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What the Hell, vote for me!
Jan. 13th, 2018 06:11 pm(This is an expansion of something I wrote on Facebook a week or so back.)
Want to know why I would never vote for Oprah to be President? Aside from not wanting to see another billionaire with no relevant experience in the White House?
Cars. Specifically, the 276 Pontiac G-Six models that she gave to her studio audience back in 2004. Because she didn't give them as gifts, they were prizes. And when you win a prize, you owe the taxes on it. Get a gift, and the giver pays the tax. At the time, CNN Money figured that the tax on that car could be as high as $7,000 even after Pontiac ate the state sales tax and other local fees.
Plus registration, insurance, and gas. Which are expected expenses when you buy a new car. You plan for such things while figuring your budget for the purchase. But to be suddenly handed a $28,000 prize and, oh yeah, a bill from the IRS, due now, thank you. Oprah and Harpo Productions screwed these people but good. All for a rating boost.
Then there's Oprah's long history of supporting pseudoscience. She's the reason quacks like Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil infest our airwaves. They started out peddling bizarre crap science on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and her audience of gullible sheep ate up every word, leading to both of these dangerous men getting their own shows.
Oprah even boosted anti-vaccination queen Jenny McCarthy long after the British study linking vaccinations to autism had been pulled and repudiated. I'm a guy who depends on herd immunity to stay alive, and her the Queen of Daytime is telling young mothers to not get recommended shots for their kids. That's beyond stupid, it can kill people. And it has.
It just drives me nuts that American in 2018 seems to have abandoned the idea of experience and competence with celebrity and name recognition. Chelsea Manning, a woman convicted in a court-martial of 31 felonies against the United States is running for the US Senate. And rather being laughed out of the room, people who only recognize her name are supporting her.
She can't even vote for herself in Maryland, where she's running a quixotic campaign against a popular Democratic incumbent. She's allowed to run, but why anyone is taking her seriously beyond her fame, or infamy, if you prefer, is an utter mystery.
I remain a registered Democrat solely so I can vote in the primary elections. Ideologically, I'm an independent. I vote for the best person for the job. Republican, Democrat, Green, whatever. I look for someone who seems capable, is of strong character, has relevant experience to bring to the office, and has positions I agree with.
This obviously means making compromises. It's not often that a candidate hits on all the marks, but there usually is a better option. As I firmly believe that politicians are like diapers -- they need to be changed frequently for the same reason -- given a toss-up, I'll usually favor a new voice over the incumbent.
But not until I know the person both through their campaign and checking sources like Ballotpedia. I like being an informed voter. I actually read all that crap in the voter's guide and the sample ballot. On a sad note, I'm finally giving in and voting by mail. Just too difficult to do all the walking and standing. Sad, really. I love going to the polls.
So, I'm going to look for an experienced leader who I agree with in 2020. Who is that person going to be? I have a few early favorites. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) is one who I hope will run. A former District Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco and former Attorney General of the State of California, she has executive experience and a broad knowledge of the law. I agree with almost all her stated positions, and she's charismatic as hell.
Plus it's time for a Democrat from California to be President. The Golden State has sent three men to the White House: Herbert Hoover, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan. We need to improve our reputation! But seriously, it's time for the economic powerhouse that is the West Coast to get some control. President Harris in the Oval Office while Nancy Pelosi wields the Speaker's gavel would make me happy.
Wither Oprah? She's loaded, let her start up some super PACs and fund congressional campaigns. Give her a prime spot in the campaign, and a good speaking slot at the national convention. Then make her an ambassador. Ambassador to the UN would work. She's smart, she can handle the role. But President? Hell, no.
Want to know why I would never vote for Oprah to be President? Aside from not wanting to see another billionaire with no relevant experience in the White House?
Cars. Specifically, the 276 Pontiac G-Six models that she gave to her studio audience back in 2004. Because she didn't give them as gifts, they were prizes. And when you win a prize, you owe the taxes on it. Get a gift, and the giver pays the tax. At the time, CNN Money figured that the tax on that car could be as high as $7,000 even after Pontiac ate the state sales tax and other local fees.
Plus registration, insurance, and gas. Which are expected expenses when you buy a new car. You plan for such things while figuring your budget for the purchase. But to be suddenly handed a $28,000 prize and, oh yeah, a bill from the IRS, due now, thank you. Oprah and Harpo Productions screwed these people but good. All for a rating boost.
Then there's Oprah's long history of supporting pseudoscience. She's the reason quacks like Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil infest our airwaves. They started out peddling bizarre crap science on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and her audience of gullible sheep ate up every word, leading to both of these dangerous men getting their own shows.
Oprah even boosted anti-vaccination queen Jenny McCarthy long after the British study linking vaccinations to autism had been pulled and repudiated. I'm a guy who depends on herd immunity to stay alive, and her the Queen of Daytime is telling young mothers to not get recommended shots for their kids. That's beyond stupid, it can kill people. And it has.
It just drives me nuts that American in 2018 seems to have abandoned the idea of experience and competence with celebrity and name recognition. Chelsea Manning, a woman convicted in a court-martial of 31 felonies against the United States is running for the US Senate. And rather being laughed out of the room, people who only recognize her name are supporting her.
She can't even vote for herself in Maryland, where she's running a quixotic campaign against a popular Democratic incumbent. She's allowed to run, but why anyone is taking her seriously beyond her fame, or infamy, if you prefer, is an utter mystery.
I remain a registered Democrat solely so I can vote in the primary elections. Ideologically, I'm an independent. I vote for the best person for the job. Republican, Democrat, Green, whatever. I look for someone who seems capable, is of strong character, has relevant experience to bring to the office, and has positions I agree with.
This obviously means making compromises. It's not often that a candidate hits on all the marks, but there usually is a better option. As I firmly believe that politicians are like diapers -- they need to be changed frequently for the same reason -- given a toss-up, I'll usually favor a new voice over the incumbent.
But not until I know the person both through their campaign and checking sources like Ballotpedia. I like being an informed voter. I actually read all that crap in the voter's guide and the sample ballot. On a sad note, I'm finally giving in and voting by mail. Just too difficult to do all the walking and standing. Sad, really. I love going to the polls.
So, I'm going to look for an experienced leader who I agree with in 2020. Who is that person going to be? I have a few early favorites. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) is one who I hope will run. A former District Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco and former Attorney General of the State of California, she has executive experience and a broad knowledge of the law. I agree with almost all her stated positions, and she's charismatic as hell.
Plus it's time for a Democrat from California to be President. The Golden State has sent three men to the White House: Herbert Hoover, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan. We need to improve our reputation! But seriously, it's time for the economic powerhouse that is the West Coast to get some control. President Harris in the Oval Office while Nancy Pelosi wields the Speaker's gavel would make me happy.
Wither Oprah? She's loaded, let her start up some super PACs and fund congressional campaigns. Give her a prime spot in the campaign, and a good speaking slot at the national convention. Then make her an ambassador. Ambassador to the UN would work. She's smart, she can handle the role. But President? Hell, no.
