Reorganization…

You may have noticed that there hasn’t been a lot of activity at ETS lately. We offer no good excuses, minus the growing demands of work and an incessant and obsessive monitoring of the last days of the election. ETS extends its congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama. 

Now that the two-year plus presidential campaign is complete, ETS is in the process of reorganization, both in terms of design and objective. As we assume you are all waiting with bated breath for our return, we are aiming for a relaunch sooner rather than later. The new ETS is preparing to offer coverage of a broader spectrum of topics; however, fear not, we will continue to monitor the murky waters of politics – it’s our favorite past time after all. 

In the meantime, I offer a question for you all to ponder. Although I (and many others) decried many of the tactics of his campaign, Senator McCain was arguably one of the very few Republicans that had even the most outside chances of winning in this acutely anti-Republican period in the political timeline. Yet, McCain suffered one of the most lopsided defeats in recent history, even losing long-time Republican stalwart states such as Virginia and North Carolina. 

The question is: Following a literal drubbing in the Presidential, Senatorial, and Congressional elections, what direction must the Republican party head in order to repair its evidently tarnished image? Does the party continue to play into the hands of the ever-dwindling (but no doubt persuasive) social conservative base embodied by figures such as Gov. Sarah Palin and outgoing President George W. Bush? Or does the GOP return to its one-time ideal of common sense fiscal management personified by former Republican and current New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg?

Joe the Senator

Kenneth W. Chandler

Sarah Palin threw her hands in the air and she waved them like she just didn’t care, as Amy Poehler rapped about her killing moose and stumping about Billy Ayers. Palin’s record-breaking appearance on Saturday Night Live certainly helped introduce some light-heartedness into an otherwise increasingly intense, contentious, overwrought campaign season. The problem for the McCain camp is that it increased her celebrity role while continuing to negate any substance. Ironic, sense Obama had been accused of the same thing a few short months ago. I feel like the campaign has descended into fifth grade antics anyway – “don’t vote for him, he hung out with that meanie who said bad things”; “vote for us, I’m so popular and hot.” Sadly, just like in fifth grade, some will follow-suit accordingly. Meanwhile, Senator Biden sits in the corner spectating, advocating strongly for his President, speaking directly to the issues and we failed to notice. It’s as if we waved our hands in the air and we really didn’t care in his case.

Discussion: Has the campaign gone over the top?

 

An October 8 editorial in The New York Times, Politics of Attack, claims that “Senator John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin have been running one of the most appalling campaigns we can remember.” 

Engage the Spectrum wants to know what you think. Has the Republican campaign reached a new level of negativity or is this just politics as usual? Click here to add your opinion.

Sarah Plain and Perilous

Lewis C. Miller

I really wanted to avoid making a full-length post about Sarah Palin. Really, I did. For the past few weeks I’ve contemplated whether or not to devote my energy to the topic – my colleague Kenneth can attest to that. However, with the convenient outlet that this new blog provides, I can no longer refrain from adding my own diatribe to the ever-growing list of anti-Palin polemics.

I understand that some may read this and label me elitist. Fine. I’m so over that equivocal branding at this point. As I explained in my previous posting, Failure Abounds, “I am not typically a demanding person; however, I do demand that anyone who seeks to run this country be a remarkable individual.” The reality is that Sen. McCain is 72 years old and has had multiple battles with a particularly vicious form of cancer. Such acknowledgement is not “playing the age card,” but rather the simple statement of a relevant fact. If the Republican ticket is elected, Gov. Palin will be closer than a heartbeat away from the presidency.

Master-Debating

Kenneth W. Chandler

We catch Jim Lehrer explaining the debate rules 10 minutes before it commences. He’s so respected that I imagine myself in that audience feeling threatened, yet somehow secure.

9:03 pm – First lie of the night – we overhear Obama say “good to see you John.” By the way, this is the only time John smiled or looked directly at Obama all night.

9:05 – Lehrer starts out strong – how do you stand on the financial crisis? – I feel like it’s similar to starting out Thanksgiving Dinner with, “so how are those loan payments coming.” Obama says something about Wall St/Main St. and oversight and depression…and…I was hoping for don’t collect $200 and go straight to jail while we were flirting with depressing clichés.

Failure Abounds: More of the Same

Lewis C. Miller

If there were any residual doubts that a John McCain administration would indeed be “more of the same,” the candidate himself put those doubts to rest earlier today.

During an interview with George Stephanopoulos for ABC’s “This Week,” McCain was asked about the extent of the role he played in helping Congress reach a consensus on the “bailout plan” and the claims coming from many Democrats, and even a few Republicans, that his intervention was counterproductive to the process.

 “Whether I helped or hurt, I’ll be glad to accept the judgment of history,” is how the Senator responded. 

It is unprecedented (and almost pitiable) to witness a candidate making such an overt effort to set a disclaimer on a failed presidency that has not yet occurred. And it reeks of George Bush.

Characters

Lewis C. Miller

Following a long day at the office, I found my way to a nearby Capitol Hill bar. Upon entering, I noticed that in proper Washington, D.C. fashion, all of the television screens were transmitting the message that had reverberated around town that afternoon: Republican presidential candidate John McCain was suspending his campaign and calling for a postponement of Friday’s scheduled debate with Senator Barack Obama. With my own preliminary assessment of this latest development in mind, I decided to get the perspective of a few fellow patrons. Instead, what unfolded was a revealing, if slightly schizophrenic exercise aided by Pinot Noir.

New Battleground Topic Posted!

The most recent ETS battleground topic has been chosen. The topic to be debated concerns the substantial federal bailouts that have already taken place in response to the crisis on Wall Street (Bear Sterns, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG) as well as the additional $700 billion rescue plan that has been proposed. 

Click here to submit your opinion or to learn more about battleground topics.

Cold, Hard Facts

Lewis C. Miller

One of the most unfortunate consequences of the recent economic crisis that culminated in horrific fashion this week is the crippling blow that has been dealt to agenda of the next President.

When either Senator Obama or Senator McCain takes office in January, they will do so with an increasingly diminished ability to change the course of this country, a goal that a substantial majority of Americans believe is necessary. Before proceeding, I must confess that, like Senator McCain, I am not well versed in the intricate fundamentals of the economy (I do however acknowledge that those fundamentals have been exposed as deficient, unlike Senator McCain).

A Unique Creature?

Gov. Sarah Palin, much like the current Vice President, appears unwilling to specify which branch of government her position would belong to should the McCain-Palin (Palin-McCain?) ticket win in November. 

This blatant reluctance of Gov. Palin to provide an answer to this most straighforward of inquiries (no unwarranted blaming an overzealous media on this one, Barracuda) raises two important questions.

The first is whether this is an indication that a McCain administration would continue to puruse the unrestrained (and unmonitored) role that Dick Cheney has made for himself as VP? Secondly (and relatedly), does Gov. Palin not wish to place a limit on the extent of her potential power or does she simply not understand the nature of the vice presidency? 

Comment on this topic

To read more about this topic on The Hill, click here

Posted by Lewis

PodKenneth: The Land of the Free?

“Play Ball!” is what is traditionally exclaimed after another rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner at a sporting event. In fact, that’s one of the more neutral things that is asserted; I’ve heard worse. That said, many spectators collect themselves for 60 seconds, although already drunkenly into their third beer to take off their hat and supposedly pay homage to their country. Similarly, consider the most recent political conventions in which politicians from both parties continually ended their speeches with “God Bless America.” They did this because they had to, even if some of them simultaneously believed in it. As such, I suppose we should not be surprised by the disbelief in some circles (although, with little publicity thus far) regarding Dallas Mavericks forward, Josh Howard’s comments (1:38-1:50) regarding the vaunted anthem…

PodLewis: China’s Quandary

China is growing.

Talk about some non-breaking news. These days, you would be hard-pressed to take in a news broadcast or skim the front page of a newspaper without being reminded that, in almost every quantifiable measure, China is rapidly growing.

What should be breaking news is the way that China is growing. China’s chosen pattern of development is alarming and merits considerable and urgent attention. Instead of learning from the mistakes of the United States, China appears eager to repeat them.

First Battleground Topic Posted!

The first engage the spectrum battleground topic has been chosen. The topic to be debated concerns Senator McCain’s somewhat unexpected selection of Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska to be his running mate. 

Click here to submit your opinion or to learn more about battleground topics.

PodKenneth: One Hundred Dollars and an F

When recently reading about Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s plans to offer middle school students in Washington, D.C., cash, for good behavior, I was a bit dismayed. Somewhat because I was always good in middle school and missed my opportunity to receive cash for it. But, more importantly because I don’t like the precedent this sets for rewarding someone for what they’re generally supposed to do. I do, however, applaud Rhee for her continued out-of-the-box revamping of the public school system. I just don’t think this particular idea is a good one.

Counterpoint: I’ll Take a Seat at the Table for Dessert, but not The Last Supper

In response to a Point made by Lewis C. Miller, Kenneth W. Chandler posits that if he had declined to participate in Rick Warren’s forum, Barack Obama may have actually amplified the divise role of religion in the presidential race

While, I believe in my co-contributor, Lewis Miller/Thomas Jefferson’s, premise for separation between church and state; I believe John McCain and Barack Obama both upheld this maxim by contributing to freedom of expression without compromising freedom of religion.