1. Left Limit, Right Limit: An Approach to Understanding Political Issues Part IIIc

If you’ve been wondering why you haven’t seen entries in my blog for a few days, here’s why. My statistics tell me this is my 500th entry and I wanted it to be something fairly special.

Today is my fifth installment in my Left/Right Limit series where we are looking at what Democrats and Republicans have to say about one another in their fund raising letters. Next week is going to be a report on a fund raising letter from Karl Rove. For this week, I’m going to be reporting on John McCain.

You’ll notice I used the word “reporting”. At this point, I am offering very little commentary. I just want to factually describe what I’m reading, get everything out on the table, and then do some analysis for you in later Ezines. That should not stop you from reading this and offering comments now.

Here are my observations from McCain’s fund raising letters.

McCain echoes the Republican Party expectations if Democrats win the White House and a majority in both houses of the Congress. If Democrats win, then McCain says—

 Your taxes will be raised by allowing the Bush Tax Cuts to expire.
 Our troops will be recklessly pulled out of Iraq and hand our enemies (Al Qaeda) a victory they have neither won nor deserve.
 Government spending will skyrocket to implement government run health care (socialized medicine) and resurrect failed welfare programs.
 Liberal judges will be appointed who will legislate from the bench.

There are also some intriguing statements from the letters worth quoting to you. For example--
 
 “History has shown that no nation has ever taxed its way to economic prosperity.”
 “I will veto any bill that comes to my desk with earmarks.”
 Liberals are proposing a “tired, failing, deeply flawed” agenda of “creeping socialism, ever rising taxes, and a defense policy of retreat and defeat.”
 
McCain supports—

 Strengthening “ethical standards in government to eliminate the influence of big monied interests.”
 Expanding “affordability and accessibility to quality health care with market based—not big government—solutions.”
 Electing “Republicans who will fight to strengthen Border Security.”
 Actions to “build on the success we have achieved in Iraq. . .”

One of McCain’s letters does have a survey and (like all political surveys) it’s filled with “duh” type questions. For example, “Do you feel the tax codes should be made simpler and fairer?” I will comment on this one. What’s your answer to this one going to be? No, I feel the tax code should be made harder and more unfair? I mean, come on, surely you survey writers can do better than this.

In that light, I note how both Democrats and Republicans both wave the crying towel about how the other Party has “enormous” fund raising resources they must compete against. Funding for McCain is said to be needed to, “. . . get out our message of truth to all Americans and register historic numbers of voters. . .” and to “fight Democrats’ propaganda.”

One particularly effective technique in McCain’s letters was the naming of a Democratic policy should they win and then stating his own position in contrast. I don’t show it here because I want the focus to be on what one Party says about the other. I may come back to it as part of my analysis in future Ezines.

See you next week with a report on Karl Rove’s fund raising letter.

2. Real Spit On the Air July 23, 2008

I taped my first episode of Real Spit with Sam Hunter this past Wednesday night. It will broadcast on Channel 109 in Omaha on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 9:00 CDT. The second episode will be July 30. As I wrote before, I will try to find a way to post it on my YouTube site.

Being on the show was a lot of fun. For those of you who have only seen me speak to a service club or heard me on the radio, this was something different. Sam and Dre (Sam’s co-host) have a very lively format. The show is unrehearsed. Sam did provide a chalkboard to write on, which made the format better than radio. I appreciate Sam having me on the show. In fact, when available, I’ve agreed to become a panelist on the show as we discuss current issues.

I will also be on Harry Douglas’ show in Knoxville, TN on Tuesday, July 22, at 9:00 a.m. CDT. You can either listen to the show live or Harry has archives of his shows at www.carconcerns.com.