The World According To Sarah Palin! Which Is Worse The N-Word Or The R-Word??

I’m pretty queasy whenever a topic related to censorship is brought up.  After all, this is America and the way I understand it unless you’re advocating for someone to get hurt, you’re allowed to say what you want.

That said, there are clearly a few words that are mostly better left unsaid.  Two of them are in the title of this post.

Read a great column from Alfred Doblin today where he takes on a certain former vice presidential candidates’ hypocrisy related to both words. 

Here it is:

http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/doblin_082010.html

Call me naive, but could Sarah Palin just be playing politics? 

Say it ain’t so, mama grizzly!

Country Second & Here’s The Proof!

The McCain Campaign wanted us all to believe that their guy was putting country first.  Turns out, there’s now indisputable proof he wasn’t!

John McCain had the incredibly important and tough job of picking a running mate this past fall.  No other choice a candidate running for the highest office this land has to offer is more critical for the future well being of the nation.  Certainly, John McCain knew this and he picked Sarah Palin to be a heartbeat away.

McCain being a stand up guy and the kind who puts his nation before his own interests CLEARLY must have picked Palin because she was the most ready to lead the nation should he have been incapitated as President.  Right?

Not so fast, my fellow Americans….  It now turns out that McCain is refusing to sign onto the Palin in 2012 movement.  In fact, he went as far as highlighting other young Republican governors that he thought would be great candidates for the GOP in 2012. 

What gives?

Good question!  And I will tell you.  

John McCain, tireless civil servent, real American hero, and maverick for the masses has seen Sarah Palin up close.  And he’s seen enough.

That should tell you something.  Actually it should tell you two things.

First, Sarah Palin will never be presidential material.  Sorry, Conservative base find yourselves another standard bearer if you want to get back into the White House.

And second, “Country First” was nothing more than a slogan.  Some of us realized that the minute McCain picked the surprisingly unqualified Palin to join his ticket.  Some of you needed more convincing.  Hopefully McCain’s lack of enthusiasm for the woman he chose for the second most powerful job on the planet will be the proof you need. 

Proof that John McCain may be a hero, standup guy and a maverick but he’s also equal parts typical politician.  A typical politician who puts country second when the nation’s best interests interfere with his run to the White House.

After all, why should America stand in the way of Ambition!

OBAMA WINS! Why We Are Safer Tonight, How I Was Right & Other Observations!

Like the true political junkie I am, I spent the entire night watching the results come in by channel surfing the broadcast & cable news outlets and checking my Blackberry for online updates during commercial breaks. 

Maybe I just drank the Kool-aid, but what a great night for America.  I am proud of both candidates tonight.  I am proud of my fellow Americans tonight.  Turnout levels were high and old myths have been shattered.  I’m glad the guy I voted for won, but I’m more glad that I live in a nation like America where we can peacefully chose our leaders.  And i’m glad the outcome was decisive and pray it will help us move on together as a nation.

Months and months ago, I wrote on this blog that America was ready for a woman or an African American to be president.  I heard many women and African Americans say that was not the case.  My point was that it had to be the right woman or African American.  I went on record saying that Hillary Clinton was not the right woman.  I left the door open to Barack Obama’s becoming the first African American President.  Tonight, I’m so happy to say to America “I TOLD YOU SO…”

Now a few observations from all my TV watching & Blackberry checking:

America IS safer tonight.  Sarah Palin is not a heartbeat away.  Yes, technically, Barack Obama doesn’t have her executive experience in government, although he did spend the last two years running the most complex and successful political campaign in history.  But, whether that counts or not, I think what is obvious to most fair minded individuals is that Sarah Palin is not up to leading this country.  A few weeks of cram session simply didn’t get her sufficiently prepped.  And to be fair to her, a few weeks of prep was never going to be enough.  Barack Obama has intensively prepared for this moment.  He may or may not become an effective president, but I completely believe we are better off with him leading us than having a 72 year old John McCain lead us with Sarah Palin as his emergency replacement.  Imagine THAT 3AM call?  I don’t want to.  And now America doesn’t have to.

More on Sarah Palin.  In his concession speech, Senator McCain hailed his running mate’s future in American politics and as a leader in his party.  Here’s the truth.  She has crested.  This is as far as she will ever rise and now she’s done.  It was nice of McCain to say, but the truth is that Palin dragged him only down.  While she initially energized the base, it quickly became obvious that she was oblivious and turned off Clinton supporters, independents and other non-committed voters in drove.  But that’s not the only reason I say she is done.  Palin has cold hard history against her.  Almost no person in her expensive shoes (a losing VP candidate on a non-incumbent campaign ticket) has ever come back to capture the White House or for that matter the top spot on their party’s ticket.  Want proof?  Take a look at people like John Edwards, Sargeant Shriver, Lloyd Benson, etc.  If you’re asking “who’s that” then you get my point.  Bye bye Sarah…

On CNN, commentator Bill Bennett made the point that he doesn’t think this election means that America has shifted from center-right to center-left.  He’s still clinging to the idea that America is center-right. Give Bennett this much, he’s right it’s not this election.  It’s actually the last two elections that have shown us that America is shifting politically.  In these last two elections, the GOP has lost a ton of seats in both house of Congress and now the presidency.  What more proof does Bennett need??

That all said, let’s talk about the center.  My firm hope is that President-Elect Obama keeps the emphasis on the center.  Yes, he’ll have the power to rule from the center-left.  I hope he will have the wisdom not to.  The best thing Obama can do is keep his campaign pledge of trying to unite this country together.  As Obama has said, I truly believe that we have much more in common than the things that divide us.  It’s too important a time in our history not to focus on working together and getting things done.  Let’s hope Obama backs up his words.  From his stirring speech tonight, I for one am feeling hopeful.

So happy to write this.  GOODBYE Joe the plumber.  Your 15 minutes is officially at 15:01. 

I like John McCain again tonight.  His concession speech was class all the way.  This is the John McCain so many of us admire.  Sadly, he seemed to lose his way a bit during the campaign and attacked his opponent in personal ways not to be admired while often stretching the truth beyond its breaking point.  Yet, McCain may have saved his soul and the soul of the GOP in the bargain.  McCain resisted the temptation to play the race card in a major way.  His decision to not bring Reverend Wright back into the campaign debate will be questioned by pundits for a long time.  But, it seems to me that McCain simply was uncomfortable going there because in addition to being old news, it risked a major backfire.  McCain put country first by not inflaming racial tensions needlessly and setting back the GOP in the process.  Clearly the demographics of our nation have changed and along with it racial attitudes.  If the Republican Party is to continue to compete, it will have to widen its base beyond the wealthy and the Joe The Plumber (semi-angry white guy) types.  McCain saw that clearly.

Speaking of race.  What an important night.  Perhaps now African Americans and other minorities believe the American Dream is truly possible for everyone.  Perhaps it’s chrystal clear now that not all or perhaps even most whites are racists.  What a chance for our country to heal and come together.  I have never been the hugest Jesse Jackson fan, but I have to admit seeing him on TV in the Obama crowd with a tear rolling down his cheek was moving sight.

Finally, one last note and it’s a Bush bash.  Watching Barack Obama speak it was so refreshing to hear the future leader of our nation demonstrate his understanding of what America truly stands for.  Both here and across the world, America’s greatest gift to this planet has been her ideals.  During his eight years, the current president has often failed to demonstrate a deep understanding of America’s ideals and focused more on rigid political agendas.  Finally, we will again have a president who gets the big picture.

Ok, I lied, here’s the final point.  Not sure if it was this campaign or the Wall Street mess, but I’m thrilled that Americans are coming around to the idea that government is not always the problem.  Reagan sold on us that false idea.  Yes, the government can mess things up.  YOu only need to take a look at the current administration to see that.  And no, I don’t want higher taxes.  What I do want is a government that gives a damn about all its people.  What I do want is a government that plays a role where needed rather than starting needless wars.  Here’s hoping that’s what we got tonight.

May God Bless America and all of us.  And please allow Senators Obama & McCain some much needed rest.  They’ve both earned it.

Sarah Palin Doesn’t Know Where The U.S. Is At War!

Either she’s easily confused, simply misspoke because she’s so tired, or is projecting the future with a war against Iran as a key part of the McCain/Palin Plan…

If McCain pulls out a win on Tuesday, I’m hoping for the middle option.

Sarah Palin Pranked!

Leave it to two Canadian comics to get more access to Sarah Palin than the entire American news media!

Of course, they had to pose as the President of France to do it…

More McCain, Obama, Palin Silliness!

Fact is that October’s been a really busy month at work and I’ve been unable to write as much as I’d like to.  After all Daddy’s got babies to pay for so work must come first.  Anyway, thanks to all of you still checking out the site. 

And as a reward, here’s two pieces of internet silliness focused on this amazing campaign year.  Enjoy!

First, a dance off between John McCain & Barack Obama:

And the second is a link for Frank Sinatra’s son singing to Sarah Palin:

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/3dd3d28df0

What Happens When You Combine McCain, Palin & Bollywood?

I’ve never actually sat through a Bollywood dance number til now!

Sarah Palin To Join Monty Python?!

John Cleese seems mighty impressed with her.   

As a comedian…

Palin Report Finds She Abused Power, But That’s Not The Real Story!

Guess if I’d had more time to reflect on it earlier today, I would’ve realized that the McCain Campaign putting out its own report vindicating Sarah Palin of abusing her power was a bad sign for Sarah Palin.

Now comes the news, that yes, according to the investigation commissioned by the Alaska’s bi-partisan Legislative Council, Sarah Palin abused her powers as Alaska’s Governor.  McCain supporters will point to the incredibly stupid statement of Hollis French, the state senator overseeing the investigation in early September that the result might lead to an “October Surprise” for the GOP as proof of the bias of the investigation.

Why French would have ever said something like that is beyond my understanding.  That said, I don’t think the big learning here is about whether this report is biased or whether Sarah Palin did or did not abuse her executive power.

The big story here is John McCain.  Throughout this campaign we have seen glimpses of how each candidate would lead.  In McCain’s case, more and more it seems to be that rather than being described best as maverick, the term erratic may be the best fit.

John McCain is and was a legitimate candidate for the U.S. Presidency.  He is a true American hero.  He has a long, mostly uncheckered history of service in the U.S. Senate.  He is clearly more experienced than his rival for the White House.  He has, on occasion and to his great credit, bucked his own party on matters of principle and policy.  He has at times worked effectively with members of his party’s opposition.  In short, McCain has a lot going for him.

Over the course of this campaign, however, the issues of his judgement and decision making process have clearly come into question.  Palin being found guilty today is just the most recent example of his being burned by last minute, throw anything that sticks, impulsive choices.

Let’s even suppose the report is totally biased and that Sarah Palin is completely innocent of the charges made against her.  Furthermore, let’s suppose that the entire bi-partisan commission was blatantly influenced by their desire to see Palin denied her shot at the Vice Presidency.

Ok, got that?  So, now the BIG question. Who’s fault is this mess?

Can you really blame the Democrats for jumping on such an opportunity (assuming that’s what they did and that’s why she was found guilty)?  You, can’t can you?  Would Republicans not seize a similar opportunity? 

Who handed the Democrats this opportunity?  In perhaps one of his most effective efforts at working with those across the aisle, John McCain gave Democrats this shot at Sarah Palin.

Sarah Palin should never been picked as John McCain’s running mate.  First, she wasn’t ready.  Second and today, more importantly, she had some skeletons in her closet that were about to come outside and take a little walk for all to see.  Where was the vetting process?

Why would John McCain put himself and his party in this position?  Where was his judgement?

In a week in which Senator McCain needed some good news, whether this report is biased or not, he has only himself to blame for today’s bad news.

PS – In an effort to be fair, I’m including links to the coverage of the report finding from both Fox News and CNN.  Enjoy!

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/10/panel-palin-abused-power-firing-commissioner/

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/10/palin.investigation/index.html

24 Hours Later & That Debate Still Sucked!!

My intention all along was to stay undecided until the presidential debates.  I liked that McCain would sometimes go against his own party and I liked the promise of Barack Obama being the real deal.  I was hoping it would come down to a really tough decision that I’d need the debates to help me make.

As it turned out, when McCain went all Palin on me, I was left with no other option than to vote for Barack Obama.  At the time, it bummed me out.  I really wanted two palitable alternatives.  One is better than none, of course, but not what I’d been hoping for.

Now, after seeing last night’s debate, I’m glad I didn’t come into it undecided.  Last night’s debate was horrible.  This was supposed to help people decide?  Good luck!

The chief culprit, of course, were the campaigns themselves.  Both teams signed on to the town hall format.  Both teams agreed to limit follow ups.  What we were left with was a debate where neither candidate was truly challenged by either his opponent or the moderator.  What we heard was a lot of talking points.

What we heard from both sides was a bunch of unchallenged lies.

The format allowed both candidates to promise anything and deny everything. “He’s raising taxes.”  followed by “No, I’m not raising taxes, he is”.  Scintillating stuff to be sure but how it helps someone decide on who to put in the White House I have no idea.

Here’s a few other things that struck me during the course of the debate:

The Format, one more beef, sorry! – When do either of these guys really get challenged to back up their plans and promises?  What I’d love to see is someone that Americans agreed was impartial grilling both guys and backed up by an impartial fact checking board.  Too much of a fantasy?  Sure.

But, how about a format where a journalist was chosen by each camp and the pair were put together to co-host a debate in which the moderators publicly swore they would try to be as unbiased as possible while grilling each candidate as fairly and toughly (is that a word?) as possible?  McCain could pick say Sean Hannity (of course, it’s a stretch to call him a journalist).  And the Obama camp could pick a liberal leaning journalist not named Alan Combs.

The Camera Angles– who are the media advisers to both campaigns?  The camera angles were horrible.  I heard that both candidates were told to not move around too much and disregarded that advice.  Whatever the case, neither man looked great as a result.

McCain Did Look Old – John McCain moved around last night and the above mentioned camera angles made it very obvious that due to his injuries in Vietnam he can no longer move his arms above his shoulder line.  All of my sympathy to Senator McCain for the pain he endured on America’s behalf.  None of my sympathy to his advisers who didn’t see that the camera set up would make their guy look like a lumbering old man.

Obama Loves Criticism – I get it.  He’s trying not to look angry.  But, come on.  When someone is slamming you, figure out another expression other than bemusement.

John McCain Has A Lot Of Friends– If only I had a nickel (or a share of AIG) for every time John McCain uttered the words “my friends”.  It wasn’t folksy, it was as if he had some rare turrets in which he spouted this rather than curse words uncontrollably.

John McCain Does Not Consider Barack Obama A Friend– I know it was only a misspeak, but referring to the Democratic Nominee as “that one” was a cringe-worthy moment and one that will hurt him in the polls.  Especially so, when coupled with several of the nasty sounding jokes he threw out that didn’t result in laughs.  John McCain was less likable in this debate.  Doesn’t mean he might not be a better president, but it sure as heck makes it less likely he’ll have the chance to prove it.

The Questions Sucked– I can not believe how vanilla the questions were.  Actually, I apologize.  That would be an insult to a fine and beloved flavor of ice cream.  The questions simply weren’t tough and they seemed awfully repetitive.  I know it’s all about the economy, but how many ways can you ask the same thing?  I thought either the studio audience or certainly someone submitting from the audience would have come up with something better.  Maybe they did and we just didn’t hear it?

Some People Know Who Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae Are – Never assume.  When someone is asking you a question about the current financial situation at a time when both Freddie & Fannie have figured prominently in it, don’t assume they don’t know what it is.  I thought McCain took a real risk in starting his answer by assuming his questioner was ignorant.

Barack Did A Good Job Of Speaking More From His Gut– I think the example he sited of his mom fighting insurance companies while she lay in her hospital death bed during her last weeks was his high point.  Obama made you feel he really gets it on more than simply an intellectual level.

John McCain Loves America & Americans– The Republicans are way too guilty and the Democrats are probably not guilty enough of cheerleading America.  I love America too.  But, I wonder if this year, in this climate, that answering multiple questions by variations on the “America is great”, “Americans are the greatest” theme is enough.  Listen, I think Americans are the best too, but even the best need a plan.

Neither Guy’s Got Enough Money– I wish I could have added up all the new spending both guys proposed in the debate last night.  The reality is that neither has enough money for all their plans.  I love that John McCain is finally thinking about home owners, but can’t shake the impression that at this point he’d promise ANYTHING to get elected.  After all, he picked Sarah Palin…

Tom Brokaw Needs To Toughen Up – I love Tom Brokaw.  There, it’s out.  That said, the agreement was the agreement.  So why did he feel he had to tip toe or apologize when he had to rein in both senators from going overtime?

I’m Getting Old – Tom Brokaw has aged.  John McCain is no longer the spry guy he remains in my memory.  If those guys are looking older than ever, than guess what?  I guess I am too…

Time goes by fast. 

And if nothing else, that’s what makes it so critical that we tackle our problems as quickly and fully as we can.  It would have been nice to have a debate to help us guage who’s up to the challenge and who’s simply a waste of precious time.