Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
New video piece coming very soon
You may have noticed that things have been very quiet here lately - there is good, and I hope justifiable reason for this. I have been hard at work on a video piece that I hope to debut here in the next day or two, depending on my confidence in my ability to let go of the thing.
Once I finish this monster I hope to be more active on this here blog once again.
Keep your eyes peeled kids...
Once I finish this monster I hope to be more active on this here blog once again.
Keep your eyes peeled kids...
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Proposition 8, or A Disaster for Equal Rights
I just wanted to write a brief post about Proposition 8 in California, a measure on their ballot this November that would "Eliminate the Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry", as the very title of the initiative indicates, by altering the California state constitution.
I believe wholeheartedly that the movement to extend equal rights to the lesbian and gay communities is the primary battle being fought in civil rights in this country today, with the possible exception of the battle over immigration policy. Furthermore, I feel that this conflict will be key in defining whether we are a moral people who treat all of our citizens with respect and dignity or whether we allow the battered ideology of a shrinking but powerful alliance of religious crackpots and "family values" touting hypocrites to consign us to continuing moral imbalance as a nation.
Frankly, I am fighting mad that some people have so much god damned time to piss away that they would put a proposition on the ballot to end the hard fought and briefly enjoyed equality and happiness of their fellow Americans. That is un-American. Sarah Palin recently mentioned that she likes to come speak in the "pro-America" parts of our country. I say that every person who would actively seek to support a sick measure like Prop 8 is at root un-American, anti-American and hostile to the very things that make us great as a country.
In particular, I would like to call out those in the Mormon Church who have recently taken a forceful stand in favor of this measure. Have they forgotten their own history? Do they no longer remember what it is like to be the target of hateful attacks and inequality? If not, why would they seek to inshrine inequality in the law?
I know that this measure does not have any direct affect on the majority of those of you who will be reading this, either because of geography or imagined inapplicability, but I argue that this measure is a mar upon the soul of our nation and we all have a responsibility to do what we can to fight it, while we still have a chance. I may not be a gay man, but I feel that I am my brother's and sister's keeper, and certainly as a citizen have a right to stand up for the rights of my fellows. I am certainly as much a steward of the rights and dignity of my comrades as of my own. Therefore I am pledging that I will make a financial contribution to the fight against this ill conceived and backwards measure. It may not be a lot, but it will be something. I urge you, good reader, to do the same, here, or elsewhere. And if you happen to be a Californian, I urge you to do even more - actively volunteer your time to fight this battle for the soul of your state, and ultimately, our country.
I believe wholeheartedly that the movement to extend equal rights to the lesbian and gay communities is the primary battle being fought in civil rights in this country today, with the possible exception of the battle over immigration policy. Furthermore, I feel that this conflict will be key in defining whether we are a moral people who treat all of our citizens with respect and dignity or whether we allow the battered ideology of a shrinking but powerful alliance of religious crackpots and "family values" touting hypocrites to consign us to continuing moral imbalance as a nation.
Frankly, I am fighting mad that some people have so much god damned time to piss away that they would put a proposition on the ballot to end the hard fought and briefly enjoyed equality and happiness of their fellow Americans. That is un-American. Sarah Palin recently mentioned that she likes to come speak in the "pro-America" parts of our country. I say that every person who would actively seek to support a sick measure like Prop 8 is at root un-American, anti-American and hostile to the very things that make us great as a country.
In particular, I would like to call out those in the Mormon Church who have recently taken a forceful stand in favor of this measure. Have they forgotten their own history? Do they no longer remember what it is like to be the target of hateful attacks and inequality? If not, why would they seek to inshrine inequality in the law?
I know that this measure does not have any direct affect on the majority of those of you who will be reading this, either because of geography or imagined inapplicability, but I argue that this measure is a mar upon the soul of our nation and we all have a responsibility to do what we can to fight it, while we still have a chance. I may not be a gay man, but I feel that I am my brother's and sister's keeper, and certainly as a citizen have a right to stand up for the rights of my fellows. I am certainly as much a steward of the rights and dignity of my comrades as of my own. Therefore I am pledging that I will make a financial contribution to the fight against this ill conceived and backwards measure. It may not be a lot, but it will be something. I urge you, good reader, to do the same, here, or elsewhere. And if you happen to be a Californian, I urge you to do even more - actively volunteer your time to fight this battle for the soul of your state, and ultimately, our country.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Last Debate Liveblog!
11:08 pm
One more note - for those commentators on CNN who are saying that Obama's performance was "flat" - what do you want from the guy - should he run laps around the table flailing his arms in the air, or would McCainian scowls and snorts suffice? Far from being "flat", he was serious, even toned and behaved like an adult, nay - like a President.
I love how these pundits have to back up and change their tune when the snap polls come out, after they have been spewing "informed" opinions for 30 minutes.
Anyway - goodnight and thanks for joining me one last time.
10:27: pm
McCain's closing remarks:
Change, last 8 years bad, reform, long record. Spending. Trust, tax dollars. Institutions of government. Long line of McCains have served.
Obama's closing remarks:
Tough times, tough problems economic crisis. Failed policies, same failed politics. Fundamental change. Brighter days ahead. Middle class, businesses, lift wages, grow our middle class. Not easy, not quick, dems, reps, indies come together.
Like I said, Obama wins!
10:23 pm
Now - will there be closing statements?
10:19 pm
Halfway through McCain's answer on the education thing. This debate has followed the same pattern, overall as the last two: McCain comes out swinging, gets worn down trying to score a knockout punch against an superior opponent, who bides his time and whips McCain in the second half with a tsunami of details and and soaring vision. McCain once again comes off as embittered and desperate to attack, although not quite as bad as last time, and Obama comes off as calm, collected and affable.
Obama wins again!
10:16 pm
Last question? This one has gone fast!
10:15 pm
McCain gets into Obama's record on votes pertaining to partial birth abortion. Obama swats the criticism down.
Obama is our best hope for turning our backs on the bullshit of the culture wars and I hope that he makes a point of helping us do so as President.
McCain is full of trite attacks and cannot equal Obama's vision on this or any other issue tonight.
10:12 pm
McCain says he will never and has never applied a litmus test to a Supreme Court nominee. Crazy baseland is not happy right now...
Obama pivots after delivering a great Judicial Nominee response to the equal pay issue and puts the fight to John Sidney McCain.
10:06 pm
"Senator Government" I love it!
10:03 pm
"Joe - you're rich. Congratulations."
How weird that McCain would make light of this issue which is so fucking hard for so many of us to contend with. Because our jobs don't offer benefits. Or because our insurance agency screwed us over. Or because we have suffered catastrophic illness. What a jackass.
10:00 pm
Joe the plumber is the most courted voter in America right now. And his job? Clearing turds from clogged johns. I love this country! Only in America!
9:57 pm
I want Obama's healthcare system. Now. Do we really have to wait till he is in office?
9:56 pm
McCain raises the specter of Herbert Hoover, thereby raising memory of his history obsessed performance from debate number one.
9:54 pm
I have given up on trying to interpret what about Obama's statements please/displease the men in CNN's focus group who are driving the line meter thing. It sometimes seems random.
9:52 pm
Obama speaks capably on international trade agreements. McCain compliments him on his eloquence and goes on to attack him for not traveling to Columbia. After having attacked him earlier in the year for traveling to Europe and the Middle East. After having suggested that he travel to the Middle East. Erratic indeed.
9:46 pm
"why does he always want to spend more?"
Well John, if you want to solve problems YOU HAVE TO INVEST IN PROBLEM SOLVING. Cutting taxes won't solve everything always.
9:45 pm
McCain wastes his time attacking Biden.
9:44 pm
A coy sidestep from Obama on whether or not Pallin would be able to capably step in as A number 1.
9:42 pm
According to McCain, Pallin is "a role model to women"
HAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!
9:36 pm
Obama confronts the Ayers thing head on as well as addressing ACORN. I wish he had mentioned McCain's prior affiliation with ACORN.
I think McCain started this debate strongly, but has wallowed here too long. This topic will mark a turning point in the debate, as it shows that the McCain we have seen recently is the McCain we will have in our memory for the next three weeks, due to this debate.
9:35 pm
The CNN people line meter thing seems more volatile tonight and generally more sympathetic to McCain (whereas in the last debate it seemed more sympathetic to Obama).
9:33 pm
Obama brought up the "palling around" phrase. So much for McCain's vaunted fighting spirit. And McCain goes on to defend the people who come to his rallies. Thereby missing Obama's ultimate point, that we need to be discussing the issues.
9:29 pm
Obama pivots back to the issues, as everyone said he would and puts the townhall thing away.
9:28 pm
Unless I missed something, McCain did not directly confront the Ayers thing.
9:26 pm
McCain feels hurt Rep. Lewis.
And then proceeds to whine about a number of other things.
9:25 pm
McCAIN - GIVE UP ON THE TOWNHALL BULLSHIT. THAT WOULD NOT HAVE STOPPED YOUR VITRIOLIC LIES, STOP KIDDING US.
9:24 pm
This is the most spirited debate yet.
Now we get the question about mud-hurling - Schieffer even mentions Ayrers. Let's see what happens...
9:20 pm
"If you wanted to run against President Bush you should have run four years ago" - McCain. Let's see what Obama comes back with on this...
9:19 pm
McCain brought up the planetarium again! He really does hate science.
Obama: "Earmarks consist of one half of one percent of the budget." Bravo!!!
9:17 pm
McCain brings up Hillary first.
9:14 pm
McCain is clearly on the offensive, yet again tonight.
This format is far better than last week's.
The moderator asks about what the candidates expect to cut and McCain will doubtless launch into the old "porkbarrel earmarks" routine.
9:12 pm
McCain comes back with by quoting Obama as having said to Joe the Plumber that he wants to "spread the wealth around".
Obama's rebuttal is clear and calm.
9:10 pm
Obama remarks that Joe the plumber had probabaly seen McCain ads and makes clear that McCain and him have major differences on taxes. Clearly he was ready for this.
9:07 pm
Wow! Did you see McCain STARING with huge, blinky eyes at Obama? It was like someone trying to stare at the sun!
McCain brings up the plumber in Ohio. And addresses him directly. Not bad!
Let's see how Obama addresses this smart little ploy...
9:06 pm
So McCain starts by trying to peg the economic swan dive on Fannie May and Freddie Mack - in other words, the Democrats, if you follow the logic of wingnut "thought".
Interestingly, he did not clariify, so that one was coded for the base.
Obama starts by addressing the concerns of the middle class, and by getting very, very specific.
8:20 pm
So. Here we are awaiting the last of these debates and I am overjoyed that I won't have to go through another one of these for the next four years, but a bit saddened as well, since I have had such a good time opining in real time up here.
One note - I know a guy who is doing TV work up at the debates and I told him he ought to dial in a narrow Q peak at 2kHz on the feed coming from McCain's mic, in order to induce auditory fatigue in the listeners.
On second thought though, McCain's content and style of address do enough to turn off the public - he doesn't need any help from a creative application of EQ.
So here is the question we have all been wasting our time with: will McCain bring up Ayers and if so how will Obama handle it?
The correct answer: who cares!
Subanswer: if he does, he is toast.
I look forward to hearing their respective closing statements most of all and hope that we don't have a repeat of last week's god-awful moderation.
See you at 9:00...
One more note - for those commentators on CNN who are saying that Obama's performance was "flat" - what do you want from the guy - should he run laps around the table flailing his arms in the air, or would McCainian scowls and snorts suffice? Far from being "flat", he was serious, even toned and behaved like an adult, nay - like a President.
I love how these pundits have to back up and change their tune when the snap polls come out, after they have been spewing "informed" opinions for 30 minutes.
Anyway - goodnight and thanks for joining me one last time.
10:27: pm
McCain's closing remarks:
Change, last 8 years bad, reform, long record. Spending. Trust, tax dollars. Institutions of government. Long line of McCains have served.
Obama's closing remarks:
Tough times, tough problems economic crisis. Failed policies, same failed politics. Fundamental change. Brighter days ahead. Middle class, businesses, lift wages, grow our middle class. Not easy, not quick, dems, reps, indies come together.
Like I said, Obama wins!
10:23 pm
Now - will there be closing statements?
10:19 pm
Halfway through McCain's answer on the education thing. This debate has followed the same pattern, overall as the last two: McCain comes out swinging, gets worn down trying to score a knockout punch against an superior opponent, who bides his time and whips McCain in the second half with a tsunami of details and and soaring vision. McCain once again comes off as embittered and desperate to attack, although not quite as bad as last time, and Obama comes off as calm, collected and affable.
Obama wins again!
10:16 pm
Last question? This one has gone fast!
10:15 pm
McCain gets into Obama's record on votes pertaining to partial birth abortion. Obama swats the criticism down.
Obama is our best hope for turning our backs on the bullshit of the culture wars and I hope that he makes a point of helping us do so as President.
McCain is full of trite attacks and cannot equal Obama's vision on this or any other issue tonight.
10:12 pm
McCain says he will never and has never applied a litmus test to a Supreme Court nominee. Crazy baseland is not happy right now...
Obama pivots after delivering a great Judicial Nominee response to the equal pay issue and puts the fight to John Sidney McCain.
10:06 pm
"Senator Government" I love it!
10:03 pm
"Joe - you're rich. Congratulations."
How weird that McCain would make light of this issue which is so fucking hard for so many of us to contend with. Because our jobs don't offer benefits. Or because our insurance agency screwed us over. Or because we have suffered catastrophic illness. What a jackass.
10:00 pm
Joe the plumber is the most courted voter in America right now. And his job? Clearing turds from clogged johns. I love this country! Only in America!
9:57 pm
I want Obama's healthcare system. Now. Do we really have to wait till he is in office?
9:56 pm
McCain raises the specter of Herbert Hoover, thereby raising memory of his history obsessed performance from debate number one.
9:54 pm
I have given up on trying to interpret what about Obama's statements please/displease the men in CNN's focus group who are driving the line meter thing. It sometimes seems random.
9:52 pm
Obama speaks capably on international trade agreements. McCain compliments him on his eloquence and goes on to attack him for not traveling to Columbia. After having attacked him earlier in the year for traveling to Europe and the Middle East. After having suggested that he travel to the Middle East. Erratic indeed.
9:46 pm
"why does he always want to spend more?"
Well John, if you want to solve problems YOU HAVE TO INVEST IN PROBLEM SOLVING. Cutting taxes won't solve everything always.
9:45 pm
McCain wastes his time attacking Biden.
9:44 pm
A coy sidestep from Obama on whether or not Pallin would be able to capably step in as A number 1.
9:42 pm
According to McCain, Pallin is "a role model to women"
HAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!
9:36 pm
Obama confronts the Ayers thing head on as well as addressing ACORN. I wish he had mentioned McCain's prior affiliation with ACORN.
I think McCain started this debate strongly, but has wallowed here too long. This topic will mark a turning point in the debate, as it shows that the McCain we have seen recently is the McCain we will have in our memory for the next three weeks, due to this debate.
9:35 pm
The CNN people line meter thing seems more volatile tonight and generally more sympathetic to McCain (whereas in the last debate it seemed more sympathetic to Obama).
9:33 pm
Obama brought up the "palling around" phrase. So much for McCain's vaunted fighting spirit. And McCain goes on to defend the people who come to his rallies. Thereby missing Obama's ultimate point, that we need to be discussing the issues.
9:29 pm
Obama pivots back to the issues, as everyone said he would and puts the townhall thing away.
9:28 pm
Unless I missed something, McCain did not directly confront the Ayers thing.
9:26 pm
McCain feels hurt Rep. Lewis.
And then proceeds to whine about a number of other things.
9:25 pm
McCAIN - GIVE UP ON THE TOWNHALL BULLSHIT. THAT WOULD NOT HAVE STOPPED YOUR VITRIOLIC LIES, STOP KIDDING US.
9:24 pm
This is the most spirited debate yet.
Now we get the question about mud-hurling - Schieffer even mentions Ayrers. Let's see what happens...
9:20 pm
"If you wanted to run against President Bush you should have run four years ago" - McCain. Let's see what Obama comes back with on this...
9:19 pm
McCain brought up the planetarium again! He really does hate science.
Obama: "Earmarks consist of one half of one percent of the budget." Bravo!!!
9:17 pm
McCain brings up Hillary first.
9:14 pm
McCain is clearly on the offensive, yet again tonight.
This format is far better than last week's.
The moderator asks about what the candidates expect to cut and McCain will doubtless launch into the old "porkbarrel earmarks" routine.
9:12 pm
McCain comes back with by quoting Obama as having said to Joe the Plumber that he wants to "spread the wealth around".
Obama's rebuttal is clear and calm.
9:10 pm
Obama remarks that Joe the plumber had probabaly seen McCain ads and makes clear that McCain and him have major differences on taxes. Clearly he was ready for this.
9:07 pm
Wow! Did you see McCain STARING with huge, blinky eyes at Obama? It was like someone trying to stare at the sun!
McCain brings up the plumber in Ohio. And addresses him directly. Not bad!
Let's see how Obama addresses this smart little ploy...
9:06 pm
So McCain starts by trying to peg the economic swan dive on Fannie May and Freddie Mack - in other words, the Democrats, if you follow the logic of wingnut "thought".
Interestingly, he did not clariify, so that one was coded for the base.
Obama starts by addressing the concerns of the middle class, and by getting very, very specific.
8:20 pm
So. Here we are awaiting the last of these debates and I am overjoyed that I won't have to go through another one of these for the next four years, but a bit saddened as well, since I have had such a good time opining in real time up here.
One note - I know a guy who is doing TV work up at the debates and I told him he ought to dial in a narrow Q peak at 2kHz on the feed coming from McCain's mic, in order to induce auditory fatigue in the listeners.
On second thought though, McCain's content and style of address do enough to turn off the public - he doesn't need any help from a creative application of EQ.
So here is the question we have all been wasting our time with: will McCain bring up Ayers and if so how will Obama handle it?
The correct answer: who cares!
Subanswer: if he does, he is toast.
I look forward to hearing their respective closing statements most of all and hope that we don't have a repeat of last week's god-awful moderation.
See you at 9:00...
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Some old paintings
Now that the two art events I have been relentlessly hyping have commenced and happened (I mean, respectively, the Train Car Project show and Memory Cloud - see my prior posts below) I have had the leisure to document some of my older work, which I am hoping to rework, recontextualize and reinvestigate in the coming months, via the magic of Finalcut Pro and Logic Pro 8. Expect me to post the results of this undertaking.
In the meantime, I would like to introduce you to some of these older specimens so that those of you who are unfamiliar with my recurrent motifs and aesthetic methodology can see where I am coming from. Above is a painting called "Megatrops", based loosely on a carved wood sculpture of the the same creature.
The following are from a series called "Strata and Vortices" that I painted about three years ago (I can't believe it has been so long!), a few months after taking a life-changing trip out West to, among other divine places, the Cascade range of volcanos in Oregon, Washington and California.
Above is a typical work from this series.
Here is one of the last in the series, as the series currently stands.
And one last one, a favorite of mine.
I will give y'all one last image today, a strange piece, which consists of a frame with a painting in it, which in turn has a frame in it. This frame itself holds a painting. This inner painting depicts a scene in which a frame of sorts either delineates a window, a painting or a mirror - I am not telling which. I call this painting Three Generations.
More to come, but this is it for tonight.
I will liveblog the last debate tomorrow as Barack Obama drives the nails even deeper into the coffin of John McCain's campaign - feel free to join me. I will try to post some more older work as well.
Thanks for looking.
Shuddering Noise Machine
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Art, art and politics
Hello world!
I will be back in Brooklyn tomorrow again for the opening of the Train Car Show (see below) which today was featured on the website of everyone's favorite magazine, Juxtapoz! This is a big deal, folks and you should show Scott Albrecht, the man behind the show lots of love by showing up at Papa B tomorrow, Friday, October 11th, 2008 AD for the opening. The address is 907 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11206 and the time is 7:30 pm.
My friend Steve has informed me via secret electronic-mail and textual messaging communiqués that the Memory Cloud installation in Trafalgar Square has been going swimmingly! He said that they have been getting a great response to the project and were interviewed on the BBC. Not only that, but the weather guy did the forecast from their installation! I love a world.
FLICKR GALLERY HERE.
I have been brewing up all kinds of political observations all week that I intend to write about, but I have been pretty busy, so y'all will have to wait till next week for them. I would like to give you all succor, if you, like me, have been irked at the cable news (and presumably network news) coverage of the bullshit Ayers allegations. Tomorrow the Legislative Council report on Troopergate will come out and in advance of this, we have the following doozy from the New York Times:
D O O Z Y !!!!
The McCain/Palin "campaign" will doubtless not cease their pathetic and ungrounded attacks, but will also have to go into a defensive crouch here and the media narrative with regards to all this nasty stuff will roll over to scrutiny of Troopergate. I think that the McCain camp was basically throwing up flack in an attempt to confuse the matter when Troopergate inevitably came back around.
I doubt that the Ayers rubbish was really moving too many undecided voters, but the facts of the Troopergate scandal, as they will be laid bare tomorrow will at least undermine any attempt to shiv Obama over whom he supposedly associates with, and the allied issue of "judgement". I mean, COME ON!! McCain picked this malicious clown as his running mate! You want to talk about guilt by association and poor judgement? There you have it, in a nutshell - a wingnut, to be precise.
Hopefully all of this will clear the air so we can get back to discussing real issues, for instance, our current economic apocalypse. I, however, won't be discussing them in this forum this weekend, so if you want my opinion you'll have to come to Brooklyn or New Jersey, folks. On that note, bye for now and have a fantastic weekend!
Shuddering Noise Machine
I will be back in Brooklyn tomorrow again for the opening of the Train Car Show (see below) which today was featured on the website of everyone's favorite magazine, Juxtapoz! This is a big deal, folks and you should show Scott Albrecht, the man behind the show lots of love by showing up at Papa B tomorrow, Friday, October 11th, 2008 AD for the opening. The address is 907 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11206 and the time is 7:30 pm.
My friend Steve has informed me via secret electronic-mail and textual messaging communiqués that the Memory Cloud installation in Trafalgar Square has been going swimmingly! He said that they have been getting a great response to the project and were interviewed on the BBC. Not only that, but the weather guy did the forecast from their installation! I love a world.
FLICKR GALLERY HERE.
I have been brewing up all kinds of political observations all week that I intend to write about, but I have been pretty busy, so y'all will have to wait till next week for them. I would like to give you all succor, if you, like me, have been irked at the cable news (and presumably network news) coverage of the bullshit Ayers allegations. Tomorrow the Legislative Council report on Troopergate will come out and in advance of this, we have the following doozy from the New York Times:
D O O Z Y !!!!
The McCain/Palin "campaign" will doubtless not cease their pathetic and ungrounded attacks, but will also have to go into a defensive crouch here and the media narrative with regards to all this nasty stuff will roll over to scrutiny of Troopergate. I think that the McCain camp was basically throwing up flack in an attempt to confuse the matter when Troopergate inevitably came back around.
I doubt that the Ayers rubbish was really moving too many undecided voters, but the facts of the Troopergate scandal, as they will be laid bare tomorrow will at least undermine any attempt to shiv Obama over whom he supposedly associates with, and the allied issue of "judgement". I mean, COME ON!! McCain picked this malicious clown as his running mate! You want to talk about guilt by association and poor judgement? There you have it, in a nutshell - a wingnut, to be precise.
Hopefully all of this will clear the air so we can get back to discussing real issues, for instance, our current economic apocalypse. I, however, won't be discussing them in this forum this weekend, so if you want my opinion you'll have to come to Brooklyn or New Jersey, folks. On that note, bye for now and have a fantastic weekend!
Shuddering Noise Machine
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
BREAKING: SCARY DINOSAUR ATTACKS BROOKLYN!!!
Here is my contribution to the GARGANTUAN Train Car Project show, put together by my dear friend and personal hero, Scott Albrecht under the auspices of his design and art collaborative, Process. You can see Scott's terrified reflection in plexi as he struggles to swallow his fear long enough to snap a photograph.
The show is being hosted by a gallery called Papa B in Brooklyn, NY. If you are in town make sure to come by to help fight the good fight against the dinosaur menace! Also come by to dig the art, live DJs and good company.
(NOTE FOR DEVOTED READERS: this show is the one I mentioned some time ago when I said I was up in NJ to build 32 picture frames, one of which you see depicted here, barely containing the fearsome theropod threatening the page mounted within its bounds.)
I hope to see you there for the opening, at 7:30 pm!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
2nd Presidential Liveblog
Thanks to anyone who may have watched this with me...
10:36 pm
As I said earlier, OBAMA WINS!!! And even if you disagree with that, certainly not a game changer for McCain, therefore leaving Obama unscathed!
10:33 pm
McCain's closing remarks were vague and feel-good - no attacks, surprisingly.
10:33 pm
"What I don't know is what the unexpected will be."
You DO know all about tautology, however, Senator McCain.
10:32 pm
Obama delivers an impassioned closing remark.
10:26 pm
Is it me or has this debate been tilted toward foreign affairs in a fashion that does not pay heed to what the nation is currently contending with?
As I said earlier, I hate you, Brokaw.
10:19 pm
I am so impressed by the way Obama took control and proceeded to demolish McCain that I can't even pay attention. Unless something else HUMUNGOUS happens tonight, game over, OBAMA WINS IT AGAIN. That was a knockout blow, as far as I am concerned. This basically ends the campaign with respect to Iraq and foreign affairs generally.
10:15 pm
McCain is on the defensive! His ploy to throw bombs from the safety of the format has BACKFIRED BIGTIME!!!! The CNN response meter is deadlined in response to his explanation of his "Bomb Iran" and the rest of his garbled answer.
10:14 pm
Obama is taking him to task! Best moment so far. Let's see if this gets under McCain's skin...
10:13 pm
Three cheers to Obama for standing up to both old, irritable white men sharing the stage with him!!!
10:10 pm
"My Hero is a guy named Teddy Roosevelt" I thought it was Reagan?
At any rate, McCain's populism is doubtful and his naked, loud bellicosity is not in any doubt, whatsoever.
10:07 pm
"... I stood up to Reagan, my hero"
YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10:03 pm
On the war, Obama delivers a home-run of an answer, although not a grand-slam like in the last Presidential debate.
10:00 pm
McCain tries to make the judgement argument on whether or not to go to war, thereby setting himself up for a beating by Obama. Let's see what Obama says...
9:59 pm
McCain's jokes are pretty lame.
9:53 pm
Whatever the relative credit of their arguments, just taken as arguments devoid of the personalities presenting them, taken in the context of this debate I have no sense that McCain actually gives a shit about the policies he is promoting, while Obama seems to mean it, and in a very serious way, which is sometimes his downfall, with respect to tone.
Furthermore, I cannot imagine that McCain would give a damn about someone like me, and I daresay you.
9:52 pm
"One hand giveth, the other hand taketh away" - an effective turn of phrase here.
9:48 pm
"That one" - McCain, you are a creep. You are a horrible old man and are basically a bullying meathead. Your new campaign strategies have amply demonstrated this and your referring to another Senator, who is five feet away from you as "that one" reemphasizes your disrespectful and unbecoming attitude and demeanor. President? You don't deserve to be a Senator.
9:44 pm
"...and all of that!"
I think McCain just had a senior moment!
9:42 pm
I hate you, Brokaw.
9:41 pm
"Our wonderful Ronald Reagan"
Clearly, the McCain people took note of how the little CNN meter got a small bump (or "hard on", as I like to say) every time McCain mentioned the Gipper...
9:40 pm
BROKAW: YOU ARE A GAWD DAMNED IMPEDIMENT TO CONVERSATION. STOP TAKING YOURSELF SO FUCKING SERIOUSLY. WE WANT TO HEAR THE CANDIDATES, NOT YOU.
Barack, McCain is obviously adept at lashing out and using the format as a shield against rebuttal. I am happy that you keep on pursuing him, but perhaps you need to do the same.
John McCain, I look forward to seeing you relegated to the dustbin of history, along with Sarah Palin.
9:35 pm
McCain's analogies are so bizarre - he will present a slightly disturbing image, like "nailing jello to the wall" and then not carry through with it.
"Senator Obama's secret" - there is the meme that Tweety over on MSNBC has been hinting at as JSmcM's MO.
9:30 pm
McCain is more comfortable in this format, without a doubt.
9:23 pm
This format is irritating. Brokaw is not the ideal moderator for it, to boot.
9:19 pm
Obama feels a bit professorial on this, I hate to say.
9:18 pm
Do you think anyone really cares about your little letter, Mr. McCain? People have real problems these days and want answers, not solutions. A rhetorical flop, if I ever heard one?
9:14 pm
"Not surprisingly" Hooray! Creating the impression that McCain cannot be trusted on the facts with respect to his opponent, and in essence making this an extension of their prior engagement. A good, solid rhetorical gambit.
(yes, I am blowing up the importance of a passing phrase, but such are the building blocks of a rhetorical strategy that operates beneath the radar)
9:12 pm
I am tired of the "mainstreet"/wall street dichotomy - the point of this crisis is that the two are interwoven, nay blended in their very substance.
McCain goes on the attack - no surprise there, although if he sticks to it, it may backfire on him in this national mood.
I wonder if Obama will play defense again and otherwise keep on target with the economy, or will he go on the offensive?
9:10 pm
Obama goes Pallin on it and basically ignores the question, taking the opportunity to talk policy. Good, it was a dumb question.
9:09 pm
McCain lauds Warren Buffet, an Obama supporter. Is he going to use the "hold my opponent close" that Obama employed so slyly in their last matchup?
9:06 pm
A competent response from Obama, and McCain glances on energy independence as a prelude to playing rhetorical hopscotch, going from tax cuts to the national debt to home values. That was confusing, John!
9:02 pm
I was dreading having to listen to John McCain tonight, but find myself now excited to see and hear from Senator Obama.
Let's see how this debate format works out - wow no chance for an opening statement from the combatants.
10:36 pm
As I said earlier, OBAMA WINS!!! And even if you disagree with that, certainly not a game changer for McCain, therefore leaving Obama unscathed!
10:33 pm
McCain's closing remarks were vague and feel-good - no attacks, surprisingly.
10:33 pm
"What I don't know is what the unexpected will be."
You DO know all about tautology, however, Senator McCain.
10:32 pm
Obama delivers an impassioned closing remark.
10:26 pm
Is it me or has this debate been tilted toward foreign affairs in a fashion that does not pay heed to what the nation is currently contending with?
As I said earlier, I hate you, Brokaw.
10:19 pm
I am so impressed by the way Obama took control and proceeded to demolish McCain that I can't even pay attention. Unless something else HUMUNGOUS happens tonight, game over, OBAMA WINS IT AGAIN. That was a knockout blow, as far as I am concerned. This basically ends the campaign with respect to Iraq and foreign affairs generally.
10:15 pm
McCain is on the defensive! His ploy to throw bombs from the safety of the format has BACKFIRED BIGTIME!!!! The CNN response meter is deadlined in response to his explanation of his "Bomb Iran" and the rest of his garbled answer.
10:14 pm
Obama is taking him to task! Best moment so far. Let's see if this gets under McCain's skin...
10:13 pm
Three cheers to Obama for standing up to both old, irritable white men sharing the stage with him!!!
10:10 pm
"My Hero is a guy named Teddy Roosevelt" I thought it was Reagan?
At any rate, McCain's populism is doubtful and his naked, loud bellicosity is not in any doubt, whatsoever.
10:07 pm
"... I stood up to Reagan, my hero"
YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10:03 pm
On the war, Obama delivers a home-run of an answer, although not a grand-slam like in the last Presidential debate.
10:00 pm
McCain tries to make the judgement argument on whether or not to go to war, thereby setting himself up for a beating by Obama. Let's see what Obama says...
9:59 pm
McCain's jokes are pretty lame.
9:53 pm
Whatever the relative credit of their arguments, just taken as arguments devoid of the personalities presenting them, taken in the context of this debate I have no sense that McCain actually gives a shit about the policies he is promoting, while Obama seems to mean it, and in a very serious way, which is sometimes his downfall, with respect to tone.
Furthermore, I cannot imagine that McCain would give a damn about someone like me, and I daresay you.
9:52 pm
"One hand giveth, the other hand taketh away" - an effective turn of phrase here.
9:48 pm
"That one" - McCain, you are a creep. You are a horrible old man and are basically a bullying meathead. Your new campaign strategies have amply demonstrated this and your referring to another Senator, who is five feet away from you as "that one" reemphasizes your disrespectful and unbecoming attitude and demeanor. President? You don't deserve to be a Senator.
9:44 pm
"...and all of that!"
I think McCain just had a senior moment!
9:42 pm
I hate you, Brokaw.
9:41 pm
"Our wonderful Ronald Reagan"
Clearly, the McCain people took note of how the little CNN meter got a small bump (or "hard on", as I like to say) every time McCain mentioned the Gipper...
9:40 pm
BROKAW: YOU ARE A GAWD DAMNED IMPEDIMENT TO CONVERSATION. STOP TAKING YOURSELF SO FUCKING SERIOUSLY. WE WANT TO HEAR THE CANDIDATES, NOT YOU.
Barack, McCain is obviously adept at lashing out and using the format as a shield against rebuttal. I am happy that you keep on pursuing him, but perhaps you need to do the same.
John McCain, I look forward to seeing you relegated to the dustbin of history, along with Sarah Palin.
9:35 pm
McCain's analogies are so bizarre - he will present a slightly disturbing image, like "nailing jello to the wall" and then not carry through with it.
"Senator Obama's secret" - there is the meme that Tweety over on MSNBC has been hinting at as JSmcM's MO.
9:30 pm
McCain is more comfortable in this format, without a doubt.
9:23 pm
This format is irritating. Brokaw is not the ideal moderator for it, to boot.
9:19 pm
Obama feels a bit professorial on this, I hate to say.
9:18 pm
Do you think anyone really cares about your little letter, Mr. McCain? People have real problems these days and want answers, not solutions. A rhetorical flop, if I ever heard one?
9:14 pm
"Not surprisingly" Hooray! Creating the impression that McCain cannot be trusted on the facts with respect to his opponent, and in essence making this an extension of their prior engagement. A good, solid rhetorical gambit.
(yes, I am blowing up the importance of a passing phrase, but such are the building blocks of a rhetorical strategy that operates beneath the radar)
9:12 pm
I am tired of the "mainstreet"/wall street dichotomy - the point of this crisis is that the two are interwoven, nay blended in their very substance.
McCain goes on the attack - no surprise there, although if he sticks to it, it may backfire on him in this national mood.
I wonder if Obama will play defense again and otherwise keep on target with the economy, or will he go on the offensive?
9:10 pm
Obama goes Pallin on it and basically ignores the question, taking the opportunity to talk policy. Good, it was a dumb question.
9:09 pm
McCain lauds Warren Buffet, an Obama supporter. Is he going to use the "hold my opponent close" that Obama employed so slyly in their last matchup?
9:06 pm
A competent response from Obama, and McCain glances on energy independence as a prelude to playing rhetorical hopscotch, going from tax cuts to the national debt to home values. That was confusing, John!
9:02 pm
I was dreading having to listen to John McCain tonight, but find myself now excited to see and hear from Senator Obama.
Let's see how this debate format works out - wow no chance for an opening statement from the combatants.
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