The First Debate

Factcheck.org has posted it's fact-checks for Friday night's presidential debate -- I encourage everyone to check them out here.

Overall, I thought that there was no clear winner in the debate -- both candidates muddled through the questions about the "economic crisis" (a.k.a. the double-standard), and Obama held his own on the foreign policy issues.

I personally thought that Jim Lehrer did a less than stellar job as moderator, and at times I felt that he was trying to play the role of a high school conflict mediator. I like the idea of the candidates being able to address each other and press for answers, but the candidates didn't take advantage because they aren't used to such a setting. Debates in this country have sunk to nothing more than joint press conferences, and not a discussion of ideas.

And I don't know about you, but I am very much looking forward to Thursday night's vice-presidential debate: Senator Joe Biden vs. Governor Sarah Palin. I'm not sure what to expect when these two get together, but if Palin's interviews with Charles Gibson and Katie Couric are any indication, then grab the freakin' popcorn.

Debate Prep: McCain Fumbles The Ball

It has been announced that John McCain has confirmed his participation in tonight's debate -- he will be attending.

Less than 48 hours ago, McCain stated that he would not be participating in the debate unless a bail-out deal has been reached. Well, it hasn't. However, today the McCain campaign announced that enough progress had been accomplished that he would attended the debate. But in reality, no progress has been reached. In fact, the negotiations have done nothing but disintegrate and become more contemptuous since McCain arrived back in Washington to "solve" the crisis.

Either McCain has realized that the Hail Mary pass of "suspending" his campaign has backfired and won him no support, or he truly thinks that progress is being made despite the reporting of every major news organization.

John McCain has again proven in the past 48 hours that he has no idea what he is doing and is completely out of touch with reality.

Can't wait for the debates(s).

Debate Prep

The economy is in a serious crisis. Banks are failing. Mortgages are defaulting. Credit is tight. Wall Street is dangerously unstable.

But have no fear, John McCain is here? The man who has claimed in the past to have very little knowledge of the economy is somehow going to save the country from this impending financial disaster? Puh-lease.

My initial reaction to John McCain "suspending" his campaign to go back to Washington and fix the financial mess was one of shock and amazement. This, ladies and gentleman, is unprecedented. John McCain, apparently putting country first.

But then I started to actually thing about it.

It's nothing more than John McCain trying to change he topic of the debate and use this crisis for his own political gain (which I don't necessarily blame him for, since this is politics). Since the Republican convention, Barack Obama has reclaimed his small lead over the senator from Arizona, and McCain is attempting to put things on his terms. But it's not working.

First of all, it was Barack Obama who contacted John McCain about a bi-partisan joint-statement on the current economic issues. John McCain, having to look like more of a leader, then had to one-up Obama -- hence the "suspension" of his campaign (which Obama found out about on the news) and his leisurely rush back to Washington.

Second, when he got to Washington, what did he do? Nothing. At least nothing that he could not have done over the phone between campaign events. McCain doesn't sit on any of the relevant committees, so he and his staff aren't even in on the meetings. All it really does is bring unneeded additional press to an already stressful situation. In a time of serious congressional negotiations, John McCain and Barack Obama are distractions. Obama acknowledges this. McCain either doesn't know, or doesn't care. And as for that joint meeting at the White House (which reportedly turned into a shouting match), sources are saying that McCain didn't say anything of any importance, and progress on this issue has slowed since it's occurrence. Talk about a show of leadership.

Third, this idea of postponing tonight's debate is one of the most preposterous things that I have ever heard, especially since McCain holds no position of any importance on any of the negotiating committees. Now, more than ever, the American people are watching and listening, and they want to hear where the presidential candidates plan to take this country in the next four years. Now is the most important time to have a debate.

John McCain will show up. And if he doesn't, I don't know what will happen, but I can't imagine that it will be a positive experience for Mr. McCain.

John McCain Writes An SNL Sketch

This has to be some kind of joke.

This has to be some kind of segment on Saturday Night Live, not reality.

In an effort to beef up vice-presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin's non-existent foreign policy credentials, the McCain campaign sent her to the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week to meet and greet notable dignitaries and foreign leaders. It's a standard tactic -- trying to make yourself look important by getting photographed with people who actually are important -- but in a presidential election it's just plain bush-league. It's the photo-op of a lifetime, and just goes to re-enforce how scary a thought "President Sarah Palin" really is.

No public questions. No public answers. Nothing unscripted. Just a bunch of pictures and video that scream: "Look at me! All of these important people are willing to sit down with me, so I must be ready to step-in and take over!"

Truthfully, though, she did answer one unscripted question. A reporter was able to quickly ask her how the day was going yesterday. Her response? That the meetings were "informative and helpful." And she looking like a deer in headlights trying to look comfortable when she answered.

The biggest compliment that a foreign leader had for Gov. Palin? The president of Pakistan said that she is "gorgeous." Well, I'm sold.

The press is not allowed to get to Gov. Palin or to ask her questions. Why? Apparently she can't handle the scrutiny of the general press when it comes to actual issues. I'd hate to see what the vice-presidency does to her.

Andrew Sullivan is one of my favorite conservatives. He is a writer, commentator, and daily blogger on http://www.andrewsullivan.com/. I caught him Friday night on Real Time With Bill Maher, and he argued that John McCain's pick of Sarah Palin as his running mate should automatically disqualify him from the presidency. I completely agree.

But that's alright, because John McCain will just spin this as his unique ability to bring people together in a bi-partisan manner.

Campaign First, Country Second

I've given myself plenty of time - over two weeks -- to observe and get my thoughts together regarding the choice of Alaskan governor Sarah Palin as Senator John McCain's vice-presidential running mate. My conclusion is this: she's nothing more than a gimmick pick.

Merriam-Webster provides five definitions for the word "gimmick," and I prefer the fifth one: "a trick or device used to attract business or attention" (i.e. Gov. Palin).

I watched the speech that she gave when she was first introduced as McCain's running mate, and I heard her say four things:


1 - Vote for me because I'm a Republican.

2 - Vote for me because I'm a woman.

3 - Vote for me because my son is going to Iraq.

4 - Vote for me because I have a husband and five children.

Yeah, it's pretty thin.

I also watched her acceptance speech at the GOP convention, where she said all of those same things again, but added the sentiment that anyone who spends a few years of their 20s trying to better a community is pretty pathetic. I'm glad she cleared that up.

Yeah, it doesn't get much thicker. Sorry.

Now, there has been a lot of talk about whether or not Sarah Palin is being an irresponsible parent for choosing to run for the vice-presidency while trying to raise her 5 children, including her youngest who has special needs. Some say its sexist; others say its fair game. I say that I'm sure it can be done. If it were a man running for vice-president with 5 children including a child with special needs, no one would say anything. That's just how this country is, and we should work to change it.

However, I will argue right here that I think Sarah Palin is being an irresponsible parent for choosing to run for vice-president while her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant. I'm not going to point fingers and say that Sarah Palin won't be able to govern properly if she can't even control her own child -- things happen, everyone makes mistakes, and some mistakes are just worse than others. But I will rip Sarah Palin for choosing to make her daughter's mistake national news in order to further her own political career. Parents are supposed to protect their children from as much as they can, but Gov. Palin has chosen to throw her daughter into the fire that is a national presidential campaign for her own benefit. That's pretty despicable. And furthermore, the campaign argues that families are off-limits, and the first thing that Sarah Palin does when she accepts the vice-presidential nomination is highlight her wonderful family. Go figure.

And so the more time Gov. Sarah Palin spends on the trail and in the news, it becomes more and more obvious that Alaskan politicians are the same as all other American politicians -- lies and misleading truths. She claims that she put an end to the "Bridge To Nowhere." Not true -- she was for it before she was against it, and not until congress had put an end to it. But she kept the money. She loves to say that she put the private government jet on eBay. True, but it didn't sell on eBay, and it ended up being sold by a broker, for a loss (not for a profit, as John McCain claims).

And to John McCain, why would you ever in the name of all things sane and holy choose a running mate who is under investigation? You've been in Washington for 26 years and you haven't figured out that politics is perception? What have you been doing all this time?


In the end, we need to be clear that traditionally the vice-president of the United States has no duties of any real importance (with the exception of Dick Cheney, who actually runs the country). The only real duty of the vice-president is to be ready to take the reigns of the country should something awful happen to the president that would prevent him from doing his job. This choice, therefore, is the first public decision of a presidential candidate's would-be presidency, and goes specifically to their judgment. So, you have to look at each candidate's VP pick as their answer to this hypothetical question: Suppose as president, you are assassinated. The American public is in shock and needs leadership; the government needs stability; and the perpetrators of the attack need to be identified and brought to justice. In this situation, who would you choose to be the person who has to step up and immediately fill the role of president during a time of such crisis?

Sen. Obama's answer? Sen. Joe Biden. Say all you want about the a "candidate of change" selecting someone with so much time in Washington as his #2, but when put into the context of the situation described above, it makes much more sense.


Sen. McCain's answer? Gov. Sarah....Palin? The governor of Alaska? To step in at a moment's notice to take control of the most difficult and complex job in the history of mankind? Yeah, it really is that ridiculous.

That's not "Country First."

That's "Campaign First, Country Second."

A Prayer For Our Fallen Brothers And Sisters

There's a blood red circle on the cold dark ground
And the rain is falling down
The church door's thrown open; I can hear the organ's song
But the congregation's gone
My city of ruins
My city of ruins

Now the sweet bells of mercy drift through the evening trees
Young men on the corner like scattered leaves
The boarded up windows; the empty streets
While my brother's down on his knees
My city of ruins
My city of ruins

Come on, rise up! Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up! Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up! Come on, rise up!

Now's there's tears on the pillow darlin' where we slept
And you took my heart when you left
Without your sweet kiss my soul is lost, my friend
Tell me how do I begin again?
My city's in ruins
My city's in ruins

Now with these hands
With these hands
With these hands, I pray Lord
With these hands
With these hands
I pray for the strength, Lord
With these hands
With these hands
I pray for the faith, Lord
We pray for your love, Lord
We pray for the lost, Lord
We pray for this world, Lord
We pray for the strength, Lord
We pray for the strength, Lord

Come on
Come on
Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up!
-Bruce Springsteen, "My City of Ruins"