The Old Codger’s Second Home

Obama’s Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy

Stunning Break with Last Eight Years

In the first two weeks since the election, President-elect Barack Obama has broken with a tradition established over the past eight years through his controversial use of complete sentences, political observers say.

Millions of Americans who watched Mr. Obama’s appearance on CBS’ “Sixty Minutes” on Sunday witnessed the president-elect’s unorthodox verbal tick, which had Mr. Obama employing grammatically correct sentences virtually every time he opened his mouth.

But Mr. Obama’s decision to use complete sentences in his public pronouncements carries with it certain risks, since after the last eight years many Americans may find his odd speaking style jarring. According to presidential historian Davis Logsdon of the University of Minnesota, some Americans might find it “alienating” to have a President who speaks English as if it were his first language.

“Every time Obama opens his mouth, his subjects and verbs are in agreement,” says Mr. Logsdon. “If he keeps it up, he is running the risk of sounding like an elitist.”

The historian said that if Mr. Obama insists on using complete sentences in his speeches, the public may find itself saying, “Okay, subject, predicate, subject predicate - we get it, stop showing off.”  The President-elect’s stubborn insistence on using complete sentences has already attracted a rebuke from one of his harshest critics, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska.

“Talkin’ with complete sentences there and also too talkin’ in a way that ordinary Americans like Joe the Plumber and Tito the Builder can’t really do there, I think needin’ to do that isn’t tappin’ into what Americans are needin’ also,” she said.

The Old Codger has left the room.

Greetings My Fellow Comrades:

We must pause in our fruitful labors for our Great Society and welcome to our ranks the millions of Americans who have eschewed the immoral beliefs of capitalism and decided to join the successful and happy ranks of Socialism and Communism.  Millions of American have elected their new Dear Leader Barrack Obama.  Today the call him a President-elect — but soon they shall call him Dear Leader, and rightfully so.

Oh, dear Comrades, the capitalists of America have seen the immoral, illogical, selfish and cold hearted policies and practices of their former leader fall into the cesspool of American Capitalism.  These capitalists who have taken, taken and taken from the poor only to line the pockets of the rich and wealthy with gold are angry today.  It is sad, but they have now even turned the best friend of their soon to be former leader into a rabid attack dog and have instructed him to bite all members of what they call the “liberal media” — the media that took the truth to Americans.  Yes, Comrades, you can see how the Capitalists will act when they are in fear of losing their ill gotten bones by watching the evidence before your own eyes here. Capitalist Dog Bites Liberal Media Person

This is not the first time this Capitalist Dog has attacked a dedicated Party Worker.  You can see another attack ruthless and unprovoked attack:  Lazy, Pampered Capitalist Dog Attacks Loyal Worker.  Be warned.  You will hear other Capitalists laughing and having good fun over this senseless attack. Read the rest of this entry »

Obama has won the election.  Woo-Hoo.  Everyone is making a big deal out of the first black man to ascend to the White House, which according to my conservative friends, will quickly be renamed “The Black House.”  It is unknown when the painting crews will show up, but if they repaint it without charging the taxpayer anything, I’m OK with it, providing they repaint again just before he leaves.

No, I’m not all that thrilled with Obama winning the election. That’s not to say that for the two weeks before the election my stomach wasn’t churning every morning as I read the news and the latest polls.  That churning was out of fear that McCain and Palin would get the final nod.  (Note to Self:  Need to celebrate tonight with a few beers.)

Obama was marginally the lesser of two evils.  I can’t say as though I really go along with any of his proposals to bring change to the country.  Mighty hard to bring any meaningful changes to Washington if you start stacking your administration with Washington insiders.  Do have to wonder though if the puppy he is taking to the White House is a pit bull… Read the rest of this entry »

John McCain exited the 2008 Presidential race with the same grace and class that he was noted for before he got involved with Karl Rove’s proteges and Sarah Palin.   He was gracious and courtly.  A true gentleman.  He showed more class than many of his supporters at the beginning of his speech.  Only a hardened cynic wouldn’t have felt compassion, with touches of sympathy and empathy for John McCain at that point in time.  The compassion John would accept, but not the sympathy or empathy.

His running mate, Sarah Palin didn’t say anything.  She didn’t need to concede defeat, as she had already alluded to defeat in the waning days of the campaign.  Her staff had also conceded defeat, though it is unknown who conceded first, and their reasons.  There can be little doubt that Sarah was probably beyond extremely difficult to work with which could cause some to throw up their hands in defeat.  In that respect, she is a maverick.  She doesn’t play well with others.

Sarah is on her way back to Alaska.  She previously has vowed to return for a run in 2012.  To be successful in the primaries, she will have to have the backing of the Republican Party.  Whether she will have that backing is an unknown this soon after the elections.  Wounds must be licked.  Blame must be assessed and reassessed.

Regardless of whether she will have the backing of the Republican Party, there can be little doubt that Sarah Palin will be back.  Read the rest of this entry »

The right wing conservatives have been trying to impress upon Americans that Obama presents a grave threat to America over the past two or three weeks.  Fortunately, most of their prognostications are ignored by most, however, they do strike a chord with the Christian Evangelicals in the country.

If the predictions are correct, Obama will be the next president of the United States.  This is an event that most of the world is looking forward to.  The world has had enough of the Bush Administration’s “cowboy diplomacy.”  It is also fearful of the potential “moose hunting diplomacy” that could occur under a McCain - Palin Administration.  Rightfully so, as McCain and Palin are in lockstep on some policies and theories despite their highly public disagreements on other policies.

No matter who wins the election, America faces one major threat — a threat that America does not readily admit is a threat.  That threat is Israel.  Read the rest of this entry »

There are tens of thousands of deadbeat parents in America - men and women who refuse to support their children.  This classification would not apply to those men and women who have recently been hit by the current economic crisis.  It wouldn’t be fair to call those people deadbeats.

There are tens of thousands of men and women — mostly men — who owe tens of thousands of dollars in child support which has accrued prior to this economic crisis, when the economy was good.  How about a deadbeat dad that owes $90,000 and equates himself to Gandhi and Martin Luther King?

Meet John Murtari of Lyons, NY.  Murtari doesn’t think or believe that he should pay child support because he did not get either full custody or joint custody of his son when he got divorced in 1997.  Ever since then he has embarked on what he calls a “civil rights action” which has resulted in him trying, and repeatedly succeeding at getting himself thrown in jail.  Today he owes $90,000 in child support.

Murtari is required to pay $120 per week in child support.  He claims that he can’t afford to pay that amount.  In one of his many postings on his website, he posits:  “Suppose your former spouse’s family are almost millionaires — your kid doesn’t want for material things, just you.”

In a court filing in 1999, Murtari made the following declaration:

Since the Spring of 1999 I have committed myself to an effort to Reform the Family Law System and to regain an equal relationship with my son… This has become a “full time” effort and it will not cease until I am restored as an equal parent to my son and can give him the personal support he deserves and which is my obligation & duty.

In the Fall of 1999 I ceased full time employment and only work at a consulting level at the family owned Company, my monthly income since November of 1999 has been approximately $400. Read the rest of this entry »

There is little doubt that conservatives, and hence, Republicans, fight dirty.  They have had a field day with Obama’s life, spreading every imaginable lie and misinformation about him and his wife.  The quantity of e-mail that I receive has dropped off immensely after I told numerous people to stop sending that type of crap.  Of course, they called me a “liberal” which they perceive to be an insult.

This has, without a doubt, been one of the dirtiest campaigns in history.  It can easily make one wonder about the morals and ethics of the people who are wanting to run the country.  A couple samples of some of the dirt being shoveled over on Obama by the “robo-callers”:

Hi, this is Rudy Giuliani, and I’m calling for John McCain and the Republican National Committee because you need to know that Barack Obama opposes mandatory prison sentences for sex offenders, drug dealers, and murderers.

It’s true, I read Obama’s words myself. And recently, Congressional liberals introduced a bill to eliminate mandatory prison sentences for violent criminals — trying to give liberal judges the power to decide whether criminals are sent to jail or set free. With priorities like these, we just can’t trust the inexperience and judgment of Barack Obama and his liberal allies. This call was paid for by the Republican National Committee and McCain-Palin 2008 at 866 558 5591.

And then:

Hello, I’m calling for John McCain and the RNC, because Democrats are dangerously weak on crime. Barack Obama has voted against tougher penalties for street gangs, drug-related crimes, and protecting children from danger. Barack Obama and his liberal allies have a disturbing history of coddling criminals. so we can’t trust their judgment to keep our families safe. This call was paid for by the Republican National Committee and McCain-Palin 2008 at 866 558-5591. Thank you, bye

It has now been reported that between 30 and 40 call center workers in Indiana walked off the job for refusing to read a script that was critical of Obama. Read the rest of this entry »

Nothing should surprise anyone in this election.  This hasn’t been the dirtiest campaign in history — George Bush and Karl Rove hold that record — but it has gotten down in the dirt from time to time.

Now it has been revealed that Sarah Palin is campaigning naked.  That’s right.  She has stripped down.  No more designer clothes.  No more free advertising for Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Palin appeared in Florida without the designer clothes over the weekend.

“I’m not taking them with me. I’m back to wearing my own clothes from my favorite consignment shop in Anchorage, Alaska,” she said, adding that she initially had hoped to “ignore this wardrobe thing”, but had instead decided to address it head on.

Well Sarah, I find it hard to believe that you shop at a consignment shop in Anchorage, but if that is the story you want to tell, go ahead with it.  Fits in good with the story that you and Todd are frugal and just can’t afford much on a combined salary of close to a quarter million of dollars a year plus having assets estimated to be in excess of a million dollars.

Now if you can get rid of your high dollar hair stylist and make up artist that cost $22,000 for two weeks, then you might be able to convince some people that you are real and not a true politician.  Of course, your statement that you wanted to “ignore this wardrobe thing” would indicate that you are still a politician given your State expense account and everything else.

My friends, brings to mind something about pigs and lipstick…

The Old Codger has left the room.

The entire world is watching the US 2008 Election Dog and Pony Show with a great deal of interest, fear and trepadation.  Being on the outside looking in, the show is indeed able to cause a significant amount of consternation.  If the World Could Vote in this election, Barrack Obama would be the clear winner, with 87% of the votes from 200 countries.  In America however, McCain is claiming that he will be the winner in a very close election.  Obama, significantly more pragmatic, is cautioning everyone about claiming victory on the Democratic side.

The polls are confusing.  Some say the race is too close to call.  Others say that Obama is going to win by a landslide.  Some notable conservatives are also claiming a win for Obama, with some of them even endorsing Obama.

The far right wing Bible Thumpers and Evangelical Christians are predicting doom if Obama wins.  These predictions can be mildly disconcerting to the individual campaigns, but also devastating to the country as a whole.  Rational and logical thinking people typically write of these two groups off as being “nuts,” but there are many who do not.  Along this line of thinking, it is amazing that so many people who ordinarily would write off the far right religious groups as “nuts,” have largely embraced Sarah Palin, who is an avowed Evangelical Christian.

No one really knows how many people in America harbor separtist views.  It is known however, that separtists subscribe to some of the beliefs of the religious far right.  Separtists are also typically heavily armed and freely talk about revolution.  At a gun show in Reno, Nevada this past weekend, people holding separtist views were out in force, buying up tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition and assault rifles.  Some were relying on clear conspiracy theory information they found on the Internet at the Fourth Millenium web site.  Read the rest of this entry »

This thing called “human rights” is indeed a confusing subject.  Seems like there are a whole lot of definitions of this term that can be applied at the will or whim of whoever is talking about them.

The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides:

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

It could be argued that this is a rather simplistic view, but one with quite a bit of depth.  These days, looking at the political climate in America, and using this definition, it could be argued that both the Democrats and Republicans are violating each other’s human rights because they certainly are not acting ‘towards each other in a spirit of brotherhood.’

Quite often these days, it seems as though human rights depend on whose ox is being gored.  Take for example the controversy brewing down in Australia, which, as a nation is opposed to the death penalty.  However, Australians are waiting with baited breath for the execution of three Bali terrorists who killed 201 people in night club bombings in 2002.  Eighty-eight Australians died in that terrorist attack.  However, Australia is pressing Indonesian authorities not to execute a number of convicted Australian drug smugglers, part of the Bali Nine, claiming in part that executions would violate their human rights. Read the rest of this entry »