Friday, October 24, 2008

GOP Strategist: Obama's Visit to Ill Grandma Is WORSE than Palin's $150,000 Wardrobe

I thought that someone in the GOP might try to attack Obama for visiting his ill grandmother, but then I said, nah...no one would do that. That would be completely tasteless, inhuman and harmful to the campaign.

That is what I get for giving people the benefit of the doubt.

GOP strategist Brad Blakeman expressed his outrage over Obama using a chartered jet to go and see his gravely ill grandmother, saying that it was far worse than campaign funds being used to spring for a Neiman Marcus et al shopping spree for VP candidate Sarah Palin. Aside from being the stretch of all time, is this guy serious? Condemning someone for visiting their grandmother--their seriously ill grandmother--and saying it is worse than spending more than what some people make a year on CLOTHES? Are you freaking kidding me?

Visiting sick relatives--especially sick parents and grandparents--is a hallmark of virtue the human world. We tell children stories of good little girls and boys on noble visits to ill grandparents. It is the one thing that a person can do in this increasingly cold world without question or condemnation. We don't care how you do it or for how long...there is never anything wrong with going to see an ill grandma. But Brad Blakeman thinks that Obama should have sat down, thought about how horrific it would be to use a chartered jet and then opted for commercial flight--which, by the by, I cannot see being possible once you are under Secret Service protection--before rushing to his grandmother's side, because that is what matters most...how you get there?

While this is proof that the McCain campaign is on life support, it also shows just how dirty and lowdown supporters are willing to go to attack the opponent. If McCain or anyone in his campaign finds out about this and does not condemn it, it will only confirm that the McCain that everyone once loved is gone forever.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Just A Question

Now that I've thought about it, I must ask: why is Sarah Palin getting praise for being on SNL when she didn't do anything during the show other than sit or stand while others did the work? She may have spoken two minutes total the entire show. Is this what we are being reduced to accepting? She can't even do a show that is intended to be humorous?

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Debate Pt. 3: The Final Conflict



It appears that Obama has won...again.

McCain was doing really well during the first half of the debate, but it seemed as the second half continued, he was weaving a rope to hang himself with. His mocking quip regarding the health of the mother in the case of will definitely lose points with the independents and he can kiss the Clinton supporters goodbye. I think the only people that will be happy with his performance are his alienated and angry base.

Friday, October 10, 2008

GUILTY...but not guilty?

Governor Sarah Palin, Republican candidate for the vice-presidency, according to the bi-partisan Alaska Legislature body investigating the issue of Troopergate have determined that she did in fact abuse her power and "the trust of her office" when she pressured Walter Monegan, commissioner of Public Safety, to fire her former brother-in-law, however, they also ruled that she is not guilty of committing any wrong-doing in firing him for that reason because as governor she has the right to fire public officials whenever it suits her.

Which makes no sense at all.

Obama's 30 Minute Spot

The Obama campaign has bought 30 minutes of airtime and are making one big ad out of it. I don't think this is a good idea. Now, if they broke that up to where every commercial break featured an Obama ad, I think that would be more clever. But I really do not see how this would appeal to anyone except his base. Joe Blow Voter has the attention span of a gnat which served as the motivating factor for 30-second news.

Ross Perot tried this tactic, and while I admit that he did draw a lot of viewers even though listening to his logic was sheer torture, I can't even see Obama's charismatic style holding people for 30 straight minutes. The debates were different, because they promised to be entertaining, but a 30-minute fireside chat is expecting a lot from a population of an increasingly lowered attention span.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

"That One"



I am more interested in this comment from a tactical POV.

I must say that McCain couldn't have been thinking before he spoke when he made this comment. Had he said "that man" or "that guy" or preferably just "Senator Obama" it wouldn't have raised an eyebrow. But "that one?" Seriously, those two words can break open a floodgate of dissent from all but those who fervently support McCain. I usually don't make a big deal about gaffes unless they are completely ridiculous, but I have to call McCain out on this one because using "that one" in reference to a minority is bound to cause an uproar.

Friday, October 03, 2008

WE'RE SAVED!

The House finally got its act together and passed the Bailout bill. Now let's hope that while the economy is recovering, that they will put regulations in place to prevent this from happening again.

UPDATE: Bush signed it the bill...it is official. Now we pray and wait.

Biden/Palin Debate



I confess that Palin was not as bad as I expected, but given that my bar for her was so low that the mere fact that she didn't run off the stage gave her bonus points. Her response about the power of the VP being "expanded" was confusing and frightening at the same time. It immediately brought to mind Dick Cheney, the most powerful and downright scary VP of all time. Her refusal to answer questions was smart on her part because it saved her from looking like a total idiot. However, at the same time, it irritated me a great deal and was disrespectful. Her response about Biden was "looking backward" will probably be taken up as the sword and shield of her party, but it is not a real response. The point of any election is convey the idea that the candidate will serve the country better that his predecessor. Her party lead the charge in the country's current downfall, so her job is to prove that the American people should give that party a third chance. That argument was like an abusive husband wanting reconciliation and saying that any past abuse didn't count in the wife's considerations. She did a good rebound, but in my jaded glance, I would like to see her succeed at something that doesn't require days of rehearsal.

Biden was wrong on some of his facts: Article II of the Constitution deals with the Executive branch, not Article I, for example. However, I don't have much faith in Joe Blow Voter at this point so that unless Fox News specifically points that out, I doubt they will notice. I was really impressed by Biden's comment about how life was for him as a single father. It was a very, very human moment and I saw sincerity in that response. I thought he did a good job of restraining himself. Giving his reputation for not being good at sticking to the script, he did a great job of not being condescending to Palin.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Senate Passes Bailout Plan



Well, let us hope--no, pray--that the other half of Congress has its act together Friday.