Blog > Politics > Blog article: Campaign 2008: Hope and Glory
 | Email This Article Email This Article  | 

Campaign 2008: Hope and Glory

Posted January 23, 2008

'The major keywords used by our revered candidates in the 2008 presidential derby are poaching in the happy hunting grounds reserved for revivalist meetings and Sunday sermons.' — J. Christoph Amberger

By J. Christoph Amberger, TodaysFinancialNews.com

Baltimore – (TFN): The following was taken from this week's Amberger's Smackdown on TFN. Watch this video.

Is it just me? Or have you noticed, too, that the major keywords used by our revered candidates in the 2008 presidential derby are poaching in the happy hunting grounds reserved for revivalist meetings and Sunday sermons.

Especially the socialist candidates are promising a secular kind of second coming as a reward for your vote. Second coming, however, would be too divisive a term, potentially infringing on Mitt Romney's territory and/or treading on the toes of militant Islam — hence the emphasis on "Change".

Selectively lachrymose, Senator Hillary Clinton promises to be "Ready For Change" and talks of working for more than three decades making change.  She brought a particularly salient observation to the table.

"Change never stops. Change is going to happen whether anybody does anything or not."

Rather watch the financial video? Click here.

Had President Bush offered this slice of wisdom, his quote would be currently beaten to death by late night wits as irrefutable proof of stupidity and eventually work its way into a Move-on.org or Light-up-your-Day calendar.

Meanwhile, Barbie Magic-Hair-Styler John Edwards talks of "real change" — but I'm not sure if he is talking perm or highlights.

Senator Barack Obama not only "Stands For Change". Even better: "We are happy warriors for change," his website chants. "We are cheerful about the prospects of taking over. The American people taking over their government, what a radical proposition."

His Creed of change quickly has to tap into the quasi-religious and borderline irrational by promising "Change We Can Believe In." In this apparently faith-based program, belief is helped along not just by mere hope, but The Audacity of Hope.

In the Age of Unreason and Oprah, "Charity believeth all things" — including the good senator's 25 page health care plan which says "everyone can have healthcare they can rely on and that we are going to lower premiums and we are going to have higher qualities.”

And for Campaign 2008, everyone qualifies for free cotton candy and a squeaky toy.

Along the same lines of faith, trust and charity — opium to the credulous — Barack Obama just unveiled an economic stimulus package costing up to $120 billion. A program that would put money in the hands of workers and seniors, stem the foreclosure crisis and cover state budget shortfalls.

It involves making available a $250 tax credit to 150 million workers to offset the payroll tax paid on the first $8,100 of earnings. And a further $250 tax credit per worker if employment declines three months in a row. He also would give a one-time, $250 payment to Social Security recipients who would not benefit from the tax credit, followed by another $250 payment if employment declines three months straight.

A $250 handout: Problem solved, recession averted. And no need to involve pesky math or economics, financial history or any such heresy.

Do I detect a frown there? Are you still not quite ready to buy into this yet? Still think that in the face of global recession, geopolitical power shifts, and Islamist terrorism hope is not a strategy, and a wing and a prayer do not qualify as a program?

In the words of Herman Melville's Confidence Man I command thee: "Heaven give you more charity, sir."

To which the only appropriate answer was and is: "And you less hypocrisy, sir."

____________________________________________________

"Forget Halliburton and Schlumberger…" says Forbes.com.
 
"There's black gold in the ocean!" The good news about deep-sea oil drilling is out! Morgan Stanley has declared "substantial growth potential" for the industry and now's your chance to cash in on this red-hot energy source and own one of the most exciting and profitable companies drilling today. 

237% could be yours in the next 12 months. For the full report on the best energy investment you can make today, click here.

____________________________________________________


Related Articles


Posted by J. Christoph Amberger · Filed Under Politics 

Comments

close Reblog this comment
Powered by Disqus · Learn more
blog comments powered by Disqus