The Cosmopolitan Blog

Part 2 of my effort at fairness, looking at the serious criticism of Obama’s campaign (and of Obama himself).

Issue 2: The ACORN Issue

Arguably, this is a more serious issue than the Ayers issue, I think that was acknowledged by all parties.

1. CLAIM: ACORN has created fake voter registrations by using fake names: for example names of people who are actually deceased, even the name Jimmy Johns, the name of a restaurant where no actual Jimmy Johns worked at, they even created fake registrations for the entire Dallas Cowboys football team. Since Obama is linked to this firm in some way, and since 1+1=3, Obama is rigging the election.
2. FACTS:
   • ACORN has been under investigation for over four years
   • ACORN has created over 5,000 fake voter registrations in at least 6 states and continued to do so until a few days ago when it became a national issue
   • Obama’s campaign used ACORN’s services (it was actually a subsidiary, but fine, let’s simplify) during the primary campaign to register voters at a fee of $800,000.
   • ACORN endorsed Obama for president
3. CONCLUSIONS:
   • Obama used the services of a firm under investigation: YES
   • Should he have? NO
   • Would it have affected the outcome of the primaries NO the number of registrations was a few thousand, Obama won by much more
   • Does it make a difference that ACORN endorsed him? NOT REMOTELY, do you know how many companies endorse each candidate, 1/2 the time without the candidates even knowing it?
   • Will this affect this election? NO, since a. they’ve been caught, b. all registrations (fake or non) coming from them have been pulled, c. this was not actual votes, it was registrations for new voters to be able to vote

COSMOCHICK’S RANT:

While I think this is a more serious issue than Ayers, because Obama’s campaign is to blame for having hired a firm under investigation, the consequences of his actions are, well, non-consequential. Again, this is a political tactic. McCain is trying to put doubts in voters minds by lining up a bunch of things that will make you question his judgment. What McCain doesn’t tell you is that he’s done just as bad, that it’s all part of the game of politics, and that even HE (McCain) doesn’t think this are big deal issues, he’s just grabbing at straws.

However, if you feel that your trust in Obama has gone because a guy who bombed the Pentagon organized a meeting to launch Obama’s campaign, and because he used the services of a firm under investigation, then you have the right to feel that way. That means McCain’s argument was persuasive. And i can’t fault you for this.

What I will say though, is don’t imagine ANYTHING here is black or white (and I’m not talking about the candidates’ skin colors). If you think there’s doubt to be cast on Obama’s campaign practices, then you should know there are is just as much to be cast on McCain? Why? Am i saying this because I’m bitter? No. I’m as calm as i can be when i tell you: it’s the name of the game, politics. You do what you can do to get ahead. You say what you can say.You promise what you need to promise. And if you think McCain is any better, because he seems nice, because he seems approachable, because he could be your next door neighbor, because you can relate to him, because he doesn’t flash a Harvard education around… then think again. He might very well be all of these things, but he’s not become a presidential nominee by being a nice guy, trust me.

And you know what? In 2000 and 2004, we elected and re-elected a guy that seemed nice and approachable. Look where that got us. *sigh* I feel a new post topic coming on whether a POTUS should be just like us… Stay tuned.

I was watching CNN’s videos this morning, and listening to what the world’s reaction is to Obama becoming the presumptive nominee of the Democratic party. Interestingly, in places like Lebanon, it was more important to them for a woman to have won. I think that the impact of a woman winning would have been greater around the world, because women’s struggle is a concept universally understood, which touches everyone in some way. On the other hand, the fact that a black man won a victory in the US is probably harder to understand for those who don’t follow US history as we do, and who don’t understand the African-American struggle.

Other reactions around the world: Germans are delighted, seeing Obama in a similar light as they did John F. Kennedy 50 years ago. In Japan, a group of female fans dream of meeting Obama. And in China, they seem happy with the fact that Clinton did not win, seeing her as a old-style hardliner who would perpetuate the impression Americans have of China. …and it India, they just want to see a president who will push India further up on the world map. Maybe they think the US government should outsource to India like the rest of us!

In a post back in January, when there were still more than 2 candidates in each party for the US elections, i predicted that if either Hillary or Obama became the party nominee, then the Democrats would loose the general election and the next president would be a republican.

I still stand by this statement. See, I always asked the question “is the US more sexist or racist”. We think this question no longer applies, since 1/2 of america is voting for a black man and the other 1/2 for a woman and one would think the answer is that it’s pretty much equal. But that’s not true, it still very much applies: now that we know our opponent is McCain, who is more electable and likely to win against him, a woman or a black man? So again, I ask the question “is the US more sexist or more racist”?

I personally always thought America was more ready to elect a woman than a black man. After all, this is a country where there a still TWO schools that have some sort of racial segregation.

My personal viewpoint is that, by nature, the Democrats are more likely to accept a minority lead them. So they are more likely to accept a black man. But when it comes to the elections, we may also be looking at a whole bunch of republicans and undecided, who DON’T want to vote for McCain. Will they vote for Barack? I don’t think they will. And in that case, I feel that maybe Clinton should be McCain’s opponent, I think that a republican is more likely to vote for a woman than a black man.

This is absolutely 100% my opinion and understanding of this country from what i hear, what i observe, having lived there and having most of my friends and family still living there. Now, i want to hear what you think. Feel free to post a comment or two. Or answer the poll question on the right. Is the US more sexist or more racist?

I just turned 33. And I just had the best birthday week i could have hoped for. See, when you’re 33, birthdays are just another day, I don’t necessarily care that i’m at work that day or that i won’t end up drunk and passed out somewhere by the end of the night. Apparently, in your 30s, you also realize that whether or not you actually get drunk is not the deciding factor on whether you had a nice evening or not.

So this year, i decided to leave it to the Gods. I made no plans, had no expectations, didn’t pre-warm anyone that this day was coming up, and even had a laundry list of errands that i was perfectly willing to run on my birthday weekend. And you know what? When you have no expectations, it’s amazing, because ANYTHING that happens is a bonus. Seriously.

For starters, there’s facebook (hahaha, that’s funny… it’s my birthday post and i’m commenting on how awesome a piece of technology is… *sigh* there really is no hope for geeks like me). Anyway, as one of my friends posted on my wall, “facebook means never missing another birthday”. Because there’s this little thing on the right sidebar that tells you a days in advance when someone’s birthday is. So all these people i connected with wrote on my wall, sent me free gifts, remembered to send me e-greetings, it was all very um… e-fun! Ok, so the number of physical birthday cards (you know, those that you can actually touch and that you receive through your mailbox, you know, the mailbox outside your house, remember that one?) decreases a little, but it’s ok, i’m in my 30s, which means that people of my generation actually still know what they are (phew, there is still hope for the world) and i still got a few.

ok, so my morning (at work, may i remind you) was filled with birthday calls, birthday wall postings and birthday e-cards. I imagined that was going to be the most fun i was gonna get that day, but then, 5 of my colleagues (remember, this is a company where no one does anything for anyone’s birthday apart from sign a card that always ends up on your desk a couple days late anyway) got together to buy me a cake and left it on my desk for me to find when i got back from lunch. So i invited them all to tea and cake in the company kitchen, it was lovely. Meanwhile, all my college friends from Boston called me, one at a time, so we got to catch up on a whole lot of gossip. Of course, by then, i had done NO work whatsoever… ssshhh, don’t tell anyone. So then, 2 other colleagues bought me candy from the local store downstairs, and if that wasn’t enough, the owner gave me a 3rd one free after realizing it was my birthday.

So after i had put on 10lbs in one afternoon, i went home and vegged. It was Thursday, so i knew that nothing would happen until the next evening. The good thing about having family in town is that, if they love you just a little, in theory, they’re gonna do SOMEthing, even tiny. So, i just assumed my sister would get me a cake, invite cousins over and that would be that. But no, somehow, this wasn’t the case. And it was awesome, because i didn’t expect it. She picked a new place, a Brazilian restaurant i will review shortly, planned everything from the guestlist to the transportation to…. yep, coordinating the surprise arrival of my best friend and her hubby, all the way from Ottawa. It was awesome, we were all at the restaurant already when the surprise guests showed up, and i was totally not expecting it. I got some awesome gifts, my uncle was even considerate enough to throw in a couple toys for my cat!

Saturday, i had a potluck brunch with all my girlfriends, where i was showered with even more gifts and cards, and then went out for drinks in the evening with a couple other people. I spend Sunday seeing other friends and spending a leisurely afternoon in the sunny Old Port of Montreal.

So i want to thank everyone who made my birthday so special.

Too often, we assume that because it’s a birthday, or it’s New Years Eve, or it’s Valentine’s Day, then something special HAS to happen. We put so much pressure on ourselves! Instead, relax! Why not just go in with no expectations, seriously, try it, I highly recommend it. Any event then takes on a whole new dimension of awesome!

It’s been 2 months since i’ve posted, and if i still have anyone reading this blog, then i’m extremely lucky!!

Dear readers (all 2 of you, one of which is probably my mom!!), yes, i’m still here. The past few months have been filled with family visits, trips overseas, religious festivities, a couple migraines, and the highlight of it all, the acquisition of my very own PDA, finally! Yes, i know, once a geek always a geek…

So this is my resurfacing post… Worth noting, in an effort to stay as present as i can on my blog, i’ve added the twitter plugin (see right column), so you’ll always know what i’m up to… I’m new to twitter, and apparently, no one i know is on there, so i you want to add me as your friend, i’d be eternally grateful… lol, needy much?

Next, i’ll post a review, i guess i owe you all at least that!