American Farmer

American Farmer

Interview by Rosecrans Baldwin

Inspired by books and news specials and farmers markets, the foodie movement is driving droves of Americans to figure out exactly where their meals come from, and seek out food that wasn’t conceived by marketers. Independent farmers are the answer—resourceful, adaptive, and in love with what they do—and photographer Paul Mobley spent four years photographing hundreds of them for his new book, edited by Katrina Fried, American Farmer: The Heart of Our Country (Welcome Books).

John McCain, Sincere Candidate? - Revisited

It seemed to me that John McCain was pulling his punches, and now the truth comes out.  

In the past, military leader's have been known to burn their bridges behind them, so that their troops had no way to go but forward.  It was obvious and frustrating for me to see that John McCain was not targeting the real culprits behind the Financial Crisis.... the Democrats in the House and Senate.  Now we know why.  He wasn't going to burn his bridges.....he knew he was going back to the Senate, and was reluctant to, as he's said in the past, disrupt the collegiality of the Senate.  The old saying is true, "no risk, no reward".  With all his talk of "fight, fight, fight!"  McCain pulled his punches.  And as for us, we're much better off without him in the oval office.  

On October 3rd, I wrote a post saying the following:

I am perplexed, however, with  John McCain’s campaign, and the general approach that he has taken in his attempt to win the election......McCain has refused to  engage in combat with what would be a natural extension of his opponent, the Democrat controlled House and Senate.........he voted for the Bail-Out Bill ....... He should have not only voted no, he should have highlighted the issues and argued against it and pointed out those guilty of architecting the mortgage crisis , such as Rep. Barney Frank, Sen. Dodd, Sen. Schumer, Bill Clinton, Frank Raines, Jim Johnson and the whole Congressional Black Caucus......He selected an effective decision-making leader and campaigner as his running mate, but he apparently has tied her hands to prevent her from campaigning against Congress too.

While watching the initial debate between McCain and Obama, I had the distinct impression that John McCain seemed to be running for the position of "President of the Senate", despite the fact that that position doesn’t exist...... John McCain seems unable to do what he says he will do—name names.  He has refused to indict those who, like Senators Dodd and Schumer, have stained hands for their actions in protecting Fanny and Freddy from tighter oversight and reform.

John McCain is a fighter.  He proved that in his career in the military, and has demonstrated that same quality in his many disputes within the Republican Party, and Congress.  But he’s also a guy who’s whole background has been forged by making and keeping relationships, despite disagreements.  You may dislike and disagree with your wingman, but he’s still your wingman...you cover for him.

It seems that John McCain views the Congress as his squadron, and as a result, he can’t  legitimately and effectively attack the members in it.

But there’s one other thought that has cross my mind as well.  John McCain is a fighter. A tenacious fighter.  He wanted the Presidency, but lost the opportunity to run for it eight years ago.  His tenacity led him to compete again.  But now that he’s closer to the actual goal, I’m not sure that he really wants it now.  Now that he really understands the job and it’s consequences, he appears to be having buyer’s remorse.  Any racing tout can tell you, it’s easy for a jockey to pull a race.  Just a little lighter on the whip, just a bit more pressure on the reins.  The Senate is a great place for a maverick to roam.  The "Lion" of the Senate, as McCain calls Ted Kennedy, may not be able to return.  Maybe the 'maverick' would rather be the 'lion'.

Only the next weeks will tell us if John McCain really is a serious candidate.

Now it seems that my perception was correct.  

Roger Simon writes how today, John McCain is now comfortable and relaxed, having a Barbecue with friends.  McCain's closest aide and co-author, Mark Salter told him that the end had not been in doubt for weeks. McCain had expected to do better in Pennsylvania and Ohio — he lost both states — but he knew in his head he wasn't going to pull off some stunning upset, even though he had been hoping for one in his heart.

"I take nothing away from Obama; they ran one hell of a campaign," Salter said. "But the press became another one of the environmental disadvantages we had."

But why do you think the press turned on you?  Roger Simon asked.

"Part of it was that Obama was the new story," Salter said. "He was dazzling. We all felt the tug — I feel it to a certain extent — about civil rights reconciliation, and how in backing Obama we could all do our bit. Many reporters felt it, too."

As for McCain, Salter says he is "remarkably relaxed and at ease" after his loss.

Friday, October 3, 2008

John McCain. Sincere Candidate?

I'm perplexed....

Disclosure...John McCain was not my choice of Presidential candidate for the Republican Party.  He wasn’t my second choice, and….he wasn’t my third choice either.

However, John McCain comes closer to my philosophical views on more issues, so he will probably get my vote.

I am perplexed, however, with  John McCain’s campaign, and the general approach that he has taken in his attempt to win the election.

In a campaign where his opponent, and the opposition Party, has worked hard and rather effectively to position him as a continuation of the beleaguered presidency of George Bush, McCain has refused to  engage in combat with what would be a natural extension of his opponent, the Democrat controlled House and Senate.

Running in opposition to the Democratic controlled Congress would significantly increase the mass of his target beyond the skimpy history, and minimally detailed plank of Barack Obama.  A full assault on the Democrats in Congress (which has a significantly lower satisfaction index than Pres. Bush) would give him an even greater advantage at this time due to their role in pressuring banking institutions to make loans to people who could not afford them, their significant involvement in protecting the egregious behavior of Fanny and Freddy, and their ultimate   responsibility for the financial market meltdown.

He has campaigned hard against earmarks, and has used that capability as an argument for electing him, yet he then voted for the Bail-Out Bill on Monday that included essentially $150 Billion in earmark ‘sweeteners’ designed to seduce both Republican and Democrat Congressmen to voting for it.  He should have not only voted no, he should have highlighted the issues and argued against it and pointed out those guilty of architecting the mortgage crisis , such as Rep. Barney Frank, Sen. Dodd, Sen. Schumer, Bill Clinton, Frank Raines, Jim Johnson and the whole Congressional Black Caucus.

He selected an effective decision-making leader and campaigner as his running mate, but watching her performance in last night’s debate, he apparently has tied her hands to prevent her from campaigning against Congress too.

While watching the initial debate between McCain and Obama, I had the distinct impression that John McCain seemed to be running for the position of "President of the Senate", despite the fact that that position doesn’t exist. 

There is a view that the reason not many Senators have won the Presidency, is that the nature of Senators is to make deals and achieve a consensus in order to get legislation passed.  The nature of Governors, and Presidents, is to lead and combat their opposition to defeat.  There should be a degree of effective tension between the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch. But John McCain seems unable to do what he says he will do—name names.  He has refused to indict those who, like Senators Dodd and Schumer, have stained hands for their actions in protecting Fanny and Freddy from tighter oversight and reform.

John McCain is a fighter.  He proved that in his career in the military, and has demonstrated that same quality in his many disputes within the Republican Party, and Congress.  But he’s also a guy who’s whole background has been forged by making and keeping relationships, despite disagreements.  You may dislike and disagree with your wingman, but he’s still your wingman...you cover for him.

It seems that John McCain views the Congress as his squadron, and as a result, he can’t  legitimately and effectively attack the members in it.

But there’s one other thought that has cross my mind as well.  John McCain is a fighter. A tenacious fighter.  He wanted the Presidency, but lost the opportunity to run for it eight years ago.  His tenacity led him to compete again.  But now that he’s closer to the actual goal, I’m not sure that he really wants it now.  Now that he really understands the job and it’s consequences, he appears to be having buyer’s remorse.  Any racing tout can tell you, it’s easy for a jockey to pull a race.  Just a little lighter on the whip, just a bit more pressure on the reins.  The Senate is a great place for a maverick to roam.  The "Lion" of the Senate, as McCain calls Ted Kennedy, may not be able to return.  Maybe the 'maverick' would rather be the 'lion'.

Only the next weeks will tell us if John McCain really is a serious candidate.