Welcome Back

I'm welcoming myself back from a self-imposed break that was much needed and totally taken advantage of. I understand that the timing was somewhat peculiar. Why would I write about the election for over a year and then stop abruptly right before the election? Well, the morning of October 12th, I sat down to do my usual thing where I rail into the farce that was the McCain-Palin ticket and offer praise to my ticket and it hit me. I had become nearly mechanical in my support for the Obama-Biden ticket. To be fair, Obama ran a watertight campaign and I did and still do ardently support him. Still, I lost all ability to fairly scrutinize the ticket. I looked back at some of my primary posts and the tone was much different then. I couldn't figure out why though and that caused some serious derision within me which of course shattered all ambition to write about the election.

It wasn't until recently that I grasped what my problem was. There was this idea that if Obama won this election, we would be living in a new world. It would be a world where the issues of the past would be laid in their proper place. It was as if an Obama win (not an Obama presidency) would purify the nation of its sometimes malevolent past. I, too, had become so fanatical with an Obama win, that I stopped seriously thinking about his presidency.

McCain's "The One" ad comes to mind. Of course McCain was trying to paint an Obama as the anti-Christ, but there was some precision in there. People seemed to believe that an Obama win would be an end-all to their problems. They were anticipating some gust of wind to blow through the ghosts of their past life and open a new door where "hope" could subsist in the absence of empathy.

I remember when Bill Clinton said that Obama’s message was the "biggest fairy tale [he'd] ever heard” -that being, the idea that bipartisanship and most of Obama's campaign mantras would come to a head. He was right. It was a fairy tale prologue. Everything from the speeches to the supporters to the tears and finally the victory was a Cinderella story. Well now, we have all read the story, fallen asleep, had wonderful dreams and it's morning again.

Take this song by will.i.am. released on November 5th.



It's quite a positive song that highlights the remarkable progress that Americans seemed to have made with this election, but the line "I've been fighting for tomorrow for all my life" is particularly interesting to me. It sums up my fear that people were "changing" and "progressing" with Obama for November 4th and that the "tomorrow" he was referring to might not be the future, but simply the feeling of victory on the 5th. Obama was not calling for people to blindly accept his message and candidacy. He was not asking people to vote for him because of the historic nature of this election either. He was asking people to seriously support a progressive agenda and, in effect, help mark the end or at least diminution of American conservatism.

It is a brand new day in American political discourse. Let's just hope some recovering sheep like me stay focused on the message that we so fervently accepted and truly fight for an open and progressive America.

AFL-CIO's Richard Trumka on Racism and Obama

This is a great speech...

Electorate Race: 9/28

From 538,



And here is another scenario breakdown,



Notice the Obama landslide increased 10 points from last week.

McCain v. Palin

According to McCain/Palin, we can't listen to people's "verbage" or words just because someone is "sticking a microphone [in] while conversations are being held."

"She would not…she understands and has stated repeatedly that we're not going to do anything except in America's national security interest," McCain told ABC's George Stephanopoulos of Palin. "In all due respect, people going around and… sticking a microphone while conversations are being held, and then all of a sudden that's—that's a person's position… This is a free country, but I don't think most Americans think that that's a definitve policy statement made by Governor Palin."

Thanks, John.

McCain's Wedding Stunt

The Times of London reports that a shotgun wedding is in the works for Bristol Palin.

"Inside John McCain’s campaign the expectation is growing that there will be a popularity boosting pre-election wedding in Alaska between Bristol Palin, 17, and Levi Johnston, 18, her schoolmate and father of her baby. “It would be fantastic,” said a McCain insider. “You would have every TV camera there. The entire country would be watching. It would shut down the race for a week."

I'm not sure what's worse: Forcing people to get married fro political gain or that a shotgun wedding has the potential to increase popularity. At this point in the game, I think most people see the McCain camp as a gimmick and know that this is yet another attention-grabbing stunt.

Post Debate Reaction

The trackers will be coming in all week, but here is the first round of reactions from the first debate. It's a clear win for Obama.

And here are some reactions to the issues discussed in the debate.

Looking good to me. Bottom line is that McCain didn't come close to winning the debate that he has been built to win. The rest will favor Obama.

Pre-Debate Read

This guy is right on. Here's the whole article...

Sell! Sell! McCain is tanking!
By Dan Payne
September 26, 2008

JOHN MCCAIN'S move to suspend his campaign and TV spots and to dodge tonight's debate is a panic attack, not cagey tactics. Place your "sell" order now. His poll numbers are tanking, fewer and fewer Americans believe Sarah Palin is qualified, and his campaign manager has been exposed as a well-paid lobbyist for bankrupt Freddie Mac.


From strong to Depression in 10 days. Ten days ago McCain said the economy was fundamentally strong. Now he's decided it's so fundamentally weak he's needed in Washington ASAP. Meanwhile, Sarah Palin told Katie Couric on CBS if a bailout doesn't pass, "We're going to find ourselves in another Great Depression." How's that for a little reassurance?

For whom the polls fell. What changed about the financial bailout that prompted this bizarre behavior? McCain's poll numbers. They've been dropping like last week's Dow. In the key state of Pennsylvania, Obama now leads by 9. In Wisconsin, it's +7, Colorado +4, Michigan +4, Minnesota +2, and Virginia +3. Even in Florida it's +2.

The Washington Post/ABC poll shows Obama now leads the national horserace by 9 points, a turnaround of 11 points in two weeks. The poll found 79 percent of the American people are very worried about the national economy, and 60 percent are worried about their own finances. Obama is beating McCain by 14 points in understanding people's economic problems.

Democrats calling his bluff. Democrats have told the White House they will not vote for a bailout package unless it's one John McCain supports. They don't want to give him a chance to say no and grandstand as a "maverick" using the rejection as a chance to prove his independence from Bush and Wall Street.

Palin is failin'. In a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, 49 percent say Palin is unqualified to be president if needed. By comparison, 64 percent say Joe Biden is qualified.

Palin on Couric. The entire time I'm watching Palin "answer" questions from Katie Couric, I'm thinking, what an airhead. We're in two wars, our financial markets are in collapse, unemployment is rising, global warming is getting worse, and this is who might become president?

Palin loves droppin' them g's. Talkin', takin', gettin', I'm thinkin' we got a grownup valley girl here runnin' for vice president.

Oh, Ricky. Rick Davis is McCain's campaign manager. He is also a highly paid lobbyist for Freddie Mac, the bailed-out mortgage giant. Davis received more than a quarter of a million dollars this year from Freddie Mac -- a firm that you and I as taxpayers now own. Asked when he last worked for Freddie, Davis lied and said it was three years ago. He's a poison pill for McCain.

Multitasking is part of the job. As Obama put it, a president has to do more than one thing at a time. He said we both have our own big jets that can fly us from D.C. to Mississippi in time for the debate.

The hothead. This McCain stunt is consistent with his being a notorious hothead that blows up and demeans anyone who displeases him. Asked by a high school student several months ago if he was too old to be president, he replied, "Thanks for the question, you little jerk."

McCain publicly cursed former GOP Senator Pete Domenici. Last year he blasted Senator John Cornyn over the budget. Cornyn's reply reveals how effective McCain will be with his colleagues on the bailout. "I've been sitting in here for all these negotiations and you just parachute in here on the last day. You're out of line." McCain struck back with an f-bomb.

Et tu, Cindy? Another semi-famous blowup came during his 2000 campaign when his wife, Cindy, joked about his losing his hair. (For his colorfully gross reply, Google "McCain top ten blowups.")

Respect the people's wishes. A quickie poll done by SurveyUSA shows that 90 percent of Americans want the debate to take place as scheduled.

Obama as president. In his press conference in response to McCain's panic attack, Obama was calm, cool, and collected. If the whole nation had been watching, people would have seen what President Obama would be like. They may get that chance tonight.

Obama's Moment

Obama has come out strong in his insistence to continue on with the debates. He has been clear, and like always, is far ahead of McCain in popular opinion. People want to hear from the candidates and like Obama said, the President is going to have to deal with more than one issue at a time. McCain has made himself look quite weak.

I'm pumped up for the debates and I know that both McCain and Palin are terrified. I would love it if McCain refused to debate and Obama showed up. McCain would pretend that he was busy in Washington, but it won't work. Since Palin was thrown at the Media, they have been much more vigilant in what they accept as fact.

Again, Schumer says it best:

We haven't heard hide nor hair of Sen. McCain in these negotiations," said Schumer, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. "He has not been involved except for an occasional, unhelpful statement, sort of thrown from far away, and the last thing we need in these delicate negotiations is an injection of presidential politics."

McCain Press Conference

Here's McCain's pathetic attempt:



He uses 9/11 as well. Here's Obama's reaction.



It looks like most people are seeing this as a ploy.

David Letterman v. McCain

He sums it up...

"You don't suspend your campaign. This doesn't smell right. This isn't the way a tested hero behaves." And he joked: "I think someone's putting something in his metamucil."

"He can't run the campaign because the economy is cratering? Fine, put in your second string quarterback, Sara Palin. Where is she?"

"What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!"

McCain and the Debate

Just in case you were wondering where the American people were on McCain's latest stunt, SUSA has the polls.

The first debate between John McCain and Barack Obama is scheduled to take place in two days. Should the debate be held as scheduled? Should the debate be held, but the format changed to focus on the economy? Or, should the debate be postponed?
Hold as scheduled 50
Hold with focus on economy 36
Postpone 10


Is the right response to the turmoil on Wall Street to suspend the campaigns for president? To continue the campaigns as though there is no crisis? Or, to re-focus the campaigns with a unique emphasis on the turmoil on Wall Street?
Suspend 14
Continue 31
Refocus the campaign 48


If Friday's presidential debate does not take place, would that be good for America? Bad for America? Or would it make no difference?

Good for America 14
Bad for America 46
No difference 35

Most people want the campaigns to "refocus". That's horrible news for McCain. No more distractions. As I said two months ago, Obama wins.

Vote Early

The best way to avoid GOP shenanigans is to vote early. It looks like 1/3 of voters will be doing the same. The AP says:

"Nationwide, about a third of the electorate is expected to vote early this year, thanks to expanded early voting provisions and fewer restrictions on absentee voting, researchers project. In all, more than 30 states allow any registered voter to cast an early ballot, some in person and others by mail."

With the polls heavily favoring Obama, this should minimize the sleazy last-ditch efforts that the GOP is sure to wage. Maybe no October surprise?

Conservative Backlash?

This might sting.



That's what you get when you drag people around for personal gain.

The McCain Draw

Palinless McCain is looking pretty good, huh?



They were expecting 16,000 and got 3,000.

Ed Koch Endorses

The former NYC mayor jumped on the Obama wagon. Why?

"She’s scary."

I agree, Ed.

National Polls

It's fun to pretend that McCain is leading...excpect when he's not.

Barr and Nader will play a serious roll in this election.

Palin "Per Diem" Charges

Drip, drip, drip. Palin hates wasteful spending!!!

Wapo reports:

"Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has billed taxpayers for 312 nights spent in her own home during her first 19 months in office, charging a "per diem" allowance intended to cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business."

This is pretty hypocritical since she claimed that she didn't want to taxpayers to be footing the bill for her live-in chef.

While I was at it, I got rid of a few things in the governor's office that I didn't believe our citizens should have to pay for," she said to loud applause.

My guess is that Todd didn't like the idea of another man living in his house that might be more of a secessionist than he was. I don't blame him though. Sarah has a thing for secession. The more the merrier.

The Talking Heads on McCain/Palin

They know where a McCain-Palin White would take the country.

More Unhinged Than McCain???

I'd vote for Cressbeckler over McCain anytime!!!


Old, Grizzled Third-Party Candidate May Steal Support From McCain

"I like him. He's mad all the time."

"McCain is old, but is he old enough?"

"I'm voting for a man I can imagine drowning a bag of cats."

Priceless...

The Real Ground Game

The Slate's Richard Hansen gives us a little update on all the legal battles going on in some crucial states of voting issues. It's a good read.

The 2008 election may well be determined by some of the legal and election administration skirmishes going on now in several key states.

Maybe I need to take a week off of work rather than just November 5th (which is the 4th for the US).