christopher buckley endorses obama.

http://thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-10-10/the-conservative-case-for-obama

ahahaha pwnt.

10/14/2008 2:58:42 PM

and the fallout from that endorsement: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-10-14/sorry-dad-i-was-fired/

Quote :

"While I regret this development, I am not in mourning, for I no longer have any clear idea what, exactly, the modern conservative movement stands for. Eight years of “conservative” government has brought us a doubled national debt, ruinous expansion of entitlement programs, bridges to nowhere, poster boy Jack Abramoff and an ill-premised, ill-waged war conducted by politicians of breathtaking arrogance. As a sideshow, it brought us a truly obscene attempt at federal intervention in the Terry Schiavo case. "

Quote :

"This campaign has changed John McCain. It has made him inauthentic. A once-first class temperament has become irascible and snarly; his positions change, and lack coherence; he makes unrealistic promises, such as balancing the federal budget “by the end of my first term.” Who, really, believes that? Then there was the self-dramatizing and feckless suspension of his campaign over the financial crisis. His ninth-inning attack ads are mean-spirited and pointless. And finally, not to belabor it, there was the Palin nomination. What on earth can he have been thinking? "

10/14/2008 3:15:43 PM

So much for guilt by association:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/14/mccain-transition-chief-a_n_134595.html

Quote :

"William Timmons, the Washington lobbyist who John McCain has named to head his presidential transition team, aided an influence effort on behalf of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to ease international sanctions against his regime. The two lobbyists who Timmons worked closely with over a five year period on the lobbying campaign later either pleaded guilty to or were convicted of federal criminal charges that they had acted as unregistered agents of Saddam Hussein's government. During the same period beginning in 1992, Timmons worked closely with the two lobbyists, Samir Vincent and Tongsun Park, on a previously unreported prospective deal with the Iraqis in which they hoped to be awarded a contract to purchase and resell Iraqi oil. Timmons, Vincent, and Park stood to share at least $45 million if the business deal went through."

More info in the article.

10/14/2008 3:32:39 PM

buckley's endorsement couldn't make me happier. i totally respect where conservatives are coming from, but the modern republican party (or at the very least, its leadership) is so off-base it's sickening. this is what you get from pandering to family values and the religious right.

10/14/2008 3:53:10 PM

10/14/2008 3:57:08 PM

are you joking shrike? How is the world is that a racist statement?

10/14/2008 4:00:21 PM

1) yes, he probably is joking
2) don't act like you don't know that "you people" is often associated with racial connotations, like "that one"

10/14/2008 4:03:04 PM

Sorry. I don't see how a "conservative"/libertarian would/could vote/endorse Obama? Really Now, I can easily see how one wouldn't vote for either McCain nor Obama, but to endorse Obama? nah... he must not hold his so called ideals very highly.

10/14/2008 4:05:15 PM

just curious, did you read the article?

10/14/2008 4:11:10 PM

agent, I was clearly referencing the people that consider healthcare to be a right, and mainly the ones on this board.

10/14/2008 4:13:02 PM

Quote :

"Healthcare is not a RIGHT, you people sound like selfish idiots when you suggest it. You do not have a right to anything that requires someone else to provide it for you against thier wishes."

If I saw you knocked out on the street and aspirating a little puddle of liquid, don't you have a right to be moved out of the puddle so you won't die?

What if I don't feel like moving you? Is it okay for me to let you aspirate the water and die when I could nudge you out of the puddle?

10/14/2008 4:16:09 PM

10/14/2008 4:16:12 PM

^^^you are right it is not.

Those that think they are owed everything are at one extreme. While on the other extreme are those crying about having to cancel their yacht club membership if the gov't taxes them for anything that genuinely provides for the better of society.

^ LOL i did not realize murdering the first born of every couple in america was in Obama's platform.
Really though the driver who had a car accident with my mom, killing the 4 week old clump of cells taht would have been my sibling, when i was younger should have been charged with vehicular manslaughter!

[Edited on October 14, 2008 at 4:21 PM. Reason : a]

10/14/2008 4:18:24 PM

Quote :

"God man, what the fuck are wrong with some of these supporters."

I know..the hatred that is spewed daily on DailyKos is disgusting.

Quote :

"What if I don't feel like moving you? "

What if the police show up, take you out of the puddle and then point their guns at passerbys-demanding their money to have you treated at the hospital?

10/14/2008 4:24:44 PM

exactly earth. I do have a right to slit my wrist.. but should I also have the right to slit yours?

10/14/2008 4:49:22 PM

^ lol, what a clumsy attempt to evade. all you did was completely ignore the charge and just attack a random democratic website.

nice.

10/14/2008 4:50:23 PM

^ he is saying that if you don't take care of yourself then you are essentially killing yourself. If someone is dying it is our responsibility to help them in any way we can, nobody is arguing that. But if you don't care of yourself and are nothing but a drain on society, why should we have to buy you healthcare when all you are gonna do when you get better is get in the same shape you were in before? I agree that healthcare should be for everybody that works. If you aren't gonna work then I don't want to pay for you to lay around all day.

10/14/2008 5:03:22 PM

health care is definitely a right...you know what else is a right? for me to own a home and make $500,000 a year...thats also a right

Quote :

"Something tells me earthdogg doesn't read the DailyKos."

why would anyone?

10/14/2008 5:23:58 PM

Something tells me earthdogg doesn't read the DailyKos.

And anyways, they're downright joyous over there these days.

10/14/2008 5:28:02 PM

i haven't seen anyone on DailyKos call McCain a terrorist, or threaten to kill him.

yep. hatred.

10/14/2008 5:43:03 PM

So assuming nothing pops up, and Obama wins...

What will conservatives blame it on? Clearly they can't blame their bankrupt ideology, so what else?

I'm torn between "this is what we get for not nominating a true conservative. The American people wanted a true conservative!" and "OMG VOTER FRAUD!1"

10/14/2008 6:12:39 PM

Leftist-Muslim conspiracy (yeah I know, that's as retarded sounding as a Mormon-communist conspiracy) involving ACORN and drugged zombie college students voting in droves under the names of celebrities, sports idols, and mickey mouse.

10/14/2008 6:15:29 PM

Quote :

"OMG VOTER FRAUD!1"

hasnt stopped people from still claiming Gore won in 2000

10/14/2008 6:15:51 PM

Quote :

"So assuming nothing pops up, and Obama wins... What will conservatives blame it on? Clearly they can't blame their bankrupt ideology, so what else? I'm torn between "this is what we get for not nominating a true conservative. The American people wanted a true conservative!" and "OMG VOTER FRAUD!1" "

Probably on the bad economy, which has to do with both parties and has it's roots going back several decades. The media has been slobbering all over Obama, and attacked Palin like no other VP candidate ever. A charismatic black running against an old fogy, with an annoying VP. This election, honestly, has very little to do with ideology or issues. McCain could have a brilliant stance on all the issues and it wouldn't matter much right now. Not to mention Bush hasn't helped the party name.

I mean, it would have taken a very impressive candidate on the Republican side, and a very unimpressive one of the Democratic side, for the Dems to lose this election. The vast majority of American's don't vote on ideology/issues anyway. It's still a lot closer than what it should be, I mean, Obama is leading by an average of around 7%, that is a 3.5% swing, not a lot.

10/14/2008 6:27:17 PM

Quote :

"So assuming nothing pops up, and Obama wins... What will conservatives blame it on?"

what's your point?

when does a losing side graciously accept defeat and not attempt to blame something other than that the winning candidate was a better choice?

10/14/2008 6:32:26 PM

most of the posters here probably watch either Fux News or CNN..

but today on CNBC there was some old dude explaining how Obama would be better for the economy. anyone catch it?

10/14/2008 6:43:36 PM

The markets haven't historically rallied after a democrat president was elected.

I mean on like a month horizon. Not on an 8 year horizon (for all you Bill Clinton-ers out there).

10/14/2008 6:57:23 PM

Short-term unsustained growth is never good for the economy.

10/14/2008 6:59:16 PM

when McCain loses, I'll blame it on the Republican party putting up a shitty-ass candidate who refused to run an actual campaign, cause that's what it will be. McCain's presidential campaign is akin to Fred Thompson's primary campaign: failure to launch. I haven't seen enough presidential campaigns to which to compare this one fairly, but I can't help but think that this is the most ineffectual attempt at a campaign ever attempted. With all the bullshit that Obama is spewing, it should be so freaking easy to blast away at him, but McCain's campaign just doesn't see it.

10/14/2008 7:04:36 PM

when McCain loses, i'll blame it on Palin

10/14/2008 7:06:20 PM

Hey guys, I think everyone sort of glossed over the link I posted.

A head person on John McCain's staff lobbied for Saddam Hussein in order to ease restrictions on the country.

Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator who killed hundreds of people and was sentenced to death.

Why the fuck isn't this news?

10/14/2008 7:12:25 PM

probably because it was brought up by The Huffington Post... It will be on the news though if it turns out to be even remotely true

10/14/2008 7:16:25 PM

john mccain employs terrorist sympathizers?

10/14/2008 7:16:30 PM

Quote :

"I'll blame it on the Republican party putting up a shitty-ass candidate who refused to run an actual campaign"

yeah I think the Republican party is way more to blame for this than McCain himself though

he was a pretty decent candidate before the hardcore GOP leaders got to him... i mean, wasn't his hand pretty much forced in the VP pick? I mean, not directly to Palin, but if it was 100% to him, I'm pretty sure we'd be seeing a McCain/Lieberman ticket

he still deserves blame for not being the same politician he was 8 years ago, but again, he pretty much had to change to gain the GOP's favor. I consider myself a republican but the party has definitely let me down recently... hopefully, this ass whipping and embarrassing campaign and 8 years of Obama gives the entire party a kick in the ass and shakes it up for the better

10/14/2008 7:23:29 PM

Quote :

" yeah I think the Republican party is way more to blame for this than McCain himself though he was a pretty decent candidate before the hardcore GOP leaders got to him"

smartest thing i've read on page 67.

Thanks for trying in 2008 GOP. Please return in 4 years with a new game plan, casting off the evangelist christians, and leave out the right wing moonbat people like Palin from the ticket. Thanks!

10/14/2008 7:29:16 PM

Quote :

"casting off the evangelist christians, and leave out the right wing moonbat people like Palin from the ticket. Thanks!"

Totally. It'd make them halfway palatable to me.

But it's not going to happen. Right now they're probably thinking "Crap! Next time we need to pander to the evangelicals more!"

10/14/2008 8:03:14 PM

Quote :

"casting off the evangelist christians, and leave out the right wing moonbat people like Palin from the ticket. Thanks!"

oh, you mean, trying to take the Republican Party back to what Conservative actually means?
ha, not gonna happen, anytime soon at least. The Religious Right is too big a block to give up

10/14/2008 8:29:23 PM

How can we worry about petty issues like the war in Iraq, the economy, and energy independence when.....


- People want to smoke MARIJUANA!
- Dem Mexicans are tukkin err jerbs
- Tax and Spend liberals wanna spend all my money!
- The axis of evil is aiming missles at my mommas house
- Rape victims want the right to have an abortion ZOMG!
- high school kids are having sex *what has the world come to!
- the commies are brainwashing our children with that evolution nonsense

& WORST OF ALL

-Gays want to get married! *gasp

10/14/2008 8:38:18 PM

Quote :

"An Open Letter to the American People This year's presidential election is among the most significant in our nation's history. The country urgently needs a visionary leader who can ensure the future of our traditional strengths in science and technology and who can harness those strengths to address many of our greatest problems: energy, disease, climate change, security, and economic competitiveness. We are convinced that Senator Barack Obama is such a leader, and we urge you to join us in supporting him. During the administration of George W. Bush, vital parts of our country's scientific enterprise have been damaged by stagnant or declining federal support. The government's scientific advisory process has been distorted by political considerations. As a result, our once dominant position in the scientific world has been shaken and our prosperity has been placed at risk. We have lost time critical for the development of new ways to provide energy, treat disease, reverse climate change, strengthen our security, and improve our economy. We have watched Senator Obama's approach to these issues with admiration. We especially applaud his emphasis during the campaign on the power of science and technology to enhance our nation's competitiveness. In particular, we support the measures he plans to take – through new initiatives in education and training, expanded research funding, an unbiased process for obtaining scientific advice, and an appropriate balance of basic and applied research – to meet the nation's and the world's most urgent needs. Senator Obama understands that Presidential leadership and federal investments in science and technology are crucial elements in successful governance of the world's leading country. We hope you will join us as we work together to ensure his election in November. Signed, Alexei Arikosov Physics 2003 Roger Guillemin Medicine 1977 Peter Agre Chemistry 2003 John L. Hall Physics 2005 Sidney Altman Chemistry 1989 Leland H. Hartwell Medicine 2001 Philip W. Anderson Physics 1977 Dudley Herschbach Chemistry 1986 Richard Axel Medicine 2004 Roald Hoffmann Chemistry 1981 David Baltimore Medicine 1975 H. Robert Horvitz Medicine 2002 Baruj Benacerraf Medicine 1980 Louis Ignarro Medicine 1998 Paul Berg Chemistry 1980 Eric R. Kandel Medicine 2000 J. Michael Bishop Medicine 1989 Walter Kohn Chemistry 1998 N. Bloembergen Physics 1981 Roger Kornberg Chemistry 2006 Michael S. Brown Medicine 1985 Leon M. Lederman Physics 1988 Linda B. Buck Medicine 2004 Craig C. Mello Medicine 2006 Mario R. Capecchi Medicine 2007 Yoichiro Nambu Physics 2008 Martin Chalfie Chemistry 2008 Marshall Nirenberg Medicine 1968 Stanley Cohen Medicine 1986 Douglas D. Osheroff Physics 1996 Leon Cooper Physics 1972 Stanley B. Prusiner Medicine 1997 James W. Cronin Physics 1980 Norman F. Ramsey Physics 1989 Robert F. Curl Chemistry 1996 Robert Richardson Physics 1996 Johann Diesenhofer Chemistry 1988 Burton Richter Physics 1976 John B. Fenn Chemistry 2002 Sherwood Rowland Chemistry 1995 Edmond H. Fischer Medicine 1992 Oliver Smithies Medicine 2007 Val Fitch Physics 1980 Richard R Schrock Chemistry 2005 Jerome I. Friedman Physics 1990 Joseph H. Taylor Jr. Physics 1993 Murray Gell-Man Physics 1969 E. Donnall Thomas Medicine 1990 Riccardo Giacconi Physics 2002 Charles H. Townes Physics 1964 Walter Gilbert Chemistry 1980 Roger Tsien Chemistry 2008 Alfred G. Gilman Medicine 1994 Daniel C.Tsui Physics 1998 Donald A. Glaser Physics 1960 Harold Varmus Medicine 1989 Sheldon L. Glashow Physics 1979 James D. Watson Medicine 1962 Joseph Goldstein Medicine 1985 Eric Wieschaus Medicine 1995 Paul Greengard Medicine 2000 Frank Wilczek Physics 2004 David Gross Physics 2004 Robert W. Wilson Physics 1978 Robert H. Grubbs Chemistry 2005 The views expressed in this letter represent those of the signers acting as individual citizens. They do not necessarily represent the views of the institutions with which they are affiliated. The Medicine award is for “Physiology or Medicine.”"

http://sefora.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/nobel_letter4.pdf

Buckley has now left The National Review:

Quote :

"I retain the fondest feelings for the magazine that my father founded, but I will admit to a certain sadness that an act of publishing a reasoned argument for the opposition should result in acrimony and disavowal."

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-10-14/sorry-dad-i-was-fired

10/14/2008 8:59:03 PM

Quote :

"During the administration of George W. Bush, vital parts of our country's scientific enterprise have been damaged by stagnant or declining federal support. The government's scientific advisory process has been distorted by political considerations. As a result, our once dominant position in the scientific world has been shaken and our prosperity has been placed at risk. We have lost time critical for the development of new ways to provide energy, treat disease, reverse climate change, strengthen our security, and improve our economy. "

this cannot be emphasized enough.
And to think - most "pork barrel projects" McCain has chosen to rail against recently have been for science education or scientific R&D. The importance of science and technology for our country or economy cannot be underestimated, and while federal science spending must certainly be examined carefully, we cannot afford to ignore it or play partisan games with it.

10/14/2008 9:05:08 PM

Quote :

"The only people who take issues with stating healthcare is a right and share the wealth are republicans. The majority of people in this country view healthcare as a right. It's isn't a hate republicans statement."

A lot of libetarians don't think health care is a right also. It's not just the republicans.

10/14/2008 10:14:56 PM

I'm not even convinced that a majority of people think it is a right. I'd say that a majority of people have been fooled into thinking that government action is the solution. But, it is hard to look at the rising cost of healthcare and be persuaded to do nothing, that much is true. And that, my friend, is the beauty of a little government meddling. Fuck it up just enough behind the scenes without anybody noticing, and pretty soon you will have the whole nation begging the government to step in and "fix the market's problems."

10/14/2008 10:34:28 PM

64% of Americans think the Government should guarantee health insurance for all

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/01/opinion/polls/main2528357.shtml

10/14/2008 11:07:19 PM

Quote :

"The majority of people in this country view healthcare as a right"

i agree with aaron that most American's don't think it's a "right".
But most Americans do now see it as something that the goverment should be able to provide for them, or at least subsidize for them. American's don't feel is it our "right" to have an Interstate Highway System, but most of us agree that it's a nice and productive thing for government to do with our tax money.

10/14/2008 11:10:53 PM

^^But he's not "convinced" of that. That's a poll taken by the elitist liberal media.

What's the difference between a right and the government guaranteeing it for all?


[Edited on October 14, 2008 at 11:14 PM. Reason : .]

10/14/2008 11:11:23 PM

Hell, a majority of GOPers believe healthcare is a right

http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/poll-shows-many-republicans-favor-universal-healthcare-gays-in-military-2007-06-28.html

10/14/2008 11:12:49 PM

is this aaronburro?!
http://www.theonion.com/content/radio_news/republican_enjoys_paying

10/14/2008 11:15:13 PM

McCain's 2000 campaign communication director weighs in
http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/stick-to-policy/

Quote :

"As the calendar draws closer to Election Day, Mr. McCain must put Mr. Ayers and Mr. Rezko back in the box. He can’t have it both ways. If he wants voters to pay attention to his economic agenda, if he wants them to take him seriously as the steward of their financial security, then he must concentrate his energies singularly and wholeheartedly on these matters. He has three weeks to make his case, and the first step is to keep the character attacks in a place where they can no longer distract the American people from how he would lead them as their president."

10/14/2008 11:19:58 PM

smackr, guaranteeing health insurance is NOT the same as healthcare being a right. good try, though...

and, it still doesn't address my point that government is the problem in the first place. Like I said, break it a little bit and soon you will have the entire populace screaming for a government fix.

But hey, let's go out, phrase our questions in such a way as to make it hard to disagree with what we want to show, and then claim that's a good poll Go out and ask people this: should a person be forced to give his services to someone who can't pay for them, no questions asked? You'll get a massively different answer. But, when you phrase it as "should children have access to health care," then of course you get a bunch of "yeah!"s. Or, at least ask this: should every American be guaranteed the right to any and all healthcare, reardless of his ability to pay for those services. You'll get a dramatically different answer.

10/15/2008 12:09:42 AM

Quote :

"Obama ad appears in Xbox 360 car racing game"

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10066307-38.html

... is no where sacred?

10/15/2008 12:11:26 AM