Further Reflections On The First Presidential Debate

I tried once more to watch the debate between Obama and Romney. It was hard to watch the whole thing and I frequently focused on the Chess Titans game in front of me as I listened to the verbiage. One observation stands out: I disagree wholeheartedly that Obama was off his game or that he turned in a less than Obama performance.

Granted, I have never been impressed with Obama's oratory. Neither the content of his speech nor his delivery has ever wowed me. Obama at his most polished--say his 2008 Greek column speech--is still an extremely contrived exercise. That is why the appeal of Obama is so mysterious to me. With some politicians we understand their popularity even if we actively oppose them. However, Obama's charm has always been limited.

I'll admit that Obama was interesting in 2004. But the more that was revealed, the sillier he would look. His gestures and mannerisms and poses would be dissected and for me, watching Obama was like watching a fourth rate magician perform a repertoire of tricks that had been recently revealed by a cable TV masked man. Still, he mesmerized audiences. That is still inexplicable to me.

If Obama can do nothing else, he could update his cliches. I can't believe he trotted out the "two wars on a credit card" line. But then again, how many times have we suffered through his "millionaires and billionaires paying their fair share" blather? I'll take Joe Biden's unclass clown routine any day of the week.

Obama never possessed an excess of talent and he has not grown into the job of president. If he were to request my cold blooded, objective, win at any cost political advice, I would advise him to get some fresher slogans. His base loves chants and slogans and bumper sticker logic. And I don't think the coveted independent voter can endure four more years of "I inherited the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression so I created a stimulus plan that funneled tax payer dollars to blue state special interests..."

Some of us have already seen the man behind the curtain. Other people saw him for the first time in the Romney debate. "Even the President of the United States must sometimes have to stand naked." It ain't a pretty site, Bob. Ain't pretty at all.

Moving

I have changed physical addresses thirty or so times. Mobility defines America and Americans. I have gotten better at moving over the years but it is still draining and disorienting and consuming.  There are always unforeseen glitches and sometimes there is bad weather.

All things considered, this is as good a time as any to move. Still, I would have loved to move after the election. I last moved during the East Anglia email dump and I can't tell you how much it bothered me to keep my silence through that series of revelations. Oh well.

I hope to stay on top of my email with the resulting cable cut off and restart. Wish me luck.

Thanks Bonnie: Gene Simmons in Iraq

This has been on Youtube for three years and I missed it? Guess I am slipping.

DIG IT

The Vice Presidential Debate: Audio vs. Video

Once more I listened to the debate on the radio. I listened in snippets at it transpired. Then I listened to post-debate analyisis. Finally, I listened to about the first fifteen minutes of the debate. I think I got the gist of it.

So I missed out on all the smirking and Biden silliness. Toss out those circus antics and one might think Uncle Joe won the debate. Not to my ears. Ryan came across as polite and prepared. I could see where a Jerry Springer fan might think he underperformed but I heard a man who sounded confident and knowledgable without sounding the least bit patronizing. No zingers but maybe the strategy was to avoid a food fight.

Biden sounded desperate. The same silly ass talking points over and over and over. If anyone was playing that drinking game where everyone chugs when you hear "47 per cent" they are probably nursing a serious hangover today. If Obama loses the elction, Biden will catch flack for not saving the day. But Biden senses a Humpty Dumpty situation. Let the record show that he did what he could to save the annointed one.

Romney did not lose any ground nor did he lose any momentum. I am not sure his opponent can make the same claim.

Don't Underestimate Joe Biden

I hope Paul Ryan does not underestimate Joe Biden. The latter does have that unique gift of connecting with people. If a curmudgeon like me likes someone, that someone is probably a gifted charmer, if only on a superficial level. 

Let me state with zero irony that I like and respect Joe Biden. He is a good man, an excellent family man, a great American and yes, Joe Biden is a patriot. I can remember a few years back, Joe Biden got all choked up talking at Arlington Cemetery. If it had been someone else, I would have said his emotions were staged. But Joe Biden is incapable of deception. WYSIWYG.

So what if Joe Biden is wrong about everything. So is most of my family. And yes, if America were a sitcom, Joe Biden would be Kremer. But let us not forget that Cosmo Kremer was a noble and loyal friend. People loved Kremer.

Paul Ryan has to be careful when he debates Joe Biden. Romney has the momentum and Ryan can't let it slip away. I hope he takes the debate seriously because Biden might just steal the evening. WYSIWYG.

Items From My Mailbox. Thanks Bonnie: Renaming Social Security

Social Security re-named ANYONE ELSE NOTICED?

I DID NOT NOTICE THIS CHANGE UNTIL IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.

SOCIAL SECURITY

SOCIAL SECURITY NOW CALLED 'FEDERAL BENEFIT PAYMENT' ENTITLEMENT!

HAVE YOU NOTICED, YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK IS NOW REFERRED TO AS A "FEDERAL BENEFIT PAYMENT"?

I'LL BE PART OF THE ONE PERCENT TO FORWARD THIS.

I AM FORWARDING IT BECAUSE IT TOUCHES A NERVE IN ME, AND I HOPE IT WILL IN YOU.

PLEASE KEEP PASSING IT ON UNTIL EVERYONE IN OUR COUNTRY HAS READ IT.

THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW REFERRING TO OUR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS AS A “FEDERAL BENEFIT PAYMENT.”

THIS ISN’T A BENEFIT – ITS EARNED INCOME!

NOT ONLY DID WE ALL CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIAL SECURITY BUT OUR EMPLOYERS DID TOO.

IT TOTALED 15% OF OUR INCOME BEFORE TAXES.

IF YOU AVERAGED $30K PER YEAR OVER YOUR WORKING LIFE, THAT'S CLOSE TO $180,000 INVESTED IN SOCIAL SECURITY.

IF YOU CALCULATE THE FUTURE VALUE OF YOUR MONTHLY INVESTMENT IN SOCIAL SECURITY ($375/MONTH) INCLUDING BOTH YOUR AND YOUR EMPLOYER’S CONTRIBUTIONS) AT A MEAGER 1% INTEREST RATE COMPOUNDED MONTHLY, AFTER 40 YEARS OF

WORKING YOU'D HAVE MORE THAN $1.3+ MILLION DOLLARS SAVED! THIS IS YOUR PERSONAL INVESTMENT.

UPON RETIREMENT, IF YOU TOOK OUT ONLY 3% PER YEAR, YOU'D RECEIVE $39,318 PER YEAR, OR $3,277 PER MONTH.

THAT’S ALMOST THREE TIMES MORE THAN TODAY’S AVERAGE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT OF $1,230 PER MONTH, ACCORDING TO THE

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (GOOGLE IT - IT’S A FACT).

AND YOUR RETIREMENT FUND WOULD LAST MORE THAN 33 YEARS (UNTIL YOU'RE 98 IF YOU RETIRE AT AGE 65)!

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MUCH BETTER MOST AVERAGE-INCOME PEOPLE COULD LIVE IN RETIREMENT IF OUR GOVERNMENT HAD

JUST INVESTED OUR MONEY IN LOW-RISK INTEREST-EARNING ACCOUNTS.

INSTEAD, THE FOLKS IN WASHINGTON PULLED OFF A BIGGER PONZI SCHEME THAN BERNIE MADOFF EVER DID.

THEY TOOK OUR MONEY AND USED IT ELSEWHERE. THEY “FORGOT” THAT IT WAS OUR MONEY THEY WERE TAKING.

THEY DIDN’T HAVE A REFERENDUM TO ASK US IF WE WANTED TO LEND THE MONEY TO THEM.

AND THEY DIDN’T PAY INTEREST ON THE DEBT THEY ASSUMED.

AND RECENTLY, THEY’VE TOLD US THAT THE MONEY WON’T SUPPORT US FOR VERY MUCH LONGER.

BUT IS IT OUR FAULT THEY MISUSED OUR INVESTMENTS?

AND NOW, TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, THEY’RE CALLING IT A “BENEFIT,” AS IF WE NEVER WORKED TO EARN EVERY PENNY OF IT.

JUST BECAUSE THEY “BORROWED” THE MONEY, DOESN'T MEAN THAT OUR INVESTMENTS WERE A CHARITY!

LET’S TAKE A STAND.

WE HAVE EARNED OUR RIGHT TO SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE.

DEMAND THAT OUR LEGISLATORS BRING SOME SENSE INTO OUR GOVERNMENT.

FIND A WAY TO KEEP SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE GOING, FOR THE SAKE OF THAT 92% OF OUR POPULATION WHO NEED IT.

THEN CALL IT WHAT IT IS:

OUR EARNED RETIREMENT INCOME.

99% OF PEOPLE WON'T FORWARD THIS.

WILL YOU?

I suppose this constitutes a forward.

Items From My Mailbox: Thanks Bonnie. Gas Prices!