Obama claims government scientists INVENTED the computer

In tonight’s Town Hall debate forum, our esteemed candidates spoke without the benefit of teleprompters.  I just about choked when Obama made the following gaffe speaking (originally) of investing in green technologies (at about 60 minutes into the debate):

• Here in the United States it can be the engine that drives us into the future the same way the computer was the engine for economic growth over the last couple of decades…
• We can do it but we’re going to have to make an investment…
• The same way the computer was originally invented by a bunch of government scientists who were trying to figure out for defense purposes how to communicate, we’ve got to understand that this is a national security as well

Wow!  Mind you, this is an excerpt… but very very carefully transcribed with the help of a DVR to review word for word.

How out of touch are BOTH of these candidates?  Who should get the glory for inventing the computer?  The NY Times themselves in 1983 said it was one or all of three University researchers as long ago as the 1930’s!  Of course McCain didn’t invent the Blackberry, but neither did Al Gore invent the Internet.  However, no one I know could *possibly* mix up the “Internet” with the “Computer”.

Universities do great work.  They invent great stuff.  But, it’s the private sector that brings these inventions to market.  Let us never forget that.

See other bloggers’ comments
about this gaffe here, here, and here

We can’t afford the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to health care

I listened to the soundbites the other night on television and this one struck me like a ton of bricks:

“We can’t afford the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to health care”

Know what? I can’t afford (in business) the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to… customers making purchases, making strategic decisions for the health of my company, nor when it comes to cash flow. You won’t see me stand in front of a camera and “debating” the issue by making such a crass statement.  Ugh!

Conservative Talk Radio is “Terrorism”

Madam Speaker Karen Bass of the California Assembly recently gave an interview to the LA Times where she, among other things, likened talk radio hosts to Terrorists:

How do you think conservative talk radio has affected the Legislature’s work?
The Republicans were essentially threatened and terrorized against voting for revenue. Now [some] are facing recalls. They operate under a terrorist threat: “You vote for revenue and your career is over.” I don’t know why we allow that kind of terrorism to exist. I guess it’s about free speech, but it’s extremely unfair.

So, “free speech” she doesn’t like is “unfair”… all free speech is free, but some is more free than others.  I guess it’s like pornography or obsenity.  I’ll know it when I see it.  Unless, of course, a politician of Speaker Bass’ ilk tells me what I should be thinking and seeing.