Politics

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Wednesday Link-Off: Debate This

I know there was a presidential debate last night but the thorough analysis wasn’t out in time to make this post. I’m not staying up until the early hours of Eastern time to add the one or two links that isn’t just biased spin. If I wanted that, I’d watch Fox News. They’re so “fair and balanced” that they almost weren’t allowed the broadcast in Canada as a news channel. Anyway, we still have some news and politics links. But first, here’s Canadian actress Emmanuelle Chriqui.

Good news if you plan to rely on Medicare at some point during the next 20 years: Both candidates for President will spend about the same on it. Bad news if you plan to rely on Medicaid at some point over the next 20 years: The Romney/Ryan plan will pretty much bankrupt it. (Mother Jones)

Mitt Romney tries to come off as the business man who knows how to turn around the economy. There’s one problem. He’s never actually built a proper business from scratch, just bought, sold and stripped for parts. (Washington Post)

If you’re cynical about the whole political process, you might not be entirely in the wrong. Things might not change after this election and Congress would still accomplish nothing. (BuzzFeed)

After the jump, who is better at creating jobs, the NHL’s failed PR attempt and a Ghostbusters mashup. Continue reading →

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Sunday Link-Off: The Dangers of Stardom

By our standards from the last couple of months, today’s linkdump is fairly light on politics. That doesn’t mean that we don’t have some interesting links for you to peruse. In keeping with changing things up a bit, let’s start with Romanian model Andreea Mantea who makes her first appearance on the blog.

Last week saw the American Vice Presidential candidate debate. The pundits, at least the unbiased ones, all give the win to Joe Biden. (Daily Kos)

If you didn’t pick Joe Biden as the winner of the debate, chances are you picked moderator Martha Raddatz who laid down the law during the debate. (NPR)

Ahead of next week’s presidential debate, David Maraniss examines Barack Obama’s debate tactics and what was different about his first debate against Mitt Romney. (Washington Post)

After the jump, Mitt Romney vs. the truth, Liverpool FC blackmails a fan and how to break an electoral college tie. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: Turkey Day Hangover

It was a slow news weekend thanks to the Columbus Day holiday in America and Thanksgiving in Canada. However, we still have enough for a linkdump. First, since it was Canadian Thanksgiving on Monday, let’s start with Canadian model Rachelle Goulding.

When a respected business publication like Bloomberg questions a party’s supposed fiscal conservatism, it’s time to question what that party actually stands for. They’ve found that the Republicans aren’t actually as fiscally responsible as they claim. (Bloomberg)

You want to know why Canada isn’t as big of a political gong show as America? It’s because we don’t have a two-party system. (National Post)

Somehow, BuzzFeed has become one of the best places to find unbiased political news during this election. Anyway, they also took a look at the Republican pseudo-media’s “unskewing” of polls and how their policy of attacking the media. (BuzzFeed)

After the jump, Aaron Sorkin’s advice for Obama, a look at obsessive teenage crushes and a musical tribute to video games. Continue reading →

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Sunday Link-Off: Save Big Bird

Just after I say that I was backing up the posting time on Sunday linkdumps to avoid F1 race start times, they do a flyaway race with a 2:00 AM EDT start. Anyway, let’s start off the newly regularly scheduled Sunday Link-Off with Erin Heatherton.

David Frum examines the reasons why everyone declared Obama the loser of the first Presidential debate. Shockingly, little of it had to do with politics. (The Daily Beast)

Ezra Klien looks at how Romney’s previous complete vagueness about his platform aided his victory in the debate. (Washington Post)

Jonathan Chait just gets to the point with his debate analysis. Romney just lied his way to the win. (New York Magazine)

After the jump, more on the debate, a look at SEO website Bleacher Report and an honest IE9 ad. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: Choose Your Own Reality

The first US Presidential campaign debate is tonight. I won’t be watching because I’m starting to get electioned out and we’re still a month away from voting day. Remember, folks, voter fatigue is part of the Romney plan so make sure to vote Obama on November 6th. In the meantime, let’s start today’s links with Candice Swanepoel.

The Republicans consider the Affordable Care Act (AKA Obamacare) the root of all evil. However, seeing as President Obama didn’t switch the health care system to single-payer, an op-ed suggests that maybe Obamacare is something the Tea Party should be happy about. (New York Times)

“Choose your own” is a genre usually limited to books and video games. However, conservative political pundits are living in a world of choose you own political reality. (Politico)

Let’s take a short break from politics. This is a great story by a man who was tormented off the internet before finally meeting and confronting his troll. (The Guardian)

After the jump, unskewing the polls (by skewing them in favour of your candidate), more insight on the BioWare resignations and The Simpsons’ take on the election. Continue reading →

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Sunday Link-Off: Having A Laugh

Well, last week was interesting for me. It’s not everyday that former TV game show host Chuck Woolery calls me stupid. Apparently I’m stupid for not agreeing with him that Mitt was actually joking when he said airplane windows should be able to roll down. If Mitt’s wife having to make an emergency landing because of smoke in the cabin is what Mitt and Chuck consider funny, they’d make a perfect writing team for a CBS sitcom. Anyway, let’s troll the Tea Party again with Miranda Kerr. The Republicans don’t have women that look this good.

Samuel L. Jackson has a message for everyone who isn’t concerned about the Presidential election because they think Obama will be handily re-elected: WAKE THE FUCK UP! (WTFU 2012)

The Republican’s think one year’s tax return is enough for Mitt Romney to release. However, it’s not about prying into his personal life. It’s about finding out what bias’ Romney might harbour in making policies which might help his personal finances. (The National Memo)

The GOP hates the Affordable Car Act even though it was based off the health care reform that Mitt Romney passed in Massachusetts as governor. In order to keep the support of the GOP, Romney keeps flip-flopping on whether or not he likes Obamacare or hates it. (Talking Points Memo)

After the jump, Todd Akin continues to try to lose his Senate election, baseball’s most biased announcers and two epic Gangnam Style parodies. Continue reading →

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Greed isn’t Good: Why Supply-Side Economics Doesn’t Work

Despite his numerous gaffes, including but not limited to offending foreign allies, calling 47% of Americans freeloaders, suggesting that airplanes need windows that roll down and blaming Obama for the unrest in the Middle East that resulted in the death of Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Mitt Romney is still reasonably close to President Obama in the polls.

The main reason why Romney is still in the race (apart from bias of the electorate) is that he is being portrayed as the candidate with a plan for economic recovery. The problem I have with Romney’s economic plan is that there’s no detailed plan in place. However, we know the basic of the Romney plan. It will involve tax cuts for the rich and corporations and government spending cuts to balance the budget. This is called supply-side economics. Recent history shows that supply-side economics don’t work. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: Roll Up Your Windows

If you hate my political coverage, you’ll hate my Friday column in which I explain why supply-side economics doesn’t actually work and give you the evidence to back that claim up. Anyway, on with the show. Let’s start with the newly single Amy Poehler who’s making Will Arnett look like a fool for divorcing her.

Mitt Romney has the perfect replacement for Obamacare. Since emergency rooms have to provide care people who come in, they can just go to an emergency room if they need it. The irony is that was the same logic that led him to create Romneycare. (Gawker)

Romney is all about cutting back government subsidies but did you know that government subsidies were the only thing that gave him enough money to get the Salt Lake City Olympics to actually happen. (Deadspin)

One of the arguments for the high pay of corporate executives is that they have special skills and experience that entitles them to that pay. However, a new study shows that these skills are specialized to one company and circumstance so there really isn’t any demand for their services. (New York Times)

After the jump, Romney’s epic airplane window fail, a tutorial with Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Al Bundy and the original worst referee call ever. Continue reading →

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Sunday Link-Off: Very Taxing

You know, I’ve never quite figured out why I run the Sunday links at 8:00 AM. The only reason I’m up this early is to watch an F1 race, such as today’s Singapore Grand Prix which I’ll recap on Monday. Maybe next week, we’ll back the links up to 9:00 AM. Anyway, let’s start today off with Dutch model Bregje Heinen.

Fox News says bringing up something Romney said four months ago is unfair. However, it’s more than fair to bash Obama over something his said 14 years ago. That’s just one of the many reasons that Jon Stewart calls Fox News BULLSHIT MOUNTAIN! (Mediaite)

A 12-year-old boy penned a letter to Mitt Romney explaining to Mittens why his plans are horrible for America. A 12-year-old boy understands the basics of human decency but the Republican Party doesn’t. Says it all, doesn’t it? (Huffington Post)

Mitt Romney released his 2011 tax returns. There are still a bunch of things he’s not telling us about his finances, though. (Think Progress)

After the jump, the latest breakthrough in FTL travel, why you shouldn’t hate read and a special message from the West Wing. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: Foot In Mouth… Again

If you’re reading this, you’ve survived half a week without NHL hockey thanks to that moronic lockout (though both sides are being ridiculous). You’ve also managed to get through the latest political BS in the US Presidential election. To take your mind off all this, here’s up and coming model Cameron Russell.

If the Libya gaffe wasn’t bad enough, could his anti-47% position finally finish off Mitt Romney? (Mother Jones) The question now becomes if anyone not planning to vote for Obama in the 47% recognize that they’re in the 47% and change their vote because Romney isn’t interesting helping them.

The Romney campaign isn’t just splintering in front of our eyes but behind the scenes. There’s a lot of blame going around for why the campaign is faltering. (Politico)

Author Michael Lewis wrote a lengthy profile of President Barack Obama based on some six months spent with the President. (Vanity Fair)

After the jump, more on Romney’s quote about 47% of Americans, hockey links to keep you sane and the comedians’ national anthem. Continue reading →