Blogcritics Author: Dan Miller

Satire: Speaker Pelosi Will Moderate the Thursday Debate Between Governor Palin and Senator Biden

Dan Miller — Wed, 1 Oct 2008 18:48:23 EDT

The political debates are fun. Let's all watch the Biden/Palin debate.
A confidential but highly reliable source confirms that the debate between Senator Biden and Governor Palin will be moderated by Speaker Pelosi, rather than by Gwen Ifill. This has come about due to the controversy over whether the formerly intended moderator might exhibit some bias toward the Biden/Obama ticket in her conduct of the debate. It...

Should the Presidential Debates Go Forward As Scheduled On 26 September?

Dan Miller — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:58:45 EDT

The Presidential Debate should be postponed, briefly, to permit the candidates to participate in resolution of the financial crisis.
The present Congress is not exemplary. Neither is the present executive branch. However, they are the only ones we have, and they are the ones which can deal now with the current economic difficulties; they are the only bodies with the legal ability to do so. The Presidential debate scheduled for 26 September is important. Should Senators McCain...

What's All This Stuff About Racism And Sexism?

Dan Miller — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 11:20:08 EDT

Racism and sexism are perverse, regardless of whose ox is being gored. They are not likely to disappear soon.
There are doubtless some people who will vote for or against Senator Obama because he is Black. Some will doubtless vote for or against Senator McCain because he is not. According to a recent AP-Yahoo News survey, there are many Whites who harbor misgivings about Blacks. This survey focused on the attitudes of Whites concerning such...

Is An Ivy League Education Really Important?

Dan Miller — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:35:35 EDT

Success at a prestigious university is not a bad thing. Nor should it determine for whom we vote.
During the general elections, we focus on the most trivial questions possible. Perhaps they are easier to comprehend. Governor Palin has religious convictions against abortion, Senator Obama takes a different view. We can all understand that, and agree or disagree; even though their personal views on abortion are unlikely to make any difference, we...

Is Senator Obama About to Implode or Has He Already Done So?

Dan Miller — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:39:54 EDT

Senator Obama is worried. He should be. However, he is not reacting as many of us would wish a president to react.
ABC News quotes Senator Obama during a recent public appearance:"You know, you can put lipstick on a pig," Obama said, "but it's still a pig." The crowd rose and applauded, some of them no doubt thinking that he was alluding to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's ad lib during her vice presidential nomination acceptance speech...

Religion and Politics

Dan Miller — Mon, 8 Sep 2008 16:13:45 EDT

When you consider for whom to vote, let your conscience be your guide. That's the best advice I can offer.
Well bred people are, I am told, very reluctant to discuss either religion or politics on social occasions; to discuss them in concert is generally considered to be in extremely poor taste. This reluctance often results in rather dull discussions.The purpose of this article, in poor taste though it may be, is to explore what, if any, proper nexus...

Senator Biden Favors Liberal Abortion Rights, and Governor Palin Would Make All Abortions Illegal?

Dan Miller — Thu, 4 Sep 2008 19:52:10 EDT

Abortion is a faux, but hot button, issue, and both parties are exploiting it to the hilt.
For reasons I don't understand, the issue of abortion rights is a hot button issue in the Presidential campaign. There is little, if anything, the President can do either to criminalize or further to legalize abortion, as I pointed out in an article here last month. Sure, he (or she) can nominate Supreme Court justices, and some may be...

Why is Abortion an Issue in the Presidential Race?

Dan Miller — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:03:02 EDT

The President has very little control over the legality of abortion. It should not be a significant campaign issue.
Abortion is a highly charged emotional issue. Many people oppose abortion, under any circumstances. Others think it is just fine in all circumstances. Still others think it is OK in some, but not all circumstances. These, I submit, are "givens." What I don't understand is why abortion is a major issue in the Presidential race, since...

What Do We Want in a President and Can We Get it?

Dan Miller — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:01:54 EDT

We need to consider what we really want in a President, and whether getting it is possible.
In a comment posted to another article, a reader asked what most of us really want in a president. I responded to the question as follows:I think most us want a reliable father figure: someone whom we can really trust, who doesn't stray too far from our ideological norms, remains constant and doesn't make vague promises we somehow...

Politics, Thy Name is Hubris

Dan Miller — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:10:06 EDT

Hubris is a sin, which leads many to become politicians and helps many of them to fail.
Once upon a time, in a far off land, there lived a renowned prophetess. She had a large following of true believers enthralled by her prophesies and, indeed, by her every word. Even the occasional belch was hailed with great admiration. One morning in June, she announced that the following Sunday morning at ten o'clock she would perform a...