CA 02: Palin, Obama - The Experience Factor

Sarah Palin or Barrack Obama - Who has more experience

Wow. The question really made me laugh. As I write this blog, the majority of US is ganging up against Sarah Palin, the Republican VP pick. Obama went on to state that he had more experience than Palin. A presidential candidate is comparing himself to a vice-presidential candidate and says that he is better? I bet he is slapping his head right now.

Anyways, WHO IS BETTER is a question, the answer for which is heavily influenced by the media. The media is more concerned about the experience of a Vice President than that of the President. My question is simple. If the media feels that they have grilled Obama on the experience, I strongly feel that they should continue doing that (even though they actually haven't) and change their attention purely on to a new scapegoat.

I heard a comment from Wolf Blitzer on CNN that Obama was scrutinized as well on his experience, when Guiliani was asking why they are doing it to Palin. I was laughing. Are you telling me that you do not have a problem in having Obama as a President despite his inexperience, just because Palin does not have inexperience? How more irresponsible of an answer can that be?

As Obamabots go on a rampage, trashing everybody who runs against Obama, the media follows suit. FOX News' Hannity & Colmes known for its Republican support do not get as much hate as MSNBC's Keith Olbermann who is known for his equally Democratic support.

I would not blame the Main Stream media too much, because the Obamabots are like that. If you go around the articles on the internet and look at the comments section, you will see how people are. They did it to Hillary and they are doing it to Sarah now. You will find articles that questions on the lines of whether Palin being a woman, would be able to take care of her child as well as the office that she might hold. My answer is that I believe she is not divorced and she has a hale and healthy husband and of course, that is none of your freaking business. In Palin's own words, A ship is safe in the harbor but it was not built for that.

If you are suggesting that Palin has to take care of her family and not be selfish and greedy for the office, think again - In whatever way you might want to put it, you ARE a sexist. Her kid Trig being a few months old with Down syndrome would be tough but not impossible. If you think it is impossible, think again - In whatever way you might put it, you ARE a sexist.

The two main questions are about her two daughters and they even go on about asking whether McCain did not do the vetting properly. Seriously? All this is being thrown at a person who has not even finished a week into the race. I only hope that she comes out of this alive.

This kind of tactics definitely makes me hate Obama and Obamabots more. Obamabots, you heard Obama and Biden say "Kids are off-limit". If you are raised where you respect your seniors, you would know what to do, but to the best of my knowledge, you folks will not be able to stop that and so will be my growing of hatred towards you bunch.

CORE 05: Alaska - Here I Come

Hi Ho it's off to Alaska we go. At last, the day has come. Me and my colleague Vishnu will be leaving to Alaska tomorrow early morning. I have done my packing and ready to go with a camcorder, few clothes and a ton of expectation. If the weather gods are smiling, we should have a wonderful time there.

If I have some time, may be - may be, I shall post a travelogue and turn to find a the next place on the map to where I shall go.

CID 03: McCain On Obama's Nomination - Nice Touch

I was watching CNN and saw this ad, which aired just a few minutes ago (8:30 PM EST) in CNN.

With the Republican machine going on full attack mode on all the last three days, an ad with such explicitness was like a sudden brake. Of course it is a stunt for the general public, but I liked the way the ad was delivered.

With such a huge publicity for Democrats, I doubt the Republicans will be able to match it. I will have to wait and watch how the Republicans are going to compensate for this lack of publicity.

CID 02: US Presidential Elections - Setting The Context

Normally, I wouldn't like to involve myself politically, as it is not my cup of tea. I believe in talking about something that you know about. Well, I am no good in administrations, but sure as hell interested in them.

I have despised the Indian Politics arena and would like to describe it like everybody else - Sewage. So, now what do I know to write about the US Presidential Elections, where I actually do not even have a vote. The answer is simple. Freedom of Speech as is bestowed upon anyone in a free country, a democracy.

Truth be told, I did not know the major parties. Of the whole lot of Presidential nominees, I knew only two people by name, Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani. Yes, of course I knew that there were two major political parties, but trust me, it was only the courtesy of Stephen Colbert Report (Oops... Another Presidential Nominee right there). Sorry Stephen, but I do agree that you ARE America.

This was all last year, in 2007, when there were debates. I was so not interested in the presidential elections, simply because, it didn't matter to me, but times changed and I did start following the debates and got curious.

It took me a while to even realize that Hillary and Giuliani were not on the same party and I never understood the concept of debates till then. I was so naive to have believed that debates are the only place where people get to judge the candidates and the primary elections actually decided the US President!

So, here I was, entirely new to the US election arena, trying to find my way out and trying to be a part of the conversations with folks at work, and straight away, my favourite was Rudy Giuliani. He was the mayor who rebuilt New York post 9/11 and was against Hillary. My reasoning had nothing to do with their credentials, but by just their levels of popularity. Hillary, being the wife of Bill, brought back the impeachment proceedings, and his wife who tolerated it. Also for some reason, it looked to me like the family politics back in India. So I disliked Hillary in the beginning.

As I started learning more about the parties and what they stand for, I found that both the parties had some very good principles, but some that I would like to disagree. No party was worse to me, but the tenacity that Hillary showed during debates really made me stop and look. The Hillary hater in me actually started to wane.

Again, I still do not have a say whatsoever, but I have my favourite now and it is John McCain. The logo on the top right of my blog is a mark of my support to him.

Here I am, who would look like a typical politician, changing his support so quickly, so often, within a small period of time. As the wise say, you learn from time. Trying to justify, can I say that I'm making some educated decisions here?

For reasons known only to me, Barack Obama was never even in my top 10 of all the nominees (Both parties together). Right now, I do not want to go deep into it, but I'll hold on to my thougths. Anyways, he is the Presidential nominee from the Democratic Party. He had announced his VP nomination today as Joseph Biden. Let us see where this goes.

I am trying to refrain myself from making any political posts, but I am not sure if I would succeed. You see things on the Internet, on the TV and sometimes, you get frustrated. I am known for that, so you might start seeing posts, but the bottom line is anyway to stay out of trouble in a foreign country.

CORE 04: Vijender - Making a statement

There is no need to mention the hype surrounding Vijender's assurance of a medal at the Olympics. I finished watching the match and the Cuban boxer, true to his titles won, had a run for Vijendar's money. The result has indeed crushed the hopes many millions when he lost, but hey, he was the one who pushed India to its best Olympics performance ever.

Kudos to Vijender on a well fought Olympics campaign. You are now one among the stars.