International Cognitive Dissonance

From Nicholas Kristof's column in the NYT this morning:

Steven Kull, director of the Program on International Policy Attitudes, which conducted the BBC poll, said that at a recent international conference he attended in Malaysia, many Muslims voiced astonishment at Mr. Obama’s rise because it was so much at odds with their assumptions about the United States. Remember that the one thing countless millions of people around the world “know” about the United States is that it is controlled by a cabal of white bankers and Jews who use police with fire hoses to repress blacks. To them, Mr. Obama’s rise triggers severe cognitive dissonance.

“It’s an anomaly, so contrary to their expectation that it makes them receptive to a new paradigm for the U.S.,” Mr. Kull said.

Again, as someone who sells American products abroad for a living, I cannot stress enough how important it is to achieve a paradigm shift in international perceptions of the US.  With the US$ on the rise, our exports are going to suffer.  We need to counter that by increasing demand overseas for our crap.

Alabama will not go blue this year

Adam Nossiter writes about the "uncertainty" surrounding Obama's biracial heritage.  In New York, we don't call it uncertainty; we call it racism.

“I’ve always been against the blacks,” said Mr. Rowell, who is in his 70s, recalling how he was arrested for throwing firecrackers in the black section of town. But now that he has three biracial grandchildren — “it was really rough on me” — he said he had “found out they were human beings, too.”

Alabama won't be turning blue this election, that's for sure.  You have to wonder why the NY Times would even run this article about racism in Alabama.  Isn't that a given?  I'm far more interested in racism in New England, or the Upper Mid-West.

Obama Primetime Special

The Obama campaign has just purchased a primetime, half hour blockon CBS for Wed, Oct 29th at 8pm.  The aim is to air a special of some kind.

I cannot even begin to calculate how expensive this must have been.  They will  be pre-empting The New Adventures of Old Christine.  And I am further blown away by the sheer brilliance of it.  It is such a bold, daring move, and one that has never been done before.

I cannot wait.

SNL Oct 4th

Everyone is talking about the VP debate skit, but this one had me doubled over.

"Palin" as verb: submit your suggestions

PALIN: to throw up in a pale, as a result of being a pregnant teenager

Why is she throwing up?

She's Palin!

OMFG! Who's the Dad?

Most Viewed Daily Show Clip Ever

Rove, O'Reilly and Palin

Harder and Harder to Watch

More of the Palin interview with Katie Couric.