Ignorance IS bliss

By Jennifer J. Foster

I’m a huge news hound, as you know.

But sometimes, you’re better off not knowing what’s going on out there.

Witness this story from CNN, about an 80-year-old stripper named Tempest Storm.

Yes, an 80-year-old stripper.

Named Tempest Storm.

The story is not for the faint of heart.

But it’s proof that sometimes, ignorance IS bliss.

The candidates want your $25—or more

By Jennifer J. Foster

Since the economy is in such a funk, $25 means a lot more to our presidential candidates than it used to—especially when there’s a bunch of $25 donations.

Barack Obama has written the book on using the Internet for fundraising this cycle, smashing records of all kinds en route to collecting more than $300 million over the 16 months of his campaign. Much of it has come in increments of $100 or less, and it’s come in response to e-mail messages his campaign has sent to supporters.

But the primaries are over, and donors of small amounts might begin feeling less—how should I put this?—needed, so Obama’s campaign has begun offering incentives—contests, if you will—for giving.

Take, for example, “Backstage with Barack,“ which was delivered this morning. In it, deputy campaign manager Steve Hildebrand solicits donations of $25 (or “any amount,“ he says) as an entry ticket of sorts into the latest contest: Entry into the Democratic National Convention to hear Obama deliver his acceptance speech.

If you make a donation in any amount before midnight on July 31st, you could be selected to travel to Denver for the last two days of the convention, including the final event—Barack’s acceptance of the Democratic nomination for President before 75,000 people.

Ten supporters will be selected from all over the country, and each will be able to bring one guest. We’ll provide airfare, accommodations, and two days of convention activities—including a private meeting with Barack before his historic speech.

There’s even a video—“short video of the stadium to give you a sense of the event”—to whet supporters’ appetites for the prize.

Not to be outdone, McCain campaign manager Rick Davis announced in an e-mail to supporters that the campaign is re-launching “McCain Aces,“ a “virtual wall of recognition is a public statement of your support for John McCain and his plan to reform our government and bring prosperity to all Americans.“

No video, but there’s this:

I cannot stress enough that your immediate support for John McCain is more crucial than ever. Senator Barack Obama is raising record amounts of campaign money and is aided by special interests like big labor and MoveOn.org who are set to spend hundreds of millions of dollars against John McCain. Combined, they will spend nearly one billion dollars to defeat John McCain on Election Day.

So which is more effective: Carrot or stick?

You decide.

Obama-Nunn?

By Jennifer J. Foster

Barack Obama is sticking his toe in the VP waters today, floating two potential picks—U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn (D-GA)—at a campaign event in Indiana. From CNN’s Political Ticker:

The two are set to join Obama at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana for a discussion on national security issues — a forum that is designed to set to stage for the Democratic president candidate’s overseas trip next week.

Specifically, the three are set to discuss nuclear non-proliferation, bioterrorism, cyber security and emerging national security threats.

Bayh, a former governor, is popular in Indiana. His support for Hillary Clinton “is widely seen as a chief factor” for Clinton’s close win there, CNN says.

But it may ultimately be what turns Obama to the other guy.

Nunn would seem to be a no-brainer for Obama:

He’s from a state—a Southern, traditionally Republican state—that could become competitive in November (unlike certain candidates from assured blue states);

He’s a moderate to conservative Democrat (something that would come in handy while Obama is fending off all those “He’s-A-Scary-Liberal!“ charges John McCain will surely hurl in the fall);

He has shunned the personal spotlight and eschewed personal ambition, so there’s no concern about who would be No. 1 (unlike a certain senator from New York);

He voted against U.S. military action in Iraq—in 1991 (remind you of anyone?);

He is, as CNN says, “one of the most respected national security and foreign policy experts on the national scene;

His “serious, no-nonsense demeanor” would add, as CNN says, “instant gravitas” to the ticket; and, perhaps most importantly:

Sam Nunn is scandal-free.

But that’s not to say he’s controversy-free. The only stumbling block to Nunn’s selection appears to be his longtime opposition to gays in the military. He is credited—or charged, depending on how you look at it—with being the driving force behind the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which forbids gays from discussing their sexual preference and military commanders from asking about it.

Nunn says the policy, while far from perfect, was “the beginning point” of dealing with homosexuality in the Armed Forces. From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Nunn said that many people overlook the fact that, before the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was adopted, gays and lesbians were barred from the military unless they gave a false answer to questions about their sexual orientation.

“People don’t understand that that was the beginning point. We basically made it possible for people to serve honorably in the military without lying on the application,” Nunn said.

But in a development that may indicate Obama’s interest in choosing Nunn—and Nunn’s willingness to accept—Nunn recently said that “times change. It’s appropriate to take another look” at the policy, although he’s not yet ready to trash it completely.

The former senator said a new look at the policy is “appropriate.”

“But first and foremost we have to put national security on the front burner. That’s particularly true when we’re in a war in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Nunn said.

“Certainly there are a very large number of gay and lesbian men and women serving honorably in our military today. And they’re doing it within the existing law.”

Pressed for his position on the matter, Nunn said, “I’m not advocating anything — except I’m saying the policy was the right policy for the right time, and times change. It’s appropriate to take another look.”

Obama-Nunn? Maybe; maybe not.

But the chances sure seem better than they were last month.

Welcome home, deserter Long

By Jennifer J. Foster

Canada did something new today. From the Associated Press:

A U.S. Army deserter who fled to Canada three years ago was deported Tuesday to America, marking the first time a resister to the U.S war effort in Iraq has been removed by Canadian authorities.

Paula Shore, spokeswoman for the Canada Border Services Agency, confirmed that Robin Long, 25, was deported, but she could not discuss specifics of the case, including Long’s destination.

Long fled to Canada in 2005 to avoid serving in Iraq. He sought refuge in Canada on the grounds that the U.S. Army wanted him to participate in what he called an ‘'illegal war of aggression in Iraq.‘’

Justice Anne Mactavish of the Federal Court of Canada ruled Monday that Long couldn’t provide clear evidence he would suffer irreparable harm if he was returned to the United States.

Long is among some 200 American deserters believed to have gone to Canada to avoid service in Iraq, the AP says; so far, Canadian immigration officials and the courts have rejected efforts to grant them refugee status.

I’m glad Canada has expelled him. If he had political issues with military operations, he shouldn’t have joined the Army. No one forced him to take the oath. No one drew his draft number. No one told him he had to serve.

The United States has an all-volunteer Armed Forces. It isn’t like in the 1960s and 1970s, when hundreds of thousands of Americans were conscripted into service in Vietnam. Unlike Robin Long, those Americans had no choice: When their draft numbers came up, they had to go to ‘Nam—or Canada.

The AP says that up to 90,000 Americans successfully won refuge in Canada in those days.

But Canadian officials know the difference between a volunteer military and the draft, and that’s why they made the right decision in returning this deserter to face the consequences of his actions—and inactions.

Now, let’s get those other 200-some back so we can stop them from further insulting the brave men and women who have kept their promises to their country and discharged their duties, patriotism before politics.

JibJab!

By Jennifer J. Foster

It’s a good Wednesday morning: JibJab is back.

Some of you will remember the original JibJab production—a terrific, hilarious video in which the creators of JibJab mericlessly lampooned President Bush and U.S. Sen. John Kerry during their 2004 contest.

Well, it’s been a long four years. We’ve had to placate ourselves with other JibJab clips like “Big Box Mart” and “What We Call the News.“

But, as the new piece says, “It’s time for some campaignin’.“

Check out the guys’ newest offering here.

If nothing else strikes you as funny (and how could that be, but hey—to each his own), It’s impossible not to laugh at 1:13.

The new feature, developed last year when JibJab viewers were able to send “holiday cards” to friends, is that you can put yourself in the video.

Now, you can be the one getting—um, the royal treatment.

But proceed with caution: It may make the video a bit too lifelike for comfort.