As may of you are no doubt aware, John McCain has a useful list of talking points for discussion on sites such ask http://dailykos.com. Tired of stumping for the liberal point of view, how about try stumping with a challenge, take a page from John McCain's stump page. Yes you too can get your very own marching orders! Not only can you parrot for the McCainster, but you also win points! Yes you heard me POINTS!
I think the most clever thing the McCain campaign has done online is award points for trolls who toe the party line. Nothing says independence of thought like scoring political points in a meaningless contest that only one side is playing.
Of course awarding points is the least one can do, especially when you give consideration to the sort of filth people encounter on sites like this one. After all, if you read the fine print-
The web, blog and news sites listed here are a sample of political sites that you may post comments on. The content of these sites is not controlled by the McCain campaign and may contain offensive material. Please use your discretion in visiting these sites.
Yes offensive ideas, many with which you might disagree, even though your entire purpose in visiting those sites is to disrupt and harass. But let's look at today's talking points:
The Issue: Time for Solutions
John McCain will put the national interest ahead of partisanship, he will work with anyone who sincerely wants to get this country moving again. If John McCain is elected President, the era of the permanent campaign will end. The era of problem solving will begin
Please the note the interesting qualifiers in this statement:
he will work with anyone who sincerely wants to get this country moving again.
So all of you who are only paying lip service to this high ideal of moving again, John McCain has no time for you. And as to moving again, when did our country stop? Has John McCain discovered something new about plate tectonics of which we were previously unaware? And in what sort of direction does he intend we go? Last I checked backwards was still as much a direction as forwards. And promoting trolling on blogs who P.O.V. you disagree with can't help but put an end to partisanship. But most ominous:
If John McCain is elected President, the era of the permanent campaign will end.
I mean this line reads like Alea jacta est, John McCain is planning on crossing the Rubicon to save the Republic?
Oh how about this second talking point:
The Issue: Partisanship
There are serious issues at stake in this election, and serious differences between the candidates. And we will argue about them, as we should. But it should remain an argument among friends; each of us struggling to hear our conscience, and heed its demands; each of us, despite our differences, united in our great cause, and respectful of the goodness in each other.
With this sentiment, I whole heartedly agree! We should all live in peace and harmony, discussing our differences while remaining true to ourselves. However, as a liberal, I value my independence and my liberty. I am not party to this group united in our great cause as the talking point says. If you follow the link to find out what this great cause is you get the following talking points:
McCain Talking Points
Let's look at this great cause objectively, and see if we are part of it:
National interest ahead of partisanship
This is a view point mired in Washington-centric thinking. It is Nation vs. Political Parties, and if only the Political Parties would work together than the Nation will win! But this ignores the fact that the Nation and the People are two very different things. The People are a bunch of individuals who have different needs and desires. The Nation is a collective entity made up of people in positions of power, and those who support them. What is in the national interest is not necessarily in the interest of the people. In this cause, I'd rather partisanship defeat the nation any day!
John McCain will listen to any idea intended to solve our problems
And in Washington-centric speak, that amounts to a promise to receive his mail, accept campaign contributions, have dinner with lobbyists, and places him under no obligation to actually do anything based upon those ideas. He'll listen to you, but he reserves the right to promptly ignore you afterwards. That's not exactly a great cause I can support.
America will be more secure, ...
When he says America, does he mean the State or does he mean us as individuals in our persons? As he is focusing on "allies" and "partners" I would guess that means he invisions the State being more secure. This "us" he refers to need not be the us of "We the People", but rather the "us" as in the Establishment. Nothing in his rhetoric indicates otherwise.
Economy will be stronger, American will...
Drink the Kool-Aid they're spoonfed by their corporate masters. The problem with our economy is not that it is not strong enough, it is the most powerful in the world. The problem is the purpose towards which the economy is driven. The economy can be stronger, and the average American can believe any amount of crazy stuff, but that does not mean that We the People are any better off for it. Once again, I can do without the Orwellian double speak of his great cause.
Judges will be confirmed who...
will forfeit all of their individual insight and judgement. McCain is proposing appointing judges who will fail to exercise the fundamental quality of judges: good judgment. A judge can not write law, no matter how much John McCain thinks they can, they merely interpret the law. If he happens not to agree with their judgment, he can as a Senator work to propose new laws for them to interpret, laws written in clearer more comprehensible language. Now that would be a great cause I'd be all for, but it is clearly not the great cause McCain supports.
...., America's borders will be more secure
Well considering in the name of "national security" G.W.Bush is trying to put a massive pollution belching truck park about 2 miles from my house, I can't believe that any such activity will have anything but a negative effect on my health. Living on the Canadian border, I can tell you, nothing McCain says will make our border more "secure". I can swim to Canada, I can sail my boat to Canada, I can walk the train tracks to Canada, and during the winter I can ride my bicycle or just walk to Canada. Short of taking away my arms and legs, there's nothing John McCain can do to prevent me from going to Canada.
We in Buffalo, NY have a long history of smuggling. In the early 19th century, we were a main stop on the Underground Railroad. (Our city's first traven and business owner was a free African American btw). Before, during, and after Prohibition, many Buffalonians made money smuggling booze from Canada to the US, often just driving cars filled with booze right across the ice. The border for us is more of a hassle than a source of security. And if the Lackawana 6 tought us anything, being poor in an economically depressed city is more likely to drive you to religiously based terror training than you are to come from the Great White North, whose economy is booming, whose dollar is strong, whose health care is cheaper and better for the vast majority, and who generally drink better beer.
So I guess, if John McCain is elected president, all I have left to say is,
Good luck with that; I'm going to Canada