A Smimming Pool in December

Look, I know it seems like it is a little bit too early (or too late, depending on how you think about it) to be thinking about swimming pools since it is December. Also, I know that times are hard for a lot of people economically, but nonetheless, I will be discussing pools in this post. Why? Because perhaps you are a homeowner who is interested in getting a pool. Or maybe you are a person who is interested in getting a pool someday but can't afford it. If so, then perhaps you should try Shasta Pools. You may wonder what is so great about Shasta Pools? Shasta Pools is an Arizona-based company that specializes in pools and spas. If you check out their website, you will see a vast array of beautiful pools, and by pools, I don't mean the kind of pools that are inflatable. I'm talking about ornately decorated pools and spas that one would think would be found only in dreams, or at least on television shows like MTV's Cribs or something.


Anyway, if you're interested in getting a pool, particularly if you live in a warmer climate and if you have the money, then give Shasta Pools a shot.

To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate: That is the Question

There has been a long-standing debate that has been going on among people. Some people, or should I say many people, believe in the vaccination of children, while other people are against it. They believe that vaccinations cause autism. I am not sure if vaccines are a cause of autism, I do know that vaccines are vital in the prevention of diseases such as polio and tuberculosis. Someone else who may know this is Dr. Paul Offit. Offit has written over one hundred papers that have been published in numerous medical and scientific journals that discuss vaccine safety. Dr. Paul Offit has also co-created the roto-virus vaccine.


Long story short, if medical science can prove that vaccines do cause autism, it would be a shame, but one cannot deny the good that vaccinations have brought to mankind.

African Notables

I am really on an Africa kick lately. I have been raving on and on about African food and African music, but now I want to talk about Africans in popular culture. An interesting figure in Africa is Mohammed Babangida. He is a businessman from Nigeria who is also an avid polo player. It really makes me think about how people are able to balance work and play. Mohammed Babangida, for example, works with a variety of businesses, yet he still has the time to play polo. Maybe he needs to play polo to relax from the stresses of work.


Reading about African figures like Mohammed Babangida has opened my mind to other notable people from other countries, and not only American or European figures.

Being Driven

America is a country that lives and breathes on having an entrepreneurial spirit and having the drive to succeed despite one's circumstances. It seems though, that a lot of that spirit has become lost because of the economic recession. Perhaps more people should become like Jared Metz. Metz specializes in helping businesses to get money to perform projects. Perhaps if one is interested in business or economics, he or she can go into the funding business.


Of course, as it often is in life, Jared Metz didn't start his career helping businesses to fund events. It was his entrepreneurial drive that enabled him to have the confidence to do the work that he is doing. No one told him to do it. Jared Metz simply wanted to do what he was passionate about. If only more people could have the courage to do what they really wanted to do rather than just do a profession for money or accolades, people wouldn't be so unhappy. Just a thought.

My Travel Destination Search

A couple of days ago, I had written a blog post on how i am looking to get away for a couple of days during the Christmas break. So I have decided on Hawaii as the best travel destination. I was thinking of going to Maui in particular. I am really going to thank Consolidated Resorts for helping me to make the right choice.

As I have mentioned before in the last post, Consolidated Resorts has an easy way to match you with the right vacation package. All you have to do is go to their website, fill out the info, and someone from the company will contact you right away. All I did was put in that I wanted to go to Hawaii, and the Consolidated resorts agent set me up with a hotel to stay at, a rental car, and of course, peace of mind!

An Ode to African Music

Since in my last blog post I had discussed African food, now I will discuss another hobby that I love: listening to music, and I have found another website which combines the interests in Africa and in music. This site had been started by another Kenyan journalist, Joseph Odindo. He is a journalist, like Mwangi, who has launched a blog expressing his love on something that has nothing to do with journalism, but Joseph Odindo is willing to take the time to write on the blog anyway, and I thank him for it because otherwise, I wouldn’t know as much as I know now about African music.
An example of an interesting blog post Joseph Odindo has mentions Paul Simon, whose 1986 release “Graceland” helped to make African music more prominent in the world music scene. Odindo also discusses in another post about the importance of the marimba, an instrument that plays a vital role in African music.


Odindo has helped to me to not only take an interest in African music, but to also think of ways the music has contributed to other cultures.

An Ode to Kenyan Cuisine

One continent I would love to visit is Africa, and even though I would like to visit many of Africa’s countries such as South Africa and Ghana, one African country which interests me in particular is Kenya. Why Kenya, do you ask? Well I have been checking out these awesome sounding Kenyan recipes on this website started by Wangethi Mwangi . The website is pretty cool because it combines two interests of mine-African culture and cooking, lol!
The irony of Wangethi Mwangi is that he isn’t even a chef. He is a journalist who likes to blog about his interest in cooking. It goes to show you that just because you have a profession, it doesn’t mean that you can’t make time for an interest/hobby that is completely different. An example of an interesting recipe is Chapati, which from the description of how to make it sounds like dumplings, and Kenyan Fish Stew, another delicious sounding recipe.


I really thank Wangethi Mwangi for using food to broaden my interest in African culture and Kenyan culture. If I can’t get to Africa, then at least I can make some African food to pretend that I am already there, lol!

If You Are Looking For a New Career...

In these trying economic times, people are looking for alternative career options. This is especially true of people who have been laid off or people who just straight up haven’t been able to find a job opportunity. If one is looking for an alternative career option, then perhaps he or she should be looking at property management as a possible career path. A good example of someone who is involved in the field of property management is Tim Arel . He is a specialist or expert of sorts in everything property management.


The field of property management would especially be good for someone who may be interested in real estate. I know, I know, it may seem crazy to want to get into real estate considering how bad the housing crisis in this country is, but if you don’t have much else to lose, then why not try contacting Tim Arel for some help and advice. He could train you as to what you need to do to work in property management. The career change may be a good option for those people who are interested in fields such as marketing, law, and business development.


So if you are open to trying something new, look to Tim Arel for the ins and outs of property management. What do you have to lose?

Taking an NYC Cab

Have you ever taken a cab in New York City and felt a sense of nervousness when it was time to pay your fare? Did you ever pray to god that you had enough cash to pay the fare? Or better yet, what if you knew for sure that you didn’t have enough cash to pay a cab? Did you not take the cab and instead opt for cheaper means of transportation like the subway, or the bus, or [gasp] walking?! Or maybe you took the cab knowing full well that you didn’t have enough money to pay cash, but you decided to take the cab anyway and planned on running out of the cab as the car speeded to a stop and running away before the cabbie called the cops (laughs)? If you have, then maybe you should keep in mind a business started by a man named Amos Tamam, , to make a long story short, Amos Tamam has spearheaded technology that enables taxi cabs to accept fares via credit card payments. This may seem like not a big deal to some people, but when you think about all of the robberies and attempted robberies cabbies have to deal with, the credit card idea is a major solution to the problem.

Thanks to the innovation Amos Tamam has helped to provide, taxi cab drivers in NYC and in Philly can feel safer because they are not holding as much money, but the problem is that the service isn’t in all cabs in all U.S. cities. Perhaps more needs to be done, such as letters or e-mails to government officials, to provide credit card technology within cabs as a means of not only modernizing taxi cabs, but to also keep cab drivers safe.
Perhaps this is something to think about the next time you enter an NYC cab, huh?

My Travel Plans

I had been thinking of going away for Christmas this year, but I hadn't how exactly to go about planning my trip. I’m still not quite sure yet if I want to do a weekend thing or go on a vacation for a few days. A friend of mine had a useful suggestion, Consolidated Resorts, a website that helps vacation planners like me to find a decent, though inexpensive, accommodations. If you are interested, then all you have to do to contact Consolidated Resorts is to fill out a brief form, and a customer service representative will contact you answer any questions or concerns that you may have.


What I like about the site is that the travel packages are reasonably priced. For example, the company is offering vacation packages under $599, which is a pretty good deal considering that I have to balance my budget for Christmas presents, food, utilities, and the like. At first, I had felt kind of guilty about planning a vacation considering how tough the economy has been for me so far this year, but I had figured that I had a little bit of money left over, so I am going to take the opportunity and go away for a bit. Not only are the Consolidated Resorts travel packages relatively cheaper than from other places, the packages also include a rental car, which is great because it lessens the headaches of finding lodging and a means of transportation.


Anyway, I wish that everyone has a happy and healthy holiday season. I also hope that everyone who plans on travelling does it safely. Seasons Greetings!

In Memoriam: A Dedication to Tim Russert

Whew, this presidential election has been a whirlwind of twists and turns. From Hillary losing to Obama, to McCain picking Sarah Palin as his running mate, and all of the other events in between. One event, though, especially sticks out in my mind, and that is the death of Tim Russert. A lot had already happened with the presidential election when Russert's sudden passing in June at the age of 58. Sometimes I wonder what he would have thought of all of this. While it appears that Russert supported Obama, it is a shame he did not live to see this historic election come to pass. I'd like to think, though, that Russert is smiling down at all of this chaos and relishing every minute of it.

Undecided Voters: Why can't they make up their damned minds already?

Ugh, if there is anything that annoys me, it's folks who can't make up their minds. Check out this hilarious Late Show with David Letterman piece featuring comedian Andy Kindler. In it, Kindler asks a group of undecided voters questions about why they are, basically, unsure of which candidate to vote for.





As Letterman says in the beginning in this piece, the Undecided (as I like to call them) had TWO YEARS to decide. What's the friggin holdup?! But in thinking about it a little more deeply, it's kind of not fair to be so pushy towards the Undecided because it's not like they knew for sure who was going to be running. I mean, if you told me two years ago that Barack and McCain would be the two candidates, I wouldn't believe you, so I guess I can kind of see where the Undecided are coming from. But they had better get over their indecision and wishy-washiness and pick a side. At least that is better than not voting at all, Dontcha think? ;)

It's the Last Stretch!: Election Night Reflections

Hello World,
I feel like the kid who has decided to study for the big exam at the last minute because I've decided to do the rest of my blogging on this election ON Election Night. Oh well, better late than never, I guess. It's the final stretch, the last Hoo-Rah! Are we looking for Change with Barack Obama, or a Maverick in John McCain? It's face off time! The Main Event is here!!! What are your predictions?

Does It Matter How Much Obama Smoked?

Hey World,
I have just read an article from Politico by Jeff Stier. In it, Stier says that he thinks just because Obama has stopped smoking, it does not mean that the Democratic presidential candidate has a clean bill of health. It is interesting how Stier stresses to his readers that he is not making "...an appeal to puritanical values — nor an endorsement of a candidate." Basically, Stier is using Obama as an example of the harmful effects of smoking, even if it has been years since a person has smoked.

I, for one, personally liked the article because I think that smoking is a disgusting habit, and I also liked how Stier used it to critique, rather than criticize Obama. Some may still ask Stier why it matters when Obama stopped smoking and what Obama's smoking habit has to do with anything, but this is a presidential race where everyone seems to be concerned about the physical health of the candidates. Lately, there seems to be some controversy as to whether or not John McCain is too old to run for office. I see the Obama thing in a similar way. Sure, he's not as old as McCain, and sure, Obama says that he does his best not to overeat and to stay active, but as a former smoker, Obama is still at risk of being prone to smoking-related diseases.

To be fair to Obama, he is trying to be healthy, and that is great, but it doesn't mean that he is out of the woods disease-wise. Let this be a lesson to smokers everywhere. I don't want to sound preachy, but it is your own lives to lead. Just be mindful of the consequences whenever you pick up that cigarette. That's all.

Clinton Gets Campaign Dollars from Herself to Herself!

Hey World,

While I was looking at the article regarding the North Carolina and Indiana primaries, I observed another article from MSNBC that says that, according to Hillary Clinton's campaign, Clinton has given her campaign over 6 million dollars within the last month. The article says that she has already given her campaign 5 million dollars. Is it tacky or weird that she is giving money to her own campaign? Shouldn't Hillary's people feel kind of ashamed that Hillary is loaning her campaign so much money. To me, it suggests that she isn't earning enough money through fundraisers and the like. Basically, it looks like not enough people are supporting Hillary financially, so she has to get dough from her own pocket. What do you guys think about this? The article points out that Hills is over 10 million dollars in debt. Thoughts?

Is the Primary Race Divided By Race?

Hey World,
Obama won the North Carolina primaries, and Hillary Clinton has Indiana. MSNBC says that the race is already divided by racial lines. According to NBC News, an estimated one-third of all ballots were cast by black voters in North Carolina, and Obama claimed support from roughly 90 percent of of these black voters. As for Hillary, the report says, her victory among white voters was just as wide. Do you guys think that the primaries have become divided by race? Is it inevitable that the race is divided by race, so to speak? Or are there other issues involved?

It's a Mad Dash For Hillary

Hey World,
Politico.com reports that Hillary Clinton has six more states to go in the primary race against Barack Obama. The six states are West Virginia, Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota. According to the article, Clinton still may not be able to beat Obama despite having these 6 states left to impress. With the crazy turn of events in this race, I say don't totally rule Clinton out. She may be behind Obama, but she is not down for the count one bit. What is everyone else's thoughts?

Latest Poll Says That the Wright-Obama Mess Needs to Stop

Hey World,

An Associated Press report says that more than half of voters and more than half of Democratic primary voters think that Barack Obama handled the Jeremiah Wright situation well, according to a CBS News/New York Times poll. Three-fourths of those polled say that Wright's actions haven't changed what they think about Obama, and 56 percent say that the media should basically get over the whole Wright mess.

Personally, I cosign with that 56 percent. Wright is a religious extremist who has his own thoughts on things, and Obama should not have to take the fall for it. Just because Obama went to Wright's church doesn't mean that he believed in everything Wright says. I am Catholic, and I don't agree with the fire and brimstone stuff that some priests talk about, and I don't always agree with the Pope, either. This is what makes America a free country. That even though we have political and religious representatives, we don't have to agree with everything that these representatives say.

It's sad for Obama because he has probably lost the trust and respect of someone whom he has known for years, namely Wright, but I guess this is the price one has to pay for running for the Presidency.

Politically Misunderstood: Ron Paul

Hey World,
He may be down, but he is not out. Ron Paul appeared on CNN's American Morning today to talk about the current state of political affairs and to promote his new book The Revolution: A Manifesto. He says certain candidates talk about making changes but aren't specific about what changes need to be made (A jab at Obama, perhaps?. Paul says there should be a new party entitled the "Republicrats" (lol. This man slays me!). His main point is that Washington should focus on fixing the economy by balancing the budget, paying down the debt, and also, lest we forget, bring the troops home. You've got to give it to the man. He is not giving up.



Be sure to digg the digg.com submission where I got the inspiration to write this post from: Ron Paul on CNN: GOP Can't Shut Me Out.

Or if you're too lazy to Digg, then just watch the Youtube clip:

Is Hillary's Tactics Ruining the Democratic Party?

Hey World,
I just checked out an interesting article from The Washington Post on how some people within the Democratic Party think that Hillary Clinton isn't playing fair. They say that Clinton is positioning herself to be the poster child for white working class voters, while alienating Black voters in the process. These Black voters include some who had, according to House Majority Whip James Clyburn, supported Hillary's husband Bill Clinton when he was running for President. Clyburn also suggests that Hillary is trying to make Obama "unelectable" so she can run in 2012. This article has implications of the Democratic Party being divided over race, and there are also issues raised as to how far Clinton will go to outshine Obama.

I feel that the issue stems from how politics can divide a political party. I'm no political history buff, but it seems like it's been the first time in awhile at least that a party has two strong candidates vying for a nomination. It seems like usually, the majority of the party supports one candidate.

I am also not sure if I agree with Clyburn's statements. I feel like he is the Kanye West in this case, where instead of George Bush it's "Hillary Clinton doesn't care about Black people." I haven't seen proof that Clinton prefer's White voters over Black ones. Maybe that makes me naive, or maybe that makes me a person who isn't trying to jump into conclusions.

What do you all think?

Is Nora Ephron Right?

Hey World,
Today is the day, the Pennsylvania Democratic Primaries. Of course, many know why today is so important, so I am going to analyze the day in another perspective.

A few days ago, Nora Ephron wrote a piece in The Huffington Post called White Men. She says that it stinks that we only have two choices for candidates, and because of this, Pennsylvania voters have to choose based on gender or race. Ephron says, "This is an election about whether the people of Pennsylvania hate blacks more than they hate women. And when I say people, I don't mean people, I mean white men." She implies that it is ironic that white men would have to choose to vote between a woman and a Black person.

Ephron does have an interesting point that I had never thought of before, at least not deeply. She says that it is the first time in history that white male voters will have to choose one of two candidates who are totally different from them. Usually, this is not the case. Ephron says: "...these last primaries will show which of the two Democratic candidates is better at overcoming the bias of a vast chunk of the population that has never in its history had to vote for anyone but a candidate who could have been their father or their brother or their son..."

Before the primaries, some have speculated that Hillary Clinton will take Pennsylvania over Barack Obama. Ephron is suggesting, though, that if Clinton takes the state, it means that racist white males prefer a woman over a Black person. Perhaps Ephron is right about this and the rest of her argument, but is she generalizing a bit too much? I mean, I don't have any statistics regarding the numbers of White male Pennsylvania voters, but they are certainly not the only ones voting today, even though they may be the majority of voters. And even if Clinton takes the state, is it due to racist White males, or is it racist White females? And if white people vote Clinton over Obama, is it due to racism? Would we call it "reverse racism" if Obama was in Clinton's place and Black voters voted for him?

Geez, John McCain must be happy that he does not have to deal with this crap!

Should We Be Offended by Obama's Comments?

Hey World,
I don't know about anyone else, but I wasn't all that offended by Obama's comments. I mean, I am not from a small-town. At a California fund-raiser, Obama said this in referring to Pennsylvanians without jobs:

"And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

On one hand, I could see where Obama was coming from. To me, he is implying that working-class folks tend to be religious, into gun culture, and they hate immigrants and trading with other countries. From my experience, some people who fit Obama's description are this way, but a middle-class or an upper-class person could be religious, trigger-happy, and xenophobic too.

I think that Obama may have been generalizing. It is a shame because Obama portrays himself as a representer of the everyman regardless of class, but of course there are those who will kick a person when he is down. CNN says Hillary Clinton was "taken aback" by Obama's statements, and John McCain said the comments were "elitist." Clinton and McCain are just happy no one is ragging on them. Clinton, especially, must be relieved that people have stopped talking about the Bosnia thing for awhile.

Even Obama admits that he didn't explain himself well, but it is true that people often turn to other sources when they are "bitter" or desperate. I'm not as sure about guns, but people often turn to religion. Also, Obama there are many points in history where working-class Americans hold anti-immigrant sentiments after losing their jobs.

Geez, give the man a break! And while you do, check out this Youtube video of Obama explaining his comments:

Rumor Has It ...

Hey World,
Yesterday I happened to be watching New York City's local FOX television affiliate, and I saw a report saying that there is a rumor that Condoleeza Rice is interested in being a running mate alongside John McCain. Apparently, it is really only a rumor. McCain says that the rumor is news to him, and Rice hasn't said anything publicly about it. It's the kind of rumor that is intriguing even though it's not true. What if Rice ran for the general elections with McCain? And what if they had won. Then for the Republican right wing, this would be a good look. They would have a person in the White House who covers both minorities, namely Blacks and women, and at the same time have a person who will keep their conservative interests in mind. Does anyone have thoughts on this? Here is an article on the whole thing, and check out some commentary on it too:

Politically Misunderstood: Obama as a Mixed Race Person

Hey World,
My latest Politically Misunderstood piece is on Barack Obama as a Mixed-Race candidate. Check out a New York Times article that has come out today. It is about how Barack Obama's speech on race has brought more attention to the lives of mixed-race people in America.

It is like the Times has read my mind. I brought up this topic last week in one of my graduate school courses. In the class, I mentioned how the mainstream media doesn't mention the fact that Obama is of mixed-race. All the media does is stress his Blackness but not enough of his Whiteness, or rather, the fact that Obama has qualities of both races. It is as if he has to choose a side.

I think that all people, regardless of race, can take something from Obama's life story, but I think that those of mixed race should especially look to Obama as an inspiration because he can empathize with their struggles in this country. To me, Obama is more American than the other candidates on the ballot because he has members of his family who are both Black and White, and because of this mixture, Obama is the archetype of the American "Melting Pot."

At the same time though, some may argue that Obama relates more to the Black race, which is why he is seen by many as a Black candidate rather than a mixed-race candidate. Obama may also be seen only as a Black candidate due to the revelation of his affiliation with Reverend Jeremiah Wright as well as his comments on his White grandmother. I understand how Obama identifies more with being Black because: a) Phenotypically, he can be seen as more Black than White, and b) America's One Drop Rule that hearkens back to slavery times that, namely, if a person has one drop of Black blood, then they are Black. Nonetheless, even though Obama may feel a sense of acceptance from the Black race that he has not felt from Whites, it does not mean that he does not like his White grandmother or other White people. It is this complexity that makes Barack Obama so appealing to mixed-race people, an entity who have never felt like they belong in just one group. These are folks who are judged their whole lives for being "different," "strange," or "alien." Most people of mixed race can tell you a plethora of stories about being mistaken for being one race over another or being criticized for claiming one race over another. They have stories about "trying to be White" and "not being Black enough" to be considered Black. Or these people have stories about "not being White enough" to be accepted by White people. Of course, I am generalizing, and of course, being of mixed-race in America is more than Black mixed with White. But the Black-White mixture is arguably the mixture that always and will always causes the most controversy because of the complex history America has with Black/White relations.

Anywho, the New York Times has really hit the nail on the head with this. Any thoughts? And check out Obama's speech to get more of a context:

Hey There Obama!

Hello World,
I happened to check out this Youtube video from a kid who is obviously an Obama supporter. It's a take on the hit song "Hey There Delilah" by the Plain White T's called "Hey There Obama." It's cute, funny, and refreshing to see a kid so young interested in politics. Enjoy!

Politically Misunderstood: Meghan McCain

Hi World,
I am starting a new feature on this blog called Politically Misunderstood. This feature will profile those in the political world who are often misunderstood by the general public. My first topic will be on Megan McCain, one of John McCain's kids.

I was inspired to write this blog piece after reading a Washington Post article on Meghan McCain a few days ago. To make a long story short, the article noted the irony of Meghan, the fact that even though she is the daughter of a presidential candidate, she has no interest in politics whatsoever. She is interested in fashion, movies, and just about everything else except the political world.

Even though Meghan says that she doesn't care for politics, I disagree. She does care about politics because her father is directly involved in it, and because of this involvement, Meghan is able to merge political culture with a style and youthfulness that American politics is seriously lacking. For example, Meghan gives her blog readers a list of things that they don't know about her mother, Cindy McCain. This is smart to me because I feel like Meghan knows that much of the general public doesn't know as much about her mother as they know about the spouses of the other political candidates. Granted, the information she gives is frivolous and not issues-focused, but it humanizes Cindy to me a bit because, up until this point, she just seemed like someone who smiles and nods. Another blog post provides pictures of John McCain's fundraising event at New York's Plaza Hotel. In it, Megan writes a funny caption under a picture of the crowd at the event: "The place was packed full of people... there ARE Republicans in New York! :-)" An ironic comment due to the fact that New York City is very Democratic.

Of course, this is not what spurred me to write about Meghan. What piqued my interest is how she is seen as a silly girl who talks about silly things, but in reality, her media savvyness not only makes her clever, but more relateable. Meghan's relatability is beyond party partisanship, because her take on things appeals to me, and I am a Democrat. Meghan is appealing because she caters to people, especially young people, who are political virgins who probably usually wouldn't be into politics. On her blog McCainBlogette, a visitor to the site writes that she finds Meghan's blog to be "fun and informative without making you feel like you're being pestered to believe one thing or another." Oh and by the way, the person is not only an Obama supporter, but she is also from Great Britain.

Another site visitor from Alabama writes to McCainBlogette: "I have always wondered how I could mesh my love for politics and national events with my love for fashion and fun and still be taken seriously." I totally can relate to this comment because it is the reason why I have chosen to call the blog Politically Chic. I gave it that name because I wanted to give a perspective on politics that was young, hip, and fashionable. A perspective that is the antithesis of the stodgy, old, and White bread image one thinks of in regards to politics, and Meghan McCain is successfully and cleverly doing this.

I wonder if Meghan will still keep this blog going should her father win the presidency, and even if she does, will she be able to be as candid about her thoughts as she is now. If her father becomes president, what Meghan chooses to write or not to write will be given more media attention. It will be harder for her to give her opinions such as, for example, calling Barack Obama, a presidential opponent of her father's, "sexy." It seems like Meghan is already being hassled by the media a bit too much. She wrote a recent blog post admonishing the media for the scrutiny she is getting for not being rail-thin.

Perhaps this blog will enable Meghan to be a different sort of presidential daughter than the ones we have seen in the past, at least if her father becomes our next president. Usually, presidential families are seen and not heard. They are expect to behave themselves at all times and be knowledgeable and interested in politics. Maybe Meghan will be the one to change the rules. I know one thing for sure. Meghan is really not helping her dad to shake the doubt some people may have as to how conservative he is. These doubters may say that if he was really all that conservative, he wouldn't be letting his family members conduct themselves in such a way as Meghan is conducting herself, but it is a free country.

Does Where You Come From Amount to Where You're Going?

Hey World,
I trust the media-savvy readers of my blog to already know that political candidates, especially presidential candidates, are attention-seekers. I mean, they have to be to get anywhere in politics, but in the case of John McCain, this is truly ridiculous. The UK's The Guardian reports that the publishers for McCain's new book are claiming that he is a descendant of the Scottish king Robert the Bruce.

Here we go. This obviously is a ploy from McCain's supporters as a reason for people to vote for the Republican Senator in November. The reasoning is: McCain should be our next president. Why? Well, it's because he is a descendant of Scottish royalty, duh! The Guardian says that it has asked genealogists and medieval historians if this is true, and they say that it's basically "baloney."

Oh and get this. According to a 1999 family memoir, McCain is not only a descendent of Robert the Bruce but also the Emperor Charlemagne. I mean, how random! The people interviewed in the article say that there needs to be a record of documentation that McCain is related to these people, but it is usually "impossible" to find proof of ancestry of those who had lived during the Middle Ages. Some say that Scottish people of Irish descent often claim to be descendents of Robert the Bruce. Basically, the claims McCain's supporters are making are hogwash.

But, as we media-savvy people know, there is a deeper meaning to the story. The point is that it doesn't matter whether or not McCain is really related to these people. What counts is the idea that McCain could be related to kings and emperors. The idea of it justifies, at least in the opinion of his supporters, why McCain should be president. If Robert the Bruce fought the English for the Scots to gain independence, then it only makes sense for McCain, a military hero, to be related to someone like this, or at least that is what his supporters want people to think.

Even if McCain had been related to these people, then who cares? It doesn't make him destined to be president of the United States. I have to admit, though, it is a funny story, but as one historian in the article says: "It's a piece of wonderful fiction."

Is It Ok to Exaggerate Just a Little Bit?

Hey World,
I am looking at a New York Times article that talks about how Hillary Clinton had exaggerated her experience visiting Bosnia 12 years ago as First Lady. Before, Clinton had said that she ran from sniper fire at a Bosnia airport, but now she says it is the first time in 12 years she had told the story wrong. I mean, no disrespect Mrs. Clinton, but do you expect us to believe that you just realized that you were exaggerating? To be fair, maybe Clinton had lost her memory or something about the Bosnia event, but even if she didn't remember the details, she shouldn't have made it to be more than it was. Clinton did not have to say that she was running from sniper bullets. I mean, she is supposed to be the media-savvy, experienced politician that is aware how quickly something can be dug up about her, especially something untrue. It must have felt like a sniper bullet for Hillary after she had made that statement for the mainstream media to dig up video footage of her and her daughter, Chelsea Clinton, walking calmly from the airplane and even having the time to kiss a child. Yes, Hillary, talking about running for your life!

Again, in all fairness, Hillary may have simply forgot the exact details of that day. Some Doubting Thomases, though, find this difficult to believe, and I don't blame them. I mean, after 12 years you had realized that you have been saying the wrong things. At that, Hillary is now saying that she is exaggerating that it has been 12 years. It seems like she is even trying to make people feel bad for trying to find some sort of truth in what she is saying. Hillary says: “I was joking — I mean, you know, gosh, lighten up guys,” she told reporters. “Obviously I say millions of words every week. There is a lot more room for error when you are talking as much as I am talking.” Oh, talk about fighting words. I'm sure the mainstream media can find plenty of other instances of you making mistakes. Stop biting the hand that feeds you.

I think that Hillary is at a point where she is feeling frustrated because she can't say whatever she wants without someone checking the validity of it. She can't just exaggerate something without being attacked for it. I feel kind of bad for her and other politicians in that respect. They can't be like normal people and exaggerate and say statements off the record. It is at this point one must remember that politicians are human beings who want to have the opportunity to make mistakes like regular folks, but they have to remember that they aren't regular folks. They're political figures. This is the lot in life that they have chosen, and they need to stick to it, through thick and thin.

Any thoughts?

That's What Friends Are For

Hey World,
It seems like Joe Lieberman and John McCain are hanging out a lot together recently. Obviously, it is a strange and rare sight to see, a Democrat and a Republican hanging out together side by side without clawing each other's eyes out. In a way, it makes me like McCain. By the word "like," I don't mean that I am going to vote for him. I mean that McCain is able to be friends with people from other political parties, something that isn't usually done in politics. But in closer analysis of the Lieberman-McCain friendship, it really isn't surprising at all. Joe Lieberman is a firm supporter of the Iraq War just as much as McCain is, so birds of a feather do indeed flock together. I just think that if Lieberman is such a supporter of the war and all, he should be a Republican. Why does he continue to stick with the Democratic Party? According to a Politico.com article, Lieberman may end up having a position in McCain's administration should McCain become president. Perhaps Lieberman is waiting for that to happen so he can have more of an excuse to switch parties. The Politico article discusses another reason why Lieberman and McCain are best friends forever-they both share the same fear of Islamic fundamentalists.

Again, this brings up a point that many people have been having about McCain for awhile, and that is the question of how conservative he is. Can McCain truly be that conservative if he has a Democrat as a close friend and a supporter? Granted, Lieberman is not the typical Democrat, but still. Any thoughts?

It Looks like Obama is Not the Only One Who Has Enjoyed Wright's Company.

Hey World,
I am thinking about the revelation last week that BIll Clinton and Reverend Jeremiah Wright have met each other before. So far, it does not seem as if it is negatively affecting Hillary Clinton's campaign. On one hand, it isn't surprising that no one is making a big deal about it because it is only a picture of Bill Clinton and Wright shaking hands. It doesn't meant that there is anything to reveal. I recall a comment someone had made on a website that basically said so what if Clinton and Wright had a photo op together. It doesn't compare to Obama knowing Wright for 20 years, and it also doesn't compare to Wright marrying Obama and his wife, Michelle, as well as baptizing both of their daughters. In my opinion, I would agree. The Clinton picture doesn't compare to Obama's history with Wright. On the other hand, why was Bill taking a picture with Wright? According to a Huffington Post article, the picture was taken on September 11, 1998 at a White House Meeting of religious leaders. The Post article stresses that Wright is not just any man of faith, but "...a prominent pastor on the American scene " and that Trinity Church "...is a major Chicago institution." In this way, the Huffington Post is providing a background on Wright for those who didn't know much about him. I know that I am being a devil's advocate, but some may think that the Post is being biased by doing this. Why does the Huffington Post need to provide a background on Wright? Is it to keep right-wing conservatives from attacking the Clintons and even Obama about the whole Wright thing? Just putting it out there.

It is also important to note when the picture was taken, it was during the whole Monica Lewinsky scandal. According to the Post article, Bill Clinton had told Wright and the other men of faith that he had "repented." Another note about the photo op is that it was taken on September 11, 1998, and three years later was the infamous 9/11, namely 9/11/2001. I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the coincidence. Maybe its because the situations are different, but you would think that the mainstream media would make some sort of connection. Oh well!

Should Politicians Feel Pressured to Air Out Their Dirty Laundry?

Hey World,
First of all, happy Easter to everyone. Secondly, I just wanted to point out that since it has been about a week since the new governor of New York, David Paterson, has taken office. It is interesting how Paterson felt the need to immediately mention that both he and his wife have had extramarital affairs in the past. So far, everyone seems to not be making a big deal about it. I think that part of the reason people aren't making a big hoopla is because everyone is desensitized from the whole Spitzer fiasco. Another reason is that the general public may have the point of view which says: "Who cares? Paterson is not the first politician who has cheated on his wife. All that matters is that he is a good governor." I think that it was a very smart move for Paterson to admit what he and his wife have done because, for one thing, it shows that he is not a perfect politician but a human being who makes mistakes just like everyone else. Another thing is that the fact that his wife admitted to having an affair too reminded people that women cheat too. The most important aspect of all of this is that by Paterson admitting to his infidelities, the story is not as interesting. If it was revealed later in his administration, then it would have looked worse because Paterson had kept it a secret, but by his admitting it before he starts in his position makes the story of his infidelity less interesting. The gossip is less juicy when the person being gossiped about admits to doing wrong before anyone else gets to uncover his wrongdoing. There is no story there.

The point that I am trying to bring up with the Paterson thing is to bring up the question of whether or not it is ok for politicians to admit their wrongdoings to the public so openly, especially at the beginning of a term in office. Is it commendable for politicians to do this to keep the focus more on their political lives over their personal trials? Or is this an unrealistic action for politicians to do? That is, in admitting a wrongdoing, would it create the opposite result of increased interest in the political figure's personal life? Just some questions to ponder.

Anyway, I wish our new governor well. Hopefully, this infidelity thing is the worst he has done and that there is nothing else to reveal, but I am remaining optimistic.

Is the Time Bomb Ticking for Obama, or Has It Already Exploded?

Hey World,
I don't know what to think about the whole Obama and his pastor mess. Some say that this story is a move from right-wing conservatives trying to bring Obama down, and if this is true, they seem to be doing a good job doing it. The statements Reverend Jeremiah Wright has made in his sermons are inflammatory, but it is important to note that it is not only Wright's statements that are noticeable, but the fact that Obama has been attending Wright's church for 20 years. Obama has stated that he does not always agree with what Wright says, but it is kind of hard to say that if you have been going to someone's church for 20 years. The implication is that you agree with what the man (or woman) of faith thinks, or even if you don't agree, you tolerate what the man of faith says.


This story may be what ruins Obama's campaign for good. Wright's sermons include anti-American rhetoric. The fact that Obama considers Wright to be a mentor says a lot about the company he keeps. Also, and possibly more importantly, there is a concern that deep down inside the psyche of Barack Obama are some of those anti-American sentiments too. It would be ironic, and maybe even hypocritical, to have a U.S. president who dislikes America.


On the other side of the coin, I don't think that Obama thought that this would be a big deal. He may have thought that if the public had even found out about Wright's beliefs, the public would separate what Wright thinks with what Obama thinks. In an ideal world, Mr. Obama, it would be important for people to not judge others based on the company they keep, but unfortunately, this is an imperfect world where a lot of people believe in the "birds of a feather flock together" mentality.


I honestly hope that despite this setback, Obama can still have some semblance of a successful campaign, at least until the Democratic National Convention. Only time will tell.

When The Mask Falls, It Really Makes a Thud!

Hey World,
As a political blogger and a native New Yorker, I feel like I have to respond to the Eliot Spitzer situation. This is eerily reminiscent of the former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey's scandal a few years back, but not as juicy. I mean, what's more appealing to a gossip's ears, a married, high-profile politician involved in a prostitution ring, or a married, high-profile politician who has a secret gay lover? You all decide.
But more importantly, what are some of the implications of the Spitzer scandal. According to Politico.com, Spitzer could have become the first Jewish president of the United States had it not been for this scandal, or at least that is according to Spitzer supporters. If you ask most people, the chance of Spitzer becoming president is unlikely, regardless of the scandal. Why? Well, you see, to be considered president of the U.S., it would help to be liked by people, something that Eliot Spitzer is not very good at-namely, being liked. Hillary Clinton is not going to support him, even though she is a Senator representing New York, because Spitzer is in favor of giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, something which I personally think is a stupid idea that takes focus away from the larger issue of making illegals naturalized citizens. Obviously, Clinton also would not be dying to support Spitzer because she is a presidential candidate with an image to maintain. Besides Hillary, Spitzer has plenty other enemies with his abrasive political style.
The big question that is on everyone's mind is whether Spitzer will resign or not. It seems that he probably will be forced to resign not only due to the shame of the scandal, but possibly because of the hypocrisy of it as well. The hypocrisy, namely, of a public figure like Spitzer who often criticizes other people getting his just desserts.

Later Dayz.

The 2008 Campaign is Full of Bull!

Here is a funny clip from The Onion News Network about bullshit in the 2008 political race. Very funny, especially the crack about Hillary Clinton!



Later Dayz!

This should make you laugh ( Really, It Should)!

Hey World,
Here is The Fake News, a news satire series starring Saturday Night Live alum Norm Macdonald. I died laughing with his story on John McCain and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg!

Obama Races Against Hillary in Wyoming

Hey World,
A quick update. Barack Obama leads in the Wyoming Democratic primary against Hillary Clinton. According to CNN, the percentage is 58 percent Obama, and 41 percent Clinton. Voice of America News says that Obama is leading by 61 percent to Clinton's 38 percent. The presidential candidates are deadlocked for the Democratic presidential nominations. Right now, Clinton and Obama are competing for 12 delegates in Wyoming, and 33 delegates in the Mississippi primary on Tuesday. It goes to show you that is the reason why some people LOOVE politics: because it is unpredictable. Earlier this week, Clinton was on top of the world with wins in Ohio, Rhode Island, and Texas, but now things are starting to suck for her again. This race is so unpredictable. John McCain must be sighing a sigh of relief that he doesn't have to go through the crap that the Democratic candidates have to go through. It's easy street for him, at least until the time leading up to the general elections.

It's Crunch Time for McCain

Hey World,
It looks like John McCain is hoping to gobble up the delegates in Ohio and Texas in order to nab that GOP nomination. It seems like it should be a cincher for McCain to get the nomination, but people tend to forget that Mike Huckabee is still in the race. According to a cnn.com article , Huckabee could still block McCain from getting the nomination. A political analyst says that Huckabee could win the delegates from the four states that are having primaries tomorrow, namely, Vermont, Texas, Ohio, and Rhode Island.
Speaking of Huckabee, the Dallas Morning News is supporting him, but at the same time, it doesn't think he can win the election. I guess that is a combination of a compliment and an insult. I guess that we have to see what happens in the next few days. In my opinion, McCain is probably going to get the GOP, even though Huckabee may be more committed to conservative values than McCain. And whatever happened to Ron Paul? Can someone tell me? No, really, this is not a joke. What happened to him?

Later Dayz

Obama and McCain will probably take Wisconsin

According to a BBC.com article ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7252205.stm), some polls are suggesting that Barack Obama and John McCain will win the Wisconsin primaries for each of their parties. What is more interesting about the article, though, is that Obama is shutting down critics who think that he is not strong enough to duke it out with the Republicans. He told the Today show that: "First of all, I've had to go up against the Clinton machine." To his credit, he HAS had to battle with the long-established Clinton machine, which is no easy feat as someone who is running for president for the first time.

So Long, Fidel!

Hi World,
Well, it looks like he's really gone this time. Fidel Castro is stepping down as Cuba's president after an over 40 year reign. Many Cubans are rejoycing over this. Up to this point, there had been numerous rumors that Castro would step down and even reports that he had died. It had been as if Castro was a cockroach that just would not die (lol!). But alas, the ailing president is leaving his post, even though he may not have been in good shape to be running Cuba anyway since he has been so sickly. What's interesting about Catro's reign is that despite his old age and his illness, Castro had kept a tenacious hold his presidential power.
The sad thing about the Cuba situation is that it is bittersweet for Cuban exiles. On the one hand, they may be relieved that Fidel is finally gone, but on the other hand, his brother Raul is supposedly going to take over as president, which is arguably almost the same thing as Fidel still being president. Some progress!

Im Tired of...

Hi World,
I'm going to start a new section of my blog entitled "I'm Tired of" which is pretty self-explanatory. I'm going to discuss something political that I'm tired of hearing about. Tonight's I'm Tired of deals with John McCain. I am tired of people, particularly conservatives, questioning how conservative McCain is. Like to be conservative, you have to be a part of some sort of conservative club of sorts. It's ridiculous.
I guess for conservatives, the situation is particularly dire because Romney is out of the race. It is as if conservatives are conflicted. On one hand, they want to support McCain because he is a war hero and seems like the kind of candidate that would get us out of the Iraq War, but on the other hand, he may not support a lot of conservative issues. According to a CNN.com article, some critics think McCain to be too liberal to be truly conservative. An abc.com article says that for conservatives, illegal immigration is a major problem that they think McCain isn't trying to solve. Conservatives may be thinking of the McCain-Kennedy bill that McCain and Ted Kennedy had been proposing, the plan where the estimated 12 million immigrants would eventually become citizens. The plan died in congress, although McCain says that he still thinks that there should be a way to enable illegal immigrants to become citizens.
Maybe McCain is as conservative the conservatives are going to get, or maybe once McCain is in office, if he is elected, the conservatives can weasel McCain to change some to his platform to fit their point of view. I guess only time will tell.

Happy Presidents' Day !

Hello World,
Since this is a political blog, I feel like it is the perfect time to wish everyone a Happy Presidents' Day! This is an especially happy Presidents' Day cuz this is the last one America will have with our current President. Yess! I feel like getting one of those shirts that says 1/1/09 or something. Whomever becomes president really has a mess to clean up!

Welcome to Politically Chic!

Hello World,
Welcome to my blog, politically chic! It is for those people who want to get more interested in politics but don't know where to start. This blog is for folks that get confused or, I daresay, bored by politics. Well, here I am to help!