softball/Baseball- This is the last Olympics ('til at least 2016) for both Softball and Baseball and this saddens me. I love both sports and they have a rich history in the games. The reason given by the IOC is that it's not played enough worldwide. What they really mean is that it's not played well by Europeans. Practically all of Latin America and Asia plays the game, as does all of North America, not to mention Australia. All this leaves is Africa (where it's getting a start in South Africa) and Europe (where the Italians aren't embarrassing and the Dutch have enough Caribbean islands to win any European competition of note) as places that aren't warm to the sport. If this logic was applied elsewhere, I can't see how the Modern Pentathlon, Handball, Field Hockey, or even Rhythmic Gymnastics deserve to be Olympic sports. I don't want those sports to disappear at all. I just want the Games to be the World's games, not the Europeans' games.
The Job Hunt- Barnes & Noble isn't going to pay me more than 7.50 an hour and that isn't going to cut it. I go to Katy Mills mall and the Cy-Fair HEB to pick up more applications tomorrow.
Personal Standards- I'm through being overinvested in girls who show a mild interest in me. The woman who the Lord has for me will love me for who I am and that love will not vascillate like dust in the wind.
Coming Up Soon- Cy-Fair College, Reading/Gaming reviews. Expect posts on these topics over the next two days.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Georgia, Russia, and South Ossetia: What's Going On and Why You Should Care.
Originally, I was going to put forth a glossary of sorts, but I figure analysis, not raw data is for what the situation calls. However, I understand that not everybody is up on the names of people and places, so here's an abbreviated form of the glossary I was going to use:
Vladimir Putin- Former Russian President, now Prime Minister (the nominal second-in-command) of Russia. Still considered by everyone who watches Russia to be the man in charge. Is the architect of this aggressive action turned invasion of Georgia, and had the audacity to sit next to George W. Bush at the Beijing 2008 Opening Ceremonies while simultaneously coordinating the offensive. Is known for jailing or assassinating his political rivals, in true Russian style.
Dimitri Medvedev- In theory, or according to Barack Obama, is the highest ranking member of the Russian government. Even he isn't foolish enough to believe that. Medvedev was handpicked to succeed Putin, in an election that rivaled Zimbabwe for its transparency. Medvedev has been functioning in this conflict as the mouthpiece of Russian defiance.
Mikheil Saakashvili- The current President of Georgia; was elected in 2005 in a show of defiance to the will of Russia termed the "Rose Revolution". Is solidly pro-West, sent troops to Iraq and actually authorized them to use force (unlike German troops in Afghanistan), and has led the movement to get Georgia into NATO. Russia utterly despises Saakashvili, who isn't exactly a saint, having taken steps to silence dissent in his own country.
Sergei Lavrov- Lavrov is the Russian foreign minister who was quoted repeatedly as suggesting that if Georgia wanted the conflict to end, Saakashvili's resignation was the ticket to open negotiations.
South Ossetia- Disputed province between Russia and Georgia. Russia has much less of a claim than Georgia and the South Ossetians would probably prefer independence then Russian dominion. Still, Russia has tried to lay the ground for re-annexation, even going so far as to have Russian passports made for prominent South Ossetians. The conflict started after the Georgian's shelled the seperatists who are being supported financially, and now militarily by the Russians. In all likelihood, South Ossetia will be Russian territory by the end of the year.
Abkhazia- Another disputed province that Russia is invading through. In this case, Russia actually has strategic interests (domestic oil pipeline), and some semblence of an actual claim (as opposed to being friendly to seperatists). Georgia is in a better position to defend this territory than South Ossetia.
Tbilisi- The capital of Georgia. The majority of Georgian troops have retreated to this city, where Saakashvili is rallying the country.
Kodori Gorge- The area of Abkhazia that the Russians are attempting to clear of Georgian troops.
What does Russia want? In my estimation, this is Putin's way of reminding the world that Russia remains a premier military power who has a clearly defined sphere of influence. Russia is asserting its ability to dominate countries similar to Georgia, including Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Kyrgyzstand, and the real desired prize: The Ukraine.
Will Russia annex Georgia? Nope. Medvedev just called for a cease-fire, which isn't exactly binding, because Putin hasn't officially endorsed it, but should eventually be adopted. If anything, he's tipped the Russian hand. Russia just wants Georgia to get a very clear message that pro-West governments will not be tolerated. Saakashvili has been humilated, and it appears that the Russians will leave without his resignation.
Why hasn't the US come to Georgia's aid? Well, in a way, we have. Bush and Cheney (with some McCain action, too) have publicly censured Russia and demanded a cease to the hostilities. Air Force planes airlifted Georgian soldiers from Iraq back home, aiding indirectly in the defense of the country. Really, Georgia is a kindred spirit in the War on Terror, but is too isolated to offer any more American strategic support or interest.
Why hasn't any other country come to Georgia's aid? That's a very good question. One of the largest oil pipelines and strategic supply lines supporting the European Union goes through Georgia and one of Russia's objectives was to disrupt it. There has been no outrage from the so-called Western European powers, some of them (not Sarkozy, thank goodness; it's refreshing to see some French backbone for once) have even indicated that they believe Georgia to be at fault for the conflict, which is laughable to say the least. Germany, France, Britain, Spain, Italy, or even Portugal all could have justifiably helped Georgia, yet none of them did. Yet another sign that Europe has given up on the idea of National Defense, which is sadly predictable, thanks to the spread of soft socialism.
Why hasn't the UN taken action agains the Russians? This may be news to some (I'm looking at you, Bill Richardson!), but Russia is a permanent member of the UN Security Council will full veto power over any UNSC action. Why would Russia sanction itself?
What does this mean for America? It means that our allies aren't safe in general, and aren't save from Russian aggression in particular. It means that the CIA needs to brush up on its Cyrillic, and dust off some Cold War contacts. Russia is back, and it will continue to assert its agenda in the coming months.
It rained. I went to the grocery store. I watched some Olympics. I played Head Coach 09 a lot and Madden 09 a little. That was my day.
Vladimir Putin- Former Russian President, now Prime Minister (the nominal second-in-command) of Russia. Still considered by everyone who watches Russia to be the man in charge. Is the architect of this aggressive action turned invasion of Georgia, and had the audacity to sit next to George W. Bush at the Beijing 2008 Opening Ceremonies while simultaneously coordinating the offensive. Is known for jailing or assassinating his political rivals, in true Russian style.
Dimitri Medvedev- In theory, or according to Barack Obama, is the highest ranking member of the Russian government. Even he isn't foolish enough to believe that. Medvedev was handpicked to succeed Putin, in an election that rivaled Zimbabwe for its transparency. Medvedev has been functioning in this conflict as the mouthpiece of Russian defiance.
Mikheil Saakashvili- The current President of Georgia; was elected in 2005 in a show of defiance to the will of Russia termed the "Rose Revolution". Is solidly pro-West, sent troops to Iraq and actually authorized them to use force (unlike German troops in Afghanistan), and has led the movement to get Georgia into NATO. Russia utterly despises Saakashvili, who isn't exactly a saint, having taken steps to silence dissent in his own country.
Sergei Lavrov- Lavrov is the Russian foreign minister who was quoted repeatedly as suggesting that if Georgia wanted the conflict to end, Saakashvili's resignation was the ticket to open negotiations.
South Ossetia- Disputed province between Russia and Georgia. Russia has much less of a claim than Georgia and the South Ossetians would probably prefer independence then Russian dominion. Still, Russia has tried to lay the ground for re-annexation, even going so far as to have Russian passports made for prominent South Ossetians. The conflict started after the Georgian's shelled the seperatists who are being supported financially, and now militarily by the Russians. In all likelihood, South Ossetia will be Russian territory by the end of the year.
Abkhazia- Another disputed province that Russia is invading through. In this case, Russia actually has strategic interests (domestic oil pipeline), and some semblence of an actual claim (as opposed to being friendly to seperatists). Georgia is in a better position to defend this territory than South Ossetia.
Tbilisi- The capital of Georgia. The majority of Georgian troops have retreated to this city, where Saakashvili is rallying the country.
Kodori Gorge- The area of Abkhazia that the Russians are attempting to clear of Georgian troops.
What does Russia want? In my estimation, this is Putin's way of reminding the world that Russia remains a premier military power who has a clearly defined sphere of influence. Russia is asserting its ability to dominate countries similar to Georgia, including Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Kyrgyzstand, and the real desired prize: The Ukraine.
Will Russia annex Georgia? Nope. Medvedev just called for a cease-fire, which isn't exactly binding, because Putin hasn't officially endorsed it, but should eventually be adopted. If anything, he's tipped the Russian hand. Russia just wants Georgia to get a very clear message that pro-West governments will not be tolerated. Saakashvili has been humilated, and it appears that the Russians will leave without his resignation.
Why hasn't the US come to Georgia's aid? Well, in a way, we have. Bush and Cheney (with some McCain action, too) have publicly censured Russia and demanded a cease to the hostilities. Air Force planes airlifted Georgian soldiers from Iraq back home, aiding indirectly in the defense of the country. Really, Georgia is a kindred spirit in the War on Terror, but is too isolated to offer any more American strategic support or interest.
Why hasn't any other country come to Georgia's aid? That's a very good question. One of the largest oil pipelines and strategic supply lines supporting the European Union goes through Georgia and one of Russia's objectives was to disrupt it. There has been no outrage from the so-called Western European powers, some of them (not Sarkozy, thank goodness; it's refreshing to see some French backbone for once) have even indicated that they believe Georgia to be at fault for the conflict, which is laughable to say the least. Germany, France, Britain, Spain, Italy, or even Portugal all could have justifiably helped Georgia, yet none of them did. Yet another sign that Europe has given up on the idea of National Defense, which is sadly predictable, thanks to the spread of soft socialism.
Why hasn't the UN taken action agains the Russians? This may be news to some (I'm looking at you, Bill Richardson!), but Russia is a permanent member of the UN Security Council will full veto power over any UNSC action. Why would Russia sanction itself?
What does this mean for America? It means that our allies aren't safe in general, and aren't save from Russian aggression in particular. It means that the CIA needs to brush up on its Cyrillic, and dust off some Cold War contacts. Russia is back, and it will continue to assert its agenda in the coming months.
It rained. I went to the grocery store. I watched some Olympics. I played Head Coach 09 a lot and Madden 09 a little. That was my day.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Madden Night
Two housekeeping notes: 1. The Georgia/Russia update is put on hold for a day due to the further incursion by Russia, which changes my analysis by enough to push it back a day. 2. The last post "The Top 8 Women to Watch in 2008", is one of the most fun pieces I've ever written. If you haven't already, go check it out!
In productivity news, I was successful in my attempt to take the nefarious placement test and register for classes. First, let's discuss this placement test. Due to the fact that I received a 5 on the English Language AP Exam and a 4 on the English Literature, the state of Texas does not and will not require me to take any English classes. However, from what I understand, because I haven't taken any college English classes, which they admit I don't need to take, I was required to take the Writing section of the COMPASS test. I didn't know what to expect, but after getting cleared to take it today, I began to get a little scared. The 3 people taking it at the same time as me had failed it multiple times and were talking as if it was cruel. 19 minutes later, it occured to me that these people were morons. I got a 99th percentile and a perfect on my essay, which I wrote in 15 minutes. This allowed me to register for classes, with one minor hitch. Apparently, Business Math at A&M counts for "Finite Mathematics", which is all fine and dandy, but it doesn't work as a pre-rec for Calculus or Statistics. Thus, my schedule is (as of now) filled with the following classes:
1. College Algebra
2. Intro to Philosophy
3. Principles of Sociology
4. Intro to Mass Communication
5. American Government II
The times I'm taking them at aren't ideal (College Algebra is at 7AM on Tues/Thurs), but I'm not complaining. I finish all classes before 4, which gives me a reasonable amount of time to work. I am very happy that I was able to get this taken care of today, and my personal goal is to have a job solidified by Friday. Tomorrow continues the search, with an actual schedule to work around this time!
Madden 09 comes out on August 12. That's tomorrow, and because Madden is such a big deal, it's got a midnight release tonight. I have never attended a midnight release for a video game and really had no plans to do so tonight. Before you get on my case for not sticking to my guns, let me explain my reasoning. I'm going to be up 'til at least 11 anyway, watching the Olympics. NFL Head Coach 09 is bundled with Madden and I am suuuuuper stoked about that game (moreso than Madden itself). There's a Wal-Mart 10 minutes from the house. So, really, can you blame me?
In productivity news, I was successful in my attempt to take the nefarious placement test and register for classes. First, let's discuss this placement test. Due to the fact that I received a 5 on the English Language AP Exam and a 4 on the English Literature, the state of Texas does not and will not require me to take any English classes. However, from what I understand, because I haven't taken any college English classes, which they admit I don't need to take, I was required to take the Writing section of the COMPASS test. I didn't know what to expect, but after getting cleared to take it today, I began to get a little scared. The 3 people taking it at the same time as me had failed it multiple times and were talking as if it was cruel. 19 minutes later, it occured to me that these people were morons. I got a 99th percentile and a perfect on my essay, which I wrote in 15 minutes. This allowed me to register for classes, with one minor hitch. Apparently, Business Math at A&M counts for "Finite Mathematics", which is all fine and dandy, but it doesn't work as a pre-rec for Calculus or Statistics. Thus, my schedule is (as of now) filled with the following classes:
1. College Algebra
2. Intro to Philosophy
3. Principles of Sociology
4. Intro to Mass Communication
5. American Government II
The times I'm taking them at aren't ideal (College Algebra is at 7AM on Tues/Thurs), but I'm not complaining. I finish all classes before 4, which gives me a reasonable amount of time to work. I am very happy that I was able to get this taken care of today, and my personal goal is to have a job solidified by Friday. Tomorrow continues the search, with an actual schedule to work around this time!
Madden 09 comes out on August 12. That's tomorrow, and because Madden is such a big deal, it's got a midnight release tonight. I have never attended a midnight release for a video game and really had no plans to do so tonight. Before you get on my case for not sticking to my guns, let me explain my reasoning. I'm going to be up 'til at least 11 anyway, watching the Olympics. NFL Head Coach 09 is bundled with Madden and I am suuuuuper stoked about that game (moreso than Madden itself). There's a Wal-Mart 10 minutes from the house. So, really, can you blame me?
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