The incoming US President, faced with very serious problems on the national and international levels - including a possible collapse of the country's banking system by the first week of November- remains a toss-up between two candidates undergoing a rigorous election campaign, debating the critical issue of lipstick on a pig. Barack Obama's quote of this old adage has been connected by the John McCain camp as a slur on Sarah Palin, and the Republicans have prophesied this incident to be the cause of the GOP victory and the demise of the Democrat's candidacy. The prophecy may be fulfilled when pigs fly.
John McCain has been enjoying an enormous piggy back ride on the popularity of Sarah Palin, whose own stretching of the truth about her refusal to accept congressional earmarked funds; the "Bridge to nowhere" story; and the pipeline for natural gas; are subtle fairy tales meant for a wolf to lure the 3 little pigs. Truth is, she accepted $27 million in congressional funds while mayor of Wasilla; the natural gas pipeline was just signed two weeks ago which is viewed as unfeasible and will cost $40 billion, not $27 billion; and the infamous bridge she fully supported, then opposed when the earmarked funds were already removed . But the funds were given to Alaska which they used for other projects. To date, she has requested $167 million in earmarked funds from Congress.
The elasticity of the truth seems to be limitless as far as these politicians are concerned. Like the Obama campaign's statement that a technologically challenged President is not suitable for the office - referring to McCain's inability to operate a computer or send e-mails, when he is obviously a disabled veteran. All innuendoes, half truths, and stretches must be categorized for what these are: LIES! But the swine herd mentality of the campaign continues to pursue the heaping of mud on one another, thereby muddling the issues that matter most in the lives of the people. It's as plain as a pig on a sofa, the campaign by both parties is shallow and senseless, supported by sound bytes that` are in a pig's eye.
Both candidates are sweating like pigs trying to outdo one another, and are conducting their campaigns as clumsily as hogs on ice. They both seem to be packaging themselves with heavily over extended storylines to create a persona with the oratorical and inspirational skills of Kennedy or Reagan, a protector from America's enemies like Eisenhower and Roosevelt, a geo-political master like Nixon, a tough go-getter who can manuever Congress to pass important legislation like Johnson, the star quality of a decent man like Carter, and the economic savvy of a Clinton. These elements are being lumped in a single package - to attract the voters - minus these men's achilles heels of course. But this packaging is slicker than a greased pig, because such a person with all these qualities does not exist.
America is $9.3 trillion in debt, it is involved in wars on practically 3 fronts, it's banks are teetering from the mortgage crisis, its obligations in health and social security amounting to trillions of dollars more are forthcoming, and its economy is staring at a recession so deep it will give the incoming President a nightmare worse than working knee deep in mud, inside a sealed pig sty. And the campaigns by both parties choose to make a pig's ear of the debating process. Voters should heed the biblical proverb "Do not cast your pearls before swine" before deciding to vote. This election and its ghastly conduct may leave them squealing like a stuck pig after.
American voters must be perceived as ignorant by the candidates should this trend continue. Voters must refuse to be a party to this charade of silly attacks and demand a focus on issues that affect their future as a people and as a nation. It was Churchill who said " Dogs look up to man, cats look down on man, and pigs look at man in the eye and see an equal". If Americans allow themselves to be seen as simpletons, then they can expect their country to be mired worse than a pig pen - together with the hogs they elected into office. That is the only real prophecy that has any possibility of fulfillment in this election.
Haaaarrrrwwwwwk...Twoooooooph...Ting!
Pig Image with lipstick from Mick Coulas
John McCain has been enjoying an enormous piggy back ride on the popularity of Sarah Palin, whose own stretching of the truth about her refusal to accept congressional earmarked funds; the "Bridge to nowhere" story; and the pipeline for natural gas; are subtle fairy tales meant for a wolf to lure the 3 little pigs. Truth is, she accepted $27 million in congressional funds while mayor of Wasilla; the natural gas pipeline was just signed two weeks ago which is viewed as unfeasible and will cost $40 billion, not $27 billion; and the infamous bridge she fully supported, then opposed when the earmarked funds were already removed . But the funds were given to Alaska which they used for other projects. To date, she has requested $167 million in earmarked funds from Congress.
The elasticity of the truth seems to be limitless as far as these politicians are concerned. Like the Obama campaign's statement that a technologically challenged President is not suitable for the office - referring to McCain's inability to operate a computer or send e-mails, when he is obviously a disabled veteran. All innuendoes, half truths, and stretches must be categorized for what these are: LIES! But the swine herd mentality of the campaign continues to pursue the heaping of mud on one another, thereby muddling the issues that matter most in the lives of the people. It's as plain as a pig on a sofa, the campaign by both parties is shallow and senseless, supported by sound bytes that` are in a pig's eye.
Both candidates are sweating like pigs trying to outdo one another, and are conducting their campaigns as clumsily as hogs on ice. They both seem to be packaging themselves with heavily over extended storylines to create a persona with the oratorical and inspirational skills of Kennedy or Reagan, a protector from America's enemies like Eisenhower and Roosevelt, a geo-political master like Nixon, a tough go-getter who can manuever Congress to pass important legislation like Johnson, the star quality of a decent man like Carter, and the economic savvy of a Clinton. These elements are being lumped in a single package - to attract the voters - minus these men's achilles heels of course. But this packaging is slicker than a greased pig, because such a person with all these qualities does not exist.
America is $9.3 trillion in debt, it is involved in wars on practically 3 fronts, it's banks are teetering from the mortgage crisis, its obligations in health and social security amounting to trillions of dollars more are forthcoming, and its economy is staring at a recession so deep it will give the incoming President a nightmare worse than working knee deep in mud, inside a sealed pig sty. And the campaigns by both parties choose to make a pig's ear of the debating process. Voters should heed the biblical proverb "Do not cast your pearls before swine" before deciding to vote. This election and its ghastly conduct may leave them squealing like a stuck pig after.
American voters must be perceived as ignorant by the candidates should this trend continue. Voters must refuse to be a party to this charade of silly attacks and demand a focus on issues that affect their future as a people and as a nation. It was Churchill who said " Dogs look up to man, cats look down on man, and pigs look at man in the eye and see an equal". If Americans allow themselves to be seen as simpletons, then they can expect their country to be mired worse than a pig pen - together with the hogs they elected into office. That is the only real prophecy that has any possibility of fulfillment in this election.
Haaaarrrrwwwwwk...Twoooooooph...Ting!
Pig Image with lipstick from Mick Coulas
14 comments:
Great post, unfortunately negative campaigning wins elections. It is the US electorate who need to demand better. But the whole point of negative campaigning is to scare your supporters into voting for you (or abstain in disgust).
Perhaps an on-line matching system, where a disgusted Dem pairs with a disgusted Rep to deliberately spoil their ballot paper in a protest vote.
Hi Durano, That was biting sarcasm. I could see the clear picture of what you were trying to portray. pigs all in a pig sty..lol..
I'm glad I won't be voting. All the best.
Your pig prophecy is profound...and far from paltry! In many respects it is a rather shameful circumstance, especially as the time-honored tradition of mud wrestling seems to be replicated on the political stage for both an American and international audience. If we somehow manage to slosh ourselves out of this rather odious pile of poo, i, for one, will be impressed.
Great post - I found this American presidential election is a funny thing to watch.
Thanks for leaving interesting notes on my blog.
Cheers, Leet
I loved reading this post Durano...very funny ...especially the photos of the pigs... :) ;)
I have quite a fondness for pigs and your analogies are very apt and clever indeed :)
Hi Tim,
WELCOME!
I agree with your observations about negative campaigning and it is ruining the very foundation of the election as means of finding solutions through a leader trustworthy to do the right thing. Instead, a perceived lesser evil is selected.
The whole point is to make the US electorate demand better from politicians as you say, but this is getting more difficult with media's propensity for controversies that sell.
Your suggestion of a protest vote may also be foiled by the machinations of either party, but a voiced protest in great numbers would be better, if it could take off.
Thanks for the visit. :-) --Durano, done!
Hi Jenaisle,
The post stemmed from the pig issue and I was just portraying that both parties and candidates are making a mockery of the electoral process.
We really have no say in this election but it will impact on us just the same.
Thanks for dropping by. :-) --Durano, done!
Hi "r"
That was very well said and very funny too, as always.
It is truly embarrassing to see the world's bastion of Democracy undermine the respect people have for the pigs. LOL! It is such an undignified imitation.
I do hope US politics will rise above the sty it is buried in and cleanse itself of the odor they have so gotten enamored with. :-0 --Durano, done!
Hi Leet,
WELCOME!
The American election has become a circus of horrors and clowns. It is neither scary nor funny, but tragic and deadly.
You're welcome to the notes. I am greatly inclined to leave many more in the weeks ahead. :-) --Durano, done!
Hello Kim,
I'm glad you loved it and had a good laugh reading through it. I had a good time retrieving all those idioms about pigs and inserting them on the post where it mattered. :-)
I'm not as fond of pigs as you perhaps, but I am very respectful of their contributions to mankind and their higher commitment to regular breakfast than chickens. I refer here to bacon as against eggs. Ha ha ha.
Thanks for the visit. Have a great week ahead. :-) --Durano, done!
I think every campaign needs it little "witty" lines but this one has so many cheap shots that it's hard to keep track of them all... and this is sadly true for both sides.
Hi Zhu,
There's a lot of sound bytes that are devoid of deep and specific details, that would that would allow them room to maneuver.
The lines are meant to be short, biting, and easy to remember; and one that will categorize or define the other in a particular image - whether that image is accurate or not.
In short, it is mostly deception, disinformation, or misinformation. This is the quality of their current political strategy because of the short attention span of their voters, absence or laziness to read, spoon feeding rather than making their own analysis, emotional appeal and imaging, fanaticism, among others. The dumbing of America is almost complete. :-) --Durano, done!
Politics really is mud, and those who wallow in it are swine.
Hi Upyours,
Politics is really the province of the pigs. Just like the lipstick on a pig adage, Regardless of what they supposedly represent, they are still politicians. :-) --Durano, done!
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