Political comparison matrix Dec 1, 2008
This is over a month late, but I need to express my admiration and respect for my wife's method of selecting a presidential candidate (and it's not because she's my wife; I literally really like her method).  Just like a product comparison matrix, where different features are compared and weighted to select the most desirable product, a political candidate can be chosen based essentially on a mathematical formula.  I mentioned this in my post about product comparison matrices, but I actually saw it carried out in the recent presidential election.  The benefit of a political comparison matrix is that it takes emotion out of the equation.  Many people vote because they have a "feeling" about someone.  But as any rational person knows, feelings change (especially in reference to political candidates, who often have a habit of changing).  Wendy selected a few specific issues that were important to her, then gathered information about each candidate's position on these issues.  Certain issues had more weight than others, and each candidate's position was given a numerical rank (and not everything is either a 0 or a 1; some issues could have a "totally agree, somewhat agree, neutral, somewhat disagree, totally disagree" type of scale).  At the end, a final number was calculated that summarized each issue, each candidate's position on each issue, and the weight of that issue.  Based on that final number, Wendy made her decision. #politics
Expired political signs Nov 12, 2008
I think all those jerks who littered our roads and highways with political signs should be forced to pick up all their stupid trash instead of just leaving it around to remind us of who ran in the recent presidential election.  We remember.  Now pick up your stupid signs, jerks. 

Similar to loser bumper stickers. #politics
Political pride Nov 5, 2008
It's interesting how people think they know what they're talking about whenever the subject of politics comes up.  Most people rightly admit their lack of understanding when it comes to things like psychology or the variation of gravitational acceleration with altitude.  But with politics, everyone's an expert.  I particularly like conversations that start with "You voted for that guy?  I can't believe anyone would vote for him."  It's nice to talk to someone so ridiculously full of themselves and their political opinions. #politics
Good candidates Nov 4, 2008
Why aren't there any really good political candidates?  Sometimes the question that comes to mind is, "This is the best we could do?"  Seriously, this is the number one Republican candidate in the country?  There aren't any Democrats better than this guy?  It just seems like, out of the 300 million people in this country, maybe we could find some that don't have glaring character flaws, dubious birth certificates, speech impediments, difficulties with their native language, extremist views on casual issues, and anything else that makes half the country hate or distrust them. #politics
Election 08 Nov 4, 2008
Some brief thoughts on the election: 
  1. I hope nobody wins.  That would be funny.
  2. I refuse to vote for a candidate other than one of the main two, because if I wanted to waste my vote on a person that definitely won't win, I just wouldn't vote at all.  It's sad that it has to be that way, but that's how it is.
  3. Two things I'd like Obama to change are the outrageous price of movie tickets, and the lack of availability of the NFL Network on my cable package.
  4. There was one person in line before me at 7am when I voted.  I almost turned around and walked out.  Just kidding.  It was the easiest experience of my entire life.
  5. I can't believe we don't yet vote online.  Instead we show up to obscure polling locations in the middle of nowhere (at least that's how my town works) and use strange machines.  Stupidest idea ever.  Do people still not trust the internet?  We trust the postal service to deliver our bank statements, but we don't trust the internet to register our vote securely.  Ridiculous.
  6. In reality, I don't think the person occupying the office of president has any effect on me whatsoever.  I can't be drafted into the military (or probably won't be), I'll always pay more taxes than I want to, and I don't buy things I can't afford (not that the president has anything to do with the financial crisis [though I'm sure the case can be made]).  Regardless of who wins this little contest, life will go on as usual.
  7. I can't ignore the fact that voting for a president is an extremely selfish act.  Everyone has their own core beliefs and values, and their vote will reflect those values, often at the expense of other people.  If I vote for a dude because I don't like paying taxes, I'm ignoring the fact that my taxes fund everything from the military to social security to public education to the police.  Right there I'm destroying the livelihood and wellbeing of pretty much every member of my family and every one of my friends, and all because I don't feel like paying taxes.  I'm such a jerk.
  8. It's funny how people get so worked up about this whole stupid election.  It's one thing to root for a candidate, but it's entirely different to get in arguments that lead to insults about people's personal appearance and intelligence.
  9. I think it's pretty clear that there will be a significant amount of unrest regardless of the outcome of the election.  If Obama wins, some ignorant racist will do something pretty stupid that will lead to a large-scale conflict.  If McCain wins, most democrats will likely leave the country for fear of Tina Fey eventually becoming president.  It's gonna be ugly either way.
  10. Update:  I can't stand the thought of having another person in power who can't properly pronounce the word "nuclear".
  11. Update:  I was amazed once again at the lack of identity verification at the voting place.  I simply had to state my name and sign a box.  No one checked my ID or asked me to verify anything even remotely personal.
#politics
Newspapers endorsing candidates Oct 24, 2008
I keep hearing about newspapers endorsing presidential candidates (NY Times for Obama, Washington Post and LA Times for Obama [ok, like everybody for Obama]), and I can't help but think it's completely backwards.  If I want a political opinion, I'll read some political opinions.  If I want news, I expect to find it in a newspaper.  And sure, we all know most major news outlets tend to show some political bias.  But not all of them explicitly state it.  I suppose I should be thankful that these newspapers are making their opinions open and honest, but at the same time, I'd rather have unbiased people reporting my news.  Thankfully, USA Today is still neutral. #politics
Obama vs. Palin (1) Sep 26, 2008
Once again, I hate politics.  I refuse to try to persuade anyone to believe one thing or another, and any time I read the political opinions of random people on the internet, I throw up a little.  But I have two thoughts regarding the current rat race for the presidency: 
  1. I actually hope Obama gets elected.  Whether he does anything good or not is completely beside the point.  I just think it would be good for the health of our nation, our younger voters, and our multitudes of liberal celebrities to finally get their way.  Otherwise, there could be riots.
  2. The biggest criticism of Palin is her lack of experience.  I seem to remember a few months ago when the biggest criticism against Obama was his lack of experience.  Suddenly all these democrats that said you didn't need experience to run the country have changed their mind.
For the record, I side with neither candidate at the moment.  However, I'm leaning towards Palin (and her running mate John what's-his-name) because she's attractive and has a good impersonator in Tina Fey. #politics
Palin Sep 15, 2008
This month's political comment:  John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his running mate because she's the complete opposite of him.  She's
  1. A woman
  2. Under the age of 80
  3. Not painful to look at
#politics
Politics fail Jul 14, 2008
I was at a concert Saturday night, and the band had a big banner behind their drummer with their name and logo on it.  The banner was in place throughout their set, just in case you forgot who you were listening to.  Immediately following their last song, the banner descended, showing a picture of Barack Obama. 

The concert was in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and the headliners were the Dropkick Murphys, an Irish punk band hailing from the Boston area, made famous by their songs' inclusion at Red Sox games.  For the casual reader, this means that pretty much the entire audience was a bunch of young, drunk, Massholes (a technical term), famed for their extreme leftist thought and their democratic politics. 

As the Obama poster became visible, I rolled my eyes and started my hatred for the band on the stage (the Mighty Mighty Bosstones).  I'm a firm believer in the separation of celebrities and politics.  No famous person, simply because they're well-known and recognizable, should have the right to spew their personal political opinions to groups of attentive onlookers.  Just because you're a good musician or a famous actor doesn't give you the privilege of lecturing people and gaining followers for your political leanings.  That's like being an astronaut and preaching against cholesterol medication.  Fame shouldn't equal influence. 

Nevertheless, an amazing thing happened that night.  The band finished playing, the Obama poster became visible, I rolled my eyes ... and then ... wait for it ... the crowd started booing.  Yes, booing.  I'm not sure if it was the biggest coincidence in the history of the universe (a bunch of young republican Massachusetts residents all at the same concert on the same night), or if they agreed with me about the separation of state and status.  But either way, it was great to see a group of people stand up for their political independence.  It was the biggest, best, and most enjoyable political fail I've ever witnessed. 

(For the record, it didn't matter if the poster had a picture of Obama, McCain, Bush, Bin Laden, or Barney.  All politics should be off limits at non-political events.) #politics
Damaged politicians (4) Mar 12, 2008
It seems like we're always looking for political candidates who have a perfect moral record.  Never did drugs, never got arrested, never killed a puppy.  I think this is stupid.  In the event we actually find a candidate who is morally impeccable, it just means they're a good liar.  They're good at covering things up.  Is that who we want running our country?  I'd rather have some dude that said, "Heck yeah I snorted coke.  It was great.  But that was 30 years ago and I wouldn't do it again because it can easily destroy your whole life and wind up killing you."  I'd rather have an honest candidate than some fence-sitter who "smoked pot but didn't inhale".  Why smoke pot at all if you don't inhale?  It's like drinking without swallowing. #politics