Over the course of the last election season, flip-flops went from being an item to carry on your summer vacation to a weapon of political destruction. Republicans successfully painted Senator John Kerry as a “flip-flopper” and the candidate did not help matters by issuing absurd statements like “I was for it before I was against it.”

This year this particular attack against the Democrat has not been as successful, though there are very specific instances of changes in positions by Senator Obama which have given even progressive voters heartburn. Perhaps the ineffectiveness of the meme can be explained by the even more egregious, almost dizzying, revisionism practiced by the Republican candidate for President.

While opponents of both candidates have eagerly pounced on every inflection, every nuance and every little bit of political ass-covering by the candidates, we recognize that not every change is a cause for censure. Keeping that in mind, we bring to you the highlight reel of the flip-flops of each candidate. It is by no means comprehensive, but since there are blogs that exclusively deal with each candidate’s position hopping, we thought we would use a common sense filter to remove the nonsensical accusations on both sides.

Barack Obama
Telecom Immunity – Obama’s U-turn on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance provoked outrage from the left-wing blogosphere. He defended his decision with an email to Daily Kos, http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/6/20/155839/542/779/539258 but this particular flip-flop had supporters fuming and threatening to cut off donations. Obama had promised to filibuster it if it retained the provision immunizing telecom companies from lawsuits arising from the companies’ compliance with Administration requests—orders, really—to coöperate in patently illegal activity. The bill did retain that provision, and Obama voted not only for the bill but against the filibuster.
Oil Drilling – After speaking out against offshore drilling when Sen. John McCain proposed striking down the federal moratorium banning offshore oil and gas drilling to help alleviate high gas prices, Obama said that he would be willing to compromise on his position against offshore oil drilling if it were part of a more overarching strategy to lower energy costs. “My interest is in making sure we’ve got the kind of comprehensive energy policy that can bring down gas prices,” Obama told The Palm Beach Post.
Public financing – Obama replied “yes” in September 2007 when asked if he would agree to public financing of the presidential election if his GOP opponent did the same. Obama then attached several conditions to such an agreement, including regulating spending by outside groups. After his enormous success raising funds from small donors, he decided to opt out of public financing, a move that has given him a distinct advantage in the home stretch to Election Day.

Special interests – In January, the Obama campaign described union contributions to the campaigns of Clinton and John Edwards as “special interest” money. Obama changed his tune as he began gathering his own union endorsements. He now refers respectfully to unions as the representatives of “working people” and says he is “thrilled” by their support.
Illegal immigration In a March 2004 questionnaire, Obama was asked if the government should “crack down on businesses that hire illegal immigrants.” He replied “Oppose.” In a Jan. 31, 2008, televised debate, he said that “we do have to crack down on those employers that are taking advantage of the situation.”
John McCain
Regulation in the financial markets – After the bailout and the recent financial crisis, McCain said on the stump “Under my reforms the American people will be protected by comprehensive regulations that will apply the rules and enforcements to the fullest.” But McCain has had a long history of supporting deregulation. His own words have been, “I am fundamentally a deregulator.” McCain’s last experience with an economic crisis was during the Savings and Loans bust where he was one of the Keating 5, using his senate standing to press regulators to not get involved. His economic advisor, Phil Gramm, was one of the key architects of a piece of deregulation that’s been a big contributor to the current crisis in the financial markets.
Roe v. Wade – After stating categorically in 1999 that “I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations,” McCain now enthusiastically supports overturning it. The landmark 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade gave women the right to choose an abortion to terminate a pregnancy.
Tax cuts – In 2001, McCain said of President Bush’s tax cuts, “I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us, at the expense of middle class Americans who most need tax relief.” He now supports extending the same tax cuts.
Immigration reform – McCain co-authored with Senator Ted Kennedy a comprehensive immigration reform bill in 2005, which worked towards giving illegal immigrants a path to citizenship as well as increased funding for border enforcement. When asked this year if he would vote for his own bill, he replied, “No, I would not, because we know what the situation is today. The people want the borders secured first.”
Offshore drilling – In 1999, Senator McCain opposed offshore drilling. He is now a staunch proponent of the same, inciting supporters to chant “Drill, baby, drill!”
Rights for detainees at Guantanamo – in 2005, Senator McCain said –“ I think, on balance, the argument has got to be–the weight of evidence has got to be that we’ve got to adjudicate these people’s cases, and that means that if it means releasing some of them, you’ll have to release them.” When the Supreme Court ruled this year that detainees were entitled to a fair trial, he said it was one of the worst decisions “in the history of the country.”
Privatizing Social Security – McCain has long been a proponent of privatizing social security, saying in 2004 – “Without privatization, I don’t see how you can possibly, over time, make sure that young Americans are able to receive Social Security benefits” and expressing his support for President Bush’s proposal to do the same in March of this year. However in a town hall event in New Hampshire in June he abruptly reversed position, saying, “I’m not for, quote, privatizing Social Security. I never have been. I never will be.”
Warrant-less wiretapping –  Early this year, McCain said, “McCain said, “There are some areas where the statutes don’t apply, such as in the surveillance of overseas communications. Where they do apply, however, I think that presidents have the obligation to obey and enforce laws that are passed by Congress and signed into law by the president, no matter what the situation is.” In June of 2008 however, a top adviser to Senator John McCain says Mr. McCain believes that President Bush’s program of wiretapping without warrants was lawful.

And now, for your viewing pleasure.

By Basab Pradhan

“Bailout” was a bad word in the US to begin with. The current financial crisis and the US government’s $700 B plan to revive the market for troubled mortgage based assets have made it toxic.

What does “bailout” mean to Joe Citizen? It means that a company made mistakes and as it suffers financially, is perhaps close to bankruptcy, the federal government rides to its rescue using taxpayer’s money (“my tax dollars”) to rescue the company. To any logical person that seems unfair.

But Joe Citizen is not all logical about this. There is a lot of emotion and mental imagery involved with the current set of bailouts. Continue reading →

–Water, No Ice and the India Community Center jointly announce a Parent-and-Me Geography Bee. Rules can be found here and registration can be done here on the  ICC website. Contest date is November 16, 2008. We have some terrific prizes on offer.

GiveIndia  is sponsoring an essay contest for kids with great prizes.Details here. Deadline is October 31, 2008.

-Put in your job listings for free in the Water, No Ice Job Board. Ask us how.

Upcoming Events:

• 19 September:
  • Naach All Nite (12:00 am)- Santa Clara
    
  • Maitri Capital Campaign Gala (6:30 pm)- Milpitas
    
• 20 September:
  • Induz presents Kria – A fusion music and dance concert (5:00 pm)- Santa Clara
    

By Vidya Pradhan

Ha! Who says Indians don't have a sophisticated sense of humor? Well, judging from the dreck on display in Bollywood and satellite TV, that would be me. But Sandeep Sood's sly look at the cultural conflict brought on by outsourcing and the globalization of business is a delight. Witty and wry at the same time, "Doubtsourcing" is a refreshing change from the bodily-function/vernacular accent based comedy that passes for humor in India. Continue reading →

By Priyanka Gupta

Modern masters as they are called by many, the likes of  Vaikuntam, Haloi, Jamini Roy, M.F. Hussain to name a few, found their way onto the walls of the Aicon gallery in Palo Alto this August. I was curious to see the collection and found myself attending the opening as well as the talk on art as investment and the future of Indian contemporary art.

Although I am an abstract artist, the work that captured my attention at once was 'Femme Verte' by Thoda Vaikuntam, a brightly colored green sari-draped woman with decorative patterns on the fabric. This painting brought in so much calm and tranquility that I was drawn to look deeper. The line of Vaikuntam has a magical quality suggesting both contour and volume. The woman adorned with jewels and wearing a beautiful sari had a blank look and seemed to be restricting something. It seemed as though she was carrying a lot of weight of society and was a prisoner of her own making. 

Next I went to the collection of apparently M.F. Hussain's , although they were signed Colrain.
I was forced to clarify this and asked the gallery founder, Prajit Dutta about the collection. I wasn't so convinced but I was told that they were acquired from the Hewitt collection. Well I have heard of Hussain signing differently adding to his name but never seen him not signing his name and sign 'Colrain'.

Another interesting work was by Shyamal Dutta Ray titled, 'Man with Sitar'. One of the most accomplished water colorists of modern Indian art, his works were mostly done on paper. This one had a somber emotionally broken down man sitting with a sitar on the road probably after trying hard to please the passersby with his music. The colors, tones, the line quality all reflected the sadness of this man.

There was an interesting slideshow presentation on the development of art and artists from post-independence till the present after which was an exchange between Prajit and Dipti Mathur, an eminent art collector. I must say I wasn't quite intrigued by the talk and chose to walk away after a while.

I went there with many expectations and did feel like I have seen better collections of the masters. I do congratulate the gallery for building up the collection. It's always a great feeling to possess works of these masters, few of whom are no longer with us. To have their works is a treasure in itself.

'Post-modern masters' runs till September 30th at the AICON gallery, Palo Alto.

Priyanka Gupta is a Bay Area artist. She can be reached at guptapriyanka79@gmail.com. Her works can be seen at the following up-coming shows –

1) Fine Art Auction and Show by the Fine Arts League of Cupertino,

Auction and Reception 7pm Sept 12th,

Show 13th, 14th 10-5pm at the Cupertino community hall, 10350 Torre Avenue, Cupertino.

2)Pratham Bay Area Gala 2008 on Saturday, September 13, 2008, 6.00 p.m. onwards at Marriott Fremont Silicon Valley, 46100 Landing Parkway, Fremont,  CA 94538

3) "5th Annual Blues Bash" at the Triton Museum-Sunday, September 28, 2008 from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.- a musical jam to support the arts.

Mmmm..tasty! ( Click on the image to see a larger, readable version.)

Some of the foods not belonging to my region( South India) are known to me because of the kindness of my friends or by traveling through India, like dal baati churma from Rajasthan or thalipeeth from Maharashtra. But I have never had bafauri from Chattisgarh and the north-eastern states are a complete mystery to me. Sitting here in Fremont, 7000 miles away from home, the chances of experimenting with the many delicacies that India has to offer seem more and more remote. What a pity, would have liked to try jhangora ki kheer and sael roti( don't the names just sound delicious?)

What are your favorite foods? Tell us why.

By Vidya Pradhan 

Last night, as I watched Dara Torres furiously anchor the 400 meters medley relay, I could hear my heart pounding. I’m pretty sure I forgot to breathe that last lap. The last time my heart announced its presence that loudly was a couple of months ago, when my 40-year old body was suspended at a 60-degree angle on the sides of Half Dome, my hands holding a death grip on the steel cables.

41-year old Dara seemed to outswim her competitor Libby Trickett in that particular lap, but the Australian lead before the freestyle was just too hard for even this spunky competitor to overcome. Earlier yesterday, Dara again won silver in the “Splash and Dash”, the 50 meters freestyle, losing by a fingertip.

What a phenomenal achievement, as Ms. Torres became the oldest woman to ever medal in Olympic swimming! Even if veteran reporters like Ann Killion doubt her achievement (shame on you Ann, for casting aspersions without evidence), I would like to believe that Dara Torres’ win was a function of substance rather than substances. Because, as my own experiences have shown me, that is little that a 40 year old woman cannot do, if she just chooses to. Continue reading →