Issues in the White House

[aggienaut]

   A time magazine showed up today dated June 2nd. Thats more than a week away. Aren't they getting a bit ahead of themselves? Or is it a magazine FROM THE FUTURE?!

   "They've declared her dead more times than a cat's got lives" they quote Bill CLinton as saying (About Hillary obviously) in their Verbatim section. To me that doesn't mean "hah they were wrong before!" so much as "yeah a lot of people are saying that.. maybe they've been right all along??" If _I_ wanted to run for president and people kept telling me I had no chance, I wouldn't point to the fact that I was still trying as evidence they were wrong and should therefore change their tune and say I can win.

   Her winning is now a mathematical impossibility isn't it? I believe I heard such announced. How can she be running a serious campaigne that cannot possibly win? Its not just incredibly silly, it is also incredibly selfish -- she IS continuing to cast doubt on Obama's qualifications even if she's promised to mostly play nice now; and moreover, he's having to spend money to keep her from making him look bad by showing him up in upcoming states, money he could better spend during the actual election; and of course SHE is gratuitously spending money from Democratic donors who would otherwise probably donate it to Obama for the actual election.

   So why's she still running? I think its just a psychological hangup of hers. It simply does not make rational sense, but she has ISSUES with giving up on the dream because she's been set on it for so long.

   I think world leaders often do things for no other reason than, or at least primarily motivated by, their personal psychological issues. For example, Iraq. I do NOT believe we are there for oil. Everyone likes to say that but I don't see how that works ... its not like we're taking their oil for ourselves. I believe we are there because Bush had a psychological hangup on it.
   I have always believed it came down to "Saddam shot my father, I'm gonna get him!!!" No oil, no WMDs. Psychological hangups and irrational decision making.

   And for that matter, if Clinton is going to be as blunt-headed and irrational about this as she is being, I don't think it bodes for her making the most rational decisions during her administration. We don't need any more American presidents changing world history based on their hangups.


Simple Instructions
   This morning I made baked beans. The can said "empty contents into saucepan, heat to simmer." Sounds simple enough.
   But then I wondered "what exactly is a saucepan? ... and what does it mean to simmer?"
   I put the bean in a pot and proceeded to heat them. Then I was informed I had to stir them too. That wasn't in the instructions, rude. Cooking is complicated. (=

Comments

[kilkenny.livejournal.com]

Well, what about Cuba? Do you think there is a real reason to continue economic/trade/travel sanctions against them except "they colluded with Russia in the 70s"?

I believe its the same kind of emotional baggage.

Cuba

[emosnail.livejournal.com]

Eh, I do agree that thats a silly policy, but I think that is caused by electoral pressure.

Florida is a notorious swing state - no candidate can afford to piss off a sizable constituency there / all candidates want to suck up to all possible constituencies there. Cuban exiles who hate the government of Cuba and support the sanctions make up a sizable constituency in Florida. ... candidates support the sanctions possibly against their own better judgement because they need the Cuban lobby.

Kind of like how the small ultra-religious party in Israel wields wildly disproportionate power, because they can swing to either the Liberal or Conservative party so both court them shamelessly.

Re: Cuba

[kilkenny.livejournal.com]

I HATE THAT.

I really hate electoral politics. Like having to take into account the wood chip industry in Oregon when you're trying to govern a goddamn country.... Pandering to Ohio... SO LAME.

your take?

Re: Cuba

[emosnail.livejournal.com]

Haha yeah I completely agree. Candidates go traipsing around the country promising everyone exactly what they want to hear even if its not in the countries best interest. Promising to keep industries going and local where everyone would be served better if that particular industry was moved somewhere it could be more efficient or maybe even phased out completely and the people found another occupation....

I'm so glad so many commentators called the "gas tax holiday" on being exactly what it is - useless pandering. The other day I heard someone on NPR saying something completely unrelated was just pandering by calling it "a gas tax holiday." It made me happy.

Also glad Obama at least wasn't jumping on that silliness.

[furzicle.livejournal.com]

When I commented to you about "What is a saucepan and what is a simmer" I hadn't yet read this entry. All I can say is, "I called that one!"

[emosnail.livejournal.com]

She's such a hussy! Maybe they've lasted that long before because its been a close race ... but she CAN'T WIN!!!! O=

Also, definitely poor taste to talk about candidates getting assassinated.