+ all of the above

This is a remix which I did of the famous political cartoon

via Cynical-C

An excerpt from a Harvard Gazette article on Antanas Mockus, the former mayor of Bogotá, Columbia.

Mockus, the only son of a Lithuanian artist, burst onto the Colombian political scene in 1993 when, faced with a rowdy auditorium of the school of arts’ students, he dropped his pants and mooned them to gain quiet. The gesture, he said at the time, should be understood “as a part of the resources which an artist can use.” He resigned as rector, the top job of Colombian National University, and soon decided to run for mayor.

The fact that he was seen as an unusual leader gave the new mayor the opportunity to try extraordinary things, such as hiring 420 mimes to control traffic in Bogotá’s chaotic and dangerous streets. He launched a “Night for Women” and asked the city’s men to stay home in the evening and care for the children; 700,000 women went out on the first of three nights that Mockus dedicated to them.

Full text of Obama’s acceptance speech is at The Jed Report
The text of Senator McCain’s eloquent concession speech can be read at The Associated Press
Pic is via live jamie

via Boing Boing

From now on, all debates will be conducted in the following format, no exceptions.

This makes me sick. Why not admit the gaffe, accept responsibility for the mistake and move on rather than inventing a new addition to the Newspeak dictionary? Gotcha Journalism? Please. I’m committing thoughtcrime on McCain and Palin right now.
via Steven Beelen

via Nikki Finke

This is a lot of fun. McCain is a lot more enjoyable if you just let yourself imagine him to be some crazed president in a post-apocalyptic Zombie threatened world. And considering his energy policy, that’s only a stone’s throw from the truth. Emphasis is obviously mine.

Science Debate 2008 Obama and McCain answer the top 14 science questions facing the United States

When faced with a global pandemic [zombie threat], the United States must have in place and implement a layered strategy to save lives and protect the continuity of a functioning society. First, we must limit the spread of [the zombie] disease to the United States. Second, we must limit the spread of [the zombie] disease within the United States. This must be accomplished at the community level with strategies that have worked in past pandemics [zombie crisis] and can be adapted to a current crisis [zombie crisis]. Third, we must mitigate symptoms of the [zombie] disease and minimize suffering and death with effective treatments and countermeasures [shovels and spades]. And fourth, we must maintain a functioning economy, public service sector and community [so as to effectively combat the zombie threat].

- John McCain

via Old Parliament House’s photostream

via Design Info

Head over to Thomas P.M. Barnett’s weblog for (what I think) is a particularly precise summation of McCain’s pick of Palin as a VP, as well as a comment on Obama’s experience. Both of which set of a wave of interesting comments. It makes for interesting reading. I’ve quoted the line about Palin below:

McCain says he’s different and will put country ahead of himself and his political goals. I think his choice of Palin, the most important and revealing choice any candidate for president makes, says otherwise. Choosing her says he wants to win the election more than do what’s right by the office, and that diminishes a powerful aspect of his appeal, in my mind.

A bit of a change in topic compared to my usual fare, but I thought that this was interesting enough to warrant it. While this is a post about Australian politics I will attempt to keep my personal bias as far removed as possible. For the benefit of non-Australians, the Australian Liberal Party is comparable to the US Republicans and the Australian Labor Party is comparable to the US Democrats.

You can watch the 13 minute Vodcast which I am discussing by clicking here and selecting the Tony Abbott interview or you can hit it directly here.

What has happened to the Australian Liberal Party is frankly jaw-dropping. I doubt that anyone would have disagreed that two years ago it appeared to be the very strongest party in Australian history. What I found most impressive was that it was a party that seemed to have an iron-clad solidarity, it functioned as a whole and all of it’s members were always careful to reinforce that in both word and action. That was before the election.

Nowadays, it is a very different story. It is always a tall order to rebound from an election defeat however the Liberals appear to have completely fallen apart, some but not all of which is discussed in the interview with Tony Abbott on Lateline which I have posted a link to above. It is well worth watching. Tony Abbott who was one of the stalwarts of the Howard era appears to be at a complete loss in the interview. I’ve watched him many times, in parliament, the press club and on various television and radio programs and while I intensely dislike the man’s belligerent, steamroller approach to a debate or a speech (sorry, trying to keep the bias in check), I would have to agree that he is very successful at maintaining his points while scuttling his opponents. So it is all the more damning to see him at such a loss in this interview. This is the moment, mid-interview, that perfectly sums up the post-election state of the Liberals. It is the moment when Abbott resigns himself to the thought that Brendan Nelson is the best that they can do currently.

That is of course until the wind changes and Turnbull, Costello, or a whole host of others or even Tony Abbott himself challenges for the leadership.

Or else maybe it was the part about the tradition of ‘knifing their leaders?’ It certainly looks like that is the future that is in store for Dr. Nelson.

I had a thought that it could be a ploy to lump up all of the post-election bad-will onto one figure and then usher in a new leader when the going gets a easier versus Rudd. It certainly is not an easy task to go up against Rudd right now, however the Liberals are going to be damaged severely in the long term if they do not get their act together soon, as in this week. Some people (as is mentioned in the interview) are speaking about the possibility that the Liberals have already lost the next election. While I do think that is going a little too far, I don’t think that it is too much to say that Peter Costello is doing both the country and the Liberal party a huge disservice by being unclear about his intentions.

Tony Abbot’s discomfort is palpable. He shifts and moves constantly and perhaps most tellingly are his audible grumbles of admission and frustrated breaths of resignation while being asked the questions. Listen for them, I’ve never seen Mr Abbott seemingly so emotional and frustrated.

Tony Abbott

Tony Jones

The Interview

Meanwhile, has anyone else noticed how brutal Virginia Trioli can be in an interview? Do not try and skirt the issue with her. I’m a big fan, but don’t worry Tony Jones you’re still my favourite (opening an interview with a question about political knifing… yes!).

What? Obama’s favorite song is the Fugees ‘Ready or Not’? Will we just hurry up and give him the presidency! I want an election promise from him though, the first item of business directly after being sworn in? A presidential order for the Fugees to reunite and record a new album.

and check Hushie out for internet music search goodness.

Source is BBC News

via All Things Beautiful

A brawl between MPs breaks out during a debate in the Turkish parliament in Ankara on May 28, 2007. The parliament convened to debate the constitutional-amendment package regarding general and presidential elections.

Priceless. Shuffle forward ten minutes to where Batman is explaining his relationship with Robin…

…and what’s up with Batman’s continual state of surprise? Lower those eyebrows son!